Risky Sexual Behavior and Associated Factors Among High School Students in Gondar City, Northwest Ethiopia

According to World Health Organization (WHO), youth are young people within 15-24 years old. Studies reported that more than half of all new HIV infections occur among people between the ages of 15 and 24 years. Institution based quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted among high school students in Gondar city. Multistage sampling technique was employed to recruit study participants. Data were collected using pretested structured self-administered questionnaire. Data were entered in Epi Info version 7 and analyzed using SPSS version 21. Descriptive statistics were computed to describe important variables in relation to the outcome variable, Binary and multivariable logistic regressions were used to identify independent predictors of the outcome variable. The overall prevalence of risky sexual behavior was 12.8%. Two out of five sexually active respondents ever had unprotected sexual intercourse. Ever used alcohol ((AOR, 3.53 95% CI (1.73-7.19)), had no parental monitor (AOR, 12.21 95% CI (6.55-22.78), ever watched pornographic film (AOR, 2.24 95% CI (1.15-4.35), had no parental discussion on sexual and reproductive health issues (AOR, 2.57 95% CI (1.36-4.85) and peer pressure (AOR,2.50, 95%CI (1.20-5.21), were factors which significantly increases the odds of risky sexual behavior among youth. Risky sexual behavior among high school students in Gondar city administration was very high and worrisome; so that collaborated effort is needed from parents, schools, health facilities and health policy makers to bring healthy sexual behavior among school youth

E-portfolio MSC indicator for a virtual learning environment

This study was conducted to identify indicators for the use of e-portfolio for a virtual learning environment in the Malaysian Skills Certification (MSC) system. The approach is through a modified Delphi technique run in three stages. The first stage is analysis of past research material and documents as guidelines in the development of questionnaire items. In the second and third stages, the developed questionnaire is distributed to experts for approval in determining e-portfolio indicators for implementation of the Malaysian Skills Certification system. The sample selected consists of 11 experts in the field of skills certification in Malaysia. Feedback from the experts was analysed using descriptive statistics (mean, median and interquartile range). The findings identify four elements (Assessment, Personal Space, Exhibition and Learning Management) and 32 indicators through a literature review. In conclusion, there are 22 indicators were identified as necessary for the implementation of the use of the e-portfolio in the Malaysian Skills Certification system

Thermo-physical properties of paraffin wax with iron oxide nanoparticles as phase change material for heat storage applications

Phase change materials (PCMs) are growing in importance in many thermal applications as heat storage or to smooth the energy peak demand in many technological fields in industrial as well as in civil applications. Conductive nanoparticles can be added to phase change material to improve their thermo-physical properties. In this work, Iron oxide nanoparticles (IOx-NPs) were synthesized using a simple and green synthesis method, free of toxic and harmful solvents, using the extract of a plant as a reducer and stabilizer at two different temperatures of calcination 500°C and 750°C. The metallic oxide was used as an additive with 2% wt. compositions to paraffin wax to prepare a nanocomposite. The variation in thermal properties of paraffin wax in the composite was experimentally investigated. The biosynthesized IOx-NPs were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) techniques. The thermal properties of the synthesized nanocomposites were characterized by a thermal conductivity analyzer and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The FTIR spectra showed a bond at 535 cm-1, which confirms the Fe-O vibration. The XRD powder analysis revealed the formation of the cubic phase of Fe3O4 with an average particle size of 11 nm at 500°C and the presence of the phase α-Fe2O3 with Fe3O4 at 750°C. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) showed that the obtained oxide was made up of particles of nanoscale size. Experimental measurements showed that the presence of nanoparticles can improve the latent heat capacity by a maximum of 16.16 % and the thermal conductivity of the nanocomposites by a maximum of 16.99%

Structural, magnetic and vibrational characterization of the new organic-inorganic hybrid material, (C9H14N)2CoCl4

A new organic–inorganic hybrid material, bis (N, N-dimethylbenzylammonium) tetrachlorocobaltate (II), (C9H14N)2 CoCl4 was synthesized and analyzed by X-ray diffraction. Magnetization was used to investigate the magnetic properties. The structure was determined at room temperature in the triclinic space group P-1 with the following parameters: a = 10.491 (5)Å, b = 14.207 (2)Å, c = 16.187 (3)Å, α = 87.76 (3)°, β = 88.436 (8)°, γ = 89.897 (10)° and Z = 2. The structure can be described by the alternation of organic-inorganic layers parallel to (110) plan. The different components are connected by the Nsingle bondH⋯Cl hydrogen bonds between the cation and the anionic group [CoCl4]2-. Raman and infrared spectra were used to gain more information of the title compound. An assignment of the observed vibration modes is reported. This compound exhibits an antiferromagnetic (AFM) to paramagnetic (PM) phase transition at a temperature (TN) lower than 2 K. The values of paramagnetic Curie–Weiss temperature θCW, the nearest neighbor interaction Jnn, the classical nearest neighbor J cl and the dipolar Dnn interactions’ emphasize the existence of an antiferromagnetic interaction between the neighboring cobalt ions.publishe

Valorisation of plastic waste from the beverage industry through its transformation into adsorbent and solid fuel materials

In the present study, char and activated carbon (AC) materials were prepared from water bottles, recuperated from the waste collection point in Mourouj, Ben Arous, Tunisia, by using a rotative horizontal tubular furnace, on a lab/pilot scale and through chemical and physical activation. Different samples were characterized by $\text{N}_2$ adsorption isotherms, SEM-EDX, XRD, EA as well as by the determination of the $\text{pH}_{\mathrm{zpc}}$. The efficiency of the ACs to remove (2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (MCPA) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D)) herbicides from aqueous solutions was also investigated. The results demonstrated that a maximum adsorption capacity of $192~\text{mg}{\cdot }\text{g}^{-1}$, for MCPA, and $290~\text{mg}{\cdot }\text{g}^{-1}$ for 2,4-D had been attained. The adsorption kinetics was fitted to pseudo first, second order and Elovich model, while the adsorption isotherms were fitted applying the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The potential use as solid fuel materials was evaluated using elemental analysis and numerical high calorific value (HCV). The experimental results were compared to the conventional solid fuels classified in the Van Krevelen graph. The essays performed showed that the HCV was in the range of 10.2–11.9 MJ/kg

Valorisation of plastic waste from the beverage industry through its transformation into adsorbent and solid fuel materials

In the present study, char and activated carbon (AC) materials were prepared from water bottles, recuperated from the waste collection point in Mourouj, Ben Arous, Tunisia, by using a rotative horizontal tubular furnace, on a lab/pilot scale and through chemical and physical activation. Different samples were characterized by $\text{N}_2$ adsorption isotherms, SEM-EDX, XRD, EA as well as by the determination of the $\text{pH}_{\mathrm{zpc}}$. The efficiency of the ACs to remove (2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (MCPA) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D)) herbicides from aqueous solutions was also investigated. The results demonstrated that a maximum adsorption capacity of $192~\text{mg}{\cdot }\text{g}^{-1}$, for MCPA, and $290~\text{mg}{\cdot }\text{g}^{-1}$ for 2,4-D had been attained. The adsorption kinetics was fitted to pseudo first, second order and Elovich model, while the adsorption isotherms were fitted applying the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The potential use as solid fuel materials was evaluated using elemental analysis and numerical high calorific value (HCV). The experimental results were compared to the conventional solid fuels classified in the Van Krevelen graph. The essays performed showed that the HCV was in the range of 10.2–11.9 MJ/kg

Learning transfer at skill institutions' and workplace environment: A conceptual framework

Efficient human resource management and skills development are central to any organization. However, identified less than 15 to 20 percent of the knowledge and skills acquired in trainings were actually applied in workplaces. Lack of awareness and limited skills learned have caused loss of funds invested in training programs and continued to contribute to mismatches in labour issues. Thus, this conceptual paper proposes key aspects of learning transfer required in training institution based on National Occupational Skill Standards (NOSS) system and in workplace environment. A conceptual framework which is based on critical reviews of current approaches in studies of learning transfer has been devised to highlight the relationship between learning transfer and skills training for today’s workplaces. The framework is a scientifically robust framework for transfer of learning at skill institutions. This study is significant in emphasizing the need for appropriate evaluation methods that can assist practitioners at skill institutions to develop learning transfer in a more credible manner

Creatine and guanidinoacetate reference values in a French population

Creatine and guanidinoacetate are biomarkers of creatine metabolism. Their assays in body fluids may be used for detecting patients with primary creatine deficiency disorders (PCDD), a class of inherited diseases. Their laboratory values in blood and urine may vary with age, requiring that reference normal values are given within the age range. Despite the long known role of creatine for muscle physiology, muscle signs are not necessarily the major complaint expressed by PCDD patients. These disorders drastically affect brain function inducing, in patients, intellectual disability, autistic behavior and other neurological signs (delays in speech and language, epilepsy, ataxia, dystonia and choreoathetosis), being a common feature the drop in brain creatine content. For this reason, screening of PCDD patients has been repeatedly carried out in populations with neurological signs. This report is aimed at providing reference laboratory values and related age ranges found for a large scale population of patients with neurological signs (more than 6 thousand patients) previously serving as a background population for screening French patients with PCDD. These reference laboratory values and age ranges compare rather favorably with literature values for healthy populations. Some differences are also observed, and female participants are discriminated from male participants as regards to urine but not blood values including creatine on creatinine ratio and guanidinoacetate on creatinine ratio values. Such gender differences were previously observed in healthy populations; they might be explained by literature differential effects of testosterone and estrogen in adolescents and adults, and by estrogen effects in prepubertal age on SLC6A8 function. Finally, though they were acquired on a population with neurological signs, the present data might reasonably serve as reference laboratory values in any future medical study exploring abnormalities of creatine metabolism and transport

EMSY links breast cancer gene 2 to the 'Royal Family'

Although the role of the breast cancer gene 2 (BRCA2) tumor suppressor gene is well established in inherited breast and ovarian carcinomas, its involvement in sporadic disease is still uncertain. The recent identification of a novel BRCA2 binding protein, EMSY, as a putative oncogene implicates the BRCA2 pathway in sporadic tumors. Furthermore, EMSY's binding to members of the 'Royal Family' of chromatin remodeling proteins may lead to a better understanding of the physiological function of BRCA2 and its role in chromatin remodeling