Effectiveness of Soil Erosion Monitoring Strategies in Kuresoi South, Kenya

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Soil erosion is still one of the most important land problems and it is linked to land use and land cover changes. To mitigate against this, there has been an effort to transfer the management of natural resources to local communities especially in the tropics. Many of these initiatives incorporate the development of monitoring systems. Local monitoring systems constitute an almost compulsory component of any program or project dealing with sustainable management of natural resources. The purpose of this study was to assess soil erosion monitoring indicators as effective management tools to be used to help in monitoring change in natural resources within the study area. The study was comprised of a total representative sample population of 68 respondents from Kuresoi south catchment which was achieved using Nassiuma coefficient of variation formulae. The study adopted a descriptive research design. Data and information was collected using questionnaires and interview schedules. Both quantitative and qualitative data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences and presented in form of charts, tables of frequencies and percentages. The study results revealed the effectiveness of soil erosion monitoring indicators, degree of soil erosion and natural resource management. The study therefore recommends that it is important to introduce capacity building programs to the community and other stakeholders through creation of awareness and training so that they can have knowledge on these factors and thus implement the appropriate mitigation measures.

The Environmental Problem of Olive Mill Waste Water in Morocco: Data Analysis and Characterization

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This work proposes a comparative study between several provinces in the region of Marrakech Safi concerning the pollution generated by the industrial units of crushing olives, in particular the volume of olive mill wate water (OMWW) and the polluting load. A physicochemical and bacteriological characterization of the OMWW issues from different industrial olive crushing units was also carried out, the result found showed a high polluting power of the OMWW that differs from one unit to another depending on the mode of crushing of the olive, Indeed, the OMWW are very loaded with polyphenols and organic matter. This effluent also has an acidic pH due to the presence of organic acids (phenolic acids, fatty acids). The high electrical conductivity of the OMWW is due to the presence of natural mineral salts and salts used to preserve olives until grinding such as Na+, Cl– and Ca2+ …. A physicochemical and bacteriological characterization of some wells downstream of the industrial units have also realized to study the impact of OMWW on ground water quality, it was found that most of the wells downstream of the oil mills concerned are of good quality.

Foreign Direct Investment and Economic Growth in Africa

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Countries need equitable, broad-based economic development if they are to recover from violent conflicts. In Africa, if the state of the economy improves and the benefits of economic growth are widely distributed, the former conflicting parties are more likely to develop a stake in peace and learn to resolve differences through mainstream political negotiations rather than through violence. If the economy falters, the struggle to control scarce resources is likely to remain one of the key strategic goals of continuing warfare in Africa. Today most countries in Africa are opening their borders and doors to foreign investment, since it is considered as an important stimulus to economic growth. This chapter generally interrogates Foreign Direct Investment and Economic Growth in Africa. It specifically examines the actors in FDI. Secondly, it assesses the factors responsible for FDI in any given country and lastly it evaluates the effects of FDI on Africa.  A descriptive research design enabled secondary data to be collected. The data were analyzed qualitatively. The chapter concludes that FDI on its own is not a panacea for rapid growth and development. Recommendations in relation to FDI in developing countries have also been provided.

Post Traumatic Optic Nerve Decompression in Patients with No Light Perception

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Objective: To determine if optic nerve decompression has any efficacy in patients with traumatic optic nerve (TON) damage specifically those patients whose optic nerves have been severely damaged and as a result, they suffer no light perception (NLP).

Material & Methods: A retrospective study for group of 54 patients was observed for a period of between 3 to 12 months from 2020 to January 2021.

Results: 35 patients still had no light perception at end of the study. By the time others were discharged some had gained a level or two of visual acuity but no cases of perfect vision restored were reported.

Conclusion: The methods were relatively useful in reducing discomfort in patients such as significant reduction in swelling but they were not in any way completely responsible for the total recovery of the patients.

Assessment of Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Autistic Individuals by Measuring Plasma Lactate Levels

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Introduction: Autistic disorder, Asperger syndrome and pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified comprise a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental disorders known as autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). ASDs are behaviorally defined by impairments in communication and social interaction along with restrictive and repetitive behaviors.

Objectives of the study: The main objectives of the study will determine the mitochondrial dysfunction in autistic individuals by measuring plasma lactate levels.

Material and methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in DHQ Hospital Sahiwal. This study will include 200 children aged 7 to 9 years. Randomly selected sampling technique will be used for the data collection. For the purpose of analysis of mitochondrial dysfunctionality we will collect the blood samples of each individual.

Results: The data was collected from 200 children. In this study, blood ammonia, serum lactate, AST, ALT and CK level were higher in 29(90%), 18(80%), 23 (30%), 20(20%) and 14 (40%) subjects of study group.

Conclusion: It is concluded that mitochondrial dysfunction occur in children with autism spectrum disorder children

Cervical Abrasion and Gingival Recession in Dental Polyclinic Patients

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Background: The most common dental health problem in Indonesia is dental caries. The prevalence of caries by 92.2% and ages 35-44 years experienced dental health problems, with the DMF-T index of 6.9 meaning the average number of tooth decay was 6 to 7 teeth per person. One effort that can be carried out to prevent caries is to pay attention to the cleanliness of the oral cavity area especially teeth, plaque cleaning every day is by brushing teeth. Inappropriate brushing techniques can lead to the removal of tooth roots by transferring gingival margin bonds to the apical position of the cementoenamel junction which can result in tooth abrasion and gingival recession. The purpose of this study was to determine the cervical abrasion and gingival recession in dental polyclinic patients at the Pertamedika Clinic Office Center.

Method: This study used a descriptive method. The sample of this study was using purposive sampling as many as 54 respondents. The data used are secondary data taken from the patient’s medical record.

Results: The results of cervical abrasion studies showed that 25 people (46.3%) did not have cervical abrasion and 29 people (53.7%) had cervical abrasion. Respondents did not have gingival recession of 26 people (48.1%) and those who had gingival recession were 28 people (51.9%).

Conclusions: Most of the Pertamedika Center Office clinic patients have cases of cervical abrasion and gingival recession.

Cassia tora Linn. – A Pharmacological Review

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Cassia tora Linn. is one of the widely  used plants  in ethnic and traditional systems of medicine. A popular species in the genus Cassia, its therapeutic effects on ocular system, integumentary system, hepato pancreatic disorders, gastric system have been documented since centuries and demonstrated through pharmacological experiments. The efficacy of the seeds and leaves may be attributed to presence of anthraquinones glycosides phenolic glycosides, sennosides and flavonoids.  Cassia tora need to evaluated for its unexplored health benefits through new scientific investigations in tackling emerging diseases and life style disorders.

Challenges of Teaching and Learning English at Undergraduate Level: A Case Study

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This paper is an attempt to investigate the challenges or problems regarding teaching and learning English as a compulsory subject at the undergraduate level of Panjab University Constituent College Dharamkot (PUCCD). The study discusses both the perspective of teachers and learners using case study model. Classroom observation, questionnaire, and textbook analysis are used as methodology. The triangulation of data results out the challenges of teaching and learning English language which is faced by both the students and teachers in this college and points out some basic solutions regarding that.

Human Capital Readiness in Facing Industry 4.0 – Study Case Shared Services Finance in Energy Company, PT Perminyakan

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PT Perminyakan established a new organization named Shared Service Center (SSC) in 2018 as one of the embodiment of digital transformation of the company. SSC consist of four functions called multitower, they are Finance, IT, Human Capital and Asset Management. Shared Service Finance (SSF) provide services to stakeholders (customers, suppliers, and other function inside PT Perminyakan) in finance operation activities. In the daily job, SSF face many challenges, high volume and repetitive jobs are occurs every day. SSF helped by the management team that provide technologies industry 4.0 based to help and assist them in doing their daily activities. But the utilization of the tools is still low. Based on these problems, in this final project a research was conducted using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods using questionnaire and equipped with semi-structured interviews to obtain data and information that will be included in the concept of Human Capital Readiness. Human Capital Readiness seen from four aspects: Knowledge, Hard Skill, Soft Skill, and Attitude. Furthermore, interviews were conducted to determine and give deeper information about the questionnaire result and gain insight about how company respond to the condition. SSF also has SIERA, it is an industry 4.0 based tool that develop by SSF itself. It uses Artificial Intelligence based technology. Writer also use the quantitative and qualitative method to find out the Human Capital Readiness of SSF in implementing SIERA. Furthermore, from Human Capital Readiness assessment that provide Human Development Index (HDI), a gap was used to determine some aspects that defined as ready, optimal, not ready. From the questionnaire and interviews that validate the questionnaire result, writer also give some recommendation of implementation plan to the company. The findings in this study are divided into two scopes. The first is about readiness to face the industrial 4.0, and the second is about the readiness in implementing SIERA. First scope give result that Knowledge and Soft Skill are not ready, but Hard Skill and Attitude are optimal. By this result, writer give recommendation to increase digital literation, upskilling and re-skilling, and culture development (digital leadership and digital mindset). Second scope give result that Hard Skill and Attitude are not ready, meanwhile Knowledge is optimal and Soft Skill is ready. Writer give three recommendations: upskilling, solve application issues and update, and aggressive branding for SIERA.

The Internationalization of SMEs: Motives and Barriers

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This study answers questions about the motives and barriers to the internationalization of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). A literature review was conducted to identify relevant research findings on the motives and barriers to the internationalization of SMEs. The finding of the study is consistent with the Resource-Sector Model of SME Internationalization, that the internationalization motives of SMEs are classified into internal motives, namely increasing profits, availability of resources, creating market power, and business growth. While external motives are limited domestic market, competition, and proximity to customers and suppliers. In addition, the study shows that resource strength and owner-manager competence are the driving factors for the internationalization of SMEs. SMEs entering the international market will face internal barriers: human resources, product quality, and financial resources, and external barriers: business environment, government barriers, and socio-cultural barriers. This study contributes to providing new insights into consideration of opportunities and threats for the internationalization of SMEs.