Analysis of Correlation between Hyper-Uricemia and Renal Resistivity Index in Normoglycemic Normotensive Patients

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Introduction: Hyperuricemia is associated strongly with the development of renal disease and progression. Medical therapy decreases serum uric acid levels by inhibiting the enzyme xanthine oxidase.

Objective of the study: To evaluate correlation of mean uric acid level and Renal Resistive Index in normoglycemic and normotensive adult subjects.

Material and methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in THQ Hospital Fort Abbas during 31-10-2018 to 30-04-2019. One hundred (n=100) non-diabetic, non-hypertensive, recently diagnosed hyperuricemic otherwise healthy subjects irrespective of gender between age 20-40 years were included in the study.  After complete history taking and full physical examination laboratory testing including: serum uric acid, serum creatinine to exclude renal decompensation patients, fasting blood sugar and 2 h post prandial were advised.

Results: 55.0% (n=55) of patients were males with the mean age of 33.40 years ± 3.85 SD and 45.0% (n=45) of patients were females with mean age of 34.67 years ± 3.33 SD. Cumulative mean age was 33.97 years ± 3.66 SD. The mean value of the RI of the renal arterial vasculature was 0.765 ± 0.0155 SD. The maximum, minimum and range values of the RI were 0.79, 0.74, and 0.04 respectively. The mean serum uric acid value found to be 10.947±0.562 SD. The maximum, minimum and range values of the RI were 0.79, 0.74 and 0.05 respectively. Correlation between the serum uric acid and renal arterial RI prior to the medical therapy and 3 weeks after therapy. A positive correlation was found between both values with a Pearson’s correlation coefficient = 0.103 and p-value 0.308.

Conclusions: It is concluded that that medical treatment of hyperuricemia results in lowering of serum uric acid which correlates with the decrease in renal resistive index.

Avoiding Ambiguous Framework in Distance-based Formation Control Using Virtual Followers

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In this study, we develop a shape formation controller based on regular distance-based control law. As distance rigidity theory may not be successful in achieving desired shape when the control system defined under minimally rigid graph. As a matter of fact, the formation may converge to ambiguous framework when the group of mobile robots did not initialize in proper way. This is a well-known issue with distance-based formation control while there are multiple equilibrium points in the dynamics. We introduce a new controller by adding virtual constraints to the system. The performance of control system is exemplified through numerical simulations and the convergence to the desired formation for all initial conditions validated with stability analysis.

Synthesis and Characterization of Hydroxyapatite Gel – Nanosilver – Clove Flower Extract (Syzygium Aromaticum L.) as a Toothpaste Forming Gel

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Dental caries is a disease caused by the bacteria Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus, and affects everyone regardless of age. One way to overcome dental caries is to clean the teeth with a toothpaste made from hydroxyapatite-nano silver-clove extract. Hydroxyapatite is a biomaterial that has biocompatibility, bioactivity, and osteoconductive so that it can remineralize teeth. Nano silver is an antibacterial component that is able to kill microorganisms that cause dental caries. The addition of clove extract as an antimicrobial and aromatic compound can increase the attractiveness of the product. This study aims to determine the physical and chemical characteristics of the hydroxyapatite-nano silver-clove extract gel formulation with varying concentrations of hydroxyapatite 1%, 2%, and 3%, and nano silver concentrations of 1 ppm, 5 ppm, and 10 ppm. The results of the homogeneity test, pH level, dispersion, and adhesion showed that the gel was in accordance with the test standard. The results of organoleptic tests and statistical analysis showed that variations in the concentration of hydroxyapatite and nano silver affected the color and aroma (P < 0.05), but did not affect the texture (P > 0.05) of the gel. FTIR spectrophotometric analysis showed that the formulation already contained OH, CO32-, PO43- groups derived from hydroxyapatite, C=O derived from nano silver, and OCH, CH3, C-C, =C-H derived from clove extract.

User Experience of Online Examinations and Proctoring: A Case Based Study

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University curriculum all over the world contain a set of learning outcomes to be achieved through different learning and teaching modes. The achievement of the Learning Outcomes is measured using some form of assessment, usually in the form of University examinations. The traditional teaching has been face-to- face, and therefore many examinations have also been conducted in a face to face manner. One of the challenges of any examination setting is cheating amongst University students, which implies that the examinations must be properly invigilated or proctored. Since the introduction of ICT in Education, there have been attempts to introduce Online examinations, although these are yet to gain full traction. In Kenya, the ODEL standards lean more towards blended learning, where each course has to have a face to face element. Many Universities have therefore been conducting their examinations in a traditional setting. The onset of COVID-19 created a different situation as the social distancing and the restricted movement meant that learners could not attend a physical class. The movement to Remote Emergency Teaching created a challenge on how examinations could be conducted and proctored. Several Universities decided to do the teaching but wait for resumption of face to face studies to conduct their exams, and this had a negative impact on the University Almanac. This paper looks at the case of one Private University that decided to complete a whole semester online but also went on to conduct examinations via the Learning Management System. Using a triangulation of Interviews, Observation and Document Reviews, staff and students who had participated in conducting and taking online examinations were interviewed. The online examinations processed was observed and documents and software used in online examinations and proctoring were reviewed. Reorganization of the examination processes, organizational and cultural change management, ICT technical issues, extensive training, software selection and communication were identified as the key requirements for successful online examinations and proctoring to take place. The use of Proctoring Systems that are integrated with the LMS give a shorter learning curve and are easier to learn and use.

The Spatial Relationship between Drug Abuse and Home Burglaries: Northeast District of Penang

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This study to identify the relationship between dependent and independent variables as well as the spatial correlation between drug abuse cases and home burglary cases in Northeast District of Penang. The OLS regression was used to examine the relationship between the home burglary cases and drug abuse as well as the spatial correlation of drug abuse and home burglary cases based on Moran’s I. The increase of home burglary cases was proportional to the increase the number of cases in local drug abuse. In spatial context, the drug abuse and home burglary cases showed a positive correlation. Plus, this indicated that the spatial relationship between the two cases were proportional. The use of GIS application helps the authorities such as AADK, PDRM and local authorities to understand crime and drug abuse in time-space context. The space elements emphasized the issues related to drug and crimes, and assisting relevant authorities in strategy planning to reduce crime index and drug problems. GIS is used to conduct research on locations or spaces and new approaches to assist authorities in making decisions and strategies related to crime and drugs.

Proposed Marketing Strategy to Increase Revenue for PT. Pipa Tanpa Kampuh Indonesia in Seamless Steel Pipe Industry

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PT. Pipa Tanpa Kampuh Indonesia (PTKI) is one of the industrial companies for manufacturing seamless steel pipes in Indonesia which has the ability to produce the final product Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG) and pipelines (Linepipe), which are used to support operations in the upstream oil and gas industry. The Company currently has an average Local Content of 27.11% for High-Grade products and 21.02% for Low-Grade products. The plant most likely produces products with the High-Grade type, where the market demand for this product gradually decreases every year. It was affecting the Company’s revenue which decreased in recent years; moreover, the utilization of the installed production capacity has also decreased. Therefore, the Company is attempting to penetrate the market for Low-Grade products, which requires developing an effective marketing strategy to compete in this highly competitive market segment. This research conducts internal & external analysis of the Company using PESTEL analysis, Porter’s 5 Forces, competitor analysis, and customer analysis with interviews are used to conduct external analysis. Meanwhile, Porter’s Value Chain analysis, Segmentation-Targeting-Positioning (STP), Marketing mix 7P, and internal management interviews are used to conduct internal analysis. Further analysis was carried out using the SWOT, TOWS matrix and Root-cause analysis (RCA) with the Five Why’s method. According to the analysis, it can be concluded that PTKI’s customers respect the existing regulations, particularly those regulating the use of domestic products, and they expect a fast delivery time for Low-Grade products. Therefore, it may be recommended to the Company that product differentiation be considered to increase local content and do strategic stocking of materials commonly used in Indonesia.

The Effect of Variations Concentration of Chloramphenicol on the Imprinting Factor of Molecularly Imprinted Polymer

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This research aimed is to determine the effect of chloramphenicol concentration on the imprinting factor (IF) value of the Molecular Imprinted Polymer (MIP). Imprinting Factor is a standard of the interaction power between printed polymer and template molecule. The IF value was calculated based on the adsorption capacity value between MIP and blank polymer (BP). MIP was synthesized from non-imprinted polymer (NIP) using the precipitation method with chloramphenicol as a template, methacrylic acid (MAA) as a monomer, and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as a crosslinker. The results showed that the optimum concentration was at 10 ppm with the IF value of 5,005. The isothermal adsorption result of Chloramphenicol using MIP can best be described by the Langmuir model. The limit of detection (LOD) value was 0.098 and the limit of quantification (LOQ) value was 0.327.

Exploratory Factor Analysis of the Perceptions of Secondary School Heads of Departments on Teacher Trainees’ Pedagogical Practices in Three Districts of Zambia

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Preparing a 21st-century classroom teacher has become necessary in teacher training and practice if considerable retains in education could be realized. While some content knowledge awareness efforts have materialized in the teachers’ movement, the pedagogical aspect of training needs much to be desired. This study aimed to establish the secondary school heads of departments’ perceptions of teacher trainees’ pedagogical Practices. The study design used was a quantitative exploratory factor analysis to examine an eight-factor structure of the instrument and analyze the association between variables. The study population constituted of all secondary schools’ heads of departments in three districts of Zambia. A total sample of (n=120) participants comprising heads of departments from 20 secondary schools participated in the study. The sampling technique used was purposive sampling to identify respondents since the study depended on researchers’ sense of judgment in selecting participants from the population. The 20 schools provided all the standard criteria for the choice of participants needed for the study. The instrument used in the study was a survey questionnaire adapted from Barron (2015). A pilot study on (n=43) heads of departments conducted on heads of departments who were not part of the study. The reliability of the instrument was deemed reliable after subjecting it to SPSS and gave reliability of .930. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS 26. The study’s significant findings showed evidence of acquisition of content knowledge among trainee teachers, implying the emphasis on training, and showed a severe lack of professional ethics among trainee teachers. However, the findings showed that the various factors extracted are near related; hence, there is a close relationship between teacher training curriculum and the pedagogical skills that trainee teachers use in classrooms. Given the nature of the 21st-century learners that teachers come in contact with, the pedagogical predicament becomes paramount for emphasis in teacher training institutions.

Vermicomposting in Silver Oak Plantation Areas for Sustainable Waste Management and Enhanced Livelihood: A Case Study of Kolli Hills, Tamil Nadu, India

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Silver Oak plantation on farmlands growing coffee and black pepper has gained importance in recent times in the areas surrounding the Kolli hills in the Namakkal district of Tamil Nadu, India. The Silver Oak trees shed significant quantities of dry leaves during the summer season which the local Malayali tribal community burns and/or leaves on ground. The current case study is based on an experiment of vermicomposting using local Silver Oak leaf litter, cow dung and earthworms. The results show that joint production of manure from agroforestry practices is an option in self-sufficiency for the rural communities and has the potential for a business model. Moreover, this ensures environmental sustainability by avoiding green-house gas emissions that are caused by the practice of burning leaves and/or leaving the mulch to rot. The present paper attempts to develop a sustainable model of vermicomposting in the Kolli hills region that can offer triple solutions encompassing organic manure production, environmental quality improvement and livelihood opportunity enhancement. Based on field surveys and physiochemical experiments in the Perungiraipatti village of the Kolli hills, the study presents a sustainable model of vermicomposting with specifications on nutritional quality, environmental sustainability and economic development. 

Analysis of Factors Affecting Poverty Levels in West Nusa Tenggara Province in 2012 – 2021

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The purpose of this study is to analyze the factors that influence the level of poverty in the province of West Nusa Tenggara from 2012 to 2021. The research method used in this study is a quantitative method. Analysis of the data used is the multiple regression method. The results of the study show that the unemployment rate, economic growth rate and the Human Development Index in the province of West Nusa Tenggara together have a significant effect on the poverty rate in the province of West Nusa Tenggara in 2012 – 2021. This can be seen in the F Test where the significance value is smaller than 0.05 (0.000 < 0.05). Then the human development index variable and changes in the unemployment rate which have a significant value on changes in poverty in the province of West Nusa Tenggara in 2012-2021. This is due to several things including the provincial government of West Nusa Tenggara for the last 10 years focusing on increasing human resources through education investment. such as increasing free education, providing skills institutions for workers and providing merit scholarships. It aims to create an increase in the quality of human resources in the province of West Nusa Tenggara.