Traditional techniques used in social work have become obsolete and ineffective in meeting the contemporary needs of the dynamic population. This has led to the development of new social work techniques that seek to achieve social transformation among the youth. These innovations which are being implemented by youth empowerment organizations are important not only to the social workers that utilize them and their clients but also for the upcoming professionals and institutions that provide services to the youth. The overall objective of this paper is to unravel the emerging innovative social work techniques applied by youth empowerment organizations that seek to achieve social transformation among the youth. This study is grounded on diffusion of innovation model and linear models of innovation. This study reviewed different articles related to social work techniques, social work methods, social work intervention books, youth empowerment programs, social innovations, and existing local and international literature using different material from related fields to get rich information. The reviewed literature revealed that there were new social work techniques that have emerged to address the needs of the contemporary and dynamic urban youth population. These innovations have neither been documented nor shared with other organizations and social work practitioners. Social workers also face challenges in developing new techniques and these contributes to poor outcomes with the concurrent diversity of the social problems. This study recommends documentation of emerging social work interventions in youth empowerment and development programs, sharing of information and utilization on the new techniques and methodologies among social workers working with the youth. Social workers need to be trained on how to utilize social research to enhance their capacity in technique development, and organizing regular seminars and workshops where social workers can share and learn more about the new and emerging social work interventions.

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems have been the most popular business management systems in the 21^st century, providing benefits of real-time capabilities, enhancing organizational competencies and seamless communication for business in both small and large organizations. Today, most universities have begun replacing their legacy systems with ERP initiatives to improve management and administration. Though they are credited with major prospects of re-engineering the work processes, these initiatives present some challenges to the management of these universities. This study focused on the challenges and prospects of ERP systems in the newly chartered public universities in Kenya. A review of previous studies on the challenges and prospects of putting in place this framework in public sector including universities was done. A descriptive survey research design was used to select the staff in all the 24 newly chartered universities in Kenya, while simple random sampling method was used in choosing 120 respondents who were heads of departments. A five point Likert scale questionnaire was used for data collection. A reliability estimate of 0.69 was realized for the instrument using Cronbach reliability coefficient. Data collected was analysed using descriptive statistics and presented in tables and charts. The study established that management support is vital for any organization to be able to successfully implement and use ERP systems effectively. In addition, inadequate preparation by the universities to manage change, failure to involve end-users during the implementation stage, failure by the system vendors to modify the system to conform to the requirements of these universities, failure by the institutions to re-engineer their business processes to match ERP requirements and lack of effective end-user training were also cited as the challenges facing the success of the ERP systems in the newly chartered universities. The findings further indicated successful implementation of the system will eliminate redundant tasks and lead to an overall reduction of operational cost. It will also lead to easier access to reliable data and information, improved customer relationship and the ability to produce better reports and information are some of the prospects that majority of the respondents believe the ERP system will provide. This study may be useful to public universities management by helping them gain better understanding on how to utilize information technologies. It also provides information that will assist them in making informed decisions on the best ERP implementation strategies to be employed. Lastly, the study will creates a forum for discussions on ways of solving ERP challenges currently being faced by the newly chartered public universities in Kenya.

Water is basic need of life for all living organism at the earth. To study the drinking water pollution in Tonk city of Rajasthan (India), a total of five water samples were collected from tap and hand pump of various area of tonk city. The various physical chemical parameters such as pH, chloride, total alkalinity, total dissolved solid and total hardness were analyzed in the water samples to characterize the ground water quality and suitability for drinking purpose. All the water samples were compared with Indian standard of drinking water prescribed by bureau of Indian standard BIS 10500:2012. The physical chemical analysis of water samples of Tonk city showed that pH value ranged from 7.00 to 7.60 and chloride ranged from 2750.24 to 595.96 mg/l. The total alkalinity varied from 185.90 to 452.25 mg/l. The total dissolved solid ranged from 270 to 2550 mg/l and total hardness from 146 to 162 .14 mg/l. mg/l. The result of physical chemical analysis of water samples of Tonk city indicated that tap water of Jawahar Bazaar Tonk (S1) and Taj colony Tonk (S2) were suitable for drinking purpose and hand pump water of Takhata (S3), Mehandi bagh (S4), Civil line Tonk (S5) were unsuitable for drinking purpose. This study thus concludes that hand pump water in study area is chemically unsuitable for drinking. It is recommended to carry out a proper and continuous water quality program and development of effective management practices for utilization of water resources.

Abstract

Background: Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is currently a widely accepted screening procedure in diagnosis of thyroid nodules, there has been confusion related to diagnostic terminology in the assessment of samples. This confusion has been caused by multiple category names, descriptive reports without assigning to a category, and different terminologies used for surgical pathology. We aimed to evaluate correlations between US characteristics, cytologic results of FNAB, and thyroid antibodies, calcitonin, and thyroid function tests in patients presented with thyroid nodules, and to contribute in diagnosis, treatment, and patient follow-up.

Methods: A total of 1639 patients with thyroid nodules who applied to outpatient clinic of endocrinology between dates April and May 2017, had FNAB under US guideline, and their pathologic evaluation was performed according to Bethesda classification. Serological and hormonal tests were also performed for each patient.

Results: The mean age of study group was 50 (range interval= 14-90) years. The median of node-diameter1 was 17.5 (range=1-51) mm, and median of node-diameter2 was 12 (range=8-33) mm. Of US characteristics, echogenicity, microcalcification, irregular borders, and solitary nodules were determined in 4.4%, 54%, 71.2%, and 86.6% of cohort respectively. Elevated anti-TPO was determined in 64.6%. Cytologic readings were reported as 15.8% nondiagnostic, 53.8% atypia of undetermined significance/follicular lesion of undetermined significance, 28.8% benign, 0.4% suspicious for follicular nodule, and 1.2% malign.  

Conclusion: Measurement of thyroid autoantiboides, calcitonin, and thyroid function tests have good correlations with Bethesda classification in patients with thyroid nodules.

In this paper we represent a fuzzy set theory and arithmetic operation on fuzzy numbers. The fuzzy set theory to derived operation on fuzzy set and fuzzy arithmetic operation. The produce with operation on closed interval.

Field experiment was carried out during 2010 rainy season to find the effect of seeding rate on the growth and yield of okra (Abelmuschus esculentus) in Zuru Northern Guinea Savannah. Zuru is located in Zuru Local government area of Kebbi State (Latitude 11^o 25¹ to 11^o 55¹ North and Longitude 4^o 5¹ to 5^o 25¹ East of the equator). The experiment consisted of three treatments that is planting okra at one plant per stand (S₁), two plants per stand (S₂) and three plants per stand (S₃). The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) and the treatments replicated three time. The result of the experiment has shown that plant height and number of leaves/plant at 3, 6 and 9 weeks after planting (    WAP) were significantly influenced by seeding rate (P<0.05). At 3, 6 and 9 WAP tallest plants were obtained from okra plants planted at three plants/stand (27.83, 54.0 and 77.0cm) respectively followed by okra planted at two plant/stand (24.77, 50.67 and 74.33 leave/plant respectively ). However, more number of leaves/plant were obtained from okra plant at one plant/stand (9.67, 24.67 and 48.0 leaves/plant respectively) followed by okra planted at two plants/stand (8.33, 18.33 and 36.33 leaves/plant respectively). Seeding rate had significant influence on time of 50 percent flowering with one plant/stand first attaining 50 percent flowering stage just within 36.33 days followed by okra planted at two plants/stand (38 days). The mean fresh fruit yield of okra was also significantly influenced by seeding rate with the highest yield of fresh fruits obtained from three plants/stand (83.34/ha) followed by okra planted at two plants/stand (55.56/ha). However, the result of the findings recommends that, okra should be planted at two plants/stand for medium sized and marketable okra fresh fruits since at three plants/stand leads to the production of undersized fresh fruits which do not often attract customers. At one plant/stand, there seemed to be early fruiting and bigger sized fresh fruits but low total yield due to underutilization of land resource/space. Planting at one plant/stand should therefore be avoided

During storage of complementary foods in the form of flour, secondary pests attacked including T. castaneum. To evaluate these depreciation two formulations were elaborated using infested insects in 1200 ml jars with 11 repetitions for each. After 90 days of infestation, emergences were noted. The average sizes of the different stages showed that the formulation with bambara groundnut was that which noted the most emergences. The average of stage I is 68.4 ± 26.3 in the formulation with bambara groundnut and 29.2 ± 14.1 in that without. The same is true for stage V and in the adults where the emergences respectively were 111.9 ± 45.3 and 397.2 ± 130.6 in formulation with bambara groundnut and 46.8 ± 15.6 and 164.7 ± 22.5 in the formulation without

Land regularization is an emerging urban planning tool which is directly linked to community development, particularly when one want to acquire title deed in unplanned settlements in cities of Sub-Saharan Africa. This paper contributes knowledge base critically with a view on land regularization and community development reviews in cities growth and development processes perspectives. Different urban planning approaches and modes have been discussed to provide a base for critical analysis and understanding in the context of land regularization and community development nexus, interlinkages and their impacts in Sub-Saharan Cities for learning and replications.