scholarly journals Rural Development Through Non-State Actors in Highlands of Pakistan

SAGE Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 215824402110071
Author(s):  
Muhammad Luqman ◽  
Saleem Ashraf ◽  
Babar Shahbaz ◽  
Tahir Munir Butt ◽  
Raheel Saqib

We explored the contribution and effectiveness of state and non-state institutions in rural development efforts in highlands (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [KPK] province) of Pakistan. This study employed mixed-methods research design and data were collected from 300 household heads, randomly selected from six villages from two purposively selected districts Mansehra and Nowshehra. Findings showed people in KPK were deprived of due to conflicts, conspiracies and terrorism, poor governance, small landholdings and subsistence farming followed by sluggish marketing system, insufficient education and training for people, and inadequate employment opportunities. Regarding contribution, non-state institutions had more contribution as compared to state institutions. T-test analysis showed that the non-state institutions had an effective provision of agricultural extension and forestry advisory services, education, health services in remote areas, skill development, and provision of microcredit schemes. The results of F-test statistics showed highly significant difference among the perceived effectiveness of rural development activities of different types of non-state actors (localite, cosmopolite, and religious/faith-based) working in the research area. This study recommends state-owned rural development departments revisit their working mechanism and develop synergistic working relationship with the non-state institutions in discharging rural development efforts.

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 298-315
Author(s):  
Achillefs Kapartzianis ◽  
Jeanne Kriek

This study contributes to a growing literature that investigates vocational students’ conceptual understanding of electricity by proposing a multidimensional and pragmatic approach to conceptual change. Conceptual change model-based activities were designed in a six-stage conceptual change model and were incorporated into a four-week course. The effectiveness of these activities was measured in terms of changing these students’ misconceptions about simple electric circuits towards scientifically accepted ideas in terms of their revolutionary versus evolutionary nature and the extent of transfer of learning. Transformative mixed methods research design was used consisting mainly of a one-group pre-test post-test design with DIRECT Test 1.2 as a research instrument. Paired samples t-test analysis for 15 students’ test scores indicated that there was a statistically significant difference between students’ pre- and post-test scores. The results of the frequency analysis in both pre- and post-tests show a significant percentage drop in the number of students having the identified misconceptions. The majority of students during post pre-test interviews justified their answers incorrectly, but more than 80% answered correctly in the post post-test interview. Key words: conceptual change, conceptual change model, electric circuits, misconceptions, vocational education.


Author(s):  
Ghaniy Ridha Prima ◽  
Hermanto Siregar ◽  
Ferry Syarifuddin

The purpose of this study is to provide empirical evidence of the effects of the Loan to Value (LTV) policy on the financial performance of property and real estate companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX). The sample selection uses a purposive sampling method of 42 property and real estate companies that meet the criteria. The research period is divided into 2 namely before the Loan to Value policy (2013-2014) and after the Loan to Value policy (2016-2017) with the Paired Sample t Test analysis technique. The test results show if the current ratio, Return on Asset, Return on Equity and Debt to Asset have significant differences between before and after the LTV policy is applied. While the fast ratio, cash ratio, net profit margin and Debt to Equity did not show a significant difference. Keywords: Financial Performance, Loan to Value, Property and Real Estate, Profitability Ratio, Liquidity Ratio, Solvability Ratio.


Author(s):  
Shamsa Hashmi ◽  
Tanveer Akhtar ◽  
Maniha Hashmi

AbstractPresent study was aimed at investigating the role of Physical, Environmental, Task, Timing, Learning, Emotion and Perspective (PETTLEP) Imagery technique in the improvement of skill precision level of hockey drag flickers. For this purpose, both male (83) and female (38) hockey drag flickers (n=121) of age ranged between 17 and 27 years were selected from different hockey teams belonging to clubs, colleges, universities, departments, regional and national academies of Pakistan. Participants were made to undergo a Pretest-Intervention-Posttest research design consisted of 20 drag flicks and filling of SIAQ questionnaire. Drag Flick Precision Measurement Test (DFPMT) along with Sports Imagery Ability Questionnaire (SIAQ) were used to measure their skill precision levels and their imagery ability. The participants were classified into three categories as per their skill precision levels (Point-based), ranging from 48 Novice (upto12 points), 42 Intermediate (13–18 points) and 31 Elite (19 points and above), and were randomly assigned to one of four intervention groups; Physical Practice (PP), PETTLEP Imagery Practice (IP), Physical Practice+PETTLEP Imagery Practice Combination (CP), and No Practice (NP) Control group. Each group performed their respective tasks for 10 weeks through specially designed physical training programs aided by Imagery scripts. Paired sample t test analysis showed that all groups improved significantly (p<0.05) from pre- to post-test, and the CP group improved more with average improvement value of 8.32 for DFPMT and 5.39 for SIAQ (p<0.05) than the IP, PP and NP groups. However, there was no significant difference found between the PP (Sig. 0.73) and NP (Sig. 0.44) groups in SIAQ. Result extend prior research findings and suggests that PETTLEP Imagery practice used in combination with Physical practice has substantial impact on improving performance of complex motor skills, Present findings showed that PETTLEP imagery model was found to improve player’s precision skill levels, especially when it was combined with physical practice. However, further studies in this connection are needed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Nyangi ◽  
Elizabeth Kigondu ◽  
Beatrice Irungu ◽  
Margaret Nganga ◽  
Anthony Gachanja ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Vector control is an essential component in prevention and control of malaria in malaria endemic areas. Insecticide treated nets is one of the standard tools recommended for malaria vector control. The objective of the study was to determine physical integrity and insecticidal potency of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) used in control of malaria vector in Kirinyaga County, Kenya. Method The study targeted households in an area which had received LLINs during mass net distribution in 2016 from Ministry of Health. A total of 420 households were sampled using systematic sampling method, where the household heads consented to participate in the study. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to assess care and use while physical examination was used to determine integrity. Chemical concentration was determined by gas chromatography mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Data analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 19. Results After 18 months of use, 96.9% (95% CI: 95.2–98.6%) of the distributed nets were still available. Regarding net utilization, 94.1% of household heads reported sleeping under an LLIN the previous night. After physical examination, 49.9% (95% CI: 43–52.8%) of the bed nets had at least one hole. The median number of holes of any size was 2[interquartile range (IQR) 1–4], and most holes were located on the lower part of the nets, [median 3 (IQR 2–5)]. Only 15% of the nets with holes had been repaired. The median concentration for α-cypermethrin was 7.15 mg/m2 (IQR 4.25–15.31) and 0.00 mg/g (IQR 0.00–1.99) for permethrin. Based on pHI, Chi-square test varied significantly with the manufacturer (X (6, N = 389) = 29.14, p = 0.04). There was no significant difference between nets with different number of washes (X2(2) = 4.55, p = 0.103). Conclusion More than three-quarters of the nets supplied had survived and insecticidal potency was adequate in vector control. Standard procedure for field evaluation of surface insecticidal content available to a mosquito after landing on a net to rest is recommended.


2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hao-Yuan Cheng ◽  
Nai-Ying Chang

<p>This study investigated whether learning strategies had made any impact on learners’ achievement and explored whether learning motivation was correlated with learning strategies. The participants of this study were the students from the EFL (English as a Foreign Language) intermediate level course at a college in Taiwan. The students were given a pretest and a posttest. The mean scores of these tests were compared with a SILL survey (Strategies Inventory for Language Learning) at the end of the investigation. The participants’ course performance was compared with their use of learning strategies. The assumption of the relationship between learning strategies and motivation is that motivated learners have a greater desire to seek out solutions or support from others and employ more strategies to process the new information. The results of this investigation revealed that only the memory strategies had a significant difference in the posttest of Group A on the independent sample t-test analysis.</p>


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chongjun Wu ◽  
Ting Xiong ◽  
Zhongjin Xu ◽  
Chunlei Zhan ◽  
Feng Chen ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical and genetic characteristics of hereditary spherocythemia (HS) in Chinese children, and to analyze the potential genotypic/phenotypic associations.MethodsThe clinical data and gene test results of children with HS were collected. All patients were diagnosed by gene test results, and the laboratory results were obtained before splenectomy. The data of red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin (HB), mean red blood cell volume (MCV), mean red blood cell hemoglobin (MCH), mean red blood cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and hematocrit (HCT) were statistically analyzed according to different mutation genes. Statistical methods for comparison between groups Mann–Whitney test analysis, two-terminal p &lt; 0.05 was considered significant difference.ResultsA total of 15 children were enrolled in our hospital, and 14 variants were found (nine variants have not been reported before), including 10 ANK1 mutations (seven ANK1 truncated mutations) and five SPTB mutations. Patients with ANK1 mutations had more severe anemia than those with SPTB mutations (significantly lower RBC, HB, MCHC, and HCT).ConclusionThis is one of the few studies on the genetic and clinical characteristics of children with HS in China. This study identified the unique genetic and clinical characteristics of Chinese children with HS and analyzed the pathogenic genotype–phenotypic association. The results confirmed that the anemia degree of HS patients caused by ANK1 was more serious than that of patients with SPTB deficiency. However, further study of the correlation between genotype and phenotype requires a larger sample size.


2020 ◽  
pp. 96-104
Author(s):  
Olatomide Waheed Olowa ◽  
Omowumi Ayodele Olowa

Cocoa farmer faces increasing challenging environment through exposure to risks factors which have impacted negatively on their production or output. Since farmers are primary producers and often times lack capacity to control risks factor, it is important to manage this factors. This study examines the cocoa farmers’ risk preferences and crop insurance perception and isolates the drivers of decision to uptake crop insurance among cocoa farmers in Ekiti state. The sample for the study consist of 200 cocoa farmers who were household heads selected through multi-stage sampling across four Local government areas of Ekiti State who are predominantly cocoa producers. Data collected on socio-demographic characteristics, perception of crop insurance and risk preferences, were analyzed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic model. Results showed that majority of the cocoa farmers were without crop insurance, with higher enrolment in Membership of cooperative society, owned their land, larger household size and lower educational level but higher level of farm experience when compared to cocoa farmers who are holding crop insurance. Farmers risk preferences showed no significant difference between farmers with or without insurance. Education (β=0.59), Household size (β=0.0029) and Debt use (β=0.02), Membership of cooperative (β=-4.53), Farming Experience (β=-2.51), Owned Land (β=-2.19) and Non-Farm Income (β=-0.65) were among the significant determinants of insurance uptake. Risk mitigating measures such as provision of necessary incentives such as improved varieties of cocoa seedling, as well as provision of fertiliser and approved pesticides, financial assistance, and simple processing technologies that produce standard cocoa bean plus a re-jigged Nigeria Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC) for an improved discharge of its function are recommended.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Wanjiku Nyangi ◽  
Elizabeth Mumbi Kigondu ◽  
Beatrice Irungu ◽  
Margaret Nganga ◽  
Anthony Gachanja ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Vector control is an essential component in prevention and control of malaria in malaria endemic areas. Insecticide treated nets is one of the standard tools recommended for malaria vector control. The objective of the study was to determine physical integrity and insecticidal potency of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) used in control of malaria vector in Kirinyaga County, Kenya.Method: The study targeted households in an area which had received LLINs during mass net distribution in 2016 from Ministry of Health. A total of 420 households were sampled using systematic sampling method, where the household heads consented to participate in the study. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to assess care and use while physical examination was used to determine integrity. Chemical potency was determined by gas chromatography mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Data analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 19. Results: After eighteen months of use, 96.9% (95% CI: 95.2% – 98.6%) of the distributed nets were still available. Regarding the net utilization, 94.1% of household heads reported sleeping under an LLIN the previous night. After physical examination, 49.9% (95% CI: 43% - 52.8%) of the bed nets had at least one hole. The median number of holes of any size was 2[interquartile range (IQR) 1-4], and most holes were located on the lower part of the nets, [median 3 (IQR 2-5)]. Only 15% of the nets with holes had been repaired. The median concentration for alpha-cypermethrin was 7.15mg/m2 (IQR 4.25-15.31) and 0.00mg/g (IQR 0.00-1.99) for permethrin. Based on pHI, Chi-square test varied significantly with the manufacturer (X (6, N=389) = 29.14, p = 0.04). There was no significant difference between nets with different number of washes (X2(2) = 4.55, p = 0.103).Conclusion: More than three-quarters of the nets supplied had survived and insecticidal potency was adequate in vector control. 14.2% of the nets were too torn and required immediate replacement. Studies for validated field evaluation of surface insecticidal content available to a mosquito after landing on a net to rest should be developed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 923 (1) ◽  
pp. 012066
Author(s):  
Emad Fahad Nafeh Al-Bahli ◽  
Mahmoud Hadis Jassim Al-Jumaili

Abstract The research aimed to determine the impact studied factors represented by (people’s activities, government activities, natural factors) on the deterioration of natural pastures in the Governorate of Al-Muthanna the point of view of agricultural employees in the governorate. The research included all agricultural employees with a preparatory scientific qualification in agriculture and above in the governorate their number is (94) employees. A questionnaire was prepared to collect the data necessary to achieve the objectives of the research. It consisted of two parts. The first part included the factors related to the employees, which are (term of service, academic achievement, participation in extension activities, job position and work location). The second part included a measure to identify the agricultural employees’ the point of view of on the factors affecting the deterioration of natural pastures. It consists of (46) section spread over (3) field covered by the research. The results showed that government activities have the most impact on the deterioration of natural pastures, it was found a statistically significant difference in the respondents’ point of view about the influence of the studied factors according to their personal characteristics. The researchers concluded the necessity of agricultural expansion in pasture lands and industrial investments, as well as the importance of personal factors in assigning employees who can work in the development of natural pastures, and the researchers recommend activating government laws for the protection of natural pastures to prevent abuses (people’s activities, government activities) that contributed greatly to the deterioration of vegetation cover in the research area and taking into account the factors studied in the selection of workers in the development of natural pastures in the research area.


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fitri Anissa Syaimima Syaiful Azim ◽  
Arlette Suzy Puspa Pertiwi ◽  
Rosiliwati Wihardja

Every child will go through several stages in his or her life. They are different from each other as they are in the process of development of cognition, physics, emotion, and personality. For many children, a visit to the dentist can raise their anxiety. This anxiousness will lead to stress that influences the cardiovascular function in the body. The purpose of this research was to determine the difference in pediatric blood pressure between middle childhood and late childhood prior to dental treatment. This research was a clinical trial, pure experimental study. The sample consisted of 30 children within the range of 4-12 years old where they were divided into two groups of age; middle childhood (4-7 years old) and late childhood (8-12 years old). The blood pressures were measured before any dental treatment began and the values were recorded. The data were then analyzed using the One-Sample T-Test analysis. The results of blood pressure in middle childhood and late childhood were compared to the average mean values for each age group. It showed that there was a significant difference in the systolic pressure, which was found higher in the middle childhood group compared to the late childhood. From the result can be concluded that there was a difference in the pediatric blood pressure between middle childhood and late childhood prior to dental treatment.


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