IOSR-JHSS   Volume-1 ~ Issue-5 ~ Sep-Oct-2012

Paper Type	:	Research Paper
Title	:	Logical Derivability of the Concept of Meaning, Formulation I
Country	:	Nigeria
Authors	:	Jonathan Chimakonam Okeke
	:	10.9790/0837-0150104

Abstract: Expressions, words and symbols without reference to something else which could be called their meanings are semantically helpless. But not all expressions and words refer; some even come with ambiguities and equivocations like Golden Mountain, Chimera etc., however, any symbol which does not refer could not properly be called a symbol. So because every symbol necessarily refers to something definite, it is not the case that ambiguities and equivocations would sneak into symbolic expressions. Hence, logic becomes that science which prefers symbolic or artificial or formal language to natural language. Therefore, since "meaning" or semantics is a central focus of logic together with syntax, we attempted in this work to obtain a logical derivation of it in the symbolic language of logic devoid of the ambiguities and equivocations of natural language.
Keywords- language, logic, meaning, semantics, symbol, syntax.

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Abstract: The present study was designed to investigate the differences in the levels of self-esteem social maturity and well-being between adolescents with and without siblings. It also investigated the percentage of variance counted by social maturity and self-esteem in the well-being of adolescents with and without siblings. For this purpose a total sample of 100 students studying in 10th to 12th grades was taken on purposive basis from the schools of Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) of India. In order to collect the data Self-esteem Inventory by Coopersmith, Social Maturity scale by Rao and PGI Well-being measure by Verma & Verma were administered on the participants. Non-significant differences were obtained between adolescents with and without siblings on self-esteem and well-being. However, significant difference was found between adolescents with and without siblings on social maturity showing that adolescents without siblings had higher mean social maturity score than adolescents with siblings. The results of regression analysis showed significant contribution of social maturity and self-esteem together in well-being of adolescents without siblings, but independently they did not contribute significantly to their well-being. The total contributions of self-esteem and social maturity in the well-being of adolescents without siblings was 13% . However, in the case of adolescents with siblings social maturity and self-esteem neither together nor independently contributed significantly to their well-being.
Keywords: Adolescent with and without siblings, Self-esteem, Social maturity, Well-being.

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Abstract:This study is aimed at examining the level of awareness of HIV/AIDS phenomenon among the elderly in selected rural communities of Delta State and how the knowledge acquired is put into practice. A sample of 150 elderly aged 60 years and above was selected from five rural communities using the random sampling technique. The instrument for gathering data was a validated interview schedule reflecting knowledge about means of transmission and prevention of HIV/AIDS and practices of high risk behaviour. The procedure used trained research assistant from the area to administer the research instrument in their native language. The study was carried out between October and December, 2010. One hundred and forty three of the one hundred and fifty elderly studied (95.33%) knew the sexual route of HIV/AIDS transmission. 68 of the elderly studied (76.6%) knew the preventive role of condoms, and 111 of the elderly studied (74.0%) knew the preventive role of restricting ones self to regular sexual partner. A relationship was found between knowledge and practices of preventive measures. There is awareness of the existence of HIV/AIDS, its mode of transmission and the method of prevention. There is however, the problem of changing individual sexual behaviour. However, with the high rate of spread of HIV/AIDS sweeping across the country, health education programmes need to be evaluated for successful implementation of right sexual behaviour in the population.
Keywords: Hiv/Aids, Knowledge, Elderly, Practices, Nigeria.

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Abstract: In India religious norms and values play a significant role in regulating the lives of women in many communities and most importantly the religious ones. As the role of women in modern day society has changed to a great extent so also the women in the Vaishnava religion as well as the religious institutions of Assam has remarkably changed and responded likewise. Women are mostly influenced by religiosity of the faith, highlighting the complex relationship between genders. The hegemonic structures and the hereditary control of the priestly class in these institutions also come under the frame of patriarchy. The paper has focused on the ways in which women were inspired by the ideals of the Vaishnavite movement started by Śaṅkaradeva in Assam as also the institutional roles performed by them for maintaining a sustainable and positive environment. It is an attempt to contextualize the events that happened in history with the present state and provide an opportunity to appropriate their roles in the multi-faceted institutions like Sattra. However the paper discusses the general changing pattern of the roles of women in many of the influential Vaishnava institutions in Assam in particular, which have changed the traditional structure, both social and cultural.
Keywords- Congregations, Patriarchy, Religiosity, Sattra, Vaishnavism

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