Browsing by Author "Mohammed, Faiz"

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    Evaluations of the Effect of Subchronic Administration of Crude Khat Extract (Catha Edulis F.) on Learning and Memory in Mice
    (Addis Ababa University, 2014-01) Mohammed, Faiz; Engidawork, Ephrem (PhD); Nedi, Teshome (PhD)
    Learning may be defined as the ability to alter behavior based on experience. If there is no learning, there can be no memory later. Memory is the ability of an individual to record sensory stimuli; events, information, etc. and retain them over short or long periods and recall the same later when needed. People chew khat believing that it improves memory, make them alert and think clearly. This study was made to add to the existing body of knowledge about khat and memory. To this effect, 36 albino mice, 6-8 weeks old, were administered orally with a single daily dose of khat extract for 30 days. The animals were divided into four groups. The first group served as controls and was administered with 0.5 ml 3% Tween 80 in water. Group two (K100), three (K200) and four (K300) were administered 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg khat extract, respectively. The animals were then subjected to Multiple T maze (MTM) and Morris water maze (MWM) task performance. The result showed that subchronic administration of crude khat extract at doses used did not have a significant effect on learning using the two models. K200 (p< 0.01) and K300 (p< 0.001) significantly impaired short-term memory in both models, while K100 impaired STM in MWM but not in MTM. Khat at all doses used did not have any significant effect on long-term memory using both models. Crude khat extract administration also had initially anorexic effect but this was followed by development of tolerance. The results collectively showed that subchronic exposure of mice to khat could alter formation of short-term memory, without affecting learning and long-term memory. II Key Words: Catha edulis, learning, memory, short-term memory, long-term memory, Morris water maze task, Multiple T maze task.
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    Philosophical Challenges for Secularism and its Post Narrative
    (Addis Ababa University, 2016-04) Mohammed, Faiz; Gutema, Bekele (PhD)
    Although secularism has challenged superstitious practices (of any religion either in private or public sphere) and contributed a lot for inclusion of citizens regardless of their religious background, the hypersecularizing tendency of the secularists (such as becoming “militant” against religious practices and symbols) and their weak thesis regarding the role of religion has made contemporary philosophers to (re)analyze the challenges for secularism. The historical emancipation of the secular sphere from religion, and the role and acrimonious debate among influential philosophers of the time has shaped the nature of secularism in their particular society. The current prominent (Anglo-American and French) models of secularism resulted from their specific religious and cultural milieu, and the socio-political nature of the early modern time. Those models are much influenced by the thinking’s of the philosophers of that time. Those and other models that are described as either soft or hard type of secularism need a long time of discussion and debate, on bottom up basis, to be implemented in a particular country. If the way of introducing the secularism is on top-down fashion, without involvement of thinkers, the effectiveness of the concept in that society is poor or there is the possibility of being observed as futile end. The challenge for secularism starts in this top-down prescription of the ideology without considering the context of the intended society. The challenges for secularism necessitated the introduction of new paradigm that balances the relation between the religious and the secular. Importantly, the prominent contemporary philosopher Jürgen Habermas declared post secularism that narrates the co-existence of religious and secular societies under secular environment. He declared that we are living in post secular age. Although he has come with a wonderful philosophical alternative considering the challenges for secularism, he does not do well with all challenges and at the same time he does not do justice to religious contents. After analyzing the gap and weakness of his philosophical alternative, this paper claim the introduction of a new paradigm that enables the real coexistence of religious and secular societies under either secular or religious environmentof religious and secular societies under either secular or religious environment