bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Human-Centered Environmental Values Versus Nature-Centric Environmental Values--Is This the Question?
Authors: Plater Zygmunt
Published: February 2022

The challenging background context for much of the discussion and cogitation in the panels and pages of this conference is the unfortunate fact that environmental protection law in virtually all its manifestations is currently faring rather poorly in the public policy arenas of national government. From the public health hazards of residual substances in consumer goods and human breast milk to the mighty troubles of human-caused climate disruption, many of the most significant structures of societal governance are locked in political and financial dysfunctions and impasses. Given the conference’s goal to “explore more deeply the relationship between environmental protection and public health and how it should inform our efforts to become better stewards of the environment,” this present essay carries an assignment to address the relationship between human-centric values (including public health concerns) on the one hand, and nature-centric (or “ecocentric,” or “biocentric”) values on the other. Should wise and fitting societal policies of the day give primacy to concerns for human health and welfare, or to the far more diffuse and intricate concerns and values represented by the natural laws and complex creatures and ecosystems coming to us from three billion years of evolving (animate/ carbon-based) life on Earth?
Utilizing Michigan Brownfield Policies to Incentivize Community-Based Urban Agriculture in Detroit
Authors: Leonard Nicholas
Published: February 2022

As residents have increasingly moved from urban centers to suburbs, several cities have not been able to create effective solutions to the problems that such population loss has presented. Abandoned properties have proven to be the primary problem, and nowhere is that problem more pronounced than in Detroit. Urban agriculture has been widely embraced on a grassroots level as a potential solution to the pervasive problems that abandoned properties present and that cities have been unable to solve. While urban agriculture networks have largely arisen outside of municipal control, several cities are beginning to recognize urban agriculture as a potential tool for urban revitalization. However, there is a basic problem: many cities in which urban farming has flourished are riddled with brownfields. It is possible for cities and the urban agriculture community to turn this obstacle into an opportunity if they work together. By utilizing the Michigan Brownfield Redevelopment Financing Act to incentivize urban farming, Detroit could not only promote urban agriculture as a cost-effective tool for the revitalization of some of Detroit’s most distressed neighborhoods, but could also ensure that the farmers and the food they produce are safe from toxic contamination. By encouraging urban farms, Detroit will for the first time have a truly viable strategy to reversing blight and revitalizing some of the city’s most depressed areas.
Making Ideas Matter: Remembering Joe Sax
Authors: Van Putten Mark
Published: February 2022

Joe Sax made his ideas matter. He had consequential ideas that shaped an entire field—in his case, environmental law—both in theory and in practice. His scholarship was first rate and has enduring significance in academia, as evidenced by the fact that two of his law review articles are among the 100 most frequently cited articles of all time. Others are more competent to review the importance of his scholarship; my experience in environmental advocacy is more pertinent to evaluating his impact on environmental policymaking. Here, his ideas have had a greater impact than any other legal academic. As the New York Times observed in the opening sentence of its obituary for Professor Sax, he “helped shape environmental law in the United States and fueled the environmental movement.” As environmental law historian Richard Lazarus put it, Sax “provided much of the strategic blueprint followed by the environmental public interest groups,” which is still followed more than fifty years after he began his career at the University of Colorado Law School in 1962. How did a self-effacing, erudite, bookish professor come to have such an impact?
Fun with Administrative Law: A Game for Lawyers and Judges
Authors: Babich Adam
Published: February 2022

The practice of law is not a game. Administrative law in particular can implicate important issues that impact people’s health, safety, and welfare and change business’ profitability or even viability. Nonetheless, it can seem like a game. This is because courts rarely explain administrative law rulings in terms of the public purposes and policies at issue in lawsuits. Instead, the courts’ administrative law opinions tend to turn on arcane interpretive doctrines with silly names, such as the “Chevron two-step” or “Chevron step zero.” To advance doctrinal arguments, advocates and courts engage in linguistic debates that resemble a smokescreen—tending to obscure the real issues. Grammatical arguments about things like the “rule of the last antecedent” abound, and they rarely serve to make clear language any clearer, or to clarify ambiguous language. At its worst, this type of analysis frustrates one goal of the requirement of reasoned decisionmaking: preventing agency officials “from cowering behind bureaucratic mumbo-jumbo.” In this context, it is not surprising to see courts treat legislative goals and public policy as all but irrelevant to their decisions. Perhaps because much of the population has already written lawyers off as idiots and leeches, there is little public outrage at the spectacle of courts resolving important public issues in terms that only lawyers can understand. And even lawyers do not necessarily take these doctrines seriously.
Too Many Cooks in the Climate Change Kitchen: The Case for an Administrative Remedy for Damages Caused by Increased Greenhouse Gas Concentrations
Authors: Reese Benjamin
Published: February 2022

Recent federal and state court decisions have made clear that federal common law claims against emitters of greenhouse gases are not sustainable; however, those same courts seem to have given state common law tort claims the green light, at least if the claims are brought in the state where the polluters are located. This Note contends that such suits are not an adequate remedy for those injured by climate change because they will face nearly insurmountable barriers in state court, and because there are major policy-level drawbacks to relying on state tort law rather than a federal solution. This Note then proposes a federal regulatory system of climate change compensation and explains several reasons why it is a preferable means of compensating climate change’s victims.
Clinical Study of High Dose Calcium to Prevent Pregnancy Specific Hypertensive Disorders, Their Severity, Still A Research Agenda!
Authors: Shakuntala Chhabra  , akanksha Suman
Published: February 2022

Background: Worldwide hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDsP) continue to be leading causes of maternal, perinatal severe morbidity mortality, long term disabilities. Prevention of HDsP, their severity through high dose calcium supplementation is being suggested. However, whether calcium really helps is still not established. So, research continues.

Objectives: Present study was carried out to know the efficacy of high dose daily calcium from midpregnancy on reduction in occurrence of HDsP, their severity and perinatal outcome.

Material Methodology: Study was done with 1200 women, (600 cases, 600 controls) of 18-39 years with, 20 + 2 weeks pregnancy, no obvious medical disorders in mothers, no ultra sonographically diagnosed anomaly in fetus at entry to study. Study cases (S) received 2 gms oral calcium daily, similar controls (C) were not given calcium. Research assistant was not part of the care providers, but kept track of everything. Women got antenatal care, clinicians not knowing which women got extra calcium. Desired information, pregnancy outcome, complications during pregnancy, birth weight, neonatal outcome, admission of baby to neonatal intensive care unit and compliance to calcium tablets in study subjects was collected by research assistant using pretested tool.

Results: HDsP occurred in 7.5% S cases, 7.33% C group. Amongst group S9.43% Primigravida, 4.3% Multigravida developed HDsP (gestational hypertension 6%, preeclampsia 1.16%, eclampsia 0.33%). In group C 8.04% primigravida, 3.08% multigravida developed HDsP, (6%GH, 1% preeclampsia, 0.33% eclampsia), Total 8.8% perinatal deaths occurred in S cases who had HDsP, 2.27% in C, with HDsP and no maternal death.

Conclusion: No benefit was found with high dose calcium. On the contrary, perinatal outcome was poorer. More research is needed about high dose calcium for HDsP, their severity, perinatal outcome.

Keywords: Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy; Occurrence; Severity; Perinantal outcome
Resurgence of MSMEs in developing economies during the COVID-19 fog
Authors: Susan Thomas Ann , Hari Arsha
Published: February 2022

The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has acutely affected trade, investment, growth and employment around the world and has instigated a global economic slowdown. Estimates of labor income losses (before taking into account income support measures) suggest a global decline of 10.7 per cent during the first three quarters of 2020 compared with the corresponding period in 2019, which amounts to US$3.5 trillion or 5.5 per cent of global gross domestic product (GDP) for the first three quarters of 2019. Likewise, as with any crisis, the condition has become even worse in developing countries, where the stability or growth for start-ups and MSME’s has been significantly endangered. Every business or enterprises that drove to closure leads to multiple stories of unemployment, economic and social dislocation as well staggering uncertainty. It remains paramount that governments, in partnership with other public and private institutions, associations and bodies and various other stakeholders bestow their support to drive competitiveness of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME’s) with a particular focus on those small businesses in developing countries. In many countries, this interference has led to immediate and innovative approaches and models and also helped deploy resources and put up a timely and comprehensive response to the novel coronavirus disease. This study resorts to various MSME’s in developing countries confronting and combating the difficult time caused by COVID-19 pandemic which can help monitor the evolving business climate to design workable and enforceable policy support for MSME development.
Materiality, Responsibility and Anthropocene Thought in Robert Macfarlane’s and Kathleen Jamie’s Nature Writing
Authors: Zechner Iris
Published: February 2022

The concept of the Anthropocene, denoting humans as geological agents, severely complicates traditional Western distinctions between culture and nature, the human and the nonhuman world. Contrary to anthropocentric accounts, the new materialisms have established a post-humanist reading of the Anthropocene that destabilises such dichotomies, placing human beings on par with the world they encounter. This approach can also be found in the New Nature Writing (NNW), a body of creative nonfiction that seeks to reconnect the “human animal” to nature, with the ever-open question of the nature of nature itself. A reading of Robert Macfarlane’s work with a focus on his recent Underland shows the ways in which the growing awareness of the Anthropocene has influenced contemporary nature writing, allowing Macfarlane to establish a non-anthropocentric perspective following the new materialisms. While likewise adopting a new materialist stance, Kathleen Jamie’s collections of naturalist essays nevertheless question the implications of this ontological framework, in particular with regard to ethics and human responsibility in times of the Anthropocene.
Genki: A Case Study of Benefits for Foreigners Producing Theatre in a Japanese Regional Dialect
Authors: Head Philip
Published: February 2022

This paper describes the Genki Tosaben Musical (Genki), a unique community theatre project in Kochi prefecture in Japan. Since 1996, foreigners living in Kochi have been creating original musical theatre productions in Tosaben, the local Japanese dialect, and touring the prefecture to raise money for charity and promote cross-cultural exchange. In this study, qualitative survey responses from 35 former participants in Genki were analyzed. Based on these survey responses, this paper explores the motivations of the participants in this production, how the experience impacted language learning and community integration, as well as the positive and negative aspects of partaking in this event.
Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Using the Post-Isometric Relaxation (PIR) Technique and Exercises on the Mechanotherapy Apparatus in the Postoperative Period in Patients with Damage to the Rotator Cuff of the Shoulder
Authors: Roi I.V. , Borzykh N.O. , Cherniavskyi O.A. , Kravchuk L.D. , Rusanov A.P. , Katiukova L.D. , Yachnik S.P.
Published: February 2022

Objective: to evaluate the effectiveness of performing exercises on an innovative mechanotherapy apparatus and the PIR technique for the recovery of patients with damage to the rotator cuff of the shoulder at the postoperative stage.

Materials and Methods. The study involved 46 patients after arthroscopic intervention due to damage to the structures of the shoulder joint. The reasons for arthroscopic intervention were: adhesive capsulitis (3 patients), damage to the rotator cuff of the shoulder (39 patients), and impingement syndrome (4 patients). The average age of patients was 44.7±8.3 years. All patients were divided into 2 groups: the control group (CG, n=21) and the main group (MG, n=25). The beginning of rehabilitation among patients averaged 4.9±2.4 weeks after the surgery. The duration of treatment was 4.5±3.2 weeks. The study was carried out on the basis of the Department of Rehabilitation of the SI “Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics of NAMS of Ukraine” during 2020-2021.

Results and Discussion. According to the VAS results, the pain level after the rehabilitation program significantly decreased in both groups (p<0.05). In the MG, the dynamics of pain syndrome according to the VAS ranged from 6.2±1.2 cm to 0.9±0.7 cm 6 weeks after the surgery. In the CG, the majority of patients also noted an improvement in the level of pain after surgery (from 6.5±1.1 cm to 1.1±1.2 cm); no significant differences after treatment in terms of the level of pain between the patients in the MG and the CG (p>0.05) were observed. Also, patients who were included in the main group and did exercises with a simulator and elements of PIR according to the rehabilitation program showed generally better indicators of recovery of the function of the shoulder joint, namely there was a higher dynamics in increasing the amplitude of movements in the shoulder joint (112.5±10.60 flexion before physical rehabilitation (PR), 173.2±5.50 after РR). In the CG, the positive dynamics was less pronounced (107.7±6.80 flexion before PR, 151.2±6.50 after PR). Similar results were found according to the data of manual muscle testing (MMT).

Conclusions. Therefore, the method of post-isometric muscle relaxation using the proposed technique of training on a mechanotherapy apparatus for developing the shoulder joint is an effective method for treating postoperative contractures and can be recommended for the use in the complex rehabilitation of patients with contracture of the shoulder joint as a result of arthroscopic intervention in patients with injury of the rotator cuff of the shoulder.
NONLINEAR SPILLOVER EFFECT OF US MONETARY POLICY UNCERTAINTY ON CHINA’S SYSTEMATIC FINANCIAL RISKS
Authors: Ouyang Zhigang , Dou Zhenjiang , Wei Lei , Vasa László
Published: February 2022

Monetary policy uncertainty (MPU) not only imposes a great impact on the systematic financial risks of a country but also generates a significant spillover effect on countries having close economic exchanges with the former under the background of global economic integration. With the daily return rates of 64 listed financial companies in China from February 2006 to September 2020 used as the samples, China’s systematic financial risks were measured in this research by using long-run marginal expected shortfall (LRMES). On this basis, an FAVAR model with time-varying parameters was constructed to empirically investigate the spillover effect of US MPU on China’s systematic financial risks and its main transmission channels. Results showed that within the sample period (February 2006 – September 2020), US MPU generated a significant positive spillover effect on China’s systematic financial risks, namely, China’s systematic financial risks would be aggravated if the level of US MPU was elevated. From different time intervals, the spillover level was particularly high during global financial crises and global COVID-19 pandemic, indicating that the spillover effect of MPU is nonlinear and closely related to global major sudden risk events. Through the further research, it is found that this effect is mainly transmitted through short-term capital flow, interest rate, and economic uncertainty-induced channels, among which the short-term capital flow is the most important.
PyExoRaMa: An Interactive Tool in Python to Investigate the Radius–Mass Diagram for Exoplanets
Authors: Francesco Amadori , Mario Damasso , Li Zeng , Alessandro Sozzetti
Published: February 2022

We present the python version of the software originally developed with Mathematica by Zeng et al. The code represents a useful tool for visualizing and manipulating data related to extrasolar planets and their host stars in a multi-dimensional parameter space. Its versatility enables statistical studies based on the large and constantly increasing number of detected exoplanets. It can be used to identify possible interdependence among several physical parameters, and to compare observables with theoretical models describing the exoplanet composition and structure. Our transposition to python presents some new features with respect to the original version, and due to the popularity of this programming language in the astrophysics community, the tool is made accessible to a larger number of users interested in exoplanet studies.
Promoting Chinese Cultural Heritage Tourism in Sri Lanka during Post-COVID19 Revival Phase: Viewpoint
Authors: Samarathunga W. H. M. S.
Published: February 2022

The Chinese outbound tourists have received the spotlight of many destinations around the world. Therefore, the main aim of this article is to discuss the Chinese cultural heritage tourism potential in Sri Lanka with the purpose of attracting Chinese tourists to Sri Lanka during the post-COVID19 tourism revival phase. The study critically evaluates the previous literature on Chinese outbound tourism, heritage tourism, and Chinese cultural heritage in Sri Lanka. The study follows an interpretivism research approach. The study identified the potential of attracting Chinese outbound tourists to Sri Lanka after developing Chinese Cultural Heritage in Sri Lanka as a niche tourism product. The study further examined the resilience of the Chinese outbound market against the COVID19 pandemic and makes recommendations to attract Chinese tourists to Sri Lanka during the post-COVID19 revival phase. This viewpoint paper provides practical implications to Sri Lanka tourism policy makers and practitioners on how to attract the Chinese outbound tourists, which has not been systematically studied before.
Preservation of Information in Sri Lanka: A historical Perspective
Authors: Dehigama K.
Published: February 2022

The article attempts to explore the shape of preservation of information in Sri Lanka, from the Early Iron Age (1000-800 BC) to the beginning of Colonial Rule. Under the qualitative approach, the historical research method is employed in the study, while content analysis was used as a research tool to determine the presence of certain words, themes, or concepts within given qualitative data. Based on my focus, primary sources and secondary data were used to elicit data. Buckland’s concept about information-as-thing was used to streamline the demarcations made by different collections handled. The perspective of the study is limited to the published translations and transcriptions of inscriptions, literary sources, and copper plate charters. Themes and concepts such as selection of media, extending the life span of information, changing the format, or keeping the same information in different formats, and reformatting for information preservation emerged from the literature review and content analysis. Substantiations prove that effective preservation of information has ever been in flow in Sri Lankan history. Well before the cultural institutions were established under colonial rule, ancient Sri Lankans were familiar with the concepts of libraries, archives, and museums. Information was converted, reformatted, and duplicated through different media consciously, while foreign invasions, internal conflicts, natural and man-made disasters as well as the introduction of printing challenged the existence of the indigenous system of information preservation. The study will provide a rich foundation for Archaeology, history, and Information Science students and scholars to understand what happened in the past to determine and expand their research horizons. The research highlights gaps and avenues for future research in this genre.
Mass-media e AIDS a Bergamo
Authors: Farina Claudio , Goglio Antonio
Published: February 2022

A dieci anni dalla segnalazione del primo caso di infezione da HIV si è ritenuto opportuno compiere un'analisi retrospettiva su quanto è stato ''scritto" sull'argomento AIDs in Provincia di Bergamo dal1981 al 1990. Scopo di questa riflessione è verificare le modalità dell'intervento informativo sulla probiematica dell'AIDS, allo scopo di registrame l'impatto sulla popolazione e sugli "addetti ai lavori", tenendo conto che la popolazione, pur avendo a disposizione anche altri mezzi di informazione, "legge", specie in periferia, prevalentemente i quotidiani locali. Sono stati valutati 180 testi, di cui 71 di impostazione cattolica e 109 laica. Gli editoriali riservati al tema AIDS appaiono essere scarsamente rappresentati e scarso è l'interesse dimostrato dai lettori ad instaurare un pubblico dibattito sull'argomento. Tale dato risulta costante per tutte le testate analizzate che riferiscono per lo più notizie di interesse locale. Le fonti di informazione si riferiscono in modo largamente maggioritario al pubblico vario cui fa seguito l'interesse per il parere dei politici che prevale su quello espresso dai medici. La stampa di impostazione cattolica è pressoché stabile nel tempo dal punto di vista quantitativo mentre per la stampa "laica" è possibile rilevare che nell 1987 è stato pubblicato il 54% del totale degli articoli. L'analisi testuale mostra il prevalere delle notizie di interesse sociale e di prevenzione nonché delle graduatorie dei casi di infezione. L'impatto suscitato dalla notizia   tale da indurre un'impressione favorevole (superiore al 50% a far corso dal 1985 per la stampa cattolica e dal 1987 per quella laica) rispetto a quella emotivamente negativa precedentemente caratterizzante la maggior parte delle informazioni. L'analisi permette di evidenziare la facilità per il divulgatore di accedere al materiale scientifico, talora favorita da atteggiamenti presenzialisti dell'autorità tecnica nonché la tendenza a considerare i "fatti di cronaca" talora in modo sensazionalistico piuttosto che problematico.
Bioetica e nursing: Il ruolo dell'infermiere nella sperimentazione clinica
Authors: Robert Elisabetta , Sinaccio Graziella , Spagnolo A. G.
Published: February 2022

Gli Autori considerano i problemi etici che l'infermiere può incontrare durante l'attivazione e lo svolgimento delle sperimentazioni cliniche. Alla luce dei principi di Bioetica vengono affrontati l'informazione, il consenso, la comunicazione della diagnosi, il rapporto medico/infermiere/paziente, il coinvolgimento delle famiglie, la qualità della vita, il Comitato Etico, che costituiscono importanti temi di riflessione critica e rappresentano altresì problematiche delicate con le quali l'infermiere deve spesso confrontarsi nella ricerca e nella vita di corsia.
Effects of poultry waste as an additive in biogas production using cow dung
Authors: Ibrahim Sa’adu , Ashiru Hussaini , Muhammad Abdulrahman , Idris Salisu Sani , Hafeez Yusuf Hafez , Jibrin Mohammed
Published: February 2022

Globally, there is need for the proper utilization of animal waste products (such as cow dung, poultry waste and so on), which can be used as an alternative source of energy. Herein, the effects of poultry waste as an additive in the production of biogas using substrate (cow dung and poultry waste) and pH value were investigated. The substrate (cow dung and poultry waste) was prepared via simple dry method. Different set up (1, 2, 3,4 and 5) were designed using local materials (based on the floating drum plant type of digester). The gas produced through an anaerobic digestion method of the different set ups were recorded daily at a fixed time (14 hr) for the periods of 10 days. Set up 2 produced the highest volume of gas (89 cm3), a ~2, ~1.1, ~1.4 and ~1.6 -folds enhancement compared with set up 1, 3, 4 and 5, respectively. It observed that the gas produced decrease with an increase of the poultry waste, indicating that poultry waste played significant role in boosting the production of the gas. The pH of the digester and temperature were kept within pH optimum range of 6.5-8.0 and mesophilic temperature range 20-40 oC, respectively. Thus, the substrate developed (2:1 ratio) was economical, non-hazardous and environmentally friendly.
Role of endothelial cell junctions in transendothelial cancer cell migration. A review
Authors: Rabiu F.I.
Published: February 2022

During metastasis, tumour cells must become migratory and travel towards a capillary within the tumour. They then degrade the matrix surrounding the pericytes and endothelial cells, insert themselves between endothelial cells, transverse the capillary wall, to then enter the blood stream. This process depends on the motile behaviour of the tumour cells as well as the role of endothelial cell-cell junctions, both including adherens junctions and tight junctions. Circulating tumour cells must next, adhere to the walls of the capillary at the site of secondary tumour formation. Here, they again traverse the capillary wall to enter tissues distant from the primary tumour. This review aim to discuss the basic architecture of the endothelial junctional complex as well as the role played by these components towards the transendothelial migration of cancer cells from the primary site to the secondary site. Proper understanding of the role played by each of these components could invariably lead to the development of novel adjuvant cancer chemotherapy.
Predicting breastfeeding practice of Nigerian child using machine learning and deep learning algorithms
Authors: Yusuf Jelilat Olusola , Miyim Abubakar Muhammad
Published: February 2022

The accessibility and rapid growth of data with the conspicuous rise in hardware technologies have led to the development of new studies in distributed and deep learning. This work reports the prediction of breastfeeding practice of a child using machine and deep learning algorithms. Despite that exclusive breastfeeding reduces the child mortality rate caused by pneumonia and diarrhea and other benefits attached to it the percentage of mothers who practice it in Nigeria still fall short to 29% in 2018 according to Nigeria Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) compare to the global target of 70% by 2030. The aim of the study is to develop a model for the prediction of breastfeeding practice in Nigeria. This study adopted Sample, Explore, Modify, Model and Access (SEMMA) data mining methodology using 2018 NDHS dataset. Experiments were performed with ML algorithms (RF, J48, JRIP, and SVM) built with WEKA software as well as with DNN algorithm using python. Some control parameters were applied to configure the DNN model while considering the number of layers, neurons within each layer, activation function for each layer, ADAM algorithm, epochs (iterations), learning rate and percentage split of dataset between training and testing subsets. The performance of the DNN model in predicting breastfeeding practice was evaluated and compared with previous study that used ML models only. It was found that DL has a better child prediction of breastfeeding practice than ML models with accuracy of 97.9%. This could serve as a supporting tool for healthcare practitioners to support breastfeeding practice in Nigeria.
Detection of antibiotic-producing bacteria from soil samples in parts of Wudil local government area Kano State, Nigeria
Authors: Ismail M. , Ahmed I.
Published: February 2022

The emergence of new diseases and multiple-antibiotic resistance pathogens that resist the action of clinically used antibiotics have increased the needs of discovering new antibiotics. However, soil served as the most important target for most researchers in their attempt of discovering new antibiotics that have pharmaceutical values. The aim of this study was to detect the antibiotic-producing bacteria from soil samples in parts of Wudil local government of Kano state using standard procedure. The color ranged from light brown to dark brown. The texture ranged from clay loam, clay and loam. Sample C was found to have the highest mean pH and electrical conductivity of 7.46 and 108.90μs/cm, respectively, while sample B had the least mean values of 6.95 and 73.53μs/cm, respectively. The highest mean bulk devsity and particle density was sample B with 1.60g/cm3 and 1.87g/cm3, respectively, while sample C had the least mean values of 1.48g/cm3 and 1.71g/cm3, respectively. Sample C was found to have the highest mean moisture content and porosity with 17.93% and 15.57%, respectively, while sample A had the least mean values with 10.61% and 10.74%, respectively. Four bacterial spp. were identified based on morphological description, gram’s reaction and biochemical tests, and were identified as Bacillus spp., Micrococcus spp., Pseudosomonas spp. and Proteus spp. Sample C was found to have the highest mean total bacterial viable plate count of 19.9×105cfu/g, while sample B had the least mean value of 4.1×105cfu/g. Bacillus spp. was found to have the highest percentage occurrence with 21(47%), while Proteus spp. had the least value with 4(9%). E. coli had the highest and least susceptibility to metabolites produced by Bacillus spp. and Pseudosomonas spp. with inhibition zones of (17 and 0mm) respectively. While the control (Erythromycin 250mg/ml) produced the inhibition zones of (27 and 21mm) against E. coli and S. aureus respectively. It was concluded that soil samples in Lajawa, Kausani, Wudil Sabon gari and Wudil Tsohon gari of Wudil local government contained the bacteria with potentiality of producing antimicrobial substance and recommended the use of molecular techniques for further characterization.
Determination of some heavy metals in groundwater and table water in Tudun Murtala, Nassarawa Local Government Area, Kano-Nigeria
Authors: Nasiru S. , Aliyu A. , Garba M.H. , Dambazau S.M. , Nuraddeen A. , Abba Babandi , Murtala Ya’u
Published: February 2022

This study determine the level of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, Zn, Fe) in water samples obtained from different sources (well water, borehole water and table water) in Tudun Murala, Nassarawa local government area, Kano state. The concentrations of heavy metals in the water samples were determined using flame Atomic Absorption spectrometer. Results showed that the concentration of Pb, Cd, Cr and Fe in water samples were within the range: 0.295- 0.579, 0.471- 0.529, 0.550- 1.000, 0.3636 - 0.4545mg/l respectively, which were above the permissible limits set by WHO. Whereas the concentration of Zn (0.0814 - 0.173) was within the limit set. The elevated concentration of heavy metals could be linked to environmental factors and industrial pollution in the area.
Larval density and physicochemical properties of three different breeding habitats of Anopheles mosquitoes in Sudan Savannah Region of Jigawa State, Nigeria
Authors: Mahe Asma’u , Alhassan Adamu Jibril , Ononamadu Chimaobi James , Lawal Nura , Bichi Sadiya Ahmad , Haruna Sani Ado , Sani Firdausi Abdulkadir , Imam Abdullahi Abdulkadir
Published: February 2022

Mosquitoes are tiny insects that can serve as vectors for numerous infectious diseases like malaria. Malaria is considered as one of the major causes of mortality, loss of productivity and a major contributor of poverty in the African continent. In 2020, most global malaria cases (94%) were recorded in the Africa Region. In Nigeria, about 97% of the estimated populations are at risk of malaria, with up to 27% and 24% of Africa and global malaria deaths respectively in 2018. Malaria control programmes in Africa have challenge of rising insecticide resistance in the main anopheline vectors, this affects primary malaria vector control interventions. In Africa, the dominant mosquito species that transmit malaria parasites are mainly Anopheles gambiae s.s. A key control strategy against major mosquito- borne diseases involves targeting mosquito vectors to disrupt the transmission of diseases. Environmental changes can alter the genetic structure, protein profiles and enzymes of mosquitoes leading to increase in insecticide resistance. Knowing the ecology, spatial distribution of mosquito larvae, and some environmental features like physicochemical factors are important in tackling insecticide resistance. Water and larval samples were collected from three Anopheles mosquito breeding sites in August, September and October, 2019. Physicochemical parameters, larval densities and morphological specie identifications were determined. Results from this study reveal variation in levels of each studied parameter according to the site of the study. These variations can be attributed to differences in activities that occur in each site of the study.. Correlation studies indicated a significantly higher larval density in agricultural site relative to industrial and residential sites, this was by a magnitude of 10.65 and 41.30 respectively. Anopheles gambiae s.s. complex was found to be predominant in all the three study sites. These physicochemical parameters can either have negative or positive effect on mosquito biology depending on their levels, hence can affect vector control measures making it significant in terms of vector control programmes.
Effects of biochar amendments on rice growth and metabolic response to salinity stress in salt-affected soils
Authors: Adam Adam M. , Bashir Musa , Shehu Bello M. , Hussain Ibrahim Y.
Published: February 2022

Exploring cheaper and sustainable strategies for managing salt-affected soils remains crucial in irrigated areas. Many researchers recommended using gypsum as material for reclamation salt-affected soils, which are costly and unavailable for most farmers. In this study, we used biochar derived from the common materials found in the irrigated areas that are locally available and less utilized as a substitute for gypsum for sustainable reclamation of salt-affected soils. Salt-affected soils (saline, saline-sodic and sodic) and unaffected were collected from the Watari Irrigation project, Kano State Nigeria using farmers' perceptions about the salinity situations of the irrigation scheme and existing legacy map data. The biochar used for this study were made using the Typha grass, rice straw, and rice bran samples collected from the same area. Thirty-six (36) containers (plastic pots) with a diameter of 27.5cm and height of 45cm each were filled with eight-kilogram dried soils, including non-saline, saline, and saline-sodic. We measured plant height, and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) at interval of 14 days. Number of tillers per plant were also measured during tillering stage at interval of 14 days. Stover dry weight, grain dry weight, electrolytic leakage and proline contents were measured after the end of the experiment. The results revealed a high significant effect (p<0.01) of biochar amendments in remediating different forms of salt affected soils. Saline sodic soil was effectively managed when using Typha biochar with a mean value very close to non-saline soil. Rice straw and rice bran reduces the salinity levels particularly in sodic soil. Therefore, biochar from different source could be used in addressing salt-specific problems rather than using a uniform treatment.
Petrogenetic Studies of the Basement Rocks in Jimgbe and Environs, Northcentral Nigeria
Authors: Adamu L.M. , Umaru A.O. , Ereosun T.S. , Kitha M. , Aliyu A.E.
Published: February 2022

Geochemical and petrographic studies of Basement rock outcropped at southeastern Jimgbe have been carried out with the aim of characterizing and delineating the petrogenesis of the basement rocks. Field results with Facies analyses of the basement rocks in the study area revealed four (4) dominant rock units: Porphyritic granite, Migmatitic gneiss, Granite gneiss and Biotite gneiss. The minor rocks include quartzo-feldspartic intrusion and quartz vein. The area has different structures such as fold, fracture and foliation which trends NW-SE and NE-SW direction, this is allotted to the Pan-African Orogeny imprints. Fourteen (14) analyzed for petrographic method and twenty-four (24) samples were analyzed for major elements using XRF geochemical method. The petrographic analysis result showed that the four rock types are granitic in origin due to their high quartz and feldspar contents. The major mineral compositions are quartz, plagioclase, microcline and biotite. Results of geochemical studies shows that the average oxide percentages are; SiO2 (69.25%), Al2O3 (12.41%), CaO (5.72%), Na2O (3.25%), K2O (3.76%), MgO (2.76%), Fe2O3 (1.79%), TiO2 (0.28%), MnO (0.33%) and P2O5 (0.47%). These results showed that the rocks are calcic, and are also of high K-Calc alkaline in nature, the rocks majorly plot in the eugeosynclinal field except for sample T4 which plots in the sedimentary field. They are mostly S-type peraluminous rocks except for T11 which is an I-type peraluminous rock and all plot in the Granodioritic field.
Factores que dificultan el aprendizaje en pandemia de los niños preescolares
Authors: Godínez Coz Carla Suyana , Pérez Pernillo Eslia Yesenia , García García Clara Marcela , Balán González Ingrid Irlanda
Published: February 2022

OBJETIVO: identificar los factores sociofamiliares, emocionales, económicos, y tecnológicos que influyen en el proceso de aprendizaje en niños de edad preescolar. METODO: se utilizó la metodología mixta y recolectaron los datos por medio de entrevistas telefónicas dirigidas a las diez maestras del nivel preescolar de una escuela del departamento de Petén. RESULTADOS: entre los factores que dificultaron el aprendizaje el tecnológico fue el de mayor significancia con un 40% y de este el 70% no cuenta con dispositivo electrónico de comunicación. CONCLUSIÓN: la falta de dispositivos electrónicos para que el niño pudiera llevar a cabo su aprendizaje escolar se ve afectado ya que en algunos casos los padres solo cuentan con un dispositivo electrónico o no cuentan con los recursos para agenciarse de otro y dejarlo en casa mientras ellos salen a trabajar.
Uso de rituximab en lupus eritematoso sistémico
Authors: Funes Soaje Carlos , Alba Paula , Gobbi C. , Ferreyra Dillon R. , Babini A. , Albiero A.
Published: February 2022

Objetivos: Evaluar la evolución en el transcurso de dos años en pacientes con Lupus Eritematoso Sistémico (LES) refractarios al tratamiento inmunosupresor convencional, que recibieron Rituximab (RTX). Pacientes y métodos: Se estudiaron retrospectivamente 14 pacientes con diagnóstico de LES que recibieron tratamiento con RTX, atendidos en los servicios de Reumatología del Hospital Córdoba, Sanatorio Allende y Hospital Italiano de la ciudad de Córdoba, desde el año 2006. Se recabaron datos demográficos, diagnósticos, motivos de indicación de RTX, tasas de respuestas y eventos adversos. La dosis del mismo fue de 1 gramo día 1 y 15, luego cada 6 meses. Todos los pacientes habían recibido tratamiento con inmunosupresores: 12 ciclofosfamida, azatioprina, micofenolato mofetil y esteroides y 2 azatioprina y micofenolato mofetil. La actividad de la enfermedad fue medida por SELENA SLEDAI basalmente, a los 6, 12 y 24 meses postratamiento. El daño acumulado fue medido por SLICC solo basalmente. En los pacientes con nefropatía según clasificación ISN/RPS 2003, se analizó la proteinuria basal, a los 6, 12 y 24 meses, sedimento urinario y función renal medida por clearance de creatinina. Un valor de p <0,05 fue considerada significativa. Resultados: El número total de pacientes incluidos con diagnóstico de LES fue de 14, de los cuales 12 eran de sexo femenino (85,7%) y 2 de sexo masculino (14,3%). La edad promedio fue de 33,64 ± 10,33 años. Del total de pacientes, 9 presentaban compromiso renal, 3 compromiso hematológico (anemia hemolítica autoinmune, leucopenia, (trombocitopenia), 1 compromiso pulmonar (neumonitis lúpica aguda) y 1 artritis refractaria. De los pacientes con nefropatía, la clase histológica más frecuente fue la clase IV (proliferativa difusa) 77,8% (IC 95% 44,4-100%). El SLEDAI promedio al inicio fue de 15,93 ± 9,05, a los 6 meses 5,86 ± 5,57 y a los 24 meses 2,8 ± 3,29. El SLEDAI promedio fue significativamente menor en comparación al de inicio con SLEDAI promedio a los 6 meses, a los 12 meses y a los 24 (p <0,001). Se compararon los promedios de proteinuria a los 6, 12 y 24 meses contra el promedio de proteinuria inicial. Se encontró una diferencia estadísticamente significativa entre la proteinuria inicial y la proteinuria a los 6 meses (p=0,011), a los 12 meses (p=0,028) y a los 24 meses (p=0,018). En el caso del clearance de creatinina, no se encontraron modificaciones estadísticamente significativas entre el clearance inicial y el clearance a los 6, 12 y 24 meses. Los eventos adversos que se registraron durante el seguimiento en 24 meses fueron: infecciones en 3 pacientes (1 infección cutánea asociada a catéter, 1 candidiasis orofaríngea y 1 neumonía); y en 2 casos durante la infusión de RTX (1 rash cutáneo y 1 broncoespasmo) que no requirieron suspensión del mismo. Conclusión: RTX es una opción terapéutica inmunosupresora frente a pacientes con LES refractarios, que no responden a inmunosupresión de primera línea.
Recaída en nefritis lúpica
Authors: Roverano Susana , Schmid Marcela , Paira Sergio
Published: February 2022

Objetivos: Determinar el número de recaídas renales en un grupo de pacientes con nefritis lúpica (NL), identificar los factores de riesgo para recaída renal al inicio y analizar su impacto en el desenlace global del paciente. Material y métodos: Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo, identificándose 80 pacientes con lupus eritematoso sistémico (LES, criterios ACR 1982) y compromiso renal. Se tomaron variables demográficas, clínicas, de laboratorio, histopatológicas y tratamiento para evaluar factores de riesgo entre los pacientes que tuvieron recaídas renales y aquellos que no la presentaron. Se consideró el desenlace renal de los pacientes (función renal normal, daño renal permanente, muerte). Resultados: Fueron excluidos 29/80 pacientes debido a que tenían un tiempo insuficiente de seguimiento o porque no tenían disponibles datos de laboratorio o histológicos. 13/51 pacientes tuvieron una recaída renal en un tiempo medio de 58 meses (r= 14-156). Dos pacientes tuvieron dos recaídas renales. 7/13 pacientes tuvieron un brote renal proteinúrico, en 4 pacientes fue de tipo nefrítico y en un paciente fue nefrítico severo. Al comparar los datos demográficos, clínicos, de laboratorio e histopatológicos entre los pacientes que tuvieron recaída renal y aquellos que no, se observó que la glomerulonefritis proliferativa difusa fue más frecuente de manera estadísticamente significativa en los pacientes que presentaron recaída renal. No se identificaron factores predictores de recaída renal clínicos, demográficos ni de laboratorio ni se observó un desenlace diferente entre ambos grupos. Conclusión: Si bien el 25% de los pacientes presentaron una recaída renal en un plazo algo mayor a 4 años (a pesar del tratamiento instituido), no presentaron peor desenlace renal que aquellos que no recayeron, observando en ambos grupos similar proporción de pacientes con función renal normal. No se identificaron factores predictores de recaída renal al momento de la presentación.
La Neurociencia desde una Acción Pedaandragógica del Docente Universitario
Authors: García Marín Ivonne Lissette
Published: February 2022

El horizonte generador de deliberación en neurociencia comprende las relaciones humanas, originadas por comportamientos del funcionamiento cerebral, con pensamientos verbales, visuales, expresados separadamente por hemisferios cerebrales izquierdo y derecho, interviniendo la inteligencia emocional sobre el sistema inmunológico vinculando las hormonas que se liberan con el estrés, entre ellas: adrenalina y noradrenalina, el cortisol, beta endorfinas y encefalina evitando una función inmunológica en célula humana. Por ello, en lo cognitivo, la neurociencia inmersa al campo educativo-formativo responde a investigaciones orientadas hacia un proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje, que involucra el desarrollo y funcionamiento del cerebro guiado a construir conocimiento, mediación pedagógica y andragógica del docente en educación universitaria. El objetivo investigativo consiste en analizar la neurociencia desde una acción pedaandragógica del docente universitario. Ontoepistemológicamente sigue ideas de Adam (1980), Martínez (1987), Campos (2010), Balza (2011), Bernal (2012), García (2017), Rubio (2018), Morillo (2018), y Hernández (2021), con estudios e investigaciones sobre neurociencia, su conectividad neural y construir conocimiento-aprendizajes científicos por el hemisferio derecho, genéticamente a partir del nacimiento y complementado con ambos hemisferios capacitando al hombre socialmente. La Metódica aplicada es una investigación teórica, método hermenéutico, analítico-reflexivo, técnica arqueo de fuentes bibliográficas, documentales, electrónicas, el instrumento fichas de contenidos. Sus Reflexiones analíticas, destacan a la neurociencia importante como medio de interacción proveniente del sistema nervioso, estimulando las estructuras cerebrales para generar una acción pedaandragógica del docente universitario en forma perceptiva, consciente, creativa y social, aplicada e integrada a disciplinas científica-humanistas, buscando el crecimiento y desarrollo personal como condición esencial de todo ser humano.
Propuesta de enseñanza de la oralidad en inglés para estudiantes universitarios: ponencia
Authors: Revello Barovero Ethel Natalia , Colloca Cristina Beatriz
Published: February 2022

En este trabajo se presenta una propuesta de enseñanza de la oralidad en inglés en un curso extracurricular que tiene como finalidad preparar a estudiantes de las licenciaturas en geología y en turismo para presentar ponencias en congresos, jornadas, etc. Esto surgió como resultado de un trabajo de investigación en el que se visibilizó la necesidad de incluir el género “ponencia” en las planificaciones de las clases de inglés en las disciplinas de geología y turismo. El método utilizado para el desarrollo de las capacidades que se necesitan está descrito en este artículo. Es un modelo de planificación que se utilizó para desarrollar estrategias de comunicación oral en contextos académicos y científicos. Los resultados mostraron que la sistematización de la enseñanza y el acompañamiento de docentes de inglés a estudiantes de ambas de estas disciplinas es muy importante. Para ello es importante contar con el tiempo y el espacio para cursos de idiomas específicos para estas. En el presente trabajo se expone el modelo de la secuencia didáctica, como así también los criterios de evaluación que se consideraron para evaluar a los estudiantes.