bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Idea Whose Time Has Gone
Authors: Maurer William R.
Published: July 2020

This Article discusses what amortization is, why municipal governments use it, and how the courts of Texas and other states have treated the practice. Next, this Article argues that, while Texas courts have routinely approved amortization, many exercises of the power are likely unconstitutional under Texas’s prohibition on retroactive civil legislation and that it violates due process. Lastly, this Article concludes with a call for Texas courts to reexamine the constitutionality of this oppressive practice and do away with it once and for all.
What If? Using Medicare Regulations to Control and Commercialize Rainwater Harvesting
Authors: Scott C. Trey
Published: July 2020

This Article will examine how rainwater harvesting in Texas would look if applied to a structure for rainwater governance similar to the structure of Medicare governance. Section II addresses the reasons why rainwater harvesting must be considered a necessity. Next, Section III will provide an overview of the applicable Medicare regulations that will later be reappropriated and rewritten for rainwater harvesting. Section IV will apply the discussed Medicare structure to rainwater harvesting. Finally, Section V will provide a closing answer to what if we applied the Medicare structure to rainwater harvesting.
Clarifying the Scope of Texas’s Cross-Jurisdictional Tolling Rule
Authors: Bell Andrew W.
Published: July 2020

This Comment seeks to clarify the scope of cross-jurisdictional tolling in Texas. Although both Texas and federal courts interpreting Texas law have addressed this issue, no Texas court has specifically addressed whether putative members of a class action lawsuit—which was filed in a federal court located in Texas and that asserts Texas property-related claims—can rely on the class action lawsuit to toll the statute of limitations applicable to their claims. Part I of this Comment provides a brief history of the class action tolling doctrine, specifically describing American Pipe and its progeny. Part II discusses recent Texas case law decisions on the American Pipe doctrine and their applicability when cross-jurisdictional tolling is involved. Part III briefly discusses the policy concerns behind cross-jurisdictional tolling. Part IV recommends that Texas should adopt cross-jurisdictional tolling in property-related cases, especially when the class action lawsuit is filed in a federal court located in Texas. Finally, Part V summarizes the points discussed in this Comment.
Regulate or Be Regulated
Authors: Steinocher Brian J.
Published: July 2020

In most states, the landman profession is unregulated and free to define itself. Work performed by landmen often flirts with the practice of law, but under Texas law much of the work that landmen perform is excepted from the unlicensed practice of law. Historically, the American Association of Professional Landmen (“AAPL”) has been influential in guaranteeing that this exception stays available to landmen all over the United States and that landmen are not subject to licensing requirements in the states they work in. In light of the recent, unsuccessful attempt by the Texas legislature to regulate landmen, this Article will analyze whether or not regulation would be beneficial for landmen, the energy industry, and the general public.

This Article will first discuss the historical roots and qualities of landmen. It will then address the duties and job functions of landmen. Section III will analyze why both the general public and the energy industry itself may distrust landmen and the job functions they perform. Section IV provides a contrast between landmen and the practice of law, in addition to identifying how the landman profession is relatable to the real estate profession. These comparisons help highlight the anomaly of the lack of regulation of landmen, even though there are similarities among these professions. Section V addresses the lack of regulation over landmen, including licensing theories, the regulation of comparable professions, and the licensure requirements proposed in Texas in 2009. Finally, Section VI presents examples of what other states have done to promote regulation, summarizes other regulatory recommendations, and ends by proposing regulations that Texas could enact to regulate landmen.
INTEGRATING SKILL DEVELOPMENT IN HIGHER EDUCATION: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF INDIA AND CANADA
Authors: Wadhwaniya Mayur
Published: July 2020

The paper presents a comparative analysis of two emerging economies -India and
Canada in case of Skill development in Higher education. The rational for comparing India and Canada is because both countries have a common underline philosophy when it comes to skill development in Higher education. In both the countries, Skill development in Higher Education’ has been central for policy makers, academicians and international education community merely because of the fact that a skilled workforce with quality higher education has the potential to be productive and can contribute immensely to the economic growth and development of the country. Universities and Institutes of higher learning across the globe are in constant pressure to ensure that their graduates are ‘employable’ but it is found that most of the university courses are rarely able to provide a ‘decent employment’ just because of the fact that the curriculums in the university system does not have the component of skill development. This backdrop raises a very fundamental question; what is the extent of importance given to skill development especially in Higher education and how it can be improved further?
Responsabilidade civil e COVID-19 no âmbito da cadeia produtiva
Authors: Soares Renata Domingues Balbino Munhoz
Published: July 2020

O presente artigo propõe uma reflexão do impacto do novo coronavírus nos denominados Fashion Contracts, que se fazem presentes em toda a cadeia criativa e produtiva da indústria têxtil e de confecção. A partir do impacto econômico que esses contratos sofreram durante a pandemia, no Brasil e no mundo, busca-se analisar a relevância jurídica e os reflexos do seu inadimplemento. Ressalta-se, finalmente, a importância da prática da renegociação, com base na boa-fé objetiva, e a função preventiva da responsabilidade civil, como alternativas à função reparatória.
Thermal Hydraulic Analysis of a Nuclear Reactor due to Loss of Coolant Accident with and without Emergency Core Cooling System
Authors: Nath Pronob Deb , Rahman Kazi Mostafijur , Bari Md. Abdullah Al
Published: July 2020

This paper evaluates the thermal hydraulic behavior of a pressurized water reactor (PWR) when subjected to the event of Loss of Coolant Accident (LOCA) in any channel surrounding the core. The accidental break in a nuclear reactor may occur to circulation pipe in the main coolant system in a form of small fracture or equivalent double-ended rupture of largest pipe connected to primary circuit line resulting potential threat to other systems, causing pressure difference between internal parts, unwanted core shut down, explosion and radioactivity release into environment. In this computational study, LOCA for generation III+ VVER-1200 reactor has been carried out for arbitrary break at cold leg section with and without Emergency Core Cooling System (ECCS). PCTRAN, a thermal hydraulic model-based software developed using real data and computational approach incorporating reactor physics and control system was employed in this study. The software enables to test the consequences related to reactor core operations by monitoring different operating variables in the system control bar. Two types of analysis were performed -500% area break at cold leg pipe due to small break LOCA caused by malfunction of the system with and without availability of ECCS. Thermal hydraulic parameters like, coolant dynamics, heat transfer, reactor pressure, critical heat flux, temperature distribution in different sections of reactor core have also been investigated in the simulation. The flow in the reactor cooling system, steam generators steam with feed-water flow, coolant steam flow through leak level of water in different section, power distribution in core and turbine were plotted to analyze their behavior during the operations. The simulation showed that, LOCA with unavailability of Emergency Core Cooling System (ECCS) resulted in core meltdown and release of radioactivity after a specific time.
ALGORITHM FOR ANALYZING DEVIATIONS AND IRREGULARITIES IN THE FUNCTIONING OF THE AIRLINE'S STRUCTURAL UNITS AND PERSONNEL IN THE FACE OF UNCERTAINTY
Authors: Terescenko Jevgenijs , Bitins Аleksandrs , Shestakov Vladimir , Chatys Rafal , Maklakov Juris
Published: July 2020

At the heart of airline flight safety management is a systematic approach to identifying hazards and controlling risk factors,
which ICAO requires to collect, analyze all deviations in the activities of units, services and personnel airlines and use of its results to develop
and implement management activities. That kind of the system enables the organization to predict and fix problems before they lead to an aviation
accident. Thus, the organizational management structure should ensure high efficiency, reliability and completeness of the control over all components
that ensure the process of the air transportation: the course of transportation, the clear operation of all units in the uninterrupted transport process
and their correct matching. In modern conditions, this result is achieved based on a process approach, when the company’s activities are presented as
a set of production processes (activities). For each of these areas, the airline has appropriate management systems that are developed, certified,
implemented and operated in accordance with international standards. As a result of the interaction of these processes, the goals of the aviation
enterprise, which determine its competitiveness, are achieved.
The Initiation of a Solar Streamer Blowout Coronal Mass Ejection Arising from the Streamer Flank
Authors: Zheng Ruisheng , Chen Yao , Wang Bing
Published: July 2020

Streamer blowout (SBO) coronal mass ejections (CMEs) represent a particular class of CMEs that are characterized by a gradual swelling of the overlying streamer and a slow CME containing a flux-rope structure. SBO CMEs arising from the streamer flank fall into a special category of SBO CMEs involving three lower arches under the higher streamer arcade. However, the initiation mechanism for this special category of SBO CMEs remains elusive, due to the observational limitations. Here we report critical observations of a SBO CME associated with the eruption of a polar crown filament that originated from the streamer flank. The filament slowly rose toward the solar equator with the writhing motion, and underwent a sudden acceleration before its eruption. Interestingly, during the rising, the filament fields experienced gradual external reconnections, which is evidenced by the dip-shaped bottom of the enveloping flux-rope structure changing from a smooth concave, the slow inflows (∼1.8 km s−1) from both the filament fields and the coronal loops beneath, and the persistent brightenings around the interface between the filament fields and the coronal loops beneath. The newly formed lower loops at the filament source and the Y-shaped structure in the stretched tail fields indicate the internal reconnections for the filament eruption. The clear signatures of external and internal reconnections shed light on the initiation mechanisms of SBO CMEs.
The Evolutionary Status of 17 Com, The Hottest Member of Coma Berenices
Authors: Monier Richard , Deal Morgan
Published: July 2020

The integrated flux, linear radius and effective temperature of 17 Com A (A0p CrEu), the hottest member of the Coma Berenices open cluster, are determined using the Infrared Flux Method. The surface gravity is derived by fitting the H
β
profile. The effective temperature and surface gravity are found to be smaller than most previous determinations. The evolutionary status of 17 Com A is discussed in light of these new parameters using stellar evolution modeling. 17 Com A appears to be finishing its lifetime on the Main Sequence.
DDO Photometry for Some Late-type Stars
Authors: Snowden Michael S.
Published: July 2020

Extensive DDO photometric data are provided for selected subgiants and chromospherically active RS CVn binaries. A search for an improved DDO temperature-corrected luminosity calibration for late type stars is described.
El amor en El Victorial de Gutierre Díaz de Games
Authors: Fernández Riva Gustavo
Published: July 2020

El presente trabajo investiga la representación y la concepción del amor en El Victorial de Gutierre Díaz de Games. Siguiendo la tradición de las biografías y manuales caballerescos, predomina la idea del amor como una fuerza ennoblecedora, ligada a la virtud, el honor y la destreza militar. Esta forma de amor caballeresco, que también ocupa un lugar central dentro de la ideología de la aristocracia guerrera medieval, convive en El Victorial con otras representaciones diversas del fenómeno, comunes en géneros literarios, médicos o religiosos. El objetivo del trabajo es analizar la manera en que estas diferentes concepciones del amor se entretejen y entran en diálogo en un texto central para comprender la función del amor dentro del contexto aristocrático tardo-medieval.
Mahoma, las viejas y el Paraíso: de antiguo hadiz a cuentecillo en colecciones españolas del XIX
Authors: López Bernal Desirée
Published: July 2020

Tras los Siglos de Oro, el interés hacia los cuentos jocosos o cuentecillos en la literatura española se reaviva con fuerza en el s. XIX. Se imprimen entonces numerosas colecciones de relatos breves concebidas con el único objeto de hacer reír. Los gustos de la época se ven fuertemente impregnados por el orientalismo y, en consecuencia, abundan en dichas colecciones los materiales de temática árabe-islámica. El presente artículo se propone desvelar la trayectoria de un antiguo hadiz de la tradición árabe-islámica hasta alcanzar la literatura española decimonónica convertido en cuento. Se partirá de las versiones encontradas en El libro de los cuentos de Rafael Boira y El mundo riendo de Roberto Robert para, a partir de ellas, exponer el desarrollo en su tradición de origen y analizar la posible vía de llegada hasta los literatos españoles de un relato muy difundido por la tradición escrita europea del s. XIX.
«Radiografías» y «radiofonías» del silencio en la poesía hispana contemporánea: Carlos Bousoño, José Manuel Caballero Bonald, Antonio Colinas, Juan Luis Panero y Emilio Adolfo Westphalen
Authors: Machín Lucas Jorge
Published: July 2020

El presente artículo indaga en la poco estudiada temática del silencio en cinco poetas hispanos de los siglos XX y XXI: Carlos Bousoño, José Manuel Caballero Bonald, Antonio Colinas, Juan Luis Panero y Emilio Adolfo Westphalen. Se analiza en los siguientes frentes: el silencio como actitud de concentración literaria, como oposición a la razón pactada y al lenguaje convencional, como análisis intuitivo de una realidad que está más allá de la percepción y como actitud de espera de una revelación trascendente más allá de la muerte. Este tema es de la máxima importancia ya que ha influido a místicos, a románticos, a simbolistas, a vanguardistas y a figuras contemporáneas de la talla de Samuel Beckett, de Octavio Paz y de la poesía del silencio española, entre otros.
Memorias incómodas: la División Azul en la literatura española contemporánea
Authors: Possi Valeria
Published: July 2020

El artículo se centra en un grupo de novelas históricas contemporáneas que relatan las vivencias de unos personajes que durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial se alistaron en la División Azul para luchar contra el comunismo en la Unión Soviética, al lado del ejército de la Alemania nazi. En el texto se indagan las maneras de representar a estos personajes de ideología derechista y falangista en el contexto actual de la recuperación de la memoria histórica acerca de episodios relacionados con la Guerra Civil española y la dictadura franquista. La novelización de los personajes divisionarios en las obras de Almudena Grandes, Juan Manuel de Prada, Pío Moa, Ignacio del Valle y Lorenzo Silva adopta en algunos casos un andamiaje maniqueo, mientras que en otros refleja una postura más crítica y plural, abierta a la reflexión metanarrativa acerca de la escritura de unas memorias conflictivas e incómodas en el presente contexto literario y cultural español.
Exploring the Literature on Utilization of Open Educational Resources in Nigeria
Authors: Igwe K. N.
Published: July 2020

This chapter looks at open educational resources (OER), the evolution and conceptualization, the empirical literature so far on utilization of OER in Nigeria, potential determinants of OER utilization, and the future pathways for OER as essential learning resources for functional education and training in the 21st century. The open access movement calls upon researchers and academics to provide open access to their research works by either publishing their findings in open access journals that provide open access to their contents online or by depositing their work into repositories that make their content freely available over the internet. Open educational resources (OER) are now at the forefront of education, knowledge, and skills acquisition across the universe. This implies that OER can be used in all learning environments for addressing learning needs of different classes of individuals in the society. There should be priority attention in developing ICT infrastructures at all levels of education in Nigeria, which is expected to facilitate unhindered exploitation of all kinds of existing OER across the universe.
Information Literacy Skills Among Students of Higher Education Institutions With Special Reference to Tamil Nadu
Authors: Alagu A. , Thanuskodi S.
Published: July 2020

All academic institutions find rapid growth in computer networks and the use of computerized databases to access information in their libraries. Most academic libraries include hybrid libraries, which have e-library features and traditional library services. It is difficult to use electronic information resources effectively without training. Students need to obtain the skills to get information quickly and efficiently from electronic sources and become what is often referred to as information literate. The human being is blessed with a unique ability to create something from nothing. He creates, originates, innovates, generates, accumulates knowledge, produces works of art, and discovers the truth about the world he lives in. What sets the information age apart from prior periods in history is the label we put on these intellectual creations. These days the economy of nations depends upon buying and selling facts, ideas, knowledge. This chapter explores information literacy skills amongst higher education students.
Research Output on Encephalitis Literature
Authors: Rathika N. , Thanuskodi S.
Published: July 2020

This study aims to evaluate the publications in Encephalitis journal during the year 2008-2017. The data were retrieved from the Web of Science database maintained by Thomson Reuters, analyzed using tools like HisCite and Microsoft Excel. The adopts various method like relative growth rate, exponential growth rate, doubling time, degree of collaboration, etc. Focusing on various aspect of the journal such as document types, year-wise distribution of publication, authorship pattern, institutions involved, country-wise, keyword wise distribution, etc. The study reveals that Encephalitis published 6,405 articles. The highest number of publications in terms of articles was in the year 2017 followed by 2016. The study shows that most of the papers (93.97%) were contributed jointly whereas 6.02% of papers were contributed by single authors. It reveals that Vincent A. is the most productive author contributing 65 (1.01%) of articles in Encephalitis. The country-wise distribution shows that the highest number of contribution comes from the USA: 2,331 (36.39%).
Information Literacy Among Rural Women
Authors: Aravinthan M. , Natarajan R.
Published: July 2020

In today's world, technology occupies center stage in national as well as international aspects. New technologies are employed for improvement in knowledge generation as well as sharing. Information and communication technology (ICT) is one of the technologies that is contributing and enhancing national growth. The rapid adoption of information and communication technology (ICT) has enabled people to access information across the globe. But there is a widening gap between those with access to these tools and those without the ability or means to access them. In a digitally unequal world, we need to focus on bridging the gap between the digitally privileged and underprivileged community of rural India. This study is carried out to examine the digital awareness and digital literacy among rural women. Digital literacy is the ability to find, evaluate, utilize, share, and create content using information technology and the internet. Digital literacy is the knowledge, skills, and behaviours used in a broad range of digital devices such as smart phones, tablets, laptops, and desktops, all of which are seen as network rather than computing devices. Ramanathapuram and Sivagangai districts were selected for this study. A simple random sampling technique is used for selecting the sample. The total sample size is 140 respondents.
Usage of ICT Resources in Academic Libraries With Special Reference to Engineering Colleges
Authors: Stephen G.
Published: July 2020

Academic libraries in India make use of ICT as tools to meet the information need of users who in this context are students and faculty staff. Academic libraries are established to support the objectives of their parent institutions which are to promote teaching, learning, and research. Therefore, academic libraries are expected to serve the students, lecturers, and other members of the academic community. To meet the information need of users, academic libraries provide various services such as user education (orientation/instruction services), inter-library loan/connection services, abstracting and indexing services, referral services, and circulation services. The finding of the respondents problems encountered while using ICT-based resources and services reveal the fact that, out of 732 respondents, 543 (74.18%) respondents stated too few computers with internet and 421 (57.51%) lack of subscription for more foreign journals for their main problems.
Role of Public Libraries in Building Knowledge Society
Authors: Nageswari N. , Natarajan R.
Published: July 2020

The library is a social institution. Libraries form a vital part of the world's social and educational system. They are entrusted with the responsibility of carrying knowledge to the doors of those who require it, so that it can be fruitfully utilized both by the educated and the uneducated. Knowledge is available through books, films, recordings, and other media. People in all walks of life use library resources for their day-to-day life. A public library is a social organization, supported by public funds, which provides for self-education, free information on social, economic, cultural, and recreational needs of all members of rural and urban classes of the society. It serves the public without any discrimination of caste, creed, age or gender, status, and educational attainments. It is, therefore, described as ‘People's University'. It is a democratic institution of the people, by the people, and for the people. The study reveals that the majority of the respondents, 73 (11.62%) belonging to the age group of 56-65 years visited the library to read Tamil newspapers.
Best Practices for Tour Guides in the Northern Region of Jordan
Authors: Khreis Sawsan , Benghadbane Foued
Published: July 2020

Tourism investments are concentrated in the southern region of Jordan (Petra and Aqaba). This chapter argues that if food tourism delivers its sustainable benefits, it could be a vehicle for regional tourism development by strengthening the regional food on offer so that deprived areas are regenerated. Villages in Ajloun are selected for the investigation as they are well-known for food production. These villagers have inherited the talent for preparing traditional Jordanian food. This study is the first scientific study conducted to compare two villages in Ajloun, namely Orjan village and Ibbin village for logic justifications: 1) Provide the best example illustrating the best practices of tour guides in Jordan who unconsciously apply the principles of alternative tourism that lead to a sustainable tourism development. 2) This chapter aims to identify many problematic issues such as whether tour guides apply the best practices that are the concrete reflection of sustainable tourism principles.
As an Alternative
Authors: Tanrisever Canan
Published: July 2020

Tourist guidance training/education is different in many countries of the world. Tourism types or tourism choices affect the specialization areas of tourist guides. Tourist guides that should be one of the components of an ecologically based integrity are not yet included in all routes. This area, which is not included in the tourist guidance curriculum, has been proposed as a training module for specialization in this study. In this context, the aim of the study is to contribute to the field and literature by creating the infrastructure of the cultural routes education program as a module. The study is a heuristic research. The interview form used in the research was formed by utilizing expert opinions on qualitative data collection methods based on literature review. According to the results of this research, this module is divided into seven main topics.
Firm-Specific Moderators in Recovery From Brand Scandals
Authors: Çal Betül
Published: July 2020

The aim of this chapter is to investigate the firm-related factors that moderate the effect size of corporate scandals that brands are faced with at times. The issue is analyzed from consumer market and capital market perspectives. An extensive literature review is presented to reveal the existing viewpoints and applications in this aspect. Among the firm-specific factors discussed are brand equity, firm size and industry, corporate reputation, social responsibility, CEO traits, source, and timing of disclosure. It is concluded that although brand scandals are hard to control, depending on various conditions related to both the firm and industry, their effect size can at least be managed with a proactive approach, which is handled at the strategic level.
The Response of Trading Volume to Borsa Istanbul Sustainability Index Inclusions and Exclusions
Authors: Gok Ibrahim Yasar , Goksen Handan
Published: July 2020

Borsa Istanbul Sustainability Index (XUSRD) was launched on November 4, 2014. Initially, there were 15 firms in the index. This number grew to 56 as of December 2019. This study aims to investigate whether the firms' inclusion in or exclusion from XUSRD affect their trading volume. Both the effects of the announcement days and the effective days of the index changes were considered, and six index events that occurred between Nov 2014 and Dec 2019 were studied. On the effective days and their subsequent days, there were no significant trading volume changes for both included and excluded firms. On the announcement days, the trading volume increased for the included firms and decreased for the excluded firms, though only the experience of the deleted firms was statistically significant. Therefore, there was an asymmetric response to additions and deletions. In addition, the index effect on the included and excluded firms was temporary, which supports the price pressure hypothesis.
Strategies for Business Sustainability in a Collaborative Economy
Authors: Borg Naomi , Scott-Young Christina M. , Naderpajouh Nader
Published: July 2020

The increasingly complex and turbulent 21st century work environment poses challenges for businesses that can threaten their long-term sustainability. Given the rapid developments in technology, increasing rates of employee turnover, skills shortages, and changing expectations from Generation Z, the youngest generation now entering the workforce, organizations are recognizing the importance of developing a career resilient workforce. Individual employees' career resilience frames their capacity to respond when faced with career challenges, allowing them to continue functioning effectively, adapt in a flexible manner, and to successfully deliver work outcomes. To sustain a resilient workforce, managers must actively plan, develop, and deploy human resource management initiatives aimed at instilling career resilience in the youngest workplace entrants. By strategically designing generationally-appropriate management practices to maximize Generation Z talent, organizations can bolster their business sustainability to remain competitive in the changing economy.
Learning Culture and Knowledge Application
Authors: Hutahayan Benny
Published: July 2020

This work aims to analyse the influence of the learning culture and transformational leadership in knowledge application in school context. Mediation analysis is used to quantify the effects that the learning culture has on the application of leadership, mediated by transformational leadership. The method involves two samples of subjects—school managers and teaching staff—of 17 educational organizations. This study used partial least squares (PLS) method in the SmartPLS v. 3.2.6 software. The results show, first, that there is a direct and significant effect of the learning culture in the application of knowledge and, secondly, a significant mediation effect of leadership in between learning culture and the knowledge application. This work has proven that leadership behaves as a mediating instrument. This situation is critical in organizations because it makes it possible to obtain synergies in human capital and the development of knowledge. The study deepens our understanding of the enablers that affect knowledge application within the school, especially of the leadership.
Potential of Internet-Based Qualification Systems for Teachers in Federal Education Systems
Authors: Koch Michael
Published: July 2020

Making an internet-based system of qualification available for teachers at general education schools within a federally organized education system poses a variety of challenges. Based on findings of pedagogical professional research, further and advanced teacher training needs to impart specialist scientific competencies and––simultaneously connected with these competencies––subject-didactic ones as well as providing support for curricular implementation. There also needs to be a broad portfolio of modules leading to specialist and didactic qualifications that can take heterogeneous curricular requirements into account. Based on pedagogical as well as systematic requirements, the article formulates the essential cornerstones of such a qualification-based online training system, using the example of the Economic (General) Education. In addition, the necessary development steps for the future are outlined, especially regarding the use of adaptive teaching and learning methods.
Walk to Health
Authors: Miller Paula , Connelly James O.
Published: July 2020

This study examined the differences between the levels of exercise among university graduate and undergraduate students. A convenience sample of 137 students were assigned to two groups. Group A received instructions about the program with a pedometer and log sheet and told to focus on an exercise goal. Group B received the same material but without a goal. The two groups were compared on the transtheoretical model's five stages of change. Exercises for strenuous, moderate, and mild activity were compared with the pretest and posttest from the Godden-Shephard Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire. Analyses indicated that a walking program inspired graduate and undergraduate students to self-monitor their progress. At pretest, there was no distribution of performance toward increasing exercise across the five stages of change for students. However, at posttest, students in Group A with a goal were more likely to engage in mild (p<0.05) and moderate (p<0.05) exercise. Differences in strenuous physical activity were unsupported.
Addressing the Public Health Epidemic of Childhood Obesity Using Public Schools as Health Education Learning Laboratories
Authors: Burrell Darrell Norman , Wright Jorja B. , Taylor Clishia , Shockley Tiffiny , Reaves April , Mairs Judith-Jolie
Published: July 2020

In our society, childhood obesity has become a pressing health issue. Childhood obesity occurs when children are considerably overweight for their age and height. Body mass index (BMI) is used to measure the percentage of body fat; therefore, the higher the BMI, the more body fat an individual has accompanied by the likelihood that the individual is obese. This research aims to address the factors that cause childhood obesity. A total of 116 journal articles were used for the development of this paper; the articles were analyzed and selected based on the occurrence of the following keywords and phrases: (1) childhood obesity, (2) social cognition theory, (3) telemedicine, and (4) nutrition education. The literature review showed a relationship between childhood obesity and body mass index (reduction, the use of telemedicine, and school food gardens). Using telemedicine video conferencing software and adding food gardens to public school curricula may be a strategy educators and policymakers can use to reduce the rate of childhood obesity.
The Antibacterial Activity of Tembelekan Leaf (Lantana camara L.) and Kopasanda Leaf (Chromolaena odorata L.) Extracts against Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Rasyid Sri Anggarini , Sugireng  , Surya Ridwan Adi , Sanatang  , Rosdarni  , Natalia Wa Ode Rejeki
Published: July 2020

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a round-shaped Gram-positive bacteria that caused infection in the human body. S. aureus infection can be inhibited by the use of antibiotics. However, these bacteria displayed resistance to some antibiotics. The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of Tembelekan (Lantana camara L.) and Kopasanda (Chromolaena odorata L.) leaf extracts against S. aureus. The method used in this study is the disc method to determine the inhibition zone. The test results showed there was no significant difference in the sensitivity of Tembelekan leaf extract (L. camara L.) and Kopasanda leaf extract (C. odorata L.) against S. aureus (P0.8>α0.05). However, based on the average value of the inhibition zone, Kopasanda leaf extract was showed higher inhibition zone compared to Tembelekan leaf extract. In conclusion, Tembelekan leaf and Kopasanda leaf at a concentration of 100% were produced inhibition zones of 0.6 cm and 0.8 cm respectively against S. aureus.
Vulvovaginal candidasis among female patients attending Yusuf Dantsoho Memorial Hospital and Barau Dikko Specialist Hospital Kaduna
Authors: Aliyu M.Y. , Obajemu O. , Aliyu A.M. , Gabriel R.
Published: July 2020

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a major cause of lower genital infections in women, especially in developing countries and cause significant morbidity and financial burden on the already weak economy. The objective was to isolate and identify Candida spp responsible for Vulvovaginitis. Two hundred (200) vaginal swabs were collected from female patients 15years and above, attending Yusuf Dantsoho Memorial Hospital (YDMH) and Barau Dikko Specialist Hospital (BDSH) all within Kaduna metropolis. The samples were analysed for the presence of Candida spp using standard procedures of microscopy, culture and biochemical identification. The overall incidence of VVC was 79.5% (159/200), with higher incidence among patients attending Yusuf Dantsoho Memorial Hospital 84.8% (117/138), than Barau Dikko Memorial Hospital 67.7% (42/62).  Four (4) yeast species were isolated and identified which include Candida krusie, Candida parapsilosis and Candida glabrata. C. krusie had the highest percentage occurrence of 42.5% (39/159), while C. parapsilosis had the least percentage occurrence of 11.3% (18/159). Higher incidence was recorded among age group 40 and above 92.8% (13/14) and lowest among age group 31-40 76.5% (39/51). Highest incidence was also recorded among widow 100% (18/18) and lowest among married 76.8% (109/142). The high percentage of positive samples is an indication that there is a high incidence of candidiasis among the study population. There is need for regular screening of women for VVC and other sexually transmitted infections.

Key words: Incidence, Vulvovaginal Candidiasis, Isolation, Kaduna.
Composting of tannery waste with cow manure and rice bran
Authors: Lambu Z.N. , Shamsuddeen U. , Yahaya S. , Kawo A.H. , Shehu A.A. , Aliyu A.S. , Mahmud T. , Yasir A.M.
Published: July 2020

The tannery waste contain utilizable nutrients and toxic organic compound which might affect soil processes and plants growth, and pathogens which might pose a threat to the local environmental communities. The study was designed to investigate the development of tannery waste collected from Unique leather finishing company Sharada, Kano, Nigeria, to compost Cow manure and Rice bran. Tannery waste was composted with cow manure and rice brand for sixty (60) days to reduce pathogens and toxic organic compounds. The compost was characterized by electric conductivity (EC) of 10.11µs/cm, pH of 7.62 and Carbon-Nitrogen (C: N) ratio of 28.8. The total concentration of Chromium, Lead, Cadmium, Copper, Zinc and Iron as mg/kg were 57.2, 0.92, 12.50, 60.50, 13.60 and 1101.00 respectively. No Salmonella sp. and Shigella sp. were detected in the compost, however, total bacterial counts decrease from 8.2 x108 cfu/g to 1.8 x106 cfu/g, the compost characteristics indicated that it was mature, and the germination index of the beans seed was 80% which may suggest the removal of most of the phototoxic compound.

Key words; Composting, Heavy metals, Organic matter changes, Pathogens, Tannery wastes,
Optimization of Levulinic acid production from groundnut shell using Taguchi orthogonal array design
Authors: Halliru A. , Hassan L.G. , Muhammad A.S.
Published: July 2020

The exploitation of lignocellulosic biomass is receiving an increasing attention due to its renewability, abundance and low price value, and can be converted into various valuable platform compounds such as furfural, lactic acid, formic acid and levulinic acid. Among these products, levulinic acid (LA) is the main compound of biomass hydrolysis, which has been classified by the United States Department of Energy as one of the top-12 promising building blocks. This work reported the transformation of groundnut shell into LA. The production of LA was carried out in a 50 cm3 Teflon lined stainless steel reactor. The LA produced was extracted from the aqueous mixture using ethyl acetate, about 1g of sodium sulphate anhydrous were added to remove the water in the organic layer after the aqueous layer was drained and then heated at a temperature of about 78 oC for the solvent to evaporate and LA was the residue. The production process was optimized using a Taguchi orthogonal array design, with optimum yield of 74.54 % at reaction conditions of temperature (180 °C), time (3.5 h), and acid concentration (0.3 M). The FT-IR spectrum of the produced LA showed absorption at about 1705.13 cm-1 and 3039.91 cm-1 indicating the conjugated carbonyl and the hydroxyl of carboxylic acid functional group. It was recommended that high yields of LA can be achieved across a range of optimization variables as long as two out of the three conditions are met: high acid catalyst concentration, long reaction time or high temperature within the range tested, as LA is relatively stable once formed. Moreover, the results obtained revealed that groundnut shell could be a potential substrate for levulinic acid production.

Keywords: Groundnut shell, Levulinic acid, Optimization, Hydrolysis, Taguchi design.
Isolation and characterization of partially furified bacteriocin of Bacillus cereus (CF1) soil isolate
Authors: Bala I. , Arzai A.H. , Mukhtar M.D. , Manga S.B.
Published: July 2020

Bacteriocins are proteinaceous antimicrobial substances produce by bacteria against closely related bacterial species. However their broad spectrum inhibitory activity has been observed against other microorganisms such as fungi. The aim of this study was to isolate and determine physical, chemical and biological characteristics of bacteriocin from B. cereus of soil origin. A Gram-positive spore forming bacilli coded as CF1 was isolated by pour plating technique from the soil sample of the cereal farm land of Kura local government area, Kano State Nigeria and identified as Bacillus cereus based on cultural, microscopic and biochemical characteristics. Bacteriocin was isolated from this B. cereus and partially purified by solvent method (cold acetone) and had broad spectrum inhibitory activity with MIC of 64 AU/ ml. This bacteriocin was thermo stable up to 121°C for 15 minutes and its activity was maintained at wider pH value of 2-12. Although, the bacteriocin isolated by this B. cereus was not affected by some chemical such as Urea, EDTA and Tween 80, other chemical such as SDS and trypsin enzyme deactivated its activity. It is therefore recommended that further studies be carryout on this bacteriocin to purify the bacteriocin using Poly Acryl Amide Gel Electrophoresis PAGE and to elucidate its sequence, to determine its molecular conformation and antibacterial activity on multi drug resistant pathogens.

Key words: Bacteriocin, Bacillus cereus, Broad spectrum, Tween 80 and Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate.
Effects of Ethylene Diamine Disuccinic Acid (EDDS) on lead (Pb2+) and cadmium (Cd2+) uptake by lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) seedlings planted in hydroponic solutions
Authors: Dagari M.S. , Musa M.S. , Maude F.M.
Published: July 2020

This research work was carried out to investigate the effects of ethylene diamine disuccinate (EDDS) on the absorption of cadmium and lead by hydroponically grown lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). Samples were prepared through digestion (dry ashing) method and the analytes quantitatively analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometric (AAS) technique. The effects of EDDS on Pb2+ and Cd2+ uptake by lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) seedlings replanted in hydroponic solutions for 72 hr in a greenhouse were investigated. Two months old seedlings were exposed to various doses of Pb2+ and Cd2+ at constant concentration of EDDS. For unchelated treatments, increase in concentrations of Pb2+ and Cd2+ in the solution increases the uptake by the plants relative to control.  Pb2+ contents in the roots showed more accumulation than in shoots (p<0.05) while Cd2+ content in the shoots was higher than in roots.  Addition of 0.0025M EDDS to the solutions of Pb2+ and Cd2+ inhibits the uptake of the metal ions at the following concentrations (0.0025, 0.005 and 0.0075 mg/L) when compared to unchelated treatments of same concentrations. At 0.025 mg/L of Pb2+ and Cd2+, chelation substantially enhances their uptakes in both shoot and root of the plant (p<0.05).  Compared to the unchelated treatments, chelation suppresses the translocation of Pb2+ and Cd2+ to the shoots of the plant (p<0.05), but there was a better translocation of Pb2+ (1.257) and Cd2+ (0.953) at 0.025 mg/L, thus indicating that, at very high concentration of the metals the plant was hyper-accumulator. For hydroponic solutions containing the combination of both metals; Pb2+ + Cd2+, Pb2+ uptake was more in the roots than in the shoots while Cd2+ content in the shoots showed more absorption than the roots for both chelated and unchelated treatments. Also, it was observed that chelation suppresses the uptake of Pb2+ and Cd2+ in the presence of one another by both root and shoot. Furthermore, increasing the concentrations of Pb2+ + Cd2+ in chelated treatments of hydroponic solutions results to a better translocation of Pb2+ while the translocation of Cd2+ to the shoot was enhanced. Generally, addition of EDDS to the hydroponic mixtures affected to a large extent the availability of Pb2+ and Cd2+ to the growing seedlings.

Keywords: Ethylene diamine disuccinate, greenhouse, hydroponic solution, lettuce, metals.
Assessment of adoption and utilisation of superior rice germplasm by smallholder farmers in four rice producing zones of Nigeria
Authors: Alamu O. , Aladele S.E. , Okere A.U. , Osewa S.O. , Olubiyi M.R. , Lee M. , Jolaiya O.B. , Hassan O.K.
Published: July 2020

Conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources is essential to the sustainable development of agricultural production and rural in production zones in Nigeria. This study, therefore investigated the utilisation of recently released superior rice germplasm among smallholder farmers in Nigeria. A post- crop varietal release impact assessment was conducted in Oyo, Ekiti, Kwara and Ebonyi states of Nigeria in 2019. Structured questionnaires were administered to 120 farmers using a simple random sampling technique. Result from the study revealed that ricefarmers are mainly males, middle aged, married, with some form of education. They have medium (3-6 household member) household size with longer years of farming experiences. Inadequate capital and limited credit facilities, plant disease, birds and insect infestation are the major constraints encountered by the farmers. Result of the correlation analysis shows that there was no significant relationship between sources of planting materials and frequently planted varieties (r = 0.100 and p = 0.786). However, there was significant relationship between production  constraints and frequently planted varieties (r = 0.010 and p = 0.648). It is recommended that more channels of credit facilities should be provided to rice farmers by governments at various levels to improve their level productivity.

Keywords: Rice, adoption, genetic resources, utilisation, smallholder farmers
Relationship between headteachers’ communication competencies and effective school management in public primary schools in Narok county, kenya
Authors: Koskie Joseph Kipkemoi , Sang Dr. Cecilis , Ngeno Dr. Viviline
Published: July 2020

This study investigated the relationship between headteachers’ communication competencies and effective school management in public primary schools in Narok County, Kenya. The target population was 665 headteachers, 25 Curriculum support officers and County Auditor. The study sample comprised 85 Headteachers, 25 Curriculum Support Officer and County Auditor. This study used the convergent mixed method research design. Data were collected using questionnaires, interviews and checklists of observations. Piloting was conducted in Kericho County. Validity was established by with the help of university supervisors. Split half technique and Cronbach Alpha coefficient test was used to test reliability coefficient. A score of 0.7 was acceptable. Analysis of quantitative data was by use descriptive statistics and inferential statistics with the aid of SPSS Version 23. Qualitative data collected from open ended questions was analyzed using descriptive analysis. These were analyzed through summarizing the set of observations drawn from the respondents. The study findings show that in most of the public schools headteachers communication competencies had a positive influence on effective school management. However, this was not the case in some of the schools in the county. The study recommended that the headteachers should consider scaling up their application of acquired communication skills for instance, by setting and communication of targets to both teachers and pupils, sharing schedules of lesson observation for all teachers, and ensuring that the curriculum is effectively delivered.

Keywords: Headteachers’ communication competencies, effective school management, public primary schools