bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quality Infrastructure and Sustainable Development: An Empirical Economic Analysis
Authors: Papanikos Gregory T.
Published: May 2024

Sustainable development is one of the most important goals set by many countries worldwide. The United Nations (UN) has prioritized it as a significant objective within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) program. Sustainable development implies economic growth that benefits both present and future generations without compromising their well-being. Some analysts argue that sustainable infrastructure may be more advantageous when evaluated based on private cost-benefit criteria, although comparisons are needed for clarity. One challenge in testing this hypothesis is the lack of a clear measurable distinction between sustainable and non-sustainable infrastructure at the national or global level. In this study, we utilize two quality infrastructure indices to quantify the extent of sustainable infrastructure. These measures are then applied to a sample of countries to test hypotheses regarding the effect of per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and population on a country’s investment in quality infrastructure. The findings support the hypotheses that per capita GDP and population have a nonlinear effect on quality infrastructure, with both variables having a positive effect, albeit at a decreasing rate. At certain higher levels of per capita GDP or population, the effect turns negative. The policy implications for national governments and international organizations are also discussed, highlighting the need for tailored strategies to promote sustainable infrastructure development without undermining other much needed priorities such as eradicating extreme poverty. Keywords: development, sustainability, per capita GDP, population, quality infrastructure, marginal effects, elasticity, investment gaps
Modelos de producción y dinámicas contemporáneas de la arquitectura residencial rural. Su análisis desde la construcción con tierra en los valles tucumanos, Argentina
Authors: Dorado Pablo
Published: May 2024

La producción arquitectónica implica una secuencia planificada de operaciones con el propósito de crear un producto o servicio, y su gestión se estructura mediante modelos organizativos. Este estudio se centra en analizar las modalidades de producción en la arquitectura residencial rural, específicamente, la arquitectura con tierra en los valles tucumanos durante las dos primeras décadas del siglo XXI. A través de encuestas y entrevistas en tres localidades de la zona, se desarrolló un análisis basado en cuatro dimensiones (recursos, tecnologías, relaciones y espacio-temporal), y nueve componentes internos que permiten una desagregación inicial (entidades, medios de producción, actividades, roles, conocimientos, estructura, interacciones, ámbitos y contexto). Como resultados del análisis se identificaron nueve modelos de producción. Este enfoque permitió una comprensión más profunda de la producción arquitectónica rural local favoreciendo el enfoque organizativo en su comprensión. Los principales aportes de esta investigación incluyen la capacidad de cada dimensión y componente para ofrecer información específica sobre aspectos particulares, simplificando así el análisis de aspectos productivos; por lo que se convierte en una primera aproximación a su sistematización y desagregación, facilitando el abordaje de la complejidad de los modelos productivos aplicados en la producción del hábitat.
¿Cómo mejorar la regulación de la publicidad oficial en México? Los estándares internacionales como bases para una propuesta de mejora
Authors: Alpuche Quen Julio Alexis
Published: May 2024

La publicidad oficial en México, aparentemente establecida con fines legítimos, paradójicamente ha evolucionado hastaconvertirse en un mecanismo que fomenta el control de los medios y la sumisión a los intereses gubernamentales. Este resultadoindeseable surge de un marco regulatorio que inadvertidamente promueve malas prácticas. Este artículo tiene como objetivosentar las bases para una propuesta de mejora regulatoria abogando por la adopción de estándares internacionales como instrumentos primarios. Aprovechando su naturaleza sistemática, confiable y adaptable en diversos contextos nacionales, estos estándares defienden elementos clave para una regulación efectiva. Estos incluyen garantizar un contenido de mensajes convincente, establecer criterios de asignación objetivos, fomentar la autonomía regulatoria, promover la transparencia, permitir la supervisión administrativa y judicial e incentivar el pluralismo de los medios. Al adoptar estos puntos de referencia internacionales, las mejoras regulatorias propuestas aspiran a rectificar las deficiencias actuales y allanar el camino para un panorama más sólido y ético en la regulación de la publicidad oficial.
Software para ayudar en la interpretación de gammagrafías óseas
Authors: Sánchez Rinza Bárbara Emma , Jaramillo Nuñez Alberto
Published: May 2024

El propósito de este trabajo es desarrollar un sistema médico que optimice la sensibilidad de la gammagrafía ósea en el diagnóstico de pacientes con problemas de cáncer de huesos, enfermedades óseas, infecciones, desgaste óseo o neoplasias malignas como metástasis óseas que monitoreará el deterioro de los huesos causados por la enfermedad. En este trabajo se mejoró la sensibilidad de la gammagrafía ósea para ayudar en su interpretación y por tanto ayudamos en la digitalización radiológica, que consiste en un proceso que permite obtener una imagen digitalizada a partir de una imagen analógica. Lo que significa que es susceptible de ser almacenado en forma de un número que representa la posición de un punto de píxel, unidad de superficie elemental. Esto se puede realizar utilizando los medios de digitalización y procesamiento digital de imágenes (PDI), además de las herramientas de mejora que ofrecen los diversos procesos, se proyecta una mayor sensibilidad en las imágenes radiológicas, para evaluar los resultados potenciales ganancias en la probabilidad diagnóstica que ofrece este proceso de digitalización. Los formatos de imagen que se pueden utilizar son JPG, BMP o DICOM. Para tener una mejora en la sensibilidad del diagnóstico radiológico, se debe realizar una conversión de una imagen en escala de grises al mapa de colores en RGB (Rojo, Verde y Azul), representando los valores de los píxeles de la imagen en escala de grises de la siguiente manera: (1) Los valores más bajos se mostrarán en tonos de azul, (2) Los valores intermedios se representan en tonos de verde, (3) Los valores más bajos se mostrarán en tonos de rojo. Al utilizar este mapa de colores, la imagen tendrá diferentes tonos según la combinación de los colores mencionados anteriormente.
Formation of gradient structures in titanium alloy during reversible alloying with hydrogen
Authors:   Moscow Aviation Institute (National Research University), Gvozdeva O. N. , Stepushin A. S. ,   Moscow Aviation Institute (National Research University), Shalin A. V. ,   Moscow Aviation Institute (National Research University), Gurtovaya G. V. ,   Moscow Aviation Institute (National Research University),   I.P. Bardin Central Research Institute for Ferrous Metallurgy, Ruchina N. V. ,   Moscow Aviation Institute (National Research University)
Published: May 2024

The possibility of transforming a large-plate structure and creating a gradient structure in samples of titanium alloy VT23 during thermal hydrogen treatment has been studied. It is shown that by varying the concentration-time parameters of hydrogenation annealing, it is possible to regulate the depth of hydrogen penetration and purposefully form the structure of near-surface layers. Subsequent low-temperature vacuum annealing makes it possible to transform the coarse-plate structure into a finely dispersed one with a hardness of up to 40 HRC. It was established that the thickness of a layer with a finely dispersed structure during unidirectional hydrogenation with a barrier coating is twice as large as during volumetric nonequilibrium hydrogenation in the absence of a coating.
The doctrine of state power by M.M. Speransky (dedicated to the 250th anniversary of his birth)
Authors: Alontseva Dina , Grishaeva Olga , Lavrishcheva Olga , Tikhonov Roman
Published: May 2024

The article is devoted to the analysis of the views of the famous statesman, legislator, politician Mikhail Mikhailovich Speransky. His name is associated with the development of draft laws on the restructuring of the political system of the state. The analysis of the state-legal views of the politician is given, the emphasis is placed on the state-transformative activity of M. M. Speransky.
Protection of national security in Azerbaijan as a necessary factor in public policy
Authors: Melikli Gunel
Published: May 2024

The article analyzes the concept of national security of the Republic of Azerbaijan, including domestic and foreign policy, protection of national interests in the economic, food, environmental, information, religious and cultural spheres. Key legal and regulatory documents in the field of national security, as well as the views of well-known politicians and political scientists are considered.
A close-study of the tensions within a Chinese public sphere during the May Fourth era
Authors: Gao Nuan
Published: May 2024

This article examines the “Debate on Gossip” on Chenbao Fukan , one of the most influential Chinese newspaper supplements during the May Fourth era, and its prequal, “the Peking Women’s University Incident”, attempting to reveal the potential factors that caused the destructive tensions in a Chinese public sphere.
Montenegro in the Russian Balkan policy of the Emperor Peter the Great at the beginning of the 18th century
Authors: Raspopović Radoslav
Published: May 2024

In addition to seeking resolution to the twenty-year Northern War with Sweden (1700-1721), another important aspect defining the Russian foreign policy were its relations with the Ottoman Empire. Russian Balkan policy had a decisive role in continuing the fight for liberation of the Balkan peoples. The nature of such policy can be analysed from the example of Montenegro.
gridmappr: an R package for creating small multiple gridmap layouts
Authors: Beecham Roger
Published: May 2024

We present gridmappr, an R package that automates the process of generating gridmaps – small multiple data graphics of regular size, laid out with an approximate geographicarrangement. Given a set of real geographic point locations, gridmappr allocates points to a regularly-sized grid of stated row-column dimensions. This allocation is constrained such that the distance between points in real and grid space is minimised and with a parameter that affects how compactly points are allocated to the regular grid. Layout examples are presented using different parameterisations and code is demonstrated for generating complex, information-rich gridmaps using standard ggplot2.
A derivation of the first generation particle masses from internal spacetime
Authors: Beil Charlie
Published: May 2024

Internal spacetime geometry was recently introduced to model certain quantum phenomena using spacetime metrics that are degenerate. We use the Ricci tensors of these metrics to derive a ratio of the bare up and down quark masses, obtaining $m_u/m_d = 9604/19683 \approx .4879$. This value is within the lattice QCD value at $2 \operatorname{GeV}$ in the $\overline{\operatorname{MS}}$-scheme, $.473 \pm .023$. Moreover, using the Levi-Cevita Poisson equation, we derive ratios of the dressed electron mass and bare quark masses. For a dressed electron mass of $.511 \operatorname{MeV}$, these ratios yield the bare quark masses $m_u \approx 2.2440 \operatorname{MeV}$ and $m_d \approx 4.599 \operatorname{MeV}$, which are within/near the lattice QCD values $m^{\overline{\operatorname{MS}}}_u = (2.20\pm .10) \operatorname{MeV}$ and $m^{\overline{\operatorname{MS}}}_d = (4.69 \pm .07) \operatorname{MeV}$. Finally, using $4$-accelerations, we derive the ratio $\tilde{m}_u/\tilde{m}_d = 48/49 \approx .98$ of the constituent up and down quark masses. All of the ratios we obtain are from first principles alone, with no free or ad hoc parameters. Furthermore, and rather curiously, our derivations do not use quantum field theory, but only tools from general relativity.
Evaluating Prompt Injection Safety in Large Language Models Using the PromptBench Dataset
Authors: Sang Xiatong , Gu Min , Chi Haojun
Published: May 2024

The safety evaluation of large language models against adversarial prompt injections introduces a novel and significant concept that addresses the critical need for robust AI systems. The research presented offers a comprehensive analysis of Anthropic Claude and Mistral Large, utilizing the Microsoft PromptBench dataset to assess their resilience to adversarial manipulations. Anthropic Claude demonstrated superior performance across multiple metrics, including response accuracy, context preservation, and semantic consistency, highlighting the effectiveness of advanced safety mechanisms. Conversely, Mistral Large exhibited areas for improvement, particularly in handling context and semantic manipulations. The findings show the importance of integrating sophisticated safety protocols in AI development, providing valuable insights for creating secure and reliable AI systems. By systematically comparing the models' robustness to various adversarial scenarios, the study contributes to the broader understanding of AI safety and paves the way for future advancements in the field.
Benchmarking the Hallucination Tendency of Google Gemini and Moonshot Kimi
Authors: Shan Ruoxi , Ming Qiang , Hong Guang , Wu Hongyi
Published: May 2024

To evaluate the hallucination tendencies of state-of-the-art language models is crucial for improving their reliability and applicability across various domains. This article presents a comprehensive evaluation of Google Gemini and Kimi using the HaluEval benchmark, focusing on key performance metrics such as accuracy, relevance, coherence, and hallucination rate. Google Gemini demonstrated superior performance, particularly in maintaining low hallucination rates and high contextual relevance, while Kimi, though robust, showed areas needing further refinement. The study highlights the importance of advanced training techniques and optimization in enhancing model efficiency and accuracy. Practical recommendations for future model development and optimization are provided, emphasizing the need for continuous improvement and rigorous evaluation to achieve reliable and efficient language models.
The cerebellum contributes to prediction error coding in reinforcement learning - complementary evidence from stroke patients and from cerebellar transcranial magnetic stimulation
Authors: Huvermann Dana Maria , Berlijn Adam Michael , Thieme Andreas Gustafsson , Erdlenbruch Friedrich , Groiss Stefan Jun , Deistung Andreas , Mittelstaedt Manfred , Wondzinski Elke , Sievers Heike , Frank Benedikt , Göricke Sophia , Gliem Michael , Köhrmann Martin , Siebler Mario , Schnitzler Alfons , Bellebaum Christian , Minnerop Martina , Timmann Dagmar , Peterburs Jutta
Published: May 2024

To survive and thrive in our ever-changing environment, we need to be able to predict the consequences of our actions. We update these predictions by learning through trial and error, and associated prediction errors (PEs). Recent rodent data suggest that the cerebellum – a region typically associated with processing sensory PEs in supervised error-based learning – also processes PEs in reinforcement learning (RL-PEs; i.e., learning from action outcomes). A proxy of action outcome processing in regions traditionally associated with RL-PE coding, such as striatum and anterior cingulate cortex, can be measured in a component of the feedback-locked event-related potential (ERP), i.e., the feedback-related negativity (FRN). We tested the hypothesis that cerebellar output is necessary for this RL-PE coding in the FRN in a probabilistic feedback learning task. In that case, altered cerebellar output should result in changes in the FRN. Two complementary experiments were performed. First, patients with chronic cerebellar stroke were tested. Second, single-pulse cerebellar transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was applied in healthy participants, thus implementing a virtual lesion approach. Different from controls and control (vertex) TMS, no significant RL-PE processing was observed in the FRN in patients with cerebellar stroke, and in participants receiving cerebellar TMS. Only minor deficits in behavioural flexibility were found, with learning success preserved, possibly due to compensation by other brain areas within the reinforcement learning network. Findings in both experiments show that frontal RL-PE processing depends on cerebellar output. Our results provide evidence for involvement of the cerebellum in processing of RL-PEs in humans, complementing and extending previous findings in rodents.
Impulse Buying: How Generation Z's Enjoyment of Shopping Affects Their Fashion Buys
Authors: Elida Tety , Rahardjo Wahyu , Raharjo Ari
Published: May 2024

This study examined the determinants that impact Generation Z's impulsive purchasing of fashion products. Implementing Stimulus Organism Responses (SOR), the research model is structured as Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). External stimuli include Price Discounts and Store Environment, with Shopping Enjoyment mediating between Hedonic Shopping Motivation and these two factors. In total, 444 students between the ages of 18 and 22 participated. Form questionnaires were distributed to 30 WhatsApp group classes to collect the data. Hedonic shopping motivation, price discount, and store environment contribute to an enjoyable shopping experience, stimulating impulsive purchasing. The determinant influencing impulsive purchasing is the store atmosphere. Impulse buying behavior is carried out using the stimulus organism response (SOR) theory approach. One of the stimuli used in the research model, the online store atmosphere, is still not widely studied.
Bank Risk-Taking and Monetary Policy: Empirical Results for Taiwan
Authors: Kao Chung-Wei , Wan Jer-Yuh
Published: May 2024

Will bank risk-taking increase in response to monetary policy easing, especially when interest rates are low, and will banks increase their risk-taking in pursuit of profits? Using Z-score and non-performing loan ratio of Taiwan banking sector covered the period 2015-2020 as proxy variables for bank risk, the empirical analysis shows that there is no significant evidence to support bank risk-taking behavior in a loose monetary policy environment, implying the risk-taking channel of monetary policy not existing. However, after considering the impact of Basel III on bank capital regulations in Taiwan since 2013, bank risk-taking will increase with monetary policy easing as capital regulations become more stringent, which is consistent with the regulatory hypothesis. As for the impact of monetary regime change, banks’ risk will increase with loosening monetary policy during the easing phase of monetary policy, while during monetary policy tightening stage, banks have no risk risking tendency. These inferences are valid after taking the effect of the 2008 financial crisis and considering the cross-effects of bank characteristics and monetary policy, indicating that not only banks’ risk-taking is related to the strengthening of bank capital regulations, but the difference in the regime of monetary easing and tightening also affects bank risk-taking behavior.
Rule of Love: Wife Beating as Prerogative and Privacy
Authors: Siegel Reva
Published: May 2024

Efforts to reform a status regime do bring aboutchange - but not always the kind of change advocates seek. When thelegitimacy of a status regime is successfully contested, lawmakers and juristswill both cede and defend status privileges-gradually relinquishing theoriginal rules and justificatory rhetoric of the contested regime and finding newrules and reasons to protect such status privileges as they choose to defend.Thus, civil rights reform can breathe new life into a body of status law, bypressuring legal elites to translate it into a more contemporary, and lesscontroversial, social idiom. I call this kind of change in the rules and rhetoricof a status regime "preservation through transformation," and illustrate thismodernization dynamic in a case study of domestic assault law as it evolvedin rule structure and rationale from a law of marital prerogative to a law ofmarital privacy.
Assessment of Race-Based Traumatic Stress: Applications to Forensic Psychology
Authors: Forsyth Jessica , Pieterse Alex L. , Carter Robert T.
Published: May 2024

This chapter presents the application of the Race-Based Traumatic Stress Model to the area of Forensic and Legal Assessment. A procedure for racial trauma assessment is provided, including the use of the Race-Based Traumatic Stress Symptom Scale as an important quantitative approach to examining the psychological impact of exposure to racist event.
The Cost of Saving: How Photos and Screenshots Impair Memory
Authors: Lurie Rebecca , Fabrizio Sophia P , Westerman Deanne L.
Published: May 2024

The photo impairment effect refers to worse memory for events that are photographed versus experienced without being photographed. One explanation for the effect is that photo-taking divides attention between the event and the actions required for photography. However, the results of this study provide evidence against this account. Our results show that the magnitude of the impairment did not increase with task complexity, contradicting the idea of divided attention as the primary cause. In three experiments, participants viewed, photographed, or took screenshots of art on a computer, a provided tablet, or their own smartphones. Memory was consistently worse for images saved by any of these methods. Notably, the effects of screenshotting were particularly deleterious to memory, in spite of it being judged as the least complex and attention-demanding of the different saving methods. Similarly, we found no evidence that the magnitude of the impairment depended on whether the photos were taken with a familiar device (the participants own smartphone) or an unfamiliar experimenter-provided camera. The results are inconsistent with a divided attention account, but are aligned with accounts based on cognitive offloading or attentional disengagement.
Embodied Emotions in Ancient Neo-Assyrian Texts Revealed by Bodily Mapping of Emotional Semantics
Authors: Lahnakoski Juha M. , Bennett Ellie , Nummenmaa Lauri , Steinert Ulrike , Sams Mikko , Svärd Saana
Published: May 2024

Autonomic activity during emotions is subjectively felt in the body via interoceptive and somatosensory pathways resulting in emotion specific bodily sensations. Here we utilized this relationship and computational linguistic methods to map a representation of emotions in ancient texts. We analysed Neo-Assyrian texts from 934–612 BCE to discern consistent relationships between linguistic expressions related to both emotions and bodily sensations. We then computed statistical regularities between emotion terms and words referring to body parts, and back-projected the resulting emotion body part relationships on a standard body template, yielding bodily sensation maps for the emotions. We found consistent embodied patterns for eighteen distinct emotions. Hierarchical clustering revealed four main clusters of bodily emotion categories, two clusters of mainly positive emotions, one large cluster of mainly negative emotions and one of empathy and schadenfreude. These results reveal the historical use of embodied language pertaining to human emotions. Our data-driven tool projecting emotional lexical spaces on a human body provides a novel method for comparing textual embodiment patterns across different languages and cultures across time.
Introducing CounseLLMe: A dataset of simulated mental health dialogues for comparing LLMs like Haiku, LLaMAntino and ChatGPT against humans
Authors: De Duro Edoardo Sebastiano , Improta Riccardo , Stella Massimo
Published: May 2024

We introduce CounseLLMe as a multilingual, multimodal dataset of 400 simulated mental health counselling dialogues between two state-of-the-art Large Language Models (LLMs). These conversations - of 20 quips each - were generated either in English (using OpenAI's GPT 3.5 and Claude-3's Haiku) or Italian (with Claude-3's Haiku and LLaMAntino) and with prompts tuned also with the help of a professional in psychotherapy. We investigate the resulting conversations through comparison against human mental health conversations on the same topic of depression. To compare linguistic features, knowledge structure and emotional content between LLMs and humans, we employed textual forma mentis networks, i.e. cognitive networks where nodes represent concepts and links indicate syntactic or semantic relationships between concepts in the dialogues' quips. We find that the emotional structure of LLM-LLM English conversations matches the one of humans in terms of patient-therapist trust exchanges, i.e. 1 in 5 LLM-LLM quips contain trust along 10 conversational turns versus the $24\%$ rate found in humans. ChatGPT and Haiku's simulated English patients can also reproduce human feelings of conflict and pessimism. However, human patients display non-negligible levels of anger/frustration that is missing in LLMs. Italian LLMs' conversations are worse in reproducing human patterns. All LLM-LLM conversations reproduced human syntactic patterns of increased absolutist pronoun usage in patients and second-person, trust-inducing, pronoun usage in therapists. Our results indicate that LLMs can realistically reproduce several aspects of human patient-therapist conversations and we thusly release CounseLLMe as a public dataset for novel data-informed opportunities in mental health and machine psychology.
Die Entwicklung von Schreibfähigkeit in mehreren Sprachen im Verlauf der Sekundarstufe – eine sprachpragmatische Sicht
Authors: Usanova Irina , Schnoor Birger
Published: May 2024

Zur Erschließung und Vertiefung des Lernstoffs im Unterricht sowie zur Bewältigung schriftlicher Tests bei der Leistungsstandsüberprüfung müssen Schüler*innen in der Lage sein, die von unterschiedlichen Kontexten abhängigen Anforderungen schriftlicher Aufgaben zu verstehen und die zur kontextangemessenen Bewältigung der Aufgabe notwendigen sprachlichen Ressourcen effektiv im Schreibprozess einzusetzen. Sie benötigen also sprachpragmatische Kompetenz. Ziel der vorliegenden Studie ist es, Erkenntnisse darüber zu liefern, wie sich die pragmatische Fähigkeit der Aufgabenbewältigung beim Schreiben in der Sekundarstufe in mehrsprachigen Repertoires der Schüler*innen mit und ohne Migrationshintergrund entwickelt. Analysiert wurden Testdaten zu mehrsprachigen Schreibfähigkeiten aus der Studie „Mehrsprachigkeitsentwicklung im Zeitverlauf (MEZ)“. Die Ergebnisse der vorliegenden Studie zeigen, dass die untersuchten Schüler*innen (n = 1773) eine zunehmende Entwicklung sprachpragmatischer Schreibfähigkeit über die Zeit in allen Sprachen aufweisen. Dabei wurden unterschiedliche sprachspezifische Entwicklungsverläufe und Muster auf unterschiedlichen Fähigkeitsniveaus festgestellt. Lebensweltlich einsprachige und mehrsprachige Schüler*innen wiesen ähnliche Entwicklungsverläufe auf. Unterschiede zwischen den Sprachen in der Aufgabenbewältigung wurden festgestellt, wobei Deutsch am besten und Französisch am schlechtesten bewältigt wurde. Die Ergebnisse bieten Einblicke in mehrsprachige Schreibentwicklung und betonen die Bedeutung von deren institutioneller Unterstützung.
Dimensionen der Prozessqualität von Fortbildungsveranstaltungen für Lehrkräfte
Authors: Rzejak Daniela , Gröschner Alexander , Lipowsky Frank , Richter Dirk , Calcagni Elisa
Published: May 2024

Fortbildungen sind wichtige Ressourcen zur Professionalisierung von Lehrkräften. Die Forschung in diesem Bereich konzentriert sich bisher stark auf die Bestimmung verschiedener Merkmale wirksamer Fortbildungen, jedoch ohne sich dabei spezifischer auf die Qualität von Lehr-Lern-Prozessen zu fokussieren. Der vorliegende Beitrag beschreibt Dimensionen der Prozessqualität von Fortbildungsveranstaltungen für Lehrkräfte, die aus verschiedenen Bereichen des Bildungssystems abgeleitet werden.
Studies on bioactivities of various parts of Murraya koeningii (l) spreng (curry tree) on fungal isolates from tomatoes
Authors:   Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Ekiti State University, P.M.B 5363, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria., Ijato J. Y. , Olajide O. O. ,   Department of Crop, Horticulture and Landscape Design, Faculty of Agriculture, Ekiti State University, P.M.B 5363, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria., Ojo B. O. ,   Department of Biology, the Polytechnic, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Published: May 2024

Antifungal in vitro effects of the aqueous extracts of different parts (leaves, stem and root) of Murraya koenigii were evaluated against six rot fungi of tomato fruits namely, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium oxysporum, Mucor sp, Rhizoconia solani and Rhizopus stolonifer. These fungi were identified based on microscopic and macroscopic characteristics. Hot aqueous extracts of the plants were obtained using standard techniques. Sensitivity test was done using agar well diffusion method; the set up was incubated at room temperature (28 ± 2°C) for 24 hours. Development of zones of inhibition on the plates were observed and measured. The results showed that the tested extracts exhibited antifungal activities against the test (rot) organisms. The therapeutic values of various concentrations of aqueous Murraya koenigii extracts (5, 10, 15, 20 and 25%) were evaluated against fungal rot isolates. All the extracts showed significant (p<0.05) reduction of mycelia growth of the fungal isolates. Higher concentration of 25% favoured higher mycelial growth reduction. Maximum percentage inhibition was observed with the leaf extracts (F. oxysporum, 77.91%, followed by A. flavus, 77.10%), followed by the stem extract (A. flavus, 73.80%, followed by F. oxysporum, 71.43%) and lastly the root extract (A. flavus, 71.90%, followed by F. oxysporum, 67.10%). The extracts similarly inhibited vegetative growth and displayed significant effects on the morphology of the fungal hyphae. M. koeningii as the test plant is readily available as it offers potential safe alternative for use as biocide and it could be harnessed for effective management of post-harvest tropical fruit diseases.
Evaluation of late maturing food barley varieties in Gamo highlands of southern Ethiopia
Authors:   Arba Minch Agricultural Research Center, Arba Minch, Ethiopia., Lema Melese , Dojamo Tariku Simion ,   Arba Minch Agricultural Research Center, Arba Minch, Ethiopia., Markos Selamawit ,   Arba Minch Agricultural Research Center, Arba Minch, Ethiopia.
Published: May 2024

The field experiment was conducted on thirteen improved food barley varieties and one local check at Chencha district of Gamo highland during 2015 main cropping season. The main objective of the study was to identify, select and recommend well adaptable and high yielding variety for targeted area. The experiment was laid in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications in the net plot size of 1.2 m x 2.5 m. Days to 50% heading (DH), days to 50% maturity (DM), plant height (PH), panicle length (PL), tiller number (TN) and grain yield (GY) were collected as agronomic traits. Significant variations were recorded among the tested varieties for the measured traits over the locations except for tiller number. The highest average grain yield (2427.8 kg/ha, 2077.8 kg/ha and 1972.2kg/ha) were obtained from varieties HB1307, Shege and EH1493 without significant differences between them respectively and the lowest grain yield was obtained from local check (1166.7kg). Based on the results obtained under these study HB1307, Shege and EH1493 could be used for demonstration, popularization and pre-scaling up in Chencha district and in the farming communities of similar agro-ecologies.
Low awareness and misconceptions of immature mosquito stages hinders community participation in integrated vector management in Malindi, Kenya
Authors:   Vector Biology Unit, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kilifi, Kenya, Kibe L. W. ,   School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy., Habluetzel A. ,   School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy., Kamau A. ,   Institute for Development Studies, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya., Gachigi J. K. ,   Department of Social Assistance Unit, Ministry of Labour & Social Protection, State Department for Social Protection, Nairobi, Kenya., Mwangangi J. M. ,   Vector Biology Unit, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kilifi, Kenya., Mutero C. M. ,   Human Health Theme, International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi, Kenya.,   Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, South Africa., Mbogo C. M. ,   Vector Biology Unit, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kilifi, Kenya.
Published: May 2024

Understanding community perceptions of the significance, feasibility and utility of managing mosquito larvae and preventing breeding sites is important to developing strategies for improving implementation of larval control. The objective of this study was to explore community perceptions of mosquitoes and suggest ways of enhancing community based larval control. A cross sectional study was carried out in Malindi and Magarini sub counties in the coastal region of Kenya. Qualitative research methods were employed to collect data in four selected villages using participatory methodologies. The factors identified as hindering community participation in integrated vector management were inadequate knowledge about mosquito biology - lack of awareness of the fact that larvae represent the immature stages of adult mosquitoes responsible for transmission of malaria and other infectious diseases and consequently low community motivation to participate in larval control. The presence of mosquitoes in the area was associated with the presence of large natural water bodies such as river Sabaki and swamps. Participants did not know that small man-made water bodies were potential mosquito breeding places. Successful and sustainable community based larval source management will require innovative advocacy, communication and social mobilization activities explaining in a simple language understandable by the community, the mosquito biology, ecology and behaviour, taking into consideration community needs, knowledge and practices.
Financial burden of households on the treatment of malaria in Southern Nigeria
Authors:   Department of Economics, Nile University of Nigeria, FCT Abuja, Nigeria., Yusuf A. Wasiu , Fawole O. Oluseyi ,   Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Ibadan, Nigeria., Yusuf A. Sulaiman ,   Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
Published: May 2024

The number of deaths attributed to malaria is highest in Nigeria when compared with other countries of the world. This study estimated the monetary expenditure of households in Southern Nigeria in the treatment of malaria as well as the income forgone as a result of incapacitation due to the ailment. The study employed the cost-of-illness approach to estimate the financial burden of malaria treatment using the data contained in the Harmonized National Living Standard Survey (HNLSS) 2010. The results show that more cases of malaria were reported among children aged under-five while immunity increases with age up till age 45. Females, farming households and rural residents were also more vulnerable than their respective counterparts. The pattern of the distribution of direct and indirect cost was mixed across the three zones in the study area. Malaria poses both health and financial challenges to households. The financial burden of malaria is too high for a country like Nigeria whose majority of her citizens wallow in poverty. It is therefore recommended that the drug subsidy policy of government should be reviewed in order to increase the awareness of the public of its availability at subsidized rate. Massive public education on the importance of prevention as against treatment as well as the importance of seeking prompt treatment will also go a long way in ameliorating the indirect burden of malaria which forms a larger proportion of the total burden of malaria to households.
Effect of malaria incidence and rainfall pattern on crop productivity among farming households: Evidence from North-Central, Nigeria
Authors:   Kabba College of Agriculture, Division of Agricultural Colleges Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria., Mohammed A. B. , Mokuolu O. A. ,   Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, Nigeria., Adewumi M. O. ,   Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management, University of Ilorin, Nigeria.
Published: May 2024

This study was conducted to establish a direct link of malaria incidence and rainfall pattern on farmer’s productivity. In a cohort of farming households in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State, rainfall pattern, malaria incidence and household farming activities were carefully monitored on a weekly basis over an 8 months period (May to December, 2012). Malaria diagnosis was confirmed among febrile household members using Plasmodium falciparum Histidine-Rich Protein II (PfHRP2) malaria rapid diagnostic test (mRDT) kit (Parachek®). Data was collected on the factors of production as well as on the number of kilograms produced by the households for a range of crops such as maize, sorghum, cowpea, cassava, pepper, and yams. Data was also collected on febrile episodes among family members and other relatives within the households and on rainfall pattern. Descriptive statistics and production function were used to analyze the data. A total of 72 households participated in the study involving 432 household members. Malaria incidence was varied with rainfall pattern and crop productivity. Most of the farmers operate on a small scale and mainly cultivated cassava and yam. Malaria affected at least three-quarter of the household’s members. The study area recorded an average malaria prevalence of 103 per 1000, 7 rainy days and 256 mm of rainfall. Rainfall days and intensity was highest in the months of October and July respectively. Land, family labour, seed, and fertilizer are the major factors influencing crop production in the study area. The study revealed that cassava, yam, maize and pepper outputs were higher for households with a low incidence of malaria compared to high incidence households except for sorghum. Number of rain days in the study area is important to mosquito breeding which translate to increased malaria incidence thereby having negative effect on crop productivity. Creating awareness on the use of mosquito net and targeted seasonal malaria control strategies should be applied during the peak malaria prevalence period to reduce malaria incidence and enhance agricultural productivity in the study area.
Physical exercises undertaken by people living with HIV/AIDS attending General Hospital Kafanchan, Kaduna State, Nigeria
Authors:   Department of Nursing Sciences, Islamic University in Uganda, Kampala Campus, Uganda., Ishaku Salamatu , Gaji Luka Dung ,   Plateau State College of Nursing and Midwifery, Vom, Plateau Statae, Nigeria., Ilo Ijeoma ,   Department of Nursing Sciences, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu, Nigeria.
Published: May 2024

Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is one of the world most serious public health challenges. The use of antiretroviral therapy has increased the life expectancy for people living with HIV/AIDS and also decreased the clinical features of HIV. However, some metabolic changes have emerged with negative effects such as increase in blood lipids, central obesity, hypodystrophy and decreased aerobic capacity. These are risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, cancer and mortality. A common practice among non HIV positive populations is to modify these risk factors by engaging in exercise. Hence, people living with HIV/AIDS can also benefit from it as it will make them live healthier while ageing with HIV. This study revealed information about the types of physical exercises undertaken by the people living with HIV/AIDS attending the antiretroviral clinic of General Hospital Kafanchan, Kaduna State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey design was carried out in 2014 with 422 sample size obtained through systematic sampling technique. A researcher-developed questionnaire was used to collect data assisted by two trained research assistants. The data was analyzed descriptively using frequency and percentages and chi-square was used to test for association at 95% confidence interval using statistical package for social sciences version 20.0 computer software programme. Walking and running were the types of physical exercises undertaken by most of the respondents followed by farming. Physical exercise was found to be significantly associated (p<0.05) with the age, sex, highest educational qualification and occupation of the respondents. Since physical exercise is very important for the people living with HIV/AIDS there is need for the health workers to encourage them to engage in physical exercise in order to decrease their risk of cardiovascular diseases, improve their immune system, manage their weight and reduce other health risk and by extension, enhance their quality of life.
The distribution pattern and feeding behaviour of malaria vectors in two selected communities of Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State
Authors:   Department of Zoology, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nasarawa State, Nigeria., Hassan S. C. , Olayemi I. K. ,   Department of Animal Biology, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria., Omalu I. C. J. ,   Department of Animal Biology, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria., Adefolalu F. S. ,   Department of Animal Biology, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria., Eke S. S. ,   Department of Animal Biology, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria., Affiku I. J. ,   Department of Zoology, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nasarawa State, Nigeria.
Published: May 2024

An entomological survey was conducted to determine the malaria vectors density and their distribution. The study was aimed at identifying the distribution and feeding behaviour of major malaria vectors. Mosquitoes were sampled using Pyrethroid Spray Collection (PSC) and CDC light trap methods to collect indoors and outdoors resting mosquitoes for a period of three months (April, May and June) and were identified morphologically. A total of 462(100%) mosquitoes were collected in the study areas, 238(51.5%) were collected in Gitata and 224(48.5%) were collected in Panda. Of the 462 (100%) mosquitoes collected, 433(93.7%) were Anopheline while 29(6.3%) were Culicine. Statistically, there was a statistical difference (p<0.05) in the distribution of malaria vectors encountered in the study areas. Out of the 433(100%) Anopheles mosquitoes collected, 279(64.4%) feed indoor while 154(35.6%) feed outdoor. The indoor resting density of the mosquitoes were also calculated, the result showed that Panda had the highest indoor resting density of 7.5 than Gitata 7.0. The human biting rate (HBR) of mosquitoes collected in each month at the study areas were also determine and the result showed a high biting rate of 2.515 in Panda compared to 2.321 in Gitata. The parity rate (PR) of the mosquitoes collected in Gitata and Panda for the three months were also analyzed, and the result showed that, out of the 433 Anopheles mosquitoes collected, 146(100%) were dissected, 85(58.2%) were parous and 61(41.8%) were nulliparous. This study therefore, will be used as a baseline data to help in designing strategies for the control of malaria vector diseases in Karu Local Government of Nasarawa State and its environs.
Simulating the transmission dynamics and control of typhoid fever in Ibadan, Nigeria
Authors:   Institute of Ecology and Environmental Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria., Oladipupo Omolola A. , Matthew Olaniran J. ,   Institute of Ecology and Environmental Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
Published: May 2024

This study aims to assess transmission dynamics of typhoid and simulate effects of treatment, isolation and vaccination in reducing the burden of typhoid fever in Ibadan metropolis, Nigeria. Secondary data of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Response on reported typhoid fever cases for 2010 to 2017 period in Ibadan South-East Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria were used to achieve the set-out objectives. The study adapted the Susceptible-Infected-Carrier-Recovered (SIIcR) model to simulate effects of the three preventive and control strategies on typhoid fever transmission. Typhoid fever cases were most rampant among the age groups 20 to 40 years (29.0% infected) and > 40 years (35% asymptomatic carriers and 45.0% death) and the least in age group 0 to 28 days (0.22% infected and no death case). A decreasing trend in typhoid fever cases (56 cases per year) was observed which was attributed to improved functional health facilities and their effective utilization. Significant seasonal variation in typhoid infections was found with the highest reported cases at the start of wet (April) and dry (November) seasons. The SIIcR model simulations suggested likelihood of typhoid fever epidemic within two weeks in the community if no prevention and intervention measures were put in place. Major reduction in the carriers’ population significantly reduced the number of infected class and suggested disease-free population within a season of typhoid epidemic (100 days). Model simulations suggested that vaccination and isolation significantly reduced the effect of infected and asymptomatic carrier populations at p<0.05 on the transmission dynamics of typhoid fever.