bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Towards an Information Technology Based Supply Chain Management System for Ghanaian Oil Marketing Companies
Authors: Danquah P. Danquah
Published: April 2024

This study set out to propose an optimal supply chain management system for Ghanaian Oil Marketing companies. The research approach combined an inductive and deductive approach as a basis for designing the proposed system. This was based on data collected from the Oil Marketing Companies, review of literature, documents and the mode of companies› operation An optimal information technology based solution is then proposed to automate their processes for how people, activities, information, and resources are involved in moving oil products and services from supplier to consumer. A number of modular systems have been proposed, these include a Purchase Order System, GPS Fleet Tracking System, Credit Reference System and Fore Court Operations management system. It is expected that a comprehensive integration of these modules would significantly make the operations of Ghanaian oil marketing companies systems more efficient and effective.
Determinants of Continuous Use of Mobile Money Payment Systems in Ghana.
Authors: Owiredu A.Owiredu , Antwi F. Antwi , Kofi Nyako Gyimah K. Nyako Gyimah
Published: April 2024

This study examines the effect of user’s satisfaction on post-acceptance behaviour of mobile money users. Specifically, the paper identifies satisfactory factors and further examines the relationship between satisfaction and continuous use of mobile money application at the post-acceptance phase. Data was collected from 696 mobile phone users who had subscribed to mobile money services. Partial least squares (PLS) (Smart PLS 3.0) were used to analyse the collected data to test proposed hypotheses. This study revealed that users’ satisfaction is a significant factor that influences their intentions to continue to use mobile money services. The results indicated that users’ satisfaction is strongly influenced by confirmation and perceived usefulness which in turn significantly impact on continuous use of mobile money applications. Also, perceived security and privacy exert significant impact on users satisfaction. It was noted that charges and fees were insignificant but positively related to users’ intentions to continue to use mobile money applications. The findings have implications on both telecommunication firms and policy makers as they offer practical guidelines in developing strategies to ensure continuous use of mobile money applications/ services as we improve upon financial inclusion in Ghana in particular and Africa in general. This study therefore fills the gap in the post-adoption stage of mobile money usage and further use in Ghana.
The Effect of Service Quality on Customer Satisfaction and Loyal in the Restaurant Sector.
Authors: Boasiako A. A. Boasiako , Asante R. Asante
Published: April 2024

This study examined the effect of service quality on customer satisfaction and loyalty in the restaurant sector. Convenience sampling method was used to select 152 respondents and two restaurants located in Accra, the capital city of Ghana. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) was used to analyse the data. The study revealed that all the service quality dimensions (reliability, assurance, empathy, tangibility and responsiveness) have a strong influence on customer satisfaction. When customers are satisfied with quality of services, they will be loyal. Among the service quality dimensions, assurance had the strongest influence on customer satisfaction, followed by empathy. This study therefore recommends that service providers in the restaurant sector periodically train their employees on good customer relationship management in order to deliver quality restaurant services to delight customers.
Related Party Transactions and Performance of Manufacturing Firms in Ghana
Authors: Antwi F. Antwi
Published: April 2024

The paper ascertains the relationship between related party transactions (RPTs) and performance of manufacturing companies in Ghana. Firms on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) were sampled and secondary data was gathered from their annual financial reports spanning from 2013 to 2017. Considering the outcome of the Hausman test, random effects estimator was used in the regression analysis testing the link between RPTs and firm performance. The results of the study indicate that there exists a significantly positive relationship between the main variables, i.e. related party transactions and firm performance. This provides evidence that the magnitude of related party transactions that manufacturing firms carry out can enhance their performance. The policy implication here is that, regulatory institutions and key decision makers may have to look at the sector differently when it comes to rules to govern related party transactions as compared to say the banking sector.  All the control variables used in this study turned out to be statistically and negatively related to firm’s performance. Leverage negatively affecting firm’s performance is possibly due to high interest rates, something which is common in emerging economies like Ghana. The negative influence of ownership concentration is an indication that when the concentration levels of firm ownership increases, it may affect good practices negatively thereby affecting performance in a likewise manner. Lastly, the size of firms being negative and statistically significant supports the school of thought that, the larger the firm, the more the inefficiencies leading to diseconomies of scale; hence, there is the need to improve upon efficiency of large manufacturing firms in Ghana.
A Christian Perspective on Managerial Leadership
Authors: Addaih S. Addaih
Published: April 2024

Increasingly, Christians are discovering that the secular philosophy of management and leadership frequently conflicts with their Christian values. Many Christian leaders (both in Christian organizations and secular ones) are looking for another perceptive on management. This paper is an attempt to provide this perceptive. It argues that even though traditional management viewpoints cannot entirely be faulted, they seem to deviate significantly in their dealing with people from God's original purpose of creating man in His own image.
Maintaining corporate governance standards in Ghana: The role of Board Directors
Authors: Haizel D.Haizel
Published: April 2024

The effects of the collapse of a company, whether private or state-owned can be very traumatic for the employees and others in the society. It can also have repercussions for the nation's economy. Experiences suggest that the risk of such a collapse is heightened where poor corporate governance practices prevail. This article reviews the OECD principles on good corporate governance and the corporate governance frame work in Ghana. The writer discusses the critical role of the board of directors in ensuring the maintenance of good corporate governance. He concludes by offering some suggestions that will help boards to efficiently discharge their responsibilities.
Leadership and excellence: A tool for good governance of tertiary institutions The IPS experience
Authors: Martey J. J. M. Martey
Published: April 2024

Very often, administrators only manage or govern by means of what they perceive as the best administrative procedures and policies without paying regard to the art of leadership. Leadership entails influence persuasion, and direction. It is concerned with the communication of the vision and the development of a culture and set values that lead to what the organization desires for the future. The environment of teaching and learning requires a more complex form of leadership and management because of the presence of diversity of purpose and academic freedom. For effective governance, universities require the use of leadership skills and styles that will enhance the collective role of the university to advance knowledge in all respects. This paper aims at the sharing of leadership experience gained through a real life situation by a tertiary educational institution that has made a tremendous strides. Il discusses the impact of the use of leadership skills in the governance of tertiary educational institutions. The use of appropriate leadership power in an attempt to influence people has also been discussed and the effect on the vision of the organization has been considered. The experience of the Institute of Professional Studies (IPS) confirms that the Rector or Vice- Chancellor is more likely to succeed when he or she shares his vision with others. The case of IPS gives an indication that leaders who combine the middle-of-the-road management style with team management style and behaviour achieve better results. The article suggests that effective leadership involves the creation of enabling environment, empowerment, collaboration, cordial relationships, and diversity.
Financial market efficiency under the interest rate reformpolicy in Ghana: Theory. Model and empirical analysis
Authors: Ahiawodzi A. K. Ahiawodzi
Published: April 2024

This paper sets out to evaluate the level of financial market efficiency under the interest rate reform policy (interest rate liberalization policy) in Ghana from 1988 to 2004. In line with this objective, a model has been specified and estimated. The results of the study revealed that the interest rate liberalisation policy has not yet succeeded in correcting the financial market inefficiency or distortion in the country between 1988 and 2004, even though there has been a fair improvement as compared to the pre-reform period. There is therefore the need to intensify efforts to significantly reduce the inflation rate for a corresponding reduction in the interest rate, in order to minimize or eliminate the level of financial market inefficiency, which is necessary for efficient mobilization and allocation of financial resources in the country.
Conceptual paradigm and rethinking project finance strategy for highway projects financing in Ghana
Authors: Owusu M. D. Owusu , Badu E. D. J. Badu
Published: April 2024

Project finance (PF) strategy is a finance process for infrastructure projects that integrates a mixture of equity and debt financing from different sources, which derive their return from the revenue steam of the project over a long-term period with equity component consisting of 20% - 40 % whereas the debt component is of 40% - 80%. Most theoretical and empirical studies on project finance strategy focus on adoption of project finance strategy in financing large capitaldriven projects such as petrochemical projects, mineral extractions and exploitation of 'green' ventures in developed and emerging economies. Meanwhile, the demand for basic infrastructure projects delivery, more especially, highway projects in developing economies such as that of Ghana are in excesses of what the governments' budget allocations can afford. The paper utilized literature and theory to examine the position of highway construction financing and provides rethinking into possible exploitation of project finance strategy as an alternative means of financing highway projects in Ghana. The paper concluded that revenue-generating mechanisms from the project should be set up characterized by potentially low-risk grading in order to attract PF investors. The originality and value of the study is the integrated and holistic approach of viewing the problem between theoretical and empirical interface. The paper's key contribution to knowledge is the identification of influential variables in a typical PF deal in the context highway projects funding.
Entrepreneurship practice in developing countries: A look at some distinctive attributes
Authors: Haizel D. Haizel
Published: April 2024

The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) has set the agenda for researching the ±=k differences between entrepreneurship in developed and developing countries. Particularly significant has been the emergence of the GEM 2003 Executive report (Reynolds et al 2004) that has helped us understand the diversity in the formation of new firms in developed and developing countries. Entrepreneurship in developing countries is distinctive from that practised in more developed countries. A better understanding of these distinctions is critical to policy formulation and private sector development in developing countries. Of particular interest are new and growth-oriented enterprises, which have a greater capacity to create sustainable economicgrowth than micro enterprises or long-established SMEs with limited growth prospects. The purpose of this paper is to identify some of the distinctive attributes of entrepreneurship in developing countries that either help to improve the probability of success or hold back growth-oriented firms.
Performance analysis of Ghanaian banks with mergers and acquisitions noise
Authors: Gatsi J. G. Gatsi
Published: April 2024

Mergers and Acquisitions have been identified as an important strategy for corporate inorganic growth in the banking industry. SG-SSB Ltd has recorded impressive operating performance since 2003. It has therefore become a reference entity in the Ghanaian banking industry. Banks with merger and acquisition noise are also performing well with the Agricultural Development Bank, one of the banks with the most recent M&A noise recording impressive sustainable growth rate. Alberts (Decomposed) return on equity model was used to study the operating performance of Cal Bank, ADB and SG-SSB Ltd from risk return perspective to indicate whether the attractiveness of these banks as M&A candidates is due to poor performance. The study indicates that the banks with M&A noise in Ghana are attractive to potential acquirers because of impressive performance and high possibility of improved performance.
Global economic crisis- Survival strategies for developing economies
Authors: Omane-Antwi K.b Omane-Antwi
Published: April 2024

From the debacle of America's toxic subprime mortgage portfolios, to the virtual freezing of credit around the world, plunging stock markets and a sustained slowdown in consumer spending, the global financial crisis that took hold in 2008 shows little sign of let up. The intensification of the global financial crisis, following the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers in September 2008, has made the current economic and financial environment a very difficult time for world economy, the global financial system and for central banks. The down turn is not discriminating against industry sectors, making it difficult to identify areas of strength. It looks like the global economic meltdown could create a long, painful quasi-depression, a period of mass unemployment, a calamitous drop in confidence and a continued credit-squeeze. Africa, apparently, is suffering from the global financial crises. The paper provides an overview of the proximate cause of the financial turbulence and discusses the impact on advanced economies, emerging and developing economies. The role of professional accountants in helping to restore business confidence in the midst of the global economic crisis is also discussed. (N.B -The paper was presented at the Association of Accountancy Bodies in West Africa (ABWA) international conference on "Global Economic Crisis - Survival Strategies for Developing Economies" held on November 12, 2009; Dakar, Senegal).
Infrastructural projects implementations challenges in Ghana
Authors: Amponsah R. Amponsah
Published: April 2024

The lack of efficient systems in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies to analyze and report on both Government and donor funded infrastructural projects has hampered the rate of infrastructural project implementation in the country. To make matters worse, the challenge of MDAs having to deal with different reporting rules, multi DP procurement processes and lending conditions have been overwhelming, eating up scarce administrative resources that could be put to better use. This study sought to investigate the role of administrative, leadership, and project management competencies in infrastructural project implementation challenges in Ghana. It provides appropriate recommendations to relevant stakeholders, such as the government, Private Sector, development partners, and relevant NGOs. The research covered six key sectors, namely: the Ministries of Finance and Economic Planning; Roads and Highways; Local Government and Rural Development; Energy; Transport; and Water Resources; Sanitation, Works and Housing. It engaged six key development partners (both bi lateral and multilateral agencies) namely the World Bank; Chinese Republic, African Development Bank; German Development Agency (KfW); the French Development Agency, and the European Union Delegation. The Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MoFEP) was the main fulcrum of this study.
A critical assessment of information technology disaster recovery strategies in Ghanaian banks
Authors: Danquah P. Danquah , Aryeetey S. Aryeetey , Buabeng-Andoh C. Buabeng-Andoh
Published: April 2024

Banks were among the earliest adopters of information technology in the business world. In any business organisation, customer data and other corporate information form a critical and valuable asset of the organisation. Disaster recovery planning protects data against loss. The focus of the research was to investigate the disaster recovery strategies and plans being used by the banking industry in Ghana and the preparedness of the banks' staff for recovery from information technology disaster. Using a combination of quantitative and qualitative research approaches with the simple random sampling technique, the results showed that banks in Ghana are basically ill-prepared for Information technology (IT) disasters, a premise on which a number of recommendations are made to improve the situation. It needs to be emphasized that the results may not be suitable for generalization since only seven out of thirty banks were researched.
The nexus of corporate governance developments and corporate failures
Authors: Akanpaadgi E. Akanpaadgi
Published: April 2024

Since 1992 there has been an increase in the development of corporate governance principles after the wide spread corporate failures in the UK and US in the late 1980s. In response to these failures, various good corporate governance principles and regulations have been developed by different institutions to address the factors that lead to the failures. The basis of the study is to find out whether the developments in corporate governance have led to a decrease in the incidence of corporate failures. In doing so, I used data from UK newspapers, journals, magazines and other publications relating to the period under review. The years were divided into groups made up of four years each and ranked according to corporate governance developments and failures. After which, the Spearman's Rank Correlation Coefficient formula was used to determine the level of correlation. My findings indicated that, there is a fairly strong positive correlation between developments in corporate governance and corporate failures meaning that as the number of codes and principles increased the number of corporate failures also increased. The study also identified some of the reasons for the continuous corporate governance failures as board incompetence, poor risk management by companies, ineffective internal controls, and the failure of external auditors to remain neutral. The researcher is, however, convinced that if the principles and codes that have been developed are effectively assimilated by boards of directors, there could be a significant reduction in corporate failures in the near future.
Factors associated with infectious dermatoses at the Departmental University Hospital of Borgou/Alibori, Benin
Authors: Agbessi Nadège , Dégboé Bérénice , Peggy Guérendo , Noukayaba Nadia Ntouala , Houngbo Odile , Adégbidi Hugues , Atadokpèdé Félix , Koudoukpo Christiane
Published: April 2024

Background: Infectious dermatoses are widespread in sub-Saharan Africa and are influenced by many factors. The aim was to study the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of infectious dermatoses and their associated factors in the Dermatology-Venerology Department of CHUD-B/A. Material and Methods: This was a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study, with retrospective data collection, over a 12-year period from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2020. The sample consisted of all patients with infectious dermatoses whose records could be used. Data were analyzed using Epi info 7.2.3.1 software. Results: A total of 1,512 records were collected for patients with at least one infectious dermatosis during the period. The mean age was 27.68 ± 15.9 years. There were almost as many men as women, with a sex ratio of 1.04. The most frequent reason for consultation was pruritus (64.55%). Mycotic dermatoses (59.46%) predominated, followed by viral dermatoses (22.75%). Unprotected sexual intercourse was a factor associated with bacterial dermatoses, multiple sexual partnerships a factor associated with viruses, and female sex a protective factor for cutaneous parasitoses. Conclusion: Infectious dermatoses play an important role in dermatological consultations, with a predominance of mycotic dermatoses. The factors associated with their occurrence are varied.
Sebocystomatosis: a clinical case study
Authors: Trigos Alberto Gómez , Fernandez Gutierrez Luis Miguel Alfonso , Gomez Torres Edgardo , Cervantes Guadarrama Manuel
Published: April 2024

Sebocystomatosis, a rare skin disease characterized by sebum-filled skin cysts, affected a 28-year-old female. Lesions started at 12 years, initially located on the sternum, then extending to the forearms and abdomen. A biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of sebocystomatosis, revealing epidermal cysts in the dermis with sebaceous glands. Sebocystomatosis is sparsely documented in medical literature. Our patient presents persistent skin lesions, diagnosed as sebocystomatosis by biopsy. Early recognition is crucial for management, emphasizing the importance of biopsy for the accurate diagnosis of this skin disease.
Paso alternado: facilidades, restricciones y desafíos a la presentación de candidaturas femeninas en las listas legislativas argentinas (2011-2023)
Authors: Grinstein Candela
Published: April 2024

Objective/context: In 2009, the law of mandatory, simultaneous, and open primaries (PASO, for its acronym in Spanish) was enacted in Argentina. Among others, this regulation seeks to democratize party structures. From a gender perspective, this paper studies the effect of PASO on women’s access to the Chamber of Deputies (2003-2023). To this end, it analyzes how the final lists are assembled, the places assigned to women candidates, the ease with which they gain access to expectable positions, and the permeability of groupings towards their participation since the implementation of PASO. Methodology: This is an exploratory and descriptive study of the effect of PASO on the allocation of seats for the category of female deputies in Argentina, considering all female legislators elected in successive elections (2011-2023). Conclusion: The findings show that PASO’s objective of democratizing party structures and making their components more representative does not seem to have impacted the country’s existing political and party traditions prior to implementing the law regarding the place given to women in a party. Originality: The article presents a study on the democratization effect of PASO on party structures from a gender perspective.
Primarias presidenciales en Chile, 2013-2021: instituciones, participación electoral y resultados
Authors: Morales Mauricio
Published: April 2024

Objective/context: This article analyzes the presidential primary elections in Chile from 2013 to 2021. As established by law, unlike in other Latin American countries, these elections are voluntary, simultaneous, and binding. Methodology: Presidential primary elections are studied in three dimensions: first, the institutions that regulate them; second, the electoral participation; and third, the results. For the analysis of the institutions, Law 20640 is explained. For electoral participation and the results of the primary elections, the statistical method is used, including a descriptive and inferential data analysis; the latter, mainly with multiple linear regression models and graphs of predicted values. Conclusions: Electoral participation in primaries significantly predicts participation in the general election and is strongly determined by the levels of poverty and rurality of the communes. Regarding the results, the Chilean experience shows that ideologically extreme candidates do not always triumph and that in some occasions—such as the 2021 elections—the relationship between the outcome of the primary elections and the candidates’ electoral performance in the first round is far from robust. Originality: This study analyzes three electoral cycles of presidential primaries in Chile and combines an analysis of the institutions that regulate the process with the application of statistical models to explain turnout and electoral results.
Transmission time and spin polarization for electron in magnetically confined semiconducotr nanostructure modulated by spin-orbit coupling
Authors: Wen Li , Lu Mao-Wang , Chen Jia-Li , Chen Sai-Yan , Cao Xue-Li , Zhang An-Qi ,   College of Physics and Electronic Information Engineering, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541004, China
Published: April 2024

Because digital information in semiconductor spintronics is encoded, stored, processed, and transferred by electron spins instead of its charge, the operation of a spintronic device requires that electrons in semiconductors be spin polarized. But spin states of electrons in traditional semiconductor materials are usually degenerate, therefore, conventional semiconductors cannot be directly used to design spintronic devices. Thus, how to spin polarized electrons in ordinary semiconductors (also called spin injection) including its effective manipulation, has become an important direction of research. In physics, either Zeeman effect between electron spins and external magnetic fields or spin-orbit coupling of electron spins and its spatial momentums can be employed to achieve electron-spin polarization. According to these physical mechanisms, some effective schemes have been developed successfully, such as spin filtering, temporally separating electron-spins, and spatial separations of electron spins. Utilizing the combination of theoretical analysis and numerical calculation, transmission time is investigated by considering both Zeeman effect as well as Rashba and Dresselhaus spin-orbit couplings for electron in magnetically confined semiconductor nanostructure, which is constructed on the GaAs/AlxGa1–xAs heterostructure. Schrödinger equation of an electron is numerically solved by matrix diagonalization and improved transfer-matrix method. Adopting H.G. Winful’s theory, dwell time of electron is calculated and spin polarization ratio is given. Due to Zeeman effect and spin-orbit coupling, dwell time of electron is obviously associated with the spins, which is used to separate electron-spins in time dimension and to realize spin polarization of electrons in semiconductors. Because the semiconductor GaAs has a small effective g-factor, which is about 4 times larger than that induced by Zeeman effect, electron-spin polarization originates mainly from spin-orbit coupling including Rashba and Dresselhaus types. Dwell time of electron and its spin polarization can be efficaciously modified by interfacial confining electric-field or strain engineering, because the effective potential of electron is related to spin-orbit coupling’s strength. These interesting findings not only have some references for spin injection into semiconductors, but also provide a controllable temporal electron-spin splitter for semiconductor spintronics device applications.
Tuning apicobasal polarity and junctional recycling in the hemogenic endothelium orchestrates the morphodynamic complexity of emerging pre-hematopoietic stem cells
Authors: Torcq Léa , Majello Sara , Vivier Catherine , Schmidt Anne A.
Published: April 2024

Hematopoietic stem cells emerge in the embryo from an aortic-derived tissue called the hemogenic endothelium (HE). The HE appears to give birth to cells of different nature and fate but the molecular principles underlying this complexity are largely unknown. Here we show, in the zebrafish embryo, that two cell types emerge from the aortic floor with radically different morphodynamics. With the support of live imaging, we bring evidence suggesting that the mechanics underlying the two emergence types rely, or not, on apicobasal polarity establishment. While the first type is characterized by reinforcement of apicobasal polarity and maintenance of the apical/luminal membrane until release, the second type emerges via a dynamic process reminiscent of trans-endothelial migration. Interfering with Runx1 function suggests that the balance between the two emergence types depends on tuning apicobasal polarity at the level of the HE. In support of this and unexpectedly, we show that the zebrafish Pard3 isoform - Pard3ba - is sensitive to interference with Runx1 activity, in aortic endothelial cells. This supports the idea of a signaling cross talk controlling cell polarity and its associated features, between aortic and hemogenic cells. In addition, using new transgenic fish lines that express Junctional Adhesion Molecules and functional interference, we bring evidence for the essential role of ArhGEF11/PDZ-RhoGEF in controlling the HE-endothelial cell dynamic interface, including cell-cell intercalation, which is ultimately required for emergence completion. Overall, we highlight critical cellular and dynamic events of the endothelial-to-hematopoietic transition that support emergence complexity, with a potential impact cell fate.
Deciphering the Genetic Code of Neuronal Type Connectivity: A Bilinear Modeling Approach
Authors: Qiao Mu
Published: April 2024

Understanding how different neuronal types connect and communicate is critical to interpreting brain function and behavior. However, it has remained a formidable challenge to decipher the genetic underpinnings that dictate the specific connections formed between neuronal types. To address this, we propose a novel bilinear modeling approach that leverages the architecture similar to that of recommendation systems. Our model transforms the gene expressions of presynaptic and postsynaptic neuronal types, obtained from single-cell transcriptomics, into a crosscorrelation matrix. The objective is to construct this cross-correlation matrix that closely mirrors a connectivity matrix, derived from connectomic data, reflecting the known anatomical connections between these neuronal types. When tested on a dataset of
Caenorhabditis elegans
, our model achieved a performance comparable to, if slightly better than, the previously proposed spatial connectome model (SCM) in reconstructing electrical synaptic connectivity based on gene expressions. Through a comparative analysis, our model not only captured all genetic interactions identified by the SCM but also inferred additional ones. Applied to a mouse retinal neuronal dataset, the bilinear model successfully recapticulated recognized connectivity motifs between bipolar cells and retinal ganglion cells, and provided interpretable insights into genetic interactions shaping the connectivity. Specifically, it identified unique genetic signatures associated with different connectivity motifs, including genes important to cell-cell adhesion and synapse formation, highlighting their role in orchestrating specific synaptic connections between these neurons. Our work establishes an innovative computational strategy for decoding the genetic programming of neuronal type connectivity. It not only sets a new benchmark for single-cell transcriptomic analysis of synaptic connections but also paves the way for mechanistic studies of neural circuit assembly and genetic manipulation of circuit wiring.
Neuropilin-1 controls vascular permeability through juxtacrine regulation of endothelial adherens junctions
Authors: Pal Sagnik , Su Yangyang , Claesson-Welsh Lena , Richards Mark
Published: April 2024

Neuropilin-1 (NRP1) regulates endothelial cell (EC) biology through modulating vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) signalling by presenting VEGFA. How NRP1 impacts VEGFA-mediated vascular hyperpermeability however is unresolved, being described as having a positive or passive function. Using EC-specific
Nrp1
knock-out mice, we discover that EC-expressed NRP1 exerts an organotypic role. In ear skin, VEGFA/VEGFR2-mediated vascular leakage increased following EC NRP1 knock-out, showing that NRP1 negatively regulates VEGFR2 signalling. Conversely, in back skin and trachea, EC NRP1 knock-out decreased vascular leakage. Accordingly, VE-cadherin phosphorylation increased in the ear skin but was suppressed in back skin of
Nrp1
iECKO mice. NRP1 has been shown to have the ability to act in a juxtacrine manner. Importantly, NRP1 was more abundant in perivascular cells of the ear skin than back skin. Global NRP1 knock-out suppressed VEGFA-induced vascular leakage in the ear skin, implicating perivascular NRP1 as a juxtacrine co-receptor of VEGFA in this compartment. Altogether, we demonstrate that perivascular NRP1 is an active participant in EC VEGFA/VEGFR2 signalling and acts as an organotypic modifier of EC biology.
Enhancing fear extinction
Authors: Trask Sydney , Ferrara Nicole C
Published: April 2024

Gradually reducing a source of fear during extinction treatments may weaken negative memories in the long term.
Optimization of Growth and Production of Brown Oyster Mushrooms (Pleurotus cystidiosus) through Additional Nutrients of Rice Washing Water and Rice Groats
Authors: Tamba Listina Elisabet Br , Marisa Julia , Hafiz Muhammad
Published: April 2024

This study aims to determine the optimization of growth and production of brown oyster mushroom (P. cystidionsus) plants with additional nutrients of rice washing water and to determine the optimization of growth and production of chocolate oyster mushroom (P. cystidionsus) plants through additional nutrients of rice groats. This study used a factorial Complete Randomized Design (RAL) method consisting of two factors, namely, the first factor is rice washing water / leri water (L) and the second factor is rice groats (G). Each treatment is repeated 3 times. Leri water factor consists of 4 levels, namely: A0=0 ml, A1= 30 ml, A2= 50 ml, A3=70 ml. Rice groats factor consists of 4 levels, namely: M0=0 g, M1=60 g, M2= 80 g, M3= 100 g. Data was analyzed using variance analysis (Anova) at 5%. The results showed no effect of rice washing water and rice groats on the growth rate of brown oyster mushroom mycelim, will be at a rice washing water concentration of 70ml / baglog + rice groats 100g / baglog affects the parameters of mushroom stalk height (cm), mushroom hood diameter (cm), mushroom hood thickness (cm), number of mushrooms (clump), and fresh weight of mushrooms / baglog (g).
Stimulating Classroom Participation: Case Study of Class III Learners at Arekha Primary School
Authors: Phuntsho Dawa
Published: April 2024

This research investigates strategies to stimulate classroom participation among grade III learners at Arekha Primary School. The study aims to identify barriers to participation and effective strategies for enhancing engagement. Using a mixed-method approach, data was collected through surveys, interviews, and observations. The findings reveal various factors hindering participation, including shyness, reservation, and demanding behavior. Motivation, open-ended questions, favorable learning environments, and group discussions emerged as effective strategies for promoting participation. Despite limitations in sample size and participant reluctance, the study suggests promising results in improving student engagement. Recommendations include conducting future studies with diverse samples and incorporating teachers' perspectives for a comprehensive understanding of classroom dynamics and interventions. Overall, the research underscores the importance of addressing psychological and social barriers to foster a more inclusive and interactive learning environment for grade III learners.
Effect of Continuous Application of Fertilizer and Manure on Distribution of Sulphur Fractions in a Vertisol
Authors: Jain Sumeet Kumar , Kumar Anil , Singh Ompal , Dwarka . , Patel Ravi , Jain Deepanshu , Ahirwar Surendra Kumar , Chandel Lokesh Pratap Narayan
Published: April 2024

The fertilization experiment was started at Experimental field of Eklavya University, Damoh, Madhya Pradesh-India at a fixed location in the experimental field study was carried out. Under this study a randomized block design with eight treatments and four replications high used Urea, single super phosphate (SSP), muriate of potash, and DAP instead of SSP were employed as fertilizers in the sulphate-free treatment.
Planting and Harvesting Mechanization on Productivity, Energy Efficacy and Profitability of Potato Production
Authors: Hoque M A , Rahman M A , Jahan N , Barna T N , Hossain M A
Published: April 2024

Potato occupied the first position among all the vegetables in respect of area and total production in Bangladesh. Effective and efficient use of energy are necessary for an improved agricultural production. Therefore, this research was undertaken for potato production to assess productivity, quantify energy flow and financial profitability of different production systems. The experimented four systems were manual planting and manual harvesting, machine planting and manual harvesting, manual planting and machine harvesting and machine planting and machine harvesting, respectively. The experiment was conducted at Farm Machinery and Postharvest Process (FMP) Engineering Division of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) during 2017-18. Yield of potato including yield contributing characters for different treatments was not significantly varied. Direct energy was the highest in mechanical planting and harvesting system (25%) and the lower manual planting and harvesting system (18%). Indirect energy shared 82% in manual planting and harvesting system, 78% in machine planting and manual harvesting system, 80% in manual planting and mechanical harvesting system, and 75% in machine planting and machine harvesting system, respectively. The largest source of indirect energy consumption was from fertilizer (22-27% of the total energy). The higher specific energy of 1.93 MJ/kg was found in manually planted and mechanized harvesting system. The higher product value was from manual planting and mechanical harvesting system. The highest BCR (2.25) was found from machine planted and machine harvested followed by manually planted and mechanically harvested plot (2.16), machine planted and manually harvested plot (1.93) and manual planting and harvesting plot (1.91). Thus, mechanically planted and harvested system can be recommended for potato production since it can reduce 52% labour requirement than manual method and can give higher BCR among the tested production methods.
Cervical Cancer Screening in the Metropolitan Region I, State of Pará, Amazon: A Retrospective Ecological Study on Public Health in Pará
Authors: Anjos Thiago Augusto Ferreira dos , Monteiro Aline Moraes , Lopes Kézia Dias , Silva Raquel Gomes da , Dergan Marcela Raíssa Asevedo
Published: April 2024

Objective: To analyze the coverage of cytopathological examination of the cervix in women between 25 and 64 years of age in Metropolitan Region I, State of Pará, from 2017 to 2021. Methodology: Secondary and public data, registered in the System, were extracted. Cancer Information, considering the historical series from 2017 to 2021.
Results: A total of 150,424 uterine cervix exams were performed by women aged between 25 and 64 years. There was a variation in the offer of exams in the municipalities, with an increase in the years 2017, 2018 and 2019, while in the years 2020 and 2021, the numbers were reduced, without reaching the state goal agreed in most municipalities. Among the cytological changes in the exam, atypical ones in glandular cells predominated with 52.4%, followed by invasive squamous cell carcinoma with 31.1%. As for the type of intraepithelial lesion, a higher proportion of low-grade lesions was identified, with 82.5%.
Conclusion: Weaknesses in Cervical Cancer (CC) screening may be correlated with low supply and demand for the test, as well as the unsatisfactory quality of the collected samples.
Correlation of Glasgow Coma Scale with Head Computed Tomographic Findings in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury in a Tertiary Hospital in Nnewi
Authors: KG Obieje , ME Aronu , CS Nwosu , CN Obasikene , SI Udobi , KC Eze
Published: April 2024

Background: Traumatic brain injury is an injury that causes anatomical or functional damage to the cranium, meninges and the brain. It is a major health challenge that causes increased mortality among trauma patients. This creates the serious need to find ways of elucidating the seriousness and prognostic possibility of every head injury patients. This study will help classify the patients in such a way as to affect management and also predict outcome early in the treatment of patients with traumatic head injury.
Aim of the Study: Aim of this study is to correlate the clinical assessment of head injury patients with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and CT findings as classified with Rotterdam scoring system.
Subjects and Methods: This prospective study of 170 patients with head injury presenting for CT scan, was carried out from October, 2017 to September, 2019, in the Radiology department of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi. All stable patients that were referred for head CT within this period were included in the study.
Prior to the commencement of the study, informed consent, relevant clinical history and necessary physical examination are usually carried out on the patient or obtained from the care giver to ascertain the level of consciousness by Glasgow coma scale. The GCS grading used was as follows; a score of 3 - 8 (severe head injury), 9 - 12 (moderate head injury) and 13 - 15 (mild head injury). Patients were scanned using a 4 slice/gantry rotation capacity CT (General Electric (GE), HANGWEI MEDICAL SYSTEMS CO. LTD.
Data obtained from the study pro-forma and the cranial CT findings of subjects, was entered and analysed using IBM SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences), version 20.0. Armonk, NY, U.S.A, 2011.
Results: A total of 170 patients were involved in the study which showed a high prevalence of traumatic head injury. More males were involved than females and the predominant age in the study is 21-30. There was a significant correlation between the GCS and the Rotterdam scoring system.
Discussion: The findings that more males and the younger age group are more involved and that the Rotterdam scores are good indicators of the outcome are similar to the findings in other studies.
Conclusion: This study showed that Rotterdam CT score system is a good prognostic tool in patients with traumatic brain injury.
Empirical test of bullies' status goals: assessing direct goals, aggression, and prestige
Authors: Sijtsema Jelle J. , Veenstra René , Lindenberg Siegwart , Salmivalli Christina
Published: October 2008

The literature suggests that status goals are one of the driving motivations behind bullying behavior, yet this conjecture has rarely if ever been examined empirically. This study assessed status goals in three ways, using dyadic network analysis to analyze the relations and goals among 10–11 and 14–15 year olds in 22 school classes (N boys=225; N girls=277). As a validation bullies were contrasted with victims. Bullies had direct status goals (measured with the Interpersonal Goal Inventory for Children) and showed dominance as measured with proactive aggression. Moreover, as predicted from a goal perspective, bullying behavior was related to prestige in terms of perceived popularity. In contrast, victims lacked status goals, were only reactively aggressive, and low on prestige. That being popular is not the same as being liked could be shown by the fact that bullies were just as rejected as victims by their classmates. Eighth‐grade bullies had more direct status goals than fourth‐grade bullies, possibly indicating that striving for the popularity component of status increases in early adolescence. Aggr. Behav. 35:57–67, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
One‐Pot/Four‐Step/Palladium‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Indole Derivatives: The Combination of Heterogeneous and Homogeneous Systems
Authors: Sakai Hayato , Tsutsumi Ken , Morimoto Tsumoru , Kakiuchi Kiyomi
Published: October 2008

One‐pot, four‐step syntheses of indoles using both solid‐supported heterogeneous and homogeneous palladium catalysts and reagents were carried out. Such a combination of these two‐phase catalysts and reagents causes a dramatic increase in yield, and it is a simple process. The presented methodology is effective for four‐step reactions to provide various functionalized indoles.
A New Chiral Organosulfur Catalyst for Highly Stereoselective Synthesis of Epoxides
Authors: Gui Yuan , Li Jian , Guo Chang‐Shan , Li Xin‐Liang , Lu Zhi‐Feng , Huang Zhi‐Zhen
Published: October 2008

A new chrial organosulfide was synthesized through an unexpected Wagner–Meerwein rearrangement. This organosulfide could catalyze the epoxidation reaction of various aromatic aldehydes smoothly with benzyl bromide to give trans‐diaryl epoxides in satisfactory yields (60–84%) with excellent diastereoselectivities (trans:cis=95:5–100:0) and good to excellent enantioselectivities (86–96% ee).
Low birth weight of contemporary African Americans: An intergenerational effect of slavery?
Authors: Jasienska Grazyna
Published: October 2008

The average birth weight in the contemporary African‐American population is about 250 g lower than the average birth weight of European Americans. Differences in genetic and socioeconomic factors present between these two groups can explain only part of birth weight variation. I propose a hypothesis that the low birth weight of contemporary African Americans not only results from the difference in present exposure to lifestyle factors known to affect fetal development but also from conditions experienced during the period of slavery. Slaves had poor nutritional status during all stages of life because of the inadequate dietary intake accompanied by high energetic costs of physical work and infectious diseases. The concept of “fetal programming” suggests that physiology and metabolism including growth and fat accumulation of the developing fetus, and, thus its birth weight, depend on intergenerational signal of environmental quality passed through generations of matrilinear ancestors. I suggest that several generations that have passed since the abolition of slavery in the United States (1865) has not been enough to obliterate the impact of slavery on the current biological and health condition of the African‐American population. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.