bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Implications of fragile landscapes for endemic pollinators in an eastern afro-montane biodiversity hotspot of Kenya
Authors: Bobadoye B.O. , Bobadoye A.O. , Adekola P.J. 
Published: July 2020

This study was carried out to determine how disturbances could shape the natural occurrence of African meliponine bee species in different ecological habitats of Taita hills of Kenya and how this could lead to changes in their diversity. Habitats sampled were indigenous forests, exotic forests, mixed highland forests, Acacia dominated bush lands, mixed deciduous woodlands and grasslands which were further categorized as either fragmented or un-fragmented habitats based on levels of disturbance. The study sites were chosen based on various features such as, forest fragment size, level of forest fragment isolation, forest fragment age, and level of degradation. In all study locations, meliponine bee species were sampled using the conventional complementary method, belt transect (direct observation of nesting colonies synonymous to a visual census) from the months of March to September 2014 (combining both the long rainy season and dry season). Nesting colonies of the 4 meliponine bee species, namely, Hypotrigona gribodoi, Meliponula ferruginea (black), Hypotrigona ruspolii and Plebeina hildebrandti, were surveyed following a successive gradient. In each study site (25 ha), 20 linear transects of 250 m × 20 m each were established using a global positioning system (GPS) receiver to mark coordinates with relation to habitat type. Data such as nesting site/substrate, GPS coordinates of nest, and names of nesting trees were recorded. A total of four species depicted by the Renyi diversity profile was recorded in five out of the six main habitat types surveyed and a further extrapolation with Shannon index (EH) also predicted the highest species richness of 4.24 in a deciduous habitat type with more trees and vegetation and the lowest species of 1.01 in isolated forest patches habitat type. These meliponine bee species (Hypotrigona gribodoi, Hypotrigona ruspolii, Meliponula ferruginea (black) and Plebeina hildebrandti) were observed to be unevenly distributed across all six sampled habitats, further indicating that mixed deciduous habitat proved to be more diverse than Acacia dominated bush lands, grasslands and exotic forest strips which have all undergone varying levels of fragmentation. This has revealed that unprecedented conversions of natural habitats leading to fragmentations of such habitats is a key driving factor causing increased habitat isolation and vulnerability in this afro-montane region which may potentially distort local assemblages of native pollinators such as meliponine bee species.
Keywords: Meliponine bees, habitat fragmentation, diversity, Eastern Afro Montane
Quality evaluation and UV spectrophotometric assay of ten brands of amlodipine tablets marketed in Uyo, Nigeria
Authors: Igboasoiyi Arnold C. , Egeolu Amarachi P. , Edet Effiong M. 
Published: July 2020

Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker that is widely used to treat hypertension, which is a chronic health condition characterized by persistent elevated pressure of blood in the arteries. Hypertension is a predisposing factor to stroke, kidney failure, heart diseases and vision loss. The large demand for amlodipine makes it a good candidate for fakers. Consumption of substandard and/or fake amlodipine tablets will have a negative impact on the management of hypertension. This justifies continuous monitoring of amlodipine preparations in the marketplace and the provision of simple and cost-effective assay method that could be routinely utilised for their assay. Ten different brands of amlodipine tablets were qualitatively assessed for uniformity of weight, friability, hardness, disintegration and dissolution rate using standard physical methods. Quantitative assay was carried out using spectrophotometric method. The spectrophotometric measurement was done at a wavelength of 240 nm. Seven brands met the official requirements for uniformity of weight; eight passed the friability test and the hardness tests. All the brands tested passed the disintegration test and nine brands passed the dissolution test. The spectrophotometric assay showed that all the brands passed the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) requirement for percentage drug content. The assay method used in this study is reliable, simple and cost- effective and can be routinely used to assay amlodipine tablets.
Keywords: Amlodipine, qualitative, quantitative, assay, ultraviolet spectrophotometry
Anthelmintic activity of <i>Ocimum gratissimum</i> and <i>Cymbopogon citratus</i> leaf extracts against <i>Haemonchus placei</i> adult worm
Authors: Aderibigbe Segun A. , Idowu Sunday O. 
Published: July 2020

Medicinal plants are promising, as source of alternative solution to the problem of parasitic helminth infections that hamper the sustainable supply of products from farm animals. Ocimum gratissimum and Cymbopogon citratus leaves are commonly used internally to treat worms, relieve abdominal pains and stomach ache. This study, therefore, evaluated their leaf extracts for anthelmintic activity against Haemonchus placei worm from cattle; the most active extract being subjected to phytochemical analysis. The extracts, obtained by maceration using acetone, were evaluated for anthelmintic activity by exposing adult H. placei to a range of concentrations (5-60 mg/mL) for 3 hours and then counting the number of confirmed dead worms. Anthelmintic activity data were fitted to a non-linear regression equation (Log [extract] vs. response; variable slope) to produce best-fit sigmoidal curves from which LC50 values were computed. The best-fit LC50 values, found to be significantly different (alpha < 0.0001), were 17.70 mg/mL and 56.04 mg/mL for C. citratus and O. gratissimum, respectively, suggesting that C. citratus is three times more potent than O. gratissimum. Phytochemical analysis of C. citratus indicated the presence of alkaloids, tannins, steroids, saponins, terpenoids and flavonoids. Cymbopogon citratus could be useful as an anthelmintic phytomedicine against livestock parasitic helminths.
Keywords: Anthelmintic; Haemonchus placei; Motility assay; Ocimum gratissimum; Cymbopogon citratus
Effect of methanol extract of <i>Tridax procumbens</i> flower on hematological parameters and serum lipid profiles of Wistar albino rats
Authors: Enwa Felix Oghenemaro , Jemikalajah Johnson Daniel , Oghenejobo Michael , Oghenebrume Victor Eseoghene 
Published: July 2020

The aim of the study is to evaluate the effects of the methanolic extract of Tridax procumbens L. flower on the hematological and serum lipid profile of Albino Wistar rats. Ten male albino Wistar rats were obtained and divided into two groups (control and test). The flowers were extracted by cold maceration using methanol. The extract was then administered orally to the Test group at a dose of 100 mg/kg/d. Thereafter, blood samples were obtained from both groups and the hematological and serum lipid parameters were analyzed using auto-analyzers. The results of the hematological parameters obtained for Test group were; PCV-46.2%, Hemoglobin-14.656 g/dl, Platelets-141.08 mm3, Eosinophil-4.0%, Neutrophil-38%, Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH)-35.532pg, Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC)-32.11gl and Mean corpuscular volume (MCV)-108.658 ft, which were higher compared to the Control; while that of the serum lipid profiles were determined to be; Cholesterol-142.58 mg/dl,Triglycerides-157.58 mg/dl, HDL-56.72 mg/dl, LDL-55.944 mg/dl and VLDL-31.516 mg/dl. The plants were seen to have slight weight reducing activity, no significant effect on total white blood cell count, increased eosinophils, neutrophils, packed cell volume, platelet count, mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), HDL, and reduced LDL, VLDL,triglycerides, cholesterol on the rats tested. Hence, from this study, this plant can serve as a good candidate to be used as a hematinic agent, as weight reducers, and a lipid lowering agent.
Keywords: Tridax procumbens, Wistar rat, HDL, LDL MCV, MCHC
An assessment of medication safety practices in selected public health facilities in Kaduna State, Nigeria
Authors: Lawal Basira Kankia , Alhaji Aliyu A. , Maiha Bilkisu Bello , Mohammed Shafiu 
Published: July 2020

Medication errors occur frequently and have significant clinical and financial consequences, which could be preventable. Unsafe medication practices and errors have been found to be amongst the leading cause of injury and avoidable harm in both developed and developing countries. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended implementation of basic solutions to improve medication safety. This study assessed the presence of basic medication safety practices in four (4) public health facilities in Kaduna State, Nigeria. A validated survey tool was adopted which contains sections that assessed practices such as look-alike, sound-alike (LASA) medications, transitions in care, use of information technology, drug information and other practices. A structured interview was conducted with each head of Pharmacy department of the facilities after obtaining their consent. Only one facility had a medication safety committee, none of the facilities had a list of LASA medications nor a list of error proneabbreviations. Only one facility involved pharmacists in obtaining medication histories and none of the facilities uses ‘high risk’ warning label on diluted electrolyte solutions. Basic practices to improve medication safety were not implemented in the facilities. Effort must be put in place for the adoption of medication safety practices. Regulations and policies need to be implemented regarding these practices.
Keywords: Medication safety; Health facilities; Kaduna State; Nigeria; Medication errors
The discourse of thesis assessment reports in a disciplinary community at the University of Cape Coast: An exploratory study
Authors: Afful Joseph Benjamin Archibal 
Published: July 2020

Thesis assessment reports constitute an important review genre in postgraduate education, though they largely remain occluded. This paper investigates the discourse of thesis assessment reports, with the view to gaining insights into their form and content in a Ghanaian university. Thirty-four (34) written assessment reports of 19 Master’s theses from the Department of English in the University of Cape Coast constituted the data set. A qualitative content analysis, supplemented with descriptive statistics, was adopted. Three key findings emerged from the analysis of the data. First, there were varying structural patterns adopted by assessors, thereby evincing individual preferences. Second, the least and most frequent comments in the assessment reports were on the methodology on one hand and literature review and analysis/discussion on the other hand. Third, theses assessors largely adhered to institutional guidelines in terms of the evaluative criteria. These findings have implications for the scholarship on thesis assessment reports in postgraduate education, postgraduate pedagogy, and further research in higher education in Ghana and elsewhere.
Key Words: Discourse, thesis assessment reports, Ghana, postgraduate education
Out with old, in with the new: Negotiating identity in re-naming a Xhosa <i>umtshakazi</i>
Authors: Zungu Evangeline Bonisiwe , Maphini Nomvula 
Published: July 2020

Umtshakazi (singular) is a bride and abatshakazi (plural) are brides in isiXhosa language. The word is derived from the word ‘tsha’ which means new in isiXhosa. The word is popularly known as Makoti in other African languages, such as isiZulu. In short, a bride is a woman about to be married or newly married and thus a “new member” of the husband’s family. In a South African context, naming is not reserved for new-born children as there are circumstances whereby older people get new names. In Xhosa re-naming of abatshakazi, is a religious practice where name-givers bestow a name on a newlywed and then expect brides to live up to their newly acquired names. Like most things cultural, the brides have no choice but to accept the new name, embrace what the name entails and live up to the family’s expectations. Through the re-naming process the bride assumes a new identity which means taking the responsibility that comes with it. This article examines how such a process gives brides new roles to play; how brides make a conscious effort to live up to the name and how this changes their identity. This article is going to take a phenomenology stance. The phenomenology theory is a theoretical proposition which focuses on people’s perceptions of the world in which they live and what it means to them. It focuses on people’s lived experiences. This theory is essential in this article as the article focuses on the individual experiences of Xhosa abatshakazi in the naming process.
Key Words: gender, culture, names, identity, marriage
Single Item Supplier Selection and Order Allocation Problem with a Quantity Discount and Transportation Costs
Authors: Basa Getachew , Becker Till , Kedir Abdelkader 
Published: July 2020

In this paper, we address a single item supplier selection, economic lot-sizing, and order assignment problem under quantity discount environment and transportation costs. A mixed-integer nonlinear program (MINP) model is developed with minimization of cost as its objective, while lead-time, the capacity of the supplier and demand of the product are incorporated as constraints. The total cost considered includes annual inventory holding cost, ordering cost, transportation cost and purchase cost. An efficient and effective genetic algorithm (GA) with problem-specific operators is developed and used to solve the proposed MINP model. The model is illustrated through a numerical example and the results show that the GA can solve the model in less than a minute. Moreover, the results of the numerical illustration show that the item cost and transportation cost are the deciding factors in selecting suppliers and allocating orders.
Keywords: Supplier selection, Economic Order Quantity, Order allocation, Mixed-integer nonlinear programming.
Structure of the Spectra and Resonances of Schrödinger Operators
Authors: Bouguetaia Tahar , Messirdi Bekkai 
Published: July 2020

The main goal of this paper is to study the spectrum and resonances of several classes of Schrödinger operators. Two important examples occurring in mathematical physics are discussed: harmonic oscillator and Hamiltonian of hydrogen atom.
Keywords: Schrödinger operator, Spectrum, Periodic potential, Resonances.
Performance of Micro and Small Enterprisers in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia
Authors: Gebru Wubet Gebretsadik , Mmopelwa Gagoitseope 
Published: July 2020

Micro and Small Enterprises (MSE) have become the focus of attention for the economic development, economic growth and job creations in the world. Majority of the firms worldwide are dominated by businesses of micro and small enterprises. In developing countries, the informal sector that mainly establishes MSE remains the major source of employment and income for the urban population. A study was conducted to examine the performance of MSE in three zones of Tigray State, namely, Southern zone, Mekelle zone and Eastern zone. The data was collected using structured questionnaire on 246 MSE business owners. The data are analyzed using multiple linear regressions (dummy), Cross tabulations and chi-square test for test of independence. The result revealed that Gender, initial capital, enterprise and job type are found to be important factors of performance of MSE. There is a gender difference on sector type, education level and work sheds of micro and small enterprises business owner. The result also showed that initial capital has positively affected the performance of business owners and men headed business owners have better performance than female headed business owners.
Keywords: Micro- and Small Enterprises, Performance, Gender, Tigray, Ethiopia.
Economic Contribution of Cart Horses to the Livelihoods of Families in Gondar Town Ethiopia
Authors: Asfaw Hamelmal , Tadesse Gebrehiwot 
Published: July 2020

Equines are providing traction power and transport services, like pulling cart, packing and riding, at low cost in both rural and urban areas of Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Gondar city from November 2014 to April 2015 to assess major health problems and to investigate the economic contribution of cart horses to livelihood of the community. Cart horses were randomly selected from the study area. Observational study was also conducted and semi-structured questionnaire survey was administered to all cart horse owners. The study revealed that behavioral responses, skin coat and dental conditions were significantly associated with body condition and age of cart horses (p<0.05). Wound and musculoskeletal problem had no significant association with body condition and age of working horses. Young horses with good body conditions were more prone to wounds (75%) than the older horses with poor body conditions. The majority of the carthorse owners used their horses for transportation for long hours (> 8 hours) per a day, 5-6 days per week and loaded them 500-700 kg. The income in cash for the cart horse owners was recorded as 80-100 ETB per day. The current study indicated that the cart horse contribution to livelihood of communities is considerable. The working animals deserve better husbandry and veterinary care to sustain their contribution. We suggest a more detailed and systematic study be conducted in the study area to influence policy makers towards better regulation in animal welfare.
Keywords: Cart horses, Economic contribution, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Transesterification Reaction of Palm Kernel Oil (PKO) on a Bed of Crushed Cashew Nut Shell (CCNS)
Authors: Eke U.B. , Owalude S.O. , Tella A.C. , Adejoro O.G. 
Published: July 2020

Biodiesel (GA1) was produced by the transesterification reaction of palm kernel oil (PKO) and methanol catalysed by crushed cashew nut shaft. Biodiesel samples GA2 – GA4 were also produced from the palm kernel oil using conventional base catalysis by NaOH and crushed cashew nut shaft combined with NaOH. The physico-chemical properties and spectroscopic data of the four samples were found to be similar and compared favourably to those of standard biodiesel.
Keywords: Transesterification, palm kernel oil, cashew nut shell, methanolysis, biodiesel.
A Modified Boost-Boost High Gain DC-DC Converter for Photovoltaic (PV) Based Off- Grid Applications
Authors: Isah H. , Sagagi Y.M. , Bako A. 
Published: July 2020

This study presents a single switch non-isolated DC-DC converter good for photovoltaic (PV) applications. The proposed topology was constructed using two classical DC-DC boost converters by arranging them in cascade for providing high voltage gain, low duty-cycle, less stress across the semiconductor devices, less size, and low cost. The operating principle and steady-state analysis of an individual component of the proposed topology in continuous conduction mode (CCM) are discussed and the results obtained improved the ones in literatures. The prototype of 120 V DC output voltage with 9 V DC input voltage is implemented and the result obtained validate the simulated result of the proposed converter.
Keywords: DC-DC converter, Photovoltaic (PV), Single switch, High gain, Duty-cycle.
Expression of Wild-Type p53 by Curcumin, Alpinetin and Flavokawain B in Colorectal Cancer cells Expressing R273H Mutant p53
Authors: Malami I. , Muhammad A. , Abubakar I.B. , Alhassan A.M. 
Published: July 2020

A mutation in p53 is frequently reported in nearly 50% of all of human cancers arising from DNA-binding core domain of p53. DNA-contact mutant R273H rendered p53 at dysfunctional state due to the substitution of single residue Arg273 for His273. Here, natural bioactive compounds curcumin, alpinetin and flavokawain B were investigated for possible stabilisation of wild-type p53 expression in vitro using HT-29 cells harbouring R273H rendered p53. Accordingly, all the bioactive compounds were able to induce the expression of wild-type p53 both at the levels of gene and protein expression. A dose-dependent induction of p53 was evident at 12.5, 25 and 50 μM concentration. The present study has shown that the bioactive compounds may have restored the wild-type p53 functional activity in tumour cells expressing R273H mutant p53.
Keywords: Curcumin, Alpinetin, Flavokawain B, p53, R273H
Isolation of Quarcetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside from the ethanol leaf extract of <i>Ficus sycomorous L.</i> (Moracaea)
Authors: Atiku I. , Pateh U.U. , Iliya I. , Musa A.M. , Sule M.I. , Sani Y.M. , Hanwa U.A. , Abdullahi S.M. 
Published: July 2020

Ficus sycomorous (Sycamore fig.) Family Moraceae is a plant used in African traditional medicine to treat mental illness, dysentery, cough, diarrhea, tuberculosis and Cancer. In this research work the leaf of the plant was subjected to cold maceration using 75% ethanol. The extract was fractionated using n- hexane, chloroform ethylacetate and n-butanol. The ethylacetate fraction was subjected to column chromatographic separation and purification. Quarcetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside was isolated and the structure of the compound was elucidated by various spectral techniques such as1 and 2D NMR and mass spectrometry.
Keyword: Ficus sycomorous, Moraceae, NMR, Quarcetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside
Evaluation of Physiochemical Parameters and Some Heavy Metals from Tannery Effluents of Sharada and Challawa Industrial Areas of Kano State, Nigeria
Authors: Shaibu A.N. , Audu A.A. 
Published: July 2020

The evaluation of physicochemical parameters and some heavy metals was carried out from six different tannery companies at the industrial areas of Challawa and Sharada, using standard procedures. Temperature, pH, conductivity and total dissolved solids(TDS) were determined using portable digital hand logging meter. The sulphate, phosphate, nitrate, arsenic contents were determined using UV Spectrophotometer, while chloride, dissolved oxygen (DO) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) contents were determined using titrimetric method, and the heavy metals by atomic absorption spectrometry. The mean temperature of the water ranged from 36.00 – 39.670C, pH: 2.63 – 9.33, conductivity: 336.33 – 12351.67μS/cm, TDS: 166.73 – 6017.67mg/L, sulphate: 114.00 – 466.67mg/L, phosphate: 0.29 – 12.80mg/L, chloride: 58.66 – 1577.87mg/L, nitrate: 6.03 - 33.43mg/L, DO: 2.60 – 21.27mg/L and BOD: 0.77 – 12.33mg//L. Water samples from the tannery effluents contained higher levels for both physicochemical parameters and heavy metals in untreated than treated. Cadmium and nickel were within the WHO limit for both treated and untreated while arsenic was within the limit for only treated effluent. Chromium and lead were above the WHO limit for both treated and untreated effluent. The parameters studied showed variations within the tannery companies and this may affect the Challawariver where this effluent is discharged which can have long term health effect on the aquatic animals and humans that depend on the river water for their daily activities.
Keywords: Biochemical Oxygen Demand, Dissolve Oxygen, Heavy Metals and Effluents