bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
IDENTIFYING THE CHANGES AND DISPARITIES IN INCOME BETWEEN RURAL MUNICIPALITIES OF THE WIELKOPOLSKIE VOIVODSHIP
Authors: Standar dr Aldona 
Published: December 2019

The purpose of the paper is to identify the changes and disparities in the income of rural municipalities of the Wielkopolskie Voivodship. As the main source materials, this paper relied on the Local Data Bank of the Central Statistical Office and on Municipal Budget Reports (RB-27s) of the Ministry of Finance. The analysis period was 2010-2017. The variable of focus in this study is total income and its components. The relationships between income categories were assessed using the Pearson correlation coefficient. Also, this paper used basic measures of descriptive statistics and the decile ratio. The analysis of variance (the Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA on ranks) was carried out to verify the statistical significance of results, taking into account the functional type of municipalities (determined using the cluster analysis). The functional type was found to have an effect on income disparities in the group of municipalities surveyed. Also, the income gap between municipalities tended to narrow. The income potential of rural municipalities of the Wielkopolskie Voivodship rose by 54% in 2010-2017. This is the consequence of a consistent increase in own income and considerable growth in external income related to the introduction of the Family+ programme. Municipalities are improving their wealth because they derive more and more funds from their share in personal income tax while accessing smaller amounts from sources typical of rural local governments, such as agricultural and forestry taxes. This is related to progressing suburbanization processes which are currently taking place in Poland.
POLISH AND ROMANIAN DAIRY FARMS USING EU INVESTMENT SUPPORT: A COMPARATIVE STUDY
Authors: Czubak Wawrzyniec , Pawłowski Krzysztof , Wiza Paulina , Arion Felix 
Published: December 2019

The purpose of this paper was to compare the investment amounts and efficiency of productive input between Polish and Romanian dairy farms depending on whether they access funds under the second pillar of EU’s CAP. The study covered the particularities of farms who access investment funds under the 2nd pillar of EU’s CAP, which allowed to identify the differences between beneficiaries and the control group (i.e. non-beneficiary farms). This paper relies on unpublished 2004–2015 microdata at a farm level, as retrieved from the FADN of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI-C.3; data source: EU-FADN – DG AGRI). The analysis period starts from the moment the two countries joined the EU and launched the FADN system (which is 2004 for Poland and 2007 for Romania) and ends in 2015. The research task defined for Polish and Romanian dairy farms was performed with the use of Propensity Score Matching, a counterfactual method. The calculations were carried out using STATA. As shown by the analysis, in Poland, no considerable differences existed between dairy farms run by the beneficiaries of EU investment funds and the control group. Conversely, in Romania, investment aid was accessed by farms demonstrating a more efficient use of productive input.
Urban Self-employed Social Health Insurance Program as an Option in Financing Health Care within the Informal Sector? An Insight into the Acceptability of the Scheme by the Self-employed in Rivers State, Nigeria
Authors: E. Anderson Ikeokwu , O. Adeniji Foluke 
Published: December 2019

Introduction: Health care financing in the Nigerian health sector has been a major impediment within the sector due to increasing healthcare costs. Various forms of financing mechanisms are employed within the country with majority tilting to out-of-pocket payment, which led to the launch of the National Health Insurance Scheme in 2005. The National Health Insurance Scheme has the ambition to provide universal coverage to the population in 15-20 years, but the scheme had its limitations in achieving universal health coverage because it is limited to federal government civil servants neglecting the informal sector, which includes self-employed individuals. Although other forms of social health insurance scheme are being implemented within the country such as the Community Based Health Insurance Scheme. There is no sufficient evidence on the actualization of a health insurance program specifically for the self-employed despite its presence in the health insurance package known as Urban Self-Employed Social Health Insurance Program. This study aims to ascertain the perceived impact and acceptability of the Urban Self-employed Social Health Insurance Program as a viable option in financing healthcare among the self-employed.
Methodology: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study of 204 self-employed individuals who were selected from seven different trade associations in Port Harcourt using semi-structured interviewer-administered pre-tested questionnaires. A Socio-Economic Status index was used to divide the households into quintile. The respondents rated their perception about the possible benefits of health insurance from 1 (none) to 4 (high) and the willingness of respondents to enrol in a community-based health insurance scheme (elicited as a binary ‘yes’ or ‘no’ variable) was also used as a proxy of acceptability data collected were analysed using the statistical package for social science (SPSS), version 23 software.
Result: A majority 201 (98.5%) of the respondents perceived that having any form of insurance has the potential to improve access to health care and affordable. Respondents gave responses rated with an average mean of 3, which translates to medium impact on financial protection, improved access to healthcare, affordability and improving quality of treatment. Most respondents 183 (89.7%) accepted the urban self-employed health insurance scheme as a strategy for financing healthcare.
Conclusion: Urban Self-Employed Social Health Insurance Program appears to be a viable and acceptable method of paying for healthcare among the self-employed in Port Harcourt city of Rivers State, Nigeria.
Protein Uptake and Utilization of Moringa olifera Leaves and Seeds Fed to Rats as a Dietary Supplement
Authors: Umerah N. N. , Asouzu A. I. , Okoye J. I. 
Published: December 2019

Background/Objective: Protein malnutrition is detrimental at any point in life. Protein malnutrition prenatally has also been shown to have significant lifelong effects. The objective of this study was to evaluate the protein uptake and utilization of Moringa olifera leaves and seeds fed to rats as a dietary supplement.
Materials and Methods: The leaves and seeds were harvested from the forest. The leaves were washed, drained and divided into three portions. The first portion was processed raw, the sun and shade dried samples were the second and third portion. The seeds were cracked and divided into six portions. The other five portions were fermented for 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 h respectively. The blends of the shade dried leaves (SHDL) and 69 h fermented seed (FMS) provided 10% protein for two groups of rats. The diets were fed to twenty (20) adult albino rats in a 12-day N and mineral balance study. Casein was used as control. The result generated were statistically analyzed using SPSS version 22.
Results: The result showed that over 70% of the nitrogen consumed by all the two groups of rats fed the test diets were absorbed and retained. Among the test diet group, the FMS diet had the highest absorbed nitrogen (0.94 g), retained nitrogen (0.55 g), biological value (76%) and net protein utilization (52%) which was significantly different from the other groups. The SHDL had the most digested nitrogen (94%), highest maintenance food intake (74.09%) and weight gain (34.28%) that were comparable with the reference protein casein at (p>0.05). The FMS group had the highest liver, small intestine and lung weight. The mineral metabolism of all the rats fed the test diets were absorbed and retained.
Conclusion: Generally, both the leaves and the seeds of Moringa olifera have good nutrient profile which could promote growth, they should be consumed to diversify diet and reduced micronutrient deficiency.
Pulmonary Hypertension in Adults with Sickle Cell Anaemia: A Prevalence Study in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria
Authors: Mbakamma A. N. , Alikor C. A. 
Published: December 2019

Introduction: Sickle cell anaemia (SCA) is a lifelong multisystem disease endemic in sub Saharan Africa. As the population of patients living with SCA into adulthood continues to increase, pulmonary hypertension has emerged as one of the foremost complications with severe implications on the quality of life and a risk factor for premature mortality.
Aims: The present investigation is a prevalence study in the Niger Delta region regarding pulmonary hypertension in adults with sickle cell anaemia.
Methods: One hundred and six adults were recruite; fifty-three sickle cell anaemia patients recruited from the outpatient clinic of the haematology department of the University of Port Harcourt teaching hospital, Port Harcourt and 53 genotype AA adults recruited as control. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed on all 106 subjects. The prevalence of pulmonary hypertension was assessed based on tricuspid regurgitation jet of velocity ≥2.5 m/s (estimated SPAP≥30 mmHg).
Results: The mean age of the SCA patients was 25.94±6.47 years, (range 18-45 years) while the age group with the highest representation was those within 18–27 years. The proportion of males (52.8%) was slightly higher than that of the females. Pulmonary hypertension was observed in 5.7% while high normal pulmonary artery pressure was observed in 1.9% of the SCA patients studied.
Conclusion: The prevalence of pulmonary hypertension in adults living with Sickle Cell Anaemia in this study is 5.7% and it is significantly influenced by the age of the study cohort and the method used in assessing this parameter.
Outcome of Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV Services at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Authors: Paul Nsirimobu Ichendu , Ugwu Rosemary Ogochukwu 
Published: December 2019

Background: Mother to Child Transmission (MTCT) of HIV causes over 90% of Paediatric HIV and its prevention must be targeted to curb this scourge.
Objective: To determine the associated risk factors and outcome (HIV status) of HIV-exposed babies at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH).
Methodology: This was a prospective study carried out at the Paediatric HIV clinic of UPTH. Information on sociodemographic data of the babies, age at referral, when the mother’s HIV status was diagnosed, HAART use status of the mother, place of ANC and delivery, method of delivery, feeding option, duration of breast feeding and HIV status of the babies were obtained. Obtained data was analysed and a p- value of < 0.05 was considered significant at 95% confidence interval.
Result: A total of two hundred and sixty HIV exposed children were seen over the study period, with a male: female ratio of 1.4:1. The overall MTCT rate was 6.2%. Among the mothers that had the complete PMTCT intervention, an MTCT rate of 1.1% was observed, while it was 28.6% among mothers who had no form of PMTCT. Identified statistically significant risk factors to MTCT include; lack of use of HAART (χ2 =116.2, p=0.0001); No infant ARV prophylaxis (p=0.0001); Mixed feeding (p=0.0001); Prolonged breast feeding (χ 2 = 7.09, P= 0.0287); TBA supervised pregnancy (χ2 =31.9, P= 0.0001) and delivery (χ2 =61.47, P= 0.0001).
Conclusion: PMTCT interventions in the control of MTCT of HIV is effective. To eliminate MTCT of HIV, promoting PMTCT services must be encouraged.
Derivable Equations and Issues Often Ignored in the Original Michaelis-Menten Mathematical Formalism
Authors: I. Udema Ikechukwu 
Published: December 2019

Background: There has been recent shift from the core issue of Michaelian kinetics to issues regarding various kinds of quasi-steady-state assumptions. Derivable equations with which to determine reverse rate constant for the dissociation of enzyme-substrate complex (ES) is given less attention.
Objectives: The objectives of this research are: 1) to derive other equations from differential equations whose evaluation leads to MM equation and 2) quantify based on derived equations the kinetic parameters given less attention and duration of catalytic events.
Methods: A major theoretical research and experimentation using Bernfeld method.
Results and Discussion: The durations for ES dissociation (ESD) into free substrate, S and enzyme, E were much shorter than the duration of ESD into E and product, P in 3 minutes duration of assay with low [S]; it was the shortest and longest in 3 and 5 minutes durations respectively with high [S]. The durations of ESD into E and P was shortest in 3 minutes duration of assay with high [S]. The values of reverse rate constant, k-1 for ESD into S and E in 3 minutes duration of assay with high [S] was » the rate constant, k2 for product formation and they are much higher than in other duration of assay.
Conclusion: The equations for the determination of the durations of various events, in a given catalytic cycle were derived. The various time regimes for each event and the rate constant for the dissociation of the ES can be graphically and calculationally determined as the case may be. Substrate concentration regime and duration of assay affects rate constants.
The Morphology of Re-epithelized Skin Following Experimental Open Wound in Wistar Rat Treated with Vitellaria paradoxa Oil
Authors: Adedeji Abiodun Oluwabusola , Orisadiran Patrick Kunle , Abdulrahman Abdulfatai , Adenowo Thomas Kehinde 
Published: December 2019

Aims: The present study assessed the morphology of re-epithelized skin following experimental open wound in rat model treated with Vitellaria paradoxa oil.
Place and Duration of Study: Anatomy Department, Olabisi Onabano University, Ago Iwoye and Biochemistry Department, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria between June, 2018 and March, 2019.
Methodology: Excision wounds were surgically created on three groups of ten rats each (II-IV). Group I was assigned as normal control (no surgery), Group II was treated with Vitellaria paradoxa oil, Group III was treated with Dermazin and Group IV was treated with distilled water. Area (cm3) of the wound were measured on days 3, 6 and 9, the rate of wound healing, re-epithelization of the skin were assessed histologically while the thickness of the granular cells layer and the organization of the epidermal squamous cells were evaluated morphologically, the level of collagen was determined in the wounds treated with Vitellaria paradoxa oil and compared with the collagen level in wound treated with distilled water and dermazin.
Results: The wound areas significantly (P < 0.05) reduced in V. paradoxa oil treated group indicating the comparative efficacy of V. paradoxa oil. Histological observations indicated gradual and complete re-epithelization of the skin in Vitellaria paradoxa oil treatments group. Increased in collagen deposition in V. paradoxa oil treated group is also observed (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: The results of this morphology indicated that V. paradoxa oil is a good potential in re-epithelization of open wound with no clinical disadvantage such as body weight, rectal temperature, packed cell volume using rats as animal model.
Shelf Life Extension of Banana (Musa spp.) using Hexanal Formulation as a Post-harvest Dip
Authors: Muthuvel I. , Srivignesh S. , Mutharasu P. , Kavino M. , Subramanian K. S. 
Published: December 2019

Postharvest dipping of fruits in hexanal formulation extends the shelf life by inhibiting enzyme phospholipase D (PLD) activity. To enhance the postharvest shelf-life and quality of different banana cultivars viz., Grand Naine (AAA), Ney Poovan (AB), Poovan (AAB) and Rasthali (AAB) were treated with different concentration of hexanal formulations (1% and 2% Enhanced fresh formulation (EFF)) and stored at atmospheric storage condition. The results indicate that the quality characteristics of 2% EFF treated fruits of Grand Naine (AAA), Poovan (AAB) and Rasthali (AAB) were low TSS, total sugars, reducing sugars and acidity indicating the perpetuation in quality of fruits during storage life besides extended shelf life of fruits. Banana fruits treated with hexanal, irrespective of cultivars experienced a significant delay in weight loss and higher firmness as compared to respective control. The high-resolution imaging had clearly shown that the application of hexanal delayed the ripening process by the structural integrity of cells on skin and fruit pulp. The PLD enzyme activity, respiration and ethylene evolution rates (more than 10%) were markedly reduced over control due to hexanal treatment. Our results revealed that the application of hexanal formulation as postharvest dip treatment in different banana cultivars significantly enhanced shelf life over control besides continuance of quality during the storage period.
Effect of Processing on the Nutritional Composition of Moringa olifera Leaves and Seeds
Authors: Umerah N. N. , Asouzu A. I. , Okoye J. I. 
Published: December 2019

Background/Objective: Processing improves the nutritional quality of food and may/not lead to nutrient losses. Processing is done to eliminate inactive microorganisms/ antinutrients and extend the shelf life of food. Moringa oleifera plant is an important tree in some part of Nigeria having been successfully used as food, medicinal and for industrial purpose. This study was designed to determine the effect of processing on the nutritional profile of Moringa olifrera leaves and seeds.
Materials and Methods: The leaves and seeds were harvested from the forest. The leaves were washed, drained and divided into three portions. The first portion was processed raw, the sun and shade dried samples were the second and third portion. The seeds were cracked and divided into six portions. The first portion was processed raw and the other five portions were fermented for 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 h respectively. The samples were analyzed for proximate, vitamin, mineral, and anti-nutrients contents using the standard method.
Results: The proximate composition of the seeds showed that the samples had a range of moisture, 16.63-17.75%, protein 13.92-38.45%, fat 14.93-19.00%, fibre 3.94-7.10%, ash 1.96-6.22% and carbohydrate 9.08-36.61%/100 g respectively. The ranges for the mineral contents of the seeds were iron 2.10-33.35 mg, zinc 1.19-1.35 mg/100 g, and iodine 12.33-126.61 mg. Also, the ascorbic acid content of the seeds ranged from 3.57- 24.55 mg. The anti-nutrient contents of the seeds were 0.03 – 1.35/100 g saponin, 0.21 – 6.25 mg/100 g of oxalate, 0.11 – 0.28 mg tannins and 5.69 – 16.81 mg/100 g of phytate. The proximate composition of the vegetables ranged from 8.99 – 75.33% moisture, 6.01 – 17.78% protein, 0.64 – 3.89% fat, 3.14 – 11.96% fibre, 2.46 – 15.22% ash and 12.01 – 48.52% carbohydrate. The ranges for mineral contents of the vegetables were iron 0.04 – 0.23 mg, zinc 0.03 – 0.10 mg and iodine 13.66 – 46.61 mg. The vitamin levels of the vegetables were ascorbic acid 56.43 – 167.66 mg/100 g. The level of the anti-nutrients in the vegetables ranged from 0.04 – 1.26 mg/100 g saponin, 0.31 – 8.44 mg/100 g oxalate, 0.05 – 0.20 mg/100 g tannins while phytate varied from 3.31 – 13.20 mg/100 g.
Conclusion: Processing of both leaves and seeds of Moringa olifera increased their nutrient density and reduced the concentration of anti-nutrients. The consumption of Moringa olifera should be popularized to diversify diet and extend their food use.
Glutathione and Bilirubin Concentrations as Markers of Oxidative Stress Measured among Sickle Cell Anaemia Subjects Attending University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar Nigeria
Authors: Onukak E. E. , Akwiwu E. C. , Akpotuzor J. O. , Okafor A. O. , Onukak A. E. 
Published: December 2019

Aims: This study aimed at examining the oxidative stress level of sickle cell anaemia subjects using glutathione and bilirubin levels as markers as well as the red cell parameters.
Study Design: Case-control study.
Place and Duration of Study: University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar-Nigeria, between August 2018 and July 2019.
Methodology: Subjects comprised 45 SCA patients (27 females, 18 males; age range 10-45 years) attending clinic at University of Calabar Teaching Hospital Calabar, Nigeria and equal number of age and sex-matched control subjects with Hb AA. Blood samples were collected and analyzed by standard methods. The red cell parameters were analysed by automation using FY-Smart-1 auto haematology analyzer. Bilirubin assay was performed using the colorimetric method, while glutathione was performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique.
Results: The red blood cell count, haemoglobin concentration, and haematocrit values of SCA subjects were significantly lower (p=0.001) compared to values from control subjects, while the red cell indices and red cell distribution width values were increased in SCA subjects (p=0.001). The Total bilirubin, conjugated bilirubin and unconjugated bilirubin were significantly increased (p=0.001) among SCA subjects, while the glutathione concentration values were reduced (p=0.001) when compared to values obtained from control subjects.
Conclusion: SCA subjects have marked red cell size variation, lymphocytosis and thrombocytosis. The haemolytic events that occur in sickle cell anaemia results in glutathione depletion.
Attitude, Awareness and Experience of Women towards the Breast Self-examination in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Zaidi Nisar Haider , K. Althoubaity Fatma 
Published: December 2019

Objective: To evaluate the attitude, awareness and experience of Women towards the breast self-examination.
Methods: This is population-based study with the total number of the participants were 349 between 25-70 yrs of age, between December 2017 to February 2018 at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah. A questionnaire was given to females attending the clinic or attending a lecture for breast cancer awareness.
Results: A total of 349 patients were studied. Saudi was 76.5% and non-Saudi was 23.5%. Patients less than 25 years were 26.4% and above 25 years were 73.6%. The majority were between 25 to 45 years of age which was 66.4%. The majority were married 64.5%, single 30.4%, widow 2.9% and divorced were 2.3%. 65% had children and 59.3% did lactate their kids. Use of contraceptive pills was 50.4%. Family history of breast cancer was in 18.1% and sister had breast cancer in 3.46%, aunt 3.7%, stepdaughter in 6%, grandmother in 3.2% and mother in 2% of cases. Smokers were 10.6%. Family history of other malignancy was in 9.7% with colon cancer in 6.3% and uterus in 3.4%.
History of taking herbs was in 14.6% of cases of which soya in 3.4%, baboon 2.6%, green tea 2.3%, ginger 2.3% and weight lowering herbs 1.7%. 12.3% of patient had breast biopsy and 12% had another tumour like thyroid, uterus, colon etc. 22.1% admitted that they did self- breast examination. Their source of knowledge about breast self-examination was Television in 13.5%, hospital 5.7% and doctor in 2.9%. Routine clinical examination was done in 82.2% and the reason for it was not known to the majority of them. Examination by doctors was done in 25.5% of cases. Mammography was done by 16.9%, ultrasound in 16.9%. 12.3% preferred mammography. Regarding the belief that biopsy will lead to spreading of the tumour, 16.3% said that they believe it. 3.4% believed that cancer is infective disease and 86.2% believed that breastfeeding decreases breast cancer incidence.
Conclusions: Breast self-examination is an effective tool to detect early breast cancer especially in poor and underdeveloped countries which lack resources for proper screening of breast cancer. Cultural beliefs and ritual practices may affect early detection of breast cancer.