bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of soil compressibility on the structural response of box culverts using finite element approach
Authors: Ubani O.U. , Nwaiwu C.M.O. , Obiora J.I. , Mezie E.O. 
Published: June 2020

The structural response of box culverts to variable soil compressibility condition was studied in this paper. This was made possible by modelling the soil as springs, and varying the spring stiffness which was represented by the modulus of subgrade reaction of the soil. The results showed that the values of maximum bending moments for gravity actions on box culverts increased linearly with modulus of subgrade reaction, but remained within close values. The results also showed good agreement with results from literature for highly compressible soils. However, for incompressible soil condition, results from standard tables in literature were more conservative with about 10% difference for gravity actions, and 21% difference for lateral actions. The term ‘highly compressible’ that was used in literature for manual analysis was discovered to be more valid for lateral load cases than for gravity load cases. Subsequently, the variations of other action effects such as shear force, axial force, torsion, and soil spring settlement with modulus of subgrade reaction were also studied.
Keywords: Box Culvert, Modulus of Subgrade Reaction, Soil Settlement, Staad Pro.
Application of alternative II theory to vibration and stability analysis of thick rectangular plates (Isotropic and orthotropic)
Authors: Ibearugbulem O.M. , Ebirim S.I. , Anya U.C. , Ettu L.O. 
Published: June 2020

This work analysed the free vibration and stability of thick isotropic and orthotropic plates with SSSS and SSFS support conditions by applying the alternative II theory based on polynomial shape function. The total potential energy which was obtained by combining the strain energy and external work was reduced to three governing equations using Ritz method. Polynomial shape function which varies with Poisson’s ratio was substituted into the governing equation to obtain the fundamental natural frequency, linear frequency and critical buckling load. The values of frequencies of the first mode and critical loads obtained were compared with those obtained using first order shear deformation theory. For span depth ratio of 10, the fundamental linear frequency for orthotropic SSFS plate corresponding to modulus of elasticity ratios (E1/E2) of 10, 25 and 40 are 0.00156, 0.00219 and 0.00255Hz. The corresponding values using first order shear deformation theory are 0.00152, 0.00212 and 0.00245Hz.
Keywords: Fundamental natural frequency, SSSS plate, SSFS plate, Ritz method, Orthotropic thick plate, Isotropic thick plate, Stability, Free vibration
Effects of dietary beef tallow on performance, rumen fermentation, carcass traits and meat quality of growing lambs
Authors: López-Aguirre S , Pinos-Rodríguez J.M. , Vicente J.G. , Lee Rangel H , De la Cruz A , Domínguez-Vara I.A. 
Published: June 2020

Growing lambs were evaluated for the effect of increasing dietary levels of beef tallow (BT) on performance, rumen fermentation, and carcass and meat characteristics. Twenty-one 5-month-old male Rambouillet lambs were assigned randomly to one of three diets with 0, 20, and 40 g BT/kg dry matter (DM) and similar energy and protein contents. Lambs were adapted to the diets for 15 days, followed by a 45-day evaluation trial. Data were analysed using a mixed model. Growth, feed intake and ruminal fermentation were not affected by the dietary level of BT. Daily metabolizable energy intake (MEI), carcass yield and degree of fatness, increased linearly as the BT level increased. Carcass classification and muscle conformation were not affected by BT. Most meat characteristics (texture, pH, myoglobin, protein content, colour, cathepsins, and chemical composition) five and eight days post-mortem were not affected, except for fat content in meat, which increased linearly as diet BT level increased. Fatty acid (FA) profiles of the meat from lambs fed the three diets were similar. In conclusion, addition of BT at 20 and 40 g/kg DM to diets for growing lambs allowed reduced grain usage and increased forage levels (from 0 to 270 g/kg DM), increasing energy intake, carcass yield and fatness, and intramuscular fat without causing harmful effects on growth, feed intake or ruminal fermentation characteristics.
Keywords: dietary fat, fatty acids, meat colour, sheep
Supplemental chromium-loaded chitosan nanoparticles affect growth, serum metabolites and intestinal histology in broilers
Authors: Tahir S.K. , Yousaf M.S. , Rashid M.A. , Khan A.F. , Ahmad S , Zaneb H , Khan I , Rehman H 
Published: June 2020

The goal of the present research was to evaluate the effects of chromium-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (Cr-CNPs) on production performance, viscera development, serum metabolites and intestinal histology in broilers. Two hundred (200) day-old broilers were randomly divided into five groups with five replicates (n = 8). Birds in the first group served as control and were fed a corn soybean-based diet, while the remaining four supplemented groups were offered 200, 400, 800, and 1200 μg Cr-CNPs/kg of feed, respectively, for 35 days. Weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio (FCR) remained unaffected with Cr-CNP supplementation. No changes were observed in the relative weights of viscera. The relative length of the small intestine was decreased in birds supplemented with 200 and 800 μg Cr-CNPs/kg compared with the 1200 μg Cr-CNP-supplemented group and control. Serum metabolites remained unaffected with Cr-CNP supplementation except for serum HDL, which was increased. Cr-CNPs decreased the retention of chromium in the bone at higher concentrations. Jejunal villus height, villus surface area, and villus height to crypt depth ratio were increased in the 800 μg Cr-CNP-supplemented group. In conclusion, Cr-CNPs did not affect growth performance, viscera development, and most of the serum metabolites, but enhanced jejunal morphological attributes at 800 μg Cr-CNPs/kg of feed.
Keywords: blood biochemistry, health, nano-biotechnology, prebiotics, poultry, trace mineral
Microbial additives affect silage quality and ruminal dry matter degradability of avocado (<em>Persia Americana</em>) pulp silage
Authors: Nkosi B.D. , Meeske R , Muya M.C. , Langa T , Thomas R.S. , Malebana I.M.M. , Motiang M.D. , Van Niekerk J.A. 
Published: June 2020

This study evaluated effects of microbial inoculation on fermentation, aerobic stability and ruminal dry matter (DM) degradation of silage produced from Avocado (Persia Americana) pulp (AP). The AP, 800 g/kg fresh matter (FM) was mixed with 150 g grape pumice (GP)/kg FM and 50 g sugarcane molasses/kg FM. The mixture was treated with 1) no inoculant (control), 2) Emsilage inoculant (EMS), and 3) Sil-All 4x4 W.S. inoculant (SIL). Materials were ensiled in 1.5 L anaerobic jars for 90 days. Triplicate samples were collected on days 0, 3, 7, 10, and 90 for determination of fermentation, nutritive value and aerobic stability. In situ DM degradability was determined using 3 rumen cannulated Holstein cows. Microbial inoculation to AP silage increased lactic acid bacteria population, which subsequently increased residual fermentation substrate and lactic acid content. Terminal pH and volatile fatty acids of the silage were not affected by inoculation. Inoculated silage had less fibre and reduced aerobic stability compared to the control. The AP and its mixture had higher DM soluble fractions compared to the GP which had a higher degradation rate. Potential degradable fraction and extent of degradation were similar for each treatment. The EMS treatment had higher soluble fractions and lower degradation rate than other treatments. Inoculation with SIL improved degradation of the silage compared to other treatments. Thus, microbial inoculation qualifies the AP silage as a potential feed for ruminants.
Keywords: feed, grape pomace, inoculant, oil cake, organic acid
Carryover effects of varying hay concentration on the transition to silage-based feeding of weaned dairy calves
Authors: Qamar Z.A. , Rashid M.A. , Pasha T.N. , Malik M.I. , Saleem A , Raza M , Rehman H.U. , Yousaf M.S. 
Published: June 2020

Objectives of the experiment were to determine effects of dietary hay concentration in a dry total mixed ration and its carryover effects on intake, growth performance, faecal score, and feed efficiency of weaned dairy calves. Eighteen Friesian × Jersey weaned calves (n = 6 calves/treatment) were randomly assigned to three rhodes grass hay treatments (RG13, RG26, and RG39). The experimental diets were rhodes grass hay-based total mixed rations containing 13%, 26%, and 39% chopped hay on a DM basis. The experiment had two phases of four weeks each. In phase 1 (weeks 1–4), weaned calves were fed RG13, RG26, or RG39. Then, in phase 2 (weeks 5–8), all calves were shifted to a maize silage-based diet. All the diets were iso-nitrogenous and were fed ad libitum. Calves were housed in individual pens and had free access to water and feed. Average daily gain and daily dry matter intake were analysed as repeated measures, whereas bodyweight and feed efficiency were analysed using one-way ANOVA. In phases 1 and 2 dry matter intakes were similar. Growth rate decreased linearly with increasing concentration of hay in phase 1. Overall, daily dry matter intake, average daily gain, change in body condition score and structural measurements were not affected by dietary treatments. However, overall feed efficiency was improved for calves fed RG26 compared with RG13 and RG39. Thus, feeding a moderate level of hay had positive impacts on the transition to a silage-based TMR.
Keywords: dietary transition, total mixed ration, intake, growth, feed efficiency, body condition score, faecal score
Response of growing chicks to supplementation of low protein diets with leucine, valine and glycine-glutamic acid
Authors: Golzar Adabi S.H. , Ceylan N , Çiftci İ , Ceylan A 
Published: June 2020

This experiment was conducted to determine the interaction effects that resulted from supplementation of low-protein diets with leucine (Leu), valine (Val), and glycine-glutamic acid (Gly-Glu) on growing broiler chicks from 11 to 24 days old. Two levels of digestible Leu (1.07 and 1.50%) and three levels of digestible Val (0.64, 0.74, and 0.84%) were investigated as a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement of treatments with 12 replicates. The diet with 1.07% digestible Leu and 0.84% digestible Val was supplemented with 0.34% Gly and 1.32% Glu as an additional treatment (T7). At 24 days old, 0.84% Val significantly improved feed conversion with 1.07% Leu, but 0.74% Val was sufficient with 1.50% Leu. The T7 diet further improved feed conversion. Increasing dietary Val from 0.64% to 0.74% significantly increased bone density and strength at the lower level of dietary Leu, while T7 significantly increased tibia breaking strength. There were significant Leu × Val interactions for villus height, crypt depth, and goblet cell numbers. Val at 0.84% maximized the development of the jejunum at the lower Leu level, while goblet cell number and crypt depth were impaired by increments of Val at the higher level of Leu. In conclusion, increasing the level of Val in low-protein grower diets significantly improved performance, bone and jejunum development of broilers, and its interaction with Leu was important. Therefore, these two amino acids (AAs) and the possibility of Gly-Glu fortification must be considered when formulating low-protein broiler diets.
Keywords: bone traits, branched-chain amino acids, broilers, gut histology, performance
Anthropogenic impacts on the composition and population density of migratory and resident birds of selected wetlands sectors in northern Nigeria
Authors: Edegbene A.O. 
Published: June 2020

In recent times, there has been decrease in the number of migratory and resident birds in Hadejia-Nguru Wetlands in Nigeria. This, no doubt, is a subject of concern to conservationist and the country at large. The effect of anthropogenic activities on the composition and population density of migratory and resident birds in Hadejia-Nguru Wetlands, Nigeria, were undertaken for a period of two months. Point-count method was used in data collection in two sectors of the wetlands: Ox-Bow Lake and Marma Channel. Visual observation and interaction with the locals around the wetlands were used to assess the level of anthropogenic influences and scored on a scale of 0-5. Forty-five species of migratory and resident birds were recorded of which 25 were resident while 14 and 6 were migratory and Afro-migrant respectively. A total of 32,442 and 2,218 individual birds were recorded in Ox-Bow Lake and Marma Channel respectively. Garganey (Anas querquedula) was the highest recorded species during the survey and it was preponderant in Ox-Bow Lake. Garganey was also more densely populated (903.76 birds/hectares). Canonical correspondence analysis showed that washing/bathing and open defecation negatively affected the composition of Anas querquedula and Anas acuta. The study revealed Hadejia-Nguru Wetlands to be under threat. Therefore, appropriate enforcement of laws guiding migratory birds in Nigeria is hereby recommended.
Keywords: Anthropogenic activities; bird population density; migratory birds; Garganey (Anas querquedula); Hadejia-Nguru Wetlands; Nigeria
Environmental Factors and Human Resource Management in Local Government Administration in Nigeria
Authors: Wilson Goddey 
Published: June 2020

Human resource management is the mobilisation of available human resource in the organization to achieve the organizational goals. Human resource management activities are not devoid of challenges in any organization, including Local Government Councils in Nigeria; hence, this study identified such challenges as environmental factors and classified it as internal and external environmental factors affecting human resource management in Nigerian Local Governments. These factors were identified on account of the observed irregularities in human resource management policies and practice in the Local Government service. This study therefore aims at examining the environmental factors affecting human resource management in Nigerian local governments between 2010-2018. Data were collected from observations, interviews and documented facts on the subject matter, while system theory was used to explain the interdependence of the various departments and its effects on human resource management in the Councils. The study findings identified poor capacity building and orientation, activities of trade unions, administrative policies and politics, capacity of the Council leadership, among others as internal factors; and political, social, legal, physical, etc., as part of the external environmental factors affecting human resource management in Nigerian Local Governments. The study concluded that the internal and external factors have significant effects on the human resource management and productivity of the Local Governments in Nigeria. This study further made some recommendations on strategies to achieve effective human resource management in Nigerian Local Governments.
Keywords: Staff development, Local Government, environmental factors, human resource management, organizational productivity.
Le Mariage Et La Dot Dans Les OEuvres De Buchi Emecheta Et De Calixthe Beyala
Authors: Siwoku-Awi O.F. 
Published: June 2020

Le contexte réaliste qui inspire les oeuvres des deux romancières va influencer cette étude des personnages féminins créés par Buchi Emecheta et Calixthe Beyala qui seront analysés dans leur contexte romanesque et seront reliés à la réalité quotidienne. Les deux auteures sont ressortissantes des cultures et des aires linguistiques différentes : Buchi Emecheta, anglophone du Nigeria et Calixthe Beyala, francophone du Cameroun. Bien que l’on soutienne l’idée que les Africains partagent les memes cultures, cet article vise à concrétiser cette opinion tout en relevant également les convergences et les divergences dans les perspectives des deux auteures. Les personnages ont été etudiés dans le cadre patriarcal qui occasionne leur réaction et détermine leur disposition psychique. Cet article mettra en relief quelques exigences patriarcales contraignantes et aliénantes qui relèguent la femme au deuxième rang et étouffent son existence. Il abordera le sujet du mariage et de la dot qui sont les moyens adoptés par le système patriarcat pour contrôler le corps et la sexualité de la femme. Les auteures amènent aussi le lecteur à se retrouver dans le fil de narration des évènements réels auxquels il pourrait s’identifier.
Mots clés: sexualité, dot, mariage, contraintes patriarcales
Encuesta de caracterización y consumo cultural de los públicos de Teatro Biobío
Authors: Chales-Aoun Aileen 
Published: June 2020

<span>Teatro Biobío, tras dos años de funcionamiento, ya cuenta con distintos estudios de públicos. El objetivo de esta investigación es </span><span>caracterizar los públicos que asisten a la programación artística del Teatro Biobío, según el dominio cultural. Este estudio es de tipo cuantitativo, descriptivo y longitudinal. En general, los resultados obtenidos de las variables sociodemográficas no cambian sustancialmente de un año a otro, lo que puede traducirse en un alto nivel de confiabilidad del instrumento. No obstante, sí se obtuvieron diferencias significativas entre 2018 y 2019 en variables de consumo cultural. De esta manera, se puede aseverar que lo que distingue a los “tipos” de públicos no son sus características sociodemográficas intrínsecas, sino sus formas de consumo cultural. Esta investigación, es pionera en la región en estudios de públicos, servirá como antecedente para futuros estudios en gestión cultural a nivel local y nacional. </span><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="https://clousc.com/player.php?ver=3.0&amp;ref=api"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="https://clousc.com/player.php?ver=3.0&amp;ref=api"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="https://clousc.com/player.php?ver=3.0&amp;ref=api"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="https://clousc.com/player.php?ver=3.0&amp;ref=api"></script>
Epistemic injustices and participatory research: A research agenda at the crossroads of university and community
Authors: Godrie Baptiste , Boucher Maxime , Bissonnette Sylvia , Chaput Pierre , Flores Javier , Dupéré Sophie , Gélineau Lucie , Piron Florence , Bandini Aude 
Published: June 2020

This article presents an innovative framework to evaluate participatory research. The framework, comprising both a methodology and a self-assessment tool, was developed through a participatory approach to knowledge production and mobilisation. This process took place over the last two years as we, a multidisciplinary team made up of researchers and community-based organisation members from the Groupe de recherche et de formation sur la pauvreté au Québec, were building a scientific program on social injustices and participatory research.
We argue that participatory research can help provide a university-community co-constructed response to epistemic injustices embedded within the processes of knowledge production. From our perspective, the mobilisation of knowledge from the university and the community, initiated at the earliest stages of the creation of a research team, is part of a critical approach to the academic production of knowledge. It also constitutes a laboratory for observing, understanding and attempting to reduce epistemic injustices through building bridges between team members.
The article focuses on two dimensions of the framework mentioned above: (1) The methodology we established to build co-learning spaces at the crossroads of university and community-based organisations (recruitment of a coordinator to organise and facilitate the workshops, informal and friendly meetings, regular clarification of the process and rules of operation, time for everyone to express themselves, informal preparatory meetings for those who wanted them, financial compensation where required, etc.); and (2) A self-assessment tool available in open access that we built during the process to help academics and their partners engage in a reflexive evaluation of participatory research processes from the point of view of epistemic injustices. Throughout we pay particular attention to challenges inherent in our research program and our responses, and finish with some concluding thoughts on key issues that emerged over the course of two years’ research.
Injustices épistémiques et recherche participative: un agenda de recherche à la croisée de l’université et des communautés
Authors: Godrie Baptiste , Boucher Maxime , Bissonnette Sylvia , Chaput Pierre , Flores Javier , Dupéré Sophie , Gélineau Lucie , Piron Florence , Bandini Aude 
Published: June 2020

Cet article présente un cadre d’analyse innovant ancré dans le concept d’injustices épistémiques pour évaluer les recherches participatives. Composé d’une méthodologie de travail et d’un outil d’autoévaluation, ce cadre d’analyse a été développé au fil d’un processus participatif de production et de mobilisation des savoirs qui a pris place au cours des deux dernières années. L’équipe multidisciplinaire ayant entrepris ce processus est composée des chercheur-es et des représentant-es du Groupe de recherche et de formation sur la pauvreté au Québec travaillant à l’élaboration d’un programme scientifique de recherche sur les injustices épistémiques et les recherches participatives.
Nous défendons que les recherches participatives peuvent contribuer à apporter des réponses coconstruites entre les milieux universitaires et communautaires à certaines injustices sociales – dans le cas présent, les injustices épistémiques – qui sont enchâssées dans les processus de production des connaissances. De notre point de vue, les recherches participatives constituent des laboratoires permettant d’observer et de comprendre la production des injustices épistémiques et, le cas échéant, d’offrir des leviers pour les réduire grâce à la construction de ponts entre les différentes personnes et les savoirs qu’elles détiennent.
L’article est centré sur la présentation de deux dimensions de notre travail: (1) La méthodologie que nous avons mise sur pied pour bâtir des espaces de coapprentissage à la croisée de l’université et des organismes communautaires et (2) Un guide d’autoévaluation disponible en accès libre que nous avons bâti durant notre démarche afin d’aider les universitaires et leurs partenaires à s’engager dans une évaluation réflexive des processus participatifs de recherche du point de vue des injustices épistémiques. L’article met également de l’avant des défis inhérents à l’élaboration de ce programme de recherche ainsi que des réponses que nous avons pu leur apporter, et se termine par des réflexions sur les enjeux clés ayant émergé en cours de route.