bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of selected burnt plant residues and mineral fertilizers on soil properties and nutrient uptake and growth parameters of oil palm seedlings
Authors: Ayeni L.S. , Agbona I.A. , Akinola O.S. 
Published: February 2024

Oil palm seeds are difficult to grow due to poor viability; that is why they are raised in nursery. Addition of right and adequate fertilizer is needed to improve soil fertility. Thus, an experiment was conducted in 2022 to compare the effect of empty palm bunch (EPBA) ash, cocoa pod husk ash (CPHA), kola pod husk ash (KPHA), NPK 20:10:10, urea, calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) and muriate of potash (MOP) fertilizers on soil properties, nutrients uptake and growth parameters of oil palm seedlings in Ondo, southwestern Nigeria. Soil samples were collected from Adeyemi Federal University of Education oil palm plantation. Each of the dried empty palm bunch, kola pod husk and cocoa pod husk was burnt and applied as treatments at the rate of 0, 2, 4 and 6 g 900-g−1 soil while NPK 20:10:10, urea, MOP and CAN fertilizers were individually applied at 2 g 900-g−1 soil. The 16 treatments were replicated four times and arranged in completely randomized design. A 900 g of soil was put in each poly pot and planted with Tenera variety of oil palm and watered with 50 cl water daily. The native soil used for the experiment was deficient in major nutrients and adequate in minor nutrients. Relative to the control, application of 2, 4 and 6 g ash types significantly increased plant height, number of leaves, root length and plant girth. NPK, recorded the highest increase in plant height. Leaf length and root length were highest with the application of 6 g KPHA. Application of 6 g EPBA recorded the highest biomass, dry and wet weight and seedlings moisture content. Kola pod husk ash applied at 6 g plant−1. Empty palm bunch ash applied at 6 g plant−1 and cocoa pod husk ash applied at 4 g plant−1 compared favourably with mineral fertilizers in raising vigorous and healthy oil palm seedlings.
Determinants of engagement outcomes of N-power agripreneurship graduates’ social investment programme in Abia State, Nigeria
Authors: Nwaobiala C.U. , Onwukwe F.O. , Ukoha J.C.I. , Mbagwu G.N. 
Published: February 2024

This study analyzed the determinants of engagement outcomes of N-power agripreneurship graduates’ social investment programme in Abia State, Nigeria. Simple random sampling was used in the selection of 80 graduate beneficiaries that participated in N-power programme. Data were collected with a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive (frequency counts, percentages and mean scores) and inferential (multiple regression analysis) statistics. Results show that the participants had high engagement (X̄ = 2.30) and outcomes (X̄ = 3.30) from N-power agripreneurship programme trainings. Psychological development (B = 3.81***), mastery of skills (β = −3.99***), positive identity (β = 2.63**), civic participation (β = −2.68**) and understanding needs/wants (β = 2.73**) influenced engagement outcomes derived by beneficiaries of N-power agripreneurship programme trainings. The study therefore recommended the provision and creation of an enabling environment for graduates to ensure psychological balance, skill acquisition and need assistance through provision of infrastructures for effective civic engagement in the programme.
TVET SI: Towards Sustainable Vocational Education and Training: Thinking beyond the formal
Authors: McGrath Simon , Russon Jo-Anna 
Published: February 2024

Mainstream vocational education and training (VET) has been complicit in unsustainable practices due to its longstanding relationship with productivism, extractivism and colonialism. However, it is beginning to address the need to balance its dominant focus on skills for employability with a growing awareness of the imperative to promote environmental sustainability, in terms of skills for sustainable production. There is also a sense that vocational institutions must also be sustainable in the wider sense of viability, durability, etc. While these positive steps are welcome, careful analysis is needed regarding how far recent initiatives are limited both by institutional capacities and wider disenabling environments, and how far they are meaningful steps towards sustainable VET for just transitions. Moreover, the current debate is also limited in its overwhelming focus on formal spaces of learning and work. Yet, most vocational learning and work sits outside this formal realm. We contribute to this debate by exploring four case studies of complex skills ecosystems with varying levels of (in)formality taken from both rural and urban settings in Uganda and South Africa. We consider how the dynamics of each ecosystem generate complex mixes of sustainability and employability concerns. We suggest that, in cases like the more formalised ones presented here, there is a possibility to look at the development of centres of skills formation excellence grounded in sector and place but that this also requires thinking about bigger challenges of just transitions. More radically, by highlighting the contexts of less formalised skills ecosystems in two other cases, we point towards new ways of thinking about supporting such ecosystems’ work on sustainable livelihoods in ways that enhance their durability. Although context always matters, we suggest that our arguments are pertinent beyond the countries or region of this research and have international salience.
Keywords: vocational education and training, Africa, green skills, sustainable development, skills for sustainability
TVET SI: Renewable Energy Technologies: How technical curricula could enable a brighter future
Authors: Winberg Christine , Hollis-Turner Shairn 
Published: February 2024

The potential of renewable energy technologies to mitigate climate change while meeting the energy demand of future generations is recognised globally. In South Africa, occupations such as wind turbine technicians and solar photovoltaic installers are in high demand. In response to these needs, Renewable Energy Technologies (RET) subjects were developed as specialised electives within the Electrical Infrastructure Construction programme that is off ered by technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges. The focus of this study is the knowledge that underpins the RET subjects. The guiding research question is: What forms of knowledge underpin the RET curricula, and what is the relationship between these knowledge forms? The semantic dimension of Legitimation Code Theory was used to explain the knowledge forms underpinning the RET subjects. The study uncovered gaps and imbalances across the range of knowledge forms selected, while the relationships between the knowledge forms constrained cumulative knowledge building. The contribution made by the study is a principled understanding of how knowledge selection and sequencing in technical curricula could enable cumulative learning and build valued competencies within the renewable energy field.
Keywords: renewable energy technologies, technical and vocational education and training, wind turbine technicians, solar photovoltaic installers
Prevalence and risk factors associated with bovine tuberculosis in the southern zone of Nasarawa State, north-central Nigeria
Authors: Zanwa A.I. , Agada C.A. , Luga I.I. 
Published: February 2024

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 500 grazing cattle under a pastoral production system in the southern zone of Nasarawa state, North-Central Nigeria to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with bovine tuberculosis using a Single intradermal Comparative Tuberculin Test (SCITT) from April 2019 to February 2020. The total number of animals with bTB was 46 (9.2%) and the results were significantly higher in older animals between 5-6years (OR: 7.4; CI: 1.54-35.4; P=0.000) and in those animals that were ≥ 7 years (OR: 5.7; CI: 1.24-25-9; P=0.00) old and likely at risk of having more bTB. Additionally, the prevalence was significantly higher in female animals (OR:3.7; CI:1.5-8.8; p=0.003), also a significant prevalence was observed as the herd size increased from 31-80 (OR:1.95; CI: 0.75-5.0; p=0.000) as well as from 81-171 (OR:5.5; CI: 2.14-14.4; p=0.000). Moreso, the prevalence was significant with the location of the animals, as areas with grazing reserves appeared to have more odds and more likely to have bTB: Awe (OR:9.6; C I:.2-4.4); Doma (OR:6.9; I:1.5-30.1; p= 0.01); Keana (OR:4.5; CI:0.96-21.6; p=0.01); Obi (OR:3.5; CI:0.7-17; p=0.01). The major risk factors for bovine tuberculosis in this study were sex, age, herd size, and location, contributing largely to the spread of bTB in the study area.
Cryptosporidium infection in captive wild animals at Sanda Kyarimi Zoo in Maiduguri, Nigeria
Authors: Jajere S.M. , Paul B.T. , Fika I.I. , Adamu S.G. , Sadiq M.A. , Mamman A.M. 
Published: February 2024

Wild mammals are essential food sources for man and animal predators. Cryptosporidium species have a broad host range, including wildlife, which serve as crucial disease reservoirs for domestic animals and humans with a potential public health concern. The scarcity of information on the incidence of cryptosporidiosis among wild animals in North-eastern Nigeria necessitated the present study, which investigated the occurrence of Cryptosporidium oocysts among captive wild mammals in Maiduguri. Faecal samples collected from Artiodactyla/Proboscidae (n=9), Carnivores (n=7), Primates (n=9), Reptilia (n=4), and Rodentia (n=2) were examined using the ZiehlNeelsen staining technique to detect Cryptosporidium oocyst. Of the 31 captive mammals examined, 17 (54.8%), 14 (45.2%), 9 (29.0%) and 22 (71.0%) were respectively classified as males, females, young and adults. A total of 12 (38.7%; 95% CI: 23.7, 56.2) out of the 31 examined samples were positive, with a higher prevalence of 57.1% (95% CI: 25.0, 84.2) observed among carnivores compared to the other animals. There was no statistical association (p > 0.05) between the occurrence of Cryptosporidium oocysts and sex as well as the age of the individual mammal species examined. This paper underscores the role of anthroponotic and zoonotic transmission at the human-wildlife interface in zoological gardens (Zoo) and parks worldwide.
Granulomatous pneumonia due to metastrongylus species associated with <i>Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae</i> and <i>Pasteurella multocida</i> in slaughtered pigs
Authors: Olaniyi M.O. , Akande F.A. , Takeet M.I. , Omoshaba E.O. , Akintuotu O.A. , Jarikre T.A. , Sonibare A.O. , Ojo O.E. , Emikpe B.O. 
Published: February 2024

Pneumonia has been identified as one of the limiting factors to pig production. Some of the pneumonia-inducing agents include Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (MHYO), the primary cause of enzootic pneumonia and Metastrongylus species. which are widely distributed lungworms commonly found in indigenous free-range pigs. This paper describes the pathological findings of 6 cases out of 204 lungs randomly collected from slaughtered pigs in Southwest Nigeria. Samples of the lungs were collected from the cases for bacterial culture, histopathology and detection of MHYO antigens using immunohistochemisty. Gross lesions were severe acute lobular bronchopneumonia (104/204, 50.98%) and greyish discrete nodules in the lungs. Microscopically, there were varying degrees of lymphoid hyperplasia of bronchial-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) (82.2%), suppurative bronchiolitis with widespread bronchiolar epithelial cells necrosis (57.4%) and granulomatous bronchopneumonia with presence of Metastrongylus spp. and bronchiolar intraluminal cellular exudate consisting predominantly of eosinophils (2.9%). Pasteurella multocida was the most isolated bacterial pathogen (49.0%) either as a single pathogen or in combination with other pathogens from the infected lung samples. Immunohistochemical labelling showed strong MHYO antigens on the surface of bronchial epithelial cells in infected lungs (86/204). This is the first report of granulomatous bronchopneumonia due to Metastrongylus spp. associated with a co-infection of MHYO and Pasteurella multocida in Nigerian indigenous pigs. It is suggested that metastrongylosis may be more common than reported in this study. The detection of respiratory pathogens such as Mycoplasma. hyopneumoniae, Metasrongylusspp. and Pasteurella multocida suggest that they are potential contributors to bronchopneumonia observed in this study.
Crude extracts of <i>Momordica cochinchinensis</i> (Lour.) Spreng exerts antioxidant and anti-neuroinflammatory properties in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglia
Authors: Mairuae Nootchanat , Buranrat Benjaporn , Cheepsunthorn Poonlarp 
Published: February 2024

Purpose: To evaluate the antioxidant and anti-neuroinflammatory properties of the leaves, seeds and pulp of Momordica cochinchinensis Spreng (commonly known as Gac) in vitro and in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated BV2 microglial cells.
Methods: Lipopolysaccharide was applied to BV2 cells for 24 h in the presence or absence of Gac extracts. Then, levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were assayed using CM-H2DCFDA method, while nitric oxide (NO) level was determined with Griess reagent. The levels of TNF-α and IL-6 were determined using ELISA. Three different assays were used for determination of in vitro antioxidant activities of the extracts, namely, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging; 2,2’-azinobis-3- ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) scavenging, and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). Total flavonoids content (TFC) and total phenolic content (TPC) were also determined.
Results: There were significantly higher levels of ROS, NO, TNF and IL-6 in LPS-treated BV2 cells than in control cells (p < 0.05). However, exposure of LPS treated BV2 cells to the leaf, seed and pulp extracts of Gac led to marked decreases in levels of ROS and inflammatory mediators, when compared with untreated cells, with the seed extract producing significantly larger decreases in levels of ROS and inflammatory mediators than the leaf and pulp extracts (p < 0.05). The DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities and total reducing power activities of the seed extract were superior to those of the leaf and pulp extracts. Moreover, the seed extract showed higher contents of TFC and TPC than the other two extracts.
Conclusion: Gac extracts exert antioxidant and anti-neuroinflammatory effects on LPS-activated BV2 cells and in an in vitro model. Therefore, Gac extracts, especially seed extract, may be beneficial in the preparation of innovative antioxidative and anti-neuroinflammatory herbal remedies, as well as dietary supplements.
Effect of berberine on glucolipid metabolism, carotid thickness, vascular endothelial function, oxidative stress and intestinal flora in patients with coronary heart disease
Authors: Yang Fengming , Zeng Chuiyi , Chen Zhenyi 
Published: February 2024

Purpose: To investigate the effect of berberine on glucolipid metabolism, carotid thickness, vascular endothelial function, oxidative stress and intestinal flora in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients.
Methods: 68 patients with CHD admitted to the Department of Cardiology, Henan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China were assigned to two groups of 34 patients each. Control group received anti-CHD treatment while study group was given 0.3 g of berberine three times daily for 4 weeks. Changes in glucolipid metabolism, carotid thickness, vascular endothelial function, oxidative stress and intestinal flora were assessed.
Results: Total cholesterol, triglyceride, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-1β of CHD patients from study group were significantly decreased compared to control group (p < 0.05) while superoxide dismutase (p = 0.019) and total antioxidant capacity (p = 0.009) of CHD patients in study group were significantly increased. In addition, reduced endothelin-1 and elevated Nitric Oxide levels were shown in CHD patients in study group (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the carotid intima-media thickness decreased in study group, while Aquificae, Paraprevotella, Abiotrophia, Rubrobacterales, Bacteroidales and other microbes were abundant in the intestinal tract of study group patients.
Conclusion: Berberine improves glucolipid metabolism, carotid thickness, vascular endothelial function, oxidative stress and intestinal flora in CHD patients. Berberine may therefore be effective in the treatment of CHD. Further studies are, however, required to establish these claims.
Glaucoma: A review of current management, patients’ adherence, direct and indirect cost, and barriers to drug delivery
Authors: Alshammari Farhan 
Published: February 2024

Glaucoma is the world’s leading cause of permanent blindness, influenced by numerous variables, including socio-demographic factors. This review considered existing management practices and innovative methods of drug delivery, as well as how they relate to patient adherence and therapy costs. Literatures were compiled using search engines including ScienceDirect, PubMed, Google Scholar and WHO database. The eye is a complex organ with various anatomical barriers presenting significant challenges in treating glaucoma due to poor patient compliance with topical ocular medications. Advanced drug delivery systems like implants, nano or microparticles, punctal plugs, contact lenses, topical ring-type systems, gels, and other depot systems such as intracameral, supraciliary, and intravitreal applied in the extraocular, periocular, or intraocular sites, significantly enhance medication absorption, reduce adverse effects, and improve patient compliance. Poor treatment adherence, stemming from various reasons, lead to inadequate glaucoma management, increasing direct (34 to 45 %) and indirect costs (55 to 66 %) of therapy. As a result, a variety of treatments including enhanced drug delivery systems have been tested to address these concerns, and some modern pharmaceuticals and drug delivery technologies are being developed.
Knockdown of TRIP13 inhibits gastric cancer stemness and cisplatin resistance by regulating FBXW7/ENO1 axis
Authors: Liu Jiayun , Chen Che , Wu Guannan , Yao Xuequan , Liu Fukun , Liu Shenlin 
Published: February 2024

Purpose: To explore the role of thyroid hormone receptor interactor 13 (TRIP13) in gastric cancer (GC) and the associated mechanism.
Methods: TRIP13 expression in GC was found in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and siTRIP13 was transfected in GC cells in order to generate cell lines with low TRIP13 expression. Cell proliferation was determined by colony formation assay, while cell migration and invasion were evaluated by scratch test and Transwell assay, respectively. Sphere formation assay was used to assess cell stemness characteristics whereas half-inhibitory concentration (IC50) value was evaluated by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8). F-box and WD repeat domain containing 7 (FBXW7) and enolase 1 (ENO1) expression were determined by western-blot assay.
Results: TRIP13 was significantly expressed in GC based on TCGA database (p < 0.001) and high expression predicted poor prognosis in GC patients (p < 0.05). Based on the findings of the cell function assay, si-TRIP13 inhibited the proliferation, migration, invasion and stemness of GC cells (p < 0.001) and decreased the IC50 value. Mechanically, knockdown of TRIP13 decreased ENO1 expression level by stabilizing FBXW7.
Conclusion: TRIP13 functions as an oncogene in GC and stimulates growth and stemness via FBXW7/ENO1 pathway in GC. Thus, a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of gastric cancer is provided by this study.
Profile of Creative Thinking Skills of S1 Chemistry Students On The Topic of DNA Isolation Using Project Based Learning (PJBL)
Authors: Zulfifah Dewi Agustiani , Supriyanti Florentina Maria Titin , Wahyu Wawan 
Published: February 2024

This study aims to obtain information about creative thinking skills in students through the application of the project based learning (PjBL) model on the topic of DNA isolation. The research method used is mixed-method embadded with One Group Pretest-Posttest pre-experimental research design. A limited trial was conducted on 33 chemistry education study program students at one of the State Universities in Bandung. The instruments used in this study are structured description and MFI problems. Data analysis using pretest and posttest values using the N-Gain equation <g> and obtaining the percentage of MFI values per group. The results of the creative thinking assessment showed that the N-gain value obtained was 0.78 with a high category. Other results from this study obtained percentage values on each indicator of creative thinking skills including flexibility thinking skills (flexibility) 87.88%, fluent thinking (fluency) 93.94%, original thinking (originality) 85.95% thinking elaboration (elaboration) 87.88%, Thinking evaluation (evaluation) 93.94% with a very good category after students carry out learning with the PjBL model can improve students' creative thinking skills on the topic of fruit DNA isolation.
The Effect of Career Development and Job Satisfaction on Nurses' Caring Behavior in Patients in Inpatient Hospital X Karawang in 2023
Authors: Aziz Abdul 
Published: February 2024

Introduction to nurses' caring behavior when providing nursing care to clients that can improve the quality of nursing services and client safety which is certainly expected to help clients heal, but in reality to be able to realize the quality of nursing services is still experiencing obstacles, there is still a high number of uncaring behavior in providing services to patients, concrete steps are needed in solving the problem of high numbers Uncaring behavior through strengthening career development and nurse job satisfaction so that caring behavior can be realized. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of career development and job satisfaction on the caring behavior of inpatient nurses at Hospital X Karawang. Non-experimental quantitative research method with cross sectional analytics using Logistic Regression, The sample of this study was 43 inpatient nurses of Hospital X Karawang with data analysis techniques using SPSS Program Version 24.0. The results based on multiple logistic regression analysis showed the influence of career development on nurses' caring behavior obtained p value of 0.009 (p-value < 0.05 ), there was an effect of job satisfaction on nurses' caring behavior obtained p value of 0.013 (p-value < 0.05). Based on multivariate analysis, there was an effect of career development and job satisfaction on nurses' caring behavior by 73.5%. In addition, the results of the study were obtained by respondents with good career development and have good caring behavior as many as 17 respondents with a percentage of 63% and respondents with less job satisfaction and have poor caring behavior as many as 16 respondents with a percentage of 66.7%. And it was obtained that more respondents in Hospital X Karawang Inpatient in 2023 had less job satisfaction, namely as many as 24 (55.8%) respondents. Conclusion Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that of the 2 variables studied, the most dominant variable affecting Caring Behavior is the Career Development variable with a value with an odds ratio value of 3.551, but nevertheless does not ignore other variables such as Job Satisfaction with an odds ratio value of 2.924 54. Career development is the biggest influence that affects nurses' caring behavior in patients at Inpatient Hospital X Karawang.