bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Non-specialized care of skin disorders: a cross-sectional survey of new patients attending dermatology clinic in a tertiary hospital in Jos, Northcentral Nigeria
Authors: O Adah Ruth , John Collins , Uhunmwangho Courage , U Adah Gabriel , N Okolo Seline 
Published: October 2023

Background: Given the paucity of skin health specialists in Nigeria and the low level of awareness amongst its populace, patients seek for care for skin related disorders from different sources and are given a variety of remedies before accessing specialist care.
Objectives: This study was aimed at describing outlets visited and medication received by patients with skin disorders prior to attending the dermatology outpatient clinic in JUTH.
Methods: This was a cross sectional study conducted over one year. Information on socio-demography, sources and medication received prior to presentation was obtained and analysed using SPSS 23.
Results: The male: female ratio among 166 consenting new patients was 1:1.4. Prior to presentation patients sought care most frequently from Health facilities (68.1%), Patent medicine vendors-PMV (30.7%) and Traditional healers (21.7%). Overall, different steroid preparations were the most commonly used medications (56.6%) across all age groups with fixed combination preparations most frequently used (32.5%). Unconventional substances reportedly used by patients for skin disorders were urine, toothpaste, tomatoes, salt, water in which a life catfish had been kept and fats from a dead dog. Only 21.1% of the patients did not use any medication prior to presentation.
Conclusion: There is need to increase capacity in the care of common skin diseases at all levels of the health care system to decrease patronage of unconventional providers. Raising awareness of the general public on the potential dangers of inappropriate treatment of skin diseases and strengthen referral system is imperative to reduce the burden of skin diseases in the country.
Keywords: Non-specialized; skin diseases; unorthodox; treatment; dermatology; clinic.
Prevalence, causes and associated factors of visual impairment and blindness among older population in outreach site, Northwest Ethiopia. A dual center cross-sectional study
Authors: Temeselew Tegegn Melkamu , Kegne Assaye Aragaw , Tilahun Belete Gizachew 
Published: October 2023

Purpose: The study aimed to determine the prevalence, causes, and associated factors of visual impairment and blindnessamong the older population in Outreach sites, Northwest Ethiopia.
Methods: A community-outreach-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 821 older population which were selectedusing a systematic random sampling technique. Face-to-face interviews and ocular examinations were performed to collect thedata. A binary logistic regression was performed.
Result: A total of 821 participants were recruited for the study with a median age of 57 years, with a range of 40-91 years. Outof 821 participants, 41.8% had visual impairment, and 11.7% were blind. Sixty-four and fifty seven percent of visual impairmentand blindness were caused by cataract. Age ≥70years (AOR=15.0; 95%CI: 8.4-26.9), rural residency (AOR=2.3; 95%CI: 1.5-3.6),non-formal education (AOR=3.0; 95%CI: 1.6-5.6), unemployed (AOR=1.5;95%CI:1.05-2.4) and history of eye examination(AOR=1.7;95%CI:1.1-2.8) were positively associated with visual impairment. Similarly, blindness was significantly associatedwith age ≥ 70years (AOR=7.2; 95%CI: 3.1-16.6), rural residency (AOR=2.2;95%CI:1.2-4.2), and history of eye examination(AOR=1.9; 95%CI: 1.1- 3.3).
Conclusion: The prevalence of visual impairment and blindness in this study was found to be high. Age, residency, educationalstatus, occupational status, and history of eye examination were significantly associated with visual impairment and blindness.
Keywords: Visual impairment; blindness; older population; Northwest Ethiopia.
The relationship between weight self-stigma, depression and loneliness in people with obesity
Authors: A Özdemir Aysel , Türkben Hilal 
Published: October 2023

The research was conducted to determine the level of weight self-stigma, depression loneliness and whether is there a relationshipbetween them. This was a descriptive correlational study. The study was conducted in a diet outpatient clinic of auniversity hospital. Participants had moderate weight self-stigma, depression and loneliness. Weight self-stigma sub-dimensionsself-devaluation (β=0.28; p<0.001) and fear of enacted stigma (β=0.28; p<0.001) equally predicted depression. Fear of enactedstigma predicted social loneliness negatively (β=-.44; p<0.001). Fear of enacted stigma (β =.16, p<.005) and depression (β =.44,p<.001) predicted emotional loneliness positively. Weight self-stigma was positively correlated with depression and loneliness(p<0.001).
Keywords: Obesity; weight self stigma; depression; loneliness.
Factors influencing public and private healthcare utilisation in Uganda
Authors: Turyamureba Medard , L Yawe Bruno , Oryema John Bosco 
Published: October 2023

Background: In Uganda, health care utilisation remains very low despite a number of government reforms that have beenimplemented in the health sector since the 1990’s such as decentralization and removal of user fees in public health facilitiesamong others.
Objective: To examine the factors influencing public and private health care utilisation in Uganda.
Methods: The study used cross sectional data from the Uganda National Household Survey collected between July 2016 andJune 2017. Anderson’s conceptual framework was used to identify explanatory variables associated with choice of health careproviders and a multinomial logistic regression model was estimated.
Results: Out of the 17,912 individuals who sought care, 36% used a government facility, 60% used private facility while 4% hadself- care/treatment. The results show that out of pocket health expenditure, age, level of education, marital status, residence,and type of illness significantly influenced choice of public healthcare providers. Similarly, utilisation of private healthcare providerswas associated with household welfare, level of education, residence, marital status, illness days, and type of illness.
Conclusion: The findings highlight the need for a national health insurance scheme to reduce out of pocket payments for healthcare and enable the poor and vulnerable patients visit the modern health facilities.
Keywords: Utilisation; multinomial logit; health care provider, policy; Uganda.
The role of sex hormones and ROS values in the control of andrology in male double-spurred Francolin (<i>Francolinus bicalcaratus</i>)
Authors: Osinubi Olakunle Olutoye , Aina Oluwasanmi Olayinka , Ozegbe Peter Chuka 
Published: October 2023

Background: This study explored the relationship between andrology, seasonal sex hormone fluctuations, and ROS values in adult male Francolinus bicalcaratus while establishing baseline parameters.
Methods: Double-spurred Francolins (n=5 per season) were randomly selected in both dry and rainy seasons from their natural habitat. They were carefully stabilized with dewormer, antibiotics, and multivitamins, then acclimatized for two weeks at the Experimental Animal House, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. The birds were weighed, sedated, and 3 to 5 ml of blood was collected from the jugular vein in lithium heparinized bottles for serum sex hormone analysis. Testes were excised, weighed, washed with a 1.15% KCL solution, and processed for complete andrology and oxidative stress assays.
Results: Sperm count, activity, and morphological characteristics peaked during late rainy seasons, coinciding with increased mating and hatchability. This correlated with high serum testosterone and low ROS titres in the testes. Conversely, early dry seasons witnessed declines in serum testosterone, sperm parameters, and hatchability due to increased ROS titres from food scarcity. Late dry seasons saw further declines in sex hormone levels and elevated ROS titres, leading to the absence of sperm cells.
Conclusion: This study highlights how sex hormone and ROS titres influence sperm cell viability in double-spurred Francolins, with significant seasonal variations. These factors mainly support spermatogenesis and fertility during the breeding season, characterized by food abundance and cover. Dry season sex hormone values serve as baselines, while wet season sperm count and ROS levels represent baseline data for this bird species.
Testicular morphological evaluations in Sprgue-Dawley rats under an antitussive dextromethorphan
Authors: Oluwaseye Adebajo Adesina , Chinwe Gbotolorun Stella , Ayodele Oremosu Ademola 
Published: October 2023

Background: Dextromethorphan is the dextrorotatory enantiomer of the methyl ether of levorphanol, an opioid analgesic. It is also a stereoisomer of levomethorphan, an opioid analgesic and has been reported to affect male fertility by altering the cytoarchitecture of the seminiferous tubules and affect hormones that are responsible for fecundity in males. The aim of this study is to determine the possible morphological alterations in males following exposure to dextromethorphan, using Sprague-Dawley rats as experimental models.
Methods: A total of twenty rats (150 ± 30 g) divided into four groups (N=5; A-D) were used. Group A, control received distilled water (DW); group B received 20 mg/kg of the drug, group C received 40 mg/kg and group D received 80 mg/kg of DM for a duration of 16 weeks. At the end of treatment period, the animals were selected and sacrificed, the following histomorphometric parameters were analyzed: diameter and height of the seminiferous tubule and epididymis, volume of testes and the number of spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatids within the seminiferous tubules.
Results: Significant reduction in all the Histomorphometric parameters were recorded when treatment groups were compared to control but when recovery-alone group was compared to treatment groups, slight increases were recorded.
Conclusion: DM has deleterious effect on the morphometric parameters analyzed from the epididymis and testes.
<i>Curcuma longa</i> renal historestorative effects on sildenafil induced nephrotoxicity among male albino rats
Authors: Allan Khisa Wanjala , Oyugi Spencer Opiyo , Nyabola Atanas Malik 
Published: October 2023

Background: Sildenafil is a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor mostly used in management of erectile dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension. On the other hand, Curcuma longa is herbal plant that is mostly used in diets among the Asian and African population and commonly used in treatment of respiratory, renal and dermatological diseases.
Methods: A post-test only true experimental study design was utilized with 25 Albino rats grouped as follows: negative control, positive control (sildenafil 1µg/g bwt), low dose Curcuma longa (38.75mg/kg), medium dose Curcuma longa (77.5mg/kg) and high dose Curcuma longa (155mg/kg) each having 5 rats. Induction of nephrotoxicity using sildenafil was done for 15 days with an interim sacrifice for negative and positive control groups done on day 15. Experimental groups were sacrificed on day 22 after receiving Curcuma longa at respective doses. Blood samples for renal function tests were obtained on day 1, 15 and 22. Enblock harvesting of the kidneys after euthanizing the rats with concentrated CO2 and 10% neutral buffered formalin perfusion was done on day 15 and 22 then fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin for 24hours. The kidneys were then processed for Hematoxylin and Eosin staining and photomicrographs were taken using Olympus light microscope fitted with LABOMED ivu 3100 digital camera.
Results: In sildenafil induced nephrotoxicity group; glomerulus was distorted, dilated bowman`s space, dilated renal tubules and necrotic epithelial cells. Minimal histological changes were observed in low Curcuma longa dose group while in medium and high Curcuma longa dose groups; the glomerulus had well defined margins, bowman`s space reduced in size, epithelial cells appeared normal.
Conclusion: It can be concluded that medium and high dose Curcuma longa have kidney historestorative effects in sildenafil induced nephrotoxicity among male albino rats.
Pattern of musculocutaneous and median nerve communication in adult cadavers
Authors: Shin Mya Thein , Htoo Phone Myint 
Published: October 2023

Background: Variations in connections between the musculocutaneous and median nerves in the arm are not as uncommon as was once thought. Lesions of the communicating nerve may give rise to patterns of weakness that may impose difficulty in diagnosis.
Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the variation of the musculocutaneous nerve (MCN) and analyze the incidence of nerve communication between the musculocutaneous and median nerves.
Methods: Anatomical dissection was performed in the present work by using 62 arms from 31 adult cadavers, age ranging from eighteen to eighty years, which was donated to Medical Universities in Myanmar. Among the 62 studied arms, 26 arms (41.9%) were male, and 36 arms (58.1%) were female.
Results: Nerve variation patterns were seen in four out of 62 studied arms (6.4%) and one arm (1.6%) showed no musculocutaneous nerve. One out of 62 studied arms (1.6%) revealed the musculocutaneous nerve did not pierce the coracobrachialis muscles but communicated with the median nerve in the upper third of arm. One out 62 studied arms (1.6%) revealed a musculocutaneous nerve piercing the coracobrachialis muscle and communicated with the median nerve in the upper third of arm. Communicating branch was found in two upper limbs (3.22%).
Conclusion: The knowledge of these variations will allow physicians to correctly interpret anomalous innervation patterns of the upper limb.
Assessment of knowledge, attitudes and practices on water, sanitation and hygiene in Zaria Local Government Area, Kaduna State
Authors: Handan T.E. , Ahmed Maimuna A. , Victor Shekari , Umar Shamsudeen , Daze Davou Habila 
Published: October 2023

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) are relevant concerns for sustained and effective implementation of WASH programs. This research was conducted in Zaria Local Government Area (LGA), Kaduna State to Assess the KAP on WASH to avail reliable data for informed interventions. 174 randomly selected households were interviewed. The result reveals four main sources of drinking water, viz borehole (31%), well (19%), pipe-borne (13.1%) and water packaged in sachet (24.7%). The result shows that 34.5% of households dispose solid waste through unauthorized waste collectors, 16.1 % use authorized collectors, 17.2% at public approved dumpsite, 16.1% at unapproved dump sites, 16.1% by burning, 4% bury their waste and 4% dispose waste in open water bodies/ways/drainages. The results shows that 30.5% of households have modern water closets, 42.8 % use pit latrine, and 11.5 % use public toilets. Based on the findings, it is evident that there is high accessibility of improved water to households, availability of improved toilet facility is also high, but waste management practice is poor. In conclusion, Zaria LGA is in need of WASH interventions especially as regards waste management. It is recommended that efforts should be made to intensify awareness about WASH.
Econometric modelling of Nigeria economic growth: A VECM and impulse response functions
Authors: Adewole A.I. 
Published: October 2023

Economic growth characterizes the quantitative changes that occur in economic variables and attributed to overall increase in production per capital. This study examined the economic impact of exchange rate, foreign direct investment, inflation rate and the trade balance on Nigeria GDP over the period of 1970-2022. The dynamic causal association among the selected macroeconomic variables and economic growth in Nigeria was evaluated via the implementation of vector error correction model (VECM) procedures and impulse response functions. The VECM estimates and the impulse response shows that the response of GDP to inflation and exchange rates is positive while the response of GDP to a one period shock to the trade balance yields a marginal negative depreciation. The result justifies that the place of Exchange rate, Inflation and Trade Balance to Nigeria economic growth cannot be overstated. The results of the work suggest that to promote stable and sustainable economic growth, policy makers should lay more emphasis on encouraging stable and reasonable exchange rate. Also, the work recommends that to promote economic growth and keep inflation low in Nigeria, Anti- inflationary policies should be accompanied to attract foreign investors and frustrate capital fleeing from the country.
The effectiveness of natural adsorbent for removal of dye using two isotherm models
Authors: Gin N.S. , Buteh D.S. , Manga P.J. , Daniel S. , Ranga Y.G. , Abdulmumini H. , SarkinNoma A. , Dangana B. , Alhassan A.B. 
Published: October 2023

The low-cost and more efficient adsorbents of Azadirachta Indica (Neem) are charcoal, bark; leave and root were investigated for its optimistic de-colorization of wastewater containing a dye. The effect of various parameters such as contact time, pH, temperature and adsorbent dosage has been carried out in this study. Two isotherm models were developed for compliance with Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm. The results of the goodness fit test based on Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), R2 for Langmuir and Freundlich models were given as, for pH (0.9745 – 0.99919), (0.4831 – 0.9999) for Adsorbent Dose is (0.9034 – 0.9221), (0.4689 – 0.9884) for contact time (0.9494 – 0.9513), (0.4677 – 0.9990) and temperature (0.9264 – 0.9349), (0.3755 – 0.5849) respectively. Both models were found to be best fit on decolorization of dye with contact time, pH, temperature and adsorbent dosage. pH 5 value indicated that adsorbent was effective in the removal of dye.
Diversity of tree species in Kafanchan area of Kaduna State, Nigeria
Authors: Olaniyi Akeem O. , Richard Mercy , Sule Bulus , Yashim George , Hosea Mande K. 
Published: October 2023

This research assessed the diversity of trees in Kafanchan environs and investigated the perception of inhabitants to land use change and use of trees in Kafanchan environs, Kaduna State. Primary data on the field was collected by employing the plot count techniques by systematically and randomly selecting eleven plots within the study area, measuring a 100 by 100 meters plot (1.0 hectare) of each plot. All the trees species on the selected plots were enumerated. A total of 28 species were identified with 1851 number of individual of trees. Newbouldia laevis species had the highest number of stand (415) and a percentage composition of 22.4%. Family Aracaceae has the most count of species in the area while other families had a two and single species within the family. Species diversity, evenness and relative density were determined between plots for the identified trees. Shannon -Wiener diversity values (H) for the eleven plots were recorded for trees, Plot 10 had the highest diversity of 4.54 and Plot 5 with the least diversity of 0.703, the study recorded 1.56 as the highest diversity and 0.65 as the least diversity respectively.
Production and characterization of activated carbon derived from orange peel for the adsorption of methylene blue dye
Authors: Baba Esther , Wyasu Gideon , Adefila Ayoola Joseph , Dikko Nathan A. , Yakasa Jamila B. 
Published: October 2023

Activated carbon was produced from orange peel using H2SO4 and ZnCl2 as activating agents at a temperature of 400 oC. The impregnation was done in 1:1 (wt/v). FTIR analysis of the precursor and activated carbon shows different functional groups present in the precursor and activated carbon. The FTIR spectral also shows shifts in bands and changes in wave number between the precursor and activated carbon indicating chemical transformation during activation and carbonization. SEM analysis was used to study the internal structure and pores development of the activated carbon. The methylene blue adsorption capacity of the activated carbon was determined using standard methods. Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms were employed in determining the adsorption process and Pseudo first-order and Pseudo secondorder kinetics were employed in determining the rate of adsorption by the adsorbents.
Physicochemical characterization of Copper Ore from Akiri, Awe LGA, Nasarawa State
Authors: Taofeek A. , Amos I.A. 
Published: October 2023

The bulk density, compressional strength, hardness, particle study and chemical analysis of ore from Akiri were determined using standard methods and Energy Dispersive x-ray Fluorescence spectrometry (ED-XRFS). The results obtained indicated that the ore bulk density was 3.58 (g/cm3 ), compressional strength 1.24 (%), and hardness 96.0(N). The particle size analysis of +0-90µm, +125-90µm, and +125-180µm, revealed over-size fractions above 250µm.The chemical composition of the ore in terms of oxide showed that the ore is composed of different minerals: 63.52% Fe2O3, 11.25% SO3, 7.62% CuO, 4.30% MOO3, 3.18% SiO2, 1.73% BaO,1.20% ZnO,1.12% MnO,0.86% PbO,0.60% Re2O7, 0.54% Eu2O3and CaO, 0.27% RuO2, 0.15% Cr2O3, 0.09% K2O, 0.08% Yb2 O3, 0.06% SrO, and TiO2, 0.04% Nd2O3, and CeO2, 0.03% Y2O3 and NiO respectively. The results of the elemental composition varied in the copper ore with an indication of a significant concentration of Cu compared to other elements, except Fe which showed a higher concentration. The value 35.% Fe, 6.10% Cu, 4.48% S, 3% Mo, 1.55% Ba, 1.48% Si, 1% Zn and Pb, 0.90% Mn, 0.5% Re, 0.45 Eu, 0.40% Ca, 0.21% Ru, 0.10% Cr, K, and Yb,0.04% Ti, Ni, Y, and Sr, 0.03 % Nd, and Ce obtained represent the individual elemental content in the ore. The result is an indication that the ore can be explored for the processing of valuable minerals.
Geophysical investigation of pavement failure along Jonathan by-pass - Akansoko and Atimbo - Parliamentary roads in Calabar Metropolis Cross River State, Nigeria
Authors: Bisong S.A. , Abong A.A. , Egor A.O. 
Published: October 2023

This study examined pavement failure in some roads in Calabar Metropolis using electrical resistivity tomography method. Seven (7) measurements were taken at the natural soil opposite the failed and stable segments of the road with the aid of Wenner electrode configuration at spacing of 5.0, 10.0, 15.0, 20.0, 25.0, 30.0 and 35.0m with spread length of 105m. The findings of this study revealed that along Jonathan by- pass – Lafarge – Akansoko road, low resistivity values were 8.0Ωm – 73.0Ωm at Akansoko a stable segment; 6.0Ωm - 17.0Ωm at Ukwua Itiat and 30.0Ωm - 94.0Ωm at Idundu market a failed segment. Along Atimbo - Jonathan – Parliamentary road, moderate/high electrical resistivity values in the range 331.0 Ωm – 1018.0 Ωm across the profile was obtained at Federal Government Girls’ College by airport a control segment; 26.0 Ωm – 68.0 Ωm at opposite rice seedling site a failed segment and 49.0 Ωm – 74.0 Ωm at Message point Assembly Church. These results showed that the remote cause of road failure in the area is clay/shale/weathered geologic materials with low resistivity values. It was recommended that detailed geophysical investigation should always be conducted on any proposed site for road construction and/or rehabilitation before embarking on the project.