bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
ANALYSIS OF PRICE STABILITY OF RICE AND CO-MOVEMENT IN URBAN MARKETS IN NIGER STATE, NIGERIA
Authors: Yunusa, B. J.  , Lawal, A. F.  , Rahji, M. A. Y.  , Ndagi, I.  
Published: April 2023

The aim of the study was to examine the economic impact of price stability of rice in Niger State, Nigeria. The study determined the relationship between and among rice prices in the study area. One urban market and three rural markets were purposively selected from each of the three (3) agricultural zones. Secondary data on monthly rural and urban retail prices of local rice were used. The data were sourced from Niger State Agricultural Mechanization Development Authority (NAMDA). The time series data covered the period 2009 to 2018. The study utilized coefficients of variation (CVs) and correlation coefficients to determine price dispersion and behavior of local rice in selected markets of Niger State. The coefficients of variation of the prices of rice indicate that all CVs are less than 100% which showed that the prices cluster around the mean price. Also, the correlation coefficients of retail prices of rice in the urban markets of Bida and Kontagora showed high and significant correlation. It indicates a high co-movement of prices of rice between the two urban markets. No correlation between Bida and Minna. This implies that as price increases in one market, it increases in the other markets. It can be inferred from the result that there was positive correlation among the two urban markets of Bida and Kontagora (0.85). and no significant correlation between Bida and Minna, repectively. The study recommended efficient dissemination of market information on the prevailing rice prices and provision of market infrastructures such as road network.
POPULATION GROWTH AND FOOD PRODUCTION: AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE TENACITY OF THE MALTHUSIAN DOCTRINE IN NIGERIA
Authors: Aliyu A. Ammani  , Abubakar A. Hassan  
Published: April 2023

The study set out to test the Malthusian doctrine which stated that “population, when unchecked, increased in a geometrical ratio, and subsistence for man in an arithmetical ratio”, using Nigeria as a case in hand. Data on human population and food production in Nigeria (1961- 2018) were collected from FAOSTAT and used. Geometric Progression and Arithmetic Progression were applied on the collected data to generate second sets of data that fitted geometric and arithmetic progression, respectively. Descriptive statistics and the student t-test technique for comparison of means of independent samples were used to achieve the objectives of this study. Results of the Student’s t-tests (calculated t-value of 0.693 and computed p-value of 0.490 for food production; calculated t-value of 4.700 and computed p-value of 0.000 for population) lead to the acceptance of the null hypothesis for food production and rejection of the null hypothesis for population growth. The mean difference of 28899193.34 indicates that the mean actual population data (102501137.84) was statistically and significantly higher than the mean expected population data (73601944.50) over the study period. It was concluded that (i) food production in Nigeria over the study period increased in arithmetical progression in accordance with Malthusian doctrine, suggesting that the series of agricultural policies and programmes the Government in Nigeria since independence, barely raised agricultural food production in Nigeria beyond subsistence level, and (ii) population in Nigeria over the period of the study increased at a rate much greater than Malthusian doctrine’s geometrical progression, at an exponential rate, suggesting that the policies on population, implicit and explicit, enacted in Nigeria since independence have not succeeded in significantly slowing down the rate of growth of population in Nigeria. The study recommended further studies into the relationship between demography and economic growth in Nigeria.
DETERMINANTS OF ADOPTION OF SOYBEAN PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES AMONG SMALL SCALE FARMERS IN THE CENTRAL AGRICULTURAL ZONE OF GOMBE STATE, NIGERIA
Authors: Mohammed, B.  , Abdullahi, S.  , Yakubu, S.  
Published: April 2023

The study examined the determinant of the adoption of recommended Soybean production technologies practices among small scale farmers in Central Agricultural Zone of Gombe State. Multi-stage sampling techniques were used in selecting 206 respondents from the study area. Data were collected through the administration of structured questionnaires and analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The result from the study reveals that majority (75.2%, 65.6%) of the respondents were males, married and within the ages of 28-47 years, respectively, also majority (87.4%, 82.5% and 75.2%) of the respondents had 1.6-3.0ha of land, 2-21 years of farming experience and 4-9 persons per household size in the study area respectively. The result further shows that majority (72.8% and 55.3%) of the respondents had an annual income of ₦50,000-₦100,000 and had attained secondary/tertiary levels of education in the study area respectively. The result shows that use of implements in land preparation, soy bean harvest between 3-4 months and mid-June – early July planting of soy technologies were mostly and frequently practiced by the respondents and were ranked 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the study area, respectively. The result also shows that socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents had significant influence on their adoption of technologies in the study area, sex, land size, membership of association, years of membership in association, inadequate extension contact, lack of credit access and other sources of credits were highly significant (P<0.001), while farming experience and extension contact in 2020 were significant at (P<0.05). However, high cost of technologies; insufficient information and non-accessibility of technologies were the major challenges/constraints faced by the respondents in the study area. The study concluded that sex, land size, membership of association were the factors influencing the adoption of soya bean technologies in the study area. Based on the findings highlighted the study recommended that, ADP should make available and affordable technologies to the farmers, more extension agents should be recruited to reach or widened the coverage of extension activities in the study area.
RESPONSE OF BROILER CHICKENS TO FIVE COMMERCIAL DIETS IN BAUCHI METROPOLIS, BAUCHI STATE, NIEGRIA
Authors: Abdullahi, M. A.  , Doma, U. D.  , Egbo, M. L.  
Published: April 2023

The study was conducted to evaluate growth performance, carcass characteristics and cost benefit of broiler chickens fed five commercial diets in Bauchi town of Bauchi state. Two hundred and twenty-five (225) day old chicks were assigned to five dietary treatments in replicates of three containing fifteen chicks each in a completely randomized design. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum and the experiment lasted for 35 days. Growth performance parameters include daily feed intake, daily weight gain, final weight gain, total weight gain, feed conversion ratio and feed efficiency were studied. The final weight gain, total weight gain and daily weight gain were significantly (P<0.05) affected by the dietary treatments. The highest values of final weight gain (1522.70 g), total weight gain (1426.30 g) and daily weight gain (50.94 g) were obtained on diet 4, although it did not differ from those fed diet 1. Total feed intake (2077.30-2203.70 g), feed conversion ratio (1.54-1.74) and feed efficiency (0.58-0.66) were not affected by the diets. Most of the carcass characteristics were significantly influenced by the different commercial diets except weights of the head, large intestine, gizzard as well as the length of the small intestine. The highest dressing percentage value of 74.74% was observed in broiler chickens fed diet 4 which did not differ from the value of 71.21% for those fed diet 5. The feed cost per kilogram body weight gain ranged between N 456.90 and N 485.04 with the lowest value obtained in broiler birds fed diet 2. It was concluded that diet 4 gave the best growth performance and carcass yield with lower abdominal fat pad. However, diet 2 was slightly more commercial.
The Effect of Ethanolic Seed Extract of Citrullus lanatus (Watermelon) on Blood Glucose Level and Lipid Profile of Diabetic Wistar Rats
Authors: Francis Deborah , Ani Celestine , Nworgu Choice , Pamela Okorie , Uzoma Igwe , Uzoigwe Jide , Ugwu Princewill , Anyaeji Pamela , Daniel Nwachukwu 
Published: April 2023

Aims: This study investigated the effect of ethanolic seed extract of Citrullus lanatus (ESECL) on blood glucose level and lipid profile in Alloxan-induced diabetic male Wistar rats.
Study Design and Methodology: 30 male adult wistar rats were grouped randomly into six experimental groups of five rats each. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 100 mg/kg of alloxan monohydrate, dissolved in normal saline, while the normal control group (group 1) was given the vehicle only. Three days after induction of diabetes, were treated further for four weeks with ESECL at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg for groups 4, 5, and 6 respectively. Animals in Group 3 were treated with Glibenclamide (2.5 mg/kg), while group 2 served as the negative control group.
Results: Administration of ESECL caused significant decrease in blood glucose levels in groups 4, 5 and 6 compared to rats of group 2 (p=0.00125). There was also significant decrease in the levels of cholesterol (TC) , triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), with increase in high density lipoprotein (HDL) in Groups 4, 5 and 6, compared to Group 2 rats (p=0.00125). The results obtained from the rats of the group receiving extract were similar to that obtained from Groups 3. Conclusion: Thus, this study suggests that this extract could possibly normalize abnormalities in blood glucose levels and lipid profiles in diabetic conditions in a dose dependent manner.
TUGAS DAN PROFESI GURU KRISTEN DALAM PERSPEKTIF ALKITABIAH
Authors: Saingo Yakobus Adi 
Published: April 2023

Guru Kristen dalam menjalankan tugas dan profesinya tidaklah mudah dikarenakan harus mendidik seseorang menjadi pribadi yang menjunjung tinggi nilai moral, sosial maupun spiritual. Tujuan artikel ini untuk membahas tugas dan profesi guru kristen dalam perspektif Alkitabiah. Metode penelitian kualitatif dengan bentuk penelitian library research yang proses pengumpulan datanya dari berbagai literatur relevan seperti artikel maupun buku-buku terbaru (5 tahun terakhir). Data dianalisis berbasis informasi kepustakaan dengan hasil penelitiannya bahwa tugas guru Kristen dalam perspektif Alkitabiah yaitu tugas sebagai guru merupakan panggilan Allah, guru bertanggung jawab memastikan melakukan Firman Tuhan, guru memotivasi untuk setia pada Tuhan, guru bertanggung jawab memperlengkapi peserta didiknya dengan hikmat Ilahi, guru ber­tanggung jawab menanamkan nilai-nilai moral. Selain itu profesi guru Kristen dalam perspektif Alkitabiah yaitu melakukan pem­belajaran untuk meningkatkan SDM, mendewasakan iman, menjaga integritas, serta menciptakan manusia yang beradab.
Rights of nursing terchers in the contemporany: analysis from focal group / Direitos dos docentes de enfermagem na contemporaneidade: análise a partir de grupo focal
Authors: Nascimento Pereira de Farias Sheila , Gualberto Silva Karla , Brasil Amaral dos Santos CoropesI Viviane , Carneiro Carvalho Eloá , A Mó y Mó Loureiro Varella Thereza Cristina , Dantas de Oliveira Souza Norma Valéria 
Published: April 2023

Objetivo: verificar a percepção dos docentes universitários de enfermagem acerca dos seus direitos laborais e discutir tais direitos na contemporaneidade. Método: pesquisa descritiva e exploratória de abordagem qualitativa realizada em duas universidades públicas situadas no município do Rio de janeiro. Os participantes do estudo foram 14 docentes de enfermagem lotados em duas universidades públicas. Para a coleta de dados foi utilizado o grupo focal e os dados foram analisados à luz da técnica de análise de conteúdo. Resultados: emergiram três categorias: os direitos do docente de enfermagem nas universidades públicas no contexto neoliberal; educação como direito de todos para o desenvolvimento do Brasil; e direitos laborais sob a ótica dos docentes de enfermagem: respeito ao contrato de trabalho. Os docentes de enfermagem exercem atividades voltadas para a formação de enfermeiros, bem como a produção de conhecimento e respeito aos direitos humanos, todavia, o trabalho de docentes em universidades públicas sofre com a intensificação do trabalho pelo modelo imposto de produtividade. Considerações Finais: destaca-se a necessidade de respeito aos direitos humanos, para a promoção da qualidade de vida no contexto do trabalho do docente.
Improving Outcomes of Pediatric Lupus Care Delivery With Provider Goal‐Setting Activities and Multidisciplinary Care Models
Authors: Chang Joyce C. , Varghese Shreya A. , Behrens Edward M. , Gmuca Sabrina , Kennedy Jane S. , Liebling Emily J. , Lerman Melissa A. , Mehta Jay J. , Rutstein Beth H. , Sherry David D. , Stingl Cory J. , Weaver Lehn K. , Weiss Pamela F. , Burnham Jon M. 
Published: April 2023

ObjectiveThe present study was undertaken to evaluate high‐quality care delivery in the context of provider goal‐setting activities and a multidisciplinary care model using an electronic health record (EHR)–enabled pediatric lupus registry. We then determined associations between care quality and prednisone use among youth with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).MethodsWe implemented standardized EHR documentation tools to autopopulate a SLE registry. We compared pediatric Lupus Care Index (pLCI) performance (range 0.0–1.0; 1.0 representing perfect metric adherence) and timely follow‐up 1) before versus during provider goal‐setting activities and population management, and 2) in a multidisciplinary lupus nephritis versus rheumatology clinic. We estimated associations between pLCI and subsequent prednisone use adjusted for time, current medication, disease activity, clinical features, and social determinants of health.ResultsWe analyzed 830 visits by 110 patients (median 7 visits per patient [interquartile range 4–10]) over 3.5 years. The provider‐directed activity was associated with improved pLCI performance (adjusted β 0.05 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.01, 0.09]; mean 0.74 versus 0.69). Patients with nephritis in multidisciplinary clinic had higher pLCI scores (adjusted β 0.06 [95% CI 0.02, 0.10]) and likelihood of timely follow‐up than those in rheumatology (adjusted relative risk [RR] 1.27 [95% CI 1.02, 1.57]). A pLCI score of ≥0.50 was associated with 0.72‐fold lower adjusted risk of subsequent prednisone use (95% CI 0.53, 0.93). Minoritized race, public insurance, and living in areas with greater social vulnerability were not associated with reduced care quality or follow‐up, but public insurance was associated with higher risk of prednisone use.ConclusionGreater attention to quality metrics is associated with better outcomes in childhood SLE. Multidisciplinary care models with population management may additionally facilitate equitable care delivery.
Developing Cathode Materials for Aqueous Zinc Ion Batteries: Challenges and Practical Prospects
Authors: Li Guanjie , Sun Liang , Zhang Shilin , Zhang Chaofeng , Jin Huanyu , Davey Kenneth , Liang Gemeng , Liu Sailin , Mao Jianfeng , Guo Zaiping 
Published: April 2023

AbstractGrowth in intermittent renewable sources including solar and wind has sparked increasing interest in electrical energy storage. Grid‐scale energy storage integrated with renewable sources has significant advantages in energy regulation and grid security. Aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (AZIBs) have emerged as a practically attractive option for electrical storage because of environmentally benign aqueous‐based electrolytes, high theoretical capacity of Zn anode, and significant global reserves of Zn. However, application of AZIBs at the grid‐scale is restricted by drawbacks in cathode material(s). Herein, a comprehensive summary of the features and storage mechanisms of the latest cathode materials is provided. The fundamental problems and corresponding in‐depth causes for cathode materials is critically reviewed. It is also assess practical challenges, appraise their translation to commerce and industry, and systematically summarize and discuss the potential solutions reported in recent works. It is established necessary design strategies for Zn anodes and electrolytes that are matched with cathode materials for commercializing AZIBs. Finally, it is concluded with a perspective on the practical prospects for advancing the development of future AZIBs. Findings will be of interest and benefit to a range of researchers and manufacturers in the design and application of AZIBs for grid‐scale energy storage.
Targeted Repair of Super‐Lubricating Surfaces via Pairing Click Chemistry
Authors: Xiang Li , Zhang Jiawen , Wang Wenda , Wei Zhiyong , Chen Yunfei , Zeng Hongbo 
Published: April 2023

AbstractIntact advanced lubricating coatings can rival natural hydration lubricating systems. However, once damaged, their lubricity is drastically diminished as the delaminated coating materials are either unable to re‐bond to the original substrate due to the irreversible bond breakage or easily bridge the opposing rubbing surface via non‐specific interactions. Inspired by the reversibility and selectivity of dynamic click chemistry, super‐lubricating surfaces with targeted self‐repairability are developed through a surface‐recognized strategy. The rubbing surfaces exhibit superlubricity with friction coefficient µ ≈0.002 at physiologically high pressure (≈7.5 MPa). When wear‐induced coating‐substrate breakage occurs, the lubricating materials can target and reassociate with their pairing surfaces through specific dynamic covalent linkages, circumventing surface bridging, and recovering high lubricity even upon repeated damage. This study offers an innovative paradigm for developing durable lubricating surfaces with bespoke reparability for biomedical applications.
Probing the Néel‐Type Antiferromagnetic Order and Coherent Magnon–Exciton Coupling in Van Der Waals VPS3
Authors: Liu Chaocheng , Li Zhi , Hu Jiyu , Duan Hengli , Wang Chao , Cai Liang , Feng Sihua , Wang Yao , Liu Ruiqi , Hou De , Liu Caixing , Zhang Ranran , Zhu Lin , Niu Yuran , Zakharov Alexei A. , Sheng Zhigao , Yan Wensheng 
Published: April 2023

Abstract2D van der Waals (vdW) antiferromagnets have received intensive attention due to their terahertz resonance, multilevel magnetic‐order states, and ultrafast spin dynamics. However, accurately identifying their magnetic configuration still remains a challenge owing to the lack of net magnetization and insensitivity to external fields. In this work, the Néel‐type antiferromagnetic (AFM) order in 2D antiferromagnet VPS3 with the out‐of‐plane anisotropy, which is demonstrated by the temperature‐dependent spin–phonon coupling and second‐harmonic generation (SHG), is experimentally probed. This long‐range AFM order even persists at the ultrathin limit. Furthermore, strong interlayer exciton–magnon coupling (EMC) upon the Néel‐type AFM order is detected based on the monolayer WSe2/VPS3 heterostructure, which induces an enhanced excitonic state and further certifies the Néel‐type AFM order of VPS3. The discovery provides optical routes as the novel platform to study 2D antiferromagnets and promotes their potential applications in magneto‐optics and opto‐spintronic devices.
Reinforcing CoO Covalency via Ce(4f)─O(2p)─Co(3d) Gradient Orbital Coupling for High‐Efficiency Oxygen Evolution
Authors: Li Meng , Wang Xuan , Liu Kun , Sun Huamei , Sun Dongmei , Huang Kai , Tang Yawen , Xing Wei , Li Hao , Fu Gengtao 
Published: April 2023

AbstractRare‐earth (RE)‐based transition metal oxides (TMO) are emerging as a frontier toward the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), yet the knowledge regarding their electrocatalytic mechanism and active sites is very limited. In this work, atomically dispersed Ce on CoO is successfully designed and synthesized by an effective plasma (P)‐assisted strategy as a model (P‐Ce SAs@CoO) to investigate the origin of OER performance in RE–TMO systems. The P‐Ce SAs@CoO exhibits favorable performance with an overpotential of only 261 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and robust electrochemical stability, superior to individual CoO. X‐ray absorption spectroscopy and in situ electrochemical Raman spectroscopy reveal that the Ce‐induced electron redistribution inhibits CoO bond breakage in the CoOCe unit site. Theoretical analysis demonstrates that the gradient orbital coupling reinforces the CoO covalency of the Ce(4f)─O(2p)─Co(3d) unit active site with an optimized Co‐3d‐eg occupancy, which can balance the adsorption strength of intermediates and in turn reach the apex of the theoretical OER maximum, in excellent agreement with experimental observations. It is believed that the establishment of this Ce–CoO model can set a basis for the mechanistic understanding and structural design of high‐performance RE–TMO catalysts.
An Ionic Thermoelectric Generator with a Giant Output Power Density and High Energy Density Enabled by Synergy of Thermodiffusion Effect and Redox Reaction on Electrodes
Authors: Jiang Kaixiang , Jia Jianchao , Chen Yizhong , Li Longbin , Wu Chen , Zhao Peng , Zhu Dong Yu , Zeng Wei 
Published: April 2023

AbstractIonic hydrogel thermoelectric generators (ITEGs) are becoming increasingly popular in effective recovery of low‐grade waste heat, but they suffer from relatively low output power density and energy density. In this work, by utilizing the synergetic strategy of thermodiffusion effect and redox reaction on electrodes, an ITEG is demonstrated which demonstrates impressive thermoelectric conversion properties. On the one hand, an interpenetrating network structured ionic gel with temperature‐sensitive phase transition behavior is designed as thermoelectric material to achieve a very high thermopower of 40.60 mV K−1 at a temperature gradient (ΔT) of 5 K. On the other hand, polymer redox polyaniline (PANI) is appended on the carbon weaved fabric (CWF) electrode to augment heat‐to‐electricity storage and output power performance. It is found that the PANI@CWF electrode assists to realize a larger current density output, 1 h output energy density (E1h) (570 J m−2) at a ΔT of 20 K and a maximum normalized instantaneous output power density of 11.31 mW m−2 K−2 are obtained, which is a record‐breaking result among the reported quasi‐solid‐state ITEGs. A feasible routine to design the top‐performing ITEGs is verified, which shows commercial promise for continuously powering electronic devices such as sensors and wearable electronics.