International Journal of Natural Sciences: Current and Future Research Trends
The International Journal of Social Sciences: Current and Future Research Trends (IJSSCFRT) is an open access International Journal for scientists and researchers to publish their scientific papers in Social Sciences related fields. IJSSCFRT plays its role as a refereed international journal to publish research results conducted by researchers. This journal accepts scientific papers for publication after passing the journal's double peer review process within 4 weeks. For detailed information about the journal kindly check About the Journal page. All IJSSCFRT published papers in Social Sciences will be available for scientific readers for free; no fees are required to download published papers in this international journal.
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Impacts of Additional Class on Academic Achievement of Public Senior School Student in Ibadan
The purpose of this study was to investigate the impacts of additional class on academic achievement of public senior school students, Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria. Different studies have established different reports in their findings that additional class enhance students’ academic achievement. Additional class may be considered as one of the ways to cover syllabus and to make up for missing period of teaching. Students who always attend the additional class might have better grasp of the subject matter and likely have an edge over others. The research methods employed were correlational and descriptive survey. Questionnaire was used to collect data for the study. The data were analysis using multiple regressions. The population of all chemistry students that participated in the study was 535. Respondent sample questionnaire was purposively chosen because they are science students. Reliability index through pilot study of the instruments were 0.731, 0.885 and 0.730. The research findings indicated that the composite effects and relative contributions of perception of students to teaching in various forms of additional class and students’ attendance on students’ academic achievement in chemistry were significant. The researcher recommended the implementation of intensive additional class in chemistry senior secondary schools.
Copyright (c) 2024 International Journal of Natural Sciences: Current and Future Research Trends https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Breeding and Genomics Status in Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) Production: Review Article
The production of the faba bean, a crucial legume crop, increased by 21% in 2014 despite a decline in its global acreage. Nutrients, protein, and bioactive compounds abound in its seeds. The foundation of Ethiopia's faba bean (Vicia faba L.) breeding program is the diversity of exotic germplasm that was primarily introduced from local collections (PGRC/E) of native landraces and ICARDA. Creating improved, high-yielding cultivars suitable for high- and mid-altitude environments is the main goal of breeding. In addition to desired agronomic and seed quality characteristics, the specific breeding objectives were based on the biological, biotic, and abiotic constraints that Ethiopian faba bean production faces. To lessen genetic vulnerability, variant releases should have a wider genetic basis.
Exploring the Potentials of Perovskite Solar Cell Technology
The potential of perovskite solar cell technology is explored in this short commentary paper, with special attention to the material's history and origin, physics, benefits over traditional silicon-based solar cells, disadvantages, current deployment locations, and prospects for widespread acceptance as a solar cell material in the future.
Futuristic outlook for perovskite solar cell technology
The Intersection of Metacognition, Cultural Identity, and Academic Performance Among African American and International Students in Diverse Educational Contexts
This article encapsulates a critical examination of the intersection between metacognition, cultural identity, and academic performance, with a specific focus on African American and international students in a diverse educational setting. Anchored in Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory, this investigation synthesizes findings from two qualitative studies [1], [2]. Utilizing semi-structured interviews with a total of 40 participants, comprising 20 African American students and 20 international students at a mid-size university in the United States, this study shows how metacognitive strategies shape the academic experiences of these distinct populations. The application of Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory as a theoretical framework underscored the critical roles of self-efficacy, motivation, and cultural context in influencing students’ academic outcomes. The findings showed that while both demographic groups employ metacognitive practices, they encountered unique challenges that were informed by their cultural identities and social dynamics, thereby highlighting the need for tailored educational interventions. The results of this study make a significant contribution to the existing literature by advancing inclusive educational practices and proposing future research directions that address the specific needs of these diverse student populations.
Copyright (c) 2025 International Journal of Natural Sciences: Current and Future Research Trends https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Biological Control of Cabbage Butterfly (Pieris rapae Linn.) Using Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus
Pieris rapae Linnaeus, commonly known as cabbage white butterfly, is a serious pest of cruciferous crops around the world, particularly in high-altitude places including Benguet, Philippines, where infestation causes enormous economic losses. Traditional chemical pesticides pose environmental and health hazards, leading to the quest for long-term alternatives like Nucleopolyhedrosis Virus (NPV). This study evaluated the efficacy of NPV as a biological control agent against P. rapae, specifically on its performance alone and when combined with carrier materials at various time interval exposure. Results showed that all of the various treatments were effective, against cabbage butterfly larvae consistently resulting in 100 % infection, and severity of infection, with the NPV alone treatment being particularly impactful. Notably, second larval instar exhibited significantly higher susceptibility to NPV alone, causing 60% mortality at 48 hours post-infection (HPI), at 120 HPI, all treatments and larval stages achieved almost complete mortality of 95% to 100%. Optimal environmental conditions of 25 °C and 70% relative humidity accelerated infection causing mortality, especially in susceptible second larval instar. Among the carrier materials used, Oatmeal and Cornmeal had intermediate effects on NPV efficacy, whereas All-Purpose Flour produced the lowest impact. This was linked to their physical characteristics, which influence viral persistence, such as water-holding capacity. Over time, morphological changes in infected larvae progressed, including sluggishness, discoloration, paralysis, and liquefaction. Given its affordability, NPV alone proved to be the most economical option, amounting to PhP 343.50 per treatment. Carrier materials like Oatmeal shows potential for formulation stability, although, they were less practical which contributed to higher cost of the treatments. The study concludes that NPV alone and NPV with carrier materials as treatment is a promising and good biological control strategy for P. rapae, with optimal application targeting early instar under specific environmental conditions.
Catalytic Oxidative Desulfurization of Model Oil Fuels by Novel Bifunctional Molecular Sieve NbFeAPSO-5
In this work, novel bifunctional NbFeAPSO-5 molecular sieve was synthesised and used in oxidative desulfurization of model oil with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2, 25 wt%) as an oxidant. It was observed that ICP-EAS analysis confirmed the incorporation of silicon (12.9%), aluminium (15.4%), phosphorous (21.9%), iron (5.62%) and niobium (0.39%) into AlPO-5 framework. Furthermore, the NbFeAPSO-5 can be reused for at least six cycles without noticeable changes in desulfurization performance, thus revealing its good reusability. Used in the catalytic oxidative desulfurization of model diesel oil, the sulfur content can be reduced from 559.7 ppm to 4.8 ppm with 99.2% sulfur removal via a one-step process under mild conditions.
The Carbon Sequestration Potentials of the Oceans in the Quest for Environmental Sustainability
The oceans are crucial for mitigating the consequences of climate change because they absorb carbon dioxide (CO?) from the atmosphere. The oceans, which comprise over 70% of the Earth's surface, act as a major carbon sink through physical and biological processes. This short commentary paper explores several ways of oceanic carbon sequestration, including the solubility pump, biological pump, and the role of coastal blue carbon ecosystems. Additionally evaluated are the significance of these processes in global carbon budgets, their challenges, and novel approaches to enhance ocean-based carbon storage. The paper's conclusion emphasizes the significance of protecting marine ecosystems and employing oceanic carbon sequestration responsibly in order to guarantee long-term environmental sustainability.
Initial Report of Bloom of ichthyotoxic Karenia mikimotoi (Dinoflagellate sp) along the Coast of Ormara (Baluchistan) Pakistan
A unique HAB event of a typical ichthyotoxic dinoflagellate species Karenia mikimotoi was observed during routine sampling in the month of October, 2009 from coast of Ormara (Baluchistan) Pakistan (Arabian Sea). The bloom appeared as rust brown appearance stretched over approximately a km of distance. Highest cell density 2.7×10 7 Cells/L was observed during microscopic counts, which is the highest cell concentration ever recorded. This bloom was investigated for a period of three months; however the bloom was disappeared from the area and replaced by other members of microplankton community. The observed bloom also composed of other microplanktonic groups including dinoflagellates, diatoms and ciliates with various cell abundance. Among dinoflagellates, Triposfusus sp and Noctiluca scintillans were found in high abundance of 4×103 Cells/L, 1×103Cells/L, respectively. It is followed by five different species of Prorocentrum. Along with the bloom of Karenia mikimotoi 12 toxic species were also observed belonging to dinoflagellates and diatoms. The manifestation of Karenia mikimotoi bloom to the coastal waters of Pakistan could be an alarming situation and HAB prevention measurements should be taken to avoid the damage of ecosystem.
Influence of Extra Lesson on Students’ academic achievement in Chemistry Senior Student Secondary School Ibadan, Oyo Sate, Nigeria
The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of extra lesson on student academic achievement in chemistry Secondary School, Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria. Different studies have established different reports in their findings that extra lessons enhance students’ academic achievement. Extra lessons may be considered as one of the ways to cover syllabus and to make up for missing period of teaching. Students who always attend the extra lessons might have better grasp of the subject matter and likely have an edge over others. The research methods employed were correlational and descriptive survey. Questionnaire was used to collect data for the study. The data were analysis using multiple regressions. The population of all chemistry students that participated in the study was 535. Respondent sample questionnaire was purposively chosen because they are science students. Reliability index through pilot study of the instruments were 0.731, 0.885 and 0.730. The research findings indicated that the composite effects and relative contributions of perception of students to teaching in various forms of extra lesson and students’ attendance on students’ academic achievement in chemistry were significant. The researcher recommended the implementation of intensive extra lessons in chemistry senior secondary schools.
Examining Avian Species Diversity in Various Forest Types at La Selva Biological Research Station
Rainforest degradation due to urbanization and land use changes can significantly impact tropical ecosystems, creating various forest types. This research explored avian species diversity in response to forest type within the protected land of La Selva Biological Research Station in northeastern Costa Rica. We hypothesized that the avian species diversity would be greater in old growth forests compared to successional plots between 1-4 years old and developed areas. Visual surveys were conducted daily in both habitat types throughout the ten-day research period, with audio sampling in old growth forests. Audio sampling was not conducted in the successional or developed areas due to their proximity to old growth forests. The sampling occurred in two-hour periods during the morning and afternoon for each forest type, alternating the starting forest type each day. Statistical analysis with a chi-squared test showed significantly higher bird species diversity in old growth forests compared to successional plots and developed forests (p < 0.05). In total we recorded 87 bird species, with 72 species found in old growth forests and 35 found in the successional and developed areas. These results illustrate the inverse relationship between avian diversity and forest disturbance, emphasizing the critical importance of protecting old growth rainforest habitats from human-induced degradation and development.
Digital Control Room Design Framework with Human Performance Considerations for SMR Deployments
The research is aiming to develop an integrated framework to achieve new designs of digital control rooms (DCR) with multidimensional views and human factor considerations to support the safe deployments of Small Modular Reactor (SMR). The proposed integrated research framework included control room physical model, human factors analysis with interfaces to the control room system, and co-simulation to analyze plant operation for different scenarios. The proposed digital control room platform will support the evaluation of different digital control room design features for different operation scenarios and human factors. The impacts of digital control rooms on situational awareness are analyzed using the proposed digital control room setup, which supports decision-aiding systems in plant operation. Integrated human performance management system is described that includes human health monitoring and human performance semantic networks to accumulate human performance, operation performance, and the coupling with digital control room design features. Selected operation scenarios are modeled and used to evaluate human performance while mapping to control room design features. The proposed integrated digital control is demonstrated using co-simulation platform using IAEA SMR simulator and different operator interactions and scenarios within the digital control room are used to evaluate human performance and reflected to the plant operation performance using the proposed control room design.
Administrative Skills and their Relationship to the Selection of Sports Club Presidents from the Perspective of the Administrative Body in Diyala Province for the Year 2024
Sports are one of the fundamental human activities practiced in almost every society, and excelling in a particular sport has become a symbol of civilizational progress that nations strive to achieve, believing it reflects their advancement in other fields. Administration plays a crucial role in the sports sector by building organizations, institutions, and clubs, fostering team cohesion, strengthening human relationships, and promoting cooperation among individuals, which enhances loyalty and belonging to these organizations, positively impacting performance, problem-solving, and overall efficiency in sports management. This study highlights the importance of selecting sports club presidents in Iraq, particularly in Diyala Province, and the factors influencing their selection. It aims to assist decision-makers by proposing a model that identifies the key administrative skills necessary for effectively managing and organizing sports clubs, emphasizing the need for club presidents to possess these essential skills. The research problem lies in the lack of clear criteria and regulations for selecting club presidents, which negatively affects the administrative performance of sports clubs in Iraq. The study’s main objectives include identifying the administrative skills required for sports club presidents from the perspective of administrative bodies within these clubs and examining the relationship between these skills and the selection process. The findings indicate a strong correlation between administrative skills and the selection of club presidents, with technical skills ranking the highest in importance, while communication skills ranked the lowest. Based on these results, the study recommends adopting the identified administrative skills.
Analysis of Human Performance Monitoring in Control Rooms for Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Deployments
The increasing demand for sustainable and efficient nuclear energy has driven the adoption of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), which offer enhanced safety, flexibility, and operational efficiency. However, the effectiveness of SMR control rooms remains highly dependent on human performance, where factors such as cognitive workload, psychological stress, and ergonomics play a crucial role in operator decision-making. Traditional control room monitoring systems primarily focus on basic physiological metrics such as heart rate and fatigue, lacking the capability to dynamically assess cognitive and environmental factors in real-time. This study explores the integration of automatic systems in SMR control rooms to monitor human performance and health mitigate operational risks. By leveraging wearable sensors, eye-tracking technology, and powered decision support. Key findings suggest that real-time monitoring significantly enhances situational awareness, workload balancing, and decision-making efficiency. Furthermore, integrating predictive analytics and adaptive automation within SMR control rooms can lead to a safer, more efficient operational environment, ensuring reliability in high-stakes nuclear applications. The proposed system represents a paradigm shift in human-machine collaboration, offering a holistic approach to improving safety and efficiency in next-generation nuclear control rooms.
Copyright (c) 2024 2024 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Prevalence of Malaria Parasite among Pregnant Women Attending Different Antenatal Clinics in Two Districts of Jos South LGA Plateau State
Malaria infection during pregnancy can lead to adverse outcomes such as miscarriages, premature delivery, low birth weight and perinatal death. Pregnant women are three times more likely to develop severe malaria infections than non-pregnant women who acquire malaria in the same geographical area. This study was to determine the prevalence of malaria parasite among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in two districts of Jos south LGA Plateau state. A total of 194 consented pregnant women from three different hospitals: Primary health care Bukuru, Primary health care Vwang and Vom Christian hospital were enrolled. Venous blood was examined for malaria parasites by microscopy using Giemsa stain technique. 134 (69.1%) pregnant women were positive for malaria parasite with the highest prevalence 76 (39.2%) among 20 – 29years age group while 50 years and above age group had the least prevalence 02 (1.0%). The prevalence according to parity was more on multigravidae 90 (46.4%) when compared with primigravida with a prevalence of 44 (22.7%). The finding of this study shows a high endemicity of malaria parasite among pregnant women in the studied area which can result in undesirable outcomes such as maternal anemia or miscarriages. Antenatal program should incorporate proper education on effective prevention and treatment of malaria parasite by the use of insecticide treated nets and prophylactic malaria therapy during pregnancy.
Secondary School Teachers’ Perception of Leadership Competencies of Headteachers who were Forcibly Transferred from their Previous Schools
The study sought to explore teachers’ perception of Leadership competences of forcibly transferred head teachers in the Government aided secondary schools in the central Region of Uganda. This study was based on a phenomenological design where the study participants involved teachers, headteachers and commissioner secondary education and human resource departments of MoES. These participants were purposively selected. Actual number of participants depended on saturation of result Interview guides were the data collection instruments. This data was analyzed using thematic data analysis technique. Results also revealed that headteachers without leadership competencies like initiative self-confidence, who were not accountable, transparent, lacked emotional control among others used to be transferred using forced transfer means. Hence, the study concluded; that headteachers without with leadership competencies (self-awareness, emotional control, transparency, accountability, achieving highly, having high confidence) among others were transferred using by force. The study therefore recommends that relevant stakeholders at MoES, Department of Secondary School Education, Board of Governors to do the following to improve on headteachers transfers: There is need to emphasize the headteachers to reflect on the leadership competencies desired in the current age. This would be done by; Organizing refresher training courses like workshops, study conferences, study leaves to ensure that these headteachers develop desired leadership competencies at school. Secondly there is also need to inform and alert headteachers of leadership incompetencies that could lead to forced transfer from school.
Parallel Data Processing Solutions for Software Defined Radio
Taking into consideration the decisions behind the current day processors used for Software Defined Radio (SDR) and digital signal processing, we will examine how current machine learning chips, such as Tensor Processing Units or their components including Systolic Arrays and Matrix Multiplier Units, can be incorporated into signal processing today. There are several architectural approaches to implementing digital signal processing with SDR, ranging from Field Programmable Gate Arrays to General Purpose Processors and Digital Signal Processors. SDR has historically been developed to move algorithms and signal processing away from hardware that is built for a specific purpose to software that can accommodate new algorithms and processes with ease. Recently, there have been advances in leveraging data level parallelism for SDR, including the use of Graphics Processor Units. After consideration of current and previous SDR technology, we propose a hypothetical Dynamic Band Processing Unit X (DBPUX) for processing multiple bands per cycle in a Digitize at Intermediate Frequency (DIF) SDR architecture using a Matrix Multiplier Unit (MMU) and a Systolic-Type Array for specific signal processing tasks. Further work is needed to simulate and apply performance metrics to the proposed processor.
About Physical Foundations of Some Contemporary Paradigms
We apply the early developed analytic approach which was used to model the macroplastic deformation of polycrystalline solids, for analysis of evolution of our visible Universe. Such evolution was considered as grand non-stationary stochastic process providing transferring the energy of the Big Bang in space. As consequences of the first and second laws of thermodynamics necessities were shown, respectively, to endless existence of life phenomena in the Universe as a form of the energy transferring together with – conservation of individual life for each living creature to provide spatial homogeneity conservation for the transferring. Proceeding from the spherical symmetry of the Big Bang products distribution and the principally limited time period of the Big Bang development, spherical ring structure of the whole Universe was proposed. Based on the structure, two possible variants of the material objects motion within the whole Universe was considered: 1) - practically free of interactions with the other products, motion in radial directions; 2) – strongly affected by the interaction the curved trajectories motion. Calculated percentages for the contributions in the energy flux for the various types of elementary particles as the energy carriers are in accordance with the known contents of the baryonic, Dark matters and Dark energy in the visible Universe. Early predicted countless number of the approach constitutive equation solutions were associated with the corresponding number of the energy carriers and the mono-universes. A mechanism for participating the mono-universes in the expansion of the whole, poly-universe was proposed. The observed non-monotonic time dependence for the speed of our visible mono-universe expansion is in accordance with the approach predictions. Time dependencies of the square density of the energy carriers and the stress caused the Big Bang energy gradient were calculated and their reciprocal mutual dependence was shown at finishing stage of the visible Universe evolution, in accordance with the known Chaplygin gas models.
An Assessment of Scavenging for Livelihood and its Health Implication at Gosa Dumpsite, Abuja, Nigeria
This study investigated the activities and socio-economic drivers as well as health implications of solid waste on scavenging at the Gosa dumpsite, Abuja. Out of the total of 520 registered scavengers with the Abuja Environmental Protection Board, 487 consented and each was administered a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire elicited information such as demographic (gender, age, marital status, ethnicity, nationality and level of education), socio-economic variables (years spent scavenging and quantity and type of waste scavenge per day) and the health implication from waste scavenging. The study revealed that all the scavengers were male, young and adults and live within the vicinity of the Gosa dumpsite scavenging waste materials such as bottles, papers, cartons, irons, plastics, aluminium cans and electronic wastes. More than 50% of the waste pickers scavenged as much as 20 kg of solid wastes per day and over 90% of them sell the scavenged solid materials to recyclers. Most of the scavengers (93%) do not use protective gears as they claimed not to know the adverse effects of toxic materials on human health. Symptoms such as headache, sore throat and eye irritation were reported by these waste pickers. The study concluded that awareness and monitoring programmes on the risk related to scavenging activities should be organised for the scavengers at the dumpsite. It was recommended that poverty and unemployment were the two major drivers of waste scavenging in the Gosa dumpsite, Abuja.
Copyright (c) 2023 International Journal of Natural Sciences: Current and Future Research Trends https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
OPD Capacity in the 21st Century: A Review of the Factors that Increase Patient Waiting Time
The OPD is the first point of call for patients in the hospital and requires operating at optimum capacity to ensure the smooth running of the hospital to maintain a good image to the public. Patients as individuals who are already discomforted either physically, mentally or socially require spending the shortest possible time in the hospital. The healthcare delivery system in the 21st century has undergone several changes due to the adoption of technology geared towards improving services. The OPD is no exception where technology has been adopted to reduce long queues. Despite the technology, several other contributions make up the OPD such as hospital staff working at the OPD, the patients and tailor-made protocols peculiar to hospitals. An increase in the waiting time subsequently reduces patients' satisfaction and therefore probing the factors that cause it is vital to providing quick and quality healthcare services. Therefore, the goal of this study is to investigate and elaborate on the factors that contribute to the increase in patient waiting time at the OPD. Current studies fail to focus on the several factors that contribute to the increase in waiting times but instead provide solutions that address one or a few factors. Our review, therefore, provided several solutions after identifying that staffing, demand, OPD Billing, the type of hospital, OPD layout and communication were among the several factors that increase patient waiting time in the OPD in the 21st century.
Environmental Impacts of the irrational Use of Pesticides in the Villages Bordering the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Monts Nimba Biosphere Reserve-Republic of Guinea
The general objective of this work is to inventory and characterize the risks of non-rational use of pesticides on human health and the environment in order to propose prevention and mitigation measures. Thus, the Accelerated Participatory Research Method (MARP) was used to collect data from resource persons, through semi-structured interviews based on survey sheets. Word and Sphinx Plus V5 software allowed us to process the data collected. Approximately 42 phytosanitary products including 21 herbi-total (95.5%), 11 herbi-selective (61.4%) and 9 insecticides were encountered in the localities surrounding the site. Agriculture (40.8%) is the most practiced activity followed by livestock breeding (19.4%), hunting and gardening (9.7%), fishing (7.8%), carbonization (6.8%). The lowlands remain the cultivation area par excellence (42.9%) followed by the hills (38.1%) and the plains (19.0%). The Lola and N’Zoo markets (32.1%) supply products followed by the Bossou and Gbakoré markets (10.3%), as well as fungicides and fertilizers, subject to order. The March-April period (39.2%) is the period of heavy use while June-August (29.7%) and May-June (24.3%) are the periods of weeding with selective Herbi; on the other hand, September-December (6.8%) is the period devoted to market gardening activities. The effects on the ecosystem are noted, but there are no mitigation measures; the biotope and the biocenosis are frequently polluted and the animals are contaminated and removed from their natural habitats.
Emotional Intelligence and Empathy on Counselors’ General Health in Accra Ghana
Counsellors sometimes become victim in their professional practice. This study explores the role of emotional intelligence and empathy on the general health of counselors in the Accra metropolis. The aim of the study is to determine the relationship between emotional intelligence, empathy, and general health and to identify demographic predictors on emotional intelligence, empathy, and general health. In a cross-sectional exploratory case study of 133 purposively selected counselors from Accra Metropolis were administered an online self-report survey questionnaire that consisted of emotional intelligence questionnaire, empathy scale and general health questionnaire. Findings revealed that emotional intelligence and empathy significantly predict general health. A significant positive correlation exists between emotional intelligence and general health, while a clinical significance of a positive correlation exists between emotional intelligence and empathy. Again, no significant difference was found between the general health of male and female counselors. No significant difference was found in the scores for empathy and emotional intelligence for licensed professional counselors and licensed lay counselors. Safeguarding the counselor’s health is ethically imperative due to the effect on professional competence and performance. It is recommended that counselors and training institutions deepen effort in creating awareness on the need to protect the health of counselors for the benefit of clients and the high regard of the counseling profession.
Sediment Grain-Size Distribution in the Çiftl?k Plain- (Oval?ba?, Melendiz and Imamhatip) Nigde Province, Turkey
As a very important textural characteristic, grain size has been widely used by geologists to determine the distance a piece of sediment must have taken before coming to a halt.Sediments,be they clastic or chemical, is determined by their methods of erosion. Clastic sediments being broken down through physical means like water, wind, ice by abrasion. These may give rise to pebbles/gravels,sand,silt and clays.So,to interpret the geomorphological settings of the Çiftlik Basin(paleo or present);sediments must have either been transported from regional to local settings or from within the local settings.Natural characteristics of sediments with recognized grain size composition have been classified using the Udden-Wentworth grain size scale(phi= ?).This is the method that facilitates statistical analysis, graphical representation and geological representation of terrestrial sediments of Oval?ba?, Melendiz and Imamhatip of the Çiftlik Basin. A total of 158 samples were investigated and detailed grain size analysis were done on 41 selected samples. The Oval?ba? (750 cm) OVA1 to OVA15 samples, Melendiz (661 cm) MEL1 to MEL10 samples and Imamhatip (860 cm) IMA1 to IMA 16 samples. The Phi (?) values ranges from ?= -3 to ?=5; from very coarse to very fine grains. Most of the grain sizes were coarse skewed and very poorly sorted, indicative of intra-locality origin of most of the sediments. Skewness which is the measure of symmetry and can either be positive (fine), negative (coarse) or symmetrical. The grain-sizes used are as follows;? 0.062mm(?=5)clays and muds,0.062mm(?=4) silt,0.125mm(?=3)fine sand,0.25mm(?=2)medium sand,0.5mm(?=1)coarse sand,1mm(?=0)very coarse sand,?2mm(?=-1)granules,4mm(?=-2)gravels,8mm(?=-3) pebbles. Their sorting results are as follows; very poorly sorted=7 samples and poorly sorted =34 samples while their skewness is; very fine skew=10 samples, coarse skew=3 samples and very coarse skew=28 samples.
Effects of Rainwater Harvesting Technologies on Sustainable agricultural Production in Ntutsi and Mijwala Sub-counties, Sembabule District
Despite the benefits of rainwater harvesting technologies on enhancing sustainable agricultural production, farmer still face the number of huddles in implementing such technologies like lack of knowledge, limited space, and limited capital and among others. Rain water harvesting technologies were thought of to sustain agricultural production but its relevance among farmers remains un-documented. The study was about the effects of rainwater harvesting technologies on sustainable agricultural production in Ntutsi and Mijwala Sub-counties, Sembabule District. The specific objectives were to; ascertain the methods of rain water harvesting use for sustainable agricultural production, identify the benefits of rain water harvesting technologies on agricultural production, identify the factors influencing the adoption of rain water harvesting technologies and investigate the challenges faced in implementing water harvesting technologies. The study adopted a cross sectional survey design. Data was collected from 248 farmers. Data management and analysis was done using SPSS version 20 to generate both descriptive and regression statistics. The study identified different rain water harvesting methods use for sustainable agricultural production such as; ridges/tied ridges/furrows, water pans/ponds, sand dams and sub-surface dams as well as rooftop catchments. The study also discovered that technologies like ridges/tied ridges/furrows (x2 = 8.305, p=0.005), road runoff water harvesting (x2 = 6.048, p=0.001), and a combination of practices (x2 = 4.120, p=0.042) had a significant influence on agricultural production. The study also confirmed that gender [AOR = 2.569; (95% CI: 1.239 - 5.327); p = 0.011], level of education [AOR = 1.441; (95% CI: 0.656 - 3.164); p = 0.003], and farm size [AOR = 2.060; (95% CI: 1.021 - 4.154, p = 0.044] were the significant factors influencing the adoption of rain water harvesting technology for sustainable agriculture production in the area. The study further confirmed that unavailability of labour [AOR = 0.978; (95% CI: 0.169 - 54.570, p = 0.001), lack of knowledge on water harvesting [AOR = 0.333; (95% CI: 0.104 - 34.088, p = 0.005], were some of the challenges faced in the implementation of rain water harvesting technologies. It therefore recommends that farmers be linked to financial institutions since they do not have the capital to invest in RWHTs. This will enable farmers to adopt not only one but many RWHTs.
Gastrointestinal Parasites and Food Intake of Stranded Juvenile Green Turtles Chelonia mydas (Testudines: Cheloniidae) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Chelonia mydas can be found worldwide, mainly in coastal habitats ranging from tropical regions to temperate zones. They usually consume a diverse range of food types, however, adults are considered one of the most abundant large vertebrate consumers of seagrasses and algae in the world. Anthropogenic activities can affect C. mydas morbidity, mortality and food intake pattern. The aim of this study was to evaluate if parasites can interfere with the food intake of green turtles in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, after gastrointestinal content and parasitological analysis. A total of 137 stranded green sea turtles were analyzed, according to the presence of parasites and the digestive tract content: 12% presented parasite infection. The most frequent item among the digestive tract content was algae (74%), followed by anthropogenic materials (19.8%), invertebrates (5.8%) and plants (0.4%). The algae mostly ingested were the Chlorophyta with 36,16% and Rhodophyta with 27,68%. Phaeophyta represented 14,69% of the consumed algae, 20,9% of the algae could not be identified due to the digestive process. Thus, in this study we could observe a change in species composition and algal frequency in green turtles with or without parasites. Hypnea sp. is frequently reported in the literature as part of the diet of C. mydas and, the same was observed in our results in non-parasitized green turtles. More studies are necessary to better understand anthropogenic debris and parasites infection effects on food intake of stranded juvenile green turtles Chelonia mydas.
Copyright (c) 2023 International Scientific Research and Researchers Association (ISRRA) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Valorization of Benthic Macroinvertebrates Produced from Pig Dung in Clarias gariepinus Fries Feeding
Fish feeding is one of the main factors hindering the development of fish farming in developing countries. The objective of this study was to determine the optimal artificial feed ration to be fed as a supplement to macroinvertebrate fed fry for semi-intensive production of Clarias gariepinus. To this end, the survival and growth performance of Clarias gariepinus fries fed with macroinvertebrates produced from pig dung and artificial feed were compared to those of fry fed with dry feed only. Fries with an initial weight of 0.52 ± 0.15g were distributed in the 15 buckets with a density of 0.6 ind.L-1 and grouped into four (04) treatments (T1, T2, T3 and T4) and a control (T0); they were fed for 05 weeks. Fries reared in T1, T2, T3 and T4 were fed with 75%, 50%, 25% and 0% dry feed respectively, while those in T0 were fed with 100% dry feed. All four treatments contain macroinvertebrates produced in mass. The physicochemical parameters of the water, the survival and growth parameters of the fry were assessed. The results showed that the physicochemical parameters of the water were within the recommended standards for the culture of the majority of aquatic species The average final weight and specific growth rate of the fries were highest in T0 (11.95 ± 0.06 g and 8.96 ± 0.014 %.d-1), followed by T1 (10.50 ± 0.8 g and 8.58 ± 0.2 %.d-1) and T2 (10.16 ± 0.50 g and 8.49 ± 0.14 %.d-1). They are very low in T4 (01.35 ± 0.11 g and 2.72 ± 0.23 %.d-1). The specific growth rate and survival rate of T1, T2 and T0 were not significantly different (p > 0.05). T1 and T2 will therefore reduce the amount of artificial feed to be distributed; however, the optimal rate was 50% (T2). It is therefore possible to reduce the cost of fish products in a semi-intensive system.
Interdigitated Electrodes based Nano Bio Sensors
Interdigitated Electrodes IDE are used to detect and analyze cells or particles. Biosensors in general can be used in a wide range of applications to detect cells/bacteria which can be utilized in early discovery of some diseases. This review summarizes wide range of researches in this field to illustrate the different design factors when fabricating Interdigitated Electrodes IDE. These factors ranges from the fabrication process itself, sensor dimensions and shapes, space between electrodes, and sensors sensitivity and more. In this literature review, a discussion of all these design factors will be introduced.
Capitalization of Local Agricultural Knowledge in the Fight against Soil Degradation: Experiences with Farmers of Bapa and Bamendjo in West Cameroon
Given the degradation of soils observed mainly by the decline in fertility, the use of agricultural techniques and practices based on organic inputs appears to be a healthy alternative. This study focused on the capitalization of local agricultural knowledge in the fight against soil degradation. The objective was to show the importance of taking peasant knowledge into account in the process of popularizing sustainable agricultural practices to combat soil degradation. We have indeed conducted observations with farmers in the villages of Bamendjo in the Bamboutos and Bapa in the highlands of the West Cameroon region. The study focused on a sample of 419 producers, identified through contacts and to whom we submitted questionnaires to all and interviews to 37 of them. The other source of data was obtained from desk research. These data were analysed and tested using flat sorts, cross sorts and Pearson correlations. We carried out a descriptive analysis presenting the results of the collection in a rough way and we used the Pearson correlation to cross the variables and test their homogeneity. A third source of data was obtained from the results of laboratory analyses, comparing soil samples taken between 0-20cm, 20-40cm and 40-60cm in two fields (1) and (2) exploited with techniques and different cultivation practices, one conventionally (1) and the other organically (2). The main results enabled us to retain the various indicators that show the contribution of peasant knowledge to sustainable soil management. More than 65% of the producers met had to develop knowledge enabling them to better develop their agricultural activities while contributing to the preservation of the soil. The results of the soil analyses showed through the proportions of certain properties, in particular Ca, CEC including the heavy metal content that the farm (2) has a higher level of fertility than that of the farm (1). This proves that organic fertilizers increase the sustainability of soils over the long term. This study will focus more on traditional knowledge that seems better suited to local ecosystems. To this end, we recommend that the various public and private development actors set up agricultural extension programs and systems that take into account peasant knowledge.
Copyright (c) 2022 International Scientific Research and Researchers Association (ISRRA) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Floristic Diversity of Peri-urban Forestry Training in South West of Burkina Faso : Case of Dinderesso Classified Forest (DCF)
The present study was conducted in Burkina Faso sudanian zone with the aim of determining DCF floristic diversity. Following randomly phytosociological surveys, the study revealed that DCF is composed to 253 species, divided into 58 families and 171 genera. The most represented families of this flora are Fabaceae (17.79%), Poaceae (11.46%), Combretaceae (6.32%) and Rubiaceae (5.53%). The most dominant biological types in DCF are respectively phanerophytes (Gross Spectrum = 50.98% ; Weighted Spectrum = 81.48%) and Therophytes (Gross Spectrum = 24.90% ; Weighted Spectrum = 10.64%). In terms of phytogeographic types, the flora of DCF has a strong affinity for Sudanese species (Gross Spectrum = 18.97% ; Weighted Spectrum = 36.51%). They are followed by species common to the Congo-Guinean and Sudano-Zambian regions (Gross Spectrum = 15.41% ; Weighted Spectrum = 32%). DCF is made up of 49.40% species whose vulnerability criteria have not been defined by IUCN (NE), 47.43% species whose vulnerability is considered to be a minor concern by IUCN (LC) and 3.15% species with special status (VU+EN+RC). This study allowed us to show that the FCD plays an important role in the conservation of biodiversity in Burkina Faso. It can be used as tools for better management of said forest.
Protamine Sulfate Enhances Biofilm Inhibitory Activity of Curcumin against Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Biofilm Grown on Ex Vivo Porcine Skin Model
A bacterial biofilm is one of the most difficult structures to eradicate and is involved in the enhancement of the virulence and resistance of bacteria. Several strategies have been used to fight bacterial virulence and biofilm formation through targeting the quorum sensing (QS) mechanism of communication. Curcumin is a natural component extract from Turmeric and has antimicrobial and quorum sensing inhibitory (QSI) effects on many microbes and their biofilm. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of curcumin-protamine sulfate combination against the biofilm formation by P. aeruginosa (ATCC 27853). Neither the curcumin nor the protamine sulfate exhibited antibiofilm activity when tested against the P .aeruginosa biofilm alone. However, when curcumin was combined with protamine sulfate at different concentrations, a significant reduction in biofilm formation was detected. The highest inhibition percentage was detected against 48 hour biofilm when the biofilm was treated with 62.5 µg/ml curcumin with 62.5 µg/ml protamine sulfate using the 96-well plate method. The porcine ex-vivo model was used to confirm the previous result. The highest inhibition of biofilm was 95% when the porcine skin was treated with 500 µg/ml of curcumin with 500 µg/ml protamine sulfate. The obtained results from this study highly suggest that the combination of curcumin with protamine sulfate improves the effect against the biofilm, and ensures that the effect is due to the prevention of biofilm formation mainly through interruption of QS rather than killing of the bacteria.
The Effect of Smoking on the Ocular Surface, Tear Film, and Central Corneal Thickness
Background: As a global health issue, smoking is a growing concern for Saudi Arabia and the world. It is known that exposure to harmful chemicals in cigarettes can affect the anterior ocular surface. Main purpose: The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of smoking on the central corneal thickness and the ocular surface parameters at smokers. It also compares the results with those of non-smokers and passive smokers. Materials and Methods: A cross?sectional study was adopted and comprised 118 participants: 50 smokers, and 68 non-smokers. The goal of the Speed II Questionnaire was to assess the severity of ocular surface disease symptoms. Participants were tested using various methods, such as the Schirmer's II test, tear Meniscus height (TMH), the Non-Invasive Break-Up Time (NIK-BUT), and Central corneal thickness (CCT). Results: The difference in Schirmer's scores and those of the other parameters were statistically significant. The mean values of all dry eye parameters were also different between the groups of smokers and non-smokers. The mean Corvis ST was less for both right and left eyes, but this difference was not significant. The dry eye symptoms (Dryness, Grittiness or Scratchiness, Soreness or Irritation, Burning or Watering, and Eye Fatigue) showed a statistically significant association among groups (p <0.01). Conclusion: Cigarette smoking causes dry eye parameters like Schirmer test score, TMH, and TBUT to deteriorate. Also, we found a strong correlation among groups and dry eye symptoms in terms of frequency and severity. The smoker group had the most suffering of dry eye symptoms in terms of frequency and severity. However, CCT was discovered to be unrelated to smoking. More researches are needed to identify the molecular basis of the relationship between smoking intensity and its effect on the tear film and corneal thickness in terms of free radicals.