International Institute for Science, Technology and Education (IISTE): E-Journals
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Comparing measure of systems thinking in a post-secondary classroom
Full text linkThis study investigates how different methods of assessing systems thinking—surveys, case studies, and student-generated models—relate to one another in a lower-division biology course for non-majors. We found that while some measures align, others capture distinct cognitive skills. Our findings suggest that model creation and model interpretation may require different instructional supports and that deeper scaffolding is needed to help students engage with complex socio-ecological systems. Keywords: Systems thinking, perspective taking, assessment, measurement DOI: 10.7176/JEP/16-12-12 Publication date: November 30th 202
Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture: Pro-WEAI Analysis of Small-Scale Potato Farmers in Narok County, Kenya
Full text linkWomen’s economic empowerment has become an important component in advancing gender-transformative agri-food systems and sustainable development. This study evaluated the empowerment status of women small-scale potato farmers in Narok County Kenya. Project-level Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index (pro-WEAI) is a standardized, validated, and holistic metric of women’s empowerment within agricultural households. Multistage sampling method was employed to select and identify 483 small-scale potato farmers from both dual adult and female-adult only households. The overall pro-WEAI score for women was 59.8% indicating gender disparities in access to resources and agency. The results further revealed that women small-scale potato farmers were highly disempowered in instrumental and intrinsic agency domains as compared to men, but more empowered than men in collective agency domain. This suggests that while national averages portray significant progress in achieving gender parity, women in some rural communities in Kenya remain marginalized due to prevailing gendered social norms. Therefore, strengthening women’s empowerment in these domains through supportive policies and targeted interventions, will boost agricultural productivity and advance gender equality at the grassroots level. Keywords: Pro-WEAI, Gender equality, Agriculture, Women’s empowerment DOI: 10.7176/JESD/16-6-02 Publication date:August 31st 202
Institutional Quality and FDI Inflows: A Study of Long and Short-Term Effects in Bangladesh
Full text linkThis study examines the short and long-term effects of institutional quality on foreign direct investment (FDI) in Bangladesh from 1995 to 2020, utilizing the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) cointegration approach. The ARDL bound test results confirm a long-term relationship between institutional quality and FDI inflows. Findings indicate that political institutional quality has a significant negative effect on FDI in the long term, while in the short term, it exerts a positive influence. Conversely, economic institutional quality shows a favorable long-term effect on FDI, but its short-term impact is negative. The results highlight the pivotal role of institutional quality in shaping FDI inflows, with trade openness also displaying a strong positive influence in both the short and long run. The study suggests that to enhance economic growth through FDI, Bangladesh should prioritize improving institutional quality. These findings lend robust support to North’s (1990) institutional hypothesis, underscoring the importance of institutional frameworks in fostering a favorable environment for FDI. Keywords: Institutional quality, Foreign direct investment, ARDL approach, Bangladesh. DOI: 10.7176/JESD/16-7-02 Publication date: October 31st 202
Driving Research Excellence: How Institutional Factors Shape Research Output at Livestock Training Agency (LITA), Tanzania.
Full text linkDespite the growing emphasis on research as a driver of innovation and development in the agriculture and livestock sectors, limited research output has been produced within technical training institutions. This study, guided by the Organization Support Theory (OST), investigates the specific relationship between key institutional factors: resource, administrative support, and academic workload; and research output among academic staff at the Livestock Training Agency (LITA) in Tanzania. The agency consistently falls short of its research output targets, making it a critical case for study. A mixed-methods approach was employed, using a cross-sectional survey with a simple random sample of 109 academic staff from LITAs eight campuses, and was complemented by qualitative interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The results revealed that resources (p<0.05) had a significant positive effect on research output, confirming their critical role in enhancing research output. However, administrative support (p>0.05) and workload (p>0.05) showed no statistically significant effects. Qualitative findings suggested that these two factors still influence research output indirectly through institutional priorities and the absence of a strong research culture. The study concludes that resource availability is the most critical institutional factor driving research output in non-university tertiary institutions. It recommends increasing dedicated research funding and revising institutions' Policies to provide staff with more research time. These measures can help foster a stronger research culture and improve overall academic performance. Therefore, this study provides a foundation for further research on institutional strategies to enhance research output in similar contexts. Keywords: Institution Factor, Research Output, LITA, Tanzania DOI: 10.7176/JESD/16-8-01 Publication date: November 30th 202
Roofless Mansion: An Analysis of the Intestate Succession Rights of Women in Nigeria
Full text linkThis paper examines the intestate succession laws applicable to women in Nigeria. It establishes the existence of a legal framework for intestate succession, with judicial interpretations geared towards the protection of succession rights in intestate situations. It however shows how women are disadvantaged by existing national laws: the Constitution that guarantees the right to own property and freedom from discrimination but is couched in gender insensitive tenses; the Evidence Act that requires proof of custom that is already biased against women; and the Land Use Act that is inexplicit on the actual law to be considered when determining an intestate property. Further, it shows the inadequacies of the Marriage Act, the Matrimonial Causes Act, and the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act in addressing intestate succession rights of women. In response, this paper argues that inheritance is a form of property ownership and so if the Constitution allows for the right to own property without discrimination, such right without fail, accrues to inheritance of property. Where succession laws are couched in gender insensitive words or biases against women therefore, it becomes difficult for women to actually inherit property in intestate situations. Ultimately, the paper posits that the existence of a legal framework on intestacy bereft of explicit provisions that guarantee intestate succession rights of women can be likened to a roofless mansion that continues to deteriorate under the watch of ignorant or negligent owners. The paper calls for a gender sensitive Constitution and more inclusive laws that promote women’s agency while contributing to nation building. KEYWORDS: Intestate, Women, Inheritance, Hardship DOI: 10.7176/JLPG/149-07 Publication date: September 30th 202
The Nature of Guarantees in Appeals for Procurement of Construction Goods/Services
Full text linkThe philosophy of procurement of construction goods/services is that the procurement of construction goods/services financed by the APBN/APBD is carried out effectively, efficiently, with the principles of healthy, transparent, open competition, fair treatment for all parties, so that the results can be accounted for, both from a physical and financial perspective. , as well as its benefits for the smooth running of government duties and community services. Disputes over the procurement of goods and services can occur from the qualification implementation stage to the contract signing stage and contract implementation. There are at least three legal aspects in the process of procuring construction goods and services, namely: (1) Administrative Legal Aspects; (2) Civil Law Aspects; (3) Aspects of Criminal Law. The objection to the appeal in the Regulation of the Public Policy Institute for Procurement of Government Goods/Services Number 9 of 2018 (LKPP Institution Regulation) number 42.14 as has been adjusted to the Regulation of the LKPP Institution Number 12 of 2021 concerning Guidelines for the Implementation of Procurement of Goods/Services through Providers states that the objection to the appeal is a protest from the objection to the budget user authority (KPA) in the procurement of construction work who does not agree with the objection answer which is accompanied by a guarantee of appeal objection. Based on the provisions of Article 75 paragraph (5) of Law Number 30 of 2014 concerning Government Administration, every administrative effort carried out by the public regarding government decisions and/or actions in the form of objections and appeals should not be charged a fee. However, efforts to appeal against the results of the procurement of construction services were found to be subject to costs in the form of a guarantee against the appeal. Keywords: Essence of Appeal Guarantee, Procurement of Goods/Services, Construction Work. DOI: 10.7176/JLPG/145-03 Publication date: January 30th 2025
Factors Influencing the Use of Digital Marketing Technologies in the Marketing of Green Leafy Vegetables Among Smallholder Farmers in Lari Sub-County, Kenya
Full text linkSmallholder farmers in emerging economies have long faced information asymmetry difficulties which limits their access to lucrative markets. Farmers therefore, decide to sell their produce through middlemen at relatively low prices, resulting in insufficient profits. Numerous studies have shown that digital marketing technologies in agriculture are an important tool for farmers to be active participants in profitable markets by improving their access to timely and relevant market information. Despite the rapid expansion of digital marketing technology in emerging nations' agricultural sectors, adoption of such technologies in rural areas remains low. The purpose of this study was to identify the characteristics that influence smallholder farmers' usage of digital marketing technology in the selling of green leafy vegetables in Lari sub-County, Kenya. The study specifically attempted to determine the socioeconomic, institutional, and technological factors that influence smallholder farmers' usage of digital technology. A descriptive survey research design was used. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select 374 green leafy vegetable farmers. The semi-structured questionnaire was employed to collect data. A multivariate probit model was used to analyze the data. The results show that education level, access to extension services, electricity installation positively influenced the use of mobile phone, social media, and internet search engines in marketing of green leafy vegetables. The adoption of digital marketing technologies in the marketing of vegetables can be influenced by several factors. Therefore, the study recommends the County Government to implement targeted educational initiatives that focus on digital literacy for smallholder farmers. Keywords: marketing; vegetables; mobile phone; social-media; middlemen; socioeconomic DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/14-4-03 Publication date: December 30th 202
Assessing Potency And Suitability Of Livestock Production Systems From Agricultural Crops; An Evidence From Island Agro-Ecology
Full text linkThe purpose of this study was to assess the potential for livestock production in the district area as a basis for developing livestock commodities and livestock sector, knowing the needs and potential for food crop wastes. The method is descriptive with desk-study and semi-survey techniques. The object of observation is the aspect of livestock production and food crop production as the primary source of animal feed and the projected suitability of livestock commodities. The findings of the study show that the portrait of livestock production is not optimal, marked by the low number of livestock production population structures per district, economic density, farming density, and regional density. Some areas that have the potential for the livestock base sector are Yendidori, North Biak, Samofa, West Biak, and East Biak. Although the suitability value for LQ livestock development is still dominant at < 1 in some districts, even 0, it needs serious attention for livestock development stakeholders in Biak Numfor. One thing that can be done is to strengthen the basic sector of food crop development. Keywords: livestock population structure, livestock density, base sector, LQ, KPPTR, Biak DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/14-4-04 Publication date: December 30th 202
Precision Assessment of Cephalometric Analysis Software in Orthodontics
Full text linkBackground: Orthodontic treatment prediction and monitoring heavily rely on cephalometric analysis and measurements of skull characteristics utilizing lateral cephalograms. Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate and compare two commercially available artificial intelligence software that offer cephalometric analysis with manual cephalometric analysis. The null hypothesis of the study is that artificial intelligence-powered tools for cephalometric analysis and manual cephalometric analysis will be accurate and interchangeable. Materials and Methods: The study sample included 60 lateral cephalometric radiographs from a database of pre-orthodontic patient data. A cephalometric analysis was performed on the sample using cephalometric artificial intelligence software (WebCeph and easyceph) and manual method for 12 selected landmarks. A one-way ANOVA was employed for comparison. Results: The mean values of 12 measured parameters for 60 samples were within the normal values of these measured parameters. The comparison indicated non-significant differences between the two artificial intelligence software and manual cephalometric analysis for all measured parameters. Conclusions: The study concluded that the cephalometric analysis using cephalometric artificial intelligence software (WebCeph and easyceph) offered the same level of precision as manual tracing. Instead of the traditional methods, it might be used for a wide range of orthodontic analyses because it can save time and effort for the orthodontist. However, more research is needed to provide strong evidence for its use in clinical and research fields. Keywords: cephalometric analysis, Orthodontics, lateral cephalograms, cephalometric software DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/15-1-03 Publication date: January 30th 2025
Photoluminescent Materials: A Sustainable Solution for Eco-Friendly Design
Full text linkPhotoluminescent materials absorb energy when exposed to light and subsequently re-emit this energy at a different wavelength by glowing in the dark. These properties contribute to a variety of functional and aesthetic benefits, including safety and visibility, energy efficiency, aesthetic enhancement, guidance and marking, sustainability. Due to their wide range of applications, photoluminescent materials play a significant role in eco-friendly design and engineering projects. They offer considerable advantages in both superstructure and infrastructure applications and landscape design projects, as well as in structural and infrastructure applications within civil engineering, thanks to their light absorption and nighttime glowing characteristics. This study examines the use of photoluminescent materials, addressing the benefits of this innovative material in terms of aesthetics, safety, and functionality through practical application examples. The study highlights the contributions of photoluminescent materials in terms of innovative solutions, sustainability and energy efficiency, and provides recommendations on how these materials can be more widely adopted and applied in future projects. Keywords: Photoluminescent materials, innovative solutions, sustainable design, energy efficiency, eco-friendly illumination DOI: 10.7176/JEES/14-6-04 Publication date: December 30th 202