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Effect of Time on Quantity of Oil Produced from Bagrus bayad (Forskal, 1775): A Study in Processing Efficiency
No full textThis study investigated the effect of cooking duration on the quantity of oil extracted from Bagrus bayad. A total of eight (8) kilograms of fresh fish were cleaned (beheaded, degutted, fins removed, and thoroughly washed) before processing. The fish was divided into four equal treatments of 2 kg each. Each portion was cooked at a boiling point of 95°C–100°C using charcoal fire. The first treatment was cooked for 30 minutes, the second for 60 minutes, the third for 90 minutes, and the fourth for 120 minutes. Each treatment was replicated twice. Data collected were analysed using one-way ANOVA, and mean differences were separated using LSD at a 95% confidence level (P < 0.05). The highest oil yield (27.00 ml) was recorded at 30 minutes, followed by 23.50 ml at 90 minutes, 21.75 ml at 120 minutes, and the lowest (20.75 ml) at 60 minutes. Residue weight was also highest (635.00 g) at 30 minutes, decreasing progressively with longer cooking times: 620.00 g (60 minutes), 525.00 g (90 minutes), and 450.00 g (120 minutes). Based on these results, the study recommends a cooking time exposure of 30 minutes, as seen from Treatment 1, for use in fish oil extraction as it gave the best results of more pure oil extracted from Bagrus bayad, offering potential benefits for improving processing efficiency and optimising supply chain operations in fish oil production systems
Enzymatic Activity of Soil Microbiota in Agroecological Systems: A Review of its Relevance for Nutrient Cycling
No full textThe increasing adoption of agroecological systems requires a deeper understanding of soil biology, particularly microbial enzymatic activity, which is a key element in nutrient dynamics and availability. Enzymes produced by soil bacteria, such as urease, phosphatase, and β-glucosidase, directly participate in the transformation of organic matter into plant-assimilable forms. This literature review aims to gather and analyze recent scientific evidence on the role of bacterial enzymatic activity in soils managed under agroecological practices, discussing its implications for nutrient cycling and agricultural sustainability. The reviewed studies indicate that practices such as organic fertilization, cover cropping, and crop rotation favor the functional biodiversity of soils, enhancing enzymatic activity and the efficiency of biogeochemical processes. It is concluded that valuing the microbiological and biochemical aspects of soils is fundamental for the development of sustainable agricultural practices
Cold Plasma Technology in Poultry Meat: A Review
No full textCold plasma (non-thermal plasma) is an emerging surface decontamination technology that produces reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), UV photons and charged particles which inactivate microorganisms at near-ambient temperatures. For poultry meat, cold plasma (including in-package atmospheric cold plasma, dielectric barrier discharge, plasma jets and plasma-activated water) has demonstrated the ability to reduce pathogenic and spoilage organisms, extend refrigerated shelf life and provide options for chemical-free processing while largely preserving sensory and nutritional quality when properly optimised (Noriega et al., 2011; Dirks et al., 2012; Moutiq et al., 2020). This review summarises mechanisms, system types, poultry-specific applications, effects on meat quality, challenges (oxidation, surface complexity, scale-up, regulation) and future directions for industrial adoption. Key knowledge gaps and research priorities for integrating cold plasma into poultry processing chains are highlighted
Current Status of Grain Quality Assessment in APMCs for Major Cities of Gujarat, India
No full textAgriculture is a key pillar of India’s economy, supporting over half the population and supplying essential raw materials to industries. Agricultural marketing, involving collection, storage, processing, and distribution, plays a crucial role in ensuring the efficient movement of produce from farms to markets. A study was conducted to find out the current status of grain quality assessment in APMCs for major cities of Gujarat. It investigated the existing systems, challenges, and opportunities in grain quality testing across APMCs. It focused on modern tools, including AI-based machines, for enhancing transparency and efficiency. A case study was conducted on a digital agri-tech firm offering AI-powered grain assessment tools, showing how such technology benefits APMCs and farmers. A survey of 30 APMC Secretaries revealed insights into infrastructure, testing methods, and the extent of digital adoption. Most Secretaries were experienced, educated males with limited access to modern tools and training. Visual inspection remains dominant, but there\u27s growing awareness of advanced methods. Key challenges include inadequate equipment and technical skills. Respondents emphasized the need for investments in digital systems, training, and partnerships to improve grain quality assessment across Gujarat’s APMCs
Advances and Challenges in Concrete Repair Materials: A Review
No full textConcrete, as the most widely used construction material globally, is inevitably subject to various types of damage and deterioration during its long service life. Effective and durable repair is crucial for ensuring the safety of concrete structures and extending their service life, with the performance of the repair material directly determining the repair outcome. This paper provides a systematic review of the current state of research on concrete repair materials. It begins by explaining common concrete pathologies and the performance requirements for repair materials. Subsequently, it focuses on reviewing the composition, mechanisms, characteristics, and research progress of main types of repair materials, including cement-based repair materials, polymer-modified cementitious materials, polymer repair materials, geopolymer-based repair materials, and novel smart repair materials (such as self-healing concrete). By comparing and analyzing key performance indicators like compressive strength, bond strength, durability, and shrinkage, the advantages, disadvantages, and suitable applications of these materials are revealed. The core evaluation system of repair material compatibility (mechanical, physical, chemical) is also summarized. Finally, addressing current research challenges, future directions are outlined, including trends towards green/low-carbon solutions, functional intelligence, long-term durability, and the advancement of digital design and construction technologies
Research Progress on Properties of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Cement-based Composites
No full textThe application of short carbon fiber (CF) in cement-based materials can not only significantly improve the mechanical properties of the materials, but also endow them with various functional properties, such as sensitive response to temperature and pressure, self-sensing ability of stress and damage, electromagnetic shielding performance, and thermoelectric effect. Traditional cement-based materials are limited in certain special applications due to their single function, high brittleness, low tensile strength and flexural strength. In contrast, carbon fiber cement-based materials have higher strength, lower density, excellent corrosion resistance and electrical conductivity, as well as high tensile strength and elastic modulus. Therefore, they are widely favored and regarded as ideal reinforcements for various composite materials, and have received extensive attention in the field of civil engineering in recent years. The instability of interfacial bonding performance in carbon fiber cement-based composites. Due to the difficulty in achieving ideal bonding between carbon fibers and cement-based materials, weak spots may form at the interface, thereby affecting the bonding performance, which to some extent limits their reinforcement effect on the cement matrix
Exploring Digital Competencies and Online Learning Readiness among Undergraduate Students
No full textThe education sector in India has faced tremendous changes ever since the digital revolution took place. The most prevalent educational system underwent a paradigm shift from traditional to technology driven teaching. e-learning platforms were launched and they became popular over time. e-learning connects the eminent academicians and learners from different parts of the world. Various institutes around the globe were utilising e-learning to educate and train their students and employees. The present study was conducted using exploratory research design. Data was collected by using structured schedule from 150 students using simple random sampling procedure. The statistical tools used for analysis and interpretation of the data were frequency and percentage, class interval, T-test and correlation.
The profile characteristics of students indicated that more than two thirds (72.66%) of the respondents were female, belonged to 20 to 25 years of age group (52.66%), equal number of respondents from UG 2nd year and UG 3rd year (75%). Sixty per cent of the students belonged to rural background. More than two-fifths of the student’s parental occupation was agriculture (41.33%). Most of the students (94.00%) had knowledge on usage of learning apps followed by usage of digital devices (91%), submission of online assignment (86.66%). Majority (98.66%) of the students possessed smartphone. Most of the students (82%) frequently used smartphone. More than two thirds (70%) of students were using mobile hotspots for internet connection. Majority (97.33%) of the students had competences of how to join in the meeting followed by mute and unmute the audio (96.66%), remain chatting an reply in chat box (96.00%). More than two-fifths (43.33%) of the students were satisfied with quality of teaching. Fifty per cent of the students had medium level of e-readiness (50.66%). There was no significant differences between the e-readiness and area of the students. There was a positive relationship between the digital literacy, competencies of online learning and possession of electronic devices with e-readiness of the students
The Role of Civil Society Organizations in Land Rights Advocacy in Ghana: A Systematic Review
No full textThe limited and fragmented understanding of civil society’s role in land rights advocacy, particularly within Sub-Saharan Africa, remained a major challenge in existing scholarship. Using Ghana as a focal case, this paper examined the strategies, roles, and influence of civil society organizations (CSOs) in advocating for land rights, as well as the challenges and enabling conditions that affected their effectiveness. The study employed a systematic review methodology and synthesized 65 qualitative and quantitative studies on civil society engagement with land governance and rights. Findings revealed that CSOs played a critical role in promoting equitable land governance through legal literacy, community mobilization, and policy advocacy for progressive land reforms. However, their efforts were constrained by factors such as state complicity, limited resources, and entrenched power dynamics. The paper recommended strengthening collaboration among CSOs, enhancing community engagement, and advancing policy reforms that recognized customary land rights. It concluded that while civil society possessed transformative potential in land governance, sustained commitment and strategic approaches were essential to overcoming structural barriers and securing land tenure for marginalized populations
Integration of Pediatrics into Prenatal Care: Impact on Maternal and Newborn Health in the First Month of Life
No full textIntroduction: Prenatal pediatric consultation represents an innovative strategy to integrate maternal and child health care, allowing early parental preparation, strengthening the parent–pediatrician bond, and promoting key preventive practices such as breastfeeding, neonatal immunization, screening, and newborn safety.
Aim: To systematically review the scientific literature to evaluate the impact of integrating pediatric consultation into prenatal care on maternal and child health outcomes during the first two years of life.
Methodology: This systematic review followed the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Searches were conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, LILACS, SciELO, and the Virtual Health Library (BVS) for studies published between 2015 and 2025. Additional documents from the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics (SBP) and the Brazilian Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Associations (FEBRASGO) were reviewed. Eligible studies included clinical trials, cohort, case-control, and observational studies assessing maternal and child outcomes associated with prenatal pediatric consultation.
Results: Ten studies met the inclusion criteria. Most were observational and evaluated indicators such as exclusive breastfeeding, parental preparedness, and neonatal outcomes. Prenatal pediatric consultation was associated with higher exclusive breastfeeding rates, reduced parental anxiety, improved maternal–child bonding, and lower incidences of neonatal hospitalization, low birth weight, and prematurity. National guidelines consistently supported this practice, though international literature remains heterogeneous regarding standardized protocols and causality.
Conclusion: Integrating pediatric consultation into prenatal care positively influences maternal and neonatal outcomes and enhances parental readiness. Expanding this practice within public health systems, such as the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS), may strengthen primary prevention and promote healthier early development. Further randomized and longitudinal studies are needed to consolidate causal evidence and guide public policy implementation
Comparative Analysis of Nutritional Composition and Metabolic Profiles in Diverse Field Pea (Pisum sativum) Genotypes
No full textThe growing interest in field peas is largely due to their nutritional value and health-promoting properties. Typically, peas are processed by dehulling, splitting, and grinding into dal or powder form prior to consumption. The present study aims to evaluate the biochemical attributes of different field pea cultivars before and after milling, providing insights into potential utilization of filed pea milling byproduct to develop nutritious edible value-added products. Biochemical characteristics of the whole grain, dehusked dal and milling byproduct and its fractions were analysed. Three genotypes IPFD-99-13, IPF-5-19, and IPFD-1-10 were examined for their biochemical diversity. The highest protein content (24.71%) was recorded in the powder fraction (<0.25 mm) extracted from milling byproduct of IPF-5-19, while powder fraction of IPFD-99-13 and IPFD-1-10 contained 19.43% and 24.05%, respectively. Conversely, the highest total phenolic content and antioxidant activity was observed to be 175.36 mgGAE/100mg and 4.23 mmole TE/100 g for powder fraction of milling byproduct of IPFD-99-13. Total phenolic content and antioxidant activity was also observed to maximum in powder fraction of (<0.25 mm) IPF-5-19 and IPFD-1-10