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Morphometric and Heavy Metals Accumulation in the Muscles of Five Demersal Seafoods Sampled in Nigerian Coastal Waters
Get PDFThis study examined the morphometric and heavy metals accumulated in the muscles of five demersal sea-foods: Parapenaeopsis atlantica, Penaeus monodon, Penaeus notialis, Portunus validus and Cynoglossus browni from Nigerian coastal waters. 506 deep frozen samples (at -200C) each of the five demersal species were taken upon arrival from thirty-one (31) industrial fishing trawler vessels owned by a private fishing company in Lagos, Nigeria. Samples were thawed and morphometric characteristics such as weight, total length, standard length, body depth and carapace length/head length were measured. The heavy metals [Lead (Pb), Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), Arsenic (As), Mercury (Hg) and Cadmium (Cd)] were analyzed using 210 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The morphometric characteristics revealed that P. atlantica and P. notialis showed no significant difference in mean values only for their carapace lengths while both species showed statistically different observations for other variables. The order of the heavy metals mean concentration was Zn>Fe>Pb. As and Cd had relatively very low values of <0.01mg/kg while Hg was not detected in all samples. The findings of this study revealed high and increasing values of Zinc in all five demersal species under consideration exceeding maximum limits for FAO/WHO and NIS (Nigerian Industrial Standard). The zinc value of the species appears to be contained in this order; P. notialis > C. browni > P. monodon > P. validus >P. atlantica. However, Iron value for P. atlantica is above the limit of FAO/WHO. Consumption of the species invariably leads to a rise in the Zinc contents in diets and in humans which may cause gastrointestinal disorders, kidney and liver abnormal functioning especially in infants and children while other heavy metals contained in the species do not pose a threat to human health
Effectiveness of Coconut (Cocos nucifera) Extracts as an Inhibitor Against Aspergillosis
Get PDFThe study of the Effectiveness of Coconut (Cocos nucifera) Extract Against Aspergilosis revealed that, the testing of some brown coconut extracts, coconut water, positive control and negative control on Aspergillus sp fungi showed clear zone formed around the agar well, ethanolic extract showed 26.00 mm, 25.33 mm and 20.00 mm, for Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus brasiliensis respectively, donystatin antifungal drug was 22.67 mm, 17.67 mm and 20.83 mm for Aspergillus brasiliensis, Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus respectively, methanolic, aqueous, coconut water and distilled water showed no zone of inhibition. The ethanolic extract of brown coconut inhibited the growth/expansion of Aspergillus sp. The best inhibitor was acquired from the administration of ethanolic extract with an average diameter of 26.00 mm diameter of the inhibition zone. The nutritional and health implication of coconut fruit consumption should be encouraged because of its’ potency which can form the basis to exploit Cocos nucifera for therapeutic benefits.
Financial Risk, Firm Size and Financial Distress: Turbulent Times for Firms Listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange, Kenya
Get PDFIn Kenya, at least 6 listed firms became insolvent and got into liquidation over a period of 10 years (2009-2018) leading to loss of income, unemployment and other negative outcomes. Hence, the financial stability of the existing listed firms should be examined closely since the firms are expected to be stable at any point in time. Firm Size has been observed to moderate the relationship between various variables and financial distress of firms though there is little empirical evidence in developing economies particularly for firms that are listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange in Kenya. Hence an empirical issue that remains is to determine what moderating effect firm size has on the relationship between financial risk and financial distress of the listed firms. The general objective was to investigate the moderating effect of firm size on the relationship between financial risk and financial distress of firms listed at Nairobi Securities Exchange, Kenya for the period 2009-2018. This study was based on Wreckers theory of financial distress, Trade off theory, Distress theory, Early Bankruptcy theory and the Altman’s Z-Score Model for financial distress. The study adopted positivism research philosophy and explanatory and descriptive research designs. The targeted population entailed all 66 firms listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange, Kenya as at 2018. Time Series Cross-Sectional secondary data was analyzed. The following diagnostic tests were carried out before delving into data analysis: Tests for Multicollinearity, Outliers, Heteroscedasticity, Autocorrelation, Linearity, Goodness of Fit, Stationarity and Model Specification. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics using Binary Logistic regression model. The findings indicate that Firm size indeed moderates the relationship between financial risk and financial distress of firms listed at the NSE, Kenya at 5% significance levels. Optimal firm sizes should be set up for listed firms to manage financial distress
Preparation and Evaluation the Efficacy of Combined Mixture of Finger Root and Robusta Coffee Extracts on Antioxidative Activity
Get PDFFinger Root (FR) and Robusta Coffee (RC) are natural substances known to be beneficial for human health and used as a traditional medicine in various parts of the world. The efficacy of two commonly used extraction techniques [Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction (UAE) and maceration with stirring (MR)] and four different extraction solvents (50% ethanol, 80% ethanol, 100% ethanol and acetone) on antioxidant activity and the Total Phenolic Content (TPC) in both herbs were investigated. The antioxidant potentials of the samples were determined by reducing capacity with Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, while the radical scavenging activity using 1,1-Diphenyl2-Picryl Hydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothia zoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays. FR and RC extracts from UAE and using 80% and 50% ethanol as an extraction solvent, respectively, showed the highest antioxidant capacity compared to the other extraction processes. The combined mixtures of FR and RC (CFR) in the weight ratios of 1:1 was prepared and evaluated the antioxidant activity. The CFR extract showed a significant increase of TPC and resulted in its strong radical scavenging activity, quite the same level in comparison to the model antioxidant substance, ascorbic acid, compared to when they were assayed independently. Stability results indicated that the TPC of CFR extract was slightly decreased, by around 8.7% and the IC50 values of CFR extract showed slightly increased from 7.13 to 9.06 µg/mL in DPPH assay and from 725.72 to 858.65 µg/mL ABTS assay after storage at room temperature over 1 month. Findings suggested that the extraction methods and different solvent polarity significantly affect polyphenol recovery. The combined mixture of FR and RC extracts, which is quite stable and enhances radical scavenging activity, is interesting to increase economic value and utilization in cosmetic industry
Worldwide Consequences of COVID-19 on Research in STEM
Get PDFA global public health emergency like the Coronavirus Infectious Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic requires accurate and timely data collection in the research community. High-impact research in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) has been prioritized in the fight against COVID-19. The present study analyzed the consequences of COVID-19 on STEM research and the collaboration between research institutions and industries worldwide. It was noted that COVID-19 had caused significant delays in non-COVID-19-related research projects and the onset of several remote studies. Most importantly, researchers in the STEM fields directed their attention and expertise to help mitigate virus transmission, treat patients, and implement appropriate public health interventions. Innovations are being integrated in several fields of technological and engineering research to provide optimal patient care and enhance physical distancing measures. Global research platforms are also designed to encourage accelerated research, especially in potential medicinal treatment. Collaboration amongst different disciplines and countries has enabled remarkable progress in the dissemination of scientific knowledge and appropriate responses to address the multifaceted effects of this pandemic on global research in STEM
From Clinical Trial to Education: Methodologies, Assumptions, and Directions
Get PDFIn the field of education, emphasis on evidence-based practice, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), causal inference, and process evaluation can all find their roots back in clinical trials and medical research. This response paper surveys contemporary literature in psychometrics, process evaluation, and RCTs aiming to evaluate the feasibility and limitations of RCTs as a methodology in education and provide future directions. Based on the systematic literature review, the author argues: (1) A lack of significant positive treatment effect does not indicate that RCTs are not worth the investment. (2) A careful evaluation of the intervention itself, implementation process, and measurement instrument is recommended for RCTs. (3) There is the need to reframe some causal inference assumptions in an education setting. The paper also provides several examples of reframing assumptions and comments on the caveats. In conclusion, the author foresees a promising future for RCTs in education with the appropriate reframing of assumptions, process evaluation and replication, and recognition of the validity of parallel methodologies
Relationship between Social Media Addiction Levels and Academic Procrastination among Undergraduate Students in Malaysia: Grit as the Mediator
Get PDFThe current study examines grit as a mediator in the relationship between social media addiction and academic procrastination. Social media platforms were used to recruit 88 young adult undergraduates aged 18-26. This study was a non-experimental, correlational mediation design. Participants were asked to complete the Social Media Addiction Scale – Student Form, Academic Procrastination Scale – Short Form, and Short Grit Scale questionnaires. It was hypothesized that grit would be a statistical mediator for the effects of social media addiction on academic procrastination. The hypothesis was supported as results showed a full mediation. The current study suggests that social media addiction predicts lower level of grit and thus higher tendency of academic procrastination. It is advised that institutions encourage undergraduates to cultivate grit in order to break the vicious cycle of social media addiction and academic procrastination
Is Teaching Technical Words a Problematic Issue for ESP Teachers in a Saudi Industrial College?
Get PDFThe literature written about technical words instruction is little compared to its equivalent about vocabulary learning. This paper aims to investigate the extent to which English for Specific Purposes Teachers (ESPTs) think that teaching technical words is a problematic task for them in a Saudi Arabian industrial college called Yanbu Industrial College (YIC). It also explores the reasons behind the challenges they face in teaching technical words. To obtain the goals of this study, six ESPTs at YIC from three different nationalities with different majors, teaching experience, and ages were interviewed to understand their beliefs regarding the existence of the problem and the reasons behind this challenge. The interview type was semi-structured in nature and some prompt cards were also utilised to gather data from the participants. The study revealed that ESPTs at YIC don’t view technical words as a problem but rather a challenge which they can cope with. Among the main challenges they said they faced in doing their job are lack of the proper subject knowledge, lack of experience, absence of prior to students’ enrollment needs analysis and lack of opportunities to employ critical Vocabulary Teaching Strategies VTS and employing reliable Vocabulary Delivery Vehicles VDVs. The findings of the study are expected to provide the literature with some instructional implications such as ESPTs and subject teachers collaboration in teaching technical words, ESP course designing, early analysis of ESP students and ESPTs specialized training programs. Future scrutiny to further our understanding about this neglected topic in the ESP domain and L2 vocabulary instruction is highly recommended.
Computational Algorithm for Approximating Fractional Derivatives of Functions
Get PDFThis paper presents an algorithmic approach for numerically solving Caputo fractional differentiation. The trapezoidal rule was modified, the new modification was used to derive an algorithm to approximate fractional derivatives of order α > 0, the fractional derivative used was based on Caputo definition for a given function by a weighted sum of function and its ordinary derivatives values at specified points. The trapezoidal rule was used in conjunction with the finite difference scheme which is the forward, backward and central difference to derive the computational algorithm for the numerical approximation of Caputo fractional derivative for evaluating functions of fractional order. The study was conducted through some illustrative examples and analysis of error
Effect of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Levels on Yield of Marvel Grass (Dichanthium-Annulatum L) in Irrigated Condition Under N-W Agro Climatic Zone
Get PDFThe experiment was undertaken during Kharif season of 2019, 2020 and 2021 at Regional Research Station, S. D. Agricultural University, Kothara (Gujarat). The treatments comprised of three levels of nitrogen (N1: 10 kg N/ha, N2: 20 kg N/ha and N3: 30 kg N/ha) and three levels of phosphorus (P1: 0, P2: 20, P3: 40 kg P2O5/ha) was laid out in a factorial randomized block design with three replications. Effect of different nitrogen levels on Marvel green forage yield was found significant in pooled analysis. Application of 30 kg nitrogen/ha (N3) recorded significantly the highest plant height (135.68 cm), effective tillers/tussock (47.44), green and dry forage yield @ 811.18 and 347.87 q/ha, Crude fibre content (38.36 %) and Crude protein content (5.21 %), while application of phosphorus has no impact significantly on yield of marvel grass in pooled as well as individual year of analysis