30 research outputs found
The conventional versus a constructionist Scratch programming and first-year students' achievements in higher education classes: experimental data.
No full textGlobally, learning or teaching the first programming (popularly called CS1) remains a significant educational challenge. Indicators such as CS1 students' engagement, failure and attrition rates, and lack of diversity, continue to show the need for innovating the learning or teaching of novice computer science students. To ease initiating novices to programming, Scratch, a visual programming language, has become a staple of K-12 CS1 classes.
As outcomes of a research project aiming to explore a constructionist Scratch pedagogy with novice CS students in higher education, we present these datasets. In the research lasting two successive academic sessions, we conducted two quasi-experimental studies involving four intact CS1 classes in selected public polytechnic in the north central Nigeria. In each study, we randomly assigned the classes to the experimental and control groups, constituting the constructionist Scratch and the conventional CS1 classes, respectively.
Instruments for collecting data include a student profile questionnaire, a pretest, and posttest. Sequel to ethical clearance and permission from the selected schools, we conducted each study during the first semester of each academic session, in the first seven to eight weeks. During the first to second week, we administered students who consented to take part with the questionnaire and the pretest. Learning or teaching in the two classes lasted six weeks. Then both classes took the posttest. An independent CS educator who is not part of this research marked all the achievement tests, following a rubric prepared by the first author. To strengthen the research design and the possibility of arriving at valid causal evidence, we employed a Coarsened Exact Matching (CEM) algorithm to generate matched samples of experimental and control data, which we used in the analysis.
Data presented here includes the raw, unmatched and matched experimental datasets from both studies. A researcher can make use of the data:
To explore if some background variables not addressed in the original research may moderate CS1 students' achievements. For instance, their prior achievements in mathematics, physics, or English.
To uncover some interesting patterns using machine learning algorithms.
To validate the outcome of the original experiment by using the unmatched, matched or newly generated matched samples.
The authors welcome further research collaborations in using the data or the accompanying research instruments.
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Neuro-endocrine effects of aqueous extract of Amaranthus viridis (Linn.) leaf in male Wistar rat model of cyclophosphamide-induced reproductive toxicity
No full textAbstractCyclophosphamide (CP) is a widely used cytotoxic alkylating agent with antitumor and immunosuppressant properties that is associated with various forms of reproductive toxicity. The significance of natural antioxidants of plant origin should be explored, especially in a world with increasing incidence of patients in need of chemotherapy. The neuro-endocrine effects of aqueous extract of Amaranthus viridis (Linn.) leaf (AEAVL) in Wistar rats with CP-induced reproductive toxicity was determined. Forty rats were used for this study such that graded doses of the extract were administered following CP-induced reproductive toxicity and comparisons were made against control, toxic and standard (vitamin E) groups at p<0.05. The synthetic drugs (CP, 65mg/kg i.p. for 5days; Vitamin E, 100mg/kg p.o. for 30days) as well as the extract (100, 200 and 400mg/kg p.o. for 30days) were administered to the rats at 0.2mL/100g. CP induced reproductive toxicity as evidenced by significantly lowered levels of FSH, LH and testosterone, perturbation of sperm characterization, deleterious disruptions of the antioxidant system as evidenced by decreased levels of GSH as well as elevation of TBARS activity. Histopathological examination showed hemorrhagic lesions with scanty and hypertrophied parenchymal cells in the pituitary while the testis showed ballooned seminiferous tubules with loosed connective tissues and vacuolation of testicular interstitium. These conditions were significantly reversed (p<0.05) following administration of the graded doses of the extract. It was, therefore, concluded that AEAVL could potentially be a therapeutic choice in patients with CP-induced neuro-endocrine dysfunction and reproductive toxicity
The Nigerian novel and indigenous culture : problems of communication
No full textIt is argued in this thesis that the Nigerian Novel is an attempt to transliterate traditional customs, beliefs and attitudes, the characters of myth and legends, a whole universe of ancestors, into an entirely new context of the twentieth century, employing a language to which the modern reader can respond. The work gives detailed consideration to the salient features of this attempt and assesses, with particular reference to the novels of Tutuola, Achebe, Aluko, Nzekwu, Amadi, Balewa, Egbuna, Adaora Ulasi, Nwankwo and Okara, what in each case is the atti tudeof the novelist to the indigenous culture of his country and how successfully the link between tradition and modern experience has been established. The approach adopted in the thesis is one of close analysis of texts in an attempt to find out how critically an author has presented those aspects of tradition he has selected for treatment and how skilfully he has dramatized the realities and dilemmas of the present. On each author answers are sought to a numer of searching questions. What are the particular values the writer is upholding or opposing, and what is his attitude to them? What particular emotional or intellectual effect does he hope to achieve, and does he succeed? If he does, by what methods of communication? If he fails, from what problems of communication has failure resulted, and what effect does this have on the reader? What sympathies are evoked, and how do we see a particular work in the body of works of a particular author? A writer's language is a mirror held up to his personality and his particular circumstances. It is through his use of language that he reflects his individual awareness of a given situation. The detailed study of language leads, almost inevitably, to a consideration of the more fundamental problems of communication. Even though all save one of the novelists to whom this thesis is devoted use English as their creative medium, they do so in the consciousness of the fact that they are presenting a Nigerian experience, and the best of them reveal in their works a specific mode of the imagination which derives from their Nigerian background. It has therefore been necessary in all cases to examine closely the use of language by each novelist and try to assess how effectively the artist has communicated. Because of the historical and cultural environment of the Nigerian novelist considerable interest is taken in the influence which the mother tongue (LI) has had on the writer's English (L2). The thesis concludes by identifying the essential requirements for the establishment of a successful link between tradition and modern life: an important theme, a consistent imaginative scheme, a language which recognizes the characteristics of LI and skill in the use of language. Only works in which many of these conditions are fulfilled as, for example, in the novels of Achebe, Amadi, Okara and Aluko achieve satisfactory results. The link between tradition and modern life is valuable only if it widens satisfyingly our experience of what it is to be human and thus contributes to the solution of the political and social problems of the present
Chronic administration of gabapentin and a gabapentin-carbamazepine combination reversibly suppress testicular function in male Wistar rats ( Rattus norvegicus )
No full textSusceptible Genes and Polymorphisms Associated with Communicable and Noncommunicable Diseases
No full textBackground: Disease epidemiology encompasses a wide range of health conditions, divided into communicable and noncommunicable diseases. Aim and Objective: This systematic review investigates the intricate connection between genetic susceptibility and disease development within these categories. Understanding genetic factors is crucial for improving prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies. The central research question is as follows: Which genes are linked to susceptibility to communicable and noncommunicable diseases, and how do these genetic elements affect susceptibility? We hypothesize that an exhaustive analysis of the literature will reveal numerous genes associated with both types of diseases, revealing the complex genetic landscape influencing susceptibility. Methodology: This systematic review follows a rigorous methodology, including comprehensive search strategies, well-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria, publication bias assessment, data extraction, quality evaluation, and data synthesis, adhering to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines to ensure transparency and ethical presentation. Several databases, including PubMed, Embase, Springer Nature, AJOL, CrossRef, Scopus, and Web of Science, were systematically searched to retrieve published articles. Findings: In communicable diseases, the genetic factors influencing susceptibility extend beyond well-established genes, warranting further investigation under conditions such as COVID-19, HIV, tuberculosis, and hepatitis B. Noncommunicable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, neurological disorders, and metabolic disorders, offer promising avenues for exploring additional genetic variations. Research gaps include understanding the functional impact of the identified polymorphisms, their interaction with environmental factors, and their implications for rare diseases. Conclusion: Genome-wide association studies and gene editing therapies have the potential to expand our understanding and therapeutic options for genetically based diseases. This comprehensive review contributes to the evolving landscape of genetic susceptibility and its implications for public health and personalized medicine
Amelioration of Cadmium-Induced Nephropathy using Polyphenol-rich Extract of Vernonia amygdalina (Del.) Leaves in Rat Model
No full textAIM: To determine the effects of polyphenol-rich extract of the leaves of Vernonia amygdalina (PEVA) in rats with Cd-induced nephropathy.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty five male Wistar rats were divided into five groups as follows; Group 1 received distilled water throughout the period of study. Group 2 received 5 mg/kg body weight of cadmium (Cd), in the form of CdSO4, for five consecutive days via intraperitoneal route. Groups 3, 4 and 5 were pretreated with Cd as group 2 and thereafter received oral treatment of PEVA for 4 weeks at 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg body weight, respectively.RESULTS: Exposure to Cd toxicity significantly induced deleterious alterations in plasma and urine levels of creatinine, urea and glucose as well as creatinine and urea clearance (p < 0.05) in the rat model. There was a significant disturbance in the antioxidant system as revealed by the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) and reduced glutathione (GSH) (p < 0.05) in the kidney tissue of the rats. With marked improvements in renal histoarchitecture, PEVA treatment showed a duration and non dose-dependent ameliorative potential. CONCLUSION: PEVA treatment reversed the compromise of renal function that was induced by Cd toxicity in rat model
HIV/AIDS and immigrants: knowledge and perceptions of Eastern African refugees in metropolitan Atlanta., 2008
No full textThe purpose of this study was to examine the knowledge and perceptions of Eastern African refugees regarding HIV/AIDS and its interventions in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia. The study was guided by the following research questions 1) What did Eastern African refugees know about HIV/AIDS and its importance? 2) How did Eastern African refugees and their families learn about HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment? 3) How did Eastern African refugees perceive HIV/AIDS and those suffering from HIV/AIDS in their families and communities? 4) What were the perceptions of Eastern African refugees regarding participation in the interventions offered by public and private organizations? Study participants were refugees from Somalia and southern Sudan who had settled in metropolitan Atlanta The sample of 80 participants was selected based on age, immigration status, and willingness to share information about sex and sexuality. To collect data, the researcher used a structured survey instrument that was administered in a face-to-face interview format with the 80 participants. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of participant responses were conducted Six themes emerged from the qualitative analysis, namely: Knowledge, Openness, Stigma, Attitude, Willingness, and Trust. Participants indicated basic knowledge of HIV/AIDS and its transmission. They also exhibited openness in discussing HIVIAIDS. However, participant responses manifested strong stigma against HIV/AIDS and its victims. Participants who had lived longer in the United States showed negative attitudes towards HIV/AIDS treatment, the healthcare system, and service providers. There was willingness to contribute towards HIV/AIDS interventions and community services. Participants exhibited mistrust towards health institutions, sources of HIV/AIDS information, and the context of the HIV/AIDS information. Results from the quantitative analysis indicated a strong and positive correlation between knowledge and openness Stigma against HIV/AIDS disease and victims was strongly correlated with knowledge, openness, and attitude. Attitude positively correlated with openness and with knowledge, while trust was moderately correlated to knowledge. The study findings confirm previous research among similar populations that reported limited knowledge of HIV/AIDS, entrenched stigma about the disease and its victims, negative attitudes and mistrust towards health institutions and service providers as well as the potency of the duration factor regarding immigrants resettlement process
Effects of two weeks administration of Ocimum gratissimum leaf on feeding pattern and markers of renal function in rats treated with gentamicin
No full textAbstractThis study investigated the effects of aqueous extract of Ocimum gratissimum leaf (AOGL) on some markers of renal function in rats with gentamicin-induced nephropathy. Thirty adult male Wistar rats were used for this study. They were divided into 5 groups as follows: Group 1 (the control) (n = 5) received distilled water daily by oral route for the whole period of the study. Group 2 (the toxic control) (n = 10) received 100 mg/kg/day of gentamicin i.p. for a week. Groups 3, 4, and 5 (n = 5) were pre-treated with gentamicin as the Group 2 rats, after which they received 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg/day each of AOGL p.o., respectively, for 14 days. Rats in each groups were placed inside separate metabolic cages to obtain their food consumption, water intake and urine output for 24 hours after the last administration. Markers of renal function such as creatinine, urea and total protein were determined both in the plasma and urine. Oxidative stress markers such as TBARS and GSH were assayed in the tissue homogenate. Creatinine clearance was calculated using a standard formula. Gentamicin treatment induced significant (p < 0.05) increases in urine output, plasma urea, creatinine, urinary protein, relative kidney weight and TBARS in the toxic control when compared to the control group. Significant decreases (p < 0.05) in urine creatinine and GSH were also associated with gentamicin administration. Post-treatment with AOGL caused significant increases in food consumption, body weight, water intake, urine creatinine, and GSH, and significant (p < 0.05) decreases in urine output, plasma creatinine, urea, TBARS and urine total protein in the treated groups when compared with the toxic control group. This wasfurther evident by a significant improvement or reversal of the histopathological alterations of kidney tissues in the groups treated with AOGL. The results of this study indicated that AOGL ameliorated the kidney injury caused by gentamicin in rats. Hence, the extracts have the potential of being used for the management of gentamicin-induced nephropathies
Ocimum gratissimum Ameliorates Gentamicin-Induced Kidney Injury but Decreases Creatinine Clearance Following Sub-Chronic Administration in Rats
No full textThe effects of aqueous extract of Ocimum gratissimum leaf (AOGL) on the renal function of rats with gentamicin-induced
nephrotoxicity were investigated. This study involved the use of forty five (45) adult male Wistar rats (housed in separate
metabolic cages) such that graded doses of OAGL were administered to the experimental groups (p.o.) for 28 days after exposure
to gentamicin toxicity (100 mg/kg i.p.) for 1 week. At the end of the study, comparisons of some indices of renal function as well as
antioxidant status (GSH and TBARS) were made between the control, toxic and AOGL-treated groups at P < 0.05. The result
showed that gentamicin treatment caused significant increase (P < .05) in urine output, urea, creatinine, total protein, relative
kidney weight, and TBARS, as well as significant decrease (P < .05) in urine creatinine and GSH levels. Post-treatment with graded
doses of AOGL caused significant increase in food consumption, GSH, urine, and plasma creatinine, as well as significant decrease
(P < .05) in relative kidney weight, TBARS, and urine total protein. There was an appreciable difference in the kidney histology of
the AOGL-treated groups when compared with the toxic control. Hence, the extract has therapeutic potential in the management
of gentamicin-induced kidney injury, although a risk profile of renal dysfunction is not unlikely from 28 days of administration
as evident by the decrease in creatinine clearance
<i>Ocimum gratissimum</i>Ameliorates Gentamicin-Induced Kidney Injury but Decreases Creatinine Clearance Following Sub-Chronic Administration in Rats
No full textThe effects of aqueous extract of Ocimum gratissimum leaf (AOGL) on the renal function of rats with gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity were investigated. This study involved the use of forty five (45) adult male Wistar rats (housed in separate metabolic cages) such that graded doses of OAGL were administered to the experimental groups (p.o.) for 28 days after exposure to gentamicin toxicity (100 mg/kg i.p.) for 1 week. At the end of the study, comparisons of some indices of renal function as well as antioxidant status (GSH and TBARS) were made between the control, toxic and AOGL-treated groups at P < 0.05. The result showed that gentamicin treatment caused significant increase ( P < .05) in urine output, urea, creatinine, total protein, relative kidney weight, and TBARS, as well as significant decrease ( P < .05) in urine creatinine and GSH levels. Post-treatment with graded doses of AOGL caused significant increase in food consumption, GSH, urine, and plasma creatinine, as well as significant decrease ( P < .05) in relative kidney weight, TBARS, and urine total protein. There was an appreciable difference in the kidney histology of the AOGL-treated groups when compared with the toxic control. Hence, the extract has therapeutic potential in the management of gentamicin-induced kidney injury, although a risk profile of renal dysfunction is not unlikely from 28 days of administration as evident by the decrease in creatinine clearance.</jats:p
