36 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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The roles of pheromones of adult Western flower thrips
No full textFrankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is an invasive worldwide pest of many agricultural, horticultural and ornamental crops. They are difficult to control because of their small size and high resistance to chemical insecticides. The aggregation pheromone of this species is currently used for monitoring, but the full potential for use of this and other pheromones has not yet been explored. Two male-specific headspace volatiles have been previously identified: neryl (S)-2-methylbutanoate which acts as an aggregation pheromone and (R)-lavandulyl acetate, for which the role is unclear. The roles of these compounds were studied to understand how they can be used in pest management. Laboratory bioassays showed that the aggregation pheromone, apart from being an attractant, also increased the activity level of adult F. occidentalis. This could be utilized to activate the thrips out of their concealed spaces within the crop and enhance pickup of chemical insecticides. (R)-lavandulyl acetate reduced the walking and take-off activity of adult females but increased the activity level of adult males. The possible role of this compound as a mating pheromone is discussed. The chemical analysis of male-exposed filter paper discs showed the presence of another compound, 7-methyltricosane, which was shown to act as a contact pheromone for species recognition. Adult females respond by raising their abdomen showing mating rejection towards adult males while abdominal wagging sideways was observed in adult males, a behaviour used in aggressive male-male interactions. This is the first identification of a contact pheromone in the order Thysanoptera
Book Review: African Philosophy: Reflections on Yoruba Metaphysics and Jurisprudence
No full textBook Title: African Philosophy: Reflections on Yoruba Metaphysics and JurisprudenceBook Author: Oladele Abiodun BalogunPublisher: Xcel Publishers. Pages: 387. Year of Publication: 201
Growth and leaf epidermal response of three Sesamum indicum varieties to industrial effluent irrigation
No full textThe effect of industrial effluents was studied with respect to growth and leaf anatomy of three Sesamum indicum varieties (NGB 00931, NGB 00937 and NGB 00939). Industrial effluents (25%, 50%, 75% and 100%) from two industries are used to irrigate the plants. Although, the control plants possessed larger leaves and longer stems than the effluent-treated plants, at lower concentration, the plant growth is relatively higher. Gradual decrease in the germination of seeds and seedling growth with increase in effluent concentration was observed. The best germination and seedling growth was observed at the 25% concentration. Leaf epidermal features (stomatal density, stomatal index, stomatal size, trichome density, tricome index, trichome size and number of epidermal cells) are more influenced in the effluent-treated plants than in the control plants from the Peace Standard Pharmaceutical Industry than in the effluent from the Global Soap & Detergent Industry. Thus the industrial effluents can be safely used for irrigation purposes with proper treatment and dilution at 25%.Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 52(1), 1-6, 2017</jats:p
Bioactivity and effects of spraying interval of selected plant extracts for control of pre-flowering insect pests of watermelon (Citrulus lanatus[Thunb.] Matsum. & Nakai)
No full textThis experiment was conducted to determine the efficacy of plant extracts of Tephrosial vogelii Hook. f., Moringa oleifera Lam., Annona squamosa L. and cashew nut (Anacardium occidentale L.) at two intervals of spraying against major pre-flowering insect pests of watermelon. The results show that the effectiveness of each plant extracts depends on the interval of spraying. Plants sprayed at 7-day intervals had significantly less insect infestation when compared with that of 10-day interval of spraying. T. vogelii and M. oleifera had higher insecticidal efficacy than A. squamosa and cashew nut extracts but the applied plant extracts had the same insecticidal potential with Lambda-cyhalothrin against the observed insects during late planting season. Therefore, the plant extracts proved to be alternative to synthetic insecticide in the management of insect pests of watermelon at 7-day interval application sequence
Preverjanje ostankov pesticidov v majhnem kmetijskem porečju v Ogbomosu v jugozahodni Nigeriji
No full textPesticide residues in soil and water along the Oba River watershed in Ogbomoso, southwest Nigeria, were investigated to assess environmental contamination from agricultural practices. Surface water and soil samples (36 each) were collected during the dry (December 2024) and wet (April 2024) seasons from six locations, including five agricultural sites (Ladokun, Iluju Maize Farms, Iluju Irrigation Scheme, Ikose Potatoes Farms, Vegetable Farms Iluju) and a control site (Yaku Ogbomoso). Samples were analysed using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) following the QuEChERS method. Semi-structured interviews with 55 farmers provided insights into pesticide use patterns. Results revealed significant contamination, with pesticide concentrations frequently exceeding the European Union Maximum Residue Limits (EU-MRL: 0.001- 0.01 mg/kg for soil, 0.1 mg/kg for water). In soil, Ladokun had the highest residues during the dry season, including Dichlorvos (1.52 ± 0.31 mg/kg), α-Lindane (1.35 ± 0.30 mg/kg), and Atrazine (1.27 ± 0.03 mg/kg). During the wet season, Ikose Potatoes Farms showed high levels of Chlorpyrifos (0.40 ± 0.08 mg/kg) and Dichlorvos (0.43 ± 0.12 mg/kg). In water, heptachlor peaked at Ladokun (2.13 ± 0.42 mg/kg) and Carbofuran at Ikose Potatoes Farms (2.13 ± 0.32 mg/kg) during the wet season. Organochlorines (Heptachlor, Dieldrin) and organophosphates (Chlorpyrifos, Dichlorvos) dominated, reflecting intensive pesticide use and persistence. The control site showed minimal residues, confirming agricultural activities as the primary contamination source. Farmers\u27 limited knowledge of pesticide application, revealed through interviews, exacerbates environmental risks. These findings emphasise the need for sustainable agricultural practices, biopesticide adoption, and enhanced farmer education to mitigate ecological and health risks in the region.Vzdolž porečja reke Oba v Ogbomosu, jugozahodna Nigerija, smo preiskali ostanke pesticidov v tleh in vodi, s čimer smo želeli oceniti onesnaženje okolja zaradi kmetijskih praks. Vzorec površinske vode in tal je bil odvzet med sušnim (december 2024) in deževnim (april 2024) obdobjem na šestih lokacijah, vključno s petimi kmetijskimi območji (Ladokun, Iluju Maize Farms, Iluju Irrigation Scheme, Ikose Potatoes Farms, Vegetable Farms Iluju) in kontrolnim območjem (Yaku Ogbomoso). Vzorci so bili analizirani z uporabo plinske kromatografije z masno spektrometrijo (GC-MS) po metodi QuEChERS. Polstrukturirani intervjuji z 55 kmeti so omogočili vpogled v vzorce uporabe pesticidov. Rezultati so pokazali znatno onesnaženost, saj so koncentracije pesticidov pogosto presegale najvišje dovoljene vrednosti ostankov Evropske unije (EU-MRL: 0,001–0,01 mg/kg za tla, 0,1 mg/kg za vodo). Najvišje ostanke v sušnem obdobju v tleh smo izmeri na lokaciji Ladokun: vključno z diklorvosom (1,52 ± 0,31 mg/kg), α-lindanom (1,35 ± 0,30 mg/kg) in atrazinom (1,27 ± 0,03 mg/kg). V deževnem obdobju je kmetija Ikose Potatoes Farms pokazala visoke ravni klorpirifosa (0,40 ± 0,08 mg/kg) in diklorvosa (0,43 ± 0,12 mg/kg). V vodi je heptaklor dosegel najvišjo vrednost v Ladokunu (2,13 ± 0,42 mg/kg), karbofuran pa na kmetiji Ikose Potatoes Farms (2,13 ± 0,32 mg/kg) med deževnim obdobjem. Prevladovali so organoklorini (heptaklor, dieldrin) in organofosfati (klorpirifos, diklorvos), kar odraža intenzivno uporabo pesticidov in njihovo obstojnost. Na kontrolni lokaciji so bili ostanki minimalni, kar potrjuje, da so kmetijske dejavnosti glavni vir onesnaženja. Omejeno znanje kmetov o uporabi pesticidov, ki je bilo razvidno iz intervjujev, povečuje tveganja za okolje. Te ugotovitve poudarjajo potrebo po trajnostnih kmetijskih praksah, uvedbi biopesticidov in izboljšanju izobraževanja kmetov, da se zmanjšajo ekološka in zdravstvena tveganja v regiji
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
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
Assessment of potentials of Moringa oleifera seed oil in enhancing the frying quality of soybean oil
No full textCalvarial hemangioma causing seizure disorder: A case report with review of literature
No full textCalvarial hemangiomas are rare benign tumours of the skull bone for which seizure as a presentation is unusual; neurological deficits are uncommon.We report a case of cavernous hemangioma of the parietal bone causing seizure disorder in a 47 year old man. The tumor was removed enbloc with satisfactory methylmethacrylate cranioplasty. Pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis. Patient received short course of antiepileptic drugs with satisfactory recovery. This case demonstrates that seizure disorder can occur in Calvarial haemangiomas as a rare complication. A review of relevant literature is included herein
