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Halal tourism has a significant current market share. The increasing number of tourists from Muslim countries is a consideration for many areas to change their marketing strategies. In various works of literature, religiosity plays a role in consumer behavior. In this study, religiosity becomes a mediating variable from the subjective norm, attitude, and perceived behavioral control (PBC) to the intention to visit a halal tourism area. This study modifies the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), intending to understand how intense religiosity affects tourists’ decisions to visit a halal tourism area. The number of respondents in this study amounted to 590 people. Questionnaires were distributed via Google forms to tourists in Indonesia and analyzed through Moderated Regression Analysis to test the moderating effect of the religiosity variable. This research shows new information related to the religiosity variable. TPB can predict the intention to visit a halal tourism area. Subjective norms and attitudes have a positive and significant impact, while PBC has a positive but insignificant impact on intention. Still, religiosity does not play a role in strengthening the three exogenous variables that can affect the intention to visit a halal tourism area. The insignificant impact of religiosity in moderating the three independent variables may be because, in Muslim-majority countries, domestic tourists do not have to consider the halal aspect of a halal tourism area. Halal restaurants and places of worship are relatively easy to find, especially in provinces that are known for having a religious presence. Contribution/ Originality
This study contributes to the development of the TPB model by adding the religiosity variable as a moderator to measure the intention to visit a halal tourism area. Currently, the trend towards halal tourism is being promoted, so this study provides a view from the viewpoint of community religiosity. Business & Management » Journal of Tourism Management Research » Month: 12-2021 Issue: 2
The Adoption of Social Media Platforms in Informal Home-Based Businesses in Kuwait
The purpose of this research is to explore the adoption of social media platforms by informal home-based business owners. A qualitative multi-case study approach was applied, and in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 28 owners of home-based businesses, and all are located in Kuwait. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis technique. The results revealed that social media (mainly Instagram) is an important advertising and marketing tool for home-based business activities in Kuwait. It aids the launch of new informal ventures for home-based business owners and facilitates the acquisition of requirements for the business. Also, social media accounts can be used as catalogues for displaying photos and videos about informal home-based business activities. This research makes several contributions to existing literature on this topic by empirically exploring the adoption of social media platforms for home-based businesses. The limitation of this study is due to its small sample size, which means that the results should be generalized with caution. This study contributes to the existing literature by presenting new knowledge about informal home-based businesses and social media in Kuwait. Also, it makes an empirical contribution to home-based businesses and marketing literature by exploring the role of social media on the start-up of informal home-based businesses. This study is one of very few studies which have explored the adoption of social media platforms in informal home-based businesses in Kuwait, and it can be used as a base for future research on adopting social media platforms in informal home-based businesses in Kuwait. Contribution/ Originality
This study contributes to the existing literature by presenting new knowledge about informal home-based businesses and social media in Kuwait. Also, it makes an empirical contribution to home-based businesses and marketing literature by exploring the role of social media on the start-up of informal home-based businesses. This study is one of very few studies which have explored the adoption of social media platforms in informal home-based businesses in Kuwait, and it can be used as a base for future research on adopting social media platforms in informal home-based businesses in Kuwait. Social Sciences » Humanities and Social Sciences Letters » Month: 09-2021 Issue: 3
Assessing Banks Managerial Efficiency during the Covid-19 Pandemic: Evidence from Selected Nigerian Banks
Research Article
Author(s):
Journal: International Journal of Management and Sustainability
This study analyzes the effects of COVID-19 on the managerial efficiency of commercial banks in Nigeria by analyzing secondary data relating to five (5) sampled commercial banks, the stocks of which are currently traded on the country’s equity market. The five banks were purposely selected, and the secondary data obtained were analyzed using descriptive and diagnostic tests, along with the structural equation model and regression technique. The results of this analysis indicate that the outbreak of COVID-19 significantly influenced the managerial efficiency of the five banks studied here. Given this result, we recommend that banks should continually develop and improve on the level of e-channel penetration by customers, as this will largely keep banking transactions from being disrupted by shocks – whether external or internal. Also, the country’s apex bank and other regulatory bodies should ensure that the peculiarities of Nigeria’s economy and markets are clearly understood, so that the design and implementation of policies and strategies meant to cushion the effects of perceived external threats (such as a pandemic) on banks and the economy as a whole will be purposeful and effective. Contribution/ Originality
This study contributes the first empirical analysis in the Nigerian context that uses weekly stock price data, reported COVID-19 cases and the lockdown policy to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the managerial efficiency of banks. Business & Management » International Journal of Management and Sustainability » Month: 09-2021 Issue: 3
Escherichia Coli Encoding Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamases Isolated from Diarrheic Patients in Minna, Nigeria
Research Article
Author(s):
Journal: The International Journal of Biotechnology
Escherichia coli remains one of the most isolated etiological agents of diarrhea, accounting for more than 1 million deaths and about 4% of the total global disability-adjusted life-years (DALYS) per year across all age groups according to the global disease burden. This study evaluated multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli encoding extended spectrum beta-lactamases isolated from diarrheic patients in Minna, Nigeria using standard microbiological methods. A prevalence of 37.7% of Diarrheagenic E. coli (DEC) was obtained from the stool samples evaluated. Within the environment sampled, age group 21 – 30 years had the highest E. coli isolation rate (27.8%) while age group ?71years had the least E. coli isolation rate (2.6%). Females (64.9%) were the most affected compared to males (35.1%). The isolates were significantly resistant to most of the beta-lactams tested especially to 3rd generation cephalosporins [Cefotaxime (98.2%), cefuroxime (93%), ceftazidime (84.2%), Augmentin (70.2%), Amoxicillin (59.6%)]. Resistance to other classes of antibiotics was also observed in varying percentages. A high percentage (98.2% and 87.7%) of the diarrheagenic E. coli had a multiple resistant index (MARI) ? of 0.3. The isolates had varying patterns of resistance with 47.6% resistant to more than 5 classes of antibiotics tested and produced ESBL characteristics phenotypically. Molecular evaluation showed that 40%, 50%, and 90% of the isolates harbored the OXA, CTX-M and TEM genes respectively while 50% harbored VEB and PER genes. This study isolated E. coli from diarrheic patients with multidrug resistance profiles and encodes more than one type of ESBL gene within Minna, Nigeria. Contribution/ Originality
This study established the prevalence and multidrug resistance profile patterns of Escherichia coli encoding ESBL genes from diarrheic patients in Minna, Nigeria. The findings also revealed a genetic diversity of ESBL genes responsible for significant resistance of Diarrheagenic E. coli to most of the beta-lactams and other classes of antibiotics. Biological Sciences » The International Journal of Biotechnology » Month: 12-2021 Issue: 2
A Preliminary Cross-Sectional Assessment on Exclusive Breastfeeding among Women Attending a Postnatal Clinic at the Holy Family Hospital, Techiman, Ghana
Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for the first six months of life has remained low in Ghana, despite strong evidence of benefits to babies/infants that supports the practice. This study is a preliminary assessment of the adherence to EBF among mothers attending the postnatal clinic. Methods: The study was cross-sectional, involving 85 breastfeeding mothers who attended the postnatal clinic at the Holy Family Hospital, Techiman. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic information and adherence to EBF. A total of 85 mothers and their babies (50 females and 35 males) participated in the study. Out of this total, 45.9% (39/85) were exclusively breastfed, while 54.1% (46/85) were non-exclusively breastfed. About 17.6% of the mothers with Junior High School (JHS) education exclusively breastfed their babies compared to those with Senior High School (SHS) (15.3%) and tertiary (12.9%) (p > 0.05). Babies who were not exclusively breastfed were 12.9% (11/85), 17.6% (15/85), and 23.5% (20/85) for mothers with JHS, SHS, and tertiary education respectively (r = 0.182, p = 0.096). The distribution of weight classification among exclusive and non-exclusively breastfed babies was significantly different (?2 = 13.583, p 0.001). The findings of this study provide a preliminary assessment of adherence to EBF in Techiman, Ghana. Exclusive breastfeeding practices appear suboptimal. Education and working status of mothers negatively impact adherence on exclusive breastfeeding. Interventions emphasizing the continuous education of mothers could promote exclusive breastfeeding. Contribution/ Originality
This study documents a preliminary assessment of adherence to Exclusive Breastfeeding among women attending postnatal clinic at Holy Family Hospital in Techiman, Ghana. Medical Sciences » Journal of Nutrients » Month: 06-2021 Issue: 1
Inflationary Rate in Nigeria: Impact of Foreign Capital Inflows
Research Article
Author(s):
Journal: Quarterly Journal of Econometrics Research
As the prices of daily needs are aggravating in Nigeria, the value of the country’s currency (naira) is less appreciated on a daily basis, and this pose a threat to a good standard of living in Nigeria. Therefore, this study investigated the impact of foreign capital inflows on the persistent increase in inflation in Nigeria over the period of 1985 to 2019. The Autoregressive Distributed Lags was used to obtain the parameter estimates of the long run relationship between foreign capital inflows and inflation. By using the Forecast Error Variance Decomposition techniques, the cause-effect analysis of foreign capital inflows and inflation was determined. Results provide evidence of a long run relationship between the series. Results further indicate that inflation is sensitive to foreign capital inflows variables such as net official development assistance received and remittance inflows in Nigeria. Policies that reduce the negative impact on inflation are recommended in the body of the paper. Contribution/ Originality
In the previous literature, the influence of external capital inflows on inflation across the globe had been neglected. This may be an oversight on the part of the researchers. Hence, this paper contributes to the existing literature by investigating the influence of foreign capital inflows on inflation in Nigeria. Economics » Quarterly Journal of Econometrics Research » Month: 06-2021 Issue: 1
Facing the Challenges of Covid-19 in the Egyptian Banking Sector: The Role of Bricoleurs in Achieving Organizational Innovations via Learning through Improvisation
The COVID-19 pandemic posed many challenges for organizational survival across the world. Innovative capability became a key force in meeting such challenges and was most evident in Egypt’s banking sector. This paper explores, through semi-structured in-depth interviews with six general managers of multinational banks operating in Egypt, what innovation competences may enable organizational improvisers, or bricoleurs, to challenge, change, and achieve innovation during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results were analyzed through the lens of Senge’s five disciplines of learning organizations (Senge, 1990), with a particular consideration for the role of improvisation, and found that personal mastery is the dominant principle and is linked to achieving innovation in organizations. Within this element, the analysis also suggests that improvisation emerges from creativity, past experience, intuition, and distinct triggers, and that innovation competences appear as complementary elements of an organization’s behavior, encapsulated as a form of bricolage when challenges arise and resource constraints prevail. The results suggest that a set of practices and strategies could be applied by general managers to meet the challenges they face involving constraints, such as a shortage of human resource, and that improvisation can form one of their key innovation competences. Contribution/ Originality
This study contributes to the existing literature by advancing the conversation on this topic through introducing the concept of the bricoleur as a vehicle to enhance innovative capability and introduce new and novel thinking to the challenges that banks face, as well as to the underpinning theory around Senge’s learning organizations. Economics » Journal of Social Economics Research » Month: 12-2021 Issue: 2
Challenges of Conserving and Co-Managing Khadimnagar National Park and Ratargul Fresh Water Swamp Forest in Bangladesh
National Parks are protected areas conserving all types of flora, fauna and their habitats regardless of generic diversification. In Bangladesh, protected area managers face difficulties to conserve these areas. This study is formulated to find out those existing difficulties against effective co-management of natural resources based on the local people’s perception. A purposive sampling is followed by a semi-structured interview to gather data from the field level of Khadimnagar National Park and Ratargul Fresh Water Swamp Forest from September 2019 to December 2019 by interviewing 100 local people for RFWSF and KNP on the basis of a qualitative research method. Both inhabitants and the Forest Department are found to be responsible for inhibiting the effective management of the subjected areas meanwhile difficulties related to motivation, cordiality, alternative job generation, financial support to management authority, tourism management and resource extraction from forests mainly prevail. To ensure substantial sustainability, both of the actors should come forward to find out a way to get rid of this devastation and to ameliorate the socio-economic condition of these areas. Arranging more conferences to raise motivation, awareness about the forest offenses and generating alternative sources of income can be counted as a strategy to reduce pressure on both forests. Contribution/ Originality
This study is one of very few studies which have investigated the causes of prevailing drawbacks of co-management in two ecologically valued forests and it will be supportive to forest management and policy makers for ameliorating the status of co-management in the regarded and other protected areas in Bangladesh. Agricultural Sciences » Journal of Forests » Month: 12-2021 Issue: 2
Modeling and Estimation of Cumulative Abnormal Return using VECM
This paper examined how firm-level idiosyncratic risk varies over time. It affected initial public offering (IPO) in the presence of pump-and-dump and flipping trends during the early trading of IPO stocks in the Indonesia Stock Exchange. The paper used the IPO data taken from 181 companies during the year 2015-2019. It revisited the relationship between Cumulative Abnormal Return thirty-days (CAR30D) and Cumulative Abnormal Return five-days (CAR5D) and the Characteristics (IPO Floating shares, IPO Fund and Price) and Macroeconomics Condition (Inflation rate). It also used the cointegration analysis and VECM model. The paper found that Both LnFloat and LnPrice had causal evidence in the long-run causality or short-run with Cumulative Abnormal Return thirty days (CAR30D). We also noted that idiosyncratic risk exposure depends on IPO characteristics. It was crucial for firms going public in hot-issue markets, undervalued IPOs, and high idiosyncratic-risk issues. The model suggested that those series should cointegrate firstly. However, the variable of LnIPOFund had causal evidence in the short-run causality only. Contribution/ Originality
This paper expected to fill the gap and confirmed what IPO characteristics and macroeconomics variables were significant and could predict that the IPO categorized into hot-issue markets, undervalued IPOs, and high idiosyncratic-risk issues. Economics » Financial Risk and Management Reviews » Month: 03-2021 Issue: 1
Green Chemistry and Process Intensification: Milestones on a Sustainable Development
Research Article
Author(s):
Journal: International Journal of Chemistry and Materials Research
As a philosophical support, green chemistry (GC) becomes at present well-combined into the scientific system to assist scientists and engineers consider how to decrease or remove waste and avert the employment and formation of hazardous substances in the design phase of chemicals. Such design attempts in turn affect the full life-cycle of the chemical, from getting the starting materials until the end-use product is recycled or disposed of. There is a considerable advance noted in such direction during the last three decades, this review focuses on GC research. As a comparatively fresh technique, revision in process intensification (PI) is fast and investigation could rapidly lead to outstanding outcomes. However, numerous features of PI could take more time to be fact. Much of the study stays in academic and industrial laboratories, even if large-scale implementations of micro-reactors are actuality. Fields of PI enterprise that have progressed quickly are the expansion of carbon capture techniques, an increasing interest in GC, and the beginning of momentous study into connecting solar energy to intensified methods like chemical reactions. Electric fields (e.g., microwaves and ultrasound) are observed in larger usages, and the application of electrokinetic forces at the micro- and nanoscale persist to fascinate. Huge investigations are working for the sake of ideas like the perfect reactor. PI remains a motif leading to attain a sustainable society. This work may be an orientation in the investigation of product development and design, production and application, in a constructive and stimulating way. Contribution/ Originality
This study documents green chemistry (GC) and process intensification (PI) as milestones on a sustainable development. GC becomes well-combined into the scientific system to assist engineers in decreasing waste and averting the formation of hazardous substances. PI investigation could lead to outstanding outcomes especially in product development and design. Chemistry & Materials Sciences » International Journal of Chemistry and Materials Research » Month: 06-2021 Issue: 1
Natural Resource Rents-Capital Flight Nexus in Selected ECOWAS Countries: Evidence from Non-Linear ARDL Approach
Research Article
Author(s):
Journal: International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Policy
The challenge of capital flight in the ECOWAS sub-region is worrisome. Huge revenue from natural resources also contributes to the relocation of available resources necessary for the development of the region. The study identifies the revenue from natural resources as a key driver of capital flight in the region. Hence, this study analyzed the effect of natural resource rents on capital flight in ECOWAS countries accounting for the role of asymmetry. Also, the study employed the nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) model to account for short-run and long-run asymmetries. The results revealed the presence of asymmetry in five countries, while two countries displayed symmetric effects. It also showed that the symmetric effect of natural resource rents on capital flight is weak for Guinea and Nigeria in the short-run while the long-run effect is not more pronounced for Nigeria. In the case of asymmetric effect, natural resource rents amplified capital flight in Cape Verde and Sierra Leone. Further evidence shows that the non-linearity of natural resource rents does not encourage capital flight in Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, and Ghana. Hence, the countries should promote transparency and accountability in the management of proceeds from natural resources to enhance development in the region. Contribution/ Originality
This study uses new estimation methodology to examine the relationship between total natural resource rents and capital flight in selected ECOWAS countries. This provides insight into whether high/low rents from natural resources are associated with high/low capital flight. Economics » International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Policy » Month: 12-2021 Issue: 2
Coconut Growers Knowledge, Perception and Adoption on Impacts of Climate Change in Gampaha and Puttalam Districts in Sri Lanka: An Index-Based Approach
Research Article
Author(s):
Journal: Current Research in Agricultural Sciences
Climate change and food security are critical topics in sustainable agricultural development. Climate change is expected to have serious environmental, economic and social impacts on Sri Lanka. Coconut growers’ knowledge, perception level and adoption for climate change adaptation measures have influenced productivity of the coconut cultivation. The study investigated the coconut growers’ knowledge gap, knowledge and perception levels regarding impacts of climate change in Gampaha and Puttalam districts. Further, this study investigated their adoption of different adaptation measures. A stratified random sampling technique was applied for selecting 240 respondents from two different districts. Structured questionnaire and interview schedule were used to elicit information from the respondents and data was analyzed with both descriptive and inferential statistics. Adoption rate of the climate change adaptation measures is significantly influenced by coconut growers’ knowledge and perception level at varying degrees. The study revealed that most of the growers in two study areas have better knowledge (> 70%) and perceptions (>60%) regarding the gradual changes in the climate and its impact on their coconut cultivation. However, their adaptation behavior is fairly poor (< 50%) in both districts. Hence government policies should more focused on to coconut growers to have access to affordable credit to increase their ability and flexibility to change adaptation strategies in response to the changing climatic conditions. Increasing growers’ access to agricultural extension services and access to information on weather forecasting are very important. In addition, government should improve and promote off-farm income-earning opportunities during dry seasons. Contribution/ Originality
This study is one of the very few studies which use novel index-based approach to investigate coconut growers’ knowledge, perception and adoption on impacts of climate change in Gampaha and Puttalam districts. Agricultural Sciences » Current Research in Agricultural Sciences » Month: 12-2021 Issue: 2
Human Research Management: Effect of Covid-19 On Workers in the UK Who Have Previously Lost One or Both Arms
The study aims to establish the impact of COVID-19 on the workers who have previously lost one or both arms. The study was motivated by the increased need to establish the current status of disabled workers during the coronavirus pandemic. The study also seeks to establish the effect of change in wages and working from home during the pandemic on the productivity of workers who have lost one or both arms. The pandemic has impacted several sectors across the world, both socially and economically. However, there is limited research targeting workers with disabilities. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey design where data was collected from 100 workers from the UK using an online questionnaire. The findings indicated that working from home and changing wages reduced the productivity of these employees. Workers who remained at their workplaces reported incidences of stigma and discrimination from stressed fellow employees. Contribution/ Originality
This study is one of the few studies investigating the impact of COVID-19 on human resource management, especially concerning workers who have previously lost one or both of their arms. Economics » Journal of Social Economics Research » Month: 12-2021 Issue: 2
Likelihood of Insurance Coverage on Damages Due to Level of Insecurity in Nigeria: Logistic Modeling Approach
Insurance serves as a protection against the unexpected and it is one of the most effective risk management tools that protect individuals from being bankrupt due to various contingencies. The binary logistic regression model approach was used to model the described dataset; the model so obtained was statistically significant. All the levels of education were statistically significant in predicting the odds of having insurance cover except for primary education level. Also, employment status and age were statistically significant in predicting the likelihood for insurance cover in Nigeria. The results showed that individuals who move from no formal education to obtain Higher education level are 21.66 times more likely to obtain insurance cover and individuals who move from no formal education to obtain Secondary education level are 2.63 times more likely to obtain insurance cover. The odd ratio is not significant for moving from no formal education to Primary education and therefore should not be interpreted. Further, individuals who move from being unemployed to being employed are more likely to obtain insurance cover. Education has the highest impact in predicting the likelihood for one to have insurance cover in Nigeria. This paper recommends overhauling of the educational system in order to revamp this sector. Contribution/ Originality
The paper's primary contribution is finding that it assessed the impact of each level of the categorical predictor variables in predicting likelihood of insurance in Nigeria. Economics » Financial Risk and Management Reviews » Month: 03-2021 Issue: 1
Two-Stage Model with Rough Cluster and Salp Optimization Technique for Epistasis Detection
The discovery of gene-gene interactions to identify complex diseases is one of the primary challenges in genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Genetic interactions (Epistasis) are typically seen as interactions between various single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Genetic interactions discovery can assist the researchers in identifying gene pathways, recognizing gene activity, and discovering potential drug targets. Rough Cluster based Salp Optimization for Epistasis detection (RCSalp-Epi) is a two-stage epistasis model that has been evaluated on a variety of simulated disease models. In the screening stage, the rough clustering algorithm is employed to partition the genotype data into different clusters. The selection stage presents Salp optimization with a single objective function (SalpEpi-SO) and multiple objective functions (SalpEpi-MO) over the clusters to find disease-related SNP combinations. RCSalp-performance Epi's is evaluated in comparison with SalpEpi-SO and SalpEpi-MO. The outcome of the experimental analysis revealed that RCSalp-Epi-MO is superior to SalpEpi-SO and SalpEpi-MO in terms of power and execution time. Contribution/ Originality
The paper's primary contribution is finding the higher order genetic interactions with high detection power and minimal computational effort. Computer Sciences » Review of Computer Engineering Research » Month: 12-2021 Issue: 2
Parametric Analysis of Rainfall Variability Over Some Selected Locations in Nigeria
Research Article
Author(s):
Journal: International Journal of Climate Research
Rainfall is one meteorological parameter that affects virtually all human activities. For instance, the amount of rainfall received in an area is an important determining factor in estimating or quantifying the amount of water available to meet various demands, such as agricultural, industrial, domestic water supply, and power generation. Climate change has generally been accepted to be a result of the emission of excess greenhouse gases. It has caused an increase in flooding, severe and more frequent droughts, increase in wildfires, and heatwaves in various parts of the globe. Climate change is said to have a considerable impact on the variability in hydro-meteorological variables such as rainfall, temperature, and evaporation. In this study, we carry out a parametric analysis of rainfall variability over some selected locations in Nigeria and determine the trend using surface observation data from seven weather stations. The datasets of rainfall used in this study were acquired; from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) for a period of 30 years (1980 to 2010) from seven locations; which are Abuja, Enugu, Ikeja, Ilorin, Maiduguri, Port Harcourt, and Sokoto, representing the six geographical zones of Nigeria. The results gotten showed an upward movement in the trend line which indicated an increase in the amount of rainfall received by the study areas. While some Cities (Maiduguri, Sokoto) received a large increase in the amount of rainfall received yearly, others received a slight increase such as Lagos, Port Harcourt, Ilorin, Abuja and Enugu Contribution/ Originality
This study contributes to the existing literature about the evidence of variability in rainfall across Nigeria. This study will therefore help the government to introduce policies that will help in cushioning the effects of climate change as regards agriculture and land usage. Energy & Environmental Sciences » International Journal of Climate Research » Month: 06-2021 Issue: 1
Methylene Blue and Iron (II) Adsorption onto Raphia Hookeri Seed: A Comparative Equilibrium Isotherm Study
Research Article
Author(s):
Journal: International Journal of Chemical and Process Engineering Research
In this study, activated carbon prepared from Raphia hookeri seed was employed as an adsorbent to take up methylene blue (an organic ion-in-solution) and iron (II), a metal ion-in-solution. The biosorbent was prepared using chemical activation using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) as an impregnating agent. Calibration was performed with a focus on the change in the adsorbate concentration. The equilibrium isotherms study was conducted by considering a range of sorbate concentrations, to determine the optimal conditions for the adsorption systems. The same sorbate volume (10 ml), and the same dosage (0.3g) of biosorbent were used for both adsorption processes. Linear analysis was used to compare the best-fitting isotherms. Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin-Radushkevich models were tested. The highest coefficient of determination values (R2) for both iron (II) and Methylene blue was obtained from the Langmuir isotherm as 0.9266 and 0.9572, respectively, compared to values from the other isotherms tested – indicative of Langmuir isotherm’s superior fit. Estimated values of ‘separation factor’, KR, for Methylene blue (0.29457), however, was lower than that of iron (II) (0.42141) - an indication that the sorbent treats methylene blue better than iron (II), though both processes are feasible. Contribution/ Originality
This study is one of very few studies which have investigated the comparative feasibility of treating water polluted by Iron (II) and Methylene blue, using biosorbent from Raphia hookeri seed. Engineering » International Journal of Chemical and Process Engineering Research » Month: 06-2021 Issue: 1
Localised Initiatives: Households Contribution to Infrastructure Development in Ondo State, Nigeria
Research Article
Author(s):
Journal: International Journal of Public Policy and Administration Research
Community-Driven Development (CDD), as an approach to community development, treats the people and their institutions as assets and partners in the development process. Infrastructure provision is a catalyst to community development as its lack or inefficiency impedes the growth of economic, social and welfare related ventures in both rural and urban communities. This paper explores the contribution of residents/households to communal efforts in the provision and maintenance of community infrastructure in Ondo State, Nigeria. It exposes their connectedness with community associations in the provision and management of identified community infrastructure in order to improve the quality of life in the area. Three hundred and seventy (370) households were selected across the state in a multistage sampling process to administer a well-structured open and close ended questionnaire; using residential buildings as sampling units. Six (6) urban and rural settlements were targeted for the data gathering across the three (3) senatorial districts of the state. Major findings established a high variation in the dominance of approaches to financial contribution espoused by households across the state towards community infrastructure development. A high level of involvement in project identification for CBOs’ execution and the dominance of availability as labourers for general infrastructure provision were equally discovered among other findings. Recommendations are targeted towards transparency and accountability on the part of community organizations while International Organizations are encouraged to focus more on road construction in rural community and poorly accessed areas of urban centres in order to achieve sustained community transformation. Contribution/ Originality
This study contributes to existing literature by documenting the contributions of households and residents to communal efforts as well as participation in community Associations and groups in the provision and maintenance of identified community infrastructure in order to improve the quality of life in the area for all residents. Economics » International Journal of Public Policy and Administration Research » Month: 12-2021 Issue: 2
High School Students Perceptions about Good Teachers: A Case Study in Chile
Research Article
Author(s):
Journal: International Journal of Education and Practice
The present research aimed to analyze the perception of high school students about the characteristics of a good teacher. The educational process refers essentially to a teacher-student relationship that unfolds in the classroom space, with the idea of generating more and better learning. In methodological terms, the study was based on the interpretive-comprehensive paradigm, through a qualitative methodology, which makes it a case study. The data were collected through four focus groups and four in-depth interviews conducted with secondary school students from a public high school in the province of Talca, Maule region, Chile. The results show the relevance of the handling of disciplinary content by teachers, as well as the pedagogical domain of teaching. On the other hand, it is evident from this study that good teachers are the ones who motivate students to learn, who show an understanding attitude with their learning, and generate a strong affective-emotional bond that transcends the classroom and connects with their lives. Among the limitations presented by the study is the need to increase the size of the sample, an issue that would allow a more comprehensive perspective on teaching. Regarding projections, the study provides useful background for comparison with research in different international contexts. Contribution/ Originality
This study contributes to the existing literature related to the characteristics and attributes of good secondary school teachers. It is also one of the first studies to use the interpretive/comprehensive paradigm as methodological option to examine teaching in secondary school from students' perspective. Arts and Education » International Journal of Education and Practice » Month: 09-2021 Issue: 3
Smoking Behavior and Moral Identity in Malaysian Youth: Is Gender a Moderator or a Predictor?
The role of gender in psychosocial development and health outcome is undeniable. This study aims to investigate the role of gender in two conditions, whether it as a moderator to the link between moral identity (internalization and symbolization) and smoking behavior; or if it is a single predictor or a co-predictor with moral identity in predicting smoking behavior. To examine this, 388 youths (61% female) who met the inclusion criteria participated in this online cross-sectional study. Participants were asked to rate their emotional responses ranging from unpleasant to pleasant whilst viewing images of smoking behavior. Participants were also instructed to provide their socio-demographic information and fill in the Moral Identity Scale. Gender had no moderation effect on the link between moral identity (symbolization and internalization) and smoking behavior, instead, gender (whether alone or in combination with internalization) was shown to directly predict smoking behavior. The implications for social health interventions and programs are highlighted by the findings. Contribution/ Originality
The paper's primary contribution is the discovery that gender is a significant biological factor (whether alone or in combination with moral identity internalization) that predicts (but not moderates) smoking behavior. This study uses a specific approach (i.e., visualization of images) to capture the valence of the emotional tendency to smoke. Social Sciences » Humanities and Social Sciences Letters » Month: 09-2021 Issue: 3
Abstract