• International Journal of Knowledge Content Development & Technology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.75-93
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• 2023

A cross sectional survey method was used to determine the utilization of e-resources and their influence on the reading culture of 119 undergraduate students registered with the JD Amin library of Federal University Dutse. The data collected was analysed using both descriptive (frequency counts and means) and inferential statistics (regression analysis). The research found that databases (mean=4.00) and e-journal (mean=4.00) are available to the undergraduate students. It further found that e-resources are often utilized by the undergraduate student, with social media (mean=4.00), databases (mean=4.00) and e-journal (mean=4.00). the most commonly used e-resources. It was also found that erratic power supply (mean=3.91) and inability to seek, obtain and evaluate information (mean=3.67) are the prominent factors hindering the utilization of e-resources. The regression analysis rejected the null hypotheses of the study where it shows that the level of utilization of e-resources have positive statistical correlation (r=0.772) with the reading culture of undergraduate students. The study proposed a conceptual model for the sustainable reading culture of students by libraries providing of e-resources. The general conclusion of the research is that e-resources are necessary tools and are moderately available and adequately utilized for influencing reading culture. The study recommended that Internet facilities should be made available to undergraduate students to facilitate more utilization of e-resources.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.115-126
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• 2024

This study aims to examine the importance-performance for management capabilities of the rural tourism business operators using the Revised Importance-Performance Analysis(R-IPA). To make up for the limitations of the traditional Importance-Performance analysis method, the R-IPA analysis method based on the Kano's three-factor model was applied to establish a management capabilities for better credibility and validity. Online survey measuring 15 items for management capabilities of rural tourism business were conducted for domestic rural tourism business operators based on power allocation sampling method. The results identified three attributes(e.g., business concept, negotiation, organizational competency) that belong to "concentrate here" quadrant and five attributes(e.g., self-awareness, environmental awareness, goal setting, network, supervisory competency) that belong to "keep up the good work" quadrant. The result of this study provides rural tourism operators with valuable information on management capabilities that potentially increase the business performance. The results suggest a way to effectively allocate resources into management strategies.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.265-271
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• 2016

Background Reconstruction of orofacial soft tissue defects is often challenging due to functional and aesthetic demands. Despite advances in orofacial soft tissue defect reconstruction using free flaps, locoregional flaps still remain an important option, especially in health resource-depleted environments. This retrospective study highlights our experiences in oral and maxillofacial soft tissue reconstruction using locoregional flaps. Methods A twenty-three years retrospective analysis of all patients managed in our department was undertaken. Information was sourced from patients' case notes and operating theater records. Data was analyzed using SPSS ver. 16 (SPSS Inc.) and Microsoft Excel 2007 (Microsoft). Results A total of 77 patients underwent orofacial soft tissue defect reconstruction within the years reviewed. Males accounted for 55 (71.4%) cases and trauma was the main etiological factor in 45 (58.4%) of the patients treated. When sites of defect were considered, the lip, 27 (32.1%), was the most frequent site followed by the nose, 17 (20.2%). Forehead flap, 51 (59.3%), was the most commonly used flap. Complications noted were tumor recurrences at the recipient bed in 3 (3.9%) cases, tumor occurrence at the donor site in 1 (1.3%) case and postoperative infection in 11 (14.3%) cases. Conclusions Locoregional flaps still have an important role in the rehabilitation of patients with orofacial soft tissue defects. They remain a vital tool in the armamentarium of the reconstructive surgeon, especially in health resource-depleted environments where advanced reconstructive techniques may not be feasible.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.221-230
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• 1996

The Suh and Park's analytical model. originally developed to calculate wave reflection from a conventional fully perforated caisson breakwater, is applied to a partially perforated caisson breakwater by approximating the vertical wall of the lower part of the front face of the caisson as a very steep sloping wall. Also, in the model, the inertial resistance term at the perforated wall is modified by using the blockage coefficient proposed by Kakuno and Liu. The model is compared against the hydraulic experimental data reported by Park et al. in 1993. Both the experimental data and the analytical model results show that the influence of inertial resistance is important so that wave reflection becomes minimum when B/L. is approximately 0.2 (in which R : wave chamber width, and 1, : wave length inside the wave chamber), which is somewhat smaller than the theoretical value B/L, : 0.25 obtained by assuming that the influence of inertial resistance is negligible. It is also shown that the analytical model based on a linear wave theory tends to overpredict the reflection coefficient as the wave nonlinearity increases, thus the model is preferably to be used for ordinary waves of small steepness.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.44 no.4 s.140
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• pp.295-302
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• 2006

Liver function tests were peformed in 61 vivax, 54 malariae and 15 ovale malaria patients who were admitted to Bangkok Hospital for Tropical Diseases between 2001 and 2004. The objective of the study was to evaluate changes in hepatic biochemical indices before and after treatment with artemisinin derivatives. On admission and prior to treatment, hepatic dysfunction was found among the 3 groups. Serum liver function tests and physical examinations were peformed weekly during the 28-day follow-up period. Initially elevated serum bilirubin and diminished albumin returned to normal within 2 weeks of treatment. Serum alkaline phosphatase and aminotransferases returned to within normal limits within 3 weeks. We conclude that patients with Plasmodium vivax, P. malariae and p. ovate infections had slightly elevated serum bilirubin, aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase levels, and hypoalbuminemia. These minor abnormalities returned to normal within a few weeks after treatment with therapies based on artemisinin derivatives.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.65-70
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• 2008

Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) is currently promoted as a strategy for treating both uncomplicated and severe falciparum malaria, targeting asexual blood-stage Plasmodium falciparum parasites. However, the effect of ACT on sexual-stage parasites remains controversial. To determine the clearance of sexual-stage P. falciparum parasites from 342 uncomplicated, and 217 severe, adult malaria cases, we reviewed and followed peripheral blood sexualstage parasites for 4 wk after starting ACT. All patients presented with both asexual and sexual stage parasites on admission, and were treated with artesunate-mefloquine as the standard regimen. The results showed that all patients were asymptomatic and negative for asexual forms before discharge from hospital. The percentages of uncomplicated malaria patients positive for gametocytes on days 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 were 41.5, 13.1, 3.8, 2.0, and 2.0%, while the percentages of gametocyte positive severe malaria patients on days 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 were 33.6, 8.2, 2.7, 0.9, and 0.9%, respectively. Although all patients were negative for asexual parasites by day 7 after completion of the artesunate-mefloquine course, gametocytemia persisted in some patients. Thus, a gametocytocidal drug, e.g., primaquine, may be useful in combination with an artesunate-mefloquine regimen to clear gametocytes, so blocking transmission more effectively than artesunate alone, in malaria transmission areas.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.93-97
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• 2016

Purpose: Grain slurry diet are described as food obtained from ground grain paste. They serve as highly nutritious food for both adults and infants in Nigeria because of their immense nutritive and economical value. However, the production of these grain slurry diets is confronted with challenges that have hampered their commercialization. This study examines the trends and constraints of grain slurry food processing in Kaduna State. Methods: A survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire to elicit information from 192 selected processors, including both men and women. The survey was structured in line with the study objectives. The information was collated and synopsized into frequency distribution. Results: These findings revealed that 80% of the respondents processed between 1.0 tons and 13.0 tons of grain slurry per month. More than 90% of the processors processed grain slurry into koko, kunu, agidi, and pito. Accordingly, 80% of the interviewed processors indicated that sieving is one of the major constraints. Furthermore, inadequate modern machinery required to perform this operation makes it highly discouraging. One of the major challenges faced by the grain slurry producers in Nigeria is the lack of processing machinery for most operations (39.1%), followed by the tedious processing nature (27.1%), high labor cost (18.1%), and lack of market (9.4%). The traditional method of grain slurry processing was more popular than using modern equipment, except milling (96.5%), which is the only mechanized unit operation in grain slurry processing. Conclusion: Grain slurry processing and marketing were found to be profitable. However, these limitations could extremely reduce the level of grain slurry production, processing, and economic returns, thereby affecting the general wellbeing of the processors. The study also raised concerns about the safety and hygiene associated with traditionally processed grain slurry diets in the investigated areas.

• STI Policy Review
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.113-135
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• 2013

This paper explores how research excellence is perceived among researchers in Thailand and Japan with an aim to explore whether there are any new indicators that could later be proposed and adopted as criteria of excellence. Based on a questionnaire survey, the findings reflect ideas and viewpoints that could be found among researchers in both countries. Creative researchers are crucial to a strong national research and innovation system. Institutions should provide an environment or incentives based on research performance for their researchers to flourish and be productive. For decades, bibliometrics have been used to evaluate individual research performance for its easy approach and faster speed than a qualitative assessment would warrant. Nonetheless, there have been a number of studies on research performance evaluating systems that point out how a purely bibliometric approach is inadequate in summarizing the quality of the scientific performance. The pressures on researchers today influence their thinking and oppose their creativity. To investigate the perception of research excellence, three key research questions were set in this study: what counts as excellence, how to measure excellence, and how to support excellence. The findings confirm that traditional granting criteria that frames an idea of excellence remain valid, but they also suggest novel criteria be considered and prioritized. This paper argues that the existing evaluating system is insufficient for unleashing the curiosity and creativity of researchers and fostering excellence. In the final section, the paper discusses factors that contribute to scientific creativity that we should not overlook.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.137-146
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• 2009

Researches on after-sales quality have centered on home electric appliances, figuring out how factors influencing after-sales service quality are causally related to customer's behavioral intentions, via consumer satisfaction as an intermediary parameter In most cases of after-sales service in home electric appliances, upon customer's request, service agents make a visit to where the appliance is installed, and check the product and do repairs. However, in case of a small portable device such as a cell phone, which people carry around at all times, most of the times customers themselves show up at the after-sales center, and demand a check-up and repairs. The main difference here is that the after-sales services are provided when a product can no longer perform its basic function and customer dissatisfaction is already up. In this case, the basic function of a product corresponds to must-be factor according to Kano model. The goal of our research is to identify critical factors for effective and efficient after-sales service, and how to monitor them on a routine basis. In our research, the quality after-sales service consists of three dimensions, interactive quality, result quality, and physical environment quality. We set up variables for each dimension, which would measure from customer's perspective key determining factors in service delivery process. Instead of focusing on customer satisfaction aspect, we focused on how after-sales service factors contribute to addressing customer complaints. Additionally, our future research would aim to verify how customer's behavioral intentions are affected, as the resolution of consumer complaints becomes more successful when adjustment of relevant quality factors improves after-sales service quality.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.328-328
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• 2017

Drought is a major limiting factor that reduces rice production and occurs often especially under recent climate change. Plants have the ability to alter their developmental morphology in response to changing environment, which is known as phenotypic plasticity. In our previous studies, we found that one chromosome segment substitution line (CSSL50 derived from Nipponbare and Kasalath crosses) showed no differences in shoot and root growth as compared with the recurrent genotype, Nipponbare under non-stress condition but showed greater growth responses compared with Nipponbare under mild drought stress condition. We hypothesized that reducing root respiration as metabolic cost, which may be largely a consequence of aerenchyma formation would be one of the key mechanisms for root plasticity expression. This study aimed to evaluate the root respiration and aerenchyma formation under various soil moisture conditions among genotypes with different root plasticity. CSSL50 together with Nipponbare and Kasalath were grown under waterlogged conditions (Control) and mild drought stress conditions (20% of soil moisture content) in a plastic pot ($11cm{\times}14cm$, ${\varphi}{\times}H$) and PVC tube ($3cm{\times}30cm$, ${\varphi}{\times}H$). Root respiration rate was measured with infrared gas analyzer (IRGA, GMP343, Vaisala, Finland) with a closed static chamber system. There was no significant difference between genotypes in control for shoot and root growth as well as root respiration rate. In contrast, all the genotypes increased their root respiration rates in response to mild drought stress. However, CSSL50 showed lower root respiration rate than Nipponbare, which was associated by higher root aerenchyma formation that was estimated based on internal gas space (porosity) under mild drought stress conditions. Furthermore, there were significant negative correlations between root length and root respiration rate. These results imply that reducing the metabolic cost (= root respiration rate) is a key mechanism for root plasticity expression, which CSSL50 showed under mild drought.