Impact of Entrepreneurship Development on Sustainable Job Creation Amongst Youths in Bauchi State, Nigeria (2013-2017)

The study examines the impact of entrepreneurship development on sustainable job creation amongst youths in Bauchi State. The study which is a survey research design involved the use of both primary and secondary sources of data. Data were collected through the use of structured questionnaire and observations while the population of the study consist of 1,605 Youths entrepreneurs, government officials and other stakeholders targeted in the 20 local government areas of the State. Descriptive Statistics, Simple Percentages and Regression Analysis was used to test the formulated hypotheses in line with the objectives of the study. The major findings of the study reveals that, “several factors such as poor training, inadequate technology, unfavourable government policies and poor infrastructural facilities, as well as lack of the right business connection and inadequate funding and insecurity have significant effect on entrepreneurship and sustainable job creation which hampers on the activities of youths entrepreneurs in Bauchi State. The study found inadequate funding and technology and Insecurity with the most significant impact while infrastructural facilities and government policies were found to have exhibited the least impact. The study recommends the need for Bauchi State government to increase its effort towards meeting the training needs and improving on the security situation in the state as doing so will provide the enabling environment for entrepreneurship businesses to thrive. The study concludes that youth’s unemployment has become a major issue of concern not only in Bauchi State but the country at large. The situation requires concerted efforts by individuals, Federal and States governments including stakeholder agencies towards providing a lasting solution in curbing the menace so as to guard against spread of social vices and all forms criminality in the State which is retrogressive to peaceful co-existence and economic growth and development. Keywords: Bauchi State, Entrepreneurship, Development, Sustainable Job Creation, Youths. DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/12-27-02 Publication date:September 30th 202

Biochemical profile, antioxidant effect and antifungal activity of Saudi Ziziphus spina-christi L. for vaginal lotion formulation

Ziziphus spina-christi L. extract from the northern region of Saudi Arabia, was investigated to determine its chemical composition and to evaluate its antioxidant and antifungal properties. Fresh leaves were extracted using Soxhlet apparatus and the yield was 8% w/w. Results of the qualitative study showed that this extract is rich in chemical compounds belonging to several classes (saponins, phenols, tannins). GC-MS analysis detected 38 chemical compounds with different concentrations representing 99.71 % of the total extract. However, Z. spina-christi leaves extract is mainly composed of Octadecanoic acid, 2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)ethylester (18.80%). The extract has free radical scavenging activity at different concentrations and the best result was obtained with IC50 of 148.33 µg/ml. C. albicans and other Candida species caused vulvovaginal candidiasis, which is a high-risk occurrence in hospitalized patients. In vitro antifungal activity was investigated by the agar well diffusion test to measure and compare diameter of zones of inhibition (in mm) against Candida albicans, Candida glabrata and Candida tropicalis. Ethanolic extract of Z. spina-christi demonstrated a substantial inhibitory impact on several Candida species, especially against C. glabrata which has the highest inhibitory effect (90%). Therefore, Saudi Z. spina-christi leaves extract is a source of natural antioxidants and it can be used as well antifungal pharmaceutical product

Challenges to Safe Wheat Storage

There are enormous challenges facing wheat storage, which is the most important crop in existence. Wheat is one of the most famous and important plants in human history. There is no country in the world that does not give up wheat yields. Countries of the world vary and differ in their production and consumption of that important plant. Since ancient times, humans have stored wheat grain in special places. Storage areas were developed until the current silos were reached. With large quantities of wheat stored in silos, there are many challenges to the healthy environment of storage. One of the most important challenges facing quality of wheat stored in silos is the spread of conidia and spores of many dangerous fungi on wheat grains. One of studies conducted by the authors proved presence of some of notorious fungi on and inside wheat mass stored in the silo under study. Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, Circinella umbellata, Gliocladium sp., Penicillium frequentans, P. islandicum, and Ulocladium atrum were isolated from wheat samples. All seven isolated fungi demonstrated their ability to analyze human red blood cells with different strengths. These results are consistent with previous studies that confirm the seriousness of presence of these fungi on the health of dealers and exposers especially with bad storage and humidity

Olive-Pressed Solid Residues as a Medium for Growing Mushrooms and Increasing Soil Fertility

Organic fertilizer is the core of organic farming, which represents the most important way to provide crops and agricultural products that are safe and free of any chemical components and pesticides. From this point of view, the purpose of this study is to provide a source of organic fertilizers which was formerly an environmental problem. The northwestern region of Saudi Arabia is flourishing with olive production, leaving huge amounts of residues called olive press cake (OPC). These wastes are a major environmental pollution despite their good content of carbohydrates, protein, oil and cellulose alongside phenols and lignin. We tested the cultivation of Gliocladium roseum, Pythium oligandrum and Trichoderma harzianum and the mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus on OPC in order to reduce the high percentage of phenols that impede the germination of some plant seeds. Gliocladium roseum, Pythium oligandrum and Pleurotus ostreatus were able to reduce the percentage of phenols to more than 40% and thus support germination of seeds of Eruca sativa. This study gave than one benefit: firstly, reducing phenols that impede the germination of seeds. Secondly, Gliocladium roseum and Pythium oligandrum work against some plant diseases and also produce plant-like hormones that increase growth of plants

Prática como componente curricular na formação inicial do bacharel em educação física

Introdução: As Práticas como Componente Curricular (PCC) no curso de bacharelado em Educação Física procuram aproximar o acadêmico da dimensão teórico-prática para fortalecer a sua formação acadêmica, sendo vivenciada nos diferentes contextos profissionais em que poderá vir a atuar. Objetivo: Este estudo objetivou analisar as contribuições que a Prática como Componente Curricular (PCC) promove para a formação acadêmico/profissional do bacharel em Educação Física. Métodos: Caracteriza-se como pesquisa qualitativa do tipo analítica descritiva. A amostra foi composta de 24 acadêmicos do último período de bacharelado em Educação Física de uma Instituição Pública e outros 54 de Instituição Privada do Estado do Paraná. Utilizou-se como instrumento de coleta de dados um questionário estruturado com duas questões abertas. Os dados foram submetidos à técnica de análise de conteúdo, proposta por Bardin (2011), sendo categorizados e apresentados em forma de quadros. Resultados: Os resultados da Instituição Pública e Instituição Privada destacaram contribuições positivas, sobretudo: a) as potencialidades da formação acadêmica; b) ampliação das capacidades na formação profissional; c) estímulo da capacidade de cooperação para a composição de equipes. Enquanto as não contribuições assinalam que a PCC de algumas disciplinas não estão ocorrendo conforme o proposto em seu Projeto Politico Pedagógico, configurando ausência de planejamento e do envolvimento de alguns docentes na organização do processo da PCC, situação em que parte dos bacharéis acaba não identificando o sentido profissional da PCC ora pelas características superficiais apresentadas no processo formativo, ora por dificuldade pessoal de se adequar ao sistema. Conclusão: Conclui-se que essas limitações implicam processos formativos típicos para os bacharéis que vivenciam a Prática como componente curricular ao longo do curso. ABSTRACT. Practice as a curricular component in the initial training of the graduate in physical education. Backgorund: The practices as a Curricular Component (PCC) in the bachelor degree course in Physical Education aim to bring the college students from the theoretical-practical dimension to strengthen their academic training, being experienced in the different professional contexts in which they may work. Objective: To analyze the contributions that provide the student/ professional with training of the bachelor in Physical Education. Methods: It is characterized as qualitative research of descriptive analytical type. The sample consisted of 24 college students from the last semester in Physical Education degree of a public institution and another 54 from a private institution in the state of Paraná. A survey structured with two open questions was used as a data collection instrument. The data were submitted to the technique of content analysis proposed by Bardin (2011), then being categorized and presented in the form of tables. Results: The results of the Public Institution and Private Institution showed positive contributions, above all: a) the potential of the academic formation; b) capacity building in vocational training; c) stimulation of the capacity of cooperation for the composition of teams. While the non-contributions indicate that the PCC of some disciplines is not taking place according to the one proposed in its political-pedagogical project, it means a lack of planning and the involvement of some teachers in the organization of the PCC process, in which part of the graduates end up not identifying the professional sense of the PCC, or the superficial characteristics presented in the training process, or because of the personal difficulty of adapting to the system. Conclusion: It is concluded that these limitations imply typical training processes for the graduates who experience the practices throughout the course.

Semantic Web: Improving Web Search Using RDF Instead of XML

The aim of this research is to present the possible using of XML and RDF in developing the concept of Semantic Web. It is provide a brief introduction to the Semantic Web and defines related terms, in addition to discuss the optimize method to describe web contents using both XML and RDF. However, there have been different work dealing with the same issue, but our approach is more intended to deal with semantic information and produce different standard format. The approach focus on developing a simulate web search engine to describe and emphasize whether to deploy XML or RDF in web search

Usos e significados da recreação na produção acadêmica

Frente à lacuna sobre o significado da recreação no presente, nosso objetivo foi caracterizar a produção acadêmica sobre recreação no Brasil. Para tanto, realizamos revisão sistemática em torno dos usos da recreação. Os estudos enfocam o valor instrumental e positivado da recreação em relação à educação e à promoção da saúde. Em conclusão, a recreação vem sendo empregada como ferramenta para agenciar o lúdico em algum aspecto da vida: metodologia lúdica para alcançar determinado enfoque educativo ou terapêutico; rol de brincadeiras e jogos visando ao entretenimento; dispositivo de poder, para distração das massas

Immature mice are more susceptible to the detrimental effects of high fat diet on cancellous bone in the distal femur

AbstractWith the increasing prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents, it is imperative to understand the implications of early diet-induced obesity on bone health. We hypothesized that cancellous bone of skeletally immature mice is more susceptible to the detrimental effects of a high fat diet (HFD) than mature mice, and that removing excess dietary fat will reverse these adverse effects. Skeletally immature (5weeks old) and mature (20weeks old) male C57BL/6J mice were fed either a HFD (60% kcal fat) or low fat diet (LFD; 10% kcal fat) for 12weeks, at which point, the trabecular bone structure in the distal femoral metaphysis and third lumbar vertebrae were evaluated by micro-computed tomography. The compressive strength of the vertebrae was also measured. In general, the HFD led to deteriorations in cancellous bone structure and compressive biomechanical properties in both age groups. The HFD-fed immature mice had a greater decrease in trabecular bone volume fraction (BVF) in the femoral metaphysis, compared to mature mice (p=0.017 by 2-way ANOVA). In the vertebrae, however, the HFD led to similar reductions in BVF and compressive strength in the two age groups. When mice on the HFD were switched to a LFD (HFD:LFD) for an additional 12weeks, the femoral metaphyseal BVF in immature mice showed no improvements, whereas the mature mice recovered their femoral metaphyseal BVF to that of age-matched lean controls. The vertebral BVF and compressive strength of HFD:LFD mouse bones, following diet correction, were equivalent to those of LFD:LFD mice in both age groups. These data suggest that femoral cancellous metaphyseal bone is more susceptible to the detrimental effects of HFD before skeletal maturity and is less able to recover after correcting the diet. Negative effects of HFD on vertebrae are less severe and can renormalize with LFD:LFD mice after diet correction, in both skeletally immature and mature animals

NOTCH signaling in skeletal progenitors is critical for fracture repair

Fracture nonunions develop in 10%–20% of patients with fractures, resulting in prolonged disability. Current data suggest that bone union during fracture repair is achieved via proliferation and differentiation of skeletal progenitors within periosteal and soft tissues surrounding bone, while bone marrow stromal/stem cells (BMSCs) and other skeletal progenitors may also contribute. The NOTCH signaling pathway is a critical maintenance factor for BMSCs during skeletal development, although the precise role for NOTCH and the requisite nature of BMSCs following fracture is unknown. Here, we evaluated whether NOTCH and/or BMSCs are required for fracture repair by performing nonstabilized and stabilized fractures on NOTCH-deficient mice with targeted deletion of RBPjk in skeletal progenitors, maturing osteoblasts, and committed chondrocytes. We determined that removal of NOTCH signaling in BMSCs and subsequent depletion of this population result in fracture nonunion, as the fracture repair process was normal in animals harboring either osteoblast- or chondrocyte-specific deletion of RBPjk. Together, this work provides a genetic model of a fracture nonunion and demonstrates the requirement for NOTCH and BMSCs in fracture repair, irrespective of fracture stability and vascularity

Reduced COX-2 Expression in Aged Mice Is Associated With Impaired Fracture Healing

The cellular and molecular events responsible for reduced fracture healing with aging are unknown. Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), the inducible regulator of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) synthesis, is critical for normal bone repair. A femoral fracture repair model was used in mice at either 7–9 or 52–56 wk of age, and healing was evaluated by imaging, histology, and gene expression studies. Aging was associated with a decreased rate of chondrogenesis, decreased bone formation, reduced callus vascularization, delayed remodeling, and altered expression of genes involved in repair and remodeling. COX-2 expression in young mice peaked at 5 days, coinciding with the transition of mesenchymal progenitors to cartilage and the onset of expression of early cartilage markers. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry showed that COX-2 is expressed primarily in early cartilage precursors that co-express col-2. COX-2 expression was reduced by 75% and 65% in fractures from aged mice compared with young mice on days 5 and 7, respectively. Local administration of an EP4 agonist to the fracture repair site in aged mice enhanced the rate of chondrogenesis and bone formation to levels observed in young mice, suggesting that the expression of COX-2 during the early inflammatory phase of repair regulates critical subsequent events including chondrogenesis, bone formation, and remodeling. The findings suggest that COX-2/EP4 agonists may compensate for deficient molecular signals that result in the reduced fracture healing associated with aging