PERCEIVED CORRELATION BETWEEN COMMUNICATION STYLES AND INTERPERSONAL CONFLICT RESOLUTION AMONG INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN MALAYSIA

Background and Purpose: A good and fulfilling relationship among individuals from distinct cultural backgrounds depends on effective communication. This research examined the perceived relationship between communication styles and interpersonal conflict resolution among international students in Malaysian universities.   Methodology: The study employed a cross-sectional survey in which self-developed structured questionnaires were used to gather data from a random sample of 324 international students in 15 higher institutions across Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The data were analyzed using multiple regression analysis.   Findings: The findings of this study revealed a significant positive relationship between communication styles and interpersonal conflict resolution among international students. Specifically, passive, passive-aggressive, and assertive communication styles have a significant positive relationship with conflict resolution. However, the aggressive communication style exerts an insignificant effect on conflict resolution with a t-value of 0.734 and a P-value of 0.463. Thus, the students generally believe this style does not help to resolve interpersonal conflict. These outcomes suggest the students’ readiness for cultivating a peaceful learning environment.   Contributions: This study provides relevant information that can help educational decision-makers to strengthen cross-cultural collaboration among international students in the Malaysian context. This valuable information can also facilitate successful academic, professional, and social cooperation.   Keywords: Cross-cultural relationship, interpersonal conflict resolution, communication styles, international students, Malaysia.   Cite as: Mohammed, S., Nasidi, Q. Y., Muhammed, M. U., Umar, M. M., & Hassan, I. (2023). Perceived correlation between communication styles and interpersonal conflict resolution among international students in Malaysia. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 8(2), 352-372. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol8iss2pp352-37

Physiochemical properties of biodiesel produced from ogbono (Irvingia gabonesis) seed oil

Biodiesel is a promising alternative fuel and has gained significant attention due to the predicted depletion of conventional fossil fuels and environmental concerns. This study aims to produce biodiesel from ogbono seed oil (using 98 ml methanol and 2g potassium hydroxide (KOH) as a catalyst) via transesterification process and to determine the physiochemical properties of the biodiesel produced. The physiochemical properties of the feedstock (extracted ogbono seed oil) were also determined before the transesterification process. The physiochemical properties of the produced biodiesel showed that it has a density of 0.5±0.00 g/cm3, pour point of 2.0±0, saponification value of 58.90±0.06 mg KOH/g, ester value of 98.0±0.5% (m/m), iodine value of 26.64±0.15gI2/100g, acid value of 0.28±0.05 mgKOH/g, moisture value of 0.0006 ±0.0% and trace amounts of ash content. The results of the physiochemical properties of the produced biodiesel agree with ASTM-D6751 and EN 14214 standard. Thus, it was concluded that ogbono seed oil is an excellent feedstock for biodiesel production via base catalyzed transesterification proces

Characteristics of COVID-19 cases and factors associated with their mortality in Katsina State, Nigeria, April-July 2020

Introduction: COVID-19 was first detected in Daura, Katsina State, Nigeria on 4 April 2020. We characterized the cases and outlined factors associated with mortality. Methods: We analysed the COVID-19 data downloaded from Surveillance Outbreak Response, Management and Analysis System between 4 April and 31 July 2020. We defined a case as any person with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test within that period. We described the cases in time, person, and place; calculated the crude and adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for factors associated with mortality. Results: We analysed 744 confirmed cases (median age 35, range 1-90), 73% males and 24 deaths (Case fatality rate 3.2%, Attack rate 8.5/100,000). The outbreak affected 31 districts, started in week 14, peaked in week 26, and is ongoing. Highest proportion of cases in the age groups were 26.7% (184) in 30-39, 21.7% (153) in 20-29 years, and 18.3% (129) in 40-49 years. While the highest case fatality rates in the age groups were 35.7% in 70-79, 33.3% in 80-89 years, and 19.4% in 60-69 years. Factors associated with death were cough (AOR: 9.88, 95% CI: 1.29-75.79), age ≥60 years (AOR: 18.42, 95% CI: 7.48-45.38), and male sex (AOR: 4.4, 95% CI: 0.98-20.12). Conclusion: Male contacts below 40 years carried the burden of COVID-19. Also, persons 60 years and above, with cough have an increased risk of dying from COVID-19. Risk communication should advocate for use of preventive measures, protection of persons 60 years and above, and consideration of cough as a red-flag sign

Humoral immunological kinetics of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection and diagnostic performance of serological assays for coronavirus disease 2019: an analysis of global reports

As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to rise and second waves are reported in some countries, serological test kits and strips are being considered to scale up an adequate laboratory response. This study provides an update on the kinetics of humoral immune response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and performance characteristics of serological protocols (lateral flow assay [LFA], chemiluminescence immunoassay [CLIA] and ELISA) used for evaluations of recent and past SARS-CoV-2 infection. A thorough and comprehensive review of suitable and eligible full-text articles was performed on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Wordometer and medRxiv from 10 January to 16 July 2020. These articles were searched using the Medical Subject Headings terms 'COVID-19', 'Serological assay', 'Laboratory Diagnosis', 'Performance characteristics', 'POCT', 'LFA', 'CLIA', 'ELISA' and 'SARS-CoV-2'. Data from original research articles on SARS-CoV-2 antibody detection >= second day postinfection were included in this study. In total, there were 7938 published articles on humoral immune response and laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19. Of these, 74 were included in this study. The detection, peak and decline period of blood anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM, IgG and total antibodies for point-of-care testing (POCT), ELISA and CLIA vary widely. The most promising of these assays for POCT detected anti-SARS-CoV-2 at day 3 postinfection and peaked on the 15th day; ELISA products detected anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG at days 2 and 6 then peaked on the eighth day; and the most promising CLIA product detected anti-SARS-CoV-2 at day 1 and peaked on the 30th day. The most promising LFA, ELISA and CLIA that had the best performance characteristics were those targeting total SARS-CoV-2 antibodies followed by those targeting anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG then IgM. Essentially, the CLIA-based SARS-CoV-2 tests had the best performance characteristics, followed by ELISA then POCT. Given the varied performance characteristics of all the serological assays, there is a need to continuously improve their detection thresholds, as well as to monitor and re-evaluate their performances to assure their significance and applicability for COVID-19 clinical and epidemiological purposes

Composting of tannery waste with cow manure and rice bran

The tannery waste contain utilizable nutrients and toxic organic compound which might affect soil processes and plants growth, and pathogens which might pose a threat to the local environmental communities. The study was designed to investigate the development of tannery waste collected from Unique leather finishing company Sharada, Kano, Nigeria, to compost Cow manure and Rice bran. Tannery waste was composted with cow manure and rice brand for sixty (60) days to reduce pathogens and toxic organic compounds. The compost was characterized by electric conductivity (EC) of 10.11µs/cm, pH of 7.62 and Carbon-Nitrogen (C: N) ratio of 28.8. The total concentration of Chromium, Lead, Cadmium, Copper, Zinc and Iron as mg/kg were 57.2, 0.92, 12.50, 60.50, 13.60 and 1101.00 respectively. No Salmonella sp. and Shigella sp. were detected in the compost, however, total bacterial counts decrease from 8.2 x108 cfu/g to 1.8 x106 cfu/g, the compost characteristics indicated that it was mature, and the germination index of the beans seed was 80% which may suggest the removal of most of the phototoxic compound. Key words; Composting, Heavy metals, Organic matter changes, Pathogens, Tannery wastes

Comparative analysis of the nutritional, biochemical and hematological parameters of pregnant women attending the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Despite the efforts to encourage the intake of nutritional supplements during antenatal periods, there are still many cases of anemia and protein-energy malnutrition during pregnancy. Hence, this study determined the incidence of anemia, protein-energy malnutrition, and associated risk factors among pregnant women in Abuja, Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This hospital-based, case-control study involved randomly selected 176 pregnant and non-pregnant women attending the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), Gwagwalada, Nigeria. Hemoglobin and hematocrit measurements were used to determine anemia incidence, while plasma protein, zinc levels and body mass index (BMI) were used to determine energy index status. Complete blood counts were analyzed using 5 parts-automatic hemo-analyzer, while plasma protein and zinc were analyzed using calorimetric method. Anemia and protein-energy malnutrition were defined using the World Health Organization (WHO) cut-off values. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 28.75 ± 5.22 years. Out of 176 participants, 7 (4%) were malnourished while 25% of the participants were anemic. Anemia was significantly associated with participants’ occupation (p = 0.002), parity (p<0.001) and gestational age (p<0.001). Most hematological indices, plasma globulin, albumin, protein, and zinc levels were significantly different (p<0.001) among non-pregnant and pregnant women of the first, second and third trimesters. CONCLUSION: The incidence of anemia and malnutrition was high among study participants. There is a need for improved nutritional intervention, increased awareness and strengthening of health systems in the area of maternal health in Nigeria