Active Extension Research Articles

Antibacterial and antibiofilm agents in the group of xanthone derivatives with piperazine moiety active against drug-resistant Helicobacter pylori strains

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) cause chronic inflammation of the gastric mucosa which can lead to epithelial atrophy and metaplasia resulting in peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer. The increasing resistance of H. pylori to antibiotics and chemotherapeutics used to treat the infection is a serious problem. However, it has been confirmed that the introduction of effective anti-H. pylori therapy can prevent the progression to cancerous changes. This problem calls for the search for new and effective therapies. Xanthones are a group of compounds with extensive biological activities, including antibacterial activity, also against H. pylori. Addressing this issue, the aim of the study was to evaluate the potential of a group of 13 xanthone derivatives against susceptible and resistant H. pylori strains. Moreover, our objective was to conduct tests aimed at determining their ability to inhibit biofilm formation.The antimicrobial evaluation revealed that benzylpiperazine coupled at the C-2 position to xanthone (compounds C11 and C12) had good selective bacteriostatic activity against reference and clinical H. pylori strains (MBC/MIC ratio >4) but with no activity against other bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Lactobacillus paracasei. Analysis of the activity of compounds C11 and C12 against the biofilm formed by H. pylori strain ATCC 700684, and the clinical strain showed that these compounds caused a significant reduction in the amount of biofilm produced (5–20×). Moreover, cell viability analysis confirmed a 3–4× reduction in the viability of cells forming biofilm after treatment with C11 and C12. Finally,both compounds did not impair human fibroblast viability at tested concentrations and were not mutagenic in the Ames test. Therefore, they could be promising leads as antibacterial candidates for multidrug-resistant strains of H. pylori.

Long-term Coastline Monitoring in the Thanh Hoa Province (Vietnam) Using Landsat 5 and Landsat 8 Data

In recent years, extensive human activities have had a profound impact on the estuaries and coastal areas of Vietnam, most notably in coastal erosion and accretion. This paper used the Landsat multi-temporal data for the period 1988–2022 to assess coastline change in Thanh Hoa province (North Central Vietnam). Water indices calculated from Landsat imagery data, including NDWI, ANDWI, MNDWI, AWEInsh, AWEIsh, and BandWet, are used to extract surface water areas and then vectorize and overlay to estimate shoreline variability. The Otsu thresholding method is used to classify “water surface” and “land objects” and then evaluate the accuracy using the Kappa coefficient. The obtained results show that the ANDWI index has the highest accuracy in extracting the water body of the study area, in which the value of the Kappa coefficient reaches 0.95 compared to 0.91, 0.92, 0.93, 0.92 and 0.92 at using NDWI, MNDWI, AWEInsh, AWEIsh and BandWet indicies. Boundary vectorization and vector image overlays were performed to assess shoreline variability and map shoreline dynamics. The results obtained show that in the northern part of the coastal zone of Thanh Hoa province there is active accretion (increment) of the coastline. The average accretion rate was 150 m/year, the maximum rate was 457 m/year. In contrast, on the southern coast of Thanh Hoa province, coastline erosion predominates with a maximum rate of 38 m/year and an average rate of about 10 m/year.

Effect of intravenous tranexamic acid on postoperative drainage and elbow joint function after traumatic elbow stiffness release

To explore the effect of intravenous tranexamic acid on postoperative drainage and elbow joint function after traumatic elbow stiffness release. The clinical data of 44 patients with elbow joint stiffness who were treated with release surgery between March 2022 and December 2023 and met the selection criteria were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 20 patients were given intravenous infusion of 100 mL (1 g/100 mL, once a day) of tranexamic acid solution for 3 consecutive days after surgery (group A), and 24 patients were not treated with tranexamic acid after surgery (group B). There was no significant difference in baseline data such as gender, age, side, body mass index, initial injury, and preoperative hemoglobin, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, and Mayo elbow function score (MEPS), elbow flexion and extension activity between the two groups ( P>0.05). The drainage volume at 1 day and 3 days after operation, total drainage volume, drainage tube indwelling time, postoperative hospital stay, VAS score before operation and at 1, 2, and 3 days after operation, MEPS score before operation, at 3 months after operation, and at last follow-up, and elbow flexion and extension activity before operation and at last follow-up were recorded and compared between the two groups. Both groups of patients successfully completed the operation, and there was no significant difference in operation time ( P>0.05). The drainage volume at 1 day and 3 days after operation, total drainage volume, drainage tube indwelling time, and postoperative hospital stay in group A were significantly less than those in group B ( P<0.05). Both groups of patients were followed up 6-12 months, with an average of 8.6 months. No complications such as wound infection, elbow joint varus and varus instability or dislocation, and pulmonary embolism or other thromboembolic events occurred in either group. The VAS scores of both groups were significantly higher at 1 day and 2 days after operation than before operation ( P<0.05); the VAS score of group A was significantly lower than that of group B ( P<0.05). The VAS scores of both groups decreased to the preoperative level at 3 months after operation, and there was no significant difference between the two groups ( P>0.05). At 3 months after operation and at last follow-up, the MEPS scores of both groups significantly improved when compared with those before operation ( P<0.05); there was no significant difference between the two groups ( P>0.05). At last follow-up, the postoperative elbow flexion and extension activity of the two groups significantly increased when compared with that before operation ( P<0.05); there was no significant difference in change of elbow flexion and extension activity between the two groups ( P>0.05). Intravenous tranexamic acid for 3 consecutive days after release of traumatic elbow stiffness can significantly reduce postoperative drainage volume, shorten drainage tube indwelling time and hospital stay, and relieve early postoperative pain, but it has no effect on the risk of thrombotic and embolic events and postoperative elbow function.

Multidisciplinary Collaboration and Industry Partnership: Keys for the Development of the Masters of Geomatics in Disaster Risk Reduction Curriculum

Abstract. Despite the high susceptibility of the Philippines to natural disasters, there is a significant lack of human resources focused on disaster risk reduction (DRR). To address this, the University of the Cordilleras, in collaboration with the ERASMUS CBHE Plus Program: Geomatics in Disaster Risk Reduction of the European Union, has developed a curriculum for a GeoDRR program. This program is designed to produce professionals with expertise in disaster risk reduction, geomatics, and remote sensing. The curriculum development employed a mixed-methods approach using the ADDIE (Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, Evaluate) Framework and the DACUM (Developing a Curriculum) method. The ADDIE Framework guided the structured development process, while the DACUM method identified the necessary competencies for students. The resulting UC MGeoDRR curriculum comprises 15 units of Core Courses, 15 units of Professional Courses, 9 units of Electives, and a 6-unit Capstone project. The curriculum is designed to be localized and contextually relevant, integrating DRR into research, innovation, and extension activities. The pilot program is recommended for graduates of related undergraduate programs and DRR professionals and practitioners.

Dune activity history in China's east dunefields over the past millennium

ABSTRACTDune activity encompasses both activation and dune stabilization processes, with the former potentially threatening the sustainability of global ecosystems and human societies. Research on historical dune activity has raised concern among environmental scientists and serves as a foundation for assessing recent and future changes in arid and semi‐arid ecosystems. Disagreements related to the causes of historical dune activation persist because of the lack of a more detailed dune activity history for China's east dunefields. Based on stratigraphic evidence, historical documents and archaeological discoveries in the Mu Us and Horqin dunefields, this study presents a detailed dune activity history as well as the forcing mechanisms for China's east dunefields as a whole over the past millennium. The results revealed that two episodes of extensive dune activation (from 800 to 940 ce and from 1300 to 2000 ce) occurred in China's east dunefields, accounting for 69% of the past millennium. The proportions of extensive dune activation driven by a cold and dry climate (from 800 to 940 ce and from 1300 to 1730 ce), strong human activity (from 1900 to 2000 ce) and their combined impacts (from 1730 to 1900 ce) were approximately 68%, 12% and 20%, respectively. Thus, China's east dunefields were in a state of extensive dune activation for most of the past millennium, and most extensive dune activation was driven by climate. Local or sporadic dune activation occurred from 940 to 1300 ce and since 2000 ce in China's east dunefields, which was caused by strong human activity.

Logic of internship learning in hybrid engineering workplace settings: a sociomaterial assemble of digital tools, humans and activities

ABSTRACT During the recent pandemic, established modes of organising internships in engineering were disrupted; Internships often transitioned into hybrid formats with extensive online activity. But, empirical research on the quality of learning in engineering during these exceptional circumstances is limited. This study therefore examines internship experiences among engineering undergraduates (N = 39) in Singapore through semi-structured interviews conducted at two different time points. Thematic analysis revealed four challenges encountered by interns when access to engineering sites was disrupted. These included changes to processes of learning through the reorganisation of work routines requiring interns to adeptly utilise diverse technological tools and digital platforms for remote collaboration. Interns faced difficulties in gaining insights into the logic of engineering work through disrupted workflow. This was not helped when their learning experiences were also contingent upon the availability of meaningful work tasks. Finally, interns had to adapt to virtual and on-demand networking as a means of integrating into the engineering practice. Thus, the shift presented both challenges and opportunities for interns to learn about engineering in unprecedented ways. This research sheds light on how interns adapt during severe disruptions to engineering work environments, emphasising the importance of considering the sociomaterial context for supporting interns in hybrid workplaces.

First report of aflatoxin and ochratoxin contamination in ginger collected from different agroclimatic zones from Punjab, Pakistan

Ginger, a fresh rhizome, an economically important spice with extensive nutraceutical activities finds itself in vegetable and therapeutic market. Aflatoxins (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2) along with ochratoxin A (OTA) are the most significant and the most toxic form of mycotoxins which are produced by various fungi. This study was initiated to assess the contamination of AFs and OTA in raw and dried ginger products, collected from different agro-climatic zones in Punjab, Pakistan employing the high performance liquid chromatography. We found all (raw ginger samples commercial ginger powders) samples contaminated with AFB1 (range: 29.88-1060.12μg/kg). AFB2 contamination was much lower (range: 0 to 17.54μg/kg). Variable contamination of AFG1 was also observed (range: 0 to 170.58μg/kg) whereas AFG2 contamination was found in only three (range: 0 to 21.88 μg/kg) out of 19 raw ginger samples. OTA contamination ranged from 0.05-3.42μg/kg. Ginger samples from lower altitudes (<1000 m) were more contaminated with AFB1 sub type mycotoxin. Keeping in view that the toxicity of AFs is in the order of B1>G1> B2>G2, it was alarming to find that 100% of the samples were contaminated with AFB1 way beyond the permissible limits. Our very first report about the contamination of ginger with AFs presents a grave health issue because of wide use of ginger. We conclude that ginger production in Pakistan needs to be carefully crafted and due diligence is needed during ginger cultivation, harvest and post-harvest operations because the amount of aflatoxins detected in this study are very much above the permissible limits. In this regard, ginger storage in cooler environments such as refrigerator should be encouraged to contain the AFs proliferation.

Analysis of the Effect of Insufficient Community Engagement in Land Registration through the Lens of Sunaryati Hartono's Typology of Legal Culture

Abstract: This research discusses the factors that cause low community participation in land registration in Sukoanyar Village and the impacts caused, as well as efforts made by the village government to improve land registration. We employ a juridical sociological research method, examining actual community situations to gather necessary facts and data. The findings demonstrated that Sukoanyar Village's low land registration phenomenon remains rooted in a pre-conventional legal culture. This is evident in the community's local customs, which include the conviction that they possess physical control over their land, negating the need for a certificate, their egocentric interests, and their disinterest in government land registration initiatives. The low interest of the community in registering land has several impacts on the certainty of their land rights, including uncertainty of ownership, proneness to disputes, and limited utilization of land ownership rights. In response to this phenomenon, the Sukoanyar Village government made several efforts to improve land registration in the village, including (a) conducting extension and socialization activities involving all villagers to increase public understanding of the importance of land certification and (b) participating in the Complete Systematic Land Registration (PTSL) program conducted by the government through ATR/BPN. Keywords: Community Participation, Land Registration, Legal Culture, Land Certificate.

Pemanfaatan Isi Rumen Sapi Sebagai Substitusi Dedak pada Pembuatan UMB (Urea Mollasses Block) untuk Pakan Sapi di Kelompok Tani Jaya Abadi Desa Larangan dalam Pamekasan

This devotion aims to utilise cow rumen contents as a substitute for bran in making Urea Molasses Blok (UMB), which is used as additional feed for the Jaya Abadi Farmer Group, Larangan Dalam Village, Pamekasan Regency. The form of community service activities are: (1) train participants' skills to be able to make UMB products; (2) produce UMB products as a business product for the Farmer group. The activity consists of three stages, namely (1) preparation of service activities; (2) preparation of UMB training activities; (3) training in making UMB rumen contents. The extension activities were attended by 20 participants, consisting of 55% women and 45% men. The participants owned 55% goats and 45% cows, so the training results were expected to be developed. The results of the training on making UMB from rumen contents have provided additional knowledge to members of the Jaya Abadi Farmer Group. In conclusion, the evaluation results after the UMB making training, there is a very real increase in the understanding of the training participants on how to make UMB and its utilisation for livestock.

METODE PENYULUHAN KELOMPOK DALAM BUDIDAYA PADI SAWAH DI DESA LEBO JAYA KECAMATAN KONDA KABUPATEN KONAWE SELATAN

The implementation of extension activities is confronted with a multitude of challenges and difficulties. It is therefore imperative for extension workers to possess a comprehensive understanding of the most appropriate and productive extension methods in the context of agricultural extension activities. The objective of this study was to ascertain the efficacy of group extension methods in paddy rice cultivation and to elucidate the relationship between the two. The study population consisted of all rice paddy farmers in Lebo Jaya Village, Konda Subdistrict, with a total of 104 farmers. The sample size was determined using the Slovin formula, with a degree of error or margin of error of 15%, resulting in a research sample of 31 respondents. The sampling technique employed was simple random sampling. The data were collected via survey, interview, and document analysis, using various media in the form of questionnaires. The research employed a quantitative approach. The research variables were twofold, comprising group extension methods and paddy rice cultivation activities. The data were subjected to quantitative descriptive analysis, employing the class interval formula and the Spearman rank correlation equation. The findings indicated that the implementation of group extension methods in paddy rice cultivation in Lebo Jaya Village was classified as "good." The aforementioned activities, which pertain to paddy rice cultivation specifically, land preparation, seed selection, irrigation, fertilization, pest and disease control have been classified as "good." The level of application of group counseling methods is found to be significantly and positively related to the cultivation of wet rice in Lebo Jaya Village. The correlation value is 0.542, and the significance of 0.002 is less than 0.05. The strength of the relationship between group extension methods and paddy rice cultivation activities is moderately strong. This indicates that an improvement in the method of agricultural counseling will result in an improvement in rice paddy farming activities in Lebo Jaya Village, Konda Subdistrict, South Konawe District.

Polyethyleneimine facilitates the growth and electrophysiological characterization of iPSC-derived motor neurons.

Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology, in combination with electrophysiological characterization via multielectrode array (MEA), has facilitated the utilization of iPSC-derived motor neurons (iPSC-MNs) as highly valuable models for underpinning pathogenic mechanisms and developing novel therapeutic interventions for motor neuron diseases (MNDs). However, the challenge of MN adherence to the MEA plate and the heterogeneity presented in iPSC-derived cultures raise concerns about the reproducibility of the findings obtained from these cellular models. We discovered that one novel factor modulating the electrophysiological activity of iPSC-MNs is the extracellular matrix (ECM) used in the coating to support in vitro growth, differentiation and maturation of iPSC-MNs. The current study showed that two coating conditions, namely, Poly-L-ornithine/Matrigel (POM) and Polyethyleneimine (PEI) strongly promoted attachment of iPSC-MNs on MEA culture dishes compared to three other coating conditions, and both facilitated the maturation of iPSC-MNs as characterized by the detection of extensive electrophysiological activities from the MEA plates. POM coating accelerated the maturation of the iPSC-MNs for up to 5weeks, which suits modeling of neurodevelopmental disorders. However, the application of PEI resulted in more even distribution of the MNs on the culture dish and reduced variability of electrophysiological signals from the iPSC-MNs in 7-week cultures, which permitted the detection of enhanced excitability in iPSC-MNs from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This study provides a comprehensive comparison of five coating conditions and offers POM and PEI as favorable coatings for in vitro modeling of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders, respectively.

MODAL SOSIAL PENYULUH: PERAN KEPERCAYAAN DALAM KEGIATAN PENYULUHAN PERTANIAN DI KOTA KENDARI

The objective of this study was to ascertain the extent of social capital among extension workers in Kendari City, with a particular focus on the role of trust in the implementation of effective agricultural extension activities. The study population consisted of all agricultural extension workers in Kendari City, numbering 63 individuals. The research sample was selected using the census technique, which involves taking the entire population, resulting in a sample size of 63 respondents. The data were collected via survey, interview, and document analysis techniques, employing a variety of media formats, including questionnaires. The research variables concentrated on the social capital of extension workers, specifically in the context of trust in agricultural extension activities. This research employs a quantitative methodology. The data were analyzed using a quantitative descriptive approach. This method employs mathematical and statistical calculations for testing, measurement, and hypothesis testing. The findings indicated that the social capital of the extension workers in Kendari City, specifically their trust in agricultural extension activities, has been effectively implemented. Trust in agricultural extension activities is a crucial element in the success of extension work. The relationship between extension workers and farmers plays a pivotal role in this process. By fostering effective communication and mutual respect, trust can be established, which in turn will encourage the adoption of more effective and sustainable agricultural practices.

Recent Progress on the Synthesis, Biological Activity of Fused Pyrimidines from Azole Amines

AbstractFused pyrimidines are a class of heterocyclic compounds that have gained considerable interest due to their extensive biological activities and potential applications in drug development. This review article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest synthetic approaches to fused pyrimidines, including Michael reactions, multicomponent reactions, metal‐catalyzed reactions, photocatalytic reactions, peroxide‐mediated reactions, and inverse electron demand Diels–Alder reactions. Furthermore, the biological activities of these compounds, such as their ability to combat cancer and microbial infections, are also discussed. This review article summarizes the existing literature on the synthesis and biological activity of fused pyrimidines from 2020 to 2023. We hope this review article will inspire the development of more effective and less toxic fused pyrimidine drugs with well‐designed structures.

PELATIHAN PEMANFAATAN LIMBAH PERTANIAN SEBAGAI PUPUK ORGANIK DI KELURAHAN KALAMPANGAN KECAMATAN SEBANGAU KOTA PALANGKA RAYA

Kalampangan Village is known as a transmigration area that has advanced in the agricultural sector, especially vegetable crops and is the largest supplier of vegetables in Palangka Raya City. One effort to increase peat soil fertility is through fertilization. So far, fertilization has mostly used inorganic fertilizers. Excessive inorganic fertilizer can disrupt soil health, besides being expensive and sometimes rare on the market. Farmers now cannot clear land by burning it, so that the resulting weeds pile up around the land. At harvest time, a lot of harvest waste is not utilized optimally. So far, it has only been buried in the ground fresh as green manure and animal feed. One effort to overcome the problem of accumulated weeds and crop residue is to make organic fertilizer (compost). Compost contains nutrients that plants need and is able to repair soil structure damaged by too much inorganic fertilizer. The objectives of the activity are: 1) Utilizing agricultural waste as organic fertilizer; 2). Providing skills in making quality organic fertilizer. The method used is counseling and training in making organic fertilizer. The extension and training activities were attended by 10 members of the farmer group. Training on making compost was carried out using broadleaf weeds and sweet corn harvest waste. Composting is carried out for 3 weeks to 1 month. The characteristics of compost that is ready to use are blackish brown color, crumb structure, coolness and compost aroma. The compost produced is of sufficient quality with the nutrient content N, P and K meeting organic fertilizer quality standards. Farmers are very enthusiastic about making compost and hope that later it can be applied in growing vegetables in Kalampangan Village.

ASSESSING POTATO CULTIVATION TECHNIQUES IN PAKISTAN: AN ANALYSIS OF EXISTING METHODS AND IDENTIFIED GAPS

The potato is an important crop in vegetables. It is grown in sandy to clay-loamy soil in the winter season. Potassium and vitamin C are abundant in potatoes. Both governmental and private agriculture extension services actively educate farmers about suggested techniques for producing potatoes and offer guidance on how to implement these practices. This study aimed to investigate the discrepancy between accepted and advised potato production technology techniques. Pakistan's primary potato hub is Okara. Tehsil Okara was selected randomly from 3 tehsils (Okara, Depalpur, Renala Khurd) of district Okara. A random sampling was carried out for 120 Okara potato growers, the study's key data were gathered through a field survey. According to the survey, most farmers were aware of the suggested potato production technology and many had already embraced it. However, a sizable portion did not follow the advised guidelines. Therefore, to get a high yield of potatoes per acre, it is necessary to strengthen the efforts of extension services and implement more advanced advice. Extension activities must be adjusted to farmers' needs.

Echinacoside inhibits tumor immune evasion by downregulating inducible PD-L1 and reshaping tumor immune landscape in breast and colorectal cancer

BackgroundTargeting PD-L1 has become a crucial approach in tumor immunotherapy. Echinacoside (ECH) is a natural compound known for its extensive biological activities, its impact on antitumor immunity remains uncertain. PurposeThis work was designed to assess the effects of ECH on the PD-L1/PD-1-mediated tumor immune evasion and its underlying mechanisms. MethodsFlow cytometry and RT-qPCR were utilized to explore the influence of ECH on PD-L1 expression. Western blot was employed to examine the mechanism by which ECH might modulate PD-L1 expression. Flow cytometry was conducted to evaluate the influence of ECH therapy, or the synergistic effects of ECH combined with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) on tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) in tumor-burden mice. Blood biochemistry tests were used to evaluate the safety of ECH treatment. ResultsECH downregulated both the protein and mRNA expression levels of IFN-γ-induced PD-L1 through JAK/STAT1/IRF1 signaling pathway. ECH treatment upregulated the infiltration of IFN-γ+CD8+ T cells and Ki-67+CD8+ T cells, lowered the frequency of TIM-3+PD-1+ T cells, promoted the infiltration of effector CD4+ T cells and total CD8+ T cells while suppressed the percentage of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC). Moreover, the combination of ECH and anti-PD-1 or anti-CTLA-4 therapy exhibited synergistic anti-tumor effects, reshaping TIME. Blood biochemistry tests unveiled that ECH did not show additional toxicity. ConclusionECH upregulates the expression of inducible PD-L1 through the JAK/STAT1/IRF1 signaling pathway, enhances T cell function, and reshapes the tumor immune landscape into an anti-tumor phenotype. Importantly, ECH markedly enhances the efficacy of ICB treatment, indicating its potential application in anti-tumor therapy.

Exploring Spatial Dynamics of Water Quality in a Tropical Lake Affected by Aquaculture

Lake Maninjau, like many surface water bodies worldwide, faces significant water pollution challenges due to extensive aquaculture activities, making it an ideal site to study the impact of fish farming on water quality, which has contributed to eutrophication and declining water quality. This study investigates the physicochemical parameters and pollution levels in the lake, aiming to provide insights into its environmental health. In August 2022, a comprehensive sampling campaign was undertaken at nine stations within the upper layers of open water and littoral zones of Lake Maninjau. In situ measurements, including temperature, dissolved oxygen, and pH, were conducted, accompanied by water sample collection for laboratory analysis of trace elements and heavy metals. Our study revealed notable variability in water parameters across different sites, with surface water layers exhibiting the greatest differences. While certain parameters such as temperature and conductivity remain relatively stable, pH levels show a decreasing trend with increasing water depth. Dissolved oxygen levels vary widely, while oxidation–reduction potential indicates water pollution, particularly in littoral zones. Potassium dominance within cations likely suggests anthropogenic influences, notably from aquaculture activities, that may also contribute to nutrient enrichment and heavy metal pollution. Elevated levels of total nitrogen and ammonia underscore the lake’s moderate pollution levels, with heavy metals such as mercury exceeding permissible limits, posing risks to aquatic life and human health.

Exploring the Socio-economic Conditions of Potato Farmers in Farrukhabad District of Uttar Pradesh, India

This study investigates the socio-economic profile of potato growers in Farrukhabad district, Uttar Pradesh, aiming to understand their demographic composition, educational background, caste distribution, marital status, family structure, landholding size, occupation, income levels, social participation, and possession of farming resources. A sample of 100 respondents cultivating potatoes as the main crop was selected from Kamalganj block, Farrukhabad district. Data were collected through personal interviews using a pre-structured schedule and analyzed using percentages. The results reveal that the majority of respondents are middle-aged, literate, and belong to scheduled castes. Most respondents are married and come from joint families with medium-sized households. Marginal and small landholdings dominate, and agriculture is the primary occupation, supplemented by subsidiary activities such as dairying and business. Income levels vary, with a significant proportion falling within the medium-income bracket. Social participation is moderate, with most respondents engaging in multiple organizations. Farm resources such as farm power and implements are moderately possessed. Extension services and information sources play a crucial role, with most respondents exhibiting moderate contact. This study provides valuable insights into the socio-economic landscape influencing agricultural practices among potato growers, which can inform policy formulation and extension activities aimed at fostering agricultural development and rural prosperity.

Influence of socio-economic variables and extension inhibitors on food sovereignty in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

This study assessed the influence of socio-economic variables and extension inhibitors on food sovereignty in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. This study identified and proffered solutions to extension inhibitors to food sovereignty. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select one hundred and twenty respondents used for the study. Data analysis comprised the use of percentages, frequency, means and Tobit regression model. The result of the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents showed that 27.50% of the respondents were from 41 and more years of age, while 25.00% were within the age range of 31 to 40 years. 8.33% of them were in the age brackets of 20 to 30 years. Majority of the farmers were very strong, agile and could adopt extension teaching methods easily. About 49.17% of the respondents were at tertiary level of education, while 23.32% had primary level of education. The result showed the mean (x ̅) response rate of extension inhibitors on food sovereignty as follows; inadequacy of funds (x ̅ = 4.65), use of poorly trained personnel (x ̅ = 4.04), ineffective research extension linkage (x ̅ =4.21), lack of evaluation (x ̅ = 4.422), poor policy (x ̅ = 4.04) among other factors. The hypothesis showed that gender, marital status and farm size were positive and significant at 1% level of probability. The result of the HO1, showed that any increase in farm size led to a corresponding increase in the probability and intensity of extension inhibitors on food sovereignty in the study area. Also, the coefficient of education was positively signed but not significant. This showed that education though very important but had no severe influence on the extension inhibitors. In the result, there was significant relationship between socio-economic variables and extension inhibitors on food sovereignty in the study area. The study concluded that some of the inhibitors of extension on food sovereignty are; inadequate funding, lack of extension service evaluation on food sovereignty situations, ineffective research extension linkage and use of poorly trained personnel. The study also concluded that majority of the farmers are of age and well educated to positively influence extension inhibitors with the view to improving food sovereignty situations in the study area. It was recommended that women being the majority in the study area should be involved in extension activities and evaluation, with a view to improving on food sovereignty. Key words: Akwa Ibom, Extension, Food Sovereignty, Influence, Inhibitors, Socio-economic and Variables

Detecting active sinkholes through combination of morphometric-cluster assessment and deformation precursors

Sinkhole hazards pose considerable challenges in the west-central region of Texas. This study integrates multisource datasets and innovative techniques to detect early sinkhole development and identify the processes governing their formation. The techniques employed encompass feature extraction, cluster analysis, and deformation process monitoring. Potential sinkholes were initially mapped using high-resolution elevation data, and a circularity index (CI) threshold value of 0.85 was applied to filter out depressions with noncircular shapes. Subsequently, Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSInSAR) followed by the Getis-Ord Gi* statistic methods were used to identify statistically significant subsidence clusters with rates of <−2 mm/yr, indicating active sinkhole formation. The findings reveal the following: (1) surface deformation analysis revealed significant subsidence hotspots, particularly in areas underlain by units containing significant sequences of evaporites, which nominally belong to the Clear Fork Group and the Blaine Formation, compared with those dominated by carbonates; (2) potential sinkholes are undergoing displacement up to a rate of −11.31 mm/yr, and (3) extreme groundwater pumping of karst aquifers and the subsequent decline in groundwater levels are found to be the leading causes of the susceptibility of the region to sinkhole hazards. In such cases, the decline of the water table deprives the overlying bedrock of buoyant support provided by the groundwater in the cavity. The bedrock will undergo sagging subsidence under the influence of gravity and eventually form a sinkhole. Extensive oil and gas activity in the study area, including extreme withdrawal rates and the injection of fluids associated with the activity, are other potential causes of the observed sinkhole susceptibility in several parts of the study area. This study underscores the importance of understanding the geologic, hydrologic, and anthropogenic factors driving sinkhole hazards for effective mitigation strategies to protect public safety, infrastructure, and the environment.