Skyline University Nigeria

Insomnia Among University Students

Insomnia is a universal epidemy amongst university students, and it is related to a number of psychiatric disorders. Insomnia is a disorder condition in which an individual has trouble sleeping or staying asleep, and it is linked to a number of psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety. More than 100 million Africans of all ages are sleep deprived. Sleep is very essential. Sleep deprivation can have an adverse effect on academic and occupational performance, interpersonal relationships, mental well-being, and safety. According to numerous recent studies, insomnia is a communal psychiatric dilemma among college students and university students. Further studies have established that poor sleeping habits are prevalent among undergraduate students across the globe. Sleep quality and quantity have changed as a result of the advancement of technology, such as the use of social media, the internet, and so on, and there is a significant relationship between insomnia and the use of these technologies. Most adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night, but the quantity of sleep needed to properly function varies from person to person. The quantity and quality of your sleep are equally important. Insomnia is more common in women than in men. Pregnancy and hormonal changes can interfere with sleep. Insomnia becomes more prevalent after the age of 60. Older people may be less likely to sleep soundly due to physiological changes associated with aging, along with health issues or medications that disrupt sleep. Many factors, including psychological, environmental, and physiological issues, can contribute to the development of insomnia Work, relationships, and financial difficulties, amongst others, are examples of life stressors, including unhealthy eating and sleeping traditions and chronic pain caused by arthritis, fibromyalgia, or other diseases. Hormone fluctuations are caused by thyroid disease, menopause, menstruation, or other factors. There is no specific test for diagnosing insomnia. It is critical to review your sleep history with your doctor in order to diagnose insomnia. Students’ physical and mental health can be negatively affected by sleep deprivation in the long run. Sleep medications should only be administered on rare occasions or for a short period of time, as prescribed by doctors. They are not the first line of treatment for chronic insomnia. Changes in your lifestyle, before going to bed, avoid large meals, caffeine, and alcohol. Reduce your intake of caffeine, such as coffee, soda, and chocolate, throughout the day and especially at night. Remove smartphones, TVs, laptops, and other screens at least 30 minutes before going to bed. Stop smoking. Make your bedroom a dark, quiet, and cool haven. Relax with relaxing music, a good book, or media. Although the pervasiveness of insomnia amongst people is increasing on a daily basis, university students have acknowledged less thoughtfulness than others. According to one study, one-third of the adult population in various countries suffers from insomnia symptoms, while others found a high dominance of insomnia without using any preventive and regimented measures, and still, others only use quantitative scales to assess the rate of insomnia. Reference Huang Y, Zhao N. Generalized anxiety disorder, depressive symptoms and sleep quality during COVID-19 outbreak in China: a web-based cross-sectional survey. Psychiatry Res. (2020) 288:112954. 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.112954 Darchia, N., Oniani, N., Sakhelashvili, I., Supatashvili, M., Basishvili, T., Eliozishvili, M., Maisuradze, L., & Cervena, K. (2018). Relationship between sleep disorders and health related quality of life—Results from the Georgia SOMNUS study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(8), 1588. https://doi.org/10.3390/ ijerph15081588 Riemann, D., Nissen, C., Palagini, L., Otte, A., Perlis, M. L., & Spiegelhalder, K. (2015). The neurobiology, investi- gation, and treatment of chronic insomnia. The Lancet Neurology, 14(5), 547–558. https://doi.org/10. 1016/S1474-4422(15)00021-6 Jiang, X.-L., Zheng, X.-Y., Yang, J., C-p, Y., Chen, Y.-Y., Zhang, Z.-G., & Xiao, Z.-J. (2015). A systematic review of studies on the prevalence of insomnia in university students. Public Health, 129(12), 1579–1584. https:// doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2015.07.030

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How to Enhance Positivity and Productivity During University Days

Just like the start of any new adventure, every undergraduate started the academic journey with some aspirations and dreams that they wished to accomplish. The undergraduate years promised new opportunities and experiences. Hence, the desire to set achievable goals to study productively while also staying mentally and physically healthy. To stay positive and productive, therefore, one will have to really plan out their day. For example, map out one or two things that you will like to achieve in a day, a week, or for the semester. It’s possible for students to feel overwhelmed with work at the start of the semester but goal setting will help you feel a sense of accomplishment of having achieved something you’ve planned all along. This attitude will help you contribute significantly to a more positive mindset and boost your study efficiency. In addition, after every study, ensure you have covered every learning outcome listed in the study guide of your respective courses by taking notes from multi-volume textbooks and jotting down important points. This move will help you to understand and link content and to identify certain topics that you find hitherto, more challenging. Students can ask for immediate help either from their peers or their faculty if it is needed. This technique is especially helpful to reduce stress, fight fatigue and enhance productivity levels. Students first need to recognize that they need help, and then they need to know that they’ll be supported when they ask for it. Finally, avoid procrastination and make sure you are taking a lot of breaks and being kind to yourself for making all the sacrifices. After all, after every hard work, comes a reward.

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Tips to Help You Stay Focused On Your Study Objectives

At the beginning of every academic journey, while education seemed like the stepping stone toward helping one achieve their dream, it is ok to feel discouraged sometimes but equally important is the desire and zeal to keep going strong until you can meet your end goal. Abiding by one’s study objectives is a tough decision to make and even tougher to abide by. At the end of the day, everything will work out if you remain focused on the end objective. Here are some tips to help you stay focused on your study objectives and inspire you to complete your studies. Imagine It Each time you feel discouraged about things not going your way, try to stay motivated through visualization. People say, if you can learn to imagine it, you can achieve it. So, in such cases, you can close your eyes and see yourself graduating from the University in the time assigned as per your completion schedule. You can imagine your names being called among the graduates and seeing yourself walk down the convocation arena a victor. Plan your day as per your schedule Many times, students may decide to study but their strengths may decide to do differently. It’s important to be the master of your time and plan your day as per your schedule and not by your strengths. Give studies your priority in terms of timing and whatever time was left, can be allocated to other extra-curricular activities, such as the students club, and volunteering activities, among other campus Programmemes. Let your vision be the one thing that kept you going The one thing that should keep you going should be your vision and your goals, what you aimed to achieve within the next four years of your study period at the University. When you get up in the middle of the night to study, say to yourself, that you are making this sacrifice for the greater good. Needless to say, this move has guided many people to manage their studies well. Though some people may submit their assignments at the last minute, what should matter is that they are able to meet all submission deadlines.

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Emerging Application of Artificial Intelligence in Global Food Security

Introduction Food security is a broad term used to describe an individual’s ability to have unrestricted access to an adequate quantity of nutritious and safe food. This food should meet the individual’s dietary and energy needs for an active and healthy life. Globally, the population of those within the food-insecure category has potentially nearly doubled in 2020 (FAO, 2020). This has continued to threaten the public health system and decrease human capital development. Adequate sustainable remedies for food insecurity must be put in place to attain a stable and reliable future (FAO, 2017). To achieve the sustainable development goal of a world free of hunger and malnutrition, emerging technologies must be incorporated to provide solutions to the global food crises. Artificial intelligence (AI) plays a vital role in stabilizing food security through massive data generation and utilization. Though at the budding stage of development and public adoption, the challenges that trail the application of AI have begun to be addressed. Current Trend of Artificial Intelligence in Global Food Security AI technologies allow the simulation of human intelligence in machines, capable of thinking, performing tasks intelligently, and acting rationally as humans. Of recent, AI technologies are known to demonstrate various human attributes such as creativity, emotion, sensing, perception, and even a good sense of judgment (Schuetz and Venkatesh, 2020; Benbya et al., 2021). The current trend and advances in technology have given rise to the use of AI in combating global food insecurity to protect approximately 800 million people globally from the scourge of hunger (Kunze, 2021). With the advent of AI technology, scientists and farmers can increase food security by accessing real-time soil conditions and implementing the necessary strategies for correcting nutrient deficiencies. In addition, food scarcity can be averted through the use of AI as a massive amount of data is gathered and used to forecast developing situations affecting food supply (Gregory et al., 2020). This technology provides relevant information that will stabilize food supply, enhance rapid response time to price fluctuations, drought, disease outbreaks, poor weather conditions for food development, optimization of irrigation, and other global crop issues (Blasco et al., 2002; Chung et al., 2016; Chang and Lin, 2018; Talaviya et al., 2020). AI technology can improve the working conditions of farmers in rural communities by giving them access to technology and education awareness. It as well, increased crop yield that will in turn improve the economic conditions of the people. AI robotics and AI-enhanced drones have been implicated in crop planting, harvesting, farm fumigation, inspection, and security of workers (Arvind et al., 2017; Ahirwar et al., 2019). Despite the immense opportunities through AI technologies, the cognitive and rational framework of the technology, actual workers, and computer Programmemers are still required. Challenges and Way Forward to the Use of AI Technology Food security has been faced with significant difficulties like pandemics, social and military conflicts, drought, disease outbreaks, climate change, extreme weather conditions, the density of groundwater, and food wastage. Large-scale scientific interventions are currently underway to enhance the robustness and applicability of AI in global food security. Through this, adequate data which are quite difficult to gather will have real-time applicability in decision and policymaking. Though training and acquiring this technology can be expensive, the skills learned will add value and mobilize people out of extreme hunger and poverty. For global and rapid adoption by farmers, this technology could be Programmemed to be user-friendly and affordable to farmers. Conclusion There is a need to mitigate the current rise in global hunger through the use of emerging technologies. AI robotics and AI-enhanced drones can be improved to curtail the challenges mitigating global food security. Not only do these technologies improve food availability, but could be used to reduce human labor, monitor soil conditions, and correct nutrient deficiencies. Besides, farmers can utilize this technology to control pesticides and herbicides, enhance rapid response time to price changes, monitor and control plant disease outbreaks, forecast and mitigate food scarcity, and stabilize food supply. References Ahirwar, S., Swarnkar, R., Bhukya, S., Namwade, G. (2019). Application of drones in agriculture. Int. J. Curr. Microbiol. App. Sci., 8 (1), pp. 2500-2505. Arvind, G., Athira, V.G., Haripriya, H., Rani, R.A. and Aravind, S. (2017). Automated irrigation with advanced seed germination and pest control. 2017 IEEE Technological Innovations in ICT for Agriculture and Rural Development (TIAR), 10.1109/tiar.2017.8273687 Benbya, H., Pachidi, S. and Jarvenpaa, S.L. (2021). Artificial Intelligence in Organizations: Implications for Information Systems Research. Journal of the Association for Information Systems 22(2), 1-25. Blasco, J., Aleixos, N., Roger, J.M. Rabatel, G. and Molto, E. (2002). Robotic weed control using machine vision. Biosyst. Eng., 83 (2), 149-157. Chang, C.L. and Lin, K.M. (2018). Smart agricultural machine with a computer vision-based weeding and variable-rate irrigation scheme. Robotics, 7, p. 38, DOI: 10.3390/robotics7030038 Chung, S., Choi, M., Lee, K., Kim, Y., Hong, S., Li, M. (2016). Sensing Technologies for Grain Crop Yield Monitoring Systems: a review. Journal of Biosystems Engineering 41 (4) (2016), pp. 408-417 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (2017). The State of Food and Agriculture Leveraging Food Systems for Inclusive Rural Transformation 978-92-5-109873-8 (2017), pp. 1-181 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (2020). Food-based dietary guidelines. In: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations [online]. Rome. [Cited 28 April 2020]. www.fao.org/nutrition/ education/food-dietary-guidelines Gregory, R. W., Henfridsson, O., Kaganer, E., & Kyriakou, H. (2020). The role of artificial intelligence and data network effects for creating user value. Academy of Management Review, 30(4), 13-47. Kunze, Z. (2021). How Implementing AI Increases Food Security. The Borgen Project. [Accessed 19 April, 2022] https://borgenproject.org/ai-increases-food-security/ Schuetz, S. & Venkatesh, V. (2020). The Rise of Human Machines: How Cognitive Computing Systems Challenge Assumptions of User-System Interaction. Journal of the Association for Information Systems, 21(2), 460-482. Talaviya, T., Shah, D., Patel, N., Yagnik, H. and Shah, M. (2020). Implementation of artificial intelligence in agriculture for optimization of irrigation and application of pesticides and herbicides. Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture, 4, 58-73.   Miracle Uwa Livinus is a Lecturer II in the Department of Biochemistry, School of Science and Information Studies at Skyline University Nigeria. He has M.Sc in Nutritional Biochemistry from Nasarawa State University. You can join the conversation on Facebook @SkylineUniversityNG and on Twitter @SkylineUNigeria

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Strategies For Staff Motivation For Effective Job Performance

Employee performance is a critical aspect and a foundation for improving the whole organization’s success. Employee performance is influenced by a variety of elements, including work satisfaction, knowledge, and management, but training and development is the most essential aspect. (Anwar Khan, Fakhar Ul Afaq, 2008). Motivation, according to Burney L. and Widener SK. (2007), is an influence, a factor that causes behavior. Motivation is a technique used to persuade others to act in a certain way, without resorting to threats or coercion. Staff performance is heavily influenced by motivation, which is the internal force that drives a person to act in a certain way. Institutional success relies on staff performance in accomplishing strategic goals and overall success. According to Armstrong (2010), employee motivation produces more organizational advantages than any other managerial technique. He adds that human resource performance is one of the most commonly used techniques by firms to acquire a competitive edge. Armstrong (2010), contends that motivational strategy is concerned with how motivating aspects effect employees, as well as the final direction and strength of the consequent behavior. Armstrong further stated that motivating approach leads to a rise in productivity but only to a certain degree, where additional increase in motivation leads to a drop in output. This means that in researching employee motivation tactics, managers must be very exact in order to prevent ‘over motivation,’ which would result in workers producing less work. Armstrong defines motivation as an internal drive that causes people to feel compelled to carry out their responsibilities. This instills in employees a sense of responsibility to carry out their given duties without being pushed or overseen. HOW TO ENHANCE STAFF MOTIVATION? Be a leader who sees the big picture. Everyone wants to feel that their efforts are appreciated. What is the next way to continue? What does future hold like for the business? A destination may assist motivate a journey and make sure that the institution’s objective is well defined. Ascertain that everyone understands the ‘why.’ Our employees will comprehend what has to be done, but we must explain why; each assignment’s “why” must be stated. What is the company’s overarching mission? Even the most mundane tasks receive much-needed motivation when everyone knows how their individual efforts contribute to the organization’s overall goal. Make a habit of setting clear goals on a regular basis. They have big goals that they want to reach as a company, but it’s the smaller goals that keep  employees engaged. All goals should contribute to the overall goal, but breaking it down into smaller chunks sounds less daunting. Employees gain a strong sense of success when they regularly meet their goals, which serves as a tremendous motivator to move on to the next set of goals. Reward and recognize excellent performance Staff should be made aware that efforts are values by the management. Praise that is well-deserved promotes not only self-esteem but also energy and team spirit. Create a nice working atmosphere in our office Nobody wants to spend their days dreading the end of the day at a dull office. If firms build a friendly workplace with possibilities for leisure and recreation, employees will look forward to coming to work. The old adage “work hard, play hard” holds true in this case. A negative mood can impede focus and diminish energy levels at work since motivation and mood are intricately linked. Promote teamwork Within business teams, collaboration allows for more in-depth exploration of concepts. Working with people who have a diverse range of skills will lead to more creative outcomes. In teams, there is power in numbers, and anyone who lacks motivation should be supported by others around them. Benefits of Employee Motivation Increased Output. It should come as no surprise that using employee incentive techniques encourages employees to work more productively, resulting in increased profits. Few individuals recognize, however, that being productive has a positive influence on employee satisfaction. More ingenuity Employees are more likely to be inventive if they are rewarded with awards and other benefits. Employees are more willing to take on new tasks if they feel respected and encouraged by their boss. As a result, the importance of workplace motivation should never be underestimated, as it fosters growth. Furthermore, managers that understand what motivates their employees typically get the best results. Absenteeism is reduced.  Employers that recognize the value managerial motivation understand that managers get more out of their staff when they are helpful rather than criticizing. Absence levels tend to be lower when a management is concerned about their team’s workload and well-being, since they feel less pressured and overburdened. Staff turnover is reduced. Employee motivation and pay complement one other, resulting in exceptionally high retention  rates. Employees who receive benefits in addition to monetary incentives are more likely to stay  in their current role. Especially if other companies are unable to match their wage structure. Excellent reputation and increased recruiting Organizations that know how to increase employee motivation are more likely to deliver excellent employee experiences and have a strong corporate image. This does not, however, happen overnight. The result of data-driven strategies that rely on employee participation is a fantastic internal brand. Companies that have established brand ambassadors, or employees who are pleased and engaged, are more likely to retain and recruit top talent. Promote employee well-being When companies deploy incentive Programmes, they typically overlook the value of employee wellbeing. There’s no doubting that using rewards as an incentive may be quite effective. However, no matter how hard a person tries, they will not accomplish their best work if they are tired or overwhelmed. Taking a comprehensive approach to wellbeing, such as managing our team’s mental, emotional, and physical health, is a great way to keep them healthy, happy, and productive. Talented employees is more likely to be retained and recruited when employees are older. In conclusion, Staff motivation is crucial to their productivity. It’s vital to understand what motivates people in a certain organization so that management can devote more resources to those

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SUN Students Tasked on Building Brand & Mastering Financial Literacy at Zenith Bank-Google Digital Training for Undergraduates

Facilitators at a 3-day training workshop – Zenith Bank-Google Digital Training for Undergraduates have urged final year students of Skyline University Nigeria (SUN) to build a brand and master the art of financial literacy. The workshop which was recently held at the University’s campus would help to equip the students with relevant skills for the next stage of their career journey. The Zenith Bank-Google Digital Training for Undergraduates initiative which ran from 20th April to 22nd April 2022 was a collaboration to provide undergraduates in Nigerian tertiary institutions with financial literacy, especially in the areas of digital marketing, career development, data, and emerging Information Technology (IT) solutions. Notably, the workshop featured topics in Financial Literacy – Budgeting, Savings, SMEs, Grow my business and our school, retail products offering, Navigating the world of work – Create a Digital Marketing plan, Build a brand and apply for jobs – use data and insights to help your business grow, Job searching online – Build your brand and sell online and Stay productive online – Use marketing tools and social media to grow your business online. The keynote speakers, Mr. Izuchukwu Nwanking, Head of Retail Banking – Lagos, Mr. Rasheed Adekunle Safiu the Zenith Digital Marketer, Mr. Ademola Ola, etc. all agreed that:  financial literacy Programmes will help educators determine the needs of their students for new Programmes and enhance aspects of existing Programmes; Learning how to brand yourself is an important step in your career. It’s essential to find your niche, your unique voice, and an effective way to present yourself in the marketplace; There’s no surefire formula for instant success but you can boost your business’s growth with a solid staff to help you achieve your goals and focus on established revenue sources; Digital marketing strategy as a process will allow organizations to concentrate its limited resources on the greatest opportunities to increase sales and achieve sustainable competitive advantage. In his remarks at the event, the Vice-Chancellor of Skyline University Nigeria, Prof. Ajith Kumar V.V welcomed the facilitators and urged the students to pay keen attention to the lessons of the training to enable them to prepare well for their career growth. He advised them not to underestimate themselves but, to take a chance to develop their skills to be great ambassadors of the University. “Whatever support you need, we are here for you”, the VC added. The attributes that stand out according to all the participants present, were “the Zenith-Google package, Career incentives, resourcefulness, and communication”. On the last day of the event, the team of facilitators paid a courtesy call to the Vice-Chancellor in his office to appreciate his hospitality.

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Important Career Tools That Will Boost Undergraduate Potential

There are many undergraduate students who still find themselves with more free time than usual, while others have maximized their time to advance their career goals by learning skills that will boost their undergraduate potential. Career goals are a well-defined statement explaining the profession that an individual intends to pursue throughout their career after graduating from the University. It is important for every student, employee or job seeker to define their career goals clearly. It helps them to come up with effective action plans for a successful professional career. While the university may have challenged students in a number of rewarding ways, from broadening their experience with unfamiliar classes to expanding their thought process intellectually, this period should not be a time to relax and wait for time to pass by. It is important to develop the skills needed to have a productive work life, as there is never a bad time to learn something new and gain a significant advantage ahead of your peers. Here are some skills to help you boost your employability and get started. Video production/Graphics design/Creative Content Video production/Graphics design is becoming an increasingly popular medium for all things related to business. Customers love watching videos, as well as having beautiful flyers for their marketing purpose, so being able to produce high-quality content is a valuable skill. Coding If you are keen in IT skills, Coding and Programmeming are tools that are becoming increasingly relevant and important. Studying in this field can give you a greater understanding of how the technology works. It also gives you the chance to work on all kinds of projects, whether for personal or professional advancement. Analytical reasoning Emerging fields such as web analytics and big data are growing at a rapid pace. Data is now one of the most valuable commodities for businesses and companies across the globe as well as for decision making. As such, individuals who can analyse data and give insights to its meaning will find they’re in high demand. Artificial intelligence Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming a reality. Robots and AI can supplement and augment the way we work and live our lives. Those with an understanding of machine learning, big data, and other associated topics will find plenty of opportunities in the future. UX design User experience design is a field that focuses on how users interact with a product or service. Whether focused on apps, websites, or machines, UX design relates to the ease of use for the user. It takes into account aspects of design, market research, psychology, technology, business amongst others. Affiliate marketing Social media and influencers are starting to replace traditional advertising. Whether it’s social selling, leveraging industry experts, or promoting other companies’ products, affiliate marketing is one of the hot new skills that businesses are on the lookout for. Business analysis Business analysts are the problem-solvers of modern organizations. As companies generate more and more data, there is a need for people who can identify the business needs that arise from such data. If you’re wondering what to learn during the lockdown, taking a course in a field such as big data analytics could be seriously beneficial.

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Skyline University Nigeria Holds Annual Iftar Party for All Employees

In the spirit of gratitude, inspiration devotion, and care, Skyline University Nigeria (SUN), has organized its annual Iftar (break of fast in the evening) party for the employees of the University. The Iftar which took place on 14th April 2022 was organized to foster fellowship with the Muslims and also to serve as a way for the management of SUN to show their appreciation for the people who make up Skyline Community. The Iftar was held in the University’s campus garden to allow spiritual exchange, turning individual experience into a social experience. It also aimed to keep the employees connected amid Ramadan, spend Iftar with colleagues, and be motivated as well as reminded of the prophetic tradition of breaking bread with people during the holy month of Ramadan. As part of the Iftar, all food and drinks were provided by the management. The menu plan includes fried rice, jollof rice, chicken, and shredded beef sauce as the main dishes. The side dishes include fruits (apples, bananas, and dates), vegetable salad, snacks (spring rolls, samosas, and meat pies), bottled water, soft drinks, and vegetable drinks. It was a blessed event as everyone present, enjoyed themselves.

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The Success over Failure Mentality II

It is hoped that the study habits students developed at the University would allow them to strive in a fast-paced work environment. But doing well in school and life so much depends on the ability to learn quickly and combining not only their academic work but taking advantage of their learning environment as a viable option for networking opportunities that may result in a successful lifestyle.  There are many questions and talks about who should be successful and why, how many students can start the undergraduate journey and would endeavor to learn the necessary skills before graduation, and how many students will do well in school and translate such learning and development to solve real-life challenges? Earlier in 2019, we talked about the success over failure mentality for University undergraduates and the benefits for people who can hold on and learn the secrets of success. See extracts below Success, in any field, is impossible without commitment. For example, having a first-class University degree takes hard work. If you can conceive of a life without commitments, then you are going nowhere fast. John Maxwell, in his book, “21 Indispensable qualities of a leader”, linked success to character building, where he said, that character has to do with inner qualities, that is, what a person is made of. It inspires confidence in others and how you deal with the circumstances of life tells many things about who you are –Successful or a failure. Just as success is associated with commitment, failure, on the other hand, is associated with fear. Failure is a self-limitation that some people impose on themselves. It is an illusion that you are incapable of achieving a goal that you have strived to achieve. To choose success over failure will therefore demand that you examine yourselves of the commitment you put into your work, school, courses, or clubs. Fear is one of those things we’ve all experienced at some point. In times of physical danger, fear can save our lives. However, there are times when fear isn’t real, but something we create ourselves. The mind is powerful and what we tell ourselves may influence our actions and reactions. The only people who never win are the ones who quit and the ones who never try. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time or tell yourself, “I CAN DO IT BETTER”.

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Browning

Have you ever wondered why the brown color that quickly forms when a succulent fruit, for instance, an apple results at the first bite? Or have you asked yourself why do chefs, our mothers, wives, and other good cooks often tear rather than cut up lettuce leaves? Well, in response to the first question, this is actually not by chance but rather as a result of a complex enzymatic process known as “enzymatic browning” as we recall from our elementary school that enzymes are substances that speed up a Biological/chemical reaction, and this too (enzymatic browning) is one of such processes. Additionally, for the second question, this is actually because tearing rather than cutting reduces or avoids premature browning and by extension prolongs the life of the lettuce by a day or two. Food Browning is the process of food turning brown, due to the chemical reactions that take place within. Typical examples can be seen in apples, kola nuts, aubergines, and eggplants. Oftentimes than not, people see browning as a way of spoilage rather than an interesting scientific process. The method involved with cooking is one of the chemical responses that occur in food science and addresses a fascinating exploration subject in regards to health, nourishment, and food technology. Even though there is a wide range by which food chemically changes over a long time, browning specifically falls into 2 primary classes: enzymatic versus non-enzymatic cycles. Browning has numerous significant ramifications on the food sector connecting to nutrition, innovation, and economic cost. Scientists are particularly keen on concentrating on the control (inhibition) of browning and the various strategies that can be utilized to amplify this inhibition and eventually elongate the storage capacity life of food since to most people once a portion of food is browned, it is considered spoilt. It is estimated that more than 50% of produce is lost as a result of enzymatic browning. The increase in the human population and consequential depletion of natural resources has prompted many biochemists and food engineers alike to find new or improved techniques to preserve food for a longer period by using different methods to inhibit the browning reaction, which in turn, prolongs the shelf life of food varieties. A superior understanding of the enzymatic browning components, explicitly, understanding the properties of the enzymes and substrates that are engaged with the reaction might help food technologists to control specific stages in the instrument and at last apply that information to inhibit browning to the barest minimum. Apples are fruits commonly studied by researchers due to their high phenolic content, which makes them highly susceptible to enzymatic browning. As per different discoveries in regards to apples and browning movement, a connection has been found between higher phenolic quantities and more enzymatic action in apples. This gives a likely objective and consequently, trust for food enterprises wishing to genetically alter food sources to diminish polyphenol oxidase activity and along these lines reduce browning. An illustration of such achievements in food design is the invention of Arctic apples. These apples, designed by Okanagan Specialty Fruits Inc, are a result of applying gene splicing, a research technique that brings about a decrease in polyphenol oxidase. The challenge of controlling enzymatic browning has been quite a difficult one in the food industry. A variety of approaches are used to prevent or slow down enzymatic browning of foods, each method aimed at targeting specific steps of the chemical reaction. The different types of enzymatic browning control can be classified into two large groups: physical and chemical. Usually, multiple methods are used. The utilization of sulfites (strong anti-browning chemical substances) has been reevaluated because of the potential risks associated with its use. Much exploration has been conducted with regards to the specific kinds of control components that happen when defied with the enzymatic interaction. Other than counteraction, control over browning additionally incorporates measures planned to recover the food color after its browning. For instance, ion exchange filtration or ultrafiltration can be used in winemaking to remove the brown color sediments in the solution. Some of the physical means employed to slow down and or control browning include; Heat treatment (High temperature denatures enzymes), Cold treatment (Freezing also inhibits enzyme activities), Oxygen elimination, and Irradiation. Chemical methods involve Acidification, Antioxidants, and Chelating agents. Other methods include natural agents such as onions, pineapple, lemon, and white wine are known to slow down or inhibit the browning of some products. Genetic modification is another technique employed in eliminating the browning process.  Another type of browning, non-enzymatic, is a method that equally results in brown coloration in excluding enzyme involvement. The two main forms of non-enzymatic browning are Caramelization and the Maillard reaction. Maillard reaction is responsible for the production of the flavor when foods are cooked. food examples undergoing Maillard reaction involve bread, steaks, and potatoes. The Maillard reaction is the reason for producing artificial flavors for food varieties in the seasoning industry since the kind of amino acid included determines the subsequent flavor.   References Corzo-Martínez, Marta; Corzo, Nieves; Villamiel, Mar; del Castillo, M Dolores (2012-01-01). Ph.D, Benjamin K. Simpson (ed.). Food Biochemistry and Food Processing. Wiley-Blackwell. pp. 56–83.  Kaanane, A.; Labuza, T. P. (1989-01-01). “The Maillard reaction in foods”. Progress in Clinical and Biological Research. 304: 301–327. ISSN0361-7742. PMID2675033. Holderbaum, Daniel (2010). “Enzymatic Browning, Polyphenol Oxidase Activity, and Polyphenols in Four Apple Cultivars: Dynamics during Fruit Development”. HortScience. Macheix, J. J.; Sapis, J. C.; Fleuriet, A. (1991-01-01). “Phenolic compounds and polyphenoloxidase in relation to browning in grapes and wines”. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. 30(4): 441–486. doi:1080/10408399109527552. ISSN 1040-8398. PMID 1910524. Nicolas, J. J.; Richard-Forget, F. C.; Goupy, P. M.; Amiot, M. J.; Aubert, S. Y. (1994-01-01). “Enzymatic browning reactions in apple and apple products”. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. 34(2): 109–157. doi:1080/10408399409527653. ISSN1040-8398. PMID 8011143 Nirmal, Nilesh Prakash; Benjakul, Soottawat; Ahmad, Mehraj; Arfat, Yasir Ali; Panichayupakaranant, Pharkphoom (2015-01-01). “Undesirable Enzymatic Browning in Crustaceans: Causative Effects and Its Inhibition by Phenolic Compounds”. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. 55 (14): 1992–2003.  Taylor, Steve L.; Higley, Nancy A.; Bush, Robert K. (1986). “Sulfites in Foods: Uses,

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