COVID-19 pandemic:Nigerian University lecturers’ response to virtual orientation

The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic globally and the disruptions occasioned by it has far-reaching implications on societies in general and most especially the educational sector with governments across the globe ordering lockdowns including the closure of education institutions thereby necessitating alternative teaching and learning methods other than the usual face-to-face interaction to avoid a total collapse of the education sector. This study investigates Nigerian University lecturers’ perspective and response to virtual learning as an alternative to face-to-face teaching method during the pandemic. Relying on primary data source collected using questionnaires, a total number of 435 lecturers responded across both public and private universities and their responses analysed using SPSS. The study found that lecturers from private universities responded to virtual teaching than those from public universities; that the presence of infrastructural orientation influences virtual orientation; and that a negative relationship exists between the sociodemographic/occupational variables (gender, current position, years of experience) and virtual orientation of lecturers of Nigerian universities

Anthocyanin management in fruits by fertilization

Anthocyanins are water-soluble vacuolar plant pigments that are mainly synthesized in epidermal layers and the flesh of fruits such as apples, cherries, grapes, and other berries. Because of their attractive red to purple coloration and their health-promoting potential, anthocyanins are significant determinants for the quality and market value of fruits and fruit-derived products. In crops, anthocyanin accumulation in leaves can be caused by nutrient deficiency which is usually ascribed to insufficient nitrogen or phosphorus fertilization. However, it is a little-known fact that the plant’s nutrient status also impacts anthocyanin synthesis in fruits. Hence, strategic nutrient supply can be a powerful tool to modify the anthocyanin content and consequently the quality and market value of important agricultural commodities. Here we summarize the current knowledge of the influence of plant nutrients on anthocyanin synthesis in fruits of major global market value and discuss the underlying cellular processes that integrate nutrient signaling with fruit anthocyanin formation. It is highlighted that fertilization that is finely tuned in amount and timing has the potential to positively influence the fruit quality by regulating anthocyanin levels. We outline new approaches to enrich plant based foods with health-promoting anthocyanins

Global, Diffuse Sky And Direct Beam Radiation Data For Kumasi, Central Ghana

The two components of global irradiation namely, direct beam and diffuse sky irradiations were measured with a Li-Cor photovoltaic pyranometer model LI-200SA over a four year period between 2001 and 2005 in Kumasi, located in the central part of Ghana (6° 40\'N, 1° 34\'W). Analysis of the results shows that the highest monthly average hourly global irradiance over the period (740.84 W/m ) and peak average hourly direct beam irradiance of 439.18 W/m were recorded in April. The highest peak monthly average hourly diffuse irradiance (521.72 W/m ) was in June. Monthly average daily direct beam irradiation and global irradiation range between 2563.09 Wh/m -day and 414.4 Wh/m -day and 4996.3 Wh/m -day and 3059 Wh/m -day respectively. The highest global irradiation occurred in April and the lowest occurred in August. The high level of diffuse sky irradiation in Kumasi has been attributed to the influence of atmospheric effects including the presence of rain cloud cover during the wet season and the presence of the Harmattan dust aerosol during the dry season. Keywords: Global irradiance, diffuse sky irradiance, direct beam irradiance, weatherJournal of the Ghana Institution of Engineers Vol. 5 (1&2) 2007: pp. 49-6

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Not AvailableIn the current study, partial cDNA clones of inositol tetraphosphate 1-kinase (ITPK1) and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate kinase/inositol polyphosphate multikinase (IPK2), were isolated from embryo using RT-PCR and designated as AhITPK1 and AhIPK2 isoforms of the gene. The partial cDNA sequence of AhITPK1 and AhIPK2 genes have an open reading frame (ORF) of 1146 and 891bp respectively and showed high similarity to other plant genes. AhITPK1 shared high homology with Aradu. Q95MC of Arachis duranensis, had a single exon with no introns and belonged to ATP-grasp family of proteins. AhIPK2 shared high similarity with Aradu.24V9G of A. duranensis and contained three exons with 5’ and 3’ UTR’s on either side. Unlike other IPK2 genes, AhIPK2 possessed conserved domains such as PxxxDxKxG and [L/M][I/V]D[F/L][A/G][H/K]. Phylogenetic analysis grouped AhITPK1 with A. duranensis, A. ipinensis and Oryza brachyantha into one cluster, whereas AhIPK2 was grouped along with Cucumis melo and C. sativus. Evolutionarily, AhITPK1 and AhIPK2 were genetically distinct from other plant genera. Furthermore, real-time PCR analysis revealed high expression of AhITPK1 and AhIPK2 genes in the peanut embryo and flower bud. For the first time AhITPK1 (KR778986) and AhIPK2 (KR778988) genes belonging to phytic acid pathway from Arachis hypogaea were identified and characterized the expression pattern of these two isoforms on different tissues. These genes were found to be abundant in flower bud and embryo. Results suggest that embryo development significantly influences the expression of the two AhIPK isoforms in peanut. Evolutionarily they were found to be distinct from their parental species. This study is an important step toward understanding the role of these two AhIPK isoforms in phytic acid synthesis. However, future research involving RNAi-based functional characterization is warranted to establish their link to embryo development in peanut.United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) under Norman E. Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship Program (Borlaug Fellowship Program) 201

Africa’s Triple Heritage, Land Commodification and Women’s Access to Land: Lessons from Cameroon, Kenya and Sierra Leone

Women have less access to land than men in Africa. Previous analyses have typically identified African indigenous culture as the problem’s exclusive source. With Cameroon, Kenya and Sierra Leone as empirical referents, an alternative explanation is advanced. Here, the problem is characterized as a product of Africa’s triple heritage, comprising three main cultures, viz., African indigenous tradition, European/Christianity and Arabia/Islam. The following is noted as a major impediment to women’s access to, and control of, land: the supplanting of previously collective land tenure systems based on family or clan membership by ‘ability-to-pay’ as the principal determinant of access to land