Synergistic interaction of Glomus mosseae T. and Trichoderma harzianum R. in the induction of systemic resistance of Cucumis sativus L. to Alternaria alternata (Fr.) K.

Due to the various negative impacts of chemical fungicides, the reduction of its applications in agricultural production process is widely recommended. Thus, the need and application of bio-agents in disease control has increased tremendously. The current study aimed at investigating the role of both bio-agents Glomus mosseae (mycorrhizal fungi) and Trichoderma harzianum in protection of Cucumis sativus (cucumber plants) against the fungal pathogen Alternaria alternata which is an opportunistic pathogen and the causal agent of cucumber wilt disease. Results obtained from this work revealed the positive influence of using bio-agents treatments in the reduction of pathogenic effects of A. alternata. The results also showed that G. mosseae and T. harzianum combination had a positive synergistic influence in reducing the detrimental effects of A. alternata ny improving the biomass yield (e.g. fresh and dry weight of root); as well as, on disease severity on C. sativus. Bio-agents (G. mosseae and T. harzianum) increased resistance in C. sativus by raising the production of enzymes catalase and peroxidase. Conclusively, this research revealed that using a multifarious combination of bio-agents significantly (P =.05) increased the efficiency of biological control of A. alternata than using each of them exclusively. Thus, it is recommended that to get an effective result in the control of the pathogen A. alternata in crops as highlighted by the results of this work; a combination of two bio-agents should be used

Linear Form of 3-scale Relativity Algebra and the Relevance of Stability

We show that the algebra of the recently proposed Triply Special Relativity can be brought to a linear (ie, Lie) form by a correct identification of its generators. The resulting Lie algebra is the stable form proposed by Vilela Mendes a decade ago, itself a reapparition of Yang's algebra, dating from 1947. As a corollary we assure that, within the Lie algebra framework, there is no Quadruply Special Relativity.Comment: 5 page

Mortality and Recruitment of the West African Fiddler Crab (Uca tangeri) inMbo River of AkwaIbom State, Nigeria

Studies on the mortality and recruitment pattern of the crab Ucatangeriin Mbo river of AkwaIbom State, Nigeria, was conducted for 12 consecutive months (April, 2012 – March, 2013). Length-frequency data was analyzed using FISAT software. Using the Shepherd’s method, asymptotic length (L?) was 3.99cm, while the Von Bertalanffy Growth Function(VBGF)  K was 0.10. Meanwhile, Powell-Wetheral plot estimated asymptotic  length (L?) was 3.58cm and Z/K was 0.72yr-1. The natural mortality(M) ofUcatangeriwas 0.71yr-1. However, using length-converted catch curve, total mortality (Z) was estimated to be 0.27yr-1. The instantaneous fishing mortality (F) was calculated to be -0.44yr-1, indicating that it was not a highly fished species. Keywords: Mortality, Recruitment and Crab

Names as Index of Social History: The Efik Example

Names, like language, mirror the society in which they are borne and they equally respond to social change. The naming system, it is believed is affected by the socio-cultural, political and religious ethos of the society in which the names are borne. In naming, a people’s worldview is expressed. This paper investigates the impact of the Efik socio-cultural, political and religious structures on the naming system. Our investigation is restricted to Efik personal names. The names which form our data were purposively sampled from some schools’ and churches’ registers in the seven Efik-speaking towns – Creek Town (Obio oko), Henshaw Town (Nsidun), Duke Town (Atakpa), Ikoneto (Mbiabo), Essien Town (Obutong), Eniong and Adiabo. The study reveals that a name gives the person bearing it an identity, whereas the naming ceremony indexes the socio-cultural, political and historical significance of an individual. It also shows that Efik social history impacts on the Efik naming system. Keywords: Names, identity, worldview, social change, language, history

Length-Weight Relationship and Condition Factor of the West African Fiddler Crab (Ucatangeri) in MboRiver, AkwaIbom State, Nigeria

The length- weight relationship and condition factor of the West African fiddler crab (Ucatangeri) in Mbo river of AkwaIbom State, Nigeria, was conducted for 12 consecutive months (April, 2012 – March, 2013). Ucatangeri exhibits sexual dimorphism with sex ratio of 1.2:1.0 which was significantly biased in favour of males. The length-weight relationship showed negative allometric growth, b=1.6431. With an average of 9.61, Ucatangeri had a very high condition factor which is an indication of the well-being of the species. Keywords: Growth rate, Crab, Mbo

Change management strategies and teachers’ job effectiveness in secondary schools in Shomolu Local Government Area of Lagos State

The study examined the influence of change management strategies on secondary school teachers’ job effectiveness in Shomolu Local Government Area of Lagos State, Nigeria. The change management strategies covered in the study were job redesign, teaming, and supervision. The descriptive survey research design was used for the study. Three research questions and hypotheses guided the study. The sample size consisted of 240 secondary school teachers drawn from 16 secondary schools in the study area. A set of researchers-designed questionnaire titled “Change Management Strategies and Teachers’ Job Effectiveness Questionnaire (CMSTEQ)” was used for data collection. The reliability of the instrument was estimated through a pilot study with 0.901 reliability coefficient obtained. Data collected for the study were analysed electronically using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software both descriptively and inferentially. The descriptive processing used frequency counts and percentages to answer research questions while the inferential aspects used in the test of hypotheses were based on Chi square statistical tool. The results of analysis showed that each of the selected change management strategies had a significant influence on teachers’ job effectiveness – Job Redesign: χ2 (9, N = 240) = 116.01, p < 0.05; Teaming: χ2 (9, N = 240) = 191.46, p < 0.05; and Supervision: χ2 (9, N = 240) = 154.05, p < 0.05. It was recommended that school administrators should re-plan teachers’ tasks, build teacher teams, and pay more attention to supervision to enable the schools adjust effectively to the demands of changes in the school system.Keywords: Change, management, Job redesign, teaming, and supervisio

Influence des facteurs environnementaux sur le cycle sexuel de l'aulacodine (Thryonomys swinderianus, Temminck 1827) élevée en captivité étroite

L’étude de l’influence des facteurs environnementaux sur le comportement sexuel des aulacodines et l’évolution du cycle sexuel réalisés sur 190  femelles reparties dans les zones centre et sud de la Côte d’Ivoire, n’a pas révélé des effets significatifs marqués de façon spécifique. Cependant, nous avons constaté chez l’aulacodine, quelles que soient les saisons, un état d’agitation quasi permanent. Les variations des indices vulvaires ne sont pas régulières. Les femelles sont à 70% bloquées au stade de pro oestrus. Généralement, il est rare en accouplement permanent d’observer les femelles à l’état d’oestrus car la copulation à lieu prématurément au pro oestrus avec des conséquences parfois dommageables pour les femelles. Les anoestrus sont très présents. Ils sont observés à des taux d’humidité élevé (69,05% - 80,48%) et des températures comprises entre 27 et 28,62 ± 0,8 °C. L’activité sexuelle fut quant à elle observée pour des températures comprises entre 24,34 et 29 °C et une humidité de l’air variant entre 54,97 à 85,16%.Mots clés : Aulacodine, cycle sexuel, saison

Seroprevalence of HIV and frequencies of haemoglobin genotypes, ABO and Rh blood groups among premarital couples in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Background: Premarital screening is fast gaining grounds as a pre-requisite condition for the solemnization of holy matrimony by many faith based organizations in Nigeria yet there is scanty literature on the subject. Methods: Fifty (50) premarital heterosexual couples (50 males and 50 females) were screened for the presence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), haemoglobin genotypes, ABO and Rh blood groups using standard laboratory procedures. Results: The prevalence of HIV in this study was found to be 2.0%. The frequencies of the haemoglobin genotypes were as follows; HbAA (72%), HbAS (26%) and HbAC (2.0%) while that of ABO and Rh blood groups were: group A (22%), B (14%), AB (0%), 0 (64%), Rh ‘D' Positive (96%) and Rh ‘D' Negative (4.0%). The distribution of these variables between the sexes was statistically significant. (&#967;2 = 21.630, p< 0.01). The frequencies of the haemoglobin genotype combinations of the intending couples were as follows; HbAA/AA (52%), AA/AS (36%), AA/AC (4.0%) and AS/AS (8.0%). This distribution pattern was also found to be highly statistically significant (&#967; 2 = 38.957, p < 0.0001), the mean ages of the participants were 35.48 ± 12.26 years for men and 26.32 ± 7.31 years for women (t = 10.538, p < 0.05). Conclusions: This study observed a low prevalence of HIV among the premarital couples and a relatively high frequency of HbAS/AS couples. ABO and Rh blood groups were found to be stable and consistent with previous reports. For the prevention of hereditary blood diseases, haemolytic disease of the newborn and transmission of HIV to off springs, premarital testing should be encouraged South African Family Practice Vol. 49 (2) 2007: pp. 1

Taking rural sanitation and hygiene to scale in Nigeria

Access to sanitation in rural communities in Nigeria is very low (28%). Little public attention or government funding, non-inclusion of sanitation and hygiene in programmes financed by governments, weak political commitment and poor allocation of appropriate resources, unclear roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders at all levels, low awareness amongst the rural population on disease associated with poor sanitation and unhygienic conditions and practices are all contributing factors. The Government of Nigeria and Global Sanitation Fund (GSF) through Rural Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion in Nigeria (RUSHPIN) aims to address these issues systematically and put the country back on track by increasing sanitation access and improving hygiene behaviour of people in two pilot states. This paper gives account of the Executing Agency facilitation of Sub Grantees at various levels of Government and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) implementing CLTS and the results of 237 ODF communities recorded after 2 years of implementation

Neurofibromas as bilateral cystic chest wall swellings.

A 35 year old male farmer presented with soft bilateral posterior chest wall swellings. He had no similar swellings elsewhere. There were no associated symptoms, except cosmetic deformity and discomfort when he lies on his back. A clinical diagnosis of posterior chest wall lipomata was made. However at surgery, the two tumours were completely cystic. Following total excision, histology of the two tumours revealed cystic degeneration of neurofibromas. His postoperative recovery was uneventful. The importance of this report is to emphasize the need for histological examinination of all excised human tissues, which is not always the case in most of our rural areas and to document the discovery of such a rare clinical entity in our centre. This rare entity should be borne in mind when considering the differential diagnosis of benign cystic chest wall tumours.Key words: neurofibromatosis, cystic swelling, posterior, chest, wall