A survey of fisherfolk involved in artisanal fisheries in some selected areas of Ikorodu in Lagos State

The study focused on men and women involved in artisanal fisheries in some selected areas of Ikorodu Local government in Lagos State. The random sampling technique was used to select 50 fishermen each at Ibeshe and Baiyeku sites. The results revealed that majority of the fishermen were male, christian, semi-illiterate, and married. Data were collected on capital sources, labour used, income, gear techniques and type of fish caught. Analysis showed that the highest sources of capital were from personal savings (50%). Majority of labour used were hired labour, 44% at Ibeshe and 50% at Baiyeku. Highest monthly income ranged between N10, 000 - N25, 000 at both sites. Planks were mostly used at both sites for fishing boats as well as means of transport (Ibeshe 68%, Baiyeku 72%). Common fishing gear was the gill net, The fishes caught were found to be of various tyupes. Ethalmalosa fimbriata constituted the highest fish species caught by weight and number at both sites (50%). However, the problems of capital source were most peculiar coupled with high cost of fishing materials and labour scarcit

Ideological Discourse Analysis of the Functions of Feedback Comments on Online Reports of Socio-political Crises in Nigeria

This study examines discursive strategies in online news feedback platforms and their possible impact on readers‟ opinions and ideological perspectives. It argues that discourse forms and patterns in these platforms tend to reveal subjective value judgments, and these have the potential of moulding public opinions and social attitudes. Data comprises 201 reader comments collected from online news media reports on two socio-political crises in Nigeria. Findings reveal that news readers, as social actors use discourse to shape the attitudes and value judgments of other readers. This is achieved through the use of ideological strategies such as polarisation, generalisation and hyperbole among others. This study further establishes that interactions on news feedback forums are largely based on shared knowledge of the social context, and that socio-political crises give rise to lexical choices and discourse patterns that are controlled by already acquired ideological judgments of language users. Key Words: ideology, discourse, feedback comments, social crises, Nigeri

A Critical Discourse Analysis of Stance Expressions in Crisis Reportage

This chapter explores the dynamics of the relationship between social crises and the discourse of mass media reportage, particularly, newspaper reports. The tenet of objectivity traditionally upheld by the mass media probably lends credence to their perceived credibility among the masses they communicate to. Hence, the masses in any society most likely consider news reports as valid accounts of events. For this reason, the mass media have gained reputation as the mouthpiece of the society. Notwithstanding, news may be influenced by the respective ideological perspectives of individual journalists, or even the different media organisations which they represent (Cluluwa, 2011). It is arguably true that language is one of the major tools employed by the mass media in information dissemination to various audiences. Discursive choices made in communication are likely consequential on the perception of message by the audience. Especially, when the news being reported is about crises or unpleasant events, it may be likely that holistic objectivity may not be realised, and implicit stance,taking may be observed in the news discourse produced for mass consumption by the media. This study therefore examines the discursive forms and patterns that the mass media employ when reporting socio,political crises since prevailing social conditions considerably influence properties of discourse, that is, discourse is able to represent, produce and reproduce social reality (Fairclough, 1989; Richardson, 2007). Discourse is generally used to refer to any coherent form of language use. In the context of this study, discourse refers to news reports

Assessment of Bacterial Contamination in Ready-to-Eat Fruits and Vegetables Sold at Oja-Oba Market, Ilorin, Nigeria

Assessment of bacterial contamination was carried out on ready to eat fruits and vegetables sold in Oja-Oba market, Ilorin. Nine (9) samples of two (2) different fruits (watermelon & pawpaw) and vegetable (carrot) were collected randomly from different stationery vendors. Analyses of total bacterial count was carried done on all samples, selective/differential media was used to enumerate total coliform count, total Staphylococcus count and total Salmonella count using 10-fold serial dilution and plate count method. Pure colonies were isolated using streak plate method and subjected to biochemical test using standard procedure. Ten (10) antibiotics were used for susceptibility test against the biochemical tests using disk diffusion method. Mean microbial load ranged from 60.17 ± 3.10 x 10⁴ - 158.67 ± 6.90 x 10⁴ cfu/ml for vendor A; 61.83 ± 2.60 x 10⁴ - 144.33 ± 4.24 x 10⁴ cfu/ml for vendor B and 56.83 ± 3.53 x 10⁴ - 88.50 ± 3.10 x 10⁴ cfu/ml for vendor C. Total coliform count ranged from 7.80 ± 1.10 x 10⁴ - 26.70 ± 2.82 x 10⁴ cfu/ml, total Staphylococcus count ranged from 5.00 ± 0.24 x 10⁴ - 21.17 ± 3.06 x 10⁴ cfu/ml and total Salmonella count ranged from 8.84 ± 1.18 x 10⁴ - 11.67 ± 1.41 x 10⁴ cfu/ml. Antibiotics susceptibility test ranged from 10.00 ± 0.00 – 26.50 ± 0.21mm. Ciprofloxacin and gentamycin had an average diameter of zone of inhibition at 24.50 ± 0.71 and 26.50 ± 0.21mm respectively. The analysis has shown that ready to eat fruits and vegetables sold in Oja-Oba Market contain considerable numbers of pathogenic bacteria

TABLE (TABLE AND BED LABORATORY EXPERIMENT) TRIAL: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL OF CONSULTATION ROOM LAYOUTS.

Abstract OBJECTIVE: The outpatient consultation room remains unchanged despite increasing use of technology mediated information sharing in the clinical encounter. The growth of outpatient medical care makes outpatient facilities the primary point of healthcare contact for many Americans. We propose implementing an adaptive design that supports a patient-centered approach to care. STUDY DESIGN: A randomized control trial conducted at the University of Kansas School of Medicine (KUSM) internal medicine resident clinic in Wichita, Kansas. METHODS: Fifty-nine patients were randomly assigned to consultation in a traditional room (n = 33) with a rectangular shaped examination table or in an experimental room (n = 26) with a round pedestal table. The care offered by the physician was not affected; however, room layouts and strategic placement of the laptop computer were different for both groups. Physicians did not have access to the survey. Patients completed a 5-point Likert scale post-visit questionnaire. The key features of this program were: a newly redesigned (experimental) consultation room featuring a round pedestal table in the experimental room allowing for a sitting style that enhances good proximity between the physician, patient and the computer screen used in information sharing during the visit; and a traditional room, featuring a rectangular padded examination table. All other features in the room layout were the same including room size, sink location, and number of seats in the room. Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to assess the combination score on each domain between the intervention and control group. The questionnaire was broken into domains with calculated response scores within each domain scaled from 0 to 100. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference in interpersonal-room interaction was found between the experimental room (65.24 ± 17.25) versus the traditional room (49.12 ± 22.35) scores (P = 0.0038). A higher percentage of participants in the experimental room reported their ability "to look at the information on the computer screen at any time they wanted" (24% vs. 12.9%) compared with the control group. More participants indicated that "provider shared information on the computer screen" for the experimental room (54.2% vs. 22.6%) than in the traditional room. Over half of subjects (72%) in the experimental room compared to the traditional room (40.6%) indicated complete agreement to "provider's engaging them in conversation about the information in the monitor". Patients reported that they were "able to look at the internet with the provider" with a total agreement response of 32% among the experimental room compared to 9.7% in the control group. There was no difference in patient satisfaction (P = 0.5524), mutual respect and communication quality (P = 0.8288), people-room interaction (P = 0.5892), or trust in physician (P = 0.5892). CONCLUSION: Changing the layout of a consultation room has the potential to improve information sharing. Clinicians who are interested in maximizing the benefits of their clinical encounter could consider changing the layout of their consultation room, especially the positioning of the computer screen

Cervical Cancer Vaccination

Background: In 2006, the world’s first cervical cancer vaccine became available for public use. Two human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccines, Gardasil & Cervarix were licensed, both protecting against the most common cancer-causing HPV types (HPV 16 and 18), and Cervarix alsoprotecting against genital warts (including in addition, types 6 and 11). A good understanding of the vaccine, its role in the primary prevention of cervical cancer and pre cancers is vital in reducing the high morbidity and mortality associated with cervical cancer.Objective: This article provides an overview of cervical cancer vaccine including safety, efficacy and cost in the primary prevention of cervical cancer.Discussion: The quadrivalent human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine protects against HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18. These HPV types are responsible for 70% of cervical cancers, 90% of genital warts and a substantial proportion of cervical abnormalities. The quadrivalent humanpapilloma virus (HPV) vaccine is indicated for females aged 9 -26 years and males aged 9-15 years and should ideally be administered before the onset of sexual activity, however, sexually active patients will also benefit. These vaccines are expected to be able to prevent about 70% ofcervical cancer cases worldwid

Ideological Discourse Analysis of the Functions of Feedback Comments on Online Reports of Socio-political Crises in Nigeria

This study examines discursive strategies in online news feedback platforms and their possible impact on readers‟ opinions and ideological perspectives. It argues that discourse forms and patterns in these platforms tend to reveal subjective value judgments, and these have the potential of moulding public opinions and social attitudes. Data comprises 201 reader comments collected from online news media reports on two socio -political crises in Nigeria. Findings reveal that news readers, as social actors use discourse to shape the attitudes and value judgments of other readers. This is achieved through the use of ideological strategies such as polarisation, generalisation and hyperbole among others. This study further establishes that interactions on news feedback forums are largely based on shared knowledge of the social context, and that socio-political crises give rise to lexical choices and discourse patterns that are controlled by already acquired ideological judgments of language users

Pragmatic roles in Wole Soyinka’s The Trials of Brother Jero and Jero’s Metamorphosis

Performance of role is central to the understanding of any discourse or activity because, through it, the implicit meaning is made obvious. Previous studies have considered the role of context in understanding interaction or discourse but they have neglected pragmatic roles in the understanding of any discourse, especially literary discourse. Thus, this study, therefore, examines how pragmatic role contributes significantly to the understanding of discourse and how it reveals participants’ intentions in Wole Soyinka’s The Trials of Brother Jero and Jero’s Metamorphosis. The study adopts Jacob Mey’s 2001 Pragmatic act theory. Data were sourced from relevant utterances in the text and were subjected to pragmatic analysis. Two broad categories of roles: social-informed and religious-informed roles, characterised Wole Soyinka’s The Trials of Brother Jero and Jero’s Metamorphosis. Social-informed role divides into a deceiver, debtor and creditor roles; while religious-informed role splits into prophet, discipler and disciple roles. Denying, forecasting, impersonating, lying, insisting, predicting, instructing and submitting are various practs used to foreground these roles. The paper concludes that studying various pragmatic roles in any discourse will not only contribute to the understanding of the discourse but will also reveal the interactants’ covert intentions.

Body Mass Index and severity of lumbar degenerative disc disease in adult patients using Oswestry Disability Index: any correlation?

Background: More than 90% of people will experience an episode of debilitating Low Back Pain (LBP) at some point in their lifetime. Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease (LDDD) is the commonest cause of LBP globally in individuals aged 40 years and above. Body Mass Index (BMI) may be directly related to LDDD pathogenesis, progression, severity of symptom manifestation, and response to treatment.Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the relationships between BMI and symptoms severity of LDDD in adult patients using Oswestry Disability Index (ODI); to determine the relationship between BMI and the clinical severity of LDDDs, and to determine the relationship between BMI and ODI in these patients.Methodology: All adult patients with signs and symptoms of LDDD presenting at clinic or emergency room were consecutively recruited and studied in two government tertiary hospitals in the North West and South West of Nigeria. The weight, height, symptomatology and ODI preformats were assessed for each patient. The information was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24.0. The statistical significance was set at P< 0.05. The chi-square tests were used to determine the relationships of BMI with the severity of symptoms and ODI in the studied patients.Results: The study involved 344 patients with male to female ratio of 1:1.6 and mean age of 59.8 years. The patients with normal range of BMI and elevated BMI accounted for 32% (110 patients) and 68% (234 patients) respectively. The study showed 73% of the participants with severe forms of disability while 27% of them had mild to moderate disability. The durations of symptoms varied from 1 to 15 years with the mean symptoms duration of 5.63 years. All the patients presented with varied and multiple symptoms. Altered sensation (paraesthesia) was found in 99.4% of them. The involved levels of lumbar spine on radiographs were L5/S1 (40.4%), T12/L1 (18.6%), L4/L5 (21.3%), L1/L2 (11.2%), L2/L3 (3.3%), L3/L4 (2.7%) and T12/L1 to L5/S1 (2.5%). There was a significant relationship between clinical symptoms and patients BMI on Chi-Square Tests (p < 0.05). The BMI also showed a significant relationship with ODI (p value = 0.001) while in symptoms and ODI (p value < 0.05).Conclusions: This study showed that there was a statistically significant (P < 0.05) relationship between BMI and clinical severity of LDDD including severity of Oswestry ODI with worsened symptoms among individuals with elevated BMI when compared to those with normal range of BMI.Keywords: Body Mass Index, Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease, Clinical severit