Ecological Survey of Earwigs (Hemimerus talpoides) as Ectoparasites of Wild African Giant Rat (Cricetomys gambianus) in Awka, Nigeria

This study was carried out for a period of two months to access earwigs as ectoparaiste of the African giant rat (Cricetomys gambianus) in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. Three hundred and forty eight (348) trap-night efforts were made with the aid of 8 mammal traps during the study and a total of 12 giant rats comprising of 7 males and 5 females were trapped and examined for ectoprarsites. Six of the males were infested (85.7%) and 3 of the females were also infested (60%). Giant rat are parasitized by many ectoparasites like lice and mites but during the study one particular species of earwig (Hemimerus talpoides) was observed and was found mainly on the abdomen and dorsal region. The infestation of the giant rat in the different sites shows no statistical difference (P > 0.05) with reference to the sex of the giant rat and also the location. Keywords: Cricetomys gambianus, Earwig, ectoparasites, Hemimerus talpoides

Enhancing Guidance Services in Secondary Schools in Anambra State through the use of Information Communication Technology

In our economy today, information and communication technology has become the choice of many individuals in information assessment and dissemination. Guidance services provided at any level is aimed at assisting a client discover their own hidden strengths and ultimately grow in independence and ability make decisions, choices or adjustments in future unaided, hence the relevance of guidance services cannot be side lined. However this study was surveyed enhancing guidance services in secondary schools in Anambra state through the use of information communication technology. Five research questions guided the study. Descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. The population of the study comprised of 243 guidance counsellors in government owned secondary schools in Anambra State. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire developed by the researchers. The reliability of the instrument was computed using Cronbach Alpha and yielded a co-efficient of 0.78. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions. Findings showed that guidance counsellors in secondary schools in Anambra state “Always” use call-centers/hotline and video conferencing to enhance guidance services and “Rarely” use computer graphics, instructional satellite, and web television to enhance guidance services. The researchers recommended among others that Guidance counsellors who are not digital native should be mobilized for workshops, conferences and training on the use of innovative ICT tools to enhance guidance service delivery in secondary schools in Anambra state. Keywords: Enhance, Counsellors, Guidance Services, Information and Communication Technology

ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE OF ZIKA VIRUS INFECTION AMONG HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS IN A SOUTHEASTERN STATE OF NIGERIA

Objective: Zika virus infection is fast becoming a major public health concern in both developed and developing countries of the world because of its association with microcephaly and Guillain Barre Syndrome. Assessment of its knowledge and understanding among different healthcare practitioners are essential for prevention and control especially in developing countries such as Nigeria. Our aim was to assess the knowledge of the virus and its associated factors among healthcare professionals (HCPs).Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from June 10 to August 28, 2016, among health care professionals who were selected by non-probability convenience sampling technique. The respondents were selected from various practice settings including academic institution, private and government hospitals in Enugu State, Nigeria. A validated and pilot tested 15 item questionnaire was used to evaluate respondents' knowledge of ZIKV infection. Descriptive statistics and chi-square were used to analyze respondents' level of knowledge and its associated factors using SPSS version 16.Results: Two hundred (200) respondents participated in this study with more than half (53.0%) being male, and most were either Physician or Pharmacist (59.5%). Our results also showed that most of the respondents (128, 64.0%) had poor knowledge of ZIKV infection. However, among the respondents assessed, the Pharmacists and the Physicians had better knowledge of the disease as the test statistics were statistically significant at X2=16.722, p=0.033. HCPs in the academia had better knowledge compared to those that are self-employed or practicing in private or government hospitals (X2=17.178, p=0.028).Conclusion: Our findings suggest that most of the HCPs assessed in this study had poor knowledge of ZIKV infection. However, professional status, place of service, and study site were found to be associated with the respondents' level of knowledge. Hence, through sensitization and awareness campaigns through the media, seminars, and workshops aimed at educating HCPs on the disease should be encouraged

A critical appraisal of “Applications of vascular occlusion diminish disuse atrophy of knee extensor muscles”v

This paper serves as a critical appraisal of the study “Applications of vascular occlusion diminish disuse atrophy of knee extensor muscles”. The strengths and weaknesses of the introduction, methods, results and conclusion were assessed to determine whether the research could be considered a valid and reliable answer to the clinical question raised

Drug prescription/blood pressure control in patients on monotherapy attending a tertiary hospital in Nigeria

Background: Current treatment guidelines for treatment of hypertension stipulate the use of diuretics or calcium channel blockers (CCBs) as first-line treatment. Although, many studies have been carried out to study prescription pattern and blood pressure (BP) control in this region none has independently compared the effect of different antihypertensive drug classes given as monotherapy on BP control. This study compares the BP lowering efficacy of different classes of antihypertensive drugs given as monotherapy in black hypertensive patients with or without complications.Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study evaluated the influence of antihypertensive prescription on BP controls among consecutive patients present on clinic days from November 2011 to April 2012. Patients were treated with either angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, angiotensin receptor blocker, beta-blocker, CCB, centrally acting adrenergic drug or diuretic. The primary outcome was BP reading <140/90 mmHg in patients without complication or <130/80 mmHg in patients with complication.Results: Of 264 patients, 228 patients received one drug whereas 36 received no drug. More than half of those on non-pharmacological intervention had good BP control (n=21), patients on diuretic (28.8%) had a significantly higher BP control (p=0.014) than those on other classes of drugs. Only 58% of the patients had good BP control. Diastolic BP reduced with an increase in age.Conclusions: Inthis study, diuretics significantly reduced BP compared with other antihypertensive class. Although clinical trials also suggest the use of CCB as first‑line treatment, cost considerations are necessary

Socioeconomic metabolism of Biomass in Jamaica in the Context of Trade and National Food Security: A time series biophysical analysis (1961-2013).

This thesis presents a novel study on the historical evolution of socioeconomic metabolism of biomass in Jamaica in the context of trade and national food security. The goal of this study was to provide empirical insight into the structure of Jamaica biomass system by analyzing biomass material flows (domestic extraction, imports, and exports) from 1961 to 2013, and on this basis establish a link to the issue of national food security in Jamaica. A biomass material database in time series was constructed for Jamaica based on Eurostat methodological guidelines and general principles of economy-wide material flow account and analysis (EW-MFA). The constructed database allowed for the characterization of biomass production and consumption using the calculated material flow indicators- domestic extraction (DE), domestic consumption (DMC) and physical trade balance (PTB). The degree of import dependency was also calculated. To establish a link between patterns of biomass metabolism, trade and national food security, the scope of MFA was expanded to conduct a time series analysis of national food availability and progress towards food self-sufficiency based on analysis of dietary energy supply (DES) and dietary energy production (DEP) in Jamaica. Results obtained revealed a declining trend in both metabolic scale and metabolic rate of biomass use in Jamaica. MFA calculated indicators showed two alternating phases of growth and decline in the evolution of biomass use- peak growth (1966 and 1996) and steep decline (1981 and 2006). Primary crops dominated DE (48%) and DMC (47%). Cereals (74%) dominated physical imports flows and export flows were dominated by sugar cane (76%). Jamaica agro-food system is characterized by export oriented production as the share of mainstay food crops in overall primary crop extraction was less than 10%. A high food Import dependency ratio was observed. Food energy availability has significantly improved since 1961 from 1740 kcal/cap/day to 2470 kcal/cap/day in 2013. Jamaica is yet to achieve food self-sufficiency as DEP remains critically below the minimum dietary energy requirement threshold for Jamaica. This study contributes to the growing body of research on material flow analysis and socioeconomic metabolism. It offers a starting point for methodological enhancement of the MFA framework towards adapting it for food security studies

Insect larvae recovered from decomposing pig carrions in Okija, Anambra State, Nigeria

Insect immature stages found on decomposing cadavers are source of information that assist forensic investigators elucidate the time of questionable death. Hence, insect larvae recovered from decomposing pig carrions as models to human cadavers in Okija (05 °53.240"′N and 006 °46.510″E) Anambra State, Nigeria were reared to adults in the laboratory by adopting a simple method to assist amateurs. Samples of the larvae were collected with camel hair (student’s art) brush, 5ml spoon and blunt forceps. They were collected in batches and placed in rearing containers (9.0 cm depth and 6.5 cm width) and labeled accordingly. Each sampled batch was replicated thrice and reared under ambient temperature (28.6 ± 0.15 ºC) and relative humidity (68.5 ± 1.34 %). The reared insect larvae later emerged and they were taxonomically identified. The species were ascertained by a taxonomist at Insect Museum, Institute of Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. The species include: Chrysomya albiceps, Chrysomya chloropyga, Chrysomya regalis, Isomyia dubiosa, Isomyia sp. (Calliphoridae), Sarcophaga inzi (Sarcophagidae), Chrysomyza africana (Ulidiidae), Musca domestica (Muscidae), Hermetia illucens (Stratiomyiidae), Dermestes frischii (Dermestidae) and Necrobia rufipes (Cleridae). The Calliphoridae first developed into adults at day 8, Sarcophagidae day 16, Ulidiidae, day 22, Muscidae, day 31, Stratiomyiidae, day 33, Dermestidae, day 38 and Cleridae, day 53. The probable reasons for the insect larvae to associate with the carrions were highlighted and their forensic importance discussed.Keywords: Insect larvae, Carrions, Decomposition stages, Forensic scienc

Pharmacokinetics of vancomycin in critically Ill children: A systematic review

Background and Objective Vancomycin is often used in the ICU for the treatment of Gram-positive bacterial infection. In critically ill children, there are pathophysiologic changes that afect the pharmacokinetics of vancomycin. A systematic review of vancomycin pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in critically ill children was performed. Methods Pharmacokinetic studies of vancomycin in critically ill children published up to May 2021 were included in the review provided they included children aged > 1 month. Studies including neonates were excluded. A search was performed using the PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. The Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Systematic Reviews (ROBIS) was used to check for quality and reduce bias. Data on study characteristics, patient demographics, clinical parameters, pharmacokinetic parameters, outcomes, and study limitations were collected. Results Thirteen studies were included in this review. A wide variety of dosing and sampling strategies were used in the studies. Methods for estimating vancomycin pharmacokinetics, especially the area under the curve over 24 h, varied. Vancomycin doses of 20–60 mg/kg were given daily. This resulted in high variability in pharmacokinetic parameters. Vancomycin trough level was less than 15 μg/mL in most of the studies. Vancomycin clearance ranged from 0.05 to 0.38 L/h/kg. Volume of distribution ranged from 0.1 to 1.16 L/kg. Half-life was between 2.4 and 23.6 h. Patients in the study receiving continuous vancomycin infusion had AUC24 < 400 µg·h/mL. Conclusion There is large variability in the pharmacokinetics of vancomycin among critically ill patients. Studies to assess the factors responsible for this variability in vancomycin pharmacokinetics are needed

Challenges of E-Waste pollution to soil environments in Nigeria - A Review

Hitherto Nigeria has been identified as a major dumping ground for e-waste from developed countries of the world arising from increasing demand for information computer technology (ITC) and other electronic gadgets by the populace especially with the relation of telecom sector since 2001. The term “e-waste” may be applied to electrical and electronic waste material of all  categories and includes but not limited to computers, refrigerators, television sets, mobile phones, office electronic devices, entertainment device electronics and electronic toys. Evidently, in addition to human health issues associated with e-waste management, e-waste constitutes a challenge to both developed and developing countries though markedly pronounced in the latter because of the dearth of appropriate technology in handling the menace posed by the discarded waste materials. There is paucity of information in quantitative terms regarding the effect of ewaste on the environment (including the soil fauna and flora) especially in Nigeria. However, e-waste has been implicated as being deleterious to soil quality, soil fauna and flora especially from studies outside Nigeria. In this paper this category of wastes will be assessed and in relation to its possible influence on soil environment in forms including heavy metal pollution. Possible e-waste management strategies will also be highlighted on soil environment with particular reference to Nigeria.Keywords: E-waste, Pollution, Soil, Environment, E-waste managemen

The Relationship between Celebrity Endorsement and Brand Image in the Fastfood Industry in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

A strong brand image is an essential business asset in the modern day business environment. This is because a strong brand image provides an effective way to get the brand noticed amidst the rush and clutter in the daily media. The aim of current study was to determine the nexus between celebrity endorsement and brand image in the fastfood industry. In other to achieve the objective of this study, four research hypotheses were formulated and tested using the Spearman’s Rank Order Correlation (rho), relying on the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Data for the study was collected through questionnaire, and data collected from four hundred and eighteen (418) customers of fastfood firms in Port Harcourt was used in the final analysis. The study found a positive and significant association between celebrity endorsement and all the metrics of brand image considered in the study. Importantly, the study discovered a strong and positive correlation between celebrity endorsement and brand awareness, while the relationship between celebrity endorsement and brand personality is found to be moderate. The paper therefore concluded that celebrity endorsement is a needful communication strategy for building a strong brand image, and recommends that marketers must be careful enough to ensure a good endorser-brand fit so as to raise the unique selling proposition of the firm to new heights. Keywords: Celebrity endorsement, Brand image, Brand awareness, Brand distinction, Brand personality, Brand prestige