KNOWLEDGE SHARING PRACTICES WITHIN ACADEMIC LIBRARIES IN NIGERIA: A CASE STUDY OF NIGERIAN DEFENSE ACADEMY (NDA) LIBRARY

The paper investigates the ‘Knowledge sharing practices within academic libraries with specific reference to the Nigerian Defence Academy library. It has been observed that knowledge sharing in academic libraries is very paramount to the survival of the library. there are limitations in KS practices at the Nigerian Defence Academy library. The objectives of the study are; to investigate what the current knowledge sharing tools and practices are in library’, to identify to what extent the staff at the NDA library utilizes knowledge sharing tools, to identify the strengths and limitations in knowledge sharing practices etc. The research questions are; Does the library have a system in place that retains knowledge from experienced staff who either left or retired? Does the library have satisfactory ICT that can allow for capturing and storing explicit knowledge and subsequently allow it to be accessed by librarian (e.g database, repositories)? Do you feel that amongst colleagues there is hoarding of knowledge. The population of the study comprises of five (5) professional librarian in NDA Library. The instrument used for collecting data was questionnaire

Glance into solid-state transformer technology: a mirror for possible research areas

Solid-State Transformer (SST), a power electronics based transformer is an emerging technology in electric power system. The transformer is being investigated to completely replace existing Line/Low Frequency Transformer (LFT). SST is composed of either of the two topologies: AC-DC-AC, two steps approach; or AC-AC, single-step approach. The two steps approach consists of three stages: AC-DC; DC-DC; and DC-AC stages. The DC-DC stage is made up of a boost DC-DC converter, a DC-AC inverter and a High Frequency Transformer, HFT. Therefore, SST performs the tasks of LFT by means of power electronic converters and HFT.  The main essence of SST is to provide solution to the problem of bulkiness and heaviness of the LFT in the power distribution network. This is with the view to providing reduction in construction cost, cost of maintenance and transportation. The power electronics transformer provides numerous advantages which are grouped into: The transformer has high power density; it functions in blackouts and brownouts; and it provides easy means of distributed renewable energy integration into associated grid. Therefore, this paper provides a glance into the technology of the SST for its better understating and promotion of research activities in the area

The Effect of International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) among SMEs in Nigeria

Purpose: Although, SMEs are making significant contributions to the Nigerian economy, however, financial reporting in the sector has not been researched well.Therefore, this study intends to fill in the gap by determining the effect of IFRS among the Nigerian SMEs.Design: The study adopted Ohlson Model (1995) that has been widely used among researchers in determining the effect of IFRS.The study used 80 SMEs registered in Nigerian Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) for the period of 2011 to 2016 using pre-and postIFRS adoption of SMEs in Nigeria. Findings: The study findings provided a statistically significant increase of financial reporting after IFRS adoption among the Nigerian SMEs.Particularly, a greater increase in earnings coefficients than book value after IFRS adoption was noticed during the period. Implication: The Nigerian SMEs witnessed the lack of compliance with the Nigerian accounting standards and IFRS knowledge.Therefore, financial reporting provided in the public may not reflect a true view of their financial positions.Several SMEs data could not be provided in the data stream which does not allow us for generalisation. Practical implications: The implication of this study is to provide the usefulness of adopting IFRS among SMEs in Nigeria.Also, to the International Accounting Standard Board (IASB) that are at forefront of the use of IFRS to SMEs that IFRS provides more value relevance of accounting information as they suggested. Originality: This study is the first to look at the effect of IFRS on SMEs for book value and earnings in Nigeri

Patogenicidad in vitro de Akanthomyces lecanii y Metarhizium anisopliae contra el pulgón Aphis craccivora

Aphis craccivora is a serious pest of cowpea worldwide and responsible for low crop yields. Entomopathogenic fungi offer environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional synthetic pesticides. In the present study, the biological control potential of Akanthomyces lecanii and Metarhizium anisopliae against cowpea aphid was evaluated under laboratory conditions. These fungi were used in the laboratory bioassays: Conidial suspensions with different concentrations of spores of each isolate were sprayed on filter-paper discs on which bean leaves were placed as food for the insects. Aphid mortality was observed and recorded for 10 days. The concentration of 1x108 conidia/ml was high enough to cause insect mortality in all the isolates tested while the control mortality was 10%. This study confirms the potential of using the indigenous fungi as biological control agents against the cowpea aphids even at low concentrations.Aphis craccivora es una plaga mundial grave de la alubia ojo de perdiz y responsable del bajo rendimiento del cultivo. Los hongos entomopatógenos ofrecen alternativas ambientalmente respetuosas a pesticidas sintéticos convencionales. Se evaluó el potencial de Akanthomyces lecanii y Metarhizium anisopliae contra el pulgón negro de las leguminosas en laboratorio. Estos hongos se utilizaron en bioensayos de laboratorio: Se rociaron discos de papel con diferentes concentraciones de esporas de cada aislado, con hojas de judía como alimento para los insectos. Se observó y registró la mortalidad de los pulgones durante 10 días. La concentración de 1x108 conidios/ml fue suficientemente alta para causar mortalidad en todos los ensayos, mientras que en el control fue del 10%. Este estudio confirma el potencial de hongos autóctonos como agentes de control biológico contra estos pulgones, incluso a bajas concentraciones

Patogenicidad in vitro de Akanthomyces lecanii y Metarhiziumanisopliae contra el pulgón Aphis craccivora

Aphis craccivora is a serious pest of cowpea worldwide and re-sponsible for low crop yields. Entomopathogenic fungi offer envir-onmentally friendly alternatives to conventional synthetic pesti-cides. In the present study, the biological control potential ofAkanthomyces lecanii and Metarhizium anisopliae against cowpeaaphid was evaluated under laboratory conditions. These fungi wereused in the laboratory bioassays: Conidial suspensions with differ-ent concentrations of spores of each isolate were sprayed on filter-paper discs on which bean leaves were placed as food for the in-sects. Aphid mortality was observed and recorded for 10 days. Theconcentration of 1x108 conidia/ml was high enough to cause insectmortality in all the isolates tested while the control mortality was10%. This study confirms the potential of using the indigenousfungi as biological control agents against the cowpea aphids evenat low concentrations.Aphis craccivora es una plaga mundial grave de la alubia ojo deperdiz y responsable del bajo rendimiento del cultivo. Los hongosentomopatógenos ofrecen alternativas ambientalmente respetuo-sas a pesticidas sintéticos convencionales. Se evaluó el potencialde Akanthomyces lecanii y Metarhizium anisopliae contra el pulgónnegro de las leguminosas en laboratorio. Estos hongos se utiliza-ron en bioensayos de laboratorio: Se rociaron discos de papel condiferentes concentraciones de esporas de cada aislado, con hojasde judía como alimento para los insectos. Se observó y registró lamortalidad de los pulgones durante 10 días. La concentración de1x108 conidios/ml fue suficientemente alta para causar mortalidaden todos los ensayos, mientras que en el control fue del 10%. Esteestudio confirma el potencial de hongos autóctonos como agentesde control biológico contra estos pulgones, incluso a bajas concen-tracione

Deaths during tuberculosis treatment among paediatric patients in a large tertiary hospital in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Despite availability of effective cure, tuberculosis (TB) remains a leading cause of death in children. In many high-burden countries, childhood TB is underdiagnosed and underreported, and care is often accessed too late, resulting in adverse treatment outcomes. In this study, we examined the time to death and its associated factors among a cohort of children that commenced TB treatment in a large treatment centre in northern Nigeria. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of children that started TB treatment between 2010 and 2014. We determined mortality rates per 100 person-months of treatment, as well as across treatment and calendar periods. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to determine adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) for factors associated with mortality. RESULTS: Among 299 children with a median age 4 years and HIV prevalence of 33.4%; 85 (28.4%) died after 1,383 months of follow-up. Overall mortality rate was 6.1 per 100 person-months. Deaths occurred early during treatment and declined from 42.4 per 100 person-months in the 1st week of treatment to 2.2 per 100 person-months after at the 3rd month of treatment. Mortality was highest between October to December period (9.1 per 100 pm) and lowest between July and September (2.8 per 100 pm). Risk factors for mortality included previous TB treatment (aHR 2.04:95%CI;1.09-3.84); HIV infection (aHR 1.66:95%CI;1.02-2.71), having either extra-pulmonary disease (aHR 2.21:95%CI;1.26-3.89) or both pulmonary and extrapulmonary disease (aHR 3.03:95%CI;1.70-5.40). CONCLUSIONS: Mortality was high and occurred early during treatment in this cohort, likely indicative of poor access to prompt TB diagnosis and treatment. A redoubling of efforts at improving universal health coverage are required to achieve the End TB Strategy target of zero deaths from TB

Neonatal sepsis and mortality in low-income and middle-income countries from a facility-based birth cohort: an international multisite prospective observational study

Background Neonatal sepsis is a primary cause of neonatal mortality and is an urgent global health concern, especially within low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), where 99% of global neonatal mortality occurs. The aims of this study were to determine the incidence and associations with neonatal sepsis and all-cause mortality in facility-born neonates in LMICs. Methods The Burden of Antibiotic Resistance in Neonates from Developing Societies (BARNARDS) study recruited mothers and their neonates into a prospective observational cohort study across 12 clinical sites from Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Rwanda, and South Africa. Data for sepsis-associated factors in the four domains of health care, maternal, birth and neonatal, and living environment were collected for all mothers and neonates enrolled. Primary outcomes were clinically suspected sepsis, laboratory-confirmed sepsis, and all-cause mortality in neonates during the first 60 days of life. Incidence proportion of livebirths for clinically suspected sepsis and laboratory-confirmed sepsis and incidence rate per 1000 neonate-days for all-cause mortality were calculated. Modified Poisson regression was used to investigate factors associated with neonatal sepsis and parametric survival models for factors associated with all-cause mortality. Findings Between Nov 12, 2015 and Feb 1, 2018, 29 483 mothers and 30 557 neonates were enrolled. The incidence of clinically suspected sepsis was 166·0 (95% CI 97·69–234·24) per 1000 livebirths, laboratory-confirmed sepsis was 46·9 (19·04–74·79) per 1000 livebirths, and all-cause mortality was 0·83 (0·37–2·00) per 1000 neonate-days. Maternal hypertension, previous maternal hospitalisation within 12 months, average or higher monthly household income, ward size (>11 beds), ward type (neonatal), living in a rural environment, preterm birth, perinatal asphyxia, and multiple births were associated with an increased risk of clinically suspected sepsis, laboratory-confirmed sepsis, and all-cause mortality. The majority (881 [72·5%] of 1215) of laboratory-confirmed sepsis cases occurred within the first 3 days of life. Interpretation Findings from this study highlight the substantial proportion of neonates who develop neonatal sepsis, and the high mortality rates among neonates with sepsis in LMICs. More efficient and effective identification of neonatal sepsis is needed to target interventions to reduce its incidence and subsequent mortality in LMICs. Funding Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Effects of antibiotic resistance, drug target attainment, bacterial pathogenicity and virulence, and antibiotic access and affordability on outcomes in neonatal sepsis: an international microbiology and drug evaluation prospective substudy (BARNARDS)

Background Sepsis is a major contributor to neonatal mortality, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). WHO advocates ampicillin–gentamicin as first-line therapy for the management of neonatal sepsis. In the BARNARDS observational cohort study of neonatal sepsis and antimicrobial resistance in LMICs, common sepsis pathogens were characterised via whole genome sequencing (WGS) and antimicrobial resistance profiles. In this substudy of BARNARDS, we aimed to assess the use and efficacy of empirical antibiotic therapies commonly used in LMICs for neonatal sepsis. Methods In BARNARDS, consenting mother–neonates aged 0–60 days dyads were enrolled on delivery or neonatal presentation with suspected sepsis at 12 BARNARDS clinical sites in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Rwanda, and South Africa. Stillborn babies were excluded from the study. Blood samples were collected from neonates presenting with clinical signs of sepsis, and WGS and minimum inhibitory concentrations for antibiotic treatment were determined for bacterial isolates from culture-confirmed sepsis. Neonatal outcome data were collected following enrolment until 60 days of life. Antibiotic usage and neonatal outcome data were assessed. Survival analyses were adjusted to take into account potential clinical confounding variables related to the birth and pathogen. Additionally, resistance profiles, pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic probability of target attainment, and frequency of resistance (ie, resistance defined by in-vitro growth of isolates when challenged by antibiotics) were assessed. Questionnaires on health structures and antibiotic costs evaluated accessibility and affordability. Findings Between Nov 12, 2015, and Feb 1, 2018, 36 285 neonates were enrolled into the main BARNARDS study, of whom 9874 had clinically diagnosed sepsis and 5749 had available antibiotic data. The four most commonly prescribed antibiotic combinations given to 4451 neonates (77·42%) of 5749 were ampicillin–gentamicin, ceftazidime–amikacin, piperacillin–tazobactam–amikacin, and amoxicillin clavulanate–amikacin. This dataset assessed 476 prescriptions for 442 neonates treated with one of these antibiotic combinations with WGS data (all BARNARDS countries were represented in this subset except India). Multiple pathogens were isolated, totalling 457 isolates. Reported mortality was lower for neonates treated with ceftazidime–amikacin than for neonates treated with ampicillin–gentamicin (hazard ratio [adjusted for clinical variables considered potential confounders to outcomes] 0·32, 95% CI 0·14–0·72; p=0·0060). Of 390 Gram-negative isolates, 379 (97·2%) were resistant to ampicillin and 274 (70·3%) were resistant to gentamicin. Susceptibility of Gram-negative isolates to at least one antibiotic in a treatment combination was noted in 111 (28·5%) to ampicillin–gentamicin; 286 (73·3%) to amoxicillin clavulanate–amikacin; 301 (77·2%) to ceftazidime–amikacin; and 312 (80·0%) to piperacillin–tazobactam–amikacin. A probability of target attainment of 80% or more was noted in 26 neonates (33·7% [SD 0·59]) of 78 with ampicillin–gentamicin; 15 (68·0% [3·84]) of 27 with amoxicillin clavulanate–amikacin; 93 (92·7% [0·24]) of 109 with ceftazidime–amikacin; and 70 (85·3% [0·47]) of 76 with piperacillin–tazobactam–amikacin. However, antibiotic and country effects could not be distinguished. Frequency of resistance was recorded most frequently with fosfomycin (in 78 isolates [68·4%] of 114), followed by colistin (55 isolates [57·3%] of 96), and gentamicin (62 isolates [53·0%] of 117). Sites in six of the seven countries (excluding South Africa) stated that the cost of antibiotics would influence treatment of neonatal sepsis

Right Atrial Mass: An Accidental Echocardiographic Finding

Intracardiac tumors are rare and may be primary or of secondary metastasis; among primary tumors are atrial myxomas; these are most common in the left atrium, affect females more and it is seen more among teenagers in pediatric population. It has varied clinical presentation, and asymptomatic cases have been reported. However, the case of a 2-year-old female with the right atrial involvement who presented with overt signs severe malnutrition is reported

Energy Router Applications in the Electric Power System

Energy router is being investigated to replace conventional transformer in the electric grid. Improvement so far observed in use of converter makes possible the intelligent integration between systems with different characteristics’ in terms of frequency and voltage levels as well as exploitation of generation sources and storage systems typically operating in DC. Consequently, it is believed that Energy Router is able to interconnect different portions of electrical networks and at different voltage levels and types. The Energy Router is an assembly of converters isolated by a medium or high frequency transformer. In its design, different voltage levels and types are made available to achieve high results in terms of system integration, efficiency and flexibility. This paper evaluates the main potentials of this technology if widely introduced in the main power system. Starting from the single component description, a couple of possible applications are presented and discussed