Analysis of Strategies Used By Lecturers in Teaching Agricultural Education in Higher Institutions in Rivers State, Nigeria

The study analyzed the teaching strategies used by lecturers in teaching agricultural education in higher institutions in Rivers State. The specific objectives focused on the demographic characteristics of the lecturers, conventional teaching strategies used by lecturers, contemporary teaching strategies used and the challenges of the teaching strategies in agricultural education. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The sample size for the study was forty lecturers. Data was collected using a well structured questionnaire designed in four-point rating scale of agreement. Data collected were analyzed using mean and standard deviation with acceptance mean score of  ≥ 2.50. T-test was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05% level of significance. The study revealed that majority of the respondents agreed that discussion, demonstration, problem-solving, project and lecture strategies respectively were some of the most outstanding conventional strategies used in teaching agricultural education courses. The study also revealed that the contemporary strategies used included E-learning, video conference, power point presentation, internet, digital presentation and computer. Lack of relevant materials, lack of farm tools, lack of demonstration farm among others were some of the challenges of teaching strategies in agricultural education in higher institutions in Rivers State. The result revealed that the three hypotheses were all accepted. Meaning that there is no difference in the response of RSUST lecturers and that of FCET lecturers on the concept.  The study therefore recommends that adequate and appropriate teaching strategies should be used at all times by the lecturers to allow practical involvement by students for effective teaching and learning process. Keywords: Teaching strategies; Agricultural education; Analysis and Lecturer

The Modulatory Activity of Justicia carnea in Plasmodium Infected Mice

The study investigated the antiplasmodial potency of Justicia carnea in plasmodium infected mice. The aqueous leaf extract of Justicia carnea was subjected to phytochemical screening using GC-FID. The suppressive, prophylactic and curative activity of the studied plant was accessed after oral administration of standard drugs (5mgkg-1 choroquine and 4mgkg-1 artesunate) and 400-800mgkg-1 of the extract. The effect of the aqueous leaf extract of the studied plant was also explored in the activities of liver enzymes, oxidative stress markers and hematological indices of plasmodium infected mice using spectrophotomertic methods and a hematology auto analyzer (BC 5300 Mindray England) respectively. The aqueous leaf extract of Justicia carnea showed considerable dose dependent antiplasmodial activity in the suppressive, prophylactic and curative test conducted. The suppressive activity of (92%) of the aqueous leaf extract of the studied plant at 800mgkg-1 was comparable to the standard drugs used while the mean survival time of plasmodium infected mice at 800mgkg-1 was beyond the mean survival time of the infected untreated group. The aqueous leaf extract of the studied plant also exhibited significant improvements in the activities of liver enzymes, oxidative stress markers and some hematological parameters at 800mgkg-1 of the extract when compared with the infected and untreated group. The results of the study exhibited the antiplasmodial activity of the studied plant, nonetheless, the crude extracts of the studied plant can be further purified for synergistic use with other potent antimalarial drugs to combat and achieve total clearance of plasmodium resistant infections

Teachers’ Knowledge and Application of Classroom Management Techniques in Business Education

The study investigated teachers’ knowledge and application of classroom management techniques in business education.  Two research questions were posed to guide the study while one hypothesis was formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance.  A total of 86 teachers were studied, purposive sampling was employed for the study.  The instrument for the study was named Teachers’ Knowledge and Application of Classroom Management Techniques in Business Education Questionnaire (TKACMTBEQ), with a four point modified Likert scale of highly extent to no extent. 6 teachers validated the instrument and a reliability coefficient test using test-retest method yielded a correlation of 0.89.  Mean rating was used to answer the research questions while T-test for large group mean was used to test the hypothesis.  Findings revealed that teachers’ knowledge in classroom management and the application of classroom management techniques is not significantly different from each other and that most teachers are yet to be knowledgeable on issues relating to classroom management techniques.  Conclusion drawn from the study is that where teachers manage their classrooms effectively, students will certainly gain from every lecture and will be happy to find themselves in such teachers’ class and also be proud of such teachers wherever they may be found.  Based on the findings and conclusion drawn from the study, recommendations made amongst others were that teachers should be well equipped and knowledgeable on classroom management and ensure that techniques such as counselling approach, rote discipline, addressing the needs of students both in terms of what they teach and how they teach, facial expressions and gestures, and devoting time to each individual learner are employed in the classrooms. Keywords: Teachers Knowledge, Application, Classroom Management, Techniques, Business Education

Will working students flourish or give up? Exploring the influence of academic psychological capital, grit, and time management

Working students are faced with challenges and responsibilities both at university and in their employment. In attempting to study the books and chapters assigned, meet assignment deadlines, participate in extracurricular activities, and functions at work, working students may be overwhelmed. The primary aim of this study was to examine and understand the influence of non-cognitive factors (including Psychological Capital, time management, and grit) on flourishing and the working student’s intention to quit their studies. A non-probability sampling technique indicating convenience sampling and purposive sampling were employed to recruit respondents. The sample (n = 194) was from a residential university in the Western Cape of South Africa. Non-cognitive variables had a positive relationship with flourishing and a negative relationship with intention-to-quit studies. Academic mindset measured as Psychological Capital explained the largest proportion of the variance in flourishing and intention-to-quit studies. Lecturers, counsellors, and university officials should collaborate to incorporate programmes that will aid in developing these non-cognitive variables into the university’s curriculum. These interventions may help improve academic success and throughput of working students

Electrolyte disorders in a young female following short-term omeprazole therapy

A 29 years old female presented to us in the metabolic clinic of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) on account of a week history of easy fatigability, weakness, and lower extremity muscle cramps associated with numbness and tingling sensation in the peri-oral area, fingers and toes. Two weeks prior to the onset of her presenting symptoms, she had visited a local pharmaceutical shop on account of a distressing epigastric discomfort and was subsequently placed on daily oral omeprazole 20mg daily for a month by a pharmacist. She had been on the omeprazole medication for two weeks before her present symptoms manifested. Her past medical history was not suggestive of hypoparathyroidism nor pancreatitis. She was married with three children and has an uneventful family, social and obstetric histories. On examination, she was a healthy well-oriented young female with positive Trousseau’s, Chvostek’s and epigastric tenderness signs. Further Laboratory evaluation revealed she had low plasma magnesium, low plasma albumin-corrected calcium, and low serum parathyroid hormone levels, while other laboratory parameters were essentially normal. A diagnosis of omeprazole-induced electrolyte disorders (hypomagnesaemia and hypocalcaemia) associated with hypoparathyroidism was made following the review of her clinical examination and laboratory findings. She was subsequently managed with oral magnesium supplements following the withdrawal of the omeprazole medication (replaced with oral ranitidine), monitored weekly, and full recovery was achieved after three weeks

Antimicrobial Activity, Proximate And Amino Acids Analysis Of Tetrapleura Tetraptera

The fruits of an African spice and medicinal plant, Tetrapleura tetraptera, was analysed for its antimicrobial property, proximate composition and amino acid composition using standard procedures. The sensitivity screen ing revealed that the fruits of Tetrapleura tetmptera exhibited antimicrobial activity against Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Shigella spp and Staphylococcus aureus isolates. The best activity was observed on Escherichia coli. at a concentration of 250mg/ml having a zone of inhibition of 21mrn and the least activity was observed on Shigella spp. with a zone of inhibition of 15mrn at the same concentration. On the other hand, at a lower concentration of 31.25mg/ml, Salmonella spp was more suscep tible with a zone of inhibition of 12mm while the least activity was observed on Shigella spp at a concentration of 31.25mg/ml producing a zone of inhibition of 5mm. these reveals that Shigella spp is more resistant to the extract compared with the other isolates. Upon proximate analysis, Tetrapleura tetraptera had 5% moisture, 14% ash, 11% crude protein, 8% fats and 62% crude fibre. Also, amino acid analysis of the plant revealed that the plant contains about 17 amino acids whose concentrations were expressed in g/100g protein. Among this amino acids, there were 9 essential amino acids which includes Cystine(2.45), Isoleucine(6.21), Leucine (5.57), Lysine (5.97), Methionine (0.83), Phenylalanine(4.05),Threonine(4.75), Valine (5.50) and Tyrosine (3.65) while the remaining 8 were Non-Essential Amino Acids which includes Alanine(6.15), Arginine (6.39), Aspartic acid(11.41), Glutamic acid (13.10), Glycine (6.15), Histidi.ne(3.47), Proline (3.15) and Serine (5.86). This study therefore indicates that Tetmpleura tetmptera fruits could be useful in the treatment of diseases caused by the tes t organisms. Furthermore, the p lant could effectively serve as dietary condiment, particularly at this time when the economies of most nations are on the decline

Case report of bullous pemphigoid in a 65 year old woman

The unique thing about this case is that it is the first reported case of bullous pemphigoid in the elderly that has been clinically diagnosed with histologic findings highly suggestive of this blistering disorder although an immunofluorescence could not be done due to unavailability in the centre. Patient was managed successfully and discharged home with improvement on subsequent hospital visits. This case report shows how diagnosis of an immunobullous disease was made and managed in a resource poor setting. A descriptive summary of 65-year old black Nigerian woman with bullous pemphigoid covering history, physical examination and management. The main diagnosis was bullous pemphigoid in a recently diagnosed type 2 diabetic. Patient was placed on corticosteroids as well as immunosuppressive agents and diabetes was managed with subcutaneous insulin and oral hypoglycemics with appropriate wound care. Patient showed remarkable improvement after management and was discharged home with subsequent follow up in the clinics. Bullous Pemphigoid (BP) can be diagnosed clinically with a high index of suspicion with the aid of skin biopsy and histology, and can be managed successfully even in a resource poor centre where immunofluorescence facilities are lacking

Making of an Entrepreneurial University in the 21st Century - Global Universities as a Role Model

This paper looks at what it takes to make a university entrepreneurial in the 21st century, especially with the global trend of Entrepreneurship Education.  Universities need to be entrepreneurial so as to churn out graduates who will create, rather than seek jobs.  The high rate of unemployment globally, calls for this.  The paper focuses on the concept of and economic perspective of Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneurship Education as well as portraying universities as role model in teaching entrepreneurship in the 21st century. The paper finally suggested establishment of Entrepreneurship Centre in each university, fully equipped with resources; internet connectivity and a globally friendly delivery system and assessment for the teaching of Entrepreneurship Education in universities. Keywords: Entrepreneurship Education, Entrepreneurial University, 21st Century, Global universities, Entrepreneurship concepts, Economic perspective, Entrepreneurship Centre, Internet connectivity, Self-employment, Delivery system and assessment

Structure and diversity of fish communities in man-made ponds of the Niger Delta (southern Nigeria)

1. A survey of eight local earthen hand-dug ponds located within the freshwater swamps of a Niger Delta area (southern Nigeria) was conducted over a period of 3 months. A total of 4,313 fishes representing 19 species from 12 families were recorded.2. The most abundant species was Xenomystus nigri (905 individuals), whereas the least common was Protopterus annectens (13). Cichlidae and Clariidae counted three species each, whereas Anabantidae, Hepsetidae, Mochokidae, Protopteridae, Phractolaemidae, Malapteruridae and Gymnarchidae were represented by a single species each.3. A lotic species, Synodontis sp., was recorded possibly as a result of the episodic flood of 2012.4. The Engenni swamps harbour a moderately diverse ichthyofauna. Regulations should be put in place to further enhance the fisheries potential of these local ponds