The medium of instruction controversy: language utility or inefficiency?

The choice of a medium of instruction, an aspect of status planning, is a sensitive, political and social matter in a multilingual setting. This paper explores the controversy about medium of instruction. A survey of attitude towards medium of instruction in the basic educational level was conducted in the six geo-political regions of Nigeria. A total of 600 teachers and non- teachers responded to a set of questionnaire. The result shows that language utility highly influences the choice and acceptability of medium of instruction; in fact, it may enhance its functionality.                                                                                   &nbsp

Awareness of Ocular Complications of Diabetes Among Diabetic Patients In A Tertiary Hospital In Western, Nigeria

Background:- Diabetes is no longer a disease of affluent and industrialized countries. It affects virtually all ocular structures and can lead to blindness. Routine eye examination is necessary for early detection of ocular involvement and prevention of blindness. Only few diabetics have regular eye examination. Aim:- To study the awareness of ocular complications of diabetes among diabetic patients Methodology:- A cross-sectional prospective study of 148 randomly selected diabetic patients was done. A semi structured questionnaire was administered to these patients by an interviewer who is medical personnel, not below the level of a house-officer. Informed consent was obtained from the patients before filling the questionnaires. The information obtained include the biodata, educational level, duration of diabetes, whether they were aware that diabetes can affect other parts of the body, if yes which parts, which parts of the eye can it affect, how can it affect the eye, whether or not routine eye examination is necessary in diabetics, if yes how often, how did they learn about diabetes and how they think awareness of diabetic complications can be improved. The results were collated and analyzed using SPSS version 13, with chi square done where necessary. Results:- A total of 148 patients were studied. Their ages range between 21years and 82years, with a mean of 58.53 +10.4years. Majority were between 36-60yearrs of age. Eighty-three (56.1%) had educational level within secondary level 40(27 %) tertiary education while 25(16.9 %)) do not have formal education. Most common co morbid factor was hypertension, found in 44.6%. One hundred and twenty three (83.1%) were aware that diabetes could affect other parts of the body, 41% were aware of brain affectation, 54% were aware that it can affect the kidneys, 77.7% were aware that it can affect the eyes, 39.2% blood vessels, 66.2% the legs, 40.5% the skin and 41.9% were aware that it can affect the genitals. Of the 77.7% who were aware that it can affect the eyes, more than half (58.8%) did not know the part of the eye that can be affected. 20.3% knew that it can affect the crystalline lens,4.1% external eye, 13.5% the retina and 3.4% thought it can affect the combination of external eye, lens and the retina. Forty nine respondents (33.1%) did not know that routine eye examination is necessary in diabetics, 16.2% says eye examination should be once, 18.2% twice, 18.9% thrice and 26.4% none. Only 18 (12.2%) respondents got their information of eye complication from eye specialists. Sixty- one respondents (41.2%) do not know how diabetes can affect the eye, 29.7% knew that poor control is the problem, 8.8% think it is due to long duration, 7.4% believe it was a combination of poor control and long duration, 2% claim it is due to infection, 8.8% combination of infection, poor control and long duration and 0.7% erroneously believe thinking too much of DM can result in eye complication. Patients who have been diabetic for more than 10years are more aware that diabetes can affect the eye than those below 5years (92.3% vs. 7.2%, p=0.001). Awareness of diabetic complication is better in those with tertiary education than others (p=0.001). Conclusion:- We conclude that though awareness of ocular complication of diabetes mellitus is high, the level of knowledge is low. Health Practitioners especially eye care specialist need to intensify health education through media, regular health talks in clinics to increase knowledge and increase health seeking behaviours of diabetics in the

ANALYSIS OF VIBRATION EFFECT ON FACTORY FOUNDATION IN A FLOUR MILL

Thirteen roller machines, in operation at a flour mill, all on one floor, were analyzed for spectra transmission and propagation, using a vibration analyzer. The vibration analyzer was placed at 8 different positions around each roller machine, generating unique spectra curves symbolic of signals transmitted. It was observered that with exponential characteristics above 2 in the polynomial equations  resulted in significant signal propagation requiring isolation of the machines necessary. Results indicates that out of the 7 machines requiring isolation, cork  would be needed for 3 with maximum displacement of 0.19 to 0.20mm, while composite pad would be needed for 4 with a maximum displacement of 0.10 to 0.16mm. The study had shown that vibration effects could be successfully monitored on factory floors through the vibration analyzer application, thus, minimizing harzardous effects on factory workers and facilties

An Improved Anomalous Intrusion Detection Model

The volume of cyber-attack targeting network resources within the cyberspace is steadily increasing and evolving. Network intrusions compromise the confidentiality, integrity or availability of network resources causing reputational damage and the consequential financial loss. One of the key cyber-defense tools against these attacks is the Intrusion Detection System. Existing anomalous intrusion detection models often misclassified normal network traffics as attacks while minority attacks go undetected due to an extreme imbalance in network traffic data. This leads to a high false positive and low detection rate. This study focused on improving the detection accuracy by addressing the class imbalanced problem which is often associated with network traffic dataset. Live network traffic packets were collected within the test case environment with Wireshark during normal network activities, Syncflood attack, slowhttppost attack and exploitation of known vulnerabilities on a targeted machine. Fifty-two features including forty-two features similar to Knowledge Discovery in Database (KDD ’99) intrusion detection dataset were extracted from the packet meta-data using Spleen tool. The features were normalized with min-max normalization algorithm and Information Gain algorithm was used to select the best discriminatory features from the feature space. An anomalous intrusion detection model was formulated by a cascade of k-means clustering algorithm and random-forest classifier. The proposed model was simulated and its performance was evaluated using detection accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity as metrics. The result of the evaluation showed 10% higher detection accuracy, 29% sensitivity, and 0.2% specificity than the existing model. Keywords— anomalous, cyber-attack, Detection, Intrusio

VARIETAL RELEASE: RELEASE OF TWO DUAL PURPOSE OFADA RICE VARIETIES (FUNAABOR- 1 AND FUNAABOR-2) BY FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE, ABEOKUTA (FUNAAB)

Two new dual purpose Ofada rice varieties (Oryza sativa) were developed and released by Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta in collaboration with National Cereals Research Institute, Badeggi, Nigeria, Africa Rice Centre, Ibadan, Nigeria and National Rice/Maize Centre, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Nigeria. A bottom-top approach was used for Ofada rice seed collection (accessions) from Farmer’s field based on Farmer’s preference. The collected Ofada rice seed (mixtures) were purified and field selection done using recurrent selection methods for desired morpho-agronomic, adaptive and nutritional characters. Repeated cycles of selection was done resulting in four distinct Ofada rice varieties, while two outstanding and dual purpose; upland and lowland agroecologies (first of its type in Nigeria) Ofada rice varieties were selected; FUNAABOR- 1 (aka Ofada gold) and FUNAABOR -2 (aka Ofada white) were finally selected, registered and released, after they were tested for acceptability, adaptability and stability across all south western states and in addition Edo and Delta states of Nigeria. The distinctive and specific descriptors of both released Ofada rice varieties are hereby presented:Â

Strengthening retinopathy of prematurity screening and treatment services in Nigeria: a case study of activities, challenges and outcomes 2017-2020.

OBJECTIVES: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) will become a major cause of blindness in Nigerian children unless screening and treatment services expand. This article aims to describe the collaborative activities undertaken to improve services for ROP between 2017 and 2020 as well as the outcome of these activities in Nigeria. DESIGN: Descriptive case study. SETTING: Neonatal intensive care units in Nigeria. PARTICIPANTS: Staff providing services for ROP, and 723 preterm infants screened for ROP who fulfilled screening criteria (gestational age <34 weeks or birth weight ≤2000 g, or sickness criteria). METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A WhatsApp group was initiated for Nigerian ophthalmologists and neonatologists in 2018. Members participated in a range of capacity-building, national and international collaborative activities between 2017 and 2018. A national protocol for ROP was developed for Nigeria and adopted in 2018; 1 year screening outcome data were collected and analysed. In 2019, an esurvey was used to collect service data from WhatsApp group members for 2017-2018 and to assess challenges in service provision. RESULTS: In 2017 only six of the 84 public neonatal units in Nigeria provided ROP services; this number had increased to 20 by 2018. Of the 723 babies screened in 10 units over a year, 127 (17.6%) developed any ROP; and 29 (22.8%) developed type 1 ROP. Only 13 (44.8%) babies were treated, most by intravitreal bevacizumab. The screening criteria were revised in 2020. Challenges included lack of equipment to regulate oxygen and to document and treat ROP, and lack of data systems. CONCLUSION: ROP screening coverage and quality improved after national and international collaborative efforts. To scale up and improve services, equipment for neonatal care and ROP treatment is urgently needed, as well as systems to monitor data. Ongoing advocacy is also essential

Ocular B-scan Ultrasound using non-dedicated Ultrasound system: Preliminary Report from Sagamu

Hitherto, opacity of the media precluding view of the retina has prevented ophthalmologists in Sagamu from making definitive diagnosis and decisions on management of some intraocular or orbital lesions. Recently, facility for ocular B-scan ultrasonography has been available in Sagamu. The objective of this study is to assess if ocular B-scan ultrasonography can assist the ophthalmologists in making diagnosis, thereby aiding in management decision of ocular and orbital diseases. We retrospectively review the clinical notes of the 29 patients who underwent ocular B-scan ultrasound of 37 eyes for analysis of age, sex, indications for request, ultrasound findings and subsequent management. The age ranges between 5days and 70years (mean 31years). Male: Female ratio was 2:1. Management decisions were influenced by ultrasound findings in 95% of patients. Keywords: Ocular ultrasound, opaque media, non-dedicated ultrasound system, ophthalmoscopeThe Nigerian Medical Practitioner Vol. 52 (4) 2007: pp. 82-8

Bilateral cataracts post thyroidectemy - a case report

No AbstractThe Nigerian Medical Practitioner Vol. 52 (5&6) 2007: pp. 117-11

Perception of red eye among senior secondary students in Sagamu, Southwest Nigeria

Background: Red eye is a very common presenting complaint in clinical practice among all age groups, including adolescents. Health habits formed during adolescence is carried to adulthood and is often a consequence of their perception. This study, therefore, determined the perception of students toward the red eye. Aim: To determine the perception of red eye and its associated factors among secondary school students in Sagamu. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out among 1082 senior secondary school students in Sagamu local government area, using a semi-structured self-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 20. Relevant descriptive and inferential statistics were calculated. Results: The mean age of respondents was 15.27 ± 1.48 years. There were more females (54.8%) than males. Majority (81%) had heard of red eye, and this was mainly from neighbors; 58.4% felt they could not contact red eye from an infected person. About 35% would instill onion if they had a red eye. About 50.2% felt red eye could lead to blindness. Awareness of red eye was associated with age (P = 0.005), but not with sex and religion. Among respondents, 95.5% and 96.2% had a poor perception as well as a poor attitude toward red eye, respectively. Conclusion: The perception and attitude of senior secondary school students in Sagamu to red eye is poor. Appropriate eye health education and promotional services, including periodic eye examination of students, should be carried out in school health services. Early presentation to eye care centers for its treatment should be encouraged