Language Shift and Lexical Merger: a Case Study of Ìlàjẹ and Àpọ́ ì

Threat to indigenous languages largely occasioned by lexical borrowing and shift by small language groups has continued to compel investigations on the extent and implication of such phenomenon. This paper examines patterns of interaction between Àpọ́ ì, an isolated dialect of Ijaw, and Ìlàjẹ, an extant dialect of Yorùbá. Attention is drawn to the level of lexical borrowing, dialectal influence, and semantic narrowing. Data employed for the study were elicited from five native speakers of Àpọ́ ì and Ìlàjẹ who are also additive bilinguals of either Ìlàjẹ/Àpọ́ ì or Standard Yorùbá (SY)/Àpọ́ ì, using one hundred selected items from the Ibadan 400-Wordlist of basic items. Findings reveal that Àpọ́ ì borrowed 42 items directly from SY; 14 from Ìlàjẹ with traces found in SY, 15 from Ìlàjẹ without any linguistic trace to SY, 9 from central Yoruba dialects of Ìjẹṣa and Mọ̀bà, and 3 from SY with narrowed semantic interpretations. The paper concludes that Àpọ́ ì is fast evolving as a hybrid of Ijaw and Ìlàjẹ. &nbsp

Customised Ibadan-Yoruba

This article reports that Reverend Gbade Ogunlana, popularly known as Paito wa, uses the Ibadan dialect of Yoruba in his preaching, but deploys available phonological mechanisms to add a sort of comic impression to his speech. Consonant deletion, which is usually minimised in public domains of speaking are rather maximised in his speaking, while tone spreading is accentuated to produce acute rising and falling contours. Further, it is reported that he prefers lexical borrowings which allow him the freedom to then adapt the borrowed words in the layman’s manner. This freedom is also apparent in the use of novel words which he is able to pronounce in the layman’s manner. It is argued that the intent of these is to add humour to his preaching, and accommodate his target audience for social identity and better understanding, an intention he appears to achieve with his choice of style

Computer Vision for Multimedia Geolocation in Human Trafficking Investigation: A Systematic Literature Review

The task of multimedia geolocation is becoming an increasingly essential component of the digital forensics toolkit to effectively combat human trafficking, child sexual exploitation, and other illegal acts. Typically, metadata-based geolocation information is stripped when multimedia content is shared via instant messaging and social media. The intricacy of geolocating, geotagging, or finding geographical clues in this content is often overly burdensome for investigators. Recent research has shown that contemporary advancements in artificial intelligence, specifically computer vision and deep learning, show significant promise towards expediting the multimedia geolocation task. This systematic literature review thoroughly examines the state-of-the-art leveraging computer vision techniques for multimedia geolocation and assesses their potential to expedite human trafficking investigation. This includes a comprehensive overview of the application of computer vision-based approaches to multimedia geolocation, identifies their applicability in combating human trafficking, and highlights the potential implications of enhanced multimedia geolocation for prosecuting human trafficking. 123 articles inform this systematic literature review. The findings suggest numerous potential paths for future impactful research on the subject

A Mixed-Methods Study of Eating Behaviours and Mealtime Experiences in Relation to Young People with Tourette Syndrome

Research suggests that young people with neurodevelopmental disorders experience an increased prevalence of selective eating compared with their typically developing counterparts. However, very little research has specifically explored the eating behaviours of young people with Tourette Syndrome (TS). Moreover, the mealtime experiences for young people with TS and their families has yet to be empirically explored. This doctoral study aims to begin to fill these gaps in the literature by exploring the eating behaviours and mealtime experiences of young people with TS and their families. The objective of this PhD was twofold: (1) to identify traits and characteristics associated with TS and/or comorbid disorders that shape the eating behaviours and mealtime experiences of young people with TS and their families. (2) To identify mealtime challenges and how they are managed by young people with TS, mothers of young people with TS, and clinical professionals, if at all. This pragmatic dissertation drew upon mixed-methods and multiple perspectives to provide a comprehensive understanding of the eating behaviours and mealtime experiences of young people with TS and their families. The quantitative studies were designed to compare the eating behaviours and positive mealtime attributes of young people with TS to typically developing controls; based on both self- and maternal- report. The qualitative studies undertaken followed a multi-perspective Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) design. Three perspectives were sought, from: (1) young people with TS, (2) mothers of young people with TS, and (3) clinical professionals. The results are considered in light of a theoretical framework that incorporates Ecological Systems Theory and the Dialectical Model of Feeding Interactions. The findings suggest that the eating behaviours of young people with TS and mealtime experiences of them and their families are shaped by traits and characteristics associated with TS and comorbid disorders/behaviours. While some experiences mirror those of other populations with the same trait or characteristic (e.g., selective eating), others were categorically different, shaped by the distinct features of TS (e.g., tic-related challenges). The application of the theoretical framework allowed for an appreciation for the systemic complexity of mealtimes; a microsocial phenomenon that is interpersonal and intersubjective. This doctoral study contributes to understandings of: (1) sensory sensitivity and rigidity as transdiagnostic mechanisms for selective eating, (2) the parent-child feeding dynamic during adolescence, and (3) highlights directive communication as an aspect of family mealtimes that may be a barrier to positive outcomes at best, and facilitate adverse outcomes at worst. The findings also highlight mealtimes as a social context where tics might present challenges that evoke emotional states that can exacerbate them. Tics have the potential to create functional mealtime challenges, affecting a young person’s ability to eat, drink and be seated. They also have the power to disrupt the conviviality of mealtimes. Eating out-of-home can be especially challenging, with restaurants in particular being high-pressure environments for young people with TS and their families. Young people with TS and their families can feel self-conscious and stigmatised when eating out-of-home, including friends’ houses, which may result in further social isolation and weaken social ties. Clinicians’ accounts often paralleled those of young people and mothers. Although, there were a few notable differences. Clinicians focused more on the impact of appetite suppressing medications on the weight of young people, while young people focused more on weight gain associated with appetite stimulating medications. Additionally, mothers spoke about attempts to change their child’s behaviours, while clinicians discussed the importance of managing parental expectations and responses to young people’s behaviours. Taken together, the findings suggest that young people with TS and their families would benefit from specialised support to address some of the mealtime challenges they face and demonstrates the importance of clinicians taking a transdiagnostic approach to selective eating

Isolation and Screening of Antifungal Producing Lactic Acid Bacteria From Pro-Vitamin A Cassava

Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) are non-pathogenic bacteria reported to play essential role in preservation, fermentation and contribute to organoleptic and textural profile of food items. This study investigated antifungal producing LAB during fermentation of Pro-vitamin A and white cassava variety which were used against spoilage mould of cassava products (garri, lafun and fufu). One white cassava variety (IITA TMS IBA 30572 (ITI3)) and one yellow variety (IITA TMS IBA 011368 (ITI0)) were fermented for 96 hours.  The pH and Total Titratable Acidity (TTA) of the fermenting medium and LAB counts of the supernatant and cassava mash were determined using standard procedures. The LAB were screened with Aspergillus niger to detect their antifungal ability.  The LAB were identified as different species which are Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus mesenteroides, Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus acidophilus. These LAB isolates posses the potential to inhibit most of the isolated moulds used in this study. Quantities of lactic acid, diacetyl and hydrogen peroxide produced by the LAB were also determined using standard procedures. It was also observed that the pH and temperature of the growth medium have significant effect on the production of these antifungal metabolites by the isolated lactic acid bacteria. The proliferation of LAB at low pH and their inhibition against some moulds indicate their potential as bio-protective agents in cassava food products. Keywords: Fufu, Lafun, Garri, Fermentation, LAB, Antifungal compounds DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/9-19-01 Publication date:October 31st 2019

An Evaluation of the Effects of Drought on Groundnut Yields in Kano

This study undertook an evaluation of the effects of drought on groundnut yields in Kano. The study was conducted using drought index, rainfall characteristics and groundnut yields. Twenty-nine years rainfall andgroundnut yields data were used for the study. The relationship between drought index and groundnut yields was determined via the use of correlation coefficient which reveals a significant correlation between both parameters. The study reveals that the nature and magnitude of the drought index affect the various yields of groundnuts in Kano especially among the years with episodic cases of drought in the study area. These findings have important implications on the crop yields of the study area. Drought frequency which constitutes decline in groundnut yields and other crops in general, would have serious socio-economic impact on Kano and Nigeria in general. Thus, it becomes necessary to put appropriate measures in place using the findings of this research to check the effects of drought index on groundnut yields among other crops in the study area

An interpretative phenomenological analysis of eating behaviors and mealtimes experiences of young people with Tourette syndrome

© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY), https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Little is known about how young people with Tourette Syndrome (TS) perceive their own eating behaviors and subsequent effects on their mealtimes. Six adolescents aged 12–14 years with a self-reported clinical diagnosis of TS took part in semi-structured interviews. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of the transcribed interviews revealed central experiences of mealtime challenges in relation to their tics. Tics were described as creating functional mealtime challenges, often interrupting their ability to eat, drink and be seated. While sensory-based food preferences were noted, including the need for food to be plated a certain way, these preferences were not viewed as being problematic. Adolescents taking Aripiprazole reported dissatisfaction with the appetite stimulating side effects and subsequent weight gain. Eating out-of-home was found to be especially challenging, with some of the young people reporting feeling self-conscious and stigmatized when eating out-of-home, including at friends’ houses. There is a need for clinical guidance around eating and mealtimes, to meet the specific need of young people with TS and their families. Support from clinicians could entail monitoring changes in eating patterns resulting from tics and/or from side effects of medication, as well as in helping young people to manage any discomfort associated with eating out.Peer reviewe

Effects of credit, liquidity, and operational risks on efficiency of Islamic banks in Africa

Islamic banks in Africa are characterized with some technical inefficiencies. The low efficiency of Islamic banks in the region has been linked to high exposure to different risk variables. However, adequate attention has not been given to such risk variables in past studies on Islamic bank efficiency. This study therefore assessed the effects of credit, liquidity and operational risks on efficiency of Islamic banks in Africa. Twenty (20) Islamic banks were selected across Africa for a period of eight (8) years from 2012 to 2019. Data were collected from annual reports of the banks and analysed via Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression. The study found that the banks were not efficient as the average overall technical efficiency (OTE) was 0.748. The inefficiencies could be traced to both managerial inefficiencies (PTE, 0.827) and poor selection of operating scale (SE, 0.902). The study also found that non-performing financing ratio (p = 0.002), deposit-asset ratio (p = 0.019), and operating expenses to earnings ratio (p = 0.000), have a negative and significant relationship with OTE at 5% level of significance. The study concluded that Islamic banks in Africa are not technically efficient and that exposure to credit, liquidity and operational risks had impaired their technical efficiencies. The study recommends employment of staff with requisite skills and knowledge of Islamic banking and finance to enhance their efficiency. Timely identification of potential risks and adequate risk management are also necessary to forestall high risk exposure which jeopardize technical efficiency

Teachers’ Academic Qualification, Gender and Teaching Experience as Correlate of Students’ Academic Performance in Biology in Oyo State, Nigeria

Many studies have pointed out different variables as factors determining the student achievement in biology. Such factors include parental, students, teachers and school factors. Previous studies show that these factors prevent students to actively involve in the teaching and learning process. Teachers’ qualification, teaching experience and teachers’ gender have been established to facilitate the teaching and learning process. This study therefore examined the influence of teacher’s academic qualifications, gender and teaching experience on students’ academic performance of Senior Secondary school Students in Biology. The area of the study was Ido LGA. A case study of ten secondary schools formed the research design. Sample consisted of 20 teachers and 200 SSS II Biology students. Random sampling technique was used to select ten schools from the study area. Teacher’s academic qualifications, gender, teaching experience and the SSS II student’s first term result formed the data which was analysed using simple percentage, ANOVA tested at 0.05 level of significance and multiple regression. Four null hypotheses were tested in this study. The findings of the research shows that there was a great significant influence of the teacher’s academic qualifications [F = 0.216, p=.049], gender [F = 0.298, p=.027] and teaching experience [F = 0.012, p=.042] on student’s academic performance. The result also revealed a great significant joint influence of qualification, teachers’ gender and teaching experience on students’ academic performance. These results were further subjected to Scheffe`s post hoc Tests and the results were highly significant. Since teachers professional qualification, gender and teaching experience influence students’ academic performance in Biology, the government and all stakeholders in education sector should endeavour to implement its policy on basic education for all, retain experience teachers through better conditions of service, fund education through provision of teaching aids  and thus, create an enlightened society in which every Biology teacher would be educated, experienced and competent enough to have a positive influence on their Biology students for better performance in the subject Keywords: Teachers’ Qualification, Gender, Teaching Experience, Biology, Students’ Academic Performance DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/11-9-03 Publication date:May 31st 202

Interactions of cross-linked and uncross-linked chitosan hydrogels with surfactants for biomedical applications

The swelling equilibrium of Chitosan and sodium tripolyphosphate (NaTPP) cross-linked chitosan hydrogels in aqueous solutions of surfactants differing in structure and hydrophobicity at 250C is reported. Anionic surfactant sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS), the cationic surfactant hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HTAB) and neutral surfactants Triton X-100 were employed. The surfactants induced abrupt change in the gel volume. The equilibrium swelling ratio first decreased sharply as the concentration of the surfactant increased and remained almost constant up to the critical micelles concentration (CMC) of the surfactants and then increased again as the concentration increased above the CMC of the surfactants used. The equilibrium volume change of hydrogel was significantly increased from HTAB > Triton X-100 > SDS> the mixed SDS/Triton X- 100 system. A decrease in equilibrium swelling ratio of the gel in SDS/TX-100 mixtures was observed with an increase in the mole ratio of SDS. The results also revealed that cross-linking with 3% or 5% w/v NaTPP exhibited lower equilibrium swelling values. This swelling study showed that cross-linking density, surfactant type, and their respective concentrations were important parameters that could affect equilibrium swelling of chitosan gel. Structural elucidation of the nanocomposites was monitored using Infra-red Spectroscopy (IR), and X-Ray Diffractography (XRD)