History and symbols in Juliana Okoh’s Throes of Leadership

Semiotics is a topic on which much has been theorised, but the practical applications of semiotics to appreciation of drama appear to be very difficult for students of the humanities to comprehend. By using the opportunity of doing a review on a recent play premier at the University of Port Harcourt in March, 2017; as directed by Sunday Edum, effort has been made in this study to demonstrate the place of semiotics in drama appreciation. The play titled, Throes of Leadership is written by Juliana O. Okoh; a prominent female playwright, feminist and a professor at the University of Port Harcourt. The work exposes the inner meanings of the signs and symbols embodied in the play from a participant account of the historical events captured in the play, while appraising the playwright and director in the delivery of the dramatic peace.Keywords: Performance, Semiotics, Meaning, Interpretation, Appreciatio

An Appraisal of Vertical Marketing System of Medical Drugs Distribution in Abia State, Nigeria

The study attempts to assess the channel performance of the vertical marketing system of drugs distribution in Abia State of Nigeria and the extent channel members’ satisfaction with the channel linkage can facilitate co-operation among members. Two research questions were raised to guide the study. Two hypotheses were formulated for testing. A sample of 300 respondents, comprising 30 licensed drug manufacturers/ importers, 49 wholesalers, 74 Retailers, and 147 Customers was selected from a population of 1200 respondents. Questionnaires were administered and completely retrieved. Interviews were held with some licensed distribution channel members. Data were analyzed using Z-test at 0.05 level of significance and 4 degrees of freedom. Findings revealed low performance of the vertical marketing system of drugs distribution and the statistical insignificance of the channel members’ satisfaction with the channel linkage in relation to facilitating co-operation among members. The manufactuturers should provide assistance to other channel members in training / retraining of personnel to enable them understand the total channel concept. They should extend credits provisions to other channel members while the wealthy distributors should make substantial financial deposits available to manufacturers to enable them attain economies of scale in production. These recommendations, among others, would enhance channel performance, improve channel members’ satisfaction with the channel linkage and induce the cooperation of members. Keywords:  Vertical Marketing System, Channel Performance, Channel Members’ Satisfaction, Dysfunctional Conflict, Metrics and Brand Equity

Study on conscientiousness, academic self-efficacy and self-esteem predictive power on academic procrastination among counselling students

The purpose of this study is to investigate the predictive effect of Conscientiousness, Academic Self-Efficacy and Self-Esteem on Academic Procrastination among Counselling Students. Three hundred students studying Counselling in a College of Education in Nigeria, West Africa were selected through the simple random method and completed the measures of Conscientiousness, Academic Self-efficacy, Self-esteem, and Academic Procrastination. The result from the correlation matrix and hierarchical regression model shows that academic procrastination behavior of students is explained by conscientiousness, academic self-efficacy, and self-esteem. It was also shown from the model that all the predictor variables contributed 54% of the total variance in academic procrastination among counselling students. Research results are discussed in the light of related literature and practicable recommendations were provided

Measurement of the Best Z-Factor Correlation Using Gas Well Inflow Performance Data in Niger-Delta

Gas compressibility has a long and important history for gas industries. The use of z-factor in real gas analysis is unavoidable; hence study of the effects of different z-factor correlations against real life data was carried out. This research establishes the need and a solution for a simple, robust and flexible technique requiring the use of different z-factor correlations. The most common sources of z-factor values are experimental measurement, equations of state method and empirical correlations. Necessity arises when there is no available experimental data for the required composition, pressure and temperature conditions. Presented here is a technique to predict z-factor values using Gas Well Inflow Performance data. The three gas correlations under study are Hall and Yarborough, Dranchuk, Abu and Kassem and Dranchuk, Purvis and Robbinson. The interest of the research was to show the best Z-Factor correlation for Niger Delta. The method or approach used was to review existing models, developed a computer program to evaluate numerically the three correlations and the best correlation is shown by running a statistical absolute average error for each of the calculated gas well performance against the history inflow performance data. Based on the study analysis performed using the Niger-Delta, the Hall and Yarborough is ranked first, followed by Dranchukpurvis-Robbinson, while Dranchuk-Abu-Kaseem is recorded the last in the ranking model. Based on this study, it is recommended that the Hall and Yarborough gas deviation model is the best model for Niger Delta

Shoreline Delineation in Complex Intertidal Environments using Sentinel-1 SAR Imagery.

The threats that climate-change-induced sea level rise pose to coastal communities can be assessed using coastal vulnerability models. In order to be effective, such models require accurate estimates of shoreline position. Such data are rarely available in developing countries. Here, we develop a simple approach based on image thresholding and subsequent vectorisation of Sentinel-1 SAR data for a complex intertidal zone in the Niger Delta, Nigeria, and show how shoreline position varies over space and time under different tidal conditions

Malaria treatment perceptions, practices and influences on provider behaviour: comparing hospitals and non-hospitals in south-east Nigeria

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>People seek treatment for malaria from a wide range of providers ranging from itinerant drug sellers to hospitals. However, there are lots of problems with treatment provision. Hence, factors influencing treatment provision in hospitals and non-hospitals require further investigation in order to remedy the situation.</p> <p>Objectives</p> <p>To examine the knowledge, pattern of treatment provision and factors influencing the behaviour of hospitals and non-hospitals in the treatment of malaria, so as to identify loci for interventions to improve treatment of the disease.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 225 providers from hospitals and non-hospitals about their malaria treatment practices and factors that influence their provision of malaria treatment services in south-east Nigeria. The data from hospitals and other providers were compared for systematic differences.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>73.5% of hospitals used microscopy to diagnose malaria and only 34.5.1% of non-hospitals did (p < 0.05). Majority of the respondents considered ability to pay bills (35.2%), already existing relationship (9.4%) and body mechanism (35.2%) of the patient before they provided malaria treatment services. Pressure from wholesalers to providers to repay the cost of supplied drugs was the major influence of the type of drugs provided to patients.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>There are many challenges to appropriate provision of malaria treatment services, although challenges are less in hospitals compared to other types of non-hospitals. Improving proper diagnosis of malaria and improving the knowledge of providers about malaria are interventions that could be used to improve malaria treatment provision.</p

Preliminary spectroscopic characterization of PEGylated mucin, a novel polymeric drug delivery system

The objective of this study was to evaluate, spectrophotometrically, the compatibility of non-mucinated polyethylene glycol (PEG) 4000 and non-PEGylated mucin in a PEGylated mucin matrices for drug delivery application. Mucin was extracted from the giant African land snails (Archachatina maginata) using chilled acetone and characterized in terms of qualitative properties and solubility profile. Polymeric matrices composed of PEG 4000 and mucin in ratios of 2:0 (A), 1:1 (B), 2:1(C) and 3:1 (D) were prepared by co-precipitation using chilled acetone. The matrices were characterized with respect to compatibility using the Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Results of the qualitative tests performed on the snail mucin showed that carbohydrates, proteins and trace amounts of fats were present; the extracted mucin was light-brownish in colour, with a pleasant meaty odour. Snail mucin, when dispersed in water yielded a slightly viscous dispersion, but is not soluble in ethanol, acetone, 0.1 M sodium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide and sulphuric acid. The presence of different peaks in the FT-IR spectra of the PEGylated mucin matrices compared with the non-PEGylated mucin (2:0) matrix and non-mucinated PEG 4000 (0:2) matrix indicated the formation of new polymers, which could be employed in drug delivery. This study has shown that PEGylation of mucin gives rise to new polymeric system with principal FT-IR peaks quite different from those of non-PEGylated mucin and nonmucinated PEG, and this may be employed in the delivery of drugs.Key words: PEGylation, drug delivery, mucin, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Archachatina maginata

The Phytochemistry, Ethnobotanical, and Pharmacological Potentials of the Medicinal Plant-Vernonia amygdalina L. (bitter Leaf)

Background Vernonia amygdalina is traditionally used to treat a variety of diseases including diarrhoea, fungal and bacterial infections, inflammation, cancer, diabetes, and its squeezed juice can be applied on wounds. Objective This study reviewed the phytochemistry, ethnopharmacological, and pharmacological potentials of Vernonia amygdalina. Methods Literature search of relevant papers (1994-2021) were performed using ScienceDirect, Springer, Wiley and PubMed databases. For this review study, only publications written in English were utilized. Results The bioactive compounds extracted from Vernonia amygdalina includes 6β,10β,14β trimethylheptadecan-15 α-olyl-15-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-1,5 β olide, glucuronolactone, 11 α-hydroxyurs-5,12-dien-28-oic acid-3 α,25-olide, 10-geranilanyl-O-β-D-xyloside, 1-heneicosenol O-β-D-glucopyranoside, apigenin, luteolin (3´,4´,5,7tetrahydroxyflavone), vernolide, hydroxyvernolide, 3′-deoxyvernodalol , vernodalol, diterpene (ingenol-3-angelate), vernomygdin, 4-methylumbelliferone, cephantharin, cryptolepine, isocryptolepine, neocryptolepine, courmarins, vernolepin, and vernoniosides. Various in vivo and in vitro studies revealed that V. amygdalina and its bioactive components possess pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, antimicrobial, antidiarrheal, anti-diabetic, and neuroprotective activities. Conclusion This review demonstrated that V. amygdalina possess therapeutic effects against a wide variety of diseases. The efficacy of V. amygdalina in ameliorating diseases is attributed to its antioxidant activity and ability to improve the antioxidant system. Despite the vast pharmacological activities of V. amygdalina, more human clinical trials are needed to identify effective and safe doses for treatment of various diseases

Curcuma longa (Turmeric): Ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities and toxicity profiles—A review

Introduction: Curcuma longa, popularly known as Turmeric, is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant used in folk medicine for the treatment, prevention, and management of various illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, Arthritis, diarrhoea, inflammation, psoriasis, hepatobiliary diseases, gastric and peptic ulcers. Results: This study reviewed the ethnomedicinal potentials, phytochemicals, and pharmacological activities of C. longa. In vitro and in vivo studies reported that C. longa and its major bioactive constituent (curcumin) pos�sess various pharmacological properties. These include; anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-osteoarthritis, antidiar�rheal, cardioprotective, anti-oxidative, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, anti-microbial, renoprotective and anti-inflammatory activities. This review demonstrated that the various pharmacological activities of C. longa might be attributed to the presence of numerous bioactive compounds. However, these varying potentials have not been effectively analysed for optimal application in developing new therapies. Also, the applicability and mode of action of the different bioactive compounds found in C. longa have not been fully exploited. Conclusion: This study showed that C. longa could be exploited by pharmaceutical industries to develop phar�maceutical products. However, there is a need for human clinical trials and quality control studies to establish effective and safe doses of C. longa and its major bioactive constituent-curcumin suitable for treating several disease