Human Capital Formation as Catalyst for National Development: Nigeria in Perspective

Abstract: It is a fact that the difference in socio-economic development across independent states is due not so much to natural resources endowment and the stock of physical capital but to the quality and quantity of human resources. This paper therefore highlights the importance of human capital formation in the development process with particular reference to Nigeria. The paper noted that the human capital question is especially pertinent now that the country is aspiring to be among the top 20 economies of the world by the year 2020. This is because Nigeria (and by extension Nigerians) need to become competitive in the 21st century globalize economy which is skill and knowledge based. Key words: Development; Education; Economic Growth; Human Capital; Human Capital Formation; Human Capital Development; Human Resources; Trainin

Ivermectin for onchocercal eye disease (river blindness).

BACKGROUND: It is believed that ivermectin (a microfilaricide) could prevent blindness due to onchocerciasis. However, when given to everyone in communities where onchocerciasis is common, the effects of ivermectin on lesions affecting the eye are uncertain and data on whether the drug prevents visual loss are unclear. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this review was to assess the effectiveness of ivermectin in preventing visual impairment and visual field loss in onchocercal eye disease. The secondary aim was to assess the effects of ivermectin on lesions affecting the eye in onchocerciasis. SEARCH METHODS: We searched CENTRAL (which contains the Cochrane Eyes and Vision Group Trials Register) (The Cochrane Library 2012, Issue 3), MEDLINE (January 1950 to April 2012), EMBASE (January 1980 to April 2012), the metaRegister of Controlled Trials (mRCT) (www.controlled-trials.com), ClinicalTrials.gov (www.clinicaltrials.gov) and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) (www.who.int/ictrp/search/en). We did not use any date or language restrictions in the electronic searches for trials. We last searched the electronic databases on 2 April 2012. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomised controlled trials with at least one year of follow-up comparing ivermectin with placebo or no treatment. Participants in the trials were people normally resident in endemic onchocercal communities with or without one or more characteristic signs of ocular onchocerciasis. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently extracted data and assessed trial quality. We contacted study authors for additional information. As trials varied in design and setting, we were unable to perform a meta-analysis. MAIN RESULTS: The review included four trials: two small studies (n = 398) in which people with onchocercal infection were given one dose of ivermectin or placebo and followed up for one year; and two larger community-based studies (n = 4941) whereby all individuals in selected communities were treated every six or 12 months with ivermectin or placebo, whether or not they were infected, and followed for two to three years. The studies provide evidence that treating people who have onchocerciasis with ivermectin reduces the number of microfilariae in their skin and eye(s) and reduces the number of punctate opacities. There was weaker evidence that ivermectin reduced the risk of chorioretinitis. The studies were too small and of too short a duration to provide evidence for an effect on sclerosing keratitis, iridocyclitis, optic nerve disease or visual loss. One community-based study in communities mesoendemic for the savannah strain of O.volvulus provided evidence that annual mass treatment with ivermectin reduces the risk of new cases of optic nerve disease and visual field loss. The other community-based study of mass biannual treatment of ivermectin in communities affected by the forest strain of O.volvulus demonstrated reductions in microfilarial load, punctate keratitis and iridocyclitis but not sclerosing keratitis, chorioretinitis, optic atrophy or visual impairment. The study was underpowered to estimate the effect of ivermectin on visual impairment and other less frequent clinical signs. The studies included in this review reported some adverse effects, in particular an increased risk of postural hypotension in people treated with ivermectin. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: The lack of evidence for prevention of visual impairment and blindness should not be interpreted to mean that ivermectin is not effective, however, clearly this is a key question that remains unanswered. The main evidence for a protective effect of mass treatment with ivermectin on visual field loss and optic nerve disease comes from communities mesoendemic for the savannah strain of O.volvulus. Whether these findings can be applied to communities with different endemicity and affected by the forest strain is unclear. Serious adverse effects were rarely reported. None of the studies, however, were conducted in areas where people are infected with Loa loa (loiasis)

Leadership, Governance, and Poverty in Nigeria

Since Nigeria’s independence in 1960, the incidence of poverty has been on the rise in spite of the fact that the country had again returned to democratic governance in 1999. The poverty profile of the country had not improved after over thirteen years of uninterrupted purportedly liberal democratic practice. This paper therefore examines the relationship between leadership, governance, and poverty in Nigeria with particular reference to the Fourth Republic; and argues that the worsening poverty situation in the country is due principally to poor political leadership and the resultant bad governance. It was therefore recommended that a more rigorous and competitive political recruitment procedure should be put in place so as to ensure that only the best available persons with transformational vision are elected to high political offices. Keywords: Leadership, Political Leadership, Good Governance , Poverty, Nigeri

Frequency of Reporting and the Quality of Randomized Controlled Trials Published in the Nigerian Journal of Ophthalmology

Aim: To determine the frequency of reporting and the methodological quality of randomized controlled trials in the Nigerian Journal of Ophthalmology (NJO) from 1993 – 2001.Materials and methods: Back issues of NJO published from 1993 to 2001 were searched for reports of randomized controlled trials. The quality of identified trials was assessed using standard Cochrane methods.Results: One out of 104 articles published in the 9 volumes of NJO from 1993 – 2001 can be described as a randomized controlled trial. Complete information regarding the method of allocation concealment, masking of providers and recipients of care, and masking of outcome assessors was not provided. It was not clear whether all patients were followed-up for 6months or 1 year, or whether there was a differential loss to follow-up between the study groups.Conclusions: Only one randomized controlled trial was published in the Nigerian Journal of Ophthalmology between 1993-2001. Assessment of the methodological quality of the reported trial was hampered by lack of complete information on parameters used to assess trial quality in this study.Key words: clinical trials, reporting, methodological quality, Nigerian Journal of Ophthalmolog

A general theoretical design of semiconductor nanostructures with equispaced energy levels: preliminary report for quantum wells in semiconductor ternary alloys (AxB1-xC)

The purpose of this study is to formulate a general theoretical design of equispaced energy levels for semiconductor nanostructures. Here we present a preliminary report for the design of equispaced energy levels for quantum wells (QWs) in semiconductor ternary alloys (AxB1-xC). The procedure is by mapping the envelope function Schrodinger equation for a realistic QW, with the local conduction-band edges as the potential experienced by an electron in the QW into an effective-mass Schrodinger equation with a linear harmonic oscillator potential by the method of coordinate transformation. The electron effective mass and potential are then obtained as the signatures for the equispaced energy levels for QWs in semiconductor ternary alloys. Keywords: Semiconductor nanostructures, Ternary alloys, Quantum wells, Equispaced energy levels, Effective mass

Analytical modeling for nanostructure quantum wells with equispaced energy levels in semiconductor ternary alloys (Ax B1-x C)

The purpose of this study is to formulate an Analytical model of equispaced energy levels quantum wells (QWs) in semiconductor ternary alloys (AxB1-xC). The procedure is by mapping the envelop function Schrodinger equation for realistic QW, with the local conduction band edge as the potential experienced by an electron in the QW into an effective mass Schrodinger equation with a linear harmonic oscillator potential by the method of coordinate transformation. The electron effective mass and potential are then obtained as the signature for the equispaced energy level for QWs in semiconductor ternary alloys.Keywords: Semiconductor nanostructures, Ternary alloys, Quantum wells, Equispaced energy levels, Effective mas

Baseline Natural Radiation Level Survey of Iuleha Clan in Owan-West Local Government Area Edo State

Investigation of ambient radiation level of Iuleha clan in Owan – West Local Government Area, Edo State has been carried out using the radiation meter Digilert 50, Nuclear Radiation Monitor. The background natural radiation level Count per hour (Cph) of eighteen sites of the total expanse of the clan were measured. The Cph values ranged from 848μSv/hr (Aoma market) to 1308.00μSv/hr (Okagboro). It was discovered that sites with high Cph were close to granite deposit or had granite subsurface foundation.Keywords: Radiation level; Natural radioactivities; Ionizing radiation; Radiation pollution

Phonon Dispersion of Alkali Metals Using the TB-SMA Model of Cohesion

The determination of Phonon dispersion of alkali metals was unsuccessful using the parameter n=1/2 or 2/3 in the past two decades. In this study the parameter n has been consistently determined for the different alkali metals, the force constant has been determined up to the fourth next nearest neighbour. The result showed that the TB-SMA dispersion curves were in good agreement with experiment. This good agreement with experiment of the TB-SMA Phonons counters the prevailing notion in the literature that the TB-SMA model fails for alkali metals

PHYTOCHEMICAL COMPOSITIONS AND ORGAN WEIGHT EFFECTS OF MUCUNA SLOANEI (FABACEAE) IN ALBINO RATS (RATTUS NOVERGICUS)

This research was done to assess the phytochemical composition and possible effects for 28 days oral administration of aqueous crude seed extracts of Mucuna sloanei on organ weights of normal albino rats at weekly intervals. Forty eight adult male albino rats weighing between 150 to 250 g were divided into three treatment groups and one control group of twelve rats each. Each group consists of three replicates of four rats per replicate. The treatment groups were administered orally, 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of aqueous extracts of M. sloanei seed respectively. The results of the phytochemical screening of the aqueous extract showed that crude extracts of M. sloanei seed has flavonoids composition of (5.500±0.115 ), cyanide (0.054±0.001), alkaloids (1.000±0.058), tannins (0.540±0.006), phytates (14.50±0.058), saponins (6.100±0.058) and phenols (1.800±0.068) thus, having phytates as the most abundant and cyanide the least. There was no overall dose dependent and significant difference (p>0.05) observed in the organ weights in all the weeks when compared with the control, except the spleen, which showed a significant decrease (P<0.05) at 100 mg/kg at week one. Also, there was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the duration of treatments in the organ weights of kidney and lungs, but, a significant increase (p<0.05) was observed in the liver at week 4 when compared with week 1 and 2 at dose levels of 100 mg/kg. Similarly, there was an observed significant decrease (P<0.05) in the heart and spleen in 100 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg treated rats respectively when compared with the control. In conclusion, the aqueous extracts of the plant seems to have antimalarial, antioxidant, antihypertensive, hypocholesterolmic and anticarcinogenic effects owing to presence of such phytochemicals as alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, phytate, phenol and saponins. It has also shown that the plant extract did not cause inflammation or constriction at the cellular level of the organs. Thus, the M. sloanei seed is good for consumption.Key words: Phytochemical composition, Organ weight, Aqueous extract, Mucuna sloanei, Albino rat