Eigenvalues of Products of Unitary Matrices and Lagrangian Involutions

This paper introduces a submanifold of the moduli space of unitary representations of the fundamental group of a punctured sphere with fixed local monodromy. The submanifold is defined via products of involutions through Lagrangian subspaces. We show that the moduli space of Lagrangian representations is a Lagrangian submanifold of the moduli of unitary representations.Comment: 35 pages, 2 figures, to appear in Topolog

Enrichment of Organic Manure with Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria Improved the Root and Shoot Growth of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench.)

A well-structured root system is essential to ensure optimal plant growth and yield. Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on the root system of okra plant. These experiments were arranged with a completely randomized design. The first experiment was conducted in the growth chamber with 8 different bacterial isolates consisting of Methylobacterium sp., Bacillus sp., Bacillus methylotrophicus, Flavobacterium tirrenicum, Providencia stuartii, Azotobacter vinelandii, Methylocystis parvus and PGPR consortium. The second experiment was conducted in the greenhouse and examined the effects of four poultry manure rates, i.e. 0, 6, 12 and 18 ton ha-1, or equivalent to 0, 75, 150 and 225% of recommended rates and how these are altered with the presence or absence of PGPR. The results of the experiments showed that, PGPR significantly improved root architecture; the number and length of lateral roots was increased by 242.86% and 777.79% respectively, as well as the dry weight of the roots and shoots of okra plant by 236.36% and 333.33%, respectively. Moreover applying 150% (12 t.ha-1) of the recommended rate of poultry manure enriched with PGPR was found to be most effective in terms of improving the growth and root attributes of okra plants

Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasitic helminths among school-aged children from two selected primary schools in Mubi-north L.G.A., Adamawa State, Nigeria.

Infections involving parasitic helminths constitute a major health challenge especially as it affects children from rural and sub-urban communities of developing countries. It is also reported to be an influential cause of morbidity in children of school age who harbour the peak burden and the damaging effect of the worm invasion. Objectives: This was a cross-sectional institutional-based study aimed at investigating the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasitic helminths from two selected primary schools in Mubi-North LGA, Adamawa State. Methodology: Faecal samples were collected from 150 pupils of Staff Primary School, Federal Polytechnic Mubi, and Mubi I Primary School Lokuwa and were examined for eggs/larvae of intestinal helminths using direct smear and formal ether concentration methods. Results: The results showed an overall prevalence of 22.0% consisting of four species of helminthic parasites which includes Ascaris lumbricoides, Ancylostoma duodenale, Taenia solium, and Schistosoma mansoni. Staff Primary School had the highest occurrence of S. mansoni (5.3%), while Mubi I Primary School had the highest occurrence of A. duodenale (10.7%), A. lumbricoides(8.0%), and T. solium (5.3%). On the overall, Ancylostoma duodenale (10.0%) was the most predominant parasite, while the least was T. solium (3.3%). The result of the odd ratio and chi-square (OR=1.263, CI=0.582-2.742, P=0.554) showed that pupils in Mubi I Primary School are 1.263 times more likely to be infected with gastrointestinal helminths than pupils of Staff Primary School, Federal Polytechnic Mubi, but with no statistical difference. The relationship between gender and infection with gastrointestinal helminthic parasites (OR =1.017, 95% CI = 0.456-2.269, P=0.967) showed that females stand a higher chance of being infected with gastrointestinal helminths than their male counterparts, but the difference is not significant. The highest prevalence of A. lumbricoides and S. mansoni was observed among males, while the highest prevalence of Ancylostoma duodenale and T. Solium was observed among females. The age group 8-10 years had the highest prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites, but with no statistical difference from other age brackets (P=0.514). Conclusion: Despite low prevalence, there is, the need for urgent development of high-quality preventive and control measures that is compliant with the endemic or highly prevalent communities

Sacred groves as potential ecotourism sites at Tolon and Diare in Northern Region, Ghana

Purpose: Relic plant communities commonly referred as “sacred groves” in Ghana and comparatively anywhere are ecologically, genetically important resources indigenously protected as “abodes of gods or ancestral habitats” through traditional or religious beliefs and taboos. This study mainly evaluated the potentials of sacred groves for development as tourist sites at Tolon and Diare in the Northern Region of Ghana. Research methodology: Data was collected using semi structured interview questionnaire aided by vegetation survey, observational field walk through the Jaagbo and Tindangung Sacred Groves to screen natural features of the destinations and determine its potential for ecotourism. Findings: Potential areas for visitor amateurism such as the wonderful baobab tree, crocodile pond, misty stone bird sanctuary, were identified in both groves. About 220 different species of plants were identified in the entire groves. The study further discovered that with effective management measures in place, the ecotourism potentials of these sacred groves will optimize if developed to attract visitors and generate income for sustainable socio-economic development of the adjoining communities in northern Ghana. Limitations: Although the target population was above 200 people, relatively small sample size (≤ 36%), could be chosen since the opinion leaders considered the groves as sacred and were less prepared to divulge information about them. Islam and Christianity rather counteracted certain beliefs of the traditional people who adopted local measures to enhance sustainability of these sites for ecotourism functions. Contribution: The study advocates the adoption of bylaws to promote sustainable management of the sacred groves for sustainable benefits. Keywords: Jaagbo, Tindangung, Sacred grove, Crocodile pond, Bird sanctuary, Traditional bylaws, Land use pla

Perception of Approaching Motorcycles by Distracted Drivers May Depend on Auxiliary Lighting Treatments: A Field Experiment

A field experiment was conducted in daylight with 32 participants to determine whether left turning drivers’ gap acceptance in front of approaching motorcycles depends on the motorcycle’s forward lighting treatment. Five experimental lighting treatments including a modulated high beam headlamp, or the low beam headlamp plus pairs of low-mounted auxiliary lamps, high-mounted auxiliary lamps, both high- and low-mounted auxiliary lamps, or low-mounted LED lamps were compared to a baseline treatment with only the low beam headlamp illuminated. Participants viewed the approaching traffic stream (including the motorcycle) on an active roadway and indicated when it would be safe (and not safe) to initiate a left turn across the opposing lanes. Participants also shared their attention with a secondary visual distraction task that took their eyes off the forward roadway. Participants did not know that the purpose of the study was to measure their responses to approaching motorcycles. Based on participants’ indications of the last safe moment to turn, the mean temporal safety margin provided to the approaching motorcycle did not differ significantly between any of the experimental lighting treatments and the baseline treatment. However, having either low-mounted auxiliary lamps or modulated high beam lamps on the motorcycle significantly reduced the probability of obtaining a potentially unsafe short safety margin as compared to the baseline lighting treatment. Overall, the results suggest that enhancing the frontal conspicuity of motorcycles with lighting treatments beyond an illuminated low beam headlamp may be an effective countermeasure for daytime crashes involving right-of-way violations

Impact of community participation in adaptive wildlife resources management at Mole National Park, Ghana

Purpose: Wildlife resources constitute indispensable nature’s strongholds for human livelihoods strategies in forest, savanna zones across Ghana and the worldwide although, it often engendered conflicts. Impact of community participation on adaptive wildlife resources management was strategically assessed at Mole National Park. Research methodology: 60 randomly selected park environs residents were interviewed for valid responses using semi-structured questionnaires. Findings: High wildlife products demand has transformed bush meat into lucrative business through poaching by thousands of youths and adults, causing habitat destruction and sharp wildlife population decline. Hunters, poachers, middlemen, restaurant operators constituted game-trade-market-value chain. Limitations: Funding subjectivity reduced scope of the study to only few communities in dry season. Temptation to reject the questionnaires on suspicion of force evacuation plots against some park adjoining villages was later refuted. Hence, recovery rate was 100%. Contribution: We recommend that Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission should strengthen synergies on community participation in adaptive wildlife management by coopting educational interventions that positively influence indigenous behaviors through seminars, workshops, face-to-face interactions. This will better define the rights, roles, responsibilities of key partners towards resolving communal wildlife conflicts. Keywords: Community participation, Wildlife management, Park sustainability, Poaching, Game-trade-market-value chai

Prevalence and Antibiotic Susceptibility Pattern of Salmonella enterica Isolated from Apparently Healthy Students Screened for Salmonella Agglutinins

Infections caused by Salmonella enterica remains a major public health concern worldwide, contributing to the economic burden of both industrialized and underdeveloped countries through the costs associated with surveillance, prevention and treatment of disease. This was a cross-sectional study conducted between October – December, 2021 in which the detection of Salmonella enterica by stool culture was carried out on sixty (60) apparently healthy students screened for Salmonella agglutinin by widal agglutination test. The susceptibility of the Salmonella isolates to commonly used antibiotics was carried out by disc diffusion method. The result showed that 52 (82.7%) subjects were found to be widal positive with at least one of the tested antigens. From these, 26 (86.7%) each were recorded among male and female students respectively. The most common Salmonella agglutinin detected in both male and female belong to the Paratyphi serovar. However, the percentage of the positive titres, 1:320 and 1:160 in both males (p=0.139). and females (p =0.382) were not significantly different. Salmonella enterica was isolated in 11(42.3%) males and 7(26.9%) females, with a combined prevalence of 18(34.6%). For male subjects, Salmonella enterica was more susceptible to ciprofloxacin (81.8%) and ofloxacin (81.8%) and least to nalidixic acid (45.5%). For female gender, Salmonella enterica enterica exhibits multidrug resistance phenotype, accounting for the prevalence of 64.7%. From these, the MDR phenotype was more in female than male but with no statistical difference (P=0.569). The findings of this study established that Salmonella agglutinins are common among apparently healthy. It also shows the limitations of widal agglutination test, since Salmonella species could not be isolated in all the subjects whose sera were widal positive.&nbsp

Five Years of Mid-Infrared Evolution of the Remnant of SN 1987A: The Encounter Between the Blast Wave and the Dusty Equatorial Ring

We have used the Spitzer satellite to monitor the mid-IR evolution of SN 1987A over a 5 year period spanning the epochs between days 6000 and 8000 since the explosion. The supernova (SN) has evolved into a supernova remnant (SNR) and its radiative output is dominated by the interaction of the SN blast wave with the pre-existing equatorial ring (ER). The mid-IR spectrum is dominated by emission from ~180 K silicate dust, collisionally-heated by the hot X-ray emitting gas with a temperature and density of ~5x10^6 K and 3x10^4 cm-3, respectively. The mass of the radiating dust is ~1.2x10^(-6) Msun on day 7554, and scales linearly with IR flux. The infrared to soft-X-ray flux ratio is roughly constant with a value of 2.5. Gas-grain collisions therefore dominate the cooling of the shocked gas. The constancy of of this ratio suggests that very little grain processing or gas cooling have occurred throughout this epoch. The shape of the dust spectrum remained unchanged during the observations while the total flux increased with a time dependence of t^(0.87), t being the time since the first encounter between the blast wave and the ER. These observations are consistent with the transitioning of the blast wave from free expansion to a Sedov phase as it propagates into the main body of the ER.Comment: Accepted for publication in the ApJ, 11 pages, 11 figure

An exploratory trial implementing a community-based child oral health promotion intervention for Australian families from refugee and migrant backgrounds: a protocol paper for Teeth Tales

Introduction: Inequalities are evident in early childhood caries rates with the socially disadvantaged experiencing greater burden of disease. This study builds on formative qualitative research, conducted in the Moreland/Hume local government areas of Melbourne, Victoria 2006–2009, in response to community concerns for oral health of children from refugee and migrant backgrounds. Development of the community-based intervention described here extends the partnership approach to cogeneration of contemporary evidence with continued and meaningful involvement of investigators, community, cultural and government partners. This trial aims to establish a model for child oral health promotion for culturally diverse communities in Australia.<p></p> Methods and analysis: This is an exploratory trial implementing a community-based child oral health promotion intervention for Australian families from refugee and migrant backgrounds. Families from an Iraqi, Lebanese or Pakistani background with children aged 1–4 years, residing in metropolitan Melbourne, were invited to participate in the trial by peer educators from their respective communities using snowball and purposive sampling techniques. Target sample size was 600. Moreland, a culturally diverse, inner-urban metropolitan area of Melbourne, was chosen as the intervention site. The intervention comprised peer educator led community oral health education sessions and reorienting of dental health and family services through cultural Competency Organisational Review (CORe).<p></p> Ethics and dissemination: Ethics approval for this trial was granted by the University of Melbourne Human Research Ethics Committee and the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Research Committee. Study progress and output will be disseminated via periodic newsletters, peer-reviewed research papers, reports, community seminars and at National and International conferences.<p></p&gt