Effects of different sources of water on water hyacinth growth performance

(11 page document

Pengaruh Komunikasi Interpersonal antara Dosen dan Mahasiswa terhadap Motivasi Belajar dan Prestasi Akademik Mahasiswa

Aspek motivasi sangat penting dalam proses belajar di perguruan tinggi, karena motivasi akan menentukan intensitas USAha belajar dan mendorong mahasiswa untuk melakukan aktivitas tertentu yang berhubungan dengan kegiatan belajar. Motivasi belajar merupakan salah satu faktor yang mempengaruhi prestasi akademik mahasiswa. Prestasi akademik merupakan hasil dari kegiatan belajar sebagai indikator kualitas dan kuantitas pengetahuan yang telah dikuasai mahasiswa. Hasil belajar yang optimal dipengaruhi oleh berbagai komponen belajar mengajar, diantaranya komunikasi interpersonal dosen. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh komunikasi interpersonal dosen terhadap motivasi belajar dan prestasi akademik mahasiswa Ilmu Keperawatan di Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Kesehatan Muhammadiyah Lhokseumawe. Metode penelitian ini adalah penelitian kuantitatif yang bersifat korelasional Data penelitian dikumpulkan dengan menggunakan kuisoner, kemudian data diolah serta dianalisis secara deskriptif. Landasan teori yang digunakan yaitu teori pengungkapan diri (Self Disclosure Theory), yang dikemukakan oleh Sydney Marshall Jourad. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa komunikasi interpersonal antara dosen dan mahasiswa berpengaruh terhadap motivasi belajar sebesar 24,4 % dengan koefisien regresi 0,469 dan konstanta 18,644. Sedangkan untuk variabel prestasi akademik, 1,04 % dipengaruhi oleh komunikasi interpersonal dosen dan sisanya dipengaruhi oleh faktor-faktor lain

Utilization and Factors Affecting Utilization of Contraception among HIV‑Positive Male Patients in Saye, Zaria

Introduction: Sub‑Saharan Africa continues to carry the full consequences of health and socioeconomic impact of HIV, with about 25.8 million and 66% of people with HIV infection living in the region. The overall prevalence of contraceptive use in Nigeria is low, especially among men; the uptake of contraception and the type of contraceptive use are heavily influenced by the male/husband dominance in the society/family. Methodology: The study was carried out among HIV‑positive male patients in Saye, Zaria, using a descriptive cross‑sectional study among 265 respondents. Chi‑square and multivariate logistic regression were used to determine factors influencing contraceptive usage. Results: The mean age of respondents was 45.6 ± 11.7 years. Only 61.9% of the respondents have ever used contraception, out of which 56.7% are currently using contraception. The identified reason for not using contraception was because they both were HIV positive (29%). There was a significant association between age, marital status, and level of education of respondents and current use of contraception with a P value of 0.001, <0.001, and 0.004, respectively. Conclusion: There were low usage of contraception and poor acceptance of vasectomy. There should be adequate policies in place by the government to encourage male involvement in the utilization of contraception. Keywords: Condom, contraception, HIV, National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Training Centre, tuberculosis, uptak

WHO Takes Action to Promote the Health of Refugees and Migrants

Migration is a defining issue of our time, with 1 billion migrants globally, of whom 258 million have crossed borders. Climate change and political instability propel ever-greater displacement, with major detriments to health. Policies that fail to prevent human trafficking or guarantee essential services undermine Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the global pledge to “leave no one behind.” The World Health Assembly should robustly implement WHO’s Global Action Plan (GAP) on the Health of Refugees and Migrants.ugees and Migrants

Clinical correlates of plasma antithrombin and protein C levels in patients with pre-eclampsia and eclampsia in Sokoto, Northwest Nigeria

Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy complicate 17% of pregnancies in Sokoto, Nigeria with pre-eclampsia and eclampsia accounting for 6% and 4.29% respectively. Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia stand out as major causes of poor pregnancy outcomes with eclampsia contributing 46% of adolescent maternal mortality in Sokoto. These disorders increase risk of venous thromboembolism, DIC, placental abruption, IUGR, premature delivery and recurrent pregnancy loss. The roles of antithrombin and protein C in disease severity and outcomes of pregnancies in pre-eclampsia/eclampsia are subject of recent researches albeit with conflicting findings. The aim of the study was to determine the plasma antithrombin and protein C levels of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia in Sokoto with a view to assessing any relationship with clinical severity and pregnancy outcomes.Methods: Prospective comparative study involving 31 each of pregnant women with pre-eclampsia, eclampsia and normotensive pregnancy. Plasma antithrombin and protein C levels were determined via kinetic method using S4 Nortek semi-automated coagulometer. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 21.0.  Results: The mean plasma antithrombin and protein C levels for eclampsia, pre-eclampsia and normotensive pregnancy were (61.17±9.13 and 60.00±5.76) vs (71.24±13.15 and 71.06±6.16) vs (85.54±8.77 and 89.64±7.61) respectively; p=0.0001. Severe pre-eclampsia when compared with mild pre-eclampsia had lower antithrombin (70.21±13.58 vs 73.74±12.43; p=0.507) and protein C (70.52±6.27 vs 72.40±6.00; p=0.451) levels respectively, though without statistical significance. Pre-eclampsia with low plasma antithrombin levels had increased risk of preterm delivery when age, gravidity and booking status were factored (OR, 1.2, 95% CI 0.035 to 0.348, p=0.017).Conclusions: Lower plasma antithrombin and protein C levels were found with eclampsia and severe pre-eclampsia suggesting consumptive depletion of anticoagulants with disease progression. Women with pre-eclampsia and low plasma antithrombin levels were found to have increased odds of having preterm delivery when age, gravidity and booking status were considered

Effect of Number of Beaters on the Performance of Household Hammer Mill

A hammer mill with three different hammers having 2, 4 and 6 beaters was developed and evaluated. Maize and guinea corn were crushed at 3 different angular speeds of the hammer rotations (2600 rpm, 3000 rpm and 3400 rpm). Each beater was fixed on the shaft at a time and machine was started. As soon as the machine reached the required speed, 500g of sample was fed into the crushing chamber through the feed hopper. The final product was collected, weighed. Fuel consumed during the operation and the time taken were recorded. The process was replicated 3 times for both maize and guinea corn using the 3 hammers. The result obtained during the evaluation revealed that the average milling efficiency and specific fuel consumption (sfc) for 6 beaters, 4 beaters and 2 beaters were 83.5 % and 3.8 l/h, 72.47 % and 2.07 l/h and 60.19 % and 0.94 l/h respectively. The average milling efficiency and sfc for maize and guinea corn were 72.18 % and 2.45 l/h and 71.93 %, 2.09 l/h respectively. Number of beaters and angular speed of beaters and their interactions significantly affected the milling efficiency at 5 % level. Number of beaters, angular speed of beaters, sample type and their interactions significantly affected the sfc at 5 % level

Comparing Haemozoin count and Parasitaemia in the Prognosis of severe Plasmodium Falciparum Malaria in Children and non-immune adults in Kano-Nigeria

This study compared the value of pigment containing leucocytes (neutrophils and monocytes) counts and the malaria parasite density in the prognosis of severe malaria on four hundred and twenty (420) patients with clinical evidence of severe malaria in Kano-Nigeria. Three clinical groups comprising patients with impaired consciousness, patients with cerebral malaria and those with severe anaemia were identified. Samples were analysed for Malaria parasitemia and pigment count Giemsa’s thick and Leishman’s thin film respectively. Patients with impaired consciousness (n=217) recorded the highest malaria pigment count of 342.86 (±177.34) monocytes pigments/microliter. The highest parasite count of 234,962 (±264.5) per microliter was recorded among the cerebral malaria group. Patients with severe malaria and anaemia had the least neutrophils pigment and parasite counts of 219.0 (±140.96)/microliter and 212,232(±12.61)/microliter respectively. A linear relationship between the malaria parasite count and the Intraneutrophilic malaria pigment count in severe malaria was demonstrated. Pigment count proved a higher prognostic value in severe malaria compared to Parasitaemia.Keywords: Haemozoin, Plasmodium falciparum, Parasitaemia, Malari

Changing survival, memory cell compartment, and T-helper balance of lymphocytes between severe and mild asthma

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Asthma is a complicated network of inflammatory reactions. It is classified into mild, moderate, and severe persistent asthma. The success of asthma therapy relies much on understanding the underlying mechanisms of inflammation at each stage of asthma severity. The aim of this study was to explore the differences in apoptotic potential, CD4/CD8 ratio, memory compartment, and T- helper (Th) 1 and 2 profile of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) in patients with mild intermittent asthma and severe persistent asthma during exacerbation periods.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Four research lines were investigated and compared among mild asthmatics, severe asthmatics, and healthy groups by applying immunocytochemical staining of PBL. Antiapoptotic and proapoptotic proteins with Bcl-2/Bax ratio, CD4, CD8 markers with CD4⁺/CD8⁺ratio, CD45RO⁺, CD45RA⁺markers with memory/naïve ratio (CD45RO⁺/CD45RA⁺). Th2/Th1 cytokines balance represented by IL-4/IFN-γ ratio was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for in vitro PBL cytokine synthesis. It was found that Bcl-2/Bax ratio was higher in severe than in mild asthmatics which in turn was higher than in healthy group. And memory/naïve ratio of PBL was higher in severe than in mild asthmatics. Moreover, memory cells, CD45RO⁺and CD45RO⁺/CD45RA⁺ratio were correlated directly with Bcl-2/Bax, in severe and mild asthma patients. In contrast, CD4⁺/CD8⁺ratio was not changed significantly among healthy group, mild and severe asthmatics. However, CD8⁺cells were correlated directly with memory cells, CD45RO⁺, in severe asthmatics only. Interestingly, the dominant profile of cytokines appeared to change from T helper 2 (Th2) in mild asthmatics to T helper 1 (Th1) in severe asthmatics where the lowest in vitro IL-4/IFN-γ ratio and highest IFN-γ were found.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>It was concluded that the underlying mechanisms of inflammation might vary greatly with asthma stage of severity. Mild intermittent asthma is mainly Th2 allergen-oriented reaction during exacerbations with good level of apoptosis making the inflammation as self-limiting, while in severe persistent asthma, the inflammatory reaction mediated mainly by Th1 cytokines with progressive loss of apoptosis leading to longer exacerbations, largely expanded memory cells, CD45RO⁺, leading to persistent baseline inflammation.</p

Effects of Pulverized Compost Materials and Composting Durations on Early Growth of Savannah Mahogany Khaya senegalensis (Desr.) A. Juss in a Semi-Arid Ecosystem of Nigeria

The study was carried out in the Nursery of the Department of Forestry and Wildlife, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria, to assess the effects of pulverized compost materials (PCM) and composting durations on the early growth of Khaya senegalensis in Maiduguri, Nigeria. Leaves of Azadirachta indica, Gmelina arborea, Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Arachis hypogea were collected within the premises of University of Maiduguri. The leaves were sundried and pulverized before buried for 30, 60, and 90 days at the depth of 45cm and grouped into (M1-M5). Viable seeds sown at 3cm depth. Eighteen polythene pots arranged randomly in three replications were used for the experiment. Data were taken four weeks after sowing on stem diameter, stem height and number of leaves on weekly basis for the period of eight weeks, while root length and biomass were determined at the end of the experiment. The data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using Statistix (8.0) DMRT was applied for mean separation. The result obtained from the analysis of variance revealed that PCM5 (pulverized leaves of G arborea, E camaldulensis and A hypogea) at eight WAS produced the highest value (2.54mm) while PCM1 (pulverized leaves of A indica, G arborea, E camaldulensis and A Hypogea) at five WAS had the least stem diameter value (0.88mm). T3 (90 days composting) had the highest stem value (2.14mm) which was significantly different (P=0.05) from T1 (30 days composting) and T2 (60 days composting). The result obtained for stem height showed that PCM5 (pulverized leaves of G arborea, E camaldulensis and A hypogea) at 12 WAS had the highest value (13.94cm) while PCM1 (pulverized leaves of A indica, G arborea, E camaldulensis and A hypogea) at five WAS had the least stem height value (3.99cm). It was also observed from the result obtained on composting durations for stem height that T3 at 12 WAS had the highest value (12.18cm) while T2 at five WAS had the least value (4.21cm). The result obtained for number of leaves showed that PCM5 at 12 WAS had the highest value (9.67) while PCM1 at five WAS had the least value (2.22). It was evident from the result obtained for number of leaves that T3 at 12 WAS had the highest value (8.50) while T1 and T2 at five WAS had the least value (2.50). The result obtained for root length analysis showed that PCM5 produced the highest root length value (9.28cm) while control had the least value (5.27cm). The result obtained for biomass showed that PCM2 pulverized leaves of A indica, G arborea and E camaldulensis) produced highest weight value (0.56g) while PCM3 pulverized leaves of A indica, G arborea and A hypogea) had the least value (0.28g). T1 had the highest value which was not significantly different (P=0.05) from T2 and T3. Based on these findings, it was concluded that PCM5 at 12 WAS showed effectiveness on stem diameter, stem height, number of leaves, root length and biomass which indicates its potentials as a good source of nutrients (compost) for seedling growth and development

Water quality assessment and mapping using inverse distance weighted interpolation: a case of River Kaduna, Nigeria

Several researchers have studied the water quality of the upper and lower stretches of River Kaduna with little on the middle stretch of the river. Besides, no work has ever been done on mapping the water quality of the said river. Hence, the middle stretc h of River Kaduna was monitored for 12 months starting from June, 2016 to May, 2017, covering both rainy and dry seasons in 15 sampling locations to generate data for water quality mapping. However, eight water quality parameters were analyzed namely; temp erature, turbidity, pH, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen and total phosphorus using standard methods. Rainy season results were separated from dry season results and were used in mapping the wa ter quality of the river for both seasons using ArcGIS 10.5. It was concluded that the water temperature of the river was within the permissible limit set by U.S. EPA during both seasons while the other water quality parameters apart from turbidity and pH deteriorated more during dry season. In addition, COD and total phosphorus were found to be the only parameters that never met the requirement set by U.S. EPA throughout the sampling period irrespective of the sampling location and season. This is because the least measured concentrations of COD and total phosphorus were 35.34 mg/l and 0.109 mg/l, respectively. It was recommended that farming activities at the river banks should be banned as the fertilizers used by farmers easily drain into the river and in crease the phosphorus and COD concentrations. Key words: River, Kaduna, Interpolation, GIS Map, Water Quality