Educational Application of the Internet by Basic Pupils in Effutu Municipal Assembly: The Guidance and Counselling Implications

The study sought to investigate educational application of the Internet by basic school pupils in Effutu Municipal Assembly: The guidance and counselling implications. This study examined the use of the Internet among basic school pupils in Effutu Municipal Assembly. A descriptive survey approach was used to select forty- five (45) basic school pupils for the study. Snowball sampling technique was adopted which aided in the data collection. The study used an independent-samples t-test and one-way ANOVA to test Hypothesis 1 and Hypotheses 2 (null hypotheses) respectively. The result of the study reveals that educational use of the Internet is not the foremost priority of the basic school pupils but rather entertainment. The study also found that, sex is a significant factor in predicting Internet use among basic school pupils. Further studies could be carried out using a depth- interview schedule to further explore, whether basic school teachers guide their pupils use of the Internet for academic reasons

KINEMATIC ALTERATIONS IN WOMEN'S 100M HURDLE TECHNIQUE OVER CURRENT 84CM HURDLE AND PROPOSED 91 CM HURDLE HEIGHTS

Alterations in collegiate women's 100 m hurdling technique were examined over the proposed hurdle height (91.4cm) compared to the current hurdle height (84cm). Four female collegiate hurdlers at Indiana State University were given 4 hurdle practice days over the current height and 8 hurdle practice days at the proposed hurdle height (91cm). The 3rd hurdle clearance was videotaped for each athlete performing 4 trials at race speed over 4 hurdles for each height. The fastest 3 trials at each height were analyzed using an Ariel APAS. The results indicated that the COM was lower at take-off in the higher hurdle height trial, higher at the peak, and closer to the hurdle at the peak height. The higher height hurdles had the athlete in an ideal sprint position at the landing for the higher hurdle height with a smaller reach distance

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Exposing Students to Engineering in Society

Engineering and for that matter engineering training is pivotal in solving problems that confront societies. This paper introduces academia to a course named Engineering in Society run at the College of Engineering of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. The paper also reports on an assessment of the course content, mode of delivery and impacts, and recommends improvements to enhance its learning outcomes. The impact assessment was done through the administration of questionnaires to four hundred and thirty-seven current and immediate past students of the College’s Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. The respondents were students in the second, third and fourth years of the BSc Electrical and Electronic Engineering programme as well as its immediate past alumni. The results of the impact assessment show that over 85% of the respondents from the various categories consider the course to be essential for their career development. Between 56.76% and 79.38% of respondents from the various groups are satisfied with the mode of delivery of the course. Not less than 69% of the responds agree to the attainment of at least one of the learning outcomes of the course. The respondents consider the community project component of the course as the most impactful. The study has revealed an increasing trend of students contracting others to do their community projects for them as well as an increasing trend in plagiarism of submitted reports. Among others, the study recommends some revision of the course content and mode of delivery to maximize the impact of the course. Additionally, the university should do away with the submission of reports in printed copy and rather migrate to online submission of reports, with plagiarism checks. The course, with the suggestions made, is recommended for adoption by engineering training institutions

Pharmacognostic study and peptidomic analysis of the leaves of Nigerian Rauvolfia vomitoria Wennberg (Apocynaceae)

This study was aimed at documenting some pharmacognostic and peptidomic standards on the leaf of Nigerian species of Rauvolfia vomitoria Wennberg (RVM). Using standard methods, the fresh and dried pulverized leaves of R. vomitoria were standardized macroscopically and microscopically, in addition to the physiochemical evaluation and MALDI TOF/TOF-guided peptidomic screening of the aqueous extracts of the leaf. The leaf is simple, elliptical shaped, crenated margin which is acute. The leaf presented a hexagonal shaped epidermal cell on both sides with anomocytic stomata only on the abaxial surface making it hypostomatous while stomata number and index are 15 – 16 – 18 and 24 – 25 – 26, respectively. The transverse section of the leaf through the midrib suggests that the vascular bundles are conjoint, collateral and closed. Moisture content, total ash, acid insoluble ash, water soluble ash, sulphated ash, water soluble and alcohol soluble extractives were as follows; 7.7 ± 1,5, 4.9 ± 0.7, 1.2 ± 0.8, 4.1 ± 0.2, 4.8 ± 0.9, 3.9 ± 0.9, 8.1 ± 1.7w/w%, respectively. Peptidomic analysis revealed the abundant expression of nature-derived knottin-like peptides with a mass range of 3.1 kDa – 3.7 kDa. Knottin peptides have been reported to perform defense roles in host plants; since they are not ubiquitously distributed in planta, their detection in RVM could be useful in the proper identification of the plant and in RVM chemosystematics. Findings from this study has unveiled some important macroscopic, microscopic and physicochemical standards as well as a new peptidomic phytochemical standard helpful in the proper identification in addition to ensuring the efficacy and safety of the leaf of R. vomitoria

A Review on Two Endemic Species of Genus Premna and their Conservational Importance

The genus Premna (Lamiaceae-APG IV) consists of about 200 species that are native mainly to the tropical and subtropical Asia, Africa, Australia and the Pacific islands. The species ofPremna are well known for their medicinal properties and have been used in Indian traditional system of medicine especially for diarrhoea, stomach and hepatic disorders. The aim of this review is to highlight two endemic species Premna rajendranii and Premna paucinervisand their importance of conservation. This review also helps to summarize the recent advances in the studies on genus Premna, its endemic status and their distribution in Western Ghats. Keywords: Endemism, Western Ghats, Premna rajendranii, Premna paucinervi

Upsurge in meningitis cases in Jirapa district, 2017, Upper West - Ghana

Introduction: Meningitis is the inflammation of the meninges. In the first eight (8) epidemiological weeks of 2017, Jirapa District, Upper West Region, Ghana recorded 41 suspected cases with six deaths and this had exceeded the alert threshold of 5 suspected cases per 100,000 population per week. We therefore conducted an epidemiological investigation, assessed surveillance and epidemic response and helped implement control measures. Methods: We conducted a descriptive study in Jirapa District 21st to 25th March, 2017. We reviewed patient records from January to March with clinicians, response and surveillance assessment and searched for cases. The case definition was any person living in Jirapa District and reporting with or without fever of acute onset with neck stiffness, poor sucking (in infants), bulging fontanelles (in infants), altered consciousness, other signs of meningeal irritation/inflammation from 1st January to 25th March, 2017. Descriptive analysis was performed and expressed as frequencies and proportions with Microsoft Excel, 2016. Results: Sixty-one cases were recorded, of which 10 were confirmed with seven deaths (CFR=70%). Most were female 32 (53.33%) and majority, 21 (34.4%) below age 10 years. Streptococcus pneumoniae was the causative organism in all the 10 samples. Although the number of reported meningitis cases and the CFR were high, the epidemic threshold of 10 suspected cases per 100,000 population per week was not crossed. There was an active surveillance and effective rapid response team in the district conducted health education and contact tracing when the number of cases were increasing. Conclusion: Jirapa District saw an increase in the number of reported meningitis cases in 2017. An active surveillance system and effective rapid response team in the district prevented a potential outbreak. Communities were educated on risk factors, preventive measures to reduce spread and the need for early reporting

Knowledge and Determinants of Fruit and Vegetable Consumption among Adults in Hohoe Municipality, Ghana

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that a person consumes at least 400g of Fruit and Vegetable (FV) daily to prevent chronic disease risk. We assessed knowledge of current WHO guidelines and other determinants of FV intake among adults (≥ 18 years, n = 397) in Hohoe Municipality, Ghana. Face-to-face interviews using a questionnaire adopted from WHO Risk Factor Surveillance System were undertaken. Knowledge of FV daily servings and determinants of intake were evaluated by descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression. There was a 99.2% response rate with approximately 9% of participants correctly stating the WHO daily recommended amount (P = .296). Most (54%) of respondents’ FV intake was affected by unavailability of desired choice (P = .050). Odd of inadequate consumption for persons aware of adequate amount was 1.97 (95% CI: 0.64, 6.05, P = .234) higher than persons without awareness. Participants with problems accessing their desired choice of FV had 0.59 odds (95% CI: 0.36, 0.95, P = .030) of consuming inadequate amount compared to those with easy access. Adequate FV intake depends on availability of consumer preference regardless of knowledge of recommendations. Individual FV cultivation is relevant for availability of preferred choice and adequate consumption for NCDs risk reductions among Ghanaians

Antimicrobial Susceptibility and Molecular Characterization of Escherichia coli Recovered from Milk and Related Samples

There is a rising concern about illnesses resulting from milk consumption due to contamination by pathogenic microorganisms including Escherichia coli. This study examined the occurrence and antimicrobial susceptibility of E. coli isolated from cow milk and related samples. Furthermore, partial sequencing was done to ascertain the genetic relatedness and possible cross contamination among the samples. In all, 250 samples, that is, 50 each of raw milk, cow teat, milkers’ hands, milking utensils, and fecal matter of cows, were cultured for the identification of E. coli. E. coli was detected in 101/250 samples (40.4%). Milk and fecal samples recorded the highest percentages of 68.0% and 66.0%, respectively. Forty-two (42) E. coli strains examined for antimicrobial resistance showed an overall 25.5% resistance, 15.0% intermediate resistance, and 59.5% susceptibility. The isolates had a high level of resistance to teicoplanin (100.0%), but were susceptible to chloramphenicol (95.2%) and azithromycin (92.9%). The Multiple Antibiotic Resistance (MAR) index pattern ranged from 0.1 to 0.5, and 40.5% exhibited multiple drug resistance. The E. coli strains formed 11 haplotypes, and a phylogenic tree analysis showed relatedness among the isolates in other African countries. This observation is an indication of cross contamination among the milk and its related samples

Cohort profile: the Kilombero and Ulanga Antiretroviral Cohort (KIULARCO): a prospective HIV cohort in rural Tanzania

The Kilombero and Ulanga Antiretroviral Cohort (KIULARCO) is a single-site, open and ongoing prospective cohort of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWHIV) established in 2005 at the Chronic Diseases Clinic of Ifakara (CDCI), within the Saint Francis Referral Hospital (SFRH) in Ifakara, Tanzania. The objectives of KIULARCO are to (i) provide patient and cohort-level information on the outcomes of HIV treatment; (ii) provide cohort-level information on opportunistic infections and comorbidities; (iii) evaluate aspects of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care and treatment that have national or international policy relevance; (iv) provide a platform for studies on improving HIV care and treatment in sub-Saharan Africa; and (v) contribute to generating local capacity to deal with the challenges posed by the HIV/AIDS pandemic in this region. Moreover, KIULARCO may serve as a model for other healthcare settings in rural sub-Saharan Africa. Since 2005, all patients diagnosed with HIV at the Saint Francis Referral Hospital are invited to participate in the cohort, including non-pregnant adults, pregnant women, adolescents, children and infants. The information collected includes demographics, baseline and follow-up clinical data, laboratory data, medication history, drug toxicities, diagnoses and outcomes. Real-time data are captured during the patient encounter through an electronic medical record system that allowed transition to a paperless clinic in 2013. In addition, KIULARCO is associated with a biobank of cryopreserved plasma samples and cell pellets collected from all participants before and at different time-points during antiretroviral treatment. Up to the end of 2016, 12 185 PLWHIV have been seen at the CDCI; 9218 (76%) of whom have been enrolled into KIULARCO and 6965 (76%) of these have received ART from the clinic. Patients on ART attend at least every 3 months, with laboratory monitoring every 6 months. KIULARCO data have been used to generate relevant information regarding ART outcomes, opportunistic infections, non-AIDS comorbidities, prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, paediatric HIV, and mortality and retention in care. Requests for collaborations on analyses can be submitted to the KIULARCO scientific committee. KIULARCO provides a framework for improving the quality of care of people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, to generate relevant information to evaluate ART programmes and to build local capacity to deal with HIV/AIDS. The comprehensiveness of the data collected, together with the biobank spanning over ten years has created a unique research platform in rural sub-Saharan Africa