PRELIMINARY STUDIES ON RED BELLY TILAPIA COPTODON ZILLII CAUGHT FROM OYAN DAM, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

The study was carried out on the biological aspect of Redbelly Tilapia, Coptodon zillii collected from Oyan Lake, Abeokuta North Local Government Area, Ogun State, Nigeria, with the aim of contributing to the baseline data for carrying out further studies on its ecology, conservation and development. A total of two hundred and fifty four fish (254) specimens were caught from the Ibaro landing site of the Lake between March and July, 2015. The total length (cm), standard length (cm), head length (cm), body width (cm), body depth (cm), snout length (cm), eye diameter (cm) and body weight (g) were measured. The stomach content was also assessed in order to determine its food and feeding habit. The mean total-length, standard-length, head-length, eye-diameter, snout-length, body-depth, body-width and body-weight during the study were 10.98±0.61cm, 8.56±0.14cm, 2.5±0.08cm, 3.67±0.15cm, 1.52±0.11cm,1.37±0.17cm, 4.05±0.07cm, 34.25±3.02g respectively and their ranges were (4.5-18.7cm), (3.2-15.2cm), (1.1-5.8cm), (2.0-6.8cm), (0.8-3.0cm), (1.1-4.8cm), (1.4-7.3cm) and (6.0-132.0g). A negative allometric (b<3) growth pattern was observed for the stock. The meristic characteristics of C. zillii were (DFR) XIV 10 – XVI 14; PVR, AFR III 8 –III 9; PFR 10 – 13 respectively. Stomach analysis showed that diatoms were the most abundant food items in the diet of C. zillii numerically, 29.98%, while desmids were the most abundant food items in terms of frequency occurrence, 27.82%. This study concluded that C. zillii is not morphometrically and meristically different from the already classified from previous studies. Also, C. zillii thrives well on available plants and detritus.   &nbsp

Effects of hospital facilities on patient outcomes after cancer surgery: an international, prospective, observational study

Background Early death after cancer surgery is higher in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with in high-income countries, yet the impact of facility characteristics on early postoperative outcomes is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the association between hospital infrastructure, resource availability, and processes on early outcomes after cancer surgery worldwide.Methods A multimethods analysis was performed as part of the GlobalSurg 3 study-a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study of patients who had surgery for breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer. The primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and 30-day major complication rates. Potentially beneficial hospital facilities were identified by variable selection to select those associated with 30-day mortality. Adjusted outcomes were determined using generalised estimating equations to account for patient characteristics and country-income group, with population stratification by hospital.Findings Between April 1, 2018, and April 23, 2019, facility-level data were collected for 9685 patients across 238 hospitals in 66 countries (91 hospitals in 20 high-income countries; 57 hospitals in 19 upper-middle-income countries; and 90 hospitals in 27 low-income to lower-middle-income countries). The availability of five hospital facilities was inversely associated with mortality: ultrasound, CT scanner, critical care unit, opioid analgesia, and oncologist. After adjustment for case-mix and country income group, hospitals with three or fewer of these facilities (62 hospitals, 1294 patients) had higher mortality compared with those with four or five (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.85 [95% CI 2.58-5.75]; p<0.0001), with excess mortality predominantly explained by a limited capacity to rescue following the development of major complications (63.0% vs 82.7%; OR 0.35 [0.23-0.53]; p<0.0001). Across LMICs, improvements in hospital facilities would prevent one to three deaths for every 100 patients undergoing surgery for cancer.Interpretation Hospitals with higher levels of infrastructure and resources have better outcomes after cancer surgery, independent of country income. Without urgent strengthening of hospital infrastructure and resources, the reductions in cancer-associated mortality associated with improved access will not be realised

Global age-sex-specific mortality, life expectancy, and population estimates in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, 1950–2021, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: a comprehensive demographic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Background Estimates of demographic metrics are crucial to assess levels and trends of population health outcomes. The profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on populations worldwide has underscored the need for timely estimates to understand this unprecedented event within the context of long-term population health trends. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 provides new demographic estimates for 204 countries and territories and 811 additional subnational locations from 1950 to 2021, with a particular emphasis on changes in mortality and life expectancy that occurred during the 2020–21 COVID-19 pandemic period. Methods 22 223 data sources from vital registration, sample registration, surveys, censuses, and other sources were used to estimate mortality, with a subset of these sources used exclusively to estimate excess mortality due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2026 data sources were used for population estimation. Additional sources were used to estimate migration; the effects of the HIV epidemic; and demographic discontinuities due to conflicts, famines, natural disasters, and pandemics, which are used as inputs for estimating mortality and population. Spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression (ST-GPR) was used to generate under-5 mortality rates, which synthesised 30 763 location-years of vital registration and sample registration data, 1365 surveys and censuses, and 80 other sources. ST-GPR was also used to estimate adult mortality (between ages 15 and 59 years) based on information from 31 642 location-years of vital registration and sample registration data, 355 surveys and censuses, and 24 other sources. Estimates of child and adult mortality rates were then used to generate life tables with a relational model life table system. For countries with large HIV epidemics, life tables were adjusted using independent estimates of HIV-specific mortality generated via an epidemiological analysis of HIV prevalence surveys, antenatal clinic serosurveillance, and other data sources. Excess mortality due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 was determined by subtracting observed all-cause mortality (adjusted for late registration and mortality anomalies) from the mortality expected in the absence of the pandemic. Expected mortality was calculated based on historical trends using an ensemble of models. In location-years where all-cause mortality data were unavailable, we estimated excess mortality rates using a regression model with covariates pertaining to the pandemic. Population size was computed using a Bayesian hierarchical cohort component model. Life expectancy was calculated using age-specific mortality rates and standard demographic methods. Uncertainty intervals (UIs) were calculated for every metric using the 25th and 975th ordered values from a 1000-draw posterior distribution. Findings Global all-cause mortality followed two distinct patterns over the study period: age-standardised mortality rates declined between 1950 and 2019 (a 62·8% [95% UI 60·5–65·1] decline), and increased during the COVID-19 pandemic period (2020–21; 5·1% [0·9–9·6] increase). In contrast with the overall reverse in mortality trends during the pandemic period, child mortality continued to decline, with 4·66 million (3·98–5·50) global deaths in children younger than 5 years in 2021 compared with 5·21 million (4·50–6·01) in 2019. An estimated 131 million (126–137) people died globally from all causes in 2020 and 2021 combined, of which 15·9 million (14·7–17·2) were due to the COVID-19 pandemic (measured by excess mortality, which includes deaths directly due to SARS-CoV-2 infection and those indirectly due to other social, economic, or behavioural changes associated with the pandemic). Excess mortality rates exceeded 150 deaths per 100 000 population during at least one year of the pandemic in 80 countries and territories, whereas 20 nations had a negative excess mortality rate in 2020 or 2021, indicating that all-cause mortality in these countries was lower during the pandemic than expected based on historical trends. Between 1950 and 2021, global life expectancy at birth increased by 22·7 years (20·8–24·8), from 49·0 years (46·7–51·3) to 71·7 years (70·9–72·5). Global life expectancy at birth declined by 1·6 years (1·0–2·2) between 2019 and 2021, reversing historical trends. An increase in life expectancy was only observed in 32 (15·7%) of 204 countries and territories between 2019 and 2021. The global population reached 7·89 billion (7·67–8·13) people in 2021, by which time 56 of 204 countries and territories had peaked and subsequently populations have declined. The largest proportion of population growth between 2020 and 2021 was in sub-Saharan Africa (39·5% [28·4–52·7]) and south Asia (26·3% [9·0–44·7]). From 2000 to 2021, the ratio of the population aged 65 years and older to the population aged younger than 15 years increased in 188 (92·2%) of 204 nations. Interpretation Global adult mortality rates markedly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, reversing past decreasing trends, while child mortality rates continued to decline, albeit more slowly than in earlier years. Although COVID-19 had a substantial impact on many demographic indicators during the first 2 years of the pandemic, overall global health progress over the 72 years evaluated has been profound, with considerable improvements in mortality and life expectancy. Additionally, we observed a deceleration of global population growth since 2017, despite steady or increasing growth in lower-income countries, combined with a continued global shift of population age structures towards older ages. These demographic changes will likely present future challenges to health systems, economies, and societies. The comprehensive demographic estimates reported here will enable researchers, policy makers, health practitioners, and other key stakeholders to better understand and address the profound changes that have occurred in the global health landscape following the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic, and longer-term trends beyond the pandemic

Preparedness of Colleges of Education in Southwestern Nigeria for the Adoption of Blended Learning

<p>The study investigated the preparedness of colleges of education in Southwestern Nigeria in terms of available facilities and infrastructure for the use of blended learning.  The study adopted the survey design. The population consisted of students and lecturers in colleges of education in Southwestern Nigeria. The sample size was 1,059 students and 168 lecturers. Three states were selected from which three colleges of education (one per state) also selected using the random were sampling technique.  From each of the three colleges of education, 400 students and 60 lecturers were selected by stratified random sampling technique using school as stratum. Students’ Blended Learning Facilities Questionnaire, Lecturers’ Blended Learning Facilities Questionnaire and Institutions’ Blended Learning Facilities Checklist (IBLFC) were used for the study. The results showed that the institutions were not adequately prepared for blended learning as ICT facilities in the institutions were below the minimum required standard stipulated by the Federal Government of Nigeria for tertiary institutions. The study concluded that ICT facilities and infrastructure in colleges of education were inadequate for blended learning.  </p

Efficacy of some synthetic antibiotics on Streptococcus pneumoniae and Proteus mirabilis isolated from fish tanks

Effects of some synthetic antibiotics on Streptococcus pnemoniae and Proteus mirabilis isolated from cultured Clarias gariepinus, an important food fish raised in a concrete tank was carried out to ascertain their remedies on mortalities of the Clarias gariepinus adult fish. Streptococcus pnemoniae and Proteus mirabilis were isolated from the gill and skin of diseased fish and water samples and identified by standard microbiological methods.The bacteria isolates were tested for sensitivity on ten (10) antibiotics namely Amoxycillin, Gentamicin, Nitrofurantoin, Erythromycine, Augmentin, Tetracycline, Naladoxic aci d, Cotrimoxazole, Cloxacillin and Ofloxacin. These organisms reacted differently to the different antibiotics that were used - Ofloxacine, Gentamycin and Erythromycine had highest zones of inhibition of 26mm and 26mm, 24mm and 19mm, 16mm and 17mm respectively around Streptococcus pnemoniae and Proteus mirabilis, but Naladoxic acid, Augmentin, Cloxacillin and Amoxycillin had no inhibition zones around both organisms. It is therefore recommended that Ofloxacine, Gentamycin and Erythromycine can be used to combat S. pnemoniae and P. mirabilis diseases in fish farms because of their high antibacterial potentials against the test organisms.Keywords: Streptococcus pnemoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Clarias gariepinus, Syntheticantibiotic

Organic and inorganic fertilizer for vegetable production under tropical conditions

The use of commercial organic fertilizer is being encouraged in place of inorganic fertilizer in soil fertility improvement in Oyo State of Nigeria. This study was designed to determine if switching to from inorganic to organic fertilizer could be profitable. We took a case study of users of commercial organic fertilizer (UCOF) and users of inorganic fertilizer (UIF) in vegetable production. Nested sampling technique was used in selecting UCOF and UIF. Primary data on quantities and prices of vegetable production inputs and output were collected and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, partial budgetary technique and importance ranking. Results indicated both the UCOF and UIF used less than the recommended quantities of fertilizer and obtained less than the optimal yield. However, the UCOF on the average used more level of organic fertilizer that supply more soil nutrient though at higher cost. Yet they obtained higher vegetable yield (9169 kg?ha-1) and a marginal rate of return of 229%. However, either a marginal 2.6% decrease in each of yield or price of vegetable or a 32.4% increase in price of commercial organic fertilizer will make commercial organic fertilizer technology not superior to inorganic fertilizer. The identified constraints to the use of commercial organic fertilizer by UIF in descending order of importance are offensive odour, doubtful efficacy, heavy weed infestation, unavailability and bulkiness of commercial organic fertilizer which if eliminated will boost the demand for and allow the enjoyment of the additional benefits of commercial organic fertilizer

Determinants of Health Management Practices&rsquo; Utilization and Its Effect on Poultry Farmers&rsquo; Income in Ondo State, Nigeria

Nigeria is the second largest poultry industry in Africa, with its poultry industry the most commercialized livestock sub-sector. Despite its significance, the farmers still experience economic losses due to disease outbreaks. Hence, the application of standard Health Management Practices (HMPs) is very important, as these practices improve the welfare of animals and increase animal production and farmers&rsquo; income. This paper examined the determinants of HMP&rsquo;s utilization and its effect on poultry farmers&rsquo; income in Ondo State, Nigeria. We used multistage sampling procedures to select 120 respondents who provided data for the study. The study used Generalized Poisson Regression (GPR) and Conditional Quantile Regression (CQR) models to estimate the determinants of HMP&rsquo;s utilization intensity, and its heterogeneous effects on farmers&rsquo; income, respectively. The results revealed that the HMP&rsquo;s utilization intensity was significantly driven by variables such as education, training, experience, land ownership, stock size, mortality rate, and production system. In addition, HMP&rsquo;s utilization had significant heterogeneous effects on farmers&rsquo; income. Therefore, the government and other developmental agencies should promote HMP&rsquo;s utilization through the provision of poultry-based skills acquisition and vocational education