Problems of industrial fisheries development in the Cross River State

The industrial fisheries as opposed to artisanal fisheries in Cross River State, Nigeria, is discussed, considering the prospect of industrial fisheries in the State and identifying the major fish and shrimp resources within the coastal waters. Industrial fishing was introduced in 1973 when the state government invited a Japaneese company to carry out a joint exploratory shrimp fishing venture. The contributions made by the Seastate Seafoods Company, the Eyib's Nutritional Food and the Arawak Fishing Companies towards the increase in the number of fishing fleet in the state are noted

The Nexus Between Total Quality Management, Job Satisfaction and Employee Work Engagement in the Food and Beverage Multinational Company in Nigeria

Adopting total quality management (TQM) program in an organisation may have consequences not only for organisational outcomes but also for employee work behaviour. Therefore, this study investigates the conceptual and empirical link between TQM practices, job satisfaction, and employee work engagement. Cross-sectional survey design, quota, proportionate and simple random sampling were used to draw 300 participants from the study population, out of which 190 responded and n = 183(61%) usable responses to the questionnaire designed for the purpose from employees of a food and beverage multinational company in Lagos metropolis were obtained. Regression and correlation analyses were used to analyse the study data. Significant positive relationship was found between dimensions of TQM practices (leadership and management support, employee participation, training, reward and recognition, and customer focus), job satisfaction and employee work engagement. After controlling for sex, age and experience, job satisfaction and TQM practices construct jointly and independently predicted employee work engagement. Also, job satisfaction partially mediated the relationship between TQM practices and work engagement. The implications of soft TQM implementation on employee job satisfaction for achieving highly engaged workforce are discussed

Mycotoxigenic and Proteolytic Potential of Moulds Associated with Smoked Shark Fish ( Chlamydoselachus anguincus )

Among the 33 moulds isolated from 20 samples of wood-smoked Chlamydoselachus anguincus (shark-fish) 20 isolates were capable of producing metabolites toxic to fertile Hubbard Golden Comet (Niger chick) eggs. Aspergillus and Pencillium isolates were the predominant moulds. Other toxigenic moulds isolated were Eurotium, Fusarium and Cladosporium species. The protease producing potential of the isolates varied among the genera and between isolates of the same species. The existence and growth of these moulds on smoked fish is a pointer to the potential health risk associated with the consumption of mouldy dry fish. @JASE

Insecticidal Potential of an Orally Administered Metabolic Extract of Aspergillus niger on Chrysomya chloropyga (Green bottle fly) Larvae

The insecticidal activity of Aspergillus niger IHCS-4 metabolic extract against Chrysomya chloropyga larvae was examined in vitro. The toxicity test revealed that 0.04 mg/g and 0.08 mg/g extract concentration significantly (P>0.05) affected the insect larvae, inducing 20% and 65% mortality respectively, within 24 hours. Larval growth was inhibited only at concentrations of 0.04mg/g or higher. Survivors of the toxicity treatment at 0.04mg/g and 0.08mg/g recorded significant reductions in weight over time. These observations have indicated the potential of A. niger as a simple, inexpensive and accessible source of bioinsecticide @JASE

Phytochemistry, antibacterial and anticoagulase activities of Sida acuta against clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus

oai:journals.ansfoundation.org:article/20The phytochemical, antibacterial and anticoagulase activities of Sida acuta against clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus were investigated. The phytochemistry of the plant leaves revealed that S. acuta is laden with antioxidative compounds with remarkable concentrations of saponins (0.772 mg/100g), flavonoids (0.112 mg/100g), alkaloids (0.076 mg/100g) and tannins (0.0541mg/100g). Their presence conferred a strong bactericidal effect on Staphylococcus aureus SS-1VC, Staph. aureus SS-2VM, Staph. aureus SS-3SW, Staph aureus SS-4OM, Staph. aureus SS-5BC Staph. aureus SS-6AF and Staph. aureus SS-7DS isolated from vaginal candidiosis, vaginal mycosis, septic wound, otitis media, buccal cavity, athletes foot and diarrheic stool respectively. Majority of the bacterium strains screened were sensitive to aqueous and methanol extracts of S. acuta leaves. All the strains were inhibited by the aqueous extract, but more susceptible were strains SS-2VM isolated from vaginal mycoses and SS-3SW from septic wound, which recorded 25mm and 24mm diameter of inhibition zones respectively, after treatment with 8.0mg/ml of the extract. However, much lower concentration (0.5mg/ml) of the extract was required to halt coagulase activity in both strains. The methanol leaf extract exhibited similar but stronger antibacterial and anticoagulase activities against the clinical isolates of Staph. aureus. Marked antibacterial inhibitory effects were observed against most strains tested but SS-6AF and SS-7DS (which exhibited comparatively lower susceptibility), with majority of the strains losing theiranticoagulase producing potential at concentrations as low as 0.5mg/ml of alcoholic extract. The strong anticoagulase activity of S.acuta, and it’s efficacy in inhibiting coagulase elaboration by Staph aureus especially Staph. aureus SS3SW isolated from septic wound forms the basis of it’s use in folk medicine for wound treatment

ARTISANAL FISH MARKETING IN AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA: PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS

This paper was set out to examine the problems and prospects of artisanal fish marketing in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. It was observed that artisanal fish is one of the most important sources of food and income to many people, especially in the riverine areas. Artisanal fisheries is labour-intensive and conducted by artisanal craftsmen whose level of income, mechanical sophistication, quantity of production, fishing range, political influence, market outlets, employment and social mobility and financial power depends on it. Artisanal fish marketing involves all activities undertaken in conveying fish from fishermen to consumers. The paper revealed that artisanal fish marketing in Akwa Ibom State involves a lot of problems which often times hinder the objectives of the fish harvesting and marketing business. The problems include inadequate funds, sea piracy, poor post-harvest fish management, high cost / lack of transportation facilities, lack of market facilities and poor interpersonal relations skills among the fishermen. The study concluded that the problems of artisanal fish marketing if solved can result in the enhancement of level of satisfaction in the harvesting, processing and marketing of artisanal fish to meet the need of the society and provide diversified employment opportunities in fishing communities, villages and settlements. It was therefore suggested among others that, Akwa Ibom State Government in collaboration with Federal Government should provide a well-developed landing and processing sites in all the fishing settlements to ensure hygienic and protected space for processing activities as well as proper facilities at processing sites for sanitation and storage. This will help to reduce fish contamination, and prevent microbial attack of harvested fish.  Article visualizations

Assessment of Nutritional Status and Knowledge of Students from Selected Secondary Schools in Sokoto Metropolis, Sokoto State, Nigeria

The significance of improving nutrition knowledge in order to have a positive influence on food choices and health should not be underestimated. This study assessed the nutritional status and knowledge of school children attending selected secondary schools in Sokoto metropolis. The study population was purposively drawn from secondary school students in Nigeria attending Federal Government College and State Government-owned schools. Four secondary schools were used for the study: Federal Government College (FGC), Sani Dingyadi Secondary School (SDUSS), Nagarta Secondary School (NSS) and Army Day Secondary School (ADSS). A sample of 240 school students, aged 10 to 25 years participated in the study. The measuring instruments included a questionnaire to determine the nutrition knowledge of the students. Anthropometric measurements included weight, height and mid-upper arm circumference, measured using standard methodologies. The mean age recorded for male and female students were 18.0±1.90 and 15.7±1.20 years, respectively. The result showed that 27.9% were underweight, 7.5% overweight and 64.6% had normal BMI status. Nutritional status was significantly related with sex (χ2 = 16.169, p<0.05) but not with age (χ2 = 1.368, p>0.05). The prevalence of underweight was higher among the males (33.9%) compared to the females (13.9%), while more females were overweight (15.3%) compared to the males (4.2%). Seventy one percent performed poorly in the nutrition knowledge assessment rating. The overall performance of the female students was significantly higher (χ2 = 46.386; P<0.05) than their male counterparts. Furthermore, 5, 12 and 12% had excellent, very good and good nutrition knowledge, respectively, while 33% and 38% had fair and poor nutrition knowledge, respectively. The results further revealed that the students were deficient in knowledge and understanding of the facts about energy and nutritive values of foods. Therefore, adequate nutrition education is needed at the secondary school level; this will enable the students to make good food choices and positively influence their eating habits thereby ensuring better nutritional status.Keywords: malnutrition, knowledge, school, anthropometry, Sokot

Etiology and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of community-acquired urinary tract infection in Jos metropolis

Community-acquired urinary tract infections occur in individuals not admitted in hospital prior to development of the symptoms of the infection. It occurs mostly in women and caused by Escherichia coli. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of urinary tract infection among individuals residing within Jos metropolis. A single voided aseptically collected mid-stream urine (MSU) was obtained from 276 patients at the outpatient unit of Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH). These samples were processed immediately using standard wire loop method in medical microbiology laboratory in JUTH. Demographic data were collected by administering a structured questionnaire to the study participants. Data collected were analyzed by EPI info statistical package version 3.5.1. Out of the 276 individuals who participated in the study 52 (18.8%) were positive for urinary tract infection. The study revealed that female participants had the highest occurrence 40 (21.3%) of infection, while male participants had 12 (13.6%). Escherichia coli was the most frequently isolated uropathogen with a prevalence of 20 (38.5%). Married individuals 35 (27.3%) had a higher occurrence of infection compared to singles 17 (11.5%), there was no significant difference in occurrence of infection between married and singles p=0.101 (P>0.05) in the study. The present study revealed a prevalence of 18.8%, with female participants having the highest occurrence of infection. Streptomycin showed the highest susceptibility to bacteria isolates while the least susceptibility was observed with augmentin. Rational use of antibiotics with regular antibiotics susceptibility surveillance studies is recommended to maintain high antibiotic therapeutic profile.Keywords: Community-acquired urinary tract infections, Escherichia coli, Significant isolate

Determinants of length of hospitalization in a federal psychiatric hospital in Nigeria

Objective: The present study aims to determine the association between clinical-demographic variables and length of stay of patients admitted into Federal Psychiatric Hospital, Calabar.Design: Retrospective review of case records.Methods: 280 case records of patients (discharged from September 1st, 2015 to August 31st, 2016) were assembled for review, out of which twelve cases were excluded for various reasons. Clinical and demographic data collected from the remaining 268 case records were subjected to univariate and multivariate analyses to determine variables associated with prolonged length of stay.Results: Mean length of stay was 56.2 ± 40.9 and the commonest clinical diagnosis was schizophrenia (45.9%). Although gender, age, marital status and clinical diagnoses tended to influence length of stay, gender (p =0.007) and clinical diagnosis of schizophrenia (p =0.044) were the only variables that significantly predicted prolonged length of stay.Conclusion: We found that gender and clinical diagnoses were important determinants of length of stay. If validated in future studies, these factors may help in accurate identification of cases at risk of prolonged hospitalization and act as guide to clinicians who may need to optimize intervention strategies early enough in managing such cases.Keywords: Psychiatric hospitalization, Length of stay, Prolonged hospitalization, Psychiatric patients, Calaba

Thermal Behavior in the Lens Process

Direct laser metal deposition processing is a promising manufacturing technology which could significantly impact the length oftime between initial concept and finished part. For adoption ofthis technology in the manufacturing environment, further understanding is required to ensure robust components with appropriate properties are routinelyfabricated. This requires a complete understanding ofthe thermal history.during part fabrication and control ofthis behavior. This paper will describe our research to understand the thermal behavior for the Laser Engineered Net Shaping (LENS) process!, where a component is fabricated by focusing a laser beam onto a substrate to create a molten pool in which powder particles are simultaneously injected to build each layer. The substrate is moved beneath the l~ser beam to deposit a thin cross section, thereby creating the desired geometry for each layer. After deposition of each layer, the powder delivery nozzle and focusing lens assembly is incremented in the positive Z-direction, thereby building a three dimensional component layer additively. It is important to control the thermal behavior to reproducibly fabricate parts. The ultimate intent is to monitor the thermal signatures and to incorporate sensors and feedback algorithms to control part fabrication. With appropriate control, the geometric properties (accuracy, surface finish, low warpage) as well as the materials' properties (e.g. strength, ductility) of a component can be dialed into the part through the fabrication parameters. Thermal monitoring techniques will be described, and their particular benefits highlighted. Preliminary details in correlating thermal behavior with processing results will be discussed.Mechanical Engineerin