Improving higher education standards through reengineering in West African universities–A case study of Nigeria

This article examines the context of higher education (HE), policies and challenges in the West African context. A multi-level framework and analysis of reengineering, leading change in complexity, activity-based view of the University Business Model and Pedagogical Content Knowledge enable the development of deep connections between the macro- and meso-level and -micro challenges of Higher Education System (HES). These include elements of effective leadership, structures and curriculum and learning pedagogies. Drawing on the analyses of interviews from 25 overseas trained senior academics from Nigerian universities, a preliminary refinement of the philosophy of reengineering, re-thinking and revaluing the higher education system (HES) is offered. These have traditionally been addressed in a piecemeal perspective in HE policy and the academic literature; such a traditional approach has not been the systematic rethinking advocated in the philosophy of reengineering

Emergence and spread of two SARS-CoV-2 variants of interest in Nigeria.

Identifying the dissemination patterns and impacts of a virus of economic or health importance during a pandemic is crucial, as it informs the public on policies for containment in order to reduce the spread of the virus. In this study, we integrated genomic and travel data to investigate the emergence and spread of the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.318 and B.1.525 (Eta) variants of interest in Nigeria and the wider Africa region. By integrating travel data and phylogeographic reconstructions, we find that these two variants that arose during the second wave in Nigeria emerged from within Africa, with the B.1.525 from Nigeria, and then spread to other parts of the world. Data from this study show how regional connectivity of Nigeria drove the spread of these variants of interest to surrounding countries and those connected by air-traffic. Our findings demonstrate the power of genomic analysis when combined with mobility and epidemiological data to identify the drivers of transmission, as bidirectional transmission within and between African nations are grossly underestimated as seen in our import risk index estimates

Anti-inflammatory Components from Functional Foods for Obesity

Obesity, defined as excessive fat accumulation that may impair health, has been described throughout human history, but it has now reached epidemic proportions with the WHO estimating that 39% of the world’s adults over 18 years of age were overweight or obese in 2016. Obesity is a chronic low-grade inflammatory state leading to organ damage with an increased risk of common diseases including cardiovascular and metabolic disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, osteo-arthritis and some cancers. This inflammatory state may be influenced by adipose tissue hypoxia and changes in the gut microbiota. There has been an increasing focus on functional foods and nutraceuticals as treatment options for obesity as drug treatments are limited in efficacy. This chapter summarises the importance of anthocyanin-containing fruits and vegetables, coffee and its components, tropical fruit and food waste as sources of phytochemicals for obesity treatment. We emphasise that preclinical studies can form the basis for clinical trials to determine the effectiveness of these treatments in humans

Effects of antibiotic resistance, drug target attainment, bacterial pathogenicity and virulence, and antibiotic access and affordability on outcomes in neonatal sepsis: an international microbiology and drug evaluation prospective substudy (BARNARDS)

Background Sepsis is a major contributor to neonatal mortality, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). WHO advocates ampicillin–gentamicin as first-line therapy for the management of neonatal sepsis. In the BARNARDS observational cohort study of neonatal sepsis and antimicrobial resistance in LMICs, common sepsis pathogens were characterised via whole genome sequencing (WGS) and antimicrobial resistance profiles. In this substudy of BARNARDS, we aimed to assess the use and efficacy of empirical antibiotic therapies commonly used in LMICs for neonatal sepsis. Methods In BARNARDS, consenting mother–neonates aged 0–60 days dyads were enrolled on delivery or neonatal presentation with suspected sepsis at 12 BARNARDS clinical sites in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Rwanda, and South Africa. Stillborn babies were excluded from the study. Blood samples were collected from neonates presenting with clinical signs of sepsis, and WGS and minimum inhibitory concentrations for antibiotic treatment were determined for bacterial isolates from culture-confirmed sepsis. Neonatal outcome data were collected following enrolment until 60 days of life. Antibiotic usage and neonatal outcome data were assessed. Survival analyses were adjusted to take into account potential clinical confounding variables related to the birth and pathogen. Additionally, resistance profiles, pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic probability of target attainment, and frequency of resistance (ie, resistance defined by in-vitro growth of isolates when challenged by antibiotics) were assessed. Questionnaires on health structures and antibiotic costs evaluated accessibility and affordability. Findings Between Nov 12, 2015, and Feb 1, 2018, 36 285 neonates were enrolled into the main BARNARDS study, of whom 9874 had clinically diagnosed sepsis and 5749 had available antibiotic data. The four most commonly prescribed antibiotic combinations given to 4451 neonates (77·42%) of 5749 were ampicillin–gentamicin, ceftazidime–amikacin, piperacillin–tazobactam–amikacin, and amoxicillin clavulanate–amikacin. This dataset assessed 476 prescriptions for 442 neonates treated with one of these antibiotic combinations with WGS data (all BARNARDS countries were represented in this subset except India). Multiple pathogens were isolated, totalling 457 isolates. Reported mortality was lower for neonates treated with ceftazidime–amikacin than for neonates treated with ampicillin–gentamicin (hazard ratio [adjusted for clinical variables considered potential confounders to outcomes] 0·32, 95% CI 0·14–0·72; p=0·0060). Of 390 Gram-negative isolates, 379 (97·2%) were resistant to ampicillin and 274 (70·3%) were resistant to gentamicin. Susceptibility of Gram-negative isolates to at least one antibiotic in a treatment combination was noted in 111 (28·5%) to ampicillin–gentamicin; 286 (73·3%) to amoxicillin clavulanate–amikacin; 301 (77·2%) to ceftazidime–amikacin; and 312 (80·0%) to piperacillin–tazobactam–amikacin. A probability of target attainment of 80% or more was noted in 26 neonates (33·7% [SD 0·59]) of 78 with ampicillin–gentamicin; 15 (68·0% [3·84]) of 27 with amoxicillin clavulanate–amikacin; 93 (92·7% [0·24]) of 109 with ceftazidime–amikacin; and 70 (85·3% [0·47]) of 76 with piperacillin–tazobactam–amikacin. However, antibiotic and country effects could not be distinguished. Frequency of resistance was recorded most frequently with fosfomycin (in 78 isolates [68·4%] of 114), followed by colistin (55 isolates [57·3%] of 96), and gentamicin (62 isolates [53·0%] of 117). Sites in six of the seven countries (excluding South Africa) stated that the cost of antibiotics would influence treatment of neonatal sepsis

Keratocan Is Expressed By Osteoblasts And Can Modulate Osteogenic Differentiation

Keratocan is an extracellular matrix protein that belongs to the small leucine-rich proteoglycan family which also includes the lumican, biglycan, decorin, mimecan and fibromodulin. Members of this family are known to play a role in regulating cellular processes such as proliferation and modulation of osteoprogenitor lineage differentiation. The aims of this study were to evaluate the expression pattern of the keratocan within the osteoprogenitor lineage and assess its role in regulating osteoblast maturation and function. Results from gene expression analyses of cells at different maturation stages within the osteoblast lineage indicate that keratocan is differentially expressed by osteoblasts and shows little or no expression by osteocytes. During primary osteoblast cultures, high keratocan mRNA expression was observed on day 14, while lower expression was detected at days 7 and 21. To assess the effects of keratocan on osteoprogenitor cell differentiation, we evaluated primary calvarial cell cultures from keratocan deficient mice. The mineralization of calvarial osteoblast cultures derived from keratocan null (kera−/−) mice was lower than in wild type osteoblast cultures. Furthermore, analysis of RNA derived from kera−/− calvarial cell cultures showed a reduction in the mature osteoblast differentiation markers, i.e., bone sialoprotein (BSP) and osteocalcin (OC). In addition, we have evaluated the bone formation in keratocan deficient mice. Histomorphometric analysis indicated that homozygous knockout mice have a significantly decreased rates of bone formation rate and mineral apposition. Taken together our results demonstrate the expression of keratocan by osteoblast lineage cells and its ability to modulate osteoblast function

The LKB1 tumor suppressor controls spindle orientation and localization of activated AMPK in mitotic epithelial cells.

Orientation of mitotic spindles plays an integral role in determining the relative positions of daughter cells in a tissue. LKB1 is a tumor suppressor that controls cell polarity, metabolism, and microtubule stability. Here, we show that germline LKB1 mutation in mice impairs spindle orientation in cells of the upper gastrointestinal tract and causes dramatic mislocalization of the LKB1 substrate AMPK in mitotic cells. RNAi of LKB1 causes spindle misorientation in three-dimensional MDCK cell cysts. Maintaining proper spindle orientation, possibly mediated by effects on the downstream kinase AMPK, could be an important tumor suppressor function of LKB1

Asymptomatic proteinuria and elevated blood pressure among adolescents in urban secondary schools of South-East Nigeria

Background: Hypertension and proteinuria are known risk factors for cardiovascular disease and renal impairment. Early detection and treatment will reduce morbidity and mortality associated with them.Objective: To determine the prevalence of asymptomatic proteinuria with or without elevated blood pressure among secondary school adolescents in urban area of south-east Nigeria.Methodology: This was a cross sectional study of 995 adolescents aged 10-19 years attending public and private secondary schools in Awka-South Local Government Area of Anambra state, south-east Nigeria. A multi-staged sampling method was used to select the subjects. All the participants had their urine examined for protein using the combo- 9 (Midi test) according to manufacturer’s specification. Their blood pressure was measured after at least five minutes of rest in seated position using mercury sphygmomanometer, (Accoson® DEKAMET, MK.3 England). Data was analysed using SPSS version 16, (Chicago Illinois, USA).Result: A total of 995 adolescents were recruited and studied. They comprised of 475 (47.7%) males and 520 (52.3%) females, giving a male to female ratio of 1:1.1. Their ages ranged from 10-19 years with a mean of 14.6±2.0 years. Prevalence of hypertension was 6.2%. Thirty-eight females (7.3%) compared to twenty-four males (5.0%) had hypertension, but this was not statistically significant. (P-value =0.14) Ninety-six (9.6%) of all the subjects had protein in urine. Eighty-five had one plus (+), while 11 had two pluses (++) of protein.Conclusion: Asymptomatic proteinuria and hypertension exist among secondary school adolescents. There is need for periodic screening and intervention programme.Keywords: Hypertension, Urine, Protein, Renal Impairmen

Soil degradation-induced decline in productivity of Sub-Saharan African soils: the prospects of looking downwards the lowlands with the sawah ecotechnology

The paper provides an insight into the problem of land degradation in Sub-Saharan Africa, with emphasis on soil erosion and its effect on soil quality and productivity, and proposes a lowland-based rice-production technology for coping with the situation. Crop yields are, in addition to the degree of past and current erosion, determined by a number of interacting variables. This, coupled with the generally weak database on erosion-induced losses in crop yield in spite of the region’s high vulnerability to erosion, makes it difficult to attain a reliable inference on the cause-effect relationship between soil loss and productivity. Available data suggest, however, that the region is at risk of not meeting up with the challenges of agriculture in this 21st century. Based on the few studies reviewed, methodology appears to have an overwhelming influence on the erosion-productivity response, whereas issues bordering on physical environment and soil affect the shape of the response curve. We argue that the sawah ecotechnology has the potential of countering the negative agronomic and environmental impacts of land degradation in Sub-Saharan Africa. This is a farmer-oriented, low-cost system of managing soil, water, and nutrient resources for enhancing lowland rice productivity and realizing Green Revolution in the region.This article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/673926The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of the Japanese Government through the Monbukagakusho Scholarship, the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), and New Sawah Project of the Kinki University of Japan

LKB1 mutant tumors show mislocalization of activated AMPK.

<p>A–C) Representative images of phospho-Thr172-AMPK (red) localization in mitotic cells from wild-type tissues. Images were not rotated, and not all cells had an obvious apical surface in the tissue section. The inset in C shows the apparent localization of phospho-AMPK to kinetochore regions. Microtubules are green and DNA is blue. D–I) Representative images of phospho-Thr172-AMPK (red) localization in mitotic cells from LKB1 mutant polyps. Images were not rotated, and not all cells had an obvious apical surface in the tissue section. Microtubules are green and DNA is blue. Scale bar, 10 µm.</p

ZO-1 and E-cadherin localization are unaffected by LKB1 RNAi in MDCK cell cysts.

<p>Representative images of ZO-1 (red) and E-cadherin (green) immunofluorescence in control MDCK cell cysts and in cysts with LKB1 RNAi are shown. Sections were taken through the midpoint of the cyst to show the hollow lumen as well as the apical and lateral surfaces of cells at the widest part of the cyst structure. Bars, 10 µm.</p