The Times and Artistry of Segun Adeku: A Neo-Traditional African Artist

This study focuses on the life and artistry of Segun Adeku, a neo-traditional African artist. The study brings to limelight the artist’s creative background, ideologies and views about the society, as well as the styles and techniques that have shaped Adeku’s artistry over time. This study was conducted through participant observation method, personal contacts and informal oral interviews with the artist. Other information was sourced through exhibition catalogues of the artist’s works. The study examines artistic development of Segun Adeku, his sources of inspiration, and critically appraises his works of art. The findings of the study reveal that Adeku is a dexterous neo-traditional African artist who has been preoccupied with forms that are heavily ornamented, using repeated hues and lines to express Yoruba folklores and indigenous stories that preach love and harmony in the society. The study concluded that with Adeku, the theory of the universality of experience holds, whether trained or untrained artists, the difference is only in their sociological make-up. However, this study is neither definitive nor exhaustive in its approach; rather, it serves as an insight into documentation of African artistry so as to avoid going into the oblivion. Keywords: African art, art workshop, neo-traditional artist, Segun Adeku DOI: 10.7176/ADS/75-03 Publication date: August 31st 201

Farmers’ Perceived Effects of Communal Conflicts on the Delivery of Agricultural Extension Services in North-Central, Nigeria

The study examined the perceived effects of communal conflicts on the delivery of agricultural extension services to farmers in North-central, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to; describe the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers; determine the perceived effects of communal conflicts on the delivery of agricultural extension services by field extension workers of Agricultural Development Programmes (ADPs) to farmers in the study area, and; identify the relationships between selected socio-economic characteristics and perceived effects of communal conflicts on agricultural extension services delivery. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to obtain a sample size of 391 farmers. Information was elicited using questionnaire, interview schedule and focus group discussion and analysed using frequencies, percentages, mean and Likert-type rating scale and Ordered Logit Regression analysis. The major findings show that the majority of the respondents in the study area perceived communal conflicts to have high effects on accessibility of extension services (xÌ…=2.50), timeliness of extension services (xÌ…=2.49), efficiency of extension services (xÌ… =2.49), targeting of extension services (xÌ…=2.48), effectiveness of extension services (xÌ…=2.41), relevance of extension services (xÌ…=2.36) and content accuracy of extension services (xÌ…=2.27). The findings further reveal that sex of the farmers, marital status, educational level, number of extension contacts, farm size and distance from the farming communities to a major town had significant relationships with perceived effects of communal conflicts on extension services delivery. The study recommended that government should adopt policies that would tackle the causes and occurrence of communal conflicts in communities in the country so as to reduce the effect of the conflicts on timeliness, effectiveness, efficiency, targeting and usefulness of extension services

Farmers’ Perceived Effects of Communal Conflicts on the Delivery of Agricultural Extension Services in North-Central, Nigeria

The study examined the perceived effects of communal conflicts on the delivery of agricultural extension services to farmers in North-central, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to; describe the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers; determine the perceived effects of communal conflicts on the delivery of agricultural extension services by field extension workers of Agricultural Development Programmes (ADPs) to farmers in the study area, and; identify the relationships between selected socio-economic characteristics and perceived effects of communal conflicts on agricultural extension services delivery. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to obtain a sample size of 391 farmers. Information was elicited using questionnaire, interview schedule and focus group discussion and analysed using frequencies, percentages, mean and Likert-type rating scale and Ordered Logit Regression analysis. The major findings show that the majority of the respondents in the study area perceived communal conflicts to have high effects on accessibility of extension services (xÌ…=2.50), timeliness of extension services (xÌ…=2.49), efficiency of extension services (xÌ… =2.49), targeting of extension services (xÌ…=2.48), effectiveness of extension services (xÌ…=2.41), relevance of extension services (xÌ…=2.36) and content accuracy of extension services (xÌ…=2.27). The findings further reveal that sex of the farmers, marital status, educational level, number of extension contacts, farm size and distance from the farming communities to a major town had significant relationships with perceived effects of communal conflicts on extension services delivery. The study recommended that government should adopt policies that would tackle the causes and occurrence of communal conflicts in communities in the country so as to reduce the effect of the conflicts on timeliness, effectiveness, efficiency, targeting and usefulness of extension services

ANALYTICAL RESULTS OF PROTON-INDUCED X-RAY EMISSION (PIXE) PROBE OF YORUBA POTTERY OBJECTS

Two hundred and sixteen (216) Yoruba ceramic (pottery) objects in Ita Yemoo Museum collection, Ile-Ife, Nigeria were examined; a sample size of twenty–four (24) pottery objects, ten per cent (10%) of the pottery selected using systematic random sampling to determine their material contents ('chemical fingerprints'). Qualitative, descriptive and evaluative data were collected for analysis. Material compositional information was assessed with the use of Proton-induced X-Ray Emission (PIXE) technique; PIXE result returned twenty-three (23) elements that are used as chemical fingerprints for the selected pottery objects. Major, minor and trace elements discovered were expressed in parts per million (ppm). The study concluded that the data similarities, differences, and correlation provided enhanced provenance data generation useful in taxonomic and provenance determination of potteries with the possibility of generating a database to identify Yoruba ceramic objects generally

Etoricoxib in the treatment of osteoarthritis over 52-weeks: a double-blind, active-comparator controlled trial [NCT00242489]

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term efficacy and tolerability of etoricoxib, a COX-2 selective inhibitor, in osteoarthritis (OA) patients. METHODS: A double-blind, randomized, multicenter study was conducted in 617 patients with OA of the knee. The base study was 14 weeks in duration and consisted of 2 parts; in Part I (6 weeks), patients were allocated to once daily oral etoricoxib 5, 10, 30, 60, 90 mg or placebo. In Part II (8 weeks); the placebo, etoricoxib 5 and 10 mg groups were reallocated to etoricoxib 30, 60, or 90 mg qd or diclofenac 50 mg t.i.d. Treatment was continued for consecutive 12 and 26 week extensions. Primary efficacy endpoints were the WOMAC VA 3.0 pain subscale and investigator global assessment of disease status. Safety and tolerability were assessed by collecting adverse events throughout the study. RESULTS: Compared with placebo, the etoricoxib groups displayed significant (p < 0.05), dose-dependent efficacy for all primary endpoints in Part I; efficacy was maintained throughout the 52 weeks of the study. During the 46-week active-comparator controlled period, the etoricoxib groups demonstrated clinical efficacy that was similar to that of diclofenac 150 mg and was generally well tolerated, with a lower incidence of gastrointestinal (GI) nuisance symptoms compared with diclofenac (13.1, 14.7, and 13.5% for etoricoxib 30, 60, and 90 mg, respectively compared with 22.5% for diclofenac). CONCLUSION: In this extension study, etoricoxib, at doses ranging from 30 to 90 mg, demonstrated a maintenance of significant clinical efficacy in patients with OA through 52 weeks of treatment. Etoricoxib displayed clinical efficacy similar to diclofenac 150 mg and was generally well tolerated

'When she rises, we all rise': a crowdsourcing challenge to increase women's participation in an infectious diseases research fellowship.

BACKGROUND: Women are under-represented in many mid-career infectious diseases research fellowships, including a TDR fellowship for low- and middle-income country (LMIC) researchers. TDR solicited creative ideas as part of a challenge contest to increase the number of women fellowship applicants. The purpose of this study is to examine themes from submitted ideas and the impact of implementing the top three ideas on the number of women applicants. METHODS: We solicited ideas for modifying the TDR fellowship using a crowdsourcing challenge. Then we used a mixed methods approach to evaluate texts submitted in response to the challenge. The qualitative analysis identified themes from eligible submissions. The quantitative analysis examined the mean score (1-10 scale) assigned to submitted ideas and also the number of eligible women applicants before (2014-7) and after (2018) implementing the top three ideas. RESULTS: We received 311 ideas on improving women's participation in this fellowship from 63 countries. Among all ideas, 282 (91%) were from women and 286 (92%) were from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Thirty-three (17%) ideas received an overall mean score of 7.0 or greater. The top three ideas included enhanced social media communication targeting women, improving career mentorship, and creating a nomination system to nudge women applicants. These ideas were implemented as part of the 2018 fellowship application cycle. The number of eligible women applicants increased from 11 in 2016 to 48 in 2018. The number of eligible men applicants increased from 55 in 2016 to 114 in 2018. Women represent 44% (8/18) of the 2018 cohort. CONCLUSION: This suggests that the challenge contest resulted in strong participation from women in LMICs. The three top ideas likely contributed to a greater number of women applicants to this mid-career fellowship. Further ways of enhancing women's participation in global health training are needed

Relationship between Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium infection and pregnancy rate and outcome in Iranian infertile couples

To study the prevalence of C. trachomatis and M. genitalium in a population of infertile couples from Iran and how this relates to tubal factor infertility, pregnancy rate and outcome of pregnancy. Blood, semen and first void urine samples were obtained from 250 infertile couples and 250 fertile women as a control. Infertile couples were followed up after 24 months to determine diagnosis, referral for assisted conception, any pregnancy and pregnancy outcome. Data were analyzed with regard to the results of(i) serological analysis for specific antibodies to C. trachomatis in serum; (ii) the presence of C. trachomatis and M. genitalium DNA in first void urine ; and (iii) in a semen sample of the male partner. Prevalence of C. trachomatis in our study population was comparable to other studies using similar methods and test specimens. No evidence of M. genitalium infection was found. Detection of C. trachomatis in one partner rarely correlated with infection in the other. The risk of tubal factor infertility and the probability of pregnancy and pregnancy outcome were unrelated to the results of serological tests for C. trachomatis antibodies or the presence of C. trachomatis DNA in first void urine of both partners and in a semen sample provided by the male

Prevalence and risk factors for high-risk human papillomavirus infection among women from three southern geopolitical zones of Nigeria

IntroductionHuman Papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a risk factor for cervical cancer, the fourth most common cancer among women globally. Its burden is the highest in sub-Saharan Africa, with over 90% mortality. Interventions may fail without evidence-based data on stratified prevalence and risk factors among most at-risk women across Nigeria.MethodsA cross-sectional comparative study, with participants recruited from the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research’s Clinics, NGO outreaches, a cancer screening centre and a university teaching hospital. Questionnaires were self-administered. Trained medics performed sampling at healthcare facilities, and self-sampling was used at outreaches.ResultsNine hundred eighty-five study participants were recruited. About 37% and 27% of the women knew about HPV and its vaccines, respectively, but only 6% confirmed vaccination with HPV vaccines. HPV prevalence was highest among women with unknown marital status (35.9%), single women (33.8%), widowed/divorced/separated women (30.3%), and married/cohabiting women (19.6%). HPV infection was significantly higher among women who take alcohol (odds=1.7 [95% CI: 1.2-2.4]) and women who smoke (odds=2.6 [95% CI: 1.4 - 4.6]. HPV strains detected included HPV16 (1.3%), HPV18 (1.5%), Low Risk (0.2%) and Other High-Risk groups (19.7%).ConclusionThe inverse relationship between prevalence and education suggests interventions improving awareness and prevention would be impactful. Such interventions could also target HIV-positive women, women presenting with sexually-transmitted infections, who smoke and frequently drink alcohol

Global patient outcomes after elective surgery: prospective cohort study in 27 low-, middle- and high-income countries.

BACKGROUND: As global initiatives increase patient access to surgical treatments, there remains a need to understand the adverse effects of surgery and define appropriate levels of perioperative care. METHODS: We designed a prospective international 7-day cohort study of outcomes following elective adult inpatient surgery in 27 countries. The primary outcome was in-hospital complications. Secondary outcomes were death following a complication (failure to rescue) and death in hospital. Process measures were admission to critical care immediately after surgery or to treat a complication and duration of hospital stay. A single definition of critical care was used for all countries. RESULTS: A total of 474 hospitals in 19 high-, 7 middle- and 1 low-income country were included in the primary analysis. Data included 44 814 patients with a median hospital stay of 4 (range 2-7) days. A total of 7508 patients (16.8%) developed one or more postoperative complication and 207 died (0.5%). The overall mortality among patients who developed complications was 2.8%. Mortality following complications ranged from 2.4% for pulmonary embolism to 43.9% for cardiac arrest. A total of 4360 (9.7%) patients were admitted to a critical care unit as routine immediately after surgery, of whom 2198 (50.4%) developed a complication, with 105 (2.4%) deaths. A total of 1233 patients (16.4%) were admitted to a critical care unit to treat complications, with 119 (9.7%) deaths. Despite lower baseline risk, outcomes were similar in low- and middle-income compared with high-income countries. CONCLUSIONS: Poor patient outcomes are common after inpatient surgery. Global initiatives to increase access to surgical treatments should also address the need for safe perioperative care. STUDY REGISTRATION: ISRCTN5181700