Perceptions of secondary school agriculture teachers in the North Central Region of the U.S. regarding sustainable agriculture: implications to curriculum development in agricultural education

The major purpose of this study was to determine the perceptions of secondary school agriculture teachers in the North Central Region of the US regarding sustainable agriculture, the extent to which they teach the subject in their curriculum, and the use, credibility, and benefits of selected information sources. A secondary purpose was to develop a model to guide the integration of sustainable agriculture subject matter into the curriculum. Overall, the teachers had positive perceptions and a basic understanding of sustainable agriculture practices. Teachers in this study expressed the desire to incorporate more of the subject into their curriculum if their needs regarding provision of adequate information, instructional aids and materials, and training were met. The respondents indicated that sustainable agriculture was economically viable.;The findings in this study indicated that teachers included sustainable agriculture subject matter in their instructional programs to a moderate extent. Some of the topics that were taught included soil testing, soil erosion, and crop rotations. The following topics were not being taught to any great extent reduced use of chemicals, reduced use of fertilizers, and herbicide-resistant crops. Teachers perceived that farmers used the following sources to gain information about sustainable agriculture: magazines, neighbors. friends, family members, local chemical and fertilizer dealers. However, university specialists were rated as the most credible sources of information. Other credible sources of information included tours, magazines and friends.;The sources given the least ratings on credibility were television and radio programs, commodity promotion boards, newspapers, machinery dealers, and local seed and chemical dealers. Beneficial sources were similar to those observed for credibility. A curriculum development model was designed to assist educators to integrate sustainable agriculture subject matter into the teaching of agriculture courses. It was concluded that teachers need more training, experience, and instructional materials to enable them to help secondary school students to learn more about sustainable agricultural practices

TOWARDS FEDERALIZATION OF NIGERIAN UNITARIZED JUDICIARY

This paper examines federalism as a concept, its adoption to governance in Nigeria through the constitution. The constitution is examined with a view of showing elements of unitarism instead of the federalism the constitution proclaims for Nigeria. In this regard, we examined the creation of federation account, statutory allocation of revenue to states and local government and what it portends for a federation. Conduct of general Election on a date for the central government and all the states of the federation is observed as an aberration in a federal state, so also is the creation of a National electoral commission for both the central and state governments. Creation of central judiciary for both the National and state government with institutions like Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) is also an aberration in a federation. The paper is concluded by contrasting Nigerian federation with American federation with a recommendation for true federation modeled along American system so as to ensure peace, order, good governance and security of the nation. This will be a form of devolution of power which can ensure Nigeria’s unity and erase agitation for balkanisation of Nigeria

EPIDEMIOLOGY OF SMEAR - NEGATIVE TUBERCULOSIS IN IBADAN, NIGERIA

Inadequate case detection has been identified as one of the reasons for high burden of tuberculosis (TB) in the world especially in poor resourced countries of Africa and Asia. This retrospective laboratory study involving the review of specimens processed at the TB laboratory of the Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria was carried out over a period of five years (January 2006-December 2010) to access the epidemiology of smear- negative TB. Of the 3468 specimens processed, 2,175 (62.7%) were from males while a lower percentage (37.3%)1293 were from females, giving a M:F = 1:0.37. Over half of the specimens, 2,046 (59.0%) were from patients aged 21 to 60 years, 392 (11.3%) from 11 to 20 years, 825 (23.8%) from 60 years and above while 205 (5.9%) were from age 1-10 years. Most of the 2,663 (76.8%) specimens processed were sputum while 201 (5.8%) were gastric washings. Three hundred and nine (8.9%) were smear positive while 392 (11.3%) out of the 3468 specimens processed were culture positive. However, 83 (2.6%) of the 3159 smear-negative specimens were culture positive (false negative) while 66 (21.4%) of the 309 smear- positive specimens were negative for culture (false positive). The majority, 3010 (86.8%) were smear and culture negative while 309 (8.9%) were positive for both tests. Of the 83 false negative specimens, 51 were sputum samples representing (61.4%), 19 (22.9%) were gastric washings while 13 (15.7%) were from extra-pulmonary sites (CSF, aspirates, ascitic fluids, etc). The findings of 2.6% smear-negative but culture positive (false negative) specimens in this study reveals that culture of specimens in addition to smear microscopy from suspected cases is necessary as a diagnostic /confirmatory tool for tuberculosis

Seroprevalence of hepatitis E among restaurant food handlers in Ibadan, Nigeria

 Background: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is one of the causative agent of acute viral hepatitis in humans. HEV is an important public health disease in many parts of the world because it is transmitted faeco-orally.  Majority of the documented studies on hepatitis E virus in Nigeria have focused on pregnant women and animal handlers with limited data among food handlers. Thus the current study aimed at investigating the prevalence of HEV infection among food handlers operating within the premises of a tertiary care facility.Methods: One hundred and seventy seven (177) food handlers were screened using commercial Enzyme-Linked Immuno-Sorbent Assay (ELISA) to detect IgM antibodies to Hepatitis E. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to assess risk factors for HEV infection.Results: HEV IgM antibodies were detected in 16 (9.0%) of the participants. Age-specific HEV IgM seroprevalence appeared to decrease with age, however there were no significant differences in HEV IgM seropositivity regarding age (P=0.251), gender (P = 0.231), marital status (P=0.735) and religion (P = 0.906). Significant risk factors for HEV IgM seropositivity included source of water for drinking (P=0.03) and the use of soap for hand washing (P=0.02).Conclusion: Our findings suggest that HEV remains a public health problem, as the virus circulates at low but considerable levels especially among food handlers; thus posing a threat to potential contacts. Proper hand washing practices as well as provision of portable water are important factors for the control of Hepatitis E

Significant Bacteriuria Among Asymptomatic Antenatal Clinic Attendees In Ibadan, Nigeria

Untreated asymptomatic bacteriuria can lead to urinary tract infection (UTI) in pregnancy with devastating maternal and neonatal effects such as prematurity and low birth weight, higher fetal mortality rates and significant maternal morbidity. We carried out a two year (April 2007 to March 2009) cross-sectional epidemiological study to determine the prevalence of significant bacteriuria among asymptomatic antenatal clinic attendees at two antenatal clinics (ANCs) in University College Hospital and Adeoyo Maternity Hospital, both in Ibadan, Nigeria

Growth Strategy, Technological Innovation and Performance of Manufacturing Firms in Southwest Nigeria

Growth strategy is critical to the performance of small and medium enterprises (SME) in an economy. This study examined the moderating effect of technological innovation on growth strategy and performance of SMEs. It adopts quantitative approach, and used 361 copies of questionnaire were distributed among SME owners in Southwest Nigeria and analysed with Structural Equation Modelling (SMART PLS). Results shows significant relationships between growth strategy and SMEs performance and technological innovation reinforces the relationships. It indicates that product development has 78% predictability on performance of SME, also 58% of variance in performance of SME is explained by market penetration. Market development has 73% predicting effect on performance of SME, and also that 70% of variance in performance of small and medium enterprise is explained by product diversification. It is recommended that owners of SMEs should invest in quality and diversified products, and invest in research and development that encourages intrapreneurship

Whole-genome sequencing illuminates the evolution and spread of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Southwest Nigeria.

Nigeria has an emerging problem with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Whole-genome sequencing was used to understand the epidemiology of tuberculosis and genetics of multi-drug resistance among patients from two tertiary referral centers in Southwest Nigeria. In line with previous molecular epidemiology studies, most isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from this dataset belonged to the Cameroon clade within the Euro-American lineage. Phylogenetic analysis showed this clade was undergoing clonal expansion in this region, and suggests that it was involved in community transmission of sensitive and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. Five patients enrolled for retreatment were infected with pre-extensively drug resistant (pre-XDR) due to fluoroquinolone resistance in isolates from the Cameroon clade. In all five cases resistance was conferred through a mutation in the gyrA gene. In some patients, genomic changes occurred in bacterial isolates during the course of treatment that potentially led to decreased drug susceptibility. We conclude that inter-patient transmission of resistant isolates, principally from the Cameroon clade, contributes to the spread of MDR-TB in this setting, underscoring the urgent need to curb the spread of multi-drug resistance in this region

Computational study of the inhibitory potential of Gongronema latifolium (benth) leave on farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase, a target enzyme in the treatment of osteoporosis. A molecular modelling approach

Background & Aim: Osteoporosis is an increasing medical threat which is referred to as a systemic skeletal disorder that is characterized mainly by low bone mass and microarchitectural wear of bone tissue and strength, which eventually results in an increase in the fragility of bone and makes bone to be susceptible to fracture. Osteoporosis is known globally as a severe health problem affecting approximately 200 million people worldwide. Therefore, a pharmacological solution is urgently needed. Studies have shown that farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase is a crucial enzyme in the mevalonate pathway that causes bone resorption, thus serving as a key pharmacological target. Experimental: Gongronema latifolium’s (Benth) phytoconstituents were screened against the mevalonate pathway enzyme farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase computationally using molecular docking, pharmacokinetics screening and Molecular Mechanics/Generalized Born Surface Area approach to identify compounds with the better inhibitorypotentials against this target in this study. Results: The study resulted that five compounds; hyperoside, rutin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, kaempferol-3-arabinoside, and isoquercetin show a better inhibitory potential by binding to the active site of farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase compared with a co-crystalized ligand. These hit compounds were further subjected to pharmacokinetics studies to predict their drug-likeness and toxicity characteristics which show that all hit compounds except Rutin are drug-like leaving Kaempferol-3-Arabinoside as the most drug-like hit compound compared to the co-crystallized ligand. Recommended applications/industries: This study suggests that G. latifolium leaf could be a good plant source for a drug-like compound that may treat osteoporosis by inhibiting the farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase, in the mevalonate pathway, thereby stopping bone resorption

Diagnostic accuracy of Xpert® MTB/RIF Ultra for childhood tuberculosis in West Africa - a multicentre pragmatic study

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the performance of Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra ('Ultra') for diagnosis of childhood tuberculosis (TB) within public health systems. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, children aged <15 years with presumptive pulmonary TB were consecutively recruited and evaluated for TB at tertiary-level hospitals in Benin, Mali and Ghana. Bivariate random-effects models were used to determine the pooled sensitivity and specificity of Ultra against culture. We also estimated its diagnostic yield against a composite microbiological reference standard (cMRS) of positive culture or Ultra. RESULTS: Overall, 193 children were included in the analyses with a median (IQR) age of 4.0 (1.1 - 9.2) years, 88 (45.6%) were female, and 36 (18.7%) were HIV-positive. Thirty-one (16.1%) children had confirmed TB, 39 (20.2%) had unconfirmed TB, and 123 (63.7%) had unlikely TB. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of Ultra verified by culture were 55.0% (95% CI: 28.0 - 79.0%) and 95.0% (95% CI: 88.0 - 98.0%), respectively. Against the cMRS, the diagnostic yield of Ultra and culture were 67.7% (95% CI: 48.6 - 83.3%) and 70.9% (95% CI: 51.9 - 85.8%), respectively. CONCLUSION: Ultra has suboptimal sensitivity in children with TB that were investigated under routine conditions in tertiary-level hospitals in three West African countries

Climate anxiety, wellbeing and pro-environmental action: correlates of negative emotional responses to climate change in 32 countries

This study explored the correlates of climate anxiety in a diverse range of national contexts. We analysed cross-sectional data gathered in 32 countries (N = 12,246). Our results show that climate anxiety is positively related to rate of exposure to information about climate change impacts, the amount of attention people pay to climate change information, and perceived descriptive norms about emotional responding to climate change. Climate anxiety was also positively linked to pro-environmental behaviours and negatively linked to mental wellbeing. Notably, climate anxiety had a significant inverse association with mental wellbeing in 31 out of 32 countries. In contrast, it had a significant association with pro-environmental behaviour in 24 countries, and with environmental activism in 12 countries. Our findings highlight contextual boundaries to engagement in environmental action as an antidote to climate anxiety, and the broad international significance of considering negative climate-related emotions as a plausible threat to wellbeing