Perceived effects of N-power agro programme on youth empowerment and income generation in Lagos state, Nigeria

The study examined the effect of N-power Agro program on youth empowerment and income generation in Lagos state, Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to examine the socio-economic characteristics of N-power agro beneficiaries, to determine the contribution of N-Agro to empowerment, to ascertain how N-Power agro programme generates income for the youths and to know the problems affecting N-Power Agro programs in Lagos state. A three-stage sampling technique was used to select one hundred and twenty (120) respondents. Data were collected using structured questionnaire and analysed with descriptive and inferential statistics such as frequency counts, percentages, mean and Analysis of Variance. The mean age of the respondents was 26 years, 55.0% were male, 50.8% were married and 42.5% were First Degree holders. Findings also revealed that 80.0% felt the programme has improved their working experience, 79.2% indicated that the programme has helped in poverty reduction while 62.5% perceived that the programme ensured their financial independence. The major problems affecting the implementation of N-Power Agro programmes in Lagos State are non-payment of stipend to participants as at when due ( ̅= 2.92), insufficient information ( ̅= 2.68) and high transportation fare paid by the participants to work ( ̅= 2.63). The study also revealed that there is a significant relationship between N-Power Agro and youth empowerment in Lagos State. It is therefore recommended that government should ensure adequate provision of funds for income- generating projects through the N-Power programmes. This will solve the problem of delay in the payment of the stipend. &nbsp

Ophthalmic manifestations in patients with intracranial tumours

Introduction L’étude a pour but d’apprécier les manifestations ophtalmologiques des patients présentant des tumeurs cérébrales au Nigéria dans un hôpital tertiaire. Méthode Il s’agit d’une étude rétrospective avec une revue des tumeurs cérébrales dans le Neurosurgical Unit of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile- Ife de janvier 2003 à décembre 2007. L’analyse des données, diagnostique, acuité visuelle, et prise en charge, ont été analysées selon la fréquence en utilisant avec la version 1 11 SPCS . L’acuité visuelle a été classifiée selon celle de l’OMS. Résultat Sur un total de 94 patients, 88 patients ont été revus. Il s’agissait de 53 patients de sexe masculin et 35 de sexe féminin. La moyenne d’âge était de 36.2 plus ou moins 20 ans. 14 patients ont été pris en charge par les ophtalmologistes. La répartition des tumeurs était la suivante: méningiomes, 36,4 %, craniopharyngiomes, 13,6 % et gliomes, 9,1 %. 67,9 % des patients se plaignaient de troubles visuels à l’admission dont 46,6 % avec une baisse importante et 12,5 % une vision double. Il a été objectivé une artrophie optique dans 23,9 % . 46 malades (52 %) étaient aveugles et 14 (16 %) avaient un trouble visuelimportant. Conclusion Les troubles visuels sont des manifestations cliniques fréquentes de présentation des tumeurs cérébrales. Une information médicale précoce est requise

Prospective Comparative Trial of Ceftriaxone versus Ceftazidime as Prophylactic Perioperative Antimicrobials in Neurosurgery

Background: Previous reports have suggested that both ceftriaxone and ceftazidime are effective as prophylactic perioperative antibiotics in neurosurgery. This study was designed to compare the infection rates following the use of these antibiotics as prophylactic agents during neurological surgery in our centre. In a tertiary hospitalMethods: This was a prospective study in which patients were allocated into two groups. One group received ceftriaxone (Roche-rocephine) and the other group received ceftazidime (GlaxoSmithKline – fortum). Patients were followed up for evidence of surgical site infections for up to 6 weeks after discharge. Clinical and or laboratory evidence of wound infection were used as outcome measure.Results: There were 118 patients, 58 patients received ceftriaxone and 60 patients received ceftazidime. Infection occurred in 4 (6.9%) in the ceftriaxone group and in 9 (15%) in the ceftazidime group. The difference was not statistically significant. The infection rate following ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunting procedure was similar (11.8%) in both groups.Conclusion: Our study confirmed the efficacy of ceftriaxone and ceftazidime in preventing surgical site infection that may follow neurosurgical procedures, but the difference in infection rates following the use of their use was not statistically significant

Gender differences in credit acquisition techniques of rural dwellers in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State

The study assessed gender differences in credit acquisition techniques of rural dwellers in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun state. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select respondents for the study. Data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire covering respondents’ socioeconomic characteristics, sources of information, constraints faced and credit sources available. Data were analyzed using percentages, frequencies and t-test. Result of analysis showed that the mean ages were 43 and 40 for males and females, 51.5% and 38.5% of males and females had access to credit facilities. Farming was a major (64.7% and 76.9%) source of income in the study area. Farm organization was the major source of information, ̅= 2.53 and =2.58 in the study area. Major constraints faced by males were time wasting and undue embarrassment ̅= 2.93 while high interest rate ̅= 2.88 constrained the females most. Family was the major source of credit, ̅=2.9 for both males and females. There was a significant difference (t= 0.96, p< 0.05) in credit acquisition from money lenders between males and females. The study concluded that respondents mostly acquired credits from family sources, hence, recommended that strings and barriers be lessened to enable respondents have access to formal credit sources.

Effect of Xylopia aethiopica, Fiscus mucuso and Anthocleista vogelli extracts on some Biochemical Parameters following ethanol-Induced Toxicity.

A total of forty rats were divided into eight groups (n= 5). Group A were control rats; Group B 27 were administered with absolute ethanol; Group C were ethanol administered rats treated with 28 Xylopia aethiopica; Groups D were ethanol administered rats treated with Fiscus mucuso, Group 29 E were ethanol administered rats treated with Anthocleista vogelli; Group F were normal rats 30 administered orally with Xylopia aethiopica; Group G were normal rats administered orally with 31 Fiscus mucuso; Group H were normal rats administered orally with Anthocleista vogelli. At the 32 end of the experimental period, the animals were sacrificed and serum was obtained for total 33 protein, uric acid, creatinin, urea, Aspartate aminotrasferase (AST) and Alanine aminotransferase 34 (ALT) analysis using respective research kits. 35 The result showed that Xylopia aethiopica had protective effect on the kidney as compared with 36 Fiscus mucuso and Anthocleista vogelli treated rats. Also, The AST and ALT was lowered with 37 the start of Xylopia aethiopia treatment. The total protein, creatinin and urea were slightly 38 (p> 0.05) affected with ethanol, an effect which was normalized with the start of extract 39 treatment. 4

Small Ruminant Farmers' Perception of Climate Change in Moro Local Government Area, Kwara State, Nigeria

This study examined the small ruminant farmers’ perception of climate change in Moro Local Government Area (LGA) of Kwara State, Nigeria. About 120 small ruminant farmers were selected for the study. Analyticall tools such as descriptive (frequency count, percentage, mean score) and inferential [Pearson product moment correlation (PPMC)] statistics were used to analyse the data. The result revealed that about 57.5% of the respondents were male, average age of 38.3years, income of N56633.33, and household size of about 5 persons. The average number of goat and sheep was 10 and 5 respectively. About 52% of the respondents utilized extensive system of rearing and 60.8% had access to extension services. About 77.5% of the respondents indicated Ministry of Agriculture as their main source of information on small ruminant production. The result revealed that planting of trees/erecting cover to serve as shades to reduce heat stress (90.8%) was the most frequently used adaptation strategies to climate change. About 59.2% of the respondents have high level/status of use of adaptation strategies. The highest ranked perception statement was increase in temperature (4.48), while disease outbreak and high mortality (2.78) ranked highest as factor affecting small ruminant production. It is therefore recommended that there should be provision of information on the adaptation strategies as climate change is now a reality that is not going away and provision of veterinary services to reduce disease outbreak

Implications of Deceptive Practices of Poultry Input Suppliers on Poultry Production in Kwara State, Nigeria

Deceptive practices of poultry input suppliers are partly responsible for inability to meet the consumption of recommended animal protein (35g/person/day). The study examined the prevailing deceptive practices and effects on poultry production in Nigeria. Proportionate random sampling technique was used to select 70 small scale poultry farmers used as respondents. Data were analyzed using percentages and means. The respondents (68.6%) had a minimum of secondary school education and spent averagely 15.7 years in poultry production. The findings showed that deceptive practices include adulteration of feed ingredients, marketing of under‑weighed feeds, lack of proximate analysis of nutrient composition of feeds and use of old bags for packaging. The respondents (81.3%) agreed that deceptive practices delayed the start of growing period of the fowls. Similarly, 79.5% and 61% experienced low meat and egg production, respectively, resulting in expensive animal protein, increased production overheads (83.4%), lowered returns on investment (90.1%). The result of hypothesis indicated a positive significant relationship between the level of educational attainment of respondents and ability to identify deceptive practices in poultry production (R = 0.214, P ≤ 0.05) among respondents. Nigerian Institute of Animal Science and other relevant regulatory agencies should have a structure to regulate and award penalties to culpable individuals in these deceptive practices. Extension organizations should educate poultry producers on the concept of deceptive practices and its consequences. Keywords: adulteration; poultry feeds; egg production; poultry meat production

New onset neuromyelitis optica in a young Nigerian woman with possible antiphospholipid syndrome: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Devic's neuromyelitis optica is an inflammatory demyelinating disease that targets the optic nerves and spinal cord. It has a worldwide distribution and distinctive features that distinguish it from multiple sclerosis. There has been no previous report of neuromyelitis optica from our practice environment, and we are not aware of any case associated with antiphospholipid syndrome in an African person.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report the case of a 28-year-old Nigerian woman who presented with neck pain, paroxysmal tonic spasms, a positive Lhermitte's sign and spastic quadriplegia. She later developed bilateral optic neuritis and had clinical and biochemical features of antiphospholipid syndrome. Her initial magnetic resonance imaging showed a central linear hyperintense focus in the intramedullary portion of C2 to C4. Repeat magnetic resonance imaging after treatment revealed resolution of the signal intensity noticed earlier.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Neuromyelitis optica should be considered in the differential diagnoses of acute myelopathy in Africans. We also highlight the unusual association with antiphospholipid syndrome. Physicians should screen such patients for autoimmune disorders.</p

A Simulation Study of Functional Electrical Stimulation for An Upper Limb Rehabilitation Robot using Iterative Learning Control (ILC) and Linear models

A proportional iterative learning control (P-ILC) for linear models of an existing hybrid stroke rehabilitation scheme is implemented for elbow extension/flexion during a rehabilitative task. Owing to transient error growth problem of P-ILC, a learning derivative constraint controller was included to ensure that the controlled system does not exceed a predefined velocity limit at every trial. To achieve this, linear transfer function models of the robot end-effector interaction with a stroke subject (plant) and muscle response to stimulation controllers were developed. A straight-line point-point trajectory of 0 - 0.3 m range served as the reference task space trajectory for the plant, feedforward, and feedback stimulation controllers. At each trial, a SAT-based bounded error derivative ILC algorithm served as the learning constraint controller. Three control configurations were developed and simulated. The system performance was evaluated using the root means square error (RMSE) and normalized RMSE. At different ILC gains over 16 iterations, a displacement error of 0.0060 m was obtained when control configurations were combined.Comment: 15 pages, 16 Figure