Phytochemical Screening and Antimicrobial Properties of Allium sativum Against Lactobacillus

The objectives of this study were to extract phytochemical components of Allium sativum and screen the phytochemical composition of allium extracts for bioactivity against Lactobacillus. The methanol extract of Allium sativum was obtained from a dried sample of garlic, was screened for phytochemical composition and tested for antimicrobial properties against probiotic bacteria lactobacillus. Antimicrobial analysis was done using agar well diffusion method where different concentration of garlic extract were tested against lactobacillus. The experiment was arranged in 3 replicates according to 4 treatments of different extract concentrations and in the control experiment the bacterial were grown without extract. The result of the phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, cardiac glycosides, steroids, and flavonoids in garlic, but tannins were absent. The antibacterial activity of the extracts against the test lactobacillus showed inhibitory effect where different concentrations showed different inhibitory activities. This review goes over some relevant research that has already been done in this area where garlic has been tested for antimicrobial activities against numerous human pathogens. It therefore lays a ground for new research in testing allium varieties for antimicrobial activities against human resident microbes like lactobacillus that may be subject to susceptibility on these antimicrobial natural products

INTERROGATING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF ICT ACQUISITION AND APPLICATION TO EFFECTIVE LIBRARY SERVICE DELIVERY IN NIGERIA

It is a fact that acquisition and application of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) contribute positively to effectiveness of academic libraries’ delivery of information services. The extent to which this is the case in Nigeria was interrogated in this study in order to justify the huge investment in ICT. Survey research design was adopted. The study population comprises professional librarians in academic libraries in Nigerian universities. The instrument used for data collection was the questionnaire complemented with interviews. A Total of 150 copies of the questionnaire were administered out of which 120 copies were retrieved giving 80.0% response rate. Analysis of the data collected was done using descriptive statistics in form of frequency counts, percentages and tables. Results shown that it librarians are aware of ICT tools and the benefits of using them. Irrespective of this none of the academic libraries in Nigerian universities have been able to maximized the benefits as due to the plethora of limiting factors such as internal politics (100%), epileptic power supply (100%) and lack of skilled systems analysts/engineers (91.7%) and inadequate funding (83.3%). Also revealed as a critical inhibitor to ICT acquisition and application in academic libraries is poor predisposition of the university librarians ICT projects as strongly agreed to by 85 (70.8%) respondents. The study however concluded on the note that ICT acquisition and application in academic libraries have the potential to offer innumerable benefits to the professionalization of librarianship in Nigeria through enhanced library operations and the provision of information services to library users

Assessment of request pattern and utility of rheumatoid factor in a tertiary hospital in North east Nigeria

The diagnostic utility of Rheumatoid Factor (RF) test is not well documented. The question therefore is: - 'when is it appropriate to make this request'? When patients' own immunological defense mechanisms go awry and start attacking one's tissues, (autoimmune), there usually arises a problem. This usually affects the heart, musculo skeletal system and other organs giving rise to signs and symptoms that are seen in other ailments. The joints are the most common site of affectation and an early diagnosis may go a long way in managing the disease. Usually an antibody (Rheumatoid factor) is found in such patients. It is formed against the Fc portion of IgG, forming an IgG-Fc immune complex that normally leads to the disease process. It is this complex (usually an IgM) in the patient's serum that is exposed to a commercial antigen in the laboratory and the titer determined against a standard. The normal level is usually <14IU/ml. Levels higher are usually considered abnormally high, elevated or positive. A negative RF test however does not mean that the patient hasn't got the disease. Objective: To determine the frequency of positivity of rheumatoid factor and the context in which the requests are made by group of physicians and advise on when to make the request. Methods: A retrospective study of case notes of 354 patients requested to perform rheumatoid factor test at the immunology department over a period of 6 years were reviewed. The requesting departments, clinical and demographic characteristics of patients were reviewed and analyzed. Data analyzed using SPSS version 22. Results: Of the 354 requests made,265 (74.9%) were due to musculo skeletal symptoms and but20 (5.6%) were positive for RF. Of the 20, 19 (95%) had polyarthritis while 1 (5%) was asymptomatic. The mean age was 37.06±13.91 and 205 (57.9%) were females. Most (137 or 38.7%) of requests for RF were from the general out-patient department and 108 (30.5%) from medical out-patient department. The sensitivity and specificity for RF test in detecting MSK disease were 7.17% (95%CI, 4.37-10.97) and 98.88% (95%CI 93.90%, 99.97%). The positive likely hood ratio was 6.38% (95% CI 0.87, 40.99). The positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were 95.0% (95%CI 77.02, 99.29%) and26.35% (95%CI 25.48, 35.30%). Test accuracy was 30.23% (95% CI25.48, 35.30%). Conclusion: We recommend that rheumatoid factor should be requested only in patients with fleeting arthritis,good clinical evaluation for signs and symptomsand looking for differentials

Workshop:Perspectives on Safeguarding Indigenous Knowledge and Intangible Cultural Heritage

This proposed workshop aims to explore and share viewpoints on contentious matters concerning using ICT in the safeguarding of Indigenous Knowledge (IK) and Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH). As organizers, we have formed long-lasting partnerships with indigenous communities and are frequently situated in these dialogical situations where topics such as ICT, cultural heritage and indigenous knowledge are debated. With this workshop, we intend to give the opportunity to discuss contentious issues of research impact among members of three groups: indigenous people that are contributing to, and affected by, research on IK; invited community–based co-designers and local researchers; and the organizers. Participants will identify and discuss crucial topics on the impact and ethics of IK research. We intend to collect viewpoints and arguments on how sensitive research in indigenous communities is to be carried out in order to meet the approval of actors from all three groups. We conclude by drafting a plan to implement suggested actions

Rural communities crowdsource technology development: a Namibian expedition.

In this paper, we describe our newest project endeavor in which we conceptualize crowdsourcing technology development for and with rural communities in Namibia. The project is based on design work which was carried out over a longer period of time with a single rural pilot community in Namibia and its transferability of technology and concepts into other rural communities. In an attempt to overcome expensive technology adaptations we explore the possibility of having rural communities' crowdsource their defined and specified technology needs. We describe the concept and our current implementation with a first user evaluation in two rural communities. We also discuss the next phase of the project

A Digital Indigenous Knowledge Preservation Framework: The 7C Model-Repositioning IK Holders in the Digitization of IK

Indigenous Knowledge (IK) preservation and management has been taken up as a serious endeavor by various governments who have realized the value of IK as well as the opportunities given by emerging technologies. Considering the various phases and activities of indigenous knowledge management which need to be supported through adequate designs and technologies, we propose an integrative framework: the 7C model. The aim is to guide design and implementation efforts as well as to identify and rectify any possible gaps in current implementation plans. The model comprises seven major phases within the indigenous knowledge digitization process, namely, codesign, conceptualization, collection, correction, curation, circulation, and creation of knowledge. We exemplify the application of the model with technologies currently developed under an indigenous knowledge holder’s toolkit promoting the agency of digitalizing indigenous knowledge across the phases

Towards Deconstruction of the Type D (2,0) Theory

We propose a four-dimensional supersymmetric theory that deconstructs, in a particular limit, the six-dimensional $(2,0)$ theory of type $D_k$. This 4d theory is defined by a necklace quiver with alternating gauge nodes $\mathrm{O}(2k)$ and $\mathrm{Sp}(k)$. We test this proposal by comparing the 6d half-BPS index to the Higgs branch Hilbert series of the 4d theory. In the process, we overcome several technical difficulties, such as Hilbert series calculations for non-complete intersections, and the choice of $\mathrm{O}$ versus $\mathrm{SO}$ gauge groups. Consistently, the result matches the Coulomb branch formula for the mirror theory upon reduction to 3d

Network conduciveness with application to the graph-coloring and independent-set optimization transitions

We introduce the notion of a network's conduciveness, a probabilistically interpretable measure of how the network's structure allows it to be conducive to roaming agents, in certain conditions, from one portion of the network to another. We exemplify its use through an application to the two problems in combinatorial optimization that, given an undirected graph, ask that its so-called chromatic and independence numbers be found. Though NP-hard, when solved on sequences of expanding random graphs there appear marked transitions at which optimal solutions can be obtained substantially more easily than right before them. We demonstrate that these phenomena can be understood by resorting to the network that represents the solution space of the problems for each graph and examining its conduciveness between the non-optimal solutions and the optimal ones. At the said transitions, this network becomes strikingly more conducive in the direction of the optimal solutions than it was just before them, while at the same time becoming less conducive in the opposite direction. We believe that, besides becoming useful also in other areas in which network theory has a role to play, network conduciveness may become instrumental in helping clarify further issues related to NP-hardness that remain poorly understood

Namibian Indigenous Communities Reflecting on Their Own Digital Representations.

Indigenous communities' narratives have all too often been created, documented, curated and digitalized by aliens. This digital othering has created widely disseminated images and perceptions of indigenous communities which are neither authentic, nor in line with what the communities consider a valid or worthwhile representation of themselves or their cultural heritage. This has led to misconstrued and stereotypical perspectives by outsiders about indigenous communities. Technological interventions with indigenous communities to promote their sovereignty, while sometimes challenging, have opened critical debates around communities' self-determination of digital representations of their own cultural identities and heritage. We have entered into a dialogue with two Namibian indigenous communities, who have been our design partners on technology projects aimed at safeguarding their own cultural heritage on their own terms. We are reporting from our long-term ovaHimba collaborator who has engaged in a reflection about the preservation of his traditions triggered by our joint digitalization efforts. Moreover, in response to the widespread stereotyping of members of San communities in contemporary Namibia, that directly influences their cultural identity; we have co-constructed a video conversation between Namibians and a rural San community. In this way, the remote community could consider outsiders' perceptions, reflect upon and actively re-construct their digital self-representation. We discuss community reflections, self-representation and digital empowerment in the context of digitalization efforts

Counting Exceptional Instantons

We show how to obtain the instanton partition function of N=2 SYM with exceptional gauge group EFG using blow-up recursion relations derived by Nakajima and Yoshioka. We compute the two instanton contribution and match it with the recent proposal for the superconformal index of rank 2 SCFTs with E6, E7 global symmetry.Comment: 16 pages, references adde