Improving Secondary School Teachers’ Performance to Re-Brand Students to Think Mathematically

The paper examines ways of improving secondary schools teachers’ performance in a bid to rebrand students to think mathematically. It discusses the beliefs about the nature of Mathematics, teachers’ content knowledge of Mathematics and use of instructional strategies. The paper recommends that teachers content knowledge to be enhanced through workshops, seminars, conferences and In-service training. Mathematics teachers should teach with enthusiasm so that students should learn enthusiastically among others. Key words: Improving Performance, Re-branding, Mathematics Beliefs, Content Knowledg

An efficient framework to sustainable management of refuse collection and evacuation in a developing city

The study developed a framework for sustainable management of refuse collection and evacuation in Bauchi city through spatial modeling. Coordinates of dump sites and sample households from the study area were obtained by Global Positioning System (GPS) while road network was obtained by digitizing satellite image of the area and both were used in this research. Thus, digital map of dump sites, sampled households and roads about the area were produced. Using the “Network Analyst Tool (NAT)” of ArcGIS 10.2 functionalities for service areas, closest facilities and best routes, a model was then developed to encourage efficient and sustainable refuse collection and evacuation in the area. The model developed has 22 dump sites, 15 closest facilities and 3 trucks routes. The service areas around each dump site are in three buffer zones covering distances of 200m, 350m and 500m respectively while the longest and shortest distances of 1499.46m and 156m in the closest facilities for the households were confirmed. Also, three trucks with truck3 having the longest distance was discovered while truck1 has the least distance for refuse evacuation in the area. These were discovered based on service areas, closest facility and best routes and hence the model will improve the general situation of refuse disposal in the area. Moreover, it will specifically ensure efficiency and sustainability in the management of refuse collection and evacuation of the area. Therefore, spatial modeling through NAT looks more appropriate as panacea for inefficient and unsustainable management of refuse collection and evacuation of a developing Bauchi metropolis. Thus, the model is recommended to be used as an efficient framework for sustainable management of refuse collection and evacuation in similar developing cities.Keywords: Closest facilities, modeling, network analyst, route optimization, service area

Prevalence and risk factors for overweight and obesity among suburban semi-nomadic Fulani's of northwestern Nigeria

Background: Obesity is a major public health problem that is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. It is an important threat that is fast becoming an emerging epidemic globally, Nigeria inclusive. Although there are numerous studies on the prevalence of obesity in Nigeria, the semi-nomadic Fulani's have not been extensively studied. This study will, therefore, help to assist policymakers to plan effective strategies for combating the epidemic among neglected ethnic populations.Method: The study was a community-based cross-sectional study carried out in Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano state, from June 2015 to December 2015. Anthropometric indices (Weight, height, waist and Hip circumferences) were measured for the subjects. Body mass index and waist hip ratio was also calculated. Serum blood glucose, lipid, and blood pressure were determined.Results:  The mean ±SD age of the subjects was 38.97±15/98 years, with a range of 18 – 90 years. There were 208 (39.1%) males and 324 (60.9%) females, p <0.001. Obesity was found in 9.21% of the subjects (4.32% of males, 13.58% of females). Overweight was found in 20.86% of the subjects, 15.38% of males and 13.58% of females respectively. Factors associated with overweight include advancing age and female gender. The odds ratio for developing obesity is higher in subjects > 50 years (2.319, 95% CI, 1.203-3.540).Conclusion: There is a relatively high prevalence of overweight and obesity among suburban semi-nomadic Fulani's. In view of this, there is the urgent need to initiate public health measures aimed at improving healthy lifestyle measures.Key words: Prevalence, overweight, obesity, risk factors and sub urban

Surface Phonon Polariton Modes in Suspended Monolayer Hexagonal Boron Nitrides

Dispersion properties and characteristics of transverse magnetic (TM) and transverse electric (TE) surface phonon polaritons (SPhP) in suspended monolayer hexagonal boron nitrides (hBN) was studied extensively. The analytical results show that the hBN based TM (TE) phonon polaritons exist in restsrahlen bands when imaginary surface conductivity is positive. The effective mode index of TM phonon polaritons is much higher than that of TE phonon polaritons with respective values of ~3000 and ~1.0002 which makes TM SPhP more promising in the practical realization. In addition, the propagation length of TE SPhP is less lossy and surpass that of TM SPhP by factor of 104. This study compares these important properties and sheds more insight into their applications in optical communications, photonics and optoelectronics devices

Prevalence of Entamoeba histolytica among patients with gastroenteritis attending some selected hospitals in Zaria Metropolis, Kaduna State

Background: Amoebiasis is a cosmopolitan infection caused by Entamoeba histolytica and ranks third among parasitic infections that lead to death especially in children. Clinical features of amoebiasis range from asymptomatic colonization of amoebic colitis (dysentery or diarrhoea) and invasive extra intestinal amoebiasis, which is manifested most commonly in the form of liver abscesses. Aim: The prevalence of E. histolytica infection in patients having gastroenteritis attending three selected hospitals in Zaria, Kaduna state was studied using direct wet mount and formol-ether concentration method. The hospitals were Hajiya Gambo Sawaba General Hospital Kofan Gayan (Gambo Sawaba), Major Ibrahim B. Abdullahi Memorial Hospital Sabon Gari, Zaria (Limi hospital) and University Health Services ABU Zaria (Sick Bay). Methods: One hundred and forty stool samples from gastroenteritis patients of all ages attending the selected hospitals were examined for E. histolytica trophozoites/cysts via direct wet mount and formol-ether concentration method. Results: Eight samples were positive giving an overall prevalence of 5.71%. Highest prevalence (10.4%) was obtained from patients attending Gambo Sawaba Hospital. The prevalence of 2.4% and 4.0% were recorded among gastroenteritis patients attending Limi Hospital and University (A.B.U, Zaria) health service respectively. With respect to age, the prevalence (11.4%) was highest in the age group 11-15 (years) followed by 6-10 years with prevalence of 6.38%. However, none of the socio-demographic factors examined showed significant statistical association (P>0.05)

Learning approaches as predictors of academic performance of undergraduate students in Ahmadu Bello Universiy, Zaria

Background: The research was conducted to investigate learning approaches as predictors of academic performance of undergraduate students in Ahmad Bello University, Zaria. The aim was to assess the learning approach of undergraduate students in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. The objectives are to determine the predominant learning approach, identify factors that influence the students learning approach and explore the relationship between approaches to studying and academic achievement of undergraduate students of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Materials and methods: A non-experimental descriptive survey method was employed and analysis was done using SPSS version 21. The sample technique was probability (simple random) type of sample technique base on faculty. The sample size was calculated to 395 using Yamane formula. 395 questionnaires were administered out of which 375 were retrieved. Results: The study shows that 81.1% of the students were aware of learning approach and the predominant learning approach mostly used by Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria undergraduate students is surface approach (M=14.88,SD=2.64). The study identified personal factors, family factors, school factors and peer factors and social factor as factors that influence the students learning approach. It also shows that there is a significant relationship between learning approach and academic achievement (R=0.205,p=0.005)

Flexible Data Warehouse Parameters: Toward Building an Integrated Architecture

Clinical databases have gathered a huge amount of information about patients and their medical conditions. Relationships and patterns within this data could provide new medical knowledge. Thus it is a difficult task focusing to model a data warehouse, very often, into internal structures and implementation applications. The aim of is project is to find the parameters of medical data warehouse which will be able to construct a flexible framework by analyze the approaches of data warehouse architectures and compare them regarding the cost and integrity. The proposed parameters may assist in achieving continual access to the common data warehouse. The important consideration, however, is that the clinical data record should contain not only longitudinal health summary information but also be used for business intelligence tool such as data mining and OLA

Phytochemical and antimicrobial activity of securidaca longipedunculata root against urinary tract infection pathogens

Urinary tract infection caused by bacteria leads to inflammation and over growth of uropathogens and prevalence of infection for both genders, but women is more vulnerable especially at the sexually active ages. But unfortunately, the continuous emergence of antibiotic resistant bacterial strains brings most serious public health concerns. It is therefore, important to look for more alternative, effective, safer and safer treatments. The aim of the present study was to investigate antimicrobial activity of Securidaca longipedunculata root extracts against some human pathogenic bacteria and fungi using agar well diffusion method and agar dilution for minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Phytochemical and acute toxicity studies were carried out using the standard methods. Phytochemicals which include alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, carbohydrates and triterpenes were detected in both aqueous and methanolic extracts. The antimicrobial results revealed that, the methanolic extract had promising antibacterial activity. For intense Escherichia coli was found to be the most susceptible bacteria in both methanol and aqueous extracts at 500mg/ml with inhibition zones of 20 mm and 16mm, Staphylococcus aureus was next most susceptible bacteria to methanol extract of the root with inhibition zone of 16 mm and MIC of 31.25 mg/ml respectively. The extracts does not showed activity against all the tested fungal isolates at lowest concentration 62.5 mg/ml. The LD50 of Securidaca longipedunculata was found to be greater than 5000 mg /kg and could be considered safe for consumption

Anti-inflammatory Activity of the Plant Cannabis sativa (L) Petrolium Ether Extract in Albino Rats

In this study the plant Cannabis sativa seeds petroleum oil extract was investigated for anti- inflammatory activity on albino rats. The inflammation was firstly obtained by using carrageenan suspension 0.1 ml of 10% saline injected at the sub – plantar region of the left limb for inducing a local acute oedema. A decreased in oedema size was reported after 24 hours for the rats pretreated with carrageenan30 minutes before injection with suspension( 4.56, 0.59 and 0.93 for control, 1ml/kg per day and 0.5ml/kg per day groups given C. sativa seed extracts respectively.), compared to Indomethacin standard antiinflammatory drug which reported a decrease in oedema size diameter to 0.55mm, which indicated an increase inhibition percentages were reported for the different pretreated groups 0.00, 87.03, 79.56 and 87.91 including the comparative Indomethacin treated groups of rats respectively. On the other hand, the post-treated groups of rats (given C. sativa oil extract after 30 minutes of injection of suspension) showed a similar results for maximum concentration 1 ml/day of C. sativa oil extract in comparison to the standard drug. Hence, such results recommend the prospect focus for the preventive medication use of the extract. The study also highlights no significant changes for serum and protein of the blood taken from rats of the experiments. Although there were significant decrease in lymphocyte and neutrophil, but the changes were not significant. Indomethacin was given to the rats used for a comparative drug (10mg/kg). Moreover, the drug indomethacin used as a comparative parameter showed similar results in comparison to the extract, hence wise the reported results may be recommended for use as anti-inflammatory agent and should be explored more to formulate drug on basis of its activity

Mortality pattern among tuberculosis patients on treatment in Nigeria: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) has continued to be associated with a substantial number of deaths, even in the era of effective antimicrobials. Nigeria is one of the countries with a high tuberculosis burden and has sub-optimal documentation of TB related deaths. Vital statistics/registration is not robust, and mortality surveys are rarely undertaken. In this study, we aimed to determine a precise estimate of TB related deaths on treatment and the trends in death rate while on TB treatment in Nigeria. Methods: We searched electronic databases for eligible studies from 1st January 2000 to 31st December 2017. We generated pooled death rate estimates using random-effects models and determined trends using meta-regression. Results: We identified 546 studies, of which 28 fulfilled the criteria for quantitative analysis. Overall, studies reported on 64,999 individuals. The pooled TB death rate during treatment was 6.6% (95% CI; 5.2-8.1%). There was a non-significant rise in TB related deaths on treatment of 0.2% per year (p-value = 0.454). Conclusion: We found a low TB related deaths on treatment, death rate and slight temporal rise over the study years. There is a need for continuous vital registration, including TB related death, and mortality survey among TB patients