Romanticism as a Meeting Point Between the Nigerian Poet and Sculptor

There is an inextricable relationship between Visual and Literary Arts, especially Poetry. This relationship was very popular during the Romantic period in Europe; from the late eighteenth to the early nineteenth  centuries, such inextricable relationship also existed in tradition African art.However , most modern African artists deny this claim and view such  relationship as irrelevant to our immediate academic environment This work examines Ezenwa Ohaeto’s poem; “A song for the Drummers” and Cliff Nwanna’s “Drummer” (Oti-Igba) against the background of  Romanticist relationship in and line with Igbo folklore. Our enquiry reveals that the view that condemns Romanticism in African academic environment is wrong; rather Romanticism is the bedrock of modern African studies. Both works under discussion were thought provoking, well rendered and innovative.  Romanticism needs to be revived in Africa because of its didactic values. This work therefore stimulates and encourages more researches into this area of study

Protective Effect of Alkaloid-rich Extract of Brimstone Tree (Morinda lucida) on Neurotoxicity in the Fruit-fly (Drosophila melanogaster) Model

Brimstone plant is one of the medicinal plants found in Nigeria used in fore-lore medicine with little scientific information on its alkaloid constituents. This study was aimed at investigating the effect of alkaloid-rich compounds from the plant in manganese-induced (MgCl2) neurotoxicity in the fruit fly. In addition, alkaloid compounds will be characterized using gas chromatograph coupled with flame ionization detector (GC-FID). Alkaloid-rich extract was prepared by solvent extraction method, fruit flies were pre-treated with the extract (0.5 – 1.0mg/ml) in a fortified diet before induction with MgCl2. The survival rate and negative geotaxis were observed. Thereafter, the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme, antioxidantive potentials in in-vivo reactive oxygen species (ROS) thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS), total thiol content, nitric oxide (NO*), hydroxyl oxide (OH*) scavenging ability, ferric reducing antioxidant property (FRAP) and 2, 2’-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTs*) radical scavenging ability were carried out on the flies’ homogenate. Results obtained revealed that the alkaloid-rich extract regulated the neuro-protective activity of AchE, reduced the reactive oxygen species level in the induced flies with an increased in antioxidantive potential, higher survival rate and increases in the life span of the flies with 50% reduction in the mortality rate. The GC-MS showed a total of (1.55/100mg) of different plant-derived alkaloids such as dicentrine, atropine, aporphine. These alkaloids-rich compounds were found to have anti-oxidative, anti-nociceptive, anti-inflammatory and anti-cholinergic activities. In conclusion, this study suggests that alkaloids from brimstone plant could be the reason for the observed biological activities for the prevention of neuronal related complications

Validation of an Accelerometry Based Method of Human Gait Analysis

Gait analysis is the quantification of locomotion. Understanding the science behind the way we move is of interest to a wide variety of fields. Medical professionals might use gait analysis to track the rehabilitation progress of a patient. An engineer may want to design wearable robotics to augment a human operator. Use cases even extend into the sport and entertainment industries. Typically, a gait analysis is performed in a highly specialized laboratory containing cumbersome expensive equipment. The process is tedious and requires specially trained operators. Continued development of small and cheap inertial measurement units (IMUs) over an alternative to current methods of gait analysis. These devices are portable and simple to use allowing gait analysis to be done outside the laboratory in real world environments. Unfortunately, while current IMU based gait analysis systems are able to quantify a subject\u27s joint kinematics they are unable to measure joint kinetics as could be done in a traditional gait laboratory. A novel musculoskeletal model-based movement analysis system using accelerometers has been developed that can calculate both joint kinematics and joint kinetics. The aim of this master\u27s thesis is to validate this accelerometer based gait analysis against the industry standard optical motion capture gait analysi

Effect of protein deficient diets on the growth and carcass protein ash ratio of African catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell 1822)

As the prices of fish feed ingredients continue to soar due to economic and environmental challenges, many fish farmers now produce practical fish diets deficient in protein, to minimize costs and maximize profits. This study evaluated the effects of such diets on the growth performance and carcass quality of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus. Five dietary treatments used contained 25%, 30%, 35%, 40% and 45% protein, respectively. Fish were fed for 70 days and the results showed high and improved growth performance in relation to the increasing dietary protein levels. Carcass protein, ash and minerals correlated positively with increasing dietary protein levels while the lipids had inverse relationship. Generally, fish fed diets of 25-35% protein had lower performance than those fed the control diets of 40 or 45% protein reported as the requirements for the fish. However, and in all cases, there were no differences in the performance of fish fed 40 or 45% protein diet, indicating no significant additional benefits from feeding the fish with 45% protein diet. The results also suggested the protein requirement of the fish to be above 35% and about 40%. The carcass protein-ash ratio was observed to be constant and ranged between 4.08 and 4.82. © JASE

The contribution of foreign direct investment to exports: An empirical study of 23 LDCs

Insufficient capital and foreign exchange have often been portrayed as key constraints to the growth and development of less developed countries. These economies have thus come to rely on foreign direct investment as a means of increasing their capital base and foreign exchange reserves and, via the operation of foreign subsidiary firms, as a strategy for increasing the production not only of locally consumed commodities but also of exports. This article focuses on the latter aspect

Determination of Optimum Calcium and Phosphorous Ratio for the Production of African Catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822)

Optimum calcium-phosphorus (Ca/P) ratio for the growth of African catfish was investigated over a 70-day period with a basal diet formulated and supplemented with Ca/P ratios of (0:0, 1:0.5, 1:1, 2:1.5, 3:1 and 3.5: 1.5) respectively. The results showed that the mean weight gain and specific growth rate increased from the fish fed the control diet up to the fish fed diet with Ca/P ratio of 2:1.5, and then declined consistently to the fish fed diet with Ca/P ratio of 3.5:1.5. Addition of Ca and P in the diets significantly increased the carcass ash, while feeding the fish with the control diet supposed to be imbalance in Ca/P ratio elevated the carcass fat and moisture. The increase in carcass ash consequently resulted in increase (P<0.05) in carcass minerals (Ca, Mg, P, Zn and Fe) in relation to fish fed the control diet. In conclusion, the study suggests Ca/P ratio of 2:1.5 (1.33:1) as the optimum for the production of African catfish

Socio-economic status and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS in selected local government areas of Lagos state, Nigeria

The main thrust of the study was to explore the correlation between socio-economic status and discrimination among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and non-infected people in two local government areas (LGAs) of Lagos state: Lagos Mainland, an urban setting, and Epe, a rural one. Multistage and systematic sampling techniques were used in 40 enumeration areas (25 in Lagos Mainland and 15 in Epe) to obtain a sample of 1,611 non-infected respondents and a purposive sample of 80 PLWHA. Interviews and focus group discussions were conducted from September 2005 to April 2006. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) while hypotheses were tested by multivariate logistic regression analysis. The results showed that many noninfected respondents exhibited discriminatory attitudes in different situations involving potential contacts with the PLWHA. The study also indicated that significant proportions of PLWHA experienced rejection, abandonment, eviction, isolation and alienation within their families and communities. It was revealed that education, place of residence, gender, and marital status were significant predictors of discrimination. Contrary to our argument that women were more vulnerable to discrimination than men, the reverse was the case in this study. Widowed/separated/divorced PLWHA suffered more discrimination than those in other categories of marital status. Empowerment of PLWHA, Intensive mass HIV education and enforcement of national and international legal instruments were recommended among others

Gender and HIV-related discrimination in the health sector in Nigeria

This study explored the influence of gender on HIV-related discrimination in health care facilities in Lagos state from the perspectives of people living with HIV/AIDS. It hypothesized that women were more vulnerable to discrimination in the healthcare settings than men. Anchoring the analysis on Radical Feminism, the study argued that gender discrimination exacerbated HIV-related discrimination against female PLWHA in the health sector and that women's vulnerability to discrimination was based on the assumption that women were promiscuous. A purposive sample of 80 PLWHA was interviewed from September 2005 to April 2006. The results revealed that female PLWHA were more vulnerable to discrimination than the males. There were statistically significant differences between men and women's experiences in the following areas: mandatory HIV testing, unfair treatment, restricted movements, segregation and isolation from other patients. Rural female PLWHA; those aged 30 - 39 years, married, divorced, separated and widowed female PLWHA, those in paid employment and low income ones experienced discrimination more than the other categories of women. Gender mainstreaming, empowerment of women, formulation and enforcement of anti-discrimination laws, enforcement of CEDAW and education of health workers are recommended

Frozen and smoke-dried fish marketing in Akure metropolis

A survey of the prices of fish in two major markets in Akure was conducted between October and December 2008 to compare the prices of the imported fishes and that of the farmed catfishes and tilapias. The survey covered the Erekesan and NEPA markets, Akure. Both structured questionnaires and oral interview were used in data collection. The results indicated that the price of farmed catfishes was highest and that that of the tilapias was marginally lower than that of the croaker. This is evidence of better acceptability of the farmed fishes. The summary of the results showed good future for aquaculture in Nigeria, as good markets exist for the produced fishes

Challenges of Lagos State Child’s Rights Law: Social Welfare Officers’ Perspective

Child’s Rights Law (CRL) was introduced in Lagos State in 2007. Six years after its domestication, it became imperative to assess the challenges in the application of the justice provisions by different child justice administrators such as social welfare officers, the police, non-governmental organization (NGO) workers, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) lawyers, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), family court judges and magistrates. The focus of this paper is, therefore, to present the findings from social welfare officers working in family courts in Lagos State. As at the time of the study, there were six family courts but only four were functional. The study was an exploratory and qualitative survey. A focus group discussion (FGD) was organized among a purposive sample of six assessors and supervision officers. Results indicated that all the participants claimed that social workers were not invited to participate in the formulation of the CRL. The results revealed some discrepancies between sections 138 and 151 provisions. Section 138 states that all children’s matters, both civil and criminal, will be heard in the family courts while section 151(2) states that a criminal case involving a child and an adult will be tried in a criminal court. It was also reported that there were some inadequacies among social workers, the police and judiciary. Corrupt practices among the police officers were some of the challenges militating against the implementation of the law. Parents of abused children were reported to be uncooperative. Some of the structures such as children’s centers that were supposed to be established for successful implementation of the law were yet to be established. Based on these challenges, it was recommended, among others, that the law should be reviewed and publicized adequately. Capacity building should be organized for the implementers and activities of the police officers should be strictly monitored