ECOWAS COMMUNITY COURT OF JUSTICE: FEATURES AND CHALLENGES OF ITS HUMAN RIGHTS MANDATE

The protection and promotion of human rights have remained a top priority of the international community for several decades. The violation of the fundamental rights of States and individuals have given rise to a plethora of conflicts both at the international and national level, thus, requiring effective laws and judicial institutions to accord protection of these rights to persons living within specified national territory. The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice since 2005 acquired jurisdiction over human rights matters, giving bold judgements in condemnation of breach of human rights by member parties of the ECOWAS Community. This paper aims at examining the unique human rights features of the ECOWAS Court of justice as well as the inherent challenges facing the court. The paper finds that despite the huge progress made by the court in receiving and deciding on human rights complaints from individuals and NGOs, the decisions of the court are hardly obeyed by member States and the court has no recognized institution to monitor and implement its decisions. The paper relies on primary and secondary sources of information such as International Conventions and Treaties, Books, Journal articles, Judicial Precedents and Internet materials. The paper concludes that the leadership of ECOWAS Community and the regional court must make concerted efforts in addressing the current challenges confronting the court, including monitoring and implementing the decisions of the ECOWAS Court

WARTIME SEXUAL VIOLENCE OFFENCES: QUEST TO UNRAVEL THE ASSOCIATED CONSEQUENCES IN INTERNATIONAL LAW

Despite increasing awareness and the huge condemnation of sexual violence during armed conflicts in the last decades, the bodies of women and girls continue to be regarded as spoils and bonus of war globally. Warring parties often engage the use of rape and other forms of sexual violence, as a tool to punish, terrorize and destroy targeted ethnic populations. In other instances, rebels and terrorist groups engage sexual violence as a weapon and strategy to advance their mundane objectives. the paper aims at examining the consequences and impact of wartime sexual violence on women, and men as well as the impact of such violence on their family and immediate society during armed conflicts. The paper finds that despite efforts made by the international community through the enactment of laws and resolutions in curtailing the scourge of sexual violence during wartime, rape and other forms of sexual violence are still being employed during armed conflict situations as weapon and tactics of war by soldiers and other armed groups. The paper relies on primary and secondary information such as International Conventions and Treaties, Books, Journal Articles, Judicial Precedents and Internet Materials. Flowing from the above, the paper concludes that the desired need to end sexual violence generated impunity is possible through sensitization and propaganda vide non-governmental organizations, accountability and coordinated enforcement through both domestic and international institutions. The paper further recommends that women and other victims of wartime violence who steps out to speak and report the crime of sexual violence committed against them should be protected and rewarded as this would lead to the massive reporting, arresting and prosecuting of perpetrators of conflict-related sexual violence

The Effect of Aleks on Students\u27 Mathematics Achievement in an Online Learning Environment and the Cognitive Complexity of the Initial and Final Assessments

For many courses, mathematics included, there is an associated interactive e-learning system that provides assessment and tutoring. Some of these systems are classified as Intelligent Tutoring Systems. MyMathLab, Mathzone, and Assessment of LEarning in Knowledge Space (ALEKS) are just a few of the interactive e-learning systems in mathematics. In ALEKS, assessment and tutoring are based on the Knowledge Space Theory. Previous studies in a traditional learning environment have shown ALEKS users to perform equally or better in mathematics achievement than the group who did not use ALEKS. The purpose of this research was to investigate the effect of ALEKS on students’ achievement in mathematics in an online learning environment and to determine the cognitive complexity of mathematical tasks enacted by ALEKS’s initial (pretest) and final (posttest) assessments. The targeted population for this study was undergraduate students in College Mathematics I, in an online course at a private university in the southwestern United States. The study used a quasi-experimental One-Group non-randomized pretest and posttest design. Five methods of analysis and one model were used in analyzing data: t-test, correctional analysis, simple and multiple regression analysis, Cronbach’s Alpha reliability test and Webb’s depth of knowledge model. A t-test showed a difference between the pretest and posttest reports, meaning ALEKS had a significant effect on students’ mathematics achievement. The correlation analysis showed a significant positive linear relationship between the concept mastery reports and the formative and summative assessments reports meaning there is a direct relationship between the ALEKS concept mastery and the assessments. The regression equation showed a better model for predicting mathematics achievement with ALEKS when the time spent learning in ALEKS and the concept mastery scores are used as part of the model. According to Webb’s depth of knowledge model, the cognitive complexity of the pretest and posttest question items used by ALEKS were as follows: 50.5% required application of skills and concepts, 37.1% required recall of information, and 12.4% required strategic thinking: None of the questions items required extended thinking or complex reasoning, implying ALEKS is appropriate for skills and concepts building at this level of mathematics

OFFICIATING AND SECURITY AS INDICES FOR EFFECTIVE ORGANISATION OF INTER-FACULTY SPORTS COMPETITION IN UNIVERSITY OF PORT HARCOURT, NIGERIA

This study was designed to investigate the indices for effective organisation of inter-faculty sports competition in the University of Port Harcourt with emphasis on officiating and security. Information was gathered through the use of a questionnaire to collate data from students in University of Port Harcourt. A total number of one hundred respondents were used for this study. Simple random sampling technique was used to sample the respondents. The results showed that there is need for adequate knowledge of the rules and regulations guiding every sport to be competed for by both the student-athletes and officials and also adequate security. Based on the findings, it is recommended that emphasis should be on knowledge of reviewed rules and regulations for every sport by officials while adequate security should be provided at competition venues to forestall any breakdown of law and order.  Article visualizations

Morphological studies on rumen development in West African Dwarf goats (Capra hircus)

We studied the gross and light microscopic structures of rumen in fetal, neonatal and adult West African Dwarf (WAD) goats obtained from Nsukka and Igboeze South Local Government Areas (L.G.A) of Enugu State. After euthanasia the rumen was ligated, dissected out and the volume determined by flotation and displacement method. For histological studies pieces of rumen were fixed in Bouin`s fluid for 24hrs, processed and routinely stained with H & E. The volume of rumen was 7.25 ± 1.62, 14.3 ± 2.1, 211.6 ± 36.0 and 1620.3 ± 46.5 ml for gestation day 87, full term fetuses, neonates and adult goats respectively. The rumen volume body mass indices were 18.03 ± 3.45, 10.75 ± 4.29, 87.08 ± 6.50 and 108.02 ± 10.65 for gestation day 87, full term fetuses, neonates and adults respectively. Grossly, the mucosal surface was smooth and beige in fetuses, velvety and greenish brown in neonates and adults. Microscopically, the mucosa was lined by stratified squamous epithelium which was divided into larger lighter luminal and darker basal zones in fetuses and early neonates. The dark basal zone had finger-like projections into the lighter zone- proprial papillae. The papillae were tiny and covered by thin keratin layer in 4- week-old neonates. They were very tall especially in the ventral ruminal sac and the epithelium covered by thick keratin in adult goats. These results provide baseline data on rumen development in WAD goats

Chemical profile of Landolphia owariensis seed from Ikeduru, Imo State, Nigeria

The nutrient, antinutrient and mineral element compositions of the seed extract of Landolphia owariensis were investigated. Proximate analysis of the extract showed that it contained crude protein (11.85+0.35% DW), fat (17.40+0.20% DW), carbohydrate (52.40+0.40% DW) and fibre (3.5+0.30% DW). The toxicant composition of the seed extract revealed that phytate, oxalate and cyanogenic glycoside contents were 48.15+0.05, 56.01+0.02 and 33.20+0.01 mg/100 g DW respectively while the phytochemical composition revealed that tannins, saponins, alkaloids and flavonoids were 100.50+0.30, 28.40+0.20, 1.90+0.08 and 1.50+0.25 mg/100 g DW respectively. Mineral element concentrations also revealed that the seed is a rich source of macro and micro elements containing calcium 110.20+0.10, potassium 205.04+0.1.50, sodium 48.02+0.20, iron 9.50+0.40, phosphorus 20.08+0.05 and magnesium 2.91+0.05 mg/100g dry weight respectively.© 2010 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Keywords: Landolphia owariensis seed, proximate analysis, mineral elements, toxicant composition

Evaluation of Provider Recommendation of Colorectal Cancer Screening in a Primary Care Setting

Objectives: The overall objective of this practice inquiry project was to evaluate whether providers in a primary care clinic in Louisville, KY were following the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) screening guidelines regarding colorectal cancer for patients aged 50 -75. The study examined the types of screening recommended, and whether completion of screening was documented in the medical record. Finally in this study, provider recommendation for Colorectal Cancer Screening (CRC) was evaluated to determine if types of screening recommended, and documentation varied based on the ethnicity of the patients. Methods: This was a descriptive study using a retrospective chart review of patient medical records (n= 200) in a primary care office located in Louisville, Kentucky. Charts were reviewed and data collected for male and female patients ages 50-75, who were seen in the primary care office between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2015. Data was also collected and charts examined on whether CRC screening was recommended, the type of screening that was recommended, whether recommendation was based on ethnicity, and whether completion of screening was documented. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in gender by CRC screening recommendation. According to the data, females were as likely to be recommended for CRC screening as their male counterparts. There was no statistically significant relationship between ethnicity and the recommendation of CRC screening. The data did reveal however, that the providers overwhelmingly chose to recommend one type of screening (colonoscopy) over the other types of screening, (e.g., Fecal Occult Blood, Fecal immunochemical test, Cologuard, Flexible sigmoidoscopy). This might be due to the high predictive value of colonoscopy compared to the other types of CRC screening processes. Also the data revealed that, while there was no statistically significant difference by age (p=.52), those recommended for CRC screening were slightly older. (Mean=59.1) as compared to those not recommended 56.6 for screening. This is older than what USPSTF recommends. Conclusion: In this clinic, providers were as likely to recommend CRC screening for women as for men. In addition, the CRC screening did not differ based on race or ethnicity. Notwithstanding, it was apparent that younger patients were not screening for CRC at the same rate compared to the older patients. There is need for provider improvement in recommendation of CRC screening for the patients starting at age 50, in line with the USPSTF guidelines. This is critical as new research has found colon cancer rates rising among individuals under 50

Histological Studies Of The Vomeronasal Organ Of African Giant Rat (Cricetomys gambianus, Waterhouse)

The vomeronasal organ (VNO), a chemoreceptive organ was studied in African giant rat (Cricetomys gambianus, Waterhouse), a macrosmatic animal, by means of gross dissection and light microscopy. The VNO was located in the rostral part of the base of the nasal septum. It was tubular in shape, about 10.6 mm in length and opened in the rostral region of the nasal cavity, with a blind caudal end that terminated in glandular branches. Its lumen in the middle segment was lined by sensory epithelium on the medial wall and non-sensory epithelium on the lateral wall. The sensory epithelium showed sensory, supporting and basal cells, whereas the non-sensory wall contained psendostratified columnar cells with ciliated epithelium. Vomeronasal glands were present in the lateral wall and on the dorso-lateral region between the sensory and non-sensory epithela. Intraepithelial blood vessels were observed on the medial sensory epithelium. Nerve bundles were also apparent in the medial sensory wall. The vomeronasal capsule incompletely housed the organ and showed ossified areas. The histological observations suggest that the VNO isan important organ in sexual behaviours as in other rodents and will throw more light on future studies of the vomeronasal organ. Keywords: African giant rat, Histology, Chemoreception, Vomeronasal orga