Problem-based learning: enhancing students learning of building information modelling

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is an innovative collaborative process underpinned by digital technologies introduced to improve project performance in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry. Growth in industry demands has necessitated BIM inclusion into the Higher Education (HE) curricula as both a pedagogic and practical objective to prepare and develop aspiring Built Environment (BE) professionals with the required competence for contemporary practice. However, comprehension of BIM concepts and developing the skill set required for its application can be overwhelming for students and crucial to mitigating this challenge is the adoption of appropriate learner-centred strategies. Problem-based Learning (PBL) is becoming a widespread strategy to address such concern. This paper evaluates the impact of PBL strategy on students accelerated learning of BIM based on a case study of an undergraduate BIM module. Findings from the study show PBL benefits on students’ knowledge acquisition (cognitive and affective) of BIM concept and development of transferable skills (academic and disciplinary) equipping them with capabilities to become BIM competent and workplace ready for the AEC industry

The Impact of Crop Production on the Economic Growth of Nigeria

Purpose: This study uses time series data ranging from 1981 to 2021 to analyze the impact of crop production on the gross domestic product (GDP) in the Nigerian economy. The study adopted ordinary least square techniques for the regression analysis. Approach/Methodology/Design: The variables of the study were subjected to unit root tests and were found to be stationary at first difference. Johansen co-integration was adopted and the result posits a short-run relation between the variables of interest (GDP, crop production (CP) as well as labor output (LO). Findings: The result from the error correction model shows that crop production has a positive and significant impact on economic growth in Nigeria. This study also finds that labor productivity has a positive and significant impact on economic growth. The study concluded that crop production has a positive and statistically significant impact on economic growth in Nigeria for the period under review.   Originality/value: The study recommends that there is a need to improve the mode of production. This could imply having an optimal mix of labor and capital-intensive means of production in crop production to boost economic output

Adoption of Bio-fortified Pro-Vitamin-A Cassava and Health Outcome of Farming Households in Abia and Anambra States Nigeria

This study examined the relationship between the adoption of bio-fortified pro-vitamin-A cassava varieties and farming households’ health outcomes using cross sectional data obtained from 318 cassava farmers in southeast Nigeria. The data was analysed using binary logistic regression, propensity score matching of treatment effects and percentages. The study found that number of children under five, household size, education of head of household, extension service, ownership of television, radio, mobile phone and tricycle, membership of cooperative societies, and access to credit were the significant predictors of adoption of pro-vitamin-A bio-fortified cassava varieties in the States. The study also found that the main constraints militating against adoption of pro-vitamin-A bio-fortified cassava include decaying of roots immediately after maturation, high cost of cassava stem, and high moisture content. The estimate of the effect of the adoption of bio-fortified pro-vitamin-A cassava varieties on incidence of vitamin-A deficiency related diseases was significant with an average treatment effect on the adopters of -0.463. The adoption of bio-fortified pro-vitamin-A cassava varieties has substantial effect on the reduction of vitamin-A deficiency related health outcomes. There is need for wider awareness and dissemination of the varieties among cassava farmers, while interventions should target the promotion of both production and consumption of such cassava varieties

Adoption of Bio-fortified Pro-Vitamin-A Cassava and Health Outcome of Farming Households in Abia and Anambra States Nigeria

This study examined the relationship between the adoption of bio-fortified pro-vitamin-A cassava varieties and farming households’ health outcomes using cross sectional data obtained from 318 cassava farmers in southeast Nigeria. The data was analysed using binary logistic regression, propensity score matching of treatment effects and percentages. The study found that number of children under five, household size, education of head of household, extension service, ownership of television, radio, mobile phone and tricycle, membership of cooperative societies, and access to credit were the significant predictors of adoption of pro-vitamin-A bio-fortified cassava varieties in the States. The study also found that the main constraints militating against adoption of pro-vitamin-A bio-fortified cassava include decaying of roots immediately after maturation, high cost of cassava stem, and high moisture content. The estimate of the effect of the adoption of bio-fortified pro-vitamin-A cassava varieties on incidence of vitamin-A deficiency related diseases was significant with an average treatment effect on the adopters of -0.463. The adoption of bio-fortified pro-vitamin-A cassava varieties has substantial effect on the reduction of vitamin-A deficiency related health outcomes. There is need for wider awareness and dissemination of the varieties among cassava farmers, while interventions should target the promotion of both production and consumption of such cassava varieties

Global investments in pandemic preparedness and COVID-19: development assistance and domestic spending on health between 1990 and 2026

Background The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted gaps in health surveillance systems, disease prevention, and treatment globally. Among the many factors that might have led to these gaps is the issue of the financing of national health systems, especially in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), as well as a robust global system for pandemic preparedness. We aimed to provide a comparative assessment of global health spending at the onset of the pandemic; characterise the amount of development assistance for pandemic preparedness and response disbursed in the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic; and examine expectations for future health spending and put into context the expected need for investment in pandemic preparedness. Methods In this analysis of global health spending between 1990 and 2021, and prediction from 2021 to 2026, we estimated four sources of health spending: development assistance for health (DAH), government spending, out-of-pocket spending, and prepaid private spending across 204 countries and territories. We used the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)'s Creditor Reporting System (CRS) and the WHO Global Health Expenditure Database (GHED) to estimate spending. We estimated development assistance for general health, COVID-19 response, and pandemic preparedness and response using a keyword search. Health spending estimates were combined with estimates of resources needed for pandemic prevention and preparedness to analyse future health spending patterns, relative to need. Findings In 2019, at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, US$9·2 trillion (95$7·3 trillion (95% UI 7·2–7·4) in 2019; 293·7 times the $24·8 billion (95$43·1 billion in development assistance was provided to maintain or improve health. The pandemic led to an unprecedented increase in development assistance targeted towards health; in 2020 and 2021, $1·8 billion in DAH contributions was provided towards pandemic preparedness in LMICs, and$37·8 billion was provided for the health-related COVID-19 response. Although the support for pandemic preparedness is 12·2% of the recommended target by the High-Level Independent Panel (HLIP), the support provided for the health-related COVID-19 response is 252·2% of the recommended target. Additionally, projected spending estimates suggest that between 2022 and 2026, governments in 17 (95% UI 11–21) of the 137 LMICs will observe an increase in national government health spending equivalent to an addition of 1% of GDP, as recommended by the HLIP. Interpretation There was an unprecedented scale-up in DAH in 2020 and 2021. We have a unique opportunity at this time to sustain funding for crucial global health functions, including pandemic preparedness. However, historical patterns of underfunding of pandemic preparedness suggest that deliberate effort must be made to ensure funding is maintained

Social media and the Covid-19 pandemic: Observations from Nigeria

Social Media is an invaluable means of disseminating information to the citizenry; hence it is a powerful tool of propaganda. In lieu of the Nigerian situation, it acts as a two-edged sword as it allows citizens to be privy to information without impediments. However, this same tool has been used to misinform the populace and to circulate unverifiable and deceptive messages to citizens. As regards this, the basic question becomes: what are the advantages and disadvantages of the roles of social media in misinforming the general public about pandemics such as Covid-19? This qualitative study would explore social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, blogs, online newspapers, and YouTube where the contestations about the pandemic are most pronounced. Considering that these are the major mainstream forums used by the populace outside the World Health Organisations (WHO), Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and State institutions, the most pervasive messages from these forums have been selected for analysis. The paper therefore interrogates the roles which social media play in either curtailing or aiding the spread of the news on the pandemic across the country. The paper concludes that the significance of Social Media outlets cannot be overemphasized with recourse to information dissemination. It also purports that these platforms have been abused as people hide under its anonymity to spread fake messages and instigate panic amongst members of the general public

Cultural Beliefs and Psychosocial Stress Are Unseen Potential Predisposing Factors for Stroke in Sub-Saharan Africa: Reality for Post-Stroke Rehabilitation

This work considered post-stroke rehabilitation in sub-Saharan Africa, referencing psychosocial stress and wrongful cultural beliefs. Stroke, a neurological disease preventable by lifestyle changes, is increasing at, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). First-ever stroke cases stand the risk of a second, which could be fatal; hence the need for review of post-stroke rehabilitation strategies. In our work on survivors, we noted that most established risk factors do not necessarily apply in SSA. Of the 10 risk factors studied, hypertension was the commonest reported. In our study of 149 survivors in Nigeria, 73.1% suffered from hypertension; only 53.7% were aware of their hypertensive status before stroke incidence. When asked about risk factors, 19.4% mentioned hypertension, 0.7% diabetes mellitus but 13.1% psychological stress, and 13.4% spiritual attack/diabolical; 39.6% had no idea what caused stroke. The findings show the role hypertension, psychological stress and cultural ignorance play in fueling stroke in SSA. Further, 97.3% of survivors were married, 65.1% had 5 to 8 children, engaged in sedentary occupations, trading, farming, civil service, occupations also prone to economic woes in Nigeria. Commonest age of survivors was 60 to 75 years; a period of very stressful life in Nigeria. All these culminate to sustained psychosocial pressures, hypertension and stroke. There is urgent need to reduce psychosocial pressures, correct wrongful cultural beliefs, especially among survivors in sub-Saharan Africa. The strength of this work lies in the observation of lack of awareness and community screening as the most pronounced common variable among the survivors. The place of herbal medicine in post-stroke rehabilitation should be recognised. Of the 117 survivors who visited Bebe Herbal Centre for management, 99.1% were satisfied; 67.5% of them had satisfactory recovery in less than 1 month. Introduction of physiotherapy in Herbal centres would speed up recovery

Maternal and umbilical cord blood levels of leptin in pre-eclamptic and healthy pregnant women: A comparative cross-sectional study

Background: Pre-eclampsia is a multi-systemic disease with its attendant increased maternal and perinatal morbidities and mortality. It has been hypothesized that leptin contributes immensely to the natural history of pre-eclampsia. However, there is considerable disagreement in the reports of existing research work on the link between fetomaternal serum leptin levels and pre-eclampsia. Objective: To determine and compare the maternal and umbilical cord sera levels of leptin in women with pre-eclampsia and healthy pregnant women. Study design: This is an analytical cross-sectional study. Methods: The study involved consenting 120 pregnant participants (60 on each arm). Pregnant women diagnosed with pre-eclampsia constituted the investigation group, while the controls were normotensive pregnant women. They were matched for maternal age and body mass index. Venous blood specimens were obtained from the participants for assessment of the serum leptin concentration while umbilical cord blood samples were obtained following delivery of the neonate in advance of the removal of the placenta. The collected blood samples were analysed for the levels of leptin in a blinded pattern. The primary outcome measures were maternal serum leptin levels and umbilical cord serum leptin levels. Results: Mean maternal serum leptin concentration in the pre-eclampsia group was significantly higher than that in the control group (24.88 ± 3.92 vs. 15.03 ± 2.98ng/mL, p  < 0.001). Similarly, maternal serum leptin concentration was significantly higher in participants with severe pre-eclampsia compared with those with mild pre-eclampsia (25.91 ± 3.5 vs. 22.83 ± 4.02ng/mL, p  = 0.003). However, the mean umbilical cord serum leptin level in the pre-eclampsia group was significantly lower than in the control group (6.43 ± 2.08 vs. 7.27 ± 2.24; p  = 0.034). There was a weak positive correlation between maternal serum leptin level and neonatal umbilical serum leptin level in the pre-eclamptic group ( r  = 0.21, p  = 0.04). Conclusion: Maternal serum leptin concentration is significantly increased in women with pre-eclampsia, compared with their normotensive counterparts. This increase becomes even more pronounced as the severity of the disease progresses. Maternal serum leptin assessment has the potential to become a veritable tool in the diagnosis and monitoring of pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia