The Viscosity of Asphaltene- Containing Oil

Imperial Users onl

The Viscosity of Asphaltene- Containing Oil

Imperial Users onl

Perceptions of middle, high school and community college agricultural teachers in Iowa regarding agricultural awareness concepts and activities in the middle school curriculum: Grades 7-9

Teachers are relied upon to teach basic agricultural knowledge among young learners who are devoid of real-world agricultural experiences. The middle school serves as a tool for achieving this goal because self and environmental awareness, and career choices begin at this educational stage. Since agricultural teachers are the major driver of agricultural education program in the middle school, their perceptions regarding this program are important. The purpose of this study was to determine the perceptions of agricultural teachers regarding teaching agriculture and selected course content in the middle school. The Theory of Planned Behavior was used as a theoretical framework to predict teachers’ perceptions regarding teaching agriculture in the middle school. Questionnaires were sent to middle school, high school and community college agriculture teachers in Iowa through Qualtrics. The results of the study showed that agriculture teachers in Iowa had positive and strong perceptions toward teaching agriculture in the middle school. In addition, agricultural teachers in Iowa indicated selected content of the Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources curriculum developed by the National Association of Agricultural Education should be taught to a limited or great extent. Similarly, agricultural teachers in Iowa believed teaching agricultural education in the middle school will develop students’ leadership skills and assist students in making informed career choices in agricultural industry. Based on the findings of this study, the cyclical model was developed as a guide for curriculum development, and planning of instructional activities. Teaching agriculture in the middle school develops, trains, and motivates young students to become responsible citizens and capable future policy makers. Participation in curricular and non-curricular agricultural activities could promote the development of student leadership skills. The positive perceptions of agriculture teachers regarding teaching agriculture in the middle school indicate its sustainability and positive impacts on students

The microbiological diagnosis of tuberculosis in a resource - limited setting: is acid-fast bacilli microscopy alone sufficient?

The objective of this study is to audit the processes for the microbiological diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) in our resource-limited setting. A total of 694 specimens were received from 333 patients. 129 (38.7%) of these patients were positive for TB. 78 (60.5%) were positive on AFB microscopy alone, 13 (10.0%) on culture alone and 38 (29.5%) on both culture and AFB microscopy. Fifty-one (51) cases were positive on culture, 38 of these (74.5%) had growth on Lowensen-Jensen culture medium alone, 11 (19.6%) on Pyruvic Acid Enhanced Medium (PAEM) and 3 (5.9%) on both culture media. AFB microscopy showed a diagnostic specificity of 71.6% and a sensitivity of 74.5%. M. Bovis appears to be prevalent and we suggest the need for speciation. If AFB microscopy is to be routinely used alone, without confirmation by culture, then the overriding need is for quality to be fully assured in its use.Keywords: Mycobacteria, tuberculosis, accuracy, AFB microscopy, cultur

Idiopathic Pulmonary Calcification and Ossification in an Elderly Woman with a Missed Diagnosis of Subarachnoid Haemorrhage

This is a case of idiopathic pulmonary calcification and ossification in a 70 year old with long-standing diabetes and hypertension. Thirteen years prior to her demise, she was first noticed to have multiple calcific deposits in her lungs on a chest X-ray film. She had no risk factors for soft tissue calcification and ossification. Histology of tissue from autopsy showed intraparenchymal pulmonary calcification and ossification with marrow elements. Idiopathic pulmonary calcification and ossification is rare. At autopsy, she was also found to have had bilateral subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH), a diagnosis missed during clinical evaluation. We highlight the pertinent details in our patient’s management that could have helped to prevent a missed diagnosis of SAH. Even though SAH occurs most commonly following head trauma, the more familiar medical use of SAH is for non-traumatic SAH occurring following a ruptured cerebral aneurysm. This patient had notable risk factors for cerebral aneurysm formation but an aneurysm was not identified at autopsy. The location of the blood high on the cerebral convexities further suggests a traumatic origin rather than a ruptured aneurysm. Heterotopic calcification and ossification (HO) is known to occur in the setting of severe neurologic disorders such as traumatic brain injury but the fact that the lung calcification in our patient predated the brain injury by over 10 years makes it unlikely for the HO to have been due to the brain trauma. Other organ pathologies found at autopsy include chromophobe renal cell carcinoma, renal papillary necrosis, lymphocytic thyroiditis, and seborrheic keratosis.Keywords: Idiopathic pulmonary calcification and ossification, traumatic subarachnoid haemorrhage

Students’ Perception of Reference Services as Determinant of Library use in Colleges of Agriculture in Oyo State, Nigeria

Descriptive survey design was used to study the students’ perception of reference services as determinant of library use in the Colleges of Agriculture in Oyo State (Federal College of Agriculture, Moor Plantation, Apata, Ibadan [FCAIB] and Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora [OYSCATECH]). The study has four objectives, three research questions and one research hypothesis was tested at 0.05 level of significance. Purposive stratified proportionate random sampling technique and a sampling fraction of fifteen percent (15%) were used to select a sample size of two hundred and eighty-seven (287) students out of the one thousand eight hundred and eighty-five (1885) students in the eight (8) departments that are common to the two Colleges (Population of the study). The response from a well-structured questionnaire administered on the sampled population was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). The result of the analyzed data showed positive perception of reference services in OYSCATECH (WX=2.71) and FCAIB (WX= 2.44). The result showed positive correlation between the perception of reference services and use of library in the two colleges of Agriculture in Oyo State –FCAIB ( r = 0.311) and OYSCATECH (r = 0.214). The study also identified purposes and frequencies of using the library by the students in the two institutions. The study recommended the use of electronic reference services in order to enhance ease, visibility, relevance and efficiency of reference services in our libraries and more importantly to encourage use of library

Antioxidative Properties and Inhibition of Key Enzymes Relevant to Type-2 Diabetes and Hypertension by Essential Oils from Black Pepper

The antioxidant properties and effect of essential oil of black pepper (Piper guineense) seeds on α-amylase, α-glucosidase (key enzymes linked to type-2 diabetes), and angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE) (key enzyme linked to hypertension) were assessed. The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation and dried with anhydrous Na2SO4, and the phenolic content, radical [1,1-diphenyl-2 picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) and nitric oxide (NO)] scavenging abilities as well as the ferric reducing antioxidant property (FRAP) and Fe2+-chelating ability of the essential oil were investigated. Furthermore, the effect on α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and ACE enzyme activities was also investigated. The characterization of the constituents was done using GC. The essential oil scavenged DPPH*, NO*, and ABTS* and chelated Fe2+. α-Pinene, β-pinene, cis-ocimene, myrcene, allo-ocimene, and 1,8-cineole were among the constituents identified by GC. The essential oil inhibited α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and ACE enzyme activities in concentration-dependent manners, though exhibiting a stronger inhibition of α-glucosidase than α-amylase activities. Conclusively, the phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and inhibition of α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and angiotensin-1 converting enzyme activities by the essential oil extract of black pepper could be part of the mechanism by which the essential oil could manage and/or prevent type-2 diabetes and hypertension

Factors Influencing The Practice Of Exclusive Breastfeeding In Three Regions Of Nigeria

Background: Breastfeeding is the super food for babies and is sufficient if given exclusively in the first six months of a baby's life. In Nigeria, the practice of breastfeeding is high but Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF) rates remain low at 13%. Several interrelating factors directly or indirectly affect the decision or ability of mothers to practice EBF. The objective of this study was to assess the factors influencing EBF in Nigeria.Methodology: A cross sectional survey among 433 mothers of children between six and twenty-four months old was conducted in urban and peri-urban/rural parts of Zaria, Abakaliki, and Ibadan. The study adopted a mixed research methodology that consisted of key informant interviews, structured questionnaires, and focus group discussions. Descriptive statistic was used to analyze the quantitative data while the themes in the qualitative data were analyzed using manual content analysis.Results: Approximately 90% of all mothers interviewed had heard about EBF, although with variations in the exact definition of EBF as many interpreted it to be just till the start of 6 months. The practice of EBF is low - Ibadan (16%), Abakaliki (10%) and Zaria (2%).Inaccurate knowledge of EBF, occupation, antenatal care attendance, age of mothers, supportive environment from stakeholders are some factors associated with the practice of EBF.Conclusion: The findings in this study indicate that several factors affect the practice of EBF in Nigeria. Improving the practice of EBF in the country will require a multifaceted approach and concerted efforts from stakeholders to address the deterring factors limiting its practice.Keywords: Exclusive Breastfeeding, Interrelating factors, social activity and significant others, and Nigeri

Minority-carrier transport in InGaAsSb thermophotovoltaic diodes

Uncoated InGaAsSb/GaSb thermophotovoltaic (TPV) diodes with 0.56 eV (2.2 {micro}m) bandgaps exhibit external quantum efficiencies of 59% at 2 {micro}m. The devices have electron diffusion lengths as long as 29 {micro}m in 8-{micro}m-wide p-InGaAsSb layers and hole diffusion lengths of 3 {micro}m in 6-{micro}m-wide n-InGaAsSb layers. The electron and hole diffusion lengths appear to increase with increasing p- and n-layer widths. At 632.8 nm the internal quantum efficiencies of diodes with 1- to 8-{micro}m-wide p-layers are above 89% and are independent of the p-layer width, indicating long electron diffusion lengths. InGaAsSb has, therefore, excellent minority carrier transport properties that are well suited to efficient TPV diode operation. The structures were grown by molecular-beam epitaxy

Sub-Saharan Africa's Mothers, Newborns, and Children: How Many Lives Could Be Saved with Targeted Health Interventions?

As part of the series on maternal, neonatal, and child health in sub-Saharan Africa, Robert Black and colleagues estimated mortality reduction for 42 countries and conclude that the use of local data is needed to prioritize the most effective mix of interventions