The Age At Menarche In Nigerian Adolescents From Two Different Socioeconomic Classes

Menarcheal age was studied in 900 girls, half of which were from middle class families and the other half from low income class families from the Niger delta region of Nigeria. A retrospective and descriptive random sampling study was conducted through the use of questionnaires. Social class was based on parental occupation. The mean age at menarche for girls from middle class families was 12.22 ± 1.19 years while that for girls from low income families was 13.01 ± 1.44 years. Most of the children from the middle class families attained menarche at the ages of 12 and 13 while those from the low income families attained menarche at the ages of 12, 13 and 14 years.: The age at menarche of girls from middle class families was significantly lower than those of girls from the low socioeconomic class and is similar to those obtained for U.S. girls The age of menarche of girls from low income families is lower than a result of similar study obtained for rural India

Dichotomisation using a distributional approach when the outcome is skewed

Sauzet O, Ofuya M, Peacock JL. Dichotomisation using a distributional approach when the outcome is skewed. BMC Medical Research Methodology. 2015;15(1): 40.Background Dichotomisation of continuous outcomes has been rightly criticised by statisticians because of the loss of information incurred. However to communicate a comparison of risks, dichotomised outcomes may be necessary. Peacock et al. developed a distributional approach to the dichotomisation of normally distributed outcomes allowing the presentation of a comparison of proportions with a measure of precision which reflects the comparison of means. Many common health outcomes are skewed so that the distributional method for the dichotomisation of continuous outcomes may not apply. Methods We present a methodology to obtain dichotomised outcomes for skewed variables illustrated with data from several observational studies. We also report the results of a simulation study which tests the robustness of the method to deviation from normality and assess the validity of the newly developed method. Results The review showed that the pattern of dichotomisation was varying between outcomes. Birthweight, Blood pressure and BMI can either be transformed to normal so that normal distributional estimates for a comparison of proportions can be obtained or better, the skew-normal method can be used. For gestational age, no satisfactory transformation is available and only the skew-normal method is reliable. The normal distributional method is reliable also when there are small deviations from normality. Conclusions The distributional method with its applicability for common skewed data allows researchers to provide both continuous and dichotomised estimates without losing information or precision. This will have the effect of providing a practical understanding of the difference in means in terms of proportions

Wilt of tomato caused by Pseudomonas solanacearum

Imperial Users onl

Collaborative indigineous partnership in biodiversity conservation: focus on Cross River National Park, Nigeria

Support Zone Communities (SZCs) involvements in Cross River National Park (CRNP) biodiversity conservation were assessed in this study. Eleven communities at 0-12km distance to the park were selected for data collection. Structured questionnaires and Focus Group Discussion were used to solicit information from community members. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi- square and correlation. Result showed that willingness to contribute to effective conservation of wildlife was high (84.4%), contributions in the forms of non-involvement in poaching (62.0%) was highest. Communities awareness of biodiversity conservation and their level of involvement in mitigating threats to biodiversity were significantly related (χ²=12.69). Also, there was significant association between educational status (r =- 0.11, p<0.05) and communities participation in threat mitigation. However, poor sensitization/mobilization (Weighted Mean=108.93) and bureaucracy (WM=106.47) were the major challenges to communities involvement in park management. Therefore, effective protection of park resources and engagement of SZCs should be the direction of CRNP to ensure sustainability.Keywords: Biodiversity, Park, Participation, Support Zone Community, Threa

IS SELF-CONCEPT ON RESILIENCE AND HAPPINESS ASSOCIATED? A STUDY OF THE UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN NIGERIA

happiness among male and female undergraduate students in a Nigerian college. The study was conducted using the cross-sectional methodology. The sample size was 70 students conveniently recruited for sampling purpose. The results show that happiness and resilience are statistically significant between male and female students; whereas, self-concept is statistically insignificant between male and female students. Furthermore, the results show that self-concept and happiness have positive and significant correlation; whereas, the relationship between self-concept and resilience is positive but insignificant. Similarly, the relationship between resilience and happiness is positive but insignificant

E-Vita Open Plus for Treating Complex Aneurysms and Dissections of the Thoracic Aorta: A NICE Medical Technology Guidance

The E-vita open plus is a one-stage endoluminal stent graft system used for treating complex aneurysms and dissections of the thoracic aorta. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), as a part of its Medical Technologies Evaluation Programme (MTEP), selected this device for evaluation and invited the manufacturer, JOTEC GmbH, to submit clinical and economic evidence. King’s Technology Evaluation Centre (KiTEC), an External Assessment Centre (EAC) commissioned by the NICE, independently critiqued the manufacturer’s submissions. The EAC considered that the manufacturer had included most of the relevant evidence for the E-vita open plus, based on international E-vita open registry data for 274 patients, but had provided only limited evidence for the comparators. The EAC therefore conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of all comparators to supplement the information, and found ten additional studies providing outcome data for the three two-stage comparators. The EAC noted that the cost model submitted by the manufacturer did not include key complications during the procedures. The EAC developed a new economic model incorporating data on complications along with their long-term costs. The revised model indicated that the E-vita open plus might not provide cost savings when compared with some of the comparators in the short-term (1 year), but would have high cost savings in the long-term, from the second year onwards. The NICE Medical Technologies Guidance MTG 16, issued in December 2013, recommended the adoption of the E-vita open plus in selected patients within the National Health Service in England

Comparative lethality of rice husk ash and a diatomaceous eartht adults of four storage beetles: Poster

Lethality of rice husk ash (RHA) and a diatomaceous earth (SilicoSec) (DE) to adults of Sitophilus zeamais, S. granarius, Lasioderma serricorne and Callosobruchus maculatus was investigated under controlled conditions of 25 ± 2° C and 60 ± 3% relative humidity. Each product was tested at 0.05 g to 0.5 g/20 g of grain respectively in glass Petri dishes against 20 adults of each beetle. Adult mortality was observed up to 10 days post treatment. RHA/DE mixtures (1:1, 3:1 and 1:3 ratios) were also tested at 2% of grain weight. Additionally, RHA and DE were tested at low dosages (0.01 g to 0.04 g/20 g) against adults of C. maculatus alone. The DE generally produced significantly higher mortality of all the adult storage beetles and at earlier observation times, than RHA at the lower dosages (< 0.2 g). Adult mortality produced by RHA and DE in S. zeamais and S. granarius increased with increase in dosage from 0.05 g to 0.5 g. The RHA/DE mixtures generally produced similar mortality of all the adult storage beetles irrespective of post-treatment exposure time. The S. zeamais and S. granarius were generally more tolerant to the DE and RHA treatments than L. serricorne and C. maculatus. Percentage mortality of C. maculatus adults when DE was applied at low dosages (0.01 g to 0.04 g) was generally higher than RHA applied at similar dosages, up to 3 days-post treatment. All treatments produced 100% mortality of C. maculatus adults 4 days-post treatment. The data further confirm the efficacy of DE and RHA as insecticidal dusts at the dosage rate of 0.5 g or more per kg of grain.Lethality of rice husk ash (RHA) and a diatomaceous earth (SilicoSec) (DE) to adults of Sitophilus zeamais, S. granarius, Lasioderma serricorne and Callosobruchus maculatus was investigated under controlled conditions of 25 ± 2° C and 60 ± 3% relative humidity. Each product was tested at 0.05 g to 0.5 g/20 g of grain respectively in glass Petri dishes against 20 adults of each beetle. Adult mortality was observed up to 10 days post treatment. RHA/DE mixtures (1:1, 3:1 and 1:3 ratios) were also tested at 2% of grain weight. Additionally, RHA and DE were tested at low dosages (0.01 g to 0.04 g/20 g) against adults of C. maculatus alone. The DE generally produced significantly higher mortality of all the adult storage beetles and at earlier observation times, than RHA at the lower dosages (< 0.2 g). Adult mortality produced by RHA and DE in S. zeamais and S. granarius increased with increase in dosage from 0.05 g to 0.5 g. The RHA/DE mixtures generally produced similar mortality of all the adult storage beetles irrespective of post-treatment exposure time. The S. zeamais and S. granarius were generally more tolerant to the DE and RHA treatments than L. serricorne and C. maculatus. Percentage mortality of C. maculatus adults when DE was applied at low dosages (0.01 g to 0.04 g) was generally higher than RHA applied at similar dosages, up to 3 days-post treatment. All treatments produced 100% mortality of C. maculatus adults 4 days-post treatment. The data further confirm the efficacy of DE and RHA as insecticidal dusts at the dosage rate of 0.5 g or more per kg of grain

The Effect of Storage on the Efficacy of Eugenia Aromatica (Baill.) in the control of Callosobruchus Maculatus (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) Pest.

The effect of storage on the efficacy of powders from Eugenia aromatica (Baill.) of different ages in the control of Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius), a major pest of stored cowpea seeds, were investigated in the laboratory. Powders stored for periods of < 1 month, 24, 36 and 48 months with particle size of 300 µm were tested. Contact toxicity was tested for the differently aged powders at 0.4 g of material per 20 g of seed in separate plastic Petri plates. In fumigant toxicity tests 20 g of infested cowpea seeds was suspended in a piece of muslin cloth, over 0.4 g of powder in a container. In the contact toxicity tests, all the differently aged powders killed C. maculatus adult within 48 hours. The differently aged powders significantly (P < 0.05) reduced oviposition by the introduced C. maculatus adults and adults did not emerge from eggs laid. In the fumigant toxicity test, first use of the differently aged powders prevented emergence of adult C. maculatus from fumigated eggs. In a consecutive reuse of powders, adults emerged from fumigated eggs but the numbers were significantly (P < 0.05) fewer than in the control. In conclusion, the shelf-life of E. aromatica powder as a bruchicide is at least four years