External Debt and Nigeria’S Economic Growth Nexus, Matters Arising

This study focuses on the impact of external debt on economic growth of Nigeria and in order to carry out an empirical analysis a Simple Regression analysis of the least square method of parameter estimator was done. The significance of the estimated parameters was also subjected to tests like Analysis of Variance, Student t- test, Correlation coefficient (R) and Coefficient of determination R2. The empirical results via the parameters’ estimates revealed that external debt and debt service have negative and positive influence respectively, though the external debt’s estimate was not too strong, on economic growth. The empirical Student t-test and F-statistic when compared with theoretical table values at both 1% & 5% significance level, suggests the acceptance of Null hypothesis stated for equation I which confirms the validity of the negative impact of external debt on economic growth of Nigeria and the acceptance of Alternative hypothesis for equation II which confirms the positive significant relationship between economic growth and debt service. However, the R2 of 53% and 64% reveal that the equations of the models were well fitted that is the independent variable was adequately explained by the explanatory variables. In view of the negative contribution of external debt to economic growth, it is recommended among others, that cost-benefit analysis, prioritization of projects, absorptive capacity of the economy, investment on productive self-financing projects, probity as well as accountability in handling government resources and debt sustainability should form the basis for contracting external debt finance

DNA Barcode Authentication and Improvement of Andrographolide Yield in Andrographis paniculata Plant

Background: Andrographolide, the major bioactive compound responsible for most pharmacological activities such as anticancer, antimicrobial activity exhibited by the Andrographis paniculata plant is present in small quantities. In addition, the genus Andrographis has about 28 species most of which possess no medicinal value. The deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) barcode is utilized in species identification and plant authentication.Objectives: This study aimed at authenticating Andrographis paniculata using DNA barcodes and improving the yield of andrographolide via enzymatic treatment.Materials and Method: The DNA of Andrographis plant was obtained using the Qiagen kit. The psbA-trnH and rbcL DNA barcode regions were amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Presence of amplified regions was confirmed using gel electrophoresis and the amplicons were sequenced. A blast N search was performed on the sequenced DNA. The constituents of A. paniculata dried leaves was extracted using methanol, followed by treatment with and without β glucosidase. The extract obtained was dried and partitioned using ethyl acetate. The ethyl acetate fraction was concentrated and dissolved in methanol. Andrographolide content was determined using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).Results: The psbA-trnH and rbcL DNA regions were successfully amplified having 358 and 604 bp respectively. The DNA barcode sequences obtained were identical to the psbA-trnH (97%) and rbcL (99%) genes of A. paniculata voucher MICET P00101. The mean andrographolide yield was 9.4±0.11mg/g and 8.9±0.13mg/g dry weight for the treatment and control groups respectively; statistical analysis at p = 0.05 shows a significant difference.Conclusion: The Andrographis plant used in this study was confirmed to be Andrographis paniculata, enzymatic treatment increased andrographolide yield from the plant. Keywords: Andrographis paniculata, andrographolide, authentication, DNA barcodes, β-glucosidase

Organizational Commitment and Job Satisfaction as Determinant of Primary School Teachers Turnover Intention

This study examines the predictive power of organizational commitment and job satisfaction on primary school teacher’s turnover intention.  Two hundred primary school teachers participants were selected from 20 primary schools out of one hundred primary school in ijebu north local government area of Ogun State through stratified and simple random sampling techniques the school were selected from two (2) constituencies in ijebu north local government area which are Ifelodun and Ijebu-Igbo. Seven (7) schools were selected from ifelodun and thirteen (13) public primary schools were randomly selected from ijebu. Ten (10) teachers (male and female) were randomly selected from each school making a total of two hundred (200). The selection of the schools was based on the population and the geographical territory of the consistency. Three instruments, Turnover Intention Scale, organization commitment scale and intrinsic motivation inventory were utilized in the study. Multiple regression (stepwise) and simple percentage were used for analysis. Findings showed that the two determinant variables (organizational commitment and intrinsic motivation) when taken together, determined the criterion variable (turnover intention). Finding also indicated that organization commitment was the most potent contributor to the prediction of turnover intention of primary school teachers. The implications of these findings for the government, policy makers and employers of labor, who are interested in effective functioning and retention of workers, were discussed.

Internet of Things (IoT) Cloud Based Model for Low Cost Demand Side Management Infrastructure

This paper presents a model for low cost demand side management infrastructure using cloud-based technology and internet of things to facilitate the implementation of smart grid in Nigeria. The electricity market has experienced a rapid increase in demand attributed to unprecedented growth in human population, urbanization, and industrialization. Accordingly, utilities are faced with the challenge of meeting daily energy demand. Research has shown that 45% of electricity generated are wasted or cannot be accounted for. Energy management is thus a major issue affecting the power sector of Nigeria. Efficient utilization of energy is therefore crucial for sustainable development both from an economic and ecological perspective. The proposed Smart, Low Cost and IoT-enabled power distribution board can be adopted and implemented as part of energy conservation measures to reduce energy demand in domestic building and mitigate the energy crisis in the country. With the IoT based smart board energy management, users can get personalized recommendation of actions for energy conservation and load shifting, and have control over the energy use and the billing system

Pharmacoeconomic Evaluation of Anti-Diabetic Therapy in A Nigerian Tertiary Health Institution

Background: The major problem that prompted the study is scarcity of facts on actual cost of illness to the patient and society at large. Method: It is a retrospective study and involved using 277 prescriptions from randomly selected 37 case notes of diabetic patients. In addition, stop watch time studies and standard cost accounting technique was employed. The hospital pharmacy costs of the drugs were used. Pieces of information such as demographic data prescribed drugs, fasting blood sugar level, blood pressure were abstracted from the case notes. The various cost components such as drug procurement, transport, personnel and diagnostic test costs over one year period were determined for each patient and added up. These were summed up to calculate the direct cost of illness for all the patients and the average determined. Results: No of patients studied = 37; No of patients on insulin= 4; No of patient on concurrent medication =32; Duration of diabetes (Range) = 4 months- 33 years (mean 8.1 years); Cost per-patient for those on insulin = N116, 026.79 ($828.76); Cost per-patient for those on oral agents =N27, 159.38 ($194.00); Cost per patient for concomitant medication=N39, 404.69 ($281.46). Hypertension occurred as a concurrent illness in most of the patients (n=31; 83.78total cost of drugs in all the patients= 1, 219,932.70 ($8,713.81); Total cost of illness (COI) for one year for the 37 patients = 1, 360.369.80($9716.93); Average cost of illness per patient/year= 36, 766.75($262.22); 84% of annual per capital income. The cost of treating an estimated 3% prevalence of diabetes mellitus in the country is about 150 billion annually excluding the indirect cost. Conclusion: The cost associated with diabetes is enormous. Adequate consideration for cost implication of chosen therapy is indispensable. Economic evaluation of therapy should be encouraged to ensure improved cost effectiveness and efficiency in management. Regularly up-dated drug formulary and evidence-based standard treatment guidelines would ensure better choice of therapeutic options. More importantly, a concerted effort is needed to reduce the incidence of diabetes mellitus in the society.Introduction : Le probl\ue8me majeur qui a provoqu\ue9 cette \ue9tude est la p\ue9nurie des informations sur le priz v\ue9ritable de la maladie pour le patient et la soci\ue9t\ue9 en detail. M\ue9thode : Il s'agit d'une \ue9tude \ue0 effet r\ue9troactif qui implique l'utilisation de 277 ordonnances des 37 dossiers m\ue9dicaux des patients diab\ue9tiques avec une s\ue9lection au hasard. De plus, \ue9tudes \ue0 travers l'utilisation chronom\ue8tre et co\ufbt standard syst\ue8me comptable. La pharmacie dans l'h\uf4pital donne le co\ufbt des drogues utilis\ue9es. Des informations telles que ordonnances des drogues et ; donn\ue9es d\ue9mographiques, di\ue8te de taux de sucre dans le sang, tension art\ue9rielle ont \ue9t\ue9 sortis des dossiers m\ue9dicaux. Des co\ufbts des \ue9l\ue9ments divers tels que acquisitions des drogues, transport, co\ufbt des personnel et \ue9preuves diagnostiques, au cours d'une p\ue9riode d'une ann\ue9e ont \ue9t\ue9 calcul\ue9s pour chaque patient et l'addition de tous. Tous \ue9taient calcul\ue9 afin de donner le co\ufbt direct de la maladie pour tous les patients et on avait calcul\ue9 le moyen. R\ue9sultats: Nombre des patients \ue9tudies = 37, nombre des patients sur insuline = 4, nombre des patients sur m\ue9dicaments sumultan\ue9s = 32, dur\ue9e de diab\ue8tes (Tranche) = 4 mois-33 ans (moyen 8, 1 ans) co\ufbt par-patient pour ceux sur insuline = N116, 026,79 (828,76). Co\ufbt par patient pour ceux sur agents orals = N27, 159,38 (194.00), co\ufbt par patient pour m\ue9dicament concomitant = N39, 404, 69 (281,46). Hypertension est arriv\ue9e comme une maladie simultan\ue9e chez la majorit\ue9 des patients. (n=31 ; 83, 78%) et ont \ue9t\ue9 \ue9galement trait\ue9 pour l'hypertension. Co\ufbt total des drogues chez tous les patients = N1, 219,932.70 (8,713.81). Co\ufbt total de la maladie (CDM) pour une ann\ue9e pour 37 patients = N1, 360,369.80 (9,716.93). En moyen, co\ufbt de la maladie par patient/ann\ue9e = N36, 766.75 (262,22) 84% de revenue par capital anneul. Le co\ufbt de traitement un estime 3% fr\ue9quence de miellitus diab\ue8tes dans le pays est environ N150 milliard annuel \ue0 l'exception du co\ufbt indirect. Conclusion: Le co\ufbt associ\ue9 \ue0 la diab\ue8tes est enorme. Une \ue9tude ad\ue9quate pour l'implication du co\ufbt d'une th\ue9rapie choisie est indispensable. Evaluation \ue9conomique d'une th\ue9rapie devrait \ueatre encourag\ue9e afin d'assurer une am\ue9lioration de la rentabilit\ue9 et efficacit\ue9 dans la prise en charge. Une remise \ue0 jour r\ue9guli\ue8re de la formule de drogues et des directives du traitement standard et bas\ue9es sur des preuves devraient assurer une meilleure choix des options th\ue9rapeutiques. Ce qui est plus important, action d'ensemble est n\ue9cessaire afin de reduire la fr\ue9quence de diab\ue8tes mellitus dans la soci\ue9t\ue9

The Impact of Traffic Gridlock on Values of Residential Properties in Apapa, Lagos Nigeria

Traffic gridlock has been a concern in research particularly in determining its effect on property values. Resultant findings have either been a negative or positive impact. For the case of Apapa in Lagos State which is the focus of this present study, traffic gridlock has been an experience of over ten years, hence the need to discover its impact on various property value types as against the collective findings in most previous research. Student-T test of significance at a 95% level of confidence was adopted with results derived for all property types of the calculated T result far outweighing that of the stipulated Tabulated T result of 1.645. These findings for all property types indicate that the increase in property values for various property types have not been distorted by the traffic gridlock and as such investors in residential properties in the study area will always make their profit notwithstanding the gridlock. The researchers hereby advocated further research in determining the choice of residency in Apapa notwithstanding the traffic gridloc

Lomustine Nanoparticles Enable Both Bone Marrow Sparing and High Brain Drug Levels – A Strategy for Brain Cancer Treatments

Purpose The blood brain barrier compromises glioblastoma chemotherapy. However high blood concentrations of lipophilic, alkylating drugs result in brain uptake, but cause myelosuppression. We hypothesised that nanoparticles could achieve therapeutic brain concentrations without dose-limiting myelosuppression. Methods Mice were dosed with either intravenous lomustine Molecular Envelope Technology (MET) nanoparticles (13 mg kg-1) or ethanolic lomustine (6.5 mg kg-1) and tissues analysed. Efficacy was assessed in an orthotopic U-87 MG glioblastoma model, following intravenous MET lomustine (daily 13 mg kg-1) or ethanolic lomustine (daily 1.2 mg kg-1 - the highest repeated dose possible). Myelosuppression and MET particle macrophage uptake were also investigated. Results The MET formulation resulted in modest brain targeting (brain/ bone AUC0-4h ratios for MET and ethanolic lomustine = 0.90 and 0.53 respectively and brain/ liver AUC0-4h ratios for MET and ethanolic lomustine = 0.24 and 0.15 respectively). The MET formulation significantly increased mice (U-87 MG tumours) survival times; with MET lomustine, ethanolic lomustine and untreated mean survival times of 33.2, 22.5 and 21.3 days respectively and there were no material treatment-related differences in blood and femoral cell counts. Macrophage uptake is slower for MET nanoparticles than for liposomes. Conclusions Particulate drug formulations improved brain tumour therapy without major bone marrow toxicity

Genetic characterization of Coxiella burnetii in Amblyomma varigatum ticks from North-central Nigeria: public health importance

Der Standard verweist in seiner Besprechung in der Print-Ausgabe, 10.4.2008, auf folgende, "archivische" Arbeiten: " .... Näher an das Thema Selbsterforschung führen dann wieder die Collagen von Anja Manfredi, die ein Archiv von Bewegungsabläufen, Posen und Gesten angelegt hat, . ...." Quelle: http://derstandard.at/?url=/?id=3296685 s. a. http://www.momentum.co.a

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support-free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

IMPORTANCE Overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Objective To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) initiation improves outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In an ongoing, adaptive platform randomized clinical trial, 721 critically ill and 58 non–critically ill hospitalized adults were randomized to receive an RAS inhibitor or control between March 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, at 69 sites in 7 countries (final follow-up on June 1, 2022). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive open-label initiation of an ACE inhibitor (n = 257), ARB (n = 248), ARB in combination with DMX-200 (a chemokine receptor-2 inhibitor; n = 10), or no RAS inhibitor (control; n = 264) for up to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was organ support–free days, a composite of hospital survival and days alive without cardiovascular or respiratory organ support through 21 days. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 represent improved outcomes. RESULTS On February 25, 2022, enrollment was discontinued due to safety concerns. Among 679 critically ill patients with available primary outcome data, the median age was 56 years and 239 participants (35.2%) were women. Median (IQR) organ support–free days among critically ill patients was 10 (–1 to 16) in the ACE inhibitor group (n = 231), 8 (–1 to 17) in the ARB group (n = 217), and 12 (0 to 17) in the control group (n = 231) (median adjusted odds ratios of 0.77 [95% bayesian credible interval, 0.58-1.06] for improvement for ACE inhibitor and 0.76 [95% credible interval, 0.56-1.05] for ARB compared with control). The posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsened organ support–free days compared with control were 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively. Hospital survival occurred in 166 of 231 critically ill participants (71.9%) in the ACE inhibitor group, 152 of 217 (70.0%) in the ARB group, and 182 of 231 (78.8%) in the control group (posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitor and ARB worsened hospital survival compared with control were 95.3% and 98.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this trial, among critically ill adults with COVID-19, initiation of an ACE inhibitor or ARB did not improve, and likely worsened, clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0273570