Prospects and problems of rice-fish culture in Nigeria

This paper examines fish demand and supply and looks at on-going research works in rice-cum-fish culture in Nigeria. It examines all the pre-requisites for adopting this farming system. Economic and Financial analysis were made using experimental plots at two ecological zones of Nigeria. This farming system, which has reached advanced stage in most of Asian countries, could well be practiced in Nigeria to assist farmers to harvest both protein (from fish) and carbohydrate from rice and thereby to improve their standards of liv

Malaria treatment seeking behaviour and access to artemisinin combination therapy : a case of Mushin, Lagos, Nigeria

Includes bibliographical references.ACTs have been shown to be effective in treating malaria and are currently recommended as first-line drugs for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria in Nigeria because of resistance of malaria to chloroquine (CQ) and sulphadoxine pyrimethamine (SP). However, very little is known about malaria and treatment-seeking patterns and the use of ACTs since the adoption of the treatment policy more than 6 years ago in Nigeria

Citation classics in systematic reviews and meta-analyses : who wrote the top 100 most cited articles?

Background: Systematic reviews of the literature occupy the highest position in currently proposed hierarchies of evidence. The aims of this study were to assess whether citation classics exist in published systematic review and meta-analysis (SRM), examine the characteristics of the most frequently cited SRM articles, and evaluate the contribution of different world regions. Methods: The 100 most cited SRM were identified in October 2012 using the Science Citation Index database of the Institute for Scientific Information. Data were extracted by one author. Spearman’s correlation was used to assess the association between years since publication, numbers of authors, article length, journal impact factor, and average citations per year. Results: Among the 100 citation classics, published between 1977 and 2008, the most cited article received 7308 citations and the least-cited 675 citations. The average citations per year ranged from 27.8 to 401.6. First authors from the USA produced the highest number of citation classics (n=46), followed by the UK (n=28) and Canada (n=15). The 100 articles were published in 42 journals led by the Journal of the American Medical Association (n=18), followed by the British Medical Journal (n=14) and The Lancet (n=13). There was a statistically significant positive correlation between number of authors (Spearman’s rho=0.320, p=0.001), journal impact factor (rho=0.240, p=0.016) and average citations per year. There was a statistically significant negative correlation between average citations per year and year since publication (rho = -0.636, p=0.0001). The most cited papers identified seminal contributions and originators of landmark methodological aspects of SRM and reflect major advances in the management of and predisposing factors for chronic diseases. Conclusions: Since the late 1970s, the USA, UK, and Canada have taken leadership in the production of citation classic papers. No first author from low or middle-income countries (LMIC) led one of the most cited 100 SRM

Fishing gear survey of Lake Alau

This report briefly documents the fishing gear commonly used by local fishers in Lake Alau (Nigeria). Five types of gears are described: gill-net, cast net, Gura trap, longlines, and Clap ne

Factors that affect the uptake of community-based health insurance in low-income and middle-income countries : a systematic protocol

Many people residing in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) are regularly exposed to catastrophic healthcare expenditure. It is therefore pertinent that LMICs should finance their health systems in ways that ensure that their citizens can use needed healthcare services and are protected from potential impoverishment arising from having to pay for services. Ways of financing health systems include government funding, health insurance schemes and out-of-pocket payment. A health insurance scheme refers to pooling of prepaid funds in a way that allows for risks to be shared. The health insurance scheme particularly suitable for the rural poor and the informal sector in LMICs is community-based health insurance (CBHI), that is, insurance schemes operated by organisations other than governments or private for-profit companies. We plan to search for and summarise currently available evidence on factors associated with the uptake of CBHI, as we are not aware of previous systematic reviews that have looked at this important topic

Postmortem prevalence of Fasciolosis and Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBP) and economic losses in cattle at Nsukka Abattoir, Nigeria

Fasciolosis and Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBP) are characterized by gross pathognomonic lesions in organ/offal of slaughtered cattle which result in condemnation of unsafe meat. Both are the major causes of bovine organ/offal condemnation in Nigeria. Postmortem detection with focus on Fasciola and CBP infections were made in cattle slaughtered at Ikpa market abattoir, Nsukka between May – July 2018. In addition, the economic losses associated with the disease conditions were assessed. Out of 474 cattle examined, 114(24 %) and 200(42.2 %), had gross lesions of fasciolosis and CBP respectively, while 66(13.9 %) were positive for the both conditions. Both lesions were observed in the three breeds of slaughtered cattle (White Fulani, Sokoto gudali and Ndama) irrespective of sex and age. The disease lesions were not significantly associated (p<0.05) with sex, age and breed of cattle. However, there was a significant relationship (p>0.05) between the prevalence of CBP and fasciolosis lesions in the slaughtered cattle. The economic loss due to condemnation of affected organs was estimated at N 1, 716,900.00 (US$4,769) in 24 days, approximately equivalent to N 71, 537.50 (US$ 198.8) on daily basis. The findings have revealed the high level of organ damages and financial losses due to fasciolosis and CBP in the study area. This portends dangers not limited to livestock production and the economy, but zoonosis and other public health issues. Public awareness campaign, appropriate surveillance and disease control programmes should be implemented in addition to adequate meat inspection and compensation for farmers.Keywords: Postmortem, Prevalence, Fasciolosis, Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, Cattle, Nigeri

Quality assurance indicators for school transformation: a paradigm shift

The new millennium is witnessing a lot of transformational challenges in almost all realms of life including the educational system, bringing about world class standards. Consequently, education reform has become necessary in pursuance of educational quality and effectiveness. Unfortunately most educational reforms in the past decades have resulted in serious frustration and failure even though they are often based on good will. This discourse will highlight the need for transformation in education in terms of Quality Assurance (QA) indicators for quality education that is currently experiencing three waves. The different waves are based on the different paradigms and theories of education quality and school effectiveness, and they result in different strategies and approaches to education quality assurance. The first wave of school transformation focuses mainly on Internal Quality Assurance Indicators and makes effort to improve internal school performances particularly the methods and processes of teaching and learning. The second wave emphasizes Interface Quality Assurance in terms of organizational effectiveness, stakeholders' satisfaction and market competitiveness and makes effort to ensure satisfaction and accountability to the internal and external stakeholders. This paper further explained that school transformation should move towards the third wave which emphasizes strongly Future Quality Assurance Indicators in terms of relevance to the new school functions in the new century, as well as relevance to the new paradigm shift in education concerning contextualized multiple intelligences (CMI), globalization, localization and individualization. Based on the paradigm shift, a new QA indicator in terms of value added and value created indicators which are completely different are added to the list. The enhancement of value added depends heavily on improvement of internal processes while value created relies mainly on the increase in goal relevance and stakeholder satisfaction with quality of education services. Continuous institutional development becomes necessary for total QA in the secondary school system and quality management of the new secondary school curriculum that emphasises entrepreneurship education. Consequently, transformation from the traditional ways of school management, to new creative and innovative approach, such as introduction of Tripartite Curriculum for inculcating multiple intelligences, instead of mono-intelligence that is currently prevalent in the Nigerian secondary school curriculum, is therefore advocated for. so that the current paradigm shift to a new secondary school curriculum in Nigerian will surely be a success

Predischarge transcutaneous bilirubin screening reduces readmission rate for hyperbilirubinaemia in diverse South African newborns: A randomised controlled trial

Background. In South Africa (SA), healthy term newborns are usually discharged ˂72 hours after delivery. Discharged babies remain at risk for severe hyperbilirubinaemia if it is not identified early. Hyperbilirubinaemia is an important cause of readmission, and also leads to neonatal mortality and morbidity. Use of transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) screening before hospital discharge has been controversial.Objectives. To test the clinical benefits of TcB screening of healthy newborns before discharge for the outcomes of readmission for jaundice and severe hyperbilirubinaemia in a randomised controlled trial (RCT).Methods. This was a RCT. We compared predischarge TcB screening with visual assessment (alone) for jaundice in apparently healthy newborns at a public tertiary hospital in Cape Town, SA. Patients or study participants were not involved in the study design and implementation.Results. Of the 1 858 infants, 63% were black, 35% of mixed race and 1% white. There was a significant reduction in the rate of readmission for jaundice (risk ratio (RR) 0.25; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.14 - 0.46; p<0.0001) and in the incidence of severe hyperbilirubinaemia (RR 0.27; 95% CI 0.08 - 0.97; p=0.05) with the use of TcB screening compared with visual inspection.Conclusions. Predischarge TcB screening is superior in identifying newborns at risk of severe hyperbilirubinaemia compared with visual inspection. We recommend that every newborn, regardless of skin pigmentation, should receive objective bilirubin screening before hospital discharge. Universal bilirubin screening in newborns could potentially reduce hyperbilirubinaemia-related morbidity and mortality

Unlimited potentials of carbon: different structures and uses (a Review)

Carbon is a unique chemical element whose different forms or allotropes are inexhaustible in number. It has been in use since antiquity and now, the possibility of manipulating the lattice structure of its crystalline allotropes, offers it unlimited advanced applications. This review aims at demonstrating certain aspects of engineering material in different applications. Various structures of some identified allotropes carbon, respective properties and uses of the allotropes were reviewed. Amorphous carbon materials find application mainly as fuels and sometimes as parent materials for synthesis of more useful chemicals. Their limited application was ascribed to their unstable irregular patterned structure which cannot be manipulated easily to meet further needs. Structurally, carbon exists in the sp3 and sp2 hybridized state in the crystal lattice of its crystalline allotropes. Due to the salient features of its allotropes, carbon finds application in energy generation and storage, optics, electronics, opto-electronics, electro-catalysis, corrosion control, bio-sensing (diagnostics), sensing, agriculture, water treatment, making of composite materials with unique properties and more. There is no limit to the application of carbon. It was recommended that renewable and sustainable alternative precursors for synthesis of carbon nanomaterials with crystal growth control be sought for

Recent trends in non-faradaic supercapacitor electrode materials

Global demand for energy is on a progressive increase and there is a need for environmentally friendly technologies to meet this demand. Electrochemical energy systems are hinged on clean and sustainable technologies. The latest trend in electrochemical energy systems is the supercapacitors (SCs). SCs are famous for their attractive properties: power density, charging time, life cycle, operational safety, and simplicity. However, their energy density is generally low and to a great extent, this parameter is invariably dependent on the nature of electrode material used. While high energy density is being sought for in SCs, it is necessary to keep abreast of recent electrode materials and their practical performances. This paper gives a concise description of capacitors with a focus on the non-Faradaic SCs. It also compendiously presents an overview of carbon electrode materials with their practical performances (specific surface area, specific capacitance, energy and power densities) for non-Faradaic SCs, with reference to more than 100 reputable works. Development and investigation of highly active carbon materials with optimized electrolytic compatibilities and manipulative morphologies and pore structures were recommended