The Length-Weight Relationship, Condition Factor and Reproductive Biology of Pseudotolithus (P) senegalensis (Valenciennes, 1833) (croakers), in Tombo Western Rural District of Sierra Leone

The length–weight relationship (LWR), condition factor (K), sex ratio, gonadosomatic index (GI) and hepatosomatic index (HI) of 412 specimens of Pseudotolithus senegalensis (Valenciennes, 1833) from Tombo a coastal fishing community in the western rural district of Sierra Leone were studied for twelve months. Samples used for the study were collected from the catches of artisanal fishers and measurement of length and weight of samples were done in situ using the facilities of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources. Samples for reproductive study were preserved in ice box and were taking to the laboratory of the Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, Njala University, Sierra Leone for analysis. The parameters "a" and "b" of the length-weight relationship were estimated using the equation described by Ricker (W = aLb) while the condition factor was calculated using Fulton`s equation (K = W100 L3). The reproductive biology of the fish was estimated using Gonadosomatic index (GSI) and Hepatosomatic index (HI) following the method of Ekanem et al. [16] The combined LWR for both sexes showed that a,b and r values were 6.27, 3.25 and 0.95, respectively. The r – values obtained show a strong linear relationship between the length and weight of the species. The length/weight relationship indicated allometric growth for males and isometric growth for females. The condition factor (K) values varied from 0.64 – 1.0 with a mean I value of 0.98. The species exhibited a positive allometric growth pattern. The sex ratio of males to females was 1:1.08 and was not significantly different from the expected 1:1 ratio. Estimation of GSI and HSI was carried out from December, 2010 to May, 2011 to determine the spawning behaviour of P. Senegalensis. The mean value of GSI in December and March - May indicated that these are the two peak spawning periods for the species Gonado-somatic index ranged between 1.1% and 2.8% in the females. The results of this study revealed that P. Senegalensis does not have obligatory spawning month but exhibit multiple spawning behaviour. The length-weight relationships and condition factor of the study indicated that the environment is suitable for the survival and reproduction of P. senegalensis. Sustainable management of the species, however, requires that the environment be protected against anthropogenic pollution and also imposition of closed fishing season especially during the two peak spawning periods is recommended to enable the species to recruit effectively.Keywords: Length-weight, Pseudotolithus senegalensis, reproductive biology, Sierra Leon

Conciencia pública sobre las enfermedades zoonóticas y las implicaciones para la salud pública en la metrópoli de Makurdi, estado de Benue, Nigeria

This study was conducted with the objective of assessing the level of awareness on zoonotic diseases among residents of Makurdi Metropolis. Questionnaire was structured into 3 sections namely, socio- demographic characteristics of residents, awareness on domestic animals, and wild animals transmission of zoonotic diseases. Simple and systematic random sampling was used to select sample locations in which a total of 250 questionnaires were administered; descriptive statistics, Student’s t-test and chi-square analysis were used to analyzed data. Field result showed that 144 respondents male were interviewed while 106 respondents were female. Residents of Makurdi Metropolis were quite aware of zoonotic diseases in both domestic and wild animals. The commonest domestic animal zoonotic diseases known to residents were: the mad dog disease, bird flu and swine flu. While the commonest wild animal zoonotic diseases known to residents were: monkey pox disease, Ebola disease, and Lassa fever, the awareness of residents on these zoonotic diseases could be associated with the recent outbreak of these diseases and in the area. It was therefore recommended that more awareness campaigns on other types of zoonotic diseases and their preventive measures should be given to residents of Makurdi metropolis to forestall future public health hazardsEste estudio se realizó con el objetivo de evaluar el nivel de conciencia sobre las enfermedades zoonóticas entre los residentes de la Metrópolis de Makurdi. El cuestionario se estructura en 3 secciones, a saber, las características sociodemográficas de los residentes, la conciencia sobre los animales domésticos y la transmisión de enfermedades zoonóticas a los animales salvajes. Se utilizó un muestreo aleatorio simple y sistemático para seleccionar ubicaciones de muestra en las que se administraron un total de 250 cuestionarios; Se utilizaron estadísticas descriptivas, la prueba t de Student y el análisis de chi-cuadrado para analizar los datos. El resultado de campo mostró que 144 entrevistados hombres fueron entrevistados, mientras que 106 encuestados eran mujeres. Los residentes de la Metrópolis de Makurdi eran muy conscientes de las enfermedades zoonóticas tanto en animales domésticos como salvajes. Las enfermedades zoonóticas de animales domésticos más comunes conocidas por los residentes fueron: la enfermedad del perro loco, la gripe aviar y la gripe porcina. Si bien las enfermedades zoonóticas de animales salvajes más comunes conocidas por los residentes fueron: la enfermedad de la viruela del mono, la enfermedad del ébola y la fiebre de Lassa, la conciencia de los residentes sobre estas enfermedades zoonóticas podría estar asociada con el brote reciente de estas enfermedades y en el área. Por lo tanto, se recomendó que se realicen más campañas de sensibilización sobre otros tipos de enfermedades zoonóticas y sus medidas preventivas a los residentes de la metrópoli de Makurdi para prevenir futuros riesgos para la salud públic

EFFECTS OF THERMOMECHANICAL TREATMENTS ON THE CHEMICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF Al-Cu Alloy

In this work, the quest is to study the influence of thermo mechanical ageing on Aluminium alloy in which Aluminium is the principal element (parent metal) with traces of other elements such as Copper, Magnesium, Iron, and Zinc. Aluminium is subject to internal stresses and strains when it is overheated.The development of Al-9.37Cu alloy was characterized through metallographic examinations. The alloy having been cast using Die –Casting method was subjected to series of treatment such as solution treatment, water quenching and air-quenching as well as over –ageing. The result showed that the strength of Al9.37Cu was greatly enhanced when the alloy was rolled, and aged. This was as a result of the growth of large precipitates along and near the Aluminum grain boundaries which interfere with the movement of dislocations when the metal yields. However, when the alloy was heated beyond 200oC (500oC), the tensile values were observed to decline as a result of equilibrium tetragonal phase which is fully in –coherent and was characterized with low strengthening effect due to fibrous structures.Self-sponsore

Study of the relationship between Black men, culture and prostate cancer beliefs

Prostate cancer is the leading cancer for men worldwide, with increasing incidence in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the UK and USA, Black men of different backgrounds are at higher risk of developing prostate cancer but continue to have little involvement with related health services. Lack of knowledge and culture have been implicated as reasons for this but culture in Black ethnic groups has not been very well explored. This scoping study asks how ethnicity, as represented by culture, interacts with Black men's beliefs around prostate cancer. The objective is to understand the meaning of prostate cancer and the role of culture in Black men's beliefs about the disease. Using a symbolic interactionist approach to explore meaning-making in Black men around culture and prostate cancer reveals varied ways in which culture affects interaction with health services. A thematic analysis of 25 studies included in the final scoping study shows that there are three main themes under which cultural issues can be examined: personal, societal and structural. The study reveals that knowledge is contextual and that personal and societal beliefs and structural factors intertwine to create a system that can preclude Black men from taking part in prostate cancer-related health practices, and discusses some of the ways in which these can be addressed

DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF MODELING DEFORMATION OF AL-CU ALLOY

This research is aimed at determining the effect of thermo-mechanical ageing experimentally and numerically on the Mechanical Properties of Al-Cu Alloy by formulating a model (constitutive) to determine the nodal value of certain parameters and to simulate the obtain results using Matlab (fematiso).The development and morphology of Al-9.37Cu alloy was characterized through metallographic examination and failure rate. The alloy was obtained by employing Die -Casting Technique before being subjected to series of mechanical and materials tests. The result showed that the strength of Al9.37Cu was greatly enhanced when the alloy was under different percent of deformations between 5-15%. Constitutive model was adopted to determine the isotropic material property in which the plane stress and plain strain conditions were considered as boundary conditions. Consequently, the effect of temperature was able to influence the strain rate in which the fracture strain determined the failure rate of the Al-Cu alloy.Self-sponsore

Competency-based medical education in two Sub-Saharan African medical schools.

Background Relatively little has been written on Medical Education in Sub-Saharan Africa, although there are over 170 medical schools in the region. A number of initiatives have been started to support medical education in the region to improve quality and quantity of medical graduates. These initiatives have led to curricular changes in the region, one of which is the introduction of Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME). Institutional reviews This paper presents two medical schools, Makerere University College of Health Sciences and College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, which successfully implemented CBME. The processes of curriculum revision are described and common themes are highlighted. Both schools used similar processes in developing their CBME curricula, with early and significant stakeholder involvement. Competencies were determined taking into consideration each country’s health and education systems. Final competency domains were similar between the two schools. Both schools established medical education departments to support their new curricula. New teaching methodologies and assessment methods were needed to support CBME, requiring investments in faculty training. Both schools received external funding to support CBME development and implementation. Conclusion CBME has emerged as an important change in medical education in Sub-Saharan Africa with schools adopting it as an approach to transformative medical education. Makerere University and the University of Ibadan have successfully adopted CBME and show that CBME can be implemented even for the low-resourced countries in Africa, supported by external investments to address the human resources gap

Evidence for the differential expression of a variant EGF receptor protein in human prostate cancer

Earlier studies have demonstrated an unexplained depletion of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) protein expression in prostatic cancer. We now attribute this phenomenon to the presence of a variant EGFR (EGFRvIII) that is highly expressed in malignant prostatic neoplasms. In a retrospective study, normal, benign hyperplastic and malignant prostatic tissues were examined at the mRNA and protein levels for the presence of this mutant receptor. The results demonstrated that whilst EGFRvIII was not present in normal prostatic glands, the level of expression of this variant protein increased progressively with the gradual transformation of the tissues to the malignant phenotype. The selective association of high EGFRvIII levels with the cancer phenotype underlines the role that this mutant receptor may maintain in the initiation and progression of malignant prostatic growth, and opens the way for new approaches in the management of this disease including gene therapy. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaig

Review of prostate cancer research in Nigeria

Prostate cancer (CaP) disparities in the black man calls for concerted research efforts. This review explores the trend and focus of CaP research activities in Nigeria, one of the ancestral nations for black men. It seeks to locate the place of the Nigerian research environment in the global progress on CaP disparities. Literature was reviewed mainly through a Pubmed search with the terms “prostate cancer”and “Nigeria”, as well as from internet and hard copies of journal pages

Gene expression down-regulation in CD90+ prostate tumor-associated stromal cells involves potential organ-specific genes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The prostate stroma is a key mediator of epithelial differentiation and development, and potentially plays a role in the initiation and progression of prostate cancer. The tumor-associated stroma is marked by increased expression of CD90/THY1. Isolation and characterization of these stromal cells could provide valuable insight into the biology of the tumor microenvironment.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Prostate CD90⁺stromal fibromuscular cells from tumor specimens were isolated by cell-sorting and analyzed by DNA microarray. Dataset analysis was used to compare gene expression between histologically normal and tumor-associated stromal cells. For comparison, stromal cells were also isolated and analyzed from the urinary bladder.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The tumor-associated stromal cells were found to have decreased expression of genes involved in smooth muscle differentiation, and those detected in prostate but not bladder. Other differential expression between the stromal cell types included that of the CXC-chemokine genes.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>CD90⁺prostate tumor-associated stromal cells differed from their normal counterpart in expression of multiple genes, some of which are potentially involved in organ development.</p