African American interpreters in the video relay service setting

This study focuses on African American Sign Language video interpreters (VIs) working in the video relay service (VRS) setting in the United States. No study has been carried out to date that explores the experiences African Americans have when interpreting in VRS settings, where there is little or no autonomy due to policies governing the VRS companies by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC). Coupled with the rules and regulations from VRS companies and the FCC, African American interpreters also experience racism and racial microaggressions from VRS users and from their colleagues. This study was carried out using qualitative methods. Three African American female VIs were interviewed about their experiences working in the VRS setting. Their stories show that racism and racial microaggressions are a part of their working landscape. Their narratives also disclosed that there is a lack of diversity in the workplace and in the interpreting profession as a whole. The African American VIs interviewed reported that their interpreting programs failed to discuss issues of multiculturalism in the field, and their access to mentors from similar cultural backgrounds was limited. These participants suggested that courses in cultural awareness be offered in interpreter education programs and to their colleagues at work. Likewise, they believed African Americans could benefit from training that helps them cope with the systems of racism and racial microaggressions they face in the workplace

Anatomical studies on the spinal cord of the greater cane rat (Thryonomys swinderianus, Temminck) II: histomorphology and spinal tracings

The field of neuroanatomy and the knowledge of spinal cord, in particular, requires an accurate base on which data can be mapped. Lately, researchers have taken into consideration studies on Greater cane rat (GCR) because of its large body size and African origin. This study was designed to elucidate the histomorphologic features of the GCR spinal cord. A total of 10 adult GCR (five males and five females) raised in captivity were used for this study. Twenty-seven spinal segments (Cervical-8, Thoracic-13, Lumbar-5 and Sacral-1) were identified. Each segment was transected, processed histologically into Nissl-stained sections and observed features of the spinal cord were described. The GCR spinal segments possess the typical Hshaped inner gray matter core surrounded by an outer white matter. Variations in the shape of the central canals were observed across the spinal segments. A total of sixty-four features were delineated: twelve observed in the white matter, forty-nine in the gray matter and the remaining three were attached to the spinal cord. Laminar organisations, tracts, nuclei and motor neuron groups of the spinal cord identified were also traced and possible functions adduced in this rodent. No sexual dimorphism was observed in this study. This work has provided valuable and qualitative baseline information for understanding the laminar characteristics relevant to pathophysiologic conditions of the spinal cord. It has also contributed to the knowledge of neuroanatomy of this rodent and will be valuable for spinal cord research especially in this species.Keywords: Spinal cord, Greater cane rat, Histology, Laminar organisation, Spinal tracing

Significance of African Diets in Biotherapeutic Modulation of the Gut Microbiome

Diet plays an essential role in human development and growth, contributing to health and well-being. The socio-economic values, cultural perspectives, and dietary formulation in sub-Saharan Africa can influence gut health and disease prevention. The vast microbial ecosystems in the human gut frequently interrelate to maintain a healthy, well-coordinated cellular and humoral immune signalling to prevent metabolic dysfunction, pathogen dominance, and induction of systemic diseases. The diverse indigenous diets could differentially act as biotherapeutics to modulate microbial abundance and population characteristics. Such modulation could prevent stunted growth, malnutrition, induction of bowel diseases, attenuated immune responses, and mortality, particularly among infants. Understanding the associations between specific indigenous African diets and the predictability of the dynamics of gut bacteria genera promises potential biotherapeutics towards improving the prevention, control, and treatment of microbiome-associated diseases such as cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. The dietary influence of many African diets (especially grain-base such as millet, maize, brown rice, sorghum, soya, and tapioca) promotes gut lining integrity, immune tolerance towards the microbiota, and its associated immune and inflammatory responses. A fibre-rich diet is a promising biotherapeutic candidate that could effectively modulate inflammatory mediators’ expression associated with immune cell migration, lymphoid tissue maturation, and signalling pathways. It could also modulate the stimulation of cytokines and chemokines involved in ensuring balance for long-term microbiome programming. The interplay between host and gut microbial digestion is complex; microbes using and competing for dietary and endogenous proteins are often attributable to variances in the comparative abundances of Enterobacteriaceae taxa. Many auto-inducers could initiate the process of quorum sensing and mammalian epinephrine host cell signalling system. It could also downregulate inflammatory signals with microbiota tumour taxa that could trigger colorectal cancer initiation, metabolic type 2 diabetes, and inflammatory bowel diseases. The exploitation of essential biotherapeutic molecules derived from fibre-rich indigenous diet promises food substances for the downregulation of inflammatory signalling that could be harmful to gut microbiota ecological balance and improved immune response modulation

Size Composition of Fish By-Catch Species from Industrial Shrimp Trawl Fishery in Nigerian Coastal Waters

Fish species composition of by-catch in the industrial shrimp trawl fishery in Nigeria was investigated with the Sciaenidae family being the most prevalent by-catch fish species. In order of prevalence Pseudolithus elongatus with a mean weight and length of 15.28g and 86.39mm, respectively and Pseudolithus typus (n= 102) having an average weight of 18.76g and mean length of 88.01mm. Other fish by-catch species include Pseudolithus senegalensis (n= 99, mean weigh = 15.49g, mean length= 88.60mm); Galeoides decadactylus (n= 59, mean weight= 15.26g, mean length= 87.66mm); Pteroscion peli (n= 48, mean weight= 16.05g, mean length = 88.23mm); Drepane africana (n= 33, mean weight= 13.29g, mean length= 45.73mm) and Cynoglossus senegalensis (n= 11, mean weight= 21.78g, mean length = 86.45mm). Despite the small number of Cynoglossus senegalensis, it had the highest weight contribution to the by-catch. Significant (P<0.01) relationship exists between weight and length of fish species. The adjusted R2 of the parameters indicated that 19.4% of the weight gained is accounted for by increase in length of Pseudolithus elongatus; 1.7% in Pseudolithus typus; 31.7% in Pseudolithus senegalensis; 13.7% in Galeoides decadactylus; 7.8% in Pteroscion peli; 57.4% in Drepane Africana; and 48.9% in Cynoglossus senegalensis. The by-catch associated with shrimp trawls should be properly monitored and controlled to reduce the quantity of non-target fish species in their catch. Also, the use of diamond-shaped 44mm mesh size for shrimp should be encouraged or made mandatory for fishers to reduce fish by-catch.   Keywords: Shrimp, by-catch, fishery, weigh

Assessment of heavy metal concentrations in the muscles of ten commercial fish species from Lagos lagoon, Nigeria

No Abstract

Microbial load of some imported frozen fish species in Lagos, Nigeria

Freezing preserves food by stopping the growth and multiplication of microbes or by halting enzymatic activities in foods that would otherwise cause spoilage. This study was conducted to identify and profile the microbes present in frozen fish. Five frozen fish species, Trachurus trachurus, Scombers combrus, Larimichthys crocea, Gadus chalcogrammus and Oreochromis niloticus, were purchased from Ijora–Olopa frozen fish sales&nbsp; outlet in Lagos State and transported in ice-flakes to the laboratory for microbiological analysis of the skin, muscles and gills. S. scombrus and G. chalcogrammus had the highest (5.30 x 102 cfu/g) and lowest microbial loads (1.85 x 102 cfu/g) respectively. The result however showed that L. crocea and G. Chalcogrammus were noticed to be significantly different (P&lt;0.05) for coliform count on both the skin and the gills. These values were much higher than the recommended public health and safety standard values that ranged from 5.0 × 105and 1.0 × 106CFUg-1, approved by Nigerian National Agency for Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). Hence, it is necessary that frozen foods should be properly cooked before consumption and effective hazard analysis and critical control points implemented. The predominant bacteria species isolated were Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas sp., Staphylococcus aureus, E. Coli and Salmonella sp while the predominant fungal species isolated were Apergillus flavus, A. fumigatus, A. niger and Yeast. Keywords: Frozen fish, gills, muscles, skin, bacteria, fungi