Some Epistemological Issues in the Conduct of Social and Behavioural Studies in the Faculty of Education of Nigeria Universities

A predominantly positivistic quantitative research tradition is uncovered through a survey of selected Nigerian universities with particular reference to the faculty of education. This predominance of what appears to be a one sided research enterprise and the neglect of the qualitative approaches is born out of the self-evident lack of history of research methods as well as the epistemological undertones underpinning research conduct. Important issues resulting from this lack of knowledge of the historical antecedents surrounding the adoption of the various methods are highlighted in this article. While concluding that the revelations here are not idle ones, this paper noted that unless issues are looked at from both sides of the coin, research within the Nigeria research tradition as well as in any other tradition where such problems exist will not only appear too didactic but could be made to appear as speculative and as deceptive as findings from such enterprise

Comparative study and experimental analysis of pellets from biomass sawdust and rice husk

Sawdust and rice husk are available in abundance and indigenous in Nigeria but have not been exploited because they cannot be used directly in combustion processes due to their loose form unless by pelleting or briquetting. This experimental study assesses the potential of pellets from sawdust (SD) and rice husk (RH). Pallet samples collected from mills were thereafter optimized in ratios (i.e. 90%RH:10%SD, 80%RH:20%SD, 70RH:30SD, 60%RH:40%SD, 50%RH:50%SD, 100%RH and 100%SD) using mixing ratio optimization model. Seven samples were produced using a manual screw press machine and were subsequently categorized in terms of calorific value (CV), proximate and ultimate analyses using the ASTM standards. Results showed that the 100%RH pellets have higher CV of 31,026.3kJ/kg and the 100%SD a value of 26,088.3kJ/kg while the optimized pellets range from 25,867.39kJ/kg to 27,063.60kJ/kg. The CV decreases with increasing ash content of the pellets. It was also observed from the proximate analysis that the 100%RH has low percentages of moisture content, volatile matter and ash content compared to others. The optimized pellets showed that SD has the tendency to reduce the sulfur content in RH; hence, a promising alternative source of energy to the conventional fossil fuel

Histopathological Effects of Maternal Alcohol Consumption in the Pups of Albino Rats

Alcohol consumption during pregnancy and lactation periods may result to some physical and histopathological changes in offsprings. This study was undertaken to investigate the possible effects of maternal alcohol intake on the testes and accessory sex organs of male pups of albino rats. Three groups of female albino rats; A, B and C were used for this study. Group A was the control group while groups B & C served as test groups. Eight male pups were randomly selected weekly (for five weeks) from each group and were sacrificed. The individual weights of the testes and accessory sex organs were determined and thereafter fixed in formol saline. Histopathological investigation was done and photomicrographs were taken. There was a significant reduction (P<0.05) in the mean weights of the testes in the test groups compared with control in all weeks under study. In contrast a significant reduction (P<0.05) in the mean values of the weights of ventral lobes of prostate and epididymis were only noticed in weeks 5 and 6 while the mean value of weights of the vas deferens showed significant reduction (P<0.05) in week 5 of the test groups compared with control group. The histopathological results revealed that exposure to alcohol caused focal coagulative necrosis of testicular seminiferous tubules in pre-natal alcohol exposed group B and a more diffuse coagulative necrosis of testicular seminiferous tubules in pre-and post- natal alcohol exposed group C. Therefore, there is the need for controlled alcohol consumption during pregnancy and lactation periods

Reduced serum tetanus antibody titre in HIV infected subjects with malaria co-infection in a malaria endemic area of Nigeria

Tetanus infection is widespread and difficult to completely eradicate. Thus the present study was designed to assess the tetanus antibody titre in HIV infected subjects in relation to the presence or absence of malaria parasitaemia. 107 subjects consisting of asymptomatic group (asymptomatic HIV, n=17 and asymptomatic HIV-Malaria co-infection, n=17), symptomatic group (symptomatic HIV, n=18 and symptomatic HIV-Malaria co-infection, n=17), and control group (control without malaria, n=19 and control with malaria, n=19) participated in the study. Blood sample collected from the participants were used for the determination of packed cell volume, CD4+ T cell count, malaria parasite, HIV seropositivity and tetanus antibody titre using standard laboratory methods. The tetanus antibody titre was significantly reduced in symptomatic HIV infected subjects with malaria co-infection compared with symptomatic HIV infected subjects without malaria (

Packed cell volume and serum iron in subjects with HIV-malaria co-infection in Nnewi, South-Eastern Nigeria

The present study was designed to assess the PCV and serum iron in HIV-malaria co-infected subjects in Nnewi, South Eastern Nigeria. 207 participants aged between 16-72 (44 ± 28) years were recruited andclassified as follows based on standard screening and WHO criteria: (i) Asymptomatic HIV stage I subjects with or without malaria. (ii) Symptomatic HIV stage II subjects with or without malaria and not on (ART). (iii) HIV/AIDS subjects with or without malaria and on ART. (vi) HIV seronegative control subjects with or without malaria. Blood sample from these participants were analyzed for HIV seroreactivity, Plasmodium falciparum antigen, parasite density, serum iron concentrations and PCV using Standard Laboratory methods. The result showed that serum iron and PCV were significantly reduced amongst all the groups studied when compared with the control (

Monotherapy with amlodipine or hydrochlorothiazide in patients with mild to moderate hypertension: Comparison of their efficacy and effects on electrolytes

Background: Amlodipine and hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) are commonly prescribed in Nigeria either as a monotherapy or in combination with other drugs. The present study was designed to investigate the antihypertensive efficacy of monotherapy with amlodipine or HCTZ and their effects on electrolyte profile in patients with mild to moderate hypertension.Methods: A single-blind randomized clinical study was used; fifty patients newly diagnosed with mild to moderate hypertension (aged 33 to 60 years) were recruited and divided into two groups: amlodipine or hydrochlorothiazide each comprising of 25 subjects. The subjects received 5mg of amlodipine or 25mg of hydrochlorothiazide in their respective group once daily for 4 weeks. Blood pressure, serum and urine electrolytes were measured at baseline and weekly throughout the experiment.Results: At the end of follow up, amlodipine reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure significantly more (p<0.001) than HCTZ. At the end of follow up, blood pressure was reduced to normal in 80% of the subjects in amlodipine group compared to 50% in HCTZ. Amlodipine had no significant effect on electrolyte profile of subjects unlike HCTZ which significantly changed both their serum and urine electrolytes.Conclusions: Monotherapy with amlodipine was more effective than HCTZ in black patients with mild to moderate hypertension and in addition maintained electrolyte balance

Common Patterns of Prediction of Literacy Development in Different Alphabetic Orthographies

We are grateful to Brett Kessler for computing the consistency estimates in each of the four languages of this studyPrevious studies have shown that phoneme awareness, letter-sound knowledge, rapid automatized naming (RAN), and verbal memory span are reliable correlates of learning to read in English. However, the extent to which these different predictors have the same relative importance in different languages remains uncertain. In this article, we present the results from a 10-month longitudinal study that began just before or soon after the start of formal literacy instruction in four languages (English, Spanish, Slovak, and Czech). Longitudinal path analyses showed that phoneme awareness, letter-sound knowledge, and RAN (but not verbal memory span) measured at the onset of literacy instruction were reliable predictors, with similar relative importance, of later reading and spelling skills across the four languages. These data support the suggestion that in all alphabetic orthographies, phoneme awareness, letter-sound knowledge, and RAN may tap cognitive processes that are important for learning to read.Grant PITN-215961 – ELDEL from the Marie Curie, Seventh Framework Programm

Correlations Between Biochemical Parameters and Intestinal Parasites in Pregnant Women of South Eastern, Nigeria

ABSTRACT A total of 118 pregnant women were recruited into the study. The study was designed to reduce the rate of maternal mortality and also the prevalence of vertical transmission in neonates. Blood and stool analysis were collected and analyzed for the following MP, Bilirubin and routine stool analysis using standard biochemical and parasitology techniques for the laboratory investigations.It was observed that there was a high prevalence of malaria parasite infection, high level of bilirubin was also recorded in pregnancy. Ancylostomaduodenale, Ascarislumbricoides and Necatoramericanus had the percentage of 67.8%, 53.4% and 39.8% prevalence rate in pregnancy. The statistical significance of the research was recorded as Pd"0.01 or Pd"0.05 in the correlations analysis of the parameters studied.Therefore, it will be of immense importance to conduct routine screening laboratory tests on pregnant women, to serve as a prerequisite before enrolling them into prenatal care to avoid consequences emanating from infections and Kernicterus in children