The risk of cardiometabolic disorders in lean non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A longitudinal study

Background: Recent studies suggest that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in lean (BMI\u3c25 kg/m2) individuals presents a distinct phenotype. We sought to determine the cardiometabolic consequences of lean NAFLD in a population cohort of relatively young asymptomatic individuals who participated in a voluntary routine health promotion evaluation in Brazil. Methods: We analyzed data in our population collected from 2004 to 2016. Medical and demographic history, anthropometric measures, and fasting blood samples were obtained. Participants had ultrasonography to assess for fatty liver. We defined NAFLD as fatty liver in individuals scoring below 8 on the alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT). We included data from 9137 individuals who had complete data at baseline and at follow-up. Results: The prevalence of lean NAFLD in our cohort was 3.8%. Over the median follow-up period of 2.4 years (range 0.5-9.9 years), lean individuals had 74% (HR: 1.74 (1.39-2.18)) and 67% (1.67 (1.29-2.15)) greater risk of developing elevated BP and elevated glucose, and nearly 3 times the risk of atherogenic dyslipidemia (HR: 2.98 (2.10-4.24)) compared to lean individuals without NAFLD. Lean NAFLD individuals also had higher risk of developing elevated glucose (HR: 1.37 (1.07-1.75)) and atherogenic dyslipidemia (1.46 (1.05-2.01)) compared to non-lean individuals without NAFLD. However, there was no significant difference in the risk of elevated BP, elevated glucose or atherogenic dyslipidemia between lean NAFLD and non-lean individuals with NAFLD in fully adjusted models. Conclusion: Lean NAFLD is not metabolically benign. Further cardiovascular risk stratification and appropriate preventive measures should be considered in lean individuals who present with NAFLD

China and Africa: human rights perspective

At the turn of the twenty-first century, China emerged as a major player in Africa’s international relations. This emergence has attracted a lot of attention in literature on what it portends for Africa. Studies have pointed that China’s involvement in Africa undermines human rights. Of important note was China’s support for the Sudanese government even in the face of human rights abuses; its unconditional aid to Angola, that has helped the government to shun accountability and transparency; its support for inhuman practices meted to the citizens of Zimbabwe by the government, among others. Against this background, this paper seeks to examine, in detail, current China-Africa relations from the human rights perspective. It intends to explore China and human rights in Africa and China’s stance on human rights issues. Another important aspect that is mostly ignored in literature is non-classification of those rights that China undermines in Africa. Is it civil and political rights, economic rights or both? This paper seeks to analyse all these in a bid to provide answers.Keywords: China, Africa, human rights, civil and political rights, economic right

Off and On: China’s Principle of Non-Interference in Africa

The entry point for this paper is the premise that China’s principle of non-interference is one current debated issue in China’s contemporary engagement with Africa. Scholars have argued on the implications of this principle for consolidation of democracy, good governance and human rights in Africa. Others have pointed on the good of the principle, asserting that it has become an alternative for African governments to avert the Western imposition of conditionalities and their long procedural routine. The purpose of this paper is not to reiterate the well known gospel on the implications (positive or negative) of the principle but to examine the origin of this principle, particularly in Sino-Africa relations and the consistency or otherwise of China’s application of this principle in Africa. This paper with specific reference to Sudan and Zimbabwe seeks to examine the ‘off’ and ‘on’ of this principle in China’s contemporary relations with Africa. Making use of both primary (interview) and secondary (journals, books, internet materials, memos etc) sources of data, this paper analysed what caused the shift (off) and what caused the maintenance of the stance (on) in China’s application of this principle in Africa.The study revealed that China’s application of non-interference principle in Africa has not been consistent. China’s insisting (switching on) or noninsisting (switching off) on non-interference policy is dictated by its primal national interest. For instance, China’s shifting of its stance on non-interference and persuading Sudan to accept the UN force has to do with its overriding interests at the timehosting of the Olympics. Generally, non-interference principle apart from being a principle established in international law also serves as a tool that China sometimes employs to pursue its interests in its relations with Africa

Determinants of Decision for Non-Farm Entrepreneurship By Women Farmers In Ikwuano LGA, Abia State

Recent years have witnessed numerous Government efforts to boost agricultural production in Nigeria. A key input to achieve this is credit. In the face of formal credit acquisition bottlenecks, there is the need to shift attention to non-farm entrepreneurship, as income made in this sector could be invested in agriculture. This study therefore evaluated determinants of decision for non-farm entrepreneurship by women farmers in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State. The specific objectives of the study were to: describe the socio-economic characteristics of women farmers engaged in non-farm enterprise in the study area; determine factors that influence women decision to embark on non-farm enterprise in the study area; and identify problems constraining women from embarking on non-farm enterprise in the study area. A hree stage random sampling technique was adopted in the selection of 120 respondents for the study. Analytical tools utilized, were frequency distribution tables, percentages, means and probit regression model. The probit regression analysis revealed that age, household size, primary occupation, farm income, access to credit, farming experience and membership of cooperative societies were significant determinants of women farmers decision to embark on non-farm enterprise at varied signs and levels of significance. The women were constrained from embarking on non-farm business by lack of startup capital (43.33%), inadequate credit access (35.00), and land procurement barriers (31.67). In line with the findings of the study, it was recommended that the Land Use Act of 1978 should be fully implemented as it will ameliorate the persistent land procurement problem faced by women farmers in Nigeria.Key Words: Decision Determinant, Non-farm Entrepreneurship, Income Generation

Characteristics of Structural Breakdown in Plastic Concrete and Their Potentials for Quality Control

The structural breakdown of plastic concrete when sheared in. a Couette-type rheometer is discussed with particular emphasis on the significant features of the resultant thixotropic break-down curve. A typical trace has four such significant features which characterise the mix. The significance of these features are analysed in relation to the functional requirements of plastic concrete in practice. Finally, the potentials of these features as on-line quality control parameters are discussed

Democracy and political participation in Nigeria: The case of imo state in the 2007 general elections

One of the contributions of democratic practices has been the development of a system of checks and balances to ensure that political power is  dispersed and decentralized. It is a system founded on the deeply held  belief that government is best when its potentials for abuse are curbed and when it is held as close to the people as possible. That is the reason why democracy as a system of government is now the most central and  ascendant idea in world politics. Democracy is a culture that is lived out through participation. As a culture, it is patterned by the people,  environment and the regulatory instruments of the people. The study tried to find out why people.s participation which should be the hallmark of  democracy is only minimally witnessed during general elections in Nigeria by evaluating people.s participation in the 2007 general elections in Imo State.The study revealed that many people within the voting age did not vote and were not adequately mobilized to do so. It also showed that  almost all the political activities before, during and after the general  elections were carried out by the political party members other than the people or masses. Again, most political actions were carried out without taking into consideration the constitutional provisions for such.The paper concludes that Nigerian democracy not only lacks people.s participation in all those political activities that gave meaning to democracy but also flouts some democratic principles.Keywords: Democracy, Elections, Political Participation and Evaluatio

HEALTH PROMOTION ACTIVITIES IN MODERN WORKPLACE: THE ROLES OF THE EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES

The concept of the workplace health promotion is becoming increasingly relevant as more private and public organizations recognize that future success in a globalizing marketplace can only be achieved with a healthy, qualified and motivated workforce. The workplace directly influences the physical, mental, economic and social wellbeing of workers and in turn the health of their families, communities and society. This paper therefore reviewed health promotion activities in the modern workplace taking into cognizance the roles of employers and employees. To create an enabling workplace healthy environment, both the employers and the employees must play their roles. For the employers, provision of health promotion facilities and policies are vital for healthy workforce, while the employees are expected to comply with the guidelines provided by the employers and make good use of the health promotion facilities in the organization. Article visualizations

Implementation of the 2004 Pension Reform Act in Federal Tertiary Institutions in the South East States, Nigeria

The work evaluated the implementation of the Pension Reform Act 2004 otherwise called the contributory pension scheme in Federal Tertiary Institutions in South East Sates, Nigeria. The objectives of the study were; to find out whether or not the scheme has an impact on the payment of retirement benefits to the retired employees of selected federal Tertiary Institutions in the south East States, Nigeria; to identify reasons for the delays in the payment of pension and gratuity in the selected institutions; ascertained how the new pension act will help to solve the problem of pension administration in Nigeria; trace the history of pension in three other countries (USA, Japan, and Canada) to make comparison and possible incorporation into the Nigerian Pension Act 2004. The work concentrated on the aspect of the study that has not been given adequate attention, which is the gap in literature – Review of the activities of those involved in the implementation of the new Pension Reform Act 2004 and to find out if the provisions of the Act are well implemented. The work, a survey research made use of research questions/hypothesis. The population of the study is the Federal Tertiary Institutions in the South East States, Nigeria made up of Abia, Imo, Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi States. The target population is the four randomly selected Federal Tertiary Institutions in the zone namely University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State; Federal University of Technology, Owerri Imo State; National Root Crops Research Institute Umudike Abia; State and Federal Polytechnic Nekede Owerri Imo State. Data were collected from primary and secondary sources (interviews and documents). The study covered only retirees under the new pension scheme, effective 2007. The study technique applied is the inductive method because of the nature of the data involved – qualitative data. The systems theory as propounded by Talcott Parson was used for framework. The study result shows that the application of the provisions of the Pension Act has a positive impact on the employees’ retirement benefits or pension and gratuity in the selected institutions. The work concluded by way of recommending the following: - Extension of the scheme to the other levels of government (Local and State), Provision of enabling environment for the smooth running of the scheme, Government should provide relevant legal framework to insure political, economic and necessary support for the scheme. Pension Commission (PENCOM) should ensure effective monitory of all players and adequate sanction of erring operators. Increase in contributions from 15% to 40% to be shared by the employer/employee at the ratio of 3:1 (75% & 25%). Introduction of multiple pension schemes as is obtainable in advanced countries. (vii)   Proper management of the funds by way of investing it adequately among others. Key words: Pension, Reform Act, 2004, Implementation, Federal Tertiary Institutions, South East States, Nigeria

State apologies, postcolonial resistance and ontological insecurity : the Matabeleland massacre

Open Access via T&F Agreement Funding Information: An early version of this article was presented at the Virtual Workshop on Political Apologies for Historical Wrongs organised by Tom Bentley of the University of Aberdeen. I thank the participants for their helpful questions and feedback. I thank the Third World Quarterly anonymous reviewers and Tom Bentley for their valuable comments, which significantly improved this article.Peer reviewedPublisher PD