Synthesis, Characterization and Preliminary Microbial Studies of 4-{[(E)–1h–Indol–3h–Lmethylidene]Amino}–1,5-Dimethyl-2-Phenyl-1,2-Dihydro-3h-Pyrazol–3-One and Its Al(Iii), In(Iii) and Tl(I) Complexes

4-{[(E)–1H–indol–3H–ylmethylidene]amino}–1,5-dimethyl-2-phenyl-1,2-dihydro-3H-pyrazol–3-one and its Al(III), In(III) and Tl(I) Complexes have been synthesized and characterized by physical methods and spectral studies. All the complexes were purified and their structures were elucidated using melting point, stoichiometry, molar conductivity, UV-visible, infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance and GCMS Spectral Studies The geometry around the metals were deduced based on the spectral information and were found to be five coordinate in all the complexes. The Schiff base ligand is coordinated to the metals through the participation of its imine nitrogen, indole-nitrogen and the oxygen of the antipyrine moiety. These complexes were also tested against different bacteria and fungi using Agar well diffusion method to determine their antimicrobial potency and they were found sensitive against Escherichia Coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Basillus subtilis and Candida albicans but none was found active against Staphylococcus aureus

School Location as a Predictor of Achievement in Reading among Nigerian Learners of English as a Second Language

This study determined whether school location was a predictor of English as a second language learners’ achievement in reading when taught with synthetic phonics using the non-equivalent, non-randomized control group quasi-experimental design. The population of the study comprised 1844 primary one school pupils in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State. Out of this population, a sample of 66 pupils from urban location and 52 from rural location was drawn using multi stage sampling technique. The instrument used for data collection was Initial Reading Achievement Test (IRAT) which was designed by the researcher. Mean, Standard Deviations and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) were used to analyse the generated data. The results of the study revealed that school location significantly influenced pupils’ achievement in reading. It also showed that there was significant interaction effect of teaching method and location on pupils’ achievement in reading. It was concluded that in addition to teaching method, school location proved to be a predictor of pupils’ achievement in reading. Hence, it was recommended that pupils from different school locations should be exposed sufficiently to equal literacy-enriched environment to bridge the gap in achievement among learners from urban and rural school environments. Keywords: School location, literacy-enriched environment, achievement in reading, interaction effect, Initial Reading Achievement Test, synthetic phonic

X-ray crystallographic and structural studies of (benzothiazol-2-yl)ethanesulphonamide, and its antimicrobial properties

N-(benzothiazol-2-yl)ethanesulphonamide (ES2ABT) was synthesized by the condensation of 2-aminobenzothiazole and ethanesulphonylchloride in acetone at 130 °C. The resulting crude precipitates were recrystallized in absolute ethanol. ES2ABT was characterized using X-ray crystallography, mass spectrometry, elemental microanalysis, UV/VIS spectrophotometry, infra red, proton and 13C NMR spectroscopies. The antimicrobial tests of the compound were carried out on both multi-resistant bacterial strains isolated under clinical conditions and cultured species using agar-well diffusion method. The multi-resistant bacterial strains used were Escherichia coli, Proteus species, Pseudomonas aeroginosa and Staphylococcus aureus which were isolated from dogs. The culture species were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), Escherichia Coli (ATCC 25922) Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), and the fungi, Candida krusei (ATCC 6258) and Candida albicans (ATCC 90028). The tests were both in vitro and in vivo. Thus the Inhibition Zone Diameter (IZD), the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), and the Lethal and Effective Concentrations (LC50 and EC50) were determined. The antimicrobial activity of the compound was compared with those of Ciprofloxacin and trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole as antibacterial agents and Fluconazole as an antifungal drug. The compound showed varying activity against the cultured typed bacteria and fungi used. However, ES2ABT was less active than the antibacterial standard drugs used but not Fluconazole which did not show any activity against Candida krusei (ATCC 6258). The Lethal Concentration (LC50) is 338.80 ± 28.6 ppm. This is within the permissible concentrations. Key words: N-(benzothiazol-2-yl)ethanesulphonamide, antimicrobial, in vivo, in vitr

Analysis Of The Influence Of The Skills Acquisition Programms Of The National Directorate Of Employment On Job Creation In Abia State

Abstract: The study assessed the the skill acquisition programs of the Nationa

Twelve-month observational study of children with cancer in 41 countries during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction Childhood cancer is a leading cause of death. It is unclear whether the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted childhood cancer mortality. In this study, we aimed to establish all-cause mortality rates for childhood cancers during the COVID-19 pandemic and determine the factors associated with mortality. Methods Prospective cohort study in 109 institutions in 41 countries. Inclusion criteria: children <18 years who were newly diagnosed with or undergoing active treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, retinoblastoma, Wilms tumour, glioma, osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, medulloblastoma and neuroblastoma. Of 2327 cases, 2118 patients were included in the study. The primary outcome measure was all-cause mortality at 30 days, 90 days and 12 months. Results All-cause mortality was 3.4% (n=71/2084) at 30-day follow-up, 5.7% (n=113/1969) at 90-day follow-up and 13.0% (n=206/1581) at 12-month follow-up. The median time from diagnosis to multidisciplinary team (MDT) plan was longest in low-income countries (7 days, IQR 3-11). Multivariable analysis revealed several factors associated with 12-month mortality, including low-income (OR 6.99 (95% CI 2.49 to 19.68); p<0.001), lower middle income (OR 3.32 (95% CI 1.96 to 5.61); p<0.001) and upper middle income (OR 3.49 (95% CI 2.02 to 6.03); p<0.001) country status and chemotherapy (OR 0.55 (95% CI 0.36 to 0.86); p=0.008) and immunotherapy (OR 0.27 (95% CI 0.08 to 0.91); p=0.035) within 30 days from MDT plan. Multivariable analysis revealed laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (OR 5.33 (95% CI 1.19 to 23.84); p=0.029) was associated with 30-day mortality. Conclusions Children with cancer are more likely to die within 30 days if infected with SARS-CoV-2. However, timely treatment reduced odds of death. This report provides crucial information to balance the benefits of providing anticancer therapy against the risks of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children with cancer

Syntheses, Characterization, and Antimicrobial Screening of N-(benzothiazol-2-yl)benzenesulphonamide and its Cu(I), Ni(II), Mn(II), Co(II), and Zn(II) Complexes

N-(benzothiazol-2-yl)benzenesulphonamide (BS2ABT) was synthesized by the condensation (by refluxing) of 2-aminobenzothiazole and benzenesulphonylchloride in acetone at 140ºC. The resulting crude precipitates were recrystallized from dimethylformamide (DMF). Five metal complexes of copper(I), nickel(II), manganese(II), cobalt(II) and zinc(II) of the ligands were synthesized. The compounds were characterized using magnetic susceptibility measurements, UV/VIS spectrophotometry, infra red, proton and 13C nmr spectroscopies. The antimicrobial tests of the ligands and its metal complexes were carried out on both multi-resistant bacterial strains isolated under clinical conditions and cultured species using agar-well diffusion method. The multi-resistant bacterial strains used were Escherichia coli, Proteus species, Pseudomonas aeroginosa and Staphylococcus aureus which were isolated from dogs. The culture species were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), Escherichia Coli (ATCC 25922) Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), and the fungi, Candida krusei (ATCC 6258) and Candida albicans (ATCC 90028). The tests were both in vitro and in vivo. Thus the Inhibition Zone Diameter (IZD), the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), and the Lethal and Effective Concentrations (LC50 and EC50) were determined. The antimicrobial activities of the compounds were compared with those of Ciprofloxacin and trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole as antibacterial agents and Fluconazole as an antifungal drug. All the compounds showed varying activities against the cultured typed bacteria and fungi used. However, they were less active than the standard drugs used except Fluconazole which did not show any activity against Candida krusei (ATCC 6258) but most of the compounds synthesized were very active against it. The Lethal Concentration (LC50) ranged from 26.25±4.9-1833.88±186.92 ppm. These are within the permissible concentrations

Solvent Extraction Studies on Copper(II) and Silver(I) Complexes of Bis(4-hydroxypent-2-ylidene)diaminoethane: Composition of Extracted Copper(II) Species

Copper(II) complexes of bis(4-hydroxypent-2-ylidene)diaminoethane (BHPDE) were prepared by extractive method. Job’s continuous variation and equilibrium constant methods, as well as spectral and elemental analyses were applied in the determination of the nature of extracted species. The results indicate the formation of mixed ionic complexes of the types Cu(H2L)X2, Cu(H2L)2X2 and CuL (where H2L = BHPDE and X = NO3-, CIO4-, Cl- or ½SO42-). Cu(H2L)X2 and Cu(H2L)2X2 predominate at low pH extractions while CuL chelate predominates at high pH extraction. The complexes exist in two isomeric forms, the blue readily-water-soluble and the violet less water-soluble forms. Both complexes show maximum absorption at 540 nm and molar absorptivity values of about 2.0 x 102 dm3 mole-1 cm-1

Radiological assessment of the femoral bicondylar angle in a Nigerian population

Background: Femoral bicondylar angle is the angle between the diaphysis of the femur and a line perpendicular to the infracondylar plane. It is indispensable in bipedal locomotion as it serves to place the knee and foot under the body’s center of gravity during the single support phase of gait. Although the mechanism for the formation of the angle is poorly understood it is believed to be an effect of the stresses in the physis of the distal femur resulting from bipedal loading conditions. This angle is believed to vary in individuals, gender and races. At birth, the femoral bicondylar angle is 00 but reaches a maximum of 140 in adults.Objectives: To document data for the femoral bicondylar angle of Nigerians in Rivers State and to establish if there exists any sexual dimorphism or racial variation in the femoral bicondylar angle amongst Nigerians in Rivers State.Materials and Methods: A total of 250 radiographs of the knee joints were collected and reviewed from November 2010 to August 2011.Results: The gender difference observed was statistically significant  (F=11.720, p=0.001). The mean bicondylar angle of the right femur for males was 8.35± 0.2420 while that of the right femur for females was observed to be 8.16 ± 0.81870. Results also revealed that the mean for left femoral bicondylar angle in males was 8.66 ± 0.2310 while that of females was 8.91 ± 0.1850. These findings reveal that there exists sexual dimorphism in the femoral bicondylar angle amongst Nigerians in Rivers State. In addition, observation also showed that there existed racial variation when compared to other races in the world

Technical and Economic Efficiencies in Poultry Production in Imo State, Nigeria

This study was carried out to estimate the technical and economic efficiencies of poultry farmers in Imo State, Nigeria. The data was collected with semi-structured questionnaire from 140 randomly selected poultry farmers. A stochastic frontier production function was estimated by using the maximum likelihood estimation technique to obtain the technical and economic efficiencies of poultry farmers. The mean technical efficiency of poultry farmers was 75 percent, while their mean economic efficiency was 21 percent. The generalized likelihood test indicated that, the poultry farmers are not fully technically and economically efficient in resource use. There is 79% allowance to increase economic efficiency of poultry farmers by improvement in technical efficiency