Effects of Two-Tier Multiple Choice Diagnostic Assessment Items on Students’ Learning Outcome in Basic Science Technology (BST)

This paper addresses the effect of The TTMC diagnostic assessment Model in basic science technology and to see if it can make an important contribution to the student learning outcome in basic science and technology among Nigerian students at the junior secondary school (JSS) level. The paper addresses the importance of the diagnostic assessment in basic science and technology and a review of development in particular the TTMC diagnostic instrument and sees if it can make any contribution to students’ learning outcome among Nigerian students at the Junior Secondary School (JSS) level. The study is a quasi-experimenter research designed to determine the effect of TTMC diagnostic instruction on students’ performance in BST. It is quasi experiment study in which the effect of the treatment on interest, attitude and achievement was measure as students’ learning outcome. The sample of the study consisted of 108 JSS basic science students selected randomly from 3 junior secondary schools in Ondo state Nigeria. Among these students were 54 male and 54 females selected through stratified random sampling technique. The instrument for dada collection in the study were BST Two-tiers multiple choice TTMC achievement test of 20 items adopted from Tan and Trannguest 1990; Tin 2004 Wang 2004; and from Chin and Ho 2002; The test was administered to the subject as pre- test; before the treatment and as post-test immediately after the treatment and the retention test after 4 weeks of the post-test except for the control group which was not expose to any treatment. The scores were analysed using mean; standard deviation; analysis of variance ANOVA; ANCOVA and the multiple classification analysis. DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2013.v2n2p20

Influence of Anti-Plasmodial Metal Complex on Rumen Microbial Populations and Serum Parameters in Sheep

A locally synthesized transition metal complex, cobalt-lumefantrine was assessed through laboratory and feeding trials to ascertain its usefulness as an agent for manipulation of the rumen in sheep grazing tropical pasture. The antimicrobial properties of the metal complex were examined on fresh rumen fluids at different concentrations (0, 0.010, 0.025 and 0.050 mg metal complex/50 ml) to estimate the optimum dosage for the sheep. Thereafter, twelve adult male sheep (11.27 \ub1 0.62 kg, initial body weight) were divided into three similar treatment groups. Sheep were drenched individually with 2.5 mg metal complex/head dissolved in 10 ml distilled water, either once or at two-week interval over 28 days. The control group received water without the metal complex. Total protozoa population was lowest (P < 0.05) when 50 ml rumen sample was incubated with 0.025 mg cobalt-lumefantrine metal complex. Serum alanine amino transferase, ALT (23.73 and 18.16 vs. 16.92 \ub5g/L) and cholesterol (0.94 and 1.18 vs. 1.40 mmol/L) levels were significantly (P < 0.05) influenced by the antiplasmodial metal complex treatments (single and repeated treatments vs. the control). It was concluded that 2.5 mg cobalt-lumefantrine complex treatment had no adverse effects on rumen pH, favourably modified rumen microbial populations and improved serum cholesterol level in the sheep

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Differences in body anthropometry between competitively efficient and less efficient junior male handball players: Differences in body anthropometry between competitively efficient and less efficient junior male handball players

This study was carried out to determine if differences existed in anthropometric and body composition characteristics between competitively efficient (above average) and less efficient (average) junior male handball players. A total of 106 junior male handball players participated in this study. The players were divided into two playing quality or performance groups of above average or (competitively efficient) (n = 26) and average or competitively less efficient (n = 80) levels. A combination of individual players’ quality as determined subjectively by a consortium of national handball coaches and team ranking achieved at a championship were used to achieve this purpose. 22 anthropometric attributes were measured for each subject. Similarly, 6 body composition variables were estimated. The results showed that the above average players were better endowed morphologically than the average players particularly in the Longitudinal Skeleton Dimensionality (LSD), Transverse Skeleton Dimensionality (TSD) and Absolute Voluminosity of the Body (AVB) dimensions. The junior male players at both levels of performance were relatively homogenous in the Subcutaneous Fatty Tissue (SFT). However, the average level players had significantly lower supra spinale skinfold measure (t = 2.57, P < 0.011) than the above average level players. Derived body composition measures of skeletal mass (t = 5.80; p < 0.000); muscle mass (t = 4.87; p < 0.000); and fat free mass (t = 6.59; p < 0.000) were statistically significant in favour of the above average players. The mean (SD) somatotype of all the players (2.04[0.5]; 3.13[1.0]; 3.6[1.1]) were statistically significant. Similarly, the somatotype classification of mesoectomorphic (mesomorphic ectomorph) characterised both levels of players (above average – 2.1[0.4], 2.85[0.8], 3.85[0.8] versus average - 2.01(0.5), 3.23[1.1], 3.54[1.2]) as there were no significant differences in these somatotype components. Results of the study demonstrated that the competitively efficient junior male handball players were significantly differentiated as possessing superior anthropometric characteristics compared to the less efficient junior male handball players

Alterations in gait velocity and grip strength of stroke survivors following a 12-week structured therapeutic exercise programme

Study aim: This study investigated the alterations in gait velocity and grip strength of stroke survivors following a structured therapeutic exercise programme (STEP). Material and methods: This was a pre-test, post-test experimental study of the effectiveness of a 12-week STEP on gait veloc­ity and grip strength of stroke survivors. A total of 30 hemiparetic stroke survivors participated in the study. The instrument for this study was an adaptation of a training protocol for the training and assessment of gait velocity and grip strength. The participants underwent a 12-week STEP of a frequency of 3 times per week and the training programme focused on exercises aimed at improving the gait velocity and grip strength of the participants. The gait velocity and grip strength were measured before and after the training. Data generated were analysed using descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation to sum­marize the profile of the participants. The analysis of variance for repeated measures (ANOVA) was used to test the hypotheses. Statistical significance was accepted for a p value of 0.05) effect of haemorrhagic and ischaemic groups of stroke sur­vivors on gait velocity and grip strength