Anatomical classifications of accessory symphyseal foramina in infants, juveniles and adults raccoon (Procyonoides nyctereutes) mandibles

The aim of this investigation was to assess the pattern of occurrence of accessory foramina in infants, juveniles and adult raccoons (Procyonoides nyctereutes). The study utilized a total of forty (40) mandibles including thirteen (13) infantile (pups), twelve (12) juveniles and fifteen (15) adult mandibles , studied grossly for frequency, position and diameter of the foramina. In 80% of the evaluated adult mandibles, at least one accessory foramen was found and superolaterally located. In all juveniles (100%) at least one accessory foramen was present, and located mostly near the midline about half - way of the symphyseal length while in pups (94%) at least a foramen was present, and in all cases located at or near the sympyseal line (rostral third or caudal third) to the dorsal ridge but never central. Five distinct co-existence types were used in their classification into foramina as categories I a-d, II a-c, III, IV and V. The frequency, size and location varied between the age groups; category 1 types occurred in 33%, 33% and 30% of adults, juveniles and pups respectively, category II in 33%, 42% and 54%; category III, 3.8%, 2.2% and 5.8%; category IV,1.9%, 4.4% and  11.7%; category V, 3.8%, 2.2% and 0%; respectively. Accessory symphyseal foramina are structural occurrences in raccoon mandible with size, frequency and position variations depending on classification type. There were no significant variations in the accessory symphyseal foramina assessed within pups. This work gives base line information on the phenotypes of accessory mental foramen in post natal development in the raccoons.Keywords: Raccoons, Mandibles, Accessory foramina, Symphyseal ridg

Maxillofacial and mandibular phenotypes in the skulls of red Sokoto and Sahel goats in Nigeria: The role of dental abnormalities

This work examined phenotypic expressions in the anatomy of the mandible and maxillofacial region of the Red Sokoto and Sahel goats in Nigeria. The infraorbital foramen was placed above premolar two (PM2) in Red Sokoto but above premolar one (PM1) in Sahel. The Red Sokoto displayed interdigital septa (ruggae) which entered into mediolateral depressions of the opposing mandible but this was less prominent in the Sahel. Dental abnormalities were more pronounced in the Red Sokoto on the maxilla and mandibular rows. The facial and mandibular tuberosities were more prominent in the Red Sokoto goat and found to be more conspicuous in this breed with dental abnormalities. There was no significant difference between Calcium and Phosphorus in the craniofacial bones of goats with dental abnormalities compared to those without dental abnormalities in both breeds and in conclusion we thus suggest that the harsh environmental conditions of arid North West may be a greater predisposing factor for the negative dental profile of the Red Sokoto breed

Television and Video Films and the Rhythm of Violence: Assessing the Negative Effect of Youths’ Exposure to Violent Television and Video Films Content

The invaluable place of the youths in any given society cannot be overemphasised.  As future generations of the society and leaders of tomorrow, what concerns the youths should be a matter of utmost concern to every well meaning citizen, and thus must be given adequate attention. This explains why many studies have tried to probe the negative effects of television and video films on viewers, especially the youths. In Nigeria, as in most developing and developed societies world over, apart from parental influence, television has become perhaps the most potent influence on the beliefs, values and behaviours of youths. In recent times, there are too many foreign and homemade violent programmes which are mixed bag of crime, sex, horror and violence. The video medium too is not excluded in this pervasion of vices and violence. The fact that the class of people mostly attracted to and influenced by these antisocial activities are the youths, calls for serious concern; more so, since violence has come to assume a serious global concern in today’s world. In the light of the above, the study adopts the qualitative research approach and the interplay of the Cultivation Analysis. and the Social Cognitive Theories to critically examine the negative effects of youths’ exposure to violent television and video film contents and their ramifying implications on our socio-cultural wellbeing as a people, as well as proffer valuable recommendations geared towards possible solution to this worrisome trend. Keywords: media, media effects, negative influence, Nollywood, violent films, youths DOI: 10.7176/NMMC/92-02 Publication date:August 31st 202

Multivariate and Pollution Assessment of Enugu Industrial Layout, Southeastern Nigeria

This research assesses the heavy metals pollution in the soil and water qualities in Emene and its environs, which is well known for its large industrial activities in South-Eastern Nigeria, using multivariate and pollution load assessment techniques. The sampling was conducted in both water and soils. Sixteen water samples were fetched from an industrial effluent (IEF), surface and groundwater (SW and HDW) and control samples (CTR). At different five industrial sites, a collection of soil samples were made, while two samples which serves as a control were collected far away from the industrial site.. The extent of the sediment pollution was assessed; using pollution load index (PLI). A positive correlation was observed with Fe, As, Pb, Cr, Cu, Zn and Ni. The extracted results of the correlation matrix suggest that the dominant ions in the water (As and Fe, Pb and Fe, Cr and Fe, Cu and Fe, Pb and As, Cr and As, Cu and As, Cr and Pb, Cd and Zn, Ni and Zn, Cu and Cr) were derived from the same source of enrichment. In addition to this, a cluster analysis depicts a set of three clusters from a 13 sampling locations based on the similarities of water quality features. The pollution load index (PLI), showed that all locations have PLI > 1 and were polluted. The index values of the heavy metals for Igeo values shows a range which indicates that the industrial soils are unpolluted with Cu and Ni, in the degree of unpolluted to moderately polluted, it has Cr, Fe and Zn while unpolluted to highly polluted has; Pb and Mn. As and Cd shows a level from unpolluted to very highly polluted.. Based on the average Igeo values of the heavy metals, the industrial soils of the study area are unpolluted with Cr, Cu, Ni, Fe, Pb and Zn; and highly polluted with As, Fe and Cd. The data also indicate that the degree of enrichment of each of the heavy metal reflects its pollution intensity Keywords: Cluster analysis, Contamination factor, Control samples, Emene Town, Pollution load index, DOI: 10.7176/JEES/13-9-03 Publication date: November 30th 202

Prioritizing preferred traits in the yam value chain in Nigeria: a gender situation analysis

This study describes what did and did not work in the prioritization of preferred traits within the value chain of yam and associated food products (boiled and pounded yam) in Nigeria. Demand-led breeding protocols have enhanced participatory methods along gender lines to increase the clarity of information on the yam traits preferred by farmers and other end users. Drawing on the experience of the cross-cutting gender team at the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, and partners, this study documents the successes and constraints in the use of gender-inclusive approaches for effective breeding. Methods in our gender studies involve critical assessment of the distinction between quantitative and qualitative research, with particular attention to measurement. Various techniques for data collection, such as interviews, observation, and archival studies, are assessed to locate their potential for constructing successful research projects. The methods used include participatory varietal selection, participatory plant breeding, focused discussions with farmer groups, value chain mapping, G+ tools, trait preferences (processing and consumption), triangulation of multi-disciplinary datasets, and social survey research. Yam production in southeast Nigeria is dominated by men, while women are the main processors. Gendered power play, access to resources, and decision-making have been found to constrain women's participation in yam production (and in yam research). Sex disaggregation was applied within the value chain studies to capture the complementarity and differences in the perceptions of women and men. The methods used facilitated the development and release to farmers in 2023 of three improved yam varieties with consumer-preferred characteristics such as high yield, high dry matter content, white tubers, and good boiling and pounding capability. The success stories also show that effective communication and cooperation within the gender cross-cutting team and farmer groups are important for better results. When gender specialists, food scientists, and breeders work together, innovations are created, challenges are overcome, and information is shared

A rare case of left additional renal artery in a Nigerian goat

The report of the occurrence of additional renal arteries in domestic animals is rare in the literature. We report a case of an additional renal artery in the left kidney found in a Red Sokoto goat cadaver. The additional renal artery originated from the abdominal aorta 3.80 cm cranial to the origin of the main renal artery. The additional renal artery was relatively long, being 6.30 cm from its origin to the cranial pole region of the kidney where it supplied the kidney. This to the best of our knowledge is the first report in the literature indexed in the Medline of an additional renal artery in a goat

Symbiotic Futures: Health, Well-being and Care in the Post-Covid World

The "Symbiotic Futures: Health, Well-being and Care in the Post-Covid World" project was jointly conceived by the Innovation School at Glasgow School of Art and the Institute of Cancer Sciences at the University of Glasgow. The project partnership involved a community of experts working across both organisations including the University of Glasgow’s new Mazumdar-Shaw Advanced Research Centre (ARC). Future experiences is a collaborative, futures-focused design project where students benefit from the input of a community of experts to design speculative future worlds and experiences based on research within key societal contexts. This iteration of the project asked the students to consider what happens in the Post-Covid landscape ten years from now, where symbiotic experiences of health, well-being and care have evolved to the extent that new forms of medical practice, health communities and cultures of care transform how we interact with each other, with professionals and the world around us. The GSA Innovation School’s final year BDes Product Design students and faculty formed a dynamic community of practice with health, wellbeing and care practitioners and researchers from The University of Glasgow and beyond. This gave the students the opportunity to reflect on the underlying complexities of the future of health, well-being and care, technological acceleration, human agency and quality of life, to envision a 2031 blueprint as a series of six future world exhibits, and design the products, services and system experiences for the people and environments within it. In the first part of the project (Stage 1), Future worlds are groups of students working together on specific topics, to establish the context for their project and collaborate on research and development. In this iteration of Future Experiences, the "Health, Well-being and Care" worlds were clustered together around ‘People focused’ and ‘Environment focused’, but also joined up across these groups to create pairs of worlds, and in the process generate symbiosis between the groups. These worlds were then the starting points which the students explored in their individual projects. The second part of the project (Stage 2) saw individual students select an aspect of their Future World research to develop as a design direction, which they then prototyped and produced as products, services, and/or systems. These are designed for specific communities, contexts or scenarios of use defined by the students to communicate a future experience. These Future experiences reflect the societal contexts explored during the research phase, projected 10 years into the future, and communicated in a manner that makes the themes engaging and accessible. The deposited materials are arranged as follows: 1. Project Landscape Map - A report and blueprint for the project that gives a visual overview of the structure and timeline of the project. 2. Stage one data folders - the data folders for stage one of the project are named after the themes the groups explored to create their Future Worlds. 3. Stage two data folders - the data folders for stage two of the project are named after the individual students who created the project

Modified micromarsupialization technique as an alternative primary treatment for ranulas: A case series in a resource‐challenged economy

Abstract Objectives Ranula is one of the commonest salivary gland cysts that mostly occur due to mucus extravasation from the sublingual salivary gland. Treatment of this lesion is still somewhat shrouded in controversy and varies from conservative treatment to surgical excision of the causative gland. Materials and methods This was a case series in quasi‐experimental design that evaluated the outcome and complications of the modified micromarsupialization technique as a newly introduced treatment at our center for simple sublingual ranula over a 2‐year period. Results Twenty patients were treated by the modified micromarsupialization technique and followed up for 1 year. There was complete resolution following this technique in 17 patients (85%) with no evidence of recurrence or complications, whereas 2 patients (10%) showed partial resolution and the remaining 1 patient (5%) showed a failure and recurrence. The age of the patient, the size of the ranula, and the retention of sutures throughout the study period did not significantly affect the treatment outcome. Conclusions The modified micromarsupialization technique was a simple and effective treatment that should be used as a primary treatment option for simple ranulas and we recommend it to be the first‐choice treatment before surgical excision of the sublingual gland, especially in a resource‐challenged economy like ours

Aquaponics production of catfish and pumpkin: Comparison with conventional production systems

Aquaponics is known to be a smart way of producing fish and crops simultaneously; however, there is a paucity of information about the extents of this system's efficiency over other conventional methods of food production. Thus, this study was designed to evaluate the performance of a catfish–pumpkin aquaponics system in comparison with recirculatory and static aquaculture systems (for fish performance), as well as irrigated and nonirrigated systems (for pumpkin performance). Results obtained showed that the production of fish in the aquaponics system was 29% and 75% more efficient than recirculatory and static aquaculture systems, respectively. The survival of the fish was also significantly improved probably due to better water quality in the aquaponics system. With respect to pumpkin production, yield in the aquaponics system was about five times the performance in irrigated land and eleven times those in nonirrigated land. This study gives definitive evidence to support the efficiency of the aquaponics system over other conventional food production methods