School learning environment and pre-primary children’s reading readiness in early childhood development in Ogoja Education Zone of Cross River State

This study was undertaken to determine the effects of school learning environment on pre-primary school children’s reading readiness in their early childhood development in Ogoja Education Zone of Cross River State, Nigeria. The sample for the study consisted of two hundred and ten (210) children and forty two care-givers who were purposively selected from 42 schools in the study area. The research adopted a correlational survey research design and data was collected using Physical Learning Environment and Reading Readiness Questionnaire (PLERRQ) as its main instrument. To guide the study, three research questions were raised and three research hypotheses were proposed and tested at 0.05 levels of significant using descriptive statistic, frequencies percentage, mean scores, and inferential statistics (multiple linear regressions). The results indicated that the state of classroom environment is promotive of pre-primary school children’s reading readiness. It was recommended that care-givers should be encouraged to ensure necessary activities in school. It also recommended that the necessary and concerned authorities should see to the environment of school classrooms and that of children’s extra-curricular activities. Learning materials should also be provided in a manner which impacts positively on children’s development.Keywords: Learning Environment, Early childhood, Pre-primary reading Readines

Neuroticism and introversion personality charateristics and adolescents’ school social adjustment in a social inclusion in northern education zone of Cross River State

This study was undertaken to determine the influence of Neuroticism and introversion Personality Factors on Adolescents’ School Social Adjustment in a social Inclusion Education, in Northern Education Zone of Cross River State, Nigeria. The sample for the study consists of one thousand and eighteen (1018) students who were randomly selected from senior secondary one classes (SS1) in nineteen (19) purposively selected schools out of the seventy-three (73) schools in the study area. The researcher adopted a causal comparative design also known as the ex-post facto, and data were collected using NEO-PI scale and school social adjustment questionnaire as the main instrument. To guide the study, two research questions were raised and two statement of hypotheses were postulated and tested at 0.05 levels of significant using independent t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) statistic. The results from the analyzed data indicated that there is significant difference of neuroticism on early adolescent’s school social adjustment. Sidak post hoc test was performed to show where the difference lies; also, introverts significantly differ from extroverts regarding their school social adjustment. In view of the above findings, it was concluded that Neuroticism factor is significantly related to adolescents’ school social adjustment in the study area in an inclusive education. It was recommended among others, that the effort of teachers, parents, educational psychologist, guidance counselors and the government are needful in all secondary schools to help students overcome the problem of poor adjustments in schools

Prevention of prosthetic joint infection in total hip and knee arthroplasties: evidence based recommendations

Prosthetic joint infection is a dreaded complication of Total Joint Arthroplasty. Prevention, which is far more cost effective, should be of paramount importance to the arthroplasty surgeon. Proper patient selection and preparation as well as strict asepsis and antisepsis are the basic principles of prevention

Evaluation of Vesicouterine Fistula with Ultrasonography in a Resource-constrained Setting

Objective: To determine the role of ultrasonography in the evaluation of patients with vesicouterine fistula. Methodology: This was a retrospective study conducted at the National Obstetric Fistula Centre, Abakaliki, South-East Nigeria between January 2015 and November 2016. Ethical clearance was obtained from Ethics and Research Committee of the National Obstetric Fistula Centre, Abakaliki, Nigeria. A total of 25 patients had vesicouterine fistula during the study period. The records of 22 patients who had pelvic ultrasonography were reviewed and formed the basis of this study. Results: The mean age of the study population was 30.1±6.2 years. Pelvic ultrasonography revealed a communication between the uterus and the bladder in 19 (86.4%) of patients which is suggestive of vesicouterine fistula. Three patients (13.6%) had normal sonographic assessment. All patients were successfully repaired. Conclusion: Ultrasonography appears to be a useful, cheap, quick and readily available means of evaluating vesicouterine fistula in a resource-constrained setting. It provides an added advantage to clinical diagnosis in the evaluation of vesicouterine fistula. Keywords: Vesicouterine fistula, urogenital fistula, ultrasonography

Management of Rectovaginal Fistulas at the National Obstetric Fistula Centre, Abakaliki over a 5-year Period

Objective: To share our experience in the management of rectovaginal fistula. Methods This was a retrospective study conducted at the National Obstetric Fistula Centre, Abakaliki, South-East Nigeria. The case folders of patients that had rectovaginal fistula between January 2012 and December 2016 were reviewed. Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 21. Results The records of 21 out of 26 patients who had rectovaginal fistula were available for review. The mean age was 31 ± 9 years. Majority (95.24%) were Christians. Twenty (95.24%) of  the cases were low rectovaginal fistula. The risk factors for rectovaginal fistula were mainly episiotomy, perineal tears during labour and prolonged obstructed labour Two (10%) out of the 20 patients that had surgery had minor complications. There was no mortality. The success rate after the first repair was 85% for those that were offered surgery. Conclusion The study suggests a good outcome for the patients reviewed with minimal complications. Keywords: Rectovaginal fistula, episiotomy, perineal tear

Material efficiency: a key sustainable manufacturing strategy

Inefficient material utilization results in extra pressure on the environment for the extraction of more material to meet production demand and therefore makes the environment unsustainable. The survival of the manufacturing industry depends on its ability to balance several requirements to meet up with dynamic market demand particularly materials for production ranging from raw materials, intermediate materials to spare components for maintenance. In the past, sustainability and efficiency were no challenges to the manufacturers and material extraction from the environment was always below replenishment. Presently, the reverse is the case where the demand for production material has become incessant and surpasses supply on account of increasing population and modern manufacturing practices thereby resulting in irresponsible exploitation of raw material. This paper aims to evaluate the current efforts in the topic area to gain insight into the impact of material efficiency on the manufacturing performance concerning other manufacturing strategies alongside the environment. It appears from the review that the balance between manufacturing material extraction from the environment and the replenishment rate determines the sustainability of both the manufacturing system and the environment. Hence material efficiency is an index for sustainable manufacturing strategy. We recommend the future research direction to looks into the development and determination of balance between manufacturing material extraction from the environment and the replenishment rate for a sustainable future manufacturing

Overview of the Alaskan Layered Pollution and Chemical Analysis (ALPACA) Field Experiment

The Alaskan Layered Pollution And Chemical Analysis (ALPACA) field experiment was a collaborative study designed to improve understanding of pollution sources and chemical processes during winter (cold climate and low-photochemical activity), to investigate indoor pollution, and to study dispersion of pollution as affected by frequent temperature inversions. A number of the research goals were motivated by questions raised by residents of Fairbanks, Alaska, where the study was held. This paper describes the measurement strategies and the conditions encountered during the January and February 2022 field experiment, and reports early examples of how the measurements addressed research goals, particularly those of interest to the residents. Outdoor air measurements showed high concentrations of particulate matter and pollutant gases including volatile organic carbon species. During pollution events, low winds and extremely stable atmospheric conditions trapped pollution below 73 m, an extremely shallow vertical scale. Tethered-balloon-based measurements intercepted plumes aloft, which were associated with power plant point sources through transport modeling. Because cold climate residents spend much of their time indoors, the study included an indoor air quality component, where measurements were made inside and outside a house to study infiltration and indoor sources. In the absence of indoor activities such as cooking and/or heating with a pellet stove, indoor particulate matter concentrations were lower than outdoors; however, cooking and pellet stove burns often caused higher indoor particulate matter concentrations than outdoors. The mass-normalized particulate matter oxidative potential, a health-relevant property measured here by the reactivity with dithiothreiol, of indoor particles varied by source, with cooking particles having less oxidative potential per mass than pellet stove particles

Effect of PF-00547659 on central nervous system immune surveillance and circulating β7+ T cells in Crohn's disease: Report of the TOSCA study

Background and Aims: Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy [PML], a brain infection associated with anti-integrin drugs that inhibit lymphocyte translocation from bloodstream to tissue, can be fatal. Decreased central nervous system [CNS] immune surveillance leading to this infection has been reported in patients with multiple sclerosis or Crohn's disease treated with antiintegrin antibody natalizumab. PF-00547659 is an investigational human monoclonal antibody for inflammatory bowel disease, targeted against α4β7-mucosal addressin cell-adhesion molecule-1 [the integrin ligand selectively expressed in the gut]. We hypothesised that this selective agent would not affect central nervous system immune surveillance. Methods: Cerebrospinal fluid from five healthy volunteers, and from 10 patients with Crohn's disease previously treated with immunosuppressants, was evaluated to assess the feasibility of the study. Subsequently, 39 patients with active Crohn's disease and previous immunosuppression were evaluated over 12 weeks of PF-00547659-induction therapy. We measured total lymphocytes, T cell subsets in cerebrospinal fluid, and circulating β7+ memory cells. Disease activity was assessed using the Harvey-Bradshaw Index. Results: Patients treated with PF-00547659 had no reduction of cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytes, T-lymphocyte subsets, or CD4:CD8 ratio, whereas circulating β7+ memory cells increased significantly. A total of 28/35 [80%] patients had a clinical response and 27/34 [79%] had disease remission. Treatment-related adverse events, none serious, were reported in 23/49 [47%] patients. Conclusions: In patients with active Crohn's disease, natalizumab therapy increases the risk for PML, and the increased risk is thought to be associated with iatrogenic leukopenia within the CNS. PML under PF-00547659 may be a lesser concern, as this agent did not reduce lymphocytes or T cell subsets in the cerebrospinal fluid.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe