Phytochemical Analysis and Evaluation of Anticancer and Antimalarial Properties of Four Medicinal Plants

Cancer and malaria are among the most life-threatening diseases globally. Cancer is responsible for about 125,000 annual deaths globally. In 2015, the World Health Organization report estimated that 236000-635000 people died of malaria. These diseases are complicated by the development of resistance to available chemotherapeutic agents. Natural products have been recognized for their major applications in the identification of drug leads in drug discovery. Viola philippica Car, Viola yedoensis Makino (Violaceae), Triclisia subcordata Oliv (Menispermeaceae) and Cyclicodiscus gabunensis Harms (Fabaceae) are medicinal plants traditionally used for the treatment of various diseases including malaria or cancer in China and West Africa. However, the bioactive compounds are unknown. Therefore, this study evaluated the in vitro anticancer and antimalarial activities of the four medicinal plants and searched their bioactive compounds. The in vitro anti-ovarian cancer and antimalarial assays were demonstrated respectively using sulforhodamine B dye and Syber green 1 fluorescence assay methods. Bioassay-guided fractionation and purification were performed. Structural elucidation was performed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry analysis. Results revealed the anticancer and antimalarial activities of T. subcordata; V. philippica, and V. yedoensis to be bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids (cycleanine, isochondodendrine and 2′-norcocsuline) and/or cyclotides. The cycleanine analogues were synthesized and found to be more potent than cycleanine. Induction of apoptosis by these alkaloids has also been determined. This study could serve as basis for the support of use of these plants in cancer and/or malaria treatment. The BBIQ alkaloids and analogues could serve as lead compounds in drug discovery. Future in vivo studies need to be carried out on these alkaloids to get drug approval

Preschool Teachers’ Perspectives of Professional Development Related to the Management of Challenging Behaviors

AbstractMany young children enter preschool programs exhibiting challenging behaviors and are suspended from preschool at a rate 3 times more than K–12 students. Many preschool students who need help are instead suspended or expelled. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore private preschool teachers’ perspectives on past or existing professional development opportunities related to children with challenging behaviors and the resources/professional development needed to support these students. Knowles’ theory of andragogy served as the conceptual lens for this study. Interview questions were developed to elicit in-depth participant responses to answer the two research questions on preschool teachers’ perspectives on past or existing professional development opportunities and the resources/professional development needed to support students with challenging behaviors. Data were collected from interviews with seven preschool teachers purposively selected from private schools and open coded to identify themes amongst their experiences. The following themes were identified from the analysis of the data: teacher lack of knowledge and information on how to manage challenging behavior is a motivation to seek help, adult learners attend professional development based on their need and view professional development based on how they can apply the new strategies, and professional development desired by teachers directly related to and focused on students with challenging behaviors. This study can lead to positive social change by drawing attention to the strengths and gaps in professional development

UNESCO and its agencies' impact on cultural policy frameworks in Africa: a study of Mapungubwe World Heritage Site in South Africa

ABSTRACT UNESCO’s World Heritage Convention of 1972 has set the standard for the evaluation, preservation and conservation of World Heritage Sites (WHS) globally. The role and function of UNESCO in the cultural heritage sector in Africa, in particular cannot be denied. However, the World Heritage Convention (WHC) site management requirements for African States that are parties to the Convention, presents challenges in terms of implementation. This is due in most cases, to lack of infrastructure, deficient national policy structures, poor legislation, bad management and poor implementation. This is particularly the case in developing countries where governments are grappling with socio-economic and political challenges. Questions are raised about who has the right to define heritage, and what kinds of parameters are used to measure World Heritage of ‘‘universal’’ value. Is it appropriate for UNESCO to recommend a set of standards that have become a lens through which global cultural heritage policy is viewed and measured? What then are the implications for African sites for being listed as World Heritage, and what are their chances of competing in the global cultural arena based on the challenges mentioned above? This research report, through a study of the Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape in the Limpopo Province of South Africa, attempts to grapple with aspects of the questions raised above, and seeks to illustrate the challenges of managing a World Heritage Site. It highlights the gaps between WHC requirements, national cultural policy legislation, infrastructural and human resource incapacity, and implementation by the management at the Mapungubwe World Heritage Sit

Graying Incarcerated Persons and Education Programs in Nigerian Correctional Centre

Correctional education programs are rehabilitation programs designed for incarcerated persons in Nigerian correctional institutions. However, getting the graying incarcerated persons to participate in education programs becomes quite challenging. This study investigates graying incarcerated persons and education programs in one correctional centre. Data were collected qualitatively from fifteen (15) incarcerated individuals aged 60 years and above using semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis was employed in analyzing the data generated for the study. Findings show that there are no available education programs for graying incarcerated individuals. The study also revealed that designing education programs in such a way that it will accommodate the needs of the graying population will alleviate or soothe this category of prisoners. The study, therefore, recommends that education programs should be inclusive of different populations of incarcerated persons, especially the graying ones. Social workers have roles to play in alleviating the problems faced by graying incarcerated persons

Membership Participation and Sustainability of Government-Driven Rural Development Projects in Abia State of Nigeria

Membership participation has become a veritable strategy for empowerment in the development scene. The participation of community members in development activities enhances capacity building. Sustainable development has to do with participatory development, human development and environmental protection. This study examines participation of community members and sustainability of government-driven rural development projects in Abia State of Nigeria. The purposive sampling technique was adopted in the study. The sample comprised of 6 communities from 6 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state. The focus group discussions (FGDs) and in-depth interviews (IDIs) were the instruments for data collection. The sample size used in the study was 72 FGD participants and 6 IDI respondents. Data generated for the study were analyzed in quotes. The study revealed that all the rural communities under study have benefitted from government projects. It also shows that the executed projects have impacted on the quality of lives of the people. Furthermore, the study revealed that membership participation in the execution of projects is low and this has implications in project sustainability.</p

Incarcerated individuals and education programmes in Nigeria: A task for social workers

Much is not known about education programmes for Nigerian incarcerated individuals. Consequently, different correctional institutions worldwide have different forms of correctional education offered to incarcerated individuals. Nigerian incarcerated individuals perceive that there are implementations of education programmes offered to them. However, little or nothing is known about how incarcerated individuals perceive these education programmes. To this end, this study ascertains the incarcerated individuals’ perception of education programmes as well as the expectations of social work profession in ensuring that incarcerated individuals in correctional institutions are provided with quality education. In-depth interviews involving 20 convicted incarcerated individuals from Owerri correctional centre were conducted. Thematic analysis was used in analyzing data generated for the study. Findings show that education programmes are available and essential, but the quality of the programme does not go down well with the incarcerated individuals. It also revealed that incarcerated individuals were not allowed to decide on the type of education programme to be involved in. To this end, their participation in the programme is jeopardized. The findings further revealed that little or nothing is known about social workers in prison education. Therefore, the inclusion of correctional social workers as an integral part of education programmes that aim to reform, rehabilitate and reintegrate incarcerated individuals becomes necessary

Value of Library and Information Science (LIS) Degree for Side Business Practices among Employed Library and Information Science Professionals in Nigeria: a Preliminary Survey

The survey study investigates the perception of the value of Library and Information Science (LIS) degree for side business practices among LIS professionals in Nigeria. The study used a combination of web-based and hard copy questionnaire to elicit information from 176 randomly selected working librarians in academic libraries in Nigeria. Four objectives guided the study. The results of the study reveal that the librarians perceive that the LIS degree has value. The majority of them engage in one side business or another. However, the side business engagements of the librarians are mostly in the traditional core librarianship areas while opportunities in information and communication technology (ICT) are not maximally exploited as a result of skills inadequacies. Obstacles that hinder the librarians from engaging in side businesses as well as the strategies that can be employed to enhance engagement in side businesses are identified. The study recommends among other things that librarians should acquire skills in ICT to be able to take up the opportunities that it offers. Also, the LIS schools should employ librarians who are competent in ICT to impart the knowledge and competencies that are needed