Modalities for the Implementation of Special Programme for Food Security (SPFS) by Enugu State Agricultural Development Programme (ENADEP), Nigeria

The overall purpose of this study was to investigate the modalities for the implementation of the special programme for food security in Enugu State by Enugu State Agricultural Development Project. The area of study was Enugu state ADP Agricultural zones. Survey research design was used and the instrument used for data collection was a questionnaire. Five research questions were formulated in line with five specific objectives of the study. Similarly, three null hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. The population of the study comprised 420 farmers and 18 extension staff involved in the special programme for food security in Enugu State. A representative sample of 210 farmers and 18 extension staff were randomly selected from the population. The data collected were analysed using mean scores for answering research questions while t-test was used in testing the null hypotheses. The following findings were made: (1) farmers and extension staff established that livestock and fishery activities were promoted by ENADEP through group formation, supervision, provision of inputs, credit facilities etc; (2) the measures adopted by ENADEP in increasing crop production and profitability include farmer group formation, supervision, use of demonstration farm, etc; (3) the various ways irrigation scheme was carried out include development of tube well, micro earth dams, etc (4) the implementation of special programmes for food security by Enugu State ADP was hindered by some constraints such as lack of land, capital, communication facilities, etc; (5) some alternative ways of overcoming the constraints include implementation of Land Use Decree of 1978, provision of communication facilities at zero interest rate, etc. The following recommendations were made: government should establish adult or evening schools and standard markets for the farmers’ benefits and finally, the monthly allowances of ENADEP Staff and their mobility facilities should be improved considerably. Keywords: food security, farmer improvement, extension services, agriculture, agricultural development programm

<i>Cucumeropsis mannii</i> seed oil protects against bisphenol A-induced hepatotoxicity by mitigating inflammation and oxidative stress in rats

From Crossref journal articles via Jisc Publications RouterHistory: epub 2023-10-20, issued 2023-10-20Article version: AMPublication status: PublishedOBJECTIVES This study looked at how CMSO affected male Wistar albino rats' liver damage caused by bisphenol A. METHODS The standard HPLC method was used to assess the CMSO's phenolic content. Then, six (n = 8) groups of forty-eight (48) male Wistar rats (150 20 g) each received either CMSO or olive oil before being exposed to BPA for 42 days. Groups: A (one milliliter of olive oil, regardless of weight), B (BPA 100 mg/kg body weight (BW)), C (CMSO 7.5 mg/kg BW), D (CMSO 7.5 mg/kg BW + BPA 100 mg/kg BW), E (CMSO 5.0 mg/kg BW + BPA 100 mg/kg BW), and F (CMSO 2.5 mg/kg BW + BPA 100 mg/kg BW). KEY FINDINGS A surprising abundance of flavonoids, totaling 17.8006 10.95 g/100 g, were found in the HPLC data. Malondialdehyde, liver enzymes, reactive oxygen species, total bilirubin, and direct bilirubin levels were all significantly elevated by BPA (p 0.05). Additionally, nuclear factor-B, interleukin-6, interleukin-1, tumor necrosis factor, and histological alterations were all considerably (p 0.05) caused by BPA. The altered biochemical markers and histology were, however, noticeably recovered by CMSO to a level that was comparable to the control. CONCLUSION Due to the abundance of flavonoid components in the oil, CMSO protects the liver from BPA-induced hepatotoxicity by lowering oxidative stress and inflammatory reactions

Cucumeropsis mannii seed oil protects against bisphenol A-induced hepatotoxicity by mitigating inflammation and oxidative stress in rats

From Oxford University Press via Jisc Publications RouterHistory: received 2023-07-05, accepted 2023-10-11, epub 2023-10-20, cover 2024-01, collection 2024-01-01, corrected-typeset 2024-03-05Acknowledgements: We appreciate the management of the Department of Biochemistry Institutional Research Ethics Committee, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria.Publication status: PublishedObjectives: This study looked at how Cucumeropsis mannii seed oil (CMSO) affected male Wistar albino rats’ liver damage caused by bisphenol A (BPA). Methods: The standard HPLC method was used to assess the CMSO’s phenolic content. Then, six (n = 8) groups of 48 male Wistar rats (150 20 g) each received either CMSO or olive oil before being exposed to BPA for 42 days. Groups: A (1 ml of olive oil, regardless of weight), B (BPA 100 mg/kg body weight (BW)), C (CMSO 7.5 mg/kg BW), D (CMSO 7.5 mg/kg BW + BPA 100 mg/kg BW), E (CMSO 5.0 mg/kg BW + BPA 100 mg/kg BW), and F (CMSO 2.5 mg/kg BW + BPA 100 mg/kg BW). Key findings: A surprising abundance of flavonoids, totalling 17.8006 10.95 g/100 g, were found in the HPLC data. Malondialdehyde, liver enzymes, reactive oxygen species, total bilirubin, and direct bilirubin levels were all significantly elevated by BPA (P = 0.05). Additionally, nuclear factor-B, interleukin-6, interleukin-1, tumour necrosis factor, and histological alterations were all considerably (P = 0.05) caused by BPA. The altered biochemical markers and histology were, however, noticeably recovered by CMSO to a level that was comparable to the control. Conclusions: Due to the abundance of flavonoid components in the oil, CMSO protects the liver from BPA-induced hepatotoxicity by lowering oxidative stress and inflammatory reactions

Adaptation of the Wound Healing Questionnaire universal-reporter outcome measure for use in global surgery trials (TALON-1 study): mixed-methods study and Rasch analysis

BackgroundThe Bluebelle Wound Healing Questionnaire (WHQ) is a universal-reporter outcome measure developed in the UK for remote detection of surgical-site infection after abdominal surgery. This study aimed to explore cross-cultural equivalence, acceptability, and content validity of the WHQ for use across low- and middle-income countries, and to make recommendations for its adaptation.MethodsThis was a mixed-methods study within a trial (SWAT) embedded in an international randomized trial, conducted according to best practice guidelines, and co-produced with community and patient partners (TALON-1). Structured interviews and focus groups were used to gather data regarding cross-cultural, cross-contextual equivalence of the individual items and scale, and conduct a translatability assessment. Translation was completed into five languages in accordance with Mapi recommendations. Next, data from a prospective cohort (SWAT) were interpreted using Rasch analysis to explore scaling and measurement properties of the WHQ. Finally, qualitative and quantitative data were triangulated using a modified, exploratory, instrumental design model.ResultsIn the qualitative phase, 10 structured interviews and six focus groups took place with a total of 47 investigators across six countries. Themes related to comprehension, response mapping, retrieval, and judgement were identified with rich cross-cultural insights. In the quantitative phase, an exploratory Rasch model was fitted to data from 537 patients (369 excluding extremes). Owing to the number of extreme (floor) values, the overall level of power was low. The single WHQ scale satisfied tests of unidimensionality, indicating validity of the ordinal total WHQ score. There was significant overall model misfit of five items (5, 9, 14, 15, 16) and local dependency in 11 item pairs. The person separation index was estimated as 0.48 suggesting weak discrimination between classes, whereas Cronbach's α was high at 0.86. Triangulation of qualitative data with the Rasch analysis supported recommendations for cross-cultural adaptation of the WHQ items 1 (redness), 3 (clear fluid), 7 (deep wound opening), 10 (pain), 11 (fever), 15 (antibiotics), 16 (debridement), 18 (drainage), and 19 (reoperation). Changes to three item response categories (1, not at all; 2, a little; 3, a lot) were adopted for symptom items 1 to 10, and two categories (0, no; 1, yes) for item 11 (fever).ConclusionThis study made recommendations for cross-cultural adaptation of the WHQ for use in global surgical research and practice, using co-produced mixed-methods data from three continents. Translations are now available for implementation into remote wound assessment pathways