Resources for Chemistry Teaching in Secondary Schools in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

This study investigated the status of human and material resources for effective implementation of the new chemistry curriculum for secondary schools in Nigeria in Akwa Ibom state. To achieve the objectives of the study, two research questions were raised. Ex-post-facto design was used. The sample consisted of 105 chemistry teachers from all the 31 local government areas of the state using criterion sampling technique. A researcher-developed questionnaire, Resources for Chemistry Teaching Questionnaire (RCTQ), with a reliability index of 0.83 determined using Cronbach’s alpha reliability formula, was used in collecting relevant data. The results of data analyses using percentage rating showed that available human resources are not equitably distributed; the basic facilities are either lacking or are grossly inadequate; and the basic chemicals and equipment for students’ activities are either lacking or are grossly inadequate. Consequently, it was been recommended that the state government should urgent steps to ensure successful implementation of the new curriculum in the state

Practice Of Antenatal Clinical Breast Examination In Calabar

Reports of a rising incidence of breast cancer and the consistent finding of a significantly younger population of breast cancer patients in the country than in the west led to this study to determine the proportion of women who have a clinical breast examination at the booking visit for antenatal care in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH).The booking information on the antenatal cards of patients who registered within a one-month period was examined. Clinical breast examination (CBE) was performed on 41.6% of the women. Women who were reviewed by consultants recorded a rate of 78.2% while the rates for women attended to by resident doctors and interns were 41.2% and 19.6% respectively (P=0.00). The CBE rate was 57.6% among women who were reviewed by female physicians and 38.3% among those reviewed by male physicians (P = 0.00). The practice of CBE in UCTH is low and is significantly related to the cadre and gender of the attending physician. Obstetricians must embrace the practice fully and utilize measures such as increased supervision and departmental seminars to sensitize doctors they train to emulate them. KEYWORDS: Antenatal, Practice and Breast Examinatio

Predictors of C - reactive protein Response in Children Infected with Plasmodium falciparum Malaria

Objective: To assess the predictors of C-reactive protein response in plasmodium falciparum malaria as seen in children in a malaria endemic region of Nigeria. Design: A prospective cross-sectional study. Setting : The Children Out-patient (CHOP) Clinic, Children Emergency Unit (CHEU), Child Welfare/Growth Monitoring Clinic, Immunisation Centre and Paediatric Ward of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), Uyo in Akwa-Ibom State. Subjects : Three hundred and sixty children aged six to sixty months with microscopically confirmed P. falciparum malaria compared with 360 healthy children without malaria parasitaemia matched for age and gender. Results: The predictors of the C-reactive protein response in malaria (CRP ≥ 10mg/l) were fever (t = 6.867; p = 0.001), malaria parasite count (t = 5.387; p = 0.001), severe anaemia (t = -11.23; p = 0.001) and age. Younger children had a greater CRP response. The logistic regression curve showed a 66.9% sensitivity, 92.1% specificity, positive predictive value, 83.2% and negative predictive value of 82.2% of predicting C-reactive protein response in malaria. Conclusion: P. falciparum malaria induces significant CRP responses. Younger children who present with fever, hyperparasitaemia and severe anaemia are more likely to have C-reactive protein response with malaria

Mathematical Modelling of Compressive Strength of Recycled Ceramic Tile Aggregate Concrete Using Modified Regression Theory

At present, the large quantity of wastes generated by the ceramic industry is not reused in any significant quantity. Research has shown the feasibility of incorporating these wastes into concrete production. This will benefit both the ceramic and concrete industries. However, not much research data is available on the use of ceramic wastes as fine aggregate material compared to their use as coarse aggregate material. Moreover, there are presently no models for predicting the properties of ceramic waste aggregate concretes. In this study, a modified regression theory based on Taylor’s series was adopted to formulate mathematical model for predicting compressive strength of concrete into which Recycled Ceramic Tile (RCT) is incorporated as fine aggregate.  Preliminary tests on RCT indicate that it is a suitable fine aggregate material for concrete production. It has also been established that addition of RCT improves compressive strength of concrete and reduces concrete’s workability. The formulated model is a function of the mix proportions of its constituents and its predicted responses are in good agreement with experimentally observed data. The model has been tested using student’s t-test and analysis of variance and has been confirmed to be adequate and hence is validated

The prevalence of antimicrobial resistance and carriage of virulence genes in Staphylococcus aureus isolated from food handlers in Kuwait City restaurants

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Staphylococcus aureus </it>is a major cause of food poisoning due to their ability to produce enterotoxins which if ingested in sufficient amounts results in sickness. Food handlers carrying enterotoxin-producing <it>S. aureus </it>in their noses or hands can contaminate food leading to food poisoning. We characterized 200 <it>S. aureus </it>obtained from food handlers in different restaurants for antibacterial resistance and the carriage of virulence genes.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>Susceptibility to antibacterial agents was determined by disk diffusion and Etest. PCR was used to detect genes for accessory gene regulator (agr); capsular polysaccharide (cap) 5 and 8, staphylococcal enterotoxins (SE), toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) and Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL). Isolates were typed using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. In total 185 (92.5%) of the 200 isolates expressed resistance to antibacterial agents. They were resistant to penicillin G (82.0%), tetracycline (19.0%), erythromycin (2.5%), clindamycin (2.0%), trimethoprim (7.5%), kanamycin (2.5%), streptomycin (1.5%), ciprofloxacin (1.5%), fusidic acid (1.0%) and cadmium acetate (68.0%). Seventy-six (38.0%) and 114 (57.0%) isolates had type 5 and type 8 capsular polysaccharides respectively. The agr types I, II and III alleles were detected in 50.5%, 20.0% and 23.5% of the isolates respectively. They contained genes for SEI (38.5%), SEG (24.0%), SEC (23.0%), SEB (12.5%), SEH (21.5%), SEA (11.0), SED (1.5%), SEE (1.5%), TSST-1 (4.0%) and PVL (9.0%).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study revealed a high prevalence of antibacterial resistance and virulence determinants in <it>S. aureus </it>from food handlers in Kuwait restaurants justifying the screening of food handlers to detect and treat carriers and protect restaurant customers from staphylococcal food poisoning.</p

Oxidative stress stimulates alpha-tocopherol transfer protein in human trophoblast tumor cells BeWo

alpha-Tocopherol transfer protein (alpha-TTP) has been identified as the major intracellular transport protein for the antioxidant vitamin E (alpha-Tocopherol). Expression of alpha-TTP on the reproductive system has been described both in mouse uterus and lately in the human placenta. The aim of this study was to clarify if placental expression of alpha-TTP can be modified by substances causing oxidative reactions. The human choriocarcinoma cell line BeWo was, therefore, treated with two known pro-oxidants. alpha-TTP expression was determined with immunocytochemistry and evaluated by applying a semiquantitative score. The presence of pro-oxidants in BeWo cells induced alpha-TTP expression. We thus hypothesize that stimulation of alpha-TTP expression by oxidative stress, as this was induced by pro-oxidants, could be part of an antioxidant process occurring in the placenta in the aim of enhancing the supply of alpha-Tocopherol. This process could occur both in normal pregnancies, as well as in pregnancy disorders presented with intensified oxidative stress. In that view, this model is proposed for further oxidative stress studies on trophoblast and placenta, on the grounds of clarifying the role of alpha-Tocopherol in pregnancy physiology and pathophysiology

Susceptibility of staphylococci isolated from a burns unit to mupirocin and other antimicrobial agents

The activity of mupirocin (Bactroban) against coagulase-positive and coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated in a burns unit was tested to ascertain its effectiveness, and to detect any resistant isolates after continuous use of mupirocin for 2.5 years. A total of 395 staphylococci, consisting of 330 Staphylococcus aureus and 65 coagulase-negative staphylococci, were tested for resistance to mupirocin and other antimicrobial agents. The results showed that 94.5% of the isolates were fully susceptible to mupirocin (MIC ≤4 mg/l), and 5.3% expressed low-level resistance (MIC 8-128 mg/l). One Staphylococcus haemolyticus isolate expressed high-level resistance (MIC >1,024 mg/l). It transferred high-level mupirocin resistance to other staphylococci in conjugation experiments, which indicated a capacity to transmit mupirocin resistance between species. The results demonstrated that mupirocin was still highly effective against staphylococci in the burns unit. However, the demonstration that the resistant S. haemolyticus isolate could transfer high-level mupirocin resistance to other staphylococci was of concern. There is a compelling need to test staphylococci from clinical materials for mupirocin resistance. Early detection of resistance can prevent the establishment and spread of the mupirocin-resistant strains in the unit

Incidence Of Ectopic Pregnancy In Calabar, Nigeria: Two Halves Of The Last Decade Compared

Reports of a rising incidence of ectopic pregnancy (EP) in the country and beyond prompted this study to determine the incidence in Calabar over two time frames. Information from ward registers and case notes of EP patients who presented to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital from 1991 to 1995 were analyzed and compared with records of those who presented from 1996 to 2000. In the second half of the study period, the incidence was 3.30 per 100 deliveries, significantly higher than 2.19% in the first (p = 0.0008). The mean age of EP patients was 26.2 (sd = 5.38), significantly lower than 28.8 (sd = 5.99) for women who delivered in the same period (p 0.05). The incidence of EP appears to be rising in Calabar and puerperal infections may be important in the rise. Population-based prospective studies are necessary to confirm the findings. KEYWORDS: Ectopic Pregnancy, Calabar, Nigeri

Hydrodynamic lift on bound vesicles

Bound vesicles subject to lateral forces such as arising from shear flow are investigated theoretically by combining a lubrication analysis of the bound part with a scaling approach to the global motion. A minor inclination of the bound part leads to significant lift due to the additive effects of lateral and tank-treading motions. With increasing shear rate, the vesicle unbinds from the substrate at a critical value. Estimates are in agreement with recent experimental data.Comment: 9 pages, one figur