The Native as Ethnographer: Doing Social Research in Globalizing Nsukka

Researchers have noted how local attitudes that connect research to the external world could affect findings differently in different contexts. How this played out for an indigenous researcher is the new perspective presented in this paper. Although an indigene of the study area, I became an outsider of sorts as soon as I began to show interest in malaria in a way that suggested to locals that the results of my investigation could eventually get to the government or the Western world – locals saw those two entities as embodying power and material abundance. Although I worked as an insider, I noticed that my position as a researcher also gave me an identity of the authority and power of the state and the global North. As soon as I began fieldwork, targets began to respond to me more or less as they would do to representatives of government or the North; for whatever I eventually get “out there,” irrespective of my identity, could be crucial information for local wellbeing. Again, locals (especially in predominantly non-literate settings) often associate paper and writing to government and organizations based outside local communities. This played out as I requested some participants to sign consent forms. They were uneasy to sign the forms, and those who did sign became less open afterwards. This brought home the point that ethics of social research need not be rigidly followed across diverse contexts. In all, factors such as level of literacy and general perception of the ultimate purpose of research among the target population will affect data validity to different degrees irrespective of the researcher’s identity

In vivo antiplasmodial potential of Carrageenan and Prosopis africana buccal films of artemether on malariogenic mice

Objective: To deliver bioadhesive buccal films of artemether (ART) with ability to adhere, hydrate and release drug across the buccal membrane. Methods: Buccal films prepared by film casting using carrageenan (CAR) and Prosopis africana (PRO) were characterized by size, zeta potential, texture, water content, morphology, thermal and interaction studies, in vitro and in vivo antiplasmodial activity in mice. Results: Films were stable with sizes (2442 and 835 nm), water content (21 and 15 %), bioadhesivity (24 and 9.4 %) and film thickness (0.18 and 0.28 mm) for CARART and PROART respectively. Enthalpy of CARART, PROART and ART were 76, 22 and 88 J/g where as parasitaemia reduction of 67 and 76 % were observed for CARART and PROART respectively. Conclusion: Though CARART had better water content and bioadhesivity necessary for film hydration at buccal membrane, PROART eventually had superior buccal performance perhaps due to its film thickness and amorphous nanoparticle subdivision. Key words: Artemether; Carrageenan; Prosopis africana; Sublingual buccal films; Malari

Making-up Malaria Data: A Nigerian Example

This study sets out to examine the processes through which data are generated on malaria in Nigeria. It focused on the Roll-Back Malaria (RBM) initiative, examining the case as it applies to Nsukka, a local community in southeast Nigeria. The study relied on written sources as well as on ethnographic and quantitative strategies for data collection. The findings reveal that, if cross-examined with facts in this locus, most national pronouncements on malaria data will be seen to be counterfactual. And because the RBM initiative is run and controlled by the same national authorities that recently proclaimed Nsukka as the best example in the implementation of the program in Nigeria, our results therefore seem to have a national significance. The importance of the results of this study for Sub-Saharan Africa is based on the declaration by the International Health establishment and national authorities that Nigeria bears a greater malaria burden than any other country in the sub-region. Hence, if any aspect of the major suppositions regarding malaria in Nigeria is altered, it has very important implications for the profile of the disease in Sub-Saharan Africa

NEOLIBERALISM AND INTERVENTION PHILOSOPHY IN AFRICA: MYTH OF UNDERDIFFERENTIATION

A plethora of topics has been examined within the neoliberal discourse.In Africa, most of these bear, in one way or another, on the adverse consequences of the neoliberal turn. But the neoliberal impact can never be understood separate from contextual and socio-historical configurations. Through a critical reading of both empirical and theoretical literature on neoliberalism, this paper shows that, ultimately, it is the same old intervention philosophy– motivated by the same old social evolutionary thinking –that still drives the neoliberal policy thrust. We lean on the complexity theory to contend that the failures of neoliberalism in Africa are neither due to lack of adequate knowledge of how to implement it nor the political will to do so, but tothe fact that the programme is being deployed, without due modification, to social settings for which it is not suited. Development anthropologists are convinced that the best strategy for change is to base the social designs on the local social form in each target area. There is no alternative tobasing the plans and policies for progress across African societies on theeconomic peculiarities of the different local settings. One-size-shoe-fits-all short cuts have never worked anywhere

Improving the structure, tensile strength and hardness of molybdenum-doped copper-silicon alloy system

Abstract: Cu-Be alloys are known for their outstanding strength, hardness, and electrical conductivity. They are often used in applications where high performance is required, such as aerospace, electronics, and telecommunications. One significant drawback of Cu-Be alloys is that beryllium is toxic and poses health risks, especially during the manufacturing and machining processes. This has led to concerns about worker safety and environmental impact. In this study, novel Cu-Si-Mo ternary alloys composition with improved tensile strength, ductility, and hardness are produced. The Cu-3Si-xMo (x: 0.1-5 wt%) alloys were fabricated via stir-casting technique. The surface morphologies of the Cu-Si and Cu-Si-Mo alloys were investigated and linked with the mechanical properties using optical metallurgical microscope (OM). Results of the study indicated that tensile strength, ductility, and hardness of the parent alloy improved significantly, recording maximum values of 130 MPa, 18.4%, and 192 BHN, respectively. Alloy with composition; Cu-3Si-1.5Mo gave the best mechanical properties, owing to increased solid solution strengthening, modification, and refinement of the dendritic grains by molybdenum addition. Keywords: Strength, hardness; morphology; Cu-Si-Mo alloy; composition. Title: Improving the structure, tensile strength and hardness of molybdenum-doped copper-silicon alloy system Author: Agatha Ifeoma Ijomah, Kingsley Chidi Nnakwo, Jerome Ugwu Odo, Ifeanacho Uchenna Okeke International Journal of Mechanical and Industrial Technology ISSN 2348-7593 (Online) Vol. 11, Issue 1, April 2023 - September 2023 Page No: 54-59 Research Publish Journals Website: www.researchpublish.com Published Date: 15-September-2023 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8348223 Paper Download Link (Source) https://www.researchpublish.com/papers/improving-the-structure-tensile-strength-and-hardness-of-molybdenum-doped-copper-silicon-alloy-systemInternational Journal of Mechanical and Industrial Technology, ISSN 2348-7593 (Online), Research Publish Journals, Website: www.researchpublish.co

Measuring the Impact of Social Media on Young People’s Mental Health: Development and Validation of the Social Media-Induced Tendency Scale

Social media use has been linked to adverse health outcomes such as depression. To facilitate interventions, understanding the varied causes of depression is necessary. The authors developed a social media-induced depression tendency (SMIDT) scale for use with young people and aimed to validate it for young people in Nigeria. The study was conducted in three parts using an online survey (Google Forms) with purposive sampling targeting young people. Study 1 was an exploratory study that developed the SMIDT scale with 361 young people aged 16 to 26 years (mean age=22.81). A concise measure of SMIDT was obtained. In study 2, confirmatory factor analysis was performed on the SMIDT with young people aged 17 to 25 years (mean age=23.61). Construct, discriminant, and concurrent validities were established, and three factors were identified (sensitivity/attention seeking, worthlessness, and escapism/reality avoidance), which explained 55.87% of the variance. Study 3 tested the predictive validity of the scale. The results showed that the 15-item SMIDT scale had high internal consistency and satisfactory validity. The SMIDT scale can enable the assessment of factors associated with social media-induced depression tendency. The three factors identified in the scale provide insight into the factors contributing to depression associated with social media use. The SMIDT scale has the potential to help identify at-risk individuals and in-developing interventions to prevent or reduce social media-induced depression tendencies. However, this study only focused on young people in Nigeria. Additional studies using the SMIDT scale are required to assess its generalizability and applicability in evaluating other factors, such as quality of life among young people. Moreover, while social media use has been associated with adverse health outcomes, it is crucial to recognize that it can also positively affect mental health. Further research is necessary to explore the complex relationships between social media use and mental health outcomes