The Flipped Class: Experiential Learning Manifested

Through the “flipped class,” students are introduced to new material outside the classroom before the traditional in-class lecture occurs. Ideally, flipping the class challenges students to engage in the lower levels cognitive work (remembering and understanding) outside of class. Students, then, are free to focus on higher order cognitive work (application, analysis, synthesis, and/or evaluation) in class, where they have the support of their peers and the instructor. To drive the requisite higher order cognitive work inside the classroom, it is important that in-class teaching and learning methodologies extend beyond simple information dissemination. Experiential learning, the process of transforming information into knowledge is critical to the success of the “flipped class.” As such, the “flipped class” must challenge students to find, interpret, communicate and turn knowledge into action. Peer-instruction is an important component of the process. Researchers suggest that experiential pedagogy similar to the “flipped class” have the potential to effectively engage today’s college students, aptly called “GenMe’ers,” because they expect to learn from each other rather than a professor whose authority they don’t respect, anyway

Stock market development and capital formation in selected African economies

Purpose – This study aims to explore the possibility that securities markets in selected African countries of Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa play a significant role in capital accumulation using panel data analysis. This is done by exploring the relationship between gross fixed capital formation on the one hand and financial market development indicators on the other hand. Thus, the study aims to examine if stock market size and liquidity are determinants of capital accumulation. Design/methodology/approach – The analysis is based on annual times series from 1991 through 2017 spanning four African stock markets. The analysis utilizes the fixed-effect and random-effect econometric models. The Durbin–Wu–Hausman test is used to choose between the two models. Findings – The key results indicate that stock market capitalization is a positive determinant of gross fixed capital formation. The market value traded and turnover have no relationship with capital formation. Therefore, the role of stock African stock markets in promoting capital accumulation and, subsequently, industrial growth in Africa is seriously questioned. Originality/value – Only a handful of studies have examined the role of the African securities market in promoting capital accumulation. This study is unique in which it focuses on the leading stock markets in the four corners of Africa. The markets are from Egypt in the north, South Africa from the south, Nigeria from the west and Kenya from the east. These four markets account for a significant segment of all African markets

Central nervous system depressant effect of the fruits of Piper guineense

The central nervous system depressant effect of the butanol extract of the fruits of Piper guineense was pharmacologically screened by measuring the prolongation of barbiturate sleeping time. Nine rats (n=9) were used and assigned into three groups, with each group comprising of three rats (n=3). Group A served as the Control, while Groups B and C served as tests. Thiopentone sodium (40 mg/kg body weight) was administered subcutaneously to the rats in Group A, 2 mg/kg of the butanolic extract of the fruits of Piper guineense was administered subcutaneously to the rats in Test Group B, 30 minutes before administering same dose of thiopentone sodium, while rats in Group C received 4 mg/kg of the butanolic extract 30 minutes before administering same dose of thiopentone sodium. The sleeping time was recorded. Student-t-test at 5% significance level was used to analyze the results obtained. The mean barbiturate sleeping time prolongation of 53.67 minutes was produced by 2 mg/kg of the extract while a dose of 4 mg/kg produced mean barbiturate sleeping time prolongation of 103.67 minutes. This study suggests that the fruits of Piper guineense have central nervous system depressant effect.Keywords: Piper guineense, fruits, glycosidic constituents, central nervous system, depressantBiokemistri 28(1): 34–3

The p110 delta structure: mechanisms for selectivity and potency of new PI(3)K inhibitors.

Deregulation of the phosphoinositide-3-OH kinase (PI(3)K) pathway has been implicated in numerous pathologies including cancer, diabetes, thrombosis, rheumatoid arthritis and asthma. Recently, small-molecule and ATP-competitive PI(3)K inhibitors with a wide range of selectivities have entered clinical development. In order to understand the mechanisms underlying the isoform selectivity of these inhibitors, we developed a new expression strategy that enabled us to determine to our knowledge the first crystal structure of the catalytic subunit of the class IA PI(3)K p110 delta. Structures of this enzyme in complex with a broad panel of isoform- and pan-selective class I PI(3)K inhibitors reveal that selectivity toward p110 delta can be achieved by exploiting its conformational flexibility and the sequence diversity of active site residues that do not contact ATP. We have used these observations to rationalize and synthesize highly selective inhibitors for p110 delta with greatly improved potencies

In vitro tocolytic effects of the glycosidic constituents of the fruits of Piper guineense

The tocolytic effect of the butanol fraction of the glycoside extract of the fruits of Piper guineense , was pharmacologically screened by measuring the uterine contractility. A state of oestrous was induced in three female rats through intramuscular injection of 0.1 \ub5g per 100 g body weight of stilboestrol. The animals were sacrificed; the two horns of the uterus were carefully dissected free of fat and connective tissues and divided into two pieces. Dose response curves were obtained using oxytocin alone, oxytocin plus butanolic fraction of the glycoside extract, and oxytocin plus salbutamol. Pretreatment of the uterine tissues with the glycoside extract or salbutamol resulted in inhibition of uterine contraction at low concentrations of oxytocin. The dose response curve of oxytocin inhibition by the glycoside extract is similar to that of salbutamol. This suggests that the bioactive component of the extract could be a competitive antagonist of oxytocin action

Growth, Mineral Deposition, and Physiological Responses of Broiler Chickens Offered Honey in Drinking Water during Hot-Dry Season

Growing broilers were offered either 0 (0H), 10 (10H), 20 mL (20H) honey, or 0.5 g vitamin C/litre water (AA) during hot-dry season. Honey had no significant (>0.05) effect on feed intake (FI), weight gain (WG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), water intake (WI), survival (SURV), dressed percentage (DRE), breast meat (BRE), gizzard (GIZ), drumstick (DRU), shank (SHA), thigh (THI), tibia volume (VOL), and magnesium (MAG). Effect of honey was significant (0.005). Higher dose of honey lowered PR and HR. Honey significantly (0.05) affected. 20H broilers had higher THY than 0H and 10H groups. In conclusion, honey did not affect growth but might improve broilers’ welfare when offered up to 20H during hot periods

Association of Genetic Variants With Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma Among Individuals With African Ancestry.

Importance:Primary open-angle glaucoma presents with increased prevalence and a higher degree of clinical severity in populations of African ancestry compared with European or Asian ancestry. Despite this, individuals of African ancestry remain understudied in genomic research for blinding disorders. Objectives:To perform a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of African ancestry populations and evaluate potential mechanisms of pathogenesis for loci associated with primary open-angle glaucoma. Design, Settings, and Participants:A 2-stage GWAS with a discovery data set of 2320 individuals with primary open-angle glaucoma and 2121 control individuals without primary open-angle glaucoma. The validation stage included an additional 6937 affected individuals and 14 917 unaffected individuals using multicenter clinic- and population-based participant recruitment approaches. Study participants were recruited from Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, the United States, Tanzania, Britain, Cameroon, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Morocco, Peru, and Mali from 2003 to 2018. Individuals with primary open-angle glaucoma had open iridocorneal angles and displayed glaucomatous optic neuropathy with visual field defects. Elevated intraocular pressure was not included in the case definition. Control individuals had no elevated intraocular pressure and no signs of glaucoma. Exposures:Genetic variants associated with primary open-angle glaucoma. Main Outcomes and Measures:Presence of primary open-angle glaucoma. Genome-wide significance was defined as P < 5 × 10-8 in the discovery stage and in the meta-analysis of combined discovery and validation data. Results:A total of 2320 individuals with primary open-angle glaucoma (mean [interquartile range] age, 64.6 [56-74] years; 1055 [45.5%] women) and 2121 individuals without primary open-angle glaucoma (mean [interquartile range] age, 63.4 [55-71] years; 1025 [48.3%] women) were included in the discovery GWAS. The GWAS discovery meta-analysis demonstrated association of variants at amyloid-β A4 precursor protein-binding family B member 2 (APBB2; chromosome 4, rs59892895T>C) with primary open-angle glaucoma (odds ratio [OR], 1.32 [95% CI, 1.20-1.46]; P = 2 × 10-8). The association was validated in an analysis of an additional 6937 affected individuals and 14 917 unaffected individuals (OR, 1.15 [95% CI, 1.09-1.21]; P < .001). Each copy of the rs59892895*C risk allele was associated with increased risk of primary open-angle glaucoma when all data were included in a meta-analysis (OR, 1.19 [95% CI, 1.14-1.25]; P = 4 × 10-13). The rs59892895*C risk allele was present at appreciable frequency only in African ancestry populations. In contrast, the rs59892895*C risk allele had a frequency of less than 0.1% in individuals of European or Asian ancestry. Conclusions and Relevance:In this genome-wide association study, variants at the APBB2 locus demonstrated differential association with primary open-angle glaucoma by ancestry. If validated in additional populations this finding may have implications for risk assessment and therapeutic strategies

Challenges of Residency Training and Early Career Doctors in Nigeria Phase II: Update on Objectives, Design, and Rationale of Study

Background: Early career doctors (ECDs) are a dynamic and highly mobile group of medical and dental practitioners who form a significant proportion of the health workforce in Nigeria. The challenges of residency training and ECDs in Nigeria CHARTING Phase I study explored limited challenges affecting ECDs under the broad themes of demography, workplace issues, and psychosocial issues. The CHARTING II was expanded to provide wider insight into the challenges of ECDs in Nigeria. Objective: This protocol aims to provide clear objectives including description of objectives, design, and rationale for the conduct of the proposed CHARTING II study which seeks to explore other components under the various themes of demographic, workplace, psychosocial issues affecting the ECDs in Nigeria, and which were not explored under CHARTING I.   Methodology: This shall be a mixed study design that will combine qualitative and quantitative methods, to investigate 27 subthemes among 2000 ECDs spread across 31 centers, accredited by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors. Participants shall be selected using the multistage sampling method. The primary data will be generated using structured proforma and validated questionnaires,while administrative sources would serve as a source of secondary data. Data will be entered and analyzed using appropriate statisticalsoftware. Conclusion: CHARTING II study would provide more robust data and insight into the problems encountered by ECDs in Nigeria. This would in turn build a platform for institutional engagement and advocacy in order to drive relevant policies to mitigate these challenges. Keywords: Early career doctors, Nigeria, residency, resident doctors, trainin