The Comparative Effects of Simulation Games and Brainstorming Instructional Strategies on Junior Secondary School Students’ Achievement in Social Studies in Nigeria

The study investigated the comparative effects of simulation games andbrainstorming instructional strategies on Junior Secondary School Students’achievement in Social Studies in Nigeria. The study adopted a quasiexperimental design (3 x 2 non-randomized pre-test, post-test control group) comprising three groups made up of two experimental groups and one control. Simple random sampling was employed in selecting 240 students from six selected schools comprising two arms of JSS 2. Four instruments namely: “Social Studies Achievement Test” (SSAT), “Operational Guide for Simulation Games” (OGSG), “Operational Guide on Brainstorming” (OGB) and “Operational Guide for Teacher Exposition” (OGTE) were used with reliability coefficients of 0.84, 0.76, 0.81 and 0.78 respectively. Three research hypotheses were generated and tested. Data analysis was done using mean, standard deviation, and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). Results revealed that there was a significant main effect of the treatment on students’ achievement in Social Studies (F(2,233) = 159.321; P < 0.05). Findings also indicated that there was a significant main effect of gender on students’ achievement in Social Studies. (F(1.233) = 20.687; P < 0.05) and finally, results showed that there was significant interaction effect of treatment and gender on students’ achievement in Social Studies (F(2.233) = 17.644; P < 0.05). Based on the findings of the study, recommendations were made.Key words: Simulation games, brainstorming, instructional strategies,students’ achievement, Social Studie

Criblage phytochimique et potentiel érectile de Turraea heterophylla de Côte d’Ivoire

Objectif : l’étude a pour objet de rechercher de nouvelles sources végétales médicamenteuses dans le traitement de l’impuissance sexuelle.Méthodologie et résultats: Ainsi, le criblage phytochimique réalisé sur l’extrait de Turraea heterophylla (Eth) communément appelé "cure-dent gouro", a révélé la présence de phytocomposés tels que les stérols, terpènes, alcaloïdes, coumarines, sucres réducteurs, polyphénols, saponines stéroïdes et les protéines. L’évaluation de l’effet de Eth sur l’artère aorte isolé de cobaye a montré une vasorelaxation favorable à une meilleure circulation sanguine, laquelle est à l’origine du potentiel érectile. Ce potentiel érectile serait lié à l’action de certains métabolites secondaires tels que les terpènes et les alcaloïdes détectés dans Eth. Par ailleurs, Eth induit des effets secondaires négligeables sur la pression artérielle (hypotension dosedépendante) et sur l’électrocardiogramme (inhibition modérée de l’activité cardiaque).Conclusion et application : Le criblage phytochimique réalisé sur l’extrait méthanolique de Turraea heterophylla (Eth) a permis d’identifier des stérols, terpènes, alcaloïdes, coumarines, sucres réducteurs, polyphénols, saponosides stéroïdes et des protéines. A cette plante couramment employée par les guérisseurs pour traiter les troubles érectiles en Côte d’Ivoire, nous avons rattaché la vasorelaxation à l’érection pénienne. Eth induit une vasorelaxation favorable à une meilleure circulation sanguine, laquelle est à la base du potentiel érectile qui serait lié à l’action de certains métabolites secondaires suspectés tels que les terpènes et les alcaloïdes décelés dans Eth. Par ailleurs, Eth induit une hypotension dosedépendante et une inhibition modérées de l’activité cardiaque. Ces tests biologiques indiquent bien que Turraea heterophylla a non seulement des propriétés érectiles mais également manifeste des effets secondaires négligeables sur la pression artérielle et sur l’électrocardiogramme. C’est donc une approche rationnelle qui justifierait l’emploi récurrent de cette plante dans le traitement traditionnel de l’impuissance sexuelle en Côte d’Ivoire.Mots clés: Turraea heterophylla, criblage phytochimique, potentiel érectile, Côte d’Ivoir

Comparative biochemical and molecular evaluation of swarming of Proteus and effects of anti-swarm agents

In addition to inadequate understanding of swarming motility and virulence of Proteus, there is paucity of information on the relative effectiveness of the various anti-swarm agents. The anti-swarming effects of urea, sodium dodecylsulphate (SDS) and trihydroxymethylglycine (Tris) on 40 clinical isolates of Proteus Spp. were comparatively investigated and plasmids associated with swarming were characterized. The three substances elicited a comparable concentration-dependent anti-swarming property at 0.25 – 1.25% on nutrient agar. Anti-swarm agents displayed heterogeneity in their ability to cause significant decreases in the expression of virulence factors. Swarm motility was further found to be strongly associated with the expression of virulence factors in these strains. Of the Proteus strains tested, 32 were found to harbour 1 – 4 plasmids of size ranging from 6.0 – 33.5 kb. Plasmid curing resulted in loss of swarming in 65.6% of these strains. In order to reduce the risk of infection with virulent Proteus strains, the laboratory use of urea and SDS is suggested. Key Words: Proteus, swarming, urea, SDS, Tris. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol.3(1) 2004: 99-10

Lymphomas of the female genital tract in Ibadan

Context: Female genital tract cancers are second only to breast malignancies. Cervical cancer is the commonest while epithelial cancers constitute the major histologic type. Lymphoid neoplasms are extremely rare, with the Burkitt's variety accounting for majority of cases seen in the African female.Objective: This is a review of the obstetric/gynaecological patients seen at the University College Hospital, Ibadan between 1976 and 2005, predating the commencement of a nationwide research into non – Hodgkin's lymphoma funded by the Aboderin Foundation.Study Design: Records of subjects were analysed for their  sociodemographic and clinicopathological characteristics, recruiting only those who satisfy the criteria for diagnosing genital tract lymphomas according to Kosari et al1. Retrievable archival paraffin blocks of subjects were also analysed using immunophenotyping.Results: Fifteen cases were identified within the study period; the highest yearly incidence rate being 3 in 1977. In eighteen of the years studied no cases were seen. Most cases (80.0%) occurred in the ovaries. Eighty percent (12) of patients were 25 years or below and nulliparas and grandmultiparas formed 46.7 and 13.4% respectively. Unilateral orbilateral oophorectomy was the commonest surgical procedure (53.3%) while 20.0% had total abdominal hysterectomy with or without bilateral salpingoophorectomy. Data were unavailable concerning use of adjuvanttherapy and outcome of treatment. Four archival paraffin blocks were available for immunophenotyping using the affordable panel of CD20, CD10 and Bcl – 2 antibodies; all were Burkitt's lymphoma.Conclusion: Female genital lymphomas are very rare, affecting the young and nulliparous. The Burkitt's type is commonest

Free Wave Propagation in Plates of General Anisotropic Media

The propagation of Lamb waves in plates has been the subject of numerous investigations since their postulation by Lamb in 1916 [1,2]. Most of the work in existence deals with various aspects of these guided waves in plates of isotropic materials. Comparatively speaking a limited number of results has appeared in which Lamb or horizontaly polarized SH wave propagation in anisotropic plates has been considered in any detail. For Lamb waves, theoretical analyses have been reported in plates of cubic [3,4], transversely isotropic [5,6], and orthotropic [7,9] media

Thoracoscopic Thymectomy for Myasthenia Gravis: An Early Experience in Yemen

Yasser Abdurabo Obadiel,1 Mohammed Mohammed Al-Shehari,1 Ali Lotf Al-Shawesh,2 Basma Abdulaleem Al-Huribi,2 Haitham Mohammed Jowah3 1Department of Surgery, Al-Thawra Modern General Hospital, Sana’a University, Sana’a City, Yemen; 2Department of Surgery, Al-Thawra Modern General Hospital, Sana’a City, Yemen; 3Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Sana’a University, Sana’a City, YemenCorrespondence: Haitham Mohammed Jowah, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Sana’a University, Sana’a City, Yemen, Tel +967774831058, Email [email protected]: Thymectomy is an option for the treatment of myasthenia gravis (MG). While the open technique was most frequently performed in the past, nowadays the endoscopic approach has gained wide acceptance. Here we assessed our early experience in thoracoscopic thymectomy (TT).Methods: This case series was retrospectively conducted at Al-Thawra Modern General Hospital and included all patients diagnosed with MG who underwent TT from January 2018 to January 2024.Results: Our case series consisted of 13 predominantly female patients (61.5%), with a median age of 39.5 years. Surgeries typically lasted 50 ± 10.41 minutes, with the majority performed using a left-sided thoracoscopic approach (n=10, 77%). Immediate extubation was achieved in 10 patients (76%). Four patients experienced early postoperative complications (31%), including dyspnoea, prolonged intubation, chest infection, confusion, tracheostomy, and re-tracheostomy. There were 2 recorded deaths due to complications. Eleven patients were followed up for an average of 16.5 months, revealing that 54.5% achieved complete stable remission, 18% showed improvement with reduced symptoms and medications, and 27% remained unchanged.Conclusion: Thoracoscopic thymectomy is feasible and effective procedure for the management of MG in Yemeni patients. The observed remission and improvement rates are promising and align with global experiences. It is recommended that with proper resources and expertise, similar minimally invasive surgical approaches can be implemented in resource-limited regions.Plain language summary: This study was conducted to evaluate the use of thoracoscopic thymectomy (TT) for the treatment of myasthenia gravis (MG) at Al-Thawra Modern General Hospital. In this study, we included 13 predominantly female patients with a median age of 39.5 years. The most common symptoms experienced by the patients were generalized weakness and ptosis (drooping of the eyelids).During the surgeries, which typically lasted around 50 minutes, we primarily used a left-sided thoracoscopic approach. We were successful in immediately removing the breathing tube in 10 out of 13 patients. However, four patients experienced early postoperative complications, including difficulties in breathing, longer intubation, chest infection, confusion, and the need for tracheostomy.Out of the 13 patients, two unfortunately passed away due to complications. We followed up with 11 patients for an average of 16.5 months and observed that 54.5% of them achieved complete stable remission, meaning they had no MG symptoms and did not require any treatment for at least one year. Additionally, 18% of the patients showed improvement with reduced symptoms and medication usage, while 27% remained unchanged.Based on our findings, we conclude that thoracoscopic thymectomy is a safe and effective procedure for managing MG in Yemeni patients. The remission and improvement rates we observed align with experiences from around the world. We believe that with appropriate resources and expertise, similar minimally invasive surgical approaches can be implemented in resource-limited regions.Keywords: indications, early complications, thoracoscopic thymectomy, Yeme

Neutron Scattering and Its Application to Strongly Correlated Systems

Neutron scattering is a powerful probe of strongly correlated systems. It can directly detect common phenomena such as magnetic order, and can be used to determine the coupling between magnetic moments through measurements of the spin-wave dispersions. In the absence of magnetic order, one can detect diffuse scattering and dynamic correlations. Neutrons are also sensitive to the arrangement of atoms in a solid (crystal structure) and lattice dynamics (phonons). In this chapter, we provide an introduction to neutrons and neutron sources. The neutron scattering cross section is described and formulas are given for nuclear diffraction, phonon scattering, magnetic diffraction, and magnon scattering. As an experimental example, we describe measurements of antiferromagnetic order, spin dynamics, and their evolution in the La(2-x)Ba(x)CuO(4) family of high-temperature superconductors.Comment: 31 pages, chapter for "Strongly Correlated Systems: Experimental Techniques", edited by A. Avella and F. Mancin

Terminal Pleistocene Alaskan genome reveals first founding population of Native Americans

Despite broad agreement that the Americas were initially populated via Beringia, the land bridge that connected far northeast Asia with northwestern North America during the Pleistocene epoch, when and how the peopling of the Americas occurred remains unresolved. Analyses of human remains from Late Pleistocene Alaska are important to resolving the timing and dispersal of these populations. The remains of two infants were recovered at Upward Sun River (USR), and have been dated to around 11.5 thousand years ago (ka). Here, by sequencing the USR1 genome to an average coverage of approximately 17 times, we show that USR1 is most closely related to Native Americans, but falls basal to all previously sequenced contemporary and ancient Native Americans. As such, USR1 represents a distinct Ancient Beringian population. Using demographic modelling, we infer that the Ancient Beringian population and ancestors of other Native Americans descended from a single founding population that initially split from East Asians around 36 ± 1.5 ka, with gene flow persisting until around 25 ± 1.1 ka. Gene flow from ancient north Eurasians into all Native Americans took place 25–20 ka, with Ancient Beringians branching off around 22–18.1 ka. Our findings support a long-term genetic structure in ancestral Native Americans, consistent with the Beringian ‘standstill model’. We show that the basal northern and southern Native American branches, to which all other Native Americans belong, diverged around 17.5–14.6 ka, and that this probably occurred south of the North American ice sheets. We also show that after 11.5 ka, some of the northern Native American populations received gene flow from a Siberian population most closely related to Koryaks, but not Palaeo-Eskimos, Inuits or Kets, and that Native American gene flow into Inuits was through northern and not southern Native American groups. Our findings further suggest that the far-northern North American presence of northern Native Americans is from a back migration that replaced or absorbed the initial founding population of Ancient Beringians

Femtosecond control of electric currents at the interfaces of metallic ferromagnetic heterostructures

The idea to utilize not only the charge but also the spin of electrons in the operation of electronic devices has led to the development of spintronics, causing a revolution in how information is stored and processed. A novel advancement would be to develop ultrafast spintronics using femtosecond laser pulses. Employing terahertz (10$^{12}$ Hz) emission spectroscopy, we demonstrate optical generation of spin-polarized electric currents at the interfaces of metallic ferromagnetic heterostructures at the femtosecond timescale. The direction of the photocurrent is controlled by the helicity of the circularly polarized light. These results open up new opportunities for realizing spintronics in the unprecedented terahertz regime and provide new insights in all-optical control of magnetism.Comment: 3 figures and 2 tables in the main tex

Photonic Analogue of Two-dimensional Topological Insulators and Helical One-Way Edge Transport in Bi-Anisotropic Metamaterials

Recent progress in understanding the topological properties of condensed matter has led to the discovery of time-reversal invariant topological insulators. Because of limitations imposed by nature, topologically non-trivial electronic order seems to be uncommon except in small-band-gap semiconductors with strong spin-orbit interactions. In this Article we show that artificial electromagnetic structures, known as metamaterials, provide an attractive platform for designing photonic analogues of topological insulators. We demonstrate that a judicious choice of the metamaterial parameters can create photonic phases that support a pair of helical edge states, and that these edge states enable one-way photonic transport that is robust against disorder.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figure