Chemical Information from Proximate and Elemental Composition of Acalypha hispida Leaf

Communication in Physical Sciences 2020, 5(2): 240-245 Authors: Abdulazeez, N. C. Nwokem, I. L. Ibrahim, H. L. Zubairu, A. Uthman and M. Abubakar Received 17 May 2020/Accepted 28 May 2020  Proximate and elemental compositions of plant leaves can provide useful information on the nutritional benefits of the plant. Proximate and elemental analysis of Acalypha hispida leaves were conducted using official and recommended methods. The result obtained indicated that the plant leaf contain moisture (11.02%), crude fat (6.05%), total ash (10.17%), crude protein (13.17%), crude fibre (10.36%) and carbohydrate (48.65%). Analysis for the presence of some elements indicated the presence of essential elements, which included iron, zinc and copper. The toxic lead was also found to be present in the plant leaves as Fe, Zn, Cu and Pb. Iron had the highest mean concentration of 20.7mg/g while concentrations of Zn, Cu, and Pb were 0.230, 0.778 and 1.729 mg/g respectively. Concentration of these metal ions were within the tolerance and safe limits for the human nutrition

A framework for semantic driven electronic examination system for subjective questions

In this paper, a theoretical framework that incorporates a semantic dictionary (WordNet) into the current eexamination system to support subjective question is proposed. The WordNet serves as a medium of enhancing the current e-examination system in which machines can process, interpret, and evaluate information for enhance knowledge retrieval. The approach adopted is hypothesized to solve the semantic mismatch issues in subjective e examination. An algorithm that explores the synset structure of WordNet databas e and which gives meaning of any term based on the available synonyms is proposed. The framework is implemented using Java programming language and a prototype of the proposed system is tested and compared with the existing system. Results show that words that are synonymous to any given correct answer are equally recognize as correct option. Hence, the e - examination system reliability, performance and assessment of depth of knowledge of students have been greatly increased. Keywords: E - examination, subjective question, WordNet, semanti

Should They Also Have Babies? Community Attitudes Toward Sexual and Reproductive Rights of People Living With HIV/AIDS in Nigeria

Background: People living with HIV have the right to healthy, satisfying sex lives and to appropriate services to ensure their sexual and reproductive health, including having healthy children. The reproductive rights of people living with HIV/AIDS are, however, often met with skepticism and discrimination, despite recent advances in HIV treatment. Objective: To assess the attitudes of community members in Kano, Nigeria, toward the right of persons living with HIV/AIDS to have healthy sexual relationships and bear children. Methods: A cross-section of 399 adults was interviewed using pretested structured questionnaires. Logistic regression analysis was used to obtain adjusted estimates for predictors of agreement with the rights of persons with HIV/AIDS to bear children. Findings: A substantial proportion of respondents (28.6%) strongly agreed and agreed (10.5%) that persons with HIV/AIDS should not be allowed to marry. More than a fifth of the respondents disagreed (16.0%) and strongly disagreed (8.0%) with the rights of HIV-infected persons to bear children. Agreement with the statement “HIV-infected persons should have biological children” was independently associated with higher educational status (adjusted odds ratio: 2.26, 95% confidence interval: 1.82-6.73) and awareness of prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission effectiveness (adjusted odds ratio: 2.53, 95% confidence interval: 1.92-5.37). Of those who agreed that HIV-infected persons should have children (n = 253), 17.8% and 26.1% strongly agreed and agreed, respectively, that persons living with HIV/AIDS should be restricted to having fewer children. Further, 11.5% and 4.8% of respondents disagreed and strongly disagreed, respectively, that infertile HIV-infected couples should receive fertility treatment. Conclusions: People living with HIV/AIDS face discriminatory attitudes to their reproductive rights in northern Nigeria. There is a need for effective, culturally appropriate information, education, and communication approaches to improving community perceptions of sexual and reproductive rights of people living with HIV/AIDS

Evaluation of the physical, chemical, bacteriological and trace metals concentrations in different brands of packaged drinking water

—Human survival largely depends on potable water quality. This study used current analytical procedures and compared with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC) drinking water specification to evaluate the physio-chemical and microbiological characteristics of fifteen packaged water brands that are available locally. Atomic absorption spectroscopy was used to determine trace metals while instrumental techniques determined the physical and chemical parameters. The evaluation focused on the pH, colour, total dissolved solids, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, fluoride, chloride, iron, zinc, magnesium, calcium, potassium, and sodium. In all the samples examined, chromium, manganese, cadmium, and copper were not detected. However, total bacterial counts were discovered in samples (S1, S2, S3, B1 and B2) with values of 2, 3, 5, 3 and 1 cfu/100 ml, respectively. Packaged water containing these type and quantity of bacteria are not fit for consumption by human beings. It requires the most appropriate techniques for processing

Qur’anic Ethics for Environmental Responsibility: Implications for Business Practice

Despite the growing interest in examining the role of religious beliefs as a guide towards environmental conscious actions, there is still a lack of research informed by an analysis of divine messages. This deficiency includes the extent to which ethics for environmental responsibility are promoted within textual divine messages; types of environmental themes promoted within the text of divine messages; and implications of such religious environmental ethics for business practice. The present study attempts to fill this gap by conducting a thorough content analysis of environmental themes within the divine message of Muslims (the Qur’an) focusing on their related ethical aspects and business implications. The analysis has revealed 675 verses in 84 chapters throughout all 30 parts of the Qur’an, with environmental content relating to the core components of the natural world, i.e. human beings, water, air, land, plants, animals, and other natural resources. This environmental content and its related ethics are grounded on the belief that humans are vicegerents of God on the earth and their behaviours and actions are motivated by earthly and heavenly rewards. Implications of these findings for different sectors/businesses are also highlighted

Many Labs 2: Investigating Variation in Replicability Across Samples and Settings

We conducted preregistered replications of 28 classic and contemporary published findings, with protocols that were peer reviewed in advance, to examine variation in effect magnitudes across samples and settings. Each protocol was administered to approximately half of 125 samples that comprised 15,305 participants from 36 countries and territories. Using the conventional criterion of statistical significance (p < .05), we found that 15 (54%) of the replications provided evidence of a statistically significant effect in the same direction as the original finding. With a strict significance criterion (p < .0001), 14 (50%) of the replications still provided such evidence, a reflection of the extremely highpowered design. Seven (25%) of the replications yielded effect sizes larger than the original ones, and 21 (75%) yielded effect sizes smaller than the original ones. The median comparable Cohen’s ds were 0.60 for the original findings and 0.15 for the replications. The effect sizes were small (< 0.20) in 16 of the replications (57%), and 9 effects (32%) were in the direction opposite the direction of the original effect. Across settings, the Q statistic indicated significant heterogeneity in 11 (39%) of the replication effects, and most of those were among the findings with the largest overall effect sizes; only 1 effect that was near zero in the aggregate showed significant heterogeneity according to this measure. Only 1 effect had a tau value greater than .20, an indication of moderate heterogeneity. Eight others had tau values near or slightly above .10, an indication of slight heterogeneity. Moderation tests indicated that very little heterogeneity was attributable to the order in which the tasks were performed or whether the tasks were administered in lab versus online. Exploratory comparisons revealed little heterogeneity between Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic (WEIRD) cultures and less WEIRD cultures (i.e., cultures with relatively high and low WEIRDness scores, respectively). Cumulatively, variability in the observed effect sizes was attributable more to the effect being studied than to the sample or setting in which it was studied.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Sociales::Instituto de Investigaciones Psicológicas (IIP

Correlates of human papillomavirus vaccine knowledge and acceptability among medical and allied health students in Northern Nigeria

Prior to its planned introduction, we investigated predictors of baseline knowledge and acceptability of HPV vaccination among medical and allied health care students in Kano, northern Nigeria. A total of 410 medical, dental and allied health students completed structured validated questionnaires. Knowledge scores and acceptability of HPV vaccine were determined and adjusted odds ratios (AOR) for predictors of HPV knowledge and acceptability were derived from multivariate logistic regression models. Overall, 3.7% (n = 15), 30.7% (n = 126) and 65.6% (n = 269) of respondents had good, moderate, and poor knowledge of HPV, respectively. The majority 334 (81.5%) were willing to accept the HPV vaccine, but only 18 (4.4%) had received at least one dose of the vaccine. Knowledge of HPV was better among females, younger (<20 years) medical students, students at higher levels of study, sexually experienced students, and condom users. HPV vaccine acceptance was higher among female students in the faculty of allied health with a family history of cervical cancer and good or moderate knowledge of HPV. In conclusion, most students were willing to receive HPV vaccination, despite their sub-optimal level of knowledge and low vaccine uptake. We recommend piloting the HPV vaccine in health colleges and recruiting early adopters as peer educators and advocates.IMPACT STATEMENT What is already known on this subject? Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine has been introduced in over 80 countries in the past decade, but evidence suggests low awareness of HPV infection and the vaccine, especially in developing countries. Nigeria proposes to introduce the HPV vaccine as part of the routine immunisation program in early 2021. What do the results of this study add? The majority of medical and allied health students in Kano, Nigeria, were willing to receive HPV vaccination, despite their sub-optimal level of knowledge and low vaccine uptake. Vaccine acceptance was predicted by the respondent’s sex, course of study, family history of cervical cancer and knowledge of HPV. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? The findings could inform program implementation and evaluation as HPV vaccine uptake is scaled up across Africa

Blood and body fluids exposure, post-exposure prophylaxis, and HIV self-testing among healthcare workers in northern Nigeria

Introduction In high-HIV burden settings, such as Nigeria, HIV self-testing and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) are often recommended, but not widely practiced. This study aims to identify the predictors of PEP utilization and preferences for HIV self-testing among healthcare workers in Nigeria. Methods A total of 403 healthcare workers from a tertiary hospital in Nigeria completed questionnaires. Adjusted odds ratios were derived from logistic regression models. Results Among the respondents, 141 (35.0%) reported experiencing at least one workplace exposure incident, with 72 (51.1%) of them receiving PEP. The majority of healthcare workers (n = 354, 87.8%) expressed a preference for HIV self-testing over traditional HIV testing and counseling. The occurrence of exposure incidents was predicted by the respondent’s sex (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.25; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.15-3.08, female vs. male), age (aOR = 0. 16; 95% CI: 0.03-0.92, >40 vs. <30 years), profession (aOR = 1.88; 95% CI: 1.18-4.66, nurse/midwife vs. physician), work unit (aOR = 0.06; 95% CI: 0.02-0.23, obstetrics/gynecology vs. surgery), and previous HIV testing and counseling (aOR = 0.01; 95% Cl: 0.004-0.03, no vs. yes). Respondent’s profession, work unit, and previous HIV testing and counseling independently predicted a preference for HIV self-testing. Conclusion Further exploration of the feasibility of implementing HIV self-testing as an alternative to traditional HIV testing and counseling for workplace exposures is warranted