Towards the institutionalization of divorce mediation in Nigeria: a case study of Enugu State

Nigerian divorce laws and the divorce litigation process pose severe psychological, social-cultural, economic, and legal problems for families going through divorce in Nigeria. This thesis argues that divorce mediation may be able to ameliorate the harsh effects of these laws and process. This thesis seeks to achieve the following objectives: (1) To determine if the divorce mediation process can achieve the goals of a good divorce process, (2) To determine if the divorce mediation process can provide solutions to the myriad of unique problems which face families going through divorce in Nigeria, and (3) To determine the possibility of incorporating divorce mediation into the family dispute resolution system in Nigeria through an institutionalized divorce mediation program at the government-funded citizens' mediation centres. These objectives are achieved through an in-depth review of the customary and statutory laws regulating marriage and divorce in Nigeria as well as a review of the divorce litigation process in Nigeria. This thesis employs both desk and empirical research methods. It examines legislation, policy documents and academic treatises on divorce and divorce mediation. It also utilizes semistructured interviews to examine the Citizens' Rights and Mediation Centre, Enugu State, to determine its viability as a vehicle for the institutionalization of divorce mediation in Nigeria. The thesis finds that indeed divorce mediation achieves the aims of good divorce law. It further finds that while the divorce mediation process is not a panacea, its features lend themselves easily to the resolution of the myriad of problems which face families going through divorce in Nigeria. It also finds that divorce mediation can be incorporated into the Nigerian family dispute resolution system through an institutionalized divorce mediation program at the state-funded citizens' mediation centres present in several states in the country. It concludes that incorporating divorce mediation into the family dispute resolution system in Nigeria will ameliorate some of the harsh effects of the current divorce system. It offers short and long term proposals for the institutionalization of divorce mediation in Nigeria

Assessment of food insecurity among rural households in Abia State

Background and objective: Food insecurity and hunger are forerunners to nutritional, health, human and economic development problems. The study was carried out to assess food insecurity and its effects on rural dwellers in Oloko and Oboro in Ikwuano Local Government Area, Abia state. Methods: A random sampling technique was employed in selecting 400 households in Oboro and Oloko villages, in Ikwuano Local Government Area. A validated questionnaire was used to elicit information from the respondents. The study was a cross-sectional study. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and presented in tables and figures Results: The study showed that a good number (75.5%) of the households were aware of food insecurity. Some (16.2%) households indicated they had experienced food scarcity, which was mostly as a result of (75.0%) crop failure which led to reduction in frequency of food consumption in 67.0% of the respondents. A good number (7.2%) worried that they did not have enough to eat, while 7.2% worried that they may have enough but not the kinds they want. Majority (71.0%) of the households sometimes worried that they do not eat a balanced diet. A total of 9.8% of the households reduced meals for family members. Adults (15.0%) skip meals because food wasn’t enough to go round (8.5%) while (1.2%) were in order to allow children have enough. Conclusion: This study has revealed that a good number (16.2%) of rural households have experienced food insecurity, which made them reduce the frequency of food consumption (67.0%), reduce meals for family members, and skip meals. Using the food security scale developed by USDA, it has been found that majority of the studied households are food insecure without hunger

Getting to Yes: How to Generate Consensus for Targeted Universalism

Originally developed by professor and critical race scholar John A. Powell, targeted universalism is an approach to change management that simultaneously aims for a universal goal while also addressing disparities in opportunities among sub-groups.This issue brief describes how FSG used a set of specific methods to clarify the essential elements of targeted universalism with the community stakeholders of a collective impact initiative focused on education outcomes in Staten Island

Farm animal genomics and informatics: an update

Farm animal genomics is of interest to a wide audience of researchers because of the utility derived from understanding how genomics and proteomics function in various organisms. Applications such as xenotransplantation, increased livestock productivity, bioengineering new materials, products and even fabrics are several reasons for thriving farm animal genome activity. Currently mined in rapidly growing data warehouses, completed genomes of chicken, fish and cows are available but are largely stored in decentralized data repositories. In this paper, we provide an informatics primer on farm animal bioinformatics and genome project resources which drive attention to the most recent advances in the field. We hope to provide individuals in biotechnology and in the farming industry with information on resources and updates concerning farm animal genome projects

Lifestyle and anthropometric assessment of in-school adolescents in rural and urban communities of Nsukka Local Government Area, Enugu State, Nigeria

Background: Adolescence is marked by considerable existential conflicts as well as exposure and vulnerability to substance abuse. Poor lifestyle behaviour of adolescents today constitute risk factor for future adult’s health status. The study assessed the anthropometric status and lifestyle behaviour of in-school adolescents of rural and urban communities in Nsukka local government area, Enugu state. Methods: A cross sectional study of 375 in-school adolescents randomly selected from urban and rural secondary schools in Nsukka local government area was done using a multistage sampling technique. Structured and validated questionnaire were administered to the subjects to elicit information on the socio-demographic, socio-economic and lifestyle behavior characteristics. Anthropometric assessment was carried out using standard methods and the data obtained was categorized using World Health Organization Z- scores standard. Data obtained from the questionnaire was analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 21. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the data and inferential statistics (t-test and chi-square) was used to compare associations. Significance level was set at p<0.05. Results: More than half (69.3%) of the respondents were females, 48.5% of the respondents were in the middle adolescence (14 -16 years). The prevalence rates of underweight and obesity among the adolescents in the urban areas are 26.9% and 0.8% respectively while in the rural areas they are 22.1% and 1.2% respectively. Proportion that participated in exercise were 85.7% and 80.8% in the rural and urban areas respectively but more of those in the urban areas took part in vigorous intensity exercises (65.4%). Smoking pattern showed that 0.8% and 1.2% in the urban and rural areas indulged in cigarette smoking and only rural adolescents admitted to the smoking of Indian hemp (3.7%). Alcohol intake was also significantly higher in the rural adolescents (31.4%) when compared to their urban counterparts (12.3%). There exists significant difference (p=0.000) for alcohol intake between the urban and rural adolescents, frequency of physical activity between the rural and urban adolescents, education level of sponsors in both rural and urban areas. There also exists a significance difference (p=0.003) for the duration of physical activities. Conclusion: This study revealed prevalence of double burden of malnutrition (overweight/obesity and underweight), poor lifestyle behavior among adolescents in urban and rural secondary schools in Nsukka

Linking Pathological Oscillations With Altered Temporal Processing in Parkinsons Disease: Neurophysiological Mechanisms and Implications for Neuromodulation.

Emerging evidence suggests that Parkinson's disease (PD) results from disrupted oscillatory activity in cortico-basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical (CBGTC) and cerebellar networks which can be partially corrected by applying deep brain stimulation (DBS). The inherent dynamic nature of such oscillatory activity might implicate that is represents temporal aspects of motor control. While the timing of muscle activities in CBGTC networks constitute the temporal dimensions of distinct motor acts, these very networks are also involved in somatosensory processing. In this respect, a temporal aspect of somatosensory processing in motor control concerns matching predicted (feedforward) and actual (feedback) sensory consequences of movement which implies a distinct contribution to demarcating the temporal order of events. Emerging evidence shows that such somatosensory processing is altered in movement disorders. This raises the question how disrupted oscillatory activity is related to impaired temporal processing and how/whether DBS can functionally restore this. In this perspective article, the neural underpinnings of temporal processing will be reviewed and translated to the specific alternated oscillatory neural activity specifically found in Parkinson's disease. These findings will be integrated in a neurophysiological framework linking somatosensory and motor processing. Finally, future implications for neuromodulation will be discussed with potential implications for strategy across a range of movement disorders

CD36 and Fyn kinase mediate malaria-induced lung endothelial barrier dysfunction in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei.

PMC3744507Severe malaria can trigger acute lung injury characterized by pulmonary edema resulting from increased endothelial permeability. However, the mechanism through which lung fluid conductance is altered during malaria remains unclear. To define the role that the scavenger receptor CD36 may play in mediating this response, C57BL/6J (WT) and CD36-/- mice were infected with P. berghei ANKA and monitored for changes in pulmonary endothelial barrier function employing an isolated perfused lung system. WT lungs demonstrated a >10-fold increase in two measures of paracellular fluid conductance and a decrease in the albumin reflection coefficient (σalb) compared to control lungs indicating a loss of barrier function. In contrast, malaria-infected CD36-/- mice had near normal fluid conductance but a similar reduction in σalb. In WT mice, lung sequestered iRBCs demonstrated production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). To determine whether knockout of CD36 could protect against ROS-induced endothelial barrier dysfunction, mouse lung microvascular endothelial monolayers (MLMVEC) from WT and CD36-/- mice were exposed to H2O2. Unlike WT monolayers, which showed dose-dependent decreases in transendothelial electrical resistance (TER) from H2O2 indicating loss of barrier function, CD36-/- MLMVEC demonstrated dose-dependent increases in TER. The differences between responses in WT and CD36-/- endothelial cells correlated with important differences in the intracellular compartmentalization of the CD36-associated Fyn kinase. Malaria infection increased total lung Fyn levels in CD36-/- lungs compared to WT, but this increase was due to elevated production of the inactive form of Fyn further suggesting a dysregulation of Fyn-mediated signaling. The importance of Fyn in CD36-dependent endothelial signaling was confirmed using in vitro Fyn knockdown as well as Fyn-/- mice, which were also protected from H2O2- and malaria-induced lung endothelial leak, respectively. Our results demonstrate that CD36 and Fyn kinase are critical mediators of the increased lung endothelial fluid conductance caused by malaria infection.JH Libraries Open Access Fun

An evaluation model of islamic learning education program in madrasah aliyah

The purpose of this study is: (1) to create the products as the evaluation model learning programs of Islamic education in madrasah aliyah, suitable, precise, and accurate, (2) to know how to test the suitability of the model to obtain the evaluation model of Islamic Education learning programs in madrasah aliyah which is valid, and reliable, and (3) determine the effectiveness of the application of evaluation model of Islamic learning programs that was developed. This  was a research and development method study (R & D), referring to the model of  Borg & Gall, the development process was simplified into three steps, namely: (1) the stage predevelopment  of models, (2) the stage of development of the model, and (3) the operational phase of the field (test model). The data were collected using questionnaires, interview, observation, documentation, and test. Data were analyzed using quantitative and qualitative. The conclusion of this research and development is: (1) evaluation model of Islamic Religious Education Learning program developed comprising: (a) the evaluation procedures, (b) the evaluation instrument, and (c) the evaluation guide. (2) according to the experts, PAI teachers, and principals, procedures, instruments, and evaluation guidelines  developed  are already good, and can be used, d) the instrument developed is entirely valid (load factor > 0.3), reliable (CR > 0.7), and qualified as a fit model (RMSEA ≤ 0.08 and NFI, CFI and GFI > .90). second, the expert's opinion, PAI teachers and principals, the developed evaluation model (EPH model) is declared effective,  practical, and easy to use, and supported by a valid and reliable instrument

Model Evaluasi Program Pembelajaran Pendidikan Agama Islam Pada Madrasah Aliyah

Tujuan penelitian ini adalah: (1) mengembangkan model evaluasi program pembelajaran yang memberikan informasi komprehensif, tepat, dan akurat, serta memberikan manfaat bagi guru PAI dan pimpinan madrasah, dalam pelaksanaan program pembelajaran pendidikan Agama Islam di Madrasah Aliyah, (2) mengetahui cara menguji kecocokan model evaluasi program pembelajaran PAI pada madrasah aliyah yang valid, dan reliabel dan (3). mengetahui keefektifan penerapan model evaluasi program pembelajaran yang dikembangkan, melalui uji keefektifan model, Penelitian ini menggunakan metode penelitian dan pengembangan (R & D), mengacu pada model Borg & Gall, proses pengembangannya disederhanakan menjadi tiga langkah, yaitu: (1) tahap prapengembangan model, (2) tahap pengembangan model, dan (3) tahap operasional lapangan (pengujian model). Data dikumpulkan menggunakan kuesioner, wawancara, observasi, dokumentasi, dan tes. Teknik analisis data menggunakan analisis kuantitatif dan deskriptif kualitatif. Simpulan penelitian dan pengembangan ini adalah: 1) model evaluasi program Pembelajaran Pendidikan Agama Islam yang dikembangkan terdiri: (a) prosedur evaluasi, (b) instrumen evaluasi, dan (c) panduan evaluasi, 2) Menurut para pakar, Guru PAI, dan Kepala Madrasah, prosedur, instrumen, dan panduan evaluasi yang dikembangkan sudah baik, 2) Instrumen yang dikembangkan seluruhnya valid (muatan faktor > 0,3), reliabel (CR > 0,7), serta memenuhi syarat sebagai model yang fit (RMSEA ≤0,08 dan NFI, CFI, serta GFI > 0,90). 3) Menurut penilaian para Pakar, Guru PAI, dan Kepala Madrasah, model evaluasi yang dikembangkan (model EPH) dinyatakan efektif, praktis, dan mudah digunakan, serta didukung instrumen yang valid dan reliabel

Analysis of the Implementation of the Education Council Program in Advancing Education in Kendari City

This study aims to describe the implementation of the program implemented by the Education Council in advancing education in Kendari City in January - June 2020. This research is a qualitative descriptive study, with data collection techniques used, namely observation, interviews, and documentation.  The data analysis technique this study uses is the Miles & Huberman analysis technique; namely, the analysis consists of three streams of activities that co-occur: data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing/verification. The study results show that the Education Council's January-June 2020 program to advance education includes: (a) assistance in the implementation of education; and (b) strengthening the institutional relationship of the education board with interested parties