Multilateral organizations and global inequality: A focus on IMF, World Bank and World Trade Organizations

The paper examines issues relating to multilateral organizations, taking a particular look at the three multilateral organizations viz IMF, World Bank and WTO. It establishes that institutional and structural variables in the multilateral organizations are skewed in favour of the developed countries and this tends to entrench their hegemony in the global scene. This has crystallized in global inequality. More so, the analysis which relies on the theory of political realism with dependency theory as a complementary theory explores the power play and dominance of interests in global affairs as a defining characteristic of relations at the global level. Again, the paper establishes that a dialectical relationship exists between development in the developed North and underdevelopment in the developing South and that the multilateral organizations are veritable instruments for perpetuating the hegemony of the developed countries, which ensures the continuation of global inequality. The paper therefore puts forward a range of recommendations that could help the developing countries in their quest for development and by so doing bridge the inequality gap.Keywords: Multilateral, Organizations, Global, Inequality, Underdevelopment, Developmen

Information Literacy: A New Frontier of Learning for Librarians, Educators and Students in the 21st Century

This paper discusses information literacy as a new frontier of learning for librarians, educators and students in the 21st century. It examines the meaning while taking a cursory look at the instructional process. The paper highlights some definitions of information literacy by authors and corporate bodies. The difference between information technology and information literacy was briefly analysed. The challenges of the 21st century education in the information world were enumerated as it affects the students, teachers and librarians. The paper indicates that librarians have over the course of their work life been conversant with teaching students and faculty on how to get needed information for their research investigations and as such are better suited to teach information literacy. It recommends that as librarians and educators collaborate to promote information literacy, they can help each other, and the learners [students] they serve, to find the best way to bypass vast wastelands. Keywords: Information Literacy, Librarians, Literacy, Educators, Students and 21st Centur

ASSESSMENT OF STUDENTS’ SMART PHONE USE PATTERN AT THE FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES, ABIA STATE UNIVERSITY, UTURU, NIGERIA

The study is on the assessment of students’ smart phone use pattern at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Abia State University. The study is set on five objectives and research questions. The survey research design was adopted in carrying out the study with the questionnaire as the sole instrument for data collection. The questionnaire was administered on the accessible population of 634 respondents, out of which 616 copies were duly filled and returned. This is a return rate of 97 which was used for data collection. The researcher adopted the frequency-percentage counts and tables in data presentation, analysis and discussion. Findings of the study revealed that though the use of smart phones appeal to all students, it appeals more to female students; smart phones have a good number of features that attract students patronage and utilization; students do not use smart phones for academic activities, but mainly for social activities and leisure; they are not satisfied with their use of smart phones because of some defects; and their use of smart phones do have some adverse effects on students life on campus. Predicated on the above findings recommendations were proffered. As the study observed that students do not majorly apply their use of smart phones to academic activities, but on private communication, social activities and leisure, as well as having some adverse effects on them, it concludes that once the students are able to re-adjust and adopt holistically to the recommendations proffered the side effects of their pattern of use of smart phones would be curbed

Comparative Assessment of the Effect of Ripening Stage on the Vitamin C Contents of Selected Fruits Grown within Nsukka Axis of Enugu State

Studies were carried out on the quantitative determination of vitamin C in fresh fruits (orange, cashew, pawpaw, lemon, grape) at different ripening stages using iodometric titration method. The study revealed that the vitamin C contents in the fruits at different ripening stages decreased in the following order: half-ripe < ripe < unripe. Orange was found to have the highest vitamin C content of 77.96 ± 0.44mg/100g while lemon has the least content of the vitamin with a value of 11.83 ± 0.10mg/100g

A comparison of pneumolysin activity and concentration in vitro and in vivo in a rabbit endophthalmitis model

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the in vitro activity and concentration of Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumolysin correlated to the pathogenesis of S. pneumoniae endophthalmitis. Five S. pneumoniae clinical endophthalmitis strains were grown in media to similar optical densities (OD), and extracellular milieu was tested for pneumolysin activity by hemolysis of rabbit red blood cells. Pneumolysin concentration was determined using a sandwich ELISA. Rabbit vitreous was injected with 102 colony-forming units (CFU) of 1 of 2 different strains with low hemolytic activity (n = 10 and 12 for strains 4 and 5, respectively) or 1 of 3 different strains with high hemolytic activity (n = 12 per strain). Pathogenesis of endophthalmitis infection was graded by slit lamp examination (SLE) at 24 hours post-infection. Bacteria were recovered from infected vitreous and quantitated. The SLE scores of eyes infected with strains having high hemolytic activity were significantly higher than the scores of those infected with strains having low hemolytic activity (P < 0.05). Pneumolysin concentration in vitro, however, did not correlate with hemolysis or severity of endophthalmitis. Bacterial concentrations from the vitreous infected with 4 of the strains were not significantly different (P > 0.05). These data suggest that pneumolysin hemolytic activity in vitro directly correlates to the pathogenesis of S. pneumoniae endophthalmitis. The protein concentration of pneumolysin, however, is not a reliable indicator of pneumolysin activity

Exploring critical risks associated with enterprise cloud computing

While cloud computing has become an increasingly hot topic in the industry, risks associated with the adoption of cloud services have also received growing attention from researchers and practitioners. This paper reports the results of a study that aimed to identify and explore potential risks that organisations may encounter when adopting cloud computing, as well as to assess and prioritise the identified risks. The study adopted a deductive research method based on a cross-sectional questionnaire survey. The questionnaire was distributed to a group of 295 carefully selected and highly experienced IT professionals, of which 39 (13.2 %) responses were collected and analysed. The research findings identified a set of 39 cloud computing risks, which concentrated around diverse operational, organisational, technical, and legal areas. It was identified that the most critical risks were caused by current legal and technical complexity and deficiencies associated with cloud computing, as well as by a lack of preparation and planning of user companies

Visual parameter optimisation for biomedical image processing

Background: Biomedical image processing methods require users to optimise input parameters to ensure high quality output. This presents two challenges. First, it is difficult to optimise multiple input parameters for multiple input images. Second, it is difficult to achieve an understanding of underlying algorithms, in particular, relationships between input and output. Results: We present a visualisation method that transforms users’ ability to understand algorithm behaviour by integrating input and output, and by supporting exploration of their relationships. We discuss its application to a colour deconvolution technique for stained histology images and show how it enabled a domain expert to identify suitable parameter values for the deconvolution of two types of images, and metrics to quantify deconvolution performance. It also enabled a breakthrough in understanding by invalidating an underlying assumption about the algorithm. Conclusions: The visualisation method presented here provides analysis capability for multiple inputs and outputs in biomedical image processing that is not supported by previous analysis software. The analysis supported by our method is not feasible with conventional trial-and-error approaches

Increase in serotype 19A prevalence and amoxicillin non-susceptibility among paediatric Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from middle ear fluid in a passive laboratory-based surveillance in Spain, 1997-2009

BACKGROUND: Conjugate vaccines, such as the 7-valent conjugate vaccine (PCV7), alter serotype nasopharyngeal carriage, potentially increasing cases of otitis media by non-vaccine serotypes. METHODS: All paediatric middle ear fluid (MEF) isolates received in the Spanish Reference Laboratory for Pneumococci through a passive, laboratory-based surveillance system from January 1997 to June 2009 were analysed. Data from 1997 to 2000 were pooled as pre-vaccination period. Trends over time were explored by linear regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 2,077 isolates were analysed: 855 belonging to PCV7 serotypes, 466 to serotype 19A, 215 to serotype 3, 89 to serotype 6A and 452 to other serotypes ( 35% isolates) since PCV7 strains represented < 11% of total clinical isolates. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to reports on invasive pneumococcal strains, in MEF isolates the reduction in the prevalence of PCV7 serotypes was not associated with decreases in penicillin/erythromycin non-susceptibility. The high prevalence of serotype 19A among paediatric MEF isolates and the amoxicillin non-susceptibility found in this serotype are worrisome since amoxicillin is the most common antibiotic used in the treatment of acute otitis media. These data suggest that non-PCV7 serotypes (mainly serotype 19A followed by serotypes 3 and 6A) are important etiological agents of acute otitis media and support the added value of the broader coverage of the new 13-valent conjugate vaccine.This study was supported in part by an unrestricted grant from Pfizer S.A., Madrid, Spain and PRISM-AG, Madrid, Spain. O.R. belongs to the Spanish Network for the Research in Infectious Diseases (REIPI).S

Grand Challenges in global eye health: a global prioritisation process using Delphi method

Background We undertook a Grand Challenges in Global Eye Health prioritisation exercise to identify the key issues that must be addressed to improve eye health in the context of an ageing population, to eliminate persistent inequities in health-care access, and to mitigate widespread resource limitations. Methods Drawing on methods used in previous Grand Challenges studies, we used a multi-step recruitment strategy to assemble a diverse panel of individuals from a range of disciplines relevant to global eye health from all regions globally to participate in a three-round, online, Delphi-like, prioritisation process to nominate and rank challenges in global eye health. Through this process, we developed both global and regional priority lists. Findings Between Sept 1 and Dec 12, 2019, 470 individuals complete round 1 of the process, of whom 336 completed all three rounds (round 2 between Feb 26 and March 18, 2020, and round 3 between April 2 and April 25, 2020) 156 (46%) of 336 were women, 180 (54%) were men. The proportion of participants who worked in each region ranged from 104 (31%) in sub-Saharan Africa to 21 (6%) in central Europe, eastern Europe, and in central Asia. Of 85 unique challenges identified after round 1, 16 challenges were prioritised at the global level; six focused on detection and treatment of conditions (cataract, refractive error, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, services for children and screening for early detection), two focused on addressing shortages in human resource capacity, five on other health service and policy factors (including strengthening policies, integration, health information systems, and budget allocation), and three on improving access to care and promoting equity. Interpretation This list of Grand Challenges serves as a starting point for immediate action by funders to guide investment in research and innovation in eye health. It challenges researchers, clinicians, and policy makers to build collaborations to address specific challenge