Fascioliasis in Cattle: A Survey Of Abattoirs in Egor, Ikpoba- Okha and Oredo Local Government Areas of Edo State, Using Histochemical Techniques

As meat consumption is on the increase worldwide, there are growing concerns about meat hygiene and safety since worldwide distribution of Fasciolasis is estimated at 90% in ruminants. The fact that animals susceptible to Fasciola infection are usually reservoir hosts for Fasciola species is also a cause for concern. This study therefore, is aimed at determining the prevalence of Fascioliasis in abattoirs located within some selected Local Government Areas of Benin City, Nigeria. A total of 180 cattle found within the confines of 3 abattoirs in the respective LGAs were examined. Consequently, 9 abattoirs were investigated for Liver flukes (Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica), bringing the overall number of cattle examined to 540. The screening exercise was carried out between the 15th day of August and 2nd of December, 2012, using standard histochemical techniques. The results showed that of the 540 cattle examined, 11.5% were infected. The distribution shows that cattle slaughtered at Ikpoba Okha LGA abattoirs had the highest infection rate of 5.74%, followed by abattoirs from Egor (3.33%) and Oredo (2.44%), suggesting that there exist differences in the hygienic status of abattoirs, as well as the mode of feeding and water consumption.Keywords: Abattoir, Fascioliasis, Egor, Ikpoba Okha and Oredo Local Government Areas

Physicochemical Profiles and Water Quality Indices of Surface Waters Collected from Falcorp Mangrove Swamp, Delta State, Nigeria

Surface water samples were collected at a frequency of once monthly for a period of 18 months; February 2013- July 2014, from several points on the Falcorp mangrove swamp, Ijala, Warri, Delta State. The abstracted samples were subjected to several physical and chemical analyses which were conducted in accordance with referenced procedures. The recorded data were subjected to statistical analysis and multivariate analysis using Microsoft excel, SPSS version 16.0 and PAST respectively. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) across the stations; Stations 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively for pH, Temperature, Electrical conductivity, DO, BOD5, TSS, Turbidity, Chloride, Salinity, Sulphate, Nitrate, Hardness, Ca, Ma, Zn, Cd and Pb. There were significant difference (P<0.05) across the 5 stations for the following parameters; TDS, Bi-carbonate, Phosphate, Fe and Cu. The mean concentrations of most of the physical and chemical parameters in the surface water with the exception of pH were below acceptableWHO limits for portable water. The water quality index (WQI) at stations 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 ranged from 8.45-24.9, 8.31-23.95, 8.36-16.26, 8.24-10.11 and 8.43-23.58 respectively. The Principal component analysis (PCA) of the data sets yielded 35 variables under 22 components with Eigenvalues < 1 (PC1-PC6) and >1 (PC7-PC22). There was a positive correlation between pH, water temperature, TDS, EC, TSS, turbidity, Cl, HCO3, salinity, SO4, hardness, Ca, Mg, and Cd whilst a negative relationship existed between DO, BOD5, PO4, NO3, Fe, Zn, Cu and Pb respectively. Keywords: Physicochemical, surface water, Falcorp, Mangrove swam

The Scientificity of the Social Sciences: A Reflection on the Deductive Nomological Model of Explanation

The possibility of having a science of human life brings into question whether the methods use in the sciences can be successfully applied in the prediction of human behaviour. This further questions the demarcation between science and the social sciences. This paper, however, argues that the use of DN model of explanation both in the social and natural sciences portends a boundary deconstruction of the two fields of enquiry. While engaging critical analysis method of enquiry, this paper dissects the DN model of explanation and argues that the social sciences are sciences and as such we can have scientific laws to predict, explain and control human behaviour

Fuzzy Inspired Case based Reasoning for Hematology Malignancies Classification

Conventional approaches for collecting and reporting hematological data as well as diagnosing hematologic malignancies such as leukemia, anemia, e.t.c are based on subjective professional physician personal opinions or experiences which are influenced by human error, dependent on human-to-human judgments, time consuming processes and the blood results are non-reproducible. In the light of those human limitations identified, an automatic or semi-automatic classification and corrective method is required because it reduces the load on human observers and accuracy is not affected due to fatigue. Case-Based Reasoning (CBR) as a multi-disciplinary subject that focuses on the reuse of past experiences or cases to proffer solution to new cases was adopted and combined with the power of Fuzzy logic to design a software model that will effectively mine hematology data. This study aim at helping the medical practitioners to diagnose and provide corrective treatment to both normal patients and patients with hematology disorder at the early stage which can reduce the number of deaths. This aim is achievable by developing an intelligent expert system based on fuzzy logic and case-based reasoning for classification of hematology malignancy

Philosophical Organic Approach – Logic of Teaching Numeration and Number ‘Zero’

In the past years, rote learning, especially in the teaching and process was the usual practice. This takes the form of indoctrination; Children do not learn through rote memorization, it is only an end in itself. True learning is that which is achieved through the understanding and insight of the problem at stake. An application of philosophy through the play-way method was suggested. This is because it could assist the child develop his mathematical capacity for independent logical thinking and increase his perceptual abilities through the use of all his senses. The writers have prepared materials to represent the numbers under geometrical forms and with objects, which will simplify the combination of numbers, under the organic approach

Technology transfer practices and strategies: Issues for Nigerian construction organisations and for research

Technology transfer is increasingly being seen as an important issue for economic development and growth. Arguably, this is why developed and especially developing countries are very keen on technology transfer. However, there are those that contend that organisations in the Nigerian construction industry are not as engaged in technology transfer as many would like, and that potential benefits of doing so are not realized. In the same vein, the challenges that confront construction organisations in Nigeria in terms of technology transfer have received very little empirical studies. This paper, therefore, presents a thorough review of literature on strategic issues and choices that Nigerian construction organisations face in grappling with technology transfer, together with associated challenges. Consideration is also given to what technology transfer actually means to such organisations, and how this is viewed in line with other terms such as innovation. The paper argues and concludes that the challenges that confront construction organisations in Nigeria are multifaceted and likely to impact on their strategic choices. In the same vein, it is also argued that these have implications for researchers attempting to investigate technology transfer practices and strategies in construction organisations in Nigeria in terms of their choice of research strategy and design

The Role of Legal Clinics in Promoting Human Rights: The Experience of Nigeria Law School Yenagoa Law Clinic and The Legal Support and Care Centre at GD Goenka University School of Law Gurgaon India

Legal clinics are playing a very prominent role in promoting human rights and filling global access to justice gaps through justice education. In turn, they provide access to justice for the poor and marginalized in fulfilment of this social justice mandate. Clinicians realize that human rights and justice education is key to their social justice mission. Apart from adding statements about the importance of justice to their mission statement, clinics have in place programs fundamentally oriented around a vision of justice. Students in clinics play very important roles in achieving their clinics’ social justice mission and goals by sensitizing youths, women, children, inmates and citizens to change thought processes and mold the social fabric needed for a just society, promoting a culture of lawfulness through generating solutions to several social issues that results in good citizenship, improved policies, good governance, access to justice and effective remedies. Generally, the objective of this paper is to share case studies from the Nigerian Law School Yenagoa Legal Clinic, the Legal Support and Care Centre at GD Goenka University and Legal Aid Society at The NorthCap University, Gurugram, Haryana, India of how legal clinics are promoting human rights, access to justice, a culture of lawfulness and sustainable development through their work in communities, schools and prisons. The first section lays a background on the role of law in shaping society, the second focuses on the conceptual and theoretical frameworks. The third section examines the framework that provides the mandate education for justice and human rights. The fourth section assesses the role of law schools and clinics in promoting education for justice, human rights and a culture of lawfulness while the fifth section deals with conclusions and recommendations

Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis Infection among Female Undergraduates of the University of Port Harcourt Using Strand Displacement and Amplification [SDA] Technique

Background: Chlamydia trachomatis infection, being largely asymptomatic, is difficult to diagnose using the common diagnostic methods which have varying degrees of sensitivity and specificity. There is a paucity of data onthe prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in Nigeria. The aim of this research is to determine the prevalence of and predictive risk factors for Chlamydia trachomatis infection among female undergraduate students of the University of Port Harcourt.Methods: Four hundred undergraduate, non pregnant, asymptomatic female students below the age of 30 years were randomly selected and given questionnaires with self administrable vaginal swab sticks. The participants completed the questionnaires and provided vaginal swab samples which were analyzed using Strand Displacement and Amplification Technique.Results: Of the 400 sexually active participants, 44 tested positive [prevalence rate of 11%] for Chlamydia trachomatis. Some of the associated risks factors identified were, having multiple sexual partners especially in the last 90 days, irregular contraceptive usage and past history of sexually transmitted infections.Conclusion: There is an urgent need for a national policy on routine screening for Chlamydia trachomatis as treatment is cheap and effective, while the morbidity resulting from delayed diagnosis is more difficult tomanage and associated with severe sequelae.Key Words: Prevalence; Chlamydia trachomatis; Strand Displacement and Amplification [SDA] Techniqu

Expressing Information Needs and Information Literacy Skills Amongst Final Year Undergraduate Students in Northern Nigeria

Information literacy is the ability of an individual to locate, evaluate, and use information. This study expresses the conscious information needs and information literacy skills amongst final year undergraduate students of three Universities in Nigeria; being the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Federal University Lokoja (FUL), and Baze University. A survey research design alongside a questionnaire for the instrument were utilised on a sample size of 307 final year undergraduate students from select faculties within the above-mentioned universities. The findings of the study amongst other show that undergraduate students at the final year level had a conscious knowledge of their information needs, while their ability to locate information was heavily reliant on the use of the Internet. Other finding of the study revealed that the student’s skill level in regard evaluation of information and information sources was low. At a time when there is prevalent use of the internet by netizens and online publishing is at an all-time high. The study further recommends teaching critical reasoning and how to evaluate information sources by schools as a means of improving information need identification by students and literacy skills. The study concludes on the importance of students being conscious of their information need and schools emphasizing and building programs for information literacy skills acquisition