Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade in Luanda

The chains around the border of our memorial are to memorialize and represent the enslaved African Americans that were chained together and brought onto the boat, to places like Luanda. If you examine the image closer, one would see that we designed our memorial similarly to the Holocaust Museum in Berlin. Their memorial site really inspired the group to create something similar in terms of our aesthetic aspect.https://csuepress.columbusstate.edu/historyfrombelow/1014/thumbnail.jp

Antibiotics combination therapy option for the control of antimicrobial-resistant non-cholera causing Vibrio species recovered from environmental niches of Eastern Cape, South Africa

Increased rate of antibiotic resistance (AR) poses a serious threat with a resultant notion of a possible end of the antibiotics era, making it a problem of concern to public health and a great implication on the world economy and human society. Despite many approaches developed to curb this menace, antibiotics resistance is still a challenge worldwide. This has made the use of combined therapy as one of the options in many cases. This study was conducted to assess antibiotics combination therapy as an option for the control of antimicrobial-resistant non-cholera causing Vibrio species that were recovered from the environment in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Two hundred and twenty-eight Vibrio species were recovered from the environment in the Province, and these were deposited in the archive of AEMREG. PCR was used to identify target Vibrio species. Disc diffusion method was used to evaluate the antibiotic susceptibility profile of the confirmed isolates against 11 antibiotics commonly used against infections. MIC and MBC were determined using antibiotics (imipenem, tetracycline, and nalidixic acid) that high resistance was discovered. Checkerboard assay was used to carry out antibiotics combination assay, and the FICI was calculated. Rate of kill was also determined using ½ × MIC, 1 × MIC, and 2 × MIC concentrations of the combined antibiotics at 2 hr intervals. One hundred of the isolates were confirmed to be Vibrio parahaemolyticus, 82 were Vibrio vulnificus and 46 were Vibrio fluvialis. Twenty-two (22) percent of the Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolates showed resistance against tetracycline and their resistance against other antimicrobials is as follows; nalidixic acid (16 percent), ampicillin (14 percent), cefotaxime (14 percent), chloramphenicol (12 percent) and amikacin (11 percent). For Vibrio vulnificus, prevalence of resistance was as follows: imipenem (40 percent), tetracycline (22 percent), ampicillin (18 percent), meropenem (15 percent), and chloramphenicol (11 percent). Vibrio fluvialis showed the following resistance profile: nalidixic acid (28 percent), tetracycline (28percent), ampicillin (20 percent), chloramphenicol (15 percent), amikacin (11 percent) and cefotaxime (11 percent). About 38 multiple antibiotic resistance phenotypes (MARP) were recorded in all species that were evaluated. About 23 percent were resistant to over 3 antibiotics used. The multiple antibiotic resistant indices (MARI) ranged between 0.3 and 0.8. MIC and MBC were carried against isolates that were resistant to the two most common antibiotics tested. MIC and MBC were determined in the following order: tetracycline and nalidixic acid at concentrations ranging from 16 μg/ml to 1024 μg/ml for Vibrio parahaemolyticus and 32 μg/ml to 2048 μg/ml for Vibrio fluvialis. Also, the MIC and MBC of imipenem and tetracycline at concentrations ranging from 8 μg/ml to 256 μg/ml for Vibrio vulnificus were determined. Antibiotics combination therapy was carried out and synergistic activity was observed in 3 of the 16 resistant V. parahaemolyticus isolates, 3 of the16 resistant V. vulnificus isolates and 2 of the 13 resistant V. fluvialis isolates. Antagonism was not observed across all the drug combinations. Rate of kill was also determined and at 6 hr exposure time, the highest concentration (2 × MIC) exhibited bactericidal effect across all three Vibrio species. The result derived in this research, therefore, propose that combination therapy is a promising solution to antimicrobial resistance in Vibrio species.Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 202

Antibiotics combination therapy option for the control of antimicrobial-resistant non-cholera causing Vibrio species recovered from environmental niches of Eastern Cape, South Africa

Increased rate of antibiotic resistance (AR) poses a serious threat with a resultant notion of a possible end of the antibiotics era, making it a problem of concern to public health and a great implication on the world economy and human society. Despite many approaches developed to curb this menace, antibiotics resistance is still a challenge worldwide. This has made the use of combined therapy as one of the options in many cases. This study was conducted to assess antibiotics combination therapy as an option for the control of antimicrobial-resistant non-cholera causing Vibrio species that were recovered from the environment in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Two hundred and twenty-eight Vibrio species were recovered from the environment in the Province, and these were deposited in the archive of AEMREG. PCR was used to identify target Vibrio species. Disc diffusion method was used to evaluate the antibiotic susceptibility profile of the confirmed isolates against 11 antibiotics commonly used against infections. MIC and MBC were determined using antibiotics (imipenem, tetracycline, and nalidixic acid) that high resistance was discovered. Checkerboard assay was used to carry out antibiotics combination assay, and the FICI was calculated. Rate of kill was also determined using ½ × MIC, 1 × MIC, and 2 × MIC concentrations of the combined antibiotics at 2 hr intervals. One hundred of the isolates were confirmed to be Vibrio parahaemolyticus, 82 were Vibrio vulnificus and 46 were Vibrio fluvialis. Twenty-two (22) percent of the Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolates showed resistance against tetracycline and their resistance against other antimicrobials is as follows; nalidixic acid (16 percent), ampicillin (14 percent), cefotaxime (14 percent), chloramphenicol (12 percent) and amikacin (11 percent). For Vibrio vulnificus, prevalence of resistance was as follows: imipenem (40 percent), tetracycline (22 percent), ampicillin (18 percent), meropenem (15 percent), and chloramphenicol (11 percent). Vibrio fluvialis showed the following resistance profile: nalidixic acid (28 percent), tetracycline (28percent), ampicillin (20 percent), chloramphenicol (15 percent), amikacin (11 percent) and cefotaxime (11 percent). About 38 multiple antibiotic resistance phenotypes (MARP) were recorded in all species that were evaluated. About 23 percent were resistant to over 3 antibiotics used. The multiple antibiotic resistant indices (MARI) ranged between 0.3 and 0.8. MIC and MBC were carried against isolates that were resistant to the two most common antibiotics tested. MIC and MBC were determined in the following order: tetracycline and nalidixic acid at concentrations ranging from 16 μg/ml to 1024 μg/ml for Vibrio parahaemolyticus and 32 μg/ml to 2048 μg/ml for Vibrio fluvialis. Also, the MIC and MBC of imipenem and tetracycline at concentrations ranging from 8 μg/ml to 256 μg/ml for Vibrio vulnificus were determined. Antibiotics combination therapy was carried out and synergistic activity was observed in 3 of the 16 resistant V. parahaemolyticus isolates, 3 of the16 resistant V. vulnificus isolates and 2 of the 13 resistant V. fluvialis isolates. Antagonism was not observed across all the drug combinations. Rate of kill was also determined and at 6 hr exposure time, the highest concentration (2 × MIC) exhibited bactericidal effect across all three Vibrio species. The result derived in this research, therefore, propose that combination therapy is a promising solution to antimicrobial resistance in Vibrio species.Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 202

Technological Innovations in Land Administration System (LAS): Concern on Level of Awareness in Nigeria

The study examined the level of awareness of technological innovations in land administration among stakeholders comprising academics and officials charged with the responsibility of administering and managing land in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria. The study sampled 114 land experts and employed multi-layer non-probabilistic sampling, i.e. cluster, convenience and snowballing techniques. Descriptive statistics of mean score of weighted options (5-point Likert scale), cross tabulation and Kruskal-Wallis test were deployed to analyse the data. The mean score (MS) showed a very low level of awareness of technological innovations among the respondents. The result revealed that, the respondents have a fair knowledge of Geodata Cadastral Database and Land Resource Manager. The compare mean score analysis of the level of awareness against the respondents’ background information revealed that field personnel, GIS experts, HND holders and experienced land administrators were relatively familiar with the technologies in their categories. Kruskal-Wallis was used to test if there is a significant difference in the opinions of the respondents considering variation in their background profiles. The test result showed that there is no statistical significant difference in the opinions of the land experts. The findings signaled that the operation of land administration in the country is still at a basic level, manual and labour intensive. The study therefore advocated for scaling up of sensitisation and awareness campaigns on the technological innovations, synergy between field and academic land experts, training and re-training of personnel and adoption of strong institutional framework that will enhance LAS in the country

Technological Innovations in Land Administration System (LAS): Concern on Level of Awareness in Nigeria

The study examined the level of awareness of technological innovations in land administration among stakeholders comprising academics and officials charged with the responsibility of administering and managing land in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria. The study sampled 114 land experts and employed multi-layer non-probabilistic sampling, i.e. cluster, convenience and snowballing techniques. Descriptive statistics of mean score of weighted options (5-point Likert scale), cross tabulation and Kruskal-Wallis test were deployed to analyse the data. The mean score (MS) showed a very low level of awareness of technological innovations among the respondents. The result revealed that, the respondents have a fair knowledge of Geodata Cadastral Database and Land Resource Manager. The compare mean score analysis of the level of awareness against the respondents’ background information revealed that field personnel, GIS experts, HND holders and experienced land administrators were relatively familiar with the technologies in their categories. Kruskal-Wallis was used to test if there is a significant difference in the opinions of the respondents considering variation in their background profiles. The test result showed that there is no statistical significant difference in the opinions of the land experts. The findings signaled that the operation of land administration in the country is still at a basic level, manual and labour intensive. The study therefore advocated for scaling up of sensitisation and awareness campaigns on the technological innovations, synergy between field and academic land experts, training and re-training of personnel and adoption of strong institutional framework that will enhance LAS in the country

Teachers’ Teaching Experience and Educational Qualification as Correlates of Academic Performance of Students in Public Secondary Schools in Ekiti State, Nigeria

The study examined the influence of teachers’ teaching experience and educational qualification on academic performance of students in public secondary schools in Ekiti State, Nigeria. The purpose of the research is to find out the relationship between teachers’ teaching experience, educational qualification and academic performance of students in public secondary schools. The descriptive research of the survey type was employed for the study. The study revealed that there was significant relationship between teachers’ teaching experience, educational qualification and academic performance of students. The study had shown that teaching experience and educational qualification had influence on academic performance of students. Keywords: Teachers’ Teaching Experience, Educational Qualification, Academic Performance, Public Secondary Schools DOI: 10.7176/JEP/11-2-12 Publication date: January 31st 202

Isolation and Identification of β-sitosterol, 7-hydroxystigmast-22-en-3,6-dione and 3β, 24(S)-dihydroxycholesta-5, 25-diene-7-one from stem bark of Nauclea pobeguinii

The stem bark of the Nauclea pobeguinii was collected, air-dried, and pulverized and was extracted with solvent of varying polarity (n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and ethanol) to obtain the crude extracts. Silica gel column and thin layer chromatographic separation afforded three compounds whose structures were elucidated as β-sitosterol (1), 7-hydroxystigmast-22-en-3.6-dione (2), and 3β, 24(S)-dihydroxycholesta-5, 25-dien-7-one (3) by analysis of their chemical and spectral characteristic from 1D and 2DNMR, FTIR and by comparing of data with those reported in the literature

Characterization and Identification of Novel Steroids from Nauclea pobeguinii Leaves

Nauclea pobeguinii is a plant in the Rubiaceae family endemic to the swamp forest region of the world. Its extract is widely used in traditional medicine for the treatment of a wide variety of ailments such as malarial, Jaundice, gonorrhea, fever, and stomach discomfort. While other parts of the plant have been examined for the bioactive principles responsible for the medicinal properties, limited information is available in the literature as regards the leaves, hence this study. N. pobeguinii leaves were collected, air-dried, and pulverized. The pulverized sample was extracted with solvents (n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and ethanol) of varying polarity to obtain the crude extracts. Repeated column and thin layer chromatographic separation of the crude extracts afforded three compounds, which were characterized by their IR, 1H, 13C-NMR, and 2D-NMR spectral data. A comparison of the data with literature confirmed the compounds to be 2-hydroxylstigmastane acetate (1), Ergosta-5,6-epoxy-22-en-3-yl-acetate (2), and β-sitosterol (3). Compounds 1 and 2 are novel to N. pobeguinii

A population-based estimation of maternal mortality in Lagos State, Nigeria using the indirect sisterhood method.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy and delivery deaths represent a risk to women, particularly those living in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This population-based survey was conducted to provide estimates of the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) in Lagos Nigeria. METHODS: A community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in mapped Wards and Enumeration Areas (EA) of all Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Lagos, among 9,986 women of reproductive age (15-49 years) from April to August 2022 using a 2-stage cluster sampling technique. A semi-structured, pre-tested questionnaire adapted from nationally representative surveys was administered using REDCap by trained field assistants for data collection on socio-demographics, reproductive health, fertility, and maternal mortality. Data were analysed using SPSS and MMR was estimated using the indirect sisterhood method. Ethical approval was obtained from the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital Health Research and Ethics Committee. RESULTS: Most of the respondents (28.7%) were aged 25-29 years. Out of 546 deceased sisters reported, 120 (22%) died from maternal causes. Sisters of the deceased aged 20-24 reported almost half of the deaths (46.7%) as due to maternal causes, while those aged 45-49 reported the highest number of deceased sisters who died from other causes (90.2%). The total fertility rate (TFR) was calculated as 3.807, the Lifetime Risk (LTR) of maternal death was 0.0196 or 1-in-51, and the MMR was 430 per 100,000 [95% CI: 360-510]. CONCLUSION: Our findings show that the maternal mortality rate for Lagos remains unacceptable and has not changed significantly over time in actual terms. There is need to develop and intensify community-based intervention strategies, programs for private hospitals, monitor MMR trends, identify and contextually address barriers at all levels of maternal care