Professional Challenges to Counselling Practice in Akwa Ibom State

This study assessed the professional challenges to counselling practice in Akwa Ibom State. Eighty copies of Professional Challenges to Counselling Questionnaire (PROCE) were administered  on professional counsellors in Akwa Ibom State. The instrument has a reliability coefficient of 0.78. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data. The results showed that counsellors in the State lag behind in the use of ICT. The researchers recommended, among other things, that in-service training should be provided for practicing counsellors by their employers and state chapters of counselling association should organize seminars and workshops for members of the association for greater productivity. Keywords: Professional challenges, Counselling, Counselling practice, and Counsellor’s experience

Training and development contributions to technological transfer among Nigerian employees using a study of Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited.

This study examined how the Human Resource Management(HRM) practice implemented by Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited contribute to Organisational growth of Saipem in terms of technological transfer to Nigerian Employees. The use of descriptive type of survey research design. This design helped in examining the relationship HRM practices have with Organisational growth of Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited in terms of technological transfer to Nigerian employees. Stratified random sampling technique was used to select respondents from the study area. Both primary and secondary sources were used  in collecting data. Of 458 targeted respondents, 416 completed the survey questionnaire, a 90.82% response rate. In analysing the responses from the questionnaire, descriptive statistics were used. Two statistical tools were used in test of the hypotheses such as : Chi Square χ2 and One-Sample t-test to assess the level of acceptance or otherwise the null hypotheses. It was found that several practices such as training and development to enhanced technological transfer to Nigerian employees. It is seen from the findings that Nigerians are given first consideration for training in this company; however, it is recommended  among others that Local Content initiatives should be listed in the training plan of Saipem; this should help the HR Manager fulfil a report on the training activities to Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board(NCDMB). This information should be conveyed to the Corporate Training Department of Saipem, which prepares the Saipem Group Training Activities Report. Keywords:  Training and development, Technological Transfer, Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limite

Guidance and Counseling Services in Secondary School as Coping Strategy for Improved Academic Performance of Students in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

This study focused on Guidance and Counselling services among secondary school adolescents as coping strategy for improved academic performance. The population comprised of all SS3 students in public secondary schools in Uyo municipality, Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. A sample size of 252 students responded to the instruments. Three null hypotheses were raised and tested for the study. Data were collected using researchers designed structured questionnaire tagged “Guidance and Counselling services and school academic performance questionnaire’ (GCSAPA), and using the respondents SS2 promotion result which was a standardized state wide examination, to get their academic performance. The data were analyzed at 0.05 alpha level using t-test. After computation, the result revealed that students who utilized the counselling services performed better than those who did not. It was recommended that all schools should be provided with professional counsellors to help the students. Keywords: Guidance, Counselling, coping strategy, academic performance

Non-invasive evaluation of nigrostriatal neuropathology in a proteasome inhibitor rodent model of Parkinson's disease

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Predominantly, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies in animal models of Parkinson's disease (PD) have focused on alterations in T₂water ¹H relaxation or ¹H MR spectroscopy (MRS), whilst potential morphological changes and their relationship to histological or behavioural outcomes have not been appropriately addressed. Therefore, in this study we have utilised MRI to scan <it>in vivo </it>brains from rodents bearing a nigrostriatal lesion induced by intranigral injection of the proteasome inhibitor lactacystin.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Lactacystin induced parkinsonian-like behaviour, characterised by impaired contralateral forelimb grip strength and increased contralateral circling in response to apomorphine. T₂-weighted MRI, 3-weeks post-lesion, revealed significant morphological changes in PD-relevant brain areas, including the striatum and ventral midbrain in addition to a decrease in T₂water ¹H relaxation in the substantia nigra (SN), but not the striatum. Post-mortem histological analyses revealed extensive dopaminergic neuronal degeneration and α-synuclein aggregation in the SN. However, extensive neuronal loss could also be observed in extra-nigral areas, suggesting non-specific toxicity of lactacystin. Iron accumulation could also be observed throughout the midbrain reflecting changes in T₂. Importantly, morphological, but not T₂relaxivity changes, were significantly associated with both behavioural and histological outcomes in this model.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>A pattern of morphological changes in lactacystin-lesioned animals has been identified, as well as alterations in nigral T₂relaxivity. The significant relationship of morphological changes with behavioural and histological outcomes in this model raises the possibility that these may be useful non-invasive surrogate markers of nigrostriatal degeneration <it>in vivo</it>.</p

Evolution of Extra-Nigral Damage Predicts Behavioural Deficits in a Rat Proteasome Inhibitor Model of Parkinson's Disease

Establishing the neurological basis of behavioural dysfunction is key to provide a better understanding of Parkinson's disease (PD) and facilitate development of effective novel therapies. For this, the relationships between longitudinal structural brain changes associated with motor behaviour were determined in a rat model of PD and validated by post-mortem immunohistochemistry. Rats bearing a nigrostriatal lesion induced by infusion of the proteasome inhibitor lactacystin into the left-medial forebrain bundle and saline-injected controls underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at baseline (prior to surgery) and 1, 3 and 5 weeks post-surgery with concomitant motor assessments consisting of forelimb grip strength, accelerating rotarod, and apormorphine-induced rotation. Lactacystin-injected rats developed early motor deficits alongside decreased ipsilateral cortical volumes, specifically thinning of the primary motor (M1) and somatosensory cortices and lateral ventricle hypertrophy (as determined by manual segmentation and deformation-based morphometry). Although sustained, motor dysfunction and nigrostriatal damage were maximal by 1 week post-surgery. Additional volume decreases in the ipsilateral ventral midbrain; corpus striatum and thalamus were only evident by week 3 and 5. Whilst cortical MRI volume changes best predicted the degree of motor impairment, post-mortem tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity in the striatum was a better predictor of motor behaviour overall, with the notable exception of performance in the accelerating rotarod, in which, M1 cortical thickness remained the best predictor. These results highlight the importance of identifying extra-nigral regions of damage that impact on behavioural dysfunction from damage to the nigrostriatal system

Exploring student-centred approaches in lecturing music education at Molepolole College of Education

This study explored how music education pedagogies in Botswana colleges of education can be enhanced and broadened through the adoption of student-centred teaching approaches. A constructivist theoretical framework was used to guide the study. This theory describes various ways in which people acquire knowledge and learn, and promote active engagement of learners during the learning process. A qualitative research approach was adopted and Molepolole College of Education was used as a case study. Data was collected using three methods: semi-structured interviews with music education lecturers; evaluation of lessons by students; and a lesson observation by an independent assessor. Two qualitative data analysis techniques – the constant comparative analysis method and the narrative analysis method – were used to analyse the data, and the specific objectives of the study were adopted as the analytical and presentation framework of the study results. The overall results revealed that while music lecturers were aware of the key tenets of student-centred teaching approaches, most of them continued to use lecture-centred approaches in their teaching of music. Based on the findings of the study, the researcher recommends that: student-centred approaches are adopted as the methodology of choice in music departments, and that music lecturers should be capacitated in the form of short refresher courses and workshops on student-centred lecturing approaches. Another recommendation is that music education should be introduced at all levels of education to ensure that all students have some basic music background by the time they reach tertiary education level, and that further research should be undertaken to explore other factors that the study could not go into in detail.Mini Dissertation (MMus)--University of Pretoria, 2017.MusicMMusUnrestricte

Neither in vivo MRI nor behavioural assessment indicate therapeutic efficacy for a novel 5HT(1A) agonist in rat models of ischaemic stroke.

RIGHTS : This article is licensed under the BioMed Central licence at http://www.biomedcentral.com/about/license which is similar to the 'Creative Commons Attribution Licence'. In brief you may : copy, distribute, and display the work; make derivative works; or make commercial use of the work - under the following conditions: the original author must be given credit; for any reuse or distribution, it must be made clear to others what the license terms of this work are.BACKGROUND: 5HT1A agonists have previously been shown to promote recovery in animal models of stroke using ex vivo outcome measures which have raised the hopes for a potential clinical implementation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential neuroprotective properties of a novel 5HT1A agonist DU123015 in 2 different models of transient focal ischaemic stroke of varying severities using both in vivo neuroimaging and behavioural techniques as primary outcome measures. For these studies, the NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801 was also utilized as a positive control to further assess the effectiveness of the stroke models and techniques used. RESULTS: In contrast to MK-801, no significant therapeutic effect of DU123015 on lesion volume in either the distal MCAo or intraluminal thread model of stroke was found. MK-801 significantly reduced lesion volume in both models; the mild distal MCAo condition (60 min ischaemia) and the intraluminal thread model, although it had no significant impact upon the lesion size in the severe distal MCAo condition (120 min ischaemia). These therapeutic effects on lesion size were mirrored on a behavioural test for sensory neglect and neurological deficit score in the intraluminal thread model. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the need for a thorough experimental design to test novel neuroprotective compounds in experimental stroke investigations incorporating: a positive reference compound, different models of focal ischaemia, varying the duration of ischaemia, and objective in vivo assessments within a single study. This procedure will help us to minimise the translation of less efficacious compounds

Analisis Faktor-faktor Yang Mempengaruhi Kualitas Informasi Laporan Keuangan Pemerintah Daerah (Studi Empiris Pada Skpd Pemerintah Kabupaten Kepulauan Talaud)

The research was conducted on the basis of the gap between expectations and reality . Hope, by improving the quality of human resources and improvement of legislation in the field of financial management areas, generating financial reports quality information. In fact, the quality of financial reporting information in Talaud Islands District Government showed no significant developments. This is evidenced by the BPK opinion obtained by the Government of Talaud Islands during 2006 through 2015 that Gives Opinion, Unusual, and Fair With Exceptions. Opinion adopted by Talaud Islands raises the question of why the quality of financial reporting information local governments do not progress. Based on the research objective, this study can be categorized in the associative causal type. The location study performed in Talaud Islands District Government. Data used in this study are primary data. Data collection is done by distributing questionnaires to Financial Management (User Administration Budget and Finance Officer) on regional work units (SKPD ) in Talaud Islands District Government. The population used was the financial manager in each SKPD, used as a sample 146 respondents. Data were analyzed using multiple linear regression analysis. The results showed that the Internal Monitoring , Understanding Regulation , Capacity Human Resources (HR), Use of Information Technology, and Organizational Commitment together have a significant effect on the Information Quality Local Government Finance Report (LKPD ), but the partial test results shows that only the Internal Control, Capacity Human Resources ( HR) Organizational commitment has a positive and significant impact on Quality of Information in Local Government Finance Report ( LKPD)

The late response of rat subependymal zone stem and progenitor cells to stroke is restricted to directly affected areas of their niche

Ischaemia leads to increased proliferation of progenitors in the subependymal zone (SEZ) neurogenic niche of the adult brain and to generation and migration of newborn neurons. Here we investigated the spatiotemporal characteristics of the mitotic activity of adult neural stem and progenitor cells in the SEZ during the sub-acute and chronic post-ischaemic phases. Ischaemia was induced by performing a 1 h unilateral middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and tissue was collected 4/5 weeks and 1 year after the insult. Neural stem cells (NSCs) responded differently from their downstream progenitors to MCAO, with NSCs being activated only transiently whilst progenitors remain activated even at 1 year post-injury. Importantly, mitotic activation was observed only in the affected areas of the niche and specifically in the dorsal half of the SEZ. Analysis of the topography of mitoses, in relation to the anatomy of the lesion and to the position of ependymal cells and blood vessels, suggested an interplay between lesion-derived recruiting signals and the local signals that normally control proliferation in the chronic post-ischaemic phase