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Background: Loan default has been shown in existing literature to have a negative impact on banks as it reduces the performance of banks and may lead to total collapse of these institutions. The high rate of default associated with loans in Nigerian banks is indicative of existing poor credit management practices by the banks. Aim: As such, this study examined the effect of credit management practices on loan default in deposit money banks in Osun State. Methods: The study employed the survey research design, using a well-structured questionnaire to collect responses of one hundred and twenty (120) officers and managers from two hundred and fifty two (252) officers and managers of sixty (60) bank branches in Osun State. Using descriptive and multiple linear regressions, the collated data was presented using tables, while the research hypothesis was tested at the 5% level of significance. Findings: The study found that credit management has no significant effect on loan default, with both credit appraisal and credit monitoring exhibiting negative but non-significant effects on loan default, and credit collection policy exhibiting positive and significant effect on loan. Conclusion: The study concluded that credit management practices have no significant effect on loan default. In other words, loan default experienced in the banks were not influenced by the loan management practices put in place. While the processes were in existence in the banks under investigation, they have not been able to affect the incidences of loan default.

Water is a vital resource for all kinds of lives. Heavy metals (HM) generally enter the aquatic environment through natural (atmospheric deposition, erosion of geological matrix) or anthropogenic activities caused by industrial effluent, domestic sewage, mining and agricultural wastes. Tanning generally requires using a heavy chemical that contains chromium, cadmium etc. It was observed that these industrial wastes are discharged, without proper treatment, into small waterways, which subsequently adjoin the rivers and dams. Using agricultural chemicals and fertilizers also contributes to the chemical contamination of the aquatic environment. Discharging untreated sewage into the waterways introduce pathogenic microorganism into the marine environment, among other reasons, which has drawn the attention of researchers to the possibility of having the aquatic organism edible by humans (mostly fish) be contaminated by heavy metals and microorganisms, which have been confirmed to cause short- and long-term health hazards. Fish, one of the primary aquatic organisms in the food chain, may often accumulate large amounts of metals, which can later intoxicate humans after consumption. Humans can also be intoxicated by directly consuming untreated water contaminated with heavy metals. This review focused on the aquatic contamination of different heavy metals in water and fish and also suggested some recommendations to minimize the marine environment's toxicity.

Eponyms highlight the contributions made to medicine over the years, and celebrate individuals for their work involving diseases, pathologies, and anatomical landmarks. We have compiled an in-depth report of eponyms used in skull base neurosurgery, as well as the historical contexts of the personalities behind the names. A literature search identified 36 eponyms of the bones, foramina and ligaments of the skull base named after anatomists and physician-scientists. The 36 eponymous structures pinpointed include Arnold's canal, the foramen of Arnold, Bill's bar, Bertin's bones, Civinini's canal, Civinini's ligament, Civinini's process, sinodural angle of Citelli, Clivus of Blumenbach, Dorello's canal, the Eustachian tube, the eponymous cavernous sinus triangles of Parkinson, Kawase, Mullan, Dolenc, Glasscock and Hakuba, the Fallopian canal, the Glasserian fissure, Gruber's ligament, Haller cells, the spine of Henle, Highmore's antrum, the foramen of Huschke, Hyrtl's fissure, the Ingrassia process, Jacobson's canal, the MacEwen triangle, Meckel's cave, the Onodi air cell, the Pacchionian foramen, Fossa of Rosenmuller, the foramen of Vesalius, the Vidian canal, Trautman's triangle and the annular tendon of Zinn. Knowledge of the relevant eponyms enables succinct descriptions of important skull base structures, provides an understanding of associated clinical implications, and reminds us of the vast history of contributions to neurosurgery made by prominent figures in the field.

Background: Gender-affirming hormone therapy is critical to the management of transgender persons. Cyproterone acetate (CPA) is a synthetic, progesterone-like compound commonly used in high doses a...

Due to the risk of intracranial aneurysm (IA) recurrence and the potential requirement for re-treatment following endovascular treatment (EVT), radiological follow-up of these aneurysms is necessary. There is little evidence to guide the duration and frequency of this follow-up. The aim of this study was to establish the current practice in neurosurgical units in the UK and Ireland.A survey was designed with input from interventional neuroradiologists and neurosurgeons. Neurovascular consultants in each of the 30 neurosurgical units providing a neurovascular service in the UK and Ireland were contacted and asked to respond to questions regarding the follow-up practice for IA treated with EVT in their department.Responses were obtained from 28/30 (94%) of departments. There was evidence of wide variations in the duration and frequency of follow-up, with a minimum follow-up duration for ruptured IA that varied from 18 months in 5/28 (18%) units to 5 years in 11/28 (39%) of units. Young patient age, previous subarachnoid haemorrhage and incomplete IA occlusion were cited as factors that would prompt more intensive surveillance, although larger and broad-necked IA were not followed-up more closely in the majority of departments.There is a wide variation in the radiological follow-up of IA treated with EVT in the UK and Ireland. Further standardisation of this aspect of patient care is likely to be beneficial, but further evidence on the behaviour of IA following EVT is required in order to inform this process.

Background: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are very common “over-the-counter” commonly abused drugs used in treating fever, pain and inflammatory conditions. They inhibit prostaglandins and can cause kidney disease and hypertension, particularly in stressed states like dehydration and exercises. Objectives: To access prescription pattern and effects of common NSAIDs on the kidneys. Methods: One hundred frequent NSAIDs users (daily use > 4 weeks) and 100 healthy controls, who had no known risk factor for kidney disease and gave consent were recruited. Blood samples for serum electrolytes, urea and creatinine, haemoglobin concentration and urine samples for dip strip, and 24 hour protein were collected and analysed. Results: The mean age of the controls, all NSAIDs users, NSAIDs users without kidney dysfunction (KD) and NSAIDs users with KD were 46.04 + 14.21 years, 46.5 + 14.2 years, 41.84 years + 14.52 yrs and 63.04 + 4.21 years respectively, P=0.03. The mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was significantly lower in frequent NSAIDs users than controls, P

Gross total resection remains the gold-standard approach for vestibular schwannomas (VS) when surgery is indicated. In select cases, incomplete resection (IR) becomes a desired alternative to preserve the facial nerve function and the patient's quality of life. While a lot of earlier studies described incompletely resected sporadic VSs as dormant, more recent studies reported a higher growth rate following IR, therefore an evaluation of the residual VS growth rates could have important implications for the follow-up treatment protocols and provide relevant information for neurosurgeons, neuro-otologists, neuropathologists, and radiologists. Although prognostic factors predicting preoperative VS growth have been previously investigated, these factors have not been investigated following IR. Our review aims to examine the growth rate of residual sporadic VS following IR and to examine variables associated with the regrowth of residual VS.The review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. Six databases (MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), CINAHL Plus (EBSCO), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform and UK Clinical Trials Gateway (WHO ICTRP) were searched. Full-text articles analysing growth rates in at least ten patients who had residual VS after IR were assessed. We conducted a meta-analysis using a random-effects model via RevMan.14 studies totalling 849 patients were included in the analysis. The mean planimetric growth rate was 1.57 mm/year (range 0.16-3.81 mm/year). The mean volumetric growth rate was 281.725 mmFrom our analysis, only the residual tumour volume/size was associated with residual VS growth. Therefore, close postoperative surveillance for the first year, followed by an annual MRI scan for at least 5 years, and subsequently extended interval surveillance remains of utmost importance to monitor disease progression and provide timely surgical and adjuvant interventions. Our study shows that future work should be aimed at molecular and histological characteristics of residual VSs to aid prognostic understanding of growth.

Inadequate nutrition remains a major constraint to improved cattle production in the traditional agro-pastoral system of derived savanna in Nigeria. Consequently, a trial that studied effect of supplementary feeding of dried brewers spent grain to grazing cattle in the dry season was carried out in four selected Fulani herds located in the four axis of the derived savanna zone. In the trial, studies were carried out on eight N'Dama and eight Bunaji bull calves in a randomized complete block design. The supplement DBSG (24% CP) was fed at the rate of 1kg/calf /day for the period of three months. The calves on supplementation consumed an average of 0.80 kg/day. The average daily weight gains were higher for bull-calves on supplementary feeding (85g/day for N'Dama versus 56 g/day for Bunaji) than those without the supplement (17 g/day for N'Dama versus 11g/day for Bunaji). N'Dama cattle gained more weight than Bunaji. Financial analysis showed that the net benefit for the two breeds fed with or without supplementation was higher for N'Dama than for Bunaji. Supplementation had a significant (P

Background: Dental caries is one of the most prevalent oral diseases affecting children and adult populations worldwide. The distribution and severity of dental caries vary in different parts of the world and within the same region or country. However, few studies have focused on the burden of caries among Nigerian adults. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the severity and pattern of dental caries among the adult population in the Kano metropolis. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study in which adults were interviewed using an interviewer administered semi-structured questionnaire. Examiners used the criteria set by the World Health Organization (WHO) for assessing Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT). Field examinations were carried out under artificial light with a wooden spatula, dental mirror, and a Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN) probe. Results: Respondents’ mean (±standard deviation (SD) age was 41.2 (±12.78) years. The mean DMFT for the population was 3.58 (±3.53). One-in-three respondents (33.3%) had very low DMFT while one in five (20.0%) had very high DMFT. Severe dental caries as indicated by very high DMFT were more prevalent among women (22.2%), respondents with informal education (61.5%), and those who had a family history of dental caries (28.4%). Conclusion: The severity of dental caries among the adult population in the Kano metropolis was low. Interventions should be focused on women, those with informal education and positive family history.

Background: Dental caries as a disease entity has not been eradicated but controlled worldwide. The predictors of dental caries play a significant role in the holistic approach in the management of dental caries. The aim of this study is to evaluate the predictors of dental caries among adult population in North West Nigeria. Material and Methods: The study populations consist of adults between 20-60 years old, with diagnosis of dental caries (case) and those without dental caries (control), both were confirmed after intraoral examination. A multistage sampling technique was employed to select the study respondents. Mouth mirror and caries explorer (dental probe) were used for intraoral examination to confirm diagnosis of dental caries. An initial calibration of the research assistants was done on intraoral examination by the principal researcher, assessing the same respondents examined by the research assistants. Data was analyzed using SPSS Statistical software version 20.0. Results: The older age groups were 4% less likely to have caries (p

This paper assessed the climate smart agricultural practices using learning videos in Irepodun LGA, Kwara State, Nigeria using qualitative and quantitative methods in data collection. One hundred and forty-eighty farmers were randomly selected using interview schedule. Also, focus group discussions were conducted with 137 participants. Pairwise comparison was used to evaluate the difference between the proportion of household heads who used the videos to learn and those who did not use the videos. The study revealed that farmers have similar perception of climate change and related impacts in video-villages and in non-video-villages. However, the study revealed farmers’ observation of climate change and related impacts are influenced by gender, with men perceiving more climate change and related impacts than women. In non-video villages, few respondents adopted crop rotation, intercropping, crop diversification, and improved short-cycle seed varieties as climate change adaptation strategies. Videos contribute more to the adoption of crop rotation, intercropping and fertilizer application for men than for women. Videos on accounting (managing money) enable more women than men to enhance their cost-benefit evaluation practices for income improvement. During the interviews, women farmers in video-villages were eager to demonstrate their knowledge about cost-benefit evaluation. Furthermore, the yield of sorghum, cassava and maize is higher in video- villages than in non-video-villages. Thus, using videos as an extension tool is suitable for knowledge development and leads to the high adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices for food security.&nbsp

The study assessed the effects of social media on trainers’ work performance at the Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute, Ilorin, Nigeria. Systematic random sampling procedure was employed in the selection of 91 respondents for the study through the use of structured questionnaire. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square. Results showed that the frequently used media on a daily basis, were Twitter (83.5%), emails (79.1%), WhatsApp (76%), and Facebook (72%) while Linkedin (29.3%) were used on weekly basis. Trainers used social media to connect with families and friends (64.1%), source for journals (19.2%), collaborative research (18.8%) and as well as for online dating (20.7%). Furthermore, 38.0% of the respondents accessed social media from their personal office (68.4%), individual homes (59.6%) and departmental office (23.2%). Trainers agreed that social media were essential office tools (57.0%), retarded their work (38.2%) as well as wasted their time (11.6%). Chi-square analysis results showed a significant relationship between social media usage and age (R = -0.212, p≤0.05) as well as work experience (R= -0.39, p≤0.005). Social media has both positive and negative effects on trainers’ work performance. Social media usage should be controlled during working hours to improve the work performance of trainers at ARMTI.&nbsp

Safely operating Oil and Gas wells in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria has become quite challenging to achieve owing to the prevalent vandalization of assets in the operating environment. The asset vandalization ranges from minor theft of Christmas tree accessories, flowlines vandalization, to major wellhead damages and in some cases, wells get blown up with explosives by criminal elements. The major dilemma for the operations teams in this environment lies around how to (not only) restore integrity on wells with a complex state of vandalism, but also how to produce these wells safely. Restoring integrity on vandalized wells depends on nature of damage. For subject wells, the complete wellhead systems were severed and carted away with only Down Hole Safety Valve and production packer preventing the release of hydrocarbon. Restoration included design of a false rotary, fishing of the severed tubing stumps on drill pipes, installation of plugs above the safety valve and chemical cut of the tubing above the plug. Casing plug was installed above cut tubing depth as second barrier. Casings were then cold cut below impacted depth and tied back to surface. NDT, heat treatment carried out on weld joints. In this paper, the unconventional well integrity challenges faced in the Niger Delta onshore wells (Ukp- wells 1, 2, 3 and 5) and the in-house capabilities (innovative and unconventional steps) developed to address these challenges are presented. The wells in this paper had all concentric tubulars severed from below the casing head housing and carted away by vandals. These wells had a very high potential of damage to the environment and reputational impact to the company due to the HSE exposure level, apart from not conforming to the Company's well integrity policy of a minimum of two (2) tested and independent barriers. The Well Integrity restoration team showcased various innovative ways which were applied in other to secure these wells safely, bearing in mind the non-existence of barriers for standard rig up of equipment for the securing operations. Integrity was successfully restored on the wells through the unconventional novel approach. The Heat treatment and NDT ensured integrity of the weld joints for safe rig up of the planned HWU for the abandonment. This innovative approach prevented the potential process safety incident which could have led to asset, environmental and reputational damage. This paper would detail the history of the wells, planning, design and execution of the innovative in-house integrity restoration operation. The operation led to a total cost saving of US$1.8mln versus plan for the four vandalized wells that were restored.

This paper assessed the status of climate smart agriculture (CSA) among VADI farmers in North-central Nigeria using qualitative and quantitative methods in data collection. Two hundred and forty-seven farmers were randomly selected from the study area. Also, focus group discussions were conducted. Data collected were subjected to qualitative analysis and logit regression. The study identified five broad and important practices relevant to CSA in North-central Nigeria, which include: mobility and social networks, adjusting agricultural production systems, diversification on and beyond the farm, farm financial management, and knowledge management and regulations. The determinants of CSA in north-central Nigeria include: farming experience, education, extension, livestock ownership, income, land ownership, household size, credit, land area cultivated, distance to the market and water resources, leadership position, risk orientation, gender, and mass media exposure. Government policies need to support research and development that develops and diffuses the climate-smart technologies to help farmers respond to changes in climatic conditions.&nbsp

Intracranial aneurysms are a common asymptomatic vascular pathology, the rupture of which is a devastating event with a significant risk of morbidity and mortality. Aneurysm detection and risk stratification before rupture events are, therefore, imperative to guide prophylactic measures. Artificial intelligence has shown great promise in the management pathway of aneurysms, through automated detection, the prediction of rupture risk, and outcome prediction after treatment. The complementary use of these programs, in addition to clinical practice, has demonstrated high diagnostic and prognostic accuracy, with the potential to improve patient outcomes. In the present review, we explored the role and limitations of deep learning, a subfield of artificial intelligence, in the aneurysm patient journey. We have also briefly summarized the application of deep learning models in automated detection and prediction in cerebral arteriovenous malformations and Moyamoya disease.

Chronic opioid use among adolescents is a leading preventable public health problem in the United States. Consequently, a sizable proportion of surgical patients in this age group may have a comorbid opioid use disorder (OUD). No previously published study has examined the prevalence of OUD and its impact on postoperative morbidity or mortality in the adolescent surgical population. Our objective was to investigate the prevalence of comorbid OUD and its association with surgical outcomes in a US adolescent surgical population. We hypothesized that OUD among adolescent surgical patients is on an upward trajectory and that the presence of OUD is associated with higher risk of postoperative morbidity or mortality.Using the pediatric health information system, we performed a 1:1 propensity score-matched, retrospective cohort study of adolescents (10-18 years of age) undergoing inpatient surgery between 2004 and 2019. The primary outcome was inpatient mortality. The secondary outcomes were surgical complications and postoperative infection. We also evaluated indicators of resource utilization, including mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and postoperative length of stay (LOS).Of 589,098 adolescents, 563 (0.1%) were diagnosed with comorbid OUD (563 were matched on OUD). The prevalence of OUD in adolescents undergoing surgery increased from 0.4 per 1000 cases in 2004 to 1.6 per 1000 cases in 2019, representing an average annual percent change (AAPC) of 9.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.7-13.9; P value.001). The overall postoperative mortality rate was 0.50% (n = 2941). On univariable analysis, mortality rate was significantly higher in adolescents with comorbid OUD than those without comorbid OUD (3.37% vs 0.50%; P.001). Among propensity-matched pairs, comorbid OUD diagnosis was associated with an estimated 57% relative increase in the risk of surgical complications (adjusted relative risk [aRR], 1.57; 95% CI, 1.24-2.00; P.001). The relative risk of postoperative infection was 2-fold higher in adolescents with comorbid OUD than in those without OUD (aRR, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.62-2.51; P.001). Adolescents with comorbid OUD had an increased risk of ICU admission, mechanical ventilation, and extended postoperative LOS.OUD is becoming increasingly prevalent in adolescents presenting for surgery. Comorbid OUD is an important determinant of surgical complications, postoperative infection, and resource utilization, underscoring the need to consider OUD as a critical, independent risk factor for postsurgical morbidity.

Technology is generally improving the advertisement sector and the use of electronic medium in communication system is on geometric rise due to its flexibility, attractiveness, speed and efficiency. Various methods of information dissemination have been adopted from the use of posters, traditional billboards to electronic billboards. This work presents the development of an IOT (Internet of Things) based display board for Engineering Students in Federal Polytechnic Ile Oluji, Ondo State, Nigeria for lecture update using wireless communication channel (wi-fi); this provides ease and comfort of updating the content from remote location in the wireless network range. The command is sent to the digital display board through the Mobile Application interfaced with the wireless module to give regular update and seamless communication with students. The digital board basically contains a digital display module, a 5volts DC power pack, a wi-fi card, Microcontroller and Light Emitting Diodes. The administrator sends out message through the mobile led art light application to keep students updated on their lecture information. The text is received through the wireless module connected to the application and transferred to the microcontroller which decodes the message for users. The decoded message will automatically switch ON and OFF appropriate LEDs in order to display respective message sent which scrolls on the display. The display board can accept texts in different modes and styles as provided in the mobile application. The display board is useful in academic environment to regularly update students on lectures and other relevant information.

Introduction: The neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a cheap and readily available tool that is becoming increasingly recognized as a marker of pan-systemic inflammation. Gender differences have been identified in various inflammatory responses and play significant roles in the etiopathologic, epidemiological, clinical and prognostic profile of most disease entities. We assess gender association with the NLR. Methods: One hundred and eighty eight participants (44 with acute kidney injury and I44 with chronic kidney disease were studied. Data on socio-demographics, clinical and laboratory findings such as NLR, serum electrolytes, albumin, uric acid and urine albumin creatinine ratio (UACR) were documented and gender associations of participants’ variables were determined. Results: The NLR was higher in CKD than AKI, P=0.04, higher in females, P

The period of maintenance and rehabilitation of asphalt concrete pavement can be increased by using fibres as reinforcement in a bituminous mix. Shredded Sisal fibre (Agave sisalana) and Sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrical) were used as reinforcements in bituminous mix. The fibres were added to hot mix asphalt in varying proportion of 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4% and 0.5% by weight. The strength of fibre reinforced asphalt concrete was determined by conducting Marshall stability test. The tensile strength on 40 strands of fibre gave 167.43 N/mm2 and 24.58 N/mm2 for Sisal fibre and sponge gourd fibre respectively. Marshall Stability test results indicated that Sisal fibre gave minimum and maximum values of 4.46 kN and 5.54 kN, respectively, which exceeded the 3.5 kN minimum stability value for wearing course in the Nigerian General Specification for Roads and Bridges. The flow values obtained showed that the flow values are more than the 4 mm minimum value except for 0.1 sisal fibre dosage which has a value of 3.99 mm. The high flow values obtained was an indication of the reinforcing effects of the fibres which made the asphalt concrete stronger and hence have great resistance to plastic deformation.

Background Disruptions in global surgery educational routines by the COVID-19 pandemic have elicited demands for alternative formats for rendering qualitative neurosurgical education. This study presents application of a novel model of online neurosurgical course, the Lecture-Panel-Discussion Model (LPDM). Methods This is a cross-sectional survey of participants who attended the Swedish African Neurosurgery Collaboration (SANC)-100A course. Participants evaluated the course through an online self-administered questionnaire using a 5-point Likert scale ranging from very poor—1, poor—2, average (fair)—3, good—4, to excellent—5. SANC-100A comprises a tripod of Lectures, Panel review, and interactive case Discussion. This model (LPDM) was innovated by SANC and applied at the Enugu International Neurosurgery course in February 2021. Results There were 71 attendees, 19 were course faculty, while 52 were participants. Thirty-five attended from Nigeria, 11 from Sweden, 3 from Malawi, 2 from Senegal, and 1 from the UK. Among 44 participants who completed the questionnaire, there were 9 fellows and 35 residents. The overall median course Likert rating was 4.65 ± 0.1. The median overall rating for course events was similar between day 1 (Likert score = 4.45) and day 2 (Likert score = 4.55), U = 55, Z score = 1.10, P = 0.27. The median rating for lectures was 4.50 ± 0.2 and varied from 4.40 on day 1 to 4.55 on day 2. The median rating for panel review was 4.60 ± 0.1 and varied from 4.55 on day 1 to 4.65 on day 2. Interactive case discussions were rated 4.80 on both course days. There was a significant variability in the rating profiles of the course tripod: U = 24.5, P = 0.03. Fifty-one (98%) participants believe LPDM was COVID-19-compliant, while 90% believe the course was beneficial to training and practice. Conclusion Initial application of LPDM is rewarded with both high acceptance and high rating among participants.

Sharing Virtualized Network Functions (VNFs) among different slices in Fifth Generation (5G) is a potential strategy to simplify the system implementation and utilize 5G resources efficiently. In this paper, we propose a security-aware VNF sharing model for 5G networks. The proposed optimization model satisfies the service requirements of various slices, enhances slice security by isolating their critical VNFs, and enhances resource utilization of the underlying physical infrastructure. The model tries to systematically decide on sharing a particular VNF based on two groups of constraints; the first group of constraints is common assignment constraints used in the existing literature. The second group is the novel security constraints that we propose in this work; the maximum traffic allowed to be processed by the VNF and the exposure of the VNF to procedures sourced via untrusted users or access networks. This sharing problem is formalized to allow for procedure-level modeling that satisfies the requirements of slice requests in 5G systems. The model is tested using standard VNFs and procedures of the 5G system rather than generic ones. The numerical results of the model show the benefits and costs of applying the security constraints along with the network performance in terms of different metrics., Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures, journal paper

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is a devastating form of stroke frequently affecting young to middle-aged adults, with an unmet need to improve outcome. This special report focusses on the development of intrathecal haptoglobin supplementation as a treatment by reviewing current knowledge and progress, arriving at a Delphi-based global consensus regarding the pathophysiological role of extracellular hemoglobin and research priorities for clinical translation of hemoglobin-scavenging therapeutics. After aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, erythrocyte lysis generates cell-free hemoglobin in the cerebrospinal fluid, which is a strong determinant of secondary brain injury and long-term clinical outcome. Haptoglobin is the body’s first-line defense against cell-free hemoglobin by binding it irreversibly, preventing translocation of hemoglobin into the brain parenchyma and nitric oxide-sensitive functional compartments of cerebral arteries. In mouse and sheep models, intraventricular administration of haptoglobin reversed hemoglobin-induced clinical, histological, and biochemical features of human aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Clinical translation of this strategy imposes unique challenges set by the novel mode of action and the anticipated need for intrathecal drug administration, necessitating early input from stakeholders. Practising clinicians (n=72) and scientific experts (n=28) from 5 continents participated in the Delphi study. Inflammation, microvascular spasm, initial intracranial pressure increase, and disruption of nitric oxide signaling were deemed the most important pathophysiological pathways determining outcome. Cell-free hemoglobin was thought to play an important role mostly in pathways related to iron toxicity, oxidative stress, nitric oxide, and inflammation. While useful, there was consensus that further preclinical work was not a priority, with most believing the field was ready for an early phase trial. The highest research priorities were related to confirming haptoglobin’s anticipated safety, individualized versus standard dosing, timing of treatment, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and outcome measure selection. These results highlight the need for early phase trials of intracranial haptoglobin for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, and the value of early input from clinical disciplines on a global scale during the early stages of clinical translation.

The study examined the sustainability of youth empowerment scheme using ARMTI as a case study. A three-stage sampling technique was adopted in the selection of 112 respondents for the study using structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics was used to analyse data. The result of the findings show that the mean age of the respondents was 34.5. The study revealed more male (63.4%) participation in the programme, with majority (72.3%) being single. Major benefit derived by respondents were skill acquisition, (98.2%), positive change in attitude towards agriculture (94.6%), and access to capital (90.2%). Inadequate fund or capital support by the government, poor post-empowerment support by the government, and uncertainty over the political environment to support continuity were the major constraints to sustainability of the scheme. There was significant relationship between constraints (r = 0.462*) and perceived sustainability of the youth empowerment scheme. The study concluded that youth empowerment scheme was adjudged sustainable. Government, development experts and donor agencies must ensure that sustainability of the programme is taken into cognizance at every level of the programme and efforts must be put into incorporation of monitoring and evaluation from the beginning so as to prevent wastage of resources.

Pharmacologic management of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) in pediatric patients remains a challenge. Without effective treatment to control pain from CIPN in children, reduction or discontinuation of life-saving chemotherapeutic medications may be required. Various combinations of medications are available, but none have been thoroughly evaluated for their effectiveness in managing CIPN in the pediatric population. We present the clinical management of severe CIPN in a 3-year-old child with pre-B acute lymphoblastic lymphoma that was refractory to a regiment that included high-dose gabapentin and opioids. Therapy was subsequently adjusted to include amitriptyline, eliminating the need for opioids with complete resolution of symptoms. The potential combination pharmacotherapies for pediatric CIPN are discussed and mechanisms accounting for inadequate response with monotherapy are presented.

Proteomic variation between individuals has immense potential for identifying novel drug targets and disease mechanisms. However, with high-throughput proteomic technologies still in their infancy, they have largely been applied in large majority European ancestry cohorts (e.g. the UK Biobank). An open question is the degree to which proteomic signatures seen in European and other groups mirror those seen in diverse populations, such as cohorts from Africa. Coupled with genetic information, we can also gain a better understanding of the role of genetic variants in the regulation of the proteome and subsequent disease mechanisms.To address the gap in our understanding of proteomic variation in individuals of African ancestry, we collected proteomic data from 176 individuals across two ethnic groups (Igbo and Yoruba) in Nigeria. These individuals were also stratified into high BMI (BMI > 30 kg/m2) and normal BMI (20 kg/m2< BMI < 30 kg/m2) categories. We characterized differences in plasma protein abundance using the Olink Explore 1536 panel between high and normal BMI individuals, finding strong associations consistent with previously known signals in individuals of European descent. We additionally found 73 sentinel cis-pQTL in this dataset, with 21 lead cis-pQTL not observed in catalogs of variation from European-ancestry individuals. In summary, our study highlights the value of leveraging proteomic data in cohorts of diverse ancestry for investigating trait-specific mechanisms and discovering novel genetic regulators of the plasma proteome.

The exponential rise in the prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM) necessitates the introduction of strategies for early diagnosis to reduce the burden of the disease. This study assessed the prevalence of prediabetes and also determined the 10-year risk of developing T2DM in Southern Nigerian rural communities by adopting the validated Finnish Diabetes Risk Score (FINDRISC) tool.273 participants from 3 Southern rural communities aged 18 years and older were recruited in this cross-sectional study. Data in the FINDRISC stratification tool and Random Blood Glucose (RBG) variables were obtained for the participants. IBM SPSS version 21 was used to analyze the data with a level of significance put at p0.05.The participants' mean age was 54.20±16.61 years. The prevalence of prediabetes among the study participants based on RBG was 4.8% (3.8% of males and 6.6% of females, respectively). Most of the study participants (41%) had a low risk of developing T2DM which meant that 1 in 100 participants would become diabetic in a 10-year period, based on the FINDRISC scale. Amongst the male participants, the Total Diabetes Risk Score (TDRS) showed significant positive correlation with the RBG (r=0.315, p=0.001); similarly, a weak positive correlation between TDRS and RBG was noted among female participants.The propensity of developing T2DM in 10 years was indisputably low amongst rural dwellers in the Southern Nigerian rural communities studied. Further studies to compare the risk of developing T2DM between rural and urban communities would be required.L’augmentation exponentielle de la prévalence du diabète de type 2 (DT2) nécessite l’introduction de stratégies de diagnostic précoce pour réduire le fardeau de la maladie. Cette étude évalue la prévalence du prédiabète et détermine également le risque sur 10 ans de développer un DT2 dans les communautés rurales du sud du Nigeria en adoptant l’outil validé FINDRISC (Finnish Diabetes Risk Score).273 participants de 3 communautés rurales du sud du pays âgés de 18 ans et plus ont été recrutés dans cette étude transversale. Les données de l’outil de stratification FINDRISC et les variables de la glycémie aléatoire (RBG) ont été obtenues pour les participants. IBM SPSS version 21 a été utilisé pour analyser les données avec un niveau de signification mis à p0,05.L’âge moyen des participants était de 54,20±16,61 ans. La prévalence du prédiabète parmi les participants à l’étude, basée sur le RBG, était de 4,8% (3,8% des hommes et 6,6% des femmes respectivement). La plupart des participants à l’étude (41%) présentaient un faible risque de développer un DT2, ce qui signifie que 1 participant sur 100 deviendrait diabétique sur une période de 10 ans, selon l’échelle FINDRISC. Chez les hommes, le score total de risque de diabète (TDRS) a montré une corrélation positive significative avec le RBG (r=0,315, p=0,001) ; de même, une faible corrélation positive entre le TDRS et le RBG a été notée chez les femmes.La propension à développer un DT2 en 10 ans est indiscutablement faible chez les habitants des communautés rurales du sud du Nigeria étudiées. D’autres études visant à comparer le risque de développer un DT2 entre les communautés rurales et urbaines seraient nécessaires.FINDRISC, Nigeria, TDRS, Diabète de type 2, Prédiabète, Habitants ruraux.

Introduction: Despite the rising prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD), access to adequate renal care is still not available to a very large part of the populace, essentially due to inadequate funds and this has further heightened the burden of the disease on patients and the general society. Measures are therefore needed to highlight this health challenge and proffer solutions. Methods: A comparative study in which consented 354 consented participants with CKD stage 3-5 gave history, were examined and had blood taken for serum biochemistry and hematocrit to access kidney function. Results: Two hundred and thirty six males and 118 females participated. The mean age of the participants was 52.11 ± 6.04 yrs. A greater percentage (44.6%) of participants had hypertension as cause of CKD and earned a monthly income less than the national minimum wage (47.7%). A greater proportion of participants had tertiary education (51.4%), were married (64.1%) and travelled less than 50 kilometers (67.5%) to access renal care. The health insured were more likely to be males (P=0.002), aged (P

Introduction: Anemia is a modifiable and very common complication of chronic kidney disease that could be difficult to manage, more so in low income settings due to late recognition, and cost of undergoing required investigations and treatment. Methods: A cross sectional study in which participants with chronic kidney disease and with glomerular filtration rate (GFR)

Background Vestibular schwannomas (VS) are benign intracranial tumors originating from the vestibular division of the eighth cranial nerve. Treatment options include microsurgery, radiotherapy, and surveillance. Endoscopy is becoming more widely used as an adjunct in skull base surgery and may influence outcomes in surgically managed VS. Methods A systematic review was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Studies involving endoscope-assisted and fully endoscopic procedures for sporadic VS resection were identified. Facial nerve function, hearing preservation, extent of resection, and complications were analyzed. Results Thirty-one studies were included (27 endoscope-assisted, four fully endoscopic). Subgroup analyses were performed to assess outcomes according to tumor size and surgical approach. Overall, endoscopic facial nerve preservation rates were comparable to microsurgical treatment. A subgroup analysis suggested that functional facial nerve preservation rates may be higher when endoscopic assistance is used for smaller (Koos I-II) tumors using the retrosigmoid or translabyrinthine approach. The gross total resection rate for small tumors was higher in retrosigmoid ES-assisted microsurgery (96.2%) compared to rates in the literature for the standard, open retrosigmoid approach. Hearing outcomes were more variable and were under-reported. Conclusions Current data suggest that ES-assisted resection of sporadic VS is not inferior to microsurgical resection with respect to facial nerve outcomes and extent of resection. However, some ES series report poor hearing outcomes, which are under-reported in the literature. Further prospective studies are required to ascertain if endoscopic assistance can improve outcomes for VS resection, particularly for smaller (Koos I-II) tumors.

For the safe and efficient operation of dams, frequent monitoring and maintenance are required. These are usually expensive, time consuming, and cumbersome. To alleviate these issues, we propose applying a wave-based scheme for the location and quantification of damages in dams. To obtain high-resolution “interpretable” images of the damaged regions, we drew inspiration from non-linear full-multigrid methods for inverse problems and applied a new cyclic multi-stage full-waveform inversion (FWI) scheme. Our approach is less susceptible to the stability issues faced by the standard FWI scheme when dealing with ill-posed problems. In this paper, we first selected an optimal acquisition setup and then applied synthetic data to demonstrate the capability of our approach in identifying a series of anomalies in dams by a mixture of reflection and transmission tomography. The results had sufficient robustness, showing the prospects of application in the field of non-destructive testing of dams.

Movement-related oscillations in the beta range (from 13 to 30 Hz) have been observed over sensorimotor areas with power decrease (i.e., event-related desynchronization, ERD) during motor planning and execution followed by an increase (i.e., event-related synchronization, ERS) after the movement’s end. These phenomena occur during active, passive, imaged, and observed movements. Several electrophysiology studies have used beta ERD and ERS as functional indices of sensorimotor integrity, primarily in diseases affecting the motor system. Recent literature also highlights other characteristics of beta ERD and ERS, implying their role in processes not strictly related to motor function. Here we review studies about movement-related ERD and ERS in diseases characterized by motor dysfunction, including Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, stroke, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and multiple sclerosis. We also review changes of beta ERD and ERS reported in physiological aging, Alzheimer’s disease, and schizophrenia, three conditions without overt motor symptoms. The review of these works shows that ERD and ERS abnormalities are present across the spectrum of the examined pathologies as well as development and aging. They further suggest that cognition and movement are tightly related processes that may share common mechanisms regulated by beta modulation. Future studies with a multimodal approach are warranted to understand not only the specific topographical dynamics of movement-related beta modulation but also the general meaning of beta frequency changes occurring in relation to movement and cognitive processes at large. Such an approach will provide the foundation to devise and implement novel therapeutic approaches to neuropsychiatric disorders.

Background Africa bears >15% of the global burden of neurosurgical disease. Yet to date, Africa still has the lowest neurosurgical workforce density globally, and efforts to fill this gap by 2030 need to be multiplied. Although the past decade has seen an increase in neurosurgery residency programs in the continent, it is unclear how these residency programs are similar or viable. This study aims to highlight the current status of neurosurgical training in Africa as well as the differences within departments, countries or African regions. Methods A literature search using keywords related to ‘neurosurgery’, ‘training’, and ‘Africa’ and relevant names of African countries will be performed on PubMed and Google Scholar. If unavailable online, the authors will contact local neurosurgeons at identified training programmes for their curricula. The residency curricula collected will be analysed against a standardized and validated medical education curriculum viability tool. Results The primary aim will be the description of African neurosurgical curricula. In addition, the authors will perform a comparative analysis of the identified African neurosurgical curricula using a standardized and validated medical education curriculum viability tool. Discussion This study will be the first to evaluate the current landscape of neurosurgery training in Africa and will highlight pertinent themes that may be used to guide further research. The findings will inform health system strengthening efforts by local training programme directors, governments, policymakers and stakeholders.

There exist in the provision of adequate housing with the requisite infrastructure to make for better living condition. Over the years, government through a National Housing policy, has continue to come up with some strategies in housing provision and encouraged privately developed housing investment to thrive and minimize deficit. Abuja was conceptualized as an integrated and sustainable city and planned to avoid the numerous problems plaguing other Nigerian megacities, while emphasizing the inter-relationship of infrastructure, housing, economic, social services, open space, and recreation. The population in this study is drawn from the participants of the Public–Private Partnership housing delivery, personnel staff of Mass Housing Department, FCDA and Mass Housing Unit in Department of Development Control, FCTA in charge of supervision and monitoring, the developers and occupants of the developed housing. Data was made through questionnaire administration and interview to the sampled population. Summary of findings reveals the impact of infrastructure on housing provision through public-private partnership in the study area in the study area. &nbsp

This study examined the impact of debt equity ratio on the share price performance of manufacturing firms listed in Nigeria between 2010 and 2019. The study adoptedan ex-post facto research design. A sample size of fifteen (15) listed manufacturing firms was used while panel regression models estimated using fixed effect model and random effect model, while the result of the Hausman test was utilized to select the appropriate model between fixed effect model and random effect model.The findings of the study reveals that the total debt to equity ratio is negative and significant influence on performance of share price {Coef. = -0.009 P-value > 0.05}. Return on Assets is also seen to be positive and significantly influence the performance of share price of listed manufacturing firm in Nigeria {Coef = 2.428 P-value = 0.000}. However, Size of firm {Coef. = -0.019 P-value = 0.344} is seen to have negative but insignificant effect on the performance of share price. The study therefore recommended that firm manager should cautious while using debt finance. Firm manager should consider the consequences of debt finance before making capital structure decision. They are supported to identify the optimum debt level and ensure that they are no use excessive amount of debt in capital structure.

Background There is no comprehensive report of neurosurgery postgraduate education in Africa. This narrative review aimed to map out the landscape of neurosurgery training in Africa and highlight similarities and differences in training. Methods The keywords “neurosurgery,” “education,” and “Africa” were searched on PubMed and Google Scholar from inception to January 17, 2021. Next, a complementary hand search was conducted on Google using the keywords “neurosurgery,” “residency,” and the individual African countries in English and official languages. The relevant data were extracted and compiled into a narrative review. Results A total of 76 African training programs that recruit more than 168 trainees each year were identified. Less than half (40.7%, n = 22) of African countries have at least 1 neurosurgery training program. Egypt (n = 15), Algeria (n = 14), and Nigeria (n = 10) have the highest number of training programs, whereas Algeria (0.33), Egypt (0.15), and Libya (0.15) have the highest number of training programs per 1 million inhabitants. The College of Surgeons of East, Central, and Southern Africa has 16 programs in 8 countries, whereas the West African College of Surgeons has 17 accredited programs in 3 countries. The duration of training varies between 4 and 8 years. There is limited information available in the public domain and academic literature about subspecialty fellowships in Africa. Conclusions This review provides prospective applicants and African and global neurosurgery stakeholders with information to advocate for increased investment in African neurosurgery training programs.

Introduction\ud Africa bears more than 15% of the global burden of neurosurgical disease; however, it has the lowest neurosurgical workforce density worldwide. The past decade has seen an increase in neurosurgery residency programs on the continent. It is unclear how these residency programs are similar or viable. This study highlights the current status, interdepartmental and regional differences, with the main objective of offering a template for improving the provision of neurosurgical education on the continent.\ud \ud Method\ud PubMed and Google Scholar were searched using keywords related to “neurosurgery,” “training,” and “Africa” from database inception to 10/13/2021. The residency curricula were analyzed using a standardized and validated medical education curriculum viability tool.\ud \ud Results\ud Curricula from 14 African countries were identified. The curricula differed in resident recruitment, evaluation mode and frequency, curriculum content, and length of training. The length of training varied from four to eight years with a mean of six years. The Eastern African region had the highest number of examinations, with a mean of 8.5. Few curricula had correlates of viability - ensuring that the instructors are competent (64.3%), prioritization of faculty development (64.3%), faculty participation in decision making (64.3%), prioritization of resident support services (50%), creating a conducive environment for quality education (42.9%), and addressing student complaints (28.6%).\ud \ud Conclusion\ud There are significant differences in the African postgraduate neurosurgical education curriculum warranting standardization. This study has identified areas of improvement for neurosurgical education in Africa.

The use of locally produced condiments is gaining popularity as a healthier replacement for monosodium glutamate seasoning in cooking local and even some international dishes. This study determined the comparative proximate composition, mineral content and sensory properties of fermented condiments produced from two underutilized seeds namely pumpkin seeds (Cucurbita moschata) and watermelon seeds (Citrullus vulgaris). using the commonly used locust bean seed (Parkia biglobosa) as a control The condiment samples were produced following traditional fermentation methods, while the proximate composition and mineral content were analyzed using standard methods. The sensory attributes were evaluated based on the consumer’s preference with the exception of the watermelon seed condiments which developed a very pungent odor during fermentation. The locust bean condiments had the highest mean value of fibre and protein (3.16 and 20.32 %), but the least moisture (18.00 %), ash (2.57%) and carbohydrate (33.16%) contents. The watermelon seed condiments had the highest moisture, ash and carbohydrate contents (18.00, 2.57 and 33.16% respectively) and the least fibre, protein and fat contents (3.16, 20.32 and 22.8 % respectively). For the pumpkin seed condiments, the values of fibre and protein content were similar to those of the locust bean condiments but it had the highest fat content of 23.97%. The ash contents of all three condiments were statistically not different from each other (P

Cake was produced using blends of wheat flour and African locust bean fruit (Parkia biglobosa) pulp flour to assess the suitability of the locust bean fruit pulp flour in baking cake of higher nutritional value. The proximate, functional and sensory qualities of the cake samples produced were investigated. The flour used was made from composite blends of wheat flour and African locust bean fruit pulp flour in varying proportions (100:0, 80:20, 60:40, 40:60 and 20:80). The cake produced from 100% wheat flour served as control, and the flour blends were also analyzed for their functional properties. The results showed that there was a significant increase in moisture, ash and crude fibre as the amount of African locust bean fruit pulp flour increased, while the protein, crude fats and carbohydrate content decreased. The moisture content ranged from 4.40 - 6.92 %, ash (1.51 - 2.18 %), and fibre (1.11 - 2.32 %). The functional properties of the flour varied as the substitution level increased. An increase was observed in the oil absorption capacity (1.19 to 2.42 g/mL), bulk density (0.25 – 0.65 g/mL), water absorption capacity (1.18 – 1.60 g/mL) and the loose density (0.08 – 0.37 g/mL). On the other hand, a decrease was observed in the gelation temperature (72.10 – 68.10 oC) and the swelling index (1.55 – 1.40 g/mL). The result of sensory attributes were evaluated using 9 point hedonic scale with a mean value of appearance ranging from 6.68 - 8.50, taste (6.82 - 8.28), texture (6.69 - 8.05), and the flavour (6.33 - 7.67). The overall acceptability value ranged from 7.38 to 8.52. The results showed that there was a significant difference at P

Surveillance imaging is a valid management option for selected vestibular schwannomas (VS). An ideal protocol for radiologic monitoring would highlight growth-related risk factors and tailor management accordingly. This study aims to identify variables associated with the growth of sporadic VS to enhance surveillance imaging, enable early intervention, and optimize outcomes.The review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. A systematic review of 5 databases (PubMed, Ovid, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Google Scholar) was performed to identify negative and positive growth predictors of sporadic vestibular schwannomas. The search was limited to studies reported between January 2015 and January 2020. We conducted an individual patient data meta-analysis using a 1-stage multivariate mixed-effect logistic regression model.A total of 437 studies were identified, of which 25 met our criteria for full-text analysis. Articles that measured VS with comparable methods were determined eligible for meta-analysis inclusion. The selected articles were highly heterogeneous in their use of grading scales and assessment of tumor size. Our review showed that size at diagnosis (odds ratio, 1.15; 95% confidence interval, 1.11-1.18; P0.0001) and intracanalicular localization (odds ratio, 0.49; 95% confidence interval, 0.26-0.90; P = 0.023) were associated with VS growth.The factors most frequently reported as being associated with growth within the literature were size of VS at diagnosis and localization of an intracanalicular component. Greater attention should be placed on these criteria within the surveillance imaging algorithm for VS.

The study examined the effect of climate change on income generating activities of farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 240 crop and livestock farmers for the study. The majority (52.4%) of the respondents were literate and had multiple income generating activities (83.7%). Crop farming, collection of forest products, poultry production and goat rearing were the most negatively affected income generating activities. Sex, educational level and household size had significantly positive relationship with farmer’s involvement in income generating activities. A positive significant differences existed in farmers’ income generating activities before and after climate change. Indigenous practices adopted in controlling the effect of climate change do not have significant relationship with farmers’ involvement in income generating activities. Government, research institutes, extension officers, nongovernmental organizations and community leaders should intensify efforts at educating farmers on the need for use of environmentally friendly farming systems in order to reduce the effect of climate change. Keywords: Climate change; farmers’ income generating activities