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Background: The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends the use of intermittent preventive therapy with sulphadoxine-pyramethamine (IPT-SP) for prevention of malaria in pregnancy and this is the priority of the Roll Back Malaria partnership. Objectives: To determine the effect of IPT-SP on pregnancy outcome in our environment. Methods: Four hundred pregnant women among a cohort recruited for a larger study evaluating the prevalence of malaria parasitaemia in pregnancy in UMTH Maiduguri from 24th July 2007 to 12th January 2008 were used for this study. All pregnancies and deliveries were supervised at the UMTH. They were followed from booking to delivery to observe the effect of IPT-SP on pregnancy outcome. Blood samples were collected at booking and delivery for malaria parasite and packed cell volume. Malaria parasite was also looked for in the cord blood and placenta. Sociodemographic characteristics and pregnancy outcome were also obtained. Results: The mean age and parity of the patients were 27.2 +/- 5.5 years and 2.3 +/- 2.1 respectively. Majority of the patients (80.0%) have had at least a dose of the IPT-SP. The prevalence of malaria parasitaemia at booking was 60.3% with a mean parasite density of 701.04 +/- 382.22parasites/µl. However, the prevalence at delivery fell to 28.8% (p less than 0.001) the mean parasite density reduced to 405.187 +/- 310.43 parasites/µl (p less than 0.001). In spite of the similar mean parasite density at booking in the 3 groups, the mean parasite density at delivery was lowest in the patients that had 2 doses of IPT-SP and highest among those that did not take IPT-SP (P less than 0.001). The use of IPT-SP also significantly protects from maternal anemia at delivery, preterm delivery, low birth weight, placental malaria, and cord parasitaemia. Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of malaria parasitaemia with a high parasite density among pregnant women at booking, both of which decline remarkably at delivery most likely due to ITP-SP during antenatal care. It is recommended that the use of intermittent preventive treatment should be intensified.

Background: Uterine corpus cancer is primarily a disease of postmenopausal women. It is worthwhile to look at the histopathologic types of uterine corpus cancers in an environment where these types of cancers are relatively uncommon. Objective: To determine the histo-pathological types of uterine corpus cancers seen in Maiduguri, North–eastern Nigeria. Methods: This was a twenty year retrospective review of histo-pathological types of uterine corpus cancers seen from January 1989 to December 2008. Results: Of the 43 cases of uterine corpus cancers, 29(67.4%) were endometriod carcinomas, 7(16.3%) were special variant carcinomas, 4(9.3%) were sarcomas, 2 (4.7%) were metastasis from the cervix and 1(2.3%) was a mixed Mullerian tumour. The mean age was 51.1+ 10.6. The peak age specific incidence was 45-54years. Conclusion: The peak age specific incidence of uterine corpus cancer in Maiduguri is lower compared to that in western countries. Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) was found to be higher in Maiduguri than reports from the western world.

Abstract Introduction Secondary peritonitis is the second leading cause of sepsis worldwide. Drug resistance to peritoneal cavity bacterial infection remains a public health threat, especially in resource-limited settings in Africa, including Uganda. This study aimed to determine the antibacterial susceptibility patterns and factors associated with secondary peritonitis among patients with acute abdomen who underwent surgery at a Regional Referral Hospital in Uganda. Methods This was a cross-sectional study conducted at Hoima Regional Referral Hospital (HRRH) that enrolled 126 patients with acute abdomen. Clinical samples were aseptically collected at laparotomy from patients with secondary peritonitis for culture and sensitivity using standard Microbiological methods. Binary logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with secondary peritonitis among patients with acute abdomen. Results The majority of the patients were males (61.9%) with a mean age of 37.9(SD ± 21.8). Secondary peritonitis was found in 57(45.2%) of the patients. Gram-negative bacteria were the most commonly isolated organisms with Escherichia coli (35.8%) and Klebsiella spp (17.0%) predominating. Imipenem 88.8%(8/9), Amikacin 88.8%(8/9), Ciprofloxacin 44.4%(4/9) and Gentamicin 44.4%(4/9) demonstrated sensitivity to the different isolated organisms at varying degrees. Being a male (AOR = 3.658; 95% CI = 1.570–8.519, p = 0.003) and presenting 3 days after onset of symptoms (AOR = 2.957; 95% CI = 1.232–7.099, p = 0.015) were independently associated with secondary peritonitis. Conclusion Imipenem, Amikacin, Ciprofloxacin, and Gentamicin should be considered for empirical therapy in cases of secondary peritonitis. Patients, more especially males with abdominal pain should be encouraged to present early to the hospital to minimize progression to secondary peritonitis.

Myocarditis is a cardiovascular disease characterised by inflammation of the heart muscle which can lead to heart failure. There is heterogeneity in the mode of presentation, underlying aetiologies, and clinical outcome with impact on a wide range of age groups which lead to diagnostic challenges. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is the preferred imaging modality in the diagnostic work-up of those with acute myocarditis. There is a need for systematic analytical approaches to improve diagnosis. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are increasingly used in CMR and has been shown to match human diagnostic performance in multiple disease categories. In this review article, we will describe the role of CMR in the diagnosis of acute myocarditis followed by a literature review on the applications of AI and ML to diagnose acute myocarditis. Only a few papers were identified with limitations in cases and control size and a lack of detail regarding cohort characteristics in addition to the absence of relevant cardiovascular disease controls. Furthermore, often CMR datasets did not include contemporary tissue characterisation parameters such as T1 and T2 mapping techniques, which are central to the diagnosis of acute myocarditis. Future work may include the use of explainability tools to enhance our confidence and understanding of the machine learning models with large, better characterised cohorts and clinical context improving the diagnosis of acute myocarditis.

Empirical evidence proves that agricultural research and development expenditure, and researchers attract high returns though the investments have long gestation periods. Nonetheless, Sub-Saharan Africa invests meagerly in agricultural research and development, and researchers. This study explores the impacts of agricultural research and development expenditures, and researchers on food security in the region and across the sub-regions. The study applies Bootstrapped linear squared dummy variable due to its capacity to handle heterogeneity and missing observations and two-step system generalized method of moments techniques to analyze the data on 24 sub-Saharan African countries over the period 2000–2016. Data on measures of food security, food production per capita, and food price index are obtained from Food and Agriculture Organization stat, data on population growth is sourced from World Development Indicators, and data on investments in agricultural innovations are extracted from International Food Policy Research Institute. Our findings show that investments in agricultural innovation substantially increase food security through food productivity growth. The full-time equivalent of agricultural researchers’ hours is more impactful on food security than agricultural research and development spending. The findings also reveal that the investments are more effective in enhancing food security in Eastern, Southern, and Western African sub-regions while they instead exacerbate the problem of food insecurity in Central Africa. The policy implications are that adequate resources should be channeled into proper agricultural research and development to introduce new crop varieties or significantly improved crops, etc. Moreover, there should be coordination between large and small countries in investments in order for the countries to benefit from the economies of scale.

IntroductionSub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is plagued by myriads of diseases, mostly infectious; but cancer disease burden is rising among non-communicable diseases. Nigeria has a high burden of cancer, however its remote underserved culturally-conserved populations have been understudied, a gap this study sought to fill.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional multi-institutional descriptive study of histologically diagnosed cancers over a four-year period (January 2019-December 2022) archived in the Departments of Pathology and Cancer Registries of six tertiary hospitals in the northeast of Nigeria. Data obtained included age at diagnosis, gender, tumor site and available cancer care infrastructure. Population data of the study region and its demographics was obtained from the National Population Commission and used to calculate incident rates for the population studied.ResultsA total of 4,681 incident cancer cases from 2,770 females and 1,911 males were identified. The median age at diagnosis for females was 45 years (range 1–95yrs), and 56 years (range 1–99yrs) for males. Observed age-specific incidence rates (ASR) increased steadily for both genders reaching peaks in the age group 80 years and above with the highest ASR seen among males (321/100,000 persons) compared to females (215.5/100,000 persons). Breast, cervical, prostatic, colorectal and skin cancers were the five most common incident cancers. In females, breast, cervical, skin, ovarian and colorectal cancers were the top five malignancies; while prostate, haematolymphoid, skin, colorectal and urinary bladder cancers predominated in men.ConclusionRemote SSA communities are witnessing rising cancer disease burden. Proactive control programs inclusive of advocacy, vaccination, screening, and improved diagnostics are needed.

Key Clinical Message Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) presents with renal failure and proteinuria in a minority of cases, usually due to secondary amyloidosis or IgA nephropathy. While focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is less common, it should still be in the differential regardless of the patient's clinical profile.

Abstract Background Traditional risk scores for recurrent atrial fibrillation (AF) following catheter ablation utilize readily available clinical and echocardiographic variables and yet have limited discriminatory capacity. Use of data from cardiac imaging and deep learning may help improve accuracy and prediction of recurrent AF after ablation. Methods We evaluated patients with symptomatic, drug‐refractory AF undergoing catheter ablation. All patients underwent pre‐ablation cardiac computed tomography (cCT). LAVi was computed using a deep‐learning algorithm. In a two‐step analysis, random survival forest (RSF) was used to generate prognostic models with variables of highest importance, followed by Cox proportional hazard regression analysis of the selected variables. Events of interest included early and late recurrence. Results Among 653 patients undergoing AF ablation, the most important factors associated with late recurrence by RSF analysis at 24 (+/−18) months follow‐up included LAVi and early recurrence. In total, 5 covariates were identified as independent predictors of late recurrence: LAVi (HR per mL/m2 1.01 [1.01–1.02]; p 66.7 mL/m2 and early recurrence had the highest risk of late recurrence risk compared with those with LAVi

Background: It has been known for centuries that plants and plant-derived chemicals are useful in treating diseases, with Aloe vera being one of the biologically active plants. A significant role is played by the C-reactive protein (CRP) in many inflammatory conditions, while leukocytes play an integral role in the response of the immune system to infectious diseases. Objectives: This study explored the potential anti-inflammatory effects of Aloe vera methanolic extract on the total white blood cell (TWBC) count and CRP levels in Wistar rats received formalin. Methods: A total of 25 Wistar rats were divided into five groups (A to E), with group A serving as the control and the other groups receiving formalin to induce inflammation, followed by increasing doses of Aloe vera extract. The CRP level was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit, and the TWBC count was determined using a Sysmex haematology autoanalyzer. Results: Research findings showed that 200 mg of Aloe vera methanolic extract effectively reduced the CRP level (0.056±0.0027) (P=0.04), while 600 mg of the extract significantly increased the TWBC count (13.920±4.757) (P=0.03). Conclusion: These findings suggest that Aloe vera extract may be an effective natural supplement for improving the immune system function and reducing inflammation in the body. However, further research is needed to fully understand the underlying mechanisms for these effects and to determine the optimal doses and potential side effects.

Purpose – The literature about the dynamics of Muslims' awareness and perception of waqf has been generally scarce,especially in Nigeria. As renewed efforts are emerging to develop a new waqf regime in the country, this study examines this aspect in Gombe metropolis, Nigeria, with a view to identifying the key factors shaping people's perception and awareness towards waqf. Design/methodology/approach – To achieve the objective of this study, primary data were collected through a survey among 494 business owners in the Gombe metropolis. The data were then analysed using probit and Tobit regression models. Findings – The study found that altruistic behaviour, religiosity level, educational level and young age are among the factors that determine people's perception and awareness towards donating to waqf among business owners in Gombe. Altruism and young age embolden businesspersons to recognise the effectiveness of waqf institutions in solving socioeconomic challenges. Practical implications – The findings of this study imply that waqf has huge potential in the study area and that with well-structured, organized waqf education programmes within the business community using diverse avenues, a robust waqf sector can be developed. Originality/value – As far as the study area and the entire Nigerian Islamic economics and finance landscape is concerned, the study has explored a novel research area. Given the infant stage of empirical studies on waqf in Nigeria, there are virtually no previous attempts to examine the awareness and perception of businesspersons towards waqf; variables that are key to the development of an effective sector.

Abstract Background Despite the benefits attributed to the use of local anesthesia (LA) for open hemorrhoidectomy (OH) in developed countries, this technique is still not considered as the first line technique in low-income countries such as Uganda; therefore, we aimed at comparing the cost of OH under LA versus Saddle block among patients with 3rd or 4th degree hemorrhoids. Methods This trial was conducted from December 2021 to May 2022 among patients with primary uncomplicated 3rd or 4th degree hemorrhoids. The operating time, and direct costs in (US$) including medical and non-medical were recorded. We analysed the cost in the two groups (local anesthesia versus saddle block) using SPSS version 23.0. Results Findings of fifty-eight patients were analysed including 29 participants per group. There was a significant difference in operating time and cost among the two groups (p

The increasing demand for fine aggregates in turn has led to the astronomical increase in the cost of procuring construction materials thereby making it difficult to meet the shelter provision requirement of the teeming population of a country such as Nigeria. This study aims at optimizing and developing predictive models on the strengths and durability of reinforced laterized concrete using response surface methods with laterite being used as a partial replacement of fine aggregate in reinforced concrete. In this study, the optimized laterite content was determined at replacement level of laterite to fine aggregates at 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40% with a mix ratio of 1:2:4 and a water cement ratio of 0.65, while for the water absorption, the percentages replacement of laterite to fine aggregates was 0, 10 and 20%. The results of the strength and the durability obtained from the laboratory were subjected to statistical analysis using design expert software version 13(2021). The strength and the durability were found to be 19.044 N/mm2, 27.304 N/mm2 and 3.809% for the compressive strength, flexural strength and water absorption at 10% laterite content at 28 days curing age. It was concluded that, to achieve the maximum strength (compressive and flexural) and durability requirements of laterized concrete should be produced by replacing fine aggregate with 10% laterite and cured at 28 days. The developed models could be used for the predictions of desired strengths and durability of the reinforced laterized concrete.

Study background:. Anti-HBe and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA are important markers in evaluating HBV infection. Anti-HBe indicates past or current infection that persists after hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) clearance. Detecting anti-HBe helps identify cleared or chronic infections. HBV DNA measures viral replication, indicating infection activity. Studying these markers in HBeAg-seronegative young adults provides insights into infection dynamics, immune responses, and transmission risk. It informs clinical management and public health interventions for preventing HBV transmission and reducing the burden of liver disease. Aim and objectives:. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence of HBeAg seronegativity and its association with HBV infection markers among young adults in Etsako, Edo State, Nigeria. Materials and methods:. The study population consisted of HBeAg-seronegative individuals aged 18 to 30 years. A total of 400 participants (200 females and 200 males) were randomly selected from urban and rural communities using a multistage sampling technique. Anti-HBe and HBeAg were analyzed by ELISA, whereas HBV DNA was evaluated by polymerase chain reaction. Results:. The prevalence of HBeAg seropositivity was 28%, whereas 72% of participants were seronegative. Among the HBeAg-seronegative participants, the frequencies of anti-HBe and HBV DNA were analyzed based on various categorical variables. The results showed no significant differences in the frequency of anti-HBe and HBV DNA based on occupation, training, or other categorical variables (P>0.05). However, there was a significantly higher proportion of males (60%) among the total number of anti-HBe-seropositive young adults compared to females (40%) (P

Abstract Background Hepatitis B vaccination is the most important preventive measure against Hepatitis B viral (HBV) infection. Vaccination against HBV infection among healthcare workers is important because of their daily exposure to patients’ body fluids and the possible risk of transmission to other patients. Hence, this study assessed the risk of hepatitis B infection, vaccination status and associated factors among healthcare workers in six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. Methods A nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted between January and June 2021 using electronic data capture techniques to enroll 857 healthcare workers (HCWs) in regular contact with patients and their samples through a multi-stage sampling method. Results The participants’ mean (SD) age was 38.7 (8.0) years, and 453 (52.9%) were female. Each of the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria had a fair representation, with a range of 15.3 to 17.7% of the study population. The majority (83.8%) of healthcare workers in Nigeria knew that they were at an increased risk of being infected by their work. Also, 72.2% knew that if infected, there was a high risk of liver cancer in later life. Many participants (642 [74.9%]) responded that they consistently applied standard precautions, such as hand washing, gloves, and face masks while attending to patients. Three hundred and sixty (42.0%) participants were fully vaccinated. Of the 857 respondents, 248 (28.9%) did not receive any dose of the hepatitis B vaccine. Factors that were associated with not being vaccinated included age less than 25 [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 4.796, 95% CI 1.119 to 20.547, p = 0.035], being a nurse (AOR 2.346, 95% CI 1.446 to 3.808, p = 0.010), being a health attendant (AOR 9.225, 95% CI 4.532 to 18.778, p = 0.010), and being a healthcare worker from the Southeast (AOR 2.152, 95% CI 1.186 to 3.904, p = 0.012) in Nigeria. Conclusion This study showed a high level of awareness of the risks associated with hepatitis B infection and suboptimal uptake of the hepatitis B vaccine among healthcare workers in Nigeria.

Background: Disease epidemiology encompasses a wide range of health conditions, divided into communicable and noncommunicable diseases. Aim and Objective: This systematic review investigates the intricate connection between genetic susceptibility and disease development within these categories. Understanding genetic factors is crucial for improving prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies. The central research question is as follows: Which genes are linked to susceptibility to communicable and noncommunicable diseases, and how do these genetic elements affect susceptibility? We hypothesize that an exhaustive analysis of the literature will reveal numerous genes associated with both types of diseases, revealing the complex genetic landscape influencing susceptibility. Methodology: This systematic review follows a rigorous methodology, including comprehensive search strategies, well-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria, publication bias assessment, data extraction, quality evaluation, and data synthesis, adhering to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines to ensure transparency and ethical presentation. Several databases, including PubMed, Embase, Springer Nature, AJOL, CrossRef, Scopus, and Web of Science, were systematically searched to retrieve published articles. Findings: In communicable diseases, the genetic factors influencing susceptibility extend beyond well-established genes, warranting further investigation under conditions such as COVID-19, HIV, tuberculosis, and hepatitis B. Noncommunicable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, neurological disorders, and metabolic disorders, offer promising avenues for exploring additional genetic variations. Research gaps include understanding the functional impact of the identified polymorphisms, their interaction with environmental factors, and their implications for rare diseases. Conclusion: Genome-wide association studies and gene editing therapies have the potential to expand our understanding and therapeutic options for genetically based diseases. This comprehensive review contributes to the evolving landscape of genetic susceptibility and its implications for public health and personalized medicine.

Objective: Circumcision is the excision and removal of skin part that covers glans penis which is called as prepicium, Dorsal penile nevre block (DPNB) is used alone or in combination with general anesthesia for circumcision. Application of a laryngeal mask (LMA) is preferred especially in pediatric age group because it requiresless anesthetic substance, it doesn’t trigger laryngeal reflexes. Our aim was to compare DPNB application under sedation and LMA application for management of anesthesia in circumcision surgery. Material and Methods: The thousand and ten patients who had DPNB under sedation and LMA were compared with regards to duration of surgery, duration of anesthesia, duration of recovery, need for postoperative analgesia, complications, and season of surgery. Results: Duration of surgery, anesthesia, and recovery were significantly shorter in DPNB application under sedation compared with LMA application (p

In order for microfinance institutions (MFIs) to significantly impact the society, they must achieve both financial sustainability and outreach goals simultaneously. However, when MFIs prioritize financial sustainability at the expense of their outreach goals, it is regarded as mission drift. This study introduces the concept of the Kuznets curve hypothesis to explain the occurrence of mission drift in MFIs. By analysing data from 1,323 unique MFIs across 105 emerging countries, between 2010 and 2018, our findings corroborate the existence of the Kuznets curve for outreach and financial goals. The findings demonstrate that MFIs initially prioritize their outreach goal of serving more female clients but gradually shift focus towards financial performance as they expand and accumulate fixed assets. Moreover, we also empirically quantified the critical asset size of MFIs beyond which they are less likely to achieve their outreach and financial sustainability goals. The implications of these findings for policy are also discussed.

In this study, a two-electrode electrodeposition technique was employed to grow thin films of antimony selenide (Sb2Se3) on glass/fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates. The highest quality thin films were consistently obtained within the range of 1600 mV to 1950 mV. Subsequent electrodeposition experiments were conducted at discrete voltages to produce various layers of thin films. Photoelectrochemical cell (PEC) measurements were performed to characterize the semiconductor material layers, leading to the identification of both p-Type and n-Type conductivity types. Optical absorption spectroscopic analysis revealed energy bandgap values ranging from 1.10 eV to 1.90 eV for AD-deposited Sb2Se3 samples and 1.08 eV to 1.68 eV for heat-treated Sb2Se3 samples, confirming the semiconducting nature of the Sb2Se3 material. Additionally, other characterization techniques, including X-ray diffraction analysis, reveal that the AD-deposited layers are almost amorphous, and heat treatment shows that the material is within the orthorhombic crystalline system. Heat-treated layers grown at ~1740 mV showed highly crystalline material with a bandgap nearing the bulk bandgap of Sb2Se3. Raman spectroscopy identified vibrational modes specific to the Sb2Se3 phase, further confirming its crystallinity. To explore the thin-film morphology, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was employed, revealing uniformly deposited material composed of grains of varying sizes at different voltages. Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) confirmed the presence of antimony and selenium in the material layers.

Antimicrobial drug resistance has become a global challenge and one of utmost concern due to the global epidemiological infections. Medicinal plants have long performed an essential role in medicine and can be an essential source of recent antimicrobials and techniques for treating resistance. Clausena is a genus in the Rutaceae family which are widely recognized and utilized in traditional medicines. Many members of this genus have been a primary source of medications and drug history. The antimicrobial effectiveness of the secondary metabolites from the roots, stems, leaves, rhizomes, twigs, seeds, fruits, and flowers of several Clausena species has been widely examined and was found to be more effective against bacteria with Clausena anisata being the most promising specie. A total of 16 active compounds including 12 alkaloids, 2 coumarins, and 2 terpenoids were reported to be isolated from different parts of the plant species with mukonal being the only compound that shows dual potency both against fungi and protozoa. This review aims to sum up research advances made from 2000 to date, on the antibacterial, antifungal, and antiprotozoal activities of Clausena species, and highlight the potential use of Clausena plants in the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases.

In recent years, government investments in implementing restrictive public policies on the treatment and discharge of effluents from the aquaculture industry have increased. Hence, efficient and cleaner methods for aquaculture production are needed. Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) offers water conservation by recycling the treated aquaculture water for reuse. RAS wastewater treatment using a moving bed bioreactors (MBBRs) process has been considered well suited for maintaining good water quality, thereby making fish farming more sustainable. Currently, improvements were achieved in tackling the influence of salinity, organic matter, disinfectant, and bioreactor start-up process on the MBBR performance efficiency. This review highlights an updated overview of recent development made using MBBR to treat the residual water from RAS. Precisely, nitrification and simultaneous nitrification-denitrification (SND), and other hybrid processes for nitrogen removal were elucidated. Finally, future challenges and prospects of MBBRs in RAS facilities that need to be considered were also proposed.

In 2005, the Nigerian government launched the Microfinance Banking Scheme to offer funding to economically active impoverished people who cannot obtain loans from traditional banks, create jobs, promote rural development, and alleviate poverty. This study looks at the theoretical issues these institutions have had to deal with since their creation. It also examines the business climate to analyze the potential of microfinance institutions in the Ilorin metropolis, Kwara State. According to the research, microfinance banking in the Ilorin metropolis faces enormous challenges due to inadequacies in infrastructure, social misconceptions, a poor legal and regulatory framework, unbridled competition from other financial institutions, abandonment of core microfinance functions, and a scarcity of qualified workforce. The research highlighted areas where these institutions might capitalize despite the numerous hurdles. Some of these potential include expanding entrepreneurial awareness, increased government involvement, significant unbanked rural areas, and a high number of disadvantaged individuals. According to the study, with correct regulatory interventions and the dedication of other stakeholders to the primary objective of microfinance banking, its issues may be solved, and its prospects may be improved. As a result, this study suggests that the future of microfinance banking in the Ilorin metropolis, Kwara State, and Nigeria is promising.

This study employs the logistic regression method to examine the effect of financial inclusion on the level of poverty in Niger State of Nigeria based on cross-sectional data randomly collected from 624 respondents across 224 towns and villages in 12 local government areas (LGAs) of the state. The estimation results illustrate that financial inclusion (proxied by bank account ownership, including access to bank, credit, and mobile phone) is significantly and negatively related to the level of poverty. This empirical outcome is further validated by the results of the Probit regression technique which show a significant negative relationship between financial inclusion and poverty in the state. Based on these empirical findings, the study recommends policies which include broadening bank coverage, softening credit requirements, and enhancement of people’s access to mobile phone and internet services in rural areas of Niger state.

ObjectivesCurrently, administering contrast agents is necessary for accurately visualizing and quantifying presence, location, and extent of myocardial infarction (MI) with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). In this study, our objective is to investigate and analyze pre- and post-contrast CMR images with the goal of predicting post-contrast information using pre-contrast information only. We propose methods and identify challenges.MethodsThe study population consists of 272 retrospectively selected CMR studies with diagnoses of MI (n = 108) and healthy controls (n = 164). We describe a pipeline for pre-processing this dataset for analysis. After data feature engineering, 722 cine short-axis (SAX) images and segmentation mask pairs were used for experimentation. This constitutes 506, 108, and 108 pairs for the training, validation, and testing sets, respectively. We use deep learning (DL) segmentation (UNet) and classification (ResNet50) models to discover the extent and location of the scar and classify between the ischemic cases and healthy cases (i.e., cases with no regional myocardial scar) from the pre-contrast cine SAX image frames, respectively. We then capture complex data patterns that represent subtle signal and functional changes in the cine SAX images due to MI using optical flow, rate of change of myocardial area, and radiomics data. We apply this dataset to explore two supervised learning methods, namely, the support vector machines (SVM) and the decision tree (DT) methods, to develop predictive models for classifying pre-contrast cine SAX images as being a case of MI or healthy.ResultsOverall, for the UNet segmentation model, the performance based on the mean Dice score for the test set (n = 108) is 0.75 (±0.20) for the endocardium, 0.51 (±0.21) for the epicardium and 0.20 (±0.17) for the scar. For the classification task, the accuracy, F1 and precision scores of 0.68, 0.69, and 0.64, respectively, were achieved with the SVM model, and of 0.62, 0.63, and 0.72, respectively, with the DT model.ConclusionWe have presented some promising approaches involving DL, SVM, and DT methods in an attempt to accurately predict contrast information from non-contrast images. While our initial results are modest for this challenging task, this area of research still poses several open problems.

Abstract Background Clarithromycin resistant Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) strains represent a worldwide health problem. These stains are usually carrying mutations within the 23S rRNA gene associated with clarithromycin resistance. This study aimed to detect H. pylori and clarithromycin resistant associated mutations from Sudanese patients with gastritis symptoms. Materials and methods Two hundred and eighty-eight gastric biopsies were collected using gastrointestinal endoscopy from patients with gastritis symptoms in different hospitals in Khartoum state. H. pylori was detected by PCR using primer targeting 16S rRNA. Then allele-specific PCR and DNA sequencing were used to screen for the presence of A2142G and A2143G point mutations. Results Out of 288 samples, H. pylori was detected in 88 (~ 30.6%) samples by 16 s RNA. Allele-specific PCR detected the variant A2142G in 9/53 (~ 17%) sample, while A2143G mutation was not found in any sample. The DNA sequencing revealed the presence of mutations associated with clarithromycin-resistance in 36% (9/25) of samples; the A2142G was present in one sample, A2143G in 5 samples and T2182C in 4 samples. Additionally, another point mutation (C2195T) was detected in 3 samples. There was no association of 23S rRNA gene point mutations with gender, age group, and patients’ geographical distribution. Conclusion This study revealed a high frequency (36%) of mutations associated with clarithromycin resistance using DNA sequencing of the 23S rRNA gene’s V domain. This information should be taken into consideration to avoid eradication therapy failing.

Background: Anemia in pregnancy which may be mild, moderate, or severe is a common physiological disorder that can lead to poor pregnancy outcome which may be primary or secondary to problems associated with hepatic, renal, and immune system which may be indicated by alterations in packed cell volume (PCV), alanine transaminase, albumin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and creatinine. This work is, therefore, designed to determine inflammatory response, plasma albumin, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and PCV in relationship with the degree of anemia and gestational age in anemic pregnant women. Methods: Two hundred (200) HbAA anemic pregnant women and 100 nonanemic pregnant women were recruited as test and control subjects, respectively. All subjects were negative to HIV-Ag-Ab, acid-fast bacillus (AFB)-Ziehl–Neelsen, Plasmodium, anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV), and hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg) tests. HIV-Ag-Ab, TNF-α, anti-HCV, and HBeAg were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; AFB by Ziehl–Neelsen staining; Plasmodium by thick-film Giemsa staining; hemoglobin types by hemoglobin electrophoresis; albumin, creatinine, and ALT by auto-chemistry analysis using COBAS C11; and PCV by microhematocrit tube method. Results: Eighteen percent (36) of the anemic pregnant women had severe anemia whereas 82% (164) had moderate anemia. The results obtained showed a significant increase in the plasma value of TNF-α and a decrease in the PCV in anemic pregnant women compared with the results obtained in the nonanemic pregnant women (P < 0.05). There was a significant increase in plasma TNF-α in severe anemia compared with the anemic pregnant women with moderate anemia (P < 0.05). Conclusions: This work revealed a significant increase in plasma TNF-α and a decrease in PCV in anemic pregnant women which was more intense in anemic pregnant women with severe anemia while the pattern of anemia showed that 18% (36) of the anemic pregnant women had severe anemia whereas 82% (164) had moderate anemia.

This study examines the effect of governance on women's participation using annual time-series data for 29 years spanning from 1990 - 2019. The ARDL Bounds test discloses the existence of a long-run co-integration relationship between accountability, control of corruption, and effectiveness of government and women participation in the labor force. The empirical results obtained revealed that both in the short-run and long-run accountability and the percentage of female employment have a positive and statistically significant effect on women's participation in Nigeria. Although, both in the short-run and long-run the effectiveness of government shows negative and statistically insignificant, the control of corruption exerted a negative and statistically significant impact both in the short-run and long-run. Therefore, the study recommends that the government at all levels should ensure that accountability prevailed in every sector, to allow fair play in representatives, employment, and diffusion of decisions to strengthen and energized women's participation.

The identification of an individual in mass disasters and traffic accidents is a fundamental goal in forensic investigations. However, it is suggested that every population needs anthropological reference data. The objectives of this study were to determine the potential and accuracy of hand length and hand breadth in sex determination among the Hausa population of Nigeria. Random sampling was employed to select 204 male and 194 female subjects aged 18-30 years. Hand length and hand breadth were measured using standard protocols. Two-sample t-test, binary logistic regression, receiver operating characteristics curve, and Youden’s index were used for determining sex using hand dimensions. Posterior probability and likelihood ratio were used to determine the favor odds of each category of hand dimension in sex discrimination. A significant sexual dimorphism was observed in hand length and hand breadth with higher mean values in males. The variance of sex explained by hand parameters ranges from 38.50/51.35% (lower/upper limits) to 52.98/70.66%, which were exhibited by right hand length and left hand breadth respectively. The overall prediction and percentage accuracy of sex discrimination ranges between 80.40 to 86.70 % that were exhibited by right hand length and handbreadth respectively. We observed that left hand breadth exhibited higher Younden’s index with an area under curve (AUC) ranging from 91.60% to 96.05%. We found that hand length of > 189.99 mm was indicative of male origin and hand breadth of > 79.99 mm was indicative of male origin.

Purpose: Postharvest losses of fruits and vegetables are major problem for countries that agriculture is one of the source economy and that losses in tomato have reported from 20 to 50%. It is one of the very perishable fruit and it changes continuously after harvesting. The aim was to evaluate the effect of guava (Psidium guajava) and physic nut (Jatropha curcas) leaf extract on fresh ripe tomato fruits. Research method: Two tomato varieties obtained (UTC and Tandilo) from Gombe Main Market and were then treated with aqueous and ethanolic extract of Psidium guajava and Jatropha curcas leaves to extend their shelf life and maintain the quality of tomato fruits during storage. The experiment was laid out using completely randomized block design, (CRBD). Number of days to deterioration was recorded on visual eating quality. The recorded data were analyzed using analysis of variance. Findings: Ethanolic extracts of P. guajava and J. curcas was highly effective on UTC variety. The postharvest decay that was the main quality factor in this experiment significantly reduced in Tandilo and UTC tomato fruits after using 2.5g/1000ml ethanolic J. curcas leaves extract by 24 and 25 days respectively; and 22 and 23 days after using 2.5g/1000ml ethanolic P. guajava leaves extract. Limitations: No limitations were founded. Originality/Value: These findings indicate that application of leaves extracts proved to be effective in extending the shelf life of test tomato fruits.

Background The risk of transmission of hepatitis B and C (HBV and HCV) infection is of particular concern among medical students training in high endemic regions. In this study, we investigated the risk and prevalence of hepatitis B and C viruses among preclinical medical students in a government-owned medical school in northwestern Nigeria. Methods We employed a cross-sectional studytargeting the whole population of preclinical medical students of Kaduna State University, Kaduna State northwestern Nigeria. Datawere collected usinga self-administered, semi-structured questionnaire and blood testing for HBsAg and HCV antibodies using rapid screening kits.Data wereanalyzed using SPSS version 22. Results A total of 133 students participated, and 79.7% of them had a previous risk exposure to injuries by sharps. The seroprevalence for HBV and HCV was 0.8% for both infections. Complete HBV vaccination uptake (3 doses)before enrolment in medical school was 18.8%. The knowledge that HBV infection is preventable was a significant determinant for the previous testing for hepatitis B and C. Conclusion Risk exposure to injuries by sharps was high in preclinical students. But their seroprevalence for both hepatitis B and C were low.

Despite the high burden of household air pollution from biomass fuel in sub-Saharan Africa, the association of prenatal biomass fuel exposure and birth weight as a continuous variable among term births has not been extensively studied. In this study, our primary aim is to estimate the association between biomass cooking fuel and birth weight among term births in Kaduna, northwestern Nigeria. For replication, we also evaluated this association in a larger and nationally representative sample from the 2018 Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey (DHS). Our primary analysis included 1,514 mother-child pairs recruited from Kaduna, in northwestern Nigeria, using the Child Electronic Growth Monitoring System (CEGROMS). Replication analysis was conducted using data from 6,975 mother-child pairs enrolled in 2018 Nigerian DHS. The outcome variable was birth weight, and the exposure was cooking fuel type, categorized in CEGROMS as liquefied petroleum gas, kerosene, or biomass fuel, and in the DHS as low pollution fuel, kerosene, or biomass fuel. We estimated covariate adjusted associations between birth weight and biomass fuel exposure in CEGROMS using linear regression and using linear mixed model in the DHS. In CEGROMS, adjusting for maternal age, education, parity, BMI at birth, and child sex, mothers exposed to biomass fuel gave birth to infants who were on average 113g lighter (95% CI -196 to -29), than those using liquified petroleum gas. In the 2018 Nigeria DHS data, compared to low pollution fuel users, mothers using biomass had infants weighing 50g (95% CI -103 to 2) lower at birth. Exposure to biomass cooking fuel was associated with lower birth weight in our study of term newborns in Kaduna, Nigeria. Data from the nationally representative DHS provide some support for these findings.

Despite the high burden of household air pollution from biomass fuel in sub-Saharan Africa, the association of prenatal biomass fuel exposure and birth weight as a continuous variable among term births has not been extensively studied. In this study, our primary aim is to estimate the association between biomass cooking fuel and birth weight among term births in Kaduna, northwestern Nigeria. For replication, we also evaluated this association in a larger and nationally representative sample from the 2018 Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey (DHS). Our primary analysis included 1,514 mother-child pairs recruited from Kaduna, in northwestern Nigeria, using the Child Electronic Growth Monitoring System (CEGROMS). Replication analysis was conducted using data from 6,975 mother-child pairs enrolled in 2018 Nigerian DHS. The outcome variable was birth weight, and the exposure was cooking fuel type, categorized in CEGROMS as liquefied petroleum gas, kerosene, or biomass fuel, and in the DHS as low pollution fuel, kerosene, or biomass fuel. We estimated covariate adjusted associations between birth weight and biomass fuel exposure in CEGROMS using linear regression and using linear mixed model in the DHS. In CEGROMS, adjusting for maternal age, education, parity, BMI at birth, and child sex, mothers exposed to biomass fuel gave birth to infants who were on average 113g lighter (95% CI −196 to −29), than those using liquified petroleum gas. In the 2018 Nigeria DHS data, compared to low pollution fuel users, mothers using biomass had infants weighing 50g (95% CI -103 to 2) lower at birth. Exposure to biomass cooking fuel was associated with lower birth weight in our study of term newborns in Kaduna, Nigeria. Data from the nationally representative DHS provide some support for these findings.

ObjectivesCardiac computed tomography (CCT) is a common pre-operative imaging modality to evaluate pulmonary vein anatomy and left atrial appendage thrombus in patients undergoing catheter ablation (CA) for atrial fibrillation (AF). These images also allow for full volumetric left atrium (LA) measurement for recurrence risk stratification, as larger LA volume (LAV) is associated with higher recurrence rates. Our objective is to apply deep learning (DL) techniques to fully automate the computation of LAV and assess the quality of the computed LAV values.MethodsUsing a dataset of 85,477 CCT images from 337 patients, we proposed a framework that consists of several processes that perform a combination of tasks including the selection of images with LA from all other images using a ResNet50 classification model, the segmentation of images with LA using a UNet image segmentation model, the assessment of the quality of the image segmentation task, the estimation of LAV, and quality control (QC) assessment.ResultsOverall, the proposed LAV estimation framework achieved accuracies of 98% (precision, recall, and F1 score metrics) in the image classification task, 88.5% (mean dice score) in the image segmentation task, 82% (mean dice score) in the segmentation quality prediction task, and R2 (the coefficient of determination) value of 0.968 in the volume estimation task. It correctly identified 9 out of 10 poor LAV estimations from a total of 337 patients as poor-quality estimates.ConclusionsWe proposed a generalizable framework that consists of DL models and computational methods for LAV estimation. The framework provides an efficient and robust strategy for QC assessment of the accuracy for DL-based image segmentation and volume estimation tasks, allowing high-throughput extraction of reproducible LAV measurements to be possible.

Abstract Background Sex determination is one of the leading criterion in identification and verification of an individual. However, the potential roles of differences in adjacent fingerprint white line count (FWLC) in sex inference are not well elucidated in the literature especially among Hausa population. The study was conducted to determine sexual dimorphism and predict sex using adjacent digit FWLC difference (adj. DFWLCD) among Hausa population of Kano state, Nigeria. Methods The study population involved 300 participants. FWLC was determined from a plain fingerprint captured using live scanner. The formula for adj. DFWLCD of thumb and fifth digit is dR15 for right hand. The same applied for possible combination in cephalocaudal direction. Mann-Whitney and t tests were used for comparison of variables between sexes. Binary logistic regression analyses were employed for determination of sex. Results We observed a significantly larger adj. DFWLCD in males compared with females in most of the digit combination. A significant sexual dimorphism was observed in most of the adj. DFWLCD involving ring digit in both right (dR14, dR24, and dR34) and left (dL14, dL24, and dL34). The best discrimination was observed in adjacent FWLC difference of second and fourth digits in both right and left digits (dR24 and dL24). This was further supported by stepwise logistic regression analyses. Conclusion The adj. DFWLCD exhibits sexual dimorphism. The best prediction potentials were found to be dR24 and dL24 for right and left hands respectively.

This study employs the cross sectional survey research design and the descriptive and ordinary least square regressions to examine the impact of Electronic-Payment Systems on the financial performance of Microfinance Banks and Institutions in Niger state, Nigeria. The results of the analysis indicate the presence of e-payment systems in the bank, which enjoys impressive acceptability, due to its ease of use and convenience. In addition, ATM facility, Internet payment options, e-payment cards, and mobile banking platforms shows a significant positive impact on the financial performance of COE-Minna microfinance bank. In essence, the improvement and review of e-payment platforms’ security, so as to attract more users, coupled with the reduction of charges associated with the use of the platforms as well as sensitization of potential users were recommended.

Poly (butylene succinate) (PBS) is one of the most common biodegradable plastic polymers that has recently been used in the green environmental field. Enhancement of physicochemical characteristics of these polymers by using plant-based materials like Baobab (Adansonia digitata) will improve its industrial application. This study evaluated Baobab (Adansonia digitata) powder (BP) and PBS composites under various ratios (PBS/BP: 90/10, 80/20, 70/30, 60/40, and 50/50 wt%) for their thermo-mechanical and other physicochemical properties for the industrial application. The nanoscale morphological and elemental characterization were also measured by scanning electron microscope-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). The results revealed that PBS/BP blends of 90/10 and 50/50 showed a significantly reduced melting temperature (Tm) up to 94°C (p < 0.05) compared to PBS (114°C). Also, the dynamic viscosity, storage modulus, and loss modulus showed a significant decrease with increasing the ratio of BP in PBS/BP composite, which confirmed faster degradation than the pure PBS. In conclusion, the novel PBS/BP biomaterial is recommended for use as a carbon source for denitrification processes, as an eco-friendly faster degradable natural filler-based polymer. Besides, they could be use in food packaging and biomedical industries.

Background: Recent studies have shown that epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is an independent atrial fibrillation (AF) prognostic marker and has influence on the myocardial function. In computed tomography (CT), EAT volume (EATv) and density (EATd) are parameters that are often used to quantify EAT. While increased EATv has been found to correlate with the prevalence and the recurrence of AF after ablation therapy, higher EATd correlates with inflammation due to arrest of lipid maturation and with high risk of plaque presence and plaque progression. Automation of the quantification task diminishes the variability in readings introduced by different observers in manual quantification and results in high reproducibility of studies and less time-consuming analysis. Our objective is to develop a fully automated quantification of EATv and EATd using a deep learning (DL) framework. Methods: We proposed a framework that consists of image classification and segmentation DL models and performs the task of selecting images with EAT from all the CT images acquired for a patient, and the task of segmenting the EAT from the output images of the preceding task. EATv and EATd are estimated using the segmentation masks to define the region of interest. For our experiments, a 300-patient dataset was divided into two subsets, each consisting of 150 patients: Dataset 1 (41,979 CT slices) for training the DL models, and Dataset 2 (36,428 CT slices) for evaluating the quantification of EATv and EATd. Results: The classification model achieved accuracies of 98% for precision, recall and F1 scores, and the segmentation model achieved accuracies in terms of mean (± std.) and median dice similarity coefficient scores of 0.844 (± 0.19) and 0.84, respectively. Using the evaluation set (Dataset 2), our approach resulted in a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.971 (R2 = 0.943) between the label and predicted EATv, and the correlation coefficient of 0.972 (R2 = 0.945) between the label and predicted EATd. Conclusions: We proposed a framework that provides a fast and robust strategy for accurate EAT segmentation, and volume (EATv) and attenuation (EATd) quantification tasks. The framework will be useful to clinicians and other practitioners for carrying out reproducible EAT quantification at patient level or for large cohorts and high-throughput projects.

COVID-19 has created enormous suffering, affecting lives, and causing deaths. The ease with which this type of coronavirus can spread has exposed weaknesses of many healthcare systems around the world. Since its emergence, many governments, research communities, commercial enterprises, and other institutions and stakeholders around the world have been fighting in various ways to curb the spread of the disease. Science and technology have helped in the implementation of policies of many governments that are directed toward mitigating the impacts of the pandemic and in diagnosing and providing care for the disease. Recent technological tools, artificial intelligence (AI) tools in particular, have also been explored to track the spread of the coronavirus, identify patients with high mortality risk and diagnose patients for the disease. In this paper, areas where AI techniques are being used in the detection, diagnosis and epidemiological predictions, forecasting and social control for combating COVID-19 are discussed, highlighting areas of successful applications and underscoring issues that need to be addressed to achieve significant progress in battling COVID-19 and future pandemics. Several AI systems have been developed for diagnosing COVID-19 using medical imaging modalities such as chest CT and X-ray images. These AI systems mainly differ in their choices of the algorithms for image segmentation, classification and disease diagnosis. Other AI-based systems have focused on predicting mortality rate, long-term patient hospitalization and patient outcomes for COVID-19. AI has huge potential in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic but successful practical deployments of these AI-based tools have so far been limited due to challenges such as limited data accessibility, the need for external evaluation of AI models, the lack of awareness of AI experts of the regulatory landscape governing the deployment of AI tools in healthcare, the need for clinicians and other experts to work with AI experts in a multidisciplinary context and the need to address public concerns over data collection, privacy, and protection. Having a dedicated team with expertise in medical data collection, privacy, access and sharing, using federated learning whereby AI scientists hand over training algorithms to the healthcare institutions to train models locally, and taking full advantage of biomedical data stored in biobanks can alleviate some of problems posed by these challenges. Addressing these challenges will ultimately accelerate the translation of AI research into practical and useful solutions for combating pandemics.

Objective:To evaluate the histopathological findings in appendectomy materials with E. vermicularis infection.Methods:Appendectomy materials with E. vermicularis infection of 24 cases were evaluated for the presence of acute inflammation, congestion, hemorrhage, perforation, lymphoid hyperplasia (LH), necrosis, granuloma, fecalith, obliteration, hyalinization, eosinophilic infiltration and mucosal architectural distortion.Results:The frequency of E. vermicularis among 3222 appendectomies that were scanned for the study was 0.74% (24/3222). Female: male ratio was 1:1 and the median age was 12±9.34 years. The most common findings were LH (100%), and congestion (91.7%) Acute inflammation was found in one third (n=8), with phlegmonous inflammation and/or periappendicitis in 4 of them. The patients with periappendicitis were significantly younger (mean age 4 vs. 14.2 years, p=0.008). Feces was present in the lumen in 79.1% of the patients (fecalith in 25%, soft feces in 29.1% and feces mixed with blood and/or suppuration in 25%). In 6 cases (25%), only E. vermicularis was observed in the lumen, with acute appendicitis in 2 of them. Appendiceal lumen was completely obstructed in 12.5% (n=3), while it seemed narrow due to extensive LH in 3 (12.5%) cases. Fibrous obliteration was seen in 4 patients and it was correlated with age and eosinophil count in lamina propria p

Diagnosis and classification of landslides is a critical need in the risk analysis before and after the disaster. And primarily through land surveying or traditional interpretation of images was done. In this paper to identify and classify types of object-oriented approach landslide has been paid. The data used in this study consisted of false color images obtained from satellite data Resourcesat-1 with spatial resolution of 5.8 meters and digital elevation models with 2.5-meter resolution satellite image of 10 meters of Cartosat-1 was used. This method was used for the North West basin and then used without further reforms in the eastern part of the basin. A total of three sliding using this method accurately identified 71.11% and 91.4% classification accuracy has been detected. In this way, the landslide early detection of high accuracy and speed, hence has great potential to assist in risk analysis, disaster management and decision making process after the earthquake or heavy rainfall, can be used related entities, including crisis management headquarters, natural resources and watershed institutions.

Learning Management System (LMS) is a software platform that includes several integrated tools for delivering and managing online and virtual learning. Over time, the LMS has remained in the educational sector, providing learning opportunities to learners over dispersed locations. Hence, this paper presents a review of existing features, technologies built into LMS and its adaptation. It also highlights the effect of LMS on students' ability to learn and their performance and factors that may influence the adoption of the LMS platforms. The paper concludes with recommendations on methodology for establishing a student-centred approach, collaborative learning. Abstrait Le système de Gestion de l'Apprentissage (LMS) est une plate-forme logicielle qui comprend plusieurs outils intégrés pour la prestation et la gestion de l'apprentissage en ligne et virtuel. Au fil du temps, le LMS est resté dans le secteur de l'éducation, offrant des opportunités d'apprentissage aux apprenants dans des lieux dispersés. Par conséquent, cet article présente une revue des fonctionnalités existantes, des technologies intégrées au LMS et de son adaptation. Il met également en évidence l'effet du LMS sur la capacité d'apprentissage des étudiants et leurs performances, ainsi que les facteurs pouvant influencer l'adoption des plateformes LMS. Le document se termine par des recommandations sur la méthodologie pour établir une approche centrée sur l'étudiant, l'apprentissage collaboratif.

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic continues to overwhelm health systems across the globe. We aimed to assess the readiness of hospitals in Nigeria to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak.MethodBetween April and October 2020, hospital representatives completed a modified World Health Organisation (WHO) COVID-19 hospital readiness checklist consisting of 13 components and 124 indicators. Readiness scores were classified as adequate (score ≥80%), moderate (score 50-79.9%) and not ready (score ResultsAmong 20 (17 tertiary and three secondary) hospitals from all six geopolitical zones of Nigeria, readiness score ranged from 28.2% to 88.7% (median 68.4%), and only three (15%) hospitals had adequate readiness. There was a median of 15 isolation beds, four ICU beds and four ventilators per hospital, but over 45% of hospitals established isolation facilities and procured ventilators after the onset of COVID-19. Of the 13 readiness components, the lowest readiness scores were reported for surge capacity (61.1%), human resources (59.1%), staff welfare (50%) and availability of critical items (47.7%).ConclusionMost hospitals in Nigeria were not adequately prepared to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. Current efforts to strengthen hospital preparedness should prioritize challenges related to surge capacity, critical care for COVID-19 patients, and staff welfare and protection.

Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDPs) are a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. Available guidelines for their postpartum management are expected to be optimally utilized. This study aimed to determine adherence to guidelines in selected Nigerian tertiary hospitals. It was nested in a cohort of women with HDPs who delivered in eight facilities between October 2017 and June 2018. Nine weeks after delivery, their cases were evaluated on prespecified indicators and supplemented with interviews. The level of adherence to the guidelines was determined using descriptive analyses, including frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations, as well as charts. Of the 366 participants, 33 (9%), 75 (20%), 200 (55%), and 58 (16%) had chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, and eclampsia, respectively. Only about a third had their blood pressure measured between postpartum days three and five. Similarly, a third of those with persistent hypertension (≥140/90 mmHg) were not on antihypertensive medications within the first week postpartum. In addition, 37% and 42% of participants were not counseled on contraceptives and early subsequent antenatal visits, respectively. Among those with preeclampsia/eclampsia, 93% were not offered postpartum screening for thromboprophylaxis. Although all women with preeclampsia/eclampsia remained hypertensive two weeks after discharge, only 24% had medical reviews. Overall, only 58% and 44% of indicators were adhered to among all HDPs and preeclampsia/eclampsia-specific indicators, respectively. Level of adherence to guidelines on postpartum management of HDPs in Nigerian tertiary hospitals is poor. It is recommended that institutionalization of guidelines be prioritized and linked to the entire continuum from preconception through longer term postpartum care.

This study analyses tax compliance among firms in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) within an extended Slippery Slope Framework (eSSF). It applies instrumental variables and generalized estimating equations models on a constructed World Bank's Enterprise Survey longitudinal dataset. The results indicate that the perceived power of the tax authorities does not influence firms' tax compliance, which could be linked to corruption in the form of informal payment. The results also show that corruption encourages the culture of tax non-compliance among firms in SSA because the defaulting firms bribe tax authorities in order to avoid paying taxes and being punished for that. In addition, the results demonstrate that the perceived trust of tax authorities (state representatives) is vitally important in encouraging tax compliance among firms in SSA. In terms of political decisions, it may be implied that gaining trust of taxpayers should be pursued.

Laboratory experiments were carried out to evaluate the susceptibility of six improved cowpea varieties to seed beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) attack at a temperature of 29 ± 2 °C and a relative humidity of 65 ± 3%. Fifty grams of each variety were weighed in Kilner jars (250ml) and infested with three females and two males of C. maculatus that were 1-2 days old. Data recorded were the physical characteristics of the cowpea varieties, number of eggs laid, percentage egg survival, number of emerged adults, duration of emergence (DE), mean developmental period (MDP), percentage seed weight loss, percentage seed damage and susceptibility index. The experiment was a completely randomised design with three replications. Results showed that significant differences (p < 0.05) existed in DE and MDP among the cowpea varieties studied. IT90K-76, IT98K-131, IT11D-15-21 and IT07K-299-6 performed significantly better in duration of emergence than IT10K-866-1 and TVx 3236. IT98K-131-1 performed significantly better in median developmental period (26.67 days) than other varieties except for IT90K-76 (22.67 days). Results showed that IT90K-76, IT10K-866-1 and IT98K-131-1 were moderately resistant while IT07K-299-6, IT11D-15-21 and TVx 3236 were susceptible. This study recommends IT90K-76 because it performed appreciably better in these parameters than the other cowpea varieties when infested with C. maculatus in storage.

Abstract Background Maternal country of birth has been associated with perinatal health outcomes but less is known regarding breastfeeding practices in contemporary European settings. This study investigated effect of maternal country of birth on breastfeeding initiation and duration by comparing native Portuguese and migrant mothers. Methods We analyzed data of 7065 children of the Generation XXI (GXXI) birth cohort recruited at birth (2005–06) and followed-up 4 years later. Logistic regression was used to assess the effect of maternal country of birth on breastfeeding initiation. Kaplan-Meier estimate was used to compare breastfeeding duration by maternal country of birth and length of residence by migrant mothers in Portugal. Results Breastfeeding initiation and the type of breastfeeding practice were similar for native Portuguese and migrant mothers. The migrants had significantly higher median duration in months of any breastfeeding (Odds Ratio [OR] 6.0, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 5.4,6.6) and exclusive breastfeeding (OR 4.0, 95% CI 3.8,4.2) than native Portuguese mothers (OR 4.0, 95% CI 3.8,4.2 and OR 3.0, 95% CI 2.9,3.0). Migrant mothers who resided in Portugal for either ≤5 years (OR 5.0, 95% CI 3.9,6.1 and OR 4.0, 95% CI 3.8,4.2) or > 5 years (OR 6.0, 95% CI 5.5,6.5 and OR 4.0, 95% CI 3.7,4.3) years had similar duration of any breastfeeding or exclusive breastfeeding, in both cases higher than the native Portuguese mothers. No significant differences were found when world regions were compared. Conclusions Maternal country of birth does not influence breastfeeding initiation and type of feeding practice. However, migrant mothers have longer breastfeeding duration of either exclusive or any breastfeeding, which was not changed by length of residence in Portugal.

Effective drug therapy promoting liver regeneration is a challenging goal in pharmacotherapy of liver diseases. Several plant phytochemicals recommended in traditional medicine from over hundred plants have been investigated for its use in various liver disorders. Regeneration of injured liver depend on a proliferative potential of mature hepatocytes as well as different subsets of intrahepatic and extrahepatic stem/progenitor cells. In clinical trials a stem cell therapy resulted in a limited improvement of liver functions. Animal studies have demonstrated the involvement of bone marrow-derived stem/progenitor cells in liver regeneration. For this reason, the pharmacological activation of endogenous stem cells and pharmacological control of macrophage phenotypic polarization could be an effective method of mobilizing progenitor cells to injured liver.

The study evaluated seven cowpea Vigna unguiculata L. Walp. varieties: IT89K-568-18, IFE-98-12, IT81P-994, IT89K-288, IT96-660, ‘Milk’ and ‘Drum’ for susceptibility to the seed beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Seed samples (100 g) of each variety were infested with 5 pairs of the seed beetle (1-2 days old) with three replications at 30±20C and relative humidity of 69-72%. The parameters evaluated included: number of damaged and undamaged seeds, percentage seed weight loss, mean number of emerged adults, median developmental period and susceptibility index. The percentage seed weight loss in IT96-660 was significantly (p

Purpose of the study: The study aims is to examine the effect of trade openness on inflation rate in Nigeria. Methodology: Time series data were collected from secondary sources. EViews10 (statistical software for data analysis) ware employed to analyze the data collected. Findings: The results revealed a cointegrating and one-way Granger causality between inflation rate, and trade openness. In addition, both the short-run and the long-run results demonstrate a significant and negative relationship between inflation rate and trade openness in Nigeria. Application: The study is paramount to the government and policymakers in dealing and taking a decision regarding consumer price index and trade openness in Nigeria. We conclude that the government should work towards full diversification and diversion of the economy from oil export, control, and management of the degree of trade liberalization and the extent to which goods enter the country, and the control of money supplied. Novelty/Originality: The study accorded to debate on the inflation rate, and trade openness in Nigeria looking, at both short-run and long-run effects, before few accessible studies focused on impact, and trade openness was not measured as the value of net export divided by gross domestic product. Finally, the paper contributed to the scanty of the literature.