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Aims: The aim of the study was to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of Klebsiella species, prevalence of Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamases (ESBLs) and the gene coding ESBL production in Klebsiella Species obtained from clinical specimens of patients attending Plateau State Specialist and Jos University Teaching Hospitals both in Jos North Central of Nigeria. Study Design: This was hospital based study conducted in the Department of Medical Microbiology unit of Plateau State Specialist and Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) during the periods of January to April 2020. Methodology: Out of 156 non-motile, oxidase negative gram negative organisms collected, 137 isolates were identified to be Klebsiella species using oxoid Microbact 24E kit for Enterobacteriaceae identification and Microsoft for bacteria identification. Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (AST) and ESBL screening was done by Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method using oxoid Single disk antibiotics which include Ceftazidime (30µg), Cefotaxime (30µg), Imipenem (10µg), Ciprofloxacin (5µg), Gentamicin (10µg), Ampicillin (10 µg), Aztreonam (30 µg), and Azithromycin (15 µg) on Mueller Hinton Agar (oxoid).Break point was determined by CLSI AST guidelines. The isolates that showed resistance or reduced susceptibility to Ceftazidime and Cefotaxime are suspected to be ESBL positive Klebsiella. Phenotypic confirmation of ESBL positive isolates was carried out using Double Disk Synergy Test (DDST) with Ceftazidime 30µg (oxoid), Cefotaxime 30µg (oxoid) and Amoxicillin Clavulanic acid 20/10ug (Oxoid).Genotypic detection of ESBL gene was done using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Results: Antimicrobial Susceptibility Test showed Imipenem to be highly sensitive to ESBL positive Klebsiella pneumonia with 100% sensitivity. Gentamicin, Ampicillin, and Azithromycin showed reduced susceptibility. Genotypic results showed presence of bla TEM, bla SHV genes at 868bp and 972bp band size with no occurrence of bla CTX-M gene. There was multiple occurrence of gene in some of the isolates tested while some recorded no ESBL gene. The ESBL prevalence of 15.3% was recorded in this study. Conclusions: The prevalence of 15.3% recorded in this study is low compared to other studies from some other states within the country. Efforts should be put in place to ensure non-proliferation of this ESBL Klebsiella strain as it creates not only a therapeutic challenge but health problem.

This study is carried out in Anambra state and it adopted the descriptive survey design. Two research questions guided the study. The sample size of the study comprised of 205 counsellors who are willing to participate in the study and they are drawn through accidental sampling techniques at their areas of meetings. The instrument used for data collection is the counsellors’ perceived causes and strategies for reducing suicidal thoughts among secondary school teenagers questionnaire (CSPCASFRSTASSTSQ). The reliability of the instrument coefficient value of 0.70 is established. On the spot administration is used in administering the instrument to ensure 100% return. The data collected in the study is analyzed using the arithmetic mean. The decision rule is that any of the response item for which the mean score is 2.5 and above is taken to mean that the factor exists while any response item for which the mean score is below 2.5 is taken as not being in existence. The study revealed that the causes of suicidal thoughts among other things include: lack of parental love and care, bullying among peers, substance over use, failures in examinations, sexual abuse and loneliness as the causes of suicidal thoughts among secondary school teenagers as perceived by the counsellors. The study also revealed that the counsellors’ perceived strategies for reducing suicidal thoughts among other things are : help them realize reasons to live and future goals, giving them academic support on how to succeed, teaching them the use of grounding techniques, learning the warning signs of suicidal thoughts as a starting point and offering guidance on ways to reach out to loved ones for support as strategies for reducing suicidal thoughts among secondary school teenagers. The researchers also recommended that government should ensure that every secondary school will have a professional counsellors handling secondary school students’ problems early enough before such escalates and also, school counsellors should be teaching parenting skills to improve family relationships for the betterment of all in the family during Parents’ Teachers Association meetings.

The study examined the effects of socioeconomic determinants on educational outcomes in Nigeria. This study was done against the backdrop that the education sector of Nigeria has failed to produce quality educational outcomes needed for the growth of the nation’s economy despite enormous works on the topic by most scholars who failed to account for the combination and extent of the effect of infrastructure, ICT, per capita income, and corruption on education outcome in Nigeria. The study was carried out to investigate the effect of infrastructure, ICT, per capita income, and corruption on educational outcomes in Nigeria using time series data covering a period of 21 years (2000- 2020). The study employed the Autoregressive Distributed lag (ARDL) bounds testing approach to ascertain the relevant relationship while the ECM captured the speed of short-run adjustment to long-run equilibrium. The findings reveal that infrastructure and per capita income have a positive effect on education outcomes (with literacy rate as a proxy) in Nigeria with only infrastructure being statistically significant. The study also found that ICT and corruption negatively and insignificantly affect education outcomes in Nigeria. The study, therefore, recommends that emphasis should be shifted from education for all to learning for all, improvement in infrastructure, and incorporation of ICT in education to aid teaching and learning.

Background: Folate deficiency is associated with poor pregnancy outcomes and is one of the most common vitamin deficiencies in women, especially those of reproductive age. Folic acid intake prior to, and during, the first months of pregnancy significantly reduces the risk of fetal neural tube defects. Maternal folate status has been associated with other adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preeclampsia, malformations (orofacial clefts, Neural tube defects, anencephaly and encephalocele resulting from incomplete neural tube closure during early embryogenesis), spontaneous abortion, fetal death, fetal growth restriction and preterm delivery. Methods: The study embraced a cross-sectional study that assess Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of preconceptional folic acid supplementation among pregnant women (18-45years) attending antenatal clinic in Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. 152 women attending antenatal clinics in Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, Ebonyi State were interviewed using structured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using SPSS version 21 for frequency and percentage at P < 0.05 significance level. Results: 98.7% of the participants had heard about folic acid, but an analysis of data shows that 26.6% of them knew that folic acid is a vitamin. In addition, very few (29.6%) knew that folic acid could prevent neural tube defects. The main source of information about folic acid supplementation among the surveyed women were through the health workers. Incidence of at least one episode of adverse pregnancy outcome was noted in about 35.5% of the population under study though a majority indicated the form for their loss were miscarriage and stillbirth. Finding showed that 37.5% of the respondent claimed to have used folic acid before pregnancy while 40.1% of the women in this study were aware of the right time to start using folic acid. 46% of the women took folic acid during Antenatal care and their reason were attributed to late presentation for antenatal care, delayed prescription of the folic acid for women during pregnancy, unplanned pregnancy while others claimed they are getting enough folate from food. Approximately 40.8% of the respondents had started supplementation on antenatal booking and from analysis of data on the preferred/normal booking time of the respondents it shows that a high percentage of them attended antenatal from the third month of pregnancy this shows that the majority of the respondents started supplementation too late which is inconsistent with the ideal time to start folic acid supplementation in prevention of neural tube defect. In this study it has been revealed that 48% of the respondents could identify green leafy vegetable as the only source of folate in local foods and 0.7% could identify other food sources like legumes and fruits as sources of folate. Conclusion: There is a low overall level of awareness of folic acid among pregnant women including lack of understanding of its natural sources, usefulness in preventing Neural Tube Defects and preconceptional intake recommendation. Health education regarding the preconceptional use of folic acid among women of reproductive age is recommended.

This study focused on the socio-economic and household characteristics associated with work-family conflict among female primary school teachers in Enugu state, Nigeria. Cross-sectional and correlational study design were used to collect data from 2428 female primary school teachers in Enugu state, Nigeria. Structured questionnaire was used to obtain data on socio-economic and household characteristics, while Work and Family Conflict Scale was used to assess work-family conflict in the dimensions of work to family, family to work and overall work and family interference. Analyses were performed using IBM-SPSS version 23 software. Descriptive data were presented as frequencies and percentages, while Chi square was used to test the hypotheses at p < 0.05. Result showed that 23% of the respondents experienced work-family conflict with higher rate (29.9%) of work to family conflict than 25.1% of family to work conflict. Higher salary, urban location, living in ≥ 2-bedroom apartment and using communal toilet and bathroom at home were socio-economic factors significantly (p < 0.05) associated with increase in all the dimensions of work-family conflict. On the other hand, household characteristics associated with higher work-family conflict include; having dependent children, age of oldest child > 12 years old, caring for chronically ill family members, and uneasy accessibility of household water supply. Caring for the elderly and having house helps were associated with increased work to family conflict while household size was not found a factor in any dimension of work-family conflict.

This study evaluated the prevalence, hematological and some biochemical alterations in Brucella seropositive Muturu breed of cattle which may change the narratives of multi-disease tolerance of the breed. Sera from 33 Muturu cattle herds chosen by snow ball sampling were screened for Brucella antibodies with modified Rose Bengal test (RBT) supported with the cELISA. Eighteen (18) seropositive samples matched to18 sero-negatives, with regard to age and sex of the animals and chosen by simple random sampling, were analyzed for hematological and biochemical changes, following standard procedures. Individual seroprevalence of 38% and 10% were recorded with the RBT and cELISA respectively, while herd seroprevalence of 52% was recorded with the RBT and none with the cELISA. Seropositivity to brucellosis was significantly associated with farm origin (OR = 16.67; 95%CI = 1.56-153.85; p = 0.019). There was significantly lower packed cell volume (PCV) (p = 0.048) and absolute eosinophil count (p = 0.006), and significantly higher absolute lymphocyte count (p = 0.014) in the seropositive than the negative Muturu cattle. In addition, plasma fibrinogen (p 0.001), serum albumin (p = 0.037), urea (p = 0.001) and cholesterol (p = 0.032) were significantly lower while serum globulin (p = 0.004), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity (p = 0.012) and bilirubin (p = 0.012) were significantly higher in the seropositive than sero-negative Muturu cattle. No significant variations were observed in the rest of the parameters assayed. These findings suggest that Muturu cattle are apparently susceptible to brucellosis and experience active organism-host interactions with resultant clinicopathological effects and therefore could be passive harbingers of Brucella for other animals as well as humans.

The impact of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is being felt in all spheres of human life. From everyday socialization to work to religious and commercial activities, no aspect of human interaction as we know it is spared; neither is any economy across the world. For Nigeria, the case is no different. With the COVID-19 pandemic, we continue to witness more inclination to adopt information technology in workplaces, especially as many firms have adopted a Work-From-Home policy. On the other hand, staff have been, and continue to be, laid off as businesses grapple with dwindling revenue. In this article, we examine some of the recent pandemic- induced changes in the world of work; the adoption of increased use of information technology resources in businesses and everyday life; termination of employment contracts; and the heightened attention by lawyers and clients to an often neglected but essential clause in commercial transaction documents – the force majeure clause. We conclude that the pandemic has had devastating consequences for business financing and employment in Africa’s biggest economy and, indeed, across the globe. There are, however, a few fundamental changes brought about by the pandemic, which are beneficial and should continue post- COVID-19. Information Technology, COVID-19, Pandemic, Employment, Commercial Transactions

Aims: In Anambra state, Nigeria, making a choice of career has remained a constant challenge for many students, especially those in the senior secondary who are on the verge of making a choice of career. This study investigated academic self-efficacy as predictor of achievement career aspiration of secondary school students in Anambra State, Nigeria. Two research questions guided the study while two null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. Methodology: The study adopted a correlation research design. The study was carried out in Anambra State. The sample 2,700 SS1 and SS 2 students were selected from a population of 32,450 senior secondary school students. Two research instruments were used for data collection. These are: Career Aspiration Scale (CAS) and Academic Self-Efficacy Scale (ASES). The internal consistency reliability of the instruments was established using Cronbach Alpha statistics. The results are as follows: CAS 0.891; ASES 0.842. Copies of the questionnaire were distributed and retrieved through direct delivery method. Data collected were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). Simple linear regression analysis was used in answering research questions and testing the hypotheses. Results: The finding of the study revealed among others that academic self-efficacy of the secondary school students is not a significant predictor of their career aspiration. Conclusion: Based on the findings of the study, it was concluded that academic self-efficacy of secondary school students is not a significant predictor of their achievement career, leaderships and educational aspiration. It was recommended that Guidance Counsellors working in secondary schools should organise workshops that will be geared towards enhancing students’ academic self-efficacy and help them in aspiring for careers that are in line with their academic self-efficacy.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between home environment and child deviant behaviours in Rivers state, Nigeria. The study adopted a correlational research design. A stratified non-proportionate random sampling technique was used to select 300 married teachers’ having children under their care. The mean and standard deviation were evaluated. Pearson’s Product-Moment correlation was used to test the hypotheses using the Statistical Package for Service Solution (SPSS). Results from the study showed that there is a significant relationship between home environment variables such as family socioeconomic status, poor attitude of extended family members’ and home media and Deviant Behaviour. The result from this study also showed that poor attitudes of extended family members such as smoking, gossiping, bad advice, over pampering and moral bankrupt will negatively affect the child. The findings also revealed that uncontrolled television viewing, addiction to games, exposure to pornography through unregulated home media, school absenteeism, uncontrolled use of internet at home and unregulated television viewing can have negative effects on the child. Furthermore, the family economic status such as inability to provide basic needs by parents, family poverty and unmet needs can result to deviant behaviours such as stealing, disrespect and street begging in children. It is therefore recommended that families should be sensitized on the destructive aspects of the extended family structure on child behaviours. In addition, families should regulate the use of home media by children.

Aims: To determine the prevalence and types of skin diseases seen among children attending the Children’s Outpatient Clinic of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH). Study Design: A descriptive Cross sectional study design was used. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in the Children’s Outpatient Clinic of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital from June to August 2020 (3 months). Method: It involved 370 children aged less than 18 years. A semi structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to obtain all relevant data. This was followed by dermatological examination of the children to make diagnosis of skin diseases. Laboratory confirmation was carried out where necessary. Results: The study participants consisted of 370 children aged 1 month to 17 years with a mean age of 8.4±5.9 years. The male to female ratio was 0.9:1 and the overall prevalence of skin diseases among the children studied was 23.7%. The three most common aetiologic categories of skin diseases seen were: Infective (13.5%), Inflammatory (5.7%) and infestations (3.5%). The five most common skin diseases identified included: Impetigo (4.1%), Scabies (3.5%), Atopic dermatitis (3.0%), Tinea capitis (2.7%) and Pityriasis versicolor (2.4%). Conclusion: Skin diseases are common among children attending the children’s outpatient clinic in our hospital with Infective skin diseases predominating. Greater efforts need to be put into the treatment, prevention and control of these skin diseases in order to limit morbidity and mortality.

Background: In the literature, there appears to be a lot of data on speech delay in children but most emanated from the western world, but little from sub-Sahara Africa especially Nigeria. This study therefore is to determine the prevalence and the risk factors of speech and language delay among children up to or less than 3years seen in our environment. Methodology: A descriptive cross sectional study carried out in the Paediatric outpatient clinic of the University of Port Harcourt teaching hospital within the period of June 2020 to September 2020. The Language Evaluation Scale Trivandrum (LEST 0-3) and Trivandrum Development Screening Chart (TDSC 0-3) are the tools used both to determine the speech and language delays and the developmental milestone in these children aged 0-3 years. Any child 3 years and below attending the clinic was included in the study; however children with apparent syndromes are excluded as well as children whose parents decline to give consent. IBM SPSS Statistics version 25 was used for data analysis. Descriptive statistics was employed in the analysis. Results: The study comprised of 157 subjects with ages ranging from 2 months to 36 months. There is a significant relationship between hearing impairment and language/speech delay (p=0.002). There was a significant relationship between the various identified delays and a history of jaundice in the neonatal period. A prevalence of 15.3% for language/speech delay was obtained. Conclusion: Language/speech delay is prevalent in our environment. Perinatal risk factors are significantly associated with these delays.

Introduction: Breastfeeding, especially exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), is considered effective for children’s survival. The practice and duration of EBF still remain low. The aim of this study was to determine the pattern of breastfeeding and factors preventing EBF practicesamong mothers attending Health Centres for immunization services in Rivers State, Nigeria. Methodology: Participants (n=480) were mothers who delivered their babies 4-18 months before onset of the study and attended immunization clinic (Health Centres in Obio/Akpor, Rivers State, Nigeria). An interviewer administered pre-tested, semi structured questionnaire was used to obtain the following information: their knowledge of EBF, their breast feeding practices, and reasons for not practicing EBF. Results: Majority (86.3%) had heard of EBF, having heard it from a health facility. Only 153 (32.0%) women agreed that colostrum should be fed to a new born. 338 (70.4%) responded that the duration of EBF is 6 months while 302 (62.1%) responded that breast feeding should be stopped immediately after the infant becomes one year old. 149 (31.0%) practiced EBF; EBF was significantly related to antenatal care attendance(p = 0.02),spousal support(p = 0.03) and parity (p = 0.003). Returning to work after childbirth was the main reason for not practicing EBF. Conclusion: Adequate information on the benefits and duration of breastfeeding is needed to enable effective breastfeeding. Support from the family and work place may enhance the practice of EBF in Rivers State.

Background: Bleeding from the nose is one of the commonest emergencies that could present in a typical ear, nose and throat clinic. It is often a frightful experience for both the patient and relations, especially in severe cases. Aim: To determine the aetiological profile, the management and outcome in patients that presented with epistaxis in University of Port Harcourt teaching hospital. Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients with complaints of epistaxis that were managed within the period of January 2006 to January 2018 in the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) department, including referrals from the accident & emergency department and children emergency ward. Data on demographics, aetiology, associated clinical features, treatment modalities and outcome of such treatments were all collated. These were analyzed using IBM statistical package for social sciences SPSSversion 20and results presented in simple descriptive tables. Results: There were altogether 196 patients studied, 95 males and 101 females, giving a male to female ratio of 1:1.06. The age range was from 1 to 81 years. Age group 30-39 was the most affected with 22.29% Aetiological factors were; hypertension in 9.2% trauma in 11.2%, idiopathic in most; 58.2%, chronic rhinosinusitis in 18.4%. Conservative medical therapy was the commonest treatment modality; 68.38%. Anterior nasal packing in 26.5% while 4.1% had posterior packing. Anterior aspect of the nose was the commonest site of bleed recorded in 160 cases. All the patients had a favourable outcome. Conclusion: Epistaxis in this environment still presents as a common emergency and in the majority of the case, the cause is not known, however, trauma appears to be one of the commonest cause implicated in our setting. The young adults appear to be the ones mainly affected.

Aim: This study is to determine the prevalence, causes, types and patterns of hearing impairment seen in a tertiary hospital in the Niger delta region. Study Design: A hospital based descriptive study of all patients with complaints of hearing impairment seen at the ear nose and throat clinic of the university of Port Harcourt teaching hospital within the period of January 2015 to December 2019. Results: Bilateral affectation was commoner among those that have hearing impairment n = 366(65.2%) 91.2% while n = 54(8.8%) was found to have normal hearing. Majority of the ears had profound degree of hearing loss n= 313 (25.4%) with the highest number of it found in the right ear 27.0% however, there is no statistical significance between the side of the ear affected and the degree of hearing loss. Conclusion: The young adults are the most affected; age 30-39 years with bilateral affectation and profound degree of hearing loss. Infective conditions such as CSOM are still very predominant in the aetiology of hearing loss in our environment.

Introduction: Pneumonia is the leading cause of death among children, it accounts for 17.0% of under- five deaths in Nigeria yearly. The aim of this study is to determine the pattern of pneumonia among children in Port Harcourt. Materials and Methods: A 2year retrospective descriptive study was done; the admission and discharge records at the children emergency ward (CHEW) and folders of patients admitted for pneumonia were used to retrieve information. Results: A total of 2169 children were admitted into CHEW from 2017- 2018, this comprised of 1089 (50.2%) males and 1080 (49.8%) females. Of the 2169 children, 286 (13.2%) of them had pneumonia. More males (16.9%) compared to females (9.4%) had pneumonia, with a significant gender difference. (ꭓ2 = 26.29, p = < 0.001) Males were twice more likely to have pneumonia compared to the females (OR = 1.95, CI= 1.51-2.54). The highest prevalence of Pneumonia (27.1%) was amongst children < 1 year old (P = 5 days after onset of symptoms.) (ꭓ2 =10.73, p = 0.03). Conclusion: Childhood pneumonia is still a burden among children in Port Harcourt. Early presentation to the hospital may reduce the mortality.

Background: Hearing loss is one of the preventable diseases listed by the WHO, even though the prevalence is decreasing in the developed countries. The pediatric age is very important in terms of hearing and therefore speech development. The prevalence and pattern of hearing loss in this age group in this environment is not known. Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the etiology and pattern of hearing loss in the pediatric age group in Port Harcourt. Materials and Methods: The study involved the pediatric age group (0-18 years) presenting with hearing loss, seen in the ENT Surgery Department of UPTH from January 2010 to December 2016. The clinic registers and patients' folders were the sources from which the biodata, clinical presentations, audiological assessments, possible etiologies, and treatment were extracted. These were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics, version 20.0. Results: A total of 752 patients with hearing impairment were seen: males – 502 and females – 250 with a ratio of 2.01:1. Patients with the age group of 0–3 years (28.6%) were more affected, whereas 16–18 years (11.2%) were the least affected. Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) was 37.6%; among this, birth asphyxia made up 38.5%, syndromic 6.0%, postmeningitis (2.7%, and neonatal jaundice 21.9%. However, conductive hearing loss (62.4%); was made up of cerumen auris (31.8%), otomycosis (19.4%), chronic suppurative otitis media (13.6%), Otitis media with effusion (11.7%). Most children with SNHL had severe-to-profound degree. The most common clinical presentation was hearing impairment and speech impairment followed by discharging ears. Conclusion: Hearing loss secondary to preventable causes such as birth asphyxia and neonatal infections still ranks high among the pediatric age group in this environment.

The study is undertaken with the objective of examining the relationship between capital market and economic development in emerging African economies. The study adopted an ex-post facto research design for Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya and the variables used were Human Development Index (HDI) as the dependent variable, Stock Market Capitalization (SMC); Value of Stock Traded (VST); Stock Market Turnover Ratio (TR) as independent variable. Moreover, the period under study was from 1990 to 2018 and the data collected within the period were analysed using descriptive statistics, ARDL regression, granger causality and Ordinary Least Square (OLS) for the comparative single country regression analysis. The study empirically proves that capital market has a significant relationship with economic development in the selected emerging Africa economies in Nigeria and South Africa except for Kenya which conforms with the Finance Led Growth Hypothesis Theory. We recommend that Governments of Sub-Saharan African economies should formulate and implement policies that will ensure relative stability in the market-based stock market of the economy to foster capital formation, increase investment and ensure stability in the financial system.

Beyond the anticipated experience associated with tourism destinations, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has further tasked (especially the destination countries) on the importance of tourism to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). From this dimension, this study employed the ecological footprint of the 10 most visited countries (France, Spain, United States, China, Italy, Mexico, United Kingdom, Turkey, Germany, and Thailand) over the period 1995–2016. Specifically, the study employed an econometric approach and found that increase in tourism arrivals and globalization is detrimental to the attainment of sustainable environmental quality in a long term. Precisely, a 1% increase in international arrivals and globalization is responsible for a 0.18 and 0.89% increase in ecological footprint in the long-run. These impacts of tourism activities and globalization are detrimental to the environmental quality of the destination countries. Meanwhile, the real income per capita and biocapacity in the destination countries improve the environmental quality of the panel of destination countries in the long-run. In addition, the study found significant evidence of Granger causality from tourism and real income to ecological footprint without feedback, the globalization-ecological footprint Granger causality nexus is with feedback. Moreover, potentially effective policies for government and other stakeholders especially toward attaining Global goals were proffered in the study.

With the increasing challenge of attaining sustainable balance in socioeconomic-ecosystem activities, the aspects of the global goals are continously being harnesed in order to ensure a sustainable interaction. As an alliance of the United Nations, the G-20 member countries have not only committed to attaining the Sustainable Development Goals 2030, the alliance body has further fostered frameworks that are targeted at advancing global economic and environmental sustainability. Within this context, the current study examined the environmental sustainability effects arising from the economic freedom prowess in the panel of the G-20 economies over the period 2000–2016. Among the sparse studies, the study employed the indices of economic freedom: freedom to trade internationally, regulation, sound money, legal framework, and property right and alongside the real income and renewable energy consumption as explanatory indicators. With the result of the difference- and two-step system GMM (generalized method of moments), the legal system and property right, sound money, freedom to international trade, and regulatory efficiency are detrimental to the panel countries’ environmental quality. Although this is likely to be untrue for countries that have advanced their climate actions and especially the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030, it suggests a dearth in the SDGs achievement among the developing and emerging economies. Moreover, it probably shows the depth of traditional or business-as-usual practices (such as the lack of sustainable economic and environmental practices) and the socioeconomic system that are obtainable in most of the developing and emerging economies. Thus, the study put forward tangible policies that are essential for governance and toward attaining desirable country-specific SDGs.

Several studies have investigated the relationship between tourism, consumption of energy, globalization, and ecological footprint. However, the role of biocapacity alongside tourism development in environmental sustainability is yet to be documented in the extant literature. No doubt, the biocapacity of a country, its level of tourist’s arrival, as well as globalization all contribute immensely to ecological footprint. Consequently, this study looks at long-run and causality connections with a special focus on bio-capacity. The study uses the pooled mean group-autoregressive distributed lag model (PMG-ARDL) methodology to test the causality relationship during 2016 international tourists’ receipt from world tourism organization data files for 10 tourism destinations. Empirical result based on the panel PMG-ARDL confirms the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis for the 10 tourism destinations countries investigated. Furthermore, the panel ARDL estimator was used to estimate the short-run and long-run relationships simultaneously between biocapacity, tourist arrivals, GDP per capita, globalization, and ecological footprints. While the Dumitrescu and Hurlin panel causality test was used to establish causality relationships among the highlighted variables. The trade-off between economic growth and environmental quality suggests that tourist arrival dampens environmental quality. In addition, the study finds that growing biocapacity affects ecological footprints negatively. Furthermore, an increase in tourism-related activities, globalization, and economic production has the potential to damage the quality of the environment. To this end, given the study results, there is a need to pursue green tourism which can reduce environmental degradation and destruction of land caused by multiple tourism-related transportation and construction of tourist facilities respectively in the top ten tourist destination countries.

Background: It is not all facial nerve palsy that presents to the otorhinolaryngologist that is Bell’s palsy; therefore there is a need for proper evaluation of these patients. This study is to determine the pattern and prevalence of otorhinolaryngologic disorders associated with facial nerve paralysis. Aim: To determine the prevalence and pattern of otorhinological disorders implicated in facial nerve paralysis in University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital. Patients and Methods: Study design: This was a hospital-based descriptive study. The patients diagnosed with facial nerve paralysis seen in the Ear Nose and Throat surgery and Physiotherapy departments of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) from January 2014 to December 2018 were collated and those among them with associated otorhinolaryngological disorders were recruited and studied. Data on patient demographics, presenting complaints and ear nose and throat disorders were sought from the case files, clinic and ward registers. Data entry was done using Microsoft Excel and exported to United States CDC Epi-Info version 7 for data analysis. Frequency tables and appropriate charts were used to present data. Chi square statistics was performed to determine significant differences between demographics of the patients and category of facial nerve palsy patients at alpha level of 0.05. Results: 76 patients with facial nerve paralysis, twenty one of them were associated with ORL disorder giving a prevalence of 27.6%. Ages below 40 years were the most affected and a slight male preponderance. Acute and chronic otitis media were seen in 33.3% of these patients respectively while Ramsay hunt syndrome and otitis externa were seen in 9.5%. Age and incidence of ORL disorders in these patients had statistical correlation. Conclusion: ORL disorders associated with facial paralysis are still prevalent and otitis media appear to be the most common.

Background: The facial nerve is an important and complex nerve whose course predisposes to various affectations. Most work has been focused mainly on Bell’s palsy and not much has been done on other aspects of the nerve affectation. Aim: To determine the prevalence of facial nerve palsy, possible aetiology and the treatment outcome in our environment. Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective study of all patients diagnosed with facial nerve palsy seen in the ENT Surgery department and the Physiotherapy department of Teaching hospital university of Port Harcourt within the period of January 2015 to January 2018. The patients` case files, clinic and ward registers were the source of data. The patients` demographics, presenting complaints, side affected, type of lesion, aetiology, intervention and outcome, were sought from these records. Data was analyzed with IBM SPSS version 20 and results presented in statistical tables. Results: There were altogether 76 patients seen within the period under study. There were more females than males 57.9% and 42.1% with a ratio of 1.4:1. Age ranged from 20-83 years with a mean age of 48.9+/- 14.1 years. Highest incidence was among the age range 50-59 years. Commonest presenting complaint was facial weakness-80.3% outright facial deviation was seen in 17.1%. The left side was more affected and upper motor neuron lesion was the commonest type of facial nerve palsy encountered 80.3%. Hypertension was the commonest aetiology. About 69.7% had a good response to management. The outcome of treatment in relation to the type was statistically significant. Conclusion: Facial nerve paralysis is not rare in this region and hypertension is a common aetiology with UMNL as the commonest type. Majority recover after the paralysis with steroid treatment.

Document Information Language:English Accession Number: WOS:000507273700069 PubMed ID: 31637612, In the present (twenty-first) century, the pertinent challenge of attaining the regime of food security with low pollution amidst the drive for sustainable economy and energy efficiency is core to governance and intergovernmental agencies. Therefore, in an attempt to investigate environmental issues among the coastline Mediterranean countries (CMCs) for the first time, the current study examines the dynamic long-run nexus of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions with food production and inflation rate over the annual period 1995-2014. Using a dynamic Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach, the consumption of renewable energy in the panel of sixteen (16) CMCs is empirically observed to be an efficient policy vehicle for mitigating CO2 emissions. Also, in all the examined CMCs, consumption of renewables is observed to cause significant decline in CO2 emissions, thus securing a sustainable environment. However, in the long run and in the panel of CMCs, the study reveals that increase in food production (a drive toward food security) increases environmental risk. Additionally, the study found that high inflation regime in the panel CMCs is associated with low CO2 emissions especially in the long-run, thus necessitating efficient policy mechanism. In adopting the genetic resources of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources, as well as employing price control policy, the members of the CMCs might have unearthed a suitable policy directive in effectively sustaining environmental quality.

Background: A good proportion of medical students and house officers will consider specialization in different aspects of medicine following graduation. However, there are still individuals who at this stage are undecided both in the question of specialization as well as on what area to pursue a career in. In a developing and resource poor country such as our environment where the doctor-patient ratio is very poor, proper distribution of physicians to meet the health demands of the people becomes of utmost importance. Study Design: A descriptive questionnaire based study. Place and Duration: Department of otorhinolaryngology surgery university of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital between January 2019 and March 2019. Methodology: We distributed semi structured self- administered questionnaire to all the final year medical students and the house officers of university of port Harcourt and university of port Harcourt teaching hospital. Only the house officers that did rotation in the ORL surgery department and final year medical students that gave their consent were recruited into the study. Those that did not do a rotation in ORL among the house officers and those that did not give consent were excluded. The data obtained was analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 and results presented in simple statistical tables. Results: In this study there was a recovery rate of 82.4% with 70 respondents, 45 males and 25 females with a ratio of 1.8:1. Age range was 20 to 39 years. The age range 25-29 (58.57%) was the highest and least in age 35-39(4.29%). The final year medical students constituted 57.14% of the study population, 60% (n=42) did not want to specialize; only about 31.43% will like to specialize. while57.14% rated their clinic exposure as excellent, most rated the trainer`s method mainly average. Most; 74.3% will not choose ORL, 14.3% were undecided and only 11.4% will like to specialize in ORL. Main reason for this choice is exposure during clinical rotation and mentorship. Conclusion: The interest in ORL among medical trainees is poor. Among those interested, exposure during clinical rotation is paramount. Dedication and innovative ideas on the part of teachers and mentors may arouse the interest in this specialty.

The doctrine of frustration is one of the most efficient risk sharing mechanisms in a commercial contract under the Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG), Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) Principles of International Commercial Contract and the English law. This article investigates and comparatively discusses the various remedies that can apply under a frustrated contract.

The significance of the natural geographical characteristics and ecological formation of the Coastline Mediterranean Countries (CMC) suggests a further examination of the dynamics of the renewable energy consumption (renewables) within the aforesaid region. As such, the dynamic impact of carbon emissions and the housing construction policy vis-à-vis dwellings, building and residential developments on the renewable energy consumption is investigated among Spain, France, Slovenia, Greece, Turkey, Lebanon and Israel. The dynamic autoregressive distributed lag methods of the pooled mean group, mean group and dynamic fixed-effect estimators are adopted for the empirical investigation over the periods 1999-2014 with real income and tourism employed as an additional variable. Using the PMG estimators, empirical results show that positive and statistically significant relationship exists among the variables in the long run. A 1% increase in housing construction policy, real income tourism and carbon emissions leads to (0.955), (8.622), (0.007) and (6.805) increase in renewable energy growth, while deviations in the short run significantly adjust to long-run equilibrium under an unforeseen disturbance at a moderate annual speed of about 73% annually. The inference from the short-run estimated coefficients indicates that housing construction policy is not a driver of renewables in Israel. From a policy standpoint, proposed strategic housing development policy and environmental pollution mitigation policy by policymakers should be void of causing a disservice toward the enrichment of renewable energy generation domestically in the panel countries.

The urban poor residents in South Africa are over time known for imbalance and inadequate housing amidst recent concern of shock in food production. In studying this peculiar problem, this study investigates the cointegration and long-run equilibrium relationship of population growth, crop production, and the housing price in the country. Empirically, a quarterly data from 1975:Q1 to 2015:Q4 is employed using the conventional Autoregressive Distributed Lag. The investigation shows strong significant evidence of cointegration and a quarterly speed of adjustment of 17.2% to long run in the system. Also, as the population grows, a decline in house price index is experienced in the long run. Although unusual, adequate and sustainable housing plan, demand-supply dynamics, in respect to a country's population expansion could posit observation. But, in the short run, a strongly significant positive association is observed. It shows further that positively short-run and long-run relationships significantly exist between crop production and house price index. In reality, caution is essential in the introduction of land redistribution policy to avoid hampering the housing policies and 2030 housing target of the government.

Context: Nigerian soil fungi population is unexplored. It is hypothesized that they harbour new bioactive chemicals. This hypothesis is based on the large percentage of currently approved medicines that originated from soil-inhabiting micro-organisms Objectives: To investigate the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties of Fusarium solani ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract selected based on its broad spectrum of antimicrobial potential in an overlay experiment with seven other soil fungi strains. Materials and methods: Fungus number 6 (F6), identified by molecular characterization as Fusarium solani (Mart.) Sacc (Nectriaceae) was selected for studies from eight purified soil fungi due to its superior broad-spectrum antibiotics producing potential following agar overlay experiment. F6 was fermented for 21 d and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of its EtOAc fermentation extract (dose range: 12.5–100 µg/mL) was determined using agar dilution method for Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi and anti-inflammatory properties determined using rat-paw (250–500 mg/kg) and xylene induced oedema (250–500 µg/kg) (in Swiss albino rats and mice) models, respectively. The ability of the extract to inhibit cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme was also determined in vitro using Cayman test kit-760111. Result: The MIC of the EtOAc extract was

Clotrimazole (CLO) is an imidazole fungicide used in human and veterinary medicine for treating fungal infection. This study evaluated the changes in morphological, haematological and biochemical indices in Clarias gariepinus juveniles exposed to CLO. After the acute exposure, the 96 h LC50 value of CLO determined by probit analysis was 38.79 mgl−1. Based on this value, fish were exposed to sublethal concentrations of 7.76, 3.89, 1.94 and 0.00 mgl−1 (control) of CLO for 21 days and were allowed to recover for 7 days. The result revealed no significant effect on the hepatosomatic index and condition factor of the exposed fish. There were concentration and time-dependent significant decreases in red blood cell (RBC), haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) with significant increase in the white blood cell (WBC), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) in the exposed group when compared with the control. A mixed trend was observed in the levels of neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes and eosinophils. The levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and glucose values significantly increased, while protein levels were reduced (p

The impacts of the increasing human activities mostly through socio-economic and environment interactions have continued to generate more scientific studies and contemporary discussion on issues ranging from the climate change to income and gender gap. Accordingly, the current study employed the cointegration and a two-step (system) SYS-Generalized Method of Moments to examine the environmental sustainability effects of income, international tourism arrivals, and labour force vis-a-vis gender unemployment in the panel of (32) Organization for Economic Development and Corporation (OECD) for the period 1995–2016. The study revealed that income growth in the OECD countries and increase in the inflow of international tourists into the OECD member countries are significant endangering factors for the bloc’s environmental sustainability. More striking is the environmental impact of labour force in the panel countries. Intuitively, a positive labour force-environmental degradation nexus is expected; the negatively desirable labour force-environmental degradation nexus in the current study is a justification of (1) the prevailing gender employment/unemployment classifications in the OECD member countries, and (2) the increasing adoption of more environmental friendlier working conditions or operation among the member countries. Moreover, the current study strongly posits a significant policy framework for the governments and stakeholders of the OECD member countries.

Conference Conference: 14th International Francophone Symposium on Aquatic Ecotoxicology (EcoBIM) - From Legacy Pollutants to Emerging Contaminants Location: Univ Bordeaux, Bordeaux, FRANCE Date: MAY 22-25, 2018, In either case of ecological and biocapacity surplus or deficit, the precautionary effort toward optimizing the natural capital posits a potential framework for environmental sustainability. In studying the environmental account of fertility, marriage, and technological advancement in the USA and Canada, the autoregressive distributed lad-bound testing is employed over the experimental period 1990-2014. Importantly, the study revealed that the interaction of fertility and marriage exerts a significant and negative impact of biocapacity in both the USA and Canada and in short run and long run. Moreover, while the impact of energy use in both countries is significant and positive in both the short and long run, the magnitude of the impact is almost negligible. Similarly, an improvement in technological advancement in the countries is empirically observed to cause a decline in the biocapacity in both the long and short term. These posit that both energy use and technological advancement in Canada and the USA do not necessarily improve the productive capacity of the countries ecosystems. In general, the study provides policy frameworks for stakeholders toward addressing the environmental peculiarity of the USA (a biocapacity debtor) and Canada (a biocapacity creditor).

Document Information Language:English Accession Number: WOS:000565599100001 PubMed ID: 32852717 ISSN: 0944-1344 eISSN: 1614-7499, Although the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member countries are largely regarded as a high human development index and high-income economies, evidence has continued to reveal the existential gap among the member countries drive toward achieving environmental sustainability. Giving this motivation, this research employed a panel quantile approach to examine the role of square of per capita income (the environmental Kuznets curve-EKC hypothesis) and per capita income, tourist arrivals, energy consumption, and urbanization on environmental quality in the panel of (31) selected OECD countries over the period 1995-2016. A handful of vital results were presented in the study. First, the evidence of EKC (invertedU-shaped) proposition is establish just for the lower quantiles while a no EKC (U-shaped) hypothesis is found from the 0.25th to 0.90th quantile. In specific, environmental quality starts to improve when the per capita real income peaked at 11, 271.13 USD (0.05th quantile) and 8, 604.15 USD (0.10th quantile) while the environment becomes damaged after income per capita becomes 89, 321.72 USD (0.25th quantile) and 36, 315.50 USD (0.50th quantile). Moreover, the effect of international tourism arrivals, urbanization, and energy consumption are all significant and damaging to environmental quality across the quantile but with a slightly minimized impact toward the upper quantile. Furthermore, there is statistical significant evidence of Granger causality at least from tourism development, energy consumption, urbanization, and per capita income to carbon emissions. Considering the aforementioned results, the study outlined relevant policy mechanism that is poised to guide the OECD member countries on the sustainable development path.

Seaweed hydrocolloids such as alginate and carrageenan extracted from brown and red algae have the potential to be developed as bioplastic. Bioplastic is a polymer from natural materials that are biodegradable. Alginate and carrageenan-based bioplastics are brittle and inelastic. Plasticizers such as glycerol, sorbitol and polyethylene glycol can be added to formulate plastic to improve its properties. The aim of the research was to review the physico-chemical properties of the bioplastic made from seaweed hydrocolloids with various additions of plasticizers. The data used in this study were taken from several accredited national journals and international publications. The data were presented quantitatively and synthesized narratively to answer the hypothesis of the study. The results showed that the addition of plasticizer in bioplastic preparation affected the physico-chemical properties of bioplastics. The thickness and elongation at break of bioplastic increased after the addition of plasticizers. However, the tensile strength of the bioplastic has decreased after added with plasticizer.

Background Patients with anorexia nervosa frequently show neutropenia, lymphopenia, and a reduced CD8 count; pro-inflammatory cytokines tend to be upregulated. The immunological response to bacterial infection is often impaired, but viral illness appears to be rare. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, clinicians expected that patients with anorexia nervosa would be at increased risk of severe infection. The present study investigated COVID-19 severity in patients with anorexia nervosa with positive SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. Methods A database was created at NHS England and Improvement, and eating disorders clinicians across the UK reported demographics, clinical characteristics, biomarkers, and outcomes of patients with anorexia nervosa and COVID-19 between May 20, 2020, and May 11, 2021. Eating disorder diagnoses were made by referring clinicians following standard clinical practice. This report follows STROBE guidelines. Findings Data were collected from 47 patients (44 female) aged 13–57 years (mean 26·8 years [SD 12·3]), including 34 adults (body-mass index [BMI] 12·0–21·3 kg/m2, mean 15·6 kg/m2 [SD 2·3]) and 13 children (percentage median BMI 68·5–129%, mean 94·0% [SD 13·4]). 37 patients (79%) had at least one of the typical COVID-19 symptoms of fever, cough, or disturbed smell or taste. One patient was asymptomatic; 44 had mild disease; two developed pneumonia, which for one patient was severe. One patient (2%) required treatment for COVID-19 in a general hospital. In comparison, in the general population of England, between 2·4% and 2·7% of adults aged 18–54 years with a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR between October, 2020, and February, 2021, were admitted to hospital. Interpretation To our knowledge, this is the first published study investigating effects of COVID-19 on patients with anorexia nervosa. Contrary to expectations, these findings suggest that anorexia nervosa does not increase the risk of severe COVID-19 infection. They also provide an insight into the effect of malnutrition on COVID-19, and viral infection in general, and offer some reassurance for patients with anorexia nervosa and clinicians about the risk from infection. Additionally, they may inform vaccination and infection control recommendations for patients with anorexia nervosa in future pandemics. The sample size was small and dependent on data submitted by clinicians; the results should therefore be treated with caution. Funding None.

The study of the causes, effects and possible solutions to teenage violence in secondary schools was carried out in Onitsha Education Zone of Anambra State. The schools used for the study were randomly selected. The population of the study comprised 2932 students. The sample for this study consisted of 1743 subjects representing 60 percent of each stratum. The instrument used was a questionnaire. The instrument was duly validated by experts and the reliability index was 0.94 which was considered adequate for the study. The instrument was administered by the researcher with the help of research assistants. The direct approach method was used. Mean scores were used in data analysis. The results obtained indicated that the causes of teenage violence included anti social family background, negative media information, making the teenager behave anti-socially affecting their lives, that of their families and the society at large. However an administrator should be concerned with the mental and social growth of students and also establish guidelines and procedures to protect the students and provide for their emotional growth. It was also recommended that the teachers should endeavour to become approachable and assessable and be role models by-being non-judgmental and supportive in their dealing with students.

Background We clarified the correlation between brain damage, associated biomarkers and medication in psychiatric patients, because patients with schizophrenia have an increased risk of stroke. Methods The cross-sectional study was performed from January 2013 to December 2015. Study participants were 96 hospitalized patients (41 men and 55 women) in the Department of Psychiatry at Kohnodai Hospital, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Ichikawa, Chiba, Japan. Patients were classified into schizophrenia (n = 70) and mood disorders (n = 26) by psychiatric diagnoses with DSM-IV-TR criteria. Results The incidence of brain damage [symptomatic and silent brain infarctions (SBIs) and white matter hyperintensity (WMH)] was correlated more with mood disorders than with schizophrenia. It has been previously shown that the concentrations of protein-conjugated acrolein (PC-Acro) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) increased in plasma of brain infarction patients together with C-reactive protein (CRP). The concentration of PC-Acro was significantly higher in patients with mood disorders than in those with schizophrenia. The concentration of IL-6 in both groups was nearly equal to that in the control group, but that of CRP in both groups, especially in mood disorders, was higher than that in the control group. Accordingly, the relative risk value for brain infarction was higher in patients with mood disorders than with schizophrenia. Medication with atypical antipsychotics reduced PC-Acro significantly in all psychiatric patients and reduced IL-6 in mood disorder patients. Conclusion Measurement of 3 biomarkers (CRP, PC-Acro and IL-6) are probably useful for judgement of severity of brain damage and effectiveness of medication in psychiatric patients.

Ablepharon macrostomia syndrome (AMS) is an extremely rare congenital ectodermal dysplastic disease characterised by craniofacial, skin, skeletal and genital abnormalities. Very few cases have been reported since the first case report in 1977. We report the case of a 6-day-old male delivered to unrelated parents. He was dysmorphic with absent eyelids, eyelashes and eyebrows, large fish-shaped mouth, hyperpigmented thick anterior abdominal wall, absent prepuce amongst other features. Skull X-ray showed poorly developed zygomatic bones. The patient is being managed as a case of AMS in a multidisciplinary fashion. There is no agreement on the mode of inheritance, but authors have suggested autosomal recessive, autosomal dominant, sporadic and familial occurrences. The absence of the prepuce and hyperpigmentation of the anterior abdominal wall as was seen in our patient has not been reported. More case reports are needed to delineate the spectrum of clinical features in AMS.

Ethanolic leaf, stem and root extracts of Vitex chrysocarpa were investigated for the presence and composition of these phytochemicals (alkaloid, flavonoid, phenol, tannin, sterol, hydrogen cyanide, anthraquinone, saponin and terpenoid) using standard techniques. Their antimicrobial activities at different concentration against some selected clinical pathogens (bacterial strains Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Fungal strain Aspergilus niger ) were also studied using agar diffusion method. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration against the organisms was also evaluated. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was employed in data analysis. Qualitative and percent quantitative phytochemical results showed that Ethanolic leaf, stem and root extracts contained these phytochemicals assayed but at varied quantities. Antimicrobial studies indicated that the ethanolic leaf, root and stem extracts of Vitex chrysocarpa inhibited the growth of the pathogens but at varied levels and the inhibition was extracts concentration dependent. However, the extracts showed higher inhibition against the fungal strain than the bacterial strains. Inhibitory effect of the leaf extract was significantly higher than those of the stem and root extracts with minimum inhibitory concentration of 50mg/ml for S . aureus and E. coli , 25mg/ml for P. aeruginosa and 12.50mg/ml for A. Niger . For the stem, the minimum inhibitory concentration is at 50mg/ml for S. aureus and P. aeruginosa , 75mg/ml for E.coli and 25mg/ml for A. Niger . For the root, minimum inhibitory concentration is at 75 mg/ml for S. aureus and E.coli , 25mg/ml for P. aeruginosa and 50mg/ml for A.niger . Antibiotic had a better activity when compared to the extracts at the same concentration. The data obtained from this study showed that the plant possessed antimicrobial properties especially antifungal and could be used in the treatment of bacterial and fungal infections but more especially the latter.

The aim of this work was to design a new method for the efficient saccharification of lignocellulosic biomass (LB) using a combination of peracetic acid (PAA) pretreatment with ionic liquid (IL)-HCl hydrolysis. The pretreatment of LBs with PAA disrupted the lignin fractions, enhanced the dissolution of LB and led to a significant increase in the initial rate of the IL-HCl hydrolysis. The pretreatment of Bagasse with PAA prior to its 1-buthyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([Bmim][Cl])-HCl hydrolysis, led to an improvement in the cellulose conversion from 20% to 70% in 1.5h. Interestingly, the 1-buthyl-3-methylpyridium chloride ([Bmpy][Cl])-HCl hydrolysis of Bagasse gave a cellulose conversion greater than 80%, with or without the PAA pretreatment. For LB derived from seaweed waste, the cellulose conversion reached 98% in 1h. The strong hydrolysis power of [Bmpy][Cl] was attributed to its ability to transform cellulose I to II, and lowering the degree of polymerization of cellulose.

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text, Background: This study evaluated the effectiveness of a group-based cognitive-behavioral stress management intervention among community-dwelling adults living with HIV in Southeastern Nigeria. Method: A total of 28 HIV-positive adults meeting the criteria for high perceived stress, anxiety, and depression were randomized into 1 of 2 groups: treatment group (n = 14); and no-treatment control group (n = 14). Stress level was measured using the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). Depression and anxiety symptoms were assessed using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Secondary outcome measure was Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). The intervention was delivered over the course of 10 weeks, using an evidence-based cognitive-behavioral stress management manual. We employed repeated-measures between and within-subjects analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Eta squared in the analyses and interpretation of data collected from the study participants at 3 time points. Results: Our results showed that, after benefitting from the cognitive behavioral stress management intervention, the PSS-10 and HADS scores were lowered significantly in the treatment group participants than those in the no-treatment control group during evaluations of post-treatment and 3 months follow-up outcomes. Significant improvements were also recorded in the treatment group participants’ SWLS scores at post-treatment and follow-up compared with participants in the no-treatment group. Conclusion: The present results suggest the need for further implementation of group-based cognitive-behavioral stress management interventions for people living with HIV. Cognitive-behavioral stress management clinicians should make efforts toward identifying HIV-positive adults experiencing psychological distress and design cognitive-behavioral stress management interventions in order to better assist them.

Students are at greater risk of meningitis than non-students of similar age. However, a lack of specific school administrative policies for the management of meningitis may contribute to the increasing incidence of meningitis in the student population. The study aims were to promote the need for a policy framework in school settings to manage meningitis, and to encourage research to assess the readiness of school administrators to adopt such a policy in Nigeria. The material reviewed here derives from expert opinion, gray literature, national data sources, websites, and peer-reviewed journals. It is important to offer comprehensible, reliable, and accurate information about meningitis to students and staff of every school in Nigeria, as one of the best ways of achieving the goal of preventing meningitis in students may be through the adoption and implementation of meningitis policy frameworks by school administrators. Furthermore, studies are required to examine the readiness of school administrators to adopt a meningitis policy framework.

The prevalence of psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) was explored in a sample of 14- to 25-year-olds with non-psychotic mental health difficulties. Associations between PLEs, psychopathology, functioning, trauma history, and pathways to care were examined.Data were collected for 202 young people. Clinicians rated PLEs using the Primary Care Checklist (PCC) and functioning using Global Assessment Scales. Eighty-three young people completed self-report assessments of PLEs using the Prodromal Questionnaire (PQ-16) and measures of social anxiety, depression, trauma history, and pathways to care.There was a high prevalence of PLEs in the sample. The prevalence of PLEs was higher when young people self-rated their experiences. Endorsement frequencies for PLEs ranged from 3.5 to 24% on the PCC and 22 to 70% on the PQ-16. Higher scores on the PQ-16 were associated with more pathways into care and greater exposure to traumatic life events.PLEs are common in young people with non-psychotic mental health difficulties and may reflect increased severity and complexity of mental health difficulties. Routine screening and further assessment of PLEs are important in understanding and responding to such experiences. Screening should include self-rating of PLEs as well as clinician-rated scales.Clinical Implications Psychotic-like experiences are common in young people with severe non-psychotic mental health problems and should be routinely screened in mental health services. Psychotic-like experiences were found to be more prevalent when using a self-report screening tool compared to a clinician-rated measure. The presence of psychotic-like experiences may reflect more severe and complex mental health problems and may also cause delays in young people accessing the right kind of support. ;Limitations This study only assessed the presence or absence of psychotic-like experiences. Further studies should use more detailed assessments to understand more about the nature of such experiences and how they are appraised and responded to. This study is cross-sectional, and therefore, the direction of the relationships between psychotic-like experiences and depression, anxiety, functioning, and trauma cannot be specified. Longitudinal studies are needed to examine the impact of psychotic-like experiences on long-term outcomes.

High quality, timely and complete immunization data are essential for program planning and decision-making. In Nigeria, the National Health Management Information System (NHMIS) Routine Immunization (RI) module and dashboard (on the District Health Information System version 2 (DHIS2) platform) support the use of real time RI data. We deployed an automated short message service (SMS) notification system that works with the existing RI module to facilitate improvements in RI data in the DHIS2.A pilot project was performed using intervention and control local government areas (LGAs). A mixed methods approach using both qualitative and quantitative methods was used to evaluate the system. We assessed changes in reporting rates across different reports. The evaluation also included baseline and post-intervention surveys of health facility (HF) staff.Reporting timeliness (76% pre and 99% post intervention) and completeness (83% pre and 99% post intervention) were consistently higher during the post-intervention than the pre-intervention period for facilities in the intervention LGA while reporting timeliness (65% pre and 66% post intervention) and completeness (71% and 77% post intervention) for facilities in the control LGA showed no change. Users reported that the SMS system was easy to understand and helped to facilitate improvements in consistency of data and timeliness of reporting. Inability of health care workers to effect changes at the HF level and the lack of immediate feedback were reported as key challenges to timeliness and quality of reports.An SMS-based intervention improved timeliness and completeness of health data reporting. However, the intervention should be evaluated on a larger scale over a longer time period before considering a national implementation.

Delinquency is one of the serious challenges that face secondary schools in Anambra State. The purpose of this study therefore was to ascertain the effectiveness of counselling in the adjustment of delinquents in secondary schools in Anambra State. It is a descriptive survey guided by one research question and the hypothesis. The population of the study comprised two hundred and fifty-one (251) counsellors in the 251 government-owned secondary schools in the State. The entire population was studied. A researcher-developed instrument duly validated by experts and whose reliability index was 0.81 was used in data collection. The researcher with the help of assistants administered the instrument. Mean scores and z-test were used in data analysis. It was among others found that counselling is effective in helping delinquent students adjust in the areas of provision of services in schools to help delinquents learn basic values for their socialization. One of the recommendations is that counselors should make counselling effective in terms of providing information to the delinquent regarding vocational training of the delinquents to ease their adjustment in school.Key words: Counselling, Adjustment, Delinquency