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This study examined the impact of a pedagogy that is culturally influenced and laced with technological and contextual elements known as the culturo-techno-contextual approach (CTCA) on promoting knowledge retention of biology concepts. The research design was mixed methods, and the sample consisted of 88 senior secondary school II students selected from two Lagos State educational district V schools in Nigeria. Quantitative data was collected using the Variation and Evolution Achievement Test with a reliability value of 0.79, while qualitative data was collected using the Students' Perception of CTCA Interview Guide. All students in the two sample schools used for the experimental and control groups took a pretest before treatment, a posttest at the end of the treatment phase, and a retention test four weeks later. The ANCOVA output demonstrated a statistically significant difference in knowledge retention [F (1,85) = 134.50; p < 0.05]. This suggests that experimental students retained more.

Background: Studies in biology have shown that students perceive variation and evolution to be difficult areas to learn. This has sparked rote learning of variation and evolution concepts and is evidenced in poor performance in tests involving these concepts. Purpose: In light of the significant role of variation and evolution in a human's acquaintance with themselves and their environment, there is a need to ensure that students possess meaningful learning of variation and evolution rather than learning by rote. Hence, this study investigated if the use of CTCA as an intervention will enhance students' performance in variation and evolution concepts in biology. Sample: The potency of the culturo-techno-contextual approach was tried out in this study with 156 senior secondary two biology students, equivalent to (11th grade) with an average age of 14 years. Design and method: The research design was a quasi-experimental pre-test, post-test non-equivalent group design. Data on meaningful learning was collected using a 35 multiple-choice item test of Meaningful Learning in Variation and Evolution. The reliability coefficient of the instrument was, however, determined to be 0.77. Data collected were analysed using ANCOVA since the random assignment of subjects was not achieved. Results: The 76 students in the experimental group who were taught variation and evolution using CTCA performed significantly better F(1, 134) = 15.40; p < 0.0001] than their control group counterparts (N = 80). Conclusion: The data from this study support the potency of the culturo-techno-contextual approach in bringing about the learning of variation and evolution in a meaningful manner. The implications of these results for teacher education in biology are addressed in the article.

The paper examined the possibility of finding out if improvements in students' problem solving performance in simultaneous linear equation will be recorded with the use of procedural and conceptual learning strategies and in addition to find out which of the strategies will be more effective. The study adopted a pretest, post test control group design. A total of 166 science students drawn from four schools in four local government Areas in Osun state of south-western Nigeria were involved in the study. The students were in Senior Secondary Class Two. These students were assigned to four groups of Conceptual Learning Strategy (CLS), Procedural Learning Strategy (PLS) and Conventional Method (CM) while the fourth group was not taught at all. The first two groups were the experimental groups and the control groups were the last two groups. Treatment was administered for a period of eight weeks. A mathematical achievement test was used as pretest and posttest after validation and was found to have reliability coefficient of 0.76 and item difficulty level ranging between 0.42 and 0.46. Three mathematics teachers who were university graduates were engaged to administer the treatment. The study recorded a significant difference between the problem-solving performance of students in the CLS group and those in the CM group (X[subscript 1]=30.71, X[subscript 2] = 15.66, df =78, t = 16.56, p less than 0.05).Significant difference in performance was also recorded between PLS group and CM group (X[subscript 1] = 24.07, X[subscript 2] = 15.66, df =80, t = 10.95, p less than 0.05). Likewise performance of students in CLS group and those in PLS group differed significantly (X[subscript 1]=30.71, X[subscript 2] = 24.07, df = 84, t = 7.98, p less than 0.05). The study therefore concluded that both CLS and PLS were effective in enhancing students problem-solving performance and that conceptual learning strategy was more effective. (Contains 7 tables.)

This study assessed the post-treatment status of urogenital schistosomiasis among school-aged children in Erin Osun in Osun State, Nigeria. Atotal of 357 children from five elementary schools that had participated in the Osun State Elementary School Feeding and Health Programme (O-MEALS Programme) and received praziquantel as part of the deworming programme were examined for the study. Urine samples were collected and tested for microhaematuria and proteinuria using urinalysis reagent strips. The urine samples were further examined for Schistosoma haematobium ova. Asnail survey was conducted in the River Awesin at the water contact points in the community. Out of the 357 participants examined, (4.2%) had S. haematobium infection; males had a higher prevalence (5.5%) than females (2.9%). Christ Apostolic Church Elementary School had the highest (7.2%) prevalence of infection while Ansar-Ud-Deen ‘A’Elementary School had the least prevalence (1.5%). There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in the prevalence between gender and between schools. The highest prevalence was recorded among children of age group 13-15years (20.0%) while the least was among the age group 5-8years, and there was a significant difference in the prevalence of infection between age groups (p < 0.05). The overall geometric mean intensity of infection was 1.14 eggs/10mls of urine. There was a high (52.9%) prevalence of proteinuria. However, 47.1% of the participants had no proteinuria, 43.7% had 1+ amount (0.3 g/L) and 1.9% had 3+ amount (5.0 g/L). The low prevalence (4.2%) and intensity (1.14 eggs/10ml) of S. haematobium infection, in this study, suggest a positive impact of the O-Meals programme, which used Praziquantel twice a year to treat the pupils. No snail intermediate host of S. haematobium was encountered during the survey. Continuous drug administration with the feeding initiative and provision of safe drinking water in the community will help sustain the current level of control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edible insects are a good source of protein, minerals and vitamins. This study investigated the acceptability and economic viability of edible insects within the three ecological zones, in south-western, Nigeria. Six hundred (600) structured questionnaires were administered among the habitants of the selected ecological zones on the acceptability, economic benefits and types of edible insects. The data collected were statistically analysed. The insects identified were: Macrotermes bellicosus, Brachytrypes spp, Oryctes boas (larvae), Zonocerous variegatus, Apis mellifera, Anaphe recticulata, Rhynchophorus phoenicis (Lavae and Adult), Oryctes boas (Adult). Ondo in Derived Savannah has the highest diversity of 0.99 while M. bellicosus recorded the highest dominance per species. The insects were mostly fried (38.5%) before consumption. In terms of distribution, there is an abundance of Oryctes boas (37.6%) in Ogun (lowland rainforest) while there was a higher occurrence of O. boas larvae (17.6%) in Oyo State (Derived Savannah). The most acceptable edible insect within the ecological zones studied was M. bellicosus (51.9%). On the economic viability of insects, 22.3% of the respondents strongly agreed that the insects are in very high demand, 40.5% believed that the cost required to produce them is not much in regards to the benefits derived from them. Some of the respondents (38.9%) strongly agreed that insects act as an excellent source of proteins. This research has shown that people are practicing Entomophagy which should be further encouraged by the government to serve as an alternative source of protein and for income generation since they can be afforded by the masses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field experiment was conducted at the Institute for Agricultural Research Farm at Samaru, Nigeria in 2008 and 2009 rainy seasons to investigate the residual nitrogen contributions by four legume crops (soyabean, cowpea, lablab, and groundnut) to the growth and development of succeeding maize given four levels of nitrogen fertilizer (0, 40, 80, and 120 kgNha-1). In 2008, the treatments consisted of four legumes, maize and a fallow period. The six treatments were laid out using randomized complete block design replicated four times. In 2009, maize crop was planted on the previous crops' plots and fallow. The experimental design used was split-plot with previous legumes, maize, or fallow as main plots, and the four nitrogen fertilizer treatments as subplots. Results obtained showed that nitrogen availability in the top soils of the previous legumes and fallow compared with that of maize plot was increased by 250, 200, 170, 107 and 157% after lablab, groundnut, cowpea, soyabean and fallow, respectively. Maize grown on previous lablab plot significantly recorded higher growth characters compared with maize following other legumes and fallow. Growth of maize was highest with the application of lower rates of nitrogen after lablab and groundnut compared with maize after maize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 300 birds consisting of 120 local, 120 crossbred and 60 exotic turkeys were used to compare physiological adaptation of birds raised under the high-heat stress environment of Nigerian tropical humid climate. Genotype significantly (P<0.05) affected heat tolerance traits with the highest mean values for rectal temperature, pulse-rate and heat stress index observed in exotic turkeys. Genotype also had significant (P<0.05) effect on serum biochemical parameters such as glucose (GLU), potassium (K+) and Chloride (Cl–). The haematological indices of the birds such as haemoglobin, white blood cell count and heterophyl/lymphocyte ratio (H/L) were equally affected by the different genetic groups (P < 0.05). The significantly higher (P<0.05) H/L ratio of the exotic turkeys was an indication of heat stress. The better performance exhibited by local and crossbred turkeys could be exploited in management, conservation and selection decisions of animal genetic resources under tropical conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: A survey of Schistosoma haematobium infection in Epe, an urban community in Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria, was carried out to ascertain the possibility that schistosomiasis, otherwise considered a rural disease, could reach urban populations. Materials and Methods: About 100 ml of voided urine samples from 200 pupils aged 6-13 years [109 (54.5%) males and 91 (45.5%) females], attending an Anglican primary school, Ebute Afuye, and a community primary school, Erepoto, were examined parasitologically for hematuria and S. haematobium ova following informed consent obtained from their parents/ guardians. All samples were screened using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the schistosome Dra1 gene. Fourteen Bulinus snails collected from the two sites, Ebute Afuye (6) and Erepoto (8), were screened for schistosome infection by the PCR amplification of the schistosome Dra1 gene. PCR-RFLP of the snails' its region was analyzed for species identification and a subregion of the cox1 gene from four infected snails (two from each site) was amplified and sequenced. Results: In the Anglican primary school, Ebute Afuye, and community primary school, Erepoto, 16% and 29% were positive for hematuria, and 16% and 17% had schistosome ova, respectively. PCR analysis showed that 57% and 40% were positive for the infection in Anglican primary school, Ebute Afuye, and community primary school, Erepoto, respectively. PCR screening of the snails confirmed that four from Ebute Afuye and three from Erepoto were infected with schistosomes. PCR-RFLP showed that all the 14 snails were Bulinus truncatus while phylogenetic analysis of the sequenced partial cox1 gene corroborated the PCR-RFLP results. Conclusions: There was a high prevalence of S. haematobium infection among the participants detected by PCR, which was able to detect infection in cases otherwise shown to be negative by hematuria. We also observed that B. truncatus is one of the snail species responsible for the transmission of urinary schistosomiasis in the Epe community. For national control programs, it is very important that trends in the prevalence and intensity of schistosomiasis in urban cities be monitored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assessed the concentration of Nitrogen Oxide (NOx), Sulphur Oxide (SOx), Carbonmonoxide (CU), Benzene, Toluene, MP-Xylene and O-xylene (BTEX,) Total Suspended Particulate, (TSP) and Particulate Matter (PM; PM10 and PM2.5) in the ambient air at selected locations in Lagos, Nigeria. The health impact of these pollutants was investigated among exposed group of people (especially CarbonmonoxyHemoglobm (COHb), and pulmonary function). The health profile of the general populace was also examined for cases of ailments related to air pollution. The mean level of TSP was lowest at Unilag (130.6 ± 44.5 ug/m3) the control, while the highest concentration was measured at Mazamaza (1171.7 ± 355.1 ug/m3) throughout the study period. The CO level measured was in the order of Ikotun (3.40 ± 1.3 ppm)> Ikeja (1.70 ± 0.4 ppm) > Unilag (0.10 ± 0.0 ppm). Mean SO2 concentration ranged with a highest value at Oshodi (116.3 ± 27.3 ppb) to a lowest level at Unilag (9.40 ± 0.9 ppb) while the NO2 concentration ranged from a highest value of (138.6 ± 78.4 ppb) for Oshodi to a lowest value of (8.76 ± 3.0 ppb) for Unilag. The concentration of gaseous pollutants that are linked with cancers; benzene, Toluene, MP-Xylene and O-xylene showed the highest level at Mazamaza. At this location, the concentrations of the pollutants were in the order of 17.58 ± 8.8, 36.92 ± 19.6, 21.57 ± 10.5 and 8.03 * 3.9 (ppb), respectively. On the other hand, Unilag had the lowest level of each of these pollutants (3.47 + 3.84, 5.3 ± 6.0; 3.37 ± 3.4 and 1.27 ± 1.5 ppb). ANOVA result showed that each pollutant varied significantly among the selected locations (p < 0.05). The broad-profile of diagnosed health problems among residents that visited public hospitals showed high prevalence of upper respiratory tract infection (45.3%) followed by asthma (18.9%), broncho-pneumonia (14.8%) and pneumonia (5.6%). For more than 30% of the occupationally exposed, exposure had lasted 6 - 10 y, accounting for the higher concentration of CO (1.18 ± 0.43 ppm) in their breath compared to the control (0.63 ± 0.59 ppm). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

B Background: b Ivermectin is a potent drug currently used in mass drug administration (MDA) for the control of onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis in endemic communities worldwide. B Conclusion: b Ivermectin mass treatment appears to affect Anopheles mosquitoes in our field studies but demonstrated less effect on Culex mosquito populations. B Results: b Ivermectin treatment had significant effect on indoor (p<0.001) and outdoor (p<0.001) density as well as indoor (p=0.005) and outdoor (p<0.001) parity rate of Anopheles mosquitoes in the intervention communities. [Extracted from the article]

Background & Objective: Epidemiological studies were carried out to assess the prevalence and community microfilarial load (CMFL) of onchocerciasis after repeated annual treatment with ivermectin along Ogun river System, southwest Nigeria., Method: Skin snips were taken from consented participants in 11 selected communities along the River system. The microfilarial load of the community was estimated., Results: The prevalence and CMFL varied significantly in the communities (p <0.05). The prevalence of onchocerciasis ranged from 19.1 to 45.6%, while the CMFL ranged from 0.11 to 1.03 microfilariae per skin snip. The CMFL recorded was <5 microfilariae per skin snip, i.e. recognized by WHO as threshold value in certifying the communities to be free of onchocerciasis as public health problem, thus, signifying the possibility of onchocerciasis elimination in the study area., Conclusion: Efforts should therefore be intensified to achieve improved ivermectin coverage and compliance in annual ivermectin treatment in order to completely eliminate onchocerciasis as a public health problem in the studied communities.

The current study considers the distribution of a small sample of 138 Bulinus snails, across 28 localities within eight Nigerian states. Snails were identified using a combination of molecular methods involving both DNA sequencing of a partial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) fragment and restriction profiles obtained from ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (its) amplicons. The results showed that the majority of Bulinus samples tested belonged to the species Bulinus truncatus while only two were Bulinus globosus. The use of RsaI restriction endonuclease to cleave the ribosomal its of Bulinus, as a method of species identification, was adopted for the majority of samples, this being a quicker and cheaper method better suited to small laboratory environments. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the schistosome Dra1 repeat within each of the collected Bulinus samples was employed to determine the extent and distribution of infected snails within the sample areas. Successful amplification of the Dra1 repeat demonstrated that 29.7% of snails were infected with schistosomes. Sequencing of the partial schistosome its from a small subset of snail samples suggested that some snails were either penetrated by both Schistosoma haematobium and Schistosoma bovis miracidia or hybrid miracidia formed from the two species.

Six-hundred-and-seven-day-old chicks were generated from Nigerian local chickens consisting of three genotypes (Normal-feathered; Frizzled-feathered; Naked neck) and an exotic broiler breeder (Anak Titan) to evaluate growth performance for possible meat-type chicken development. Growth parameters measured were body weight, breast girth and keel length on weekly basis for 20 weeks. Effects of sire, dam and chick genotypes were significant (P<0.001) on growth traits. At week 20, chickens sired by the Anak Titan weighed 1,614.82 g followed by Normal-feathered local chickens with body weight of 1,211.32 g. Progenies of Anak Titan and Naked neck dams weighed 1,761.96 and 1,292.80 g at week 20, respectively. Among purebreds, Anak Titan weighed 35.05 g at day-old and had heaviest body weight of 2,360.29 g at 20 weeks compared to the three local strains. The average body weights for the crossbred, Normal-feathered × Anak Titan at day-old and week 20 were 36.39 and 1,577.63 g, respectively. This was followed by Anak Titan × Naked neck with 33.32 g at day-old and 1,514.14 g at week 20. Sex had significant effect (P<0.05) at weeks 16 and 20 with the males having higher mean values than their female counterparts. This study revealed that crosses involving Anak Titan sire × Naked neck dam had highest growth performance, and there was no strain differences among the growth performance of purebred Nigerian local chickens.

Background & Objectives: A longitudinal study was carried out to investigate the species composition, seasonal abundance, parity and feeding preference of indoor sampled mosquitoes in Abeokuta, south-western Nigeria., Methods: The mosquitoes were sampled weekly from five stratified locations using Center for Disease Control (CDC) light-traps between August 2005 and July 2006. The mosquitoes were examined for abdominal condition and dissected for age composition. Microscopic and precipitin techniques were also employed for the determination of host blood source., Results: A total of 2969 mosquitoes which belong to 10 species of mosquitoes were collected during the study period. Mansonia africana (35.65%) constituted the most abundant species followed by Culex quinquefasciatus (32.23%) and Anopheles gambiae complex (13.52%). Other species in decreasing order of abundance were Coquilletidia maculipennis (8.2%), Aedes albopictus (5.9%), Ae. aegypti (1.93%), M. uniformis (1.81%), Cx. duttoni (0.25%), Cx. tigripes (0.25%) and An. funestus (0.25%). Seasonal abundance revealed a significant difference (p <0.05) in the population of mosquito vectors collected during the wet season as compared to the dry season and their abundance was positively correlated with rainfall. The results showed that the majority of the vector species collected were unfed and nulliparous. Moreover, the blood meal test was positive for human blood., Conclusion: The preponderance of mosquitoes observed in the study is of public health concern since they serve as vectors of most tropical diseases including malaria.

The larval habitats of mosquitoes were investigated in Abeokuta, Nigeria in order to determine the breeding sites of the existing mosquito fauna and its possible public health implications on the residents of the City. The habitats were sampled between August 2005 and July 2006 using plastic dippers and a pipette. The habitats were grouped as ground pools/ponds, gutters/open drains, tyres, domestic containers and treeholes/ leaf axils. Ten species of mosquitoes were encountered in the five habitats namely Mansonia africana, M. uniformis, Culex quinquefasciatus, Aedes aegypti, Ae. albopictus, Ae. vittatus, Cx tigripes, Anopheles gambiae s.l., An. funestus and Eretmapodite clnysogaster. Ae. aegypti bred in all the habitats sampled while Cx quinquefasciatus bred in four habitats except tree holes/leaf axils. An. gambiae s.l and Ae. albopictus occurred in three habitats while other species bred only in one or two habitats. Ground pools and domestic containers recorded the highest number of species followed by gutters/open drains. Tree holes/leaf axils was the least preferred habitat with the lowest number of species occurrence. However, statistical analysis revealed non-significant difference in species occurrence in the five habitats. The availability of the habitats to support the breeding of Aedes, Culex and Anopheles, which are known vectors of urban yellow fever, lymphatic filariasis and malaria suggest that the residents ofAbeokuta City are at risk of mosquito-borne diseases. It is important that residents of the City are enlighten on the environmental factors that contribute to mosquito breeding and that the Government should institute proper sanitation measures to reduce mosquito breeding sites.

Some of the important mosquito species are generally sympatric in terms of their geographical distributions, and are difficult to identify based solely on examination of adult females using the available morphological keys. In this study, adult mosquitoes were collected indoors in Abeokuta in south-western Nigeria between August 2005 and July 2006 using Center for Disease Control light traps. The objective was to investigate possible morphological differences in populations of Culex quinquefasciatus and Mansonia africana. Six morphological characters namely, wing length, antennal length, proboscis length, foreleg length, mid leg length and hind leg length were measured in the two species. A total of 868 Cx quinquefasciatus and 962 M. africana were collected during the study period. The mean length was observed to be higher in most characters during the wet season than the dry season but the variation was not statistically significant (P > 0.005). In M. africana, the antennal length, proboscis length, foreleg length and midleg length showed one peak each. The wing length exhibited three peaks while hind leg length showed two peaks. For Cx quinquefasciatus, the antennal length, proboscis length, foreleg length, mid leg length and hind leg length indicated one peak. The wing length however showed three peaks. Each of the peaks observed in wing length and hind leg length of M. africana and wing length of Cx quinquefasciatus was assumed to be a specific population. The coefficient of differences (CDs) for each population indicated the presence of three populations in M. africana (CD > 1.28). However, the hind leg length showed that the two populations were the same (CD < 1.28). Three populations were also obtained from CD for wing leg length of Cx quinquefasciatus (CD > 1.28). Other characters indicated the presence of only one population. The results therefore underscore the need to investigate the status of the two species in relation to species complex.