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The study assessed farmers’ perception of the effectiveness of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in dissemination of Agricultural information to rural farmers in Bosso Local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria. A multi-stage simple random sampling technique was used to select 100 farmers from the study area. Data generated were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results showed that 62% of the farmers were aware of the ICTs, 63% had access to ICTs, 41% owned radio, television, and mobile phone while 27% owned radio and mobile phone. The results further revealed that all ((100%) the farmers perceived ICTs as effective tools in extension service delivery. Also, 63% of the respondents considered access to mobile phone to be timely and relevant in accessing agricultural information. Mobile phone (40%) was ranked first as an effective means of accessing agricultural information by the farmers. It was also disclosed that television (32%) and mobile phone (40%) were the major factors leading to ICTs effectiveness. Erratic power supply (32.0%) and inadequate extension services (25%) were the major problems that militated against the use of ICTs among farmers in the study area. The study concluded that ICTs are effective tools in dissemination of agricultural information in the study area, and mobile phone was the most effective means of accessing agricultural information by the respondents due to its dual purpose. The study also concluded that erratic power supply and inadequate extension services are the major problems militating against the use of ICTs among farmers. It was recommended that in order for farmers to understand and appreciate the benefits of ICT to improved agricultural production, extension agents should educate farmers particularly on the use of mobile phone which is considered more accessible and convenient.

The study assessed the profitability of maize production and socio-economic determinants of maize output in Rijau Local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was used in selecting 120 maize farmers. Descriptive statistics was used to assess the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers, while budgetary technique was used to determine the profitability of maize production in the study area. Socio-economic determinants of maize output were assessed using multiple regression analysis. The result showed that 25.8% of the respondents had farming experience of 6 to 10 years; majority (34.2%) had non-formal education, and 46.7% were cultivating 0.1 to 2.0 hectares of land. The study further disclosed that total variable cost accounted for 96.8% (₦133,200.5) of the total cost of production and depreciation on fixed cost that represented 3.1% (₦4,246.41) of the total cost of maize production in the study area. The return per Naira invested was ₦3.47 inferring that for each naira invested, ₦2.47k was realised as profit, hence, maize production in the study area was found to be profitable. The regression analysis revealed that farm size (23.185) and household size (8.886) significantly (P≤0.01 and P≤0.05, respectively) determined the output level of maize producers in the study area. This could be an indication of non-adoption of improved farm practices. It was recommended that effort should be made in providing efficient and accessible extension service system in order to educate farmers on the importance of improved farming practices and adoption of advanced technology.

Cobra is a common snake throughout Africa and Asia, however, there are few literatures reporting neurotoxic cobra bite from Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), including Northern Nigeria. Here, we report 3 cases that were bitten by cobra in the savannah region of Nigeria. All the 3 cases presented with features of severe neurotoxic envenomation: generalized hypotonia, ptosis, and features of autonomic dysfunction, which include excessive salivation and sweating. One of the 3 victims progressed to develop respiratory paralysis that resulted in death. The other 2 cases survived after receiving polyvalent anti-snake venom.

The present study focused on the development of a simple, reliable, cost-effective, precise, and stable quality by design (QbD) RP-HPLC method for estimation of Abiraterone Acetate in bulk, pharmac...

Aim: To identify reasons behind the patronization of private tertiary institutions in Nigeria, their challenges, and also to examine if their patronage was as a result of service quality matter or otherwise. Study Design: This article adopt both qualitative and quantitative research strategy in which questionnaire were administered and hypothesis were tested using chi-square. Place and Duration: The case study for this research paper is AL-HIKMA University, Ilorin, Nigeria, from 7th October, 2019. Findings: It was discovered that majority of student patronizing private tertiary Institutions in Nigeria was the result of issues such as admission stress, strikes, cultism’s, congestions and irregularities characterizing public tertiary Institutions in Nigeria, etc. and not actually service quality. The major challenges encountered by private’s tertiary Institutions are lack of funds, stringent government policies, shortage of staff and infrastructural deficits etc. Implications: This has lead to production of half-baked graduate, brain drain, religious disparity, widening social gap, exorbitant fees and decline in the educational sector among others. Conclusion: In other to curb the problems associated with the above raised questions, government should allocate more fund for the establishment and rehabilitation of universities, adequate learning materials should be provided, conducive atmosphere accompanied by good remuneration and lastly issue of licensing should be strict.

Laboratory experiment was conducted to determine the insecticidal activity of leaves and stem bark powder of Sodom apple (Calotropis procera) and optimum concentration for the management of maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais). Actellic dust was used a positive control and untreated maize seeds serving as negative control. The experiment was laid in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) comprising of Leaves powder (1 g, 3 g and 5 g), stem bark powder (1 g 3 g and 5 g), Actellic dust and control. These were applied to 100 g healthy maize seeds and repeated three times. Contact activity of the plant products were evaluated and data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and means were separated using NDMRT at 1% and 5% probability level. The results showed that the application of 5 g/100g leaves significantly (P

Laboratory experiment was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of Stembark and pod powders of locust bean (Pakia biglobossa) and their appropriate concentration for the management of cowpea weevils (Callosobruchus maculatus F.). Spintor (0.125%) and dust (0.125 g) was used a positive control and untreated cowpea seeds serving as negative control. The experiment was laid in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) comprising of Stem bark powder (1 g, 3 g and 5 g), Pod powder (1 g 3 g and 5 g), spintor 0.125% Dust (0.125 g) and control. These were applied to 100 g healthy cowpea seeds and repeated three times. Contact activity of the plant products were evaluated and data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SPSS software (version 23) and means were separated using NDMRT at 1% and 5% probability level. The results showed that higher concentration (5 g/100g) of plant products significantly (P

Serum lipid profile and sensory properties of spent layers fed diets supplemented with curry, mint and pawpaw leaves including the phytochemicals in the leaves were evaluated. Spent layers numbering 210 were randomly allocated to seven broiler finisher diet (BFD); containing no supplement, 2 kg pawpaw leaf powder (PLP), 2 kg curry leaf powder (CLP), 2 kg mint leaf powder (MLP), 1 kg CLP + 1 kg PLP, 1 kg MLP + 1 kg PLP and 1 kg CLP +1 kg MLP levels for T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6 and T7 respectively in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) technique. The study was based on one week adaptation period and forth night feeding exposure to the supplement compositions. Serum lipid profile and sensory properties of meat were evaluated. The results revealed that supplementation of 2 kg of CLP and MLP in BFD fed to spent layers significantly reduce serum lipid profile components as compared to control except HDL. Results also indicated that supplementation of 2 kg of MLP in the BFD fed to spent layers significantly enhanced meat aroma and supplementation of 2 kg PLP significantly enhanced tenderness as compared to the control. The study concluded that supplementation of 2 kg CLP, MLP and PLP respectively, enhanced the serum lipid profile quality and sensory properties quality. On these bases, CLP, MLP and PLP could be included in diet of spent layer to improve the meat and serum lipid profile qualities.

A 57‐year‐old man, with type 2 diabetes mellitus, was admitted with a hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state, who developed in‐hospital venous thromboembolism with huge free‐floating right heart thrombus, and there is no available optimal treatment option for the huge free‐floating right heart thrombus, except anticoagulation with warfarin and low molecular weight heparin with successful outcome., In a resource‐constrained setting, therapeutic anticoagulation though less favored may be helpful with a favorable outcome in the absence of an optimal therapeutic strategy in patients with HHS who develop VTE and right heart thrombus.

The proportions and similarities of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producing K. pneumoniae (ESBL-KP) and E. coli (ESBL-EC) carrying multiple ESBL genes is poorly known at our setting. This study investigated the existence of multiple ESBL genes (blaCTX-M, blaTEM, and blaSHV) among ESBL-KP and ESBL-EC concurrently isolated from clinical, colonization, and contamination samples from neonatology units in Mwanza-Tanzania. Twenty and 55 presumptive ESBL-EC and ESBL-KP, respectively, from a previous study archived at −80 °C were successfully recovered for this study. Isolates were screened and confirmed for production of ESBLs by phenotypic methods followed by multiplex PCR assay to determine ESBL genes. All (100%) and 97.3% of presumptive ESBL isolates were phenotypically confirmed by Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) and modified double-disc synergy methods, respectively. About 93.3% (70/75) of phenotypically confirmed ESBL isolates had at least one ESBL gene, whereby for 62.9% (44/70), all ESBL genes (blaCTX-M, blaTEM, and blaSHV) were detected. Eight pairs of ESBL bacteria show similar patterns of antibiotics susceptibility and ESBL genes. ESBL-KP and ESBL-EC, concurrently isolated from clinical, colonization and contamination samples, harbored multiple ESBL genes. Further, eight pairs of ESBL isolates had similar patterns of antibiotics susceptibility and ESBL genes, suggesting transmission of and/or sharing of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) among ESBL-KP and ESBL-EC.

sj-pdf-1-tai-10.1177_20499361211039379 for Knowledge assessment of anti-snake venom among healthcare practitioners in northern Nigeria by Auwal A. Bala, Abubakar I. Jatau, Ismaeel Yunusa, Mustapha Mohammed, Al-Kassim H. Mohammed, Abubakar M. Isa, Abubakar S. Wada, Kabiru A. Gulma, Inuwa Bello, Sani Malami, Godpower C. Michael and Basheer AZ. Chedi in Therapeutic Advances in Infectious Disease

sj-pdf-2-tai-10.1177_20499361211039379 for Knowledge assessment of anti-snake venom among healthcare practitioners in northern Nigeria by Auwal A. Bala, Abubakar I. Jatau, Ismaeel Yunusa, Mustapha Mohammed, Al-Kassim H. Mohammed, Abubakar M. Isa, Abubakar S. Wada, Kabiru A. Gulma, Inuwa Bello, Sani Malami, Godpower C. Michael and Basheer AZ. Chedi in Therapeutic Advances in Infectious Disease