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This paper explored the relationship between graffiti arts and civic education among young people in Nigeria. A mixed methods approach was employed to generate and synthesize empirical data. The study was guided by Barbara Rogoff's social constructivism theory. Findings indicated that graffiti arts and artists were present in Nigeria, driven by desires for self-expression, financial gain, and training opportunities sponsored by NGOs for up-and-coming artists. Writing styles varied, but drawing, mural painting, and styles uniquely African remained dominant. Despite the difficulty of acceptance of graffiti as an art form due to its earlier association with transgressive activities, its engagement as a method for emancipatory, participatory, cultural literacy, dialectical relations, and creative learning tools in both formal and informal settings demonstrated its educational-supportive capacity for young adults. The values that graffiti express can help reorient young adults in their thinking and social agency. To this end, this paper recommends rethinking the way we view and relate to graffiti arts and writers; incorporating graffiti art education into school curriculum reforms in Nigeria; and using an interactive approach, including new media, to understanding graffiti art produced and displayed by young adults.

Abstract Background Internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Nigeria face a high burden of mental health disorders, with limited access to evidence-based, culturally relevant interventions. Life skills education (LSE) is a promising approach to promote mental health and psychosocial well-being in humanitarian settings. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and implementation of a culturally adapted LSE program delivered through in-person and mobile platforms among IDPs in Northern Nigeria. Methods This cluster-randomized hybrid type 2 effectiveness-implementation trial will be conducted in 20 IDP camps or host communities in Maiduguri, Nigeria. Sites will be randomly assigned to receive a 12-week LSE program delivered either through in-person peer support groups or WhatsApp-facilitated mobile groups. The study will recruit 500 participants aged 13 years and older. Intervention effectiveness outcomes include the primary outcome of change in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms assessed using the PCL-5 scale, and secondary outcomes of depression, anxiety, well-being, and life skills acquisition. Implementation outcomes will be assessed using the Acceptability of Intervention Measure (AIM), Intervention Appropriateness Measure (IAM), and Feasibility of Intervention Measure (FIM). Both sets of outcomes will be compared between the in-person and mobile delivery groups. Quantitative data will be analyzed using mixed-effects linear regression models, while qualitative data will be examined through reflexive thematic analysis. The study will be guided by the Reach-Effectiveness-Adoption-Implementation-Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework. Discussion The RESETTLE-IDPs study addresses key gaps in the evidence base on mental health interventions for conflict-affected populations. It focuses on underserved IDP populations, evaluates the comparative effectiveness of in-person and mobile-delivered LSE, and incorporates implementation science frameworks to assess contextual factors influencing adoption, fidelity, and sustainability. The study employs a community-based participatory approach to enhance cultural relevance, acceptability, and ownership. Findings will inform the development and scale-up of evidence-based, sustainable mental health interventions for IDPs in Nigeria and other humanitarian contexts. Trial sponsor Dalhousie University, 6299 South St, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT06412679 Registered 15 May 2024.

Eighty percent of listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria (4 out of 5 firms) had negative and fluctuating returns on equity eighty-three percent of the time (5 out of 6 years), while inexplicable fluctuations in philanthropic expenditures, labor costs, and creditor days correspondingly occurred during the 6-year period under review (2018–2023). This study looks at how social initiatives affect the value of listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria. Its specific goal was to determine whether a firm’s value (measured as return on equity) is influenced by the cost of corporate giving, the cost of employee well-being, and the time taken to settle creditors. Data were obtained from the financial reports of 5 companies. the sample of which was judgmentally drawn from 16 listed companies using a quantitative method of research. EViews statistical package was used to analyze data. It was found that investments in social initiatives as supported by corporate giving {B1 = 0.010162, P = .2691 or P > .05}, employee well-being {B2 = .012285, P = .3836 or P > .05}, and obligations to creditors {B3 = .012018, P = .8327 or P > .05} are not value-enhancing in Nigeria’s manufacturing sector. In light of the above, it was concluded that listed companies in the manufacturing sector in Nigeria are not legitimately and strategically investing their resources in social initiatives, and corporate value is consequently not enhanced and maximized.

This study assessed the effectiveness of agricultural extension models in food crop production in Cross River State. Specifically, the study described the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents, identified the level of extension model activities in crop production and analyzed the effectiveness of agricultural extension models in the study area. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used in selecting respondents for the study. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution, mean scores, percentages and standard deviation were used for the study. The result showed that the respondents had a mean age of [bar.x] = 5. Majority (77.00%) of the respondents were married. Furthermore, the result of the socio economic characteristics of the respondents also showed that a negligible proportion (17.20%) of the respondents had no formal education. About 16.10% had primary level of education. A fair proportion (45.00%) had secondary level of education. Also, about 21.70% of the respondents had tertiary level of education. These implied that the respondents were educated. Educational attainment would make the farmers more responsible and responsive to agricultural extension models, programs and policies. The result also indicated that 79.50% of the respondents were farmers. These implied that farming was the major means of livelihood in the area. The result of distribution of respondents based on extension models available in the area showed that 'training and visit' extension model was ranked first with standard deviation of 1.65; this means that the 'training and visit' model of extension had a high level of acceptability in ensuring food crop production. Contact farmer model was ranked 2nd, with standard deviation of 1.28. This means that farmers had contact with fellow farmers faster than extension officers. In the same vein, video-based extension model was ranked 8th with standard deviation of 0.64. The result of the effectiveness of extension model revealed that mean ([bar.x]) of 3.58, 3.35, 3.49, 3.20 affirmed that agricultural extension models populated by extension officers are effective in food crop production in the study area. Similarly, individual persons oriented model such as mass media model with mean of [bar.x] = 3.21 was very effective in food crop production. These results implied that agricultural extension models were effective in food crop production. The study concluded that the agricultural extension models are very effective and positively related to food crop production. Key words: Agriculture, Cross River, Effectiveness, Extension models, Food crop, Production, INTRODUCTION Men and women have been growing crops and raising livestock for approximately 10,000 years [1]. Throughout this period, farmers have continually adapted their technology, assessed the results through communicating, [...]

The term conjoined twins refers to babies who are physically joined at some point. It is a rare condition with an estimated incidence of 1 per 200,000 live births. We report our experience with conjoined twins over a twelve year period in tertiary hospital in Nigeria and a case of the first set of conjoined twin survivors in Benin City, Nigeria. Over the last twelve years (1999-2011), three cases of conjoined twin have been recorded in our teaching hospital. A set of thoracoomphalopagus twins (females) ere delivered in 1999 and they survived for only 36hrs. Another set of female omphalopagus twins were delivered in 2009 and survived a separation surgery. A third set of female thoracoomphalopagus was delivered in another institution same year and referred to our unit but they only survived for 48 hours. The first surviving twins were omphalopagus, sharing a single liver, and common bile duct emptying into a common duodenum. The stomach, as well as the jejunum was normal and unshared. Surgical separation of the liver was done and biliary reconstruction procedure performed for twin II. A three -year follow up showed good outcome.x

Abstract Within a shared cytoplasm, filamentous actin (F-actin) plays numerous and critical roles across the cell body. Cells rely on actin-binding proteins (ABPs) to organize F-actin and to integrate its polymeric characteristics into diverse cellular processes. Yet, the multitude of ABPs that engage with and shape F-actin make studying a single ABP’s influence on cellular activities a significant challenge. Moreover, without a means of manipulating actin-binding subcellularly, harnessing the F-actin cytoskeleton for synthetic biology purposes remains elusive. Here, we describe a suite of designed proteins, Controllable Actin-binding Switch Tools (CASTs), whose actin-binding behavior can be controlled with external stimuli. CASTs were developed that respond to different external inputs, providing options for turn-on kinetics and enabling orthogonality and multiplexing. Being genetically encoded, we show that CASTs can be inserted into native protein sequences to control F-actin association locally and engineered into structures to control cell and tissue shape and behavior.

This study used a partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) to estimate curriculum management's direct and indirect effects on university graduate programmes' viability. The study also examined the role of institutional effectiveness in mediating the nexus between the predictor and response variables. This is a correlational study with a factorial research design. The study's participants comprised 149 higher education administrators (23 Faculty Deans and 126 HODs) from two public universities in Nigeria. A structured questionnaire designed by the researchers was used for data collection. The questionnaire was duly validated with an acceptable scale and item content validity indices. The dimensionality of the instrument was determined using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Convergent validity was based on Average Variance Extracted (AVE), whereas discriminant validity was based on Fornell-Lacker criteria and the Hetero-Trait Mono-Trait (HTMT) ratio. Acceptable composite reliability estimates of internal consistency were reached for the three sub-scales. Following ethical practices, the questionnaire was physically administered to respondents and retrieved afterwards. Smart PLS (version 3.2.9) and SPSS (version 26.0) programs were used for all the statistical analyses. This study uncovered significant direct and direct effects of curriculum management on the viability of graduate programmes. Institutional effectiveness significantly impacted graduate programmes' viability while mediating the nexus between curriculum management and graduate programmes' viability. Curriculum management and institutional effectiveness jointly explained a significant proportion of graduate programmes' viability variance. The result of this study proved that graduate programmes' viability depends, to a great extent, on how much curriculum is managed and how effective institutions are with their services. The result of this study can enable institutions seeking to run viable graduate programmes to re-evaluate their curriculum management practices and the effectiveness of their services.

The proximate and phytochemical analysis of leaves of Anthocleista vogelii was studied. The phytochemical screening indicated qualitatively the presence of alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, polyphenols, tannins, reducing sugars, and the absence of phlobatanins, anthranoids. The results from the proximate composition indicate that the leaves contained some important nutrients such as Carbohydrate 52.50±0.60, Fatty acid 4.40±0.11, Fibre content 17.30±0.22 and Protein content 17.30±0.11. The presence of the phytoconstituents in Anthocleista vogelii shows that the plant contains essential nutrients, hence, it can be viewed as a potential component for the production of drugs

The study analysed the efficiency of Watermelon (Citrullus lenatus) Production in Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was used in selecting three hundred and sixty (360) respondents. Selection was done with purposive and simple random sampling, and data collected with a structured questionnaire. The objectives of the study were to identify the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents, determine the technical efficiency and measure the total resource productivity of watermelon production in the study area. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and quantitative analytical tool of stochastic frontier model (Cobb Douglas production function). Socio-economic attributes like age, farm size, educational status and farm experience were described to show their relationship with watermelon production in the study area. Results of the stochastic frontier model showed that all the estimated coefficients of the variables of the production function were positive except fungicide. They included: farm size (0.0795), labour (0.0201), number of seed grown (0.926) and fertilizer (0.0207). This implied that watermelon output increases with increase in these variables. It was also shown that labour (0.441), fertilizer (0.475) and fungicide (-1.662) did not exert any significant effect on watermelon output as shown by their t-ratio values. For the factors affecting technical inefficiency of watermelon farmers, age of farmers and farm size were negative and significant at 0.05 levels of probability, while household size, educational qualification and farming experience were all positive and significant at 5% levels of significance and type of cropping was positive and significant at 10% level of significance. Non-farm income was positive and significant at 5% level of probability. This means that one unit increase in these variables would increase technical inefficiency of the farmers and hence decreasing their technical efficiency. Finally, the return to scale parameter returned the value 0.967 which indicated that watermelon production in the study area was in the Stage II of the production surface. Based on the results of the analysis the following were recommended. Watermelon farmers should be provided and encouraged to take loans, be assisted with extension services and become members of farmer associations, in order to boost their production. Also inputs such as farm size, labour, seeds, fertilizer and fungicide should be increased for optimum production. Key words: Watermelon, production, stochastic frontier model, technical efficiency, Nigeria, INTRODUCTION Watermelon (Citrullus lenatus) is a warm season crop that is cultivated worldwide ostensibly for it numerous nutritional benefits [1,2]. The fruit contains nutrients and phytochemicals beneficial to human health [...]

Abstract Background Chemotherapies target the PfEMP-1 and PfPKG proteins in Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite that causes malaria, in an effort to prevent the disease’s high fatality rate. This work identified the phytochemical components of Nauclea latifolia roots and docked the chemical compounds against target proteins, and examined the in vivo antiplasmodial effect of the roots on Plasmodium berghei-infected mice. Methods Standard protocols were followed for the collection of the plant’s roots, cleaning, and drying of the roots, extraction and fraction preparation, assessment of the in vivo antiplasmodial activity, retrieval of the PfEMP-1 and PfPKG proteins, GCMS, ADME, and docking studies, chromatographic techniques were employed to separate the residual fraction’s components, and the Swis-ADME program made it possible to estimate the drug’s likeness and pharmacokinetic properties. The Auto Dock Vina 4.2 tool was utilized for molecular docking analysis. Results The residual fraction showed the best therapeutic response when compared favorably to amodiaquine (80.5%) and artesunate (85.1%). It also considerably reduced the number of parasites, with the % growth inhibition of the parasite at 42.8% (D2) and 83.4% (D5). Following purification, 25 compounds were isolated and characterized with GCMS. Based on their low molecular weights, non-permeation of the blood–brain barrier, non-inhibition of metabolizing enzymes, and non-violation of Lipinski’s criteria, betulinic and ursolic acids were superior to chloroquine as the best phytochemicals. Hence, they are lead compounds. Conclusion In addition to identifying the bioactive compounds, ADME, and docking data of the lead compounds as candidates for rational drug design processes as observed against Plasmodium falciparum target proteins (PfEMP-1 and PfPKG), which are implicated in the pathogenesis of malaria, the study has validated that the residual fraction of N. latifolia roots has the best antiplasmodial therapeutic index.

Satisfying the consumer and contributing to societal well-being have been globally acknowledged, and these developments consequently boost corporate image, attract investors, increase stock prices, enhance firm value, and enable industrial and other firms to contribute to national development. This paper examines how product responsibility and philanthropy affect the performance of industrial goods firms in Nigeria. A sample of 7 firms was selected from 24 listed firms after employing a judgmental sampling technique and using secondary data and a quantitative research method. Data validation and analysis were aided by econometric views statistical software, panel data regression, fixed and random effects estimators, stationarity test, cross-section dependence test, Durbin-Watson test, and Hausman test. The study revealed that investment in product responsibility, as evidenced by the rising stock turnover rate, is value-enhancing in Nigeria {B1 = 0.076807, P = 0.0171 or P < 0.05}, while philanthropic donation is value destroying {B1 = –0.369535, P = 0.5817 or P > 0.05}. It was concluded that consumers’ confidence in corporate institutions can enhance corporate value, while investment in philanthropy is not usually value-enhancing when done irresponsibly and non-strategically. The study, therefore, recommended that investment in product responsibility should be consolidated to sustain the rising stock turnover rate, while investment in philanthropy should be done strategically and responsibly to make it value-enhancing. AcknowledgmentThis research was based on Nnamdi Azikiwe University Ph.D. Dissertation funded by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (Tetfund), Nigeria. University of Calabar in Nigeria is highly acknowledged for funding the PhD dissertation through its Tetfund platform.

ABSTRACTClimate change has led to unprecedented environmental and socio-economic challenges globally, especially in vulnerable communities. Loss and damage refer to the residual effects of climate change, where adaptation and mitigation measures may not be enough to prevent adverse impacts. This study examines the impact of loss and damage caused by climate change in the Lower Niger River region of Nigeria and the influence of global perspectives on the region. The research adopted a mixed-methods approach, including a survey of 198 households and 13 interviews with key stakeholders. Furthermore, an open-source terra climate data of precipitation, runoff, and temperature covering a 30-year period (1990–2020) sourced from Climate Research Unit (CRU) dataset and analysed to show distribution of trends and patterns in climate variables. Similarly, we conducted a land use land cover change (1990–2020) to ascertain the level of changes. Findings from the study have revealed that the anthropogenic factors contribute to hydrological changes in the Lower Niger River Region and these changes result in climatic disasters like flooding which cause severe loss and damage of livelihood including loss of agricultural productivity, fisheries, and accessibility. While global efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change are important, the study uncovers that the influence of global perspectives on the Lower Niger River Region is often limited by factors such as unequal power dynamics, insufficient funding, and a lack of local ownership of initiatives. The study suggests the need for sustainable land management, resolution of farmers/headers conflict and increased awareness as measures in addressing loss and damage.

PURPOSEBreast cancer (BC) is a major cause of cancer-related mortality in Nigeria, which is exacerbated by a lack of understanding of how knowledge of BC risk factors influences the lifestyle and dietary patterns of Nigerians across age groups. This study evaluated the influence of knowledge of BC risks on lifestyle and dietary patterns across age groups, aiming to inform early management, prevention, and survival rates.METHODSA cross-sectional survey was conducted in Ota, Ado-odo, Ogun State, Nigeria, involving participants from six educational institutions. The study assessed knowledge of BC risks factors and lifestyle/dietary habits using questionnaires. Results were analyzed using Epi Info software and SPSS version 20.RESULTSThe participants' age ranged from 13 to 60 years, with a mean of 21 years. The age categories of the participants were 75.24% adolescents (13-19), 18.68% young adults (20-40), and 6.08% middle-aged (41-60). Middle-aged individuals had the least knowledge about smoking (7.58%), alcohol (26.09%), antibiotics (7.25%), and red meat/smoked foods (20.09%), which translated into their poor dietary/lifestyle patterns. Young adults showed profound physical inactivity (71.00%), while adolescents consumed more carbonated drinks (71.53%), which corresponded to lack of knowledge about the effects of physical inactivity (10.85%) and consumption of carbonated drinks (13.70%) on BC risk.CONCLUSIONThe study found that understanding BC risk factors directly affects lifestyle and dietary patterns. Age groups with higher knowledge had better lifestyle/dietary patterns. This highlights the need for a tailored intervention on lifestyle and dietary education across all age groups, especially the middle-aged, so as to inform a deliberate adjustment in lifestyle and dietary habits, which play crucial roles in BC incidence, survival, and prevention.

Bioinformatics, the interdisciplinary field that combines biology, computer science, and data analysis, plays a pivotal role in advancing our understanding of life sciences. In the African context, where the diversity of biological resources and healthcare challenges is substantial, fostering bioinformatics literacy and proficiency among students is important. This perspective provides an overview of the state of bioinformatics literacy among African students, highlighting the significance, challenges, and potential solutions in addressing this critical educational gap. It proposes various strategies to enhance bioinformatics literacy among African students. These include expanding educational resources, fostering collaboration between institutions, and engaging students in research projects. By addressing the current challenges and implementing comprehensive strategies, African students can harness the power of bioinformatics to contribute to innovative solutions in healthcare, agriculture, and biodiversity conservation, ultimately advancing the continent’s scientific capabilities and improving the quality of life for her people. In conclusion, promoting bioinformatics literacy among African students is imperative for the continent’s scientific development and advancing frontiers of biological research.

Background: Current pharmacological research has shown that medicinal plants have notable bioactivities. For more than a millennium, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has prescribed CRP primarily as a qi-regulating medication for therapeutic purposes. Hence, the synergistic effect of the two medicinal plants on the hepato-renal damage in rats exposed to CCL4. Materials and Methods: For twenty-one days, rats were gavaged with quercetin and hesperidin (2.4 and 2.4 mg/kg each) after being exposed to CCL4 (0.5 mg/kg). Samples were taken to evaluate several biochemical markers. Nitric oxide (NO), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured. The activity of the enzymes alanine transferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were estimated to represent liver function. Catalase (CAT), Glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and Glutathione (GSH) levels were evaluated for antioxidant level, total bilirubin, total protein, urea, uric acid, and creatinine), as well as histopathology were assessed. Results: The concentration of total bilirubin, total protein, urea, uric acid, creatinine, increased considerably (P < 0.05) after exposure to carbon tetrachloride, with the levels of H2O2, MDA, SOD, CAT, GPX, GSH, and the activities of ALT and AST in serum, also, changes observed in histopathological findings. Upon treatment with the extracts, the levels of H2O2 and MDA was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced and modify SOD, CAT, GPX, GSH, ALT, and ALP activities in rats substantially (P < 0.05). With slid changes on histopathological effect. Conclusion: Quercetin and hesperidin treatment successfully improved liver and kidney pathophysiology and reduce the level of ROS. Thus, quercetin and hesperidin can be recommended as a hepato-renal preventive agent against CCL4-induced toxicity.

This review examines the corrosion inhibition performance of ionic liquids used as corrosion inhibitors for aluminum, copper, magnesium, steel, and their alloys in various aqueous media. The predominant classes of ionic liquids employed are imidazolium, triazolium, thiazolium, phosphonium, pyridinium, ammonium, pyrrolidinium, and pyridinium-based ionic liquids. The pieces of literature revealed that the studies were carried out in acid, base, and salt media and an array of inhibition efficiencies was obtained. Herein, the possible influence of experimental techniques, ionic liquid concentration, ionic liquid structure, and molecular weight on the inhibition efficiency are tabulated and discussed.

Abstract Reactive oxygen species reacts with numerous molecules in the body system causing oxidative damage, which requires antioxidants to ameliorate. Pleurotus ostreatus, a highly nutritious edible mushroom, has been reported to be rich in bioactive compounds. This study evaluated the comparative antioxidant activity and phytochemical contents of five extracts of P. ostreatus: aqueous (AE), chloroform (CE), ethanol (EE), methanol (ME) and n-hexane (HE). The phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity of the extracts were determined using standard in-vitro antioxidant assay methods. Results showed that the extracts contained alkaloids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolics, cardiac glycosides, carbohydrates, anthrocyanins, and betacyanins in varied amounts. CE had the highest flavonoid content (104.83 ± 29.46 mg/100 g); AE gave the highest phenol content of 24.14 ± 0.02 mg/100 g; tannin was highest in EE (25.12 ± 0.06 mg/100 g); HE had highest amounts of alkaloids (187.60 ± 0.28 mg/100 g) and saponins (0.16 ± 0.00 mg/100 g). Antioxidant analyses revealed that CE had the best hydroxyl radical activity of 250% at 100 µg/ml and ferric cyanide reducing power of 8495 µg/ml; ME gave the maximum DPPH activity (87.67%) and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity (65.58%) at 500 µg/ml; EE had the highest nitric oxide radical inhibition of 65.81% at 500 µg/ml and ascorbate peroxidase activity of 1.60 (iU/l). AE had the best total antioxidant capacity (5.27 µg/ml GAE at 500 µg/ml) and ferrous iron chelating activity (99.23% at 100 µg/ml) while HE gave the highest guaiacol peroxidase activity of 0.20(iU/l). The comparative phytochemical and antioxidant characteristics (IC50) of the extracts followed the order: CE > AE > EE > ME > HE. Overall, chloroform was the best extraction solvent for P. ostreatus. The high content of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and alkaloids in P. ostreatus makes it a rich source of antioxidants and potential candidate for the development of new therapies for a variety of oxidative stress-related disorders.

Abstract Saltmarshes are suffering from severe degradation due to anthropogenic activities, leading to the loss of blue carbon and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Given the significant potential of biochar in mitigating climate change, adding biochar to saltmarshes would alleviate this situation. This study investigated the effects of different biochar (made from Spartina alterniflora, corn straw, and Laminaria japonica) and their aged biochar on the carbon fraction contents, GHG emissions, and microbial community structure of saltmarsh soils with allochthonous organic matter (Enteromorpha prolifera) addition. After 60 days of incubation, total organic carbon (TOC) loss and global warming potential (GWP) of biochar-amended soils were reduced by 67.29–124.33% and 4.91–123.24%, respectively (p

Small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) are an essential component of the nation’s economy, contributing in several ways, including creating money, opening up new employment opportunities, introducing innovations, and fostering competition. This research investigated the impact of marketing strategies on the performance of SMEs in the central senatorial district of Cross River State, Nigeria. The study specifically looks at the impact of micromarketing, marketing communication, and electronic marketing on the performance of SMEs. The researchers adopted the survey design. The questionnaire was the instrument administered to SME owners in the six local government areas that make up the central senatorial district, of which 375 copies were retrieved and completed in useable form. Hence, 375 formed the sample for the study. The obtained data were analyzed using percentages, and hypotheses were tested using multiple regression analysis. Findings from the study revealed that there is a significant relationship between marketing strategies (micromarketing, marketing communication, and electronic marketing) and the performance of SMEs. The study recommends that SME owners should pay special attention to marketing communication, as that is the strategy with the greatest impact on SME performance.

Background: Hypertension is a medical condition with global public health importance that is associated with significant morbidity and mortality in both developed and developing countries. It is important to identify readily available parameters that may indicate the level of inflammation that is associated with hypertension. Objective: To assess the relationship between highly-sensitive C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in hypertensive adults. Methods: Three hundred and sixty adults comprising 240 hypertensive and 120 healthy normotensive subjects (control) were studied. The full blood count (FBC) and highly-sensitive C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP) levels were determined using standard methods. Results: The mean values of Total White Blood Cells count (WBC) (p = 0.03), absolute neutrophil count (p = 0.03), absolute lymphocyte count (p = 0.01), NLR (p = 0.001) and hs-CRP (p

In this study, we employed a Bayesian network approach for the classification of sickle cell anemia in teenagers based on their medical data. Sickle cell anemia is a hereditary blood disorder characterized by the presence of abnormal hemoglobin, leading to distorted red blood cells. Early detection and classification of this condition are crucial for timely intervention and improved patient outcomes. Our research focused on leveraging the algorithmic power of Bayesian network to model and analyze a diverse set of medical parameters in teenagers, including age, platelet count, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), red blood cell count, packed cell volume etc. The Bayesian network method employed for the classification of sickle cell anemia involves using a probabilistic graphical model to represent the relationships among different medical parameters. The model incorporates Bayesian principles to update and refine its predictions as new information is introduced. The method identifies key features in the dataset that contribute significantly to the classification, providing valuable insights for early detection and intervention. The Bayesian network demonstrated remarkable efficacy in accurately classifying teenagers as either positive for sickle cell anemia or negative, achieving an impressive 99% accuracy rate. This high level of accuracy indicates the robustness of the model in discerning intricate patterns within the medical data. Key features contributing to the classification are found in the dataset, shedding light on their relevance in distinguishing between positive and negative cases of sickle cell anemia, especially in teenagers. Our findings provide valuable insights into the potential diagnostic significance of sickle cell anemia classification in the teenage population. This research contributes to the growing body of knowledge in the field of medical informatics and computational biology, offering an efficient and reliable tool for healthcare practitioners in the early identification of sickle cell anemia in teenagers. The demonstrated accuracy of the Bayesian network shows its potential as an effective decision support system, aiding clinicians in making informed decisions and facilitating timely interventions for improved patient care.

This study examined classroom environment and mathematics achievement of senior secondary school (SS2) students' in the Calabar Cross River State, Nigeria. Ex-post facto quasi-experimental research design was used to test two hypotheses on the influence of two classroom variables, class size and instructional materials on students' academic achievement in mathematics. A sample of 700 students was selected from public secondary schools for the study using stratified and simple random sampling procedures. Two instruments used for data collection were a questionnaire on classroom environment and test items on mathematics achievement. The reliability estimate of the instrument was established through Cronbach Alpha reliability estimate and Kuder-Richardson K-R-20 formula which gave the reliability indices to range from 0.75 to 0.78. Independent t-test was the statistical technique adopted to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The result of the analysis revealed that class size and availability of instructional facilities significantly influenced students' academic performance in mathematics among SS 2 students in Calabar Nigeria. Based on this finding, increased government funding for provision of conducive classroom environment, with optimum class sizes is recommended. Instructional materials for teaching mathematics should be made available in public schools.