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GOVERNMENT POLICY AND IMPLEMENTATION OF SOCIAL EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMMES IN DELTA STATE

The study examined government policy and social empowerment programme implementation in Delta State. The descriptive survey design was used for the study. The structured questionnaire was used as the main instrument of data collection. A sample of four hundred (400) was drawn for the study using simple random and convenience sampling technique. The method of data analysis included the use of mean and standard deviation and Student T-Test statistical techniques. The study found out that there is a significant difference between government policy and social empowerment programmes in Delta state. It was recommended that the government should make concerted efforts to ensure that social empowerment programmes benefit the masses for which they were designed. This is through ensuring that they are handled in ways that make it difficult for elites to access them. Also, it was recommended amongst others that there should be a policy framework to tackle issues of pro-rich approach in order to make sure that wealthy people do not use their influence to circumvent due process and hijack these programmes. This is by making the process transparent and simple enough to make it easy for the common man to participate. Also, there should be specific targets and means of accessing these targets so that the programmes can be void of corruption. If the programmes are designed for youths, the categories should be spelt and to get such categories should be devised.
 Keywords: Government Policy, Social Empowerment Programme, Implementation.

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Dynamics of Tangent Hyperbolic Fluid Past a Semi-infinite Plate with the Significance of Joule Heating, Thermal Radiation and Soret-Dufour Mechanisms

The present investigation concentrates on the unsteady flow of tangent hyperbolic liquid past a vertical plate under the influence of Lorentz force, Joule heating, and viscous dissipation. The mathematical modelling leads to nonlinear coupled partial differential equations (PDEs). Suitable non-dimensional quantities are applied to the governing PDEs to obtain dimensionless systems of equations. The transformed boundary layer PDEs are solved with the aid of the spectral relaxation method (SRM). The SRM employs the Gauss-Seidel techniques to linearize and decouple the system of nonlinear PDEs. The applied magnetic field acts as an opposition to the flow by producing the Lorentz force. The Weissenberg parameter, alongside the magnetic parameter, is observed to decline the velocity profile. An increment in thermal radiation parameter is observed to enhance the thickness of the hydrodynamic and thermal boundary layer. Therefore, the thermal condition and convective flow are improved with heat generation and thermal radiation in the flow phenomenon. This investigation is unique because it investigates the combined influence of Soret-Dufour and MHD, viscous dissipation, and Joule heating. This study plays a significant role in astrophysics, heat exchanger devices, MHD power generation, and geothermal energy extraction. When this study is compared to studies that have already been done, it agrees with those studies.

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Supplementation with vitamins D3 and a mitigates Parkinsonism in a haloperidol mice model

BackgroundEarlier reports suggest that vitamin D3 (Vit D3) supplementation attenuates Parkinsonism in drug-induced motor deficits. Moreover, the function of Vit D3 may be optimized by co-administration with vitamin A (Vit A). In line with the synergistic interplay between vitamins, we hypothesized that the efficacy of Vit D3 to attenuate Parkinsonism in a haloperidol-induced mouse model of motor deficits would be more potent when concomitantly administered with Vit A. MethodsThirty-six (36) adult male mice were randomly divided into six groups of six animals each: the control group, the PD model (haloperidol-treated only group) (-D2), and four other groups treated with haloperidol together with either one or two of the following vitamin supplementations: Vit D3, Vit A, Vit D3 +VA, or bromocriptine a known PD drug respectively. Motor functions were assessed using a battery of neurobehavioral tests in experimental animals, after which brain tissues were harvested and processed for biochemical and histomorphological analysis. ResultsWe recorded a significant decline in motor activity in the PD mice model treated with haloperidol alone compared to other experimental groups that received vitamin supplementations. The significant decrease in motor activity observed in the PD mice model corresponded with marked neurodegenerative features in the cytoarchitecture of the pyramidal cells in the striatum and primary motor cortex (M1). Furthermore, the haloperidol-induced PD mice model treated with Vit D3 +Vit A showed significant improvement in motor activity and attenuation of oxidative stress levels and neurodegenerative features compared to other groups treated with Vit A, Vit D3 and bromocriptine alone. ConclusionAltogether, our findings suggest that concomitant administration of both Vit D3 and Vit A prevents the development of Parkinsonism features in the haloperidol mouse model of motor deficit. Thus, supplementation with Vit D3 +Vit A may be a viable option for slowing the onset and progression of motor deficits.

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You Are What You Eat: Preventive Roles of Antioxidant Phytochemicals on Age-related Eye Diseases

Aim: What we eat plays a vital role in human health with no exception to the eye which results to either good or poor vision. This review aimed at determining how what we eat affect age-related eye diseases and the role of antioxidants in phytochemical compound in preventing age-related eye diseases.
 Study Design: A non-systematic review and evaluation of published literatures was done through web search engines such as PubMed and Google Scholar using Mendeley reference library for citation.
 Methodology: A total of 48 articles were reviewed using the key words such as ‘’you are what you eat,’’ Age-related eye diseases, Antioxidants, Phytochemical compounds, Oxidative Stress and Free Radicals
 Results: Increased consumption of energy-dense foods such as refined grains, processed meats, added sugar and saturated fatty foods might increase the risk of obesity, insulin resistance, chronically elevated blood glucose, chronic systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, and increased protein damage leading to initiation and progression of systemic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, heart related diseases, as well as age-related eye diseases such as cataract, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and macular degeneration. Findings also showed that many botanical compounds such as curcumin, lutein and zeaxanthin, ginseng, and many more, present in food exhibit strong antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic properties that helps in ameliorating the destructive roles of oxidative stress.
 Conclusion: Phytochemicals with proven antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, such as carotenoids and polyphenols, could be of benefit in preventing age-related eye diseases. Consumption of products containing these phytochemicals is recommended to provide noninvasive alternatives for protection, prevention and treatments of the major systemic and age-related eye diseases.

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Anti-lipidemic and protein restoration potential of Monodora myristica (Gaertn.) in rats fed with cassava containing crude oil

Consumption of cassava meal affected by crude oil has significant effects on lipid and protein metabolism. The hepatoprotective action of spices is mostly attributed to the suppression of lipid oxidation and protein breakdown. This study examined the protein restoration and anti-lipidemic potential of Monodora myristica (Gaertn.) in rats fed with cassava contaminated with crude oil.
 The research involved 36 albino rats separated into six groups (n = 6). Group 1 (control) consumed cassava without crude oil. Group 2 received cassava with crude oil. Groups 3, 4, and 5 fed on cassava with crude oil and various extracts of M. myristica, i.e., aqueous, ethanol, and diethyl ether, respectively. Group 6 received non-ionic synthetic surfactant Tween 80. The experiment relied on standard methods.
 Blood serum and liver obtained from the rats of Group 2 showed a significant (p < 0.05) increase in total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, triacylglycerol, and malondialdehyde, as well as a decrease in total protein, albumin, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The groups that received M. myristica extracts showed a significant increase (p < 0.05) in total protein, albumin, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. They also had lower total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, triacylglycerol, and malondialdehyde as compared to Group 2, which dieted on cassava contaminated with crude oil without additives.
 In this research, crude oil-contaminated cassava affected proteins and lipids in rats. Diethyl ether extract of M. myristica demonstrated the best anti-lipidemic and protein restoration.

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Pattern of Vegetable Consumption among Pregnant Women Attending Primary Health Care Facilities in Patani Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria

Aim: Vegetables provide key nutrients essential to promoting and maintaining good health. This study aimed to determine the perception of the importance and pattern of vegetable consumption among pregnant women attending Primary Health Care facilities in Patani Local Government Area (L.G.A) of Delta State, Nigeria.
 Study Design: A population-based descriptive cross-sectional survey of 368 pregnant women aged 15-49 years was conducted in Patani L.G.A, Plateau State, Nigeria using a multi-stage cluster random sampling design.
 Methodology: Data were collected by face-to-face interview using a structured questionnaire. Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) data were used to estimate habitual frequency of intake of dark green leafy vegetable for previous 7 days.
 Results: Of the 368 pregnant women, age group 21-25 years and 26-30 years with prevalence of 95 (25.8%) and 90 (24.5%) respectively were the highest age groups. Two hundred and twenty-one (60.1%) agree that a maternal diet rich in vegetables and eaten during pregnancy reduces risk of gestational diabetes, hypertension, preterm birth and foetal growth restriction, and the perception of the respondents was high. Ugu leaf 257 (69.8%), Bitter leaf 173 (47.0%) and water leaf 151 (41.0%) were the most available vegetable in the respondent’s community. 19% of the respondents did not consume vegetable, 26.6% consumed vegetable seven times and 13.9% consumed vegetables three times in the last 7 days prior to the study. The mean frequency of vegetable consumption is 11.6%. 55% of respondents put vegetables into food towards the end of cooking the food. 33.4% of the respondents spent N 150- N 200 to purchase vegetable to cook.
 Conclusion: Vegetable consumption is highly nutritious especially during pregnancy. Its pattern of consumption varies depending on the perception of its importance, educational status, age group, types of vegetable available and the financial power of purchase.

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Gestational diabetes screening and management: the issues of GDM risk factors and phone number documentations

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) if unmanaged can complicate pregnancy outcomes. Selective screening of GDM is a common policy hence, the need for complete medical records of patients. The extent and pattern that documentation of patients’ records can impact GDM screening-by-telehealth requires elucidation. The aim was to describe the effectiveness of phone contacts on medical records and GDM risk factors among a hospital-based antenatal clinic setting Methods: This was an observational study in which previously reported antenatal records of patients screened for GDM were reviewed for effectiveness of phone contacts to do telehealth, and this was with simultaneous GDM risk assessment. Data were analysed by descriptive frequency counting. Results: On effectiveness of phone details on medical records, 41/98 cases were reached, of which 31.7% have three or more GDM risk factors to fulfil selection criteria for laboratory screening of GDM. Prevalence of risk factors in initial routine data collection (24.9%), previous history assessment (21.3%) and at antenatal monitoring phase (37.8%), Among the 57/98 phone contacts that were unreached, 59.6% are switched off. Conclusions: The observations highlight the need of concerted focus on policy and education, for both staff and patients, to improve documentation of correct and valid telephone details in medical records.

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