Northwest Zone Research Articles

Effects of Mastery Learning Approach on Performance in Geometry among Senior Secondary School Students in Northwest Zone, Nigeria

Effects of Mastery Learning Approach on Performance in Geometry among Senior Secondary School Students in Northwest Zone, Nigeria

Assessment of perceived effects of climate change on rice production among farmers in North-west zone, Nigeria

Rice farming is highly dependent on environmental factors such as rainfall and temperature. Rice yield is affected by changes in these climatic elements. Rice farmers’ perceptions of the changes in climate are important determinants of the management practices they use in reducing the effects on rice production. This study assessed the perceived effects of climate change on rice production among farmers. A multistage sampling procedure was used to obtain a sample of 522 farmers. Data were obtained with the aid of structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings revealed that majority (94%) of the respondents were males. They were married (88%) and had farming as a major occupation (89%). They perceived that climate change was posing risks to rice production (X = 2.16), would lower rice production (X = 2.07) and would continue to affect storage of rice (X = 2.01). The study determined a significant relationship (p<0.01) between farmers’ perceived effects of climate change and rice yield. It was concluded that positive perception can lead to high adoption of climate change adaptation practices. The climate change knowledge-base of the farmers needs to be improved through more sensitization on climate smart agriculture.

PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION OF ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF TOKAR SHA AGAINST ENTERIC BACTERIA

The antibacterial activity of Tokar sha; a local traditional medication widely used by many people in North-west zone of Nigeria especially Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara against enteric infections were examined against some clinical isolates of pathogenic bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus and Salmonella typhi) using agar well diffusion method. The pattern of inhibition varied with the tokar sha concentrations and the organisms tested. The tokar sha was more effective on E. coli with a maximum zone of growth inhibition of 25mm at 35mg/ml followed by B. cereus (20mm). However, S. aureus and S. typhi were resistant to tokar sha at all concentrations tested. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were found to be 35mg/ml for both E. coli and B. cereus. The antibacterial activities exhibited by tokar sha in this study could be attributed to the presence of its constituents which signifies the potential of the tokar sha as a therapeutic agent. These findings may justify the ethnomedicinal use of tokar sha as an antibacterial agent against enterobacteria

Prevalence of Haemoptysis in PCR Positive Covid-19 Patients with Sars Covid-2 Pneumonia

Covid-19 belongs to the group of corona viruses, morphologically shaped as crown with spikes at the rim, the viral spikes being made up of protein S 1 and S 2 . Apart from the ability of SARS Covid-2 (Covid-19) to induce massive inflammation in the lungs of infected patients, an additional compounding factor that accompanies the cytokine storm is thrombo-embolic phenomenon which has been demonstrated in a number of autopsies/ Haemoptysis as a symptom is considered outcome at an outcome of the clotting and haemorrhagic phenomenon. The aim of this work is to establish the prevalence of haemoptysis in covid-19 pneumonia as a possible consequence of the combined damaging effect of cytokine storm and the thrombo-embolic phenomenon. One hundred and twenty Covid-19 patients were selected through record after obtaining ethical clearance/ In no particular order and sticking only to random sampling, study group were picked from northeast, northwest and north central geopolitical zones of Nigeria. Medical record of each is sorted by by care givers to specifically evaluate the presence of the symptom of haemoptysis at the latter and recovery stage after the sneezing, anosmia and itchy throat early stage and all through the stage where there is cough and deep retrosternal pain in response to the cough with accompanying difficulty in breathing. The result indicates the presence of haemoptysis in 10% of PCR Covid-19 confirmed cases of pneumonia. Keywords : PCR, Covid-19, SARS Covid-2, Pneumonia, Haemoptysis, DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/90-02 Publication date: June 30 th 2021

Spatiotemporal Patterns and Determinants of Reproductive Health Care Utilization in Nigeria: 2008–2018

This study examined the spatiotemporal variations and determinants of reproductive health care (RH) indicators in Nigeria- contraceptive prevalence rate, antenatal care by skilled provider, institutional delivery, skilled attendant at birth, and postnatal care, for the period 2008–2018. Data were obtained from Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in 2008, 2013, and 2018. Moran’s I indices and multivariable logistic regression analysis were employed. Wide spatial variations exist in RH utilization at regional, urban/rural and district levels, and among different socio-economic groups. Reproductive healthcare utilization was high in the South-West and South-East zones, urban areas, among women with post-secondary education, richest households, women aged 20–34 years and first birth order but low in the North-West and North-East zones, rural areas, among women with no education, poorest households and those aged 15–19 years. All the RH indicators exhibited a clustered pattern nationally. Locally, hotspot clusters were located in the South-West and South-East while cold spots concentrated in the North-West and North-East zones. Educational level and wealth were the most consistent determinants of utilization of all the RH indicators. Other factors include region, place of residence, partner/husbands educational level and ethnicity. Strengthening of health interventions and educational campaigns are required especially in rural areas.

Smallholder farmers’ perception on tomato (solanum lycopersicum) seedling technologies in the north west zone of Nigeria

The research was funded by Syngenta Foundation for sustainable Agriculture, Nigeria to ascertain Farmer’s perception on tomato seedlings technology in North West Zone of Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was employed for the selection of One hundred and ninety-five (195) producers of Tomato in Kano and Jigawa States. Data were collected with the aid of a questionnaire. Data obtained were analysed using mean, standard deviation, coefficient of variation, charts, and graphs. The results of the study revealed that the producers of tomato had a mean age of 38 years, majorly males (86%) with secondary school education (32%), married (88%) with mean household size of 11 persons, mean farming experience, vegetable experience and tomato production experience of 18, 13 and 12 years respectively, mean land cultivated 3ha and mean tomato farm size of 2ha. Maize, sorghum, and rice are the three most cultivated crops by the farmers with tomato and onions as major vegetables. Plum tomato (UTC) variety (34%) is the most widely cultivated during both dry and wet seasons. The study further revealed that 82% of the farmers used recycled seeds to produce seedlings, 88% of the farmers had no extension and advisory service training, 59% made use of seedlings for planting with Plum tomato (UTC) as the common variety, 95% are interested in buying and selling seedlings, and 98% propagated their seeds in the open field. Therefore, it is recommended from the study that public and private’s sector at all levels should strengthen extension service systems to increase farmers’ knowledge and understanding of new tomato production technology-through provision of tomato seedlings technology, frequent trainings and marketing demos establishment to showcase this new innovation, Seed companies should ensure that seed packages contain recommended agronomic practices for all round effectiveness.

Exploring the Sources of Red Rot Resistance Available in National Breeding Gene Pool and their Potential Utilization for Sugarcane Improvement in India

The breeding gene pool maintained in ICAR-SBI, Coimbatore serves as the prime source for generating genetic variability for sugarcane varietal development in India. About 417 parents from five different zones of sugarcane cultivation in India, exotic hybrids and interspecific hybrids, were initially tested for their resistance against the tropical (mixed inoculums of the tropical pathotypes CF06 [Cf671] and CF12 [Cf94012]) of Colletotrichum falcatum, followed by the subtropical pathotype CF08 (Cf64) in order to identify stable red rot resistant parents. Among them, mixed inoculums of CF 06 and CF 12 were found more virulent than CF 8. The highest number (48 of 155) of resistant (R) or moderately resistant (MR) parents to the mixed virulent inoculums was from North West Zone (30.97%) followed by North Central and North East Zone (18 of 37), Peninsular Zone (16 of 134) and East Coast Zone (2 of 34). Only one exotic parent (CP 61–23) among the 18 was found to be MR to all the tested pathotypes of C. falcatum. Overall, the subtropical parents had higher proportion of R types due to high accumulation of stress tolerant genes, while the tropical parents had more susceptible types. In case of interspecific hybrids, nine out of 39 were moderately resistant to the subtropical pathotypes. Among the 417 parents screened, 83 parents were stable in their resistance against tropical and subtropical pathotypes. Since selection for red rot resistance may lead to low sucrose content, the potential parents having high sucrose combining red rot resistance were identified from different sources and efforts were made to collect other characters of breeding importance of these stable resistance parents. Red rot resistant parents identified in this study have a greater potential in breeding for red resistance in the sugarcane improvement in the country.

Implementing WHO guidance on conducting and analysing vaccination coverage cluster surveys: Two examples from Nigeria.

In 2015, the World Health Organization substantially revised its guidance for vaccination coverage cluster surveys (revisions were finalized in 2018) and has since developed a set of accompanying resources, including definitions for standardized coverage indicators and software (named the Vaccination Coverage Quality Indicators-VCQI) to calculate them.-The current WHO vaccination coverage survey manual was used to design and conduct two nationally representative vaccination coverage surveys in Nigeria-one to assess routine immunization and one to measure post-measles campaign coverage. The primary analysis for both surveys was conducted using VCQI. In this paper, we describe those surveys and highlight some of the analyses that are facilitated by the new resources. In addition to calculating coverage of each vaccine-dose by age group, VCQI analyses provide insight into several indicators of program quality such as crude coverage versus valid doses, vaccination timeliness, missed opportunities for simultaneous vaccination, and, where relevant, vaccination campaign coverage stratified by several parameters, including the number of previous doses received. The VCQI software furnishes several helpful ways to visualize survey results. We show that routine coverage of all vaccines is far below targets in Nigeria and especially low in northeast and northwest zones, which also have highest rates of dropout and missed opportunities for vaccination. Coverage in the 2017 measles campaign was higher and showed less geospatial variation than routine coverage. Nonetheless, substantial improvement in both routine program performance and campaign implementation will be needed to achieve disease control goals.

Characteristic of the Regional Rainy Season Onset over Vietnam: Tailoring to Agricultural Application

Owing to its unique position within multiple monsoon regimes, latitudinal extent, and complex topography, Vietnam is divided into seven agroclimatic zones, each with distinct rainy season characteristics. Variation in the dominant rainfall system across zones affects the rainfall climatology, the primary water resource for regional crops. This study explores the creation of an agronomic rainy season onset based on high-resolution rainfall data for each agroclimatic zone for applications in an agricultural context. Onset information has huge practical importance for both agriculture and the economy. The spatiotemporal characteristics of zonal onset date are analyzed using integrated approaches of spatial and interannual variability, temporal changes, and estimation of predictability using teleconnection with Niño 3.4 sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTA) for 1980 to 2010. Results suggest that northern and southern zones experience regional onset dates in May, while the central zones experience rainy season onset in late August. The regional variability of rainy season onset is lower in the northern and southern zones and higher in the central zones which are latitudinally extended. The interannual variation in rainy season onset date is found to be approximately two weeks across all agroclimatic zones. The significant negative trend in rainy season onset date is found for Central Coast and South Central Coast zones, suggesting that the onset date shifted earlier for the entire period. In the decadal scale, the zonal mean onset date shifted later in the Northwest zone and earlier in the Central Highlands. Out of the seven climate zones, a significant positive correlation is only noticed in the Central Highlands and South zones between zonal mean onset date and Niño 3.4 SSTA for Dec–Jan–Feb, suggesting the potential of seasonal scale predictability of rainy season onset date with respect to preceding El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events.

Relationship among Test Anxiety, Academic Motivation and Academic Achievement of Universities Students in North – West Zone, Nigeria

This study examined the Relationship among Test Anxiety, Motivation and Academic Achievement of Universities Students in North-West Zone, Nigeria. The study adopted a correlational research design. The target population of the study were sixteen thousand eight hundred and fifty-five (16,855) undergraduate students. The samples of the study were 378 participants drawn from 300 level students across the three selected university in the north-west zone. Data was collected using Test Anxiety Inventory (TAI), Motivation Inventory (MI) faced and content were validated and had reliability for test anxiety .804 also motivation has a reliability of .821 respectively after pilot testing. The data collected was processed and analyzed using descriptive (frequencies, mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (Pearson product moment correlation). All tests were done at 0.05 alpha level of significance. The finding shows that relationship exist between test anxiety and academic motivation, academic motivation and academic achievement, the finding revealed that there is no significant relationship between test anxiety and academic achievement. Test anxiety and academic motivation p = 0.000, test anxiety and academic achievement p = 0.108, academic motivation and academic achievement p = 0.000. From the results it was recommended that students should be well motivated academically through support from parents, lecturers and co students as this have proportional relationship with their academic achievement; universities authority should provide functional psychological testing and counselling centers so that test anxiety should be controlled and managed with the help of professional psychologist and councilors as this have inverse relationship on students’ academic achievement; universities students should see test and examinations as a normal routine of educational pursuit and not a do or die affair and be less stressful about it.

Spatiotemporal dynamics of temperature and precipitation with reference to COVID-19 pandemic lockdown: perspective from Indian subcontinent.

This study exclusively focuses on spatial and temporal change of temperature and precipitation before and after COVID-19 lockdown and also examines the extent of their variation and the spatial relationship between them. Our main objective is to analyze the spatiotemporal changes of two climatic variables in Indian subcontinent for the period of 2015–2020. Monthly precipitation and temperature data are collected from NOAA and NASA for January to May month across the four zones (northeast, northwest, central, and peninsular zone) of India. To conduct a zone-wise statistical analysis, we have adopted statistical process control (SPC) methods like exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) control charts, individual charts (I- Chart) to detect the shift in temperature and precipitation over the study period and Pearson correlation coefficient applied to measure the spatial association between the two variables. The findings revealed that temperature parameter has experienced a lot of positive and negative trends in the span of 6 years and detected a weak to moderate negative correlation in many parts of the country in April 2020 after 2016. This study also identified a weak negative correlation mainly in NE zone in 2020 after 2017. This research provides vital scientific contribution to the effects of monthly temperature and precipitation before and after COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.Graphic abstract

A Prospective Study on Epidemiology, Clinical Profile and Outcome of Hospitalized Cases of Swine Flu (H1N1) During 2018-2019 Outbreak in North West Zone of Rajasthan

Background: Since World Health Organization declared H1N1 (Swine flu) a pandemic disease on April 29, 2009, it is continuing to be a major public health problem and it has significant regional and seasonal variation. Therefore, this study was planned to evaluate epidemiology, clinical profile, course of illness and their outcome. Material and Method: Present prospective crosssectional study was conducted on RT-PCR confirmed cases of swine flu admitted in dedicated swine flu ward in the Department of Medicine, S.P. Medical College & Associated Group of P.B.M. Hospitals, Bikaner. All patients were subjected to detailed clinical examination and relevant investigation as per proforma. Clinical and epidemiological data were collected. All patients subjected for routine lab examination including complete blood count, renal function test, liver function test, fasting blood sugar, ABG, X-ray chest PA view and other specific investigation as per requirement. Result: Most females belonged to age group 18-35 years and most of the malesbelonged to age group >55 years. Most of cases belonged to category C (62%) and urban residential area (55.7%). Most common symptom was cough (98.7%) followed by fever (91.1%), sore throat (86.1%), sputum (83.5%), nasal discharge (73.4%), breathlessness (72.2%), headache (58.2%), chest pain (27.8%) and palpitation (16.5%). Our study shows multiple organ involvement during the course of swine flu as indicated by increasing blood urea (36.7%), serum direct bilirubin (19%), serum creatinine (18.9%), SGOT (68.3%), SGPT (37.8%) and decreasing serum albumin (63.3%). Overall mortality rate in our study was 8.8%.It was high in females (9.1%) as compare to males(8.6%).All deceased belonged to category C and cough was the most common presenting symptom followed by sore throat, nasal discharge, sputum and fever. Conclusion: Our study shows there are certain factors which can affect outcome in the cases of swine flu. Female gender, elderly age, co morbidity and the duration of illness(6-10 days) are the important factors associated with poor outcome. Early recognition and alertness is important to reduce morbidity and mortality. Patients should also be screened for multiple organ involvement at the time of hospitalization by laboratory test like CBC, RFT, LFT for early diagnosis of multiple organ involvement so as to treat appropriately to prevent multiple organ failure and mortality.

Freight Transportation and Economic Growth for Zones: Sustainability and Development Strategy in China

The causal relationship between zonal freight turnover and gross domestic product (GDP) are receiving increasing attention to coordinate the balanced development of freight transportation and zonal economic level effectively. However, studies on the causality direction between freight transportation and economic have so far been in debate. To understand the relationship of causality direction between transportation and economic development for different zones which can provide decision support for public policies, econometrics is used to analyze the relationship between them. This paper investigates the relationship between GDP and freight turnover for economic zones of stationary series and non-stationary sequences using the vector autoregressive (VAR) and the vector error correction models (VECM). The impulse response analysis and variance decomposition are conducted to verify the effectiveness of the models. The Granger causality test is exploited to discover the relationship between transportation and economic development in each economic zone. The data on freight transportation and GDP in China from 2003 to 2018 is used. Results show that the relationship between freight turnover and GDP in the Northeast economic zone is bidirectional. A unidirectional relationship exists between freight turnover and GDP in the Circum Bohai-Sea, the Pearl River, Middle Part, Southwest, and Northwest zone. And the Granger causality is not obvious in the Yangtze River economic zone. In addition, suggestions for the zonal development of transportation and economic systems are provided. This study can provide a basis to adopt relevant policies and measures of sustainable development between transportation and economic growth for different zones.

Prevalence of Diabetes and Its Determinants in the Young Adults Indian Population-Call for Yoga Intervention.

BackgroundThe young Indian population, which constitutes 65% of the country, is fast adapting to a new lifestyle, which was not known earlier. They are at a high risk of the increasing burden of diabetes and associated complications. The new evolving lifestyle is not only affecting people’s health but also mounting the monetary burden on a developing country such as India.AimWe aimed to collect information regarding the prevalence of risk of diabetes in young adults (<35 years) in the 29 most populous states and union territories (7 zones) of India, using a validated questionnaire.MethodsA user-friendly questionnaire-based survey using a mobile application was conducted on all adults in the 29 most populous states/union territories of India, after obtaining ethical clearance for the study. Here, we report the estimation of the prevalence of the risk of diabetes and self-reported diabetes on 58,821 young individuals below the age of 35 years. Risk for diabetes was assessed using a standardized instrument, the Indian diabetes risk score (IDRS), that has 4 factors (age, family history of diabetes, waist circumference, and physical activity). Spearman’s correlation coefficient was used to check the correlations.ResultsThe prevalence of high (IDRS score > 60), moderate (IDRS score 30–50), and low (IDRS < 30) diabetes risk in young adults (<35 years) was 10.2%, 33.1%, and 56.7%, respectively. Those with high-risk scores were highest (14.4%) in the Jammu zone and lowest (4.1%) in the central zone. The prevalence of self-reported diabetes was 1.8% with a small difference between men (1.7%) and women (1.9%), and the highest (8.4%) in those with a parental history of diabetes. The south zone had the highest (2.5%), and the north west zone had the lowest (4.4%) prevalence.ConclusionsIndian youth are at high risk for diabetes, which calls for an urgent action plan through intensive efforts to promote lifestyle behavior modifications during the pandemics of both communicable and noncommunicable diseases.

ADOPTION AND ACCESS OF E-LIBRARY SERVICES IN UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES OF NORTH WEST ZONE OF NIGERIA

This paper examined the adoption and access of E-library services in University library of North west zone of Nigeria. Survey research method was adopted to carry out the study using descriptive research methodology. The population used under this study comprised all the state federal, state and private universities in North–West Geo-political zone of Nigeria, comprises of seventeen (17) studied universities, the population considered to be subject of the study includes other professional and non-professional staff in the Nigerian university libraries on the position of university librarian circumstantially. The sample size depends on the nature of the research of the study. It is however proposed to have a sample of seventeen (17) universities, therefore the number of the universities is manageable, and therefore no sampling is required. The instruments used data collection is questionnaire. Stratified sampling technique was used in selecting the secondary population of the study. Data was also analyzed using descriptive analysis using frequency tables and percentages. Stratified sampling technique was used in selecting the secondary population of the study. The administration of the questionnaire was carried out by the co researchers and assisted by three (3) research assistants. The study found that, adoption and accessing of the electronic library services and resources in Nigerian university libraries of North-west Geo-political Zone are basically for the purpose of effective, reliable, and adequate library information dissemination. The study has also identified that some universities have for long adopted and established the electronic unit earlier than other university libraries in the North-west Geo-political Zone of Nigeria. Consequent to that, it has been identified that all the sampled university libraries have established the electronic unit for the purpose of information dissemination via electronic devices for rapid and speedy information services. The study has further revealed that majority of the electronic unit or managers of the electronic section are specialists in the area of library and information science. The study recommends that encouragement from the government will give enough room and opportunity to provide adequate transformation of information electronically in Nigerian University libraries of north-west geo-political zone. There is the need for the university libraries to concretely form a consortium for the formation of unified electronic services and electronic resource sharing e.g. Universities library consortium, Hinary, Lefel, etc. One of the greatest challenges or threats to the adoption and accessing or sustainability of using the electronic resources in Nigeria is the issue of power supply. Efforts should be made by the authority concern to provide alternative in case of power failure during the transformation services. The alternative probably might be the provision of solar power or standby generator in order to alleviate the challenge of inadequacy or none supply of electricity power supply. University libraries being an academic institution library should try by all means to promote their electronic resources and services for the university community members to be aware of their availability and existence. &#x0D; &#x0D; &lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt; Article visualizations:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0770/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Geographical and socioeconomic inequalities in the utilization of maternal healthcare services in Nigeria: 2003\u20132017

BackgroundMaternal mortality has remained a challenge in many low-income countries, especially in Africa and in Nigeria in particular. This study examines the geographical and socioeconomic inequalities in maternal healthcare utilization in Nigeria over the period between 2003 and 2017.MethodsThe study used four rounds of Nigeria Demographic Health Surveys (DHS, 2003, 2008, 2013, and 2018) for women aged 15–49 years old. The rate ratios and differences (RR and RD) were used to measure differences between urban and rural areas in terms of the utilization of the three maternal healthcare services including antenatal care (ANC), facility-based delivery (FBD), and skilled-birth attendance (SBA). The Theil index (T), between-group variance (BGV) were used to measure relative and absolute inequalities in the utilization of maternal healthcare across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria. The relative and absolute concentration index (RC and AC) were used to measure education-and wealth-related inequalities in the utilization of maternal healthcare services.ResultsThe RD shows that the gap in the utilization of FBD between urban and rural areas significantly increased by 0.3% per year over the study period. The Theil index suggests a decline in relative inequalities in ANC and FBD across the six geopolitical zones by 7, and 1.8% per year, respectively. The BGV results do not suggest any changes in absolute inequalities in ANC, FBD, and SBA utilization across the geopolitical zones over time. The results of the RC and the AC suggest a persistently higher concentration of maternal healthcare use among well-educated and wealthier mothers in Nigeria over the study period.ConclusionWe found that the utilization of maternal healthcare is lower among poorer and less-educated women, as well as those living in rural areas and North West and North East geopolitical zones. Thus, the focus should be on implementing strategies that increase the uptake of maternal healthcare services among these groups.

Incidence and Diversity of Termites Associated with Sugarcane in North-West Zone of India with New Records

Termites, being serious pests of sugarcane, have been posing threat to its cultivation in Indo-Gangetic plains of North-West zone of India. Monthly observations round the year revealed a highest per cent incidence of termites in the month of August to the tune of 25.45% followed by 22.73, 21.82, 18.18 and 15.45% in the months of July, September, October and June, respectively. The incidence was lower in winter months, i.e. January, February and March with 4.55, 5.45 and 7.27%, respectively. It is evident from the weather data that monsoon season with high relative humidity and moderate temperature was favourable for the build-up of the population of termites, while winter season was unfavourable. Study on relative abundance of different species of termites in sugarcane revealed that termite species, Odontotermes obesus, occupied the maximum percentage of occurrence to the tune of 28.57% followed by that was 21.42, 14.28, 14.28, 14.28 and 7.14% of Microtermes obesi, O. horni, O. vaishno, O. bellahunisensis and Odontotermes sp., respectively. Of the total species recorded during the course of study, three species, viz. Odontotermes horni (Wasmann), O. vaishno Bose and O. bellahunisensis Holmgren and Holmgren, were recorded for the first time to infest sugarcane in India. An illustrated key was developed for easy and quick identification of termite species collected from sugarcane. The study holds promise for strategic planning for the management of termites in sugarcane agro-ecosystem.

A survey of facilities and human resource for paediatric nephrology training and practice in Nigeria: Resident doctors’ perspective

Background: Kidney diseases are emerging as important contributors to noncommunicable diseases in children worldwide and they impact negatively on the socioeconomic wellbeing of families and nations. Unlike rich economies of the world there is dearth of facilities and manpower needed for the practice and training in Paediatric Nephrology in resource challenged nations like Nigeria. There are however no data to support this assertion.Objectives: The study sought to provide information on facilities and manpower available for paediatrics nephrology practice and education in the country.Methods: We deployed an indirect, unobtrusive and introspective method to gather needed data using semi structured selfadministered questionnaire on resident doctors who fitted well as key informants. Subjects were attendees at the annual Update Course in Paediatrics organisedby the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria in 2019.Results: Of the 154 attendees 93 (31 males and 62 females) participated in the study. Fifty four, 34 and 5 respectively were from Federal Teaching Hospitals, Federal Medical Centres and State Teaching Hospitals. Seventeen (31.5%), 14(25.9%) and 12(22.2%) of the residents working in federal teaching hospitals were from the South-south, Northwest and Southeast zones respectively while majority of the residents employed in state facilities were from the Southwest. Northeast and North-central zones had few residents. Facilities for haemodialysis (X2 = 9.58; p= 0.008), renalbiopsy (X2 = 27.98; p= 0.000) and tissue handling (X2 = 9.97; p= 0.007) were significantly more in state and Federal Teaching Hospitals compared to Federal Medical Centres. Haemodialysis is not done in a quarter of the hospitals and in places where it was carried out, facilities are not dedicated to children and are not regularly done. One in 4 and two in 5 respondents came from centres where peritoneal dialysis (PD) is carried out with improvised materials. Among a quarter and half of the respondents, PD is respectively not done or seldom carried out. The views of 55.9% and 60.2% of the respondents on practice of Paediatric Nephrology was “fair” and “basic” respectively. Supplementary local and overseas trainingrespectively could be accessed by only 23.7% and 12.9% of the respondents. Dedicated training in nephrology was available in centres hosting only 29% of the respondents. Where available the training was assessed as fair and good by 37.0% and 55.6% of the residents respectively. In the opinionof about half the respondents factors militating against training and practice were manpower/ infrastructural deficits, and lack of commitment of stakeholders.Conclusion and Recommendations: Practice and training in Paediatrics Nephrology in Nigeria is at best basic and limited in scope and depth. They are hamstrung by multiplicity of factors. Advancing their cause in the country would require commitment of all stakeholders through improved funding and programs re-orientation.&#x0D; Key words: Paediatrics, nephrology, facilities, training, practice, Nigeria

Tracing Mineralogy and Alteration Intensity Using the Spectral Alteration Index and Depth Ratios at the Northwest Zone of the Lemarchant Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide Deposit, Newfoundland, Canada

Abstract The use of hyperspectral reflectance in mineral exploration has been steadily increasing in recent decades. This study presents a novel approach that integrates geochemical and spectral proxies to delineate ore formation and alteration processes, which provide new spectral-based exploration parameters that can be used in real time. The precious metal-bearing, bimodal-felsic Northwest zone of the Lemarchant volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits, Newfoundland, Canada, is used as a case study. Alteration associated with the Northwest zone includes intense and localized sulfide (pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, and galena) and barite enrichment, as well as quartz, white mica, and chlorite alteration. Zones of elevated Zn (&amp;gt;5,000 ppm) are associated with high chlorite carbonate pyrite index (CCPI), Ishikawa alteration index (AI), Ba/Sr, and low Na2O values and elevated SiO2 and K2O, Fe2O3, Na2O, and BaO contents, similar to global alteration signatures in VMS deposits. Mineralized areas contain phengitic white micas with 2,200-nm absorption features longer than 2,215 nm and Mg-rich chlorites with 2,250-nm absorption features shorter than 2,252 nm. Together, these data are consistent with the Northwest zone having undergone intense hydrothermal alteration during the mineralization event. A new lithology-normalized spectral alteration index (SAI) for white mica and chlorite was developed in order to map and characterize the alteration intensity surrounding the deposit. In addition, depth ratio parameters (2200D/2340D vs. 2250D/2340D) were used to characterize mineralogical changes and zonation. Together, these features document a paleofluid pathway with Mg chlorite alteration extending to at least 300 m away from the mineralization, outside the study area, within the andesitic and dacitic units. The use of hyperspectral reflectance coupled with geochemical alteration proxies permitted the identification of areas of intense alteration, the chemical affinities of the minerals, and their relationships to alteration processes (i.e., seawater alteration versus silicification), which would not be possible using geochemistry alone.

Safety Challenges in Transportation in Nigeria – A Relative Risk Approach

This study investigates safety challenges in transportation in Nigeria across the six geopolitical zones of the country comprising South-South, South-East, North-West, North-Central, North-East and South-West geopolitical Zones. Both primary and secondary data were employed, and the Multinomial Logistic Regression Model, with specific adoption of the Relative Risk Ratio approach, is the method of analysis. The main concern is examination of exposed and unexposed commuters in the various locations to determine the degrees of exposure to risks associated with ‘basket’ of modes, state of infrastructures and specific risk factors, which account for the fatalities observed on the different roads under consideration. It is found that the six geopolitical zones have various degrees of risks exposure while North-West, North-Central and South-West zones showed significant risk difference between the exposed and the unexposed groups due to risk factors such as bad roads, road blockage/obstruction, kidnaping, unmaintained vehicles, overloading, over speeding and other forms of reckless use of the roads etc. The study recommends risk avoidance education to commuters as new strategies in vulnerable zones and increased deployment of well-trained community road marshals and other relevant security personnel to monitor situations and provide safety for road users. Also, a working transportation policy must be evolve to mitigate the risk factors highlighted above.