The Viscosity of Asphaltene- Containing Oil

Imperial Users onl

The Viscosity of Asphaltene- Containing Oil

Imperial Users onl

Perceptions of middle, high school and community college agricultural teachers in Iowa regarding agricultural awareness concepts and activities in the middle school curriculum: Grades 7-9

Teachers are relied upon to teach basic agricultural knowledge among young learners who are devoid of real-world agricultural experiences. The middle school serves as a tool for achieving this goal because self and environmental awareness, and career choices begin at this educational stage. Since agricultural teachers are the major driver of agricultural education program in the middle school, their perceptions regarding this program are important. The purpose of this study was to determine the perceptions of agricultural teachers regarding teaching agriculture and selected course content in the middle school. The Theory of Planned Behavior was used as a theoretical framework to predict teachers’ perceptions regarding teaching agriculture in the middle school. Questionnaires were sent to middle school, high school and community college agriculture teachers in Iowa through Qualtrics. The results of the study showed that agriculture teachers in Iowa had positive and strong perceptions toward teaching agriculture in the middle school. In addition, agricultural teachers in Iowa indicated selected content of the Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources curriculum developed by the National Association of Agricultural Education should be taught to a limited or great extent. Similarly, agricultural teachers in Iowa believed teaching agricultural education in the middle school will develop students’ leadership skills and assist students in making informed career choices in agricultural industry. Based on the findings of this study, the cyclical model was developed as a guide for curriculum development, and planning of instructional activities. Teaching agriculture in the middle school develops, trains, and motivates young students to become responsible citizens and capable future policy makers. Participation in curricular and non-curricular agricultural activities could promote the development of student leadership skills. The positive perceptions of agriculture teachers regarding teaching agriculture in the middle school indicate its sustainability and positive impacts on students

The microbiological diagnosis of tuberculosis in a resource - limited setting: is acid-fast bacilli microscopy alone sufficient?

The objective of this study is to audit the processes for the microbiological diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) in our resource-limited setting. A total of 694 specimens were received from 333 patients. 129 (38.7%) of these patients were positive for TB. 78 (60.5%) were positive on AFB microscopy alone, 13 (10.0%) on culture alone and 38 (29.5%) on both culture and AFB microscopy. Fifty-one (51) cases were positive on culture, 38 of these (74.5%) had growth on Lowensen-Jensen culture medium alone, 11 (19.6%) on Pyruvic Acid Enhanced Medium (PAEM) and 3 (5.9%) on both culture media. AFB microscopy showed a diagnostic specificity of 71.6% and a sensitivity of 74.5%. M. Bovis appears to be prevalent and we suggest the need for speciation. If AFB microscopy is to be routinely used alone, without confirmation by culture, then the overriding need is for quality to be fully assured in its use.Keywords: Mycobacteria, tuberculosis, accuracy, AFB microscopy, cultur

EDITORIAL - COVID-19 in Nigeria: Presenting Opportunities for a New Normal in Healthcare Delivery

The COVID-19 pandemic has now involved nearly all countries and territories of the world, with no definite treatment or vaccine yet available. In this special edition of the Proceedings of the Nigerian Academy of Science, the flagship journal of the Nigeria Academy of Science (NAS), we present several research papers and commentaries that elucidate some experiences of the virus in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country.  Specific papers in this issue of the journal present some of the most salient features of the COVID-19 in Nigeria including: 1) the history of the evolution of the virus in Nigeria, and its summary national epidemiology within the first 100 days of its discovery in the country (Olorunda Fatusi, 2020); 2) clarification of the biological differences and similarities between the virus in Nigeria, and the first specie of the virus that was identified in Wuhan, China in December 2019 (Mackenzie Smith, 2020); and 3) the potential for the use of mouthwashes for diminishing the consequences of the virus in individuals who may have been exposed (Oyeniyi, Bosun-Arije Jaiyesimi, 2020)

Comparative Effectiveness of Coaching and Mentorship on Career Advancement Outcomes

This research examines the comparative effectiveness of coaching and mentorship on career advancement among employees. The research adopted a cross-sectional survey design. Using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) via AMOS, the study tested the validity of constructs and the strength of the relationships among variables. Results revealed that both coaching and mentorship significantly and positively influence career advancement, with coaching exerting a slightly stronger effect compared to mentorship. The findings suggest that while both strategies are beneficial, structured coaching programs may yield quicker, performance oriented career outcomes, whereas mentorship supports long-term professional development. The study recommends a strategic integration of both approaches to maximize employee growth and retention. The model demonstrated strong reliability and validity, with acceptable fit indices after modification. This research contributes to human resource development literature by providing empirical evidence on the relative impact of coaching and mentorship in organizational settings

Idiopathic Pulmonary Calcification and Ossification in an Elderly Woman with a Missed Diagnosis of Subarachnoid Haemorrhage

This is a case of idiopathic pulmonary calcification and ossification in a 70 year old with long-standing diabetes and hypertension. Thirteen years prior to her demise, she was first noticed to have multiple calcific deposits in her lungs on a chest X-ray film. She had no risk factors for soft tissue calcification and ossification. Histology of tissue from autopsy showed intraparenchymal pulmonary calcification and ossification with marrow elements. Idiopathic pulmonary calcification and ossification is rare. At autopsy, she was also found to have had bilateral subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH), a diagnosis missed during clinical evaluation. We highlight the pertinent details in our patient’s management that could have helped to prevent a missed diagnosis of SAH. Even though SAH occurs most commonly following head trauma, the more familiar medical use of SAH is for non-traumatic SAH occurring following a ruptured cerebral aneurysm. This patient had notable risk factors for cerebral aneurysm formation but an aneurysm was not identified at autopsy. The location of the blood high on the cerebral convexities further suggests a traumatic origin rather than a ruptured aneurysm. Heterotopic calcification and ossification (HO) is known to occur in the setting of severe neurologic disorders such as traumatic brain injury but the fact that the lung calcification in our patient predated the brain injury by over 10 years makes it unlikely for the HO to have been due to the brain trauma. Other organ pathologies found at autopsy include chromophobe renal cell carcinoma, renal papillary necrosis, lymphocytic thyroiditis, and seborrheic keratosis.Keywords: Idiopathic pulmonary calcification and ossification, traumatic subarachnoid haemorrhage

Antioxidative Properties and Inhibition of Key Enzymes Relevant to Type-2 Diabetes and Hypertension by Essential Oils from Black Pepper

The antioxidant properties and effect of essential oil of black pepper (Piper guineense) seeds on α-amylase, α-glucosidase (key enzymes linked to type-2 diabetes), and angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE) (key enzyme linked to hypertension) were assessed. The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation and dried with anhydrous Na2SO4, and the phenolic content, radical [1,1-diphenyl-2 picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) and nitric oxide (NO)] scavenging abilities as well as the ferric reducing antioxidant property (FRAP) and Fe2+-chelating ability of the essential oil were investigated. Furthermore, the effect on α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and ACE enzyme activities was also investigated. The characterization of the constituents was done using GC. The essential oil scavenged DPPH*, NO*, and ABTS* and chelated Fe2+. α-Pinene, β-pinene, cis-ocimene, myrcene, allo-ocimene, and 1,8-cineole were among the constituents identified by GC. The essential oil inhibited α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and ACE enzyme activities in concentration-dependent manners, though exhibiting a stronger inhibition of α-glucosidase than α-amylase activities. Conclusively, the phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and inhibition of α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and angiotensin-1 converting enzyme activities by the essential oil extract of black pepper could be part of the mechanism by which the essential oil could manage and/or prevent type-2 diabetes and hypertension

Students’ Perception of Reference Services as Determinant of Library use in Colleges of Agriculture in Oyo State, Nigeria

Descriptive survey design was used to study the students’ perception of reference services as determinant of library use in the Colleges of Agriculture in Oyo State (Federal College of Agriculture, Moor Plantation, Apata, Ibadan [FCAIB] and Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora [OYSCATECH]). The study has four objectives, three research questions and one research hypothesis was tested at 0.05 level of significance. Purposive stratified proportionate random sampling technique and a sampling fraction of fifteen percent (15%) were used to select a sample size of two hundred and eighty-seven (287) students out of the one thousand eight hundred and eighty-five (1885) students in the eight (8) departments that are common to the two Colleges (Population of the study). The response from a well-structured questionnaire administered on the sampled population was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). The result of the analyzed data showed positive perception of reference services in OYSCATECH (WX=2.71) and FCAIB (WX= 2.44). The result showed positive correlation between the perception of reference services and use of library in the two colleges of Agriculture in Oyo State –FCAIB ( r = 0.311) and OYSCATECH (r = 0.214). The study also identified purposes and frequencies of using the library by the students in the two institutions. The study recommended the use of electronic reference services in order to enhance ease, visibility, relevance and efficiency of reference services in our libraries and more importantly to encourage use of library

An Interventional Strategy for addressing The Social Development and Reproductive Health Needs of The Youth in Nigeria; Lessons Learnt

The youth constitute a critical age group especially in a populous nation like Nigeria. Therefore, a lot more needs to be done to address the needs (social development and reproductive health) of the youth. The Nigerian Academy of Science set up a project to address the needs of youth by working with the youth and various stakeholders, including two state governments, to identify and develop evidence-based policy to respond to the needs. The needs assessment involved data collection from the youth and other stakeholders and the collective review of the findings. Consequently, strategic plans were developed for each state. Diverse strategies were employed which promoted partnership among the stakeholders and led to ownership of the policy documents (strategic plans) developed.