Lewy Body Dementia Association\u27s Research Centers of Excellence Program: Inaugural Meeting Proceedings.

The first Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA) Research Centers of Excellence (RCOE) Investigator\u27s meeting was held on December 14, 2017, in New Orleans. The program was established to increase patient access to clinical experts on Lewy body dementia (LBD), which includes dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Parkinson\u27s disease dementia (PDD), and to create a clinical trials-ready network. Four working groups (WG) were created to pursue the LBDA RCOE aims: (1) increase access to high-quality clinical care, (2) increase access to support for people living with LBD and their caregivers, (3) increase knowledge of LBD among medical and allied (or other) professionals, and (4) create infrastructure for a clinical trials-ready network as well as resources to advance the study of new therapeutics

EFFECT OF NIGERIAN MACRO-ECONOMIC AND MACRO-ENVIRONMENT RELATED FACTORS ON AGRIBUSINESS OUTPUT (1970 -2007)

The study examined the effect of Nigeria macro-environment related factors on agribusiness output between 1978 and 2007. The study was conducted with a view of evaluating the macro environment policies adopted in Nigeria and the effect on agribusiness output. Secondary data used for this study covered a period of 24 years and this was sourced from Central Bank Statistical Bulletin. The tools of data analyses were descriptive statistics, involving tables, frequency and percentages. Also, Ordinary Least Square multiple regression analysis was used to analyse the relationship between some relevant macro-environment and macroeconomic factors with agribusiness output over the years. A trend analysis was carried out to know the impact of the macroeconomic policies on agribusiness output over the years. The study revealed that all the policy instruments were useful and had a significant impact on agribusiness output at varying rate of changes of their application. The multiple regression result showed that nominal interest rate, price uncertainty and Government investment (debt) had a negative relationship with agribusiness output at 1%, 1% and 10% probability levels respectively. On the other hand Government expenditure and Foreign Private Investment have a positive relationship with agribusiness output and were statistically significant at 1% risk level respectively and this conveyed that as government expenditure and foreign private investment increases, the agribusiness output will also increase. This study showed that agribusiness output depended more on macroeconomic related factors than political environment. . Also, policy statements on price stability should be streamlined for stable price and better implementation via appropriate institutions. Thus, policies reducing nominal interest rate should be encouraged. Also, based on the findings, there is need to increase expenditures on agribusinesses through well fashioned macroeconomic policies. Key word: Macroeconomic, Environment, Policies, Agribusiness, Outpu

Major depressive disorder and current psychological distress moderate the effect of polygenic risk for obesity on body mass index

We are grateful to the families who took part in GS:SFHS, the GPs and Scottish School of Primary Care for their help in recruiting them, and the whole GS team, which includes academic researchers, clinic staff, laboratory technicians, clerical workers, IT staff, statisticians and research managers. This work is supported by the Wellcome Trust through a Strategic Award, reference 104036/Z/14/Z. The Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government and the Scottish Funding Council provided core support for Generation Scotland. GS:SFHS was funded by a grant from the Scottish Government Health Department, Chief Scientist Office, number CZD/16/6. We acknowledge with gratitude the financial support received for this work from the Dr Mortimer and Theresa Sackler Foundation. PT, DJP, IJD and AMM are members of The University of Edinburgh Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, part of the cross council Lifelong Health and Wellbeing Initiative (MR/K026992/1). Funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and Medical Research Council is gratefully acknowledged. DJM is an NRS Career Fellow, funded by the CSO. Supplementary Information accompanies the paper on the Translational Psychiatry websitePeer reviewedPublisher PD

Combined Effect on Antioxidant Properties of Gymnema Sylvestre and Combretum Micranthum Leaf Extracts and the Relationship to Hypoglycemia

Gymnema sylvestre R.Br. (“periploca of the woods” in English; “Kafi suga” in Hausa) (Asclepiadaceae) and Combretum micranthum, Fam. (Géézà in Hausa) (Combretaceae)) are used in combination for the management of diabetes mellitus (DM) in the North-Eastern part of Nigeria with little or no scientific basis. It is thus the aim of this research to validate the anti-diabetic activities of G. sylvestre (GS) and C. micranthum (CM) leaf extracts, individually and in combined form (GSCM) as well as look at the relationship between antioxidant capacity and anti-hyperglycemic potential of these plants. The study assayed for anti-diabetic potential by following fasting blood glucose (FBG). Levels of liver catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), reaction oxygen species (ROS), reduced glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and radical scavenging activities of the plants were assayed for spectrophotometrically. GS and CM revealed good ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and radical scavenging activities against ABTS, DPPH and Nitric Oxide with C. micranthum being significantly better - both plants also showed good total flavonoids and total phenolic contents. The anti-hyperglycemic activities may be associated with flavonoids and phenolic compounds which act via radical scavenging/antioxidant properties of the plants’ extracts. In conclusion, G. sylvestre and C. micranthum aqueous leaf extracts showed significant (P < 0.05) hypoglycaemic activities both separately and in a 1:1 combination which has strong correlation with both in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activities of the plants’ extracts

Usage of Effective Communication in Curbing Religious Fanaticism: The Nigerian Experience

Religious Fanaticism have been the bane of our society since most religions claim to be the best way or right path for the Devotee to attain Nirvana (Kingdom of God).Thus this paper examines the extent that religious leaders in Christianity and Islam in Nigeria have influenced religious fanaticism through their teachings via communication to their Devotees and general believers .It is a known fact that in Nigeria, victims of religious arrogance and beliefs have suffered a lot of violence from numerous religious fanatical groups under the guise of religion. The thematic framework for this paper is the Two –Step Flow theory which stipulates that influence from communication on an individual is more on a personal level than through the mass media which is impersonal. This means that communication is mostly believed when it is from the set of people we love and respect on a face- to- face basis. The researcher recommends that the religious leaders of both religions in Nigeria should use effective communication in curbing religious fanaticism which will eventually enhance peaceful coexistence within the country. ‘There is only one religion, though there are a hundred versions of it’ -GEORGE BERNARD SHAW (1989 ) Keywords-Religious Fanaticism, Devotee, Religious tolerance, Effective communication, Religious Syncretism. 

Information literacy and lifelong learning in the National Open University of Nigeria

This study was conducted at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and it considered the information literacy and lifelong learning skills of the students in the University. The National Open University is an Open and Distance Learning (ODL) system that encompasses education for all, education for life, lifelong learning, life-wide education, adult education, mass education, media-based education, self-learning and part-time studies. The ability to recognise the need for the available information, retrieve, evaluate and use this information is a hallmark towards the direction of information literacy in any society. Developing lifelong learners is central to the mission of higher education institutions like universities, especially for distance learners. The purpose of the study was to investigate information literacy skills amongst the students in the National Open University. This study utilized the case study method of quantitative research mixed with a qualitative strand in its data collection process. The dominant quantitative approach (questionnaire) was used to investigate the information literacy and lifelong learning skills of the students in the National Open University whilst the qualitative approach (interview and document analysis) was used to collect qualitative data needed to clarify areas that were not adequately covered in the quantitative data collection phase. This study used the questionnaire, interview and document analysis as its data collection methods. The study was conducted in five selected study centres out of the seventy-two centres of the National Open University. This study utilized the Krejcie and Morgan (1970) formula, where the sample size of 384 was chosen because the total number of the sampled students’ population was 170 830. From the quantitative perspective of the study, data analysis involved the use of simple frequency and percentage distribution, mean, median and standard deviation. The descriptive statistics were generated on all the variables in the instrument and this was accomplished with the aid of a computer software programme known as the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. A thematic method of data analysis was used for this qualitative strand of the study. The results of the study revealed that the information literacy library facilities available at NOUN were course materials and University websites. The study confirmed that there were no facilities in relation to information literacy development in all the schools and there was no form of information literacy integration curriculum in the University. The study established that there were no information literacy programmes put in place to support, promote and create awareness of information literacy for lifelong learning and no methods were put in place to assess or measure the information literacy competency levels of the students in the National Open University of Nigeria. The study revealed that the link of collaboration between the academics in the school and the professional librarians was weak and not coordinated. The documents analysed brought to light information that provided insights on information literacy development in the University. In the documents analysed, University documents were in place concerning information literacy development but these resources only stated in print, the development processes towards information. The results of the study revealed that there was still so much work to be done with regards to the implementation of policies by the University management and staff towards information literacy development. The students in the University also have a role to play in developing their information literacy skills for lifelong learning. A recommendation that was made from this study was for the University management to integrate information literacy to become part of the university curriculum for all students. Information literacy (IL) policies should be formulated and channelled to support IL education in the University so that students will attain the necessary competencies and skills needed to access, process and assess information. Arising from the results gained from this study, it was recommended that information literacy educators should be trained in the area of information resources and ICT in order to enhance job performance. There is a serious need for the University to engage the librarians through regular training and re-training through professional development workshops. The library staff in conjunction with the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) unit of the University should create seminars and workshop for students and staff towards the improvement of information literacy instruction. For effective IL implementation in a distance learning environment, the University should work towards developing an information literacy course that is designed for asynchronous online delivery. A further empirical study on the development and implementation of information literacy skills for students in the University is also recommended.D. Litt. et Phil. (Information Science)Information Scienc

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among healthcare workers and its socio-demographic determinants in Abia State, Southeastern Nigeria: a cross-sectional study

Introduction: healthcare workers are at higher risk of COVID-19 infection with ease of infection transmissibility to coworkers and patients. Vaccine hesitancy rates of 56% and up to 25% have been reported among healthcare workers in US and China respectively. Vaccination is known as the most effective strategy to combat infectious diseases. Acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine plays a major role in combating the pandemic. This study assessed the sociodemographic factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among healthcare workers in Abia State. Methods: a cross-sectional study among 422 healthcare workers was conducted in Abia State with an online-based questionnaire. The questionnaire extracted information on socio-demographics and willingness to take vaccine uptake. Descriptive statistics was used to calculate frequencies and proportions. Bivariate analysis was used to test the association between the socio-demographic factors and the outcome variable (vaccine hesitancy). Logistic regression was conducted to identify the predictors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. The level of significance was 5%. Results: mean age of the respondents was 40.6 ± 9.5 years and 67.1% were females. The COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy rate was 50.5% (95%CI: 45.6-55.3). Socio-demographic factors included age, marital status, location of practice, profession, and income. Vaccine hesitancy was predicted significantly by younger age, (aOR=9.34, 95%CI:2.01-43.39), marital status (single), (aOR=4.97, 95%CI:1.46-16.97) lower income,(aOR=2.84, 95%CI:1.32-6.08) and profession–doctor (aOR=0.28, 95%CI:0.11-0.70), nurse (aOR=0.31, 95%CI:0.15-0.64) and other allied health professionals (aOR=0.22, 95%CI:0.10-0.44). Conclusion: COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was high among healthcare workers. Significant sociodemographic predictors influence the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine. We recommend that the Federal and State Ministries of Health conduct awareness campaigns targeting the younger age group, singles, lower income class, and non-clinical staff