Effect of xanthosoma biomass in vegetable oil industry effluent by coag-flocculation process has been undertaken at room temperature. The coag-flocculation activity and kinetic parameters of xanthosoma biomass in vegetable oil industry effluent were determined at varying; dosages, settling time and pH. The coag-flocculation behaviour of xanthosoma biomass was evaluated using standard Jar test method. The maximum kinetic parameters determined were recorded at K of 3x10-5L/mg, pH of 6, t1∕2=33.33 min while the minimum values are recorded at K of 1 x10-5, pH of 10, t1∕2 = 80min. Regression analysis was used to ascertain the accuracy of the fit to the postulated kinetic model. However, it was concluded that the second order kinetic model described the reaction most adequately with highest regression coefficient (R2) of 0.9869, pH of 6 at 2g dosage. The maximum turbidity removal efficiency (E) was recorded at 83 for dosage, time and pH indicating that xanthosoma biomass is a potential coagulant for effective wastewater treatment.

This study sought to determine whether the academic self-concepts of children come from teacher appraisal or their own cognitive abilities. Longitudinal data from the Millennium Cohort Study were used to answer this question by testing the internal/external frame of reference (I/E) model for English children aged 5, 7, and 11 years and of ethnic minority, disadvantaged, and advantaged backgrounds. The I/E model predicts that high verbal achievement leads to a high verbal self-concept but a low mathematical self-concept, and high mathematics achievement leads to a high mathematical self-concept but a low verbal self-concept. The results of structural equation modelling revealed that the I/E model was generally supported, but teacher assessment had greater effects on self-concept than did cognitive ability. Teacher assessment and cognitive ability measured in children at the age of 7 years predicted child self-concepts at 11 years old. Teacher assessment was less influenced by the type of measurement used but more influenced by the cultural backgrounds of the children than cognitive ability. The implications of these results are discussed herein.

Abstract: Diabetes is one of the largest health emergencies of the 21st century. In future there will not only be increase in the incidence and prevalence of diabetes but also there will be an increase in economic burden, disability and life years lost due to disease. Microalbuminuria is used as predictor for early micro and macrovascular changes in diabetes. The objectives were to find out the prevalence of microalbuminuria among type II diabetes mellitus patients in urban Chidambaram and to find out the association between albuminuria and age, sex, duration of diabetes.A descriptive cross sectional study was carried out in the urban field practice area of urban health centre between October 2015 and July 2016, among 200 study participants who had type II diabetes mellitus. The prevalence of microalbuminuria among the study participants was 41.5%. All the three risk factors age, sex and duration of diabetes mellitus were found to have significant association with occurrence of albuminuria. As the age increased the probability of being microalbuminuric also increased (P<0.05). Males had 2.9 times the risk of being microalbuminuric than the females. As the duration of diabetes mellitus increased the chance of being microalbuminuric also increased (P<0.05).Life style modifications and other measures which can postpone the age of onset of type II diabetes mellitus can aid in decreasing the mean duration of diabetes mellitus with age.Studies with analytical designs should be performed in the same area for deeper understanding of the role of risk factors for the occurrence of microalbuminuria in the indigenous population.

Abstract: Although many students are opting for the convenience of online study, there is a paucity of literature documenting the rationale for students’ choice of face-to-face or online learning format. As such, this study examined learner preferences for discussions in reading instruction. The study also compared the discussions generated by different sub-groups of students and explored the variances within students’ discussions generated from online and face-to-face learning formats. The following research questions guided the study: (a) What are learners’ preferences for discussions in reading instruction? (b) Does one discussion format facilitate meaning-making more than the other for various sub-groups and (c) Do patterns of discourse and learners preferences stay consistent across time and learners sub-groups or do differences occur due to diversity? Results indicated that majority of the participants preferred face-to-face discussion format to online discussion format in reading instruction. Participants also professed a belief that face-to-face discussions facilitate meaning-making more than online discussion. While such perception does not apply to all learner groups in the study, the results further showed that patterns of discourse and learners preferences stay consistent across time and learners, but differences occur due to learner diversity. Recommendations are made on how to facilitate learner inclusion and collaborative learning in both learning formats.

Abstract: Tolosa-Hunt syndrome (THS) is essentially a clinical diagnosis of exclusion; painful ophthalmoplegia caused by nonspecific inflammation of the cavernous sinus or superior orbital fissure. We reported a 70 year old male with THS who responded to corticosteroids dramatically and made an uneventful complete clinical recovery.

Abstract: Young snails of Achatina achatina (Linné, 1750) of 0.33 ± 0.23 g of average live weight and 9.1 ± 0.06 mm average length of shell were subjected to two types of diet. Two diets contained wild and cultivated plants (R1 and R2) and four diets concentrated in flour forms (R3, R4, R5 and RT) of respectively variable calcium content (12.02%, 14.03%, 16.01% and 06.82%). The objective is to compare the organoleptic qualities of the snails’ flesh emanating of the two types of food. The flesh of the concentrated diet are more tender (6.05), juicier (6.32) with an average aftertaste (5.8) while those of the vegetable diet are aromatized with an average of 6. The optimum calcium rates inducing the best tenderness (6.06), juiciness (6) are of 12.02% and of aftertaste (5.9) is diet containing 14.03% of calcium while the flavour (6.6) was obtained a rate of 0.24%.

Abstract: Splenic sarcoidosis is a rare clinical entity which can have heterogeneous clinical presentation. We highlight two different clinical encounters of splenic sarcoidosis with coexistent pulmonary sarcoidosis, which needs high degree of clinical suspicion to diagnose in complexed burnt out state and importance of timely diagnosis and early initiation of corticosteroids to minimize disease progression. Case 1; 58 year old previously healthy female presented with marked constitutional symptoms and left side upper abdominal discomfort over 6 months period with unremarkable clinical examination on admission. Her chest X ray on admission simulated the appearance of lymphangitic carcinomatosis, however ultrasound guided splenic tru-cut biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of splenic sarcoidosis and patient responded to corticosteroid therapy. Case 2; 21 year old young male was evaluated for pyrexia of unknown origin for three months. His clinical examination was only significant for bilateral cervical discrete lymph node enlargement and chest X ray on admission showed bilateral hilar enlargement and initial ultrasound abdomen revealed multiple hypoechoiec splenic lesions. Finally brochoscopy guided lung biopsy confirmed the diagnosis and patient was remarkably improved with corticosteroid treatment. Splenic sarcoidosis has heterogeneous clinical presentation. Judicial use of imaging, appropriate tissue biopsy together with correct clinical judgment will enable early diagnosis and early treatment with corticosteroid will have favorable patient outcome.

Cow dung obtained from Bos indicus have been long recognized as multifacted biomass that serve not only as conventional combustion material but also a modern day fuel. Apart from being an essential part of ayurvedic formulations it finds application in healthcare management by virtue of it‘s antibacterial activity. This article addresses the even more recent application of gomeya or the cow dung in various aspects including bioremediation. This implies that conservation of indigenous cattle is very crucial in order to make use this ‗gold mine‘ and further explore it‘s hidden qualities.

Abstract: Cataract is a highly treatable condition due to advances in cataract surgery, procedures and intraocular lens design. Currently 90% of the cataract surgeries are performed with intraocular lens (IOL). The aim of cataract surgery to improve visual function which also improves overall quality of life. The objectives were to find out the current visual outcome among subjects of post cataract surgery (IOL) over a period of 3 to 10 years and correlate visual outcome with selected variables. A community based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in selected urban field practice area of Rajah Muthaiah Medical College and Hospital from December 2015 to August 2016. Totally 120 subjects underwent cataract surgery were included in the study. The socio-demographic data and details regarding the surgery were collected using a pretested proforma and visual acuity was measured by Snellen’s chart. The visual acuity has been classified namely good, borderline and poor. The majority of the subjects were in the age group of 46-60 years (65%). 87 were females (72.5%) and 49 were illiterate (40.8%). Among these subjects 83 were homemakers (69.2%), 96 (80%) underwent surgery in institution (picked up through camp). 10.8% had complications immediately after surgery, 50% study subjects had a history of chronic diseases, such as DM, HT or both. Visual acuity measured as good vision (6/6-6/18) 54.2%, borderline vision (<6/18-6/60) 33.3% and poor vision (<6/60-unable to appreciate hand movements) 12.5%. 12.5% of the post cataract surgery (IOL) subjects had poor vision. 30% of the subjects those who had cataract surgery (IOL) surgery more than 5 years ago has poor vision.

To assess changes of blood parameters in people living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy, a follow-up study was carried out subjects. A group of 45 subjects in ICBRA (Integrated Centre for Bioclinical Research of Abidjan) with HIV infection were recruited with a mean age was 26.1 ± 0.7 years. These Patients were followed by control of some blood parameters before initiating (J0) antiretroviral therapy. These same biological parameters were assessed after 6 (M6) and 12 (12M) months. The results of study was indicated a decrease of anaemia prevalence during follow-up ((51.1%, 42.2% and 40% respectively at J0, M6 and M12. In the same way, during treatment, microcytic hypochromic anaemia and macrocytic hypochromic anaemia were more observed. Moreover, these two types of anaemia were more revealed according to CD4 classes. In addition, the prevalence of neutropenia was observed in 55.6% at the beginning of treatment, it was decreased to 37.8% at M6. Lymphopenia was reported only in 2.2% of patients at treatment initiation. As for thrombocytopenia, it was revealed in 11.1% of subjects at treatment initiation. In the sixth and twelfth months of treatment, it was recorded respectively in 11.1% and 8.9% of subjects. According to the CD4 count, high prevalence of leukopenia to class B and class C for initiation of neutropenia and lymphocytosis to classes A and B and monocytosis all classes were observed. This study revealed a non-significant increase in CD4 count. The majority of patients had normal glucose levels during follow-up (93.4%, 95.6% and 97.8% respectively at J0, M6 and M12). Normal rate of creatinine was also indicated (73.3%, 71.1% and 84.4% respectively at J0, M6 and M12) and alanine aminotransferase levels (ALT) (88.9%, 84.4% and 82.2% respectively at J0, M6 and M12).

Abstract: This study sought to determine the average time spent on social media by medical undergraduates in University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria and to determine the relationship between social media use and disturbances of sleep quality and quantity amongst medical undergraduates in University of Uyo. It was a cross sectional population based study among 208 medical students in University of Uyo, Southern Nigeria. They were randomly selected with a proportionate stratified random sampling method and data collection was done using a self-reporting anonymous questionnaire. Social media use was assessed using multiple items reflecting the frequency, volume, location and platform of social media use. The average time spent on social media by respondents was 1-3 hours. Proportionately, the most time was spent on Facebook. In models that adjusted for all covariates, participants who spent more time on social media per day had significantly greater odds of having disturbance of sleep quality. Compared with those who spent more than 3 hours per day on social media, those who spent 1-3 hours per day had an adjusted odds ratio of 4.59 (95%CI: 4.14-5.48, p value < 0.001) for sleep disturbance. A significant association was reported between volume of social media use and sleep disturbance. This has important clinical implications for the health of young adults. Future work would focus on the interactions on the various social media platforms that make their use significant to young adults.

Population parameters such as asymptotic length (L∞), growth coefficient (K), mortality rates (Z, F and M), exploitation level (E) and recruitment pattern of the common cuttlefish Sepia officinalis were estimated using length– frequency data from the Ivorian coastal water. Asymptotic length (L∞) was 31.50 cm and growth coefficient (K) was estimated at 0.500 year−1. Total mortality (Z) for S. officinalis was 1.32 year−1, while natural mortality (M) and fishing mortality (F) were 0.94 and 0.38 year−1, respectively. The growth performance index (φ‟) was 2.69 and the exponent “b” of the length–weight relationship was 2.77 during the study period. The asymptotic wet weight estimated from length– weight relationship was 2869.57 g. Exploitation level (E) of Sepia officinalis was 0.29. The recruitment pattern was continuous with one major peak in the months of July–August. The exploitation level (0.29) and lower fishing mortality (0.38 year−1) indicate that the common cuttlefish is under-exploited from Ivorian coastal waters.

In examining the need for Nigerian economy to encourage the domestic manufacturing sector, this study looks at the effect of imported manufactured goods on the performance of manufacturing sector in Nigeria. The study employed econometric analysis with Ordinary Least Square (OLS) method of data estimation and analysis and Augmented Dickey fuller test to conduct unit root test to ensure the stationarity states of the variables used. The estimated result of model one shows a positive statistically significant relationship between domestic manufacturing sector output and the Nigeria manufactured imports. Model two estimates also indicate that domestic manufacturing sector contributes positively to economic growth of Nigeria. Therefore, the study recommended among other things the use of fiscal policy measures to checkmate or control high importations of goods that can be manufactured domestically to enable domestic manufacturers expand and thus, create employment opportunities for Nigerians.

This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation carried out to evaluate the compressive strength of concrete. An exploratory study on the suitability of the tannery shredded waste as partial replacement for normal fine aggregate in concrete works has been carried out. Physical and mechanical properties of tannery shredded waste and locally available normal aggregates have been determined and compared. A large number of concrete cubes of size 150X150X150 mm were cast with different percentage replacements of fine aggregates by tannery shredded waste in the order 100:0, 5:5, 10:10, and 15:15, were cast and compressive strength test values were determined.

Higher education falls outside the ambit of merit category since the personal benefit from higher education exceeds the social benefit. In this milieu, the heavy spending on higher education by the government led to some structural changes withdrawing the huge subsidy elements and allowing the entry of private providers in higher education. However there are fairly large amount of subsidy on higher education even at present. The rationality of subsidy as well as fee can be found out only in terms of the cost incurred for providing the education and comparing it with fee collected from the student. The paper is an attempt to find out the unit cost of providing medical education particularly the MBBS course in Kerala and the rationality of the fee charged by the government and self financing institutions. The study found that there is a mark-up profit for the self financing institutions and at the same time government has a heavy spending burden.