Developing World-Class Teamwork skills – an Applied Approach

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Teams consisting of creative minds who have outstanding skills can create new ideas or processes that guide an organization towards new innovations and more success. Today, organizations need agile teams which are adaptive and can make quick decisions and adjustments when the business or even the industry calls for it. Companies will have to conduct projects led by teams that might disrupt entire market segments and create new standards. Against this background, the work aims at gaining insights into the mindset and attributes needed to create high-performance teams.

Current Status and Burden of Malaria in Pregnancy among Women in Some Selected Internally Displaced persons Camps in Maiduguri, Borno State

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Malaria is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among displaced populations in sub-Saharan Africa, accounting for an estimated 30 million women living in malaria endemic area become pregnant each year. Recent literature indicates that over 140 million people in Nigeria with 97% of the population are at risk from malaria infection. To assess the current status and burden of malaria in pregnancy among women in IDPs camps in Maiduguri, a cross sectional study on the relationship between pregnancy and malaria parasitaemia was conducted among pregnant IDPs women in Maiduguri. Of the 100 pregnant women enrolled in the study and screened for malaria infection, 40 (40%) were examined in Dalori camp, 37 (37%) were examined in Bakasi and 23 (23%) were examined in Aji ganaram camp. The prevalence of malaria infection among pregnant women based on different IDPs camps reveals that, 42(42.0%) out of the 100 pregnant women examined in all the three camps were infected with malaria parasitaemia. In Dalori camp 19(47.5%) out of 40 women examined were infected, while in Aji ganaram camp 16(43.2%) out of 37 women examined were infected, likewise in Bakasi 7(30.4%) out of 23 women examined were infected respectively. There is no statistically significant difference between camps and malaria infection (p˃0.5). Similarly, the prevalence of malaria infection based on age group. Of the sample examined 68 (68%) out of the 100 women examined were infected with malaria parasitaemia, the age group of <15 years had the lowest malaria infection rate with 2 (2.0%) and there was significantly higher prevalence rate of malaria infection  recorded in age group of 15-45 years old women with 66(66.0%). %).  However, prevalence of malaria parasitaemia based on marital status in study population reveals that 51(51.0%) out of 100 women examined were infected with malaria infection. There was significantly higher prevalence among widows with 29(54.7%), followed by 18 (48.6), and followed by 4(40.0%) in single (not married women) respectively. Chi-square analysis shows significant difference between widows, married, single and infection rate (p˃0.05).The study showed a strong correlation between age, marital status and malaria infection among pregnant women in IDPs camps. The morbidity and mortality burden of malaria in the study population among pregnant women in internally displaced persons camps could be reduced drastically by proper prevention strategies, good dietary feeding, good shelter and improving diagnosis.

Thread Breakage in Modern Loom and Efficiency

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The study is to find out the relation of thread breakage rate on modern loom to the relative humidity and fabric specifications. This result supports thread breakage rate increased with the choice of rapier loom instead of air jet loom. It also shows that loom width has negative relation towards thread breakage and in the production floor relative humidity has insignificant relation with thread breakage rate. Key part of the study shows that warp and weft breakage rate has interrelation. In the production floor loom types and fabric constructions are studied for thread breakage at floor temperature and found no relation to the relative humidity. But, significant relation of warp and weft thread breakage rate to EPI, loom categories, loom width, fabric length produced, weft count and interrelation between warp and weft breakage rate.

 

Effect of Related Video Supported Technique on Achievement and Interest of Motor Vehicle Mechanics Work Students in Science and Technical Colleges in Benue State, Nigeria

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Motor Vehicle Mechanics Work has been noted to be important to man because of the advantages attached to application. Efforts are also geared towards its success in teaching and learning outcome. However, there is poor academic achievement and interest of students in Motor Vehicle Mechanics Work. This has largely been blamed on teaching methods and strategies, inability of students to understand Motor Vehicle Mechanics Work, lack of student’s interest among others. The purpose of this study was to empirically investigate the effect of related video supported teaching technique on interest achievement and of Motor Vehicle Mechanics Work students in Science and Technical Colleges. Four research questions were raised and four hypotheses were formulated. Quasi-experimental design, the non-equivalent control group were used. The sample was comprised of all the SS2 46 (36 male and 10 female) students studying Motor Vehicle Mechanics Work in two Science and Technical Colleges in Benue State selected for the study. Motor Vehicle Mechanics Work Achievement Test (MVMWAT) and Motor Vehicle Mechanics Work Students Interest Inventory Scale (MVMWSIIS) were the instruments that were used for the study. The Cronbach Alpha coefficient for the items in the MVMWSIIS instrument was calculated and found to be 0.785 and the Cronbach Alpha coefficient for the items in the MVMWSAT was 0.740 which indicated that the instruments were both reliable. Data collected was analyzed using mean and standard deviations to answer research questions and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) to test hypotheses. The results of pre achievement mean and standard deviation of the control group was 2.76 and 1.62, respectively, while the post achievement mean and standard deviation scores of the group was 13.38 and 2.92 respectively. Whereas the pre experimental group mean and standard deviation score was 2.68 and 1.28 respectively, while the post mean and standard deviation were 15.36 and 3.82 respectively. The results of pre interest mean and standard deviation scores of the control group was 27.95 and 4.33 respectively, while the post group was 28.76 and 4.37 respectively. Whereas the post experimental group mean and standard deviation was 7.40 and 2.81 respectively, while the control group mean and standard deviation were 58.71 and 4.62 respectively. Interest and achievement scores of the students showed that related video supported teaching technique enhances student’s interest and achievement. Based on the findings of the study, conclusions were drawn that student taught using related video supported teaching technique had achievement significantly higher than those taught using lecture method, imbalance in achievement and interest of male and female students was minimized to the barest minimum. The study therefore recommends that, related video supported teaching technique strategy should be used in the field of Motor Vehicles Mechanics Work for achievement and interest.

Effects of Climate Change on the Biology and Distribution of Insects

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This review summarizes the main effects of climate change on insects described by numerous authors. Among the possible effects, the hight associated temperatures stand out, which influence the dynamics of their populations through effects on survival, life span, fecundity and dispersion. Most insects have short cycles, high reproductive capacity and mobility, so their physiological responses at increasing temperatures can produce rapid and large-scale population changes. The response of each species depends on its geographical distribution, trophic level and natural history. Populations in medium to high latitudes benefit more from higher temperatures through faster development and increased survival. Less is known about the effects on tropical species. A small increase in temperature will extend the northern and southern limits of the tropics and temperate regions, and with it the geographical distribution limits of many insects, particularly those vectors of diseases. Mortality can drop with warmer winters, and lead to migration towards the poles. The physiological effects on insects can be indirect, through trophic interactions (i.e. host plants and natural enemies). Insects stand out in documented cases of distribution expansion due to climate change.

Prevalence and Morphometric Approach for Identification of Some Paramphistome Species in Sheep Slaughtered in Maiduguri Abattoir, Borno State

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INTRODUCTION

Paramphistomum cervi (Trematoda: Digenea: Paramphistomatidae), the representative species of the genus Paramphistomum, has adult flukes that inhabit the rumen and immature worms that parasitize the gallbladder and reticulum of ruminants, including cattle, sheep, goat, and some wild mammals (Xu Zhang, et al., 2014). Adult flukes parasitize the fore stomachs, causing mild disease that occasionally manifests as rumen inflammation, irregular rumination and wasting. Much more severe symptoms are caused by juvenile flukes as they migrate through the intestines and parasitize the submucosa of the duodenum, feeding on epithelial cells (Jones, 1990). This results in fetid diarrhoea, electrolyte and protein loss, generalized oedema, anorexia and, in rare cases, anaemia and emaciation of the animal (Sanabria & Romero, 2008, Sindičić, et al.., 2016). Mature Paramphistomum are also responsible for ruminitis, irregular rumination, lower nutrition conversion and loss of body condition, decrease in milk production and reduction of fertility (Mogdy et al., 2009) High prevalence of par­amphistomosis occurs in tropical and subtropical regions with reports from Africa, Asia, Australia, Eastern Europe, and Russia caused by specific species of the parasites depending on the re­gion, which include Paramphistomum cervi, Gastrothylax crum­enifer, P. microbothrium, P. ichikawai, P. explanatum, P. epiclitum, Calicophoron calicophorum, Cotylophoron cotylophorum, Fischoede­rius elongates, and F. cobboldi (Wang et al, 2010, Surapol, et al., 2016, Khedri et al.2015). According to Nolan and crib, 2005 the vast majority of taxonomy of digenean species has been described on the basis of their adult morphology and by reference to their host and geographical distributions; P. cervi is distributed worldwide and has been reported in many countries including Nigeria (Azyaz, et al., 2013, Biu and Oluwafunmilayo., 2004). The paramphistomes are conical or cylindrical digenean with thick bodies; the most familiar species are parasites of domesticated livestock. They are distinguished from other flukes by the possession of a posteriorly located acetabulum (Mage et al., 2002).

Return to the Spirit of the Athens School (Raphael, 1509 – 1511) and to Humanistic Culture

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It is time for people to realize what happens to a society when it fails to invest in social relations and the need imposed by history to again make social capital the focus of our interests. We must understand that social capital cannot be replaced by economic capital. A good society is always the precondition for growth of economic values and empirical evidence would seem to confirm this thesis.

But the question is whether we will manage in time to dominate this current, limitless greed and aggressiveness in favour of a greater focus on a sense of fraternity and solidarity expressed by love for others. Homo sapiens really does seem to be rather stubborn as regards understanding its own errors. A species that seems to be very attentive as regards learning the causes and effects of physical ills but that has not yet managed to correlate causes and effects in its history. Conceptually, similar situations to those we find ourselves having to face today have occurred before. Perhaps this explains why history is ignored, as if by doing so erects a kind of barrier to the fear of having to face suffering. Whether Homo sapiens will manage to deserve this appellation is difficult to say, time will tell if intelligence will turn out to be a benefit or a curse. Should it turn out to be a curse, this will only be because of a failure to use a truly precious gift, namely, our “humanity”, in an intelligent way.

Response to Locomotive Syndrome in Japan

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Locomotive syndrome is also known as “Locomo” and exercise organ syndrome. This disorder refers to disability resulting from daily physical activity, such as standing or sitting. The term Locomo appears to be used only in Japan. Interestingly, Locomo has been observed in cases in which motor function is impaired due to disorders of peripheral bones, muscles and joints, but also in cases of disorders involving the brain and nervous system. In the current paper, we describe the history of Locomo in Japan. In addition, we discuss future challenges related to Locomo, and provide a series of recommendations regarding the syndrome.

Antimicrobial Activity of Three Solvents Fraction of Three Sudanese Medicinal Plants

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The Plants under study were extracted by different  solvents  with  increasing in polarity , petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of some medicinal plants (Glinus lotodios (seeds), Eclipta alba (whole plant) and Ethulia conyzoides (Aerial parts) commonly used to treat a variety of ailments. And investigated for their antibacterial activity against four standard bacterial strains Bacillus subtilis (NCTC 8236), Staphylococcus aureus(ATCC 25923), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922),  Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), and two standard fungal strains Aspergilliu sniger (ATCC 9763) and Candida albicans (ATCC7596) in vitro. The plants extracts at a concentration of 100 mg/ml were applied using the agar plate well- diffusion method. the ethyl acetate and methanol extracts obtained from Ethulia conyzoides give more crude extract were showed high activity against all tested organisms, while the methanol extract of Glinus lotodios showed significant of all tested bacterial only and have no sensitivity towards fungal strains . The least antimicrobially active plant was Ethulia conyzoides. Ethulia conyzoides have more crude extract of methanol ( 9.81) and showed  broader spectrum towards Bacillus subtilis( I Z = 32mm) . The methanol extract of Ethulia conyzoidesis suitable candidates for the development of novel antibacterial compounds.

Studies on Nutritional Management of Transition cows

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The term “transition” comprises the various important physiological, metabolic and nutritional changes occurring in this time period. It is a turning point in the productive cycle of the cattle from one lactation to the next. These changes with their management are of great significance are closely associated to lactation performance, nutritional status, postpartum diseases and reproductive performance, which directly or indirectly affect profitability.