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Recently, biometric was being integrated with cryptography (crypto-biometric system) to alleviate the limitations of the biometric or cryptography system. However, the main shortcoming of cryptography is poorly-chosen or forgotten password while challenges with biometrics include interclass similarities in the feature sets used to represent traits. In this work, a combination of cryptography and bimodal biometric was developed, an Advanced Encryption Standard based Fast Fourier Transform (AES-FFT) was developed and used as the cryptography technique. Hence, an attempt was made to develop an improved access control system using an enhanced bimodal bio-cryptography. Biometric features was extracted from individual face and iris after application of suitable preprocessing techniques for each modality using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) while cryptography key was generated using fused features from the face and iris by Advanced Encryption System based Fast Fourier Transform (AES-FFT). The two captured biometric data at acquisition module via webcam were subjected to appropriate pre-processing and feature extraction module. The features extracted were fused at feature level using weighted average and optimal features were selected using genetic programming (GP). The classification technique used was Support Vector Machine (SVM).

The rate of mortality of poultry as a result of contaminated feeds is of the increase in the recent times. This study was carried out to determine the level of contamination, microbial loads and spoilage of selected poultry feeds in south west Nigeria. Rabiu Feeds, Caps Feeds, Ayo Best Feeds and Top feeds were selected and sampled. Standard pour plate methods were used for the analyses. Results obtained revealed average range of total viable count, coliform counts, Staphylococus counts and fungal counts of 2.35 - 7.10x 104 Cfu/g, 0.55-2.65x104, 0.50-2.90 Cfu/g and 1.30-3.30 x 104 Cfu/g respectively. Microorganisms obtained include fifteen bacteria, eight yeast and five mould isolates. The genera are Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Escherichia, Staphylococus, Micrococcus, Alcaligenes, Acinetobacter, Salmonella, Serratia, Corynebacterium, Clostridium, Erwinia, Flavobacterium, Saccharomyces, Candida, Geotrichum, Rhodotorula, Kluyveromyces, Torulopsis, Hansenula, Pichia, Aspergillus, Rhizopus, Fusarium, Mucour and Talaromyces. Fifty percent of the isolates were known pathogenic microorganisms. This study therefore, concludes and recommends that stringent hygienic measures during production and storage of poultry feeds should be followed and enforced to the later. Constants inspection by the Standard Regulatory Bodies to the production sites should be encouraged.

One of the contentious issues affecting national integration in Nigeria is ethnic politics. An ethnicity is a potent tool for mobilizing access to power and resources in Nigeria. It has not only affected nation-building but has also constituted security and governance challenges threatening national integration. Despite different measures adopted to foster national unity among different ethnic groups, primordial sentiments pervade the political system, festering like a malignant tumour with associated prognosis. The paper explored the implications of ethnic politics on national integration in Nigeria's Fourth Republic. Data elicited from secondary sources were utilized for the study. The findings showed that the dominant ethnic groups determine party formation, voting patterns and allocation of public goods. Ethnic politics is deployed by the political class to access and maintain their grip of power while other sub-ethnic groups are sidelined. Undue ethnicization of Nigeria's politics has not only encouraged prebendalised politics but affected democratic development. Electoral malpractices, political instability and crises experienced in Nigeria have their roots in ethnic politics. The study recommended, among other things, that there is a need for reorientation of Nigerian citizens on the danger ethnicized politics portends to nation-building and national integration. Furthermore, there is the need to redefine citizenship, indigene-settler syndrome and son of the soil conundrum that has been spurring ethnic politics in Nigeria.

This paper provides an overview of the usability engineering process and relevant standards informing the development of medical devices, together with adaptations to accommodate situations such as global pandemics where use of traditional face-to-face methods is restricted. To highlight some of those adaptations, a case study of a project developing a novel electronic rehabilitation device is referenced, which commenced in November 2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The Sheffield Adaptive Patterned Electrical Stimulation (SHAPES) project, led by Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (STH), aimed to design, manufacture and trial an intervention for use to treat upper arm spasticity after stroke. Presented is an outline and discussion of the challenges experienced in developing the SHAPES health technology intended for at-home use by stroke survivors and in implementing usability engineering approaches. Also highlighted, are the benefits that arose, which can offer easier involvement of vulnerable users and add flexibility in the ways that user feedback is sought. Challenges included: restricted travel; access to usual prototyping facilities; social distancing; infection prevention and control; availability of components; and changing work pressures and demands. Whereas benefits include: less travel; less time commitment; and greater scope for participants with restricted mobility to participate in the process. The paper advocates a more flexible approach to usability engineering and outlines the onward path for development and trialling of the SHAPES technology.

Lipases are a class of hydrolytic enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of insoluble triacylglycerol to glycerol, acylglycerols, and free fatty acids. The present study is aimed at identifying Lipase producing bacteria isolated from soil determining the optimal conditions (temperatures, pH, and metal ion concentrations) of Lipases produced through submerged fermentation by bacteria of different three (3) genera. The different bacterial isolates with good hyper-producing potentials for Lipases were identified by Polymerase Chain Reactions (PCR). The effect of temperature on cellulase activity was determined by estimating the lipase activity at pH 9.0 within a temperature range of (300C-600C). In order to determine the behaviour of the enzymes within some metallic ions, the reaction of the enzyme and gum Arabica/olive oil mixture was allowed to proceed at 500C with duplicate test tubes containing 50mM CaCl2 (Ca2+). MgSO4 (Mg 2+), Nacl(Na+), Kcl (K+). The identifies of the lipase producing bacteria were identified as Brevibacterium brevis strains Hk 544, Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain WES, Bacillus megaterium strain WH13, and Bacillus subtilis strain BS 01 for Isolate H, A, B and F., respectively. Optimum temperatures for the activities of Brevibacterium brevis strains Hk 544, Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain WES, Bacillus megaterium strain WH13, and Bacillus subtilis strain were determined to be 50oC, 50oC , 45oC and 45oC, respectively. Optimum pH for the activities of Brevibacterium brevis strains Hk 544, Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain WES, Bacillus megaterium strain WH13, and Bacillus subtilis strain were determined to be alkaline (8.0 to 9.0). The observation that sodium and potassium ions at 50mm concentration enhanced the activity of some of the lipases under this investigation showed that sodium and potassium are likely to be co-factors for the performance of these lipases.

The COVID-19 pandemic has put many organizations under pressure to remain active and profitable despite the compulsory long break it gave everyone. There is growing concern that many employees are under pressure to be present at work to fulfil job demands that were not met at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. This situation has given rise to presenteeism, where workers do not work to their maximum potential. Several theories account for the reasoning behind presenteeism. This paper examines the job demands-resources theory of presenteeism related to the causes and remedial measures that can be put in place in coping with the consequences of presenteeism in any given organisation. Secondary data sources were adopted for this study. The data collected were analysed based on the research questions and presented thematically. The findings reveal that most organizations continue to increase the workload without the required resources necessary to accomplish the job demands. The study recommends that those at the helm of affairs should note the job demands assigned to their employees and make available all the resources to attend to the job demands in order to achieve the overall good of the organization even in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aims: To evaluate blood glucose-lowering ability of leaf ashes and compare anti-hyperglycaemic activities of Annona muricata leaf extract and ash. Study Design: Ashes and extract of medicinal plants were assayed using glucose-loaded rats model. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pharmacognosy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, between March 2017 and February 2020. Methodology: Adequately prepared ashes of seven plants and A. muricata methanol extract were assayed for anti-hyperglycaemic potentials, using glucose-loaded (10 g/kg, p.o.) Wistar rats that were hyperglycaemic [blood glucose levels ≥ 7.0 mmol/L] thirty minutes thereafter (T0.0). Groups of 5 rats each, were administered 100, 150, 200 mg/kg of different ashes and A. muricata extract (200 mg/kg). Normal saline and glibenclamide (5 mg/kg) were negative and positive controls, respectively. Their blood glucose levels were determined at 0-4 hours post-extract/ash/drug administration; results analysed using ANOVA followed by the Student-Newman-Keuls’ and Dunnett post-hoc tests. P ˂ .05 was considered significantly different. Results: 100 mg/kg of Momordica charantia, Azadirachta indica and Eugenia malaccensis leaf ashes was their most active dose, indicating significantly higher extrapancreatic activity. 32, 37, 54, 59 and 36, 43, 50, 48 % reductions elicited by Chromolaena odorata (COLA) and A. muricata (AMLA) ashes (200 mg/kg) at 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 hours, respectively made them the most active ashes. Also, blood glucose levels in glibenclamide (5 mg/kg)-, COLA-, AMLA- and its extract (200 mg/kg)-treated rats were comparable (P > .05) and their anti-hyperglycaemic activity was suggested to be due to the pancreatic (insulinotropic) and extra-pancreatic actions of their constituents. Conclusion: Study justified anti-diabetic ethnomedicinal use of plant-ashes in Nigeria, while doses were recommended for the optimum folkloric usage of these leaf ashes in managing diabetes in the rural areas of Nigeria. The leaf ashes may contain elements with glucose postprandial tolerance factor and insulin stimulating properties.

The applicability of theories at times are occasioned by societal norms as it is a known fact that theorist are influenced by their immediate society. Hence, situation where most classes are overcrowded, one would begin to wonder if theory like Blooms mastery learning could be applicable Hence, this study investigated the applicability of mastery learning in public senior school as perceived by teachers. The study used descriptive survey research type. Two hundred and thirty teachers were sampled from public senior secondary schools in Kosofe local government area of Lagos. Teachers’ perception on the applicability of Mastery Learning (TPABML) was designed by the researcher to measure teachers perception, the instrument was validated with reliability index of 0.84. Data collected was analysed using mean score, percentages and independent t-test of significance. Findings showed that mastery leaning is not practicable in public senior secondary as perceived by teachers. The study also finds significant difference between teachers with post-graduate qualification and teachers with first degree, but no significant difference was found based on teachers experience. The study recommends that teachers should change their orientation and make efforts to apply mastery learning as it has recorded positive results when used. Keywords: Blooms mastery Learning, Perception, Practicability

This study considered the optimization of cultural conditions for enhanced lipolytic enzyme activities amongst 4 bacterial Isolates. (Soil samples from different oil-impact soil areas in Ogun -State Nigeria were obtained with soil auger and transported the Biotechnology Laboratory of Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi, Lagos-Nigeria. Soil was subjected to Microbiology studies such as Primary Isolation. Pure cultures obtained test using tributyrin agar, Lipase - hyper producing bacterial Isolates were identified using biochemical tests and Molecular biology tools (Polymerase chain reaction and gene sequencing) out of a total of 11 bacterial Isolates, 4 bacterial Isolates identified as hyper-pro-ducers were Isolate H (Bavibacillus brevis strain HK 544), Isolate A (Pseudommas aeruinosa strain WES 2), Isolate B (Bcillus megaterium strain WH 13), and Isolate F (Bacillus subtilis BS 01) changes in PH of culture/production medium showed that pH 7.0, favoured the Lipase production in Bacillus subtilis (Isolate F) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Isolate A) while pH values of 8.0 favoured Lipase production in Isolate H (Brevibacillus brevis). Variation in temperature showed that the 4 bacterial strain responded best to Mesophilic PH ranges from 25 oC- 40 oC. The optimal Nitrogen source as identified in the study was KNO3 and NH4 No3 at higher concentrations (6 g/C). In comparison, Tobacco seed oil (TSO) competed favorably as carbon source with Olive oil as activities of Lipase from the 4 bacterial Isolates ranged from 8.0 - 28.0 units. The use of lesser known oilbased carbon source like Tobacco seed oil has shown a lot of value addition in terms of commercial value.

Patient and public involvement is an idea whose time has firmly come. It is the views of these Guest Editors that it is the right thing to do morally and improves research quality and applicability.

Background Timely and reliable data are crucial for clinical, epidemiologic, and program management decision making. Electronic health information systems provide platforms for managing large longitudinal patient records. Nigeria implemented the National Data Repository (NDR) to create a central data warehouse of all people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) while providing useful functionalities to aid decision making at different levels of program implementation. Objective We describe the Nigeria NDR and its development process, including its use for surveillance, research, and national HIV program monitoring toward achieving HIV epidemic control. Methods Stakeholder engagement meetings were held in 2013 to gather information on data elements and vocabulary standards for reporting patient-level information, technical infrastructure, human capacity requirements, and information flow. Findings from these meetings guided the development of the NDR. An implementation guide provided common terminologies and data reporting structures for data exchange between the NDR and the electronic medical record (EMR) systems. Data from the EMR were encoded in extensible markup language and sent to the NDR over secure hypertext transfer protocol after going through a series of validation processes. Results By June 30, 2021, the NDR had up-to-date records of 1,477,064 (94.4%) patients receiving HIV treatment across 1,985 health facilities, of which 1,266,512 (85.7%) patient records had fingerprint template data to support unique patient identification and record linkage to prevent registration of the same patient under different identities. Data from the NDR was used to support HIV program monitoring, case-based surveillance and production of products like the monthly lists of patients who have treatment interruptions and dashboards for monitoring HIV test and start. Conclusion The NDR enabled the availability of reliable and timely data for surveillance, research, and HIV program monitoring to guide program improvements to accelerate progress toward epidemic control.

In 2021, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and global food insecurity, the Nigerian poultry sector was yet exposed to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus and its economic challenges. Between 2021 and 2022, HPAI caused 467 outbreaks reported in 31 of the 37 administrative regions in Nigeria. In this study, we characterized the genome of 97 influenza A viruses of the subtypes H5N1, H5N2 and H5N8 identified in different agro-ecological zones and farms during the 2021-2022 epidemic. The phylogenetic analysis of the HA genes showed widespread distribution of the H5Nx clade 2.3.4.4b and similarity with the HPAI H5Nx viruses detected in Europe since late 2020. Topology of the phylogenetic trees indicates the occurrence of several independent introductions of the virus into the country followed by a regional evolution of the virus most probably linked to its persistent circulation in West African territories. An additional evidence of the evolutionary potential of HPAI viruses circulating in this region is the identification in this study of a putative H5N1/H9N2 reassortant virus in a mixed-species commercial poultry farm. Our data confirm Nigeria as a crucial hotspot for HPAI virus introduction from the Eurasian territories and reveal a dynamic pattern of avian influenza virus evolution within the Nigerian poultry population.

Psoriatic arthritis is an extra-cutaneous manifestation affecting up to 40% of psoriasis patients with multiple therapies recommended by international guidelines including conventional and targeted synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) as well as biologics. Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKis) have emerged as a unique therapeutic target with tofacitinib the first to gain FDA approval in 2017. The non-selectivity of older JAKis increases the risk of off-target effects such as suppression of hemopoiesis hence the rationale for more selective alternatives.This paper explores the use of upadacitinib (a selective JAK1 inhibitor) for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis. It covers its chemical properties, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, efficacy, safety and regulation.In our opinion, upadacitinib is set to play an important role in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis as demonstrated by the SELECT-PsA trials especially in patients with poor or non-response to current first-line therapies. It's JAK1 receptor selectivity promises a lower side effect profile compared to the older nonselective JAKis but this will require confirmation with long-term clinical trial data.

Statement of the Problem: Tuberculosis remains a serious public-health threat in developing countries though it has been eradicated in some advanced countries. This disease constitutes a significant threat to global health, being the second highest cause of morbidity and mortality resulting from infectious agents. Prompt diagnosis of active TB facilitates timely therapeutic intervention and minimizes community transmission. Aim: This study aimed at determining a ‘Point of Care’ diagnostic tool for pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) by comparing the efficiency of four different PTB diagnostic tools for different age groups. Methodology: Zeihl Nelson (ZN) staining, culture, Gene xpert (GX) and Lipoarabinomanan (LAM) assay were employed in this study The culture method was used for confirmation. Sputum and urine samples were collected from each of 100 patients symptomatically diagnosed of PTB. Findings: Fifty-seven percent of the population was male while 43% were female. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was isolated from 9 (9%) of 100 patients. Similarly, GX detected Mycobacterium tuberculosis in 9 (9%) of the patients while the rate of detection using LAM was 10% and with ZN it was 7%. Gene xpert produced no true or false positive and negative result, LAM had one false positive result and ZN had two false negative results. The maximum time frame to generate result was 25 minutes for LAM, two hours for Gene xpert, eight weeks for culture and two days for ZN. Two positive isolates were observed at the same frequency for age group 21-30 and 31- 40 while age groups 1-10, 10-20, 41-50, 50-60 and above has 1 positive result each. Gene xpert had 98.11% sensitivity while LAM had 96.23% and ZN had 86.79%. The choice of ‘Point of Care’ diagnostic tool is of great concern to clinicians and the general public. Conclusion & Significance: This study identified LAM assay as suitable ‘Point of Care’ diagnostic and an add-on tool for PTB diagnosis because of its relatively high sensitivity and short maximum time frame to generate result compare to other three diagnostic techniques.

Journal of Community Development Research (Humanities and Social Sciences), 16, 1, 13-26

Over the last few decades, the development of Rheumatology on the African continent has made great strides. Alongside an increasing recognition of the prevalence and burden of disease from these conditions, has been a determination to raise awareness of these disorders in Africa together with an appreciation of the associated disease impact on individuals, families and society as a whole. Great improvements have also been made across the continent with regards to the education of medical students, trainee doctors and allied health professionals of these conditions. Furthermore, high quality rheumatological research is now emanating from Africa. Taken together, these actions mean that Africa is making a significant contribution to global excellence in Rheumatology. Although this achievement has been made possible by visionary, hardworking and inspirational men and women, we believe that it is vital to bring to light the extraordinary efforts of African female rheumatologists in this endeavor. Their contribution is all the more remarkable because of the barriers that women still face in medicine in general and in academia in particular. We showcase here, four women of distinction who in their own unique way, have exemplified the contribution of African female rheumatologists to global excellence in Africa. We pay tribute to them and to their ongoing efforts to act as beacons of excellence in rheumatology in Africa to men and especially to other women.