Imo State University

Simulation-based training (SBT) has emerged as a transformative approach in medical education, significantly enhancing healthcare professionals' learning experience and clinical competency. This article explores the impact of SBT, tracing its historical development and examining the various types of simulations utilized today, including high-fidelity mannequins, virtual reality environments, standardized patients, and hybrid simulations. These methods offer a safe and controlled environment for students to practice and hone technical and non-technical skills, ultimately improving patient safety and clinical outcomes. The benefits of SBT are manifold, including enhanced skill acquisition, error reduction, and the opportunity for repeated practice without risk to actual patients. Immediate feedback and structured debriefing further solidify learning, making Simulation an invaluable tool in medical education. However, the implementation of SBT is challenging. It requires substantial financial investment, specialized equipment, and trained faculty. Additionally, there are concerns about the realism of simulations and the transferability of skills to real-world clinical settings. Despite these challenges, numerous case studies and empirical research underscore the effectiveness of SBT compared to traditional methods. Looking ahead, advancements in technology, such as artificial intelligence and improved virtual reality applications, promise to enhance the efficacy and accessibility of simulation training. The integration of Simulation with other training modalities and its adoption in diverse global contexts highlight its potential to revolutionize medical education worldwide. This article affirms the crucial role of SBT in preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals and its ongoing evolution driven by technological innovations.

Integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics in healthcare heralds a new era of medical innovation, promising enhanced diagnostics, streamlined processes, and improved patient care. However, this technological revolution is accompanied by intricate ethical implications that demand meticulous consideration. This article navigates the complex ethical terrain surrounding AI and robotics in healthcare, delving into specific dimensions and providing strategies and best practices for ethical navigation. Privacy and data security are paramount concerns, necessitating robust encryption and anonymization techniques to safeguard patient data. Responsible data handling practices, including decentralized data sharing, are critical to preserve patient privacy. Algorithmic bias poses a significant challenge, demanding diverse datasets and ongoing monitoring to ensure fairness. Transparency and explainability in AI decision-making processes enhance trust and accountability. Clear responsibility frameworks are essential to address the accountability of manufacturers, healthcare institutions, and professionals. Ethical guidelines, regularly updated and accessible to all stakeholders, guide decision-making in this dynamic landscape. Moreover, the societal implications of AI and robotics extend to accessibility, equity, and societal trust. Strategies to bridge the digital divide and ensure equitable access must be prioritized. Global collaboration is pivotal in developing adaptable regulations and addressing legal challenges like liability and intellectual property. Ethics must remain at the forefront in the ever-evolving realm of healthcare technology. By embracing these strategies and best practices, healthcare systems and professionals can harness the potential of AI and robotics, ensuring responsible and ethical integration that benefits patients while upholding the highest ethical standards.

BACKGROUND: The African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC) was created to control onchocerciasis as a public health problem in 20 African countries. Its main strategy is community directed treatment with ivermectin. In order to identify all high risk areas where ivermectin treatment was needed, APOC used Rapid Epidemiological Mapping of Onchocerciasis (REMO). REMO has now been virtually completed and we report the results in two articles. The present article reports the mapping of high risk areas where onchocerciasis was a public health problem. The companion article reports the results of a geostatistical analysis of the REMO data to map endemicity levels and estimate the number infected. METHODS: REMO consists of three stages: exclusion of areas that are unsuitable for the vector, selection of sample villages to be surveyed in each river basin, and examination of 30 to 50 adults for the presence of palpable onchocercal nodules in each selected village. The survey results and other relevant information were processed in a geographical information system. A panel of experts interpreted the data taking the river-based sampling into account and delineated high risk areas where the prevalence of nodules is greater than 20%. RESULTS: Unsuitable areas were identified in eight countries. In the remaining areas surveys were done in a total of 14,473 sample villages in which more than half a million people were examined. High-risk areas were identified in 18 APOC countries, ranging from small isolated foci to a vast contiguous endemic area of 2 million km2 running across seven countries. In five countries the high risk area covered more than 48% of the total surface area, and 31% to 48% of the population. It is estimated that 86 million people live in high risk areas in the APOC countries. CONCLUSIONS: The REMO maps have played a significant role in onchocerciasis control in the 20 APOC countries. All high-risk areas where onchocerciasis used to be a serious public health problem have been clearly delineated. This led to the creation of community-directed treatment projects that by 2012 were providing annual ivermectin treatment to over 80 million people.

Non-model plants i.e., the species which have one or all of the characters such as long life cycle, difficulty to grow in the laboratory or poor fecundity, have been schemed out of sequencing projects earlier, due to high running cost of Sanger sequencing. Consequently, the information about their genomics and key biological processes are inadequate. However, the advent of fast and cost effective next generation sequencing (NGS) platforms in the recent past has enabled the unearthing of certain characteristic gene structures unique to these species. It has also aided in gaining insight about mechanisms underlying processes of gene expression and secondary metabolism as well as facilitated development of genomic resources for diversity characterization, evolutionary analysis and marker assisted breeding even without prior availability of genomic sequence information. In this review we explore how different Next Gen Sequencing platforms, as well as recent advances in NGS based high throughput genotyping technologies are rewarding efforts on de-novo whole genome/transcriptome sequencing, development of genome wide sequence based markers resources for improvement of non-model crops that are less costly than phenotyping.

Microplastics (MPs) are now ubiquitous in global ecosystem, therefore all biota is at risk of exposure and potential toxicity. In this study, we presented an overview of information based on literature concerning exposure to MPs and the toxicity of such exposure. Currently, four major routes of exposure have been identified including entanglement, contact, ingestion and inhalation. Humans maybe the most exposed organism because they are at the peak of the food chain. Toxicology effect to marine and freshwater organisms are classified based on exposure dosage as either high (mortality, decreased reproductive output, organ damage) or low (changes in behavior with time). On plants, reports have shown that MPs exposure can affect negatively the growth and depending on exposure concentration and types of MPs and oxidative activities. However, effects on plants maybe short-term and transient. Although, toxicity studies regarding human are still ongoing as per reports, plants and animals are still scantly studied. Animal toxicity studies have widely used D. magna as model specie. MPs pollution may have a knock-on effect on trophic structure and functioning of ecosystems by affecting the base of the food chain. We concluded by identifying the gap in knowledge and give recommendations for future research.

Abstract This study examines the improvement in Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase Six (CMIP6) models against the predecessor CMIP5 in simulating mean and extreme precipitation over the East Africa region. The study compares the climatology of the precipitation indices simulated by the CMIP models with the CHIRPS data set using robust statistical techniques for 1981–2005. The results display the varying performance of the general circulation models (GCMs) in the simulation of annual and seasonal precipitation climatology over the study domain. CMIP6 multi‐model ensemble mean (hereafter MME) shows improved performance in the local annual mean cycle simulation with a better representation of the rainfall within the two peaks, especially the MAM rainfall relative to their predecessor. Moreover, simulation of extreme indices is well captured in CMIP6 models relative to CMIP5. The CMIP6‐MME performed better than the CMIP5‐MME with lesser biases in simulating Simple Daily Intensity Index (SDII), consecutive dry days (CDD), and very heavy precipitation days >20 mm (R20mm) over East Africa. Remarkably, most CMIP6 models are unable to simulate extremely wet days (R95p). Some CMIP6 models (e.g., NorESM2‐MM and CNRM‐CM6‐1) depict robust performance in reproducing the observed indices across all analyses. OND season shows wet biases for some indices (i.e., R95p, PRCPTOT), except for SDII, CDD, and R20mm in CMIP6 models. Consistent with other studies, the mean ensemble performance for both CMIP5/6 shows better performance as compared with individual models due to the cancellation of some systematic errors in the individual models. Generally, CMIP6 depicts improved performance in the simulation of MAM rainfall compared with CMIP5 models. However, the new model generation is still marred by uncertainty, thereby depicting unsatisfactory performance over the East Africa domain. This calls for further investigation into the sources of persistent systematic biases and a methodology for identifying individual models with robust features that can accurately simulate observed patterns for future usage.

Purpose This study seeks to examine the business and social profiles of 67 women entrepreneurs in three regions of Nigeria in order to identify patterns of entrepreneurship and social and economic challenges facing women business owners in Nigeria. The study aims to support and encourage sustainable small‐scale economic development activities by Nigerian women and determine ways to integrate these small businesses into existing urban economic development projects and strategies for poverty alleviation, expand understanding of the business and social profiles of women entrepreneurs in Nigeria, examine the contextual influences on their work, raise the level of awareness of women entrepreneurs amongst all economically active agents and researchers, influence social and economic policy addressing issues of women entrepreneurs. Design/methodology/approach A survey was developed and administered to a sample of 62 practicing Nigerian female entrepreneurs. The survey was divided into sections that recorded personal demographics, the entrepreneur's perceptions of the business environment and their venture and the motivations and drives that led to the birth of their business. Data were collected and processed to produce frequency distributions on every question/variable in the survey followed by cross‐tabulations between all variables and χ 2 tests in order to reveal strong associations. Findings With no or few significant differences shown to exist between male and female business owners or managers once they have already started an enterprise, there is a strong indication that Africa has sizeable hidden growth potential in its women. From the results presented, it is evident that female entrepreneurship in Nigeria is driven by micro‐financing as well as family dynamics that work to shape and influence the birth of a business. Research limitations/implications Future research initiatives need to explore the gender dimension and the influence of education levels on the role models that influence and drive female entrepreneurship. In addition, the evolution of the complete life cycle of the entrepreneur's business should be examined and dependencies on the variables presented should be investigated. Finally, research should focus studies whose aim is to influence social and educational policy that encourages women's entrepreneurship in the fight for poverty alleviation in Africa. Originality/value Unique contribution with information being provided regarding an area that has not been studied before with a quantitative and qualitative method both within the same study.

Anthropogenic activities causing a transformation of the natural nitrogen and phosphorus cycle are considered as one of the most fundamental environmental issues. In this study, nitrate and phosphate concentrations in waterbodies such as Abadaba river, Agulu lake, Njaba river, Oguta Lake, and Nike Lake located in Southeast, Nigeria was determined in both dry and wet season by spectrophotometric technique and modeled for pollution and health risks assessment. Result revealed that nitrate ranged from 13.163±2.30 mg/L at Nike to 36.173±7.22 mg/L Oguta lake in dry season while in the wet season it ranged from 17.402±3.459 mg/L at Abadaba to 26.748±6.536 mg/L at Njaba river. Phosphate ranged from 2.144±0.513 mg/L at Nike to 9.741±3.207 mg/L at Oguta in dry season while from 36.330±7.420 mg/L at Abadaba to 40.204±6.024 mg/L at Oguta. Comparing results with World Health Organization (WHO) allowed limits, it revealed that nitrate was low while phosphate was only low in the dry season at Abadaba, Agulu and Oguta lake. The waterbodies showed low variations (< 20 %) with positive linear relationships (R2 ≥ 0.3) for both nitrate and phosphate in both dry and wet season. Furthermore, except at Abadaba and Agulu in the dry/wet season and Njaba and Oguta in wet season, which showed no significant differences (p > 0.05) between them, all other showed significant difference (p < 0.05) for nitrate and phosphate concentrations. In terms of season, only at Njaba (for phosphate only) showed no significant differences (p > 0.05), all others waterbodies showed significant differences (p < 0.05) in nitrate and phosphate concentration in both seasons. The nitrate to phosphate ratio was very low especially in the wet season due to the high input of phosphate. The nutrient pollution index showed moderate to very high pollution while the waterbodies will pose very high non-carcinogenic health risks to users via the oral pathway. Overall, the waterbodies are at risk of eutrophication and efforts should be put in place to reduce anthropogenic activities around the area and thus input of nutrients in these water bodies.

, further experiments in human clinical trial studies are needed to establish effective and safe doses for the treatment of various diseases.

Environmental deterioration is caused by a variety of pollutants; however, heavy metals are often a major issue. Development and globalization has now also resulted in such pollution occurring in developing societies, including Africa and Asia. This review explores the geographical outlook of soil pollution with heavy metals. Various approaches used to remedy metal-polluted soils include physical, chemical, and biological systems, but many of these methods are not economically viable, and they do not ensure restoration without residual effects. This review evaluates the diverse use of plants and microbes in biotransformation and removal of heavy metals from contaminated soil. Mechanisms on how natural processes utilizing plants (phytoremediation) and microorganisms (bioremediation) remove or reduce heavy metals from soil at various levels are presented. This review concludes that remediation technologies are necessary for the recovery of metal-contaminated environments and the prevention of continuous environmentally toxic impacts on living organisms.

One of the fundamental challenges that the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC) has had to face is how to identify the endemic communities where its mass ivermectin-treatment operations are to be carried out in conformity with its stated objective of targetting the most highly endemic, affected and at-risk populations. This it has done by adopting a technique, known as the rapid epidemiological mapping of onchocerciasis (REMO), that provides data on the distribution and prevalence of onchocerciasis. Integration of the REMO data into a geographical information system (GIS) enables delineation of zones of various levels of endemicity, and this is an important step in the planning process for onchocerciasis control. Zones are included in (or excluded from) the APOC-funded programme of community-directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI), depending on whether or not their levels of onchocercal endemicity reach the threshold set by APOC. This review describes the application of the REMO/GIS technique by APOC in its operations, and identifies the remaining related challenges.

This review study examines the state of meteorological drought over Africa, focusing on historical trends, impacts, mitigation strategies, and future prospects. Relevant meteorological drought-related articles were systematically sourced from credible bibliographic databases covering African subregions in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries (i.e. from 1950 to 2021), using suitable keywords. Past studies show evidence of the occurrence of extreme drought events across the continent. The underlying mechanisms are mostly attributed to complex interactions of dynamical and thermodynamical mechanisms. The resultant impact is evidenced in the decline of agricultural activities and water resources and the environmental degradation across all subregions. Projected changes show recovery from drought events in the west/east African domain, while the south and north regions indicate a tendency for increasing drought characteristics. The apparent intricate link between the continent's development and climate variability, including the reoccurrence of drought events, calls for paradigm shifts in policy direction. Key resources meant for the infrastructural and technological growth of the economy are being diverted to develop coping mechanisms to adapt to climate change effects, which are changing. Efficient service delivery to drought-prone hotspots, strengthening of drought monitoring, forecasting, early warning, and response systems, and improved research on the combined effects of anthropogenic activities and changes in climate systems are valuable to practitioners, researchers, and policymakers regarding drought management in Africa today and in the future.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a hereditary blood disorder characterized by the production of abnormal hemoglobin molecules that cause red blood cells to take on a crescent or sickle shape. This condition affects millions of people worldwide, particularly those of African, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and South Asian descent. This paper aims to provide an overview of SCD by exploring its causes, symptoms, and available treatment options. The primary cause of SCD is a mutation in the gene responsible for producing hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen in red blood cells. This mutation has abnormal hemoglobin called hemoglobin S, which causes red blood cells to become stiff and sticky, leading to various health complications. Patients with SCD may experience recurrent pain, fatigue, anemia, and increased infection susceptibility. Treatment options for SCD focus on managing symptoms and preventing complications. This includes pain management with analgesics, hydration, and blood transfusions to improve oxygen delivery. Hydroxyurea, a medication that increases the production of fetal hemoglobin, is commonly used to reduce the frequency and severity of pain crises. Additionally, bone marrow or stem cell transplants can cure select individuals with severe SCD. Finally, understanding the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for SCD is crucial for healthcare professionals, patients, and their families. It enables early diagnosis, effective symptom management, and improved quality of life for individuals with this chronic condition.

This paper compares and contrasts changing rural–urban linkages drawing on research in six case study areas in Mali, Nigeria and Tanzania. The aim of the research was to gain a better understanding of the ways in which the livelihoods of rural and urban households rely on both rural-based and urban-based resources, and on exchanges between urban and rural areas. The paper describes changes in farming systems under the impact of urban expansion, with special attention to access to land and other natural resources such as water, and also access to markets and the role of traders, especially small-scale operators. It also examines how changing rural and urban contexts, as well as wider national and regional contexts, affect patterns of income diversification and mobility, especially the differential impacts with regard to women and men and to young and older people. Finally, it analyzes the role of the case studies’ urban centres in the economic and social development of their surrounding regions.

BACKGROUND: More than 40 million people live in onchocerciasis-endemic areas in Nigeria. For at least 19 y, mass drug administration (MDA) with ivermectin was implemented with at least 65% total population coverage in Kaduna, Kebbi and Zamfara states. Impact surveys done using skin biopsies yielded no infections. Serological and entomological assessments were undertaken to determine if onchocerciasis transmission had been interrupted and MDA could be stopped. METHODS: The presence of onchocerciasis-specific immunoglobulin G4 antibody was measured by enzyme=linked immunosorbent assay conducted on dried blood spots collected from 5- to 9-year-old children resident in each state. O-150 polymerase chain reaction testing of Simulium damnosum s.l. heads for Onchocerca volvulus DNA was done on black flies collected by human landing capture and Esperanza window traps. RESULTS: A total of 9078 children were surveyed across the three states. A total of 6139 vectors were collected from Kaduna state, 129 from Kebbi state and 2 from Zamfara state; all were negative. Kebbi and Zamfara states did thousands of hours of black fly catching and intensive river prospecting. The resulting low fly catch was due to a low fly population incapable of sustaining transmission. CONCLUSION: Onchocerciasis transmission has been interrupted and the three states meet World Health Organization thresholds: seropositivity in children <0.1% and <1/2000 infective black flies with 95% confidence. The 2.2 million people in Kaduna state and 4 million in Kebbi and Zamfara states no longer need ivermectin for onchocerciasis.

Many minor components of foods, such as secondary plant metabolites, have been shown to posses antioxidant activities, improving the effects of oxidative stress on diabetes and other disease conditions. This study evaluates the effect of aqueous extracts from Vernonia amygdalina leaves on lipid profiles and oxidative stress in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. The results showed that the streptozotocin induced diabetic rats were subjected to oxidative stress as was shown by the extent of lipid peroxidation (high malondialdehyde levels) present in the plasma. The aqueous extract of V. amygdalina leaves possessed antioxidant activity as shown by decreases in malondialdehyde levels. High values of LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides levels, which are typical of the diabetic condition, were also found in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. The aqueous extract also significantly reduced triglyceride levels and normalized cholesterol concentrations. This shows that the aqueous extract of V. amygdalina leaves have both hypolipidaemic and antioxidant properties.

Extracts of the fruit of Capsicum frutescens (CF) were assessed for anticorrosion and antimicrobial activity. The anticorrosion effect of the ethanol extract on low carbon steel in acidic media was studied experimentally using gravimetric, impedance, and polarization techniques, while the antimicrobial efficacy of ethanol, methanol, water, and petroleum spirit extracts respectively against the corrosion-associated sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB), Desulfotomaculum species, was assessed using the agar disc diffusion method. CF extract effectively inhibited both corrosion and SRB growth due to the action of the phytochemical constituents present therein, including alkaloids (8.8%), tannins (0.4%), and saponins (39.2%). The corrosion process was inhibited by adsorption of the extract organic matter on the steel surface, whereas the antimicrobial effect results from disruption of the growth and essential metabolic functions of the SRB. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed to theoretically illustrate the electronic structure and adsorption behavior of the active alkaloidal constituents of CF extract, capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin, and afforded molecular level insights on their individual contributions to the corrosion inhibiting action of the extract.

Plants are widely used in many indigenous systems of medicine for therapeutic purposes and are increasingly becoming popular in modern society as alternatives to synthetic medicines. Bioactive principles are derived from the products of plant primary metabolites, which are associated with the process of photosynthesis. The present review highlighted the chemical diversity and medicinal potentials of bioactive principles as well inherent toxicity concerns associated with the use of these plant products, which are of relevance to the clinician, pharmacist or toxicologist. Plant materials are composed of vast array of bioactive principles of which their isolation, identification and characterization for analytical evaluation requires expertise with cutting edge analytical protocols and instrumentations. Bioactive principles are responsible for the therapeutic activities of medicinal plants and provide unlimited opportunities for new drug leads because of their unmatched availability and chemical diversity. For the most part, the beneficial or toxic outcomes of standardized plant extracts depend on the chemical peculiarities of the containing bioactive principles.

Abstract As a cheap source of high-quality protein, healthy fats and essential nutrients, dried fish is a common item in the daily diet of the Bangladesh populace. In this study, ten types of widely consumed dried fish ( H. neherius, T. lepturu, P.chinensis, P. affinis, A. mola, P. microdon, I. megaloptera, C. dussumieri, L. calcarifer, and G. chapra ) were analyzed for Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Se, Rb, Hg, Pb, Ni and As by using an Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) technique. The concentration of the studied metals was found in the order Fe &gt; Zn &gt; Hg &gt; Cu &gt; Se &gt; Cr &gt; Mn &gt; Co &gt; Rb &gt; Pb, while As and Ni were below the limit of detection. All fish species showed moderate to high pollution, where the species H. Neherius and P. Chinensis are the most and least polluted ones, respectively. The probable source of contamination is the leaching from the drying pans into the fish samples, atmospheric deposition, anthropogenic contamination, etc. of the water body where these fish were harvested. The calculated hazard index for the general population was below the maximum limiting value (i.e., &lt; 1) except for Hg to children. The carcinogenic risk showed values lower than the acceptable limit for cancer risks (10 –6 to 10 –4 ). Periodic monitoring of trace metals in the aquatic organisms along with fish is recommended to avoid any unexpected health hazards caused by the toxic heavy metals via fish consumption.

Heavy metals and organic pollutants are ubiquitous environmental pollutants affecting the quality of soil, water and air. Over the past 5 decades, many strategies have been developed for the remediation of polluted water. Strategies involving aquatic plant use are preferable to conventional methods. In this study, an attempt was made to provide a brief review on recent progresses in research and practical applications of phytoremediation for water resources with the following objectives: (1) to discuss the toxicity of toxic chemicals pollution in water to plant, animals and human health (2) to summarise the physicochemical factors affecting&nbsp; removal of toxic chemicals such as heavy metals and organic contaminants in aqueous solutions by aquatic plants; (3) to summarise and compare the removal rates of heavy metals and organic contaminants in aqueous solutions by diverse aquatic plants; and (4) to summaries chemometric models for testing aquatic plant performance.