Barriers and solutions to effective mentorship in health research and training institutions in Nigeria: Mentors, mentees, and organizational perspectives.

Aims and Background: Mentoring relationships and programs have become a subject of global interest and their relevance is high in the ever-evolving health system. In Nigeria, informal system of mentoring is largely practiced. To be able to institutionalize mentoring program, there is need to explore the various challenges of mentoring process and suggest potential approaches for effective mentor-mentee relationship in health research institutions in Nigeria. Subjects and Methods: The study was designed to explore the barriers and solutions to mentoring process from the perspectives of the mentor, mentee, and organization in health research and training institutions in Nigeria. A cross-sectional descriptive design was employed and the study was conducted among 21 health researchers drawn from 24 health research institutions across the 6 regions of Nigeria. The nominal group technique was adopted in the data collection process. Results: The most frequently reported mentor challenges were "lack of understanding of mentorship process" (84.2%) and "lack of capacity for mentoring" (78.9%), while those of mentee were "mentor preference" (73.7%) and "lack of freedom of expression" (47.4%). "Culture of selfishness/individualism" (84.2%) and "lack of formal relationship" (63.2%) were the most mentioned systemic challenges. Training on mentoring process and relationship was mentioned as the most frequent approach to overcoming challenges for the three perspectives. Conclusion: Significant mentorship challenges exist in the Nigerian health, academic and research institution. Systematic approaches to finding and implementing the appropriate solutions are needed to circumvent these bottlenecks.

The role of humanities in the medical curriculum: medical students' perspectives.

BACKGROUND: The humanities have long been shown to play an important role in the medical school curriculum. However, few studies have looked into the opinions of medical students on the usefulness and necessity of the humanities as well as their extracurricular involvement with them. The aim of this study was to: a) understand medical students' attitude towards the humanities in medical education and b) assess their understanding of the necessary qualities of doctors and how interaction with the humanities affects the development of such attributes. METHODS: A mixed methods survey was designed to elicit demographics, engagement, interest and perspective on curricular positioning, and to explore how students ranked the qualities of a doctor. It was distributed to medical students of all year groups in the 6-year bachelor of medicine, bachelor of surgery (MBBS) course at Imperial College London. RESULTS: One hundred nine fully completed questionnaires were received. No significant difference was found in engagement or interest in the humanities between genders. Students felt strongly that humanities subjects shouldn't be assessed (71:18) though some felt it was necessary for engagement, while no consensus was reached on whether these subjects should be elective or not (38:31). The majority of students wanted more medical humanities to be incorporated into the traditional medical course with a preference of incorporation into the first 3 years. Junior medical students were more likely to rank empathy as a highly desirable attribute than senior students. Students provided qualitative insights into curricular positioning, assessment and value. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides the perspective of medical students on how and whether the humanities should be positioned in medical education. It may be helpful to medical schools that are committed to student involvement in curriculum design.

Temperature-dependent development and survival of immature stages of the coffee berry borer Hypothenemus hampei (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

Although the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) is the most destructive insect pest of coffee worldwide, there is much to learn about its thermal biology. This study aimed to develop temperature-based models for H. hampei development and to provide the thermal requirements of immature stages in the laboratory. Using a new observation method, larval development and survival were monitored daily on fresh Arabica coffee seeds, under seven constant temperatures in the range 15-35°C, with 80 ± 5% RH and 12:12 L:D photoperiod. Linear and non-linear functions were fitted to the development data plotted against temperature, using Insect Life Cycle Modelling software (ILCYM). Temperature significantly affected the development time of all immature stages. Egg incubation period ranged 4.6-16.8 days, under temperature between 30 and 15°C. No development occurred at 35°C and the larval stage did not develop to pupa at 15°C. The minimum temperature threshold (Tmin) estimated from linear regression was 10.5, 13.0, 15.0 and 13.0°C, for egg, larva, pupa and the total development from egg to adult, respectively. The maximum temperature threshold (Tmax) estimated from the Sharpe and DeMichele function was 32°C for egg to adult development. The thermal constant (k) was estimated at 78.1, 188.7, 36.5 and 312.5 degree days, for egg, larva, pupa and for egg to adult, respectively. Our results will help understand and predict the pest population dynamics and distribution in coffee plantations as impacted by temperature, and as such, will contribute to a more efficient management of the pest.

Thermal regulatory mechanisms of termites from two different savannah ecosystems.

Termites are known for their abilities to regulate the conditions within their nests through the mounds that they build or the location of the built mound which assist in keeping the internal temperature within the requirement of the colony. These mechanisms to regulate vary between species, with some species adapting passive behaviours such as nest site selection and nest structures that permit passive heating or cooling. Here we studied seven species of mound building termites from five genera in two different savannah (Sahel and Sudan) and determined some of their passive thermal control strategies. Seven species of termites; Amitermes sp., Cubitermes oculatus, Macrotermes bellicosus, M. subhyalinus, Odontotermes sp., Trinervitermes sp. A and Trinervitermes sp. B were identified from the two savannah, We found no significant difference in internal mound temperatures between the species. In both savannah types most of the termites built their nest under the shade. We discuss the adaptive implications of building mounds under the shades as seen in species of M. bellicosus, M. subhyalinus and Odontotermes sp. Or those building mounds with unique shapes as seen in C. oculatus with mushroom shaped mounds for their role in thermal regulation within the nest and how this represents a response to environmental conditions.

Performance of cowpea as influenced by native strain of rhizobia, lime and phosphorus in Samaru, Nigeria.

The complimentary effects of a native rhizobia strain (SAMFIX 286), lime and single superphosphate (SSP) as components of ISFM were evaluated on the biomass, nodulation and N2 fixation of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.). Lime was applied at the rate of 250 kg (Ca(OH)2) ha-1, while SSP was applied at 30 kg P ha-1. The trial was carried out in a screen house with the treatments arranged in randomized complete block design. Results obtained show that the performance of SAMFIX 286 inoculated plants did not significantly (p < 0.05) differ from that of the un-inoculated treatment. Application of lime significantly increased root dry weight, shoot dry weight, nodule number and dry weight by 42.5%, 35.3%, 65.6% and 50%, respectively. Nodulation was significantly (p < 0.05) increased by SSP. The complimentary effect of lime with SSP significantly increased total shoot N concentration. Similarly, combined inoculation of SAMFIX 286 with lime and SSP increased N concentration by 31.9% and N derived from atmosphere (Ndfa) by 16.3% compared to the un-inoculated treatment. Inoculation of SAMFIX 286 with SSP was also effective on Ndfa by cowpea. It was concluded that lime and SSP were good combination with native rhizobia strain in improving cowpea nodulation and biological N2 fixation.

Effect of povidone iodine and hydrogen peroxide on fracture healing: a histomorphometric study on rats.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of povidone iodine and hydrogen peroxide on fracture healing in a rat model. METHODS: The middle section of the right femur of 36 male Sprague Dawley rats was osteotomised with a saw. In the control group (n=9), the wound was irrigated with 100 ml 0.9% saline. In the 10% povidone iodine (n=9), 1% povidone iodine (n=9), and 3% hydrogen peroxide (n=9) groups, the wound was completely soaked with the respective solution for 2 minutes, and then irrigated with 100 ml saline. The osteotomy was fixed with an intramedullary Kirschner wire. Rats were euthanised at week 1, 2, and 5. In each femur, the percentage area of osseous, cartilaginous, and fibrous tissue in the callus was evaluated in 3 slides (one median and 2 paramedian). RESULTS: The control group differed significantly to the other 3 groups (p=0.023 to p<0.001) in weeks 1, 2, and 5, except for the 1% povidone iodine group in terms of percentage of osseous (p=0.349) and fibrous (p=0.999) tissue. The healing process was similar in the 1% povidone iodine group and the control group, whereas healing was impaired in the 10% povidone iodine group and 3% hydrogen peroxide group, as indicated by the lower percentage of osseous tissue, higher percentage of fibrous tissue, and increased percentage of cartilaginous tissue between weeks 2 and 5 (delayed bone healing). CONCLUSION: The 1% povidone iodine solution is recommended as the irrigation adjuvant in fracture surgery.

Chemical composition and functional properties of raw and roasted Nigerian benniseed (Sesamum indicum) and bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranean).

Benniseed and bambara groundnut seeds were roasted at 80 and 120°C for 10-60min. For both flours, the effects of roasting temperature and time on selected functional properties and chemical composition were determined, as were the effects of pH on the emulsification capacity and nitrogen solubility. The chemical constituents of the raw flours were present at higher concentrations than those of the roasted flours except for fat and ash. Protein concentrates of both flours contained 80.5-81.5% crude protein as the major constituent. Nitrogen solubility was lowest at pH 4.0 for raw and roasted benniseed flour and pH 5.0 for raw and roasted bambara groundnut flour. Roasting generally lowered the nitrogen solubility and increased the water and oil absorption capacities while decreasing the foaming capacity and emulsification capacity of both flours.

Cadmium, copper and nickel levels in vegetables from industrial and residential areas of Lagos City, Nigeria.

The levels of cadmium, copper and nickel in five different edible vegetables, Talinum triangulare, Celosia trigyna, Corchorus olitorus, Venomia amygydalina and Telfaria accidentalis, and the soils in which they were grown, from three industrial and three residential areas of Lagos City, Nigeria, were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results obtained for these three heavy metals from the industrial areas were higher than those of the residential areas as a result of pollution. Industrial area results for vegetables ranged between 1.13 and 1.67 microg/g for cadmium; 25.08 and 56.84 microg/g for copper and 1.33 and 2.06 microg/g for nickel. There were statistically significant differences (P<0.05) between the levels of copper and nickel in all the vegetables studied from industrial and residential areas, while there was no statistically significant difference for cadmium. The results also show that Corchorus olitorus (bush okra) has the ability to accumulate more copper and nickel than the other vegetable studied but has the least ability to accumulate cadmium.