The Journal of Middle East and North Africa Sciences

Number 01, 2018

1-7
In Vitro Antibacterial Activity of Adenia Cissampeloides Plant Extracts on Bacteria Isolated from Fishes Recovered from Uwana River, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Authors: Henrietta O. Uzoeto; Thomas E. Ayogu; Emmanuel A. Nwakaeze; Ifeanyichukwu R. Iroha; Chika Ejikeugwu

Abstract

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Adenia Cissampeloides, a Pesticidal plant has dynamic active ingredients which cause physiological destruction in fishes including Clarias gariepinus. Majority of these Pesticidal plants contain medicinal values. In this study, the in vitro antibacterial activity of A. Cissampeloides plant extracts on bacteria isolated from fishes recovered from Uwana River, Ebonyi State, Nigeria was bacteriologically investigated. The isolation and identification of bacteria from the fishes recovered from Uwana River was carried out using standard microbiology techniques. The phytochemical properties of the plant extracts were studied using phytochemical analysis while the antimicrobial activities of the A. Cissampeloides plant extracts were evaluated using agar well diffusion technique. Results from physicochemical analysis of the water samples and bacterial count established that Uwana River is polluted. Fourteen species of aerobic heterotrophic Gram-positive and Gramnegativebacteria were isolated and identified from the fishes. The Gram-positive bacteria included, Staphylococcus lugdunensis, S. hominis, S. cohnii, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Kocuria varians and Gram-negative bacteria were Raoutella ornithinolytica, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Aeromonas hydrophila, Aeromonas veronii, Proteus vulgaris, Serratia fonticola, and Enterobacter Gergovia. The most frequently isolated organism from the fishes was Raoutella ornithinolytica (19.04% and 31.82%). Phytochemical analysis of the plant extracts shows that it possesses antimicrobial properties. Extract with petroleum ether showed highest inhibition zone diameter (8.2 mm) with Aeromonas veronii, while the least diameter was observed in Staphylococcus cohnii (4 mm). Methanol extracts of the plant on R. ornithinolytica showed (7mm) while on Aeromonas hydrophila it was (5mm). The results of this study show that the plant extracts of A. Cissampeloides had appreciable antimicrobial activity on bacteria isolated from fishes recovered from Uwana River. Conclusively, the tested extracts of A. Cissampeloides plant showed varying spectra of inhibitions and/or antimicrobial activity against the isolated bacteria.

8-14
Traumatic Tympanic Membrane Perforation in Tertiary Health Institution

Authors: Waheed Atilade Adegbiji; Gabriel Toye Olajide; Oyebanji Anthony Olajuyin; Fatai Olatoke; Sulyman Abiodun Alabi; Clement Chukwuemeka Nwawolo

Abstract

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Background: Traumatic tympanic membrane perforation is a common otologic disorder with associated hearing impairment. Objective: This study aimed at determining the clinico-epidemiological pattern, etiological factors, clinical presentation and management of traumatic tympanic membrane perforation in a Tertiary institution in Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective hospital based study of patients with history of traumatic perforated of tympanic membrane. The study was carried out over a period of 5 years (September 2012 to August 2017). A study proforma was used to obtain detailed history and clinical findings from consenting patients. Data collected were collated and analyzed using SPSS version 16.0. Results: Prevalence of traumatic tympanic membrane perforation in this study was 2.1%. There were 65.5% males and 34.5% females with a male to female ratio of 2:1. The common presenting symptoms among the patients were hearing impairment in 68.3%, otalgia in 62.7% and tinnitus in 61.3%. Slap on the ear was the commonest cause of traumatic tympanic membrane perforation in 43.7% of the patients followed by self-ear cleaning in 16.9%. Commonest causes of slap in this study were 15.5% from security agent, 12.7% from seniors/boss while 9.9 % are from spouses. Unilateral traumatic perforation was more common in 97.9% than bilateral in 2.1%. The left ear traumatic perforation was more common than right ear tympanic perforation as 53.5% and 44.4% respectively. Grade 2 in 39.4% was the commonest perforation. Majority of the traumatic perforation were 40.8% central and 33.8% anterior central. Commonest comorbid injuries were subconjunctival hemorrhage in 16.2% and fracture temporal bone in 13.8%. Conductive hearing impairment in 69.7% and sensorineural hearing impairment in 17.6% were the commonest type of hearing impairment in our patients. Commonest degrees of hearing impairment were mild and moderate which accounted for 47.9% and 26.8% respectively. Commonest complications of traumatic tympanic membrane perforation were 68.3% hearing impairment and 26.1% tinnitus. Majority (73.9%) of the patients had conservative/medical therapy and 74.6% traumatic perforation healed at the end of 3 months. Conclusion: Traumatic perforation arises mainly from direct injuries in this study. The patients tend to present with hearing loss and unilateral involvement is the most common. There is the need to educate the public on the dangers of intentional trauma to the ear.

15-31
Students and Teachers Attitudes and Satisfaction Toward E-Learning: A Case Study in Egypt

Authors: Pauline Ghenghesh; Leslie Croxford; Khaled Nagaty; Samar Abdelmageed

Abstract

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E-learning is an important technological tool that is used by higher educational institutions worldwide to enhance the quality of teaching and learning. However, assessing the attitudes and satisfaction of students and teachers of such a system is becoming increasingly important to its success as it presents a new learning environment for them. The aim of this study, therefore, was to try to determine Egyptian student attitudes and satisfaction and Egyptian teachers’ satisfaction and perception of the usefulness of E-learning in the Faculty of Informatics and Computer Science at the British University in Egypt. Data were gathered from two sources: a student questionnaire and a teacher questionnaire. The findings of this study have shown that a) there were no significant differences between male and female students and the different degree years in their attitudes to and use of E-learning; b) the Preparatory Year appear to be less satisfied with the activities and teacher feedback on E-learning in comparison with the other degree years and c) teachers are satisfied with E-learning and regard it as a useful tool as it complements face-to-face teaching and saves them valuable time. The findings of this study will benefit academics and decision-makers involved in developing and implementing E-learning strategies in higher education institutions in the Middle East and North African regions.

32-38
Bootstrapping the Li-Mak and McLeod-Li Portmanteau Tests for GARCH Models

Authors: Gul Nisa; Farhat Iqbal

Abstract

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In this paper, blocks-of-blocks (BOB) bootstrap method is employed for the commonly used diagnostic tests for generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedastic (GARCH) models. More specifically, the single block-of-blocks and double blocks-of-blocks bootstrap techniques, using three different block lengths of size 4, 10, and 20, are implemented for bootstrapping the Li-Mak and Mcleod-Li portmanteau tests. Using Monte Carlo simulations, the size and power of both tests under the standard normal and Student-t errors are investigated. It was found that the discrepancy between the true and nominal probability of rejection was reduced for both the tests using single block-of-blocks and double blocks-of-blocks bootstrap methods. The power of the Li-Mak test for the GARCH (1, 1) model was found slightly better than the Mcleod-Li test. An empirical example using the monthly data of currency exchange rate (US $ per Pak Rupees) is also reported.