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Purpose Passion fruit cultivation and utilization is fast emerging in Nigeria. Poultry farms are increasing with the corresponding increase in poultry manure production which is relatively affordable by farmers. Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of placement method and time of poultry manure (PM) application on early growth and dry matter partitioning of yellow passion fruit. Method PM placement methods were incorporation, top-dressing, bottom-dressing and split combination of top-and bottom-dressing while time of PM application comprised application at transplanting, 2, 4 and 6 weeks after transplanting (WAT). The experiments were laid out as completely randomized design, replicated five and six times, respectively for PM placement methods and time of PM application. Growth and dry matter yield were determined at two weeks' interval and 20 WAT, respectively. Results Longest vines (78.5 cm) were significantly (p <0.05) produced by plants that were grown in PM incorporated medium. Thickest stems (6.75 mm), highest number of leaves (66.4) and dry matter accumulation were recorded in plants that received PM as top-dressing followed by PM incorporation. Application of PM at transplanting resulted in longest vines (95.8 cm), highest number of leaves (69.5) and dry matter partitioning to leaves, vines and roots. Conclusion PM top placement performed best with respect to early growth parameters and dry matter accumulation followed by PM incorporation, hence PM top placement is recommended for production of vigorous passion fruit vines in container. Poultry manure should be applied at transplanting for vigorous vines and not delayed beyond 4 weeks after transplanting.

The article investigates service delivery in the Power Sector in Nigeria. This study focuses on the dynamics of public–private partnership (PPP) arrangements in Nigeria electric power sector and its outcomes with reference to power users' dissonance behaviour. This study examines the relationship between customer expectations, service encounter, availability of substitutes and customer dissonance. From the research findings, we developed and proposed a novel analytical and practical model of service justice (SJ) as complementary alternative to traditional service atonement scholarship and practice; the latter being a product of the former as a process. The study argues that service atonement should be a product of a customer protection process integral to public, private, or joined-up frameworks’ managerial jurisdictions than as isolated customer retention mechanism as current scholarship indicate.

Background Innovative community strategies to increase intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) coverage is advocated particularly in rural areas, where health infrastructure is weakest and malaria transmission highest. This study involved proof-of-concept implementation research to determine satisfaction with and effectiveness of community-directed distribution of IPTp-SP on uptake among pregnant women in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Methods This before-and-after study was carried out in 2019 in a rural community in Ebonyi State Nigeria. The intervention involved advocacy visits, community-wide sensitizations on malaria prevention, house-to-house directly observed IPTp-SP administration, and follow-up visits by trained community-selected community-directed distributors (CDDs). Monthly IPTp-SP coverage was assessed over 5 months and data analysed using SPSS version 20. Results During the study, 229 women received the first dose of IPTp while 60 pregnant women received 5 or more doses of IPTp. The uptake of ≥ 3 IPTp doses increased from 31.4% before the community-directed distribution of IPTp to 71.6% (P < 0.001) by the fourth month post-initiation of the community-directed distribution of IPTp. Sleeping under insecticide-treated net (ITN) the night before the survey increased from 62.4 to 84.3% (P < 0.001) while reporting of fever during pregnancy decreased from 64.9 to 17.0% (P < 0.001). Although antenatal clinic utilization increased in the primary health centre serving the community, traditional birth attendants and patent medicine vendors in the community remained more patronized. Post-intervention, most mothers rated CDD services well (93.6%), were satisfied (97.6%), and preferred community IPTp administration to facility administration (92.3%). Conclusion Community-directed distribution of IPTp-SP improved uptake of IPTp-SP and ITN use. Mothers were satisfied with the services. The authors recommend sustained large-scale implementation of community-directed distribution of IPTp with active community engagement.

In this study, the singlet oxygen photosensitization potential of three natural African plant extracts was investigated using the photooxygenation of α-terpinene (1). Utilizing visible light, the Carpolobia lutea extract achieved high conversions towards the anthelmintic ascaridole (2) of >60% after 90 min of irradiation, while the extracts of Hibiscus sabdariffa and Justicia secunda failed to induce significant photoreactivity. Quenching using 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) confirmed a singlet oxygen pathway for irradiation with the C. lutea extract. Further separation of the C. lutea extract and subsequent photooxygenation screening established several active fractions for ascaridole generation. Advanced HPLC–MS analyses of these active fractions revealed several photosensitizing constituents. These findings establish C. lutea extract as a sustainable and effective photosensitiser with comparable performance to commercial dyes.

Background Innovative community strategies to increase intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) coverage is advocated particularly in rural areas, where health infrastructure is weakest and malaria transmission highest. This study involved proof-of-concept implementation research to determine satisfaction with and effectiveness of community-directed distribution of IPTp-SP on uptake among pregnant women in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Methods This before-and-after study was carried out in 2019 in a rural community in Ebonyi State Nigeria. The intervention involved advocacy visits, community-wide sensitizations on malaria prevention, house-to-house directly observed IPTp-SP administration, and follow-up visits by trained community-selected community-directed distributors (CDDs). Monthly IPTp-SP coverage was assessed over 5 months and data analysed using SPSS version 20. Results During the study, 229 women received the first dose of IPTp while 60 pregnant women received 5 or more doses of IPTp. The uptake of ≥3 IPTp doses increased from 31.4% before the community-directed distribution of IPTp to 71.6% (P <0.001) by the fourth month post-initiation of the community-directed distribution of IPTp. Sleeping under insecticide-treated net (ITN) the night before the survey increased from 62.4 to 84.3% (P <0.001) while reporting of fever during pregnancy decreased from 64.9 to 17.0% (P <0.001). Although antenatal clinic utilization increased in the primary health centre serving the community, traditional birth attendants and patent medicine vendors in the community remained more patronized. Post-intervention, most mothers rated CDD services well (93.6%), were satisfied (97.6%), and preferred community IPTp administration to facility administration (92.3%). Conclusions Community-directed distribution of IPTp-SP improved uptake of IPTp-SP and ITN use. Mothers were satisfied with the services. The authors recommend sustained large-scale implementation of community-directed distribution of IPTp with active community engagement.