First identified by first identified by Hertig and Wolbach (1924), Wolbachia pipientis is a tropical bacterium that infects a wide range of invertebrates, mainly nematodes and arthropods. The bacteria is one of the most common pathogens in the world, with statistics indicating that between 18% and 76% of insects are infected by the bacteria. In particular, Wolbachia pipientis infects mosquitoes, spiders, flies, termites and nematodes. Although Wolbachia pipientis can be transmitted horizontally from one host species to another, the major transmission occurs from females to developing eggs. The bacterium has the potential to infect multiple organs in insect, but the most notable infections occur on the testes and ovaries of the hosts. The bacterium is ubiquitous in mature eggs but not present in mature sperms. In addition, only the female hosts are able to pass the infection to the offspring. Once the bacterium infects the host, it quickly alters the chromosomal sex determination from the gamete fertilization. In addition, the bacterium initiates pathogenesis that results into growth and development without fertilization because it kills males. Consequently, it creates a detrimental competition against the sperm and causes cytoplasm incompatibility in the fertilized eggs. To maximize its spread, Wolbachia pipientis alters the reproductive capability of the host in four major ways. First, it uses “male killing” process in which the infected males die during the larvae development stages, which means that the rate of infected female hosts increase significantly and that of the males reduce. Secondly, it uses “feminization” procedure in which the infected males develop into females or infertile pseudo-females. Thirdly, the parthenogenesis process is used in which the reproduction of the infected female hosts occur without males (Bertrand et al., 1999). According to Tortora, Funke and Case (2007), parthenogenesis is attributable to the effects of the bacterium. For example, the Trichogramma wasp procreates without males when infected with Wolbachia pipientis. In this species, males are rare because they have been eliminated by the bacterium in the evolution process (Murray, 2009). The fourth method involved cytoplasmic incompatibility in which the infected males are unable to successfully reproduce with the uninfected females or females with another strain of the bacterium (Murray, 2009).

The current diagnostictests for Wuchereriabancrofti infections are insensitive and logistically unsuitable in epidemiological studies and disease surveillance. Although needing refinement, potentially sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays have been developed. The suitability of these assays as molecular epidemiological and surveillance tools has not been extensively studied. These assays can be used to estimate disease indices, such as vector infection rate and are important in estimation of the infection pattern in the suspect areas. The main objective of this work was to study W. bancrofti infections in an identified population in the Tana Delta district, using modified molecular assays. The Tana delta, situated along the Kenyan north coast lies in a potentially lymphatic filariasis endemic region but no data on the disease has been documented. This study improved and evaluated PCR assays in monitoring of W. bancrofti infections in humans and the vectors in the Tana Delta. Samples which included, blood, sputum and urine were collected from consenting participants along with mosquitoes which were collected from their homes.    The mosquitoes were identified and examined for W. bancrofti infections. Observations from the study indicated that PCR assays had sensitivity and specificity above 84%. This study demonstrated that the
W. bancrofti infections exist in the Northern part of the Kenyan coast with prevalence of 6.4% to 9.6% using traditional diagnostic tests and PCR assays respectively. The prevalence of W. bancrofti in mosquito vectors was 1.0% microfilariae by dissection and 1.6% by PCR mosquito assay. A relationship between LF prevalence in the population and vector prevalence was observed. Through a calculation of a factorש (Hebrewshin), the relationship could enable projection of LF prevalence in the population from the determined vector prevalence. The study suggests that this factor ש would be directly proportional to the disease prevalence in the population (p=0.005). By using the modified PCR assays which are both sensitive and specific (p<0.005), an end point (denoted as a prevalence of 0.1%) for the mass drugs administration (MDA) can be determined. The age group 11-20 years was found to be more enthused in participating in the study, with the best turn out of 31% compared to all other age groups (p=0.001). This group had the highest lymphatic filariasis prevalence too. The results from sputum and urine are comparable, suggesting that either of these samples may be used in LF surveillance studies. It is observed that whereas the molecular methods are sensitive and specific, the cost involved is high. The study therefore recommends the use of PCR assays in determination of end-point for MDA. Further, it is recommended that where a survey of lymphatic filariasis is required; 11-20 age group be used to represent the community.

Florence Nightingale's Environmental Theory of Nursing Nightingale's environmental theory of nursing, considered the first documented concept of nursing as well as the foundation of the modern practice, has changed the field through an emphasis on restoring the normal health status in the healthcare delivery process (Hegge, 2013). Born in 1820 in Florence, Italy, Florence Nightingale was an English religious enthusiast, statistician as well as social reformer. According to Hegge (2013), Florence is considered the founder of the scientific and educated nursing of the contemporary world. During the Crimean

There have been unconfirmed relationship between dementias and diabetes. However, there is little research-based evidence to demonstrate such a connection. Here, a research is proposed to explore the relationship. However, we first start with a review of the existing literature, which in turn is preceded by an examination of some articles. More articles maybe needed, and scholars are requested to contribute as we expand the existing knowledge in health and medicine.

Now that different nations, jurisdictions, and organizations around the world are coercing, or even forcing, their employees to get vaccinated against Covid-19, what are our rights? What are our individual healthcare rights?  Under the World Health Organization’s Constitution, the achievement of the appropriate health for an individual is one of the fundamental human rights that also include the right to food, housing, clothing and education. WHO states that the right to the highest attainable standard of health must entail a set of social criteria that promotes the health of every person, which includes the availability of healthcare services and safe living conditions? In the United States, several Acts have been passed and enforced to ensure the attainment of the right to healthcare for the people, regardless of their social, cultural or economic backgrounds. This research will focus on five major rights that have been outstanding as they have helped people access healthcare services after the enactment and enforcement of the relevant statutes.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a common disease among the older group of people, deserves worldwide attention. Closely related to this disease is the concern for its high prevalence among the aging population, which is a global phenomenon.  According to the United Nation report (2006), it was estimated that the number of people aged 60 years or over will triple in forty years’ time, hence totaling two (2) billion by 2050. To add to this statistic, it is alarming that Alzheimer Disease (AD) affected 500,000 people in UK and 36.5 million worldwide (United Nation report on health, 2006).  The world aging population, coupled with rampant cases of Alzheimer among the senior age group justifies the undertaking of this study to investigate the possible influence of prions on Alzheimer. This investigation will contribute to the more extensive long-term study towards identifying the cause and possible cure for Alzheimer. On a social consideration, this will give hope to the senior citizen to look forward to better quality of life for the remaining years of their life.

The American context of soft power, as used by Joseph Nye, seems to be problematic when attempting to analyze and describe the emerging economic powers in the world, especially China. Specifically, the emerging Chinese, as opposed to the dominant American policies, seem to contradict Joseph Nye’s view of soft power. Specifically, as the cases of China and the US would demonstrate, soft power’ is neither a measurable foreign policy tool nor is it predictable. Secondly, soft power is not a complete tool in itself as the debate between the concepts of soft power versus hard power demonstrates. In this case, soft power, as it applies to international politics and diplomacy, cannot be used on itself alone to explain the modern hegemonic power and the behaviors of hegemonic states as demonstrated by China and the US. The purpose of this research is to explore how the US and Chinese understand soft power as well as its resources and how Nye’s formulation is different from the approaches that the two powers are taking. The external and foreign policies that both countries have used in their global economic strategies will be analyzed in depth.

Although it is the tradition of the Dow to climb by about 400 points in the final quartile every year as well as in the final two-pre-election trading period due to the confidence at the period, a number of analysts have used this landmark rise to predict the future (Aspray 2017). According to most analysts, the phenomenon will continue in the next months and years and that by 2020, the Dow will hit 25000 or above (Glassman and Hassett 2015). Most of the analysts use the trend in the last two decades to predict the future. For instance, it is quite surprising to note that in 2010, few people thought that the Dow would reduce from its 10,000 at the time to 20,000 by 2020 (Jaffe 2016). Yet, this prediction was criticized by many analysts, especially at the time, there was a global financial crisis and the Wall Street predictions were expecting a reduction by half rather than such a huge increase. This uses recent trends in Dow Jones to determine the market trading at the end of the 2017 trading period as well as during the early days on 2018 fiscal year. It is expected that the Dow will increase to around 23,000 or remain fixed somewhere close to this figure as the recent patterns indicate. To test this hypothesis, the paper uses historical data from 2011 to 2016 to show the consistent climbing of the value. In addition, two approaches are used- one based on calculations from the data and the other on secondary forecasts that also involve analyzing the trend of companies in a number of industries in the US alone.

The COVID-19 pandemic affected many firms, forcing some companies to reduce scale down their workforce. This generally resulted in low motivation levels among employees in many organizations across the world. The main aim of the study was to investigate how employees feel motivation-wise after returning to work post the pandemic. The approach used in the research was a combination of different methods or mixed methods as explained by the research onion model. Two methods were used in data collection, including observation and use of questionnaires. Participants were chosen from three companies and secluded from their natural work settings for the duration of gathering information. During the observation process, researchers monitored how the respondents reacted to various issues in the office. After that, questionnaires were issued to the observed individuals to help obtain more data on the topic. It was discovered that most of the employees felt that the morale for the job was no longer on the same level as before. To thoroughly and accurately analyze the data, the researchers chose narrative analysis. The COVID-19 pandemic affected the lives of many workers and it is important for employers to work closely with them to ensure betterment.

This research examines the effect of inclusive education on the social development of students with disabilities, with a special focus on learners with dyslexia in secondary school English classes. The study employs a literature-based approach to examine how inclusive educational practices affect both the academic and social experiences of dyslexic students. The research after analysing a range of scholarly sources, highlights the positive effects of inclusive education, such as enhanced social skills, reduced stigma, and increased peer empathy. However, it also addresses the challenges faced by dyslexic students, including social isolation, bullying, and misconceptions about dyslexia, which can hinder their social development. The research further investigates the difficulties experienced by teachers in implementing effective inclusive strategies, emphasizing the need for comprehensive professional development and support. The findings emphasize the importance of targeted interventions, collaborative learning, and differentiated instruction in fostering a supportive classroom environment. Implications for practice include the need for enhanced teacher training, the promotion of inclusive practices, and the cultivation of a positive school culture to improve the academic and social outcomes for students with dyslexia.

The broad purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between the practice of inclusive education and social development among learners with disabilities. Specifically, the study explores the impact that inclusive education has on social development among learners with dyslexia in secondary school English classes, a common form of learning disability. In respect, the study examines the various learning challenges that learners with dyslexia face and the strategies that can best address the problem. In addition, the study reviews the challenges that teachers face when dealing with students with dyslexia. Furthermore, the study explores how inclusive education plays an important role in helping solve the problem by placing learners with dyslexia in the same school and classroom environment as their peers who do not have this form of disability. At the same time, the research explores the strategies and practices for inclusive education that are most effective in accommodating learners with disabilities while supporting them to achieve academic and social development outcomes.

Subterranean tunneler dung beetles (Scarabaeinae) play a crucial ecological role in nutrient cycling, soil aeration, and secondary seed dispersal. This study examines their impact at the Nachusa Grasslands, a restored tallgrass prairie in Illinois. By analyzing dung beetle activity, we assess their contributions to ecosystem functioning, particularly in relation to decomposition rates, soil health, and plant growth. The research employs pitfall trapping and dung burial experiments to quantify beetle abundance, diversity, and functional efficiency. Results highlight the critical role of these beetles in maintaining prairie biodiversity and ecosystem resilience. This study underscores the importance of conserving dung beetle populations as part of broader grassland restoration efforts.

Ethical policy encompasses a wide range of realms and areas of activity in which the state or nation is involved at the international level. Michael Hammer refers ‘ethical foreign policy’ as a policy that defines the principles as well as practices of international relations based on the concept of respecting international obligations, human rights, accountability, and transparency in all the dealings and activities within that specific framework (Broussard ET AL., 2019). As early as 1648, the first concept of ethics in foreign policy was set up in the Peace of Westphalia, which recognized the absolute policy of any government over its own territory and population. Since then, the concept has changed significantly.

, current statistics indicate that about 60% or 390 million people of those 700 million under the poverty line are in sub-Saharan Africa (Chancel et al., 2022). By definition, poverty is the condition or state in which an individual, household or community has no adequate or completely lacks access to final financial resources and other essentials needed to achieve a minimum standard of living (Dong, Dou & Jiang, 2022). Such people cannot meet their basic needs, such as food, clothing, proper shelter, safety, health, and medical care. The Indian revolutionary leader Mahatma Gandhi stated, “Poverty is the worst form of violence,” an indication that poverty is a complicated social phenomenon that terrorizes the lives of the affected people in various ways as they are not able to eat, drink, sleep, and enjoy any other living standard as would be expected (Ghimirey, 2010). Arguably, poverty results from a combination and interplay of factors causes, resulting in multiple outcomes, which affect the quality of human life on earth, leading to, among others, numerous adverse effects such as high crime rates, homelessness, and family breakdown

In the last few decades, several studies have shown that children who are exposed to and taught to use more than one language have multiple advantages in cognitive development that their peers who grow with only one language (Genesee, 2015). Also, studies have shown that the advantages in cognitive development among the bilingual children extends into adulthood. Pliatsikas et al. (2020) bilinguals portray district development trajectories within white and grey matters in the brain. The bilingual group had more grey matter, which indicate less developmental loss of the structure in the frontal and parietal regions of the brain.
In addition, the bilingual group had a higher integrity of the white matter that indicates greater increase in development (Pliatsikas et al., 2020). The study by Korenar, Treffers-Daller, and Pliatsikas (2023) found that bilingualism, like other cognitively demanding skills, leads to stronger and dynamic adaptations in subcortical structures, which