Parental influence on academic achievement among the primary school students in Trinidad

The present study examined the level of parental influence on academic achievement in primary school students who prepare for the National-level test at standard five (grade 6), Secondary Entrance Examinations in Trinidad. A sample of 128 students studying standard five from primary schools was randomly selected. The data were analysed using SPSS. The findings of the study revealed that regardless of parental educational status, all parents try to influence their children to study well. The results showed that there was a positive influence on academic achievement in students. The findings of the study were discussed and implications for future research have been proposed. The study highlighted several recommendations to mitigate the effects of academic anxiety and suggested some measures to be taken by the parents, teachers, peers and social workers to successfully navigate this phase of life marked by transition and search for identity.     

Leptospirosis among zebu cattle in farms in Kaduna State,Nigeria

ObjectiveTo assess the occurrence of Leptospira spp serovar Hardjo among Zebu cattle in some livestock producing areas of Kaduna State, Nigeria.MethodsSera samples were obtained from 164 Zebu breed of cattle above one year osf age in seven cattle farms were screened for antibodies to Leptospira spp. serovar Hardjo using Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).ResultsAntibodies to Leptospira spp. serovar Hardjo were detected in eighteen (10.98%) out of the 164 animals sampled. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in seropositivity between the different age groups or between different Zebu breeds.ConclusionThe presence of Leptospirosis among the Zebu breeds of cattle may poses a threat to livestock production and has public health implication due to its zoonotic potential.     

Modulation of feedback related activity in the rostral anterior cingulate cortex during trial and error exploration

The present functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experiment aims at clarifying the role of the rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC) in the evaluation of feedback in a deterministic environment. We tested, in particular, the response of the rACC to the detection of different types of feedback, and to varying levels of outcome expectancy. We used a problem-solving task in which subjects had to discover, in successive trials, which one of the four presented stimuli was associated with a positive feedback, the other ones being associated with error feedback. In this task, two periods alternated: 1. an exploratory period in which error feedback indicated to adapt the following response appropriately (and continue to explore), and first positive feedback indicated to change strategy (i.e. to shift from explorative to exploitative behavior), and 2. an exploitative period in which subjects had to repeat the correct choice. The rACC is recruited in the exploratory period during the analysis of both error and first correct positive feedback. In addition, the rACC activity was modulated by positive reward prediction error values (i.e. the difference between obtained and expected feedback). Altogether, these results reveal the critical role of the rACC in the evaluation of salient feedback for learning optimal strategies.