Increasing Levels of Metal Pollutants in River Kubanni Zaria, Nigeria

Abstract: The study examines the increasing levels of concentration of metal pollutants in river Kubanni Zaria, Nigeria. The main sources of data for the study are sediments from four distinctive zones of river Kubanni and materials from previous studies on the river. The samples were collected from the river for a period of eleven months, they were prepared in the laboratory and the Instrumental Nitrogen Activation Analysis (INAA) was adopted in the analysis of the data using Nigeria Research Reactor-1 (NIRR-1). Twenty-nine metal pollutants (Mg, Al, Ca, Ti, V, Mn, Dy, Na, K As, Br, La, Sm, Yb, U, Sc, Cr, Zn, Fe, Co, Rb, Cs, Ba, Eu, Hf, K, Ta, Sb and Tb) are identified in river Kubanni in various levels of concentration. A comparative analysis shows that there is steady increase in the levels of concentration of metal pollutants from 2001 to 2004 and to 2008 with resultant possible hazards on the population that depends on the river as the main source of water for domestic purposes. The reason for this increase in the levels of concentration of metal pollutants in river Kubanni is credited mainly to increase in anthropogenic activities within the catchment area. Finally the study makes useful recommendations on how to minimize the loading of river Kubanni with metal pollutants

The Distribution and Load Duration Curves of Selected Pollutants in River Ekulu Enugu urban, Nigeria

The study investigated the seasonal distribution and load duration curves of selected pollutants in River Ekulu, Enugu urban,  Nigeria. Selected water quality parameters such as turbidity, total suspended solid, iron, magnesium, phosphate, and total coliform were analyzed using standard methods. Data were collected between October 2015 and September, 2016. Stream flow measurement was undertaken for 12 calendar months using the Velocity-Area Method. The result shows very high concentration of the selected pollutants in River Ekulu when compared with the WHO maximum permissible Limit. Turbidity recorded mean value of 84.6NTU. Average concentration of 143.6mg/l, 1.2mg/l, 4.2mg/l, 3.1mg/l and 142.2CFU/100ml were recorded for TSS, Fe, Mg, PO43-and TCC respectively. Results of load duration curve show that the actual load of these pollutants exceeds their permissible limits. Deterministic relationship between flow and pollutant distributions at 0.05 level of significance shows high level of correlation. Turbidity, TSS, Fe, Mg, PO43- and TCC yielded coefficient of determination values of 0.92, 0.93, 0.90, 0.97, 0.98 and 0.77 respectively.  High values of Turbidity, TSS, iron, magnesium, phosphate and TCC observed from the study especially at flow peak are indications of expanding/unplanned residential and commercial land uses. The high concentration of these pollutants could be deleterious to human health if the water from the River is continuously consumed without proper treatment. The study, therefore, recommends proper waste management practices. There is also need to enact and enforce laws on effluent treatments at slaughter houses before discharge into water bodies. Keywords: Flow duration curve, pollutant load, urbanization, water, quality DOI: 10.7176/JRDM/64-05 Publication date: April 30th 202

Assessment of Antifungal Activity of Lactic Acid Bacteria Strains Against Bread Spoilage Fungus Aspergillus ochraceus

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are generally recognized as safe and can be used against fungi that contaminate various food commodities. The aim of the research was to select LAB strains with high antifungal activity for the biocontrol of Aspergillus ochraceus. The antifungal activity of eight strains of lactic acid bacteria has been evaluated by overlay assay method against the spoilage fungus, Aspergillus ochraceus isolated from white bread. The antifungal effect was assessed by co-cultivation of lactic acid bacteria strains and Aspergillus ochraceus in liquid media and mycelium growth inhibition was monitored for over 14 days. The LAB strains Lpl, LAB 43 and LAB 13 presented intense antifungal activity with large inhibition zones of fungal growth and sporulation, but smaller for Lpa and LAB 15 strains. Total inhibition of mycelia growth was induced by the strains LAB 43, LAB 13 and Lpa. The strains LAB 15 and LAB 35 had a moderate inhibition activity on the mycelia growth. The results of this study demonstrated the antifungal activity of several LAB strains by overlay assay and by co-cultivation method. Therefore, it was confirmed the inhibitory effect of the strains LAB 43 and LAB 13 against Aspergillus ochraceus. The experiment revealed that these LAB strains could be further used as biocontrol agents

Study on the Level of Strenght Development in Vocational Training Students

The present work is a study that tracks the level of development of the force of the lower limbs, upper limbs, abdominal muscles but also posterior muscles of the trunk. The research started at the beginning of the current school year and was carried out on the students of the ninth and tenth grades from the Technological High School I. C. Bratianu, from the vocational education. The students from the X-th grade who expressed their agreement to participate in our study were 22, who participated in the 3 modules of school activity in the two hours of physical education weekly. The subjects in the ninth grade who participated in the physical tests were 30 in number

Experienţa Clinicii de Urologie în tratamentul litiazei ureterale prin litotriţie extracorporeală cu unde de şoc (ESWL)

Summary During 5 years we have analyzed a group of 290 pacients with ureteral stones, The analyzing criterious of results were the following: rate of success, number of failures, duration of expulsion of fragments, complications and their solving way. Rate of success was 97,9%. Expulsion of fragment were in 93,7% cases. Rate of failures was 2,1%. The complications were solved by antibiotics and ureteral catheter. Conclusion: ESWL is a method of choise in the tretment of small (<10mm) nonobstructiv ureteral stones, noninvasive with high success rate

Electrochemical evaluation of dsDNA—Liposomes interactions

The aim of the present work was to evaluate the interaction between double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) and liposomes by voltammetric methods. The experimental results were analyzed considering the initial studies regarding the oxidation mechanism of dsDNA purine bases by cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry at the glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The interaction between dsDNA and 1,2-Dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) was studied in a suspension containing both dsDNA and DMPC liposomes, prepared in pH = 7.0, 0.1 M phosphate buffer and using different incubation time periods. The formation of dsDNA-liposome complex was put in evidence by the decrease of the dsDNA oxidation peaks, dependent upon the incubation time. This behavior was explained considering the electroactive centers of dsDNA, guanosine monophosphate and adenosine monophosphate residues, part of them hidden inside the dsDNA-liposome complex structure and thus being unable to reach the GC electrode and preventing their oxidation. The electrochemical results are relevant for a better physicochemical characterisation of the dsDNA and dsDNA-liposome complex, which can be important for the development of gene therapy vectors

Vaccination barriers and drivers in Romania: a focused ethnographic study

Background: In 2016-18, a large measles outbreak occurred in Romania identified by pockets of sub-optimally vaccinated population groups in the country. The aim of the current study was to gain insight into barriers and drivers from the experience of measles vaccination from the perspectives of caregivers and their providers. Methods: Data were collected by non-participant observation of vaccination consultations and individual interviews with health workers and caregivers in eight Romanian clinics with high or low measles vaccination uptake. Romanian stakeholders were involved in all steps of the study. The findings of this study were discussed during a workshop with key stakeholders. Results: Over 400 h of observation and 161 interviews were conducted. A clear difference was found between clinics with high and low measles vaccination uptake which indicates that being aware of and following recommended practices for both vaccination service delivery and conveying vaccine recommendations to caregivers may have an impact on vaccine uptake. Barriers identified were related to shortcomings in following recommended practices for vaccination consultations by health workers (e.g. correctly assessing contraindications or providing enough information to allow an informed decision). These observations were largely confirmed in interviews with caregivers and revealed significant knowledge gaps. Conclusions: The identification of key barriers provided an opportunity to design specific interventions to improve vaccination service delivery (e.g. mobile vaccination clinics, use of an electronic vaccination registry system for scheduling of appointments) and build capacity among health workers (e.g. guidance and supporting materials and training programmes)

Potential of microbial functional communities for high-tech critical metals recovery

According to European Commission reports published between 2010 - 2013, the development of European economy depends crucially on access to critical raw materials. Following the analysis performed by experts at European level, in 2011 was compiled and published a list of 14 critical raw materials, the so-called EU-14. In 2014 the list was updated with several new elements and one element (tantalum), was withdrawn from the list. The current list, being renamed EU-20, covers 20 critical raw materials including several high tech critical metals. Traditional mine exploitations are concentrated on using the deposits of ore extracted and processed by conventional techniques. The efficiency of metal recovery was variable over time and as a result, a significant amount of metal was discarded, most concentrations exceeding the current minimal permissible threshold. On the other hand, it is necessary the recovery of recyclable waste for reducing the risk of shortage of high tech critical metals. Therefore, it is necessary to develop new technologies for obtaining high tech critical metals, which is applicable to both primary and secondary sources of raw materials. Recovery of high-tech critical metals by processing ore, tailings or mine wastes, and recyclable materials can be successfully done with help of consortia or individual isolates of microorganisms, bacteria or fungi. Microorganisms interact with metals thus altering their physical and chemical condition. Isolation of individual strains and identification of microbial consortia that can be used in the design and development of effective biotechnological processes for the extraction of high tech critical metals is a current challenge of the scientific research in Europe

Assessment of Metal contaminants in River Kubanni;

Abstract: This study examines the levels of concentration of metal pollutants in river Kubanni and the health implications of these metal contaminants. The main sources of data for the study were sediments from long profile of the river and WHO guidelines for drinking water that were obtained from relevant literatures and internet. The samples were prepared and Instrumental Nitrogen Activation Analysis (INAA) was adopted in the analysis of the data using Nigerian Research Reactor -1 (NIRR-1). Twenty nine metal contaminants (Mg, Al, Ca, Ti, V, Mn, Dy, Na, K, As, Br, La, Sm, Yb, U, Sc, Cr, Zn, Fe, Co, Rb, Cs, Ba, Eu, Lu, Hg, Ta, Sb and Th) were identified in the river. The safety levels of the metal contaminants were examined by comparing the obtained values with WHO guidelines for domestic water and it was observed that the river is getting polluted by Al, Mn, As, U, Cr, Fe, Co, Zn, Ba, Na and Sb with severe health implications on the consumers of the river Kubanni water. The levels of concentration of Mg, Ca, Ti, V, Dy, K, Br, La, Sm, Yb, Sc, Hg, Ta, Rb, Cs, Eu, Lu and Th are also high, although there is no WHO standard for comparison, some of these metals are suspected to be harmful to humans when consumed in excess quantity

Preliminary screening of bacterial isolates from mining wastes

Developing innovative biotechnology for obtaining new resources of high tech critical metals is strongly influenced by the need to reduce the potential risk of shortages, to support the development of industry at European level. To set up these new technologies is essential to isolate strains with high potential in bioleaching of ore, tailings and mine wastes and bioaccumulation of high tech critical metals. Microorganisms are capable of mediating metal and mineral bioprecipitation. In this paper are presented preliminary studies performed for the isolation of strains existing in mining residues containing high tech critical metals. Were used samples collected from various depths in an area of mining wastes containing high tech critical metals. The samples were fine grounded and the powder was washed with sterile saline water. Exact quantities of samples were dispersed in sterile saline water, shaken for a period of 60 minutes, diluted and plated in triplicate on selective agar. After several steps were isolated 3 strains of gram negative bacteria