Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and Testosterone levels in infertile males attending Madonna University Teaching Hospital, Elele

Aim: The study was carried out to determine the concentrations of Dehydroepiandrosterone hormone (DHEAS) and testosterone in infertile males and compared with fertile males attending Madonna University Teaching Hospital (MUTH) Elele. Methods: Thirty apparently infertile males were studied and compared with 30 apparently fertile male as control.Results: There was significant increase (P<0.05) in DHEAS of 1.23+0.07 ug/ml obtained in infertile male compared with 3.78 +0.13 ug/ml in the control. There was significant difference in Semen count of 56.27 +2.82million/ml in fertile males compared with 7.73+ 0.10 million/ml while testosterone in infertile males of 2.53+0.09 was significantly lower than 7.52+0.31 in fertile males(P<0.05).Conclusion: The study showed that DHEAS is elevated in infertility hence should be considered an indicator of infertility

Application of Recycled Waste Materials for Highway Construction: Prospect and Challenges

Industrialization and continuous increase in population growth have contributed immensely to various kinds of solid waste generation which most times are indiscriminately dumped. These activities have negative effects resulting in environmental pollution which could be a menace to the environment. Moreover, to preserve the environment, many researchers have made efforts to ensure that some of these wastes are recycled and utilized in the production of various alternative materials as a means of sustainable technology. Among several alternative materials for construction, some of these wastes are considered to be very useful. This study examines the various recycled waste materials that can be adopted for construction, including their prospects and challenges. Some of the recycled waste materials examined are plastic waste, mill tailings, geopolymers, waste glass, rubber tyre waste, shingles, construction and demolition wastes (C&D) and slag. These recycled materials have been accepted globally due to their characteristic properties which made the materials suitable in the construction industry. This review also examines some limitations relating to the adoption of these materials as alternative construction materials for highway/pavement construction. However, it is generally accepted that reuse of waste materials in construction industry has minimal environmental impact and their exploration would have huge economic impact

Improved Colorimetric Determination of Reserpine in Tablets Using 4-Caboxyl-2,6-dintrobenzene diazonium ion (CDNBD)

Purpose: To develop a simple, rapid and improved colorimetric method for the assay of reserpine in tablets Method: The method is based on the aromatic ring coupling of reserpine with 4-carboxyl-2,6-dinitrobenzene diazonium ion with the consequent formation of an azo adduct. Optimization of reaction conditions and validation were carried out and the method applied to assay of reserpine in tablets. Result: Reserpine coupled readily with CDNBD and optimization of experimental conditions showed the reaction to be completed in 10 min at room temperature. A 1:1 drug to reagent stoichiometric ratio was obtained for the azo adduct formed. The adduct exhibited a bathochromic shift with respect to the drug and pronounced hyperchromic shift with respect to the reagent. Sample analyses were done using a colorimeter at 470 nm. The assays were linear and reproducible over the concentration range of 2.25 -24 µg/mL. The new method was successfully applied in the assay of reserpine in tablets with a performance similar to the official (USP) spectrophotometric method (p > 0.05). This method represents a profound improvement on the previously reported colorimetric method for reserpine. Conclusion: The method developed is rapid and could find application in in-process quality control of reserpine. Keywords: Reserpine, colorimetry, 4-Caboxyl-2,6-dintrobenzene diazonium ion (CDNBD), diazo coupling > Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research Vol. 6 (2) 2007: pp. 695-70

Analysis of Electrical Faults Caused by Natural Phenomena in the Distribution System of Lagos State, Nigeria

This paper analysed empirical system data of nature-induced electrical faults, its variation, and ratings in the distribution networks of Lagos State, Nigeria, which affect the power distribution system infrastructure, end-users of electricity, and the economic development of the distribution companies, consumers, and the nation at large. Fault-based outage data (at installed 11 kV and 33 kV nominal network voltages) were obtained and analysed by natural phenomena (NPs) using relative frequency, seasonal variation, and probabilistic statistics. From obtained results, the following were established: NP-induced electrical faults are prevalent in the distribution systems of Lagos State, and it is more towards or closer to the mainland; vegetation (67%) and birds/snakes (24%) are the most predominant fault-causing NPs in the distribution networks; floods (0.1%) rarely cause electrical faults in these distribution networks despite being a coastal region; and NP-induced electrical faults vary periodically throughout the year. It was recommended that existing maintenance policy must be enhanced to control vegetation, birds, and reptile incursions into Lagos DNs. Modern software-based sensor technologies for monitoring vegetation growth and repelling bird/snake incursions in the network should be explored. Existing protection scheme should be evaluated for effectiveness in view of ensuing short circuit events from incidents of these NPs at various hotspots

DEVELOPMENT AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF A 2kVA FUELLESS GENERATOR

Electricity supply has been unreliable for a long period in Nigeria. The energy generating capacity has the potential to generate 12,522 MW of electric power from existing plant, however, approximately 4650 MW is daily generated. Consequently, most homes and industries use internal combustion engine generating sets as an alternative to power grid failure. This does not only contribute to the amount of CO2 that people inhale in the atmosphere but also contributes to ozone layer depletion and climate change. The need for new energy generating sources with no negative impact on our environment had led to several alternatives cleaner source of power that is environmentally friendly and affordable for the masses. In response to this, a fuelless generator was developed using local materials to serve as a standby generator against the incessant power outage. The generator was developed by using a D.C battery, D.C motor, alternator, connecting shaft, charging panel (transformer, diode and capacitor), and a frame. A 12V, 100Ah battery was used to drive a 12V DC motor which in turn spun the alternator to optimal speed to generate electrical power. The output voltage was used to power varying loads of 0W to 2KW, with efficiency reducing with load increase. This paper presents the design and construction procedures, as well as the performance evaluation of the generated result

Attenuation Variability in Porous Media: Effects on Phase Delay and Quality Factor

Electromagnetic methods of surveying involve the propagation of time varying low frequency electromagnetic fields in and over the earth. This gives rise to a secondary electromagnetic field and a resultant field which is picked up by suitable receiving coil. This research work modelled electromagnetic method of survey using a Cathode Ray Oscilloscope and a signal generator. This work was aimed at relating the effects of phase delay and the quality factor of a propagating signal to some properties of the homogeneous medium, like porosity (compaction), permeability and hydraulic conductivity. River bed sand was used as the sample, it was washed, oven dried, sieved into different grain sizes and the porosity was determined. Each sample was packed in a square box and connected to a signal generator and an oscilloscope. Two sinusoidal waves of the same frequency, but different amplitudes were sent from a signal generator and the measurement was taken at different frequencies. Graphs of frequency were drawn each against phase delay and Q – factor. Graphs of porosity were drawn each against phase delay and Q – factor. In conclusion, we observed that the porosity of a material increased with the decrease in the mixture of its grain size and signals were more attenuated at lower frequencies but as the frequency of the input signal was increased, the material became more permeable to the passage of the input signal. Keywords: porosity, attenuation coefficient, phase delay, quality factor and electromagnetis

Disruptive and Nondisruptive Selection for Bulk Oat Populations

A mixture of F3 seeds from 75 oat crosses was divided into four lots, with one being propagated in central Iowa for nine generations (i.e., stationary line of descent) and three being propagated in a rotational pattern in central, southern, and northern Iowa in successive generations (i.e., disruptively selected line of descent). An evaluation experiment was conducted to test whether any changes in genotypic frequencies were caused by the two propagation procedures. Increases in the means of yield traits occurred, but the magnitude and timing of the changes varied among lines of descent. The changes in the stationary and rotational lines of descent were indistinguishable. There was some trend for reduced genotypic variances for most traits with advancing generations. Probably the disruptive selection scheme did not cause differential results from the stationary one because the selection pressure due to differences in propagation sites was mild relative to the pressure due to differences in weather patterns during the years of the propagation period

A TECHNICAL SURVEY OF POST HARVEST PROCESSING OPERATIONS OF CASSAVA IN EKITI STATE, SOUTH-WEST NIGERIA

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a staple root crop of the tropics. It is a major source of energy in both human and livestock diets. However, cassava is highly perishable and must be converted into stable products soon after it is harvested. This study was therefore conducted to examine the present level of postharvest processing operations of cassava in Ekiti State, South-West Nigeria. The study was carried out using a Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) technique. Accordingly, twelve out of the sixteen local government areas of the State were randomly selected for the study. A purposive random sampling approach was used for selecting farmers for participation in the study. Structured questionnaires were administered to 10 cassava processors per LGA to make a total of 120 respondents for the study area. In addition, the method of Focus Group Discussion (FGD) was used to obtain information on the method and level of technologies used for post-harvest processing of cassava in the area. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results show that the products of cassava processing in the study area are garri, fufu, lafun and starch. 58.3% of the cassava processors process between 500 to 2500 kg of fresh cassava tubers per day with 68.3% of the processors employing a combination of traditional and modern methods to perform their processing operations. 71.6% of the respondents use head pans to move cassava tubers from point of purchase to processing facilities. The survey revealed a near absence of mechanized processing of cassava in the study area due to lack of funds by the individual processors to acquire the necessary processing machines. Accordingly, it is recommended that cluster processing facilities should be established which would allow a processor to carry out their unit operations for a fee without necessarily owning the processing equipment

Incidence of Bacterial Septicaemia in Ile-Ife Metropolis, Nigeria

A retrospective study of septicaemia was conducted in Ile-Ife metropolis with a view to determine its incidence and changes in the predominant aetiological agents. Six hundred and fifty (650) subjects, aged from one day to seventy years and above were examined. They all had clinical features suggestive of septicaemia and were on admission at the Obafemi Awolowo University hospital Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Their blood specimens were seeded into thioglycolate and glucose broths and incubated at 37 °C for 7 days. Subcultures were performed after 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 days respectively. Growth (positivity) in the broths was assessed using conventional diagnostic methods namely macroscopy (visualization), Gram filming (microscopy) and culture. The bacterial isolates harvested were subjected to in-vitro antibiotic susceptibility tests using the disc diffusion method. Etiology was established in 204 out of 650 subjects indicating an incidence of 31.4%. This difference in prevalence among different age groups was statistically significant (P < 0.01). The males (112/650, 17.2%) appeared to be more susceptible to septicaemia than the females (94/650, 14.5%) in all the age groups. This variation had no statistical significance (P > 0.01). Monomicrobial septicaemia had a higher prevalence (92.2%) than polymicrobial septicaemia (7.8%). Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli constituted 43.8%. Most of the offensive microbes were facultative anaerobes (91.7%) while very few were strict aerobes (6.8%) and strict anaerobes (1.5%). The isolated anaerobes were Peptostreptococcus sp. (0.5%) and Bacteroides fragilis (1%). The in vitro susceptibility of the bacterial isolates to antibiotics indicated 76.4-95.6% sensitivity to vancomycin, zinnat, peflacin and fortum. However, they were 60 – 90% resistant to penicillin, ampicillin, tetracycline and septrin. This study confirmed the diverse nature of bacterial etiologies of septicaemia in the area; the need for the use of thioglycolate broths, first subcultures on or before 24 h instead of starting off for after 48 h of incubation, complementary application of macroscopy, Gram filming and culture including antibiotic susceptibility test as an integral part of diagnosis and management of septicaemia is hereby advocated, most especially in the developing countries of the world