A framework combining geophysical and hydrogeological data for protecting groundwater sources in Nigeria

Groundwater is preferred to surface water as a drinking water source because it is less vulnerable to contamination from pathogens and chemical compounds. However, there is an increasing threat to groundwater health globally and in Nigeria resulting from sources such as uncontrolled use of fertilizers, chemicals and saltwater intrusion along coastal aquifers. To avoid high remediation costs and the health hazards associated with contaminated groundwater, it is preferable to protect groundwater sources. Groundwater source protection approaches include imaging aquifer structure, mapping source catchment area, estimating travel time distribution and parameters controlling groundwater flow and solute transport as well as investigating the mechanisms controlling saltwater intrusion. These studies require the use of numerical models parameterized by field parameter estimates. Field estimates of aquifer parameters at high resolution remains a challenge globally and in Nigeria, the quantification of spatially varying hydraulic parameters necessary to reduce uncertainties in groundwater source protection and assess vulnerability has received minimal attention. This research therefore takes a first step in exploring the use of predictive numerical models and field parameter estimates integrating geophysical and hydrogeological methods for protecting groundwater sources from anthropogenic contamination and seawater intrusion. We utilized refraction seismic and electrical resistivity for delineating the aquifer architecture while resistivity provided a proxy for imaging saltwater intrusion and transient groundwater flow. The multi-geophysical data sets aided high resolution estimates of hydrodynamic and hydrodispersive parameters used for calibrating the groundwater flow and solute transport models using MODFLOW, MT3DMS and SEAWAT. In addition to extending the global state of the art on characterizing aquifer heterogeneity at high resolution, this research produces a framework that can aid policy formulation for protecting groundwater resources in Nigeria

Child malaria treatment decisions by mothers of children less than five years of age attending an outpatient clinic in south-west Nigeria: an application of the PEN-3 cultural model

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Using the PEN-3 cultural model, this study sought to understand mothers treatment decisions about their child febrile illness by examining positive health beliefs and practices held by mothers, examine existential (unique) practices that are indigenous to mothers and have no harmful health consequences, and explore negative beliefs and practices that limit recommended responses to febrile illness in children.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This qualitative study was conducted in the paediatric section of an outpatient clinic in south-west Nigeria. A total of 123 mothers with children less than five years of age with febrile illness diagnosed as malaria by physicians were individually interviewed on their treatment-seeking practices prior to visiting the clinic and their reasons for attendance at the clinic.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>For some mothers interviewed, effective treatment from the clinic for their child's febrile illness, coupled with physician's approach with malaria diagnosis and treatment practices was important in generating positive maternal treatment-seeking responses to child febrile illness. In addition, beliefs related to a child teething highlighted existential decisions with treatment-seeking for child febrile illness in this setting. Finally, the belief that febrile illness is not all that severe despite noticeable signs and symptoms was a concerning negative perception shared by some mothers in this study.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The findings highlight the need to consider not only the responses that may serve as barriers to effective treatment, but also an acknowledgment of the positive and existential responses that are equally critical in influencing mothers' management of malaria in their children.</p

RETOOLING NIGERIAS ELECTRICITY GENERATION SUB –SYSTEM FOR SUSTAINABLE GRID OPERATION

Experts are varied in estimating the amount of power needed for national development. One expert estimated 297,900 MW by the year 2030 using a 13 percent Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The Power Sector Road Map’s aspiration is 40,000 MW by the year 2020 while the preferred Vision 20:2020 target is 40GW (40,000 MW)available capacity. Vision 20:2020 further proposed that hydro sources contribute 10% of this value; thermal, 80%; coal, 6% and renewables, 4%. However, as at December 2017, Nigeria’s totalinstalled generating capacity was 12,324.40 MW. In order to assess the fundamentals and proffer solutions for the improvement of power generation to meet popular expectations, this work analyses the installed capacities of the nation from 1986 –1995, on the one hand and from 2007 –2016, on the other hand using graphical illustrations and tables. The gap between the two time phases was deliberate to create some effect. The results show that over the years, there has been an apparent, non –challance towards systematic development of Nigeria’s power sector. To put a check to this deteriorating condition / trend, useful suggestionshave been mad

Fatty acids in some cooking oils as agents of hormonal manipulation in a rat model of benign prostate cancer

Anti-androgenic substances, mainly prostate 5α-reductase inhibitors, used in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) have been associated with side effects in man and animals. To reduce these side effects as well as suppress BPH development, the management of the condition has come to include dietary interventions. This study investigated the effect of some cooking oils on testosterone-induced hyperplasia of the prostate in rats. Male Sprague-dawley rats were distributed into eighteen groups (n=6) as A-R. A negative control group was injected subcutaneously with soya oil; while prostatic hyperplasia was induced subcutaneously in groups B-R with 3mg/kg testosterone daily for 14days. Group B was the positive control (BPH group) while groups C-R were also administered orally 800mg/kg of coconut, castor, canola, cottonseed, pomegranate, blackseed, sheabutter, olive oil, codliver, sardine, palm, repeatedly heated palm (RHPO), vegetable, repeatedly-heated vegetable (RHVO), sesame, and groundnut oils respectively, daily, for 14 days. Blood sample was drawn via retro-orbital sinus for the estimation of serum testosterone(T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) level and rats were thereafter euthanized to obtain the prostates for T and DHT determination as well as tissue weights. Data are mean ± SEM, compared by ANOVA. The oils significantly reduced the increase in prostate weight (PW) to body weight (BW) ratio induced by testosterone. Apart from the fact that all the oils reduced the PW:BW ratio, the blackseed, sheabutter, sardine, vegetable and groundnut oils suppressed the DHT level in the serum, while pomegranate, olive, RHPO reduced DHT level in the prostate compared to the BPH rats. This study suggests that blackseed, sheabutter, sardine, vegetable, groundnut, pomegranate, olive, and RHPO oils could inhibit testosterone-induced hyperplasia of the prostate and therefore may be beneficial in the management of BPH.Keywords: benign prostatic hyperplasia, cooking oils, fatty acids, rat, dihydrotestosterone, testosteron