Lecture Attendance System Using Radio Frequency Identification and Facial Recognition

We propose a nexus of wireless biometric solution to the problem of lecture attendance records in an academic environment.The conventional method of taking attendance records on paper particularly in an environment with lower student/lecturerratio is not only laborious but robs on the precious time that could be used for an effective learning. We demonstrated theefficacy of our proposed method against conventional methods as being capable of eliminating time wastage..Keywords: RFID, Facial Recognition, Lecture, Attendance, Tags, Short range reader

In Vivo Toxicity Studies and Phytochemical Screening of Stem Bark of Ficus Sycomorus Linn (Moraceae)

This research paper has investigated the In vivo toxicity studies and phytochemical screening of Stem bark of Ficus sycomorus Linn (Moraceae). Ethno-pharmacological relevance of Ficus sycomorus is quite obvious. It finds relevance in the treatment of Diabetes mellitus and other infectious diseases in the Northern part of Nigeria. The preliminary phytochemical screening of the extract revealed the presence of flavonoids, glycosides, reducing sugars, resins, saponins and tannins. The result of the experimental study carried out on albino rat which is close to human being indicates that stem bark extract of F. sycomorus produces toxicity at a dose of 1500 mg/kg. The outcome of this study offers support to the Ethno-medicinal uses of F. sycomorus in the treatment of various ailments. Keyword: F. sycomorus, Phytochemical, Saponins, flavonoids, glycosides, reducing sugars and Toxicit

ALTERNATIVE FEED RESOURCES FOR FORMULATING CONCENTRATE DIETS OF RABBITS. 1. UNTHRESHED GRAIN AMARANTH SEEDHEAD

[EN] The acceptable leve! of inclusion of unthreshed inflorescence or seedheads of mature grain amaranth plants (GASH) as feed ingredient of concentrate diets of rabbits was examined. Four diets were formulated with GASH inclusion levels of O (control), 10, 20 and 30%, respectively, by partially replacing the levels of oil cakes in the diets. These were fed to rabbits in an eight-week long feeding trial (8 rabbits/treatment) and a digestibility trials (4 rabbits per treatment). The initial weight of the 7-8 week old rabbits was 710 g (adult weight of this population is 1 .8 to 2.4 kg). The proximate composition (g/kg DM) of GASH was : 151 crude protein ; 43 crude fibre ; 572 nitrogen free extrae!. lntake and weight gain were reduced with diets containing 20 and 30% GASH but values of the control diet, which were highest, were not significantly higher than those of the 10% GASH diet (daily intake 44 and 37.4 g DM, and weight gain 10.0 and 8.2 g for O and 10 % GASH). Feed efficiency was similar for the 4 diets : 0.22 weight gain/g DM feed intake. Dry matter and nutrient digestibility and feed conversion efficiency of the GASH diets were generally high with minar differences among the diets. Haematological parameters and serum metabolites were generally better with the 1 O and 20% GASH diets than with the control diet but poorer with the 30% GASH diet. Higher white blood cell counts were recorded in the GASH diets than the control. Thus, unthreshed mature grain amaranth seedhead can be used as a componen! of the concentrate feeds of rabbits, up to 10% dietary level, to partially replace expensive oil cakes in the diets.[FR] Cette étude a pour but de déterminer le niveau optima! d'inclusion dans un aliment concentré pour lapins, des sommités florales mares mais non battues d'amarante a grain (GASH), c'est a dire de !'ensemble brut de la partie portan! les graines. Quatre aliments ont été formulés comme suit: addition de GASH a 0% (témoin), 10%, 20% et 30% respectivement, par remplacement partiel des tourteaux (palmiste principalement). Ces aliments ont été distribués aux lapins dans un essai de croissance ayant duré 8 semaines (8 lapins par lot) et dans un essai de digestibilité (4 lapins par lot). Les lapins ílgés de 7-8 semaines en début d'essai avaient un poids initial de 71 Og (poids adulte dans cette population : 1,8 a 2,4 kg). La composition approximative du GASH (g/kg MS) était: protéines brutes 151 ; cellulose brute 43 ; extractif non azoté 572. La consommation alimentaire et le gain de poids ont été réduits avec les aliments contenant 20 et 30 % GASH ; mais les valeurs pour l'aliment témoin, nettement plus élevées, ne sont pas significativement différentes de celles obtenues avec 10 % de GASH (consommation journaliére 44 et 37,4g MS et gain de poids 10,0 et 8,2g/j. pour O et 1 O % de GASH). L'efficacité alimentaire a été identique pour les 4 aliments : gain de poids 0,22/g MS ingérée. La digestibilité de la matiére séche et des différents nutriments et l'efficacité alimentaire des aliments contenant du GASH étaient élevés. Les meilleurs résultats par rapport a l'aliment témoin ont été obtenus avec les aliments contenant 10 et 20 % de GASH, les plus mauvais concernant l'aliment avec 30 % de GASH. Par rapport au lot témoin, une quantité plus élevée de globules blancs a été trouvée dans le sang des lapins des lots recevant du GASH. En conclusion, les inflorescences non battues, portan! des graines matures d'amarante a grain peuvent étre utilisées a hauteur de 1 o % dans les aliments concentrés pour lapin, pour remplacer partiellement les tourteaux de graines oléagineuses.Bamikole, M.; Ezenwa, I.; Adewumi, M.; Omojola, A.; Adetimirin, V.; Arigbede, O.; Orisadeyi, S. (2000). ALTERNATIVE FEED RESOURCES FOR FORMULATING CONCENTRATE DIETS OF RABBITS. 1. UNTHRESHED GRAIN AMARANTH SEEDHEAD. World Rabbit Science. doi:10.4995/wrs.2000.428SWORD08

Silver nanoparticle synthesis by Acalypha wilkesiana extract: phytochemical screening, characterization, influence of operational parameters, and preliminary antibacterial testing

Single pot green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was successfully carried out using medicinal plantextract ofAcalypha wilkesianavia bottom-up approach. Five imperative operational parameters (pH, contact time,concentration, volume ratio and temperature) pivotal to the synthesis of silver nanoparticles were investigated.The study showed pH 9, 90 min contact time, 0.001 M Agþconcentration, volume ratio 1:9 (extract: Agþsolu-tion), and temperature between 90–100�C were important for the synthesis ofAcalypha wilkesianasilvernanoparticles (AW-AgNPs). Phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of saponins,flavonoids, phenols andtriterpenes for A.wilkesiana. These phytomolecules served as both capping and stabilizing agent in the greensynthesis of silver nanoparticles. AW-AgNPs was characterized by UV-Vis Spectroscopy, Fourier TransformInfrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX). The surface Plasmon resonance (SPR) was observed at 450 nm which is acharacteristic absorbance region of AW-AgNPs formation as a result of the collective oscillation of free electron ofsilver nanoparticles. FTIR Spectroscopy confirmed the presence of functional groups responsible for bioreductionof Agþ. SEM and TEM results confirmed a well dispersed AW-AgNPs of spherical shape. EDX shows the elementaldistribution and confirmed AgNPs with a characteristic intense peak at 3.0 keV. AW-AgNPs showed significantinhibition against selected Gram negative and Gram positive prevailing bacteria. AW-AgNPs can therefore berecommended as potential antimicrobial and therapeutic agent against multidrug resistant pathogens

A multi-country phase 2 study to evaluate the suitcase lab for rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 in seven Sub-Saharan African countries: Lessons from the field

From Elsevier via Jisc Publications RouterHistory: issued 2023-03-03Article version: AMPaul Kadetz - ORCID: 0000-0002-2824-1856 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2824-1856Background : The COVID-19 pandemic led to severe health systems collapse, as well as logistics and supply delivery shortages across sectors. Delivery of PCR related healthcare supplies continue to be hindered. There is the need for a rapid and accessible SARS-CoV-2 molecular detection method in low resource settings. Objectives : To validate a novel isothermal amplification method for rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 across seven sub-Sharan African countries. Study design : In this multi-country phase 2 diagnostic study, 3,231 clinical samples in seven African sites were tested with two reverse transcription Recombinase-Aided Amplification (RT-RAA) assays (based on SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid (N) gene and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) gene). The test was performed in a mobile suitcase laboratory within 15 minutes. All results were compared to a real-time RT-PCR assay. Extraction kits based on silica gel or magnetic beads were applied. Results : Four sites demonstrated good to excellent agreement, while three sites showed fair to moderate results. The RdRP gene assay exhibited an overall PPV of 0.92 and a NPV of 0.88. The N gene assay exhibited an overall PPV of 0.93 and a NPV 0.88. The sensitivity of both RT-RAA assays varied depending on the sample Ct values. When comparing sensitivity between sites, values differed considerably. For high viral load samples, the RT-RAA assay sensitivity ranges were between 60.5 and 100% (RdRP assay) and 25 and 98.6 (N assay). Conclusion : Overall, the RdRP based RT-RAA test showed the best assay accuracy. This study highlights the challenges of implementing rapid molecular assays in field conditions. Factors that are important for successful deployment across countries include the implementation of standardized operation procedures, in-person continuous training for staff, and enhanced quality control measures.inpressinpres

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

The past 2 years, during which waves of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants swept the globe, have starkly highlighted health disparities across nations. Tegally et al. show how the coordinated efforts of talented African scientists have in a short time made great contributions to pandemic surveillance and data gathering. Their efforts and initiatives have provided early warning that has likely benefited wealthier countries more than their own. Genomic surveillance identified the emergence of the highly transmissible Beta and Omicron variants and now the appearance of Omicron sublineages in Africa. However, it is imperative that technology transfer for diagnostics and vaccines, as well the logistic wherewithal to produce and deploy them, match the data-gathering effort