High trypanosome infections in Glossina palpalis palpalis Robineau-Desvoidy 1830 in southern Kaduna state, Nigeria

A survey was undertaken to determine the prevalence of trypanosome infection in Glossina species in Kaura Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State, Southern Guinea Savanna, Nigeria, aimed at identifying areas to be prioritized for area-wide tsetse eradication. The flies were trapped from a relic forest and also from 22 locations spread within the LGA and dissected to determine infection rates and infection types. Glossina palpalis palpalis Robineau-Desvoidy 1830 was the only tsetse species encountered both within the relic forest and the 22 locations sampled; its distribution was strictly riverine. Out of the 409 non-teneral flies dissected in the relic forest, 18.1 ± 0.02%, were infected with trypanosomes, with infections of the vivax-group dominating (76.92%) over the congolensegroup (23.01%). Of the 690 flies caught from 22 locations, 9.9 ± 1.0% were infected, 69.12% with vivax-group and 30.88% with congolense-group. Infections of the brucei-group were not encountered throughout the investigation period. The high prevalent figure of 12.64% recorded in the flies from both the relic forest and other locations portray the area as highly risky, with Bondong, Manchok and Kadarko districts being highly endemic, followed by a region of medium prevalence at Kukum district and a region of low endemicity within the mountain ranges of Zankan district. A well articulated vector eradication programme that will target G. p. palpalis and the various species of other biting dipterans is recommended as the solution to the recurring nagana problem in the area. Keywords: Glossina palpalis palpalis, Trypanosoma vivax, T. congolense, Kaduna State, Nigeri

REGULATORY FAILURES AND THE COLLAPSE OF THE CAPITAL MARKET IN NIGERIA: ALIGNING RESPONSIBILITIES WITH ACCOUNTABILTY

Despite the damaging impacts of the crash in the Nigerian capital markets between 2007 and 2011 on the economy and the established cases of regulatory failures in the industry, the question of regulatory accountability has not received much attention in Nigeria. Looking back at these regulatory failures vis-à-vis the statutory responsibilities of the regulators of the capital markets in Nigeria and comparing same with the securities regulatory authority of the UK under the FSMA, 2000 this article argued that responsibilities should go with accountability for an effective capital market regulation in Nigeria. The article found that the apex regulator in Nigeria lacks the necessary operational independence. It questioned the increasing trend of regulatory laxity and ‘highhandedness’ in the capital market. The article recommended a proper regulatory accountability through a review of administrative decisions, actions in torts on the grounds of regulatory negligence, breach of statutory duty and misfeasance in public office. It also recommended a total restructuring of the apex regulator to make it more operationally independent in line with global best practices.

Performance of broiler chickens fed on lima bean, groundnut and soybean diets

Experimental diets were formulated using lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus Linn) groundnut (Arachis hypogeae Linn) and soybean (Glacin max Linn) mixed in varying proportions to supply 23% crude protein (CP) for starter and 20% crude protein (CP) for finisher diets. Proximate analysis of the diets revealed a generally lower protein content than the calculated values. Among the 7 formulated diets, the soybean meal had the highest crude protein compared to others without it. While the energy given components of the experimental diets were higher, with groundnut meal diets recording the highest value, the crude ash and fibre content were lower than the control diet. The growth performance of 144 nine-day old broiler chickens fed on the experimental diets for 8 weeks were compared with control group fed commercial Guinea Feed. Birds consumed significantly less (P0.05) in terms of weight gain, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency in the performance of birds fed on soybean diets compared to control diet. Weight gain between the birds fed with lima beans and groundnut diets was significantly different (

Proximate and mineral composition of Tamarindus indica linn 1753 seeds

Physical parameters and nutrient contents of the whole seeds and seed nuts of Tamarindus indica L. 1753 were determined. Crude protein was between 21.25–22.20%, carbohydrate ranged from 8.9-17.10%, crude fibre was 2.33–3.82 %, crude lipid 6.94-11.43 %, in seed nuts and whole seeds respectively. Moisture contents were higher in the seed nuts 19.90 %. Removal of the seed coat increased the mineral elements in the seeds. Sodium to Potassium ratio (Na/K) was 0.1 and 0.09 while Calcium to Phosphorus ratio (Ca/P) was 0.39-1.24, with calorie values of 2 10.90 and 122.41 kcal/100g for whole seeds and seed nuts respectively. The length of pod (LOP) was 7.30 ± 1.31 cm (n=50), breadth of pod (BOP) was 3.05 ± 1.20 cm. T. indica seed nuts were found to be potential sources of mineral elements while the whole seeds were richer in other proximate components with the exception of moisture and ash contents. Keywords: Tamarindus indica, proximate composition, mineral composition, whole seed, seed nut

Experimental estimation of challenge of a natural population of Glossina palpalis palpalis R-D (Diptera:Glossinidae) on cattle in the southern Guinea Savanna, Nigeria

The challenge posed by Glossina palpalis palpalis Robineau-Desvoidy 1830 to cattle was studied in a riverine forest of Manchok, Kaduna State, Nigeria. The challenge was estimated indirectly from entomological parameters using the number of flies biting the host and the proportion of flies that are potentially infective. Trypanosome infection rates of 26% and 24.3% were recorded in flies sampled from several sites in the dry and wet seasons. From the 134 flies that landed to bite, it was estimated that each animal received an estimated 11 and 15 mean bites per day in the dry and wet season respectively out of which approximately 3 and 4 harbour infections. This means that each animal host received an estimated total infective bite of about 15 (range 0.5-4.1/hr) and 19 (range 0.9-6.6/hr) during the dry and wet seasons, equivalent to 2.96 and 3.8 infective bites per day. Of the estimated infective bites, 12.6 and 2.2 were due to T. vivax Ziemann 1905 and T. congolense Boaden 1904 received during the dry season while 17.3 and 1.5 were received during the wet season. Activity of flies started at 09.00hr during the wet season and one hour later during the dry season. For both seasons, diurnal activity was less pronounced in the early morning (06.00-11.00hr) than mid (11.00-15.00hr) and late afternoon (15.00-18.00hr), and so was the number of potentially infective bites. The number of potentially infective flies feeding per day (06.00-18.00hr) was higher and more consistent during the wet season than in the dry season but the difference was not significant (P>0.50).The results suggest a high tsetse challenge in the area which is exacerbated by several factors including the synchronized activity of the flies and grazing herds, frequency of visit to riverine habitats of the vector and duration of contact between vector and host. Key words: Tsetse fly challenge, Trypanosoma vivax, T. congolense, cattle, Nigeri

Isolation and identification of E-coli 0157:H7 amongst Sudanese patients with bloody diarrhea and in animals

E.coli 0157:H7 is present as a commensal in the intestine of animals and as a pathogen in human beings. It causes bloody diarrhoea due to the secretion of a verotoxin which may lead to lethal complications.Objective: This study is aimed at determining the presence of this organism in animals and patients. Methods: Rectal swabs were collected from 250 cows. Stool specimens were obtained from 200patients presenting with macroscopically or microscopically bloody diarrhoea. All specimens were cultured on sorbitol MacConkey agar and incubated at 37°C overnight. Non-sorbitol fermenting colonies were identified by different biochemical and serological tests as E.coli 0157:H7. Antibiotic sensitivity was done for the isolates using ampicillin, cephalexin, ciprofloxacin, co-trimoxazole, gentamicin, and tetracycline. Results: Patients (n = 10, 5%) with bloody diarrhoea were found to harbour E.coli 0157:H7 in their stools. All isolates (in humans) were resistant to ampicillin. Eight (80%) were resistant to tetracycline and cephalexin, six (60%) to co-trimoxazole, and four (40%) to gentamicin. All isolates were sensitive to ciprofloxacin. Sixty percent of the human isolates were resistant to three antibiotics and 40% to four antibiotics. Twenty of the cows (8%) were found to be carriers of E.coli0157:H7. All isolates (in animals) were resistant to ampicillin, five (25%) to tetracycline and cephalexin and four (20%) to co-trimoxazole. All animal isolates were sensitive to gentamicin and ciprofloxacin. Thirty five percent of the animal isolates were resistant to two antibiotics and 25% to three antibiotics. Conclusion: The isolation of E.coli 0157:H7 from animals and patients should direct the attentionof physicians and paediatricians to consider the possibility of infection and complications by this organism.Key words: Antibiotic sensitivity, sorbitol MacConkey agar, serological tests

Architectural and solar potential of curved and flat roofs in hot arid regions (with reference to Egypt)

This thesis investigates the effect of, various vaulted and domed roof geometries on their solar behaviour under given summer and winter conditions. Roof is the building-envelope element that is most exposed to the sun as it receives a high amount of solar radiation, which is the main cause of summer overheating in hot-arid climates. In addition, to other climatic and physical factors, indoor thermal comfort in hot-arid climates is also influenced by the intensity of solar radiation received by roof surfaces. Therefore, roof form and geometry should be designed with careful consideration to insolation parameters. Domed, vaulted, and curved roofs have been used for a long time in hot-arid regions for historical, cultural, climatic, and structural reasons. The review of previous research work showed that different explanations have been given to the climatic effects of their forms and the environmental behaviour of their enclosed spaces. The research explores the previous attempts that discussed the relevant principles of solar radiation and solar geometry on horizontal and tilted surfaces with different orientations. The previous work that applied these principles and theories to evaluate the solar behaviour of architectural elements with arbitrary forms was also investigated. In order to evaluate the solar performance of flat and curved roofs geometrical configurations, a parametric study testing the received solar radiation intensity (W/m2) on flat, vaulted, and domed roofs with different span-to-height ratios and orientations was carried out using a published solar computer model. The results of this model were followed by validation tests using other two commercially available computer tools to carry out a brief solar and thermal analysis of selected curved-roof geometries. The evaluated curved-roofs solar performance and main findings of the present research have been compared with recently published independent research. It is believed that this research establishes a sound theoretical basis for the validity of various claims of the climatic advantages of different curved-roof forms in hot-arid regions. As part of this research outcome, solar and architectural design-guidelines for curved-roofs are introduced. The research concludes with a discussion of the architectural and solar potential of curved-roof forms, which is believed to be novel contribution to the knowledge and the understanding of curved-roofs solar behaviour and architectural applications in hot-arid climates

Observation and study of cavitation in closed flow system

Paper presented at the 9th International Conference on Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics, Malta, 16-18 July, 2012.Cavitation phenomenon is one of the most problems affecting the performance and efficiency of hydraulic machines and causes erosion damage to the machine. In the last decades many of researches have been focused to eliminate and minimize the cavitation occurrence in hydraulic machines. A special water tunnel was designed and constructed in order to obtain adequate information about incipient, developed and breakdown cavitation in a closed flow system, and hence use it as criteria to evaluate the point of cavitation inception in centrifugal pumps. The cavitation has been obtained using different bodies of circle, triangle and rectangular shapes fixed at up-steam of the tunnel test section. The effects of flow velocity, discharge and cavitation source shape against the cavitation degree were obtained. The relationship between the flow velocity at throat of test section and cavitation inception number was obtained.dc201

How much charm can PANDA produce?

We consider the production of charmed baryons and mesons in the proton-antiproton binary reactions at the energies of the future $\bar{P}$ANDA experiment. To describe these processes in terms of hadronic interaction models, one needs strong couplings of the initial nucleons with the intermediate and final charmed hadrons. Similar couplings enter the models of binary reactions with strange hadrons. For both charmed and strange hadrons we employ the strong couplings and their ratios calculated from QCD light-cone sum rules. In this method finite masses of $c$ and $s$ quarks are taken into account. Employing the Kaidalov's quark-gluon string model with Regge poles and adjusting the normalization of the amplitudes in this model to the calculated strong couplings, we estimate the production cross section of charmed hadrons. For $p\bar{p}\to \Lambda_c\bar{\Lambda}_c$ it can reach several tens of $nb$ at $p_{lab}= 15 {GeV}$, whereas the cross sections of $\Sigma_c$ and $D$ pair production are predicted to be smaller.Comment: 22 pages, 6 figures, matches published versio

Comparative analysis of physicochemical characteristics of ABU and Zaria Dam

The physical and chemical parameters of ABU Dam and Zaria Dam were carried out between September and October 2009. The results obtained in the two water bodies were temperature 27.7 0C, pH (7.5 and 7.3), dissolved oxygen (5.8 mg/l and 5.0 mg/l), biochemical oxygen demand (1.74 mg/l and 2. 16 mg/l), alkalinity (58 mg CaC03/l and 49 mgCaCO3/l) P04-P (2.47 mg/l and 1.59 mg/l) NO3-N (3.67 mg/l and 3.47 mg/l), conductivity (54.70 ~ks-1 and 42.48 ~ks-1), total hydrocarbon (TH) (47.66 mg/l) and 48.00 mg/l) and total dissolved solids (32.68 mg/l and 25.35 mg/l) respectively. There was no significant difference in the mean values of the parameters (P>0.05) except conductivity and total dissolved solids. The water bodies were found to be neutral with high conductivity. All the properties in the water bodies were in conformity with international standards both for drinking and aquatic life