Evaluation of Agronomic and Physiological Characteristics of Ten Castor Bean Plant Accessions in Ogbomoso, Nigeria

In spite of numerous industrial benefit of castor plant (Ricinus communis L.), its production is hindered due to lack of adequate agronomic practices. Field experiments were conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria during 2014 and 2015 cropping seasons to evaluate the performance of ten accessions of castor plant. The treatments consisted of nine improved accessions of castor plant and a local variety. In each year, the 10 treatments were laid out in completely randomize block design and replicated three times. Data were collected on growth, seed yield and yield attributes parameters. Data collected in 2014 and 2015 were pooled and subjected to analysis of variance while means were separated using Least Significant Difference at 5% probability level. Growth, yield and yield attributes parameters of castor plant accessions were significantly influenced (p≤0.05). NCRICAS041 produced the tallest plant (190.0 cm) at harvest which was significantly taller than others. The highest mean number of capsules per raceme (150.33) produced by NCRICAS056 was significantly higher than others. NCRICAS056 produced the highest seed yield (1,919 kg/ha) while NCRICAS057 gave the least (1,047 kg/ha). The results of accessions seed yield attributes did not followed any specific other. In conclusion, variability among the accessions in growth and seed yield were apparent. Accessions NCRICAS041 and NCRICAS056 performed better than the locally sourced CASGPMAN. They are therefore recommended for the study area. Keywords: Castor, Accessions, Growth parameter, Seed, Seed attributes, DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/9-18-03 Publication date:September 30th 201

Application of a Modified g -Parameter Prior in Bayesian Model Averaging to Water Pollution in Ibadan

A special technique that measures the uncertainties embedded in model selection processes is Bayesian Model Averaging (BMA) which depends on the appropriate choices of model and parameter priors. Inspite the importance of the parameter priors' specification in BMA, the existing parameter priors give exitremely low Posterior Model Probability (PMP). Therefore, this paper elicits modified g-parameter priors to improve the performance of the PMP and predictive ability of the model with an application to the Water Pollution of Asejire in Ibadan.  The modified g-parameter priors gj = , established the consistency conditions and asymptotic properties using the models in the literature. The results show that the PMP with the best prior (gj= ) had the least standard deviations (0.0411 at n=100,000 and 0:000 at n=1000) for models 1 & 2 respectively; and had the highest posterior means (0.9577 at n=100,000 and 1.000 at n=1000) for models 1 & 2 respectively. The point and overall predictive performances for the best prior were 2.357 at n=50 and 2.335 at n=100,000 when compared with the BMA Log Predictive Score threshold of 2.335. Applying this best g-parameter prior in modeling the Asejire river, it indicates that the dissolved solids (mg/l) and total solids (mg/l) are the most important pollutants in the river model with their PIP of 6.14% and 6.1% respectively. Keywords:        Posterior Inclusion Probability (PIP), Log-Predictive Score, Model   Uncertainty, Dissolved Solids DOI: 10.7176/JEES/9-11-06 Publication date: November 30th 201

Effects of Pinching Time on the Performance of three Tomato Varieties (Lycopersicon lycopersicum Mill) in Ogbomoso and Mokwa, Nigeria

Field experiment was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso and Niger State College of Agriculture, Mokwa, in 2012 cropping season to examine the effects of pinching on fruit yield and nutritional qualities of three tomato varieties. The experiment had twelve treatments of three varieties (Ogbomoso Local, Mokwa Local and UC82B) of tomato and four pinching times (0, 2, 4 and 6) weeks after transplanting (WAT), replicated three times. The experiment was laid out as split plot arranged in Randomized Complete Block Design. Data were collected on plant height, number of flowers, number of fruits and total fruit yield. The determination of fruit phytochemical contents at full ripening, 6 fruit samples were randomly selected per plot and analysed for nutritional qualities such as crude Protein, Carotene, Iron, Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium, Lycopene, Magnesium, Vitamin C contents. Data was analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) SAS package and treatment means compared using least significant difference (LSD) at 5% probability level. There were varietal differences in fresh fruit yield among the three varieties of tomato. UC82B gave the highest fruit yield (23.10 t ha-1) while Mokwa Local recorded the least (12.00 t ha-1). Pinching improved fruit yield of tomato. Plants pinched at 4 WAT gave the highest fruit yield (19.60 t ha-1) and the least obtained from un-pinched plants (12.50 t ha 1). Nutritional qualities (Lycopene, phosphorus, potassium) was best at PT of 6 WAT. It could be concluded from this experiment that, though highest yield of tomato (19.60 t ha-1) occurred with pinching at 4 WAT, the best nutritional qualities were obtained when pinched at 6 WAT. Also, UC82B was better than other varieties in terms of yield performance

The prevalence of and factors associated with tobacco smoking behavior among long-distance drivers in Lagos, Nigeria

Background: Factors associated with tobacco smoking are useful in designing tobacco control programs.Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of and factors associated with tobacco smoking among long-distance drivers.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Stratified cluster sampling approach was used to select drivers based on if they received annual health screening (AHS) or not (non AHS). We used a structured questionnaire to obtain information and weighted the resulting observations to derive population based estimates. Association between tobacco smoking and socio-demographic factors was explored in multivariate models.Results: 414 male drivers, mean age 43.6 (standard error 0.6) years. Population weighted prevalence of current smoking was 18.9% (95% CI: 14.3-23.4) of all drivers, 6.5% (95% CI: 2.6-10.4) of AHS drivers and 19.5 (95% CI: 14.7-24.2) of non AHS drivers (p<0.001). In multivariate models, having close friends that smoked (OR= 6.36, 95% CI= 2.49 - 16.20) cargo driving (OR= 2.58, 95% CI= 1.29 - 5.15) and lower education levels (OR for post-secondary education vs. primary education or less= 0.17, 95% CI= 0.04 - 0.81) were associated with current smoking.Conclusion: Prevalence of tobacco smoking is higher among non AHS compared to AHS drivers. Having close friends that smoked, cargo driving, and lower education levels were associated with current smoking.Keywords: Tobacco smoking behavior, long-distance drivers, Lagos, Nigeri

Effect of NPK Fertilizer and Transplant Age On Growth, Fruit Yield And Nutritional Content Of Solanum Melongena South Western Nigeria

Good and sustainable agronomic practices are needed in vegetable production to maintain high crop yield.  As part of efforts to achieve this, two field experiments were carried out between 2008 and 2010 to evaluate the combined effects of age of transplant and NPK fertilizer on the growth, fruit yield and quality of Solanum melongena var.’ long purple’. Four levels of NPK fertilizer (0, 200, 300 and 400 kg NPK/ha) and three ages of transplanting (5, 6 and 7 weeks after sowing) in 12 factorial combinations were the treatments. These were laid out in randomized complete block design replicated thrice. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance and significant means compared using least significant difference (LSD) at 5% probability level. All the growth parameters and fruit attributes assessed increased with increasing levels of NPK. Application of 300 kg NPK/ha produced the best growth while plants that received 200 kg NPK /ha and non-fertilized plants had least performance. The fruit and seed attributes such as fruit length and girth, number of fruits/plant,  number of seeds/fruits, seed weight, and fruit yield were all significantly influenced by the fertilizer levels. The number of fruits/plant ranges from 4.3 in non- fertilized plants to 8.2 in 300kg NPK /ha treatment. There was no significant difference in fruit yield produced by 300 (26.88 t /ha) and 400 kg (28.78 t /ha) NPK /ha treatments. Transplanting of seedling at 6 weeks after sowing (WAS) produced significantly better plant growth, fruit attributes and fruit yield compared to plants transplanted at 5 and 7 WAS. It can be concluded that application of 300 kg NPK /ha in combination with transplanting of seedlings at 6 weeks are good agronomic practices that could ensure optimum performance of Solanum melongena. Key words: Solanum melongena, NPK fertilizer, age of transplant, growth, fruit yield                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Evaluation of Health Education Intervention on Safe Immunization Injection among Health Workers in Ilorin, Nigeria

Background: Vaccination is expected to be a safe medical intervention that will not lead to harm. Part of this expectation arises because vaccines are routinely given to healthy children. However, reports have shown that about one-third of all vaccination injections are unsafe partly due to poor knowledge and skills of health workers on injection safety. Method: At the pre-intervention stage of this study, semi-structured questionnaires were administered to 102 consenting staff and observational checklist was completed for each of the 13 static immunization centres in the study area. In the intervention stage, the subjects were grouped into case group (50 subjects who had health education intervention given) and the control (52 subjects who were not given health education). While at the post-intervention stage, questionnaires and observational checklist similar to what was used at the pre-intervention stage were administered to both the case and the control groups. Results: Most of the subjects 82(80.4%) had poor knowledge of safe immunization injection technique and were not aware of any policy on injection safety. Injection abscess was the main health hazard of unsafe injection reported by majority 71(69.6%) of the subjects while few of them, 10(9.8%), mentioned needle prick as a health hazard. About two-thirds of them 69(67.6%) felt that open burning is the ideal method of disposal of injection waste, while the actual methods of disposal commonly practiced in most health facilities was open burning 49(48%). Post-intervention results showed that subjects in the case group had better knowledge of injection safety than those in the control especially on issues like what constitute safe injection; injection safety policy, handling and disposal of injection waste and these were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Also, there was remarkable improvement on injection safety practices in health facilities of the case group than was observed in the control, but these were not statistically significant except in the area of single use of syringe for each patient. Conclusion: Health education in the form of training on basic concept of injection safety for health workers is an effective strategy in promoting safe immunization injection at the health facility level.Introduction : Comme on doit s'y attendre, la vaccination doit \ueatre une intervention m\ue9dicale sans danger qui ne va pas faire du mal \ue0 l'homme. C'est en partie du au fait que des vaccines sont administr\ue9es syst\ue9matiquement aux enfants en bonne sant\ue9. Toutefois, des rapports avaient montr\ue9s qu' environ le tiers de tous les piqures des vaccinations sont dangereux en partie attribuable au mauvaise connaissance et habilet\ue9 des inspecteurs de la sant\ue9 sur une injection sans danger. M\ue9thode : Au niveau pr\ue9-intervention de cette \ue9tude, des questionnaires demi structur\ue9s ont \ue9t\ue9 administr\ue9s aux 102 personnel volontaires et une liste r\ue9capitulative et observationnelle a \ue9t\ue9 remplie pour chacun des 13 centres d'immunisation stactics dans la r\ue9gion d'\ue9tude. Dans le stade de l'intervention, les sujets ont \ue9t\ue9 divis\ue9s en groupe de cas (50 sujets qui avaient subi un enseignement d'intervention de la sant\ue9) et le groupe t\ue9moin (52 sujets qui n'avaient pas eu l'enseignement de la sant\ue9). Au cours d'\ue9tape post-intervention, des questionnaires et une liste r\ue9capitulative observationnelle semblable au celle dont on avait utilis\ue9 dans le niveau pr\ue9-interventionnel ont \ue9t\ue9 administr\ue9s chez les deux groupes. R\ue9sultats: La plupart de sujets 82 soit 80,4% avaient mauvaise connaissance sur la m\ue9thode du vaccin d'immunisation sans danger et ils ne savaient pas aucune politique sur l'injection de s\ue9curit\ue9. Abc\ue8s \ue0 travers l'injection \ue9tait le risque majeur pour la sant\ue9 de l'injection sans danger rapport\ue9 par la majorit\ue9 71(69,6%) des sujets tandis que peu parmi eux 10(9,8%) ont mention\ue9 la piqure d'aiguille comme un risque pour la sant\ue9. Environ deux tiers d'entre eux 69(67,6%) avaient l'impression que combustion ouverte est la m\ue9thode id\ue9ale de la mise au rebut des d\ue9chets/ordures de l'injection, tandis que la m\ue9thode v\ue9ritable de la mise au rebut le plus ordinairement utilis\ue9e dans la majorit\ue9 des centres hospitaliers \ue9tait la combustion ouverte 49 (48%). Des r\ue9sultats postinterventionels avaient montr\ue9 que des sujets dans le groupe t\ue9moin en particulier sur les probl\ue8mes comme ; qu'est ce qui constitue l'injection sans danger ? La politique sur la s\ue9curit\ue9 de l'injection, maniement et la mise en rebut des ordures des injections et tous sont statisquement importants (P<0,05). De plus, il y avait une am\ue9lioration remarquable sur la pratique de l'injection sans danger dans les centres hospitalier de groupe de cas plus qu' \ue9tait not\ue9 dans le groupe t\ue9moin, mais ils ne sont pas statisquement importants \ue0 l'exception de la zone o\uf9 on utilise une seule seringue pour chaque patient. Conclusion: L'enseignement sur la sant\ue9 dans la forme d'une formation sur la conception de base sur l'injection sans danger pour les inspecteurs de la sant\ue9 est une strat\ue9gie efficace dans le progr\ue8s et dans l'am\ue9lioration de l'injection d'immunisation sans danger au niveau du centre h\uf4pitalier

REPRODUCTIVE RESPONSE TO INCLUSION OF GRADED LEVELS OF Ipomoea purpurea LEAF MEAL (MORNING GLORY) IN DIETS OF LAYING CHICKENS

Reproductive responses of laying birds fed Ipomea purpurea leaf meal (IPML) were investigated. Atotal of 40, 25-weeks old birds grouped into four treatments of 0, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5% inclusion levels of IPML were used for this experiment in a completely randomized design layout. The birds were artificially inseminated with semen from cockerels on controlled diet thrice in a week. A total of 400 eggs were collected and set in an incubator. There were no significant differences (p>0.05) in Hen day production,feed/dozen eggs and the egg characteristics investigated. The blood glucose levels significantly decreased (p<0.05) while level of progesterone significantly increased (p<0.05) with increase inlevel of IPLM inclusion. The percentages of fertility and hatchability were high while the survivability was 100%. It can be concluded that IPLM inclusion level of up to 7.50% supports high fertility, hatchability and survivability and could be used in breeder diets for the production of fertile eggs

The prevalence of and factors associated with tobacco smoking behavior among long-distance drivers in Lagos, Nigeria.

Background: Factors associated with tobacco smoking are useful in designing tobacco control programs. Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of and factors associated with tobacco smoking among long-distance drivers. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Stratified cluster sampling approach was used to select drivers based on if they received annual health screening (AHS) or not (non AHS). We used a structured questionnaire to obtain information and weighted the resulting observations to derive population based estimates. Association between tobacco smoking and socio-demographic factors was explored in multivariate models. Results: 414 male drivers, mean age 43.6 (standard error 0.6) years. Population weighted prevalence of current smoking was 18.9% (95% CI: 14.3-23.4) of all drivers, 6.5% (95% CI: 2.6-10.4) of AHS drivers and 19.5 (95% CI: 14.7-24.2) of non AHS drivers (p<0.001). In multivariate models, having close friends that smoked (OR= 6.36, 95% CI= 2.49 - 16.20) cargo driving (OR= 2.58, 95% CI= 1.29 - 5.15) and lower education levels (OR for post-secondary education vs. primary education or less= 0.17, 95% CI= 0.04 - 0.81) were associated with current smoking. Conclusion: Prevalence of tobacco smoking is higher among non AHS compared to AHS drivers. Having close friends that smoked, cargo driving, and lower education levels were associated with current smoking

Conversational artificial intelligence in the AEC industry: A review of present status, challenges and opportunities

The idea of developing a system that can converse and understand human languages has been around since the 1200 s. With the advancement in artificial intelligence (AI), Conversational AI came of age in 2010 with the launch of Apple’s Siri. Conversational AI systems leveraged Natural Language Processing (NLP) to understand and converse with humans via speech and text. These systems have been deployed in sectors such as aviation, tourism, and healthcare. However, the application of Conversational AI in the architecture engineering and construction (AEC) industry is lagging, and little is known about the state of research on Conversational AI. Thus, this study presents a systematic review of Conversational AI in the AEC industry to provide insights into the current development and conducted a Focus Group Discussion to highlight challenges and validate areas of opportunities. The findings reveal that Conversational AI applications hold immense benefits for the AEC industry, but it is currently underexplored. The major challenges for the under exploration were highlighted and discusses for intervention. Lastly, opportunities and future research directions of Conversational AI are projected and validated which would improve the productivity and efficiency of the industry. This study presents the status quo of a fast-emerging research area and serves as the first attempt in the AEC field. Its findings would provide insights into the new field which be of benefit to researchers and stakeholders in the AEC industry

Genetic Determinants of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis among HIV-Infected Patients in Nigeria

Tuberculosis (TB) is the most common opportunistic infection in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients and the emergence of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) is a growing problem in resource-limited settings. Adequate infrastructure for testing drug sensitivity and sufficient evidence of first-line resistance are currently unavailable in Nigeria. We collected sputum samples from HIV-infected patients enrolled in the Harvard PEPFAR/APIN Plus program over 12 months at two PEPFAR antiretroviral therapy (ART) clinics in the southwest and north central regions in Nigeria. Smear-positive sputum samples were submitted for GenoType MTBDRplus testing (n = 415); mutations were confirmed through sequencing. Our results show high rates of DR-TB in Nigerian HIV-infected individuals (7.0% for rifampin [RIF] and 9.3% for RIF or isoniazid [INH]). Total RIF resistance indicative of MDR-TB in treatment-naive patients was 5.52%, far exceeding the World Health Organization predictions (0 to 4.3%). RIF resistance was found in 6/213 (2.8%) cases, INH resistance was found in 3/215 (1.4%) cases, and MDR-TB was found in 8/223 (3.6%) cases. We found significantly different amounts of DR-TB by location (18.18% in the south of the country versus 3.91% in the north central region [P < 0.01]). Furthermore, RIF resistance was genetically distinct, suggesting possible location-specific strains are responsible for the transmission of drug resistance (P < 0.04). Finally, GenoType MTBDRplus correctly identified the drug-resistant samples compared to sequencing in 96.8% of cases. We found that total DR-TB in HIV-infection is high and that transmission of drug-resistant TB in HIV-infected patients in Nigeria is higher than predicted