A Review of Indigenous Food Crops in Africa and the Implications for more Sustainable and Healthy Food Systems

Indigenous and traditional foods crops (ITFCs) have multiple uses within society, and most notably have an important role to play in the attempt to diversify the food in order to enhance food and nutrition security. However, research suggests that the benefits and value of indigenous foods within the South African and the African context have not been fully understood and synthesized. Their potential value to the African food system could be enhanced if their benefits were explored more comprehensively. This synthesis presents a literature review relating to underutilized indigenous crop species and foods in Africa. It organizes the findings into four main contributions, nutritional, environmental, economic, and social-cultural, in line with key themes of a sustainable food system framework. It also goes on to unpack the benefits and challenges associated with ITFCs under these themes. A major obstacle is that people are not valuing indigenous foods and the potential benefit that can be derived from using them is thus neglected. Furthermore, knowledge is being lost from one generation to the next, with potentially dire implications for long-term sustainable food security. The results show the need to recognize and enable indigenous foods as a key resource in ensuring healthy food systems in the African continent

Modeling of Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) for Transmission in Broadband Wireless Communications

Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) is a multi carrier modulation technique that provides high bandwidth efficiency because the carriers are orthogonal to each other and multiple carriers share the data among themselves. The main advantage of this transmission technique is its robustness to channel fading in wireless communication environment. This paper investigates the effectiveness of OFDM and assesses its suitability as a modulation technique in wireless communications. Several of the main factors affecting the performance of a typical OFDM system are considered and they include multipath delay spread, channel noise, distortion (clipping), and timing requirements. The core processing block and performance analysis of the system is modeled usingMatlab

Vertical Architecture Construction: Prospects and Barriers in solving Lagos’ Housing Deficit

The population of Lagos State is projected to double by 2050 to 32.6 million people. This is estimated to be the 6th largest city in the world. However, the land mass area of the state remains relatively constant at 3,577 Km2. There is need to identify sustainable housing solutions to reduce the level of homelessness within the megacity. Therefore, this study was aimed at examining the prospects and barriers in the use of vertical architecture construction in solving Lagos city’s housing deficit. The study utilized content analysis of literature on the subject matter which were obtained from major online databases. The study identified the prospects in the use of vertical architecture construction such as reducing housing deficit, adequate land management, engender sustainable practices, improved innovation and proper planning within the state. Nevertheless, some barriers are encountered in the actualization of a comprehensive vertical architecture in Lagos megacity. The barriers include cultural bias to high rise, lack of technology, epileptic power supply, poor maintenance culture, poor fire service delivery, inadequate policies and investment funding. In conclusion, preparedness towards a sustainable housing solution of vertical architecture construction requires a public-private partnership approach in public housing delivery

Odontogenic tumors in Nigerian children and adolescents- a retrospective study of 92 cases

BACKGROUND: Tumours arising from odontogenic tissues are rare and constitute a heterogenous group of interesting lesions. The aim of this study was to determine the relative frequency of odontogenic tumors (OT) among Nigerian children and adolescents 19 years or younger. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The histopathology records were retrospectively reviewed for all the tumors and tumor-like lesions of the oral cavity and the jaws seen in children and adolescents ≤ 19 years seen between January 1980 and December 2003. Hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections were re-evaluated and the diagnosis in each case was confirmed or modified according to World Health Organization (WHO) classification, 1992; and were subjected to analysis of age, sex, site of tumor and histopathologic type. RESULTS: A total of 477 tumors and tumor-like lesions were seen in patients ≤ 19 years during the period of the study. Of these, 92 (19.3%) were odontogenic tumors. Benign odontogenic tumors constituted 98.9% of the cases seen, while only 1 case (1.1%) of malignant variety was seen during the period. The mean (SD) age of patients was 14.9 (± 3.1) years (range, 4–19 years). Male-to-female ratio was 1:1; and mandible-to-maxilla ratio was 2.7:1. OT's were most frequently seen in patients aged 16–19 years (46.7%) and the least number (2.2%) were found in patients aged 0–5 years. Among nine histologic types of OT seen, ameloblastoma (48.9%), adenomatoid odontogenic tumor (19.6%) and odontogenic myxoma (8.7%) were predominant. Multicystic/solid and unicystic variants of ameloblastoma were diagnosed in 40 (89%) and 5 (11%) cases respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Odontogenic tumors are relatively common in children and adolescents in Nigeria. One out of every 5 children and adolescents with tumors and tumor-like lesions of oral cavity and the jaws seen in this study had a diagnosis of odontogenic tumor

Preliminary study on temporal variations in biting activity of Simulium damnosum s.l. in Abeokuta North LGA, Ogun State Nigeria

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Simulum damnosum </it>Theobald <it>sensu lato </it>(<it>s.l</it>.) is the vector of the parasitic filarial worm <it>Onchocerca volvulus </it>Leuckart which causes onchocerciasis. In order to understand the vector population dynamics, a preliminary 12 months entomological evaluation was carried out at Abeokuta, the Southwest Zone of Nigeria, an onchocerciasis endemic area, where vector control has not been previously initiated. <it>S.damnosum s.l</it>. flies were caught on human attractants between 700 to1800 hours each day, for 4 days each month, from August 2007 to July 2008. The flies caught were classified as either forest-dwelling or savanna-dwelling groups based on the colour of certain morphological characters. Climatic data such as rainfall, humidity and temperature were also collected monthly during the period of survey.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 1,139 flies were caught, 596 (52.33%) were forest-dwelling group while 543 (47.67%) were savanna-dwelling group of <it>S. damnosum s.l</it>. The highest percentage of forest-dwelling group was caught in the month of August 2007 (78.06%) and the least percentage of forest-dwelling groups was caught in November 2007 (8.14%). The highest percentage of savannah-dwelling group was caught in the month of November 2007 (91.86%) and the least percentage of savannah-dwelling group was caught in August 2007 (21.94%). There was no significant difference between the population of forest and savannah-dwelling groups of the fly when the means of the fly population were compared (<it>P </it>= 0.830). Spearman correlation analysis showed a significant relationship between monthly fly population with monthly average rainfall (<it>r </it>= 0.550, n = 12, <it>P </it>= 0.033), but no significant relationship with monthly average temperature (<it>r </it>= 0.291, <it>n </it>= 12, <it>P </it>= 0.179). There was also a significant relationship between monthly fly population and monthly average relative humidity (<it>r </it>= 0.783, <it>n </it>= 12 <it>P </it>= 0.001). There was no significant correlation between the population of forest-dwelling group of <it>S. damnosum s.l</it>. and monthly average rainfall (<it>r </it>= 0.466, <it>n </it>= 12, <it>P </it>= 0.064) and monthly average temperature (<it>r </it>= 0.375, n = 12, <it>P </it>= 0.115) but there was significant correlation with monthly average relative humidity (<it>r </it>= 0.69, <it>n </it>= 12, <it>P </it>= 0.006). There was significant correlation between savannah-dwelling group and monthly average rainfall (<it>r </it>= 0.547, <it>n </it>= 12, <it>P </it>= 0.033), and monthly average relative humidity (<it>r </it>= 0.504, <it>n </it>= 12, <it>P </it>= 0.047) but there was no significant correlation with monthly average temperature (<it>r </it>= 0.142, <it>n </it>= 12, <it>P </it>= 0.329)</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results from this study showed that both the forest and the savannah dwelling groups of <it>S. damnosum s.l</it>. were caught biting in the study area. This could have implications on the transmission and epidemiology of human onchocerciasis if not monitored.</p

Urinary schistosomiasis among preschool children in a rural community near Abeokuta, Nigeria

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The control of schistosomiasis in Nigeria is mainly by mass treatment with praziquantel through the school system, with an absence of any provision for pre-school children. We therefore determined the prevalence and intensity of urinary schistosomiasis in pre-school children between the ages of 1-6 years in Ilewo-Orile a rural and endemic community, near Abeokuta, Nigeria as part of providing information on the neglected tropical diseases among this age group. Two urine samples were collected from each pre-school child. The samples were tested for microhaematuria using reagent strips and then processed and examined with a microscope for <it>Schistosoma haematobium </it>ova.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of the 167 children examined 97 (58.1%) had infection, with no significant difference (P = 0.809) in infection rates between boys (57.1%) and girls (59.2%). Both prevalence and intensity of infection did not increase significantly with age (P = 0.732). The overall geometric mean egg count was 1.17 eggs/10 ml urine. There was no significant association (<it>P </it>= 0.387) between intensity in boys (1.16 eggs/10 ml urine) and girls (1.19 eggs/10 ml urine). 47.4% of the children had microhaematuria which did not increase significantly with age (P = 0.526). Focus group discussions with guardians and caregivers revealed that infection of pre-school children early in life was due to exposures through bathing in the stream by their mothers, while the older children would visit the stream for washing, fetching of water, bathing and swimming.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Community participatory health education is needed in this community as a first step in reducing infection and transmission of the disease, while the rehabilitation and repair of the existing water borehole system in the community should be effected. The results of this study have shown that pre-school children also harbour infection and are a source of transmission of schistosomiasis in endemic communities. Planning and provision for their treatment should be considered in control programmes.</p

MISSING GAPS IN SAFETY EDUCATION AND PRACTICES: ACADEMIA PERSPECTIVES

In the developing countries, the syndrome of low level of safety practices are common phenomenon among construction firms when trying to achieve speedy delivery of construction projects. Various researchers have established factors causing accidents on project sites under unsafe conditions and behaviour of construction workers. This study examined construction safety education embedded in Architecture, Building Technology and Quantity Surveying curricula in some selected tertiary institutions in South-Western Nigeria. Secondary data were sourced from the National Universities Commission (NUC) and National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) curricula through desk review. The descriptive assessment underscored insufficient knowledge coverage because there is no particular course titled construction health and safety in the construction programs curricula. Also, the three top knowledge areas of the respondents on safety practice were: use of personal protective wears, injury and illness prevention and construction all risk and contractors all risk insurance. This study concluded that lack of depth knowledge on safety education is capable of limiting students’ ability to coordinate safety practices, develop Safety Policy when employed in construction industry and as well reduce their employability as Safety Manager. The study therefore recommends that both NUC and NBTE should engage Academic and Industry Partnerships (AIPS), Collaborative Curriculum Designing (CCD) in modifying existing curricula for Architecture, Building Technology and Quantity Surveying programs in Nigerian tertiary institutions that will facilitate better understanding both to planning and managing construction safety rather than applying corrective measures after the havoc has been fully perpetrated

Modeling of Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) for Transmission in Broadband Wireless Communications 1 John Samuel, 2Akinola Emmanuel, 1 1, 2Akinade Bayonle,

bandwidth efficiency because the carriers are orthogonal to each other and multiple carriers share the data among themselves. The main advantage of this transmission technique is its robustness to channel fading in wireless communication environment. This paper investigates the effectiveness of OFDM and assesses its suitability as a modulation technique in wireless communications. Several of the main factors affecting the performance of a typical OFDM system are considered and they include multipath delay spread, channel noise, distortion (clipping), and timing requirements. The core processing block and performance analysis of the system is modeled usingMatlab

C57BL/6 Substrain Differences in Pharmacological Effects after Acute and Repeated Nicotine Administration.

Tobacco smoking is the major cause of disability and death in the United States and around the world. In addition, tobacco dependence and addiction express themselves as complex behaviors involving an interplay of genetics, environment, and psychological state. Mouse genetic studies could potentially elucidate the novel genes and/or gene networks regulating various aspects of nicotine dependence. Using the closely related C57BL/6 (B6) mice substrains, recent reports have noted phenotypic differences within C57BL/6J (B6J) and C57BL/6N (B6N) mice for some drugs of abuse: alcohol, opiates, and cocaine. However, the differences in nicotine\u27s effects have not yet been described in these substrains. We examined the phenotypic differences in these substrains following the acute and repeated administration of nicotine in several pharmacological measures, including locomotion (after acute and repeated exposure), body temperature, nociception, and anxiety-like behaviors. We report substrain differences in the pharmacological effects of acute and repeated nicotine administration in the B6 substrains. Overall, we show enhanced nicotine sensitivity to locomotion, hypothermia, antinociception, and anxiety-like behaviors in the B6J mouse substrain compared to B6N. In the repeated administration paradigm, both the B6N and B6J substrains showed no sensitized locomotor responses after repeated exposure to nicotine at the two doses tested. This study thus provides evidence that the B6 mouse substrains may be useful for genetic studies to elucidate some of the genetic variants involved in tobacco dependence and addiction