Design and Fabrication of a Pedal Operated Power Generator

Energy conservation is a topical issue and this design proffered an efficient method of doing so. The design was originally conceived to meet the energy needs of those living in rural areas, due to poor access to electricity and also as a model for gym centers and cycle workout studios. Most persons living in these rural areas possess at least a cell phone but lack the means to charge them. This study focused on the design and fabrication of a pedal operated power generator, for the intents of burning fats while yet generating electricity. The power generator was designed to be simple, cheap, durable and easily maintained. It was fabricated using locally sourced materials and is intended to encourage local ingenuity and empower aspiring entrepreneurs especially in developing countries. Its purpose is to efficiently transfer human foot motion less than 60 rpm via a treadle and sprocket-chain step-up to drive a 24V DC permanent magnet generator. The inverter converts the direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC) which is needed to charge low voltage devices like mobile phones, laptops etc. Upon completion, it was found to produce a voltage of 15V and 2.5A at a speed of 483rpm generator speed. The overall efficiency of the system was about 66.6%. Keywords: Energy, pedal, generator, inverter, diod

The Differential Impact of Financial Intermediation on Economic Growth in Oil-Dependent Economies

This paper analyses the relationship between bank credit and economic growth. We extend existing literature by treating separately the oil and non-oil sectors of 28 oil-dependent economies from 1990-2012. We employ panel cointegration and pooled mean group estimation techniques which are appropriate for drawing conclusions from dynamic heterogenous panels. The results of the panel cointegration test indicate that bank credit has no significant long-run relationship with non-oil GDP per capita. The results of the pooled mean group estimator reveal no significant long-run impact of bank credit on non-oil GDP per capita. Overall results suggest that banks do not yet provide adequate credit to stimulate non-oil economic growth. The policy implication of our findings is that the financial sector should be more involved in productive investment activities to promote inclusive growth

MORPHOLOGICAL STRATEGIES IN TEXT MESSAGING AMONG NIGERIAN USERS OF GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATION

Text messaging is the application of abridged morphological forms in order to communicate and it is one of the fastest means of communication since the emergence of the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) in the world. In text messaging, we apply innovative language forms with morpho-syntactic structures that have become acceptable since they are understood by the ‘texters’ (senders) and the ‘textees’ (receivers) of the message. There are applications of morphological strategies in the form of omissions, word order violations, contractions, abbreviations, acronyms, compounding, blending and lack of punctuation. All these characterize the morpho-syntactic elements in the Short Message Service (SMS) texts messages. However, there is no hard and fast rule with regards to the morphological choices in SMS. Texters use a combination of letters and numbers in their text messages and in some cases they use only numerals. The texters ignore the basic orthographic and syntactic rules of formal English Language syntax to suit the semantics of their message. This paper, therefore, examines the creative strategies of word formation found in the morphology and syntax of select SMS text messages marked out for this research. Our data was collected from select SMS of individual users and the service providers of GSM. Our thesis statement is that these morphological patterns as used in SMS are already becoming standardized forms being adopted by the Nigerian users of GSM.Keywords:       Morphology and Syntax, SMS texts, GSM (Mobile Phone), Semantics, Nigerian English

ANTI-CORROSION POTENTIALS OF FRESH EXTRACTS OF OLD PERSEA AMERICANA VAR. AMERICANA SEED IN 0.5 M H2SO4 ON MILD STEEL

An experiment to determine effective corrosion inhibition of fresh extracts from matured seed of Persea Americana var. Americana on mild steel in 0.5 M H2SO4 conditions was carried out using gravimetric and electrochemical methods. The tests were carried out at room temperature for 24 hours, and also for higher temperature from 40oC to 70oC for 3 hours.  The results showed that the seed extracts have appreciable corrosion inhibition potentials which decreased with increase in temperature. Inhibition efficiency showed that it increased with increase in inhibitor concentration across the same temperature, and similarly decreased with increase in temperature within the same concentration range. The experimental data fitted in with the Langmuir isotherm which is an indicator that the extract constituents were adsorbed on the steel surface. The Arrhenius equations showed a general increase implying that physisorption rather than chemisorptions is prevalent. The values of the heat of adsorption are all negative for temperatures at 40oC, indicative of the fact that inhibition efficiency decreases with rise in temperature, a proof that the inhibition trend was physisorption.  At temperatures of 70oC, the values are mixed, some negative and some positive.  This indicates that both physisorption and chemisorptions abound at higher temperatures.  The result from potentiodynamic tests shows that reduction in current potential in the presence of the inhibitor at both concentrations implies that it is a mixed inhibitor. Keywords: Corrosion inhibition; Fresh; Higher temperatures; Langmuir isotherm; Matured; Persea Americana var. Americana. DOI: 10.7176/CMR/13-2-03 Publication date:June 30th 202

Adiponectin and cardiovascular risk factors in relation with glycemic control in type 2 diabetics

Background: Adiponectin has been associated with insulin resistance and dyslipidemia in Type 2 diabetes, though the mechanism of association is still uncertain. The adiponectin levels and lipid profile in relation to glycemic control were investigated in type 2 diabetics.Methods: Forty two diabetic subjects (35-64 years) and 33 age-matched non-diabetic subjects were recruited into this case control study. Socio-demographic characteristics, anthropometric indices and blood pressure were obtained. Total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein, (HDL), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were estimated using colorimetric methods, atherogenic index (AI) was calculated, while serum adiponectin was determined by ELISA method. Results: Adiponectin levels of type 2 diabetics were not significantly different from the non-diabetics studied (p>0.05).  Higher TG levels were observed in diabetics with poor glycemic control compared with those with good glycemic control (p0.05). Conclusion: Type 2 diabetics do not have lower adiponectin levels. Gender, duration of diabetes and glycemic control does not seem to exert any influence on adiponectin levels in type 2 diabetes. Adiponectin may be associated with reduced risk of atherosclerosis through its effects on HDL cholesterol metabolism.

Biological Marker Fingerprints of Crude Oils from Three Oilfields in the Central Niger Delta: Implication to Source Input, Conditions of Deposition, and Thermal Maturation

Crude oil samples recovered from three oilfields distributed within the central Niger Delta were used to investigate biological marker fingerprints, sources of organic matter, conditions of deposition, and thermal maturation. This was achieved by the application of gas chromatography-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) analyses on the saturated components of the crude oils. The biological marker ratios show low sterane/hopane (steranes/hopane ˂ 1) in the scope of 0.29 to 0.61 indicating that the crude oils initiatedfrom rocks containing high terrigenous biota (mainly land plants). The n-alkanes distribution and the pristane/phytane ratios (0.63 to 2.08) suggested source deposition under oxic to suboxic environmental conditions. The percentage composition of C27, C28,and C29steranes and oleanane index (18α (H)-oleanane/ C3017α (H)-hopane) also indicated major contributions from terrigenous organic biota with minor marine source input. The studied crude oils have C32:22S/ (22S+22R) ratios in the scope of 0.55 to 0.64, and these values suggested high maturation level. This agrees with the oleanane index (0.64 to 0.95), CPI (0.92 to 1.06), C29: 20S/ (20S + 20R) sterane ratios (0.29 to 0. 61), Ts/(Ts+Tm) ratio (0.45 to 0.83) and moretane/C30hopane proportion (0.16 to 0.24)

Stage at diagnosis of breast cancer in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background The incidence of breast cancer in sub-Saharan Africa is relatively low, but as survival from the disease in the region is poor, mortality rates are as high as in high-income countries. Stage at diagnosis is a major contributing factor to poor survival from breast cancer. We aimed to do a systematic review and meta-analysis on stage at diagnosis of breast cancer in sub-Saharan Africa to examine trends over time, and investigate sources of variations across the region. Methods We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Knowledge, and Africa-Wide Information to identify studies on breast cancer stage at diagnosis in sub-Saharan African women published before Jan 1, 2014, and in any language. Random-effects meta-analyses were done to investigate between-study heterogeneity in percentage of late-stage breast cancer (stage III/IV), and meta-regression analyses to identify potential sources of variation. Percentages of women with late-stage breast cancer at diagnosis in sub-Saharan Africa were compared with similar estimates for black and white women in the USA from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Findings 83 studies were included, which consisted of 26 788 women from 17 sub-Saharan African countries. There was wide between-study heterogeneity in the percentage of late-stage disease at diagnosis (median 74·7%, range 30·3–100%, I2=93·3%, p<0·0001). The percentage of patients with late-stage disease at diagnosis did not vary by region in black women, but was lower in non-black women from southern Africa than in black women in any region (absolute difference [AD] from black women in western Africa [reference group] −18·1%, 95% CI −28·2 to −8·0), and higher for populations from mixed (urban and rural) settings rather than urban settings (13·2%, 5·7 to 20·7, in analyses restricted to black women). The percentage of patients with late-stage disease at diagnosis in black Africans decreased over time (–10·5%, −19·3 to −1·6; for 2000 or later vs 1980 or before), but it was still higher around 2010 than it was in white and black women in the USA 40 years previously. Interpretation Strategies for early diagnosis of breast cancer should be regarded as a major priority by cancer control programmes in sub-Saharan Africa

ABSTRACTS OF PRESENTATIONS

Second International Conference on African Digital Libraries and Archives, abstracts of presentation

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London