Short Communication Report: Microorganisms associated with the urinogenital system of Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) patients in north western Nigeria.

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Effect of Stocking Density on Production of Clarias Gariepinus (Tuegels) in Floating Bamboo Cages at Kubanni Reservior, Zaria, Nigeria

The African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus, Teugels) were reared at three different stocking densities in bamboo-net cages to evaluate the effects of stocking density on growth, survival rate and food conversion ratio. Three hundred (300) fish with a total weight of 1.8Kg were stocked at 25, 50 and 75 fish/ m3 cage with a mean weight of 5.6±0.23g, 5.9±0.23g and 6.3±0.23 g/m3 respectively. The growth trial lasted for 150 days (May 2009 to October 2009). Twenty percent (20%) of the total biomass of the fish in each cage was weighed monthly and the bulk weights were calculated. Mortalities were recorded monthly. The final mean weights (±S.E) of the fish stocked at densities of 25, 50 and 75 fish/m3 cage were 828.0±1.83g, 774.0±20.18g and 693.0±34.20g. The corresponding mean values of Specific Growth Rate were 3.33, 3.25 and 3.43. Temperatures ranged between 24.50C - 32.60C while salinity ranged between 24 - 95ppm. The Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) was 4.99, 4.73, and 3.43, and cumulative survival rates were calculated as 99.84, 99.66 and 99.50% respectively. The results revealed that stocking density had a significant (P>0.05) effect on growth and survival rates of Clarias gariepinus. Fish held at the highest stocking density exhibited the lowest growth and survival rate. Cages with 50fish/m3 stocking density had the best production with total final weight (38.67Kg) and profit index (3.27) compared to other treatments (P>0.05).Keywords: Stocking density, bamboo-net cages, profit index, survival, growth, Clarias gariepinu

Chikungunya virus infection: a review

Chikungunya fever is a self-remitting febrile viral illness that has been associated with frequent outbreaks in tropical countries of Africa and Southeast Asia. The illness has only recently become a concern in Western countries and temperate zones around the world. Chikungunya is an arboviral disease transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, caused by Chikungunya virus (CHIKV). It consists of an acute illness characterized by fever, rash and arthralgia. Over the past decades, the virus has dispersed unexpectedly from tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and Asia, affecting millions of people worldwide. Treatment of acute case is symptomatic; treatment of fever and joint swelling includes the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as naproxen, non-aspirin analgesics such as acetaminophen. Currently, in the era of globalization and increased international travel, and due to widespread distribution of the mosquito vector, CHIKV is becoming a substantial threat to human health worldwide, including the industrialized countries. Given the lack of effective vaccine or antiviral drug, the long-term consequences of the infection appear to be even more harmful. Adequate coordinated efforts comprising active surveillance, early detection, vector control and public awareness at local, national and international level need to be adopted in endemic areas for the effective control of CHIKV infection. Keywords: Chikungunya virus; infection; malaria; fever; vaccine; treatmen

Influence of Market Value-To- Book Value (MV/BV) and Return on Equity (ROE) Ratios on Investment Decisions of Common Stockholders in Quoted Manufacturing Companies in North-West Nigeria

This research work aimed at determining the influence of Market Value-to-Book-Value (MV/BV) and Return on Equity (ROE) ratios on investment decisions of common stockholders in quoted manufacturing companies in North-West Nigeria. Two research questions and two null hypotheses were raised for the study. Descriptive survey design was adopted for the study.  The population for the study consisted of 230,898 respondents, made up of 230,638 common stockholders registered with 33 accredited stockbrokerage firms in North-West Nigeria and 260 accountants from 84 quoted manufacturing companies as at 31st December 2017. The proportionate stratified and purposive sampling techniques were employed to select a sample size of 465 respondents made up of 95 accountants in manufacturing companies and 370 common stockholders registered with accredited stockbrokerage firms in manufacturing companies in North-West Nigeria.  The data collected were analyzed using mean to answer the two research questions while t-test analysis was employed in testing the two null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance.  The findings obtained include: market-to-book value ratio is used as a measure of deviations between book and market values of shares and stockholders do not extensively analyse this ratio and Return on Equity ratio is used by stockholders to compare dividend at the end of the financial year for consistency and with returns from other companies in the same industry to a moderate extent.  It was, therefore, recommended that Common stockholders should always analyse the firms’ Market Value-to-Book-Value (MV/BV) and Return on Equity ratios at the end of every financial year to understand it to a great extent as MV/BV enables them to know the market value of their shares, determine their stock’s performance, while ROE ratio reveals the earning power of a company on stockholders’ book value investment and how much returns the stockholders have been receiving for better investment decisions. Keywords: Market value to book value, return on equity, ratios, common stockholders, investment decisions DOI: 10.7176/RJFA/10-6-05 Publication date:March 31st 201

Comparative growth response of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus fingerlings fed with imported and local feeds

The comparative growth response of African catfish fingerlings (Clarias gariepinus) fed with three (3) local and three (3) imported feeds was studied in the Department of Biological Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria between September and October, 2009 with the aim of establishing the best quality feed in terms of specific growth rate, total weight and percentage survival rate for a period of 8 weeks (56 days). One hundred and twenty (120) fingerlings of Clarias gariepinus and six commercial feeds with varying crude proteins namely Chivita, Aquaplus, Vital, Skrettings, Multifeeds and Coppens were used for the experiment. Some water quality parameters analyzed indicated temperature varied from 25.50 ~'C to 28.0 ~'C while pH and dissolved oxygen ranged from 6.6 to 7.2 and 6.3mg/l to 8.2mg/l respectively. The treatment shows significant difference in terms of mean weight gain, specific growth rates and survival rate. The lowest SGR was 0.31 and 0.89 the highest. Fish fed with Chivita and Coppens showed the best growth compared to other treatments

Voltage profile improvement and losses minimization for Hayin Rigasa radial network Kaduna using distributed generation

This research work has presented the application of distributed generation (DG) units in a simultaneous placement approach on IEEE 33 radial test systems for validation of the technique with further implementation on 56-Bus Hayin Rigasa feeder. The genetic algorithm (GA) is employed in obtaining the optimal sizes and load loss sensitivity index for locations of the DGs for entire active and reactive power loss reduction. The voltage profile index is computed for each bus of the networks to ascertain the weakest voltage bus of the network before and after DG and circuit breaker allocation. The simultaneous placement approach of the DGs is tested with the IEEE 33-bus test networks and Hayin Rigasa feeder network and the results obtained are confirmed by comparing with the results gotten from separate DGs allocation on the networks. For IEEE 33-bus system, the simultaneous allocation of DGs and of optimal sizes 750 kW, 800 kW and at locations of buses 2 and 6 respectively, lead to a 66.49 % and 68.64 % drop in active and reactive power loss and 3.02 % improvement in voltage profile. For the 56-bus Hayin Rigasa network in Kaduna distribution network, the simultaneous placement of DGs of sizes 1,470 kW and 1490 kW at locations of bus 16 and 23 respectively, lead to a 79.54 % and 73.98 % drop in active and reactive power loss and 15.94 % improvement in voltage profile. From results comparison, it is evident that the allocation of DGs using the combination GA and load loss sensitivity index, gives an improved performance in relations to power loss reduction and voltage profile improvements of networks when compared to without DGs

Enzyme assay, cloning and sequencing of novel β-glucosidase gene from Aspergillus niger f321 (unidentified Nigerian strain)

β-glucosidase is a cellulase enzyme under intense investigation for its potential role in cellulose degradation for the generation of fermentable sugars used in biofuels production. Ten catalytic sites have been identified that are conserved in β- glucosidases from a range of prokaryotes and eukaryotes. NCBI Primer BLAST was used in this study to design primers that successfully clone a partial β-glucosidase gene from an uncharacterised Nigerian strain of the filamentous fungi Aspergillus niger F321 (A. niger F321). Two β-glucosidase genes from A. niger F321 denoted as ANRA12.6 and ANRA12.9 were amplified from genomic DNA using PCR techniques and the amplicons gave estimated PCR products of 1,190 bp and 1,950 bp respectively. Subsequent cloning into E. coli produced positive results for blue/white screening of transformed colonies while the colony PCR of their pDNA gave estimated sizes of 860 bp and 1,600 bp respectively. DNA sequencing confirmed that the chosen A. niger F321 partial β-glucosidase sequences had been successfully cloned. Bioinformatics studies also suggested that the cloned β-glucosidases share some characteristics with their bacterial counterparts. The findings in this study highlight the increasing need for more information on β-glucosidase structure and function.Keywords: Aspergillus niger, β-glucosidase, cellulase, PCR, sequencing, Bioinformatic

Evaluation of Enrollment Trends into Technical Education Programmes (2013-2023) In A Nigerian University Via Documentation Analysis

This study is aimed at evaluating the enrolment trends into technical education programmes in a Nigerian University via Documentation Analysis. The study was conducted at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, and it covered a period 2013-2023. A checklist titled “Technical Education Student Enrolment Trends Framework (TESET-F)” developed by the researcher was used to tabulate the data for ease of interpretation. Frequency counts and simple percentage were used as a tool for data analysis. Findings from the study indicated that that the enrolment trends into technical education programmes has witness an intermitted negative fluctuations in the last ten years to the extent that only 6% enrolment quota was filled in a particular academic year (2019/2020). The enrolment trends into technical education programme based on the three broad options favours electrical/electronic technology, building/woodwork technology and automobile/mechanical technology respectively. The enrolment of female gender into technical education is very low when compared with their male counterparts. The authors advocate on the need for concerted efforts to address the challenges and capitalize on the opportunities to improve the quality and relevance of technical education. Through this, universities in Nigeria can play a pivotal role in producing a highly skilled technical workforce that can contribute to the economic development and prosperity of the country