Assessment of post intervention of geohelminth infection and risk factors among school aged children in the most endemic area of Kano, Nigeria

This study is an initial attempt at determining the prevalence of geohelminth infections among school aged children (SAC) in the most endemic area of Kano State as well as risk factors associated with the infection and the impact of deworming programme in SAC. A retrospective study on the prevalence of geohelminth infection in the 44 Local Government Areas (LGA) of Kano State was conducted. A stratified random sampling technique was used for sample collection. A total of 3000 children were recruited aged 6-15 years. Retrospective study showed that none was of high endemicity. The present status of geohelminth showed that only hookworm was present among SAC with a prevalence of 2.2% and intensity was light (mean: 17 epg). Risk factors that predispose SAC to geohelminth infection like eating outside home, poor hand washing practice, and nail biting were found not to be significantly associated with hookworm infection except risk factor like walking bare footed which was significantly associated with hookworm infection. In conclusion, Prevalence of geohelminth infection in Kabo LGA prior to deworming was 35.1% and post intervention among SAC was generally low (2.2%). The observed low prevalence of geohelminth infection could be attributed to the success of the deworming programme carried out in the district in 2013. Risk factors like poor hand washing practice (2.3%), walking bare footed (2.6%) and eating outside home (2.6%) were pre-dominant among SAC

Design and Implementation of No Load, Constant and Variable Load for DC Servo Motor

Simulations were conducted to improve and design an appropriate control system and obtain a model with the required development to suit the operation of the engine with constant and variable loads, which are the proposed working conditions that are suitable for many applications. The current simulation aims to build and design a model for an electric motor (DC Servo motor) and a model for a conventional controller (PID). The proposed model addresses the cases of fixed and variable loads in terms of using the controller that improves the performance of the motor’s work for different conditions. Three cases were developed to conduct the proposed tests, which included the case of no-load, fixed and variable load. Tests were conducted. Without the console and for the purpose of comparison and observation of improvement, the test was conducted with the addition of the console. The results showed system performance may improve depending on usage using traditional control systems. Performance measurement criteria are adopted for the purpose of comparison and observation of performance improvement. The criteria that are adopted are rise time and stability (steady state) in addition to the ratio of the rate of under and over-shoot. Where it can be deduced from this the possibility of using different control systems, including traditional ones, to improve performance, and they include controlling the speed of the motors, as well as controlling the effort, and the consequent effects on the subject of the study, as it deals with transient cases and changing operating conditions with more than acceptable efficiency and relatively high quality. There are four state simulation include, 1st at no load without controller: rise time equal  309.886ms , overshoot equal  44.203% and undershoot equal 9.597%.2nd  at load without controller: rise time equal  216.319ms , overshoot equal  58.654% and undershoot equal 0.210%.3rd  at no load with PID controller: rise time equal  1.177s , overshoot equal  0.505% and undershoot equal 1.914%.4th   at load with PID controller: rise time equal  1.112s , overshoot equal  0.509% and undershoot equal 5.856%

Thyroid Panel and Modified Lipid Profile among Sudanese Patients with Coronary Heart Disease

Abstract: The analytical, comparative cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the thyroid profiles and modified lipid profiles levels among Sudanese patients with coronary heart disease performed on forty-one patients with coronary heart disease as test group collected from Sudan Heart Center, Al rebat teaching hospital and Al mawada hospital in Khartoum state, during the period between November 2017 and May 2018. Furthermore, the test group compared with forty-one apparently healthy volunteers as control group was selected with the same inclusion criteria. Spectrophotometeric methods were used for measurement of lipid profile. Thyroid hormones (T3 &T4) and thyroid stimulating hormone were measured by using Sandwich Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Moreover, statistical package for social science (SPSS version 23) computer software was used for data analysis. The study clearly demonstrated that there was statistically significant decrease in T3, and significant increase in T4 levels in test group compared to control with (P. value 0.047) for T3, and (P. value 0.002) for T4.Nonetheless, the result of this study indicated a significant elevation in mean of total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels and significant decrease in high density lipoprotein –cholesterol in test group compared to control (P.value 0.000). In conclusion Coronary heart diseases patients have significantly low Triiodothyronine, elevated Thyroxin, and normal Thyroid Stimulating Hormone levels, with significantly higher Total Cholesterol, Low Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol concentrations, and lower HighDensity Lipoprotein-Cholesterol concentrations

Analysis of Agricultural Extension Methods Used by Extension Workers for Conflict Resolution among Agro – Pastoralists in Adamawa State, Nigeria

The study was conducted to analyze the agricultural extension methods used in conflict resolution among agro – pastoralists in Adamawa State, Nigeria. A multi – stage random sampling technique was used to select 160 respondents who were administered interview schedules. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) statistics and inferential (multiple regression) statistics. The study indicated that livestock destruction of farmlands was the major (50.63%) source of conflict among the respondents. The results revealed that the major (55.0%) source of conflict resolution among the respondents was community leaders in conflict resolutions. The study showed that truce was the most important type of conflict resolution used by respondents (59.38%). Majority (82.5%) of the respondents preferred face to face extension contact methods used for learning conflict resolution. All the positive significant relationship at 5% levels indicated that, an increase in each of these extension methods is likely to increase in conflict resolutions among agro – pastoralists. The study recommended that extension working environment should be strengthened with motivational mechanism to achieve the desired impact on conflict resolution among agro – pastoralists in the study area. Key words: Sources of conflict, Conflict Resolution and Agro – Pastoralists, Adamawa State, Nigeri

Comparative analysis of PID and neural network controllers for improving starting torque of wound rotor induction motor

Unlike 3-phase squirrel cage induction motor, starting-up of 3-phase wound rotor counter part can be improved by adding an external resistance to the rotor circuit.Thus, leads to reduce starting current and increase starting torque. In this paper two controllers for 3-phase wound rotor induction motor have been proposed include conventional proportional integral derivative (PID)  controller and the other based on artificial neural network (NARMA-L2). A comparison between these controllers has been conducted. It has been shown that starting torque of the motor has been improved, when utilizing the neural network controller compared to the conventional counter  part. It should be noted that MATLAB/SIMULINK has been used to implement both controllers

Determination of minerals, vitamins, antinutrient and amino acid profile of pumpkin pie produced pumpkin (cucurbeta spp) puree and wheat (tritium aestivum) flour supplemented with spices and butter

Pumpkin (Cucurbita spp.), is one of the most popular vegetables consumed in the world, has been recently recognized as a functional food. Traditional crops including the pumpkins, which are rich in micronutrients, are not consumed widely by smallholder farmers in Africa. However, the cultivation of high yielding, nutrient-rich, multipurpose crops-like pumpkin is important in solving the problems of malnutrition and contributing to food security in Africa including Nigeria. Objectives: Therefore, this work aimed at producing Pumpkin pie from Pumpkin puree and wheat supplemented with some indigenous spices alongside butter. Methodology: Formulations into various formed were made using Pearson's method. The formulations were assayed for mineral, vitamin, antinutrient and amino acid composition using standard laboratory methods. A significant (P<0.05) difference was observed in Zn and Ca content of all the samples, with sample D recording the highest value for Zn (1.30±0.01) mg/g and Ca (0.47±0.01) mg/g. However, samples A and D had the least values for Na and Fe. An increasing and decreasing pattern was observed in all the vitamin contents(B 1, B 2 , B 6 , B12 and C), moving from samples A through to D. Vitamin contents of samples B1 and B6 and higher than he RDA, while B2 , B12 and C were below RDA. The overall antinutrient contents observed were generally low, with sample A having the lowest values for Phytate, Oxalate and tannins. The B, C and D are more enhanced in terms of essential amino acids compared to the control group (sample A). Conclusion: Pumpkin pie can be produced from pumpkin and its supplementation of the spices can boost the pie with essential amino acids, minerals, and vitamin composition. This shows the potential of using pumpkin pie as snacks in-between meals for the prevention of Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM).&nbsp