Evaluation of Pollution and Clean Index of Municipal Solid Waste Compost Used as Organic Fertilizers from Sokoto State Metropolis, Nigeria

The purpose of this study was to assess the quality of compost obtained from ten (10) municipal solid waste dumps in the Sokoto metropolitan area, Nigeria. The Compost was characterized to understand its fertilizing and polluting potential to soil. The fertilization index (FI) was determined empirically from the values of TOC, TN, TP, TK and C:N ratio and the cleaning index (CI) using heavy metal concentrations. The results were compared with quality control metrics. The FI values for the composts ranged from 4.00 to 4.70, while the CI values ranged from 2.60 to 4.00, respectively. Most of the MSW composts analyzed showed good fertilizing potential and were of good quality for use as soil fertilizers

Effects of menotrophin and chorulon on superovulation in Red Sokoto does

The aim of this study was to compare the efficiency of menotrophin, chorulon and their combinations in superovulation in Red Sokoto does. Fifteen healthy does weighed  between 14 and 25 kg were divided into 3 groups of 5 (n=5) each. All does in the 3 groups were synchronized with CIDR for 14 days. Superovulation was performed as follows: Group 1 were treated with 37.5 IU menotrophin for three days, group 2 were treated with 500IU chorulon for 1 day and group 3 were treated with 18.75 iμ  menotrophin for 3 days and 250IU chorulon for one day. The mean SEM superovulatory response in group 1, 2 and 3 was (2.6 0.92, 3.2 0.58 and 9.4 0.68) respectively. The superovulatory response showed no significant differences between group 1 and 2  however, there were statistically significance differences (p<0.01) between groups 1 and 3 and between 2 and 3. These result showed that the combination of Menotrophin and Chorulon effectively produces multiple ovulations as a result the use this  combination is advocated.Keywords: Chorulon, CIDR, Doe, Menotrophin, Sokoto, Superovulatio

Physiochemical properties of biodiesel produced from ogbono (Irvingia gabonesis) seed oil

Biodiesel is a promising alternative fuel and has gained significant attention due to the predicted depletion of conventional fossil fuels and environmental concerns. This study aims to produce biodiesel from ogbono seed oil (using 98 ml methanol and 2g potassium hydroxide (KOH) as a catalyst) via transesterification process and to determine the physiochemical properties of the biodiesel produced. The physiochemical properties of the feedstock (extracted ogbono seed oil) were also determined before the transesterification process. The physiochemical properties of the produced biodiesel showed that it has a density of 0.5±0.00 g/cm3, pour point of 2.0±0, saponification value of 58.90±0.06 mg KOH/g, ester value of 98.0±0.5% (m/m), iodine value of 26.64±0.15gI2/100g, acid value of 0.28±0.05 mgKOH/g, moisture value of 0.0006 ±0.0% and trace amounts of ash content. The results of the physiochemical properties of the produced biodiesel agree with ASTM-D6751 and EN 14214 standard. Thus, it was concluded that ogbono seed oil is an excellent feedstock for biodiesel production via base catalyzed transesterification proces

Meningococcus serogroup C clonal complex ST-10217 outbreak in Zamfara State, Northern Nigeria.

After the successful roll out of MenAfriVac, Nigeria has experienced sequential meningitis outbreaks attributed to meningococcus serogroup C (NmC). Zamfara State in North-western Nigeria recently was at the epicentre of the largest NmC outbreak in the 21st Century with 7,140 suspected meningitis cases and 553 deaths reported between December 2016 and May 2017. The overall attack rate was 155 per 100,000 population and children 5-14 years accounted for 47% (3,369/7,140) of suspected cases. The case fatality rate (CFR) among children 5-9 years was 10%, double that reported among adults ≥ 30 years (5%). NmC and pneumococcus accounted for 94% (172/184) and 5% (9/184) of the laboratory-confirmed cases, respectively. The sequenced NmC belonged to the ST-10217 clonal complex (CC). All serotyped pneumococci were PCV10 serotypes. The emergence of NmC ST-10217 CC outbreaks threatens the public health gains made by MenAfriVac, which calls for an urgent strategic action against meningitis outbreaks

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Experimental Design and Implementation of AC – DC Handset Travel Charger

Handset charger is device which charges a cellphone from an available direct current (DC) source. Moreover, a DC cellphone charger forms as an integral part of a cellphone package which is being used in conjunctions with san alternating current (AC) power supply. A simple off-line fly back switch mode buck converter charger is designed and implemented to charge cell phone from an AC source. The circuit is targeted to operate on universal input voltage range of 85 to 265 V AC. Minimizing cost and size, the circuit was designed to operate on a high frequency transformer. The design was first conducted on MULTISIM software to ascertain its working conditions before the construction procedure. Tools and materials were chosen based on their simplicity and availability in most of our local electronics shops. The charger was tested on different cell phones and found working satisfactory. The performance analysis shows that its power rating is about 4 watts

Case Report: Perosomus Elumbis in a Neonate Lamb Delivered by Forced Extraction from an Uda Ewe

Perosomus elumbis is a rare congenital anomaly of unknown aetiology, characterized by errors of morphogenesis resulting in multi-organs malformations that produce a deformity of the caudal one third of the foetus. We report a case of a new born Uda lamb, with the chief complaint of inability to stand two hours after parturition. History revealed that the dam delivered them as twins, in which one of them was normal. On clinical examination the lamb was recumbent but alert. The fore limbs were well developed and appear normal. The lumbo-sacral area was excessively narrow, with a skin fold attaching the crus (tibia and fibula). There was ankylosis of the stifle and hock joint and were maintained in a flexed position. The response to pin prick on the hind limb was poor. However, both anal and vulval openings were patent. Radiography revealed hypoplasia of the lumbar vertebrae, pelvic girdle, the iliac wing, the ischium and the pubis. There was a convergence of the lschial arches towards the public symphisis; the wing of the ischium was absent bilaterally. There was an ankylosis of the stifle and tarsal joints in flexed position. However, all the bones of the hind limbs were present. From these observations, we conclude that this is the first recorded case of Perosomus elumbis in north western Nigeria. Keywords: Perosomus elumbis, neonate lamb, Uda, ew