Geoenvironmental Assessments of Heavy Metals in Surface Sediments from Some Creeks of the Great Kwa River, Southeastern Nigeria

In southeastern Nigeria, the Great Kwa River watershed which was originally covered by tropical rainforest has now become a beehive of various agricultural, extractive and industrial activities. The present study focused on the investigation of the current level and distribution of seven heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr, Cd, As) collected from surface sediment at 12 stations, located within Mbat-Abbiati and Oberakkai Creeks of the Great Kwa River. Results show that the measured heavy metals have an abundance trend in the order Zn>Cr>Ni>Cu>Pb>As>Cd for sediments from Mbat-Abbiati and Zn>Cr>Ni>Pb>Cu>As>Cd for sediments from Oberakkai Creek. Enhanced concentrations and significant spatial variation was recorded for heavy metals in sediments from Oberrakai Creek as against what obtains in sediments from Mbat-Abbiati Creek. The pollution status was evaluated using Enrichment Factor (EF), Index of Geoaccumulation (Igeo), Contamination Factor (Cf), Degree of Contamination (Cd) and Pollution Load Index (PLI). Indication from both the contamination factor and degree of contamination is that all the measured heavy metals, excluding Pb and Cd, exhibits low contamination status in the sediment. Based on geoaccumulation index, the sediments are generally classified as unpolluted with regards to the measured heavy metals. The computed Enrichment Factors (EF) showed that some heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cr, Cd) have EF values of up to 1, which indicates enrichment through lithogenic and anthropogenic sources. Further screening revealed that more than 55% of the calculated EF values for the Pb, Zn, Cr and Cd are from lithogenic sources, thereby suggesting that the main sources of pollution are geogenic materials, probably sourced through mining and quarrying activities that thrive within the catchment region. Results of the Pollution Load Index conclude that sediments from both Mbat-Abbiati and Oberakkai Creeks are generally unpolluted. Keywords: Geoenvironment, pollution, sediment, Nigeria, Great Kwa Rive

A Comprehensive Review of Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment in Delta State, Southern Part of Nigeria

This research presents a review on water resources in Delta state, southern part of Nigeria, with emphasis on hydrogeochemical and microbial assessment. It evaluates factors responsible for water contamination, and their resulting health challenges within the study area. To achieve the objective of this study, related articles were downloaded from Google, published article on influence of hydrogeochemical and microbial activities on water resources. These articles were thoroughly studied. Findings from this study, suggested that groundwater was more studied than surface water. We also observed that groundwater within the riverine communities is much more prone to pollution when compared to groundwater in an upland area. Results from various authors suggested that, larger percentage of groundwater showed presence of coliform. Further findings suggested that geochemical processes such as rock water interaction, seawater intrusion and precipitation influences groundwater quality within the study area especially within Sombreiro-Warri Deltaic Plain Deposit

Sequence Stratigraphy Study of UNIABR Field in Northern Delta Depobelt of Niger Delta, Nigeria

Integrated  interpretation of wireline logs and high resolution biostratigraphic data has enhanced the subdivision of the stratigraphic column within the Uniabr Field ( fictitious) (OML 4) in the Niger Delta  of Nigeria into five sequences and different  systems tracts.  It has also aided the identification of maximum flooding surfaces and type – 1 sequence boundaries. Lowstand systems tract with basin floor fans, slope fans and prograding  wedge complex plus transgressive systems tracts and highstand  systems tracts occur in the field.  Five maximum flooding surfaces and five sequence boundaries are recognized with their average depths tie to their absolute ages.  All except the second sequence boundary are clearly type – 1 sequence boundaries.  Lowstand systems tract is missing on top of the second sequence boundary and is directly overlain by transgressive systems tract, hence it cannot convincingly be pass for a type – 1 sequence boundary.  Again, five sequences are identified from the base to the top of the stratigraphic column (of the field) with varying average thicknesses and cyclicities.  Based on their cyclicities of between 1.0  and 5.0 Ma, all the sequences identified in this field are third order type.  They have potential of both serving as excellent source rocks and providing stratigraphic traps.  A structural trap is speculated between the second and third sequences at 2417m (7930ft) depth below the mean sea level. Based on palynological zonation of Uniabr – 1 Well (P450 – P650), the age range of the sediments penetrated in the Uniabr  Field is from Late Eocene to Early Miocene, thus placing the field within the northern delta depobelt of the Niger Delta. Keywords : OML 4, Systems tracts, Maximum flooding surfaces, Type-1 sequence boundaries,Niger Delta

Characterization of Diagenetic Processes of the Late Maastrichtian – Danian Limestones in Ohafia, Ozu Abam and Arochukwu Areas of Southeastern Nigeria

Vast deposits of limestones of Late Maastrichtian to Paleocene age occur in the Ohafia, Ozu-Abam and Arochukwu areas of southeastern Nigeria. The present study sought to gain insight into the evolutionary history and conditions of formation of the limestones, through detail investigations and characterization of the diagenetic processes that affected the rock. The diagenetic processes considered include cementation, neomorphism, micritization, compaction and dissolution. Dolomitization process was not considered because it was conspicuously absent in all the thin sections examined. The cement types observed include blocky or equant mosaic calcite cement, drusy mosaic calcite cement, micritic calcite cement with a meniscus fabric, and acicular aragonite cement. Micritization of bioclasts in the limestones is very low and is characterized by thin micritic envelopes covering the grain surfaces. Neomorphism is a prominent feature of the limestones and is responsible for the formation of large sized crystals in the limestones. Compaction is discernible by a parallel alignment of fractures in a thin section. Dissolution in the limestones is shown by the presence of solution cavities in the thin section. Dolomitization were not observed in the limestones. The various diagenetic transformations that the Late Maastrichtian to Paleocene limestones of Ohafia, Ozu-Abam and Arochukwu areas of southeastern Nigeria have undergone corroborates development under shallow marine conditions. In particular, the presence of drusy mosaic as a cement type is an indication of the relevance of meteoric phreatic conditions in the evolutionary history of the rock. Keywords: Diagenesis, Carbonate, Petrography, Nigeria

Voices in the wilderness: how exclusionist article processing charge policies of academic journals underscore what is wrong with global health.

Comment - No abstract available

Evaluation of changes in sexual response and factors influencing sexuality during pregnancy among Nigerian women in Jos, Nigeria

Background: Pregnancy is characterized by physical, hormonal and psychological changes that could influence women’s sexuality. The study aimed at ascertaining changes in the women’s sexual domains as well as factors affecting their sexual responses.Methods: A total of 177 healthy heterosexual pregnant Nigerian women at term and in stable marital relationships were included in the study. Authors’ designed structured questionnaire featuring socio-demographic and obstetric characteristics as well as assessment of their sexual desire, arousal, orgasm, sexual satisfaction and pain compared to the pre-pregnancy period was used to collect the information. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 16 for windows.Results: Mean age of the women was 30.9 ± 4.7 years. Majority of them reported decline in sexual desire, arousal, frequency of orgasm and sexual satisfaction compared to the pre-pregnancy period. Reduce sexual desire was marked in the first trimester but sexual desire peaked in second trimester. Women aged ≥31 years were four times more likely to experience increase frequency of orgasm (OR 4.0, 95% CI 1.9 – 8.7, P = 0.02) while those with tertiary education (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.1 – 4.2, P = 0.02) and unplanned pregnancy (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.8 – 5.0, P = 0.04) were more likely to experience decreased sexual satisfaction compared to the pre-pregnancy period.Conclusions: Pregnancy is associated with decline in all domains of female sexual response cycle among the women. Older maternal age positively impacts on frequency of attainment of orgasm while tertiary educational level and unplanned pregnancy negatively affect their sexual satisfaction during pregnancy

Validation of an instrument and measurement of employee work-life policies, psychological Empowerment, and job commitment of academic staff in universities

This study used a structural equation modelling approach to assess the association between employee work- life policies, psychological empowerment, and academic staff job commitment in universities in Cross River State, Nigeria. Three null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study following a descriptive survey research design. Multistage sampling procedure was adopted in the selection of 315 academic staff from two universities in the study area. “Work-Life Policies, Psychological Empowerment and Job Commitment Questionnaire (WPPEJCQ)” was used as the instrument for data collection. The construct validity of the instrument was ascertained through an Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) using the Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The Kaiser-Meyer-Ohlin of .894 and the Bartlett coefficient of 7795.820 were obtained. Several fit indices of Confirmatory Factor Analysis were used to accept the model such as RMSEA=.031, TLI=.969, CFI=.971 and many others. The null hypotheses were all tested using Path analysis. Findings revealed, among others, that there is a significant effect of work-life policies on the affective (β=.774,t=21.636,p\u3c.05), continuance (β=.450,t=8.932,p\u3c.05), and normative (β=490,t=9.967,p\u3c.05) dimensions of academic staff commitment; furthermore, psychological empowerment has a significant effect on the affective (β=.795,t=23.199,p\u3c.05), continuance (β=.501,t=10.261,p\u3c.05) and normative (β = .520, t = 10.795, p\u3c .05) dimensions of staff commitment; and there is a significant composite effect of work-life policies and psychological empowerment on the affective, continuance, and normative commitment levels of academic staff in universities. Based on these findings, conclusions and recommendations were mad

Trends in clinical trial registration in sub-Saharan Africa between 2010 and 2020: a cross-sectional review of three clinical trial registries.

OBJECTIVE: Prospective registration of clinical trials is an ethical, scientific, and legal requirement that serves several functions, including minimising research wastage and publication bias. Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is increasingly hosting clinical trials over the past few years, and there is limited literature on trends in clinical trial registration and reporting in SSA. Therefore, we set out to determine the trends in clinical trials registered in SSA countries between 2010 and July 2020. METHODS: A cross-sectional study design was used to describe the type of clinical trials that are conducted in SSA from 1 January 2010 to 31 July 2020. The registries searched were ClinicalTrials.gov (CTG), the Pan African Clinical Trials Register (PACTR), and the International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Number (ISRCTN). Data were extracted into Excel and imported into STATA for descriptive analysis. RESULTS: CTG had the highest number of registered trials at 2622, followed by PACTR with 1501 and ISRCTN with 507 trials. Trials were observed to increase gradually from 2010 and peaked at 2018-2019. Randomised trials were the commonest type, accounting for at least 80% across the three registries. Phase three trials investigating drugs targeted at infections/infestations were the majority. Few completed trials had their results posted: 58% in ISRCTN and 16.5% in CTG, thus suggesting reporting bias. CONCLUSION: Despite the gradual increase in clinical trials registered during the period, recent trends suggest a drop in the number of trials registered across the region. Strengthening national and regional regulatory capacity will improve clinical trial registration and minimise reporting bias in completed clinical trials

Prospects of BNAbs in management of HIV/AIDS

No abstract available

Tracking coverage, dropout and multidimensional equity gaps in immunisation systems in West Africa, 2000-2017.

BACKGROUND: Several West African countries are unlikely to achieve the recommended Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP) immunisation coverage and dropout targets in a landscape beset with entrenched intra-country equity gaps in immunisation. Our aim was to assess and compare the immunisation coverage, dropout and equity gaps across 15 West African countries between 2000 and 2017. METHODS: We compared Bacille Calmette Guerin (BCG) and the third dose of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP3) containing vaccine coverage between 2000 and 2017 using the WHO and Unicef Estimates of National Immunisation Coverage for 15 West African countries. Estimated subregional median and weighted average coverages, and dropout (DTP1-DTP3) were tracked against the GVAP targets of ≥90% coverage (BCG and DTP3), and ≤10% dropouts. Equity gaps in immunisation were assessed using the latest disaggregated national health survey immunisation data. RESULTS: The weighted average subregional BCG coverage was 60.7% in 2000, peaked at 83.2% in 2009 and was 65.7% in 2017. The weighted average DTP3 coverage was 42.3% in 2000, peaked at 70.3% in 2009 and was 61.5% in 2017. As of 2017, 46.7% of countries (7/15) had met the GVAP targets on DTP3 coverage. Average weighted subregional immunisation dropouts consistently reduced from 16.4% in 2000 to 7.4% in 2017, meeting the GVAP target in 2008. In most countries, inequalities in BCG, and DTP3 coverage and dropouts were mainly related to equity gaps of more than 20% points between the wealthiest and the poorest, high coverage regions and low coverage regions, and between children of mothers with at least secondary education and those with no formal education. A child's sex and place of residence (urban or rural) minimally determined equity gaps. CONCLUSIONS: The West African subregion made progress between 2000 and 2017 in ensuring that its children utilised immunisation services, however, wide equity gaps persist