Validation Study of Hadlock3 Model of Foetal Weight Estimation

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of Hadlock 3 model of foetal weight estimation among fetuses in a Nigerian population. Methods: 2008 mothers with singleton term pregnancy admitted in the labour ward of Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital for planned delivery were recruited for the study. Subjects who met the inclusion criteria were scanned within 24 hours prior to delivery. A greyscale high resolution ultrasound machine, Sonoace 5500, manufactured by Medicol in Korea, with a 3.5 MHz transducer was used to obtain the sonographic measurements. The birth weights of the fetuses were estimated using Hadlock3 model for foetal weight estimation. The actual weights of the neonates were measured immediately after birth by an experienced midwife. Intra-class correlation coefficient was used to compare the ultrasound estimated fetal weight with the actual fetal birth weight.Results: The mean actual birth weight of the neonates was 3.42 ± 0.36 kg while the meanestimate obtained from Hadlock3 model was 3.44 ± 0.45kg. There was no statistically significant difference between the estimated mean weight and the actual weight of the neonates at the reference birth weight (P < 0.05). The accuracy of this model was highest at the weight range of 3.00 to 3.99 kg, with inter-class co-efficient of 0.88 and accuracy of 86 % within ± 10 % of actual birth weight.Conclusion: Hadlock3 model has a high intra-class correlation coefficient of 0.88 at birth weight of 3.00 to 3.49 kg and predicts the birth weight in 86% of cases within ± 10% of actual birth weight

Family Patriarchy and Self-Reliant Development among Students in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

The study determined the relationship between family patriarchy and self-reliance of students in Secondary Schools in Akwa Ibom State Nigeria Research questions and hypotheses were formulated for a research direction The study adopted a correlational research design Stratified random sampling technique was used The researchers developed instrument called Family-Patriarchy for Self-reliance Scale FPSRS with a reliability coefficient of 71 and 82 on Cronbach Alpha were used to elicit data from 400 respondents which 380 was suitable for data analyses respondents were randomly selected from the population of 58 230 students Linear Regression statistics was used for the data analyses The research questions were answered with Pearson r statistics while the hypotheses were tested using t-test of significance of correlation Findings indicated very high moderate positive significant relationships among variables The study concluded that family patriarchy is significantly to build self-reliant traits It was recommended that parents should rear their children to foster the self-reliant spirit in males and females to ensure equal opportunities for self-relianc

Evaluation of the biochemical responses of catfish (Clarias gariepinus Burchell, 1822) after replacing fish oil with plant-based oils in their diets

This study evaluated biochemical responses of Clarias gariepinus after replacing fish oil with plantbased oils in their diets. The sources of oils were coconut, olive, crude palm, sunflower and sesame seed. These oils were incorporated at 7% level to produce five isonitrogenous (41.03% protein) diets.The sixth diet contained fish oil and served as control experiment. Feeding trial was conducted in floating hapa  (1m3) system for 12 weeks. At harvest, blood samples were taken and examined for serum protein, albumin, globulin, electrolytes and tissue lipid peroxidation. Results showed that kidney function parameters (protein, albumin and globulin) increased significantly (p < 0.05) in palm oil treated group while the highest (p < 0.05) serum ions were observed in olive oil treated fish. The amount of malondialdehyde (MDA) formed in fish tissues also increased (p < 0.05) in palm oil group by 41%, 14%, 39% and 14 % in the liver, kidney, gill and heart respectively. However, no  significant difference (p > 0.05) was observed in MDA formation in fish fed olive oil and control diets. Inferences from this study conclusively support the direct use of palm and olive oils as total replacement for fish oil in diets of Clarias gariepinus.Key Words: Clarias gariepinus, fish oil, plant oils, substitution, fish health, fish diet

Perception of Business Education Lecturers in Colleges of Education on the Influence of Retail Store Location and Design on Impulse Buying Behaviour of Consumers in North-West Nigeria

This study was carried out to determine the perception of Business Education Lecturers in Colleges of Education on the influence of retail store location and design on the impulse buying behaviour of consumers in north-west Nigeria.  A survey research design was used for the study.  The study was carried out in the North-west zone of Nigeria. The population of the study was 219 Business Education Lecturers in 10 Colleges of Education.  The entire population was studied since it was small and manageable.  Two research questions were answered and one null hypothesis was tested at 0.05 level of significance and 202 degrees of freedom.  A structured questionnaire was developed to collect data for the study.  The questionnaire items were structured on a 5-point Likert  scale.  A total of 204 copies of the questionnaire were retrieved from the respondents for analysis.  The data collected were analyzed using Mean statistic to answer the research questions, while analysis of variance was used to test the hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance.  The findings of the study revealed that all the items of retail store location and design were accepted by the respondents as having influence on the impulse buying behaviour of consumers.  The findings also revealed that there was no significant difference in the Mean responses of Business Education Lecturers with regards to their ranks on the influence on all the retail store items on consumer impulse buying behaviour. Based on the findings of this study, it was recommended, among others, that retailers should adopt the retail store variables identified in this study in order to boost their trade and provide a satisfying shopping experience for their customers. Keywords: Retailing, store location, store design, impulse buying, consumer behaviour

Effects of Different Concentrations of Biocides on Fungal Populations Isolated from Biofilms of Corroded Oil Pipelines

Microbiologically influenced corrosion is a problem commonly encountered in facilities in the oil and gas industries. The present study described fungal enumeration and identification in biofilms of oil pipelines in Oshie flow station in Rivers State and Irri flow station in Delta State, Nigeria using traditional cultivation technique.  The fungal species isolated in biofilms from the two sites are as follows Verticillium dahlae, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Penicillium corylophilum, Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium paradoxus, Aspergillus paradoxus, Humicola grisae, Aureobasidium pullulans, Monilia balanitis, Hormoconis resinea, Asperillus flavus and Helimenthosporium maydis. The study also focuses on the use of three biocides to inhibit or eliminate the identified organisms in order to minimize the material and financial losses encountered by oil and gas companies, because of microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC). The performance of three biocides (ozone, sodium hypochlorite and formaldehyde) at the concentrations 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5% in eliminating the fungal species isolated from biofilms of oil pipelines in Rivers and Delta States, Niger Delta, Nigeria. It is shown that formaldehyde an ozone exhibit the best biocidal characteristics and concentrations of 1 and 2 % eliminated all to almost the fungal species after 72 hours of contact time. This study is relevant to the problem of microbiologically influenced corrosion as the data may contribute to elucidate which fungal species contribute to the MIC process and to gain a better understanding of the fungal community of biofilms. This study will give us better understanding of the biocide capable of eliminating fungal species in biofilm of oil and gas pipelines. Key word: Concentration, fungal population, biocides, microbiologically influenced corrosion, biofilm

Effect of ketamine hydrochloride induced anaesthesia on Psammophis sibilans

This study sought to determine the actual dose of ketamine hydrochloride to be used to achieve surgical plane of anaesthesia in hissing sand snake (Psammophis sibilans). Ketamine hydrochloride was administered intravenously to the snakes at different doses based on their body weight, and some physiological parameters were monitored. Twelve snakes divided into four groups A, B, C and D were administered ketamine hydrochloride intravenously at 60 mg/kg, 46 mg/kg, 40 mg/kg, and 30 mg/kg respectively. With 40 mg/kg, a good plane of surgical anaesthesia was achieved in this species of snakes. The dose was able to achieve both anaesthesia and analgesia. Other dose recommended for anaesthesia was 30 mg/kg. It is concluded that dose higher than 46 mg/kg may cause the death of the animal. These result shows that ketamine hydrochloride is generally effective at 40 mg/kg in the Psammophis sibilans, with no wide individual variation in the time to onset (3.5±0.7 mins), duration of anaesthesia (23.5±9.19 mins), and time to recovery (36.5±25.1 mins).Keywords: Ketamine hydrochloride, Psammophis sibilans, righting reflex, anaesthesi

Best scale for detecting the effects of stratospheric sulphate aerosol geoengineering on surface temperature

Stratospheric sulfate aerosol injection (SAI) has been proposed as a way to geo-engineer climate. Whilst swift global-mean surface cooling is generally expected from tropical SAI, the regional impacts of such perturbation on near-surface air temperature (SAT) are projected to be spatially inhomogeneous. By using existing simulations from the Geoengineering Model Intercomparison Project (GeoMIP) G4 scenario, where 5 Tg yr-1 of sulfur dioxide (SO2) is injected into the tropical stratosphere to offset some of the warming in a mid-range representative greenhouse gas concentration pathway (RCP4.5) between 2020 and 2070, we examine the regional detectability of the SAI surface cooling effect, and attempt to find the best spatial scale for potential SAI monitoring. We use optimal fingerprint detection and attribution techniques to estimate the time horizon over which the SAI surface cooling effect would be detected after implementation in 2020 on sub-global scales, ranging from the near-global in situ observational coverage down to sub-continental regions. We show that using the spatio-temporal SAT pattern across the Northern and Southern extra-tropics and the Tropics, and across the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, as well as averaging SATs over the whole globe robustly result in successful SAI detection within 10 years of geoengineering implementation in a majority of the included plausible geoengineering realizations. However, detecting the SAI effect on SAT within the first decade of implementation would be more challenging on sub-continental scales

“Your drinking is my problem”: recording alcohol’s harm to others in Nigeria

The negative consequences of alcohol consumption on the drinker are well documented. Alcohol is the cause of many physical and mental health conditions and is associated with social problems affecting the drinker, the family and the society at-large. Nondrinkers also experience the impact of other people’s drinking though the extent of this experience is not well documented. This paper presents preliminary data from the WHO/Thai Health project on the harm to others from drinking. A sample of 16 health, security and social welfare agencies in Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria was selected and a nominated key informant in each agency was approached for information using a qualitative interview schedule. The information sought from respondents included types of harms to others seen at the agency, the frequency of such cases, how information about the cases are recorded and handled, and whether regular records are kept at the agency on harm to others from alcohol. Findings show that few agencies collected data on harm to others from drinking but several reported seeing people affected by the drinking of others, with most cases reported by social welfare agencies. Almost all the agencies contacted expressed interest in collecting relevant data and being involved more in addressing the problem. The reported low levels of awareness and action on harm to others from drinking have potentially serious implications in a society with a rapidly growing rate of alcohol consumption.Key words: Alcohol, harm to others, Nigeria, drinking problem

A Survey of Gastrointestinal Helminthes of Local Chickens in Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State

Rural Poultry as practiced by the rural population is both for consumption and for income generation during festive seasons. The practice of allowing the birds to scavenge for food in the neighbourhood exposes them to disease. This research was an active surveillance of worms which parasitize these rural birds using saturated the salt floatation method. Two hundred sterile samples of the faeces of 200 rural birds were collected randomly from 10 villages in Abak Local government Area. These were transported immediately for analysis in the laboratory using floatation method with saturated salt solution. Viewing with X10 microscope it was discovered that out of the 200 samples examined for helminthes, Ascaris gallinarium was found in 92 samples or (46%), Heterakis Spp was seen with 62 0r 31% positions, Capillaria Spp was 58 or 29% and Strongyles Spp was 46 or 23%. The least was Raillietina Spp which was found in only 22 (11%). This study to the best of my knowledge is the first attempt to research into the types of worm parasites found in local birds, though it has been conducted in other parts of Nigeria and the World over. It was concluded that there is a light prevalence of helminthes in Abak in rural birds, which will lead to high loses. This we advice for educate the rural community in better husbandry practice to preserve the rural poultry population

A Survey of the Most Prevalent Tick Parasite on Dogs In Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State-Nigeria.

This study was designed to ascertain the prevalence of tick parasites on dogs found in five (5) local communities of Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. At the end of the research, it was discovered that there is a high prevalence of tick parasitization on dogs in the study area. This therefore calls for a need for further investigation and information on these parasites from other areas so as to enable animal care givers and Veterinarians formulate a master plan that will aid in tackling and managing ticks and their associated diseases