Geographical Survey of Nigerian Mineral Resources: A Step toward Planned Development

The geographical survey of Nigerian Mineral resources – A step toward planned development is the determination of mineral resources that are within her territory, and it exploited wisely become useful to man. The minerals are associated with two main types of rocks found in Nigeria. They are the basement rocks and the sedimentary rocks. Nigerian mineral resources have been classified into four main groups of the fossil fuel, metallic, non-metallic and radio-active minerals. Exploitation of these minerals can if properly organized, serve as tourist attraction, where tourist are attracted to such site or environment either for relaxation, recreation or for educational purpose. There are opening for the untapped minerals to be exploited for development of the entire country. Key words: Geographical survey, Mineral resources, Nigeria, development, Tourism.

Antibacterial Activity and Identification of Bioactive Compounds in Extracts of Garlic cloves and Lemon juice by GC-MS Analysis

The search for alternative regimens to treatment of infectious diseases as well as the increase in antibiotic resistance by pathogens has prompted continuous efforts towards discovery of new drugs. In this study, crude aqueous and acetone extracts of garlic cloves and lemon juice were obtained. The extracts were tested against clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus. The antibacterial activity was determined by agar well diffusion method on Mueller-Hinton Agar plates. All extracts showed inhibitory action against the bacterium with acetone extracts having higher activity than the aqueous extracts. The acetone extracts were further fractionated using solvent – solvent extraction and retested on the bacterium. The bioactive compounds that lead to the antibacterial activity of the fractions of the extracts were identified by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry analysis where 2,5-Furandione and dihydro-3-methylene were identified in garlic cloves fraction as main compounds with other 8 compounds in trace quantity while 11-Octadecenoic acid methyl ester, Oleic acid and n-Hexadecanoic acid were identified in lemon juice fraction as main compounds with 6 other compounds in trace quantity. These findings claim capacity and future use of these compounds for new drug development. The future work will be to determine toxicity, side effects and pharmaco-kinetic properties of the compounds. Keywords: Antibacterial activity, Garlic cloves, Lemon juice, GC-MS analysis, bioactive compounds

Implementing a Web Based On-Demand Mentorship Platform for Young Entrepreneurs

Over 90 percent of startups fail after the first five years of kick-off in many developing economies like Nigeria due to the lack of entrepreneurial experiences, understanding of the environment and relevant insights required to handle peculiar challenges that come with running a startup company. Entrepreneurs and founders of startup companies can, therefore, improve the longevity of startups and mitigate the degree of startup failures if they can be equipped with the required knowledge and capacity. Such capacity can be harnessed from years of experiences gathered from trying, making efforts, succeeding and failing. However, entrepreneurs and founders, who are starters or lack substantial experience, may contribute to the failure rate of startups. This, nevertheless, can be addressed by taking advantage of those who have already gathered substantial experiences. These are referred to as mentorship in this study. Thus, a sound relationship between an experienced entrepreneur (mentor) and a starter entrepreneur (mentee) can enable the transfer of knowledge that mitigates the failure rate of startups. This study, therefore, seeks to explore the development of a web-based mentorship platform, where experienced entrepreneurs and young entrepreneurs meet and transfer knowledge. The platform is meant to give young entrepreneurs a leverage such that they harness the already existing experiences of experienced entrepreneurs, such as their failures, successes, methods, leadership styles and efforts. This will foster mentorship relationships, quick-finding help, and knowledge-sharing such that the failure rate of startup companies in Nigeria is reduced

Physicochemical Analysis of the Aqueous Extracts of Six Nigerian Medicinal Plants

Purpose: Extracts of Picralima nitida seeds, Detarium microcarpum stem bark, Aframomum melagueta seeds, Terminalia catappa leaves, Acacia nilotica pods, and Morinda lucida stem bark, are under consideration for development into suitable dosage forms for treating diabetes mellitus, sickle cell anemia and malaria. This study aimed at evaluating the extracts for features that would influence decisions on them in the course of the project.Methods: Physicochemical determinations, including proximate analysis, were done by sensory examination, and gravimetric and electrochemical techniques. Thin layer chromatography was carried out with normal silica plates using various solvent systems. Metallic content analyses were carried out by atomic absorption spectroscopy.Results: The extracts were dry but hygroscopic, with a loss on drying range of 0.26 – 12.00 %w/w. The pH of the 5 - 10 % solutions ranged 5 - 7. No harsh sensory effects, such as lacrimation, were detected in any of the extracts. Total ash ranged from 3.79 – 20.68 %w/w, while acid insoluble ash values were below detection. The extracts yielded reproducible chromatograms on normal silica plates developed with various solvent systems. Copper, present at 0.16 - 0.58 mg/100g, was the lowest occurring microelement while calcium content was highest, at 41 - 216 mg/100g. The level of lead, a heavy metal, was 0.05 - 0.22 mg/100g.Conclusion: The results confirm that the extracts require no special handling, possess characteristics that would allow their possible development into solid dosage forms, and that their lead contentscomplied with official limits.Keywords: Aqueous extract, Picralima nitida, Detarium microcarpum, Aframomum melagueta, Terminalia catappa, Acacia nilotica, Morinda lucida

The search for mitochondrial tRNALeu(UUR) A3243G mutation among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in the Nigerian population

The study aimed to compare the incidence of the pathogenic point mutation A3243G in the gene tRNALeu(UUR) indicating sub-type 2 diabetes mellitus conducted within the Nigerian population with that reported in other populations. 112 patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (T2D) mellitus according to the World Health Organization criteria were selected based on family history and re-evaluated for associated disorders from the diabetic clinics in the Northern part of Nigeria. The mtDNA of these patients was extracted and the tRNALeu(UUR) gene screened for A3243G by PCR-RFLP method. Probands with maternal history were further investigated for other mutations using PCR-sequencing methods. None of the 112 patients were found to carry the A3243G mutation in the mitochondrial tRNALeu(UUR) gene in the homoplasmic or in the heteroplasmic form. However, C3254T was identified in two of our patients. This mutation was reported to be associated with gestational diabetes and linked with population from sub-Saharan Africa. The A3243G mutation in mitochondrial tRNALeu(UUR) is not a frequent cause of maternal diabetes in the Nigerian population contrary to other reported populations. However, further screening of an enlarged selected study group is necessary to fully determine the prevalence of this mutation in this population. This further search will help to fully appreciate the prevalence of maternal inheritance and diabetic deafness (MIDD) as extensively reported in other populations.Key words: Maternal diabetes, mitochondrial gene, maternal Inheritance and diabetic deafness, Nigeria, sub-Saharan Africa

Quality of integrated chronic disease care in rural South Africa : user and provider perspectives

Acknowledgement This work was supported by (i) Medical Research Council/Wits Rural Public Health and health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt) South Africa, through the Wellcome Trust, UK (Grant Numbers 058893/Z/99/A, 069683/Z/02/Z); (ii) Fogarty International Centre of the National Institutes of Health fellowship (Grant number 1D43TW008330-01A); and (iii) African Doctoral Dissertation Research Fellowship. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official view of the National Institutes of Health and other funders. This paper was facilitated by attending the Wits School of Public Health Thanda Ukubhala writing retreat funded by the Faculty of Health Sciences Research Office. The authors acknowledge the contributions of Chimaraoke Izugbara, Rachel Caesar, Lenore Manderson, Faith Mambulu and Latonya Wilson for writing support. Funding Funding to pay the Open Access publication charges for this article was provided by the Fogarty International Centre of the National Institutes of Health fellowship (Grant number 1D43TW008330-01A). This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. For commercial re-use, please contact [email protected] reviewedPublisher PD

Breast lesions and cancer: histopathology and molecular classification in a referral hospital in Ghana

Background: Histological diagnosis is crucial to the management of breast diseases. It determines the kind of disease, the treatment modalities, and the outcome of management. Our department receives breast biopsies from the northern sector of Ghana constituting over 50% of the Ghanaian population. This study aimed at elucidating the pattern of disease and associated traditional prognostic indices of breast cases in our department over a period of 9 years.Methods: Information on the demographic characteristics and the histological diagnoses made on all breast cases received and processed in the department were accessed and entered into an Excel spreadsheet. Slides were reviewed and IHC was done on suitable cases. Descriptive statistics were generated using IMB-SPSS version 23.Results: A total of 4276 breast cases were received by the department within the study period, with 97.6% being female. Age ranged (female/male) from 10 to 98/13 to 102 years, with mean ages of 38.2 years (SD ± 16.7) and 41.15 years (SD ± 21.6), respectively. Cases were evenly distributed in both left and right breasts and 4.3% were bilateral. Inflammatory conditions were seen in 7.5% of cases. The most diagnosed benign tumor was fibroadenoma (54%), followed by fibrocystic change (8.1%). Gynecomastia was diagnosed in 66.3% of males. Malignant cases were 38.6%, with invasive carcinoma NST being the most frequent (87.5%). Histological grades were I = 9.4%, II = 41.6%, and III = 49%. Molecular subtypes were luminal A (19.8%), luminal B (9.9%), Her2 (16%), and TNBC (54.3%).Conclusion: Our findings show an increase in breast cancer cases compared to previous studies in our center, suggesting increased awareness and improved diagnosis. However, this increase is consistent with most studies in sub-Saharan Africa

Perception of the Impact of Fuel Wood and Charcoal Productions on the Environment: A Case Study of Toro L.G.A of Bauchi State, Nigeria

Wood biomass felling for fuel negatively impacted on the structuring and functioning of ecosystem worldwide. Consequently, increasing soil erosion, reduction in soil moisture, content, fertility, and decline vegetation cover. The study area comprised four districts: Leme, Rimi, Jama’a and Tilden Fulani in Toro LGA, Bauchi State, purposively chosen because of their high fuel wood activity. Charcoal producers were sampled, using stratified sampling methods while traditional leadership and the department of Forestry officials were purposefully sampled for their involvement in fuelwood and forest management of the area. Fifty (50) fuel wood and charcoal producers were chosen per district. A total of two hundred (200) sampled respondents and four each of the traditional leaders and forestry officials in the four districts were investigated. Apparent collapse of traditional governance system correlated with fuelwood exploitation (especially for charcoal production) and remained a threat to sustainability of forest and forest products management. Poverty was the main driver to resource destruction, as only 34% were employed.67%, 71% and 59% indicated impact on environment, temperature, and erosion due to charcoal production.Charcoal producers obtained the trees and logs for charcoal production from the natural forest and 88% of them use life trees, cutting above 40cm above the ground level. This method of harvesting from the forest inhibits replenishment commensurate with the rate of extraction. The study showed that poverty, unemployment, ignorance and lack of education have great and direct negative impact on the environment as global warming, ozone layer depletion and climate change are evident

Bethune round table 2012: 12th annual conference: filling the gap

Background: Our aim was to highlight the impact of collaboration between 2 linked tertiary hospitals in Nigeria and India. Methods: We conducted a review of a collaboration between the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre (AIMS), Kochi, India, and the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Ilorin, Nigeria, to exchange personnel for the purpose of further training from August 2007 and December 2011. Results: One neurosurgeon, 2 pediatric surgeons and 1 orthopedic surgeon had additional exposure at AIMS for periods of 3 months to 1 year. Four neurosurgery and 3 pediatric surgery perioperative nurses have also been trained at AIMS for periods of 3 months. A pediatric surgeon was invited as faculty for laparoscopic training at Ilorin in 2010. The collaboration has resulted in exposure to surgical procedures not usually done in our centre. Our pediatric surgery unit has commenced laparoscopic surgery and pyeloplasty for pelvic ureteric junction obstruction in children. The orthopedic surgeon has commenced interlocking nailing and joint replacement. The neurosurgeon has successful done endoscopic third ventriculostomy and microscopic resection of brain tumour. Conclusion: This international collaboration has led to capacity building with significant impact on surgical services at UITH. An international collaboration and exchange program is a feasible and desirable strategy for technology transfer between technology-advanced settings and resource-constrained centres

Design and Performance Evaluation of a Solar Dryer

One of the ways to combat food insecurity as world population rises is the reduction of food losses. Drying is one of the oldest methods of food preservation and hence reduces food losses. Solar drying uses energy from the sun and an absorber material to carry out drying of produce. In this project, a solar dryer was designed, constructed and its performance was evaluated. The dryer has overall dimensions of 1000mm by 410mm by 700mm. The inner part of the dryer compartment was lagged with aluminum foil to act as an insulator. The solar collector made of galvanized sheet and the glass on top of it have an area of 800mm by 380mm. Fresh scotch bonnet pepper was used as the produce of choice. The pepper was dried in 2 experiments for 3 weeks each. 200g of pepper was used and weighed to measure weight loss periodically. Temperature and humidity of the drying chamber and the surrounding were measured with data loggers throughout the periods of the experiments. The results showed that the ambient temperature during the experiments was higher than the temperature of the drying chamber in the early hours of the morning between 4am and 10am. During every other period, the temperature in the drying chambers was higher than the ambient temperature. An average moisture content of 81.3% w.b. was removed from the pepper during the experiments. The average efficiency of the dryer was 28.4%