Production of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Range Alkanes from n-Octane via Catalytic Hydroconversion

The production of light range alkanes with potentials as LPGs was carried out at 1 atm pressure over a range of reaction temperatures using both in situ and ex situ prepared molybdenum carbide supported sulphated zirconia catalysts. The in situ synthesized material formed the best system in terms of stability, conversion and selectivity to desired reaction products, as well as resistance to thermal treatment. This suggests its prospects as industrial material. Mechanistically, the reaction was believed to involved the participation of both the carbide and the sulphated zirconia surfaces via hydrogenolysis and hydrocracking, respectively. Reactions over the carbide formed mainly methane whereas propane and butanes could significantly be obtained over the sulphated zirconia. Keywords: n-octane, hydroconversion, light gases, fuel, prospect

What co-morbidities do people with malaria have and what are their patterns of health seeking in Nigeria?

Background: This study assessed the comorbidities associated with malaria and patterns of health seeking in southeast Nigeria.Materials and Methods: The survey was undertaken in Enugu state, Southeast Nigeria. Data were collected from 500 householders, 200 in-patient and outpatient exit surveys and data abstraction from 125 inpatient and outpatient records.Results: A total of 307 (64.2%) households had an episode of malaria within 1 month of the interview. The most common malaria comorbidities were upper respiratory tract infection and diarrhea. Most patients first sought treatment from patent medicine vendors. The average monthly cost of treating the comorbidities was 270 Naira (1.75 USD) and 601 Naira (3.89 USD) for outpatient department and inpatient department respectively.Conclusion: The economic burden of malaria is compounded by  comorbidities and inappropriate health seeking behavior. Interventions to control malaria are required to also control common comorbidities.Key words: Co.morbidity, costs, health.seeking pattern, malari

Mapping the baseline prevalence of lymphatic filariasis across Nigeria

Introduction: The baseline endemicity profile of lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a keybenchmark for planning control programmes, monitoring their impact on transmissionand assessing the feasibility of achieving elimination. Presented in this work is themodelled serological and parasitological prevalence of LF prior to the scale-up of massdrug administration (MDA) in Nigeria using a machine learning based approach.Methods: LF prevalence data generated by the Nigeria Lymphatic Filariasis ControlProgramme during country-wide mapping surveys conducted between 2000 and 2013were used to build the models. The dataset comprised of 1103 community-levelsurveys based on the detection of filarial antigenaemia using rapidimmunochromatographic card tests (ICT) and 184 prevalence surveys testing for thepresence of microfilaria (Mf) in blood. Using a suite of climate and environmentalcontinuous gridded variables and compiled site-level prevalence data, a quantileregression forest (QRF) model was fitted for both antigenaemia and microfilaraemia LFprevalence. Model predictions were projected across a continuous 5 × 5 km griddedmap of Nigeria. The number of individuals potentially infected by LF prior to MDAinterventions was subsequently estimated.Results: Maps presented predict a heterogeneous distribution of LF antigenaemia andmicrofilaraemia in Nigeria. The North-Central, North-West, and South-East regionsdisplayed the highest predicted LF seroprevalence, whereas predicted Mf prevalencewas highest in the southern regions. Overall, 8.7 million and 3.3 million infections werepredicted for ICT and Mf, respectively.Conclusions: QRF is a machine learning-based algorithm capable of handling high-dimensional data and fitting complex relationships between response and predictorvariables. Our models provide a benchmark through which the progress of ongoing LF control efforts can be monitored

Drivers of long-lasting insecticide-treated net utilisation and parasitaemia among under-five children in 13 States with high malaria burden in Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Although Nigeria has made some progress in malaria control, there are variations across States. We investigated the factors associated with utilisation of long-lasting insecticide-treated net (LLIN) and parasitaemia among under-five children in 13 States with high malaria burden. METHOD: Data from the 2015 Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey and 2018 Demographic and Health Survey were obtained and analysed. The 2015 and 2018 data were compared to identify States with increase or reduction in parasitaemia. Analysis was done for all the 13 study States; four States with increased parasitaemia and nine States with reduction. Random-effects logit models were fitted to identify independent predictors of LLIN utilisation and parasitaemia. RESULTS: LLIN was used by 53.4% of 2844 children, while parasitaemia prevalence was 26.4% in 2018. Grandchildren (AOR = 5.35, CI: 1.09-26.19) were more likely to use LLIN while other relatives (AOR = 0.33, CI: 0.11-0.94) were less likely compared to children of household-heads. LLIN use was more common in children whose mother opined that only weak children could die from malaria (AOR = 1.83, CI: 1.10-3.10). Children whose mothers obtained net from antenatal or immunisation clinics (AOR = 5.30, CI: 2.32-12.14) and campaigns (AOR = 1.77, CI: 1.03-3.04) were also more likely to use LLIN. In contrast, LLIN utilisation was less likely among children in female-headed households (AOR = 0.51, CI: 0.27-0.99) and those in poor-quality houses (AOR = 0.25, CI: 0.09-0.72). Children aged 24-59 months compared to 0-11 months (AOR = 1.78, CI: 1.28-2.48), those in whom fever was reported (AOR = 1.31, CI: 1.06-1.63) and children of uneducated women (AOR = 1.89, CI: 1.32-2.70) were more likely to have parasitaemia. The likelihood of parasitaemia was higher among children from poor households compared to the rich (AOR = 2.06, CI: 1.24-3.42). The odds of parasitaemia were 98% higher among rural children (AOR = 1.98, CI: 1.37-2.87). CONCLUSION: The key drivers of LLIN utilisation were source of net and socioeconomic characteristics. The latter was also a key factor associated with parasitaemia. These should be targeted as part of integrated malaria elimination efforts

Proximate Composition and Thermal Properties of Fabricated Fresh Beef during Freezing

Abstract This study presented the effects of temperature and shape on the thermal properties of beef. Round cut of beef was fabricated into irregular, triangular, circular, and rectangular shapes which were subjected to different freezing temperatures of -13, -17, and -30°C. Specific heat, total heat transfer, density and proximate composition of each meat sample were determined after freezing. Total heat transfer among the shapes varied significantly (p<0.05), circular and rectangular shapes had the highest value of 0.460 KJ while triangular shapes had the least value of 0.431 KJ. Density and specific heat decreased significantly (p<0.05), with decrease in temperature, but total heat transfer increased significantly (p<0.05) with increase in temperature from -13 to -30°C. It was observed that different fabricated beef shapes significantly (p<0.05) affected total heat transfer during freezing. Also, thermal properties of beef at freezing were found to be dependent on the freezing temperatures. Circular shaped meat samples had the best thermal property behaviour at -30°C. From the results of the study, it is evident that thermal properties of beef perform better at lower freezing temperatures

Production and Evaluation of Breakfast Cereals from Rice, African Yam-bean and Orange-fleshed Sweet Potato

Aims: The aim was to produce of ready-to-eat breakfast cereals from blends of local rice (Oryza sativa), malted African yam-bean and orange- fleshed sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas (L) Lam.] (umusco/3 variety) flours as well as to evaluate the nutritional properties, microbiological quality and sensory attribute of the formulated breakfast cereals. Study Design: The experimental design that was used is Completely Randomized Design. Place and Duration of Study: The study took place at the Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka between December 2016 and September 2017. Methodology: The study investigated the application of local rice, malted African yam bean and orange-fleshed sweet potato flour to develop ready-to-eat breakfast cereals rich in proteins and pro-vitamin A. The local rice and malted African yam bean flours were blended in the ratio of 100:0, 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, 60:40 and 50:50 to produce ready-to eat breakfast cereals which was subjected to sensory evaluation to isolate the best blend (90:10). From the preliminary study, composite flour was formulated by mixing rice flour and African yam bean flour from the best blend in different percentages. Samples of ready-to-eat breakfast cereals were formulated by mixing composite flour (rice and African yam bean best flour blend) with graded levels of orange fleshed sweet potato and 100% rice flour was used as the control sample. The breakfast cereal products were subjected to proximate, pro-vitamin A, microbiological and sensory analysis using standard methods. Results: The protein, ash, fiber and moisture contents of the blends (rice/African yam bean best blend +orange-fleshed sweet potato flours) were significantly (p<0.05) higher than the control but their carbohydrate content were lower than the control. The protein content, fat, ash, crude fiber, moisture, and carbohydrate contents ranged from 6.82(100% rice flour) to 11.21%(90% rice/African yam bean best blend+ 10% orange-fleshed sweet potato flour), 0.20(50% rice/African yam bean best blend+ 50% orange-fleshed sweet potato flour) to 1.21%(90% rice/African yam bean best blend+ 10% orange-fleshed sweet potato flour), 4.03(100% rice flour) to 15.81% (50% rice/African yam bean best blend+ 50% orange-fleshed sweet potato flour), 1.31(100% rice flour) to 2.80% (50% rice/African yam bean best blend+ 50% orange-fleshed sweet potato flour), 6.61(100% rice flour) to 10.92% (50% rice/African yam bean best blend+ 50% orange-fleshed sweet potato flour) and 63.07(50% rice/African yam bean best blend+ 50% orange-fleshed sweet potato flour) to 80.22% (100% rice flour) respectively. The pro-vitamin content of the samples ranged from 0.13 (100% rice flour) to 2.55 mg/100 g (50% rice/African yam bean best blend+ 50% orange-fleshed sweet potato flour). There was an increase in the pro-vitamin A content as the ratio of orange-fleshed sweet potato increased in the blend. The total viable count ranged from 3.0 × 103 to 6.7 × 103cfu/g while mould was not detected in any of the samples. The microbial content of the samples were satisfactory and not high when assessed using the guideline for microbiological quality of cereal products. The sensory evaluation conducted showed that among the six ready-to-eat breakfast cereals, 100% adani rice breakfast cereals, samples RAYBF1+OPF1 and RAYBF5+OPF5 were highly accepted. Conclusion: The study has shown that acceptable ready-to-eat breakfast cereals could be produced from blends of Adani rice, malted African yam bean and orange flesh sweet potato flour. Among the different breakfast cereals, 100% adani rice and sample RAYBF1+OPF1 (90 % best blend + 10% orange flesh sweet potato flour) were highly accepted

Environmental suitability for lymphatic filariasis in Nigeria

Background: Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a mosquito-borne parasitic disease and a major cause of disability worldwide. It is one of the neglected tropical diseases identified by the World Health Organization for elimination as a public health problem by 2020. Maps displaying disease distribution are helpful tools to identify high-risk areas and target scarce control resources.Methods: We used pre-intervention site-level occurrence data from 1192 survey sites collected during extensive mapping surveys by the Nigeria Ministry of Health. Using an ensemble of machine learning modelling algorithms (generalised boosted models and random forest), we mapped the ecological niche of LF at a spatial resolution of 1 km2. By overlaying gridded estimates of population density, we estimated the human population living in LF risk areas on a 100 × 100 m scale.Results: Our maps demonstrate that there is a heterogeneous distribution of LF risk areas across Nigeria, with large portions of northern Nigeria having more environmentally suitable conditions for the occurrence of LF. Here we estimated that approximately 110 million individuals live in areas at risk of LF transmission.Conclusions: Machine learning and ensemble modelling are powerful tools to map disease risk and are known to yield more accurate predictive models with less uncertainty than single models. The resulting map provides a geographical framework to target control efforts and assess its potential impacts

Assessment Of Health Seeking Behaviour And Healthcare Payment Options In Nigeria

Availability of resources, location of residence, and other health related factors affects the health seeking behaviour of people in Nigeria especially people in poor settlements. Many of the citizens pay for their healthcare needs through the regressive out-of-pocket payment method thus this could be a hindrance to seeking better healthcare. This study assessed the health seeking behaviour and payment options of slum dwellers using a one month recall period. Data was collected using a well-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. The quantitative statistical tools used in the study analysis were tabulations, frequencies and testing of means. The findings showed that about 32.8% of the heads of households and 25% of other household members were sick one month prior to the interview. The major illnesses was presumptive malaria (54.9%) and (55.1%) for heads of household and other household members respectively. Majority of the head of households and other household members first sought for treatment from patent medicine vendors. The major payment option available for slum dwellers to pay for their health needs was through the out-of-pocket and it was used by 62.1% of heads of households and 73.2% of other household members. Only about 3% of the household heads and about 3.9% of other household members had any form of health insurance. The policy implication is the poor health seeking patter where majority seeks care at patent medicine vendors may be improved with a good financial risk protection mechanism such as health insurance, which will improve access

Evaluation of Moringa oleifera as anti-plasmodial agents in the control of malaria

The anti-plasmodia activity of crude methanol extract and column fractions of methanol extract of Moringa oleifera leaves were evaluated in this study. Seventy-two Swiss albino mice randomized into eighteen groups were inoculated with chloroquine sensitive NK65 strain of Plasmodium berghei. Animals in Group 1 (negative control) were treated with physiological saline while Group 2 (positive control) were treated with 5mg/kg chloroquine. The remaining sixteen groups were treated with crude methanol extracts and seven column fractions of the crude extract of Moringa oleifera leaves at 50 and 100mg/kg for four days. Anti-malarial activity was determined by taking blood smears from the tail on day-four. Results showed that low doses of fractions F2 and F5 had a higher  activity than the high dose of the crude extract statistically significant (p<0.05) in F5 but not in F2 (p>0.05). The mean percentage parasite suppression in the positive control group was higher than that of F5 fraction but not significantly (p>0.05). Alanine aminotransferase activity was significantly reduced (p<0.05) in animals treated with crude extract when compared with those treated with F2 and F5 and negative control while Aspartate aminotransferase activity was elevated in negative and positive controls but significantly reduced (p<0.05) in F2 and F5 groups. The findings of this study confirm the presence of anti-plasmodial compounds in the leaves of Moringa oleifera.Keywords: anti-plasmodial, Moringa oleifera, Plasmodium berghei

Quality attributes of date and wheat flour pineapple juice blended cookies as affected by different baking temperatures

Studying the effects of temperature on cookies are necessary especially if the impact on quality attributes are to be deduced. More so, blending wheat flour, date flour, and pineapple juice could improve the nutrient quality required in modern-day cookies. This current study investigated the quality attributes of date and wheat flour pineapple juice blended cookies as affected by different baking temperatures. With pineapple juice serving as water substitute, the formulated date, and wheat flour blends adhered to the following ratios: 100:0, 90:10, 80:20, and 70:30. Baking cookies involved two different temperatures (160 °C and 180 °C) with constant time (30 min). Quality attributes determined proximate composition, micronutrients, physical and functional properties, and microbial and sensory qualities. Cookies proximate results showed moisture (6.89–7.40%), protein (8.73–10.22%), fat (14.37–15.99%), fiber (1.02–1.11%), ash (0.77–1.20%) and carbohydrate (64.85–67.71%). Various ranges appeared, from energy values (434.90–444.10 kcal), minerals (calcium = 33.18–62.45 mg/100 g; iron = 3.47–5.75 mg/100 g; potassium = 100.07–358.63 mg/100 g), vitamins (vitamin A =1.99–4.89 mg/100 g; vitamin C = 0.04–0.15 mg/100 g), physical (weight = 7.4–7.75 g; diameter = 3.50–4.01 cm; thickness = 0.99–1.20 cm; volume = 3.11–3.77 cm3; density = 2.06–2.41 g/cm3; spread ratio = 2.92–4.05 cm3), to functional (water absorption = 1.14–1.18 g/g; oil absorption capacity = 1.31–1.33 g/g; bulk density = 0.74–0.76 g/mL) properties. The microbial loads seemed somewhat acceptable as overall acceptability favoured sample WDFb (90% wheat, 10% date flour). The acceptability of cookies baked at 160 °C over those baked at 180 °C suggests the need for further studies to determine the energy requirements, and long-term environmental implications such (baking) temperatures would pose