Crime Mapping in Enugu Urban Area of Enugu State, Nigeria using GIS Approach

The aim of this research was to use a GIS approach in mapping crime activities in Enugu urban area of Enugu State. This was achieved through the following objectives: acquiring comprehensive base map of the study area, developing a robust database on crime and performing various GIS analysis to show the crime patterns within the study area. The methodology adopted involved creating a geocoded database and digital maps of crime cases recorded in twelve (12) police stations situated in Enugu urban for the year 2015, using ARCGIS 10.2 software to carryout various spatial analytical procedures such as spatial query, spatial location query, multiple buffer analysis and kernel density hotspot mapping. The results of the research showed nineteen (19) different types of crimes mapped from geocoded crime data of reported crime cases/activities in various parts of the study area. The summary of findings were as follows: crime distribution was dependent on various factors which were spatial in nature and related to various points of interests; Hotspot analysis of crimes recorded revealed five (5) hotspots where crime activities were concentrated in Enugu urban namely- New haven, Ogui, Coal camp, Uwani and Achalla layout; areas further away from police stations were prone to more crime activities. It was recommended that an increase in policing/ ground patrol around tertiary institutions, schools, banks and recreational areas in Enugu urban; creation police outposts and implementing neighborhood watch in hotspots where crimes are concentrated. Keywords: Crime, Geocoding, Geodatabase, GIS, Mapping, Spatial Analysis, Spatial Quer

Enzymatic Hydrolysis and Fermentation of Plantain Peels: Optimization and Kinetic Studies

Abstract The aim of this work was to optimize the hydrolysis and fermentation of plantain peels. Kinetic study was also carried out. Proximate analysis of plantain peels was carried out and the result showed that it contains 46% cellulose. Aspergillus niger isolated and screened for cellulase activities was used as the crude enzyme for the hydrolysis and commercial available Saccharomyces cerevisae was used for the fermentation. The optimization was done using quadratic model of central composite rotatable design for both hydrolysis and fermentation. Analysis of variance ANOVA was used to test for the significance of the model and the factors. The results of the analysis showed that temperature, time, pH and the substrate concentration significantly affected the yield of simple sugar in the hydrolysis of plantain peels. The result equally showed that temperature, time and pH were significant factors of fermentation. The optimum conditions for the hydrolysis were 35˚C, 5 days, and pH of 5.5, substrate concentration of 8 g/30ml and glucose yield of 49%. Also the optimum conditions of fermentation were obtained as 30˚C, pH of 4.0, 9 days and ethanol yield of 19%. The Michaelis-Menten model adequately fit both the hydrolysis and fermentation kinetics

SOME PSYCHOSOCIAL PREDICTORS OF ANGER IN SCHOOL CHILDREN

A cross sectional survey of children in secondary school was conducted to determine the association between family relation and anger in school children. The participants were one hundred and seventeen (117) senior secondary (SS) school 1-3 students drawn from a Government-owned school in Lagos, Nigeria. 34% of the respondents were in SS1, 33% were in SS2, and 33% were in SS3. They ranged between 12-18 years in age (X =15.51, SD = 1.28). The participants included 12-18 years. Family relation was measured using the Index of Family Relations (Hudson, 1992), while the STAS (Spielberger, 1994) was used to measure anger. The result of a hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed a statistically significantly positive association (β = .52, !! change = .27, p<.05) between family relations and anger. Family relation also positively correlated with state anger (β = .48, !! change = .228, p<.05), trait anger (β = .44, !! change = .19, p<.05), and anger temperament (β = .54, !! change = .29, p<.05). Religion correlated significant with trait anger (β = -.18, p<.05). There was a moderate correlation between gender and anger temperament, and a moderate interactive effect of family relation and age on anger temperament. However, family relations did not predict angry reaction in the participants. The findings suggest the role of family relations on school children’s disposition to angry emotions. It also indicates qualitative difference between angry emotion and angry behaviour, which may require additional conditions to manifest. Thus, intervention programmes that are specifically designed for angry school children should incorporate programmes that target the effect of address family background of the individual, as well as the teaching of strategies for coping with anger eliciting situations

Youth engagement in HIV prevention intervention research in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review.

INTRODUCTION: Youth engagement in HIV research is generally recognized as essential, but often neglected or minimally implemented in practice. Engagement is a process of working collaboratively with diverse groups of people to address common issues. We conducted a scoping review of youth HIV prevention interventions in sub-Saharan Africa to identify and categorize forms and levels of youth engagement across the lifespan of intervention research. METHODS: We followed Arksey and O'Malley's framework for organizing a scoping review. We searched seven databases for related articles on identified intervention studies through May 28th 2020. Included studies focused on youth (10 to 24 years old) HIV prevention interventions in sub-Saharan Africa. Two reviewers independently examined citations and full manuscripts for inclusion. Data were extracted on study characteristics, location, description of youth engagement and extent of engagement. Youth engagement approaches were categorized based on Hart's ladder as substantial engagement (strong youth decision-making power), moderate engagement (shared decision making with adults), minimal engagement (no youth decision-making power) or no engagement. RESULTS: We identified 3149 citations and included 112 studies reporting on 74 unique HIV interventions. Twenty-two interventions were in low-income countries, 49 in middle-income countries, and three were in both. Overall, only nine interventions (12%) had substantial or moderate youth engagement, two-thirds (48, 65%) had minimal youth engagement and 17 interventions (23%) had no youth engagement. We also identified specific engagement strategies (e.g. youth-led research, crowdsourcing) that were feasible in multiple settings and resulted in substantial engagement. CONCLUSIONS: We found limited youth engagement in youth HIV prevention intervention studies in sub-Saharan Africa. However, several activities resulted in substantial youth engagement and could be relevant in many low-and-middle-income-country (LMIC) settings

KINETIC, THERMODYNAMIC AND PARAMETRIC STUDIES OF OIL EXTRACTION FROM JATROPHA OILSEEDS

The kinetics, thermodynamics, and effects of process variables on Jatropha seed oil (JO) extraction were investigated via soxhlet extraction using petroleum ether. The kinetic models investigated were power law, pseudosecond-order, parabolic-diffusion, pseudo-first-order, Elovich, and hyperbolic models. The process parameters studied include, the extraction temperature, average particle size, and time. The thermodynamics parameters such as Gibb free energy, enthalpy, and entropy were determined. It was found that oil extraction yield varied directly proportional to an increase in temperature and time but inversely proportional to an increase in particle size. The maximum oil yield of 39.5 % was obtained at the extraction conditions of 74 oC, 0.1 mm, and 180 min. The best fitted kinetic models in order of performance were hyperbolic, parabolic, elovich, and power-law models. The average values of the absolute average relative error (AARE), the sum of the squares of errors (SSE), root mean squared error (RMSE), standard deviation (SD), total sum of squares (SST), coefficient of determination (R2), adjusted-coefficient of determination (adj-R2), hybrid fractional error function (HYBRID%), the Marquardt’s percent standard deviation (MPSED%), and standard error of estimation (SEE) for power law as the best-fitted model is as follows: 0.0004, 0.4804, 0.0004, 6.72E-06, 16.6067, 96.8432, 96.4486, 0.0063, 0.0593, 0.0133, respectively. However, pseudo-second-order and pseudo-first-order models failed to give adequate fitting to the experimental data. The Gibb free energy, enthalpy, and entropy values of the Jatropha oil extraction process at 328K and 0.1mm were -3.53kJ/mol, 45.79kJ/mol, and 0.15kJ/mol, respectively, indicating endothermic, irreversible, and spontaneous process

Molecular taxonomy of **Crocidura** species (Eulipotyphla: Soricidae) in a key biogeographical region for African shrews, Nigeria

International audienceThe taxonomy of African shrew species is still unresolved due to their conserved morphology. This also affects knowledge concerning their geographic distribution. In Nigeria, using mitochondrial Cytochrome b gene sequences, we carried out a survey for shrews from the genus Crocidura across various ecological zones to determine taxa that are present and also to assess their phylogeographic structure. Our analyses include 183 specimens collected with Sherman traps from 19 localities around the country. We detected six taxa: Crocidura olivieri lineages II, III and IV, C. hildegardeae, C. jouvenetae, and C. foxi. Among these, C. hildegardeae and C. jouvenetae are reported in Nigeria for the first time. Phylogenetic comparison of our genetic sequences to those generated from other parts of Africa demonstrate that all species in our study, as currently defined, are in need of taxonomic revision. Geographically, Nigeria seems to represent the easternmost boundary for C. olivieri lineage II and C. jouvenetae, and the western distribution limit of C. olivieri lineage IV and C. hildegardeae. The Niger River appears to be the most significant topographical barrier restricting these taxa. This information is vital to preserving the diversity but also managing the epidemiological potential of these small mammals

Widespread arenavirus occurrence and seroprevalence in small mammals, Nigeria

Abstract Background Lassa fever, killing thousands of people annually, is the most reported viral zoonotic disease in Nigeria. Recently, different rodent species carrying diverse lineages of the Lassa virus (LASV) in addition to a novel Mobala-like genetic sequence were detected within the country. Here, screening 906 small mammal specimens from 11 localities for IgG antibodies and incorporating previous PCR detection data involving the same populations, we further describe arenavirus prevalence across Nigeria in relation to host species and geographical location. Methods Small mammals were trapped during the period 2011–2015 according to geographical location (endemic and non-endemic zones for Lassa fever), season (rainy and dry seasons between 2011 and 2012 for certain localities) and habitat (indoors, peridomestic settings and sylvatic vegetation). Identification of animal specimens from genera such as Mastomys and Mus (Nannomys) was assisted by DNA sequencing. Small mammals were tested for LASV IgG antibody using an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Results Small mammals were infected in both the endemic and non-endemic zones for Lassa fever, with a wider range of species IgG-positive (n = 8) than those which had been previously detected to be PCR-positive (n = 3). IgG-positive species, according to number of infected individuals, were Mastomys natalensis (n = 40), Mastomys erythroleucus (n = 15), Praomys daltoni (n = 6), Mus baoulei (n = 5), Rattus rattus (n = 2), Crocidura spp. (n = 2), Mus minutoides (n = 1) and Praomys misonnei (n = 1). Multimammate mice (Mastomys natalensis and M. erythroleucus) were the most ubiquitously infected, with animals testing positive by either PCR or IgG in 7 out of the 11 localities sampled. IgG prevalence in M. natalensis ranged from 1% in Abagboro, 17–36 % in Eguare Egoro, Ekpoma and Ngel Nyaki, up to 52 % in Mayo Ranewo. Prevalence according to locality, season and age was not, however, statistically significant for M. natalensis in Eguare Egoro and Ekpoma, localities that were sampled longitudinally. Conclusions Overall, our study demonstrates that arenavirus occurrence is probably more widely distributed geographically and in extent of host taxa than is currently realized. This expanded scope should be taken into consideration in Lassa fever control efforts. Further sampling should also be carried out to isolate and characterize potential arenaviruses present in small mammal populations we found to be seropositive

Small mammal diversity and dynamics within Nigeria, with emphasis on reservoirs of the lassa virus

<p>Nigeria has a rich small mammal community, with several species implicated as carriers of zoonotic microbes such as the Lassa virus (LASV). We sought to elucidate the diversity and distribution of these animals (including known LASV reservoirs) geographically, habitat-wise and seasonally. Our DNA-assisted survey detected at least 19 small mammal species amongst 790 specimens. Diversity indices were similar between ecological zones and also between endemic and non-endemic areas for Lassa fever. <i>Mastomys natalensis</i>, the most renowned LASV host, was present in eight out of nine localities sampled. We also described the spatial occurrence of other known LASV hosts such as <i>M. erythroleucus</i> and <i>Hylomyscus pamfi</i>, including carriers of LASV-like arenaviruses such as <i>Mus</i> (<i>Nannomys</i>) spp. The most numerous rodents (<i>Mastomys natalensis</i>, <i>M. erythroleucus</i>, and <i>Praomys daltoni</i>) were captured mainly inside human dwellings. Reproductive activity occurred throughout the year, but led to population peaks for <i>M. natalensis</i> in the dry season and for <i>M. erythroleucus</i> and <i>P. daltoni</i> in the rainy season. Extensive geographic distribution of LASV rodent reservoirs, with population peaks in different seasons, shows that the risk of rodent-to-human transmission of LASV is greater than currently realized.</p