Microbiological And Physicochemical Analyses Of Oil Contaminated Soil From Major Motor Mechanic Workshops In Benin City Metropolis,Edo State, Nigeria

The ability of microorganisms to utilize used oil in contaminated soil from some selected major mechanic workshops in Benin City metropolis as sole source of carbon and energy was studied. Soil samples collected from the three major mechanic workshops at Igun, Evbareke and Uwelu Quarters in Benin City were analyzed for the microbiological and physicochemical qualities using the basic microbiological methods. The total heterotrophic bacterial counts from the three mechanic workshops ranges from 1.98 X 107 to 2.95 X 107cfu/g while the total heterotrophic fungal counts ranges from 6.7 X 106 to 9.2 X 106 cfu/g. The hydrocarbon utilizing microbial isolates were isolated using the Bushnell Haas enrichment techniques. The hydrocarbon utilizing microbial populations were recorded to range from 3.1 X 106 to 9.7 X 106cfu/g and 3.4 X 106 to 6.0 X 106 cfu/g for the bacterial and fungal counts respectively. The bacterial isolates include the genera Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Microococcus, Flavobacterium, Klebsiella, while the fungal isolates include the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, Trichoderma and Yeast. The biodegradation potentials of the hydrocarbon degrading microbial isolates monitored by gas chromatography (GC) showed Pseudomonas sp. and Aspergillus versicolor to have recorded the highest biodegradation potentials among the microbial isolates. The frequency of occurrence of the microbial isolates revealed the microbial isolates Pseudomonas sp., Bacillus sp., Microococcus sp., Aspergillus versicolor, Trichoderma sp and Penicillium sp. as the most frequently occurring isolates. The physicochemical properties of the soil samples analysed shows the pH ranges from 5.63 to 6.01, percentage of carbon 2.345 to 4.800, total organic matter 1.59 to 7.81%, total petroleum hydrocarbon 86.10 to 286.50 mg/kg and sulphate 1.49 to 6.10ppm. The correlation analysis showed that there was significant difference in the mean values for both total heterotrophic bacterial and fungal population among the locations. It was also showed that there exist significant difference in the optical density and pH among the microbial isolates. @JASEMKeywords: Oil contaminated soil, microbial isolates, mechanical workshops and physicochemical parametersJ. Appl. Sci. Environ. Manage. Dec, 2011, Vol. 15 (4) 597 - 60

A Survey of Passiflora foetida L. and Associated Weed Species on Arable Crops in Ballah, Southern Guinea Savanna Zone of Nigeria.

A survey was conducted in the research field of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Ballah sub-station in southern Guinea savanna of Nigeria during 2010 to 2011 cropping season with an objective to determine the relative abundance of Passiflora foetida L. and predict the potential of the weed species dominating arable fields. Passiflora foetida L. was found to be with a high percentage frequency of occurrence (16.99 %) and relative abundance ranging from 27.05 to 62.29 % at crop vegetative stage and 17.49 to 74.75 % during harvesting of arable crops. The fields of cowpea and soyabean had higher frequencies of occurrence of the alien weed compare with sole cassava and  maize plots and theirintercrops with lower frequencies of occurrence. This study advocated periodic observation of weed flora by farmers to ascertain cases of invasion of farmlands by alien  weed species to facilitate early management strategy that could limit spread of such weed species.Keywords : Passiflora foetida, arable crop fields, associated weed species, Balla

Survey of postharvest handling, preservation and processing practices along the camel milk chain in Isiolo district, Kenya

Despite the important contribution of camel milk to food security for pastoralists in Kenya, little is known about the postharvest handling, preservation and processing practices. In this study, existing postharvest handling, preservation and processing practices for camel milk by pastoralists in Isiolo, Kenya were assessed through crosssectionalsurvey and focus group discussions. A total of 167 camel milk producerhouseholds, 50 primary and 50 secondary milk traders were interviewed. Survey findings showed that milking was predominantly handled by herds-boys (45.0%) or male household heads (23.8%) and occasionally by spouses (16.6%), sons (13.9%) and daughters (0.7%). The main types of containers used by both producers and traders to handle milk were plastic jerricans (recycled cooking oil containers), because they were cheap, light and better suited for transport in vehicles. Milk processing wasthe preserve of women, with fresh camel milk and spontaneously fermented camel milk (suusa) being the main products. Fresh milk was preserved by smoking of milk containers and boiling. Smoking was the predominant practice, and was for extending the shelf life and also imparting a distinct smoky flavour to milk. The milk containerswere fumigated with smoke from burned wood of specific tree species such as Olea africana, Acacia nilotica, Balanities aegyptica and Combretum spp. Boiling was practised by primary milk traders at collection points to preserve milk during times when transport to the market was unavailable. Milk spoilage at the primary collection point in Kulamawe was aggravated by lack of cooling facilities. At the secondary collection point in Isiolo town, milk was refrigerated overnight before onward transmission to Nairobi. The mean quantity of traded milk was 83.2±3.8 litres. The main problems experienced by milk traders in Isiolo included milk spoilage (43.0% ofrespondents), delayed payments—after one or two days (19.9%), loss of money due to informal courier (12.2%), low prices of fermented milk (10.9%), milk rejection by customers in Nairobi (7.1%), inadequate supply during dry season (3.5%), loss of milk due to bursting of containers (2.1%) and milk not being supplied by producers due to insecurity (1.3%). In-depth understanding of the postharvest handling, preservation and processing practices would help to devise appropriate strategies thatwould increase the quantity and improve the quality of marketed camel milk. Such strategies should include the improvement of infrastructure such as milk transport, collection, cooling and processing facilities of suitable capacity

The use of children in cocoa production in sekyere south district in ashanti region, ghana: is this child labour or an apprenticeship training?

Concerns have been growing in Ghana about the employment of children, aged between 5-17 years, in cocoa production activities. This concern is echoed by the International Labour Organisation in its attempt to eliminate Worst Form of Child Labour. The objectives of the study were as to: investigate whether the labour of the children are paid for; determine the extent of children’s involvement; and investigate the risks they are exposed to. Using Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), participant groups made up of women, men, children and opinion leaders were purposely selected from 10 cocoa producing communities from the study area. Structured questionnaires were also administered to 50 cocoa farmers through face-to-face interviews. The study revealed that harvesting is the stage in the cocoa production process that children are directly and actively involved. The study concludes by indicating that child labour and cocoa production are inseparable in the cocoa producing areas in the study site.Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. & Tech. 8 (1): 38-43, June, 201

Vision of Strabismic Children in Ilorin, Nigeria

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the visual pattern of strabismic children. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out among primary school children in Ilorin South Local Government Area. A cluster random sampling technique was used to select the subjects for this study. The pattern of vision of children found to have ocular misalignment was studied. Results: A total of 7288 school children were screened and this yielded 22 cases of esotropia and 10 cases of exotropia. Their ages ranged from 2 to 16 years; 78.1% of the study group had normal vision; 3.1% had low vision and another 3.1% was blind. Eight-two per cent (82%) of the children with esotropia had normal vision, while 4.5% were blind; 70% of the children with exotropia had normal vision; 10% of exotropics had low vision. Twenty-five per cent(25%) of the strabismic population was amblyopic, and the majority of the cases of amblyopia (62.5%) were associated with esotropia. The prevalence of strabismic amblyopia was found to be 0.11%. Conclusion: The majority of strabismic children had normal vision. The prevalence of low vision and blindness was low. The prevalence of strabismic amblyopia was also low in the study population and most of it was associated with esotropia. Keywords: esotropia, exotropia, amblyopia, children, NigeriaNigerian Journal of Ophthalmology Vol. 16 (1) 2008: pp. 12-1

Comparative Field Evaluation of Combinations of Long-Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets and Indoor Residual Spraying, Relative to Either Method Alone, for Malaria Prevention in an Area where the main Vector is Anopheles Arabiensis.

Long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS) are commonly used together in the same households to improve malaria control despite inconsistent evidence on whether such combinations actually offer better protection than nets alone or IRS alone. Comparative tests were conducted using experimental huts fitted with LLINs, untreated nets, IRS plus untreated nets, or combinations of LLINs and IRS, in an area where Anopheles arabiensis is the predominant malaria vector species. Three LLIN types, Olyset®, PermaNet 2.0® and Icon Life® nets and three IRS treatments, pirimiphos-methyl, DDT, and lambda cyhalothrin, were used singly or in combinations. We compared, number of mosquitoes entering huts, proportion and number killed, proportions prevented from blood-feeding, time when mosquitoes exited the huts, and proportions caught exiting. The tests were done for four months in dry season and another six months in wet season, each time using new intact nets. All the net types, used with or without IRS, prevented >99% of indoor mosquito bites. Adding PermaNet 2.0® and Icon Life®, but not Olyset® nets into huts with any IRS increased mortality of malaria vectors relative to IRS alone. However, of all IRS treatments, only pirimiphos-methyl significantly increased vector mortality relative to LLINs alone, though this increase was modest. Overall, median mortality of An. arabiensis caught in huts with any of the treatments did not exceed 29%. No treatment reduced entry of the vectors into huts, except for marginal reductions due to PermaNet 2.0® nets and DDT. More than 95% of all mosquitoes were caught in exit traps rather than inside huts. Where the main malaria vector is An. arabiensis, adding IRS into houses with intact pyrethroid LLINs does not enhance house-hold level protection except where the IRS employs non-pyrethroid insecticides such as pirimiphos-methyl, which can confer modest enhancements. In contrast, adding intact bednets onto IRS enhances protection by preventing mosquito blood-feeding (even if the nets are non-insecticidal) and by slightly increasing mosquito mortality (in case of LLINs). The primary mode of action of intact LLINs against An. arabiensis is clearly bite prevention rather than insecticidal activity. Therefore, where resources are limited, priority should be to ensure that everyone at risk consistently uses LLINs and that the nets are regularly replaced before being excessively torn. Measures that maximize bite prevention (e.g. proper net sizes to effectively cover sleeping spaces, stronger net fibres that resist tears and burns and net use practices that preserve net longevity), should be emphasized

Potential toxicity of some traditional leafy vegetables consumed in Nyang’oma division, western Kenya

Traditional leafy vegetables are those plants whose leaves or aerial parts have been integrated in a community’s culture for use as food over a long span of time. These vegetables are highly recommended due to their relatively high nutritional value  compared to the introduced varieties, and are also important in food security. Qualitative phytochemical screening, using  standard laboratory procedure, was carried out for alkaloids, saponins, cardenolides, flavonoids and polyphenols on traditional  leafy vegetables consumed amongst the Luo, an agro-pastoral community living along the shores of lake Victoria, Western  Kenya. The vegetables were: Amaranthus hybridus L. (subsp.hybridus), Asystasia mysorensis T. Anderson, Coccinia grandis (L) Voigt, Crotalaria ochroleuca (Kotschy) Polhill, Cucurbita maxima Duchesne ex Lam, Portulaca quadrifida L., Sesamum calycimum Welw. var. angustifolium (Oliv.) Ihlenf. and Siedenst., Senna occidentalis L. and Sida acuta Burm. F. All the vegetables were found to contain polyphenols and flavanoids while other classes of phytochemicals varied from species to species Brine shrimp lethality tests  revealed that S. calycimum var. angustifolium (LC50 84.8 μg/ml), S. occidentalis (LC5099.5 μg/ml), S. acuta (LC50 99.4 μg/ml), C. grandis (LC50  100.6 μg/ml) and A. mysorensis (LC50 207.7 μg/ml) exhibited marked levels of toxicity. C. ochroleuca (Sunnhemp) contained all the five classes of  phytochemicals, but proved less toxic (LC50 4511.3 μg/ml). This vegetable is highly utilized in Nyang’oma, and seventy per cent of the respondents consume this species. A. hybridus (African spinach, or Amaranth) was found to be the least toxic (LC50 6233.6 μg/ml) and this vegetable is recommended for consumption. From the results, five vegetables contain possible agents that can cause acute or chronic toxicities when consumed in large quantities or over a long period of  time. Hence some vegetables should be consumed with great care. Though further studies are required to determine which of the phytochemicals are lethal to mammals.Key words: Traditional vegetables, phytochemicals, toxicity, Luo, Nyang’om

Socio-economic composition of low-acuity paediatric presentation at a regional hospital emergency department.

"This is the pre-peer reviewed version of the following article: Alele, F. O., Callander, E. J., Emeto, T. I., Mills, J. and Watt, K. (2018), Socio‐economic composition of low‐acuity paediatric presentation at a regional hospital emergency department. J Paediatr Child Health, 54: 1341-1347. doi:10.1111/jpc.14079, which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jpc.14079 . This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions."AIM: Despite increasing rates of emergency department (ED) utilisation, little is known about low-acuity presentations in children ≤5 years. The aims of the study were to estimate the proportion and cost of low-acuity presentations in children ≤5 years presenting to the ED and to determine the relative effect of socio-economic status (SES) on paediatric low-acuity presentations at the ED. METHODS: This is a retrospective observational study of children ≤5 years presenting to the Cairns Hospital ED over 4 years. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to assess the association between SES and low-acuity presentations. Cost of low-acuity presentations was calculated based on triage score and admission status, using costs obtained from the National Hospital Cost Data Collection. RESULTS: A total of 23 086 children were included in the study, of whom 56.7% were male (mean age = 1.85 ± 1.63 years). Approximately one-third of ED visits were low-acuity presentations (32.4%), and low-acuity presentations increased progressively with SES. In multivariate analysis, children from families with very high SES were twice as likely to have a low-acuity presentation (odds ratio 2.17; 95% confidence interval, 1.66-2.85). Low-acuity ED presentations cost the health-care system in excess of A$895 000-A$1 110 000 per year. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that a significant proportion of paediatric ED visits are of low acuity and that these visits yield a substantial cost to the health system. Further research is required regarding care givers' rationale and potentially other reasons underlying these low-acuity ED presentations.Publishe

Knowledge, Attitude, and Healthcare-Seeking Behavior Towards Dysmenorrhea among Female Students of a Private University in Ogun State, Nigeria

Background: Dysmenorrhea, especially when it is severe, has been associated with a restriction of activity and absence from school or work. Despite this substantial effect on their quality of life and general wellbeing, few women and adolescents with dysmenorrhea seek treatment as they believe it would not help. Aim: The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and healthcare-seeking behavior towards dysmenorrhea among female students of a Private University in Ogun State, Nigeria. Subjects and Methods: Using a descriptive study design, 315 female students were randomly selected to participate in the study. Participants were given structured questionnaire to complete. Data collected were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 16.0 and were presented in tables reporting frequency counts and percentages. Statistical significant tests were conducted using chi-square. Result: Dysmenorrhea was reported in 78.1% (242/310) with majority ignoring the pain. Less than average 40.6% (126/310) of the participants had high knowledge about dysmenorrhea and 63.5% (197/310) had negative attitude towards dysmenorrhea. Major effects of dysmenorrhea included restriction from physical activities in 77.2% (187/242) and social withdrawal in 59.1% (143/242). Findings revealed a statistically significant relationship between the age of respondents and their healthcare-seeking behavior towards dysmenorrhea (P < 0.01). Conclusion: Findings from this study indicate the need to design regular reproductive health programs for female undergraduates including information on how to monitor and manage menstrual problems.Keywords: Adolescents, attitude, dysmenorrhea, healthcare-seeking behavior, knowl

Variación radial de la anatomía, densidad y durabilidad de la madera de teca (Tectona grandis) procedente de dos calidades de sitio y dos regiones climáticas de Costa Rica

The objective of this study was to show the radial variation of some anatomic characteristics, wood density and natural durability of teak (Tectona grandis L.F.) growing in Costa Rica. Samples of trees 13 years old were obtained from two growing sites (high and low growing) of plantations established in a humid tropical climate (CHT) and dry tropical climate (CST). The variables measured of the fibers as well as for the rays were not affected by the climate or the type of growing site, except for the length of the fibers. The fibers of teak wood from the best growing site were significantly larger. Vessels were found with a greater frequency for the CST but mostly solitary in comparison with the CHAverage density, maximum density and the variation within the ring presented a light higher magnitude for the CSThe quality of the growing site did not affect these variables. The resistance of fungus attack was similar in the area of heartwood near the pith compared to the heartwood near the sapwood for all the conditions evaluated. Nevertheless, it was observed in some trees a similar resistance of fungus attack for areas of sapwood compared to similar areas of heartwood.Con el objetivo de mostrar la variación radial de las características anatómicas, de densidad normal y de durabilidad natural de la madera de Tectona grandis L.f. creciendo en Costa Rica, se muestrearon plantaciones de 13 años procedentes de dos regiones con clima diferente: clima húmedo tropical (CHT) y clima seco tropical (CST). En cada una de ellas se analizaron dos tipos de sitios con diferente fertilidad: bueno (SB) y malo (SM). Se encontró que las fibras y los radios no fueran afectados por el tipo de clima o calidad de sitio, a excepción de la longitud de la fibra que sí fue afectada. Se encontró que CST produce mayor frecuencia de vasos, pero en su mayoría solitarios en relación al CHT, la densidad normal promedio, máxima y su variación dentro del anillo, presentan magnitudes mayores en CST que CSH. La calidad de sitio no afectó estas variables. La resistencia al ataque de hongos fue similar en el duramen próximo a la médula y el duramen próximo a la albura para los dos tipos de clima y las calidades de sitio. No obstante, se observó que en algunos árboles la resistencia al ataque de los hongos del duramen fue similar a la albura