RESEARCH EFFORTS ON INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IN NIGERIA: DEVELOPMENT OF TRIP PLANNING MODELS

The critical situation of unwelcome frustration experienced by urban trip makers and roadside dwellers alike, calls for a very strong push by all stakeholders in the transportation sector to enhance the service performance of transportation facilities using Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). Needed strategies for successful ITS implementation in both developed and developing nations, include but not limited to policy formulation and planning, funding of ITS projects, development and deployment of research products, system performance measurement, optimization of the performance of existing infrastructure, capacity building, etc. which could be much promoted with research efforts. Advanced Public Transportation System (APTS) and Advanced Traveller Information System (ATIS) categories as products of research on ITS were developed with data derived from urban trip makers on captive corridors, both in Ilorin, Kwara State and Minna, Niger State, Nigeria. The fundamental basis and status of the research activities targeted at developing and deploying the ITS in Nigeria are highlighted in the paper. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njt.v35i3.

Growth Indices and Apparent Nutrient Digestibility in Rabbits Fed Graded Levels of Moringa (Moringa oleifera) Leaf Meal.

The chemical composition of moringa leaf meal, growth performance and nutrient digestibility of growing rabbits fed graded levels of moringa leaf meal (MLM) were investigated. The MLM was incorporated in rabbit diet at 0, 5, 10 and 15% levels as replacement for soyabean meal (SBM) which constituted treatments 1(control), 2, 3 and 4, respectively. A total of 36 growing crossbred rabbits, 7-9 weeks old with an average body weight of 801±27.83g were randomly allotted to the treatments in an experiment that lasted for 9 weeks. Each treatment has nine animals in a completely randomised design. Results showed that the chemical composition of MLM contains 27.53% crude protein (CP), 9.93% ether extract (EE), 14.05% crude fibre (CF), 7.98% Ash and 40.51 nitrogen free extract (FE). The final body weight and daily weight gain were not significantly (P>0.05) different among the dietary treatments. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) and dry matter intake of experimental animals were also not significantly (P>0.05) influenced by the dietary treatments, however there was apparent reduction in the value of these parameters as the level of the MLM increases in the diets. The trend observed in the nutrient digestibility indicated that with increase in the level of MLM inclusion in the diets, apparent nutrient digestibility increases significantly (P<0.05) from animals fed control diet to those fed 15% MLM. The CP, CF, EE and Ash digestibility values were significantly (P<0.05) higher in rabbits fed dietary treatments 2, 3, and 4 than those on the control diet. This suggests that Moringa leaf meal (MLM) could be used to replace SBM at 15% level of inclusion in rabbit diets as a non-conventional protein source.Keywords: Moringa leaf meal, growth, rabbits, digestibilit

Maternal and neonatal outcomes after caesarean delivery in the African Surgical Outcomes Study: a 7-day prospective observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Maternal and neonatal mortality is high in Africa, but few large, prospective studies have been done to investigate the risk factors associated with these poor maternal and neonatal outcomes. METHODS: A 7-day, international, prospective, observational cohort study was done in patients having caesarean delivery in 183 hospitals across 22 countries in Africa. The inclusion criteria were all consecutive patients (aged ≥18 years) admitted to participating centres having elective and non-elective caesarean delivery during the 7-day study cohort period. To ensure a representative sample, each hospital had to provide data for 90% of the eligible patients during the recruitment week. The primary outcome was in-hospital maternal mortality and complications, which were assessed by local investigators. The study was registered on the South African National Health Research Database, number KZ_2015RP7_22, and on ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT03044899. FINDINGS: Between February, 2016, and May, 2016, 3792 patients were recruited from hospitals across Africa. 3685 were included in the postoperative complications analysis (107 missing data) and 3684 were included in the maternal mortality analysis (108 missing data). These hospitals had a combined number of specialist surgeons, obstetricians, and anaesthetists totalling 0·7 per 100 000 population (IQR 0·2-2·0). Maternal mortality was 20 (0·5%) of 3684 patients (95% CI 0·3-0·8). Complications occurred in 633 (17·4%) of 3636 mothers (16·2-18·6), which were predominantly severe intraoperative and postoperative bleeding (136 [3·8%] of 3612 mothers). Maternal mortality was independently associated with a preoperative presentation of placenta praevia, placental abruption, ruptured uterus, antepartum haemorrhage (odds ratio 4·47 [95% CI 1·46-13·65]), and perioperative severe obstetric haemorrhage (5·87 [1·99-17·34]) or anaesthesia complications (11·47 (1·20-109·20]). Neonatal mortality was 153 (4·4%) of 3506 infants (95% CI 3·7-5·0). INTERPRETATION: Maternal mortality after caesarean delivery in Africa is 50 times higher than that of high-income countries and is driven by peripartum haemorrhage and anaesthesia complications. Neonatal mortality is double the global average. Early identification and appropriate management of mothers at risk of peripartum haemorrhage might improve maternal and neonatal outcomes in Africa. FUNDING: Medical Research Council of South Africa.Medical Research Council of South Africa