A Preliminary Study on Microbial Contamination of Leafy Vegetables in Sokoto Metropolis, Nigeria

Five leafy vegetables commonly consumed in Sokoto metropolis were evaluated for microbiological quality using standard procedures involving standard plate count (SPC). The vegetables investigated included Lactuaca sativa (Lettuce), Amaranthus hybridus (Spinach), Vernonia amagdalina (Bitter leaf), Brassica oleracea (Cabbage) and Moringa oleifera Lam (Horse radish). Ten fungal species which include Alternaria alternata, Absidia corymbifera, Aspergillus Niger, A. flavus, Cladosporium herbarum, Fusarium oxysporium, Geotrichum candidum, Mucor racemoses, Rhizopus stolonifer and Trichoderma harzianum and four species of bacteria: Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocystogens and Staphyllococus aureus were isolated from the leafy vegetables. The total colony counts of fungi ranged from 1.8 x 106 – 6.28 x 105 (cfu/g) of the vegetables while that of bacteria ranged from 1.0 x 106 to 2.94 x 106 cfu/g of the vegetables. The highest counts of microbial organisms were found on A. hybridus while M. oleifera and B. olerarea had the lowest fungal and bacterial counts respectively. There is a need to reduce the levels of microbial contamination on leafy vegetables through appropriate production practices, careful handling by the vendors and appropriate processing with a view to minimize the risk of human exposure to fungal and bacterial pathogens associated with the vegetables

Regulation of Lithospermic Acid B and Shikonin Production in Lithospermum erythrorhizon Cell Suspension Cultures

Cell suspension cultures of Lithospermum erythrorhizon produced a large amount of lithospermic acid B, a caffeic acid tetramer, as well as shikonin derivatives (each ca. 10% of dry wt.) when cultured in shikonin production medium M-9. Various culture factors for increasing the production of lithospermic acid B were investigated. Lithospermic acid B production was inhibited by 2, 4-D or NH4+, whereas it was stimulated by Cu2+. These regulatory patterns were similar to those for the production of shikonin derivatives in these cell cultures, suggestive of close relations and similar metabolic regulation between the production of these compounds. Cultivation under light illumination, however, showed that these metabolisms were independently regulated. In particular, blue light showed a stimulatory effect on lithospermic acid B production, while shikonin production was strongly inhibited, indicative of an effective condition for lithospermic acid B production

The application of knowledge management in construction organization in Nigeria

The construction organizations have a deprived record in the management of its knowledge and results in vast wastage of assets and negative effect on quality of works. Therefore, the study aimed at examines the application of K1'v1 practice in two international construction companies. The case study was conducted on large size international construction companies operate in Nigeria at the construction project site of the Nigeria-Cameroon border. The result shows that the application of KM practices in the construction organizations in Nigeria is still at infancy stage because of lack proper understanding the concept and theory of KM practice in the construction organization. Therefore, the study suggests that the awareness K1'v1 practices in the construction organization should be encouraged in order to ameliorate infrastructure development problems

Knowledge management models in civil engineering construction firms in Nigeria

Knowledge is scattered in the construction projects through various documents and individuals brains. Knowledge was stored somewhere without retrieving it for re-use and also some were created during construction stage and if not properly capture, stored and utilized it will lost. The aim of this paper is to develop a new KM implementation framework to address the problems of knowledge creation, storage, sharing and utilization for the betterment of the construction organization. The method employed for this study is descriptive research through critical reviews of the existing models developed by researchers and scholars in order to get the in depth of developing the new KM implementation framework. The result obtained from this study is the development of new circular KM implementation framework for Civil Engineering Construction firms. The paper concluded that, the implementation of this KM framework depends on the commitment, attitudinal behaviuors, dedication and personal interest of the top management or knowledge expert in the construction organisation. However the paper recommended that CE construction firms in Nigeria should established a standard code of practice for knowledge management to be fully implemented in their organisation

National surgical, obstetric, anaesthesia and nursing plan, Nigeria.

Recent evidence suggests that strengthening surgical care within existing health systems will strengthen the overall health-care system. However, Nigeria's national strategic health development plan 2018-2022 placed little emphasis on surgical care. To address the gap, we worked with professional societies and other partners to develop the national surgical, obstetric, anaesthesia and nursing plan 2019-2023. The aim was to foster actions to prioritize surgical care for the achievement of universal health coverage. In addition to creating a costed strategy to strengthen surgical care, the plan included children's surgery and nursing: two key aspects that have been neglected in other national surgical plans. Pilot implementation of the plan began in 2020, supported by a nongovernmental organization with experience in surgical care in the region. We have created specific entry points to facilitate the pilot implementation. In the pilot, an electronic surgery registry has been created; personnel are being trained in life support; nurses are being trained in safe perioperative care; biomedical technicians and sterile supplies nurses are being trained in surgical instrument repair and maintenance; and research capacity is being strengthened. In addition, the mainstream media are being mobilized to improve awareness about the plan among policy-makers and the general population. Another development partner is interested in providing support for paediatric surgery, and a children's hospital is being planned. As funding is a key challenge to full implementation, we need innovative domestic funding strategies to support and sustain implementation