Potentials of fresh housefly maggot in the diet of Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings

The study was designed to investigate the value of fresh housefly maggot diet as protein source and the level of inclusion for optimum growth in the diet of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings. Five experimental diets, four fresh maggot substituted diets containing 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% fresh maggot meal and a control (0% maggot inclusion) were prepared and tested on triplicate groups of O. niloticus fingerlings (mean weight of 0.52g) for twelve weeks. The fish were fed twice daily at 3% of their body weight. The optimum water quality parameters were 270C, 7.63 and 7.55 for Temperature, pH and Dissolved Oxygen respectively and the maggot did not pollute the water media. The best growth rate was recorded among the fish fed control diet and 100% fresh maggot inclusion as the only protein source and the least growth rate was showed by fingerlings fed 25% fresh maggot inclusion. Optimum Specific Growth Rate, Feed Conversion Ratio and Protein Efficiency Ratio of 1.8702, 159.92 and 1.8759 respectively showed that there was no significant difference in weight gained by the fish fed with the five diets except 25% fresh maggot substituted diet. The study indicated that fresh maggot meal can be successfully used to replace fishmeal partially or completely from 50% up to 100% in the diet of O. niloticus fingerlings for optimal growth and nutrient utilization. Based on these results, maggot meal is suggested as an effective and sustainable protein source to replace fishmeal in the diet of farmed tilapia.Keywords: Fishmeal, Housefly maggot, Optimum growth, Die

A review of the roles of Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules in infections

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) locus is a group of genes located on the short arm of chromosome 6 in human that code for proteins on the cell surface. They have important roles in immune response by the cells of immune system. Using a comprehensive search method on Google Scholar and PubMed databases, literatures on MHC published in English until 2021 were searched with the terms; “MHC”, “HLA”, “MHC antigen presentation” and “MHC roles in infections”. Relevant publications were identified, screened for duplicates and selected per eligibility. The review highlights the different haplotypes of the MHC that either enhance or depress the body immune system to some important viral, bacterial and parasitic infections. The possibility of utilizing this knowledge in genetic engineering and immunomodulation, to prevent infectious diseases and cancers, are discussed

Assessment of Entrance Skin Dose and Effective Dose of common diagnostic X-ray examinations in Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe, North-Eastern Nigeria

Recently, there has been a wide application of radiation in medicine. This may have adverse effect of radiation protection regulations if not properly observed. A balance must be struck between the benefits of improving human health, and the risks associated with ionizing radiation exposure by radiation workers, patients and the general public. This study evaluated the entrance skin dose (ESD) and patient effective dose (ED) during X-ray diagnostic examinations at Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe, North-eastern, Nigeria. Twenty (20) patient's data were collected for this study. Five (05) most common performed X-ray diagnostic examinations are Anterior Posterior AP (chest), Posterior Anterior (PA) chest, Anterior Posterior (AP) Abdomen, Posterior Anterior (PA) Skull and Lateral (LAT) Skull. The ESD was determined indirectly through measurement of tube potential (kVp), exposure setting or current (mAs) and Film Focus Distance (FSD) which were then used to analyze the ESD while the effective dose (ED) was obtained by addition of the weighing factor multiplied by the equivalent dose. The mean of entrance skin dose and the effectual dose of chest (PA, AP), abdomen (AP) and skull (AP, LATERAL) were found to be 0.466 mGy , 0.509 mGy, 1.027 mGy, 0.810 mGy, 0.928 mGy and 0.040 mSv, 0.030 mSv, 0.006 mSv, 0.001 mSv  and 0.001 mSv  respectively. The entrance skin dose and effective dose values obtained in this study showed that X-ray diagnostic examinations carried out at Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe were lower compared to reference dose values reported in most literatures. The value of patients absorbed dose undergoing X-ray diagnostic examination at Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe is in agreement with ALARA concepts

Activation of pro-apoptotic cells, reactive astrogliosis and hyperphosphorylation of tau protein in trimethyltin-induced hippocampal injury in rats

Neurodegenerative diseases cause neural cells to lose both the functional and sensory abilities as a result of genetic factors, proteopathies and mitochondrial dysfunction. Neurodegeneration forms the basis of most neurodegenerative disorders for example Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s diseases, and Parkinson’s diseases. The mechanism that underlines the process of neurodegeneration is not well understood. Understanding the process and mechanism involved in neurodegeneration might offer a better therapeutic approach to positively manage cases of neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, this study’s target was to create an animal model to study neurodegeneration. Sixteen adult male Wistar rats were used in the study and divided into two groups. Control (0.2 mL of normal saline (NS)), and trimethyltin-treated (TMT, 8 mg/kg stat dose only). These animals underwent perfusion with 4% paraformaldehyde, brain excision and analysis of p53 antigen, GFAP and Bielshowsky on these tissues. The results showed that animals in the control group showed presence of activated p53 antigen, reactive astrogliosis, neurofibrillary tangles, and amyloid plaques within the cytoplasm of the hippocampal cells. Cornus Ammonis (CA2) and (CA3) showed more of the trimethylrtin injury than CA1 and CA4. This study thus revealed that, intra-peritoneal administration of single dose of 8mg/kg of trimethyltin can offer an attractive disease model to study some neurodegenerative diseases. Keywords: p53 antigen, Bielshowsky, Glia fibrillary acidic protein, Trimethyltin, Hippocampus

Serological Survey Of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Among Children In Lorin North-Central, Nigeria.

Background: Respiratory Syncytial Virus(RSV) infection is a common worldwide problem. Childhood mortality and morbidity due to RSV is increasing. This study was aimed at determining the sero-prevalence rate of RSV IgG antibody and also to investigate some known risk factors for acquisition of RSV among children presenting with various forms of respiratory tract infections in Ilorin, Nigeria. Methods: total of 600 samples were collected from children (whose parent or guardian has consented) and analysed for anti RSV IgG antibody using ELISA. Information regarding socio-economic status and other demographic variables were recorded using well structured questionnaire. Results: A seroprevalence of 75% (450/600) was detected in the subjects. The seroprevalence among male was 72.70% and female 77.54% (P = 0.171). The age group 6-10 yrs had the highest prevalence of 80% while 0-5 yrs had 73.94%, with a highly significant association (P = 0.0001). Conclusion: This study showed high prevalence of RSV, with the highest prevalence in aged 6-10 years which suggests that, RSV is common among school-aged children. Thus the importance of RSV as an agent of respiratory tract infection in children is identified. Preventive measures should be adhered to in the control of the infection, as antiviral drugs are not readily available

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Mathematical Modeling of Ethanol Production through Batch Fermentation of Glucose with Kluveromyces Marxianus

Mathematical models are a means of representing essential aspects of reality (process, phenomenon, object, element, system, etc.) with the help of mathematical constructs. Mathematical models typically offer convenience and cost advantages over other means of obtaining the required information on reality. In the last decades, continuing progress has been observed in applications of mathematical modeling in biological growth. This research developed a mathematical model that illustrated the kinetics of ethanol production, incorporating both fermentation time and temperature from the batch fermentation of glucose with Kluveromyces Maxianus. Glucose biomass was found to decrease linearly with temperature rise and the modified Gompertz model was used to describe the ethanol production. The arhenious plot was used to illustrate the temperature dependence rate of the reaction. Matlab 9.0 and Microsoft Excel 2007 were the statistical software used for the iteration and the estimation of thebiological parameters. The derived mathematical model could be adapted to illustrate the kinetics of ethanol production to the stationary phase during the fermentation of glucose as influenced by temperature and fermentation time using Kluveromyces Maxianus

Identification of hazards and risk assessment for a 40kVA diesel powered lighting set.

The process of installing, operating and maintaining power sets carries with them occupational hazards, the hazards and risks associated with installation, operation and maintenance of diesel powered generator using a 40kVA generator was identified. The findings reveal that five major jobs or tasks were associated with the events of installation, operation and maintenance of any typical industrial standby generator. Hazards of varying degrees were identified with every section and jobbing of the whole activities. The associated risk was classification, about 60 percent high risk to 40 percent medium risk. The most hazardous tasks include, engine operation, electrical wiring and connection to the generator. The receipt and installation of the generator with preparation of foundation and engine maintenance were identified

Industrial policy: A driven force for economic growth and sustainable development in Nigeria

Development as a concept is a gradual process and its processes differ from one country another. Developed countries have different strategies and techniques of maintaining development unlike countries in the south that are yet to develop less more sustain development. This theoretical  paper focused on industrial policy as a driven force to economic growth and sustainable development in South nations, it gives a cross sectional  definitions of industrial policy from different scholars. Industrial policy is a powerful tool that is capable of cushioning the effects of economic growth and development of any country provided the policy is well articulated and implemented. This paper expatiate two major levels at which industrial  policy fails. Also, the issue of industrial policy in an emerging economy in  developing nations especially Nigeria will be discussed looking at several  industrial policy reforms in different sectors for economic fortification Nigeria  especially SAP. Some other examples of industrial failure been responsible for poor economic growth and development in Nigeria were debated in different sectors. The paper concluded that economic status and rate of development in South nations especially Nigeria was primarily owned t o fact that the country has bad leaders who could not implement socio-economic and political policies germane to Nigeria’s development.Keywords: Growth, Policy, Sustainable Developmen

A review of installation, operation and maintenance of Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) powered lighting sets in a developing country

This review presents the important of constant power supply as a great measure of developed economy. Nation with epileptic power supply was considered as developing or under develop nation trying to prolong her development. The risk of losing potential investors is a possibility. Nigeria was used as a case study of a developing country facing an extreme electricity shortage for many years. This deficiency was discovered to be multi-faceted, with causes that are financial, structural, and socio-political, none of which are mutually exclusive. The purpose of this paper is to inform the concern authority of developing nations understand the risks of having poor power supply and understand the role of carbon dioxide and other emissions from internal combustion engine powered set installations. These power sets are very important and popular in Nigeria. Some designs met emergency power needs, with automatic start-up device to supply emergency power to all vital loads requiring uninterrupted power. The national line was found to be the stand-by power source while the use of diesel generators became the main source for micro power grids in remote areas for Agricultural needs. Barge-Mounted generators supply power to marine areas. Information Technology (IT) and data centres are at the mercy of generators. Infrastructure development in Nigeria generally depends on generators; the sets are the solution bridging the gap between power demand and supply. It is a revolutionary product that brings clean and affordable power within the reach of millions of enterprises, homes and small businesses in a developing economy. The installations, operation and maintenance of stand by generators are the main solutions to domestic power needs and also high-energy requirements in developing nations