Detection of Extended-Spectrum Β-Lactamases among Gram Negative Isolates from Gombe Specialist Hospital Using Disc Replacement Method

A total of 500 clinical bacterial isolates from various sources including stool, urine, sputum and swabs obtained from Gombe State Specialist Hospital between July, 2011 and January, 2012 were used in this study. Gram’s stain reaction of the isolates separated them into Gram-positives (200) and Gram-negatives (300). Biochemical tests confirmed the identity of the Gram-negative isolates to be members of the enterobactericeae, which included Klebsiella pneumoniae (60), Escherichia coli (98), Providencia Spp. (32), Morganella moganii (32), Shigella Spp. (14), Citrobacter freundii (14), Serratia marcescens (10), Salmonella paratyphi A (10), Yersinia enterocolitica (8), Proteus vulgaris (4), Salmonella typhi (2) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (16). Of the 300 Gram-negative isolates subjected to screening using Cefpodoxime (CPX 10μg, oxoid England) and Cefotaxime (CTX 30μg, Oxoid England) for ESβL- production based on Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) breakpoint, 250 (83.33%) were found to be positive which included K. pneumoniae (40), E. coli (92), Providencia Spp. (30), M. morganii (20), P. aeruginosa (14), Shigella Spp. (14), C. freundii (12), S. marcescens (6), and Y. enterocolitica (6), S. paratyphi A (10), P. vulgaris (4) and S. typhi (2). However, one hundred and sixty four, 164 (65.6%) were confirmed ESβL- producers based on DRM using Amoxicillin-clavulanate (AMC 30μg, Oxoid England) which included; K. pneumoniae 32(19.50%), E. coli 52(31.71%), Providencia Spp 20(12.20%), M. morganii 16(9.76%), P. aeruginosa 8(4.88%), Shigella Spp. 12(7.32%), C. freundii 6(3.66%), S. marcescens 4(2.44%), S. paratyphi A 8(4.88%), Y. enterocolitica 6(3.66%), P. vulgaris (0.0%), and S. typhi (0.0%).Keywords: Detection, ESBLs, Clinical isolates, Disc Replacement Method, Gomb

Whatever It Takes: How and When Supervisor Bottom-Line Mentality Motivates Employee Contributions in the Workplace

Given that many organizations are competitive and finance centered, organizational leaders may lead with a primary focus on bottom-line attainment, such that they are perceived by their subordinates as having a bottom-line mentality (BLM) that entails pursuing bottom-line outcomes above all else. Yet, the field is limited in understanding why such a leadership approach affects employees’ positive and negative contributions in the workplace. Drawing on social exchange theory, we theorize that supervisors high in BLM can influence employees’ felt obligation toward the bottom line, which in turn can influence employees’ task performance and unethical pro-organizational behavior (UPB). We also examine employee ambition as a moderator of this process. Using three-wave, multisource data collected from the financial services industry, our results revealed that high-BLM supervisors elevate employee task performance as well as UPB by motivating employees’ felt obligation toward the bottom line. Furthermore, we found that employee ambition served as a first-stage moderator, such that the mediated relationships were stronger when employee ambition was high as opposed to low. Our findings break away from the dominant dysfunctional view of BLM and provide a more balanced view of this mentality

Hydrogeology and Groundwater Quality of Deep and Shallow Boreholes in Kano Metropolis, Northwestern Nigeria

The study area is located in the Kano Municipal. It is bounded by latitudes 11°51´ to 12°06´N and longitudes 8°23´ to 8°38´ E covering an area of about 770.063 Km2. It lies on the average altitude of 478m above sea level, and is generally undulating lowland. The relief is greatly influenced by the geology; characterized by small, blocky and low laying outcrops. Twenty (20) samples of groundwater collected from the study area from both deep (about 200m) and shallow boreholes, following the standard procedure as prescribed by APHA Guidelines. The analysis was achieved using Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS-Varian AA240Fs), Direct reading Photometer (Hanna model), Titrimetric method, and Flame photometer (FPF9 Jenwy model).The interpretation of groundwater chemistry of the samples suggest that most of the samples analysed are within the WHO and Nigerian Standards for drinking, while some have concentrations beyond desirable limits. However, the concentrations of some elements such as Pb, above permissible limits in the samples analyzed have created a concern over the suitability of the water for drinking and other domestic uses. The assessment of water for irrigation indicates that most of the samples are suitable for irrigational purposes. The result of the laboratory analysis revealed that the selected ions were present in varying concentrations in the study area. The chemical parameters of water samples from the boreholes were plotted using AquaChem and revealed interaction between the groundwater and aquifer materials, and identified important data trends and groupings. Keywords: Water quality, analysis, WHO, SON, AquaChem, permissible limits, anion, cation, Kano

Lineaments Analysis to Identify Favourable Areas for Groundwater in Kano City, Northwestern Nigeria

This work was carried out to investigate groundwater potentials of Kano city using lineament analysis, and to study the relationship between the characteristics and occurrence of groundwater in aquifers of about 200m deep in crystalline basement rocks of the area by examining the possibility of groundwater occurrence at such depths; despite the general understanding that fractures closes with depth. It shows the use of LANDSAT ETM+ imagery and geological map to investigate areas favorable for groundwater development.  This was achieved by plotting the lineament trends, and lineament density to know the groundwater potentials. Rose (azimuth-frequency) diagram of the lineaments delineated on the imagery shows trends in the directions of N-S, E-W, NE-SW, and NW-SE. The dominant trend is NW-SE. The analyses have shown that the study area has numerous fractures whose major trends are mainly in north-south and northwestern-southeastern directions. Lineament density map shows the cross-cutting lineaments are relatively high in areas around the north-eastern and south-western parts of the study area but low in the other areas. The zones of high lineament intersection density are feasible zones for groundwater prospecting.  The positions of deep boreholes on the map of the area do not coincide with the cross cutting lineaments, and are therefore the yields of the deep boreholes are not sustainable. Keywords: Lineaments, groundwater, boreholes, aquifer, fracture

Hydrochemical characterization and evaluation of groundwater quality of zamfara area, northwest, nigeria

This study deals with hydrochemical assessment of groundwater within the lithological framework underlain Zamfara State, Northwestern Nigeria with the aim of ascertaining its suitability for human consumption. Groundwater samples were collected from boreholes tapping the aquifer of the area and analyzed for various physico-chemical parameters, such as total dissolve solids, electrical conductivity (Ec), pH, temperature, Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, HCO3, Cl-, SO4, NO3, PO4, and trace elements (Mn, Cu, Zn, Fe, Pb and Cr). The results obtained were subjected to multivariate statistical analysis, water quality index method, and hydrochemical variation plots for proper characterization. As far as suitability is concerned most of the studied physic-chemical parameters trace elements (iron, lead and chromium ions) revealed average concentrations lower than the permissible limit set for domestic water use by World Health Organization. However, the compiled overall water quality index for the studied groundwater shows ‘very poor water quality’. Due to the fact that WQI rating reflect the composite influence of different water quality parameters. The result of the multivariate statistical analysis, as applied to the chemical data set of the studied groundwater provides an insight into the underlying controlling hydrochemical processes in the area. Four factors including factor-1 (total hardness, chloride, nitrate, manganese, bicarbonate and alkalinity), factor-2 (TDS, conductivity, total hardness, magnesium and calcium), factor-3 (Temperature, sodium, potassium, copper, zinc, iron and chromium), factor-4 (calcium, magnesium and nitrate) represents the signatures from dissolution of bedrock through which the groundwater passes, ionic mixing, leaching from the lateritic overburden, agricultural activities (fertilizer application) and effluent from waste dumpsites in the study area. The distribution of major ions in the groundwater shows relative abundance of cations: Na++K+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+; while the relative abundance of the anions is: Cl- > HCO3- > SO42-. Groundwater in the aquifer of the study area are majorly of evolved type with mixing of ionic concentrations. Alkali’s are more in abundant to that of alkaline earth, while Cl and HCO3 dominate SO4 and NO3 concentration. The water samples are basically ‘Alkali waters’ with ‘Earth Alkaline’ components that are predominantly HCO3- and Cl-.The relative abundance of the three (3) dominant water types are as thus: Na-HCO3-Cl > Ca-Mg-HCO3-Cl > Na-Ca-Cl. Simple mineral dissolution or mixing processes is mainly responsible for the variation in the hydrochemistry of the groundwater of the study area. &nbsp

Rainfall interpolation analysis on river Kaduna catchment for climate change assessment

The Inverse Distance Weighing (IDW) technique for rainfall interpolation considered by researchers as a suitable method for predicting missing rainfall records was used to estimate missing rainfall records in River Kaduna Catchment area from 1979-1990. Distances among respective rainfall stations were used to calculate the weighing factor for stations with missing records and radius of influence of 22.5-201km. The Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) was used to test the accuracy of the assessment and the results were validated using correlation coefficient. From the results of the analysis through optimization of steps of α values and radius of influence, the smaller the optimum parameter value the better the prediction and in most cases the accuracy increases at short optimum search radii, also small amount and long duration rainfall values enhances the prediction potential of the IDW.Keywords: Rainfall data, Inverse Distance Weighing, Interpolation, Optimum parameter

Antimicrobial activity of Cassia alata

The antibacterial and antifungal activity of the aqueous and methanol extracts of Cassia alata leaves has been evaluated. The extracts exhibited more antifungal than antibacterial properties

Haematology and Serum Biochemical Profile of Weaner Rabbits Fed Yam Peels at Graded levels as a Replacement for Maize

ABSTRACT Serum haematology and biochemical profile of weaner rabbits fed graded levels of yam peels replacing maize were evaluated. The experiment which lasted fifty-six days using 15 weaner rabbits was laid in a randomized complete block design using five dietary treatments with three replications each. The dietary treatments evaluated were 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 0% inclusion level of yam peels replacing maize. Results revealed significant (P<0.05) differences in all the parameters evaluated except for the white blood cells, lymphocytes and globulin. The results obtained did not follow any pattern except chloride levels which had significant (P<0.05) decrease across all the treatments (88.00 -72.00 mmol/L). Higher values were obtained from the control-based diet in the haematological and serum electrolytes profile. While higher values were obtained in animals fed 20% inclusion of the test ingredient for globulin (32.00 g/L), total cholesterol (3.00 mmol/L), high density lipoproteins (1.00 mmol/L), alkaline phosphatase (3.50 U/L), alanine amino transferase (8.00 U/L) and aspartate amino transferase (10.00 U/L). It is concluded that there is no adverse effects of the yam peels diet on the experimental animals across all dietary treatments. It is however recommended that more studies should be carried out on the optimum inclusion levels and its suitability in other classes of rabbit

Groundwater Resource Appraisals of Bodinga and Environs, Sokoto Basin North Western Nigeria

The groundwater resources of semi-arid region of Bodinga town and its environs within the Sokoto basin of Northwestern Nigeria have been evaluated. Data obtained at site during pumping test sessions which lasted for a period of between 8-12 hours for a total of 67 boreholes in the area of study were used alongside Information gathered from the careful analysis of lithological logs of the drilled Boreholes. The Hydraulic conductivity for the Kalambaina, Wurno, and Taloka formations are 22.00x10 m/s , 8.00x10-1 m/s, and 1.02x10 m/s and respectively with an average of 3.00x10 m/s for the area. The Transmissivity calculated for these formations are 167.54x10 m2/s, 3.02x10 m2/s and 3.00x10 m2/s respectively while the average total for the area is. 20.30x10 m2/s. Specific capacity for the Kalambaina is 140.00x10 m2/s/m, for Wurno the value is 2.10x10 m2/s/m while Taloka formation have a value of 2.35x10 m2/s/m and the mean computed for this part of the basin is 16.30x10 m2/s /m. Yield is between 0.23 l/s and 6.7 l/s. The calculated properties show the area to be rich in groundwater resources mainly tapped from the coarse sandy and cavernous/jointed limestone layers. However the high drawdown values recorded in some of the boreholes is attributed to the presence of silt- clay materials which act as aquiclude. The high yielding boreholes are those with thicker and sandy aquifer material and less drawdown, however the area have high groundwater resource that is partly affected by the presence of silt and clay intercalations within the sandy Aquiferous units.Keywords: Groundwater, Transmissivity, Coarse-sandy layer, Aquiclude, Semi-confined, Sokoto basin

Mathematics of FIV and BTB dynamics in buffalo and lion populations at Kruger National Park

A new deterministic model for the transmission dynamics of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and bovine tuberculosis (BTB) in lion‐buffalo population is designed and used to gain insight into the transmission dynamics of the two diseases in the population. The model is shown to undergo a backward bifurcation (a dynamic phenomenon characterized by the coexistence of the stable disease‐free equilibrium and a stable endemic equilibrium when the associated reproduction number of the model is less than unity). Two sources for this dynamic phenomenon, namely, the BTB reinfection of exposed buffalos and the BTB‐FIV co‐infection of lions, have been identified. It is shown that, for the special case of the model when backward bifurcation does not occur, the disease‐free equilibrium of the resulting model is globally‐asymptotically stable when the associated reproduction number is less than unity. Numerical simulations of the model, using initial and demographic data relevant to the BTB‐FIV dynamics in Kruger National Park, show that control strategies, such as the isolation of lions with FIV symptoms or the treatment of lions and buffalos with BTB symptoms, can lead to the effective control or elimination of the disease in the lion‐buffalo population if their effectiveness level is high enough. The time to elimination of any of the two diseases is significantly reduced if the strategies are combined.SMG acknowledges with thanks the support of South African DST/NRF SARChI chair on Math-ematical Models and Methods in Bioengineering and Biosciences (M3B2).http://wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/mma2019-12-01hj2019Mathematics and Applied Mathematic