Investigation of an Optimal Time and Distance for Temperature Measurement of Short Wave Diathermy

Location of the temperature measurement and finding the optimum time were essential in the usage of short wave diathermy (SWD) unit. Therefore, the purposeof this study is to investigate the optimallocation and time for SWD exposure. To perform this study, an artificial human body tissue (phantom) which is mimetic to a human arm was developed. The phantom was built with a dimension of 25 cm x 15 cm x 4 cm (lenght, width and high). To find the optimum time and location of exposure, four temperature sensors were placed at the difference location atthe phantom.The phantom was placed in the varies distance from 30cm to 50cm from SWD unit. This was to obtain the optimum location for exposure of SWD. The results showed that the highest temperature were obtained at the distance of 30cm with temperature of 39.14oC. At the distance of 50cm, the temperature was distributed at the optimal time of 15 minute and temperature of 32.16oC. At the distance of 40cm, it was obtained that the temperature was distributed at 36.7oC.  The average temperature from four different sensors at the location of 30 cm, 40 cm and 50 cm were 39.1oC, 37.1oC and 32.65oC respectively. This work showed that the phantom temperature in the SWD exposure were effected by the location of the object from the SWD unit. Keywords: temperature sensors, phantom tissu

Impact of Competition on the Financial Performance of Listed Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria

The impact of bank competition on bank performance remains a widely debated issue. At present, scholars investigate either the competition-stability or the competition-fragility relationships. The traditional competition-fragility view equates bank competition with instability as competition reduces market power and profit margins which in turn encourages bank managers to take higher risks. In contrast, the competition-stability view stipulates that competition leads to lower loan interest rates and consequently lower moral hazard and adverse selection problems and less risky loan portfolios. This study examines both paradigms using panel data from deposit money banks in Nigeria over a period of ten years (2005-2014). Results show that the overall relationship between competition and financial performance of banks is negative. The study, therefore, concludes that competition has a negative effect on the financial performance of banks in Nigeria. The study suggests that regulators should promote healthy competition among deposit money banks so as to reduce the negative effect of competition on bank financial performance. Managers should take measures to enhance profit margin by reducing expenses. Current efforts of the government in terms of improved power generation may help to cut cost of power borne by the banks. Managers should also ensure healthy loan portfolio by ensuring that only customers with high credit scores get loans. Keywords: Bank, competition, financial performance, loan, market share, Nigeria, profit margin, risk.

Assessing the nutritional status of four indigenous breeds of cattle using some blood metabolites in Nigeria

Data on some blood metabolites from five bulls each of Bunaji, Rahaji, Sokoto Gudali and Azawak breeds of cattle were collected. They were fed poultry litter in a concentrate mixture for 90 days and their nutritional status ascertained from the serum metabolic profile. Result showed that the metabolisable energy and crude protein composition of the diet were within the optimum values required for beef cattle. Significant (P<0.05) difference existed between the breeds for creatitnine values. It was highest for Bunaji at the beginning of the experiment, Bunaji and Sokoto Gudali had similar values at the middle. There also significant (P<0.05) difference observed between the breeds in terms of total protein even though it later decline in all the breeds at the middle and slightly went up at the end of the trial.  Blood urea nitrogen concentration was significantly (P<0.05) different across the time of collection between the breeds. It slightly declined at the middle and sharply increased at the end for all the breeds. Similarly, the result showed that there was significant (P<0.05) difference in the values obtained for blood glucose. SokotAo Gudali recorded the least value for blood glucose from the beginning to the end of the study. Albumin was only significantly (P<0.05) different at the beginning of the study. In conclusion, the results showed that in general metabolic profiling studies in these breeds of cattle did not identify any clear nutritional constraints to productivity. It can be said with certainty, from the glucose, albumin and urea results, that dietary energy and protein were not limiting. Key words: Albumin, Bulls, Glucose, Poultry litter, Total protei

Pollen morphological studies of selected flowering plants in Federal University Of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria

The taxonomic classifications of some flowering plants into families have been a subject of review in recent times. This is because many were classified in the early days of taxonomy using plant morphological characters alone. This study assessed pollen characters of ten flowering plants in Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria with a view to identifying valuable taxonomic characters which could be employed for resolving classification controversies associated with the use of morphological characters alone. Pollen study was conducted using acetolysis method. Means, standard deviations and coefficient of variations were calculated while photomicrographs of pollen grains were taken at X400 magnification. The result showed tricolporate, pantoporate, triporate, tricolpate and heterocolpate pollen types while exine patterns were granulate, reticulate, psilate and echinate. Results of pollen shape revealed oblate spheroidal, prolate and subprolate while there were variations in pollen characters among species of the same family in apertural type, sculpture, exine surface pattern, pollen shape and pollen fertility. This suggests that apertural type, sculpture, exine surface pattern, pollen shape and pollen fertility could be useful in resolving taxonomic issues related to classification associated with grouping of some flowering plants into the same family on the basis of morphological traits alone

Perception of nonnative tonal contrasts by Mandarin-English and English-Mandarin sequential bilinguals

This study examined the role of acquisition order and crosslinguistic similarity in influencing transfer at the initial stage of perceptually acquiring a tonal third language (L3). Perception of tones in Yoruba and Thai was tested in adult sequential bilinguals representing three different first (L1) and second language (L2) backgrounds: L1 Mandarin-L2 English (MEBs), L1 English-L2 Mandarin (EMBs), and L1 English-L2 intonational/non-tonal (EIBs). MEBs outperformed EMBs and EIBs in discriminating L3 tonal contrasts in both languages, while EMBs showed a small advantage over EIBs on Yoruba. All groups showed better overall discrimination in Thai than Yoruba, but group differences were more robust in Yoruba. MEBs’ and EMBs’ poor discrimination of certain L3 contrasts was further reflected in the L3 tones being perceived as similar to the same Mandarin tone; however, EIBs, with no knowledge of Mandarin, showed many of the same similarity judgments. These findings thus suggest that L1 tonal experience has a particularly facilitative effect in L3 tone perception, but there is also a facilitative effect of L2 tonal experience. Further, crosslinguistic perceptual similarity between L1/L2 and L3 tones, as well as acoustic similarity between different L3 tones, play a significant role at this early stage of L3 tone acquisition.Published versio

Colonisation of hospital surfaces from low- and middle-income countries by extended spectrum β-lactamase- and carbapenemase-producing bacteria

Hospital surfaces can harbour bacterial pathogens, which may disseminate and cause nosocomial infections, contributing towards mortality in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). During the BARNARDS study, hospital surfaces from neonatal wards were sampled to assess the degree of environmental surface and patient care equipment colonisation by Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) carrying antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Here, we perform PCR screening for extended-spectrum β-lactamases (blaCTX-M-15) and carbapenemases (blaNDM, blaOXA-48-like and blaKPC), MALDI-TOF MS identification of GNB carrying ARGs, and further analysis by whole genome sequencing of bacterial isolates. We determine presence of consistently dominant clones and their relatedness to strains causing neonatal sepsis. Higher prevalence of carbapenemases is observed in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Ethiopia, compared to other countries, and are mostly found in surfaces near the sink drain. Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter hormaechei, Acinetobacter baumannii, Serratia marcescens and Leclercia adecarboxylata are dominant; ST15 K. pneumoniae is identified from the same ward on multiple occasions suggesting clonal persistence within the same environment, and is found to be identical to isolates causing neonatal sepsis in Pakistan over similar time periods. Our data suggests persistence of dominant clones across multiple time points, highlighting the need for assessment of Infection Prevention and Control guidelines

Development of a core descriptor set for Crohn's anal fistula

AIM: Crohn's anal fistula (CAF) is a complex condition, with no agreement on which patient characteristics should be routinely reported in studies. The aim of this study was to develop a core descriptor set of key patient characteristics for reporting in all CAF research. METHOD: Candidate descriptors were generated from published literature and stakeholder suggestions. Colorectal surgeons, gastroenterologists and specialist nurses in inflammatory bowel disease took part in three rounds of an international modified Delphi process using nine-point Likert scales to rank the importance of descriptors. Feedback was provided between rounds to allow refinement of the next ratings. Patterns in descriptor voting were assessed using principal component analysis (PCA). Resulting PCA groups were used to organize items in rounds two and three. Consensus descriptors were submitted to a patient panel for feedback. Items meeting predetermined thresholds were included in the final set and ratified at the consensus meeting. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty three respondents from 22 countries completed round one, of whom 67.0% completed round three. Ninety seven descriptors were rated across three rounds in 11 PCA-based groups. Forty descriptors were shortlisted. The consensus meeting ratified a core descriptor set of 37 descriptors within six domains: fistula anatomy, current disease activity and phenotype, risk factors, medical interventions for CAF, surgical interventions for CAF, and patient symptoms and impact on quality of life. CONCLUSION: The core descriptor set proposed for all future CAF research reflects characteristics important to gastroenterologists and surgeons. This might aid transparent reporting in future studies

Antimitotic drugs in the treatment of cancer

Cancer is a complex disease since it is adaptive in such a way that it can promote proliferation and invasion by means of an overactive cell cycle and in turn cellular division which is targeted by antimitotic drugs that are highly validated chemotherapy agents. However, antimitotic drug cytotoxicity to non-tumorigenic cells and multiple cancer resistance developed in response to drugs such as taxanes and vinca alkaloids are obstacles faced in both the clinical and basic research field to date. In this review, the classes of antimitotic compounds, their mechanisms of action and cancer cell resistance to chemotherapy and other limitations of current antimitotic compounds are highlighted, as well as the potential of novel 17-β estradiol analogs as cancer treatment.Medical Research Council of South Africa, the Research Committee of the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Pretoria, the Cancer association of South Africa and the National Research Foundation.http://link.springer.com/journal/280hb201

Effects of antibiotic resistance, drug target attainment, bacterial pathogenicity and virulence, and antibiotic access and affordability on outcomes in neonatal sepsis: an international microbiology and drug evaluation prospective substudy (BARNARDS)

Background Sepsis is a major contributor to neonatal mortality, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). WHO advocates ampicillin–gentamicin as first-line therapy for the management of neonatal sepsis. In the BARNARDS observational cohort study of neonatal sepsis and antimicrobial resistance in LMICs, common sepsis pathogens were characterised via whole genome sequencing (WGS) and antimicrobial resistance profiles. In this substudy of BARNARDS, we aimed to assess the use and efficacy of empirical antibiotic therapies commonly used in LMICs for neonatal sepsis. Methods In BARNARDS, consenting mother–neonates aged 0–60 days dyads were enrolled on delivery or neonatal presentation with suspected sepsis at 12 BARNARDS clinical sites in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Rwanda, and South Africa. Stillborn babies were excluded from the study. Blood samples were collected from neonates presenting with clinical signs of sepsis, and WGS and minimum inhibitory concentrations for antibiotic treatment were determined for bacterial isolates from culture-confirmed sepsis. Neonatal outcome data were collected following enrolment until 60 days of life. Antibiotic usage and neonatal outcome data were assessed. Survival analyses were adjusted to take into account potential clinical confounding variables related to the birth and pathogen. Additionally, resistance profiles, pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic probability of target attainment, and frequency of resistance (ie, resistance defined by in-vitro growth of isolates when challenged by antibiotics) were assessed. Questionnaires on health structures and antibiotic costs evaluated accessibility and affordability. Findings Between Nov 12, 2015, and Feb 1, 2018, 36 285 neonates were enrolled into the main BARNARDS study, of whom 9874 had clinically diagnosed sepsis and 5749 had available antibiotic data. The four most commonly prescribed antibiotic combinations given to 4451 neonates (77·42%) of 5749 were ampicillin–gentamicin, ceftazidime–amikacin, piperacillin–tazobactam–amikacin, and amoxicillin clavulanate–amikacin. This dataset assessed 476 prescriptions for 442 neonates treated with one of these antibiotic combinations with WGS data (all BARNARDS countries were represented in this subset except India). Multiple pathogens were isolated, totalling 457 isolates. Reported mortality was lower for neonates treated with ceftazidime–amikacin than for neonates treated with ampicillin–gentamicin (hazard ratio [adjusted for clinical variables considered potential confounders to outcomes] 0·32, 95% CI 0·14–0·72; p=0·0060). Of 390 Gram-negative isolates, 379 (97·2%) were resistant to ampicillin and 274 (70·3%) were resistant to gentamicin. Susceptibility of Gram-negative isolates to at least one antibiotic in a treatment combination was noted in 111 (28·5%) to ampicillin–gentamicin; 286 (73·3%) to amoxicillin clavulanate–amikacin; 301 (77·2%) to ceftazidime–amikacin; and 312 (80·0%) to piperacillin–tazobactam–amikacin. A probability of target attainment of 80% or more was noted in 26 neonates (33·7% [SD 0·59]) of 78 with ampicillin–gentamicin; 15 (68·0% [3·84]) of 27 with amoxicillin clavulanate–amikacin; 93 (92·7% [0·24]) of 109 with ceftazidime–amikacin; and 70 (85·3% [0·47]) of 76 with piperacillin–tazobactam–amikacin. However, antibiotic and country effects could not be distinguished. Frequency of resistance was recorded most frequently with fosfomycin (in 78 isolates [68·4%] of 114), followed by colistin (55 isolates [57·3%] of 96), and gentamicin (62 isolates [53·0%] of 117). Sites in six of the seven countries (excluding South Africa) stated that the cost of antibiotics would influence treatment of neonatal sepsis

Design and Fabrication of Cassava Grating Machine

The Cassava grating machine that was designed has two modes of operation, it can be powered either electrically or manually. It takes care of power failure problems. The Cassava is fed with the Machine through the hopper made of metal sheet to the granting drum, which rotates at a constant speed. This process grates the cassava into cassava pulp. The chute made up of metal sheet accepts the pulp and sends it out because of its inclination which is operated manually. The efficiency of the machine was found to be 82.7%, which the efficiency of the electrically powered machine was found to be 79.5%. The need for the hygienic processing of cassava, is very important as well as the prevalent conditions in the commercial grating areas of this staple food as it is likely to be affected by food contamination. A home-scale cassava grating machine was designed and fabricated, with machine efficiency, safety factors, and portability all taken into consideration. The grating hopper and drum are modified with the drum having a stainless-steel sheet wrapped around a galvanized mild steel core. The machine runs on a single phase 6.5HP (horse power), electric motor, multiple customers with increased through-put when compared to other available grating machines. The performance efficiency of the grater for fresh cassava samples depends on the results showing significant variation for combination of process parameters. This study carried out the performance and optimization evaluation of single barrel cassava grating machine on selected fresh and stored cassava species. The species were used at different levels of moisture content, 70.4% db. and 58.4% db. depicting the average moisture contents obtained for fresh and stored cassava respectively.