Charcoal Production in Oriire Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria: Environmental and Socio-Economic Questions

Just as it is difficult for most successive governments, at local or national level, to fight and conquer poverty, it is hard for most households of the poor communities in developing countries, particularly in South-western Nigeria, to live and work environmentally-sustainably, as most of their survival activities have negative implications for the environment. The poverty-induced type of energy use of most households in these communities calls for the concern of stakeholders in environmental sustainability issues. Against this backdrop, this paper examines the process of charcoal production (a major energy source of poor communities in South-western Nigeria) and its environmental and socio-economic correlates, using a case study of three rural communities, where the activity has assumed a ‘professional’ status. It is found that unless and until serious intervention measures aimed at addressing poverty and other socio-economic issues are put in place and effectively enforced, the problem of sustainable environmental development will be a mirage in the area and in areas with similar environmental and socio-economic problems. It therefore, recommends effective policy measures directed at poverty and related issues to take place before enforcement of necessary legislation, also recommended against indiscriminate felling and burning of trees

Development of Thermomechanical Model for the Analysis of Effects of Friction and Cutting Speed on Temperature Distribution around AISI 316L During Orthogonal Machining

In metal cutting,severe deformation takes place in the vicinity of the cutting edge of the high strain-rate and an increase in temperature is observed. Deformation behaviour of the work material in the primary and secondary zones is highly sensitive to the cutting conditions. Also, the frictional conditions between the tool and the chip and tool and the workpiece are highly complex and sensitive to the cutting conditions. As a result, the stresses and temperatures at tool-chip interface and around the cutting edge can be critically high in some cutting conditions and can cause excessive tool wear or premature tool failure. This research work focuses on the accurate prediction of the distribution of the process variables such as stresses and temperatures with the Finite Element (FE) Analysis to identify optimum cutting conditions, tool material, edge geometry and coating in order to help improve productivity and quality of machining operations. Effects of work material flow stress and interfacial friction at chip-tool interface on the accuracy of the predicated process variables in FE simulations are also analyzed. Specifically, friction models and cutting speed are varied to predict the effect on the temperature distribution, stresses and strain on the workpiece and tool chip during orthogonal cutting process. The result showed that an increase in coefficient of friction will cause an increase in thermal, force and mechanical variables during machining. Thus, the higher the coefficient of friction, the higher, the cutting forces, temperature, stress, and strain

COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF SODOM APPLE EXTRACT AND LEMON JUICE AS VEGETABLE COAGULANTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HOME MADE CHEESE

An experiment was carried out to compare the quality characteristics of cheese produced using Sodom apple and Lemon juice as plant coagulants. The weight of cheese produced from 1000ml of milk with 100ml of Sodom apple extract was 215.5g while 134.4g of cheese was obtained when Lemon juice was used. The volume of whey obtained using Sodom apple extract was 864.6ml while Lemon juice produced 939.3ml of whey. The average pH of Sodom apple cheese was 6.36 while that of lemon juice cheese produced using Lemon juice was 5.16. Proximate analysis revealed that Sodom apple cheese had crude protein content of 22.00% significantly (p<0.05) lower than Lemon juice cheese of 29.33%. Ether extract content for Sodom apple cheese was 19.00% while that of Lemon juice was 28.67%. The ash content of the cheese was 9.67% while 7.67% for Sodom apple and Lemon juice cheese respectively. The moisture content for Sodom apple cheese was 60.00% while that of Lemon juice was 46.67%. The mineral analysis revealed that cheese produced from Lemon juice was higher in sodium, potassium, phosphorus and selenium compared to cheese produced from Sodom apple. Cheese produced from Sodom apple extract had higher refrigeration weight loss of 2.80%. It can be concluded that cheese produced from Lemon juice was superior in nutrient content: sodium, potassium, phosphorus and selenium and storage stability compared to the cheese obtained from Sodom apple extract. &nbsp

Comparison of Molecular and Phenotypic Methods for the Detection and Characterization of Carbapenem Resistant Enterobacteriaceae

In recent years, there has been a rapid dissemination of carbapenem resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE). This study aimed to compare phenotypic and molecular methods for detection and characterization of CRE isolates at a large tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia. This study was carried out between January 2011 and November 2013 at the King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH) in Saudi Arabia. Determination of presence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) and carbapenem resistance was in accordance with Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Phenotypic classification was done by the MASTDISCSTM ID inhibitor combination disk method. Genotypic characterization of ESBL and carbapenemase genes was performed by the Check-MDR CT102. Diversilab rep-PCR was used for the determination of clonal relationship. Of the 883 ESBL-positive Enterobacteriaceae detected during the study period, 14 (1.6%) isolates were carbapenem resistant. Both the molecular genotypic characterization and phenotypic testing were in agreement in the detection of all 8 metalo-beta-lactamases (MBL) producing isolates. Of these 8 MBL-producers, 5 were positive for blaNDM gene and 3 were positive for blaVIM gene. Molecular method identified additional blaOXA gene isolates while MASTDISCSTM ID detected one AmpC producer isolate. Both methods agreed in identifying 2 carbapenem resistant isolates which were negative for carbapenemase genes. Diversilab rep-PCR analysis of the 9 Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates revealed polyclonal distribution into eight clusters. MASTDISCSTM ID is a reliable simple cheap phenotypic method for detection of majority of carbapenemase genes with the exception of the blaOXA gene. We recommend to use such method in the clinical laboratory

Enzymatic formulation capable of degrading scrapie prion under mild digestion conditions

The prion agent is notoriously resistant to common proteases and conventional sterilisation procedures. The current methods known to destroy prion infectivity such as incineration, alkaline and thermal hydrolysis are harsh, destructive, environmentally polluting and potentially hazardous, thus limit their applications for decontamination of delicate medical and laboratory devices, remediation of prion contaminated environment and for processing animal by-products including specified risk materials and carcases. Therefore, an environmentally friendly, non-destructive enzymatic degradation approach is highly desirable. A feather-degrading Bacillus licheniformis N22 keratinase has been isolated which degraded scrapie prion to undetectable level of PrPSc signals as determined by Western Blot analysis. Prion infectivity was verified by ex vivo cell-based assay. An enzymatic formulation combining N22 keratinase and biosurfactant derived from Pseudomonas aeruginosa degraded PrPSc at 65°C in 10 min to undetectable level -. A time-course degradation analysis carried out at 50°C over 2 h revealed the progressive attenuation of PrPSc intensity. Test of residual infectivity by standard cell culture assay confirmed that the enzymatic formulation reduced PrPSc infectivity to undetectable levels as compared to cells challenged with untreated standard scrapie sheep prion (SSBP/1) (p-value = 0.008 at 95% confidence interval). This novel enzymatic formulation has significant potential application for prion decontamination in various environmentally friendly systems under mild treatment conditions

COMPARISON OF ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENT PREDICTION MODELS FOR TWO-LANE HIGHWAY INTEGRATING TRAFFIC AND PAVEMENT CONDITION PARAMETERS

In Nigeria, literature on the integration of traffic of pavement condition and traffic characteristics in predicting road traffic accident frequency on 2-lane highways are scanty, hence this article to fill the gap. A comparison of road traffic accident frequency prediction models on IIesha-Akure-Owo road based on the data observed between 2012 and 2014 is presented. Negative Binomial (NB), Ordered Logistic (OL) and Zero Inflated Negative Binomial (ZINB) models were used to model the frequency of road traffic accident occurrence using road traffic accident data from the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and pavement conditions parameters from pavement evaluation unit of the Federal Ministry of Works, Kaduna. The explanatory variables were: annual average daily traffic (aadt), shoulder factor (sf), rut depth (rd), pavement condition index (pci), and international roughness index (iri). The explanatory variables that were statistically significant for the three models are aadt, sf and iri with the estimated coefficients having the expected signs. The number of road traffic accident on the road increases with the traffic volume and the international roughness index while it decreases with shoulder factor. The systematic variation explained by the models amounts to 87.7, 78.1 and 74.4% for NB, ZINB and OL respectively. The research findings suggest the accident prediction models that should be integrated into pavement rehabilitation.   Keywords: &nbsp

Current Assets Management and Financial Performance: Evidence from Listed Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria

The concepts of current assets management and financial performance have been adopted in many research fields but they are scarcely attempted on in developing countries. The structure and size of current assets and its impact on the financial performance of the firm cannot be over-emphasised. A literature gap exists, thus motivating the author to come up with a multiple correlation and regression model that uses current assets management to forecast changes in financial performance of deposit money banks in Nigeria. These varying parameters include the cash and bank balances, financial assets held for trading, derivative assets, loans and advances to banks and loans and advances to customers. An OLS model was formulated to compute the effect of CAM on financial performance. For model validation purpose, five year data analysis was conducted. The study’s sample utilizes data from 2010-2014 belonging to 15 deposit money banks operating in financial services sector as listed by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). In empirical analyses, robust estimator was used. The results of the conducted analyses suggest a positive relation between the cash and bank balances, financial assets held for trading, loans and advances to customers and Return on Asset. Another result of the study, on the other hand, suggests that derivative assets, loans and advances to banks have negative impact on return on asset. Keywords: Current assets management, deposit money banks, financial performance, Nigeri

Time course effects of 5,5-dihydroxyl pyrimidine-2,4,6-trione (alloxan) as a diabetogenic agent in animal model

Objective: The use of alloxan as a diabetogenic agent at 150 mg/kg BW has been characterized by low percentage induction and instability of the hyperglycemia induced. The present study examined its time course effects with a view to suggesting the probable effective dose of the compound for animal studies.Methods: Forty adult Wistar rats were equally randomized into two groups (I and II) and were injected with single intraperitoneal dose of alloxan, 170 and 200 mg/kg BW respectively. Blood glucose concentration (BGC) was monitored in consecutive phases of hourly for 3 h, 3 h interval for 15 h, 6 h interval for 12 h and 9 h after. Changes with time in biomarkers of oxidative stress (SOD, CAT, GST and MDA) and pancreas histopathology were studied.Results: Alloxan at the evaluated doses produced a multiphasic blood glucose response. One hour post alloxan injection, 90% of group I and 85% of group II animals exhibited diabetic hyperglycemia (glucose level ≥ 200 mg/dL). Groups I and II respectively produced peak levels of hyperglycemia (586.8 and 575.9 mg/dL) at 9 and 12 h post alloxan administration. Hypoglycemia which is characteristic of experimental diabetes was noted between the 15th and 21st hour in both groups (I and II) and resulted in 5 and 10% mortality respectively. At 36th hour, hyperglycemia was restored and apparently sustained. Changes in biomarkers of oxidative stress showed patterns similar to that of blood glucose, and the histopathological examination of the pancreas mainly indicated focal area of a necrotic islet and multifocal area of mild infiltration in both groups.Conclusion: The data obtained shows that alloxan at the investigated doses produced sustained hyperglycemia at 21st and 24th hour post administration, and 170 mg dosage of the compound is apparently a better diabetogenic dose, particularly in terms of reduced animal mortality.Keywords: Alloxan, Diabetogenicity, Diabetes, Effective dos

Kawasaki disease associated with streptococcal infection and facial nerve palsy: a case report

Kawasaki disease (mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome), an acute febrile vasculitis of childhood that affects medium and small-sized arteries, is uncommonly reported in the West African sub[1]region. Its diagnosis relies on the presence of a constellation of clinical signs which could mimic or coexist with infectious viral or bacterial agents, thereby requiring a high index of suspicion. Case presentation: We report a two-year, ten months-old boy who presented with prolonged high-grade fever for over 3 three weeks; non-purulent conjunctivitis, unilateral cervical lymphadenopathy, cracked lips, reddish tongue, diffuse oedema, erythema of his palms and soles; skin desquamation over the tips of his digits and left-sided facial nerve palsy. He had leukocytosis, thrombocytopenia, and elevated inflammatory markers. Throat swab yielded Streptococcus pyogenes species; however, serial echocardiography was unrevealing. He was managed with aspirin, steroids, bed rest, and antibiotics (based on culture sensitivity), but intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) was not readily available and therefore was not administered. His inpatient clinical course showed fever persisting into the second week of inpatient management that gradually became undulating by the third week before lysing. Conclusion: The rare complication of facial nerve palsy is highlighted, while the evidence for acute bacterial infection posed further diagnostic challenges in this child with clinical features of Kawasaki disease. The unavailability of IVIG also portends a prolonged course for the acute stages, which are largely unresponsive to antipyretics and antibiotics. The importance of long-term follow-up for potential coronary artery aneurysms in the face of risk factors is further emphasized

Evaluation of super-disintegrant potential of acid-modified starch derived from Borassus aethiopum (Aracaceae) shoot in paracetamol tablet formulations

Purpose: To evaluate the super-disintegrant potentials of acid modified Borassus aethiopum starch (AMS) in comparison with native starch (NS) and commercial disintegrant sodium starch glycolate (SSG). Methods: Compatibility of AMS with paracetamol powder was evaluated using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrophotometry. Seven batches of paracetamol granules and tablets were prepared by wet granulation. AMS and NS were employed as disintegrants at concentrations of 2.43, 4.86 and 9.72 %w/w, respectively while 4.86 %w/w SSG was used as standard disintegrant. All the batches of the granules were compressed under the same compression settings. The properties of the granules as well as those of the tablets were assessed. Results: AMS was compatible with paracetamol powder as no noticeable interaction was observed in FTIR study. The paracetamol tablets formulated using AMS as disintegrant demonstrated satisfactory friability, weight uniformity, hardness, and superior disintegration characteristics to the formulations containing NS and SSG as disintegrant. Even at a lower concentration (2.43 %w/w), AMS possessed better disintegrant property than NS and SSG. AMS and NS had dimensionless disintegrant quantity of 1.447 and 0.005, respectively. As expected, increase in AMS concentration showed a decrease in disintegration time. Conclusion: AMS could be a potential low-cost super-disintegrant in formulation of paracetamol tablets. Keywords: Acid modified starch, Borassus aethiopum, Disintegrant, Compatibilit