Polymerase chain reaction detection of haemolysin D gene (hlyD) in uropathogenic Escherichia coli as a novel diagnostic test for urinary tract infection

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common and sometime serious infectious disease diagnosed using conventional urine culture as the ‘gold standard’ for identifying Escherichia coli, the most common causative agent. However, due to the slow turn-around-time and other challenges of urine culture, this study explores the use of a novel biomolecular polymerase chain reaction (PCR) approach to detect the presence of haemolysin D gene (hlyD) that encodes a unique virulence factor of uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) for its rapid identification in UTI. Methodology: Primers from UPEC CFT073 and non-pathogenic E. coli K-12 MG1655 strains provided by Nottingham Trent University, England, UK were used to investigate the presence of haemolysin D gene (hlyD) in UPEC. The hlyD primers were developed from hlyD with locus number C_RS01660 on UPEC CFT073 strain using the NCBI, virulence finder, and Island viewer, and used in a PCR assay to target the hlyD in UPEC. Three sets of PCR templates were designed (UPEC, E. coli, and “No template”), each with internal and external controls amplified in a multiplex PCR assay, and agarose gel electrophoresis was used to separate the amplicons, and determine the specificity of hlyD for UPEC. Results: The UPEC genome PCR assays were positive for hlyD and UPEC positive control, and similarly, PCR was positive for E. coli genome positive control, but negative for hlyD. Moreover, the “No template” PCR assay was clean with no amplification product, confirming the absence of PCR contaminations. Conclusion: The hlyD is a unique virulence gene specific for UPEC. PCR assay of this gene is a promising specific and rapid biomolecular diagnostic test that can overcome the limitations of the traditional approaches for detection of UPEC in UTI

Hepatocurative Potentials of Camel (Camelus dromedarius) Urine and Milk on Carbon Tetrachloride Induced Hepatotoxicity in Albino Rats

Damage to the liver cells caused by diseases such as hepatitis and cirrhosis can lead to dysfunction of the liver, which can later result in hepatic or liver failure. The present study was carried out to investigate the hepatocurative effects of camel urine and milk on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced hepatotoxicity in albino rats. Three different treatments (camel urine, camel milk and a 1:1 mixture of camel milk and urine) were administered to three different CCl4-induced hepatotoxic rats (Groups A,B and C) and also to three different subgroups (D,E and F) of normal rats for two weeks. A positive control (Group G) was neither induced nor treated while negative control group (H) received no treatment after CCl4-hepatotoxicity induction. Serum Alanine Amino Transferase (ALT), Aspartate Amino Transferase (AST) and Albumin (ALB) and histopathological findings all confirmed liver steatosis forty eight hours after CCl4 hepatotoxicity induction on randomly selected rats. A significant weight gain was recorded for rats that received camel milk and urine mixture in the CCl4 induced hepatotoxic group (P<0.05).A significant decrease in serum AST was observed in all test groups (P<0.05). Groups that received 1:1 urine and milk mixture showed a significant decrease at p<0.05 in serum ALT, AST and ALB than when treatments were administered singly. Camel urine resulted in periportal inflammation; camel milk resulted in vascular congestion while the 1:1 mixture of the two eliminated these side effects. In rats that received no treatment after hepatotoxicity induction, the condition of the liver deteriorated from liver steatosis to fibrosis and onset of cirrhosis. All these indicated that camel urine, camel milk and to a greater extent a mixture of the two, may have hepatocurative effects on CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity in albino rats. Keywords: Camel, Liver, Toxicity, Safety, Alternative medicine, hepatocurative

Capacity building in Ocean Bathymetry: The Nippon Foundation GEBCO Training Programme at the University of New Hampshire

A successful Capacity Building project in hydrography is underway at the University of New Hampshire. Organised by the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans and sponsored by the Nippon Foundation, the programme trains hydrographers and other marine scientists in bathymetric mapping. Participants are formally prepared to produce bathymetric maps when they return to their home countries through a combination of graduate level courses and workshops, practical field training, participation in deep ocean research cruises, working visits to other laboratories and institutions, focused lectures from visiting experts, and the preparation of a bathymetry map of their area from public domain data. Intangible but necessary preparation includes the networking with professionals in bathymetry and related fields within Ocean Mapping, and the building of a cadre of graduates who will form the basis of international bathymetric mapping in the future

Interference and electromagnetic compatibility challenges in 5G wireless network deployments

5G wireless network technology is going operate within the environment of other electrical, electronic and electromagnetic devices, components and systems, with capability of high speed data connectivity acting as network transceiver stations with Massive MIMO for Internet of Things (IoT). Considering the level of interoperability, electromagnetic Interference and electromagnetic compatibility to avoid electromagnetic pulse effects (EMP) which is capable of not only causing network malfunctions but total devices and equipments failure in mission critical operations, like hospital MRI scan machines, security profiling and data handling or even personal healthcare devices like heart pacemaker. Electromagnetic energy coupling in PCB due to: radiation, reflection and Crosstalk generates reliability challenges affecting Signal Integrity between traces of multilayer boards stalks, power bus and packaging creating Electromagnetic interference (EMI) in PCB leading false clock response to system failure. Above were considered very essential when deploying 5G wireless network facility as presented in this paper

Calibration of ZMPT101B voltage sensor module using polynomial regression for accurate load monitoring

Smart Electricity is quickly developing as the results of advancements in sensor technology. The accuracy of a sensing device is the backbone of every measurement and the fundamental of every electrical quantity measurement is the voltage and current sensing. The sensor calibration in the context of this research means the marking or scaling of the voltage sensor so that it can present accurate sampled voltage from the ADC output using appropriate algorithm. The peakpeak input voltage (measured with a standard FLUKE 115 meter) to the sensor is correlated with the peak-peak ADC output of the sensor using 1 to 5th order polynomial regression, in order to determine the best fitting relationship between them. The arduino microcontroller is used to receive the ADC conversion and is also programmed to calculate the root mean square value of the supply voltage. The analysis of the polynomials shows that the third order polynomial gives the best relationship between the analog input and ADC output. The accuracy of the algorithm is tested in measuring the root mean square values of the supply voltage using instantaneous voltage calculation and peak-peak voltage methods. The error in the measurement is less than 1% in the peak-peak method and less than 2.5% in the instantaneous method for voltage measurements above 50V AC, which is very good for measurements in utility. Therefore, the proposed calibration method will facilitate more accurate voltage and power computing for researchers and designers especially in load monitoring where the applied voltage is 240V or 120V ranges

Statistical Model for Predicting Slump and Strength of Concrete Containing Date Seeds

Incorporating agro-based waste in concrete can reduce environmental pollution and lead to preserving the ecosystem. In order to reduce trial and error in achieving desired slump and compressive strength of concrete containing Date Seed (DS), this paper examines the slump and compressive strength of concrete using date seeds as a partial replacement for crushed granite. Preliminary tests were conducted on the aggregates to ascertain their suitability for concrete production. Concrete with DS-crushed granite ratios of 0:100, 5:95, 10:90, 15:85, and 20:80 were prepared using a mix ratio of 1:2:4 and a water-cement ratio of 0.5. Slump loss was used to estimate the workability of the fresh concrete. The freshly prepared concrete was cast in 150 x 150 x 150 mm and the compressive strength was determined after curing by full immersion in water for 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. Results showed that the slump of concrete increased with an increase in the content of date seed. The compressive strength was inversely proportional to the date seed content with a DScrushed granite ratio of 20:80 recording the lowest compressive strength (20N/mm2 ). Linear regression models for slump and compressive strength were developed and found to be sufficient in explaining the experimental data based on a Mean Square Error (MSE) of 0.37 and 0.029 and R2 of 88% and 99% obtained for slump and compressive strength respectively. The study has concluded that DS can be used as a partial replacement for crushed granite in concrete and a linear model is sufficient in predicting the slump and strength of concrete containing date seed

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

Transverse slab reinforcement design of concrete bridge deck: A review

This paper reviews the current design practices of transverse slab reinforcement design in concrete bridge deck, which consist of concrete deck slab on wide concrete T-beams. The conventional bridge design method results in the provision of excessive transverse steel reinforcement in the concrete bridge deck slab due to the fact that, the slab is assumed to bear the applied vehicular loadings alone without considering the contribution of the wide T-beam flanges. Thus, the design which is based on bending and failure proved to be too conservative. Through critical review, issues regarding some design approaches were discussed. It has been found that, designing the deck slab in transverse direction would enable the vehicle wheel loads to be supported by the wide T- beam flanges and performance enhancement can be achieved by compressive membrane action resulted from the natural stiffness of the wide girder flanges. The presence of this membrane forces provides a punching shear capacity, which is far beyond the flexural design capacity for the new bridge deck system. This capacity would result in substantial reduction of the transverse reinforcement within the slab

Histopathological observations of the liver of albino rats orally exposed to the African black soap (Sabulun salo)

Aim: This is to determine the effect of oral administration of the sabulun salo (African traditional black soap) on the liver of albino rats. It is commonly produced and widely used in the Northern part of Nigeria and other parts of the country for herbal medication. Methods: Twenty (20) albino rats were divided into four groups of three test groups and a control group. The albino rats were administered with different concentrations of sabulun salo for the period of two weeks. The groups (AC, BC and FC) received 2000mg/kg, 3000mg/kg and 4000mg/kg of the sabulun salo respectively. And the control group received normal feed. Results: At end of the intervention, the albino rats were sacrificed and the livers were removed and processed for paraffin embedding. The blood samples were also collected for the biochemical and hematological analysis. At the end the analysis, the liver presented a normal histo-morphology across all the groups, the hematological and biochemical analysis showed some significant changes in the entire groups and the reduction in water and food consumption as the concentrations increased. There were also significant increased in white blood cell, hemoglobin and packed cell volume in the entire groups except in group FC when compared to the control and a haphazard changes in the blood biochemical parameters Conclusion: The results of this research have shown that the African traditional black soap (Sabulun Salo) is histologically non toxic to the liver of the albino rats exposed