A Class of Three Stage Implicit Rational Runge-Kutta Schemes for Approximation of Second Order Ordinary Differential Equations

In this paper, 3 – stage Implicit Rational Runge – Kutta methods are derived using Taylor and Binomial series expansion for the direct solution of general second order initial value problems of ordinary differential equations with constant step length. The basic properties of the developed method were investigated and found to be consistent and convergent. The efficiency of the method were tested on some numerical examples and found to give better approximations than the existing methods. Keywords: Java Programming Language, Implicit Rational Runge Kutta scheme, Second order equations

Acute Toxicity Study and Hepatocurative Effect of Aqueous Stem Bark Extract of Parkia Biglobosa in Wister albino Rats

Parkia biglobosa plant is widely is used in folk medicinal practices to treat and/or manage various diseases including diabetes, malaria, diarrhea and pains. The current research seek to establish the toxicity profile and hepatocurative ability of aqueous stem bark extract of the plant. Twelve (12) rats were used for Oral LD50 determination, and were grouped into four (4) groups of three rats (3) each. The first three groups were administered with 10 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg body weight of the extract respectively, while the last group was subdivided into three groups of one rat each and were administered with 2500mg/kg, 3500mg/kg and 5000mg/kg body weight of the extract respectively. For the hepatocurative studies, twenty five (25) experimental rats were divided into five groups of five (5) rats each. Group I served as normal rats, Group II served as test Control while Groups III to V were induced with liver damage and administered with 50mg/kg, 100mg/kg and 150mg/kg of the extract respectively. The LD50 was found to be greater than 5000mg/kg, while phytochemical screening revealed the presence of Flavanoids, Glycosides, Tanins, Saponins, Steroids and Phenols, with the absence of Anthraquinones. For the hepatocurative study, a significant (p<0.0.5) increase in serum albumin and liver enzymes (AST, ALT and ALP) was observed in test control compared to normal control. Upon administration of the extract, a significant (p<0.0.5) fall in Albumin, AST, ALT and ALP was recorded in a dose dependent pattern. No significant difference (p>0.05) was observed between groups in total protein, direct and total bilirubin. The research concludes that the extract is practically non-toxic and possess strong hepatocurative ability which might be due to the phytochemicals present. Keywords: Acute toxiicity; CCl4; Liver; P. biglobosa; Phytochemical and wistar rats. DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/13-16-04 Publication date:September 30th 202

Body mass index among school adolescents in Sokoto, North-Western Nigeria

Background: Reports have shown significant increase in the prevalence of obesity in developing countries. There are limited representative data available from African countries on the trends in childhood obesity, because most public health- and nutrition-related efforts have been focused on under-nutrition. Aims: To determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity using body mass index (BMI) among school adolescents. Design: A cross sectional study involving apparently healthy school students in Sokoto. Materials and Methods: Participating schools and students were selected by a multi-stage random sampling. Anthropometric measurements were done and body mass index derived from the ratio of weight per height squared. Subjects with age and sex-adjusted BMIs of 85 th to <95 th and ≥95 th percentiles of the International Obesity Task Force were defined as overweight and obese, respectively. Statistical Analysis: Data were analyzed using SPSS version 17.0 software. GraphPad inStat version 3.05 was also used to analyze some variables. Results were expressed as means with standard deviations. P-values <5% were considered significant. Results: The mean BMI of the male subjects was 18.3 ± 2.7kg/m 2 , and 19.3 ± 3.1kg/m 2 for the females. The prevalence of overweight was 3.3%, and that of obesity was 1.4%. Conclusions: The prevalence of overweight and obesity appear to be low in the study area, especially when compared to some recent studies in Africa

Mixed Convection Flow in a Micro-channel in the Presence of Magnetic Field and Thermal Property

The fully developed MHD mixed convection flow in a micro channel having variable thermal conductivity is considered. The velocity slip and temperature jump at both plates were taken into consideration. The effects of various flow parameters entering into the problem such as Hartmann number, variable thermal conductivity, mixed convection parameter, rarefaction parameter, fluid-wall interaction parameter and wall-ambient temperature difference ratio were discussed with the aid of line graphs. It is revealed that greater values of variable thermal conductivity tend to significantly improve the temperature and velocity gradients respectively. Furthermore, mixed convection parameter, significantly influence the flow pattern

A 5-year review of measles cases admitted into the emergency paediatric unit of a tertiary hospital in Sokoto, North-Western Nigeria

Background: Measles is a vaccine preventable viral infection which is still responsible for significantly high morbidity and mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa. Failure of routine immunization programs heralds a dismal outlook for this potentially eradicable viral infection. The objective of this study was to determine the hospital prevalence, vaccination status, pattern of complications, and outcome of children admitted with measles into the Department of Pediatrics of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This was a 5-year retrospective study from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2015. Case folders of children below 15 years who were admitted with measles were retrieved, relevant information extracted, and entered into a pro forma. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 22. Results: Total admissions were 6104, out of which 204 were due to measles (prevalence, 3.3%). The mean age was 27.4 ± 18.9 months (range 6–96 months). Those aged 1–5 years were 144 (70.6%). The male-to-female ratio was 1.3:1. Only 28 patients (13.7%) had measles vaccination. Observed complications included bronchopneumonia in 168 (82.4%), acute laryngotracheobronchitis in 24 (11.8%), febrile convulsion in 20 (9.8%), encephalitis in 17 (8.3%), ocular complications in 12 (5.9%), and suppurative otitis media in 6 (2.9%) patients. The presence of complications was related to age <5 years (P = 0.0001) but not to vaccination status (P = 0.41). Forty-four patients died (21.6%), whereas 33 patients (16.2%) had residual problems at discharge. Outcome was related to vaccination status (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Measles is still a significant problem in the study area and it is associated with high morbidity and mortality. More efforts at prevention is necessary

APPLICATION DES MÉTHODES D’ANALYSES STATISTIQUES MULTIVARIÉES À L’ÉTUDE DES CARACTÉRISTIQUES PHYSICOCHIMIQUES DES SOLS DE SAÏS, MAROC (APPLICATION OF MULTIVARIATE STATISTICAL ANALYSIS METHODS TO THE STUDY OF PHYSICO-CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SOILS SAÏS,

The Sais is the most famous agricultural region in Morocco by the diversity of its soil classes. The data on the physico-chemical characteristics of the three main soil types in this region, have been the subject of a detailed statistical analysis (principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical classification). Our database relating to these floors, consists of quantitative variables 14 and 32 individuals. The eigenvalue analysis has retaining pins which contain the highest percentage of the information from the data table. The implementation of the CPA, the soils studied, helped highlight the dominance of the clay fraction and exchangeable bases in the Vertisols, which explains their high cationic exchange capacity (CEC). By cons, it is very low in fersialitic soils. Indeed, in these soils, it is the sands are the most explanatory variable. Finally the class Calcimagnesic soil is characterized by a high total limestone and organic matter