A Review of the Fingerprint, Speaker Recognition, Face Recognition and Iris Recognition Based Biometric Identification Technologies

This paper reviews four biometric identification technologies (fingerprint, speaker recognition, face recognition and iris recognition). It discusses the mode of operation of each of the technologies and highlights their advantages and disadvantages

Development of CUiris: A Dark-Skinned African Iris Dataset for Enhancement of Image Analysis and Robust Personal Recognition

Iris recognition algorithms, especially with the emergence of large-scale iris-based identification systems, must be tested for speed and accuracy and evaluated with a wide range of templates – large size, long-range, visible and different origins. This paper presents the acquisition of eye-iris images of dark-skinned subjects in Africa, a predominant case of verydark- brown iris images, under near-infrared illumination. The peculiarity of these iris images is highlighted from the histogram and normal probability distribution of their grayscale image entropy (GiE) values, in comparison to Asian and Caucasian iris images. The acquisition of eye-images for the African iris dataset is ongoing and will be made publiclyavailable as soon as it is sufficiently populated

Crystalline Maculopathy: A Report of Two Patients in Ibadan, Southwestern Nigeria

We present two patients with crystalline maculopathy seen at the Eye Clinic of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. Both patients had diabetes, with the first patient having systemic hypertension controlled on medications. There was no history of kola nut ingestion in the two patients. Medical examination by the internist revealed no other systemic disease. The central vision was good in both patients. Optical coherence tomography localized the crystals to the inner retina, and there was no associated macular edema. Some pathogenetic mechanisms are proffered based on available literature

Prevalence and Characterization of Salmonella Isolates from Poultry Farms in Ilorin, Nigeria

Poultry birds are very important source of essential proteins in developing countries, but also play an important role in transmission of Salmonella to human and nonhuman. Exposure to this pathogen also occurs through use of poultry droppings as manure for crop and vegetable production. This study investigated prevalence of Salmonella in feces of poultry farms in Ilorin, Nigeria. Salmonella isolated were further characterized by molecular method. Fecal samples were cultured in pre-enrichment medium, Selenite F medium and finally sub-cultured on Salmonella-Shigella agar. None lactose fermenting colonies with black center were picked for presumptive identification using biochemical tests and confirmed by serological test by method previously described. Molecular characterization was carried out using 16S rRNA gene sequencing following standard procedure. Out of 170 samples collected and examined, 8 (4.7%) gave biochemical characteristics that resembled Salmonella, but only 6 (3.5%) were confirmed as Salmonella by polyvalent antisera. Molecular characterization revealed that serovars isolated were Salmonella Enteritidis 3 (1.8%) and Salmonella Paratyphi 3 (1.8%). Phylogenetic tree constructed by neighbor-joining method as derived from analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences showed close relationship to Salmonella Paratyphi strain FB0015 16S ribosoma RNA gene partial sequence to our Salmonella Paratyphi isolates. The detection of 3.5% prevalence rate of Salmonella serovar from feces of laying poultry birds my serve as potential source of transmission of this pathogen to human through chicken meat, egg or use of poultry dropping as manure in crop or vegetable production

Wealth, household heterogeneity and livelihood diversification of Fulani pastoralists in the Kachia Grazing Reserve, northern Nigeria, during a period of social transition

A mixed methods study was undertaken in the Kachia Grazing Reserve of northern Nigeria. Surveys in March, June and October 2011 included focus group discussions, key informant and in-depth household interviews, concerning livelihood practices, animal health, ownership, and productivity. In May 2011, 249 Fulani families fleeing post-election violence entered the reserve with their livestock, increasing the number of households by one third.Despite being settled within a grazing reserve, over half of households sent all their cattle away on seasonal transhumance and another third sent some away. Cattle accounted for 96% of total tropical livestock units (TLU), of which 26% were cattle kept permanently outside the reserve. While all households cited livestock as their main source of income, 90% grew crops and 55% derived income from off-farm activities. A multiple correspondence analysis showed that for each extra member of a household its TLU value increased by 2.0 [95% CI, 1.4-2.7], while for each additional marriage its TLU increased by 15.7 [95% CI, 7.1-24.3]. A strong association was also observed between small herds, small households with only one wife, alongside marked geographical wealth differences within the reserve. New immigrant families had larger household sizes (33) and livestock holdings (122 TLU) than old settlers (22 people and 67 TLU). Prior to the mass immigration, the distribution of TLU per person was unimodal: 41% of households were classified as 'poor' and 27% as 'medium', whereas post-immigration it was bi-modal, with 26% classified as 'very poor' and 28% as 'medium'.While cattle remain the principal source of Fulani income and wealth, the inhabitants of Kachia Grazing Reserve have diversified their livelihood strategies to respond to changing circumstances and stress, especially the limited availability of grazing within the reserve and political insecurity outside, resulting in continued transhumance, the maintenance of smaller livestock holdings and pushing households into poverty

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Eye Health Care amongst Doctors in Lagos…

Objective: To evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practice of eye health care amongst doctors in Lagos. Methodology: Open and closed-ended questionnaires were given to respondents. The questionnaire contained information about age, sex, general knowledge as well as practice of eye care. Results: A total of 104 questionnaires were analyzed with EPI INFO 2002 software. Out of 104 respondents, 65 [62.5%] were within the age group of 31-40years, with a male preponderance of 74% [male: female ratio of 2.8:1]. Most of the respondents [87.5%] were in teaching hospital practice. Symptoms most frequently referred to eye care specialists by respondents were in decreasing frequency, refractive error, blurred vision, red eye and cataract; most referrals were to teaching hospitals. Eighty six percent of respondents had themselves had previous ocular examination while 13.5% had never had any. Fifty eight respondents [55%] had been diagnosed with an ocular condition ranging from refractive error in most cases [67.2%], allergy [17.2], cataract [9.4%], glaucoma [1.5%] and other disease in 4.7%. Majority [84.6%] did not visit an eye care specialist often. In all, 37.5% of respondents felt strongly that eyes should be routinely examined while 52.9% did not feel strongly and 9.6% did not think it was necessary. The frequently prescribed drugs were antibiotic drops [68.1%], while 25% prescribed a combination of antibiotics and steroids. Conclusion: The study showed that majority of respondents see a good percentage of patients with eye complaints and refers them accordingly. However a large proportion of respondents themselves did not believe they should visit eye care specialist yearly and thus may not be counsel patient who they see. There is therefore a need for regular awareness programmes on eye health by way of seminars and symposia amongst doctors. NQJHM Vol. 14 (1) 2004: pp. 31-3

Post Operative Complications of Cataract Surgery Seen Over a 5-Year Period [Jan. 1998 – Dec. 2002]

Objective: To determine the commonest post-operative complications of cataract surgery seen at LUTH over a 5year period. Methodology: All case notes and operation notes of patients who have had cataract surgery over a period of 5years [Jan'98-Dec'02] were retrospectively studied and analyzed. Results: A total of 272 eyes in 254 patients were operated. The commonest procedure was Extracapsular Cataract Extraction with Posterior Chamber implant [ECCE + PC IOL] in 67.3% of eyes while the least procedure was secondary lens implant [Posterior chamber and anterior chamber implant] in 1.5% of eyes each. The commonest post-operative complications was found to be wound gape with uveal prolapse [43.5% of total complications] while the least post-operative complication is corneal decompensation [4.3% of total complications]. Conclusion: It is recommended that proper attention be paid to wound closure during surgery while adequate training in suturing should also be ensured. The use of figure-of-8 interlocking sutures if employed would also go a long way in reducing this common complication. NQJHM Vol. 14 (1) 2004: pp. 56-6

Bcl10 is involved in t(1;14)(p22;q32) of MALT B cell lymphoma and mutated in multiple tumor types

MALT B cell lymphomas with t(1;14)(p22;q32) showed a recurrent breakpoint upstream of the promoter of a novel gene, Bcl10. Bcl10 is a cellular homolog of the equine herpesvirus-2 E10 gene: both contain an amino-terminal caspase recruitment domain (CARD) homologous to that found in several apoptotic molecules. Bcl10 and E10 activated NF-KB but caused apoptosis of 293 cells. Bcl10 expressed in a MALT lymphoma exhibited a frameshift mutation resulting in truncation distal to the CARD. Truncated Bcl10 activated NF-KB but did not induce apoptosis. Wild-type Bcl10 suppressed transformation, whereas mutant forms had lost this activity and displayed gain-of-function transforming activity. Similar mutations were detected in other tumor types, indicating that Bcl10 may be commonly involved in the pathogenesis of human malignancy