Preliminary studies on food and feeding habits of Polypterus endlicheri and Polypterus senegalus in Lake Chad

The food and feeding habits of Polyprerus cncllicheri and Polypterus senegalus was carried out in the months of September to October. The food of 33 Polypierus endlicheri as observed include Tilapia species (89.3%), Eutropius niloticus (28.6%), Mayfly nymph (39.3%), Dragon fly larva (56.6%) fish remains (21.4%) and detritus (7.1%). The food of27 Polypterus senegalus as observed include Tilapia sp (88.4%), Eutropius niloticus (27.9%), may fly nymph (23.3%), Dragonfly nymph (34.9%) remains (21.1%) detritus (23.3%). (9 page document) The percentage occurrence of food item found in the stomach of Polypterus endlieheri is 93.3% while that of Polyprerus senegalus is 67.4%. The dominance of Tilapia sp was establish in the study, and there is no significant difference between the feeding habit of Polypterus endlicheri and Polyprerus senegalus

Smart Health Internet of Thing for Continuous Glucose Monitoring: a Survey

Health monitoring system allows patients to monitor the health-related problem to avoid further complications which could result in loss of life. Smart health is one of the categories of a health monitoring system that uses Smartphone’s and sensors to effectively monitor patient health status. However, the smart health internet of thing methods for glucose monitoring still does not provide accurate glucose reading. Hence, diabetes patient can easily loss life. To help understand this challenge, a comprehensive survey focused on smart health internet of thing methods for continuous glucose monitoring was conducted. The paper discusses the benefit and challenge of each method applicable to glucose monitoring. It was observed that several smart health methods required sensor to function. Smart vehicles and remote monitoring have less attention. However, when accommodates can provide future opportunities

Risk and Benefits of Economic Globalisation to Less Developed Countries

Economic globalization has both negative and positive impact to countries in terms of trade liberalization economic growth and development. Globalisation is free flow of goods and service between countries and their governments. Least developed countries have to embrace economic globalization as it must to all countries. Developed countries that owns most of  multinational corporations  whom where agent of globalization comes with risks that multinationals are depressing wages of local communities; disrupt local companies’ technological progress and process.  Also, imported technology can create crowd and obsolesces of domestic technology especially to least developed countries. The study uses secondary data from world-bank and United Nation Conference of Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The study finds that home countries of majority of Multinational Corporation have received up to hundred per cent foreign direct investments more than most of least developed countries. Too big to challenge Margin of European countries to formulate European Union serve as a detriment to least developed countries. While, Benefit yield from globalization is not shared equally; the developed economics dominates the global economy. Finally, the study recommends that least developed countries should restructure their countries in terms political, social, economic and technological in other to adapt to globalisation. Conclusively, tariffs should impose as to protect the existing companies from foreign companies’ unfair competition by encouraging production, since they have vast majority of land

Biodiesel production from oleic acid and palm fatty acid distillate/ oleic acid using sulfonated carbon

Biodiesel has been globally accepted as a substitute to diesel fuel, and is an ongoing subject for research. It is a fuel obtained from renewable sources such as vegetable oils, animal fat, and algal oil. Biodiesel is non- toxic, biodegradable, inflammable, and has a good combustion emission profile. Recently, the application of edible sources in the production of biodiesel has caused a lot of debate due the insecurity on food. Hence, the use of inedible and industrial waste sources such as palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) and oleic acid (OA). Although, they could be the answer to a more economic biodiesel production due to their availability and low cost, their high free fatty acid (FFA) content causes biodiesel production to be expensive when homogeneous catalysts are used. Hence, the need for a heterogeneous acid catalyst, which is the most economically viable catalyst in the production of biodiesel from low cost feedstocks. In this work, the production of biodiesel (FAME) from oleic acid and PFAD/oleic acid mixed feed using a sulfonated carbon catalyst derived from glycerol was investigated. The synthesized catalyst was characterized using FTIR, BET, FESEM, XRD and TPDNH3 to determine its catalytic activity. Simultaneous esterification/ transesterification of oleic acid, and PFAD/oleic acid mixed feed were carried out using the synthesized catalyst. In addition, Response Surface Methodology (RSM) using Box-Behnken Design was used in optimization of the process variables to study the influence of molar ratio of methanol to oleic acid, and PFAD/Oleic acid mixed feed, catalyst loading and reaction time on the conversion and yield of FAME. For oleic acid conversion and yield, 99% and 97% were obtained respectively. While 98%, 94% and 96% were obtained as PFAD/oleic acid conversion, methyl oleate yield and methyl palmitate respectively

Antibiotic susceptibilities of Salmonella species prevalent among children of 0-5 years with diarrhea in Katsina state, Nigeria

This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of Salmonella species among children having diarrhea in Katsina State, Nigeria. A total of 220 diarrhea stool samples of children aged five years and below (0-5 years) were collected and screened for Salmonella species using culture technique. Presumptively positive isolates were further screened biochemically and serologically, using MicrogenTM Enterobactericeae ID kit and MicrogenTM Salmonella rapid confirmatory latex agglutination test kit. Antibiotic susceptibility of confirmed isolates was carried out and resistance patterns of the isolates determined. The highest incidence was observed in children of 13-24 months of age and the least in children of 0-12 months of age. There was a higher prevalence in male than female children. All the isolates screened were resistant to Ampicillin and Amoxicillin and of these, 90.9% were resistant to Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and 45.5% were resistant to Nalidixic acid. However, 100% were sensitive to Gentamicin, 90.9% were sensitive to Ciprofloxacin and Cefotaxime and 9.09% showed reduced susceptibility to Ciprofloxacin. Both the occurrence of Salmonella in children and their resistance to multiple antibiotics as observed are of public health significance. The vein of this study underscores the importance of routine monitoring of the incidence of Salmonella and continued health education of caregivers.Keywords: Antibiotic resistance; Prevalence of Salmonella; Childhood diarrhea; Katsina State; Antibiotics susceptibility of Salmonell

Biosynthesis, characterization and antimicrobial study of silver nanoparticles (agNPs)

In this paper, biological synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Syzygium guineenses stem extract with 1mM, 2mM and 3mM AgNO3 concentrations has been presented. The plant extract was prepared with distilled water. The characterization and morphological composition of the synthesized AgNPs were determined by UV-visible spectroscopy and SEM respectively, while FTIR analysis was performed to identify the presence of the possible functional groups in the synthesized nano particles. It was observed from the UV and SEM analyses that the particles formed have diameters in the range of 23.5nm - 89.3nm, which is the range of nanoparticle size. Antibacterial test was carried out on the sample with six pathogenic microbes (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococus aureas, Vancomycin Resistant Entrococci, Staphylococcus aureas, Bacillus sublitis, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) to ascertain the antimicrobial activity of the synthesized AgNPs. Both the characterization and antimicrobial activity test were very successful and could lead to significant economic viability, as well as being environmentally friendly for treatment of some infectious diseases.Keywords: Syzygium guineenses, Green Chemistry, Spectroscopy, Optoelectronics, Biomedical Sensor

Prevalence of malaria parasites among blood donors in Kaduna, Nigeria

Background: Transmission of malaria parasites through blood transfusion is a well-known serious risk. Screening of blood donors for malaria as recommended by WHO is currently not included in the protocols of many Nigerian blood banks. Presence of asymptomatic Plasmodium species carriers (APCs) in some northern parts of the state has already been demonstrated using rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and microscopic examination of Giemsa stained blood films. This research was undertaken to determine the prevalence of malaria parasites among blood donors in Kaduna state, Nigeria.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among the blood donors in the three selected Hospitals of Kaduna state. A well-structured questionnaire was used to collect the data regarding demographic profile. Written informed consent was obtained and questionnaire was completed by respondents selected through simple random sampling. 360 blood donors were tested for malaria parasites through microscopic examination of Giemsa stained thick and thin blood films. The data were analysed using Statistical analysis system (SAS) and statistical software for social sciences (SPSS) version 20.Results: A total of 27 (7.5%) of the blood donors had malaria parasites in their blood. Plasmodium falciparum was the only malaria parasite species encountered. There were no mixed infections and no other blood parasites were observed. The prevalence of malaria parasites in the blood donors was significantly associated with occupation (c2=24.0845, df=6, p= 0.0005) and blood group (c2=10.589, df=4, p= O.032). The infected subjects had parasites densities of between 88-250 parasites/µl with a mean parasite density of 126 parasites/µl of blood.Conclusions: The prevalence of malaria parasites among blood donors was 7.5% Blood donors should be routinely screened for malaria parasites and the blood marked negative or positive as the case may be. Recipients of malaria parasites positive blood should be given prophylactic treatment to prevent transfusion related malaria (TRM).

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Virus and Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection among students in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) are endemic in sub-Saharan Africa. Evidence on HBV co-infection rates with HIV infection among individuals remains conflicting. The study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of HBV and HIV infections and the possible potential risk factors among students of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Nigeria. Blood samples were collected from 600 consenting consecutive students aged between 16 and 40 years old at the University Health Services, ABU, Zaria. The sera were screened for HBsAg, anti-HBs, HBeAg, anti-HBe and anti-HBc using diagnostic kits and for Human Immunodeficiency Virus using DetermineTMHIV-1/2 kits. Reactive sera for HBsAg were further confirmed using ELISA kits. For HBsAg, 9.2% (55/600) tested positive among which, none had detectable anti-HBs antibodies, indicating recent infection. About 7.3%, 36.4% and 94.5% were positive for HBeAg, anti-HBe and anti-HBc respectively. Seroprevalence of HIV infection was 2.8% (17/600). One (0.2%) of the student was infected with both HBV and HIV. There was a significant association between age group (p=0.016), gender (p=0.049), family history of HBV infection (p=0.000), and seroprevalence of HBsAg. While for HIV, only menial jobs (p = 0.001) was significantly associated with the infection. The results showed close contact among family members to be a predisposing factor to these viral infections. A total of 314 students were ignorant of HBV and four of them were infectious. The seroprevalence of HBsAg obtained in this study indicates high endemicity according to WHO classification. However, seroprevalence of HIV and its co-infection rate with HBV were very low. This was encouraging and it indicates that the campaign on HIV is yielding the desired result. Therefore similar campaign should be extended to Hepatitis B.Keywords: Seroprevalence; HIV; HBsAg; Serological markers; Students; Nigeri

Comparative effects of organic manure sources and rates on performance of groundnut varieties

An experiment was conducted at the Teaching and Research farm of the Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. The aim was to study effects of different organic manure sources on performance of groundnut varieties. Treatment consisted of three organic manure source, (Poultry manure, (PM) cow dung (CD) and household waste (HW) each at two levels (1 ton and 2 tons), two varieties of groundnut SAMNUT 21 (V1) and SAMNUT 23 (V2) and a control. The treatments were factorially combined and assigned in a randomized complete block design and replicated three times. Growth data such as plant height, canopy spread and biomass weight and; yield data including, pod yield per plant, seed yield per plant, 100 seed weight were collected