Implications of Geographic Information System in Mapping Solid Waste Collection Points in New Owerri, Imo State

The unsanitary condition in which solid waste is temporarily dumped and disposed of has generated environmental concern through pollutions and health hazards. This calls for a need to map out suitable collection points and disposal point for effective and efficient management of solid waste to promote hygienic environment. Therefore, GIS offers solution in this regard as a decision support system for most suitable site selection. Consequently, different layers (roads, stream and land use) were created to serve the purpose of manipulation and analyses to procure most suitable site for collection point of solid waste generated in New Owerri, Imo State using Arc view 3.2a software

Examining the Physio, Psycho and Socio-Economic Implications of Non- Residential Policy on Imo State University Students

The Imo State University (IMSU), is running a nonresidential policy despite her growing student population. Although her policy has led to tremendous development of Ugwuorji layout and other close neighbourhoods, its implications on students have been neglected by the institution. This paper examines the effects of this policy on the student performances. The result upheld the alternative hypothesis that off-campus system has effect on the student’s success. The paper observed that all the students live off-campus, in mostly purpose-built and modified hostels, owned by individuals. They pay very high rents and struggle for accommodation with other home-seekers. They also lack regular and direct access to water supply and electricity in their accommodation to support their studies. Security in these off-campus accommodation were observed to be porous. There were other challenges as indicated by these students. These findings have negative physiological, psychological, and socio-economic implications on the performance of the students. It concluded that the students cannot attain optimal academic performance, living under the observed conditions. The paper therefore advocates for assistance from the Imo State government to facilitate the development of high-rise hostels within the campus, provision of necessary infrastructure and adequate security personnel to support improved academic performance.Key words: Imo State University (IMSU); Accommodation; Nigerian university students; Nigeria; Imo State governmentRésumé L’Université de l’Etat d’Imo (IMSU), est en cours d'exécution d’une politique non-résidentielle en dépit de sa population étudiante croissante. Bien que sa politique a conduit au développement considérable de mise en page Ugwuorji et d’autres quartiers proches, ses implications sur les élèves ont été négligés par l’institution. Ce document examine les effets de cette politique sur les performances des élèves à l’art. Le résultat a confirmé l’hypothèse alternative que hors campus système a un effet sur la réussite de l’élève. Le document fait remarquer que tous les étudiants vivent hors campus, dans la plupart des auberges de but-construits ou modifiés, appartenant à des particuliers. Ils paient des loyers très élevés et de la lutte pour le logement avec d’autres maisons d’asile. Ils manquent également d’un accès régulier et direct à l’approvisionnement en eau et d’électricité dans leur logement pour financer leurs études. Sécurité dans les hébergements hors campus ont été observés à être poreux. Il y avait d’autres défi s, comme indiqué par ces étudiants. Ces constatations ont des répercussions négatives sur physiologiques, psychologiques et socio-économique sur la performance des élèves. Il a conclu que les étudiants ne peuvent pas atteindre des performances optimales scolaire, de logement dans les conditions observées. Le document préconise donc à l’aide du gouvernement l’État d'Imo à faciliter le développement des gratte-ciel auberges au sein du campus, la fourniture de l'infrastructure nécessaire et le personnel de sécurité adéquates pour soutenir un meilleur rendement scolaire.Mots clés: Université de l’État d’Imo; accomodation; Étudiants Nigériens; Nigeria; Gouvernement de l’État d’Im

Contributions of Private Hostel Providers to Housing Needs of Imo State University Students, at Ugwuorji-Owerri Nigeria

This paper aims at evaluating the ability of private hostel developers towards addressing the accommodation needs of Imo State University Students within the Ugwuorji layout, the closest and largest neighbourhood to the University. A hostel enumeration survey was conducted within the neighbourhood to collect data on the number of hostels within the market, as at February 2010. A nonreplacement cluster sampling approach was adopted in sampling data from 117 hostel properties operating within the market. Data collected include room occupancy ratio, available hostel facilities, security system, maintenance and ranges of hostel rents charged in these hostels. The researchers find that the private hostel investors within the neighbourhood market currently contribute 25 percent of the accommodation provision for the Imo State University, IMSU students at a room occupancy ratio of two to a room, within the layout. None of the hostels met up to 50% of the facility criteria of standard hostels of this contemporary era, including security of students’ lives and properties. Except for very few providers that have in-house managers, the rest are poorly managed and maintained. Majority of the hostel rooms command rents of N80,000.00 to N100,000.00 per annum, despite the lack of the necessary facilities and services. The researchers conclude that although private hostel providers have contributed immensely to students accommodation needs, low satisfaction is derived by the benefi ciaries for lack of these facilities in relation to the non-commensurable rents these hostel rooms command.Key words: Development; Satisfaction; Accommodation Needs; Deficiency; Implications; SuggestionRésumé Ce document vise à évaluer la capacité des développeurs auberge privés vers la satisfaction des besoins d'hébergement des étudiants Imo State University dans la mise en page Ugwuorji, le quartier le plus proche le plus grand et à l'Université. Une enquête de recensement a été effectué auberge dans le quartier pour recueillir des données sur le nombre de foyers au sein du marché, comme à Février 2010. Une approche cluster non-remplacement d'échantillonnage a été adopté à l'échantillonnage des données à partir de 117 propriétés auberge opérant sur le marché. Les données recueillies comprennent le ratio occupation des chambres, installations de l'auberge disponibles, système de sécurité, la maintenance et des gammes de auberge loyers demandés dans les auberges de jeunesse ces. Les chercheurs constatent que les investisseurs privés au sein de l'auberge marché de quartier contribuent actuellement 25 pour cent de la fourniture d'hébergement de l'Université d'État d'Imo, les étudiants IMSU à un rapport de l'occupation des chambres de deux à une salle, dans la mise en page. Aucun des auberges de jeunesse se sont retrouvés à 50% des critères d'installations d'auberges de jeunesse standards de cette époque contemporaine, y compris la sécurité de la vie des élèves et des propriétés. Sauf pour très peu de prestataires qui ont sur place des gestionnaires, le reste sont mal gérés et entretenus. La majorité des chambres auberge de la commande loue des N80, N100 à 000,00, 000,00 par an, malgré l'absence des installations et services nécessaires. Les chercheurs concluent que bien que les prestataires privés auberge ont énormément contribué aux besoins des étudiants d'hébergement, une faible satisfaction est dérivé par les bénéfi ciaires pour absence de ces installations par rapport aux loyers non commensurables ces commandes auberge chambres.Mots clés: Développement; La satisfaction; Les Besoins d'hébergement; Déficience; Conséquences; La Suggestio

Integrated analyses of single-cell atlases reveal age, gender, and smoking status associations with cell type-specific expression of mediators of SARS-CoV-2 viral entry and highlights inflammatory programs in putative target cells

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, creates an urgent need for identifying molecular mechanisms that mediate viral entry, propagation, and tissue pathology. Cell membrane bound angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and associated proteases, transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) and Cathepsin L (CTSL), were previously identified as mediators of SARS-CoV2 cellular entry. Here, we assess the cell type-specific RNA expression of ACE2, TMPRSS2, and CTSL through an integrated analysis of 107 single-cell and single-nucleus RNA-Seq studies, including 22 lung and airways datasets (16 unpublished), and 85 datasets from other diverse organs. Joint expression of ACE2 and the accessory proteases identifies specific subsets of respiratory epithelial cells as putative targets of viral infection in the nasal passages, airways, and alveoli. Cells that co-express ACE2 and proteases are also identified in cells from other organs, some of which have been associated with COVID-19 transmission or pathology, including gut enterocytes, corneal epithelial cells, cardiomyocytes, heart pericytes, olfactory sustentacular cells, and renal epithelial cells. Performing the first meta-analyses of scRNA-seq studies, we analyzed 1,176,683 cells from 282 nasal, airway, and lung parenchyma samples from 164 donors spanning fetal, childhood, adult, and elderly age groups, associate increased levels of ACE2, TMPRSS2, and CTSL in specific cell types with increasing age, male gender, and smoking, all of which are epidemiologically linked to COVID-19 susceptibility and outcomes. Notably, there was a particularly low expression of ACE2 in the few young pediatric samples in the analysis. Further analysis reveals a gene expression program shared by ACE2(+)TMPRSS2(+) cells in nasal, lung and gut tissues, including genes that may mediate viral entry, subtend key immune functions, and mediate epithelial-macrophage cross-talk. Amongst these are IL6, its receptor and co-receptor, IL1R, TNF response pathways, and complement genes. Cell type specificity in the lung and airways and smoking effects were conserved in mice. Our analyses suggest that differences in the cell type-specific expression of mediators of SARS-CoV-2 viral entry may be responsible for aspects of COVID-19 epidemiology and clinical course, and point to putative molecular pathways involved in disease susceptibility and pathogenesis

Single-cell meta-analysis of SARS-CoV-2 entry genes across tissues and demographics.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and accessory proteases (TMPRSS2 and CTSL) are needed for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) cellular entry, and their expression may shed light on viral tropism and impact across the body. We assessed the cell-type-specific expression of ACE2, TMPRSS2 and CTSL across 107 single-cell RNA-sequencing studies from different tissues. ACE2, TMPRSS2 and CTSL are coexpressed in specific subsets of respiratory epithelial cells in the nasal passages, airways and alveoli, and in cells from other organs associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission or pathology. We performed a meta-analysis of 31 lung single-cell RNA-sequencing studies with 1,320,896 cells from 377 nasal, airway and lung parenchyma samples from 228 individuals. This revealed cell-type-specific associations of age, sex and smoking with expression levels of ACE2, TMPRSS2 and CTSL. Expression of entry factors increased with age and in males, including in airway secretory cells and alveolar type 2 cells. Expression programs shared by ACE2+TMPRSS2+ cells in nasal, lung and gut tissues included genes that may mediate viral entry, key immune functions and epithelial-macrophage cross-talk, such as genes involved in the interleukin-6, interleukin-1, tumor necrosis factor and complement pathways. Cell-type-specific expression patterns may contribute to the pathogenesis of COVID-19, and our work highlights putative molecular pathways for therapeutic intervention