In-vitro inhibition of growth of some seedling blight inducing pathogens by compost-inhabiting microbes

Compost-inhabiting bacteria were studied for their effect on seedling blight inducing pathogens. Aspergillus niger, Trichoderma harzianum, Bacillus cereus and Bacillus subtilis were the microbes found associated with cow dung, sawdust and rice husk composted soils. Sclerotium rolfsii, Fusarium oxysporum, Pythium aphanidermatum and Macrophomina phaseolina were isolated from blighted seedlings of Cowpea, while S. rolfsii, P. aphanidermatum, Helminthosporium maydis and Rhizoctonia solani were isolated from blighted maize seedlings. When these compost-inhabiting microbes were paired with the seedling blight inducing pathogens, T. harzianum grew on the mycelia of all the test fungal pathogens. B. cereus reduced the mycelia growth of Sclerotium rolfsii, F. oxysporum, P. aphanidermatum, H. maydis and R. solani, with inhibitory zones ranging from 35.5% to 53.3%. B. subtilis in culture also inhibited the mycelia growth of all tested pathogenic fungi with inhibitory zones of between 40.0% to 57.8%. The inhibitory activities of the compost-inhabiting microbes might partly be responsible for the efficacy of compost in reducing seedling blight diseases of crops. (African Journal of Biotechnology: 2003 2(6): 161-164

Biodeterioration of the African star apple (Chrysophylum albidum) in storage and the effect on its food value

The biodeterioration of the African star apple fruits in storage was investigated at Ibadan, southwestern Nigeria. Eight fungal isolates were found associated with the deteriorating fruits. The fungi are Botryodiplodia theobromae, Rhizopus stolonifer, Aspergillus niger, A. tamarii, A. flavus, Fusarium spp, Penicilium spp and Trichoderma spp. All the fungal isolates were pathogenic on the star apple fruits with the exception of Trichoderma spp. The African star apple fruits stored for up to 5 days were associated with severe fungal infections and had significantly reduced crude protein, crude fat and moisture content while dry matter, potassium, calcium and sodium increased compared to the freshly harvested fruits. (African Journal of Biotechnology: 2003 2(3): 56-59

Pre-harvest deterioration of Sour sop (Annona muricata) at Ibadan Southwestern Nigeria and its effect on nutrient composition

The etiology of pre-harvest deterioration of Soursop (Annona muricata) fruit in Ibadan, southwestern Nigeria and the effects on its nutrient composition was investigated. Four fungal pathogens including Botryodiplodia theobromae, Fusarium sp., Rhizopus stolonifer and Aspergillus niger were found associated with the pre-harvest deteriorating soursop . B. theobromae was the most prevalent and the most pathogenic inducing rot of 75 mm in diameter within four days of inoculation. There was a remarkable reduction in carbohydrate and protein contents of the fungal infected fruits while all other nutrients and mineral assayed were higher in the infected fruits than the non-infected ones. (African Journal of Biotechnology: 2003 2(1): 23-25

International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Transplanting and Convergence in Nigeria: Consequences and Prospects

Accountancy profession across the world has been witnessing revolution for sometimes now, especially after thecase of Enron and Word com and the challenges to Auditing as profession. The profession has another breakingpoint in Nigeria in 2012 just like many other countries, IFRS transplanting and convergence, a standard that hasnot yet been adopted in the United States of America. The specific of objective of the paper is to evaluate theconsequences of the convergence in Nigeria with a view to pointing out what per adventure have not been doneright in the transplanting, suggest what should be done to enable the country derive the full benefits of thechange in the accounting regulation. The data are collected through primary data apparatus and cross sectionalsecondary data from the annual reports of the selected case studies. The methodology adopted is student-tdistribution. We also deployed descriptive statistics. The results from the descriptive statistics portend mixreactions. Most of the variables selected have both positive and negative signs; when it is positive, it means thatthe amount reported in the financial statements under GAAP is higher than that of IFRS and vice versa. Thestudent-t portends that at 5% confidence interval, there is significant difference between the figures reportedunder IFRS and GAAP, consequently the convergence of IFRS in Nigeria has offered invaluable benefits andsignificant effects. We however recommend that government should immediately review all the relevant sectionsin the local extant laws and review syllabus of accounting in tertiary institutions and secondary schools in orderto have the unity of purpose and derive optimum benefits in the convergence of IFRS in Nigeria.Keywords: Revolution, IFRS Transplanting, Convergence, Cross Sectional, Secondary Data, GAAP and MixReaction

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in sub-Saharan Africa.

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death worldwide and an important cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on the prevalence of and risk factors for COPD in SSA.METHODS: We conducted a protocol-driven systematic literature search in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and Global Health, supplemented by a manual search of the abstracts from thoracic conference proceedings from 2017 to 2020. We did a meta-analysis of COPD prevalence and its association with current smoking.RESULTS: We identified 831 titles, of which 27 were eligible for inclusion in the review and meta-analysis. The population prevalence of COPD ranged from 1.7% to 24.8% (pooled prevalence: 8%, 95% CI 6-11). An increased prevalence of COPD was associated with increasing age, smoking and biomass smoke exposure. The pooled odds ratio for the effect of current smoking (vs. never smoked) on COPD was 2.20 (95% CI 1.62-2.99).CONCLUSION: COPD causes morbidity and mortality in adults in SSA. Smoking is an important risk factor for COPD in SSA, and this exposure needs to be reduced through the combined efforts of clinicians, researchers and policymakers to address this debilitating and preventable lung disease

Non-communicable airway disease and air pollution in three African Countries: Benin, Cameroon and The Gambia

Air pollution exposure can increase the risk of development and exacerbation of chronic airway disease (CAD). We set out to assess CAD patients in Benin, Cameroon and The Gambia and to compare their measured exposures to air pollution. We recruited patients with a diagnosis of CAD from four clinics in the three countries. We collected epidemiological, spirometric and home air pollution data. Of the 98 adults recruited, 56 were men; the mean age was 51.6 years (standard deviation ±17.5). Most (69%) patients resided in cities and ever smoking was highest in Cameroon (23.0%). Cough, wheeze and shortness of breath were reported across the countries. A diagnosis of asthma was present in 74.0%; 16.3% had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 4.1% had chronic bronchitis. Prevalence of airflow obstruction was respectively 77.1%, 54.0% and 64.0% in Benin, Cameroon, and Gambia. Across the sites, 18.0% reported >5 exacerbations. The median home particulate matter less than 2.5 μm in diameter (PM2.5) was respectively 13.0 μg/m3, 5.0 μg/m3 and 4.4 μg/m3. The median home carbon monoxide (CO) exposures were respectively 1.6 parts per million (ppm), 0.3 ppm and 0.4 ppm. Home PM2.5 differed significantly between the three countries (P < 0.001) while home CO did not. Based on these results, preventive programmes should focus on ensuring proper spirometric diagnosis, good disease control and reduction in air pollution exposure

Global, regional, and national burden of diabetes from 1990 to 2021, with projections of prevalence to 2050: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Background: Diabetes is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide, and affects people regardless of country, age group, or sex. Using the most recent evidentiary and analytical framework from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD), we produced location-specific, age-specific, and sex-specific estimates of diabetes prevalence and burden from 1990 to 2021, the proportion of type 1 and type 2 diabetes in 2021, the proportion of the type 2 diabetes burden attributable to selected risk factors, and projections of diabetes prevalence through 2050. Methods: Estimates of diabetes prevalence and burden were computed in 204 countries and territories, across 25 age groups, for males and females separately and combined; these estimates comprised lost years of healthy life, measured in disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs; defined as the sum of years of life lost [YLLs] and years lived with disability [YLDs]). We used the Cause of Death Ensemble model (CODEm) approach to estimate deaths due to diabetes, incorporating 25 666 location-years of data from vital registration and verbal autopsy reports in separate total (including both type 1 and type 2 diabetes) and type-specific models. Other forms of diabetes, including gestational and monogenic diabetes, were not explicitly modelled. Total and type 1 diabetes prevalence was estimated by use of a Bayesian meta-regression modelling tool, DisMod-MR 2.1, to analyse 1527 location-years of data from the scientific literature, survey microdata, and insurance claims; type 2 diabetes estimates were computed by subtracting type 1 diabetes from total estimates. Mortality and prevalence estimates, along with standard life expectancy and disability weights, were used to calculate YLLs, YLDs, and DALYs. When appropriate, we extrapolated estimates to a hypothetical population with a standardised age structure to allow comparison in populations with different age structures. We used the comparative risk assessment framework to estimate the risk-attributable type 2 diabetes burden for 16 risk factors falling under risk categories including environmental and occupational factors, tobacco use, high alcohol use, high body-mass index (BMI), dietary factors, and low physical activity. Using a regression framework, we forecast type 1 and type 2 diabetes prevalence through 2050 with Socio-demographic Index (SDI) and high BMI as predictors, respectively. Findings: In 2021, there were 529 million (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 500–564) people living with diabetes worldwide, and the global age-standardised total diabetes prevalence was 6·1% (5·8–6·5). At the super-region level, the highest age-standardised rates were observed in north Africa and the Middle East (9·3% [8·7–9·9]) and, at the regional level, in Oceania (12·3% [11·5–13·0]). Nationally, Qatar had the world's highest age-specific prevalence of diabetes, at 76·1% (73·1–79·5) in individuals aged 75–79 years. Total diabetes prevalence—especially among older adults—primarily reflects type 2 diabetes, which in 2021 accounted for 96·0% (95·1–96·8) of diabetes cases and 95·4% (94·9–95·9) of diabetes DALYs worldwide. In 2021, 52·2% (25·5–71·8) of global type 2 diabetes DALYs were attributable to high BMI. The contribution of high BMI to type 2 diabetes DALYs rose by 24·3% (18·5–30·4) worldwide between 1990 and 2021. By 2050, more than 1·31 billion (1·22–1·39) people are projected to have diabetes, with expected age-standardised total diabetes prevalence rates greater than 10% in two super-regions: 16·8% (16·1–17·6) in north Africa and the Middle East and 11·3% (10·8–11·9) in Latin America and Caribbean. By 2050, 89 (43·6%) of 204 countries and territories will have an age-standardised rate greater than 10%. Interpretation: Diabetes remains a substantial public health issue. Type 2 diabetes, which makes up the bulk of diabetes cases, is largely preventable and, in some cases, potentially reversible if identified and managed early in the disease course. However, all evidence indicates that diabetes prevalence is increasing worldwide, primarily due to a rise in obesity caused by multiple factors. Preventing and controlling type 2 diabetes remains an ongoing challenge. It is essential to better understand disparities in risk factor profiles and diabetes burden across populations, to inform strategies to successfully control diabetes risk factors within the context of multiple and complex drivers. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation