Effect of storage methods on some selected mineral and ascorbic acid content of red and white onion (Allium cepa)

The study investigated the influence of three different storage conditions in minimising the postharvest losses of onions. The fresh onion walla-walla variety (red and white) were obtained from Modibbo Isah Farms, Bichi, Kano State, Nigeria. The onions were stored for eight weeks under three different storage conditions which include: Ambient temperature (30 ± 2 ºC), refrigeration storage (5-7 ºC) and control cupboard temperature storage (45-50 ºC) during which the samples were analysed weekly. During the storage period of onion bulbs, the temperature ranged between (29-32 ºC) while the relative humidity was between (70 – 95 % RH).The mineral (calcium, sodium and potassium) content was determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry while Ascorbic acid was determined by the 2, 6- dichlorophenol indophenol (DCPIP) titration. The result showed that some components of the stored onions decreased with an increase in the storage period and these include: ascorbic acid (9.62-3.87mg/100g) and sodium content (12.13-11.77mg/kg). While some parameters also showed an increase with an increase in the storage period and these include: potassium content (30.00-72.12mg/kg) and calcium content (55-105mg/kg)

Indigenous Contractors' Knowledge Management Maturity Level for Construction of Healthcare Vaccines Cold Store in Nigeria

This study evaluates the level of knowledge management maturity (KMM) of Nigerian indigenous contractors for the construction of vaccine cold stores in line with the World Health Organization's (WHO) best practices. This study identifies the significant factors influencing contractors' KMM for the construction of vaccine cold stores. The study adopted a quantitative research approach, and the comparison methodologies between the contractors' KMM and WHO's practices were achieved through ANOVA with Post Hoc. The study respondents were mainly the project managers working with contractors and the ones working with the public sector in Nigeria. The total population of the project managers was 2150 which 322 respondents were selected for the analysis. The results indicated that the level of the contractors' KMM is "Knowledge Quantitative Managed Level" against WHO's "Knowledge Optimization Level". The contractor's level of KMM was found to be at the quantitative knowledge-managed level. Meaning i.e., the organizational standard level which is less than the recommended WHO's optimization level. This research work establishes a new KMM level for Nigerian contractors which was based on the perception of project managers in the Nigerian construction industry. The findings from this study create awareness of the process of KMM measurement in healthcare facilities in developing countries like Nigeria. This implies that the Nigerian indigenous contractors are at a level of knowledge quantitative managed. Hence, the knowledge-quantitative managed level is the technical requirement level. This implies that the Nigerian indigenous contractors fall short of the WHO's recommended level of KMM optimization level. Therefore, there is a need to improve KMM practices for the indigenous contractors in Nigeria

Genetic parameters of growth, body, and egg traits in Japanese quails (Cotournix cotournix japonica) reared in southern guinea savannah of Nigeria

Objective: This study on Japanese quails was undertaken to estimate heritability values for growth, body and egg traits as well as genetic and phenotypic relationships between these traits in Japanese quails reared in the Southern Guinea Savannah Zone of Nigeria. Methodology and Results: One hundred and sixty nine (169) pedigree-hatched day-old Japanese quail chicks from 10 sires were used for this study. The data obtained were subjected to variance and correlation analyses as appropriate. Results showed that heritability estimates of body weight at various ages ranged from 0.10±0.02 to 0.82±0.14 while those of body weight gain were mostly moderate (0.19±0.05 - 0.42±0.02). Linear body parameters had moderate to high (0.23±0.13 - 0.49±0.16) heritability estimates except body length which was 0.08±0.15 heritable. Age at first egg (AFE), Body weight at first egg (BWFE) and weight of first egg (WFE) had heritability estimates of 0.48±0.17, 0.56±0.21 and 0.38±0.18, respectively. Phenotypic correlations between body weights at various ages and egg traits were mostly positive and significant (p<0.01) while that of linear body traits were all positive and mostly significant (p<0.01). Genetic relationships between body weights at various ages were all high and positive. AFE correlated negatively with BWFE while WFE had positive correlation with AFE and BWF. Conclusion and application of findings: The moderate to high heritability estimates obtained for body weight at ages 1-3 weeks indicates that response to selection for body weight at these ages could be rapid while the low heritability estimates of body weight at week 5 and 6 imply that response to selection for body weight at the 5th and 6th week could be slow. It is recommended that selection for body weight or growth rate in Japanese quails should be carried out at early stages of growth, preferably 2-3 weeks of age.Keywords: Heritability, Genetic correlation, phenotypic correlation, selection, Body measurement

Effect of Facebook learning environment on the learning process among AEC University students during Covid-19 Pandemic: the mediating role of psychological capital

Abstract: The outbreak of COVID-19 has adversely affected university students' learning process, especially in developing countries like Nigeria. Consequently, many academic institutions have adopted online platforms, some being social learning networks and others not. Therefore, the current study aimed at assessing the mediation effect of psychological capital on the Facebook learning environment influencing the learning process among university Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) students during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria. The study is quantitative in design, and data were collected from the students of AEC-related courses using a structured questionnaire. The Baron and Kenny's causal steps were adopted to assess the mediation effect of psychological capital (PsyCap) on Facebook learning environment factors influencing AEC University students learning process. A total of 385 samples were collected and analyzed using Warp 7.0 PLS-SEM software. The study results indicated a small effect size between the Facebook learning environment and AEC students' learning process, thus implying that the frequency of using the Facebook learning environment tended to affect AEC university students learning process in Nigeria, and PsyCap mediates the relationship between the Facebook learning environment and students' learning process. This implies that students with high PsyCap learn more and thus improve their learning process. The study concluded that PsyCap minimizes the effects of Facebook learning environments on the AEC students' learning process. The study is limited to students in the AEC-related courses in Nigerian universities. Therefore, the study recommended further studies on the other social media learning platforms that affect the learning process and the study's extension to other universities offering AEC courses for more comprehensive results

The non-zero divisor graph of ring of integers modulo six and the hamiltonian quaternion over integers modulo two

The study of graph theory was introduced and widely researched since many practical problems can be represented by graphs. A non-zero divisor graph is a graph in which its set of vertices is the non-zero elements of the ring and the vertices x and y are adjacent if and only if xy ≠ 0. In this study, we introduced the non-zero divisor graphs of some finite commutative rings in specific the ring of in tegers modulo 6, 6 and ring of Hamiltonian quaternion, (2). First, the non-zero divisors of the commutative rings are found. Then, the non-zero divisor graphs are constructed. Finally, some properties of the graph, including the chromatic number, clique number, girth and the diameter are obtained

HIV-exposed uninfected infants show robust memory B cell responses in spite of a delayed accumulation of memory B cells: An observational study in the first two years of life.

Background Improved HIV care has led to an increase in the number of HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) infants born to HIV infected women. Although uninfected, these infants experience increased morbidity and mortality. One explanation may be that their developing immune system is altered by HIV-exposure predisposing them to increased post-natal infections. Methods We explored the impact of HIV-exposure on the B-cell compartment by determining the B-cell subset distribution, the frequency of common vaccine antigen-specific memory B cells (MBCs) and their respective antibody levels in HEU and HIV-unexposed uninfected (HUU) infants born to uninfected mothers, using flow cytometry, B-cell ELISPOT and ELISA, respectively, during the first two years of life. Results For the majority of the B-cell subsets there were no differences between HEU and HUU infants. However, HIV exposure was associated with a lower proportion of B cells in general and specifically MBCs, largely due to a lower proportion of unswitched memory B cells. This reduction was maintained even after correcting for age. These phenotypic differences in the MBC compartment did not affect the ability of HEU infants to generate recall responses to previously encountered antigens, or reduce the antigen-specific antibody levels at 18 months of life. Conclusions Although HIV-exposure was associated with a transient reduction in the proportion of MBCs, we found that the ability of HEUs to mount robust MBC and serological responses was unaffected

The trend of collapse of buildings in concrete materials in Lagos State, Nigeria (2013-2019)

t. In recent times, efforts are channeled towards limiting the impact of waste plastic pollution on the environment. This study examines the beneficial utilization of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) wastes, which is a non-biodegradable waste materials as a partial substitute for sand in the production of non-load bearing hollow sandcrete blocks. The physical and mechanical properties such as density and compressive strength of the hollow sandcrete blocks using PET waste as a replacement for fine aggregate at 5%, 10%, 30% and 50% were determined. Tests results show that the density of the produced sandcrete blocks decreases as the waste PET content increases. Results showed that the density varied from 1391.33 kg/m3 for 50%PET content to 1954.54 kg/m3 for 5%PET content, while the density of the reference sandcrete was 2002.15 kg/m3 for 7 days. The values of densities ranged between 1453.88 kg/m3 for PET 50% and 1851.09 kg/m3 for PET 5% and the density of reference sandcrete was 1991.77 kg/m3 at 28 days. The sandcrete blocks also demonstrate a similar reduction trend in compressive strength as the PET content increases. The compressive strength ranged between 1.140 N/mm2 for 50%PET and 2.564 N/mm2 for 5%PET content and 1.510 N/mm2 for 50%PET to 2.991 N/mm2 for 5%PET respectively, as the curing age increases from 7 to 28 days. The hollow sandcrete block containing an optimum 5% replacement percentage of sand with PET waste showed comparable strength to the conventional sandcrete blocks. This will help to mitigate the menace of marine plastic pollution and promote responsible consumption

The trend of collapse of buildings in concrete materials in Lagos State, Nigeria (2013-2019)

Buildings are essential structures that provide mankind with accommodation in the form of offices, factories, residences, etc. Building Infrastructure aid to increase the Gross domestic product of nations by meeting the present needs as well as helping in the reduction of future deficiencies. Unfortunately, in developing countries like Nigeria, regular occurrence of collapse of buildings in concrete materials have dealt a terrible blow to the nation, leading to losses in the form of death and damage to properties. This study aims to show the trend within the period of 2013 to 2019. This study used statistical methods to assess the fatality rate, types of buildings affected, frequency of occurrences and the causative factors. The result indicates that the year2017 witnessed 14 collapse incidences making it the highest within the study period in Lagos state. Furthermore, 204 persons lost their lives in 2014, making it the highest within the period. The results obtained showed that the risk of collapse and fatality rises as the building height goes up and when unauthorized floors are added to an existing building

Comparison of Bacterial Culture With Biofire® Filmarray® Multiplex PCR Screening of Archived Cerebrospinal Fluid Specimens From Children With Suspected Bacterial Meningitis in Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of bacterial meningitis remains a challenge in most developing countries due to low yield from bacterial culture, widespread use of non-prescription antibiotics, and weak microbiology laboratories. The objective of this study was to compare the yield from standard bacterial culture with the multiplex nested PCR platform, the BioFire® FilmArray® Meningitis/Encephalitis Panel (BioFire ME Panel), for cases with suspected acute bacterial meningitis. METHODS: Following Gram stain and bacterial culture on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collected from children aged less than 5 years with a clinical suspicion of acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) as defined by the WHO guidelines, residual CSF specimens were frozen and later tested by BioFire ME Panel. RESULTS: A total of 400 samples were analyzed. Thirty-two [32/400 (8%)] of the specimens were culture positive, consisting of; three Salmonella spp. (2 Typhi and 1 non-typhi), three alpha hemolytic Streptococcus, one Staphylococcus aureus, six Neisseria meningitidis, seven Hemophilus influenzae, 11 Streptococcus pneumoniae and 368 were culture negative. Of the 368 culture-negative specimens, the BioFire ME Panel detected at least one bacterial pathogen in 90 (24.5%) samples, consisting of S. pneumoniae, N. meningitidis and H. influenzae, predominantly. All culture positive specimens for H. influenzae, N. meningitidis and S. pneumoniae also tested positive with the BioFire ME Panel. In addition, 12 specimens had mixed bacterial pathogens identified. For the first time in this setting, we have data on the viral agents associated with meningitis. Single viral agents were detected in 11 (2.8%) samples while co-detections with bacterial agents or other viruses occurred in 23 (5.8%) of the samples. CONCLUSIONS: The BioFire® ME Panel was more sensitive and rapid than culture for detecting bacterial pathogens in CSF. The BioFire® ME Panel also provided for the first time, the diagnosis of viral etiologic agents that are associated with meningoencephalitis in this setting. Institution of PCR diagnostics is recommended as a routine test for suspected cases of ABM to enhance early diagnosis and optimal treatment