Solid waste generation and storage practice in selected banks in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria

Background: Studies on solid waste management in commercial areas especially banks in most towns or cities of developing countries is scanty in literature. As part of the commercial area of a city, information on the quantity and composition of solid waste (SW) generation and storage practice in banks is of utmost importance, if the vision of creating sustainable cities would be achieved. Objectives: The study assessed solid waste generation and storage practice in the selected banks in Abeokuta Metropolis, Ogun State. Methods: Data for the study were obtained through the measurement of SW components generated. Questionnaire was administered to the cleaners in charge of SW. Information obtained were: quantity and composition of SW generated, storage practice and socio-economic characteristics of the cleaners. Systematic sampling was used to select 11 banks out of 23 banks in the selected local governments. Data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The study showed that the total quantity of SW generated by the banks was 336.4 kg per week. The quantity was produced by 2,318 people. The highest quantity (14.5%) of SW was produced in the Guaranttee Trust bank. The least quantity (24.27 kg) was generated in the Sterling bank. The proportion (22.8%) of SW generated on Monday was the highest, while the least (16.7%) was recorded on Wednesday. The highest waste per capita was obtained in the Polaris bank (0.034 kg). The least (0.014 kg) was estimated in the First bank. Metal/plastic drum was commonly used as a storage receptacle in most (54.5%) of the banks. Conclusions: It was concluded that banks located close to the heart of the central business district generated more waste. Keywords: Waste per capita; solid waste; waste generation; storage receptacle in bank

An assessment of the microbiological safety of dry yam (gbodo) processed in South West Nigeria

The microorganisms involved in dry-yam (gbodo) and water used in parboiling from different source (well, pipe-borne, river, stream and pond) were investigated. There was predominance of Staphylococcus aureus, fungi and coliforms in the gbodo samples. Coliforms were also observed in all the parboiling water. In gbodo, the total viable bacterial count was generally high, ranging from 1.1 x 106 cfu/ml from Oyo processing area to 7.8 x 105 cfu/ml from Iseyin processing areas. A large percentage of the microorganisms involved in gbodo were fungi ranging from 8.5 x 105 cfu/ml in samples collected from Abeokuta to 1.2 x 106 cfu/ml in samples from Ibarapa. S. aureus was isolated from all the dry yam samples with counts ranging from 2.5 x 103 cfu/ml in samples collected from Iseyin processing area to 9.0 x 104 cfu/ml from Baruba processing area. The control sample prepared at the laboratory has a low microorganism’ population compared with all the collected samples.Keywords: Gbodo, Microbiological safety, yam, parboiling wate

Major limb amputations at a teaching hospital in the sub-Saharan Africa: Any change in trend?

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Evaluation of microorganisms transmissible through handshake

Microorganisms transmissible through handshake were experimentally isolated from samples collected from primary and secondary school students as well as undergraduates and staff of the Federal University of Technology, Akure. Bacteria isolated include Staphylococcus aureus, S. epididimis, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Actinobacillus sp while fungi isolated include Penicillum notatum, Aspergillus niger and Cladosporium sp. The prevalence of these microorgansims was higher in the primary and secondary school students than in the undergraduates and staff of the university. The significance of the findings to public health in general is discussed

Results of Operative Fixation of Fractures of the Ankle at a Tertiary Hospital in a Developing Country

Background: Operative fixation of ankle fractures is becoming popular in developing countries. The concern however is the outcome of care. The objective was to evaluate the results of open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of fractures of the ankle in our hospital.Methods: All cases ORIF of fractures of the ankle at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan between March 2010 and December 2012 were recruited into the study. The indications for surgery, techniques of fixation, time interval between injury and presentation as well as outcome  measures like time to union, complications and functional outcomes were evaluated.Results: Seventy patients who had ORIF of ankle fractures were studied. Twenty-one (30%) were open fractures while forty-nine (70%) were closed. Sixty (85.7%) patients presented within the first week of injury, 4 (5.7%) after 4 weeks, 4 (5.7%) after 6 weeks and 2 (2.9%) after 52 weeks. Time to union averaged 12.6±4.1weeks. Complications included wound infection 14.3%, wound dehiscence with exposed implants 2.9%, malunion 8.6% and non union 5.7%. Good to excellent functional outcomes were achieved in 77.1% of the patients.Conclusion: ORIF is a viable option in the treatment of ankle fractures

Comparative pesticidal activity of dichloromethane extracts of Piper nigrum against Sitophilus zeamais and Callosobruchus maculatus

Piperine a clinically established pesticide was investigated in the seeds, fruit and leaves of Piper nigrum. The dichloromethane extracts obtained from the parts of the plant were analysed through ThinLayer Chromatography (TLC) using silica gel-GF 254 impregnated aluminium plate and various solvent system consisting of chloroform : methanol (8:2), (6:4), ethyl acetate : methanol (9:1), and acetone :hexane (6:4) mixtures showing Rf value of 0.95 corresponding to the standard piperine. In all parts of the plants investigated, acetone : hexane solvent system showed distinct Rf value of 0.95corresponding to the standard piperine. 0.289 mg/ml, 0.578, 0.868, 1.16 and 1.45 mg/ml concentration of dichloromethane seed extracts were used to carry out the pesticidal activities on both pests. Theresults showed that mortality rate on both pests are directly proportional to each equivalent concentration of piperine in the extracts. Pesticidal potency on Sitophilus zeamais was significantlyhigher (

EVALUATION OF THE QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF COCOA BEAN DRIED USING DIFFERENT DRYING TECHNIQUES

Processing techniques, particularly drying because cocoa beans are extremely sensitive to moisture, have a significant impact on the quality of the final product. Fermented cocoa beans were dried using the NSPRI parabolic solar tent dryer (PSTD), wooden solar dryer (WSD), and open-air drying (OAD). The dried cocoa beans’ respective moisture contents (MCs) for PSTD, WSD, and OAD were 5.94%, 6.01%, and 6.82%, respectively. The corresponding MCs for the dried cocoa beans from PSTD, WSD, and OAD were 5.94%, 6.01%, and 6.82, respectively. It was found that the cut test scores for PSTD, WSD, and OAD were 1000, 985, and 965, respectively. This showed that, in contrast to those from WSD and OAD, the dried cocoa beans obtained from PSTD were fully brown. For WSD, OAD, and PSTD, respectively, the obtained pH values were 5.60, 5.65, and 5.80, and the total titratable acidity was 11.70 meq NaOH 100–1 g, 14.10 meq NaOH 100–1 g, and 18.30 meq NaOH 100–1 g for PSTD, WSD, and OAD, respectively. Food products’ shelf life may be indicated by the titratable acidity value. Due to its enclosed design, the NSPRI PSTD has an advantage over other drying methods because it completely eliminates the possibility of external and microbial contamination of the cocoa beans

Cellulase and Pectinase Production Potentials of Aspergillus Niger Isolated from Corn Cob

Production of pectinase and cellulase by Aspergillus niger from corn cob was examined. The organism was screened for enzymatic activity using Carboxyl Methyl Cellulose (CMC) and Pectin as substrate. The result revealed a clear zone of inhibition in the agar plates. The organism was subjected to different optimum conditions which include pH, temperature, biomass yield and enzymatic activity. The highest cellulose activity was obtained on the 4th day (1.9×10-4μg/ml/sec) while the highest pectinase activity (1.5×10-4μg/ml/sec) was obtained on the 4th and 5th day. The optimum pH for cellulase production was pH 4 with an activity of 2.70×10-4μg/ml/sec while the optimum pH for pectinase activity was pH 6 with an activity of 1.5×10-4 μg/ml/sec. The optimum temperature was at 50oC with an enzyme activity of 1.3x10-4μg/ml/sec for cellulase production while the optimum temperature of 60oC gave the highest pectinase activity of 1.6x10-4 μg/ml/sec. This study revealed that Aspergillus niger from corn cob has the ability to produce cellulase and pectinase, hence it may be considered as a source for the production of industrial cellulase and pectinase

Physico-chemical characteristics of Anopheles breeding sites: Impact on fecundity and progeny development

Mosquitoes exploit almost all types of aquatic habitats for breeding. Prevailing physicochemical parameters in these habitats are important factors for survival and development of mosquito. Here, six water samples from Atlantic Ocean, River, well, distilled (control), rain and borehole water were used to culture Anopheline eggs collected from pure bred of Kisimu species. The development of eggs to 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th instars larval, pupal and adult stages were observed from day 1 to 6 using six replicates of each water sample. The number of eggs laid (fecundity) by the emerged adults were estimated using counting microscope. Level of development in emerged adults was determined using the wing size. The analysis of the physicochemical parameters of the water samples was carried out in the Nigerian Institute of Marine and Oceanography. The physicochemical characteristics were compared with the rates of development and fecundity of the Anopheline species. Statistical analysis using ANOVA indicates no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the hatchability of the eggs. However, the rates of larval development to pupal stage and subsequent adult emergence showed a level of significant difference (P 0.05). This study provides information on mosquito ecology in relation to breeding habitat which may have bearing on vector population and distribution as well as malaria transmission in a particular area

Validation of the Yoruba Version of the Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire in patients with chronic low back pain

STUDY DESIGN: Cultural adaptation and psychometric analysis. OBJECTIVE: This study determined the test-retest reliability, acceptability, internal consistency, divergent validity of the Yoruba pain self-efficacy questionnaire (PSEQ-Y). It also examined the ceiling and floor effects and the small detectable change (SDC) of the PSEQ-Y among patients with chronic low back pain (LBP). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: There are various indigenous language translations of the PSEQ and none adapted to African language. However, translations of the PSEQ into Nigerian languages are not readily available. METHODS: The validity testing phase of the study involved 131 patients with LBP, while 83 patients with LBP took part in the reliability phase. Following the Beaton recommendation for cultural adaptation of instruments, the PSEQ was adapted into the Yoruba language. The psychometric properties of the PSEQ-Y determined comprised: internal consistency, divergent validity, test-retest reliability, and SDC. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 52.96 ± 17.3 years. The PSEQ-Y did not correlate with the Yoruba version of Visual Analogue Scale (VAS-Y) scores (r = -0.05; P = 0.59). The values for the internal consistency and the test-retest reliability of the PSEQ-Y were 0.79 and 0.86, with the 95% confidence interval of the test-retest reliability ranging between 0.82 and 0.90. The standard error of measurement (SEM) and the SDC of the PSEQ-Y were 1.2 and 3.3, respectively. The PSEQ-Y had no floor or ceiling effect, as none of the respondents scored either the minimal or maximal scores. CONCLUSION: This is the first study in Nigeria to culturally adapt PSEQ. The PSEQ-Y showed adequate psychometric properties similar to existing versions. Therefore, the tool can be used to assess pain self-efficacy in clinical and research settings and help to improve the health outcomes of patients chronic LBP.Level of Evidence: 3