Assessment of Household Management Practices of Drinking Water in Two Selected Rural Communities of Plateau State

Background: Understanding how drinking water is managed in rural households that lack access to improved water sources is necessary for designing effective strategies that can meet their drinking water requirements. This study aimed to assess the drinking water management practices of rural households in two selected communities of Plateau State.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in Plateau State among 202 female caregivers of under-five children residing in households of two rural communities who were selected using a multistage sampling technique. An interviewer-administered  questionnaire and an observational checklist were used to obtain information on water sources, collection, storage and treatment  practices. Data were analyzed using SPSS 23.0. Bivariate analysis was done to identify factors associated with household water treatment practice followed by logistic regression to determine predictors. Level of significance was set at p<0.05.Results: Mean age of respondents was 32.5±12.3 years. Nearly half (48%) of the households obtained drinking water from unimproved sources and 18.3% treated water at home which were mainly inappropriate methods. About 75% always stored drinking water separately from other uses while 64% stored water for over 3days. Only 51% were observed to store water in clean containers. Independent  predictors of household water treatment were perception of drinking water safety (AOR=4.6; 95%CI: 2.1–10.3) and encouragement to treat water within the community (AOR=16.7; 95%CI: 2.1 – 28.5).Conclusion: There is a need to educate and encourage the rural populace on appropriate water management methods while efforts are being made to increase access to improved sources

Effects of probiotics on growth performance, blood parameters, and antibody stimulation in piglets

The study investigated the effects of probiotic bacteria (Lactobacillus reuteri ZJ625, Lactobacillus reuteri VB4, Lactobacillus salivarius ZJ614, and Streptococcus salivarius NBRC13956) administered as direct-fed microorganisms on growth performance and blood parameters of weaned piglets. Forty-five weaned piglets were divided into five treatments: antibiotic (PC), no antibiotic and no probiotic (NC), probiotic (P1), probiotic (P2), and combination of probiotics (P3). Fecal and ileum samples were collected for microbial count analysis. Blood samples were also collected from the animals at the end of the trial for the hematological and biochemical analysis and the ability of the probiotics to stimulate immunoglobulin G (IgG). Supplementation of probiotics had no effect on feed intake (FI). However, average daily weight gained (ADG) in the P3 treatment was higher than in other treatments and lowered the value of feed conversion ratio (FCR) of weaned piglets. Microbial count of fecal samples did not differ in all the treatments while ileum samples had lower enteric bacteria in P3 treatment when compared to other treatments. Concentration of albumin, globulin, neutrophils and basophils were higher in the NC treatment when compared to other treatment groups. The IgG concentration was highest in P3 compared to other treatments. Results suggested that probiotics have beneficial effects on growth performances, blood parameters, and IgG stimulation of weaned piglets. This advocates that probiotics will offer a significant benefit in pig farming by reducing the risk of post weaning diarrheal syndromes, and therefore enhance pig industry’s economy. Keywords: Blood chemistry, feed conversion ratio, immunoglobulin G, post-weaning diarrheal syndromes, probiotic

Foot arch pattern and stature estimation from footprint using students of the University of Port Harcourt

Stature or body height is one of the most important and useful anthropometric parameter that determine the physical identity of an individual. Identification of an individual is the mainstay in forensic investigations. Foot lengths have been used for the determination of sex, age and stature of an individual. The present study examined the foot arch pattern and the relationship between stature and foot length among students at the University of Port Harcourt. Stature and foot prints of 250 subjects comprising 125 males and 125 females falling within the age range of 18-30 years were measured; stature was measured from the vertex of the head to the floor maintaining the anatomical position and Frankfurt plane, foot length was obtained from the foot print by measuring the distance between acropodion and the pternion. Foot arch patterns were obtained by comparing the arch patterns from the foot print with the standard foot arch patterns. Statistical analyses using with respect to sexual dimorphism was highly significant (p<0.05); while there was no statistically difference with respect to bilateral differences between the left and the right foot in all measurement (p>0.05). The regression formulae for males are (H for left foot = 4.55(LFL) + 56.0. H for right foot = 4.45(RFL) + 56.3).While females are (H = 3.80(LFL) + 72.7. H = 3.78(RFL) + 73.61). The correlation coefficients between stature and foot length were found to be positive and statistically significant (p<0.05) as it tends towards one (0.83 in males and 0.74 in females). This high correlation coefficient observed between stature and foot length in males and female indicates that foot length provides a very high reliability and accuracy in estimating stature of an unidentified male or female

Lip print pattern among students of the University Of Port Harcourt, Nigeria

This study was carried out on150 students (75 males and 75 females) residing in the three campuses of the University of Port Harcourt within the age range of 17-30 years. The subjects encompassed people from different tribes, culture and religion. The lips of the subjects were cleaned properly and a red coloured lipstick was applied on the transition zone of the lips. The lip prints were obtained by making an impression on a white A4 paper in the normal rest position of the lips. A cellophane strip was then stuck over the lip impression on a white A4 paper for permanent  record purpose. The lip prints were studied with the aid of a magnifying lens using a classification scheme that was devised by Suzuki Tsuchihasi (1970). The study revealed that the lip prints of all the subjects were unique irrespective of tribe, culture, religion and race. The most common lip print pattern in both males (33.6%) and females (26.0%) are type II lip pattern and the least common lip print pattern in both sexes are Type I’ pattern (5.3% for males and 5.6% for females). The most common lip print pattern for males in the 1st and 2nd quadrants are Type I while Type II was the most common in the 3rd and 4th quadrants. Similarly, the most common lip print pattern found in females were Type III for the 1st quadrant, Type II for the 2nd and 3rd quadrants and Type I for the 4th quadrant. It was concluded from this study, that every individual has a peculiar lip print pattern and that would be useful in forensic studies.Key words: Cheiloscopy, Lip Prints and personal identification

Hamstring Autografts in Arthroscopic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Nigerians

No Abstract

Production of polyextremotolerant laccase by Achromobacter xylosoxidans HWN16 and Citrobacter freundii LLJ16

Given the upwelling of a variety of potential applications laccases could participate in, it would be fitting to equally make available laccases that are well suited for the aforementioned. Therefore historian understanding of the catalytic and physicochemical properties is desirable. Owing to this, the biochemical properties of the crude laccases from Achromobacter xylosoxidans HWN16 (Hb9c) and Citrobacter freundii LLJ 16 (Ie1c) were assessed. Furthermore, a hint of the molecular basis for their production from respective organisms was presented. Results showed that both laccases were tolerant, and sometimes had their activities improved by the set of parameters tested. They were active at broad range of temperature (0–90 °C), pH (3–11), and were equally thermo- and pH-stable. Their activities were either improved, or left unabated by cations, detergents, and chloride (5–40%), however, the highlight of the study was their augmented activity, when they were incubated with certain concentrations of fluoride (2–20%), a potent inhibitor. They were depicted to have multiple homologous laccase encoding genes, on molecular evaluation, which may be responsible the conferral of these remarkable qualities they possess. Therefore, the laccases might be beneficial, if employed in formulations for a wide range of environmental and biotechnological applications. Moreover, the molecular machinery of their production be exploited for economical benefits in the immediate future. Keywords: Characterization, Polyextremotolerance, Laccase encoding genes, Achromobacter xylosoxidans, Citrobacter freundi