In-Situ Chemical Oxidation of Hydrocarbon Contaminated Groundwater (A Case Study of Baruwa Community, Lagos, Nigeria)

A chemical oxidation of hydrocarbon contaminated site is attempted by using potassium permanganate (KMnO4) through injection into five hand dug wells within a pilot test area one hectare. The aim is to improve the quality of groundwater by degrading the soluble organic materials for further treatment and polishing, while incorporating bioremediation. The Background characterisations of groundwater and contaminant studied have been previously carried out (Adekunte 2008; Balogun 2009). 50 g/litre of potassium permanganate (KMnO4) was used as oxidant for the remediation of the Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) in the pilot test area, the delivery of oxidant was done by gravity feed to the monitoring wells up to a height of 600 mm (2 ft) above water levels. Oxidation study was carried out by observing the TPH for and other parameters during the process of In-situ Chemical Oxidation (ISCO) remediation for 30 weeks. A reduction in Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) ranging from 92.28% to 99.86% was observed within the period. The maximum TPH value of 512 ppm was observed at well W53, while the minimum observed TPH at the end of thirty weeks was 0.7 ppm at the same well

An Investigation into Road Pavement Failure Susceptibility Indices of Osogbo-Iwo Road

Osogbo-Iwo road in Osun state, Nigeria was investigated to determine failure susceptibility indices. The contribution of traffic[T], water table[D], geotechnical indices such as Maximum Dry Density and California Bearing Ratio[M] and [R], road cross-section elements such as cambering[A] and asphalt thickness[S] to road pavement failure were considered. The result showed a wide disparity between the specified Total TDRAMS Index(as shown by control Monitoringwell[MWC] ) and the Total TDRAMS Indices of the failed segments of the road up to 151%. This shows how wide the non-conformity in the construction of Osogbo-Iwo road is from the engineering specifications, both in material and in workmanship and it is the major part of what is responsible for the road’s incessant failure. Keywords: TDRAMS, pavement failure, geotechnical indices, camberin

X-Ray Analysis of Igbokoda Sand, Southwestern Nigeria and its Application in Manufacturing and Construction Industries

Soils that appear whitish in colour is generally believed to contain mineral called quartz. Quartz is a metamorphic rock which is beneficial to manufacturing and construction industries. This quartz has been discovered in Igbokoda area of Ondo state, south western Nigeria. This study confirmed and examined the nature and abundance of quartz found in the study area for the purpose of recommendation to manufacturing and construction industries. Soil samples were collected within the area and examined. Geotechnical and x-ray analyses were conducted on the sample. A Phillip 71011 Goniometer at 55MA and 40KV was used to X-ray the sample at 2o/2θ/min/cm. The radiation and filter used were Copper and Nickel respectively. The specific gravity obtained classified the sample as sandy soil; the grain size distribution result according to AASHTO classified the sample as fine sand. The X-ray result confirmed that Quartz is the most abundant mineral in the sample with peak value of wavelength at 4.33Ao, 3.56Ao, 3.43Ao, 2.43Ao, 2.28Ao, 2.25Ao, 2.10Ao, 1.97Ao. Also, Kaolinite and Vermiculite traces appeared at 6.81Ao and 11.05Ao respectively. It was established that Igbokoda sand is dominated with quartz. It is therefore recommended that industries like fabricating industries can be located around the area to tap the mineral as raw material. The soil in the area is also suitable as sub base material in road construction

Inflation and Some Unpleasant Fiscal – Monetary Issues in Nigeria: A Reassessment of the Role of Government in the Management of an Economy.

Fiscal and monetary issues are linked through money growth in the form of Seigniorage, which provides revenue to the fiscal authority in the management of an inflationary – prone economy. The relationship between these macroeconomic aggregates are well documented in the literature. This study undertakes an empirical assessment of some (un)pleasant fiscal and monetary issues in Nigeria with the main objective of identifying the role of government in the stabilization of an economy. Using data over 1970 – 2013 periods, this study adopts a modeling approach that incorporate both structural and co-integration analysis and found significant relationships between the macroeconomic variables and inflation in Nigeria. It concludes with some far reaching recommendations including minimization of deficit, adoption of robust fiscal adjustment mechanism that could increase revenue and discouraging deficit financing by the Central Bank. Key words:Fiscal deficit, inflation, money supply co-integration

Spermiogram and testicular morphological studies of the buck after treatment with ethanol leaf extract of Spondias mombin

Twelve sexually matured West African Dwarf bucks from were used for the experiment. Plant extraction was by cold extraction method using hexane and ethanol as solvents. All the goats had bilaterally well descended free testicles. They were kept in standard goat pen, were served water ad libitum, centrosema plant and ration. They were stabilised for two weeks after which pre-treatment spermiogram was done followed by 14 days of oral administration of 800mg/kg ethanol leaf extract of Spondias mombin. Spermiogram was repeated after treatment. Two randomly selected goats were then castrated through a midline pre-scrotal incision for morphological study and histology of the testes and epididymides. Total spermatozoa morphological abnormalities in pre-treatment of 17.1% was significantly (p≤0.05) higher than the 10% recorded for post-treatment. Curved mid-piece (1.8%) and bent tail (1.8%) constituted the highest abnormalities post-treatment while curved tail (3.5%) was highest pre-treatment. Mean values of progressive motility and percentage liveability were significantly higher (p≤0.05) in post- treatment (96.17±3.10% and 98.25±1.36% respectively) compared to pre-treatment (80.83±11.84% and 78.75±9.56% respectively). Post-treatment sperm concentration (2.50±0.32 x109 cells/ml) compared with pre-treatment (2.32±0.36 x109 cells/ml) was not significantly different. Post-treatment gross and histological features of the bucks’ testes and epididymis were normal. The work revealed that Spondias mombin at 800mg/kgBW improved semen quality in bucks indicating its usefulness as a potential profertility agent.Keywords: Buck, Morphological, Spondias mombin, Spermiogram, Testicula

Partial androgen insensitivity syndrome with Müllerian duct derivatives complicated by a testicular seminoma

Androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) is a condition that affects sexual development before birth and during puberty and is one of the more common disorders affecting masculinisation of the male genitalia. This rare syndrome (affecting 2–5 per 100,000 genetic males) is classified as complete (CAIS), partial (PAIS) or mild depending upon the extent of residual functional androgen receptors (AR) which in turn influence the phenotype. Mutations of AR have been reported in approximately 95% of persons with CAIS and in 10% with PAIS.1 Genital ambiguity is variable in PAIS with a frequent phenotype of micropenis, posterior hypospadias and cryptorchidism. PAIS has a higher risk of associated malignancy than in CAIS.2 Current evidence recommends the retention of cryptorchid testes through puberty for hormone production benefits, including bone and secondary sexual development.3 Müllerian duct derivatives (such as fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix and upper vagina) are usually absent in patients with AIS but the occasional presence in some raise the possibility of either defective production or response to Müllerian inhibitory factor (MIF)

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Biostratigraphy and palaeoenvironment of deposition of Nsukka Formation, Anambra Basin, southeastern Nigeria

Biostratigraphy investigation of Nsukka Formation was carried out by subjecting well cutting samples obtained from Nzam-1 well to palynological studies with the view towards determining the relative geologic age and palaeoenvironment of deposition of the sediments. Samples were treated in the laboratory through digestion with hydrofluoric acid, sieving with 5 μm, oxidation with Nitric acid and mounting of the slides into sections with DPX mountant. A fairly high abundance and diversity of miospores were recovered, while the interval (847–1372 m) contains distinctive and diagnostic palynomorphs which are stratigraphically important. A Spinizonocolpites baculatus assemblage zone was established based on the basal occurrence of S. baculatus, Spinizonocolpites echinatus, Constructipollenites ineffectus, Periretisyncolpites sp. Periretisyncolpites giganteus, Monocolpites sp 1, Foveotriletes margaritae, Syncolporites marginatus, and Longapertites marginatus. The upper part of the interval is marked by association of Anacolosidites luidonisis (at top), Mauritiidites crassibaculatus, Retistephanocolpites williamsi, Proteacidites dehaani, Echitriporites trianguliformis, Proxapertites cursus, Retidiporites magdalenensis, S. baculatus, Retitricolpites gigeonetti, F. margaritae and Araucariacites sp. The Nsukka Formation is dated as Late Maastrichtian based on the co-occurrence of recovered index fossils. Importantly, Cretaceous–Tertiary (K/T) boundary is marked by high fossil content in the Maastrichtian sediments compared to paucity in palynomorph that characterise the overlying Paleocene facies. Palaeoenvironment of the analyzed section varies alternately from marginal marine to continental setting based on the presence of land-derived miospores and dinoflagellates

The role of magnetic resonance imaging in early detection of recurrent breast cancer

Purpose: The purpose of this work was the evaluation of new advances of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in diagnosis of recurrent breast cancer after conservative surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Introduction: Breast conservation surgery followed by breast radiotherapy and chemotherapy produces changes on both physical examination and on post-treatment breast imaging. Distinguishing these normal treatment-related findings from breast cancer recurrence in the original lumpectomy site or elsewhere in the breast (new primary tumors) is challenging. Our prospective study is done on fifty female patients who had undergone breast-conserving therapy at least 6 months since the end of radiation therapy. All cases were suspected for either recurrence or post-operative complications by clinical examination in conjunction with mammography and/or US. Confirmation of different lesions was achieved by fine needle aspiration biopsy, core or excisional biopsy. All patients were examined by dynamic contrast enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI). If one of imaging modalities suspected recurrence, all of the imaging modalities were performed. From our study we concluded that MRI is useful examination that can provide very valuable information in patient with suspected recurrence. It is a technique that offers not only information on lesion cross sectional morphology but also on functional lesion features such as tissue perfusion and enhancement kinetics

Postítulo

Otorgar reconocimiento oficial y validez nacional al Postítulo de Formación Universitaria en Arte Escénica con Mención Teatro y Mención Expresión Corporal-Danza, que articula con el título de grado de Profesor en Arte Escénica Mención Teatro y Mención Expresión Corporal-Danza y con articulación al título de grado de Licenciado en Arte Escénica Mención Teatro, que expide la Universidad Nacional de Rosario, cuyo planes de estudio obran como Anexo de la presente resolució