Adult neurogenesis in the four-striped mice (Rhabdomys pumilio)

In this study, we investigated non-captive four-striped mice (Rhabdomys pumilio) for evidence that adult neurogenesis occurs in the adult brain of animal models in natural environment. Ki-67 (a marker for cell proliferation) and doublecortin (a marker for immature neurons) immunostaining confirmed that adult neurogenesis occurs in the active sites of subventricular zone of the lateral ventricle with the migratory stream to the olfactory bulb, and the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. No Ki-67 proliferating cells were observed in the striatum substantia nigra, amygdala, cerebral cortex or dorsal vagal complex. Doublecortin-immunoreactive cells were observed in the striatum, third ventricle, cerebral cortex, amygdala, olfactory bulb and along the rostral migratory stream but absent in the substantia nigra and dorsal vagal complex. The potential neurogenic sites in the four-striped mouse species could invariably lead to increased neural plasticity

Automatic Controller for Teleoperated Switching between Multiple Energy Sources in a Residential Building Nanogrid

Erratic power supply from the utility grid has grave effect of the development of several countries. In a bid to overcome this challenge, many residential buildings have become electrically self-sustaining by the integration of various backup power supply source. Yet the act of transition from one source to another has remained a manual task that tends to discourage users from going through the rigour. Internal combustion engine AC generators and batteries have been found to be the most common backup options. An automatic transition system that gives user the flexibility of monitoring and controlling resources remotely from a mobile phone application is thus presented in this paper. The microcontroller-based system monitors the status of the energy resources and protects the building against undervoltage or overvoltage conditions. Based on the state of charge of the battery and the fuel level in the generator, the system activates the appropriate alternative backup source in the event of an outage form the grid supply. This system affords users a new level of comfort and reliability of power supply, as in the automatic mode, the users are guaranteed power supply with minimal downtime, except when all resources are unavailable. Keywords: Automatic Transfer Switch, Nanogrids, Remote Monitoring and Control DOI: 10.7176/ISDE/11-5-03 Publication date:September 30th 2020

Structural Evaluation of Lightweight Concrete Produced Using Waste Newspaper and Office Paper

The construction industry consumes a large amount of non-renewable resources. On the other hand, more waste paper ends up in landfill or dump sites than those recycled. Consequently, recycling waste paper for use as a construction material constitutes a step towards sustainable development. This research effort aims at determining the density, water absorption capacity, compressive strength and fire resistance of papercrete produced using waste newspaper and office paper in order to ascertain their suitability for use as a building construction material. For each of the mix proportions considered, the bulk density, water absorption, compressive strength and fire resistance of papercrete made with newspaper were found to be higher than those made with office paper. The water absorption and fire resistance of papercrete were found to be high and increased with increasing waste paper content while the bulk density and compressive strength of papercrete were low and decreased with increasing waste paper content. Papercrete was recommended to be an effective and sustainable material for the production of lightweight and fire-resistant hollow or solid blocks to be used to make partition walls of especially high-rise buildings. Mix proportions were recommended for production of hollow and solid blocks using papercrete

Influence of two different combination of oral contraceptive on some serum electrolytes in women

Background: The wide spread use of hormonal contraceptives by women necessitates the assessment of their influence on various biochemical parameters. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of two different combinations of oral contraceptives on some serum electrolytes in women on oral contraceptives.Methods: The study involved 50 volunteer female undergraduate students of University of Port Harcourt (20-30 years of age), who were not on contraceptives served as control (group I). Group II consisted of 30 women who were on combined oral contraceptives (methyloestranolone 5 mg and methyloestradiol 0.3 mg), and group III consisted of 40 women who were on norgesterol-estradiol (1 mg and 50 µg respectively). These were apparently healthy women attending the Family Planning Unit of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital who were within the same age group as control.Results: The combined oral contraceptive therapy (methyloestranolone 5 mg and methyloestradiol 0.3 mg) in group II significantly reduced serum sodium and chloride ions levels (p <0.05) while it significantly increased serum potassium and bicarbonate ion levels (p <0.05) compared with the control group. Low estrogen combined contraceptives; norgesterol-estradiol (group III) significantly reduced sodium and chloride ions compared with the control group (p <0.05) but significantly raised values of these ions higher than those of group II (p<0.05); whereas it did not alter potassium level significantly compared to group II, low estrogen contraceptives caused significant increase compared to the control group (p <0.05). Low estrogen combined contraceptives (group III) significantly increased and decreased bicarbonate compared with groups I and II respectively.Conclusions: The results of this study provide evidence that oral contraceptive, though useful in preventing pregnancies could result in derangement of normal homeostatic processes by interfering with electrolyte balance

INSTALLATION AND TESTING OF A 5kW HYDROPOWER TURBINE

This work focused on installation and testing of a hydro power turbine to generate 5 kW of energy for domestic applications.  Water flows into the penstock  from the dam at a height of 6m; the pipe diameter was reduced to   with a reducer socket. Water pressure decreases as it flows through the elbow joint. But such decrease or loss is recovered by a reduction of the pipe diameter to 80 mm and the pipe is long enough, (length = 2000mm) for the water to be fully developed before it enters the turbine at optimum speed. As the water flows through the runner of the turbine, its pressure reduces. The reduction imparts reaction on the runner and power is transferred to the turbine shaft. To prevent back flow or sucking back of water pressure into the turbine, a draft tube and a non-return valve are incorporated into the outlet of the turbine. The turbine shaft speed recorded with the aid of a tachometer is 298.33rpm and the dynamic pressure recorded at the turbine inlet, with the aid of a water pressure gauge is 170 kN/m2. This gave an output power of 4.98 kW  at a design flow rate of 0.106 m3/s. The installation and testing of Francis turbine, pipe network and fittings were successfully carried out. It is obvious from the test results that the output power can power the street lights along Imo-street in the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.     &nbsp

Comparative study of the physicochemical and bacteriological qualities of some drinking water sources in Abuja, Nigeria

Diseases caused by contaminated water consumption and poor hygiene are among the leading causes of death in children, the elderly and people with compromised immune system. The present study aims to assess the drinking water quality of some selected drinking water sources in the chosen study area using water quality index (WQI). Samples of drinking waters were collected from four different sources- river, sachet (packaged), borehole and well in Jabi, Abuja, Nigeria for physicochemical and bacteriological analyses using standard methods. With the exception of pH, river water had the highest content of all the physicochemical parameters examined. Excluding dissolved oxygen in river sample, the physicochemical parameters of the water sources were generally within the World Health Organization (WHO) standards. The bacteriological analyses revealed that the highest total coliform counts of 1.03 (0.08) x 102 cfu/ml were in the river sample while the least counts of 0.03 (0.00) x 102 cfu/ml were in the sachet water. All the  bacteriological values did not meet international standard as they were higher than WHO standard of zero per 100ml. Three bacterial isolates Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas spp and  Aeromonas spp, were isolated from well water while Pseudomonas spp and Proteus spp were isolated from borehole water. All other bacteria were isolated from the river. The study demonstrates that the safest drinking water source in Idu district, Jabi, Abuja is the sachet/packaged water while the least safe is the river water due to the presence of opportunistic pathogens. Theresults of this study are beneficial for water quality management and could be used for low-cost effective water quality assessment in Jabi.Keywords: Bacterial isolates, Abuja, water sources,  physicochemical parameters, bacteriological parameter

Association between hookworm infection and anaemia among antenatal attendees in a university teaching hospital in southern Nigeria

Background: Hookworm infection is among the major causes of anaemia in poor communities. Its importance in causing maternal anaemia however is poorly understood, and this has hampered effective lobbying for the inclusion of anti-helmintic treatment in maternal health packages.Methodology: A cross sectional analytical study was conducted to assess the association between hookworm infection and anaemia among pregnant women obtaining antenatal Care at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo. Nigeria. Two hundred and fourteen pregnant women were recruited over a six week period. Pre-coded and structured questionnaires were administered to each eligible pregnant woman, Blood samples were obtained for determination of packed cell volume and serum iron/total iron binding capacity respectively. Stool samples were collected from each pregnant woman for microscopy. Data obtained was analyzed with Epinfo-version 3.5.2 December 2010 software. Result: Twenty four of 211 women had hookworm infection resulting in a prevalence of 11.4% (95% CI= 7.4%-16.5%). Sixty two (29,8%) of 208 women had iron deficiency anaemia, Fourteen (22,6%) of the 62 women with iron deficiency anaemia had hookworm infection while 9 (6.3%) of 143 women without iron deficiency anaemia had hookworm infection (x2=11.5, p= 0.000689). There was no statistically significant association between hookworm infection and all the socio-demographic variables analyzed except between hookworm infection and place of residence (x2= 22.3 and p=0.0000351 ),Conclusion : Hookworm infection is associated with anaemia in pregnant women in Uyo. This therefore reinforces the WHO recommendation to include routine de-worming into our antenatal care package as a strategy to reduce or prcvent maternal anaemia.Keywords. Hookworm infection. anaemia, pregnancy. Uy

Assessment of Nigerian International Broadcasting by Nigerians in Diaspora

International broadcasting is projecting an image of the country of broadcast to an external audience. The external audience comprise not just foreigners but also citizens of the host country who reside outside that country. The question then is, to what extent are Nigerian international broadcasters satisfying their country’s citizens who reside in the Diaspora? This study sought to find out the assessment of Nigeria’s international broadcasting by her expatriates; that is her citizens living abroad. The survey methodology was employed in this research. The technique was purposive as only the responses of Nigerians who respond in the diaspora were sought. Questionnaire was used as the instrument of data collection. The questionnaire was uploaded online via the survey monkey for Nigerians residing in the Diaspora to respond to. There were 159 respondents but only 150 completely filled their questionnaires; these were analyzed for this research. Findings showed that majority of respondents (66.67) watch Nigerian international broadcasters on weekends, and most people (27%) watch news probably to keep abreast with happenings back home. About a third (37%) of the respondents watch Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) International and 53.3% assessed the programme quality as poor especially the pictures which are adjudged as lacking in professionalism. However, the respondents considered the information received from the stations they watch as credible. It is recommended that there should be improvement in the standard of professionalism of presenters so as to make the programmes more appealing to viewers as presentation is the window to the world. Funding is another crucial issue. When funds are available, programmes will be packaged better and more professionals will be employed to engender more viewership from the Diaspora. Keywords: International broadcasting, external audience, International broadcasters, Expatriate

Nutrient composition of watermelon (Citrullis lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum.&Nakai) and egusi melon (Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad.) seeds

This study investigated the nutrient composition of the seeds of two cultivars of Citrullis lanatus (\u27Rhotmas\u27 and \u27Sugar Baby\u27) and compared it with Citrullus colocynthis. The moisture content, ash, crude fiber, ether extract, crude protein and true protein ranged from 5.43 to 6.82, 2.78 to 3.72, 1.66 to 3.94, 55.7 to 58.7, 19.16 to 25.18 and 10.8 to 13%, respectively. The starch content, total sugar and reducing sugar varied between 143.7 and 172.7, 53.7 and 96.5, 5.6 and 9.5 mg/g, respectively. Iron, copper, zinc, calcium and magnesium ranged from 191 to 211, 20.12 to 35.03, 68.97 to 92.57, 98.79 to 233, and 79.75 to 123.9 mg/kg, respectively. Heavy metals (lead and cadmium) and antinutrients (phytate, oxalate and cyanide) were below deleterious levels. Arginine, glutamic acid and aspartic acids were the most abundant amino acids, whereas lysine was the limiting amino acid. It is concluded that watermelon seeds were better in nutritional value compared to egusi melon seeds and therefore could be regarded as a potential sources of food if exploited