Assessment of Renewable Sources of Energy for Residential Estate in Lagos State

The study investigated the use of renewable energy sources for residential estates in Lagos state; identified the available energy sources in the study area, determined the factors influencing the choice and utilization of renewable sources in the study area and examined the level of satisfaction derived from the chosen energy source by residents of Lagos state. The study was aimed at investigating the possibility of making energy available for residential estates dwellers from renewable energy sources so as to enhance uninterrupted energy supply and promote sustainability. To achieve the aim and objectives of the study, both primary and secondary data were used. The study made use of primary data collected by administration of e-questionnaire (google form) to building users. Data collected included energy source used by residents, the level of awareness of residents about various renewable sources, average amount of money spent on energy monthly, daily hours of energy supply, level of satisfaction derived from energy sources used. Data collected were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social it was analyzed using frequencies, mean score and tables. The result from the sources of energy used by residents in Lagos state revealed that 74% of buildings make use of generators alongside the energy provided from national grids. The result from the number of hours of energy supply daily revealed that residents only have access to electricity being an end use of energy for maximum of 8 hours. The level of awareness of residents revealed that 51.7%, 21.2%, 17.2%, 10.3%, 17.7% and 30.5% of the respondents are well informed about a possibility of generating energy from solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, biogas, and hydropower respectively. To promote the use of energy generated from renewables, the study made recommendations for intensified awareness schemes on the socioeconomic and environmental benefits of renewable energy sources, adequate investment in critical areas of renewable R&D and policy adjustments to create an investor friendly environment to attract greater renewable energy investment

Dynamics of heavy metal Pollution in Tropical lagoon of Gulf of Guinea, West Africa

In this study the accumulation of Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), Cobalt (Co), Chromium (Cr), Cadmium (Cd), Lead (Pb) and Nickel (Ni) in sediment, water, some fish samples (Schilbe mystus, Mormyrus rume, Gymnarchus niloticus, Cynoglossus senegalensis, and Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus) and an aquatic plant Eichhornea crassipes collected from Lekki lagoon, Lagos Nigeria were examined. Heavy metals in the water, sediment, some selected fish and an aquatic plant were determined seasonally across nine sampling Stations; in the gills, liver and muscles of the fish species and in the root stem and leaves of Eichhornea crassipes using an atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS). Heavy metals concentrations in the sediment and water varied significantly, both spatially and seasonally. Metal concentrations varied between species and body parts while Co, Cr and Pb were not detected. Ni was found in the liver and gills of S. mystus and M. rume and Cr in the gills of G. niloticus only. In Eichhornea crassipes, metals detected were in the order: root>leaves>stem for Fe, Zn, Cr, and Cd; root>stem>leaves for Pb and Ni while Co was not detected. Heavy metal presence in Lekki Lagoon calls for monitoring of activities within and around the lagoon and policy development towards the sustainable ecosystem health services.Keywords: Pollutants, Heavy metals, Eichhornia crassipes, Bioaccumulation, Lekki lagoo

Clinical and haematological features of newborns of mothers with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy in Lagos, Nigeria

Background: Newborns of mothers with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy have an increased risk of preterm delivery, low birth weight, perinatalasphyxia and haematological derangements such as polycythaemia, thrombocytopenia and neutropenia. These morbidities are associated with  uteroplacental insufficiency. The haematological derangements however have not been studied in detail in African neonates. Objective: To determine the clinical and haematological features of newborns of hypertensive mothers Methods: Cross-sectional study involving 250 newborns; 125 newborns each of hypertensive mothers (cases), and normotensive mothers (controls). The babies were examined following delivery, their clinical data were recorded, and umbilical cord blood samples were analysed for haematological indices. Results: Preterm deliveries were significantly higher amongst infants of hypertensive mothers (31.2%)compared with controls (12.0%);p = 0.000.  Similarly, the birth weight, length and head circumference of the cases were significantly lower than the controls; p = 0.008, 0.003 and 0.004 respectively. Low fifth minute APGAR scores occurred more frequently in cases (8.0%) than controls (0.8%), p=0.010; whilst the mean haematocrit  was also significantly higher in cases than the controls, p = 0.013. The median absolute neutrophil count and platelet count were significantly lower in cases than controls; p=0.023 and 0.047 respectively. Thrombocytopenia was identified in 40.0% of the cases compared to 27.2% of the controls, p =  0.041 Conclusion: The present study has shown that newborns of hypertensive mothers have an increased risk of neonatal morbidities such as preterm birth, LBW and thrombocytopenia compared to the newborns of mothers with normal blood pressure in pregnancy, hence close attention needs to be paid to them with emphasis on their haematological system. Key words: newborn, pregnancy, hypertension, hypertensive disorders, haematological, clinical&nbsp

Pattern of death in a Nigerian teaching hospital; 3-decade analysis

Background: In developing countries such as Nigeria, limited resources require that health priorities be selected wisely and death-related research is clearly warranted. The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive report on the various causes of death in our center from 1978 to 2006. Methods: This was a descriptive, retrospective study of all deaths recorded at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, Osun State in Southwest Nigeria from 1978 to 2006. Result: A total number of 9,947 deaths were recorded during the study period and there were 6,277 male deaths (63.1 %) and 3,670 female deaths (36.9%) with a female to male ratio of 1:1.5. The age ranged from birth to 100 years with a median of 25years. Infection (2,594 patients; 26.1 %) was the most common cause of death and this was followed closely by trauma death (2,028 patients; 20.4%) and neonatal death (1,074 patients;10.8%). Death from infectious disease and trauma reduced from 1,048 and 1,441 in the first decade (1977 -1986) to 478 and 133 in the last decade respectively. While death from neoplasia increased from 112 in the first decade to 354 in the last decade of the study period. Conclusion: Our study shows that death from infectious disease in the present decade has reduced to almost half thatwas recorded in first decade. Similarly death from trauma has also reduced compared to the first decade of the study. Death from neoplasia is however higher in the last decade

Multivariate analysis of morphological traits of sexually mature Sarotherodon galilaeus (Linnaeus, 1758) in Ogun State Coastal Estuary, Nigeria

Morphological variation in sexually matured Sarotherodon galilaeus was assessed from commercial fishermen operating Iken brushpark – fish aggregating device in Ogun State coastal estuary, Nigeria. Fifteen morphometric features and nine meristic characters were analysed using both univariate and multivariate analyses between the sexes of the population. Univariate analysis showed higher mean values in most of the morphometric and meristic counts of the female population than the males, but significant differences (p<0.05) were recorded in total length, standard length, head length, pectoral ray and gill raker of the first arch. Two and four Principal components were extracted for morphometric and meristic characters with 78.702% and 63.428% total variances respectively. Sexual differences occurred in morphometric characters such as, eye diameter, body weight, head width, length of dorsal base and length of pectoral fin while meristic counts showed overlapping in spinous dorsal fin rays, pectoral fin rays, scales along lateral line, scales above lateral line and gill rakers on the first arch. Canonical Discriminant function revealed the heterogeneity of total length, pectoral fin rays and gill rakers on the first arch in both sexes and these features could be used for the identification of the fish. This study revealed that multivariate statistical tools are effective means of analysing data for proper taxonomy, conservation and management of fish stocks.Keywords: Morphological traits, Multivariate analysis, Sarotherodon galilaeus, brushpark, meristic character