Isolation of bacteria associated with diarrhoea among children attending some hospitals in Kano metropolis, Kano state, Nigeria

Bacteriological investigations of Diarrhoeal diseases were carried out among 300 children who were between the ages of 0 – 24 months using stool samples from five different hospitals in the metropolitan Kano. The organisms were isolated and identified using cultural, serological biochemical test. Sensitivity testing of the isolates to some antimicrobial agents was carried out. Out of those number only a total of 122(40.7%) of children were found to have Diarrhoea associated with bacteria in which 34(27.9%) and 88(72.1%) were from breast-fed and bottle-fed children respectively. The Bacteria isolated were Escherichia coli which were the most predominant, followed by Salmonella species and then Shigella species. As at the time of the study, there was significance difference between breast-fed and bottle-fed in the incidence at P> 0.05. Among the antimicrobials used cotrimoxazole was found to be more effective than the others. Also, most of the children tested were found to have a common illness of diarrhoea followed by dysentery, abdominal pain and fever/vomiting

Development of Digital Resistivity Meter

A digital resistivity meter was designed and constructed using microcontroller (PIC16F877A) and other carefully selected components. The meter was developed, using the state of the art technology, to measure the earth’s electrical resistivity through application of direct current electrical resistivity method. It was designed as a system with various subunits implemented as modules, to help greatly in trouble shooting the system in case of system failure. This meter injected currents of 0.1mA, 1mA and 10mA and two, 6V batteries connected in series powered it. Its capability of accepting analog input and displaying digital output gives it advantage of minimizing errors associated with output display. Microcontroller operated using a configuration of hardware components and functional software written and burnt into the microcontroller’s memory. The meter was tested with a specially designed test unit and the generated results were compared with the calculated values, the two agreed. Keywords: Electrical resistivity, microcontroller, analog, digita

Chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum in Sokoto, North Western Nigeria

Three patients, 30, 2 and one and a half years, were diagnosed as having falciparum malaria and were placed on chloroquine therapy which failed. They were then placed on quinine therapy that then cleared the parasitaemia. This case report seeks to draw the attention of the presence of possible chloroquine-resistant falciparum malaria in Sokoto, North Western Nigeria. (African Journal of Biotechnology: 2003 2(8): 244-245

Perceived Attributes of Diffusion of Innovation Theory as a Theoretical Framework for understanding the Non-Use of Digital Library Services

Rogers’s diffusion of innovation theory is one theoretical approach to understand how members of a social system can adopt an innovation. Certain attributes of the innovation itself may facilitate its adoption. This paper highlights the necessity of designing a Digital Library Service (DLS) in conformity with the attributes of Innovation. These attributes are: relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability and observability. It further discussed previous studies that have used the theory of perceived attribute of innovation to conduct research on acceptance and rejection of an innovation in different fields and concluded that Digital Library Service designers who adopts the theory of the perceived attributes of innovation will understand why there is low or non-use of these services and help them in designing DLS that can easily be adopted by potential users

Cross sectional study of malarial parasite among patients attending general hospital, Hadejia, Jigawa state, Nigeria

A study was conducted to find out prevalence of malarial parasite among patients attending Hadejia General Hospital. A total of 227 people were screened in the  study area. Out of this number 150(66.1%) were males, while 77(33.9%) were females. Overall prevalence of malarial parasite was found to be 114(50.2%). Prevalence of malarial parasite in males was found to be 78(52%), while prevalence in females was found to be 36(46.8%). There was no significant difference (p >0.05) between the sex of the people and prevalence of the infection. Prevalence of malarial parasite in children aged 0 to 5 years has highest prevalence37(53.4%), followed by children aged 6 to 15 years with prevalence of 56(50.3%) and lowest prevalence was obtained in people aged 15 years and above 25(40.4%).There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) between the age of the people and prevalence of the infection. The prevalence of malarial parasite was found to be high among patients attending Hadejia General Hospital.Keywords: Hospital, Malaria, Prevalence, Parasite, Patient

Upgrading n-Heptane via Catalytic Hydroisomerisation

An atmospheric pressure upgrading of n-heptane was carried out in a temperature range of 300 to 450oC over an in situ developed molybdenum carbide phase supported over sulphated zirconia. Although a decreased in surface area with increased in pore volume were observed after carburization, the physicochemical data showed no noticeable alteration to the zirconia structure or the sulphate species. The catalyst formed a good system with high selectivity to iso-heptanes under either low temperature or high space velocity. It therefore has promising features that could offer mitigation to some of the challenges faced by the petroleum refineries with noble metals promoted zeolites. Keywords: n-heptane, hydroisomerisation, carbide catalyst, stability, sulphated zirconia

Co-hort study of urinary schistosomiasis among two villages residing along Hadejia Valley, Jigawa State, Nigeria

A study was carried out to determine prevalence of urinary Schistosomiasis among two villages located along Hadejia valley in Jigawa State, Nigeria. A total of 125 urine sample from people residing in each of the two villages (Yamidi and Shawara), were screened for the presence or absence of S. haematobium eggs. Urine sample were screened using Concentration Sedimentation Technique. The overall prevalence of S. haematobium infection in Yamidi was 76.8% with mean Eggs per cubic Centiliter (EPC) of 2.9, and in Shawara the overall prevalence was 77.6% with mean EPC of 3.4. Males were found to be more infected than female in both the two villages. People aged 1 to 5 years have highest prevalence of the infection in both the two villages than people among older age group. People with haematuria have highest prevalence of 95.1% and mean EPC of 6.0 than people without haematuria that have lower prevalence of 72.0% and mean EPC of 3.4.There was no significant relationship (p > 0.05) between the infection and presence or absence of haematuria. This study has established that urinary schistosomiasis is endemic in the study area.Keywords: Hadejia, Haematuria, Infection, Jigawa, Nigeria, Schistosomiasi

ANALYSIS OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE - SECTORS PARTNERSHIP (PPP) IN HOUSING DELIVERY IN, NIGER STATE. NIGERIA

Abstract: One of the greatest challenge confronting both rural and urban residents in Niger State is the need to provide adequate shelter. This study examined the individual significant contribution of the public and private sector in public-private partnerships (PPP) in housing contracts in Niger State, Nigeria. The study review that PPP has so far achieved little success in providing decent and unaffordable housing accommodation to Nigerlites. Accordingly to Niger State housing corporation 2 bedrooms flat worth N3,500,000.00 and 3 bedrooms flat worth N4,500,000.00 so it’s clear that the houses are unaffordable to low and medium incomes earners. The researcher finding that the private sector in Niger State can be said to have contributed very little to the development of an urban project in the state, however, even this insignificant level of participation has been serious challenges by poor funding and lack of policy framework to regulate it activities. Therefore, it is paramount importance that the state should develop a regulatory framework and partner with the private sector in this regard so as to ensure that the resident of Niger State has access to this important component of the human environment. Researcher concluded that to ensure the effective participation of the private sector in housing delivery in Niger State in general and Minna in particular, the following recommendation has been put forward (1) Aside from providing enabling environment for the private sector to develop real estate, government should also invest more in provision of site and services scheme this will hasten the development of estate sector.  (2) The establishment a power federal mortgage bank (FMB) and  urban development bank would guarantee investors access to loan and other facilities needed for mass housing development.(3) strengthening the activities of the Niger State Ministry of land and housing in order to ensure that both the formal and informal neighborhood save provided with sanction and neighborhood facilities and (4) The establishment of a PPP steering committee in the Niger State that would be responsible for the general oversight of state’s PPP arrangement. (5) Finally, the study recommends that to ensure the success of public and private partnership in housing delivering, all tiers of government must strive to complement the weakness of the public sector with the strength of the private sector.

Response of Broiler Birds to Choline Chloride in Semi Arid Sokoto, Nigeria

A study was carried out to evaluate growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler birds fed with varying level of choline inclusion in their diets; T1 (control), T2 (10g/10kg) and T3 (20g/10kg). A total of 225 marshall broiler chicks were randomly divided into three (3) treatment group of 75 birds each. Each group was divided into five (5) replicates of fifteen (15) birds each laid in a completely randomized design. Feed and water was supplied ad-libitum and the experiment lasted for 49 days. The total feed intake (1316.75-14442.18) (24437.13-31999.76) for starter and finisher respectively, body weight gain (6227.30-8241.20) (10956.64-14182.96) for starter and finisher respectively, feed conversion ratio (1.73-2.26) (2.21-2.48) for starter and finisher respectively. Many (thigh, wings, back) of the carcass parameters measured were not significantly (p>0.05) affected by the treatments but significant difference (p<0.05) was observed in drum stick, breast and neck.  However, significant difference (p<0.05) was also observed in gizzard, liver and bile, heart, lungs, legs and head. There was significant difference (p<0.05) in primal cuts per live weight, primal cuts per dressed weight, organs per live weight and organs per dressed weight. In view of the results obtained, it can be concluded that treatment two (10g/10kg) performed better in terms of total body weight (TBW) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Also in the carcass characteristics, treatment two performed better in terms of breast yield, drumstick, percentage of primal cuts from live weight (P/LW) and percentage of primal cuts from dressed weight

Petrography and Paleoenvironmental Interpretation of Taloka and Dukamaje Formations, Southern Gadon Mata, Goronyo, Sokoto Basin-Nigeria

Petrographic study of the various rock units from Gadon Mata area of Goronyo in Sokoto Basin was carried out. Sedimentary structures were used for Paleoenvironmental Interpretation of Taloka and Dukamaje Formations from Sokoto Basin-Nigeria. The two formations which forms part of Rabah Sheet 11NE lies in the southeastern sector of the Iullemmeden Basin. The study area is bounded by latitudes 13018'38"N to 13021'58"N and longitudes 5047'47"E to 5050'35"E covering 30Km2. The mapping exercise was carried out using a topographic base map on the scale of 1:30,000. The area is made up of Maastrichtian sediments-Taloka and Dukamaje Formations. Taloka Formation is of deltaic/brackish water environment and is made up of white, grey, brown siltstones, friable sandstones, claystones and biogenic structures. It is of tidal flat depositional environment as confirmed by sedimentary structures like abundant bioturbation, rhythmic bedding and the wavy beddings. The Dukamaje Formation is of marginal marine environment comprising of shales, limestones and mudstones with vertebrate fragments. The abundance of mudcrack can be useful in the interpretation of paleoclimate as they are common in warmer climates. Similarly, while the calcite crystals exhibiting spherulitic texture observed in the thin section implies deposition in shallow agitated marine water of the Dukamaje Formation. Keywords: Petrographic, Sedimentary structures, Paleoenvironmental, Taloka, Dukamaje, Formation, Iullemmeden