Seroprevalence of IgG anti- T. Gondii antibody among HIV-infected patients in Maiduguri, north eastern Nigeria.

Background: Toxoplasma gondii infection is one of the commonest opportunistic infections in HIV-infected patients, with the fatal consequences of toxoplasmic encephalitis particularly in advanced disease. However, data regarding T.gondii infection in the setting of HIV/AIDS are scant in Nigeria. Objective: To determine the seroprevalence of T.gondii amongst HIV-infected patients as well as to determine the correlation between anti-T.gondii IgG titre and the CD4+ cell count/HIV-1 RNA viral load. Method: A cross sectional study in which a total of 190 subjects were involved i.e. 110 newly diagnosed HAART naïve HIV-positive patients and 80 apparently healthy HIV-negative age- and-sex matched controls that were selected by simple random sampling method. Results: The age range of the study population was 20-64 years. The mean ages of male subjects for both HIV-positives and controls were 37.52 ±8.20 years and 35.79 ±12.31years, respectively, (p= 0.462). On the other hand, the mean ages of female subjects for both HIV-positives and controls were 29.90 ±6.98 years and 32.30 ±10.29 years, respectively, (p=0.149). Twenty one subjects (19.1%) among HIV-positives and 1 (1.25%) HIV-negative tested positive for anti-T.gondii IgG, respectively, (p= 0.000). The prevalence rate ration of anti-T. gondii IgG of HIV positives compared to HIVnegatives was 15.28. Significant proportion of anti-T.gondii positive subjects presented with AIDS defining illnesses compared with their anti-T.gondii negative counterparts. Conclusion:The study has shown that anti-T.gondii IgG is about 15 times more prevalent among HIV positive patients compared to controls. Routine screening for T.gondii IgG anti-body is therefore recommended for all HIV-infected subjects at the facility as well as commencement of chemoprophylaxis against Toxoplasmic encephalitis in HIV-infected patients with CD4+ cell count of <100 cells/ml

DESIGN OF GEODETIC NETWORKS BASED ON OUTLIER IDENTIFICATION CRITERIA: AN EXAMPLE APPLIED TO THE LEVELING NETWORK

We present a numerical simulation method for designing geodetic networks. The quality criterion considered is based on the power of the test of data snooping testing procedure. This criterion expresses the probability of the data snooping to identify correctly an outlier. In general, the power of the test is defined theoretically. However, with the advent of the fast computers and large data storage systems, it can be estimated using numerical simulation. Here, the number of experiments in which the data snooping procedure identifies the outlier correctly is counted using Monte Carlos simulations. If the network configuration does not meet the reliability criterion at some part, then it can be improved by adding required observation to the surveying plan. The method does not use real observations. Thus, it depends on the geometrical configuration of the network; the uncertainty of the observations; and the size of outlier. The proposed method is demonstrated by practical application of one simulated leveling network. Results showed the needs of five additional observations between adjacent stations. The addition of these new observations improved the internal reliability of approximately 18%. Therefore, the final designed network must be able to identify and resist against the undetectable outliers – according to the probability levels

The Effect of Split Nitrogen Application on Patterns of Dry Matter partitioning in Sugar beet

Abstract\ud The effect of split application of nitrogen fertilizer on dry matter (DM) partitioning patterns, yield and quality of sugar beet was studied in a field experiment at Brat Abad, Fariman during 2001 growing season. Three levels of nitrogen fertilizer (N ,70 ; N2 ,140 ; N3 ,210 kg N/ha) were split as S1, %100 at sowing ; S2, %75 at sowing and %25 at thinning; S3, %50 at sowing and %50 at thinning ;S4, %25 at sowing and %75 at thinning. Factorial experiment based on a randomized complete block design with 4 replications was used. Dry matter partitioning towards storage roots in N1 and in N2 treatments switched at 66 and 76 day after emergence, respectively. In S1 spliting pattern more DM was allocated to root in all growth stages. So that in 1400 GDD (5 Aug) amount of dry matter partitioning to storage roots and tops was equal to %50 while at this stage, partitioning of dry matters to storage roots in S2, S3 and S4 were % 47, % 44 and % 38 , respectively. Nitrogen levels had significant effect on polarity, Na, K, recoverable sugar yield, white sugar content and molass sugar. However, these effects on root and sugar yield and N-amino was not significant. Higher rates of nitrogen fertilizer, led to decrease in polarity, white sugar content and recoverable sugar yield. However, root yield, Na, K, N-amino and molas sugar increased in response to N levels. Maximum net sugar yield (4.4 ton/ha) was obtained in the lowest N application. In this study, effect of different patterns of nitrogen spliting and interaction between spliting patterns and nitrogen rates on quality and quantity of sugar beet was not significant. However, maximum net sugar yield (4.8 ton/ha) was obtained in N1S1 where the lowest level of N fertilizer was applied at sowing. \ud \ud Keywords: Sugar beet, Dry matters partitioning, Root yield, Sugar yield, Nitroge

Phytochemistry and Proximate Composition Of Fruit Pulp And Seed Of Desert Date, Balanites aegyptiaca (Del.)

Fruit pulp and seed nutritional and anti-nutritional composition of desert date (Balanites aegyptiaca Del.) was carried out using standard biochemical procedure. The samples were collected from various locations within the premises of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto main campus. Percentage moisture of the ripe samples (seeds and pulp fruit) was analyzed for proximate, minerals, anti-nutritional, ascorbic acid as well as the physicochemical parameters of the seed oil. The results revealed that the seeds and fruit pulp contained high amount of crude protein (9.35% and 3.97%), lipid (25.0% and 20.0%), ash (6.0%), available carbohydrates (56.31% and 75.53%) with calorific value of (487.67 kcal/100 g and 498.0 kcal/100 g) and the pulp contained high moisture content (60.17%). The mineral elements analyzed show that, the fruit (seeds and pulp) is rich in potassium (383.33 mg/100 g and 256.33 mg/100 g), magnesium (23.67 mg/100 g and 10.67 mg/100 g ), iron (5.97 mg/100 g and 9.77 mg/100 g), zinc (21.47 mg/100 g and 28.73 mg/100 g), and manganese (3.67 mg/100g and 2.50 mg/100 g) were present relatively in large quantities. The pulp content appreciable concentration of ascorbic acid is 17.97 %. Results of anti-nutritional analysis revealed high content of total oxalate (26.25% and 48.75%) and phytic acid (858.95 mg/100 g and 242.91mg/100 g). The oil has saponification value (151.20 mg KOH/g oil), iodine (14.53 g/100 g), acid (14.55 mg KOH/g oil) and peroxide (8.06 meq/kg oil) values. The values of various nutrient and mineral elements varied significantly among the fruit parts (seeds and pulp), which implies potential of different parts can be harnessed to better the lotsof humanity. This is subject to further validation as the fruits, possessed anti-nutritional factors like oxalate and phytic acid, which need to be tackled appropriately while considering the fruits for value addition as health food

DESIGN OF DEFORMATION MONITORING NETWORKS USING PENALTY FUNCTION-BASED GENETIC ALGORITHM

This paper suggests a new method for designing an optimum deformation monitoring network using genetic algorithms. Optimization using genetic algorithms needs neither linearization nor differentiation of the object function or the constraint equations. As genetic algorithm uses simple mathematical computations it is easy to implement. In constraint problems one can use penalty functions to redefine the problems as unconstraint ones. This paper uses genetic algorithm to find out the optimum location for stations of a deformation monitoring network as well as the optimum observation weight (FOD and SOD problems). The network is designed in a way that the variancecovariance of the estimated parameters optimally approximates the criterion matrix. The paper reviews different components of the genetic algorithm and shows its efficiency using numerical example. 1

Effect of Different Doses of Ovulin Hormone Suspended in Saline on the Induced Breeding Performance of African Catfishes Clarias anguillaris and Clarias gariepinus in Sokoto, Nigeria

A study on the effect of different doses of Ovulin hormone suspended in saline on the breeding performance of Clarias anguillaris and Clarias gariepinus was carried out. The experiment was conducted in a 2x5 factorial experiment in a Completely Randomized Design at the Hatchery Unit of the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto. Species and hormone dilutions constituted the factors with specie having 2 levels (C. anguillaris and C. gariepinus) and Ovulin suspended in saline at 5 levels (0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%). The result showed that species levels did not significantly (P>0.05) affect the breeding performance in all the breeding performance parameters observed. However, fertilization rate, hatching rate and survival rate were significantly affected (P<0.05) by different levels of Ovulin suspended in saline, but did not have significant influence (P>0.05) on egg weight, spawning fecundity and relative fecundity. It could be concluded from this study that Ovulin suspended in saline can have significant influence on the breeding performance of African catfish