Preliminary studies on food and feeding habits of Polypterus endlicheri and Polypterus senegalus in Lake Chad

The food and feeding habits of Polyprerus cncllicheri and Polypterus senegalus was carried out in the months of September to October. The food of 33 Polypierus endlicheri as observed include Tilapia species (89.3%), Eutropius niloticus (28.6%), Mayfly nymph (39.3%), Dragon fly larva (56.6%) fish remains (21.4%) and detritus (7.1%). The food of27 Polypterus senegalus as observed include Tilapia sp (88.4%), Eutropius niloticus (27.9%), may fly nymph (23.3%), Dragonfly nymph (34.9%) remains (21.1%) detritus (23.3%). (9 page document) The percentage occurrence of food item found in the stomach of Polypterus endlieheri is 93.3% while that of Polyprerus senegalus is 67.4%. The dominance of Tilapia sp was establish in the study, and there is no significant difference between the feeding habit of Polypterus endlicheri and Polyprerus senegalus

Factors Contributing to Low Uptake of Cervical Screening in a Population at Risk

Introduction: Many factors have been attributed to the unacceptably high incidences of cervical cancer and deaths from cervical cancer in developing countries and include lack of organized cervical cancer screening services and especially lack of information on cervical cancer by women.Aims and Objectives: This study aims to find the contributing factors to knowledge, attitude and practice of cervical screening in women.Materials and Methods: This study was carried out using a self  administered questionnaire filled by 271 women who attended gynaecological and family planning clinics.Results: About 212 (78.2%) of the respondents have heard about cancer before, 144 (53.1%) of respondents were aware that cervical cancer can be prevented by screening. 187 (66.8%) have no idea about the cause of cervical cancer, 64.6% said they wish to be screened, but 242 (89.3%) have never been screened for cervical cancer.Discussion: The respondents in this study have demonstrated a high level of awareness of cervical cancer but low uptake of cervical cancer screening services. There is therefore the need to improve on the knowledge of the disease and also to pass on correct messages concerning cervical cancer to the community using multiple channels of communication.Key Words: Cervical Cancer, Screening, Preventio

Effect of antioxidants supplementations in salt-induced dyslipidaemia in albino rats

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is associated with many risk factors including oxidative stress and dyslipidaemia. The current work evaluated the effects of antioxidants supplementation on salt-induced dyslipidaemia in albino rats. Rats were divided into 10 groups of 7 rats each. Groups 2-10 were fed 8% salt diets for 5 weeks while group 1 served as control and were fed normal rat feed. Water was provided to all the groups ad libitum. The animals in groups 3-10 were then supplemented with vitamin A; vitamin C; vitamin E; Cu; Mn; Zn; vitamins A, C and E combined and Cu, Mn and Zn combined respectively for additional 4 weeks simultaneously with salt loading. Group 2 was not supplemented and served as the negative control. Serum levels of total cholesterol, triacylglyceride, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and glucose were estimated. The results indicated that the vitamins reduced significantly serum lipid profiles and the atherogenic index by up to 80%. The serum glucose levels of the rats supplemented with antioxidant vitamins and minerals were also significantly (P<0.05) lowered compared with the negative control group. These results suggest that the reduction of serum lipid profile and glucose level may be due to regulation of cholesterol and lipoprotein metabolism and increased insulin sensitivity as a result of the supplementations. It may thus suggest that the antioxidants may provide protection against CVDs and metabolic syndrome in salt-induced dyslipidaemia in rats

Effect of Copper, Manganese and Zinc With Antioxidant Vitamins on Pulse Rate and Lipid Profile of Salt-Loaded Albino Rats

Hypertension and dyslipidemia are associated with oxidative stress and are major causes of cardiovascular diseases amounting to 30% of global death rate. The effect of antioxidants supplementation on pulse rate and lipid profile in salt-loaded albino rats were investigated using a randomized control study with 30 albino rats divided into 5 experimental groups of 6 rats each. Groups 1 and 2 were normal untreated and salt-induced untreated respectively. Groups 3-5 were treated with Vitamins (A, C and E) with Cu, Mn and Zn respectively. Hypertension and dyslipidemia were induced using Salt-loading method (8% NaCl) for a period of five (5) weeks where Group 1 received normal rat feed and Groups 2-5 received salt-loaded diet. The heart rate of the rats was measured before and after the salt loading and dyslipidaemia was assessed at the end of the experiment. The results indicated that salt loading induced significant increase (

Electrical grid stability enhancement using smart home Frequency-response Grid -Friendly Appliance System

Load shedding is a powerful scheme used for corrective and preventive measures; corrective to restore system’s stability and preventive to avoid catastrophic failure. However, the affected end users are deprived of power supply absolutely with no choice. This paper presents the design, development, feasibility and merits of Frequency-response Grid -Friendly Appliance System (FRGFAS) in a smart home. FRGFAS is a decentralized Adaptive Load Shaving(ALS) device that supports grid’s system stability by sensing grid’s frequency deterioration level and turns ON/OFF loads accordingly. The FRGFAS permits end users to carry out load shaving at their scale of preference in smart homes via flexible demand responses and automates outdoor lighting to optimum operational hours. FRGFAS obviate load shedding by shaving loads whenever the system is in distress and reset loads supply to the normal state when it stabilizes, this Consequently increases the end user comfort zone and averts a blackout

Case Report Common Atrium: A Rare Cause of Acute Decompensated Heart Failure

We report a rare case of common atrium and acute decompensated heart failure most likely precipitated by acute bacterial pericarditis leading to premature death, in a 25-year-old male footballer. The silent course of the disease for decades as well as the diagnostic and management pitfalls of this case illustrates the importance of early detection by echocardiography and urgent appropriate treatment in intensive care settings to limit the poor prognosis of the condition

Phylogeographic Patterns in Africa and High Resolution Delineation of Genetic Clades in the Lion (Panthera leo)

Comparative phylogeography of African savannah mammals shows a congruent pattern in which populations in West/Central Africa are distinct from populations in East/Southern Africa. However, for the lion, all African populations are currently classified as a single subspecies (Panthera leo leo), while the only remaining population in Asia is considered to be distinct (Panthera leo persica). This distinction is disputed both by morphological and genetic data. In this study we introduce the lion as a model for African phylogeography. Analyses of mtDNA sequences reveal six supported clades and a strongly supported ancestral dichotomy with northern populations (West Africa, Central Africa, North Africa/Asia) on one branch, and southern populations (North East Africa, East/Southern Africa and South West Africa) on the other. We review taxonomies and phylogenies of other large savannah mammals, illustrating that similar clades are found in other species. The described phylogeographic pattern is considered in relation to large scale environmental changes in Africa over the past 300,000 years, attributable to climate. Refugial areas, predicted by climate envelope models, further confirm the observed pattern. We support the revision of current lion taxonomy, as recognition of a northern and a southern subspecies is more parsimonious with the evolutionary history of the lion.Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) (project no. 820.01.002)

Electrical characterization of n-type cylindrical gate all around nanowire junctionless transistor with sio2 and high-k dielectrics

In this work, the electrical characteristics of n-type cylindrical gate all around (GAA) nanowire junctionless transistors (NWJLT) of different gate oxides are investigated and analyzed. Silicon dioxide (SiO2) and two high-k dielectrics which are silicon nitride (Si3N4) and hafnium dioxide (HfO2) were used in this study. GAANWJLT of different gate lengths (LG) and nanowire diameter (dNW) were simulated, compared and analyzed to obtain the most optimum device. SDE and Sdevice tools of Sentaurus TCAD were used to simulate and extract the electrical properties of the proposed devices. It was found that GAANWJLT with high-k dielectrics significantly exhibits better electrical properties than with SiO2 due to increase in internal fringe capacitance of the gate dielectric layer. SCEs were considerably improved as the gate-to-channel capacitance reduced. It was found that, for LG of 7 nm and dNW of 6 nm GAANWJLT, device with HfO2 exhibits better electrical properties with more than 2-fold elevated in ION/IOFF ratio and about 15% improvement in SS than the conventional device with SiO2. It proves that GAANWJLT with HfO2 exhibits the most optimum electrical characteristics among the three devices, hence the best alternative to improve SCEs as well as to increase the switching speed of the transistor devices

Preparing for and executing a randomised controlled trial of podoconiosis treatment in Northern Ethiopia: the utility of rapid ethical assessment

Background Community-based randomized controlled trials are often complex pieces of research with significant challenges around the approach to the community, information provision, and decision-making, all of which are fundamental to the informed consent process. We conducted a rapid ethical assessment to guide the preparation for and conduct of a randomized controlled trial of podoconiosis treatment in northern Ethiopia. Methods A qualitative study was carried out in Aneded woreda, East Gojjam Zone, Amhara Regional State from August to September, 2013. A total of 14 In-depth Interviews (IDIs) with researchers, experts, and leaders, and 8 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) involving 80 participants (people of both gender, with and without podoconiosis), were conducted. Interviews were carried out in Amharic. Data analysis was started alongside collection. Final data analysis used a thematic approach based on themes identified a priori and those that emerged during the analysis. Results Respondents made a range of specific suggestions, including that sensitisation meetings were called by woreda or kebele leaders or the police; that Health Extension Workers were asked to accompany the research team to patients’ houses; that detailed trial information was explained by someone with deep local knowledge; that analogies from agriculture and local social organisations be used to explain randomisation; that participants in the ‘delayed’ intervention arm be given small incentives to continue in the trial; and that key community members be asked to quell rumours arising in the course of the trial. Conclusion Many of these recommendations were incorporated into the preparatory phases of the trial, or were used during the course of the trial itself. This demonstrates the utility of rapid ethical assessment preceding a complex piece of research in a relatively research-naive setting