Description of soft sediment deformational structure of the Campano-Maastrichtian Gombe formation of the Northern Benue Trough, N.E. Nigeria

Several soft sediment deformational structures were identified during fieldwork survey carried out on exposures of Gombe Formation in the Gongola sub–basin of the Northern Benue Trough at Gombe and environs. These soft sediment deformational structures includes: simple internal cusps, which occur wide spread across a single bed or  intermittently across several beds, and slump structures that are represented by complex recumbent folds and concave upwards structures. These structures are proxy to syn-depositional energy operating within the depositional environment and this current research aims to evaluate their trigger mechanism. These deformational structures are commonly hosted in the mouth-bar deltaic sequences of the Gombe Formation. The deltaic setting is usually a locus for high sediment influx and accumulation. This may have generated high quantum of depositional energy which was probably responsible for the development of the syn-depositional soft sediment depositional structures in the Gombe Formation during Campano-Maastrichtian times. KEYWORDS: Gombe, Sandstone, Gongola Basin, soft sediment Benue trough

Incidence of Diabetes mellitus at the Federal Medical Centre Katsina, Katsina State, Nigeria: A Retrospective Study

A six-year (2002 – 2007) retrospective study of hospital records (in-patients) was carried out to investigate the incidence of Diabetes Mellitus in Katsina. The records showed that a total of 754 cases were attended within the study period. The study showed yearly increase in the incidence of the disease with the highest incidence of 288 (38.20%) in the year 2007 and the least 65 (8.62%) in the year 2002. More males suffered from the disease 456 (60.48%) than females 298 (39.52%). The incidence was also found to be high 289 (38.33%) in the age range 65 and above, while age range 25 – 34 was least affected 28 (3.71%). Ways on how to live free of Diabetes Mellitus were also recommended.Keywords: Age Range, Diabetes Mellitus, Incidence, Hospita

Hepatorenal toxicity studies of sub-chronic administration of calyx aqueous extracts of hibiscus sabdariffa in albino rats

Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn has been reported to have a broad range of therapeutic effects. Subchronic effects of calyces aqueous extracts of H. Sabdariffa were studied in albino rats. Twenty four (24) albino rats were randomly divided into six (6) groups of four rats each. Group A, was fed with growers mesh and distilled water as control. Groups B to F were administered orally with the aqueous extract at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5g /kg body weight respectively and the treatment period was 28 days. A decreased in weights of the animals were observed at all dose levels. The activities of liver maker enzymes (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase) and direct bilirubin increased significantly (p0.05) increase in concentrations of total protein and albumin were observed in comparison to the control. The renal indices, urea, uric acid and creatinine in the treated groups were significantly increased compared to the control but a significant decrease (

Sedimentology and paleoenvironmental studies on the Chad formation of Bornu basin, north-eastern Nigeria

This study deals with sedimentology and Paleoenvironmental studies of the Chad Formation in the Bornu Basin. The sandstones which build up this formation are fine, medium to coarse grained sands which are dominantlypoorly sorted. The skewness ranges from positive to very positive while the kurtosis varies from very platykurtic to very leptokurtic. The bivariate plots of standard deviation vs. mean, standard deviation vs. skewness, standarddeviation vs. first percentile, mean vs. first percentile and log probability plots have conclusively define the depositional environment of the arenaceous samples of the Chad Formation as fluvial in origin. The paleocurrent analysis indicates a trend in the northwestern direction which implies that the sediments forming the Chad Formation were derived from the southwest

Energetic proton spectra in the 11 June 1991 solar flare

We have studied a subset of the 11 June 1991 solar flare γ-ray data that we believe arise from soft proton or ion spectra. Using data from the COMPTEL instrument on the Compton Observatory we discuss the gamma-ray intensities at 2.223 MeV, 4–7 MeV, and 8–30 MeV in terms of the parent proton spectrum responsible for the emission

The prevalence of hyperthyroidism at university of maiduguri teaching hospital (UMTH), Maiduguri.

Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism are the two common thyroid disorders but there is paucity of information on the prevalence of hyperthyroidism in Nigeria in general and in Northeast of Nigeria in particular. Objective: To determine the prevalence of hyperthyroidism at University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital. Method: A retrospective study done over a period of one year that reviews the results of serum TSH, T4 and T4 from 203 patients. Results: Eighty-nine (43.8%) and 79 (38.9%) patients had elevated serum levels of T3 and T4 respectively (i.e. were hyperthyroid), 114 (56.2%) and 112 (55.2%) patients had normal serum levels of T3 and T4 respectively (i.e. were euthyroid) while 12 (5.9%) patients had low serum levels of T4 only (i.e. were hypothyroid). The female to male ratio of hyperthyroidism was 4 and 1[T3 — female 68 (35.4%), male — 17(89%); T 4— female 59 (30.7%), male 15(7.8%)]. Age —group from 25—34 years was the most frequent. (51 patients) and with the highest prevalence of hyperthyroidism [T4- 19(14.2%); T4 18(13.4%)].The study further revealed a decline in the prevalence of hyperthyroidism as age increased. The finding of high prevalence of low TSH (20.8%) against high prevalence of elevated T3 and T4 [89(44.1% and 79(38.9%) respectively] in this study could suggest that the hyperthyroidism in the studied patients could have been largely caused by Graves' disease. Conclusion: This study revealed that thyroid disorders are not uncommon in our environment and the finding of high prevalence of low TSH above high TSH, suggested that the hyperthyroidism discovered in our study may have been largely caused by Grave's disease. We recommend that more laboratory diagnostic centre should be established in our environment where thyroid disorders can be diagnosed

Gamma ray measurements of the 1991 November 15 solar flare

The 1991 November 15 X1.5 flare was a well observed solar event. Comprehensive data from ground-based observatories and spacecraft provide the basis for a contextual interpretation of gamma-ray spectra from the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO). In particular, spectral, spatial, and temporal data at several energies are necessary to understand the particle dynamics and the acceleration mechanism(s) within this flare. X-ray images, radio, Ca XIX data and magnetograms provide morphological information on the acceleration region [4,5], while gamma-ray spectral data provide information on the parent ion spectrum. Furthermore, time profiles in hard X-rays and gamma-rays provide valuable information on temporal characteristics of the energetic particles. We report the results of our analysis of the evolution of this flare as a function of energy (∼25 keV–2.5 MeV) and time. These results, together with other high energy data (e.g. from experiments on Yohkoh, Ulysses, and PVO) may assist in identifying and understanding the acceleration mechanism(s) taking place in this event