Geo-spatial analysis of crime in Kaduna Metropolis, Nigeria

Criminal activities are important concerns for public safety of our contemporary society. Clarifying where different types of crimes occur is one of the many important functions of crime analyses. This research aimed to map and analyse crime in Kaduna metropolis, Nigeria, applying Geo-Spatial Technique. The attribute data were obtained from the Police Divisional Head Quarters in Kaduna. An administrative map of the study area was used to delineate the police districts according to the Divisional Police Headquarters Jurisdiction in Kaduna Metropolis. The study identified and mapped a total of 11 crime types in the study area. The coordinates of each crime incidence were obtained from Google Earth Pro 4.2, this is because the exact location were not captured when the crimes were committed. An overlay analysis was performed and all the acquired coordinates of the crimes were displayed on the composite map. Finally, a GIS database was created where the spatial and attribute data were encoded and query analysis was performed. The study revealed that Theft/Stealing and Hurting/Fight ranks highest with 19.29% and 16.82% respectively. The study also discovered that crime incidence is highest in Tudun Wada with (15.05%), followed by Sabon Tasha and Rigachikun with 10.24% and 10.16% respectively. The study also revealed that Tudunwada, Sabon Tasha, Rigachikun and Rigasa are the major crime hotspots in the metropolis. This research, therefore recommends more effort should be put towards fighting crime especially in the months of December and January as the two months have the highest number of crimes committed. Also, crime cases should be recorded in details alongside their geographical coordinates by the Nigerian police.Keywords: GIS, Mapping, Spatial distribution, Crim

Harmonic load modeling: a case study of 33 kV Abuja Steel Mill Feeder

An in-depth study of the harmonic orders inherent in a power system network is required before mitigation techniques are adopted. This paper studied the harmonic orders of the 33 kV Abuja Steel Feeder modeled as a harmonic source using measured data. Readings of kW, kVar, kV and Hz were obtained using power quality analyzer (PQube) to identify the trend and the harmonic unbalance on the feeder. Electrical Transient Analyzer Program (ETAP) software package was deployed to perform Discrete Fast Transform (DFT) while the input parameters were the resultant relative amplitudes and phase angles for both the current and voltage source models. The current source model spectrum of the feeder under study revealed that the 11th and 13th harmonic orders have the highest percentage of amplitude relative to the fundamental compared to the other harmonics. On the other hand, the voltage source model spectrum showed that the 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 32nd, 33rd and 34th harmonic orders have higher percentage of relative amplitude. However, only the 3rd and 5th harmonic orders were found to cause severe harmonic distortion of voltage and current after harmonic analysis and frequency scan were performed on the ETAP platform.Keywords: Harmonic order; Power quality; Transmission grid; ETAP; Tuned filter

Breeding records of hooded vultures Necrosyrtes monachus (Timminek, 1823) at Kpokap, Zango Kataf Local Government Area, Kaduna State, Nigeria

Nesting of vultures was studied alongside with their population and distribution. Vulture’s nest is usually occupied by male and female for successful incubation of egg(s) and rearing of the chick(s). Continuation and preservation of an organism is achieved through conducive breeding habitat; vultures inclusive. Two nests were found at Kpokap all on Giant cola tree (Cola gigantea). The nests were placed each at the fork of the tree trunk. Nest 1 was located at about 9.5m above the ground while nest 2 was located at about 8.5m above the ground. The monogamous vultures fly out from their nests but hoover around whenever they felt threatened. This study is aimed at preserving the breeding pairs of vultures found at the study areas as fast as possible

Effect of Weeding Regimes on Chemical Composition of Lablab Purpureus in Semi-Arid Sokoto, Nigeria

A Field experiment was conducted in 2010 and repeated in 2011 cropping seasons to determine effects of weeding regime on chemical composition of Lablab purpureus. It was planted and weeded at four weeding regimes (weedy check, weeding once, weeding twice and weed free) laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) replicated thrice. Results revealed that weed free regime produced the highest crude protein (24.8%) while weedy check produced the highest carbohydrate content of 55.9% and the highest lipid content of 24.8%. For 2010 and 2011 seasons and the combined analysis, weeding regime did not show any significant difference (P > 0.05) in all parameters except in crude fibre and weed dry weight. Keywords: Weeding, Chemical Composition, Labla

Influence of Intra row spacing on growth and fodder yield of Lablab (Lablab purpureus [L]) in Semi – Arid Sokoto Nigeria

A Field experiment was conducted in 2010 and repeated in 2011 cropping seasons at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching and Research Farm, Dabagi to determine the effect of intra row spacing on growth and yield of Lablab purpureus. Treatments consisted three intra row spacings (20, 30 and 40cm) laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) replicated three times. The results of the trial showed that intra row spacing significantly (P < 0.05) affected stand establishment count with 20cm producing the highest (43.3)number of stands and plant height at week 3 after sowing in 2011 cropping season. Tallest plants (42.2 cm) were produced by 20cm intra row spacing. Leaf number was significant (P< 0.05) at 9 weeks after sowing in 2010 cropping season. Thirty (30) cm intra row spacing produced the highest no. of leaves (25). Leaf length was not significantly affected (P > 0.05) by intra row spacing. The longest leaf (9.9 cm) was produced by 30 cm intra row spacing. Leaf width was also not significantly affected (P > 0.05) by intra row spacing with 30 cm intra row spacing producing the widest leaf (8.9 cm). Dry matter yield was not affected (P > 0.05) by intra row spacing however, 30 cm intra row spacing produced the highest dry matter yield of 1707.7 kg/ha. It was concluded from this research that 30 cm intra row spacing produced the highest dry matter yield of Lablab purpureus (L) and is recommended for semi arid Sokoto environment.Keywords: Row spacing, Fodder yield, Lablab purpureu

Factors related to underweight prevalence among 33,776 children below 60 months old living in northern geopolitical zones, Nigeria (2008-2018)

The prevalence of underweight among children below 60 months old in Nigeria remains a significant public health challenge, especially in northern geopolitical zones (NGZ), ranging from 15% to 35%. This study investigates time-based trends in underweight prevalence and its related characteristics among NGZ children below 60 months old. Extracted NGZ representative dataset of 33,776 live births from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey between 2008 and 2018 was used to assess the characteristics related to underweight prevalence in children aged 0–23, 24–59, and 0–59 months using multilevel logistics regression. Findings showed that 11,313 NGZ children below 60 months old were underweight, and 24–59-month-old children recorded the highest prevalence (34.8%; 95% confidence interval: 33.5–36.2). Four factors were consistently significantly related to underweight prevalence in children across the three age groups: poor or average-income households, maternal height, children who had diarrhoea episodes, and children living in the northeast or northwest. Intervention initiatives that include poverty alleviation through cash transfer, timely health checks of offspring of short mothers, and adequate clean water and sanitation infrastructure to reduce the incidence of diarrhoea can substantially reduce underweight prevalence among children in NGZ in Nigeria

Response to the meningococcal meningitis epidemic (MME)at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano (2008-2009)

No Abstract

Links between cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis in postmenopausal women: serum lipids or atherosclerosis per se?

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Epidemiological observations suggest links between osteoporosis and risk of acute cardiovascular events and vice versa. Whether the two clinical conditions are linked by common pathogenic factors or atherosclerosis per se remains incompletely understood. We investigated whether serum lipids and polymorphism in the ApoE gene modifying serum lipids could be a biological linkage. METHODS: This was an observational study including 1176 elderly women 60–85 years old. Women were genotyped for epsilon (ɛ) allelic variants of the ApoE gene, and data concerning serum lipids (total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-C, LDL-C, apoA1, ApoB, Lp(a)), hip and spine BMD, aorta calcification (AC), radiographic vertebral fracture and self-reported wrist and hip fractures, cardiovascular events together with a wide array of demographic and lifestyle characteristics were collected. RESULTS: Presence of the ApoE ɛ4 allele had a significant impact on serum lipid profile, yet no association with spine/hip BMD or AC could be established. In multiple regression models, apoA1 was a significant independent contributor to the variation in AC. However, none of the lipid components were independent contributors to the variation in spine or hip BMD. When comparing the women with or without vertebral fractures, serum triglycerides showed significant differences. This finding was however not applicable to hip or wrist fractures. After adjustment for age, severe AC score (≥6) and/or manifest cardiovascular disease increased the risk of hip but not vertebral or wrist fractures. CONCLUSION: The contribution of serum lipids to the modulators of BMD does not seem to be direct but rather indirect via promotion of atherosclerosis, which in turn can affect bone metabolism locally, especially when skeletal sites supplied by end-arteries are concerned. Further studies are needed to explore the genetic or environmental risk factors underlying the association of low triglyceride levels to vertebral fractures

ANTI-NOCICEPTIVE AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITIES OF ETHANOL EXTRACT OF SYZYGIUM AROMATICUM FLOWER BUD IN WISTAR RATS AND MICE

The ethanol extracts of Syzygium aromaticum flower bud were tested for anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects in mice and Wistar rats which were carried out using acetic acid-induced abdominal contractions in mice and formalin-induced hind paw edema in Wistar rats. Three doses of the ethanol extract (50, 100, and 200mg/kg body weight i.p.) were used for both studies. The extract had an LD50 of 565.7 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally in mice. The extracts produced significant effect (

Under-5 mortality and its associated factors in Northern Nigeria : evidence from 22,455 singleton live births (2013-2018)

The northern geopolitical zones (NGZs) continue to report the highest under-5 mortality rates (U5MRs) among Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. This study was designed to identify factors related to under-5 mortality (U5M) in the NGZs. The NGZ populations extracted from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey were explored to assess the factors associated with U5M using logistic regression, generalised linear latent, and mixed models. Between 2013 and 2018, the northwest geopolitical zone reported the highest U5MR (179 deaths per 1000 live births; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 163–194). The adjusted model showed that geopolitical zone, poor household, paternal occupation, perceived children’s body size at birth, caesarean delivery, and mothers and fathers’ education were highly associated with increased odds of U5M. Other significant factors that influenced U5M included children of fourth or higher birth order with shorter interval ≤ 2 years (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.68; CI: 1.42–1.90) and mothers who did not use contraceptives (aOR = 1.41, CI: 1.13–1.70). Interventions are needed and should primarily spotlight children residing in low-socioeconomic households. Educating mothers on the benefits of contraceptive use, child spacing, timely and safe caesarean delivery and adequate care for small-sized babies may also reduce U5M in Nigeria, particularly in the NGZs