An evasion differential game problem on the plane

Evasion differential game problem with many pursuers and one evader is studied on the plane. The control functions of the players are subject to integral constraints on each coordinates. Sufficient conditions for evasion to be proposed from many pursuers are obtained. Moreover, evader’s strategy is constructed and illustrative example is given.Keywords: evasion, integral constraint, strategies

Subsurface mapping of groundwater contamination pathway using geoelectric method at waste site of Kubanni Basin, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria

Electrical resistivity Survey was carried out at Kubanni waste dumpsite of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna state, Nigeria in order to study the groundwater contamination pathway. Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) using Schlumberger array was carried out at fourteen (14) stations. Ohmega terrameter was used for data acquisition. The field data obtained has been analyzed using Computer Software (ipi2win)which gives an automatic interpretation of apparent resistivity. The VES result revealed the heterogeneous nature of the subsurface geologic sequence. The geologic sequence beneath the study area is composed of topsoil (sandy-clay and sandy-lateritic), weathered basement, fracture basement layer and fresh basement. The resistivity values of the layers ranges from 8.2Ωm to 2884Ωm. The extremely low resistivity variation in the weathered basement identify the present of contamination plume zones in the layer. However, fracture basement and fresh basement underlying the weathered basement show lateral variation in the basement resistivity. The result shows that the contamination plume zone has tendency to contaminate the ground water.Keywords: Contamination, Fracture basement, Fresh basement, Geoelectric, Groundwater, Leachate, Weathered and Vertical Electric Sounding (VES

Strategy on Hepatitis B prevention among African undergraduate students of health sciences in Davangere, Karnataka India

Background: Hepatitis B is an inflammatory disease of the liver which is caused by Hepatitis B Virus. It is a global problem, with 66% of all the population living in areas where there are high levels of infections. Hepatitis B infection are due to lapses in the sterilization of instruments as well as improper waste management. Knowledge regarding Hepatitis B and safety precautions is needed to minimize the health care setting’s acquired infections among health personnel and students of health Sciences. Aim: The study was aimed at assessing the knowledge regarding the prevention of Hepatitis B among African Undergraduate students of Health Sciences in Davangere. Methodology: A cross sectional design was used for the study were 50 students were selected using purposive sampling. A validated structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The data were analyzed using median score and correlations. Results: The results indicated that majority (52%) of the respondents were between 22- 24years of age. The students of B.Pharm were 25 (50%), 38% MBBS and 12% B.Sc. Nursing. The overall median score on knowledge regarding hepatitis B Prevention was 13.0 out of maximum score of 29. The association between the knowledge on hepatitis B prevention strategy with level of study and course specialty was 0.74 P>0.05. Conclusion: The study concluded that the knowledge regarding Hepatitis B prevention among students was inadequate hence, recommends a similar study on a larger scale. Keywords: Knowledge; Prevention; Hepatitis B; Infection; African

Extent of Extension Service Delivery for Agro-pastoralists in Niger State,Nigeria

The study examines the extent of agricultural extension services deleivery to agro-pastoralists in Niger State. Nigeria. Primary data were collected through field survey from agropastorialist from three purposely selected Local Government Areas in Niger State. Katcha, Paiko and Wushishi LGA’s were purposely selected by making sure they were in different agricultural zones of the Niger State namely Zone I, II and III respectively. Twenty percent of the agropastoralists house-hold population was sampled from each of three LGA randomly. A total of 210 household heads were sampled and interviewed using a semi structured survey instrument administered by trained enumerators who understood the local language. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were employed to analyse the data. Results revealed that all (100%) of the household heads were all males and 67.7% acquired adult education while agro-pastoralism was the major occupation (98.1%). Majority (98.1%) of the agro-pastoralists claimed they were of Fulani ethnic group. Information on out break of diseases (mean=3.9); provision of grazing reserves (mean=3.7) were reported high. Majority (99.5%) of the respondents opined that lack of easy access to vaccines and non- proximity of veterinary clinic were major constraints. In the testing of hypotheses, Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) showed a significant positive relationship between extent of extension service provision and the following variables namely Age (r =0.172; p<0.05), number of wives (r =0.163; p<0.05), number of children (r =0.222 and; p<0.05), and number of cows owned (r =0.221; p<0.05).  The result of Chi-square analysis shows that there was a significant relationship between Extent of extension provision and the settlement type (X2 =10.21; p<0.05), Extent of extension provision and educational level (X2 =12.20;p<0.05). It was recommended that government should make adequate arrangement for provision of neccessary infra-structure in the already gazzeted grazing reserve most especially vetinery clinics and make vaccine available and affordable for them. There is need to produce more radio programmes and also encourage formation of radio listening group since is one of the major source of information to their production system. Keywords: Agriculture, Extension service delivery, agropastoralist

Effect of erbium-calcium manganite doping on microstructure and electrical properties of zinc oxide based varistor ceramics

In this research, (80-x) mol% zinc oxide with 20 mol% CaMnO3 as the additive and (x) mol% erbium oxide Er2O3 as the doping material where x = 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5. Aims of this work are to elucidate the effects of doping material on microstructure ZnO and nonlinear characteristics of ZnO based varistor ceramics. A compound comprising ZnO-CaMnO3-Er2O3 underwent pre-sintering at 500 °C for 4 hours and sintering process at temperature of 1100 °C, 1200 °C and 1300 °C with the soaking time of 1.5 hours and 4.5 hours. X-ray diffraction patterns CaMnO3   spinal  and  additional  phases  containing Er in the confirmed the presence of synthesized compounds.The disappeared of hydroxyl and carbonyl functional group was observed at 3600-3650 cm-1, 1421 cm-1 and 875 cm-1 respectively by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy to indicate the starting formation oxide metal upon calcinations.Keywords: ZnO varistor; Er doping; microstructure; I-V characteristics; low voltage varisto

Decision making autonomy and maternal healthcare utilization among Nigerian women

Background and Objectives: Low assess to ante-natal care (ANC) services continue to pose a major public health challenge leading to high maternal mortality rates in developing countries. Non-utilization of ANC services among about a quarter of Nigerian women of reproductive age remains a major concern in the actualization of Sustainable Development Goals. Considering the complexity of healthcare utilization in Nigeria, the relationship between a particular health care utilization pattern and women autonomy has not been fully examined. This study examines the patterns of women autonomy and their relationships with ANC utilization in Nigeria. Methods: This was a cross-sectional analysis of the 2013 nationally representative data from the Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). Factor analysis/score were used to construct women autonomy index, while chi-square and logistic regression were used to establish the relationships between the response and exposure variables. Results: There is a strong relationship between women decision making autonomy status and ANC services among Nigeria women. The odds of utilizing ANC services among women with more decision making autonomy were significantly 3.79 higher than among women with low decision-making autonomy. The use of ANC increases as age, education and wealth status of respondents increase. Conclusions and Global Health Implications: These results indicate that women autonomy is undoubtedly a major determinant of ANC utilization in Nigeria

Analysis of the distribution of heavy metals in the soils of Bagega mining area Zamfara state, Nigeria

Uncontrolled exploitation and degradation in the environment over the past few decades as the result of urbanization and poverty has caused a serious damage to lives and properties. The study analysed the spatial distribution of heavy metal (Fe, Cu and Zn) in Bagega, Zamfara state. Three mapping units were identified and samples were collected from the top soil (0-15cm) horizon using stratified random sampling techniques. These include the Mining Processing Environment (MPE), Residential exterior (RE) and Surrounding Farmlands (SF). In each mapping units, twelve (12) samples were collected randomly. Coordinates of all samples points were recorded using GPS. The soil sample were analyse for heavy metals using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) and the result were recorded in Microsoft excel and later transformed into GIS environment in the Arc GIS 10.1 version. Krigging model was used for mapping the spatial distribution of the heavy metals in the study area. The result shows that there are more concentrations of heavy metals (Fe and Cu) in the Residential exterior (RE) and streams sites. The level of heavy metal in the soils of the area were below the acceptable toxic level of and this can be attributed to the number of years quarry activities in the study area have been in operation. The study concluded that Fe and Zn are more concentrated to the mining and river sites areas, while Cu is highly concentrated at the farmlands areas. The study recommends for continuous monitoring and mining should be avoided especially closer to the residential areas.Keywords: Spatial distribution, Mapping, Heavy metals, Bageg

Phytochemical and antimicrobial activity of securidaca longipedunculata root against urinary tract infection pathogens

Urinary tract infection caused by bacteria leads to inflammation and over growth of uropathogens and prevalence of infection for both genders, but women is more vulnerable especially at the sexually active ages. But unfortunately, the continuous emergence of antibiotic resistant bacterial strains brings most serious public health concerns. It is therefore, important to look for more alternative, effective, safer and safer treatments. The aim of the present study was to investigate antimicrobial activity of Securidaca longipedunculata root extracts against some human pathogenic bacteria and fungi using agar well diffusion method and agar dilution for minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Phytochemical and acute toxicity studies were carried out using the standard methods. Phytochemicals which include alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, carbohydrates and triterpenes were detected in both aqueous and methanolic extracts. The antimicrobial results revealed that, the methanolic extract had promising antibacterial activity. For intense Escherichia coli was found to be the most susceptible bacteria in both methanol and aqueous extracts at 500mg/ml with inhibition zones of 20 mm and 16mm, Staphylococcus aureus was next most susceptible bacteria to methanol extract of the root with inhibition zone of 16 mm and MIC of 31.25 mg/ml respectively. The extracts does not showed activity against all the tested fungal isolates at lowest concentration 62.5 mg/ml. The LD50 of Securidaca longipedunculata was found to be greater than 5000 mg /kg and could be considered safe for consumption

Microbial Contaminants in Fresh and Extended Turkey Semen and their Sensitivity to Antibiotics

Microorganisms that inhabit the avian cloaca usually contaminate poultry semen which could easily spread throughout an entire flock. This study was conducted to determine the presence of microbial contaminants in turkey semen and evaluate their antibiotic sensitivity. Semen was collected from each tom, pooled and then divided into two aliquots A and B. Aliquot A was immediately  evaluated for microbial contaminants and antibiotic sensitivity while aliquot B, was extended and preserved for 24 hours at 40 C and thereafter microbial culture, identification and antibiotic sensitivity were conducted. Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus subtilis, Corynebacteria species and a fungal organism Candida albican were isolated and identified in both aliquots. All the identified organisms were sensitive to pefloxacin, gentamicin and ciprofloxacin, while Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus subtilis and Corynebacteria species were resistant to Ampicillin-cloxacillin, cefuroxime, amoxicillin and ceftriaxone. Escherichia coli was only resistant to co-trimoxazole, ofloxacin and nalidixic acid. The study concludes that, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus foecalis, Bacillus subtilis, Corynebacteria species and Candida albican were found to be turkey semen contaminants and were resistant to penicillin and streptomycin combination in turkey semen extender but sensitive to pefloxacin, gentamicin and ciprofloxacin. Key words: Microbial contaminants, turkey semen, extender, antibiotic sensitivit

Identification of a putative protein-profile associating with tamoxifen therapy-resistance in breast cancer

Tamoxifen-resistance is a major cause of death in patients with recurrent breast cancer. Current clinical parameters can correctly predict therapy response in only half of the treated patients. Identification of proteins that associate with tamoxifen-resistance is a first step towards better response prediction and tailored treatment of patients. In the present study we aimed to identify putative protein biomarkers indicative of tamoxifen therapy-resistance in breast cancer, using nanoLC-FTICR MS. Comparative proteome analysis was performed on ~5,500 pooled tumor cells obtained through laser capture microdissection from two independently processed data sets (n=24 and n=27) of tamoxifen therapy-sensitive and -resistant tumors. Peptide and protein identifications were acquired by matching mass and elution time features to information in previously generated accurate mass and time tag reference data bases. A total of 17,263 unique peptides were identified that corresponded to 2,556 non-redundant proteins identified with >=2 peptides. From this total, 1,713 protein