Autonomous ultrasonic based water level detection and control system

This paper presents an automated non-intrusive control system for monitoring the water level of domestic overhead and underground reservoir tank base on the property of wave reflection. The system consists of two HC-SR04 Ultrasonic transceivers that generate ultrasonic pulses and determines the depth of the water surface based on the total Time of Flight (TOF) of the reflected wave. An ATMEGA328 microcontroller was programmed to read the sensors, control the water level and display the corresponding volume of the water on a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). The experimental result proves the system stability both at turbulence and laminar flows. The proposed approach can be extended to monitor and control the volume and level of other valuable fluids such as diesel, kerosene etc.; as well as hazardous chemical where human interventions may be treacherous.Keywords: Ultrasonic, Transceiver, Time of flight, Liquid Crystal Displa

Determination of sex using demarking points of the calf and skinfold thickness among Bauchi State students in University of Maiduguri, Nigeria

The aim of the study was to estimate sex using demarking points and index of sexual dimorphism of the calf and skinfold thickness among Bauchi State students in University of Maiduguri, Nigeria. The study was carried out using 194 subjects (100 males and 94 females) with  age ranged from 18 to 39 and 18 to 35 years  respectively with no structural deformity or fracture. The following parameters were measured (standing height, weight, calf height, upper one-third calf circumference, medial and lateral calf skinfolds). The results showed that standing height, weight, calf height, upper one-third calf circumference, medial and lateral calf skinfolds in males were 1.70m, 62.08kg, 43.68cm, 32.15cm, 4.70mm and 6.15mm respectively, while female counterparts had 1.58m, 60.22kg, 35.98cm, 35.23cm, 10.33mm and 13.46mm respectively. There were significant differences between males and females standing height, calf height, upper one-third calf circumference, medial and lateral calf skinfolds (p < 0.05) but no significant differences in weight (p > 0.05). Index for sexual dimorphism and demarking point were calculated and all the parameters were observed to be sexually dimorphic. In conclusion, males have higher values for height and weight, while the females have higher values for the calf height, upper one-third calf circumference, medial and lateral calf skinfolds

Androgenic profiles in HIV-infected male patients on highly active anti-retroviral therapy: could this be a threat to fertility?

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the Serum Androgenic Profiles of HIV-infected Male Patients on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy and those not on Active Antiretroviral Therapy in Specialist Hospital Sokoto, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: One hundred and thirty-five HIV-infected male patients were evaluated in the Department of Medicine, Specialist Hospital Sokoto Nigeria from July 2017 to March 2018 using history, baseline investigations, and CD4counts. Free testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were measured using an overnight fasting serum sample. Patients were divided into three groups (n=45); Group A= HIV-infected male patients on HAART, Group B = HIV-infected male treatment naive patients, and Group C= HIV-negative control subjects. Data were analysed using ANOVA and Chi-square tests and p≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant Results: The serum testosterone and CD4 counts were reduced in HIV-infected male patients on HAART and HAART naive compared to the negative control. The reduced testicular functions were substantiated by raised serum LH and FSH in HIV-infected male patients on HAART (p < 0.05) compared to the negative control. Conclusions: HIV-infections associated with low CD4 counts even among patients on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy may pose threat to male fertility. Keywords: HIV-infected Males; Hypogonadisms; Sokoto Nigeri

Effect of cimetidine on some hematological indices of Wistar rats: modulatory role of vitamin c

Introduction: Cimetidine is a drug used in the treatment of dyspepsia, a clinical condition with widespread distribution. Many studies have reported cimetidine to cause many unwanted effects. However, in most of those studies cimetidine was administered at higher than therapeutic doses. Aim: The aim of this study was, therefore, to evaluate the effect of chronic cimetidine treatment at therapeutic dose on some hematological indices and the possible modulatory role of vitamin C on any such effect. Experimental design and Animal grouping: Forty adult male Wistar rats were divided into four groups (n = 10) and treated orally for 60 days with distilled water (control); cimetidine (30 mg kg-1); cimetidine (30 mg kg-1) + vitamin C (25 mg kg-1) and cimetidine (30 mg kg-1) + vitamin C (50 mg kg-1). At the end of the study blood was collected for analysis. Results: Total white blood cell (WBC) count (5.99 ± 0.20 x 103/mm3) of the cimetidine only-treated group was significantly lower than that of the control (7.95 ± 0.29 x 103/mm3).However, the valuesof red blood cell (RBC) count, packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin(MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and color index of the experimental groups were not significantly different from that of the control. Treatment with vitamin C modulated the cimetidine-induced decrease in total WBC count. Conclusion: It was concluded that chronic cimetidine administration at therapeutic dose caused a significant decrease in WBC count and this was modulated by vitamin C. Key words: Cimetidine; WBC count; RBC count; hemoglobin and vitamin C

Tracking development assistance for health and for COVID-19 : a review of development assistance, government, out-of-pocket, and other private spending on health for 204 countries and territories, 1990-2050

Background The rapid spread of COVID-19 renewed the focus on how health systems across the globe are financed, especially during public health emergencies. Development assistance is an important source of health financing in many low-income countries, yet little is known about how much of this funding was disbursed for COVID-19. We aimed to put development assistance for health for COVID-19 in the context of broader trends in global health financing, and to estimate total health spending from 1995 to 2050 and development assistance for COVID-19 in 2020. Methods We estimated domestic health spending and development assistance for health to generate total health-sector spending estimates for 204 countries and territories. We leveraged data from the WHO Global Health Expenditure Database to produce estimates of domestic health spending. To generate estimates for development assistance for health, we relied on project-level disbursement data from the major international development agencies' online databases and annual financial statements and reports for information on income sources. To adjust our estimates for 2020 to include disbursements related to COVID-19, we extracted project data on commitments and disbursements from a broader set of databases (because not all of the data sources used to estimate the historical series extend to 2020), including the UN Office of Humanitarian Assistance Financial Tracking Service and the International Aid Transparency Initiative. We reported all the historic and future spending estimates in inflation-adjusted 2020 US$, 2020 US$ per capita, purchasing-power parity-adjusted US$per capita, and as a proportion of gross domestic product. We used various models to generate future health spending to 2050. Findings In 2019, health spending globally reached$8. 8 trillion (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 8.7-8.8) or $1132 (1119-1143) per person. Spending on health varied within and across income groups and geographical regions. Of this total,$40.4 billion (0.5%, 95% UI 0.5-0.5) was development assistance for health provided to low-income and middle-income countries, which made up 24.6% (UI 24.0-25.1) of total spending in low-income countries. We estimate that $54.8 billion in development assistance for health was disbursed in 2020. Of this,$13.7 billion was targeted toward the COVID-19 health response. $12.3 billion was newly committed and$1.4 billion was repurposed from existing health projects. $3.1 billion (22.4$2.4 billion (17.9%) was for supply chain and logistics. Only $714.4 million (7.7$1519 (1448-1591) per person in 2050, although spending across countries is expected to remain varied. Interpretation Global health spending is expected to continue to grow, but remain unequally distributed between countries. We estimate that development organisations substantially increased the amount of development assistance for health provided in 2020. Continued efforts are needed to raise sufficient resources to mitigate the pandemic for the most vulnerable, and to help curtail the pandemic for all. Copyright (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.Peer reviewe

Effects of oral administration of Momordica charantia on haematological parameters of adult albino rats

The aim of the study was to evaluate the haematological parameters of adult albino rats following oral administration of extract of Momordica charantia. Twenty male adult albino rats were grouped according to their body weights (270±30g). The Group A (control) group was administered orally with distilled water daily for six (6) weeks. Group B, C and D were administered orally with 125 mg, 250mg and 500mg of the extract for six (6) weeks respectively. The rats were humanely sacrificed, blood sample collected was from the heart of the rats, for haematological (red blood cell, white blood cell, hemoglobin, lymphocytes, eosinophil and neutrophils counts) analysis. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare the mean of haematological parameters. It was observed that Momordica charantia elevate the white blood cell count when compared to the control group. It was also observed that the red blood cell count of the groups treated with methanolic extract of Momordica charantia showed no change in value when compared to the control group. There was increase in lymphocytes and eosinophil count across the groups treated with methanolic extract. Conclusion: The Momordica charantia has potential in elevating some of the haematological parameters of the treated adult albino ratsKeywords: Momordica charantia, haematological parameters, albino rat

Alpha-lipoic acid attenuates depressive symptoms in mice exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress

Background: Depression is the most common psychiatric illness that involves mood disturbances affecting many brain regions. Despite many approaches available to treat depression, only about 35% of depressed patients achieve remission upon receiving antidepressants. Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is an antioxidant that plays an essential role in mitochondrial energy metabolism and neurotransmitter modulation. Hence, this research was aimed at assessing a possible antidepressant effect of ALA in mice exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). Methods: Twenty-five (25) Swiss albino mice weighing between 20-26 g were grouped into five groups of five mice each (n=5). Group 1: which served as control received normal saline (NS) and was exposed to CUMS, Groups 2, 3, and 4 received graded doses of ALA (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg respectively), Group 5 (positive control) received fluoxetine (20 mg/kg). Daily administration was done through oral gavage. The animals were subjected to open field (OF) and staircase (SC) tests after induction of depression using CUMS. Thereafter, brain and blood samples of the mice were collected for serotonin, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) analysis. Results: Treatment with ALA 200 mg/kg significantly decreased immobility time compared to CUMS + NS group (P≤0.05) in the tail suspension test. Similarly, fluoxetine 20 mg/kg significantly increased brain serotonin level and decreased BDNF level compared to CUMS + NS group (P≤0.05). However, ALA did not significantly affect brain serotonin and BDNF levels (P>0.05). In the OF test, a significant decrease was observed in the number of line crossings in ALA 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg and fluoxetine 20 mg/kg administered groups when compared with CUMS + NS group (P≤0.05). However, in SC test and oxidative stress biomarkers, no significant effect was observed (P>0.05). Conclusion: ALA showed a promising antidepressant-like effect in mice subjected to CUMS murine model of depression by decreasing immobility time

Sol-gel deposition and electrical properties of laser irradiated Cu doped TiO2 multilayer thin films

Multilayer thin films (3, 5 and 7) of 20% copper doped titanium dioxide (Cu:TiO2) have been deposited on glass substrates by sol-gel spin coating method. After deposition, films have been irradiated by a beam of continuous wave diode laser (532 nm) for two minutes at the angle of 45°. Structural, surface morphology and electrical properties of films have been investigated by X-rays diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and four point probe technique respectively. XRD shows the formation of titanium copper oxide. Surface morphology of thin films indicated that the average grain size is increased by increasing the number of layers. The average sheet resistivity of 3, 5 and 7 layers of thin films measured by four point probe technique is 2.2 × 104, 1.2 × 104 and 1.0 × 104 (Ohm-cm) respectively. The present study will facilitate a cost effective and environmental friendly study for several properties of materials. Keywords: Cu:TiO2, Multilayer thin films, Diode lase

A-V Fistulae from Arrow Injuries: A Report of Two Cases

Feathered arrows, representing some of the primeval weapons of man are still being used as violent weapons for settling disputes. Seventeen various cases of cardio-vascular injuries caused by arrow shots were recorded at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) from 1994 to 1998. Of these, one involved the temporal vessels, which led to a temporo-temporal A-V fistula causing the patient continuous noisy headache. The late complication was only recognized about two years post injury. Another arrow shot injury involved femoral vessels and resulted in femoro-femoral A-V fistula, which came to be recognized four yeas post injury. The thigh fistula caused cardio-pulmonary decompensation. The two patients had undergone alternative treatments between orthodox medical practitioners and medicine men both in Nigeria and some other West African countries, prior to presentation at UMTH. Successful surgical vascular repairs restored normal health conditions to the patients. Vascular complications of any missile injury should be recognized early so as to prevent serious complications. Key Words: Arrow, Cardio-vascular, A-V Fistula [Mary Slessor Jnl of Medicine Vol.3(1) 2003: 55-60