Physico-chemical Analysis of an Ultisol Polluted with Different Petroleum Products Treated with Poultry Droppings and Planted with Maize in Benin City, Nigeria

Physicochemical analyses were carried out on an ultisol previously polluted with different petroleum products and later treated with poultry droppings than planted with poultry droppings then planted with maize in theTeaching and research Farm of Benson Idahosa University, Benin City Nigeria. Physicochemical analysis was done on the soil before application different petroleum products (AGO-Automatic gas oil; PMS-Premium motorspirit; DPK-Domestic petroleum kerosene) to the soil. Results showed that the applied products probably contributed to decrease in physicochemical properties of the ultisol when compared to their values before application. Plots applied with AGO had the lowest values followed by PMS and DPK, indicating that AGO might have produced the most degrading effect on the soil. Application of poultry droppings encouraged increased values in physicochemical properties of the soil in all the soils previously applied with petroleum products. This was confirmed when these values were compared with those of the polluted soil and those obtained before pollution. The findings showed that poultry droppings probably encouraged the highest values in soils applied with DPK followed by PMS and AGO respectively. Maize growth estimated in terms of plant height and biomass was highest in bioremediated plots when compared to plants in the control plots.Keywords: Physicochemical , Ultisol, Pollution, Petroleum Products, Poultry Droppings, Maize, Nigeria

Knowledge, attitude and practice of Nigerian women towards breast cancer: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Late presentation of patients at advanced stages when little or no benefit can be derived from any form of therapy is the hallmark of breast cancer in Nigerian women. Recent global cancer statistics indicate rising global incidence of breast cancer and the increase is occurring at a faster rate in populations of the developing countries that hitherto enjoyed low incidence of the disease. Worried by this prevailing situation and with recent data suggesting that health behavior may be influenced by level of awareness about breast cancer, a cross-sectional study was designed to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of community-dwelling women in Nigeria towards breast cancer. METHODS: One thousand community-dwelling women from a semi-urban neighborhood in Nigeria were recruited for the study in January and February 2000 using interviewer-administered questionnaires designed to elicit sociodemographic information and knowledge, attitude and practices of these women towards breast cancer. Data analysis was carried out using Statistical Analysis Software (SAS) version 8.2. RESULTS: Study participants had poor knowledge of breast cancer. Mean knowledge score was 42.3% and only 214 participants (21.4%) knew that breast cancer presents commonly as a painless breast lump. Practice of breast self examination (BSE) was low; only 432 participants (43.2%) admitted to carrying out the procedure in the past year. Only 91 study participants (9.1%) had clinical breast examination (CBE) in the past year. Women with higher level of education (X(2 )= 80.66, p < 0.0001) and those employed in professional jobs (X(2 )= 47.11, p < 0.0001) were significantly more knowledgeable about breast cancer. Participants with higher level of education were 3.6 times more likely to practice BSE (Odds ratio [OR] = 3.56, 95% Confidence interval [CI] 2.58–4.92). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that community-dwelling women in Nigeria have poor knowledge of breast cancer and minority practice BSE and CBE. In addition, education appears to be the major determinant of level of knowledge and health behavior among the study participants. We recommend the establishment and sustenance of institutional framework and policy guidelines that will enhance adequate and urgent dissemination of information about breast cancer to all women in Nigeria

Models for prediction of global solar radiation on horizontal surface for Akure, Nigeria

The estimation of global solar radiation continues to play a fundamental role in solar engineering systems and applications. This paper compares various models for estimating the average monthly global solar radiation on horizontal surface for Akure, Nigeria, using solar radiation and sunshine duration data covering years 1981 to 1995. The analysis was performed using Angstrom models, two dimensional principal component analysis (PCA) and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS). The performance of the models were tested using statistical indicators such as mean bias error (MBE), mean percentage error (MPE), root mean square error (RMSE) and correlation coefficient (CC). The results indicated that ANFIS and linear regression analysis provide relatively higher degree of prediction, with the performance of ANFIS slightly better.Keywords: Angstrom model, fuzzy logic system, principal component analysis, regression analysis, solar radiation, sunshine duratio

Dissociation of microdissected mouse brain tissue for artifact free-cell RNA

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) provides the transcriptome of individual cells and addresses previously intractable problems including the central nervous system's transcriptional responses during health and disease. However, dissociating brain cells is challenging and induces artificial transcriptional responses. Here, we describe an enzymatic dissociation method for mouse brain that prevents dissociation artifacts and lowers technical variations with standardized steps. We tested this protocol on microdissected brain tissue of 3 -week-to 24-month-old mice and obtained high-quality scRNA-seq results.For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Safaiyan et al. (2021)

Would raising the total cholesterol diagnostic cut-off from 7.5 mmol/L to 9.3 mmol/L improve detection rate of patients with monogenic familial hypercholesterolaemia?

A previous report suggested that 88% of individuals in the general population with total cholesterol (TC)>9.3mmol/L have familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH). We tested this hypothesis in a cohort of 4896 UK civil servants, mean (SD) age 44 (±6) years, using next generation sequencing to achieve a comprehensive genetic diagnosis. 25 (0.5%) participants (mean age 49.2 years) had baseline TC>9.3mmol/L, and overall we found an FH-causing mutation in the LDLR gene in seven (28%) subjects. The detection rate increased to 39% by excluding eight participants with triglyceride levels over 2.3mmol/L, and reached 75% in those with TC>10.4mmol/L. By extrapolation, the detection rate would be ~25% by including all participants with TC>8.6mmol/L (2.5 standard deviations from the mean). Based on the 1/500 FH frequency, 30% of all FH-cases in this cohort would be missed using the 9.3mmol/L cut-off. Given that an overall detection rate of 25% is considered economically acceptable, these data suggest that a diagnostic TC cut-off of 8.6mmol/L, rather than 9.3mmol/L would be clinically useful for FH in the general population

PRODUCTIVITY OF OKRA UNDER DIFFERENT LEVELS OF POULTRY MANURE AND PLANT POPULATION DENSITY

Two field experiments were conducted in 2011 and 2012 rainy season at the experimental field of National Horticultural Research Institute, Mbato sub-station, Okigwe, Imo State to investigate the productivity of Okra under different levels of poultry manure and plant population density. A factorial combination of four levels of poultry manure (0.4, 8 and 12t/ha) and three levels of population density (1, 2 and 3 plants/stand) were investigated. The experiment was a split –plot design laid out in RCBD replicated three times. The analyzed data revealed productivity of Okra were enhanced by increasing Okra plant population together with application of poultry manure. The application of 8t/ha of poultry manure gave the highest fruit yield value of 12.40t/ha and 12.49t/ha respectively in 2011 and 2012, in both trials, 12t/ha of poultry manure contributed only marginally. While Okra grown at 3 plants/stand gave the maximum fruit yield of 15.04t/ha and 14.24t/ha for 2011 and 2012 respectively above that of 2 plants and 1 plant/stand/. From the experiment, it seems 8t/ha of poultry manure and 3 plants per stand enhanced the productivity of Okra at Mbato, Okigwe Zone, as sole crop