Challenges of Youths Involved in Fish Farming in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria

This study determined the challenges of youths involved in fish farming inthe Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select and interview a total of 54 youth fish farmers from18 villages in three area councils of the FCT, Abuja. Results of the analysis were presented using percentage, frequency counts, and mean scores. Results reveal that majority (57.4%) of the respondents had fish farming as their major occupation. The major species of fish farmed in the area was Clariasgariepinus (African Catfish). Other types included Heterobranchusspp (Sampa catfish), Heteroclariasspp (a hybrid of Clariasgariepinus and Heterobranchusspp), Tilapia spp (tilapia) and Cyprinuscarpio (carp). The majority (87%) of respondents adopted the monoculture system of fish production. However, the major challenges faced by the youths were high cost of feed (=2.76) and poor access to credit facilities (=2.17). The farmers’ perceived solutions to the challenges wereaccess to loans and grants, provision of feed subsidy, access to affordable land, provision of infrastructure (such as good roads, better markets, and better power supply), proper training of fish farmers on management practices, increased research and extension services. The study points to the need for public-private partnership intervention geared towards improving the entrepreneurial drive of the youths through focused training and other empowerment activities to enable them address the challenges facing fish farmers in the area

Challenges of Youths Involved in Fish Farming in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria

This study determined the challenges of youths involved in fish farming inthe Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select and interview a total of 54 youth fish farmers from18 villages in three area councils of the FCT, Abuja. Results of the analysis were presented using percentage, frequency counts, and mean scores. Results reveal that majority (57.4%) of the respondents had fish farming as their major occupation. The major species of fish farmed in the area was Clariasgariepinus (African Catfish). Other types included Heterobranchusspp (Sampa catfish), Heteroclariasspp (a hybrid of Clariasgariepinus and Heterobranchusspp), Tilapia spp (tilapia) and Cyprinuscarpio (carp). The majority (87%) of respondents adopted the monoculture system of fish production. However, the major challenges faced by the youths were high cost of feed (=2.76) and poor access to credit facilities (=2.17). The farmers’ perceived solutions to the challenges wereaccess to loans and grants, provision of feed subsidy, access to affordable land, provision of infrastructure (such as good roads, better markets, and better power supply), proper training of fish farmers on management practices, increased research and extension services. The study points to the need for public-private partnership intervention geared towards improving the entrepreneurial drive of the youths through focused training and other empowerment activities to enable them address the challenges facing fish farmers in the area

Assessment of thyroid function of newly diagnosed SARS-CoV-2 infected patients in Nigeria

Introduction: the outbreak and rapid spread of the novel SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has evolved into an unprecedented global pandemic. The infection impairs several human organs and systems, however, it is not clear how it affects thyroid function. The study therefore aimed at measuring plasma levels of thyroid hormones and Hs-CRP in COVID-19 patients and apparently healthy uninfected controls to assess the possible effect of SAR-CoV-2 infection on thyroid function. Methods: in this cross-sectional study carried out between May-August 2020, 90 consenting participants comprising 45 COVID-19 patients and 45 apparently healthy uninfected controls were recruited. Plasma FT3, FT4, TSH and Hs-CRP were measured using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method. Data was analysed using SPSS version 20 and statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results: the mean plasma FT3 and TSH concentrations were significantly higher in COVID-19 patients compared to controls (p < 0.001, p < 0.001 respectively). Euthyroidism was observed in all uninfected controls, whereas 35 (77.8%) COVID-19 patients were euthyroid. Sick euthyroid and subclinical hypothyroidism was observed in 7 (15.6%) and 3 (6.7%) COVID-19 patients, respectively. Conclusion: though there was a preponderance of euthyroidism among COVID-19 patients, significantly higher mean plasma levels of TSH and FT3, sick euthyroid syndrome and subclinical hypothyroidism observed among some COVID-19 patients may be indicative of disease-related thyroid function changes. Hence, there is need to pay attention to thyroid function during and after treatment of COVID-19

Protection Effect of Admixed Melaleuca alternifolia and Citrus paradisi Macf. Oil Extracts on High Carbon and 3310 Low Grade Alloy Steels in HCl Solution

Protection performance of admixed Melaleuca alternifolia and Citrus paradisi Macf. oil extracts (MACP) on high carbon steel (HCS) and 3310 low-grade alloy steel (AS33) were studied in 0.5 M HCl solution. Potentiodynamic polarization technique, weight loss analysis, open circuit potential measurement, optical microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, and ATR–FTIR spectroscopy were employed to assess their effectiveness. Results from weight loss analysis and potentiodynamic polarization showed MACP performed very poorly at low concentrations (0.5% and 1% MACP concentration for HCS, and 0.5–2% MACP concentration for AS33). However, at higher concentrations, effective protection of the alloys was obtained with peak performance values of 92.45% and 86.32% for HCS, and 73.25% and 78.01% for AS33 from weight loss and polarization techniques. The protection performance of MACP increased with an increase in its concentration with cathodic-type inhibition effect on HCS and mixed-type on AS33. MACP induced passivation characteristics on the anodic portion of the polarization plot compared to the extended cathodic slope. X-ray diffractometry revealed the presence of Fe2O3 as the dominant phase compound on HCS and AS33 after corrosion in HCl. FeS2, Fe(ZnS2), SiO2, and ZnCO3 were the dominant compounds on HCS and AS33 after corrosion in the presence of MACP indicating the formation of complex pseudo-corrosion-resistant precipitates on both alloys. ATR–FTIR spectroscopy identified the active groups (alkyl halides, aromatics, primary, secondary amines, aliphatic amines, alcohols, carboxylic acids, nitro compounds, etc.) and bonds responsible for corrosion inhibition of the alloys. Optical images of the corroded HCS indicate severe general corrosion compared to localized corrosion on the AS33 surface. These images significantly differed from MACP inhibited HCS and AS33 surfaces where corrosion oxidation was suppressed

Comparative Evaluation of the Protection Performance of Admixed Tea Tree and Grapefruit Essential Oil Extracts on Mild Steel and Alloy Steel 3310

Analysis and description of inhibition efficiency results for tea tree and grapefruit essential oil extracts (TTGP) on mild steel (MS) and alloy steel 3310 (AS3310) in 0.5 M H2SO4 solution was done. The results show TTGP performed effectively on MS at 2% to 3.5% TTGP concentration with final inhibition values of 71.70%, 79.25%, 83.58% and 92.45% at 240 h of exposure. Inhibition efficiency generally increased with TTGP concentration and exposure time, although inhibition efficiency at 2.5% 3% TTGP concentration decreased with exposure time. Effective TTGP inhibition performance on AS3310 occurred at 3% and 3.5% TTGP concentration only with final values of 72.50% and 73.25%. Inhibition efficiency of TTGP on AS3310 varied non-proportionately with its concentration. With respect to exposure time, inhibition efficiency of TTGP on AS3310 at all concentrations decreased. Results from ANOVA analysis shows