Anti-Diarrhoeic and antibacterial Effects of Aqueous Pod Extract of Acacia nilotica in Albino Rats

The anti-diarrhoea effect of aqueous pod extract of Acacia nilotica was investigated in rats. The pod extract of A. nilotica was obtained by Soxhlet extraction using distilled water as a solvent and subjected to phytochemicalscreening. The result of phytochemical screening revealed the presence of saponins, tannins, alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, and reducing sugars. The elemental analysis of the extract revealed high concentration of sodium followed by magnesium, iron, cadmium, zinc, manganese and potassium. The aqueous extract significantly (

The modelling and control of the drive system of an Ackermann Robot using GA optimization

This paper provides the mathematical modelling and control optimization, of the drive system of an Ackermann four wheeled autonomous robot, with Genetic algorithm used for tuning the proportional, integral and derivative (PID) Controller parameters. The aim and main objective of this work is focused on the control of the driving speed input from the rear wheels of the robot and control. The robot drive in proportion to obstacle input ahead of the four wheeled chassis using genetic algorithms. A controlled platform that can be deployed for driverless vehicle in the nearest future and military unmanned vehicle is our major concern. The controlled system response stabilized in 0.675 seconds, after exciting the system with a step response. Variation for the system also shows, that the cost function was minimized or adjusted to obtain optimal PID parameters as Proportional (P) = 12.671, Integral (I) = -0.399, Derivative (D) = 1477561, at a value of 9.6778*10-4.Keywords: Ackermann steering, modelling, optimization, Genetic Algorithm, control, PID, driverless vehicl

A Step Towards Autonomous, Biomimetic, Non-GPS Based Navigation Methodology

Global Positioning System (GPS) based navigations have their own inherent weakness; they can be overridden so easily and are not useful inside structures. One method of overcoming the above problem is the use of feature based navigation system. Nature has so much perfected this that copying nature is one of the best approaches available to scientist. In this study, desert ant (Cataglyphis fortis) was imitated. A simple infra-red based active beacons and robot mounted rotating receiver based on TSOP31138 infra-red sensor was implemented using New Three Objects Triangulation Algorithm (ToTAL) in its firmware for the robot pose. The designed robot with the triangulation algorithm was able to compute its pose such that on a grid of 6 m x 6 m, it can home to its base with a maximum error of 14.8 mm

Assessing the Job Selection Criteria of Accounting Students: a Normative Approach

This research assessed to what extent final-year Muslim accounting students in Malaysia considered Islamic principles when choosing a job after graduation. 356 final-year Muslim accounting students in four Malaysian universities were surveyed using an open-ended job selection scenario. The result shows that reality does not live up to the ideal. Only 16% of the respondents apply Islamic principles in making a job selection decision. The remaining 84% are more concerned with other criteria such as personal interests, salary considerations, and company reputation

A case of hydrated lime (CaOH)2 toxicity in

A sudden increase in mortality was observed in a fish pond stocked with 1034 6-weeks old Clarias juveniles, after exhibiting various forms of nervous disorders such as severe irritation and erratic convulsive swimming habits. A total of 165 mortality, with mean of 20.6 ± 14.8/day were recorded within the first week of stocking. A perfect positive correlation of water level in the pond R2= 0.92, with inverse mortality R2= 0.14 and pH values R2= 0.78 within the first 8 days were recorded. Carcasses exhibited various forms of skin discoloration, petechial and ecchymotic hemorrhages were observed on the cranium, base of the fins, body sides and bloated belly. Many carcasses had eroded body mucous, manifested by various forms of grayish bands of skin lesion. Mean optimal values for nitrate (0,mg/litre), nitrite (0.1,mg/litre) and ammonia (0.1mg/litre) in the water were recorded using commercial multiple water testing kit, although declining pH value of 11 to 7.5 was observed within the period. Another set of 200 Clarias juveniles of the same batch was raised in an adjacent pond, and appeared clinically healthy. Spontaneous recovery was observed upon transfer of the whole juveniles to a new pond of fresh water, with mean pH 7.5 and treated with oxytetracycline and vitaminmineral supplements. Diagnosis of acute lime toxicity was made. Normal growth was restored but, evidence of necrotic skin discoloration was retained to adulthood in 20% of the fishes.Keywords: Clarias gariepinus juveniles, hydrated lime, toxicit

Effects of Urban Sprawl on Meningococcal Meningitis Incidence in Kaduna Urban Area, Nigeria

Meningococcal meningitis is an airborne disease that has overwhelmed the lives of many people for over a century now. There are factors that are connected to the spread of the disease. They include level of income, social behavior, housing condition, climate, environment and urbanization. The “African meningitis belt” which is a region located around west Africa is the most plagued by the disease. This study aims at exploring the deviational distribution and standard distance in relation to the effects that the urban sprawl has on the spatial pattern of the spread of the disease in Kaduna urban area. The Meningococcal meningitis reported cases (confirmed and unconfirmed) were used for the study and it was sourced from the public and private hospitals within Kaduna urban area. For each of those years, satellite images (quick bird) were used by digitizing the urban lands and comparing all the years together. Directional distribution and standard distance analysis were conducted using spatial statistical tools in ArcGIS 10.1. The results of the digitized imageries, the directional distribution, and the standard distance were analyzed so as to determine the relationship between urbanization and the disease spread. It was observed from the result that those years that had higher sprawl are more affected by the disease. Keywords: Spatial Pattern, Meningococcal meningitis, Urban sprawl, Directional Distribution, Standard Distanc

A New Formula for Groundwater Recharge Estimation in Yola, Nigeria

In this paper,relationship between rainfall and groundwater recharge estimation was evaluated. A standard numerical formula that relates rainfall to groundwater recharge estimation was proposed with the aim of providing error-free groundwater estimate from rainfall. Rainfalls measured in a selected location in Yola, Nigeria and standard formula were used to fix the constants (A,B and c) in the new numerical formula using Microsoft Excel Solver. The constants were used to establish new numerical formula. The new numerical formula was used to estimate groundwater recharge from the rainfall. The accuracy of the new numerical formula was evaluated statistically using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), relative error; the degree of accuracy, numerical reliability, Model of Selection Criterion (MSC) and Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) and compared with the previous formulae in use for field groundwater recharge estimation with Uttar Pradesh (UP) as the reference value of groundwater recharge. The study revealed that groundwater recharge estimated using the formula was similar to groundwater recharge estimated using standard formulae (UP, Modified Chaturvedi, Kumar and Seethapathi and Rao). In all cases there were significant differences between the groundwater recharge estimated using all the formulae. The new formula provided the lowest relative error of 0.887%, the highest MSC of 4.911; the degree of accuracy of 99.113 % and the lowest AIC of 436.306.  The accuracy of the formulae was in the order of new formula greater than Chaturvedi formula greater than Kumar and Seethapathi formula greater than Rao formula. It was concluded that modelling of groundwater recharge using the numerical formula is a promising tool for estimating groundwater recharge with minimum error in water resources management

Effect of Avogadro Oil as Corrosion Inhibitor of Thermally Pre-aged Al-Si-Mg Alloy in Sodium Chloride Solution

The corrosion inhibition of thermally pre-aged Aluminium-Silicon-Magnesium (Al-Si-Mg) alloy in 3.5 % NaCl solution with natural Avogadro oil of varying concentrations has been studied using linear polarization techniques. From the results obtained, the corrosion rate decreased with an increase in Avogadro oil concentration. An inhibitor efficiency of 46.7, 58 and 71 % were obtained at 1.5, 3.0, 4.5 g/v Avogadro oil addition in a 3.5 % NaCl solution respectively for the conventional alloy. Results from the linear polarization technique indicate a higher potential value with an increase in the polarization resistance (Rp) and lower current density in the inhibited samples than the uninhibited Al-Si-Mg alloy as obtained from the Tafel plot extrapolation. There exist some levels of correlation in the inhibitor efficiency between the conventional and the thermally pre-aged Al-Si-Mg alloy/Avogadro oil in 3.5 % NaCl solution

Incidence of organophosphate and carbamate poisoning in dogs within Maiduguri, North-eastern Nigeria

The persistent application of chemicals in pest control and agricultural processes possess a public health concern as their use are often associated with acute or chronic poisoning cases in both humans and animals. In veterinary medicine, pesticides such as organophosphates and carbamates are exclusively used in ectoparasitic control through pour on, tick bath and fumigation. The incidence of organophosphate or carbamate poisoning in dogs within Maiduguri, north-eastern Nigeria was assessed using three government approved and licensed veterinary centres. Data were obtained through the review of three years (2016-2018) retrospective cases of organophosphate/carbamate poisoning and administration of questionnaires to actively practising veterinarians. Investigation revealed that organophosphate/carbamate poisoning in dogs within Maiduguri metropolis constituted 37% of poisoning cases and was on the increase in recent years with 22.96% of the total cases reported in 2016, 34.08% in 2017 and 42.96% in 2018. The case was most prevalent at the peak of the rainy season around July and August. The common clinical signs observed include salivation, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle spasms, severe weakness and paralysis. Management was usually supportive and symptomatic while antidotal therapy revolved on atropine sulphate only. The effect of ageing in organophosphate poisoning was neglected by most of the clinicians as more than 50% would administer atropine sulphate without considering the duration of the onset of poisoning. It was concluded that the incidence of organophosphate and carbamate poisoning in dogs in Maiduguri constituted 37% of all poisoning cases where 22.96% and 42.96% of it were reported in 2016 and 2018, respectively. Enlightenment programmes for the public and professionals are recommended on the increased cases of poisoning and proper use of antidote in the treatment of chemical toxicosis

Effects of menotrophin and chorulon on superovulation in Red Sokoto does

The aim of this study was to compare the efficiency of menotrophin, chorulon and their combinations in superovulation in Red Sokoto does. Fifteen healthy does weighed  between 14 and 25 kg were divided into 3 groups of 5 (n=5) each. All does in the 3 groups were synchronized with CIDR for 14 days. Superovulation was performed as follows: Group 1 were treated with 37.5 IU menotrophin for three days, group 2 were treated with 500IU chorulon for 1 day and group 3 were treated with 18.75 iμ  menotrophin for 3 days and 250IU chorulon for one day. The mean SEM superovulatory response in group 1, 2 and 3 was (2.6 0.92, 3.2 0.58 and 9.4 0.68) respectively. The superovulatory response showed no significant differences between group 1 and 2  however, there were statistically significance differences (p<0.01) between groups 1 and 3 and between 2 and 3. These result showed that the combination of Menotrophin and Chorulon effectively produces multiple ovulations as a result the use this  combination is advocated.Keywords: Chorulon, CIDR, Doe, Menotrophin, Sokoto, Superovulatio