Background and purpose: Migraine is a common debilitating condition with variable prevalence in young Nigerians with significant deterioration in normal daily functioning and in the quality of life. Few data exist on ...Background and purpose: Migraine is a common debilitating condition with variable prevalence in young Nigerians with significant deterioration in normal daily functioning and in the quality of life. Few data exist on the disability of migraine in Nigeria. The aim of this study was to measure the headache related disability of patients with migraine using the MIDAS among young Nigerians. Methods: This was a cross sectional study conducted in Enugu South East Nigeria. The questionnaire was designed to assess headache profiles according to ICHD-III beta and disability using the Migraine Disability Assessment Questionnaire. Results: About 40.6% of migraineurs were concerned about headache attacks and 39.1% consulted a doctor because of migraine. Most students were affected due to reduced effectiveness at school and number of days missed from housework—18.8% and 20.3% respectively. Overall, 47.8% had at least one day affected by headache in the last three months. The mean number of days disabled by headache was 14.3 days. The mean headache frequency was 5.7 days and the mean pain intensity was 4.2. About 27.5% of the migraineurs had moderate to severe disability due to migraine. There were no significant differences between males and females. Conclusion: Most with migraine experienced reduction in effectiveness at school and number of days missed from housework. Overall, 47.8% had at least one day affected by headache with an average of 14.3 days disabled by headache and 27.5% of the migraineurs had moderate to severe disability due to migraine.展开更多
<strong>Introduction:</strong> The COVID-19 Pandemic has affected critical sectors of human development. To curtail these effects, vaccines are being approved for human trials. It is, therefore, important ...<strong>Introduction:</strong> The COVID-19 Pandemic has affected critical sectors of human development. To curtail these effects, vaccines are being approved for human trials. It is, therefore, important to know the possible vaccine coverage expected in each country. This study determined the willingness of Nigerians to accept and pay for COVID-19 vaccine. <strong>Methods:</strong> A cross-sectional web-based survey across all states of Nigeria was conducted via a structured e-questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, ANOVA and multinomial logistic regression were conducted. <strong>Result:</strong> A total of 502 responses were obtained from all six geopolitical zones of Nigeria, comprising 67.3% males (n = 338) and 32.7% females (n = 164). The results indicated that 34.7% (n = 167) are willing to accept the vaccine when given for free, 33.9% (n = 163) are not willing, and up to 31.4% (n = 151) are indifferent in their decision. Univariate analysis indicated the likelihood that education level could influence willingness to accept the vaccine (F = 2.408, p = 0.049). Rollout strategies may have an impact (p < 0.0001) on the willingness to accept the vaccine. These strategies include providing incentives, making it compulsory and paying for the vaccine with F = 186.983 and eta = 0.657, F =71.620 and Eta = 0.476, F = 108.696 and Eta = 0.552, respectively. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> The study revealed a possibility of the low willingness of Nigerians to accept COVID-19 vaccine. Providing incentives is likely to improve coverage, while making the vaccine compulsory may increase rejection. This study, therefore, serves as a gateway for government and policymakers on how best to prime and penetrate the society to achieve massive COVID-19 vaccine coverage in Nigeria.展开更多
Background: There is paucity of data on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors among stroke patients in our population. This study aimed at assessing CVD risk factors amongst stroke patients compared with apparentl...Background: There is paucity of data on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors among stroke patients in our population. This study aimed at assessing CVD risk factors amongst stroke patients compared with apparently healthy controls. Methods: This was a case-control study conducted at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital Kano. One hundred stroke subjects were consecutively recruited and compared with 100 age and sex matched controls. The CVD risk factors assessed were hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, obesity, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, socioeconomic status (SES), increased age, male gender and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) status. Results: Mean age was 56.4 ± 15.8 years for cases and 54.5 ± 15.4 years for controls (p = 0.39), and 53% of the former and 52% of the latter were males (p = 0.887). The most prevalent CVD risk factor was hypertension, found in 71% of cases and 42% of the controls, (p = 0.01). All heart diseases were found in 70% of cases and 21% of controls (p < 0.001), and hypertensive heart disease (HHD) was the commonest, found in 55% of cases and 18% of controls (p < 0.001). Dyslipidemia was found in 53% of cases and 37% of the controls (p = 0.023), diabetes mellitus/hyperglycemia in 23% of the cases and 6% of the controls (p = 0.01), history of transient ischemic attack (TIA) in 19% of cases and 1% of the controls (p = 0.01), while atrial fibrillation was found in 9% of cases only. Other risk factors were uncommon. Conclusion: The most frequent CVD risk factors among Nigerians with stroke were systemic hypertension, heart diseases, male sex and dyslipidemia, while HIV and other risk factors were uncommon. Thus medical attention and public enlightenment should focus on the common ones as detected in this study.展开更多
Background:The epidemiology of fractures of the humeral shaft has received little attention in Nigeria.This study was aimed at investigating the possible risk factors associated with diaphyseal humeral fractures among...Background:The epidemiology of fractures of the humeral shaft has received little attention in Nigeria.This study was aimed at investigating the possible risk factors associated with diaphyseal humeral fractures among Nigerians.Methods:The study was carried out retrospectively at the Department of Medical Records,National Orthopaedic Hospital,Igbobi,Lagos State,Nigeria,between 2007 and 2012.Case notes and plain films of X-ray from a total number of 206 patients of ages from birth to one hundred years(0–100 years),comprising of 140 males and 66 females,were used for the study.The analyses were done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences(SPSS)version 16.0 and presented in bar charts.The frequencies were reported as percentages.The differences in frequencies were compared using chi-square test.Results:The results showed that the percentage frequency of diaphyseal humeral fractures was significantly higher(P<0.05)in males than in females.The main cause(P<0.05)of diaphyseal humeral fractures was road traffic accident followed by fall.Conclusions:The major causes of diaphyseal humeral fractures are road traffic accidents and falls.Since diaphyseal humeral fracture is an issue of harsh economic consequences,adequate measures should be taken by all the parties involved,especially government agencies,to address this menace in term of road maintenance and general well-being of the citizens.Furthermore,since it was observed that different regions of the bones of interest present diverse characteristics with respect to associated risk factors,it is recommended that such studies as this should be region-based rather than whole-bone based.展开更多
BACKGROUND Vaccine hesitancy is a major challenge in the fight against the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic.Identifying the sociodemographic factors associated with vaccine acceptance among Nigerians is cruc...BACKGROUND Vaccine hesitancy is a major challenge in the fight against the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic.Identifying the sociodemographic factors associated with vaccine acceptance among Nigerians is crucial for improving vaccine uptake.AIM To assess the acceptance rate of COVID-19 vaccine and its related determinants among Nigerians.METHODS An online cross-sectional survey(observational study)was conducted between February 2021 and May 2021,using a questionnaire hosted on SurveyMonkey.The invitation to take part in the poll was sent out to participants through social networking platforms.A logistic regression was used to determine which sociodemographic factors were associated with vaccine acceptance constructs.RESULTS A total of 1800 persons responded to the survey,a larger proportion of whom were males(53.9%)and within the age group of 21-30 years(29.4%)and earned an average income of less than$500 per month(43.3%).Only 0.56%of participants had a high perceived risk of COVID-19 infection,while only 1.11%had a perceived risk of dying from COVID-19.The perception rate of the COVID-19 vaccine among participants was 51.1%,while the acceptance rate was 63.9%.There was no significant association between the COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rate and related determinants assessed,particularly age(χ²=3.049,P=0.550),sex(χ²=0.102,P=0.749),average income(χ²=3.802,P=0.875),and religion(χ²=2.819,P=0.420).Participants with chronic conditions demonstrated a higher acceptance rate compared to the general population.CONCLUSION Despite the positive perception observed and substantial vaccine acceptance rate among the study participants,more public health interventions are still needed to enhance vaccine acceptability in Nigeria.展开更多
The study investigated the intervention of caffeine on the effect of Nigerian Bonnylight crude oil (NBLCO) on sperm motility and morphology of diabetic Wistar rats. Eighty adult male rats (180 - 200 g body weight) wer...The study investigated the intervention of caffeine on the effect of Nigerian Bonnylight crude oil (NBLCO) on sperm motility and morphology of diabetic Wistar rats. Eighty adult male rats (180 - 200 g body weight) were randomly divided into eight groups of 10 animals each. The control group received 3 mL/Kg body weight of distilled water, ND Caf. group received 20 mL/kg body weight of caffeine, NDCO group received 3 mL/Kg body weight of NBLCO, ND Caf. + CO group received 20 and 3 mL/Kg body weight of caffeine and NBLCO respectively, diabetic group received 3 mL/Kg body weight of distilled water, D Caf. group received 20 mL/Kg body weight of caffeine, D CO received 3 mL/Kg body weight of NBLCO and D Caf. + CO group received 20 and 3 mL/Kg body weight of caffeine and NBLCO respectively, by oral gavaging for 28 days. The results showed that independent administration of caffeine and NBLCO to both non-diabetic and diabetic rats significantly (p < 0.05) altered sperm concentration, morphology and motility. Administration of NBLCO aggravated the worsening condition by significantly (p < 0.05) reducing sperm concentration, motility and increasing abnormal sperms in diabetic rats. Although caffeine significantly (p < 0.05) reduced motility in non-diabetic rats, it did cause any significant alteration in diabetic rats. Diabetes mellitus and NBLCO significantly (p < 0.05) reduced all indices that promote sperm motility while significantly (p < 0.05) increasing indices that do not promote motility. It can be concluded that diabetes mellitus and NBLCO administration have shown the tendency to promote male infertility by reducing sperm motility and adversely altering the morphology of sperm in male Wistar rats, which was ameliorated by caffeine intervention.展开更多
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is emerging as a new clinical disorder among children and adolescents. Although there is increasing prevalence of this clinical entity among adolescents worldwide, its diagnosis among N...Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is emerging as a new clinical disorder among children and adolescents. Although there is increasing prevalence of this clinical entity among adolescents worldwide, its diagnosis among Nigerian children and adolescents is still uncommon, hence, the reason many physicians still misdiagnose T2DM in adolescents as type 1 diabetes mellitus for reason of age of onset. Here, we present a 15-year old, overweight, girl who presented with history of polyuria, polydipsia and weight loss;her blood glucose level was 14.3 mmol/l, glycated haemoglobin 12.4% and glycosuria (3+), with no ketonuria or proteinuria. She was initially diagnosed as type 1 diabetes and managed with multiple doses of insulin by the pediatric team until she was later reviewed by the endocrinology unit. The diagnosis was later changed to early-onset T2DM (Youth-onset T2DM) based on a BMI of 29.75 kg/m2, presence of acanthosis nigricans, absence of ketosis, preserved beta-cell function as shown by normal serum C-peptide levels, absence of anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) antibodies and islet cell antibody, and also response to oral anti-diabetic agents while her insulin therapy was discontinued. Therefore, a possibility of T2DM should be suspected in childhood and adolescent with diabetes associated with overweight or obesity, relatives with T2DM and features of insulin resistance (IR) like acanthosis nigricans, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), hyperandrogenism, or polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).展开更多
In 2010, an estimated 400 to 500 children died of acute lead poisoning associated with artisanal gold mining in Zamfara, Nigeria. Processing of gold ores containing up to 10% lead within residential compounds put resi...In 2010, an estimated 400 to 500 children died of acute lead poisoning associated with artisanal gold mining in Zamfara, Nigeria. Processing of gold ores containing up to 10% lead within residential compounds put residents, especially children, at the highest risk. Principal routes of exposure were incidental ingestion and inhalation of contaminated soil and dusts. Several Nigerian and international health organizations collaborated to reduce lead exposures through environmental remediation and medical treatment. The contribution of contaminated food to total lead exposure was assessed during the environmental health response. Objectives of this investigation were to assess the influence of cultural/dietary habits on lead exposure pathways and estimate the contribution of contaminated food to children＇s blood lead levels（BLLs）. A survey of village dietary practices and staple food lead content was conducted to determine dietary composition, caloric intakes, and lead intake. Potential blood lead increments were estimated using bio-kinetic modeling techniques. Most dietary lead exposure was associated with contamination of staple cereal grains and legumes during post-harvest processing and preparation in contaminated homes. Average post-harvest and processed cereal grain lead levels were 0.32 mg/kg and 0.85 mg/kg dry weight, respectively. Age-specific food lead intake ranged from 7 to 78 μg/day. Lead ingestion and absorption were likely aggravated by the dusty environment, fasting between meals, and nutritional deficiencies. Contamination of staple cereal grains by highly bioavailable pulverized ores could account for as much as 11%–34% of children＇s BLLs during the epidemic, and were a continuing source after residential soil remediation until stored grain inventories were exhausted.展开更多
The amount of methane leaked from deep sea cold seeps is enormous and potentially affects the global warming,ocean acidification and global carbon cycle.It is of great significance to study the methane bubble movement...The amount of methane leaked from deep sea cold seeps is enormous and potentially affects the global warming,ocean acidification and global carbon cycle.It is of great significance to study the methane bubble movement and dissolution process in the water column and its output to the atmosphere.Methane bubbles produce strong acoustic impedance in water bodies,and bubble strings released from deep sea cold seeps are called"gas flares"which expressed as flame-like strong backscatter in the water column.We characterized the morphology and movement of methane bubbles released into the water using multibeam water column data at two cold seeps.The result shows that methane at site I reached 920 m water depth without passing through the top of the gas hydrate stability zone(GHSZ,850 m),while methane bubbles at site II passed through the top of the GHSZ(597 m)and entered the non-GHSZ(above 550 m).By applying two methods on the multibeam data,the bubble rising velocity in the water column at sites I and II were estimated to be 9.6 cm/s and 24 cm/s,respectively.Bubble velocity is positively associated with water depth which is inferred to be resulted from decrease of bubble size during methane ascending in the water.Combined with numerical simulation,we concluded that formation of gas hydrate shells plays an important role in helping methane bubbles entering the upper water bodies,while other factors,including water depth,bubble velocity,initial kinetic energy and bubble size,also influence the bubble residence time in the water and the possibility of methane entering the atmosphere.We estimate that methane gas flux at these two sites is 0.4×10~6–87.6×10~6 mol/a which is extremely small compared to the total amount of methane in the ocean body,however,methane leakage might exert significant impact on the ocean acidification considering the widespread distributed cold seeps.In addition,although methane entering the atmosphere is not observed,further research is still needed to understand its potential impact on increasing methane concentration in the surface seawater and gas-water interface methane exchange rate,which consequently increase the greenhouse effect.展开更多
To determine passive haemagglutination (PHA) antibody titer that would protect chicks against Nigerian isolates of the Infectious Bursa Disease Virus (IBDV), five groups of chicks aged 30 days which had different anti...To determine passive haemagglutination (PHA) antibody titer that would protect chicks against Nigerian isolates of the Infectious Bursa Disease Virus (IBDV), five groups of chicks aged 30 days which had different antibody titers were challenged with a Nigerian isolate of virulent IBDV. Mortality rates of the different groups were plotted against their respective mean PHA antibody titers. A group with zero antibody titer had a mortality rate of 75% while those with PHA antibody titers of 185.6, 243.2, 256 and 307.2 had mortality rates of 40%, zero, zero and zero respectively. Linear equation generated for a line of best fit of the graph of mortality rates of the chicks on their IBD antibody titers gave antibody titer (X) at which mortality (Y) would be zero as 300. A mortality of 75% and the high antibody level needed to protect chicks suggest that the isolate may be a hypervirulent strain.展开更多
Objective:The methanol extracts of the leaves of Kolancheo(K.) pinnata,Aspilia(A.) africana,Mucuna (M.) pruriens,Emilia(E.) coccinea,Triumfetta(T.) rhomboidea,Laportea(L.) ovalifolis,Celosia(C.) trigynea,Cucurbita(C.)...Objective:The methanol extracts of the leaves of Kolancheo(K.) pinnata,Aspilia(A.) africana,Mucuna (M.) pruriens,Emilia(E.) coccinea,Triumfetta(T.) rhomboidea,Laportea(L.) ovalifolis,Celosia(C.) trigynea,Cucurbita(C.)moschata and Asystesia(A.)gangestica were evaluated for antioxidant activities,the reducing potentials of these plants were also determined and phytochemical screening of some of these plants were carried out.Methods:The antioxidant activities of these plants were evaluated by the use of 2,2-diphenyl -1 -picrylhydrazyl(DPPH) free radical assay and spectrophotomer.The reducing potentials of these plants were determined using Ferric chloride,Potassium Ferricyanide and Trichloroacetic acid proceedures. The phytochemical screenings of the medicinal plants were equally done using standard procedures.Results: The percentage of antioxidant activities values for the plants were:(31.00±1.80)%,(58.40±1.26) %,(59.10±1.60)%,(60.00±1.05)%,(60.80±1.28)%,(62.40±1.26)%,(64.80±2. 10)%,(75.70±2.60)%and(82.70±2.80)%for A.gangestica,C.moschata,C.trigynea,L. ovalifolia,E.coccinea,M.pruriens,A.africana,K.pinnata and T.rhomboidea.respectively.These values were dose-dependent and statistically significant at P < 0.05(ANOVA).The results showed that T.rhomboidea had the highest antioxidant activity value(82.70±2.80%) while A.gangestica had the least value (31.00±1.80%).The percentage of antioxidant activities of these plants were comparable to the standard used,Tocopherol which was found to be(97.20±1.06)%.The reducing potentials of the plants were found to be positively correlated to the antioxidant activities of the plants.Phytochemical screenings revealed the presence of alkaloids,flavonoids,terpenoids,saponins and tannins in the medicinal plants.Conclusion:The findings from this study have revealed the potentials of these plants as antioxidants.This could be exploited in drug development in search of powerful antioxidants which are urgently needed to challenge free radicals in biological systems.It will consequently help to prevent the body from free radicals originated ailments.However, further study needs to be done to isolate and characterize the active principles in these plants.展开更多
Multi-beam,sub-bottom and multichannel seismic data acquired from the western Nigerian continental margin are analysed and interpreted to examine the architectural characteristics of the lower parts of the submarine c...Multi-beam,sub-bottom and multichannel seismic data acquired from the western Nigerian continental margin are analysed and interpreted to examine the architectural characteristics of the lower parts of the submarine canyons on the margin.The presence of four canyons： Avon,Mahin,Benin,and Escravos,are confirmed from the multi-beam data map and identified as cutting across the shelf and slope areas,with morphological features ranging from axial channels,moderate to high sinuosity indices,scarps,terraces and nickpoints which are interpreted as resulting from erosional and depositional activities within and around the canyons.The Avon Canyon,in particular,is characterised by various branches and sub-branches with complex morphologies.The canyons are mostly U-shaped in these lower parts with occasional V-shapes down their courses.Their typical orientation is NE–SW.Sedimentary processes are proposed as being a major controlling factor in these canyons.Sediments appear to have been discharged directly into the canyons by rivers during the late Quaternary low sea level which allows river mouths to extend as far as the shelf edge.The current sediment supply is still primarily sourced from these rivers in the case of the Benin and Escravos Canyons,but indirectly in the case of the Avon and Mahin Canyons where the rivers discharge sediments into the lagoons and the lagoons bring the sediments on to the continental shelf before they are dispersed into the canyon heads.Ancient canyons that have long been buried underneath the Avon Canyon are identified in the multichannel seismic profile across the head of the Avon Canyon,while a number of normal faults around the walls of the Avon and Mahin Canyons are observed in the selected sub-bottom profiles.The occurrence of these faults,especially in the irregular portions of the canyon walls,suggests that they also have some effect on the canyon architecture.The formation of the canyons is attributed to the exposure of the upper marginal area to incisions from erosion during the sea level lowstand of the glacial period.The incisions are widened and lengthened by contouric currents,turbidity currents and slope failures resulting in the canyons.展开更多
Sorption characteristics of multiple adsorption of six heavy metal ions often found in refinery waste waters using activated carbon from Nigerian bamboo was investigated. The bamboo was cut, washed and dried. It was c...Sorption characteristics of multiple adsorption of six heavy metal ions often found in refinery waste waters using activated carbon from Nigerian bamboo was investigated. The bamboo was cut, washed and dried. It was carbonized between 350℃ - 500℃, and activated at 800℃ using nitric acid. Simultaneous batch adsorption of different heavy metal ions (Cd<sup>2+</sup>, Ni<sup>2+</sup>, Pb<sup>2+</sup>, Cr<sup>3+</sup>, Cu<sup>2+</sup> and Zn<sup>2+</sup>) in same aqueous solution using activated carbon from Nigerian bamboo was carried out. The adsorption process had a better fit for the Freundlich, Temkin isotherm and Dubinin-Radushke-vich (DRK) isotherm models but could not fit well into Langmuir isotherm. Adsorption isotherms showed that there is competition among various metals for adsorption sites on Nigerian bamboo. The DRK model was used to determine the nature of the sorption process and was found to be physical and chemical, with sorption energy of metal ions ranging from (7 - 10 kJ/mol). The adsorption of Cd<sup>2+</sup>, Zn<sup>2+</sup>, Pb<sup>2+</sup> and Ni<sup>2+</sup> ions was chemisorptions and that of Cu<sup>2+</sup> and Cr<sup>3+</sup> ions was cooperative adsorption. Therefore, this study revealed that Nigerian bamboo can serve as a good source of activated carbon with multiple and simultaneous metalions—removing potentials and may serve as a better replacement for commercial activated carbons in applications that warrant their use.展开更多
Nigeria,often referred to as“the giant of Africa,”boasts a sizable population,a thriving economy,and abundant energy resources.Nevertheless,Nigeria has yet to fully harness its renewable energy potential,despite its...Nigeria,often referred to as“the giant of Africa,”boasts a sizable population,a thriving economy,and abundant energy resources.Nevertheless,Nigeria has yet to fully harness its renewable energy potential,despite its enormous capacity in this field.The goal of this review paper is to thoroughly examine the difficulties and untapped opportunities in utilizing biomass for bioenergy production in Nigeria.Notably,Nigeria generates substantial volumes of biomass annually,primarily in the form of agricultural waste,which is often either discarded or burned inefficiently,resulting in significant ecological and environmental damage.Therefore,an efficient approach to reducing pollution and transforming waste into wealth involves converting these biomass resources into energy.This work critically examines the status of biomass utilization for energy applications in Nigeria and highlights the bottlenecks that impede its widespread adoption.The review emphasizes the economic and ecological advantages of biomass utilization over traditional waste treatment methods.Additionally,it underscores the appeal of biomass as an industrial fuel source,particularly considering the current high cost of fossil fuels in contemporary Nigeria.Relevant literature on biomass,energy,agricultural waste,fossil fuel,and calorific value in the context of Nigeria was reviewed by utilizing a thorough search technique in key scientific databases.The analysis did not include any non-English publications.The findings of this research provide valuable insights into the challenges faced in maximizing Nigeria’s biomass potential and offer strategic recommendations to promote the use of biomass for bioenergy development.This review paper will assist a wide range of local and international readers,as well as industries interested in green and bioenergy,in making informed decisions regarding the most suitable types of biomass for biofuel production.展开更多
Background: The etiology of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is not completely understood;however one condition that correlates closely with the pathogenesis of PCOS is insulin resistance (IR). The objective of this s...Background: The etiology of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is not completely understood;however one condition that correlates closely with the pathogenesis of PCOS is insulin resistance (IR). The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of insulin resistance (IR) and the association of such abnormality with potential risk factors in women with PCOS. Method: 116 women with confirmed PCOS attending a reproductive clinic at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital in Benin City were studied. IR was determined by homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) ≥ 2 and pre-diabetes by fasting plasma glucose between 110 and 125 mg/dl and/or plasma glucose value between 140 and 200 mg/dl at 2 hours during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) after ingestion of 75 g oral glucose load. Results: Forty-two women were insulin resistant among the 116 women with PCOS. The prevalence of IR was 36.2% (95% CI 26.6 - 46.2). The prevalence of impaired fasting glucose (IFG) showed 1.7% (95% CI 0.97 - 2.03), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) was 2.6% (95% CI 1.97 - 3.03) and diabetes mellitus (DM) was 1.7% (95% CI 0.97 - 2.03) in the 116 PCOS women. Of these 42 insulin resistant PCOS women, 23.8% (n = 10) were obese and 40.5% (n = 17) were overweight. Multivariate analysis revealed that total cholesterol (OR, 1.07;95% CI, 1.04 - 1.10), triglycerides (OR, 1.08;95% CI, 1.04 - 1.13) and LDL-cholesterol (OR, 1.08;95% CI, 1.04 - 1.12) were statistically significant independent risk factors for IR. Conclusion: The prevalence of IR was high in women with PCOS, and there was a significant association between IR, obesity, and dyslipidemia. However, the prevalence rates of impaired glucose tolerance and DM were low in women with PCOS compared to other studies. Since women with PCOS are at risk of IR and dyslipidemia, early screening, detection, intervention, and lifestyle modification would ameliorate the financial burden of DM and cardiovascular disease (CVD).展开更多
The paper investigates the determinants of capital structure in Nigerian listed insurance firms using data obtained from annual report of the sampled firms for the period of 2001-2010. It used five explanatory variabl...The paper investigates the determinants of capital structure in Nigerian listed insurance firms using data obtained from annual report of the sampled firms for the period of 2001-2010. It used five explanatory variables to measure their effects on debt ratio. Multiple regression is employed as a tool of analysis. The result reveals that all the explanatory variables have statistically and significantly influenced the explained variable. The results approve the prediction of pecking order theory in the case of profitability and trade-off theory in case of tangibility variables. The growth variable supports the agency theory hypothesis whereas size variable confirms to the asymmetry of information theory. It is therefore recommended that the management of listed insurance firms in Nigeria should always consider their positions using these capital structure determinants as important inputs before embarking on debt financing decision.展开更多
Overtime, reduction in the amount of heat generated in engineering systems in operations have been of great concern and have continuously been under study. It is in line with the above that this research work develope...Overtime, reduction in the amount of heat generated in engineering systems in operations have been of great concern and have continuously been under study. It is in line with the above that this research work developed a mathematical model of an evaporative cooling pad using sintered Nigerian clay. A physical model of the evaporative cooling phenomenon was developed followed by the derivation of the governing equations describing the energy and mass transfer for the clay model from the laws of conservation of continuum mechanics. A set of reasonable and appropriate as-sumptions were imposed upon the physical model. Constitutive relationships were also developed for further analysis of the developed equations. The finite element model of numerical methods was used to analyse the energy transfer governing equations which resulted in the determination of the temperature of the exposed boundary surface at any given time, t2 after the commencement of the evaporative cooling processes. In this paper, it was found out that surface temperature differences could be as much as 6?C in the first cycle of evaporative cooling with the potential of further reduction. Further, an equation for the prediction of the effectiveness of an evaporative cooling system using clay modeled cooling pads was developed. The findings in this research work can be applied in the design, construction and maintenance of evaporative coolers used to dissipate waste heat when a large amount of natural water is not readily available or if for environmental and safety reasons the large water body can no longer absorb waste heat.展开更多
Purpose： The purpose of the study was to ascertain the relationship between efficient medical services and Nigerian undergraduates＇ participation in sports. Methods and Materials： A randomly sampled population of 2...Purpose： The purpose of the study was to ascertain the relationship between efficient medical services and Nigerian undergraduates＇ participation in sports. Methods and Materials： A randomly sampled population of 280 students and 12 managerial staff of sport and medical units participated in the descriptive study. Responses to a validated questionnaire provided the source of data. A test-retest reliability coefficient （r） = 0.80. Data were analyzed with simple percentages and Chi-square at 〈 0.05 alpha level. Results： All the respondents in medical centre and sport unit oriented the students on the available medical services and facilities on campus： availability of first aid services, treatment services for complicated injuries （inpatient）, referral services for specialized care, financial support during hospitalization. Complementary results from the students showed that the majority of the respondents （50%） strongly agreed that medical centre was available in the Campus, and 36% strongly affirmed to availability of first aid services. Thirty four percent of the respondents strongly agreed to the availability of treatment services, while 40% of the respondent agreed to the availability of free medical services. The study revealed that there was a significant relationship between efficient medical services and students＇ participation in sports. Conclusion： All medical services were available but students perceive the services as inefficient which implies poor or non utilization.展开更多
BACKGROUND Most occurrences of type 1 diabetes cases in any population are sporadic rather than familial.Hence,type 1 diabetes among siblings is a rare occurrence.Even more rare is for three or more siblings to develo...BACKGROUND Most occurrences of type 1 diabetes cases in any population are sporadic rather than familial.Hence,type 1 diabetes among siblings is a rare occurrence.Even more rare is for three or more siblings to develop type 1 diabetes.In this report,we describe a case of a Nigerian family in which type 1 diabetes occurred in three siblings among four children with neither parent having diabetes.All three siblings are positive for glutamic acid decarboxylase and anti-islet cell antibodies.CASE SUMMARY There were four siblings(three males and one female)born to a couple without a diagnosis of diabetes.The eldest child(male)was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 15,the second child(female)was diagnosed at the age of 11 and the fourth child(male)was diagnosed at the age of 9.All the siblings presented with similar osmotic symptoms and were diagnosed of diabetic ketoacidosis.All of them had markedly reduced serum C-peptide levels with high levels of glutamic acid decarboxylase and insulinoma-associated protein-2 antibodies.We could not perform genetic analysis of HLA-DR,DQ and CTLA4 in the siblings as well as the parents;hence haplotypes could not be characterized.Both parents of the probands have no prior history of diabetes,and their blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin levels were within normal ranges.The third child(male)has no history suggestive of diabetes,and his blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin have remained within normal ranges.CONCLUSION Although the occurrence of type 1 diabetes in proband siblings is uncommon,screening for diabetes among siblings especially with islet autoantibodies should be encouraged.展开更多
Background： Sheep is important in the socio-economic lives of people around the world. It is estimated that more than half of our once common livestock breeds are now endangered. Since genetic characterization of Nig...Background： Sheep is important in the socio-economic lives of people around the world. It is estimated that more than half of our once common livestock breeds are now endangered. Since genetic characterization of Nigerian sheep is still lacking, we analyzed ten morphological traits on 402 animals and 15 microsatellite DNA markers in 384 animals of the 4 Nigerian sheep breeds to better understand genetic diversity for breeding management and germplasm conservation. Results： Morphological traits of Uda and Balami were significantly （P 〈 0.05） higher than Yankasa, which were both higher than West African Dwarf （WAD） sheep. Stepwise discriminant analysis showed tail length, rump height, chest girth, ear length and chest depth as the most discriminating variables for classification. Mahalanobis distances show the least differentiation between Uda and Balami and the largest between WAD and Balami sheep. While 93.3% of WAD sheep were correctly assigned to their source genetic group, 63.9% of Yankasa, 61.2% of Balami and 45.2% of Uda were classified correctly by nearest neighbour discriminant analysis. The overall high Polymorphism Information Content （PIC） of all microsatellite markers ranged from 0.751 to 0.927 supporting their use in genetic characterization. Expected heterozygosity was high for all loci （0.783 to 0.93）. Mean heterozygote deficiency across all populations （0.17] to 0.534） possibly indicate significant inbreeding （P 〈 0.05）. Mean values for FST, FIT and F^s statistics across all loci were 0.088, 0.394 and 0.336 respectively. Yankasa and Balami are the most closely related breeds （DA = 0.184） while WAD and Balami are the farthest apart breeds （DA-- 0.665）, which is coincident with distance based on morphological analysis and population structure assessed by STRUCTURE. Conclusions： These results suggest that within-breed genetic variation in Nigerian sheep is higher than between-breeds and may be a valuable tool for genetic improvement and conservation. The higher genetic variability in Yankasa suggests the presence of unique ancestral alleles reflecting the presence of certain functional genes which may result in better adaptability in characteristics are potentially useful in planning indigenous sheep. more agro-ecological zones of Nigeria. These genetic mprovement and conservation strategies in Nigerian展开更多
文摘Background and purpose: Migraine is a common debilitating condition with variable prevalence in young Nigerians with significant deterioration in normal daily functioning and in the quality of life. Few data exist on the disability of migraine in Nigeria. The aim of this study was to measure the headache related disability of patients with migraine using the MIDAS among young Nigerians. Methods: This was a cross sectional study conducted in Enugu South East Nigeria. The questionnaire was designed to assess headache profiles according to ICHD-III beta and disability using the Migraine Disability Assessment Questionnaire. Results: About 40.6% of migraineurs were concerned about headache attacks and 39.1% consulted a doctor because of migraine. Most students were affected due to reduced effectiveness at school and number of days missed from housework—18.8% and 20.3% respectively. Overall, 47.8% had at least one day affected by headache in the last three months. The mean number of days disabled by headache was 14.3 days. The mean headache frequency was 5.7 days and the mean pain intensity was 4.2. About 27.5% of the migraineurs had moderate to severe disability due to migraine. There were no significant differences between males and females. Conclusion: Most with migraine experienced reduction in effectiveness at school and number of days missed from housework. Overall, 47.8% had at least one day affected by headache with an average of 14.3 days disabled by headache and 27.5% of the migraineurs had moderate to severe disability due to migraine.
文摘<strong>Introduction:</strong> The COVID-19 Pandemic has affected critical sectors of human development. To curtail these effects, vaccines are being approved for human trials. It is, therefore, important to know the possible vaccine coverage expected in each country. This study determined the willingness of Nigerians to accept and pay for COVID-19 vaccine. <strong>Methods:</strong> A cross-sectional web-based survey across all states of Nigeria was conducted via a structured e-questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, ANOVA and multinomial logistic regression were conducted. <strong>Result:</strong> A total of 502 responses were obtained from all six geopolitical zones of Nigeria, comprising 67.3% males (n = 338) and 32.7% females (n = 164). The results indicated that 34.7% (n = 167) are willing to accept the vaccine when given for free, 33.9% (n = 163) are not willing, and up to 31.4% (n = 151) are indifferent in their decision. Univariate analysis indicated the likelihood that education level could influence willingness to accept the vaccine (F = 2.408, p = 0.049). Rollout strategies may have an impact (p < 0.0001) on the willingness to accept the vaccine. These strategies include providing incentives, making it compulsory and paying for the vaccine with F = 186.983 and eta = 0.657, F =71.620 and Eta = 0.476, F = 108.696 and Eta = 0.552, respectively. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> The study revealed a possibility of the low willingness of Nigerians to accept COVID-19 vaccine. Providing incentives is likely to improve coverage, while making the vaccine compulsory may increase rejection. This study, therefore, serves as a gateway for government and policymakers on how best to prime and penetrate the society to achieve massive COVID-19 vaccine coverage in Nigeria.
文摘Background: There is paucity of data on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors among stroke patients in our population. This study aimed at assessing CVD risk factors amongst stroke patients compared with apparently healthy controls. Methods: This was a case-control study conducted at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital Kano. One hundred stroke subjects were consecutively recruited and compared with 100 age and sex matched controls. The CVD risk factors assessed were hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, obesity, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, socioeconomic status (SES), increased age, male gender and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) status. Results: Mean age was 56.4 ± 15.8 years for cases and 54.5 ± 15.4 years for controls (p = 0.39), and 53% of the former and 52% of the latter were males (p = 0.887). The most prevalent CVD risk factor was hypertension, found in 71% of cases and 42% of the controls, (p = 0.01). All heart diseases were found in 70% of cases and 21% of controls (p < 0.001), and hypertensive heart disease (HHD) was the commonest, found in 55% of cases and 18% of controls (p < 0.001). Dyslipidemia was found in 53% of cases and 37% of the controls (p = 0.023), diabetes mellitus/hyperglycemia in 23% of the cases and 6% of the controls (p = 0.01), history of transient ischemic attack (TIA) in 19% of cases and 1% of the controls (p = 0.01), while atrial fibrillation was found in 9% of cases only. Other risk factors were uncommon. Conclusion: The most frequent CVD risk factors among Nigerians with stroke were systemic hypertension, heart diseases, male sex and dyslipidemia, while HIV and other risk factors were uncommon. Thus medical attention and public enlightenment should focus on the common ones as detected in this study.
文摘Background:The epidemiology of fractures of the humeral shaft has received little attention in Nigeria.This study was aimed at investigating the possible risk factors associated with diaphyseal humeral fractures among Nigerians.Methods:The study was carried out retrospectively at the Department of Medical Records,National Orthopaedic Hospital,Igbobi,Lagos State,Nigeria,between 2007 and 2012.Case notes and plain films of X-ray from a total number of 206 patients of ages from birth to one hundred years(0–100 years),comprising of 140 males and 66 females,were used for the study.The analyses were done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences(SPSS)version 16.0 and presented in bar charts.The frequencies were reported as percentages.The differences in frequencies were compared using chi-square test.Results:The results showed that the percentage frequency of diaphyseal humeral fractures was significantly higher(P<0.05)in males than in females.The main cause(P<0.05)of diaphyseal humeral fractures was road traffic accident followed by fall.Conclusions:The major causes of diaphyseal humeral fractures are road traffic accidents and falls.Since diaphyseal humeral fracture is an issue of harsh economic consequences,adequate measures should be taken by all the parties involved,especially government agencies,to address this menace in term of road maintenance and general well-being of the citizens.Furthermore,since it was observed that different regions of the bones of interest present diverse characteristics with respect to associated risk factors,it is recommended that such studies as this should be region-based rather than whole-bone based.
文摘BACKGROUND Vaccine hesitancy is a major challenge in the fight against the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic.Identifying the sociodemographic factors associated with vaccine acceptance among Nigerians is crucial for improving vaccine uptake.AIM To assess the acceptance rate of COVID-19 vaccine and its related determinants among Nigerians.METHODS An online cross-sectional survey(observational study)was conducted between February 2021 and May 2021,using a questionnaire hosted on SurveyMonkey.The invitation to take part in the poll was sent out to participants through social networking platforms.A logistic regression was used to determine which sociodemographic factors were associated with vaccine acceptance constructs.RESULTS A total of 1800 persons responded to the survey,a larger proportion of whom were males(53.9%)and within the age group of 21-30 years(29.4%)and earned an average income of less than$500 per month(43.3%).Only 0.56%of participants had a high perceived risk of COVID-19 infection,while only 1.11%had a perceived risk of dying from COVID-19.The perception rate of the COVID-19 vaccine among participants was 51.1%,while the acceptance rate was 63.9%.There was no significant association between the COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rate and related determinants assessed,particularly age(χ²=3.049,P=0.550),sex(χ²=0.102,P=0.749),average income(χ²=3.802,P=0.875),and religion(χ²=2.819,P=0.420).Participants with chronic conditions demonstrated a higher acceptance rate compared to the general population.CONCLUSION Despite the positive perception observed and substantial vaccine acceptance rate among the study participants,more public health interventions are still needed to enhance vaccine acceptability in Nigeria.
文摘The study investigated the intervention of caffeine on the effect of Nigerian Bonnylight crude oil (NBLCO) on sperm motility and morphology of diabetic Wistar rats. Eighty adult male rats (180 - 200 g body weight) were randomly divided into eight groups of 10 animals each. The control group received 3 mL/Kg body weight of distilled water, ND Caf. group received 20 mL/kg body weight of caffeine, NDCO group received 3 mL/Kg body weight of NBLCO, ND Caf. + CO group received 20 and 3 mL/Kg body weight of caffeine and NBLCO respectively, diabetic group received 3 mL/Kg body weight of distilled water, D Caf. group received 20 mL/Kg body weight of caffeine, D CO received 3 mL/Kg body weight of NBLCO and D Caf. + CO group received 20 and 3 mL/Kg body weight of caffeine and NBLCO respectively, by oral gavaging for 28 days. The results showed that independent administration of caffeine and NBLCO to both non-diabetic and diabetic rats significantly (p < 0.05) altered sperm concentration, morphology and motility. Administration of NBLCO aggravated the worsening condition by significantly (p < 0.05) reducing sperm concentration, motility and increasing abnormal sperms in diabetic rats. Although caffeine significantly (p < 0.05) reduced motility in non-diabetic rats, it did cause any significant alteration in diabetic rats. Diabetes mellitus and NBLCO significantly (p < 0.05) reduced all indices that promote sperm motility while significantly (p < 0.05) increasing indices that do not promote motility. It can be concluded that diabetes mellitus and NBLCO administration have shown the tendency to promote male infertility by reducing sperm motility and adversely altering the morphology of sperm in male Wistar rats, which was ameliorated by caffeine intervention.
文摘Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is emerging as a new clinical disorder among children and adolescents. Although there is increasing prevalence of this clinical entity among adolescents worldwide, its diagnosis among Nigerian children and adolescents is still uncommon, hence, the reason many physicians still misdiagnose T2DM in adolescents as type 1 diabetes mellitus for reason of age of onset. Here, we present a 15-year old, overweight, girl who presented with history of polyuria, polydipsia and weight loss;her blood glucose level was 14.3 mmol/l, glycated haemoglobin 12.4% and glycosuria (3+), with no ketonuria or proteinuria. She was initially diagnosed as type 1 diabetes and managed with multiple doses of insulin by the pediatric team until she was later reviewed by the endocrinology unit. The diagnosis was later changed to early-onset T2DM (Youth-onset T2DM) based on a BMI of 29.75 kg/m2, presence of acanthosis nigricans, absence of ketosis, preserved beta-cell function as shown by normal serum C-peptide levels, absence of anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) antibodies and islet cell antibody, and also response to oral anti-diabetic agents while her insulin therapy was discontinued. Therefore, a possibility of T2DM should be suspected in childhood and adolescent with diabetes associated with overweight or obesity, relatives with T2DM and features of insulin resistance (IR) like acanthosis nigricans, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), hyperandrogenism, or polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
文摘In 2010, an estimated 400 to 500 children died of acute lead poisoning associated with artisanal gold mining in Zamfara, Nigeria. Processing of gold ores containing up to 10% lead within residential compounds put residents, especially children, at the highest risk. Principal routes of exposure were incidental ingestion and inhalation of contaminated soil and dusts. Several Nigerian and international health organizations collaborated to reduce lead exposures through environmental remediation and medical treatment. The contribution of contaminated food to total lead exposure was assessed during the environmental health response. Objectives of this investigation were to assess the influence of cultural/dietary habits on lead exposure pathways and estimate the contribution of contaminated food to children＇s blood lead levels（BLLs）. A survey of village dietary practices and staple food lead content was conducted to determine dietary composition, caloric intakes, and lead intake. Potential blood lead increments were estimated using bio-kinetic modeling techniques. Most dietary lead exposure was associated with contamination of staple cereal grains and legumes during post-harvest processing and preparation in contaminated homes. Average post-harvest and processed cereal grain lead levels were 0.32 mg/kg and 0.85 mg/kg dry weight, respectively. Age-specific food lead intake ranged from 7 to 78 μg/day. Lead ingestion and absorption were likely aggravated by the dusty environment, fasting between meals, and nutritional deficiencies. Contamination of staple cereal grains by highly bioavailable pulverized ores could account for as much as 11%–34% of children＇s BLLs during the epidemic, and were a continuing source after residential soil remediation until stored grain inventories were exhausted.
基金The National Key Research and Development Plan under contract Nos 2018YFC0310000 and 2016YFC0304905-03the National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract No.41602149China Geological Survey Project under contract Nos DD20190582,DD20191009 and DD20160214。
文摘The amount of methane leaked from deep sea cold seeps is enormous and potentially affects the global warming,ocean acidification and global carbon cycle.It is of great significance to study the methane bubble movement and dissolution process in the water column and its output to the atmosphere.Methane bubbles produce strong acoustic impedance in water bodies,and bubble strings released from deep sea cold seeps are called"gas flares"which expressed as flame-like strong backscatter in the water column.We characterized the morphology and movement of methane bubbles released into the water using multibeam water column data at two cold seeps.The result shows that methane at site I reached 920 m water depth without passing through the top of the gas hydrate stability zone(GHSZ,850 m),while methane bubbles at site II passed through the top of the GHSZ(597 m)and entered the non-GHSZ(above 550 m).By applying two methods on the multibeam data,the bubble rising velocity in the water column at sites I and II were estimated to be 9.6 cm/s and 24 cm/s,respectively.Bubble velocity is positively associated with water depth which is inferred to be resulted from decrease of bubble size during methane ascending in the water.Combined with numerical simulation,we concluded that formation of gas hydrate shells plays an important role in helping methane bubbles entering the upper water bodies,while other factors,including water depth,bubble velocity,initial kinetic energy and bubble size,also influence the bubble residence time in the water and the possibility of methane entering the atmosphere.We estimate that methane gas flux at these two sites is 0.4×10~6–87.6×10~6 mol/a which is extremely small compared to the total amount of methane in the ocean body,however,methane leakage might exert significant impact on the ocean acidification considering the widespread distributed cold seeps.In addition,although methane entering the atmosphere is not observed,further research is still needed to understand its potential impact on increasing methane concentration in the surface seawater and gas-water interface methane exchange rate,which consequently increase the greenhouse effect.
文摘To determine passive haemagglutination (PHA) antibody titer that would protect chicks against Nigerian isolates of the Infectious Bursa Disease Virus (IBDV), five groups of chicks aged 30 days which had different antibody titers were challenged with a Nigerian isolate of virulent IBDV. Mortality rates of the different groups were plotted against their respective mean PHA antibody titers. A group with zero antibody titer had a mortality rate of 75% while those with PHA antibody titers of 185.6, 243.2, 256 and 307.2 had mortality rates of 40%, zero, zero and zero respectively. Linear equation generated for a line of best fit of the graph of mortality rates of the chicks on their IBD antibody titers gave antibody titer (X) at which mortality (Y) would be zero as 300. A mortality of 75% and the high antibody level needed to protect chicks suggest that the isolate may be a hypervirulent strain.
基金Mac Arthur Foundation,through the University of Port Harcourt(UNIPORT)Dean of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical sciences(UNIPORT) Nigeria
文摘Objective:The methanol extracts of the leaves of Kolancheo(K.) pinnata,Aspilia(A.) africana,Mucuna (M.) pruriens,Emilia(E.) coccinea,Triumfetta(T.) rhomboidea,Laportea(L.) ovalifolis,Celosia(C.) trigynea,Cucurbita(C.)moschata and Asystesia(A.)gangestica were evaluated for antioxidant activities,the reducing potentials of these plants were also determined and phytochemical screening of some of these plants were carried out.Methods:The antioxidant activities of these plants were evaluated by the use of 2,2-diphenyl -1 -picrylhydrazyl(DPPH) free radical assay and spectrophotomer.The reducing potentials of these plants were determined using Ferric chloride,Potassium Ferricyanide and Trichloroacetic acid proceedures. The phytochemical screenings of the medicinal plants were equally done using standard procedures.Results: The percentage of antioxidant activities values for the plants were:(31.00±1.80)%,(58.40±1.26) %,(59.10±1.60)%,(60.00±1.05)%,(60.80±1.28)%,(62.40±1.26)%,(64.80±2. 10)%,(75.70±2.60)%and(82.70±2.80)%for A.gangestica,C.moschata,C.trigynea,L. ovalifolia,E.coccinea,M.pruriens,A.africana,K.pinnata and T.rhomboidea.respectively.These values were dose-dependent and statistically significant at P < 0.05(ANOVA).The results showed that T.rhomboidea had the highest antioxidant activity value(82.70±2.80%) while A.gangestica had the least value (31.00±1.80%).The percentage of antioxidant activities of these plants were comparable to the standard used,Tocopherol which was found to be(97.20±1.06)%.The reducing potentials of the plants were found to be positively correlated to the antioxidant activities of the plants.Phytochemical screenings revealed the presence of alkaloids,flavonoids,terpenoids,saponins and tannins in the medicinal plants.Conclusion:The findings from this study have revealed the potentials of these plants as antioxidants.This could be exploited in drug development in search of powerful antioxidants which are urgently needed to challenge free radicals in biological systems.It will consequently help to prevent the body from free radicals originated ailments.However, further study needs to be done to isolate and characterize the active principles in these plants.
基金The National Key R&D Program of China under contract NO.2017YFC1405504the National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract No.41470648+1 种基金the Public Science and Technology Research Funds Projects of Ocean under contract No.201205003the National Program on Global Change and Air-Sea Interaction,SOA under contract No.631 GASI-GEOGE-01
文摘Multi-beam,sub-bottom and multichannel seismic data acquired from the western Nigerian continental margin are analysed and interpreted to examine the architectural characteristics of the lower parts of the submarine canyons on the margin.The presence of four canyons： Avon,Mahin,Benin,and Escravos,are confirmed from the multi-beam data map and identified as cutting across the shelf and slope areas,with morphological features ranging from axial channels,moderate to high sinuosity indices,scarps,terraces and nickpoints which are interpreted as resulting from erosional and depositional activities within and around the canyons.The Avon Canyon,in particular,is characterised by various branches and sub-branches with complex morphologies.The canyons are mostly U-shaped in these lower parts with occasional V-shapes down their courses.Their typical orientation is NE–SW.Sedimentary processes are proposed as being a major controlling factor in these canyons.Sediments appear to have been discharged directly into the canyons by rivers during the late Quaternary low sea level which allows river mouths to extend as far as the shelf edge.The current sediment supply is still primarily sourced from these rivers in the case of the Benin and Escravos Canyons,but indirectly in the case of the Avon and Mahin Canyons where the rivers discharge sediments into the lagoons and the lagoons bring the sediments on to the continental shelf before they are dispersed into the canyon heads.Ancient canyons that have long been buried underneath the Avon Canyon are identified in the multichannel seismic profile across the head of the Avon Canyon,while a number of normal faults around the walls of the Avon and Mahin Canyons are observed in the selected sub-bottom profiles.The occurrence of these faults,especially in the irregular portions of the canyon walls,suggests that they also have some effect on the canyon architecture.The formation of the canyons is attributed to the exposure of the upper marginal area to incisions from erosion during the sea level lowstand of the glacial period.The incisions are widened and lengthened by contouric currents,turbidity currents and slope failures resulting in the canyons.
文摘Sorption characteristics of multiple adsorption of six heavy metal ions often found in refinery waste waters using activated carbon from Nigerian bamboo was investigated. The bamboo was cut, washed and dried. It was carbonized between 350℃ - 500℃, and activated at 800℃ using nitric acid. Simultaneous batch adsorption of different heavy metal ions (Cd<sup>2+</sup>, Ni<sup>2+</sup>, Pb<sup>2+</sup>, Cr<sup>3+</sup>, Cu<sup>2+</sup> and Zn<sup>2+</sup>) in same aqueous solution using activated carbon from Nigerian bamboo was carried out. The adsorption process had a better fit for the Freundlich, Temkin isotherm and Dubinin-Radushke-vich (DRK) isotherm models but could not fit well into Langmuir isotherm. Adsorption isotherms showed that there is competition among various metals for adsorption sites on Nigerian bamboo. The DRK model was used to determine the nature of the sorption process and was found to be physical and chemical, with sorption energy of metal ions ranging from (7 - 10 kJ/mol). The adsorption of Cd<sup>2+</sup>, Zn<sup>2+</sup>, Pb<sup>2+</sup> and Ni<sup>2+</sup> ions was chemisorptions and that of Cu<sup>2+</sup> and Cr<sup>3+</sup> ions was cooperative adsorption. Therefore, this study revealed that Nigerian bamboo can serve as a good source of activated carbon with multiple and simultaneous metalions—removing potentials and may serve as a better replacement for commercial activated carbons in applications that warrant their use.
文摘Nigeria,often referred to as“the giant of Africa,”boasts a sizable population,a thriving economy,and abundant energy resources.Nevertheless,Nigeria has yet to fully harness its renewable energy potential,despite its enormous capacity in this field.The goal of this review paper is to thoroughly examine the difficulties and untapped opportunities in utilizing biomass for bioenergy production in Nigeria.Notably,Nigeria generates substantial volumes of biomass annually,primarily in the form of agricultural waste,which is often either discarded or burned inefficiently,resulting in significant ecological and environmental damage.Therefore,an efficient approach to reducing pollution and transforming waste into wealth involves converting these biomass resources into energy.This work critically examines the status of biomass utilization for energy applications in Nigeria and highlights the bottlenecks that impede its widespread adoption.The review emphasizes the economic and ecological advantages of biomass utilization over traditional waste treatment methods.Additionally,it underscores the appeal of biomass as an industrial fuel source,particularly considering the current high cost of fossil fuels in contemporary Nigeria.Relevant literature on biomass,energy,agricultural waste,fossil fuel,and calorific value in the context of Nigeria was reviewed by utilizing a thorough search technique in key scientific databases.The analysis did not include any non-English publications.The findings of this research provide valuable insights into the challenges faced in maximizing Nigeria’s biomass potential and offer strategic recommendations to promote the use of biomass for bioenergy development.This review paper will assist a wide range of local and international readers,as well as industries interested in green and bioenergy,in making informed decisions regarding the most suitable types of biomass for biofuel production.
文摘Background: The etiology of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is not completely understood;however one condition that correlates closely with the pathogenesis of PCOS is insulin resistance (IR). The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of insulin resistance (IR) and the association of such abnormality with potential risk factors in women with PCOS. Method: 116 women with confirmed PCOS attending a reproductive clinic at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital in Benin City were studied. IR was determined by homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) ≥ 2 and pre-diabetes by fasting plasma glucose between 110 and 125 mg/dl and/or plasma glucose value between 140 and 200 mg/dl at 2 hours during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) after ingestion of 75 g oral glucose load. Results: Forty-two women were insulin resistant among the 116 women with PCOS. The prevalence of IR was 36.2% (95% CI 26.6 - 46.2). The prevalence of impaired fasting glucose (IFG) showed 1.7% (95% CI 0.97 - 2.03), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) was 2.6% (95% CI 1.97 - 3.03) and diabetes mellitus (DM) was 1.7% (95% CI 0.97 - 2.03) in the 116 PCOS women. Of these 42 insulin resistant PCOS women, 23.8% (n = 10) were obese and 40.5% (n = 17) were overweight. Multivariate analysis revealed that total cholesterol (OR, 1.07;95% CI, 1.04 - 1.10), triglycerides (OR, 1.08;95% CI, 1.04 - 1.13) and LDL-cholesterol (OR, 1.08;95% CI, 1.04 - 1.12) were statistically significant independent risk factors for IR. Conclusion: The prevalence of IR was high in women with PCOS, and there was a significant association between IR, obesity, and dyslipidemia. However, the prevalence rates of impaired glucose tolerance and DM were low in women with PCOS compared to other studies. Since women with PCOS are at risk of IR and dyslipidemia, early screening, detection, intervention, and lifestyle modification would ameliorate the financial burden of DM and cardiovascular disease (CVD).
文摘The paper investigates the determinants of capital structure in Nigerian listed insurance firms using data obtained from annual report of the sampled firms for the period of 2001-2010. It used five explanatory variables to measure their effects on debt ratio. Multiple regression is employed as a tool of analysis. The result reveals that all the explanatory variables have statistically and significantly influenced the explained variable. The results approve the prediction of pecking order theory in the case of profitability and trade-off theory in case of tangibility variables. The growth variable supports the agency theory hypothesis whereas size variable confirms to the asymmetry of information theory. It is therefore recommended that the management of listed insurance firms in Nigeria should always consider their positions using these capital structure determinants as important inputs before embarking on debt financing decision.
文摘Overtime, reduction in the amount of heat generated in engineering systems in operations have been of great concern and have continuously been under study. It is in line with the above that this research work developed a mathematical model of an evaporative cooling pad using sintered Nigerian clay. A physical model of the evaporative cooling phenomenon was developed followed by the derivation of the governing equations describing the energy and mass transfer for the clay model from the laws of conservation of continuum mechanics. A set of reasonable and appropriate as-sumptions were imposed upon the physical model. Constitutive relationships were also developed for further analysis of the developed equations. The finite element model of numerical methods was used to analyse the energy transfer governing equations which resulted in the determination of the temperature of the exposed boundary surface at any given time, t2 after the commencement of the evaporative cooling processes. In this paper, it was found out that surface temperature differences could be as much as 6?C in the first cycle of evaporative cooling with the potential of further reduction. Further, an equation for the prediction of the effectiveness of an evaporative cooling system using clay modeled cooling pads was developed. The findings in this research work can be applied in the design, construction and maintenance of evaporative coolers used to dissipate waste heat when a large amount of natural water is not readily available or if for environmental and safety reasons the large water body can no longer absorb waste heat.
文摘Purpose： The purpose of the study was to ascertain the relationship between efficient medical services and Nigerian undergraduates＇ participation in sports. Methods and Materials： A randomly sampled population of 280 students and 12 managerial staff of sport and medical units participated in the descriptive study. Responses to a validated questionnaire provided the source of data. A test-retest reliability coefficient （r） = 0.80. Data were analyzed with simple percentages and Chi-square at 〈 0.05 alpha level. Results： All the respondents in medical centre and sport unit oriented the students on the available medical services and facilities on campus： availability of first aid services, treatment services for complicated injuries （inpatient）, referral services for specialized care, financial support during hospitalization. Complementary results from the students showed that the majority of the respondents （50%） strongly agreed that medical centre was available in the Campus, and 36% strongly affirmed to availability of first aid services. Thirty four percent of the respondents strongly agreed to the availability of treatment services, while 40% of the respondent agreed to the availability of free medical services. The study revealed that there was a significant relationship between efficient medical services and students＇ participation in sports. Conclusion： All medical services were available but students perceive the services as inefficient which implies poor or non utilization.
文摘BACKGROUND Most occurrences of type 1 diabetes cases in any population are sporadic rather than familial.Hence,type 1 diabetes among siblings is a rare occurrence.Even more rare is for three or more siblings to develop type 1 diabetes.In this report,we describe a case of a Nigerian family in which type 1 diabetes occurred in three siblings among four children with neither parent having diabetes.All three siblings are positive for glutamic acid decarboxylase and anti-islet cell antibodies.CASE SUMMARY There were four siblings(three males and one female)born to a couple without a diagnosis of diabetes.The eldest child(male)was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 15,the second child(female)was diagnosed at the age of 11 and the fourth child(male)was diagnosed at the age of 9.All the siblings presented with similar osmotic symptoms and were diagnosed of diabetic ketoacidosis.All of them had markedly reduced serum C-peptide levels with high levels of glutamic acid decarboxylase and insulinoma-associated protein-2 antibodies.We could not perform genetic analysis of HLA-DR,DQ and CTLA4 in the siblings as well as the parents;hence haplotypes could not be characterized.Both parents of the probands have no prior history of diabetes,and their blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin levels were within normal ranges.The third child(male)has no history suggestive of diabetes,and his blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin have remained within normal ranges.CONCLUSION Although the occurrence of type 1 diabetes in proband siblings is uncommon,screening for diabetes among siblings especially with islet autoantibodies should be encouraged.
基金supported by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences,Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. USAsupport from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the award of the Norman Borlaug Leadership Enhancement in Agriculture Program (LEAP)Fellowship to Moses Okpekuresearch grant from International Foundation for Science, Stockholm to Moses Okpeku
文摘Background： Sheep is important in the socio-economic lives of people around the world. It is estimated that more than half of our once common livestock breeds are now endangered. Since genetic characterization of Nigerian sheep is still lacking, we analyzed ten morphological traits on 402 animals and 15 microsatellite DNA markers in 384 animals of the 4 Nigerian sheep breeds to better understand genetic diversity for breeding management and germplasm conservation. Results： Morphological traits of Uda and Balami were significantly （P 〈 0.05） higher than Yankasa, which were both higher than West African Dwarf （WAD） sheep. Stepwise discriminant analysis showed tail length, rump height, chest girth, ear length and chest depth as the most discriminating variables for classification. Mahalanobis distances show the least differentiation between Uda and Balami and the largest between WAD and Balami sheep. While 93.3% of WAD sheep were correctly assigned to their source genetic group, 63.9% of Yankasa, 61.2% of Balami and 45.2% of Uda were classified correctly by nearest neighbour discriminant analysis. The overall high Polymorphism Information Content （PIC） of all microsatellite markers ranged from 0.751 to 0.927 supporting their use in genetic characterization. Expected heterozygosity was high for all loci （0.783 to 0.93）. Mean heterozygote deficiency across all populations （0.17] to 0.534） possibly indicate significant inbreeding （P 〈 0.05）. Mean values for FST, FIT and F^s statistics across all loci were 0.088, 0.394 and 0.336 respectively. Yankasa and Balami are the most closely related breeds （DA = 0.184） while WAD and Balami are the farthest apart breeds （DA-- 0.665）, which is coincident with distance based on morphological analysis and population structure assessed by STRUCTURE. Conclusions： These results suggest that within-breed genetic variation in Nigerian sheep is higher than between-breeds and may be a valuable tool for genetic improvement and conservation. The higher genetic variability in Yankasa suggests the presence of unique ancestral alleles reflecting the presence of certain functional genes which may result in better adaptability in characteristics are potentially useful in planning indigenous sheep. more agro-ecological zones of Nigeria. These genetic mprovement and conservation strategies in Nigerian
