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Item Seroprevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Toxoplasma Gondii Infection among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care in Plateau State Specialist Hospital, Jos, Nigeria(International Journal of Innovation Scientific Research and Review, 2021) DANUAN, M.B.; DAKUL, A.D.; ADELEKE, E.A.; LUMI, E.B; CHUNDUNG, N.DToxoplasmosis has been famously described as a cosmopolitan disease caused by the zoonotic parasite known as Toxoplasma gondii with the capacity to induce miscarriage and congenital defects during pregnancy. Despite its public health significance, there is a dearth of information about the epidemiology of the infection in pregnant women in Nigeria, consequently this study aimed to determine the burden and risk factors associated with T. gondii infection in pregnant women attending Ante-Natal Clinic (ANC) at Plateau State Specialist Hospital, Jos, Nigeria.3mls venous blood was collected from 268 pregnant women within the reproductive age groups of 15 to 50 years. Structured questionnaire was used to obtain demographic and Toxoplasma infection risk related data. Sera were assayed using a commercial ELISA kit (Novo Tec Immunodiagnostica® Germany). 46 out of the 268 women were positive with an overall prevalence rate of 17.16%. The highest prevalence was recorded among women within the age group ≤20 years (28.00%), urban settlers (18.18%), women in their second trimester 18.75%, those who owned cats (25.00%) and those who have contacts with cat’s faeces (29.10`%). There was a significant association (p < 0.05) between the prevalence of T.gondiiantibodies (IgG) with age, ethnic group and blood transfusion history. While other factors show no significant relationship (p>0.05). Asymptomatic Toxoplasmosisis common amongst pregnant women thus it is imperative for policy makers and caregivers to consider introducing routine screening of toxoplasmosis especially as part of antenatal program for pregnant women.Item Parasitic Infection of Edible Terrestrial Gastropods in Benue and Plateau States, North-Central Nigeria(2022) Adeleke Ezekiel Abayomi; Otokpa Ocha JulietAn alternative to red meat due to cholesterol level has made large terrestrial snails a target. they could serve as a good replacement and source of protein but their mode of life especially feeding and locomotion makes them prone to parasitic infections. This study was aimed at investigating the parasitic infection of edible terrestrial snails in relation to specie in some parts of North-Central Nigeria. a total of 579 edible land snails were collected during the wet and dry seasons. Seven snail species belonging to three generals were identified. Out of the 579 collected snails, 447 (77.20%) were positive for parasitic infections. All infected snails showed multiple infections. Infection rates of 82.88%, 77.69%, 67.12% and 53.85% were recorded from Agila, Jos, Utonkon and Wadata respectively. However, no significant difference in snail infection in relation to location. (χ2= , p > 0.05). Parasitic infection of snail species revealed that A. fulica was most infected (90.10%), this was followed by L. flammea (79.31%), A. marginata (77.42%), A. saturalis (75.58%). L. aurora (74.73%), A. achatina (72.09%) and A. ovum (65.39%). No significant difference was observed amongst snail species infection (p > 0.05). S. stercoralis recorded 100% infection rate in all snails, A. cantonensis 76.73%, while Entamoeba sp. recorded the least (1.70%). Different parasites were also recovered from in the tissues/organs of the snails bserved. Public awareness on the public health implications of consuming terrestrial snails should be emphasized by public health workers especially when eaten raw or undercooked. Snail farms should be encouraged rather than consumption of snails gotten from the wild.Item Prevalence of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) and Hepatitis B Antibodies among Commercial Motor Park Workers in Jos North, Nigeria(Saudi Journal of Pathology and Microbiology, 2019-03-31) Nkup Jude Yunzoom; Ocheme Julius; Sule Jesinta; David Samirah; Cirfat Nanya; Otobo Innocent; Anejo-Okopi JosephAlthough there are several reports on the prevalence of HBsAg in Nigeria, there is paucity of data on the prevalence of HBsAg and HBAb among motor park workers in the country. Objective: This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors among commercial Motor park workers in Jos, Nigeria. Methods: One hundred and thirty one (131) commercially motor park Workers who consented to take part in this study were recruited. Aseptically, 5ml of venous blood was collected from each participant and screened for HBsAg and HBAbs markers using one step, rapid chromatographic immunoassay and associated risk factors using structured questionnaire which was voluntarily completed by the participants and the data were thereafter analysed. Results: Of the 131 participants, 105 were males and 26 females with age range between 16-75 years. An overall HBsAg seropositivity of 16.8% and HBAbs positivity of 74.8% were observed. On multivariate analysis, factors such as multiple sexual partners: HBsAg (35.0%), anti-HBs (10.0%), anti-HBe (20.0%) and anti-HBc (35.0%); history of surgery: HBsAg (64.3%), anti-HBs (21.4%), anti-HBe (7.1%) and anti-HBc (7.1); lack of condom usage: HBsAg (15.7%) anti-HBs (28.7%), anti-HBe (18.3%) and anti-HBc (27.8%) were among some determinants of HBV infection in this study. Conclusion: The data results suggest high prevalence of HBV among this mobile group of people;, and with the increasing number of individuals and corporate bodies engaged in one or more activities at motor parks, there is the need for deliberate efforts for preventive measures.Item DESIGN OF A RENEWABLE ENERGY OUTPUT PREDICTION SYSTEM FOR 1000mW SOLAR-WIND HYBRID POWER PLANT.(INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH SCIENCE & MANAGEMENT, 2015-08) Ogherohwo E.P; Barnabas.B; Alemika.T.EProblems associated with non-renewable energy sources such as fossil fuels make it necessary to move to cleaner renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. But the wind and sun are both intermittent sources of energy therefore accurate forecasts of wind and solar power are necessary to ensure the safety, stability and economy of utilizing these resources in large scale power generation. In this study, five meteorological parameters namely Temperature, Rainfall, Dew Point, Relative Humidity and Cloud Cover were collected for the year 2012 and used to predict wind and solar power output in Jos, Nigeria. The study used prediction algorithms such as Regression techniques and Artificial Neural Networks to predict the output of a 1000mW Solar-Wind Hybrid Power Plant over a period of one year. Individual prediction techniques were compared and Isotonic Regression was found to have the highest accuracy with errors of 40.5% in predicting solar power generation and 35.4% in predicting wind power generation. The relatively high levels of error are attributed to several limitations of the research work.Item Analysis of Copper Cable Types Commonly used in Nigeria for Electrical Wiring and Power Distribution(International Journal of Science and Technology, 2012-08) Ogherowo E. P.; Kwaha B. J.; Oyelade O. V.The compositional constituents of five (5) copper cable types labeled E1, E2, E3, E4 and E5 were determined using two (2) different test methods namely- X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRFS) and resistivity test with the main objective of ascertaining their purity, resistivity and conductivity features. These factors are expected to provide the clue as to why some cables of the same gauge manufactured by different companies fail under the same load conditions. Samples of the 5 cable brands of equal dimensions were grounded to fine powder and subjected to purity test by the XRFS method. Another set of similar samples were subjected to resistivity test. From the XRFS result, E1 had purity of 99.30%, E2, 99.10%, E3, 98.50%, E4, 99.20% and E5, 98.80%, while the resistivity tests revealed that the respective resistivity and conductivity values were: for E1 [2.324x10-9 Ω m and 430.29x106 (m)-1], E2 [3.921x10-9 Ω m and 255.04 x 106 (m)-1], E3 [2.689 x 10-9 Ω m and 371.89 x 106 (m)-1], E4 [2.614x10-9 Ω m and 382.56x106 (m)-1], and E5 [2.890x10-9 Ω m and 346.60 x 106 (m)-1]. Comparing these values to the standard resistivity value of pure copper [2.82 x 10-8 m], it would be seen that these results are in agreement with each other. The test methods used in this research could be used to test the purity of copper or any other metal suitable for domestic electrification before stretching into cables. It can also be used to determine the standard of copper products.Item Computational Analysis of Cross Polarization on KU-Band Satellite Links over Jos, Nigeria(FUPRE Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research, 2017) Aminu Ibrahim; Durodola O.M; Ogherohwo E.P; Taddy E. N.; Zhimwang Jangfa T.This paper presents the computational analysis of cross polarization on KU-Band satellite links. The depolarization effects on satellite links are described in terms of cross polar discrimination (XDP). The differential phase shifts mainly responsible for causing depolarization at Ku-band due to scattering by spheroidal raindrops wascomputed. Simultaneous analyses of sample data from Kuband, EUTELSALAT (W4/W7) satellite beacon footprint at a frequency of 12.245 GHZ and elevation angle of 036 0 E over Jos (9.8965 0 N, 8.8583 0 E, 1192M) were analyzed. Also the distribution of one minute rain rate obtained from Davis Vantage Vue Integrated Sensors Suites (ISS) weather station was computed. These data were applied to the ITU-R procedure in recommendation 618-12(ITU-R, 2015) to estimate the cross polarization discrimination due to rain on earth satellite path. The results shows that XPD at lowervalue imply very high incidences and cross talks are expected in the region. As such frequency re-use is difficult in Jos, Nigeria.Item Evaluation of the Implementation of Undergraduate General Studies Entrepreneurship Curriculum in Federal Universities in North-Central Geo-Political Zone, Nigeria(CREATIVE RESEARCH PUBLISHING, 2019-07-24) Hulda Maxwell Davwet; Dorah Nanman Damar; Meshach Gomam Goyit; Yakubu Gorah KajangThe study evaluated the Implementation of Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Curriculum in Federal Universities in North Central Geo-Political Zone, Nigeria. The study was aimed at finding out the level of the implementation of the GST entrepreneurship education in federal universities in Nigeria and how it has equipped the undergraduate students with the necessary entrepreneurship skills that would enable them to practice after graduation. Four research questions and two hypotheses were raised for the study. A cross-sectional survey research design was used for the study. The population of the study constituted of seven federal universities in the study area 14 directors, 49 GST lecturers and 25,087 final year (400 levels) undergraduate students. The sample size of the study consisted of five federal universities, 10 Directors (including five GST Directors & five Entrepreneurship Directors), 29 GST lecturers and 1826 final year (400 levels) undergraduate students using multi-stage sampling technique. The instruments for data collection were structured Undergraduate General Studies Entrepreneurship Curriculum Implementation Questionnaires (UGSECIQ) which were sub-divided into three sections for: directors, lecturers and students. Content validity was established on the questionnaire by three experts, each from Curriculum Studies, Business Management and Measurement and Evaluation from the University of Jos. A reliability coefficient of 0.890, 0.901 and 0.957 for the directors, lecturers and students’ responses respectively were obtained through Cronbach Alpha. The data obtained for the research questions were analysed using mean, standard deviation and simple percentage while chi-square for independent samples and ANOVA were used for testing the hypotheses using SPSS version 21.0. The results of the findings revealed that the implementation process of the undergraduate GST entrepreneurship education was constrained by inadequate funding to procure learning materials and facilities for equipping the entrepreneurship centres of the universities. It was recommended based on the finding that the universities management through the National Universities Commission (NUC) collaborates with Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Petroleum Trust Funds (PTF) and Tertiary Educational Trust Fund (TET-Funds) to access funds to sponsor entrepreneurship education programme of the universities. Also, universities management should collaborate with successful private entrepreneurs within its vicinity and outside for sponsorship of entrepreneurship activities in the universities by so doing will reduce underfunding of the programme in the universities.Item Accumulation of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBS) in Soil and Water from Electrical Transformers Installation Sites in Selected Locations in Jos Metropolis, Plateau State, Nigeria(Journal of Environmental & Analytical Toxicology, 2018-04-15) Ibrahim E. G.; Gushit J. S.; Salami S. J.Soil and water samples from surroundings of selected Electricity Transformer installations belonging to the Jos Electricity Distribution (JED) Plc, Jos were analyzed for different congeners of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) widely used as coolants. The EPA 3550 and 3510 methods were used for the sampling, preparation and extraction of the soil and water samples respectively. The extracts were cleaned up using column chromatography packed with silica gel (120 mesh). Thereafter, it was concentrated for characterization and quantification using Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectroscopy Detector (GC-MSD). Fifteen (15) congeners were identified and quantified in the soil samples. The result obtained shows C52 to have the highest concentration with the value of 5.84 mg/kg. The range for the concentrations of the various congeners identified are: C18 (0.00-0.05 mg/kg), C20 (0.27-0.70 mg/kg), C28 (0.28-0.39 mg/kg), C29 (0.28-0.39 mg/kg), C44 (0.15-0.54 mg/kg), C52 (0.09-5.84 mg/kg), C101 (0.38-0.51 mg/kg), C137 (0. 45-1.79 mg/kg), C142 (0.00-0.55 mg/kg), C153 (0.37-1.20 mg/kg), C170 (0.15-1.59 mg/kg), C180 (0.00-0.47 mg/kg) and C194 (0.00-0.32 mg/kg). Similarly, for the water samples only C20, C28, C29, C101, C105 and C153 were identified and quantified. The result shows C153 having the highest concentration with the value of 0.57 mg/l followed by C105 (0.48 mg/l), C101 (0.37 mg/l), C28 and C29 have same concentration of 0.28 mg/l. From thirty samples analyzed, the result of the soils is below the Canadian Reference maximum allowable limit while that of water has some values higher than the recommended allowable limit. The studies showed various concentrations are link with ages of Transformer installation, as those installed earlier had more congeners with higher concentrations than the recent ones.Item Evaluation of the Effects of Aqueous Whole Plant Extract of Lepidium sativum L. (Brassicaceae) on some Biochemical and Hematological Parameters in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats(Journal National Production Plant Resource, 2018) Olotu I.A; Luka C.D; Olotu P.NLepidium sativum is widely accepted in folkloric medicine to be effective in the treatment of diabetic mellitus among the Hausa dwellers in Jos North Local Area of Plateau State, Nigeria yet, there was no scientific evidence to support this claim. This study was carried out to evaluate some biochemical and haematological parameters that could be used to determine the antidiabetic activity of the aqueous extract of Lepidium sativum whole plant in both normal and streptozocin-induced diabetic rats. After the safety of the plant was established using LD50, Streptozotocin-induced diabetic and non-diabetic rats were administered with aqueous extract of the whole plant at 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/ kg body weight through intragastric tube for four weeks. There was a statistically significant (p<0.05) reduction in the level of blood glucose of the rats as compared to the normal control after administration with respect to the biochemical and hematological parameters analysed. The results from this study suggest that the aqueous extract of the whole plant possesses some hypoglycemic properties and could have potential to be used as antidiabetic.Item Estimation of the Long-Term Propagation Losses Due To Rain On Microwave Satellite Links Over Jos, Nigeria(FUPRE Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research, 2018) J.T.Zhimwang; Ogherohwo E.p; Igbekele O. JThis paper presents the estimation of long term propagation losses due to rain on microwave satellite links over Jos. Data were retrieved from the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) Abuja, Nigeria. The data collected was rainfall rate (mm/h) for theperiod of three year (2015–2017) over Jos. Results were obtained based on the exceedance distribution frequency of percentage time (%) and cumulative distribution of one- minute rain rate which revealed that higher rainfall rate (above 100 mm/hr) account for about 0.01 and 0.001% time ofexceedance and it is during such times that maximum propagation losses due to rainfall is significant and can be best estimated.