The Significance of Peat Deposits in Evaluating the Recent Environmental and Climatic Conditions in the Bangladesh Part of Bengal Basin

Peat is a biogenic deposit which forms under water logged conditions in continental swampy to marshy environments when organic matter is produced by plants and deposited at a faster rate than it is decomposed. Climate controls the rate of plant growth, type of plant growth and to a large extent, depositional rates, all of which ultimately determine whether or not peat will form. Thus, the peat deposits are not only important as fuel resources but also important from an environmental point of view, because peat deposits of an area may provide valuable information about past environments as well as climatic circumstances of the area. At many places in the eastern part of Bengal Basin (Bangladesh) peat occurs randomly at surface to near surface conditions. Generally, the base of the peat deposit is about 15 m below the surface and peat is not found below that depth. As there exists a relationship between the depth of sediment i.e. peat and time, it signifies a sudden change in the depositional environment within the basin in the recent past. This peat forming environment did not exist before that time. The current research discusses the depositional characters of the peat deposits and their significance in interpreting the recent environments and climatic conditions in the Bangladesh part of Bengal Basin. However, the detailed investigation of peat deposits is yet to be completed and should be done to know the past and predict the future climatic and environmental condition

Ethnicity and ethnic federalism in Ethiopia

Ethiopia is an indigenously diverse and multicultural country. Ethiopia is home to over 81 languages and 86 ethnic groups. The Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) implemented ethnic federalism in 1991, reorganizing its regions along linguistic and ethnic lines. Ethnic problems and ethnic conflicts have emerged in recent years. Ethiopia's ethnicity problem is analogous to a pandemic outbreak. Ethnocentrism is spread across the whole country. The problem is getting worse. The relationship between different ethnic groups is deteriorating, and people are dying daily because of their ethnic background. As a result, the peaceful coexistence of communities has been affected. There is a fear that if the problem is not managed urgently, it could drag the nation into disintegration. Therefore, ethnic federalism is blamed for the conflict and tension between different ethnic groups in the country. Now a days, studies are being done on whether ethnic federalism outweighs the benefits of the problems. This becomes the main source of intense debate. In this regard, it is considered important to examine these discussions. The aim of this study is to examine the debates on ethnicity and ethnic federalism in Ethiopia. The ethno-linguistics of Ethiopia were discussed first, followed by Ethiopia's ethnic federalism and its benefits and drawbacks. A literature review was used as the method for this study

Demographic Characteristics of Fruit Sellers and Chemical Preservation Practices in Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria

Fruits in Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria, are often preserved using chemicals to extend their shelf life, maintain freshness, and enhance quality and taste. However, global concerns persist about the safety of these preservatives, particularly when applied indiscriminately. This study aimed to determine the demographic characteristics of fruit sellers in Birnin Kebbi and the preservatives they commonly use. Structured questionnaires were administered to 200 participants who provided informed consent. The results showed that 116 (58%) of the respondents were male, while 84 (42%) were female. Most participants (38%) were aged 18–25 years (76 individuals), followed by those aged 26–35 years (60 individuals, 30%). A significant proportion of participants (82; 41%) had no formal education, while 48 (24%) had primary education. The majority of participants (120; 60%) belonged to the Hausa ethnic group, and 156 individuals (78%) identified as Muslims. Marital status was evenly distributed, with 84 participants (42%) being single and 80 (40%) married. Regarding fruit preservation practices, watermelon was the most frequently preserved fruit, cited by 50 participants (25%), followed by oranges (42; 21%) and bananas (22; 11%). Among chemical preservatives, sulfite was the most commonly used, reported by 84 (42%) participants, followed by citric acid (36; 18%), sodium benzoate (28; 14%), calcium chloride (24; 12%), benzoic acid (18; 9%), and ethanol (10; 5%). Alarmingly, 95% of participants demonstrated inadequate knowledge of proper preservative application methods, raising concerns about potential health risks for consumers. These findings suggest that fruit preservation practices in Birnin Kebbi may expose consumers to health hazards. It is imperative to educate fruit sellers and consumers on the safe use of chemical preservatives, including appropriate concentrations and application techniques, to mitigate these risks and promote safer fruit consumption

Bireysel Yatırımcıların Yatırım Kararlarını Etkileyen Faktörlerin İncelenmesi: Irak Menkul Kıymetler Borsası’nda Bir Uygulama

Bireysel yatırımcılar sermaye piyasalarında önemli bir role sahiptir. Yatırımcıların yatırım kararlarını etkileyen birçok faktör vardır. Bireysel yatırımcılar, yaşadıkları toplumun kararlarından da etkilenmektedir. Yatırımcıların kararlarına etki eden faktörler alınan yatırım kararları üzerinde önemli bir etkiye sahiptir. Bu nedenle bireysel yatırımcıların davranışlarının psikolojik ve sosyolojik faktörler açısından incelenmesi gerekmektedir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, bireysel yatırımların yatırım kararları üzerinde etkili olan faktörleri araştırmaktır. Irak Menkul Kıymetler Borsası`nda yatırım yapan bireysel yatırımcılar üzerinde anket uygulanarak veri toplanmıştır. Veriler SPSS 22,0 programında frekans ve yüzde analizlerine tabi tutularak yorumlanmıştır. Analiz sonucunda bireysel yatırımcıların yatırım kararlarını etkileyen risk, finansal kriz, finansal bilgi ve sürü psikolojisi gibi birçok faktörün olduğu belirlenmiştir

Prevalence and correlates of stunting among the school-age population in North-Central Nigeria

Introduction: stunting remains a huge public health concern among developing Nations. However, the burden of this problem among the school-age population appears to have been eclipsed by most nutritional surveys that focus more on the under-fives. This study aimed to demonstrate the prevalence, and identify socio-demographic factors that are associated with stunting among the school-age children in North central Nigeria. Methods: this was a descriptive cross-sectional study that involved 450 pupils, aged 6-12 years from 10 randomly selected primary schools in Jos, Plateau state. Anthropometric indices were measured using standard techniques and the Height-for-age z-scores were generated using the WHO Anthroplus software. Socio-demographic details were obtained using semi-structured questionnaires. Data were analysed using EPI infoTM statistical software 7.1.5.2. Results: the mean age of the subjects was 9.3 ± 1.8 years and the male to female ratio was 1:1.1. The prevalence of stunting was 10.5%. The prevalence of stunting was significantly higher among pupils that attended public schools (p<0.0001), those whose mothers had less than secondary level of education (p=0.0427), those between the ages of 10-12 years (p<0.0001), those from the lower socio-economic class (p=0.0021), and those whose family sizes were larger than six family members (p=0.0063). Conclusion: the substantial burden of stunting among the school age population has significant correlation with certain socio-demographic factors. Addressing these factors by alleviating poverty, promoting maternal literacy and encouraging family planning may, perhaps, lessen the burden of stunting among the school-age group in Northern Nigeria

Assessment of probability of pulmonary arterial hypertension among HIV-1 infected patients on haart and its relationship with Cd4 cells Count and viral load

HIV patients are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than the general population and have a 2500-fold increased risk of developing pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH). HIV associated pulmonary hypertension was said to be more severe and is associated with higher mortality. Methodology: Across-sectional conducted among consecutive HIV patients age greater than 18 years receiving treatment at the antiretroviral therapy (ART) clinic of the Federal Medical Centre Nguru Yobe State Northeastern Nigeria. Results: One hundred and twenty (120) subjects were recruited into the study, thirteen had incomplete data and were excluded from the analysis. There was a significant negative correlation between CD4 cells count with tricuspid regurgitant flow velocity (TRv), pulmonary regurgitant flow velocity (PRv), pulmonary artery trunk diameter (PATd), right ventricular to left ventricular internal diameter (RV/LV) ratio, left ventricular eccentricity index (LVEI), and right atrial area (RAA), while the correlation between CD4 cells count and right ventricular acceleration time (RVAT) was positive and significant. On the other hand, the correlations between viral load and TRv, PRv, PATd, RV/LV ratio, and RAA were positive and significant while that between viral load and RVAT was negative and significant. Conclusions: This study revealed that HIV patients with low CD4 cell count and high viral load had a high probability of developing PAH (significant negative relationship between variables associated with the probability of PAH with CD4 cell count and significant positive relationship with viral load), In HIV patients the probability of developing PAH decreases with adequate treatment (that suppress viral replication and increases CD4 count). We, therefore, recommend routine assessment of the probability of PAH in patients with HIV infection particularly those with low CD4 cell count and high viral load and encourage early commencement of HAART to prevent the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension

Improvement of Concrete Durability and Strength with Epoxy Resin Concrete

Portland cement concrete has wide applications in construction owing to its good strength and relatively low cost. However, exposure to extreme environmental conditions has many significant drawbacks. Cracking due to mechanical stresses, chemical degradations, and extreme fluctuations in temperature accelerate the deterioration of concrete by way of loss of strength and increased permeability. One promising solution for these challenges is Epoxy Resin Concrete. ERC uses epoxy resins as binders, which increase its mechanical properties and strength significantly. The high adhesive power, low permeability, and excellent chemical resistance of epoxy resins create a highly cross-linked structure that significantly improves the toughness and durability of concrete. Consequently, ERC has several superior properties to conventional concrete, such as compressive strength, flexural strength, and crack resistance. It suits ERC in demanding environments, like marine structures, industrial floors, and road engineering. Enhanced performance of the ERC will be highly relevant for increasing the durability and safety of infrastructure subjected to severe conditions. This paper explores the advantages of ERC and its potential to offer a more durable and resilient solution to the challenges of modern construction.&nbsp

Speciation of Potentially Toxic Metals from the Mine Impacted soils: A Case Study of Riruwai Mining Area, Kano State, Northern Nigeria

Mining and smelting sectors contribute significantly to global growth on a regional and local scale. However, the operations are causing significant environmental damage, particularly pollution of the soil with potentially toxic metals (PTMs).  In this study, the speciation of PTMs (arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mercury, manganese, nickel, lead and zinc) from the mine impacted soils of Riruwai mining area was investigated using a modified Tessier sequential extraction method. The findings of the study revealed that all the PTMs examined are considerably associated with non-residual fractions in all the sampling locations. This indicates that all the PTMs investigated in the study area may be highly mobile in the soils and hence potentially toxic. The concentrations of PTMs in the soil’s geochemical fractions were found to vary with the sampling locations, with active mining sites significantly (p ≤ 0.05) recording the highest value, followed by farmland, while the lowest value was reported at the control site. Therefore, to protect the environment and the health of the local populace, PTMs in the soils of the study area should be regularly monitored and a treatment program should be put in place

Detection and management of localized prostate cancer in Nigeria: barriers and facilitators according to patients, caregivers and healthcare providers.

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer mortality rates are high in Nigeria. While prostate cancer is highly curable with early detection and effective multidisciplinary management, the quality of care is suboptimal in this setting. Sustainable delivery of high-quality care for patients with localized prostate cancer is needed to save more lives. To inform future interventions to improve care, this study aimed to identify barriers and facilitators that influence prostate cancer detection and management in Nigeria. METHODS: Six focus group discussions (FGDs), stratified by stakeholders were conducted with a purposive sample of prostate cancer patients (n = 19), caregivers (n = 15), and healthcare providers (n = 18), in two academic tertiary hospitals in northern and southern Nigeria. A discussion guide organized based on the socio-ecological model was used. FGDs were recorded, transcribed, and analysed using the framework technique. RESULTS: Barriers and facilitators were identified at the individual, interpersonal, and organizational levels. Barriers to detection included limited knowledge and misperceptions among patients, caregivers, and community-based non-specialist healthcare providers, and limitations of centralized opportunistic screening; while facilitators included the potential for religious institutions to encourage positive health-seeking behaviour. Barriers to management included non-uniformity in clinical guideline usage, treatment abandonment amidst concerns about treatment and survival, absence of patient interaction platforms and follow-up support systems, difficulty in navigating service areas, low health insurance coverage and limited financial resource of patients. Facilitators of management included the availability of resource stratified guidelines for prostate cancer management and the availability of patient peers, caregivers, nurses, and medical social workers to provide correct medical information and support patient-centred services. Participants also provided suggestions that could help improve prostate cancer detection and management in Nigeria. CONCLUSION: This study identified multiple determinants affecting the detection and management of localized prostate cancer. These findings will inform the refinement of implementation strategies to improve the quality of prostate cancer care in Nigeria