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In the period of 2004 to 2014 there was a significant growth of employment in the logistics sector in Indonesia. This reflects a rapid rise in the need for logistics activities to support outsourcing. Because there is strong competition in the sector, logistics services should be able to deliver both cognitive and affective customer satisfaction. Studies in logistic services have been mainly focused on service gaps, an aspect related to cognitive satisfaction in customers. Many studies have been conducted to evaluate logistics service quality using SERVQUAL and the Kano model. However, these are insufficient in addressing all aspects of logistics provision. Hence, a deep understanding of customer affective need (known in Japanese as Kansei) is required, to provide competitive advantage by modeling more comprehensive customer experiences based on perceived logistics services. This paper proposes a combined model of Kansei Engineering, Kano, and quality function deployment (QFD), which it is hoped will generate more innovative ideas for improvements related to customer emotional satisfaction and customer delight. A case study in supporting logistics services has been chosen to validate the proposed model, and a survey through face-to-face questionnaires involving 157 customers was carried out. The model was then validated, and through the House of Quality (HoQ) concept, some innovative improvement ideas are proposed. They include the use of apps for order confirmation and cancellation, the integration of Google Maps into the ordering system, preorder booking, and a bilingual feature in the transaction menu. Thus, from a practical implication point of view, it is hoped that this study will provide guidelines to the managers of logistics services companies in capturing, measuring and analyzing customer emotional needs (Kansei), with respect to the service attributes which are highly significant to Kansei aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) remains a major public health problem in developing countries. Anecdotal reports across Africa show that the disease is coming less prevalent in the cities and the patients are surviving longer, although with a lot of morbidity. Between 2002 and 2006, 9.8% of 1312 patients were found to have RHD from our echocardiographic registry, with a mean age of 24 years. Therefore, we set out to review our current data for RHD to see if there are any changes in patterns of presentation in our center. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected echocardiography data between August 2010 and July 2012. The study was conducted at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano Nigeria. The procedure was performed with Aloka SSD 4000. The standard techniques for depicting the anatomical structures of the heart were employed. All echocardiographic procedures were performed by a cardiologist. Information obtained from the records included the age, gender, clinical diagnoses, and echocardiographic diagnoses. Prevalence and patterns were compared with previous findings. Results: During this period, a total of 1496 echocardiographic examinations were done. One hundred and four (7.0%) had RHD. There were 69 females (66.3%) and 35 males (33.7%) aged 30.7 + 14.0 years (range 12-70 years). Forty (38.5%) were aged 15-24 years. The commonest lesions were mixed mitral valve disease and aortic regurgitation (26.9%) followed by combination of mitral and aortic regurgitation (25%), and pure mitral regurgitation in 17.3%. Complications of RHD observed included secondary pulmonary hypertension (50%), left ventricular dysfunction (40.4%), atrial fibrillation (AF) (8.7%), infective endocarditis (1.9%), and intra cardiac thrombus (1.9%). Conclusion: RHD is still an important cause of cardiac morbidity. Although there is a reduction in prevalence compared to previous finding in the same center, while the patients are a bit older, they had more severe disease and still had complications at diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sleep problems, especially in the adolescent stage of development, may be associated with excessive daytime sleepiness, impaired neurocognitive function, and a host of others leading to suboptimal performance. Objectives: To determine the pattern of sleep problems in school-going adolescents based on the bedtime problems; excessive daytime sleepiness; awakenings during the night and problems falling back asleep; regularity and duration of sleep; sleep-disordered breathing (BEARS) sleep screening algorithm. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study involving 353 secondary school-going adolescents in Kano metropolis. Subjects were selected for the study using multistage sampling technique. The study lasted from March 2015 to July 2015. Sleep problems were screened for using the BEARS sleep screening algorithm. Tables were used to present the qualitative data. The various BEARS sleep patterns were assessed, and comparison between stages of adolescence was done using Chi-square test (and Fisher's exact test where necessary). A significant association was considered at P < 0.05. Results: Of the 353 adolescents studied, 61.8% were males while 38.2% were females with male, female ratio of 1.6:1. Early, middle, and late adolescents constituted 13.9%, 39.9%, 46.2% respectively. BEARS sleep screening revealed awakenings during the night (34.6%) as the most common sleep-related problem reported, and this was followed by excessive daytime sleepiness (21.0%). Age-group dependent sleep duration was 7.19 ± 1.26, 7.13 ± 1.13, 7.16 ± 1.28, with P > 0.05. Although 62.9% of all the adolescents watched TV/play video games until 1 h before going to bed and this was highest in late adolescence, it was not statistically significantly associated with any of the sleep problems. Conclusion: Both the quality and quantity of sleep in Nigerian adolescents in Kano is suboptimal. Adolescent and sleep medicine should receive more attention in our environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Typhoid fever continues to be significant causes of illness and death particularly among children and adolescents in developing countries as a result of poor sanitation and unsafe food and water supply especially where the water is contaminated by human feces. This study analysed the spatial and temporal trends of typhoid fever in Kano metropolis between 2010-2014. Hospital records for youths attending Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital (MAWSH) were used. Coordinate of wards in the metropolis was also generated and imported into Arc GIS environment. G-Statistics was used to determine the distribution and cluster of typhoid prevalence. The results showed an upward trend with increase in age. It also showed a downward trend from 2010 to 2014, indicating that people are becoming aware of the disease and the predisposing factors. The findings also revealed higher prevalence among the males. The results of the G- Statistics showed higher prevalence in the northern part of the metropolis, with hot spots in Dakata and Tarauni wards. The study recommends frequent vaccination and good eating and drinking habits as well as good hygienic practices at home and outside home as remedies for addressing the problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective As part of its vaccine supply chain redesign efforts, Kano state now pushes vaccines directly from 6 state stores to primary health centers equipped with solar refrigerators. Our objective is to describe preliminary results from the first 20 months of Kano’s direct vaccine delivery operations. Methods This is a retrospective review of Kano’s direct vaccine delivery program. We analyzed trends in health facility vaccine stock levels, and examined the relationship between stock-out rates and each of cascade vaccine deliveries and timeliness of deliveries. Analysis of vaccination trends was based on administrative data from 27 sentinel health facilities. Costs for both the in-sourced and out-sourced approaches were estimated using a bottoms-up model-based approach. Results Overall stock adequacy increased from 54% in the first delivery cycle to 68% by cycle 33. Conversely, stock-out rates decreased from 41% to 10% over the same period. Similar trends were observed in the out-sourced and in-sourced programs. Stock-out rates rose incrementally with increasing number of cascade facilities, and delays in vaccine deliveries correlated strongly with stock-out rates. Recognizing that stock availability is one of many factors contributing to vaccinations, we nonetheless compared pre- and post- direct deliveries vaccinations in sentinel facilities, and found statistically significant upward trends for 4 out of 6 antigens. 1 antigen (measles) showed an upward trend that was not statistically significant. Hepatitis b vaccinations declined during the period. Overall, there appeared to be a one-year lag between commencement of direct deliveries and the increase in number of vaccinations. Weighted average cost per delivery is US$29.8 and cost per child immunized is US$0.7 per year. Conclusion Direct vaccine delivery to health facilities in Kano, through a streamlined architecture, has resulted in decreased stock-outs and improved stock adequacy. Concurrent operation of insourced and outsourced programs has enabled Kano build in-house logistics capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Safeguarding groundwater from pollution is largely a global political decision. These decisions are basically supported by DRASTIC (D=Depth to water, R=Recharge, A=Aquifer media, S=Soil media, T=Topography, I=Impact of vadose zone, C=Hydraulic conductivity) analysis. Furthermore, water quality index (WQI) is an effective tool for groundwater quality evaluation and management. This study identifies the relationship between these two indices [i.e., pollution vulnerability index (PVI) and WQI]. The DRASTIC index of the study area was found to be from 60.4 to 178 characterized by very low, low, medium high, and very high vulnerability constituting of 12.88, 24.38, 34.11, 21.99, and 6.63% of the study area, respectively. In addition, the WQI of the area according to the analyzed parameters is between 10.19 and 55.63. It was established that a good correlation (61%) was found to exist between the two indices; which may be an indication that most pollutants present in the groundwater are likely due to anthropogenic activities on the land surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All groundwater is vulnerable to pollution, but the level of susceptibility depends on the spatial peculiarities of a region. Among the numerous vulnerability assessment methodologies, the geographical information system-based DRASTIC model is the most sophisticated and achieves reliable results even in complex areas. Fractured-rock aquifers are not only complex, but they are also potential sources of radioactive and other types of waste and are liable to high recharge rates. Hence, they can serve as a conduit for fluid (and potentially) contaminants. Therefore, in this study, a new parameter, 'fracture media' ( F), is fashioned to replace the weakest parameter (i.e. depth to water, D) in the standardized DRASTIC model to create a new model (FRASTIC) for the complex fractured aquifer system. The proposed model was tested on a case study area (Kano, Nigeria), and the FRASTIC minimum and maximum indices obtained were in the range of 63-170. The region was characterized as having very low (covering 0.16% of the total study area), low (55.52%), medium (42.53%), and high (1.79%) vulnerability based on the standardized classification system. In addition, the modified FRASTIC model was further developed using the sensitivity analysis (SA) and recorded the highest vulnerable area coverage (32.86%) within Kano. Thus, the modified FRASTIC model is appropriate for the complex nature of the study area because it contributes appreciably to defining the vulnerable zones. The single-parameter SA was employed to obtain effective weights for two modified models, which were then implemented to improve efficacy. Conventional nitrate validation indicated that there is a strong correlation between nitrate and vulnerability for the modified models. In addition, a new approach for identifying the relationship between the water quality and vulnerability indices was developed by this study and was proven to be an effective validation tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generally, images in art forms occupy a controversial position in the Islamic world. The Sunni branch of Islam, considered more conservative and strict does not approve or condone representational art of the human form for fear that it would eventually turn into an object of worship. The Shi'ite branch of Islam, however, has a radically opposing perspective and consequently allows figurative representation in its art forms. The situation becomes more complicated when it comes to depicting prophets, who, starting from the Prophet Muhammad, are prohibited in Sunni Islam from being figuratively represented in any form. This article discusses the representation of spirituality in religious media in Nigeria, especially the reception of the representation of Biblical and Islamic prophets in dubbed Iranian films targeted at popular culture consumption. I situate my discussion within the matrix of social control and censorship in northern Nigerian Muslim cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laboratory study was carried out to determine some physicochemical properties and elemental composition of soil sample from Rijiyar Zaki at Ungogo LGA of Kano state to determine its nutrient value and fertility. The elemental composition was determined using Neutron Activation Analysis (N.A.A.). After activation the sample was analyzed using a high-efficiency high-purity germanium detector, the elemental concentration in the sample was determined by employing gamma spectrometry. The concentrations of K, Al, Fe, Na, Ti, Co, Mn, and Zn were obtained as 1.04±0.1%, 5±0.1%, 1.2±0.06%, 0.0749±0.0022%, 0.58±0.05%, 0.0004±0.00007%, 0.0139±0.0001%, and 0.0029±0.0007%, respectively, while Ca and Mg are below detection limit. The concentration of Al in the soil sample indicates that the soil is mineral, the low Na content implies it is non-saline which is further confirm by the result of Cl- that indicated that the soil sample is neither saline nor purely acidic. The below detection limit obtained for Ca element may be linked to the fact that with the increase of soil pH, soil base cations (such as Ca2+ and Mg2+) would precipitate with OH-, this may be the same reason for the none detection of Mg. The study of the particle size indicated that the sample is sandy clay loam, with a silt/clay ratio of 0.83 and pH of 7.4. The electrical conductivity (EC), organic carbon content, cation exchange capacity (CEC), PO43-, SO42- and Cl- content were found to be 0.15 dS/m, 0.28 g/kg, 8.40 cmol (+)kg-1, 740 ppm, 0.550 ppm and 124.3 ppm, respectively. The low silt/clay ratio indicates that the soil is made up of young parent materials with low degree of weathering, while the pH and electrical conductivity implies that the soil is normal. The low organic carbon content can be connected with high rate of decomposition under tropical and subtropical climates. The low clay content of the soil is the reason for the low value of the CEC. The low S content may be attributed to low clay and organic matter content, as well as pH higher than 6.0 of the sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is produced through human activities and in the last two decades, management of MSW has become a major concern due to considerable increase in its production. The amount of MSW produced increases with economic growth and this demands for efficient solution. This paper reports the characterization and composition analysis of MSW in Kano metropolis. Solid waste samples were collected and analysed from the four major dumpsites in Kano metropolis during the months of September, 2016- January, 2017. The results showed that light plastic had the highest mean values of 8.63kg/50kg sample, Organics 7.22kg/50kg, Heavy plastic 4.15kg/50kg, Fabric 3.91kg/50kg, paper 2.70kg/50kg, metal 2.05kg/50kg, glass 1.89kg/50kg, Bone 1.47kg/50kg, styrofoam 0.19kg/50kg, others 1.06kg/50kg and wood -0.25kg/50kg. There was significant correlation between estimated population and volume of trash collected. We offered suggestion for effective management strategies and efficient policies for waste reduction, disposal and recycling practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is increasing concern over the issues of environmental pollution especially one caused by hydrocarbon. Soil samples were obtained from oil contaminated fields in Kano and screened for crude oil utilizing bacterial populations. The composition of the bacterial isolates recovered from the contaminated soil include Bacillus subtilis 3 (37.5%), Bacillus cerrus 2 (25%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 2 (25%) and Staphylococcus aureus 1 (12.5%). All the isolates were able to utilized Bonny light crude oil as a source of carbon and energy to varying extent. B. subtilis and P. aeruginosa, with very high ability in utilizing the crude oil, were used as co-culture for this bioremediation studies, and were subjected to 5% of crude oil for 56 days at room temperature. The isolates, used singly and co-culture, exhibited strong ability to grow in crude oil within the incubation period with co-culture significantly (P<0.05) had the highest microbial counts of 1.05±1.04 x 106 cfu/ml on 42 days of the experiment while B. subtilis had the least count on the zero day of the experiment with mean value of 6.90±1.15 x 104 cfu/ml. The results of the study indicated the potentials of Co-culture of B. subtilis and P. aeruginosa in treating oil spills contaminated soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contamination of Kano metropolis drinking water sources with excessive heavy metals was evaluated using standard laboratory procedures. A total of 72 samples comprising of 24 each of Borehole, Tap and Well water from 8 municipal LGAs (namely; Dala, Fagge, Gwale, Kano municipal, Kumbotso, Nassarawa, Tarauni and Ungogo) were analyzed for the presence of heavy metals (viz; Chromium, Iron, Lead and Zinc). Chromium and Lead concentrations for the samples evaluated (Borehole, Tap and Well) were found to exceed the World Health Organizations (WHO) limits of 0.05 and 0.01mg/l respectively which might be attributed to corrosion of brass fittings of certain submersible pumps and pipes used in borehole and taps specifically. The contamination of well with heavy metals might be due to seepage of sewage into these sources as domestic sewage might be of kitchen and toilet origin heavily accumulated with soaps of heavy metals constituents. Heavy metal contamination with Chromium and Lead calls for serious public health implications for the effects of heavy metals contamination in drinking water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The avian fauna in Nigeria and the rest of West Africa is fairly rich, especially during the rainy season when most of the birds are breeding. However, the frequency of species encounter in the field changes as the dry season progresses. The present study examined the diversity of birds during the three dry months following the rains, i.e., November 2016- January 2017, using point count protocol in four partially protected sites, namely, Bayero University Old Campus, Bayero University Kano New Campus, Audu Bako Zoological Garden and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital. Checklist records show that 42 individual species belonged to 23 families. Most of these species were common to three of the four study sites, and a few, such as Squacco Heron, Ardeola ralloides, were encountered only at Kano Zoo, a small patch of wetland that contrasts with the other drier sites. The Shannon Diversity Index was highest at the Zoological garden site, 2.76. The Piapiac, Ptilostomis afer was peculiar to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital. Regression analysis showed no influence of months on the frequency of birds seen. However, the Zoological garden in particular, had significant effect on frequencies of birds (P<0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medicinal herbs are widely used for the prevention and treatment of various diseases, but due to the presence of toxic metals it can also present health risks, some metals at elevated levels may be toxic. The aim of this study is to determine the content, transfer factor and pollution index of cadmium, chromium, manganese and magnesium in six medicinal herbs (Leptadenia hastate, Momordica balsamina, Amaranthus viridis, Tribulus terrestris, Datura metel and Ricinus communis) and soil collected from five different areas (Bompai, Challawa, Jakara, Sharada and Watari). The samples were collected and prepared using standard analytical procedures and analytical grade reagents were used for digestion. Agilent 240FS AA model of fast sequential Atomic absorption spectroscopy was used for the analysis of the metal content of these herbs. Mg ranged from 5.30mg/kg to 79.05mg/kg (WHO Recommended Daily Intake 80-360mgkg), Cr 0.77mg/kg to 34.43mg/kg (WHO Recommended Level 1.5mgkg), Mn 1.53mg/kg to 20.19mg/kg (WHO Recommended Level 200mgkg), Cd 0.016 to 0.89mg/kg (WHO Recommended Level 0.3mg/kg). TF Bompai ranged from 0.01(Cr) to 1.25(Mg), TF Challawa ranged from 0.02(Mn, Cr) to 5.28(Mg), TF Jakara ranged from 0.02(Cr) to 4.31(Mg), TF Sharada ranged from 0.02(Mn) to 4.42(Mg) and TF Watari ranged from 0.02(Cd, Cr) to 5.80(Mg). Challawa sampling area exhibited highest mean PI value of 7.22 and Watari lowest with mean PI value of 2.11. The herbs analyzed contain substantial amount of Cr, Mn and Mg which support the treatment of various diseases that are mainly caused due to the deficiency of those minerals. However, buildup of pollutants including heavy metals like Cd in the plant parts eventually enter in to human food chain. The results indicate health risk to consumers of these herbs more especially from Challawa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The possibility of moisture, fat and caffeine contents of variety of kola nut (Cola acuminate) to differ with freshness and growing soil was tested. Varieties of kola nut'Sabo Dan Ikko', 'Daushe Dan Ikko','Sabo Dan Accra' and 'Daushe Dan Accra' were obtained from Mariri kola nut market ('Yangoro), Kano. The moisture content of the four varieties of kola nut, C. acuminate, were determined by drying the grated samples at 1050Cfor 48 hours and the result was obtained as,30.58 ± 0.32, 20.80 ± 0.22, 36.62 ± 0.23 and25.16 ± 0.31% for 'Sabo Dan Ikko', 'Daushe Dan Ikko', 'Sabo Dan Accra' and 'Daushe Dan Accra' respectively. The dried samples were defatted using the Soxhlet apparatus and petroleum ether of 60-80oC boiling point and the following fat contents were obtained, 2.53 ± 0.25, 2.80 ± 0.03, 2.61 ± 0.35 and 2.72 ± 0.22% for 'Sabo Dan Ikko', 'Daushe Dan Ikko', 'Sabo Dan Accra' and 'Daushe Dan Accra' respectively. The caffeine was extracted by the use of chloroform and the contents were found to be, 600mg/20g (3.00%), 580mg/20g (2.90%), 540mg/20g (2.70%) and 500mg/20g (2.50%) for 'Sabo Dan Ikko','Daushe Dan Ikko', 'Sabo Dan Accra', 'Daushe Dan Accra' respectively. The results showed that generally the Lagos varieties contain more caffeine than the Accra ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Transfusion transmissible infections (TTIs) may potentially lead to serious harm to recipients of blood transfusion. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) can be transmitted through blood transfusion, and its impact is the most severe among immunocompromised recipients. Its transmission can be reduced through screening of blood donors, blood and blood products for CMV antibodies, leuco-depletion or pathogen inactivation. Objective: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 250 blood donors between October and December 2012 in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria. To determine the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) I and II antibodies, HBsAg, hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies, syphilis and anti-CMV IgM and IgG antibodies. In addition, the type of donation and donation patterns were also assessed. Materials and Methods: Five milliliters were collected from the participants. One milliliter was dispensed into ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) container and mixed gently, the remaining 4 ml were dispensed into a plain bottle and was centrifuged; serum obtained was divided into two one was stored at - 20°C which was later used to test for the anti-CMV IgG/IgM antibodies, whereas the other portion was used for routine screening of TTIs. The EDTA sample was used to assess haemoglobin concentration. An interviewer administered simplified questionnaire was used to obtain information on demographic and other variables related to donation habits. Association between the socio-demographic characteristics of the blood donors and the anti-CMV antibodies was analysed. Similarly, association between the anti-CMV antibodies and the other routinely screened TTIs was assessed. Results were tested for evidence of statistical association. Results: Majority of the blood donors were males 242 (96.8%). One hundred and seven (42.6%) of the blood donors were within the age group of 25-34 years. Only 10.8% of the donors were voluntary donors whereas the remaining were family replacement donors. Prevalence rates of 100% and 4.4% were found for anti-CMV IgG and anti-CMV IgM antibodies, respectively. HBsAg, HIV I/II, anti-HCV antibodies and syphilis were prevalent in 6.8%, 1.2%, 0.8% and 0% of the donors, respectively. Conclusion: Seroprevalence of anti-CMV IgG and anti-CMV IgM antibodies among blood donors in this study was found to be 100% and 4.4%, respectively. Therefore, routine predonation screening for anti-CMV antibodies may not be cost effective. Leucocyte depletion and pathogen inactivation methods are better options. However, these can better be achieved when centralized system of blood transfusion is adopted. Therefore, there is a need to enhance the functional capacity of our national blood transfusion service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to determine the incidence of pathogenic microorganisms associated with dental caries and antimicrobial susceptibility test of some common dentifrice sold in Kano metropolis. A total of 50 samples were used in this study. The samples were taken using swab from human oral mucosa. The swabs were inoculated on chocolate agar, blood agar and MacConkey agar incubated at 37°Cfor 24h, as well as Sabouraud's dextrose agar incubated at room temperature for 48h. Dentifrices were also analyzed for the fluoride, phosphate, nitrite, potassium, chloride, carbonate, sulphate, calcium, sodium, and zinc contents using C: Varian/Cary Winuv method, Acid Base Titration method, Gravimetry, and Air/Acetylene method. Of all the isolates, Streptococcus /nutans was the most isolated pathogen with 24(30.38%), followed by Staphylococcus aureus with 23(29.11%), Candida, albicans 14(17.72%), Klebsiella specie 10(12.66%) and Escherichia co/i 8(10.13%). Disc diffusion method with ten different dentifrices (code A-J) was tested for their antimicrobial activity against isolated oral pathogens. The samples were tested in triplicate, at full strength, 1:1, 1:2, 1:4, 1:8 and 1:16 dilutions. Inhibition zones were measured in millimeter after 24 hours. All the tested dentifrices demonstrated an antimicrobial activity. Dentifrice A showed the maximum mean zones of inhibition of 26.67, 24.00, 22.27, 19.67 and 18.67 against Klebsiella specie, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus /nutans and Candida albicans respectively, while dentifrice J showed the least activity of 0.00, 0.00, 0.00, 14.67 and 18.67 respectively against the same organisms. The concentrations of fluoride range between 8.3-132.3/ng/L,; phosphate, 45.8-191.8mg/L; nitrite, ll.Omg/L; potassium, 3.2mg/L; chloride, 5.1-5.6/ng/L,; carbonate, 8.2-12.8mg/L; sulphate, 0.3-0.9g; calcium, 14.7-16.1mg/L; sodium, 350.6-418.8mg/L and zinc, 6.2mg/L. In the present study, it has been demonstrated that tric/osan-containing dentifrice are more effective in the control of pathogenic microorganisms associated with oral cavity compared to non-tridosan containing dentifrice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Kano State is the most populous state, and one of those states pronounced with the highest prevalence of drug abuse in Nigeria. However, there is lack of documented data to back the assertion. Objective: We determined the pattern, awareness and perceptions of the adult residents of Kano metropolis about self medication. Materials and Methods: We used a descriptive cross-sectional design to study a random sample of 380 adult in Kano metropolis. Data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires that were pretested outside the study area. Data analysis was with Epi Info® 3.5.1. Results: The mean age of the subjects was 35.43 ± 15.10 years, majority were males (66.32%), singles (47.11%) and had at least secondary education (67.63%). About three-quarter (78.95%) admitted using drug (s) in the past without prescription. Drugs commonly consumed were antimalarials (42.10%), analgesics (40.56%), antibiotics (29.41%), and cough mixtures (13.31%). Common sources of drugs were patent medicine stores (62.54%) and the market (19.81%). Common reasons for self medication were long queues in the hospitals (38.39%), and in-accessibility to doctors (25.08%). About two-thirds (65.00%) correctly perceived that self medication could be hazardous; and half (51.58%) were aware of at least one hazard of self medication. Conclusion/Recommendations: Irrational drug use is a growing challenge to public health in Kano, Nigeria. Thus, drug regulatory agencies in Nigeria should work together to ensure that all drug retail outlets and drug sellers are registered, controlled drugs are dispensed only on prescription of the physicians; and the laws safeguarding drug use are duly enforced. Health authorities should also strengthen efforts towards health educating the public.

In global market, factors such as precedence of competitors extending shave on market, promoting quality of services and identifying customers' needs are important. This paper attempts to identify strategic services in one of the biggest governmental banks in Iran called Melli bank for getting competition merit using Kano and SERVQUAL compound models and to extend operation quality and to provide suitable strategies. The primary question of this paper is on how to introduce high quality services in this bank. The proposed model of this paper uses a hybrid of three quality-based methods including SERVQUAL, QFD and Kano models. Statistical society in this article is all clients and customers of Melli bank who use this banks' services and based on random sampling method, 170 customers were selected. The study was held in one of provinces located in west part of Iran called Semnan. Research findings show that Melli banks' customers are dissatisfied from the quality of services and to solve this problem the bank should do some restructuring to place some special characteristics to reach better operation at the heed of its affairs. The characteristics include, in terms of their priorities, possibility of transferring money by sale terminal, possibility of creating wireless pos, accelerating in doing bank works, getting special merits to customers who use electronic services, eliminating such bank commission, solving problems in least time as disconnecting system, possibility of receiving foreign exchange by ATM and suitable parking in city.

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is regarded as the commonest musculoskeletal problem in the world which affects people across various strata of the society from lay men on the street to teachers as well as health care providers in health institutions. Therefore the purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of low back pain and back education awareness among secondary school teachers in Kano Metropolis. Methodos: 200 questionnaires were distributed and only 157 were retrieved, one out of which 4 were invalid because of incomplete data so that only 153 were relevant and used for analysis giving a return rate of 76.5%. The study revealed that 96 out of 153 respondents have low back pain implying 62.7% prevalence. The level of back ergonomic awareness on the other hand was found to be moderate (43.1%). Results: Based on the outcomes of the study, it was concluded that there is a high prevalence of low back pain among secondary school teachers in Kano metropolis. However, the level of back ergonomic awareness is moderate. Conclusion: Therefore proper intervention to prevent exposure to LBP among school teachers should be enhanced and teachers should be well educated on the importance of ergonomic intervention in their working environments.

Background: Low birth weight is an important determinant of both infant and neonatal mortality rates and is also an indicator of social and economic development. The World Health Organization described any baby with birth weight of less than 2.5kg as low birth weight baby. Objective: To determine the incidence of low birth weight deliveries in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano. Study design: A retrospective descriptive study. Results: The overall incidence of low birth weight deliveries over the study period was 11.30%. The incidence dropped yearly from 12.8% in 2007 to 10.90% in 2008 and 10.10% in 2009. Generally, however, incidence peaked in the dry season. The incidence increased in mothers aged 16 years and above to peak between the ages of 21 -25 year and then drop after the age of 30 years. The incidence was also highest among nulliparous women dropping with increasing parity and rising after five consecutive deliveries. Mothers with less than secondary education had the highest delivery rate of low birth weight babies and contrary to other studies, the incidence of low birth weight deliveries was higher among booked mothers 57.8%. Most (84.6%) of the low birth weight babies weighed 1.5kg and above and greater percentage of them were born preterm( 64.2%) meaning that of all the aetiological factors examined, preterm labour (40.7%) was most consistent with low birth weight deliveries and it was followed closely by unknown causes (24.5%), hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (13.1%), twinning (10.5%) and antepartum haemorrhage which accounted for 5.3% of low birth weight. Conclusion: There is a steady decline in the incidence of low birth weight deliveries over the period of study. Most of the babies born with low birth weight were delivered before 37 completed weeks of gestation and preterm labour was the most dorminant risk factor.

Background: Kano is the most populated state in Nigeria with a population totaling 9,383,682. The pattern of neurologic diseases in this area is not known. Objective: To determine the of pattern of neurologic diseases warranting admission in a tertiary hospital in Kano and compare it with those elsewhere in the country with the view to using the data generated as a baseline for planning purposes and for future studies. Materials and Methods: The medical records of all cases admitted with neurologic diseases in the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano between January 2005 and September 2008, were retrospectively reviewed and the frequency of neurologic diseases, sex, age, and outcome of these diseases analyzed. Result: Stroke, predominantly ischemic, accounted for 77.6% of the neurological cases for the period of study. Central nervous system infections, comprising mainly of meningitis and tetanus, accounted for 6.6% (64) and 3% (29) of cases, respectively. The myelopathies were the cause of neurologic admissions in 5.4% (53) with paraplegia and quadriplegia resulting from myelopathies accounting for 5% (49) and 0.4% (4) of the cases. Hypertensive encephalopathy and status epilepticus as the causes of admissions accounted for 1.6% each. Gullain Barre syndrome, Parkinson′s disease, and cerebral malaria were relatively rare causes of neurologic admissions in this study. The average duration of hospitalization was 25 days, and regarding outcome, 219 (22.4%) of these cases died. Conclusions: Stroke appeared to be the most common neurologic admission and the most common cause of neurologic and medical death in Kano as observed in other regions of the country and a little over one-fifths of stroke patients die. Central nervous system infections mainly meningitis and tetanus are the next common cause of admission. In view of these findings, the provision of a regional stroke unit, the improvement of the sanitary conditions of the home and environment; the widespread use of immunizations against meningitis, tetanus cannot be over-emphasized. These interventions will go a long way to reduce morbidity and mortality of stroke and neurologic infections.

Soil samples collected from two major dumpsites each in Kano and Kaduna states were investigated for heavy metals pollution. Each of the dumpsite was divided into north, south, east and west. Four soil samples were collected at a depth of 0-15 cm from each part and pooled to form a composite sample. Soil samples from reserve areas within the same geographical locations as the dumpsites were collected as control. Acid-extractable cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni) and lead (Pb) were determined using 2 M nitric acid solution and atomic absorption spectroscopy. The ranges of Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb levels for all the dumpsites were 0.30−49.8, 5.76−139, 0.39−19.1 and 42.6−9662 mg/kg, respectively. Kano dumpsite 2 was found to pollute most with Cd, Cr and Pb in 50-100 % soil samples collected having concentrations higher than the threshold limits set by regulatory body. Paper and food scraps showed higher percentages in both Kano and Kaduna dumpsites. The soil was high is sand for all the dumpsites implying high leaching potentials of the heavy metals pollutants.

Background: Parasitic infestation of the intestinal tract is a major source of disease in patients with HIV infection in the tropics, where diarrhea of variable severity is a common complaint in which specific treatable causative pathogens is often isolated. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites among patients with HIV/AIDS at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital Kano Nigeria. Methods: A cross sectional study of two hundred (200) HIV positive patients was carried out to determine the presence of intestinal parasites in them irrespective of whether or not they had diarrhea. Patients' fresh stool samples were examined microscopically and their CD4 count determined. Result: Out of the 200 patients, 69 (34.5%) had intestine parasites irrespective of their diarrhea status. Of these 38 (55.2%) had diarrhoea, while 31 (44.2%) did not. There was no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of intestinal parasites among those with diarrhea and those without (p greater than 0.05). The most commonly isolated pathogen was E. histolyica accounting for 33 (47.8%). This was followed by G. lambia 13 (18%), hookworm (N. americanus) 4 (5.8%), Entamoeba coli 3 (4.3%), and S stercoralis 4 (5.8%). T Hominis, H. nana, S. mansoni and Cryptosporidium each accounted for 2(2.9%) while A. lumbricoides, T trichiura, D. latum and I. beli each accounted for 1 (1.14%) occurrence. Conclusion Intestinal parasitic infestation is common among HIV/AIDs patients in our environment with E. histolytica being the most common isolate

Introduction In September 2015, Nigeria was removed from the list of polio-endemic countries after more than 12 months had passed since the detection of last wild poliovirus case in the country on 24 July 2014. We are presenting here a report of two polio seroprevalence surveys conducted in September 2013 and October 2014, respectively, in the Kano state of northern Nigeria. Methods Health facility based seroprevalence surveys were undertaken at Murtala Mohammad Specialist Hospital, Kano. Parents or guardians of children aged 6–9 months, 36–47 months, 5–9 years and 10–14 years in 2013 and 6–9 months and 19–22 months (corresponding to 6–9 months range at the time of 2013 survey) in 2014 presenting to the outpatient department, were approached for participation, screened for eligibility and asked to provide informed consent. A questionnaire was administered and a blood sample collected for polio neutralization assay. Results Among subjects aged 6–9 months in the 2013 survey, seroprevalence was 58% (95% confidence interval [CI] 51–66%) to poliovirus type 1, 42% (95% CI 34–50%) to poliovirus type 2, and 52% (95% CI 44–60%) to poliovirus type 3. Among children 36–47 months and older, seroprevalence was 85% or higher for all three serotypes. In 2014, seroprevalence in 6–9 month infants was 72% (95% CI 65–79%) for type 1, 59% (95% CI 52–66%) for type 2, and 65% (95% CI 57–72%) for type 3 and in 19–22 months, 80% (95% CI 74–85%), 57% (49–63%) and 78% (71–83%) respectively. Seroprevalence was positively associated with history of increasing oral poliovirus vaccine doses. Conclusions There was significant improvement in seroprevalence in 2014 over the 2013 levels indicating a positive impact of recent programmatic interventions. However the continued low seroprevalence in 6–9 month age is a concern and calls for improved immunization efforts to sustain the polio-free Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Induction of labor (IOL) is an artificial initiation of labor before its spontaneous onset for the purpose of delivery of the fetoplacental unit. Many factors are associated with its success in postdatism. Objective: To compare the induction delivery intervals using transcervical Foley catheter plus oxytocin and vaginal misoprostol, and to identify the factors associated with successful induction among postdate singleton multiparae. Materials and Methods: The study was a prospective randomized controlled trial of singleton multiparous pregnant women. They were randomized into two groups, one group for intravaginal misoprostol and the other group for transcervical Foley catheter insertion as a method of cervical ripening and IOL. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 17 computer software (SPSS Inc., IL, Chicago, USA). Comparisons of categorical variables were done using Chi-squared test, with P < 0.05 considered as significant. Student's t-test was used for continuous variables. Results: The incidence of postdatism was found to be 136 (13.1%). The mean induction delivery time interval was shorter in the misoprostol group 70 (5.54 ± 1.8 h) than in the Foley catheter oxytocin infusion group 66 (6.65 ± 1.7 h) (P = 0.035). There was, however, no statistically significant difference in the maternal and neonatal outcomes when these two agents were used for cervical ripening and IOL. Higher parity and higher Bishop's score were the factors found to be associated with high success rate of IOL (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Vaginal misoprostol resulted in shorter induction delivery time interval as compared to transcervical Foley catheter. High parity and high Bishop's scores were the factors found to be associated with the success of IOL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Physiological changes of pregnancy have a profound effect on the head and neck region; pregnant women often present with otorhinolaryngological health challenges to the obstetricians. Objective: The objective of this study is to find out the otorhinolaryngological health complaints of pregnant women at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH). Materials and Methods: It was a cross-sectional study conducted among consenting pregnant women at AKTH. Ethical approval was obtained from the hospital ethical committee. The questionnaire was administered among consenting pregnant women. Data obtained were analysed using the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences version 18. Qualitative data were summarised using frequencies and percentages. Fischer's exact test was used for categorical data, and the P = 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 146 pregnant women were recruited during the study. The mean age ± standard deviation was 28.57 years ± 5.796. Only 4 (2.7%) of the pregnant women were in the first trimester, while the rest were in second 47 (32.2%) and third trimester 95 (65.1%) respectively. Furthermore, few pregnant women 10 (6.8%) presented with mild hypertension, while in 136 (93.2%) of the pregnant women, the blood pressure measurements were normal. Ear itching 35 (24.0%), headache 42 (28.8%) and heartburn 55 (37.7%) were the most frequent complaints. High blood pressure was found to be statistically associated with tinnitus (P = 0.035), and high parity was also found to be associated with aural fullness (P = 0.028). Conclusion: The common otorhinolaryngological manifestations among pregnant women in this study were otomycosis, rhinitis and gastroesophageal reflux disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The antimicrobial susceptibility profile of L. monocytogenes and other Listeria species isolated from some ready-to-eat (RTE) foods sold in Kano metropolis, north-western Nigeria was carried out using disc-diffusion method. The results obtained showed that L. monocytogenes was moderately susceptible to all the antibiotics tested while L. inovanii and L. seelegeri exhibited high and low susceptibility patterns respectively. However, all the species were resistant to gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, augmentin and ceftriazone. Considering the fact that L. monocytogenes and other Listeria species tested in this study are slowly becoming antibiotic resistant; a situation that poses a threat to both human and animal health, the continuous examination of emerging antimicrobial resistance of these pathogens is important to ensure effective treatment of human listeriosis. The results of this study could therefore help in enriching the data on antibiotic resistance of Listeria strains isolated from foods and in developing effective risk management strategies. In addition, it is recommended that more research be conducted to ascertain the presence of these organisms in other food items in Kano, Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microorganisms capable of degrading crude oil were isolated from soil compost in Kano, northwestern Nigeria. The work was carried out with the aim of determining crude-oil biodegradation potentials of Bacillus and Micrococcus species isolated from the soil compost as well as the assessment of the applicability of compost in bioremediation of hydrocarbon-polluted soils. The physico-chemical and microbiological parameters of the uncontaminated soil compost samples were determined using standard procedures. Similarly, the microbiological properties of the crude oil-contaminated soil compost samples were determined using liquid Mineral Salt medium. The microorganisms isolated from the contaminated soil samples showed an appreciable degree of degradation of the crude oil used, among which the crude oil-utilizing potentials of Micrococcus species and Bacillus species isolated from the soil composts were further analyzed using biodegradation experiment. Here, utilization of the crude oil as a growth substrate by the two bacterial isolates resulted in increased population densities with simultaneous increase in emulsification index (EI24) value and decrease in residual crude oil concentration. The Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR) analyses of the residual hydrocarbons in the liquid minimal salt (MS) medium at the end of 15 days incubation showed that Micrococcus species had the highest degradation rate of 93.7% while Bacillus species had biodegradation rate of 87.5%. Thus, the two bacterial species isolated in this study showed appreciable degrees of degradation of the crude oil used. It could therefore be concluded that bioremediation of crude oil-polluted fields could be achieved using indigenous hydrocarbon utilizers of the soil compost and the process could be enhanced by supplementing the polluted environment with compost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper appraised the available road networks in Kano metropolis in relation to their nature; spatial distribution; connectivity index; accessibility index of the Kano urban terrain; and functional wellbeing. The methods used include analysis of secondary data generated from the 2011 satellite imageries (at 0.5m resolution) with the aid of Quantum GIS; road stock inventory; road classification and mapping; as well as field observation. The result shows that, Kano metropolis is well stocked with all sorts of road networks and majority of which (72%) conformed to planning standards and urban environmental quality. The road network density is very high (about 22.72Km/Km2), there is high connectivity index (1.3 Beta Index), and conducive mobility status. The road network structure is made up of two main patterns: a circular and grid topologies. Inadequate road maintenance culture and weak development control measures are the major challenges facing road network performance and development in Kano metropolis. The study concluded that apart from being a medium of mobility, road network in Kano metropolis is also a treasure to current and future generations. It was therefore, recommended that: the scope of Kano State Road Maintenance Agency (KARMA) should be increased to take care of full road revitalization; KNUPDA should come up with stringent measures against erection of detrimental features along road sides; and also scope of Kano State Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA) should be increased so as to take care of road vandalization, destruction and mutilation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nigeria was one of 3 polio-endemic countries before it was de-listed in September 2015 by the World Health Organization, following interruption of transmission of the poliovirus. During 2011-2014, Nigeria conducted serial polio seroprevalence surveys (SPS) in Kano Metropolitan Area, comprising 8 local government areas (LGAs) in Kano that is considered very high risk (VHR) for polio, to monitor performance of the polio eradication program and guide the program in the adoption of innovative strategies.Methods: Study subjects who resided in any of the 8 local government areas of Kano Metropolitan Area and satisfied age criteria were recruited from patients at Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital (Kano) for 3 seroprevalence surveys. The same methods were used to conduct each survey.Results: The 2011 study showed seroprevalence values of 81%, 75%, and 73% for poliovirus types 1, 2, and 3, respectively, among infants aged 6-9 months age. Among children aged 36-47 months, seroprevalence values were greater (91%, 87%, and 85% for poliovirus types 1, 2, and 3, respectively).In 2013, the results showed that the seroprevalence was unexpectedly low among infants aged 6-9 months, remained high among children aged 36-47 months, and increased minimally among children aged 5-9 years and those aged 10-14 years. The baseline seroprevalence among infants aged 6-9 months in 2014 was better than that in 2013.Conclusions: The results from the polio seroprevalence surveys conducted in Kano Metropolitan Area in 2011, 2013, and 2014 served to assess the trends in immunity and program performance, as well as to guide the program, leading to various interventions being implemented with good effect, as evidenced by the reduction of poliovirus circulation in Kano. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive adolescents by virtue of their position are prone to dangerous behaviors including risk-taking for HIV transmission. Objective: To determine the awareness of HIV status and risk factors for HIV transmission among HIV-positive adolescents, and how these impact their behavior. Materials and Methods: A case study approach was used to study a random sample of 400 HIV-positive adolescent children attending an antiretroviral (ART) clinic in Kano, Kano State, Nigeria. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 16.0 computer statistical software. Result: The mean age of the adolescents was 14.9 ± 3.15 years. The majority were females (54.8%) from a polygamous family (57.5%). About two-thirds or 251 (62.8%) patients knew their HIV status. The age of 14 years and above (z = 11.36, P = 0.0001) and having at least secondary school level of education (z = 2.78, P = 0.005) were significantly associated with awareness of HIV status on binary logistic regression. Up to 311 (77.8%) patients had good awareness of the risks of HIV transmission. Awareness of risk of HIV transmission was associated with awareness of HIV status (X2 = 166.2, P = 0.0001). There was a significant variation in the behaviors between those who were aware of their HIV status and those who were not. Paradoxically, the percentage differences in risk-taking were remarkably high in all the variables examined, and were all in the direction of the adolescents who had good knowledge of the risk factors for HIV transmission. Conclusion and Recommendation: Health ministries, development partners working in this field, and behavioral change communication experts should develop formidable strategies for addressing this menace. There is also a dire need for further research in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continual changes in requirements impact the expectation about the quality of the product as well as the process, namely software project. In this paper, the various limitations that still exist in the software development process are presented. It is aimed to develop a new quality improvement model to enhance software quality without increasing effort, cost, and time. To achieve a software project of expected quality, a new quality improvement model, namely Kano Lean Six Sigma model (KLSS), is proposed. The KLSS model is used to identify the exact requirements for the software project from the customer's perspective. KLSS helps to categorize the requirements based on the nature of the defect, to eliminate the requirements of non-value processes and to implement the main functionality to meet the expectations of the customer. As regards our proposed software maintenance project, the method of development has been suitably tested in a leading IT company. The model has shown greater improvement in quality, cost, and efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a longitudinal, critical overview of woodfuel interventions in Kano and northern dryland Nigeria. Woodfuel still accounts for up to two-thirds of energy consumption, yet fuelwood-related issues are often ‘by-products’ of ‘higher priority’ energy–environment–development preoccupations. We suggest that energy policy has historically reflected preoccupations dominated by fossil fuel and new and renewable energy concerns, thereby raising questions about whether and to what extent such interventions reflect a desire to address woodfuel in its own right. The paper adopts a selective critique of some foundational assumptions about the energy–poverty–development nexus, notably in relation to energy transition theory and practice, to explain such outcomes and their practical and policy implications. In doing so, the analysis places particular emphasis on context, to demonstrate why the role of ‘situatedness’ must be better appreciated in energy circles and, equally importantly, acted upon during woodfuel interventions. More meaningful interventions, the paper concludes, should be based less on insights deriving from generic (wood) energy systems, hierarchies and relations, and considerably more on the lessons to be learned from the dynamic and complex realities of actual (wood) energy practices, networks and economies. In this, as in much else, context remains key. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]