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In standard district cooling (DC) plants, central chillers produce cold energy for space cooling throughout the district network. In recent times, the integration of the vapor compression system, which includes the functionalities of vapor compression chillers (VCC), and thermal energy storage (TES) tanks in the DC setup, has gained more implementation across the globe. This is due to the possibility of load shifting by using the VCC to produce chilled water for charging the TES tanks during off peak periods. Since the environmental implications of various energy intensive systems are largely determined by the amount of material and energy consumed throughout their life cycle, it is critical to conduct a sustainability assessment of these systems in terms of environmental contributions, and suggest design options to reduce these impacts. A cradle to grave life cycle assessment (LCA) model is created in response to these issues and in order to meet the project’s objectives. The life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) results of the analysis reveal that the carbon footprint per 1 RTh of the produced chilled water is estimated at 0.72 kg CO2 eq/RTh. The operation phase of the system’s life cycle accounted for the most impact, about 98%, with other life cycle phases having negligible contributions. In substantiating the study’s investigation, the environmental performance based on several design options were discussed and compared to the case study. Among the several scenarios considered, incorporating the Sweden mix technology provided the case study with the most significant environmental savings, of about 94%.

Moringa plant is a plant with increase awareness of its health and nutritional benefits in Nigeria. This study was conducted to examine the nutrient composition of underutilized hull of Moringa oleifera seed. Proximate composition, antinutrients, minerals and vitamins profile of the hull were determined using standard analytical methods. The hull contained crude protein 5.25±0.011%, crude fibre 19.5±0.038%, ash 5.0±0.026%, crude lipid 4.25±0.011%, carbohydrate 55.2±0.062 and moisture content of 10.8±0.033%. Sodium (45.49 mg/100 g) and potassium (24.52 mg/100 g) were the most abundant minerals with appreciable amount of vitamin E and beta-carotene. Alkaloid (0.25%), saponin (10%), oxalate (0.015 mg/100 g) and phytate (0.487 mg/100 g) were found in the hull. It was therefore concluded that the findings of M. oleifera seed hull contain nutritive values that may necessitate its usage in alternative feed formulation instead of just remaining an agro waste. Key words: Antinutrients, hull, minerals, Moringa oleifera, vitamins.

Ofis mekanlarında yeterli gün ışığı seviyesinin sağlanması son yıllarda önemli araştırma konularından biri olarak ele alınmaktadır. Yeterli gün ışığı, enerji verimliliği ve iyileştirilmiş kullanıcı konforuna yönelik olarak yapı kabuğunda farklı yaklaşım ve stratejiler önem kazanmaktadır. Yapı kabuğu iç ve dış ortamı birbirinden ayırmakta olan bir ara yüzdür ve mekandaki gün ışığı seviyelerini ve bina kullanıcılarının konforunu optimize etme amacıyla uyarlanabilir yaklaşımlarla donatılma yeteneğine sahiptir. Bu tez çalışması, çeşitli geometri ve hareket türlerinden oluşan uyarlanabilir cephe sistemlerini varsayımsal hücre tipi bir ofis hacmi üzerinden simülasyon yöntemiyle değerlendirilmesine odaklanmaktadır. Tasarlanan uyarlanabilir cephe bileşenleri ile varsayımsal hücre tipi ofisin gün ışığı seviyeleri, görsel performansı ve enerji performansı simülasyon yöntemi ile değerlendirilmiştir. Simülasyondan elde edilen sonuçlar gün ışığı seviyeleri, görsel konfor ve enerji performansı bağlamında karşılaştırılmış ve analiz edilmiştir. Sekiz uyarlanabilir cephe sistemi (UCS) iki ve üç boyutlu geometrik konfigürasyonlar üzerinden sınıflandırılmış ve sümülasyon çalışmaları Rhino, Grasshopper, Energy Plus ve DIVA for Rhino aracılığıyla yürütülmüştür. Simülasyon sonuçları, dairesel üç boyutlu UCS hariç, üç boyutlu geometriye sahip UCS’lerin günışığı simülasyonları bakımından daha iyi performans gösterdiğini ortaya koymuştur. Hem iki hem de üç boyutlu UCS’nin parlama kontrolü bakımından etkin olduğu saptanmıştır. Ayrıca, tüm UCS’ler baz durum modelinin (referans ofisi) enerji kullanım yoğunluğunu indirgemiştir. Bu çalışmanın bulguları, uyarlanabilir cephe sistemlerinin (UCS) bina performansı ve kullanıcı konforu üzerindeki önemini ve tasarım aşamasında bina performans değerlendirmesinin önemine vurgu yapmaktadır The quest for adequate daylight levels in office spaces is an advancing research domain of the last decades. Novel concepts and strategies for building envelopes were proposed to achieve adequate daylight levels, energy efficiency, and improved occupant comfort. The building envelope is the interface that links the indoor and outdoor environment and has the ability to be equipped with adaptive approaches to optimize the daylight levels and occupant comfort in the building. The present study focuses on simulating a hypothetical cell-type office building that incorporates adaptive façade systems composed of several types of geometries and motion. Daylight levels, visual performance, and the energy performance of the hypothetical celltype office with the designed adaptive façade components were investigated via simulation. The results retrieved from the simulations were compared and analyzed in the context of daylight levels, visual comfort, and energy performance. Eight adaptive façade systems (AFSs) were classified into 2D and 3D geometric configurations and were simulated via Rhino, Grasshopper, Energy Plus, and DIVA for Rhino. The simulation outcomes indicated that AFSs with 3D geometry performed better for Daylight simulations, except the 3D Circular AFS. Glare management was mostly efficient both for 2D and 3D AFSs. Furthermore, all AFSs reduced the energy use intensity (EUI) of the base case model (reference office). The findings of the present study highlighted the significance AFSs have on building performance and occupant comfort, and the importance of conducting building performance evaluations during the design phase

The clinical symptoms, cellular immune response, and serum cytokine homeostasis during falciparum malaria among children living in endemic regions depend on the parasite densities. This study aims to evaluate the CD4This case-control study involved blood samples collected from 165 children (between 5 and 12 years). This comprised 45 children with mild malaria, 40 each with moderate, severe malaria and apparently healthy (control). Serum cytokines, ferritin, malonaldehyde (MDA), ascorbate, α-tocopherol levels were determined by Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA). Leucocytes differentials and CD4All malarial children had onlyBased on these findings, severe malaria was significantly associated with declined CD4

Background: Dyspepsia is a symptom complex rather than a specific disease entity. It can be caused by various diseases that could be organic or functional dyspepsia. Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GORD) now accounts for the majority of upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Clinical judgment alone is unsatisfactory and unreliable in confirming the etiology due to the overlap which exists between the clinical presentations of the disease conditions causing dyspepsia. This study aimed to determine the burden of GORD among patients with dyspepsia. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out between May and August 2009. A total of 170 dyspeptic patients were recruited consecutively as they were referred to the Gastroenterology Unit of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. After obtaining a signed written informed consent from each patient a prepared questionnaire on relevant demographic, and clinical history relating to GORD was administered. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was then performed on each subject after an overnight fast of at least 8 h. GORD was defined as symptoms of heartburn and/or regurgitation lasting longer than 6 months with or without erosive esophagitis, Barrett's esophagus, esophageal peptic stricture, ulcer or adenocarcinoma on endoscopy. Results: The prevalence of GORD was found to be 24.1% among the dyspeptic patients in this study Endoscopy positive accounted for 16 (9.4%) while endoscopy negative accounted for 25 (14.7%) of GORD. Reflux symptoms were observed in 63 (37.1%) of the patients studied. Heartburn had a high specificity (92.3%) and negative predictive value (77.3%) with low sensitivity (14.6%) and positive predictive value (37.5%), while for regurgitation specificity was 91.6%, negative predictive value of 63.6%, sensitivity of 11.1% and positive predictive value of 43.8% for endoscopy positive GORD. Conclusion: Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a common disease for which patients are referred for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.

For this study, geospatial technology was used to assess agricultural lands vulnerable to flooding in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. Six thematic layers of factors influencing flood occurrences in the study area were generated from monthly rainfall, land use/cover, drainage density, soil, digital elevation model and slope. Pairwise comparison of the Analytical Hierarchy Process was used to derive the weights for each factor using expert’s judgements and literature. Weighted overlay model from the spatial analysis tool in the ArcGIS 10.4 environment was used to perform the vulnerability modelling. Expert’s judgement on the relative factors influencing flood in the study area was: rainfall (25%), elevation (22%), slope (20%), drainage density (13%), soil type (8%) and land use/cover (12%). The consistency ratio of the analysis was reasonable: (CR= 0.078). Results from the model demonstrated land vulnerability to urban agricultural flooding in the study area ranging from areas of very highly vulnerable to very low vulnerable areas, with farmlands along the floodplains of River Benue falls within the very highly vulnerable areas. The elements at Risk are; Farmland 537.6 (66.1%), Irrigation Land 40.5 (5.0%) and Built-up Land 125.8 (15.5%).

Background: Dyspepsia is a symptom complex rather than a specific disease entity. It can be caused by both organic and functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD) though a common digestive disorder worldwide is scarcely reported in Nigeria. The aim of this study is to determine the pattern of presentation of GORD among patients with dyspepsia. Methods: One hundred and seventy dyspeptic patients were recruited consecutively as they were referred to the Gastroenterology Unit of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital for upper GI endoscopy. A prepared questionnaire on relevant demographic and clinical history relating to GORD was administered. Upper GI endoscopy was then performed on each patient. Results: The prevalence of GORD was 24.1%, with a M:F ratio of 1:1.1. Endoscopy-positive variant accounted for 16 cases (9.4%), while endoscopy-negative variant accounted for 25 cases (14.7%), with of the total GORD patients, 26(63.4%) were males while 15(36.6%) were females. Los Angeles Grade A (37.5%) was the predominant endoscopic esophageal mucosal injury found in 6 cases. Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma accounted 4.9% each and were considered to be rare. Extra-esophageal manifestations were also rare. Conclusions: Endoscopy-negative variant still remains the predominant endoscopic finding in GORD patients.

For the past three centuries, there has been a very high demand for stainless steel for different applications, due to its corrosion resistance coupled with the good strength and low cost of the metal. Several welding techniques have been adopted in the fabrication of stainless steel, with the choice of welding technique hinged on the desired requirements. Advancement has been made in its dissimilar welding with other metals like aluminum, copper and titanium. While similar welding of stainless steel faces the challenge of weld metal property deterioration, dissimilar welding poses more serious challenges due to the differential in chemical composition and the thermophysical properties of the base metals. A review of the literature reveals that considerable progress has been made in the improvement of the properties of the weld joint by the application of several weld treatment processes. It was discovered that most of the researchers focused on the effect of these weld treatment processes on the properties of the weld joints, with little attempt to establish a relationship between the microstructure and properties. This review paper critically analyzed the effect of weld treatment processes on the properties of stainless steel in light of microstructure-property correlation.

Context: The current literature posited that the knowledge of learning styles can be useful to both teachers and students. This study sets out to investigate and compare the learning style preferences of medical students (2nd year–5th year). Aims: The aim of the study was to investigate learning style preferences of medical students (2nd year–5th year) and compare those styles across years in the medical school (preclinical to clinical). Settings and Design: This study was carried out in the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria. It was a descriptive cross-sectional study. Subjects and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Kano, Northwest Nigeria. The Visual, Aural, Read/Write, and Kinesthetic (VARK) questionnaire, a self-administered instrument, was administered to 206 preclinical and clinical years' medical students in 2016. Statistical Analysis Used: Percentages, proportions, frequency tables, and charts were used in the analysis. Results: The response rate was 87.7%. The mean age of the study sample was 21.9 years. There were 124 (60.2%) males and 82 (39.8%) females. The mean score of each VARK item revealed that kinesthetic, auditory, read/writing, and visual modalities have 6.607 (standard deviation [SD] 2.265), 5.369 (SD 2.436), 4.984 (SD 2.621), and 4.345 (SD 2.468), respectively. The most common preferred learning style for both preclinical and clinical years' medical students was multimodal learning style. Conclusions: The findings in this study indicate that multimodal learning style is the most preferred, while other preferences are also common. Therefore, this has important implications on how educators deliver teaching and support students' learning.

The relationship between oil price shocks and economic growth (GDP) examined in many studies is assumed to be linear. However, this may incorrectly specify if the relationship is nonlinear. The few existing studies that modelled the relationship in dynamic form focused on developed oil-exporting or importing countries leaving dearth of studies on developing oil-backed countries whose oil price fluctuations may be more pronounced. Thus, this study examines asymmetric effects of oil price shocks on economic growth, focusing on Angola and Nigeria. We applied Nonlinear ARDL method to capture both the long- and short-run asymmetric effects with nonlinear error correction in a single equation. GDP and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent (BRT) oil prices data of 1980-2015 were employed and analyzed. Our results revealed that oil price-growth nexus for Angola and Nigeria is asymmetric. We found that oil prices have significant impacts with positive and negative effects on Nigerian economy, while only negative impact turns to be significant for Angola. Nonetheless, application of expansionary monetary policy for stabilizing these economies to support oil revenue in the wake of oil price fall may have little effect.

Rhizobium sp. RC1 grows on haloalkanoic acid (haloacid) pollutants and expresses a haloacid permease (DehrP), which mediates the uptake of haloacids into the cells. For the first time, we report the homology model and docking analysis of DehrP and propose its putative binding residues. Ligand structures were retrieved from the ChemSpider database. The three-dimensional (3D) structure of DehrP was modelled based on the structure of Staphylococcus epidermidis glucose:H+ symporter (GlcPse) by Phyre2, refined by 3Drefine and evaluated by ProSA z-score, ERRAT and RAMPAGE. The 3D structure of the DehrP protein has 12 transmembrane helices. The overall quality factor of the model is ∼91%, with 93.6% of the residues in the favoured region and the z-score (−2.86) falls within the range (≤10) for a good model. Subsequent docking of monobromoacetate, monochloroacetate, dibromoacetate, dichloroacetate, trichloroacetate and 2,2-dichloropropionate ligands via AutoDock Vina1.1.2 showed that residues Gln133, Asp36 and Arg130 are the putative H+-binding site, while the probable haloacid interacting residues are Glu33, Trp34, Phe37, Phe38, Gln165 and Glu370. The DehrP-haloacid complexes exhibited binding affinities between −2.9 and −4.0 kcal/mol. Both the putative H+ and haloacid-binding sites of DehrP possibly aided in co-transportation of substrates H+ and haloacids into the bacterial cells through the alternating access mechanism, which occurs by formation of halogen bonds and van der Waals interactions with the substrates. Hence, site-directed mutagenesis on the DehrP binding residues could improve the haloacid-binding affinity for efficient haloacid degradation.

Production of bioethanol from solid waste such as mango kernel using microbial culture is an attractive option for waste management and substitute for fossil fuel. This study was carried out to produce ethanol from two varieties of mango kernel using cultures of Aspergillus niger, Bacillus subtilis and Sacchromyces cerevisiae isolated from soil, fermented African locust bean (daddawa), palm wine respectively. The isolates were identified and confirmed using phenotypic identification techniques. The proximate composition of the mango kernels were evaluated using AOAC (2012) methods. The mango kernels ground into powder were subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis using co-culture of B. subtilis and A. niger. Analysis of reducing sugar residue was performed using Dinitrosalicyclic acid (DNS). Fermentation of the hydrolysates was carried out for 96 hours and the ethanol produced was quantified. The optimum conditions for ethanol production such as pH, temperature, substrate concentration and time of fermentation were determined. The proximate analysis revealed carbohydrate contents of 50.79% and 52.54% in Banginapalli and Benue mangoes, respectively. There is no significant difference (p>0.05) in the proximate composition of the mango kernels. The enzymatic hydrolysis revealed the reducing sugar content of 5.36g/L in Benue mango and 5.34g/L in Banginapalli mango after 5 days of hydrolysis. The fermentation of the hydrolysate of Benue mango yielded the highest quantity of ethanol (19.15%) with a fermentation efficiency of 37.47% after 72 hours fermentation. The results of optimization revealed that pH 4.5, temperature of 30 o C, 30g substrate concentrations and fermentation period of 72 hours were the optimum condition for production of the bioethanol. The result of this work has shown that the two varieties of mango could serve as good raw materials in the production of bioethanol, thereby turning the mango waste to potential wealth Keywords : Bioethanol, Fermentation, Substrate, Waste.

Introduction: A mass casualty incident (MCI) is an infrequent event that requires coordinated action under time constraints. With the emergence of Boko Haram, coupled with industrial disharmony and recurrent strike actions among health workers; there were series of terrorist's attacks when either the Doctors or other health-care providers were on strikes. Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the pattern of injuries, presentation-intervention interval and the challenges of mass casualty management. Methods: This was a retrospective study among 37 multiply injured patients of suicide bombing and shooting who were admitted at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital from 28th November 2014 to 5th February 2015. Their case notes were retrieved, information obtained includes types of the injuries and intervention among others which were analysed using SPSS version 16. Results are presented in tables and figures. Results: There were a total of 194 patients who presented to the accident and emergency unit of the hospital. The mean age (±standard deviation) was 33.4 ± 19.25 years. Twenty (10%) were dead on arrival, 37 (20%) had major injuries. More than half of the victims were operated within 6 h of presentation. About 78% had single system injuries, whereas 22% had multiple organ system injured. Up to 25% had at least two units of blood transfused. Conclusion: We were able to intervene in 3% of patients within the first 3 h of presentation and another 30% within 6 h. We would have done better if there were no industrial disputes.

Background: A 15-months community Randomized Controlled Trial was conducted with the aim of assessing effectiveness of Transfluthrin-Coated Inflammable-Fumes Insecticide-Paper (TCIP) [RamboTM] on indoor mosquitoes and malaria. Methods&Materials: The studywas conducted in two communities, Panshekara andDanbare, Kano,Nigeria randomly selected as interventionandcontrol respectively. 150households (HHDs)were systematically selected in each of the two and their doors andwindowswere ‘netted’withmesh-wire. In the intervention community there were ‘netted-alone’ and ‘netted+TCIP’ administered HHDs. Participants were allowed use of Insecticide-Treated-MosquitoNets. Additional 20 HHDs were randomly selected within the two communities as internal controls and were neither ‘netted’ nor administered TCIP. Fever, blood film microscopy for malaria parasite, haematocrit and entomological indices (indoor mosquito collection and determination of species at breeding sites) were conducted quaterly. Pyrethrum Spray Collection (PSC) technique was used to collect adult mosquitos monthly from rooms in both communities. Main malaria vector species were identified using molecular techniques (PCR). ELIZA was used to identify circumsporozoite protein (CSP) of Plasmodium falciparum. Results:A total 2565personswere studied inPanshekara (1208) and Danbare (1357). There was declining trend in malaria through 4 quarters in Panshekara compared to baseline ( 2-trend, p =0.02) and slight reduction in proportion with anaemia. In Panshekara, a total of 1592 Culex species were collected out of which 911 (57.2%) were from the internal control, 440 (27.6%)were from the screened ‘netted’ and 241 (15.1%) from ‘netted+TCIP’ treated HHDs. 396 Anopheline malaria vectors were collected out of which 339, 27 and 30 were from the control, ‘netted’ and ‘netted+TCIP’ treated sites respectively. In comparison to the baseline pre-netting phase, wire netting alone provided 51% protection against the nuisance of Culicine mosquitoes, while netting plus TCIP provided 73% protection against Culicinemosquitoes. Themainmalaria vectors species were An. gambiae s.s and An. arabiensis but An. funestus could not be analysed further. CSP of P. falciparum were seen in all the 3 vector species. Conclusion: Very slight reduction in malaria and anaemia was observed. Protection conferred by TCIP was modest against Culex spp but small against the malaria vectors. TCIP complimented netting. Trial number-ATMR2010050002022487. Pan-AfricanClinical-Trial-Group

Background: A 15-month community-based randomized controlled trial was conducted with the aim of assessing the effectiveness of transfluthrin-coated inflammable-fumes insecticide-paper (TCIP) (Rambo™) on indoor mosquitoes and malaria. Methods: The study was conducted in two communities, Panshekara and Danbare, Kano, Nigeria, randomly selected as intervention and control, respectively. One hundred and fifty Households (HH) were systematically selected in each of the two and their doors and windows were netted with mesh-wire. In the intervention community, there were netted-alone and netted+TCIP administered HHDs. Participants were allowed to the use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets. An additional 20 HHDs were randomly selected within the two communities as internal controls and were neither netted nor administered TCIP. Fever, blood-film microscopy for malaria parasite, hematocrit, and entomological indices (indoor mosquito collection and determination of species at breeding sites) were conducted quarterly. Pyrethrum spray collection technique was used to collect adult mosquitos monthly from rooms in both communities. Main malaria vector species were identified using molecular techniques such as polymerase chain reaction. ELISA was used to identify circumsporozoite protein (CSP) of Plasmodium falciparum. Results: A total 2565 persons were studied in Panshekara (1208) and Danbare (1357). There was a declining trend in malaria through 4 quarters in Panshekara compared to baseline (χ2 -trend, P = 0.02) and slight reduction in proportion with anemia. In Panshekara, a total of 1592 Culex species were collected, out of which 911 (57.2%) were from the internal control, 440 (27.6%) were from the screened netted, and 241 (15.1%) from netted+TCIP treated HHDs. Three hundred and ninety-six Anopheline malaria vectors were collected, out of which 339, 27, and 30 were from the control, netted, and netted+TCIP treated sites, respectively. In comparison to the baseline prenetting phase, wire netting alone provided 51% protection against the nuisance of culicine mosquitoes, whereas netting plus TCIP provided 73% protection against Culicine mosquitoes. The main malaria vector species were Anopheles gambiae s. s and Anopheles arabiensis, but Anopheles funestus could not be analyzed further. CSP of P. falciparum was seen in all the 3 vector species. Conclusions: Very slight reduction in malaria and anemia was observed. Protection conferred by TCIP was modest against Culex spp., but small against the malaria vectors. TCIP complimented netting with Trial number-ATMR2010050002022487 (Pan-African-Clinical-Trial-Group).