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This study uses fractal analysis to understand how oil spills are clustered at different scales in Ahoada communities of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The ArcGIS software was used in designing the hotspot map of the study area using Kernel density estimation. Results of spatial spill distribution from the Kernel density revealed that Bayelsa, Rivers, and Delta states are the hottest spots for oil spill occurrences and distribution and communities within the Rivers state including Ochebeke, Ukperede, Odieke and Akinima has been widely affected by the spills. The box counting method was employed for understanding clustering associated with oil spills in the area using ArcGIS interface. The method uses the conversion tool embedded in ArcGIS to convert oil spills points into raster. A basic analysis of this fractal plot suggest a dual fractal analysis for oil spill occurrences within the study location. This is evident by a low fractal dimension of 0.419 at distances of 1.1 km. At higher distances above 1.1 km, oil spill occurrences are characterised by a fractal dimension of 1.411. According to the fractal plot, regional and local fractal for oil spill occurrences is defined by a threshold distance of 1.2 km. At scales less than 1.2 km, oil spill occurrences exhibit a fractal dimension of 0.063 while at scales above this distance, the occurrences of oil spill are defined by a fractal of 1.249. A general analysis of fractal for both oil spill types suggests a small fractal dimension values and a more discrete scale compared to the regional scale. The relative low fractal dimension values at discrete scale suggest a high clustering of oil spill locations. This study gives a relative idea about the clustering tendency. This would enable proper remediation to be carried out in the area.

Soil quality is a useful concept when assessing the sustainability of an agricultural business and demonstrating the ability of soil to maintain plant and animal productivity, improve water and air quality, and protect human health. SQI is a soil variable with the following characteristics: 1) well correlated with ecosystem processes; 2) integration of physical, chemical, and biological soil properties; 3) good sensitivity to human-induced soil changes; 4) simple measurement and interpretation; and 5) Reproducibility Soil quality index (SQI) is a diagnostic procedure to evaluate soil function and overall health. This research was carried out on a unit of land in a dry area in Aceh Besar District with a study area of 239,439.63 ha. Analysis of biomass samples and soil samples was carried out at the Laboratory of Soil and Plant Sciences and Soil Physics Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Syiah Kuala. The tools used in this study include a set of computers with the Microsoft Windows 10 operating system that are equipped with several software for analysis, writing instruments, and other supporting tools. The main materials used in this study were soil samples, tree diameter measurement data, and land use maps, including geology, climate, slope class, soil, and topography. The results of the correlation analysis test showed a value of 0.6358. This shows that the relationship between soil C potential and soil quality index is a strong correlation. The distribution of carbon in the soil also has a close relationship with the soil quality index and is an effort to maintain carbon stocks in the soil. C - organic content is a very important parameter in compiling soil quality index criteria. Soil quality can be affected by many factors, such as parent material, environmental factors, land use type, and human activities. The percentage of soil organic C is an indicator of the percentage of soil organic matter (BOT), and BOT is able to improve soil structure and aggregates. Soil organic carbon (SOC) concentration is closely related to soil quality and vegetation productivity. This relationship occurs because of the many contributions of soil carbon to soil properties such as the improvement of soil structure and water retention, provision of cation exchange capacity, and supply of plant nutrients through mineralization. This effect is especially important in small-scale tropical farming systems where the use of external inputs is often limited, and SOC concentrations have been positively correlated with yield levels for a variety of tropical soils.

Green synthesis of nanoparticles known as the synthesis of nanoparticles using biosynthetic methods involving naturally reducing agents such as polysaccharides, biological microorganism such as bacteria and fungus or plants extract. The synthesis of nanoparticles by the use of biological methods have reached a colossal signification above physical and chemical procedures, this is due to the use of innocuous, biocompatible, and ecologically-sound substrates and remarkably uncomplicated synthetic processes at encompassing conditions. In this research, the synthesis, characterization and the determination of the antibacterial activity of Zinc oxide Nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) was ascertained using stem bark extract of Ficus thonningii (Blume) as a stabilizing agent. However, the anti-diabetic activity and some biochemical changes caused by the synthesized ZnO NPs on alloxan-induced diabetic Wistar Rats were also determined. ZnO NPs were synthesized using biological method at different concentrations of ZnO solution (1mM, 2mM, 3mM and 4mM), these NPs were characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, FTIR and SEM. Wistar rats weight 185 ± 5g were grouped into nine (9) groups (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and I). Group A served as normal control which was given only feed and water, group B, C, D and E, were induce and treated with 1mM, 2mM, 3mM and 4mM ZnONPs respectively, then F and G were induced and treated with aqueous extract and ethanolic extract while H was induced and treated with Glibenclamide (standard drug for diabetes) by gavage method and finally I was induced and untreated which served as diabetic control. The results showed that ZnO NPs were synthesized with the indication of the change in colour from yellow to dark brown colour. The UV-visible spectroscopy was taken at range between 200nm to 700nm which displayed different peaks at the range of 209nm to 383nm. However, the FTIR showed the existence of various functional groups such as C=C stretch, C≡C stretch and Alcohol OH stretch representing the bioactive compounds such as phenol, amine and many others. The Nanoparticles were analyzed with SEM to examine the morphology of the Nanoparticles. The diabetic induced rats revealed significant decrease in fasting blood glucose after treatment compared with the diabetic untreated rats, the doses were effective when compared with Glibenclamide treated rats. The levels of serum Alkaline phosphatase, Alanine Amino transferase, Albumin, Globulin, Bilirubin, Total Protein, Urea, Creatinine and Electrolytes concentrations displayed no significant increase relative to diabetic control (p < 0.05; n ≥ 5).

Background: The relationship between blood pressure (BP) trajectories and outcomes in patients with peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is not clear. Aim: The study aimed to assess the clinical features and outcomes (all-cause mortality and unrecovered left ventricular [LV] systolic function) of PPCM patients grouped according to their baseline systolic BP (SBP). Patients and Methods: PPCM patients presenting to 14 tertiary hospitals in Nigeria were consecutively recruited between June 2017 and March 2018 and then followed up till March 2019. SBP at first presentation was used to categorize the patients into seven groups

The efficacy of earthworm (Eudrilus euguniea) meal on growth and survival of African catfish fingerlings (Clarias gariepinus) was carried out in Maiduguri with the aim of producing substantial amount of the earthworm to replace fish meal in the diet of Clarias gariepinus for growth and survival. Earthworms were produced using mixture of animal dung (cow, sheep and rabbit) by introducing 100 unsexed adults on 5kg of the animal dung. Fingerlings were purchased from Garbati fish farm located in Damboa road and conveyed to teaching and research fish farm university of Maiduguri where the research was conducted. Forty (40% CP) diet was formulated by replacing fish meal with earthworm at the substitution level of 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% and fed to one hundred and fifty (150) forty days old Clarias gariepinus grouped into five treatments according to the replacement level of the fish meal with the earthworm. The feeding trial lasted for 90 days. Data generated from the research were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). The result presented better growth Performance in fingerlings fed 0 and 50% replacement level of fish meal with earthworm. Therefore, fish meal can be replaced with earthworm in the diet of Clarias gariepinus at 50% for better growth.

This study aimed at examining the analysis of the soil quality index of dry land use on dry land in Blang Bintang District, Aceh Besar District. This research was conducted using a descriptive method based on the results of surveys and field observations as well as laboratory analysis. General biophysical conditions of the area and physical and chemical characteristics of the soil obtained from observations and indicators of soil quality through soil analysis in the laboratory. Soil sampling points were determined using the purposive sampling method, namely the points that have been determined on selected dry land in Blang Bintang District, Regency of Aceh Besar. The moderate soil quality index in the upland land use type is one of the reasons for the sampling of the Inceptisol soil type in the Blang Bintang sub-district, which has less fertile soil characteristics. Upland land use is the percentage of sand (57%) which is greater than the percentage of dust (36%) and clay (6%). This can be seen in the low content of C-organic (1.19), H2O, K-dd, P-available and N-total and high volume weight (1.34).

This research was conducted by using a descriptive method based on the results of surveys and field observations and laboratory analysis. Field survey activities were carried out to obtain primary data in the form of general biophysical conditions of the area and physical and chemical characteristics of the soil obtained from observations and indicators of soil quality through soil analysis in the laboratory. Soil sampling points were determined using the purposive sampling method, namely points that have been determined in selected dry land areas in Blang Bintang District, Aceh Besar District. Soil sampling for analysis of chemical properties was carried out by drilling. Soil drilling was carried out to determine the thickness of the soil solum. Sampling was focused only on the top soil layer with a thickness of 0 - 20 cm. In mixed garden land use type (LUT) 5 - 6 sample points were taken which were then analyzed in the laboratory. From the data from the soil analysis, the fertility status of each type of land use will be determined. Field observations and sampling were carried out at each observation point (LUT) in the Blang Bintang District, Aceh Besar District.The soil characteristics and a large percentage of sand compared to the percentage of silt and clay. The low content of clay fraction in both lands affected the formation of soil aggregates. The position and composition of organic matter greatly determine the process of forming stability and distribution of aggregates. Sandy soil in mixed garden vegetation is difficult to absorb water and nutrients due to large grains and small surface area per unit weight. The soil which is dominated by the sand fraction is porous with high aeration pores. Smooth aeration properties can increase the oxidationof organic matter.

Yam (Dioscorea species) is an annual root-tuber crop with social and economic significance in terms of food security, cash returns and human health, which has social and economic importance in terms of food, cash and medicine. Insect pests present major constraints to production, storage and marketing resulting in yield and revenue reduction, and deterioration of tuber quality in storage. This study was thus designed to assess yam storage practices by the farmers and the prevalence and economic impacts of the yam scale insect, Aspidiella hartii in selected locations of Nasarawa state, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 60 yam farmers from the study area. The first stage involved random selection of four Local Government Areas (LGAs) out of the five in the study area. The second stage was the purposive selection of three villages from each of the selected LGAs while the 3rd stage was random selection of five yam farmers from each of the 12 selected villages who were interviewed using a pretested structured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results showed that the common yam storage structures were open sheds, under tree canopies, and field barns with varied dimension of 5-10 m2. Most respondents (98.3%) affirmed the presence of the yam scale insects on stored yams on those stored in the open, barns and stores, with increased incidence with extended duration in storage. Significant reduction of 36% – 50% in the market value of yam due to infestation of the yam scale insect was reported under all storage conditions. Many respondents (60%) recognized misuse and abuse as consequences of pesticide application thus, creating the need for farmers to adopt more environmentally friendly storage practices for management of the yam scale insect in the study area.

Introduction Carboxyhemoglobinemia is characterised by decreased oxygen delivery to tissues. In severe and critical coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) illness with hypoxia, this can herald a grave and protracted course of illness. Patients with COVID-19 experience respiratory impairment, lowering the pace at which carbon monoxide (CO) is eliminated and raising the likelihood of carboxyhemoglobinemia. We set out to explore early arterial carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) and COVID-19 patient outcomes in non-smokers and its potential as a predictive tool for mortality. Methods Forty-five patients, non-smokers with severe/critical severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection requiring admission in a North Indian 1200-bedded tertiary care hospital, were recruited prospectively from October 2020 to March 2021. Arterial COHb% was evaluated with arterial blood gases using an analyser, which were taken at the time of admission and then every alternate day for the first 10 days. Carboxyhemoglobinemia was defined as COHb% more than 1%. The primary outcome was defined as the patient's hospital outcome (survivor/non-survivor). Results Of the total 45 subjects, 51.1% (n=23) survived. Patients developed carboxyhemoglobinemia with an incidence of 51% during the course of their hospital stay. The mean ± SD of COHb% on admission was 1.0 ± 0.58 and 1.03 ± 0.8 in non-survivors and survivors, respectively (p=0.870). Maximal individual values of 5.3% and 6.1% were seen in survivors and non-survivors, respectively. On serial COHb measurement, non-survivors had significantly higher COHb% on days 6 and 10. No co-relation of COHb% with inflammatory markers was noted. Conclusion Arterial COHb levels in non-survivors were significantly higher than in survivors on days 6 and 10. Our study did not show a prognostic value of serial COHb measurement in patients with severe COVID-19. To establish COHb as a predictive marker in severely ill COVID-19 patients, additional research is required.