Archives-June...  

The association diabetes and pregnancy is a common gestational situation that constitutes a real public health in Morocco. The gestational diabetes is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as glycemic tolerance disorder that begins or is diagnosed for the for the first time during pregnancy and may cause maternal and/or fetal complications. Our work’s goal is to analyse the epidemiological profile of the diabetic women studied, to follow the course of pregnancy and childbirth and to assess the maternal and fetal morbidity. We present a descriptive retrospective study conducted at the obstetrical gynecology department of high-risk pregnancy within the hospital of maternity SOUISSI in RABAT, MOROCCO, involving 19 pregnant and diabetics women over 326 women consulted. The study lasted 12 months, from January 2019 to December 2019. Data was collected by using medical records. In our series, the prevalence of gestational diabetes is 5,8 %. 8 women have pre-existing diabetes (42,2%) and only 3 have scheduled their pregnancy (15,7%). 11 women have gestational diabetes (57,9%). All our patients were followed and had a controlled glycemic index. This study revealed a large number of maternal complications dominated by urinary tract infections, which represents 31 %, followed by hypoglycemia with a 10,5%, preeclampsia and cetoacidosis in 5% each. For fetal complications, we had 53% cases of macrosomia, 23% of respiratory distress, 18.6% of prematurity, 2,32% of congenital complications. Our results are consistent with most of the series in the literature. These pregnancies remain with more risks than under normal glucose tolerance. Nevertheless, the prognosis of these pregnancies can be improved by early and multidisciplinary management to achieve a glycemic balance avoiding maternal-fetal complications.

The diffusion of slow electrons in Nitrogen ,Argon and Helium gases in uniform electric fields has been verified for ratios of electric field to pressure from 1.611 to 16.115,0.0322 to 0.3223 and 3.9131×10-3 t0 0.9767 (V/cm .Torr-1 ) respectively. These are calculations lead to a determination of the ratio of electron drift velocity to diffusion coefficient . By assuming a distribution in velocity of the electrons in the swarm, the Townsend energy factor KT and the mean electron velocity can be computed as a function of E/P, where E is electric field and P is the gas pressure, where the mean free path at unit pressure, the average energy loss per collision, and the gas kinetic cross section can be calculated. The results are presented in Figures forms. The obtained results appeared a good agreement with the experimental and theoretical data.

A study on the influence of trampling on the biomass production of six Brachiaria ecotypes, namely Brachiaria decumbens cv Bazilisk; Brachiaria mulato; Brachiaria brizantha cv Xaraes; Brachiaria ruziziensis; Brachiaria brizantha cv Nioka and Brachiaria brizantha cv Piata at Nioka, was carried out to observe their production and identify those with an interesting resilience to the above-mentioned factor.The experimental set-up was that of randomized complete blocks comprising six treatments (six ecotypes mentioned above) and repeated three times. The six Brachiaria ecotypes were subjected to the trampling disturbance factor. The following parameters were measured: recovery rate and speed, tillering, biomass.After observation, the results were as follows:The highest biomass for this factor before and after trampling was obtained by B. brizantha cv Piata, while the lowest production was deplored in B. brizantha cv Nioka and B. mulato.

It is well known fact that concrete displays a brittle behaviour and very little tensile capacity. This type of brittleness can be reduced by incorporation of fibers in concrete which lead to better strength properties and impact resistance. This paper presents on the study of compressive strength properties of concrete cube specimens with and without addition of discrete steel fiber of two different propositions. It is imperative to note that the 28 days mean compressive strength have been used to characterize the three types of concrete, i.e., plain control concrete, fully fiber reinforced concrete and retrofitted concrete, based on the experimental results obtained through direct compression test of cube specimens. Concretes containing steel fibers reinforced at the same volume fraction (1%) were compared in terms of compressive strength properties for three different sizes of cube specimens, namely150x150x150mm, 100x100x100mm, 70.6x70.6x70.6mm. In addition, comparative analysis on the experimental results of compressive strength for all the three types of concrete has been made. It is observed that steel fiber enhanced the strength properties and impact resistance of concrete as compared to the plain concrete results. It is also found comparable results between fully fiber reinforced concrete and retrofitted concrete. It is further observed that the strength is increasing consistently to the decreasing sizes of specimens.

The study was carried out to evaluate the effect of anthropogenic activities on physiochemical properties of soils in Ezinihitte Mbaise L.G.A. Imo State. 36 soil samples were collected randomly at the depth of 0-5cm, 5-15cm, and 15-30cm. The samples were collected from four different locations, farmland, market area, play ground and forest. The samples were prepared and analyzed for physiochemical properties such as sand, silt, clay pH, conductivity, organic carbon, moisture content, available phosphate, calcium, magnesium, sodium, aluminum, nickel, cadmium, chromium and copper, using standard methods. The result of the analysis revealed that the soil pH was basic, ranging from 6.45-8.98; electrical conductivity ranged from 0.120-0.155µs/cm. The textual class was sandy-clay-loam, implying that the soil contain sand in a higher proportion. Moisture content, organic carbon, organic matter, available phosphate, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, aluminum ranged from 6.56-16.70%, 0.32-1.52%, 0.55-2.61%, 5.53-58.52mg/kg, 0.4-6.7mg/kg, 1.0-8.5mg/kg, 424-624mg/kg, 224-392mg/kg, 0.001-2.8mg/kg respectively. Heavy metal concentration in the soil was Ni (0.099-0.416mg/kg), Cd (0.016-0.173mg/kg), Cr (0.004-0.216mg/kg), Cu (0.000-0.013mg/kg). From these results, it was found that there was a marked variation in parameters of various soil samples in different sampling points. These variations were as a result of different anthropogenic activities in the locations. The study recommends that efforts should be made to improve soil quality and its fertility status through continuous application of manure and compost, soil amendments, cropping pattern most especially in farmland.

Flooding is one of the natural hazards that is catastrophic in nature and affects human settlements, infrastructure, and livelihoods. Despite early warnings, public education, and awareness as well as campaigns by the government, media, and non-governmental organizations, residents of the flood-prone areas are still at increased risk of death, loss of property, and displacement leading to loss of livelihoods and disease. The objective of the study was to assess the effects of integration of Geographic Information Systems, community coping strategies, and local knowledge in flood management in Narok Town, Kenya. This study adopted an analytic cross-sectional study design and exploratory approach. The study population comprised of households within Narok Town. The sampling unit was a single household while the household head was the unit of analysis. A stratified random sampling technique was used to select 385 households from the different zones in the town. A structured flood coping mechanism questionnaire was used to collect data from the household head while Key informant interview guide and focus group discussion was used to gather qualitative information. Descriptive statistics included the mean, standard deviation, percentages, chi-square test were used to analyze data. Analysis was done using SPSS version 24.0 and Quantum Geographic information System to generate data and information on community coping mechanisms, geospatial patterns of floods, and perception about floods in Narok town. Qualitative analysis was analyzed through the use of secondary literature while quantitative data was analyzed through the inferential statistics Fisher’s exact test, Analysis of variance, correlation, and logistic regression. The study findings showed that there is low integration of household knowledge, coping strategies, and Geographic Information systems in flood management among residents of Narok Town. The study further showed that lack of household knowledge was a result of lack of inadequate forecast information (41.0%), lack of public awareness 42.3% and participation. Results indicate the majority of the local community did not have access to Geographic Information System information in regards to flood hotspots only (30.1%) had data related to flooding, flood zones, and marked physical features showing areas prone to flood disasters.

The impacts of organic wastes contamination on microbial population and physicochemical properties of Woji creek in Port Harcourt Rivers State were studied for two years. Surface water samples were collected monthly for a duration of two year at five sampling points using standard methods. The samples were subjected to microbiological analysis based on total heterotrophic bacteria count and those of hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria, hydrocarbon utilizing fungi, total coliform and total fungi. Physicochemical properties evaluated include: temperature, pH, turbidity, total dissolved solid, total suspended solid, dissolved oxygen, BOD, COD, total organic carbon. Results of microbiological analysis showed no significant difference between seasons. THBC values ranged from 1.98x105 to 2.59x108cfu/ml, while TFC values was higher in the wet season (1.55x104 ± 5.46x103cfu/ml) than in the dry season (5.63x103 ± 2.55x103cfu/ml). Temperature range was found to be significantly higher in the dry season (27.92±0.210C) than in the wet season (25.81±0.210C). The findings of this study indicate that organic wastes are the major factors responsible for deterioration of the Woji creek.

In an attempt to evaluate the productivity of two varieties of cabbage-caraïbe: Xanthosoma sagittifolia (L.) Schott (violet and green), using compost from pig manure as fertilizer, a trial was conducted in Goma using a pairwise experimental design, with two blocks of three plots each, representing the two varieties tested. The planting was done at a distance of 50 x 50 cm. A total of 48 plants were planted for each of the varieties studied, at a rate of 16 plants per 4 m2 plot, for a total of 96 plants for the entire experiment.The observations made during this study were related to the number of tubers per plant, the diameter of the tubers obtained, the weight of tubers per plot and the yield in tons per hectare. The correlation between the different yield parameters observed was calculated. The effects of the pig dung compost on the production parameters were assessed using the one-criteria analysis of variance classification with SPSS 20 Software (IBM SPSS Statistic, 2015). The significance level was set at 0.05%.The results obtained showed that: 1. The violet variety produced a greater number of tubers per plant than the green variety with an average of 10.66 ± 1.15 versus 6.66 ± 0.57. The difference observed from a statistical point of view is significant (?2 = 96.000 ; P < 0.000). These results indicate that the number of tubers produced per plant does depend on the variety tested ; 2. The size of the tubers obtained does not depend on the variety tested (?2 = 263.537 ; P < 0.045) ; 3. The violet variety produced heavier tubers (15.03 kg) compared with those of the green variety (8.76 kg). The difference observed statistically was significant (?2 = 60.134 ; P < 0.000). These results indicate that tuber weight does depend on the variety tested. In addition, the violet variety gave a better yield (37.58 t/ha) compared to the green variety (21.90 t/ha) in terms of cultivated area ; 4. There is a positive correlation between the weight and the number of tubers produced on the one hand (r = 0.917 and R2 = 0.840) and on the other hand between the weight and the size of tubers (r = 0.872 and R2 = 0.760). The overall results obtained reveal that the violet variety performed better in terms of the parameters studied and is more adapted to organic fertilization compared to the green variety.

Access to education is one of the basic rights of a child. This right has been hampered in Kenya by social-economic factors beyond the control of disadvantaged communities. The imbalances in resource distribution has resulted not only in limited access to education but poor transition for children from poor and marginalized communities. Although the government at independence identified poverty, ignorance, and disease as the three enemies of development, little has been done to ensure equal access to education for all children. Where attempts have been made, poor planning has negated the gains made. This paper recommends for affirmative actions to be undertaken to reduce the existing inequalities.

The importance of erosion in relation to variability of water and soil losses from a parcel of land can be revealed in the measurements of the infiltration characteristics and runoff under a comparable vetiver grass strips and collection tanks within the plots. This experiment is aimed at assessing the variability of runoff and soil loss due to infiltration characteristics of the runoff plots. This study involved three vetiver plots of 20 m interval measured out of six plots (40 m × 3 m each) randomly distributed over a land area of 0.072 ha. The study was conducted on a 6 % slope experimental plot, along Parry Road of the University Ibadan, during the 2007 raining season. The texture of the soil was generally loamy sand. Mean total runoff among the plots was in the trend of no-vetiver plots > vetiver plots (13.50mm > 4.99 mm), the same was true for mean total soil loss (28.78kg/ha > 12.96kg/ha). Variability in the amounts of runoff was moderate in vetiver plots and highly variable in no-vetiver plots (CV = 24 % and 40 % respectively. The correlation between measured soil physical properties and infiltration characteristics with runoff revealed that fine sand content of the soil was negatively related with runoff (r = 0.6450*), but the reverse relationship was true for porosity inferred from soil bulk density and sorptivity of the soil (r = -0.7650*, and -0.8956* respectively).