Archives-October 2017

This paper deals with the severity of Conn adenoma and its treatment with laparoscopy

The importance of poultry is undeniable in human food chain and respiratory diseases threaten not only the safety of this food source but also its sufficiency. These threats could be controlled by monitoring system helps farmers and veterinarians to detect any changes in the birds health conditions. There are different sound processing techniques to decompose the target signal and extract appropriate features for detecting these changes. In this paper, a short review of chickens’ vocalization system, related studies in sound processing field their approaches and their achievements, introduction of a three-step approach for developing suggested algorithm, and a list of challenges facing such research are presented. Regarding the destructive effects of respiratory diseases on bird’s vocal system, a correlation between audio signal features and the type and severity of avian diseases is predictable. Among sound processing approach and techniques there is good conformity between wavelet transform abilities and the abilities are needed for such health monitoring system. Despite the existence of some challenges, some of which are listed in this paper and none is incredible, sound signal processing techniques can potentially play the role of a diagnosis tool and find valuable information about poultry health condition in the near future.

Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky continue to cause considerable damage to maize grain in most stores in Africa. In the present study, laboratory experiments was conducted to investigate the potentials of Trichilia dregeana and Jatropha curcas seed oils for the protection of stored maize against two week old adult Sitophilus zeamais. The results indicated that Jatropha curcas seed oil and combination of the two seed oils (a synergic effect) caused 100% maize weevil’s mortality after one week exposure which is extremely high compared to negative control. The maize grains treated with seed oils and positive control showed a significant decrease of the number of holes compared to the negative control which indicates its protective effect against weevil from damaging the maize grains. Weevil perforation index ranged from 1.59 to 19.48 and indicate a highly positive protectant ability of the two seed oils. The computed percentage protectant ability of the two seed oils showed that 80.52-81.5% protectant ability in Trichilia dregeana seed oil, 96.87- 98.41% in Jatropha curcas seed oil, 98.41% in combination seed oils, and 98.41% in malathion powder. The results indicate that Jatropha curcas seed oil and combination of the two seed oils are highly effective as compared to Trichilia dregeana seed oil for maize seed protectant against Sitophilus zeamais. Thus, the order of protective ability of seed oils with various treatments on maize weevil were: Jatropha curcas seed oil > combination of Trichilia dregeana seed oil+ Jatropha curcas seed oil > Trichilia dregeana seed oil.

A regional geoelectrical study was embarked upon covering some major towns within the Niger Delta and Anambra basin. Some of the towns include; Owerri, Umuahia, Ohafia, Aba, Umuosu, Ngwa, Mbaise, Okigwe, Lekwesi, etc. About 100 Vertical Electrical Sounding points were established along two long profiles running perpendicularly to each other at North-South and East-West directions covering a distance of about 110km in each traverse. The maximum electrode spread was 500metres, AB/2. The schlumberger array was adopted on the field. The ABEM Terrameter SAS 4000 was used for the data acquisition. The purpose of the study is to examine the variability in lithological units both vertically and horizontally from the North to South and East to West along these profiles because there have been reported cases about land degradation like; gully erosion, landslide, minor subsidence, road failure, etc within the study area. The field data were processed with computer softwares. Iso-resistivity values at AB/2 equals 1m, 4m, 8m, 15m, 50m, 150m, 250m and 350m at surface electrode spacings were plotted and processed for each VES point in order to reveal the variation in resistivity with depth and variability changes in lithological units with depth. This procedure was repeated for all the VES stations on the East-West profile and North-South profile. Results show that the top soil contour has resistivities between 200?m and 9000?m while at AB/2 = 4m, resistivities are 500 - 1000?m (Aba), 1000 - 5000?m (Owerri), 2000 - 2500?m (Afikpo). Results were also obtained for AB/2 = 8m, 15m, 50m up to 250m. These resistivity values were interpreted as clay, shale, sand, etc, accordingly. From the correlation of the VES points, other geologic structures like faults, boundaries, flood plains, landsides are identified. Other environmental implications are highlighted.

Uterine AVMs are rare complication of gestational trophoblastic disease, with a life-threatening potential as a result of unexplained and torrential bleeding.Placental site trophoblastic tumor (PSTT) is a rare form of gestational trophoblastic disease. PSTT has a wide range of clinical presentations and behaviors. However, few case reports are available about PSTT cases complicated by uterine AVMs.In this report, a PSTT case with evidences of uterine AVM on imaging studies is reported. A 33-year-old patient, gravida 2, para 2 was referred to emergency service, with sever vaginal bleeding and ?-hCG level of 1063 IU/l. Trans-abdominal and trans-vaginal ultrasonography images indicated hypoechoic mass in endometrium with echo-free center with size of 46*33mm that extended to anterior myometrium of uterus. Pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a 38*49mm mass with heterogeneous signal in T1 and T2 in right lateral side of uterus with enhancement after contrast agent injection. In angiography the right uterine artery had serpentine vessels and AVM view. Dilation and curettage was not possible due to risk of sever hemorrhage following damage to the hypervascular lesion. So suction biopsy was performed under hysteroscopic guide, after embolization of uterine artery for stabilization of the patient. The patient underwent laparotomy, total abdominal hysterectomy because of pathological report of PSTT. The patient is in good health with no evidence of disease at follow-up of 18 months after operation.

The purpose of this study was to determine the sonographic characteristics of retained products of conception after second-trimester abortion. Methods: 187 women clinically suspected for retained products of conception referred for abdominal and if needed transvaginal ultrasound between 2015 and 2016. If remnants of pregnancy were suspected due to prolonged symptoms, and some specific sonographic findings (echogenous or heterogeneous mass, upper or lower segment maximal anterior-posterior endometrial thickness of more than 15 millimeter) dilation and curettage was performed and the specimen was sent for pathological confirmation. Information regarding age, gestational age, and number of previous pregnancies, as well as sonographic findings were recorded. 55 patients (29.4%) were found to have retained products of conception. Every patient with retained products of conception had at least one positive sonographic finding. A lower segment endometrial thickness of more than 15 mm was the most specific characteristic of retained products of conception (97.7%) with the highest PPV (83.3%), followed by endometrial mass with 94% specificity and 65% PPV.  Lower segment endometrial thickness of more than 15mm is the most specific sonographic finding for remnants of pregnancy; while, upper segment thickness of more than 10mm is the most sensitive one. 

Most of the interstellar protonated molecules that have been shown to be astronomically detectable based on recent studies could be termed as 'non-terrestrial' species as a number of them are yet to be probed in the terrestrial laboratory, thus, the rotational transitions required for their astronomical searches are not available. In this study, the coupled cluster variant CCSD(T) together with the aug-cc-pVTZ basis set has been used to predict the spectroscopic parameters of four known neutral interstellar molecules and their corresponding protonated analogues of which two; H2NCO+ and H2COH+ have been astronomically detected. The protonated analogues of H2NCN and H2CS are potential interstellar species from recent studies. The predicted rotational constants/transitions are in good agreement for those with known experimental data, thus, these spectroscopic parameters could guide the astronomical searches and laboratory measurement of these species without experimentally determined spectroscopic constants.

Quantum chemical calculations offer the real promise of being able to complement experiment as a means to uncover and explore new areas in chemistry. One of such is its use in the determination of molecular structure, kinetics and reactivity. This work seeks to investigate the molecular properties of Oxygen monofluoride (OF) and its two possible protonated analogues (HOF+ and HFO+). Quantum chemical methods; Hartree fock (HF), Becke-3-Lee-Yang-Parr (B3LYP), Moller-Plesset second order (MP2), Coupled Cluster method (CCSD) and Gaussian 04 method (G4) with varying basis sets were employed in the determination of the parameters (Dipole moment, bond distance, IR frequency, zero point vibrational energy, and rotational constants) reported for the three molecular species studied in this work. Bond angle was reported for the two protonated analogues (HOF+ and HFO+). From the results as compared to the experimental values, B3LYP/6-311++G** method proves itself as the best method in the optimization and frequencies calculations of the OF, HOF+ and HFO+ because it gives better accuracy in most of the calculated parameters and the MP2 method also give relative accuracy in some of the calculated parameters of OF and its protonated analogues, HOF+ and HFO+. The optimized geometry shows the OF molecule to be linear while the protonated analogues were non-linear.

Cold extraction method was used extract the crude solvent extracts of leaf of Chrysophyllum albidum. The structural elucidation by spectroscopic methods (1H and 13C NMR) of a fraction of ethyl acetae extract of C. albidum yielded a new compound characterized as decyl heptadecanoate, C27H54O2. A similar compound Decyl-8-hydroxyl heptadecanoate has also been isolated from Ziziphus mauritiana leaves and has been synthesized via utilization of microwave energy using available starting compounds. Quantum chemical calculations have been carried out on the isolated compounds. Optimized geometry, IR frequencies, bond distances, bond angles and other parameters have been computationally determined for the isolated compound from the quantum chemical calculations using the GAUSSIAN 09 suite of programs. The experimentally measured and the computationally obtained IR frequencies are in good agreement.

Worldwide, sugarcane is the major raw material used in the production of domestic sugar. It accounts for 80% of the sugar consumed. Kakamega and Bungoma Counties account for about 80% of the locally processed sugar. There is evidence of increased investment in the industry as characterized by growth in the number of millers across the country. Information about this growth and challenges on sugarcane transportation is scanty to enable policy makers in making informed decisions on improving efficiency in the sub sector. The study is guided by the objective to evaluate the characteristics of sugarcane transportation in western Kenya sugar belt region. Descriptive survey was carried out to achieve the study objective. The study tool was a pretested orally administered structured questionnaire with questions testing the following variables: characteristics of sugarcane transportation, prevalent livelihoods and strategies that can improve livelihoods. The study involved 384 respondents. Purposive, stratified and simple random sampling were used in determining respondents that were used in the study. Data was analysed using Excel and Statistical Package for Social Scientists (a computer programmes). Presentation was done in tables, graphs and pie charts. Research questions were subjected to Pearson Correlation and Regression coefficients to ascertain their significance. The study revealed that sugarcane transportation may have resulted in wide road network (32%) and improved access to the farms (68%). Tractors is the main means of transportation for sugarcane (67%) in the region. In conclusion, most of the cane growing farms are owned and operated by individual families. It was established that transportation cost was high in the region, which was attributed to poor road networks and frustration from millers. The study recommends improvements on the state of road network; there is need for creating right institutions and mechanisms to carry out road maintenance in the sugar belts of Kenya. The study recommends future research on poor road networks traversing western region sugar belts.