Land-Use/Land-Cover Dynamics in Calabar Metropolis Using a Combined Approach of Remote Sensing and GIS

This paper assessed the dynamics in the land use/land cover (LULC) within patterns of the land use/land cover (LULC) in Calabar metropolis. The thermal imageries for 2002, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016 were obtained and processed using remote sensing and Arc GIS software package in order to determine the changes that have occurred in the LULC in study area. The result of the LULC thematic maps overall accuracies was computed above 80 percent, which indicates an almost perfect agreement. The findings of this study reveal that, LULC classes by the year 2016 have assumed different dimensions of change from the sizes of their previous sizes in comparison to their current sizes. Land-use pattern changes in the study area were characterized by an increase in the built up class, waterbody (though with a slightly negative change from 2010 to 2012) and a predominant negative trend in dense vegetation and bare land classes;thus, indicating that the future changing trends will pose a depleting threat to the overall LULC. This study has shown that, the changing land use pattern of the area is capable affecting certain characteristics of the environment such as surface temperature. The study recommends that effort should be made by the government to increase urban vegetation around city centers and outliers by embarking on reforestation.

A Remote Sensing Analysis of the Temporal and Spatial Changes of Land Surface Temperature in Calabar Metropolis, Nigeria

This study investigated the temporal and spatial changes of land surface temperature (LST) over Calabar Metropolis, Nigeria (2002 to 2016). The LST over Calabar metropolis was studied from the analysis of Landsat imageries of the investigated years (2002, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016). The results of the LST imagery were classified using standard deviation. GIS was further applied to extract the coverage ratio of each land use in the context of Land surface temperature (LST) pixels and results were presented in degree Celsius. The result of this study revealed a great variation in the mean LST for the selected period. The highest mean LST of 25.38°C was observed in 2016, followed by 2002 with mean LST of 25.32°C whereas, the least LST was observed in 2010. This study has shown that, the changing land use pattern of the area is capable of affecting certain characteristics of the environment such as surface temperature. The study recommends that effort should be made by the government to increase urban vegetation in order to reduce potential future increased in LST.

Trace and rare earth element geochemistry of the black and grey shales of the Calabar Flank, Southeastern Nigeria: constraints on the depositional environment and the degree of metal enrichment

This study focuses on the trace and rare earth elements(REE)geochemistry of the Nkporo and Ekenkpon Shales of the Calabar Flank.The main aim is to infer their depositional environment and the degree of their metal enrichment.The shale samples were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.The results indicated that the mean concentrations of K,Na,and Fe in Nkporo and Ekenkpon Shales are 1.45,0.4,and 4.17 wt%,and 1.11,0.44,and 5.42 wt%;respectively.The Nkporo Shale is enriched with the following trace elements;P>Mn>Sr>Ba>Zn>Ce>Rb>Zr>V>Cr>Ni and depleted in the following trace elements;Ta>Ge>Sb>Bi>Cd>Ag>Te>In>Hg.While the Ekenkpon Shale is enriched with the following trace elements;P>Mn>Ba>Sr>V>Ce>Zr>Rb>Cr>Zn>Ni and depleted in;Sb>Ge>Bi>Ag>Ce>Te>In>Hg.The concentration of redox-sensitive elements such as V,Ni,Mo,U,Cu,Cr,Re,Cd,Sb,Ti,Mn,and their ratio V/Mo and U/Mo in the black and grey shale samples show different patterns.The REE obtained from the Nkporo and Ekenkpon Shales were PAAS normalized.The Nkporo Shale showed a slightly flat light rare-earth element(LREE),middle rare-earth element(MREE),and heavy rare earth element(HREE)pattern enrichment.Ce/Ce*ranges from 0.95 to 1.09 in Nkporo Shale and 0.67 to 1.40 in Ekenkpon Shale.The Ekenkpon Shale showed a slight LREE,MREE enrichment,and depleted HREE patterns.The Mn contents and U/Mo ratio in Nkporo and Ekenkpon Shales suggests a poor oxygen transitional environment.The V/Mo and V/(V+Ni)ratios indicated that the Nkporo shales were deposited in an anoxic to suboxic conditions and Ekenkpon shales were also deposited under an anoxic to suboxic conditions.The V/Ni ratio indicated that the organic matter in the Nkporo shale is terrigenous while that of the Ekenkpon shales are both terrigenous and marine in origin.

Cervical cancer in Calabar,Nigeria

Objective: To assess the prevalence of cervical cancer and histologic variants as seen in Calabar,Cross River state.Methods: This is a retrospective study involving histologically verified uterine cervix carcinoma between January,1997 and December,2006.Results: There were 1,207 malignancies diagnosed during the study period;175(14.5%) were malignancies of the genital tract while 113(9.4.0%) were carcinoma of the cervix constituting 64.6% of female genital malignancies.Cervical cancer was commonest between the ages of 40-59 years.There was no patient with carcinoma of the cervix below the age of 20 years.Squamous cell carcinoma(87.6%) of the uterine cervix was the main histological type.Conclusion:Cervical cancer is still the most common female genital tract malignancy in Calabar with most of these patients in their middle age.The use of PAS/Alcian blue stain as was used in this study eliminates most false-positive squamous cell carcinomas compared with Haematoxylin and Eosin stains used in most reports from most centres in this part of the world.Epithelial malignancies continue to be the predominant histological variant with squamous cell variety the commonest.There is also an urgent need for introduction of efficient and affordable population based cervical screening programme for early detection,use of vaccines against Human Papilloma Virus(HPV) and treatment of pre-malignant cervical lesions.

Monogenean parasites of the African catifsh Clarias gariepinus from two ifsh farms in Calabar,Cross River State,Nigeria

Objective:To determine the prevalence,mean intensity,and abundance of monogenean parasites in Clarias gariepinus(C.gariepinus)from two selected fish farms in Calabar,Cross River State,Nigeria.Methods:Eighty specimens of C.gariepinus from the two farms(40 each)were necropsied for parasitological analysis.Skin,gill and fin biopsies were prepared from each specimen following standard methods for microscopic analysis.Parasitological indices including dominance(D),prevalence,mean intensity and abundance were calculated according to standard formulae.Data were analyzed using the Fisher's exact test.Results:C.gariepinus from the two farms were infested with a total of ninety individuals of monogenean parasites belonging to three species including Macrogyrodactylus clarii(M.clarii),Gyrodactylus sp.and Dactylogyrus sp.D index showed that the three monogenean species were eudominant(D-value>10%).Gyrodactylus sp.was more abundant(46)followed by Dactylogyrus sp.(23)while M.clarii was the lowest(21).Prevalence,meaning intensity and abundance of monogenean parasites in the two farms,varied insignificantly higher(P>0.05).Prevalence in both farms were higher in female C.gariepinus than that in male.Monogenean parasites exhibited organ specificity as M.clarii and Dactylogyrus sp.were recovered from the gills while Gyrodactylus sp.colonized the skin and fin.Conclusions:High abundance of these parasites may lead to poor growth performance and high mortality in C.gariepinus,leading to huge monetary loss and low profit margin by increasing production cost due to the cost of treatments.

Assessment of some heavy metals in the tissues(gills,liver and muscle)of Clarias gariepinus from Calabar River,Cross River State,South-eastern Nigeria

Objective:To assess the pollution status of Calabar River in relation to the levels of heavy metal in the tissue of the African catfish[Clarias gariepinus(C.gariepinus)].Methods:A total of 45 samples of C.gariepinus were purchased from fishermen on landing at Nsidung beach along Calabar River within three months(15 samples monthly)from June to August,2014.The samples were then put into a cold box containing ice blocks immediately after buying from the fishermen.The fish samples were transported immediately to the Chemistry Laboratory,University of Calabar for digestion and heavy metal analysis.Portions of the muscle,gills and liver were removed from the fresh samples and oven dried at temperature of 120°C to constant weight and digested using standard methods.The digested tissue portions were analyzed for lead,iron,manganese,cobalt,chromium and cadmium concentrations using atomic absorption spectrophotometer.Results:Mercury was not detected at all in the muscle,liver and gills of C.gariepinus.The mean±SD of metals in liver of C.gariepinus were:(0.080±0.014),(0.110±0.014),(6.480±1.279)and(0.295±0.021)mg/kg for Cd,Cr,Fe and Mn,respectively.In the gills,heavy metals values were:(0.065±0.021),(0.115±0.035),(5.843±0.558),and(0.345±0.007)mg/kg for Cd,Cr,Fe and Mn,respectively.In the muscles,heavy metals values were(0.045±0.021),(0.115±0.353),(5.150±1.075),and(0.187±0.045)mg/kg for Cd,Cr,Fe and Mn,respectively.The general trend of metals accumulation in tissues of C.gariepinus showed a decreasing trend of Fe>Mn>Cr>Cd.Also,the metal accumulation in the three tissues showed a decreasing trend of liver>gills>muscle.Conclusions:The metal concentrations in the muscle,gills and liver of C.gariepinus were all below the World Health Organization acceptable range,and as such fishery resources from Calabar River are safe for consumption.

北京市5例输入性罗阿丝虫病流行病学特征分析

目的分析北京市输入性罗阿丝虫病患者的临床和流行病学特征。方法通过现场流行病学调查，了解病人的活动史、发病就诊过程，临床表现等。结果2012~2015 年，北京市医疗机构共报告5 例临床诊断为罗阿丝虫感染病例，输入地为尼日利亚、喀麦隆、刚果（布）、加蓬。5 例患者均有嗜酸性粒细胞增多，其中3 例仅有游走性肿块，1 例有眼部症状和皮肤瘙痒，1 例有游走性肿块和结膜下虫体移行感。结论随着国际交往的日益频繁，势必导致该病输入人数增加。罗阿丝虫病确诊困难，应增强临床医生根据流行病学史和典型症状（游走性肿块和虫体在眼睑或球结膜下移行）诊断病例的意识。

Progestogen-Only Injectable Contraceptives: The Profile of the Acceptors, Side Effects and Discontinuation in a Low Resource Setting, Nigeria

Progestogen-only injectable contraceptive is a highly effective, long lasting and reversible agent of fertility control. The objective is to determine the profile of the acceptors, side effects and indication for discontinuation of progestogen-only injectable contraceptives at UCTH, Calabar. This was a retrospective study of the clients who used progestogen-only injectable contraceptives at the family planning unit between 1st January 2008 and 31st December 2014. A total of 1392 clients used the injectable progestogen-only contraceptive out of 5986 total contraceptive users giving the prevalence rate of 23.3% over the period. Of these, 60.4% of the clients accepted the depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, while 39.6% accepted the norethisterone enanthate. It was mostly utilized by multiparous women, clients with tertiary education and those in their third decade of life. Secondary amenorrhea was the commonest side effect in 47.7% of the clients. Over the study period, 243 (19.8%) discontinued the method and 48.1% discontinued due to secondary amenorrhea while 31.4% was due to desire to get pregnant. Progestogen-only injectable contraceptive was associated with multiple side-effects, with secondary amenorrhea being the most common, and menstrual irregularity was the main reason for discontinuation. Providing adequate information to clients about this method of contraception and its probable side effects, supportive counseling during initiation of contraception and re-enforcement during follow-up visit can go a long way in enhancing patient satisfaction and hence continuation of progestogen-only injectable contraceptive despite minor side effects.

Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance of Gram-Negative Bacteria Isolates in Shellfish Samples from Two River Estuaries in South-South Nigeria

Antibiotic resistant bacteria pathogens remain the leading cause of shellfish borne diseases and a major health threat to humans worldwide. The objectives of this study were to isolate, identify, and determine the antibiotic resistance patterns of Gram-negative bacteria from shellfish. We analyzed a total of 540 shellfish (117 clams, 88 oysters, and 136 periwinkles) samples collected from different vendors at Iko and Douglas Creeks in Akwa Ibom State, South-South Nigeria. Conventional cultural techniques, morphological, biochemical characteristics, and PCR amplification were used to identify the bacterial isolates. Antibiotic susceptibility tests (Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method) and ESBL phenotype (disk) of the isolates were performed. One hundred and thirty-five (135) Gram-negative bacteria comprising 5 genera and 14 species were detected at a prevalence of: Alcaligenes faecalis TRB-7 38 (28.2%), Pseudomonas oryzihabitans strain KCB005 16 (11.9%), Paenalcaligenes retgerii strain B5 12 (8.9%) Pseudomonas aeruginosa JB2 10 (7.4%), Providencia stuartii DMC-28b 9 (6.7%), Alcaligenes species TLT151 8 (5.9%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa CIFRI DTSB1 7 (5.2%), Paenalcaligenes species UN24 7 (5.2%), Alcaligenes faecalis BT10 7 (5.2%), Vibrio species strain PrVy108 6 (4.4%), Pseudomonas xiamenensis C10-2 5 (3.7%), Providencia vemicola Bu15_38 4 (2.9%), Pseudomonas anguillisceptica 4029 3 (2.2%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa N15-01092 3 (2.2%). All tested isolates showed various degrees of resistance to the thirteen antimicrobials evaluated. High levels of resistance (100%) to cefepime and imipenem were expressed by all isolates except the Providencia species. For the EBSL indicators, all isolates apart from Alcaligenes species were resistant (100%) to ceftriaxone. All Vibrio species were susceptible to norfloxacin, nalidixic acid, and ceftazidime. The identification of antibiotic resistant Gram-negative bacteria (GNARB) from shellfish in this study highlights the risk of disseminated multi-drug resistance—a serious public health concern.

Risk of adverse maternal outcome following macrosomic birth in Nigeria.

Objective: To determine the risk of adverse maternal outcome associated with obstetric intervention in labour.Methods:All cases of macrosomic births conducted at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital,Calabar,between January 1st 1994 and December 31st 2000 were reviewed.Measure of treatment/intervention effect was calculated as relative risk for adverse maternal outcome,using spontaneous vaginal births as control.Results:Frequency of mode of delivery was as follow: vaginal births,139(60.7%);instrumental vaginal deliveries,16(7%);and abdominal deliveries,74(32.3%).Obstetric intervention occurred in 90(39.3%) cases.Sixty-four(28%) cases did not book for antenatal care,with 42 cases(18.3%) requiring obstetric intervention.About one in every two parturients(1: 2.1) in this study,requiring obstetric intervention at delivery had been interfered with at unorthodox health facilities.Relative risks for postpartum haemorrhage,wound sepsis and paralytic ileus were significantly high in parturients with abdominal delivery;while in parturients with instrumental vaginal delivery relative risks were significantly high for puerperal sepsis,paralytic ileus and obstetric palsy.There were no maternal deaths.Conclusion:Obstetric intervention in parturients with macrosomic births was high due to labour complications;and was associated with significant risk for adverse maternal outcome,especially in parturients with unskilled interference.