Antibiotic resistance has continued to constitute serious problems not only in clinical
medicine but also in livestock management and veterinary medicine. The present study was
carried out to determine the occurrence of Extended-Spectrum Beta-lactamase (ESBL)
producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) from fecal samples in Poultry and Cattle farming in Ovia
North East local government area, Benin City, Edo State.
A total of 100 fecal samples were collected randomly from apparently healthy cattle and
poultry birds. Heterotrophic bacteria, Coliforms and E. coli were cultured using standard
procedures. Antibiotic susceptibility profile of the E. coli isolates were carried out using Kirby
Bauer disc diffusion method. ESBL phenotypic detection was carried out using ETEST®
ESBL strips. Molecular detection of tem, shv, ctx-m and oxa genes were carried out using
standard molecular methods.
The mean heterotrophic bacteria count from chicken fecal samples was 5.56±0.21x106cfu/g,
while that of cattle fecal samples was 4.91±0.33x106cfu/g. The mean total coliform count
from chicken fecal samples was 3.73±0.14x106cfu/g while that of cattle fecal samples was
3.28±0.22x106cfu/g respectively. Sixty eight E. coli isolates were recovered from the 100
samples, out of which 13 (19.1%) suspected isolates for phenotypic ESBL production testing
were selected based on a ≥0.6 multiple resistance index criteria to the 10 broad-spectrum
antibiotics used during antibiotic susceptibility test. Five of these isolates were positive for
ESBL by ETEST® ESBL strips. Consequently, out of the 5, tem, oxa and shv genes were
detected in 2(40%), 3(60%) and 4(80%) of the isolates respectively. Only the ctx-m genes
(100%) was detected in all isolates. Cattle fecal samples had more carriage of extended
spectrum beta lactamase producing E. coli than chicken fecal samples, suggesting that E.
coli isolates from cattle possessed more beta-lactamase genes than E. coli isolates from
chicken. This study showed high resistance of E. coli isolates (15-42.50 %) to antibiotics and
the presence of beta-lactamase genes in these isolates from animals within the studied
locale. These findings are of significant concern to public health because of the inevitable
interaction between man, microorganisms and environment. Regular monitoring and
regulated use of antibiotics in livestock is recommended

A novel deterministic model for the transmission dynamics of Lassa Haemorrhagic
Fever (LHF) is designed and deployed to qualitatively assess the role of the impact of
reduced relative infection of the human-human mode of transmission compared to the
rodent-human mode of transmission on the population population dynamics for Lassa
Haemorrhagic Fever disease burden. The model is shown to undergo the backward
bifurcation phenomenon due to the presence of the parameter which accounts for the rate at
which temporary immunity wanes. A unique threshold for the rate at which temporary

immunity wanes was also obtained. A special case of the model showed that the disease-
free equilibrium was globally asymptotically stable in the absence of the rate at which

temporary immunity wanes

In this study, remediation of heavy metals; arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper and lead,
and petroleum hydrocarbons in co-contaminated soil using in situ application of admixtures
of poultry manure and termite mound soil was examined. The contaminated soil with total
heavy metals content, MTot 110.69±3.08 mg.kg-1

(As 8.00±0.36 mg.kg-1

; Cd 10.83±0.33

mg.kg-1
; Cr 20.90±0.56 mg.kg-1

; Cu 43.43±0.99 mg.kg-1 and Pb 25.45± ±0.85 mg.kg-1
) and
total petroleum hydrocarbons content 208.30±0.62 mg.kg-1 was treated with admixtures of
poultry manure and termite mound soil of various compositions (0 – 100 wt% poultry
manure) and durations (30 – 120 days) of amendment application. Reductions in the levels
of total-extractable and bioavailable metal fractions and in residual total petroleum
hydrocarbons, plant (maize) uptake and transferability of heavy metals and changes in soil
enzyme activities were used as indicators of remediation end-point. It was found that in
comparison with unamended soil, marked reductions (in the range 64 -89%) were
associated with poultry manure/termite mound soil application to the contaminated soil. The
reduction in bioavailable metal fraction following amendment application was reflected in
corresponding reduced plant uptake, 18-fold by maize roots and 25-fold in transferability to
maize shoots as a result of the application of poultry manure/termite mound soil to the
contaminated soil. Degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons varied in apparent dependence
on the poultry manure content of the amendment and was almost quantitative (95%) with
application of amendment (100 wt% poultry manure) and duration of 120 days. Increased
levels of soil enzyme activities of several order of magnitude (67 – 500%) in comparison with
unamended soil accompanied application of poultry manure/termite mound soil amendment
to the contaminated soil. Restoration of soil quality (measured in terms of enzyme activities)
depended on the level of poultry manure component of the amendment material

The 3-D geological and geothermal model was built using seismic data and geo-temperature
data respectively. The model was used to deduce environment of deposition and their facies.
The geological model serves as a pointer to locate highly permeable channels where
hydrocarbons are found. The well consist of Gamma ray log (GR log), Spontaneous
Potential logs (SP log), Resistivity logs, Formation density, Neutron log, Sonic log and all
the well logs penetrate Agbada and the Benin Formation. The wells within the interval
studied consist mainly of alternate sequence of sand and shales. The shale is rich in organic
matter in the study field. The geo-temperatures values of 101.60oC– 119.60oCat modeled
depth of 1357m- 3500m, indicating that the shale beds of Agbada Formation are within the
oil generating window and is thermally matured with sufficient organic matter to generate
hydrocarbon in the study field as earlier believed to be immature and cannot generate
hydrocarbon. The 3-D geological and geo thermal model are the basis of establishing
depositional facies and the hydrocarbon window of the Agbada Formation at depth 1357-
3500m which is a useful tool in exploration and exploitation geology

A deterministic model for the transmission dynamics of COVID-19 is designed and deployed
to theoretically assess the role of the impact of non-pharmaceutical intervention measures
on the dynamics for COVID-19 burden on a given population. The results obtained from the
theoretical analysis of the model infer that non-pharmaceutical intervention measures in the
fight against COVID-19 will be effective in the prevention and subsequent reduction in
burden of the disease on the population under certain conditions

Digitalization of all services is needed in the banking sector, there is a possibility that this will
prove to be a temporary trend that will not last once social distancing restrictions are lifted.
Such developments have included facilitating increased use of online banking, mobile bank
transfers and e-wallets for virtual payments. In this paper, a sample was administered to a
population of 206 respondents, the 206 respondents consisted of 57 (27.7%) of UBA staff,
and 78 (37.8%) of Access bank staff, 40 (19.4%) Zenith bank staff, 14 (6.8%) of First bank
staff and 17(8.3%) of Guaranty Trust bank staff to get response concerning the use of digital
banking services in their banks amidst the covid-19 pandemic and how it has impacted on
them. The results proved that digitization is a welcome development in the banking sector
and the effects are positive.

Ascorbic acid is an essential water-soluble vitamin that is only available to humans through
dietary supplements such as the intake of fruits, vegetables, and drugs. In this study, the
quantification of ascorbic acid in five different fruits – apple, guava, orange, pineapple, and
watermelon were carried out using titrimetric and spectrophotometric method. Irrespective of
the method of analysis employed, guava contained the highest amount of ascorbic acid
215.600mg/100 g for the titrimetric method. This was followed by orange with an ascorbic acid
content of95.500mg/100 g. Pineapple, watermelon, and Apple gave values of 77.80, 11.800
and 8.500mg per 100 g of samples respectively. Spectrophotometric analysis of the ascorbic
acid of the fruit samples also followed the same order (guava > orange > pineapple >
watermelon > apple) with values of 223.000, 96.741, 78.411, 12.220 and 8.147 mg per 100 g of
the respective fruit samples obtained. Although spectrophotometric method gave higher values
of ascorbic acid in respective fruit extractsrelative to the titrimetric method, a p-value of 0.97
obtained from the statistical analysis (one-way ANOVA), revealed that there was no significant
difference between the mean values, thus, either method is efficient in quantifying ascorbic acid
in fruits. The findings shows that the consumption of 100 g of either pineapple, guava or orange
sourced from our local market meets the prescribed US recommended dietary allowance (RDA)
of 90 and 75mg/day for an adult male and female and a combination of these fruits can meet
the requirement of ascorbic acid for others based on their health conditions.

The application of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has revitalized the
educational sector and various other sectors of the economy in Nigeria. The advance
technological tools used in the dissemination, storage and management of Information and
communication has only been possible through the use of ICT. In the Educational sector,
ICT can assist staff and students to enhance the quality of learning and teaching as well in
tertiary institutions. This paper reports the investigation carried out to ascertain the available
ICT facilities and usage in three institutions in Nigeria and the implementation of these
facilities. A total of 300 respondent were drawn from University of Benin (UNIBEN), Ambrose
Alli University (AAU) and Benson Idahosa University (BIU). Questionnaire instrument was
developed and administered to Administrators, lecturers and students randomly in the
universities selected, the data gathered was subsequently analyzed using SPSS. The role of
ICT in tertiary institutions was discussed. Suggestions are made on the design and mode of
implementing ICT assisted learning in tertiary institution. The study revealed the benefits and
challenges of implementing ICT assisted learning.