Usman Lawal - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Usman Lawal

Journal of Polymers and the Environment

Cornell University - arXiv, Jun 13, 2019

Because of their importance in biological systems, in our understanding of the solar system and i... more Because of their importance in biological systems, in our understanding of the solar system and in other applications, seven heterocycles; furan, imidazole, pyridine, pyrimidine, pyrrole, quinoline and isoquinoline have been astronomically searched for in different molecular clouds with only the upper limits in the range of 4*10 12 to 2.8*10 21 cm-2 determined for their column densities in all the cases without any successful detection. Bothered by their unsuccessful detection, the energy, stability and abundance (ESA) relationship existing among interstellar molecules has been applied to examine if the these heterocycles were the best candidates for astronomical searches in terms of interstellar abundance in relation to other isomers of each group. High level quantum chemical calculations have been used to determine accurate enthalpies of formation for 67 molecules from different isomeric groups of these heterocycles. From the results, all the 7 heterocycles so far searched are the best candidates for astronomically observations as they are molecules with the least enthalpies of formation in their respective groups and by extension, the most stable and probably the most abundant species in ISM. They remain the best possible molecules among other heterocycles to be observed soon with improved sensitivity of astronomical instruments, precise rest frequencies and proper choice of astronomical sources.

Sokoto Journal of Medical Laboratory Science, 2021

Malaria is the most dominant cause of human morbidity and mortality with huge medical, psychologi... more Malaria is the most dominant cause of human morbidity and mortality with huge medical, psychological and economic impact in Nigeria. Prompt and accurate diagnosis is one of the key components in the control of malaria disease. In Katsina State, clinical (symptomatic) diagnosis and Pf HRP-2 RDT are the two main methods routinely used for the diagnosis of malaria. Only tertiary, secondary and few primary hospitals employ microscopy in malaria diagnosis. This study was done to assess the performance of the clinical diagnosis, SD-BioLine (PfHRP-2) rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and Microscopy in the diagnosis of Malaria disease in Katsina State. In this cross-sectional study, involving three hospitals, blood samples of 400 clinically suspected malaria patients were tested for malaria using microscopy with Giemsa-stained films and Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT), using SD Bioline Pf HRP-2 kit. Malaria prevalence using microscopy was 29.8% (119/400). Pf HRP-2 RDT recorded lower sensitivity wit...

Bio‐based Packaging, 2021

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 2021

Background Pregnancy results in many changes, including reduced hand grip strength (HGS). However... more Background Pregnancy results in many changes, including reduced hand grip strength (HGS). However, good HGS is required for physical functions such as carrying and breastfeeding the baby after birth. The aim of this study was to determine the factors that may predict HGS during pregnancy. Methods The study was a cross-sectional study approved by the Research Ethics Committees of Kano State Ministry of Health and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in Kano, north-west, Nigeria. Pregnant women at the designated hospitals were included in the study if they had no serious comorbidities or any known neurological condition that affects the hands and the neck. Demographic characteristics and independent (predictor) variables (age, weight, height, BMI, maternity leave status, number of full-term deliveries, number of preterm deliveries, number of live births, number of abortuses, gravidity, trimester, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, inter arm systolic BP difference [IASBP], inte...

Cellulose Nanoparticles : Synthesis and Manufacturing, 2021

Processing and Development of Polysaccharide-Based Biopolymers for Packaging Applications, 2020

Abstract Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is the most utilized biopolymer for food packaging applications.... more Abstract Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is the most utilized biopolymer for food packaging applications. Its excellent mechanical properties rival and in some cases surpass those of the Petro-based plastics like polyethylene. However, noticeable setbacks exist for PLA in the race of replacing Petro-based plastics with biodegradable biomaterials. Brilliant stiffness, flavor, and aroma barrier is overlapped by high brittleness and poor water vapor barrier among others. PLA nanocomposites represent the frontier in which these drawbacks could be overcome and improved. Numerous research activities have shown how nanofillers, plasticizers, and copolymers enhance PLA composite performance across a wide range of storage utility applications in food packaging and preservation, from excellent transparency, tensile strength, and modulus to superb antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Therefore, this chapter will focus mainly on promising advances in the process and characterization of PLA nanocomposite technology aimed at improving its functionality in the food packaging industry for the storage of different food products.

Background To describe and present detailed protocol of a systematic review aimed at determining ... more Background To describe and present detailed protocol of a systematic review aimed at determining available research evidence regarding the intensity, and frequency of Task-Specific Training that can best result in improved motor function, and mobility outcomes in both upper and lower extremities in acute, sub-acute and chronic stroke survivors. Methods Literature search strategies will be developed using Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms and text key words related to stroke rehabilitation and the use of TST to search for relevant RCTs. Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE (PubMed search engine), Excerpta Medica dataBASE (EMBASE), Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and Google Scholar will be searched for eligible articles published from inception to date. Two reviewers will independently screen the titles, select appropriate abstract/studies and extract relevant data as yielded by the sear...

Journal of Applied Sciences, 2019

Global Journal of Environmental Sciences, 2010

Water quality of River Ravi, a tributary of Indus River System was evaluated by Water Quality Ind... more Water quality of River Ravi, a tributary of Indus River System was evaluated by Water Quality Index (WQI) technique. A water quality index provides a single number that expresses overall water quality at a certain location and time based on several water quality parameters. The objective of an index is to turn complex water quality data into information that is understandable and useable by the public. Eight most important parameters such as pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), total hardness, calcium(Ca), magnesium (Mg), total alkalinity, dissolved oxygen (DO) and electrical conductivity (EC) were taken for the calculation of WQI. The WQI values for the River Ravi ranged from 54.8 to 97.88. The values of WQI showed that the water was free of any impurities at the sampling site except for 2-3 months where its values were less than 70. Whenever there are human activities e.g., dam operations, water gets polluted to some extent, so the value of WQI decreases. It was found that the parameter which is required in least amount contributes a high statistical value to the index. It is concluded that WQI can be used as a tool in comparing the water quality of different sources. It gives the public a general idea of the possible problems with water in a particular region. The indices are among the most effective ways to communicate the information on water quality trends to the public or to the policy makers and water quality management.

Disability and Rehabilitation, 2018

An important focus of poststroke rehabilitation is the attainment of community participation. How... more An important focus of poststroke rehabilitation is the attainment of community participation. However, several factors may influence participation some of which vary from setting to setting. The aim of this study is to investigate the factors influencing community participation among community-dwelling stroke survivors in the Western Cape, South Africa. Materials and methods: The World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0) and the Social Support Questionnaire 6 (SSQ6) were the instruments used to collect data. Participant demographics, clinical features and domain-specific scores of the WHODAS 2.0 were used as potential predictors. Correlation analysis and multiple regression models were used to examine determinants of community participation. All assessments were conducted using face-to-face interviews. Results: One hundred and six stroke survivors enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Risk factors, cognition, mobility, self-care, getting along with people, household activities and total WHODAS 2.0 score were associated with participation. Four predictors of community participation were identified from multiple regression, namely mobility (38%), cognition (11%), life activities (4%) and stroke risk factors (1%). Determinants varied by gender and age group. Mobility predominated in males and younger adults, while cognition was more pronounced in females and the elderly. Lastly, the influence of social support on community participation was largely defined by the gender and age of stroke survivors. Conclusion: The findings suggest focusing stroke rehabilitation on important factors such as mobility, cognition, life activities and risk factors to advance patients' participation. It also emphasizes giving specific consideration to key factors specific for gender and age of stroke survivors. _ Implications for rehabilitation _ Community participation in the general population of stroke survivors' is largely determined by their mobility function. _ Determinants of community participation among stroke survivors essentially vary according to age and gender. _ Clinically, this study suggests that focusing on specific determinants of improved community participation according to stroke patients' demographic categories (gender and age) may be an important impetus to enhance rehabilitation outcome.

Transactions in GIS, 2018

Diversity within a population has been linked to levels of both social cohesion and crime. Neighb... more Diversity within a population has been linked to levels of both social cohesion and crime. Neighborhood crimes are the result of a complex set of factors, one of which is weak community cohesion. This article seeks to explore the impacts of diversity on burglary crime in a range of neighborhoods, using Leeds, UK as a case study. We propose a new approach to quantifying the correlates of burglary in urban areas through the use of diversity metrics. This approach is useful in unveiling the relationship between burglary and diversity in urban communities. Specifically, we employ stepwise multiple regression models to quantify the relationships between a number of neighborhood diversity variables and burglary crime rates. The results of the analyses show that the variables that represent diversity were more significant when regressed against burglary crime rates than standard socio-demographic data traditionally used in crime studies, which do not generally use diversity variables. The findings of this study highlight the importance of neighborhood cohesion in the crime system, and the key place for diversity statistics in quantifying the relationships between neighborhood diversities and burglary. The study highlights the importance of policy planning aimed at encouraging community building in promoting neighborhood safety. 1 | INTRODUC TI ON The measurement of crime is necessary for any quantitative assessment of crime policy change (Ludwig & Marshall, 2015). Knowledge of how crime patterns are distributed over space can also enhance the effectiveness of police operations and collective community programs such as Neighbourhood Watch in the UK (Brunsdon, Corcoran,

Open Journal of Applied Sciences, 2014

Soap is sodium or potassium salt of fatty acid produced by saponification reaction. Soap is used ... more Soap is sodium or potassium salt of fatty acid produced by saponification reaction. Soap is used on a day to day basis by households. The physicochemical properties of soaps determine their quality and hence determine their efficiency and their cleansing properties. It remains obscure the quality of the soaps that are sold in the local markets in Kenya and thus the need to assess them. Eight commercial washing soaps were analyzed for Matter insoluble in alcohol, moisture content, total fat matter, free caustic alkalinity, Percentage chloride, pH and Total alkali according to documented methods of analysis. Values of matter insoluble in alcohol ranged between 6.22% to 61.80%, moisture content ranged between 10.91% to 22.69%, total fat matter ranged between 22.64% to 70.51%, free caustic alkali ranged between 0.00% to 0.06%, percentage chloride ranged between 0.07% to 1.01%, pH ranged between 10.63 to 11.71 and total alkali ranged between 0.00% to 0.99%. This study showed that the free caustic alkalinity of all the analyzed soap samples were below the KEBS set limits hence no adverse effects on the cloth or skin, and the pH values for all analyzed soaps were within KEBS limits.

Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 2013

This paper analyzes rainfall variability in Argungu area. Data for half climatic year 1995-2012 w... more This paper analyzes rainfall variability in Argungu area. Data for half climatic year 1995-2012 were obtained from Argungu station of Kebbi Agriculture and Rural Development Authority. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze the data. The results show that there is statistically significant difference in annual rainfall over the years. Analysis further revealed that the month of August, 2010 has the highest rainfall amount of 1066mm with the year 1996 receiving the least annual rainfall amount within the period under study respectively. The study recommends that since annual rainfall in the area is characterized by fluctuations, irrigation agriculture should be developed and supported by government to compliment rain-fed agriculture to encourage crop production in the area.

IOSR Journal of Applied Physics, 2013

Assessment and classification of agricultural surface soil in the Sudan Savannah, Kebbi State Nig... more Assessment and classification of agricultural surface soil in the Sudan Savannah, Kebbi State Nigeria was carried out from 2008 to 2011 using a modified version of Jenny's equation of soil forming factors. A comprehensive account of major classes of surface soil characteristics was given. The following surface soil components have been covered: temperature and moisture characteristics, topography, parent materials, organisms and land properties. Consequently, the physical agricultural surface soil conditions in five local government areas of the State: Arewa, Argungu, Augie, Birnin-Kebbi and Dandi are characterised by six major surface moisture characteristics: aquic, aridic, torric, udic, ustic and perudic; 10 topographical classes: backslope, bendy, concave, contour, convex, deeply,flatly, linear-flat and shallow; three major soil biota: ants, earthworms and termites; andseven land characteristics: bad-lands, blown-out-lands, cirque-lands, fertilelands, gulliedlands, miscellaneous and rock-outcrops. The major parent materials are alluvial, colluvial,fluvial and lacustrine. Physically, these parent materials are describe according to theirphysical appearance into fadama clay soils, fadama clay-loam soils, dryland sandy soils,dryland sandy-loam soils, dryland stony soils, and organic-mineral soils. Generally, the studyhas provided a better understanding of the current status of the major physical components ofagricultural soils and overall natural environment for future agricultural economic management in the region.

International Journal of Modern Botany, 2012

Phytochemical and antibacterial activities of water, methanol and ethanol extracts obtained from ... more Phytochemical and antibacterial activities of water, methanol and ethanol extracts obtained from the fruit and bark of Calotropis procera were investigated in an attempt to evaluate its medicinal potentials. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and cardiac glycosides with a very high content in water extracts. The concentration of the phytochemical constituents were in the order of water > methanol > ethanol. Antibacterial activity was determined against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli and Streptococcus pyrogenes. Water extracts showed inhibition against the tested organisms at 30 mg/ml. Methanol and ethanol extracts did not show an appreciable activity at 30 and 90 mg/ml respectively. The result of this study validates the use of water extract of this species in ethnomedicine and could provide a lead in the isolation of antibacterial agents from water extracts of Calotropis procera.