The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Researcher

  • Archaeologists find gates of Hell

    Archaeologists find gates of Hell

    When researchers are searching for remnants of structures and settlements constructed by ancient peoples they typically focus on areas that are hospitable to human life.

    This discovery in Saudi Arabia, according to BGR.com, goes firmly against that notion, with archaeologists revealing the existence of hundreds of stone “gates” situated in and around ancient lava domes, in an area that is little more than a hellish landscape devoid of vegetation and water.

    The structures, which measure anywhere from 40 feet to nearly 1,700 feet in length, are crude in their construction, built of rough rocks that have withstood thousands of years of wear and tear. What’s most interesting is that it appears that the lava fields these structures were built upon was still active at the time, with hardened lava appearing to have flowed over some of the gates.

    Gates are found almost exclusively in bleak, inhospitable lava fields with scant water or vegetation, places seemingly amongst the most unwelcoming to our species,” David Kennedy of the Western University of Australia, who led the research, wrote. Kennedy noted that the structures “appear to be the oldest man-made structures in the landscape,” and that at the moment “no obvious explanation of their purpose can be discerned.”

    The discovery was made using satellite imagery, and the researchers used their birds-eye view to identify nearly 400 of the gates in the same area. Along with the odd walls, other clearly manmade structures were spotted including what appear to be animal traps and wheel-shaped objects that are yet to be identified. The current best guess as to the age of the construction is somewhere in the neighborhood of 9,000 years.

    The next step for researchers is launching some kind of expedition to investigate the site and perhaps come up with some kind of an explanation as to why the structures exist and what they were used for. It’s an incredible discovery, but the structures — and their precarious location — are so mysterious that there’s bound to be an even greater story waiting to be told.

  • Sweden, Lagos to collaborate on waste to energy development

    Sweden, Lagos to collaborate on waste to energy development

    The Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare has received in audience, Prof. Nazdaneh Yarahmadi, SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden and the VINNOVA, the Swedish government agency that administers state funding for the research and development’s project leader, representing the team from Sweden.

    The meeting, which had the Director, Legal and Advisory Services, Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Mrs Yinka Adeyemi in attendance, was aimed at discussing the importance of waste management and waste to energy development in the State.

    Dr. Adejare opened the meeting by expressing the importance of waste management to Lagos State. He specifically mentioned and highlighted his gratitude to the Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC) Scandinavian Chapter, Ayoola Lawal, for organizing the meeting.

    According to Professor Kim Bolton, Researcher from University of Borås, this project is firmly based on, and extends, the present UDI project, which is based on establishing facts and tools to measure and predict the technical status of pipelines for water, sewage and energy distribution.

    “We will investigate the demand for these solutions in Nigeria. At the same time we will extend these activities to waste management, which we know is a challenge in Nigeria and where we have begun cooperation. In order to give the pre-study a concrete and manageable activity, we will focus on the piping systems used in water and sewage systems, as well as waste management via recovery to energy. In addition, the project will investigate methods and partners for implementation of the innovations that are identified as most possible to succeed.

    “SP, 4IT, FOV Fabrics AB and University of Borås, together with support from Sweden Water Research, WIN, and the know-how accumulated in the Swedish water industry can deliver enormous value to countries like Nigeria, and at the same time provide a great economic potential return. The consortium has extensive experience in international projects as well as strong and relevant networks in Nigeria,” Bolton said.

    At the meeting, Mrs Adeyemi introduced the VINNOVA project and presented LAWMA’s interest in the project while Prof. Yarahmadi and colleague explained the outcome of the project in some detail as well as the meetings that were held with Lagos State University and LAWMA. We also described our visit to the Olusosun landfill as well as the material sorting facility that is located near Ojo, an outskirt area of Lagos. We presented our admiration at the progress that has been made at the material sorting plant during the past five years, and expressed our interest to support further development of material sorting in Lagos.

    Adejare recounted interesting and relevant details of the current and future development in waste handling in the state.

    “There are plans to introduce new trucks for waste management and to develop new landfill sites. The material sorting plant outside Ojo may be closed since it is located too close to a local hospital,” the commissioner said.

    The commissioner confirmed that the project is timely and that it can support the planned development in Lagos. He gave further assurance for the collaboration and co-creation of innovations between Sweden and Lagos.

  • Researcher okays local treatment for malaria

    Researcher okays local treatment for malaria

    A researcher and traditional medicine practitioner, Reverend Father Anselm Adodo, answers the question on indigenous treatment for malaria.

    Malaria is an infectious disease caused by single-celled plasmodium protists including P. falci-malariae, and P.ovale. The parasites are usually transmitted from infected to non infected people via the bite of female Anopheles mosquitoes; about 60 species parasites take up residence in the victim’s red blood cells.

    The disease is characterized by episodes of chills and fever followed by profuse sweating; shaking and fatigue are other common symptoms. Repeated bouts can result in severe anemia, dehydration and death. Infants, children and pregnant women are at greatest risk of severe illness and death.

    Malaria is endemic, dependent on a local symbiosis between infected anopheles mosquitoes and human. The severe symptoms of malaria caused by the tiny parasite Plasmodium Falciparum appear within days and bring death to about 15 to 25percent of those stricken when great quantities of infected red blood cells are destroyed in a single burst.

     Facts and figures

    Malaria is a prevalent in a total of 105 countries and territories: 45 countries in WHO’s (World Health Organization) African region, 6 in WHO’s European Region, 14 in WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region,9 in WHO’s South East Asia Region, and 10 in WHO’s Western Pacific Region.

    Approximately six percent of malaria cases occur in southern and Southeast Asia, Mexico, Brazil, Haiti, The America, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, and the Solomon Islands.

    An estimated one million people in Africa die from malaria each year, 90 percent of these deaths occur in sub-Sahara Africa.

    71percent of deaths from malaria are in children under 5. A child’s most vulnerable period begins at six months, when the mother’s protective immunity wears off and before the infant has established its own robust immune system. Once infected child’s condition may deteriorate quickly and children can die within 48hours after the first systems appear.

    Recent studies show that malaria causes at least 20percent of all deaths in children under five years of age in Africa.

    Malaria kills a child every 30 seconds 300 to 500 million clinical cases of malaria are documented each year worldwide.

    The majority of infections in Africa are caused by Plasmodium Falciparum , the most dangerous of the four human malaria parasites.

    In all malaria- endemic countries in Africa, 25-40 percent (average30percent) of all out- patient clinic visits is for malaria (with most dangerous diagnosis made clinically). In these same countries, between 20percent and 50percent of hospital admission are consequences of malaria.

    More than 41percent of the world’s population is at risk of acquiring malaria, and the proportion increases yearly due to deteriorating health systems, growing drug and insecticide resistance, climate change and war.

    According to the report of the commission on Macro economics and Health, up to US two billion dollars will be needed each year to achieve the goal of halving the burden of malaria by 2010. Currently, only US600 million dollars is being spent.

    There are three principal ways in which malaria can contribute to death in young children:

    •an Overwhelming acute infection, which frequently presents as seizures or coma (cerebral malaria), may kill a child directly and quickly.

    •Repeated malaria infections contribute to the development of severe anemia, which substantially increase the risk of death.

    •Low birth weight- frequently the consequence of malaria infection in pregnant women- is the major risk factor for death in the first month of life. In addition, repeated malaria infections make young children more susceptible to other common childhood illness such as diarrhea and respiratory infections, and thus contribute indirectly to mortality.

    Symptoms

    •Chills and headache that come and go.

    •fever that recurs every 2or 3 days, each lasting from 2-3 hours.

    •muscular pains

    •heavy perspiration

    •Loss of appetite

    •Weakness, pale skin

    Prevention

    •avoid mosquito attacks

    •eat food rich in vitamin

    •Keep the environment clean

    •Remove old cans, broken pots, etc from the surroundings.  This items act as breeding places for mosquitoes.

    • The use of dried pawpaw leaves as an anti-malaria tea is very important. Dry some pawpaw leaves and grind to powder. Keep in brown paper bag or glass bottle. Add one tablespoon of the powder to a cup of hot water and allow it to infuse for ten minutes before drinking. This prophylactic formula is a cheaper and more effective way to deal with scourge of malaria as it deals with prevention rather than cure.

    Resistance to treatment

    In Africa, most cases of malaria are diagnosed on the basis of clinical symptoms and treatment  is presumptive, rather than based on laboratory  confirmation. The main clinical symptoms of, malaria- fever and general weakness- are nonspecific and may well be due to other common infections.

    Resistance to chloroquine- the former treatment of choice- is now widespread in 80percent of the 92 countries where malaria continues to be a major killer, while resistance to newer second and third-line drugs continues to grow. (WHO publication CDs 2000)

    WHO guidelines stipulate that once a country’s resistance levels to a drug reach 15percent, it should start considering a policy shift to a new drug. The parasites have become resistant to insecticides. Efforts to produce a malaria vaccine have been extensive but unsuccessful.

    Government policy

    Africa government must look for home-made solutions to the spread of malaria rather than adopting foreign made remedies which will only help to improve the economy of the other nations and impoverish Africans. Importation of mosquito nets to prevent malaria is an example of foreign solution to a local problem. In the first place, how many can afford it? Secondly, who say that African mosquitoes cannot bite during the day when you are not lying down under your mosquito nets? Health is the greatest asset of any nation. I believe that home grown health systems and remedies offer the best hope to improving and safeguarding.

  • UNILAG don bags best researcher award

    UNILAG don bags best researcher award

    A lecturer at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Dr Soji Oni and winner of the best education research award in Africa, has identified what he calls the “harsh research environment” as the bane of education.

    The award was conferred on him by the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) in Paris, France. He emerged winner out of the 150 African researchers that entered for the award.

    Oni and another Nigerian, Prof Pius Obanya, won two of the three categories of the awards. Oni won the Best Accomplished Education Research in Africa award for young academics who have carried out outstanding research in education in Africa; while Prof Obanya won the Outstanding Educational Mentor in Africa award for his legendary research works and those he has mentored.

    While Oni is happy about his achievements, in an interview with The Nation, he lamented the harsh research environment academics have to endure in Nigeria.

    He said: “In this part of Africa, Nigeria in particular, we are still struggling against harsh intellectual environment. What I mean by harsh intellectual environment is not just about salary alone.

    “We face power outage, poor internet and communication facilities. We face inefficient library system. The lack of reputable publication outlet and lack of incentives for academic performance is another major hindrance.”

    He called on the Federal Government to support research works by making the necessary grants available.

    “The University of Lagos is doing some outstanding work by ensuring academics are provided the enabling environment to do their research. I want to urge the government to support the efforts because UNILAG alone cannot do it,” he said.

    On the significance of the award to him, he said it would boost his appetite for research than before now, knowing that someday his efforts would be rewarded. He added that it was an honour for him to be recognised with his mentor, Prof Obanya.

    He said: “It is like I won one award in the three categories. One of the organisers, the Education Research Network for West and Central Africa which I am a member of the Nigerian chapter, honoured Prof Pius Obanya, who won the outstanding mentor. He is my great grand father in the academia.

    “Why I said so is that he taught the teachers who taught my teachers. I have also been very close to him. Apart from that, this award is also a tonic to do more work. That whatever you are doing, some people will recognise your work will be rewarded.”

    Oni recalled that he started his journey to the various researchworks right from his days as postgraduate student.

    “In fact, my first publication was in an international journal when I was a postgraduate student at the University of Ibadan. I have worked in the areas of deviant behaviour with particular reference to students’ secret cult in Nigerian higher institution. I have also worked on social problems in our society like HIV/AIDS, Globalisation, as well as democracy in education,” he said.

    ADEA is a forum for education policy and dialogue made up of the 54 Ministers of Education in Africa. It has about 16 development partners like the African Development Bank, UNESCO, Korea/Africa Economic Cooperation etc.

    The group instituted the awards to identify and recognise the role of education for economic development in Africa.

  • Researcher seeks end to inherited glaucoma

    Moved by the plight of a 20-year- old accountant who was going  blind from juvenile-onset glaucoma, Dr. Oluwatoyin F. Fafowora, a US-based Nigerian researcher, has stepped up efforts at unearthing the root-cause of the disease, thus ending it in Africa and Nigeria in particular.

    “Because it affects the younger generation, I found it rather painful to be treating it. I very much prefer research into it because it is more meaningful,” Fafowora, Fogarty Fellow between 2008 and 2010, and formerly of the University of Ibadan, told The Nation.

    Fafowora’s foray into researches got a boost when she got the Fogarty Fellowship in 2008 to engage in global health studies. Fogarty’s Global Health Programme for Fellows and Scholars provides post-doctoral and doctoral students with the opportunity of spending a year under mentorship at an established research centre in a developing country.

    It is aimed at encouraging career scientists on global health research, provision of a training resource to the host institutions and fostering international research collaborations.

    For the success of her research and her attempt at confirming their involvement and identifying additional genes, Fafowora’s fellowship was extended by a year.

    The researcher, who told The Nation that she had seen that research is different from clinical work, added that she quickly learned a range of new skills during her fellowship. She added: “You must decide the importance of the disease, the possibility of studying that disease and the usefulness of the outcome. And also what is important to you and to the funding institute.”

    Fafowora, who hinted that she is striving to complete analysis of the data to unearth genes that bring a high risk for this type of glaucoma, added that she would publish her findings in due course. “The moment the relevant genes have been identified, children can be screened for them. And I hope that our findings will contribute to developing gene therapy for glaucoma.”