Gender Analysis of Rural Dwellers Accessibility to Free Natural Resources in Ussa Local Government Area of Taraba State, Nigeria

The study analyzed gender accessibility of rural dwellers to free natural resources in Ussa Local Government Area of Taraba State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected using structured questionnaire and oral interview schedule were administered to the illiterate respondents. Simple random technique was used to select three wards which included Kpambo, Kwesati and Rufu . A total of 60 respondents were selected purposively from the three wards to ensure that only forest resource gatherers were included in the study. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data collected. The findings of the study revealed that equal number of male and female respondents (41.4% each) were farmers. Also 32.4% and 31% of male and female respondents were landless. About 62% of male and 75.7% of female respondents were educated while 37.9% and 24.1% of male and female respondents had no formal education. About 51.7% and 72.4% of male and female respondents fell within the age range of 21-40 years. Another 86.7% and 89.7% of male and female had household sizes of over 5 persons. The most available free natural resources were mushroom, vegetables, fuel wood and fish while the less available ones were honey, fruits and medicinal plants. The least available resources were roofing materials, mat making materials, rope materials and ritual materials. Men accessed bush meat, fruits, fish, honey, roofing material, ritual, rope and mat making material while women had access to fruits, fish, medicinal plants, mushroom, vegetables and fuel wood. The result showed that the women took more of what they gathered home to meet household needs while a little was sold for income, while men sold most of what they collected with only few was left for home consumption. Based on the results of the study, it was recommended that increased gender based capacity building and responsibility for management of free natural resources should be encouraged among rural dwellers in order to ensure sustainability of the resources in contributing to food security and poverty alleviation among free natural resource users in the study area. Key words: Gender, free natural resources, rural dwellers, accessibility, consumption, incom

Study of Algal Species Isolated From River Ginzo in Katsina State, as a Potential Source for Biodiesel Production

An ecological study of algae at River Ginzo in Katsina town was carried out for six weeks at three different sites. In this study, various strains of native microalgae were identified and isolated. The water's  physicochemical properties were analyzed at Kofar Marusa, Kofar Sauri, and Kofar Durbi of River Ginzo in Katsina  State. The physicochemical parameters studied showed temperature and pH range of 28oC to 31oC and 6.42 to 7.36. A total of eighteen (18) algal species were identified, out of which Ten (10) species belong to the Class Chlorophyceae with Spirogyra species having the highest cell counts, five (5) species belong to the Class Cyanophyceae with  Oscillatoria species having the highest cell count and three (3) species belong to the Class Bacillariophyceae with Nitzchia spp having the highest cell counts. Among the isolates, Chlorella species showed an increased growth rate with higher biomass productivity of (88.67±2.57) X 104 (cell/ml) after six days of incubation. The results showed that Chlorella, Spirogyra, and Oocystis species could be a possible candidate species for producing oils for sustainable biodiesel production, based on their high growth rate and presence in all the locations

Normal serum lipid profile of healthy pregnant women attending antenatal clinic of university of maiduguri teaching hospital, Maiduguri Nigeria.

Background: Pregnancy is associated with marked physiological hyperlipidaemia. But hyperlipidaemia is said to complicate about 7% of all pregnancies; which may cause severe maternal diseases and premature birth. Objective: To determine serum lipid profile and the lipid level variations between pregnancy trimesters among healthy pregnant women attending antenatal care at UMTH. Method: A cross-sectional descriptive survey of healthy pregnant women attending antenatal care at UMTH. Results: There was increase in all lipid fractions in pregnancy compared to non-pregnant state, progressive increase in HDL-C was seen as the pregnancy progresses, but with no nd rd significant difference between 2nd and 3rd trimesters. The serum levels of total cholesterol and HDL-C were significantly increased in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that pregnancy is associated withhyperlipidaemia. But the stage of pregnancy and the levels of serum lipid fractions at which pregnancy complications will begin to occur is yet to be determined and therefore further comprehensive and controlled studies are required to establish this

Toxicity studies of ethanol extract of the leaves of Datura stramonium in rats

The effect of administration of ethanol extract of the leaves of Datura stramonium on some serum biochemical parameters was studied in rats to establish its safety. 50 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg doses of the extract were administered to the rats for five weeks. Parameters studied were the indices of liver and kidney function and some biochemical and hematological parameters. Feed intake, final body weight, serum AST, ALT, bilirubin, total protein, urea and the electrolytes studied were all not affected by the extract administration. Serum creatinine levels were however significantly raised in the rats administered the 200 mg/kg body weight ethanol extract. The biochemical and hematological parameters studied were also not affected. Administration of the extract for the five weeks period did not therefore establish its complete safety

Gynaecological malignancies in Azare, North-East Nigeria: an assessment of types, stage at presentation and treatment affordability

Background: In many parts of the world, presentations for most gynecological cancers are late; this makes treatment difficult due to the cost of chemotherapy or radiotherapy which form the bedrock for cure or palliation. Objective of this study was to determine the types, stage at diagnosis, affordability of care and outcome of treatment of gynaecological cancers in Federal Medical Centre Azare, Bauchi State, Nigeria.Methods: All cases of gynaecological cancers seen over a ten-year period, from 1st January, 2003 to 31st December, 2012 were reviewed retrospectively. The number of all gynaecological cases seen during the period was also extracted.Results: Gynaecological cancer cases accounted for 11.84 % of 8,642 gynaecological cases seen during the period of study.  The mean age and parity of the women were 42±5 SD years and 5±1 SD respectively. Cervical cancer accounted for 55 %, ovarian cancer 30%, endometrial cancer 6%, choriocarcinoma 5%, secondaries/ cancers of undetermined origin were 4%.  Ninety-two percent presented with advanced stage of diseases. Only 25.3% could afford the cost of full treatment, and 8.4% attained cure of their disease. The modalities of treatment available were surgery and chemotherapy.Conclusions: Cervical and Ovarian Cancers remain the leading types of gynaecological cancers in our environment and late presentations are frequent occurrence. Late presentation and unaffordability of treatments are major challenges associated with the management of these patients. Early presentation and funding mechanisms for gynaecological cancers are keys to improved cure rate and reduced mortality

Local Rice Production Trend Analyses and Consumption in Benue State, Nigeria: 1980 – 2016

The research examined local rice production trends and factors inhibiting the consumption of local rice from 1980 to 2016 in Benue State. Primary data were collected with the aid of questionnaire in Benue State, while secondary data were obtained from Benue Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (BNARDA) in 2017. Multistage random sampling method was employed in selecting respondents. Primary data were collected from one hundred and fifty six (156) respondents. Descriptive statistics, Z – test, Growth model and Kendal’s coefficient of concordance were used for the analysis. The results revealed that from 1980 to 2016, a total of 9.5mt of local rice was produced in Benue State. The result also shows that the respondents were all married (99%), with household size of 1 - 10 persons (95%) and mean household size of about 8 persons. The result further indicated that majority of respondents’ attained tertiary school level. The result also shows that the respondents had low income (40.3%).  The mean quantity of local rice production was 257,333.06mt per year. The instantaneous growth trends of local rice production and price were 0.00122 and 0.01103, and compound growth rate as 3.72 and 3.76 respectively. The result also indicated that many of the respondents were above the age of 41 years (49%) with the mean age of 47 and all respondents male. The presence of stones, poor aroma, impure rice and broken grain were some of the factors inhibiting consumption of local rice in Benue State. The study recommended that the policies that focus on increasing growth rate of local rice in Benue State should be intensified. Breeders and Scientists should make effort in breeding rice with aroma. The processors of local rice should use modern processing mills like rice polisher and des-stoners to mill quality local rice that will be acceptable to consumers

Morphological, anatomical and molecular characterisation of the leaves of Isoberlinia doka Craib and Stapf and Isoberlinia tomentosa (Harms) Craib and Stapf

Background: Isoberlinia (Craib and Stapf) is a genus with high economic and pharmacological values. Aim: This study aimed at establishing the morphological, anatomical and molecular characterisation of the leaves of I. doka and I. tomentosa, which were conducted for proper authentication. Setting: The leaves of I. doka and I. tomentosa were obtained from Shika, kaduna State, Nigeria. Method: Morphological and anatomical characters were determined according to standard procedures, while molecular identifications were performed using ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (rbcl) gene and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) DNA barcode’s region. Result: Morphological studies revealed similar features for both species except for the shiny leaves of I. doka and rough abaxial surfaces of I. tomentosa because of the presence of trichomes. Variations were observed in their epidermal features, stomatal index, stomata frequency, presence or absence of trichomes, trichomes frequency and their quantitative anatomical features. The quantity and quality of DNA measured at A260/280 ratio using nanodrop spectrophotometer were 29.1 ng/μL and 1.74 ng/μL for I. doka, respectively, while the I. tomentosa concentration and purity were 71.1 ng/μL and 1.85 ng/μL, respectively. Agarose gel electrophoresis revealed two DNA bands with 700 bp (rbcl) and 600 bp (ITS). The sequence analysis revealed maximum identity with National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) GeneBank Isoberlinia species. Evolutionary analysis supported the monophyletic origin of the genus Isoberlinia. The morphological and anatomical characters of I. doka and I. tomentosa leaves have provided a significant taxonomy tool for proper authentication of this plant. Conclusion: The findings ascertained that ITS and rbcl served as an improved and efficient tool for species identification of these studied species and could serve as potential DNA barcodes for these taxa. Contribution: This article suggests that further studies the on screening of these plants, for various pharmacological potentials, might be useful for new drug development

Study of Physicochemical Properties of Palm Oil Decanter Cake for Potential Syngas Generation

Biomass waste are attractive energy source that can combat the rising energy challenge facing the world when utilized appropriately and accordingly. Unfortunately, the knowledge of the potential of some biomass waste are still missing and this has affected their maximum utilization as energy source in thermal processes like gasification. In this study, the potential of palm oil decanter cake (PODC) for syngas production through thermal processes was determined by bomb calorimeter, CHNS analyzer, Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and X-ray Fluorescence (XRF)

Should They Also Have Babies? Community Attitudes Toward Sexual and Reproductive Rights of People Living With HIV/AIDS in Nigeria

Background: People living with HIV have the right to healthy, satisfying sex lives and to appropriate services to ensure their sexual and reproductive health, including having healthy children. The reproductive rights of people living with HIV/AIDS are, however, often met with skepticism and discrimination, despite recent advances in HIV treatment. Objective: To assess the attitudes of community members in Kano, Nigeria, toward the right of persons living with HIV/AIDS to have healthy sexual relationships and bear children. Methods: A cross-section of 399 adults was interviewed using pretested structured questionnaires. Logistic regression analysis was used to obtain adjusted estimates for predictors of agreement with the rights of persons with HIV/AIDS to bear children. Findings: A substantial proportion of respondents (28.6%) strongly agreed and agreed (10.5%) that persons with HIV/AIDS should not be allowed to marry. More than a fifth of the respondents disagreed (16.0%) and strongly disagreed (8.0%) with the rights of HIV-infected persons to bear children. Agreement with the statement “HIV-infected persons should have biological children” was independently associated with higher educational status (adjusted odds ratio: 2.26, 95% confidence interval: 1.82-6.73) and awareness of prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission effectiveness (adjusted odds ratio: 2.53, 95% confidence interval: 1.92-5.37). Of those who agreed that HIV-infected persons should have children (n = 253), 17.8% and 26.1% strongly agreed and agreed, respectively, that persons living with HIV/AIDS should be restricted to having fewer children. Further, 11.5% and 4.8% of respondents disagreed and strongly disagreed, respectively, that infertile HIV-infected couples should receive fertility treatment. Conclusions: People living with HIV/AIDS face discriminatory attitudes to their reproductive rights in northern Nigeria. There is a need for effective, culturally appropriate information, education, and communication approaches to improving community perceptions of sexual and reproductive rights of people living with HIV/AIDS