Gut microbiota-gonadal axis: the impact of gut microbiota on reproductive functions

The influence of gut microbiota on physiological processes is rapidly gaining attention globally. Despite being under-studied, there are available data demonstrating a gut microbiota-gonadal cross-talk, and the importance of this axis in reproduction. This study reviews the impacts of gut microbiota on reproduction. In addition, the possible mechanisms by which gut microbiota modulates male and female reproduction are presented. Databases, including Embase, Google scholar, Pubmed/Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science, were explored using relevant key words. Findings showed that gut microbiota promotes gonadal functions by modulating the circulating levels of steroid sex hormones, insulin sensitivity, immune system, and gonadal microbiota. Gut microbiota also alters ROS generation and the activation of cytokine accumulation. In conclusion, available data demonstrate the existence of a gut microbiota-gonadal axis, and role of this axis on gonadal functions. However, majority of the data were compelling evidences from animal studies with a great dearth of human data. Therefore, human studies validating the reports of experimental studies using animal models are important

The Challenge of Leadership and Governance in Nigeria

The paper examined the dichotomy of leadership and some selected regimes in Nigerian political system. It identifies the origin, challenges of leadership and the prospects of the search for a nationalist governing class towards building a viable country. The paper relied on secondary data and method of content analysis. Generally, it argued that poor leadership has stymied the nation’s enormous, economics and political potentials. In other words, it contended that as a result of leadership failure in Nigerian political system which has caused acute poverty, political instability, insurgence, collapse of governmental institutions. The identified issues have erupt a call for resources control by those in the South-South, secession and state of Biafra by those in South-East, Oduduwa state by those in the South-West and; fiscal federalism premised on population and institutionalisation of Sharia law in Nigeria by those in the North in Nigeria. All these demands have been weaved and collapsed into one demand popularly known as ‘restructuring’. Recently, the call for restructuring has intensified from Nigerians perhaps due to the economic hardship and the failure of the current ruling political parties especially the All Progress Congress (APC) in fulfilling their electoral promises and manifestos. However, it recommended and advance that genuine leadership will need an honest, courageous and credible followership, which is less vulnerable to the manipulation politics of the ruling elite. It should possess knowledge, sound judgment and committed to specific cause and ideas. The pursuit of people based economic programmes has the potential to foster democratic governance within the context of quality followership. This class should secure democratized access to economic resources and political objects to foster trust, confidence and commitment. The leadership discourse should include the private domain as a viable means of leadership recruitment and consolidation within the system. Keywords: Leadership, Leadership failure, Challenges of Leadership, Governanc

L-Arginine abrogates maternal and pre-pubertal codeine exposure-induced impaired spermatogenesis and sperm quality by modulating the levels of mRNA encoding spermatogenic genes

IntroductionAlthough, codeine has been demonstrated to lower sperm quality; the effects of maternal and prepubertal codeine exposure on male offspring is yet to be reported. In addition, the effect of arginine on codeine-induced decline in sperm quality has not been explored. This study investigated the impact of maternal and prepubertal codeine exposure on spermatogenesis and sperm quality in F1 male Wistar rats to study the effect that codeine may have during recreational use in humans. Also, the effect of arginine supplementation on codeine-induced alteration in spermatogenesis and sperm quality was evaluated.MethodsFemale rats were treated with either 0.5 ml distilled water or codeine orally for eight weeks, and then mated with male rats (female:male, 2:1). The F1 male offsprings of both cohorts were weaned at 3 weeks old and administered distilled water, codeine, arginine, or codeine with arginine orally for eight weeks.ResultsPrepubertal codeine exposure in rats whose dams (female parents) were exposed to codeine delayed puberty and reduced the weight at puberty. Prepubertal codeine exposure exacerbated maternal codeine exposure-induced reduced total and daily spermatid production, sperm count, sperm motility, and normal sperm form, as well as impaired sperm plasma membrane integrity and increased not intact acrosome and damaged sperm DNA integrity. These perturbations were accompanied by a decrease in mRNA levels encoding spermatogenic genes, testicular testosterone and androgen receptor (AR) concentrations, and upregulation of sperm 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8OHdG). Prepubertal arginine supplementation mitigated codeine-induced alterations.DiscussionThis study provides novel experimental evidence that maternal and prepubertal codeine exposure reprogramed spermatogenesis and sperm quality of male FI generation by decreasing mRNA levels encoding spermatogenic genes and AR via oxidative stress-mediated signaling, which was abrogated by prepubertal arginine supplementation

Economic Analysis of Cashew Nut Production in Saki East Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria

This study examined the economic analysis of cashew nut production in Saki East Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria. A total of 120 cashew producers were sampled through multi stage random sampling technique. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, gross margin analysis and likert scale model. It was revealed that majority of the cashew producers are male (69.2%), most (37.5) of the respondents fell within the active range of 41-50 years, with a mean household size of 8. The gross margin analysis revealed that the average total cost incurred by the respondents per month was ₦54,311.84 while total revenue of ₦1,158,695.83 was realized thereby returning gross margin of ₦1,104,383.99 and net margin of ₦274,112.66. The rate of return was 0.31 which implies that, for every ₦1.00 invested in the cashew nut production an outcome of 0.31kobo is generated or expected. It further confirmed that, cashew nut production in the study area is profitable. The likert scale model revealed that the major constraints facing cashew producers in the study area were: lack of processing facilities (3.02), inadequate extension visits (2.80), inadequate capital (2.57), and insufficient knowledge of credit sources (2.18), storage facilities (2.14) and other. The government should ensure provision of modern technologies to the cashew farmers at affordable price, availability of extension officers and availability of capitals (loans) to the cashew farmers

An architectural-based approach to detecting spim in electronic means of communication

Spams are what users and developers should be aware of in all Internet-based communication tools (such as e-mail, websites, Social Networking Sites (SNS), instant messengers and so on). This is because spammers have not ceased from using these platforms to deceive and lure users into releasing vibrant and sensitive information (especially, financial details). This paper developed an architectural based technique for SPIM (Instant Message Spam or IM SPAM) detection using the classification method. The classification was done using the C4.5 classifier with a dataset of messages gotten from an instant messaging environment. The dataset served as the input to the classification algorithm method which was able to distinguish spam from non-spam messages. This classification method was depicted in a tree form to show its usefulness. The results show that its precision, recall and accuracy rate satisfied standard recommendation with a commendable error rate. The proposed technique will find implication in the reduction of the number of Internet users.Keywords: Social Networking sites, spammers, Instant message spam, C4.5 Classifiers, e-mails

A Critical Examination of Major Changes Heralded by the Nigerian Evidence Act 2011

Before the enactment of the Evidence Act 2011, there was a myriad of calls by Legal Practitioners, Judges and other stakeholders in the justice sector for a repeal of the old Evidence Act which was enacted in 1945. The said 1945 Act did not undergo any major amendment prior to the coming into effect of the Evidence Act 2011. The obsolete nature of the old Evidence Act thus made it impossible for the Nigerian legal system to draw from the inestimable benefits inherent in the various advancements in information and communications technologies. In order to answer the said calls for a repeal or amendment of the 1945 Evidence Act, the Nigerian federal legislature, the National Assembly in exercise of its law – making powers under Section 4 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), recently repealed the 1945 Act and enacted a new Evidence Act 2011.On 3rd June, 2011, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan assented to the new Evidence Act 2011, thus bringing into operation a new legal order in the law and practice of evidence in Nigeria. This paper is devoted to highlighting or bringing to the front burner the major far - reaching changes brought about by the 2011 Act

Factors Affecting the Competencies and Project Delivery of Small-Sized Indigenous Construction Firms in Lagos State

Every industry is prone to problems Performance is a general challenge affecting construction and most especially small-sized indigenous construction companies. The study focused on determining the likely factors affecting the competencies and project delivery of small-sized construction firms in Lagos. 60 questionnaires were designed and administered to professionals (15-Architects, 15-Builders, 15-Engineers, and 15-Quantity Surveyors) working in the construction companies in Lagos State and 48 questionnaires were retrieved. These questionnaires were analysed with SPSS and several findings were derived from this analysis. The various factors affecting the performance and project delivery at varying degrees are: high cost of plants, equipment, materials and labour, lack of skilled craftsmen, unavailability of funds, poor managerial skills, lack of government patronage, and poor communication among stakeholders. The study found out that the most prominent factors are poor managerial skills, lack of project planning and unavailability of funds. The main factors affecting the performance of small sized indigenous construction firms are based on three key elements namely time, quality and cost. These three elements when properly harnessed will increase the performance of small sized indigenous firms. The study recommended that the use of ICT would help improve performance by making work flow more easily. Access to bank loans and more machinery on site and sufficient government patronage would improve performance. It concluded that better management and project planning would go a long way in improving competencies and project delivery of small sized construction firms