The Properties of Soil Under the Canopy of the Locust Bean Tree (Parkia biglobosa), in Relation to Tree Biomass, in Farmland in Oyo Area, South Western Nigeria

The African locust bean (Parkia biglobosa) is a multi-purpose tree that is commonly retained on small-holder farms in the savanna region of West Africa. Studies that examined the effects of the tree on soils underneath its crown did not examine the biomass parameters of the tree while those that studied the biomass parameters of the tree species did not consider the soil. This study examines the properties of soil under the locust bean tree canopy in farmland in the derived savanna of Oyo area, south-western Nigeria. It also quantitatively characterized the girth, height and crown diameter of locust bean trees in the peasant farms and correlated them with the properties of soils underneath the trees. The soil was sampled at two depths of 0- 10 and 10- 20 cm under and outside Parkia canopies. The t-test was used to compare the means of soil properties under and outside Parkia canopy in order to ascertain whether statistically significant differences exist between them. Organic matter was slightly higher (18- 19%) under Parkia canopy. Exchangeable magnesium, calcium and cation exchange capacity were significantly higher in soil under the tree canopy. This is due to the slightly higher organic matter, reduced leaching under the tree canopy as a result of rainfall interception, the trapping of dust and aerosols by tree crowns and the greater concentration of earthworm casts under Parkia canopy. The properties of the 0- 10 cm layer were more strongly correlated with Parkia biomass parameters than those of the 10- 20 cm layer. Tree height was strongly and positively correlated with soil clay (0.70), organic matter (0.73), total nitrogen (0.69) but negatively correlated with sand content (-0.80) of the 0-10 cm layer. The growth of Parkia trees and seedlings will be enhanced in the more clayey sites but would be retarded in areas with predominantly sandy soils and this should be taken into consideration in afforestation, community forestry and shelterbelt projects involving the establishment of Parkia trees. Keywords: Parkia biglobosa, tree canopy, tree biomass, soil physical properties, soil chemical properties, soil-plant correlatio

Geo-Electric and Hydrogeochemical Mapping of Quaternary Deposits at Orerokpe in the Western Niger Delta

Resistivity surveys have been utilized to delineate the sand horizons and possible water bearing zones in the shallow Quaternary deposits that mask the Benin Formation that underlies the Sombreiro-Warri Deltaic Plain at Orerokpe in the western Niger Delta. Fifteen dug wells and shallow boreholes were sampled for water quality analysis. The results show that from the surface to about 70m, there are four layers of water bearing sands that are separated in places by discontinuous clay horizons. Depth to water level ranges from 3.5m to 5.5m. Ground water flow is from northeast to southwest towards the Warri River. Ground water which is used here for domestic purposes without treatment is soft and it is shown that the most important factor contributing to groundwater chemistry is weathering of the aquifer matrix. The order of preponderance of the cations is Na+ > K+ > Ca2+> Mg2+ and HCO3- > SO42-> Cl- for the anions; trends that are not only a departure from normal pristine conditions, but also basically different from those observed in nearby Warri and indicative of possible contamination. The relatively low calcium and magnesium content is identified as a potential health problem if water constitutes the main source of ingestion of these ions. The results reinforce the complex geological nature and geochemical conditions that exist in the Quaternary superficial deposits of the Niger Delta environment

Human trafficking in Nigeria 1960-2020: pattern, people, purpose and places

ASC – Publicaties niet-programma gebonde

Prediction of lung function using handgrip strength in healthy young adults

Background: Positive association between physical activity and spirometry have been reported to be possibly attributed to handgrip strength (HGS), particularly in the elderly. However, the nature of the association between HGS and lung function in young adults is still unclear. This study investigated the prediction of lung function using HGS in young adults. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was carried out on four hundred (400) apparently healthy medical students who are aged 16-30 years. Handgrip strength (dominant and non-dominant) and lung function (FEV1, FVC and PEFR) of these students were assessed using Jamar dynamometer and a portable spirometer respectively. Data was analysed using inferential statistics. Results: Independent t-test showed that the mean values of HGS and lung function of the males were significantly higher than the females (p<0.0005). The relationship between HGS and lung function indices was significant (p<0.0005) in all the participants but strongest for FEV1 (r = 0.64). The regression analysis showed that in addition to gender and height, HGS was a significant (p<0.0005) predictor of lung function. Regression equations were also proposed for the prediction of these lung function indices using HGS, gender and height. Conclusion: This study is the first to report HGS as a significant predictor of pulmonary function in healthy young adults living in a low-resource country. Hence, its use could enhance medical practice in being an indicator of lung function status in healthy young adults

Towards a neurocognitive approach to Dance Movement Therapy for mental health: A systematic review

Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT) has become an increasingly recognized and used treatment, though primarily used to target psychological and physical wellbeing in individuals with physical, medical, or neurological illnesses. To contribute to the relative lack of literature within the field of DMT for clinical mental health disorders, using a narrative synthesis, we review the scope of recent, controlled studies of DMT in samples with different psychiatric disorders including depression, schizophrenia, autism, and somatoform disorder. A systematic search of electronic databases (PubMed, Science Direct, World of Science, and Clinicaltrials.gov) was conducted to identify studies examining the effects of DMT in psychiatric populations. 15 studies were eligible for inclusion. After reviewing the principal results of the studies, we highlight strengths and weaknesses of this treatment approach and examine the potential efficacy of using bodily movements as a tool to reduce symptoms. We conclude by placing DMT within the context of contemporary cognitive neuroscience research, drawing out implications of such an orientation for future research, and discussing potential mechanisms by which DMT might reduce psychiatric symptoms. DMT has clear potential as a treatment for a range of conditions and symptoms and thus further research on its utility is warranted