AQUATIC PHYCOMYCETES AND ASCOMYCETOUS FUNGI ISOLATED FROM ARTEMISIA ANNUA L. PLANTATION SOIL IN A NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY

Survey was carried out on the ascomycetous and aquatic fungi present in the soil of University of Jos Artemisia annua Plantation in Gangnum, Langtang South Local Government Area of Plateau State. Portions of the soil samples collected from three (3) locations were steamed in glass beaker placed in a steamer for 4-10 minutes at 100o C before inoculation. Fungal isolation was carried out using soil plate method incubated at 25 ± 2o C. Aquatic phycomycetes were isolated using baits. Two (2) genera of aquatic phycomycetes were isolated, including Achyla dubia and Allomyces arbuscular. Fifty–eight ascomycetous fungi were also isolated from the soil samples. The predominant ascomycetous fungi isolated include among others; Chaetomium bastrychodes, C. cancriodeum, C. cochloides, C. globosum, C. nigricolor, C. senegalensis, C. spirale, Aspergillus candidus A. flavus, A. fumigatus , A. glaucus, A. nidulans, A. niger, A. oryzae, A. terreus, F. avenaceum, F. oxysporum, F. roseum, F. solani, F. sporitrichioides, Penicillium chrysogenum, P. citrinum, P.notatum, P.expansum, Trichoderma harzianum, T. piluliferum, Alternaria alternata, Aureobasidium pullulans, Botrytis cinerea, Cladosporium sp, Curvularia lunata, Scopulariopsis sp, Torula herbarum, Unidentified sp and a Basidiomycete. The physico-chemical properties of the soil samples were found to be varied, and were found to affect the distribution and population of fungi. The soil was found to be high in organic matter content which could have been as a result of activities of the species of fungi numerous in the soil. The implications of the results are discussed

AQUATIC PHYCOMYCETES AND ASCOMYCETOUS FUNGI ISOLATED FROM ARTEMISIA ANNUA L. PLANTATION SOIL IN A NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY

Survey was carried out on the ascomycetous and aquatic fungi present in the soil of University of Jos Artemisia annua Plantation in Gangnum, Langtang South Local Government Area of Plateau State. Portions of the soil samples collected from three (3) locations were steamed in glass beaker placed in a steamer for 4-10 minutes at 100o C before inoculation. Fungal isolation was carried out using soil plate method incubated at 25 ± 2o C. Aquatic phycomycetes were isolated using baits. Two (2) genera of aquatic phycomycetes were isolated, including Achyla dubia and Allomyces arbuscular. Fifty–eight ascomycetous fungi were also isolated from the soil samples. The predominant ascomycetous fungi isolated include among others; Chaetomium bastrychodes, C. cancriodeum, C. cochloides, C. globosum, C. nigricolor, C. senegalensis, C. spirale, Aspergillus candidus A. flavus, A. fumigatus , A. glaucus, A. nidulans, A. niger, A. oryzae, A. terreus, F. avenaceum, F. oxysporum, F. roseum, F. solani, F. sporitrichioides, Penicillium chrysogenum, P. citrinum, P.notatum, P.expansum, Trichoderma harzianum, T. piluliferum, Alternaria alternata, Aureobasidium pullulans, Botrytis cinerea, Cladosporium sp, Curvularia lunata, Scopulariopsis sp, Torula herbarum, Unidentified sp and a Basidiomycete. The physico-chemical properties of the soil samples were found to be varied, and were found to affect the distribution and population of fungi. The soil was found to be high in organic matter content which could have been as a result of activities of the species of fungi numerous in the soil. The implications of the results are discussed

Gentrification and Environmental Justice in Nigerian Cities

Gentrification is a process of urban revitalization by which the original inhabitants of an area are displaced, owing to the purchase and upgrading of their deteriorated properties by the middle or high income households. An aspect of gentrification that is of particular interest to Nigerians is the issue of displacement, with its attendant socio-economic alienation of the poor from the city, which has evoked some environmental justice concerns. Focusing on the city of Aba, this study examined gentrification and the environmental justice question in Nigerian cities. The study adopted survey research design, making use of qualitative and quantitative methods to analyse gentrification. Cluster and simple random sampling techniques were used to select 158 displaced household heads of gentrified buildings across the various neighbourhoods in Aba, who were surveyed. Data collected were analyzed with appropriate parametric tests using SPSS. Findings show that about 698 households are displaced in the city every year due to gentrification, with an annual displacement rate of 7.5%. This gentrification induced displacements have been found to constitute significant environmental injustice to the low income city residents as it leads to their dislocation from kin, and communal heritages; forces them to move into substandard housing at the urban fringes; and constrains some to relocate to the rural areas, limiting their abilities to cope with life’s challenges. The study therefore recommends among other things, that the Town Planning Authorities should create a platform to educate owners of rundown properties to adopt the model of market-led gentrification as presently practiced in Lagos city

Medical and Healthcare Waste Management In African Cities: A Case Study

Medical wastes consist of all types and categories of waste generated by medical establishments. Infections and hazardous health care waste pose a substantial danger immediately or over a period of time to human, plant and animal life if not properly managed.  This study evaluated the generation, collection transportation and management of medical waste in selected private and public medical establishments in thirteen local government areas (LGAs) of Lagos State, Nigeria.  Field observations, interviews and questionnaire were employed in the course of this research to collect data.  The data collected were analysed and discussed.  The results showed that the medical waste generated out weighted the current management strategies employed by the medical establishment authorities and regulatory bodies in Lagos State, Nigeria.  There is no structured staff training and development policies, plans and practices for staff members involved in medical waste management.  The on site handling, storage, processing and collection facilities of medical waste are obsolete.  The study therefore recommend the need for federal ministry of health, Lagos State ministry of health, professional bodies, regulatory agencies, and the management of health care establishments to review the current medical waste management strategies, upgrade the on-site medical waste handling facilities and embark on training and retraining of staff members involved in medical waste management in Lagos State and other States of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

Microbial quality of two man-made lakes in Lokpa Abia State, Nigeria

The microbial quality of two man-made lakes that serve as sources of water to a rural community was investigated

Exclusive breastfeeding and its relevance to infant teething

Objective: To determine the relevance of exclusive breast-feeding practice, in the development of healthy oral tissue among teething infants. Method: A cross sectional study design of children aged 6-36 months was carried out in 14 wards of Jos North Local Government Area. A multistage sampling technique was adopted in selecting 1081 mothers who qualified and were interviewed using structured interviewer questionnaire on their knowledge and perception on common complaints during teething in children. The index children were examined for number and type of teeth erupted using mouth mirror under natural light. Result: One thousand and eighty-one mothers and their babies were interviewed and examined; out these 16.5%, 38.7% and 44.8% babies were of age groups 6-12, 13-24 and 25-36 months respectively; 50.2% were female and 49.8% were male. Of the babies examined 62.4% were exclusively breast-fed. There was a significant association between maternal educational status and knowledge of teething complaints. Three hundred and twenty-six (30.1%) babies had cough during their teething period, 349 (32.3%) experienced drooling of saliva, and 352 (32.6%) were observed to bite objects during teething. The high percentage of babies that were exclusively breast-fed but did not experience these symptoms were found to be statistically significant (p = 0.00). Seven hundred and forty-two (68.6%) babies had diarrhoea during teething; out of these 459(42.5%) were exclusively breast-fed and it was however not found to be statistically significant (p = 0.55). Conclusion: This study draws attention to the relatively poor anecdotal evidence related to symptoms associated with the teething process. The result has also demonstrated that exclusive breast-feeding is not only able to reduce the symptoms ascribed to teething, but also promote the development of a healthy oral tissue

Effect of Age and Weight on Laying Performance and Egg Weight among Harco Hens

This study was designed to determine the effect of age and weight on laying performance and egg weight among Harco hens. Laying performance and egg weight were compared between three weight ranges of beak trimmed commercial Harco hens in conventional battery cages. Seventy two Harco hens, age 32 weeks were divided into three groups corresponding to 3 weight ranges; 1.35 – 1.59kg (WRI), 1.60 – 1.80kg (WR2) and 1.81 – 2.20 kg (WR3). The hens were fed a commercial layers ratio for three months (12 weeks) during which the average egg weight and hen day egg laying performance of each weight range was determined. The average monthly production of WR3 layers was 295 eggs per 24 layers, whereas, those in WR2 range and WR1 laid 283 and 232 eggs per 24 layers respectively. WR3 hens laid 63 eggs more than WR1 hens per month, while age significantly (P < 0.05) affected laying performance. The effect of body weight on laying performance was significantly different (P <0.05). The average weight of eggs laid by WR1, WR2 and WR3 hens were 53.20 – 60.4g, 53.50 – 64.6g and 56.5 – 63.2g. There were therefore, significant differences (P < 0.05) in weights of eggs laid by hens in three weight ranges. The results therefore, show that laying performance and egg size are positively affected by age and body weight in Harco breed

PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PARAMETERS AND PROTEOLYTIC POTENTIALS OF FUNGAL FLORA OF SOILS STRESSED BY TANNERY WASTES IN JOS, NIGERIA

The physico-chemical parameters and proteolytic potentials of fungal population in soils stressed by tannery wastes were investigated. The fungal species were isolated using hair baiting technique. Sabouraud Dextose Agar (SDA) medium was used for the isolation work. The pH, percentage moisture/organic matter contents and elemental analysis of the soil samples were assessed. The assessment of the soils polluted with tannery wastes was compared with that of the control sample collected from soils devoid of tannery activities. The results of the physico-chemical parameters of the soil samples showed the pH values of the soils to be 7.32, 7.53 and 6.46 for soils collected from Naraguta tannery (SNG), Dodo Street tannery (SDS) and College of Forestry, Jos (SCF control) respectively. The percentage moisture content values recorded for the soil samples from the two tanneries were higher than that of the control soil. The nitrogen level of the soil samples ranged from 0.010-0.19% while phosphorus ranged from 1.4-24mg/kg. The sodium levels were between 1.0-2.0mg/kg while the calcium levels ranged from 900-5080mg/kg. Twenty-one fungi species belonging to 12 genera were isolated from the experimental soil samples. Three of the genera including Cunninghamella elegans, Mucor haemalis and Rhizopus sp belong to the class phycomycetes. Others belong to the class hyphomycetes. Aspergillus niger had the highest number of isolation as well as highest frequencies of occurrence. Nine fungal species produced zones of clearance on the skim milk casein agar medium used for the assay of proteolytic activity indicating their potentials as keratin degraders