Market samples as a source of chronic aflatoxin exposure in Kenya

Surveillance of food and feed quality in Kenya has not reached effective level due to the expensive procedures of mycotoxin analysis and poor structures in quality control. Most foodstuffs and feeds sold in local markets do not go through any quality control measures. The outbreaks of aflatoxicoses every year since the major outbreak that occurred in 2004 (CDC, 2004; Muture and Ogana, 2005, Azziz-Baumgartner et al., 2005) suggests that the population is exposed to aflatoxins in their diet. Chronic exposure could be a more serious problem than the outbreaks of aflatoxicosis that attract attention at the time they occur. This paper analyses the extent to which market food and feed samples expose the residents of urban Nairobi Province to aflatoxins. Using TLC method of aflatoxins analysis, maize for food and feed samples collected randomly as part of routine surveillance between the years 2006-2009 were tested. Only 17% of the total maize sampled and 5% of feed were fit for human and animal consumption respectively. Maize Grain Grade 11 and maize milled products were significantly highly contaminated compared with Maize Grain Grade 1 throughout the period of sampling. There was no significant difference in level of contamination among the feeds tested

Correlation between Continuous Assessment (CA) and Students’ Performance in Physics

This is a descriptive survey study. Ninety-two physics students from Kwara State College of Education Lafiagi, participated in the study. Physics results in electromagnetism of these students were analyzed using frequency counts, percentages and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient to find out correlation between continuous assessment and students’ performance in physics. Results indicated that there was a strong correlation between continuous assessment and students’ scores in examination and also in student final grade in electromagnetism. It was concluded that continuous assessment influenced students’ performance in physics. It was recommended that compilation of students’ final grade in physics should not be based on only examination scores but should be addition of examination scores and the scores of students’ in continuous assessment. Keywords: Correlation, continuous assessment, electromagnetism, summative and formative assessment

Antimicrobial Activities of Some Euphorbiaceae Plants Used in the Traditional Medicine of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria

Nine plant species belonging to the Euphorbiaceae family and used in traditional medicine in Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria were evaluated for in vitro antimicrobial activity using agar diffusion method. The stem bark of Maesobotrya dusenii gave the most significant effect followed by its root bark. The inhibitory effect of M. dusenii stem bark extract (37 mm) on Pseudomonas aeruginosa was higher than that of Chloramphenicol (35 mm). However, Alchornea laxiflora leaf extract showed the weakest activity. The minimum inhibitory concentration of the extracts ranged between 12.5 and 250 μg/mL. The results of the antimicrobial effects validated the use of the plants to treat infections caused by these microorganisms

Transfer factor of radionuclides from soil-to-palm oil produced from Elere palm tree plantation near Ibadan Oyo state, Nigeria

The migration of contaminants including radionuclides from soil-to-plant system is usually predicted by mathematical models commonly employed in a soil-to-plant transfer factor for activity concentration. Local palm trees found mostly in Nigeria are very tall and their fruits are used for production of red palm oil. Ibadan and its environs including Elere are underlain by crystalline basement complex which is known to be rich in natural radionuclides. Hence enhanced radioactivity and soil-toplant transfer factor influenced by physical-chemical form of the radionuclides in the soil and types of plant could be obtained. The study is aimed at determining the radioactivity levels of 40K, 238U and 232Th in the soil and palm oil; and calculating the soil to palm oil transfer factor. A total number of 20 palm trees were randomly selected in the study areas. From each palm tree, bunches of palm fruits were collected to prepare palm oil and the soil samples at the spot of the tree were also collected. The activity concentration of the natural radionuclides were determined using a single crystal 0.51cm x 0.51cmNaI (Tl) detector coupled through a Hamamatsa (R1306NSV3068) photomultiplier tube to a Multichannel Analyser, MCA (2100R:01). The activity concentrations of 40K, 238U and 232Th in palm oil ranged from 50.48 Bqkg-1 to 112.16 Bqkg-1; 6.35 Bqkg-1to 12.80 Bqkg-1and 6.08 Bqkg-1to 10.13 Bqkg-1 respectively. The activity concentrations of 40K, 232U and 232Th in the soil samples ranged from 412.43 Bqkg-1to 672.16 Bqkg-1; 10.25 Bqkg-1to17.43 Bqkg-1and 8.12 Bqkg-1to 12.48 Bqkg-1respectively. The mean transfer factors were 0.17±0.02, 0.27±0.06 and 0.28±0.02 for 40K, 238U and 232Th respectively. The 40K, 238U and 232Th radioactivity levels in the soil are comparable to the world average values of 420Bqkg-1, 32 Bqkg-1and 40 Bqkg-1respectively. The transfer factors indicated that about 17%, 27% and 28% of 40K, 238U and 232Th respectively are transferred from soil to the palm.Keywords: radionuclide, transfer factor, mathematical model, palm oil, Ibada

Influence of poultry composted manure on soil organic carbon and selected soil properties under Tomato cultivation

Soil quality improvements provide an environment for plant nutrient uptake that impacts the development and yield of the crop. Thus, this study evaluated the effect of applied poultry composted organic manure (PCOM) on selected soil physical attributes and soil organic carbon content (SOC) under two tomatoes (UC82B and BESKE) varieties planted in succession. Three rates 0, 10 and 20 t ha-1 of compost were applied to two tomato varieties. The treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design (split-plot layout). The soil physical parameters considered are - bulk density, aggregate stability, total porosity and SOC. It was observed that application of PCOM increased SOC, total porosity, aggregate stability and decreased the bulk density in the cropped tomato area. The SOC was highest in 10 t ha-1 of PCOM. Application of 10 t ha-1 compost is adequate to improve carbon content and soil physical properties for a fragile soil

Imperative Role of Dental Pulp Stem Cells in Regenerative Therapies: A Systematic Review

Stem cells are primitive cells that can differentiate and regenerate organs in different parts of the body such as heart, bones, muscles and nervous system. This has been a field of great clinical interest with immense possibilities of using the stem cells in regeneration of human organ those are damaged due to disease, developmental defects and accident. The knowledge of stem cell technology is increasing quickly in all medical specialties and in dental field too. Stem cells of dental origin appears to hold the key to various cell‑based therapies in regenerative medicine, but most avenues are in experimental stages and many procedures are undergoing standardization and validation. Long‑term preservation of SHED cells or DPSC is becoming a popular consideration, similar to the banking of umbilical cord blood. Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) are the adult multipotent cells that reside in the cell rich zone of the dental pulp. The multipotent nature of these DPSCs may be utilized in both dental and medical applications. A systematic review of the literature was performed using various internet based search engines (PubMed, Medline Plus, Cochrane, Medknow, Ebsco, Science Direct, Hinari, WebMD, IndMed, Embase) using keywords like “dental pulp stem cells”, “regeneration”, “medical applications”, “tissue engineering”. DPSCs appears to be a promising innovation for the re‑growth of tissues however, long term clinical studies need to be carried out that could establish some authentic guidelines in this perspective.Keywords: Dental pulp stem cells, myocardial infarction, regenerative therapy, tissue engineerin

Psychopathy, Gang membership, And moral disengagement among juvenile offenders

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of psychopathy factors and gang membership on moral disengagement while controlling for age, ethnicity, having run away from home, family member and/or friend arrests, substance misuse, parental physical fights, violence exposure (victimization and witnessing), and maternal warmth and hostility. Design/methodology/approach – The research is based on data collected from serious juvenile offenders (n=769) as part of the Pathways to Desistance Study. Findings – Six independent variables made a unique statistically significant contribution to the model: gang membership, age, gender, violence exposure, and psychopathy Factors 1 and 2. Psychopathy Factor 1 was the strongest predictor of moral disengagement. Originality/value – Results indicate that youth with heightened psychopathic traits make greater use of strategies to rationalize and justify their harmful behaviour against others. Implications in relation to theory and previous studies are discussed

Geophysical and Hydrochemical Investigation of a Municipal Dumpsite in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria

Geophysical and hydrochemical investigations have been undertaken within a reclaimed site of municipal dumpsite in Ibadan, southwestern Nigeria with a view of assessing the impact of effluent from the ancient dumpsite on the soil and groundwater sytem. The study area is underlain by precambrian Basement Complex rocks mainly granite gneiss. The geophysical investigation involved electrical resistivity methods using dipole-dipole profiling and Schlumberger Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES), while the hydrochemical investigation involved physical, chemical and microbial analyses of water samples within the reclaimed land and active dumpsite. A total of 175 sampling points were occupied using dipole-dipole profiling, while 29 Schlumberger electrical soundings were carried out. In addition, water samples from available nine wells in the area whose static water levels range between 1.2 m and 7.4 m were analysed. The results from electrical surveys show that the study area is underlain by a maximum of four subsurface layers namely the topsoil, the weathered layer, the partly weathered/fractured basement and the fresh basement whose resistivities values range from 41-495 ohm-m, 13-643 ohm-m, 86-720 ohm-m and 2800 ohm-m and above. Their thickness of the overburden units varies from 0.7- 49.5 m. The partly weathered/fractured basement constitute the main aquifer. The resistivity distribution of the topsoil and weathered layer indicates that parts of these layers have been infiltrated by plumes from the reclaimed land and active dumpsite, especially in areas characterised by low resistivity (<30 Ohm-m). In most cases, the suspected leachates are held within the clayey overburden and are prevented from infiltrating the aquifer by local barriers. There are indications that the leachate migration is topographically controlled. The hydrochemical analysis of samples from the wells show that the concentration of the analysed anions (Cl-, S042- and N03-) and cations (Na+,  Ca2+, Mg2+ and Fe+) are within the World Health Organisation (2004) and Standard Organisation of Nigeria (2007) permissible limits. This indicates that the aquifer system in the area might be free from contamination. However, there is possiblity of future impacts on wells in the area from downwards  migration of the effluents from active dumpsite and other anthropogenic activities relating to human impacts on existing geo-environmental systems. Keywords: effluent, contaminantion, hydrochemical analysis, leachate, aquifer

Antibiotic susceptibility profile of uropathogens isolated from pregnant women in selected hospitals in Ilorin

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common infections among pregnant women and if untreated could lead to serious complications.Objective: This work was carried out to determine the prevalence rate of Enterobacteriaceae uropathogens and their antibiotics susceptibility profile among pregnant women attending two ante-natal clinics in Ilorin, Nigeria.Materials and Methods: A total of 111 pregnant women between the ages of 18-50 attending ante-natal clinic at University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital and Civil Service Hospital, Ilorin participated in the study. Mid-stream urine samples were collected and cultured on Cysteine-Lactose-Electrolyte Deficient agar. Presence of significant bacteriuria (> 105 cfu/mL) was determined using the plate count method. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was done using Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion technique.Results: Of the 111 urine samples collected, 27.9% of them were found positive on culture. Among the isolated organisms, Klebsiella oxytoca (25.7%) followed by Klebsiella pneumonia (22.9%), were the most prevalent. Isolated bacteria were resistant to at least one antibiotic with the highest resistance seen with amoxicillin (94.3%), streptomycin (77.1%) and nitrofurantoin (54. 3%). Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (51.4%), ceftriaxone (51.4%), ceftazidime (34.3%), cotrimoxazole (51.4%), imipenem (2.9%), ciprofloxacin (14.3%) and gentamicin (25.7%) have the lowest rate of bacteria resistance. Of the isolates, 82.9% showed Multi-Antibiotic Resistance Index (MARI) ≥ 0.3.Conclusion: High prevalence of bacteriuria in both symptomatic and asymptomatic pregnant women was observed in the study areas. The alarming rate of multi-antibiotic resistance strain is therefore an indicator of a serious clinical problem in the community.Keywords: Bacteriuria, pregnancy, urine culture, antibiotic susceptibilit

‘On the Hunt for Belonging’: Culture, Hunting and Indo-Muslim Men in South Africa

Indian migrants have been moving to South Africa for the last 150 years. Yet, amidst the predominant Black-White racial binary operating from within South Africa, pre- to post-apartheid, very little is actually known about this heterogeneous and complex community of people. In this paper, we particularly focus upon the subjective realities of 10 Indo-Muslim men, in and through their involvement in the sport of hunting. Through the use of semi-structured interviews, we grapple with their changing senses of national identity and belonging, from relatively invisible outsiders to sporting insiders. The pleasures and positions of these sporting Indo-Muslim men though does not necessarily alter their “middle-man” citizenship status more broadly