COMPATIBILITY AND PROCESSING METHODS STUDY OF FORMULATION OF ARTEMETHER–LUMEFANTRINE FIXED DOSE COMBINATION USING ANALYTICAL TOOLS

ABSTRACTObjective: This study was undertaken to devise the best way to incorporate artemether-lumefantrine (AL) as model drugs during processing without compromising quality.Methods: Utilization of analytical tools revealed how compatibility of formulation components and suitability of process methods were monitored and controlled to achieve quality outcome.  Excipients of proven performance in wet granulation method as well as AL as model drugs were designed into six formulations coded F-1 to F-6 to reflect modes of incorporation. Physical mixtures and wet granulated samples at different levels of processing were screened as in-process materials for compatibility and method suitability using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) techniques. Assessment of potential risks inherent in formulation and process unit operations was adequately addressed by these instruments.Results: Matching spectra, thermograms and chromatograms at different levels of processing indicated that there were no disappearance of old or appearance of new spectral bands; showed reduction of melting endotherm and similar characteristic elution times of AL as they transformed from pure material to physical mixture (PM) and to granules.Conclusion: Results from this work alluded to compatibility of formulation components and process method suitability to the extent that the resultant granulates were good enough for further processing

Landraces and Crop Genetic Improvement

Landraces are repository of gene pool that enrich biodiversity and maintain and stabilize ecosystem in a sustainable way to make it functional. Cultivation of traditional crops in different regions of the world, aside maintaining biodiversity in agriculture, also avails humanity of regulatory services such as nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, control of soil erosion, reduction of greenhouse gas emission and control of hydrological processes. However, man through over-exploitation of some plant species with utter neglect to some other either deliberately or otherwise through modern agricultural systems that promote cultivation of a few high-input and high-yielding crop species caused disaffection to biodiversity with consequences of reduction in its regulatory services. In this chapter, different landraces of crops are examined, their usefulness in the maintenance of genetic diversity is explored, and implications of their depletion are discussed

Effects of Copper Fungicides Spray on Nutrient Contents in Soils of Cocoa Growing Areas of Southwestern Nigeria

The present study aimed at evaluating the effects of copper fungicides spray on physical and chemical properties of soils of cocoa growing areas of southwestern Nigeria. Samples were collected from selected cocoa farms and adjacent plots across three states (9 samples from Osun State, 9 samples from Ondo State and 7 samples from Ekiti State), within rainforest zone of Nigeria. The physical and chemical properties of the soil samples were determined. Copper contents of the cocoa plantation soils were significantly higher (16.23 mg Cu/kg) than the adjacent plots (6.31 mg Cu/kg) indicating accumulation of Cu in the soil because of long-term Cu fungicides spray. Other chemical properties determined (pH, Zn, % organic matter, % total N, Ca, Mg and Na) also had higher values in cocoa plantations compared to adjacent plots. Significant decrease was observed in available P in soil samples from cocoa plantations (24.05 mg P/kg) when compared with adjacent plots (30.36 mg P/kg). Management practices like applications of K and P fertilizers are highly recommended for viable cocoa growth and optimum yield in the study areas. Reduction of canopy formed by cocoa trees will allow easy penetration of sunlight into cocoa plantation thereby increase the rate of organic matter decomposition. Keywords: Copper, fungicide spray, cocoa farms, black pod disease

Knowledge, Attitude, and Infringement of Tort Law Among Public Secondary School Heads on Students in Osun State, Nigeria

One of the challenges in secondary schools today is infringements on students’ rights, in a tortious way that may also constitute breach of the Child’s Right Act of 2003 in Nigeria. These breach on rights usually come through the administration of corporal punishments on students, and mainly because the school heads see themselves as loco parentis of the students who can, therefore, enforce any form of punishment on them in the school. This study investigated knowledge, attitude, and infringement of tort law among public secondary school heads on students in Osun State. All the students in Osun State public secondary schools and 723 heads constituted the population. A sample of 54 school heads and 180 students were selected using multi-stage sampling procedure. Two instruments were designed to elicit responses from the respondents. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to answer the research questions raised for the study. The results showed that school heads do not have adequate knowledge of tort law and that both the school heads and students have poor attitude toward it tort law. The study recommends that short term training on student’s right, how they can be legally protected and tort law be organised for school heads

EVALUATION OF GROWTH AND POLLEN VIABILITY IN RELATION TO FRUIT SET AMONG FIVE VARIETIES OF TOMATO GROWN IN NIGERIA

U ovom se radu razmatraju morfološke značajke, vijabilnost polena i zametanje ploda u pet kultivara rajčice (Roma, Tropimech, Tima, Tedino i UC-82-B) uzgajane u Nigeriji. Sjeme je uzgojeno u Botaničkom vrtu Sveučilišta Ilorin u Nigeriji. Sakupljeni su i analizirani podaci o morfologiji rasta i stvaranju ploda te utvrđena vijabilnost polena u odnosu na zametanje ploda.Rezultati pokazuju značajne varijacije i korelacije između visine biljke i karakterikstike listova. Međutim,vegetativni rast nije bio u izravnoj vezi s postotkom stvaranja cvjetova i zametanja plodova, ali vijabilnost polena bila je izravno proporcionalna sa zametanjem plodova kod istraživanih kultivara rajčice.Smanjenje vijabilnosti polena pratio je manji broj zametenih plodova.Na broj plodova i veličinu mogu djelovati biotički i abiotički čimbenici, iako se otkrilo da je postotak vijabilnog polena u majčinskoj stanici polena djelovao na zametanje ploda. Dok zrna polena na terenu mogu podlijegati mnogobrojnom stresu, vijabilnost polena u kontroliranom okruženju može se razlikovati od vijabilnosti polena na otvorenom. Međutim,vijabilnost polena u izravnoj je vezi sa zametanjem ploda u rajčice i može se promatrati kao vitalna značajka za poboljšanje rajčice u uzgojnom programu.The present study considered morphological traits, pollens viability and fruit set among five tomatovarieties(Roma, Tropimech, Tima, Tedino and UC-82-B) grown in Nigeria. The seeds were grown in the screen house facility at the Botanical garden, University of IlorinNigeria. Growth and fruiting morphological data were collected and analyzed while pollen viability in relation to fruit set was determined. The results showed significant vegetative growth variations and correlations between plant height and leaf characters. However, vegetative growth was notdirectly related to percentage offlower formation and fruit set, but pollen viability was directly proportional to fruit set in the tomato varieties studied. Reduction in pollen viability was accompanied by lower number of fruit set. Fruit number and size may be affected by biotic or abiotic factors, nonetheless, the percentage of viable pollens in Pollen Mother Cell was found to affect fruit set. Although pollen grains in the field may be subjected to multiple stresses simultaneously;viability of pollens in a controlled setup may differ to the pollen viability in the open field environment. However, pollen viability is directly associated with fruit set in tomato and could be screened as a vital trait for improved tomato in breeding programme

Morpho-chemical divergence and fatty acid profile of shea tree seeds (Vitellaria paradoxa) collected from different locations in Kwara State, Nigeria

The present study characterizes seed-related traits, phytochemical, physiochemical parameters and fatty acid profile of shea (Vitellaria paradoxa) seeds collected from the Kosubosu, Fufu and Sare areas of Kwara State, Nigeria to determine the effects of microclimate on seed morphology, biochemical and oil constituents. Seed morphological data were analyzed for variability. Seed oil was extracted for phytochemical constituents, physicochemical properties, and fatty acid profiling by gas chromatography equipped with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Results showed intra and inter-locational variations in seed characters. Most fruits had 1–2 seeds. Seeds were predominantly brown and very few were dark brown. Phytochemicals and physicochemical parameters of the seed oil varied with place of collection. Alkaloid, saponin, tannin and phytate contents ranged between 0.79–0.84, 1.20–1.26, 1.48–1.56 and 0.15–0.18 mg g–1 respectively. The density of the oil was less than that of water, acid value ranged from 10.58–13.56 mg KOH g–1 and iodine values were between 36.63 to 40.32 g I2 (100 g)–1. Saponification values lie between 160.39 and 184.14 mg KOH g–1; and free fatty acid was within 5.32–6.81 %. Peroxide, ɑ-tocopherol, total phenol and oxalate values as well as viscosity of the oil also varied; however, refractive index was similar. Ethyl oleate and octadecanoic acids were present and most abundance in all the locations, while glycidol stearate was only found in Fufu samples with three other fatty acids. Five fatty acids were present in Kosubosu, while Sare had only two. The results obtained in the present study indicate that shea oil could be used for medicinal, nutritional and industrial purposes. Since seed characters, phytochemical, physicochemical and fatty acid compositions varied with the microclimate, environmental and micro-ecological conditions should be considered when collecting seeds for oil utilization

EVALUATION OF GROWTH AND POLLEN VIABILITY IN RELATION TO FRUIT SET AMONG FIVE VARIETIES OF TOMATO GROWN IN NIGERIA

U ovom se radu razmatraju morfološke značajke, vijabilnost polena i zametanje ploda u pet kultivara rajčice (Roma, Tropimech, Tima, Tedino i UC-82-B) uzgajane u Nigeriji. Sjeme je uzgojeno u Botaničkom vrtu Sveučilišta Ilorin u Nigeriji. Sakupljeni su i analizirani podaci o morfologiji rasta i stvaranju ploda te utvrđena vijabilnost polena u odnosu na zametanje ploda.Rezultati pokazuju značajne varijacije i korelacije između visine biljke i karakterikstike listova. Međutim,vegetativni rast nije bio u izravnoj vezi s postotkom stvaranja cvjetova i zametanja plodova, ali vijabilnost polena bila je izravno proporcionalna sa zametanjem plodova kod istraživanih kultivara rajčice.Smanjenje vijabilnosti polena pratio je manji broj zametenih plodova.Na broj plodova i veličinu mogu djelovati biotički i abiotički čimbenici, iako se otkrilo da je postotak vijabilnog polena u majčinskoj stanici polena djelovao na zametanje ploda. Dok zrna polena na terenu mogu podlijegati mnogobrojnom stresu, vijabilnost polena u kontroliranom okruženju može se razlikovati od vijabilnosti polena na otvorenom. Međutim,vijabilnost polena u izravnoj je vezi sa zametanjem ploda u rajčice i može se promatrati kao vitalna značajka za poboljšanje rajčice u uzgojnom programu.The present study considered morphological traits, pollens viability and fruit set among five tomatovarieties(Roma, Tropimech, Tima, Tedino and UC-82-B) grown in Nigeria. The seeds were grown in the screen house facility at the Botanical garden, University of IlorinNigeria. Growth and fruiting morphological data were collected and analyzed while pollen viability in relation to fruit set was determined. The results showed significant vegetative growth variations and correlations between plant height and leaf characters. However, vegetative growth was notdirectly related to percentage offlower formation and fruit set, but pollen viability was directly proportional to fruit set in the tomato varieties studied. Reduction in pollen viability was accompanied by lower number of fruit set. Fruit number and size may be affected by biotic or abiotic factors, nonetheless, the percentage of viable pollens in Pollen Mother Cell was found to affect fruit set. Although pollen grains in the field may be subjected to multiple stresses simultaneously;viability of pollens in a controlled setup may differ to the pollen viability in the open field environment. However, pollen viability is directly associated with fruit set in tomato and could be screened as a vital trait for improved tomato in breeding programme

Entrepreneurship and Business Ethics: Implications on Corporate Performance

The purpose of this research is to examine the impact of business ethics on corporate performance. The hypotheses were set using four main objectives. Data were obtained using both primary and secondary sources. The primary data was obtained by using a structured questionnaire design. Whilst relevant published and unpublished literature provided the secondary data. The total number of questionnaires distributed was 286, out of which 260 were returned. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for the data analysis. The statistical tools used include frequency table, multiple regression analysis, analysis of variance, correlation analysis. The results showed that there was a significant relationship between the ethical practices of organizations and their corporate performance. Moreso, the employees of the sampled organizations concurred that their organization is highly ethical.  Based on these findings, the authors profer the need for clearly defined ethics within corporate organizations as this would guide the employees in their day to day conduct. Keywords: Entrepreneurship; Business Ethics; Employee Behaviour; Entrepreneurial Performance; Nigeria JEL Classification: L2

Malaria knowledge and agricultural practices that promote mosquito breeding in two rural farming communities in Oyo State, Nigeria

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Agricultural practices such as the use of irrigation during rice cultivation, the use of ponds for fish farming and the storage of water in tanks for livestock provide suitable breeding grounds for anthropophylic mosquitoes. The most common anthropophylic mosquito in Nigeria which causes much of the morbidity and mortality associated with malaria is the anopheles mosquito. Farmers are therefore at high risk of malaria - a disease which seriously impacts on agricultural productivity. Unfortunately information relating to agricultural practices and farmers' behavioural antecedent factors that could assist malaria programmers plan and implement interventions to reduce risk of infections among farmers is scanty. Farmers' knowledge about malaria and agricultural practices which favour the breeding of mosquitoes in Fashola and Soku, two rural farming communities in Oyo State were therefore assessed in two rural farming communities in Oyo State.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This descriptive cross-sectional study involved the collection of data through the use of eight Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and the interview of 403 randomly selected farmers using semi-structured questionnaires. These sets of information were supplemented with observations of agricultural practices made in 40 randomly selected farms. The FGD data were recorded on audio-tapes, transcribed and subjected to content analysis while the quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Most respondents in the two communities had low level of knowledge of malaria causation as only 12.4% stated that mosquito bite could transmit the disease. Less than half (46.7%) correctly mentioned the signs and symptoms of malaria as high body temperature, body pains, headache, body weakness and cold/fever. The reported main methods for preventing mosquito bites in the farming communities included removal of heaps of cassava tuber peelings (62.3%), bush burning/clearing (54.6%) and clearing of ditches (33.7%). The dumping of cassava tuber peelings which allows the collection of pools of water in the farms storage of peeled cassava tubers soaked in water in uncovered plastic containers, digging of trenches, irrigation of farms and the presence of fish ponds were the observed major agricultural practices that favoured mosquito breeding on the farms. A significant association was observed between respondents' knowledge about malaria and agricultural practices which promote mosquito breeding. Respondents' wealth quintile level was also seen to be associated with respondents' knowledge about malaria and agricultural practices which promote mosquito breeding.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Farmers' knowledge of malaria causation and signs and symptoms was low, while agricultural practices which favour mosquito breeding in the farming communities were common. There is an urgent need to engage farmers in meaningful dialogue on malaria reduction initiatives including the modification of agricultural practices which favour mosquito breeding. Multiple intervention strategies are needed to tackle the factors related to malaria prevalence and mosquito abundance in the communities.</p