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

Effect of leaf extracts of Draceana aborea l. and Vitex doniana sweet on the larvae of Anopheles mosquito

The leaf extracts of Draceana aborea and Vitex doniana of Agavaceae and Verbenaceae families respectively, were tested on the larvae of anopheles mosquito for their botanical insecticidal effects. The results of the investigation showed that the minimum percentage mortality concentration (MPMC) of these leaf extracts on the test organisms were at 75ml/20ml and 10ml/20ml as the startng ponts for D. aborea and V. doniana, respectively. Findings equally revealed that the combination of D. aborea and V. doniana leaf extracts exerted synergistic effects on these organisms at 5.0ml/20ml, whereas the use of the D. aborea and V. doniana extracts separately resulted in reduced efficacy. Analysis of variance showed that, there was no significandifference (P = 0.01) between the synergy and the individual treatments of the leaf extracts on these organisms. Preliminary phytochemical screening showed the presence of flavonoids, free phenolics, condensed tannins, pseudoanins, triterpenes, glycosides and saponins which have someinsecticidal effects on their targeted organisms. These findings represent one of the steps in identifying plants, with insecticidal properties from the rich Bioresources in the Mosaic of the Low-Land Rainforest vegetation zone of Southeastern Nigeria.Keywords: Draceana aborea, Vitex doniana, Leaf extract, Botanical insecticide, Phytochemical, Anopheles mosquito

Impact of palm oil mill effluent on the soil in Upkom- Bende forest reserve, Abia state, Nigeria

The palm oil industries in southeastern Nigeria is a major agro-enterprise. This study examined the impact of the palm oil mill effluent on the soil in Ukpom Bende Forest Reserve Abia State, Nigeria with the objective of assessing the impact of palm oil mill effluent (POME) on soil physiochemical properties in Ukpom Forest Reserve. A Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was employed. Three topsoil samples were collected at a downslope distance of 10m, 20m, and 30m respectively with 3 replicates each and control (Non-polluted site) of 100m away from study site. Total of 9 samples and control were collected and taken to soil laboratory in National Root Crop Research Institute Umudike, Abia State to analyzed the soil particle matter size, Organic carbon, Organic matter, Total nitrogen, Available phosphorous, Exchange cations (Na, K, Ca, Mg), Electrical conductivity and EA that affect the percentage (%) of sand and silt of the soil. Result revealed pH, Ca2+, Mg2+ and % silt significantly increases (p<0.05) along the slope 10-30m, while % BS, EC, P, K, Na, EA, ECEC, % OC, % OM, and % sand significantly decreases along the slope 10-30m, and the % clay is seen constant along the slope of 10-30m. However, EC, P, % OC, % OM, % N, % silt, % clay, K+ and EA increases significantly (p<0.05) compared to control site, while pH, Ca, Mg, % BS, ECEC, Na and %sand decreases significantly(p<0.05) compared to the control sites. Result revealed that POME causes deterioration of soil physicochemical properties and increase soil acidity. Therefore, we recommend that adequate treatment and proper disposal of POME should be promoted and awareness carried to the rural oil palm processors.Keywords: Effluents, palm processing, soil quality and soil concentratio

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

Data showing the effects of disc milling time on the composition and morphological transformation of (aþb) titanium alloy (Tie6Ale2Sne2Moe2Cre2Zr-0.25Si) grade

Abstract: In powder metallurgy, dry mechanical milling process is an effective technique employed in the reduction of solid materials into the desired size in the fabrication of materials or components from metal powders for various applications. However, the milling operation introduces changes in the size and shape as well as the elemental or chemical composition of the milled substance. These changes introduced after milling requires critical analyses as the performance and efficiency of fabricated components depend so much on the size, shape and chemical composition of the powders. In this data, the effects of vibratory disc milling on the morphological transformation and elemental composition of titanium alloy powder were observed and analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS). The as received titanium alloy powder was subjected to dry mechanical milling machine rated 380V/50Hz at 940 rpm. Milling time of 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 mins were adopted in this data collection. SEM and EDS analyses revealed that milling transformed the spherical shaped powders into plate-like shapes. This deformation in the shape of the powder increased with increase in milling time. Also,.

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

Biological Activities of a Macrocyclic Diterpenoid Isolated from the Roots of Jatropha gossypiifolia

Background: Extracts of Jatropha gossypiifolia L. (Euphorbiaceae) have been used ethnomedicinally for the treatment of various ailments. The present study was to investigate the biological activity of Jatrophone, a macrocyclic diterpenoid isolated from the roots of J. gossypiifolia. Methods: Phytochemical studies followed by chromatographic separation of the methanol root bark extract led to the isolation of a macrocyclic diterpenoid, identified as jatrophone on the basis of NMR and mass spectra data and by comparison with literature. The isolated compound, jatrophone was evaluated for its antiprotozoal activity against Plasmodium falciparum strains [D6 (chloroquine sensitive) and W2 (chloroquine-resistant)], Leishmania donovani and Trypanosoma brucei. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated against type culture of selected fungi and bacteria. Analgesic activity was investigated using the acetic acidinduced writhing and hot plate model in mice. The cytotoxicity was assessed against VERO cell line (monkey kidney fibroblast) using neural red uptake method. Results: Jatrophone showed significant antiplasmodial and antileishmanial activities with IC50 of 0.55, 0.52 and < 0.4 µg/mL for P. falciparum (D6 strain), P. falciparum (W2 strain) and L. donovani respectively. Compound 1 was highly cytotoxic to VERO cell line with IC50 of 0.43 µg/mL. Jatrophone demonstrated significant analgesic effect with a percentage reduction in acetic acid-induced writhes of 54.03% and 66.35% at 5 and 10 mg/kg respectively. No significant antimicrobial activity was observed against the test organisms. Conclusion: The present study has shown that jatrophone possess antimalarial, antileishmanial, and analgesic activitie

Intraoperative colonic irrigation in the management of left sided large bowel emergecies in Jos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Objectives: To evaluate the safety and benefits of antegrade intraoperative colonic irrigation (lavage) and primary anastomosis, after colonic resection, in the treatment of left sided large bowel emergencies.Design: A prospective descriptive study.Setting: Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria.Participants: Thirty seven patients with an average age of 44.86 ± 16.15 years.Intervention: Sigmoid colectomy was performed in twenty two sigmoid volvulus, five sigmoid cancer, two faecal fistulae and one sigmoid injury. Left hemicolectomy was offered in four descending colon cancer, one descending colon injury, while anterior resection was carriedout in two rectal cancers. Primary anastomosis was performed after intraoperative colonic lavage.Results: The operative mortality was 2.7%, anastomotic leakage rate 2.7% and superficial wound infection occurred in 10.81%. The average duration of hospital stay was 22.76 ± 11.26 days. Intraoperative colonic lavage added 35.79 ± 7.25 minutes to the operating time.Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that intraoperative colonic lavage is an effective method enabling the surgeon to perform a primary anastomosis with reasonable safety after emergency resection of selected distal colonic lesions