Effect of powdered castor oil seed (Ricinus communis L.) on some internal organs of albino rat

According to estimates, the contribution of cocoa, which is the Nigeria’s highest foreign exchange earner among all agricultural commodities, has dropped from 308,000 tonnes in the 70’s to an average of 215,000 tonnes in recent years. This, according to reports, resulted from climate failure, among other factors. In the light of this, this study examined awareness and effects of climate change on cocoa production in Ondo State, the Nigeria’s leading cocoa producing state. Specifically, the study decribed socio-­‐economic characteristics of cocoa farmers in the study area, investigated the awareness and perceived effects of climate change on cocoa production by the farmers and identified the adaptation strategies practised by the farmers. Primary data obtained through a combination of purposive and random sampling techniques of 120 farming households from the six Local Government Areas noted for cocoa production in the state were used for the study. Descriptive statistics involving frequency distribution tables, mean, mode and percentages were used for the analysis. The results revealed that 80.8% of the respondents were aware of climate change. The general effects of climate change experienced by the farmers were excessive rainfall (23.3%), less rainfall (12.5%), irregular rainfall pattern (59.2%), delayed onset of rainfall (5.0%), high temperature (37.5%), drought (5.0%) and variation in sunshine hours (28.3%). The visible effects of climate failure on the farmer cocoa production were pest attack (35.8%), disease attack (44.2%), late ripening of cocoa pod (20.8%), reduced weight of cocoa bean (53.3%) and contaminated cocoa bean (45.0%). This is unfavourable to farmers and the Nigerian economy in general. Therefore, this study calls for dissemination of timely information on sound adaptation strategies to effects of climate change by agricultural development agencies and provision of training by relevant stakeholders to improve the technical knowledge and skills of the farmers on measures to mitigate effects of climate change on cocoa production.A study was carried out at the Toxicology laboratory of the Department of Crop and Environmental protection, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Ogbomoso, to determine the effects of powdered castor oil seed (Ricinus communis L.Euphorbiaceae) on kidney, liver, spleen of albino rats. The rats were in five groups, which were replicated three (3) times. The castor oil seed was turned to powdery form using pestle and mortal. Four feed formulations were used; powdered castor oil seed and commercial rat feed mixed in ratio 1:1, 1:2, 1:5, 1:10 and ordinary commercial rat feed, which serves as the control.These formulations were given to four separate groups of rats for a period of three days. The behaviour of the rats was monitored over the three day period. The histology of the kidney, liver and spleen which was initially preserved in formalin was later analysed. Compared with the control the hemorrhagic and necrotic tissues in rats administered with ratio 1:10 and ratio 1:5 showed mild disruption. In ratio 1:2 fed group, hemorrhagic and necrotic tissues showed complete disruption while group fed with 1:1 were extensively disrupted. The results also relayed changes in the body weight and the spleen weight where significant highest, spleen weight were recorded for the rats fed with commercial feed (control) than the rats fed with the treated feeds. The rats fed with ratio 1:1 (treated feed) had the least spleen weight compared to the animals fed with treated feed of ratio 1:2 and 1:5 respectively. No significant difference was observed in the kidney fresh weight for all the treatments. Also, there is significant highest liver weight in rats fed with control feed when compared with rat fed with treated feed, followed least concentration ( 1:10 ) of the treated feed. The observation revealed that a powdered castor oil seed to commercial rat feed can be effectively used as rodenticide and it is clearly seen that the function of a powdered castor oil seed affected the internal organ tested

Factors influencing condom use among Nigerian undergraduates: A mixed method study

Objective: This study’s objective was to explore and assess the factors influencing condom use among Nigerian undergraduates within the age group 16-34 years.Setting: The University of Lagos, a federal University in the commercial capital of Nigeria.Study design: Both qualitative (focus group discussions) and quantitative (cross-sectional survey) methods were utilised for this study.Subjects: A total of 101 subjects were recruited with age range 18 to 34 years as against 100 years, with a mean age of 21 years. Data collection was conducted in July and August 2011 at the University of Lagos.Subjects: A total of 820 students from University of Lagos in four faculties participated in the cross-sectional survey, and we organised four focus group discussions with six students each.Results: Students were of the perception that various socio-economic and environmental factors influenced condom use during sexual intercourse. Factors identified as having great influence on condom use include: “adequate sex education” and “unplanned/ unanticipated sexual intercourse”. Conversely, the influence of alcohol/social drugs on condom use was ranked low.Conclusion: The study showed that students had the perception that various factors influenced condom use but these perceptions varied between young men and women. It may therefore be rewarding to have customised messages based on specific needs when reaching out to different groups stratified based on gender.Keywords: Condom, unsafe sex, HIV, gender, undergraduates

Bayesian Analysis of Extended Cox Model with Time-Varying Covariates Using Bootstrap Prior

A new Bayesian estimation procedure for extended cox model with time varying covariate was presented. The prior was determined using bootstrapping technique within the framework of parametric empirical Bayes. The efficiency of the proposed method was observed using Monte Carlo simulation of extended Cox model with time varying covariates under varying scenarios. Validity of the proposed method was also ascertained using real life data set of Stanford heart transplant. Comparison of the proposed method with its competitor established appreciable supremacy of the method

Growing Earthworms in Artificial Environments

This study is intended to investigate the artificial environment conditions that would favor the most effective propagation of the African night crawler

Growth performance, haematological and biochemical study of Clarias gariepinus (Burshell) fingerlings fed formlulated Rana galamensis (Galam) meals

A 56-­‐day feeding experiment involving Clarias gariepinus fingerlings was conducted to investigate the growth response, serum and biochemical parameters of the fingerlings to formulated feed from Rana galamensis at 0%, 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% inclusion levels. 180 fingerlings were divided into 5 treatment groups containing 36 fingerlings and each group was further replicated 3 times. A significant difference (P<0.05) was established in the growth parameters determined in the C. gariepinus fingerlings fed with the four frog formulations, namely, final weight, total weight, and mean feed gain, mean weight gain and feed conversion ratio The 40% R. galamensis ration elicited higher growth values than all other rations. Similarly, significance difference (P<0.05) was established in the serum (Total protein, Albumin and Cholestreol) and biochemical (Na+. K+ and HCO3 -­‐) parameters determined in the blood samples collected from the fingerlings fed with the four frog formulations. The increasing values observed in the growth factors, serum and biochemical parameters of the fingerlings when increasing level of R. galamensis protein was incorporated into the fish diet is an indication that the formulated feed can serve as growth promoter as well as rich sources of mineral supply to the fish; hence, a potential protein source for aquacultural practices

Sexual Violence Against Female Students in Polytechnics in South-West Nigeria

Sexual violence against women is a social vice that affects females in diverse forms across clime, race and religion. This manifests through sexual assault, rape, sexual harassment, incest, sexual exploitation, stalking and cyber stalking. Out of all these, sexual assault, rape and sexual harassment of female students by male lecturers are common in the tertiary institutions. There is no doubt that sexual violence is indeed a global problem, but it becomes worrisome when lecturers now demand sex  from their female students   in return for good grades in their courses. This educational epidemic erodes academic integrity and dignity, thus making certification an exercise in falsehood. This study investigated the causes of sexual violence against female students by male lecturers in polytechnics, the consequences of the act on the victims as well as the polytechnic system; and how the horrid act can be controlled in South–West Nigeria. The six states that make up this axis are: Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ogun, Lagos and Ekiti. The sampled population comprised 1800 female students and 900 adults-both male and female, selected from 17 Federal, State and Private Polytechnics in the six states. The purposive sampling technique was used to select the female students, the adults as well as the polytechnics that participated in the study. The responses were collated and analysed using simple frequencies and percentages because the study was a descriptive survey research. The study revealed that sexual violence against female students was a reality in polytechnics in South-West Nigeria. The male lecturers who indulged in the act did so mainly, to exercise their power and authority over the female students. To control the callous act, some punitive and preventive measures were recommended. These will enable all members of the various academic communities to perceive sexual violence as an inhuman act which every sane person should avoid. Keywords: Violence, Sexual violence, Female students, Consequences and Control

Urinary Pathogens and Their Antimicrobial Susceptibility in Patients with Indwelling Urinary Catheter

The indwelling urinary catheter (IUC) is the most significant risk factor for developing nosocomial urinary tract infections (UTIs). In order to determine the spectrum of bacterial etiology and antibiotic resistance pattern of uropathogens causing catheter associated UTI, a convenient sample size of ninety-two (92) patients on urethral catheter was investigated. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the OAUTHC research and ethical committee. Catheter stream urine samples were obtained from all patients and cultured on appropriate culture media. Suspected isolates were identified by a combination of standard tests and using MICROBACT GNA12A/B/E. Susceptibility of the isolates against thirteen (13) antibiotics was performed by the disc diffusion method. Significant bacteriuria was observed in 60.9% (56) catheter specimen urine (CSU) received, while 39.1% (36) were culture negative. Of the 56 positive culture, the predominant organisms were Klebsiella oxytoca, 28.6 %( 16), Proteus vulgaris, 23.2% (13) and Staphylococcus aureus, 12.5% (7). Overall, the antimicrobial susceptibility results showed that all the isolates were highly resistant to the antibiotics tested. Over 50% resistance was recorded for trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, gentamicin and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. More than 25% of the isolates were resistant to nitrofurantoin. This study indicates that catheter stream UTI caused by multiply resistant bacteria are common in our hospital. There is a need to establish standard guidelines on the care of catheter for all units in the hospital with a view to preventing nosocomial infections associated with the use of the catheter in patients. We also advocated prudent use of antibiotics. Key words: Antibiotic resistance, Urinary catheter, Uropathogens, Urinary tract infectio

Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Sorghum (sorghum bicolor) Production, Storage and Disposal in Ilorin, Nigeria

Nigeria is one of the major producers of sorghum grains in the world. The production and storage of the crop consumed resources, both biotic and abiotic and this could lead to some environment burden in form of emissions and pollutions.  Therefore, this study was carried out to assess the environmental life cycle of sorghum, from production to storage and packaging for market using life cycle assessment model (LCA).The life cycle inventory data was collected for production, and storage operations of three scenarios of sorghum namely: storage in jute bags and fumigation in Warehouse (FW), usage of Bio-pesticide (BP) and NSPRIDUST (ND) as protectant. The inventory data collected was based on a functional unit of one hectare of land for production, and one ton of grains for storage operations respectively. The data were analyzed using “Ganzheitliche Bilanz” (GaBi) 8.7 software. Environmental impact categories generated were Global Warming Potential (GWP), Acidification Potential (AP), Eutrophication Potential (EP), Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) and Human Toxicity Potential (HTP).The GWP values obtained for sorghum scenario using FW, BP, and ND were 6.850, 7.930 and 6.890 kg CO2, respectively. The AP values for FW, BP and ND were 0.009, 0.012 and 0.009 kg SO2, respectively, while EP values obtained for FW, BP and ND were 2.180, 3.010 and 2.070 E-3 kg Phosphate, respectively. The ODP values using FW, BP and ND were 8.96, 8.96, and 8.96 E-13 kg R11 respectively, while the HTP values obtained using FW, BP and ND were 4.150, 4.150 and 4.150 kg DCB, respectively.The research showed that the impact values of FW, BP and NS for sorghum scenario had not much difference. The research finding is recommended for environmentalists, grain producers and handlers. Keywords: Life Cycle Assessment, global warming, acidification, eutrophication, ozone layer depletion DOI: 10.7176/JEES/12-8-01 Publication date:August 31st 202

The U.S. Nonfarm Payroll and the out-of-sample predictability of output growth for over six decades

We examine the predictive prowess of the U.S. Nonfarm Payroll (USNFP) for output growth in the U.S. covering over six decades from 1947 to 2021. Using two different measures of output growth (with Gross Domestic Product growth being used for the main analysis and growth in Industrial Production Index for robustness check), our predictability results show that the U.S. Nonfarm Payroll offers some predictive information for output growth in the U.S. and the out-of-sample forecast results equally attest to the superiority of the USNFP-based model over the model that ignores it. Our findings have implications for policy directions in the U.S. and various national and regional governments, multilateral agencies and investors whose economic and financial conditions are directly or indirectly linked with the U.S. economy.http://link.springer.com/journal/111352023-02-13hj2023Economic

Soil weight determination for optimal growth and yield performances of pot-grown maize

Root restriction, reduced growth and poor yield due to an insufficient quantity of soil are the major limitations of pot-grown maize (Zea mays L.). Hence, to determine the actual quantity of soil required for optimal growth and yield performances of pot-grown maize, two maize varieties; BR9943 DMR-SR (yellow) and BR9928 DMR-SR (white), were evaluated in pots of 5, 10, 20, 30 and 40 kg of topsoil in a 2 x 4 factorial (r = 4) using complete randomised design at the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Ibadan, Nigeria. Data were collected on plant height (PHT), leaf area (LA), cob length (CBT), number of kernels per row (K/R), number of rows per cob (R/C), number of kernels per cob (K/C) and total grain weight (TGW). The results obtained showed that all the evaluated parameters were significantly different at P < 0.05 across the soil weights. Maize planted in 30 kg of soil had the highest LA (774.25 cm2), R/C (15.25), K/C (405.62) and TGW (73.84 g), compared with maize planted in 5 kg and 10 kg soils. Plant height and CBT were highest when 40 kg of soil was used. The maize varieties BR9928 DMR-SR (yellow) and BR9943 DMR-SR (white) were not significantly different across the growth and yield parameters except for LA, where the yellow maize (651.91 cm2) had a substantially higher LA than the white maize variety (588.19 cm2). Based on the results of this study, 30 kg of topsoil is recommended for optimum growth and yield performances of pot grown maize