Nutritional Qualities of Three Medicinal Plant Parts (Xylopia aethiopica, Blighia sapida and Parinari polyandra) commonly used by Pregnant Women in the Western Part of Nigeria

The nutritional potentials of three medicinal plant parts used by pregnant women in the western part of Nigeria Parinari polyandra, Blighia sapida and Xylopia aethiopica were evaluated through their proximate compositions as well as percentage mineral elements composition. Blighia sapida was high in crude fibre (44.09±2.20%) compared with Parinari polyandra and Xylopia aethiopica that were 4.21±1.10% and 12.14±0.70% respectively. Moisture contents of Xylopia aethiopica and Blighia sapida were 16.04±1.25% and 10.17±2.60% respectively while that of Parinari polyandra was 30.65±5.02%. The total ash contents of Parinari polyandra, Blighia sapida and Xylopia aethiopica were 2.53±1.20%, 3.66±1.20% and 4.37±0.85% respectively. The total fat of Xylopia aethiopica, Blighia sapida and Parinari polyandra were 9.55±2.10%, 1.25±0.20% and 0.53±0.15% respectively while the total protein of Blighia sapida, Xylopia aethiopica and Parinari polyandra were 2.1±0.25%, 2.1±0.20% and 7.09±0.20% respectively. The total carbohydrate of Xylopia aethiopica was 55.80±4.26%, that of Parinari polyandra was 54.27±3.20% and that of Blighia sapida was 39.45±2.20%. Xylopia aethiopica can be a good source of magnesium (2.236±0.095), phosphorus (0.620±0.04) and potassium (0.510±0.04) as the amount of these mineral elements were higher than that of the other plant parts with the exception of Parinari polyandra having 0.690±0.11% phosphorus. Blighia sapida is also a good source of phosphorus (0.400±0.20), magnesium (0.430±0.20) and calcium (0.348±0.15). Other mineral elements detected in reasonable amounts were calcium, zinc and sodium. Further tests revealed that heavy metals such as lead, chromium and cadmium were not detected. The results of this research indicated that the three plants parts have nutritional qualities that could provide the users with additional nutrients

Investigation on Pleurotus ferulae potential for the sorption of Pb(II) from aqueous solution

Pleurotus ferulae obtained from rotten tree was collected, washed, dried, ground and sieved to appropriate particle size. Infra-red spectrometry was used to determine functional groups on the biomass while biosorption of Pb(II) from aqueous solution was studied using the biomass in a batch system. The effect of pH (1-7.5), temperature (30-50 oC), biomass dosage of 0.5-4 g and initial metal concentration (20-300 mg/L) was studied. Equilibrium, kinetics and thermodynamics consideration were evaluated from the studied parameters to evaluate the adsorption potential of the biomass. The functional groups on the dried P. ferulae were:  –OH, –NH, –COO− and –C–O. In the batch experiments maximum biosorption was observed at initial pH of 3.0, temperature of 30 oC and at the initial metal concentration of 100 mg/L. A contact time 20 min was sufficient for quantitative sorption of lead. It was observed that pseudo second order rate expression fit the experimental data and equilibrium analysis showed that the biosorption process followed Langmuir model. Thermodynamic analysis showed that the process was exothermic and ∆Go was negative showing spontaneity of the process within the studied temperature. KEY WORDS: Biosorption, Pb(II), Pleurotus ferulae, Biomass Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2013, 27(1), 25-34.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v27i1.

Effects of ethanolic leaf extract of Chrysophyllum albidum G. on biochemical and haematological parameters of albino Wistar rats

The effect of oral administration of the leaf extract of Chrysophyllum albidum G. on biochemical and haematological parameters were investigated in albino rats for 16 days. The extract did not show any significant effect (p > 0.05) on the plasma concentrations of total bilirubin, albumin and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) as well as the packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb), red blood cell (RBC), reticulocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, basophils, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH). The concentration of the platelets was significantly decreased (p < 0.05) at 1000 mg/kg body weight, while white blood cell (WBC) was significantly increased at 500 mg/kg body weight. The doses significantly reduced (p < 0.05) plasma levels of AST, ALT, total protein, glucose and creatinine while urea was significantly increased. While the extract significantly increased the lung, brain and liver-body weights, the kidney, heart, testis, spleen and epididymis-body weights were not significantly affected. The result suggests that the leaf extract of C. albidum contains antiplatelet and hypoglycemic properties and exhibited selective organ toxicity to the rats

Challenges Facing Sustainable Real Estate Marketing and Practice in Emerging Economy: Case Study of Nigeria

The challenges facing estate surveying and valuation practice across the world are enormous, and the future of the profession is being questioned, especially in Nigeria. There are pressures for practitioners to secure instructions and at same time meet increasingly complex and stringent standards of professional practice. This study provides a perspective of issues confronting the profession across the globe relying on a review of literature, while data on the Nigerian situation were obtained through the primary source. Three thousand Estate Surveyors and Valuers across the country were surveyed using the internet-based SurveyMonkey software. The analysis indicated that “topping up”, “gazumping”, “gazundering”, low level of salaries and misdemeanors by the ever-increasing number of charlatans are major challenges facing the profession. In addition, majority of practitioners confessed to involvement in mounting of multiple signboards, collection of double fees, and soliciting for jobs with financial inducements. It was therefore recommended that prosecution of erring members, encouragement of non-professionals to attend formal training, and establishment of a college for such training, enforcement of professional standards, and adoption of proactive stance on laws that are inimical to sustainable real estate practice to ensure an enduring professional practice

Neigbourhood Effects of Sustainable Industrial Land Use on Property Values: Case Study of Agbara, Ogun State, Nigeria

The study aims at examining the effect of sustainable industrial land use on residential property values using Agbara industrial village, Nigeria as a case study. Two sets of structured questionnaires were administered differently to 500 inhabitants of Agbara Village and Housing Estate, and the 16 identified large manufacturing industries operating in the area. However, 452 copies of the returned questionnaire were used for this study. The actual sampled inhabitants were obtained through simple random sampling technique. Data collected were presented in tables of frequencies and percentage while trend analysis of rental values in Agbara was computed for the period 1997 to 2008. The study revealed positive change in property rental values due to the industrial concerns in the community. Both government and private businessmen are therefore, advised to site their manufacturing industries in the rural areas to improve such places. It is also recommended that developers should seize the opportunity of high demand for housing in industrial zones and invest in residential developments

Jurisprudence and the Implications of Morality for Democracy in Nigeria from 2015 to 2020

In 2015, a general election was conducted that led to the change of baton from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that pioneered the journey of the fourth republic which started in 1999. The change of baton brought in the All Progressive Congress (APC), a coalition of four different political parties representing different geopolitical region in Nigeria. As it is, the four political parties before the coalition had their own values which is a reflection of their moral and world outlook in a heterogeneous nation like Nigeria. The campaign slogan which was the basis of the contract of the political party with the masses was the need for change. A change that will guarantee socio-economic development, security of lives and property and justice for all. The expectation of the people was high on the assumption of office of the president in 2015 but the change promise has now been confirmed as a mirage. The objective of the study is to examine the implications of the application of the norms of morality in government in a heterogeneous state with diverse moral values like Nigeria. The study is doctrinal with data obtained from both primary and secondary sources. The study found out that the people and elected leaders were not on the same page as to the concept of change employed by the political party in government. The paper concluded that an elected president in Nigeria who is bound to emerge from one ethnic and religious background must shed the toga of &nbsp;personal morality and where norms of morality are to be employed in governance, the norms of public morality generally acceptable to the people should be &nbsp;employed

DEVELOPMENT AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF A 2kVA FUELLESS GENERATOR

Electricity supply has been unreliable for a long period in Nigeria. The energy generating capacity has the potential to generate 12,522 MW of electric power from existing plant, however, approximately 4650 MW is daily generated. Consequently, most homes and industries use internal combustion engine generating sets as an alternative to power grid failure. This does not only contribute to the amount of CO2 that people inhale in the atmosphere but also contributes to ozone layer depletion and climate change. The need for new energy generating sources with no negative impact on our environment had led to several alternatives cleaner source of power that is environmentally friendly and affordable for the masses. In response to this, a fuelless generator was developed using local materials to serve as a standby generator against the incessant power outage. The generator was developed by using a D.C battery, D.C motor, alternator, connecting shaft, charging panel (transformer, diode and capacitor), and a frame. A 12V, 100Ah battery was used to drive a 12V DC motor which in turn spun the alternator to optimal speed to generate electrical power. The output voltage was used to power varying loads of 0W to 2KW, with efficiency reducing with load increase. This paper presents the design and construction procedures, as well as the performance evaluation of the generated result

INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION, DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES AND RELATIONAL MAINTENANCE AMONG UNMARRIED POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS OF OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY, ILE-IFE, NIGERIA

The study ascertained the level of relational maintenance among unmarried postgraduate students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and as well as the relationship between interpersonal communication and relational maintenance among the postgraduate students of Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife. Finally, it also examined the relationship between demographic variables and relational maintenance among the postgraduate students. These were with a view to providing useful information on relational maintenance among the unmarried postgraduate students. The study adopted survey design. The sample size comprised 600 postgraduate students selected from six selected faculties out of the thirteen Faculties in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, using multistage sampling technique. Thereafter, a total of 100 students were selected in each faculty using purposive sampling technique for those that were into dating relationship. One adapted and one self-constructed instruments were used to elicit information from the respondents. The adapted instrument was Relational Maintenance Scale (RMS) while Interpersonal Communication Inventory (ICI) was self-constructed. Percentages, frequency counts Pearson correlation and Chi-square were employed to analyze the data. The results showed that 24.8%, 52.5% and 22.7% of postgraduate students of Obafemi Awolowo Universities Ile-Ife demonstrated low, moderate and high levels of relational maintenance respectively. The study also indicated that there was a significant positive relationship between interpersonal communication and relational maintenance (r = 0.676, p &gt; 0.05). Furthermore, the results showed significant relationship between sex of the students and relational maintenance (x2 =24.271; df = 564, p &gt; 0.05). Finally, the results showed significant relationship between age of the students and relational maintenance (x2 = 47.837a; df = 564, p &gt; 0.05). It was concluded that irrespective of the age of the students, most unmarried postgraduate students in the study area had moderate level of relational maintenance