CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA’S DOWNSTREAM PETROLEUM SECTOR

The emergence of a ‘new world economy’ makes it imperative for corporate entities to adjust their corporate values, practices and internal processes. This paper explored the interrelatedness of selected corporate governance practices and human resource management outcomes. The paper relied on established corporate management theories as a platform for empirical consideration of selected issues relative to four established players in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector. A descriptive method was adopted and data was collected via a survey of 112 respondents. Contextual arguments were captured to achieve a robust appreciation of issues affecting individual participation and operations of corporate entities. The study found that there is a significant relationship between corporate governance practices and human resource management outcomes. Requisite conclusions and recommendations were provided in the light of empirical and theoretical findings

A Review of the Impacts of Changing Land Use on Land Degradation in Anyigba, Nigeria

Abstract: This study is aimed at having an insight into the changes in land use that has occured in Anyigba between 2006 and 2009 and their consequent impacts on land degradation in the town. Field observation was used in determining the current situation and also, secondary data was used to update initial data generated some years ago. It was revealed that there was still an increase in the size of vacant land and built up areas, while cultivated land, vegetation, and water body decreased. These changes in land use has resulted into erosion (run-off), blocked drainages, dried grounds becoming marshy (in rainy seasons), deforestation, etc. This is as a result of increase in built-up areas, non-compliance to planning standards, quest for vacant land, as well as indiscriminate waste disposal. Thus, there is need to ensure a general policy implementaion through conformity with planning standards, increase enforcment of environmental compliance, as well as encourage community participation in sanitation practices. Key words: Land use; Land Degradation; Planning; Environmental compliance Résumé: Cette étude vise à avoir un aperçu des changements dans l'utilisation des terres qui ont eu lieu à Anyigba entre 2006 et 2009 et leurs impacts sur la dégradation de terre dans la ville. L’observation sur le terrain a été utilisée pour déterminer la situation actuelle et des données secondaires ont été utilisées pour mettre à jour les données initiales générées il y a quelques années. Il a été révélé qu'il y avait encore une augmentation de la superficie des terrains vacants et des zones bâties, alors que les terres cultivées, la végétation et les eaux ont diminué. Ces changements de l'utilisation des terres ont eu pour résultat l'érosion (run-off), le drainage bloqué, la transformation de terrain séché en marécage (en saisons des pluies), la déforestation, etc. Ce sont les conséquences de l'augmentation des zones bâties, de la non-conformité aux normes de planification, de la recherche de terrains vacants, ainsi que de l'élimination des déchets sans discernement. Ainsi, il est nécessaire d'assurer une implémentation de politique générale en conformité avec les normes de planification, de renforcer le respect de l'environnement, ainsi que d'encourager la participation communautaire dans les pratiques d'assainissement. Mots clés: L’utilisation des terres; La dégradation de terre; De planification; Le respect de l'environnemen

Characterization of alveolar soft part sarcoma of the tongue: A clinico-pathologic study and scoping review

Background: Alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) is a rare malignant soft tissue tumour. There is a dearth of literature analyzing its features on the tongue.Objectives: This study aims to conduct a scoping review to describe the essential clinico-pathologic features, treatment modalities and outcome of previously reported tongue ASPS (TASPS) and new cases at our center.Methods: A search of databases (PubMed, Medline, Cochrane and Google Scholar) and the internet for articles on TASPS written in English was conducted. Information extracted included clinico-pathological and demographic data. Descriptive statistics was used for analysis.Results: A total of 49 articles were eligible for this study. In all, 81 cases were utilized. Asian studies accounted for most cases 35(43.2%) and a slight female preponderance of 1.1 was seen. Most cases - 38 (46.9%), occurred in the 1st decade and the base of tongue was the most common location in 19 (39.6%) cases. Also, tumour metastasis was present in 14 (25.9%) cases. Transcription Factor E3 (TFE3) – 8 (24.2%) and Neuron Specific Enolase (NSE) – 8 (24.2%) were the most common immunohistochemical stains used and were both expressed 7 out of 8 cases (87.5%). Most common treatment modality was surgery and 42 (82.4%) cases managed by surgery alone were free of disease at < 5 years of follow up.Conclusions: TASPS slightly affected the female gender and tongue base more commonly. It occurred more in the first two decades of life. Use of standard investigative tools for management will allow for better appraisal of research findings. &nbsp

In-vitro antimicrobial activity of crude extracts of Diospyros monbuttensis

Diospyros species in folklore medicine are used as anti-inflammatory,  antibacterial, antioxidant, anticancer and antiviral agents. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of crude extracts of the leaves of Diospyros monbuttensis were evaluated against three bacterial species (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Micrococcus luteus ) and fungal strain (Aspergillus niger). Extraction was carried out using both polar and non-polar solvents (ethanol and water). The leaves were screened for phytochemical constituents and preliminary screening for antimicrobial activity carried out using the agar well diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined using the agar well dilution method. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of saponins, tannins, glycosides and alkaloids in the plant. The ethanolic leaf extract of D. monbuttensis had no activity against the test organisms, but antimicrobial activity was observed for the aqueous extract against S. aureus and E. coli at all concentrations tested. The MIC of the aqueous extract of D. monbuttensis on S. aureus and E. coli was 0.78 mg/ml. The results of this study indicate that Diospyros monbuttensis leaves may be used for treatment of infections caused by S. aureus and E. coli.Keywords: Diospyros monbuttensis; Antimicrobial activity; phytochemical screenin

In vivo anti-malarial activity of propranolol against experimental Plasmodium berghei ANKA infection in mice

Background: Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease caused by Plasmodium spp, which is widespread in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The objective of this study is to evaluate in vivo antimalarial activity of propranolol against experimental Plasmodium berghei ANKA (PbA) infection in a mouse model.Methods: A total of 36 mice weighing between 15 to 18g were randomly divided into six groups of six mice each. Mice in the first group (SAL) were non-infected with P. berghei but received normal saline (control), second group (PbA) were mice infected without treatment (control), third group (PRL) were non-infected mice treated with propranolol at the dose of 7.5 mg/kg/bid, fourth group (PbA+PRL) were mice infected and treated with same dose of propranolol, fifth group (QUN) were non-infected mice treated with quinine at a dose of 20 mg/kg stat, then 10 mg/kg bid, and sixth group (PbA+QUN) were infected mice treated with quinine. Parasitaemia, physiological conditions (cognitive function, temperature) and lethality of infected mice were monitored over 7-day period to assess the antimalarial activity of propranolol and quinine. The Y-maze paradigm was used to assess cognitive impairment induced by PbA infection. The effects of propranolol on malaria indices and cognitive impairment were compared with that of quinine and the control using T-test statistical method.Results: Mortality of mice at day 7 in the infected group without treatment (PbA) was 100% (6/6) while mortality was 50% (3/6) in infected group treated with propranolol (PbA+PRL) and 33.3% (2/6) in infected group treated with quinine (PbA+QUN) (OR=2.000, p=1.000). No mortality was recorded in any of the three groups of uninfected mice. Propranolol reduced parasitaemia to a trough level of 1.40±0.07 three days after treatment, comparable to trough level of 1.39±0.0633 by quinine but did not reverse PbA-induced hypothermia, which quinine did.Conclusion: Propranolol demonstrated in vivo antimalarial activity against experimental PbA infection in mice comparable to that of quinine. Keywords: malaria, propranolol, quinine, Plasmodium, cerebral malaria French Title: Activité antipaludique in vivo du propranolol contre l'infection expérimentale par Plasmodium berghei ANKA chez la souris   Contexte: Le paludisme est une maladie infectieuse transmise par les moustiques causée par Plasmodium spp, qui est répandue dans les régions tropicales et subtropicales du monde. L'objectif de cette étude est d'évaluer l'activité antipaludique in vivo du propranolol contre une infection expérimentale à Plasmodium berghei ANKA (PbA) dans un modèle murin. Méthodes: Un total de 36 souris pesant entre 15 et 18 g ont été réparties au hasard en six groupes de six souris chacun. Les souris du premier groupe (SAL) n'étaient pas infectées par P. berghei mais ont reçu une solution saline normale (contrôle), le deuxième groupe (PbA) était des souris infectées sans traitement (contrôle), le troisième groupe (PRL) était des souris non infectées traitées par propranolol à la dose de 7,5mg/kg/bid, le quatrième groupe (PbA+PRL) étaient des souris infectées et traitées avec la même dose de propranolol, le cinquième groupe (QUN) étaient des souris non infectées traitées avec de la quinine à une dose de 20mg/kg stat, puis 10mg/kg bid et le sixième groupe (PbA+QUN) étaient des souris infectées traitées avec de la quinine. La parasitémie, les conditions physiologiques (fonction cognitive, température) et la létalité des souris infectées ont été surveillées sur une période de 7 jours pour évaluer l'activité antipaludique du propranolol et de la quinine. Le paradigme du labyrinthe en Y a été utilisé pour évaluer les troubles cognitifs induits par l'infection au PbA. Les effets du propranolol sur les indices du paludisme et les troubles cognitifs ont été comparés à ceux de la quinine et du témoin à l'aide de la méthode statistique du test T. Résultats: La mortalité des souris au jour 7 dans le groupe infecté sans traitement (PbA) était de 100% (6/6) tandis que la mortalité était de 50% (3/6) dans le groupe infecté traité avec du propranolol (PbA+PRL) et 33,3% ( 2/6) dans le groupe infecté traité par la quinine (PbA+QUN) (OR=2.000, p=1.000). Aucune mortalité n'a été enregistrée dans aucun des trois groupes de souris non infectées. Le propranolol a réduit la parasitémie à un niveau minimum de 1,40±0,07 trois jours après le traitement, comparable au niveau minimum de 1,39±0,0633 de la quinine, mais n'a pas inversé l'hypothermie induite par le PbA, ce que la quinine a fait. Conclusion: le propranolol a démontré une activité antipaludique in vivo contre l'infection expérimentale au PbA chez la souris comparable à celle de la quinine. Mots-clés: paludisme, propranolol, quinine, Plasmodium, paludisme cérébra

Characterization of Eggshell: A Heterogeneous Catalyst in Transesterification of Sand Apple (Parinari polyandra) Seed Oil

The objective of this study was to characterize a low cost heterogeneous catalyst from the transesterification of sand apple (Parinari polyandra B.) biodiesel. Sand apple fruits were processed and oil was extracted using solvent extraction method. Raw eggshells were calcined at 800°C for 120 min in the muffle furnace. Surface properties of the raw and calcined eggshell were characterized using Fourier Transformed Infrared Radiation (FTIR) and X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF). Transesterification of the Sand Apple Oil (SASO) with ethanol in the presence of the calcined catalyst to produce ethyl ester and glycerol were optimized using Central Composite Design at different temperatures and time. Reactants for the transesterification process were the raw SASO and anhydrous ethanol. The study shows that raw eggshell was more stable with hydrogen bond form at 2,724 cm-1an while oil yield of 53.13 % was obtained from sand apple kernels. Ethyl ester yield of 90% was obtained from SASO. The results of transesterification shows the maximum biodiesel yield of 90% was obtained at reaction temperature of 65°C and time of 120 min, while the minimum yield of 70% was obtained at temperature of 55°C and time of 60 min; indicating that biodiesel increase with increase in time. Similarly, yield of ethyl ester of SASO also increased when the reaction temperature increased. The percentages of biodiesel yield obtained from SASO transesterification in this study showed that sand apple is promising oil for biodiesel production as compared with other vegetable oil crop obtained in previous studie

Immunovirological treatment outcomes after 2 years of antiretroviral therapy in children living with the human immune deficiency virus in Lagos Nigeria

Background/objective: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends routine assessment of antiretroviral treatment outcomes to detect  treatment failure early and prevent the development of drug resistance. The aim of this study was to describe treatment outcomes of antiretroviral therapy (ART) over 2 years in children living with the human immune deficiency virus enrolled in the paediatric HIV clinic at the Lagos UniversityTeaching Hospital (LUTH).Materials and methods: This was a retrospective study of antiretroviral treatment outcomes in 278 children receiving antiretroviral therapy at the paediatric HIV clinic of LUTH. Demographic, clinical and laboratory data were retrospectively collected from clinical records of pediatric patientswho received antiretroviral therapy for 2 years ( from November 2015 to December 2017) . Virological failure was defined as viral load > 400  copies/ml and immunological failure was defined as a CD4 count <100 cells/mm3 or CD4 % <15% after receiving antiretroviral agents for 12 months. Data was analysed using graph pad prism version 5.0.Results: After 12 months on antiretroviral therapy (ART), 101 (36%) had virological failure while 14 (5%) and 36 (13%) failed immunologically [CD4 count <100 cells/mn3 and CD4 <15% respectively]. Virological blips were observed at 24 months in 6.1% of patients while immunovirological discordance occurred in 30% of patients (poor virological clearance despite good immunological recovery) . High baseline viral load (>5000  copies/ml), poor adherence (<95%) and low baseline CD4 counts (101-249 cells/mn3) were significantly associated with virological failure, while low baseline CD4 counts (<350 cells/mn3) and poor adherence (<95%) were significantly associated with immunologic failure.Conclusion: The treatment outcomes observed in this study are similar to those reported in earlier studies. At 1 and 2 years of antiretroviral therapy , there was immune restoration however 101 (36%) and 87 (31%) respectively had virological failure despite good adherence to therapy and good Immunological restoration. This calls for early initiation and switch to second and third line drugs . Key words: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), zidovudine, lamivudine, nevirapine, virological blips, immunovirological discordance , children, Nigeria

Fuzzy Logic Algorithm For An Improved Assessment Into Lifting-Related Injury Risks Among Nigeria Women

In this study a fuzzy logic model was adopted to assess the severity of risk involved in lowering and/or lifting by Nigeria women using three risk factors of weight (Kg), height of load (cm) and the handlers’ arm reach (cm). The leading objective is to provide an improved assessment tool to Risk Assessment Filter (RAF). The algorithm of the fuzzy inference engine applied sets of 64 linguistic rules to generate the output variable in Lifting/lowering risk. The Spearman’s rank correlation value of 0.85 at the confidence level of 0.01, indicated no significant difference between the initial assessors suspections of risk with the use of RAF and the developed model prediction. The risk values and interpretations generated by the model were confirmed not just similar to, but with better information than, using RAF. The study proposed a model for an improved injury risk assessment than RAF in assessment of lifting risk among women handlers. It is simple, save time and can find its usefulness in household chores and in any workplaces were women are engaged in manual lifting operations

Green synthesis of Ag, Zn and Cu nanoparticles from aqueous extract of Spondias mombin leaves and evaluation of their antibacterial activity

Background: Nanotechnology offers an advantage as a green route for synthesis of metal nanoparticles (NPs) with plant extracts as capping agent. Spondias mombin is a fruit-bearing tree and its leaf extracts have been reported to possess anxiolytic, hypoglycaemic, antiepileptic, antipsychotic, sedative, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. The objective of the study is to determine the antibacterial potential of a simple non-toxic product of green synthesis of metallic (Ag, Zn and Cu) nanoparticles using the leaf of Spondias mombin aqueous extracts (SMAE) as a reducing and capping agents of the metal ions.Methodology: Nanoparticles were characterized by UV visible spectrophotometeric analysis, Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FT-IR) spectrophotometer and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Antimicrobial activities of synthesized NPs against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were determined by agar well diffusion technique.Results: The synthesized NPs varied in colour from dark brown to green and appears dominantly spherical, occasionally rod or triangular shaped with size ranging from 65-90 nm. UV spectroscopy absorption spectra of Ag, Zn and Cu NPs had absorbance peak at 267, 262 and 765 nm respectively. FT-IR spectrometry of Zn NP, Cu NP, and SMAE gave wave number ranging from 895.71-3320.67, 747.02-3225.45 and 658.25-3674.49 respectively. FT-IR analysis showed that SMAE acted as reducing and stabilizing agent while the NPs exhibited lower energy absorption band when compared to the plant extract. The NPs demonstrated higher antimicrobial activities against S. aureus than Ps. aeruginosa and E. coli. The antimicrobial activity was higher with copper NP than Ag and Zn NPs, and also higher than SMAE.Conclusion: The result from this study presents an indication for an alternative means for development of novel antimicrobial agents for clinical and biotechnological applications.Keywords: synthesis, nanoparticles, FT-IR, UV-visible spectrophotometry, antibacterial activitiesFrench Title: Synthèse verte de nanoparticules d'Ag, de Zn et de Cu à partir d'extrait aqueux de feuilles de Spondias mombin et évaluation de leur activité antibactérienneContexte: La nanotechnologie offre un avantage en tant que voie verte pour la synthèse de nanoparticules métalliques (NP) avec des extraits de plantes comme agent de coiffage. Spondias mombin est un arbre fruitier et ses extraits de feuilles possèdent des propriétés anxiolytiques,  hypoglycémiques, antiépileptiques, antipsychotiques, sédatives,  antioxydantes et antimicrobiennes. L’objectif de l’étude est de déterminer le potentiel antibactérien d’un simple produit non toxique de synthèse verte de nanoparticules métalliques (Ag, Zn et Cu) à l’aide de la feuille d’extraits aqueux de Spondias mombin (SMAE) en tant qu’agent réducteur et coiffant de la ions métalliques.Méthodologie: Les nanoparticules ont été caractérisées par analyse  spectrophotométrique UV visible, spectrophotomètre à transformée de Fourier infrarouge (FT-IR) et microscope électronique à balayage (MEB). Lesactivités antimicrobiennes de NP synthétisées contre Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus et Pseudomonas aeruginosa ont été déterminées par une technique de diffusion sur puits d’agar.Résultats: Les NP synthétisés ont une couleur allant du brun foncé au vert et apparaissent principalement sphériques, parfois en bâtonnets ou en triangles, avec des tailles allant de 65 à 90 nm. Les spectres  d'absorption par spectroscopie UV des NP Ag, Zn et Cu présentaient des pics  d'absorbance à 267, 262 et 765 nm respectivement. La spectrométrie FT-IR de Zn NP, Cu NP et SMAE a donné un nombre d'onde allant de 895,71 à 3320,67, 747,02 à 3225,45 et 658,25 à 3674,49 respectivement. L'analyse FT-IR a montré que le SMAE agissait en tant qu'agent réducteur et  stabilisant, alors que les NP présentaient une bande d'absorption d'énergie inférieure à celle de l'extrait de plante. Les NP ont démontré des activités antimicrobiennes plus élevées contre S. aureus que Ps. aeruginosa et E. coli. L'activité antimicrobienne était plus élevée avec les NP en cuivre que dans les NP Ag et Zn, et également supérieure à celle du SMAE.Conclusion: le résultat de cette étude présente une indication d'un autre moyen de développement de nouveaux agents antimicrobiens pour des applications cliniques et biotechnologiques.Mots-clés: synthèse, nanoparticules, FT-IR, spectrophotométrie UV-visible, activités antibactériennes