In vitro antimicrobial and radical scavenging activities of Adenanthera pavonina stem bark fractions

The present investigation deals with the in vitro antimicrobial and radical scavenging activities of four different fractions obtained from the stem bark of Adenanthera pavonina. Phytochemical screening of the fractions revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, phenol, protein, saponins, steroids, tannins, and terpenoids. Evaluation of the extracts against three different bacterial strains (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium and Staphylococcus aureus) showed that the ethyl acetate fraction (F4) possess the best antimicrobial activity with good zones of inhibition. While antifungal activity against (Aspagillus flavus, Candida albican and Mucor) further indicate F4 has the best activity. Lastly, the radical scavenging activity revealed that the F1 (ethanol extract) and F4 (ethyl acetate fraction) demonstrated promising antiradical power on diphenylpicrylhydraxyl (DPPH) with an excellent percentage scavenging effect. At 1000 μg/mL and 10 μg/mL the DPPH activity of the ethyl acetate fraction was 97.9 and 71.3% respectively. While it was observed to be 94.9 and 69.6% for ethanol at 1000 and 10 μg/mL respectively. These values are found to be higher than that of the standard reference (ascorbic acid) which was 96.4 and 58.4 % at 1000 and 10 μg/mL respectively. This shows that the assay for DPPH free radical scavenging activity is concentration dependent. This strengthens part of the ethnomedicinal claims on the plant, Adenanthera Pavonina as a curative agent of different diseases of clinical concern.Keywords: Adenanthera pavonina, Alkaloid, Antimicrobial, Ethyl acetate, Phytochemical, Radica

Investigation of Cu/TiO₂ synthesis methods and conditions for CO₂ photocatalytic reduction via conversion of bicarbonate/carbonate to formate

This work is aimed at improving the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 in the reduction of CO2. TiO2 and Cu/TiO2 at 5 wt% copper bulk loading were synthesised using the sol-gel method at a pH of 0.4 and 1.5. The synthesised pure TiO2 samples, alongside the commercial TiO2 (Degussa® P25), were also doped with copper via the incipient wetness method. The low pH and the presence of copper inhibited the anatase-rutile transformation. Copper existed in Cu(I) and Cu(II) states in all the doped samples, with the Cu(I) to Cu(II) ratio intimately linked with the anatase to rutile ratio. The UPS data have shown the type II band offset between TiO2 and CuO. The performance of the samples prepared was tested through the reduction of sodium bicarbonate-carbonate buffered at pH > 8. Commercial TiO2 impregnated with Cu demonstrated the highest formate production rate of 173 µmol·g−1·h−1 at pH 11. This study demonstrated the synergetic effect of the anatase-rutile mixture of phases, the reaction pH, and the copper dopant in improving the photocatalytic activity of TiO2

Anti-nociceptive and Anti-inflammatory Effects of the Methanol Extract of \u3cem\u3eAnnona senegalensis\u3c/em\u3e Root Bark

Objective: To investigate the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effect of Annona senegalensis in mice and rats. Materials and Methods: The analgesic effects of the methanolic extract were studied using acetic acid-induced writhing test, hot plate test and formalin test, while the anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated using the egg-albumin induced hind paw oedema in rats. Results: The methanolic extract exhibited antinociceptive activity against the acetic acid writhing test, hot plate test and the late phase of formaline induced nociception and significant anti-inflammatory activity. Conclusion: The analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect of the methanolic extract might be through peripheral mechanisms and thus justifying its folkloric use in the treatement of rheumatic pain

Cost Management Practice of Construction Firms and Its Influencing Factors: Lessons from Southwestern Nigeria

The growing need at maintaining steady cost projection of construction projects has been an issue of serious concern to both the clients and the construction practitioners on sites. Also, cost deviation from initial cost plan and cost budget has been prevalent on construction sites and no concerted efforts have been made at addressing this phenomenon. This study therefore examined the factors that are considered to be affecting the cost management practice of construction firms in the southwestern Nigeria and also proffered possible ways of ameliorating the factors. Using survey approach, one hundred copies each of structured questionnaires were distributed to clients, contractors and consultants on construction sites in the study area while 72, 77 and 78 copies were duly filled and returned by the respondents respectively. Relative Importance Index (RII) technique was used for the analysis. The results revealed that poor leadership and in appropriate management, inefficient deployment of resources, excessive wastage of materials on sites, complex payment mechanisms, theft of materials on sites and variation during construction works are the prevailing factors affecting construction cost management practice in the study area. It was concluded that extra focus should be placed on the identified factors with a view to reducing cost of construction, enhancing construction performance and building confidence within the construction industry in the study area

Role of Prebiotic, Probiotic and Symbiotic Diets on Bacterial proliferation in Feed and Intestine of African (Clarias gariepinus) Catfish

The influence of prebiotic, probiotic and symbiotic diet on microbial proliferation was studied using an in vitro method. In the present trial, formulated diets were supplemented with prebiotic (Sargassum muticum), probiotic (Parkia biglobosa) and combination of Parkia biglobosa and Sargassum muticum (symbiotic diet). Bacteria proliferation in supplemented feeds, small and large intestine of the African catfish, Clarias gariepinus fed the formulated diets were evaluated. The feeding trial that lasted 12 weeks was conducted in plastic aquaria, with each treatment replicated three times. A control diet containing only the feed ingredients was also formulated and fed for the same period. The result showed bacteria proliferation was lowest in the control diet and highest in feed supplemented with prebiotic. Low bacteria proliferation was observed in the small intestine of fish fed symbiotic diet while highest proliferation was recorded in the fish fed prebiotic diet. The result also revealed the lowest bacteria proliferation in the large intestine of fish fed symbiotic diet and highest in fish fed probiotic diet. Using the cell morphology and biochemical characteristics of bacteria isolates in supplemented feed, Clarias gariepinus small and large intestine, the result indicated the presence of some Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) known to produce a variety of antimicrobial substances which are able to stop the development of foodborne diseases by inhibiting the growth of food spoilage and pathogenic organisms

Prevalence of Trachoma in Benishangul Gumuz Region, Ethiopia: Results of Seven Population-Based Surveys from the Global Trachoma Mapping Project.

PURPOSE: Trachoma is a major cause of blindness in Ethiopia, and targeted for elimination as a public health problem by the year 2020. Prevalence data are needed to plan interventions. We set out to estimate the prevalence of trachoma in each evaluation unit of grouped districts ("woredas") in Benishangul Gumuz region, Ethiopia. METHODS: We conducted seven cross-sectional community-based surveys, covering 20 woredas, between December 2013 and January 2014, as part of the Global Trachoma Mapping Project (GTMP). The standardized GTMP training package and methodologies were used. RESULTS: A total of 5828 households and 21,919 individuals were enumerated in the surveys. 19,583 people (89.3%) were present when survey teams visited. A total of 19,530 (99.7%) consented to examination, 11,063 (56.6%) of whom were female. The region-wide age- and sex-adjusted trichiasis prevalence in adults aged ≥15 years was 1.3%. Two evaluation units covering four woredas (Pawe, Mandura, Bulen and Dibate) with a combined rural population of 166,959 require implementation of the A, F and E components of the SAFE strategy (surgery, antibiotics, facial cleanliness and environmental improvement) for at least three years before re-survey, and intervention planning should begin for these woredas as soon as possible. CONCLUSION: Both active trachoma and trichiasis are public health problems in Benishangul Gumuz, which needs implementation of the full SAFE strategy

Process intensification of lemon grass oil in a pilot plant

The extraction of essential oil from lemon-grass was carried out using steam distillation in a locally designed and fabricated pilot plant of 100 kg/day capacity. The extraction pattern and economic analysis of the oil extracted were monitored over time. The extraction revealed that 0.414 litres of oil was produced in a day of five batches with a total production cycle per batch of 1.61 hours. The study further revealed that 94.3% of the oil was extracted in 60 minutes. The GCMS result shows the major components in the extracted Lemon grass oil were Oleic acid, Neral and Citral with percentage composition of 25.69%, 19.32% and 15.38% respectively. These percent compositions compare favourably with literature values. The properties of the Lemon grass oil were found to be: specific gravity, 0.8952; iodine value, 120.7g/g; saponification value, 201.3 mgKOH/g and cetane number, 43.7. The economic analysis on a monthly basis revealed a production cost (direct and indirect) of N160,050.00K and the expected net profit of N378,150.00K.Keywords: Essential Oil, Lemon Grass, Extraction, Pilot Plant and Process Intensificatio

Effect of Period and Storage Conditions on Essential Oil Yield And Composition of Eucalyptus Citriodora Leaves

Fresh eucalyptus citriodora leaves were harvested and kept under shade and sun for a period of four weeks. The effect of storage conditions and period of storage on the oil yield, oil composition and extraction pattern of the oil were investigated. It was observed that for the leave kept under sun there was significant decrease in the oil yield from 0.38% in the 1st week to 0.11% in the 4th week. However, for leaves kept under shade the oil yield slightly decreased from about 0.40% in the 1st week to 0.36% in the 4th week. The results further revealed that the storage condition and period of storage had no effect on the extraction pattern of the oil with about 72% of the oil extracted within 40 minutes of extraction time after induction period of 24 minutes. Two mathematical model equations were developed for the prediction of oil yield as a function of storage time for both conditions. The models predicted that for leaves stored in the shade and sun the expected oil yield would be 34.5% and 1% respectively. Physiochemical analysis of the oils revealed that the properties of the oil were not affected by both the period and condition of storage except the colour which changed from pale yellow to light brown. These results imply that the leaves should best be kept under shade before production in order to preserve its oil content and physiochemical properties

Android Based Smart Home System

Conventional electrical installations used in various building today poses great difficulty for physically challenged and elderly persons to operate them. Sometimes it is also inconvenient for normal person to use productively. Because of the increasing number of both the elderly and the disabled persons, an implementation of a smart home system is proposed in this paper. In addition to the convenience, the system also provides a platform for inclusion of the elderly and physically challenged individuals in both homes and offices, thereby enabling them to contribute meaningful to the development of the economy. The system gives home users wireless control over the house hold lighting systems, ventilation systems and the home main gate using an application running on an android smart phone. It also provides the user with an up to date temperature reading of the surrounding and the energy consumed by the device in the house. A centralized controller was developed around PIC 18F4550 microcontroller to handle the data acquisition and processing for the system. The overall system performance was demonstrated in controlling lamps, fans and gate of a prototyped one bedroom flat and confirmed the success of the design

Structural Modification of Cellulosic Fabric via Esterification Using Jatropha curcas Seed Oil

This paper presents the results of x-ray diffraction of a cellulose fabric treated with oils extracted from the seed of Jatropha curcas; the oils were extracted with hexane under reflux while the fabric was purified by scouring, bleaching and mercerization to remove dirt and coloring matter in order to make it suitable for esterification. Apart from the controlled sample which was un-esterified, other samples of the same fabric were treated with different volume and concentration of the oil under the same temperature. The x-ray diffraction analysis carried out on all samples showed that while the control sample had a sharp single peak at 24.033° all the esterified samples showed broad split peaks at angles ranging from 20.308o to 22.809o; also while the control sample had inter-atomic (or d-spacing) of 3.702 Å those of the treated sample ranged from 3.8984 Å to 4.3727 Å, in addition to these the peak width increased from 1.5o in the control sample to between 1.9o to 2.8o in the treated samples. Other significant results showed that the peaks intensity increased from 5489 to highest value 8313 in the sample treated with 20 cm3 of oil. Crystallinity was observed to reduce from 65% in the control to about 63% for esterified fabrics samples and lastly, crystallite size reduced from 9.9 nm to between 5.3 nm to 7.7 nm. The observed structural modifications in treated fabric may have direct influence on the physical, mechanical properties as well as dye-ability of the treated samples. The result of water Imbibition also revealed structural modification as there was a decrease in the amount of water imbibed by esterified fabric, indicating a reduction in the number of OH groups in the new cellulose derivative as revealed in the x – ray analysis. Hence the esterified fabric will be less susceptible to microbial attack during storage