Phylogenetic and genomic relationships in the genus Malus based on RAPDs

Two separate experiments were carried out between local and exotic apple among the locally available varieties. Ten varieties of local apple ( Malus spp.) were selected from South west Nigeria. The choice of the samples was based on observed morphological differences such as size of fruits, fruits color, flower color, leaf shape and plant height while the choice of imported exotic type was based solely on the color of the fruit. Total genomic DNA was isolated from local and exotic apples separately and assessed with RAPD markers. Nine primers generated a total of forty-six polymorphic bands, which were used to generate a UPGMA dendrogram. The dendrogram consists of a single cluster from 0 – 65% similarity coefficient. At 71%, two clusters were discerned with sample 6 and 7 having separated from the clusters. However, two samples 3 and 4 tied at 87% showing the possibility of very close relationships. Two local apples (green and red color) and one exotic apple (green color) were analyzed with 132 bands from 16 polymorphic primers. The dendrogram generated showed a closer relationships between green exotic and green local varieties of apple

An Appraisal of Effective Financial Management of Local Government Funds: A Case of Ido-Osi Local Government Area, Nigeria

This research work deal extensively on the appraisal of effective financial management of Local Government funds in Ido- Osi Local Government area. The population focus on local Government system in order to examine the level of financial management. Thus, the population sample is selected within Ido- Osi Local government area in Nigeria. Out of the sixteen local governments, sampling is selected randomly. Data were collected from both primary and secondary sources such as textbooks, Journal, government gazette while primary sources include questionnaire and personal interview. The responses to the questionnaire were analyzed by the application of Regression Coefficient in providing necessary conclusion and recommendation. Hence, this study revealed that there is an urgent need for local Government System in Nigeria to improve their financial control mechanism and to rationalize its expenditure patterns, in order to achieve optimum performance. Keywords: Appraisal, Conceptualization, Effectiveness, Financial Management and Local Government Authorit

Human Capital Development and Poverty in Nigeria, 1960 - 2009: An Econometric Assessment

This study examined the relationship between human capital development and poverty in Nigeria using data spanning 1960-2009. The human capital development variable was measured using conventional variables i.e. education and health, with government expenditures on education and health being used as the proxies. Other variables on  communication, transportation and utility were used as control. A readily available poverty measure, gross domestic product per capita was used to capture poverty status. This is based on the fact that poverty is mostly measured in monetary terms captured by income or consumption per capita or household in the absence of direct primary data observation. After carrying out the diagnostic tests, the cointegration analysis carried out proved that, to some extent, a cointegrating relationship exists between the poverty measure and human capital development indicators. However, the Granger causality estimation results show that both education and health expenditures are fundamental in reducing poverty level based on the uni-directional causality while no causality runs from poverty status to the indicators. Keywords: Poverty, Human Capital Development, Cointegration, Granger Causalit

Ethnozoological Study of Wild Bird Species Body Parts Supply in Traditional Medicine Markets, Abeokuta, Nigeria

The paper examined the ethnozoological study of wild bird species' body parts supply of eighty-three traditional medicine marketers in six traditional medicine markets in Abeokuta North and South Local Government Area, Ogun State, Nigeria using snowball and convenience sampling techniques through the administration of a set of structured questionnaire to 83respondents. The result showed that four-fifths of the total respondents were females (85.54%), two-thirds of the total respondents (68.68%) were less than 50 years and 91.56% of the total respondents had formal education. A total of 21 bird species had their body parts and products on sale in the different markets studied in the study area. Due to the belief and faith of the people, the respondents agreed that there were some bird species that are regarded as being sacred or forbidden and thus, the birds and their bird body parts are used and sold in traditional medicine to treat different ailments and for sacrificial activities of their clients. It was concluded that the existence of bird species cannot be over-emphasized because they are important in believed resources for curing specified types of ailments and sacrificial offerings in traditional medicine. It was recommended that since birds significantly contribute to the natural ecosystem, human health and nutrition, forest and wildlife conservation campaign should be strengthened

PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF FINISHING BROILERS FED DIETS SUPPLEMENTED WITH COMBINATION OF PROBIOTICS (B. cereus) AND PREBIOTICS (MANNOSE [MOS])

The experiment aimed to investigate effect of combination of probiotics and prebiotics on the performance and carcass characteristics of broilers at finishing phase. A total number of 300 day-old Anak broiler chicks were used to determine the response of broiler chicks to diets supplemented with probiotics (Bacillus cereus) and prebiotics (Mannose). The chicks were randomly allotted to four treatment groups of 75 birds with 25 birds per replicate in a completely randomized design. The four dietary treatments comprised 500ppm MOS; 250ppm B. cereus + 500ppm MOS; 500ppm B. cereus + 500ppm MOS and 750ppm B. cereus + 500ppm MOS, respectively. Results showed that feed conversion ratio decreased significantly (P< 0.05) from 1.21 for groups fed det supplemented with 250ppm B. cereus + 500ppm MOS to 1.05 for groups fed with 750ppm B. cereus + 500ppm MOS  as more prebiotics were added to the probiotics. Final live weight, eviscerated weight and dressing percentage were significantly (p<0.05) influenced by combination of probiotics and prebiotics in finishing broilers. Final live weight values ranged from 2453.30g in birds fed 250ppm B. cereus + 500ppm MOS  to 2488.30g in birds fed 750ppm B. cereus  + 500ppm MOS, while eviscerated weight ranged from 1063.30g at 500ppm MOS to 1396.70g  at 750ppm B. cereus + 500ppm MOS. The same trend was observed for dressing percentage, neck, whole gizzard and liver. It was concluded that combination of probitics and prebiotics at 750ppm B. cereus + 500ppm MOS had positive effect on growth performance and carcass qualities of broilers at finishing phase. &nbsp

Entrepreneurs Response to the 2020 Pandemic: Impact on Business Activities of SMEs in Lagos State.

Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) have always been faced with various challenges in their journey to attain success. Researchers have identified these challenges to include inadequate funding, inadequate information management and recording keeping, poor infrastructure, lack of managerial skills and many others. With the 2020 pandemic, SMEs had to encounter a new set challenges that seems to threaten the very existence/sustenance of the enterprises. The 2020 pandemic came with attendant negative consequences on both human lives as well as the institutional structures and systems that have been put in place for the functioning of the economy. This study set out to examine the immediate and far-reaching impact that 2020 pandemic had on the activities of SMEs and also measures that could be put in place for the continuous survival of SMEs being the engine and catalyst of growth and development of economies of many countries. The research design for the study is Survey. To guide the study four research questions and three hypotheses were generated. The sample for the study were 101 SMEs located within the Lagos State Metropolis. The instrument for data collection is a questionnaire titled, “Questionnaire on Entrepreneurs Response to Pandemic 2020: Impact on Business Activities of SMEs in Lagos State” which had a Cronbach Alpha coefficient value of 0.60. Data collected from the study was analysed using regression statistical tool on the SPSS version 20. The result from the study revealed that entrepreneurs’ response to 2020 pandemic significantly impacted the product/service package cycle, patronage, profitability and innovative tendency of SMEs. It is recommended that all efforts be geared towards creating an enabling environment for the sustainability of entrepreneurial activities of SMEs in the state as they have been identified as the engine of growth and development of all economies

Menstrual-Related Headaches Among a Cohort of African Adolescent Girls

Introduction: Migraine attacks associated with menstruation are generally perceived as more severe than attacks outside this period. Aim and Objective: The study aimed at determining the frequency of menstrual-related headaches among a cohort of senior secondary school girls in Abeokuta, Nigeria. We also determined its burden among these school girls. Methodology: This study was cross-sectional using a validated adolescent headache survey questionnaire. A self-administration of the instrument was done during a school visit. A headache was classified using the ICHD-II criteria. Results: Of the 183 students interviewed, 123(67.2%) had recurrent headaches. Mean age ±SD, 16.18± 1.55 (range 12– 19). The prevalence of definite migraine was 17.5% while the prevalence of probable migraine was 6.0%. The prevalence of tension-type headache was 41.0%. Migraine was significantly menstrual-related (p=0.001, 95% CI=1.06– 6.63). Median pain severity score was higher among MRH group (p=0.043). The median number of days of reduced productivity and missed social activities was significantly higher in the MRH group; p= 0.001 and p=0.03, respectively. Subjects with MRH were more incapacitated by their headaches (p= 0.003). Conclusion: Menstrually related headache is prevalent even among the adolescent and it has adversely affected their productivity and social life. Care of adolescent with headaches should be intensified

Assessment of Urban Infrastructure Quality and User Satisfaction in Low Income Residential Neighbourhoods in Minna, Nigeria

This study assessed urban infrastructure quality and the level of user satisfaction with urban infrastructure in low income residential neighbourhoods in Minna, Nigeria. Five (5) neighbourhoods were selected for the study, and a total of 250 housing units were sampled. Questionnaire was administered on households that fell within the sample and used to retrieve relevant data. This was followed with an observatory study of the entire study area. Simple descriptive statistic, frequency distribution, Kruskal wallis (H) test, Pearson's correlation, and Relative satisfaction index (RSI) were used to analyse collected data at different levels in the research. Analyse-it ® v4.5 statistical software for Microsoft excel was used to carry out all statistical analysis. Seven (7) components of urban infrastructure were identified to sustain residential properties in the study area and the varied conditions of each of these infrastructure was presented. The overall quality of urban infrastructure was established based on cumulative weighted scores of respondents rating of urban infrastructure quality in their respective neighbourhoods. Total weighted scores of 600 and below signified a general poor quality of urban infrastructure in the affected areas. A correlation coefficient of 0.853 indicates a strong positive relationship between drainage conditions and the condition of access roads, among others, while low RSI for access roads (1.972), drainage systems (1.456), waste disposal (1.712), security (2.632), water supply (1.372), electricity supply (1.52), and neighbourhood cleanliness (1.688) indicate a very low level of user satisfaction with urban infrastructure in the study area. Over 50% of respondents described the management of urban infrastructure in their neighbourhoods as being poor. The study recommend that efforts by the concerned authorities should be intensified towards the provision and proper management of urban infrastructure in urban areas.Keywords: Infrastructure quality, residential neighbourhood, urban infrastructure, usersatisfactio

Bleaching of Palm Oil by Activated Local Bentonite and Kaolin Clay from Afashio, Edo-Nigeria

The bleaching potential of Afashio kaolin (AFK), from Edo state in Nigeria, for removal of pigments from palm oil was investigated in comparison with that of local bentonite (BN). Both AFK and BN were activated by acid treatment. Batch experiments were conducted to study the effects of adsorbent dosage (2 – 8 %), contact time (0 – 1.5 hr) and temperature (60 – 90oC) on pigment adsorption. Four adsorption isotherms were used to model the equilibrium data for both adsorbents (AFK and BN), namely Langmuir, Freundlich, Sips and Redlich-Peterson models. The Sips model provides the best correlation and adsorption occurred in monolayer. Kinetic adsorption data were analyzed using the pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order, and intraparticle diffusion models. The regression results showed that the adsorption kinetics was more accurately represented by the pseudo-first order kinetic model. Intraparticle diffusion studies reveals that pore diffusion is the controlling mechanism. Thermodynamic parameters, ?G, ?H and ?S, were calculated as a function of both temperature and adsorbent dosage. The values of enthalpy change were positive and greater than 40 kJ/mol in all cases, indicating that the bleaching process is endothermic and chemisorption in nature. The results suggest that AFK could be employed as low-cost alternative for removal of pigments from vegetable oil though BN is better. Keywords: Afashio kaolin, bentonite, bleaching, equilibrium isotherms, kinetic models

Bioactive metabolites in improved cowpea seeds

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has developed some pest and disease resistant cowpeas. From these the seeds of 8 cowpea cultivars were extracted with ethanol, and partitioned into chloroform and water-soluble fractions, the water-soluble fraction was further extracted with ethyl acetate. Residues from ethanol, chloroform and ethyl acetate soluble fractions for each of the 8 cowpea cultivars were screened against brine shrimp larvae. The seed extracts of cowpea cultivars IT93K – 596 – 9 – 12, IT90K – 277 – 2 and IT93K – 452 – 1 were found to be most active, indicating that they contain cytotoxic compound(s).African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (6), pp. 513-516, 200