Conservation needs of fisheries resources and reorientation for sustainable captive and culture practices

A discussion is presented on the importance of conservation of fishery resources, considering in particular the situation in Nigeria and providing also an outline of various legislations made by government. Suggestions are given regarding the following: education on the importance of conservation; fish farming or aquaculture; restocking or rejuvenation of depleted water bodies; stock assessment; monitoring and surveillance; provision of fishing inputs; and, extension research linkag

Pore-scale analyses of heterogeneity and representative elementary volume for unconventional shale rocks using statistical tools

We express our appreciations to the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, Nigeria (PTDF), for funding this work.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Effects of Allium cepa L. peels extract on gonadotropins, testosterone and sperm variables in Oba Marshal broiler cocks

Allium cepa (onion), a natural seasoning agent that contains significant amounts of potent antioxidants in its scaly leaves is used in folkloric medicine to manage several diseases globally. Antioxidants have an essential effect on sperm health parameters; however, there is limited information on the effects of Allium cepa scaly leaf extract on reproductive functions in Oba Marshal breeder cocks. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of the aqueous extract of Allium cepa scaly leaf on reproductive functions in sexually matured Oba Marshal breeder cocks. Allium cepa bulbs were obtained from a market in Abeokuta, Ogun State. Dry scaly leaves were peeled, pulverised, macerated in distilled water, filtered and concentrated. Twenty, 42 weeks old Oba Marshal breeder cocks (3.48 – 3.62 kg) were divided into 4 groups (n = 5) and treated daily for 2 weeks thus: CT (control, distilled water, 0.5 mL/kg), T2 (extract 200 mg/kg/bird), T4 (extract 400 mg/kg/bird), T8 (extract 800 mg/kg/bird). Sperm characteristics were assessed microscopically. Testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were analysed using ELISA. Data were analysed using ANOVA at α0.05. Treated birds had significantly (p < 0.05) higher sperm motility, morphology but non-significant changes in sperm viability and concentration compared with the controls. Also, serum FSH and LH significantly increased, while testosterone had no significant change in test groups compared to the control. Aqueous extract of Allium cepa scaly leaf improved testicular functions and morphology in the test cocks. The reproductive function enhancement of the extract may be due to its antioxidant effect. Keywords: Allium cepa, Breeding, Broiler cocks, Spermatogenesis, Testosteron

Assessment of Residents’ Satisfaction with Mammy Markets in Military Cantonments in Lagos State, Nigeria

The study assessed the level of residents’ satisfaction with mammy markets in military cantonments, Lagos state. Data was derived from both primary and secondary sources. A multi-stage technique was adopted for the study. There were eleven (11) camps in Ojo Cantonment and seven (7) in Ikeja. Out of these, six (6) camps from Ojo and four (4) camps from Ikeja cantonments were randomly selected. These were 7,854 housing units in the ten (10) selected camps. Systematic sampling method was used to select one out of every twenty-sixth housing unit in the selected camps. Thus, the sample size was 298 housing units (115 from Ojo and 178 from Ikeja) representing 3.7% of housing units in the study area. Information obtained included the socio-economic characteristics of residents and residents’ satisfaction with the markets. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study showed that the Mammy Markets were more patronized by married residents (67.0% for Ojo and 50.6% for Ikeja) who were within the age brackets of 31-50 years (62.4%) in Ojo and 18-30 years (67.5%) in Ikeja. In addition, most (56.0% for Ojo cantonment and 67.5% for Ikeja cantonment) of them were junior non-commissioned officers. However, residents were fairly satisfied with the Mammy Markets (3.04 for Ojo and 2.17 for Ikeja).The study concluded that though the residents’ were more satisfied with security and location of Mammy Markets in the cantonments, a lot still needs to be done by the army authorities to enhance the satisfaction of the residents and traders with the Mammy Markets. Keywords: market, mammy market, residents’ satisfaction, military cantonmen

An Assessment of Housing Satisfaction among Pre-Degree Students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

This study examined housing satisfaction among Pre-degree students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Simple random sampling technique was used in selecting the sample size in the study area. Therefore, 30% (6) of the male hostels and 33.33% (7) of female hostels in the study area were taken as the sampling frame. Therefore, one hundred and sixty seven (167) students out of eight hundred and thirty seven (837) were randomly selected for questionnaire administration. Information collected from the students included their socio-economic characteristics, housing characteristics and their level of satisfaction with their housing. Secondary information was collected from the Centre for Distance Learning on the number of students and number of hostels registered. Data were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The study showed that there were more female respondents (56.8%) than male (40.1%) and most of them (52.1%) were between the ages of 18 and 20 years. The study showed that bungalow was the most common type of student hostel (34.7%); this was followed by the rooming type (32.9%). Similarly, most of the hostels (77.18%) were painted in the three locations. The study further established that most of the students in Moro and Asipa were dissatisfied with their hostel in terms of being conducive for reading (2.39 and 2.22 respectively). Moreover, students in the three selected locations were dissatisfied with the residences neighbourhood features such as distance to shopping areas, health centre, and recreational facilities (2.8, 3.0 and 3.13 for Moro, Ashipa and Ipetumodu respectively). The study concluded that since most of the students were dissatisfied with their hostels, their satisfaction could be enhanced, if the school authority could construct quality hostels very close to the school premises. Keywords: housing, housing satisfaction, pre-degree students

Pattern of referrals of head injury to the University College Hospital, Ibadan

Background: Although there are now many neurosurgical units in Nigeria, cases of head injury (HI) continue to present in the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan, from hospitals all over the country.Objective: This report aims to highlight the contemporary patterns of referrals of cases of head injury for neurosurgery in Ibadan.Methods: The study emanated from an analysis of registry of cases of head injury managed in our practice covering a 7-year period at the UCH Ibadan. The clinical/ trauma-demography of cases of head injury referred were analyzed quantitativelyand then compared with head injury cases that presented primarily to UCH Ibadan during the same period. An alpha value of <0.05 was considered significant for associations for pattern of referrals.Results: Of the 1034 cases of head injuries in the registry, 23.6% presented primarily to UCH, Ibadan; 423 (40.1%) were from outside Ibadan/Oyo state. Most of the cases were earlier seen in other health facilities in four out of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones including other teaching hospitals with practicing neurosurgeons. The reasons for these inter-hospital, inter-state referrals included absence of neurosurgical expertise (67%) or lack of other logistics like neuroimaging, bed space and intensive care unit services. Head Injury was caused by road accidents in more than 85% of the cases. The patients referred inter-state had more severe injuries, more delayed attainment of critical milestones in their trauma care, and higher frequency of neurosurgical operative interventions. They also had worse in-hospital outcome and longer length of stay.Conclusions: The University College Hospital, Ibadan continues to play a pivotal role in the management of head injury in Nigeria. The results support an urgent need for stakeholders in the health sector to provide all that is required to uphold the status of the Hospital as a center of excellence in neurosurgery and neurosciences.Keywords: Head injury, Referrals, Neurosurgery, UCH, Ibada

Radiation dose and cancer risk estimates from tuberculosis infections imaging.

Doctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.Abstract available in pdf

The Death Row Phenomenon: A Prohibition Against Torture, Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment

Several debates on the legitimacy, constitutionality, and acceptability of the death penalty have arisen throughout the years. The death row phenomenon refers to the psychological effects on prisoners of being on death row for a prolonged period while awaiting an imminent execution under harsh conditions of confinement. Having been declared a violation of a customary norm of international law by several international tribunals and national courts, this Article explores the possibility of the death row phenomenon, as a legal concept, becoming widely accepted and ultimately preventing the execution of another category of offenders. The existence of a lack of judicial consensus arising from different standards set by these courts in the determination of what constitutes delay could be an obstacle to this development. This Article suggests that if pursued diligently, the death row phenomenon could become universally accepted as an unacceptable practice and a standard could be set under international law which would become binding upon national courts

Strategies and mechanisms to eradicate the worst forms of child labour in Nigeria

Includes bibliographical references.Children are the future of a nation and the hope for a better tomorrow. For a country to develop, the rights of a child should be of paramount concern to the government of the nation. These rights include, but are not limited to, the right to adequate standard of living, health care, education, play and recreation, protection from abuse, negligence and exploitation. Unfortunately, many children are denied these rights and the joy of childhood by being involved in child labour as a means to survive. In Nigeria, child labourers engage in all forms of labour and this is becoming widespread. The major causes of increasing incidence of child labour in Nigeria are the prevailing unemployment rate in the country, poverty, illiteracy, household size, culture and family structure. Several writers have written on the increasing incidence of child labour and the prohibition of child labour. Some writers have also written on the underlying major causes and health consequences of child labour in Nigeria. Although it may be impossible to totally eradicate child labour in Nigeria however, ultimate consideration to strategies and mechanisms on how to eradicate the worst forms ofchild labour in Nigeria is yet to be analysed. This is pertinent bearing in mind that Nigeria has ratified the ILO Convention on Worst Forms of Child Labour. This dissertation aims to address some of these issues by focusing on why children work as child labourers and the consequences and effects of child labour on the growth and development of the child. It will also analyse the efforts made by the International Labour Organisation and International Programs for the Elimination of Child Labour in eradicating the worst forms of child labour in Nigeria. Furthermore, this dissertation will attempt to determine what accounts for gaps in effective implementation of international laws on child labour ratified by Nigeria and national legislation enacted to prohibits the worst forms of child labour. Finally, it will suggest possible state and policy interventions, in the form of strategies and mechanisms, that could eradicate the worst forms of child labour in Nigeria

Improving Energy Recovery From Anaerobic Co-Digestion Of Potato Peel And Pig Manure

The influence of mixing ratio, thermal pre-treatments and biological-acidification pre-treatment on methane yield was evaluated for anaerobic co-digestion of potato peel and pig manure, in a batch study at mesophilic conditions. The biological-acidification pre-treatment was conducted at mesophilic (37 °C) and thermophilic (55 °C) condition at a retention time of 6 days, with a food-microorganism ratio of 0.5. The thermal pre-treatment was performed at 100 °C for 1 hour, using a reflux heating method. A food-microorganism ratio of 0.5 was applied in a biochemical methane potential test for the untreated and pre-treated substrate, at a mesophilic temperature. Results showed that the highest experimental methane yield for the untreated substrate was 231 ml CH4/��������������������, which was attained at 50:50 mix of potato peel to pig manure. The pre-treated substrates had the highest methane yield of 285 ml CH4/�������������������� and 283 ml CH4/��������������������, for the thermally treated and biological-thermophilic treated substrate, respectively, at 50:50 mix of potato peel to pig manure. This was 23% higher than the methane yield from untreated substrate. However, the biological-acidification at mesophilic temperature attained the highest experimental methane yield of 255 ml CH4/�������������������� at 75:25 mix of PP to PM. The reaction kinetics showed that the biological acidification pre-treatment had the highest methane production rate. However, the thermal pre-treatment produced 95% of the cumulative methane in less than 15 days due to the longer pre-treatment time in biological acidification. Hence, biological-acidification and thermal pre-treatment enhanced methane yield and reaction kinetics from co-digestion of potato peel and pig manure