Rice Pests in the Ivory Coast, West Africa: Farmers’ Perceptions and Management Strategies

An understanding of farmers’ perceptions of pests and their existing pest control methods can make an important contribution to the development of effective integrated pest management strategies. While the relatively successful rice IPM technologies in Asia have been extensively documented in studies examining farmers’ pest perceptions and management practices, studies examining, specifically, perceptions and management practices of West African rice farmers are rare. This may reflect the more limited success to date in the implementation of rice IPM strategies in the region. This paper describes rice pests, pest perceptions, and management practices of smallholder rice farmers in the Ivory Coast. It was found that the major rice pests, as perceived by farmers, are weeds, vertebrates (birds and rodents), and insects. Farmers are generally unable to diagnose rice plant diseases and thus did not consider them as important production constraints. Implications are derived for an integrated pest management strategy that incorporates farmers’ perceptions and builds on their existing cultural control practices

Determinants of utilisation of traditional birth attendant services by pregnant women in Ogbomoso, Nigeria

Background: This study was designed to assess the determinants of utilization of Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) services by pregnant women in different communities in Ogbomoso, Nigeria.Methods: This was a community- based cross-sectional study. Fisher's formula was used to calculate the sample size and a total of 270 eligible pregnant women were enrolled for the study using multistage sampling technique. Data was collected using pretested structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 20 and results were presented in frequencies and percentages.Results: Factors found to have a significant influence on the utilization of TBA services in this study include: low educational status (p <0.001), lower socioeconomic status (p <0.001), and compassionate care given by the TBAs (p=0.004). Other factors include service proximity and lower cost of TBA services.Conclusions: The impact of TBAs and their services cannot be overemphasized in the present state of maternal and child health in Nigeria.  Lower educational status among others has been found to be a strong predictor of utilization of TBA services. There is, therefore, the need to improve the educational and socioeconomic status of women in order to allow them to access quality health care services that will safeguard their well-being. Inculcating compassionate care into orthodox healthcare delivery will go a long way to improve patronage and discourage TBA utilization

Comparative Study of Antimicrobial Potency and Phytochemical Analysis of Methanolic Extracts of the Leaf and Flower of Luffa cylindrica

Leaf and flower methanolic extracts of Luffa cylindrica were investigated for antimicrobial activities and phytochemical constituents. The extracts were tested against four bacteria (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella typhi) and two fungal strains (Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans) by using the agar-well diffusion method while the phytochemical constituents were quantified using standard procedures. The result of the antimicrobial activity revealed that the methanolic leaf extract was more potent than that of the flower against bacterial strains used while methanolic flower extract exhibited a better antifungal activity against Candida albicans and A. niger. The phytochemicals analysed include alkaloid, tannin, saponin, phytate and oxalate which were quantitatively higher in flower extract that leaf extract. The methanolic extract of the leaves and flowers of Luffa cylindrica holds great promise for the development of effective drugs for the treatment of bacterial infections and more efficiently against Candida albicans infection. Keywords: Luffa cylindrica, antimicrobial activity, phytochemical, agar-well diffusion, methanolic extract

Optimization of Process Variables for the Production of Oxalic Acid from Sweet Potato Starch Hydrolyzate.

In this study optimization of oxalic acid production from Sweet Potato Starch Hydrolyzate (SPSH) using Aspergillus niger was investigated. The effects of three independent variables (concentrations of SPSH, fermentation time and pH) on the response (oxalic acid yield) and their reciprocal interactions were established using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The box behnken design (BBD) was used to generate a total of 17 fermentation runs, which were subsequently conducted. A second-order mathematical model was obtained to predict the oxalic acid yield. A statistical model predicted the highest conversion yield of oxalic acid to be 103.274 g/l, at the optimal condition of SPSH of 149.97 g /l, time of 9 days, and pH of 6. The optimized condition was validated with the actual oxalic acid yield of 103.26 g/l. This work revealed that sweet potato starch could serve as alternative carbon source for oxalic acid production and the results could be scaled up to industrial production. Keywords: Sweet potato, Response Surface Methodology, Oxalic acid, Optimization, Aspergillus niger

Growth Inhibition of Aspergillus niger and Penicillium italicum by Seed Kernel Oil from Mango (Mangifera indica L.)

The present study aims to evaluate the fungal inhibitory activity of seed kernel oil extracted from mango (Mangifera indica L.) fruit. Mango is one of the most important tropical fruits that is abundant in Nigeria. Thus, there is an abundant supply of mango seed kernels which are considered as wastes after consumption or industrial processing of mango fruits. The oil was extracted from the mango seed kernels by solvent extraction process. Agar dilution assay was used to evaluate the inhibitory activity of the mango seed kernel oil against Aspergillus niger and Penicillium italicum. The mango seed kernel oil (MSKO) was found to inhibit growth of the two fungi tested at different concentrations (1.33%, 2.67% and 4.0%). 4% concentration of MSKO in the agar brought about a reduction in the mycelial growth diameter of A. niger at Day 7 from 44.0 ± 1.41 mm (control) to 35.5 ± 0.71 mm while the reduction in the mycelial growth diameter of P. italicum at Day 7 was from 44.0 ± 14.14 mm (control) to 33.0 ± 0.00 mm. Mango seed kernel oil produced mycelium growth inhibition of A. niger and P. italicum at 4% concentration, with percentage inhibitions of 19.32% and 25.0%, respectively. The results revealed that P. italicum was more sensitive to the mango seed kernel oil than A. niger. These results suggest that mango seed kernel oil could have potential applications in the food industry to prevent fungal-associated food spoilage from important pathogenic genera Aspergillus and Penicillium. Keywords: Growth inhibition, Mango seed kernel oil, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium italicum, Inhibitory effec

Characterization, reactivity and rheological behaviour of metakaolin and Meta-halloysite based geopolymer binders

The type of aluminosilicate precursor used in the synthesis of geopolymer binders plays a huge role in the resulting performance. Thus, it is critical to understand the properties of precursors and how they influence the corresponding performance of geopolymer binders. In this study, metakaolin and meta halloysite are used as the aluminosilicate precursor in the synthesis of geopolymer binders. These precursors are obtained locally in order to propel the sustainable development and application of geopolymers. The precursors were characterized and the corresponding influence on the reactivity, rheology and setting times of geopolymers was investigated. In addition to the influence of precursor type on the properties of the geopolymers, the effect of two silica moduli (i.e. 1.3 and 1.5) was also evaluated. The results from this study indicated that increasing the activator silica modulus from 1.3 to 1.5 extended the setting times and increased the stress strain of the geopolymer binders. Characterization of the precursors indicated that metakaolin has a higher amorphous content compared to that of meta halloysite. However, the finer particles of meta halloysite embodied it with the ability to participate in a faster geopolymerization and result in more formation of activation products

Bathymetric Survey and Volumetric Analysis for Sustainable Management: Case Study of Suleja Dam, Niger State, Nigeria

Ocean floor and the shape of the shoreline are major influencers of the changes in tidal propagation. Bathymetry; a survey operation aimed at determining the nature of the underwater level and topography of a water body’s bed level plays a cogent role in the determination of both the shape of the shoreline and the ocean floor thereby aiding the monitoring and spatio-temporal modelling of the changes in tidal propagation as much as it ensures the availability of hydro-data which is the foundation of a Maritime Database Management System (MDBMS). This work presents the findings of the bathymetric survey and volumetric analysis of Suleja Dam located in the North central Region of Nigeria. The Differential Global Positioning System receiver (DGPS) (Promark 3), automatic level, echomap 50s in conjunction with the engine boat were used during this research. The data acquired was processed using the GNSS solutions software with the chart plotted in surfer 9 software environment. The surface area of the dam was discovered to be 24.64ha less than the designed area. Also the volume of water was found to be 3.6 x 106m3 in contrast to the design volume of 34.7x106m3. It was also observed that the lowest water depth was 0.56m and the highest water depth was 22.06m, therefore a difference of 5.94m was obtained as against the initial construction depth of 28.00m. The undulating nature of the reservoir bed and the difference in volume of water and surface area covered by the dam are pointers and clear indications of sedimentation and siltation process going on in the dam. Keywords: Bathymetry, sounding, chart, reservoir, MDBM

Exploring Sustainable E-Learning Platforms for Improved Universities’ Faculty Engagement in the New World of Work

The familiar places where faculty and students engage, collaborate, debate, interact and exchange viewpoints appear to have been improved by introducing digital technology. This study investigates the influence of e-learning opportunities on faculty engagement in Nigerian universities. Five hundred faculty members were surveyed across eight private universities in Nigeria using purposive and convenient sampling techniques. Only 431 copies of the questionnaire, representing 86.2% response rate, were analysed with Smart PLS 3.0. The results show that virtual learning platforms, digital databases, online short courses and webinar learning platforms significantly influenced teaching, research, administrative and community engagements. The study concludes that the faculty of various universities should leverage e-learning platforms to be more engaged. The study recommends the machinery needed by the faculty members of Nigerian universities during the COVID-19 lockdown that challenged the conventional practice. The study empirically contributes to strengthening the current teaching, research, partnership and collaboration trends for improved faculty engagement in the new-normal world of work

Assessment of health communication practice on hepatitis B in Southwest Nigeria

In line with the Sustainable Development Goal 3:3 of ending the epidemic of hepatitis by year 2030, there is a global call for strategic information to understand viral hepatitis. Existing studies on hepatitis B virus (HBV) in Nigeria have primarily focused on health practitioners and their patients, to the neglect of detailed empirical data on health communication practice, especially as it relates to semi-urban and urban demographic information. The study set to find out the communication strategies employed by government and non-government organisations working on HBV, as well as the preferred health communication channels for hepatitis B by semi-urban and urban residents. The study adopted a mixed method. The qualitative method assessed the communication strategies employed by government and non-government health-related agencies in informing people on HBV in Nigeria while, the survey examined the preferred health communication channels for HBV management among 582 semi-urban and urban residents in Lagos, Oyo, and Ogun States, Southwest Nigeria. Bivariate analyses were performed on demographic variables and preferred health communication channels for HBV by states. This study found that government agencies and non-government organisations working on hepatitis B predominantly make use of interpersonal communication in getting the people informed of HBV. Also, residents of Southwest Nigeria (elderly, 71.4% (Lagos), married couples, 53.7% (Ogun)) preferred the internet as a health communication source for hepatitis B information as against traditional means of television, radio and print platforms