Relationship between blood pressure, body mass index and health promoting lifestyle practices of women in selected rural communities in Osun State Nigeria

Objective: Globally, studies have shown that the trend of overweight and obesity has increased astronomically and there is a close link between body mass index and blood pressure. This study determined the link between the body mass index (BMI), blood pressure and health promoting practices of women in rural and sub-urban communities.Methods: Multi-stage sampling technique was employed to select 394 women from three rural/semiurban communities purposively selected from Osun State for this cross sectional study. Interviewer's administered questionnaire was used to collect data such as socio- demographic data, blood pressure, anthropometric indices and health promoting lifestyle practices of the respondent. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 17 software and level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.Result: The mean age of the respondents was 40.28±16.03 years and majority earned average monthly income of between N1000-5000 ($5-25). The mean BMI was 28.04±5.449 kg/m2 and about 20% 0f respondent were obese The mean systolic blood pressure was 114.14±17.835 mmHg while diastolic blood pressure was 71.04±12.99 mmHg and about 10% of respondents had hypertension. There was positive and significant relationship between BMI and blood pressure (r = 0.15, p=0.01). The study demonstrated no significant relationship between the health promoting lifestyle practices of the respondents BMI and blood pressure.Conclusion: The significant relationship between BMI and hypertension validate the need for health promoting lifestyle intervention programme for rural women and similar population in order to control the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases.Keywords: blood pressure, body mass index, rural community, Health Promoting Lifestyles practices, women and socio-economic statu

What Does Serum Adiponectin Portend in Obese Nigerian Type 2 Diabetes Subjects

Background: Adiponectin is a protein hormone whose levels have been found to correlate with glycaemic control and lipid profile in patients with Type 2 DM. This study evaluates the relationship of adiponectin in Obese and non - obese Nigerian T2DM patients. Method: This cross-sectional hospital-based study included two groups of 60 Obese T2DM and 60 non-obese T2DM subjects. All study participants had clinical assessment, and blood samples collected and assessed  for serum Adiponectin, fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein, high density lipoprotein. Results: Obese T2DM subjects had lower levels of adiponectin than Non-obese T2DM subjects (p > 0.05). In both groups, 65% and 77% of the Obese non-Obese diabetic group had good glycemic status, which poorly correlated with serum adiponectin levels, with higher adiponectin values seen in the groups with poorly controlled glycemic status. High density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels correlated positively with serum Adiponectin levels in both Obese and non-Obese diabetic groups, however this was significant only in the Obese diabetic group (r = 0.30, p = 0.02). Adiponectin correlated negatively with Triglycerides only in the non-Obese diabetic group (r = -0.12, p = 0.37), and also correlated negatively with atherogenic index (r = -0.092, p = 0.316), though not statistically significant. Conclusion: Adiponectin  is a poor marker for glycaemic control, and does not correlate with lipids such as TG, through its anti-atherogenic properties it may be associated with reduced risk of atherosclerosis as evidenced by its weakly positive and direct correlation with HDL among Nigerian Type 2 DM subjects

A Comparative Kinetic Study of Acidic Hydrolysis of Wastes Cellulose from Agricultural Derived Biomass

Bioconversion of agricultural waste products to produce value-added fuels and chemicals offers potential economical, environmental and strategic advantages over traditional fossil-based products. The kinetics of acid hydrolysis of cellulose isolated from banana skin, cowpea shells, maize stalks and rice husk (agricultural waste) were studied at temperature ranging between 70 \u2013 100\ub0C in a stirred conical flask which served as a batch reactor. The effect of acid concentration on cellulose hydrolysis was also investigated. The results showed that the rate of hydrolysis by virtue of glucose yield generally increased with increase in temperature and acid concentration for all the four agricultural wastes used. The experimental data were fitted to integrated first order rate kinetics and the results obtained suggested a first order rate of glucose formation from four agricultural wastes cellulose used. The activation energies estimated from Arrhenius equation are 39.60 KJ/mole, 38.83 KJ/mole, 44.37 KJ/mole and 34.29 KJ/mole for banana skin, cowpea shells, maize stalks and rice husk cellulose, respectively. These values suggests the ease with which hydrolysis can occur between the four agricultural wastes cellulose

Study of near-surface layers of Omerelu area using low velocity layer (LVL) method

It is important that we have good knowledge of the soil type so as to appreciate the enormous resources we are stepping on. It is more compelling for oil explorationists to know more as this will go a long way to determine the success or failure of search for minerals. Seismic methods give a good overview of a wide area though they involve greater logistics and operational requirements than some other geophysical methods. The purpose of present study is to determine the depth of the weathered layer and velocities of near-surface layers over the investigated area. Twelve sample points were picked with a grid system spread over a perimeter of approximately 4km x 4km. The in-house UpSphere computer program was utilised to analyse and display result in a way that makes final interpretation very easy. This program actually removed the burden of plotting the graphs and the contour maps manually. The depth of weathered layer in the study area varies between 12m and 13m. The velocities of the weathered layer and the consolidated layer vary between 500 m/s – 550 m/s and 1790 m/s – 1875 m/s respectively. Also the dip is in the north east – south west direction

Phytochemical Screening and Antimicrobial Studies of Crateva adansonii Leaf Extract

Diverse challenges of microbial infections and upsurge of multi-drug resistant microbes informed the investigation into the phytochemical and antibacterial properties of Crateva adansonii. Cold extraction was carried out using methanol solvent. The crude extract of Crateva adansonii was fractionated into the n-hexane, methanol and chloroform layers successively. The phytochemical screening indicated the presence of alkaloids, saponins, terpenoids, flavonoids and cardiac glycosides. The antimicrobial assay showed that, for Bacillus spp, the organism was sensitive to the chloroform fraction of leaf extract at 1.562 mg/ml. For Microccocus varians, result showed organism was sensitive to the crude extract at 3.125 mg/ml. According to the result of antifungal screening, the n-hexane fraction and crude extract showed activity against Aspergillus niger at 12.500 mg/ml and 3.125 mg/ml respectively. From these results, the crude extract of the leaf of Crateva adansonii shows activity against both bacteria and Fungi; hence, it may might be a good source of new drug for treating infections caused by these pathogens

Volume-Level Calibrations for Partially-filled Liquid Process and Storage Vessels: Metering for Complex Geometries

Process vessels utilized for liquids and liquid-phase processes are important in the chemical process industries as they are employed for a number of purposes which include use as reservoirs, surge tanks, transportation tankers and as reactors. It is therefore often desired to have real-time data about the liquid volume and level especially for partially-filled vessels. While obtaining volume-level data for filled tanks for common geometries are simple tasks, this is not so for partially-filled vessels with complex geometries. This paper therefore sets out to develop a useful theoretical tool which can assist process engineers with the task of calibrating process tanks for these complex yet widely-used geometries. The paper presents a mathematical analysis of these geometries and develops equations and charts which could be used to estimate tank volumes from given depth of liquid for any geometry of partially-filled process vessel. The paper also develops a useful methodology which can assist in the design and sizing of process vessels using the developed charts. The paper is unique in that it utilized a normalization technique in the mathematical analyses of the partially-filled process vessels. Fractional volume and fractional depth were introduced as key variables in addition to dimensionless geometric parameters

Adsorption isotherm and kinetics for the removal of nitrate from wastewater using chicken feather fiber

Nitrate has been identified as a major source of water pollution and eutrophication. The use of modified chicken feathers (MCFs) as an adsorbent has not been fully explored. The study therefore assessed the use of MCFs for the adsorption of nitrate. Fresh chicken feathers, obtained from a commercial poultry farm, were first hydrolyzed with sodium hydroxide and activated with HCl ðaqÞ to give modified chicken feathers, MCFs. Experimental constraints were varied in a series of batch tests including concentration, pH, adsorbent dosage and contact time. FTIR was used to monitor the adsorption processes (before and after) of the polluted water. The outcome showed increase in specific surface area and the favorable formation of adsorption sites of MCFs. For the understanding of adsorp�tion mechanism, experimental data were assessed by Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Sips isotherm equations. Pseudo-first and pseudo-second order models were used to evaluate time characteristics of adsorption. The optimum parameters for adsorption are found to be initial ion concentration, initial pH, adsorbent dosage and contact time 300 mg/L, 8, 10 and 480 min, respectively. This study also reveals adsorption fit the chosen isotherm models in the following order: (Sips >Langmuir > Freundlich > Temkin). Sips isotherm having the best fit infers adsorption took place on heterogeneous surface. Pseudo-second-order is suited for explaining nitrate removal based on statistical R2 coefficient. The use of MCFs as an eco-friendly

A Comparative Kinetic Study of Acidic Hydrolysis of Wastes Cellulose from Agricultural Derived Biomass

Bioconversion of agricultural waste products to produce value-added fuels and chemicals offers potential economical, environmental and strategic advantages over traditional fossil-based products. The kinetics of acid hydrolysis of cellulose isolated from banana skin, cowpea shells, maize stalks and rice husk (agricultural waste) were studied at temperature ranging between 70 – 100°C in a stirred conical flask which served as a batch reactor. The effect of acid concentration on cellulose hydrolysis was also investigated. The results showed that the rate of hydrolysis by virtue of glucose yield generally increased with increase in temperature and acid concentration for all the four agricultural wastes used. The experimental data were fitted to integrated first order rate kinetics and the results obtained suggested a first order rate of glucose formation from four agricultural wastes cellulose used. The activation energies estimated from Arrhenius equation are 39.60 KJ/mole, 38.83 KJ/mole, 44.37 KJ/mole and 34.29 KJ/mole for banana skin, cowpea shells, maize stalks and rice husk cellulose, respectively. These values suggests the ease with which hydrolysis can occur between the four agricultural wastes cellulose

Shelf life of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) seed stored under humid tropical conditions

Successful crop production depends initially on the availability of high-quality seed. Seed viability and vigour of four kenaf varieties during storage were investigated. Seeds of each variety were packed inside thick polythene bags and kept in Seed Stores under ambient conditions in two storage locations (Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) (29.8°C, 59.10 RH%) and Institute of Agricultural Research and Train- ing, Ibadan (27.5°C, 64.68 RH%) for 240 days (8 months).  Seeds were sampled during storage at 0, 60, 120, 180 and 240 days and tested for seed viability and seedling vigour index. Data collected on seed viability and seedling vigour were analyzed using ANOVA, mean separation using Duncan Multiple Range Test at 5% probability level and PROBIT analysis. The results showed differential responses in the two quality traits due to differences in storage location and varieties. Ibadan storage location provided more favourable conditions for higher seed quality compared to Abeokuta location while Ifeken 400 and Tianung had the best storage potential. The study showed that under ambient humid tropical conditions, storage period should not exceed 180 days (6 months) in order to maintain higher physiological quality with little or no cost. The PROBIT result revealed that the highest seed shelf life (longevity) of kenaf seeds of 8 to 9 months was derived for seeds of Ifeken 400 and Tianung stored in Ibadan and Abeokuta. The shortest shelf life of 6 months was esti- mated for Ifeken 100 stored in both locations.