Development of a Machine for Expressing Vernonia amygdalina Leaf Juice

Vernonia amygdalina leaf juice is known for its nutritive value and as food supplement. There is therefore, a need for a simple processing device for the leaf juice expression. This study developed a machine for producing contamination-free V. amygdalina leaf juice. The design of the machine was based on the principle of a pressure deferential applied to the incoming leaf mash compared with that applied to the discharged material. Macerated leaves were compressed through a tapered screw conveyor; whose shaft terminates as a rising but short conical kink. The maximum juice yield of 41.39% was expressed from the leaf mash at pressing pressure and residence time of 6.09 MPa and 11 min, respectively. The throughput of the machine was 9.60 kg/h and the juice extraction rate was 1.86/h at leaf to water ratio of 1: 0.8. The maximum juice expression efficiency was 15.54% at 1: 1.2 leaf to water ratio, 60 rpm constant rotational motor speed and 11.99 kg/h feeding rate. Approximately 26.38% of the inherent moisture content of the leaf was expressed by the machine. It is expected that the machine may be used to express juice from other plant leaves having comparative physical properties. The machine therefore provides a viable technique for mechanical expression of good quality V. amygdalina leaf juice.

ERGO-ANALYSIS OF SCHOOL FURNITURE IN USE BY SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN SOUTH WESTERN NIGERIA

The anthropometric data of the students in secondary schools was obtained and possible mismatch between the relevant dimensions of students and the classroom furniture they use were examined.A total of 480 students in Junior Secondary 1 through Senior Secondary 3 in sixteen (Eight Public and Eight Private) Secondary Schools participated in the study with ages ranging from 10 years to 18 years. Fourteen anthropometric measurements and the dimensions of four types of chairs and four types of desks prevalent in the students' classrooms were measured. The means, standard deviations, fifth, fiftieth and ninety fifth percentiles were calculated. The anthropometric dimensions of the students in the public schools were statistically compared with those in the private schools with use of SPSS 16.0 Statistical Package. Moreover, the student body dimensions and furniture dimensions were compared. The results show that that all the measured dimensions of the students in the public schools (Popliteal Height: 39.5 cm, Sitting Height: 77.3 cm, Knee Height: 53.0 cm, Elbow Height Sitting: 16.0 cm, Buttock-Popliteal Length: 43.8 cm; using the 50th percentiles) and private schools (Popliteal Height: 40.2 cm, Sitting Height: 80.3 cm, Knee Height: 53.3 cm, Elbow Height Sitting: 16.5 cm, Buttock-Popliteal Length: 44.0 cm; using the 50th percentiles) were not significantly different (p = 0.00) except Buttock-Popliteal Length (p = 0.08) and Hip Breadth (p = 0.12). Moreover, a degree of mismatch between the students' bodily dimensions and the classroom furniture available to them was established. It was concluded that the anthropometric data of the .Nigerian Students were not employed in the manufacture of the school furniture and may be an indication that school furniture and students anthropometric dimensions are at variant nationwide

Influence of socio-economic factors on prevalence of teenage pregnancy in Nigeria

The study utilized the theory of fertility as initiated by Davis and Blakes (1956) and developed by Bongaarts in 1978 to underscore why teenage fertility has remained high in Nigeria. This study investigates women socio-economic factors influencing pregnancy in Nigeria. A total sample of 8448 female teenagers with pregnancy experiences were extracted from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). The study revealed that 19% of young girls with 15-19 years have experienced teenage pregnancy in Nigeria. More importantly, the socio-economic factors with significant influence on teenage pregnancy are: respondents with age 18-19 years (33.2 percent), rural (27.2 percent), Islamic religion (25.2 percent), North-west (28.5 percent), poorest (32 percent), no educational (43.7 percent), married/living with partners (73.9 percent), employed (21.5 percent), visited any health facility in the last 12 months (42 percent) and those who were informed about family planning at a health facility (84.3 per cent) . There is need for sound education for females in Nigeria that will equip girls and women with adequate knowledge needed to make informed decisions on matters relating to sexual and reproductive health, hence resulting in the actualization of the SDG 5

PRPF8-mediated dysregulation of hBrr2 helicase disrupts human spliceosome kinetics and 5\ub4-splice-site selection causing tissue-specific defects

\ua9 The Author(s) 2024.The carboxy-terminus of the spliceosomal protein PRPF8, which regulates the RNA helicase Brr2, is a hotspot for mutations causing retinitis pigmentosa-type 13, with unclear role in human splicing and tissue-specificity mechanism. We used patient induced pluripotent stem cells-derived cells, carrying the heterozygous PRPF8 c.6926 A > C (p.H2309P) mutation to demonstrate retinal-specific endophenotypes comprising photoreceptor loss, apical-basal polarity and ciliary defects. Comprehensive molecular, transcriptomic, and proteomic analyses revealed a role of the PRPF8/Brr2 regulation in 5’-splice site (5’SS) selection by spliceosomes, for which disruption impaired alternative splicing and weak/suboptimal 5’SS selection, and enhanced cryptic splicing, predominantly in ciliary and retinal-specific transcripts. Altered splicing efficiency, nuclear speckles organisation, and PRPF8 interaction with U6 snRNA, caused accumulation of active spliceosomes and poly(A)+ mRNAs in unique splicing clusters located at the nuclear periphery of photoreceptors. Collectively these elucidate the role of PRPF8/Brr2 regulatory mechanisms in splicing and the molecular basis of retinal disease, informing therapeutic approaches

Emergence and spread of two SARS-CoV-2 variants of interest in Nigeria.

Identifying the dissemination patterns and impacts of a virus of economic or health importance during a pandemic is crucial, as it informs the public on policies for containment in order to reduce the spread of the virus. In this study, we integrated genomic and travel data to investigate the emergence and spread of the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.318 and B.1.525 (Eta) variants of interest in Nigeria and the wider Africa region. By integrating travel data and phylogeographic reconstructions, we find that these two variants that arose during the second wave in Nigeria emerged from within Africa, with the B.1.525 from Nigeria, and then spread to other parts of the world. Data from this study show how regional connectivity of Nigeria drove the spread of these variants of interest to surrounding countries and those connected by air-traffic. Our findings demonstrate the power of genomic analysis when combined with mobility and epidemiological data to identify the drivers of transmission, as bidirectional transmission within and between African nations are grossly underestimated as seen in our import risk index estimates

Efficacy of Major Plant Extracts/Molecules on Field Insect Pests

Insect pests are considered the major hurdle in enhancing the production and productivity of any farming system. The use of conventional synthetic pesticides has led to the emergence of pesticide-resistant insects, environmental pollution, and negative effects on natural enemies, which have caused an ecological imbalance of the predator-prey ratio and human health hazards; therefore, eco-friendly alternative strategies are required. The plant kingdom, a rich repertoire of secondary metabolites, can be tapped as an alternative for insect pest management strategies. A number of plants have been documented to have insecticidal properties against various orders of insects in vitro by acting as antifeedants, repellents, sterilant and oviposition deterrents, etc. However, only a few plant compounds are applicable at the field level or presently commercialised. Here, we have provided an overview of the broad-spectrum insecticidal activity of plant compounds from neem, Annona, Pongamia, and Jatropha. Additionally, the impact of medicinal plants, herbs, spices, and essential oils has been reviewed briefl

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Physicochemical composition and glycemic index of whole grain bread produced from composite flours of quality protein maize and wheat

This study entails quality assessment of whole grain bread produced from composite flours of quality protein maize and wheat. Quality protein maize and wheat were processed into flours and mixed at various ratios for bread production. The proximate compositions, physical properties, glycemic response, functional and sensory properties of the samples were evaluated using standard methods. The result showed no significant difference (p<0.05) in the proximate composition parameters of the bread samples. The loaf height (2.50 - 3.95 cm), volume (291.00 - 415.00 cm3) and specific volume(1.72 - 2.42 cm3/g) decreased significantly with increasing level of quality protein maize, however, loaf length was not affected by the substitution of quality protein maize. The result of the functional properties showed that final viscosity, water absorption and swelling capacity increased with increasing level of quality protein maize. The result of the glycemic response showed that the inclusion of quality protein maize resulted in decline in the blood glucose content (glycemic index) of the products. The bread samples were generally acceptable however; bread with 100% wheat was the most preferred. The result of the sensory properties showed that there was significant difference (p<0.05) in the texture and taste of 100% wheat bread and the other samples. The study concluded that substitution of quality protein maize with wheat produced acceptable whole grain loaves that have positive effect on the reduction of blood glucose level

Public-Private Partnership Initiative in Nigeria and Its Dispute Resolution Mechanism: An Appraisal

In the African countries, the provision and supply of infrastructural facilities and the procurement of other public utilities were, until recently, absolutely under the sole control of the government. However, due to corruption, leakage and wastage in the public procurement process, coupled with the lackadaisical attitude of the government officials towards the same, and more importantly, with the realisation and acknowledgement of the skills and competencies of the private sector in building infrastructure, the governments all over the world including those in Africa have begun to divest themselves of their monopoly in the field of infrastructural supplies and development. This rising trend has led to a more resourceful, efficient and smart partnership between the public and private sectors in the matter of infrastructural development, and this recent phenomenon or trend is popularly propagated as Public-Private-Partnership (PPP). It has now come to stay and will intensify over time. This article seeks to examine the definition, ambit, as well as the practical operation of PPPs in the economic development of contemporary states. It has a bias towards dispute resolution covering the various ADR mechanisms with a particular preference for arbitration. It postulates that since disputes are inevitable in all business transactions, and since PPP practitioners are usually sponsored by banks and other financial institutions, there is an urgent need to devise a faster and more efficient mechanism of dispute resolution aside from conventional litigation so that shareholders’ funds are not unnecessarily bogged down by prolonged litigation in the courts