Development Of Biodegradable Polyetheramide-Urethanes From Castor Seed Oil

Castor seed oil (Ricinuscommunis) is a vital renewable base material for industrial production of lubricants, brake fluids, soaps, inks, pharmaceuticals, pla stics, perfumes etc. The presence of reachricinoleic acid (about 87.5%) content in its fatty acids profile confers on its essential use for coating purposes. This paper presents the synthesis, characterization and antibacterial evaluations of polyetheramide-urethanes (PETAU) prepared from Ricinuscommunis seed oil. N,N'-bis (2- hydroxyethyl) Ricinuscommunis fatty amide (HERA) was synthesized via aminolysis. Upon reacting HERA with bisphenoiA, polyetheramide (PETA) resin was form ed. The polyetheramide subsequently undergo urethanation to form PETAU. The synthesized PETAU was characterized by FT-IR, 'H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectroscopic analyses. Selected physico-chemical parameters of seed oil, HERA, PETA, PET AU were measured. Coating performance, thermal stability and antimicrobia l properties ofthe cured resin were also evaluated

A PREDICTIVE MODEL FOR ETHNOMEDICINAL DISCOVERY RESEARCH- A NIGERIAN CASE STUDY

Using a model parametrically dependent on a number of research factors we have examined the relationship between ethnomedicinal drug discovery research in Nigeria and the goal of advancing drug candidates into preclinical evaluation. Our investigation covered a 13-year period and involves several ethnomedicinally relevant plant materials. The employed qualitative model utilizes model scores in assessing research quality and the chances to attain preclinical testing. Based on the model, the research methodologies were found to focus on highly rudimentary tools involving crude extraction, which the model indicated as a vital disadvantage. The existence of foreign collaborations as well as the number of such collaborations was found to improve model score and as extension the likelihood to generate candidates for drug development

Work-family conflict: Evaluating the mediating role of personal intervening strategies

Balancing family and work roles places serious demands on working women most especially in African context where women also doubled as home keepers, and this represents a key factor in achieving sustainable productivity (SDG 8.2.3). The study was to expound work-family conflict experiences by married female workers in financial instit utions, and to determine whether personal interventions play a beneficial role to improve productivity. The study adopted social survey with the use of self-administered questionnaire among 730 randomly selected married women bank employees. The study shows that 78.8% of female bankers experience work-family conflict due to strain to keep the jobs and meet up with expected family roles. In the absence of effective workplace relief, several women resort to personal coping strategies this is statistically insignificant and having a negative relationship depicting it is ineffective. The study concludes that the individual or personal intervention-based approach at minimizing work-family conflict could not be adjudged as effective. Therefore, a systematic and robust organization-based approach may be necessary as panacea for work-family conflict within the sector considered and the country as a whole

Influence of Information Culture on Job Satisfaction of University Registry Personnel in South-West, Nigeria

This study aims to investigate the influence of information culture on job satisfaction. The study adopted survey research design. The population consisted of 2009 registry personnel working in federal, state and private universities in South-West, Nigeria. Stratified random sampling technique was used to select 715 personnel. A validated questionnaire was used for data collection. Response rate was 70%. The data were analysed using descriptive (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (regression). Findings from the study showed that information sharing (β = 0.054; t(497) = 1.227; p > 0.05), information proactiveness (β = -0.006; t(497) = -.132; p > 0.05) and information control (β = 0.027; t(497) = .537; p > 0.05) did not significantly influence job satisfaction. The study concluded that information culture contributed to the level of job satisfaction of university registry personnel in South-West, Nigeria in terms of quick access to relevant information to enhance service delivery and openness in information sharing. Consequently, it was recommended that the university management should improve on institutional information culture practice to enhance the job satisfaction of the university registry personnel

Neuroprotective Properties of NMDA R1 Antagonist (Ketamine) in Cyanide Treated Neurons in vitro

Aims: This study aims at investigating possible means of reducing cyanide toxicity by blocking NMDA R1 via ketamine (an NMDA R1 antagonist). This is to provide a template for quick arrest of cyanide toxicity in neurons under oxygen deprived condition. Place and Duration of Study: Bingham University, Department of Anatomy, Karu, Nigeria. The duration of the study was100 minutes. Methodology: Freshly harvested cortical tissue blocks were perfused in accessory cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) containing all the necessary salts and glucose. The cultures were treated with ACSF (Control), ACSF+KCN (potassium cyanide), ACSF+KCN+Ketamine and ACSF+Ketamine for a total duration of 100 minutes at 37ºC. Results: The Ketamine had a protective and reversal effects on the tissues both for oxygen deprivation and cyanide toxicity, The cells in tissues treated with ACSF+KCN+Ketamine showed normal appearance of cell body and axonal projections, the cells treated with ACSF+Ketamine showed fewer degenerating cells compared to those treated with cyanide. Conclusion: Ketamine, an NMDA R1 antagonist is neuroprotective against the toxicity of cyanid