Mycoremediation Potential of Edible Mushroom (Lentinus squarrosulus Mont) for Reduction of Physicochemical Properties and Microbial Load of Landfill Leachate obtained from Choba Dumpsite, Rivers State, Nigeria

Dumpsite leachate samples are characterized by high concentration of pollutants that pose several environmental health risks in both short and long term. This study was therefore undertaken to investigate the efficacy of mycoremediation capacity of edible mushroom (Lentinus squarrosulus Mont.) for reduction of physicochemical properties and microbial load of landfill leachate obtained from Choba dumpsite, Rivers State, Nigeria using mycofiltration technique and standard methods. Data obtained after a 24-48 hours mycofiltration treatment, revealed a significant (p<0.05) reduction in the concentration of pH from 7.4 to 7.7, Colour 227 to 108, Turbidity 152 to 50 (NTU), Electrical conductivity 415 to 201(µS/cm), Total Dissolved Solid 560 to 218 (mg L-1), Total Suspended Solid 22 to 20 (mg L-1), Nitrite 0.124 to 0.120, Nitrate 0.130 to 0.125, Phosphate 1.4 to 1.1, Dissolved Oxygen 8.64to 1.52 (mg/L-1), Biological Oxygen Demand 7.2 to 1.52 (mg/L-1), Chemical Oxygen Demand 4.96 to 1.32 (mg/L-1) and microbes at the end of the filtration process.  The findings from this study showed that mycofiltration technique could be a useful, efficient and affordable technology for toxicity reduction in dumpsite leachate

An Inquiry into the Moral Question of Xeno-Transplantation

The practice of cross species transplantation has generated enormous controversies over time. Recently the lack of human organ donors has prompted an intense research effort throughout the medical community towards the possibility for animal organ transplants. Taking advantage of the overwhelming success of human to human transplantation, xeno-transplantation aims to reduce the demand-supply gap for organs. This paper examined whether the potentiality of saving thousands of lives should annihilate the ethical implications of xeno-transplantation and whether the possibility of ethical and health problems should overshadow the benefits of this new technology

Causality between External Reserves, Economic Growth,Import, Money Supply and Public Debt Servicing: Evidence from Nigeria

The issue of International Reserves have taken a prominent place among scholars over the years, basically due to the importance of globalization. International transactions to a great extent depends on foreign reserves, which in turn is a function of production (GDP). This reserves determines a nation’s capacity to import, as well as the power of her currency. This paper examine the importance of holding international reserves and the causal relationship existing between the reserves maintenance, economic growth and import. The study discovered that foreign reserves improve economic growth in Nigeria as an insurance and interventionist mechanism, as well as also, ascertaining that within the short and long run periods a reduction on import greatly improve the nation’s foreign reserves. The study recommended among others the need to reduce import, especially on consumption and frivolities, for there to be an improvement on foreign reserves and by extension GDP. Keywords: Foreign Reserves, Economic Growth, Import and Granger Causalit

Side effect profile of Jadelle implant in Nigerian women during the first 12 months of usage

Background: Most of the reasons for discontinuation of Jadelle implants by clients are related to the progestogenic side effects, which are dependent on the plasma levels of the hormone. The plasma level of levonorgestrel from Jadelle implant is about 100µg in the first month of insertion, but declines sharply in the first 12months of usage to stabilize at 30µg per day from 24 months of usage. This study was designed to assess the side effect profile of Jadelle implant in users during the first 12months of usage in a view to assessing its acceptability to the clients.Methods: Data sheet was designed to obtain demographic and clinical parameters of clients and prevailing side effects were surveyed longitudinally over the first 12months of usage.Results: There was no request for discontinuation of the method and no accidental pregnancy occurred during the period of the study. There was significant disruption of the menstrual pattern of clients over time with 31.1% developing irregular uterine bleeding from 6months of usage, whereas 16.6% of clients became amenorrheic from the 12month of usage. (p= 0.000) Changes in blood pressure and body weight of clients were not significant during the 12month period of the survey. Non menstrual side effects of Jadelle implants, which included headache, breast tenderness, dizziness among clients were noted at 6months of usage but became less prevalent by the 12month of usage.Conclusions: Jadelle implant proved to be highly effective, safe and acceptable to Nigerian clients during the study period, even though the implant had significant impact on their menstrual pattern

The Impact of Knowledge Management on Product Innovation of Manufacturing Firms in Nigeria

This study investigated the impact of knowledge Management on Product Innovation of Manufacturing firms in Nigeria. A sample size of 95 was determined from a population of 125 employees selected from 5 manufacturing firms in Port Harcourt. 70 copies of the questionnaire were appropriately filled and data was analyzed using Standard Multiple Regression with the aid of SPSS version 21. The findings showed that all the dimensions of Knowledge Management influenced Product Innovation of the firms. However, it was revealed that knowledge acquisition has the most impact on product innovation. It was therefore recommended that management of these firms should take practical steps to acquire the right blend of knowledge workers so as to enhance efficiency of their production through innovativeness. Likewise, the recruitment process of potential employees should be based on competence and credibility of the candidates. Keywords: Knowledge Management, Product Innovation, Knowledge Acquisition, Knowledge Conversion, Knowledge Application

Foliage yield of fluted pumpkin (telfairia occidentalis hook f.) As influenced by organic manure and cutting frequencies on soil of calabar, nigeria.

Field experiment was conducted in the 2019 and 2020 early cropping seasons at the University of Calabar Teaching and Research Farm, Calabar, to assess the foliage yield of fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis Hook F.) as affected by organic manure and cutting frequency on soil of Calabar. The experiment was a factorial combination of four poultry manure rates (0, 3, 6 and 9 tonnes per hectare) and three cutting frequency (2, 3 and 4 weekly intervals), laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Data were collected on vine length, number of leaves, internode length, fresh leaves, dry matter weights and soil physico-chemical properties, and analyzed. Significant means were compared using Fisher’s Least Significant Difference (FLSD) at 5 % probability. Results indicated that the sand proportions decreased after harvest while the silt and clay proportions, the soil pH, total nitrogen, organic carbon, organic matter, potassium, magnesium, effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC) and base saturation all increased after harvest in both cropping years. There were significant (p <.0. 05) effects of PM, cutting frequency and their interactions on vine length, number of leaves, internode length, fresh leaves and leaves dry matter weights in both years of study. Plots treated with 9 t/ha of PM produced the longest vines, higher number of leaves, heavier fresh leaf and leaf dry matter. This was followed by plots treated with 6 t/ha of PM while the lowest was the plot with zero PM treatment. Foliage harvest at 3-weekly cut intervals produced the highest cumulative number of leaves, fresh leaf and leaf dry matter weights, followed by the 4-weekly cut intervals while the lowest was the 2-weekly cut intervals. The interaction of 9 t/ha PM with 3-weekly cut intervals produced the best effect and is therefore recommended

Phytochemical Evaluation, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Various Extracts from Leaves and Stems of Bryophyllum pinnatum

Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of different extracts (methanol and ethyl acetate) of leaf and stem of Bryophyllum pinnatum were studied. The screening for the secondary metabolites was carried out using the standard methods. The antioxidant capacities of the different extracts were assessed using DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radicals and Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) while the antimicrobial activity of the extracts obtained were screened against Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria and fungi (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa Salmonella spp., Vibrio cholerae, Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger) using Agar well diffusion method. Both extracts obtained from leaf and stem of Bryophyllum pinnatum contained most of the phytochemical compounds tested for. However, anthocyanins and anthraquinone were not detected in leaf extracts while coumarin was absent in stem extracts. Quantification of bioactive compounds showed that both extracts contained the highest concentration of polyphenols (34.49 ±0.47 mg GAE/g and 32.32 ±1.2 mg GAE/g for methanol leaf and stem extracts respectively) while the least concentration was recorded for alkaloids (0.03±0.02 mg/g for methanol stem extract). Results revealed that the extracts showed dose-dependent scavenging of DPPH as well as the ability of the extracts to reduce FeCl3 solution, with methanol extracts exhibiting the highest scavenging and reducing capacity. However the leaves of Bryophyllum pinnatum had greater antioxidant activity than the stem by DPPH and ferric reducing assays, with IC50 values ranging from 3.147µg/ml to 3.80µg/ml for DPPH and 331.9 - 451 µg/ml for FRAP assays. The antimicrobial activity of various solvent extracts of leaf and stem reveal that microorganisms exhibited different sensitivities towards these extracts in a dose-dependent manner. Methanol leaf extract showed no activity against Escherichia coli while Pseudomonas aeruginosa was insensitive to ethyl acetate leaf extract. For stem extracts, Aspergillus niger, Vibrio cholerae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were resistant to methanol extract while Aspergillus niger, Salmonella spp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was resistant towards ethyl acetate stem extract. The results obtained in this study showed that Bryophyllum pinnatum is a reservoir of bioactive compounds and both extracts exhibited significant antimicrobial and antioxidant activity

Growth and Yield Components of Some Turmeric Varieties (Curcuma Longa L.) As Affected by Inorganic Fertilizer Levels in Umudike, South-Eastern, Nigeria

A research on growth and yield components of some turmeric varieties (Curcuma longa L.) as affected by inorganic fertilizer levels in Umudike, South Eastern Nigeria was carried out at the teaching and research farm of the University, during 2018/2019 cropping seasons. It was laid out in a split plot design with three replications. Results, showed that plant height and number of tillers for both varieties and fertilizers levels increased at 2, 4, and 6 months after planting (MAP) during 2018 and 2019 cropping seasons. Variety 021 and 400 NPK (15:15:15) Kg-1 produced tallest plants and highest number of tillers over other varieties and fertilizer levels. Crop growth rate was positive at 2 – 4 MAP and negative at 4 – 6 MAP, with 021 and 400 NPK (15:15:15) kgha-1 producing higher growth rate. Heaviest rhizomes fresh weight (kg plot-1) of 3.74 and 3.75, rhizome dry matter content of 14.49 and 16.8%, rhizome dry weight of 23.57 and 23.90g and harvest index of 2.60 and 2.70% was yielded by UMT 021 variety over other varieties. The level of 400 NPK (15:15:15) kg ha-1 produced heaviest rhizome fresh weight of 4.47 and 4.57 kg plot-1; rhizome dry matter content of 19.42 and 25.8%; rhizome dry weight of 27.54 and 27.8g and harvest index of 2.81 and 3.20%, over other levels. Consequently, variety 021 and 400 NPK (15:15:15) kgha-1 are recommended for sole production of turmeric in Umudike, South Eastern Nigeria

Air and noise pollution effects on air quality in peacock paint industry, Ikot Ekan, Etinan, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Eight sampling locations in the study area were assessed for some air pollutants, level of noise pollution and some meteorological parameters. Portable handheld air monitor was used to measure air pollutants, a sound level meter and anemometer for level of noise and meteorological parameters respectively. Results showed that the highest concentrations of Nitrogen dioxide, Sulphur dioxide, Hydrogen Sulphide and Suspended particulate matter were recorded in indoor II while those for Carbon monoxide and Chloride were recorded in outdoor I. The outdoor locations recorded higher mean noise level and temperature (76.1 dB (A), 30.05°C) than the indoor locations (70.95 dB (A), 27.03°C). On the other hand, the indoor locations recorded higher mean relative humidity (62.8%) than the outdoor locations (48.25%). Significant difference (P<0.05) was observed only in the mean concentration of Chloride in the two environments. The mean concentrations of NO2, SO2, H2S, CO and Cl2 were above the permissible limit of Federal Environmental Protection Agency thus posing environmental risks. Appropriate vehicle emission management should be considered; air and noise pollution control agencies should intervene to reduce the risks associate with these pollutants and improve the air quality of the study area