112 research outputs found
Intestinal ameliorative effects of traditional Ogi-tutu, Vernonia amygdalina and Psidium guajava in mice infected with Vibrio cholera.
Background: Cholera, a severe acute watery diarrhea caused by Vibrio
cholerae is endemic in Nigeria with most cases occurring in the rural
areas. In South West Nigeria, some individuals resort to alternative
treatments such as Ogi-tutu, Psidium guajava and Vernonia amygdalina
during infections. The effectiveness of these alternatives in the
prevention and treatment of V. cholerae infection requires experimental
investigation. Objective: This study was designed to investigate the
ameliorative effects of Ogi-tutu, Vernonia amygdalina and Psidium
guajava on intestinal histopathology of experimental mice infected with
V. cholerae. Methods: Preliminary investigation of in vitro vibriocidal
activities of these alternatives were carried out using agar cup
diffusion assay. For ameliorative effects, adult mice were inoculated
with 100 \u3bcl (106 cells) of Vibrio cholerae and dosed at 0 h
(immediate prevention) and 4 h (treatment of infection) and their
intestines were histopathologically evaluated. Results: The
histopathological changes were the same irrespective of the treated
groups, but the lesions varied in extent and severity. The ameliorative
effects in decreasing order were V. amygdalina > P. guajava >
Ogi-tutu. Conclusion: V. amygdalina gave the best ameliorative effects
in the prevention and treatment of V. cholerae infection
Genetic analysis of grain yield and resistance of extra-early-maturing maize inbreds to northern corn leaf blight
Open Access Article; Published online: 11 Feb 2021Maize (Zea mays L.) is a food security crop in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Incidence of northern corn leaf blight (NCLB), caused by Exserohilum turcicum, in lowlands of SSA during the past decade has caused 30â70% reduction in maize yield. This study (a) examined the combining abilities of extra-early maize (EEM) inbreds and classified them into heterotic groups; (b) elucidated gene action controlling resistance to NCLB; (c) assessed grain yield (GYLD) and yield stability of EEM hybrids underNCLB infection; and (d) identified testers. One hundred and fiftyEEMhybrids, obtained by crossing 15 inbreds each of white- and yellow-endosperm maize using the North Carolina Design II, plus six checks, were evaluated in nine environments, six of which were inoculated with an isolate of E. turcicum and three of which were non-inoculated in 2018 and 2019. The white and yellow inbreds were placed in three heterotic groups using the heterotic grouping based on general combining ability (GCA) of multiple traits and stability of GYLD using the genotype plus genotype Ă environment (GGE) biplot analysis. The GCA, specific combining ability (SCA) and genotype Ă environment (GĂE) interactions were significant for GYLD, disease severity, and other measured traits. The GCA effects were more important than the SCA effects for GYLD and NCLB severity scores across environments, implying
that recurrent selection could facilitate improvement for GYLD and NCLB resistance. Three inbred testers and four single-cross testers were identified for developing high-yielding NCLB-resistant hybrids. Four white and five yellow single-cross hybrids were identified for on-farm testing and possible commercialization
Spouted bed dried Rosmarinus officinalis extract: a novel approach for physicochemical properties and antioxidant activity
In this study, a conical-cylindrical spouted bed dryer with TeflonŸ beads as spouting material was used for producing powdered rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) extract. The influence of the inlet drying gas temperature (Tgi) and the percentage ratio between the feed rate of concentrated liquid extract by the maximum evaporation capacity of the spouted bed (Ws/Wmax) on selected physicochemical properties of the finished products were investigated. Antioxidant properties of the concentrated liquid extract and dried extracts were also evaluated by the 2.2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging (DPPH) and lipid peroxidation induced by Fe2+/citrate (LPO) methods; and compared with the values obtained for a lyophilized extract (used as a control). Colloidal silicon dioxide (TixosilŸ 333) and maltodextrin (DE 14) at a 2:1 ratio was added to the concentrated extract before drying (4.4% w/w) to improve the drying performance. The drying variables Ws/Wmax and Tgi have statistically significant influence on total polyphenols and total flavonoid contents of the dried powders. The concentrated extract (on dry basisbeing absolute solid content) showed superior antioxidant activity (AA) compared to both the spouted bed dried and the lyophilized extracts; exhibiting IC50 values of 0.96 ± 0.02, 2.16 ± 0.04 and 3.79 ± 0.05 ”g mL1 (DPPH method) and 0.22 ± 0.01, 1.31± 0.01 and 2.54 ± 0.02 ”g mL1 (LPO method), respectively. These results of AA are comparable to values obtained for quercetin, a flavonoid compound often used as a reference standard due to its potent antioxidant activity; with IC50 of 1.17 ”g mL1 (DPPH) and 0.22 ”g mL1 (LPO). However, the dried rosemary extracts are about 13.5 times more concentrated than the initial concentrated extract (dry weight), with a concentration of total flavonoids and polyphenols compounds ranging from 4.3 to 12.3 and from 1.2 to 4.7 times higher than the concentrated extract values (wet basis). The AA per dry product mass was thus significantly higher than the values measured for concentrated extractive solution, irrespective of some losses of AA apparently due to the drying process.Foundation of Research Support of the São Paulo State
(FAPESP) for the funded projects 2011/10333-1, 2012/03427-2 and 2018/26069-0 and for the National Council
for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) for the financial support. E.B.S. acknowledges the
Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation (FCT) for the funded projects M-ERA-NET/0004/2015 (PAIRED)
and UIDB/04469/2020 (strategic fund)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Kolaviron was protective against sodium azide (NaN 3 )induced oxidative stress in the prefrontal cortex
Kolaviron is a phytochemical isolated from
Garcina kola (G. kola);
a common oral masticatory agent in
Nigeria (West Africa). It is
a
bioflavonoid used - as an antivi-
ral, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant - in relieving the symp-
toms of several diseases and infections. In this study we have
evaluated the neuroprotective and regenerative effect of
kolaviron in neurons of the prefrontal cortex (Pfc) before or
after exposure to sodium azide (NaN
3
) induced oxidative
stress. Separate groups of animals were treated as follows;
kolaviron (200 mg/Kg) for 21 days; kolaviron (200 mg/Kg
for21days)followedbyNaN
3
treatment (20 mg/Kg for
5days);NaN
3
treatment (20 mg/Kg for 5 days) followed by
kolaviron (200 mg/Kg for 21 days); 1 ml of corn-oil (21 days-
vehicle); NaN
3
treatment (20 mg/Kg for 5 days). Exploratory
activity associated with Pfc function was assessed in the open
field test (OFT) following which the microscopic anatomy of
the prefrontal cortex was examined in histology
(Haematoxylin and Eosin) and antigen retrieval Immunohis-
tochemistry to show astroglia activation (GFAP), neuronal
metabolism (NSE), cytoskeleton (NF) and cell cycle dysreg-
ulation (p53). Subsequently, we quantified the level of
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and lactate
dehydrogenase (LDH) in the brain tissue homogenate as a
measure of stress-related glucose metabolism. Kolaviron
(Kv) and Kolaviron/NaN
3
treatment caused no prominent
change in astroglia density and size while NaN
3
and NaN
3
/
Kv induced astroglia activation and scar formation
(astrogliosis) in the Pfc when compared with the control. Sim-
ilarly, Kolaviron and Kv/NaN
3
did not alter NSE expression
(glucose metabolism) while NaN
3
and NaN
3
/Kv treatment
increased cortical NSE expression; thus indicating stress
related metabolism. Further studies on enzymes of glu-
cose metabolism (G6PDH and LDH) showed that NaN
3
increased LDH while kolaviron reduced LDH in the
brain tissue homogenate
(P<0.001).
In addition
kolaviron treatment before
(P<0.001)
or after
(
P
<0.05) NaN
3
treatment also reduced LDH expression;
thus supporting its role in suppression of oxidative
stress. Interestingly, NF deposition increased in the Pfc
after kolaviron treatment while Kv/NaN
3
showed no sig-
nificant change in NF when compared with the control.
In furtherance, NaN
3
and NaN
3
/Kv caused a decrease in
NF deposition (degeneration). Ultimately, the protective
effect of KV administered prior to NaN
3
treatment was
confirmed through p53 expression; which was similar to
the control. However, NaN
3
and NaN
3
/Kv caused an
increase in p53 expression in the Pfc neurons (cell cycle
dysregulation). We conclude that kolaviron is not neu-
rotoxic when used at 200 mg/Kg BW. Furthermore,
200 mg/Kg of kolaviron administered prior to NaN
3
treatment (Kv/NaN
3
) was neuroprotective when com-
pared with Kolaviron administered after NaN
3
treatment
(NaN
3
/Kv). Some of the observed effects of kolaviron
administered before NaN
3
treatment includes reduction
of astroglia activation, absence of astroglia scars, anti-
oxidation (reduced NSE and LDH), prevention of neu-
rofilament loss and cell cycle regulatio
Cost engineering for manufacturing: current and future research
The article aims to identify the scientific challenges and point out future research directions on Cost Engineering.
The research areas covered in this article include Design Cost; Manufacturing Cost; Operating Cost; Life Cycle Cost;
Risk and Uncertainty management and Affordability Engineering. Collected information at the Academic Forum
on Cost Engineering held at Cranfield University in 2008 and further literature review findings are presented. The
forum set the scope of the Cost Engineering research, a brainstorming was held on the forum and literatures were
further reviewed to understand the current and future practices in cost engineering. The main benefits of the article
include coverage of the current research on cost engineering from different perspectives and the future research areas
on Cost Engineering
Estimating genetic gains for tolerance to stress combinations in tropical maize hybrids
Open Access Journal; Published online: 08 Dec 2022Maize is a strategic food crop in sub-Saharan Africa. However, most maize growing tropical savannas particularly in West and Central African experience the occurrence of frequent droughts and Striga infestation, resulting in 30â100% yield losses. This production zones need maize cultivars that combine tolerance to the two stresses. IITA in collaboration with national partners has thus employed a sequential selection scheme to incorporate both drought tolerance and Striga resistance in topical maize hybrids using reliable screening protocols. The main objective of the present study was therefore to use grain yield and other agronomic traits recorded in regional collaborative hybrid trials conducted for 8 years under manged stressful and non-stressful conditions and across rainfed field environments to estimate genetic gains in grain yields using mixed model analyses. The results showed significant (p < 0.05) annual yield gains of 11.89 kg haâ1 under manged drought stress (MDS) and 86.60 kg haâ1 under Striga infestation (STRIN) with concomitant yield increases of 62.65 kg haâ1 under full irrigation (WW), 102.44 kg haâ1 under Striga non-infested (STRNO) conditions and 53.11 kg haâ1 across rainfed field environments. Grain yield displayed significant but not strong genetic correlation of 0.41 ± 0.07 between MDS and STRIN, indicating that gene expression was not consistent across the two stress conditions. Furthermore, grain yield recorded in MET had significant moderate genetic correlations of 0.58 ± 0.06 and 0.44 ± 0.07It with MDS and STRIN, respectively. These results emphasize the need to screen inbred linens under both stress conditions to further enhance the rate of genetic gain in grain yield in hybrids for areas where the two stresses co-occur. Nonetheless, this study demonstrated that the sequential selection scheme has been successful in generating hybrids with dependable yields that can reduce chronic food deficits in rural communities experiencing simultaneous presence of drought and S. hermonthica infestation in their production fields
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Protocol for a feasibility study of a self help cognitive behavioural therapy resource for the reduction of dental anxiety in young people
Background
Childhood dental anxiety is very common, with 10â20 % of children and young people reporting high levels of dental anxiety. It is distressing and has a negative impact on the quality of life of young people and their parents as well as being associated with poor oral health. Affected individuals may develop a lifelong reliance on general anaesthetic or sedation for necessary dental treatment thus requiring the support of specialist dental services. Children and young people with dental anxiety therefore require additional clinical time and can be costly to treat in the long term. The reduction of dental anxiety through the use of effective psychological techniques is, therefore, of high importance. However, there is a lack of high-quality research investigating the impact of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) approaches when applied to young peopleâs dental anxiety.
Methods/design
The first part of the study will develop a profile of dentally anxious young people using a prospective questionnaire sent to a consecutive sample of 100 young people referred to the Paediatric Dentistry Department, Charles Clifford Dental Hospital, in Sheffield. The second part will involve interviewing a purposive sample of 15â20 dental team members on their perceptions of a CBT self-help resource for dental anxiety, their opinions on whether they might use such a resource with patients, and their willingness to recruit participants to a future randomised controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate the resource. The third part of the study will investigate the most appropriate outcome measures to include in a trial, the acceptability of the resource, and retention and completion rates of treatment with a sample of 60 dentally anxious young people using the CBT resource.
Discussion
This study will provide information on the profile of dentally anxious young people who could potentially be helped by a guided self-help CBT resource. It will gain the perceptions of dental care team members of guided self-help CBT for dental anxiety in young people and their willingness to recruit participants to a trial. Acceptability of the resource to participants and retention and completion rates will also be investigated to inform a future RCT
Predictors of early sexual initiation among a nationally representative sample of Nigerian adolescents
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Early sexual debut among adolescents is associated with considerable negative heath and development outcomes. An understanding of the determinants or predictors of the timing of sexual debut is important for effective intervention, but very few studies to date have addressed this issue in the Nigerian context. The aim of the present study is to examine predictors of adolescent sexual initiation among a nationally representative sample of adolescents in Nigeria.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Interviewer-collected data of 2,070 never-married adolescents aged 15â19 years were analysed to determine association between age of sexual debut and demographic, psychosocial and community factors. Using Cox proportional hazards regression multivariate analysis was carried out with two different models â one with and the other without psychosocial factors. Hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated separately for males and females.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A fifth of respondents (18% males; 22% females) were sexually experienced. In the South 24.3% males and 28.7% females had initiated sex compared to 12.1% of males and 13.1% females in the North (p < 0.001). In the first model, only region was significantly associated with adolescent sexual initiation among both males and females; however, educational attainment and age were also significant among males. In the second (psychosocial) model factors associated with adolescent sexual debut for both genders included more positive attitudes regarding condom efficacy (males: HR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.07â1.53; females: HR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.05â1.46) and more positive attitudes to family planning use (males: HR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.09â1.31; females: HR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.07â1.30). A greater perception of condom access (HR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.14â1.76) and alcohol use (HR = 1.90, 95% CI = 1.38â2.62) among males and positive gender-related attitudes (HR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.04â1.23) among females were also associated with increased likelihood of adolescent sexual initiation. Conversely, personal attitudes in favour of delayed sexual debut were associated with lower sexual debut among both males (males: HR = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.25â0.52) and females (HR = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.25â0.57). Higher level of religiosity was associated with lower sexual debut rates only among females (HR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.37â0.94).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Given the increased risk for a number of sexually transmitted health problems, understanding the factors that are associated with premarital sexual debut will assist programmes in developing more effective risk prevention interventions.</p
Womenâs mass media exposure and maternal health awareness in Ota, Nigeria
Maternal health has been an issue of priority to nations across the globe
for years now. This study sought to: identify the sources of maternal health
awareness; examine means of obtaining maternal health information; determine
the frequency of mass media exposure; and analyse the influence of mass media
exposure on maternal health awareness among the female residents. The Agendasetting
theory and the descriptive (survey) research design, using the questionnaire
as the research instrument, were utilized in this study. For this study, the purposive
and haphazard sampling techniques were used. The internet (49%) was the topmost
source of maternal health awareness; adverts/campaigns (30.6%) were the
most common means of obtaining maternal health information; once in a month
[27.6%] was the exposure frequency of most participants to the mass media while
the least exposure frequency was once in two weeks [5.1%]. It was discovered that mass media exposure had a significant influence on maternal health awareness
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