Contending Issues in Political Parties in Nigeria: The Candidate Selection Process

This article focuses on the issue of candidate selection process within Nigeria's political parties. Hence the article argues that in Nigeria, primary elections are the most common method of selecting party flag-bearers, and more often than not, this process is undermined by party elite who deploy money to influence choices thereby, leading to the outright collapse of the party structures, which are expected to breed internal democracy. This, in turn, hinders the emergence of credible candidates and also gives rise to internal party squabbles, litigation, and the exclusion of certain segment of society, notably, women, youth and the people with disability. Therefore, the authors conducted a series of interviews with party leaders from three political parties and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and prominent members of civil society organisations

Transition of hemoglobin between two tertiary conformations: The transition constant differs significantly for the major and minor hemoglobins of the Japanese quail (Cortunix cortunix japonica)

We demonstrate that 5,5′-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate) – DTNB – reacts with only CysF9[93]β and CysB5[23]β among the multiple sulfhydryl groups of the major and minor hemoglobins of the Japanese quail (Cortunix cortunix japonica). Kequ, the equilibrium constant for the reaction, does not differ very significantly between the two hemoglobins. It decreases 430-fold between pH≈5.6 and pH≈9: from a mean of 7±1 to a mean of 0.016±0.003. Quantitative analyses of the Kequ data based on published X-ray and temperature-jump evidence for a tertiary structure transition in liganded hemoglobin enable the calculation of Krt, the equilibrium constant for the r←→t tertiary structure transition. Krt differs significantly between the two hemoglobins: 0.744±0.04 for the major, 0.401±0.01 for the minor hemoglobin. The mean pKas of the two groups whose ionizations are coupled to the DTNB reaction are about the same as previously reported for mammalian hemoglobins

Effect of cold temperature storage on the quality attributes of pawpaw and guava leathers

The effect of cold temperature storage on the quality attributes of pawpaw and guava leathers was evaluated. Pawpaw leather was significantly higher than guava leather in calorific content, water activity, pH and total mould count throughout the duration of storage. However Guava leather was higher in texture. Sensory scores in relation to period of storage showed that Guava leather gave better result in overall acceptability at zero, one and two months of storage at 8 ± 10C. Guava leather also gave better sensory qualities in fruitiness, smell, chewiness, toughness, colour, and overall acceptability when varietal influence is considered. Guava leather is better accepted. (African Journal of Biotechnology: 2002 1(2): 61-63

Aspects of the Growth and Reproductive Biology of the Guinean Tilapia, Tilapia guineensis (Bleeker, 1862) in a Tropical Freshwater Lake, Nigeria

Aspects of the growth and reproductive biology of the Guinean Tilapia, Tilapia guineensis from Asejire Lake was investigated from January, 2013 to December, 2013. Significant relationships(r> 0.89) occurred between the length and weight of T.guineensis for the combined, male, female and every month.  The values of the parameter slope (b) in the length-weight relationship being less than 3 indicated negative allometric growth. The mean condition factor (2.023 ± 0.01) being greater than one showed the fish is in good condition in the freshwater environment.  The multiple peaks observed in the gonadosomatic index signify the species is a multiple spawner. Fecundity of Tilapia guineensis ranged from 3418 – 9852 eggs for a fish with total length 18.9 cm to 29.7 cm respectively Keywords: Tilapia guineensis, length weight relationship, gonad maturity stages, fecundity, freshwater environmen

Dynamic Performance Analysis of Cogeneration Potential in Photovoltaic Power System.

The solar cell junction is susceptible to performance degradation, due to internal temperature rise which is further perturbed by ambient temperature rise. The conversion efficiency of the solar module remarkably drops because of temperature rise. The diurnal module temperature hovers above 60 degrees C. It is possible to keep the conversion efficiency high by water-cooled or air blast equipment. This project is a preliminary study of the impact of temperature variation across seasons on the dynamic performance of photovoltaic power system. The photovoltaic (PV) module was mounted on a test rig at latitude 7 degree on top of physics building Obafemi Awolowo University campus. The output voltage of the PV module was applied to a resistive load and system efficiency performance measured over a period of time covering the dry and rainy seasons. Measurements of ambient temperature, PV junction operating temperature, wind speed, solar irradiance, and power delivered were carried out. A numerical algorithm was developed to analyse the data. The transport medium can store heat energy from the solar module, so that a large amount of hot water can be produced. The results show that this thermal transfer benefit, positions the PV system in good stead, for Microgrid: Cogeneration Energy Efficiency functionality. Keywords: Conversion efficiency, Photovoltaic power system, PV module, Water-cooled equipment, Cogeneration

GEOENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF TOTAL PETROLEUM HYDROCARBON CONTENT IN OLOGBO FIELD, NIGER DELTA, NIGERIA

Hydrocarbon contamination is a common phenomenon associated with oil and gas exploitation in the Niger Delta area of south-south geopolitical region of Nigeria. The aim of this paper is to assess the geoenvironmental impact of hydrocarbon spill in Ologbo area of Edo state in the Niger Delta basin using GIS with a view to drawing attention to the remediation of the area. The study area lies between longitude 05° 38’ 36.47”E to 05°4’ 26.56” E and latitude 06° 4’ 28.17”N to 06° 4’ 33.79”N. 1km2 of the study area was georeferenced, digitized and gridded at 100 m interval using Google earth imagery. Soil samples were collected at the grid intersections, at depth ranging from 0-15 cm (topsoil), 15-30 cm (mid depth) and 30-60 cm (last depth). Soil samples were analyzed using Gas Chromatogram – Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID) instrument. The result showed that Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) concentration at the subsurface ranged from 96.88±3.74 to 870.01 ±102.43 mg/kg, mid depth concentration was between 46.92±7.13 to 404.03±7.10 mg/kg while the last depth is between 10.74±6.62 to 106.52±23.04 mg/kg. Due to severe pollution level at intersections C, Dand E; matlab curve fitting was used to predict the maximum depth at which hydrocarbon contaminant seized to exist in the soil; the results showed that at maximum vertical depth of 460m, TPH seizes to exist in the soil (below detection level)

Shotgun metagenomics reveals the functional diversity of root-associated endophytic microbiomes in maize plant

In this study, we used shotgun metagenomics to analyze the whole DNA from maize root planted with different fertilization and without fertilization in a bid to profile the impact of fertilizer applications on the functional diversity of endophytic microbiomes. Complete DNA extraction from roots of maize plant grown on different farming sites such as organic (FK), inorganic (NK) and no fertilizer (CK) sites was carried out, and sequenced using a shotgun metagenomic approach. The raw sequenced data obtained were analyzed using an online database called MG-RAST. Through MG-RAST analysis, endophytic microbiome sequences were identified while sequences of maize origin were discarded. The prediction of the functions of the endophytic microbiomes was done using the SEED subsystem. Our results revealed that no significant difference (P > 0.05) exist in the relative abundance of the 28 functional groups identified within the endophytic microbiomes across the sites. Also, some functional groups and metabolic pathways associated with plant growth promotion such as carbohydrate, secondary metabolism, nitrogen metabolism, iron acquisition and metabolism alongside phosphorus metabolism were observed in the endophytes across the sites. Alpha diversity study revealed no significant difference exist among the functional groups of the endophytes across the sites, while beta diversity study indicated that there was a significant difference (P = 0.01) among the functional groups of the endophytes across the fertilizer sites. Going by the high abundance of functional groups observed in this study, especially in FK samples, it is evident that different farming practices influenced the functions of endophytic microbiomes. We recommend that further studies should explore the functional genes in endophytic microbiomes with the aim of assessing their usefulness in promoting sustainable agriculture

Comparative Analysis of Zeolite Y From Nigerian Clay and Standard Grade

Zeolite Y catalyst with silica/alumina mola•· ntio of 4.70 was synthesized from Elefun (Nigel"ia) clay unde•· hydwthe•·mal tJ·eatment of calcined kaolin with aqueous NaOH at atmosphel"ic p•·essm·e. This pape•· descl"ibed the p•·epantion of zeolite Y catalyst fmm metakaolin of quality Elefun kaolin by ageing at 34oC fo•· 7days, and then n·ystallized at lOOoC fm· 24 hom·s. The synthesized zeolite NaY was modified by exchanging with NH4Cl to obtain its hydwgen fo•·m with silica/alumina ntio of 3.18. Both developed and standa1·d zeolite Y catalyst we1·e then chanctel"ized by a val"iety of physicochemical methods, including XRD, XRF spectwscope. The mm·phologies we1·e examined using SEM. Similar results we1·e obtained, thus confi•·ming the synthesis of zeolite Y

Chemical composition, toxicity and antioxidant activities of essential oils of stem bark of Nigerian species of guava (Psidium guajava Linn.)

Essential oil from the stem bark of Nigerian species of Psidium guajava of the family Myrtaceae was obtained by hydro-distillation using an all-glass Clavenger apparatus. GC and GC/MS analysis were carried out on the essential oil and was found to contain 62 compounds constituting 99.98 % of the total oil composition. The principal constituents are hydrocarbons, amines, amides and esters with 3,6-dioxa-2,4,5,7- etraoctane,2,2,4,4,5,5,7,7-octamethyl (11.67 %) and cyclononane (10.66 %) dominating the total essential oil. Brine shrimp lethality test was carried out to determine the toxicity of the oils to living organisms (shrimps). LC50 value (μg/ml) of 1.0009 obtained showed that the essential oil of P. guajava stem bark was toxic. The antioxidant property of essential oil was investigated by measuring the decrease in absorption at 517 nm of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) in a UV/visible spectrophotometer. The oil showed better activity as a radical scavenger than α-tocopherol. The oil activity was 71.83 % at 0.2 mg/ml and the absorption is stoichiometric with respect to the number of electron taken up. Thus, the results of this study showed that the essential oil from P. guajava was not only toxic; it possessed antioxidant activity, which could exert beneficial actions against pathological alterations caused by the presence of highly reactive free radicals. The toxicity of the oil can be taken advantage of in the therapy of diseases involving cell or tumor growth

Determinants of psychoactive substance use among incarcerated delinquents in Nigeria

The objective of the study was to identify the prevalence of psychoactive substance use among incarcerated delinquents in Nigeria and its determinants. The total inmate population of 401 individuals were interviewed over a period of four weeks using an interviewer administeredquestionnaire that assessed for socio demographic, forensic, and drug use history among other variables. All the respondents were males, with a mean age of 20.6 ± 3.1 years, ranging from 12 to 39 years and had spent an average of 16.1 ± 9.9 months. The average age of first use was 12.6± 5.9 years. The prevalence of lifetime and current use of any substance was 88.0% and 64.3% respectively. Prior arrest, being sexually active and family drug use significantly (p<0.05) predicted lifetime use of any substance while being raised in a monogamous family was protective. Priorarrest, family drug use, and being sexually active significantly (p<0.05) increased lifetime use of illicit substances while being raised from a monogamous home significantly (p<0.05) reduced same. Prior arrest and substance use before incarceration significantly (p<0.05) predicted currentuse of any substance. Being sexually active and substance use before incarceration significantly (P<0.05) predicted current use of illicit substances while high self esteem and being the first born was protective. Since substance use prevalence is high among incarcerated delinquents,the incorporation of substance abuse screening and treatment as part of their programmeme is advocated.Key Words: Substance use, delinquents, incarceration, Nigeria