Evaluation of some serum biochemical parameters of humans exposed to burnt tire emissions

Evaluation of some serum biochemical parameters of humans who were exposed to burnt tire emissions (singeing process) was carried out in this study. Eighty (80) healthy adult males were recruited for the study after their consents were sought. Fifty-five (55) of them served as the experimental subjects while twenty-five (25) of them served as the control subjects. The experimental subjects were some singers at Trans Amadi (Oginigba), Port Harcourt abattoir. The control subjects were some Port Harcourt residents that are not occupationally exposed to singeing. Venous blood samples were collected from both the experimental and control groups; and their sera were screened to determine the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), prostate-specific antigen (PSA), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), total serum protein (TSP) and total globulins (TG). The results of the screening showed that the serum levels of prostate-specific antigen and carcinoembryonic antigen of both the experimental and the control subjects were within normal range. However, the serum C-reactive protein and alpha-fetoprotein of many experimental subjects were above the normal range. Also, the majority of the experimental and control subjects had total globulins below the normal range and total serum protein that were within the normal range. The mean and standard deviation of the screened parameters for the experimental subjects were 1.17±0.80, 1.52±0.54, 2.42±1.19, 13.20±6.86, 67.27±14.11 and 2.10±1.22 for C-reactive protein, prostate-specific antigen, carcinoembryonic antigen, alpha-fetoprotein, total serum protein and total globulins respectively. For the control subjects, the mean and standard deviation of the screened parameters were 0.26±0.22, 1.10±0.37, 2.81±3.14, 6.51±3.50, 70.34±4.43 and 22.97±5.06 for C-reactive protein, prostate-specific antigen, carcinoembryonic antigen, alpha-fetoprotein, total serum protein and total globulins respectively. In conclusion, the study has demonstrated that alpha-fetoprotein and C-reactive protein are elevated in the serum of the experimental subjects who are occupationally exposed to singeing process.Keywords: Singeing, abattoir, Prostate-specific antigen, C-reactive protein, Carcinoembryonic antige

ASSESSMENT OF ENVIRONMENT OF DEPOSITION AND RESERVOIR QUALITY OF WELL TMG C-2 IN THE WESTERN NIGER DELTA

This research revealed the reservoir quality and the nature of the depositional Environment of the study location in order to have an accurate field development and reservoir update. The objectives are to interpret logs of gamma ray, porosity and permeability, to determine depositional environments from the log motifs, identify reservoir sands, reservoir depth and thickness. Based on the log responses (signatures) of the well that shows the funnel and bell shapes, the major two sand bodies B and C studied in the well TMG-C2 were deposited in shallow marine environments. Sand B was deposited in Fluvial, shoreface and tidal environments. Fluvial environments occurred towards the western portion of the field capping a shoreface environment at the bottom of the well. Sand C was deposited in shoreface and tidal environment (shallow marine environment). Predominantly shoreface environment was capped with minor tidal channel. Tidal environment occurred at the bottom edge of the well capping shoreface. The average effective porosity ranges between 18.64% to 20.8% and permeability between 226.5 to 300.5 millidarcy, which shows that the sands have moderate to good reservoir quality. The facies and the reservoir quality model, show a good sand development with better porosity and permeability while area with poor sand development have lower reservoir quality. The effective porosity and permeability variation suggest possible changes in depositional processes such as change from laminar to turbulent flow and change in sediment source leading to variation in sorting and porosity

AQUATIC PHYCOMYCETES AND ASCOMYCETOUS FUNGI ISOLATED FROM ARTEMISIA ANNUA L. PLANTATION SOIL IN A NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY

Survey was carried out on the ascomycetous and aquatic fungi present in the soil of University of Jos Artemisia annua Plantation in Gangnum, Langtang South Local Government Area of Plateau State. Portions of the soil samples collected from three (3) locations were steamed in glass beaker placed in a steamer for 4-10 minutes at 100o C before inoculation. Fungal isolation was carried out using soil plate method incubated at 25 ± 2o C. Aquatic phycomycetes were isolated using baits. Two (2) genera of aquatic phycomycetes were isolated, including Achyla dubia and Allomyces arbuscular. Fifty–eight ascomycetous fungi were also isolated from the soil samples. The predominant ascomycetous fungi isolated include among others; Chaetomium bastrychodes, C. cancriodeum, C. cochloides, C. globosum, C. nigricolor, C. senegalensis, C. spirale, Aspergillus candidus A. flavus, A. fumigatus , A. glaucus, A. nidulans, A. niger, A. oryzae, A. terreus, F. avenaceum, F. oxysporum, F. roseum, F. solani, F. sporitrichioides, Penicillium chrysogenum, P. citrinum, P.notatum, P.expansum, Trichoderma harzianum, T. piluliferum, Alternaria alternata, Aureobasidium pullulans, Botrytis cinerea, Cladosporium sp, Curvularia lunata, Scopulariopsis sp, Torula herbarum, Unidentified sp and a Basidiomycete. The physico-chemical properties of the soil samples were found to be varied, and were found to affect the distribution and population of fungi. The soil was found to be high in organic matter content which could have been as a result of activities of the species of fungi numerous in the soil. The implications of the results are discussed

AQUATIC PHYCOMYCETES AND ASCOMYCETOUS FUNGI ISOLATED FROM ARTEMISIA ANNUA L. PLANTATION SOIL IN A NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY

Survey was carried out on the ascomycetous and aquatic fungi present in the soil of University of Jos Artemisia annua Plantation in Gangnum, Langtang South Local Government Area of Plateau State. Portions of the soil samples collected from three (3) locations were steamed in glass beaker placed in a steamer for 4-10 minutes at 100o C before inoculation. Fungal isolation was carried out using soil plate method incubated at 25 ± 2o C. Aquatic phycomycetes were isolated using baits. Two (2) genera of aquatic phycomycetes were isolated, including Achyla dubia and Allomyces arbuscular. Fifty–eight ascomycetous fungi were also isolated from the soil samples. The predominant ascomycetous fungi isolated include among others; Chaetomium bastrychodes, C. cancriodeum, C. cochloides, C. globosum, C. nigricolor, C. senegalensis, C. spirale, Aspergillus candidus A. flavus, A. fumigatus , A. glaucus, A. nidulans, A. niger, A. oryzae, A. terreus, F. avenaceum, F. oxysporum, F. roseum, F. solani, F. sporitrichioides, Penicillium chrysogenum, P. citrinum, P.notatum, P.expansum, Trichoderma harzianum, T. piluliferum, Alternaria alternata, Aureobasidium pullulans, Botrytis cinerea, Cladosporium sp, Curvularia lunata, Scopulariopsis sp, Torula herbarum, Unidentified sp and a Basidiomycete. The physico-chemical properties of the soil samples were found to be varied, and were found to affect the distribution and population of fungi. The soil was found to be high in organic matter content which could have been as a result of activities of the species of fungi numerous in the soil. The implications of the results are discussed

Comparative Effects of Trichoderma species on Growth Parameters and Yield of Zea mays (L.)

The effects of two Trichoderma species (T. harzianum and T. koningii) on number of leaf, stem height, leaf length, leaf area and yield of maize was investigated at the Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Rivers State University. Trichoderma species were isolated from a contaminated mushroom at Dilomat Farms and Services Limited, Rivers State University. The species were applied on maize as follows: T. koningii combine with T. harzianum, T. koningii only and T. harzianum only; they were replicated thrice at 10-3 spores/ml, 10-5 spores/ml and 10-7 spores/ml levels of concentration. The results showed significant differences in the number of leaf, stem height, leaf length, and leaf area at 5ml and 10ml at six weeks after planting, but no significant difference was recorded on the growth parameters at 10-3 spores/ml concentration. The highest percentage yield (%Y) increase was observed at 10-7 spores/ml in T. koningii+T. harzianum combination with 61% increase in yield followed by10-3 spores/ml in T. harzianum with (40%) yield increase when compared to the control that had 18% yield increase. Trichoderma species have positive effects on all the growth parameters at the various concentration levels. For best results, combination of T. koningii and T. harzianum should be used to promote high yield in maize

Effects of Solubilised Orange Peels on the Occurrence of some Fungal Soil-borne Pathogens of Zea mays (L.)

This work examined the use of Trichoderma solubilised orange peel to inhibit the occurrence and growth of some fungal pathogens associated with soil-borne diseases of maize (Zea mays). The study was conducted in the Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology demonstration plot, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Trichoderma species were isolated from contaminated mushroom substrates at Dilomat Farms and Services Limited, Rivers State University. Sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) peels were collected from a local market at the Port Harcourt Metropolis, air-dried for seven days and ground to powder. The treatments were Trichoderma harzianum+orange peel, T. koningii+orange peel, orange peels only, T. harzianum only, T. koningii only, T. harzianum+T. koningii and Soil only. The layout was a completely randomized design with three replications and concentrations at 5g/15ml, 10g/15ml and 15g/15ml which were applied to the soil at the interval of two weeks for 10 weeks. Pythium spp, Fusarium spp, Rhizoctona spp and Phytopthora spp were isolated and identified at three weeks and ten weeks of treatments. Average number of individual colonies of soil mycoflora in the various treatments at the three concentration levels varied relatively and the total number and frequency of occurrence decreased as the number of weeks of treatments increased. There was relatively high occurrence of soil-borne pathogens of maize at 5g/15ml concentration, but 10g/15ml concentration recorded less whereas 15g/15ml had the least occurrence. However, the frequency of occurrence was very high on the control experiment. Frequency of soil-borne fungal pathogens of maize decreased with increase in concentration as well as Trichoderma spp occurrence in the soil across the treatments when compared to their controls. The treatments had higher inhibitory effects on all the soil-borne pathogens of maize at 15g/15ml at 10 WAP

PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PARAMETERS AND PROTEOLYTIC POTENTIALS OF FUNGAL FLORA OF SOILS STRESSED BY TANNERY WASTES IN JOS, NIGERIA

The physico-chemical parameters and proteolytic potentials of fungal population in soils stressed by tannery wastes were investigated. The fungal species were isolated using hair baiting technique. Sabouraud Dextose Agar (SDA) medium was used for the isolation work. The pH, percentage moisture/organic matter contents and elemental analysis of the soil samples were assessed. The assessment of the soils polluted with tannery wastes was compared with that of the control sample collected from soils devoid of tannery activities. The results of the physico-chemical parameters of the soil samples showed the pH values of the soils to be 7.32, 7.53 and 6.46 for soils collected from Naraguta tannery (SNG), Dodo Street tannery (SDS) and College of Forestry, Jos (SCF control) respectively. The percentage moisture content values recorded for the soil samples from the two tanneries were higher than that of the control soil. The nitrogen level of the soil samples ranged from 0.010-0.19% while phosphorus ranged from 1.4-24mg/kg. The sodium levels were between 1.0-2.0mg/kg while the calcium levels ranged from 900-5080mg/kg. Twenty-one fungi species belonging to 12 genera were isolated from the experimental soil samples. Three of the genera including Cunninghamella elegans, Mucor haemalis and Rhizopus sp belong to the class phycomycetes. Others belong to the class hyphomycetes. Aspergillus niger had the highest number of isolation as well as highest frequencies of occurrence. Nine fungal species produced zones of clearance on the skim milk casein agar medium used for the assay of proteolytic activity indicating their potentials as keratin degraders

SPARC 2018 Internationalisation and collaboration : Salford postgraduate annual research conference book of abstracts

Welcome to the Book of Abstracts for the 2018 SPARC conference. This year we not only celebrate the work of our PGRs but also the launch of our Doctoral School, which makes this year’s conference extra special. Once again we have received a tremendous contribution from our postgraduate research community; with over 100 presenters, the conference truly showcases a vibrant PGR community at Salford. These abstracts provide a taster of the research strengths of their works, and provide delegates with a reference point for networking and initiating critical debate. With such wide-ranging topics being showcased, we encourage you to take up this great opportunity to engage with researchers working in different subject areas from your own. To meet global challenges, high impact research inevitably requires interdisciplinary collaboration. This is recognised by all major research funders. Therefore engaging with the work of others and forging collaborations across subject areas is an essential skill for the next generation of researchers