Using Selected Structural Indices to Pinpoint the Field Moisture Capacity of Some Coarse-Textured Agricultural Soils in Southeastern Nigeria

Over- or underestimation of field capacity (FC) of agricultural soils could misguide soil and water management and this might have negative agronomic and environmental impacts. The study sought to identify the moisture tension for reliably estimating in the laboratory the FC of some sandy soils with low-activity clay minerals and at different levels of structure development in Nsukka agroecological zone in southeastern Nigeria. Fifty-four samples of topand subsoils under contrasting vegetation cover at three locations in the zone were analyzed for texture, organicmatter contents, bulk density and total porosity. Saturated hydraulic conductivities (Ksat) of the samples were equallydetermined. Water-conducting and water-filled porosities at each of 0.06-, 0.10- and 0.33-bar tensions were implied from water retention data at the respective tensions. The soils were categorized based on their levels of structure development using a structural stability index [(organic matter: silt+clay) %] as follows: very low ( 7.5%) stability soils. Series of simple correlation tests were run among the waterconducting porosities at the various tensions and the Ksat of the soils. In each case, the soil was assumed to have attained FC at that moisture tension which the associated water-conducting porosity showed significant positive correlation with the Ksat. Our results revealed that the 0.06-bar tension overestimated the FC of the soils. The 0.10-bar tension, the commonly used moisture tension for the purpose in the study area, proved suitable only for soils within the moderate to high structural stability category. From all indications, the 0.33-bar tension best corresponded to the FC of the less structurally developed soils in the other two categories. The level of soil structure development should therefore be considered before deciding the suitable moisture tension for the determination of FC of these and similar soils in other tropical locations.Keywords: Coarse mineral soils, field moisture capacity, saturated hydraulic conductivity, structural stability,water-conducting pore

Patterns of Inequality in Human Development Across Nigeria’s Six Geopolitical Zones

This paper employed the historical research method in analyzing the patterns of inequality in human development across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. The paper indicated that though differences in income among the zones are statistically significant, the differences are not economically substantial to induce unequal human development among the six geopolitical zones. Causes of inequality in human development among the zones may be attributed to other variables such as religion and culture rather than on income or access to infrastructural facilities. It was also deduced that generally, there exist a yawning gap in human development between the Northern zones and the southern zones, with the Northern zones trailing behind the southern zones. The problem of inequality becomes more severe comparing the female gender in the Northern zones with their counterparts in the Southern zones. Nigeria therefore requires to device pro-poor investment and growth policies, and increasing commitment to a broader poverty reduction programmes. Finally, anti-corruption policies should vigorously and sincerely be pursued to ensure that allocations to the target group (the poor) are met. Keywords: Human Development, Inequality, Geopolitical, Amalgamation, Gender empowerment, Marginalizatio

Mammographic classification of breast lesions amongst women in Enugu, South East Nigeria

Objectives: The study was to classify lesions identified on mammograms using Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BIRADS) grading method. This was in view of ascertaining the rate of occurrence of breast malignancy of the studied population.Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 416 mammographic reports of women was undertaken. The reports were written by consultant radiologists of 10 years’ experience and above. The reports were evaluated and characterised using Breast Imaging Reporting and Data system (BIRADS). Demographic data of patients were sourced from the request cards. The data was entered into a proforma and analysed using SPSS version 17. All request cards with incomplete data were excluded from the study.Results: Using the BI-RADS Classification, the mammographic reports shows that 29.57% of the lesions were benign, and 4.57% were suspicious and biopsy recommended, while 3.60% were highly suggestive of malignancy. The right breast was predominantly affected with 42.7% of the patients (P<0.05).Conclusion: Classification of breast lesion using BI-RADS grading system is a veritable tool in the diagnosis of the breast lesion. The present study shows that 3.6% of the population has a high index of malignancy.Keywords: Mammography, breast, lesion, BI-RADS classificatio

Water use and grain yield response of rainfed soybean to tillage-mulch practices in southeastern Nigeria

Despite the agronomic, economic and food values of soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill), there is still dearth of information on the tillage need and the implications of surface mulch for the crop in the eastern part of the forest-savanna transition zone of Nigeria. This study was therefore carried out on a sandy loam Ultisol at Nsukka with a sub-humid climate, during 2006 and 2007 cropping seasons. Our objective was to devise an appropriate tillage method for the crop from evaluated effects of no-till (NT), conventional tillage (CT) and mulch on selected key agronomic indices. Each of the NT and the CT was either unmulched (U) or mulched (M) in a split-plot, giving four treatments/tillage methods (NTU, NTM, CTU and CTM) randomized in four blocks. Rainfall was more favorable in the first than in the second season. The mean seasonal soil water storage (range, 99-109 mm) within 0.5-m soil layer differed among the treatments (NTU < CTU < NTM = CTM). However, for the first and second seasons, both water use (582-616 and 667-709 mm respectively) and grain yield (0.71-0.81 and 1.22-1.91 Mg ha-1 respectively) were not different. Mulch lowered the crop water use but had no influence on grain yield. Water use efficiency was enhanced with mulch only in the second season. Although either of the two mulch treatments (NTM/CTM) would be suitable for growing soybean especially in years of unfavorably distributed rainfall, NTM is a more rational choice than CTM. Rainfall adequacy at the critical reproductive stage of the crop showed to be a more important yield factor than the tested tillage methods

Budgetary allocation and social services deterioration in the fourth Nigerian republic (1999 to 2021)

The deterioration in the education and health sectors is alarming and a concern to major stakeholders in Nigeria. This study examined the effect of the budgetary allocation based on 20% United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) benchmark for education and 15% 2001 African Union Abuja declaration on the social services deterioration in the fourth Nigerian republic. Specifically, the study examined the effect of budgetary allocation efficiency in education and health sectors on human development index from 1999 – 2021. Corruption perspective index (CPI) and gross national income (GNI) per capita was introduced as control variables. Robust multiple regression analysis was used to analyzed the data. Results revealed that budget allocation efficiency in the education sector has significant negative effect on human development index while budgetary allocation efficiency on the health sector has positive significant effect on human development index. The implication of these findings is that the Nigerian state didn’t take education serious or that endemic corruption and budgetary indiscipline has overwhelmed the entire process. We recommend that state of emergency should be declared on education funding to avert further degeneration; funding of health sector should be increased at least to the level of the 2001 Abuja declaration; and increase citizen participation in the budgetary process to address the menace of corruption to foster accountability and transparency. Keywords: Budgetary allocation, Social services deterioration, Corruption, Human Development Index (HDI), Gross National Income (GNI) per Capita DOI: 10.7176/DCS/12-7-06 Publication date:November 30th 202

Disinfection of Ultrasound Transducers Using Non-Sterile Tissue Paper in Some Low-Cost Private Ultrasound Centres in Nigeria – Implications for Nosocomial Infection Management

Background/Aims: The incidence of disease outbreaks in clinical settings arising from ultrasound examinations is well documented, and is a source of worry. The ultrasound transducers and the coupling gel are potential sources of these infections since they come in direct contact with the patient’s skin. In this study, we examine the efficacy of the widespread practice of the use of plain non-sterile tissue paper in some low cost private ultrasound centres in our locality as a method of disinfecting ultrasound transducers after each use. Its potential impact on nosocomial infection management in clinical practice is also examined. Methods: Swab samples from convex ultrasound transducers before and after transabdominal scanning of three consecutive patients were obtained from 10 different ultrasound centres in urban and rural areas of Enugu state. Ultrasound coupling gel samples were equally obtained, and all samples cultured for bacteria growth which was quantified in colony forming units per ml (cfu/ml) and reported in 1000/ml. Paired sampled t-test was used to check for significance in reduction in bacterial load before and after the transducer was cleaned.Results: Nine different bacterial strains were isolated. Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella spp had the highest percentage of occurrence in all centres. Significant bacteria growth was recorded in the morning before the examination, and plain tissue paper significantly reduced the bacteria load in the ultrasound transducer.Conclusion: Even though disinfecting ultrasound transducers with non-sterile plain tissue paper alone is statistically effective and has the potential to minimize nosocomial infection, it is however not clinically effective and hence not advised

Antimicrobial activities of secondary metabolites of endophytic fungi isolated from Catharanthus roseus

Introduction: Recently, several endophytes have been shown to possess the potentials to synthesize novel bioactive compounds that have found use for drug discovery. We isolated endophytic fungi associated with Catharanthus roseus collected from the river banks of Amassoma in Southern Nigeria, and identified some of their bioactive secondary metabolites. Methods: The fungi were subjected to solid-state fermentation on rice medium and the metabolites were extracted using ethyl acetate. The fungal crude extracts were screened for antimicrobial activity and were also subjected to high-performance liquid chromatography-diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD) analysis for the identification of the bioactive compounds. Results: The fungal extracts showed both antibacterial and antifungal activities with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 0.0625 to 1 mg/mL. The HPLC-DAD analysis of the extracts suggested the presence of citreoisocoumarin, citreoisocoumarinol, questinol, hydroxyemodin, acropyrone, methyl 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl) acetate, nigricinol, and cladosporin. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that endophytic fungi associated with C. roseus could be a promising source of novel bioactive compounds with pharmaceutical and industrial importance

Neutrophil/Lymphocytes Ratio and Haemoglobin Electrophoretic Pattern in an Undergraduate Student’s Population Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a very cheap and accurate method of accessing inflammation and is fast emerging as a prognostic biomarker in many diseases. This study determines the Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio and haemoglobin electrophoretic patterns in an undergraduate student’s population at Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. One hundred and fifty (150) undergraduate students aged between 17 and 30 years old were recruited for the study. Five millimeters (5ml) of venous blood was collected from each participants into ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) vacutainer bottle for the determination of haemoglobin genotype using cellulose acetate electrophoresis method while the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio was calculated from neutrophil and lymphocyte values obtained from BC 5000 Mindray Hematology Auto-Analyzer. The results obtained showed that the mean±SD value of Neutrophil/Lymphocyte ratio was 1.21 ± 0.07 for male and 1.14 ± 0.06 for female participants with both within normal reference ranges and with no significant difference (p=0.4692). 100 (66.7%) subjects had haemoglobin genotype AA (HbAA) out of which 48 (32%) male, 52 (34.7%) female while 50 (33.3%) participants had haemoglobin genotype AS (HbAS) of which 24 (16%) male, 26 (17.3%) female. No haemoglobin genotype SS/SC (HbSS/HbSC) traits were seen in the study population. Furthermore, results also showed that haemoglobin genotype and sex had no effects on the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (p=0.05). This study shows a 66.7%, 33.3%, and 0% expression for HbAA, HbAS, and HbSS/HbSC, respectively, and that the Neutrophil/Lymphocyte ratio is within the normal reference range. Further studies to include other haemoglobin variants such as haemoglobin SS (HbSS) and haemoglobin SC (HbSC) is recommended

Effect of Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure on Financial Performance of Multinational Companies in Nigeria

The study examined empirically the sensitivity of financial performance to corporate social responsibility disclosure of listed multinational firms in Nigeria. The study adopted an ex-post facto research design. Audited annual reports of eighteen (18) quoted firms from 2009 to 2019 formed the relevant period where corporate social responsibility disclosure (CSRD) (donations and other related expense) was used for the explanatory variable of the study. While return on asset (ROA), return on equity (ROE) and profit for the year (PFTY) were used as the dependent variables. The study employed panel least square regression analysis via STATA 13 output to fathom the nature of association between these variables. The results show that ROE and profit for the year are influenced significantly by CSRD. It was discovered that the coefficient of the return on asset is significant and equally indicated a positive effect on CSRD. The study accepts the null hypothesis, which stated that return on asset does not positively and significantly affect corporate social responsibility disclosure of multinational firms in Nigeria. The study recommended that government/regulatory bodies should adjust the minimum percentage of profit liable for taxation / CSRD from their profit for the year. Keywords: Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure, Financial Performance. DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/13-21-04 Publication date: November 30th 2021

Antimicrobial activities of secondary metabolites of endophytic fungi isolated from Catharanthus roseus

Introduction: Recently, several endophytes have been shown to possess the potentials to synthesize novel bioactive compounds that have found use for drug discovery. We isolated endophytic fungi associated with Catharanthus roseus collected from the river banks of Amassoma in Southern Nigeria, and identified some of their bioactive secondary metabolites. Methods: The fungi were subjected to solid-state fermentation on rice medium and the metabolites were extracted using ethyl acetate. The fungal crude extracts were screened for antimicrobial activity and were also subjected to high-performance liquid chromatography-diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD) analysis for the identification of the bioactive compounds. Results: The fungal extracts showed both antibacterial and antifungal activities with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 0.0625 to 1 mg/mL. The HPLC-DAD analysis of the extracts suggested the presence of citreoisocoumarin, citreoisocoumarinol, questinol, hydroxyemodin, acropyrone, methyl 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl) acetate, nigricinol, and cladosporin. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that endophytic fungi associated with C. roseus could be a promising source of novel bioactive compounds with pharmaceutical and industrial importance