Effects of Raw Ethanolic Seed Extract of Tetracarpidium conophorum on Heamatological and Histopathological Parameters in Swiss Albino Mice Infected with Plasmodium berghei

Study was carried out to determine the heamatological and histopathological effects of raw ethanolic seed extract of Tetracarpidium conophorum in swiss albino mice infected with Plasmodium berghei (NK65). Standard methods were employed to determine the heamatological, histopathological indices and biochemical assay. The experimental mice were acclimatized for seven days before the commencement of treatment. Mice were grouped into six groups (A, B, C, D, E and F) of four mice each. The mice in group B were treated with a standard antimalarial drug (chloroquine as positive control) at a dose of 5 mg/kg body weight, while mice in groups D, E and F was administered with increasing dosages (200, 400, 600 mg/kg body weight) of seed extracts for four consecutive days respectively. Group C (Normal control) served as mice that was not infected and treated. Heamatological analysis revealed an increase in Packed Cell Volume, Red Blood Cells, Heamoglobin and Platelet values of all mice in groups D, E and F (mice administered different concentrations of the extract). Mice in group B (chloroquine treated group) have the highest value. Mice in group A (negative control) exhibited lowest values of Heamoglobin, Platelet, Red blood cells, and Packed Cell Volume. There was significant increase in the levels of Alanine Transaminase and Aspartate Transaminase in group A (infected and not treated) compared to mice in groups C, D, and E. Restorative effects of seed extract was observed on the liver and kidney of mice at dose levels (400 and 600 mg/kg) used, but the seed extract at the dose of 600 mg/kg was observed to have adverse effects on the liver of the mice. This study therefore shows that Tetracarpidium conophorum was able to boost the formation of heamatological indices and was not toxic to the organs (liver and kidney) in mice

A novel zerovalent manganese for removal of copper ions: synthesis, characterization and adsorption studies

Synthesis of nanoscale zerovalent manganese (nZVMn) by chemical reduction was carried out in a single pot system under inert environment. nZVMn was characterized using a combination of analytical techniques: Ultraviolet–Visible Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy, Energy Dispersive X-ray, BET surface area and Point of Zero Charge. The adsorption physicochemical factors: pH, contact time, adsorbent dose, agitation speed, initial copper ion concentration and temperature were optimized. The kinetic data fitted better to Pseudo second-order, Elovich, fractional power and intraparticle diffusion models and their validity was tested by three statistical models: sum of square error, Chi-square (v2) and normalized standard deviation (Dq). Seven of the two-parameter isotherm models [Freundlich, Langmuir, Temkin, Dubinin–Kaganer–Raduskevich (DKR), Halsey, Harkin–Jura and Flory–Huggins] were used to analyse the equilibrium adsorption data. The Langmuir monolayer adsorption capacity (Qmax = 181.818 mg/g) obtained is greater than other those of nano-adsorbents utilized in adsorption of copper ions. The equilibrium adsorption data were better described by Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, DKR and Halsey isotherm models considering their coefficient of regression (R2[0.90). The values of the thermodynamic parameters: standard enthalpy change DH_ (?50.27848 kJ mol-1), standard entropy change DS_ (203.5724 J mol-1 K-1) and the Gibbs free energy change DG_ revealed that the adsorption process was feasible, spontaneous, and endothermic in nature. The performance of this novel nanoscale zerovalent manganese (nZVMn) suggested that it has a great potential for effective removal of copper ions from aqueous solution

Cadmium Tolerance and Phytoremediation Strategies of Selected Tropical plants Cultivated on Industrial Dump Site under the Influences of Two Mycobionts

This research was carried out on a waste disposal site of a paint industry in Ijebu- Ijesha, Osun State, Nigeria in an attempt to assess the cadmium toxicity tolerance and bioremediation strategies of selected tropical plants cultivated under the influence of two mycobionts. On the waste disposal site, two plots (Plot A and B) having size of about 9 m by 12 m each were prepared with a control plot (Plot C) which is a non-polluted site. The experimental design on the first plots (Plot A) was 4x2x3 in which viable seeds of the four selected weeds were grown and inoculated with two mycobionts (Glomus intraradices and Glomus mosseae) respectively in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. However, on the second (Plot B) and control plots, only the seeds of the weeds were grown without mycorrhiza treatment using the same experimental design of 4x3 respectively. After Twelve weeks of planting, each plant was harvested, separated into root and shoot tissues and analysed for Cd concentrations using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS). Data collected were subjected to descriptive and inferential statistics. The highest (18.51 mg/kg) concentrations of Cd were reported in Amaranthus spinosus with root and shoot bioconcentration factors; and transfer factors greater than 1.00. Out of the four plants, 75% act as cadmium phytostabilizers in the absence of inocula and were good candidates for the biomanagement of hazardous sites while all the plant displayed the characteristics of a cadmium phytoextractor under mycorrhizal inoculation with Amaranthus spinosus having the highest mobility indices of cadmium under the influence of Glomus intraradices. The study concluded that the four weeds are good Cd phytoextractors in the remediation and biomanagement of marginal lands under bioaugmentation

The Justiceability and Enforceability of Womenas Rights in Nigeria

The legal framework for women s rights in Nigeria is based on the Constitution primarily other local laws and international treaties relating to women ratified by the country Nigeria is a country with very high but youthful population 2 Women in Nigeria constitute more than two - thirds of the country s 70 adult non literate population Despite the fact that women also constitute about 49 of the total population they are discriminated against in all spheres of governance The marginalization of Nigerian women is much more pronounced in the native laws and custom which constitutes a major aspect of the sources of Nigerian law The issue of women s rights in Nigeria is very sensitive Right is defined as A power privilege or immunity guaranteed under a constitution status or decisional laws or claimed as a respect of long usag

HIV and Social Policy in Sub-Saharan Africa: Future goals for Protecting the Children in Sub-Sahara Africa

The onerous task of protecting orphans in Africa requires a multifarious effort aimed not only at infusion of public private or international funding into the care and treatment of HIV AIDS but also the building of economic and legal systems that integrates social and cultural representation and identity of the people such as those that energize the primary base and involve these vulnerable victims of HIV AIDS Goals and objectives of governments and institutions working in this field of health should be a collaborative effort towards an effective coordination of work strategically designed for children in partnership with mental health social medical and legal personnel It is my opinion that this will promote easy access to all available resources especially in countries such as Nigeria Uganda and South Africa where HIV AIDS is very endemic In order to prevent abuse and improve access to health care ethical and legal issues much attention should be paid to the underlying social and economic problems that contributed to the spread of the disease Orphans have been greatly affected by the high level of poverty infectious diseases reaching epidemic levels lack of education and inadequate health legal social and economic infrastructure

Assessment of On-Farm Travel Characteristics of Small Scale Farmers In Ibadan, Southwestern Nigeria

Transport needs of the farmers have not been properly quantified, most importantly on the farm which is the main hub of his activities. A study was conducted to assess on-farm travel characteristics of small scale farmers in Nigeria during farming activities. On-farm movement parameters such as working speed, workrate, field efficiency, power consumption and distance travelled were evaluated for some farm operations. The working speed during planting of maize and fertilizer application (manual) were both 0.088 m/sec; bed construction had a working speed of 0.013 m/sec. The workrate of planting operation was 0.044 ha/hr while bed making operation had a workrate of 0.0062 ha/hr. The results showed that operations like bed construction, ridging and weeding which were more tedious operations had lower workrate, working speed and travel distance compared to the less tedious operations like planting and fertilizer application. Also more power was consumed for ridging and bed construction than planting or fertilizer application. &nbsp

Risk perception and correlates of alcohol use among out-of-school youth in motor parks in Lagos State, Nigeria

Background and Aim: The prevalence of alcohol use has increased globally. Out-of-school youth are a vulnerable group who might have missed opportunities for learning healthy behaviours in a formal school environment. The purpose of this study was to determine the risk perception, pattern of use, and correlates of alcohol use among out-of-school youth in Lagos, Nigeria.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 380 out-of school youth in motor parks in Lagos State, Nigeria, using interviewer administered questionnaires.Results: The lifetime prevalence of alcohol use was 61.1%, while 55.5% were current drinkers. Beer (57.3%) was the most consumed type of alcohol, followed by distilled spirits (29.8%). Using the CAGE scoring system, more than half (57.8%) of the current drinkers had a drinking problem. Almost three quarters (70.1%) had experienced at least one episode of alcohol intoxication within the past month. A considerable number of current drinkers (63.5%) desired to reduce their alcohol intake or stop drinking, while 45.5% had made unsuccessful attempts to do so within the past year. Only 28.9% had received assistance to quit or reduce their drinking and of these less than half (39.3%) received assistance from a professional or healthcare worker. Males were more likely to be current drinkers and to have experienced episodes of alcohol intoxication. Parental and peer drinking were associated with alcohol use but not with intoxication.Conclusions: It is important to design specific programmes to reduce alcohol use among out-of-school youth in these settings

PRODUCTION OF PAVING BLOCK FROM RECYCLED POLYETHYLENE

The production of paving block from sand and cement is becoming of immense and popular in Nigeria and is being used as finishing material in landscaping. Presently the cost of cement is becoming high and polythene waste is increasing daily causing pollution all over the land. This project researched into recycling of the polyethene and using it as binding agent in the production of paving blocks. The pure water sachet nylon was collected, washed and dried. It was cut and melted in a machine fabricated to recycled the sachet water nylon. The recyclate was collected and mixed with sand at different temperature range of 200 – 300 OC. The condensate was mixed with sand poured in a mould and allowed to cool. Compression and hardness test were performed on the paving block produced. The result shows that increase in temperature increases the compressive test of pave block and the more the content of the sand the higher the compressive strength of the paving block. The hardness test revealed that the pave block produced at 300 OC has a higher value than that at 200 OC while the pave block with higher sand content has greater hardness value

Iron bioavailibity from a tropical leafy vegetable in anaemic mice

Telfairia occidentalis is a vegetable food crop that is indigenous to West Africa. The leaves and seeds are the edible parts of the plant and are used in everyday meals by incorporation into soups and stews. Previous studies have attributed improved haematological indices to the vegetable and have advocated the use of T. occidentalis in the treatment of anemia. This study investigates the ameliorative effects of T. occidentalis when compared to FeSO4 as a reference salt in anaemic mice. It also compares the bioavailability of test iron and hepatic hepcidin expression for the estimation of iron absorption in the mice. Non-haem iron was determined in the liver of mice after the experimental feeding treatments. Hepcidin mRNA expression was carried out by quantitative RT-PCR. Administration of T. occidentalis leaves led to a modest increase in haemoglobin (Hb) levels in anaemic mice that were comparable to the Hb repletion in anaemic mice given FeSO4. Hepatic iron increase in the mice given either T. occidentalis or FeSO4 led to a corresponding enhancement of hepcidin mRNA expression. Induced hepcidin mRNA expression was enhanced by the addition of ascorbic acid to the test dose of iron. Hepatic hepcidin mRNA expression was found to be responsive to increase in the relative bioavailability of iron from test diets