Assessment of the Scavenging Activity of Crude Methanolic Stem Bark Extract of Newbouldia Laevis on Selected Free Radicals

From ancient times, the therapeutic application of medicinal plants, also known as alternative medicine has been popular. Today, biological research has shown that this practice of phytotherapy will remain with man for sometime. Some medicinal applications of parts of Newbouldia laevis are known. Air dried leaves of N. laevis (Bignoniaceae) were powdered and extracted with 95%v/v methanol by maceration, and the extract concentrated at 40oC using Rotary evaporator. The weight of the extracted plant material was noted for the purpose of calculating yield. In vitro assessment of the ability of the extract to scavenge the Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anion and the synthetic radical 1, 1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) was determined. Buthylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), a synthetic antioxidant was used as a positive control. Plant extract showed concentration- dependent scavenging activity on all reactive species used. Scavenging activity of plant extract on hydrogen peroxide and superoxide was more than that of BHA on same. However, BHA was more effective at scavenging DPPH radical than plant extract

Morinda Lucida: Antioxidant and Reducing Activities of Crude Methanolic Stem Bark Extract

The antioxidant activity of Morinda lucida (Benth.) stem bark was investigated. Air dried stem bark of Morinda lucida was powdered and extracted with 95 % v/v methanol and the extract concentrated at 40oC using rotary evaporator. The total phenolic composition of methanolic extract of air - dried stem bark was estimated using spectrophotometric method. Phenolic composition was calculated to be approximately 80 %. Antioxidant activity of the extract was determined using its ability to prevent the oxidation of â-carotene. Ferric reducing ability of extract was also determined. Antioxidant and ferric reducing activities exhibited by plant extract were concentration dependent. Plant extract achieved a maximum antioxidant activity of 6% within 40minutes. The total phenolic content, antioxidant activity and reducing power of the extract had direct relationship

Austerity in Civil Procedure

The demand for and availability of civil justice procedures for small claims can neither be disentangled nor extricated from the health of the economic climate of the relevant country concerned. In this article, it is argued that despite not being a developed country, Ghana was not completely insulated from the hardships or implementation of austerity measures that were triggered by the global economic meltdown. The inevitability of behavioural changes on the part of the Government of Ghana as lawmaker and provider of the machinery for civil justice on the one hand and small claims litigants as users of the civil procedure on the other hand are also explored in the article. After properly situating the exploration in the relevant economic context, the article makes recommendations regarding how to minimise the impact of the austerity measures on small claims litigants

The Effects of Gender Stereotyping on Career Choice among Secondary School Students in Tanzania

This study sought to explore the influence of gender stereotyping on career choices among secondary school students in Moshi rural district. Specifically, the study sought to examine the knowledge of career requirements among secondary school students, assess gender differences in career choice among secondary school students and examine the extent to which gender stereotyping beliefs influence career choices among secondary school students Moshi rural district. A total number of 299 students participated in the study. Data were collected using questionnaire. Data were analyzed quantitatively using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Frequencies and percentage were used to determine the level of career information and knowledge. Chi squire was used in determining the association among the variables of the study. (T-test) was conducted to compare means scores of stereotyping of career of sex and subject specialization. The study revealed that students had better knowledge on different types of careers available in the world of work. It was revealed that, teachers, parents, relatives, books, television, career role models, radio and the internet were sources of career information among secondary school students. In addition, the results showed a significant difference between re-categorized career and sex with a large effect size of, χ2 (1, n = 299) = 36.821, p =< .005, phi =.-351). Similarly, there was a statistical significant difference between re categorized career and subject specialization with a large effects size of; χ2 (1, n = 299) = 17.753, p =< .005, phi =.-255). In addition to that, findings revealed that there was significant difference between re categorized career and school with a large effect size of; χ2 (4, n = 299) =23.812, p =< .005, cramer\u27s v =.282). it was also revealed that, there is statistically significant difference between males (M= 39.22, SD= 5.79) and females (M= 36.4, SD=5.82; t (297) = 4.17, p

RELIABILITY OF DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS IN NIGERIA

The incessant electric power supply problems facing the existence of industries in Nigeria is a pointer to the fact that there is great need for fault evaluation and reliability assessment of electric power system in the country and provide solutions. As it has been earlier said, this problem has grounded many activities and has destroyed many industrial processes. In view of this, a traditional analytical method is developed to access the occurrence of faults and outages along each of the individual consumer point in a feeder, as well as optimizes the reliability of the generation, transmission and distribution system. In view of this, it will be possible to improve on the performance of the system. It will also assist in the generation and transmission of sufficient power, clearing of faults, ensuring adequate protection and reliability of the distribution system that is, bringing a steady uninterrupted power supply to consumers within the distribution area and the entire country.Nigerians are experiencing a lot of difficulties as a result of poor Generation, Transmission and Distribution of electricity. As of 2016, the electricity energy consumption in the world from the world fact book revealed that the average power per capital (watts per person) in the United States is 1,377 Watts. In Canada, it is as high as 1,704 Watts per person and in South Africa; it is 445 Watts per person. The average power per capital in Australia is 1,112 Watts and in New Zealand it is 1,020 W per person. Whereas, the average electricity consumed in watts per person in Nigeria is just 14 Watts. This has put Nigeria in a rank of 189 out of 219 countries estimated. Currently, power generating capacity in Nigeria is estimated to be 6,803 megawatts, with average working capacity between 3,500 MW for over 170 million people (20.59 W/person). The power Companies in Nigeria face a lot of problems. Some of the highest priority issues being low generation of power, inadequate equipment and technical team for the clearance of faults, inadequate protection devices, transmission losses and low reliability of the distribution system. The Nigerian power problem has resulted to incessant planned, forced and unplanned outages. This has grounded many activities and has destroyed many industrial operations and processes. In addition, it has resulted to erratic and unreliable supply of electricity. It has reduced productivity and has increased unemployment and crime rates in the country. Hence, an analytical method is developed to study the dynamic- reliability of the distribution system, as well as optimizes the occurrence of faults and outages along the consumer point in each feeder in order to improve the performance of the system. A great need for fault evaluation and reliability studies of electric power system was observed. This research work analyzed the problems facing the Distribution System. Efforts were made to provide adequate solutions to the problems. The research work evaluated the occurrence and causes of faults and outages in the Distribution Network Area for a period of 8 years. In addition, it analyzed and reduced the effects of power losses along each of the feeders in the Distribution Network Area. This research work revealed the downtime, failure rate and reliability index along each of the eight feeders. It also improved the reliability and performance of the distribution system.Elizade University, Ilara- Mokin, Ondo Stat

Application of genomic and quantitative genetic tools to identify candidate resistance genes for brown rot resistance in peach.

The availability of a complete peach genome assembly and three different peach genome sequences created by our group provide new opportunities for application of genomic data and can improve the power of the classical Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) approaches to identify candidate genes for peach disease resistance. Brown rot caused by Monilinia spp., is the most important fungal disease of stone fruits worldwide. Improved levels of peach fruit rot resistance have been identified in some cultivars and advanced selections developed in the UC Davis and USDA breeding programs. Whole genome sequencing of the Pop-DF parents lead to discovery of high-quality SNP markers for QTL genome scanning in this experimental population. Pop-DF created by crossing a brown rot moderately resistant cultivar 'Dr. Davis' and a brown rot resistant introgression line, 'F8,1-42', derived from an initial almond × peach interspecific hybrid, was evaluated for brown rot resistance in fruit of harvest maturity over three seasons. Using the SNP linkage map of Pop-DF and phenotypic data collected with inoculated fruit, a genome scan for QTL identified several SNP markers associated with brown rot resistance. Two of these QTLs were placed on linkage group 1, covering a large (physical) region on chromosome 1. The genome scan for QTL and SNP effects predicted several candidate genes associated with disease resistance responses in other host-pathogen systems. Two potential candidate genes, ppa011763m and ppa026453m, may be the genes primarily responsible for M. fructicola recognition in peach, activating both PAMP-triggered immunity (PTI) and effector-triggered immunity (ETI) responses. Our results provide a foundation for further genetic dissection, marker assisted breeding for brown rot resistance, and development of peach cultivars resistant to brown rot

The Reliability of Four Elements of Research in Effective Mitigation of Covid-19 Pandemic for Rapid Global Health and Economic Recovery with focus on Nigeria

The study sought to examine the extent of the reliability of four elements of research in effective mitigation of Covid-19 pandemic for rapid global health and economic recovery. Ex-post facto research design was adopted for the study. The study was conducted in Nigeria. The population of the study comprised social researchers, psychologists, and medical researchers. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 50 Social researchers, 50 psychologists, and 50 medical researchers, giving a total of 150 respondents constituting the sample size for the study. The Main Instrument used in this study was a Questionnaire titled “Elements of Research and Effective Mitigation of Covid-19 Pandemic (EREMCPQ)”. Face validation of the instrument was carried out to ensure that the instrument has the accuracy, appropriateness, completeness and the language of the study under consideration. Cronbach Alpha technique was used to determine the level of reliability of the instrument. The reliability coefficient obtained was 0.84 and this was high enough to justify the use of the instrument. The researcher subjected the data generated for this study to appropriate statistical techniques such as simple regression. The test for significance was done at 0.05 alpha levels. The study concluded that there is significant joint influence of the four elements of research (objectivity, systematicity intellectuality and purposefulness in that order) on effective mitigation of Covid-19 pandemic for rapid global health and economic recovery. One of the recommendations was that It is pertinent that medical and social researchers need to prioritize the four elements of research when (objectivity, systematicity, intellectuality and purposefulness) if their quest for mitigation of covid-19 must be yield a useful result

Political corruption and the Nigerian civil war

Purpose: The purpose of this thesis was to describe instances of political corruption in post-independence Nigeria and to relate such instances and its contribution to the outbreak of civil war in 1966. Method: The method of research was mainly library research. The Sam Houston University was used extensively. Other library facilities utilized include the following: Texas Southern University; University of Houston, and the Houston Public Library. Materials were also obtained from the University of Ife and the University of Lagos, both in Nigeria. Personal experience was also utilized. Findings: The fundamental error in post-independence Nigerian politics was that political parties were based on tribes. Because political officials owe their allegiance to the tribal groups, tribalism became a salient factor in the maintenance of politically corrupt relations. At the time under study, it was found that political corruption in Nigeria had attained anarchical dimension. Political officials were elected into office by actually using force and coercion to obtain votes. Because the Judicial System was incapacitated in performing its constitutional obligation of protecting the rights of the public, the civilians consequently lost faith in the rules of law and Nigeria was thrust into a series of bloody crises which later precipitated the civil war