Effects of Some Heavy Metals on Chlorophyll Accumulation in \u3cem\u3eBarbula lambarenensis\u3c/em\u3e

Samples of moss (Barbula lambarenensis) with their substrates collected from Belewu Drive, Oke Odo, Ilorin, were taken to the screen house of the University of Ilorin biological garden to monitor the effects and tolerance of this plant to different heavy metals. The moss samples were divided into eleven regimes, widely separated from one another to avoid contaminations. Ten regimes were differently irrigated with 1000 ppm and 2000 ppm of lead, copper, cadmium, iron and vanadium thrice a week. The eleventh treatment served as the control, and was irrigated with distilled water. It was found that these heavy metals caused some damage to the chloroplasts of this plant as the bright green colours changed light green, yellowish green or brown. The concentrations of the used heavy metals are phytotoxic. In light of this, Barbula lambarenensis can serve as a bio-indicator of heavy metals

Effects of Phytohormone on Seed Germination, Seedling Vigour and the Phytochemical Contents of Three Cucurbits

Background and Objective: A comparative study was carried out on the effect of phytohormone on seed germination, seedling vigour and the phytochemical content of three cucurbits, which are Cucumis melo (L.), Lagenaria breviflora (Benth) and Citrullus lanatus (Thunb). Phytochemical analysis of air-dried, powdered epicarp, mesocarp and seeds of the mature fruits were carried out, also the effects of varying concentrations of indole acetic acid (IAA), naphthal ene acetic acid (NAA) and gibberellic acid (GA 3) on germination and seedling vigour of these 3 cucurbits were investigated. The study is designed to obtain the inhibitory and the stimulatory effects of the 3 cucurbits used in this research. Materials and Methods: Treatments were arranged in 5 replicates and monitored for 16 days.Experiments were carried out in 9 cm petri dishes in the laboratory. Data were subjected to two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) at p<0.05. Means were compared using LSD. Results: The study revealed that the mean percentage germination and seedling vigour of Cucumis melo(C. melo) was significantly higher (p<0 .05) in the control than in 100-500 ppm concentrations of GA 3, IAA and NAA.Phenol was not detected in the epicarp and mesocarp of C. lanatus and seeds of L. breviflora. However, concentrations of phenol detected in the different parts of C. melo and Lagenaria breviflora( L. breviflora) (epicarp, mesocarp and seed) were not significantly different.The concentrations of the phytochemicals were significantly (p<0.05) different among the epicarp, mesocarp and seeds of the cucurb its except for alkaloid. However, concentrations of phenol detected in the different parts of C. melo and L. breviflora were not significantly different(p>0.05). Tannin was not detected in the epicarp, mesocarp and seeds of the three cucurbits. Flavonoid was also significantly higher (p<0.05) in the epicarp of C. melo and L. breviflora than in their mesocarp and seeds. Conclusion: Conclusively, 0effects of varying concentrations of IAA, NAA and GA 3 was not significant on the parameters studied. Phytochemicals were detected in the epicarp,mesocarp and seeds of the cucurbits under investigation. This study revealed the phytochemical contents and the effects of hormones on the germination of seeds including the vitality of the seed produced

Ocular Toxoplasmosis among Livestock Farmers and Raw Meat Handlers in Uyo, Nigeria

BACKGROUND፡ Toxoplasmosis is the commonest cause of infectious posterior uveitis in humans and can lead to blindness and low vision in both immune-competent and immunecompromised persons worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Ocular Toxoplasmosis (OT) and potential risk factors among livestock farmers and raw meat handlers in Uyo.METHODS: This was a descriptive cross-sectional communitybased study involving clinical eye examination, laboratory detection of anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibody and HIV testing. Participants’ other information was obtained using interviewer-administered questionnaire.RESULTS: There were 339 participants aged 15-78 (mean 34.8±11.6) years,283 (83.5%) were males 56(16.5%) were females; 189 (55.8%) tested seropositive for anti-Toxo. gondiiIgG antibodies. Eight (2.4%) had presumed ocular toxoplasmosis (POT); 6 of the 8 were seropositive for anti T.gondiiIgG antibody; and 2 of the 8 POT (25%) were HIV-seropositive. Of the 189 who were anti-T.gondiiIgG antibody seropositive, 6 (3.2%) had OT. Factors associated with OT were age (31-50 years) and female gender (P = 0.049 and 0.001, respectively). HIV infection was associated with POT (P=0.033). Most of the ocular lesions (87.5%) were unilateral and located at the posterior pole (77.7%).CONCLUSION: The prevalence of presumed ocular toxoplasmosis (POT) and ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) among livestock farmers and raw meat handlers in Uyo are 2.4% and 1.8%, respectively. Potential risk factors are being female, and persons between fourth and fifth decades of life. Awareness creation on toxoplasmosis among this occupational group is advocated

Profile of ocular injury among paediatric patients in a tertiary institution in Uyo, Nigeria: An 18 months review

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Analysis of Flooding Vulnerability in Informal Settlements Literature: Mapping and Research Agenda

The United Nations (UN) emphasizes the necessity of reducing the social and material losses imposed by water disasters, with an emphasis on protecting the most vulnerable social groups to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs). Several objectives outlined under the SDGs including Goals 1, 11, and 13 concentrate on minimizing vulnerability to disasters and boosting resilience to extreme occurrences. Flooding is an increasingly challenging problem facing cities today, with consequences mostly felt in marginalized communities. Residents of informal settlements are particularly susceptible to the effects of flooding given that they are compelled to live in the most unsafe locations, such as floodplains. This study reviews the current status of flooding research from empirical perspectives globally and in South Africa through systematic literature and bibliometric analysis of 249 peer-reviewed articles on flooding, with a focus on informal settlements. We detect groups of keywords and major research themes. Our analysis shows that studies on flood modeling in informal settlements are inadequate. We synthesized the research to present a body of knowledge on floods in informal settlements. Future research prospects are identified in areas of upgrading housing and infrastructures, policies, integrating indigenous knowledge, and local participation

Adapting the ‘Push-Pull’ ‘Farmer Teacher’ Concept to Agricultural Technology Transfer in Nigeria

Evaluative survey of the Nigerian extension service reveals that there has been a consistent perennial constraint to effective agricultural extension practice. Many suggestions aimed at improving the system make efforts to address the “symptomatic attributes†without implicitly addressing the source of the problem. What seems as the real solution lies within the perspective of modifying the existing Training and Visit system model; to inculcate and use the receivers of technologies and instructional objectives as an essential part of accountability mechanism (quality control). The extension component of the lpush-pully technology developed by the International Center for Insect Physiology and Ecology (IClPE), Kenya, skillfully employs the elements of the learning situation to provide satisfactory learning experiences for farmers by using other farmers (i.e farmer-teachers). The ‘push pull * farmer —teacher* concept is discovered to formative in orientation, cost-effective, program-efficient and ensures empirical data base generation. The concept offers full capacity building process for receivers of technologies and full stakeholders * participation,which is required for self-accountability and programme sustainability. Adaptation of the* farmer-teacher* concept in Nigeria will greatly enhance agricultural extension service delivery and solve the problems of insufficient staffing and financing as experienced in the Suba District of Kenya. The adaptation of the farmer-teacher* concept to technology transfer in Nigeria will ensure the sustainability of innovations even after the research institute pulls out

Adapting the ‘Push-Pull’ ‘Farmer Teacher’ Concept to Agricultural Technology Transfer in Nigeria

Evaluative survey of the Nigerian extension service reveals that there has been a consistent perennial constraint to effective agricultural extension practice. Many suggestions aimed at improving the system make efforts to address the “symptomatic attributes†without implicitly addressing the source of the problem. What seems as the real solution lies within the perspective of modifying the existing Training and Visit system model; to inculcate and use the receivers of technologies and instructional objectives as an essential part of accountability mechanism (quality control). The extension component of the lpush-pully technology developed by the International Center for Insect Physiology and Ecology (IClPE), Kenya, skillfully employs the elements of the learning situation to provide satisfactory learning experiences for farmers by using other farmers (i.e farmer-teachers). The ‘push pull * farmer —teacher* concept is discovered to formative in orientation, cost-effective, program-efficient and ensures empirical data base generation. The concept offers full capacity building process for receivers of technologies and full stakeholders * participation,which is required for self-accountability and programme sustainability. Adaptation of the* farmer-teacher* concept in Nigeria will greatly enhance agricultural extension service delivery and solve the problems of insufficient staffing and financing as experienced in the Suba District of Kenya. The adaptation of the farmer-teacher* concept to technology transfer in Nigeria will ensure the sustainability of innovations even after the research institute pulls out

Prevalence and correlates of food insecurity in rural Nigeria: A panel analysis

The study assessed dynamics of food insecurity among households in rural Nigeria using the Living Standard Measurement Survey-Integrated Survey on Agriculture (LSMSISA) collected in 2010/2011 and 2015/2016. Food insecurity status of the households was constructed using Household Food Insecurity Access Scale and analysed with descriptive statistics and random effect ordered probit model. Overall, 63.10%, 26.24%, 9.53% and 1.13% of households were food secure, mildly food insecure, moderately food insecure andseverely food insecure, respectively in the first panel; while 46.53%, 31.63%, 19.39% and 2.45% were food secure, mildly food insecure, moderately food insecure and severely food insecure, respectively in the second panel. Food insecurity status increased with large household size, dependency ratio, being female-headed and aging household heads. Households in south-eastern Nigeria had a higher food insecurity incidence than elsewhere. Age, age squared, female to male adult ratio, primary and tertiary education, occupation, marital status, household size, access to credit and living in North East, North West, South West, South East and South zones were the correlates of food insecurity in rural Nigeria. Based on the findings, the study recommended an increased awareness on the use of family planning methods and improved access to family planning services. Also, severely food insecure households should be identified and specifically targeted by the government for appropriate safety net interventions