Evaluating the use of spiny pigweed (Amaranthus spinosus) and water leaf (Talinum triangulare) for bioremediation of crude oil polluted soil in Ikarama Community in Bayelsa State Nigeria

The potential soil amending impact of various concentrations of macerated roots of Amaranthus spinosus and Talinum triangulare singly and in combination on crude oil polluted soil of Ikarama community of Yenagoa in Bayelsa State Nigeria was investigated using gas chromatography technique for twelve weeks. The polluted soil was bagged in seven groups with the addition of 250g of Amaranthus spinosus root, 500g of Amaranthus spinosus root, 250g of Talinum triangulare root, 500g of Talinum triangulare root, 250g of combined roots of Amaranthus spinosus and Talinum Triangulare, 500g of combined roots of Amaranthus spinosus and Talinum Triangulare and labelled as follows Ga, Gb, Wa, Wb, GWa and GWb respectively; and a polluted and not amended bag which served as control. Each bag contained 1000g of polluted soil. The Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH), Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH), pH and enzyme concentration were analysed at intervals of four weeks for twelve weeks. The result showed that TPH reduction in the impacted soil varied between 29.5% for Ga and 1.79% for Wa after week 4.The results also showed that PAH reduction varied between 53% for Gb and 14.2% in GWa at week 12 (p<0.05). The results suggested that the roots of the plants Talinum triangulare and Amaranthus spinosus are best used singularly and not in combination in the bioremediation of TPH and PAHs.Keywords: Amaranthus spinosus, Bioremediation, crude oil, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, Talinum triangulare, Total petroleum hydrocarbo

Effects of Ethnicity on the Globalization Process

In the recent years, the globalization process has been challenged worldwide by several forces the most serious of which is that of ethnicity which has found expression as patriotism, self determination and ethnic chauvinism. This paper examines the globalization process and ethnic nationalism in contemporary era to see how the forces of ethnicity have affected the globalization process. The paper finds that ethnic sentiment aims at protecting the sovereignty of the countries involved, giving their nationals a greater control over their national economies and those of other nations, and is therefore expressed by both the developed and the developing nations. The paper concludes that aggressive national posture can only be removed or reduced if the globalization process gives the people a reasonable degree of control over their development, and, if the barriers are removed against the movement of people from the developing nations to the developed.

Climate Change and Nigeria’s Sustainable Development of Vision 20-2020

Nigeria’s current development vision is to become one of the fastest developing economies in the world by the year 2020. Unfortunately, Nigeria flares an estimated 2.5 million cubic feet of gas each day which amounts to almost 40 percent of the total gas consumed in Africa. Thus, the country is one of the leading emitters of carbon dioxide, a veritable source of climate change. This paper will argue that the negative consequences of climate change are inimical to Nigeria’s sustainable development. Further, the paper will fault the sincerity of the vision and assert that the leadership of the country owes a duty to both the present and future generations to develop the country sustainably. Cite as: 20 Annl. Survey Int\u27l. Comp. L. 17 (2014)

Climate Change and Nigeria’s Sustainable Development of Vision 20-2020

Nigeria’s current development vision is to become one of the fastest developing economies in the world by the year 2020. Unfortunately, Nigeria flares an estimated 2.5 million cubic feet of gas each day which amounts to almost 40 percent of the total gas consumed in Africa. Thus, the country is one of the leading emitters of carbon dioxide, a veritable source of climate change. This paper will argue that the negative consequences of climate change are inimical to Nigeria’s sustainable development. Further, the paper will fault the sincerity of the vision and assert that the leadership of the country owes a duty to both the present and future generations to develop the country sustainably. Cite as: 20 Annl. Survey Int\u27l. Comp. L. 17 (2014)

In vivo antimalarial effect of Ananas comosus (L) Merr (Bromeliaceae) fruit peel, and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy profiling: A possible role for polyunsaturated fatty acid

Purpose: To evaluate the antimalarial effect of Ananas comosus extract and fractions and also to identify the likely bioactive compounds.Method: The fruit peel of the plant was extracted with methanol, and the extract successively fractionated with n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, methanol and water. The n-hexane fraction was further subjected to vacuum liquid chromatography to afford four sub-fractions, one of which was also analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Plasmodium berghei-infected mice were treated orally with three doses (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) of the plant extract and a single dose (200 mg/kg) of each of the fractions and sub-fractions in a curative antimalarial model using artemisinin combination therapy (ACT) as the reference drug.Results: The extract exhibited significant (p < 0.001) non-dose dependent parasitemia inhibitory activity in the range of 44.84 to 76.09 %. All fractions displayed inhibitory effect (p < 0.001) in the range of 46.44 to 87.58 % with the dichloromethane fraction displaying the highest effect (87.58 %). The subfractions exhibited significant inhibitory effect (p < 0.001) in the range of 84.14 to 92.54 %. The ACT produced significant (p < 0.001) inhibitory effect of 83.92 %. GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of 17 bioactive compounds, the most abundant of which were linoleic acid and palmitic acid.Conclusion: A. comosus displays strong antimalarial activity which supports the folkloric use of the plant for malarial treatment. A polyunsaturated fatty acid (linoleic acid) was the most abundant phytoconstituent identified. Keywords: Ananas comosus, Antimalarial, Malaria, Pineapple, Plasmodium beighe

The Role of Regional Economic and Political Groups in the Globalization Process: A Case Study of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) (1982-2002)

A regional integration by its very nature integrates its members into an economic union and acts as a bloc on matters affecting its members vis-a-vis other regional blocs and non members. Its hegemonic nature of hedging its members against all forms of exploitation and intimidation by other regional blocs and non-members and its desire to stem the tide of trade diversion, and to create and foster intra-union flow of trade, factors and investment at the exclusion of non-members and other regional blocs run contradictory to the aims and objectives of the globalization process which is the integration of the world economy through the breaking down of trade and investment barriers worldwide. Given these contradictory objectives of the regional blocs and the globalization process, this study examines the roles of the ECOWAS as an agent in the globalization process in the West African sub-region, its constraints, and solutions to the problems

EATING HABIT AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF A NIGERIAN PRIVATE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

The study aimed at determining the eating habit and nutritional status of Babcock university undergraduate students. Multiple stage random technique and systematic sampling was used to select 288 respondents and a structured questionnaire was used to elicit information on the socio-demographic data and eating habit. The BMI of the respondents was determined using weight and height squared and the 24- hour dietary recall was analyzed using Total Dietary Assessment software. The relationship between eating habit and nutritional status was determined using Chi- square.  Most of the respondents in the study were between 18-21 years (73.6 %) consisting of 45.6 % male and 53.7 % female. The respondents (54.8 %) consumed two meals in a day, 63.9 % eats in response to hunger while others eat due to different factors. Consumption of fruits and vegetables was poor as only 17.0 % and 14.9 % consumed fruits and vegetable daily. Many of the respondents consume snack regularly (85.4 %) with 33.7 % consuming in- between meals and 14.2 % snacking late in the night. Prevalence of overweight and obesity was high among the respondents as 30.4 % were overweight and 27.1 % were obese. Mean calorie intake and % RDA being 3223.04± 687.66 and 111.14 for males and 2429.45 ± 243.14 and 110.43 for females.   Frequency of consumption, snacking, period of snacking, soft drink consumption and, poor fruit and vegetable consumption all had significant (P< 0.05) effect on the nutritional status.                               &nbsp

Proteinuria and haematuria in apparently healthy primary school children in Enugu, Nigeria

Background: Mass screening for proteinuria and haematuria is advocated, especially in resource-poor countries with non-existent health insurance policy, to enhance awareness of renal diseases. This screening increases the chance for early detection and treatment, which in turn reduces incidences of resultant kidney failures. Objective: To determine the prevalence of asymptomatic proteinuria and haematuria in apparently healthy primary school children in Enugu. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional descriptive survey involving apparently healthy primary school children in Enugu, aged 6 to 12 years, conducted from January 2018 and March 2018 through a pre-tested, caregiver administered questionnaire. Subjects were clinically examined, and samples of on-the-spot mid-stream urine collected from each participant for dipstick urinalysis. The data obtained were analyzed using the Software Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 22 for Windows Results: One thousandchildren comprising, 437 (44%) males and 563 (56%) females were selected with an age range of 6 to 12 years and a mean of 10.13 ± 1.81 years. A total of 190(19%) urinary abnormalities were noted existing as isolated proteinuria, isolated haematuria or as a combination of both. These urinary abnormalities were more in the females, higher among the early adolescents (9-12 years) with proteinuria predominating.Conclusion: Asymptomatic urinary abnormalities can easily be detected early in the course of renal disease development. A urine dipstick is an important tool in the screening program for everybody, including children of school age. It is important that screening programs be organized for these children at regular intervals and those with positive findings referred immediately for appropriate management. Keywords: Proteinuria, Haematuria, Primary school children, Prevalence. Running title: Proteinuria and haematuria in school-aged children in Enugu

Bioactivity guided fractionation of Icacina trichantha Oliv. (Icacinaceae) tuber for antimalarial activity against Plasmodium berghei infected mice and GC-MS profile of bioactive fraction

Aqueous methanol extract of the tuber of Icacina trichantha was prepared using cold maceration and dried in vacuo at 40°C. The extract was purified using solvent-solvent partitioning with n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol. n-Hexane fraction was purified using Vacuum Liquid Chromatography, eluting with a gradient of dichloromethane in methanol (9:1, 7:3, 5:5, 0:10, each 500 mL) to obtain four sub-fractions. Acute toxicity study was done using Lorke’s method while in vivo anti-malarial study was carried out using suppressive model. Phytochemical analysis was carried out using standard procedure and most active sub-fraction was subjected to gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. The extract at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg caused a significant (p<0.001) increase in percentage suppression of Plasmodium: 91.54 %, 94.48 % and 94.58% respectively. Phytochemical analysis of the extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids saponin, glycoside, terpenoids, phenols, steroids, carbohydrates, reducing sugars. The GC-MS analysis showed the presence of eighteen compounds, the most abundant compound includes 9- octadecenoic acid (Z)-, methyl ester (oleic acid, 15.30%), 9, 12-octadecadienoic acid (Z, Z), methyl ester (linoleic acid, 14.34%). These findings suggest scientific evidence in support to the use of I. trichantha tuber for the management of malaria