12 research outputs found
Production and Cost of Cold Patch Road Mats with Bitumen Extracted From Nigerian Tar Sand
This paper reports the production of bituminous road mats with bitumen sourced from the Nigerian Tar sand, recycled waste rubber and paper, and rock mineral aggregates for cold patching of flexible pavement. The bitumen extracted was evaluated for yield, physical and mechanical properties in accordance with ASTM and AASHTO procedures. The bitumen was mixed with rubber chips to produce rubberized bitumen for production of road mats. The unit cost of production per square metre of the road mat was developed and compared with that of the imported Broom Road Product (BRP). The bitumen extracted from the Nigerian tar sand is suitable as straight run bitumen and production of bituminous cold patch road mats at relatively cheaper cost than the BRP. An immediate action plan for exploitation of the untapped resources of bitumen should be instituted by government and private entrepreneurs for production of road mats for cold patching of flexible roads.http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njt.v34i2.
Introduction of Improved Okra (NHAe47-4) Variety as a Means of Economic Enhancement of Farmers in Ido Village, Ido Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria
The study was carried out to introduce improved okra (NHAe47-4) variety
to farmers in Ido Village in Ido Local Government of Oyo State using
SAFE approach to agricultural extension which includes; capacity
building among farmers to enable them diagnoses their problems,
identify solutions and develop plans and implement them with or without
support from outside. Farmers in the studied area were selected and a
group was formed comprising of twelve (12) members. Sensitization and
awareness creation were conducted in the study area through series of
activities such as facilitating, interactive group discussions and
several meetings with the farmers were held to orientate them of the
improved okra variety through teaching and management techniques.
Descriptive statistical tool such as frequency distribution and
percentages was used to analyze the objectives. At the end of the
harvesting and whole exercise, the group (farmers) was interviewed
verbally to know their levels of awareness for adoption and their
general view about the improved variety in relation to the normal okra
variety they were used to. The farmers embraced the technology and they
were actively participated through demonstration method exercise.
Having known all the techniques involved in the production cycle, the
farmers also tried the technology on their individual plot which served
as an encouragement factor for adoption. The study thus resulted into
improving the standard of living and economic enhancement of the
farmers in the study area
A Novel Peptide Derived from Human Pancreatitis-Associated Protein Inhibits Inflammation In Vivo and In Vitro and Blocks NF-Kappa B Signaling Pathway
BACKGROUND: Pancreatitis-associated protein (PAP) is a pancreatic secretory protein belongs to the group VII of C-type lectin family. Emerging evidence suggests that PAP plays a protective effect in inflammatory diseases. In the present study, we newly identified a 16-amino-acid peptide (named PAPep) derived from C-type lectin-like domain (CTLD) of human PAP with potent anti-inflammatory activity using both in vivo and in vitro assays. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We assessed the anti-inflammatory effect of PAPep on endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU) in rats and demonstrated that intravitreal pretreatment of PAPep concentration-dependently attenuated clinical manifestation of EIU rats, reduced protein leakage and cell infiltration into the aqueous humor (AqH), suppressed tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 production in ocular tissues, and improved histopathologic manifestation of EIU. Furthermore, PAPep suppressed the LPS-induced mRNA expression of TNF-α and IL-6 in RAW 264.7 cells, inhibited protein expression of ICAM-1 in TNF-α-stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) as well as U937 cells adhesion to HUVECs. Western blot analysis in ocular tissues and different cell lines revealed that the possible mechanism for this anti-inflammatory effect of PAPep may depend on its ability to inhibit the activation of NF-kB signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our studies provide the first evidence that the sequence of PAPep is within the critically active region for the anti-inflammatory function of PAP and the peptide may be a promising candidate for the management of ocular inflammatory diseases