Mobile Phone Use and Travel Behaviour of Adult Residents of Ile-Ife, Southwestern Nigeria

This study examined the influence of mobile phone use on the frequency of trips which Ile-Ife residents made on social activities. The study covered eleven electoral wards of the urban Ile-Ife. Purposive sampling method was used to select a sample size of 330 working adults who were mobile phones users and between aged 35 years and 50 years. Moreover, to obtain the qualitative data, purposive sampling method was adopted to obtain a total sample size of 22 for in-depth interviews. Contents analysis and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the qualitative data and the quantitative data respectively. This study found an increase in frequency of trips made on visitation to friend and relatives, business/work, religion purposes while mobile phone use did not influence the frequency of trips made on recreational purposes and ceremonies. This study concluded that mobile phone use influenced the frequency of some trips which the adults in Ile-Ife, Southwestern Nigeria made on social activities. Keywords: mobile phone, travel behaviour, social activities

A comparative study of serum ferritin and other acute phase reactants (APR) in minor and major surgery

This study was carried out on serum ferritin, acute phase reactants (APR), iron (Fe) and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) in healthy women in Ado Ekiti, Nigeria and in female patients undergoing suture (minor operation) and ceaserean operations at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria between February and March, 2009. The results revealed post-operative serum ferritin and APR concentrations to be significantly higher (p> 0.01) while iron and TIBC were significantly lower in patients undergoing caesarean operation compared to both patients with minor operation and healthy women. The pre-operative results of serum ferritin were however significantly lower in patient undergoing major operation than in patients with minor operation. The present study was carried out to examine the changes in serum ferritin and other acute phase reactants in response to the magnitude of tissue damage. It can be concluded that the concentrations of serum ferritin and acute phase reactant increases as the magnitude of tissue damages increases. There is an acute phase response of serum ferritin levels following major surgery

Biochemical changes associated with sickle cell anaemia

Some blood chemical parameters including some enzyme activities were determined in forty two sickle cell patients in Ekiti state, Nigeria. All the parameters of interest analyzed for were found present in all the samples. The mean values for uric acid (0.35±0.16 mol/l), creatinine (100.55±8.13 μmol/l), urea (10.50±6.28 mmol/l), Total bilirubin (14.42±2.03 μmol/l), conjugated bilirubin (10.53±2.67 μmol/l), alkaline phosphatase (82.67±10.87 μ/l) aspartate transaminase (SGOT)(20.68±9.85 μ/l) and alanine transaminase (SGPT)(28.68±9.85 μ/L) were significantly higher (P 0.05). The significant raised level of SGPT, SGOT, ALP, total bilirubin, conjugated bilirubin, and significant lower levels of total protein, albumin, calcium, inorganic phosphate indicates that there may be abnormal liver and renal function as well as muscular and bone dysfunction in these patients

Evaluation and comparison of the Amino acid composition of three varieties of Lagerena siceraria melon seed flours

Amino acids of three varieties of Lageneria siceraria seed flours were determined using standard methods of analysis. The three varieties are rich in essential amino acids needed for human health and growth, with a mean of 53.15%. Sulphur amino acid and aromatic amino acid              of the seeds ranged from 17.06 mg/g protein to 24.10 mg/g protein and from 80.22mg/g protein to 89.00 mg/g protein respectively. The varieties of these melon seed flours are closely related; however, there are significant differences (P?0.05) in Cystine, showing that the varieties have some genetic differences. Key Words: Lageneria siceraria seed flours, Essential amino acid, Genetics, Aginine,  Cystine

Exploring Factors Influencing Outcomes of a Five-Week Youth Expedition in The Himalayas Using The Sail Training Programme Self-Assessment Toolkit

Much evidence to link youth expeditions and gap years with a range of outcome benefits for participants exists, but to date, there have been relatively few insights into what exactly brings about these reported outcomes. A modified version of the Sail Training Voyage Toolkit (2011) was used to evaluate outcomes of a five-week British Exploring Society youth expedition in the Himalayas. Data generated from 22 participants completing the modified Sail Training Voyage Feedback Form at the end of their expedition were complemented by data from 16 interviews conducted during weeks one, three and five of the expedition. Key factors identified by the participants which had influenced their learning were: (1) Other Young Explorers, (2) being involved in making decisions and having choices, (3) having time to learn at their own pace; time to get comfortable with people; being able to talk with other people (to make connections); (4) group leaders, and (5) wild camping. Data from 16 interviews supported these outcomes, while the physical challenges (of climbing peaks) and cultural interaction with local people were highly valued aspects of the expedition. Participants were more aware of risks and more confident about safety issues and taking risks after the expedition. These important outcomes may be transferred to future expeditions, higher education or employment. Personal development and training organisations should consider these findings

Changes in the visceral functions of Plasmodium berghei-infected and-uninfected rats following administration of artemether.

The effects of artemether (12.5, 25.0 and 50.0 mg/kg per day, i.m.), administered to different groups of Plasmodium berghei‐infected and ‐uninfected adult Wistar rats for 1 week, were investigated. The parameters evaluated were the feeding, drinking and urinating patterns of the rats and these were compared with those of rats that received normal saline. Artemether caused a significant dose‐dependent reduction in food consumption of both P. berghei‐infected and ‐uninfected rats (P < 0.05). Food intake in infected rats was reduced by approximately 7 g/24 h. This reduction in food intake was further reduced during drug treatment with artemether. Artermether also reduced food intake in uninfected rats. The food consumption of rats that received 12.5 and 25.0 mg/kg artemether was restored after stopping treatment, in contrast with rats that received 50.0 mg/kg, in which the significant reduction in food consumption persisted 1 week after drug administration. During treatment with artemether, the water intake of infected rats was significantly lower than that of uninfected rats in the 12.5 mg/kg artemether‐treated group, but was significantly higher in infected rats than in uninfected rats dosed with 25.0 and 50.0 mg/kg artemether. For all doses of artemether tested, a significant increase in urine output was observed in infected rats during treatment and 1 week after treatment, whereas in uninfected rats a significant increase in urine output was observed only following 25.0 and 50.0 mg/kg artemether 1 week after drug administration. The present study confirms the anorexic activity of a high dose of artemether in both P. berghei‐infected and ‐uninfected rats. It also indicates that high doses of the drug could cause impaired renal function in rats and that the significant increase in urine output could also be due to other effects of artemether, namely those on thirst, anti‐diuretic hormone output and the osmotic pressure of the blood

Acute administration of co-artesiane induces oxidative stress in the testes of adult male Wistar rats

Co-artesiane is an artemether-lumefantrine combination therapy that is used in the treatment of malaria. In this work we studied the toxicological effect of this drug with reference to seminal and biochemical parameters of the male reproductive system of wistar rats. Twenty (20) adult male rats were divided into four groups of five rats per group. Group A was administered a single dose (4 mg/kg/bw) of Co-artesiane, Group B was administered double dose (8 mg/kg/bw) of Co-artesiane and Group C received 10 mg/kg/bw of the drug for a period of 3 days. Group D served as control and received physiologic saline. In each group body weight, testicular weight, sperm count, motility and viability as well as oxidative stress status were assessed by evaluating the activities of reduced glutathione, Glutathione S-transferase, catalase, super oxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA). The mean sperm count, motility and viability in rats treated with Co-artesiane were reduced when compared with controls. Biochemical analyses showed increase in the activities of oxidative stress markers in a dose-dependent manner. The results suggest that the graded dose of Co-artesiane® elicit depletion of antioxidant defense system and induced oxidative stress in the rats

Variations in the effects caused by magnetic field on chlorophyll, nitrogen, calcium, and iron contents in species of vegetable plants

The rates of reduction in chlorophyll and nutrients such as nitrogen, calcium and iron with the distance or range of source of Magnetic Field (MF) had not been considered. In this work, patterns of damage or reduction caused by a magnetic field on two different species of vegetables were studied. The first group was planted in an environment without the influence of MF, while the second group was subjected to high MF under the 330 kV electric lines. The magnetometer was used to measure the MF intensities. The chlorophyll content of each vegetable sample was determined on the field with a portable chlorophyll meter. The dried harvested samples of two different vegetable species were analyzed using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) to assess the concentrations of nitrogen (N), calcium (Ca), and iron (Fe) in the samples. Results of elemental concentrations were subjected to statistical analysis to appraise the relationships between the measured variables as responses to high MF. It was observed that the effects of high MF are stronger on spinach vegetable than Lagos spinach. This suggested that the effects of MF on plants are not only MF intensity dependent, but also species-dependent. Keywords: Magnetic field; Exposure; Regression analysis; Power transmission; Chlorophyll; Iro