A Study Of Distinctive Characteristics Of Soaps Made Of Saw Dust Ash (Lye ) With Palm And Olive Oils And Their Oil Blends In Benue State Nigeria.

In Benue  State  Nigeria  saw dust is dumped in large quantities  as waste while in other parts of the country it is used in producing ceiling boards and plywood . In order to further explore its use, palm oil and olive oil with saw dust ash as the source of alkali (lye) were used in the production of soap and the choice of traditional and modern laboratory methods was adapted. The characteristics of the soap products were determined and the average results  compared.  Blending of these oils with other oils to further study improvements or order wise in the quality of the soaps was also done .  Parameters assessed were Moisture Content, Hardness of Soap , Total Fatty Matter, Total Free Alkali, Lathering Power ,Free Caustic Alkali ,  Carbonate Alkali, pH and Cleansing Power.Comparative results  show that Total Fatty Matter was 69 and 82% for palm oil  and   olive oil respectively while the Total Free Alkali % , Free Caustic Alkali % and Free Carbonate Alkali % were7.8 and 6.9 , 3.71  and  2.6  ,4.09  and 4.3% respectively . The Lather Volume (ml) was 460 and 630 respectively while the Lathering Power of palm and olive oils  was  8 % and 10% respectively,  Cleansing Power of palm and olive oils was 42.66%  and  55.7 % respectively , pH of olive oil was 8.5 while that of  palm oil was 9.1 . Moisture and Hardness of soap samples from olive and palm oils showed  Moisture Content 3.5 %  for palm and  4.3%  for olive  and the  Hardness  showed palm olive soap soft while that from  palm oil was hard.   Blends  of oils were also used ,  between  olive oil  and castor oil in a ratio 3:1 gave a Lathering Power of  9.7  while the Clean sing Power  was 90.3%  . coconut oil  and olive oil blend  of ratio 2:1 gave the Lathering Power of 10.5 % and its Cleansing Power 88.1%.                                                                                                                                    The production of soap with olive oils and  its blends  stood out better than palm oil which in itself  has become a matter of international interest . Palm tree exploitation began to raise serious environmental issues on  land deforestation for palm tree cultivation  and an international organization known as   Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) was created in 2004 following concerns raised by non-governmental organizations about environmental impact issues related to palm tree cultivation for oil production P. Gunasegaran, ( 2011) . This has further de emphasized  palm oil use in soap production and  increased efforts in research in other oils while the saw dust potentials remain untapped in Benue State Nigeria . KEY WORDS Lye,   Roundtable , molecular, Lathering and deforestation 

Analgesic and Hepatoprotective Activity of Methanolic Leaf Extract of Ocimum gratissimum (L.).

The methanolic extract of Ocimum gratissimum (L.) leaves was screened for analgesic and hepatoprotective activity in albino rats, respectively. The use of the hot-plate method to study central analgesic activity of the leaves extract in albino rats indicated that the extract possesses the ability to significantly reduce pain threshold and also increase the response latency period to thermal stimuli in albino rats, similar to the reference drug acetylsalicylic acid. After treatment reaction time of albino rats was significantly increased to 10.92 sec with 40 mg kg-1 of leaves extract, whereas acetylsalicylic acid also increased reaction time to 12.53 sec with 25 mL kg-1. A decline in the reaction time beyond 1.61 sec was observed by the reference drug and leaves extract. Albino rats whose livers were damaged with a hepatotoxin-Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) 0.5 mL kg-1 i.p. were used to test for hepatoprotective properties of the plant leaves extract. It reduced significantly (p<0.05) liver enzyme levels for animals treated with CCL4 (0.5 mL kg-1) and the methanolic plant leaf extract (40 mg kg-1) concurrently compared to animals treated with CCL4 only. Many histopathological changes in the liver such as marked dilation of the central vein, blood vessel congestion and inflammatory leucocytic infiltrations which were observed in the CCl4 treated animals were not observed in the CCl4 + plant extract treated animals. No apparent disruptions of the normal liver structure by histological and enzyme activities assessment were observed. The results show that the methanolic leaf extract is a potent analgesic and antihepatotoxic agent

Markovian Application to Brand Switching Behaviour: A Survey of Toothpaste

Every industry and economy is idiosyncratic especially in terms of what drives consumer loyalty and so, extrapolating knowledge may not always provide the right basis for competitive advantage. This paper borrows transition matrix as a forecasting instrument for determining the market environment in the future, and sets out to unveil the potential of Markov chains in sequencing family brand choice and in determining intensive transitional probabilities for toothpaste. Data were purposefully drawn from 785 students of universities of Abuja, Lagos, and Port Harcourt. The data generated were cast into a Markov matrix to permit meaningful observation of the households’ behaviour toward five brands of toothpaste. Further, the data were analyzed using multiple regressions and Pearson correlation co-efficient; and the findings showed that households exhibit AAAAA, AAAAB, and AAABC not because of trade deals, out-of-stock of favourites, and in-store stimuli; rather because of such product-delivery attributes as flavour and functionality, brand availability and awareness, and brand name and image. While the paper concludes that subjects exhibit brand loyalty based on brand’s selling points, the paper advised on creating corporate framework that allows for more strategic and perhaps tactical actions. Key words: Markov chain, toothpaste, switching behaviour, brand loyalty

The search for mitochondrial tRNALeu(UUR) A3243G mutation among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in the Nigerian population

The study aimed to compare the incidence of the pathogenic point mutation A3243G in the gene tRNALeu(UUR) indicating sub-type 2 diabetes mellitus conducted within the Nigerian population with that reported in other populations. 112 patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (T2D) mellitus according to the World Health Organization criteria were selected based on family history and re-evaluated for associated disorders from the diabetic clinics in the Northern part of Nigeria. The mtDNA of these patients was extracted and the tRNALeu(UUR) gene screened for A3243G by PCR-RFLP method. Probands with maternal history were further investigated for other mutations using PCR-sequencing methods. None of the 112 patients were found to carry the A3243G mutation in the mitochondrial tRNALeu(UUR) gene in the homoplasmic or in the heteroplasmic form. However, C3254T was identified in two of our patients. This mutation was reported to be associated with gestational diabetes and linked with population from sub-Saharan Africa. The A3243G mutation in mitochondrial tRNALeu(UUR) is not a frequent cause of maternal diabetes in the Nigerian population contrary to other reported populations. However, further screening of an enlarged selected study group is necessary to fully determine the prevalence of this mutation in this population. This further search will help to fully appreciate the prevalence of maternal inheritance and diabetic deafness (MIDD) as extensively reported in other populations.Key words: Maternal diabetes, mitochondrial gene, maternal Inheritance and diabetic deafness, Nigeria, sub-Saharan Africa

"Participating in God's mission of reconciliation" - Nigerian churches' response to ethnic conflicts

CITATION: Akper, G. I. 2012. "Participating in God's mission of reconciliation" - Nigerian churches' response to ethnic conflicts. Nederduitse Gereformeerde Teologiese Tydskrif, 53(suppl. 2):89-102, doi:10.5952/53-0-198.The original publication is available at https://ngtt.journals.ac.zaThe paper appeals to the Faith and Order paper on “Ethnicity, National Identity, and the Search for the Unity of the Church” (ETHNAT) to evaluate whether or not and in what way, Nigerian churches are responding to ethnic challenges. After a brief statement of the Faith and Order paper’s invitation to participate in the ministry of reconciliation (1), the paper describes categories of churches in the Nigerian context (2). The Nigerian churches’ responses to ethinic identities and their impact on the unity of the church is then evaluated (3). It is argued that not all Nigerian churches are responding to the call to reconcile societies divided along ethnic lines and, therefore, issues a call to participate in a ministry of reconciliation in their country (4).https://ngtt.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/198Publisher's versio

An ethos of hospitality as public morality in the face of the disorderly process in Nigeria today?

Abstract Nigeria, a highly populated country in West Africa, has for the past fi ve years been embroiled in turmoil. Agitation arising from displacement of a large number of people coupled with alienation in their own ancestral lands and homes, due to activities of the unpopular Islamic sect, Boko Haram (roughly translated in English as "Western education is an abomination"). Th is radical religious sect seeks in the most poignant way, to create a wide gap for its own conceived Islamic world order by killing, dispossessing, kidnapping and alienating people, especially in the north-eastern part of Nigeria, bordering Cameroon, Chad and Niger Republics. Economic, religious, cultural and political lives of the locals including Muslims are destroyed. No end is in sight. However, in the face of hostility, hatred, injustice, disorder, despair and an attempt to create order, a new form of public morality is desperately needed in Nigeria, today. Th e questions then are: what is this public morality? How can a public morality be facilitated to salvage such a disturbing situation

Multi-target mode of action of a Clerodane-type diterpenoid from Polyalthia longifolia targeting African trypanosomes.

Natural products have made remarkable contributions to drug discovery and therapy. In this work we exploited various biochemical approaches to investigate the mode of action of 16-α-hydroxycleroda-3,13 (14)-Z-dien-15,16-olide (HDK-20), which we recently isolated from Polyalthia longifolia, on Trypanosoma brucei bloodstream trypomastigotes. HDK20 at concentrations ≥ EC50 (0.4μg/ml) was trypanocidal, with its efect irreversible after only a brief exposure time (<1h). Fluorescence microscopic assessment of DNA confguration revealed severe cell cycle defects after 8h of incubation with the compound, the equivalent of a single generation time. This was accompanied by DNA fragmentation as shown by Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP Nick-End Labelling (TUNEL) assays. HDK-20 also induced a fast and profound depolarisation of the parasites’ mitochondrial membrane potential and depleted intracellular ATP levels of T. brucei. Overall, HDK20 showed a multi-target mechanism of action, which provides a biochemical explanation for the promising antitrypanosomatid activity in our previous report

PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND COMPACTION CHARACTERISTICS OF MODIFIED STARCH OF DISCOREA ALATA USING DICLOFENAC SODIUM TABLET

Objective: This work focused on evaluating the micromeritic and compressional properties of pregelatinized African water yam (Discorea alata) starch and its modified forms with comparison to pregelatinized corn starch and microcrystalline cellulose.Methods: Two modifications of the water yam starch were prepared; acetone dehydrated pregelatinized form (DSA) and an admixture of DSA and pregelatinized corn starch (CDSA). A third form of starch is the acetone dehydrated pregelatinized corn starch (CSA). These were used to form batches compacted as tablets using diclofenac sodium as the active moiety. Physicochemical and flow characteristics of the starch powders were elucidated, and the drug starch compatibility studies done using the Fourier transform Infra-red (FTIR) technique. Compaction studies were investigated on tablets formed at different compression pressures and Heckel plots were prepared.Results: The slope of the straight line (K) of 0.8959 was greatest for F1 while yield pressure (Py) value of 10.965 was highest for F3. These values from the Heckel plot suggest that while the tablets of control batch of microcrystalline cellulose (F4) and a batch of pregelatinized corn starch (F2) formed harder compacts, less likely deformed plastically, the Discorea alata batch (F1) and the admixed batch (F3) were likely to deform plastically. Also, the binding efficiency of the compact was significantly high (47.81%Kgscm-1) for F4 at 56.5Kpas compaction pressure, higher than that obtainable for any of the other formulations at the compaction pressures under consideration. All starches formed had similar moisture content (of 10%) despite the different sources but the interaction between the water molecule and pregelatinized water yam starch improved as revealed by viscosity(7.18mPas), hydration capacity(3.27%) and swelling index (250%) of CDSA.Conclusion: It could be concluded that pregelatinized water yam starch could be used as a substitute for corn starch or microcrystalline cellulose as a pharmaceutical excipient (binder/filler) in tablets formulation

Spreading the Word:Exploring a Network of Mobilizing Messages in a Telegram Conspiracy Group

Telegram's design prioritizes user security and minimal content moderation, making it appealing for communities banned from mainstream platforms, such as conspiracy influencers or far-right movements. We examine the bi-directional behavior of users in a conspiratorial Telegram group chat during the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020-2023. We find that the network structure of this community evolved throughout the pandemic, where the network grew both in the number of active users, as well as in the number of interactions. This increased interconnectivity coincided with surges in planning discussions for associated offline protests.</p