Microbial and physicochemical properties of ground water of Ilaro, South-West, Nigeria

The present study was carried out to determine the microbial quality and physicochemical properties of ground water in Ilaro, a semi-urban settlement. Plate count agar (PCA), MacConkey broth and eosin methylene blue agar (EMB) were used in the microbial analysis. The results showed that the most probable number (MPN) ranges from 0 – 50 per 100 ml while the total viable count (TVC) ranged from 0.07 x 10² – 4.12 x 10² cfu ml-1. Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli,Enterobacter aerugenosa and Micrococcus luteus were isolated. The physicochemical properties measured using their respective meters showed that the water was acidic. It was concluded that treatment before consumption is necessary to avoid borne diseases

SUSTAINABILITY IN RETAIL BUILDINGS: A CASE STUDY OF SHOPPING MALLS IN LAGOS STATE

This study investigates with empirical data, the influence of supply chain management practices on building development projects undertaken by estate firms in Lagos State. Structured questionnaires were administered to principal officers of the 200 firms of estate surveying and valuation in the state while 136 were returned completed constituting 68.0% rate of response. Uni-variate analysis was performed to present the profile of the respondents while further analysis carried out with correlation regression analysis. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to establish the relationship among the aspects of SCM practices and efficiency of the firms while linear regression analysis was used to investigate the strength of the relationships. Results revealed that the p-value of the independent variables are all less than 0.05, signifying that these variables are all significant to SCM practices, hence the efficiency of the firms. Moreover, the correlation coefficient indicates a varying degree of positive and direct relationship between the SCM aspects and productivity. The results of the regression analysis showed among others that although the six integral components of the SCM practices are all significant, only the primary supply chain and human resource supply chain currently have the highest contributory capacity (61.8% and 54.4% respectively) to the firms’ productivity while the ICT, finance and payment, mutual trust among stakeholders each had less or weak impact on the firms’ productivity. The study concluded by suggesting that estate firms strengthen these aspects of the firms’ SCM practices to improve productivity

Influence of Facilities on Patronage of the Various Shopping Malls in Ibadan, Nigeria

The way shopping malls have sprawled every nook and cranny particularly in the developing economy is evident from major cities to even sub-urban areas. The expansion evident in the various locations of these shopping malls can be attributed to its patronage. Earlier researchers have linked the patronage of these malls to influences resulting from location, gender, image, type of shoppers amongst other. Even though studies on facilities and how it influences patronage are evident particularly in the developed economies such work also studied other factors thereby not giving a detailed finding on the linkage between facilities provided in such malls and the level of patronage from shoppers. This present study thereby focuses on influence of facilities provided on patronage of the five (5) identified shopping malls in Ibadan, Oyo State Nigeria. The study being a cross-sectional research survey entailed the distribution of questionnaires to 143, 126, 127, 145 and 126 shoppers of Cocoa Mall; Heritage Mall; Jericho Mall; Palms Mall and Ventura Mall, respectively all located in the study area, Ibadan. A cumulative response rate of 80.3% was attained. Data collected was analysed using descriptive statistics of weighted mean and substantiated with factor analysis. It was revealed that most identified facilities in the malls have a great influence on patronage of the malls. However, in order to avoid superfluity of investment, investors could commence provision of Eatery/ Food court (Co-V1, 0.72) as recreation facility; Kids play center (Co-V1, 0.79) as children’s facility; Toilet/Restroom (Co-V1, 0.84) as service facility; POS (Co-V1, 0.91) as banking facility and free medical checkup (Co- V1, 0.91) as health facility as these have most remarkable influence on patronage of the malls. The researchers hereby advocated that investors can be guided in the provision of the relevant facilities to prevent superfluity while the keen sustenance of these specific facilities can sustain patronage of the various malls in the study area

Adsorption of cadmium ion from water using activated carbon produced from palm kernel shell

Carbon produced from agricultural wastes could be a great adsorptive material in removal of metals from water. This study was conducted to remove Cadmium ion from water using activated carbon produced from palm kernel shell (PKS). Cd ion were adsorbed using various masses of PKS for a varied temperature, time and pH. The concentration of Cd adsorbed were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The results showed that the adsorption of Cd can be optimize within 2hrs when allowed to equilibrate with gentle agitation (80 rpm) at pH 2. The results obtained were further subjected to Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin adsorption isotherms. It was found that the value for qm were 2000, 2.203 and 0.906 respectively indicating that the most suitable isotherm for Cd adsorption is Langmuir. This study indicates another way of utilizing PKS which is a common waste in rural area

Functional properties of unmodified and modified Jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis) starches

The native Jack bean (Canavalia eniformis) starch was chemically modified through oxidation and acetylation. Proximate composition analysis revealed higher moisture, protein, fat and ash contents ‘native unmodified than modified starches and higher yield in modified starches. Swelling capacity and solubility of all the starches increased with increasing temperature and pH (up to their optimum point); Oil absorption capacity of modified starches are found to be higher than unmodified starches, but reversed is the case for water absorption capacity. Gel forming capacity indicates the highest LGC for oxidized and lowest LGC for unmodified starches. Acetylated starch was found to have highest alkaline water retention capacity than others starches studied

Functional properties of unmodified and modified Jack bean ( Canavalia ensiformis ) starches

The native Jack bean (Canavalia eniformis) starch was chemically modified through oxidation and acetylation. Proximate composition analysis revealed higher moisture, protein, fat and ash contents 'native unmodified than modified starches and higher yield in modified starches. Swelling capacity and solubility of all the starches increased with increasing temperature and pH (up to their optimum point); Oil absorption capacity of modified starches are found to be higher than unmodified starches, but reversed is the case for water absorption capacity. Gel forming capacity indicates the highest LGC for oxidized and lowest LGC for unmodified starches. Acetylated starch was found to have highest alkaline water retention capacity than others starches studied

ASSESSMENT OF POLLUTION HAZARDS OF GROUNDWATER RESOURCE IN ABEOKUTA NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, OGUN STATE, SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA

Pollution of wells and borehole water, either from point or non-point sources, has become a matter of health concern both in urban and rural areas. Groundwater is tapped for domestic uses through the con-struction of hand dug wells and boreholes. However, while providing an alternative to the public water supply sources; most of the boreholes are often located too close to possible contamination sources. Various land use and human activities such as solid waste landfills, cemetery and animal wastes, among others can result in ground water contamination. In an open or buried dumping solid waste or sanitary landfill, the organic and inorganic by-products resulting from the decomposition of wastes are leached out by the infiltration of rainfall. A release of leachate to the surrounding soil without proper collection and treatment could contaminate groundwater resources. Many of the wells and boreholes in the study area were found to be indiscriminately located and scattered among such impairing lands/features. This study was therefore aimed at assessing the pollution hazards and vulnerability of groundwater resource in Abe-okuta North Local Government Area (LGA) by sampling some boreholes from selected locations in the area. Water samples were collected and analyzed for water quality parameters using standard proce-dures. The parameters determined were Turbidity, Temperature, Electrical Conductivity (EC), pH, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Total Solids (TS), Total hardness, cations {Potassium (K), Sodium (Na), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Manganese (Mn), iron (Fe)}, anions {Chloride (Cl-), Nitrate (NO3-), Sulphate (SO42-), Phosphate (PO43-)}, and heavy metals {lead (Pb2+), Zinc (Zn2+), Copper (Cu2+)}. Results were subjected to statistical evaluations using SPSS 18.0 for descriptive statistics and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). It was observed that the elemental parameters in the bore-holes sampled have mean values of the concentrations of Fe2+, Na+, Cl- , SO42-, Pb2+, Mn2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+ higher during the wet season relative to dry season. For the physico-chemical parameters, it was equally observed that parameters such as EC, TDS, TS, TSS were higher during the wet season than dry season while turbidity, temperature, pH and total hardness were higher during dry season than in the wet season. Water quality parameters such as Fe2+, Pb2+, NO3-, and EC have mean values greater than World Health Organization and NESREA maximum permissible standards for drinking water. Elevated values of these parameters are of great concern to public health when the water from these boreholes is consumed without treatment by people. It is recommended that well and borehole waters in this area be adequately treated before consumption using advanced inorganic removal techniques such as Nano-filtration and Reverse Osmosis to safeguard human health in the study area.Keywords: Boreholes, pollution, water quality, public health, physico-chemica

Effect of pawpaw leaf meal and multi-enzyme supplementation in the diet on performance, digestibility, and oxidative enzyme status of rabbits

Abstract Background This study aimed at determining the effect of pawpaw leaf meal (PLM 26.14% crude protein [CP] and 16.06% crude fiber [CF]) and multi-enzyme (m-E: amylase, beta-glucanase, phytase, cellulase, and xylanase, protease) supplementation in diets on performance, nutrient digestibility, and oxidative status of rabbits. Four experimental diets were formulated and designated as diet 1(0%PLM-m-E), diet 2(0%PLM + m-E), diet 3(10%PLM-m-E), and diet 4(10%PLM + m-E). One hundred and twenty (120), 5-week-old rabbits of cross breed rabbits (Chinchilla x New-Zealand white) of equal sexes; weighing 738.21 ± 33 g were randomly distributed to 4 dietary treatments (30 rabbits/treatment; 3 rabbits/replicate). Results Highest weight gain being recorded in rabbits fed diet 4 is similar to the weight gain recorded for rabbits fed diets 2 and 3 but higher (P < 0.05) than weight gain of rabbits fed diet 1. Best feed conversion ratio (FCR) recorded in rabbits fed diet 4 was comparable to the FCR of rabbits fed diets 2 and 3 but higher (P < 0.05) than FCR of rabbits fed diet 1. Higher CP digestibility recorded in rabbits fed diets 2 and 4 were similar to CP digestibility in rabbits fed diet 3 but higher (P = 0.01) than CP digestibility in rabbits fed with diet 1. The starch digestibility was higher (P < 0.05) in the rabbits fed m-E supplemented diets 2 and 4. Higher (P < 0.05) glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities were recorded in rabbits fed with diets 3 and 4. Conclusion PLM inclusion and m-E supplementation improved performance, crude protein, and starch digestibility and antioxidant enzyme status of the rabbits

Baseline study of Striga control using Imazapyr Resistant (IR) maize in Western Kenya

This report presents the results of the baseline study undertaken to assess the status of Striga damage, the general livelihoods and livelihood strategies of the rural poor in western Kenya. A stratified random sampling method led to the selection of 8 districts, 16 sub-locations, 32 villages and 800 households. A combination of techniques for data collection was used, including literature review, GPS recordings, focus group discussions and interview of individual households. Various econometric m odels were also developed and estimated for data analyses. A stochastic frontier production function was used to measure the technical efficiency of maize production. A logistic regression model of poverty was estimated to examine the determinants and correlates of poverty in western Kenya. The study revealed that households are small in size and the dependency ratio is high. There were about 26% of households headed by females. The level of education is low for the heads of households and all members of farm families. Households are endowed with a multitude of assets for their livelihoods. However, the level of assets was found to be low or of very poor quality. Maize is the major food crop and a so urce of cash income. Farmers grow both local and improved (hybrid) maize varieties, but the productivity is low. There is a considerable gap between potential and actual maize yields. Major factors constraining crop production include Striga infestation on maize, low soil fe rtility, drought and erratic rainfall. Striga is the major threat to livelihoods of smallholders and its economic importance has increased over the past three decades. Traditional methods of Striga control include uprooting, burning and manuring, which have proved to be ineffective. Alternative technologies exist but they have not been adopted and used as they should because the level of awareness is very low. Analysis of the determinants of poverty reveal ed that the poverty status of a household in western Kenya is significantly related to Striga damage, Striga control, dependency ratio, age, education, technology adoption, land per capita, farm assets, off-farm work, cash crop production, and location. More than 70% of the sampled households experi ence food shortage lasting as long as five months every year. Coping strategies include off-fa rm short-term jobs, disposal of assets, and informal safety nets especially through remittances received from relatives. The anthropometric Z scores calculated on children indicate that about 30% were wasting, 50% were underweight and 48% were stunted. Simila rly, the results on body mass index (BMI) on women showed that 36% were underweight while 18% were overweight. One of the possible strategies to reduce poverty and vulnerability is to increase the efficiency in maize production. Considerable variation in maize production efficiency was found among the sample maize farmers. The results point to the possibility of increasing maize production through improved efficiency and best local practic es adopted by the most efficient farmers in the sample, such as integrated Striga control. While technical efficiency increases with educational attainment, it has a significant non-li near relationship with farm size where it first increases but eventually declines with farm size. The direct farm size-efficiency relationship for smaller holdings coupled with the fact that most farmers in western Kenya cultivate tiny plots of land suggests that re-allocation of more land to maize would enhance farmer efficiency. Increased efficiency could be achieved through, for instance, more optimal application of inputs and greater intensity of ad option of improved maize varieties. Therefore, efforts must be made to enhance adoption of both hybrid maize and Striga control technologies to help increase maize production. Maize yields in Kenya have continued to decline despite increased use of new maize varieties, largely due to lack of effective Striga 7 control technologies. Promoting both high-yielding varieties and Striga control technologies should thus be an important goal for research and extension in Kenya

Are comorbid obesity and type 2 diabetes priorities in federally-funded prostate cancer clinical trials

BACKGROUND: Obesity, diagnosed in 37.5% of African American (AA) men, is a risk factor for prostate cancer (PCa) recurrence, progression, and increased mortality. Obesity is associated with aggressive PCa only in AA men and not White American (WA) men. The overall health of PCa patients is also more likely to be adversely affected by comorbid type 2 diabetes (T2D), leading to reduced odds of survival. This evidence suggests that preventing and controlling comorbid obesity and T2D in AA men diagnosed with PCa should be a research funding priority. AIM: To determine if interventions conducted in federally-funded PCa clinical trials controlled for T2D and obesity. METHODS: Completed interventional PCa clinical trials conducted in the U.S., funded by the NIH or other federal agency, which included males aged 18-64 years, and reported study protocols were included in the study. We examined the intervention modalities used in the trials to determine if any attempted to control for obesity and T2D. RESULTS: 58 trials met the initial inclusion criteria. Of these, 12 were excluded from the analysis as they did not report AA men. Of the remaining 46 trials, 42 (91.3%) used pharmaceutical drug therapies or clinical procedures, and 2 (4.35%) were for weight loss and diet. A total 5192 men participated in the 42 drug intervention trials. Of these, 755 (14.5%) were AA men. None of the drugs used or clinical procedures affected obesity and T2D. CONCLUSION: Scientific evidence points to adverse effects of obesity and T2D that are unique to AA men diagnosed with PCa. The overwhelming majority (95.65%) of the federally funded PCa clinical trials that included AA men did not use methods to control for obesity and T2D. This gap in therapeutic optimization to control these comorbid conditions indicates a critical area in need of federal funding priority