A Comparative Study On Parent And Resistant MCF-7 Cells On Migration Characteristics With Regards To Bioactive Glass Treatment

Introduction: Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, particularly among women. It accounts for one third of mortality and is the second most common cancer in the world. The 45S5 bioactive glass (BG) is predominantly used in the orthopaedic and dentistry field for bone and tissue regeneration. Recently, it is being tested as a mode of drug delivery particularly in cancer therapy. Objective: To perform a comparative study on parent and resistant breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7) migration with 4555 bioactive glass. Methods: BG was synthesised using sol-gel method. Wound healing assay was done to determine closure of wound area at different time-points. Each cell line was grown in 24-well plates and treated with different concentration of BG and standard chemotherapy drug vinblastine. Wound area was analysed using Image J and repeated measures ANOVA used to analyse the obtained data. Results and Discussion: Findings suggest 2 mg/ml BG promoted migration and migration of parent and resistant MCF- 7 breast cancer cells. While at higher concentration with 4 mg/ml BG, 8 mg/ml BG and vinblastine caused inhibition of parent and resistant MCF-7. There was no significant difference of closure area between the controls and 2 mg/ml BG treated cells. Significant difference was detected between the controls of parent and resistant MCF-7 cells with 4 mg/ml BG, 8 mg/ml BG and vinblastine treated breast cancer cells. Furthermore, there was no significant difference between ≥ 4 mg/ml BG treated cells and vinblastine. Conclusion: Bioactive glass of ≥ 4 mg/ml can be useful as a prospective inhibitory agent in breast cancers or can be doped as an adjuvant to standard chemotherapy

Evaluation of Growth Performance of Tomato in Response to Biochar and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (Amf) Inoculation

Field experiment was conducted in 2013 and 2014 to evaluate growth performance of two tomato genotypes in response to biochar application and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) inoculation at the Teaching and Research Farm, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. The experiment was laid out in a split-split plot design with two tomato genotypes in the main plots, five levels of biochar application in the sub plots and two levels of AMF inoculation in the sub-sub plots. Data on plant height number of leaves and dry matter yields were generated and subjected to analysis of variance and significant means separated using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test at 5 % level of significance. The result shows that mycorrhizal inoculation significantly increased (p< 0.05) the shoot dry matter yield (2935.8 kg ha-1) when compared with non-mycorrhizal plants, there is no significant difference in number of leaves, height and root dry matter yield. Application of 20 t ha-1 of biochar significantly increased (p< 0.05) the shoot dry matter yields and plant height while no significant differences were observed in number of leaves and root dry matter yield. From the results obtained it can be concluded that AMF can successfully be inoculated into biochar amended soil to improve the performance of tomato plant.Keywords: Biochar; AMF; inoculation; tomato; growth performance

The Effect of Lifestyle and Self-Concept on Consumptive Behavior in Students of the Department of Economics Education STKIP Pembangunan Indonesian Makassar

 Modernization brings social change, including in the fields of science, technology, philosophy, economy and other things. With the influence of the times and the development of products that are increasingly fast and dynamic, it has an impact on people's consumption patterns, especially at the age of teenagers. This type of research is descriptive quantitative research, namely research that uses data in the form of numbers that are analyzed using statistical analysis. This study aims to determine whether or not there is an influence of lifestyle and self-concept on consumptive behavior in students of the Department of Economics Education STKIP Pembangunan Indonesian Makassar. This study consists of two variables, namely the independent variable and the dependent variable. The independent variables in this study are lifestyle (X1) and self-concept (X2) while the dependent variable is consumptive behavior (Y). The results of this study indicate that simultaneously Lifestyle and Self-Concept have a significant influence on student consumer behavior with a significance value of 0.004. While partially Lifestyle has a significant influence on Consumptive Behavior with a significance value of 0.010 and Self-Concept has no significant influence on Consumptive Behavior with a significance value of 0.297.

Assessing the length of growing season in the Sudan Savanna Ecological Zone of Nigeria as a challenge to food security for sustainable development

Since the inception of the present Government in May 2015, it has been battling with socio-economic problems ranging from economic recession, fall of crude oil prices in the international markets and insecurity challenge, among others. To achieve sustainable development goals, Government focused on agriculture as the best option for tackling such problems. It is against this background that this paper aimed at assessing the length of growing season in the Sudan Savanna Ecological Zone of Nigeria using daily rainfall data recorded at nearby stations from 1981 to 2010. It assessed the level and mean length of growing season in Kano, Katsina, Maiduguri, Potiskum, Gusau and Sokoto, all of which are located within this ecological zone. Data analysis involved the use of descriptive statistics to compute cumulative pentade rainfall and ogive of cumulative pentade rainfall. Using pentade and Julian day calendars, an annual ogive of cumulative pentade rainfall was drawn using Microsoft Excel for each study location and length of growing season determined from 1981 to 2010. Results obtained indicate that mean length of growing season for the study area was approximately 125 days, a duration that is slightly longer than four months. To achieve sustainable development in agriculture, the study recommends that agricultural policies in the study area should take into consideration the rather short mean length of growing season in the study area while exploring effective and feasible water conservation techniques to complement rainwater.Keywords: assessment, growing season length, Sudan savanna, Nigeri

Modelling relationship between rainfall variability and millet (Pennisetum americanum L.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench.) yields in the Sudan savanna ecological zone of Nigeria

This study models the relationship between rainfall variability parameters and millet (Pennisetum americanum L.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench.) yields in the Sudan Savanna ecological zone of Nigeria. Daily rainfall data recorded by the nearby stations for the period between 1981 and 2010 as well as millet and sorghum yield data were used as inputs in the model. It attempts to develop model for predicting millet and sorghum yields based on rainfall variables. The analytical tools used in developing and testing the model performance include ogive of cumulative pentad rainfall, product-moment correlation coefficient (r), stepwise multiple regression analysis and coefficient of determination (R2). The study produced four yield forecast models; three for millet at Kano, Katsina and Potiskum and the last for sorghum at Potiskum. Model accounted for 61.7% of variation in millet yield due to total annual rainfall and 68.1% in sorghum yield due to total rainfall in may assume the best-fitted yield forecast models. The unaccounted variation of 38.3% in millet yield and 31.9% in sorghum indicate other factors could influence the yield variability of the two crops. It is recommended that based on holding annual and may totals rainfall constant, the two best-fitted crop yield models should be used for planning and forecasting the yield of millet and sorghum in the study area. Key words: modelling, rainfall, yields, millet, sorghu

Effect of Thermal Pretreatment on the Yield of Biogas from Microcoleous Vaginatus

Biomass is being looked upon as one of the promising renewable energy sources for the future, with growing interest in microalgae conversion into biogas through anaerobic digestion. Recently, the ability of microalgae to treat waste water has doubled its potentials material today. However, in spite of the progress made in that regards, there are still challenges of algae conversion to biofuel, due to the presence of complex cell wall in some algae. Cell wall inhibits bacteria growth during degradation. In this research work 10 grams of Microcoleous vaginatus was treated in an oven at varying temperatures of 70, 75 and 80 oC for an hour, out of which 4 g was measured into 250 ml serum bottle for digestion at mesophilic temperature of 37 oC. Based on the results of proximate analysis, 69%increase in carbohydrate was attained with 72.7 – 148% reduction in moisture content. The biogas yield of untreated sample was 4.36 mLg−1 VS, while, pretreated samples at 70, 75 and 80 ℃ produced 8.39, 9.07 and 9.38 mLg−1VS (volatile solid) of biogas. This  corresponds to 92, 108 and 115% higher than that of untreated samples. However, thermal treatment of M. vaginatus prior to digestion show positive effect on carbohydrate extraction and enhanced biogas and methane yield as well. Therefore, this makes the substrate a good feedstock for biogas production. Keywords: Biomass, pretreatment, thermal, anaerobic digestion, degradation, Microcoleous vaginatus

Effects of different heat processing methods on the antinutritional factors (ANFS) level ofP. reticulatum seed meal

The antinutritional factors (ANFs) in raw and differently heat processed P. reticulatum seed meal were evaluated. The seed was processed as raw seed (T1), 30 minutes boiled (T2), 60 minutes boiled (T3), traditionally boiled (T4), 40 minutes toasted (T5), 80 minutes toasted (T6), 120 minutes toasted (T7) and traditionally roasted seed (T8). The seed meal was evaluated for saponin, tannin, cyanide, oxalate, phytate and phenols. The result showed that heat processing significantly (P < 0.05) affected the ANFs in the seed meal. Highest value of saponin (0.07mg/100g) was recorded in T1, while zero level of saponin was recorded in T4. The highest value (0.26mg/100g) of tannin was recorded in T1, while T4 recorded the least value (0.05mg/100g). Cyanide highest value of (0.17mg/100g) was observed in T1, while T4 recorded the least value (0.02mg/100g). The highest oxalate level was observed in T1 (0.04mg/100g) and zero level was recorded in T3, T4 and T8. Phytate highest level (0.14mg/100g) was recorded in T1, and zero level of phytate was recorded in T4. The highest phenol level was observed in T1 (0.06mg/100g) while zero level of phenol was recorded in T4. T4 is the most effective processing method that reduced all the ANFs with 100% reduction in saponin, oxalate, phytate and phenols. The processing methods used reduced the seed ANFs and therefore, indicated the possible utilization of the seed in animal feed formulation (fish inclusive).Keywords: Antinutritional factors, heat, P. reticulatum, processing, seed

Effect of GGBS Slag on Setting Time and Compressive Strength of One-Part Geopolymer Binders

This paper investigated the influence of ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) on the setting time and compressive strength of one-part geopolymer binders (OPGB). Powdered sodium metasilicate activator was utilized in the range of 8 – 16% by weight of the total binder. Central composite design method was used in designing the mixtures. Experimental investigation revealed that both the initial and final setting time of the OPGB decreased drastically with the increase in the GGBS and the activator content. The inclusion of GGBS in the binder influences the setting time of the binders thereby resulting in quick setting time. The variance analysis of the established models demonstrated that the setting and compressive strength models could be predicted using quadratic models with high R2 coefficient. Optimizations results revealed that the optimum mixture can be obtained by substituting 95.8 % fly ash with GGBS and 13.4 % solid activator

Antibacterial activities of leaf extracts of Brassica oleracae var. capitata. (Brassicaceae) against multi-drug resistant clinical isolates in Maiduguri

Brassica oleracae var. C. green cabbage, a herbaceous biennial plant with leaves that form a compact head, is an edible vegetable used historically as a medicinal herb for a variety of purported health benefits. The aim of the study was to evaluate the antibacterial activities of ethanolic and methanolic leaf extracts of Brassica oleracae var. C. against clinical isolates of pathogenic bacteria (S. aureus, E. coli, K. pneumonia and P. aeruginosa) by agar well diffusion method. The extraction was carried out by cold marceration and qualitative phytochemical analysis was conducted. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids and reducing sugars. The ethanolic and methanolic extracts demonstrated a concentration-dependent antibacterial activity against S.aureus, E.coli, and P. aeruginosa. In conclusion, the ethanolic and methanolic extracts of B. oleracae demonstrated antibacterial activities and these findings could contribute to effective use of the plant.Keywords: Antibacterial, Brassica oleracae, Clinical isolates, Multi-drug resistant, Phytochemical constituent