The effect of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius on multi-drug resistant micro-organisms

This study was carried out to investigate possible bacteriostatic and bactericidal activities of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius leaf extract on multi-drug resistant micro-organisms. The antimicrobial property of C. aconitifolius leaf extract was carried out on the following multi-drug resistant microorganisms;Escherichia coli, Klebsiella species, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enterica Gallinarum and Candida albicans. The results from this study show that none of the multi-drug resistant micro-organisms was sensitive to the leaf extract of C. aconitifolius.Key words: Cnidoscolus aconitifolius, bioactivity, multi-drug resistant micro-organisms

Processing, utilization and challenges of African locust bean (Parkia biglobosa, Jacque benth) in Arigidi Akoko, Ondo state, Nigeria

The study examined the processing, utilization and challenges of African locust bean (Parkia biglobosa) in Arigidi Akoko in Akoko Northwest Local Government Area of Ondo State. A total of 3,446 locust bean sellers were identified and 5% of the sellers were sampled given the total of 172 respondents: 80 at Imo Arigidi, 50 at Arigidi Oja, and 42 at Agbaluku which are the three major settlements in the town. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and subjected to descriptive statistical tools. The Socio-economic analysis shows that locust bean processing and trade are dominated by females (97.7%) with trace percentage of male (2.3%). This could be traced to preference of women in processing operations. The prevalent method of processing is manual or traditional. Majority of the respondents (48.8%) believed the processing method is strenuous and it takes a lot of time. However 32% of the people considered it simple and less stressful but 2.3% perceived the activities to be simple, stressful and time-consuming. Similarly, 59.9% of the respondents only submitted that the processing method could be learnt while 57.6% of the respondents specified the number of days in which the processing method could be learnt (1-7 days). The processing/utilization challenges include unavailability of the product in large proportions in the study area, lack of water supply, stressful nature of the processing, poor packaging, lack of storage facilities, etc. Based on the results of the study it can be concluded that locust bean processing is a thriving occupation and therefore a sustainable livelihoods for the people of Arigidi Akoko. For promotion of the occupation or the locust bean trade in the area, modernized processing techniques, provision of boreholes by relevant government agencies to ensure potable water supply for processing activities and encouragement of plantation establishment should be considered.Key Words: African locust bean, utilization/processing, marketing, Ondo State, Tasboo

Effect of Chronic Administration of Methanol Extract of Moringa Oleifera on Some Biochemical Indices in Female Wistar Rats

The study was conducted to investigate safety associated with prolonged consumption of Moringa oleifera leaves as beverage. Fourteen rats were used in this study. They were divided into 2 groups each containing 7 rats. Rats in group I received 2ml/kg of corn oil (standard vehicle drug). Animals in groups II were administered with 400mg/kg body of methanolic extract of Moringa oleifera (MEMO) for five weeks respectively. Serum collected was analyzed for alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total protein, albumin, globulin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine. There was significant (P<0.05) decrease in serum total protein, albumin, globulin and AST activity. The activity of ALT decreased but not significant. Similarly, 400mg/kg body of MEMO led to significant (P<0.05) decrease in serum BUN and creatinine. All experimental animals that received 400mg/kb of MEMO had significant (P<0.05) decrease in body weight from week to week 4 of the experiment. Taken together, 400mg/kg body of MEMO seemed to be toxic to the liver with apparently no toxicity in the kidney. Hence, prolonged exposure is not advisable as such could portend danger to the liver.Keywords: Moringa oleifera, toxicity, hepatic damage, kidney

Twelve-month observational study of children with cancer in 41 countries during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction Childhood cancer is a leading cause of death. It is unclear whether the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted childhood cancer mortality. In this study, we aimed to establish all-cause mortality rates for childhood cancers during the COVID-19 pandemic and determine the factors associated with mortality. Methods Prospective cohort study in 109 institutions in 41 countries. Inclusion criteria: children <18 years who were newly diagnosed with or undergoing active treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, retinoblastoma, Wilms tumour, glioma, osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, medulloblastoma and neuroblastoma. Of 2327 cases, 2118 patients were included in the study. The primary outcome measure was all-cause mortality at 30 days, 90 days and 12 months. Results All-cause mortality was 3.4% (n=71/2084) at 30-day follow-up, 5.7% (n=113/1969) at 90-day follow-up and 13.0% (n=206/1581) at 12-month follow-up. The median time from diagnosis to multidisciplinary team (MDT) plan was longest in low-income countries (7 days, IQR 3-11). Multivariable analysis revealed several factors associated with 12-month mortality, including low-income (OR 6.99 (95% CI 2.49 to 19.68); p<0.001), lower middle income (OR 3.32 (95% CI 1.96 to 5.61); p<0.001) and upper middle income (OR 3.49 (95% CI 2.02 to 6.03); p<0.001) country status and chemotherapy (OR 0.55 (95% CI 0.36 to 0.86); p=0.008) and immunotherapy (OR 0.27 (95% CI 0.08 to 0.91); p=0.035) within 30 days from MDT plan. Multivariable analysis revealed laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (OR 5.33 (95% CI 1.19 to 23.84); p=0.029) was associated with 30-day mortality. Conclusions Children with cancer are more likely to die within 30 days if infected with SARS-CoV-2. However, timely treatment reduced odds of death. This report provides crucial information to balance the benefits of providing anticancer therapy against the risks of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children with cancer

Traditional media use in Forest Conservation Support Communication (FCSC) among local residents in protected areas in South Western Nigeria

This paper examined the potential of forest conservation support communication along traditional media in use for agricultural information dissemination in and around two reserved sites: Old Oyo National Park, Oyo and Oluwa forest reserve in Ondo State. Results show that the reliability of Forest Conservation Support Information (FCSI) sources depends on access to media among respondents (Pearson's χ2 = 338.7; d.f = 160; Pr. ≤ 0.000). So also, appropriateness determines the relevance of traditional media in Old Oyo National Park environment to FCSC (Pearson's χ2 = 176.47; d.f = 60; Pr. ≤ 0.00). This was however not the case in Oluwa forest reserve enclaves (Pearson's χ2 = 29.595; d.f = 28; Pr. > 0.383). Here, the perception of inhabitants on appropriateness of media for FCSC does not translate to their being relevant for the same purpose. But the relevance of traditional communication to present-day development challenges was found to be very significant in the study sites. Only 2.5% and 7% of inhabitants of Oluwa forest enclaves and Old Oyo National Park environment respectively considered trado communication as irrelevant to forest conservation support communication. Analysis of variance on traditional media accessed in the two study sites also revealed no variation (F = 3.01; d.f = 244; p > .05). Furthermore, in Oluwa Forest enclaves, 88.75% of the respondents' perceived trado communication as complementing other information sources, while the rest opined that it's use alone could effect and sustain development initiatives. However, none of the respondents in the two sites is of the view that the use of traditional communication media should be relegated to the background in FCSC. It is therefore recommended that effective indigenous media should be adopted and empowered to ensure that development initiatives are not wrongly imbibed. So also, traditional institutions in the study area must be identified and empowered with sustainable forest conservation information and technologies. Key Words: Sustainable Development; Traditional Media; Protected Area; Information Dissemination; and Communication Strategy. Journal of Environmental Extension Vol.4 2003: 19-3

Sustaining rural livelihoods: On-farm climate-smart adaptation measures among smallholder farmers in rural Ghana

Rural livelihoods, incidence of poverty and climate change are intricately connected in the Offinso Municipality in the Ashanti region of Ghana. Conscious of the vagaries of climate change, smallholder farmers have developed adaptation measures to sustain their subsistent livelihoods. This paper examines the various on-farm adaptation measures among smallholder farmers in the Offinso municipality with the view to drawing lessons for effective policy making and implementation. A  triangulation of quantitative and qualitative research design and a non-probability purposive sampling technique were used. On the basis of populations, 300 interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to collect data from smallholder farmers in 6 out of the 24 farming communities in the study area. Data generated were analyzed using thematic analyses of issues as well as through the use of cross and frequency tables, Chi-square test of association and regression at α0.05. Farmers undertook some on-farm management practices such as efficient  management of irrigation system while substantially, 33.0% of the respondents did not engage in any of the soil water and moisture conservation practices. However, Pearson‟s chi-square (χ2) value of 65.6 with a Cramer‟s V value of 0.288 revealed a significant association between on-farm crop management activities and soil  nutrients conservation. This paper recommends vigorous direction of extension work by the Department of Food and Agriculture towards harnessing the identified on-farm climate-smart adaptation measures in the study area for sustainable food  production.Keywords: On-farm activities, livelihoods, climate-smart adaptation, Offinso, Ghan

Media access and reliability for forest conservation support communication in Anambra state, south-eastern Nigeria

The need for conservation of forests resources, which are presently under continuous depletion, is topical to sustainable development in Nigeria. Despite this, the annual rate of forest depletion in Anambra State is alarming. One of the adduced reasons for this had been inadequate access of residents who rely on forest resources for their livelihood to environmental amelioration information. This study therefore reports the media in use or that could be employed to effectively keep Anambra State residents’ abreast on environmental amelioration issues. The study employed multistage stratified random sampling technique where the state was stratified into three senatorial districts. One local government area with urban, peri-urban and rural settlements were then purposively selected in each district to account for the socio economic background of the people in the study area. Two wards each were picked from each settlement and Thirty questionnaires were administered in each ward, giving a total of 540 respondents for the study. Data generated were analysed using descriptive (Tables, frequency counts, percentages and pie chart) and inferential (Pearson’s correlation coefficient, Chi-square and one way Analysis of variance) test statistics at p = 0.05. The study revealed that more people (40.9%) had access to radio followed by television (24.5%) and radio was favored as the most appropriate and reliable medium for dissemination of forest conservation information (FCI) in the study area. Further, majority of respondents listened to radio and television programs in the evening (57.7%). However majority (63.3%) of the respondents could not compare extension agents and mass media messages because they do not have access to extension agents. The study also observed a significant difference in the effectiveness of the different modes of receiving information in the three senatorial districts and a strong positive relationship between the information sources in the study area and access of the sources to the people for FCI. Also, even though a strong positive relationship existed between the respondents’ access to media and the reliability of the media for FCI in Anambra North (r = 0.92), Central (r = 0.86) and South (r = 0.91) senatorial districts, the reliability of media for FCI does not have a relationship with respondents’ access to media among in Anambra North, (χ2 = 59.13), Central (χ2 = 88.0) and South (χ2 = 60.5). In general, environmental outreach goals in the study area will continue to rely on effective communication to the local people who share their rural frontier with the earth’s biological wealth.Keywords: Forest conservation information, media access, media reliability, radio, Anambra Stat

Indices of local community participation in forest management in south western Nigeria

Community Forestry (CF), a forest management initiative could help solve conflicting barriers to sustainable forest management. This paper reports the factors that will likely promote CF in southwestern Nigeria. Study sites were selected using purposive and random sampling techniques. Lagos State was purposively selected for the study based on its megalopolitan nature in addition to Osun, Ondo and Ogun states, which were randomly selected. Twenty percent (20%) of the Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the selected states were randomly sampled. Information was collected on demographic bio-data, socio-economic variables and participatory forest management indices from the local inhabitants in the sampled LGAs using structured questionnaire. Data obtained were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics of the ratio scale model. Results revealed that respondents’ distribution was skewed towards the Yoruba ethnic group (92.9%); male gender (80.5%), one to five person household size (56.1%), married (87.5%) and illiterate (26.7%) population. Respondents were also mostly farmers (47.9%) associating more with cooperatives (45.0%) and with modal monthly income of between N10,000:00 and N15,000:00. Awareness about CF among the respondents was very low (23.8%) despite majority’s (70.8%) dependent on forest resources. Out of the fifteen indices of participation in community forest management (ranging from awareness of forestry project to contribution of human resource to maintenance of project) tested using the ratio scale model, awareness about forest project was the most important index of participation with mean People Participating Index (PPI) of 85. However, based on all indices of participation, Ondo state ranked highest with a PPI of 57.1% and Lagos ranked lowest (43.6%) in community participation in forest management. The study recommends more efforts at encouraging improvement in the indices of participation in forest management projects in the study area.Keywords: Community Forestry, Participation Indices, Local inhabitants, Forest management, Learning participatio

Indigenous information as tool for consolidating and promoting natural resources conservation in Igbo-speaking communities of southeast Nigeria

Prior to modernization, indigenous peoples had strong mechanisms for  communicating, regulating and managing natural resources endowments for their survival and development. Modern knowledge and information management systems have not sufficiently improved conservation and natural resource development especially among rural folks. This study was conducted in Igbo-speaking rural communities of Obowo LGA of Imo State in SE Nigeria to elicit information on  conventional and indigenous information dissemination and exchange methods on natural resource conservation with the view to identifying the impacts of indigenous information methods on resource conservation. Data obtained from in-depth  Interview (IDIs) sessions with key stakeholders within the locality revealed the availability of medicinal plants, arable lands and rivers/streams occurring in  relatively high abundance as attested to by 71.0%, 56.0% and 48.0% of the respondents, respectively. Also, rural people access information about natural resources and environment through a variety of media/platforms (both formal and indigenous). Fractional ranking showed that the top five (5) indigenous information media were oral tradition (1.5), local authority leadership structure (1.5), village assembly (2), story-telling (4) and individual enquiry (5.5). Local authority structure among other indigenous information media manifested the highest positive influence (31.3%) on conservation/consolidation of identified resource. Specifically, local authority was the source of information rivers/streams (63.2%) and arable lands (56.0%) conservation. It is therefore imperative for governments and international agencies to see information media mix especially through recognizable local institutional channels (local authorities) as veritable instruments for sustaining and promoting sustainable development especially of natural resources at different community, national and global levels.Keywords: Indigenous information, dissemination, conservation, natural resource

Stock density and fruit yield of African walnut, Plukenetia conophora Mull-Arg (Syn. Tetracarpidium conophorum) in tropical lowland rainforests of southwest Nigeria

Despite the huge socio-economic potentials of the African walnut, Plukenetia conophora Mull-Arg, there is a dearth of information on stock density and yield studies under different site conditions. Therefore, this study was carried out to investigate the stock density and fruit yields of P. conophora in three different habitats (i.e. less disturbed natural forest, recently disturbed natural forest and plantation forest) within Omo Forest Reserve (OFR) and Shasha Forest Reserve (SFR) of Nigeria. Stratified random sampling technique was used to carry out inventory survey. Fruit yields were determined by collecting fruit falls through double sampling approach. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used in analyzing the data at P = 0.05. Stock densities of P. conophora were 5.33+1.7stands/ha, 14.67+2.05stands/ha and 16.00+2.94stands/ha in OFR, while they were 7.33+0.47stands/ha, 14.67+1.25stands/ha and 10.67+04.7stands/ha in SFR for recently disturbed forest, less disturbed forest and plantation forest respectively. There were significant differences in number and distribution of species by forest types, but not between forest reserves. The mean yield of P. conophora/ha/yr was estimated at 7,800.00kg for OFR and 6,534.00kg for SFR. Yields from plantation area contributed more in OFR, while yields from less disturbed natural forest area were higher in SFR. Yields from recently disturbed natural forest were consistently lower in the two reserves. These results show that P. conophora thrives better in plantation and old re-growth forests. This information is pertinent towards improving the management of the species, increase its productivity and enhance benefits in a more sustainable manner to the rural populace