In-Vitro Adsorption of Fluoroquinolones on Some Pharmaceutical Adsorbents

Purpose: Drug overdose and poisoning are common clinical problems and could occur with the fluoroquinolones – a new series of synthetic antimicrobial agents. It therefore becomes important to study the adsorption of the fluoroquinolones on pharmaceutical adsorbents which could serve as possible antidotes for the emergency treatment of fluoroquinolone overdose or poisoning when they occur. Method: The rate and extent of adsorption of the fluoroquinolones on some pharmaceutical adsorbents, namely activated charcoal, kaolin and bentonite were investigated spectrophotometrically Results: The fluoroquinolones adsorbed on activated charcoal rapidly and attained equilibrium within fifteen minutes. The fluoroquinolones however adsorbed on kaolin and bentonite less rapidly and attained equilibrium within two hours. Activated charcoal and bentonite had high adsorption capacities for the fluoroquinolones while kaolin had low adsorption capacities for them. Conclusion: Because of the rapid rate of adsorption and high binding capacities exhibited by activated charcoal for the fluoroquinolones, it could be an effective antidote for the fluoroquinolones in cases of overdose or poisoning. Activated charcoal has shown a superior behaviour to both bentonite and kaolin in the adsorption of the fluoroquinolones. Keywords: Adsorption, bentonite, fluoroquinolones, kaolin, pharmaceutical adsorbents > Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research Vol. 5 (1) 2006: pp. 533-53

Item analysis of university-wide multiple choice objective examinations: the experience of a Nigerian private university

Teachers and Students worldwide often dance to the tune of tests and examinations. Assessments are powerful tools for catalyzing the achievement of educational goals, especially if done rightly. One of the tools for ‘doing it rightly’ is item analysis. The core objectives for this study, therefore, were: ascertaining the item difficulty and distractive indices of the university wide courses. A range of 112–1956 undergraduate students participated in this study. With the use of secondary data, the ex-post facto design was adopted for this project. In virtually all cases, majority of the items (ranging between 65% and 97% of the 70 items fielded in each course) did not meet psychometric standard in terms of difficulty and distractive indices and consequently needed to be moderated or deleted. Considering the importance of these courses, the need to apply item analyses when developing these tests was emphasize

Sustainable construction: exploring the capabilities of Nigerian construction firms

As the built environment accounts for much of the world's emissions, resource consumption and waste, concerns remain as to how sustainable the sector is. Understanding how such concerns can be better managed is complex, with a range of competing agendas and institutional forces at play. This is especially the case in Nigeria where there are often differing priorities, weak regulations and institutions to deal with this challenge. Construction firms are in competition with each other in a market that is growing in size and sophistication yearly. The business case for sustainability has been argued severally in literature. However, the capability of construction firms with respect to sustainability in Nigeria has not been studied. This paper presents the preliminary findings of an exploratory multi-case study carried out to understand the firm's views on sustainability as a source of competitive advantage. A international firm and a lower medium-sized indigenous firm were selected for this purpose. Qualitative interviews were conducted with top-level management of both firms, with key themes from the sustainable construction and dynamic capabilities literature informing the case study protocol. The interviews were transcribed and analysed with the use of NVivo software. The findings suggest that the multinational firm is better grounded in sustainability knowledge. Although the level of awareness and demand for sustainable construction is generally very poor, few international clients are beginning to stimulate interest in sustainable buildings. This has triggered both firms to build their capabilities in that regard, albeit in an unhurried manner. Both firms agree on the potentials of market-driven sustainability in the long term. Nonetheless, more drastic actions are required to accelerate the sustainable construction agenda in Nigeria

Novel pGreen/pSoup dual-binary vector system in multiple T-DNA co-cultivation as a method of producing marker-free (clean gene) transgenic rice (Oriza sativa L) plant

The possibility of producing marker-free transgenic rice plants using a novel dual binary pGreen/pSoup vectors, in multiple T-DNA co-cultivation, was investigated and demonstrated to be feasible. The T-DNA in pSoup (pRT47) vector was engineered to contain the selection marker hygromycin phosphotransferase (aphIV) gene (plus intron in 5′ UTR), and the green fluorescent protein (gfp) as a reporter gene both driven by the CaMV35S promoter and the nopaline synthase terminator. T-DNA in the pGreen (pRT18) vector harboured the phosphinothricin acetyl transferase (bar), as selection marker gene, and the b- glucuronidase (gusA) plus intron as a reporter gene, both driven by the maize 5′ ubiquitin region and the nopaline synthase terminator. Both the pGreen and pSoup plasmids were transformed into E. coli strain DH5α using the PEG-transformation technique and into Agrobacterium strains AGL1using a freeze-thaw method. AGL1 was then used to transform embryogenic nodular units (ENU), derived from mature seeds of the model rice genotype Nipponbare. Selection on herbicide (PPT) or antibiotic (hygromycin) of co-cultured ENUs led to the production of numerous independently transformed callus clones containing both T-DNAs from the selected and unselected vector. While co- ransformation frequencies were 71% and 80% for the hygromycin only and herbicide (PPT) only selection, respectively, data showed that co-expression frequency is most useful for the production of marker free transgenic rice. About half (50%) of the independent transgenic plant lines contained at least one unlinked T-DNA integration. In this work, we showed for the first time, that the novel dual-binary pGreen/pSoup can efficiently produce marker-free transgenic rice.African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (6), pp. 531-540, 200

Analysis of Smoked Fish Marketing in Nigeria

The study examined marketing of smoked fish in Ondo State, Nigeria. It specifically examined socio-economic characteristics of the respondents, determined the profitability of smoked fish marketing and examined the market structure for smoked fish in the study area. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 84 smoked fish marketers in the study area and structured questionnaire administered on them. Descriptive statistics, Gross margin and Gini coefficient were used to analyse the data collected. The study revealed that 78.57% of the respondents were females while 21.43% of them were males. The Gross margin analysis showed that an average marketer incurred an average variable cost of N136,087.74 per month but earned an average revenue of N152,098.21 per month. This indicates that an average marketer earned a gross margin of N16,010.48 per month which shows that smoked fish marketing is a profitable venture in the study area. The study also revealed the Gini Coefficient of 0.58542 indicating a high level of concentration and hence high level of inefficiency in the market for smoked fish

Profitability Analysis of Aquaculture Production in Nigeria

The study examined profitability of aquaculture production in Ondo State, Nigeria. Specifically, it examined socio-economic characteristics of the respondents and determined costs and returns of the respondents. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 96 respondents and structured questionnaire administered on them. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and gross margin analyses. Analysis revealed that 53.13% of the respondents used concrete ponds while 38.54% of them used earthen ponds to stock their fish. Only 8.33% of these people use re-circulatory type of ponds to stock their fish. The result also shows that 67.71% of the respondents stocked clarias while 30.21% of them stocked heteroclarias. Only 2.08% of them stocked both clarias and heteroclarias in their ponds. Gross margin analysis shows that an average farmer incurred an average variable cost of N204037.37 per cropping season but earned an average revenue of N282541.98 per cropping season. This indicates that an average farmer earned a gross margin of N78,504.25 per cropping season which suggests that aquaculture production is a profitable venture in the study area

Challenges confronting construction project management system for sustainable construction in developing countries: professionals perspectives (a case study of Nigeria)

The success of the Nigerian construction industry can be aligned with the use of construction project management systems, although, the industry has been maligned by issues such as building collapse, incessant delays, abandonment and cost overrun. It is therefore imperative to examine the challenges confronting construction project management system in Nigeria. In this study the descriptive survey method was adopted and data were obtained by means of inquiries using questionnaires. A sample size of fifty nine (59) construction professionals was used for the study. The study reveals that location of a project majorly influences Project Manager’s decision making on project planning. It asserted the crucial importance of Management skills required in practicing construction project management. In conclusion, the result identified that passive participation from Project Manager, lack of client involvement in making decisions, provision of substandard materials, design error, lack of effective communication and poor treatment of workforce are challenges hampering the use of construction project management. The study recommends the institutionalization of construction project management practice, compulsion of adequate training and skill modification programs for construction professionals to aid the sustainability of construction project management systems in Nigeria

Factors Inhibiting Stakeholder Management of Mega Construction Project

The study aims at examining the factors inhibiting stakeholder management of mega construction projects. The study is a case study research where project managers of selected 40 mega construction projects in Lagos, Nigeria were sampled. The study adopted a questionnaire as the research instrument as well as the use of purposive sampling technique for drawing up the samples for the study. The study found out that ineffective communication, incomplete identification of stakeholders, complexity of the project and changes in stakeholder’s interest are the most significant inhibiting factors affecting stakeholder’s management of mega construction projects. The study recommends that project managers of such complex project should encourage effective communication and subsequently prompt information dissemination among stakeholders in order to address diverse stakeholder’s concerns

Assessment of Physio-chemical and Bacteriological Quality of Water Supply for Domestic Use in Student Hostels in Nigerian University

The study examined the consistency in quality of water supply within the student halls of residence in a Nigerian University. The water samples were collected at four different points along the supply chain for three months and both physico-chemical and bacteriological tests were conducted on the samples based on World Health Organization (WHO) and Nigeria Standard for Drinking Water (NSDW) standards concurrently. The results of the physico-chemical test showed that all the samples were within the WHO and NSDW specified permissible range except their pH (4.57-6.00). However, the bacteriological results revealed that the Escherichia Coli (E. coli) of all samples (2, 2, 4 and 28cfu/100ml) were not acceptable. In addition, the fecal coliform results of two samples (0cfu/100ml) were within WHO and NSDW permissible limit values while other samples (1,2 cfu/100ml) were contaminated by some measure of fecal element. Nevertheless, the results of Total Coliform samples of two points were 0&3cfu/100ml therefore within the acceptable limit range but, the remaining two samples points (TNTC) were not acceptable. One of the influences on the result of the bacteriological is the closeness of the water supply pipes to the sewage pipes. In conclusion, bacteriological standard required by both WHO and NSDW was not satisfied in the water supply to the halls of residents. Therefore there is urgent need for the treatment of water supply against the presence of fecal elements to forestall liable diseases for sustainable health