765 research outputs found
Investigation of Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) Hot Spots in the College of Science and Technology, Covenant University, Ota
The presence of Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) from electronic devices such as personal computers,
laboratory equipment and television sets in selected laboratories and offices at the College of Science and
Technology Building, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria was characterized using an ELF Detection Meter.
The study revealed that exposure to ELF fields could be controlled to the minimum depending on the
awareness of the occupant. As with all electromagnetic fields, the ELF field decays rapidly with distance
from source or hot spots. The average observed value of ELF in the offices ranged from 3.5 to 5.0 mG. A
significant hot spot with ELF of approximately 10 mG in an office was detected close to the magnetic board
fixed on the wall. From the results, the maximum ELF fields of between 30â50 mG were observed close to
some electronic devices, while other areas recorded significant ELF fields of between 4 mG and 25 mG due
to the presence of electrical internal conduit wiring with no electrical gadgets in their vicinities. Minimum
ELF fields of between 0.1 mG and 0.5 mG were observed in one of the locations surveye
Short-duration exposure to 2.45 GHz microwave radiation induces DNA damage in Sprague Dawley ratâs reproductive systems
The genotoxic effects of 2.45 GHz microwave (MW) radiation on the testis and ovary of Sprague Dawley rats was investigated. The animals were exposed to varying levels of specific absorption rate (SAR) of 0 (control), 0.48, 0.95, 1.43, 1.91, 2.39, 2.90, 3.40, 3.80 and 4.30 Wkg-1, for 10 min. The induction of DNA damages was assessed using DNA direct amplification of length polymorphisms (DALP) and validated with single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) comet assay for same cells at SAR 2.39 Wkg-1. Potential damage at the organ level was assessed by histopathological study. The results show significant differences in the Olive moment and % DNA in the blood of the exposed animals when compared with the control (p < 0.05). Hyperchromasia was observed in the ovary of the animals exposed to MW radiation. Also, there was reduction in the number of germ cells and cell disorganization in the testis of exposed group with increasing SARs. These results suggest that MW radiation has the potential to affect both male and female fertility adversely.Keywords: 2.45 GHz microwave radiation, histopathology, DNA single strand break, ovary, testisAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(2), pp. 115-12
Governmental Agencies and Reintegration of Returnees in Nigeria: Strategies of Recovery
The study examined the strategies put in place by the governmental agencies for the reintegration of Nigerian returnees from Libya. Primary and secondary data were utilized for the study. Primary data were collected through the administration of questionnaires and interviews. The study population (10,369) comprised the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA, 34), National Agency against Trafficking in Persons and other related crime (NAPTIP, 108), International Organisation for Migration (IOM, 34), Nigeria in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM, 15) and Nigeria returnees (10,180) from Libya. The sample for the study was made up of 399 respondents. The distribution is as follows: NEMA (17), NAPTIP (54), IOM (16), NiDCOM (15), and returnees (297). Secondary data will be obtained from decision extracts of the agencies on matters relating to the subject matter, conciliation meetings, and internet sources. Data collected were analysed using frequency, distribution, percentage, and Chi-square. The study showed that vocational training strategies (x2= 3.11); loan facilities for the returned migrants (Â x2= 3.32); provision for psychological strategies for the returnees (x2Â = 3.22) are some of the strategies available which are put in place by governmental agencies for the reintegration of the returnees. Furthermore, the result of the Chi square analysis showed that the x2 cal (9.2) is greater than x2tab (5.99), hence, the rejection of the null hypothesis. Hence, the study found a significant relationship between governmental agenciesâ strategies and returneesâ reintegration. The study concluded that governmental agencies strategies have effect on the reintegration the returnees
Short-Duration Exposure to 2.45 GHz Microwave Radiation Induces DNA Damage in Sprague Dawley Ratâs Reproductive Systems
The genotoxic effects of 2.45 GHz microwave (MW) radiation on the testis and ovary of Sprague Dawley rats was investigated. The animals were exposed to varying levels of specific absorption rate (SAR) of 0 (control), 0.48, 0.95, 1.43, 1.91, 2.39, 2.90, 3.40, 3.80 and 4.30 Wkg-1, for 10 min. The induction of DNA damages was assessed using DNA direct amplification of length polymorphisms (DALP) and validated with single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) comet assay for same cells at SAR 2.39 Wkg-1. Potential damage at the organ level was assessed by histopathological study. The results show significant differences in the Olive moment and % DNA in the blood of the exposed animals when compared with the control (p < 0.05). Hyperchromasia was observed in the ovary of the animals exposed to MW radiation. Also, there was reduction in the number of germ cells and cell disorganization in the testis of exposed group with increasing SARs. These results suggest that MW radiation has the potential to affect both male and female fertility adverse
Prevalence of the Attributes of the Female Athlete Triad in Competitive Nigerian Female Athletes
Geology and Geochemistry of Iroko-Granites Southwestern Nigeria: Implication on Provenance
The geology, geochemistry of Iroko-granites have been studied and reported in this paper. The study area has been described as of Archaean-EarlyProterozoic terrain underlain by migmatite-gneiss-quartzite complex with supracustal rocks. Large number of granites which outcrops in Iroko-Ekiti represent a typical occurrence of granitoids sporadically distributed in thebasement and are known to belong to the Older Granite suites, which are attributable to the Pan-African Orogeny (750± 150Ma). The rocks occur,mostly as flat and low lying within sparse vegetation. Structures common on and around the outcrops include quartz vein, veinlets, pegmatite dykes which trend North-south, discrete exfoliated surfaces and xenoliths of older rocks. This study reveals that the granites belong to calc-alkalic suites,demonstrate metaluminous nature, and exhibit characteristics of I-type granites. The granite is a distinctive type in that it is relatively highly potassic, has high FeO/(FeO + MgO) ratio, and high average Zr (299.75ppm)concentration with other high field strength elements. The trace elements study implicates pronounced fractional crystallization during evolution of the granites and thus petrogenetically discriminates as Syn-collision provenance
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The impact of adjusting for baseline in pharmacogenomic genome-wide association studies of quantitative change.
In pharmacogenomic studies of quantitative change, any association between genetic variants and the pretreatment (baseline) measurement can bias the estimate of effect between those variants and drug response. A putative solution is to adjust for baseline. We conducted a series of genome-wide association studies (GWASs) for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) response to statin therapy in 34,874 participants of the Genetic Epidemiology Research on Adult Health and Aging (GERA) cohort as a case study to investigate the impact of baseline adjustment on results generated from pharmacogenomic studies of quantitative change. Across phenotypes of statin-induced LDL-C change, baseline adjustment identified variants from six loci meeting genome-wide significance (SORT/CELSR2/PSRC1, LPA, SLCO1B1, APOE, APOB, and SMARCA4/LDLR). In contrast, baseline-unadjusted analyses yielded variants from three loci meeting the criteria for genome-wide significance (LPA, APOE, and SLCO1B1). A genome-wide heterogeneity test of baseline versus statin on-treatment LDL-C levels was performed as the definitive test for the true effect of genetic variants on statin-induced LDL-C change. These findings were generally consistent with the models not adjusting for baseline signifying that genome-wide significant hits generated only from baseline-adjusted analyses (SORT/CELSR2/PSRC1, APOB, SMARCA4/LDLR) were likely biased. We then comprehensively reviewed published GWASs of drug-induced quantitative change and discovered that more than half (59%) inappropriately adjusted for baseline. Altogether, we demonstrate that (1) baseline adjustment introduces bias in pharmacogenomic studies of quantitative change and (2) this erroneous methodology is highly prevalent. We conclude that it is critical to avoid this common statistical approach in future pharmacogenomic studies of quantitative change
HIV-1 Subtype and Reverse Transcriptase Genotype: Role for Geographical Location and Founder Effects
Inhibition of α-amylase, α-glucosidase and oxidative stress by some common apple varieties
In recent times, the consumption of apples has been encouraged for the management of chronic diseases such as diabetes, but biochemical evidence to support this practice is lacking. Therefore, this study investigated α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging ability, Fe2+-induced lipid peroxidation potential as well as the total phenol and flavonoid contents of aqueous extracts
of the apple varieties Malus sylvestris (green apple), Malus pumila (red apple) and Syzygium samarangense (wax apple). The results showed that all apple varieties inhibited α-amylase (IC50=12.66â16.98 ”g/ml) and
α-glucosidase (13.55â16.23 ”g/ml) in a dosedependent manner, with green apple showing the highest inhibitory activity while wax apple had the least. Similarly, all apple varieties showed dose-dependent DPPH radical scavenging activity (EC50=222.92â278.71 ”g/ml) with green apple also showing the highest scavenging activity while wax apple showed the least. Furthermore, the aqueous extracts of the apple varieties dosedependently inhibited Fe2+-induced lipid peroxidation in rat pancreas (38.60â53.57 ”g/ml), with wax apple exhibiting the highest inhibitory potential. Also, the total phenol content of the apple varieties ranged from 16.14 to 17.45 mg GAE/100g, while the flavonoid content ranged from 4.17 to 5.56 mg QUE/100 g, with green apple having the highest total phenolic and flavonoid contents.
The biological activities exhibited by the apple varieties could be attributed to the presence of biologically active photochemicals. Furthermore, the apple variety (green apple) with the highest phenolic content showed the best overall activity, indicating the potent role of phenolic compounds in the management of diabetes, thereby providing biochemical support for the use of apples as a functional food in diabetes management
Enhanced proactive planning approach: a crucial to an improved workersâ safety in Western Nigeria small scale industry
This study evaluated managementsâ proactive planning approach (PPA) to enhance safety among workers in South-western Nigeria small scale industry (SSI). The main objective was to rate the managementsâ efforts at eliminating risk among their employees. By worker participatory and psychological survey approach, three tools were used; workplace observation (visual), management safety culture (questionnaire) and managers interviews (oral). The survey included 200 workers, 120 supervisors and 80 managers, in 82 SSI. Four steps to a safety proactive action plans (PAP), (looking for clues, prioritization of identified potential hazard, making improvements to eliminate the risk and follow up), were rated by employees on a scale from 0 to 5. Paired t-test was used to appraise the significant difference between the managersâ mean scores rated by the supervisors and other workers. 77.1% of workers and 64.2% supervisors rated their managers as either ânot done at allâ or âpoorly doneâ. Workersâ scores for managers PPA had statistically significantly lower ratings (mean = 1.09, SEM = 0.22) compared to that of the supervisors rating (mean = 1.55, SEM = 0.32), with t (14) = â1.185, p = 0.784. There is a closed poor performance perception gaps, of managersâ PPA, of the two groups of employees. It can be concluded that safety is not emphasized, by managers of SSI, as overriding priority and this may have contributed to high reported injuries among their workforce. Courses to enhance managementsâ understanding for inclusion of safety among the leading priorities becomes necessary. This will reduce work-related risks and promotes occupational safety and health among the group of workers
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