Water and sanitation problems faced by women in seclusion

Water and sanitation problems faced by women in seclusio

Mechanical Properties of Potato- Starch Linear Low Density Polyethylene Blend

The mechanical properties of potato-starch filled LLDPE such as Young’s Modulus, tensile strength and elongation at break were studied. Apart from the Young’s Modulus, the tensile strength and elongation at break reduced with increased starch content. This is attributed to poor adhesion between starch and the polymer matrix. The mechanical properties however, conform to Kerner’s and Nielson’s models with very minimal deviations.Keywords: Young’s Modulus, elongation at break, Kerner’s and Nielson’s Composite Models, LLDP

An Automatic Safety Control for Immersion Water Heater

The heating of liquids, especially water, is carried out in the homes and industries for various reasons. The domestic water heater has become a near- ubiquitous appliance in the Nigerian homes. An important source of concern with this appliance is the frequent possibility of outbreak of fire due to negligence on the part of the user. This paper describes an immersion water heater that is free from such hazards. The safety condition is achieved by incorporating a device, which automatically switches off power from the heating element when the water level drops below a certain mark

Effect of neem fertilizer rates and weed control methods on the growth and yield of soybeans (Glycine max (L.) merrill) in north Central Nigeria

Two field experiments were conducted at the Research Farm of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State during the 2018 and 2019 rainy seasons to determine the effect of neem fertilizer rates and weed control methods on the growth and yields of soybeans. The experimental treatments were made up of four neem fertilizer rates (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg ha-1) and six weed control methods (pendimethalin at 1.5 kg a.i ha-1 followed by one hoe weeding, pendimethalin at 2.0 kg a.i. ha-1 followed by diuron at 1.5 kg a.i ha-1, weeding once at 3 WAS, weeding twice at 3 and 6 WAS, weed free and weedy check. The experiment was a 3 × 3 factorial experiment laid out in a Randomize complete block design replicated three times. TGX 1448 – 2E variety of soybean was used for the study. Result showed that weed control efficiency was better with the use of 150 kg ha-1 of neem fertilizer, while decrease in weed dry matter was obtained at 50 kg ha-1. Increase in number of leaves and leaf area were encouraged with 150 kg ha-1 of neem fertilizer. Weed free treatments recorded the highest grain yield and 100 seed weight of soybean. Pendimethalin at 1.5 or 2.0 kg a.i ha-1 supplemented with one hoe weeding or diuron at 1.5 kg a.i ha-1 respectively can be an alternative for better control of weeds to obtain greater yield of soybean in the study area

The Application of Geospatial Analytical Techniques in the Assessment of Land Use Conflicts Among Farmers and Cross-Boundary Nomadic Cattle Herders in the Gombe Region, Nigeria

In Nigeria, many land use conflicts among the teeming rural agrarian communities in the northern parts of the country are often wrongly attributed to ethno-religious differences while ignoring the salient role environmental degradation, climate change, and urbanization play in exacerbating the conflicts. The two traditional farming groups (crop producers and cattle herders) that contribute immensely to the country’s food security are in constant conflict, thereby threatening sustainable agricultural production. The objective in this article is to investigate the nature and extent of land use changes in the Gombe region using geospatial analytical techniques and assess the implications on land conflicts. The work also examined the people’s perceptions of the land conflicts. Data for the study was obtained from LANDSAT images (MSS 1986, TM 1999 and Nigeria Sat-1 2012 for a 20-year period) and through the administration of 300 questionnaires at rural household levels, and from focus group discussions. The results revealed general lack of appreciation of the significant role played by land/environmental factors in the conflict and weak institutional conflict management strategies adopted by the state authorities. The study produced maps of cattle routes and potential conflict zones and thus developed a community based land use management model to guide the government, NGOs, community representatives, and other stakeholders in resolving farmers’/herders’ land use related conflicts

Medicinal plants used in the management of diabetes mellitus 2015

Diabetes mellitus is one of the common endocrine disorders prevalent in almost all of the countries. This chronic pathology is characterized by hyperglycemia caused by defective insulin action, insulin secretion, or the combination of both. Prolonged persistence of elevated blood glucose level consequently caused a series of complications such as nephropathy, retinopathy, and cardiomyopathy. Currently available synthetic drugs for treating this disease are found to be associated with many adverse effects. The use of plants in medicine is an age-long practice in various parts of the globe for both preventive and curative purposes. Several warnings have been issued over lack of quality control, scientific evidence for the efficacy, and potential adverse effects of herbal remedies including hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, cardiotoxicity, and reproductive toxicity among others. Despite all of these, reliance on herbs as medicine for the management of diabetes mellitus is still much practiced by a large proportion of the world population because they are readily available and affordable with perceived reduced toxicity. Therefore, with the upsurge of interests in medicinal plants, there is a need for thorough scientific investigations of these plants for both efficacy and potential toxicity. In this issue, we present some recent advances in the use of medicinal plants for treating diabetes mellitus. B. Pang et al. (“Innovative Thoughts of Treating Diabetes from the Perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine”)presented a review article on the contribution of traditional Chinese medicine to the development of alternative and complementary medicine for the treatment and prevention of diabetes mellitus. In another paper (“Effect of Rhizoma Coptidis (Huang Lian) on Treating Diabetes Mellitus”), B. Pang et al. discussed the efficacy and safety of Rhizoma Coptidis in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. In another study (“Evaluation of the Effects of Cornus mas L. Fruit Extract on Glycemic Control and Insulin Level in Type 2 Diabetic Adult Patients: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial”), R. Soltani et al. reported the results of a clinical trial on the effect of Cornus mas L. fruit extract on hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetic patients. In addition, W. Liu et al. (“The Effects of Chinese Medicine on Activation of Wnt/β-Catenin Signal Pathway under High Glucose Condition”) present a valuable review on some compounds implicated in the regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway as a mechanism of action involved in the antihyperglycemic activity from Chinese medicine. Furthermore, A. O. T. Ashafa and M. I. Kazeem (“Toxicopathological Evaluation of Hydroethanol Extract of Dianthus basuticus in Wistar Rats”) reported on the effects of Dianthus basuticus (a Basotho plant with acclaimed antidiabetic activity) on some biochemical parameters and histology of Wistar rats. Finally, X.-J. Li et al. (“TCM Formula Xiaoyaosan Decoction Improves Depressive-Like Behaviors in Rats with Type 2 Diabetes”) evaluated the effect of traditional medicine formula, Xiaoyaosan, on the cognitive function of diabetic rats. After the first volume of this special issue that was published in 2014, we hope that this issue will present additional valuable information for scientists and clinicians

Antinociceptive Effect of the Ethanol Leaf Extract of Balanites aegyptiaca Linn in Albino Rats

Balanites aegyptiaca is a medicinal plant that has been used in a variety of folk medicines in India and Africa for the treatment of different ailments such as syphilis, jaundice, liver and spleen problems, epilepsy, yellow fever. This research aimed at investigating the phyt ochemical constituents, acute toxicity, anti inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of the ethanol extract of Balanites aegyptiaca (EEBA) leaves. The plant material was extracted using ethanol as solvent. The dried ethanol extract was screened for the presence of phytochemicals; Acute toxicity (LD50) was  determined using Lorke’s method while anti inflammatory and antinociceptive activities were evaluated using hot plate and tail immersion methods in albino rats. Results of the study revealed that phyto chemical constituents such as flavonoids, carbohydrates, saponins and glycosides were found in the EEBA, intraperitoneal LD 50 of 2154 mg/kg shows the substance is non toxic. The EEBA produced significant (p <0.05) and dose dependent anti inflammatory and a ntinociceptive activities at all test doses (200, 400 and 600 mg/kg). The presence of the phytochemicals detected might be responsible for the demonstrated anti inflammatory and antinociceptive activities in the plant extract. Keywords: Phytochemical, Anti inflammatory, Antinociceptive , Balanites aegyptiac

PHARMACOGNISTIC, ACUTE TOXICITY AND ANALGESIC STUDIES OF THE STEM OF GUIERA SENEGALENSIS J.F GMIEL (COMBRETACCEAE)

The various features of the whole stem of Guiera senegalensis J.F. Gmiel were observed macroscopically and microscopically using standard description of terms. Macroscopically, it presents an ash grey stem with numerous knots that send out fibrous/pubescent bark branches with a characteristic odour and a slightly bitter taste. The length of the stem ranges from 1 to 3m and 5 to 10mm in diameter. Microscopically, the powdered stem revealed lignified fibres, prism calcium oxalate crystals, modullary rays on the fibres, parenchyma cells and cork cells. The tranverse section of the stem shows cork cells of thin paranchymatous cells arranged in rows, thick walled and lignified sclereids, sieve tubes, medullary rays. The moisture content of the crude drug was found to be 6.75% w/w. the total ash value, water soluble ash value and acid insoluble ash value were 1.92% w/w, 0.88% w/w, and 1.23% w/w respectively. The percentage of alcohol extractive value was found to be 0.94% w/w and the water extractive value was found to be 0.53% w/w. In the mice writhing assay, the extract was found to inhibit the acetic acid induced writhing in mice in dose dependant manner. The acute toxicity study did not result in any observable symptoms or in death. No toxic effects were observed throughout the 7-day study period. No mouse showed signs of toxic effect such as changes on skin, fur, eyes, mucus membrane and behavioral patterns. There were no tremors, salivation, diarrhea, sleep/coma or death of any mouse