Survey of Sources of Capital among Traders of Wunti Market in Bauchi Metropolis

Lack of funding is the number one reason given for the failure of so many small businesses. Why? Success today hinges not only on providing a quality and timely product or service, but also on knowing how to finance the business.  One of the major determinants in establishing any firm is Capital and most failure of trading/business enterprise is associated with absence or inadequate Capital. Hassan (2009) defined Capital as the resources or money used for and required in carrying out the activities of the business venture. The objectives of this study is to undertake an in depth study so as to identify the sources of capital among traders of Wunti Market in Bauchi Metropolis and in so doing identify whether the traders are aware of the existence of formal institutions that provide such services and the associated problems encountered or act as hindrance to accessing such facilities. The survey made use of both primary and secondary data. Data was presented in tabular and chart forms for understanding and easy analysis. The study found that most the traders source there capital from past savings and assistance from well wishers. Those enterprises that got their capital from the formal sector complained of the difficulty in accessing such funds and repayment arrangement is not suitable. The research concluded that Government being the prime mover of economic activities, should come up with an arrangement for those funds set aside for the promotion of trade reaches the desired traders, awareness campaigns should be organized to educate the traders on how to access funds from the formal sector and Central Bank in collaboration with commercial banks should develop a new strategy in encouraging traders to utilized the funds available to commercial banks

Photosensitiser functionalised nanofiber fabric for efficient light driven water disinfection

Sunlight-driven water disinfection system could help provide clean water to some of the world’s poorest regions where contaminated surface water is a major public health problem and bright solar irradiation is available for free. In this work, photosensitiser - 5, 10, 15, 20-tetrakis (1-methyl-4-pyridinio) porphyrin tetra p-toluene sulfonate (TMPyP) was chosen and immobilised onto chitosan nanofiber mats and chitosan membranes for photodynamic disinfection of water since preliminary studies with TMPyP in solution showed it caused a high rate of photodynamic inactivation (PDI) of model viral organisms (bacteriophages MS2 and Qβ, murine norovirus and bovine enterovirus 2). Native gel electrophoresis, SDS-PAGE and western blotting, TEM and DLS were used to analyse pre- and post-PDI samples of the model viruses. The rate of PDI in model viruses was in the order MS2 > phage Qβ > murine norovirus > bovine enterovirus 2. Our data showed that PDI caused aggregation of MS2 particles and crosslinking of MS2 coat protein. However, the aggregation and crosslinking did not correlate to the rate of PDI we observed in MS2. Using sequence specific antibodies raised against MS2 A-protein (host attachment protein), our results suggest that the rate of PDI is relative to loss of antigenicity of sites on the A-protein. The differences in the rate of PDI were compared to amino acid compositions and surface accessibility of host attachment proteins/sites of the model viruses. Possible modes of action are discussed as a means to gaining insight to the targets and mechanisms of PDI of viruses. Chitosan electrospun nanofibers and chitosan membranes were modified by pyromellitic dianhydride in order to introduce carboxyl groups and facilitate adsorption of the cationic TMPyP. The physico-chemical properties of these modified nanofibers and membranes were investigated by microscopy, absorption spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and Midland surface blotting approaches.The chitosan nanofiber/membrane-TMPyP composite showed photodynamic inactivation of MS2 and E. coli BL21

Personal Characteristics and Banking Behaviour of Customers: Further Evidence from Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto-Nigeria

“This study examines the extent to which customers’ personal characteristics have influence on the banking bahaviour of customers. The study uses primary data which was collected from the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto. A sample of 383 respondents was used cutting across staff, students and petty business operators within the community. The study uses Logistic regression model to analyse the data. The results of the study indicated that age, marital status, and occupation have negative influence on the banking bahviour of customers while, educational qualification and monthly income have positive influence. The study therefore recommends that those factors with positive influence should be closely watched whenever banks are looking for customers in the community and other communities with similar features.

Promoting Ginger Oleoresin Production in Nigeria for Economic Growth and Sustainable Supply to User Industries

Nigeria ranks 2nd amongst top 10 ginger producers in the world with a production of 691,239 tonnes and its ginger is among the best, with its aroma, pungency and high oil and oleoresin content as distinct features. The most important form of ginger commercially is the dried form because it can be further processed in the industry to ginger powder, ginger oil and ginger oleoresin.  There is an increasing international demand for ginger oleoresins, especially for the production of alcoholic beverages, ginger ale and gingerbread. The global ginger oil market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.41 % from 2020 to 2025 to reach a total market size of US$189.431 million by 2025, increasing from US$110.435 million.  Nigeria, with the volume of ginger production and distinctive features of its ginger, should tap into this market demand. However, ginger is exported from Nigeria in the split-dried form while value-added products such as ginger powder, essential oils and oleoresin are imported at high cost. According to the Nigeria Customs Service data, 700,891 kg of resinoids and mixtures of odoriferous substances were imported to Nigeria from 2016 to 2019 at a value of ₦1.24 billion. To take advantage of the ever expanding global oleoresin market, formation of farmers clusters/cooperatives, development of farmers-processors linkages, quality assurance through Good Agricultural Practices, technology development, Public-Private Partnerships, development of Nigeria Industrial Standards (NIS) for oleoresins and import restrictions on ginger oleoresin are recommended. There is need for synergy amongst government agencies to harmonize and integrate various development plans and strategies for ginger value chain. Establishment of an institutional framework for proper coordination is also recommended to harmonize all the activities in the sector for greater impact. Keywords: Ginger, value addition, oleoresin, resinoids, ginger oil, export, import DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/12-22-03 Publication date: November 30th 202

Towards Achieving Sugar Self-Sufficiency in Nigeria: A Review

Sugar is produced in 120 countries with about 110 countries producing from either cane or beet, and eight countries produce sugar from both cane and beet. The global sugar production in 2020/2021 was about 179 million tonnes with Brazil as the highest producer with 42 million tonnes. Sugarcane, on average, accounts for nearly 80% of global sugar production. Nigeria’s sugar industry has always faced challenges with national sugar requirements met through imports of raw sugar for local refining. The National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) was therefore set up in 1993 to catalyze the development of the sugar industry with a view to ensuring that Nigeria attains at least, 70% self-sufficiency in sugar requirement within the shortest possible time. Despite efforts by the Sugar Council, Nigeria still ranks among the top 10 sugar importing countries. The National Sugar Master Plan (NSMP) was launched in 2013 by the NSDC as a 10-year plan designed to transform the Nigerian sugar industry. This paper is aimed at reviewing the implementation of the Plan 8 years down the line. The efforts of the government to attain self-sufficiency in sugar through the National Sugar Master Plan have yielded little result. Production of sugar in Nigeria is yet to meet domestic demand thereby creating a huge supply gap that is met through import. According to NSDC data, sugar import increased from 955,675 tonnes in 2010 to 1,531,471 tonnes in 2020. The country spent an estimated USD 433.4 million on sugar importation in 2020, an increase from USD 382.3 million in 2019. Challenges of raw materials production include environmental constraints, lack of quality seed cane and suitable varieties, poor irrigation, lack of farm mechanization and poor capital. To improve sugarcane productivity, the cane industry should be restructured to improve efficiency and yields. Measures should also be put in place to promote the establishment of cane mills around the sugar estates and across the sugarcane producing areas. Keywords: Sugar, Sugarcane, Self-Sufficiency, Domestic demand, import, Master Plan DOI: 10.7176/JRDM/82-02 Publication date: January 31st 202

Analogue-based approaches in anti-cancer compound modelling: the relevance of QSAR models

Background: QSAR is among the most extensively used computational methodology for analogue-based design. The application of various descriptor classes like quantum chemical, molecular mechanics, conceptual density functional theory (DFT)- and docking-based descriptors for predicting anti-cancer activity is well known. Although in vitro assay for anti-cancer activity is available against many different cell lines, most of the computational studies are carried out targeting insufficient number of cell lines. Hence, statistically robust and extensive QSAR studies against 29 different cancer cell lines and its comparative account, has been carried out. Results: The predictive models were built for 266 compounds with experimental data against 29 different cancer cell lines, employing independent and least number of descriptors. Robust statistical analysis shows a high correlation, cross-validation coefficient values, and provides a range of QSAR equations. Comparative performance of each class of descriptors was carried out and the effect of number of descriptors (1-10) on statistical parameters was tested. Charge-based descriptors were found in 20 out of 39 models (approx. 50%), valency-based descriptor in 14 (approx. 36%) and bond order-based descriptor in 11 (approx. 28%) in comparison to other descriptors. The use of conceptual DFT descriptors does not improve the statistical quality of the models in most cases. Conclusion: Analysis is done with various models where the number of descriptors is increased from 1 to 10; it is interesting to note that in most cases 3 descriptor-based models are adequate. The study reveals that quantum chemical descriptors are the most important class of descriptors in modelling these series of compounds followed by electrostatic, constitutional, geometrical, topological and conceptual DFT descriptors. Cell lines in nasopharyngeal (2) cancer average R2 = 0.90 followed by cell lines in melanoma cancer (4) with average R2 = 0.81 gave the best statistical values

Study the Correlation of the Leptin to Adiponectin Ratio with Estimation of Insulin Resistance in Obese and Non Obese Individuals

Background: Leptin to Adiponctin ratio (LAR) has been reported as potentially useful measure of insulin resistance (IR). Obesity is the dominant cause of insulin resistance. The concentration of leptin rises with obesity, whereas that of adiponectin decreases with obesity. We investigated whether LAR may serve as a better predictor than either leptin or adiponectin alone for (IR) and study the correlation between LAR and insulin in obese individuals.Subjects and methods: this study included 90 non-diabetic Iraqi males (45 obese with mean age (39.80±8.10) years old, range from (30-55) year and 45 non-obese individuals with mean age (42.0±7.04) years old, range from (31-54) year. Leptin, adiponectin and insulin were measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay technique (ELISA).Results: LAR, IR and leptin show significant highly increased in obese group compared to non-obese healthy subjects, while Adiponectin level show significant high decreased in obese group. The pearson correlation analysis found LAR had strong significant positive correlation with leptin (r= 0.400, p<0.007) and strong significant negative correlation with adiponectin (r= -0.78, p<0.00).   Conclusion: the leptin-to-adiponectin ratio (LAR) correlates with insulin resistance better than either leptin or adiponectin levels alone. Keywords: Lar, Ir, Leptin, Adiponectin and Obeaity

Assessment of cotton-seed (Gossypium species) meal as ingredient in the diet of Clarias gariepinus juveniles

The effect of feeding graded levels of cotton GossypiumSpp. seed meal as an inclusion in the diet of Clariasgariepinus juveniles for growth performance was analysed in comparison with the conventional commercial fish feed. Six experimental rations formulated were cotton-seed Gossypium spp. meal replaced fish meal at graded levels of 20%, 30%, 40% 50%, and 100% and were fed to Clarias gariepinus juveniles for 56 days. The experiment was conducted in six outdoor concrete tanks in the Department of Biological Sciences Garden, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. Data for each parameter were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and the means for various experimental diets were compared for significant differences at 0.05% level of inclusion. The results showed that fish fed with diet contained 20% cottonseed meal (D1) gave the best Body Weight Gain (81.28g), Specific Growth Rate (2.23), and Condition Factor (1.49), while diet contained 30% cottonseed meal (D2) gave the least Weight Gain (49.67g), Specific Growth Rate (1.58) Conversion Ratio (3.64) and Condition factor (0.79). The results were significantly different (p<0.05) for both growth and feed utilization parameters. Therefore, cotton-seed meal can be used as a replacement for fish meal at 20% level of inclusion. The results established significant reduction in production cost while optimal production is achieved.Keywords: Cotton-seed (Gossypium species), Diet, Growth performance, Clariasgariepinus juvenile

ANTIDIABETIC ACTIVITY OF CAFFEIC ACID AND 18Î’-GLYCYRRHETINIC ACID AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTY

Objective: This study was performed to investigate the antidiabetic effect of caffeic acid and 18 β -glycyrrhetinic acid against diabetic rats.Methods: In this experiment, the animals were divided into five groups. Group I: Normal rats. Group II: diabetic control rats.Group III: diabetic rats treated with 18β-glycyrrhetinic. Group IV: diabetic rats treated with caffeic acid. Group V: diabetic rats treated with 18β-glycyrrhetinic and caffeic acid. Fasting blood glucose, insulin, glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), total antioxidant (TAO), catalase , and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were analyzed.Results: Fasting blood glucose and MDA were significantly increased, whereas insuline, GR, GPx, TAO, catalase , SOD were decreased significantly in diabetic rats. Though the diabetic rats treated with caffeic acid and 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid individual exerts beneficial effects in all the biochemical parameters in diabetic rats. The combined treatment with caffeic acid and 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid normalized all the above-mentioned biochemical parameters in diabetic rats.Conclusion: our findings demonstrated that 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid and  caffeic acid either used individually or in combination to diabetic rats have an antidiabetic effect and a good antioxidant property .From the results, the combined dose of 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid and caffeic acid to diabetic rats showed promising antidiabetic effect and antioxidant property compared to individual treatments.Keywords: Diabetes, Caffeic acid, 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid, Streptozotocin, Antioxidant