Synthesis, Characterization and Anti-Microbial Screening of Iron (II) and Cobalt (II) Complexes

Metal complexes of Iron and Cobalt were synthesized and characterized using IR and UV Visible spectroscopy. Their decomposition temperatures and solubility in different solvents were also investigated.  Both complexes were found to be soluble in Methanol, Ethanol, Chloroform, Ether, ammonia, DMSO, ethyl acetate, benzene, nitrobenzene and distilled water but insoluble in n-hexane. The decomposition temperatures of the synthesized Iron and cobalt complexes were in the range of 2760C - 2620C and 2630 C- 2530 C respectively. The IR spectra observed in all the complexes for v(C-O) and (C-O) showed a band at 1590 cm-1- 1700cm-1 and around 1200cm-1 -  1700cm-1 respectively ; (M-O) and (N-M) bands also ranged from 800cm-1 – 800cm-1 and 1000cm-1 -7500cm-1 respectively. The Uv-Vis result for the complexes showed Iron complex to have peaks at 400nm and a shoulder at 290nm; Cobalt (II) complex at 360nm and a shoulder at 400nm. Both the synthesized complexes showed the highest antimicrobial activity against E. Coli and Aspergilus at their highest concentrations.  The synthesized Iron complex however, had the best anti-microbial potential than the Cobalt complex and penicillin put together when used in the highest prepared concentration: 0.20cm for the iron complex, 0.40cm and 0.3cm for the cobalt complex and penicillin respectively against E-coli and the same trend was observed for aspergillus. Keywords: synthesis, characterization, complexes, anti-microbial, Uv-visible spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy

Analysis of Market Structure and Conduct of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera, L.) in Jigawa State, Nigeria

Analysis of market structure and conduct of date palm was conducted in Jigawa state, Nigeria using multi stage sampling technique which led to the random selection of 121 respondents. All the traders were male, mostly married and within the mean age of 39 years. Majority (42.6%) of the wholesalers had no formal education, with 12–21 years of marketing experience, while 43.3% of the retailers had only attended primary school with 2–11 years marketing experience. High inequality was observed at wholesale (0.75 & 0.78) and retail (079 &0.75) levels. Pest infestation, increased transportation cost and inadequate capital were the major constraints observed. Development of improved varieties that are pests and diseases resistant, provision of appropriate storage, processing, credit and market facilities by all stakeholders, increased local production to boost marketable surpluses to offset demand and ensure all year-round supply of the product and reduced importation were recommended. Keywords: Market, Structure, Conduct, Date Palm, Jigawa State, Nigeria. DOI: 10.7176/JMCR/79-03 Publication date:May 31st 202

DISASTER CONTROL PRACTICES BY LIBRARIANS FOR ENHANCED PRESERVATION OF INFORMATION RESOURCES IN ACADEMIC LIBRARIES IN BAUCHI STATE, NIGERIA

The objective of the study is to determine the types of disaster control practices by librarians in academic libraries in Bauchi state, Nigeria. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for this study. The study covers academic libraries in Bauchi state, Nigeria. Questionnaires were used to elicit data from the respondents. The population of the study comprises 70 librarians in the academic libraries covered in the area of study. The researchers employed the total enumeration sampling technique which involves studying the entire respondents. 70 copies of the questionnaires were distributed to the respondents; 65 copies of the Questionnaire were retrieved representing 93% response rate. The data collected from the respondents were analysed using simple percentage and frequency count. The study revealed that the types of disasters prevalent in academic libraries in Bauchi state, Nigeria are; fire outbreak, wind storm, book mutilation, theft of library materials, negligence of library staff, kidnapping, terrorism, biological agents and leaking roofs. The study also revealed that most libraries under study, indicated that there is no any established disaster control practices. The only available facilities for disaster control are fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, sand filled buckets, CCTV cameras, emergency exit door and fire alarms. The study recommended that university libraries should have a proper surveillance and adequate security personnel in place to reduce theft and book mutilation of library information resources. Academic libraries in Bauchi state, should establish a disaster control plan in their libraries to safeguard any occurrences that may damage library resources and loss of lives and properties

A 6-year retrospective study of fine needle aspiration cytology pattern of otorhinolaryngological cases of patients referred to national ear care centre Kaduna (2013-2018)

Background: This study was carried out to obtain the retrospective study of FNAC cases referred to NECC; and review occurrences of ortorhinolaryngological swellings and demographic studies of patients for a period of 6 years (2013-2018). Records of FNAC were obtained from the laboratory department’s unit’s register alongside the biodata of patients for demographic studies. Methods: FNAC samples were treated for diagnosis according to the unit’s standard operating procedure for cytology. A total of three hundred and fifty-three 353 cases were reported and tables were then plotted to present the study cases using simple descriptive statistics. Results: Highest age distribution was between thirty to thirty-nine (30-39) years with a total of ninety-five cases 95(26.9%) followed by the range of forty to forty-nine (40-49) years with a value of eighty 80(22.6%). Females had the highest frequency of one hundred and thirty-three 133 (62.3%) compared to their male patient counterpart with a value of two hundred and twenty 220 (37.6%). The site of sample collection had ANS with the highest value of eighty-one 81 (42.4%) compared to other sites. The year 2016 had the highest number of FNAC cases and finally ninety 6 cases 96 (27.2%) of cases were inflammatory, two hundred and thirty-two 232 (65.7%) were benign while twenty five 25 (7.1%) were malignant. Conclusions: In conclusion; FNAC plays a vital role in managing otorhinolaryngology conditions and gives a way forward for effective treatment to patients and often at times is therapeutic as some patients come with fluid field swelling that get relieved after the procedure

Extraction and isolation of PCR amplifiable genomic DNA from Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze

Extraction and isolation of high quality DNA suitable for downstream molecular techniques in plants with high polyphenolic contents are almost impossible due to inhibitors of polymerase chain reactions. In this study DNA from Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze leaf tissue was successfully extracted and isolated by optimization of extraction parameters. This resulted in a high yield of DNA of up to 125 μg ml -1 from 0.3 g of leaf tissue. The yield of DNA extracted decreased from 125 to 92 μg ml -1 at 200/800/100 μl (EBA/EBB/SDS) extraction buffer combinations and similarly at all buffer combinations with increase in incubation temperature from 50 to 60°C. Carbohydrate and protein contamination derived from optical density ratios of 230/260 and 260/280 were 0-1.68 and 0-1.14, respectively. The optimal extraction parameters were as follows: precipitation time 40 min at 50°C incubation temperature and 200/800/100 μl (EBA/EBB/SDS) extraction buffer combinations. The DNA obtained is of high integrity, which has produced excellent results when used as template for PCR

Metabolic engineering of functional phytochemicals

Phytochemicals belonging to the group’s phenols, terpenes, betalains, organosulfides, indoles and protein inhibitors are important components in fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains and nuts that have health promoting benefits and a variety of applications in food and pharmaceutical industries. Initially only a few of these important phytochemicals are produced commercially by chemical synthesis. However, recent developments in the field of biotechnology have provided metabolic engineering strategies that use microorganisms as cell factories for high production of these products. This review will discuss the general biosynthetic pathways, metabolic engineering and optimization strategies of functional phytochemicals that have received a lot of attention from investigators

Stakeholders' perception of the success of tertiary education fund construction projects

Projects funded by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund) at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, from 2009 – 2011 was assessed in this study in order to determine stakeholders' perception of the projects' satisfaction. The study utilized primary and secondary data. The secondary data were obtained from existing literature on project success and project stakeholders while the primary data was obtained through interviews with key stakeholders and, from checklist and questionnaires. Results of the study revealed that, delay in progress payment, escalation in price of materials, insufficient supply of materials and low technical skill of the project leader are the topmost factors hindering satisfaction of the projects, as most of them were discovered to be unsuccessful. However, furniture, structural stability and ventilation were the highest ranked to be satisfactory by end users. The study recommends synergy between the various stakeholders involved; from project inception stage to project completion stage.Keywords: End users, Project success and stakeholder

Engineering the Production of Major Catechins by Escherichia coli Carrying Metabolite Genes of Camellia sinensis

A mimicked biosynthetic pathway of catechin metabolite genes from C. sinensis, consisting of flavanone 3 hydroxylase (F3H), dihydroflavonol reductase (DFR), and leucoanthocyanidin reductase (LCR), was designed and arranged in two sets of constructs: (a) single promoter in front of F3H and ribosome-binding sequences both in front of DFR and LCR; (b) three different promoters with each in the front of the three genes and ribosome-binding sequences at appropriate positions. Recombinant E. coli BL (DE3) harbouring the constructs were cultivated for 65 h at 26°C in M9 medium consisting of 40 g/L glucose, 1 mM IPTG, and 3 mM eriodictyol. Compounds produced were extracted in ethyl acetate in alkaline conditions after 1 h at room temperature and identified by HPLC. Two of the four major catechins, namely, (−)-epicatechin (0.01 ) and (−)-epicatechin gallate (0.36 mg/L), and two other types ((+)-catechin hydrate (0.13 mg/L) and (−)-catechin gallate (0.04 mg/L)) were successfully produced

Response surface optimization of process variables for catechin production in recombinant Escherichia coli BL (DE3) harbouring an artificial gene cluster

Response surface methodology was used to optimize critical process variables in the production of catechins by an engineered strain of E. coli BL (DE3) carrying an artificial gene cluster of catechin biosynthetic genes. Variables initially identified in literature for metabolic engineering of natural and non natural products including concentrations of inducer, precursor, temperature and substrate were used to produce optimum yields of catechins. Response optimization of parameters showed the optimum conditions for engineering catechin production from the recombinant E. coli strain to be IPTG (0.9148 mM), glucose (10.0637 g/l), eriodictyol (1.0071 mM) and temperature (27.9560°C) were predicted to produce a response of 0.97178 mg/l with 80.981% desirability. A verification experiment carried out at the optimum produced a yield very close to the predicted value in which the gallated catechins [(-)-epigallocatechin gallate) and (-)-epicatechin gallate] were metabolically engineered for the first time

Characteristics of COVID-19 cases and factors associated with their mortality in Katsina State, Nigeria, April-July 2020

Introduction: COVID-19 was first detected in Daura, Katsina State, Nigeria on 4 April 2020. We characterized the cases and outlined factors associated with mortality. Methods: We analysed the COVID-19 data downloaded from Surveillance Outbreak Response, Management and Analysis System between 4 April and 31 July 2020. We defined a case as any person with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test within that period. We described the cases in time, person, and place; calculated the crude and adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for factors associated with mortality. Results: We analysed 744 confirmed cases (median age 35, range 1-90), 73% males and 24 deaths (Case fatality rate 3.2%, Attack rate 8.5/100,000). The outbreak affected 31 districts, started in week 14, peaked in week 26, and is ongoing. Highest proportion of cases in the age groups were 26.7% (184) in 30-39, 21.7% (153) in 20-29 years, and 18.3% (129) in 40-49 years. While the highest case fatality rates in the age groups were 35.7% in 70-79, 33.3% in 80-89 years, and 19.4% in 60-69 years. Factors associated with death were cough (AOR: 9.88, 95% CI: 1.29-75.79), age ≥60 years (AOR: 18.42, 95% CI: 7.48-45.38), and male sex (AOR: 4.4, 95% CI: 0.98-20.12). Conclusion: Male contacts below 40 years carried the burden of COVID-19. Also, persons 60 years and above, with cough have an increased risk of dying from COVID-19. Risk communication should advocate for use of preventive measures, protection of persons 60 years and above, and consideration of cough as a red-flag sign