Levels of trace metals in soil and vegetation along major and minor roads in metropolitan city of Kaduna, Nigeria

Sample of soil and plant (Sida acuta burm F.) were collected from 30 sites of 24 roads. The samples were analyzed for Pb, Cd, Zn, Cu and Mn using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The soilphysico-chemical parameter, pH and particle size distribution was also determined. Levels of Pb, Cd,Zn, Cu and Mn in soil were 15.28 – 76.92, 1.96 – 9.80, 41.66 – 237.96, 1.60 – 4.88 and 76.00 – 132.00mg/kg dry weight, respectively. Results of concentrations in plants ranged were from trace – 32.37, 4.88 – 14.93, 27.78 – 185.19, 1.67 – 3.89 and 20.00 – 110.00 mg/kg dry weight for Pb, Cd, Zn, Cu and Mn,respectively. The soil pH was from 6.22 – 8.44 while sand and loamy sandy textural classes constitute the soil samples. For both experimental soil and plant samples, the mean concentrations were found to follow the decreasing orders; Zn > Mn > Pb > Cu > Cd and Zn > Mn > Pb > Cd > Cu, respectively. Mild correlation between traffic density and metals in samples with the exception of plant Pb content,suggest that automobile emission couple with waste dispose along the roads remain a threat. The findings in general indicate the levels of metals in soil and plant samples were within the EU limits withthe exception of Cd. In addition, the high level of Cd appears to reach pollution levels and metal dynamics up the food chain is highly possible

Design Insights from the Implementation of a Student Result Processing System in Nigeria

The design of digital technologies is often influenced by the infrastructural, economic, and social realities of the environment of the designer. Thus, the Human Computer Interaction (HCI) community emphasize various strategies to learn from and about target users (Brown et al., 2010). However, products that are designed with the amount of detail recommended by the HCI community require a significant amount of time, energy and skill and as a result are expensive. The high cost of these services force individuals and organizations to resort to commercial products and it is often the case that commercial products that are successful for one group of people might be unsuitable for another (Johns et al., 2002). To address this problem, user groups often adapt the technology to suit their needs, use the technology in unintended ways or ultimately reject them. In this paper we present a case-study where locally developed technology was preferred over commercial solutions. We draw design insights from this experience on how we might design educational technologies while considering the culture of the target users. Keywords: Education, Result computation in Higher Education, Educational Software Tools, Digital Tools in Higher Education DOI: 10.7176/DCS/9-8-05 Publication date: August 31st 2019

Preliminary phytochemical screening and antimicrobial activity of seed extracts of Persea americana (avocado pear)

Antimicrobial activity of seed extracts of Persia amerciana against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus pyogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Corynebacterium ulcerans, Salmonella typhi, Neisseria gonorrhoea and Candida albicans was carried out using the disc diffusion technique. The methanol, ethyl acetate and chloroform extracts demonstrated promising activity against the test organisms. The activity of methanol extract was more pronounced against C. albicans (42mm) while that of petroleum ether extract was the least against E.coli (6mm). However, S. typhi and E. coli were resistant to chloroform and methanol extracts. The activity of the ethyl acetate, chloroform and methanol extracts compared favourably with that of standard antibiotic streptomycin (30μgdics-1). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) showed that methanol and ethyl acetate extracts had the lowest MIC value (10mg/ml) against C. albicans, indicating higher potency. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, saponins, tannins, steroids alkaloids and terpenoids. The spectra of antimicrobial activities displayed by the extracts could be attributed to the presence of these phytochemicals and signifies the potential of Persia amerciana as a source of therapeutic agents. This therefore, supports the traditional medicinal use of Persia amerciana and suggests that further studies should be conducted to isolate and identify the active components of the extract. Keywords: Phytochemical, antimicrobial screening, Persea americana, seeds, MI

Biosafety, Antioxidant and Antidiarrhoeal Potentials of Afzelia africana Seed n-Hexane Extract

This study evaluated the biosafety, phytochemicals, antioxidant activity, acute toxicological profile and antidiarrhoeal property of n-hexane extract of Afzelia africana seeds. Results from the phytochemical profiling (using gas chromatography - mass spectrometry technique) elicited the presence of hexadecanoic acid (34.97 %), 9, 12, 15-octadecatrien-1-ol (16.27%) and oleic acid (6.71%) as major compounds associated with antioxidant and antidiarrhoeal effects. The study revealed that A. africana seed possesses antioxidant potentials across four models at 100 g/ml (39.6%, 59.6%, 48.11% and 0.765 for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging, ferrous ion chelating, hydrogen peroxide scavenging, and reducing power assays respectively). No adverse effect or lethality was recorded at ≤5000 mg of extract per kg body weight of tested animals after 14 days observation. In castor oil induced diarrhoea, a significant (p<0.05) increase in delayed onset of stooling and percentage inhibition (up to 92.4%) with decrease in defecation frequency were observed across the treated groups when compared with the control. Similarly, the extract showed a significant (p<0.05) dose dependent decrease in gastrointestinal motility with increase in percentage inhibition (up to 91.9%) in charcoal meal test. In conclusion, Afzelia africana seed antidiarrhoeal property has been validated and its folklore benefit affirmed by this study

Studies on the Mechanical and Sorption Properties of Anacardium Occidentale L. Exudate and Polypropylene Blends

This research work employed the use of purified cashew gum (PCG) as a blender for polypropylene (PP). The blended samples were subjected to tensile, hardness, impact and sorption tests. There was a general decrease in tensile strength and percentage elongation with increasing PCG composition. An improvement in Young's Modulus was recorded at PCG concentration of 10%. Also, the hardness properties of the samples increased to a maximum value of 61 HRF corresponding to PCG concentration of 40%. A general decrease in impact strength with increasing PCG concentration was observed. Sorption test results indicate that blended samples with PCG compositions in the range of 50% and above gave very high values of degree of swelling (DS). Thus blended samples in this composition range are more prone to hydrolytic degradation as a result of swelling behaviour in aqueous media.  The blending of PP with PCG has resulted in lowering the production cost of the blended samples. It also induced biodegradation in these plastics thus serving as a means of controlling environmental pollution. Keywords: Purified Cashew Gum, Polypropylene, Blended sample

Determination of complex small molecule structures using molecular alignment simulation.

Correct structural assignment of small molecules and natural products is critical for drug discovery and organic chemistry. Anisotropy-based NMR spectroscopy is a powerful tool for structural assignment of organic molecules, but relies on utilization of a medium that disrupts the isotropic motion of molecules in organic solvents. Here, we establish a quantitative correlation between the atomic structure of the alignment medium, the molecular structure of the small molecule and molecule-specific anisotropic NMR parameters. The quantitative correlation uses an accurate three-dimensional molecular alignment model that predicts residual dipolar couplings of small molecules aligned by poly( γ -benzyl-ʟ-glutamate). The technique facilitates reliable determination of the correct stereoisomer and enables unequivocal, rapid determination of complex molecular structures from extremely sparse NMR data

Preliminary Study on the Effect of Ethylene Diamine- N, N-diacetic Acid on Methane Gas Production Rate From Cow Manure

In an effort to improve methane gas production rate from cattle slurry; ethylene diamine- N, N-diacetic acid chelating ligand was introduced into the digester system. Experimental analysis involving the determination of trace metals, pH and methane gas yield, were carried out with the use of the Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer and Biogas5000 analyser. The results showed that there was an increase in the pH of the system; the amount of methane gas yield equally increased by 12% and the Hydraulic Retention Time decreased from 50 days to 25 days on addition of ethylene diamine- N, N-diacetic acid chelating ligand. Also, increasing the concentration of the chelating ligand further decreased the HRT of the digester system from 25 days to 19days. Concentration of trace metals like Iron, Cobalt and Nickel within the digester system ranged from 0.001-0.050 mg/L; these metals reacted with ethylene diamine- N, N-diacetic acid chelating ligand to form metal chelates. The metal chelate formed resulted in the catalysis of the hydrolysis stage (which is the rate determining step) of the anaerobic digestion process. Thus, the decrease in HRT was due to the metal chelate catalysis of the hydrolysis stage of the anaerobic digestion process were the metal chelate formation served as the driving force in the solvolysis process

Microplastics in silver catfish (Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus) from new Calabar River in Niger Delta, Nigeria

This study investigated the ingestion of microplastics by silver catfish (Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus) from New Calabar River in Niger Delta, Nigeria. Microplastics from the guts of 45 fish were examined with microscope after dissolution with potassium hydroxide. Microplastics, mostly fragments were found in about 56% of the samples at an average of 3.87±5.97 particles per fish. This study highlights the consequences of plastic pollution in freshwater environment and the potential risk to aquatic and human life. This also shows a potential threat to public health and therefore needs attention from health and environmental policy makers

Compliance to Annual Ivermectin Treatment in Abia State, South Eastern Nigeria

A study with the objective of determining the rate of individual compliance to annual ivermectin treatment was conducted in Abia State, south eastern Nigeria between January and November, 2011. The study captured the Local Government Areas in  Abia State that were assessed by Rapid  Epidemiological Mapping for Onchocerciasis (REMO) as being hyper-endemic for onchocerciasis and which have been receiving ivermectin for over 14 years. A study questionnaire was designed to investigate the rate of compliance and this was distributed to 558 individuals. The result showed that out of 558 individuals, 309 (55.4%) had taken the drug before while 249 (44.6%) claimed they have not been treated before. Despite the treatment over time, only 70 (22.7%) of those treated before were high compliers (that is, those who had been treated eight times and above). The overall percentage of high compliers in the sampled communities was only 12.6%. Reasons for low compliance include “lack of information on the arrival of drug” (27.8%), “no reason for refusal” (22.2%),” absent, away from village” (20.0%) and “no distribution” (19.7%). In testing the reasons for low compliance, the Chi-square analytical technique on the data revealed that the reasons given by the respondents for low compliance were not significant (?2cal = 1.797 < ?2tab = 16.9190), and therefore do not affect general compliance. Key words: Compliance, Annual ivermectin treatment, Onchocerciasi

Physicochemical Assessment of Ground Water Quality from Borehole and Hand Dug Wells around Obajana Community, Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria

The groundwater qualities of Obajana in Kogi State were determined. The study consisted of the determination of some heavy metals and physicochemical properties of drinking water samples. The samples were analyzed for the following parameters iron, copper, manganese, zinc, lead,using AAS Varian AA240FS. Nitrates, sulphate, phosphate, colour, dissolved solids, electrical conductivity, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), temperature, turbidity, total hardness and total alkalinity using standard method. The data showed the variation of the investigated parameters in samples as follows: temperature 26-30oC,  pH 5.53-7.89, electrical conductivity (EC) 6.210-339.670 μS/cm, total hardness 50.00- 424.20 mg/l, alkalinity 1.10-145.67mg/l, turbidity 0.00-34 FTU, colour 5-15TCU, phosphate 0.02-0.760 mg/l, nitrate 10.24-48.20mg/l, sulphate  24.70-222.13mg/l, dissolved oxygen 0.2-1.8 mg/l,  BOD 0.2-1.0mg/l, COD 1.1-3.2mg/l, Cu 0.00.1-0.10mg/l , Fe 0.01-0.060mg/l, Zn 0.029-5.046mg/l, Mn  0.0-0.44mg/l and Pb 0.0348-1.046mg/l. The concentrations of some of the investigated parameters in the drinking water samples from the research region were above the permissible limits of the World Health Organization standard for drinking water quality guidelines. lead was found to exceed 0.01mg/l which is the WHO maximum limit, also zinc and manganese were found to exceed the WHO maximum limit of 3.0mg/l and 0.1mg/l