OFFICIATING AND SECURITY AS INDICES FOR EFFECTIVE ORGANISATION OF INTER-FACULTY SPORTS COMPETITION IN UNIVERSITY OF PORT HARCOURT, NIGERIA

This study was designed to investigate the indices for effective organisation of inter-faculty sports competition in the University of Port Harcourt with emphasis on officiating and security. Information was gathered through the use of a questionnaire to collate data from students in University of Port Harcourt. A total number of one hundred respondents were used for this study. Simple random sampling technique was used to sample the respondents. The results showed that there is need for adequate knowledge of the rules and regulations guiding every sport to be competed for by both the student-athletes and officials and also adequate security. Based on the findings, it is recommended that emphasis should be on knowledge of reviewed rules and regulations for every sport by officials while adequate security should be provided at competition venues to forestall any breakdown of law and order.  Article visualizations

Utilizing the tool of gis in oil spill management - a case study of Etche LGA, Rivers State, Nigeria

This study is concerned with creating an environmental resource database for Etche Local Government Area in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. The study reveals the techniques that could be employed in oil spill management. The study was aimed at identifying the different activities and socio-economic component (infrastructures) that can cause oil spill in the study area and attempt at inventorying landuse/landcover that are likely to be affected by any oil spill in the area and build a viable database for oil spill management in the area. Data were collected and imported into GIS environment for analysis using ArcInfo 3.5.1 and ArcView 3.5. Results indicate that about 47.21%, almost half of the study area is cultivated. However, three (3) different buffer zones were created. The waterbodies in the area were identified as the major oil spill distributor. Out of total area of 391.2 km2 covered by the buffer region, cultivated land occupies the highest areal extent of 35.59%, while rubber plantation has the least arealextent of about 0.64%. This confirms that cultivated land is more affected than any other landuse/landcover class in case of any spill in the area. Moreover, the study ranks waterbody as the most highly sensitive landuse/landcover category with ESI-I, with heavy mangrove forest followed by ESI-2 and ESI-3, respectively. The study has therefore demonstrated the effectiveness of GIS in the creation of a spatial database for monitoring and modeling oil spill in the area. The study also recommends that consistent ESI maps of the area should be prepared, and that such information should be made available when the need arises.KEYWORDS: Geographic Information Systems, oil spill monitoring, oil spill management, environmental sensitivity index, contingency plannin

Procjena dobi ploda u crvenih Sokoto koza (Capra hircus) pomoću ultrazvučnih mjerenja različitih pokazatelja

The ultrasonic measurements of occipitonasal length (ONL), orbital (OD), biparietal (BPD), placentome (PD) and umbilical cord (UCD) diameters of red Sokoto goat foetuses with known gestational age (GA) were obtained. The data were subjected to simple linear regression analysis. The derived age prediction equations were GA = 22.881 + 6.668ONL, GA = 26.938 + 14.300BPD, GA = 17.326 + 43.534OD, GA = 48.116 + 11.869PD, GA = 35.796 + 65.195UCD where GA is the gestational age (days), ONL - occipitonasal length, BPD - biparietal, OD - orbital, PD - placentome and UCD - umbilical cord diameters (cm). The foetal ages ranged between 57 and 124 days. The coefficient of correlation (R) between occipitonasal length (R = 0.97), biparietal (R = 0.98), orbital (R = 0.92), umbilical cord (R = 0.77) diameters and gestational age were highly significant (P<0.001). The placentome diameter had low correlation (R = 0.45) with gestational age. These results suggest that occipitonasal length, biparietal, orbital and umbilical cord diameters can be used to estimate foetal age in red Sokoto goats, while placentome diameter is not useful for age prediction in this breed.Provedena su ultrazvučna mjerenja okcipitonazalne dužine (OND), orbitalnoga promjera (OP), biparijetalnoga promjera (BPP), promjera placentoma (PP) i promjera pupčanoga tračka (PPT) plodova crvene okoto koze poznate gestacijske dobi (GD). Rezultati su bili analizirani pomoću jednostavne linearne regresije. Izvedene jednadžbe za predviđene dobi bile su GD = 22,881 + 6,668 OND, GA = 26,938 + 14,300 BPP, GA = 17,326 + 43,534 OP, GA = 48,116 + 11,869 PP, GA = 35,796 + 65,195 PPT gdje je GD gestacijska dob u danima, OND - okcipitonazalna dužina, BPP - biparijetalni promjer, OP - orbitalni promjer, PP - promjer placentoma i PPT - promjer pupčanoga tračka u cm. Dob plodova kretala se od 57 do 124 dana. Koefi cijent korelacije (R) između okcipitonazalne dužine (R = 0,97), biparijetalnoga (R = 0,98), orbitalnoga (R = 0,92), i promjera pupčanoga tračka (R = 0,77) te gestacijske dobi bio je značajno velik (P<0,001). Promjer placentoma bio je u niskoj korelacije (R = 0,45) s gestacijskom dobi. Rezultati upućuju na zaključak da se okcipitonazalna dužina, biparijetalni, orbitalni i promjer pupčanoga tračka mogu rabiti za procjenu dobi ploda u crvenih Sokoto koza, dok promjer placentoma nije od koristi za određivanje dobi plodova

Toxicological Impacts of Gas flaring and Other Petroleum Production Activities in Niger-Delta Environment

In this study, the concentrations of inducers of environmental toxicity such as heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and biomarkers of environmental toxicants such as oxidative stress enzymes/compounds and liver function enzymes were determined. These parameters were used to assess the pollution status of some Niger-Delta areas; Ebocha/Omoku, Abacheke/Egbema, and Okwuzi/Ohaji, with the aid of two indicator species: cat fish (Ictalurus punctatus) and snakehead fish (Channa argus) from three different water sources; Ebocha/Omoku river, Abacheke river and Okwuzi creek all of which are within the area of oil exploration and production activities in Nigeria. The control fish and water samples were collected from Otamiri River within the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria, with no known oil exploration and production activity. The results obtained indicated significant (p &lt; 0.05) differences between the exploited and the unexploited environment and the need to incorporate biochemical markers in environmental impact assessment of aquatic environments to complements the classical chemical monitoring.Â

The Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites and Anaemia among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic in Federal Medical Centre Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria

Anaemia is a major contributor to maternal deaths in developing countries. Association of anaemia with intestinal parasites has been established, hence by eliminating intestinal parasite, anaemia may be reduced with positive effects on maternal outcome. A comparative cross-sectional study was done to determine the prevalence of anaemia and intestinal parasitic infection among pregnant mothers attending antenatal clinic in Federal Medical Centre Owerri Metropolis, Imo State. One hundred and twelve pregnant women with and without anaemia were enrolled in the study at the antenatal clinic of the hospital. The data on social and demographic variables was collected through a structured questionnaire. Haemoglobin estimation and stool examination for intestinal parasitic infection was done.. Anaemia was found in 66 (58.9%) women and 52 (46.5%) had helmintic infestation. Anaemia was significantly related to intestinal parasites, especially hookworms. There was a highly significant relationship between education and the knowledge of women regarding effect of intestinal parasitic infestations (P&lt;0.001), transmission and spread of infestations (P&lt;0.001). The knowledge of women regarding the effect of intestinal parasitic infestation was significantly (P&lt;0.001) related to the occurrence of parasitic infestations. Intestinal parasitic infestation in pregnancy was significantly related to anaemia. Hence all women coming to antenatal clinics should be screened for intestinal parasites. The antenatal care should include deworming with correction and prevention of anaemia. Keywords:Prevalence, Intestinal Parasites, Anaemia, Pregnant Women

Lead-induced Oxidative Stress and Chemoprotective Role of Dietary Supplements on Wistar Albino Rats

The heavy metal lead (Pb) is a common environmental pollutant with widespread distribution, and oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of its toxicity. The ameliorative effect of nutritional contents of palm oil and cod liver oil (dietary supplements) following exposure to sublethal concentration of Pb on adult Wistar albino rats was studied. Toxicity was induced by administering intraperitoneally, 30 mg/kg body weight of lead acetate at alternate days for 21 days. Groups treated with supplements received daily oral dose of 2.5 ml palm oil or cod liver oil or 1.25 ml palm oil and 1.25 ml cod liver oil (synergy). Increased activities of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, decreased activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and increased concentrations of total bilirubin and lipid peroxidation product were observed in Pb exposed rats without nutritional supplement treatment. However, these negative oxidative states were ameliorated in rats by the concomitant administration of nutritional supplements, singly and in combination. Furthermore, non-significant changes were observed in the haematological parameters determined. These observations indicate potential therapeutic benefits in the use of palm oil and cod liver oil in the management of lead-induced toxicity

Bedrock weathering and stream water chemistry in felsic and ultramafic forest catchments

Abstract not availablePavel Krám, Juraj Farkaš, Anna Pereponova, Chukwudi Nwaogu, Veronika Štědrá, Jakub Hrušk

A fruit diet rather than invertebrate diet maintains a robust innate immunity in an omnivorous tropical songbird

Experiments were funded by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) Academy Ecology Fund to C.J.N—(KENMERK J1618/ECO/G437). C.J.N. was supported by a studentship funded by the Leventis Conservation Foundation through the University of St. Andrews UK and an Ubbo Emmius grant of the University of Groningen, The Netherlands. B.I.T. was supported by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO‐Vidi 864.10.012).1. Diet alteration may lead to nutrient limitations even in the absence of food limitation, and this may affect physiological functions, including immunity. Nutrient limitations may also affect the maintenance of body mass and key life history events that may affect immune function. Yet, variation in immune function is largely attributed to energetic trade-offs rather than specific nutrient constraints. 2. To test the effect of diet on life history traits, we tested how diet composition affects innate immune function, body mass and moult separately and in combination with each other, and then used path analyses to generate hypotheses about the mechanistic connections between immunity and body mass under different diet composition. 3. We performed a balanced parallel and crossover design experiment with omnivorous common bulbuls Pycnonotus barbatus in out-door aviaries in Nigeria. We fed 40 wild-caught bulbuls ad libitum on fruits or invertebrates for 24 weeks, switching half of each group between treatments after 12 weeks. We assessed innate immune indices (haptoglobin, nitric oxide and ovotransferrin concentrations, and haemagglutination and haemolysis titres), body mass and primary moult, fortnightly. We simplified immune indices into three principal components (PCs), but we explored mechanistic connections between diet, body mass and each immune index separately. 4. Fruit fed bulbuls had higher body mass, earlier moult and showed higher values for two of the three immune PCs compared to invertebrate fed bulbuls. These effects were reversed when we switched bulbuls between treatments after 12 weeks. Exploring the correlations between immune function, body mass and moult, showed that an increase in immune function was associated with a decrease in body mass and delayed moult in invertebrate fed bulbuls, while fruit fed bulbuls maintained body mass despite variation in immune function. Path analyses indicated that diet composition was most likely to affect body mass and immune indices directly and independently from each other. Only haptoglobin concentration was indirectly linked to diet composition via body mass. 5. We demonstrated a causal effect of diet composition on innate immune function, body mass and moult: bulbuls were in better condition when fed on fruits than invertebrates, confirming that innate immunity is nutrient specific. Our results are unique because they show a reversible effect of diet composition on wild adult birds whose immune systems are presumably fully developed and adapted to wild conditions – demonstrating a short-term consequence of diet alteration on life history traits.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe