A philosophical investigaton into African values: towards ameliorating the African predicament

To say that Africans have been termed inferior beings by the racist philosophy of some western Europeans is to say a known fact. To say that most Africans have consciously or unconsciously assimilated that inferiority label is equally a cleat fact. To argue that colonization and Christianization of Africans by western Europeans left negative effects on the psyche of Africans is to say nothing but the truth. Due to the combined forces of colonization, Christianization, Islamization and chiefly slave trade, etc., with their attendant ills resulting in the inferiority complex ofthe African, the African seems to have lost confidence and consequently, looked down on her traditional values, hence, devaluing those cherished and veritable autochthonous values that have the power to better her conditions. In this piece, through the method of philosophical investigation, a case is made to the effect that, in the devalued African values, among others, lie solutions to Africa’s predicament

Construction of An Automatic Power Switch using Infrared Motion Sensor

In public and private institutions the problem of switching off light and other appliances wherever it is not needed is a concern. In Covenant University, the issue led to various rules that try to limit the way light is being used in the halls of residence, classrooms and other buildings. The main aim of this project is to conserve energy. This project presents the construction of a power control system which can detect the approach of a person, and then turn the power of a room on. The project involves four stages: the power supply stage, the sensor stage, the arduino stage and the switching mechanism stage. The power supply stage involves the supply of power to the arduino and the sensor. The sensor stage consist the passive infrared sensor which is the core part of the project. It detects the radiated heat energy from a person and converts the energy to an electrical signal which is sent to the arduino for processing. The arduino then processes the signal and sends a specific voltage to the relay that actuates the power switch to on. When nobody is detected the power is turned off. Conclusively, the constructed energy control system prevents energy wastage in the lecture halls, classrooms and other buildings

Role of thyroid hormones in early postnatal development of skeletal muscle and its implications for undernutrition

Published online by Cambridge University Press 09 Mar 2007Energy intake profoundly influences many endocrine axes which in turn play a central role in development. The specific influence of a short period of mild hypothyroidism, similar to that induced by undernutrition, in regulating muscle development has been assessed in a large mammal during early postnatal life. Hypothyroidism was induced by providing methimazole and iopanoic acid in the feed of piglets between 4 and 14 d of age, and controls were pair-fed to the energy intake of their hypothyroid littermates. Thyroid status was evaluated, and myofibre differentiation and cation pump concentrations were then assessed in the following functionally distinct muscles: longissimus dorsi (l. dorsi), soleus and rhomboideus. Reductions in plasma concentrations of thyroxine (T4; 32%, P < O·Ol), triiodothyronine (T3;48%, P < 0·001), free T3, (58%, P < 0·001)and hepatic 5'-monodeiodinase (EC 1.11.1.8) activity (74%, P < 0·001) occurred with treatment. Small, although significant, increases in the proportion of type I slow-twitch oxidative fibres occurred with mild hypothyroidism, in l. dorsi (2%, P < 0·01) and soleus(7%, P < 0·01). Nuclear T3-receptor concentration in l. dorsi of hypothyroid animals compared with controls increased by 46% (P < 0·001), a response that may represent a homeostatic mechanism making muscle more sensitive to low levels of circulating thyroid hormones. Nevertheless, Na+, K+-ATPase (EC 3.6.1.37) concentration was reduced by 15–16% in all muscles (l.dorsi P< 0·05,soleus P < 0·001, rhomboideus P < 0·05), and Ca2+-ATPase (EC 3.6.1.38) concentration was significantly reduced in the two slow-twitch muscles: by 22% in rhomboideus (P < 0·001) and 23% in soleus (P < 0·05). It is concluded that during early postnatal development of large mammals a period of mild hypothyroidism, comparable with that found during undernutrition, induces changes in myofibre differentiation and a down-regulation of cation pumps in skeletal muscle. Such changes would result in slowness of movement and muscle weakness, and also reduce ATP hydrolysis with a concomitant improvement in energetic efficiency.A. P. Harrison, D. R. Tivey, T. Clausen, C. Duchamp and M. J. Daunce

Acanthus montanus: An experimental evaluation of the antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and immunological properties of a traditional remedy for furuncles

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Acanthus montanus </it>(Nees) T. Anderson (Acanthaceae) is a shrub widespread in Africa, the Balkans, Romania, Greece and Eastern Mediterranean. It is used in African traditional medicine for the treatment of urogenital infections, urethral pain, endometritis, urinary disease, cystitis, leucorrhoea, aches and pains. In southeastern Nigeria, the root is popular and acclaimed highly effective in the treatment of furuncles. This study was undertaken to experimentally evaluate the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties of the root extract as well as its effect on phagocytosis and specific cell-mediated immune response which may underlie the usefulness of the roots in treatment of furuncles.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The aqueous root extract (obtained by hot water maceration of the root powder) was studied for effects on the growth of clinically isolated strains of <it>Pseudomonas aeruginosa </it>and <it>Staphylococcus aureus</it>. The anti-inflammatory activity was investigated using acute topical edema of the mouse ear induced by xylene, acute paw edema induced by agar in rats, formaldehyde arthritis in rats, vascular permeability induced by acetic acid in mice and heat- and hypotonicity-induced haemolysis of ox red blood cells (RBCs). Also evaluated were the effects on <it>in vivo </it>leukocyte migration induced by agar, phagocytic activity of macrophages on <it>Candida albicans </it>and specific cell-mediated immune responses (delayed type hypersensitivity reaction (DTHR) induced by sheep red blood cell (SRBC)). The acute toxicity and lethality (LD₅₀) in mice and phytochemical constituents of the extract were also determined.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The extract moderately inhibited the growth of the test organisms and significantly (<it>P </it>< 0.05) inhibited (57%) topical acute edema in the mouse ear. It significantly (<it>P </it>< 0.05) suppressed the development of acute edema of the rat paw in a non-dose-related manner and was not effective in inhibiting the global edematous response to formaldehyde arthritis. It also inhibited vascular permeability induced by acetic acid in mice and the haemolysis of ox RBCs induced by heat- and hypotonicity. The extract increased total leukocyte and neutrophil counts and caused a significant (<it>P </it>< 0.05) dose-related increase in the total number of macrophages at the 800 mg/kg dose. On phagocytic activity, the extract evoked a significant (<it>P </it>< 0.05) increase in the number of macrophages with ingested <it>C. albicans </it>at 800 mg/kg dose, and significantly (<it>P </it>< 0.05) inhibited DTHR in a dose-related manner. Phytochemical tests on the extract revealed an abundant presence of alkaloids and carbohydrates while saponins, glycosides, and terpenoids occurred in trace amounts. Acute toxicity test established an oral and intraperitoneal LD₅₀greater than 5,000 mg/kg.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The effectiveness of the root of <it>A. montanus </it>in the treatment of furuncles may largely derive from mobilization of leukocytes to the site of the infection and activation of phagocytic activity as well as suppression of exacerbated immune responses by its constituents. Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities are likely contributory mechanisms. Phytochemical constituents such as alkaloids and carbohydrates may be responsible for these pharmacological activities.</p

Achieving Human Development in Nigeria through Philosophical Instruments

The concept of human development conveys the thought of progressive unfolding of the entirety of the human person. It has as its end the attainment of the total well-being of an individual. However, often times, the end of human development appears truncated due to some existential circumstances surrounding the individual. Arguably, with the perceived Nigerian existential circumstances of maladministration that has led to extreme poverty, poor infrastructure, fallen standard of education, negative political proclivity in terms of ethnic chauvinism and religious bigotry, serve as albatross to authentic human development. The intent of this paper, therefore, is to argue the fact that through some core philosophical instruments, an individual in Nigeria can still attain total genuine well-being, human development.Keywords: Development, Nigeria, Instrument, Philosoph

Higher education and general studies in Nigeria: A philosophical investigation

A critical look at Nigeria’s national policy on education on tertiary or higher education reveals a startling chasm of gap between the goals of the policy through General Studies Programme and their expected actualizations. This problem, that is, the chasm of gap, is owned to the maladministration and immoral conducts of the people to whom the students are under their influence directly or indirectly. It is the effects of these chasms of gap that have resulted largely in unemployable youths in Nigeria’s labour market per se, youth’s restiveness and so many other ills that go with it. In this study, through the philosophical method of critical analysis, the researchers are poised to offer competent administration born of patriotism and good moral conducts on the part of higher institutions’ hierarchies as valuable ideas that will bridge the existing gap between the goals of the policy and their expected actualizations, and as such, yield the desired results.Keywords: General Studies, Nigeria, National Policy, Educatio

Igbo ideas of preserving 'nature' and the globalizing world

The pervasiveness of awareness campaigns bordering on the environment especially in various mass media all suggests that the world‟s environment is endangered, largely by human activities. The intent of this paper is to x-ray and know if the pristine ways (prior to Western influences) Igbo people used to preserve 'nature' in their traditional setting could still be of any relevance in salvaging the world‟s endangered environment in the face of the towering impact of globalization with its accoutrements of modern science and technology. This intent is midwifed by the philosophical method of hermeneutics. It is important to add that while we recognize the wide ramifications of 'nature' discourses, the concept of 'nature' in this paper is basically reduced to its pedestrian understanding as an environment that retains its pristine attributes prior to human interventions.Keywords: Igbo people, Idea, Nature, Globalization, Preservatio