Performance of immobilized bacterial alpha-amylases in methyltriethoxsilane / tetraetoxysilane sol-gel matrices

The large number of studies related to the field of biomolecules encapsulation in sol-gel hosts clearly indicates that this approach can be considered as a powerful alternative to traditional encapsulation procedures involving biopolymer hosts. In this study, α-amylase was immobilized, by using the sol-gel technique, in silica particles obtained from hydrolysis and polycondensation of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and a mixture of methyltriethoxysilane (MTES) and tetraethoxysilane. The influence of the pH and temperature of free and immobilized α-amylase were compared. It was shown that the relative activities of immobilized enzymes are higher than those of free enzymes over broader pH and temperature ranges. The Michaelis constant and the maximum rate of starch hydrolysis reaction were calculated by fitting the experimental data to the Michaelis-Menten equation. It was found that KM and Vmax values of the immobilized enzyme were smaller than those of the free enzyme

Face Acts in Nigerian Pidgin: A Pragmatic Analysis of WhatsApp Chats

This paper is a pragmatic analysis of face acts in Nigerian Pidgin (NP). Nigerian Pidgin (NP) is often relegated because of its informal status. Nevertheless, its communicative potentials in conversations is impressive, and makes it worthy of scholarly attention. Data for this study are generated from selected WhatsApp chats (henceforth “conversations”). An integrative analysis is done to reveal the face acts performed in the entire conversations, the motivations of such face acts and the functions of the speech act categories that realize the face acts. Two theoretical frameworks anchor this study: Brown and Levinson’s (1978; 1987) Face Management Act View and Bach and Harnish’s (1979) Speech Act Theory. The study concludes that: Nigerian Pidgin (NP) is a potent language for communicating face acts that are performed by discourse participants due to its socio-cultural relevance; face acts in the entire text are communicated via different communicative strategies (informing, apologizing, requesting, asking, rejecting, ascribing, etc

Risk marker associations with venous thrombotic events: a cross-sectional analysis.

ObjectiveTo examine the interrelations among, and risk marker associations for, superficial and deep venous events-superficial venous thrombosis (SVT), deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE).DesignCross-sectional analysis.SettingSan Diego, California, USA.Participants2404 men and women aged 40-79 years from four ethnic groups: non-Hispanic White, Hispanic, African-American and Asian. The study sample was drawn from current and former staff and employees of the University of California, San Diego and their spouses/significant others.Outcome measuresSuperficial and deep venous events, specifically SVT, DVT, PE and combined deep venous events (DVE) comprising DVT and PE.ResultsSignificant correlates on multivariable analysis were, for SVT: female sex, ethnicity (African-American=protective), lower educational attainment, immobility and family history of varicose veins. For DVT and DVE, significant correlates included: heavy smoking, immobility and family history of DVEs (borderline for DVE). For PE, significant predictors included immobility and, in contrast to DVT, blood pressure (BP, systolic or diastolic). In women, oestrogen use duration for hormone replacement therapy, in all and among oestrogen users, predicted PE and DVE, respectively.ConclusionsThese findings fortify evidence for known risk correlates/predictors for venous disease, such as family history, hormone use and immobility. New risk associations are shown. Striking among these is an association of PE, but not DVT, to elevated BP: we conjecture PE may serve as cause rather than consequence. Future studies should evaluate the temporal direction of this association. Oxidative stress and cell energy compromise are proposed to explain and predict many risk factors, operating through cell-death mediated triggering of coagulation activation

Parental Communication as a Tool Kit for Preventing Sexual Abuse among Adolescent Secondary School Students

This study employed the survey design to investigate the relevance of parent communication in preventing sexual abuse among secondary school students in Nigeria. The instrument for data collection tagged “Parent Communication Strategy for Preventing Sexual Abuse questionnaire” (PCOSPSAQ) , was a researcher designed instrument. It was administered to 686 respondents(266 male and 420 female) 500 and 400 sandwich undergraduates of the University of Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State who were parents to adolescent secondary school students. Mean scores were used to answer the research question while t test and Analysis of Variance (ANNOVA) were used to test the six null hypotheses at .05 alpha level. Findings reveal parents’ irresponsibility, ignorance of sexual abuse signs as well as inability to see and stop sexual abuse before it happens as part of the reasons for showing reluctance to communicate with their adolescents on sexual matters. Findings also reveal no significant difference in parents’ pattern of communication on prevention of sexual abuse based on gender, religion and type of family, but significant difference was found on type of parenting and geo political zones. Recommendations include the need for government and nongovernmental organizations to provide adults and parents resources that could boost their awareness on the things they need do to prevent sexual abuse of their adolescent boys and girls. Keywords:  Communication, Parents, Adolescents, Sexual Abuse Prevention

The Psychological Benefits Of Poetry And Its Innovative Use in Green Entrepreneurship in Nigeria

Poetry has always been associated with intensity of emotions expressed in literary form with a sense of rhythm and beauty. This study identifies poetry as a valuable tool which can be used in promoting green entrepreneurship for sustainable economic growth and environmental safety in Nigeria. It also identifies poetry as a valuable tool which can be used in climate change education across various communities, cities, and countries in Africa. Climate change is one of the global issues which we must of necessity tackle with urgency in order to prevent a global warming too unbearable for the survival of mankind. The objective of this paper is to highlight the psychological benefits of poetry on individuals, communities and institutions in Nigeria. It further highlights how poetry is being used innovatively in climate change education in Nigeria to achieve the sustainable development goals. Through our literature review and participant observation, it has been discovered there is an urgent need to educate communities and institutions about the impacts of climate change and ways to adapt and mitigate for global sustainability. This paper is therefore very significant as it explores new opportunities, practices and benefits in the innovative use of poetry for climate change education and enhancing environmental health, environmental safety, sustainable economic growth and development in Nigeria

Abdominal myomectomy: A retrospective review of determinants and outcomes of complications at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria

Background: The aim of this study was to describe the pattern, outcomes, and determinants of perioperative complications of abdominal myomectomy at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria.Methods: This was a retrospective review of cases of abdominal myomectomy between January 2010 and December 2013. Data were obtained from ward and operating theatre case records and analysed using SPSS version 20. The continuous variables were analysed with Student’s t-test. The categorical variables were analysed with the chi-square test. P-values of 0.05 or less was taken to be significant.Results: Total sampling yielded 204 cases, of which 170 records (80%) were adequate for analysis. Using criteria developed by Garry et al., major and minor complications occurred in 43.6% and 32.9% of procedures, respectively, while 23.5% of the patients had no complications. The commonest complication was intraoperative haemorrhage requiring blood transfusion. Mean estimated blood loss was 630.88 ± 392.42 mL. There were no cases converted to hysterectomy, and no deaths were recorded. Uterine size equivalent to 16 weeks’ gestation or more was significantly associated with heavier blood loss, blood transfusion, and fever (P = 0.034). Other significant determinants of major intraoperative haemorrhage with or without blood transfusion were menstrual flow of 6 days or more, preoperative anaemia, previous surgery, posterior incision, and surgery duration longer than 4 hours (P < 0.05).Conclusions: Outcome of abdominal myomectomy is generally favourable even if uterine size is greater than 16 weeks by palpation. Nevertheless, patients should be counselled preoperatively on the risk of blood loss and the possibility of blood transfusion

The Influence of Courselling on Population and Economic Growth in Nigeria

This present situation Nigeria posse’s serious threats and challenges to both government and well meaning citizens. The problems facing the country centre on high population rate without corresponding increase in resources. In developed countries the ratio of population go’s together with the economic resources. Situations were population rate is higher than the economic resources then there is an economic crisis. It is in the light of above, that this paper examines the influence of counseling on population and economic growth Nigeria with the view of addressing it. Certain counseling issues like family planning should be adopted so as to minimums the number of children’s like three (3) and a maximum of four (4).With this we, are sure that the problem will be solve. The paper adopts Adam Smith and Simon theory of growth as it theoretical framework of analysis