Effect of Topography on the Heavy Metal Levels of Raphia Palm Tree and Oil Palm Tree Wine Produced within Awka South and North Local Government Areas in Anambra State

Studies were carried out to evaluate the effect of topography on the heavy metal levels of raphia palm tree and oil palm tree wine produced within Awka South and North local government areas using standard analytical procedures and instrumentation. Soil and palm (oil palm tree and raphia palm tree) wine samples produced in the studied upland and lowland areas were wet digested and analyzed for the presence of Pb, Cu, Cd and Zn using atomic absorption spectrophotometer.The lowland soil samples had 0.38±0.08, 6.27±0.40, 0.18±0.05 and 9.55±0.80µg/g as mean levels for Pb, Cu, Cd and Zn respectively. The upland soil samples had 0.70±0.04, 4.89±0.15, 0.06±0.02 and 7.07±0.22 µg/g as the mean levels for Pb, Cu, Cd and Zn respectively. The studied heavy metals were present in the soil sample areas in the following decreasing order; Zn > Cu >Pb >Cd.The mean range of Pb, Cu, Cd and Zn levels in the palm (oil palm tree and raphia palm tree) wine samples produced in the upland areas were 0.04- 0.06, 1.06- 1.91, 0.03- 0.05 and 2.86- 4.04 µg/g respectively. Pb was at toxic level in the oil palm tree wine samples produced in the upland areas.The mean range of Pb, Cu, Cd and Zn levels in the palm (oil palm tree and raphia palm tree) wine samples produced in the lowland areas were 0.05- 0.09, 1.95- 3.23, 0.04- 0.07 and 4.66- 6.51µg/g respectively. Pb, Cu and Cd were at toxic levels in the oil palm tree wine samples produced in the lowland areas. The palm wine samples produced in both the lowland and upland areas contained the investigated heavy metals at statistically significant levels. Because of the near daily consumption of palm wine produced from the oil palm and raphia trees as a drink of leisure by all categories of the people in the society, especially with high volume of production taking place in the lowland areas, it is important that human activities that supports the contamination of the soil with heavy metals, where these wines are produced are checkmated by government and host communities so as to limit the exposure to the heavy metals by palm wine consumers

Extent of Use of Performance Indicators for Appraisal of Field Officers in Enugu State Agricultural Development Programme (ENADEP)

This paper investigated the extent of use of performance indicators for appraisal of field officers in Enugu State Agricultural Development Programme (ENADEP).Two structured questionnaire were used to collect data from a randomly selected sample of 51 senior staff of the establishment. Data were analyzed by use of descriptive statistics. The results showed that establishment of small plot Adoption Techniques (SPATs) and assessment in the Annual Performance Evaluation Report (APER) form, were the major indicators used to appraise the field officers, but the only one used during promotion is APER form. These findings suggest that the continual use public service APER form alone in the promotion of technical staff like the field officers or Extension Agents(EAs) in ENADEP is subjective since critical success factors in the job description for these field officers are not embodied in that APER form. Keywords: Performance indicators, Agricultural Development Programme, Field officers, Enugu

Microbial and Heavy Metal Assessment of Meat Samples from Ranched and Non-ranched Domestic Animals Sold at Gariki Market, Enugu State, Nigeria

Studies were carried out to evaluate the microbial and heavy metal contamination of meat samples from ranched and non-ranched domestic animals sold at Gariki market, Enugu State, using standard analytical and biochemical procedures and instrumentation.The meat samples from the ranched and non-ranched domestic animals (goat, cow, pig and chicken) were procured at slaughter from the Gariki market and under ice condition transported to the laboratory for microbial and heavy metal analysis. Ranched goat meat, non-ranched goat meat, non-ranched cow meat, ranched cow meat, indoor-reared pork meat, out-door reared chicken meat and in-door reared chicken meat samples had mean Cd values ranging from 0.110- 0.292 µg/g; Pb, 0.176 -0.505µg/g and Cu, 1.303 -5.972µg/g.The mean levels of the investigated heavy metals in the meat samples were statistically significant. Meat samples procured from the non- ranched domestic animals and some ranched or in-door reared ones (cow and pig) had mean Cd levels at toxic level. Mean Pb value in the non –ranched cow meat samples followed the same trend. The pathogenic bacteria of interest to food scientists namely, S. aureus, Streptococcus spp. and Salmonella enteritidis were isolated in the meat samples from the domestic animals. The range of mean bacterial counts of S.aureus, Streptococcus spp. and Salmonella enteritidis in the ranched goat meat, non-ranched goat meat, non –ranched cow meat, ranched cow meat, in-door-reared pork meat, out-door reared chicken meat and in-door reared chicken meat samples were 1.04 × 102 – 1.73× 10 8 Cfu/g. 1.14×102 – 2.64 × 106 Cfu/g and 0.82 ×102 -3.92×105 Cfu/g respectively. With the inclusion of ranched cow meat and in-door reared pork meat samples, the meat samples from the non-ranched domestic animals had mean bacterial counts of the isolated pathogenic organisms above threshold limits. The quality of meat samples from the non-ranched (out-door reared) domestic animals sold at Gariki market, could be said to be more burdened by heavy metal and microbial contamination, which apart from decreasing the nutritive quality of the meats, also portends food safety challenges to the consumers

COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF LIPID PROFILE IN PRE-MENOPAUSAL AND MENOPAUSAL WOMEN IN NNEWI NIGERIA

The study was aimed at determining the effect of menopause on lipid profile. A total of 100 apparently healthy subjects who comprised 50 menopausal women aged 45 – 77 years and 50 pre-menopausal women between the aged between 20-52 years were recruited. Ethical approval was obtained from the Faculty of Health Science and Technology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University ethics committee and informed consent of each participant was obtained prior to recruitment. We estimated serum levels of total cholesterol using the enzymatic end point method as described by Roeschlau et al., (1974), HDL was performed using the combination of phosphotungstate precipitation and enzymatic method as described by Burstein et al., (1980), LDL by the combination of polyvinyl sulphate precipitation and enzymatic method of Assman et al., (1984), VLDL was estimated using the method as described by Friedwald et al., (1972) and triglycerides by the enzymatic method as described by Tietz (1990). The results shows that the mean levels of serum triglycerides (TG) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL cholesterol) showed a statistically significant increase in menopausal women compared with the premenopausal subjects (P<0.05) while there was no significant difference in the mean values of serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL cholesterol), very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL cholesterol) and total cholesterol (P>0.05). There was a progressive increase in the mean levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol and VLDLcholesterol with duration of menopause while the levels of HDL-cholesterol decreased with duration of menopause. There were no significant variations among the various age categories of the menopausal subjects and the levels of the lipid parameters studied (p>0.05). The findings suggest that premenopausal women have less proatherogenic lipid profile than their menopausal counterparts

Adsorption Efficiency of Activated Carbon Produced From Corn Cob for the Removal of Cadmium Ions From Aqueous Solution

Studies were carried out to evaluate the adsorption efficiency of activated carbon produced from corn cob for the removal of Cd II ions from aqueous solution. The studies were carried out with due consideration of standard analytical procedures and instrumentation. Increase in the Cd II ions concentration from 90 to 180mg/l decreased the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent from 89.273 to 65.770%. Increase in the adsorbent’s dosage from 0.5 to 2.0g increased the adsorption of Cd II ions from 81.522 to 91.980%. At pH of 5.0, the adsorption process attained equilibrium with a peak adsorption of Cd II ion at 93.628% . At a contact of time of 30mins between the adsorbate (Cd II ions) and the adsorbent; the adsorption of Cd II ions reached a peak value of 92.410%. The adsorption of Cd II ions on the surface of the activated carbon increased from 90.436 to 93.210% with increase in temperature from 40o to 160oC. The decrease in Gibb’s free energy of adsorption of Cd II ions on the surface of the activated carbon revealed that the adsorption was favourable at high temperatures. The positive values of ∆H and ∆S shows that the adsorption process was endothermic. Keywords: Corn cobs, Adsorption efficiency, Aqueous solution, Cadmium ion, and Activated carbon. DOI: 10.7176/JEES/9-8-06 Publication date: August 31st 2019

COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF LIPID PROFILE IN PRE-MENOPAUSAL AND MENOPAUSAL WOMEN IN NNEWI NIGERIA

The study was aimed at determining the effect of menopause on lipid profile. A total of 100 apparently healthy subjects who comprised 50 menopausal women aged 45 – 77 years and 50 pre-menopausal women between the aged between 20-52 years were recruited. Ethical approval was obtained from the Faculty of Health Science and Technology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University ethics committee and informed consent of each participant was obtained prior to recruitment. We estimated serum levels of total cholesterol using the enzymatic end point method as described by Roeschlau et al., (1974), HDL was performed using the combination of phosphotungstate precipitation and enzymatic method as described by Burstein et al., (1980), LDL by the combination of polyvinyl sulphate precipitation and enzymatic method of Assman et al., (1984), VLDL was estimated using the method as described by Friedwald et al., (1972) and triglycerides by the enzymatic method as described by Tietz (1990). The results shows that the mean levels of serum triglycerides (TG) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL cholesterol) showed a statistically significant increase in menopausal women compared with the premenopausal subjects (P<0.05) while there was no significant difference in the mean values of serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL cholesterol), very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL cholesterol) and total cholesterol (P>0.05). There was a progressive increase in the mean levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol and VLDLcholesterol with duration of menopause while the levels of HDL-cholesterol decreased with duration of menopause. There were no significant variations among the various age categories of the menopausal subjects and the levels of the lipid parameters studied (p>0.05). The findings suggest that premenopausal women have less proatherogenic lipid profile than their menopausal counterparts

Effects of Rural Land Tenure on Rice Productivity in Female-Headed Households in Enugu State, Nigeria

The study was conducted in Enugu State in eastern part of Nigeria. The objectives were to: determine the socio-economic characteristics of female-headed rice producing households; investigate land tenure systems under which households cultivate rice, and determine the effects of land tenure on rice productivity. A 3-stage random sampling procedure was used to select One Hundred and Twenty respondents in three Local Government Areas which were chosen purposively due to wide spread cultivation of rice in the areas. Data collected via validated structured questionnaire were analysed using descriptive statistics such as means and percentages to summarise the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents, and land tenure systems. Ordinary Least Squares regression technique was used to determine the effects of land tenure system on rice productivity. Results show that majority (46.7%) of female heads of households were aged between 41 and 54 years with a mean of 50.Average years of  farm experience,  and formal education of the respondents were respectively 8, and 6. About 42%, 25%, 16%, and 41% of the households accessed farmland through communal, State, Purchase, and leasehold respectively. Socio-economic, and land tenure factors jointly had significant (F=42.227, P < 0.01) influence on rice productivity. The productivities were higher on public lands than privately, and communally accessed and cultivated lands. Communal land tenure practice had significantly (P< 0.05) negative effects on productivity.Productivity gains of about 1.31% were observed under public land tenure systems, whereas 3.54% and 3.44% losses in rice productivity were found respectively under communal, and private land tenure arrangements per hectare. There is need to review Nigeria’s land Tenure Act 1978 to offer unrestricted, adequate land access to small farmers. Keywords: Rural Land Tenure, Enugu State, Productivity, Female-headed Household

Assessment Of Tumour Necrosis Factor-Alpha (Tnf- Α) And Creatinine Levels In Echis Ocellatus Bite Victims In Jos Metropolis, Nigeria

This study was designed to assess tumour necrosis factor-alpha and creatinine levels in Echis ocellatus bite victims. A total of 50 subjects were recruited. Out of this number, 40 were victims of E. ocellatus bite and the remaining 10 were non-victims of snake bite who served as the control group. Blood samples were collected from the victims within 24 hours of the snake bite and EchiTAb-G antivenom administered within the same period. Another batch of blood sample was collected 48 hours post-administration of the anti-venom. Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels were estimated by the Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay technique while creatinine levels were determined using kinetic-spectrophotometric procedure. The mean serum levels of tumour necrosis factor-alpha and creatinine were significantly increased in E. ocellatus bite victims compared with the control group (P<0.05). Furthermore, the mean serum level of TNFalpha was significantly lower in E. ocellatus bite victims, post-administration of anti-venom, compared with the pre-administration of anti-venom (P<0.05). In contrast, no significant difference was observed in the mean serum level of creatinine in E. ocellatus bite victims, post-administration of anti-venom, compared with the pre-administration of anti-venom (P>0.05). Moreover, the mean serum level of creatinine was found to be significantly increased in E. ocellatus bite victims, post-administration of anti-venom, compared with the control group (P<0.05), while no significant difference was observed in the mean serum level of tumour necrosis factor-alpha in E. ocellatus bite victims, post-administration of anti-venom, compared with the control group(P>0.05). A positive correlation existed between tumour necrosis factor-alpha and creatinine levels in E. ocellatus bite subjects (r= 0.782). Echis ocellatus bite is a risk factor for renal damage indicated by an elevated serum creatinine, thus health authorities should make EchiTAb-G anti-venom freely available in health facilities and administered as quickly as possible to reduce the risk of renal damage in Echis ocellatus bite-prone areas

Water Quality Assessment of Ekulu and Asata Rivers in Enugu Area, Southeastern Nigeria, Using Physico-Chemical and Bacteriological Parameters

This study was aimed at assessing the impacts of human activities on the quality of Ekulu and Asata Rivers in Enugu Area, Southeastern Nigeria. Twelve (12) water samples six (6) from Ekulu River and (six 6) from Asata River) were collected at different points along the regime of the two rivers and their physico-chemical and bacteriological characteristics/parameters determined. Results of the study indicate that the two rivers do not satisfy the Drinking Water Quality Standard of World Health Organization (WHO) and Federal Ministry of Environment (FMENV) in terms of pH/acidity (values between 4.5 and 7.0 and outside the WHO Standard of 6-5-8-5); turbidity (values between 7.88 and 294NTU units and greater than WHO standard of 5.0NTU units); iron (values between 3.10 and 7.35 mg/1 and greater than WHO standard of below 0.30mg/l; and coliform (values between 20 and 180 counts per 100ml and greater than WHO Standard of 3 counts per 100ml). Though Ekulu River is more acidic (lower pH values), more turbid (higher NTU units) and contains higher concentration of iron than Asata River. On the other hand, only Asata River do not satisfy the WHO Standards in terms of nitrate concentration (values between 8.9 and 25.9mg/l and greater than WHO Standard of 10 mg/1): and chromium (heavy metal, values between 0.189 and 0.429 mg/1 and greater than WHO Standard of 0.00lmg/1) Human activities of mining at abandoned Onyeama Coal Mine, car watch and disposal of industrial/domestic wastes are believed to be responsible for poor water quality of the two rivers in Enugu area. On the basis of Piper Diagram Classification, Ekulu River may be classified as Calcium Chloride Type, while Asata River may be classified as Mixed Water Type. Water from the two rivers, to be used for domestic and industrial purposes, should be adequately treated; and there is need to institute regular water quality monitoring programme for the two rivers. Keywords: Water Quality, Ekulu River, Asata River, Enugu Area, Assessment, Piper Diagram DOI: 10.7176/JEES/11-4-07 Publication date: April 30th 202

A spot check on the prevalence of viral hepatitis B on the plateau

Hepatitis B is a disease which is present globally and over 2 billion people have been infected with hepatitis b according to the World Health Organization. In Nigeria hepatitis B, chronic infection: which is defined as persistence of infection in a human being greater than six months is present in an endemic proportion. In fact Nigeria is described as an area of hyper-endemicity, having a National Prevalence that is greater than 8% of the population.Methodology: The study was carried as part of awareness campaign in a university community. Samples were taken from the participants via finger prick. Two drops of blood were placed on the strip and a buffer was added and read after five minutes.Results: There were a total of 684 participants. Out of which 404 (59.06%) were males and 280(40.94%) were females. The mean age for the study participants was 26.169±.9. Those who were positive for hepatitis b surface antigen were 75(10.96%) while those who are negative were 609(89.04%).Those with history of previous immunization for hepatitis B were 152(22.22%).Conclusion: There is still a very high prevalence of hepatitis with very low uptake of vaccination, these calls for an urgent public health intervention.Keywords: Prevalence, Hepatitis B, Spot check, viru