Accumulation of heavy metal pollutants in soil and cassava leaf and their effects on soil microbial population on roadsides in Ogbomoso, Nigeria

Acute toxicity of heavy metals is a rare phenomenon in nature but the intake of sub-­‐lethal doses over an extended period is of great concern. This research investigated the heavy metal concentrations in soil and cassava leaf and assessed the effects of the metals on microbial populations along Ogbomoso-­‐Oyo, high traffic density (HTD) (A) and Ogbomoso-­‐Ife Odan, low traffic density (LTD) (B) roads. The results show that the metals were statistically higher in concentration at A (Pb= 0.53, Cd= 0.57. Cr =0.19, and Zn= 4.67 mg/kg) than B (Pb= 0.36, Cd= 0.40, Cr= 0.12, and Zn= 2.70 mg/kg) road. The mean metal content of cassava leaf indicated that all the metals were higher in the leaf at high traffic density than at low traffic density road. Also, at A 20-­‐30 m recorded lowest heavy metal concentration in the leaf (except Zn = 3.87±0.35 mg/kg) than the distances closer to the road. The same trend was observed at B except that Zn was highest (2.90±0.20 mg/kg) at 10-­‐20 m than 0-­‐10 m and 20-­‐30 m from the road edge. The total microbial count was significantly higher at low traffic density (17.23 Cfug1(x105)) than high traffic density (11.58 Cfug1(x105)). Total microbial count and Total fungi count were found to be lowest at 20-­‐30 m away from the road compared with 0-­‐10 and 10-­‐20 m. The results of this research show that crop cultivation along the roads within 30 m from the roads constitutes a potential source of chronic heavy metal toxicity to the general populace who feed on the crops

Effect of genotypes on soyabean seed quality development under West African Rainfed conditions

Effect of genotypes on soyabean seed quality development was monitored under rainfed conditions at Abeokuta between July and November, 1997. A consistent increase in rate of normal germination and seedling emergence occurred among early harvests. Greatest germination rate was detected in seeds harvested around physiological (functional) and harvest (full) maturity stages. Seedling emergence was significantly influenced by seed harvest date in all soyabean entries. Germination and emergence increased as soyaben seed development progressed and was greatest for seeds harvested between R7 and R8 in all soyabean cultivars. Enforced desiccation to 10% moisture content promoted germination of seeds harvested around physiological maturity stages. The onset of desiccation tolerance fell between physiological and harvest maturity stages in all the six soyabean cultivars. The rapid decline in seedling emergence of artifically dried seeds at 50d after mtff as against 60d after mtff for normal laboratory gemination indicated that seedlots of initial good germination may not necessarily produce high seedling emergence under good seeding condition due to differences in genotypes. Association of seed characters such as seed size, seed weight, germinability and emergence ability is essential in soyabean breeding to facilitate selection of genotypes with good seed quality, thereby reducing elaborate storage and screening methods

KNOWLEDGE DISCOVERY IN ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORKS AND REGRESSION MODELS

In this paper, Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) and Regression Analysis models were considered to determine which ofthem performs better. Prediction was done using one hidden layer and three processing elements in the ANN model.Furthermore, prediction was done using regression analysis. The parameters of regression model were estimated using LeastSquare method. To determine the better prediction, mean square errors (MSE) attached to ANN and regression models wereused. Seven real series were fitted and predicted with in both models. It was found out that the mean square error attached to ANNmodel was smaller than regression model which made ANN a better model in prediction.Keywords: Artificial Neural Networks, Regression, Least Square, Processing Element, Hidden Layer, Mean Square Error.

SELECTED MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF BAMBARA GROUNDNUT SEEDS UNDER COMPRESSIVE LOADING

Knowledge of mechanical properties of agricultural materials is useful in the development of equipment for processing and handling them.Selected mechanical propertiesnamely rupture force, maximum deformation at rupture point, hardness and toughness of cream and light brown varieties of Bambara groundnut (BGN) seeds were determined at four moisture levels (5, 15, 25 and 35% dry basis) under compressive loading alongaxial and longitudinal orientations.Rupture force, deformation, hardness and toughness of BGN seedswere within the ranges 45.58-438.55 N, 0.31-5.71 mm,14.61-448.55 Nmm-1 and0.01-1.02J, respectively. Rupture force, deformation and toughnessof the seeds had interplay of increasing and deceasing trends while hardness decreased consistently as moisture content increased from 5% to 35%.The cream variety withstood higher rupture force and deformed more without failure than the light brown variety within moisture content range of 5-25% along both loading orientations.Bothvarieties demonstrated greater hardness when loaded along the longitudinal orientations than the axially loaded samples. All the investigatedproperties were dependent on moisture content andorientationof loading. Predictive mathematical models forestimating the investigated properties at different moisture contents with reasonable accuracy were also established in this study

Studies on ethnoveterinary practice of ruminants in Ekiti State Nigeria

A survey was conducted in Ekiti State on ethnoveterinary practice used in rural areas against parasitic diseases of ruminants. A questionnaire was used for the survey among the rural people and pastorals. The result revealed the effect of socioeconomic characteristics such as age, sex, marital status, educational status, religion and occupation on the ethnoveterinary practice by the rural people of Ekiti State. The rural people should be more educated on how to improve on the use of traditional method to treat diseases to provide better health care for the animals. The most common diseases of goat in Ekiti State include mange and diarrhea. A total of 51 plants were observed to be in used by the people of Ekiti State. These plants came from 28 families. The various ethnoveterinary practice used in the study includes: palm oil, medicinal plants, cold water, hot ash, palm kernel oil, sand from stream water, kerosene, fire, Locust bean to treat diseases such as mange, respiratory diseases, neck problem, lameness, lice, diarrhea, parasite in the hoof, swollen body, mouth problem and so on. The government should fund research to test the findings (validation) in this study to further clarify them. And there should be biodiversity conservation

Trade in Non-Mammalian Wild Animals for Traditional African Medicine in Ogun State, Nigeria

A steady rise in the patronage for Traditional African Medicine (TAM) has necessitated a corresponding increase in the demand for the ingredients used in the preparation of the tradomedicines. These ingredients are the various wild animals and plants parts. The attendant rise in this demand for ingredients calls for a need to document the extent of utilisation of these natural resources involved as a measure of the impact of such trade on biodiversity conservation. This paper examined diversity of molluscan, reptilian and avian species traded for use in TAM; the quantity of each species traded for utilisation over a period of time, and seasonal fluctuations in abundance and utilisation of these species as an index of utilisation pressure on populations in the wild. A multi-stage stratified random sampling technique was employed. An open-ended questionnaire was administered on vendors in selected market stalls for six consecutive markets days in each of dry and rainy seasons. The study identified twenty-three species, 8 were listed in CITES and Nigerian Decree 11(1985). A total of 3196 (molluscan), 2527 (reptilian), 2894 (avian) carcasses were traded over an average period of twenty days

PLASMID PROFILE OF ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANT BACTERIA IN SACHET WATER SAMPLES SOLD IN ABEOKUTA, SOUTHWEST, NIGERIA

Antibiotic sensitivity pattern of bacterial isolates obtained from sachet water from Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria was investigated.ª¤? A total of 300 sachet water samples were collected during the dry and rainy season of 2011 to 2012. Selected physicochemical analysis of the sachet water showed a pH range of 5.5-6.5, turbidity of 1.0 «¤??1.5 NTU and temperature of 28-300C. The mean aerobic mesophilic bacterial count of the sachet water samples ranged from 13.4 x 103 «¤?? 18.7 x 103 CFU/mL, while the mean total coliform count ranged from 0.153 - 0.163 x 103 CFU/mL. The physicochemical parameters of the sachet water samples were within the WHO standard for potable water. Bacteria isolated from sachet water samples include Escherichia coli, Klebsiella sp, Enterobacter sp and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Most of the isolates were highly sensitive to Levoxin and Ceftazidime. Plasmid analyses revealed that there were detectable plasmids in 7.1% of the 14 multi-drug resistant isolates. Cured plasmid encoded resistant isolates were susceptible to Ceftazidime, Ceftriaxone, Gentamycin, Augmentin and Streptomycin

STABILITY OF BIOSURFACTANT PRODUCED BY PSEUDOMONAS TAENENSIS

Biosurfactants are one of the microbial bioproducts that are naturally synthesized and are applicable for many industrial purposes. In this study, antibacterial, stability and antibiotic susceptibility of biosurfactant was evaluated. Biosurfactants produced from different substrates (groundnut cake, cassava flour waste, pome, cooking oil, engine oil, cassava waste water, molasses, cassava peel, potato) by Pseudomonas taenensis were evaluated for antibacterial activity using agar well diffusion method. Antibiotics susceptibility of Pseudomonas taenensis was carried out using different antibiotics (augmentin, ofloxacin, tetracyclin and ciprofloxacin, cotrimoxazole, pefloxacin, amoxylin, ceftriazone, nitrofuranton and gentamycin). The stability of the biosurfactant was evaluated by adjusting the biosurfactant to: pH (2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12) using 1M NaOH and 1M HCl, temperature (4, 30, 37, 55, 75 and 100 °C) and NaCl (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 %). Results showed that only biosurfactant produced using cassava waste water as substrate was sensitive to Escherichia coli while biosurfactant produced using cassava flour waste, pome and molasses were sensitive to Staphylococcus aureus. Biosurfactant-producing isolate (Pseudomonas taenensis) was sensitive to four antibiotics (augmentin, ofloxacin, tetracyclin and ciprofloxacin) and resistant to six antibiotics (cotrimoxazole, pefloxacin, amoxylin, ceftriazone, nitrofuranton and gentamycin). Biosurfactant was stable over all the wide ranges of pH, temperature and sodium chloride concentrations investigated. This study therefore revealed that biosurfactant have good stability, thus, could survive environmental stress; Not all biosurfactant and biosurfactant producers have antimicrobial and antibiotic property.   &nbsp

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ELECTROLYSIS-ENHANCED ANAEROBIC DIGESTION OF THREE SOLUBLE SOLID WASTES FOR BIOGAS PRODUCTION

Aim: A comparative study of biogas production from three soluble solid wastes was conducted under anaerobic conditions by subjecting each waste to both conventional and electrolyzed digesters. Methodology and Results: Varying weight of each of the waste was mixed thoroughly with water and fed into five digesters. Three of these digesters were electrolytically-enhanced while the other two were not. The digestion of each of the wastes was monitored for 40 days at an ambient temperature ranging from 24 to 35oC. In all the digesters, biogas production started on the day 2, and attained maximum value on day 14 to17. Biogas production ended on the day 34 and 35 in digester 1a, 1b, 2a and 2b with production ending earliest in digester 3 containing wastewater on day 19. The highest biogas was produced in digester 2b containing electrolyzed digester loaded with poultry droppings) with a cumulative volume percentage of 91.41 as compared to its conventional state with a cumulative volume percentage of 85.19 and both states of the cow dung waste with cumulative volume percentages of 77.26 and 71.64 respectively. The least production occurred in digester 3 with a cumulative volume percentage of 4.59. Conclusion, significance and impact study: It is therefore concluded that poultry droppings has the greatest potentials for the generation of biogas as compared to cow dung in conventional and electrolyzed state and wastewater