Effects of four pre-sowing treatment methods (double phase) on the germination of the seeds of Afzelia africana Sm. ex Pers

The study investigated the effects of four pre-treatment methods on the germination response of the seeds of Afzelia africana (Sm. ex Pers) in the savannah ecozones of Nigeria. The experiment was carried out in two phases. Phase I involved; 50% concentrated sulphuric acid for 10 minutes, hot water at 100ºC for 3 minutes, cold water at room temperature for 24 hours, Mechanical scarification (rubbing on abrasive concrete surface). Phase II of the experiment was carried out based on the result of phase I. Mechanical scarification, which performed best among the treatments used in the first phase, was closely examined. The various mechanical scarifications used were rubbing the seeds on abrasive concrete surface to the length of 1mm into the seed coat, 2mm, 3mm and 4mm. The experimental layout used was Completely Randomized Design. For phase I, mechanical scarification had 25% germination rate and had the highest germination compared to other treatments. Due to the performance of mechanical scarification in phase I, varying mechanical scarification treatments were further investigated in phase II of the experiment. The result of the analysis of variance indicated a significant difference between the varying mechanical scarification treatments (p≤0.05). Separation of the means showed that 1mm mechanical scarification treatment differed significantly from all other treatments. 1mm mechanical scarification treatment gave an average germination of 50% and early emergence of 9 days. Therefore, 1mm mechanical scarification treatment was regarded as the best mechanical scarification treatment for the germination of Afzelia africana seeds.Keywords: pre-treatment, dormancy, germination, Afzelia african

The microbiological quality and some physical parameters of different water used at a municipal abattoir in Nigeria

This study determined the microbiological and some physical quantities and effect of the two different water sources used for meat processing at the Lafenwa abattoir, Abeokuta, Nigeria. Water sources identified are the Lafenwa river and Tap water supply. A total of 33 samples were collected and analyzed. The total viable of bacteria count ( TVC) of the samples was determined by pour plate technique while the most probable number (MPN) of coliform count was by the multiple tube method. The mean TVC for the two spots on the river is 3.34x107 cfu/ml and the mean MPN is 1600 /100ml. For the tap water, the mean TVC and MPN were 1.56x107 cfu/ml and 890 /100ml respectively. The TVC values were significantly higher (p0.05). Potentially pathogenic Bacteria isolated from the water samples include: Eschericia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella spp. The water samples from the river appeared creamy, highly turbid, particulate with pungent odour. The mean pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO) and Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) values were 5.4, 28.8oC, 8.1 mg/l and 7.0 mg/l respectively. The tap water samples were clear, odourless, and colorless with mean pH, temperature, DO and BOD values of 6.8, 28.1oC, 15.3mg/l and 3.1mg/l respectively. There was significant differences in the DO and BOD values of river samples compared to tap water (

Influence of Maxicrop on Agronomical Attributes and Yield of Four Rice Varieties in Kebbi, North-Western Nigeria.

The use of Bio stimulants in rice production is gaining more ground day by day. A two year experiment was conducted during the dry season of 2016 and 2017 in a flood plain area, around Jega, Kebbi state to determine the influence and optimum level of maxicrop application on four varieties of rice. The treatment evaluated consisted of four improved rice varieties (FARO 44, 52, 60 and 61) and three levels of maxicrop application (0, 2 and 4L/ha), applied at 4 and 8 WAT, factorially combined and laid in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) and replicated three times. From the outcome of the result, it shows that FARO 44 has a significant difference in number of tillers in 2016 with maxicrop inclusion level of 2 L/ha compared to other varieties, also in 2016 the influence of maxicrop level at 2 L/ha was significantly higher in FARO 44 with the highest yield/ha (6664.41Kg) compared to the other varieties while in 2017, FARO 44 has the highest yield/ha (6366.31Kg) and FARO 52 is least (6164.55Kg). Therefore, the application of maxicrop at 2 L/ha increased the yield/ha of all the four varieties of rice with FARO 44 been the highest Keywords: Rice varieties, Maxicrop and Yield

SYNTHESIS OF (E)-N'-(5-bromo-SYNTHESIS OF (E)-N'-(5-bromo-2-hydroxybenzylidene)nicotinohydrazide) AND ITS Pt(II), Zn(II), Mn(II), Ni(II) AND Mo(V) COMPLEXES AS POTENTIAL ANTI-TUBERCULAR AGENT AGENT

The cold condensation reaction of nicotinic acid hydrazide and 5-bromo-2-hydoxylbenzaldehyde to form a tridentate Schiff base hydrazone ligand {H2L3 ) was studied. The prepared ligand was characterized using CHN analyzer, ESI mass spectrometry, IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and 2D NMR such as COSY and HSQC. Thereafter, five novel metal complexes [Pt(Il), Zn(ll), Mn{ll), Ni(JJ) and Mo(V)] of the hydrazone ligand were synthesized and characterized based on conductivity measurements, CHN analysis, AAS, magnetic measurement, UV/ Vis, IR, ESR and TGAIDTA study. The proposed structures of the metal complexes were further supported with the use of powder X-ray analysis. Antitubercular activity study of the compounds was evaluated against Mycobac/erium Juberculosis H37Rv by using microdiluted method. The study revealed that H2L3 exhibited promising anti-tubercular activity with MlC value of 0.82 j.igfmL. Also, metal complexes {(Pt(H2L3)Cl]- 0.88 IJg/mL, [Mn{H2L3)(CH3C00)2]- 0.78 JJ.g/mL, [Zn(H2e)(CH3C00)2H20]- 0.62 J.Lg/mL and [Ni{H2L3)(CI)2]H20- 1.19 J.Lg/mL) exhibited significant inhibition as compared to the standard drug (isoniazid- 0.91 j.ig/mL). Complex 2 and 3 with coordinated acetates showed two folds inhibition than standard isoniazid drug. However, complex 5 with coordinated chlorine atom displayed lower inhibition when compared to isoniazid

Knowledge and Technical Competence Level of Extension Agent on Climate-Smart Techniques for Rice Production in North-Central, Nigeria

The study examined extension agents' knowledge and technical competency level regarding Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices (CSAP) used by rice farmers in Nigeria. The study specifically examined the technical competence level, knowledge of the extension agents, and factors that influence their competency level on CSAPs. The 88 respondents for the study were chosen using a multi-stage sampling procedure. Data were collected from respondents using a structured questionnaire, and descriptive and inferential statistics (probit regression model) were used for analysis The results show that the majority of the extension agents had high-level knowledge on crop (53.4%) and soil smart mechanism (56.8%), but low-level knowledge on water (52.3%) and weather smart mechanism (54.5%). This also hampered their job performance, as more than half (51.1%) of extension agents had low competence level in CSAPs. Factors that significantly influence the competency of extension agents were years of experience (p>0.089), educational level (p>0.002), and knowledge (p>0.000). The study therefore recommends that specific training related to the areas discovered from the research should be incorporated into the extension agents’ curriculum activities. Extension agents should also be given opportunities to improve their knowledge and competency by attending seminars and workshops in research institutions. Keywords: Competence, Knowledge, Climate smart agricultural practices, Extension agent

Consistent patterns of common species across tropical tree communities

Trees structure the Earth’s most biodiverse ecosystem, tropical forests. The vast number of tree species presents a formidable challenge to understanding these forests, including their response to environmental change, as very little is known about most tropical tree species. A focus on the common species may circumvent this challenge. Here we investigate abundance patterns of common tree species using inventory data on 1,003,805 trees with trunk diameters of at least 10 cm across 1,568 locations1,2,3,4,5,6 in closed-canopy, structurally intact old-growth tropical forests in Africa, Amazonia and Southeast Asia. We estimate that 2.2%, 2.2% and 2.3% of species comprise 50% of the tropical trees in these regions, respectively. Extrapolating across all closed-canopy tropical forests, we estimate that just 1,053 species comprise half of Earth’s 800 billion tropical trees with trunk diameters of at least 10 cm. Despite differing biogeographic, climatic and anthropogenic histories7, we find notably consistent patterns of common species and species abundance distributions across the continents. This suggests that fundamental mechanisms of tree community assembly may apply to all tropical forests. Resampling analyses show that the most common species are likely to belong to a manageable list of known species, enabling targeted efforts to understand their ecology. Although they do not detract from the importance of rare species, our results open new opportunities to understand the world’s most diverse forests, including modelling their response to environmental change, by focusing on the common species that constitute the majority of their trees

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Growth and flowering response of balsam (Impatiens balsamina L.) to soil textural class

Soil quality have been a subject of great interest in floriculture. Sand, loam and clay are three main textural classes, different in nutrient and water holding capacities. Balsam (Impatiens Balsamina L.) is an annual bedding plant that produces varying beautiful flowers. Pot experiment was conducted concurrently at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria (Latitude 7°14′N and Longitude 3°26′ E) between April and August, 2017 to assess the growth and flowering response of hybrid Balsamina to soil textural classes. The experiment was a Completely Randomized Design with eight replicates. Treatments were, sandy clay (37.13 % clay, 9.42 % Silt and 53.45 % Sand), sandy loam 1 (17.2 % clay, 5.42 % Silt and 77.38 % Sand) and sandy loam 2 (19.13 % clay, 5.42 % Silt and 75.45 % Sand). Data collected on plant height, number of leaves, number of flowers, dry seed weight and plant biomass were subjected to analysis of variance using Genstat 12th edition (commercial version). Raising Balsam on sandy loam 1 and Sandy loam 2 significantly (p≤0.05) increased plant height (54.42 and 57.08 cm), number of leaves (58.50 and 61.17), cumulative number of flowers (32.02 and 33.07), dry seed weight (5.20 and 6.93 g/plant) and plant biomass (80.92 and 95.08 g/plant) than plants raised on sandy clay (46.08 cm/plant, 49.67/plant, 27.58/plant, 4.71 g/plant and 62.25 g/plant) respectively. Total Nitrogen (1.22 and 1.91 %), Magnesium (65.3 and 69.1 mg/kg) and average Phosphorous (993.8 and 1010.7 mg/kg) were higher in balsam grown on Sandy loam 1 and 2 respectively than Sandy clay. The study showed that soil textural class could influence growth and flowering of balsam. Sandy loam is adequate and recommended for the production of Balsam

Amoxillin-and pefloxacin-induced cholesterogenesis and phospholipidosis in rat tissues

Background: To investigate whether amoxillin and pefloxacin perturb lipid metabolism. Methods: Rats were treated with therapeutic doses of each antibiotic for 5 and 10 days respectively. Twenty four hours after the last antibiotic treatment and 5 days after antibiotic withdrawal, blood and other tissues (liver, kidney, brain, heart and spleen) were removed from the animals after an overnight fast and analysed for their lipid contents. Results: Both antibiotics produced various degrees of compartment-specific dyslipidemia in the animals. While plasma and erythrocyte dyslipidemia was characterised by up-regulation of the concentrations of the major lipids (cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids and free fatty acids), hepatic and renal dyslipidemia was characterised by cholesterogenesis and phospholipidosis. Splenic dyslipidemia was characterised by cholesterogenesis and decreased phospholipid levels. Cardiac and brain cholesterol contents were not affected by the antibiotics. A transient phospholipidosis was observed in the brain whereas cardiac phospholipids decreased significantly. Lipoprotein abnormalities were reflected as down-regulation of HDL cholesterol. Furthermore, the two antibiotics increased the activity of hepatic HMG-CoA reductase. Although erythrocyte phospholipidosis was resolved 5 days after withdrawing the antibiotics, dyslipidemia observed in other compartments was still not reversible. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that induction of cholesterogenesis and phospholipidosis might represent additional adverse effects of amoxillin and pefloxacin. © 2015 Rotimi et al