The Effects of Cutting Types and Length on Rooting Of Duranta Repens in The Nursery

An experiment was conducted at the Horticultural garden of the Federal College of Agriculture Akure Ondo State Nigeria to investigate the effects of the types of stem cuttings and stem cutting lengths on the rooting and growth of Duranta repens in the nursery Stem cuttings of the plant were subjected to different treatments stem cutting types softwood semi hardwood and hardwood and lengths 10 cm and 20 cm The experiment was conducted under normal nursery conditions to determine the types of stem cutting and stem cutting lengths best for the rooting of the plant The experimental design was a 3 x 2 factorial in complete randomized design CRD with four replications The results revealed that the type and stem cutting length had effect on the rooting of D repens Percentage rooting was higher for hardwood cuttings irrespective of the length of cutting Hardwood cutting of 20 cm length however gave the best rooting followed by the semi hardwood of same length Softwood cutting of length 10 cm and 20 cm gave the poorest resul

Optimization of Formulations of Metoprolol Succinate Tablets Containing Ofada Rice Starch Acetate as Tablet Matrix for Sustained Release Using Response Surface Methodology

Background: Release-retarding polymers in matrix tablets play a vital role in controlling drug release from tablets.Objectives: To prepare metoprolol succinate tablets by direct compression using Ofada rice (Oryza glaberrima Steud) starch acetate, degree of substitution (DS) 2.22, as a matrix for sustained release.Materials and methods: The central composite design and response surface methodology were applied to evaluate the interactive effects of three variables: percent content of starch acetate (X1), compression pressure (X2) and compression time (X3), on tablet crushing strength, friability and dissolution time (t80).Results: Crushing strength was 90.0 to 140.50 N; Friability 0.05 to 0.90 % and t80 5.75 to 11.50 h. X1 and X2 had significant effects on crushing strength and dissolution time (p < 0.0001). The interactions between X1 and X2 and those between X1 and X3 were significant on crushing strength and dissolution time, and on friability respectively (p < 0.0001). The correlation coefficients indicated that the regression model represented the experimental data well (R2 = 0.9971 and R2 (Adj) = 0.9944 for crushing strength; R2 = 0.9976 and R2 (Adj) = 0.9954 for friability; R2 = 0.9979 and R2 (Adj) = 0.9961 for t80). Optimized conditions for formulation of metoprolol succinate tablets were 60 %w/w Ofada starch acetate; 150 MNm-2 compression pressure and 60 s compression time.Conclusion: Optimized formulations of metoprolol tablets containing Ofada starch acetate with good mechanical strength and prolonged dissolution can be obtained when process conditions are adjusted within the reported values.Keywords: Central composite design, Metoprolol succinate tablets, Ofada rice starch acetate, Response surface methodolog

Eradication of Oloku Cultural Festival of Okuku,Osun State of Nigeria; A field Investigation into the circumstances.

Foreign religion and civilization have been adduced for the modification or perhaps total eradication of some aspects of African cultural life especially in the Yoruba nation The impact is felt mostly in the once cherished cultural festivals of which Oloku festival of Okuku Osun State of Nigeria is inclusive Relying on the eye-witness account of Ulli Beier of 1956 and other available literatures on the festival this researcher was at Okuku in 1992 to capture the event for his Master s Degree Dissertation in the Institute of African Studies University of Ibadan but unfortunately the festival was abrogated two years after Therefore this field investigation intends to find out the circumstances or factors surrounding this ac

Evaluation of Three Tropical Starches as Superdisintegrants in Fast Dissolving Tablets of Domperidone Using a Taguchi-Based Design of Experiments

A Taguchi-based design of experiments was employed to optimize fast-dissolving tablet formulations of domperidone using three starches from banana (Musa acuminata), cassava (Manihot esculenta) and Chinese yam (Dioscorea rotundata). The starches were modified by carboxymethylation (degree of substitution 0.32±0.02) and used as superdisintegrants (2–8%w/w), in comparison to sodium starch glycolate (SSG). Effects of two variables (superdisintegrant type and superdisintegrant concentration) at four levels on crushing strength-friability ratio (CSFR), disintegration time (DT) and dissolution time to 80% drug release (t80) were analyzed. Domperidone tablets containing carboxymethylated starches had higher CSFR values (p<0.05) than SSG while DT and t80 decreased with concentration. Taguchi’s delta values and analysis of variance showed that superdisintegrant type had greater influence on CSFR and t80 while superdisintegrant concentration had greater influence on DT. Optimum fastdissolving domperidone tablets were obtained using 2% w/w Chinese yam starch (CSFR= 251.25±16.32) and 8% w/w SSG (DT = 0.42±0.03 min; t80 = 0.50±0.02 min)

Money Laundering: A Threat to Sustainable Democracy in Nigeria

Democracy is based on the participation of citizens in creating a structure of governance which can effectively deliver a vision of national unity and commonwealth. Equitable wealth distribution in a democratic system of government often have over-bearing impacts on the socio-economy of the people as well as the political stability, peace and security of a nation.  However, a dangerous trend may exist when certain individuals in the society have access to the commonwealth of the people, and use same for personal interest by siphoning it into local and foreign accounts out of the reach of the original owners (i.e. the citizens). This paper focuses on the impacts of money laundering on nascent democracies with emphasis on Nigeria. It x-rays the roles that the beneficiaries of these illicit funds play on the economy, society, institutions, security and political structure. Using the existing literature, this paper found out that money laundering as well as its predicate crimes has devastating effects on the socio-economic, security and political structure of Nigeria and for democracy to grow and be sustained, the menace of money laundering must be vigorously fought to a stand still. Keywords: Democracy, Money Laundering, Distribution of Wealt

Impact of agricultural extension services on adoption of root crops technologies in Ondo State, Nigeria

The study investigated the impact of extension services on the adoption of root crop technologies in Akoko North-West Local Government, Ondo State, Nigeria. Data from 90 randomly selected farmers in nine randomly selected villages were used. Findings show that improved cassava varieties, seed yam minisett technique and cassava rapid multiplication had the highest adoption respectively. This was found to be due to financial gain from the technologies. The study shows low adoption of agronomy practices associated with adopted varieties. The extension was the major source of information for the majority of the respondents, with farmers' field day and small plot adoption technique were the most preferred methods of extension contact on root crop technologies. Contact with extension was found to have a significant relationship with the adoption of only a few technologies and did not have significant relationship with the improved level of production of root crops. The study therefore recommended that extension organizations should consider a number of factors other than contact with farmers for farmers' adoption of new technologies. These include the arrangement of follow-up visits to farmers after adoption for further education on the technologies. For effective technology adoption by farmers, the use of facilitative methods such as farmers' field day and small plot adoption technique were recommended. Keywords: accessibility, agricultural information, women farmers South African Journal of Agricultural Extension Vol. 34(2) 2005: 181-18

Impact of degree of substitution of acetylated Ofada rice starch polymer on the release properties of nimesulide microspheres

Nimesulide microspheres were prepared by the quasi-emulsion solvent diffusion method, using acetylated starches of the indigenous Ofada rice (Oryza glaberrima Steud) with degrees of substitution (DS) 1.42 and 2.62. Full 23 factorial experimental design was performed using DS (X1), drug: polymer ratio (X2) and polymer concentration (X3) as independent factors; size, entrapment, swelling and time taken for 80% drug release (t80) were the dependent variables.Contour plots were generated and data from in vitro release studies were fitted to various kinetic models. Nimesulide microspheres were near -spherical, with size 50.91±16.22 to 74.24±24.73 µm for microspheres containing starch DS 1.42 and 21.05±4.25 to 46.10±3.85 µm for starch DS 2.62. Drug entrapment was 56.75±0.45 to 98.28±2.30 %. DS had the most influence on size, swelling and dissolution time (p = 0.01) and this was confirmed from the contour plots. The interaction between factors DS and drug: polymer ratio (X1X2) had the highest influence on microsphere properties (p = 0.04). Drug release fitted into first order, Higuchi and Korsmeyer models.  Acetylated starch of Ofada rice DS 2.62 was found more suitable for the formulation of microspheres with reduced size, and swelling, higher entrapment and prolonged drug release.

Evaluation of modified breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) starches as immediate and sustained release polymers in bilayer tablets of ibuprofen

Background: Ibuprofen, administered as conventional oral tablets every 4 -6 hours, has some gastrointestinal side effects. Its formulation as sustained and immediate release layers in a compact bilayer tablet avoids the challenge of multiple daily dosing, reducing untoward side effects.Objectives: The objective of the study is to formulate bilayer tablets of ibuprofen using breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) starches modified by carboxymethylation and acid hydrolysis for immediate and sustained release, respectively, in comparison to sodium starch glycolate (SSG) and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC).Methods: The starches were characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, viscosity, swelling power, densities and flow properties. Bilayer tablets of ibuprofen were prepared using carboxymethylated Breadfruit starch (5.0 and 7.5%w/w) and acid-hydrolyzed starch (17.0%w/w) and evaluated using crushing strength, friability, disintegration and dissolution times (t80).Results: FTIR and XRD spectra confirmed modification of starches. Carboxymethylation produced starches of higher swelling and flow properties while acid-modification produced higher compressibility. Bilayer tablets containing modified starches had higher crushing strength than the standards. Disintegration time of the fast release layers was 1.00 - 10.37 min. An initial burst release was followed by sustained release (t80 = 4.5 - 9.0 h) with tablets containing the acid modified starch having longer dissolution than HPMC. Drug release fitted the First order, Hixson-Crowell and Hopfenberg kinetic models.Conclusion: Carboxymethylated and acid-modified breadfruit starches were found suitable as cheaper excipients in bilayer tablet formulations for immediate and sustained release of drugs respectively, particularly where high mechanical strength is required.Keywords: Acid-modification, bilayer tablets, breadfruit starch, carboxymethylation, ibuprofe

Resource inequality and quality of secondary education: a study of uneven policy in rural schools of southwestern Nigeria

Recent Studies have investigated the influence of the resource factor on the quality of secondary education (QSE) in Nigeria. However, the research on the resource factor as a predictor of quality of secondary education in rural communities of Southwestern Nigeria remains scanty. This study, therefore, investigated the contributions of the resource factor (RF: Resource Adequacy-RA and Resource Utilization-RU) to QSE in rural communities of Southwestern Nigeria (RCSN). The study was located within a pragmatic paradigm that incorporated the convergent parallel design in the collection, analysis and interpretation of the qualitative and quantitative data. The multi-level mixed methods sampling technique was adopted in selecting 467 secondary school graduates, while total enumeration technique was adopted in selecting 134 teachers. Six participants for the Key Informant Interviews comprised three principals and three senior officials from the Teaching Service Commission and Ministry of Education from three selected states in southwestern Nigeria. Two research questions were raised, and one hypothesis was formulated for the study. Two research instruments, namely, the Secondary School Graduate Aptitude Test (SSGAT) and Resource Factor Teachers’ Questionnaire (RFTQ), with reliability coefficients of 0.715 and 0.853, respectively, were used for the study. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson Product Moment Correlation, while qualitative data were analyzed with content analysis. The resource factor with resource adequacy (x=2.50)  and resource utilization (x=2.77) influenced QSE. The resource factor (r=0.75) had a negative significant relationship with QSE. The study affirmed that addressing resource inequality in rural communities is urgently required to stem the ebbing tide of quality secondary education in Nigeria