Progressing from corruption to fidelity : an exploration of church-initiated agentry in Nigerian society

https://place.asburyseminary.edu/ecommonsatsdissertations/2273/thumbnail.jp

Mentoring as a tool for leadership development in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Nigeria

https://place.asburyseminary.edu/ecommonsatsdissertations/1473/thumbnail.jp

Investigation of Phenolic Contents and TLC-Direct Bioautography Screening of Four Nigeria Plant Extracts for Antioxidant Activities

In search of lead compounds with no side effect, four medicinal plants; Euadenia trifoliata, Lactuca capensis, Alstonia boonei and Ficus platyphylla were screened for antioxidant activity. Dried leaves of the four plants were extracted with EtoAc/MeOH (1:1) and the extracts obtained were screened by TLC-Direct bioautography method (TLC-DB) to identify the most promising extract from the four plants for antioxidant property. The TLC chromatogram revealed that the extract from the leaf of Euadenia trifoliata was the most promising and was thus fractionated into  dichloromethane, methanol and hexane soluble fractions. The fractions along with the crude extract were investigated for their phenolic contents and antioxidant potentials. Total phenolic content, TPCs, of the dichloromethane, methanol, crude and hexane extracts were 44.37, 28.83, 24.79 and 19.91 mg/g of gallic acid equivalents of extract, respectively. Antioxidant activities of the fractions using phosphomolybdate and free radical scavenging assays were in the order of methanol ˃ dichloromethane > crude ˃ hexane extract. The results of our finding indicated that methanol was the most suitable solvent to extract polyphenols and other antioxidant compounds from E. trifoliata leaves. In conclusion high polyphenols content of E. trifoliata leaves is an indication that the plant could potentially provide a remedy against disorders caused by oxidative stress. Keywords: Antioxidant, Euadenia trifoliata, Phenolics, Radical, TLC-Bioautograph

The growth response of fingerlings of O. niloticus in sublethal test to paraquat

The initial mean wet weight of the test fish were 7.64:~c 1.3 for the control and 6.33~c 0.9, 6.88~c 0.9 and 6.2~c 0.7 for the fish exposed to 1.02, 1.40 and 2.0mg/l of paraquat in water respectively. Growth was estimated from the sum of the individual wet weights of the fish at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks of exposure to the toxicant and expressed as percent Cumulative wet weight gain. The results showed that the cumulative percent wet weight gain in the control group increased from 10.34% at 1 week to 36.13% at 8 weeks. The growth of fish that were exposed to 1.02, 1.04 and 2.00mg/l increased from 3%, 0.44% and 1.55% at 1 week to 30.81 %, 9.59% and 19.81 % at week 8 respectively. A statistically significant difference in growth rate of the treated and control was observed (p<0.05)

Epigenetics in Reproductive Aging: Involvement of Oxidative Stress

Epigenetic alterations are one of the distinctive characteristics of aging. Epigenetics changes throughout the reproductive life of humans. The major epigenetic parameters viz. DNA methylation, histone modification, and chromatin modeling are altered in the oocyte and sperm due to aging. Also, aging is accompanied by oxidative stress resulting in oocyte and sperm DNA damage. Oxidative stress occurs when the body’s antioxidant defense mechanism is overwhelmed by free radicals or pro-oxidant molecules such as nitrogen and reactive oxygen species, which are generated during normal cellular metabolism. This phenomenon is accompanied by a decline in the cell repair machinery, resulting in a wide range of DNA damage and distortion in cellular epigenetics. Still more, free radicals can directly or indirectly interfere with some epigenetic processes of the cell. For example, free radicals can impart the genome methylation profile by forming oxidized DNA lesions. Given the deleterious impact of oxidative stress on aging and cellular epigenetic profile, the ingestion of external antioxidants is encouraged to circumvent its side effects. This chapter provides insight into the interconnection between epigenetic alterations (histone modification, chromatin remodeling, DNA methylation and miRNA), reproductive aging, and oxidative stress

The Role of Artificial Lighting in Architectural Design: A Literature Review

Artificial lighting design is an integral part of the building design process. However, little or no emphasis is usually placed on its importance in the initial design process, as lighting is often understood as merely the idea of illuminating spaces. This paper investigated the evolved variety of roles artificial lighting plays in architectural designs in the context of psychology and communication. Data was compiled from existing knowledge on artificial lighting techniques, tools and practices to develop a literature for better understanding of the greater capabilities of artificial lighting within the urban context. The study focused mainly on the use of artificial lighting in the 21st century, in a bid to capture the diverse roles artificial lighting plays in the built environment in recent times. The study is a qualitative research that relied strictly on data from secondary sources. A total of twenty-eight relevant publications were sourced using Google search engine via the internet. The data were content analysed, grouped in themes and presented using descriptive approach. The study revealed that artificial lighting plays important roles in delineating spaces, beautifying environments, improving workers’ productivity level, as well as serving as a tool for navigation and communication in the urban environment. The paper concluded that over the years, artificial lighting has evolved beyond spatial illumination, but now functions as a tool for passive nonverbal communication. Therefore, planning for artificial lighting should be introduced early in the design process to avoid incurring unnecessary cost and time wasting usually associated with late decision making in the building industry

ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE PROFILING AND MICROBIOTA OF THE UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT OF APPARENTLY HEALTHY DOGS IN IBADAN, SOUTH WEST NIGERIA.

Background: Rearing of dogs and other pets has become increasingly popular in modern society. Bacterial flora resides within the nasal and oral cavities of dogs and when chanced, can be pathogenic. Certain similarities between humans and dogs portends dangerous behavioral habits that could lead to zoonotic disease transmission. This study was aimed at isolation, identification and antibiotic profiling of bacteria from nasal swabs of apparently healthy dogs. The zoonotic risk was also considered. Methodology: A total of 173 nasal swabs were collected from 173 apparently healthy dogs. Structured questionnaires were administered to investigate human behavioral habits. Results: Two hundred and twenty two (222) bacterial isolates were obtained from the culture with ten (10) potentially pathogenic bacteria in the order of Escherichia coli (18.5%), Proteus species (17.1%), Staphylococcus aureus (14.0%), Klebsiella species (9.0%), Acinetobacter species (9.0%), coagulase negative Staphylococcus species (7.7%), Pseudomonas species (6.8%), Actinobacter species (6.8%), Citrobacter species (5.9%) and Streptococcus species (5.4%). Overall, the Gram negative isolates showed resistance to ciprofloxacin (9.3%), sparfloxacin (16.0%),perfloxacin (17.3%), ofloxacin (21.6%), chloramphenicol (34..6%), gentamycin (36.4%), streptomycin (37.%), septrin (49.4%), amoxillin (59.3%), augmentin (62.3%) while the Gram positive bacteria showed resistance to ciprofloxacin (3.3%), perfloxacin (6.7%), erythromycin (13.3%), streptomycin (21.7%), rocephin (28.3%), septrin (28.3%), gentamycin (36.7%), zinnacef (68.3%), ampiclox (81.7%) and amoxillin (85.0%). Multi-drug resistance (MDR) to three or more antimicrobials was observed in some of the isolates. Seventy - seven resistance patterns were observed, 16 in Gram positive and 61 in Gram negative bacteria. Conclusion: This study revealed MDR to two or more antimicrobials in all the isolates. These can pose antibiotic resistance challenges in situation of primary or secondary canine respiratory infections. Also, this study revealed that 82% of the dog owners/ lovers had less than 50cm face-to-face contact with these dogs while playing with them, thus increasing their chances of acquiring MDR bacteria from apparently healthy dogs

Geophysical Survey for Groundwater Resource Appraissal in a basement Complex Terrain for Agricultural Purposes; Case Study of ABUAD Teaching and Research Farm, Ado Ekiti, Southwest Nigeria.

A combined geophysical survey involving the Very Low Frequency Electromagnetic and the Electrical resistivity survey has been carried out in the Teaching and Research Farm of the Afe Babalola University along Ado – Ikare road, Ado Ekiti with a view to determining the subsurface layers and thickness of the overburden as a means to appraising the ground water potential in the study area. Seventeen (17) west east traverses were established from which VLF –Electromagnetic data were acquired at a station interval of 5m each, the modeling and interpretation results from these were used to delimit the farm area into a total of 29 points from where vertical electrical soundings were carried out for further detailed survey using the Schlumberger electrode array configuration. The sounding data was processed and interpreted using WINRESIST interpretation software

Adherence to combined Antiretroviral therapy (cART) among people living with HIV/AIDS in a Tertiary Hospital in Ilorin, Nigeria

Introduction:&nbsp;this study aims to assess the treatment adherence rate among People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) receiving treatment in a Nigerian tertiary Hospital. Methods:&nbsp;this was a cross-sectional study that assessed self-reported treatment adherence among adults aged 18 years and above who were accessing drugs for the treatment of HIV. Systematic random sampling method was used to select 550 participants and data were collected by structured interviewer administered questionnaire. Results:&nbsp;the mean age of respondents was 39.9±10 years. Adherence rate for HIV patients was 92.6%. Factors affecting adherence include lack of money for transportation to the hospital (75%), traveling (68.8%), forgetting (66.7%), avoiding side effects (66.7%), and avoiding being seen (63.6%). Conclusion:&nbsp;the adherence rate was less than optimal despite advancements in treatment programmes. Adherence monitoring plans such as home visit and care should be sustained

Geophysical Survey for Groundwater Resource Appraissal in a basement Complex Terrain for Agricultural Purposes; Case Study of ABUAD Teaching and Research Farm, Ado Ekiti, Southwest Nigeria

A combined geophysical survey involving the Very Low Frequency Electromagnetic and the Electrical resistivity survey has been carried out in the Teaching and Research Farm of the Afe Babalola University along Ado – Ikare road, Ado Ekiti with a view to determining the subsurface layers and thickness of the overburden as a means to appraising the ground water potential in the study area. Seventeen (17) west east traverses were established from which VLF –Electromagnetic data were acquired at a station interval of 5m each, the modeling and interpretation results from these were used to delimit the farm area into a total of 29 points from where vertical electrical soundings were carried out for further detailed survey using the Schlumberger electrode array configuration. The sounding data was processed and interpreted using WINRESIST interpretation software