272 research outputs found

    Challenges of soil- transmitted Helminthiasis in some communities in Ondo state, Nigeria

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    Soil- transmitted helminthiasis is a common public health challenge of developing countries. It has largely contributed in undermining the health status of people and hence jeopardized the economic development of countries concerned. This study aimed at investigating the burden of soil-transmitted helminthiasis in some selected rural communities in Ondo State Nigeria. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of human soil-transmitted helminthiasis. Stool samples were collected and processed using stool concentration - formalin-ether sedimentation method. Out of the 928 samples collected from volunteers, 149 (16.05%) were infected. The following parasites were isolated: Ascaris lumbricoides, 103(53.7%) 64(33.3%), Trichuris trichiura 17(8.9%) and Strongyloides stercoralis 8(4.17%). Among the risk factors, toilet and water resource facilities were the major sources of transmission. The result obtained justifies the current state of the poor hygiene level in relation to the high occurrence rate of Soil-transmitted helminths among people living in rural settings

    Stage-specific five-year survival outcomes in women treated for early stage breast cancer in Ibadan, Nigeria

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    Background: The disparity between the overall survival of breast cancer between high-income countries (HICs) and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) has been majorly attributed to the high rate of diagnosis of Early Stage Breast Cancer (ESBC) in HICs, with about three-quarters and one-fifth of the total breast cancer patients diagnosed with ESBC in HICs and LMICs respectively. The median 5-year survival rate of ESBC in HICs is 86% while it is about 72% in Sub-Saharan Africa.Objectives: To determine stage-specific five-year survival outcomes in women treated for ESBC.Methods: We conducted a longitudinal, cohort study to assess the treatment and outcome of ESBC in a Nigerian tertiary hospital. Patients diagnosed and treated for ESBC over 5 years were recruited and followed up for a minimum of 5 years after treatment. Clinicopathologic parameters, disease progression and known vital status, were retrieved. A 5% level of significance was used.Results: 67(9.6%)patients of 694 new cases of breast cancer seen over the study duration was treated for ESBC, of whichsixty- three (63) were followed up over the specified follow-up period. The mean age was 43(10) years. Based on the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging, 9 patients were stage IA, 16 stage IB, 16 stage IIA and 26 stage IIB respectively. The overall 5-year survival was 77.8%.Conclusion: The survival pattern of our cohort fairly compares with reports in HICs, despite the challenges faced in the multimodal treatment protocol received by our patients. Keywords: early breast cancer,survival, survival analysis, stage-specifi

    Effect of soil nutrient concentrations on the quantity of tannin and flavonoid deposited in Gmelina arborea fruit located in different locations

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    This research was geared towards the study on the effect of soil nutrient concentrations on the quantity of tannin and flavonoid deposited in Gmelina arborea fruit located in Onigambari forest reserve within latitude 7o 23’ N and longitude 3o 33’ E and environs of Ijebu-Ife  which lies within latitude 6o 47’ N and longitude 4o 2’ E. Soil samples and 50 Gmelina arborea fresh fruits were collected from each  location, the pulps and seeds were air dried for 15 days at room temperature to reduce its moisture content, and then grinded into  powdery forms before being subjected to Trease and Evans technique to screen for the Tannin and Flavonoid quantity. The results were subjected to both t-test and analysis of variance using Statistical Analysis System (SAS) 9.0 version. Means were separated using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at 5% probability. The seed (0.54 g) and pulp (0.45 g) harvested from Ijebu-Ife have higher concentration of tannin compared with Onigambari seed (0.06 g) and pulp (0.12 g), also flavonoid concentration of seed (0.11 g) and pulp (0.24 g) of Onigambari is lower than that of Ijebu Ife seed (0.35 g) and pulp (0.40 g). The study shows that variations in soil nutrient concentration levels, soil pH and soil textural class of different locations will influence the quantity of Tannin and Flavonoid of Gmelina arborea fruit. The study further revealed that soil nutrient at concentrations levels that are high and tending towards toxicity will reduce deposits of plant phytochemicals which is a quality parameter in plant nutrition

    Antioxidant and phytochemical profile of aqueous and ethanolic extract of Garcinia kola

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    Garcinia kola is widely consumed habitually and used as traditional remedy for various diseases in Nigeria. However, information with respect to the effect of using different solvents of extraction on its antioxidant properties is scanty. Therefore, the present study investigates the effect of different solvents on the phytochemical constituents and antioxidant properties of G. kola. Phytochemicals measured were the total phenolics, flavonoids and vitamin C content while the antioxidant parameters assessed were the free radical scavenging, Fe (II) -chelating and Fe 3+ reducing properties. Finally, the ability of both extracts to offer protective benefits to both hepatic and cerebral tissues placed under oxidative assault induced by FeSO 4 and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) was also investigated. The phenolic content of G. kola was estimated to be 45.2 ± 0.9 mg/g and 30.3 ± 0.4 mg/g gallic acid equivalent (GAE) for the ethanolic and aqueous extracts, respectively. Whereas the flavonoid content was estimated to be 29.2 ± 0.2 mg/g and 10.8 ± 0.2 mg/g quercetin equivalent (QE) for the ethanolic and aqueous extracts, respectively. In addition, the vitamin C contents were 21.2 ± 0.4 mg/g and 20.8 ± 0.1 mg/g for the ethanolic and aqueous extract of dried G. kola, respectively. In all the antioxidant indices measured, the ethanolic extract possessed significantly higher properties than the aqueous extract (p < 0.05). In view of all, the use of G. kola for the treatment of cough and liver disorders in folkloric medicines may be related to its phytochemical content. Hence, moderate consumption of the fruit should be encouraged as antioxidant supplement

    Neural and behavioural changes in male periadolescent mice after prolonged nicotine-MDMA treatment

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    The interaction between MDMA and Nicotine affects multiple brain centres and neurotransmitter systems (serotonin, dopamine and glutamate) involved in motor coordination and cognition. In this study, we have elucidated the effect of prolonged (10 days) MDMA, Nicotine and a combined Nicotine-MDMA treatment on motor-cognitive neural functions. In addition, we have shown the correlation between the observed behavioural change and neural structural changes induced by these treatments in BALB/c mice.We observed that MDMA (2 mg/Kg body weight; subcutaneous) induced a decline in motor function, while Nicotine (2 mg/Kg body weight; subcutaneous) improved motor function in male periadolescent mice. In combined treatment, Nicotine reduced the motor function decline observed in MDMA treatment, thus no significant change in motor function for the combined treatment versus the control. Nicotine or MDMA treatment reduced memory function and altered hippocampal structure. Similarly, a combined Nicotine-MDMA treatment reduced memory function when compared with the control. Ultimately, the metabolic and structural changes in these neural systems were seen to vary for the various forms of treatment. It is noteworthy to mention that a combined treatment increased the rate of lipid peroxidation in brain tissue

    A steepest descent algorithm for the optimal control of a cascaded hydropower system

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    Optimal power generation along the cascaded Kainji-Jebba hydroelectric power system had been very difficult to achieve. The reservoirs operating heads are being affected by possible variation in impoundments upstream, stochastic factors that are weather-related, availability of the turbo-alternators and power generated at any time. Proposed in this paper, is an algorithm for solving the optimal release of water on the cascaded hydropower system based on steepest descent method. The uniqueness of this work is the conversion of the infinite dimensional control problem to a finite one, the introduction of clever techniques for choosing the steepest descent step size in each iteration and the nonlinear penalty embedded in the procedure. The control algorithm was implemented in an Excel VBAÂź environment to solve the ormulated Lagrange problem within an accuracy of 0.03%. It is recommended for use in system studies and control design for the optimal power generation in the cascaded hydropower system

    Diversity of indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in rhizosphere of upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties in Southwest Nigeria

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    Article Details: Received: 2020-02-05      |      Accepted: 2020-05-07      |      Available online: 2020-06-30https://doi.org/10.15414/afz.2020.23.02.42-48 Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have the potential to increase crop productivity and play a key role in the functioning and sustainability of most agroecosystems. However, limited information is available on the divervisity of AMF associated with upland rice varieties in Southwest Nigeria. Field survey was conducted to investigate colonization and diversity of AMF in 13 upland rice varieties commonly grown in Southwest Nigeria. Root and soil samples were collected from rice fields in 2012. The results showed natural root colonization of all the rice varieties by AMF with highest root colonization in ITA 157and Ofada. The spore densities retrieved from the different rhizospheres were relatively high, varying from 13 spores in UORW 111 to 174 spores in Ofada with a mean of 67.6 spores per 20 g dry soil. Glomus was observed to be the most abundant AMF genus. Funneliformis mosseae was the most frequently occurring AMF species (96.2%) with relative density (RD) of 32.2%, followed by Glomus intraradices, Claroideoglomus etunicatum, and Glomus clareium. This study showed that AMF naturally colonized the roots of these rice varieties and diversity of different AMF genera in rice rhizosphere. This study will help draw attention to natural colonization of AMF in rice producing areas of Nigeria that can influence future possibility of using inocula of the dominant AMF species in upland rice cultivation.Keywords: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, community structure, diversity, upland rice, spore densityReferences ADEYEMI, N.O. et al. (2020). Effect of commercial arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculant on growth and yield of soybean under controlled and natural field conditions. Journal of Plant Nutrition, 43(4), 487–499, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/019041 67.2019.1685101 ADEYEMI, N.O. et al. (2019). Identification and relative abundance of native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with oil-seed crops and maize (Zea mays L.) in derived savannah of Nigeria. Acta fytotechn zootechn, 22(3), 84–89. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15414/afz.2019.22.03.84-89 ADEYEMI, N. et al. (2017). Yield and yield attributes responses of soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) to elevated CO2 and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculation in the humid transitory rainforest. Notulae Scientia Biologicae, 9(2), 233–241. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15835/nsb9210002 BARBER, N.A. et al. (2013). Linking agricultural practices, mycorrhizal fungi, and traits mediating plant-insect interactions. Ecol Appl, 23(7), 1519–1530.BƁASZKOWSKI, J. (2012) Glomeromycota. KrakĂłw: W. Szafer Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences. BOUYOUCOS, G.H. (1951). A recalibration of the hydrometer method for testing mechanical analysis of soils. Agronomy Journal, 43,434–438.BRUNDRETT, M.C. and TEDERSOO, L. (2018) Evolutionary history of mycorrhizal symbioses and global host plant diversity. New Phytol, 220,1108–1115. CAMPOS-SORIANO, L. et al. (2010). Activation of basal defense mechanisms of rice plants by Glomus intraradices does not affect the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. New Phytol, 188(2), 597–614. CHEN, M. et al. (2018) Beneficial services of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi – from ecology to application. Frontiers in Plant Science, 9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2018.01270DAVISON, J. et al. (2015). Global assessment of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus diversity reveals very low endemism. Science, 349, 970–973. DE ANDRADE-JÚNIOR, J.A. et al. (2018) Fixação de carbono em sistemas agroecolĂłgicos na regiĂŁo do Vale do SĂŁo PatrĂ­cio, GoiĂĄs. CientĂ­fica – Multidiscip J, 5, 85–98. DE MOURA, J.B. et al. (2018) Taxa de colonização micorrĂ­zica sob diferentes sistemas de cultivo no cerrado em cana-deaçĂșcar. DiĂĄlogos & CiĂȘncia, 2, 60–66. GIANINAZZI, S. et al. (2010). Agroecology: The key role of arbuscular mycorrhizas in ecosystem services. Mycorrhiza, 20(8), 519–530. INVAM (2018). International culture collection of (vesicular) arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Morgantown: West Virginia University. HAZARD, C. et al. (2013). The role of local environment and  geographical distance in determining community composition of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi at the landscape scale. The ISME Journal, 7, 498–508. JIANG, Y.N. et al. (2017). Plants transfer lipids to sustain colonization by mutualistic mycorrhizal and parasitic fungi. Science, 356, 1172–1175. JOHNSON, N.C. (2010). Resource stoichiometry elucidates the structure and function of arbuscular mycorrhizas across scales. New Phytol, 185(3), 631–647. LEKBERG, Y. and KOIDE, R.T. (2005). Is plant performance limited by abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi? A metaanalysis of studies published between 1988 and 2003. New Phytol, 168(1). LIN, X. et al. (2012). Long-term balanced fertilization decreases arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal diversity in an arable soil in north China revealed by 454 pyrosequencing. Environmental Science & Technology, 46, 5764–5771. LUGINBUEHL, L.H. et al. (2017). Fatty acids in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are synthesized by the host plant. Science, 356, 1175–1178. LUMINI, E. et al. (2011). Different farming and water regimes in Italian rice fields affect arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal soil communities. Ecol Appl, 21(5), 1696–1707.OEHL, F. et al. (2010). Soil type and land use intensity determine the composition of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 42, 724–738. OEHL, F. et al. (2017) Diversity and biogeography of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in agricultural soils. Biol Fertil Soils, (53), 777–797. PEYRET-GUZZON, M. et al. (2016). Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities and Rhizophagus irregularis populations shift in response to short term ploughing and fertilisation in a buffer strip. Mycorrhiza, 26, 33–46. PHILLIPS, J.M. and HAYMAN, D.S. (1970). Improved procedures for clearing roots and staining parasitic and vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for rapid assessment of infection. Trans Br Mycol Soc., 55,158–IN18. PIVATO, B. et al. (2007). Medicago species affect the community composition of arbuscular myccorhizal fungi associated with roots. New Phytologist 176, 197–210. RILLIG, M.C. and MUMMEY, D.L. (2006). Mycorrhizas and soil structure. New Phytol, 171(1), 41–53. SILVA-FLORES, P. et al. (2019) Factors affecting arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi spore density in the Chilean Mediterraneantype ecosystem. J Soil Sci Plant Nutr, 19, 42–50. SMITH, S.E. and READ, D.J. (2008). Mycorrhizal symbiosis. 3rd ed., New York: Academic Press. SNOECK, D. et al. (2010). 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    Learning analytics: Dataset for empirical evaluation of entry requirements into engineering undergraduate programs in a Nigerian university

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    In Nigerian universities, enrolment into any engineering undergraduate program requires that the minimum entry criteria established by the National Universities Commission(NUC)must be satisfied. Candidates seeking admission to study engineering discipline must have reached a predetermined entry age and met the cut-off marks set for Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination(UTME),and the post-UTME screening.However, limited effort has been made to show that these entry requirements eventually guarantee successful academic performance in engineering programs because the data required for such validation are not readily available.In this data article, a comprehensive data set for empirical evaluation of entry requirements into engineering undergraduate programs in a Nigerian university is presented and carefully analyzed. A total sample of 1445 undergraduates that were admitted between 2005 and 2009 to study Chemical Engineering(CHE), Civil Engineering (CVE), Computer Engineering(CEN), Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEE),Information and Communication Engineering (ICE), Mechanical Engineering(MEE),and Petroleum Engineering (PET) at Covenant University,Nigeria were randomly selected. Entry age,SSCE aggregate, UTME score, Covenant University Scholastic Aptitude Screening(CUSAS)score, and the Cumulative Grade Point Average(CGPA) of the undergraduates were obtained from the Student Records and Academic Affairs unit. In order to facilitate evidence-based evaluation, the robust dataset is made publicly available in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet file. On yearly basis, first-order descriptive statistics of the data set a represented in tables. Box plot representations, frequency distribution plots, and scatter plots of the dataset are provided to enrich its value. Furthermore, correlation and linear regression analyses are performed to understand the relationship between the entry requirements and the corresponding academic performance in engineering programs. The data provided in this article will help Nigerian universities, the NUC, engineering regulatory bodies,and relevant stakeholders to objectively evaluate and subsequently improve the quality of engineering education in the country

    Vitamin D3 Receptor Activation Rescued Corticostriatal Neural Activity and Improved Motor-Cognitive Function in −D2R Parkinsonian Mice Model

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    Background: fourth generation antipsychotics have been implicated in the blockade of calcium signalling through inhibition of dopamine receptive sites on dopaminergic D2 Receptor (D2R). As a result of the abnormal calcium signalling associated with D2R inhibition, changes occur in the motor and memory neural axis leading to the observed behavioural deficits after prolonged haloperidol. Thus, Vitamin D3 receptor (VD3R), a calcium controlling receptor in the striatum can be targeted to relief the neurological symptoms associated with haloperidol (−D2R) induced PD. Aim: This study sets to investigate the role of VD3R activation in vitro and in vivo after haloperidolinduced Dopaminergic (D2R) blockade. In addition, we examined the associated neural activity and behavioural changes in parkinsonian and VDRA intervention mice. Methods: Dopaminergic D2R inhibition was investigated in vitro using Melanocytes isolated from the scale of a Tilapia. In four separate set ups, the cells were cultured in calcium free Ringer’s solution as follows; 300 ÎŒM haloperidol, 100 ÎŒM VD3, 100 mM calcium chloride and a combination of 300 ÎŒM haloperidol and 100 ÎŒM VD3. Subsequently, dopaminergic vesicle accumulation and calcium signalling were observed in bright field microscopy using blue and green fluorescence probes. In the second phase, PD was induced in adult BALB/c mice (−D2; n = 8) after 14 days of intraperitoneal haloperidol treatment (10 mg/Kg). A set of n = 4 mice were untreated (−D2) while the other group (n = 4) received 100 mg/Kg of VD3 for 7 days (−D2/+VDR). The control groups (n = 4 each) were treated with normal saline (NS) and VD3 (+VDR) for 14 days. At the end of the treatment phase, the animals were assessed in Rotarod, parallel bar-, cylinder-, Y-Maze-, one trial place recognition- and novel object recognition-(NOR) tests. Neural activity was measured using chronic electrode implants placed in the M1 (motor cortex), CPu (striatum), CA1 (hippocampus) and PFC (prefrontal cortex). Neural activity was compared with the outcomes of behavioural tests for memory and motor functions and data was expressed as mean ± SEM (analysed using ANOVA with Tukey post-hoc test, significant level was set at 0.05). Results/Discussion: in vitro outcomes show that VDR increase calcium signalling and reverses the effect of haloperidol; specifically by reducing dopaminergic vesicle accumulation in the cell body. Similarly, in vivo neural recordings suggest an increase in calcium hyperpolarization currents in the CPu and PFC of intervention mice (−D2/+VDR) when compared with the parkinsonian mice (−D2). These animals (−D2/+VDR) also recorded an improvement in spatial working memory and motor function versus the Parkinsonian mice (−D2). These outcomes suggest the role of CPu-PFC corticostriatal outputs in the motor-cognitive decline seen in parkinsonian mice. Similarly, VDRA reduced the neural deficits through restoration of calcium currents (burst activities) in the intervention mice (−D2/+VDR). Conclusion: VDRA treatment reduced the motor-cognitive defects observed in haloperidol induced PD. Our findings suggest the role of VDRA in restoration of calcium currents associated with PFC and CPu corticostriatal outputs seen as burst frequencies in in vivo neural recording
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