Medicobotanical Studies in Relation to Veterinary Medicine in Ekiti State, Nigeria: (1) Checklist of Botanicals used for the Treatment of Poultry Diseases

A semi-structured questionnaire matrix and direct field observation were used to identify botanicals used for veterinary health care in the rural areas of Ekiti State, Nigeria. A total of 38 plants belonging to 27 families were valued for the treatments of poultry pests and diseases in the study area and the parts mostly utilized were the leaves. Features that enhanced the continuous utilization of these botanical species were identified and strategies that could further enhance their sustainability were also proposed

Medicobotanical Studies in Relation to Veterinary Medicine in Ekiti State, Nigeria: Conservation of Botanical Species Used for the Treatment of Poultry Diseases

The rare veterinary botanicals in Ekiti State were identified using semi-structured questionnaire matrix. The traditional ecological knowledge defined by the respondents was used to identify the relevant conservation strategies that could guaranteed the continuous supply of the species in the study area

Medicobotanical Studies in Relation to Veterinary Medicine in Ekiti State, Nigeria: (2) Conservation of Botanicals Species Used for the Treatment of Poultry Diseases

The rare veterinary botanicals in Ekiti State were identified using semi-structured questionnaire matrix. The traditional ecological knowledge defined by the respondents was used to identify the relevant conservation strategies that could guaranteed the continuous supply of the species in the study area

Knowledge Management and its Effects on Financial Performance: Evidence from Dangote Flour Mills, Ilorin

This paper summarizes the arguments and counterarguments within the scientific discussion on the issue of knowledge management and their impact on the financial performance of economic entities. It is determined that despite the key role of knowledge both for the development of the country (which in the 21st century is based mainly on knowledge) and to increase the value of the company, today companies do not fully use arrays of knowledge and data, which forms barriers to increase competitiveness in the strategic perspective

Determinants of prostate specific antigen screening test uptake in an urban community in North-Central Nigeria

Background: Despite the increasing incidence of Prostate cancer, there has not been any focused screening policy or strategy in sub-Saharan Africa including Nigeria.Objectives: To assess the level of awareness and uptake of PSA screening test and their determinants in a Nigerian community.Methods: A cross-sectional population survey of men with no prior history of prostate cancer was carried out. Logistic re- gression analysis was used to determine the effect of identified variables in predicting awareness and uptake of prostate cancer screening.Results: Mean age was 51.5±9.8 years; a few men (31, 16.9%) had ever heard of the screening test and most got the information from health centers. A low proportion (8, 4.4%) had taken the screening test. Men with incomes above poverty line (OR = 11.7 2.8–50.1, p = .001) or those with health insurance (OR = 2.7 1.2–6.5, p = .023) were significantly more likely to be aware of the test. Only the men with higher incomes (OR = 25.6 5.8–114.2, p = .0001) were significantly more likely to have taken the test.Conclusion: Higher incomes and health insurance status impact screening awareness but only income status determines if men subsequently proceed to take the PSA screening test.Keywords: Prostate cancer; PSA screening; sub-Saharan Africa; Nigeria

Datasets on the measurement of mechanical properties of ferrite and austenite constitutive phases using nanoindentation and micro hardness techniques

Abstract

Optimization of Oil from Moringa oleifera seed using Soxhlet Extraction method

Extraction of oil from Moringa oleifera seed using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was investigated. Effects of three factors namely: sample mass, particle size and extraction time on the response, Moringa oleifera a volume extracted, were determined. The Box-Behnken design of RSM was employed which resulted in 15 experimental runs. Extraction was carried out in a 250 ml Soxhlet extractor with Hexane and Ethanol as solvent. The Moringa oleifera seed powder was packed inside a muslin cloth placed in a thimble of the Soxhlet extractor. The extraction was carried out at 60ºC using thermostatic heating mantle. The solvent in the extracted oil was evaporated and the resulting oil further dried to constant weight in the oven. This study demonstrates that Moringa oleifera oil can be extracted from its seed using ethanol and acetone as extraction solvent. The optimum process variables for both solvent (ethanol and acetone) was determined at sample weight of 40 g, particle size of 325 μm and extraction time of 8 hours. It can be deduced that using acetone as solvent produces a higher yield of oil at the same optimum variable conditions compared to when ethanol was used

Development of a novel UPLC-MS/MS-based platform to quantify amines, amino acids and methylarginines for applications in human disease phenotyping

Amine quantification is an important strategy in patient stratification and personalised medicine. This is because amines, including amino acids and methylarginines impact on many homeostatic processes. One important pathway regulated by amine levels is nitric oxide synthase (NOS). NOS is regulated by levels of (i) the substrate, arginine, (ii) amino acids which cycle with arginine and (iii) methylarginine inhibitors of NOS. However, biomarker research in this area is hindered by the lack of a unified analytical platform. Thus, the development of a common metabolomics platform, where a wide range of amino acids and methylarginines can be measured constitutes an important unmet need. Here we report a novel high-throughput ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) platform where ≈40 amine analytes, including arginine and methylarginines can be detected and quantified on a molar basis, in a single sample of human plasma. To validate the platform and to generate biomarkers, human plasma from a well-defined cohort of patients before and after coronary artery bypass surgery, who developed systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), were analysed. Bypass surgery with SIRS significantly altered 26 amine analytes, including arginine and ADMA. Consequently, pathway analysis revealed significant changes in a range of pathways including those associated with NOS

Gender Differences in Academic Performance and Industry Relevance: a Study of a Nigerian Private University Graduates

This article examines the linkage between university education, academic performance, and industry relevance among graduates of a Nigerian Private University in Ogun State, Southwest, Nigeria. Multiple research methods, including existing records from secondary sources and In-depth interviews, were used for the primary data collection. Existing record on students’ academic performance obtained from the University’s Center for Systems and Information (CSIS) for all academic programs in the two colleges sampled: College of Development Studies (CDS) and College of Science and Technology (CST) in the University was complemented by In-depth interviews of academic advisers and heads of department across the programs in addition to the data from the University’s Alumni office on present places of employment of the graduates within the stipulated period (2006-2018). The study found that the female graduates’ excellent academic performance across various programs did not reflect in industry relevance in terms of visibility in the economy’s critical formal sectors compared to their male counterparts. The study recommends the need for female graduates’ urgent pragmatic steps to maximize the benefits of career opportunities by translating the same into paid employment

Biodegradation of Waste Papers: A Sustainable Technology for a Clean Environment

Solid wastes have posed problems of pollution in both developed and developing countries where they are found in large quantities due to domestic and industrial utilization of such materials, the inability to recycle all wastes has provided the nudging to delve into alternative method of waste management. This project aims at analyzing the effect of fungi metabolites (Enzyme); (Rhizopus) in the bioconversion of waste papers (Foolscap, Newspaper and Brown envelop) into fermentable or reducing sugars. Proximate analysis, alkaline pretreatment with sodium hydroxide and process of deinking for the removal of inks for higher susceptibility of the substrate were carried out on paper samples. Hydrolysis using enzyme was carried out for 7 days. Concentration of reducing sugar present in the samples was done using the Dinitrosalicylic acid test method. Effects of Temperature on the waste sample were analyzed at 37, 40 and 45°C