Assessment of Automobiles and Pedestrians Control Techniques Within Markets in Kaduna State, Nigeria

The Assessment of automobile and pedestrian control techniques within the market environment cannot be overemphasized as it is one of the most important ways in curtailing poor market environment in terms of traffic congestion. Automobile and pedestrian congestion is a situation that arises when the road networks are incapable of accommodating the traffic generated. Automobile and pedestrians control techniques in market refers to regulation, adoption, or maintenance of automobile and pedestrian functions or feature either by design or new construction within the market. The sustainable design encompasses standard layout, adequate parking, standard road network system, provision of signs and markings, proper zoning etc. This research aimed at assessing pedestrian and automobile control technique adopted within markets in Kaduna with the view of designing a more improved circulation pattern and sustainable markets in terms of automobile and pedestrian control within the study area. With this regard, an observation method of research was adopted. The daily markets were randomly selected out of the numerous markets within Kaduna metropolis and its environs. The result shows that the proper automobiles and pedestrians control techniques was not properly observed or  adopted in over 90% of the market. The study further revealed that the selected markets within Kaduna share similar features and characteristics. Therefore to curtail these, recommendations were made on various practical methods for integration/adoption in market design so as to archive an effective automobile control within the markets in Kaduna metropolis. Keywords: Automobiles, Control Techniques, Market Congestion, Pedestria

Impact of commercial motorcycle operation on urban mobility in Ogun State, Nigeria

The significant of public transport of cities in many developing countries lies in the fundamental fact that mobility and accessibility are essential for economic growth and of necessity to provide efficient and effective movement for goods and services. The collapse of public intra-city transport system paved way for the rise of motorcycles as means of public transportation in Nigeria. This paper discusses the impact of commercial motorcycle operation as a means of urban transportation. Of the 200 questionnaires administered, 191 questionnaires were received for analysis using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Secondary data was also sourced to serve as complement to the primary data, thus allowing for a robust research. Descriptive statistical tools such as percentages were adopted to present the socio - economic characteristics in the area. Findings showed that the majority of the users are adult between the aged 31 and 40 years. Most of them (53.8%) are married and are fairly educated. Furthermore, it was recommended that the Nigerian government should provide employment opportunities for our teeming youth as this will go a long way in the reduction of number of youth who as a result of unemployment took to motorcycle riding business

Impact of Commercial Motorcycle Operation on Urban Mobility in Ogun State, Nigeria

The significant of public transport of cities in many developing countries lies in the fundamental fact that mobility and accessibility are essential for economic growth and of necessity to provide efficient and effective movement for goods and services. The collapse of public intra-city transport system paved way for the rise of motorcycles as means of public transportation in Nigeria. This paper discusses the impact of commercial motorcycle operation as a means of urban transportation. Of the 200 questionnaires administered, 191 questionnaires were received for analysis using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Secondary data was also sourced to serve as complement to the primary data, thus allowing for a robust research. Descriptive statistical tools such as percentages were adopted to present the socio - economic characteristics in the area. Findings showed that the majority of the users are adult between the aged 31 and 40 years. Most of them (53.8%) are married and are fairly educated. Furthermore, it was recommended that the Nigerian government should provide employment opportunities for our teeming youth as this will go a long way in the reduction of number of youth who as a result of unemployment took to motorcycle riding business

Breast cancer and body image: The roles of the male partner

Background: Cancer is a group of diseases with different causes, manifestations, treatment, and prognosis, characterized with an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cell. In women; cancer of the breast is the second most common cancer after cervical cancer and the second leading cancer's death following lung cancer among women in Sub-Saharan Africa. In Nigeria, it has become the most common female malignancy with a prevalence of 12.5%. However, the same treatment that offers better cure rates may also result in a serious decrease in quality of life, psychological problems, as well as provoking changes in their bodies. Societal behavior towards breast cancer patients makes a woman that is newly diagnosed with breast cancer become tearful, ashamed, and discouraged. Aims: To examine breast cancer, body image and the roles of the male partner. Methods: The data for this review paper are from published studies. Electronic databases of Medline, Scopus, PubMed, CINAHL, and Google Scholar were searched using the keywords: breast cancer, body image, roles of the male partner and literature were retrieved and screened for eligibility. The date limit considered in the literature search was from 2016-2021 to capture only the variables identified in this seminar objective. The author defined the topic of interest and the goal was to address the objective of the seminar topic. Results: Four themes (issues) emerged which are: (1) The Model of Whole-Person Caring, (2) Disturbed Body Image, (3) Psycho-Social Impact of Breast Cancer and (4) Roles of the Male Partner. Conclusion: Breast cancer poses a significant financial and psychosocial burden not only on patients, but also on their spouses, families, and broader social network. Breast cancer disease usually changes spousal roles as the women's husbands take over their responsibilities. The disease influenced both partners and made stress a common factor shared by them. Husband plays a vital role in the lives of breast cancer patients through managing the finance, decision-making, providing emotional support, and remaining involved throughout the disease. Therefore, involving the husband in planned psycho-social interventions produces better results than merely patient-focused strategies. Male partners have a great role to play and should be encouraged and allow partaking in the treatment process of their spouses as this will positively influence their recovery

Analysis of paratransit crimes in Akure, Nigeria

Abstract Background Paratransit is a system that operates along a more or less defined route and then stops to take passengers on demand. They offer on-demand door-to-door service from any origin to any destination in a service area, and are operated by public transit agencies, community groups or not-for-profit organizations, and for-profit private companies or operators. In transit, criminal acts including rape, kidnapping and/or abduction, robbery, carjacking, vehicle theft, and even acts of terrorism are committed. These crimes are occasionally committed by other passengers since not every individual who boards a vehicle is a real traveller. This study examined the incidence of paratransit crimes in Akure, Nigeria using a Secured System Approach. Results This study employed a household-based form of sampling to select the study locations in Akure. Convenient sampling was used to select two streets in each of the residential areas from which one hundred and twenty (120) houses were sampled purposively. The questionnaire was used to gather the primary data, with descriptive analysis. The study found that most of the transit crimes were perpetuated with taxi and motorcycles. Also, kidnapping was the major transit crimes in Akure. The Oba-Adesida road and Arakale road (situated along the study areas) were the hotspots for transit crimes in Akure. Finally, the respondents did not have a good perception of the proactiveness, integrity, reliability, respectability, and trustworthiness of security agencies regarding paratransit crimes in Akure. Conclusions Incidence of paratransit crimes in Akure, Nigeria was explored among residents in Akure households. Kidnapping was dominant in Akure along Oba-Adesida and Arakale road, and mostly perpetuated with taxi and motorcycles. Since the participant did not have a good perception concerning the proactiveness, integrity, reliability, respectability, and trustworthiness of security agencies in Akure. Recommendations were suggested

Quantitative Analysis of Phytochemical Compounds in Barks and Leaves of Okoubaka Aubrevillei Collected from Iwo, Southwestern Nigeria

Okoubaka aubrevillei is an indigenous and sacred tropical tree in Africa. It is rare with allelopathic properties and has relatively little information available in terms of what is responsible for its usage for medicinal and traditional usage. The phytochemical screening and quantitative analysis of the compounds in the barks and leaves of Okoubaka aubrevillei was determined to ascertain and establish its earlier claimed usage as traditional and modern medicine. The most important classes of secondary metabolites (phytochemical compounds) specifically alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, anthraquinnes, mucilages, oses, holosides, coumarin and glycosides were detected in both, the leaves and barks of the tree. Quantitative determination of the phytochemical compounds found in the barks and leaves of the tree revealed that the leaves of O. aubreville tree had significantly higher values of alkaloids, flavonoids and glycosides than barks. Saponins and anthraquinnes were found to be significantly more in barks than in leaves. However, there was no significant difference found in the values of tannins, mucilages, oses and holosides and coumarin in barks and leaves of O. aubreville trees

Effects of treated piggery effluent from an amended constructed wetland on the growth of the Okra plant (Abelmoschus esculentus)

This research investigates the effects of treated piggery effluent from cassava peel-based biochar-amended constructed wetlands on the growth of the Okra plant (Abelmoschus esculentus). A batch-fed pilot-scale Horizontal sub-surface flow constructed wetland (HSSFCW) planted with Vertiveria zizanioides was operated with a 3-day Hydraulic Retention Time (HRT). Four different substrates comprising sharpsand SS, quarry dust QD, sharpsand amended with biochar (SS+B) and quarry dust amended with biochar (QD+B). The biochar and piggery effluent were characterized before and after treatment in the HSSFCW using standard procedures. The treated effluents from the four systems were applied to the Okra plant and growth parameters of Leave area index LAI, Plant height Ph and stem diameter QD, were measured for five consecutive weeks and analyzed. The results show that substrate types have a significant effect on LAI and QD but insignificant for Ph. The highest measured LAI, Ph and QD were 13, 317 mm and 12 mm respectively for SS; 12, 323 mm and 14 mm for QD, 25, 307 mm and 14 mm for SS+B and 27, 325 mm and 17 mm for QD+B.  The biochar-amended quarry dust CWs effluent is recommended as the best for the treated effluent irrigation for okra plant cultivation

PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF METHANOL EXTRACT OF RUSSELIA EQUISETIFORMIS AGAINST PARACETAMOL-INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY IN WISTAR RATS

Objectives: Liver diseases are among the health challenges facing many people and health care providers worldwide. In their search for solution to these problems, researchers are increasingly advocating the use of herbal preparations with proven efficacy in protecting against hepatic disorders. They also investigate medicinal plants with the aim of developing new drugs.  Russelia equisetiformis is a plant which contains phytoconstituents that were reported to have biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and membrane-stabilizing properties. In this study, the effect of methanol extract of R. equisetiformis (MEREQ) on paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity was investigated in rats. Method: Rats were pretreated orally with graded doses (100 – 400 mg/kg b.w) of MEREQ for 7 days. On the 8th day, hepatotoxicity was induced in the pretreated rats with a single intraperitoneal injection of paracetamol (2 g/kg b.w). Rats were sacrificed on the 15th day; blood samples were taken for biochemical analysis, and the liver was excised for histopathological study. Biochemical parameters analyzed are alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total protein, albumin, and bilirubin. Results: Administration of paracetamol in the rats resulted in significant increase (p<0.05) in the serum levels of AST, ALT, ALP, and bilirubin compared with the control. Treatment with MEREQ significantly reduced (p<0.05) the levels of these parameters in a dose-dependent manner, compared with the untreated rats. No significant changes were observed in the serum levels total protein and albumin. Histopathological examination showed that administration of paracetamol caused distortions in the architecture of the liver, but the degree of degeneration of hepatocytes was reduced in the MEREQ-treated rats. Conclusion: From the results obtained in this study, it is concluded that methanol extract of R. equisetiformis has protective effect on paracetamol-induced hepatic injury.                                 Peer Review History: Received 8 November  2020; Revised 14 Decembe; Accepted 3 January, Available online 15 January 2021 Academic Editor: Prof. Cyprian Ogbonna ONYEJI, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, [email protected] UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest ‘Advanced OPEN peer review’ system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main purpose of it is ‘to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript’. Our reviewers check the ‘strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly’. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency. Received file:                Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 6.0/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 8.0/10 Reviewer(s) detail: Dr. Gehan Fawzy Abdel Raoof Kandeel, Pharmacognosy Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, 12622,  Giza, Egypt, [email protected]  Prof. Dr. Ali Gamal Ahmed Al-kaf,  Sana'a university, Yemen, [email protected] Similar Articles: ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND ANTI-OXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF METHANOL EXTRACT OF BAPHIA NITIDA ANTI-HYPERGLYCEMIC AND ANTI-OXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF METHANOL EXTRACT OF GONGRONEMA LATIFOLIUM EFFECTS OF RAW AND COOKED AQUEOUS AND METHANOL EXTRACTS OF PHASEOLUS VULGARIS (KIDNEY BEANS) ON RENAL FUNCTION IN ALBINO WISTAR RAT

Mobola plum seed methanolic extracts exhibit mixed type inhibition of angiotensin â -converting enzyme in vitro

Objective: To explore the possible inhibitory potentials and mechanism by Mobola plum (Parinari curatellifolia) seeds crude methanol (CE) and flavonoid-rich (FE) extracts on angiotensin-1-converting enzyme (ACE â ). Methods: The sensitivity and kinetic model of inhibition of CE and FE on ACE â  using N-[3-(2-furyl)-acryloyl]-Phe-Gly-Gly as enzyme substrate for ACE â  was evaluated by Michealis Menten approach. The inhibition mechanism was explored from LineweaverâBurk model and IC50 was determined from ChengâPrusoff empirical analysis. Results: The IC50 of CE and FE were 13.54 and 39.38 μg/mL, respectively. Both extracts exhibited mixed type inhibition with the inhibitory constant (Ki) of CE was between 0.38 and 0.37 μg/mL while that of FE showed a two-fold increase (1.62 μg/mL and 0.28 μg/mL). FE on ACE â  demonstrated positive cooperativity with a Hill's coefficient of 1.89. Conclusions: The study reveals the superior ACE â  inhibitory potential of CE over FE and suggest that mixed inhibition pattern of the enzyme might be the underlying mechanism of antihypertensive activity. Keywords: Angiotensin converting enzyme, Blood pressure, FAPGG, Mixed type inhibition, Parinari curatellifoli