Biochemical response of sweet potato to bemul-wax coating combined with calcium chloride treatment during ambient storage

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas Linn) tuber is a very nutritious but highly perishable crop that is subject to high wastages due to non-availability of appropriate storage techniques. This work assessed the effectiveness of treating the tubers with calcium chloride dip (CCD), bemul-wax (B-wax) and their combinations (CCD/B-wax) at ambient storage conditions (24.9 ± 4.0°C and 44.6 ± 18.4% RH). Some biochemical parameters of each treated sample were assessed and compared with the control for 20 days storage period. There were significant reductions (P < 0.05) in weight loss by B-wax and CCD/Bwax. CCD and CCD/B-wax caused significant reductions in pH, total amino acid and pectin esterase. Also, all the treatments caused significant reductions in ascorbic acid, phenylalanine ammonia lyase,�A-Amylase and alcohol dehydrogenase activities. There were significant reductions in polyphenol oxidase activity by B-wax. In conclusion, while all the treatments proved to be effective to varying degrees,CCD/B-wax seemed to be the most effective in preventing spoilage in the tuber

Investigating the spatial distribution of diabetes in Africa using both classical and Bayesian approaches.

Master of Science in Statistics. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2017.Abstract available in PDF file

Characterization of domestic and market solid wastes at source in Lagos metropolis, Lagos, Nigeria

Waste management is an important element of environmental protection. Proper characterization of municipal solid waste is fundamental for the planning of  municipal waste management services. The objectives of this study were to  estimate the percentage of various components of household and market waste generated from source and also the seasonal composition of household waste. The domestic and market solid wastes generated during a period of 48 days by a  sampling of 200 households and 40 market waste samples of different socio – economic characteristics were classified and weighed at source between March 2004 and April 2006. The household solid waste mainly consisted of putrescible waste (68.16%), paper  (12.46%), nylon (7.68%), Plastic (3.64%), glass (1.78%), metal (2.08%), and garden waste/grit (4.20%). The market waste consisted of putrescible waste (68.98%); paper (23.57%), nylon (3.92%), Plastic (1.77%) and metal (1.77%). The seasonal  composition shows a high generation of putrescible during the wet season and nylon during the dry season.Key words: Household waste, market waste, waste composition, Lagos metropolis

Network analysis of MERS coronavirus within households, communities, and hospitals to identify most centralized and super-spreading in the Arabian Peninsula, 2012 to 2016

Contact history is crucial during an infectious disease outbreak and vital when seeking to understand and predict the spread of infectious diseases in human populations. The transmission connectivity networks of people infected with highly contagious Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in Saudi Arabia were assessed to identify super-spreading events among the infected patients between 2012 and 2016. Of the 1379 MERS cases recorded during the study period, 321 (23.3%) cases were linked to hospital infection, out of which 203 (14.7%) cases occurred among healthcare workers. There were 1113 isolated cases while the number of recorded contacts per MERS patient is between 1 () and 17 (), with a mean of 0.27 (SD = 0.76). Five super-important nodes were identified based on their high number of connected contacts worthy of prioritization (at least degree of 5). The number of secondary cases in each SSE varies (range, 5–17). The eigenvector centrality was significantly () associated with place of exposure, with hospitals having on average significantly higher eigenvector centrality than other places of exposure. Results suggested that being a healthcare worker has a higher eigenvector centrality score on average than being nonhealthcare workers. Pathogenic droplets are easily transmitted within a confined area of hospitals; therefore, control measures should be put in place to curtail the number of hospital visitors and movements of nonessential staff within the healthcare facility with MERS cases

Effect of Escherichia coli endotoxin on Archachatina marginata haemolymph coagulation system

The effect of _E. coli_ endotoxin on the heamolymph coagulation response of _Archachatina marginata_ was studied. Heamocyte Lysate(HL), Haemocyte Lysate Supernatant(HLS) and Haemocyte Lysate Debris (HLD) were exposed to _Escherichia coli_ endotoxin. Controls were prepared with endotoxin-free water(&#x3c;0.025 EU/ml). The differential protein coagulation was estimated in each mixture. Fractions of the haemolymph exposed to endotoxin produced higher protein coagulates than endotoxin-free fractions when incubated at 37 &#xb0;C for 1 h (p&#x3c;0.05). The results showed significantly higher (p&#x3c;0.05) concentrations of protein coagulated when HL/plasma mixture were used than when either fraction was used. At a ratio 1:1 of HL:Plasma, highest protein coagulation was recorded. This study revealed that maximum protein coagulation in response to endotoxin was elicited by a synergy between plasma and haemocyte lysate(HL). From this research haemolymph fractions of Archachatina marginata may provide an alternative test material for endotoxin in medical preparations in the future

Lapses in Education Policy Formulation Processes in Nigeria: Implications for the Standard of Education

Nigeria’s Education Policy is quite laudable yet her investments in education are not too rewarding considering the deteriorating educational standards. The poor performance of the education sector in Nigeria, which is evident in the falling in standard of education and poor quality, has become very worrisome. What is the problem? Is the educational policy formulation process faulty? What are the implications for educational standard? These are the issues explored in this paper, based on literature review approach. The findings blame the falling in the educational standard and poor quality on the ineffective implementation of education policy engendered primarily by lapses in the policy formulation process. These lapses include lack of indigenous education policy, lack of adequate implementation strategy, non-involvement of stakeholders, especially the teachers, in the policy formulation process, lack of continuity of the policy implementation and lack of political will. These lapses have serious effects on the implementation of education policy and consequently on the standard of Education in Nigeria. The paper recommends the discontinuation of the National Policy on Education fashioned after the American system and adopt an educational policy which takes into consideration the cultural values of Nigerian people and Nigeria environment. Adequate human and material resources that will facilitate proper and result oriented implementation should be put in place before the implementation begins. In addition, stakeholders, especially the teacher should be consulted and be involved in the educational policy formulation and education policy should be nurtured to maturity before summative evaluation is carried out. Sustained political will and eradication of corruption are necessary for effective policy implementation and should be maintained. Key words: Policy formulation, policy implementation, standard of education, implications

Biochemical response of sweet potato to bemul-wax coating combined with calcium chloride treatment during ambient storage

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas Linn) tuber is a very nutritious but highly perishable crop that is subject to high wastages due to non-availability of appropriate storage techniques. This work assessed the effectiveness of treating the tubers with calcium chloride dip (CCD), bemul-wax (B-wax) and their combinations (CCD/B-wax) at ambient storage conditions (24.9 ± 4.0°C and 44.6 ± 18.4% RH). Some biochemical parameters of each treated sample were assessed and compared with the control for 20 days storage period. There were significant reductions (P &lt; 0.05) in weight loss by B-wax and CCD/Bwax. CCD and CCD/B-wax caused significant reductions in pH, total amino acid and pectin esterase. Also, all the treatments caused significant reductions in ascorbic acid, phenylalanine ammonia lyase, α- Amylase and alcohol dehydrogenase activities. There were significant reductions in polyphenol oxidase activity by B-wax. In conclusion, while all the treatments proved to be effective to varying degrees, CCD/B-wax seemed to be the most effective in preventing spoilage in the tuber.Keywords: Biochemistry, storage, bemul-wax, calcium chloride dip, combined agent, sweet potat

Business Revolution through Corporate Entreprenuership

This paper examines corporate entrepreneurship as a tool for economic prosperity in the global arena from the standpoint of the roles to be played by the business organizations.The global economy is creating profound and substantial changes for organizations and industries throughout the world. In times of global crisis and increasing pressures on companies to follow strategies for a competitive position on the global markets, many top management executives have to apply different approaches referred to  as corporate entrepreneurship and the creation and maintenance of knowledge networks. Many organizations are increasingly looking to “corporate entrepreneurship” as a way of combating the lethargy and    bureaucracy that often  accompany size due to the fact that for organizations to grow and survive they must change and adapt to increasing competition, client needs and the economic climate in which they live.Corporate entrepreneurship is defined as entrepreneurship activities within an existing Company. It involves innovative activities and orientations such as development of new products services, technologies, administrative techniques, strategies and competitive postures.  It has been recognized as an important element in organizational and economic development, performance and wealth creation. It characterizes a new management philosophy that promotes strategic agility, flexibility, creativity, and continuous innovation with the aim of transforming administrative-oriented employees into intrapreneurs. It can be a powerful antidote to large company staleness, lack of innovation, stagnated top-line growth, and the inertia that often overtakes the large, mature companies of the world. Four broad typologies or categories of corporate entrepreneurship have been identified in the literature namely: Corporate venturing; Intrapreneuring; Organizational transformation; and Industry rule-breaking. Welcome to the world of corporate entrepreneurship. Keywords: Corporate Entrepreneurship; Business Renewal; Employment Generation; Economic Growth and Development

Chrysen-2-ol derivative from West Indian wood nettle Laportea aestuans (L.) Chew inhibits oxidation and microbial growth in vitro

Bio-active compounds present in West Indian Wood Nettle Laportea aestuans (L.) Chew (Urticaceae), used in ethno medicine as antioxidant and antimicrobial were studied. The aim of this research work was to isolate and characterize the bio-active compounds in the n-hexane fraction of L. aestuans, determine the toxicity and subject it to in-vitro antimicrobial and free radical scavenging activities. The chemical constituents were isolated by gradient elution column chromatographic technique and Ultra Violet/visible (UV), Infrared (IR) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopies were used for structural elucidation. The free radical scavenging activity of the isolate was assessed using three methods; scavenging effect on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), hydroxyl radical generated from hydrogen peroxide and ferric thiocynate method. Antimicrobial screening was done by agar well diffusion method while toxicity was determined by Brine shrimp lethality test. Structures were proposed for the white crystalline solids isolated; (4E)-3,6-dimethylhep-4-en-3-ol (AB) and 1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,6a,7,8,9,10,10a,10b,11-hexadecahydro-1,1,6a,10b-tetramethyl-7-((E)-4,7-dimethyloct-5-enyl) chrysen-2-ol (AC). Percentage yield of AC was 91.2 and was non-toxic with LC50 (μg/ml) value of 1581233000.0. AC significantly scavenged free radical at 0.0625 mg/ml in the DPPH (64.73 %) and hydrogen peroxide (99.22 %) tests. It also showed 65.23 % inhibition at 1.0 mg/ml in the ferric thiocyanate test. AC also inhibited microbial growth significantly when compared with gentamicin and tioconazole which are antibacterial and antifungal standards respectively. The presence of Chrysen-2-ol derivative in L. aestuans which was non-toxic and possessed significant antimicrobial and antioxidant activities supports its ethno medicinal application