Effect of Environmental Factors on the Growth of Aspergillus Species Associated with Stored Millet Grains in Sokoto.

Fungi constitute a major problem in the storage of agricultural products especially cereals. In the present study, the effects of light, relative humidity and temperature on the growth of Aspergillus species (Aspergillus candidus, A. flavus, A. fumigatus, A. niger and A.oryzae) associated with stored millet grains were investigated. Light stimulus had no significant effect on the mycelial growth of the fungi. Of the relative humidity regimes tested, 85% and 100% were the most favourable for the growth of Aspergillus species. Growth was generally poor at 32.5 and 50.5% relative humidities. There were significant (p < 0.05) differences in the growth of Aspergillus species with respect to temperature regimes. Generally, high growth was obtained under incubation temperatures of 30°C and 35°C. Cereals in general and millet grains in particular exposed to high humidity and temperature range of 30°C and 35°C may be susceptible to contamination by Aspergillus species.Keywords: Aspergillus species; environmental conditions; millet; storageNigerian Journal of Basic and Applied Science (2011), 19(2):218-22

Relationship of Soilborne Mycoflora of Cassava Growing Fields to Incidence of Postharvest Rots of Cassava Tubers in Sokoto, Nigeria

In this study the fungi associated with cassava growing fields in Sokoto were isolated and identified using soil dilution technique. A total of 215 fungal colonies from 9 fungal species were isolated from soil samples of different cassava fields between the month of June and August, 2012. It was observed that soil samples from Lambara recorded the highest number (64) of fungal species followed by Damba and the least number (44) of fungal species was observed in Wamakko.The fungi isolated were Alternaria species, Aspergillus Niger, Aspergillus fumigatus, Cylindrocarpon lichenicola, Fusarium oxysporum, Geotrichum candidum, Mucor hiemalis, Rhizopus orgyzae and Scopulariopsis candida.The highest percentage frequency of occurrence was observed in Aspergillus Niger (39.5%) seconded by Fusarium oxysporum (18.2%) and the least was seen in Rhizopus oryzae ( 2.3%). The pathogenicity test indicated that all the fungal isolates were pathogenic on cassava tubers.The fungus M. hiemalis is the most pathogenic followed by F. oxysporum and the least was recorded by R. oryzae. Therefore, it would be concluded that there is relationship between soilborne fungi and incidence of postharvest rots of cassava tubers

A Mathematical Model on the Dynamics of Poverty and Prostitution in Nigeria

In this paper, we propose a compartmental mathematical model that tracks the dynamic of poverty and prostitution in Nigeria. Our model incorporates an infected compartment that allows for a non-violent approach of government interventions. The stability of the system is analyzed for the existence of the prostitution free equilibrium. We established that there exist a prostitution free equilibrium point that is locally asymptotically stable when the reproduction number  and unstable when . Result in this paper shows that high rate of government interventions will reduce to the barest minimum the number of members in both poverty and prostitution class. Keywords: Mathematical model, Poverty, Prostitution, Stability Analysis, Reproduction numbe

Review Article: Health Care Environment: A War-zone

No Abstract

Amelioration of Purple Blotch Disease in Onion (Allium cepa L.) Seedlings with Organic Soil Amendments

Pot experiments with transplanted onion seedlings were evaluated for management of purple blotch disease. Sets of 100,150 and 200g of poultry droppings, cattle dung, neem leaves, rice husk and a mixture of rice husk and poultry droppings (1:1) were incorporated per kilogram of soil. Spore suspension of Alternaria porri (5x105) was also applied to the rhizosphere of the onion seedlings. Common symptoms of purple blotch (elliptical purple lesions, wilting and defoliation) were assessed. Poultry dropping amendment was most effective; reducing lesions to 15± 3.6% from 85± 2.6%, wilting reduced to 20± 4.0% from 70± 3.0% and defoliation to zero from 60± 3.5%. The amendments, especially at the concentration of 150 and 200g/kg soil reduced symptoms severity compared to control. Onion farming should be complemented with application of degradable organic materials, especally poultry droppings and cattle dung, to reduce the incidence and severity of purple blotch disease

Suspension of Justice Isa Ayo Salami: Implications for Rule of Law, Judicial Independence and Constitutionalism

The suspension of Justice Ayo Salami, President of the Court of Appeal (PCA) opened a new dimension in the Nigerian judiciary; it is the first of its kind at that level. The National Judicial Council (NJC) initiated the suspension and the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria endorsed it. The paper is concerned with implications of the suspension for the rule of law, constitutionalism and judicial independence. The paper argues that the suspension was unconstitutional for procedural irregularity and further reveals that the mechanisms provided by the constitution to guarantee judicial independence are inadequate and ineffective. It also shows that the much-needed independence of judiciary from the political branches in particular, to a greater extent, depends on internal independence which again largely depends on the leadership of the judiciary and the National Judicial Council. This invariably suggests that for there to be independence from the political branches and internal interference there must be a courageous, just, fearless and pro-active leadership of the judiciary and a more independent Judicial Council, and calls for an amendment to the constitution in that direction

Potency of Trichoderma aureoviride UPM 09 and Fusarium equiseti UPM 09 in the pretreatment and hydrolysis of lignocelluolosic biomass

Two new strains of fungi, namely, Trichoderma aureoviride UPM 09 and Fusarium equiseti UPM 09 were isolated from elephant dung and identified morphologically and through the use of molecular assay. Their genomic DNA was extracted using Epicenter kit®. PCR amplification of their genomic DNA was successfully conducted with BIOMETRA Tpersonal/Tprofessional Thermocycler  (Germany) using ITS-1 forward primer (5’ TCC GTA GGT GAA CCT GCG G3’) and the ITS-4 reverse primer (5’ GCT GCG TTC TTC TTG ATC GAT GC 3’). The sequences of the fungal strains were deposited in the NCBI (USA) Gen Bank Database and were assigned accession numbers (in parenthesis) and were identified as Trichoderma aureoviride strain UPM 09 (JN811063) and  Fusarium equiseti strain UPM 09 (JN811061). The two fungal strains individually and in consortium were then used for the  pretreatment of rice husk (RH), rubber wood saw dust (RW) and oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) using solid state cultivation (SSC) and submerged cultivation (SMC). The amount of glucose, reducing sugars and protein from the pretreated lignocellulose biomass was determined using glucose analyzer, DNS reagent and Biorad assay, respectively. The result of this study, therefore, shows that native fungi possess potentials for use in the pretreatment of lignocelluloses biomass.Key Words: pretreatment, lignocellulose, biomass, fungi, cultivation, reducing suga

Fibonacci Random Number Generator using Lehmer’s Algorithm

The uniqueness of Fibonacci sequence is been discussed with particular emphasis on its application to random number generation. The Lehmer’s algorithm was employed using fibonacci prime. For multiplier , initial seed, modulus and multiplier, initial seed, modulus , we generate random numbers with full period . This suggest that higher values of Fibonacci primes with appropriate choice of a full multiplier , modulus (fibonacci prime) and a starting seed  will produce a full period with finite countable many random numbers. A run test also indicates that the random numbers generated using modulus m as fibonacci prime are truly random Keywords: Fibonacci sequence, Fibonacci prime, Random numbers generator, Lehmer’s Algorithm, run tes

Modeling the Grade Point Average (GPA) System in Nigerian Universities

We proposed a mathematical model that captures students’ academic progress via the GPA evaluation system. Our purpose is to understand the effect of failing a course (carryovers), low grade point and probation on the overall academic progress (CGPA) of students. The model is analyzed for the existence and stability of the student progress free equilibrium (SPFE) state. Stability analysis revealed that the model is locally asymptotically stable under certain conditions on the model parameters. A quantitative analysis using numerical experiments with the Maple software was also carried out. From the result of this work, there is a direct relationship between high grade point and high GPA and low grade point and low GPA. Students with high CGPA on a consistent manner tend to graduate in the fourth year while students with low grade and failing courses graduate in the fifth or sixth year. The GPA system goes hand in hand with the semester and course credit system, hence the need for students to understand the functionalities of the impact of the credit system on his overall academic progress. Keywords: Mathematical Model, Course credit system, Semester system, Grade Point Average (GPA) system, Student Academic Progres

Prevalence of Intestinal Helminth Infections among School Children in Relation to Occupation of Parents and Toilets Facilities in Maru L. G. A. Zamfara State.

The Study was conducted to study the prevalence of soil transmitted helminth parasites among school age children in Maru L. G. A. Zamfara State. A total 600 hundred school children between the ages of 4- 14 years were examined for Intestinal helminth infections using formol ether concentration technique. A total of 152 (25.33%) were found to be infected with various species of intestinal helminth parasites. The study showed five common intestinal worms in the area. Ascaris lumbricoides has the highest prevalence of 32.23% followed by Enterobius vermicularis (21.05%), Trichuiris trichuira (20.39%), Hook worm (13.81%) and Taenia spp (12.50%). Mixed Infections (29.60%) with some species of parasites were also encountered. The studies shows a significant difference between infection and the occupation of parents (P < 0.05). The study also showed that there was a significant relationship between infection and the  type of toilet facilities used (P < 0.05). Data suggested that soil transmitted helminths are important public health problems hence actions is imperative against deficiencies in sanitary facilities, improper disposal of human faeces, insufficient supplies of potable water, poor personal hygiene and health education