Influence of water extract of Mexican sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia) on growth of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata)

Laboratory analysis of the water extract of Tithonia diversifolia shoot and root on infra-red spectrometer to determine the phytotoxic potential and greenhouse experiments to evaluate its phytotoxic effect and growth promoting attribute on cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) were carried out. T. diversifolia contained some compounds having functional groups such as alcohols, olefins, six-membered ring lactams, ester, aromatic compound which can also be found in sesquiterpene lactones, an allelochemical implicated in phytotoxicity. The extract promoted seedling and plant growth. Bacillus and Streptococcus spp. earlier isolated from the root rhizosphere of T. diversifolia caused some changes in the spectra of the component compounds in the extract. The plant extract promoted growth of cowpea.African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (4), pp. 355-360, 200

Sea floor bedforms and their influence on slope accommodation (2019)

We sincerely thank Petroleum Geo-Services (PGS) Investigação Petrolífera Limitada, and specifically David Hajovsky and Scott Opdyke, that kindly provided the dataset and allowed us to show these results. We would also like to thank Schlumberger for providing academic licenses of their software (Petrel). We are grateful to Associate Editor Kei Ogata for his support, and we sincerely thank reviewers Daniele Casalbore and Kamaldeen Omosanya for their comments and suggestions that significantly improved the quality of the manuscript.Peer reviewedPostprin

Ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and biological activities of the African species of the genus Ficus L

The genus Ficus is one of the largest genera of the mulberry family (Moraceae) consisting of about 800 species of woody trees, shrubs, vines and climbers collectively known as ‘figs’ occurring in most tropical and subtropical forests worldwide. Fig plants are known for their ethnopharmacological, therapeutic and commercial importance and have been used in traditional medicines as a cure against malaria, diabetes, cancer, diarrhea, pyretic, ulcer, as well as gastrointestinal and urinary tract infections. Therefore, the present review aims to offer an updated compendium of documents sourced from recent publications regarding ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and biological activities of nine selected African Ficus species with the aim to open new prospects and strategies for further pharmacological research as a remedy for various ailments and for drug development

Effects of Magnesium Variation and Heat Treatment on Mechanical and Micro-Structural Properties of Ductile Cast Iron

The effects of magnesium variation and austempering heat treatment on mechanical and microstructural properties of ductile iron produced using the rotary furnace were investigated. Varied quantity of magnesium-ferrosilicon in the range of 0.03 % to 0.06 % were used as nodulirizer to treat 4 kg mass of molten metal per ladle by sandwich process and poured into sand mould.  Mechanical test (tensile, hardness, fatigue, impact and wear) and micro-structural examinations were carried out on the four samples produced. Samples C and D of 0.056% and 0.061% magnesium showed an improvement in their micro-structural properties due to the presence of more graphite nodules. Hence, they were observed to have exhibited better tensile strength of 598.07MPa and 609.03MPa. The fatigue strength also increased to 501.91MPa and 509.27MPa respectively. These two samples were further subjected to austempering heat treatment by heating to 850ºC for austenitization and soaked for homogenization for one hour at the temperature before quickly transferred into a salt bath of 50 % NaNO3 : 50 % NaCl maintained at 3600C and quenched for transformation for 1 hour before finally air cooled. Mechanical tests and micro-structural examinations were thereafter carried out. Sample C had an outstanding increase in tensile strength, from 598.07MPa to 891.22MPa, while specimen D increased from 609.03MPa to 898.76MPa. The results of abrasion test indicated that samples C and D had abrasion resistance increase from 2.20×10¹¹m² and 2.39×10¹¹m² to 2.35×10¹¹m² and 2.68×10¹¹ m² respectively after austempering. There were also relative increase in fatigue resistance and impact toughness for the two samples but with relative reduction in hardness from 47.7 to 44.2 and 50.3 to 47.4

Household Level Factors Responsible for Gender Poverty Among Cassava Farmers in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State

Poverty is multidimensional, enduring and is prevailing not only globally, but also particular cultural, political and economic features of a specific country increasing it. The gulf between haves and have-nots has lingered. Gender disparities, inequality, spatial dimensions, political instability, week institutions and lack of spiritual capital causes the poverty. The objective of this study was to examine the determinants of poverty among cassava producing households by gender of household heads in Odeda local government area of Ogun state. A total of 120 cassava farming household comprising of 76 male headed households and 46 female headed households were interviewed using structured questionnaire, in obtaining information from them. The study revealed that there is a positive relationship between the household size and poverty status for both the female headed households and male headed households and also the age of the household head has a negative relationship with the poverty status of the female household while farm experience and off farm activities were negatively related to the poverty status among the male household. Also, it was found out that neither of the households dominates one another in the poverty analysis. It was concluded that the household size of both the male and female households is an important determinant of poverty status as it was significant to the poverty status of the respondents.&nbsp

STOCHASTIC MODEL ANALYSIS OF THE IMPACT OF MEDIA CAMPAIGN ON TRANSMISSION OF COVID – 19 EPIDEMIC.

The COVID - 19 pandemic is currently causing authorities and public health officials more concern. The goal of the project is to convert a deterministic model for COVID-19 transmissions to a stochastic model, and then analyze the results to see how media-driven awareness campaigns have an impact on the disease's spread. The dynamic COVID-19 model was converted to a stochastic model, which was then examined. The model includes the following categories: Susceptible (S), Exposed (E), Infected class (I),  Isolated class ( ), Aware class  and Recovered class (R), as well as the Cumulative density of awareness programs by media denoted by   . With the help of MATLAB, the converted model is then numerically solved using the Eula Maruyama approach, allowing the existence and uniqueness of the model to be examined. The implementation of awareness programs has been found to have a significant positive impact on the spread of COVID-19. As the rate of implementation of these programs rises, the population that is exposed to the virus and those who are infected with it declines, and it has been hypothesized that this will eventually cause COVID-19 to become extinct. According to the report, putting awareness campaigns into place can help stop the COVID-19 epidemic from spreading

Job Satisfaction, and Psychological Distress Among Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) Personnel Deployed for Operation Hadin Kai in Yobe State

The study assessed the relationship between job satisfaction and depression, anxiety and stress among Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) personnel deployed for Operation Hadin Kai in Yobe state. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted to obtain information from three hundred and twenty-five (325) personnel using purposive sampling method. Job Description Index (Smith, Kendall & Hulin, 1969) and the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (Lovidond & Lovibond, 1995) were adopted in the study. Majority of the respondents had moderate level of depression, (n=103, 31.7%) and 31 (9.5%) had extremely severe depression. Also, majority of the respondents had high level of anxiety, 111 (34.2%). Furthermore, majority of the respondents had normal level of stress, 149 (45.8%). In respect to job satisfaction, majority of the respondents had low level of satisfaction with their job, 297 (91.4%). Also, there was a slight majority of the respondents who were satisfied with their pay 165 (50.8%) as compared to those that were not, 160 (49.2%). For promotion, majority were not satisfied, 308 (94.8%). Low satisfaction with supervisor also had a majority of 308 (94.8%) and also, majority were not satisfied with their co-workers, 316 (97.2%).  Gender (X=6.660, p<.05), Age (X =6.781, p<.05) and Rank (X =3.799, p<.05) were significant predictors of job satisfaction while psychological distress (X =3.265, p>.05), religion (X =2.635, p>.05) and marital status (X =.640, p>.05) were not found to be significant. Personnel of the NSCDC in Yobe were shown to have feelings of low satisfaction about their job with high psychological distress. Psychosocial interventions should be instituted by the military institution in collaboration with the NSCDC authorities to boost the morale of their personnel deployed to protect the integrity of the nation. Keywords:Job Satisfaction, Psychological Distress, Depression, Anxiety, Stress, DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/11-16-03 Publication date:August 31st 202

Women have enhanced bone loss associated with phosphaturia and CD4+ cell restoration during initial antiretroviral therapy

OBJECTIVE: We compared bone mineral density (BMD) changes and their correlates, between men and women participating in two randomized trials of initial [antiretroviral therapy (ART)] regimens, with or without tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF). METHODS: Covariates in linear regression models of 48-week hip and spine %BMD changes, by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, included baseline and 48-week changes in plasma viral load, CD4 cells, plasma C-terminal telopeptide, procollagen 1 N-terminal propeptide and glomerular filtration rates, and the 48-week area under the curve of fractional excretion of phosphate. RESULTS: Despite overall hip and spine BMD declines of 2.8 and 2.9%, respectively, plasma viral load suppression to less than 50 vs. at least 50 copies/ml was associated 1.0% (P = 0.02) and 0.8% (P = 0.01) less BMD decline. Women had lower baseline spine (P = 0.04; n = 59 women, 418 men) and hip BMD (P = 0.01) in adjusted models, with 1.7% more hip decline on ART than men (P = 0.001). Serum phosphate was positively associated with baseline spine BMD in women (P = 0.03) but not men, and area under the curve of fractional excretion of phosphate was negatively associated with spine BMD changes, particularly in women randomized to TDF regimens (P = 0.03 and 0.054 for interactions by sex, and randomization to TDF vs. non-TDF regimens, respectively; n = 44 women, 326 men). Women also had 0.6% (P = 0.004) more hip BMD decline than men associated with each 100 CD4 cells/μl increase on ART (P = 0.02; n = 49 women, 379 men). CONCLUSION: Women randomized to TDF-containing ART had accentuated spine loss associated with phosphaturia, and accentuated hip loss associated with CD4 restoration, regardless of TDF exposure. Viral load suppression reduced bone loss

Clinical use of HIV integrase inhibitors : a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Optimal regimen choice of antiretroviral therapy is essential to achieve long-term clinical success. Integrase inhibitors have swiftly been adopted as part of current antiretroviral regimens. The purpose of this study was to review the evidence for integrase inhibitor use in clinical settings. Methods: MEDLINE and Web-of-Science were screened from April 2006 until November 2012, as were hand-searched scientific meeting proceedings. Multiple reviewers independently screened 1323 citations in duplicate to identify randomized controlled trials, nonrandomized controlled trials and cohort studies on integrase inhibitor use in clinical practice. Independent, duplicate data extraction and quality assessment were conducted. Results: 48 unique studies were included on the use of integrase inhibitors in antiretroviral therapy-naive patients and treatment-experienced patients with either virological failure or switching to integrase inhibitors while virologically suppressed. On the selected studies with comparable outcome measures and indication (n = 16), a meta-analysis was performed based on modified intention-to-treat (mITT), on-treatment (OT) and as-treated (AT) virological outcome data. In therapy-naive patients, favorable odds ratios (OR) for integrase inhibitor-based regimens were observed, (mITT OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.59-0.86). However, integrase inhibitors combined with protease inhibitors only did not result in a significant better virological outcome. Evidence further supported integrase inhibitor use following virological failure (mITT OR 0.27; 95% CI 0.11-0.66), but switching to integrase inhibitors from a high genetic barrier drug during successful treatment was not supported (mITT OR 1.43; 95% CI 0.89-2.31). Integrase inhibitor-based regimens result in similar immunological responses compared to other regimens. A low genetic barrier to drug-resistance development was observed for raltegravir and elvitegravir, but not for dolutegravir. Conclusion: In first-line therapy, integrase inhibitors are superior to other regimens. Integrase inhibitor use after virological failure is supported as well by the meta-analysis. Careful use is however warranted when replacing a high genetic barrier drug in treatment-experienced patients switching successful treatment