Attitude of crop farmers towards e-wallet platform of the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme for input delivery in Oke-Ogun area of Oyo state

E-wallet-powered Growth Enhancement Support Scheme was designed by the Nigerian Government to facilitate and improve farmers’ prompt access to agricultural information and input services. An assessment of the pilot phase of the scheme becomes necessary for an effective implementation. The study therefore assessed the attitude of crop farmers towards the e-wallet platform of the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme. A total of 120 crop farmers across the study area were sampled through a simple random sampling method. Data were collected through a well-structured interview schedule, and analysed using percentages, PPMC and Chi-square. Farmers’ mean age was 47 years. Majority were males, married and have an average of 15 years farming experience. Maize and cassava were the most grown crops. Majority indicated non commitment of the ADP and long distance to redemption centre as major constraints to use of e-wallet. More than half had favourable attitude towards the e-wallet platform of the Scheme. There is significant relationship between the years of farming and educational level with farmers’ attitude towards the e-wallet. Constraints faced also had negative influence on attitude to the scheme. Establishment of more redemption centres to stop the rigor of long queues and reduce long distance covered before accessing the centres will make prompt access to information targeted by e-wallet achieve desired end.</jats:p

PRELIMINARY STUDIES ON RED BELLY TILAPIA COPTODON ZILLII CAUGHT FROM OYAN DAM, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

The study was carried out on the biological aspect of Redbelly Tilapia, Coptodon zillii collected from Oyan Lake, Abeokuta North Local Government Area, Ogun State, Nigeria, with the aim of contributing to the baseline data for carrying out further studies on its ecology, conservation and development. A total of two hundred and fifty four fish (254) specimens were caught from the Ibaro landing site of the Lake between March and July, 2015. The total length (cm), standard length (cm), head length (cm), body width (cm), body depth (cm), snout length (cm), eye diameter (cm) and body weight (g) were measured. The stomach content was also assessed in order to determine its food and feeding habit. The mean total-length, standard-length, head-length, eye-diameter, snout-length, body-depth, body-width and body-weight during the study were 10.98±0.61cm, 8.56±0.14cm, 2.5±0.08cm, 3.67±0.15cm, 1.52±0.11cm,1.37±0.17cm, 4.05±0.07cm, 34.25±3.02g respectively and their ranges were (4.5-18.7cm), (3.2-15.2cm), (1.1-5.8cm), (2.0-6.8cm), (0.8-3.0cm), (1.1-4.8cm), (1.4-7.3cm) and (6.0-132.0g). A negative allometric (b&lt;3) growth pattern was observed for the stock. The meristic characteristics of C. zillii were (DFR) XIV 10 – XVI 14; PVR, AFR III 8 –III 9; PFR 10 – 13 respectively. Stomach analysis showed that diatoms were the most abundant food items in the diet of C. zillii numerically, 29.98%, while desmids were the most abundant food items in terms of frequency occurrence, 27.82%. This study concluded that C. zillii is not morphometrically and meristically different from the already classified from previous studies. Also, C. zillii thrives well on available plants and detritus. &nbsp; &nbsp

Determinants of resumption of vaginal intercourse in puerperium period in Ogbomoso: consideration for early use of contraceptives

Background: Early postpartum period for mothers is characterized with high demand for neonatal care, adjusting to sudden withdrawal of hormones of pregnancy and dealing with sexual desires of the husband. The study aimed at determines the timing, factors influencing postpartum resumption of vaginal intercourse and the contraceptive usage.Methods: Women in puerperium were interviewed with structured questionnaire on their socio-demographic status, obstetric history, sexual activities, contraception usage and reason for sexual abstinence.Results: About 40% (143) of participants had resumed vaginal intercourse within puerperium with mean resumption period of 3.2 ± 1.8 weeks. Only 12% (48) of them used modern contraceptive. Educational status (P <0.001); occupation (P <0.001); educational status of the husband (P <0.001); occupation of the husband (P <0.001); parity (P <0.05); husband’s income (P <0.05) and use of modern contraception (P <0.001) showed significant statistical difference between the women who had resumed vaginal sexual intercourse and those who have not. Logistic regression showed that educational status of the participants (OR = 0.48, CI = 0.246-0.938; P = 0.032) and parity (OR = 0.34, CI = 0.196-0.591; P = 0.001) were the most significant factors associated with early resumption of vaginal intercourse. One hundred and eighty-five (72%) of women who were yet to resume coitus, did so because of fear of pregnancy.Conclusions: Significant number of women resumed vaginal intercourse during the puerperium despite low contraception usage. There is need to initiate a contraception method before discharge home following delivery.  

Response of Guinea Grass (\u3cem\u3ePanicum maximum\u3c/em\u3e Jacq) to Application of Cow Dung in South West Nigeria

The yield of forage species from the world\u27s grazing land is limited by poor soil and unproductive species (Jones & Wild, 1975; Cooke, 1982). The use of manure on pasture land not only represents a low cost disposal method but also a means of recycling nutrients for plant growth and counteracting the decreasing organic matter content in most agricultural soils. In agro-pastoral production systems, the interaction between crops and livestock is important. Manures are used mainly to complement inorganic fertiliser in the production of food crops. There is a dearth of information on the response of pasture grass to application of cow dung and so the response of two Panicum maximum ecotypes to cow dung was evaluate

Genistein Precipitated Hypothyroidism, Altered Leptin and C-Reactive Protein Synthesis in Pregnant Rats

Summary: Genistein is an isoflavone constituent of soya. This study examined the mechanism by which genistein produced adverse effects in pregnant laboratory rats. Pregnant rats were divided into control (Con) and genistein (Gen) force fed (2 mg/kg) groups. At terminal gestation day (GD) ranging from 0-20, the rats were sacrificed, and blood samples and amniotic fluids were collected. Thyroid hormone, C-reactive protein (CRP) and leptin assay was carried using the blood samples. Leptin was also assayed in the placenta and amniotic fluid supernatant. Oral exposure of pregnant rats to genistein significantly altered maternal T3, (GD18; Con 1.65 ± 0.01, Gen 1.03 ± 0.04 nmol/L), T4 (GD6; Con 29.60 ± 0.00, Gen 36.04 ± 1.29 nmol/L), Leptin (Placenta GD20; Con 0.08 ± 0.01, Gen 0.31 ± 0.02 ng/ml, amniotic fluid ;GD 20; Con 0.02 ± 0.00, Gen 0.35 ± 0.05 ng/ml) in genistein group. These changes were accompanied with loss of embryonic implants and a decrease in fetal and placental weights. The CRP level was significantly decreased and increased at the onset and toward late pregnancy respectively. Oral exposure of pregnant rats to genistein precipitated hypothyroidism, altered some metabolic hormones with a reduction in fetal and placental growth and increased resorption of embryonic implants.Keywords: Genistein, embryonic implants, pregnancy, thyroid hormone, leptin, C - reactive protein

Métastases gastro-intestinales du cancer du sein: à propos de 2 cas

Le cancer du sein est le cancer le plus fréquent chez la femme, notamment au Maroc, avec un taux de mortalité élevé. Les métastases gastro- intestinales d'un carcinome canalaire du sein sont rares. Leur diagnostic est difficile du fait de la nature non spécifique des symptômes. Nous rapportons deux observations originales de métastases gastroduodénales d´un cancer canalaire infiltrant du sein. Les métastases gastro-intestinales du cancer du sein sont très rares ; la présence de symptômes gastro-intestinaux chez une malade ayant un antécédent de cancer du sein doit faire suspecter une atteinte métastatique gastro-intestinale.Key words: Cancer du sein, métastases gastrique, métastases duodénale

EFFECTS OF COOKING CONDITIONS ON THE TEXTURE PROFILE, SENSORY AND PROXIMATE QUALITIES OF PRESSURE COOKED BAMBARA NUTS

This study evaluated the effects of pressure cooking on the textural attributes of Bambara nuts using Response Surface Methodology (RSM).The&nbsp; study optimized cooking condition {Weight of Bambara (250 – 1000g), cooking time (20 -90 min) and post cooking resident time (2-12 min)} for the pressure boiling on the textural and qualities of Bambara. Five out of the eleven optimised solutions (Desirability Index range of 0.919 to 0.936) were compared with samples from conventionally boiled Bambara for proximate and sensory (colour, texture, aroma and Overall acceptance) qualities.&nbsp; Data were analysed using RSM, analysis of variance and PPMC. Models for hardness, springiness, cohesiveness, fracturability and sensory texture with adjusted R2 values of 83.41%, 80.99%, 67.37% ,&nbsp; 93,75%&nbsp; and&nbsp; 88.96%&nbsp; respectively adequately explained the textural and sensory qualities of boiled bambara. The range of values for moisture, fat, ash, crude protein and carbohydrate were 47.88, 2.24, 1.98, 24.30, 20.91 % to 50.58, 2.58, 2.19, 25.49, 21.87% respectively.&nbsp; Boiled Bambara produced at verified optimisation solutions (527.62g, 82.55, 10.43 min and 591.69g, 82.96, 9.52 minutes) were not significantly different (p &gt;0.05) from that produced by conventional&nbsp; method (weight and Cooking time: 500g and 125 min.) in spite of the relatively longer cooking time&nbsp; of the later. &nbsp; &nbsp

ENGINEERING AND GEOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF ROCKS FOR CONCRETE PRODUCTION

Engineering and geological properties of rocks from eight different quarries in Ibadan were evaluated to determine their suitability for concrete production. Samples from each quarry sites were subjected to grading, relative density, water absorption, bulk density, amount of materials finer than 75μm, flakiness and elongation Index, Aggregate Impact Value (AIV), Aggregate Crushing Value (ACV), Aggregate Abrasion Value (AAV), 10% fines value and petrographical analysis adopting BS testing methods. The relationship between engineering properties with one another and the petrographical characteristics were described by Pearson correlation coefficient and bar charts. The results of engineering analysis revealed that rocks from all the quarries are generally sound and good because of their possession of necessary characteristics for use in concrete production when compared with British (BS), Indian (IS) and American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards. Petrographical analyses revealed that samples which have performed better in all the engineering tests possess higher content of quartz mineral and finer texture. Statistically significant correlations were found among the tests performed