Multivariate Analysis of Seasonal Variation in Groundwater Quality within Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Southwestern Nigeria

This research work was aimed at analyzing the data of the seasonal variation of groundwater quality in the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB) environment using descriptive statistics and a covariance matrix analysis of the data set for both rainy and dry seasons to see the effect of the water quality parameters on each other. Cluster analysis was also carried out on the data set to check the level of the Euclidean distance between the water quality parameters. The data used for this analysis was secondary data obtained from groundwater sources (ten wells) within the University environment during the rainy and dry seasons respectively. It was observed that there is a slight variation in the quality of groundwater in the FUNAAB environment as regards the dry season and the rainy season. In the result of the cluster analysis, the water quality parameters are clustered into seven groups for the dry season and eight groups for the rainy season which indicate that the dissimilarities in the data set increase during the rainy season. It was observed that for the dry season covariance data, 36% of the values have a negative relationship within themselves and 64% has a positive relationship, as compared to the rainy season data which possesses a 31% negative relationship and a 69% positive relation. This implies that there is only a 5% variation in the entire data set of the dry season and the raining season as regards the interdependence of the water quality parameters on each other. Keywords: Groundwater, Physico-Chemical, Water Quality, Well

A mosquito (Anopheles stephensi) angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) is induced by a blood meal and accumulates in the developing ovary

AbstractAngiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) has a key role in regulating levels of several circulating peptides in mammals and has a vital role in male fertility. ACE has recently been found in insects, where its role is unclear. A mutant allele of the ACE gene (Ance) of Drosophila melanogaster is embryonic lethal, indicating an important role for the enzyme in development. We now report the presence of ACE in female Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes and that the enzyme is induced by a blood-meal. ACE accumulates in developing ovaries and passes into the mosquito eggs, where it may play a role in the metabolism of peptides during embryogenesis. The ovarian ACE has an Mr of 70 kDa and is inhibited by captopril and lisinopril with IC50 values of 0.1 μM and 0.6 μM, respectively

Sovereign Wealth Fund and Challenges of Fiscal Federalism in Nigeria

Following the passage of the Nigerian sovereign investment authority Act 2011, by the National Assembly, the federal Government acting pursuant to the Act, set up the fund. It is customary for the government to distribute all revenue accruing to her in the Federation Account between the federal, state and local government councils according to a set formula. The establishment of the sovereign wealth fund received attacks and protest by the governors of the federating states, thus, raising the unsettled question of the concept of federalism in Nigeria. The view of many is that the concept of the Nigerian federalism is not determined by the judicious power and revenue sharing formula, rather by the result of the imposed federal system of government by the colonial master and the subsequent military regimes is the base for the frequent disputes and quarrels between the states and federal government in some national issues. The formation of the Governor’s forum as an association of all the governors in Nigeria is to protect the states from the political and fiscal interference of the federal government. By virtue of the provision of the constitution, the concept of federalism was entrenched in that the sovereignty of the nation was divided between the federal, states and local governments. The exercise of the legislative and executive powers by the federal system, particularly, as these powers touch on the sharing of the country’s revenue between the federating units. And at several occasions, attempts were made by the federal government through the National Assembly negating the principles of true federalism. This review has attempted to highlight on related concepts, legal base for Nigeria’s fiscal federalism and its challenges. It also provides an analytical framework linking it to a suitable theory. The significant finding of the study is the fact that there is an imbalance in the federal system and structures of federating units in Nigeria. The implication of the finding is that there will continue to be a developmental lacuna and ethnic squabbles among the federating units if the imbalances are not corrected. Recommendations were also offered to ameliorate the imbalance system and establishment of the fund. Keywords: Sovereign Wealth Funds, Fiscal Federalism, Ethnic Squabbles, Federating unit, African Continent, Financial Management and Accounting

Publication of Library-Related Articles in Selected Nigerian Newspapers from 2011 to 2016: How Much of the Media Reportage?

Purpose: This study was carried out to investigate the publication of library-related articles in selected Nigerian Newspapers from 2011 to 2016. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study adopted content analysis as its research design. The frequency and prominence of library-related articles published from 2011 to 2016 in Nigerian newspapers were examined. Four newspapers were purposively selected from the best ten newspapers in circulation in Nigeria. A total of 8,644 editions of the newspapers constitute the population from where all the available publications in MOUAU library - 7,908 editions representing 91.5% of the population - formed the sample size. The instrument used for data collection was the code sheet while the data collected was analyzed within the context of the objectives of the study using simple frequency distribution table, percentages and numbers, for easy interpretation. Findings: The results of the study reveals that library-related articles were seldom published in Nigerian newspapers. Out of the 7,908 editions of the newspapers examined, only 960 library-related articles were published. This represents one library-related article in at least every 8 editions. Other findings are that: the number of library-related articles published in the newspapers progressively decreased between 2013 and 2016; This Day newspaper published the highest number of library-related articles; and news articles constitute majority of the library-related articles published in the newspapers. Recommendations: The study recommends, among others, that the Nigerian Library Association, the Association of University Librarians in Nigeria Universities, and other associations of heads of various libraries should, at their different fora, organize regular interactive sessions with the Nigerian Union of Journalists in general and the newspaper correspondents /journalists in particular to discuss, among others, the need for adequate coverage and proper placement of library issues in the newspapers. Keywords: Library; Newspaper; Nigerian Newspapers; Library-Related Articles

Chronic toxicity study of Pterocarpus santalinoides leaf extract in albino rats

Purpose: To investigate the possible toxic effects associated with prolonged use of Pterocarpus santalinoides leaf extract.Methods: Methanol leaf extract of Pterocarpus santalinoides (MEPS) was incorporated in rat feed at different doses (2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 mg/kg) for 90 days. On days 30, 60 and 90, blood was collected from the retro-orbital plexus of four rats that were randomly selected from each group (n = 14). Full blood count was done using an auto hematological analyzer, liver marker enzymes (AST, ALT and ALP) and kidney function parameters (serum urea and creatinine) were determined following standard methods as contained in Randox® test kits. The histopathological examination of the liver, kidney, lung and heart was also carried out.Results: MEPS did not cause significant (p > 0.05) changes in the body weight, relative organ weights and hematological indices of treated rats when compared with control. The extract (5.0 and 10.0 mg/kg) significantly (p < 0.05) increased the AST activity of the rats on day 90. Total bilirubin concentration was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced by all doses of MEPS, while serum urea and creatinine were significantly (p < 0.05) increased. Degeneration of hepatocytes and tubular epithelial cells of the kidney were observed in rats treated with MEPS at a dose of 10.0 mg/kg on days 60 and 90 of the study.Conclusion: MEPS does not cause significant toxicity in albino rats, when administered for a short duration. However, long term therapy with the extract precipitates liver and kidney damage

Assessment of the antidiabetic potential of Pterocarpus santalinoides extract in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Purpose: To establish the pharmacological basis for the antidiabetic use of Pterocarpus santalinoides.Methods: Alloxan-induced diabetic rats were given graded doses (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) of P. santalinoides extract (PSE) for 21 days. The fasting blood glucose (FBG), body weight, in vivo antioxidant assay, and lipid profile were determined.Results: Pterocarpus santalinoides extract at all doses tested caused significant (p < 0.05) reduction in FBG and significant (p < 0.05) increase in body weight of treated rats when compared with the control. There were significant (p < 0.05) increases in the activities of antioxidant enzymes and high-density lipoprotein, while the levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in PSE-treated rats.Conclusion: These results demonstrate the significant antidiabetic activity of P. santalinoides extract in albino Wistar rats, thus suggesting its potential application for the management of diabetes in humans, Furthermore, the findings may explain its use in ethnomedicine as an antidiabetic regimen.&nbsp

Herbosomes in the Delivery of Phytotherapeutics and Nutraceuticals: Concepts, Applications and Future Perspective

Recent advances in natural products chemistry and phytomedicine research has been aimed at novel lipid based drug delivery systems. Herbosome technology is one of such systems that incorporate phospholipids into standardized active ingredients of herbal extracts, thus effectively enhancing the bioavailability of water-soluble bioactive constituents of phytomedicines such as flavonoids, phenolics and hydrophilic compounds. These phytoconstituents have been established to exhibit a variety of biological activities that have pharmacological benefits. However, poor absorption of these phytoconstituents limits their bioavailability. The poor absorption is principally due to the failure of these constituents to reach their site of action before being degraded as well as their inability to pass through the small intestine due to their multi ring structures and the lipid nature of the intestinal wall. This review chronicles the recent advances made in herbosome technology, highlighting the concepts, applications and future perspective of herbosome use.Key words: Herbosomes, Phytomedicine, Lipid based delivery systems, Phytosomes, Phyto-phospholipid complex

Microscopic calculation of neutrino mean free path inside hot neutron matter

We calculate the neutrino mean free path and the Equation of State of pure neutron matter at finite temperature within a selfconsistent scheme based on the Brueckner--Hartree--Fock approximation. We employ the nucleon-nucleon part of the recent realistic baryon-baryon interaction (model NSC97e) constructed by the Nijmegen group. The temperatures considered range from 10 to 80 MeV. We report on the calculation of the mean field, the residual interaction and the neutrino mean free path including short and long range correlations given by the Brueckner--Hartree--Fock plus Random Phase Approximation (BHF+RPA) framework. This is the first fully consistent calculation in hot neutron matter dedicated to neutrino mean free path. We compare systematically our results to those obtain with the D1P Gogny effective interaction, which is independent of the temperature. The main differences between the present calculation and those with nuclear effective interactions come from the RPA corrections to BHF (a factor of about 8) while the temperature lack of consistency accounts for a factor of about 2