Evaluation of Bioactive Compounds in Mangroves: A Panacea towards Exploiting and Optimizing Mangrove Resources

The tissues (leaves, barks and roots) of mangrove species (Nypa fruticans, Rhizophora racemosa and Avicennia africana) were screened qualitatively and quantitatively for phytochemicals (metabolites). Phytochemical analysis indicated presence of highly polar bioactive compounds (alkaloids, saponins tannins flavonoids and reducing sugar) in their tissues. The concentration of these compounds varied significantly (P<0.001). The highest concentrations of alkaloids and saponins were in A. africana, flavonoids and tannins in R. racemosa and reducing sugars in N. fruticans. The existence of these metabolites suggests the possible contributions and potentials of the mangroves to medicine and the environment. Keywords: Mangrove species, Metabolites, Polar bioactive compounds, Medicine

Anatomija orofarinksa i jezika u afričke crnobijele vrane (Corvus albus)

An understanding of the anatomy of components of the digestive tract of the African pied crow would prove useful in relation to the medical, surgical and nutritional management of these birds, especially in captivity. The present study was designed to provide basic data on the morphology of the oropharynx and tongue of the African pied crow. Our results showed that the roof of the oropharyngeal cavity was formed by a cartilaginous hard palate, whose mucous membrane exhibited many caudally directed papillae. The tongue was located in the floor of the oropharyngeal cavity. The rostral and caudal parts of the tongue were demarcated by a transverse row of caudally pointed papillae. The histology of the caudal part of the tongue revealed the presence of many mucous glands that discharge their secretions onto the dorsal surface of the tongue via ducts. Whereas the papillae may serve principally as mechanical obstacles to the involuntary return of food that has passed over them, the secretions of the glands may aid in swallowing by lubricating the caudal part of the oropharyngeal cavity and probably, the initial part of the oesophagus. It was concluded that the anatomical features of the oropharyngeal cavity and tongue of the African pied crow may be adaptations to the bird’s mode of food acquisition and feeding habits.Proučavanje anatomije probavnoga sustava afričke crnobijele vrane potrebno je radi njezina liječenja, pravilnoga načina hranidbe i kirurških zahvata što je od posebnoga značenja kad se ona drži u zatočeništvu. Ovo istraživanje provedeno je u svrhu prikupljanja temeljnih podataka o morfologiji orofarinksa i jezika afričke crnobijele vrane. Polučeni rezultati pokazali da je krov njezine orofaringealne šupljine građen od tvrdoga hrskavičnoga nepca na čijoj se sluznici nalazi mnoštvo kaudalno usmjerenih papila. Jezik je smješten na dnu orofaringealne šupljine. Rostralni i kaudalni dijelovi jezika odijeljeni su poprječnim redom kaudalno usmjerenih papila. U kaudalnom dijelu jezika nalazi se mnoštvo sluznih žlijezda koje svoje sekrete izlučuju na dorzalnu površinu jezika putem kanalića. Dok papile prvenstveno služe kao mehanička prepreka za povratak hrane, lučevine žlijezda mogu pomoći pri gutanju podmazivanjem kaudalnoga dijela orofaringealne šupljine i, vjerojatno, početnoga dijela jednjaka. Može se zaključiti da je anatomska građa orofaringealne šupljine i jezika afričke crnobijele vrane prilagođena hranidbenim navikama i načinu uzimanja hrane

Efficacy of primextra gold in controlling weeds of melon (Citrillus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsun and Nak.)

A field experiment was conducted in the Center of Ecological Studies, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State to evaluate the efficacy of Primextra Gold (290g /l S – Metalochlor and 370g/l Atrazine) herbicide in controlling weeds in melon and to determine its safety for use in melon. The experiment was carried out between the months of February and March, 2013 and was laid out in a completely Randomised Design with four replications. Seven weed control treatments – 0.0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 1.25and 1.5 kg a.i/pot – were applied post plant, pre-emergent for this study. The dry weight, height of plant, number of green leaves, weed control efficiency, weed persistence index, crop phytotoxicity rating, weed destruction rating, weed count (total number of weeds), weed flora and classification were used to determine the herbicide efficacy and crop safety. Results show that the effects of the treatments were mostly significant; treatments higher than 0.75kg a.i/pot were more toxic to the melon. Injury caused by lower treatments (0.25 – 0.75kg a.i/pot) to the melon reduced over time while injury caused by higher treatments (1.0 – 1.5kg a.i/pot) increased over time. Treatment 0.75kg a.i/pot resulted in the highest height (72cm/pot), highest number of leaves (20.3/pot), second highest dry weight (2.98g/pot) at 28 DAT. The study also showed that Primextra Gold has a high Weed Control Efficiency (WCE %) and the Weed Persistence Index (WPI) of the weeds was low. The most common weeds observed were Oldelandria corymbosa, Phyllantus amarus, Oplismanus burmanii and Digitario sp., as they occurred in the untreated pots and in virtually all treated pots.Key Words: DAT- Days-after-treatment, Primextra Gold, Melon, weed control efficiency, weed control treatments

Sensitivity of Pigeon Pea Landraces [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] to Amiprophos Methyl Treatment

Aim: The success of any chemical mutagenesis revolves on the use of plant-specific mutagen(s), optimal concentration(s) and appropriate soaking duration. This paper was aimed at evaluating the effect of amiprophos methyl on morphological and yield traits in pigeon pea [Cajanus cajan (L.)Millsp.].Methods: Thirty seeds each of two varieties of pigeon pea (brown “Fiofio”, white “Fiofio”) were soaked in 0, 4, 6 and 8 ppm amiprophos methyl (APM) for 24, 48 and 72 hours, respectively. They were planted in a 2 x 4 x 3 factorial layout using randomized complete block design (RCBD) in 10 replications.Results: Results obtained revealed that there were significant effects (P =.05) of the treatments on the phenological, morphological and yield traits, except on percentage germination, especially when the seeds were soaked for 48 hrs, the variety and mutagen concentrations notwithstanding. Our result revealed that plants raised from white Fiofio seeds soaked in 4 ppm and 6 ppm APM for 48 hrs produced the highest number of flowers plant-1 (227.4±2.95; 212.6±3.57); the highest number of pod plant-1 (178.6±5.05; 124.6±4.55) and the seed yield (1016.0±0.79; 935.2±0.37), respectively.Conclusion: Implicitly though, this could imply that these mutagen concentration and duration of exposure might be promising for pigeon pea productivity

Investigation of Groundwater Potential Using Electrical Resistivity Method, in Iddo Community Grammar School, Iddo-Okpella, Edo State

Vertical electrical sounding (VES) resistivity technique was used to investigate the ground water potential at Iddo Community Grammar School, Iddo-Okpella, Edo State, Nigeria. A total of 36 VES points consisting of six profiles with six VES points per profile were covered. Data from the Schlumberger vertical electrical sounding were presented as geo- electric sections, iso-resistivity maps, regolith and depth to basement maps. The resistivity field data were interpreted using partial curve matching approach and iterative resistivity sounding interpretation software-WinResist Version 1.0. The results from the interpretations showed that three to four geoelectric sections were delineated: the top layer has a thickness ranging from 0.2 m to 2.1 m with resistivity range of 91.5 Ωm to 1195.5 Ωm, the thickness of the second layer ranges from 2.0 to 14.2 m with resistivity values ranging from 20.5 Ωm to 916.80 Ωm and the thickness of the third layer ranges from 2.7 m to 14.7 m with resistivity values between 8.0 Ωm and 4328.10 Ωm and resistivity of the basement has the maximum of 4328.10 Ωm. VES C6, D3, D6, E4, E5, F1, F2 and F5  in the study area have relatively high regolith thickness and high conductivity values. Considering the aquifer characteristics in terms of thickness-resistivity values, it is recommended that groundwater developments should be concentrated around VES C6 (10.6m), D3(9.0m), D6(15.0m), E4(12.8m), E5(16.7m), F1(10.8m), F2(11.1m) and F5(12.1m) of the study area

Morfologija testisa i zalihe sperme u epididimisu štakora nakon prestanka davanja nigerijske sirove nafte Qua Iboe Brent

The reversibility of crude oil-induced male reproductive abnormalities was studied in fifi fty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats. Exposure to crude oil was achieved by oral administration of increasing doses (165mg/kg body mass, 330mg/kg body mass, and 660mg/kg body mass) of Nigerian Qua Iboe Brent crude oil to male rats every 48 hours for 4 weeks. Thereafter, the crude oil was withdrawn from some of the rats for a period of 8 weeks. The results showed signififi cant reduction in the cauda epididymal sperm reserves of the rats that received the crude oil (P<0.05) and the rats from which the crude oil was withdrawn (P<0.05), relative to the control group. The testes of the rats that received crude oil showed reduced spermatogenic activity in the seminiferous tubules, as well as hyperaemia and oedema of the interstices. The testes of the rats from which crude oil was withdrawn showed evidence of recovery and the restoration of active spermatogenesis in the seminiferous tubules. The indication is that the withdrawal of Nigerian Qua Iboe Brent crude oil from male rats over a period of 8 weeks reversed the testicular pathology, but not the cauda epididymal oligospermia associated with this environmental pollutant.Reverzibilnost reprodukcijskih poremećaja uzrokovanih sirovom naftom istraživana je na 56 štakora Sprague-Dawley. Peroralno su štakorima bile davane sve veće doze (165 mg/kg tjelesne mase, 330 mg/kg tjelesne mase i 660 mg/kg tjelesne mase) nigerijske Qua Iboe Brent sirove nafte svakih 48 sati tijekom četiri tjedna. Nakon toga neki od štakora više nisu dobivali sirovu naftu u razdoblju od osam tjedana. Rezultati su pokazali značajno smanjenje rezervi sperme u epididimisu štakora koji su dobivali sirovu naftu (P<0,05) i u štakora kojima se prestalo davati sirovu naftu (P<0,05) u odnosu na kontrolnu skupinu. Testisi štakora koji su dobivali sirovu naftu pokazivali su smanjenu sposobnost spermatogeneze u sjemenskim tubulima, a dokazana je bila hiperemija i edem intersticija. Nakon prestanka davanja sirove nafte testisi su se oporavili te je ponovo došlo do aktivne spermatogeneze u seminifernim tubulima. Aktivnost testisa vratila se na normalu osam tjedana nakon prestanka davanja nigerijske sirove nafte Qua Iboe Brent, ali ne i oligospermija repa epididimisa povezana sa zagađenjem okoliša

Delineation of Mineralization Zones in Part of Central Nigeria Using Analytic Signal, Second Vertical Derivative, and Centre for Exploration Targeting Plug-IN (CET)

A digitised aeromagnetic data comprises of sheets (144 Kakuri, 145 Kajuru, 165 Bishini, 166 Kachia, 186 Abuja, 187 Gitata, 207 Kuje and 208 Keffi) covering part of Niger, Kaduna, Nasarrawa and the Federal Capital Territory in central Nigeria with an area of&nbsp; was acquired and analysed with the aim of delineating mineralisation zones within the area using analytic signal, second vertical derivative and structural complexity analyses of the CET. From the analytic signal map three zones were delineated; Low to fairly low magnetic zone (LM) with a gradient of 0.0024 nT/m to&nbsp; 0.0093 nT/m are areas associated with highly weathered rocks and areas with thin cover of sediments, metasediments, and granite because these rocks contain more than 60 to 70 percent quartz. The moderate zone (MM) with gradient 0.0093 nT/m to 0.04 nT/m associated with granite – gneiss as these rocks contain high ferromagnesian with low amount of felsic minerals. The high magnetic anomalies zones (HM) 0.2378 nT/m to 0.02349 nT/m are related to rocks that have high ferromagnesian with large amount of felsic minerals. Application of Second Vertical Derivatives (SVD) filter produces a map in which prospective zones of mineralisationsand structures were mapped out. These mineralisation zones were seen to be concentrated in areas with high analytic signal of gradient0.2378 nT/m.Application of structural complexity analysis due to CET located deposits occurrence favourable zones that coincided with zones mapped out from SVD map. Structural trends as revealed by CET Plug-IN are NE-SW, NW-SE, minor E-W and N-S trends

COMPARATIVE STUDY ON SPECIFIC AND EARLY DETECTION OF PULMONARY MYCOBACTERIA COMPLEX USING SMEAR AND CULTURE METHOD AND SEROLOGICAL PATHOZYME EIA KITS

The objective of this study was to compare the sensitivity and specificity of smear and culture methods with rapid serological EIA myco kits manufactured by Omega diagnostics, for the early detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) complex. Sera from various categories of smear and culture results were compared with the result of 38KDa, 16KDa and purified protein for IgA, IgM and IgG antibodies with sensitivity of 4%, 24% and 76%, respectively and with specificity of100% for IgG in Smear and Culture Positive (S