The haemato-protective effect of Piliostigma thonningii leaf extract on indomethacin-induced gastric mucosa ulcer in rats

Background: Gastric ulcer is a common gastrointestinal disorder with global consequence, which is aggravated by an imbalance between the aggressive factors and factors that maintain the mucosal integrity. The role of Piliostigma thonningii leaf extract on hematological indices of indomethacin-induced gastric mucosa lesions in Wistar rats was examined.Methods: Thirty-six male rats were divided into six groups of 6 rats each. Group I, the normal control, II gastric ulcerated + cimetidine (standard control), III extract only (100mg/kg bwt), while IV, gastric ulcerated control, V gastric ulcerated + extract (100mg/kg bwt) and VI gastric ulcerated + extract (200mg/kg bwt). After 12 days of administration, gastric ulcer was then induced by oral administration of 40mg/kg bwt indomethacin to rats in groups II, IV, V and VI. The rats were sacrificed 12 hours after indomethacin treatment and blood collected for hematological assay.Results: The RBC count and Hb pattern were similar. There was a significant (P<0.05) decrease in RBC and Hb of the ulcer control group which was normalized on administration of 200mg/kg bwt of P. thonningii extract. The MCV of the ulcer lesion was significantly (P<0.05) reversed to normal by the extract.Conclusions: The P. thonningii leaf extract showed promising result by normalizing decreased levels in RBC and Hb caused by ulcer. Except for platelet counts, the WBC count and differential WBC counts were quite positive. It was able to reverse macrocytosis caused by ulcer lesions to normal, hence exhibiting a hemato-protective nature

Mathematical model to predict split tensile strength of concretes in crude oil contaminated environments

Few concrete components used for constructions within the Niger Delta region of Nigeria are contaminated with crude oil to varying ranges. An investigation into the split tensile behaviour of concretes to crude oil when cured in 10% crude oil/water medium is carried out in this work. In this work, crude oil was used as a fifth ingredient of concrete mix which replaced 5% to 20% of the w/c. The four other components were cement, sand, granite, and water. A designed mix ratio of 1:2:4 with w/c of 0.5 was utilized as the initial component mix design. Scheffe’s simplex theory was used for the five mix ratios in a {5,2} experimental design. This gave rise to ten additional mix ratios and fifteen other additional mix ratios were generated for control purposes. These thirty concrete mix ratios were subjected to laboratory experiments to determine the 7 and 28 days split tensile strengths. The results of the first fifteen split tensile strengths were used for the calibration of the model constant coefficients, while the results from the second fifteen were used as control. A mathematical regression model was derived from the results, with which the split tensile strengths were developed. The derived model was subjected to a two-tailed t-test with 5% significance, which ascertained the model to be adequate with an R2 value of 0.9616 and 0.9227. The study revealed that crude oil presence in a concrete mix can be harmful as it reduces the split tensile strength of concretes

Toxicity, Growth And Survival Of Clarias Gariepinus Juveniles Exposed To Different Concentrations Of Crude Oil Fractions-Polluted Water

Studies were carried out on the toxicity, growth and survival of Clarias gariepinus juveniles exposed to different concentrations of oil-polluted water. Thirty-nine aerated aquaria (60 × 30 × 30 cm3), arranged in a 4 × 3 Complete Randomized Block Design were used for the study. Three oil types: the Bonny light crude oil (BLCO), the premium motor spirit (PMS) and kerosene (DPK) at oilconcentrations of 1.00, 1.50, 2.00 and2.50 ml L -1 were used in triplicates of 5 ml to contaminate 15L of dechlorinated tap water and 20 fingerlings o Clarias gariepinus (22 ± 0.24 g) exposed to it. A control treatment (0.00 ml L-1) of non-oil contamination was aso used in riplicates. A 96-hour toxicity phase in the oil-polluted water preceded a 42 days recovery phase. 38% crude proein dietwas fed to fish during exposure and recovery phases at 3% and 5% body weight per day respectively. Water temperature, pH, fish mortality and normalized biomass index (NBI) of each aquarium were monitored. The total organic nitrogen, soluble organic nitrogen and colloidal organic nitrogen in addition to soluble and adsorbed ammonia in the aquaria water and sediments were analyzed using standard methods. Results showed that the water temperature was 26 ± 2.04° C, pH was 6.50 ± 0.30 and fortnighty eed intake of fish increased between days 14 and 42. This increase, which corresponded wth the increase in the fortnightly weight gain, could be attributed to the reduction of stress caused during the 96-h toxicity phase. The increase in the soluble ammonium and the exchangeable ammonium concentrations o water correlated with the increase inthe concentrations (1.50 – 2.50 ml L-1) ofBLCO, PMS and DPK. Percent mortality of fsh reduced between days 14 and 42 irrespective o oil treatment while fish exposed to the control treatment had lower percent mortality than those exposed to the oil treatments. This trend was corroborated by the relatively higher NBI for the control during the exposure (-0.02) and recovery{0.08 (14 days), 0.08 (38 days) and 0.21 (42 days)} periods than those of oi treatments (-49.64 to-0.10). Keywords: Clarias gariepinus, Toxicity, Soluble ammonium, Feed intake, Weight gainAnimal Research International Vol. 3 (2) 2006 pp. 466-47

Wildlife species diversity indices and seasonal distribution assessment in road-side markets of South-west Nigeria

Wildlife species are under serious exploitation by the rural populace in Nigeria because hu­man beings have understood their ecology. The need to update the existing knowledge of wildlife population is therefore essential. Twenty-three games markets along five Roads in South-west Nigeria were visited to document the wildlife displayed for sale. Two hundred and fifty copies of structured questionnaire were administered using systematic random sampling (odd) method for wildlife species information from market stakeholders. Direct method was counting for species and their numbers. Data generated were analysed through Species Diver­sity Indices Assessment. All emergent species were compared with International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) abundance rating. Road seasonal distribution of the marketed wildlife was determined by percentages, standard deviation, standard error of mean, mean differences, t-test, and tests of significance and Diversity Indices. Results revealed that 69,398 wild animals were displayed. Also more wildlife were sold during rainy than dry seasons. Appropriate recommendations of government sensitization of rural and urban settlers against over-utilization of wildlife resources, encouragement of the public towards animal domesti­cation and others were made

The trend of collapse of buildings in concrete materials in Lagos State, Nigeria (2013-2019)

t. In recent times, efforts are channeled towards limiting the impact of waste plastic pollution on the environment. This study examines the beneficial utilization of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) wastes, which is a non-biodegradable waste materials as a partial substitute for sand in the production of non-load bearing hollow sandcrete blocks. The physical and mechanical properties such as density and compressive strength of the hollow sandcrete blocks using PET waste as a replacement for fine aggregate at 5%, 10%, 30% and 50% were determined. Tests results show that the density of the produced sandcrete blocks decreases as the waste PET content increases. Results showed that the density varied from 1391.33 kg/m3 for 50%PET content to 1954.54 kg/m3 for 5%PET content, while the density of the reference sandcrete was 2002.15 kg/m3 for 7 days. The values of densities ranged between 1453.88 kg/m3 for PET 50% and 1851.09 kg/m3 for PET 5% and the density of reference sandcrete was 1991.77 kg/m3 at 28 days. The sandcrete blocks also demonstrate a similar reduction trend in compressive strength as the PET content increases. The compressive strength ranged between 1.140 N/mm2 for 50%PET and 2.564 N/mm2 for 5%PET content and 1.510 N/mm2 for 50%PET to 2.991 N/mm2 for 5%PET respectively, as the curing age increases from 7 to 28 days. The hollow sandcrete block containing an optimum 5% replacement percentage of sand with PET waste showed comparable strength to the conventional sandcrete blocks. This will help to mitigate the menace of marine plastic pollution and promote responsible consumption

The trend of collapse of buildings in concrete materials in Lagos State, Nigeria (2013-2019)

Buildings are essential structures that provide mankind with accommodation in the form of offices, factories, residences, etc. Building Infrastructure aid to increase the Gross domestic product of nations by meeting the present needs as well as helping in the reduction of future deficiencies. Unfortunately, in developing countries like Nigeria, regular occurrence of collapse of buildings in concrete materials have dealt a terrible blow to the nation, leading to losses in the form of death and damage to properties. This study aims to show the trend within the period of 2013 to 2019. This study used statistical methods to assess the fatality rate, types of buildings affected, frequency of occurrences and the causative factors. The result indicates that the year2017 witnessed 14 collapse incidences making it the highest within the study period in Lagos state. Furthermore, 204 persons lost their lives in 2014, making it the highest within the period. The results obtained showed that the risk of collapse and fatality rises as the building height goes up and when unauthorized floors are added to an existing building

Hydrophobically associating polymers for enhanced oil recovery – Part B: A review of modelling approach to flow in porous media

Polymer flow in porous media represents an entirely different scenario compared to bulk flow analysis using viscometers. This is due to the geometry and configuration of the medium which is made up of converging-diverging flow paths. In this article, a review of the single-phase flow of hydrophobically associating polymers in porous media is presented. Hydrophobic association between these polymer chains have been reported to occur and vary under reservoir conditions (temperature, salinity, and ion concentration). However, under these conditions, the critical aggregation concentration of associating polymers has been observed to change and the extent of change is a function of the hydrophobe make-up of the polymer. The outcome of this would indicate that polymer injectivity and its oil recovery efficiency are affected. As such, an understanding of the mechanism, propagation and sustainability of these hydrophobic interactions in reservoirs remains a critical focus of research. This becomes even imperative as the in-situ rheological profile associated with the different flow regimes may be affected. A numerical approach to investigating the real-time hydrophobic interactions between associating polymer chains during flow in porous media remains the viable option. However, this would require modifying existing time-independent models to accurately predict the various flow regimes and the dispersion of associating polymers to account for hydrophobic interactions