Salicylic Acid Alters Antioxidant and Phenolics Metabolism in Catharanthus roseus Grown Under Salinity Stress

Background: Salicylic acid (SA) acts as a potential non-enzymatic antioxidant and a plant growth regulator, which plays a major role in regulating various plant physiological mechanisms. The effects of salicylic acid (SA; 0.05 mM) on physiological parameters, antioxidative capacity and phenolic metabolism, lignin, alkaloid accumulation in salt stressed Catharanthus roseus were investigated.Materials and Methods: Catharanthus roseus seeds were grown for two months in a glass house at 27–300C in sunlight, and then divided into fourdifferent groups and transplanted with each group with the following  solutions for one month: group I (non-saline control), group II, 100 mM NaCl, group III, 0.05 mM SA, group IV, 100 mM NaCl+0.05 mM SA and to determine the physiological parameters (DW, FW, WC), chlorophyll contents, carotenoid contents, lipid peroxidation, phenolics, lignin, alkaloid and enzymatic assays in each leaf pairs and roots.Results: SA exhibited growth-promoting property, which correlated with the increase of dry weight, water content, photosynthetic pigments and soluble proteins. SA has additive effect on the significant increase in phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity, which is followed by an increase in total soluble phenolics and lignin contents in all leaf pairs and root of C. roseus. SA enhances malondialdehyde content in all leaf pairs and root. Theantioxidant enzymes (catalase, glutathione reductase, glutathione-S-tranferase, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase) as well as alkaloid accumulation increased in all treatments over that of non-saline control but the magnitude of increase was found more in root. Further, the magnitude of increase of alkaloid accumulation was significantly higher in 100 mM NaCl, but highly significant was found in presence of 0.05 mM SA and intermediate in presence of both 0.05 mM SA+100 mM NaCl.Conclusion: We concluded that applied SA to salt stress, antioxidant and phenolic metabolism, and alkaloid accumulation were significantly alteredand the extent of alteration varied between the SA and salt stress.Key words: Antioxidant enzymes; Catharanthus roseus; indole alkaloids; phenolic metabolism; salicylic acid; salinity stress.Abbreviations: CAT - catalase; Chl - chlorophyll; Car - carotenoids; DTNB - 5,5-dithiobis-2-nitrobenzoic acid; GR - glutathione reductase; GST -Glutathione-S-transferase; H2O2 - hydrogen peroxide; MDA- malondialdehyde; PAL -phenylalanine ammonia lyase; POD - peroxidase; ROS –reactive oxygen species; SA - salicylic acid; SOD - superoxide dismutase; TBA - thiobarbituric acid

Assessment of Spatial Exposure to RF Radiation due to GSM 900 and GSM1800 – A Case Study of UCH, Ibadan, Nigeria

An assessment of radiofrequency exposure due to GSM 900 and GSM 1800 was carried out at 30 strategic locations in the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan with a frequency selective spectrum analyzer (SPECTRAN HF 60105). The Spectrum analyzer was coupled to a calibrated Omnidirectional antenna to obtain a spatial power density for each location. The mean power densities of 38.37µW/m 2 and 8.68µW/m 2 and maximum power densities of 212.40µW/m 2 and 67.40µW/m 2 were obtained for GSM 900 and GSM 1800 respectively. The standard deviation of 51.3 µW/m 2 and 14.90µW/m 2 were also obtained for GSM 900 and GSM 1800 respectively. GSM 900 and GSM 1800 respectively show compliance level of 0.0047% and 0.00075% with the ICNIRP reference level

Human Empowerment through Skills Acquisition:Issues, Impacts and Consequences - A Non-Parametric View

One of the major Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which Nigeria is set to achieve in 2015 is the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger with the target of halving the proportion of people who earn less than a dollar a day through skills acquisition. The study was on non-parametric view on issues, impacts and consequences of human empowerment through skills acquisition in Nigeria. The aim of this study was to assess the impact and input of various skills acquisition encouraged and engaged by Nigerians especially the youths. The specific objectives are: to identify skills most learned by Nigerians, identify the major contributions of human empowerment through skills acquisition and access if opinion on skills acquisition is gender and education dependent. The study was cross-sectional in nature conducted in Yaba and Akoka areas using a 21-item questionnaire tagged “Human Empowerment through Skills acquisition Questionnaire’ (HETSAQ), designed by the researchers and administered for the purpose. The researchers obtained a very high response rate from the field. Descriptive statistics were presented in tables and charts while Friedman rank test was used to test the hypothesis that skills acquisition has no significant impact on the recipients and to rank the perceived impacts and the Chi square test used to ascertain the influence of education on the responses obtained from respondents. Results showed that most respondents have learnt one skill or the other and would prefer to be empowered in areas like computer skills, hair dressing, tailoring and soap making, etc. It was discovered that skills acquisition have significant contribution to society through human empowerment and such opinions have no gender bias but differed significantly by educational attainment. From the discoveries, we therefore conclude that skills acquisition contributes greatly in elimination of joblessness in Nigeria, development of positive attitude towards work, developing entrepreneurial ability, builds self-reliant young people, leads to technological advancement, reduce poverty and crime rate in the society and these were the verdict of both men and women included in the study. Keywords: skills acquisition, entrepreneurial ability, Friedman test, human empowerment, joblessness

Hazard estimation from Radiofrequency Radiation in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital from nearby GSM Base-Stations

Increasing competition between GSM service providers and several calls for improvement of their quality of service from members of the public has led to proliferation of base station (BTS) masts in Nigeria. Consequently, there is an increase in the risk of radiation hazard due to exposure of the public to radiofrequency radiation from the BTS antennae. This study is aimed at estimating the radiation hazard due to electric field intensity from BTSs.Electric field intensity measurements due to different GSM Operators were taken at thirty sites in the 900MHz and 1800MHz frequency bands. The maximum instantaneous electricfield intensities of 301.05 ± 63.8

N-nitrosodiethylamine induced redox imbalance in rat liver: Protective role of polyphenolic extract of Blighia sapida arilli

a b s t r a c t Aim: This study investigates the reactive oxygen species detoxification potentials of polyphenolic extract of Blighia sapida arilli in the liver of N-nitrosodiethylamine-treated rats. Methods: Male rats, weighing 158 AE 2.9 g were completely randomized into 7 groups (AeG) of five rats each. Rats in C, D, E and F were administered orally once daily at 24 h interval for 7 days with 1000, 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg body weight of polyphenolic extract of B. sapida arilli respectively. Group G was given 100 mg/kg body weight of vitamin C. On the sixth day, group B, D, E, F and G were administered with 100 mg/kg body weight N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA). Group A, which served as the control was treated like the test groups except, that the animals received distilled water only. Results: Reactive oxygen species detoxifying enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase) activities were significantly (P < 0.05) induced by B. sapida arilli. These inductions significantly (P < 0.05) attenuated the decrease in reactive oxygen species detoxifying enzymes mediated by NDEA treatment and compared favourably with vitamin C. NDEA-mediated elevation in the concentrations of oxidative stress biomarkers; malondialdehyde, conjugated dienes, lipid hydroperoxides, protein carbonyl and percentage DNA fragmentation were significantly (P < 0.05) lowered by polyphenolic extract of B. sapida arilli. Conclusion: Overall, the results obtained from this study revealed that the polyphenolic extract from B. sapida arilli enhanced the detoxification of reactive oxygen species in NDEA-treated rats. The polyphenols also prevented the peroxidation of lipid, oxidation of proteins as well as fragmentation of DNA component in the liver of rats and hence gave the evidence of possible prophylactic potentials of B. sapida arilli

Physical And Mechanical Characteristics Of Charcoal, Sawdust And Sugarcane Bagasse As Solid Fuel Materials

This paper reports on the physical and mechanical characteristics of briquettes produced from charcoal, sawdust and sugarcane bagasse using molasses with sodium silicate as binders. Charcoal, sawdust and sugarcane bagasse were mixed in respective ratio of 20:20:60, 20:30:50, 20:40:40, 20:50:30 and 20:60:20. The briquettes were produced using Budenberg dial gauge compression machine, with pressure of 64 MPa at 120 seconds dwell time. Physical properties (relaxation ratio, compaction ratio and shattering index) and mechanical property (compressive strength) of the produced briquettes were investigated. Results show that briquette with sample composition of 20:30:50 has better physical properties with relaxation ratio of 1.562, compaction ratio of 7.573 and shatter index of 99.6%, while sample with ratio 20:40:40 has highest compressive strength of 55.43 kN/m2

Measurement of Radon Concentration and Radioactivity in Soil Samples of Aramoko, Ekiti State, Nigeria

The radon concentration and natural radioactivity i n soil of Aramoko, Ekiti State, Nigeria have been d etermined. The soil gas radon measurement was performed in-situ with Rad7 r adon monitor coupled with a soil gas probe. Natural radioactivity measurement in soil samples was carried out using N aI(Tl) gamma spectrometer. This study is aimed at d etermining the correlation between the radioactivity of the soil a nd its radon concentration. It was found that the r adon concentration of soil gas in the study area ranged from 0.63BqL -1 to 35.04BqL -1 with an average value of 9.82±0.56BqL -1 . The average activity concentrations of 238 U, 232 Th and 40 K were found to be 22.62Bq/Kg, 34.74Bq/Kg and 316.7 2Bq/Kg, respectively. The average radium equivalent and average absorbed dose rates a t a height of 1m above the ground are 95.99±62 BqKg -1 and 45.18±27.28 nGyh -1 respectively. The mean external and internal hazar d indices were also found to be 0.26 and 0.32 respe ctively. All the determined radiological indices values are within t he recommended limits

The Protective Effect of Polyphenol - Rich Extract of Syzygium cumini Leaves on Cholinesterase and Brain Antioxidant Status in Alloxan - Induced Diabetic Rats

Syzygium cumini leaves are used locally especially in Nigeria for the treatment \ management of diabetes mellitus and Alzheimer’s disease. This study was designed to investigate the effects of polyphenols extracted from Syzygium cumini l eaves on the occurrence of oxidative stress in the brain of rats with diabetes, which can trigger Alzheimer’s disease by determining both in vitro and in vivo c holinesterase, the antioxidant defense system, and the extent of oxidative damage. The effect of polyphenols extracted from Syzygium cumini leaves was investigated on in vitro c holinesterase. Thereafter, the extract (400 mg/kg body weight) of both free and bound polyphenols was administered orally to alloxan - induced rats, and the effect were monitore d on in vivo c holinesterase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, reduced glutathione, lipid peroxidation and hydroperoxides. The extract demonstrated inhibitory effects against in vitro c holinesterase. A significant reduction in the c ho linesterase activities increased the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and reduced glutathione. A reduction in lipid peroxidation and hydroperoxide concentrations was observed in the brain of diabetic rats treated with p olyphenols extracted from Syzygium cumini leaves. This study suggests that the polyphenols of Syzygium cumini leaves have anti - Alzheimer and antioxidant boosters, as well as antiperoxidative activities. Therefore, the plant is recommended for both diabetic and Alzheimer’s disease patients worldwid

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London