Biodegradation of Lagoma crude oil using pig dung

Pig dung bacteria were isolated and screened for crude oil degrading capabilities. The pig dung was also investigated for enhancement of crude oil biodegradation. Addition of chicken manure to oil polluted soil (at 10% (v/w) pollution level) stimulated the biodegradation of lagoma crude oil used in the present study. In the soil amended with pig dung, 68.2% of the crude oil was degraded, whereas only 50.7% of same oil was degraded in the unamended soil. The pH of the amended soil rose from 6.2 to 7.2.Pig dung was found to contain 1.7 x 106 cfu g-1 crude oil degrading bacteria, and 1.8 x 108 cfu g-1 aerobic heterotrophs. The crude oil utilizing bacteria were identified as species of Pseudomonas, Proteus, Klebsiella, Bacillus and Micrococcus. Pig dung could therefore be an option for crude oil pollution mitigation project

Characterization and Classification of Soils on an Agricultural landscape in Dingyadi District, Sokoto State, Nigeria

No Abstract

DECIPHERING THE ROLE OF HSP110 CHAPERONES IN DISEASES OF PROTEIN MISFOLDING

Molecular chaperones maintain protein homeostasis (proteostasis) by ensuring the proper folding of polypeptides. Loss of proteostasis has been linked to the onset of numerous neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s disease. Hsp110 is a member of the Hsp70 class of molecular chaperones and acts as a nucleotide exchange factor (NEF) for Hsp70, the preeminent Hsp70-family protein folding chaperone. Hsp110 promotes rapid cycling of ADP for ATP, allowing Hsp70 to properly fold nascent or unfolded polypeptides in iterative cycles. In addition to its NEF activity, Hsp110 possesses an Hsp70-like substrate binding domain (SBD) whose biological roles are undefined. Previous work in Drosophila melanogaster has shown that loss of the sole Hsp110 gene (Hsc70Cb) accelerates the aggregation of polyglutamine-expanded human huntingtin (HTT), the causative agent of Huntington’s disease; while its overexpression protects against polyQ-mediated neuronal cell death. I hypothesize that in addition to its role as an Hsp70 NEF, Drosophila Hsp110 (Hsc70Cb) may function as a protective protein “holdase”, preventing the aggregation of unfolded polypeptides via the SBD-β subdomain. In the process of generating deletion mutants in Hsc70Cb to dissect the role of the SBD-β subdomain in holdase activity, I uncovered a redundant and heretofore unknown potent holdase capacity in a 138-amino acid region carboxyl-terminal to both SBD-β and SBD-α (henceforth called the C-terminal extension). This sequence is highly conserved in animal Hsp110 genes and completely absent from fungal representatives, including Saccharomyces cerevisiaeSSE1. Furthermore, the human Hsp110s, Apg-1 and Hsp105α, also contain a C-terminal extension substrate binding region, indicating this site may be conserved among some metazoans. Upon further analysis, I determined C-terminal extension chaperoning is mediated by a predicted short intrinsically disordered region (IDR) in both fly and human Hsp110s. I demonstrate for the first time the carboxy-terminal IDRs in fly and human Hsp110s effectively prevent aggregation of numerous substrates, including amyloidogenic peptides Aβ1-42 and α-synuclein, in vitro. Additionally, I use the Hsc70CbΔSBD-β construct to show the C-terminal extension is essential for fly embryonic development, and can prevent HTT aggregation in an in vivo disease model. These data indicate Hsc70Cb modulates neurodegeneration by blocking aggregation via a combination of its holdase and nucleotide exchange activities. Through my work I have attributed a biological role to Hsp110 substrate binding, while bestowing molecular and biological significance to a previously undiscovered chaperoning domain contained within the C-terminal extension

Pedogenesis, weathering status and mineralogy of the soils on ironstone plateaux (laterites), Sokoto Nigeria

Soils on four ironstone plateau near kalalawa, Adarawa, Bissalam and Tureta in Sokoto State were studied with the aim of a ascertaining their genesis, weathering status and soil mineral content. Morphological studies, total elemental analysis and X-ray diffraction were conducted for this purpose. The soils were found to have formed on weathered geological materials overlain by indurated ironstone crust. The geological weathered materials are Gwandu/kalambaina, Gwandu, Dange/Wurno and Gundumi formation on kalambaina, Adarawa, Bissalam and Tureta ironstone plateau respectively. The soils have good structural development and pronounced textural differentiation. The soils are well developed in terms of pedogenic processes (humification, mineralization, lessivation, homogenization and leaching) that have operated and are still operating to form the soils. Result of the silt/clay ratio, sesquioxide ratio and total Potassium, revealed a low weathering potential of the soils making them moderately weathered soils. The dominant mineral identified in the soils is quartz with kaolinite, feldspar and chlorite in trace amounts

Assessing eLearning systems success in Nigeria: an application of the DeLone and McLean Information Systems Success Model

Aim/Purpose: This study is based on the DeLone and McLean's Information Systems Success (D & M ISS) model, which was modified to determine the success factors re-sponsible for the acceptance of an e-learning system called Canvas by students of a Nigerian University. Background: The adoption of eLearning has been under studied within the context of devel-oping countries. There have been calls in the literature for further research from a developing country perspective. This study attempts to fill this knowledge gap by investigating the factors responsible for students' adoption of eLearning in a Nigerian University. Methodology: The study was built on the premise that system quality (SQ), service quality (ServQ) and information quality (IQ) are determinants of behavioral intention to use Canvas and user satisfaction of Canvas, both of which in turn influence the actual usage of Canvas. Responses from 366 students were analyzed with AMOS 22 using structural equation model (SEM) to test the relationships be-tween the constructs of the proposed model. Contribution: The study contributes to the research gap about the paucity of studies in the adoption of eLearning in developing countries that have placed emphasis on the use of eLearning systems or on the software quality attributes of the sys-tems under investigation. Findings: The results partially supported the effect of the quality antecedents on behav-ioral intention and user satisfaction of students. There was full support for the relationship between behavioral intention and user satisfaction of students on their actual usage of Canvas. Recommendations for Practitioners: The level of significance of the constructs identified in the study will guide the formulation of strategies and methods that could further enhance the adoption of eLearning systems in developing countries, specifically Nigeria. Recommendation for Researchers: Theoretically, the study contributes to the body of knowledge on eLearning adoption by empirically validating the DeLone and McLean model in a different context, specifically sub-Saharan Africa. Future Research: Future research could investigate the factors that influence instructors' behav-ioral intentions to use eLearning applications and also the effect that the in-structors have on students' adoption of eLearning

Evaluation of Project Managers Understanding of Safety Management Plan on Construction Site.

Safety Management Plan (SMP) is a collection of documents that outline how the principal contractor will manage health and safety for employees, sub-contractors, suppliers, visitors and the general public. SMP formulates the approach to risk management and minimizes the potential human and financial loss to employers and employees alike. Thus, project managers are not expected to be health and safety experts, nor are they expected to conduct thorough worksite inspection. However, a basic appreciation of the safety and regulations issue most frequently encounter in construction site will help to ensure a safe work environment for employee and contractors, and minimize potential liability exposure. The objective of the paper is to determine the level of understanding of safety management system in workplace among the project managers of some selected sites in Kuala Lumpur. Structured or standardized questionnaires were used in the project manager’s interview at 5 different construction sites, on average, the score form the five sites as regard to project manager’s interview is 71.67%. In conclusion, the project managers have virtually all the potential and significant knowledge of the safety management plan practice in their sites, but still there was the need for improvement in the knowledge among the project managers as regard to the safety management system. The study therefore, recommended that in order to improve on the knowledge of safety management system on sites adequate training program should be incorporate into the organisational action plan for project managers. Such training program organised by National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Malaysia could be of great help in improving the knowledge of safety management system among the project manager.   Keywords Safety, Health, Management, Construction, Pla

Effect of Aqueous Extract of Massularia acuminata Stem on Sexual Behaviour of Male Wistar Rats

Ancient literature alluded to the use of a number of plants/preparations as sex enhancer. One of such botanicals is Massularia acuminata in which the stem has been acclaimed to be used as an aphrodisiac. Documented experiments or clinical data are, however, lacking. Therefore, this study was undertaken to evaluate the acclaimed aphrodisiac activity of M. acuminata stem. Sixty male rats were completely randomized into 4 groups (A–D) of 15 each. Rats in group A (control) were administered with 1 mL of distilled water (the vehicle) while those in groups B, C, and D were given same volume containing 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg body weight of the extract, respectively. Sexual behaviour parameters were monitored in the male rats for day 1 (after a single dose), day 3 (after three doses, once daily), and day 5 (after five doses, once daily) by pairing with a receptive female (1 : 1). The male serum testosterone concentration was also determined. Cage side observation on the animals revealed proceptive behaviour (ear wiggling, darting, hopping, and lordosis) by the receptive female rats and precopulatory behaviour (chasing, anogenital sniffing and mounting) by the extract-treated male rats. The extract at 500, and 1000 mg/kg body weight significantly (P < .05) increased the frequencies of mount and intromission. In addition, the ejaculation latency was significantly prolonged (P < .05). The latencies of mount and intromission were reduced significantly whereas ejaculation frequency increased. The extract also reduced the postejaculatory interval of the animals. Computed percentages of index of libido, mounted, intromitted, ejaculated and copulatory efficiency were higher in the extract treated animals compared to the distilled water-administered control whereas the intercopulatory interval decreased significantly. The extract also significantly (P < .05) increased the serum testosterone content of the animals except in those administered with 250 mg/kg body weight on days 1 and 3. Data from this study identified that the aqueous extract of Massularia acuminata stem enhanced sexual behaviour in male rats. The improved sexual appetitive behaviour in male rats at the doses of 500 and 1000 mg/kg body weight of Massularia acuminata stem may be attributed, at least in part, to the alkaloids, saponins, and/or flavonoids since these phytochemicals has engorgement, androgen enhancing, and antioxidant properties

Evaluation of safety and health performance on construction sites (Kuala Lumpur).

Occupational safety and health Act (Act 514) obligate each employer to provide and maintain a safe and healthful workplace for all his employees. Construction is a risky business with a lot of injuries and illness, due to poor safety performances. The aim of the study is to investigate the safety and health performance of contractors on construction sites. A comparative and sensitivity analysis conducted reveal that as allocation to the construction increases so also the rate of accidents increases and that fatal accidents contribute more to the total accidents rates, as such there is need to assess the performance of contractors as regard to safety and health operation. The result of the SHASSIC score reveal that the sites consider for the study were 3 – star in ranking, were its risks/hazards activities are well managed and documented, but still there are other risks/hazards activities that are not taken care off due to negligent on the side of the contractors. The finding affirm the importance of safety program in construction site, as such to ensure successful implementation of the safety program, the following condition must be made; management commitment, safe work condition and safe work habit

Determinants of Non Alcoholic Beverages (NAB) Consumption in North-Western Nigeria: A study of Sokoto Metropolis

Non alcoholic beverages (NAB) consumption in Nigeria has been steadily increasing over the years to the point where nearly half of the populace are consumers of these products. This study seeks to determine the role played by socioeconomic characteristics in driving consumption of some selected NABs particularly juice and carbonated soda in Sokoto metropolis of Nigeria. To adequately capture the variables of interest, specifically, location and ethnicity variables, the metropolis was grouped into four clusters, namely Peri-urban, Sokoto main, G R As, and Resident community. In each of the clusters one hundred households were randomly selected to arrive at a sample size of four hundred households. Descriptive, OLSMR and probit analytical tools were used to analyse the data collected. The results shows that about 59% and 71% of the respondents consumed juice and soda respectively while the per capita consumption of juice was slightly higher than that of soda which were 7.57 and 7.32 litres respectively. Household sizes, education and economic status of the household heads play a significant role in determining the consumption level of both juice and soda. While gender and location significantly affected the respective consumption of juice and soda in the metropolis. In both cases gender and household sizes where negative while the rest where positive. The probit analysis showed that age and household sizes negatively affected the probability of both juice and soda consumption, while education and economic status of the household heads positively determined the probability of consumption of the two beverages in the metropolis. Finally, while gender has a negative effect on the probability of juice consumption, ethnicity of the household heads played a positive role in the consumption probability of soda beverages. The study concluded that an improvement in the consumption of NABs in the metropolis requires policies aimed at encouraging the citizenry to have a smaller family size, sound education and raising their real incomes. While the manufacturers should be encouraged to fortify their carbonated drinks with nutrients.Keywords: Juice, Soda, Sokoto metropolis, Probit, OLSMR, Consumptio