ANNOUNCING Agro-Science SPECIAL ISSUE to Celebrate 20 Years of Uninterrupted Publication

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Professional Oral Prophylaxis: Assessment of Practice by Oral Health Professionals in Southeastern Nigeria

Background: Professional oral prophylaxis reduces plaque and calculus levels and improves oral health. This study identified the practice of routine scaling and polishing among oral health professionals. Methodology: This was a cross‑sectional study of 73 oral health professionals who attended the Southeast Oral Health Forum at Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria. Data on sociodemographic profile, the undertaking of scaling and polishing of the teeth, reasons for the scaling and polishing, recommendation of scaling and polishing to their patients, and duration of recall were recorded. Data analysis was done using SPSS Version 21. The association between demographic profile and practice of scaling and polishing at 6 months’ interval was tested using the Chi‑square test at a significance level of P < 0.05. Results: The study participants were 43 (58.9%) males and 30 (41.1%) females, and the age range was 23–56 years. All (100.0%) oral health professionals in the study had undertaken scaling and polishing previously. Many respondents (75.3%) scaled and polished routinely twice a year, while 90.6% recommended the procedure to their patients at six months’ interval to enable them monitor their patients’ oral hygiene (85.9%). Those aged 21–30 years (75.0%) (P < 0.001) and < 5 years in clinical practice (74.3%) (P = 0.01) undertook scaling and polishing at six months’ interval or less. Lack of time (34.5%) was the main reason that prevented oral health professionals from  undertaking scaling and polishing. Conclusion: Dental therapists have had scaling and polishing done more than dentists and dental technologists within the last six months. Age and duration of clinical practice were significantly associated with obtaining scaling and polishing at 6 monthly intervals, whereas lack of time was a major reason for not undergoing six monthly scaling and polishing. Keywords: Calculus, dental professionals, oral prophylaxis, plaque&nbsp

THE EXERCISE OF POLICE POWERS AND ENFORCEMENT OF INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS NORMS IN NIGERIA: AN APPRAISAL

The police have the duty of prevention, investigation and prosecution of crime in the society. In the course of their duties, conflicts arise between the law officers and the civilians. In Nigeria, the police are known for the abuse of legal processes and the right of the citizens often culminating at excessive use of force, unlawful detention and in extreme cases which is rampant extra-judicial killing. This paper gave an exposition of some international legal instruments and standards applicable to law enforcement and how they help curtail abuse of the citizens’ right. The paper found that there is gross abuse of human rights in the course of the duty of the police in Nigeria. It was noted that the police have an obligation to observe, ensure compliance and implementation of these international human rights norms. It was recommended that there should be training and retraining of the police in Nigeria especially in forensic and technologically driven investigation and prevention of crime. Furthermore, corruption in the Nigerian police should be curbed by giving more incentives like salary increase to the police. The paper concluded that implementation of these recommendations will improve police human right observance in Nigeria

Statistical analysis of the physical properties of varieties of beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) influenced by maturity stage

Physical properties of post-harvest bean seeds was studied, but the physical properties of bean seeds in response to post flowering (maturity stage) have not been fully studied; therefore, this study is aimed at evaluating the physical properties of two bean varieties (iron and honey) during their maturation stages. The bean seeds were harvested at 15, 20 and 25 days after flowering (DAF), the physical properties (length, width, thickness, average thousand seed mass, size, volume, geometric mean, sphericity, surface area, arithmetic mean, bulk density, true density, porosity, angle of repose, and the static friction coefficient (against plywood, rubber, Formica, galvanized iron, and aluminum surfaces)) in both bean varieties were evaluated. The results showed that maturity stage of the bean seeds significantly (P≤ 0.05) influenced all their physical properties. Over the course of a maturation time, while their porosity and angle of repose decreased, in both bean varieties, other properties were found to increase. The bean seeds true density increased from 817.75 to 1207 kg/m3 in iron bean, and 774.25 to 1144 kg/m3 in honey bean; likewise, the bulk density increased from 464.5 to 761.75 kg/m3 and 544.75 to 867.66 kg/m3 in the iron and honey bean respectively; porosity decreased from 42.15 to 36.37% in the iron bean and 34.19 to 26.41% in the honey bean. The static coefficient of friction result was; Formica (iron bean, 0.24 to 0.35; honey bean 0.22 to 0.28), aluminum (iron bean 0.31-0.37; honey bean 0.25 to 0.32), galvanized iron (iron bean, 0.35-0.44; honey bean, 0.33 to 0.39), plywood (iron bean, 0.49 to 0.58; honey bean 0.39 to 0.46), and rubber (iron bean 0.55 to 0.61; honey bean 0.43 to 0.50). While the angle of response decreased from 39.62 to 30.73o in the iron bean and 45.78 to 36.84o in the honey bean. Furthermore, the results show that the ideal period for harvest, processing and handling of the two bean seeds is 20 to 25 days after anthesis, since the seeds will be having maximum dry weight and higher viability. Data gotten from this result is useful in the design and development of harvesting, handling and processing equipment.Keywords: Iron bean, honey bean, physical properties, maturation, moisture conten

Effect of loading rate and moisture content on the fracture resistance of beechwood (Gmelina arborea) seed

Mechanical properties of agricultural materials are necessary for the proper design and development of their planting, harvesting, handling and processing machineries. In this research, fracture resistance of whole gmelina seed was evaluated in terms of its rupture force, rupture energy and deformation at rupture under four moisture content levels and three loading rates. The quasi-static compressive tests were conducted at 20, 25, 30 and 35 percent moisture levels (wb); and 5, 10 and 15 mm/min loading rates. Based on the results obtained, moisture content and loading rate had significant (P ≤0.05) effect on all the three parameters investigated. The force required for initiating seed rupture decreased with increase in moisture content and loading rate. The highest rupture energy was 0.268 Nm at 35% moisture content under 5mm/min loading rate, and the lowest was 0.116 Nm at 20% moisture content under 15 mm/min loading rate. In addition, the deformation capability of the seed decreased from 1.017 mm at 35% moisture content (wb), under 5 mm/min loading rate, to 0.458 mm at 20% moisture content (wb) under 15 mm/min loading rate. The results obtained from this research would be useful in the design and development of machines used in gmelina seed processing operations.Keywords: Gmelina seed, Fracture resistance, Moisture content, loading rat

Inter-relations of growth and disease expression in pepper using principal component analysis (PCA)

Field reactions of 12 indigenous pepper lines (UNS2, UNS3, NSKY-LP, Atanukwu yola, Sombe, NSKY-SE, Tarugu, Tartasi, Dangarawa, Oshosho, NSKY-RW and a Hybrid between Sombe and NSKY-RW) for resistance to pepper veinal mottle virus (PVMV) were determined with principal component analysis (PCA). Genetically related genotypes tend to cluster, indicating that there is a significant genetic component to the underlying patterns of variations in growth and disease attributes. The PCA showedthat the vegetative trait had high PRIN 1 value, thereby suggesting that the trait could be used to assign pepper genotypes into different agronomic groups. Similarly, the disease characters were the main determinants of PRIN 2 thus, implicating them as additional useful traits for classification of pepperline

Anti-pyretic, anti-inflammatory and anti-diarrhoeal properties of Faidherbia albida in rats

Faidherbia albida Del. (local name: Gawo) is employed traditionally to treat disorders such as fever, diarrhoea, urticaria, vomiting, cough, rheumatism and heamorrhage. The present study was carried outto scientifically appraise some of the folkloric uses of the plant. The crude aqueous extract was studied for acute toxicity, its anti-pyretic, anti-inflammatory and anti-diarrhoeal effects using yeast-inducedpyrexia, kaolin-induced oedema and castor oil-induced diarrhoeal models in rats. The extract was not lethal to the rats dosed at 5000 mg/kg body weight. At a dose of 500 mg/kg body weight, it significantly(P < 0.05) decreased yeast-induced pyrexia in rats. At doses of 250 and 500 mg extract/kg body weight, the extract significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited kaolin-induced acute inflammation and reduced frequency ofdiarrhea in the rats. These results indicate that aqueous extract of F. albida possesses potent antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and anti-diarrhoeal effects and thus pharmacologically justifies its folkloricuse in the management of fever, rheumatic inflammatory conditions and diarrhoea

Growth Performance of Five Bean (Phaseolus spp) Varieties as Influenced by Organic Amendment

The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of organic amendment on the growth performance of five bean varieties and soil chemical characteristics. From the results, the application of soil amendment had significant (P≤ 0.05) effect on bean plant girth, number of leaves, number of branches, mean number of flowers, total fresh weight and total dry weight, of the bean five varieties planted. The increase in the bean growth observed in this research can be attributed to the improvement of the soil nutrients by the compost manure. The results from this research show that organic manure can be formulated and blended from wood sawdust, palm fruit waste and poultry waste which are chiefly abundant in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria