Response of Anopheles gambiae detoxification enzymes to levels of physico-chemical environmental factors from northwest Nigeria

The objective of this study was to investigate the response of Anopheles gambiae detoxification enzymes to levels of various physico-chemical environmental factors present in their breeding sites. Mosquito breeding sites were grouped into three different breeding sites (designated as study zones A, B & C) on the bases of human related activities (intensive agriculture, petrochemical and domestic) taking place within and/or around the breeding sites, followed by sampling of Anopheles gambiae larvae from all the breeding sites across the designated study zones. Some of the sampled larvae were reared to pupae and adult life stages. Levels of 7 physical (pH, temperature, conductivity, transparency, total dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen and biological oxygen demand) and 6 chemical (sulphates, phosphates, nitrites, nitrates, carbon content and oil and grease) environmental factors were determined from these mosquito breeding sites. Activities of the 3 major detoxification enzymes (Cytochrome P450 oxygenase, GST and α & β-esterases) were evaluated in the sampled larvae as well as the pupae and adult samples that ultimately emerged from the larvae. Following statistical analysis, results showed that P450 activities were higher in the petrochemical sites (zone C) and the activities were highly associated with pH, temperature as well as carbon content and oil and grease. The activities of GST and α & β- esterases were higher in the intensive agriculture sites (Zone A) and were highly correlated with all the chemicals environmental factors. A deduced statistical model established all the chemical in combination with some of the physical environmental factors as producing an inductive effect on these three detoxification enzymes. These observations could have a significant impact on the insecticide-based approach to vector control. An. gambiae samples may have developed intrinsic enzymatic machinery to produce an adaptive tolerance to various insecticides used for their control since most of these insecticides and the environmental chemical factors share similar routes of metabolism.Keywords: Cytochrome, Anopheles, Inescts, Northwestern Nigeri

Environmental Noise in Residential Environments: The Case for Quality of Life in Minna, Nigeria

Environmental noise pollution lowers the quality of life and is a public health concern in residential areas. In Minna, Nigeria, the effects of exposure to noise pollution on inhabitants' health and well-being were examined in this study. The indicated maximum limits for tolerable noise levels for quality of life in a home context were exceeded by the noise data measured using a sound level meter, a hand-held geographic positioning system, and a structured questionnaire (N = 880). The study recommended the design of noise-absorbing buildings, improved urban and infrastructure planning, and noise-regulating measures  for a considerable increase in the quality of life of people. Keywords: Environmental noise; Public health; Quality life; Residential environment eISSN: 2398-4287 © 2022. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians/Africans/Arabians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v7i22.416

Strengthening innovation capacity of Nigerian agricultural research organizations:

Strong agricultural research and development (R&D) is crucial for improving agricultural productivity and efficiency, which in turn both lead to agricultural development, food security, and poverty reduction. However, several studies have shown that in many developing countries, in particular in sub-Saharan Africa, there is persistent underinvestment in R&D and weak research capacity, both of which continue to undermine agricultural productivity and growth in these countries.research system, innovation system, Capacity development, organizational culture,

Assessment of Crop Farmers Indigenous Knowledge on the Use of Climate Change Adaptation Strategies in Lavun Local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria

This study examined the crop farmers’ indigenous knowledge on the use of climate change adaptation strategies in Lavun Local Government Area of Niger State. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 85 respondents. Data were collected using questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results reveal that majority (87.1%) were male with a mean age of 41years. Majority (69%) of the respondents were married and most (78%) had formal education and most (73%) of the them had no contact with extension agent with an average annual household income was ₦125,000. The result also depicts that most (91.8%) of the respondents were aware of climate change mostly on increase in temperature (85.9%), early/late cessation of rain and draught (64.7%). Among the indigenous knowledge used by the respondents as climate change adaptation strategies were changes in dates of planting (74.0%), mixed farming (55.0%) and diversification in crop production (49.0%). The result of the relationships between socio-economic characteristics and awareness to climate change indicates that; marital status, level of education and extension contact are significant respectively at p≤0.05 level of significance. The major constraints to the use of indigenous knowledge as climate change adaptation strategies were inadequate knowledge on how to cope (77.6%), poor response to adverse effect (61.2%), identified high cost of improved crop variety (57.6%) and low income level (48.2%). It was concluded that, respondents were able to develop indigenous adaptation strategies and marital status, level of education and extension contact were significantly related with climate change awareness. The study recommended that extension service should be increase for a successful adaptation programme, relevant information on climate change adaptation practices should reach the farmers through radio stations, news-papers, public lectures, seminars as well as other mass media means and provision of improved crop varieties at affordable price to the farmers

Democracy, Youth and Violent Conflicts in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic: A Critical Analysis

Violent conflicts have been a characteristic feature of Nigeria’s polity since the recommencement of democratic rule in May 1999. The various dimension of conflict witnessed ranges from ethno-religious, inter-communal, post-election violence, and so on.  Over 187 ethno-religious conflicts were reported between May 1999 and April 2009; and since 2009 boko haram activities have been on the increase and over 115 attacks reported in the north.   Nigeria is thus seen as a conflict prone society as no geopolitical zone is immune. Scholarly account points to youth as the prosecutors of over 90% of these violent conflicts and the youth constitute about 70% of Nigeria’s population. But are the youth victims of these violent conflicts or the perpetrators? A critical analysis of the situation using secondary data revealed that over 60% of youth lack access to employment and development opportunities. 90% of the 1,430,000 youths that graduated from tertiary institutions between 2004 and 2014 roam the streets and become victims for manipulation by corrupt political elites and their associates to perpetrate and persecute violent conflicts on their behalf in order to strengthen or legitimize their political and economic positions. Critically, youth are more of the victims of Nigeria’s democratic process that deny them opportunities and being the perpetrators of violent conflicts is but a manifestation of this denial. Therefore, value reorientation for political elites and more job creation programs for youths in both private and public sector of Nigeria’s polity is strongly recommended. Key words: Conflict, Democracy, Electoral Process, Victims, Violence, Youth

Effects of Indoor Environmental Quality in Urban Housing on Residents’ Health and Wellbeing in Nigeria

The building industry's contribution as a non-clinical contributor to the quality of life is its impact on occupants’ health. A health-based standardised questionnaire and a digital data collection device were used to investigate the susceptibility of building indoor air quality (IAQ) to infectious diseases. PM2.5 (63 μm/m3) and PM10 (228 μm/m3) obtained exceeded the international standard. Some associations between certain building characteristics and potential risk factors for certain diseases were seen. This study provides a platform for future intervention in housing and public health policies and addresses the conundrum of safe and healthy building for the urban populace in Nigeria &nbsp

ETHNOBOTANY, PHYTOCHEMISTRY AND PHARMACOLOGY OF OCHNA SCHWEINFURTHIANA: A REVIEW

Ochna schweinfurthiana (Os, Family: Ochnaceae) is a small evergreen tree used in ethnomedicine to treat different ailments; it is also used in agri-horticulture and as ornaments, dyes among others. It is a rich source of complex dimers of flavonoids and used for treatment of pain, inflammation, and arthritis. Chemical investigations carried out on the different parts of the plant have been confined to phenolic compounds majorly, bioflavonoids, glycosides, steroids and terpenes. The plant, O. schweinfurthiana have shown a wide spectrum of biological and pharmacological properties which include antimicrobial, cytotoxic/antiproliferative, genotoxicity, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiplasmodial.  This review comprehensively summarizes the potential effects of the plant O. schweinfurthiana, chemically and pharmacologically. However, more researches in the aspect of phytochemical and biological studies are needed to exhaustively isolate bioactive compounds and evaluate their effects on other ailments as claimed by the traditional healers.                    Peer Review History: Received 20 Nov 2019;   Revised 19 December; Accepted 28 December, Available online 15 January 2020 Academic Editor: Ahmad Najib, Universitas Muslim Indonesia,  Indonesia, [email protected] UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest ‘Advanced OPEN peer review’ system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main purpose of it is ‘to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript’. Our reviewers check the ‘strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly’. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency. Received file:                Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 5.5/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.5/10 Reviewer(s) detail: Dr. Mohamed Derbali, Faculty of Pharmacy, Monastir, Tunisia, [email protected] Ahmad Najib, Universitas Muslim Indonesia, Makassar, Indonesia, [email protected]  Similar Articles: ANTIHYPERGLYCEMIC AND ANTI-OXIDANT POTENTIAL OF ETHANOL EXTRACT OF VITEX THYRSIFLORA LEAVES ON DIABETIC RAT