Antimicrobial Activities of Some Euphorbiaceae Plants Used in the Traditional Medicine of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria

Nine plant species belonging to the Euphorbiaceae family and used in traditional medicine in Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria were evaluated for in vitro antimicrobial activity using agar diffusion method. The stem bark of Maesobotrya dusenii gave the most significant effect followed by its root bark. The inhibitory effect of M. dusenii stem bark extract (37 mm) on Pseudomonas aeruginosa was higher than that of Chloramphenicol (35 mm). However, Alchornea laxiflora leaf extract showed the weakest activity. The minimum inhibitory concentration of the extracts ranged between 12.5 and 250 μg/mL. The results of the antimicrobial effects validated the use of the plants to treat infections caused by these microorganisms

Measurement of Surface Dose Rate of Nuclear Radiation in Coastal Areas of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Abstract In this study, the surface doses rate measurements were done in-situ using dose rate meters

Assessment of Soil to Cassava Transfer Factor of Radionuclides in Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State, Nigeria

Background: This research was conducted to estimate the activity concentration level of 40K, 238U and 232Th in soil and cassava and determine the transfer factor from soil to cassava in Ughelli North, Delta State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: These were examined using gamma spectrometry and considering a lead-shielded 3 x 3inch coaxial type Sodium Iodide Thallium doped detector. Results: The mean activity concentrations of 40K, 238U and 232Th are 45.49 ± 4.28 BqKg−1, 3.15 ± 0.77 BqKg−1 and 0.56 ± 0.06 BqKg−1 respectively in soil samples and 134.08 ± 11.59 BqKg−1, 3.89 ± 0.93 BqKg−1 and 0.81 ± 0.09 BqKg−1 correspondingly in cassava samples. The mean transfer factor of 40K, 238U and 232Th from soil to cassava are 3.44 ± 0.75, 1.94 ± 0.32 and 1.34 ± 0.54 respectively. Peak values of the TF were noted as 8.52 for 40K at U18, D18, 25.58 for 238U at U12, D12 and 5.71 for 232Th at U11, D11. Conclusion: The activity concentration of 40K, 238U and 232Th in the area are lower than the world average values. Consequently, it will not pose any radiological hazard if consumed. The high value of Transfer factor is attributed to the richness of the organic matter in the soil and may indicate high ability to transfer radionuclides in the soil to food crops but from the concentration information, these radionuclides present in the soil are low as well as annual effective doses. There is no radiological risk of ingestion

Studies on relaxation length of wood by method of gamma radiation

Relaxation lengths of different types of wood were determined using gamma radiation from 60Co source. Results show that oxystigma (Oxystigma spp) has the highest relaxation length of 23.810 cm, while mangrove (Rhizophora spp) has the least relaxation length of 1.247 cm. A mathematical model has been developed for the prediction or determination of density (r) variation of wood with relaxation length. A good agreement (greater than 80%) was observed between the measured values and the predicted ones. With proper choice of the thickness of wood from theoretical evaluation, it was observed that Mangrove (Hard Wood) with thickness of 120 cm almost completely attenuate gamma ray energy in the range 0.1 Mev to 1.836 Mev. Keywords: relaxation Length, wood, and gamma radiation Nigerian Journal of Physics Vol. 17, 2005: 108-11

Soil-To-Fluted Pumpkin Transfer Of Natural Radionuclides In Farm Lands In Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

This work is aimed at evaluating the radionuclides transfer from soil to fluted pumpkin in farm lands in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th, 226Ra and 40K were measured in fluted pumpkin and soil samples using high purity Germanium (HPGe) Detector. The mean activity concentrations of 238U, 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in the soils samples ranged from 43. 26 ± 2.53 Bq/Kg to 80.11± 4.26 Bq/kg, 17.45 ± 0.96 Bq/ Kg to 28.71 ± 1.48 Bq/Kg, 23.83 ± 1.27 Bq/ Kg to 53.27 ± 2.84 Bq/Kg and 4.02 ± 0.36 to 43.83 ± 2.35 Bq/Kg respectively. The mean activity concentrations of radionuclides in the fluted pumpkin for  40K, 238U, 232Th and  226Ra ranged from 805.28 ± 42.89 to  1582.93 ± 83.72 Bq/Kg,  below detection limit (BDL) to 86.96 ± 5.63 Bq/Kg,  4.81 ± 0.84 to 46 .23  ±3. 45 Bq/Kg and 7. 17 ± 0.83 to 25.28 ± 1.58 Bq/Kg respectively.  The radionuclides transfer factor (TF) obtained in this work varies from farm to farm and ranged from 10.36 to 87.84 for 40K, BDL to 1. 28 for 238U, 0.13 to 0.95 for 232Th and 0.31 to 0.92 for 226Ra. The TF values for radionuclides obtained for this work were lower than 1 except for 40K.  This suggests that consumption of the fluted pumpkin in these areas might not pose a high radiological hazard to its consumers while for 40K, the human body has an internal mechanism to eliminate its excess in the body

Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) As-sessment of REE of Soil from Mining Site Umuahia, Abia State, South East, Nigeria

In this work, the main goal was to examine the REE concentration and distribution pattern in soil from Umuahia, Abia State, Southeast, Nigeria, in a clay mining site compared with a non-contaminated site approximately 3 km away. The REE were determined by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) at IPEN, Brazil. The main mineralogy of the samples was determined by XRD. The following REE were determined: Ce, Eu, La, Lu, Nd, Sm, Tb and Yb. Soil samples from the mining area present quartz and kaolinite as their main constituents, with REE concentrations comparable with that of the Upper Continental Crust and the North American Shale Composite. The calculated Geoaccumulation index (IGeo) indicate that REE have natural origin and ∑LREEN/∑HREEN ratio show an enrichment of the light over heavy REE, in samples of the clay mining area

Ipomoea triloba: an alien plant threatening many habitats in Turkey

Ipomoea triloba is a plant native to tropical America and has been observed in cotton fields in Antalya Province, Turkey. Ipomoea triloba was identified in 2014 after a warning from the Centre of the Farmers’ Union (Antbirlik). Subsequent field surveys showed that this plant has been considered as a weed by farmers in this region for the last two decades; it has spread in non-agricultural habitats but due to its limited presence did not receive much attention. The spread of I. triloba has increased over the last 5 years to such an extent that it cannot be controlled by existing methods including herbicides. It has established not only in agricultural areas but also in other habitats such as roadsides, irrigation channel edges and coastal regions. This paper provides the first botanical description report of I. triloba in the defined area, an evaluation of environmental and socioeconomic impacts, current status and management activities. Based on all available information the authors concluded that pest risk analysis should be conducted on I. triloba. Furthermore, it should be regarded not only as an environmental weed but also as an agricultural weed and kept under surveillance in Turkey. © 2018 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2018 OEPP/EPP