Evaluation of Procurement Methods for Sustainable Environmental Development in Nigeria

Sustainable environmental development connote or entails meeting the economic needs of people without destroying the resources that will be needed by persons in the future based on long range planning and the recognition of the finite nature of natural resources. However, the dart of uncompleted and abandoned projects that littered the environment calls to mind the procurement method employed to deliver such projects. This paper seeks to appraise the contributory effects of procurement methods on abandoned projects. The population considered was developmental projects that have been developed to construction stage. This was stratified on the basis of project facility types. Primary data were obtained through structured questionnaire on procurement methods employed, factors that influence the choice of the procurement methods and the effects of selected procurement methods on project delivery. Data collected was analyzed using mean-score item, Chi-square and Spearman rank-order correlation coefficient. The results revealed among other things that projects were procured on traditional method of design-bid-construct which is not proactive in meeting project objectives. The paper concludes that there is need to adopt proactive modern procurement techniques that could match client’s objectives with project delivery. Keywords: Abandoned Projects, Environmental Development, Procurement Methods, Sustainable

Oxidative stress parameters as markers of the different trimesters in normal pregnancy

Pregnancy has been associated with changes in physiologic and metabolic functions accompanied by a high metabolic demand and elevated requirements for tissue oxygen with eventual increase in oxidative pressure on the antioxidant defence system of the body. Thus, it was based on this premise that some markers of pro-oxidant- antioxidant status of pregnancy compared with non-pregnant state were assessed including, marker of lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde, MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidise (GPx). A total of 41 apparently healthy female volunteers were used for this study made up of 36 pregnant females at different trimester of pregnancy, categorised into three (3) groups of 12 each per trimester, and whose ages ranged between 19 years and 40 years. Standard biochemical assays were employed in the assessment of these markers. The level of lipid peroxidation (MDA) increased progressively for the pregnant subjects (p<0.05) at the third trimester (18.2mmole/ml) compared to the non-pregnant controls (2.3mmole/ml); an increase in SOD activity was also observed (p<0.05) at the third trimester (8.9U/ml) compared to the control (6.3U/ml) contrary to some other researches; while decrease in CAT (9.2U/ml) and GPx (7.8U/ml) activities at the third trimester compared to the non-pregnant control (p<0.05) (307.5U/ml and 9.4U/ml, respectively) were also observed. There was an observed increase in the body mass index, BMI, from first trimester, 26.4kg/m2 and second trimester, 38.4 kg/m2 to the third trimester, 42.7 kg/m2, compared to the control, 33.7 kg/m2 supporting the claims that pathologic conditions associated with pregnancy become more prominent with increase in BMI. Thus, these biochemical markers of oxidative stress, viz., superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and malondialdehyde (MDA) can serve as markers to assess the stages of pregnancy and also can be used to differentiate pathologic and nonpathologic pregnant conditions.Keywords: Antioxidants; Pregnancy; Pro-oxidants; Trimesters; Free radicals; Body mass inde

Regenerative design practices in Nigeria: a case study of Ngozika housing estate, Awka, Anambra State

While Design has been acknowledged as a potent process of engaging the imagination, aspiration and creativity of the mind, in recent times, it has not been adequately deployed to engage the 'natural' world thus creating the vast rift that we see in the environment in the form of urban decay. In its resolution, an interest in regenerative approaches to design and development had grown in many foreign countries, while Nigeria, has occupied herself with regeneration in the aspect of sustainable urban renewal. This research therefore, is aimed at assessing the extent to which regenerative design is practiced in Ngozika Housing Estate with a view to effectively implement the concept within the study area. The study adopted the use of survey method of research, review of related literature, and structured questionnaires to source for information. Sample size of 285 residences from a population of 1000 residences in Ngozika Housing Estate Awka, and 116 sample size from a population 240 registered construction professionals within the study area were derived using Yaro Yamane‘s formular. A total of 207 questionnaires were retrieved and were analysed using descriptive statistics. The hypothesis of the study was postulated using the Z–test. This study revealed among others, 79% lack in the regenerative design thinking and practices within the study area. Hence, it strongly recommends among others, that designs should always take into consideration the interconnectivity of human activities and nature which have direct impact on energy consumption, environment and sustainabilityKeywords: Regenerative design; Regenerative Development; Sustainability; Urban Renewa

Influence of Annona muricata (soursop) methanolic extracts on antioxidant enzyme and lipid peroxidation status of Wistar rats

Background: In vitro antioxidant assessments on extracts of Annona muricata have revealed the marked antioxidant potentials against deleterious pro-oxidants and most of the beneficial influences of the plant have been identified to be due to its potent annonaceous acetogenins content.Material and Methods: The rats were divided into six groups and administered 100, 200, 400,600, and 800 mg/kg of the fruit, leaf, stem-bark, and root-bark methanolic extracts, i.e.2–6, respectively, whereas group 1 received 2ml of distilled water and served as control. At the end of the administration period of 28days, the rats were sacrificedand blood samples collected for onward biochemical assays using  standard procedures. Plasma antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation marker was assessed. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) were the antioxidant enzymes assayed, while plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) was the lipid peroxidation marker studied.Results: However, the results obtained demonstrated that the various parts of the plant possess potent ability to boost plasma antioxidant enzyme defense and ameliorate lipid peroxidation as the antioxidant activities were elevated markedly across the groups compared to group 1.Conclusion: The leaf and stem-bark were the most potent in boosting the antioxidants (SOD, CAT and GPX) compared to the fruit and root-bark methanolic extracts of Annona muricata.Key words: Annona muricata; lipid peroxidation; Superoxide dismutase; Catalase;Glutathione peroxidase