SINGLE-PLANT STARVATION AND PAIRED-PLANT STARVATION TESTS OF ADULT Neochetina eichhorniae WARNER

Single-plant starvation and paired-plant starvation tests were performed on adult Neochetina eichhorniae to determine the feeding specificity of the insect on the following plants: Eichhornia crassipes, Pistia stratiotes, Hymphaea lotus, Ceratopteris sp, Azolla species, Colocasia esculentus, Vigna sinensis, Talium triangulare, Capsicum annum and Lycopesicom esculentus.The feeding spots of N.     eichhorniae on the different plants were assessed and counted using a hand-counter.  N. eichhorniae adults fed on E. crassipes only, confirming the feeding specificity of the N. eichhorniae to E. crassipes and the safety of other plants growing in the habitat

DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH POLARITY REVERSAL ON DC APPLIANCES AND IT REMEDY

Direct current (DC) appliances have already become an important source used in many appliances across a wide range of generating alternative power supply. Reverse polarity has destroyed so many inverters, cause fire out breaks and so on. This work is mainly concerned with dangers associated with of polarity reversal on electronics appliances and how they can cheaply be prevented and protected as the case of an inverter. This is achieved by incorporating a load relay between the battery and the inverter and a diode in series with the relay coil terminal such that a unidirectional flow of dc source is allowed

In vitro Inhibition of Mycobacterium smegmatis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis by Some Nigerian Medicinal Plants

Some Nigerian plants used in traditional medicine to treat tuberculosis and/or some of its symptoms were screened for in vitro activity against Mycobacterium smegmatis and a clinical isolate of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Only 3 of the 6 crude methanolic extracts of the 6 plant species exhibited inhibitory activities against M. smegmatis, while 5 inhibited the growth of M. tuberculosis. Three and four water extracts inhibited M. smegmatis and M. tuberculosis, respectively. Both methanol and water extracts of Artemisia annua, Pterocarpus erinaceus and Piper guiniense showed inhibitory activities against the two Mycobacteria. Methanol extracts of Anogeissus leiocarpus and Piper guiniense exhibited the highest activity against M. tuberculosis with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 0.1 mg/ml. Key Words: Nigerian medicinal plants, Mycobacterium species, Inhibition East & Central African Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Vol.6(1) 2003: 15-1

DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH POLARITY REVERSAL ON DC APPLIANCES AND IT REMEDY

Direct current (DC) appliances have already become an important source used in many appliances across a wide range of generating alternative power supply. Reverse polarity has destroyed so many inverters, cause fire out breaks and so on. This work is mainly concerned with dangers associated with of polarity reversal on electronics appliances and how they can cheaply be prevented and protected as the case of an inverter. This is achieved by incorporating a load relay between the battery and the inverter and a diode in series with the relay coil terminal such that a unidirectional flow of dc source is allowed

Flavanols and terpenes/sterols with antimycobacterial activity from the stem bark of Pterocarpuse erinaceus Poir (Leguminosae)

The antimycobacterial activity of parts of Pterocarpus erinaceus Poir. (Leguminosae) was studied using the agar proportion method. Phytochemical screening was also carried out to determine the major phytochemical groups responsible for the activity. Only the stem bark of the plant was found to possess varying degrees of activity against four Mycobacterial species namely M. smegmatis ATCC 607, M. tuberculosis, M. bovis and M. avium-complex. Phytochemical screening of the active fractions revealed the presence of flavanols and terpenes/sterols in the fraction isolated from the hexane crude and tannins and terpenes/sterols in the fraction isolated from the methanol crude. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of the active fractions ranged between 0.25 mg/ml and 2.0 mg/ml. Keywords: flavanols, terpenes/sterols, antimycobacterial activities, Pterocarpus erinaceus East and Central African Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Vol. 7 2004: 40-4

DETERMINATION OF PERMEABILITY OF SOILS FROM FUNAAB AGRICULTURAL LAND USE, USING IMPROVISED CONSTANT HEADPERMEAMETER

The knowledge of material property of the pore space through which water flow in soil for the optimization of water supplies for agricultural and engineering projects is fast becoming challenging due to intricate geometries of the media porous structures. The study determines the permeability coefficients of soils at six different Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, (FUNAAB) land-use (Hostel-Site, Cashew Plantation, FADAMA Farm, COLPLANT Farm, Forest nursery unit, FUNAAB health center) in order to estimate the flow rate through the soil using an improvised constant head permeameter. The soils were initially analyzed for their physical properties before determining the flow rate and permeability coefficients.  The reliability of result of permeameter was compared with standards for validity. The result shows that the soils were slightly acidic with pH average of 6.8, organic carbon ranging from 0.78% to 4.49% with the highest at the Fadama site. The total nitrogen ranged between 0.1% and 8.0% and the available phosphorus ranged between 1.20 to 3.95 mg kg-1 with the highest value experienced at cashew plantation. The improvised permeameter gave a reliable result with high positive correlation in volume rate of flow in soil and time of flow. The permeability coefficient of the soil samples (K) were in the range of 2.7 x 10-5to 4.2 x 10-5with the soil type ranging from sandy-loam to loamy sand similar to the result obtained during physical analysis. The soils were of relative permeability of semi-pervious, a characteristic of poor soil transmissivity.   &nbsp

Social and environmental justice for a sustainable future

In October 2022, Canterbury Christ Church University invited staff, students and the wider community to explore the connections between environmental and social justice, to promote inclusive learning environments and celebrate the contribution of diverse voices to building a sustainable future for all. The presentation discusses the experiences of an interdisciplinary and interdepartmental organising committee in embracing the inherent ‘messy complexity’ of both the topic itself and the practical delivery of the conference. By sharing the triumphs, challenges and ‘lessons learned’ we hope to encourage others to explore collaborative and innovative ways to promote environmental and social justice

EMPIRICAL STUDY ON MEASUREMENT OF PERFORMANCE OF NIGERIAN MONEY DEPOSIT BANKS

This study examines the performance of the Nigerian money deposit banks for the period 2008 to 2012. Past studies attempted to measure the performance and efficiency of the banking industry using different kinds of performance indicators such as outputs, costs, financial measures, economic meas- ures to include Total Factor Productivity (TPF) among others. But in this study, the researchers fo- cused on another aspect by adopting the Performance Indexing Model developed by Suat, Dilek & Oya (2011), to determine the performance levels of these banks when subjected to ranking. The study covered eleven (11) Nigerian money deposit banks listed in the Nigerian Stock Exchange Market. This was augmented by Time Series Panel Data Analysis to determine the magnitude of performance char- acteristics of the selected banks. Findings showed that, there is a significant and positive relationship between money deposit banks and the performance characteristics. It also showed that Access Bank is dominating as the best performer as indicated by Performance Index and that the model (PIM) is suitable for measuring money deposit banks performance as against the traditional method of using financial measurement only. It was recommended that Money deposit banks should not be measured by financial reports only, but should include management efficiency, capital adequacy, and asset qual- ity among others (performance characteristics)

Application of Radiometric Surveys to Delineate between Sedimentary Terrain and Basement Complex: A case study of Sagamu and Abeokuta, South Western Nigeria

NaI (TI) detector crystal coupled to a Canberra series 10 plus multichannel analyser (MCA) was used to analyse the soil samples collected from Sagamu (Sedimentary terrain) and Abeokuta (Basement complex) in South Western Nigeria. The use of the soil samples is to determine the activity concentrations due to radium, thorium and potassium so as to delineate between the two terrains using radiometric survey. From the result of the activity concentrations of these radionuclide, the mean value of the activity concentrations of 40k (72±48) in sedimentary terrain is higher than in 226Ra (35± 20) and 232Thorium (43 ±26) respectively. In the basement complex, the average value of the activity concentration of 40k (80 ±46) was also higher in 226Ra (44±18) and 232Thorium (53 ± 25) respectively. The relatively high value recorded 40k radionuclide may be attributed to the perceived variations in the environment resulting from past activities. The results shows that the activity concentration of the radionuclides is higher in basement complex than in sedimentary terrain thus, delineate between the two terrains since it is well know that in basement complex, granites contain high concentrations of uranium, thorium and potassium. Keywords: key words: Activity concentrations, Basement complex, Radiometric survey, Sedimentary terrain, Soil sample

Phytotoxicity Level and Effects of Arsenic Phytoextraction using Helianthus Annuus L. (Sunflower)

Arsenic is one of the most deadly contaminants polluting the environment in many countries of the world today. It occurs naturally in many ores (Copper, Lead, Gold etc.), but human activities (like explosions, mining, pesticides applications etc.) and natural occurrences (like volcanoes, micro-organisms activities) have increased its amount in the environment to lethal levels. This research involved the growing of sunflower plants Helianthus annuus L. collected from the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T) on various concentrations of Arsenate contaminated soil for Arsenic phyto-extraction for seven weeks to know the phyto-toxicity level of Arsenic on sunflower (an Arsenic hyper-accumulator). After several observations and statistical evaluations using the Analysis of Variance, it was discovered that as from 2.0g – 3.0g of Arsenate per kg of soil, 0% germination occurred. Between 0.75g – 1.5g of Arsenate per kg of soil, the percentage germination was 10% - 50% (not significant) and percentage survival was 30% (not significant). Furthermore, between 0g – 1.5g of Arsenate per kg of soil, there was a percentage germination of 60% - 100% (significant) and a percentage survival of 60% - 100% (significant). Hence, for efficient and appreciable Arsenic phyto-extraction from an Arsenate contaminated soil using Sunflower a concentration of 0.5g and below of Arsenate per kg of soil should be ensured. As from 0.75g of Arsenate per kg of soil (Phytotoxicity level) the effects of Arsenic phyto-toxicity observed are delayed germination, wilting, drying-off, damping-off, foliage chlorosis and necrosis, reddening etc. Keywords:Phytoextraction, phytotoxicity, arsenic, sunflower, arsenate contaminated soi