Effect of Hours of Priming in Coconut Water and Seed Weight on the Juvenile Growth Phase of Soursop (Annona Muricata) in the Nursery

Priming in coconut water and seed weight are important nursery techniques for seedling emergence and vigorous juvenile growth phase in the nursery. Two hundred and ten (210) observational stands of soursop seedlings were gotten  from five (5) seeds of 0.6 - 0.8 g and 0.3 - 0.5 g weights which were primed in coconut water at 0, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60 and 72 hours and replicated three times. Findings showed that heavy seed had higher percentage emergence (92.90 %) than light seed (78.60 %). Priming in coconut water at 60 hours (83.30 %) increased percentage emergence while unprimed seed had low percentage emergence (75.00 %). Juvenile growth phase showed a linear increase as hours of priming in coconut water increased, peaked at 60 hours of priming and dropped at 72 hours of priming. Dry matter content of heavy seed primed at 60 hours (4.20 g) was higher than dry matter content of light seed primed at 72 hours (1.55 g). Dry matter content correlates positively (p < 0.05) with growth parameters measured. These results showed that hours of priming in coconut water and seed weight played crucial roles in juvenile growth phase of soursop in the nursery

OPTICAL AND STRUCTURAL CHARACTERIZATION OF FECUS TERNARY THIN FILMS

Ternary thin films of Iron Copper Sulphide (FeCuS) have been grown and characterized. Optical, compositional, surface microstructure and structural characterization of the deposited films were carried out. Absorbance spectra data of the films were obtained using a Janway 6405 UV-VIS spectrophotometer, absorbance of the films were found to be high in UV and low in VIS – NIR region, while the transmittances were low in UV region and high in VIS – NIR regions. Elemental composition of the films were done using Skyray XRF Machine, EDX Pocket III, model P530. The machine was used to determine the percentage of each transition element present in the films. The surface microstructures of the films were characterized using Olympus Microscope at 100X magnification.  XRD analysis of the films was carried out using Enhance Mini Material Analyzer (EMMA) X – Ray Diffractometer Machine, the as - deposited FeCuS thin film was found to have tetragonal structure. The lattice constants obtained are , and . The crystallite size of the film was calculated at wavelength of and the calculated grain size was found to be . The optical absorption study reveals that FeCuS thin film has a bandgap of 2.40eV and a refractive index range of to at 400nm. The reflectance of the deposited films was found to be generally low

Power market coupling: towards harmonised electricity policies in the East African Community

The ambitious plans of the East African Community (EAC) to provide adequate electricity in the region have continued to generate substantial interest among experts in academia, industry and government. The communal efforts to realise such targets are predicated on individual capacities and cooperative endeavour. This article focuses on a legal assessment of the EAC energy market coupling with a special emphasis on examining whether a harmonised approach is possible from two perspectives: first, practical industry concerns and, second, the legal framework within which those concerns should be addressed. This article argues that there is strong potential for a harmonised approach supported by legal convergence. One important index of success in this area would be the promotion and protection of foreign investment to ensure enough electricity supply

Some neuropsychological profiles of cannabis dependent users on long-term abstinence in a rehabilitation centre in Nigeria

The present study examined some neuropsychological profiles of cannabis dependent users on long abstinence in Nigeria. Ninety participants were recruited for the study. Their ages ranged from 27 – 35 years with a mean age of 30.78. Five neuropsychological instruments were used for the study: Symbol Digit Modality Test (SDMT), Digit Symbol Modality Test (DSMT), Trail Making Tests A & B (TMT – A/B), Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) and Rivermead Post Concussion Syndrome questionnaire (RPC). The findings of the study showed significant differences on verbal learning; RAVLT Trial 5: F(2,81) = 15.20, RAVLT Total Trial: F(2,81) = 11.06, Delayed verbal memory, F(2,81) = 10.94 all at P ≤ 0.05 level of testing with cannabis users performing worse than the psychiatric and healthy controls. Significant differences were also seen on processing speed: DSMT: F(2,81) = 3.53 with cannabis users performing worse than the healthy control but better than the psychiatric group. Drug users had significant less performance than the healthy control on TMT A; F(2,81) = 8.04 and TMT B; F(2,81) = 7.41 as measures of executive function. Also, drug users had significant worse complaints of somatic, cognitive and emotional symptoms following brain injury as measured by RPC; F(2,81) = 7.11 all at P ≤ 0.05 level of testing. Discussions of the study was based upon long term effects of cannabis use on neuro-cognition even after prolonged abstinence and reasons for the mixed findings surrounding this area of study. Implications of the study were also examined.Keywords: Neuro-cognition, Cannabis Users, Abstinence, Processing Speed, Memor

ANTIOXIDANT AND HEPATOPROTECTIVE POTENTIALS OF STEMONOCOLEUS MICRANTHUS HARMS (FABACEAE) STEM BARK EXTRACT

Objective: This study evaluated the antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of the methanol-dichloromethane (1:1) extract of Stemonocoleus micranthus Harms (Fabaceae) stem bark (SME).Methods: In vitro ferric reducing power, hydrogen peroxide and α, α-diphenyl–β–dipicryl–hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assays, were used to determine the antioxidant activity of SME (25, 50, 100, 200 and 400 µg/ml). Also the effects of SME (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) on liver enzymes alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-inducedhepaticoxidative damage were studied in rats.Results: The results showed that SME (25-400 µg/ml) significantly (P<0.01) reduced iron III (Fe3+) to iron II (Fe2+) with 400 µg/ml eliciting 135.4% reducing power. The SME demonstrated significant (P<0.01) hydrogen peroxide scavenging with 400 µg/ml eliciting 20.37% activity, comparable to ascorbic acid (20.32%). The SME (25-400 µg/ml) also elicited 77-81% DPPH free radical scavenging, lower than ascorbic acid (25-400 µg/ml) with 83-88% activity. The in vivo study showed that SME protected the rats from liver damage as shown by the reduction of liver enzymes in serum. The SME (400 mg/kg) elicited 7.7, 33.8 and 7.2% inhibition of ALP, ALT and AST respectively. The acute toxicity test revealed that SME has high margin of safety, with oral lethal dose (LD50)>5 g/kg. Phytochemical analyses on the extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, flavonoids, glycosides, proteins, reducing sugars, saponins, resins, steroids, tannins, terpenoids, fats, and oils.Conclusion: The findings suggest that the methanol-dichloromethane extract of S. micranthus stem bark possess antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects.Keywords: Stemonocoleus micranthus, Antioxidant, Hepatoprotective, Albino rats, Ascorbic aci

Effects of Planting Time and Poultry Manure on Late Season Plaintain Establishment and Yield in Owerri Rainforest Zone of Nigeria

In rainfed agriculture, plantain availability to consumer is seasonal. Late season plantain planting with appropriate organic manure application has been one of the advocated solutions. This experiment was carried out at the Federal University of Technology Teaching and Research  farm, Owerri in 2010 late season planting to determine the  appropriate time of planting and optimum manure rate that will enhance late season plantain establishment and bunch availability in the tropical rainforest. The experiment was a 3x4 factorial fitted into a randomized complete block design replicated three times. The treatments were three late season months (5th September, 5th October and 5thNovember) and four poultry manure rates (0,4,8 and 12 t.ha-1). The pre and post soil, establishment, growth and yield data were collected and analysed statistically.  The post soil chemical analysis showed an improvement on soil pH,(5.30-6.07, 5.59-5.67 and 5.73-5.72), organic matter,(2.098-2.098, 2.476-2.373 and 2.240-2.201%) calcium,(7.03-10.20, 3.60-6.40 and 5.40-5.70 l/kg) organic carbon,(1.696-1.217, 1.436-1.377 and1.436-1.277%)  phosphorous (21.39-20.86, 20.20-18.80 and14.60-13.90ppm)  and  magnesium (0.67-2.00, 0.83-1.17 and 0.83-1.00CMOL) in the treatment that received 8 and12 t ha-1 poultry manure in September, October and November planting respectively..  The residual effect of poultry manure resulted in increased yield (8.6, 7.2 and 7.0kg)  of the first ratoon crop in September, October, and November planting that received 12t ha-1poultry manure respectively.  Although poultry manure rates enhanced plantain establishment, growth and yield when planted in September, October and November, plantain planted  in September and manured with 12 t ha-1 poultry manure significantly(p=0.05) enhanced plantain establishment,(100%) ,yield (9.2kg in plant crop,8.6 first ratoon) and  income return (N 7,135,,501.8/ha) in Owerri Rainforest zone of Nigeria. Keywords: Planting time,  poultry manure, late season plantain, production, humid tropics

Unravelling factors associated with malaria parasitaemia among children 6–24 months to inform malaria interventions in Nigeria: evidence from 2021 Malaria Indicator Survey

Abstract Background As an additional two million malaria cases were reported in 2021 compared to the previous year, concerted efforts toward achieving a steady decline in malaria cases are needed to achieve malaria elimination goals. This work aimed at determining the factors associated with malaria parasitaemia among children 6–24 months for better targeting of malaria interventions. Methods A cross-sectional study analysed 2021 Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey dataset. Data from 3058 children 6–24 months were analyzed. The outcome variable was children 6–24 months whose parasitaemia was determined using a rapid diagnostic test (RDT). Independent variables include child age in months, mothers’ age, mothers’ education, region, place of residence, household ownership and child use of insecticide-treated net (ITN), exposure to malaria messages and knowledge of ways to prevent malaria. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine possible factors associated with malaria parasitaemia in children 6–24 months. Results Findings revealed that 28.7% of the 3058 children aged 6–24 months tested positive for malaria by RDT. About 63% of children 12–17 months (aOR = 1.63, 95% CI 1.31–2.03) and 91% of children 18 to 24 months (aOR = 1.91, 95% CI 1.51–2.42) were more likely to have a positive malaria test result. Positive malaria test result was also more likely in rural areas (aOR = 1.79, 95% CI 2.02–24.46), northeast (aOR = 1.54, 95% CI 1.02–2.31) and northwest (aOR = 1.63, 95% CI 1.10–2.40) region. In addition, about 39% of children who slept under ITN had a positive malaria test result (aOR = 1.39 95% CI 1.01–1.90). While children of mothers with secondary (aOR = 0.40, 95% CI 0.29–0.56) and higher (aOR = 0.26, 95% CI 0.16–0.43) levels of education and mothers who were aware of ways of avoiding malaria (aOR = 0.69, 95% CI 0.53–0.90) were less likely to have a malaria positive test result. Conclusion As older children 12 to 24 months, children residing in the rural, northeast, and northwest region are more likely to have malaria, additional intervention should target them in an effort to end malaria

Endothelial Cell Processing and Alternatively Spliced Transcripts of Factor VIII: Potential Implications for Coagulation Cascades and Pulmonary Hypertension

Background: Coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) deficiency leads to haemophilia A. Conversely, elevated plasma levels are a strong predictor of recurrent venous thromboemboli and pulmonary hypertension phenotypes in which in situ thromboses are implicated. Extrahepatic sources of plasma FVIII are implicated, but have remained elusive. Methodology/Principal Findings: Immunohistochemistry of normal human lung tissue, and confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, and ELISA quantification of conditioned media from normal primary endothelial cells were used to examine endothelial expression of FVIII and coexpression with von Willebrand Factor (vWF), which protects secreted FVIII heavy chain from rapid proteloysis. FVIII transcripts predicted from database mining were identified by rt-PCR and sequencing. FVIII mAb-reactive material was demonstrated in CD31+ endothelial cells in normal human lung tissue, and in primary pulmonary artery, pulmonary microvascular, and dermal microvascular endothelial cells. In pulmonary endothelial cells, this protein occasionally colocalized with vWF, centered on Weibel Palade bodies. Pulmonary artery and pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells secreted low levels of FVIII and vWF to conditioned media, and demonstrated cell surface expression of FVIII and vWF Ab–reacting proteins compared to an isotype control. Four endothelial splice isoforms were identified. Two utilize transcription start sites in alternate 59 exons within the int22h-1 repeat responsible for intron 2