317 research outputs found

    Comparative studies of antimycotic potential of thyme and clove oil extracts with antifungal antibiotics on Candida albicans

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    This study was undertaken to compare the antifungal properties of clove (Syzygium aromaticus) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris) oils with the synthetic antifungal agents notably, amphotericin B, itraconazole,fluconazole and ketoconazole against Candida albicans in vitro. This is necessary if oil extracts can replace antifungal antibiotics as agents for the treatment of candidiasis. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the essential oils were determined by first solubilizing them with dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) followed by serial two-fold dilutions in Sabouraud’s broth using Candida albicans (ATCC 10231) control and other 10 isolates of C. albicans. The minimum inhibitory concentrations(MICs) of the oils, showing no visible fungal growth, varied from 1.0 x 103 to 2.5 x 103 ìg/mL for clove and 4.6 x 102 to 9.3 x 102 ìg/mL for thyme while their minimum antifungal end-points were 2.5 x 103 and1.9 x 103ìg/mL, respectively. Thyme oil was more antifungal than clove oil. The mean of the MIC’s of the antifungal agents notably amphotericin B, ketoconazole, fluconazole and itraconazole were 0.031, 0.015,1.9, and 0.168 ìg/mL, respectively, indicating that they are more antifungal than the oil extracts. The experiment indicates that, in vitro, the antifungal antibiotics are more antifungal than the essential oils.Perhaps, the mode of extraction of the oils may have contributed to the active agents being suboptimal in the extracts

    Effectiveness of a 10-Week Weight Reduction Program in a Retail Clinic

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    Obesity is a serious health problem that leads to several chronic diseases and premature deaths. TheIn this project,was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the the Weigh Forward (WF) program, a 10-week weight-loss program administered in retail clinics, was evaluated, and it is provided in retails stores. The project analysis was completed on a limited data set on The population consisted of 15 obese participantsmembers of the program, 18 years and above, at 13 dispersed clinics in Maryland and Virginia.in the WF program from 13 dispersed clinics in Maryland and VirgiObesity is a body mass index (BMI) \u3e 30 kg/m2. Participants were 18 years and above The theory of planned behavior (TPB) was used as the framework from which to view the project. The project was usedpurpose was to determine the efficacy of the WF program for weight reduction by comparing the baseline body mass index (BMI) and the waist circumference (WC) to the BMI and WC at the end of the program. Descriptive The aanalysis was done using correlation coefficient on the 15 participants,, who completed the 10-week WF program. The result, showed the mean and mode for BMI reduction to be 2 kg/m2, and the mean and mode for the WC reduction was 3 inches. The percentage weight loss varied from 3-11%, with the completion rate for the enrolled participants at 29%. Thise study has implications for the social change because the findings support intensive behavioral modification as an effective approach to weight loss. The study can help healthcare providers appreciate the is the need to complete preventive care assessment on patients, identify patients with obesity, and provide these patients with the requisite information on the need to lose weight. Also, the clinicians provide the patients with information and available resources to enable help them lose weight. The mean and mode of 2 kg/m2 for BMI reduction, and 3 inches for the reduction in WC at the end of 10 weeks, showed that the WF program was effective for weight loss because the participants lost significant amount of weight. The findings from the project can guide the development of practice guidelines for administering the WF program in the retail clinic

    An Assessment of the Nematode Population in the Benthic Zone of a Tidal Freshwater Body using the Lower Reaches of the New Calabar River as a Case Study

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    An assessment of the Nematode population in the benthic zone of the New Calabar River, Choba, using the modified baermann’s method yielded eight (8) species of nematode. The nematode speciation includes: Tylenchorhynchus dubius (8.0%), Ditylenchus dipsaci (4.0%), Rotylenchus uniformis (4.0%), Rhabdolaimus sp (2.0%), Aphelenchoides ritzemabosi (2.0%), Tylenchus davainei (4.0%), Pratylenchus sp (4.0%), and Xiphenema sp (4.0%). The low species richness and abundance observed were attributed to a number of factors like seasonality and influx of pollutants into the river from the abattoir, market, poultry and other human disturbances. Furthermore, the intrusion of salt into the river through its tidal effect causes silting shoreline, nutrient enrichment (from abattoirs, poultry, industries, etc), human disturbances have caused a decline in the population of k-strategists and an increase in proportion of r-strategists of which some were “ideal” soil nematodes. Keywords: Dredging, Tidal freshwater, Abattoir, nematodes, benthic zon

    Investigation of Electromagnetic Radiations by GSM Base Stations in Nigeria for Compliance Testing

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    Thousands of base station antennas (BSA) have been installed in Nigeria to support the development of mobile telephony. At the same time there is a public concern about the electromagnetic fields induced by these antennas, particularly there is a great fear by those living in the vicinity of these antennas, of being exposed to the harmful effects of this radiation. This fear has created the need to investigate and establish the level and also to determine whether this level is harmful or not based on the International Committee for Non-Ionization Radio Protection (ICNIRP) Standards. In this study, field measurement approach was used to investigate the impact and compare the result with the safety standard as given by ICNIRP. The analysis of the result provided information on the radiation level in the university of Nigeria environment. The results showed that Odim location recorded the maximum power density of 0.1879 mW/m2, while PG recorded the minimum power density of 0.0158 mW/m2.  The maximum power density value obtained occurred at 200m away from the foot of base station antenna. When this power density level was compared with the international safety level standard of about 4.5W/m2, the result showed low radiation, 0.004 percent of the safety level. Keywords: EMR, Base Station, Radiation, Measurement, Environment, Power Densit

    Point prevalence mapping of malaria infection in Rivers State, Nigeria

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    Background: Variations in the risk of malaria across locations exist but are poorly understood though identifying hotspots of malaria transmission will create opportunities for targeted interventions. Point prevalence of malaria in Rivers State was studied using Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) as survey points. Methods: The PHCs in Rivers State were geo-referenced using a handheld Global Positioning System (GPS) and 74 were selected across 21 local government areas using systematic grid point sampling. Blood samples were obtained from 2340 persons who consented and questionnaires were administered to obtain their demographic data. Malaria parasites in blood films were detected using the Giemsa staining technique. Data generated were analysed using SPSS 22.0 and presented using descriptive statistics. The level of relationship amongst the parameters was obtained using Chi-square. Co-ordinates of PHCs sampled and their prevalence data for malaria were entered into Microsoft Excel 2007 spreadsheet and transmitted to ArcGIS 10.8. This platform was then used to produce point prevalence infection maps of the State using geographic information systems (GIS). Survey points with malaria point prevalence values of 75% and above and cumulative prevalence of 1.97% and above were categorised as malaria transmission hot spots in the various LGAs. Results: The study recorded an overall prevalence of 56.3%, with P.falciparum as the only identified malaria parasite. Data revealed that Oyoro Model Primary Health Centre (MPHC), Arukwo Primary Health Centre, Ele Health Post (HP) and Emago HP recorded very high prevalence of 96.7%, 96%, 95.2% and 94.4% respectively, whereas MPHC Iriebe had the least prevalence. Twelve hotspots with point prevalence above 75% were identified and eight hotspots likewise with cumulative prevalence above 1.97%. Conclusion: Malaria infection remains endemic in Rivers State. This study provides malaria point prevalence maps of Rivers State which will serve as a reference to policymakers for strategic interventions in the Stat

    Spatial and structural aspects of manufacturing industry in Liberia, 1944-1979

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    The problem of planning industrial location at the regional level is particularly relevant in less developed countries because most of them are in the embryonic stage of development. In general, economists and other planners in Liberia have until recently, paid very little attention to the role of industrial location in the development of the industrial sector. This thesis examines the spatial and structural aspects of manufacturing industry in Liberia from 1944-1979, its impact on the national economy, and also attempts to evaluate the differential regional growth. For the purpose of the study a sample survey of 100 firms formed the basis of fieldwork undertaken in Liberia, and information was collected by personal interviews and mail questionnaires. The questions were designed to investigate the possible major reasons for the location of each existing firm in the area, bearing in mind such major factors that are important to foreign companies which set up plants in developing countries. Accordingly, the questionnaire draws on theoretical and empirical contributions made to the study of industrial locations. The ranking of the eight major location factors based on the number of times they were mentioned either as the sole factor, the major factor, or otherwise gives a clear evidence of the importance attached to individual location factors by the entrepreneurs. Using the number of employees as criterion, the spatial impact of manufacturing industry on the economy is analysed. Adopting the same employmentindicator as base, and with different indices of measurements, the comparative degree of manufacturing among the regions is assessed. The study shows that Montserrado County (especially Great Monrovia Region), has been the main focus of industrial concentration and diversification in the country. The thesis concludes by discussing the problems and prospects that are apparent, and suggestions toward a possible regional and industrial development strategy.<p

    The Impact of Microteaching in Developing Teaching Skills among Pre-Service Teachers in Alvan Ikoku College of Education Owerri, Nigeria

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    Teaching skills are necessary tools teachers should possess for effectiveness in their job. Teaching the teacher candidates these skills is not simple hence the need for a microteaching environment which enables pre-service teachers to acquire them under controlled laboratory setting. This study was an extension of current NCE microteaching programme run by Alvan Ikoku College of Education for the B.Ed student teachers in order to determine its impact on their acquisition of the requisite teaching skills. A sample of 90 student teachers was purposively drawn from the second-year degree students in the college who were preparing to embark on the teaching practice programme in the 2016 teaching practice programme. The study involved a pre-test and a post-test of the students using a microteaching skills rating scale (MSRS) developed by the researchers. Data collected was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings of the study revealed that the microteaching interventions improved the teaching skills significantly with significant differences between the three intervention groups. The group that received microteaching treatment with video recording performed better than the other groups while gender had no significant effect on their mean scores. The result has far reaching implication on the need for a well-equipped microteaching laboratory for microteaching programmes in teacher education institutions.Key Words: Impact; microteaching; teaching skills; pre-service teacher

    Phytochemical Screening and Antimicrobial Analysis of Fadogia andersonii Robyn Plant Extrac

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    Medicinal plants extracts are now generally considered as effective medicines that play a major role in modern pharmacy. The plant Fadogia andersonii belonging to the Family Rubiaceae, which is used in ethno-medicine was studied. Preliminary phytochemical analyses of the whole plant revealed the presence of the following metabolites: Saponins, terpenes, steroids, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, cardiac glycosides and carbohydrates. Anthraquinones was found to be absent. Antimicrobial screening of the methanol plant’s extract carried out (in vitro) on Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus cereus, Klebsiella pneumonia, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Candida albican and Aspergillus flavus showed that the extract has activity on the tested microorganisms. However, it showed no inhibitory effect against Escherichia coli. The extract was found to inhibit the growth of S. aureus, B. cereus, S. pyogenes and C. albican at 25mg/ml with a corresponding MBC at 50mg/ml. S.typhi and S. pneumonia were inhibited at 50mg/ml with a corresponding MBC at 100mg/ml. It also inhibited the growth of P. aeruginosa, K. pneumonia and A. flavus at 100mg/ml with a corresponding MBC at 200mg/ml. The observed antimicrobial effects were believed to be due to the presence of active principles which were detected in the phytochemical screening. Keywords: Phytochemicals, Antimicrobials, Fadogia andersonii Roby

    Performance Evaluation of Some Potential Bionematicides on Leaf and Fruit Production of Capsicum annuum

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    Plant-derived pesticides has become a mainstay in the control of pest, due to the fact that synthetic pesticides induce environmental degradation. The effective control of plant nematode has been found to improve the yield and economic value of farm produce. Certain growth parameters are visible in diseased plant, these in turn affects the final output of the produce. The performance evaluation of some bionematicides were investigated with five plants (Azadirachta indica, Vernonia amygdalina, Manihot esculenta, Carica papaya. and Citrus sinensis) using Capsicum plant in a two trial sessions, within exposure periods of 30, 60 and 90-days, at different concentrations (20, 30 and 40g). The growth parameters monitored were numbers of leave and fruit produced. Results showed that, compared to the control, all treatments similarly demonstrated significant improvement in leaf and fruit production, with much more improvement in the second trial (p &lt; 0.05). Thus the applied treatment significantly (p &lt; 0.05), induced varying degrees of nematotoxicity resulting to improved leaf and fruit production of Capsicum annum (Pepper plant. Based on the findings of this research, we therefore conclude that all treatments (i.e. tested plant), demonstrated significant improvements in the development of Capsicum plant and as such can be recommended as Bionematicide

    Attitude of Students Towards Use of Google Classroom for E-Learning in Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri, Nigeria

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    The study investigated the attitude of students towards the use of Google Classroom for e-learning in Alvan Ikoku Federal college of Education, Owerri. The study was conducted using a descriptive analytical survey design. one research question and two hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. A sample of 150 students was purposively selected from an intact Educational Technology class comprising Education/Economics and Education/English 200 level students. A sixteen item researchers designed instrument was employed to collect data from the respondents. The instrument was administered on the respondents electronically through Survey Monkey on Google Classroom platform.  Data collected from the survey was analysed using descriptive and analytical statistics. Findings revealed that the students have a positive attitude towards the use of Google Classroom. It was also discovered that there is a significant difference in attitude towards the use of Google Classroom between male and female students in favour of the males. However, there was no significant difference in attitude towards use of Google Classroom based on the area of specialization of the students. It was recommended that educators in the higher education institutions should upgrade their skill in the use of Google Classroom application in presentation of contents in their subject areas among others. Keywords: Attitude of students; google classroom; e-learning. DOI: 10.7176/JEP/14-17-03 Publication date:June 30th 202
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