40 research outputs found
CHARACTERISATION OF PARTIALLY PURIFIED CELL WALL-DEGRADING ENZYMES: POLYGALACTURONASE AND CELLULASE FROM TOMATO FRUITS DEGRADED BY ASPERGILLUS NIGER
Aspergillus niger is a soil saprobe and produces a wide array of hydrolytic and oxidative enzymes and cell wall
degrading enzymes. An investigation on the various properties of partially purified polygalacturonase and cellulase
enzymes extracted from tomato fruits deteriorated by Aspergillus niger was carried out in this study. The results obtained
shows that temperature, pH and substrate concentration have a profound effect on enzyme activity. The molecular
weights of the enzymes extracted also suggest that it may be species dependen
Perforation of the appendix and the sigmoid colon by an ectopic IUD
The perforation of both appendix and sigmoid colon by an ectopic Intrauterine device (IUD) by an intrauterine device is a rare occurrence. We present a case of a patient is a 47- year- old hispanic woman who presented at the Gynaecology clinic with complaints of chronic right sided pelvic pain. She had an intrauterine device inserted 10 years prior with no recent gynaecological follow-up. The device was identified by ultrasonography and she was planned for a hysterectomy and IUD retrieval by the gynaecology team. An intra-operative finding of sigmoid colon and appendiceal perforation by an IUD during a total abdominal hysterectomy and emergent involvement of the general surgery team. She underwent a segmental resection of the involved sigmoid colon, appendectomy and removal of the IUD. All missing Intrauterine devices should be accurately localized by tomographic or magnetic imaging preoperatively
Characterization of α-Amylase from Soursop (Annona muricata Linn.) Fruits Degraded by Rhizopus stolonifer
Rhizopus stolonifer is a fungus and one of the most common species of the genus Rhizopus. The organism has been a very important microbe used in the field of industrial microbiology. It has been used in the production of many hydrolytic and extracellular enzymes
among which is the "-amylase. This enzyme has found various uses in the industry. Fruit juices are important sources of nutrients and they contain several important therapeutic properties that may reduce the risk of various diseases. An investigation on "-amylase
extracted from soursop fruits deteriorated by R. stolonifer and the effect of the enzyme on soursop juice clarification was carried out in this study. The results obtained shows that the soursop juice with low concentration of extracted enzyme and less incubation time was more viscous and cloudy compared with the juice with high concentrations of amylase and higher incubation time which was clearer and less viscous. The results of this research will be very useful in soursop juice producing companie
Probiotics in the Management of Diseases: A Review
In recent years, there has been an increase in the application of probiotics for
the treatment of some diseases and to alleviate the symptoms of many others.
Diseases and ailments such as diarrhea, pouchitis, cancer, ulcerative colitis,
irritable bowel disease, and a host of others have experienced an increase in
the use of certain probiotics bacteria to combat them. The complete
mechanisms of action of probiotics in disease management and enhancement
of the health of the host remain largely unknown, but the major activity thus
appear to be via modulation of immune responses (immunomodulations) and
colonization competitive shielding off of pathogens. This paper is set to
review some of the various ailments for which probiotics have been used.
With an upsurge in the use of probiotics, also comes an increase in skeptism
on the safety of their use for medical purpose, the safety concerns that may
obstruct effective usage and thus judicious application of probiotics in disease
management warrants further investigations
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND FIRM PERFORMANCE: A STUDY OF LISTED FIRMS IN NIGERIA
This study investigated the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) disclosure practices of Nigerian quoted companies and their determinants. A checklist of 20 attributes was developed to capture the social and environmental disclosures from the annual reports of 45 companies from 8 sectors quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange over a two-year period (2013 to 2014). The determinants of disclosure were proxied by company size, profitability and auditor type. Company size was measured by total assets, profitability was measured by return on equity (ROE), and auditor type was measured by a dummy variable, ‘1‘ for Big 4 and ’0‘ for otherwise. The data obtained were analysed using descriptive statistics, correlation and regression. The findings revealed that, the level of CSR was 44%, made up of social disclosure (68%) and environmental disclosure (6%). Findings also revealed that CSR was influenced by company size and auditor type; but not by profitability. This paper recommends a mandatory CSR reporting framework in line with international best practice for all listed companies in Nigeri
Studies on Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Pimples
Background and Objective: Pimples (acne) are small skin lesions or inflammations of the skin. The most common factor causing acne
is the hormonal changes that occur during adolescent and teenage years. Antibiotics are becoming less effective in the treatment of
pimples due to increasing concerns of antibiotic resistance. This study was therefore carried out to characterize the isolates from the
pimples of Covenant University Students and to determine their antibiotics sensitivity pattern. Materials and Methods: A total of 20 swab
samples were obtained from male and female students with obvious signs of pimples in Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria.
The samples obtained were cultured on Mannitol Salt Agar and incubated at 37EC. Pure isolates obtained were subjected to Gram staining
and other biochemical tests for identification. The isolates were further subjected to antibiotics sensitivity tests using antibiotic dics.
Results: Macroscopic examination indicated that the organisms were convex, smooth and shiny. Microscopic examination revealed that
the isolates were positive after employing the Gram Staining technique and they appeared as grape-like clusters. Biochemical tests
revealed that the isolates were Coagulase positive, Catalase positive, Urease positive, Citrate positive, Methyl-Red positive,
Voges-Proskauer negative and negative upon starch hydrolysis. The sugar fermentation tests revealed that the isolates fermented Glucose,
Maltose, Galactose, Sucrose and Lactose, respectively. The antibiotic susceptibility test showed that isolates were resistant to Cotrimazole,
Cloxacillin, Erythromycin, Gentamycin, Augmentin, Streptomycin, Tetracycline and Chloramphenicol. Conclusion: The results therefore
indicated that the isolates were Staphylococcus aureus and other staphylococci species. Indiscriminate use of antibiotics should be
avoided to prevent the development of resistant strains of the Staphylococci genera and other pathogenic organisms
Extraction of lycopene with cell wall degrading enzymes from tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) fruits deteriorated by Aspergillus niger
Lycopene is the carotenoid which gives tomatoes and other red fruits their characteristic colour. It is one
of the most powerful antioxidants and singlet oxygen quenching agents. It has been found to be of great medical
importance with various anticancer effects and its ability to ameliorate several other medical conditions. Freshly ripe
tomato fruits of the Roma vf variety and the Ibadan local variety were allowed to deteriorate after infection with a
96-hr-old culture of Aspergillus niger. Extraction of cell wall degrading enzymes produced during the deterioration
process was carried out ten days after inoculation of the tomato fruits. The crude enzymes were precipitated using
ammonium sulphate precipitation technique and employed in the extraction of lycopene from tomato peels. The
yield of lycopene was 45.25mg/kg and 45.86mg/kg for enzymes extracted from the Roma vf and the Ibadan local
varieties of tomato fruits respectively. This study established an improvement in lycopene extraction with crude
preparation of cell wall degrading enzymes and compared the yield from the two enzymes obtained from the two
most commonly available varieties of tomato fruits in Nigerian markets
Modification of Cell Wall Degrading Enzymes from Soursop (Annona muricata) Fruit Deterioration for Improved Commercial Development of Clarified Soursop Juice (A Review
The soursop fruit and the entire soursop plant is associated with a lot of health benefits which includes
the killing of cancer cells in cancer patients. The treatment of cancer with soursop has been reported to be
accompanied with the risk of Parkinson’s disease while soursop juice is considered safe for consumption. The fruit
had been associated with preharvest and postharvest deterioration caused by microorganisms and this reduces
the total production of soursop fruit. The deterioration process is being accompanied with the production of cell
wall degrading enzymes which has the advantage of being used for industrial purposes. One of the important
uses of these enzymes is in the clarification of fruit juices. This review proposes the genetic modification of the
genes coding for important microbial enzymes for the clarification of soursop juice for improved yield, taste, and
colour
Studies on Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Pimples
Background and Objective: Pimples (acne) are small skin lesions or inflammations of the skin. The most common factor causing acne is the hormonal changes that occur during adolescent and teenage years. Antibiotics are becoming less effective in the treatment of pimples due to increasing concerns of antibiotic resistance. This study was therefore carried out to characterize the isolates from the pimples of Covenant University Students and to determine their antibiotics sensitivity pattern. Materials and Methods: A total of 20 swab samples were obtained from male and female students with obvious signs of pimples in Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria. The samples obtained were cultured on Mannitol Salt Agar and incubated at 37EC. Pure isolates obtained were subjected to Gram staining and other biochemical tests for identification. The isolates were further subjected to antibiotics sensitivity tests using antibiotic dics. Results: Macroscopic examination indicated that the organisms were convex, smooth and shiny. Microscopic examination revealed that the isolates were positive after employing the Gram Staining technique and they appeared as grape-like clusters. Biochemical tests revealed that the isolates were Coagulase positive, Catalase positive, Urease positive, Citrate positive, Methyl-Red positive, Voges-Proskauer negative and negative upon starch hydrolysis. The sugar fermentation tests revealed that the isolates fermented Glucose, Maltose, Galactose, Sucrose and Lactose, respectively. The antibiotic susceptibility test showed that isolates were resistant to Cotrimazole, Cloxacillin, Erythromycin, Gentamycin, Augmentin, Streptomycin, Tetracycline and Chloramphenicol. Conclusion: The results therefore indicated that the isolates were Staphylococcus aureus and other staphylococci species. Indiscriminate use of antibiotics should be avoided to prevent the development of resistant strains of the Staphylococci genera and other pathogenic organisms
Developing a Model for Employees’ Intrapreneurial Engagement and Organizational Survival
The survival of any organisation in the midst of economic hardship and competitiveness is becoming a serious concern. One of the strategies organisations can adopt is to tap into the intrapreneurial potentials of their employees. The main objective of this study examines the strategic roles of employees’ intrapreneurial engagement and its implication for organisational survival. A descriptive research method (Structural Equation Model {AMOS 22}) was applied to analyse the two hundred and fifty-nine (259) copies of valid questionnaire completed by the respondents using stratified and simple random sampling techniques. However, the study indicated that fostering employees’ intrapreneurial engagement have positive significant implications on organisational survival. This suggests that employees’ empowerment, involvement, autonomy, relationships and reward system have significant effects on organisational survival. It is therefore recommended that organisations should challenge their employees by providing them with autonomy and the freedom to innovate and carve out spaces for them to take risks and experiment