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Alkaloid extracts from Bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) and Black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) inhibit phosphodiesterase‐5, arginase activities and oxidative stress in rats penile tissue
Get PDFStaff PublicationThe erectogenic potential of alkaloids extracted from Bitter leaf (Vernonia amyg‐
dalina) and Black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) was investigated in this study. Fresh
leaves obtained from Bitter leaf and Black night shade were air‐dried, pulverized, and
extracted for alkaloids. The inhibitory potential of the alkaloid extracts on arginase
and phosphodiesterase‐5 (PDE‐5) activities in rats penile tissue was determined in
vitro. The antioxidant properties were also evaluated and the constituent alkaloids
quantified using GC‐MS. The alkaloid extracts inhibited arginase (0–30.51 μg/ml) and
PDE‐5 (0–133.69 μg/ml) activities in a concentration‐dependent pattern. Similarly,
the alkaloid extracts inhibited Fe2+‐induced lipid peroxidation in rats penile tissues,
scavenged DPPH, OH, and NO radicals as a function of concentration. GC‐MS char‐
acterization revealed over 20 alkaloid compounds. The inhibition of PDE‐5‐, argin‐
ase‐, pro‐oxidant‐induced lipid peroxidative‐, and free radicals‐scavenging activities
by the alkaloids is suggestive of putative mechanisms underlying their therapeutic
use for managing erectile dysfunction in folklore medicine.
Practical applications
Alkaloids extracted from Black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) and Bitter leaf (Vernonia
amygdalina) were characterized and investigated by standard procedures for inhibi‐
tory action against key erectile dysfunction‐linked enzymes and antioxidant activity.
The alkaloids inhibited erectile dysfunction‐linked enzymes (arginase and PDE‐5) and
showed considerable antioxidant activity in a concentration‐dependent manner. In
view of this, we suggest the application of these results in the development of erec‐
tile dysfunction drugs in the pharmaceutical industry, with probable minimal or no
adverse effect
Large Mammals and Wetland utilization: a case study in Yankari Game Reserve Nigeria
Get PDFThe African plain harbours high abundance and diversity of mammals,
most of which are confined to protected areas (PAs) due to anthro‐
pogenic threats (Craigie et al., 2010; Dirzo et al., 2014; Estes, 1999;
Kingdon, 1997). Also, PAs face problems of hunting, logging and live‐
stock grazing, conflict of interest and poor management (Caro, 2001;
Dharmaratne, Sang, &Walling, 2000; Gardner et al., 2009; Geldmann et
al., 2015; Geldmann et al., 2015; Hall, Harris, Medjibe, & Ashton, 2003;
Pressey, 1994; Salum, Eustace, Malata, & Mbangwa, 2017; Thuiller,
2007), consequently disrupting conservation goals, effective monitor‐
ing and understanding of habitat utilisation dynamics of mammals.
Although wetlands are important habitats for sustaining animal
populations, there is a widespread trend of increasing degradation
of these habitats (Fynn, Chase, & Rӧder, 2014) and dearth of infor‐
mation pertaining to wetland utilisation in most PAs. While this is
integral for effective conservation practice, few studies focus on this
area in Africa (Arzamendia, Cassini, & Vila, 2006; Kumar, Mudappa,
& Raman, 2010; Rahman et al., 2017). Here, we investigated the wet‐
land utilisation dynamics of large mammals in Yankari Game Reserve
(YGR). The objective was to determine abundance, density and di‐
versity of large mammals and whether these variables were associ‐
ated with wetland size and time of da
Green microalgae cultured in textile wastewater for biomass generation and biodetoxification of heavy metals and chromogenic substances
No full textWastewater treatment is expensive and algae are increasingly tested for their usefulness in cleaning wastewater.
Here, we evaluated six microalgae isolates for their ability to grow in textile wastewater. The sequences of the
genes coding for the 18S, ITS 1 and ITS 2 regions placed all algae isolates in the Chlorellaceae family (green
algae). Biomass was generated for each algae strain with textile wastewater diluted with deionized water and
algal dry weight of 0.4–1.35 g L−1 was obtained. Elemental analyses of the wastewaters were carried out before
and after cultivation of the algae strains and dye colour removal was also estimated. Supernatant obtained after
biomass harvest showed reduction/removal of heavy metals like Al, Cu, V, Pb and Se. Chromogenic substances
present in the textile wastewater were also reduced by 47.10–70.03% at a lambda max of 558 nm
Computationally Efficient Stratified Flow Wet Angle Correlation for High Resolution Simulations
Get PDFIn high resolution two-phase pipe flow simulations, such as slug capturing simulation for liquid-gas pipe flow, explicit calculation of stratified flow wet angle has been proposed to improve computational speed of simulations. Most phenomenological and approximate models for obtaining reliable predictions for stratified flow wet angle employ iterative methods or contain long explicit equations which reduce computational efficiency of these models in high-resolution simulations. Therefore, the aim of this study is to adapt a simple mathematical model for predicting stratified flow wet angle to achieve computationally efficient high-resolution liquid-gas pipe flow simulations. The proposed model for predicting stratified flow wet angle is obtained by fitting the generic regression model, Hoerl power law, to analytical stratified flow wet angle data. The proposed model is compared with existing prediction model. Results obtained show that the prediction model proposed gives up to 25.9% savings in computational time over the existing prediction model
Determinants of Youth Literacy in Nigeria: Implications for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Get PDFWe are happy to announce that beginning with this issue, The SDGs Monitor Magazine will begin a new style of presentation that combines its popular magazine focus with original data-based and researched articles that include some technical language in support of upper level academic research on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Nigeria.
We continue to be grateful for the support of the Ford Foundation which has enabled us to shun affiliation with any institution, political organization or government body, and to be obligated only to our readers– the general public and most especially, the academic and civil society communities. As such, we maintain a level of independence and objectivity that few other publications in Nigeria can achieve.
This issue focuses on education. After an in-depth appraisal of Nigeria's implementation of the Quality of Education Goal (SDG 4), we find that Nigeria has a long way to go to achieve quality education. Our review of the sector finds moribund education policies, woeful underfunding of the entire sector and little political will to establish policies that promote quality education. Consequently, many Nigerian children are not reaching minimum proficiency levels in reading and mathematics. The country is hardly producing enough citizens who areboth well-educated and properly skilled for employment in the 21st century. Nigeria faces a truly severe learning crisis especially in its northern region, a crisis that threatens its hopes of attaining SDG 4. We therefore focus our research on the education of Nigerian youths.
We investigate the determinants of youth literacy in the country using the 2016/2017 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS5) dataset for Nigeria. We show that youth literacy differs by sex and across geopolitical zones. And that sex, age, area of residence, wealth quintile, geo-political zone and educational attainment of household head are key determinants of youth literacy in Nigeria. The study written by our two consultants, Dr. Joseph O. Ogebe of the University of Ibadan and Dr. Adedeji P. Adeniran of the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA), recommends that policies aimed at meeting the SDGs should focus on improving the quality of education in lagging geopolitical zones and rural areas, boosting access of the girl child, enlightening household heads, and targeting poor households to improve literacy rates across Nigeria
The Influence of Organizational Culture on Leadership Style in Higher Education Institutions
Get PDFStaff PublicationPurpose – This study aims to explore the impact of organisational culture on leadership
styles in Nigerian universities. The study utilises cultural dimensions theory (Hofstede’s
insights) and the social exchange concept as theoretical lenses to examine the phenomena.
Design/methodology/approach – Using a qualitative approach, 40 interviews were
conducted with senior academics and non-teaching staff working in Nigerian universities.
Findings – The findings reveal hierarchical, patriarchal, servile, and interdependent values as
the underlying characteristics of organisation culture, shaping the choice of leadership styles
in the management of Nigerian universities. As a result, it emerged from the study that
positional, formalised exchanges, paternalism, relational approach, and gendered reactions to
leadership were typically adopted in university administration in this context.
Limitations/implications – The study relies on a small qualitative sample size, which makes
the generalisation of findings difficult. However, the study provides a good understanding of
cultural hegemony, framing leadership styles different to those of western cultures.
Originality/value – The findings of this study help to bridge the research gap concerning the
implications of organisational culture, and its influence on leadership behaviours in the Sub-
Saharan African context. Research within this subfield in Africa is rare. Specifically, the
study also enriches our understanding of cultural dimensions, informing the leadership
methods adopted in higher education institutio
Legislating Against Cybersquatting in Nigeria: Moving Beyond Penal Law into Protective and Compensational Remedies
Get PDFThis paper analyses the menace of cybersquatting on the cyberian frontier in Nigeria with a look to offer real protection to owners of real trademarks and domain names. It examines the provisions of the United States Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act of 1999 and the practice adopted in the UK to protect real trademark owners. It examines Nigeria's recent effort at legislating to combat cybercrime via the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention Etc.) Act, 2015 especially the provisions of Section 25 dealing with cybersquatting and points out the various inadequacies of the legislation. It suggests the need to move beyond a criminal viewpoint and penal sanctions and allow for remedies in the laws of tort that secures private rights. It concludes by challenging lawmaking authorities in Nigeria to make laws that accord with global trends in the light of the inter-territoriality of cyberspace
INCESSANT POWER SUPPLY IN NIGERIA AND THE NEED FOR THE DESIGN AND PRODUCTION OF 100,000MW POWER PLANT
Get PDFThe present unreliable and erratic power supply is a pointer to the fact that there is a great need
for fault evaluation and reliability studies of electric power system in Nigeria. The recent
blackout in the country has grounded many activities and has destroyed many industrial
processes. Also, the power industries face a lot of problems. Some of the highest priority issues
being generation of sufficient power, urgent clearance of faults, adequate protection and increase
reliability of the system, that is, bringing a steady uninterrupted power supply to the consumers.
The Nigerian power problem resulted to incessant planned, forced and unplanned outages. In
addition, it has resulted to erratic and unreliable supply of electricity in the country. It has
reduced productivity and has increased unemployment rate in the country to over 40million (this
figure is over 70% of Nigerian youths. It has led many of the youths in the country to crime. It
has led many of the deaths of many innocent people in the country. Hence, an analytical method
is developed to assess the dynamic- reliability of the distribution system, as well as optimizes the
occurrence of faults along each of the individual consumer point in a feeder in order to improve
the performance of the system. This research publication therefore evaluates the occurrence of
faults which is about 856 occurrences during a period of 8 years and outages which range
between 1118 to 3785 hours per annum along the distribution lines, also the failure rates of each
of the feeders were analyzed in order to improve on the supply of electricity in the distribution
network. The reliability of the system which ranges between 8.57*10-12 to 9.548*10-5 were
analyzed; and fault clearing techniques were carried out. Efforts were made to adequately assess
the failure rates of the feeders which range between 0.003 and 0.001 and reliability of the
distribution system. Efforts were also made to improve the performance of the system. As a
result, it was possible to establish improvement techniques which ensure adequate and constant
supply of electricity to all the consumers for industrial growth and employment: a basic solution
to increasing crime rate in the country
Empirical assessment of the effects of cashless policy on financial inclusion in the Nigerian emerging economy
Get PDFThe present study examined the effects of cashless policy on financial inclusion in the Nigerian emerging economy. The necessary data were collected from the Central Bank of Nigeria Economic Reports as well as Statistical Bulletin and the ordinary least squares method was applied to analyze the data. The findings reveal that the cashless policy maintained a non-significant relationship with financial inclusion both in urban and rural areas of Nigeria. The findings show that the cashless policy had a significant effect on increasing customers’ deposits in commercial banks of Nigeria. Volume of Automated Teller Machine (ATMVL) maintains a positive and significant effect on financial inclusion indicators in urban center compared with the rural areas. Volume of Point of Sales (POSVL) shows more significant and positive influence on financial inclusion in urban area than the rural area. However, Web Based Technique (WBTVL) reveals a non-significant effect on financial inclusion both in urban and rural centers. The study therefore recommends that more branches of commercial banks and ATM centers/outlets should be opened in rural urban centers with efficient network systems and security in order to enhance banking penetration and by extension effectiveness of the financial inclusion and poverty reductions
Studies on Thermal Stability, Shelf Life and Electrochemical Measurement of Methanol Extract of Air Dried Alchornea Laxiflora Leaves in Corrosion Prevention
Get PDFoai:repository.elizadeuniversity.edu.ng:20.500.12398/841Staff PublicationThe aim of this study was to determine the thermal stability and shelf life of the extract together with the influence of extract concentration, temperature and pH variation of the acidic medium on the inhibition efficiency using 1.0 M Sodium hydroxide. The dried plant samples were ground, sieved using 0.25µm and then extracted with methanol using maceration method. The phytochemical constituents were analyzed using appropriate methods. The phytochemicals detected were: Alkaloid, saponin, flavnoid, tannin, terpenoid, steroid and cardiac glycoside. Weight loss experiment was performed to ascertain the stability and shelf life of the extract at different storage temperature and time respectively while polarization experiment was used to study the behaviour of the extract on mild steel corrosion at varying concentration of the extract, pH and temperature of the acidic media. It was found that the stability of the extract inhibition efficiency was affected by the mode of storage and the inhibition efficiency decreases with increase in storage temperature of the extract. The life span of the extract was found to be 60 days from its production stage, after this, there was reduction in the inhibition efficiency of the extract. Moreso, the corrosion rate of the mild steel in 1.0 M HCl, monitored by electrochemical measurement revealed that the corrosion rate decreases with increase in the pH, decrease in temperature and increase in concentration of the extract in the acidic solution