International Journal of Science for Global Sustainability
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Evaluation of Ethyl Acetate Crude Kolaviron (Garcinia Kola Extract) In Trypanosoma Brucei Brucei Infected Wistar Rats
Get PDFTrypanosoma brucei brucei are unicellular parasites transmitted by the tsetse fly. they are the causative agent of african animal trypanosomiasis (aat), which continue to pose important public health and economic problems in many parts of africa. the search for vaccination candidate against aat remains elusive and effective treatment is beset with problems of drug resistance and toxicity. This study aimed at search for effective and safe treatment of aat. after a preliminary phytochemical screening, gas chromatography mass spectrometry (gc-ms) analysis was conducted on the extract which revealed octadecenoic acid methyl ester (59%) to be the most abundant compounds. the ethyl acetate extract of garcinia kola (kolaviron) at dose levels of 100mg/kg and 500mg/kg body weight was assessed in trypanosoma brucei brucei experimentally infected wistar rats. parasitemia in all treated animals continuously increased (p=0.0060) till death except for the groups administered 500mg/kg and 100mg/kg per day, which maintained low parasite count (p<0.05) and extension of life span from 12 days in the infected untreated rats (positive control group) to 18 days in the infected but treated rats (test group). full blood count showed a significant increase in the blood parameters of test group (p=0.0080) when compared with positive control group (p=0.0001). the histopathological analysis showed no organ damage except for the degeneration of liver tissues in positive control, but regeneration in test groups. it was concluded that ethyl acetate extract of g. kola extract was trypanostatic. the antitrypanosomal activity exhibited by these extracts might be attributed to the chemicals detected
Soil Quality Evaluation in Agricultural Soils of Funtua Area, Katsina State, Northwestern, Nigeria
Get PDFSoil quality has become an important environmental issue all over the world. Soil quality of agricultural soils in Funtua area of Katsina state was evaluated. A total of twelve soil samples were collected and analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, organic matter, total nitrogen, phosphorus, cadmium, chromium, lead, iron, manganese and zinc. The heavy metals were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Geo-accumulation index and contamination factor were utilized in the analysis. Descriptive statistics of range, mean and standard deviation were employed in summarizing the collected data. The result of soil properties revealed that, all studied parameters were found to be low with EC having the highest mean concentration (215.50) and OC with low content (2.212%). From the result of heavy metals, Cr has the highest concentration with the mean of 0.251mg/kg and Pb having the lowest value of 0.087mg/kg, all analyzed metals were found below the limit in agricultural soils. Result of heavy metals Igeo values of all samples indicate that the soil unpolluted, the relative distributions of the contamination factor among the samples were described as Cd > Cr > Mn > Zn > Pb > Fe. For all soil samples the heavy metal Cd has a CF values range of 3.3333-20.00, indicating that the agricultural soil samples are very highly contaminated with Cd followed by Cr ranges from 0.011-2.000, indicating moderately contaminated. In conclusion, based on analyzed parameters the agricultural soil was unpolluted and has low concentrations except Cd and Cr. It is recommended that continuous monitoring of heavy metals should be taken into consideration
Bifurcation Analysis of a Mathematical Model for Tuberculosis Transmission
Get PDFThe total population of the model is divided into five mutually exclusive classes: Vaccinated V ( t), susceptible S ( t), latent Lt(t)infected It (t ) and Recovery Rt(t ). Invariant region of the model were obtained and the result shows that whenever, NT > ^/N , the population reduces asymptotically to the carrying capacity and whenever NT <= ^/N , every solution with initial condition inohms remains in that region for t > 0, so the model is well posed in ohms. We obtained positivity of Solution, it shows that all the solutions of the system are all positive for all t > 0; disease free and endemic equilibrium of the model were obtained, more, also the model threshold parameter (Reproduction Number) was examined using next-generation operator method. The model result shows that diseases free equilibrium is local asymptotically stable at R0 < 1 and unstable at R0 > 1. we also tested to know if the system will exhibits a backward bifurcation and the result show that ^T = 0 correspond to disease free equilibrium point (PDE) and ^T > 0 correspond to a situation when the disease persists (endemic), then we applied transcriptical bifurcation and the result show that a > 0 and b > 0 hence backward bifurcation; we also obtained Hopf Bifurcation for the system and the result show that B = B(complement) and dT/dB != 0 which means that the susceptible, latent and Recovery have to be control or else the endemic will occur and finally sensitivity analysis of ROT with respect to the model parameters were carried out
Open Defaecation; A Focus on Kighir Community, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria
Get PDFOpen air defaecation is a critical health challenge globally, affecting almost 1 billion people worldwide and contributing significantly to an estimated 842,000 annual mortality due to sanitation-related diseases. This study was conducted to determine the knowledge, attitude, beliefs and practices of open air defaecation in Kighir Community of Makurdi, Benue State. A structured questionnaire was used for eliciting information from the study subjects. A total of 100 residents consented to the study; majority of whom were males (60%), age group 31- 40years (52.0%). Knowledge of open air defaecation was high (98.0%) with majority of them identifying open fields (57.0%), gutters (13.0%), streets (16.0%), and dumpsites (14.0%) as sites for open air defaecation. Most respondents (61.0%) had no belief pertaining to open defaecation while 39.0% of them had beliefs. 39.0% of the respondents see themselves practicing open defaecation in the future, while 60% of them revealed they want open air defaecation to stop. There was a significant relationship between awareness of open air defaecation and it practice in Kighir community. Site for open defecation, knowledge of consequence, diseases transmitted and mode of infection resulting from open defaecation was also related to the practice of open air defaecation (P<0.05). Knowledge of open air defaecation in the study area is very high. The dangers posed by the practice of open defaecation is however vague to the people of Kighir. The people of Kighir need enlightenment on the dangers posed by it and they also need good toilet facilities to prevent the outbreak of excreta-born diseases
A Critical Review on Bimetallic Nickel Based Catalysts and Its Catalytic Stability during Hydrodeoxygenations of Bio-Oil
Get PDFThe catalytic hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) reactions which remove chemically bonded oxygen in the form of water have been considered as a promising technique for bio-oil upgrading to various types of Fuel. In this regard many researchers’ attention focused toward nickel-based catalysts for HDO reaction by considering it cheapness, availability and good catalytic activity, which resulted to huge literature accumulation. We earlier provided a review on mono-metallic nickel-based catalysts for hydrodeoxygenation which were found to have lower catalytic activity compared with bimetallic catalysts for this type of reaction. Therefore, in this review we focused toward bimetallic nickel-based catalysts for hydrodeoxygenation reactions and we further extended outlook on deactivation of nickel-based catalysts and finally recommendation for future work
Assessment of Phytochemicals, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Aqueous Ethanol Extract and Fractions of Azadirachta indica Stem Bark
Get PDFIn this study, the aqueous ethanol extract of Azadirachta indica stem bark was obtained by Soxhlet extraction and partitioned into different solvents. The extract and fractions were then assessed for their phytochemical contents, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities. The results showed that saponins, flavonoids, phenol, and tannins were present in all the samples. Also, the ethanol extract had the highest flavonoid (281.15 mgQE/g), phenolic (714.82 mgGAE/g), and tannin (156.54 mgTAE/g) contents, as well as the highest DPPH scavenging activity (95.71%) and total reducing power (1.27). However, among the fractions, butanol fraction showed the highest contents of flavonoids (235.20 mgQE/g), phenolics (413.42 mgGAE/g) and the highest DPPH scavenging activity (93.87 %) while the highest tannin content (86.90 mgTAE/g) and total reducing power (1.06) was observed in the ethyl acetate fraction. The lowest concentration of flavonoid (34.60 mgQE/g) and lowest antioxidant activity was obtained for the hexane fraction while lowest contents of phenolics (102.32 mgGAE/g) and tannins (41.21 mgTAE/g) were both observed in the water-soluble fraction. The most active fraction against both Staphylococcus aureus and Enterobacter cloacae was ethyl acetate. Meanwhile, the ethanol extract, hexane fraction, and water-soluble fractions showed the highest activity against Candida albicans, Salmonella typhi, and Escherichia coli, respectively. This research reveals that the stem bark of Azadirachta indica contains notable antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, making it a promising source for developing potent therapeutic drugs and functional foods
Gene Frequencies of ABO/RH (D) Blood Groups and Risk of Hepatitis BVirus Infection among Students of a Tertiary Institution in North-West Nigeria
Get PDFBlood types have been linked with increased resistance or susceptibility to disease and infections. Data on the incidence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and its relation to frequency of ABO/Rh (D) alleles in North-West Nigeria is lacking. This study therefore aims to evaluate the gene frequencies of ABO/RH (D) blood groups and their association with the risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among students of a tertiary institution in North-West Nigeria. The cross-sectional study randomly recruited eighty (80) consenting volunteers from the same class for demographic data, ABO/RH (D) blood typing and HBV surface antigen evaluation. The Hardy-Weinberg equation was used to analyze the genotypic frequencies of the blood group alleles. Phenotypic pattern of ABO blood groupsobserved was O>B>A>AB in both males and females. Majority of the participants (86%) were Rh (D) positive with a higher proportion of females having Rh D negative phenotype. The frequencies of the A, B, O and D alleles were found to be 0.14, 0.18 and 0.68 and D= 0.64 and d= 0.36 respectively. The distributions were not significantly different (P>0.05) from that expected in the Hardy-Weinberg principle. Furthermore, the prevalence of HBV infection among the students was 3.75% with no association between risk of infection and the most frequent ABO genotype; OO observed (p>0.05, OR: 0.44; CI; 95% 0.53, 5.05).Conclusively, we observed a high frequency of OO and DD/Dd ABO/RH blood group genotypes. However, they were not associated with increased risk of hepatitis B virus infectionamong the students
Design, Synthesis and In-Vivo Anticonvulsant Evaluation Of 5-[(E)- (3,4,5-Trimethoxybenzylidene) Amino]-1,3,4-Thiadiazole-2-Thiol
Get PDF5-[(E)-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzylidene)amino]-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-thiol was designed based on ADME prediction and a proposed pharmacophore model, and synthesized by condensation reaction.The structure of the compound was established by means of FTIR, UV-Visible, 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, mass spectroscopy and elemental analyses. The compound was evaluated for its anticonvulsant activity using maximal electroshock (MES) and subcutaneous pentylene tetrazole (PTZ) test models and its acute toxicity and neurotoxicity studies were determined. The compound showed no sign of neurotoxicity, and it exhibits significant protection, showing potent activity in both test models. The present findings suggest that 5-[(E)-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzylidene)amino]-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-thiol possesses anticonvulsant activity and is a candidate for further optimization and evaluation. Furthermore, the results evidenced the significance of Schiff bases in disubstituted 1,3,4-thiadiazole compounds by improving lipophylicity and thus, showing better anticonvulsant activity
Evaluation of Proximate Compositions of Some Edible Insects in Zaria Kaduna State Nigeria
Get PDFThe present study was carried out to evaluate the proximate compositions of some edible insects in Zaria. Five edible insects were sampled for this study, Crickets (Branchytropes memberanacoeus), Dung beetles (Helicropris angulifera), Termites (Macrotermes nigeriensis), small Grasshopper (Zonocerus variegatus) and large Grasshopper (Kraussaria angulifera). Cricket species were recorded to have the highest value for moisture (4.18%) and Ash (11.62%). Big grasshopperhad the highest value for Carbohydrate (34.08%). Termites had the highest percentage of crude protein (58.99%) and crude fiber (7.09%). Proximate composition values obtained for edible insects sampled for this work were all significant(P<0.05) except for Crude Protein. It is therefore recommended that more Termites (Macrotermes nigeriensis) should be consumed for protein and crude fat (lipid) derivation. The lipids content recorded for termites in this work were higher than those of Chicken (1.5%) and Fish (2.7-5.0%)
Quality or Quantity: Family Size and Gender Preferences among Households in Rural and Urban Areas of Zamfara State, North West Nigeria
No full textThe research study was on family size and gender preferences in rural and urban areas of Zamfara state, Nigeria. The research objectives are to establish spatial differences of households’ family size, between rural and urban setting in Zamfara State, determine the desired family size and preference in the study area, identify and examine determinants of households’ desired family size and gender preferences in the study area.. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were employed in the study. 560 questionnaires were used on households’ respondents who were selected using proportionate sampling from households’ size of Zamfara State. In-depth interview was administered to 286 respondents using purposive sampling and obtained qualitative data on households’ family size, number of children and gender preferences among women of child bearing ages of 15- 49 years. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used for analyses of the data. The results revealed that there was significant difference on family size in rural and urban areas of Zamfara State. It was found that Levine’s test is significant at (p>0.05) (sig. 2-tailed is 0.017). Finally, majority of the respondents preferred male children than females. While people in rural areas believed in no ideal size, majority of urban dwellers preferred small family size due to high cost of upbringing. The study concludes that gender preferences affect family size significantly. However, enlightment campaign is recommended to discourage high gender preferences so that people understand the role of sexes in complementing one another