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Ocimum gratissimum alleviates derangements in serum and biliary bilirubin, cholesterol and electrolytes in streptozotocin- induced diabetic rats
Get PDFAims: The effects of oral administration of aqueous leaf extract of Ocimum gratissimum (OG) on biliary and serum bilirubin, cholesterol and electrolytes in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic Albino Wistar rats was studied.
Methodology: Type 1 Diabetes mellitus was induced in the test groups (DM and DMT) by a single dose of STZ (65 mg/kg, i.p.). The phytoconstituents and median lethal dose of the plant extract was determined before administration. The extract was administered per oral to the DMT group at a dose of 1500 mg/kg body weight daily for 28 days. All the groups were fed normal rat chow and allowed water ad libitum. Biliary secretion was collected and assayed, biliary bilirubin was measured by colorimetric method, Sodium and potassium was determined using a flame photometer and Chloride was determined by end point calorimetric titration.
Results: The result showed that serum cholesterol was significantly (p=.001) higher in the DM group compared to the control while the DMT group was significantly (p=.001) lower than the DM group. Serum conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin were significantly (p=.05, p=0.01) higher in the DM group compared to the control and DMT groups, with the DMT group significantly (p=.01) lower than the DM group. The serum electrolytes showed no significant change in K+. However, Cl- and HCO3 - were significantly (p=.001) reduced in the test group compared to the control. Na+ was significantly raised in the DMT group compared to the control.
Conclusion: These results are indicative of the efficacy of Ocimum gratissimum to obviate the derangement in biliary and serum bilirubin, cholesterol and electrolytes caused by the STZ-induced type 1 DM in albino wistar rats.
Keywords: Ocimum gratissimum; diabetes mellitus; electrolytes; cholesterol; bilirubin
Climate change and coping strategies among peasant farmers in Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria
Get PDFThe study investigated peasant farmer’s adaptation strategies to climate change in Akwa Ibom State. A multi-stage random sampling was
used to select 120 respondents for the study. Interview schedule was used to collect data from the 120 farmers randomly selected. The
study revealed that 40% of the respondents were within the age range of 31 to 40 years. Thirty seven percent (37%) of the respondents
had formal education while 47% of the respondents had I to 3 persons in their respective households. Years of experience in farming of
most respondents were between 1 and 10 years. The result further revealed that about 79% of the respondents had 0.6 – 1.0 hectare of
form while 68% of the respondents had contact with extension agents/officers once a month. The result showed that all the explanatory
variables included in the model were significant determinants of adaptation measures to climatic condition. It was therefore
recommended that the state government should encourage increased frequency of extension contact to significantly increased farmers’
awareness to changing climatic conditions as well as adaptation strategies.
Keywords: Climate Change, Adaptation Strategy, Akwa Ibom State
An Assessment of the Prevalence of Elder Abuse and Neglect in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria
Get PDFLate adulthood is the stage of life in which individuals are known as the elderly. This period in human life span is a dynamic phase of development with numerous and unique challenges, one of such is elder abuse. This study examines the social world of the elderly in a bid to ascertain if the elderly in our society are being abused and neglected. Three hundred male and female persons over 65 years of age from three senatorial districts in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria were randomly selected and used for the study. A structured questionnaire captioned: Elder Abuse and Neglect Questionnaire (EANQ) and an Interview Schedule were developed and administered on the selected sample. The data collected were analyzed using simple percentages, means, t-tests and analysis of variance. Results indicates that incidence of abuse is prevalent in Akwa Ibom State. The major forms of abuse were neglect, physical, financial/material and emotional/psychological abuse. Causes of abuse were identified and strategies mapped out for intervention. It was found that females and elders with no formal education suffer more abuses than males and those with formal education. Based on the findings, conclusions and recommendations have been proffered towards an improved social world for the elderly. Keywords: Elder Abuse, Physical Abuse, Neglect, Emotional Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Financial Abus
Accountability and the experience of the 2007 global financial crisis
Get PDFThe ripples of the 2007 financial crisis are still felt in many economies. Taking advantage of hindsight, this paper examines the factors that facilitated the occurrence of the crisis and how the crisis was managed. It uses the concept of accountability in the private and public sectors of the economy as the yardstick for assessing the behaviour of errant financial actors and concludes that the crisis resulted from the cumulative lapses in corporate governance and operational procedures. It also concludes that profitability and accountability are not always positively related in a free enterprise system. An examination of the coping strategies used by the developed countries points to the effectiveness of planned government intervention in economic activities. For the developing countries, especially in Africa, the lesson is that a responsible government must at all times put the wellbeing of its citizens above any received doctrine
Chorkor Smoker Kiln Technology Adoption in Akwa Ibom State: Constraints and Prospect
Get PDFThis study investigated the adoption level of Chorkor Smoker Kiln Technology (CSKT) , an improved fish processing technique, among fish processors in rural communities of Akwa Ibom State. A multi - stage sampling technique was used to select respondents from each of the selected Agricultural Development Progammes (ADPs) Zones, and from the Zones, extension blocks were selected from the study area. Twelve extension cells were then randomly selected for the study. Twenty fish processors were randomly selected with the aid of Extension Agents working in each of the extension cells. Two hundred and forty randomly selected fish processors made up the sampling size for this study. The instrument (questionnaire) used in this study was validated and tested for reliability using test- retest method. Results indicated that 74.58% of the
respondents were female while 25.42% were male. Majority of the respondents (32.50%) were within the age range of 40 - 49 years and followed by 50- 59 years (27.92%). About 14.17% of
the respondents had no formal education while 32.92% and 39.58% had primary and secondary education, respectively. The highest household size was 4-6 persons and constitutes 41.25 %
followed by 7-9 (33.33%) person per household. Most of the respondents had 21- 30 years experience (32.50%) and was followed by 30 - 40 years (25%) and 11 -20 years (21. 25%)
experience. About 28 % of the respondents were unaware while about 71% were aware of the existence of CSKT. Out of the five CSKT packages, only one (double tray with mean adoption
score of 0.178 out of a maximum of 6.0) was not widely adopted. Education level, household size and year of processing experience were positively related to adoption of CSKT adoption. CSKT adoption has prospect particularly if awareness creation is intensified and the identified constraints are sufficiently addressed
Anti-Gastric Ulcerative Activity of Ocimum gratissimum in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats
Get PDFAim: It has been observed that Diabetes Mellitus (DM) cause altered acid secretion and increased rate of ulceration. Ocimum gratissimum (OG) have been reported to possess hypoglycemic properties. This study therefore set out to determine the effect of DM on ulcerogenic indices and how OG could ameliorate them.
Methodology: The phytoconstituents and median lethal dose of the plant extract was determined before administration. Eighteen rats were used; the animals were divided into three groups of six rats each. Group 1 was the control and were given normal feed only. Group 2 was diabetic untreated rats (DM) while group 3 was OG treated diabetic rats (DMT). All the groups had access to water ad libitum. After 28 days, the gastric acid output, mucus secretion rate and ulcer scores were determined.
Results: The result showed that the basal acid output in the DM group was significantly higher than control. The peak acid output in the DMT was significantly lower (P=.001) when compared with control and DM. The mean mucus secretion was significantly (p=.001) lower in the DM and DMT compared with control. The mucus secretion in DMT was significantly (p=.001) higher compared with DM. The mean ulcer score was significantly higher in DM than in control (p =.01) and significantly higher in DMT than in control (P =.01) but significantly lower than in DM group (P =.01).
Conclusion: We therefore conclude that OG mitigate ulcerogenic activities in STZ - induced diabetic rats by reducing gastric acid secretion and increasing mucus secretion
Analysis of Achievement Motivation and Academic Engagement of Students in the Nigerian Classroom
Get PDFMotivating students so that they can succeed in school is one of the greatest challenges of this century. Getting students to learn and sustaining their interest in what they are learning is one of the major objectives of teachers in the classroom. This study therefore attempts to determine the impact of achievement motivation on students’ academic engagement. Three hypotheses were stated. Using Achievement Motivation and Academic Engagement questionnaire administered on 540 senior secondary students’ data was generated for the study. Analysis of the data revealed that achievement motivation has a significant impact on academic engagement with highly motivated students being more academically engaged than the moderately and lowly motivated students. Also result revealed that male students were more motivated than female student and, age also had a significant influence on achievement motivation. Based on this result, recommendations were made on how to raise the achievement motivation of students in order to get them more engaged in school work.
K e y w o r d s : Motivation, Achievement Motivation, Academic Engagement, Academic Succes
Geoelectric and laboratory measurements to estimate the effects of bulk and surface electrical conductivities on the volumetric water content of unsaturated groundwater protective layer in selected locations of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria
Get PDFKnowledge of volumetric water content which varies directly with travel time of water through the protective layer and the surface and bulk conductivities are essential for management and monitoring of contaminants which percolate into the saturated aquifer through the overlain unsaturated protective layer. Numerically generated empirical relations between volumetric water content and electrical properties or conductivities have been established in this work. These relations are relevant in predicting the degree of contamination of the underlain saturated aquifer through the prediction of
volumetric water content from field and laboratory measurements in the study area and other areas which have similar material types as their protecting materials. With the determination of groundwater recharge rate, time of travel which determines the efficiency of protection can be empirically predicted
Allowable Bearing Capacity for Shallow Foundation in Eket Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Southern Nigeria
Get PDFP-wave and S-wave velocities were obtained from seismic refraction survey in the foundation layer of Eket, the study area. The Tezcan’s approach discussed extensively in the work was used in conjunction with the existing mathematical relations between elastic parameters and seismic refraction velocities for the study of foundation layers in the study area. Based on the results, the elastic constants, allowable bearing pressure/capacity, ultimate bearing capacity and other parameters in Table 1 were determined. The result shows that allowable bearing pressure increases with increase in shear
modulus and shear wave velocity. The empirical relation between allowable bearing capacity and shear modulus shows that the allowable bearing capacity increases with depth. Comparing our findings with some ranges of safe allowable bearing capacities of similar non cohesive/granular soils in literatures, the second layer with allowable bearing capacity range of 72.56 - 206.63 kN·m−2 (average = 154.78 kN·m−2) has been considered to be the safe shallow engineering foundation in the study area. The empirical relations between allowable bearing capacities shear modulus and shear wave velocity, in conjunction with the inferred maps, which serve as our findings, will be used as guide in the location of foundations. The inferred ultimate and allowable capacities correlate maximally for the two shallow foundations
penetrated by the seismic waves. This perfect correlation reflects the uniqueness of the method
Citrus Sinensis separately increases Serum Plasma Proteins while its combination treatment with Carbimazole reduces-the thyroid hormones connection
Get PDFPlasma proteins play a vital role in the bioavailability and by implication, the activity of thyroid hormones. This study therefore became expedient in order to investigate the effect of Citrus sinensis on serum plasma proteins in comparison with standard thyro-active drugs. Albino wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups of 7 rats each. Group I served as control, group II received 1500mg/kg of fresh orange juice (FOJ), group III received 0.1ug/g of Levothyroxine (LVT), group IV received 0.01mg/kg of Carbimazole (CARB) and group V received FOJ (1500mg/kg)+ CARB (0.01mg/g) once daily per oral for 28 days. The animals were sacrificed after a night fast and blood samples obtained by cardiac puncture and processed by standard procedure to obtain the serum which was used for plasma protein analysis. The results showed that FOJ and LVT significantly (p<0.05) increased total protein, albumin and globulin levels while FOJ+CARB significantly (p<0.05) decreased them. It appears that the separate effect of Citrus sinensis and LVT on plasma protein is unrelated to their effect on thyroid hormone levels. The combination treatment appears to synergistically potentiate their antithyroid effect irrespective of the singular effect of Citrus sinensis on plasma proteins. Thus, there may be need for caution on the excessive consumption of Citrus sinensis during treatment with Carbimazole
Keywords Citrus Sinensis, Carbimazole, Levothyroxine, Thyro-Active Drugs, Plasma Protein