Nnamdi Azikiwe University Journals
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Influence of Acalypha wilkesiana Ethanol Leaf Extract on Granulocyte Profile and Hepatic Function in 1,2-Dimethylhydrazine–Exposed Wistar Rats
No full textAcalypha wilkesiana is a herbaceous plant widely used in ethnomedicine for the management of inflammatory and metabolic disorders. This study investigated the influence of A. wilkesiana ethanol leaf extract on granulocyte profile and liver function indices in Wistar rats exposed to 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH). Thirty male Wistar rats randomly selected were assigned into six groups: control, DMH control, DMH + Xeloda, and DMH treated with 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg body weight of the extract. DMH was administered subcutaneously for six weeks, followed by treatment for fourteen days. Granulocyte counts, liver enzyme [serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST)] activities and liver histology were evaluated. DMH exposure resulted in significant elevation of ALT and AST activities (p < 0.05) and severe hepatic histopathological alterations. Treatment with Xeloda and A. wilkesiana extract significantly reduced ALT and AST levels and improved liver architecture. Neutrophil and basophil counts were not significantly altered across groups, while eosinophil count increased significantly at the highest extract dose. The findings demonstrate that A. wilkesiana ethanol leaf extract confers dose-dependent hepatoprotection against DMH-induced toxicity with minimal disruption of granulocyte homeostasis at low and medium doses. The study supports the applied potential of A. wilkesiana as a hepatoprotective agent, with dose regulation being critical
Exploration of the Phytochemical Constituents in Honey from Southwestern Nigeria
No full textHoney is a product of bees (Apis mellifera); it is nutritional, a source of income, and medicinal. The high demand for honey has necessitated curious research into the importance of this cherished resource. Its insufficient production makes it scarce and exorbitant. However, this paper assesses honey quality in light of its possession of phytochemical compounds and its relevance to livestock and human health in Southwestern Nigeria (SN). Using a multistage sampling procedure, Oyo, Ogun, and Osun states were selected purposively based on their prevalent honey production activities. Three localities were later chosen per state. Each of the localities: Aba Oka, Oke Onitii, Iyemogun, Iwoye, Alabata, Ijagun, Oke Orogun, Laniba and Badeku were selected from a senatorial district for even sampling distribution. An emergent sampling technique was employed to obtain capped honeycomb from one hive per locality. Honey was harvested between October and April and was used for phytochemical constituents’ analysis using standard procedures. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. In Oyo, Ogun, and Osun states, phytochemicals (Saponin, Tannin, Flavonoid, Steroid, Terpenoid, Coumarin, Chalcones, Quinone, Alkaloid, Cardiac Glycosides, Phenols and Protein) were confirmed in all the honey samples except few (Anthocyanins and Emodin) that were affirmed absent. However, Di-terpenes were present in all honey samples except Ijagun and Oke Orogun honey. Conclusively, SN honey was affirmed to contain phytochemicals that could dislodge free radicals responsible for livestock and human ailments. This assures a solution to poor health observed in livestock and humans
Use of Automatic Linear Modeling and Decision Trees in Body Weight Prediction in Normal Feathered Chickens
No full textThe aim of the study was to predict body weight (BWT) from linear body measurements of 200 mature normal feathered chickens, comprising 150 males and 50 females randomly selected in Amansea, Awka North LGA, Anambra State, Nigeria. Automatic Linear Modeling (ALM) and decision tree algorithms involving Chi-square Automatic Interaction Detector (CHAID), Exhaustive CHAID, and Classification and Regression Trees (CART) were used in the prediction. Adjusted coefficient of determination (R²adj.) and Alkaike’s Information Criterion corrected (AICc) were used to evaluate the predictive ability of ALM in males, females and pooled sexes. Males were significantly (p<0.05) superior to females in BWT (1.26±0.02 kg vs 1.0.5±0.03 kg) and many linear parameters. The ALM indicated that body length (BL), shank length (SL) and breast width (BW) had the highest significant (p<0.001) fractional importance in BWT prediction in males (0.793), females (0.721) and pooled sexes (0.501), respectively. Highest predictive ability of ALM was achieved in pooled sexes with the smallest AICc (-0.572.92), and predicted BWT value of 1.49 kg. CHAID and Exhaustive CHAID revealed that highest BWT of 1.220 kg could be predicted with BW>9.000 cm. With CART, no variable was identified as important in BWT prediction. The study revealed ALM as the best model for predicting BWT using BW of pooled sexes in normal feathered local chicken
Vitamin, and Sensory Properties of Bread Produced from Wheat, malted Mung Bean, and Watermelon rind Flour Composites
No full textThis study was carried out to evaluate the vitamin, and sensory properties of breads produced from composite flours of wheat, malted mung bean and watermelon rind. Mung bean seeds were soaked for 24 h, washed, drained, germinated for 72 h, oven-dried at 60oC for 18 h and milled into flour. Watermelon rind was sliced, washed, oven-dried, milledand sieved. All flours were blended with wheat flour, in varying proportions (100:0, 90:5: 5, 80:10:10, 70:15:15, 60:20:20, and 50:25:25) to produce composite flour used to make bread. The vitamin, and sensory properties of the bread samples were determined using standard methods. The thiamine, niacin, riboflavin, vitamin A, ascorbic acids and folic acid content of the bread samples were 3.36 to 4.57mg/100g, 2.45 to 3.36mg/100g, 3.51 to 4.60mg/100g, 2.23 to 4.27mg/ 100g, 1.55 to 3.22mg/100g and 1.02 to 1.81mg/100g, respectively. The content of the analyzed vitamins increased with increase in substitution with mung bean and watermelon rind flours. The sensory properties of bread produced from 100% wheat flour, were most acceptable to the panelists and also differed significantly (p<0.05) in colour, taste, texture and aroma from composite flour bread samples. However, the composite bread loaves were also acceptable to the judges because they were relatively rated high in all the sensory attributes evaluated. The findings suggest that the inclusion of malted mung bean and watermelon rind flours to wheat flour in bread production enhances nutritional quality while maintaining good sensory attributes, making it a viable ingredient for fortification
Effects Of Slope Segments On Physical, Hydraulic, and Structural Stability Properties at Three Soil Depths in Amachalla, Awka, Nigeria
No full textThis study examines the effects of slope segments in gully site at three depths on soil physical, hydraulic and structural stability properties at Amachalla, Awka, Southeastern Nigeria. A total of 36 soil samples were collected from three different slope segments (upper, middle and lower) at three depths (0–15 cm, 15–30 cm, and 30–45 cm) with four replications. These samples were prepared and taken to the laboratory for analysis using standard procedures to determine some soil parameters. The laboratory data were analyzed using Genstat Statistical Package and means were separated by Fisher’s Least Significant Difference (F-LSD) at P<0.05. Results showed that soils in the study area were predominantly loamy sand, with the upper slope containing the highest sand fraction (86.91%) at 15–30 cm depth, while the lower slope recorded the highest silt content (12.27%) at the same depth. The middle slope recorded the highest clay fraction (4.08%) at 0–15 cm. Bulk density values ranged from 1.47 to 1.48 g/cm³, with no significant differences across slopes. Total porosity decreased with depth, ranging from 18.16 to 44.65%. Moisture content was highest (24.55%) in lower slopes at 30–45 cm. Saturated hydraulic conductivity varied from 10.49 to 13.54 cm/hr. Aggregate stability was highest (34.77%) at the lower slope (0–15 cm). Erosion ratio was highest at 263.14 in lower slopes. Based on the findings, emphasis should be placed on slope-specific soil conservation strategies to mitigate erosion risks
IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON FOOD SECURITY, ITS CONSEQUENCES AND MITIGATION
No full textFood insecurity is a global public health concern and is being aggravated by climate-change. This paper discussed the impact of climate-change on food-security, its consequences and mitigation. Keywords such as “climate-change”, “food-security”, “food insecurity”, “causes”, “consequences” and “mitigation strategies” were searched for on Google and other climate-change-related journals. Climate-change is caused by methane and carbon dioxide emissions from the use of coal for heating, deforestation, landfills for garbage, energy, industry, transport, buildings, agriculture and land use, gas flaring, vehicle and generator fumes. Climate-change has both positive and negative effects on food-security. It increased the suitability of some countries for growing cereal crops but reduced crop productivity in some. It reduced cereal yields, production and nutrient content of fruits and vegetables, low food crop quality, quantity and safety, reduced shellfish productivity, crop and livestock losses, food animals and overall milk production, induced food shortage, nutrient scarcity and low food diversity, high cost of food leading to poor food availability, accessibility and utilisation causing global and national hunger thus precipitating malnutrition. Mitigation includes the use of irrigation, flood protection of farmlands and crops, modifying/improving farming practices, breeding crops more resilient to biotic and abiotic stresses, diversification, reduction of food losses and wastage, consumption of planet-healthy diets, efficient use of climate data and forecasts and control of pests. Climate-change is one of the key factors in food insecurity. Establishment of climate-change policies, a sustainable food system, and resilient strategies to discourage environmental pollution, production of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse emissions is crucial.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA AND E-COMMERCE IN POST-COVID ERA: EXPLORING A NEW PARADIGM FOR BUSINESS SURVIVAL IN AFRICA
No full textIt is a truism that humanity is steeped into the new normal; no thanks to the COVID-19 Pandemic, which was not only a global phenomenon but a devastating one as that, with humongous implications across every field of human endeavour. As nations and nationalities grapple with the effects of the Pandemic, new economic and business models have evolved; one such is the interface of e-commerce with social media. Anchored on the Technology Acceptance Model (Davis, 1989), the study design is conceptual with the aims of exploring social media in the light of e-commerce for a developing economy and proposing a new business model as a means of survival in an unpredictable environment. The study therefore recommends constant and real-time engagement of customers and potential customers through social media as many online buyers more often than not, reach purchase decisions after consulting friends online and reading recommendations, reviews and comments of others on a particular product or service. Furthermore, due to the unpredictability of the COVID-19 pandemic and its concomitant resurgent waves, e-commerce should be the model of choice for business survival in Nigeria, the African continent and the world at large. 
ASSESSING THE ROLE OF FINANCIAL INCLUSION ON DEBT SUSTAINABILITY: EVIDENCE FROM SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
No full textThis study examines the impact of financial inclusion on debt sustainability in 37 Sub-Saharan African countries. Using panel data between 2004 and 2022, the study utilized the two-step system Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimator to explore how financial inclusion indicators - bank branch penetration, ATM penetration and domestic private credit - affect the primary balance ratio and its interplay with the Debt-to-GDP ratio. The findings from the study show that higher levels of ATM and bank branch penetration significantly enhance fiscal balances by promoting growth-enhancing activities that generate more tax to government. The findings generally reveal that financial inclusion ihave a significant positive impact on primary balance ratio, suggesting that access to financial services by households and firms promotes debt sustainability among SSA countries. Similarly, the interactive term for financial inclusion and debt sustainability included in the model indicates that financial inclusion reduces the consequential effect of high debt on fiscal space of SSA countries. These findings stress the need for expanding financial services in the region to promote debt sustainability
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DATA DRIVEN TARGETED ONLINE ADVERTS AND INCREASE QUALITY LEAD GENERATION FOR MSMES IN ANAMBRA STATE
No full textThe relationship between data driven targeted online adverts and increase quality lead generation for MSMEs in Anambra State was examined in this study. This study made use of a survey research design and the population consisted of 1399 MSMEs from the study area and a sample size of 301 was arrived at using Krejcie and Morgan\u27s formula. The questionnaire used for data collection was validated using face and content validity while the reliability was ascertained using the Cronbach Alpha technique (.873). The data analysis was carried out using both descriptive and inferential statistics and the hypotheses were tested at a 5% level of significance. The findings showed that there is a statistically significant positive relationship existing between data driven targeted online adverts and increase quality lead generation (r = .977; p-value = .000 < .05). Based on the findings, it was recommended that the owners and managers of MSMEs in Anambra state need to take seriously the issue of running online adverts using a targeted strategy so as to reach the desired audience and get quality leads without wasting resources and time in running non-target or open adverts.
 
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGS) AND GLOBAL INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK IN NIGERIA
No full textThe paper examined the strength of SDGs as global inclusive development framework in Nigeria as a third world country. Inclusive development requires collective commitment to accessibility, participation, accountability, and resources from various nations and communities. Though, the initiative is comprehensive, integrative, and participatory with focus on equality, however, there are doubt that its implementation may not differ from the previous, including MDGs. The paper adopted descriptive analysis and relied on secondary data to evaluate the implementation, examine the challenges and identify the way forward towards achieving most of the goals’ target. The finding from the review of data as contained in Sustainable Development Report 2024 on the Nigeria’s Achievement Trend (AT) in each of the seventeen (17) goals are qualitatively classifies into moderately improving with 29 % of goals, stagnating with 47% goals, decreasing with 12% goals, and information unavailable 12% of goals respectively. The result shows that Nigeria performed significantly low in most of the goals. By 2024, the Nigeria’s SDGs Ranking is 146/166, though, Spillover ranking is 16/166. The identified challenges threatening the implementation include; effects of global effects on less developed nations, poor funding, unreliable data and corruption with implications for national policy decisions. Moving forward, the government needs to increase funding, aligning national policies with the SDGs targets and sustaining implementation evaluation