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Essential Metals of Public Health Concern in Nigeria
Get PDFEssential metals are imperative at every stage of human life. Their inclusion in consumer products has been seen over the years. Essential metals are used as fillers in paints. Fillers are granular solids incorporated to impart toughness and texture. The present study was conducted to evaluate the concentrations of essential metals from different manufacturers of paints with special emphasis on their health effects. Six metals, including Cr, Co, Ca, Ti, Mg and Al, were quantified using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry. On comparative basis, fourteen paint manufacturers depicted the white paints had the highest concentrations of Ca (10,400.0 mg/kg), Ti (3,170.0 mg/kg) and Al (4,300.0 mg/kg) while green, chocolate and pink paints had the highest concentrations of Co (37.4 mg/kg), Mg (99, 510.0 mg/kg) and Cr (225.0 mg/kg), respectively. The highest concentrations were found in unregistered manufacturers except for Ti. Ti as a filler must have been used to thicken the film, support its structure and simply increase the volume of the paint. The problem of metals knowing what could be a safe exposure and recognising a hazardous exposure has been noted. While we could not make these judgments, it would be wise to adopt a precautionary approach and reduce human exposure to essential metals in paints to a practicable minimum. The toxicity of these metals can cause potential health hazards.
Keywords: Essential Metals; Fillers; Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry; Paint Manufacturer
Antimicrobial and Phytochemical Analyses of Sida acuta Leaf Extracts on Selected Wound Isolates
Get PDFMedicinal plants have been intensively screened for their bioactivity in order to treat various diseases in human. This study was performed to evaluate the antimicrobial and phytochemical properties of Sida acuta leaf extracts against selected wound microbes. The plant extracts were obtained sequentially using n-hexane, aqueous and acetone respectively in order of increasing polarity. The extracts were tested for their antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecium, Acinetobacter baumannii, Salmonella typhi and Pseudomonas aeruginosa using agar-well diffusion method. The sensitivity of the test organisms to the extracts was represented by zones of inhibitions (mm) at different concentrations. There was corresponding increase in the zones of inhibitions (mm) on the test organisms as the concentration of the extracts increased from 64 mg/mL – 512 mg/mL. Among the plant extracts, the aqueous extract of Sida acuta leaf revealed significantly higher zones of inhibitions (mm) from 7.50±2.12 - 25.00±1.40 on all isolates. This was closely followed by the acetone extract while the n-hexane extract produced the lowest zones of inhibitions (mm) on all the test organisms except for Acinetobacter baumannii which has 9.80±0.42 at the concentration of 512 mg/mL. Results obtained on the phytochemical analyses of the aqueous and acetone extracts revealed the presence of tannins, saponins, alkaloids and flavonoids. Hence, the antimicrobial effects of Sida acuta leaf extracts has been revealed in this study, therefore its controlled use should be encouraged in the treatment of wounds and other infections caused by these microorganisms.
Keywords: Antimicrobial properties, Isolates, Phytochemical analyses, Sida acuta
Navigating the Gendered STEM Path: Understanding Women’s Experiences in Higher Education Institutions
No full textFemale underrepresentation in Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) related disciplines is a global educational concern. Though females outnumber males at undergraduate level in higher educational institutions, the number tends to reduce at the postgraduate level and relatively few are represented in academia as they navigate the gendered terrain of STEM pursuing their academic career. Thus, few hold leadership positions. The thrust of this paper is to investigate how female lecturers navigate the gendered STEM path, interrogate the persistent leaky pipeline women encounter as they climb the ladder in their career. It further explores ways the paths conform to and diverge from traditional institutional norms. The paper adopts qualitative method of data collection using in-depth interview with respondents consisting of both male and female lecturers purposively selected from STEM related departments in four purposively selected Universities; University of Ibadan, University of Maiduguri, Federal University, Otuoke and Usmanu Dan Fodio University in the different ranks of their careers. Hinged on intersectionality theory, findings showed that there exists a sort of micro-politics which men play. Women who can negotiate properly will progress successfully albeit at a slower pace than the men, thus not all women experience the leaky pipeline the same way. This research helps provide a clearer way for women to navigate their path in STEM related fields and the advantage of the participation of women in this fields.KeywordsWomen, STEM, leaky pipeline, gendered path, Higher Education Institution
Birth Preparedness Practice: Profiling Determining Factors for Male Involvement in Southern Nigeria
Get PDFMaternal mortality remains high in most African countries including Nigeria. Delays in seeking care for normal delivery and obstetric emergencies are the major determinants of maternal mortality. Birth Preparedness (BP) has been found to be very effective in reducing these delays. Females have always been focused on birth preparedness studies. This study was however designed to investigate male involvement in the practice of birth preparedness in Southern, Nigeria. This was a descriptive study design using a validated structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 302 married men in the community. Knowledge on BP was measured on a 48-point knowledge scale and a 30-point practice scale was used to determine male involvement in BP. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics at p<0.05. The mean age of the respondents was 38.0 ± 8.6 years. Majority (59.9%) of the respondents had good knowledge on birth preparedness. Mean score for level of involvement was 21.52±5.4 and 43.0% of the respondents had good score. Identified factors militating against male involvement in birth preparedness include low socioeconomic status, busy work schedule, cultural belief, and poor attitude of health workers. There was significant association between knowledge of birth preparedness and religion as well as level of male involvement in BP (p=0.018; 0.001 respectively). This study showed low level of male involvement in birth preparedness. Several factors were identified to be responsible for this. There is therefore the need for sustainable community health education programmes to motivate and encourage male involvement in birth preparedness.
Keywords: Birth preparedness, Knowledge, Male involvement, Practice
Antioxidant Potential of the Biosynthesized Silver, Gold and Silver-Gold Alloy Nanoparticles using Opuntia ficus-indica extract
Get PDFNanobiotechnology has become a resourceful/crucial research area due to their copious applications in industrial, pharmacological and medical fields. In the current study, silver nanoparticles (OFI-AgNPs), gold nanoparticles (OFI -AuNPs) and bimetallic alloy nanoparticles (OFI-Ag-AuNPs) were mediated with Opuntia ficus indica (OFI) extract. Evaluation of antioxidant potential of the biosynthesized nanoparticles was done through total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and Nitric oxide scavenging assay. The nitric oxide scavenging activity, total phenolic and total flavonoid contents of the synthesized nanoparticles increased in a dose dependent manner as compared to the standard. The OFI-AuNPs had highest total phenol of 258.28 µg GAE/g and OFI-extract gave the least value of 216.64 µg GAE/g at concentration of 100 µg/ml. The highest value of total flavonoid content (83.88 µg g-1 QE) was recorded at OFI-AgNPs, while the least value of 21.38 µg g-1 QE obtained in OFI-extract. OFI-Ag-AuNPs showed the highest nitric scavenging power of 50.8%, followed by OFI-AgNPs (42.2%), OFI-AuNPs (40.3%) and the least value of 29.7% were obtained in OFI-extract at concentration of 100 µg/mL. These results indicate Opuntia ficus indica as a suitable biomaterial for the synthesis of the nanoparticles which can be utilized as an antioxidant agent. In conclusion, these fascinating bioactivities exhibited by the synthesized nanoparticles established their usefulness in the production of antioxidants OFI-AgNPs, OFI-AuNPs and OFI-Ag-AuNPs for their biomedical applications
Keywords: Opuntia ficus indica, antioxidant activity, nanoparticles, nitric oxide, total phenolic (TPC), flavonoid content (TFC
Chief Executive Officers and Bankruptcy Risk: Evidence from Quoted Resources Firms in Nigeria
Get PDFDespite the growing interest in the role of chief executive officers in their companies’ bankruptcies, very few studies have examined the nexus between chief executive officers and bankruptcy risk in Nigeria. This paper interrogates whether or not chief executive officers influence financial distress among quoted resources corporations. Data were obtained from Machameratios, a corporation which specializes in data mining for a period of 10 years (2010-2019). The data were subject of descriptive statistics such as number of observations, minimum mean, maximum mean, average mean, standard deviation and inferential statistics such as correlation matrix and multiple regression based on random effect model, which was arrived at after conducting Hausman specification check. Diagnostic checks such as normality, multicollinearity, heteroskedasticity and Breusch and Pagan Lagrangian multiplier test for random effects were carried out before arriving at decisions. Findings showed that both chief executive officers’ duality, nationality, gender, and turnover are not significant. However, the paper found chief executive officers’ tenure significant and positive and ownership to be negative but significant. As a result of these findings, it was suggested that the tenure of CEOs should be elongated while the percentage of their shares ownerships should be reduced
Invitro Activity of Phyllanthus amarus Extract on Nephrolithiasis and Urea-Splitting Bacteria
Get PDFExtraction of Phylllantus amarus plant powder using hot percolation and cold percolation techniques revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, volatile oil, saponin, tannin, anthraquinone, cardiac glycosides, phenolic compounds, reducing and non- reducing sugars. The hot percolation crude extract also revealed higher scavenging activity compared with ascorbic acid (standard reference) and cold percolation crude extract. Pre-incubation of human urine with hot percolation and cold percolation crude extract of Phyllanthus amarus to determine its effect on crystallization process of crystal salts (calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate and cysteine) which causes nephrolithiasis (kidney stone) yielded excellent results on calcium phosphate (100% effective), calcium oxalate (97% and 85.67%) while cysteine (91% and 84.67%). A total of fifteen (15) flavonoid compounds identified in the hot and cold percolation extract of Phyllanthus amarus using gas chromatography analysis include flavan-3-ols, flavones, flavonols, flavanones and isoflavanones. High flavonoid content in the hot percolation crude extract was due to the presence of significant concentrations (mg/100ml) of quercetin (282.50), catechin (16.32), kaemferol (214.33), luteolin (51.79), apigenin (1.33), epicatechin (4.13), isorhamnetin (5.49), and rutin (11.72). The sensitivity pattern of Phyllanthus amarus leaf extract towards test organisms (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli Proteus mirabilis and Klebsiella pneumonia) were determined using agar well diffusion technique. All test organisms were extremely sensitive to hot percolation extract of Phyllanthus amarus compared to cold percolation extract and antibiotics used as standard reference. Prevention of renal stone and urinary tract infection recurrence is a serious problem in human health but results obtained in this research shows that Phyllanthus amarus leaf is a good source of effective crude inhibitors for crystal formation which can be used in the treatment of kidney stone, urinary tract infection and other reactive oxygen species (ROS)-related disorders.
Keywords: Phyllanthus amarus, Flavonoid, Kidney stone, Escherichia col
Assessment of effects of a Cemetery leachate on Groundwater Quality using an Integrated Approach
Get PDFThe dependency of residents in the vicinity of cemeteries on groundwater from hand-dug wells as an alternative source of water supply for their domestic use without cognisance of the quality of such water has been a concern. So, this research assesses the effects of a cemetery on groundwater quality using an integrated approach in Edunabon, South-western Nigeria. Thirty groundwater samples from available hand-dug wells were collected and analysed for various physicochemical parameters. GIS cloud data collection server and Mobile Data Collector (MDC) were used to obtain these hand-dug wells\u27 locations and spatial distributions. The determination in variation in physicochemical concentration parameters was obtained using the curve fitting technique of ARCVIEW GIS software and digital map. Physicochemical results were used to calculate Water Quality Index (WQI) of each sample. Two Schlumberger Vertical Electrical Soundings (VES) of 130.0m long were conducted at 10.0m intervals to the wall and the next VES, on each side of the cemetery. Current spacing (AB/2) and apparent resistivity (ρa) data were plotted on a double logarithm paper, curved matched and iterated using IPI2Win software for qualitative and quantitative interpretation. WQI results ranged from (107.37–173.64), (76.60–93.37), (54.94–71.53), (31.29–48.01), and (10.84–25.31) for fourteen, seven, three, four and two hand-dug wells respectively, an indication that the water from these wells was unfit for drinking, very poor, poor, good, and excellent respectively. VES results revealed that first, second and third layers were mainly clayey topsoil (46.7–96.8Ωm), lateritic soil (169.0–551.3Ωm), and weathered layer (3.21–27.4Ωm), which favourably enhances the migration of leachate from the cemetery to the surrounding soils and groundwater. The lowest resistivity values recorded in the second and third layers indicated leachate presence at these hand-dug wells. The integration of GIS and electrical resistivity methods would be useful tools to assess groundwater quality around cemeteries.
Keywords: Groundwater quality, Mobile Data Collection, unfit for drinking, Vertical Electrical Sounding, Water Quality inde
Politics of Religiousity and the Challenge of Political Development in South–Western Nigeria: Interrogating Issues in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic
No full textThe Nigerian state is composed of various ethnicities. One of the major ethnic groups is Yoruba in the South-western Nigeria. Therefore, the study seeks to unveil Islam and politics in South-western Nigeria since the enthronement of democracy in 1999. The study argues that religious politicization has been detrimental to the unity of the region. Islam was wrongly believed to have no role to play in the society hence the Muslims are marginalized and are not relevant in the political space in Nigeria. The study observes that political apathy on the part of Muslims paved way for Afenifere, a socio-political organization who often pursued a Yoruba agenda but never considered the interests of Muslims as equally important. It is in view of this that the study concludes that, politics and religious consciousness have been exemplary in the political development in the South West since the beginning of the present democratic dispensation. On a final note, the study recommends that Muslims need to get involved and showcase their competence in governance instead of agitation for persistent relevance.KeywordsIslam, Nigeria, politics, Southwest, marginalizatio
Assessing Women’s Participation in Nigerian Column Writing
Get PDFJournalism is a traditionally male-dominated profession. While women have made steady progress toward breaking their age-long under-representation in other key genres of Nigerian journalism, they remain largely sidelined in column writing. This paper compares the number of female columnists to that of their male counterparts. It also examines the predominant subjects of the listed female columns in order to see if their identified subjects potentially impact on the various agenda-setting and watchdog functions of the column and columnists. The researcher draws on the tenets of the agenda-setting and agenda-building theories of the mass media to establish that women can use the immense power of the column to shape public discourse and empower themselves. A content analysis of all the listed Nigerian columnists shows that the number of male columnists greatly outweighs that of the females. The study also shows that female columns are mainly about relationships and fashion. Therefore, women are urged to take advantage of the column, especially politics and economy columns, to advance the many issues of women’s rights as well as influence vital public discourse.KeywordsColumn writing, print media, columnists, agenda-setting, gender, content analysi