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Comparative Studies on the Susceptibility of Three Tubers of Dioscorea Species to Dry Rot in Anyigba, Kogi State
Get PDFVarious yam species are cultivated but white yam (Dioscorea rotundata Poir.), water yam (Dioscorea alata L.) and yellow yam (Dioscorea cayenensis Lam.) are among the most cultivated in Nigeria. The Susceptibility of three tubers of Dioscorea species (D. rotundata, D. alata and D. cayenensis) to dry rot pathogens was investigated. Isolation was made from rotted tuber tissues, followed by pathogenicity test and identification of isolates; two fungal species Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus stolonifer were isolated and identified as the major fungi causing yam tuber dry rot in the study area. There was significant difference (P<0.05) in the susceptibility of the various Dioscorea tuber species studied to rot caused by Aspergillus niger [D. rotundata (20mm), D. alata (11mm) and D. cayenensis (3.5mm)] and Rhizopus stolonifer [ D. rotundata (17.5mm), D. alata (10mm) and D. cayenensis (2mm)]. The phytochemical contents of the three tubers of Dioscorea species examined also varied significantly, with the bioactive substances of D. cayenensis and D. alata relatively higher when compared to D. rotundata. Therefore, this research reveals that three metabolites; Saponin, Flavonoid and Tanin constitute the major trait for resistant ability of D. cayanesis and D. alata to dry rot causing pathogen. Therefore, it is necessary that the differences in susceptibility be considered when developing yam barns. Also, researchers should work on genetically improving the susceptible white yam (D. rotundata) which is commonly eaten by millions of Nigerians with a possibility of increasing the quantities of the deficient phytochemicals
Comparative Studies on the Proximate Composition of Three Tubers of Dioscorea Species in Anyigba, Kogi State
Get PDFThe third world countries are not just suffering from food shortage, they are also plagued by malnutrition which stems from poverty coupled with inadequate informations about the nutritional contents of foods consume by most of her populace. Yam is a stable food consume by millions of Nigerians and the decision of which species to consume is often based on palatability and availability. Proximate analysis was carried out on D. rotundata., D. cayenensis and D. alata to compare their protein, carbohydrate, moisture, crude fibre, fat and ash content. The result reveals that Carbohydrate content of D. cayenensis (50.60%) was higher when compared to D. rotundata (48.8%) and D. alata (36.02%). Also, the crude fibre of D. alata (5.26%) was significantly higher compared to D. cayenensis (4.86%) and D. rotundata (4.75%), similar result was obtained for the protein content of D. alata; which was 3.46% compared to D. cayanensis (2.13%) and D. rotundata (1.61%) respectively. This research concludes that the proximate composition of the Dioscorea species studied varied significantly. Yam consumers and nutritionist are advised to select their yam species in view of the various proximate constituents to achieve a well balance diet in terms of food and composite flour. The cultivation of the D. alata species should be encouraged because of its low Carbohydrate and high protein contents, thus making it suitable for diabetic patients or people suffering from related illnesses
Prevalence of Intestinal Helminth Infections of Stray Dogs of Public Health Significance in Lagos Metropolis, Nigeria
Get PDFGlobally, stray dogs have been a major source of zoonoses such as cutaneous larval migrans, visceral larval migrans and hydatidosis. These dogs are recognized as being a major public health problem where their population is unchecked. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of intestinal helminth parasites of stray dogs in Lagos metropolis. Stools of 96 stray dogs were examined microscopically for ova of these parasites using centrifugation flotation method. Four species of intestinal helminths were identified. The overall prevalence of helminths infection was 61.4%, with Ancylostoma caninum having a prevalence of 62.5%, Toxocara canis 20.8%, Dipylidium caninum 18.7% and Strongyloides stercoralis 2.0%. T. canis had the highest worm burden of 1,250 egg per gram (EPG) while S. stercoralis had the least (100 EPG). The areas with the most helminth infections were Yaba (n=12, X̄=1.58, SD=0.793), Agege (n=11, X̄=1.73, SD=0.786) and Ikotun (n=11, X̄=1.45, SD=0.820). S. stercoralis was only found in samples obtained from Mushin and Ikorodu. Most of the stool samples obtained from this study had mixed infections, 83.3% were infected with three helminth species, 8.3% were infected with four helminth species and none had double infection. Mushin had the most mixed infections (n=4, X̄=1.900, SD=1.101) while Obalende had the least (n=1, X̄=1.000, SD=0.000). Most of the intestinal helminth parasites identified in this study are zoonotic and thus pose a public health problem. Environmental factors seem to influence the health condition of these dogs, thus concerted efforts should be made to reduce the growing population of stray dogs on the street of Lago
A Numerical Calculation of Arbitrary Integrals of Functions
Get PDFThis paper presents a numerical technique for solving fractional integrals of functions by employing the trapezoidal rule in conjunction with the finite difference scheme. The proposed scheme is only a simple modification of the trapezoidal rule, in which it is treated as an algorithm in a sequence of small intervals for finding accurate approximate solutions to the corresponding problems. This method was applied to solve fractional integral of arbitrary order α > 0 for various values of alpha. The fractional integrals are described in the Riemann-Liouville sense. Figurative comparisons and error analysis between the exact value, two-point and three-point central difference formulae reveal that this modified method is active and convenient
Anti-corruption Strategies for Balanced Development: A Case Study of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
Get PDFThis paper synthesizes the assessment of anti-corruption strategies adopted by previous administrations in Nigeria, and the effectiveness of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Factors militating against the effectiveness of EFCC were identified, and solutions proffered. Corruption in education was also noted. The administration of some heads of state before the establishment of EFCC were discovered to fuel corruption, while some administrations proved to have adopted Gandhian approach to fight corruption; they recorded success but were not sustained because their efforts were found to have been frustrated by their succeeding administrations. The results of the frustrations lead to the establishment of EFCC which is an institution to tackle corruption during democracy. Finally, it was revealed that the achievement of EFCC’s mandates is low. Towards anti-corruption strategies and the effectiveness of EFCC, recommendations were suggested. It is believed that if the recommendations were fully implemented, balanced development is inevitable
An Overview on the Public Relations Strategic Management in Public Sector Organizations
Get PDFPublic relations are an important aspect that must be considered by public sector organizations to achieve its objectives. Strategic management is a valuable tool to aid public sector organizations in developing its public communication programs regarding the public relations. This paper attempts to explore the basic concepts that is important regarding the issue through literature review of several previous studies on public relations strategic management in public sector organizations. From these literature, this paper concludes that in order to achieve its public relations objectives, public sector organizations will have to: identify the groups that make up the public, understand the positioning of the organizations as well as the public groups; choose the best public relations strategy; and formulate the tailored messages to be communicated to each public groups according to the strategy chosen by the organization
Reproductive Rights and Reproductive Choice of Yoruba Women in Southwestern Nigeria
Get PDFWhile some social and health comes have improved significantly for women, significant gaps remain in the achievement of reproductive health rights and women’s choice. Women are still constrained by social, legal, religious and cultural impediments and family power dynamics from acting on their desires. The objective of this paper therefore is to examine the reproductive rights and choice of women entrepreneurs in South Western Nigeria Ibadan. The study adopts Rational Choice Theory and Gender role theory as theoretical guide. Quantitative and qualitative methods of data generation were employed. One Hundred and Twenty questionnaires were distributed to women with ten years marital experiences. The distribution of hundred and twenty questionnaires to women respondents was obtained through snowball method. Only In-depth interview conducted among 24women through purposive sampling techniques was employed to generate qualitative data. Quantitative information was analysed through simple percentage and frequency distribution. Findings from the study revealed that women’s reproductive decision-making processes are greatly influenced by their partners ranging from their age at first marriage, their access to family planning and abortion., which also given by the women as challenges on their reproductive rights in Sango, Ibadan
Multiple Beneficial Effects of Using Biochar (as a Great Organic Material) on Tolerance and Productivity of Rice under Abiotic Stress
Get PDFRice as a sensitive crop that usually affected by many harmful environmental stresses. Numerous policies are followed to increase plant growth-tolerance under abiotic-stresses in various plant species. The attempts to improve crop tolerance against abiotic stresses via common breeding method are needed to follow a long-term, and may also be non-affordable, these are due to the existing genetic variability of the plant. Current review analysis existing knowledge gaps, challenges, and opportunities in the biochar application as a beneficial and pyrogenic-C, material. Consequently, a review of the literature with a high focusing on the multiple beneficial effects of using biochar on tolerance and productivity of rice in abiotic stresses is needed. This review provides a summary of those efforts that would be beneficial in reducing inconvenienced abiotic-stresses, and also how using biochar could increase rice tolerance and production through the supporting of plant growth regulator's roles. Accordantly, present review findings showed that biochar is a great amendment and consisting of principally organic rich-C matter, which has multiple benefits on improving soil physicochemical and biological properties as well as increasing rice tolerance and its productivity through enhancing plant hormones roles under abiotic stressed conditions (heat/cold temperature, drought, salinity, heavy metal, and climate change stresses). Nevertheless, it is anticipated that further researches on the benefits of biochar will increase the comprehension of interactions between biochar and plant growth hormones, to accelerate our attempts for improving rice tolerance and productivity, under abiotic-stress conditions
Application of Genetic Algorithm in Common Optimization Problems
Get PDFUse of non-deterministic algorithms for solving multi-variable optimization problems is widely used nowadays. Genetic Algorithm belongs to a group of stochastic biomimicry algorithms, it allows us to achieve optimal or near-optimal results in large optimization problems in exceptionally short time (compared to standard optimization methods). Major advantage of Genetic Algorithm is the ability to fuse genes, to mutate and do selection based on fitness parameter. These methods protect us from being trapped in local optima (Most of deterministic algorithms are prone to getting stuck on local optima). In this paper we experimentally show the upper hand of Genetic Algorithms compared to other traditional optimization methods by solving complex optimization problem
Novel Mutations within PRSS1 Gene that Could Potentially Cause Hereditary Pancreatitis: Using Bioinformatics Approach
Get PDFHereditary pancreatitis (HP) is a rare heterogeneous disease with partial penetrance identified by frequent episodes of severe abdominal pain, often showing in young aged children. It is complicating by chronic pancreatitis, and high rate of pancreatic cancer (up to 40-50%). The aim of this work was to classify the most deleterious mutation in PRSS1 gene and to predict their influence on the functional and structural level by a variety of bioinformatics analysis tools. The raw data of PRSS1 gene were recovered from SNP database, and further used to examine a deleterious effect using SIFT, PolyPhen-2, PROVEAN, SNAP2, SNPs&GO, PHD-SNP, PANTHER and P-Mut. The functional analysis predicted that two SNPs “rs1366278558 and rs767036052” have a deleterious effect at functional level. Additionally, we submitted them to I-mutant 3.0, and MUPro respectively to investigate their effect on structural level; the two tools revealed that; two mutations have a dramatic decrease of the protein stability, thus suggesting that the M1R and L4P mutations of PRSS1 gene could destabilize the amino acid interactions causing functional abnormalities of PRSS1 protein. The 3D structure of PRSS1 was predicted by RaptorX and modeled using UCSF Chimera to compare the differences between the native and the mutant amino acids. From the comparative analysis at the functional and structural level, these two SNPs “M1R and L4P” have a deleterious effect and thus could be used as diagnostic markers to predict HP. These findings can be used as a platform to develop large-scale studies in the future