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Effects of Humidity on the Dissolution Profiles of Controlled Release Theophylline Matrix Tablets Containing Release Enhancers Prepared By Melt Granulation and Coacervation Techniques
Full text linkThe quantity of moisture present in tablets plays a major role in
influencing the physical/chemical properties of tablets especially
dissolution profiles. The purpose of the present study is to
investigate the effects of relative humidity on the dissolution
profiles of controlled release theophylline matrix tablets containing
release enhancer prepared by melt granulation and simple coacervation
techniques. Sucrose and microcrystalline cellulose at concentration of
3% w/w, 5% w/w, 7.5% w/w, and 10% w/w were included in the blends as
release enhancers before compression into nondisintegrating matrix
tablets. Resulting tablets were exposed to 0% and 75% relative
humidity. Sample were withdrawn at 0, 15 days, 1 month, 2 months and 3
months and evaluated for cumulative drug release. Interactions were
investigated using modern technology: Differential scanning calorimetry
(DSC). Initial and maximum release were increased after exposure to 75%
relative humidity. There was no drug \u2013 excipients interaction.
Thus moisture increased theophylline release from both sets of tablets
prepared by melt granulation and simple coacervation techniques
Problems and Prospects of Poultry Rearing in Lagelu Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria
Full text linkWorld poultry production is increasing yearly yet the demand for the
products has not been met. This study assessed the problems and
prospects of poultry rearing in Lagelu Local Government Area of Oyo
State, Nigeria. The study was carried out among poultry farmers with
interview schedule of Eighty (80) farmers using structured
questionnaires. The study examined social characteristics of poultry
farmers, benefits of poultry production, needs and constraints of
poultry production in the study area. Descriptive statistical analysis
was used to analyze data. The study revealed that 73.80% of the
respondents were males and 26.20% were females, 52.60% had tertiary
education, 36.20% had secondary school education and 11.20% had primary
school education. The result showed that 67.50% of the respondents had
increase in egg production, 15.00% had average increase in egg
production and 17.50% had no increase in egg production. The
respondents had maximum income benefit with 15.00% always having high
income, 51.20% low income and 33.80% indicated indifference in their
income. In this research work, the poultry farmers shows various needs
to boost their production, where 91.20% have problems of good storage
facilities, 92.50% with problems of pest and disease control, 88.80%
request for training for farmers and 53.8% aimed at credit facilities.
The major problems that poultry farmers encounter in the study area are
inadequate capital (100.00%), pest and disease (100.00%), lack of
credit facilities (100.0%) and high cost of feeding (80.0%) of the
respondents
Mapping Soil Erosion Sensitive Areas in Organic Matter Amended Soil Associations in the Ntabelanga area, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
Full text linkThe study aims to map areas sensitive to erosion by water and rainfall
erosivity after addition of organic matter (OM) in highly unstable
soils. A soil association map was created using digital soil mapping
methodology. Soil samples from six soil associations were incubated and
analysed for several soil erodibility measures and inferred to the soil
association map. Soil stabilization against soil erosion by use of OM
was evaluated for 30 weeks under two simulated rainstorms, intermittent
rainstorms (IR) and single rainstorm (SR). Rainfall erosivity
(R-factor) was calculated from the duration of a rainstorm and the
total amount of rainfall received under rainfall simulations.
Erodibility factor (K-factor) was estimated using the soil OM content
and texture. Largest area (40%) was covered by shallow soils and
K-factor range of 0.0693-0.0778 t.ha.hha-1MJ-1mm-1. Largest (60.2%)
area had a structural stability index of 0.8 and 42.7% of the area was
covered by a dispersion ratio value range of 0.65-0.70. The area size
with erosion rates of > 15 t/ha/yr was drastically reduced from 1 to
8 weeks after OM application thereafter gradually increased under both
IR and SR. Soil erosion rates of < 5 t-1 ha-1 yr-1 and > 15 t-1
ha-1 yr-1 were most and least observed respectively under both storms.
R-factor was higher under IR than SR and the smallest areas with soil
erosion rates of > 15 t-1 ha-1 yr-1 contributed most to the lost
soil. Organic matter confers soil resistance to erosion up to a certain
period before losing its effectiveness. The study provided first
assessment of erosion dynamics, basis for identifying conservation
priorities which may be applicable in similar areas
Factors Determining the Willingness to Adopt Grasscutter Domestication Technology among Urban Dwellers in Southwest, Nigeria
Full text linkThis study investigated factors determining the willingness to adopt
grasscutter domestication technology in South west, Nigeria.
Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 160 respondents from
9 urban towns in Oyo, Ogun and Osun States. Well-structured
questionnaire was used for data collection. Data was analysed using
descriptive analysis, correlational analysis and t-test. Results showed
that the majority (69.4%) of the respondents were male and married.
Coefficient correlation (r value) at (p< 0.05), shows that there is
a significant association between respondents\u2019 educational
status, religion, household size, primary as well as secondary
education with respondents\u2019 willingness to adopt the technology.
There was also found significant relationship between, perceived health
status of those who are into the grasscutter technology, perceived
nutritional value and economic value of the grasscutter domestication
technology with the willingness to adopt the grasscutter domestication
technology. The result if the T-test revealed that there is significant
relationship between perceived ease of practice and willingness to
adopt the technology. The majority of the respondents are willing to
rear grasscutter if variables like space, fund, availability of
ready-made buyer and feed, breeding stock and training are put into
place. However, issues relating to having enough plots of land,
funding, ready-made buyer of grasscutter, and training facilities are
most germane. It is therefore recommended that funding and training on
the adoption of the grasscutter domestication technology should be made
available to individuals
Introduction of Improved Okra (NHAe47-4) Variety as a Means of Economic Enhancement of Farmers in Ido Village, Ido Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria
Full text linkThe study was carried out to introduce improved okra (NHAe47-4) variety
to farmers in Ido Village in Ido Local Government of Oyo State using
SAFE approach to agricultural extension which includes; capacity
building among farmers to enable them diagnoses their problems,
identify solutions and develop plans and implement them with or without
support from outside. Farmers in the studied area were selected and a
group was formed comprising of twelve (12) members. Sensitization and
awareness creation were conducted in the study area through series of
activities such as facilitating, interactive group discussions and
several meetings with the farmers were held to orientate them of the
improved okra variety through teaching and management techniques.
Descriptive statistical tool such as frequency distribution and
percentages was used to analyze the objectives. At the end of the
harvesting and whole exercise, the group (farmers) was interviewed
verbally to know their levels of awareness for adoption and their
general view about the improved variety in relation to the normal okra
variety they were used to. The farmers embraced the technology and they
were actively participated through demonstration method exercise.
Having known all the techniques involved in the production cycle, the
farmers also tried the technology on their individual plot which served
as an encouragement factor for adoption. The study thus resulted into
improving the standard of living and economic enhancement of the
farmers in the study area
Some Preliminary Phytochemical Screening and Assessment of Four Solvents Extracts of Button Weed ( Borreria verticillata )
Full text linkBorreria vertcillata is a woody perennial shrub with false-button weedy
herb belonging to the family (Rubiaceae), used for treating/curing
various forms of diseases across the world since ancient times.
Qualitative phytochemical screening of Borreria vertcillata pulverized
whole plant was carried out using four different solvent extracts
(N-hexane, chloroform, ethyl-acetate and methanol). The phytochemicals
screeened contained alkaloids, triterpenes, flavonoids, glycosides,
tannins, saponnins, anthraquinones and steroids. The extracts were then
screened for the presence of some phytochemicals such as alkaloids,
anthraquinones, saponnins, steroids, terpenes, flavonoids, tannins and
glycosides. All the extracts contained alkaloids, triterpenes and
glycosides present but flavonoids, saponnins and tannins only present
in ethyl acetate and methanol while anthraquinones and steroids were
totally absent from the extracts .Of all the extracts Ethyl acetate
extracts had the most influential effects on pathogenic organisms such
as Culex quinquefasciatus , Staphylococcus aureus , Escherichia coli
and Candidas albica
Determinant of Agroforestry Practices among Small Holder Farmers in Oyo State Nigeria
Full text linkThe multiplicity of agroforestry practices demand the choice of
appropriate methods that will give the rural farmers an excellent
result. Thus, this study analysed the factors determining the choice of
agroforestry practices among small holder farmers in Oyo State,
Nigeria. Primary data was obtained using multi-stage sampling
technique. Structured questionnaire was administered to 250 selected
small holder farmers to elicit relevant information and 211 was
retrieved and used for this study. The findings revealed that most 55%
of the farmers chose agrisilvicutural system while 33.2% and 11.8% of
the farmers chose agrosilvopastoral and silvopastoral systems
respectively. Most of the farmers were males 89.1%, with average age of
47years indicating they were relatively young with basic formal
education. The average farm size of 3.34ha indicated that the study
covered small holder farmers. The multinomial logit result showed that
factors such as educational level, meeting attendance, type of labour
used, household assets significantly determined the choice of
agroforestry practices adopted by the farmers. The study therefore
recommends the implementation of policies that promote more
enlightenment on the benefits of agroforestry to both the educated and
non-educated farmers to facilitate quick adoption, provision of
incentives to farmers that attend meetings regularly and making
available improved agroforestry methods and practices to enhance wider
suitability of agroforestry practices
Evaluation of Water Quality Index Using Physicochemical Characteristics of Ogbor River in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria
Full text linkThe study was carried out to evaluate water quality index (WQI) of
Ogbor River, a freshwater system flowing through the commercial city of
Aba, Southern Nigeria using selected physicochemical parameters. The
levels of the physicochemical parameters were determined using standard
analytical procedures in the Laboratory. The values obtained were
subjected to statistical analysis using Excel spreadsheet (Version
16).Water Quality index was calculated using mean values of the
selected nine parameters and the World Health Organisation standard for
drinking water. The result of physicochemical parameters used showed
that Dissolved Oxygen (DO) with mean 4.44 \ub1 0.70 mg/L, and Nitrate
(NO3-) with mean 7.58 \ub1 6.25 mg/L were below National and
International standards. The value of WQI calculated was 83.05. The
result revealed that Ogbor River water quality was very poor, so it is
unfit for human consumption, and should be treated to avoid water
related diseases
Antibiotic susceptibility pattern of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from some drinking wells in Ondo town southwest Nigeria
Full text linkAntibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) strains have become a global health
threat. This study aimed to determine the antibiotic susceptibility
pattern of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated
from wells in Ondo town, Southwest Nigeria. Twenty-eight well water
samples were analyzed for the presence of K. pneumoniae and P.
aeruginosa by standard pour plate technique. The bacterial isolates
were tested against eight commonly use antibiotics using Kirby Bauer
disc diffusion method. The percentage occurrence of K. pneumoniae and
P. aeruginosa in the well water samples were 17.86% and 21.43%,
respectively. Two multi-drug resistant strains of K. pneumoniae were
isolated, which were resistant to at least three classes of
antibiotics. Fifty percent of the P. aeruginosa isolates were resistant
to caftazidime, cefuroxime, nitrofurantoin, and ampicillin. None of the
isolates was fully susceptible to cefuroxime, but have all showed
resistance to \u3b2-lactam (ceftazidime, cefuroxime augmentin, and
ampicillin) antibiotics. Cefuroxime may not be effective an effective
drug in the treatment of K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa implicated
infections in these communities in Ondo. Also, the over-use of
antibiotics should be discouraged in order to curtail the menace of
antibiotic resistance
Health Risk Assessment for the Exposure of Workers to BTEX at the Gasoline Stations
Full text linkThe study was conducted to assess the health risks of workers due to
exposure to toxic gases including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, m,
p-xylene, o-xylene, formaldehyde and acetaldehyde at gasoline retail
stations. In this study, data on the concentrations of the toxic gases
were collected from the previously published studies in the qualified
scientific journals. The health risk assessment was followed by the
process of the United States Environment Protection Agency (U.S. EPA).
The results show that the concentrations of benzene, toluene,
ethylbenzene, m, p-xylene, o-xylene, formaldehyde, and acetaldehyde
were in the range of 12.40 - 357.5, 12.47 - 574.17, 2.05 - 156.5, 4.57
- 218, 2.36 - 77.04, 3.64 - 153.93 and 1.27- 27.83 \u3bcg/m3,
respectively. Life time cancer risk for gasoline station workers due to
exposure to benzene, ethylbenzene, formaldehyde, and acetaldehyde was
calculated in the ranges of 2.13x10-5 - 6.14x10-4, 4.96x10-7 -
3.79x10-5, 4.81x10-6 - 2.03x10-4, and 7.99x10-7 - 1.75x10-5,
respectively. For non-carcinogenic compounds, the hazard index due to
benzene, toluene, m, p-xylene, o-xylene were respectively in the range
of 0.13 - 3.81, 7.97x10-4 - 0.04, 0.01 - 0.70 and 0.01 - 0.25. The
findings revealed that there is high risk of cancer and non-cancer for
the workers working at the gasolines stations if they are not taking
good preventive measures. The calculation showed that the limit levels
of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, formaldehyde and
acetaldehyde should be reduced to 5.82x10-4, 15.64, 4.13x10-3, 0.31,
7.57x10-4 and 1.59x10-3 mg/m3, respectively to meet the safety levels
for the workers at the gasoline stations