Ojo, Adegboyega Sunday, Kusemiju et al. (8 contributing authors)
River Owo is a polluted water body in Agbara Industrial area an outskirts of Ojo Local Government Area due to the dumps of industrial wastes. The body contains diverse soluble and insoluble both of organic and inorganic compounds as well as living organism such as benthic macroinvertebrate fauna. This research work is an intensive studies carried out on constituents of river and compared with Iba stream of no active polluting activities in the same Local Government as a control. Water and macro invertebrate samples were taken from the two sites. Physicochemical and heavy metals analysis were carried out on the water using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The invertebrates were quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed. I nvestigations revealed that the water body is slightly acidic with pH of 5.5 to 6.5. It hardness have been mild due to the impact of the constituents that have softened it to extents of about 88mgL -1 . Sulphate level of range 0.07 to.09mgL-1 is significantly low. These physicochemical factors did not contribute adversely to the two water bodies. However, high BOD of 340 to 357 above the limit 30 indicated that the pollution of River Owo mainly comes from organics waste dumps. Decapods such as Palaemonetes sp and amphipods which are common to polluted environment are found in River Owo. The abundance of various forms of insects of which dragon fly nymph Palemonetes sp were most in population are found around River Owo. Therefore River Owo is mainly being polluted with organics substances. However both Physicochemcal parameters and Benthic studies Iba stream indicated that it is free of pollution. This could have been due to the disallowed dumps of domestics and industrial wastes were not allowed into the stream.
Physiochemical analysismacro invertebrateseffluentsMollusksPaloemonestes species
Freshly harvested cassava was stored in moist sawdust for twelve weeks and processed into gari every two weeks throughout the period of storage. Sensory evaluation in terms of sensory attributes and acceptability were evaluated using 30 semi-trained panelist. The consumable form of gari (dried gari, soaked gari and Eba paste) were evaluated. For the sensory attribute test, score difference test was used with each attribute on a scale of five. The consumer acceptance was evaluated using a nine-point hedonic scale. The result of the analysis shows that, there were significant difference (P < 0.05) in taste of dried gari, and mouldability of eba while for the hedonic test there were significant difference (P < 0.05) in colour and granularity in dried gari, taste and appearance of soaked gari and aroma of eba. The study shows that stored cassava roots produces gari with acceptable sensory attributes.
Uzoeghelu, Chinaza Precious, Ugbenyen et al. (4 contributing authors)
Measurement of an individual's anthropometric indices is one of the many methods for determining physical health status; others include measurement of biochemical markers and clinical indices. Little information is known about the relationship between conicity index in predicting diseases. The study was aimed at finding the association between conicity index, biochemical and clinical indices in predicting disease conditions. This study was carried out on 87 undergraduates of Edo State University, Uzairue with 44 of them being males and 43 of them being females. The Socio-demographic data were collected using a structured questionnaire, and the anthropometric indices, biochemical and clinical indices were measured. There was a statistically significant difference in the comparison of male and female respondents in their weight, height, waist circumference, fat, visceral fat, water and muscles at (p < 0.05). Conicity Index (CI) was statistically significant and positively correlated with obesity, muscle and diastolic blood pressure at (p < 0.01), positively correlated with systolic blood pressure and visceral fat (p <0.05) and a correlation with blood glucose and cholesterol level. The results of the study showed that Conicity Index had a correlation with clinical and biochemical indices. This makes it a factor for predicting cardiovascular disease, hypertension and central obesity and may be a predicting factor for diabetes mellitus and dyslipidaemia.
Anthropometric indicesBiochemical and Clinical indicesConicity Index
Femi-Olabisi, Fehintoluwa Joy, Komolafe et al. (8 contributing authors)
The toxicological effects of ethanolic extract of Parquetina nigrescens leaves (EEPNL) on letrozole-induced polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) in Wistar rats were evaluated. Twenty female Wistar rats (170.81 ± 5.25g) were randomly assigned into 5 groups (A - E) of four animals each. Animals in group A received 1 ml of distilled water and group B-E received 1mg/kg body weight of letrozole daily basis for a period of 21 days orally. The letrozole-treated groups, B-E, were then administered 1 ml of distilled water, co-administration of 7.14mg/kg of metformin and 2mg/kg clomiphene citrate (reference drug), 50 mg/kg b.wt of EEPNL and 100 mg/kg b.wt of EEPNL respectively for a period of 14 days. The animals were sacrificed 24 hours after the last treatment dose and the blood obtained via jugular puncturing was used in determining some toxicological indices such as liver function indices (albumin, bilirubin, globulin and total protein), kidney function indices (Urea, uric acid and creatinine), and enzyme assay (Alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase). The result revealed mild alterations in the parameters under studied in this work and this suggests that the ethanolic leaf extract of Parquetina nigrescens at doses investigated may be safe when used in the treatment of PCOS.
Dupe T. Otolowo1, 3, Oluwaseun F. Akinmoladun2 et al. (6 contributing authors)
Zobo is an important healthy drink made from the dried calyces of Hibiscus sabdariffa by boiling water extraction. An equal volume of the basal extract was flavoured separately with conventional strawberry essence (Zobo-S), alligator pepper (Zobo-A), and clove (Zobo-C) and evaluated for chemical and sensory properties using established methods. The obtained range of values for mineral (4.70-578 mg/L) and vitamins (0.05-0.29 mg/100 g) were in moderate amounts with potassium being the most abundant mineral element (ranged 522-578mg/L) and highest in Zobo-A (578 mg/L). Zinc, an antiviral and important element for the body immune system was significantly (p<0.05) higher in Zobo-C (13.34 mg/L) and Zobo-A (8.33 mg/L) than Zobo-S (7.14 mg/L) making Zobo with spices a better choice drink for a preventive measure against infectious viral-diseases like COVID-19. Total titratable acidity ranged from 0.93-1.06 g/100 ml and was highest in Zobo-S (1.06g /100 ml) implying the Zobo made with spices were less acidic. Also, tannin content was improved with the spices and highest in Zobo-C (0.44 mg/100 g) while Zobo-A was the most preferred in overall acceptability. Thus, the natural spices improved the minerals, phytochemical contents and sensory acceptability of Zobo drink. This could proffer potential health benefits to the consumers and encourage the use of natural spices in the preparation of food and drinks rather than the chemical-based conventional flavour essence.
Abimbola A. Ogundiran1, Obanla Bilikis Ololade1, Olusegun O. Ogundiran2 et al. (4 contributing authors)
This study focussed on the utilisation of both unmodified and acid modified snail shells as low cost adsorbents for the removal of Congo Red (CR) from aqueous solution using batch adsorption process. Different parameters such as pH, Contact time, temperature and adsorbent dose were varied. The kinetic studies using pseudo first order and pseudo second order of the adsorption were carried out. The adsorption of Congo Red (CR) was found to be dependent on the varied parameters. The optimum time for the uptake was 60 min, adsorbent dosage of 2 g and pH was found to be 2.0. The amount of CR removed (qe) rose from 2.445 to 19.230 mg/g when the contact time progressed from 5 to 60 min for unmodified snail shell and from 5.540 to 26.170 mg/g when treated snail shell was used. Pseudo-first- order model better described the kinetic of the adsorption process. The value of ΔH obtained was 42.20 kJ/mol with ΔS value of 20.30 kJ/mol) and this is an indication that the process of adsorption to be endothermic reaction. FT-IR characterization of the adsorbent before and after adsorption process revealed the probable functional groups present on the surface of the adsorbent to be –OH, C=O and C-H. Thus, snail shells can be deployed as low cost adsorbent for Congo Red removal from effluents.
Ceaser A. Moses1, Olumuyiwa A. Owolabi2, Ijeoma Okolo2 et al. (5 contributing authors)
Consumption of diets rich in vegetables and fruits protects the human body from acute and chronic diseases. This study determines the effect of blanching on some antinutritional factors and mineral content of Basella alba and Amaranthus hybridus using standard methods. The vegetables were blanched in deionized water for 5 minutes at 100oC. The phytate and oxalate contents of unblanched Basella alba were significantly (p<0.05) lowered when compared with unblanched Amaranthus hybridus. Blanching caused a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the phytate content by 22.3% and 32.8%, respectively when blanched Amaranthus hybridus and blanched Basella alba BBA were compared with their corresponding unblanched leaves. Also blanching elicited a significant (p<0.05) reduction in the oxalate level by 44.4% and 18.8%, respectively when blanched Amaranthus hybridus and blanched Basella alba BBA were matched with their unblanched counterparts. The mineral (Fe, Ca, Mg, Cu, and Zn) content was significantly (p<0.05) higher in unblanched Basella alba than unblanched Amaranthus hybridus, which decreases significantly (p<0.05) to varying extents after blanching in both vegetables. Blanching reduces the mineral content of Basella alba and Amaranthus hybridus leaves but makes them more bioavailable by reducing their phytate and oxalate. Hence, other processing techniques should be developed which reduce the antinutrient content only.
The enhancement of corrosion inhibition of galvanised steel by synergised leave extracts of Sida acuta (S.A.) and Jatropha curcas (J.C.) in 1.0 M HCl solution was investigated using the gasometric technique at 30 oC and 50 oC. Results obtained showed that complimenting plant extracts with galvanisation of steel enhanced the inhibition of Zinc in the protection of steel. Fourier transform infrared analysis confirmed the O-H functional group of alcohol at 3851 and 3436 cm-1 band. Surface morphology of the steel, synergised were studied with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and electron dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Analysis revealed the protection of the internal grains of the metal from dissolution into corrodents provided by the adsorbed film the extract. Inhibition efficiency improved from 57.57 % to 95.45 %, corrosion rate 0.454 cm3 /hr to 0.093 cm3 /hr for zinc-coated steel only to extract enhanced-zinc coated steel. Langmuir isotherm best explained the adsorption mechanism of extract of zinc surface. Zinc coated steel has a half-life less than 0.04531539 x 1010 minutes, while effective enhancement of Zinc coated steel with extract gave a half-life of 0.075132088 x 1010 minutes. This implies that the enhancement of galvanised (Zinc coated) steel with synergised extract improved the inhibitory characteristics of the composites over that of zinc coat alone, which corrodes in place of steel.
Cocos nucifera (coconut) husk fiber is the dry and fibrous external material that is processed typically to obtain the solid albumen and endosperm (coconut-water). It has been reported previously that the husks of the coconut palm are discarded massively as waste and considered as a major agro-waste of tropical countries. In this study, we investigated and compared the antioxidant activities of the n-hexane and acetone-water extracts of varieties of Cocos nucifera husk fibre - wild mature (WM), dwarf (DWF), young (YNG), and hybrid (HYB). The antioxidant activities of extracts were evaluated using a range of in vitro free radical scavenging assay models, total antioxidant capacity, and reductive ability. The results obtained were statistically analysed at a significance level of p < 0.05. The highest values for the total flavonoid content, total phenolic content, and total antioxidant capacity for the n-hexane extract was obtained from the wild mature husk fibres while the lowest was from dwarf species. The acetone-water extracts of the young husk exhibited the highest values for the total flavonoid, phenolic content, and antioxidant capacity while the hybrid species showed the lowest. At varying concentrations, the coconut varieties and extracts displayed different 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals scavenging activities. All varieties displayed reducing potential, although with varying efficacy. Also, it was observed that the IC50 for the nitric oxide free radical scavenging activity of the n-hexane extracts and acetone-water extract were similar in the order of HYB > DWF > WM > YNG.
Cocos nuciferahusk fiberantioxidantfree radicalsInhibition Concentration at 50% (Ic50)
Costus spicatus, an herbaceous plant, parts- leaves, rhizome, stem and root are used locally because of its medicinal properties. This study was carried out to compare the phyto- constituents of the Costus spicatus leaf and rhizome. The secondary metabolites of Costus spicatusleaf and rhizomewere determined qualitatively via standard phytochemicalscreening methods.Thechemicalcompositions of the aqueousextract ofCostusspicatusleaf and rhizome were analyzed using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry and UV-Visible Spectrophotometer. The qualitative phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of Carbohydrate, Alkaloids, Saponins, Terpenoids, Phenols and Protein were detected in the aqueous rhizome extract while Carbohydrate, Alkaloids, Flavonoids and Proteins were detected in the leaf extract. The UV-yis scan of the aqueous rhizome and leaf extracts revealed the varying absorbance of the leaf and rhizome extract at different wavelengths and the spectrum shows the highest peaks at 200-214 nm and 220-227 nm respectively indicating the presence of organic chromophores. The GC-MS analysis of aqueous extract of Costus spicatus rhizome revealed the presence of Hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester (11.34%) and 10,13-Octadecadienoic acid, methylester (10.22%) for the leaf extract as the compound with the highest peaks. These results reveal that the rhizome extract contains more active organic compounds and therefore can be further explored in phytomedicinal researches.
Housing tenure is the financial arrangement under which the household occupies all or part of a housing unit. Housing affordability from time immemorial has been a major concern in developed and developing world which is hinged on man's welfare and productivity. This study investigates the factors that determine the choice of housing tenure in Old Bodija Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria. Questionnaire was developed based on variables such as types of residential properties, housing tenure and factors determining types of housing tenure. Questionnaire was administered to 178 respondents within 11streets consisting of residential properties in the studied area. 150 questionnaire were retrieved representing 84%. Descriptive and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) techniques were applied to define the preference factors that determine the choice of housing tenure in the studied area. The result through ANOVA technique revealed that the educational background of the occupiers, capacity of rent demanded, security of the environment and the nature of the location are the preference factors that determine the choice of housing tenure in the studied area. Personal observation and interview made with the respondents confirmed that the land price, housing satisfaction and housing preference are the most significant factors. The study recommends that housing need should be met and enhanced by promoting security, government should focus on regularization schemes, provide incentives to families to invest in their homes and communities and also provide locations with infrastructures vis a vis health care services and schools in the study area.
F. A. Kasali, J. A. Balogun, O. D. Adekola et al. (4 contributing authors)
In the education sector, constructing a personalized timetable is an important aspect that should be given uppermost priorities when it comes to academic planning and implementation. Basically, in most schools, the timetable is done to encompass all courses, segregation only comes in departmentally, by faculty or by programs being studied by the students involved. This could be cumbersome especially for schools with numerous programs, departments or faculties as students and faculty members have to glance through such complex timetables before they are able to map out theirs. This could lead to resource wastage in terms of time, misinterpretation by students involved, clashing of courses being taken by students, poor utilization of available venues amongst other issues. In other to proffer solutions to some of the identified problems, a personalized and user-centric timetable system was designed for the College of Basic and Applied Sciences (CBAS), Mountain Top University, Ogun State, Nigeria. System design was specified using unified modeling language (UML) diagrams such as use-case, sequence and activity diagrams. The system was implemented using mobile application development technologies. The android based timetable system presented an administrative module who could schedule lecture periods, specify time amongst other constraints and overall management of course scheduling based on courses registered for by the students. Evaluation of the system was done using Post Study System Usability Questionnaire (PSSUQ) version 3 measuring tool and analysed using descriptive statistics with SPSS version 21. One hundred and twenty five (125) participants were chosen randomly and purposefully for the study. Results of analysis gave the perceived satisfaction score as 2.56, system usefulness with 1.98, information quality with a mean score of 2.72 while interface quality performed the lowest with a mean score of 3.19 since in PSSUQ analysis, the higher the mean score, the poorer the performance. The timetable system was basically designed to reduce the problem of accessibility and better convenience especially on the part of the students. Future works would also consider a fully automated system with the use of scheduling algorithms and the integration of examination and invigilation scheduling in the same system.
