Pericopsis laxiflora (Benth) Meeuwen is used in African folk medicine to mitigate numerous infections. This study evaluated the antioxidant, phytochemical and antimicrobial activities and protective potential of P. laxiflora methanol leaf extract against cadmium-induced testicotoxicity in male Sprague–Dawley rats. The methanol extract of P. laxiflora leaves (MLPL) obtained by cold maceration contained several phytochemicals, but no cardiac glycosides or terpenoids were found. It showed remarkable dose-dependent in vitro antioxidative activity. The extract had similar antibacterial effects as ciprofloxacin against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. However, it was more effective against S. pneumoniae than the other bacterial strains. Similarly, it exhibited antifungal activities comparable to Griseofulvin against Candida albicans and Aspergillus spp. The extract corrected the damage occasioned by intoxication with CdCl2. It elevated testicular malonaldehyde like Quercetin. The increased NO and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities induced by treating Sprague–Dawley rats with CdCl2 were significantly reduced by the MLPL extract. The extract also attenuated the production of β-catenin and B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) protein in the testiculocytes of the rats and restored severe perivascular inflammation in liver cells. Through several mechanisms, MLPL showed protective effects against testis injury induced by cadmium chloride in Sprague–Dawley rats.
This research presents a green synthesis of high-quality graphene (G), zinc oxide (ZnO) and graphene/zinc oxide (G/ZnO) nanocomposites. Zinc Oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were synthesised using Amarus Pinnantum extracts, while graphene was derived from Bryophyllum Pinnatum shoot plant extracts. The integration of graphene into the ZnO matrix was investigated to enhance its structural, optical, and electrical properties, particularly electron mobility. The synthesised materials were characterised using UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS). UV-Vis spectra revealed characteristic absorption bands for graphene, ZnO, and G/ZnO. FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of functional groups associated with each material, including 593 cm-1 (Zn-O bending vibrations), 1088 and 1459 cm-1 (C-H Alkyl group bending vibrations), 1583 cm-1 (C=C Aromatic stretching vibration), and 3467 and 3777 cm-1 (O-H Hydroxyl group stretching vibration) in the G/ZnO nanocomposites. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images showed spherical zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles, a rough, flake-like graphene structure, and a porous, aggregated morphology for the G/ZnO nanocomposite. EDS analysis verified the elemental composition of the materials. The electrical properties of the G/ZnO nanocomposite were significantly improved compared to pure graphene and ZnO nanoparticles. The composite exhibited a higher current (4.62 μA) and lower resistivity (405.56 Ω·m) at a specific voltage (0.60 V). This enhancement is attributed to the formation of a percolative network within the composite, which facilitates efficient charge transfer and improves electron mobility. These findings suggest that the G/ZnO nanocomposite holds promise for applications in optoelectronic devices.
The development of a linear multistep method for initial value problems of Ordinary Differential Equations (O.D.E.s) has been the subject of investigation for some time. In this work, a class of hybrid backward differentiation methods with step number k=1 for initial value problems of first-order ordinary differential equations was presented. The method entails interpolation of approximate solutions and collocation of the differential system. The scheme has been tested and found to be consistent and zero-stable. Numerical examples are given to demonstrate the efficiency of the new method. Keywords: Differential equations; collocation hybrid backward differential equation; initial value problems
Biosurfactants possess essential properties that make them highly indispensable in many industries, such as waste management, food, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals, due to their surface-active and wetting abilities. The search for microorganisms capable of producing this extensively utilized biomolecule is increasing daily. In this study, abattoir soil collected from Awka metropolis, Anambra State, was screened for biosurfactant-producing bacteria using mineral salt medium (MSM) supplemented with engine oil. Three bacterial isolates (NJ1, NJ2, and NJ3) were obtained from MSM agar. These isolates were subjected to four biosurfactant screening assays: haemolysis test, drop collapse test, oil spreading test, and emulsification index (E24). The results indicated that all three isolates showed alpha-haemolytic activity, and drop collapse positive reactions. Notably, NJ3 exhibited complete collapse reaction (+++) in the drop collapse test. Additionally, in the oil spreading test, NJ3 demonstrated the highest displacement of engine oil (10 mm), followed by NJ2 (7 mm) and NJ1 (5 mm). The determination of E24 using kerosene for all isolates revealed that NJ1 exhibited the highest E24 at 13%, while NJ2 and NJ3 had E24 of 2.56% and 2.50%, respectively. Morphological characterization, Gram’s staining, and biochemical analyses performed on the isolates, identified NJ1 and NJ3 as members of Streptomyces spp., while NJ2 was identified as Bacillus sp. These findings suggest that abattoir soil could be a potential source of biosurfactant-producing bacteria. Biosurfactants possess essential properties that make them highly indispensable in many industries, such as waste management, food, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals, due to their surface-active and wetting abilities. The search for microorganisms capable of producing this extensively utilised biomolecule is increasing daily. In this study, abattoir soil collected from Awka metropolis, Anambra State, was screened for biosurfactant-producing bacteria using mineral salt medium (MSM) supplemented with engine oil. Three bacterial isolates (NJ1, NJ2, and NJ3) were obtained from MSM agar. These isolates were subjected to four biosurfactant screening assays: haemolysis test, drop collapse test, oil spreading test, and emulsification index (E24). The results indicated that all three isolates showed alpha-haemolytic activity and drop collapse positive reactions. Notably, NJ3 exhibited a complete collapse reaction (+++) in the drop collapse test. Additionally, in the oil spreading test, NJ3 demonstrated the highest displacement of engine oil (10 mm), followed by NJ2 (7 mm) and NJ1 (5 mm). The determination of E24 using kerosene for all isolates revealed that NJ1 exhibited the highest E24 at 13%, while NJ2 and NJ3 had E24 of 2.56% and 2.50%, respectively. Morphological characterisation, Gram staining, and biochemical analyses performed on the isolates identified NJ1 and NJ3 as members of Streptomyces spp., while NJ2 was identified as Bacillus sp. These findings suggest that abattoir soil could be a potential source of biosurfactant-producing bacteria. Keywords: Biosurfactant, Abattoir, Oil Spreading, Screening, Streptomyces spp
Nowadays, there is no shortage of options for customers when choosing where to put their money. As a result, customer churn and engagement have become one of the top issues. With the increase in the number of service providers for the same targeted population, there is a need for service providers to try to find the changing customer behaviour and their rising expectations to retain them. Various studies have proposed customer churn. Data mining was routinely used to predict telecom customer attrition. Most researchers have compared and proposed different approaches for the prediction of customer churn, though some of the Machine learning (ML) algorithms used were unable to provide the performance needed to identify customer churn. Therefore, this paper presents a comparative analysis of Support Vector Machine (SVM), Decision Tree (DT) and Random Forest (RF) in the Telecommunications Dataset. To prepare the dataset for machine learning algorithms, chi-square was used for feature selection to select the most informative features from the original dataset. We validate our model using a ten-fold cross-validation approach to test the performance of our models. RF model performed better than other models in terms of accuracy (94%), precision (94%) and F-measure (94%), respectively. Additionally, we compared our results with existing models that used the same dataset; the proposed strategy outperformed them. Keywords: Customer Churn, Telecommunication, Machine Learning, Support Vector Machine (SVM), Decision Tree (DT), Random Forest (RF)
Obesity and arsenic exposure have been linked to many health issues. However, arsenic poisoning severity and susceptibility may depend on Body Mass Index (BMI), oxidative state, food supplements, and other factors. This study examines how quercetin and ascorbic acid can improve arsenic-induced health dysfunctions in normal and high BMI male Wistar rats. A total of 70 male Wistar rats weighing between 135 - 220 g were divided into 10 groups. A: Control group; B: sodium arsenite group; C: quercetin + sodium arsenite group; D: ascorbic acid + sodium arsenite group; E: sodium arsenite + quercetin + ascorbic acid; F: obese group; G: obese + sodium arsenite group; H: obese + sodium arsenite + quercetin group; I: obese + sodium arsenite + ascorbic acid group; J: obese + sodium arsenite + quercetin + ascorbic acid group, all treatments were administered orally daily for twenty-eight (28) days. The doses administered were 595 mg/kg body weight of ascorbic acid (10 % LD50), 50 mg/kg body weight of quercetin (5 % LD50), and 0.75 mg/kg body weight of sodium arsenite (5 % LD50). Concentrations of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL 6), TNF-alpha (TNF-α), COX-2, nitric oxide (NO), total bilirubin (TBL) and activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) were determined in plasma. Upon the completion of the experiment, serum IL-1β, IL 6, TNF-α, COX-2, NO, TBL concentrations and ALP, AST, ALT, and GGT activities increased significantly (p<0.05) across the groups and treatment with quercetin and ascorbic acid ameliorated the pathological alteration elicited or caused by sodium arsenite. The findings showed that arsenic exposure altered pro-inflammatory and hepatic function indices in high BMI rats, while treatment with quercetin and ascorbic acid exhibited an ameliorative effect against this obesity and arsenic-induced health dysfunctions. Keywords: Body Mass Index, Dysfunctions, Sodium arsenite, Inflammation
Swamp land is a rubber development area in South Kalimantan and rubber plants are a leading commodity in South Kalimantan, second after palm oil plants. Starting in 2019, the rubber industry in Indonesia experienced an outbreak of leaf fall disease. This disease causes a decrease in latex production of up to 50%, even in advanced conditions, infected plants will rot and die without treatment. This research aims to study the distribution of rubber leaf fall disease in the swamplands of Barito Kuala district. A disease incidence and severity survey was carried out using a stratified random sampling method. It was observed that eight sub-districts in Barito Kuala district and Banjar district had swamp land that planted rubber. At four locations/villages in each sub-district, sample plants were taken, and it was determined that there were 25 plants diagonally. Disease incidence and severity parameters followed the International Rubber Research Development Board. The research revealed that rubber leaf fall disease has spread in four rubber-plantation sub-districts. All sub-districts surveyed were 100% affected by rubber leaf fall disease. The rubber leaf fall disease attack in the studied is quite severe with an average disease severity of 67%. Keywords: Distribution, Leaf fall disease, Rubber, Swamp land
This research investigated the impact of incorporating green synthesised copper oxide nanoparticles into nanoporous carbon counter electrodes to enhance photovoltaic performance in Monolithic Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (MDSSCs). Copper oxide nanoparticles were successfully synthesised using an extract from Ocimum gratissimum leaves. Optical absorption between 250 nm and 400 nm confirmed the formation of copper oxide nanoparticles. XRD patterns indicated the crystalline nature of the copper oxide nanoparticles, with an average crystallite size of 47.9 nm. FTIR analyses identified chemical bonds potentially responsible for nanoparticle formation. MDSSC performance evaluation demonstrated a significant 3.5% increase in efficiency over the cells without nanoparticles; this translates to a 105.9% increase in efficiency observed for cells with the nanoparticles. The incorporation of green-synthesized copper oxide nanoparticles into the counter electrode of MDSSCs exhibited an eco-benign and even dispersion, suggesting its potential as a promising nanomaterial for DSSC applications. Keywords: Green Synthesis; Nanoparticles; Copper Oxide; Counter Electrode; Monolithic Dye -Sensitised Solar Cell
Aflatoxin-B1 is a ubiquitous mycotoxin usually accumulated in food and feeds, thereby posing a critical health risk to humans and animals. This study was carried out to determine its effects on performance characteristics and haematoogy indicators of stress in male Sprague Dawley rats. The rats were randomly distributed into 4 groups (n=10 per group) including an unexposed group that served as control and other groups which were orally exposed to 150 µg of aflatoxin-B1 per kg body weight on a varied basis for 28 days. The records of food intake and body weight changes were obtained while blood was collected at the end of the study for downstream analyses. There was a significant difference observed in food intake, body weight, kidney weight, liver weight, lung weight, and testes weight of the rats (p<0.05). There was a significant difference observed in the heterophil-lymphocytes ratio and bilirubin concentration as haematology biomarkers of stress in the rats (p<0.001). The study concluded that aflatoxin-B1 exposure in rats is capable of inducing stress-related performance dysfunction such as reduced food intake and body weight loss, while haematoogy biomarkers of stress heterophil-lymphocyte ratio and bilirubin concentrations could be used as potential biomarkers suitable for measuring these performance dysfunctions. There is a need for further studies to establish the possible use of heterophil-lymphocyte ratio and bilirubin as measures of performance compromise in response to aflatoxin-B1 exposure in rats. Keywords: Aflatoxin-B1, Stress, Heterophil-lymphocyte ratio, Bilirubin concentration
The presence of toxic elements in mining areas has always been a concern for public health worldwide. Previously conducted studies have mainly focused on separate soil or water contamination as routes to potentially toxic elements, conceivably underestimating residents' risks. This study examined the health risks associated with the consumption of Abelmuscus esculentus planted in different sediment compositions; control soil + control water (CSCW), control soil + goldmine water (CSGW), goldmine sediment + control water (GSCW) and goldmine sediment + goldmine water (GSGW). As, Ni, Cr and Cd concentrations in goldmine water were found to be higher than allowable limits. After 21 days, A. esculentus seedlings planted on different soil/sediment compositions were harvested for the determination of elements using an inductively coupled plasma-optical electron spectrometer (ICP-OES). Estimated dietary intakes of minerals and toxic metals were lower than recommended limits. The non-carcinogenic risks posed by heavy metals are minimal, but A. esculentus in GSGW had 131.67 % greater risks of being hazardous. Carcinogenic risks indicate that A. esculentus grown in all soil/sediment compositions had the potential to cause cancer, with GSGW having approximately 63 % higher risks. Farming practices employing goldmine sediment and water present foreseeable hazards to health when not controlled going by findings in this study. Keywords: Abelmuscus esculentus, Carcinogenic risk; Estimated dietary intake; Gold mining; Hazard ndex
In this study, emerging-recalcitrant water contaminants were examined to determine their impact on water quality and oxidative disruption of antioxidant markers in Clarias gariepinus (African catfish). Fifty C. gariepinus were randomly exposed to fresh water, 250 mg/L acetaminophen (ACT), 0.525 mg/L chromium (Cr) and a mixture of ACT+Cr – dosed water for 21 days. As compared to the control, dosed water did not significantly (p ˃ 0.05) affect dissolved oxygen (DO), but biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) significantly increased in ACT, ACT+Cr, and Cr-dosed water. Levels of ACT in C. gariepinus exposed to different concentrations followed by kidney ˃ gill ˃ liver ˃ heart. Likewise, higher Cr presence was found in C. gariepinus gills exposed to 0.350 mg/L Cr. Accordingly, kidneys and gills were the worst affected organs by ACT and Cr accumulation. All the targeted organs of C. gariepinus exposed to different concentrations of ACT+Cr showed a concentration-dependent reduction in catalase (CAT) activity, indicating the synergistic effects of ACT and heavy metals. Based on these results, ACT and Cr adversely affect the kidneys and gills of C. gariepinus, compromising their physiological activity. As a result, pharmaceutical wastes and heavy metal effluents released into the aquatic environment indiscriminately need to be monitored. Keywords Acetaminophen, Bioaccumulation, Clarias gariepinus, Chromium, Enzymatic antioxidant
Malaria vector abundance has been linked to certain agricultural practices. This work examined the impact of the agricultural practice of irrigation on the composition and seasonal distribution of malaria vectors in agrarian communities of Kano state. Longitudinal data collection was done four times a year, corresponding to different transmission seasons from early rains to late rainy season, early dry season to late dry season. Indoor-biting adult mosquitoes were collected using standard pyrethrum spray collection (PSC) techniques. Female Anopheles mosquitoes collected from houses were morphologically identified to species level. Molecular characterisation of the members of the Anopheles gambiae complex was carried out using PCR technique. Two thousand four hundred fifty-two (2452) adult female Anopheles species were collected throughout the study period. The Large Irrigation (LIC) and Urban Irrigation Communities (UIC) had a higher mean abundance of female Anopheles mosquitoes across seasons. There was a significant difference in the mean adult mosquito catch across the season (F =113.49, p≤0.001) and across the three communities (F = 44.73; p ≤0.001). Anopheles gambiae sl. was the most encountered among the four species, with a mean abundance of 11.94±11.76, 5.39±7.45 and 2.58 ±3.41 for LIC, UIC and NIC, respectively. Molecular characterisation of An. gambiae s.l. by PCR showed the presence of three sibling species, An. coluzzi, An. gambiae ss and An. arabiensis. An. Coluzzi was significantly more abundant across the three communities during the wet and dry seasons. The predominance of this species has implications for malaria control. This study shows that irrigation is likely to influence mosquito breeding, thus exposing community members to a higher risk of being bitten by infected vectors. A review of the ecology of Anopheles species, especially in urban environments, is needed, considering the current abundance of malaria vectors in the urban community. Keywords: Seasonal, Abundance, Composition, Anopheles species, Irrigation, Urban
Social media has become part of students' lives with most undergraduates spending at least more than an hour on social media with various kinds of misuse including accessing adult materials. This study sought to determine the predictive powers of students' socio-demographic characteristics on involvement in risky sexual practices when using social media. The study was a cross-sectional descriptive survey including 400 undergraduates selected from the Departments of English Language and Education & History in the Ikire Campus; Community Medicine and Physiology in the Osogbo campus; and Animal Science and Agricultural Economics in the Ejigbo Campus through a multi-stage sampling procedure. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire consisting of five sections with both univariate and bivariate analyses conducted using the SPSS software version 20.0. The mean age of the respondents was 16.4±3.7years, 65.2% were female, 26.5% were 100L students, 95.5% were single, 93.5% belonged to the Yoruba ethnic group, and 67.0% were Christians. Similarly, 97.2% of the respondents had access to social media, and 87.8% accessed social media frequently. Facebook (82.5%), WhatsApp (79.9%), and Twitter (73.3%) were the most used social media platforms. The majority (60%) were exposed to sexual risks, and 59% had a poor attitude towards risky sexual behaviour. Online dating without prior knowledge of the partner (58.8%) and viewing porn (37.3%) were the major risky sexual practices among the students. While the socio-demographic variables were associated with sexual practice, attitude, and sexual exposure since using social media, only age and gender were significantly associated with sexual practice and attitude respectively at P<0.05. With the consequences of unhindered access to social media among undergraduates especially on sexuality, the study therefore recommends a health education intervention to include a comprehensive sexual health education to all stakeholders in the parenting journey to produce morally upright youths in the society. Keywords: Social Media, Risky Sexual Practices, Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Undergraduate students
The species of cichlids are easily misidentified due to their morphological similarities. This study, therefore, was designed to discriminate the cichlid species inhabiting Zobe reservoir using a molecular approach. Samples of different cichlid species were collected from the reservoir between August and November 2022 and identified using their morphological features following the field guide to Nigerian freshwater fish. Fin clips of two samples from each of the species were fixed in 100% ethanol and the DNA was extracted. The mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase (CO1) gene area was amplified (using the FishF1 and FishR1 primer pair), purified and sequenced to reveal the identity of the species. Morphologically, the result revealed the presence of four species, namely: Oreochromis niloticus, Oreochromis mossambicus, Sarotherodon galilaeus, and Coptodon zilli. The genetic identity of the samples agreed with the earlier attempt made at morphological discrimination except for O. mossambicus which matches the partial and complete genome of Oreochromis aureus, hence, solving misidentification. The phylogenetic tree of the CO1 genes constructed using MEGA 11 software reveals the species were grouped independently into the three different genera of the Cichlidae family (i.e., the Coptodon, Oreochromis and Sarotherodon). This study affirms the need for molecular confirmation of morphologically identified cichlids in Nigeria. Keywords: Cichlids, DNA Barcoding, Identification, Phylogeny, Polymerase Chain Reaction
People in Malumfashi Local Government Area Katsina State, Nigeria have been using medicinal plants to cure various ailments since time immemorial. However, the medicinal uses of such plants were never documented. Herein, we conducted an ethnobotanical survey to document medicinal plants as well as the ethnobotanical knowledge of Malumfashi Local Government, Katsina State, Nigeria. We employed a semi-structured questionnaire to interview 50 respondents comprising of herbalists, traditional midwives, housewives and farmers. Medicinal plants belonging to 37 genera distributed among 29 families were documented. The majority of the mentioned medicinal plants belong to the family Fabaceae (9), Asteraceae Combretaceae and Moraceae (4), Malvaceae (3), Myrtaceae and Anacardiaceae (2) families. Securidaca longipedunculata, Azadirachta indica, and Mangifera indica were the medicinal plants with the highest relative frequency of citation with 0.44. 0.38, and 0.34, respectively. For fidelity level (FL), Spinacia oleracea and Diospyros mespiliformis were the species with the highest, 100% each. Among the 10 categories of ailments, Urogenital, Fever, and Antinode had the highest Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) of 0.78,0.76 and 0.75, respectively. Most of the reported plants (84%) were trees and shrubs and about 70% of the surveyed plants were wild. The most frequent plant parts used were leaves and bark. The majority of the medications (70%) were prepared as decoctions and were mostly administered orally (86%). We recommend screening of bioactive compounds present in the reported plant species as well as their biological activities on the pathogens that cause the diseases. Additionally, the cultivation of medicinal plants to minimize the pressure on wild species is also recommended. Keywords: Ailments, Ethnobotanical survey, Malumfashi Local Government, Medicinal plants
Herbal medicine, deeply rooted in indigenous knowledge, presents a longstanding approach to global healthcare, particularly in Africa. This review comprehensively explores the holistic nature of Traditional and Complementary Medicine (T&CM), with specific emphasis on the significance of herbal medicine. Despite its long-standing use and efficacy, herbal medicine faces challenges in universal acceptance and integration into mainstream healthcare systems. Factors influencing acceptance, from inadequate standardisation to societal stigma, are examined comprehensively. Understanding the motivations behind herbal medicine usage, including prevention, curiosity, and natural beliefs, is crucial for shaping future healthcare policies and comprehending public attitudes. Global initiatives, exemplified by the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine, and national endeavours in countries like Nigeria and Ghana, underscore collaborative approaches. The review concludes by emphasizing the necessity of addressing divergent stakeholder perspectives for effective integration. Proposed strategies involve collaborative research, international endorsements, adverse-event reporting systems, governmental support, inventorying, botanical gardens, testing laboratories, standardised dosage norms, and education initiatives. These measures aim to seamlessly integrate traditional medicine into mainstream healthcare, promote evidence-based practices, and enhance regulations—crucial steps toward fostering acceptance. Addressing challenges and fostering acceptance is imperative for ensuring the safe and effective utilisation of traditional medicines, thereby enhancing healthcare outcomes and overall well-being globally. Keywords: Herbal Remedies, Integrative Medicine, Traditional Medicine, Complementary Therapies
Curcuma longa L. (commonly known as Tumeric) is the only species of the genus Curcuma found in Nigeria. It is of great economic importance to Nigeria, Africa, Asia, and other parts of the world, where it is widely used for ornamental and medicinal purposes, and as spices in food and beverages. However, the phylogenetic placement of the turmeric plant (C. longa) in Nigeria is far from being fully resolved, hence the need for this study. The rhizomes of turmeric were collected at the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan, Oyo state. Genomic DNA was extracted, followed by the amplification of the ITS and psbA-trnH regions. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted using the Maximum likelihood method. The result resolved the phylogenetic position of Nigerian species and supported existing subgenera classification into three clades, all with high bootstrap support for the three clades. The result of this study supports the subgenera classification of the genus and further reveals the phylogenetic position of C. longa. Keywords: Curcuma longa, ITS, psbA-trnH, Sanger Sequencing, Zingiberaceae
Variations in soil nutrients can influence the nutritional attributes of crops. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of varying sowing depths (2-8 cm) at 2 cm intervals on the nutritional contents of Luffa cylindrica (LC), Citrullus lanatus (CL) and Citrullus colocynthis (CC) fruits. Proximate, mineral and vitamin contents of seeds and pulps of fruits of the plants were determined. Protein (31.10±0.17 %), crude fibre (4.48±0.02 %), fat (47.13±0.27 %), ash (2.50±0.01 %) and carbohydrate (99.66±0.03 %) were higher (p<0.05) in seeds produced by CC sown at 6 cm compared with other sowing depths. Sodium (23.17±0.02 mg/100 g), potassium (370.47±0.34 mg/100 g), calcium (18.61±0.01 mg/100 g) and copper (0.25±0.01 mg/100 g) were higher in the pulp produced by seeds of LC sown at 6 cm. Similar significant increases were observed in phosphorus (13.28±0.11 mg/100 g), iron( 8.12±0.01 mg/100 g), zinc(8.60±0.06 mg/100 g), and magnesium (2.28±0.01 mg/100 g) in seeds produced by LC seeds sown at 6 cm. Vitamin A (0.58±0.01 mg/100 g) and Vitamin K(0.19±0.15 mg/100 g) were also higher in seeds produced by CL seeds sown at 2 cm, Vitamin C (7.76±0.05 mg/100 g) and vitamin E(0.17±0.00 mg/100 g)in the pulp of CL seeds sown at 4 cm while Vitamin D (1.40±1.33 mg/100 g) was higher in the pulp produced by CC fruits whose seeds were sown at 6 cm. In conclusion, seeds of CC sown at 6 cm contained higher proximate and mineral compositions and vitamins in pulp than CL and LC. Therefore, cultivation of the plants at 4-6 cm is recommended to ensure a higher nutritional content of the plants. Keywords: Luffa cylindrica, Citrullus lanatus, Citrullus colocynthis, proximate, vitamin
The adsorption capacities of Nigerian Kaolinite minerals obtained from Share in Kwara State in raw and acid-activated forms towards some heavy metal ions were evaluated. The clay mineral was purified by sedimentation method and modified with 0.1M nitric, sulphuric, phosphoric, acetic, and oxalic acids. The properties of the raw clay and the effects of acid activation were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and BET surface area analyses. Adsorption and desorption studies were subsequently carried out to evaluate the efficiencies of clay samples in removing Pb2+, Cd2+ and Ni2+ ions from aqueous solutions. Effects of operation parameters viz pH, initial concentration, temperature, and time on the adsorption process were determined on the raw samples, and optimum conditions obtained were utilized for evaluation on the acid-activated samples. The acid modification was found to achieve considerable leaching of exchangeable cations on the clay mineral as confirmed by variations of the d-spacings, lowering of peak intensities and changes in absorption bands of the acid-modified samples (A-K (Acetic acid-Kaolinite), N-K (Nitric acid-Kaolinite), O-K (Oxalic acid-Kaolinite), P-K (Phosphoric acid-Kaolinite) and S-K (Sulphuric acid-Kaolinite). The surface areas increased in S-K, O-K and especially N-K (162.227 m2/g) from 114.9457 m2/g [Raw Kaolinite (R-K)] to) but reduced in A-K 112.865 m2/g and P-K (113.872 m2/g). The activated clay samples were found to adsorb higher amounts of all the heavy metal ions studied than the raw form of the clay. Desorption analysis results revealed that the clay mineral can be regenerated and reused. Compared with other methods, modification with dilute acid provides a simple, effective, and environmentally friendly method of improving the surface characteristics of clay minerals to enhance their adsorption capacities as suitable adsorbents for water remediation purposes. Keywords: Bentonite, Kaolinite, Adsorption, Heavy metals, Desorption
The groundwater potential and aquifer protective capacity in the Kasmo Area of Osogbo were investigated using the Dar Zaroouk approach via the Schlumberger technique of electrical resistivity method. Five vertical electrical soundings (VES) points were occupied and surveyed using the ABEM SAS 1000 terrameter. The field data were first interpreted using the partial curve matching and later iterated using the WinResist software. The resistivities and thicknesses of the geoelectric layers were used to compute the longitudinal conductance and transverse resistance. These were later used to compute the hydraulic conductivity and transmittivity of the aquifers. Three to five geo-electric layers aquifer layers show a confined to semi-confined configuration with the aquiferous layer occupying the second, third and fourth layers. The resistivities vary from 66.5 Ωm in VES 4 to 141.9 Ωm in VES 3. The longitudinal conductance also varies between 0.0366 Ω-1 in VES 3 to 0.0074 Ω-1 in VES 1 while the transverse resistance varies between 34.8 Ωm2 in VES 3 to 1043.8 Ωm2 in VES 5. The transmittivity values were observed to range from 20736.10 m2/day in VES 3 to 287787.81 m2/day in VES 4, the aquifers possess high groundwater potential with transmittivity values far above the Offodile classification of aquifer potential limit of 500 m2/day. The investigation concluded that aquifer potential determination through the estimation of Dar Zarook parameters gives a better aquifer potential determination than the conventional resistivity method, as the method compares the potential of all points at once. Keywords: Aquifer, Kasmo, Longitudinal, Resistance, Resistivity, Transverse
