Effect of different sizes of planting material on the growth and yield components of edible mushroom Pleurotus tuberregium

An experiment was conducted in 2004 and 2005 at the University of Uyo Teaching and Research Farm to assess the effect of different weights of planting materials on the performance and yield components of ediblemushroom Pleurotus tuberregium. The experiment was laid out in Randomized complete block design with three weights (20g, 40g and 60g) as treatments and replicated five times. Each plot size measured 1m x 1m with a total of 16 polybags per plot. Parameters studied were percent emergence, cap diameter, stipe height and girth as well as number of shoots. Results obtained showed no significance (P<0.05) in percent emergence amongst the weights of planting materials. However, a significant (P<0.05) effect was recorded in cap diameter (3.68cm) from the 20g weight planting material. Stipe height and girth did not show any significant difference amongst the treatments. The 60g planting material weight recorded more shoots than the 20g and 40g planting material sizes. The 60g planting material weight is recommended to farmers for the purpose of multiplication of Pleurotus tuberregium for better economicreturns

Aerobic decolourization of two reactive azo dyes under varying carbon and nitrogen source by Bacillus cereus

Bacillus cereus isolated from dye industrial waste, that is, effluent and soil samples was screened for its ability to decolourize two reactive azo dye – cibacron black PSG and cibacron red P4B under aerobic conditions at pH 7 and incubated at 35°C over a five day period. Different carbon and nitrogensources were used for the decolourization study. B. cereus was able to decolourize cibacron red P4B by (81%) using the combination of ammonium nitrate and sucrose, while it decolourizes cibacron black PSG by (75%) using yeast extract and lactose

Frugivorous bird species diversity in relation to the diversity of fruit tree species in reserved and designated green areas in the federal capital territory, Nigeria

The diversity of frugivorous bird species in relation to tree species diversity was investigated in Designated and Reserved Green Areas of Abuja, Nigeria. The study estimated, investigated and examined trees species and avian frugivore in terms of their diversity. Point-Centered Quarter Method (PCQM) was used for vegetation analysis while random walk and focal observation was used for bird frugivore identification and enumeration. data was collected from six locations coinciding with the local administrative areas within the Federal Capital Territory. These were, the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Abaji, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali. AMAC is designated as urban while the remaining five sites are designated as sub-urban. The highest number of fruit tree species was encountered in AMAC (30), followed by Abaji (29) while 27, 25, 19 and 11 fruit tree species were encountered in Kwali, Bwari Gwagwalada and Kuje respectively. The similarity or otherwise dissimilarity in fruit tree species composition between each pair of the enumerated sites showed Gwagwalada and Kuje as the most similar, and the similarity or otherwise dissimilarity in frugivorous bird species composition between each pair of the enumerated showed higher species similarity between the AMAC and each of the other sites, and between each pair of the sites than that of the fruit trees in the respective sites. Highest number of frugivore bird species was encountered in Kwali (41), followed by Bwari (39) and AMAC (38) while 35, 34 and 21 species were encountered in Gwagwalada, Kuje and Abaji respectively. The alpha (within-site) diversity of frugivore bird species at different sites using Simpson and Shannon-Wiener diversity indices showed that Gwagwalada is the most diverse of all the sites, followed by Kuje and Kwali respectively. The diversity indices of frugivores and fruit-trees were correlated, a weak relationship was observed (r= - 0.2323 and r = - 0.1626), and Null hypothesis was accepted. Also, ANOVA was carried out to test for significance between the sites and the tree physical structure parameters. The result showed no significant difference between the sites (Fcal=0.236603 and F Crit =2.901295), and the null hypotheses was accepted. Again, there was significant differences between the tree physical structure parameters (Fcal=20.58803 and F Crit =3.287382), the null hypothesis was rejected. It was therefore concluded that these reserved areas need more protection to enhance both the beta and alpha diversities in order to support more interactions.Keywords: Frugivores, Fruit trees, Diversity, Interaction, Green Areas, Urban ecosystem

Socio-ecological survey of parks and gardens in the federal capital territory, Abuja Nigeria

Opinions of Abuja residents and potential recreational parks and gardens users were sought using structured questionnaires in order to document their socio-ecological knowledge. Three hundred (300) respondents were randomly selected from each of the Area Councils and questioned on the following socio-ecological issues: satisfaction with parks in the FCT, satisfaction with recreational facilities in the FCT, major activities in city parks and the recreational facilities, activities respondents want to see in parks, assessment on the amount of greening, security in parks, reasons for not using parks, willingness to pay for re-vegetation, participation in parks community services and awareness of publications by department of parks. The results showed that majority of the respondents (79%) and (70%) were not satisfied with the number of Parks in the FCT and Recreational Facilities in the FCT respectively. Also, on the major kinds of activity people would like to in City Parks and Recreational Facilities, selling of drinks (bar operation) was the highest (26%). On the facilities which respondents want to see in Parks highest number of respondents 31% would like Community centers. The amount of Greening was also assessed, majority of the respondents (83%) were not satisfied with the amount of greening in the FCT. On the Provision of Security in the Parks, majority of the respondents (84.3%) were not satisfied. Furthermore, reasons why some people may not like to use the parks were investigated, and three major reasons advanced were rowdy atmosphere, religious consideration and family background. Highest number of respondents 40.7% observed that rowdy atmosphere hindered them from patronizing the parks. On the willingness of people to pay for re-vegetation, 52% of the respondents were willing to pay for revegetation in the Council Areas. Again, participation in Parks Community Services was high, and concerning the Awareness of Publications by Department of Parks, 81% respondents were aware of the publications by department of parks in the Council Areas. These parks and green areas are the ecological units with indicators that need urgent policies for their maintenance and sustenance for both ecological and socio-ecological benefits.Keywords: Urban ecosystem, Natural ecosystem, Green Area, Recreational Parks, Gardens, Ecolog

Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Uyo, Nigeria

Background: The metabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk factors that is responsible for most of the excess cardiovascular morbidity amongst persons with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM). The metabolic syndrome increases the risk for coronary heart disease and stroke by three-fold with a marked increase in cardiovascular mortality. Objectives: This study set out to find the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome amongst type 2 diabetes mellitus patients and the commonest metabolic abnormalities in them in Uyo, South-South Nigeria. Subjects and Methods: A prospective cross sectional study carried out at the diabetes clinic of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, between January and August, 2008. Data obtained included anthropometric indices, blood pressure and fasting serum lipids. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 10. Results: Two hundred and forty subjects (106 males, 134 females) were enrolled for the study. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 62.5%. . Majority of the subjects with metabolic syndrome were aged between 41-70 years with a mean age of. 53±7years. Hypertension was the most common metabolic abnormality present in 130 (86.6%) of the subjects with metabolic syndrome, while low high density lipoprotein (HDL) was the least common abnormality present in 26 (17.3%) of the subjects with metabolic syndrome. Two metabolic abnormalities were present in 114 (76%) of the subjects, while four abnormalities were present in 4 (2.6%) of the subjects with metabolic syndrome. Conclusion: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in type 2 DM patients in Uyo, South-South of Nigeria is high. With the cardiovascular risk associated with this syndrome, efforts must be geared towards addressing these abnormalities through lifestyle modification, health awareness and medications in order to reduce this complication in type 2 DM patients. Keywords: Metabolic syndrome, Type 2 DM, Uyo

Radiation Monitoring Along The Creeks Of Calabar River And Its Environs

Measurement of gamma-ray exposure rate using a portable dosimeter was taken. The exposure rate was taken one meter above water and ground levels for radiological assessment at the Calabar River and its environs of Cross River State, Nigeria. The study reveals equivalent dose rate of 0.007µSv/hr and 0.115µSv/hr within the river and its environs respectively. Subsequently, the values are considered far below the radiation limits of 1mSv stipulated for members of public per year. KEY WORDS: Gamma-ray, radiological assessment, Calabar river, Environs, members of public. Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences Vol.11(1) 2005: 137-14

26-30 Unadike BC, Akpan NA, Essien IO. Clinical Profile of Newly Presenting Diabetic Patients at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

ABSTRACT Objectives: Diabetes Mellitus is emerging as a major health challenge with the incidence and prevalence of the disease on the increase. It also contributes to overall morbidity and mortality with complications like cardiovascular disease, neuropathy, nephropathy, retinopathy and lower extremity amputation. There are few local studies on the clinical characteristics of the disease in our wet up and this study therefore set out to characterize the clinical profile of newly presenting diabetic patients in a health facility in Nigeria. Methodology: It is a cross sectional, descriptive study carried out at the diabetes clinic of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital between January 2007 and September 2008. Data obtained included age, sex, anthropometric indices, symptomatology, co-morbidities, complications and treatment of diabetes. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 10. Results: A total of two hundred and seventy patients were studied (120 males, 150 females). About 89.2% were Type 2 DM patients and majority of the study subjects were overweight. Diabetic neuropathy was the commonest complication present in 38.8% of the subjects. Polyuria was the commonest symptom and hypertension the commonest comorbidity. Majority of the subjects were on oral hypolgycaemic agents for the management of their disease with the sulphonyureas and biguanides being the most common medication that was taken by them. A few of the patients were also taking herbal medication for treatment of their disease. Conclusion: Majority of the patients presenting in our facility have Type 2 diabetes, were hypertensive and overweight. Hypertension was the commonest co-morbidity and diabetic neuropathy the commonest complication. Adequate health education, subsidies on medications and proper funding of the health sector is necessary to stem the tide of the burden attributable to the disease

Application of total reflection x-ray fluorescence (TXRF) technique for elemental analysis of Nigerian crude oils

Nigerian crude oils from eight oil wells have been analysed for the following trace elements: Ni, Cr, Mn, V, Fe, Zn. Pb, Cu, Co and S using total Reflection X-ray Fluorescence (TXRF) analytical method. Concentrations of these elements were found to range from 0.002 – 1.420 ppm. Results showed that Fe was the most abundant metal with Inim oil well containing the highest concentration of the Fe. The V/Ni ratio for the method showed that Mfem 8B and Ubit 106C were the most and the least matured oil wells respectively from this study. Keywords: crude oils, trace elements, concentrations, TXRF, maturityNigerian Journal of Physics Vol. 17, 2005: 103-10

Element characterization of african cuttlefish, Sepia bertheloti from the coastal waters off Qua Iboe River, Nigeria, using energy dispersive x-ray flourescence technique

Ten samples of African Cuttlefish, Sepia bertheloti, collected from the coastal waters off Qua Iboe River Nigeria, were analyzed using Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) analytical technique to determine their elemental composition. Eleven elements namely, CI, Sr, K, Ca, Br, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Ni, and Se are identified and their relative concentration found. Of these elements, CI, Sr and Ca are present at the highest concentrations of 1.37 2.55 (1.86%), 1.15 - 2.10 (1.64%) and 0.09 - 0.43(0.31%), respectively. This is followed by K, Br. Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Ni and Se in decreasing order. Result further showed that at a daily consumption rate of 100 g/day, the values of the elements in the sea food are close to the US recommended dietary reference intakes for people of different age groups. These elements are of great nutritional value for proper and healthy growth of humans. The accuracy and precision of the technique were assured by analyzing the BCR referencematerials BCR 185 (bovine liver), and BCR 186 (pig kidney)