Environmentally induced physiological responses that determine fish survival and distribution: a review

Limitation to an aqueous habitat is the most fundamental physiological constraint imposed upon fish, phrases such as 'like a fish of water', convey our acceptance of the general unsuitability of fish for terrestrial existence. The constraints that restrict fish to an aquatic habitat relate to respiration, acid-base regulation, nitrogenous excretion, water balance and ionic regulation. A fish not adapted for an amphibious lifestyle when removed from water, becomes hypoxic and hypercapnic and soon succumbs to respiratory acidosis because the problem of excretion of H super(+) and C0 sub(2) are more immediate than lack of oxygen. This happen because fish gills collapse in air, while the ventilator arrangements that moves an incompressible medium (water) oven them become ineffectiv

Preliminary studies on the effects of varying levels of aeration on the growth and physiological processes of cultured Clarias gariepinus fingerlings

To determine the aeration regime and the resultant dissolved oxygen input that imposes the least physiological stress on homeostatic mechanisms of C. gariepinus fingerlings, were culture in the laboratory under 24 hours of continuous aeration and inputing a mean of 8.2 mg/l of 02; 12 hours of aeration (mean of 4.6mgO/l2); and zero-aeration (mean of 1.2 mgO/l2)' Survival rate, growth rate and mean weight gain per day were highest in the 4.6 mgO/l2 culture whereas, the other two cultures were characterized by higher mortality rates and insignificant growth rates. The haematological profile analyzed showed varying degrees of changes in the blood parameters of the fish cultured under varying levels of aeration and their inputed dissolved oxygen levels

Engineering of Polymeric Nanoparticles Based on Structure-Activity Relationships (SARs) for Oral Drug Delivery

The self-assembling polymer N-palmitoyl-N-monomethyl-N,N- dimethyl-N,N,N-trimethyl-6-O-glycolchitosan (GCPQ) has been shown to improve the oral and parenteral delivery of various drugs. GCPQ contains a number of chemical ‘building blocks’ that are amenable to independent modification. The ability to finely control the level of modification for those moieties allows systematic modulation of polymer chemistry to become a tool to understanding the role and relative importance of specific modifications for the process of oral drug delivery. GCPQ polymers with varying molar percentages of palmitoyl (DP) and quaternary ammonium (DQ) groups were synthesized and the effects on physicochemical properties, aggregation, stability and therapeutic applications were examined. Results obtained show that the critical micelle concentration is very low (below 10μM) compared to ≈8mM for sodium dodecyl sulphate and ≈80mM for sodium caprate (C10) and that micelle formation is spontaneous at room temperature. Structural modifications also resulted in a switch from an entropy to an enthalpy driven aggregation at room temperature. The colloidal stability of the synthesized polymers was found to increase with increasing ratio of DQ to DP (QPR) and is greater at acidic pH than at neutral pH. The structural modification also resulted in different morphological characteristics of drug loaded nanoparticles, producing nanocrystals and nano-micelles with varying drug loading capacities. Additionally, in vitro transport studies showed that GCPQ enhances paracellular transport in a graded, modification dependent manner. When compared with C10, GCPQ was found to be a much safer permeation enhancer, potentially more efficient for drug delivery and at least as potent as C10. The mechanism of these effects was found to involve temporary, size selective distortions on the tight junctions which limit the passage of molecules larger than 3.2nm in hydrodynamic radius. Furthermore, it was observed that these modifications did not affect the uptake of encapsulated hydrophobic drugs by transcytosis in an in vivo rodent model

Cyber Victimization by Hackers: A Criminological Analysis

The pervasiveness of the World Wide Web (internet) with the easy flow of information means that there is no more privacy once an individual goes online whether to transact business or connect with friends. Any information put online leaves an electronic trail that can be used by internet criminals, such as hackers.  The recent hacking of nude pictures of more than 100 Hollywood actresses due to an iCloud leak and other cases of romance and extortion scams targeting mainly women raises a digital dilemma. This paper, using an online survey of internet users, examines whether hackers target users based on their gender. Differential association theory and routine activity perspectives are utilized to explain this new form of criminological problem. Recommendations for guarding against cyber-attacks, suggestions for future research and policy implications are also discussed. Keywords:cybercrime, hacking, victimization, gender, routine activity, differential associatio

DANCE AND ITS POTENTIALS: IMPLICATIONS AND CHALLENGES OF THE CALABAR CARNIVAL OF SOUTHERN NIGERIA

Carnivals situate a state or nation in the global cultural map, for their especial merit of fostering for the host community, economic advancement and a healthier international profile in the diplomatic comity. The present study engages the relevance of the Calabar Carnival beyond the realms of entertainment and tourism, but as a politico-cultural agent in the global environment where diplomacy conditions the reputation, acceptability, and sometimes fortunes of nations. In a multicultural nation like Nigeria, where autonomous ethnic identity is an intense superstructure of indigenous beliefs, dressing, cuisine, and native performance; cultural diplomacy can play a significant role in regulating intercultural relations. Culture therefore, can play a nationalistic function as a unifier of divergent interests and orientations, especially within the thematic and logistical organisation of festivals and carnivals, and the touristic benefits they have for diplomatic intentions. The Calabar Carnival represents that nationalistic intent to explore and promote the objective of cultural diplomacy, both on the national and international frontier. The objective of the present study consequently, is two-fold. Firstly, to analyse the sociocultural implications of the Calabar carnival on the national polity, such that it validates the carnival\u27s potentials in economic and touristic development. Secondly, to discuss the logistical and ideational challenges of hosting the Carnival, as well as possible ways of ameliorating them. The study takes its foundation in the theory of diplomacy, which submits that the more we meet people through trade and other platforms the more we outsource and propagate our native culture, values and ideas. The study employs the participant-observation, interview method, and content analysis of relevant literature, to pursue its objectives

Impact of environmental auditing on environmental pollution, sustainable development and healthy environment of some organizations in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

The aim of this paper was to examine the impact of environmental auditing on seven (7) organizations companies in Port Harcourt using a randomized questionnaire survey system of 235 employees in these organizations and the results were analyzed by spearman’s rank order coefficient. The data obtained revealed that the environmental auditing wereA:15.4%, B:15.2%, C:14.0%, D:15.1%, E:14.1%, F:13.4%, and G:12.8%; environmental pollution wereA:15.0%, B:14.9%, C:14.2%, D:14.6%, E:14.9%, F:13.3% and G:13.3%, while sustainable development and healthy environment were A:15.1%, B:15.3%, C:13.9%, D:14.7%, E:13.9%,F:14.0%, G:13.8% and A:15.2%, B:15.3%, C:14.2%, D:14.0%, E:13.8%, F:13.8%, G:13.7% respectively. The findings revealed significant relationships between environmental auditing and sustainable development, environmental pollution and healthy environment. To achieve the desired sustainable development through environmental auditing, companies, government and stakeholders could embark on environmental enlightenment and awareness campaign to let citizens know the consequences of environmental neglect and pollution.Keywords: Environmental auditing; sustainable development; environmental pollution; healthy environmen

Provenance of the Campanian-Maastrichtian Shales, Anambra Basin: Evidence from Clay Mineralogy

The origin, formation and history of the Campanian-Maastrichtian Anambra basin-fill are issues of considerable interest and importance especially in the reconstruction of the basin evolution and assessment of the hydrocarbon potential. Previous sandstone petrographic studies point to the easterly Cameroon Precambrian basement complex as the primary source of the Anambra Basin detritus and ascribe the high compositional maturity index to intense chemical weathering both at source and during transport.  The provenance interpretation presented in this work is based on results of mineralogical analysis of the mud rocks sampled at regular intervals of the Campanian-Maastrichtian succession and analyzed for clay minerals, using X-ray diffractometer technique. The results show that quartz and kaolinite are the most abundant minerals in the mud rocks. Illite is resident in lesser quantities in all samples, and some samples also contain appreciable amounts of smectites and mixed layer (illite/smectites) clays. The relative abundance and distribution of clay minerals in the shales analyzed in this work suggests primary derivation from an igneous complex dominated by intermediate to basic rocks.Trends in the quartz, clay mineral ratios and the kaolinite abundance strongly suggest derivation from the Precambrian basement complex of the Cameroon and the arkosic pre-Campanian strata of the Abakaliki Anticlinorium, and supply into the Anambra Basin by rivers.  This interpretation is consistent with views held by earlier workers that erosion of the pre-Campanian sediments and weathering of the adjoining basement blocks sourced the kaolinite-rich mud rocks of the Anambra Basin. The result of this research represents a useful contribution to the on-going review of the sedimentology and hydrocarbon potentials of the Anambra Basin. Keywords: Provenance; Campanian-Maastrichtian; Anambra Basin; Clay Mineralog

Do Non-Bank Financial Institutions’ Loans and Advances Influence Economic Growth? A Bounds Test Investigation

The study examines the economic impact of non-bank financialinstitutions’ (NBFIs) loans and advances on Nigeria’s economic growth usingBounds testing approach to co-integration. Time series data covering the period1996-2010 was used. Economic growth, proxied by real gross domestic product(RGDP) was regressed on loans and advances of Discount Houses (DH), FinanceHouses (FH) and Insurance companies (IC) which were considered the importantnon-bank financial institutions in Nigeria. The result of the analysis showsthat there is a long-run relationship between economic growth and loans andadvances of insurance companies in Nigeria. The test further confirms thenon-existence of any significant statistical relationship between economicgrowth and the loans and advances of Finance houses and Discount houses inNigeria during the period studied.  Theempirical evidence emerging from the study suggests that non-bank financialinstitutions, especially insurance companies, are very important in theNigeria’s financial system and as such should be harnessed so as to effectivelychannel long-term investment funds from the surplus unit of the economy to thedeficit unit through them. This can be achieved through formulation of proper,prudent and investment-friendly policies by the concerned authorities in thecountry. Besides, the study indicates that the enhancement of the NBFIs canpromote the development of small-scaled and rural based industries because ofthe ability of NBFIs to mobilize and tap the latent savings potentials of ruralpeople.Keywords: Bounds test, non-bank financialinstitutions, insurance companies

Zimbabwe's Special Maize Programme for the Import Substitution (Command Agriculture) Scheme: A Hit-and-Miss Affair

Increasing food insecurity levels and large import expenditure have been major concerns for the government of Zimbabwe in recent years, leading to the development and implementation of different policies aimed at addressing these issues. In the wake of the devastating drought of 2015, in which only a quarter of the country's annual maize requirement was produced, the Zimbabwean government instituted a targeted command agriculture scheme known in policy terms as the Special Maize Programme for Import Substitution (SMPIS). The programme aimed to increase maize production and to reduce the grain import expenditure of the country. The scheme, although viewed by many as a panacea to the country's increasing food insecurity levels, was equally criticised by many as a drain on the highly depleted financial resources of the country, and arguments have emerged on the merits and demerits of the scheme for the struggling economy. This paper analyses the impact of the SMPIS on maize production and importation in Zimbabwe, as well as the gains and losses of the programme to the Zimbabwean economy

Design and Construction of a Wireless Based Electrical Appliance Control System

The wireless based electrical appliance control system puts forth a system which enables users to control home appliances using mobile phone or computer with the aid of an application device, The design makes use of an efficient and low-cost technology for controlling the appliances thus minimizing the power wastage. The interface of the mobile application is used to send signals to another device connected to an 8052 microcontroller programmed to interpret the signal from the phone and control electrical loads via relays switched with transistors, the complete system operates on a 5 volts power supply which is obtained from the public mains. The design is built for the sole purpose of efficient control of electrical appliances, part of its objectives is to embed a user friendly control interface for electrical device using internet device, and it is a fast and efficient approach to control electrical appliances. The design is a viable one in the sense that it will go a long way in helping to checkmate unnecessary wastage of voltage and making it more convenient to control electrical appliances from even a remote area.Keywords: Wireless based electrical appliance control system, Microcontroller, Mobile Application, Electrical Appliance