Vol 16, No 2 , 2015-1, African Scientist

The Falcorp mangrove swamp has and is still been exposed to various forms of anthropogenic polluting activities which include; Vandalization of oil pipelines which transverse sections of the swamp. The PAHs and PCBs profile of swamp sediments was investigated. The sediments were subjected to routine PAH and PCB analyses which included; extraction, use of sonicator, GC-ECD and GC-FID analysis. The data were subjected to statistical and multivariate analysis using Microsoft Excel, SPSS version 16.0 and PAST respectively.

Refuse dumpsites often contain materials capable of polluting surrounding soils. In this study, the spatial distribution of metals in soils of refuse dumpsites in three urban towns (Ughelli, Sapele, Orhuwhorun) in Delta State, Nigeria were examined. Soil samples were collected from three dumpsites in the aforementioned towns at depths 0-15 cm, 15-30 cm and 30-45 cm, respectively.

This study investigated and compared the glycaemic rises following administration of various honey samples in rats. Five Nigerian honeys [Abakaliki honey (ABH), Calabar honey (CAH), Ezzamgbo honey (EZH), Lokoja honey (LOH), Okitipupa honey (OKH)] and one Malaysian honey (MAH) were administered to non-diabetic and alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) concentrations were measured at 0, 30, 60 and 120 min. Glucose parameters including peak blood glucose, area under curve, percentage variation in blood glucose (BG) and percentage change in BG were estimated.

Bacteriological analysis of fifty (50) ear swabs, collected from fifty (50) consenting male undergraduate students was conducted using routine procedures which included pour plating. Thirty one (31) Staphylococcus aureus were tentatively identified and subjected to biofilm production test and antibiotic susceptibility assay using Congo red agar and disc diffusion procedure. The presence of icaD and MecA genes students in the respective bacterial strains was ascertained using polymerase chain reaction and agarose gel electrophoresis.

Female infertility is a health condition that affects the ability of woman to conceive over a period of continuous sexual intercourse. This condition has led to psychological and social anguish, anxiety, and depression resulting from hormonal impairment, disease infection, oxidative stress, xenobiotics, environmental pollutants, and other factors. Need to say, extensive studies on the biomarkers for female infertility are still in the developmental stage in reproductive medicine to unravel remedies based on improved technologies.

Cryptococcus neoformans strains were isolated from clinical source taken from the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) and environmental source taken from New Benin Market. Two strains were selected; clinical isolate 4832 and environmental isolate NBM5. They were determined to be of two different mating types, due to differences in their susceptibility to the antifungal agent fluconazole. In order to check the involvement of mating type locus in the virulence of C. neoformans, congenic mutants were developed.

The mangrove ecosystem is well known to be impacted by anthropogenic activities such as oil spillage, agricultural run-off, industrial effluents, and mining in coastal areas. These activities increase heavy metals accumulated by mangroves, which are eventually released back into the environment via decomposition. This study aimed to analyze the concentration of heavy metals including cadmium (Cd), Zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), and copper (Cu) in the roots and leaves of Rhizophora racemosa and mangrove sediments obtained from Egbokodo mangrove swamp in Delta State, Nigeria.

This study examined the modulatory effects of Curcumin on the antioxidant status of benzo[a]pyrene-treated albino rats. Thirty albino rats were divided into five treatment groups (n=6) namely: control, benzo[a]pyrene only (1 mg/kg), benzo[a]pyrene (1 mg/kg) + Curcumin (50 mg/kg), benzo[a]pyrene (1 mg/kg) + Curcumin (100 mg/kg), Benzo[a]pyrene (1 mg/kg) + Curcumin (200 mg/kg) for 6 weeks. Rats were administered the drug (benzo[a]pyrene and Curcumin) orally, thrice a week.

The concentration, distribution and sources of petroleum hydrocarbons in soils from selected areas in Abraka, Delta State, were evaluated. Soil samples were collected from areas suspected to be contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons, which were also in proximity to human population. These areas included busy junctions, generator maintenance workshops, suya joint, drainage and fuel stations. Samples were extracted using nhexane/dichloromethane mixture and quantified using gas chromatograph-flame ionization detector.

: Reducing sugar is a sugar that serves as a reducing agent. It falls under the category of carbohydrate or natural sugar but it consist of either a free aldehyde group (-CHO) or a ketone groups called the reducing end of the sugar. Microbial growth describes an increase in cell number of microorganisms provided with suitable nutritional and environmental conditions. This study evaluated the concept of reducing sugar and growth in L- asparaginase production using some selected marine actinomycetes.