Vol 16, No 4 ,2015, African Scientist

Comparative assessment of the soil and vegetation in a municipal dumpsite at Iguomo, Benin City, Nigeria at different distances from the dumpsite was carried out. An area of 30m2 was marked out and divided into three plots of 10 m2 each and these were designated as plots A, B and C. An area of 10 m2 was also taken at a distance of 100m away from the dumpsite, it served as the control plot or plot D. Population sampling was done to determine the species diversity across the plots. Soil samples were collected from each plot and microbial and physico-chemical analyses were carried out.

The indiscriminate discharge of the wastewater generated during the processing of Manihot esculenta Crantz into the environment or public sewers remains a source of concern. In this study, the acute toxicity (96-h LC50) of cassava effluent was evaluated using Clarias gariepinus juveniles and Egera radiata. The two organisms were exposed to different concentrations of the effluent using a renewable static bioassay with continuous aeration. The LC50 of exposed C. gariepinus juveniles was found to be 1.92 ml/L with lower and upper confidence limits of 1.35 ml/L and 2.19 ml/L, while that of E.

In recent years, the application of Data Mining has grown exponentially, spurred by its ability to allows us discover new, interesting and useful knowledge about data in almost every facet of discipline. Its application in education is also gaining a lot of attention across the globe. In this research, a data mining technique known as classification algorithm (Decision Tree) was used to forecast students’ academic performance. The methodology adopted in this work is the CrossIndustry Standard Process for Data Mining (CRISP-DM) which is a cyclic approach that includes six principal phases.

This experimental study was carried out to investigate the growth response, survival and morphology of Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms (Pontederiaceae) in crude oil polluted freshwater. The parameters measured include leaf diameter, stem girth, root length, chlorophyll content index and biomass production. The experimental treatment concentrations used were 0% (control), 1%, 2%, 3% and 4% (v/v). Using three replicates per treatment, the plants were exposed to all concentrations for eighteen days.

The study investigated the effect of ballast water on the growth of two aquatic macrophytes, Azolla pinnata R.Br. and Lemna paucicostata Hegelm. The ballast water used for this study was sourced from MTCRARROCH vessel which berthed in Koko Port. The macrophytes were grown at different concentrations (25%, 50%, 70% and 100%) of ballast water, using distilled water as control (0%). The experiment lasted for twelve (12) days. There was increased growth in both macrophytes with increasing concentration of ballast water.

Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench was grown from seeds in soil polluted with a mixture of cadmium and lead in the ratio 1:1. The experiment consisted of control and four treatments (25, 50, 75 and 100 mg/kg) in three replicates. Data for growth parameters (seedling emergence, plant height, number of leaves, leaf loss, leaf area, and stem girth) were collected weekly for 3 months and number of flowers and fruits later in the experiment. The research lasted for 5 months. Physico-chemical and heavy metal analysis were carried out on soil samples at the end of the experiment.

The study was to determine the level of toxicity of repeated administration of ethanol extract of a medicinal mushroom, Daldinia concentrica in animal model. Wistar albino rats of both sexes were sorted randomly into four groups of five rats each. Graded doses of 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg of the extract were administered orally, once daily for eight consecutive days to the rats in the respective groups, while control group received 10% tween 80 in distilled water only.

The study evaluates the gastro-protective activity of methanol extract of the leaves of Polyalthia longifolia (Sonn.) Thw. in Wistar rats. Single daily dose of the extract (200, 400 and 800 mg/kg body weight) were administered orally to the respective groups of experimental rats for 28-consecutive days. The control and standard groups received distilled water and ranitidine (10 ml/kg and 250 mg/kg body weight) respectively. At the end of the period, they were exposed to a single oral dose of 75% ethanol.

A number of studies on the diets of anurans from Nigeria have been reported, however, there is a paucity of information on the diets of arboreal anuran species. Examination of the stomach contents of two arboreal frogs; Chiromantis rufescens and Leptopelis spiritusnoctis collected at Okomu National Park in Edo State revealed a total of nine prey taxa. The preys recorded belonged to eight insect orders (Coleoptera 48.98%, Crustacea 1.02%, Dictyoptera 3.06%, Diptera 5.10%, Hymenoptera 19.3%, Isoptera 1.02%, Lepidoptera 2.04% and Orthoptera 18.37%) and a mollusk (Gastropoda 1.02%).

Fragaria ananassa (strawberry fruit) is a popularly consumed fruit that is well known to contain potent antioxidants. The effects of aqueous extract of Fragaria ananassa on the sperm parameters and hormones were investigated in male adult Wistar rats. Fifteen (15) male Wistar rats were used for this experiment and were randomly assigned into a control group (A) and two treatment group (B and C) with each group containing five animals (n=5 per group).