bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessment of antimicrobial activity of <I>Cola milleni</I> seed and pulp extracts against <I>Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Penicillium notatum</I>
Authors: Aliyu A.M. , Oluwafemi S.J. , Kasim S. 
Published: July 2020

All over the world, hundreds of plants have been identified based on researchers and experimental evidence as good sources of medicinal agents. The bioactive components (phytochemicals) of both the seeds and pulp of Cola milleni were extracted using ethanol as solvent. The bioactive components detected were alkaloids, tanins, saponins, cardiac glycosides, carbohydrates, sterols, resins and terpenes while Flavonoids, anthraquinones, anthracyanides and phenol were not detected for both the seed and pulps. Antimicrobial activity of the ethanol extract (Seed and pulp) against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Penicillium notatum was carried out using standard techniques. Staphylococcus aureus had the highest zone of inhibition for pulp having a range of 9.7mm±0.58mm - 19.7mm±2.52mm while Penicllium notatum had the least with 0.00mm. S.aureus also had the highest zone of inhibition range of 14.3mm±2.08mm - 21.3mm±1.53mm for the seed extract while penicillium had the least inhibition range of 5.0mm±1.00mm - 5.7mm±0.58. E.coli showed the highest minimum inhibitory concentration with ethanol extract of the pulp (160mg/ml) while penicillium notatum was not reactive. The minimum inhibitory concentration of seed against penillium notatum was the highest (160mg/ml) while staphylococcus aureus showed the lowest of 40mg/ml. The antimicrobial activity is as a result of the presence of phytochemicals detected, which suggest the use of the plant for the treatment of diseases caused by these organisms.
Key words: Cola millenii, Phytochemical, Antimicrobial activity, Bacteria, Fungi
Bacterial load of the surface of some selected Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) in Kano Metropolis, Nigeria
Authors: Rufa’I S.M. 
Published: July 2020

An Automated Teller Machine (ATM), also known as Automated Banking Machine (ABM) or cash machine and several other names, is a computerized telecommunication device that provides access to financial transactions in a public space without the need for a cashier or other intermediaries. The Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) has been widely used due to its convenience but also serves as a source of bacterial contamination. The aim of this work was to determine the bacterial load of surfaces of selected ATMs in Kano metropolis. Swab samples were collected from four (4) selected areas and ten (10) different study sites. The samples were collected using swabbing technique and standard plate count was employed for the enumeration of bacterial counts. The mean bacterial counts ranged between the lowest count of 1.20 x 102cfu/cm2 and the highest count of 1.78 x 102cfu/cm2 and the mean count of individual machine ranged from 1.70 x 101 cfu/cm2 upto 6.00 x 101cfu/cm2. All the ATMs were found to be contaminated. It could thus be concluded that the ATMs studied present a very great risk factor for cross contamination. The general public should therefore be enlightened on the possible health hazards associated with such items like ATMs and thus advised for strict personal hygiene and regular washing of hands before and after contact with ATMs so as to reduce the possible transfer of bacterial diseases and/or infections.
Keywords: Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), Bacteria, Contamination, Kano metropolis.
Acute toxicity analysis of effluent from tannery industry in Kano metropolis
Authors: Ibrahim S.S. , Imam T.S. 
Published: July 2020

The acute toxicity of tannery effluents collected from Challawa industrial estate Kano, Nigeria was assessed using Artemia salina and Clarias gariepinus. The test was done after the evaluation of range finding test before a definitive test with 3 replication of each treatment. The varying concentrations were prepared by diluting crude effluent with borehole water on V/V% in a completely randomized design. The experiment showed C. gariepinus fingerling to exhibit abnormal behavior such as initial erratic movement, skin discolouration and loss of reflex. Recorded mortality and behavioral abnormalities in both species observed were dose-time-dependent. The 96 hours LC50 estimated for C. gariepinus was 9.95% while that of A. salina after 24 hours and 48 hours were 4.63%, 0.73% respectively. Thus, the information from the study demonstrates the toxic effect of tannery effluent which requires proper management before its discharge into environment.
Keywords: Acute toxicity, Artemia salina, Clarias gariepinus, Effluent, Tannery
Solid state synthesis and characterization of pyrazole and pyrazolates complexes of Cobalt (II) ions
Authors: Abubakar T. , Kurawa M. A. , Isyaku S. , Ozoro E.C. 
Published: July 2020

There were two ways used to synthesized cobalt (II) complexes of pyrazole by solid state. The first route involved direct reaction of the appropriate cobalt (II) acetate with pyrazole and pyrazolium chloride to form bispyrazole cobalt(II) salts, [(HPz)2CoCl2]. This was further ground in the second route with a two equivalents of a base (KOH) to make polymeric cobalt (II) pyrazolate [Co(Pz)2]. In all the synthesis above the ratio of ligand to cobalt (II) acetate was 2:1. All the cobalt (II) complexes were found to be of different colour from the starting materials and were characterized using solubility test, which showed that the complexes have poor solubility in most of the solvents used except in dimethylsulfoxide where they were soluble and the molar conductivity measurements of the complexes have low values (ranging from 6.44-6.45Ω-1cm2mol-1) which showed that they are non-electrolytes. The decomposition temperature showed that all the complexes have relatively low decomposition temperatures (93°C- 95°C). Characterization of the complexes via infrared analysis confirmed the coordination of metal with the ligand through pyridine-nitrogen and deprotonated-nitrogen in the range of 435.93cm-1 Co-N bonds and 406.99cm-1Co –N (for the route A and B respectively). The magnetic susceptibility measurements were carried out at room temperature and the effective magnetic moment values for all the complexes further confirmed complexation of the metal (II) ions with the ligand and also indicates that the cobalt (II) complexes are paramagnetic. The plot of absorbance against mole fraction in each case gives a curve with maximum absorbance corresponding to the ligand mole fraction used in calculating the number of coordinated ligands and 1:2 metal-ligand ratios were obtained in all the complexes.
Keywords: Mechanochemical, Pyrazole, Pyrazolate, Grinding, Mechanochemical Elimination.
Elemental composition of some building materials used in Zaria, Kaduna State
Authors: Haruna F. , Garba Z.N. , Agbaji E.B. 
Published: July 2020

This study investigates the elemental composition of Cement, Granite, Ceramic tiles and Plaster of Paris (POP) which are extensively used as building material in Zaria, Kaduna State. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) technique was employed in this work to determine the elemental composition of the building materials. The samples were crushed to a fine powder, sieved through a 250 mm mesh and dried in an oven at 1100 C to ensure the complete removal of moisture. The results showed the presence of (Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Fe, Sn, Cl, Ti, S, P, Mn, Co, Zn, Mo, Pb, Cr,V, Cu, Br, Cd, Ba, Hg, and Ni) in various concentrations. Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Fe, Sn, Cl, Ti and S were available in relatively high concentration in all the samples with P, Mn, Co, Zn, Mo and Pb, found in relatively lower concentrations in some of the samples while Cr and Ni were only present in Ceramic tile samples; which was attributed to coloring agents used in the tile making process. This shows that the elemental composition is in agreement with the composition of the earth crust which is the source of the building materials. The analysis is of importance and useful to the construction industry as well as dwellers of the Zaria built environment.
Keyword: Composition, Plaster of Paris, Cement, Granite, Ceramic Tile
Enumeration of total and <I>Feacal coliform</I> bacteria of some borehole water in Gombe, Gombe State, Nigeria
Authors: Garkuwa Nuru Adamu , Mustapha Sa’adatu Said , Ibrahim Sani Aliyu , Yusha’u Muhammad , Abdulrasheed Mansur , Garkuwa Usman Adamu 
Published: July 2020

Inadequate provision of potable drinking water in relation to teaming population is forcing most of the urban communities to drink untreated water obtained from traditional boreholes. Hence, the need to assess the portability of drinking water. In this research, boreholes water samples collected within Gombe city were investigated bacteriologically using multiple tube fermentation and pour plate methods to examine feacal coliform and coliform bacterial counts respectively; bacterial isolation was conducted using standard culture methods. Identification of the bacterial Isolates were carried out by macroscopic, microscopic and biochemical examinations. Total coliform bacteria ranges from <3 to 11 MPN/100 ml and 1 to 3 MPN/100ml for faecal coliform. The borehole water samples from studied areas had high counts of faecal coliforms (Escherichia coli), and other pathogens like Entrobacter and Salmonella. The findings showed that all the borehole water analysed were not suitable for human consumption and may pose a serious threat to the health of consumers and therefore, there is need for treatment of these borehole waters by the borehole proprietors and also by simple treatment methods such as boiling, filtration before drinking and agitation by the consumers.
Keywords: Borehole water, Quality, Isolation, Identification, Coliform bacteria
Effect of solvents on the synthesis of hydroxyapatite sodium alginate nanocomposites for doxorubicin drug loading and delivery
Authors: Onoyima C.C. , Okibe F.G. , Sholadoye Q.O. 
Published: July 2020

In situ preparation of hydroxyapatite-sodium alginate nanocomposite (HASA) was carried out by the wet chemical precipitation method using water, ethanol, ethyl acetate and acetone as the dissolution medium. Drug loading was carried out at neutral pH, while in vitro drug release study was carried out in synthetic body fluid (SBF) at pH 7.4 and 37 oC. The FTIR results show similar functional groups for precursors and synthesized nanocomposites. The nanocomposite prepared in water medium has the highest drug encapsulation efficiency of 83.67 %. Doxorubicin release profile comparison using difference factor (f1), showed that there is no significant difference between release profile of doxorubicin from nanocomposite synthesized in acetone and ethyl acetate ((f1 = 3.92), while other release profiles differed significantly. All the formulations follow first order release rate, while the n exponent in the Korsmeyer-Peppas equation indicates that the release mechanism is dominated by Fickian diffusion. The release profiles also indicate that nanocomposites synthesized from water medium is a better delivering agent for doxorubicin than the nanocomposites from the others solvents.
Keywords: nanocomposites, solvents, drug loading, hydroxyapatite, release profile
Impact of construction practices on the environment a case study of Kano State, Nigeria
Authors: Aliyu B.S. , Moyi M.Z. , Fareed L.Z. , Sule H.J. , Nazifi A.M. , Bello D.Y. , Auwalu B.A. 
Published: July 2020

The Physical environment is being disturbed by numerous problems, including those caused by the constructions activities, such problems impacts on the environment right from the initial stage, operational and to the end of the life span of the built structure. The aim of the study was to suggest the main environmental impacts of construction in Kano state. About twenty six construction impacts were reveals from the past researches. However, all the impact was classified into nine main classes. Data for the study were collected from questionnaires and interviews survey administered to stakeholders of construction industry in Kano State. Data collected were analyzed and ranked using Relative Importance Index (RII), suggesting that they significantly impact on the environment thereby causing environmental degradation. Based on the results resource consumption was ranked highest among the major environmental impacts of constructing in Kano. The highest class, consist raw materials, water, fuel and electricity consumption. The paper concludes with recommendation which includes enforcement of extant rules, regulation and ethical code by government legislative on construction stakeholders, government should formulate and ensuring adequate use of construction design that will suite the environment in Kano. Also, all forms of construction practices should be subjected to an environmental impact assessment to determine the potential impacts and also formulate the ways to overcome it before execution. The study suggest also that, the chair personnel in construction companies should formulate some rules, code of conducts that will ensure good and fair sustainable construction practices in Kano.
Keywords: Construction Company, Construction Practices, Environmental Impact, Kano.
Comparative study of sucrose plasticised bioplastic derivatives with selected petro-plastics
Authors: Agwamba E.C. 
Published: July 2020

The major setback with most bioplastics is their inherent inability to compete with Petro-plastics in terms of high production cost, and there poor mechanical properties like low tensile strength and percentage extension. This study explore the availability and affordability of mango starch as raw material for bioplastic production and compared some of its mechanical properties with High density Polyethylene (HDPE), Low density polyethylene (LDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and Polyurethane (PU). Mango starch was used to synthesize bioplastic derivatives, with variable levels of sucrose as plasticiser, aqueous HCl concentration and Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as additive and the mechanical properties of the derived biofilms was measured and compared with the selected Petro-plastics films. It was observed that B1 thermoplastic derivatives have the higher young modulus of 5.658 GPa than that obtained for PVC (4.682 GPa), and PU (3.771 GPa) but show no significant difference and significantly higher than that of HDPE (0.049 GPa), and LDPE (0.063 GPa) (p < 0.05). B2 and B3 indicated a young modulus that is significantly lower than PU and PVC, but showed a young modulus that is higher than LDPE and HDPE with no significant difference (p < 0.05). The FTIR spectra indicate that hydrogen bond was formed in the bulk matrix of the bioplastic derivatives at a band region of 3600 -600 cm-1 wavenumber with broad discrete peaks.
Keywords: Petro-plastics; Bioplastics; Mechanical Properties; Plasticization; Mango Starch
Levels of induced free proline in chelated and unchelated hydroponically grown lettuce (<i>Lactuca sativa L.</I>)
Authors: Dagari M.S. , Musa M.S. , Maude F.M. 
Published: July 2020

It is well described that under stress conditions many plant species accumulates proline as adaptive response to adverse conditions. In this study, eight weeks old Lactuca sativa L. seedlings were transplanted in nutrient solution containing various doses (0.000, 0.0025, 0.005, 0.0075, and 0.025mg/L) of Pb2+ and Cd2+ and constant concentration of EDDS (0.0025M). The effects of these treatments of Pb2+, Cd2+, combination of Pb2+ + Cd2+and with or without EDDS (Ethylene diamine disuccinate) were compared based on the level of stress induced to the seedlings. Free proline contents induced due to stress by uptake of Pb2+and Cd2+ were investigated in both unchelated and chelated treatment. The results obtained showed that the effect of increasing concentration of Pb2+ in hydroponic solution leads to decrease in the level of stress induced to the seedlings by EDDS while the lower the Cd2+ concentration in the hydroponic solution the more the level of stress induced by EDDS to the plant. The highest level of stress caused to the seedlings by unchelated and chelated Pb2+ solution are 68.294±5.642; 72.681±14.740 µmolg-1 respectively while that of Cd2+ are 28.962±8.703; 48.263±2.455 µmolg-1 respectively. From this, it is evident that Pb2+induced more stress to the plants than Cd2+ in the presence and absence of EDDS (p<0.05).
Keywords: Proline, Ethylenediaminedisuccinic Acid (EDDS), Lead, Cadmium, Lettuce.
Implication of aflatoxins as potent carcinogens
Authors: Mukhtar Fatima 
Published: July 2020

Aspergillus species influence human and animal health directly and indirectly with a significant economic impact on the society. A. flavus and A. parasiticus are the two major species that produce aflatoxins. Several mycotoxins are reported from several other mycotoxigenic fungi of which the aflatoxins are the most toxic and damaging polyketides. Economically important crops such as maize, rice, cotton seed, peanuts, and spices are all susceptible to contamination of aflatoxin. The aim of this review is to make an extensive review and come up with ways to curtail this global challenge on how to manage aflatoxin contamination in crops and other food products since the toxins have been classified as potent carcinogens and about 25% of food is being lost due to aflatoxin contamination annually. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) conducted evaluation of several chemicals of their carcinogenic potential and classified aflatoxins as most potent natural, known human carcinogens. The methodology was by selecting the most recent researches conducted on new techniques to be employed in overcoming the issue of aflatoxin contamination both during the pre and post-harvest strategies. The Data gathered was subjected to appropriate statistical tool so as to come up with more improved techniques. It was found that both chemical and physical methods have certain drawbacks which may lead to drop in human and animal health, cause a significant decline in the quality of food products, losses of nutritional value, high cost and cause undesirable health effects, but biological methods using microorganisms seems more promising, they provide an attractive alternative tool for removing toxins and safeguarding the value of food and feed in an eco-friendly way.
Key words: Aflatoxin, Contamination, Crops, Pre and Post-harvest.
New insights into the processes of biological evolution and human reproduction provided through a dialogue between science and Qur’an
Authors: Chaabani Hassen 
Published: July 2020

In this paper I present new insights into the processes of biological evolution and human reproduction in the light of a dialogue between the current scientific knowledge and Qur‟an verses. I demonstrate how this dialogue could provide new complementary information and a more comprehensive state of each of these two processes. After clearing up some confusions and uncertainties related to the biological evolution process I propose a new vision for this process considering that the Creator (Allah) of the entire Universe had organized and supervised the emergence of living beings depending on a wonderful evolutionary plan. As this vision is hopefully in agreement with my interpretations of related Qur‟an verses, I concretize it from them. One of scientific paintings deduced from these verses shows how our humankind emerged at the top of a complex network of evolutionary stages evolved from the earth like the emergence of the upper part of the top of a tree. To the second biological process „Human Reproduction‟ Allah gives a more accurate designation „Human Picturing Creation‟ insisting on the fact that the major acts of this process do not happen randomly but under His supervision. Moreover Allah given to the major elements of this process, wonderful designations including some unnoticed details through superb rhetoric formats peculiar to Qur‟an. At the end of this paper I point out that my interpretations of Qur‟an verses, based on new rigorous methodology, are generally different from the existing ones showing how the latter include errors and distortions making them incompatible with science. More bad consequences, such as terrorism, have been the result of erroneous interpretations of some verses on socio-political issues. To solve this problem of erroneous interpretations and related false considerations that have accumulated through the ages and were merged into cultures of Muslim societies, I call for a “First International Real Renewal of Islam”
Key words: Qur‟an interpretation, Biological evolution, Supernatural Creator, Limits of science, Human reproduction, Picturing creation, Human gametes, Human zygote, Human embryogenesis, Real Renewal of Islam.
Biosynthesis of phenylpropanoids and their protective effect against heavy metals in nitrogen-fixing black locust (<i>Robinia pseudoacacia</i>)
Authors: Kim Nam Si , Sathasivam Ramaraj , Chun Se Won , Youn Woo Bin , Park Sang Un , Park Byung Bae 
Published: July 2020

Purpose: To examine the effect of various heavy metals (HMs) on phenylpropanoid pathway compounds in Robinia pseudoacacia.Methods: A series of pot culture experiments were performed to understand how the metabolic profile of phenylpropanoid compounds were affected by various HMs, such as redox-active HMs (AgNO3 and CuCl2), and non-redox-active HMs (HgCl2). Phenylpropanoid compound level was evaluated by high performance liquid chromatography.Results: The total phenylpropanoid level in leaves increased significantly in all the treated groups when compared to that in the untreated group (p < 0.05). However, a significant effect on the total phenylpropanoid levels was only found for redox-active HMs (p < 0.05), whereas non-redox-active HMs showed less accumulation. Chlorogenic acid and rutin were the two major phenylpropanoid compounds found after the plants were subjected to redox and non-redox-active HMs stress. However, when compared to these two compounds, the levels of catechin hydrate, epicatechin, p-coumaric acid, kaempferol, and quercetin were lower. Caffeic acid level was significantly decreased in both redox and non-redox-active HMs when compared to that in the control (p < 0.05). In addition, trans-cinnamic acid accumulation was altered based on the types and concentration of HMs.Conclusion: Phenylpropanoid metabolic pathway participated in the HM tolerance process for the protection of R. pseudoacacia from oxidative damage caused by HMs, thus allowing the species to grow in highly HMs-contaminated areas.
Keywords: Heavy metals, Non-redox-active metals, Phenylpropanoid compounds, Redox-active metals, Robinia pseudoacacia
Fucoxanthin improves functional recovery of orbitopathy in Graves’ disease by downregulating IL-17 mRNA expression in a mouse model
Authors: Chai Lichao , Wang Jing , Wei Yan 
Published: July 2020

Purpose: To explore the efficacy of fucoxanthin (FX), a carotenoid, against inflammation via inhibition of IL-17 mRNA expression, and its anti-oxidant activity in Graves’ orbitopathy (GO)-induced mice model.Methods: The effects of FX on IL-6, IL-8, IL-17, MCP-1, and TNF-α, in orbital fibroblast tissues extracted from GO-induced BALB/c mice was investigated. Anti-oxidative stress markers, 8-hydroxy-2’- deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were quantified in tear samples collected from GO-induced FX treated mice.Results: FX administration in cultured human orbital fibroblast cells revealed almost complete cell viability and no cell apoptosis. FX resulted in IL-1β induced Beclin-1 and Atg-5 silencing, in cultured human orbital fibroblasts. BALB/c mice immunized with Ad-TSHR289 indicated elevated levels ofthyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin antibodies in the serum sample. FX predominantly downregulated the mRNA expression of IL-17, and also reduced increased 8-OHdG and MDA in the tear secretion of GO-induced mice.Conclusion: FX may be an effective and useful molecule for the treatment of GO, through its antiinflammatory and anti-oxidative potential, but it requires further investigation to ascertain its therapeutic effectiveness.
Keywords: Anti-inflammatory, Anti-oxidant, Fucoxanthin, Graves’ disease, Graves’ orbitopathy, IL-17