Search

This study entails the production of bioethanol from the peels of sweet potato of white cultivar variety obtained in Zaria, Kaduna State Nigeria. Fresh cultivar with the proximate composition of 72% moisture content, 9.71% ash content, 24.52% crude fiber, 78.74% total carbohydrate and crude protein of 6.42% were hydrolyzed with 3% sulphuric acid solution at 130oC and 60 minutes in an improvised reactor to generate 54.5ml of hydrolyzate after steam pretreatment step. The fermentable reducing sugar of 10.68% was achieved through glucose standardization with UV-spectrophotometer at 540nm wavelength. The fermentation of the hydrolyzate –yeast/media mixture (155ml) at 30oC for 72hours was achieved by commercial grade saccharomyces cerevisiae to yield 20.5g/54.5ml, which corresponds to 0.8198g/ml specific gravity and 93.6% ethanol concentration. The molecular sieve was eventually adopted in dehydrating the bioethanol to 99.9% (0.8072g/ml) concentration and the final yield of 1.61% per 50g of w. cultivar. FTIR spectrum that declares the ethanolic identity with the stretching vibrations of O-H, C-O and C-H at 3391, 1055 and 2981cm-1 respectively with the symmetric stretching vibration of the methyl groups at 2930cm-1.

Camels are regarded as the ship of the desert, being used for transporting humans and their goods. They are also raised for milk, meat, hides and wool. Normal haematological values are important as disease diagnostic aid as they are vital indicator of the animals’ health status. Haematological parameters of one- humped camels (Camelusdromedarius) were determined in this study. 60 one- humped camels (Camelusdromedarius) were selected in sokoto and their blood samples were analyze using standard procedures for haematological parameters. [Packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cells (RBC), haemoglobin (Hb),white blood cells (WBC), neutrophils, eosinophils, Basophils, monocyte, lymphocyte, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC)].For all the parameters, only neutrophils and MCV values showed significant variation between sexes with male camels having higher values than females. There is variation in the range values for all the parameters between sexes except Basophils, Monocyte and Lymphocyte. Based on the results of this study, the values were similar in both sex except in neutrophils and mean corpuscular volume indicating insignificant effect of sex on most of the haematological parameters.

No Abstract.

This study assessed the levels of heavy metals accumulation in water, gills and liver of Tilapia zilli fish collected from Kafinchiri water Reservoir for a period of four months with the aim of predicting health risk effect on consumers. Water and Tilapia zilli samples were collected from three different sites along the course of the dam; upstream, midstream and downstream. The concentration of copper, lead, chromium and cadmium in water and their accumulation in the liver and gills of the sampled fishes were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results revealed that concentration of dissolved heavy metals in the water ranges from Cu (0.4mg/L- 0.6mg/L), Pb (0.9 mg/L – 1.4mg/L), Cr (undetected - 0.1mg/L) and Cd (0.01mg/L – 0.02mg/L). Accumulation in the gills of tilapia fish ranges from Cu (0.8μg/g – 0.85μg/g), Pb (0.3μg/g -0.9μg/g), Cr (≤0.1μg/g) and Cd was not detected. The accumulation of heavy metals in the liver were Cu (3.0μg/g – 5.4μg/g), Pb (2.7μg/g – 9.6μg/g) and Cr (0.1μg/g – 0.15μg/g) and Cd not detected. Water content chemical analysis indicated that; sampling point B (midstream) had the highest concentration of the heavy metals in which Pb recorded had the highest Bioaccumulation factor (BAF) of 5.76. The mean range of physicochemical parameters studied were temperature (25.90 – 27.37 °C), pH (7.60 – 8.52), DO (6.27 – 7.47mg/L), BOD (2.02 – 3.02mg/L), turbidity (28.05 - 34.00 NTU), electrical conductivity(187.60 – 361.17μS/cm), TDS (211 - 363mg/L), Total dissolved solids, electrical conductivity, turbidity and nitrate recorded significant difference between sites (P

The effects of ethanol extract of Tapinanthus globiferus in the liver of rats were evaluated on serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total protein (TP), total bilirubin (TB) and conjugated bilirubin (CB) while histological analysis was evaluated on section of liver after 28 days of oral administration. The oral LD50 of the extract in rats was found to be greater than 5,000 mg/kg body weight. The biochemical analysis revealed no significant changes (p > 0.05) in serum levels of AST, ALT, ALP and TP at all doses treated (87.5, 175 and 350 mg/kg) but there was significant (p < 0.05) evaluation of serum TB at higher dose and significant (p < 0.05) dose dependent increase in CB when compared with control. The photomicrograph of transverse section of the liver treated with doses of 175 and 350 mg/kg showed areas of fibrosis at 100 magnifications while no effect was observed at 87.5 mg/kg body weight. This work revealed that, Tapinanthus globiferus extract has no toxic effect on the liver of rats after short and low dose administration but can cause sign of liver damage at higher dose.Key words: Tapinanthus globiferus, Biochemical, Ethanol, Histological, Photomicrograph

Schistosomiasis is a chronic debilitating infection due to Schistosoma species belonging to parasitic trematode worms. It continues to threaten millions of people, particularly the rural poor in the developing countries. A study was carried out to determine the prevalence of urinary Schistosomiasis among dwellers of Wasai dam in Minjibir, Kano State and to evaluate efficacy of single dose of Parazoquantel. A total of 402 people in four selected villages residing around the study area were screened for the present or absence of Shistosoma haematobium ova and efficacy of single dose Parazoquantel was evaluated. Eggs of S. haematobium were examined using urine concentration sedimentation technique. The overall prevalence of the infection was 61.9% and Mean Eggs Per cubic Centilitre (EPC) of 31.8% were recorded. Males were more infected (67.9%) than females (54.8%). Cure rate in the present study was 97.9%. There was significant difference between mean EPC and cure rate (p