Hypoglycaemic Effect of Extracts of Hyphaene thebaica (L) Mart Fruit Pulp in Normal and Alloxan-induced Diabetic Rats

Shehu, B.B., Gidado, A. and Buratai, L.B

 Department of Biochemistry,

University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.

E-mail: bintabshehu@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Hyphaene thebaica, Boscia senegalensis, Balanite aegyptica and Anisopus mannii are plants claimed to posses anti-diabetic properties. In this study extracts of parts of these plants were first screened for anti hyperglycaemic activity using alloxan induced diabetic rats. In the second part of the study, aqueous and methanolic fractions of the fruit pulp of H. thebaica were prepared and different doses administered to different batches of rats (both normal and alloxan diabetic rats) after an 18 hours fast. Blood glucose levels were measured at 0,1,2,4 and 6 hours after treatment. A maximum reduction in fasting blood glucose of 28.4% was observed in diabetic rats administered 400 mg/dl dose of H. thebaica fruit methanol extract during the screening study. In the second part of the study, the aqueous extract at 800 mg/kg dose lowered the fasting blood glucose of both normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats by 21.1% and 27.6% respectively. The methanolic extract, on the other hand, had maximum reduction of 33.1% for normoglycaemic rats and 33.7% for diabetic rats at the same 800 mg/kg dose. The anti hyperglycaemic effect of the methanolic fraction is comparable or even better than the maximum reduction observed with the diabetic rats administered with standard (glibenclamide) drug. The results of the study therefore indicate that fruits of H. thebaica pulp passing hypoglycaemic activity.


Prevalence of Parasitic Infections amongst Children In-Patients in Maiduguri; Northeastern Nigeria

1*Aisha, H. and 2Biu, A.A.

1Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, Airport Road, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.

2Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.

E-mail: hamzaaisha03@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

A prevalence study on parasitic infections amongst children in – patients at the Umaru Shehu Hospital, Maiduguri, was conducted between June, 2010 and June 2012 using direct and concentration method for faecal parasites and thin blood films for haemoparasites. Out of the 2630 parasites examined 2180 (82.9%) were infected with Plasmodium species, Entamoeba histolytica, Ascaris lumbricoides, Giardia lamblia, Ancylostoma duodenale and Enterobius vermicularis represented as 710(32.5%), 490(22.4%), 410(18.8%), 230(10.5%), 210(9.6%) and 130(7.7%)prevalence rates respectively (p<0.05). Sex wise prevalence indicated that male had 700(32.1%) and females had 1480(67.8%) (p<0.05). Age-wise, children between zero and 6 years had 113(5.2%) prevalence which was significant (p<0.05) compared to those >6 years with 2067(94.8%). Based on stool consistency diarrhoiec children showed a higher prevalence of 1134(52.0%) than non diarrhoiec children with 1046(47.9%) (p>0.05).


Table of CONTENTS

Sustainable Environmental Practices: A Review of Construction and Green Spaces

Isah L.M., Muhammad D.U. and Saidu Umar Y.                                                                       1 – 11

An Investigation on the Causes of Building Collapse in Nigeria

Alamu F. Bosede and Gana Matthew Sunday                                                                          12 – 22

Review of Subcontracting Practice in the Construction Industry

Abdullahi, A.H.                                                                                                                        23 – 33

An Evaluation of Factors Affecting the Performance of Construction Projects in

Niger State

Mamman .E. Juliet and Omozokpia .E. Ruth                                                                           34 – 43

Evaluation of Water Resources of Bida Town in Central Nigeria

Olagoke, O. and Olatunji, J.A.                                                                                                  44 – 55

The Role of Built Environmental Professionals on Environmental Hazards: An Overview

Omozokpia E. Ruth and Mamman E. Juliet                                                                             56 – 67

Per Capita Waste Generation and Variation in Karu Local Government Area,

Nasarawa State, Nigeria

A.T. Ogah and M.M. Alhassan                                                                                                 68 – 73

An Appraisal of the Impact of Governmental Strategies for Agricultural Development on Poverty Reduction in Nigeria

Ishaku Hamidu and Gambo Yusuf                                                                                           74 – 87

Assessment of Heavy Metals Concentrations in Soils of Acid Battery Waste

Dumpsites in Aba Southeastern Nigeria

Ogu, O.G. and Ogwo, P.A.                                                                                                       88 – 95

Mineralogical Alteration of Kerri-Kerri Sandstone Exposed in Gombe, Gongola Basin

Y.B. Mohammed and M.W. Sidi                                                                                               96 – 118

The Roles of Architecture in the Transformation of Nigeria Cities

Babatunde, Luqman Olakunle                                                                                                 119 – 124

The Influence of Implementation Phase Principles on Project Performance within the Building Industry in Abuja, Nigeria

Usman, N.D, Kamau, P.K. and Mireri, C.                                                                                  125 – 135

Environmental Hazard: Climate Change and Flooding, the Impact on the Built Environment in Nigeria

Dauda Ali and Shitufa Hamidu                                                                                               136 – 144

Evaluating the Impact of Housing Delivery System on Project Performance within the Building Industry in Nigeria

Usman, N.D., Inuwa, I.I., Kolawole A.R., Kwari, J.M. and Didel, J.M.                                         145 – 154


EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF HOUSING DELIVERY SYSTEM ON PROJECT PERFORMANCE WITHIN THE BUILDING INDUSTRY IN NIGERIA 

1Usman, N.D., 2Inuwa, I.I., 1Kolawole A.R., 3Kwari, J.M. and 4Didel, J.M.

1Department of Civil Engineering Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, Bauchi State, Nigeria.

2Abubakar Tafawa – Balewa University, Bauchi, Bauchi State, Nigeria.

3Ministry of Works and Housing, Gombe, Gombe State, Nigeria.

4Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute, Abuja, Nigeria

E-mail: napodanusman@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The study investigates the impact of project performance on housing delivery within the building industry in Nigeria. Project Performance is attained through efficiency and effectiveness of cost, time and quality standards. This study intends to evaluate the influence of project performance on housing delivery within the building industry in Nigeria. This was in view of the fact that housing delivery was seen to be futile in terms of services, poor management of projects, the rush in project implementation, corruption, inadequate planning and budgetary provisions, costly project execution, untimely completion of projects and abandoned or non-functional facilities and collapsed of buildings. In spite of these, no study has shown that this menace has been husk out of the pipeline. The study was conducted through literature and documentary survey. Data was collected in August 2012 using questionnaire and documentary techniques from professionals in the built environment. Purposive sampling was used to sample 210 out of a population of 300 professionals. The data was analyzed using ANOVA and Chi-square to test the Null hypothesis that project performance does not influence housing delivery within the building industry in Nigeria. The study established that project performance enhances housing delivery; but in Nigeria project performance is far from expectation due to the industry’s inability to provide services efficiently and effectively, most projects are not delivered on time, within budget and quality standards. The research recommends that capacity building should be mandatory for all professionals within the built environment. This will improve their competencies; so also monitoring and supervision mechanisms should be intensified, as well as law enforcement within the building industry in Nigeria.


ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD: CLIMATE CHANGE AND FLOODING, THE IMPACT ON THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT IN NIGERIA

Dauda Ali and Shitufa Hamidu

Department of Architectural Technology

Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, Nigeria.

E-mail: dauda2292@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Flood is the most frequently and devastating natural disaster that kills people in thousands. Its consequences are profound, particularly on people in the less developed countries as in Nigeria. The impact is more pronounced in low laying areas due to rapid growth in population, incessant dumping of waste in drainages, decaying infrastructures and lack of proper environmental planning, resulting in lost of lives, properties, spread of diseases and displacement of people. Flood is worsened by climate change and inadequate preparedness. This paper seeks to look at the issues of flooding; causes, impacts, and suggesting ways of preventing and mitigating flood disaster in Nigeria. Data were sought through secondary sources by reviewing journals and other literatures related to the subject. The article contends that prevailing effect of climate change, particularly flooding affects almost everything in our cities; it demands urgent attention in form of environmental and infrastructure planning, enhanced public enlightenment programmes among others.


THE INFLUENCE OF IMPLEMENTATION PHASE PRINCIPLES ON PROJECT PERFORMANCE WITHIN THE BUILDING INDUSTRY IN ABUJA, NIGERIA

Usman, N.D1, Kamau, P.K.2 and Mireri, C.3

1Department of Civil Engineering Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, Nigeria, 2,3Department of Environmental Planning and Management, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya.

E-mail: napodanusman@yahoo.com

                                                            

ABSTRACT

The building industry contributes immensely to the development of any nation even though its contribution is less than the manufacturing industries; it is a major player in the socio-economic development of many countries globally. However, recently, issues of quality, costs, reliability and human and environmental safety have emerged posing a challenge to the growth of the industry. This is as a result of poor implementation phase principles in the industry. Yet, poor implementation in the Nigerian Building Industry (NBI) was linked to its inability to deliver service effectively and efficiently; and these are obstacles on the Nigerian economy. This study therefore sought to determine how implementation phase principles may influence project performance within the building industry in Abuja, Nigeria. Explanatory and descriptive approaches were used to obtain data from completed project files (three from both public and private sectors respectively) and professionals from the building industry.  Stratified and purposive random samplings were used to select completed projects and qualitative data for the purpose of analysis.  The results revealed that implementation phase principles were not adopted due to poor management of projects, unnecessary rush in project implementation, inadequate planning and budgetary provisions, costly project execution. Still, the current traditional system is not working, but if implementation phase principle is employed, it could improve project performance and will reduce cost and time overruns.


THE ROLES OF ARCHITECTURE IN THE TRANSFORMATION OF NIGERIA CITIES

Babatunde, Luqman Olakunle

Department of Architecture,

The Polytechnic Ibadan, Saki Campus, Oyo State, Nigeria.

E-mail: kbabatmillarch@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

This paper deals with the roles of architecture to the growth of Nigeria cities. Nigeria cities continue to grow and develop overtime, the paper looks at the forces that have shaped and patterned their evolution over time. This research work revealed that social changes particularly the shift from traditional community and ways of life, to more western ways of life have greatly impact and influence on building and residential labours. In view of the above, the paper concludes by suggesting ways to promote the practice of contemporary architecture in order to enhance further the transformation of Nigerian cities to meet world standard.


MINERALOGICAL ALTERATION OF KERRI-KERRI SANDSTONE

EXPOSED IN GOMBE, GONGOLA BASIN

Y.B. Mohammed and M.W. Sidi

Department of Geology

University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.

E-mail: batayakubu69@gmail.com, bzakirai@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The study was carried out in the outskirt of Gombe Town, Upper Benue Trough with view of determining the mineralogical composition and alteration of the exposed Kerri-Kerri Sandstone. The investigation reveals that minerals observed under cross-polar and polarized light include the following: quartz, feldspar, iron oxide and limonite. Quartz is more abundant in the samples collected and showed that the source is possibly quartz–bearing plutonic rock. Mineralogically, the sandstone is immature because the proportion of feldspar is greater than 20%. The alteration of the sandstone was prove by delicate external and internal morphologies which preclude sedimentary transport and spatial relationships of detrital and diagenetic components indicating an origin which post–dates deposition as an earlier diagenetic stage, and thirdly, compositions which differ radically from similar materials of detrital origin.


ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METALS CONCENTRATIONS IN SOILS OF ACID BATTERY WASTE DUMPSITES IN ABA SOUTHEASTERN NIGERIA

1Ogu, O.G. and 2Ogwo, P.A.

1Department of Environmental Resource Management, Abia State University Uturu, Uturu, Nigeria

2Department of Environmental Management &Toxicology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.

E-mail: ogechi.godson@yahoo.com, pfaikon78@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

A study of heavy metals concentrations in battery waste dumpsites in Aba Southeastern Nigeria (Latitude 50 8’ 59” and Longitude 70 19’ 49”) was conducted. A transect soil survey was used to guide soil sampling. Soil samples (0-20cm) were collected from two dumpsites using a Stainless Steel Auger and the control was collected 100m away from the dumpsites. The samples were air-dried and digested with concentrated HNO4 and HClO4 acids; Pb, Cu, Mn, Cd, Cr, Fe, Ni and Zn were determined using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer model 211VGP. Data were analyzed statistically using mean, standard deviation and coefficient of variation measured in percentage. The mean concentrations of Pb, Cu, Mn, Cd, Cr, Fe, Ni and Zn in dumpsite 1 (Umuaduru dumpsite) were (1183, 3133, 4550, 416, 3783, 4383, 1216, 886)ppm respectively, while their concentrations in dumpsite 2 (Umuehilegbu dumpsite) were (1666, 3700, 4016, 633, 4333, 4483, 1500, 1234)ppm respectively. The results showed a significant difference between the concentrations of heavy metals studied in the dumpsites and the control (P>0.05). The heavy metals released were found to follow the order; Cd < ZN < Ni < Pb < Cu < Cr < Mn < Zn. The study found that there is an ongoing build up of toxic heavy metals in soil at the dumpsites studied and their concentrations were already higher than the established limits for some metals. The study recommends; prevention of any form of farming on the dumpsites, relocation of the dumpsites out of the city, segregation of wastes at the point of generation, use of geosynthetic clay liners as barriers for the prevention of leachate percolation.


AN APPRAISAL OF THE IMPACT OF GOVERNMENTAL STRATEGIES FOR AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT ON POVERTY REDUCTION IN NIGERIA 

1Ishaku Hamidu and 2Gambo Yusuf

1Department of Political Science, Yobe State University Damaturu, Nigeria.

2Department of Economics, College of Education Waka-Biu, Borno State, Nigeria.

E-mail: hamidushasks002@gmail.com, mibwalagambo@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Every nation is expected to grow and mature in multifarious sectors, not only for meeting the socio-economic needs of its citizens but creating the necessary environment for them to achieve their personal goals and contribute to the nation’s stability and progress. Nigeria’s Heads of States and Governments in collaboration with various ministries and agencies evolved strategies and mechanisms for effecting micro-economic changes for national development. Before and after independence in Nigeria for instance, there were several development plans; policy statements and other programmes like the National Food Production Programme (N.A.F.P.P); Operation Feed the Nation (O.F.N); Green Revolution (G.R); Directorate of Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructures (D.F.R.R.I) among others. The objectives of these governmental policies look very viable and promising in enhancing food production, reducing and possibly eradicating poverty in the Nigerian state; as well as to boost the rural economy and fundamentally stimulate development of the national economy, thereby making Nigeria an economic giant on the continent and even beyond. However, in spite of the huge financial allocations and investments by the governments; millions of Nigerians are said to be living below a dollar each day, Nigeria is still importing food to feed her citizens after fifty three years of nationhood, there are high numbers of unemployed youths in the land and the rural areas are not developed. The study which is ex-post facto library research, examines O.F.N and G.R as the two strategies which focus on food security cum poverty reduction. Corruption, poor infrastructures, political instability, poor level of public participation etc were identified as the common challenges militating against the strategies’ efficacy and some recommendations were proffered for present and future political leaders to note for national socio-economic development.


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