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Item An Assessment of the 'Safety' of Nigerian Women Journalists Online(Jos Journal of Media & CommunicaƟon Studies, 2015) Bulus Comfort; Obateru Taye C.Having a variety of online voices is good for democracy. The democratizing of information dissemination which the internet has brought, good as it is, continues to unveil some negative trends. Online bullying and threats are spreading and journalists are not spared. In Nigeria some women journalists have faced threats of rape; some have been attacked physically while others receive threatening graphic imagery in their inboxes or on social media platforms. Although this is evident for both genders, women appear to be more threatened. The harassment of women online is not a new concept, but in recent years it has become a cause for concern and has become a constraint for the freedom of expression for many women journalists. Nigeria, though a developing economy has seen a rapid rise in internet use. Although access to the world via the net is a good thing, there is a need to examine whether this freedom is being misused in Nigeria to stie the freedom of expression of women journalists. There is also a need to assess the level of awareness among women journalists in Nigeria, of digital threats/harassment, if there are institutions enabled to address any case that may arise and what coping strategies exist when cases arise. The Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) adapted for this study explains a process of threat and coping appraisal in which the behavioral options to diminish the threat are evaluated. The decisions that are made in a way of protecting oneself are how people respond to perceived threats. A quantitative survey of 29 members of the National Executive Council of the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) was conducted. They were purposively selected to ll in the structured questionnaire. The data was presented and descriptively analyzed using tables and percentages. The data revealed an average awareness of digital harassments mostly from social media. The data also revealed different levels of exposure to threats online and a lack of protective policies for Nigeria's women journalists. The paper notes the virtual absence of machinery to check such threats and recommends the creation of policies to protect women journalists and empower Nigerian Journalists Internet Rights Initiative (NJRI) to enforce protection and forestall a deterioration of the trend.Item Impact of prophylaxis with cotrimoxazole on malaria parasitaemia, PCV and CD4+ count in HIV-infected pregnant women in Jos, Nigeria(Trends in Medicine, 2017) Ali M..A.; Agbo E.B.; Suleiman M.M.; Oguche S.; Musa J.; Okojokwu O.J.; Anejo-Okopi J.A.; Lar P.M.The effect of prophylaxis with Cotrimoxazole (CTX) against malaria parasitaemia and other pregnancy outcomes among HIV-infected pregnant women in Jos was investigated. Peripheral blood from study women was used to prepare thin and thick blood smears for the identification and estimation of malaria parasitaemia as well as immunological and haematological investigations. Sulfadoxine pyrimethamine (SP) was used as control, being the standard used for prophylaxis against malaria in pregnant women. Result shows that Prevalence of malaria infection was reduced from 34.1-7.2% and from 25-10% among group A and B respectively. Mean parasitaemia was reduced from 1984.76 asp/µ to 1000.00 asp/µl and from 1960.38 asp/µ to 1118.18 asp/µ for CTX an SP respectively. Mean packed cell volume (PCV) was reduced from 33.09-33.02% with CTX and from 33.11-32.90% with SP. Mean CD4+ count increased from 223.55 cells/µl to 300.54 cells/µl with CTX but decreased from 570 cells/µl to 536.4 cells/µl with SP. Prophylaxis with CTX is associated with 89% reduction in parasitaemia, with immunological but no haematological benefits, while prophylaxis with standard Sp is associated with 76% reduction in malaria parasitaemia with neither immunological nor haematological benefits. There was no statistical difference between the two drugs throughout the study. The use of cotrimoxazole for antimalarial prophylaxis among HIV-infected pregnant women is strongly supported but with close monitoring of their PCV so as to detect and treat any possible anaemia.Item Microbiological Quality of Pre-cut Fruits on Sale in Retail Outlets in Nigeria(African Journal of Agricultural Research, 2010-09-04) Chukwu C. O. C.; Chukwu I. D.; Onyimba I. A.; Umoh E. G.; Olarubofin F.; Olabode A. O.Microbiological quality of pre-cut fruits sold in retail outlets in Kano metropolis in Nigeria was evaluated. One hundred and fifty pre-cut fruit samples comprising pineapples (50), paw-paw (50) and watermelon (50) at the point of stand retail outlets were tested by standard microbiological methods to determine bacterial and parasite contamination. Out of these, 136 (90.67%) were contaminated with bacteria. Parasites were absent in all samples. The general distribution of the bacterial contaminations were; Escherichia coli 69 (46.00%), Staphylococcus aureus 29 (19.33%), Salmonella species 13 (8.67%), Proteus species 18 (12.00%), Enterobacter aerogenes 3 (2.00%), Klebsiella pneumoniae 2 (1.33%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa 2 (1.33%). Among the 50 pineapple cuts - E. coli 26, S. aureus 6, Salmonella species 7, Proteus species 9, P. aeruginosa 2; the 50 watermelon had E. coli 22, S. aureus 13, Salmonella species 3, Proteus species 5, E. aerogenes 2 and K. species 2. From 50 paw-paw cuts E. coli 21, S. aureus 10, Salmonella species 3, Proteus species 4 and E. aerogenes 1 were isolated. These findings demonstrate that microbiological quality of pre-cut fruits sampled, suggest that the risk of foodborne illness from pre-cut fruits is high. There is a need to enforce good food hygiene practices to avoid contamination of pre-cut fruits.Item Bio-Ethanol Production from Banana, Plantain and Pineapple Peels by Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation Process(International Journal of Environmental Science and Development, 2013-04) Itelima J.; Onwuliri F.; Onwuliri E.; Isaac Onyimba,; Oforji S.Most nations, whether economically advanced or at different stages of development are faced with the problem of disposal and treatment of wastes. Wastes could be treated in several ways (e.g. by reducing its bulk or by recovering and reprocessing it into useful substance) to meet sanitary standards. Ethanol fermented from renewable sources for fuel or fueladditives are known as bio-ethanol. In Nigeria, many food crops have been specifically grown for the production of bio-ethanol. However, bio-ethanol production from waste materials removed from fruits is very rare. In the present study, wastes from fruits such as banana, plantain and pineapple peels which are in abundance and do not interfere with food security were subjected to simultaneous saccharification and fermentation for 7days by co–culture of Aspergillus niger and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Biomass yield, cell dry weight, reducing sugar concentration and the ethanol yield were determined at 24 hours interval. The results of the study showed that after 7 days of fermentation, pineapple peels had the highest biomass yield of 1.89 (OD), followed by banana peels 1.60 (OD), while plantain peels had the least 0.98 (OD). The reducing sugar concentrations ranged between 0.27 – 0.94 mg/cm3 for pineapple, 0.20 – 0.82 mg/cm3 for banana and 0.16 – 0.45 mg/cm3 The optimal ethanol yields were 8.34% v/v, 7.45 % v/v and 3.98 % v/v for pineapple, banana and plantain peels respectively. These indicate that pineapple and banana peels ethanol yields were significantly higher (P<0.05) than plantain peel ethanol yield. The findings of this study suggest that wastes from fruits that contain fermentable sugars can no longer be discarded into our environment, but should be converted to useful products like bio-ethanol that can serve as alternative energy source.Item Growth assessment and amylase production by Aspergillus niger and A. terreus isolated from soils of Artemisia annua l. Plantation(European Journal of Biotechnology and Bioscience, 2015) Abigail I. Ogbonna; Isaac A. Onyimba; Aleruchi Chuku; Patience O. Nwadiaro; Chike I. C. Ogbonna; Festus C. OnwuliriFungi associated with soils of decomposing Artemisia annua L. process waste in an A. annua Plantation were studied. Two of the isolates, A. niger and A. terreus which had high frequencies of occurrence were assessed for their growth rates over an incubation period of 168hrs using Czapek Dox and Sabouraud Dextrose Agar media. Their abilities to produce glucoamylase of biotechnological importance using submerged fermentation (SmF) were studied. The two isolates grown in basal medium containing starch as sole source of carbon and were harvested at 24 hour intervals over a period of 168hours. A. niger and A. terreus were found to have colony diameters of 5.2cm and 5cm after the 7th day of incubation. The highest glucoamylase potential at pH 5.03 was demonstrated by A. terreus, with peak enzyme activity of 0.375mmol-L while that of A. niger was 0.281mmol-L on the 6th day of incubation. These two fungal species could be useful in the degradation of biological wastes.Item OCCURRENCE OF POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FUNGI IN EXPOSED BREWERY SPENT SORGHUM GRAINS(European scientific journal, 2014-03) Isaac A. Onyimba; Chike I. C. Ogbonna; Chukwu, O. O. Chukwu; Collins C. E. OduSamples of environmentally exposed spent sorghum grains (SSG), commonly used as feedstuff in Nigeria, were obtained from the Jos International Brewery and screened for potentially harzardous fungi associated with them. A total of three samples, one per week, were used in the study. Truly colonizing fungi of the SSG were further determined by assessing the abilities of the fungal isolates to grow on specially formulated spent sorghum grain agar (SSGA). Fourteen fungal species belonging to nine genera were isolated from the SSG. Frequently occurring fungi included Aspergillus niger (89%), A. fumigatus (56%), A. flavus (78%), Rhizopus, oryzae (78%) and R. stolonifer (56%). The genus Aspergillus had the highest number of species (28.6%) among the isolates. The true fungal colonizers of SSG were found to include A. flavus, A. fumigatus, A. niger, A. ochraceus, Curvularia lunata, Geotrichum candidum, Humicola grisea, Penicillium sp, R. oryzae, R. stolonifer and Trichoderma harzianum. Among the fungal isolates were species that have been known to contain either pathogenic or toxigenic strains. The findings from the experiments showed that exposed SSG can be colonized by potentially hazardous fungi and as such, caution should be exercised in its use as a feedstuff.Item Carrot (Daucus carrota), Garlic (Allium sativum) and Ginger (Zingiber officinale) Extracts as Bacteria Selective Agents in Culture Media(African Journal of Microbiology Research, 2011-12-23) Chukwu O. O. C; Odu C. E.; Chukwu I. D.; Chidozie V. N.; Onyimba I. A.; Bala Z.Extracts of carrot, garlic and ginger as selective agents in basal bacteriological media were carried out on Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 15313, Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 2522, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 using a standard method. Ethanolic extracts, aqueous cold and hot extracts of the experimental plant products were made at the concentration of 200 mg/ml (2 g/10 ml). The ethanolic extracts inhibited the growth of all the test bacterial isolates. The cold aqueous extracts of garlic had inhibitory effects on the S. aureus and L. monocytogenes bacterial isolates but selectively allowed the growth of E. coli. The hot aqueous extract of ginger had no effect on any of the test bacteria. The hot garlic extract selectively allowed the growth of L. monocytogenes and E. coli. Phytochemical analysis of the carrots, garlic and ginger contained saponnin, resins, alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids and terpenes in varied proportions. We assume these products may have influenced the actions of the extracts on the test organisms. The results of this preliminary study suggest that aqueous extracts of carrots, garlic and ginger when incorporated in appropriate concentrations can serve as alternative selective agents in bacteriological culture media for bacterial isolation from highly contaminated biological specimens or separation of mixed cultures of bacteria in the laboratory.Item Studies on the effects of Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Ginger) aqueous and ethanolic extracts on some fungal and bacterial speies(IOSR Journal of Pharmacy and Biological Sciences, 2014) Ogbonna, A.I.; Tanko, J.S.; Falemara, B.C.; Itelima, J.U.; Makut, M.D.; Onyimba, I.; Chuku, A.Abstract: The effects of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Zingiber officinale (ginger) on some species of fungi isolated from soil samples collected from two barbers’ landfills and some clinical bacterial isolates were studied. The test isolates included Aspergillus flavus, Curvularia lunata, Fusarium solani, Penicillium species, Bacillus species, Citrobacter species and Staphylococcus aureus. The concentrations of the extracts used included 500mg/ml, 250mg/ml, 125mg/ml, 62.5mg/ml and 31.25mg/ml. The aqueous extract of Z. officinale proved to be more antimicrobial on the test organisms than the ethanolic extract with an inhibitory zone diameter of 46mm at a concentration of 500mg/ml. As for the clinical bacteria, S. aureus was the most inhibited, with an inhibitory zone diameter of 35mm by the same aqueous extract at 500mg/ml concentration. The effects of the said aqueous extract of the plant compared favourably with the effects observed from the standard drugs, nystatin 5μg/ml and gentamycin 40mg/ml on the test fungi and bacteria respectively. The implications of the results obtained have been discussed.Item Application of extracts of Henna (Lawsonia inamis) leaves as a counter stain(African Journal of Microbiology Research, 2011-10-09) Chukwu O. O. C.; Odu C. E.; Chukwu D. I.; Hafiz N.; Chidozie V. N.; Onyimba I. A.Aqueous (cold and hot) and ethanol extracts solutions of the Henna plant (Lawsonia inamis) leaves was adapted for the first time as a counter stain in Gram staining reaction. Different extracts of L. inamis leaves were formulated into various staining solutions of different concentrations and modified with hydrogen peroxide, ferric chloride, potassium alum and potassium permanganate. These staining solutions were used to stain both known Gram positive and Gram negative bacterial isolates using Gram staining technique. The experimental Henna plant extracts solutions were used with usual counter stains (neutral red, safranine and dilute carbol fuchsin) as positive controls. Phytochemical screening of the extracts revealed the presence of tannin (hennatonic acid or Lawsone) and saponin. The aqueous extracts of the Henna plant (cold and hot) oxidized with potassium permanganate (pH 7.00 to 7.16) gave a better staining reaction with Gram negative bacteria, while the ethanol extract oxidized with potassium permanganate (pH 6.55) had no staining reaction with Gram negative bacteria. Hence the aqueous Henna leaves extracts (cold or hot) when oxidized with potassium permanganate can be a substitute to the usual counter stains used in Gram staining procedure. The results of staining ability of the various henna leaves extracts solutions are discussed.Item Development and validation of instrument for assessing patients’ knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) on uncomplicated malaria management(Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science, 2019-06) Jimam Nanloh S.; Nahlah E. Ismail; Dapar Maxwell L. P.Objectives: To develop and validate patients’ knowledge, attitudes, and practice instrument for uncomplicated malaria (PKAPIUM). Material and Methods: A draft PKAPIUM scale was developed after the review of relevant literature and malaria treatment guidelines, and six experts validated its content. Monte Carlo simulation principle was followed in arriving at 300 patients populations whose data were used to reduce the items based on “Kaiser’s eigenevalue-greater-than-one rule.” This was followed by the test of validity and reliability to assess the psychometric properties of the instrument. Results: The items content validity indices (I-CVI) and the scale CVI (S-CVI) using universal agreement (UA) within experts (S-CVI/UA) and average CVI (S-CVI/Ave) approaches were good (0.8–1.00), with absence of items’ floor or ceiling effects. Twenty-one items were retained in the new scale arranged under four factors with average varianc extracted (AVE) and square root AVE values of 0.58–0.70 and 0.76–0.84, respectively, suggesting convergent and discriminant validities. The goodness-of-fit results [Chi-square (CMIN/DF) = 3.07, p = 0.00], standardized root mean square residual = 0.070, root mean square error approximation = 0.08 confirmed the hypothesized factor structures of the scale whose internal consistency of Cronbach’s alpha and composite reliability values were 0.74 and 0.82, respectively, and stability of ICC = 0.92 [95% confidence interval : 0.87–0.95, F = 43 (p = 0.51)].Conclusion: The validity and reliability of the PKAPIUM were in acceptable ranges.