Cross River University of Technology

About: Cross River University of Technology is a education organization based out in Calabar, Nigeria. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Exergy. The organization has 465 authors who have published 507 publications receiving 2705 citations.

Dietary Benefits of Baphia nitida Stem Bark and Antimicrobial Effect on Some Pathogens

Abstract: The need to find a broad-based nutritional and antimicrobial therapy gave impetus to this investigation. The crude extracts of Baphia nitida stem bark were used to check for antimicrobial effect on selected micro-organisms for possible nutritional and therapeutic application. The stem bark components were extracted with four solvent systems using maceration. A synthetic drug gentamycin - 80 mg/mL (2 mL) was dissolved in 20 mL of distilled water to obtained 8 mg/mL, was used as a control. The crude extract exhibited an antibacterial effect on gram-positive organisms (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus), and gram-negative organism (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli) at 2 mg/mL. These showed competitiveness with the 8 mg/mL of the control drug. The normal hexane fraction had an effect on Staphylococcus aureus but showed no effect on other bacteria. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) showed a dose-dependent decrease in the effect for the crude extract. Ethyl acetate and methanol fraction had an effect on Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli at varying concentrations - 20, 10, and 5 mg/mL. the initial screening of the Baphia nitida stem bark revealed alkaloids in the methanol-methylene chloride crude extract and methanol fraction only. Other solvents showed the alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, terpenoids, glycosides, hydrogen cyanides and steroids respectively. Therefore, the presence of the phytochemicals implicates its antimicrobial effect and the basis for its efficacy as antimicrobial therapy.

Arbitrary L-Solutions of the Schrodinger Equation in Arbitrary Dimensions for the Energy Dependent Generalized Inverse Quadratic Yukawa Potential

Abstract: Within the framework of Nikiforov-Uvarov method, we obtained an approximate solution of the Schrodinger equation for the Energy Dependent Generalized inverse quadratic Yukawa potential model. The bound state energy eigenvalues for were computed for various vibrational and rotational quantum numbers. Special cases were considered when the potential parameters were altered, resulting into Energy Dependent Kratzer and Kratzer potential, Energy Dependent Kratzer fues and Kratzer fues potential, Energy Dependent Inverse quadratic Yukawa and Inverse quadratic Yukawa Potential, Energy Dependent Yukawa (screened Coulomb) and Yukawa (screened Coulomb) potential, and Energy Dependent Coulomb and Coulomb potential, respectively. Their energy eigenvalues expressions and numerical computations agreed with the already existing literatures.

The Effect of Agro-Wastes and Crustacean Fillers on Poly (Vinyl-Acetate) Emulsion Wood Adhesives

Abstract: Cellulosic and crustacean filler materials were used to study their effects on poly(vinyl-acetate) (PVAC) emulsion wood adhesives. The elastoplastic behavior of the filler-treated PVAC emulsion was studied using differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. The result revealed that the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the filler-treated polymer is not significantly changed by the addition of the filler materials, whereas the tensile modulus, adhesive hardness, and the stiffness were markedly changed. The viscosity of the emulsions and their performance on wood surfaces were greatly affected by fillers. The cellulosic fillers have high oil-absorption capacity, hence increased viscosity to a greater extent than the case with crustacean-based filler materials, which have faster coalescence but yield mechanically weaker films. The acidity of the fillers influenced the setting time for wood adhesive bonding.

Identification of Mixed Virus Infection on Trichosanthes cucumerina L. in Akamkpa, Southern Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract: Trichosanthes cucumerina L is a tropical or subtropical fruit bearing crop of the Cucurbitaceae family. Field survey during 2020 planting season in Akamkpa, Southern Cross River State, Nigeria revealed widespread virus infection of the crop. Symptoms observed included severe leaf malformation/reduction and rugosity. This research was therefore aimed at identifying viruses infecting Trichosanthes cucumerina in this location. Infected leaf samples were collected and virus maintained on young seedlings of T. cucumerina in the Botanical Garden of University of Calabar, Nigeria. Diagnostic tools included ACP-ELISA and gene sequence analysis. The ELISA result revealed two viruses belonging to the genus Cucumovirus and Potyvirus. The identity of the viruses were determined after virus sequences were compared with other viruses available in the GenBank of National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) using the basic local alignment search tool (BLASTn). The result revealed the Cucumovirus to be Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) while the Potyvirus was revealed to be Potato virus Y (PVY). This is the first report of mixed virus infection on Trichosanthes cucumerina in Nigeria. Original Research Article Eyong et al.; AJAAR, 15(2): 53-58, 2021; Article no.AJAAR.67945 54

Influence of Mineral Fertilizer on the Growth of Maize (Zea mays L.) and Soil Fertility Improvement for Food Security, Environmental Development and Sustainable Agriculture

Abstract: Influence of mineral fertilizer on the growth of maize (Zea mays L.) and soil fertility improvement for food security, environmental development and sustainable agriculture were studied. Five treatments viz: 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 kg of NPK (15:15:15) mineral fertilizer per hectare (kg ha -1 ) were used in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replicates. These treatments were applied once to five week-old seedlings of Zea mays (L.) using ring method. The effects of these treatments on plant height (PH) and number of leaves (NOL) were monitored weekly. Soil samples were taken and analyzed in the laboratory, before and after cropping. The study showed that NPK (15:15:15) mineral fertilizer increased plant height, number of leaves and nutrient (N, P,K, Ca, Na, Mg, Organic matter, Cation Exchange Capacity and pH) content of the soil. The highest (p = 0.05) plant height and number of leaves were obtained from NPK treatment at 20 kg ha -1 which stands significantly (p < 0.05) different over the control. At p < 0.05, there were significant difference among treatments. The use of NPK mineral fertilizer at an application rate between 15 and 20 kg NPK (15:15:15) ha -1 seems effective, responsive and productive for maximum growth of maize (Zea mays L.), for soil fertility improvement, food security, environmental development and for sustainable agricultural production. World Scientific News 56 (2016) 189-216 -190