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.

Contributions of Jos Wildlife Park towards conservation education in Plateau State.

Abstract: The study explored the contributions of Jos Wildlife Park towards conservation education in Plateau State, Nigeria. Data for the study were collected through observation, review of records, oral interview and structured questionnaires. Data obtained were analysed using descriptive statistics in the form of tables, frequency of counts and percentages. A total of 100 questionnaires were administered. Results showed that 90% and 9% of the respondents were students and teachers respectively. 44% and 31% became aware of the park through students and teachers respectively while 21% knew of the park through electronic media. 68% and/or 79% visited the park purposely to see animals and learn respectively. 72% and 12% of the respondents indicated that observing wildlife species and conservation lectures were the peak of their enjoyment in the park. 81% of the respondents prefer being conducted round the park by tour guides to ensure that learning is incorporated. 94% of the respondents are willing to visit the park again. The study further showed that the number of educational visitors increased progressively from 3,844 in the year 1998 to 14,838 in the year 2001. Also, the study revealed that visitors who crave to observe and learn about endangered, threatened, rare and abundant species of wildlife and their environments flock the Jos Wildlife Park on daily basis. Suggestions on how to sustain continuous conservation education were made. Journal of Environmental Extension Vol 5 2005: 70-76

Electrochemical and quantum chemical parameters of (-)-(S)-9-flu¬oro-2,3-dihydro-3-methyl-10-(4-methyl-1-pipera-zinyl)-7-oxo-7H-pyrido[1,2,3-de]-1,4-benzoxazine-6-carboxylic acidas anti-corrosive agent for API 5L X-52 steel

Abstract: The inhibitive action of (-)-(S)-9-fluoro-2,3-dihydro-3-methyl-10-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-7-oxo-7H-pyrido[1,2,3-de]-1,4-benzoxazine-6-carboxylic acid (Levaquin) on API 5L X-52 steel in 2 M HCl solution was investigated using potentiodynamic polarization method and quantum chemical study. Levaquin drug showed good inhibition efficiency of 88 and 95 % at 303 and 323 K, respectively. The results of experimental measurements revealed that Levaquin drug works as a mixed type inhibitor. Langmuir thermodynamic model was tested to describe the mode of inhibitor adsorption on the steel surface. The quantum chemical calculations confirmed the efficacy of Levaquin drug as a corrosion inhibitor.

Inhibition of key enzymes linked to snake venom induced local tissue damage by kolaviron

Abstract: Abstract Objectives Snakebite envenoming is an important public health problem that threatens the lives of healthy individuals especially in many tropical countries like Nigeria. Antivenins, the only efficient approach for snakebite envenoming, are limited in their efficacy in the neutralization of local tissue damage. Snake venom phospholipase A2 (PLA2), protease, hyaluronidase and l-amino acid oxidase (LAAO) are the major hydrolytic enzymes involve in local tissue damage. Therefore, this study evaluates the inhibitory effect of kolaviron (KV) against Naja n. nigricollis (NNN) snake venom hydrolytic enzymes involved in local tissue damage. Methods Kolaviron was evaluated for its ability to inhibit the hydrolytic enzyme activities of NNN venom phospholipase A2 (PLA2), protease, hyaluronidase and l-amino acid oxidase (LAAO). Present study also deals with the neutralization of NNN venom enzyme(s) induced complications such as myotoxic, edemic, hemolytic and procoagulant effects. Results Kolaviron inhibited the PLA2, protease, hyaluronidase and LAAO enzyme activities of NNN venom in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, myotoxic, edemic, hemolytic and procoagulant effects induced by NNN venom enzyme were neutralized significantly (p<0.05) when different doses of KV were pre-incubated with venom before assays. Conclusions These findings clearly present kolaviron as a potent inhibitor against NNN venom hydrolytic enzymes involved in local tissue damage and may act by either forming an inhibitor-enzyme complex that restricts the substrate availability to the enzyme or direct binding to the enzyme active site that affects the enzyme activity thereby mitigating venom-induced toxicity.

Biodiversity and Phylogenetic Relationship of Total Hydrocarbon Degrading Genes in Selected Bacteria Species

Abstract: Hydrocarbons which forms the bulk of soil and water pollutants in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria differs in their susceptibility to microbial attack and degradation. Considering the importance of hydrocarbons in the economy of any nation, a complete knowledge of the hydrocarbons degrading capabilities of associated microbial species becomes increasingly important and indispensable. The research was aimed at assessing the biodiversity and phylogenetic relationship of hydrocarbon degrading genes in selected bacteria species. Sequences of nucleotides and amino acids of hydrocarbons degrading genes in 12 species of bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa I & II, P. stutgeni, Thalassosqir spp. I & II, Alcavorox spp., Arthrobacter spp., Martellela spp., P. taenensis, Aneuribacillus species, Rhodococcus spp. and Uncultured bacteria, were retrieved from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and analysed for their variability in physicochemical properties, percentage identity and similarity, G-C content, secondary and tertiary structures, their biodiversity and their phylogenetic relationship using MEGA 6 soft-wares, GOR IV, Phyre, Genscan and SIB Protparam. The analysis showed great genetic diversity and polymorphism in the hydrocarbon degrading genes present in the bacteria species. The phylogenetic tree showed that the genes in most species had undergone mutation. Martella spp had the highest probability or chance of mutating with E-value of 7e-129. Only two of the bacteria species had low instability index indicating that majority of the bacteria species contains or possessed the unstable nature of the hydrocarbon degrading genes. The biodiversity of bacterial species and their genetic distance was ascertained.