Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

About: Ladoke Akintola University of Technology is a education organization based out in Ogbomoso, Nigeria. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Adsorption. The organization has 2786 authors who have published 3066 publications receiving 36850 citations. The organization is also known as: Oyo State University of Technology & LAUTECH.

Analysis of Zika virus dynamics with sexual transmission route using multiple optimal controls

Abstract: In this paper, we formulate and analyse a nonlinear optimal control problem for a Zika virus (ZIKV) infection model with sexual transmission route. An existing deterministic 11-dimensional autonomous system of differential equations is extended to include five time-dependent control functions, namely personal protection, condom use, vaccination, treatment and spraying of insecticide. The necessary conditions for the existence of optimal control quintuple are shown, and we determine the control strategies to minimize the spread dynamics of the ZIKV in the population at the minimum cost of control implementation. The derived optimality system is solved numerically to demonstrate the effectiveness of the different combinations of the five optimal controls in curtailing the transmission and spread of the disease. More importantly, we conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis on the combinations of at least four optimal controls to ascertain the most cost-effective strategy that can be used to hamper the ZIKV spread in the population.

Analysis of information and communication technologies (ICT) usage on logistics activities of manufacturing companies in southwestern Nigeria

Abstract: The research aims to analyze the impact of ICT usage on logistics activities of manufacturing companies. The business environment today has been undergoing unprecedented change and many companies are seeking new ways to stand out from the competition by sustaining their competitive advantage. In today's highly competitive global marketplace, the pressure on organization's to find new ways to creating and delivering value to customers is growing stronger. ICT is today being applied in many organizations in a wide range and operations areas. One hundred manufacturing companies, basically medium/large companies formed the sample of the study based on random sampling technique. Apart from the descriptive statistics adopted, data analysis was done using SPSS to obtain the correlation coefficient of variables. The study revealed that there were strong relationships between ICT usage and Logistics activities, although managers recognize the importance and need of ICT adoption for building and enhancing their competitive advantage, adoption of their ICT tends to reduce operating costs more than improve service levels. The research recommends that Government should facilitate manufacturing companies' gainful participation in global value chains through policy initiatives in specific areas by promoting technological upgrading and facilitating of compliance procedures through adoption of process and products standards.

Exogenous daytime melatonin modulates response of adolescent mice in a repeated unpredictable stress paradigm

Abstract: The immediate and short-term behavioural and physiological implications of exposure to stressful scenarios in the adolescent period are largely unknown; however, increases in occurrence of stress-related physiological and psychological disorders during puberty highlight the need to study substances that may modulate stress reactivity during a crucial stage of maturation. Seven groups of mice (12–15 g each) were administered distilled water (DW) (non-stressed and stressed controls), sertraline (10 mg/kg), diazepam (2 mg/kg) or one of three doses of melatonin (5, 10 and 15 mg/kg). Mice were exposed to 30 min of chronic mild stress (25 min of cage shaking, cage tilting, handling and 5 min of forced swimming in tepid warm water at 25 °C, in a random order) after administration of DW or drugs, daily for 21 days. Behavioural assessments were conducted on day 1 and day 21 (after which mice were sacrificed, blood taken for estimation of corticosterone levels and brain homogenates used for estimation of antioxidant activities). Administration of melatonin resulted in an increase in horizontal locomotion and self-grooming, while rearing showed a time-dependent increase, compared to non-stress and stress controls. Working memory improved with increasing doses of melatonin (compared to controls and diazepam); in comparison to setraline however, working memory decreased. A dose-related anxiolytic effect is seen when melatonin is compared to non-stressed and stressed controls. Melatonin administration reduced the systemic/oxidant response to repeated stress. Administration of melatonin in repeatedly stressed adolescent mice was associated with improved central excitation, enhancement of working memory, anxiolysis and reduced systemic response to stress.

Isolation, identification, characterization, and screening of rhizospheric bacteria for herbicidal activity

Abstract: The consistent application of agrochemical herbicides has been reported to impact negatively on human health, environment, and food safety, and facilitated the emergence of weed resistances. Rhizosphere bacteria (RB) of different crops were screened for antagonism against Amaranthus hybridus L. (pigweed) and Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv. (barnyard grass) using necrosis assay technique. A total of eight rhizosphere bacterial isolates (B1–B8) produced different degrees of leaf necrosis on target weeds with isolate B2 manifesting the most significant necrotic activity. The rhizospheric bacterium (B2) with the highest necrotic activity was identified using 16S rRNA sequencing technique and further investigated. Molecular, morphological, and biochemical characterizations confirmed B2 isolate to be Pseudomonas aeruginosa. On isolation with ethyl acetate, separation, defatting, purification, and flash chromatography, seven different fractions (fraction 1–fraction 7) were obtained out of which fraction 4 showed the highest necrotic activity in necrosis assay experiment. Preparative HPLC of fraction 4 resulted in a pure compound that completely inhibited seed germination and seedling development of pigweed and barnyard grass but remained non-antagonistic to other tested soil fungi used in this study. The result obtained from this present study consequently confirmed the antagonistic behavior of rhizosphere-inhabiting P. aeruginosa to the target weeds and qualified the suitability of bacterium as good alternative source of bioherbicide. Potential herbicidal formulation from P. aeruginosa will help reduce crop loss due to weed challenges while offering a partial solution to the use of agrochemicals and food security.

Oxidative Indices Correlate with Dyslipidemia and Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Levels in Fluoride-Exposed Rats

Abstract: The aim of this study was to establish the effects of fl uoride on lipid metabolism and attendant infl ammatory response by exposing rats to 50 mg L -1 and 100 mg L -1 of fl uoride through drinking water for seven weeks. Both concentrations led to hypercholesterolemia while the 100 mg L -1 concentration induced hypertriglyceridaemia. High density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels dropped in the exposed rats while interleukin 2 (IL-2) increased more than 1.5-fold (p<0.05) and IL-6 and plasma TNF-α more than 2.5 fold (p<0.05). Fluoride-exposed rats also had signifi cantly higher levels of liver malondialdehyde (MDA) and plasma lipid hydroperoxide (LOOH) but lower plasma paraoxonase (PON1) activity. Oxidative stress indices correlated with pro-infl ammatory cytokines and plasma cholesterol. In contrast, proinfl ammatory cytokines inversely correlated with plasma triglyceride, HDL cholesterol and PON1. Our results suggest that the association between fl uoride exposure with cardiovascular diseases may be related to its ability to disturb lipid homeostasis, and trigger pro-infl ammatory cytokines and oxidative stress.