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.

Knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of epilepsy among secondary school teachers in Osogbo South-West Nigeria: A community based study

Abstract: Background: The attitudes toward people with epilepsy are influenced by the degree of knowledge of the condition. The social problems encountered by school children with epilepsy as a result of negative attitude and beliefs are quite enormous. Objectives The study therefore looked at the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of teachers, who see a lot of epileptics, relate to them on a daily basis and have influence on them. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey, using a self-administered questionnaire obtained from the author of a similar study in the United States, was carried out among 269 school teachers randomly selected from various secondary schools in Osogbo, the Osun State capital in South-West Nigeria. The questionnaire included the scale of attitudes toward persons with epilepsy and knowledge about epilepsy as well as demographic and teaching experience survey among others. Results Despite the high level of education of the teachers ranging from Masters Degree to National Certificate in Education, there were significant deficits in terms of general knowledge about epilepsy (70% of the respondents reported their general knowledge about epilepsy in the lower half of the scale). There was also poor knowledge of the first aids measures in the classrooms. Below one-third (29.2%) felt it was contagious and 40% of respondents reported that sufferers should not be kept in regular classes. However, their attitudes toward epilepsy were generally positive. Conclusions and Recommendations: We concluded that teachers need to have health education courses on common disease conditions such as epilepsy that are prevalent in school age; this might help to reduce the prejudice and increase the acceptance of epileptic individuals in the classrooms. Also, generally public health campaigns should be encouraged in this field.

Ketamine-induced behavioural and brain oxidative changes in mice: an assessment of possible beneficial effects of zinc as mono- or adjunct therapy.

Abstract: We studied the influence of zinc, haloperidol or olanzapine on neurobehaviour (open-field, radial arm maze and elevated plus maze) and brain antioxidant status in vehicle- or ketamine-treated mice, with the aim of ascertaining the potentials of zinc in counteracting ketamine’s effects. Experiment 1 assessed the effects of zinc in healthy animals and the relative degrees of modulation of ketamine’s effects by zinc, haloperidol or olanzapine, respectively. Experiment 2 assessed the modulation of ketamine’s effects following co-administration of zinc with haloperidol or olanzapine. Male mice weighing 18–20 g each were used. Animals were pretreated with ketamine (except vehicle, zinc, haloperidol and olanzapine controls) for 10 days before commencement of 14-day treatment (day 11–24) with vehicle, zinc, haloperidol or olanzapine (alone or in combination). Ketamine injection also continued alongside zinc and/or standard drugs in the ketamine-treated groups. Zinc, haloperidol and olanzapine were administered by gavage. Treatments were given daily and behaviours assessed on days 11 and 24. On day 24, animals were sacrificed and whole brain homogenates used for estimation of glutathione, nitric oxide and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Ketamine increased open-field behaviours, nitric oxide and MDA levels, while it decreased working memory, social interaction and glutathione. Administration of zinc alone or in combination with haloperidol or olanzapine was associated with variable degrees of reversal of these effects. Zinc may have the potential of a possible therapeutic agent and/or adjunct in the reversal of schizophrenia-like changes in behaviour and brain oxidative status.

Yield Response of Biodiesel Production from Heterogeneous and Homogeneous Catalysis of Milk Bush Seed (Thevetia peruviana) Oil

Abstract: Conventional production of biodiesel employs the use of alkaline catalysts because they are cheaper and less corrosive, and they use minimal energy when compared to other acidic catalysts. Heterogeneous catalysts have also shown significant effects on biodiesel production with its ease of recovery and reusability. Three reaction variables—temperature, time, and molar ratio of alcohol to oil—were optimized for biodiesel production from milk bush oil using snail shell as a catalyst. The catalyst was prepared by calcinating waste giant African land snail in an electric oven for 3.5 hours at 900°C. Also, a control transesterification experiment was carried out using potassium hydroxide (KOH) as a catalyst. Catalyst concentrations of 3.0 wt % of calcined snail shell (CSS) and KOH were used for the transesterification of the oil. A response surface analysis of biodiesel production using CSS as a catalyst showed that all reaction variables were significant. Biodiesel yield of 81% was recorded experimenta...

Studies on Biodegradation of Kerosene in Soil under Different Bioremediation Strategies

Abstract: The effectiveness of bioremediation is often a function of the microbial population and how they can be enriched and maintained in an environment. Strategies for inexpensive in situ bioremediation of soil contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons include stimulation of the indigenous microorganisms by introduction of nutrients (biostimulation) and/or through inoculation of an enriched mixed microbial culture into soil (bioaugmentation). To demonstrate the potential use of bioremediation in soil contaminated with kerosene, a laboratory study with the objective of evaluating and comparing the effects of bioattenuation, biostimulation, bioaugmentation, and combined biostimulation and bioaugmentation was performed. The present study dealt with the biodegradation of kerosene in soil under different bioremediation treatment strategies: bioattenuation, biostimulation, bioaugmentation, and combined biostimulation and bioaugmentation, respectively. Each treatment strategy contained 10% (w/w) kerosene in so...