Plants and plant-based compounds are the basis of many of the modern pharmaceuticals used today for the treatment of various dreadful diseases. Medicinal plants have been a major source of therapeutic agents since ancient times, to cure human disease. Nigella sativa L, an annual herbaceous plant commonly known as Kalonji or Black cumin has been used from centuries for treatment of various ailments. Its seeds have been extensively studied in the last 4-5 decades and these studies have reported it to possess a number of medicinal properties. The present study dealt with extraction of Nigella sativa seeds with n-Hexane and GC-MS analysis of the prepared extract. This phytochemical study will be useful in determination of the pharmacological activity of the extract. Major constituents of the extract was found to be trilinolein, thymoquinone and acetoiso vanillone

The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity, thrombolytic, anthelmintic and antioxidant activity of mehanolic extract of Litsea monopetala (Family: Lauraceae) leaves in laboratory using in vitro methods. Cytotoxicity test was done by brine shrimp lethality bioassay where the extract concentration was 400, 200, 100, 50, 25, 12.5, 6.25, 3.125, 1.5625, 0.78125 (µg/ml). In vitro thrombolytic activity was performed by clot lysis method using extract concentration 2.5, 5, 10 and 20 (mg/mL) in saline water. Anthelmintic activity test was done by using adult earthworms where 10, 20, 40, 60, 80 (mg/ml) extract concentration were used. Finally antioxidant activity was determined by total phenolic content determination using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. The crude extract of Litsea monopetala showed cytotoxic activity against brine shrimp nauplii and LC50 value was 41.05(µg/ml) and the investigated thrombolytic activity in our research was 9.52,9.49, 13.64 and 17.50 % respectively as % of clot lysis. The paralysis time were at 76.75 min, 60min, 51.75 min, 44.5 min and 64.5 min and death were at 90.50min, 63.75min, 55.50min, 44.75min and 71min. respectively. The crude extract displayed significant antioxidant activity which was 20.75 (mg of GAE / gm) of extracts. The activities observed could be attributed to presence of some of the phytochemicals which have been related with cytotoxic, thrombolytic, anthelmintic and antioxidant property

Relationship between livelihoods and the immediate habitat are very significant for the tribal populations in India and more specifically with regards to simple societies like the particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTG). The resourcefulness and dynamics of the ecosystem usually of the forest, in many cases have a very direct impact on the sustainability of livelihood of the tribe in question. This may be attributed to the degrading ecosystem and continuous loss of biodiversity, which may in turn is referred to both internal and external factors. Compared to the internal, external factors are potentially detrimental to the environment equilibrium as the non-tribal populations exploit the forest recourses indiscriminately for various purposes using advanced technology, disrupting the biodiversity. The forest biodiversity and livelihood practices are very directly related as tribals rely on it not only for food, but also for their shelter, medicine, and religious and emotional leanings. With these drastic changes taking place at ecological level the owes of securing livelihoods have increased, making the Chenchu to initiate new practices of food procurement, some of them being designed by the agents of developmental interventions. A keen observation and analysis of these developments gives the insight that the Chenchu are moving from self-sufficient habitat based means to new trends that are culturally alien aimed at weaning them away from the local recourses rapidly increasing interdependency on the outer world.

Abstract: The present research work is an attempt to analyze the changes in physic-chemical characteristics of Dikhu River stretch in Nagaland. The work encompasses the seasonal fluctuations in the river Dikhu which affects river ecology to great extent and other correlative biological factors. Hence this work could be used by many researchers in the ecological research of river ecosystem to have better understanding of the biological systems and effect of the fluctuations on them.

Local government by hierarchy of superiority, has the lower rank among the three tiers of government, but invariably the most significant unit. This is because local government is more closer to the people at the grass root level. The closeness to the people in the society create an avenue to have the full knowledge of each and every family, which pave so many ways of improving the personal lives of the people and have quick access to solutions of the problem affecting the society. Crime prevention and control can only be successfully accomplished with the help of the local government authorities. This paper shall seek to examine the roles local government plays in preventing and controlling of crime in the nation, and lastly proffer solutions to them.

The effects of metronidazole (MN) on intestinal absorption properties are less investigated. This work aimed at assessing the effect of MN on piperaquine (PQ) permeability from dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DP) co-formulated antimalarial product, across intestinal epithelial membrane. Excised intestinal tissues from New Zealand male albino rabbits (n=2) were loaded with DP equivalent to PQ (100 mg/mL) and MN (100 mg/mL), according to animals’ body weight. Tissues were submerged in tyrode solution (TS) in an organ bath (100 mL). DP alone was similarly loaded in duodenum and ileum as control C1 and C2, respectively. Sampling (5 mL) of TS was taken at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 6 h post immersion. Analysis of samples was performed using high pressure liquid chromatographic (HPLC) system with Zorbact Eclipse XDB column C8 (150 x 4.6 mm, 4.6 µm), mobile phase containing acetonitrile: 10 mM ammonium acetate (70:30, % v/v). The UV wavelength of detection and flow rate were 220 nm and 0.7 mL/min, respectively. The kinetics of PQ permeation was unaffected by MN. The area under the curve at 2 h (AUC0-2) and 6 h (AUC0-6) for duodenum revealed no difference (0.6285±0.0085 versus 0.6198±0.0083 µg.mLh-1, P=0.500) but lower (2.4863±0.0328 versus 3.3975±0.3638 µg.mLh-1, P=0.008) and for ileum, lower (0.1600±0.0170 versus 1.5408±0.4275 µg.mLh-1, P=0.001) and (0.9460±0.0506 versus 5.6603±0.1073 µg.mLh-1, P=0.011), respectively. The maximum concentration achieved were also lower than the respective controls (P<0.05). MN reduced the permeability of PQ across the intestinal regions. These findings will help to optimize therapeutic implications on concurrent administration

Nigeria as a country have experienced a number of reform and economic policies pursued by previous Heads of Government from Independence to the democratic dispensation of former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. One of these policy package was the transformation agenda which was planned to last for the period of five (5) years. The strength of the Transformation Agenda lies in a well thought out policy document, driven by the best world class Economic Management Team through a potential financial, human and political resource based. The total projected investment for the 5 years programme was N35. 511.29 trillion. Out of this, government will contribute 57.10% or N20. 277.72 trillion, while the private sector share will be 42. 9% or N15. 233.57 trillion. Looking at the cash flow budgetary plan, one will expect a drastic ransacked economic recovery. In spite of this huge investment, the country growth at this mention period remained blurred and disastrous however, a number of threats and challenges to the realization of the Transformation Agenda were cited as the caused. These include, absence of good governance and accountability; ineffective public service; lack of synergy between political office holders and holders of public office; the incessant problem of insecurity; corruption to mention but a few. Haven embarked on a rigorous and extensive qualitative method of research design, the authors adopted a content analysis method for analyzing their findings, the paper posited that there is the need for a radical developmental strategy that will guarantee inclusiveness as opposed to exclusiveness in the governance of the Transformation Agenda and almost all previous reform policies which shall act as a platform for future government reform plan. The paper was divided into five sub-related sections including introduction, theoretical framework and review of related literature, some selected reform agenda. While the fourth section was specifically dedicated to the constraints and challenges of the reform agenda; and section five dealt with concluding remark and recommendations.

Over the recent decades, there has been seismic shift in the field of ocular drug delivery ranging from dosage form design to drug product commercialization. Advancements in the fields of nanotechnology, biomedical engineering and clinical science significantly improved the feasibility of ocular drug delivery. Despite these technological advances, there exists need to deliver drugs in therapeutic levels for the treatment of ophthalmic ailments. Strategies improving pre-corneal residence and enhancing transcorneal penetration of drugs/drug molecules showed a promise for targeted delivery. Delivery of drugs through ophthalmic route is compromised by multitude of factors including but not limited to static, dynamic and metabolic barriers. Iontophoresis appears to be a minimally invasive technique to drive molecules into posterior ocular milieu. In this review, recent developments in the iontophoresis technique for delivery of drugs across the ocular globe is summarized and discussed

With the international human rights literature the problem of discrimination has been conceptualized as involving the denial of self-determination of women. Attaining equality between women and men and eliminating all forms of discrimination against women are fundamental human rights. Women around the world nevertheless regularly suffer violations of their human rights throughout their lives, and realizing women‟s human rights has not always been a priority. Achieving equality between women and men requires a comprehensive understanding of the ways in which women experience discrimination and are denied equality so as to develop appropriate strategies to eliminate such discrimination. This paper examined various ways women human rights have been violated despite and some international conferences that have been aimed at eliminating such discriminations.

Post-dengue fatigue syndrome (PDFS) is not uncommon phenomenon of dengue viral infection. The PDFS has wide spectrum of musculo-skeletal and neurological features. It was observed in 25% of hospitalized patients with dengue. The exact pathogenesis is not known, but this complex interaction of immune, endocrine, musculoskeletal and neurological system act through the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis causing clinical features of fatigue in dengue. Persuade a balanced diet, and converse with patients their nutritional habits. Advice about graded exercise is essential. Anti-depressants are of minimal benefits for post viral fatigue. I performed systematic reviews of the published literature. The database, Pubmed was searched using the term of ‘dengue fatigue’ or ‘Post dengue fatigue’, or ‘post viral fatigue’ and ‘post infectious fatigue’ in any field with no data limits. After exclusion of double entries, I assessed all publications. I included articles related to fatigue due to post viral and dengue viral infection. Two articles were found related to post dengue fatigue syndrome. The rest of the information was extracted from the articles related to post viral fatigue syndrome

Nigeria as a country is endowed with what is required to become one of the greatest countries of the world in terms of social, political, economic and educational development, but the menace of “Nigerian factor” has become one of the major impediments to the realization of that feat. The menace has become part of the socio-cultural pattern among Nigerians that it has become very difficult to uproot in spite of the anti-corruption war. Nigerian factor is a corrupt value system and mind-set that are learnt either consciously or unconsciously which propels an individual to seek for selfgratification against the collective interest and growth of the nation. It manifests in the attitude to work of Nigerians, expectation of gratification and appreciation before carrying out an official duty, “sorting” in educational institutions in order to gain undue advantage from lecturers, nepotism and cronyism, long leg, poor attitude to due process, bottom power, among others. Nigerian factor puts both private and public officers in a fix between doing the right thing or towing the line of the menace, it affects the quality of graduates from educational institutions, leads to marginalization of those that refuse to tow its line, and so on. The paper therefore recommends value reorientation through effective teaching of values in Social Studies at different levels of education, attitudinal change through the instrumentality of education, modelling of appropriate values and attitudes among others.

The fetal brain injury associated with maternal caffeine administration in rats was studied using the Cajal reactive astrocytes method. Thirty (30) adult female rats were mated and pregnant female rats were divided into three major groups, namely A, B and C. Each group had ten pregnant rats. Group A served as the control and were served distilled water. Groups B and C received 50 mg and 90 mg/kg per body weight of caffeine (Sigma-Aldrich). On the 20th day of gestation, pregnant rats were sacrificed by chloroform inhalation method. Sixty fetuses were randomly selected and weighed. The brains of fetuses were harvested and fixed in 10 % neutral buffered formalin. Sections of the fetal brain were processed histologically using the Cajal reactive astrocytes staining method. Results revealed normal morphological appearance of astrocytes in the brain of fetal rats given distilled water while the sections of fetal brain of rats exposed to maternal administration of 50 mg and 90 mg/kg body weight of caffeine showed increased number of astrocytes that were hypertrophied and are termed reactive astrocytes. There was no significant difference in weights of animals in control group and test groups. Based on the presence of reactive astrocytes observed in the test group, the study suggests that maternal caffeine administration may induce fetal brain injury in rats

One of the well known images in the iconography of ancient Egypt is the Nut, Shu, Geb scene. In this paper the author used the “solar cosmological interpretation” (SCI) to enforce the perception of this scene as a depiction of the process of creation. The method of SCI implies the use of the deductive approach to establish the kemetic cosmological argument (KCA) and the pre-suppositional use of the systematic natural theology that the KCA constitutes to correlate and enforce the Nut, Shu, Geb scene as a cosmogonical and cosmological depiction; the correlation thus established between the KCA and the NSGS extends the scientific nature of the former to the later and evidences that the Nut, Shu, Geb scene is not only the depiction of the origin of the temporal universe, but also a pictorial explanation of the nature of our universe.

Cancer of the ovary represents about 30% of all gynaecological cancers. Surface epithelial tumours are the most commonly diagnosed subgroup. The present study included 80 cases of ovarian tumours diagnosed over a period of 5 years (4 years retrospective and 1 year prospective). The tumours were broadly classified into benign, borderline and malignant groups. The strength of ER expression increased on progressing from benign to malignant tumour morphology. An increase in ER staining grade was observed with increasing FIGO stage. Anti-ER therapy may potentially be of use in patients with advanced disease

In this paper the author handles the issue of secularism in African context and shows that it is wrongly defined due to the use of European inherited or mimicked standards. He explains that, while Western perception places religion out of the field of science, the naturalized epistemology of African indigenous knowledge demonstrates that religion is one of the three components of African traditional science and that contrary to Western Christianity and to Islam, African traditional religion (ATR) involves a scientific content explaining rationally the relationship between God, man and the universe, and cultural contents necessitated by the need to apply the scientific religious principles within specific milieus. Moreover, ATR thus defined leads to a scientific and normative discourse of morality. Therefore, any strategy of secularization in Africa must first make the distinction between the scientific content of ATR and its cultural ones. It is thus obvious that, as far ATR is concerned, African governments must adopt non-secular policy vis-à-vis its scientific aspects, as it is the case for any science, and apply secularism only toward its cultural contents.