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Climate change is a real global threat. The main cause of the current global warming trend is human expansion of the “greenhouse effect”. The biodiversity is a perfect design freely offered for well-being of all humanity; it provides benefits such as food security, resil­iency, health…etc. Agrobiodiversity which is a vital sub-set of biodiversity playing a key role in food security will be increasingly threatened by climate change worldwide. Algeria is among the countries that will be most vulnerable to climate change due to its predominance of arid and semi-arid regions. Despite many efforts taken per Algeria to preserve biodiversity in general, genetic erosion of different ecosystems remains an alarming fact caused by several factors linked for climatic conditions, socio-cultural upheaval, difficulties for application of legislations, lack of consistent programs and adequate mechanisms for the effective implementation of the various strategies to safeguard biodiversity in the widest possible context. Awareness-raising campaigns on the need to preserve local resources with their diversity, in situ and ex situ conservation, the promotion of resilient crops and systems, the support of research in general and that of development in particular, participatory approach and better collaboration between the various actors in the agricultural and environmental sectors are some options for sustainable development and to lift the challenge of climate change in Algeria.

In the present study, pyrolysis of domestic tea waste was carried out to yield bio-char. The biochar obtained was further used as a substitute for graphite in synthesis of graphene oxide (GO) in the conventional process. GO obtained was further applied for fluoride removal from simulated effluents. The prepared adsorbent was characterized using SEM, XRD and FTIR analysis. Effect of different experimental parameters on the de-fluoridation efficiency of the reported adsorbent was investigated. Data obtained was further used for determination of process isotherms, kinetics and thermodynamics. The regeneration potential of the reported adsorbent was also determined. The experimental results suggested that equilibrium adsorption data was strongly guided by the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetics. Analysis of process thermodynamics also revealed that the adsorption reaction was spontaneous chemisorption in nature. Significant process parameters including GO dosage, ambient temperature and contact time were optimized using Response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural network (ANN). Results of RSM and ANN analysis indicated good correlation between experimentally recorded and theoretically predicted % fluoride removals. Under optimized conditions, fluoride removal efficiency was found to be 98.31%. Therefore, it can be inferred that tea waste derived biochar may be accepted as a sustainable alternative of graphite for GO synthesis. Moreover GO so obtained has immense potential for de- fluoridation of effluents in highly reduced dosage and treatment time.

Background: Transfer Factor (TF) is an immune modulator which stimulates the cellular arm of the immune system (killer lymphocytes), activates immune cytokine synthesis and regulates immune function (Lawrence, 1955).TF is very effective in those diseases in which CMI plays a relevant role in protection and control of the disease, such as intracellular bacterial diseases (tuberculosis). ( Estrada Parra, et al1955). TF are low molecular weight products from immune cells that are able to transmit the ability to express delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) and cell mediated immunity (CMI) from sensitized donors to non immune recipients (Kirkpatrick, 2000). Objectives: The aim of this experimental study is to determine the protective efficacy of transfer factor (TF) as immunotherapy for mice in comparison to BCG. Materials and methods: A total number of 102 mice were examined for their immunopotency and protective efficacy of Transfer factor (TF) comparing to the protective efficacy of BCG single and second repeated dose against challenge dose of M. tuberculosis (107 CFU) . A number of 20 mice were immunize with the attenuated strain of M. bovis, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG). After 21 days of BCG spleens of 10 tuberculous mice were removed aseptically for the preparation of TF. To evaluate the effect of TF 3 groups of inbred BALB/c male mice were injected with TF and challenged with virulent M. tuberculosis, followed by another 3 groups of inbred BALB/c male mice which were immunized with BCG single and second repeated dose. All mice with BCG and TF were tested for tuberculin skin test (TST) so as to determine susceptibility and resistance against tuberculosis, susceptible groups of mice were challenged with virulent M. tuberculosis. Followed by study of humoral response by immunization of a group of mice with immune serum and challenged with M. tuberculosis H37Rv strain. Followed by an experiment of…

Mango seed and kernel are regarded as waste and have been underutilized in the food industry. This study investigated the physicochemical and antioxidant properties of mango kernel and seed flour. In addition, mango kernel flour was employed as composite flour for biscuit production. Proximate composition of mango seed and kernel include; protein (3.58%-10.48%), fat (10.01%-18.00%), crude fibre (2.48%-2.63%) and carbohydrate (64.57%-75.80%). The result of functional properties of flour from mango seed revealed that the seed possessed oil (2.80 g/ml) and water absorption capacities (4.00g/ml) that were significantly higher than that of the kernel. However, the mineral analysis showed that mango kernel had values that were significantly higher than that of the seed in calcium (896.40 mg/100g: 4122.45 mg/100g), potassium (540.50 mg/100g: 376.27 mg/100g) and magnesium (814.53 mg/100g: 474.44 mg/100g). Antioxidant activities exhibited by mango kernel were significantly higher when compared to that of mango seed in the ability to scavenge 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (98.10%; 74.70%), ferric reducing properties(72.18 mg/100g; 52.65 mg/100g), flavonoid content (42.36 mg/100g; 19.01 mg/100g) and phenol (1222.13 mg/100g; 512.33 mg/100g). The proximate composition of the biscuits produced using wheat flour and mango kernel flour in different ratios;95%:5%, 90%:10% and 85%:15% revealed that biscuits from composite flour had protein content that were significantly higher than that of 100% wheat flour (control). Sensory results showed that biscuits from wheat- mango kernel flour were scored above average for overall acceptability.

The field experiments was conducted at Kobo, Mersa and Chefa testing sites of Sirinka Agricultural Research Center in1999 and 2000 seasons for varieties adaptation and 2004 and 2005 seasons for genotypes selection. The experiments were conducted in randomized block design using three replications with the objectives of selecting adaptable variety for the lowland areas of Wollo. Analysis of variance for each environment revealed significant differences across the tested environments and from adaptation experiment variety Abasina is high seed-yielder (12.33 qt ha-1) and had low deviation from linear regression coefficient implying its stability for different environments. Therefore, Abasina was recommended for the lowland areas of northeastern Ethiopia and from genotype selection, Pungun yonggae showed stable performance and gave high seed and oil yield across the tested environments providing a seed and oil yield advantages of 99.0% and 94.9%, respectively over the standard check, while Kelafo 74 x C-22 sel 4 had specific adaptation to more favorable environments with a seed and oil yield advantages of 106.3 and 116.7%, respectively over the standard check. Therefore, based on their performances, Pungun yonggae and Kelafo 74 x C-22 sel 4 were officially released for production with the name of Borkena, and Ahadu respectively.

Background: Various efforts have been made to improve utilization of neglected and under-utilized legumes at home, cottage and industrial levels, however, utilization is still low. Objective: To identify the major constraints to the utilization of some under-utilized legumes (soybean, lima-bean, pigeon-pea, kidney-bean and bambara groundnut). Methods: Structured and semi-structure questionnaire were used to assess information from students of Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Pearson Chi square was used to test the hypotheses. Results: Soybean stands out among the studied under-utilized legumes in terms of knowledge and perception among respondents. More than half of the respondents (54.6%) had heard of or read about soybean while only 2% had heard of or read about lima bean; 52.6% had seen soybean while 2.6% had seen lima bean; 49.3% had soybean in their present food timetable while none of the respondents (0%) had lima bean in their present food time table. Knowledge of the underutilized legumes followed the order, soybean> pigeon pea>kidney bean>bambara groundnut>lima bean. Pearson Chi square analyses revealed that non recognition and lack of information on the under-utilized legumes affected utilization, but hard to cook nature of the under-utilized legumes did not affect their utilization. The constraints to the utilization of the studied under-utilized legumes are non-recognition and lack of information. Conclusion: Nutrition education programs and seminar should be designed and implemented to raise the level of knowledge on nutrition and health benefit of the underutilized legumes.

Lassa fever is highly endemic in Nigeria and other West African countries, it is a disease associated with high case fatality and chronic sequelae in those that survived. Lack of effective vaccine has made the disease difficult to control and it prevention depends on eradications of the multimammate rats and universal precautions by all when a case is identified. We report a case of a 51 years old health worker who had a severe form of Lassa fever complicated by sensorineural deafness at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, South West Nigeria.

Sudden death is common in Africans especially in males in their middle ages. With increasing evidence in reduction of life expectancy among the populace due to several confounding factors there is need to review some of the causes of sudden unexpected death. The study came from the observation of the authors on autopsy requests and reports in Calabar. Two middle aged security officers attached to different private homes were found dead on their duty posts on different days. Autopsy reports on them were similar revealing enlarged heart with evidence of myocardial infarction. Other findings include fatty change, pulmonary oedema and contracted kidneys. Hypertensive heart disease is a common disease condition with resultant high morbidity and mortality if not diagnosed early and well managed.

Homicide from stabbing is the commonest cause of death all over the world and unwholesome activities such as cultism usually result into this in university environment. We present a case of 23 year old undergraduate who was murdered during election within the school premises. He sustained a deep laceration into the chest cavity with injuring to the main vessels resulting in massive internal bleeding, hypovolemic shock and irreversible organ failure and death. All hands must be on deck to prevent unnecessary death on our campuses.

Rhinosinusitis is often under diagnosed and overlooked in children. Fever as the only symptom of rhinosinusitis is rare and largely unreported. A three-year-old boy with a right frontal ventriculo-peritoneal (VP) shunt for congenital hydrocephalus presented with a three-month history of recurrent high grade intermittent fever. He had no other symptoms. A cranial Computed Tomogram for VP shunt evaluation revealed isodense lesions filling the right and left ethmoidal and maxillary sinuses. Bilateral inferior meatal puncture revealed frank pus in both maxillary sinuses. Microbacterial culture yielded Streptococcus pyogenes sensitive to Erythromycin. Following treatment, fever subsided and remained so in subsequent outpatients’ visits.