<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The co-infection of different influenza A virus enable viral gene re-assortments especially in pigs that serve as mixing vessel with the possibility of emergence of novel subtypes. Such re-assortants pose serious public health threat, as epitomised by the emergence of pandemic influenza in 2009. In Nigeria, there is mixture of animal species and highly populated densities that can increase the risk of influenza virus endemicity, genetic reshuffling and emergence of future pandemic influenza viruses. Thus, this study was aimed at determining influenza virus disease burden in pigs. This study was a cross sectional molecular surveillance of influenza virus. A total of 194 pig nasal samples from reported cases and randomly sampled were collected from pig farms in Ojo and Ikorodu in Lagos State between October, 2015 and April, 2016. The samples were investigated for the presence of influenza virus matrix gene by Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction and detected by gel electrophoresis. P-values were calculated using Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests. The result showed that 25 (12.9%) samples were positive for influenza A virus, out of which, 20 (80%) were samples from Ojo while 5 (20%) were samples from Ikorodu. Epidemiological parameters for the sampled locations, methods either as reported case or randomised, and sex compared were significant at 95% confidence interval. This study determined influenza viral burden in pigs with a molecular prevalence of 12.9% to influenza A. It further confirmed the sub-clinical and clinical circulation of Influenza A virus in pigs in Ojo and Ikorodu in Lagos. Therefore, the detection of influenza A virus in commercial pigs in Nigeria accentuates the importance of continuous surveillance and monitoring of the virus in order to prevent the advent of virulent strains that may spread to Pig-handlers and the community at large.</abstract>

Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Medicine

Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine

Epidemiological Surveillance of Influenza Virus Matrix Gene in Pigs, in Lagos, Nigeria, 2015-2016

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The study was conducted to examine the determinants of quality protein maize (QPM) adoption among farming households in Niger State, Nigeria. A twostage random sampling procedure was employed to obtain data from selected 120 maize farming households. Descriptive statistics, logistic and tobit regression models were used for the analysis. Results of the analysis show that the awareness and adoption level of QPM production in the study area were 95% and 87% respectively. Among the determinants of QPM adoption status, the coefficient of age (-0.12734) and primary occupation (-1.38295) of the respondents were negative and significant at 5% level of probability while the tenancy attribute’s coefficient (2.62533) was positively significant at 10%. The level of adoption of QPM was positively and significantly influenced by household size (0.00729) and years of schooling (0.01148) at 10% and 5% level of significant respectively. The study recommends intensification of information dissemination on the adoption of QPM in the study area.</abstract>

Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management

International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)

Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension Services

Determinants of the Adoption of Quality Protein Maize among Farming Households in Niger State, Nigeria

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Microbes play significant roles in remediation of heavy metal polluted industrial effluent using the mechanisms of biosorption and bioaccumulation. In the present study, six heavy metal resistant autochthonous bacteria species namely <italic>Bacillus cereus</italic>, <italic>B. megaterium</italic>, <italic>B. subtilis</italic>, <italic>Flavobacterium aquatile, Pseudomonas flourescens and Pseudomonas putida</italic> were isolated from effluent samples collected from Paper-mill industry (PMI), Paints and Chemicals Industry (PCI), and Steel-rolling Industry (SRI). The isolates were studied for their heavy metal tolerant capacities at different aqueous salt concentrations. Elemental analysis of the industrial effluent samples collected indicated the presence of heavy metals such as Copper (Cu2+), Manganese (Mn2+), Iron (Fe2+) and Lead (Pb2+) at varying concentrations in μg/ml. Generally, there were variations in the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the heavy metal salt to each of the bacteria understudy. The MIC value of each of the bacterial isolates to aqueous solution of Cu2SO4 showed that <italic>B. megaterium</italic>, <italic>B. subtilis, Pseudomonas flourescens</italic> and <italic>Pseudomonas putida</italic> had the same MIC value of 20 ± 1.5 μg/mL while <italic>Bacillus cereus</italic> and <italic>Flavobacterium aquatile</italic> had MIC values of 13 ± 1.3 μg/mL and 25 ± 2.1 μg/mL respectively. This variation was also noticeable in aqueous salts of Mn2SO4, Fe2SO4 and Pb2SO4.The bacteria isolates showed sensitivity to heavy metals with increasing zone of inhibition as concentration increased with each isolate showing varying degree of metalotolerance. The effectiveness of the autochthonous bacteria as a means to bio-augment the remediation of heavy metal polluted industrial effluent was further proven and recommended.</abstract>

Metalotolerance Capacity of Autochthonous Bacteria Isolated From Industrial Waste Effluent

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Bacterial resistance to conventional paint biocides is widely documented. However, an investigation regarding the preservative potential of carbonaceous soot as a viable alternative is novel. Fresh paint samples (SA, SB and SC) were collected in duplicates from a reputable paint manufacturing company in Lagos, Nigeria. SA was produced with conventional paint biocide, SB and SC were without biocide. All samples were inoculated with 0.032 × 106 cfu/mL of <italic>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</italic> PA01 (NC 002516.2) previously isolated from spoilt paints and identified by the 16S rDNA analysis. SB was supplemented with crude soot (10 g/L of distilled water) at 200 mL v/v. The preservative efficiency of soot was investigated by monitoring the bacterial population (BP), optical density (OD600nm), viscosity (VIS), the transmittance (TR) and specific gravity (SG) of the samples bi-weekly for 14 weeks. BP increased drastically from 0.032-31.61 × 106 and from 0.032-112.93 × 106 in SA and SC respectively. In contrast, SB increased from 0.032-24.63 × 106 by week 4 but reduced from 24.63 – 10.95 × 106 by week 14. The OD of SA increased from 1.55 to 1.98 by week 8 and decreased to 1.74 by week 14. SB had a decrease from 1.60 to 1.49 by week 4 and increased to 1.63 by week 14, while SC increased from 1.59 to 2.54 by the 14th week.TR increased from 1.80 to 2.30 and 1.25 to 2.20 in SA and SC respectively. In contrast, TR decreased from 2.00 to 1.25 in SB. The viscosity and specific gravity values of all the samples decreased with time with the highest decrease observed in SC and the lowest in SB. The test crude soot showed preservative potential in paints.</abstract>

Carbonaceous Soot from Thermal Decomposition of Kerosene: A Pioneering Report for Paint Preservation

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Changes in thermodynamic parameters as a result of modifying agents on dye uptake of cotton fabric using malachite green (MG) dye was investigated in this study. Five modifying agents {Acetic acid (CH3COOH), hydrated Sodium carbonate (Na2CO3.10H2O), Sodium Chloride (NaCl), Ammonium sulphate ((NH4)2SO4) and Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)} were used on cotton fabric. The equilibrium exhaustions (%E) were determined before and after modification of the cotton fabric at different concentrations which were 88.24%, 80%, 77.14%, 65.10% and 30.88% for CH3COOH, NaCl, (NH4)2SO4, Na2CO3.10H2O and H2O2 respectively. The results also showed a correlation between the standard affinity(-Δμθ) of dye on cotton fabric and the equilibrium exhaustion. The values of entropy (ΔSθ) and enthalpy (ΔHθ) change revealed the feasibility (spontaneity) and exothermic nature of the reaction. The optimum parameters were attained in acidic solution (CH3COOH) at the highest temperature (70 °C) of dyeing as it showed the highest % efficiency of 88.24%. This work established that modification of cotton fabric with modifying agents is one of the best route to improve the affinity between dye and fabric as it reduces stress, amount of dyes wasted in dyeing, time required to achieve satisfactory results leading to a cost effective environmental friendly approach in the field of cotton dyeing.</abstract>

Effects of Modifying Agents on the Dyeability of Cotton Fabric using Malachite Green Dye

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Kinetics of oxidation of Lysine (Lys) and mechanisms by μ-peroxo <italic>bis</italic>[<italic>bis</italic>(ethylenediamine)succinimidato-dicobalt(III)]dinitratedihydrate; [LCo(μ-O2)CoL](NO3)2.2H2O (L = suc(en)2), hereafter the complex, was investigated at 420 nm wavelength of maximum absorption of the complex under the conditions hydrogen ions concentration = 1.8 × 10−2 mol dm−3, temperature = 24 ± 1 °C, [LCo(μ-O2)CoL2+] = 1.4 × 10−4 mol dm−3 and ionic strength = 0.5 mol dm−3. First order in [LCo(μ-O2)CoL2+] and [Lys] were obtained but inverse first order in [H+]. The proposed overall rate equation is as shown:<disp-formula><alternatives><graphic xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="graphic/j_ast-2018-0006_eq_001.png"></graphic><math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mrow><mi>Rate</mi><mo>=</mo><mo>(</mo><mfrac><mrow><msub><mi>k</mi><mn>1</mn></msub></mrow><mrow><msub><mi>k</mi><mn>2</mn></msub></mrow></mfrac><mo>+</mo><mfrac><mrow><msub><mi>K</mi><mn>1</mn></msub><msub><mi>k</mi><mn>3</mn></msub></mrow><mrow><msub><mi>k</mi><mn>4</mn></msub></mrow></mfrac><mfrac><mn>1</mn><mrow><mo>[</mo><msup><mi>H</mi><mo>+</mo></msup><mo>]</mo></mrow></mfrac><mo>)</mo><mo>[</mo><mi>LCo</mi><mo>(</mo><mo>μ</mo><msub><mi>O</mi><mn>2</mn></msub><mo>)</mo><msup><mi>CoL</mi><mrow><mn>2</mn><mo>+</mo></mrow></msup><mo>]</mo><mo>[</mo><mi>Lys</mi><mo>]</mo></mrow></math><tex-math>$$Rate = ({{k_1 } \over {k_2 }} + {{K_1 k_3 } \over {k_4 }}{1 \over {[H^ + ]}})[LCo(\mu O_2 )CoL^{2 + } ][Lys]$$</tex-math></alternatives></disp-formula>Rate of the reaction decreases when hydrogen ions concentration increase and exhibited converse effect with increase in concentration of ionic strength from 0.1 – 1.3 mol dm−3. Added cations and anions affected the reaction rate and the Michaelis-Menten plot passed through the origin indicating no absence of intermediate complex in the electron transfer processes. Putting all the results obtained together, the most probable reaction mechanism is in favour of outer-sphere and an appropriate rate law is established using steady state approximation.</abstract>

Department of Chemical Science, Yaba College of Technology

Department of Chemistry, Federal College of Education

The Kinetics of the Oxidation of Lysine by μ-Peroxo-Bridged Binuclear Cobalt (III) Complex of Succinimide in Aqueous Hydrochloric Acid Medium

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The use of behavioural change systems in providing interventions for people is common in this present era of information technology. Many people depend on these systems for many reasons like safe driving, healthy food consumption, energy conservation, etc. Some of these systems have been successful in making people change positively while a larger percentage have not been successful due to many issues that were not addressed during the development of such systems. One of them is psychological reactance, a motivational state that is aroused when a person’s freedom is threatened or eliminated. It has major focus restoring any freedom that has been threatened. This forms the motivation for this work and it starts with a brief study of the theory of psychological reactance with a new view of accessing it from perceived usability perspective. To study reactance in people, a survey was conducted. It focussed on accessing reactance through attitudes to forced compliance in a persuasive website in the context of meal-planning. Results from this study showed that participants with high freedom text had better attitude to the website in terms of anger and perceived usability than participants with low-freedom text. This work confirmed the social agency proposition that the presence of social cues in a multimedia message can stimulate the social interaction pattern in people’s learning. Once this social interaction pattern is initiated, there is a high possibility for pupils to act as if they are interacting with another individual. Therefore, to some degree, social convention of human-to-human interaction sets in as participants with high freedom message had a lower anger score than participants with high freedom plus social message.</abstract>

Attitudinal Reactance: Another Response to Influence Attempts in Websites

AHEAD OF PRINT

Volume 8 (2023): Issue 2 (December 2023)

Volume 8 (2023): Issue 1 (June 2023)

Volume 7 (2022): Issue 2 (December 2022)

Volume 7 (2022): Issue 1 (June 2022)

Volume 6 (2021): Issue 2 (December 2021)

Volume 6 (2021): Issue 1 (June 2021)

Volume 5 (2020): Issue 2 (December 2020)

Volume 5 (2020): Issue 1 (June 2020)

Volume 4 (2019): Issue 2 (December 2019)

Volume 4 (2019): Issue 1 (June 2019)

Volume 3 (2018): Issue 2 (December 2018)

Volume 3 (2018): Issue 1 (June 2018)

Volume 2 (2017): Issue 1 (December 2017)

Annals of Science and Technology

 Annals of Science and Technology is an international, blind peer-reviewed journal.  AST A: Biological SciencesThe Biological Sciences section of AST aims at publishing high quality scientific research in Biology and Biological Sciences. This section publishes original papers, reviews, books, chapters and short communications in areas including but not limited to:   Structural Biology  Developmental Biology  Cell Biology  Microbiology  Genetics  Toxicology  Nanotechnology  Molecular Biology  Biochemistry  Biotechnology  Marine Biology  Plant Biology  Bioinformatics  Biodiversity   AST B: Chemical SciencesThe Chemical Sciences section of AST aims at publishing high quality scientific research in Chemistry and Chemical Sciences. This section publishes original papers, reviews, books, chapters and short communications in areas including but not limited to:   Chemoinformatics  Environmental Chemistry  Nanotechnology  Natural Product Chemistry  Analytical Chemistry  Pharmaceutical Chemistry  Geochemistry  Chemical Synthesis  Organic Chemistry  Chemical Instrumentation  Materials Chemistry　   AST C:Mathematical SciencesThe Mathematical Sciences section of AST aims at publishing high quality scientific research in Mathematical Sciences. This section publishes original papers, reviews, books, chapters and short communications in the following areas:  Pure Mathematics: Analysis (Real, complex and functional), Geometry, Algebra, Number theory, Topology, Differential Equations, and areas covered by the American Mathematical Society Mathematics Subject Classification (2020) and the Zentralblatt MATH (zbMATH) Mathematics Subject Classification (2020)  Applied Mathematics: Computational Theory, Theoretical mechanics, Theoretical biology, Solid Mechanics. Fluid Mechanics, Numerical Analysis, Optimization Theory, and areas covered　by the American Mathematical Society Mathematics Subject Classification (2020) and the Zentralblatt MATH (zbMATH) Mathematics Subject Classification (2020).  Statistics: Probability Theory, and Mathematical Statistics, Mathematical aspects of statistical models, Biostatistics, Business statistics, Demography, Econometrics (statistical analysis of economic data), Epidemiology, Medical Statistics, Social statistics, Statistical Mechanics, Experimental Designs, and areas covered by the American Mathematical Society Mathematics Subject Classification (2020) and the Zentralblatt MATH (zbMATH) Mathematics Subject Classification (2020).  AST D: PhysicsThe Physics section publishes refereed papers covering current researches titles in Physics. This section publishes original papers, reviews books, chapters and short communications in areas including but not limited to:   Atmospheric and Space Physics  Atomic &amp; Molecular Physics  Nanomaterials  Biophysics  Condensed Matter &amp; Materials Physics  General &amp; Interdisciplinary Physics  Nonlinear dynamics &amp; Complex Systems  Nuclear Physics  Radiation Physics  Particle Physics  Plasma Physics  Relativity &amp; Cosmology  Statistical Physics   AST E: Computer Science and Engineering TechnologyThe Computer Science and Engineering Technology section of AST aims at publishing high quality scientific research in Computer Science and Engineering Technology. This section publishes original papers, reviews, books, chapters and short communications in general aspect of Computer Science and Engineering Technology.   Agricultural Engineering  Applied Information and Communications Technology  Artificial Intelligence  Chemical and Petro-chemical Engineering  Civil Engineering  Computer Engineering  Computer Science and Applications  Electrical and Electronics Engineering  Nanoscience  Food science and Engineering  Human Computer Interaction  Information Security, Cyber Security &amp; Computer Forensics  Materials science and engineering  Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering  Signal &amp; Image Processing  Telecommunications Engineering  All other areas of Engineering, Computing, Information Systems, Applied Sciences and Technology    Why subscribe and read   articles published are innovative and are focused on providing solutions to societal needs using simples tools  articles are published in a regular and timely fashion  articles are published in concise and clear English language  the Journal is a forum for both established and young scholars to publish in.   Why submit   peer review of manuscripts is fair and timely  your research work is given good publicity with the multiple abstracting and Indexing platforms available to the Journal.   Archiving  Sciendo archives the contents of this journal in Portico - digital long-term preservation service of scholarly books, journals and collections.  Plagiarism Policy  The editorial board is participating in a growing community of Similarity Check System's users in order to ensure that the content published is original and trustworthy. Similarity Check is a medium that allows for comprehensive manuscripts screening, aimed to eliminate plagiarism and provide a high standard and quality peer-review process. 