THE DETERMINANTS OF FOOD SECURITY STATUS AMONG PERI-URBAN FARMING HOUSEHOLDS IN ONDO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Peri-urban agriculture increases the availability of fresh, healthy and affordable food for a large number of other urban, peri-urban and rural consumers, as much of the food produced by peri-urban farmers is bartered or sold locally. The study therefore examines the determinants of food security status among peri-urban farming households in Ondo State, Nigeria. Descriptive statistics, food security index, logistic regression model and the coping strategy use index (CSUI) were the tools utilized for data analysis. Empirical result show that 54.4% of the households were food insecure while 45.6% were food secure. The food insecurity gap/surplus index result showed that food secure households exceeded the calorie requirement by 48% while the food insecure households fell short of the calorie requirement by 62%. The logistic regression estimates revealed that household income had a significantly positive effect on household’s food security status while household size had a negative effect on food security. The CSUI indicated that withdrawal of children from school was the most widely used of all the coping strategies in the study area while the least was purchasing of food items on credit. It is recommended that awareness creation on family planning and provision of credit facilities will help in dwindling food insecurity in the study area.

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MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION AND HEAVY METAL RESISTANCE PATTERN OF BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM SOIL SAMPLE

Abstract

The pollution of the environment with toxic heavy metals is spreading throughout the world along with industrial progress. Heavy metals even in trace amount are toxic to the environment and human health. Microbes related technologies may provide an alternative or addition to conventional method of metal removal or metal recovery. The present paper deals with the molecular characterization of heavy metal tolerant bacteria from contaminated soil and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values were determined. The molecular analysis revealed that heavy metals tolerance bacteria were Bacillus cereus strain S2-8 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA1 with  maximum homology 82% and 99% similarity respectively. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration values for Bacillus cereus, for Mercury salt (HgNO3), Lead (PbNO3), Chromium salt (K2Cr2O7) and Zinc (ZnCl2) were 10 mg/ml, 10mg/ml, 1mg/ml and 100 mg/ml respectively. While the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration values for Pseudomonas aeruginosa  PA1, for Mercury salt (HgNO3), Lead (PbNO3), Chromium salt (K2Cr2O7) and Zinc (ZnCl2) were 10 mg/ml, 100 mg/ml,10mg/ml and 100 mg/ml respectively. Bacillus cereus strain S2-8 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA1 have potential use for bioremediation of  heavy metals in  contaminated sites due to its ability to resist heavy metals.

Keywords:
Heavy metal, MIC, soil sample, bioremediation

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CYSTIC FIBROSIS: AN OVERVIEW WITH THE IMPACT OF GENE TECHNOLOGY

Abstract

Cystic Fibrosis is an autosomal recessive disorder with no cure. It is one of the most common life-shortening genetic diseases in the Caucasian population, affecting more than 75000 individuals worldwide. This inherited multi-organ disease is associated with chronic lung infection, malabsorption, salt loss syndrome, infertility and numerous other comorbidities. Understanding the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene mutation and function of CFTR protein has offered personalized treatment strategies to help those with CF. From in-vitro and in-vivo studies to pre-clinical and clinical trials, therapeutic drugs are finally having an impact, yet there are many more specific treatments under clinical investigation. This article summarizes the ongoing advances and technology in understanding the treatment of CF from more than two decades.

Keywords:

Cystic fibrosis (CF), CFTR gene, lung disease, GENE therapy, vectors.    

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