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Background: Investigation of the biochemical profile and storage root yield of three cassava genotypes (H-165, H-226 and TME-419) was carried out. Planting was done at three different seasons: summer, early monsoon and late monsoon. Methods: The storage roots were harvested at intervals of 6, 9 and 12 months after planting to evaluate their yield. Granule morphology of the starches and biochemical characteristics of the flours were examined using electron microscopy and biochemical techniques. Result: Significant variations were observed in the starch content, root yield and size of starch granule, which were mainly dependent on planting dates, while the variations recorded in starch granule morphology, amyloseaa and amylopectin contents were influenced by genotype. The highest starch (33.5%) and amylose content (18.9%) were observed in TME-419 variety. The rate of storage root yield had positive correlation with maximum temperature and sunshine and negative correlation with humidity and rainfall. This study indicated that cultivation season affects starch accumulation and root yield in cassava and can be applied in developing cassava varieties with high starch and root yield, suitable for different planting seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial phosphate (P) solubilisation has been reportedly impacted by various environmental conditions. Therefore, this study was aimed at investigating the effects of different cultural/environmental conditions on phosphate solubilisation in bacteria and fungi. Phosphatesolubilising microorganisms (PSM) were isolated from rhizospheric soil of tomatoes, cowpea, and corn and then screened for phosphate solubilsation on Pikovskaya (PVK) agar. Effects of different environmental conditions on phosphate solubilisation were evaluated by cultivating PSM in National Botanical Research Institute's Phosphate growth medium (NBRIP) amended with different carbon and nitrogen sources, salt concentrations and maintained at varying pH and temperature regimes. Five strains of the microbes produced halo zones on PVK agar. Isolate NF1 had the highest solubilisation index (4.0), followed by NB3 (3.5) and NF2 (3.45), NB1 (2.0), and then NB2 (1.0). In terms of supporting P solubilisation, carbon sources performed in the order: glucose>fructose>sucrose> maltose>mannitol in the best performed fungal (NF1) and bacterial (NB3) isolates (P=0.05). Similarly, the nitrogen sources performed in the following order: (NH4)2SO4>NaNO3>Ca(NO3)2>KNO3 (P=0.05)in both NF1and NB3. pH 7.0, 30 oC and 0% NaCl were found to support the highest quantity of P solubilised. The highest P solubilised was 0.67 mg/mL in NB3 and 0.72 mg/mL in NF1. Given the conditions employed in this study, the fungal isolate was more efficient in phosphate solubilisation than its bacterial counterpart. NF1 and NB3 were identified through microbiological and molecular methods as Pseudomonas mosseliid7 and Aspergillus niger VITAF1 respectively. Therefore, optimum solubilisation was dependent on the interplay between organisms and their environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this article is to examine key management principles that are crucial for sustainable social media engagement with library customers. To explore these principles, the Strategic Social Media Marketing Framework was applied in interviews to contextualize the management considerations of preselected Nigerian university libraries (n = 6) with social media accounts. Interview results reveal that clarity of purpose and adequate planning are lacking in the approach adopted by libraries for social media marketing, yet these are established as essential ingredients for creating and sustaining social media engagement. Against this background, a framework was developed to provide a high-level guide for social media management with both practical and theoretical implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proteases are one of the most important classes of industrial enzymes accounting for 60% of the global industrial enzyme market. Microbes are the most preferred sources of proteases because of their rapid growth, easy genetic manipulation and limited cultivation space. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize potent fungal candidates for protease production. Proteaseproducing fungi were isolated from abattoir soil using standard mycological methods while screening for protease production was determined by the presence of halozones on skimmed milk agar medium. Enzyme activity using best isolate was evaluated on time course and at various pH regimes (5.0-8.0) and temperatures (25-45℃). Best isolate had halozone diameter of 69 mm and identified as Penicillium citrinum by sequencing its 18S rRNA. Optimum protease activity was recordedon the 4th day for both immobilized and free spores. When pH was optimized, pH 6 (19.25± 0.32 U/mL) and pH 6.5 (14.21 ± 0.65 U/mL) were best for immobilized and free spores respectively whereas 35℃ was the best temperature condition for optimum protease activity for both immobilized (22.44 ±0.71 U/mL) and free spores (17.16 ± 0.51 U/mL). We therefore conclude that the abattoir soil environment is a potential reservoir of protease-production fungal determinants while spore immobilization resulted in better protease production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Access to essential information resources through mobile devices has become a routine activity. From smart portable notebooks to tablets, smartphones to embedded devices, mobile databases are emerging as a key factor in the mobile computing ecosystem. These devices are handy and user-friendly; users can access information regardless of their geographic location, anytime, utilizing wireless and cellular communications. In addition to the convenience they offer, modern mobile systems exhibit the potential to promote the green computing paradigm and by extension a safer environment for humanity to thrive. The paper presents a concise but concrete review of mobile database systems in the green mobile computing ecosystem. The data source comprises 343 papers from notable repositories: IEEE Xplore, ACM Digital library, Springer and Science Direct. 43 papers were selected for analysis based on meeting the two preset suitability criteria: mobile databases and green computing. The study shows that there is not much literature on mobile database systems vis-à-vis the green computing ecosystem, hence, a promising research niche. The paper concludes that mobile databases are evolving rapidly and there is every possibility that their progress towards maturity could further reduce the energy consumption of mobile devices whose fundamental data store relies on these mobile databases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores why and how migrants use social media in different phases of the migration process, how they manage personal information on social media during migration, and whether they use libraries' social media in any of the migration phases. An anonymous questionnaire was used to collect opinions and investigate the activities of migrant communities in New Zealand in the three above mentioned areas. The paper presents the results of a descriptive statistical analysis performed on the data. These results were categorized and presented under the following themes: demographic data, use of social media during migration, personal information management practices on social media, use of library social media during migration, issues arising from the use of social media during migration and positive impact of social media during migration. The main findings of our research showed that in the transitioning phase migrants use social media mostly for making the decision to move. In the settling phase, social media help them to cushion the anxieties associated with a move and also help them to make an informed decision in the new country. In the settled phase, participants used social media to stay connected with family and friends in the home country. Language barriers can restrict the use of social media during the moving process. Personal information on social media is not recognized as important and is not managed in any particular way. Libraries are present in the life of migrants but more as physical spaces and services than through their social media presence. Findings from this study can be of interest to libraries and other information providers developing services for migrants in physical and digital environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the process of retrospective catalogue conversion (RCC) in selected federal university libraries in Nigeria. The specific purposes aimed identifying the resources for RCC, methods employed, competency possessed by the library staff for the process, problems associated with it and the appropriate strategies. The design of the study is descriptive survey, areas of the study were University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, University of Lagos, Lagos State and University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State and the population consisted of 42 professional and paraprofessional librarians. Findings reveal thus: basic resources are networked computers, scanners and printers; proficiency in use of computer is the basic competency; problems include inadequate computer systems, frequent change in technology and poor internet connectivity. It recommended that Nigerian university libraries will fare better when adequate computer systems are made available, as well as training of staff, dedicated internet bandwidth among others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adrenal catecholamines (CA) were measured in 6-, 18-, and 30-mo Lobund-Wistar rats (LWR) maintained under germ-free or conventional conditions and fed either ad libitum or a restricted (70% of adult ad libitum) diet. Levels of dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E), and dihydroxymandelic acid (DHMA) were determined by HPLC-EC. Compared with values from 6-and 18-mo rats, mean adrenal weight, DA and NE content and concentration, and E content were increased in the 30-mo rats; E concentration was not. The ratio of E:NE declined in the 30-mo group. Germ-free status and dietary restriction had little effect in modulating these age-related changes. Reanalysis of adrenal weights of 30-mo rats revealed two clear subgroups, hyperplastic and non-hyperplastic; the data from hyperplastic adrenals revealed an exaggerated form of the “aged” CA profile, whereas data from the nonhyperplastic adrenals more closely resembled that of younger rats. Thus, aging in LWR is associated with adrenal hyperplasia and a tendency toward elevated adrenomedullary stores of DA and NE, while E stores are maintained near levels found in young rats. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article focuses on the downy mildew of soya bean. During the summer of 1959 a downy mildew was found on soya bean, variety Bansei, being grown for seed in Suffolk, England. The identity of the fungus, Peronospora manshuriea Syd., was confirmed at the Plant Pathology Laboratory in Harpenden. Infection is thought to have come in with the seed from the U.S., where the disease is general in some regions, but tests at Harpenden on a small quantity of the unsown seed failed to confirm seedborne infection.