In this study we examined if an association exists between expression of an alternatively spliced "embryonic" fibronectin isoform EIIIA (Fn-EIIIA) and alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) in the maturing and adult rat kidney and in two unrelated models of glomerular disease, passive accelerated anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) nephritis and Habu venom (HV)-induced proliferative glomerulonephritis, using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. Fn-EIIIA and alpha-SMA proteins were abundantly expressed in mesangium and in periglomerular and peritubular interstitium of 20-day embryonic and 7-day (D-7) postnatal kidneys in regions of tubule and glomerular development. Staining was markedly reduced in these structures in maturing juvenile (D-14) kidney and was largely lost in adult kidney. Expression of Fn-EIIIA and alpha-SMA was reinitiated in the mesangium and the periglomerular and peritubular interstitium in both models and was also observed in glomerular crescents in anti-GBM nephritis. Increased expression of Fn-EIIIA mRNA by in situ hybridization corresponded to the localization of protein staining. Dual labeling experiments verified co-localization of Fn-EIIIA and alpha-SMA, showing a strong correlation of staining between location and staining intensity during kidney development, maturation, and disease. Expression of EIIIA mRNA corresponded to protein expression in developing and diseased kidneys and was lost in adult kidney. These studies show a recapitulation of the co-expression of Fn-EIIIA and alpha-SMA in anti-GBM disease and suggest a functional link for these two proteins.

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A study was conducted to determine the biological, chemical and physical drinking water quality from shallow wells in agrarian communities. An insitu membrane filtration test kit was used to determine the microbiological quality of water and a photometer was used for the chemical analyses. Water samples were collected from protected shallow wells during wet and dry seasons of the year 2012 to determine the change in quality with different seasons. The results of the analysis show that Gapkan had the least value of pH of 6.7 while Lade had the highest value of 8.4. ANOVA (P<0.05) showed pH to be statistically higher during the wet season than in the dry season. The conductivity during the wet season was observed to range between 1210 µS/cm and 1678 µS/cm for Kpada and Gakpan communities respectively. Turbidity values during the wet season ranged between 4 and 7 NTU while dry season analysis ranged between 2 and 3 NTU. Sulphate concentration was the lowest at 431 mg/L in Fey and highest of 532 mg/L at Duro and Rifun Woro during the wet season. Chloride content within the wet season varied between 260 and 269 mg/L while that of the dry season varied between 124 and 130 mg/L. Highest and lowest concentrations of nitrate recorded during wet season was 0.42 and 0.23 mg/L for Kusogi and Fey respectively. The colour observed during the wet season ranged between 17 TCU and 19TCU while that of the dry season ranged between 10 and 13 TCU. Current status of the water in the study areas are fit as source of drinking water for the community, though plans should be put in place for mini treatment plants that can serve these communities to enhance good drinking water delivery..

This study looked at the physical properties of soil of selected areas of Gidan Kwano campus of Federal University of Technology Minna, Nigeria and their effects on erodibility and infiltration parameters. Infiltration rate of the selected areas were conducted using a double ring infiltrometer and soil samples collected at different depths of 0-30 and 30-60 cm respectively. Collected samples were analyzed to determine physical properties such as moisture content, particles size, bulk density, porosity and organic matter. Textural classification was carried out to determine the percentage dominance of the various soil types present in the selected areas. Plot A has a steady infiltration rate after hour at 0 cm/hr. While plot B had a steady infiltration rate after 30 minutes at 1cm/hr. The soil moisture count for plot A ranged between 9.54% to 14.56% while that of plot B range between 10.64% to 11.26%. The particle sizes analysis indicated that the soil type in plot A is mainly medium loam and predominantly sand clay loam in plot B. It is therefore concluded that, the study area is susceptible to erosion because of poor infiltration rate.

A 2 x 3 factorial experiment was conducted at two sites in Maiduguri, Borno State during the 2009 cropping season. The objective was to evaluate the influence of rice husk-mulch on soil water balance components under sorghum and millet crops. The treatments comprised of two test crops (sorghum and millet) and three rates of application (0, 10 and 15 t ha-1) of rice husk mulch, fitted in a split-plot design. The test crops were assigned to the main plot, while the mulch application rates were assigned to the sub-plot. The treatments were replicated three times.  The components of soil water balance determined were annual rainfall, moisture storage within sorghum and millet root zone, drainage below crop root zone and seasonal crop evapotranspiration. Profile moisture content was measured weekly with the aid of a neutron probe installed at a depth of 2.0 m using access tubes. Also, soil (0 – 30 cm depth) moisture content was determined gravimetrically on weekly basis. Rainfall was measured using a manual rain gauge installed at each of the two sites. Findings in this study indicated that, under the prevailing circumstances, annual rainfall was lower than the amount observed over a ten-year period in Maiduguri. Consequently, soil moisture storage, drainage and seasonal crop evapotranspiration generally declined. An average of over 90 % of this low annual rainfall was lost as seasonal crop evapotranspiration. Sorghum plots stored higher moisture within the root zone, had higher drainage and lower seasonal evapotranspiration than millet plots. Moisture storage and drainage increased with increasing mulch application rate, while, seasonal crop evapotranspiration decreased with it.