Implications of Odera Oruka's ethics of consumerism for reducing globesity

In this paper, I advance Odera Oruka's insights on the ethics of consumerism in order to draw relevant implications of his thoughts on rethinking the problem of obesity. I argue that Oruka's ethics of consumerism and his right to human minimum theory entail some salient ideas that might serve as a better ethical model for reducing the global obesity prevalence. Though Oruka's African moral philosophy is yet to receive universal attention it arguably deserves, the interests of the international and ‘globesity’ community would be better served learning from the contributions of an African moral theory to contemporary bioethical discourse on obesity. Oruka's moral thoughts are by constitution, a deontological and cosmopolitan call for reducing hunger in globalized world, while also indirectly, addressing obesity of the poor. I show the limitations of his ethics of consumerism, and the shortcomings of such ethics in the context of obesity of the poor. Consequently, I develop a neo‐Orukan virtue based ethics that is worthy of attention in efforts towards addressing the obesity tide. No such perspective currently exists in the context of obesity; yet the exigent need for one is necessitated by the defects of the libertarian and harm principle approaches in Western bioethical discourse.     

Quercetin and Vitamin C Mitigate Cobalt Chloride-Induced Hypertension through Reduction in Oxidative Stress and Nuclear Factor Kappa Beta (NF-Kb) Expression in Experimental Rat Model

The objective of the present work was to evaluate the toxic effects of cobalt chloride, a potent oxidative stress-inducing chemical, at 650 ppm in rats and the protective effect of quercetin and/or vitamin C against the cobalt chloride-induced toxicity. Thirty rats were randomly selected, and assigned to one of five groups: control, cobalt chloride, cobalt chloride + quercetin, cobalt chloride + vitamin C and cobalt chloride + quercetin + vitamin C. The exposure of rats to cobalt chloride led to a significant increase (p < 0.05) in malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) generated, but decreased nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. Also, significant (p < 0.05) reductions were observed in the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and reduced glutathione (GSH) content in the cardiac and renal tissues. Treatment with quercetin and vitamin C reversed the effect of cobalt chloride on MDA, H₂O₂ and NO, more potently than with either of the two antioxidants, and increased the antioxidant defence system. Further, treatment of rats with quercetin and vitamin C in combination resulted in significant (p < 0.05) decreases in the systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure of rats, relative to those exposed to cobalt chloride alone. Immunohistochemical studies revealed a greater expression of nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-kB) in the cobalt chloride group compared with the control- and antioxidants-treated rats. The results of this study suggest a protective role for quercetin and vitamin C in the amelioration of the toxic mechanisms leading to cobalt chloride-induced hypertension and its associated cardiac and renal complications in rats.     

Alterations in the diversity and composition of mice gut microbiota by lytic or temperate gut phage treatment

Phages, the most abundant species in the mammalian gut, have numerous advantages as biocontrol agent over antibiotics. In this study, mice were orally treated with the lytic gut phage PA13076 (group B), the temperate phage BP96115 (group C), no phage (group A), or streptomycin (group D) over 31 days. At the end of the experiment, fecal microbiota diversity and composition was determined and compared using high-throughput sequencing of the V3–V4 hyper-variable region of the 16S rRNA gene and virus-like particles (VLPs) were quantified in feces. There was high diversity and richness of microbiota in the lytic and temperate gut phage-treated mice, with the lytic gut phage causing an increased alpha diversity based on the Chao1 index (p < 0.01). However, the streptomycin treatment reduced the microbiota diversity and richness (p = 0.0299). Both phage and streptomycin treatments reduced the abundance of Bacteroidetes at the phylum level (p < 0.01) and increased the abundance of the phylum Firmicutes. Interestingly, two beneficial genera, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, were enhanced by treatment with the lytic and temperate gut phage. The abundance of the genus Escherichia/Shigella was higher in mice after temperate phage administration than in the control group (p < 0.01), but lower than in the streptomycin group. Moreover, streptomycin treatment increased the abundance of the genera Klebsiella and Escherichia/Shigella (p < 0.01). In terms of the gut virome, fecal VLPs did not change significantly after phage treatment. This study showed that lytic and temperate gut phage treatment modulated the composition and diversity of gut microbiota and the lytic gut phage promoted a beneficial gut ecosystem, while the temperate phage may promote conditions enabling diseases to occur.

     

Aerobic Heterotrophic Bacterial and Fungal Communities in the Topsoil of Omo Biosphere Reserve in Southwestern Nigeria1

As a part of the surveillance effort to monitor the ecological status of Omo Biosphere Reserve in the southwestern region of Nigeria, the aerobic heterotrophic bacterial and fungal communities of the topsoil were investigated in March 1995 and April 1996, before the onset of the rainy season. Four distinct wood‐tree plantations, a core strict nature reserve (SNR) area, and a buffer zone were sampled. The topsoil samples (7.5 cm depth), including the litter, were taken with an auger (8 cm diameter) and transported to the laboratory in polyethylene bags. One‐gram dry weight equivalent of sample was suspended in 10 ml sterile water, and serial dilutions from it were used for the estimation of bacterial and fungal densities. The bacterial and fungal densities ranged in the order of 106 and 103 cfu/g, respectively. Out of the 18 bacterial and 16 fungal species that were obtained, 13 and 12, respectively, were isolated from the core SNR. About 46 to 69 percent of the bacteria and 50 to 83 percent of the fungi species found in the SNR were absent in different combinations in the plantations and the buffer zone; these variations were significant among the sites monitored. The bacterial and fungal species compositions were significantly different between the SNR and each of the other sites. Proportional distributions within the sites were significant only for the bacterial communities. It would appear that plantation and human activities have caused significant changes in the distribution and species richness of the heterotrophic bacterial and fungal communities relative to the undisturbed SNR area of the Omo Biosphere Reserve.     

Failure to achieve 2010 biodiversity’s target in developing countries: How can conservation help?

Conservation and wise management of biodiversity is critical for better livelihoods, especially in developing countries. Given the failure to achieve the global target set under convention on biological diversity (CBD) and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to reduce the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010, developing countries more than ever need better technologies to conserve and manage biodiversity. Despite billions of poor people depending on biodiversity as their main source of health care needs and food the lack of effective strategy or coherent policy instrument for biodiversity conservation remains a key issue. The importance of biodiversity conservation for the benefit of developing countries is inextricably linked to developments in biotechnology, particularly genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The Rio+20 meeting in June 2012 and CBD conference of the parties 11 in October 2012 are the next real opportunities to strengthen existing frameworks and prioritize types of technological innovation to enhance biodiversity conservation and development.     

Fungal degradation of calcium-, lead- and silicon-bearing minerals

The aim of this study was to examine nutritional influence on the ability of selected filamentous fungi to mediate biogenic weathering of the minerals, apatite, galena and obsidian in order to provide further understanding of the roles of fungi as biogeochemical agents, particularly in relation to the cycling of metals and associated elements found in minerals. The impact of three organic acid producing fungi (Aspergillus niger, Serpula himantioides and Trametes versicolor) on apatite, galena and obsidian was examined in the absence and presence of a carbon and energy source (glucose). Manifestation of fungal weathering included corrosion of mineral surfaces, modification of the mineral substrate through transformation into secondary minerals (i.e. crystal formation) and hyphal penetration of the mineral substrate. Physicochemical interactions of fungal metabolites, e.g. H⁺ and organic acids, with the minerals are thought to be the primary driving forces responsible. All experimental fungi were capable of mineral surface colonization in the absence and presence of glucose but corrosion of the mineral surface and secondary mineral formation were affected by glucose availability. Only S. himantioides and T. versicolor were able to corrode apatite in the absence of glucose but none of the fungi were capable of doing so with the other minerals. In addition, crystal formation with galena was entirely dependent on the availability of glucose. Penetration of the mineral substrates by fungal hyphae occurred but this did not follow any particular pattern. Although the presence of glucose in the media appeared to influence positively the mineral penetrating abilities of the fungi, the results obtained also showed that some geochemical change(s) might occur under nutrient-limited conditions. It was, however, unclear whether the hyphae actively penetrated the minerals or were growing into pre-existing pores or cracks.     

Production and potential biotechnological applications of microbial surfactants: An overview

Microbial surfactants are amphipathic molecules that consist of hydrophilic and hydrophobic domains, which allow partition of two fluid phases of varying degree of polarity. They are classified into two main groups: bioemulsifier and biosurfactant, depending on their molecular weight. Microbial surfactants occur in various categories according to their chemical nature and producing organisms. These biomolecules are produced by diverse groups of microorganisms including fungi, bacteria, and yeasts. Their production is significantly influenced by substrate type, fermentation technology and microbial strains. Owing to inherent multifunctional properties and assorted synthetic aptitude of the microbes, microbial surfactants are mostly preferred than their chemical counterparts for various industrial and biomedical applications including bioremediation, oil recovery; as supplements in laundry formulations and as emulsion-stabilizers in food and cosmetic industries as well as therapeutic agents in medicine. The present review discusses on production of microbial surfactants as promising and alternative broad-functional biomolecules for various biotechnological applications.     

Aerobic degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and other chlorophenols by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas</Emphasis> strains indigenous to contaminated soil in South Africa: Growth kinetics and degradation pathway

Three indigenous pseudomonads, Pseudomonas putida DLL-E4, Pseudomonas reactans and Pseudomonas fluorescens, were isolated from chlorophenol-contaminated soil samples collected from a sawmill located in Durban (South Africa). The obtained isolates were tested for their ability to degrade chlorophenolic compounds: 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP) in batch cultures. The isolates were found to effectively degrade up to 99.5, 98.4 and 94.0% with a degradation rate in the range of 0.67–0.99 (2,4-D), 0.57–0.93 (2,4-DCP) and 0.30–0.39 (2,4,6-TCP) mgL^–1 day^–1 for 2,4-D; 2,4-DCP and 2,4,6-TCP, respectively. The degradation kinetics model revealed that these organisms could tolerate up to 600 mg/L of 2,4-DCP. Catechol 2,3-dioxygenase activity detected in the crude cell lysates of P. putida DLL-E4 and P. reactans was 21.9- and 37.6-fold higher than catechol 1,2-dioxygenase activity assayed, suggesting a meta-pathway for chlorophenol degradation by these organisms. This is also supported by the generally high expression of C23O gene (involved in meta-pathway) relative to tfdC gene (involved in ortho-pathway) expression. Results of this study will be helpful in the exploitation of these organisms and/or their enzymes in bioremediation strategies for chlorophenol-polluted environment.     

Racial identity,aesthetic surgery and Yorùbá African Values

The question of racial identity in the process and outcome of aesthetic surgery is gaining increasing attention in bioethical discourse. This paper attempts an ethical examination of the racial identity issues involved in aesthetic surgery. Dominant moral values in Western culture are explored in the evaluation of aesthetic surgery. The paper argues that African values are yet to receive the universal attention they arguably deserve especially in the rethinking of values underlying aesthetic surgery as racial transformation. Through a consideration of some moral‐aesthetic values in the Yorùbá‐African culture, this paper further re‐evaluates the ethics of aesthetic surgery. The paper contends against the propagation of aesthetic surgery as a new form of bolstering racial divides and identity in the evolving cosmopolitan age. The position defended in the paper is that some values from Yorùbá‐African culture are useful in the consideration of the ethics of aesthetic surgery and more importantly, in avoiding the racial identity bias embedded in aesthetic surgery. The paper concludes that if due consideration is perhaps given to some African moral‐aesthetic values in the global aesthetic surgery industry, some of the evolving moral and racial complexities would be better mediated.