Archives-June... 

The depletion of high grade reserves coupled with increasing market pressure for improved product quality has forced phosphate producers to re-examine their process flow-sheets and evaluate alternate or supplement processing routes. The world is rich in phosphate resources, but most of these resources are of middle and low grade ores, in the same time it is difficult to obtain high grade concentrate with high recovery using traditional separation methods. As a result of increasing complex mineralogy, steadily decreasing ore grades and ever increasing economic and environmental problems, the mineral processing industry over the past decade had to evolve appropriate means to beneficiate low grades phosphate ores deposits. Some of the important emerging trends and the evolutionary changes which have occurred in mineral processing technology are reviewed. New treating methods such as column flotation, nano-bubble flotation technique, application of amphoteric collectors, bio-processing, and application of surface modification using enzymes help to beneficiate low grade phosphate ores.

Aluminium-Silicon alloy based metal matrix composites have been recognized as an appropriate wear resistant material particularly for sliding wear applications. An attempt has been made in the present paper to highlight the performance of Al-Si-TiB2 composites with variation in Silicon content and presence of TiB2 synthesised by means of salt metal reaction during stir casting method. The dry sliding wear behaviour of these composites was studied using a pin-on-disc wear testing machine varying load (10, 20, 30N) with a sliding velocity of 1m.s-1 for a sliding distance of 1800m. The microstructures of the specimens were analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscope as well as with optical microscope and also tested for hardness using Vickers hardness tester. Wear resistance and hardness values found to increase with increased wt% of Si.

Pulverized fruits (500g) of Lantana camara on hydrodistillation, afforded oil in the yield of 0.4% (v/w). Analysis of the oil using GC and GC-MS showed that the bulk of the oil is characterized by the abundance of sesquiterpenoids (91.9%). The percentage composition of monoterpenoids in the oil was 7.1%, while phenylpropernoids were detected in trace amounts. The principal constituents of the oil were; germacrene D (38.1%), germacrene-D-4-ol (19.6%), ?-caryophyllene (17.7%) and germacrene B (16.5%). The abundance of germacrene D in the oil shows that the oil is of germacrene D chemotype.

The analysis of potentially toxic metals in soils and the environmental risk assessment was presented in this study. Ten representative surface soil samples were collected from ten different locations in Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos, Nigeria where soils have been contaminated by metal particulates from metal cutting and welding operations. The samples were digested with aqua regia and the concentration of the potentially toxic metals (Cd, Pb, Ni, Cr, Zn and Cu) was measured using the flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (FAAS) under optimized conditions. The physicochemical properties of the soils (pH, %organic matter, cation exchange capacity, and particle size distribution) were determined using standard analytical methods. Multivariate analysis of the original results obtained was carried out using the principal component analysis (PCA) to identify how the physicochemical parameters of the soils correlate to the concentration of the potentially toxic metals, while the ecological risk assessment was done using the model proposed by Hakanson. The results of the analysis showed that there was serious contamination of the soils in the study area with Pb, Cd and Cu. The results of the principal component analysis showed that the first factor, PC1 explained 36.95% of the total variance which exhibited a high positive loading on Ni, Zn, Cd and Cr while the second factor, PC2 explained 23.67% of the total variance which exhibited a high positive loading on Ni, Cd and Cr and the sources of these heavy metals could be both natural and anthropogenic. The results of the ecological risk assessment show that there is high ecological risk resulting from the release of Cd and Cu into the environment in majority of the sample locations.

Wheat is an annual herbaceous plant whose breeding is done all over the world. Triticum monococcum with 2n chromosomes is known as the oldest wheat. T. turgidum has four set of chromosomes and used for pasta making. Emmer wheat (T. turgidum ssp. dicoccoides) is wild form of nearly all the domesticated wheats. T. aestivum has six set of chromosomes and used for bread making. bZIP transcription factors have DNA binding motifs and form the leucine zipper dimerization. Most of WRKY transcription factors control regulation of important functions for the development of plants. In this study, bZIP and WRKY genes were firstly cloned and compared between different wheat cultivars. For this, genes were amplified in PCR and transferred to pENTR™/D-TOPO® vector. Plasmids were sequenced and aligned. bZIP gene with 450 bp and WRKY gene with 672 bp in length were successfully cloned. DNA sequence of genes were translated to protein sequence. A total of 150 amino acids for bZIP and 224 amino acids for WRKY proteins were determined. With this study, sequences of bZIP and WRKY genes were firstly identified in ancestral and modern wheat cultivars. Obtained results from this study may be used for development of abiotic stress resistance plants.

A study was carried out on the colonisation of trees by lianas in tropical forests in the Yoko forest reserve (Tshopo, DR Congo). Observations focused on the main parameters (structure and diversity) of the lianas in order to determine the relationship patterns that exist between the host tree and the liana at our site. Inventories of stems with a diameter at breast height (dbh) ? 10 cm for trees and (dbh) ? 1 cm for woody lianas hosted on supports were carried out in fifteen 40 m × 40 m plots (totalling 2.4 hectares) set up in the tropical forests of the Yoko forest reserve. Creeper attachment mechanisms were observed in the field and supplemented by basic literature, and the number of creepers climbing each tree trunk was counted. The following results were obtained: - Overall, 57 liana species were inventoried, and 41 genera and 23 families were recorded. The liana species best represented in terms of IVI value are : Manniophyton fulvum (40.02%), Millettia duchesnei (21.04%), Strychnos camptoneura (17.57%), Dichapetalum mundense (14.97%), Landolphia parvifolia (13.91%) and Dalhousiea africana (12.37%). The most abundant families were Euphorbiaceae (20.6%), Dichapetalaceae (13.31%), Fabaceae (11.86%), Connaraceae (11.06%), Aponaceae (10.26%) and Rubiaceae (8.25%). A total of 1,247 individuals of lianas were inventoried in all fifteen plots, giving an average density of 519 stems/ha. They represent a basal area of 3.79 m2/ha. Most of the lianas are voluble and climb their supports (49.88%), followed by sarmentose lianas (21.84%). A total of 1,177 trees were surveyed, 381 of which (32.3%) had lianas on their trunks. - The proportion of infested trees differed according to diameter category, with medium and large trees having more lianas on their trunks and a higher total basal area of lianas than small trees. Trees with thorny, rough bark are more likely to support vines. - Trees with thorny bark are positively associated with lianas with tendrils, and trees with rough bark are positively associated with lianas with hooks. Trees 40 cm and taller were positively associated with lianas with hook and sarment modes of attachment. 

The adsorption characteristics of Georgian natural and acid-modified forms of clinoptilolite and laumontite have been studied in order to determine possibilities of their application in treatment of water contaminated by metals. It was found that natural clinoptilolite washed by diluted acid is the most effective adsorbent for barium, cobalt and lithium, while strontium, manganese, nickel and lead can be captured by modified clinoptilolite, but zinc, iron and copper – by modified laumontite. A combined filter (quartz sand + washed clinoptilolite + laumontite + clinoptilolite, both treated with 1.0N HCl solution) is offered.

The present work had as overall objective to make the comparative study on the number of nodulation of three legumes (peanut, soybean and cowpea) and the correlation with the level of fertilization of the Lwama I site, city of Kindu. To do this, an experimental device in randomized complete blocks, comprising three treatments and six repetitions, was set up; The results obtained showed that: - For the number of nodulation, groundnut had higher number with the average of 38 while the lowest number was observed in soybean with the average of 0 and the intermediate number was observed in cowpea with the average of 10; - For the number of active nodules, groundnut had a higher number with the average of 26 while the lowest number was observed in soybean with the average of 0 and the intermediate number was observed in cowpea with the average of 8; - With regard to the level of soil fertility in nitrogen, the work done in the laboratory proves that the soil sown with soy had given a very high quantity of nitrogen with the average of 3 mg N/l, while the lowest quantity was obtained in the soil not sown by a legume with a quantity of less than zero mg N/l and the intermediate quantities were obtained in the soil sown by groundnut with the average of 1.6 mg N/l and in the soil sown by cowpea with the average of 1.8mg N/l (Solia 2016).

The present work has been done to emphasize the place of palm oil zomi in people diet at south of Benin. It has consisted in evaluating consumers’ perception and to record utilization of this oil in households of South Benin. On the basis of an inquiry questionnaire, 200 consumers (consumer’s producers (CP) and consumers non producers (CNP)) have been interviewed in six departments of South-Benin. Results have revealed flavored palm oil zomi was characterized by a deep red color (80%), a pronounced odor (10%), a good fluidity (67.14%) and an unsalted taste (93.55%). According to 99.14% of consumers, vegetable with tomatoes sauces were in their majority cooked with zomi oil. Beans according to 95.71% of consumers and boiled yam according to 89.15% of consumers represented foods largely consumed with zomi oil. Zomi oil supplying was frequently done in markets according to 50.7% of consumers. Totally, flavored palm oil zomi occupied an important place in Benin people gastronomy.

Administration of justice by courts requires a smooth and undistracted courtroom management. Parties to a case and any other individual in a courtroom are expected to comply with basic court demeanor standards. The concept of contempt of court is employed to represent violation of those courtroom standards set by the law. Contempt of court is criminally punishable under the Ethiopian Revised Criminal Code and Civil Procedure Code. Apart from the issue on how to make a balance between the right to free speech on the one hand and the right to protect the administration of justice on the other, contempt cases give rise to a natural justice objection against summary proceedings. This research aimed to examine the Ethiopian law on contempt of court vis a vis the practice of five purposively selected woreda courts in East Gojjam zone in relation to crime of contempt of court. The researcher employed a qualitative and non-doctrinal research approach. Judges, public prosecutors and attorneys were participants of the research. Contempt of court is found to virtually defy a precise definition because of the infinite number of ways in which the administration of justice can be prejudiced or abused. Courts use a summary procedure in which the contemnor may be convicted and sentenced for the contempt as it occurs. Despite its importance in regulating court room manners, the law on contempt of court is found to have impact upon the constitutional rights of the accused. Detailed courtroom management manual and mechanisms for respecting the right to be heard of the accused shall be crafted to limit discretionary powers of courts and protect due process rights of persons accused with contempt of court.