Archives-November 2012

This research work is an investigation into how agbono cotyledon extracted from the seed of a specie of the agbono plant (irvingia excelsa) can be processed for long-shelf life. The agbono chaff extracted from agbono cotyledon through solvent extraction using petroleum spirit(60-80)oC was preserved in desiccators and also in black polyethene bags. The findings showed that agbono cotyledon can be processed and preserved to retain the cherished characteristics (sliminess, taste, aroma, etc ) without moulding or fungal growth. The processed agbono was welcomed by the general public. It is recommended that agbono cotyledons be processed by defatting and preserved for food preparations.

The Objective of this project is to compare the three methods of analyzing Black Carbon in the atmosphere that is British, Cohen and Gagel method. Samples were collected from Ashaiman and Kwabenya in the Greater Accra Region and analysed using mention method. It was observed that there is a good correlation between the Cohen and British method. This is because in most all areas where the Cohen method measures high values for the elemental carbon concentrations; the British method also does the same and the vice versa. This pattern has been observed for both methods in the separate analysis carried out on samples from both site. The Gagel method however, displayed results which did not compare in pattern to either the British or the Cohen methods.

The concentration of lead, nickel, magnesium, copper and chromium in ground water resources across sapele local government area were assessed in other to ascertain if their concentration show conformity to world health organization (WHO) stipulated standard. In this study, fifty ground water samples were collected randomly across the study area. The result obtained shows that nickel, chromium, copper ranges from 0.90 – 1.00, BDL – 0.06, 0.30 – 1.40, BDL – 0.15GML-1 respectively while lead was below detection limits. The result when matched with world health organization standard revealed that the water are portable.

The chemical composition of the essential oils from the leaves of Acalypha hispida and Acalypha wilkesiana obtained by hydro distillation, were analyzed by Gas chromatography linked with Mass spectrometry. The main constituents of the essential oil from A. hispida were neral (11.04%), citral (12.87%), 6,10,14, trimethyl-2-pentadecanone (13.43%) and n-hexadecanoic acid (14.69%) while neral (30.66%) and citral (36.10%) which are monoterpenes were the major compounds in the oil of A. wilkesiana. The essential oils were tested for toxicity against brine shrimps larvae (Artemia salina) and showed LC50 values of 122.28µg/mL and 212µg/mL respectively while their activity against Anophelis gambiae reveal LC50 values of 125µg/mL and 83.33µg/mL respectively.

This paper focuses on 17 local governments in savannah Sahel of Yobe State Nigeria. The level of community participation, in afforestation programme development for rural communities is attributed to sense of community. A Sense of community and rule enforcement is a necessary condition for community afforestation programme development. This paper provides an approach for sense of community and rule enforcement in relations to community afforestation programme development. The main purpose of the study was to assess the sense of community and rule enforcement in community afforestation programme development in Yobe State, Nigeria. Sense of community and rule enforcement has been identified as bridge to effective community participation in afforestation programme development. The study used survey design in which questionnaire was used to collect the data from the selected communities and villages. The result shows that about 89 percent change in afforestation programme development was as a result of changes in rule enforcement and sense of community. It can be concluded that the use of this domain allows community leaders to scrutinize their achievements, address their constraints and measure their progress.

The effect of Indomie Noodle Waste Meal (IWM) based diet of the haematology and serum biochemistry of Broiler Finisher was investigated. One hundred and fifty unsexed Hypecco strain of Broilers were randomly allotted into five Isocaloric and Isonitrogenous dietary groups with graded levels of IWM to replace maize on weight basis in a Completely Randomised Design(CRD).Treatment 1 (T1),T2,T3,T4 and T5 contained IW at 0%,25%,50%,75% and 100% respectively. The experiment lasted for five weeks (5th -10th week). Dietary treatment started at 5th week of age and blood collection started at the onset of the dietary treatment and weekly thereafter. Haematological parameters investigated were Haemoglobin (Hb) concentration, Packed Cell Volume (PCV), White Blood Cells (WBC), Red Blood Cells (RBC) while the erythrocyte indices were calculated. Serum metabolites analysed for were Total Protein (TP), Albumin, Globulin, Uric acid, Calcium, Glucose, Creatinine, Bilirubin and Cholesterol. Hb, PCV and the erythrocyte indices were significantly (p<0.05) lowered by the IWM inclusion but not adversely while serum TP, Albumin, Globulin, Calcium and Cholesterol were significantly (p<0.05) elevated with the level of IWM inclusion.IWM can be used to replace maize in the diet of Broiler finisher chickens the level of which must not exceed 50% to avoid higher serum cholesterol level.

Early studies on the adsorption and ion exchange potential of coconut coir dust (Cocos nucifera L.) shows that it has great proficiency for removal of trace metal ions from waste water and industrial effluents. Several factors influence the process of waste water detoxification by agricultural biomass. In this paper the effect of Particle sizes of coconut coir dust on the removal of metal ions by ion exchange has been studied by batch adsorption process for Pb(II), Zn(II), Cu(II), and Cd(II). Percentage sorption of Pb(II), Cu(II), Cd(II), Zn(II) increase with decrease in particle sizes of coir dust: 50 µm > 63 µm > 150 µm > 212 µm > 300 µm > 425 µm > 600 µm. The adsorptivities of the metal ions on the unmodified coir dust decreased in the descending order: Pb(II) > Cd(II) > Zn(II) > Cu(II).

Omeprazole is chemically 5-methoxy-2-[[(4-methoxy-3,5-dimethyl-2-pyridinyl) methyl] sulfinyl ]-1H benzimidazole. It works by blocking acid production in the stomach. This medication is known as a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). It is used to treat acid-related stomach and throat (esophagus) problems and also used in the treatment of dyspepsia, peptic ulcer disease (PUD), Gastro esophageal reflux disease (GORD/GERD), and Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) and Zollinger–Ellison syndrome. From the literature survey conducted there is no simple method reported for the determination of Omeprazole in capsule dosage form. Hence an attempt has been made to develop a HPLC method for the determination of Omeprazole is capsule dosage form and validate the developed method. The method was validated with respect to linearity, precision, system suitability, and specificity. The response was linear in concentration range of 9.6µg/ml to15.6µg/ml. The value of correlation coefficient found to be 0.9992. The R.S.D% value for repeatability precision studies was 0.8500. For system suitability it is essential for the assurance of the quality performance of chromatographic system so five injections of standard drug solution were given to the system. The %RSD value for system suitability was 0.1645.

Besides studies on psychological characteristics are evidencing that sports are differed significantly in terms of level, gender, type of sports and living conditions. Within the presumption, the present study has been taken on examine the influence of performance failure appraisal on volleyball players. The Performance Failure Appraisal Inventory (PFAI) is a multidimensional measure of cognitive-motivational-relational appraisals associated with fear of failure (FF). To achieve this purpose, as subjects, male and female volleyball players were selected randomly from Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu. Besides, as the main purpose of findings the influence of performance failure appraisal on volleyball players performance. In such a way as samples, for this study sixty volleyball players were selected. From the subjects (male = 30 and female = 30). The age of the subjects ranged from 18-25 years. They were hailed from various socio-economic conditions. Selected subjects were completed the Performance Failure Appraisal Inventory (PFAI). It consists of 25questions that has been divided into six subscales. The collected data were statistically analyzed by using independent ‘t’ test. From the results of this study showed significance difference between men and women volleyball players on Performance Failure Appraisal

The Local Governments (LG) in Malaysia has certainly been accountable to implement, and subsequently achieve, the ISO 9000 accreditation. However, to date, most of the PBT organizations have still failed to accomplish this target. The purpose of this study is to identify the barriers of the main organizational behavior of ISO 9000 implementation in LG organizations. This study also seeks to determine whether or not these barriers are different between the types of LG organizations. The related data had been gathered through the questionnaire survey and was analysed using quantitative methods. As an output, the descriptive statistical analysis shows that there are three main barriers that have been faced by the LG organizations in implementing ISO 9000, those of which are the negative perception or attitude towards quality among employees, employees’ culture towards quality programmes and the lack of cooperation among internal departments. This study has also found two additional organizational behavior barriers that have never been discussed previously, known as the change of the Yang Dipertua/Mayor and the non-existence of proper quality management department, division or unit.