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Moringa is known to contain elements that are essential to life. Major roles played by elements include enzyme activation, nerve impulse conduction, oxygen transport, immune functions. The two major groups of elements are major and minor elements (trace elements). Major elements such as Na, Ca, K,P, Mg and trace elements such as Fe, V, Zn, Cr, Cu, Cd, Co , Mn, Pb, Al, Br were determined using both Neutron Activation Analysis(N.A.A) and Atomic Absorption Spectrometer(A.A.S). Further research is required to carry out the effectiveness of Moringa preparations in reducing the risks associated with diseases such as diabetes, hypertension.

Mathematics is typically one of the subjects with which many students struggle. To improve mathematics achivement, it is helpful for students to gain proficiency in mathematics vocabulary. The importance of developing vocabulary as a means of improving comprehension has long been understood by educators and researchers. Students who are exposed to academic vocabulary are usually more successful in their content area classes; yet, the relative effectiveness of vocabulary strategies to build content area vocabulary comprehension in mathematics at the secondary level has had limited research. In this study, two vocabulary strategies were compared in a six-week long investigation to determine the relative effectiveness of each strategy on students’ content area vocabulary development in an Algebra II class - a Modified Cloze/Maze procedure and a Concept of a Definition word map. The research findings conducted from this study are relevant to all content area teachers, in particular math teachers at the secondary level.

Green Banking means combination of operational improvements, technology and changing client habits in banking business. Adopting green banking is not only useful for environment but also benefits in greater operational efficiency. This paper analyzes the evolution of green banking concepts in India, its necessity and significance. It also highlights the major benefits and challenges of Green Banking. Banks should go green and play a pro-active role in India’s emerging economy. This paper has also presented the status of Indian Banks as far as Green banking adoption is concerned. It also highlights the green banking initiatives been taken by the Indian Banking Industry. It gives a detailed study on the findings that there have not been many initiatives in this regard by banks and financial institutions in India though they play an active role in India’s emerging economy. The objective of this study is to find out what initiative has been taken by the Indian Banking Industry to adopt Green Banking. This article also presents the to find out different ways to overcome such hindrances. Observational method and descriptive research design has been adopted for this research and secondary data has been chosen for the research.

Hydro-geophysical investigations were conducted on a 16-acre piece of land at Kaedabi-Ahwerease in the Akuapem-South Municipality in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The purpose of the study was to determine the groundwater potential at the site and the possibility of drilling a borehole that could yield considerable quantity of groundwater for sustainable potable water for a proposed bottled and sachet water factory. The survey was carried out using the Geonics EM-34 conductivity meter and ABEM Terrameter (model SAS 1000 C) equipment. Electromagnetic (EM) profiling and Vertical electrical sounding (VES) surveys were conducted to determine the vertical variation of the resistivity/conductivity of the sub-surface rock formation with depth with the view to detecting fractures, joints, shear zones and faults, which could serve as conduits for water traps within the underlying bedrock at the project site. The EM profiling data were obtained along three (3) evenly-spaced parallel traverses each of length 300 m with the 20 m inter-coil separation cable. Measurements were taken at 10 m station intervals in the northwest-southeast direction as a means of selecting suitable points for depth-probing (VES investigations). From the EM profiling results, 12 conductivity anomaly points were selected for further investigation using VES methodology. The Schlumberger array was used for the VES survey. The combined interpretation of the EM and VES results indicated the presence of possible aquifer units comprising the weathered, fractured and fresh bedrock within the subsurface of the study area. The results revealed the presence of three geo-electric layers. The resistivity of the top lateritic layer ranged from 78 to 1,895 ?m with thickness between 0.8 and 1.7 m. The resistivity of the regolith (second layer) ranged from 10 to 135 ?m with thickness of 2.1 to 6.4 m; while the bedrock had resistivity values between 303 and 1068 ?m. The combined output from topographic interpretation, paleo-river channel location and resistivity modelling results clearly zoned out areas of high and low groundwater potential in the study area. The estimated groundwater yield for the three test wells drilled within the detected high groundwater potential zone ranged between 50 and 160 lpm, indicating that, the study area has adequate groundwater for the proposed project.

The current global challenges of ensuring the availability of and access to food, in both quantity and quality, require deliberate and far-reaching solutions. Historically, research for development in agriculture and extension services has been a strong driving force for meeting food supply around the world. Agriculture is changing, and with it, a revised set of skills is needed to address new challenges in agriculture. As attitudes, expectations and employment in agriculture have changed, there is evidence that the skills and competencies of graduates do not meet the needs of today’s agricultural sector. Industrial development is not possible without agricultural development so, maximum people must live in the villages and help in the agricultural development, there is vast difference between rural and urban life and this should be lessened. The standard of living of rural people can be uplifted permanently only when they themselves make an effort in this direction and encourage people to take initiative; it is prerequisite that the change in the field of knowledge, understanding, skill and attitude should be brought about. Extension Education is primarily for the rural development. Its main objective is to bring necessary change in the beliefs or views of people. Extension education is an educational process by which capabilities among people are developed to understand their problems and resources. It is utilized to make scientific methods available to the rural people, so that they can raise their agricultural production and their standard of living. The aim of extension education is community development, which is possible only by bringing change in the behaviour complex of rural people. Extension education plays major role in bringing desirable change in rural people.

Previous studies on Ghana's school feeding programme have largely taken a quantitative approach in assessing and analyzing its impact on increases in enrolment, attendance, retention, short-term health and nutritional benefits. This study employed qualitative instruments, using a semi-structured interview guide and observation checklists on five pupils in one school Yikpee D/A Primary School in order to fill the gap in the quantitative studies as well as look at the views of older students on the School Feeding Programme. The results showed that older pupils often came from poor and illiterate families,-whose parents were peasant farmers and that for those children, their decisions to enroll in school were informed by a desire for gainful employment, escape from farming and the ability to read and write in the future. It was also revealed that it was not the food per se that attracted these children to school; but the fact that the school was viewed to be a welcoming place for learning and opportunity for them to achieve their future goals. Although the pupils were in favour of the feeding programme, they wished it stopped because it distracted their attention in class. The study has thus put forward some policy recommendations on the school feeding programmes which include the need to seek the views of target beneficiaries on whether, where and when to implement the programme as a policy intervention before final decisions are made to cover all neighbouring schools.

Vetiver grass effectiveness for phytoremediation has received wide publicity. Therefore, a pot experiment was conducted to compare metal tolerance and metal uptake of two vetiver grass varieties; Vetiveria zizanioides (VZ) and Vetiveria nigritana (VN) on soil collected from an abandoned Exide battery site. A pot experiment with treatments of different levels of pollutant; 100% top soil, 100% polluted soil, 75% top soil + 25% polluted soil, 25% topsoil + 75% polluted soil and 50% topsoil + 50% polluted soil.Each treatment consists of a pot filled with 5kg of the dumpsite soil and top soil mixture. These were planted with two vetiver grass varieties and were replicated three times. The vetiver grass was carefully uprooted twelve weeks after planting and was analyzed for lead concentration. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance using SAS 2.0 and the means were separated using Least Significance Difference. The results showed thatVZ had a better growth performance thanVN. Number of tillers and root length were significantly higherfor VZ (7.9, 36.8 cm) than VN (4.0, 23.3 cm), respectively. However, VN had higher uptake of lead (11017mgkg? ?) than VZ (9405 mgkg-1). In summary, both varieties may be well suited for phytoremediation in tropical lead mine areas, but VN could tolerate higher lead concentration than VZ.

The possibility of using a three phase pipe separator to separate a mixture of air-water oil was investigated. A 30 ID laboratory based pipe separator was designed, fabricated and installed to study the separation efficiency of air-water-oil mixture. A mixture of air-water-oil flow run through the pipe separator and the separation efficiency calculated in term of the percentage of clean water by volume at the water-rich outlet calculated. The results obtained showed that a clean water stream at the water-rich outlet of the pipe separator is achievable at high water volume fractions and low oil content. This confirmed the possibility that the three phase pipe separator can function as a free water knock-out device.

In this study, activated carbon was prepared from moringa seed husk by chemical activation method using of potassium hydroxide (KOH) impregnation. The activated carbon produced was characterized and tested for the removal of two different dyes from wastewater. The Activity tests were carried out for five different masses of activated carbon and three contact times in order to investigate the effect of mass of activated carbon and contact time respectively. The experimental results showed that an increase in the mass of the activated carbon produced leads to a higher percentage removal of dye from wastewater.

The new Trade Practice and Consumer Protection Proclamation of Ethiopia come into effect in Ethiopia in August 2010 i.e. Proclamation No. 685/2010. Therefore, that, after three years of the effective period, Proclamation No. 813/2013 repealed it. The Trade Practice and Consumer Protection Authority is the regulatory body, which also has a judicial mandate, oversees the implementation of the law. The law regulates trade practices by protecting businesses from anti-competitive and unfair trade practices to ensure a competitive business environment. Henceforth, this research analyses the effectiveness of these two proclamations since their ultimate goal is to secure the healthiest trade environment in the territorial hemisphere of Ethiopia. On the other side, since the two laws have their own positive impact on the economy of the country, substantially this research gives due consideration for the empirical effect of these two proclamations extraordinarily in the Eastern Zone of Tigray.

Education is very important in all societies. In this process, teacher and his training procedures are very important. However, it can be said that teaching is not easy because the teacher is faced with many variables in the process of teaching. Better identifying these variables and using them in a timely manner can help teachers focus on its goals. In this regard, the present study is an attempt to evaluate the effectiveness of student-centered education on creativity and social compatibility of junior students in Dashtestan city in 1393. The population of this study are junior students of Dashtestan city that 40 students of the target population were selected and investigated. Based on the objective, this study is functional and based on the nature, it is descriptive – analytical and gathering data has been done based on Library, documentary, and field studies. Data has been collected based on Bell’s social compatibility questionnaire in this study containing 25 questions and also Torrance’s creativity test has been used. The results show that there is a significant relationship among the student-centered teaching method and increasing creativity and social compatibility of students. So it seems that planning for teachers to use modern teaching methods (student-centered) in their teaching to improve the quality of education is necessary.

The impact of distributed generation in the grid network of the Nigerian South-South Region is studied in this paper. DG capacity installation in the network was modelled using NEPLAN software. Reduction of network and transmission line losses as well as minimisation of transmission line congestion and voltage profile improvement for the nodes of the network were observed in the results.

The effects of distributed generation in the Nigerian North East zone is discussed in this paper. DG capacity installation in the power system was modelled using NEPLAN software. Network loss reduction, reduction in transmission line losses and congestion as well as voltage profile improvement for the nodes of the network were some of the observed advantages in the results.

This paper discusses the ways for maintaining high availability of a system in order to keep high reliability figure. In doing so, the basic principles of reliability are discussed. Since good maintenance practice enhances availability, some important topics on maintenance management are also discussed. At the end recommendations are made on how to keep a system in a high availability state.

All the previous studies on buckling and postbuckling loads of plate having all four edges simply supported (SSSS) have been limited to the use of assumed double trigonometric functions of displacement and stress. This has constrained further studies on practical plates’ problems, as the buckling and postbuckling load equation derived thereafter by this approach lacked practical interpretation and application because major associated parameters such as the displacement parameter, Wuv, stress coefficient, Wuv2 and load factor, Kcx were not determined. Hence, this paper obtained the displacement and stress functions of buckling and postbuckling loads of SSSS plate by applying the direct integration theory to the Kirchhoff’s linear buckling governing differential equation and Von Karman’s non–linear governing differential compatibility equation consecutively. Work principle was applied to the Von Karman’s non–linear governing differential equilibrium equation to obtain the buckling and postbuckling loads of the plate. Yield/maximum stress of the plate was also obtained by imposing the bending stress influences of the in-plane loads on their direct stress influences. Wuv, Wuv2 and Kcx were also defined. Therefore, the buckling/postbuckling load and critical yield stress characteristics of SSSS plate under uniformly distributed uniaxial loads could be analyzed completely.

This research focused on determination of buckling stress values of internally pressurized unstiffened imperfect thin cylindrical shell under axial compression. The method of solution was carried out by the use of nonlinear large deflection theory and the effect of initial imperfections in the strain-displacement equations was considered. The Ritz method was used to determine the buckling stress parameter of the shell. Numerical examples were carried out ; it was found that as imperfect ratio increases, the buckling stress values decreases at constant wavelength ratio, deflection parameters, radius of curvature, internal pressure and thickness of the shell. However, with the use of varying values of imperfect ratio, wavelength ratio, deflection parameters and thickness of the shell at constant internal pressure and radius of curvature, the buckling stress values progressively to a maximum point known as the critical value and then depreciate progressively. This nonlinear analysis in the Ritz method and the imperfect ratio is responsible for the behaviour of the cylindrical shell.

This study presents the structural characterization of sawdust-palm kernel shellcrete composite. It proffers solution to absence of structural characteristics of sawdust-palm kernel shellcrete composite, which is a concrete component mixture of cement, sawdust and palm kernel shell(PKS). The materials used in the experiments work included: Ordinary Portland Cement, saw dust, palm kernel shell and water. The physical characterization tests were performed on the aggregates used in this experimental work, of which sawdust gave values of 554.9kg/m3, 0.503, 33.57%, 2.61, 1.0 and 2.83 for average bulk density, average specific gravity, average water absorption, finess modulus, coefficient of curvature (Cc) and uniformity (Cu) respectively. Palm kernel shell gave corresponding values of 729.09kg/m3, 1.63, 11.8%, 6.03, 1.36 and 2.64. Batching was done by weight and the low bulk density of the aggregate materials (sawdust and palm kernel shell) were taken cognizance of. The mixing of the components were done manually. A total of six (6) cubes of size 150mm x 150mm x 150mm, six(6) cylinders of size 150mm x 300mm and six(6) beams of size 150mm x 150mm x 600mm were produced from mix ratios (water : cement : fine aggregate : coarse aggregate): 0.9 : 1 : 2 : 2 and 0.9 : 1 : 2 : 3 for compressive strength test, split tensile strength test and flexural strength test respectively. The above water-cement ratio and mix ratio was adopted due to the high water absorption of the aggregate materials and to achieve the desired workability, strength and durability for light weight concrete. For the mix ratio of 0.9 : 1 : 2 : 2, the average compressive strength, flexural strength, split tensile strength and average static modulus of elasticity were 7.73MPa, 2.76MPa, 1.57MPa and 4.41GPa. The corresponding values for the mix ratio of 0.9 : 1 : 2 : 3 are 3.84MPa, 2.51MPa, 1.42MPa and 4.06GPa. The average Poisson’s ratio ranges from 0.2 - 0.37. The shear modulus ranged from 1.48MPa – 1.84MPa. The average flexural strength of sawdust-palm kernel shellcrete beams ranged from 2.5MPa to 2.76MPa.

Agriculture is the backbone of Kenya and employs the highest proportion of the population, accounts for approximately a quarter of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and close to two-thirds of total exports, hence its importance in poverty alleviation. Despite the importance of the sector, about four-fifths of the country’s land area is arid and semi-arid (ASAL), making rain fed agriculture largely unviable. As such, livestock and dryland farming are elevated to the highest among livelihood options for resident communities who are largely nomadic pastoralists and agro-pastoralists. While weather patterns are largely responsible for low crop yields and therefore food insecurity, there are other factors that come into play to escalate want in these areas including socio-cultural dynamics and institutional bottlenecks. This paper looks at the challenges of dryland farming in semi-arid areas of Kenya and henceforth points at possible research gaps that need to be bridged to alleviate food insecurity and enhance national development and the achievement of the UN Millennium Development Goal 1 of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger.

Kenya is administratively divided into forty-seven (47) counties each of which shall be under the stewardship of a County Governor once the new constitution is finally implemented. These officers shall be tasked with the coordination of governance and development in the respective administrative areas. Like specific country Heads of State in the case of New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), County Governors shall be regarded as peers and hence accountable to both the government and the local community for any development activities. In the NEPAD development thinking, specific countries are required to undertake in-house reviews of their development policies and performance in governance, human rights and social service provision among others. The resultant data are presented to other African Heads of State and Government for peer review and the particular Head of State/Government made to answer for any development shortcomings. Similarly, to improve governance and accountability of leaders in areas under their purview, County Governors in Kenya could be subjected to the same peer review, hence NEPAD from below. This paper examines the APRM philosophy as a development archetype and argues for its intra-country domestication in Kenya focusing on the County.

Since independence, the governance of development in Kenya has for the most part been centralised under the armpit of government officials. As such devolution is vaguely understood especially by grassroots leaders and communities. Consequently, central government officials have continued to determine the path of development at the grassroots especially so since they also control financial resources through the district treasury. However, the government has recognised this top-down development archetype as a major bottleneck to welfare and has been implementing policies to bring on board the beneficiaries. One major attempt was the District Focus for Rural Development Strategy of the early 1980s, which made the district the local level planning and development coordination and implementation unit. This policy faced several challenges which necessitated more focussed strategies to move decision-making powers from the centre to margin. The early years of the 21st century marked increased resource devolution and decentralized decision-making to the grassroots including Constituencies Development Fund, recruitment of some cadre of staff, management of health facilities and water resources among others. The Constitution of Kenya endorsed by about 70% of votes cast during the August 4th 2010 Referendum and subsequently promulgated by the president on August 27th 2010 is yet another devolution stab to enhance development and governance at the grassroots. This paper highlights the devolution proposals and the envisaged benefits to grassroots communities in Chapter Eleven of the Constitution of Kenya.

Gravity data were acquired along two profiles in some parts of the Njaba River sub-basin located in Southeastern Nigeria. Profile A-A’ runs for about 30 kilometers from Ogbaku to Oguta lake and Profile B-B’ (covers about 12km) runs from Mgbidi to Oguta lake with the end of the two profiles meeting at the lake. The corrected data is interpreted to prove the petroleum potentiality of the study area. The Bouguer gravity anomaly along Profile A-A’ revealed an initial positive gravity values (+50 to +10 g.u.) to a wavelength (distance) of about 21km and then followed by a sudden drop of the observed gravity showing a significant gravity minimum to a value of about -150 g.u. Profile B-B’ showed an alternating gravity highs and lows which was followed by a sharp drop in the observed gravity (-140 g.u.) when getting close to Oguta lake where the ends of the two profiles (A’ and B’) met. Further investigation showed that the structure modeled is graben (gravity low) and horsts (gravity high) bounded by two normal faults. The gravity high observed is due to the lesser density contrasts between the sediments and the basement, that is, the basement is closer to the surface (when compared with the areas showing negative anomaly) which could be explained to have resulted from the upwarping of the crust. The area showing gravity low shows thick sedimentary accumulation of recently deposited alluvium deposits deposited in the subsided area bounded by these two faults. The structural framework of the parts of the Njaba River sub-basin studied in particularly the northwestern part of the sub-basin in which structural faults and thick sediment pile were observed suggests an environment favorable for large-scale entrapment of hydrocarbons. This is justified by the ongoing exploration and exploitation of petroleum resources in the area and its environs (Oguta, Izombe, and Ossu oil fields). Further geologic and geophysical (3D seismic survey) studies is recommended to accurately map and obtain more information on the subsurface geological structures and stratigraphy of the sub-basin.

In a deregulated electricity industry, congestion is most likely to occur and FACTS devices have been proven to be very effective in mitigating this challenge. In this paper a sensitivity based analysis is used to determine the optimal place to locate series FACTS devices, the device used for the investigation is Thyristor Controlled Series Capacitor (TCSC). This approach was tested on the South East Nigerian 11 – bus network. The Power System Analysis Toolbox (PSAT), was used for the simulation of the system. The load flow results obtained showed the effectiveness of the method.

This paper assesses the benefits, problems and implications of the use E-commerce to developing economy like ours (Nigeria) in the area of international marketing. The position of this paper is that despite the myriad benefits of e-commerce in the international scene, the concept has held African countries under electronic siege. It promises freedom for all but in practice it's under developing Africa faster. The historical evolution of NWICO is responsible for this scenario. The lesson to be learned from the paper is that Africa should join the rest of the world in developing electronically platforms that 'will help our products marketed and competed internationally in the "market space ".

Two sets of field experiments were performed in two successive summer seasons to study the effect of soil and foliar fertilization of mungbean. The first set included the effect of late foliar applied N or K under different levels of phosphatic fertilization on mungbean yield and chemical constituents. Mungbean (Vigna radiata (L) Wilczek) var. Kawmy-l was fertilized with 0,19,38,57 and 76 Kg P205 ha-1 at sowing. Foliar applied N was sprayed as 1 % urea solution and K was applied as potassium sulphate 36% K20 solution; both N and K sprays were carried out at early pod formation stage. The second set of experiments aimed to study the effect of micronutrient application when combined with urea. The foliar applied treatments were urea (1%); and four key micronutrients; i.e. Fe (0.5%); Zn (0.1%); Mn (0.2%) and CuSO4 (0.05%). Micronutrient treatments were sprayed either alone or combined with urea at early pod formation. The obtained results showed that P fertilization significantly increased mungbean pod weight per plant, 100-seed weight, yield per plant and per hectare compared with the untreated control. Mungbean seed yield per hectare showed more response to foliar applied N than that with K. The best seed yield per hectare was reported from the combined effect of 76 Kg P205 ha-1 and foliar spraying with N. Protein percentage in mungbean seeds was not affected by either soil or foliar applications and ranged between 20.6 to 22.9%. However, protein yield kg ha-1 significantly increased when the plants were fertilized with 76 Kg P205 ha1 and foliar sprayed with N. In addition, soil application of P and foliar spray treatments showed significant effects on carbohydrate percentage and carbohydrate yield ha-1of mungbean seeds. Micronutrient application showed beneficial effects on yield and yield components from the association of urea with Zn on pod-number and with all micronutrients on pod-weight per plant. The highest seed yield per plant was recorded when the plants were foliar sprayed with Fe and Mn alone or Urea+Zn. Meanwhile, the highest seed yield per hectare was achieved by foliar spraying with Fe or Zn alone as well as by the combined application with urea Fe, Mn or Zn. Micronutrient concentrations in mungbean seeds were elevated more than in the control treatment due to foliar spray treatments but it did not reach the level of significance for Fe, Zn and Cu. It could be concluded from this study that mungbean productivity responds to combined soil application of P at 57 Kg P205 ha-1 and late foliar applied N at early pod formation stage. Foliar spray of urea combined with Fe or Zn may increase seed yield and improve the quality of seeds.

A Primary cutaneous leiomyosarcoma located in the left thigh is reported in a 83-year-old patient. The clinical examination found a voluminous ulcero-budding infected tumor, measuring 15 cm long axis. The result of the histological examination and the immuno-histochemical profile revealed the diagnosis of a leiomyosarcoma. The patient underwent extensive excision with cutaneous margins of three to five cm and carried the Gracilis muscle deep down. After one year of control we did not notice local recurrence. The prognosis remains poor. We recommend long-term follow-up of patients to prevent recurrence. The purpose of this work is to show the difficulties to make the diagnosis and describe our management of this rare case.

In the present communication doping of Polypyrrole (Ppy) has been done with a multiligand urea complex of cobalt(II) via in situ oxidative polymerization using FeCl3.6H2O as an oxidant. The dopant has been synthesized and characterized by using elemental analysis, FTIR, XRD and thermogravimetric (TG) analysis. The composite based on the synthesized dopant has been subjected to FTIR and X-ray diffraction techniques.Surface morphology of Ppy and its composite with metal complex is investigated with scanning electron microscope (SEM).Thermal analysis has been done by using TG and DSC technique. The dopant has developed the crystallinityin amorphous Ppy and has increased its thermal stability. XRD results show crystalline nature of composite.Parameters like crystallite size, interplanar distance, micro strain and dislocation density have been calculated by using Bragg’s and other related equations. Moreover lattice parameters a, b, c, ?, ? and ? have also been calculated for the dopant as well as the composite using powder X softwareThermogravimetric analysis reveals that the thermal stability of composite is better to that of pure polypyrrole. 

Patients withbladderexstrophy have a higherrisk of bladder cancer, usuallyadenocarcinomakind . The squamouscellcarcinomais rare, withonly 12 cases reported in the literature. We report one case of squamouscellcarcinoma of bladderexstrophyoccursunrepairedchild in a 34 yearsold man.

In this study, a hydrometallurgical treatment for valuable metals recovery from rinsing water of electroplating industries is reported. This water contains high contents of Copper, Nickel, Lead, Zinc and Chromium ions. Copper is recovered by leaching in hydrochloric acid solution. The effects of acid concentration, temperature and treatment time were investigated. Lead and Nickel are removed by adsorption onto activated carbon from artificial binary-component aqueous solutions. The effects of pH, time, temperature, and amount of adsorbent were investigated. Maximum Lead adsorption was obtained at pH 5.5-6 and 80?C for 30 min., while for Nickel at pH 7 and room temperature for 60 min.

A comparative indoor radon measurement by nuclear track detectors was undertaken in both Sakumono and Kassena Nankana area in sandcrete and Adobe houses respectively. In all, about seventy seven (77) detectors (type LR 115) were deployed for a period of three (3) months. The study was undertaken for the purpose of health risk assessments. The average indoor radon concentration in dwellings of Sakumono and its environs varied from 5.29 – 18.6 Bq/m³ but that of the Kassena Nankana Area varied from 35.3 and 244.2 Bq/m³.  About 38% of the Adobe dwellings found in the Kassena Nankana Area had indoor radon concentration values that were above the action level of 150 Bqm³ recommended by the US EPA. The annual effective dose for the whole study varied from 0.15 to 3.05 mSv/y.

Engineering has played a critical role in increasing the health, technology and quality of life of humans in the last 50 years. For efficient and effective practice of engineering, people who aspire to be engineers should be groomed in an environment where quality is assured. In Ghana, the need to train more engineers and governments policy of increasing student’s intake by about 10% each year has raised the number of student’s enrolment in all the engineering disciplines to higher levels. Over the past twenty five years, the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), with its strategic location, industrial environment, good academic facilities and capable staff has been an excellent place for training graduates of proven ability in the engineering disciplines. UMaT has produced a high caliber of engineering graduate in the mining and its allied disciplines. Student enrolment in the University has seen a gradual increase from the early 1990’s to date. With increasing students’ intake and the slow level of infrastructural development, lecture theatres cannot cater for combined classes for courses being undertaken by students. This has resulted in pressure on academic facilities such as lecture rooms, laboratories, libraries and computers. This also implies an additional work for technicians, laboratory assistant and lecturers handling such students. It is important that government and stake holders in the tertiary education restructure and provide more funding for engineering education. The study looks at the challenges of increasing student intake in the engineering discipline and effort to be made in solving these problems. To provide an in-depth analysis to the issue at stake, available literatures were examined, available facilities were assessed and a general interaction with stakeholders including students, laboratory technicians, lecturers and administrators were employed.

This paper contains the results of a new experimental study of the temperature effect on density and ultrasonic velocity for peanut (Arachis hypogaea), canola (Brassica napus L., Brassica rapa L. and Brassica juncea) and rosa mosqueta (Rosa affinis rubiginosa L.) oils. The Halvorsen’s model (HM), and Collision Factor Theory (CFT) were selected for prediction of these properties, attending to ease of use and range of application. An accurate response was observed, despite of the use of molecular group contribution procedures for estimation of theoretical critical points and the complex nature of the studied fluids.

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and genetic profile of the rotaviruses involved in gastroenteritis among children in Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria. Two hundred and five stool samples were collected from children (1-5yrs) presenting diarrhea at the paediatrics Departments of five hospitals. The stool samples were screened, using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay. Sixteen stool samples were found positive, representing 7.8% prevalence. Children within 1-2years had 4.39% while those within 3-5years recorded 3.41%.During dry season, the prevalence was more (4.87%) compared to the rainy season (2.93%). Identification of the rotavirus strains using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) revealed genotypes such as G1, G2, G8, P4, P8, and P6. Hospital and community based studies should be encouraged in order to have a more clear picture about the prevalence and the strains of the virus in circulation in the studied area.

The condensation product between 2,6-diacetylpyridinedihydrazone and pyridine-2-aldehyde were prepared and this was reacted with cis-Ru(phen)2Cl2.2H2O and cis-Ru(bipy)2Cl2.2H2O to form two mixed – ligand complexes. The complexes were characterized using elemental analyses, infrared and electronic spectra, mass spectra, 1H NMR, and the molar conductances determined. The elemental analyses data is satisfactory with the formation of the prepared complexes which conformed to the electrocyclisation of the introduced ligand. The mass spectra data is consistent with the molecular structural patterns of the complexes. The conductivity measurement revealed that the complexes were 1:2 electrolytes. Quantum chemical methods are used to calculate the binding and stabilization energies of the two complexes which suggested that binding and stabilization energies of [Ru(phen)2L]2+ are thermodynamically more favourable compared to [Ru(bipy)2L]2+ .

The detoxifying effect of Vitamin C in the graded levels of Fumonisin B1 fed to bird was conducted with One hundred and five (105) point-of-lay Isa brown breed at 18 weeks and twenty-one (21) cocks at 25 weeks to access egg qualities and embryonic development of their eggs. The birds (layers) were assigned to Seven (7) dietary treatments of 15 birds each at three (3) birds per replicate. The treatments were classified according to inclusion level of Fumonisin B1 and Vitamin C. Treatment A served as the control, B (10 mg/kg of FB1), C (20 mg/kg of FB1), D (30 mg/kg of FB1), E (10 mg/kg of FB1 + Vitamin C), F (20 mg/kg of FB1 + Vitamin C), and G (30mg/kg of FB1 + Vitamin C). The birds were artificially fertilised with semen collected from intact cocks. All the eggs collected from day three (3) after artificial insemination for seven (7) days were incubated to assess the egg fertility and monitor the development of resulting embryos at 7 and 14 days. A significant difference was observed in shell weight (p?0.05) while other external qualities of eggs examined were not significantly (p?0.05) influenced by the level of fumonisin B1. Yolk height and yolk diameter had significance (p?0.05) while other internal qualities were not significantly (p?0.05) affected. No significant effect of FB1 was observed for the embryonic development just as there was no difference between the selected embryos of the treated group and the control. Meanwhile, the result shows that Vitamin C can effectively ameliorate the toxic effect of the FB1 on the egg qualities (external and internal) and embryonic development of eggs. 

An experiment was conducted with One hundred and five (105) point-of-lay Isa brown breed at 18 weeks and twenty-one (21) cocks at 25 weeks to assess the haematology and serum biochemistry of laying birds fed with graded levels of Fumonisin with or without vitamin C. The birds (layers) were assigned to Seven (7) dietary treatments of 15 birds each at three (3) birds per replicate. The treatments were classified according to inclusion level of Fumonisin B1 and Vitamin C. Treatment A served as the control, B (10 mg/kg of FB1), C (20 mg/kg of FB1), D (30 mg/kg of FB1), E (10 mg/kg of FB1 + Vitamin C), F (20 mg/kg of FB1 + Vitamin C), and G (30mg/kg of FB1 + Vitamin C). Significant differences were observed in PCV, Hb, WBC and Eos for levels of FB1 inclusion. Glucose and AST, showed significant differences (P<0.05) in levels of inclusion of FB1 in the diets. Meanwhile, the result shows that Vitamin C can effectively ameliorated the toxic effect of the FB1.

Mycotoxin contaminations are ubiquitous in livestock diets. This comes under many generic names of which Fumonisin B1 (FB1) was the object of evaluation on its influence on growth and laying performance of laying birds fed with graded level of FB1 with or without vitamin C supplementation. One hundred and five (105) point-of-lay Isa brown breed at 18 weeks and twenty-one (21) cocks at 25 weeks were purchased for the experiment. The birds (layers) were assigned to Seven (7) dietary treatments of 15 birds each at three (3) birds per replicate. The treatments were classified according to inclusion level of Fumonisin B1 and Vitamin C. Treatment A served as the control, B (10 mg/kg of FB1), C (20 mg/kg of FB1), D (30 mg/kg of FB1), E (10 mg/kg of FB1 + Vitamin C), F (20 mg/kg of FB1 + Vitamin C), and G (30mg/kg of FB1 + Vitamin C). Feed intake and weights of the birds were taken for performance evaluation. Eggs were daily collected and counted and analysed for Hen-house and Hen-day production. The relative weight of organs were taken to examine the influence of fumonisin on them. It was observed that there are no significant difference (P>0.05) in the final weight, total weight and daily weight gain of hens when compared with the control. Increased inclusion of FB1 resulted in significant (P<0.05) increase in total feed intake, daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio. There were no significant difference in the organ weight for treatment and levels of inclusion. The weight of the laying hens was reduced with increased feed intake. This showed that FB1 caused poor feed conversion rate which was evident in the result of this study. Meanwhile, the Vitamin C effectively ameliorated the toxic effect of the FB1. It is therefore important to include Vitamin C in the diet of laying hens so as to reduce the negative effects of FB1 on the performance and Carcass characteristics.

Trials were carried out using five maize varieties in Ibadan, Oyo state Nigeria in 2010 and 2011 maize cropping seasons. The varieties were planted in a randomized complete block design of three replicates. The objective was to evaluate the relationship existing among various growth and yield components as they contribute to grain yield. The result showed that varieties differed significantly in days to 50% flowering, field weight and number of kernel per cob (P<0.05), leaf area, ear length and 1000 grain weight (P<0.01), plant height and grain yield/ha (P<0.001). ART98-SW5OB and Obatanpa were superior in almost all the agronomic traits evaluated while ART98-SW6 OB was least in plant height and produce flowers earlier than the other varieties. Years, variety and years of evaluation interaction were however not significantly different. Ear length correlated positively and strongly with plant height and number of kernels per cob (P<0.001). Plant height and other agronomical traits were positively associated with grain yield except days to 50% flowering and numbers of kernel per cob. Growth and yield components are related in one way or the other; hence selection for secondary yield traits that correlate positively with primary yield components is fundamental to the overall grain yield development in maize.

Trials were carried out using five composite maize varieties in a Striga lutea (Lour) endemic soil of Temidire-Eruwa, Oyo State, Nigeria, in 2004 and 2005. The composite maize varieties were tested under varied fertilizer types, Nitrogen (N) concentrations and artificial striga infestation. The objective was to test these striga resistant maize varieties for yield and agronomic performance under the above conditions. The result showed that, variety and year of evaluation differed significantly (P<0.01) for almost all agronomic characters such as plant stand, days to anthesis (silking and tasselling), plant and ear heights as well as root and stalk lodging resistance at both 100kgN and 200kgN/ha. Variety x Year interaction were also significantly different (P<0.01) for all agronomic characters except root lodging and husk tip cover. Fertilizer type differed only for days to silking, plant height and plant aspect, while Year x Nitrogen source and Variety x Nitrogen source was highly significant (P<0.01) for field weight. Plant stands were better in 2004 than 2005 for all varieties except Acr 97syn-W and DMR-LSR-W. The composite maize varieties tolerated high N-concentration except DMR-LSR-Y which do not utilize excess Nitrogen above 100kgN/ha. Use of striga resistant maize varieties concomitantly with Nitrogen fertilizer is recommended for farmers in Striga lutea endemic ecology, for higher grain yield.

Over several years, 5-Nitro 2-Furaldehyde Semicarbozone, otherwise known as Nitrofurazone has been in widespread use as anti-bacterial drug. The recording of FTIR and Laser Raman Spectra is done for the characteristic vibrations of C=N, N-N and furan ring systems and the tentative vibrational assignments have been reported. In the present investigation, vibrational assignments has been carried out for the molecule of the title compound using fundamental modes of vibration observed in Infrared and Raman Spectroscopy. The vibrational modes are classified into a’ and a” irreducible representations. Thus 42 fundamental modes of vibration ie.29a’ and 13a” vibrations are considered. A satisfactory vibrational band assignment has been made by using the FTIR Laser Raman Spectra of the compound.

The optimized molecular structure, vibrational frequencies, corresponding vibrational assignments and thermodynamic properties of N-(4-methoxybenzylidene) aniline (N4MBA) have been investigated by using ab initio HF/6-311++G(d,p) and DFT/B3LYP method at 6-311G(d,p) and 6-311++G(d,p) basis sets. The energy and oscillator strength calculated by TD-DFT are in line with experimental findings. Moreover, we have not only simulated HOMO and LUMO, but also determined the energy band gap. The stability of the molecule arising from hyperconjugative interaction and charge delocalization has been analyzed using natural NBO analysis. Besides, Mulliken charges were also calculated. IR and Raman intensities were calculated and TED also has been reported.

The optimized molecular structure, vibrational frequencies, corresponding vibrational assignments and thermodynamic properties of 4-Acetyl-N-(4-methoxybenzylidene)aniline [4A-N-(4MB)A] have been investigated by using ab initio HF/6-311++G(d,p) and DFT/B3LYP method at 6-311G(d,p) and 6-311++G(d,p) basis sets. The energy and oscillator strength calculated by TD-DFT are in line with experimental findings. The 1H and 13C NMR chemical shifts calculations of the 4A-N-(4MB)A molecule were carried out by using HF/6-311++G(d,p) and B3LYP functional with 6-311G(d,p)/6-311++G(d,p) basis set. HOMO and LUMO orbitals have been visualized. The stability of the molecule arising from hyperconjugative interaction and charge delocalization has been analyzed using natural NBO analysis. The minimum energy conformational analysis was carried out with the help of PES scan. Besides, MEP was calculated and Mulliken charges, IR and Raman intensities have also been reported.

The present study dealt with evaluating the degradation produced to four fabricated polymers after one year of continuous direct exposure to the environmental conditions prevailing at an industrial urban site in, Helwan city, Egypt. The produced damage in the mechanical properties was assessed by evaluating the loss in tensile strength, elongation percent, weight, thickness, drap and stiffness values. Also, the changes in the pH, number of carboxyl end group values and surface morphology of examined samples are studied. The prevailing environmental conditions at exposure site are severe and contribute greatly to the deterioration occurring to the examined fabrics. Also that site is characterized by the presence of many industrial factories as: iron and steel, coal, cement, cars, textiles, metallurgy and some other factories that cause considerable environmental pollution. Nevertheless, summer time especially august was the most effective period and recorded the maximum changes and damage to the examined fabrics.

Blue rubber nevus syndrome also known as Bean syndrome, is a rare vascular congenital condition responsible for multiple venous malformations that usually concern the skin and the gastrointestinal tract, rarely reported affecting the central nervous system, lung or the thyroid gland. We herein present a case of an 80-year-old male, diagnosed with Biermer’s disease since 2006, he latter on was subject to an aggravation of his anemia leading the investigations to discover multiple gastrointestinal (GI) ‘blebs’ causing recurrent haemorrhages.

The notion of closed set plays a fundamental role in the study of topological spaces. Levine[8], in 1970 introduced the concept of generalized closed sets in a topological space by comparing the closure of a subset with its open supersets. This has been studied extensively in recent years by many topologists. The investigation of generalized closed sets has led to several new and interesting concepts. New and interesting applications have been found in the field of Economics, Biology and Robotics etc. Generalized closed sets remain as an active and fascinating field within mathematicians.

The epithermal neutron shape factor(?) in the permanent cadmium lined irradiation channel of the Nigeria Research Reactor-1(NIRR-1) was re-evaluated using the four monitor combinations 198Au-99Mo- 97Zr- 95Zr, 198Au- 97Zr- 95Zr- 65Zn, 198Au-60C0- 97Zr- 95Zr and 198Au- 60Co- 97Zr- 95Zr- 99Mo in the monitor set Al-0.1%Au thin foil, Zr and Zn foils, Mo and Co thin wires irradiated for ? determinatiom by the cadmium covered multtimonitor method. The monitor combination 198Au-99Mo- 97Zr- 95Zr was found to give a relatively higher and more reasonable value of ? of -0.101±0.019. Also the value of ? determined using only the three monitor combination 198Au- 97Zr- 95Zr was found to be -0.106±0.014 and is comparable with the ? value for the monitor combination198Au-99Mo- 97Zr- 95Zr. The negative values of ? in both determinations indicate a hardened epithermal neutron spectrum in the cadmium lined irradiation channel.They are comparable with the value of -0.137±0.018 previously obtained. The values of the epithermal neutron flux(?e ) and comparator factor (Fc,Au ) of 4.80±0.04)×109 and (1.38±0.01)×103 respectively using the activity 198Au for the monitor combination198Au-99Mo- 97Zr- 95Zr are comparable with the ?e and Fc,Au values of (4.76 ±0.04)×109 and (1.37±0.05)×103 respectively for only the three monitors 198Au- 97Zr- 95Zr .The ?, ?e and Fc,Au values can be well determined in the cadmium lined irradiation channel of the NIRR-1 using only the Au+Mo+Zr or Au+Zr monitor combinations.

In a previous study, the epithermal neutron shape factors (?) determined with the monitor combination 198Au-99Mo- 97Zr- 95Zr by the cadmium covered multimonitor method and the triple monitor 198Au- 97Zr- 95Zr in the cadmium lined irradiation channel of the NIRR-1 were found to have relatively high and more reasonable values of -0.101±0.019 and -0.106±0.014 respectively. In this study, the ? value determined with the triple monitor 198Au-99Mo- 95Zr that was obtained from the monitor combination 198Au-99Mo- 97Zr- 95Zr was found to be -0.114±0.017. The accuracy of the ? determination with the monitor combinations 198Au-99Mo- 97Zr- 95Zr , 198Au- 97Zr- 95Zr and 198Au-99Mo- 95Zr was tested by elemental analysis of the standard reference material NIST 1515 Apple leaves by the ko-ENAA method using Al-0.1% Au thin foil as the single comparator. The concentrations of the elements Sm and Br with high Qo values determined in the NIST 1515 Apple leaves are in good agreement with the certified values. The monitor combination 198Au-99Mo- 97Zr- 95Zr or the three monitors 198Au-99Mo- 95Zr from the monitor set Au+Mo+Zr or only the three monitors 198Au- 97Zr- 95Zr from the monitor set Au+Zr can provide reliable values of ? in the cadmium lined irradiation channel for application of the ko-ENAA method for elemental analysis of samples of materials in the NIRR-1.

ABSTRACT A series of anthracene-based microporous polymers (AMPs) bridged by imide links were successfully prepared by conventional nucleophilic substitution reaction between several 9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracenes and cheaper 2,3,5,6-tetrachlorophalonitrile (instead of fluoro-monomer)1. AMPs display a BET surface area in the range of 811-988 m2 g–1, and reversibly adsorb 1.59 wt. % H2 at 1.09 bar/77 K. The enhanced microporosity, in comparison to other organic microporous polymers prepared from (5,5’,6,6’-tetrahydroxy-3,3,3’,3’-tetramethylspirobisindane)2 originates from the macromolecular shape of framework, as dictated by the anthracene units, which helps to reduce intermolecular contact between the extended planar struts of the rigid framework. The impressive hydrogen adsorption capture of these materials verified by Horvath?Kawazoe (HK) and NLDFT analyses of low-pressure nitrogen adsorption data.

Carbon dioxide is thought to be one of the contributing factors in the rise of global warming. Consequently the discovery for an efficient and economically valuable gas capturing system is highly in demand. Therefore there have been various recent developments in creating new, efficient and adaptable gas capturing materials. Microporous organic based materials received great research efforts in the field of environmental related applications such as gas storage and separations due to their permanent porosity, low density (i.e. composed of light weight elements) and remarkable physicochemical stability. Three anthracene microporous polymers (AMPs)1,2 bridged by imide links were successfully prepared by conventional nucleophilic substitution reaction between different 9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracenes and 2,3,5,6-tetrachlorophalonitrile (instead of fluoro-monomer)2. AMPs display a BET surface area in the range of 711-796 m2 g–1, and adsorb reach to 1.70 wt. % H2 at 1.09 bar/77 K. The enhanced microporosity, in comparison to other organic microporous polymers originates from the macromolecular shape of framework, as dictated by the anthracene units, which helps to reduce intermolecular contact between the extended planar struts of the rigid framework. The impressive hydrogen adsorption capture of these materials verified by Horvath?Kawazoe (HK) and NLDFT analyses of low-pressure nitrogen adsorption data, which expected to be use in transportation as a source of green chemistry. A novel synthesis method for AMPs was done by Flow Injection System (FIS). This method has the advantage over conventional synthesis method as saving time-solvent and lowering synthesis cost of. Optimizing conditions (sample & reagent volumes, 0.1 ml/min flow rate, with 0.5 m coil length and 0.5 mm i.d) were used for increasing percentage yield of the product.

A series of linear microporous polymers were successfully prepared by conventional nucleophilic substitution reaction of several newly synthesized tetrachloro-monomers with commercially available 5,5’,6,6’-tetrahydroxy-3,3,3’,3’-tetramethylspirobisindane. From the porosity analysis it is clear that the prepared polymers are analogous to polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) with high surface area (350-800 m2/g). The t-plot analysis shown that the major contribution to the specific surface area is arising from the micropore surface area with narrow size distribution of ultramicropores as confirmed by the Horvath-Kawazoe (H-K) analysis. The hydrogen storage capacity of the prepared PIM-SI-(1-7)s were promising (up to 1.26 wt%, 77 K, at 1.13 bar) with high isoteric heats of H2 adsorption (8.5 kJ/mol). The results of this study demonstrate that we can use cheaper chlorinated monomers (instead of fluoro-monomers ) provide a uniform intrinsic microporous in the target polymers.

A high molecular weight linear unbranched polymers free of macrocycles has been synthesized by long polycondensation time under high-intensity mixing conditions at about 80°C between cheaper chloro-monomers (instead of fluorinated monomers)1 and 5,5’,6,6’-tetrahydroxy-3,3,3’,3’-tetramethylspirobisindane (TTSBI). From the porosity analysis, it is clear that the prepared polymers are analogous to polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) with high surface area (500-700 m2/g). The hydrogen storage capacity of the prepared PIM-Cl(1-7) and were promising (up to 1.19 wt%, 77 K, at 1.13 bar). The results of this study demonstrate that controlling polymerization condition can provide a uniform microporous morphology in the target polymers.