Spatial Distribution of Radiometric and Dosimetric Parameters in Soil Samples from Selected Areas in Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Radiation from radioactive materials/radionuclides in the environment enhanced by anthropogenic activities is presently of a great concern globally. The objective of this study is to determine the radiometric and dosimetric parameters from soil samples collected randomly from the study area of Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The samples were prepared using standard methods and analyzed with a high resolution Hyperpure Germanium Detector configuration (HPGe). The results showed the clay samples to have higher activity concentration to the sands samples with activity concentration of clay samples ranging between 68.99±9.05 –189, 42±21.11Bq/kg and the sand samples with activity concentration range of 17.95±5.87 – 38.59±7.43Bq/kg. The activity concentration spatial distribution map in clay lithologies showed 2 peak values trending north-west, while the sand lithology showed a single peak central distribution. The result also showed the values of the absorbed doses with the 8 clay samples values ranging between 59.09 - 155.25nGy/h and sand samples values between 17.90 – 33.92nGy/h. The spatial distribution of the dose showed 2 peak central distribution in clay samples and north-east trending distribution of high peak values for samples with sand lithologies.  In addition, the results showed an effective absorbed dose of range of 0.235-0.0616mSv/y for samples with clay lithology and 0.0071-0.0135mSv/y for samples with sand lithology The activity concentration of all the samples studied are below the 1000Bq/kg international reference limit  for Radium 226, Thorium 232, uranium 238 and 10,000Bq/kg for potassium 40. The absorbed dose rate and annual effective absorbed dose are also below the international reference limits published by ICRP, 2007 and UNSCEAR, 2000 publications. Also, effective activity maximum limit of 370Bq/kg for input raw materials for public building is not exceeded

Growth performance traits of broilers exposed to crude oil flame emissions

This study was a simulation of what obtains in the petroleum producing areas, where gas flaring and oil spill pollution effects are felt. The experimental design was a 2-factor factorial in a completely randomized design (CRD), with factor A as distances from the crude petroleum flame and factor B as the age of the birds in weeks. One hundred and eighty (180) Anak day-old broiler chicks were used in the study with 4 treatments of 45 birds per treatment, replicated thrice at 15 birds per replicate. A control was located in another poultry house outside the flame area. The crude oil was ignited in a metal burner, 22.86cm high with a diameter of 17.8cm and a thickness of 1.17cm designed for the purpose. Crude oil burning was from 6am to 10pm daily throughout the experimental period. Ambient temperature and relative humidity readings were recorded thrice daily (morning, afternoon and evening). The birds were fed ad libitum on a proprietory starter mash for 5 weeks, and a broiler finisher mash from for 3 weeks. Water was provided adlibitum. Routine inoculations and other medications were administered as and when due. The microclimatological experimental environment showed a generally lower light intensity, lower ambient temperature and high relative humidity. The values obtained in this study at an averaging time of 60 minutes (at 10 minutes interval) are higher than those stipulated by FEPA. There were no significant differences (p>0.05) in the effect of the treatments on the birds. Age of birds had highly significant (

Accounting for Unobserved Heterogeneity in The Relationship between External Trade Benefits and Standard of Living in Eswacs; 1980 -2013

Cross boundary trade activities are characterized with feedback effect which is referred to as common factors in terms of global shocks, International spill-over effects, dynamic feedback effects, recession, business cycle shocks, global financial crisis and imported inflation. These effects are often transmitted from one country to another within a particular trade region, and are most time unobserved hence unaccounted for. It is in the light of this worrythat this research is aimed at accounting for unobserved heterogeneity in the relationship between external trade benefits and standard of living in the five English Speaking West African Countries (ESWACs) from 1980 to 2013. These countries include The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone). The study expressed external trade benefits as increase in export earnings (EXE), trade openness (TOP), total government expenditure (TGE) and reduction in foreign exchange rate (FER), and standard of living (SLR). Theoretically, the study relied on two trade theories, in practice the study constructs a balanced panel data structure (BPDS) and methodologically, it adopted 2nd generation panel data econometric methods in its analyses. The results of the study reveal that external trade benefits have not been able to improve the status of standard of livingand the unobserved heterogeneity in the relationship between external trade benefits and standard of living in ESWACs is accounted for about 0.8746 (approximately 87%) with the period of study, indicating high level of unobserved heterogeneity in the relationship between external trade benefits and standard of living. Based on this result, the study therefore concluded that the inherent unobserved heterogeneity in the relationship between external trade benefits and standard of living has made the impact of external trade benefits on thestandard of living to be a trivial matter. Based on the findings and conclusion, the study recommended, among others, that the governments of ESWACs should encourage and support the real sector through subsidies and investment in social and physical infrastructure and agricultural and manufacturing sectors, and pay attention to investment in human capital as this will help to improve the standard of education and health status

Effect of soil contaminated by diesel oil on the germination of seeds and the growth of Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi (Anacardiaceae) Seedlings

The effect of soil polluted by diesel oil on the germination of seeds and the growth of Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi seedlings was analyzed at different times after contamination of the soil. The experiments were conducted under greenhouse conditions, with four treatments and five repetitions. The four treatments included: soil contaminated 30 (T30), 90 (T90) or 180 (T180) days before planting as well as a non-polluted soil (T0) (control). Soil saturated to 50% of its maximum retention capacity (MRC) was contaminated with diesel oil at a rate of 92.4 mL per kg. The germination rate and germination speed index (GSI) were significantly affected only in T30. The development of the plants was affected significantly in all the treatments, with reductions of biomass and eophyll area. It could be concluded that diesel oil significantly affected the germination, GSI and seedling growth of S. terebinthifolius, but the toxic effect decreased over the time