NeutroVectorSpaces I

Recently, the concept of NeutroAlgebraic and AntiAlgebraic Structures were introduced and analyzed by Florentin Smarandache. His new approach to the study of Neutrosophic Structures presents a more robust tool needed for managing uncertainty, incompleteness, indeterminate and imprecise information. In this paper, we introduce for the first time the concept of NeutroVectorSpaces. Specifically, we study a particular class of the NeutroVectorSpaces called of type 4 S and their elementarily properties are presented. It is shown that the NeutroVectorSpaces of type 4 S may contain NeutroSubspaces of other types and that the intersections of NeutroSubspaces of type 4 S are not NeutroSubspaces. Also, it is shown that if N V is a NeutroVector Space of a particular type and N W is a NeutroSubspace of N V, the NeutroQuotientSpace N V /N W does not necessarily belong to the same type as N V

Perception of Adolescents in Secondary School in a Rural Community in Southwest Nigeria towards Teenage Pregnancy

Unintended pregnancy among female adolescents is a global phenomenon and remains a significant problem. It occurs in both developed and developing nations but with variations in degree and consequences on the social factors involved. Globally, sub-Saharan Africa ranks highest in teenage pregnancy and lowest in contraceptive use. Recent estimates by World Health Organization show that 16 million girls aged between 15 and 19 give birth every year. In Nigeria nearly one-quarter (23%) of adolescent girls are already mothers or pregnant with their first child. The aim of this study was to determine the perception of adolescents in secondary school towards the prevention of teenage pregnancy. Some factors perceived by the students to influence teenage pregnancy include family type (73.9%), religion (73.9%), peer pressure (88.7%), and poverty (83.7%). The students also believed teenage pregnancy brings disgrace (78.8%), prevents one from finishing school education (83.7%) and could lead to abortion (73.9%). Students perceived that parents have a role to play in preventing teenage pregnancy by monitoring their children’s movement (69%), give sex education (70.4%) and know their children’s friends (69%). They also agree that teenagers too can prevent early pregnancy by not having premarital sex (76.3%), travel in groups to avoid sexual harassment (78.8%) and make their movements known (59.1%). Sex education that is responsible and medically accurate both in school and at home is important in the prevention of teenage pregnancy. Increased uptake and use of contraception will also help to reduce teenage pregnancy

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Maintenance Practice: Case Study of a University Power Generating Plant Unit

The study was conducted in one of the Federal universities in Nigeria. The aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of the maintenance practicesin a power generating plant usinganavailability ratio method. The plant was placed under studyfor a period of six months.The operation records were obtained from which the availability ratio was obtained. Questionnaires were also distributed to the 21staff members in the unit and oral interviews were conducted to ascertain the maintenance strategy practiced by the unit. The study revealed that the unit has an availability of 61%,which is low compared to the standard availability ratio of power generating plants(99.9%). The maintenance practices of the unit weredeterminedineffective. Thisineffectiveness was attributed to poor documentation, low-skilled manpower, lack of a spare parts stock, and deficient operating maintenance strategy,as well aspoor maintenance funding and management policy. The study recommended autonomy of the maintenance unit, a betterinventory system for work materials and spare parts, practice of a predictive or condition monitoring maintenance strategy, training and retraining of the workforce and acquisition of relevant equipment,such as vehicles and computers,as measures that will, in part, improve the effectiveness of maintenance of the plant. The recommendationsof this study can be applied to the power sector in Nigeria,which is consideredby many to be grossly ineffective

Evaluation of the phytochemical, antioxidant and nutritional properties of Phyllanthus muellerianus leaves

Plant-derived preparations and isolated phytochemicals or their model derivatives are now used to treat infectious diseases, especially in the light of the emergence of drug-resistant microorganisms and the need to produce more efficacious and cost-effective microbial agents. This study investigated the phytochemical, antioxidant and antinutrient properties of Phyllanthus muellerianus ethanol leaves extract. The extracts were screened for some antinutrient and phytochemical properties using various laboratory methods. Phytochemical examination of Phyllanthus muellerianus showed the presence of saponin, flavonoid, phlobatanin, tannin, steroids, cardiac glycosides and terpenoids. The antioxidant testing showed the increase in % inhibition of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH), Nitric oxide and reducing power activity as concentration increases. Antinutrient analysis showed higher amount of phytate than oxalate and a higher amount of alkaloid -than tannin. These properties above may be the reason Phyllantus muellerianusplant has been reported to be useful in the treatment of several ailments. Keywords: Phyllanthus muellerianus, Antinutrient, Antioxidants, Phytochemical

Understanding the drivers of children’s nature knowledge, attitudes and perceptions and the implications for the future of Nigeria’s biodiversity

This work was aimed at determining the drivers of children’s nature knowledge, attitudes and perceptions (KAP) of biodiversity in Plateau  State, North-central Nigeria. We used a mixed methods approach in data collection, including interviews, photo displays and semi- structured oral interviews. Simple frequency tests were used in data analyses. Two hundred and ten pupils participated in the study.Results revealed three main drivers of children’s nature KAP, these were: 1. the need for sustenance/provisioning. 2. Protection and safety and 3. Fear of the unknown due to a lack of proper knowledge about an organism. Also, indirect nature experiences were the most  predominant sources of knowledge (watching television programs and wildlife documentaries (21%), and from reading books 16%). Learning involved a variety of sources including family members, peers and personal interest in nature. We conclude that children’s nature KAP is driven mainly by survival, and a deficit of direct nature experiences, and that ignorance, emanating a deficit of nature  experiences  and a lack of understanding and awareness of the existing local wildlife are major factors driving fear and apathy. We suggest more  deliberate, proactive steps that ensure children have direct engagements with nature. Parents, teachers, and schools and indeed every stakeholder need to be more proactive in  ensuring that nature education and direct nature experiences are highlighted and deliberately celebrated and taught to children if they are to become effective custodians of our future biodiversity

Ethnobotanical knowledge of children in selected communities in plateau state, Nigeria: Drivers of children’s plant knowledge and the conservation implications for the future of biodiversity

The study was conducted to assess the ethnobotanical knowledge of primary school children in six selected communities of Plateau State, Nigeria and to determine the drivers of their knowledge including methods of knowledge acquisition and transmission. Six different rural communities from Plateau State Nigeria were  selected for the study; two schools in each community (total, 156 respondents). Data was collected through a mixed methods approach, using focus group plant identification exercise, picture identification activity, and oral interviews. Data was analyzed using simple descriptive statistics and frequencies. Results revealed that children had a relatively low knowledge of plants (30.3%), although this was mostly indigenous plants. A greater  proportion (40.6 %) of children held no ethnobotanical knowledge, 19.5 % could identify both exotic and  indigenous plants, while a further 9.6% identified only exotic species. Furthermore, the results revealed that parents, mostly mothers were the major transmitters of plant knowledge. We conclude that children’s ethnobotanical knowledge of plants was relatively low, and that there is a need to deliberately encourage local involvement of children in practical plant learning activities to help improve their plant knowledge if they are to become effective and knowledgeable custodians and stewards of our future biodiversity

Effect of sowing depth on growth performance of selected members of the family Cucurbitaceae

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the agronomical responses of Citrullus colocynthis, Luffa cylindrica and Citrullus lanatus to varying sowing depths (2, 4, 6 and 8 cm). Agronomic parameters such as number of leaves, fruit weight, leaf area, vine length and width were taken. The Relative Growth Rate (RGR), Net Assimilation Rate (NAR) and Leaf Area Ratio (LAR) for each cucurbit were determined from the data on leaf area and dry weight of seedling. The number of leaves and vines, vine length and width of cucurbits at 2 cm soil depth increased significantly compared with those at 8 cm. However, agronomical responses of the cucurbits at 2 cm soil depth were similar to those at 4 cm. At 2 cm sowing depth, the fruit weight of C. lanatus, L. cylindrica and C. colocynthis increased by 47%, 35% and 20%, respectively compared with those at 8 cm. Also, the RGR, NAR and LAR of C. colocynthis, L. cylindrica and C. lanatus at 2 cm sowing depth increased significantly (p<0.05) compared with those at 8 cm. The findings showed that the vegetative and physiological characteristics of C. colocynthis, L. cylindrica and C. lanatus increased when sown at depths of 2 - 4 cm

Dataset for the development of a diagnostic schedule for a defective LC-195V5 CNC milling machine at FUTA central workshop

The dataset represented in this article describe a diagnostic schedule for a defective LC-195V5 CNC milling machine using PERT. The efficiency of the technicians who repaired the CNC machine tools was measured based on fault location within the shortest possible time. A diagnostic schedule was developed which showed the sequential means of troubleshooting within a possible shortest time. Two approaches were employed. Forward Pass (FP), which involved the diagnosis from electrical parts through Computer (CNC) to mechanical components and Backward Pass (BP) which involved the diagnosis from computer component through electrical parts to mechanical parts. Three different levels of expertise (trials) were used for each of the mode of diagnosis and the time to diagnose each component part was recorded. Two separate PERT network diagrams were drawn based on the inter-relationship of the component parts of the machine and their Critical Paths were determined

INVESTIGATIVE STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF CERTAIN ADDITIVES ON SOME SELECTED REFRACTORY PROPERTIES OF ANT-HILL CLAY FOR FURNACE LINING

The choice of appropriate locally sourced refractory materials for lining of locally produced furnaces has remained a major concern in which numerous efforts has been put in place to enhance the performance of the local contents of furnace lining materials. This study investigates the effects of certain additives such as Pulverized Glass Wastes (PGW) and Bentonite on some selected refractory properties of ant-hill clay. 100% finely-ground ant-hill clay, clean water and proportionate amount of Bentonite and PGW were manually mixed, consolidated and oven-dried at 110 oC for a period of 8 hours at varying additives percentages. Compressive strength, apparent porosity, permeability, filtration rate, thermal conductivity and bulk density were experimentally determined... The results showed that the compressive strength, bulk density and thermal conductivity of Ant-hill clay increased significantly on addition of additives while there was corresponding decrease in the values of the filtration rate, apparent porosity and permeability. These values were enhanced by Bentonite and pulverised glass waste additions to the Ant-hill clay. The test results for the compressive strength, thermal conductivity, filtration rate, apparent porosity, bulk density and permeability of no-additive clay samples are 156.4 N/m2 , 0.0028 W/m2K, 0.0041cm3 /s, 0.0009 %, 6.3 g/cm3 and 0.0012 cm/s, respectively. However, the sample-mix consisting 100% ant-hill clay with 80% PGW and 20% Bentonite produced 333.4 N/m2 , 0.0032 W/m2K, 0.0037 cm3 /s, 0.00018 %, 9.5 g/cm3 and 0.0015 cm/s as optimum values for the compressive strength, thermal conductivity, filtration rate, apparent porosity, bulk density and permeability, respectively. Therefore, 80%PGW/20%Bentonite additives gave the optimum results for the production of refractory clay blocks for furnace linin

Sustainability of multifaceted usage of biomass: A review

The paper focuses on collection of information on recent multifaceted usage of biomass materials with critical examination on its sustainability. The use of biomass is becoming popular, with wide global acceptance as it is considered as green technology. The use of biomass products across industrial parallels, the material combination and production processes were elucidated in this paper. Biomass materials are seen as affordable alternative to conventional materials for domestic and industrial applications. The multifaceted use of biomass, which includes, energy generation, metallurgical applications, construction purposes, reinforcement in metal matrix composite, microelectromechanical system, biochemical and traditional medicine were discussed. This underscores the need to develop a sustainable plan to meet with its diverse usage to be beyond laboratory efforts. This paper examined whether the availability of biomass can sustain its multifaceted usage or not. It also examined the modalities to ensure sustainable use of biomass. Different policies were highlighted and discussed in line with continuous multifaceted use of biomas