The biology and population dynamics of Leucoptera spartifoliella (Hb.) on broom Sarothamnus scoparius

Imperial Users onl

Assessment of the nutritive value of some indigenous wild fruits for domestic consumption and industrial utilization

Fruits of Landophia owerriensis(Utu), Dialum guineensis(Nkwa), Dennettia tripetala(Umimi) and Tetracapidium conophorum(Ukpa), were collected from trees growing at Umudike, South Eastern Nigeria and their nutritive values determined. The fruits of these plants were analyzed for proximate, mineral constituents and phytochemical composition. The fruits were later sorted into proteinacious species depending on the level of protein. The percentage moisture content (M.C.%) values range from 10.99% to 12.68%. The percentage carbohydrate (CHO) range from 49- 69% while the phosphorus (P) values are high and range from 223.92% in Dennettia tripetala to 301.63% in Tetracapidium conophorum. Calcium also recorded a high value on dry weight basis. Hydroxyanic acid (HCN) values are low ranging from 0.53mg/kg in Landophia owerriensis. Phenol is about 0.23%. The values of alkaloid are low ranging from 0.37% in Dialum guineensis to 0.65% in Landophia owerriensis. The study showed that the fruits ofthese species are good sources of a wide variety of nutrients. The regular consumption of these fruits is essential to the healthy living of the population and for small scale industries

Analysis of Parametric Oscillatory Instability in Power Recycled LIGO Interferometer

We present the analysis of a nonlinear effect of parametric oscillatory instability in power recycled LIGO interferometer with the Fabry-Perot (FP) cavities in the arms. The basis for this effect is the excitation of the additional (Stokes) optical mode and the mirror elastic mode, when the optical energy stored in the main FP cavity main mode exceeds the certain threshold and the frequencies are related so that sum of frequencies of Stokes and elastic modes are approximately equal to frequencyof main mode. The presence of anti-Stokes modes (with frequency approximately equal to sum of frequencies of main and elastic modes) can depress parametric instability. However, it is very likely that the anti-Stokes modes will not compensate the parametric instability completely.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures. submitted to Physics Letters

Microsoft Excel 2007 Programme for Effective Tertiary Institution Result Grading

Microsoft Excel 2007 Programme for effective Tertiary Institution result grading is an enhanced and interactive method of managing and processing key issues in Tertiary Institution, which are the problems of result grading. Grading of in course, exams and keeping track of grades in a grade book is one of the most laborious tasks a lecturer can undergo. Small errors can creep into your grade book when you add up scores, possibly resulting in your posting an incorrect student grade. Using Microsoft Excel 2007 to keep track of grades not only cuts down on the amount of work you have to do, but also cuts down or even eliminates mathematical errors. This study has addressed this key issue with a programme, from step one to step six. Keywords: Microsoft Excel 2007, Result, Grading Computation, Tertiary Institution

A Comparative Study of Biosurfactant Synthesis by Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolated from Clinical and Environmental Samples

Evaluation of emulsifying activities indicates that biosurfactants were produced by an environmental (strain EP1) and a clinical (strain CP1) species of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. During growth on hydrocarbons, the organisms produced biosurfactants. Both strains grew luxuriantly on motor oil and readily synthesized abundant surfactants at the expense of easily metabolizable substrates. During a 12-day cultivation on motor oil, the organisms produced growth-associated extracellular surfactants with emulsification activities of 71 and 38% for EP1 and CP1, respectively. The generation times obtained for EP1 and CP1 were 1.74 and 2.66 days. The biosurfactants that could not be secreted on glucose were partially purified and putatively identified as rhamnolipids. The surface-active compounds present high emulsification activity and stability in the pH range of 3.0–10.0, temperature range of 4°C–100°C, and salinity range of 16–44% and are capable of stabilizing oil-in-water emulsions with several hydrocarbons. Typical emulsions produced were stable for several weeks. The results also showed that the biosurfactants were able to remove a significant amount of crude oil from contaminated soil; for instance, strain EP1 surfactant removed 54%, CP1 41%, detergent 42%, and water 30%. The rhamnolipids from these strains represent a new class of biosurfactants that have potential for use in a variety of biotechnological and industrial applications where extremes of pH, thermal, and saline conditions would have little or no effect on activity

Cor triatriatum sinistrium in a 10 year old Nigerian: A case report

We present a rare and first case of Cor triatriatum sinistrum (CT) in a patient who presents with dyspnoea, easy fatigability, chest pain, murmurs and typical ECG and 2D-echo findings. The purpose of presenting this casereport is to highlight the distinctive manifestation of Cor triatriatumsinistrum and to provide a concise report of this disease with the hopethat such information will help identify patients earlier in the course of their disease. Surgical correction offers good and long term results for both classicand atypical types. In a resource poor country like ours, high index of suspicion, early diagnosis and timely referral are warranted so as to avert death

SONOGRAPHIC REFERENCE LUMINAL DIAMETER OF THE ABDOMINAL AORTA AMONG SUBJECTS IN NIGERIA

Objective: The objective of the study was to develop a reference luminal diameter (LD) of the abdominal aorta (AA) in Abuja, Nigeria. Methods: The LD of the AA of 422 male and female healthy subjects was measured sonographically using standard protocol. The relationship between age, body mass index (BMI), gender, and the LD of the AA was determined in the subjects. Statistical analysis was performed by the Student’s t-test and Pearson’s correlation coefficient at p < 0.05 level of significance. Results: The values of the LD of the AA in the healthy subjects were 15.16 ± 0.55 mm in males and 15.15 ± 0.55 mm in females. The 5th and 95th percentile normal reference limits of the AA were 14.20–16.10 mm, respectively. There were no significant differences in the LD measurements in male and female subjects. Age correlated strongly positively with LD (ɼ=0.90) of the AA in both genders. BMI showed weak positive correlation with LD (ɼ=0.136) of the AA in female healthy subjects only. Conclusion: The reference LD of the AA in the study population was 15.16 ± 0.55 mm in males and 15.15 ± 0.55 mm in females. The LD of the AA increased proportionately with age

A Study on Sources, Availability and Accessibility of Potable Water in Imo State, Nigeria

Sources, availability and accessibility of potable water were studied in the three geopolitical zones; Okigwe, Owerri, Orlu zones of Imo State, Nigeria. A total of 800 pretested and randomly distributed questionnaires were used on adult respondents in the three zones. Results identified borehole water as the major (65.4%) source of drinking water among the respondents. More than half (53.8%) of the respondents have their water source located less than 50m from their houses, of which 33% have their boreholes located within their compounds. About half of the respondents visit water bodies daily. The highest total rating of supply of water by the respondents was on “poor” supply. The poor rating was more in Okigwe zone where 107 (64.7%) gave poor rating for supply of potable water. The study has shown that although there is availability and accessibility of water, there is need to monitor sitting of water sources and create awareness as well as lay emphasis on purification since what is available and accessible is not potable

Thermal transport phenomena in buoyancy-driven nanofluids,"

Abstract This paper presents an experimental investigation of the thermal transport phenomena in buoyancy-driven nanofluids. The experimental model for this study is a rectangular enclosure with differentially heated vertical walls and adiabatic horizontal walls. The nanofluids were confined within the enclosure. Simulations were performed to measure the transient and steady-state temperature response of the nanofluids to applied load. Experimental observation shows settling of the nanoparticle at low heat loads and a remixing of the nanofluid at higher loads. At high loads, the buoyancy force increased hence increasing the re-circulatory motion of the nanofluid. This may be one method of addressing the settling of nanoparticles in nanofluid. For natural convection in an enclosure, this paper shows that the thermal behavior of nanofluids is identical to pure fluids. Temperature data collected during the experiment were used to study the variation of Nusselt number with Rayleigh number

IMECE2008-67935 DYE DOPED CLAD MODIFIED EVANESCENT OPTICAL FIBER (CMEOF) SENSOR ARRAY FOR THE DETECTION OF AQUEOUS-AMMONIA

ABSTRACT We are currently developing pH sensitive dye doped clad modified evanescent optical fiber (CMEOF) sensor array for the detection of aqueous-ammonia. The quasi-distribution of CMEOF ammonia sensors allows efficient measurement of aqueous-ammonia at several locations using a single fiber optic line. CMEOF sensors are fabricated by immobilized pH sensitive dyes in sol-gel and applying the dye doped sol-gel as a thin film around a bare core optical fiber. The CMEOF sensors are then sealed from water using a gas permeable membrane, PDMS-vinyl. The dyes in each CMEOF sensor are tailored to operate at slightly different wavelengths by appropriate choice of dyes. Wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) and linear system of equations (LSE) are used to interrogate each CMEOF sensor and determine the concentration of aqueous-ammonia at each sensor location