Interaction between phosphorus fertilizer and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal inoculants on yield components of cassava in northern Guinea savanna alfisols of Nigeria

Field experiment was carried out in the Northern Guinea Savanna agro-ecology of Nigeria to examine the interaction between Phosphorus (P) fertilizer and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal (AMF) inoculants on cassava yield components. The experiment was laid in a split plot design with P fertilizers as main plot and AMF inoculants as subplots. There were three rates of P (0, 17.5, and 35 kg P2O5 ha-1) and three levels of AMF inoculants (Control, Glomygel and Mycodrip). The result showed a significant interaction between P and AMF in root/shoot ratio and mycorrhizal response ratio. Highest root/shoot was recorded with combination of 17.5 P2O5 ha-1+ control which depict increased sink strength. However, at 0 kg P2O5 ha-1, Glomygel and Mycodrip were 65.5% and 21.5% respectively greater than control. Mycorrhizal response was also shown to be highest with application of 0 kg P2O5 ha-1 + Glomygel showing much influence of the inoculants where no P was applied. Single effects of P and AMF showed that dry yield components were significantly (p<0.01) increased. The root dry weight was increased by 3.21 and 5.16 t ha-1as a result of application of 17.5 kg P2O5 ha-1 and 35 kg P2O5 ha-1respectively over application of 0 kg P2O5 ha-1. Glomygel and Mycodrip inoculants recorded 28% and 4% total plant dry yield increment respectively over control. This study shows that both P and AMF increased dry yield of cassava in Northern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria. The reproducibility at scale and in time is required for proper recommendation.Keywords: AMF inoculants, Cassava, Alfisol, Mycorrhizal response, P fertilizers

Occurrence and dissolution of rigor-mortis in Bagrus bayad macropterus and Mormyrus rume from River Rima Sokoto

A total of eighty nine samples comprising 45 B. bayad and 44 M.rume from River. Rima were subjected to evaluation of rigor-mortis occurrence and dissolution; Total weight and total length of the species were measured using electric top loading balance (16000gm) and measuring board, respectively. Stop watch and calibrated thermometer were used for recording time and temperature to determine rigor mortis duration and temperature effect. The results showed that the duration from capture to dissolution of rigor was higher in M.rume than B. bayad, despite the fact that temperature ranges were similar. Factors such as size distribution and level of exhaustion might have contributed to the variations. In the light of the above, it is recommended that factors resulting to rapid exhaustion of B. bayad be looked into with a view to lowering it and subsequent elongation of the rigor period

Design and Implementation of an Arduino Based Light Dependent Alarm System

This paper is based on design and implementation of an Arduino based alarm system which is capable of monitoring the illumination of the surrounding automatically. Once the presence or absence of light is detected accordingly, a control device is activated which sends a sound alarm to a buzzer connected to the output of the system.  Waking up early from sleep has always become a challenge most especially after a very hectic and busy engagement during the previous day time, this makes waking up early the next morning to meet up with the activities of the day a challenge. The components used for carrying out this study include Light Dependent Resistor, a control unit and an output buzzer unit. The LDR works on the principle of change of resistance based on the amount of luminous energy in its environment at that moment of time, once an illumination is detected, an Arduino Uno board was used to send a signal to the buzzer that generates sound when the intensity of light increases. The test conducted showed that the LDR resistance decreased as illuminance on the LDR increased; the illuminance ranges at which the buzzer was triggered was between 100-1000lux

Autism, surge in the prevalence and linkage with childhood vaccination - A Review

Autism a neurodegenerative disorder characterised by an abnormal child behaviour likeisolation, learning difficulties, general abnormality in communication and social reciprocity, inability to maintain eye contact or point at something, looking at thing with the peripheral vision and many other neurological disorders, the aetiology of autism is multifactorial including among other social, environmental, genetics, epigenetics andneurological factors, in recent years vaccines have drawn large interest of scientific community for its asserted role in the development of autism, this is largely due to the presence in higher concentration of a mercury containing compound thimerosal in many vaccines, and due to some evidence which link some vaccines including measles, mumps and rubella vaccines with autism, moreover several authentic scientific studies wereundertaken to falsified those findings. Here we critically review those assertion, examined some implicating component of vaccine and relate them with neurobiology of autism

Evaluation of Hot Mix Asphalt Properties with Solid Waste Incinerator Ash as Fine Aggregate

It is imperative to develop a means of utilizing municipal solid waste incinerator ash (MSWIA) for a proper environmental protection. Hence, this research is to evaluate the influence of municipal solid waste incinerator ash (MSWIA) as a substitute for fine aggregate in hot-mix asphalt concrete. The physical properties and chemical oxide composition tests were carried on MSWI ash with the view of evaluating its suitability for used as fine aggregate. Marshall mix design method was adopted for sample preparation. Preliminary samples were prepared to determine the optimum bitumen content (OBC). The OBC was determined as 5.5% and was used for the preparation of samples with varying proportion of MSWIA (10%, 20%, 30% and 40 by total weight of the fine aggregate). The samples were subjected to mechanical and volumetric evaluations, which include stability, flow, bulk specific gravity, void in mineral Aggregate (VMA) void filled with bitumen (VFB) and Voids in the mix (VIM). The results revealed that the flow, void in mix (VIM), void in mineral aggregate (VMA) increased, while bulk specific density (BSD) and void filled with bitumen (VFB) became less as the percentage of MSWI ash raised. However, the use MSWI ash in the preparation of hot mix asphalt as a substitute for fine aggregate should not be beyond 20 % MSWIA. Moreover, the results fulfilled the Standard Specification and requirements specified by Nigerian Standard Specification for Roads and Bridges

INFLUENCE OF IRON CONTENT AND PLASTIC DEFORMATION ON THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF 8011-TYPE Al-Fe-Si ALLOY

This paper examines the effect of iron content and plastic deformation on the mechanical properties of wrought Al-Fe-Si alloy. Seven samples each of dimension 240mm x 140mm x 7mm were cast for each aluminium alloy plate containing iron content of 0.708%, 0.909% and 0.931% by chill casting method. As-received commercial aluminium alloy 8011 has an iron content of 0.857% and it was cut into seven samples of the same geometry. Cold rolling experiment was carried out from 30% to 80% reduction in thickness. The mechanical properties of the alloys were investigated. The results showed that the maximum ultimate tensile strength obtained for alloys 0.708%Fe and 0.857%Fe were 171.45MPa and176.45MPa respectively both occurred at 60% reduction in thickness while alloys 0.909%Fe and 0.931%Fe respectively have 163.16MPa and 170.00MPa at 80% reduction in thickness. An increase in iron content led to corresponding decrease in tensile strength but at 80% reduction in thickness, the strength increase with iron content for alloys of 0.9%Fe and above. The micro-vicker hardness values increases, reaching the peak and then decreases with increasing percentage deformation. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njt.v35i1.1

Effects of Tyre Derived Aggregate (TDA) as Partial Replacement of Coarse Aggregate in Concrete

The usage and reuse of waste tyre rubber in concrete production can cut down the use of raw materials which contributes to economic efficiency and sustainable development of the construction industry. This study is directed at assessing the effects of using the Tyre Derived Aggregate (TDA) as a substitute for coarse aggregate in concrete. A sum of eighty-six square cubes of 100 mm was cast and cured in fresh water for up to 28 days. Setting times, consistency and soundness tests were carried out on cement paste. However, slump, compressive strength and durability (i.e. water absorption) tests were carried out on the concrete. The results unveiled that the physical characteristics of cement considered fulfilled BS EN 196-3 (1995), and the slump of fresh concrete decreased as the percentage of TDA content stepped up. The water absorption raised, while the density of concrete made with TDA decreased as the percentage of TDA content stepped up. However, the strength of TDA-concrete increased as the curing age increased, and it decreased as the portion of TDA content raised. Nevertheless, the strength at 0%, 5% and 10% were 23, 21.67 and 18.33 N/mm2 respectively. However, the strength of TDA-concrete made with 0 % TDA and 5 % TDA subjected to different temperatures decreased as the temperature increased, however, even at 500C the strength of concrete made with 5% TDA was found to be 20.5 N/mm2 which is within the target compressive strength. It was concluded that the usage of TDA content in the production of concrete should not be greater than 5 % for better performance

Exploitable options for curbing the danger of SARS-CoV-2 in Africa

Background: It is understood that coronavirus is highly mutated, in December, 2019 a new strain of coronavirus emerged which originated in Wuhan, from seafood. The pathogen was named novel coronavirus, while the disease it causes is known as Covid-19, the 2019 coronavirus disease. Bat is the major reservoir host of the virus. By putting bats in touch with other mammals will promote viral spillovers, which is a dominant condition for SARS-CoV-2, while also the effect of climate anomalies on food scarcity, behavioral flexibility, and bat immune modulation is likely to increase the risk of disease emergence. Over 34 million Covid-19 cases were registered between 31st of December 2019 and October 1st 2020 with Africa reporting about 1.4 million cases in this period. Aim: This review was design to highlight possible options that can be exploited in curbing the Covid-19 menace in Africa. Method: We reviewed articles from online databases for relevant documents written in English language. These includes NCBI, PubMed and Google scholar. We included both original and review papers that provided information on current SARS-CoV-2 trends and meta-analysis in Africa and globally. Results: Of the 15 articles selected from the 128 available citations, approximately 40 million people worldwide have been diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2, while only 1.4 million people in Africa have been confirmed to be positive for the virus as of October 1, 2020, although the prevalence in Africa is low in relative to other continents. However, most African nations do not have the economy to buy the vaccines that are accessible. The availability of phytoterapeutic agents, on the other hand, would provide a cost-effective way to tackle the Covid-19 threat in Africa. Conclusion: Cell lines adaptation in vaccine production, proteomic analysis of the viralhost interactomes, treatment approaches using natural occurring compounds, which will provide cost effective options to low-income countries can be adopted to curb the menace of Covid-19 in Africa