ASSESSMENT OF NOISE POLLUTION FROM SAWMILL ACTIVITIES IN ILORIN, NIGERIA

This study examined noise pollution from sawmilling in Ilorin metropolis, Nigeria. Noise measurements wer using HD600 digital data logging sound level meter in conjunction with structured questionnaire which was designed to elicit noise related information. The results of the study showed that the background noise within the sawmills was 58.1-64.86 dB(A) while machine equivalent noise the noise measurements are above the recommended limit of 85 dB(A) and these high noise intensities can initiateor perpetuate some work related health challenges. sawmill noise on the metropolis was developed. disturbed and complain of noise-related ailments such as tinnitus (96.6%), headache (86.6%) and hearing impairment (71.9%). Therefore noise prevention and control strategies are suggested in addition to frequent audiometric tests, training, education, and enforcement of noise regulations

The genetic characteristics of cephalic abnormality and its aquaculture implication in Clarias gariepinus (Burchell 1822)

Cephalic abnormality in nine mating groups involving Clarias gariepinus with cephalic abnormality, non Cephalic and Maiduguri origin were investigated to determine the level and the genetic basis of the occurrences and its aquaculture implication. The highest mean percentage survival in a Cephalic crossed with non cephalic group was 68.6% whereas the last mean percentage survival was 25.7% in the group of Maiduguri cross with Maiduguri parent. Cephalic abnormality was observed in the crosses with both female and male cephalic with a total frequency ranging from 0 % to 70.8. %. The least number of cephalic abnormality was 18.5% which involved a cross of non cephalic with cephalic, and the highest was 70.8%. This level of cephalic abnormality shows that the defect was hereditary. This result implies that, the genetic factor is a major contributor in the feature of cephalic abnormality in Clarias gariepinus

Cost Appraisal of Municipal Solid Waste Transfer to Disposal Site Using Visual Basic Program

Collection of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) accounts for a significant proportion of most municipal budgets, and has drawn some degree of researchers‟ interest. This study was conducted in Ota, Southwest Nigeria, to explore the use of Visual basic program as an innovative tool to select the most economic haulage system among three systems found in literature (conventional-, modified- and Stationary- hauled system) for collection and transfer of MSW to disposal sites. Factors that affect the costs of collection and transportation of waste such as: vehicle cost, total time spent on waste collection, and gross travel cost, were considered in the analysis. The result of the study shows that the stationary hauled method of waste collection is the optimal and economical method of collection. This method recorded a 56% and 43% reduction in total cost of daily travel per waste collection, as compared to the conventional and the modified systems, respectively. The application of visual basic program proffers implementable solutions to reduce the cost of MSW transportation to disposal sites. This would reduce travel time and costs of vehicle fueling, and increase the prompt collection of waste which would in turn facilitate the development of an aesthetically balanced and environmentally friendly municipality that would perhaps boost economic development

Genetic and Non-Genetic Factors Affecting Litter Size and Birth Weight of Rabbit in Minna, Niger State, Nigeria

. Genetic and non-genetic factors influencing litter size and birth weight of rabbit was evaluated using New Zealand White and Chinchilla breeds. Parameters measured were total number of kittens born per litter, number of litter born alive, live litter birth weight and average litter birth weight. Results of the experiment revealed that dam breed had no significant affect on total number of kittens born per litter, number of litter born alive and average litter birth weight while live litter birth weight were affected. Sire breed and month of birth did not significantly influenced all the parameters measured. Heritability estimates were low to moderate for all the traits (0.27 to 0.44), while repeatability estimates were observed to be low (0.17 to 0.26). No heritability and repeatability values were estimated for average litter birth weight of kittens due to negative genetic variance. Significant correlations were found between litter size traits and birth weight. Correlation between litter size traits and average litter birth weight, as well as live litter birth weight and average litter birth weight were observed to be non-significant

Traumatic Tympanic Membrane perforation: An aetiological profile

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Traumatic perforation of the tympanic membrane may be due to direct or indirect source. The aim of the study is to profile the various aetiologies of traumatic tympanic membrane perforation in Ilorin, north central Nigeria.</p> <p>A retrospective review of 64 patients seen at the University of Ilorin Teaching hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria over a ten year period (January 1998 to Dec 2007) with history of traumatic tympanic membrane perforation from various causes, these also included multiply injured patients with bleeding from middle ear as part of their presentations. The data retrieved included the biodata, the clinical presentations, source of injury, the clinical findings and the treatment outcome. The data were entered into an SPSS version 11 computer soft ware and analyzed descriptively.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>Sixty four (64) ears were analysed, Age range 6 months to 50 yrs, mean age of 29.2 yrs 7.9% of them were ≤5 years, 29.7% between 21-34 years, and 37.7% were 35 years and above. The male to female ratio was 2.5:1.0. Commonest aetiology was from slaps, then road traffic injury (RTI) in 35.9% and 23.5%, Majority of the slap injury were from fights (30.5%), security agents, senior students and cultists at schools (17.4% each). Sudden hearing loss was a typical presentation (95.3%), majority of the patient defaulted from follow up once the symptoms of bleeding and pain subsided. Only 7.8% had neomembrane formation on follow up</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Traumatic perforation of the tympanic membrane is an uncommon injury that is under-reported, there is the need to educate on alternative punitive measure among students and security agents, unskilled removal of foreign body, early identification, evaluation and referral of patients reduces the attendant morbidity.</p

A Conceptual Analysis of Global Human Resource Practices: Challenges and Prosp

With the advent of globalisation, all firms, large or small have become global, they ceased to be local. Even those organisations who consider themselves immune to transactions across geographical boundaries are connected to the wider network globally and this has encouraged many multinational companies to extend their operations to other countries by establishing subsidiary companies in other countries. For these companies to do well, sound human capital management practices must be embraced. This paper therefore examines the trends in globalhuman resource management practices, as well as the functions and challenges. As a conceptual paper, it is based on review of scholarly articles with a focus on creating a local appeal without compromising the global identity; generating awareness of cross-cultural sensitivities among managers globally and hiring of staff across geographical boundaries; and upon cultural sensitivities, training and development for the host communities. It concludes that success lies in a firm’s ability to build a unique competitive advantage against others. This competitive advantage will last longer if it is within the human capital of the organization rather than just a technology that others can buy. To become and remain competitive globally, it is recommended that a multinational enterprise acquaint itself with the various environmental settings that are likely to inhibit its success and design ways to beat them in advance.Keywords: HRM, staffing policy, labour relations, inter-country differences, Global HR Syste

Biodegradation of Dichlorovos (Organophosphate Pesticide) in Soil by Bacterial Isolates

Excessive and continuous dispersion of pesticides which are toxic heterogeneous compound in the environment results in environmental pollution with ecological effects that require remediation. This study investigated the potential of microbial isolates to biodegrade or cleans up agricultural soil artificially contaminated with Dichlorvos (2, 2-dichlorovinyldimethylphosphate) pesticide.  A bacterial consortium which degraded Dichlorvos pesticide was isolated from agricultural soil using pour plate method.  This consortium was composed of four pure strains which were characterized based on their morphological and biochemical characteristics.  The strains were presumptively identifies as Proteus vulgaris, Vibrio sp., Serratia sp. and Acinetobacter sp. The consortium and the four bacteria were evaluated in order to discover their ability to biodegrade Dichlorvos pesticide in medium supplied with different nutrients (NH4NO3, KH2PO4 and NPK (20:10:10) fertilizer). The results showed that the bacterial consortium and the four bacteria isolates were able to grow in nutrient medium containing Dichlorvos as the only carbon source.  Moreover, the bacterial consortium was able to remove greater amount of DDP in soil amended with inorganic fertilizer (NPK) than those amended with NH4NO3 and KH2PO4, respectively.  These results indicate that the isolated strains can be used for waste biodegradation or bioremediation of organophosphate pesticide- contaminated soil or water. Keywords: bacteria; biodegradation; dichlorvos; nutrient; organophosphate pesticide

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Analyses of Energy and Exergy in Thin Layer Drying of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) Slices using Centre Shaft Rotary Tray Cabinet (CSRTC) Dryer

This paper presents a simulation of the drying process of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) in a Center Shaft (CS) Rotary Tray Cabinet Dryer using three drying temperatures (50, 60 and 70 °C). ANSYS 14.5 Workbench was used to simulate the dryer model in 2D (2 Dimensional). The detail of the CFD simulation was utilized to investigate the energy and exergy of the dryer. The ANSYS Design Modeler was used to model the 2D representation of the dryer and the meshing was done using ANSYS ICEM. ANSYS Fluent CFD solver was then used to calculate the alternative using the normal turbulence-realizable k-epsilon model in a steady-state system with improved wall temperature treatment. The simulation outcome was used in calculating the dryer's exergy and energy analysis based on the thermal efficiency. It was noted that the simulated temperature from the experiment is greater than that of the experiment. The results indicated that the experimental energy utilization (EU), energy utilization ratio (EUR) and energy efficiency increased from 14.1 to 57.93 J/s, 0.15 to 0.20 and 18.89 to 33.98 percent, while the simulated energy utilization ratio increased from 23.91 to 57.68 J/s, 0.19 to 0.20 and 26.21 to 33.40 percent, respectively, and as the drying air temperature increased from 50 °C to 70 °C. Experimental exergy inflow, outflow, exergy loss and exergy efficiency increased from 4.01 J/s to 6.98 J/s, 1.83 J/s to 1.9 J/s, 3.18 J/s to 5.07 J/s and 21 to 27%, while simulated air temperatures increased from 5.01 J/s to 7.49 J/s, 1.33 J/s to 2.20 J/s, 3.66 J/s to 5.29 J/s and 27 to 29% respectively with respect to the drying air temperature range (50–70 °C). Model equations were derived from the plotted graphs to express the energy and exergy parameters as a function of drying temperature

Transformative Potentials of E-governance: The intrinsic role of Information and Communication Technology in Reinvigorating Public Service Delivery in Nigeria

Proffering solutions to developmental issues such as poverty, unemployment, high costs of governance and poor service delivery among others require changes to government processes through the use of information and communication technologies (ICT). This paper examines the transformative potentials of e- governance vis-à-vis the intrinsic role of information and communication technology (ICT) in reinvigorating public service delivery in Nigeria. To accomplish the objective of this paper, systematic review of literature on these issues was presented and discussed. The paper deliberated that e-governance is more than just the visibility of government website on the internet. In other words, e-governance relates to restructuring the state’s administrative procedure and in ensuring that the government is more transparent, and service-oriented. Remarkably, public service delivery in Nigeria has been adjudged to be poor, and fall short of expectations of citizen. As a result it has become a theme of mockery because of its rigidity and after many years of effort in implementing reforms in public service, it costs too much to delivers very little, and the level of achievement is not sufficiently responsive and accountable. The paper concludes that public services reinforce the social contract between states and citizens and, as such, serve as indicator of wellbeing of the society. Therefore, for Nigeria to make progress; there is need to strengthening public service delivery via ICT. The paper recommends that effort should be intensified to ensure that e-governance bridge the digital divide through training and by adapting technologies that is accessible to all user groups