Starch degrading bacteria for biohydrogen production

Global research is moving forward in developing biological production of hydrogen as a renewable energy source in order to reduce the use of non-renewable energy. Biohydrogen has the potential of replacing the hydrogen production by fossil fuels which is one of the major factors that cause the global warming. The amylolytic activity of several microorganisms capable of utilizing starch in the dark fermentation process has provided a great potential in biohydrogen production by the starch degrading bacteria. In this study, starch utilizing bacteria have been successfully isolated from cassava chips processing wastewater and sludge. Based on the morphological characteristics, the isolate was found to be Gram positive bacteria with spherical cell shape. 16S rRNA analysis identified the strain Lactococcus sp. SDB4 with 92% similarity to Lactococcus lactis. The partial 16S rRNA sequence has been deposited to GenBank with Accession Number KU160544. Furthermore, the isolate was subjected to anaerobic dark fermentation process using synthetic media with tapioca starch as the only source of carbon. The findings in this study indicate that the Lactococcus sp. SDB4 possesses an amylolytic activity and capable of utilizing starch efficiently (75%). This strain has the potential to be used in biohydrogen production using starch containing wastewater as substrate

Proximate analysis and total lycopene content of some tomato cultivars obtained from Kano State, Nigeria

Standard analytical techniques were employed to determine the proximate composition and lycopene content of three tomato cultivars namely: Roma VF, Ronita and UTC grown in six local government areas of Kano state, Nigeria. Results indicated mean values of 0.15±0.03, 0.16±0.01, 0.15±0.01% titratable acidity; 8.36±0.01, 8.14±0.02, 8.25±0.03% total soluble solids; 1.19±0.04, 1.25±0.03, 1.12±0.01% crude fiber; 2.26±0.05, 2.32±0.02, 2.60±0.02% crude protein; 0.18±0.01, 0.14±0.01, 0.14±0.02% ash content; 90.75±0.03, 88.43±0.04, 84.15±0.01% moisture content; 3.73±0.09, 4.59±0.09, 4.34±0.18 mg/100g vitamin C and 6.88±0.06, 6.88±0.02, 7.83±0.04 mg/100g lycopene content for Roma VF, Ronita and UTC respectively. The levels of the proximate parameters and lycopene contents have shown that the cultivars were of high nutritional quality and can be good sources of raw material for industrial use due to their high total soluble solids which are twice the minimum level recommended for tomato to be employed for industrial processing.Keywords: Antioxidant, lycopene content, proximate composition, tomato cultivar

Evaluation of reference services in academic libraries: A comparative analysis of three universities in Nigeria

The major purpose of this study was to evaluate reference services in academic libraries in Nigeria. In carry out this study, 4 research questions were posed. The population of the study consisted of 100 students. (60 students from University of Agriculture, Makurdi, 60 students from Benue State University and 40 students from the University of Mkar). One set of data collection instrument Evaluation of Reference Services in Academic Libraries Questionnaire (ERSAQ) was used. The major findings of the study revealed that reference services provided in the libraries include answering reference queries, provision of referral services and provision digital reference services. Based on the above findings, the following recommendations are presented: provision of adequate reference materials, regular re-training of reference librarians and provision of current awareness services for the library users

Determination of Nitrate Concentrations in Dutsin-MA Fadama Land using Spectrophotometric method

Chemical analysis of water from Dutsinma Fadama Land was conducted for ten consecutive months (January to October) using Spectrophotometric measurement, to determine the level of nitrate in the water. The result of the study showed that the level of nitrate exceeded WHO recommended value in all the sampling sites. Similarly, mean monthly variation of the nitrate showed remarkable increase in the level of nitrate higher than the WHO maximum limit of 10mg/l in months of June (11.25±1.08mg/l), July (15.54±3.17mg/l) and September (14.79±2.14mg/l). Generally, the values were observed to be higher during the rainy season compared to the dry season. This point to the possibility of increasing nitrate concentration as a result of run offs from farm lands due to application of chemical fertilizers. It was concluded that the Dutsin-ma Fadama  water is not potable for drinking due to the high nitrate content of the water, particularly during the rainy season.Keywords: Water, Nitrate, Chemical fertilizers, Dutsinma Fadama land and WHO limit

Two Classes of Time-Inhomogeneous Markov Chains: Analysis of The Periodic Case

We consider the M/G/1 and GI/M/1 types of Markov chains for which their one step transitions depend on the times of the transitions. These types of Markov chains are encountered in several stochastic models, including queueing systems, dams, inventory systems, insurance risk models, etc. We show that for the cases when the time parameters are periodic the systems can be analyzed using some extensions of known results in the matrix-analytic methods literature. We have limited our examples to those relating to queueing systems to allow us a focus. An example application of the model to a real life problem is presented

Effect of Moringa oleifera aqueous leaf extract on hepato-renal changes of albino rats induced with Salmonella typhimurium

Background: This study was designed to evaluate the effect of Moringa oleifera against Salmonella typhimurium infected changes in liver and kidney function parameters in albino rats.Methods: Twenty acclimatized albino rats were divided into four groups of five rats each (groups A-D). Groups B, C and D were exposed to 0.1ml (3.0x104 CFU) of Salmonella typhimurium. Six hours post- infection, Groups B and C were treated with 50 and 100mg/kg of Moringa oleifera aqueous leaf extract respectively and continued for 21 days. Group D was not treated while group A was neither infected nor treated. Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), bilirubin, albumin, total protein, urea and creatinine were estimated using standard methods. All data were collected and analyzed in October 2015.Results: S. typhimurium infection significantly (p<0.05) increased the levels of ALP, ALT, AST, bilirubin, urea and creatinine when compared with control levels (Group A). Total protein and albumin concentrations were significantly (p<0.05) reduced following the infection. However, Moringa oleifera supplementation was associated with significant (p<0.05) decrease in the levels of ALP, ALT, AST, bilirubin, urea and creatinine. It is also associated with decrease in concentrations of total protein and albumin.Conclusions: This study showed S. typhimurium infection induced changes in liver and kidney function parameters and also revealed possible amelioratory effects to these changes after Moringa oleifera supplementation

Structural characterisation of porous materials in relation to entrapment of non-wetting fluids

An understanding of the physical mechanisms by which non-wetting fluids become entrapped is important to oil recovery techniques from reservoir rocks, and the structural characterization of porous media. The mechanisms of entrapment and the spatial distribution of non-wetting fluid (mercury) within model materials with similar chemical and geometrical properties to oil reservoir rocks have been investigated using mercury porosimetry and computed X-ray tomography. The combination of both techniques has allowed the direct observation of entrapped mercury within the model materials. In this thesis, a novel experimental technique involving combined mercury porosimetry and mercury thermoporosimetry techniques has been used to determine pore size distributions for disordered porous solids. Mercury porosimetry was conducted, and the mercury entrapped following porosimetry was used as the probe fluid for thermoporosimetry. The fully integrated combination of techniques described here permits the validation of assumptions used in one technique by another. Mercury porosimetry scanning curves were used to establish the correct correspondence between the appropriate Gibbs-Thomson parameter, and the nature of the meniscus geometry in melting, for thermoporosimetry measurements on entrapped mercury. Mercury thermoporosimetry has been used to validate the pore sizes, for a series of sol-gel silica materials, obtained from mercury porosimetry data using the independently-calibrated Kloubek correlations. A Liquid-liquid exchange (LLE) process within mesoporous materials has also been investigated using NMR relaxometry and NMR diffusimetry experiments. In this method, a high affinity liquid (water) displaced a low affinity liquid (cyclohexane) from the sol-gel silica samples. Entrapment of low affinity liquid was observed which was similar to the entrapment of non- wetting fluid observed in mercury porosimetry. In addition, the molecular diffusion of n-pentane has been measured in mesoporous sample using PFG NMR method in a broad temperature range

Impact of Quality Information Resources on Students\u27 Academic Performance in Tertiary Institutions in Niger State, Nigeria

The study was carried out to investigate the quality information resources and its impact on academic performance of students in tertiary institutions in Niger State. The objectives of the study were to ascertain the availability of information resources, find out the impact of the quality of information resources on students’ academic performance among others. Three research questions were formulated, and one null hypothesis was tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study adopted survey research design. The population of the study comprised of undergraduate students of the tertiary institutions in Niger State which as at 2014/2015 academic session was 69,061. Multistage sampling technique was used to sample 373 respondents. Questionnaire was used for data collection. A total 373 copies of the questionnaire were administered out of which 326 copies were dully filled and returned correctly representing 87% response rate. Mean (x) was used to analyze data in respect of the three research questions formulated. The findings from the study revealed that most of the information resources were not available in the academic libraries. Other findings revealed that quality of information resources and its utilization has positive impact on the academic performance of undergraduate students. The hypotheses tested showed significant relationship between quality of information resources, and students’ academic performance in tertiary institutions in Niger State. Drawn from the findings, it was recommended that libraries in tertiary institutions in Niger State should be adequately equipped with quality information resources among others

Efficient Task Realizations in Networked Production Infrastructures

As Industry 4.0 infrastructures are seen as highly evolutionary environment with volatile, and time-dependent workloads for analytical tasks, particularly the optimal dimensioning of IT hardware is a challenge for decision makers because the digital processing of these tasks can be decoupled from their physical place of origin. Flexible architecture models to allocate tasks efficiently with regard to multi-facet aspects and a predefined set of local systems and external cloud services have been proven in small example scenarios. This paper provides a benchmark of existing task realization strategies, composed of (1) task distribution and (2) task prioritization in a real-world scenario simulation. It identifies heuristics as superior strategies

Moderating role of hisbah institution on the relationship of religiosity and Islamic culture to Islamic work ethics in Nigeria

An immoral act such as hoarding, interest dealing (riba), false swearing, inexact weight corrupt practices and market instability are some of the problems facing the Nigerian business environment. Despite all efforts by the government and researchers, the problem persists.This is implied to the weaknesses in the existing conventional measures which are mainly based on western literature taken by the authorities on work ethics and also a lack of religiosity and good culture on the part of the stakeholders.To enhance business performance of Muslims in business, this study intends to employ a new framework based on Islamic approach and also develop a new relationship between religiosity, Islamic culture and Islamic work ethics (IWE) with a moderating role of Hisbah institution. The proposed new framework will fill the gap in the field of IWE in Nigeria and beyond