Influence of Steel and Bamboo Fibres on Mechanical Properties of High Strength Concrete

This paper evaluated the influence of steel and bamboo fibres on high strength concrete. Samples of concrete cubes, beams and cylinders cast with varying proportions of steel and bamboo fibres were subjected to compression, flexural and splitting tensile strength tests respectively. A total of sixty three cubes of 100mm x 100mm x 100mm, fourteen beams of 100mm x 100mm x 500mm, and cylinders of diameter 100 mm and length of 150 mm were tested. The results revealed that concrete containing 1.0% bamboo fibre produced the greatest effect on flexural strength (81% increase in strength), and also on splitting tensile strength (101% increase). However, it was discovered that bamboo fibre has little or no impact on the compressive strength of high strength concrete. Steel fibre-reinforced concrete generally produced an appreciable increase in compressive, flexural and splitting tensile strengths than the bamboo fibre-reinforced concrete

Assessment of the influence of continuous and intermittent irrigation on greenhouse gas emissions from paddy rice

The impact of two water management practises on Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) emissions from paddy rice fields was investigated. New Rice for Africa (NERICA 2) lowland variety was planted under intermittent irrigation (II) and continuous flooding (CF) water management practises. Two closed gas chambers (GCs) were developed and used for gas sampling from paddy fields and measurement was done conventionally in all the four growing stages of rice. Gas Chromatograph (GH200-9) was used analysing GHGs such as Methane (CH4), Nitrous oxide (N2O), Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) and Oxygen (O2). Soil analyses were carried out to determine the presence of the following parameters viz: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), Manganese (Mn) and calcium (Ca). Others are Organic Carbon (OC), Moisture Content (MC), Iron (Fe), Chloride (Cl) and Electrical conductivity (EC) using standard laboratory procedures and ascertain effects of their availability on GHGs concentration levels. From the study, no appreciable CH4 emissions was detected during the four growing stages and under the two water management practises but other GHGs emitted were higher in CF compared with II. Soil nutrients such as N, OC, K and P also contributed considerably to emissions recorded on the two rice fields. The detection of H2S was also an indication that other gases apart from the common GHGs were present in rice fields. Although, CH4 was not detected, other GHGs emitted were more in CF when compared with II which suggested that II be encouraged as a mitigation strategy for reducing impacts of its emissions

Data on CaO and eggshell catalysts used for biodiesel production

This researchinvestigatedtheproductionofbiodieselfromsoy- bean oil(transesterification process)usingpurecalciumoxideand calcium oxideobtainedfromeggshellasheterogeneouscatalysts. Uncalcinedeggshellandcalcinedeggshellcatalystsproducedwere analysedusingXRFandXRDspectrometers.Theprocessingpara- meters consideredduringthetransesterification ofthesoybean weremethanol/oilmoleratio,catalystconcentrationandreaction time andtheireffectsonbiodieselyieldwereevaluated.Reaction temperatureof60 °C andstirringrateof450rpm(revolutionper minute) werekeptconstant.Asaresultofcalcination,XRFanalysis revealedanincreaseinCaOpercentagecompositionofeggshell catalystfrom96%to97%.Also,thebiodieselyieldsobtained revealedsimilarperformancepatternsforboththecalcinedegg- shell catalystandthepureCaOcatalys

Sexual Partnerships, A Qualitative Study in Tanzania.

Concurrent sexual partnerships (CP) have been identified as a potential driver in the HIV epidemic in southern Africa, making it essential to understand motivating factors for engagement in CP. We aimed to assess community attitudes and beliefs about relationship factors that influence men and women in stable relationships to engage in CP in Tanzania. Social exchange theory was used for interpreting the data. Qualitative study with focus group discussions (FGDs). Semiurban/rural communities in four regions across Tanzania (Dar es Salaam, Shinyanga, Iringa and Mbeya). 120 women aged 17-45 years and 111 men aged 18-49 years from four study areas participated in 32 FGDs. FGD participants were asked the following questions about CP: definitions and types, motivations and justifications for engaging or not engaging, cultural factors, gender and socialisation, and local resources and efforts available for addressing CP. Our analysis focused specifically on beliefs about how relationship factors influence engagement in CP. Dissatisfaction with a stable relationship was believed to be a contributing factor for engagement in CP for both men and women. Participants more commonly reported financial dissatisfaction as a contributing factor for women engaging in CP within stable relationships, whereas emotional and sexual dissatisfaction were reported as contributing factors for men and women. Furthermore, participants described how potential outside partners are often evaluated based on what they are able to offer compared with stable partners. Efforts to reach men and women in stable relationships with HIV prevention messages must consider the various dimensions of motivation for engaging in CP, including relationship dynamics

Production of Biodiesel from Soybean Oil Using Calcium Oxide and Cow Bone as Catalysts

Biodiesel was produced from the transesterification of soybean oil using calcium oxide and cow bone (an animal waste bone that contains hydroxyapatite, a calcium phosphate mineral) as heterogeneous catalysts. The soybean oil used was characterized using gas chromatography mass spectrometer (GCMS) and the cow bone catalyst produced was characterized using X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer. The effects of the variation of methanol/oil mole ratio (9–15), catalyst concentration (10–20 wt/wt%) and reaction temperature (55–65 °C) on biodiesel yield during the transesterification of soybean oil with methanol was investigated. Reaction time of 3 hours and stirring rate of 500 rpm were kept constant. It was observed that the calcination of cow bone catalyst (at 800 °C) enhanced its conversion to apatite [Ca5(PO4)3OH] and increased the yield of biodiesel obtained. Biodiesel yield results revealed an optimum condition of methanol/oil mole ratio of 9, catalyst concentration of 15 wt/wt% and reaction temperature of 55 °C. Also, the results obtained showed that the performance trends of the two catalysts used were similar. And the close values of highest biodiesel yields obtained when the two heterogenous catalysts were used separately (yields of 94.8 and 92.2% using calcium oxide and calcined cow bone catalysts respectively) implies that the use of low-cost and readily available calcined cow bone catalyst is a promising alternative to CaO catalyst

YORUBA TRADITIONAL INSTITUTION AND MAINTENANCE OF LAWS AND ORDERS IN THE PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD

Traditional institution was the most relevant institution in all the Yoruba towns and villages in the pre- colonial period. It represented the central point of the people’s cultural, social, economic, political and spiritual engagement. Traditional Yoruba rulers were the trustees of the various communities and also responsible for the general well- being of their people. For most of these functions to be achieved, there was the need for laws and orders to guide the action and day to day life of the people. The paper therefore sets to look at the roles played by the Yoruba traditional institution in the maintenance of these laws and orders. The paper articulates the structure of Yoruba traditional institution, the sources of their laws and the instruments used in the maintenance of the laws and orders. Historical analysis approach is explored in writing this paper.&nbsp

Multiple Sexual Partners and Condom use among 10 - 19 Year-olds in four Districts in Tanzania: What do we Learn?

Although some studies in Tanzania have addressed the question of sexuality and STIs among adolescents, mostly those aged 15 - 19 years, evidence on how multiple sexual partners influence condom use among 10 - 19 year-olds is limited. This study attempts to bridge this gap by testing a hypothesis that sexual relationships with multiple partners in the age group 10 - 19 years spurs condom use during sex in four districts in Tanzania. Secondary analysis was performed using data from the Adolescents Module of the cross-sectional household survey on Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) that was done in Kigoma, Kilombero, Rufiji and Ulanga districts, Tanzania in 2008. A total of 612 adolescents resulting from a random sample of 1200 households participated in this study. Pearson Chi-Square was used as a test of association between multiple sexual partners and condom use. Multivariate logistic regression model was fitted to the data to assess the effect of multiple sexual partners on condom use, having adjusted for potential confounding variables. STATA (10) statistical software was used to carry out this process at 5% two-sided significance level. Of the 612 adolescents interviewed, 23.4% reported being sexually active and 42.0% of these reported having had multiple (> 1) sexual partners in the last 12 months. The overall prevalence of condom use among them was 39.2%. The proportion using a condom at the last sexual intercourse was higher among those who knew that they can get a condom if they want than those who did not. No evidence of association was found between multiple sexual partners and condom use (OR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.35 - 1.67, P = 0.504). With younger adolescents (10 - 14 years) being a reference, condom use was associated with age group (15 - 19: OR = 3.69, 95% CI = 1.21 - 11.25, P = 0.022) and district of residence (Kigoma: OR = 7.45, 95% CI = 1.79 - 31.06, P = 0.006; Kilombero: OR = 8.89, 95% CI = 2.91 - 27.21, P < 0.001; Ulanga: OR = 5.88, 95% CI = 2.00 - 17.31, P = 0.001), Rufiji being a reference category. No evidence of association was found between multiple sexual partners and condom use among adolescents in the study area. The large proportion of adolescents who engage in sexual activity without using condoms, even those with multiple partners, perpetuates the risk of transmission of HIV infections in the community. Strategies such as sex education and easing access to and making a friendly environment for condom availability are important to address the risky sexual behaviour among adolescents

Marketing Strategies of Microfinance Institutions within Kwara Metropolis of Nigeria: Case of Kwara Institutions

This study focuses on identifying whether microfinance institutions (MFIs) within Kwara metropolis use marketing approaches and strategies in savings mobilisation and credit delivery. The basic source of data for this study is primary data. The data were collected from the credit officers and in some cases management team of the microfinance institutions. Descriptive statistics were employed for the analysis of the data. Concerning their marketing objectives, mission statements, strategy and approaches, the study found that the selected microfinance institutions are not market[1]oriented in the delivery of their services. Among the recommendations made are that MFIs should create marketing departments, fashion out customer service packages, and strengthen their marketing planning capabilities especially as these border on the creation of environmental awareness