Geophysical Investigation of Some Flood Prone Areas in Ota, Southwestern Nigeria

Thirteen shallow vertical electrical resistivity soundings using Schlumberger array were conducted within the study area. The aim of the study was to investigate the nature of the subsurface in some flood prone areas within the study area by determining the lithology and the corresponding inverse model resistivities at the depths investigated and hence the cause of flooding in the area during the wet season. The resistivity sounding data were collected along seven traverses using a Campus Tigre terrameter. The observed data were interpreted quantitatively using curve matching and computer assisted iteration method. The results of the inversion show a lithology that comprises of the top soil and a paralic sequence of sand and lateritic clay at the depth investigated with varied resistivity and thickness. The flooding is thought to be due to the shallow lateritic clay layer at an average depth of 5.2 m with thickness ranging from 14.5m to 31.8m at the various points of investigation and the shallow depth of the water tabl

Time-Scale Domain Characterization of Time-Varying Ultrawideband Infostation Channel

The time-scale domain geometrical-based method for the characterization of the time varying ultrawideband (UWB) channel typical of an infostation channel is presented. Compared to methods that use Doppler shift as a measure of time-variation in the channel this model provides a more reliable measure of frequency dispersion caused by terminal mobility in the UWB infostation channel. Particularly, it offers carrier frequency independent method of computing wideband channel responses and parameters which are important for ultrawideband systems. Results show that the frequency dispersion of the channel depends on the frequency and not on the choice of bandwidth. And time dispersion depends on bandwidth and not on the frequency. It is also shown that for time-varying UWB, frame length defined over the coherence time obtained with reference to the carrier frequency results in an error margin which can be reduced by using the coherence time defined with respect to the maximum frequency in a given frequency band. And the estimation of the frequency offset using the time-scale domain (wideband) model presented here (especially in the case of multiband UWB frequency synchronization) is more accurate than using frequency offset estimate obtained from narrowband models

Developing Teachers’ Capacity for Teaching Pupils’ Initial Reading Skills: Research Report

The research stemmed from literature that revealed that most pupils in the public primary schools in Nigeria cannot read and write. Some researchers attributed this to poor foundation in teaching initial reading due to teachers’ lack of skills in teaching initial reading and their use of ineffective methods. Based on this, the researchers decided to build the capacity of 40 teachers of Primary 2 classes on the use of the multisensory approach in teaching initial reading which lasted for three weeks. Before the training commenced, a pre-test was administered on the pupils taught by these teachers and eight weeks after the treatment(training) a post-test was administered on the pupils to determine the effects of the treatment. The results of the pre-test and post-test were analysed using t-test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The t-test results showed a significant difference between the pre- and post-test scores of the pupils and this difference was attributed to the treatment given to the teachers t- calculated value of 24.6 and t-value of 1.984 at 0.05 level of significance with degree of freedom 98. Also the t-test t-test comparison of the mean scores of male and female pupils shows that male students performed better on IRMAT than their female counterpart t-calculated 10.80 at 0.05 level of significance and degree of freedom 98. In addition, when ANOVA was used the result shows that the treatment given to the teachers had a significant impact on the pupils, F-cal =426.29 and f- crit =6.90 (F1, 98 =6.90, P = 0.05). Based on this result, some recommendations were made among which are, the need to retrain all teachers in the lower basic education level, on the use of the multi-sensory approach in teaching initial reading and the use of Jolly phonics technique in teaching initial reading.Key words: Developing, Teachers’ Capacity, Teaching, Initial Reading, Multisensory Approac

Design and development of fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) leaves slicing machine

A motorized fluted pumpkin leaves slicer was designed, fabricated and tested. The machine comprises a conveyor system made from a rubber belt, two pairs of bearings and two hollow metal rods, a frame made from metal sheets for support. The slicing unit comprising the cutting blades and a drive (transmission) shaft, and finally a 746 W (1 hp) power drive mechanism (electric motor). Tests carried out on the machine involved placing 1 kg of fluted pumpkin leaves on the conveyor belt, which was then conveyed to the slicing unit, where it was chopped to desired size. It took an average of 9 minutes to process 1kg of the fluted pumpkin leaves during the test. Series of tests were carried out on the machine, which showed that it had an efficiency of 73.2% and is much faster than hand/manual slicing method.Keywords: design, development, fluted pumpkin, slicing machin

Determinants of Volume of POME Generation in Palm Oil Mills for Planning Wastewater Recovery in Biogas Energy Development

Wastewater volume is a necessary prerequisite for planning transformation to valuable resource and averting environmental degradation. This study investigated the dynamics of POME volume generation in palm oil mills in relation to types of fresh fruit bunches (FFBs), seasons, milling scales and volume of crude palm oil (CPO) produced in ADAPALMS and catchment communities, Ohaji/Egbema LGA, Imo State. The eight catchment communities of ADAPALMS were categorised into three strata in relation to the number of small-scale mills in each community (1-5mills, 6-10mills, and 11-15mills). In each stratum, a community was randomly sampled. A total of nine small-scale mills were sampled from the three sampled communities (Ohoba, Amafor and Etekwuru) in proportion to the average number of mills in each stratum. The lone medium and large scale mill (ADAPLAMS) in the study area represented the other scales of milling. For small and medium scale mills, the volume of POME generated was measured from the dimensions of the vessels where POME was stored, while that of large scale mill was obtained from industrial records. Data was analysed using multiple linear regression of SPSS. The volume of POME generated is significantly related to milling scales and volume of CPO produced (p< 0.01); R2=0.788. Within small scale mills, the volume of POME is significantly related to types of FFBs (p< 0.01), different small milling scales (p< 0.05), and volume of CPO produced (p< 0.01); R2=0.762. Thus, these independent variables are the principal determinants of POME volume generation in the area. The result has implication on the necessity of predictive models in managing the dynamics of POME volumes for efficient recovery and transformation of the wastewater to bioenergy

Efficacy of galcanezumab in patients with migraine and history of failure to 3-4 preventive medication categories: subgroup analysis from CONQUER study

Background: Chronic migraine (CM) and episodic migraine (EM) are associated with substantial headache-related disability, poor quality of life and global societal burden. In this subgroup analysis from the CONQUER study, we report efficacy outcomes from a pre-specified analysis of galcanezumab versus placebo in patients with CM or EM and 3–4 prior preventive medication category failures due to inadequate efficacy (after at least 2 months at maximum tolerated dose), or safety or tolerability reasons. The patient population is of particular interest due to evidence of decreased quality of life and increased economic burden among patients with migraine that is inadequately managed and is of interest to decision-makers globally. Methods: Key outcomes included overall mean change from baseline in monthly migraine headache days and proportions of patients achieving ≥30% (CM), ≥50%, and ≥ 75% reduction (response rates) in monthly migraine headache days across Months 1–3. Patient functioning and disability were evaluated at Month 3. Results: Of the 462 randomized patients, 186 (40.3%) had a history of 3–4 preventive category failures. Galcanezumab versus placebo resulted in significantly (P ≤ .001) larger overall mean reduction in monthly migraine headache days (total: − 5.49 versus − 1.03; CM: − 6.70 versus − 1.56; EM: − 3.64 versus − 0.65). Similarly, the ≥50% response rate was significantly (P ≤ .001) higher with galcanezumab versus placebo (total: 41.0 versus 12.7; CM: 41.5 versus 8.4; EM: 41.1 versus 16.5). In the CM group, the ≥30% response rate was significantly higher in the galcanezumab group than the placebo group (CM, 57.5 versus 19.8, P ≤ .0001) as was the ≥75% response rate (13.3 versus 2.6, P ≤ .05). Galcanezumab also resulted in significant (P < .0001) improvements in patient functioning and reductions in disability. Conclusions: Galcanezumab was effective in a difficult-to-treat population of patients with CM or EM who had failed 3–4 prior preventive medication categories

Development of a Rocket Stove Using Woodash as Insulator

Abstract A rocket stove which serves as a cheaper and more safer alternative to conventional method of cooking, employing the use of solid fuels has been developed. The construction was done with our locally available metallic materials for the body and combustion chamber of the stove, using teak (khaya grandifoliala) wood ash as an insulator. An analysis of the thermal and mechanical properties of the insulating wall, fuel magazine, combustion chamber, and chimney were also performed; the law of energy conservation was used to determine the stove thermal efficiency which is 37.3%, while the Newton’s law of cooling was used to determine the convection heat transferred by the stove body (150864 J/kg) and Stefan-Boltzmann law was used to determine the amount of heat radiated by the stove body (49.2 J/kg), thus, signifying its suitability for home heating. A less expensive but very effective materials mixture containing galvanized steel and wood ash were found to have thermal properties comparable to that of fired vermiculite and stainless steel materials which are more expensive in other improved stove designs

Stability Analysis of Model Regenerative Chatter of Milling Process Using First Order Least Square Full Discretization Method

Regenerative chatter is an instability phenomenon in machining operation that must be avoided if high accuracy and greater surface finish is to be achieved. It comes with its own consequences such as poor surface finish, low accuracy, excessive noise, tool wear and low material removal rate (MRR). In this paper, an analytical method base on first order least square approximation full-discretization method is use for the stability analysis on the plane of axial depth and radial depths of cut. A detail computational algorithm has been developed for the purpose of delineating stability lobe diagram into stable and unstable regions using mathematical models. These algorithms enabled the performance of sensitivity analysis. From the results axial depth of cut enhances the unstable region and suppresses the stable region. This means that inverse relationship exists between the axial and limiting radial depths of cut thus highlighting the need to determine the maximum value of their product for achieving maximized MRR thereby reducing the chatter in the milling process. It is also seen that the peak radial depths of cut occasioned by the lobbing effects occur at fixed spindle speeds irrespective of the axial depth of cut. Similarly, the rise in spindle speed enhances the stable region and suppresses the unstable region. This means that for us to have chatter-free milling process, parameters like axial and radial depths of cut should be carefully selected together at high machining speed. With these behaviour, one can locate the productive spindle speed at which the lobbing effects occur and depths of cut combination for the operator

Impact of Agricultural Waste on Sustainable Environment and Health of Rural Women

The study worked on the impact of agricultural waste on sustainable environment and health of rural women.  Three specific objectives were formulated for the study and included to identify the constituents of agricultural waste, to determine the environmental and health impact of agricultural waste and to determine the effective management techniques of agricultural wastes. Three research questions and three null hypotheses were also formulated in line with the specific objectives. Survey research design was adopted for the study. Population for the study was 3970 representing 450 registered livestock farmers, 3270 rural women and 250 environmental health workers in Anambra State.  Proportionate random sampling technique was used to draw a sample of 350 respondents representing 40 registered livestock farmers, 286 rural women and 24 environmental health workers. Questionnaire developed by the researchers was used to collect data. The instrument was face validated by three experts and reliability was tested using cronbach alpha method which yielded a coefficient of 0.86. Data were collected with the help of fifteen research assistants and 325 instruments were retrieved representing 81% return rate. Mean and Standard Deviation were used to answer the research questions while ANOVA was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance and at the appropriate degrees of freedom. Any null hypothesis whose p-value was greater than 0.05 level of significance at the appropriate degrees of freedom was upheld while a null hypothesis was rejected when the p-value was less than 0.05 level of significance at the appropriate degrees of freedom. The findings of the study indicated that animal faeces, urine, used litter, beddings, animal carcass, dairy parlor washings, waste milk, wasted feed, feedlot run-off, paunch waste, abattoir waste water, animal viscera, horns, feather, bones, blood, fur, placenta, birth tissues, fetal membranes, aborted fetus among others are the materials that constitute agricultural waste. It was also found that that air pollution from burning of agricultural wastes, air pollution from cesspools, dioxins from burning agricultural wastes, dirty environment from heaps of agricultural wastes, stench/odour from decaying agricultural waste, defacing of the environment, eutrophication of water bodies, aquatic life destruction, spontaneous abortion, blue-baby syndrome, prolonged mensuration and early menopause, among others are the environmental and health impact of agricultural waste on rural women. It was recommended among others that Extension workers should properly educate farmers on the dangers of agricultural wastes and sensitize them on proper disposal methods. Keywords: agricultural waste, environment, health, rural women, pollution

The Relationship between Selected Anthropometric Indices and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Apparently Healthy Young Adults in a Nigerian Community

Background and Aim: Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is a useful tool for establishment of baseline fitness status and monitoring of physical activity level. Therefore, it may by extension serve as health risk index. However, studies that have determined the correlation between anthropometric indices and CRF in apparently healthy young adults is difficult to find in other to preempt preventive actions before pathology develops. Materials and Methods: Using a descriptive correlational research design, 325 participants (160 males, 165 females) with mean age of 21.87±2.41 years were sampled. Tape measure, stop watch, metronome, sphygmomanometer, stethoscope, height meter, bathroom weighing scale, modified Borg’s exertion scale and step benches were used to obtain the blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, rate of perceived exertion, height, weight, waist circumference and cardiorespiratory fitness was estimated using the mean heart rate responses of the participants. The data was summarized using frequency count, percentages, range, mean, standard deviation, Independent t-test and Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation at alpha level of 0.05. Results: CRF significantly correlated with post-test systolic blood pressure (p= 0.004), post-test diastolic blood pressure (p= 0.010) and resting heart rate (p= <0.0001) but not with BMI (p= 0.133), waist circumference (p= 0.098), pre-test systolic blood pressure (p= 0.155), pre-test diastolic blood pressure (p= 0.121), resting respiratory rate (p= 0.631), and respiratory rate recovery (p= 0.478). Conclusion: CRF can be used as an index to quantify in apparently healthy participants, level of cardiovascular and respiratory related disease risks. It is necessary to emphasize the importance of physical activity in order to improve one’s cardiorespiratory fitness and minimize the risk of cardiorespiratory associated diseases