Phytoremediation potential for co-contaminated soils

Phytoremediation is a plant-based remediation process for treating contaminated soils. The overall aim of this thesis was to determine whether phytoremediation could be applied to co-contaminated soils. Copper (Cu) and pyrene, and Chromium (Cr) and Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) were used as contaminants. The first study involved the joint effect of Cu and pyrene or Cr and B[a]P on the early seedling growth of Lolium perenne. Results suggest that co-contamination showed several types of interactions for seedling growth with different combinations of the pollutants. The second study involved the role Brassica juncea and Zea mays during the remediation of Cu and/or pyrene, and Cr and/or B[a]P co-contaminated soils respectively. Brassica juncea and Z. mays showed contrasting results for metal and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) remediation. The third study compared freshly spiked soils and aged soils. Ageing affected the plant biomass, metal phytoextraction and PAH dissipation in different ways when compared to fresh soils. Finally, the efficiency of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid-EDTA and/or citric acid as chelators in co-contaminated soils was studied. The combined application of EDTA and citric acid was more effective in co-contaminated soils. The overall findings from the four studies suggest that phytoremediation could be applied to co-contaminated soils

The Postcolonial African Genocide Novel

In The Postcolonial African Genocide Novel, Chigbo Anyaduba examines fictional responses to mass atrocities occurring in postcolonial Africa. Through a comparative reading of novels responding to the genocides of the Igbo in Nigeria (1966-1970) and the Tutsi in Rwanda (1990-1994), the book underscores the ways that literary encounters with genocides in Africa’s postcolonies have attempted to reimagine the conditions giving rise to exterminatory forms of mass violence. The book concretizes and troubles one of the apparent truisms of genocide studies, especially in the context of imaginative literature: that the reality of genocide more often than not resists meaningfulness. Particularly given the centrality of this truism to artistic responses to the Holocaust and to genocides more generally, Anyaduba tracks the astonishing range of meanings drawn by writers at a series of (temporal, spatial, historical, cultural and other) removes from the realities of genocide in Africa’s postcolonies, a set of meanings that are often highly‐specific and irreducible to maxims or foundational cases. The book shows that in the artistic projects to construct meanings against genocide’s nihilism writers of African genocides deploy tropes that while significantly oriented to African concerns are equally shaped by the representational conventions and practices associated with the legacies of the Holocaust

Poor Blade Curvature - A Contributor in the Loss of Performance in the Compressor Unit of Gas Turbine Systems

The relationship between the curvatures of the blade and the loss of performance of the compressor unit of the gas turbine system was studied. Three blade sets of three different blade curvatures 20o, 35o and 50o were fabricated for this investigation. The blades were tested in a manually fabricated wooden wind tunnel and points of flow separation and vortex height on the trailing edge of each blade set were recorded. The obtained results were then analyzed with respect to the blade velocity distribution effects, compressibility effects and blade loading effects. The analysis indicates that the larger the blade curvature the higher the possibility of poor performance of the system. Keywords: blade curvature, flow separation, vortex height, velocity, blade loading, stagnation, pressure, suction surface

The nature of land ownership and the protection of the purchaser

This article examines the nature of ownership of land and derivative or subordinate realrights under English law drawing some comparison with Romanic-Dutch ownership while arguing that the Anglo-American estate’ or interest’ in land is a mere semantic conundrum. It is the position of this writer that the concept of ownership in English law of real property, which dominantly influences our real property law in Nigeria and other common law jurisdictions such as the Bahamas and Jamaica, has not brought the desirable clarity to our real property jurisprudence/practice in Nigeria. The unfortunate problems faced by purchasers of real estate in some common law jurisdiction are also briefly examined in this article. The article seeks to advance a solution to these problems and in this context the writer strongly suggests that a land registration system of some model should be adopted in Nigeria and the Bahamas to protect purchasers of real estates and guarantee greater security of title and clarity in our conveyancing practice

Nigeria: Managing the Challenges of Globalization

This paper explores Nigeria: Managing the Challenges of Globalization. The focus of this paper centers on the recognition of the existence of a global environment that is deeply embedded in interdependency and the necessity for Nigeria to manage the challenges of globalization while harnessing whatever are its opportunities for growth and national development. The study is basically an exploratory analysis and it examines globalization: nature and dimensions, drivers of globalization in the modern world, opportunities provided by globalization to Nigeria/the world, the challenges posed by globalization and the management of these challenges. Keywords: Globalization, Managing, Challenges, Globalization of Production, Globalization of Trade, Financial Integration

Comparing the Parasitological Quality of Water Used in Low and High Level Restaurants in an Urban Setting in Nigeria

This study aimed at comparing the parasitological status of water used by some restaurants in Owerri metropolis, Imo State from May, 2019 to February, 2020. Seventy one water samples collected across the vending types (high level and low level restaurants) were evaluated for parasite contamination using standard methods. Data obtained was statistically analyzed with p-value set at 0.05 significance level. The result showed that 14.70% (5) of the samples from high-level restaurants were contaminated. Eleven (29.73%) of the 37 samples from low-level restaurants were contaminated with parasites. Statistical analysis showed the prevalence of contaminated water samples from the 2 vending types was significantly different (p˂ 0.05). The result revealed that 11 (36.36%) of the 30 sampling sites used contaminated water with high-level restaurants recording the lower prevalence. The selected sites showed no significant difference in the occurrence of contaminated water (p˃ 0.05). Three parasites were isolated from 18 (25.35%) of 71 water samples from the two vending types. The parasites identified were Cryptosporidium oocyst with an occurrence rate of 8.85% (6), Giardia spp.,8 (11.25%), and Entamoeba spp., 5(5.64%). Statistical analysis showed that the species-specific prevalence was not statistically significant (p˃0.05). The overall concentration of parasites in the study was 2.00 oocyst/cyst in 100ml of water. Furthermore, low-level restaurants recorded non-significant higher parasite prevalence of 32.86% with a concentration of 1.8 oocyst/cyst per 100ml of water, as against 31.00% with a concentration of 2.4 oocyst/cyst per 100ml of water observed in high-level restaurants (p˃ 0.05). The findings therefore suggest that parasitic organisms are maintained by a viable ecosystem which thrive in the restaurants and exposes customers to a cycle of endless parasitism. There is need for government and restaurant management to provide safe water supply while maintaining and enforcing sound hygiene and safety measures

Managing Temporary Organizations: Challenges and Prospects

This paper examines Managing Temporary Organizations: Challenges and Prospects. It is basically an exploratory analysis. The paper explores the special challenges created by virtue of the temporary character of an organization, especially with regard to the kinds of people typically assigned to it, the work process that generates its output, the special demands made of its manager, and a host of other human resource management challenges. It also offers a number of prospects/potential benefits of temporary organizations to the economy/the study of organization and management. Awareness of the challenges inherent in the nature of temporary organizations coupled with the appropriate management responses and their prospects to the economy/the study of organization and management; can hopefully permit us to function more productively as members of temporary organizations, and thus offers suggestions to those who manage people. Keywords: Temporary Organizations, Projectification, Managing, Challenges

Risk of Faecal Contamination of Water Used by Food Vendors in Owerri Munipality, Imo State Nigeria

Assessment of faecal contamination of water is a key factor in assessing the quality and safety of food. It also reveals the level of hygiene adopted by food handlers in the course of preparation and serving of such foods. This study assessed the risk of microbial contamination of water used by food vendors in Owerri munipality, Imo State Nigeria between January-December 2019 with an emphasis on total coliforms and the faecal coliforms/ faecal indicator bacteria (FIB) – Escherichia coli (E. coli) and thermotolerant coliforms (TTC). One hundred and thirty water samples collected across three vending types (street vendors, high level and low level restaurants) were evaluated for microbial contamination using standard methods. Data obtained was statistically analyzed with p-value set at 0.05 significance level. The result identified Enterobacter spp. and Klebsiella spp. The result showed that 48.46% (63) of the 130 water samples examined were contaminated with coliform bacteria, of which 20 (22.22%) samples had faecal coliform bacteria, representing 10.77% of the entire water samples examined. Of the 64 samples from water used for food preparation, 12.50% (8) had faecal coliform bacteria as against 9.09% (6) of 66 samples collected from water offered to customers for drinking. The result showed that 116 (89.23%) of the 130 water samples recorded no faecal coliform contamination, hence they were considered excellent based on the guidelines for determination of faecal contamination of water. Two samples had faecal coliform counts of 1-3 per 100 ml of water accounting for 1.54% of water samples, which is considered Satisfactory. The result revealed suspicious (4-9 per 100 ml) coliform count in 9 (6.92%) water samples, while three water samples (2.31%) had ≥10 count and are classified as unsatisfactory. The result revealed that 89.23% (116) of the examined water samples were of ‘no risk’ to the public, which was significantly higher than 8.46% (11) and 2.31% (3) recognized as being of low and intermediate risk respectively (p <0.05). High and very high risk water samples were not encountered in the study. This trend in qualification of risk of water samples reflected in the two types of water usages, and the observed differences was however not statistically significant (p>0.05)

AN EXAMINATION OF CONTEMPORARY ISSUES RELATING TO MEDICAL LIABILITY

A member of any profession, it is supposed, possesses the skills, which her/his training asserts. As such, the person is liable for the exercise of duty within their trained capacity and culpable for negligence in its practice. In Nigeria, cases of negligence are under-reported; consequently marginal compensations are made out. If the standard of measure suitable to the Court is that the professional should act within the generally accepted practice, what becomes of the practitioner who is aware of better measures that the exercise of due care would demand? To what extent is the patient’s consent informed, valid and real? What of specific cases where a patient is not in the position to grant consent? Using the Bolam criteria, this paper argues that standard of care is relative. Arguably, a professional having specialised skill should exercise discernment concomitant with their speciality and better judgement than the general skill level. Furthermore, a doctor has the obligation to inform the patient of the risks, however small, otherwise (s) he dispossesses the patient of an informed choice and that such explanation must be within the limits of the practice among colleagues. Such cases may transcend from the domain of contract into torts. For example the promise of an operation different from the promise of success, lies within the field of tort. In specific cases where it is impossible for the patient to give consent, the doctor retains the duty to do what is in the best interest of the patient. The Bolam test is a valid threshold in determining whether the doctor has acted within prescribed and expected standards to avoid negligence and whether such doctor is liable or not for damages

The Postcolonial African Genocide Novel

In The Postcolonial African Genocide Novel, Chigbo Anyaduba examines fictional responses to mass atrocities occurring in postcolonial Africa. Through a comparative reading of novels responding to the genocides of the Igbo in Nigeria (1966-1970) and the Tutsi in Rwanda (1990-1994), the book underscores the ways that literary encounters with genocides in Africa’s postcolonies have attempted to reimagine the conditions giving rise to exterminatory forms of mass violence. The book concretizes and troubles one of the apparent truisms of genocide studies, especially in the context of imaginative literature: that the reality of genocide more often than not resists meaningfulness. Particularly given the centrality of this truism to artistic responses to the Holocaust and to genocides more generally, Anyaduba tracks the astonishing range of meanings drawn by writers at a series of (temporal, spatial, historical, cultural and other) removes from the realities of genocide in Africa’s postcolonies, a set of meanings that are often highly‐specific and irreducible to maxims or foundational cases. The book shows that in the artistic projects to construct meanings against genocide’s nihilism writers of African genocides deploy tropes that while significantly oriented to African concerns are equally shaped by the representational conventions and practices associated with the legacies of the Holocaust