Radio structures in QSO-galaxy pairs

It is now generally agreed that if quasars and nearby low redshift galaxies are associated, then there should be luminous connections between them. However, most of the observational evidence being presented is in the optical domain, whereas such evidence should also exist at radio frequencies. The author is, therefore, investigating some quasar-galaxy pairs at radio frequencies to search for luminous connections and other structural peculiarities. Radio maps of some of these sources are presented

Sustainable National Development through Well Managed Adult Education

This paper focuses on issues relating to sustainable national development through well managed adult education. The adults are the major occupants of the production sector of the economy. They manage and control the economy. The problems that confront the current generation are complex and serious. These problems can be addressed through well managed adult education. The concept of sustainable development which is an attempt to shape and secure a future generation has attracted attention across disciplines and scholars of various dispositions. Adult education is the key to unlock the understanding required in securing this future. This paper therefore makes a case that effective management of adult education is required in sustainable national development. The paper recommends the use of indigenous languages, establishment of adult education centres in every community, provision of appropriate infrastructural and instructional facilities as well as increased funding to enhance adult education for national development. Keywords: Adult education, development, well managed, sustainable national development

Evaluation of the Ph, Iron and Lead Levels of the Functional Boreholes in Federal Government College, Warri, Delta, Nigeria

The pH, Iron and Lead levels in borehole water collected randomly from some selected borehole drinking water in Federal Government College (F.G.C ) Warri, Delta State, Nigeria was analysed.  It was compared with NAFDAC, WHO and NSDWQ standards for safe drinking water.  Experimental research design was used to collect and analyze five samples of untreated borehole drinking water all in Federal Government College, Warri.  pH was determined by Winlab Model 290A pH meter, iron and lead by Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) and addition of 5.0ml of concentrated HNO3. The result of the findings were compared with that of NAFDAC, WHO and NSDWQ recommended standard for safe drinking water which showed that all the samples of borehole waters are safe for consumption Keywords: pH, Iron, Lead, borehole, drinking water

Survey of waste disposal methods in Awka metropolis

Waste disposal methods commonly practiced in Awka metropolis, Anambra state were investigated from August to October, 2013. Data was analyzed with both descriptive statistics of frequency and percentages, and alternate hypotheses were tested using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at a significance level of 0.05. Respondents in support of open burning were 61.2 %, while 2.9 % took to burying waste as their preferred waste management option. Only about 34.0 % of the waste generated was collected at the dumpsites within the metropolis by the waste management agency, as the participants rely on their preferred waste  management options without any consideration to the associated health and environmental consequences. Statistical analysis revealed that residents of Awka believed that their waste disposal methods were safe and waste collection points were enough. The residents do not shy away from participating in disposal of waste. Majority of the respondents were of the secondary school category that engages in domestic chores

Influence of heating rates on the products of high-temperature pyrolysis of waste wood pellets and biomass model compounds

The effect of heating rates ranging from 5 °C min−1 to 350 °C min−1 on the yields of pyrolysis products of wood and its main pseudo-components (cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) have been investigated at a temperature of 800 °C in a horizontal fixed bed reactor. Results showed a successive dramatic increase and decrease in gas and liquid yields, respectively, while the yields of solid products showed a gradual decrease as heating rates increased. Increased gas formation and an increasingly aromatic oil/tar support the theory of rapid devolatilization of degradation products with increasing heating rate, leading to extensive cracking of primary pyrolysis vapours. Solid products with coal-like calorific value and large surface areas were obtained. CO became the dominant gas both on a mass and volume basis, at the heating rate of 350 °C min−1 for all samples except xylan, which also produced a significant yield of CO2 (20.3 wt% and 25.4 vol%) compared to the other samples. Cellulose produced a gas product with highest calorific value of 35 MJ kg−1 at the highest heating rate. Results also indicate that the three main pseudo-components of biomass each exert a different influence on the products of high temperature pyrolysis of woody biomass

Correlation between body mass index and waist circumference in Nigerian adults: implication as indicators of health status

Background. Anthropometric measures have been widely used for body weight classification in humans. Waist circumference has been advanced as a useful parameter for measuring adiposity. This study evaluated the correlation between body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference and examined their significance as indicators of health status in adults. Design and Methods. The subject included 489 healthy adults from Ota, Nigeria, aged between 20 and 75 years, grouped into early adulthood (20-39 years), middle adulthood (40-59 years) and advanced adulthood (60 years and above). Weight, height and abdominal circumference were measured. BMI was calculated as weight kg/height2 (m2) and World Health Organization cut-offs were used to categorize them into normal, underweight, overweight and obese. Results. Abnormal weight categories accounted for 60 % of the subjects (underweight 11 %, overweight 31%, and obese 18%). The waist circumference of overweight and obese categories were significantly (P<0.05) higher than the normal weight category. There was no significant difference between waist circumference of underweight and normal subjects. The correlation coefficient values of BMI with waist circumference (r=0.63), body weight (r=0.76) and height (r=-0.31) were significant (P<0.01) for the total subjects. Conclusions. The study indicates that waist circumference can serve as a positive indicator of overweight and obesity in the selected communities; however, it may not be used to determine underweight in adults. Regular BMI and waist circumference screening is recommended as an easy and effective means of assessing body weight and in the prevention of weight related diseases in adults

Effect of Combined Intake of Garcinia Kola and Ascorbic Acid on Intraocular Pressure of Normotensive Nigerians.

This study was carried out to determine the effect of combined intake of Garcinia kola and Ascorbic acid on Intraocular pressure (IOP) of normotensive Nigerians. A total of one hundred and sixty (n= 160) parcipants, males, and females within the age range of 18-50 years (Mean age = 29.29± 8.74) were used for this study. The participants were randomly assigned to four groups: A, B, C, D (n=40 in each group). About 500mg of Ascorbic acid only was administered to subjects in Group A; 7.4g of Garcinia kola only was administered to subjects in Group B; combined 7.4g of Garcinia kola and 500mg of Ascorbic acid was administered to subjects in group C, while 100ml of water was administered to Group D to serve as a control. The IOP of each subject was measured with a Tonopen Tonometer pre and post ingestions of the assigned treatment at 30 minutes interval for 120 minutes. The findings showed a statistically significant reduction (p&lt; 0.05) in mean IOP from baseline values in groups A, B, and C at 60minutes and 90 minutes post administration of assigned treatment, with peak reducon at 60 minutes. The percentage change in mean IOP at 60 minutes in Groups A, B, C were 6.76%, 15.07%, 23.04% respectively. This change was statistically significant (p&lt;0.05) in the three groups, with group C recording the highest reduction in mean IOP. There was, however, an increase in mean IOP towards baseline after 60 minutes. Group D recorded no statistically significant change in mean IOP. The reduction in mean IOP recorded in group C was statistically significant at all times of assessment post ingeson. (P&lt;0.005). It was concluded from this study that combined intake of Garcinia kola and Ascorbic acid had a greater effect on IOP than Garcinia kola or Ascorbic acid alone. However, this effect was transient, since the reduction was not sustained after 60 minutes of ingestion. This may form the basis for the development of affordable medicine for lowering IOP.Keywords: Garcinia kola, Ascorbic acid, intraocular pressure, tonometer

Intergenerational Learning and Social Capital in Choba Urban Indigenous Community in Port Harcourt Nigeria

This paper examines intergenerational learning an informal aspect of adult learning in an indigenous community Intergenerational learning involves older people and young people where both are teachers and learners in a shared learning process The study examines the pattern of intergenerational learning in urban indigenous community What informed the conduct of this study is the increase intergeneration gap and perhaps the individualistic lifestyle that characterized urban indigenous communities The study was carried out in Choba an urban settlement in Port Harcourt To collect data we conducted Focus Group Discussion and key personality interview in the study area The findings reveal that intergenerational learning is reciprocal and empowering and can be used to foster social capital and social cohesion It also shows that the three forms of intergenerational learning are applicable in the urban indigenous communities These forms are transferred learning transactional learning and transformational learnin

Proximate and mineral composition of Pelusios castaneus (West African mud turtle) flesh sold in Edo State, Nigeria

This study was undertaken to determine the proximate and mineral composition of Pelusios castaneus (West African-mud turtle) so as to contribute to the availability of data in Nigeria. A total of thirteen (13) male and female each of African mud turtle (Pelusios casteneus) were purchased in Benin City, Nigeria. Specimen were identified to species level, stunned and slaughtered; then each of the turtle were dissected into flanges and Microwave digestion system (Closed Vessels Acid Digestion – MARS System - CEM) procedure was used for the digestion of all the samples based on organic extraction technique before the proximate composition and the mineral contents of the flesh were determined using AOAC methods and standard technique. Data were analyzed using SPSS (version 21) and statistically using ANOVA and DMRT. Result shows that there were significant variations in the different parameters studied; the highest and lowest moisture content values of 67.00% and 52.56% were observed in the male and female respectively. Highest crude protein and lipid values of 26.78% and 15.00%, were observed in the female respectively; while the highest ash content value of 11.33% was observed in the male. While the mean mineral concentrations in the flesh varied among the different elements studied, the overall potassium had the highest value of 4030.82mg while the least value was observed in magnesium (871.04mg). Though Pelusios castaneus has been culturally important to Nigerians, the finding shows that the flesh is a valuable source of mineral elements and proximate components required in diet. Domestication in Nigeria is therefore encouraged to make them commercially available to reduce the pressure on their harvest from the wild thus preventing their going into extinction. &nbsp

An empirical investigation of lead-acid battery desulfation using a high-frequency pulse desulfator

The major cause of deterioration in lead-acid batteries is sulfation. There are patents on the use of high-frequency pulse desulfators to desulfate lead-acid batteries. Also, many products available in the market worldwide claim to use this technique to effectively desulfate lead-acid batteries that deteriorate due to sulfation. But there are little or no systematic studies to evaluate the performance of these products to know whether they do what their manufacturers claim. This research, therefore, aims at empirically evaluating one of such products. Four fully charged 100 Ampere-hour Valve Regulated Lead-Acid Gel batteries were discharged with an electronic-load battery discharger to ascertain their capacities. Thereafter, a high-frequency pulse desulfator was connected to desulfate the battery bank consisting of the four batteries. The battery bank was connected to be charged at the same time by a photovoltaic system. The desulfation experiment lasted for ten weeks but the batteries were tested to know their capacities after two, six, and ten weeks. The results show that the desulfation device works in desulfating lead-acid batteries as there are different degrees of improvement on the capacity of all the batteries. The percentage improvement in the capacity of the batteries is 89.5%, 75.9%, 1.6% and 1.4%, for batteries 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively