Predominant Bacteria in Domestic Solid Waste Dump in Egbu Owerri North Local Government Area in Imo State, Nigeria

The prevalence of bacteria in solid waste dump from domestic  waste in Owerri was studied. Six (6) samples were collected from Egbu community in Owerri North and examined bacteriologically using Nutrient agar and macconkey agar and were serially diluted, cultured, identified and characterized. Five genera of bacteria were isolated. They are Staphylococcus aurous, Klebsiella sp, Escherichia coli, lactobacillus sp and Corynebacterium sp and from the findings, Klebsiella exhibited the highest (66.6%) number of bacterial activity while Corynebacterium and Iactobacillus exhibited the lowest (16.67%). Futhermore, location D has the highest total hetertropic bacterial count of 5.75x 108 and the least is location E with 6.25x107. T he presence of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Cornebacteria and Klebsiella in the waste dump site is an indication that the contamination is of human and plant orign or their activities. Keywords: Nutrient agar ,macconkey agar, Staphylococcus aurous, Klebsiella sp, Escherichia coli,  Lactobacillus sp and Corynebacterium sp

EMPIRICAL ANALYSES OF PRODUCTION BEHAVIOUR AMONG SMALL-SCALE SWEETPOTATO FARMERS IN EBONYI STATE NIGERIA

The study investigated some determinants of sweet potato production among small-scale farmers in Ebonyi state.Primary data were collected from 400 small-scale sweet potato farmers in Ebonyi State using a multi-stagesampling technique. The instruments used for data collection were interview schedule and focus groupdiscussion (FGD). Data collected through these methods were analysed using descriptive statistics, whileordinary least square regression was used to determine factors associated with sweet potato production. FGD wasanalysed by transcribing responses of the discussants. Findings revealed that, 46.07% of the respondents weremales while 53.93% were female farmers. The average age of the respondents was 43 years while 75% hadformal education. The average farm size was about 2.8ha. Many (64%) of the respondents had more than 10 morein the market because they were more receptive to new ideas and are less risk averse than their aged counterparts.However, there should be a threshold in terms of age beyond which the agility to participate in the market maydecline. Similarly, the coefficient of marital status (5%) also had an indirect relationship with marketparticipation. This implies that processors who are married tend to not participate in the market than theircounterparts who are not. This implies that more of the cassava products produced will be used in feeding thefamily, thus reducing the quantity taken to the market. The result agrees with that of Egbetokun et al., (2017) whoobtained similar result in his study in Osun State, Nigeria. Result of the regression analysis showed thatrespondent's age, gender, household size, educational level, Farming experience, and membership to farmersassociation were positive and significantly influenced sweet potato production. The results therefore call forpolicies aimed at provision of affordable education and encouraging experienced farmers to formgroups/associations to enhance access to innovations that will enhance production

REMOVAL AND RECOVERY OF BORON FROM PRODUCED WATER BY ELECTROCOAGULATION AND HYDROTHERMAL MINERALIZATION

Produced water is the largest wastestream of oil and gas exploration and a major supplement to the increased limited freshwater supply. It is therefore necessary to ensure that the quality of produced water meets the appropriate standard for use as potable water. This study investigated the removal and recovery of boron from produced water by electrocoagulation and hydrothermal mineralization. The efficiency of the study was investigated in both the batch and continuous mode using aluminum and iron electrodes. Preliminary studies were conducted with synthetic wastewater and the obtained optimum conditions applied to produced water. Different operating parameters were investigated. They include pH, current density, initial concentration, electrolysis time, inter-electrode spacing, flow rate, retention time. pH played a significant role in removal efficiency with the best removal efficiency around pH 7 for both electrodes. Increase in current density also increased removal efficiency. When the initial concentration was increased, removal efficiency decreased. Increase in electrolysis time increased removal efficiency. However, when the spacing between electrodes was increased, removal efficiency decreased. The removal efficiency decreased when the flowrate was increased. Increase in retention time also resulted in increase in removal efficiency. A removal efficiency of 98% and 88% were observed for the batch and continuous mode study respectively using aluminum electrode while a removal efficiency of 97% and 78% were observed for the batch and continuous mode study, respectively using iron electrode

FRESH INSIGHT ON ECONOMIC AND SOCIOECONOMIC DETERMINANTS OF AIR TRAVEL DEMAND IN NIGERIA

This study aims to investigate the effect of air travel demand determinants in Nigeria in respect to economics, during the specified period (1980 to 2017) by using a simple linear regression model with two dependent variables and seven independent variables. The unit root test and Co-integration test were observed, which shows there is a long-run relationship running between the selected variables. Ordinary least square (OLS) was estimated. The R- square indicated there is a better fit of the model, while the adjusted R-square showed that there is a better improvement of the model both in the first dependent and the second dependent variable. The empirical result reveals that air transport’s registered carrier departures worldwide is the most important variable which determines that air travel demand both in first and second results, which showed a positive impact on air travel demand with a significant probability. The result stipulates that a one percent increase in air transport’ registered carrier departures worldwide will increase air transport passengers carried. This stipulates that there is a high demand for air transport in Nigerian but the supply was not enough

Alternative Conceptions as Determinant Factor for Students’ Explanation of Biological Phenomena of Genetics

Alternative conceptions are erroneous ideas about natural phenomena that students construct before formal instructions.  These ideas are different from what is generally accepted in the scientific community.  They are caused by cultural and social factors.  These factors affect the child in his/her process of growing up and eventually culminate in conceptions which he/she brings to the classroom.  Studies have shown that these alternative conceptions are deeply rooted and if neglected can hinder effective teaching and learning.  This study sought to determine if the method of teaching use by biology teachers in our secondary schools can address these alternative conceptions to enhance achievement in biology.  The design used for the study was quasi- experimental design.  Two research questions and one hypothesis guided the study.  The sample was made up of 282 SS3 biology students.  The instrument was a 30-item multiple choice Biology Achievement Test (BAT) on genetics.  The BAT was face and content validated by experts in Measurement and Evaluation and Biology Education.  Also, a reliability co-efficient of 0.82 was obtained for BAT using Kuder Richardson Formula 20.  Percentage was used to answer the research questions and hypothesis was analyzed using Pearson’s r.  The study revealed that alternative conceptions exist in genetics and that significant majority of students did not shift in their alternative conceptions even after formal instructions by the teacher.  The researcher recommended conceptual change instructional model as an intervention package that will enable students understand biological concepts appropriately so that they can explain biological phenomena adequately. Keywords: Alternative conceptions, Biological phenomena, Genetics

Refugee, Migrant and Human Rights Crisis in Africa: The Libyan Experience

Abstract: The refugee, migrant and human rights crisis ravaging the African continent through the Libyan coast is one that is self-inflicted, due in part and primarily so, a result of bad governance on the part of the African leaders who have not made the management and welfare of her citizens a primary and a going concern. Ethnic conflict and wars on resource control have also led to the forceful migration of some of these citizens from their homes. Thus, having been frustrated and uncared for, dreams dashed and hope in the leaders lost, the average African citizen, in a bid to achieve their natural given potential have decided to seek alternative means to do so in other climes other than their home countries, no matter the cost. Using the documentary method of data collection and expost facto research design, the study found that the current crisis in Libya is largely a product of neglect by African leaders of their citizens and their seeming cluelessness in the ordering and direction of the lives of their citizens for individual, collective and societal growth. Apart from determining if the dearth of leadership was responsible for the current human rights crisis in Libya, the study also found that the average living conditions of African citizens was a probable cause. Thus, to properly understand the philosophical reason for the exodus of Africans out of their home countries, the study adopted the Neoclassical Migration Theory. The study finally recommends that African leaders should address the structural imbalance in their various domains that have sparked both internecine and genocidal conflict across the continent, and also ensure the implementation of the tenets of good and inclusive governance

Influence of Gender and School Location on Senior Secondary School Student’s Achievement in Biology Inagbani Education Zone of Enugu State, Nigeria

The study examined the influence of gender and school location on senior secondary school student’s achievement in biology in Agbani Education Zone of Enugu State. 328 students were sampled (164 males and 164 females respectively) from Four (4) co-education schools and four intact SS3 classes both from rural and urban schools were used. The sampling technique used was multiple stage sampling technique. The research design used was ex-post facto design since the students used for the study has been assigned to appropriate tends of gender (male and female) and school location (rural and urban) and cannot be manipulated by the researcher. Biology Achievement Test (BAT) was used as the instrument for data collection. Two (2) research questions and two (2) research hypotheses were formulated. Research questions were answered using mean, simple percentage while the hypotheses were answered using z-test at 0.05 level of significance.. The findings showed that there was a significant difference in the mean achievement score of male and female students. Male students achieved higher than their female counterparts in Biology Achievement Test. Findings further revealed that there was significant difference in the achievement mean scores of students in rural and urban school located areas. The urban students achieved higher than rural students. Based on the findings, it was recommended that government should recruit more qualified biology teachers and distribute them equitably to schools irrespective of location and also females should be provided with adequate motivation to make them perform better in sciences. Keywords: Gender, School location, Achievement, Biolog

Finite element approach to solution of multidimensional quasi-harmonic field functions

This paper focuses on the methodical approach for the solution of fieldproblems whose function can be expressed as derivatives and integrated functional or on solution of quasi-harmonic functions whose physical behaviors are governed by a general quasi-harmonic differential equation that can be treated as a quadratic functional that can be minimized over a region. The functional of a stress field function was established using mixed methods analogous to variational principle, minimum total potential principle and finite element method. The functional of function, Φ(x,y) was formed using Euler equivalent integral and finite element shape function for a function expressed in derivative form. The minimization of the functional gave the stationary values of the function which minimize the functional. The solution of the functional gave the minimum value of the function. Possible solutions of states that minimize the functional was achieved by finite element solution procedure while the minimum values of the stationary states were solved by solving the functional. The functional obtained for each finite element is minimized with respect to associated degrees of freedom of the element and assembly method applied to all elements minimization equation to obtain system of equations equal to unconstrained nodes in the region .The element equations are assembled and solved by substitution to obtain the values of the function at discrete points. The values of the function at the discrete points did not vary significantly with boundary points values. The minimum value of the function representing the critical or the functional of the function is evaluated as 24MPa