ECONOMICS OF MAIZE PRODUCTION UNDER DIFFERENT COWPEA-BASED GREEN MANURE PRACTICES IN DERIVED SAVANNA ZONE OF NIGERIA

There is a challenge in Nigeria of how to sustainably increase land productivity in the face of land pressures, un-availability and/or high cost of fertilizers, and reduced fallow periods. The present study analyzed the economic potential of producing maize under different regimes of cowpea green manure cropping

A More Efficient Method for Extracting and Analyzing Pesticides in Baby foods

Pesticides that are used to control pests such as insects, rodents, bacteria, mold, and fungus in food production end up in the fruits and vegetables that we consume. Clearly, concentration levels of pesticides must be carefully monitored. Successful monitoring of the concentrations is critically dependent upon pesticide extraction efficiency, the pesticide structure and the matrix (food product) in which the pesticide is found. Variables such as polarity, solubility, and pH must be investigated. A common approach to develop analysis methods involves spiking food products with pesticides and evaluating method efficiency by calculating percent recoveries from the foods. Sample results from the Georgia Department of Agriculture Labs (Tifton, Ga) showed in some cases, a range of 84% to 140% recoveries for some pesticides on the lower end of ppm concentration levels. These recoveries were obtained from fruit extracts such as peaches, bananas, carrots, and green beans that provided very complex matrices. In this study, recovery range of 95% to 105% is our plausible goal to establish the efficiency of our extraction technique. We propose to develop a method that will improve percent recoveries by modifying the QuEChERS methods. This proposal entails spiking fruit matrices with known amounts of pesticides and studying percent recoveries by quantifying the extracts with standard instruments like High-performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array (HPLC-PDA), Gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC/MS), and Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet (UPLC/UV). The focus will be on improving the extraction process. Starting with eight pesticides, we will study structural differences in the pesticides via middle-infrared spectroscopy to establish extraction compatibility. Also, relative polarities under different pH conditions will be determined using reverse-phase HPLC/UV. This aspect will help with optimizing the organic solvents to be ultimately used for extraction. Lastly, the optimized conditions will be used to analyze bulk pesticides using HPLC-PDA and UPLC-multiwavelength detector (UPLC-MWD) for comparison. An efficient method was developed by modifying the QuEChERS method using liquid-liquid extraction and the percent recoveries were satisfactory and showed a good precision

Effects of incorporating polycaprolactone and flax fiber into glycerol-plasticized pea starch

The environmental menace associated with the existing eco-unfriendly conventional plastics prompted the exploration of natural polymers such as starch for the development of biodegradable plastics. These efforts have seen starch used in various ways, one of which is in the processing of thermoplastic starch (TPS). Thermoplastic starch (also known as plasticized starch) is the product of the interaction between starch and a plasticizer in the presence of thermomechanical energy. While starch blends with conventional plastics only yield products that biofragment, thermoplastic starch (TPS) offers a completely biodegradable option. However, it is limited in application due to its weak mechanical strength and poor moisture resistance. To this end, the objective of this study was to determine the effects of incorporating polycaprolactone (PCL) and flax fiber into glycerol-plasticized pea starch. The effects of processing moisture content on the physical properties of glycerol-plasticized pea starch were also evaluated. The physical properties investigated included morphology, tensile properties, moisture absorption, and thermal properties. Accordingly, two thermoplastic pea starch mixtures containing 9.3 and 20% processing moisture contents were prepared while maintaining starch (pea starch) and glycerol in ratio 7:3 by weight (dry basis). Polycaprolactone was then compounded at 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40% by weight in the solid phase with the TPS mixtures to determine the effects of processing moisture content and PCL incorporation on the physical properties of glycerol-plasticized pea starch. This experiment was structured as a 2 x 5 factorial completely randomized design at 5% level of significance. Subsequently, PCL and flax fiber were compounded with the TPS mixture containing 20% processing moisture to determine the effects of PCL (0, 20, and 40% wt) and flax fiber (0, 5, 10, and 15% wt) incorporation on the physical properties of glycerol-plasticized pea starch. This was structured as a 3 x 4 factorial completely randomized design at 5% level of significance. All the samples were compressed at 140°C for 45 min under 25000-kg load. The compression-molded samples were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), tensile test, moisture absorption test, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques. The tensile fracture surfaces showed a moisture-induced fundamental morphological difference between the two TPSs. The TPS prepared at 20% processing moisture content revealed complete starch gelatinization, thus, exhibiting a rather continuous phase whereas the TPS prepared at 9.3% processing moisture content revealed instances of ungelatinized and partly gelatinized pea starch granules. Consequently, the tensile strength, yield strength, Young’s modulus, and elongation at break increased by 208.6, 602.6, 208.5, and 292.0%, respectively at 20% processing moisture content. The incorporation of PCL reduced the degree of starch gelatinization by interfering with moisture migration during compression molding due to its (PCL) hydrophobicity. At both processing moisture levels of 9.3 and 20%, PCL incorporation had significant impacts on the tensile properties of the plasticized pea starch. Flax fiber incorporation also increased the tensile strength, yield strength, and Young’s modulus while concomitantly reducing the elongation at break of the plasticized pea starch. In the TPS/PCL/flax fiber ternary composites, both PCL and flax fiber improved the tensile strength by acting as independent reinforcing materials as no PCL-fiber interfacial bonding was observed. Maximum tensile strength of 11.55 MPa was reached at 10% flax fiber and 40% PCL reinforcement. While the PCL-TPS interfacial interaction was poor, some degree of TPS-flax fiber interfacial bonding was noticed due to their chemical similarity. TPS prepared at 20% moisture showed more moisture affinity than that prepared at 9.3% moisture. The moisture absorption of TPS dropped progressively with the addition of hydrophobic PCL. Fiber incorporation also reduced moisture absorption by the plasticized pea starch. PCL-fiber incorporation also yielded improved moisture resistance vis-à-vis pure TPS. Finally, the TPS processed at 9.3% moisture exhibited higher thermal stability than that processed at 20%. Individual components of the composites retained their respective thermal properties, thus, implying thermodynamic immiscibility

Poor Reading Culture: A Barrier to Students’ Patronage of Libraries Selected Secondary School in Ado Local Government Area of Ekiti-State, Nigeria

The paper examined poor reading culture: A barrier to students’ patronage of Selected Secondary School Libraries in Ado Ekiti Local Government Area of Ekiti State. The design for the study is descriptive survey which utilizes questionnaire to collect data. Oral interview was also conducted. Tables and simple percentages were adopted in the data analysis. Results of the analysis show that computer and other media, harsh economic reality, societal demand for materialism, inadequate library materials among others are causes of poor reading culture of students in secondary schools. It was also revealed that materials in secondary school libraries are not organized, inadequate, not relevant, school librarians not readily available among others constitute the reasons for poor patronage of secondary schools libraries. It concluded by giving recommendations towards the improvement of reading culture of secondary school students and the enhancement of the patronage of their school libraries

Self Concepts and Browsing Frequency as Determinants of Virtual Technology Use-Efficiency in Selected Institution in Nigeria

This study investigated self concepts and browsing frequency as determinants of virtual technology use-efficiency in Nigeria. A survey method was used and questionnaire was the instrument used to collect data from two hundred(200) library user, out of which 180 responded giving a response rate of 90 percent, the study found that the library acquire some selected online databases which include NUC virtual library, SAGE, HINARI, Ebscohost, USPE e-library and open access databases. The study identified different purpose of online searching to include using yahoo and Google search engine and other online databases to do their research work and recommended that the library should create awareness about the database they subscribed to, most students are not aware of the importance of these databases to their academic advancement. Keywords: self concepts, browsing frequency, virtual technology, use-efficienc

Analytical testing

Analytical methods for combining flight acceleration and strain data with shake test mobility data to predict the effects of structural changes on flight vibrations and strains are presented. This integration of structural dynamic analysis with flight performance is referred to as analytical testing. The objective of this methodology is to analytically estimate the results of flight testing contemplated structural changes with minimum flying and change trials. The category of changes to the aircraft includes mass, stiffness, absorbers, isolators, and active suppressors. Examples of applying the analytical testing methodology using flight test and shake test data measured on an AH-1G helicopter are included. The techniques and procedures for vibration testing and modal analysis are also described

Response of maize (Zea mays L.) to green manure from varying populations of cowpea in a derived savannah of Nigeria

A field experiment was carried out at the Teaching and Research farm of the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, located between longitude 7015’N and latitude 3025’E, a derived savannah in south western Nigeria. The study was carried out between April to September 2009 and March to August 2010 to investigate the effect of varying populations of two local cowpea varieties of contrasting growth habits on green manure production, using maize as test crop. Three population densities each of cowpea varieties Oloyin and Drum, and the control plots were arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design and replicated three times. Six weeks after planting, the green manure was uprooted and incorporated in situ. The incorporated green manure was left for a week after which maize variety- SUWAN-IY was planted on all plots. All populations of cowpea variety Oloyin gave significantly higher biomass than all the populations of Drum in 2009; the highest significant fresh biomass was produced at 111,111 plants/ha. In 2010, Drum at 160,000 plants/ha and Oloyin at 111,111 plants/ha produced similar plant biomass (p>0.05) and were significantly higher than all other treatments. However, cowpea variety Drum at 80,000 plants/ha and Oloyin at 55,555 appeared to be more economical relative to other treatments in terms of seed requirements for optimum biomass production and maize grain yield. In 2009 maize grain yield was not significantly different between treatments. In 2010 however, both maize grain yield and cob girth were significantly increased (p<0.05) on green manure plots. Maize grain yield increased by 37-98% and 89-147% on green manure plots in 2009 and 2010, respectively relative to the control plots. In maize production systems in the derived savannah of Nigeria, 55,555 plants/ha of Oloyin and 80,000 plants/ha of Drum could be recommended for green manuring. This will be of immense benefit to the resource- poor farmers in this ecological zone.Key words: cowpea population, green manure, maiz

A Survey and Evaluation of Medical Libraries in Ekiti State, Nigeria

The paper takes a look at the medical libraries of selected health establishments in Ekiti State, Nigeria and critically examines the levels of fitness of these libraries in supporting the objectives of their parent bodies.The paper seeks to find out the extent to which the libraries satisfy the information needs of the health workers, patients and students. Questionnaires were designed for each category of the respondents and 50copies of the questionnaires were distributed to each category. Also the researcher visited the selected libraries for on-the-spot assessment andconducted oral interviews with few respondents. Findings showed that medical libraries in Ekiti State have not been given the right priorities in the scheme of things as they are assessed to be in doldrums in term of funding and staffing. Recommendations capable of improving the situation were offered

A Cursory Look at Primary School Libraries and Utilization in Ado-Ekiti Local Government Area of Ekiti-State, Nigeria

The study is a survey of primary school libraries and usage in Ado- EkitiLocal Government Area of Ekiti State, Nigeria. Ten primary schools wereselected for the study. They represented three categories of primary schoolsin the State as follows: Government owned Public Schools State UniversalBasic Education Board (SUBEB) Model school and fee paying privateschools. The study identified some problems which include inadequatefunding and dearth of trained personnel. It concluded by giving suggestionsand recommendations towards the enhancement of library services forproper utilization

Pathophysiology, Functional Implications and Management of Spasticity in Stroke – A Review

The management of spasticity in stroke requires a multidisciplinary approach but more importantly, an understanding of the pathophysiology of its consequences. This paper reviews different definitions from neurophysiology and medical literature which try to place spasticity in stroke in its proper context and describes the current understanding of its pathophysiology and resultant functional implications. It also highlights the current medical, surgical and physical therapy available for its management. It seems spasticity in stroke is best managed using a combination of physiotherapy and Botulinum Toxin- Type A injection, as this is the current trend in research and practice. Keywords: Spasticity, strok