Synthesis of fatty acid methyl ester (biodiesel) using environmentally benign catalyst (yam peel)

Homogeneous alkali-catalyzed transesterification is the typical process used in biodiesel production, complicating the downstream separation processes and causing oversupply of glycerol as by-product. In this work the synthesis of biodiesel by solid heterogeneous acid catalysts using sulphuric and phosphoric acids functionalized yam peel as catalysts and fried oil as the source of glyceride was investigated. The solid acid catalysts were prepared by carbonization followed by direct sulfonation and phosphoration via reflux. The FTIR Spectra of the catalyst and the XRD confirmed the incorporation of sulphate and phosphate groups on the carbonized yam peels. The amount of catalyst loading was investigated on the biodiesel yield. Sulphuric acid treated catalyst showed highest yield of 62.6 % at 1.0 g catalyst load, with phosphoric acid treated catalyst having slightly lower at 61.2 % and 1.0 g load. The physicochemical analysis of the used oil showed acid value of 27.50 mg KOH/g, free fatty acid (FFA) value of 13.83, density 0.91 g/mL, saponification value 154.28mgKOH/g. The presence of high free fatty acid in the oil feed indicate that the preferred catalyst to be used is heterogeneous catalyst

Dynamic relationship of exchange rates and crude oil prices in South Africa: Are there asymmetries?

We estimated the relationship between the exchange rates and crude oil prices for the period of 1960 to 2013. Based on Engle-Granger we found that the variables are cointegrated means there exist long-run relationship. However, when we move on to TAR and MTAR models the findings are opposite as there is no element of cointegration and the speed of adjustment is symmetric. This shows that based on TAR and MTAR models the effects of exchange rates on crude oil prices is insignificant. The policy relevance is that South African authority need to monitor its exchange rates persistently related to other currencies more especially American dollar because it determined the crude oil prices that might have greater influences on other macroeconomic variables. Keywords: Exchange rates, Oil prices, Asymmetry, South Africa, Error correction model

Dynamic relationship of exchange rates and crude oil prices in South Africa: are there asymmetries?

We estimated the relationship between the exchange rates and crude oil prices for the period of 1960 to 2013. Based on Engle-Granger we found that the variables are cointegrated means there exist long-run relationship. However, when we move on to TAR and MTAR models the findings are opposite as there is no element of cointegration and the speed of adjustment is symmetric. This shows that based on TAR and MTAR models the effects of exchange rates on crude oil prices is insignificant. The policy relevance is that South African authority need to monitor its exchange rates persistently related to other currencies more especially American dollar because it determined the crude oil prices that might have greater influences on other macroeconomic variables

Sonographic features of radiologically non-functioning kidneys on intravenous urography (IVU) in Kano Metropolis, Nigeria

Background: Despite technological advancement in uro-radiology, renal ultrasonography remains the imaging modality of choice for evaluating various pathological conditions affecting urinary tract (GIT) system.Aim: This study was aimed at evaluating sonographic features of radiologically nonfunctional kidneys in Kano metropolis, Nigeria.Methods: A prospective study involving 94 each of disease and control group were conducted in Kano metropolis from January 2019 to January 2021. Renal scans were performed using a digital ultrasound imaging system; model DP-8800Plus fitted with a 3.5MHz curvilinear transducer. The maximum length, width, and thickness were measured. The renal echogenicity was assessed and graded. Data was analyzed using SPSS Version 22.0Results: The mean values of the right and left renal volumes among adult patients was 400.5 ± 527.3 cm3 and 177.6 ± 174.3 cm3 respectively. For pediatric patients it was 272.3 ± 308.6 cm3 and 241.6 ± 228.7 cm3 for the right and left kidney respectively. The renal parenchymal echogenicity of the right kidney among adult patients were sored as grade II 2 (5.3%), grade III 27 (71%), and grade IV 9 (23.7%), while that pediatric patients were Grade 0 (11.1%), and 8 (88.9%) as grade III. The adults left kidney were scored grade II 2 (6%), and 16 (47%) each as grades III and IV, while the pediatric group scored 3 (25%) as grade II, and 9 (75%) as grade III.Conclusion: Increased renal volume, shrunken kidney, increased renal parenchymal echogenicity, and severe hydronephrosis were strong sonographic indicators of nonfunctional kidneys

Growth Performance and Carcass Merit of Japanese Quails (Coturnix japonica) Fed with Sorghum as an Energy Source Substitute for Maize in North Western Nigeria

A feeding trial was conducted to determine the growth performance and carcass characteristics of Japanese quails fed diets containing sorghum. A total of ninety of one-week old Japanese quail chicks were used for the experiment. Five diets were formulated in which sorghum was included at graded levels 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60% dietary levels designated as treatment 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively. The experimental period was five weeks when the birds reach six weeks of age.  The results of the growth performance showed significant differences (P<0.05) in the final body weight (161.70 – 180.10 g) and daily feed intake (21.34–25.12 g). Significant (P<0.05) differences was also observed in all carcass parameters measured except for dressing percentage. Liver weight and large intestine with T5 (65% total replacement) recorded the highest means value of 6.00 g and 6.66 g. Non-significant high values of feed conversion ratio were also obtained among the treatments. Treatment 1 (0%) and Treatment 5 (60%) showed better results in all parameters measured compared to other treatments. In conclusions, sorghum grain can play a significant role in formulating quail feed and can completely (60%) be used to replace maize without affecting the performance and carcass yield of the quails

Assessment of Business Education Physical Learning Resources for The Implementation of Activity-Based Learning in Bauchi State Colleges of Education

The study assessed business education physical learning resources with a view to be upgraded to support the use of Activity-based learning strategy in Bauchi state colleges of education. Two objectives and two research questions were formulated. Survey design was adopted. The population of the study was 36 business educators from colleges of education Azare and Adamu Tafawa Balewa college of education Kangere. Total population sample was used in the study. The instrument used for data collection was Business Education Resource Upgrade Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using mean and standard deviation. The study revealed that physical facilities were moderately upgraded to support the use of the Activity-based learning strategy at COE, Azare and ATBCOE, Kangere. Also, equipment and supplies were less upgraded in COE Azare and ATBCOE, Kangere to support the use of Activity-based learning strategy. It was recommended that management of COE Azare should strive through public-private partnership with industries, philanthropist, international donor agencies and their internally generated revenue for sustainability to keep the program up-to-date to the tune of time. Bauchi state government should also partner for additional funding in addition to internally generated revenue from ATAP and ATBCOE in order to provide them with adequate physical facilities, equipment supplies and consumables for business education program effectiveness in order to successfully implement Activity-based learning strategy in the school

A novel poly(vinyl alcohol) post-precipitation template synthesis and property tuning of photoactive mesoporous nano-TiO2

For the first time, a facile method is introduced to obtain ultrathin, mesoporous TiO2 nanosheets by the alkali precipitation of aqueous TiCl3 in the presence of NH4OH, and in-situ templating with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The synthesized titania have been characterized by N2 adsorption-desorption measurements, x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy. The obtained titania were hexagonal-like, detached, non-agglomerated, polydispersed, sub-20 nm nanodiscs. Unlike in doping methods, their surface area and pore volumes of can easily be tailored devoid of any wavelength shift, by simply tuning the amount of the template. Accordingly, their aggregation as microspheres can successfully be controlled by the templating step. The remarkable photoactivity of these nanoscopic materials has been confirmed by the degradation of aqueous methyl orange

Bi-Template Assisted Sol-Gel Synthesis of Photocatalytically-Active Mesoporous Anatase TiO2 Nanoparticles

Sol-gel mesoporous titanium dioxide powders have been synthesized from chitosan and/or hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HDTMA) and characterized using x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA) and N2 adsorption-desorption measurements. The photocatalytic performance of the synthesized meso-TiO2 powders was optimized based on the central composite design (CCD) of methyl orange (MO) degradation under UV light irradiation. The maximum MO degradation was 62.3% over a period of 60 min. Oxides produced using the binary chitosan and HDTMA template (C,H-TiO2) exhibited the relatively higher surface area (99.5 m2/g), smaller crystal size (12.78 nm), narrower band-gap energy (2.92 eV) and higher photocatalytic rate constant (0.0112 min–1) than as those from chitosan (C/TiO2) or HDTMA (H/TiO2) as the template

LIQUIDITY RISK AND PERFORMANCE OF NON-FINANCIAL FIRMS LISTED ON THE NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

This study has examined the effect of liquidity risk on performance of non-financial firms listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. The main objective was to assess the degree of influence liquidity risk measured by (standard deviation of quick ratio and current ratio) have on performance (return on assets) of the non-financial firms in Nigeria. Data from all the 87 non-financial firms listed on NSE were extracted through financial reports and analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation and regression through STATA version 16. The findings revealed that current ratio have negative and significant effect on performance, while the quick ratio was not significant in influencing performance. The result implies that an increase in liquidity risk (difficulty in running the operations and offsetting short term maturing obligations), leads to a significant decrease in performance of the firms. The result also confirms that the standard deviation of current ratio provides better measurement of liquidity risk. It was however concluded that, liquidity risk has negative and significant effect on performance of firms in Nigeria. The study recommends that more attention should be given to liquidity management to minimize the risk of insolvency or bankruptcy of firms in Nigeria as such will help in reducing liquidity risk issues and improve performance of the non[1]financial firms in Nigeria