Assessment of Organochlorines Pesticides Residues in Water, Fish and Sediment Samples from Wurbo Lake, Bali, Taraba State, Nigeria

Organochlorines pesticides (OCPs) have been used worldwide, particularly in many African countries as in Nigeria for the control of pests. OCPs are characterized by their bioaccumulation in the environment, especially in the food chain, where they find their way into the human body. The research was aim to estimate the residual concentrations of different OCPs in water, fish and sediment from Kundi Lake to find out the extent of pesticide contamination and accumulation. The water sample was subjected to liquid-liquid extraction method while the fish and the sediment samples were subjected to soxhlet extraction. The extracts were later analysed for organochlorines pesticide residues using Gas-Chromatography coupled with mass spectrometer (GC-MS). The average length, average weight and condition factor of the studied fish species were measured. The Mormyrus rume had the highest average length of 17.12±0.05 cm, and average weight of 195.36±0.05 g follow by Clarias gariepinus which had the average length of 16.83±0.01 cm, and average weight of 189.43±0.03 g. Tilapia zilli was the least species of fish sample with a length of 12.75±0.03 cm and average weight of 102.21±0.02 g. Also, all the fish species sampled in this present study had condition factors>1. Based on the results obtained from all samples, it was found that the levels of organochlorine pesticides residues in water were generally below MRL as compared with FAO/WHO (0.5ppm). In fish samples, highest concentration of pesticide residues in Mormyrus rume follow by Clarias gariepinus, while the Tilapia zilli recorded low concentration of the pesticide residues. The Endosulfan II recorded high concentration of 4.68 ppm in Mormyrus rume follow by Endrin which recorded the concentration of 2.75 ppm, Aldrin 1.78 ppm and Atrazine 1.72 ppm all in Mormyrus rume. In Clarias gariepinus, Simazine 1.56 ppm follows by Endosulfan I 1.28 ppm while In Tilapia zilli, Endosulfan II 1.16 ppm follows by Atrazine 0.91 ppm and Beta Lindane 0.81 ppm. The results indicate that the area is contaminated with high levels of these pesticides in fish and sediment which may pose a great danger to the environment. Regular monitoring is therefore required to control the levels of pesticide residues in the water bodies

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON THE RATE OF ABSORPTION OF WATER OF BASALT, POLYPROPYLENE, AND STEEL FIBERS REINFORCED CONCRETE

Good durability of concrete is an essential part of the design process, and tests to determine sustainability have been developed for both laboratory and site use. The main feature of durable concrete is low water absorption. Almost all forms of deterioration in reinforced concrete involve deleterious fluid ingress through the concretes pore structure. In wet concrete, the water ingress rate or other liquids is mostly controlled by absorption due to capillary rise. This study examines the effect of basalt, polypropylene, and steel fiber in different volume fractions at 0.3%, 0.6%, and 0.9% for absorption tests. A total of 8 specimens for different fiber were examined based on the rate of water absorption test recommended by ASTM C1585-04.  A result obtained has been analyzed and compared with the control specimen. A relationship between absorption rate and the square root of time for both concrete mixtures was represented graphically and linearly. Result data showed a precise decrease in absorption due to incorporating both types of fiber. Also, from the result data, basalt and polypropylene showed greater uptake than steel fiber and enhances mass transport of water into concrete specimens. However, steel fiber addition showed high resistance to absorption rater than the control specimen and other fiber

The Need for an Effective Collaboration Across Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) Fields for a Meaningful Technological Development in Nigeria

Collaboration plays a major role in interdisciplinary activities among Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) disciplines or fields. It also affects the relationships among cluster members on the management team. Although effective collaboration does not guarantee success among STEM disciplines, its absence usually assures problems. More specifically, collaboration has the obvious roles of identifying talents coming together for a common purpose of combining knowledge and sharing responsibility, creativity, and experience of others. Facilitating collaboration across Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields in program development is critical to providing a strong educational foundation to all learners in STEM education. This synergistic effort among educators and other professionals across the STEM fields will enable effective knowledge sharing in program development. This paper addresses leadership and knowledge sharing among collaborators in STEM program development through facilitating collaboration across STEM fiel

Frameworks for Teachers’ Knowledge of Mathematics

This paper, describes seven teacher knowledge frameworks and relates these frameworks to the teaching and assessment of elementary teachers’ mathematics knowledge. The frameworks classify teachers’ knowledge and provide a vocabulary and common language through which knowledge can be discussed and assessed. These frameworks are categorized into two classes: content knowledge and content knowledge for teaching. Content knowledge frameworks include Instrumental and Relational Understandings, Procedural and Conceptual Understandings, Depth of Knowledge; and  Cognitive Complexities. Content knowledge for teaching frameworks includes. Type of Teachers Knowledge and  Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching. The Diagnostic Teacher Assessment of Mathematics and Science (DTAMS), a tool that assesses both mathematics teachers’ depth of conceptual knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge, is used to concretely connect the frameworks. The paper concludes with examples of quantitative assessments of teachers’ mathematics knowledge based on these teachers’ knowledge frameworks

The Impacts of Locus of Control and Religious Orientation on Academic Anxiety among Adolescents

Two hundred and fifty adolescents were drawn from three secondary school located in Damaturu. They were administered the Rotter's I-E Scale to assess the locus of control (IDV) and Allport (1969) religious orientation (IDV) scale, to see the influence on expression of academic anxiety (DV) which was assessed using Zeidnes & Schleyer's (1999) Academic Anxiety Scale. A 2 *2 Anova revealed a significant main effect of locus of control on academic anxiety F= 3.370 (1,220) P= 0.05. The main effect of religious orientation and the interaction of effect of religious orientation and locus of control were found to be statistically significant. Recommendations for policy formulation especially towards educating the School pupils to change their locus of control orientation in order to combat academic anxiety are discussed. The limitations of the finding particularly the sample sizes of participants for future researchers are offered. Keywords: Locus of control, Religious Orientation and Academic Anxiet

Removal of Congo Red Dye from Aqueous Solution using Sugarcane Bagasse and Bambara Groundnut Shell

A methodology involving sugarcane bagasse (SB) and Bambara groundnut shell (BGS) as adsorbents was developed in order to remove the carcinogenic Congo red dye from aqueous medium. The effect of contact time, sorbent dosage, initial concentration and pΗ were investigated. The results showed high efficiency of ≈ 93% and 75% using 4.5g of SB and BGS respectively. The results also indicated that the % removal increases with increase in dye loading concentration, while it decreased with an increase in pΗ of the solution from 4 to 10. From the results, it is possible to conclude that sugarcane bagasse and Bambara groundnut shell are good adsorbents for dye effluent treatment.Keywords: Bambara groundnut shell, Congo red, Sugarcane Bagasse, % Dye Removal

Globalization, Mass Media And Development In Nigeria: The Nexus

Globalization has become one of the defining features of the contemporary world, and is, no doubt, undergoing tremendous social, economic, cultural and technological transformation. Relations between states are being re-defined and restructured in the globalization process through the instrument of mass media. This study analyses and evaluates the nexus between globalization and mass media in Nigeria development. The fundamental issue by this study was therefore on the implication of the linkages for globalization, media and development. A literature review of works done on the concept of globalization, dimensions of globalization, the concept of mass media, types of media the concept of development, globalization and mass media, and the globalization, media and Nigerian development was carried out. Methodologically, the study was carried out qualitatively through content analysis of relevant literatures. After a thorough analysis of the data gathered, it was deduced the realities of the underdeveloped nature of Nigeria and African countries, and the subsequent loss incurring in the inevitable on-going process of globalisation. To enable Nigeria and the likes extricate itself from predatory of the west in the global arena, governmental discipline, political stability, good governance and focused and visionary leadership striving to ensure harmonious existence and cooperation towards development were recommended. Key Words: Globalization, Mass media, Development, Communication, Information technology, Social network.

The United Nations And The Challenges Of Global Peace, Security And Development

The study is predicated on functionalist theoretical frame work to examine the origin and objectives of the United Nations and the contemporary challenges of war, conflicts, genocide etc. in the world. The study employs the methodology of documentary analysis to argue that despite some of its achievements, the UN failed to provide the necessary peace and security that will ensure leveled playing field in world politics and sustainable development among nations. The study among other recommendations suggests the strong need for total reform of the UN in order to gain the trust of its member nations. Key words: United Nation, Peace, Security, and Development

Effect of Piagetian Formal Operations on Mathematics Performance of Senior Secondary Students in Kaduna State, Nigeria

Effect of formal operation abilities on mathematics performance of Senior Secondary Students in Kaduna State was investigated. The population of the study was all the SS III students in the state. Their number was 62,565. A sample of 400 students of equal numbers of males and females was drawn, from those offering arts and science subjects. Two paper and pencil tests were developed and used to generate data for analysis, namely, Formal Operations Test (FOT) and Mathematics Performance Test (MPT).The FOT was to assess students’ level of formal operations while the MPT was developed to test their performance in mathematics. The results of the study showed that mathematics performance was low. Second, the numbers of students who always use and those who never use formal operations abilities were about equal. Third, results in the FOT and MPT were significant and positively correlated. Fourth, there was significant difference between the MPT scores of those students who always use and those who never use the abilities in favour of the former. Implications deduced were that this study confirmed that not all SS students use the abilities always and some never use them. Results of the analysis also indicated that formal operations significantly affect students’ performance in mathematics. Those who always use the abilities performed better than those who never use them. This indicated that the widely experienced poor performance in mathematics, especially among senior secondary students, is partly as a result of students not always using formal operations abilities. Lastly, findings indicated that knowledge of students’ level of formal operations can be used to understand, predict and improve their performance in mathematics. It was recommended that teachers of mathematics should endeavour to diagnose and identify their students’ level of formal operations so that they help raise those students who sometimes use and those who never use the abilities to be using them always. It was also recommended that governments should be convening and sponsoring workshops that will evolve programs for accelerating students’ cognitive development for use by teachers in normal mathematics lessons

Drivers and Barriers to eLearning Adoption by Academic Staff in Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria

eLearning is the utilization of electronic technology and media for teaching and learning. This type of pedagogy has become a main stay in higher institutions in developed countries. Despite its advantages over traditional methods of teaching as found in the literature, only few have made it requirement for teaching or have adopted it their pedagogy. As such, this paper seeks to uncover the drivers and barriers to eLearning adoption by academic staff in Bayero University, Kano one of the Second generation universities in Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional approach was adopted for this study which involved 187 respondents (179 retrieved). Data was descriptively analyzed using SPSS version 27. Majority of the respondents reported to have a Master degree as their highest level of qualification. Also, more than half of the respondents(58.1%) strongly disagreed that the management is aware of the benefits of eLearning while more than one third of the respondents stated that they intend to use eLearning if given the opportunity. Furthermore, nearly half of the respondents strongly disagreed that eLearning increases workload, and more than half of the respondents representing (59.8%) strongly agreed that eLearning eases work and more than one third of the respondents (45.3%) believed that access to ICT is a facilitating factor in adoption of e-leaning among academic staff in Bayero University, Kano. In this regard, the university management need to encourage staff to use eLearning including provision of supportive infrastructure and personnel.&nbsp