Efficacy of Corn and Rice Seed-borne Mycoflora in Controlling Aflatoxigenic Aspergillus flavus

Food commodities such as cereals are subjected to spoilage and bio-deterioration during storage by mycotoxigenic fungi such as Aspergillus flavus. Efforts are done to biologically control toxigenic A. flavus and subsequently prevent or at least minimize its aflatoxin production ability, without the need of using synthetic fungicides. Antifungal activity of corn and rice seed-borne mycoflora was tested against aflatoxigenic A. flavus in vitro, using bioassays such as dual culture technique; ability to produce volatile and non-volatile metabolites; ability to inhibit germination and reduce germ tube length of A. flavus conidia; in vivo reduction of aflatoxins level in corn seeds co-inoculated with the pathogen and antagonists. Penicillum crustosum, Aspergillus giganteus, Fusarium verticillioides and Aspergillus fumigatus isolates showed promising antifungal activities and varying efficiencies of reducing aflatoxins level; however, only A. fumigatus isolate was non-aflatoxigenic. It could be concluded that A. fumigatus could be used effectively as a biopreservative to increase shelf life of cereals during storage, but after testing its tendency to produce other mycotoxins or causing human Aspergillosis

A Study of Different Substrate Material on Air Gap Radial Line Slot Array (RLSA) Antenna at 28 GHz

This paper compared the performance of the conventional Radial line slot array (RLSA) antenna structure. Two different substrates of RLSA antennas were used: The FR4 with the relative permittivity (εr) value of 4.5 and the Duroid/RT5880 with the relative permittivity (εr) value of 2.2. Both substrates had their own thickness, where the Rogers RT Duroid 5880 was thinner with the value of 0.254 mm compared to FR4 which was 1.600 mm. There were two antenna cavities, which were the FR4 hybrid with air gap and the Duroid/RT5880 hybrid with air gap. Based on different substrate, this RLSA antenna was simulated using the CST Microwave Studio simulation software and measured using the Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) equipment that can measure the frequency range (10.0 MHz to 50.0 GHz). Moreover, this RLSA antenna was presented, experimented and measured for millimeter wave frequency, which is within the frequency range (24.0 GHz to 32.0 GHz). In the middle of the rectangular, slots on radiating plate, located with fed coated of 50 Ω SSMA connector as a coaxial to waveguide transition frequency reconfigurable millimeter-wave antenna for 5G networks is presented. The results of the simulation and measurement of this RLSA antenna with different substrates show the S11 and wider value of impedance bandwidth performance in millimeter wave frequency

Synthesis of Bulk Calcium Oxide (CaO) Catalyst and its Efficacy for Biodiesel Production

The numerous limitations of the conventional homogenous catalysts have become a great challenge for researchers in the area of biodiesel. Therefore, alternative catalysts for clean and environmental benign process is the solution. Calcium oxide catalyst was prepared from hydrated lime and it was used to produce biodiesel to test its efficacy. It was used to catalyze transesterification of Jatropha curcas oil and methanol at 600C reaction temperature for 50, 60, 70, 80 and 90 minutes reaction times and the corresponding biodiesel yield of 94.76%, 98.67, 100.00, 89.92 and 99.08% were obtained. The components of methyl ester found in the five samples of the biodiesel are listed. Key words: synthesis, calcium oxide, catalyst, biodiesel, productio

Gender Differentials in the Adoption of Drought-Tolerant Maize Varieties among Farmers in the Northern Region of Ghana

This study examined gender differences in farmers’ adoption of drought-tolerant maize (DTM) varieties in northern region of Ghana. Specifically, it described the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers by gender; determined their rate of adoption of the DTM varieties; and analyzed the factors affecting the rate of adoption of the varieties. The study was conducted in the Northern region of Ghana. Simple random sampling technique was used to obtain data from 600 respondents, comprising 551 males and 49 females. Data were collected with the use of a survey questionnaire that contained questions on respondents’ socio-economic characteristics such as age, years of schooling, household size, farm size, access to credit, level of awareness and adoption of DTM varieties and extension contact, among others. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and probit regression model. The results for the entire respondents showed average values of 49.75 years for age, 10.8 for household size, with a significant difference (p<0.05) between male and female farmers for each of the variables. Average farm size of 3.38 ha, with a significant difference (p<0.01) between male and female farmers for the variables. The adoption rate of DTM was 13.3% in the entire sample with a significant difference (p<0.05) between male (13.4%) and female farmers (12.2%). The determinants of adoption of DTM varieties for both male and female farmers were age of the household head, education, source of seed, and level of awareness, specific to male farmers was educational status of the respondents while farm size was specific to female famers. It was concluded that policy strategies aimed at improving the uptake of DTM varieties must consider equality in male and female farmers’ access to resources such as credit, labour and land. Keywords: Gender, Drought-tolerant, Maize varieties, Adoption, Ghana. DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/11-20-04 Publication date:October 31st 202

Radiation pattern control of microstrip antenna in elevation and azimuth planes using EBG and pin diode.

An important issue in wireless communication systems, which is related to the antenna gain degradation in case of changing the main direction of the antenna radiation pattern, this variation is not approval in many communications systems. In order to improve antenna radiation performances, Electromagnetic band gap (EBG) - antenna with radiation pattern control capability is presented. Mushroom-like EBG structure for suppressing surface waves has been combined, with the switching diode to produce the radiation pattern control with improving antenna characteristics of gain, directivity and efficiency. EBG of several cells are surrounded the patch antenna and placed symmetrically for the two opposite sides, generating different radiation patterns control ability in both the elevation (E) (-20° < φ < 20°) and azimuth (Z) planes (−18° < θ < 18°). At the ground plane of antenna the diodes have been switched ON and OFF states, the EBG sector properties in stop band (connecting vias) and pass band (disconnecting vias) are altered. Using CST Microwave Studio (CST MWS) the results show the flexibility in radiation pattern control for the Z and E planes using only four diodes. Antenna directivity of 10 dBi, gain 9.86 dB and efficiency 96.5% at the operating frequency of 6 GHz, more results for all direction has been stated in Table1. Significantly, unlike a conventional beam steering, this method does not suffering from gain degradation and the main lobe gain is approximately constant for all steerig angles

Determination of origin and granulometric analysis of river channel sediments of Osi, southwestern Nigeria

Osi is located within the south-western part of the Nigerian Basement Complex and plays a host to unconsolidated deposits and major examples of Precambrian – Paleozoic crystalline rocks in the region. Detailed geological mapping revealed the area to comprise essentially of migmatite – banded gneiss complex and diorites and minor rock types that include pegmatite and quartz veins. Superficial stream sediments occur abundantly and proximally along channels in the vicinity. These river channels host considerable amount of loose deposits that are useful for sedimentological and provenance study. While efforts have been committed to regional mapping, petrography and geochemistry of rocks in the region, little attention was paid to the associated stream sediments. This study adopted geological mapping of the crystalline rocks and sieve analysis of the stream sediments, as well as the use of XRF and inductively coupled plasma Mass spectrometry (ICP – MS) to establish some relationship between the basement geology and the surrounding deposits in the area. Migmatites are abundant in the south-west and parts of the north-west, while granite gneisses with isolated occurrence of diorite are confined to the north-east of the study area. Granulometry of the sediments revealed a predominantly medium – coarse grained, poorlysorted leptokurtic sands, indicating products of in-situ weathering of host rocks. Geochemical analysis supports a strong correlation between the rocks and the sediments. The study is applicable to enhanced understanding of grai -size distribution and in regional mapping and geochemical method of exploration.Keywords: Basement complex, migmatite – gneiss complex, stream sediments, grai -size analysis, elemental abundance, south-western Nigeri

Comparative analysis on the effect of heavy metals: a case study of selected states in Nigeria

In the toxicological aspect, uncontrolled amount of heavy metals is deadly, to the environment and its inhabitants. To complicate issues, reviewed work has revealed that technological advancement is one of the key sources of heavy metals. This can lead to outbreak of diseases, decrease of life span, cancer, and other related effects. Providing sustainable environment, the concentration of these metals need to be periodically regulated. This research studies the effect of some selected heavy metals (Fe, Cd, Cu, Ni, Cr, Pb, Zn and Mn) in Kano State Nigeria, using Atomic Absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The results were compared with other related work conducted in some states across Nigeria (Akwa Ibom, Kwara, Kaduna, and Bauchi States) and standard international values (WHO, FAO, SEPA and US EPA). The parameters analysed were; Concentration, Bioaccumulation (Plant concentration factor –PCF), Transfer factor (TF), Daily Intake of Metals (DIM), and Health Risk Index (HRI). Statistical package (SPSS) was used, to establish the relationship between these metals in all the sites. The result showed that there were substantial absorption of these metals by the plants and the consumers. Children were more exposed than adults in terms of DIM and the HRI. The comparison showed sequential order in the parameters investigated. All the biological samples exhibited Phytoremediation quality with the TF>1, this will aid in having sustainable environment to the resident and citizen of the state in particular and the nation in general, as well as serving as an impetus for the initiation of safe comprehensive remedy of the subject matter. The PCF for all the samples varied across states and plants.Keywords: AAS, Adults, ANOVA. Children, Concentration, DIM, HRI, PCF, Phytoremediatio

Pattern of adverse drug reactions reported by the community pharmacists in Nepal

C'est grâce à la tenue d'un congrès ­ non mixte ­ de femmes de la métallurgie, en 1978, que la condition des ouvrières réapparut comme préoccupation du syndicalisme brésilien contemporain. Ces congrès, ainsi que les campagnes de syndicalisation promues par les différents syndicats grâce à la création des premières sections féminines, permit l'inclusion des revendications des travailleuses parmi les thèmes de revendications salariales des syndicats. Le premier congrès des ouvrières de ..