Provenance and tectonic setting of Leuma Field sediments, Coastal Swamp Depobelt, Niger Delta Basin, Nigeria

Geochemical analysis of sediments recovered from NS-1 well and NS-2 well, Leuma Field, Coastal Swamp Depobelt, Niger Delta Basin was done to establish tectonic setting and provenance. Data for ten major elements and forty-three trace elements were obtained from two boreholes. The geochemical signals display systematic  stratigraphic trends in the two wells that depict one source terrain. To determine the provenance of NS-1 well and NS-2 well sediments, Th/Co vs La/Sc plot was utilized which inferred that the sediments from NS-1 and NS-2 wells were derived from felsic source rocks. TiO2 versus Ni bivariate plot was also used to establish the provenance and it revealed that the source of the sediments penetrated by NS-1 and NS-2 wells is predominantly acidic in nature. The provenance of NS-1 and NS-2 wells sediments was further confirmed by considering the ratios of Thorium/Scandium (Th/Sc), Thorium/Cobalt (Th/Co), Chromium/Thorium (Cr/Th) and Lanthanum/Scandium (La/Sc). For NS-1 well, Thorium/Scandium (Th/Sc) range from 1.12-2.01, Thorium/Cobalt (Th/Co) range from 0.91-1.66, Chromium/Thorium (Cr/Th) range from 4.21-16.04 and Lanthanum/Scandium (La/Sc) range from 3.69-8.78. For NS-2 well, Thorium/Scandium (Th/Sc) range from 0.95-2.05, Thorium/Cobalt (Thko/Co) range from 0.94-1.91, Chromium/Thorium (Th/Cr) range from 4.32-15.43 and Lanthanum/Scandium (La/Sc) range from 2.58-6.66. These values inferred that the sediments recovered from NS-1 and NS-2 wells were transported from felsic source rocks.Inorganic geochemical results infer that the tectonic setting for NS-1 and NS-2 wells facies is passive continental margin

Palynological studies of Maastrichtian to paleocene sediments exposed at Okpekpe, western flank of Anambra Basin, Edo State, Nigeria

Outcrop samples were collected at a road cut along Okpekpe road in the western part of the Anambra Basin with a view to establishing the age of the sediments and their depositional environment. These consist mainly of shales, sandstone, siltstone and heterolith. The samples were processed and analyzed using standard palynological procedures. Index fossils of stratigraphic significance were used for dating of the sediments. An extremely poor recovery of palynomorphs characterized by Acrostichum aureum, Laevigatosporites sp, Verrucatosporites sp, Cingulatisporite sornatus, Deltodosporasp, Lycopodium spp, Cyathidites minor, Echitricolporites triangulatus, Retitricolporites irregularis, Retitricolporites sp, Liliacidites sp, Longapertites marginatus, Longapertites sp, Erecipites sp., Monosulcites perspinosus, Retistephanocolpites williamsi, Echiperiporites estalae, Dodoneaviscosa, Echitriporite strianguliformis, Periretipollis spinosus, Marginipollis concinnus, Cupaniedites sp., Gleicheniidites senonicus Andalusiella polymorpha and Andalusiella sp was noticed. A Maastrichtian-Paleocene age and a continental depositional environment were assigned to the sediments.Keywords: Palynology, Anambra Basin, Index fossils, Okpekpe, Mamu Formatio

Evaluation of the Hydrocarbon Potentials of Shale Exposures at Okpekpe in Edo North

This study evaluates the source rock characteristics of rock exposures along a newly exposed road cut in Okpekpe. An integrated technique of organic geochemical analysis and biostratigraphy evaluation were adopted to determine the source rock quality, Maturation index, kerogen types, depositional environment andsediment age. Results of organic geochemistry gave total organic carbon (TOC) value between 0.81 to 3.04 w.t% (2.08wt.% average) indicative of a good source potentials. The plot of Total Sulphur Content (TSC) against TOC suggests a transitional depositional environment for the samples while the plot of hydrogen index (HI) against oxygen index (OI) shows that the samples are capable of generating mixed type II/III kerogen. Palynological analysis revealed that the basal section of the exposure is characterized by the occurrences of typical and moderately rich Late Cretaceous – Early Tertiary palynomorphs. While the upper section is poorly rich  in palynomorph abundance but with spot occurrences. The palynomophs asssemlages is of Late Maastrichtian - Early Paleocene and the outcrop is characterized by the presence of terrestrial pollens and spores indicating a continental to transitional depositional environment, typical of the Mamu Formation of the Anambra Basin

Empirical Assessment of Manufacturing Companies Efficiency in Nigeria:Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) Approach

This study dwells on data envelopment analysis and industry analysis. The study analyzed the technical efficiency of twenty (20) selected manufacturing companies for the period 2015 to 2016 using input and output oriented data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach. Findings arising from the study indicate that 35% of the quoted sampled manufacturing firms in Nigeria were scale efficient while 65% were scale inefficient in the period observed. Thirty percent (30%) of the manufacturing companies on the basis of constant return to scale (CRS) were technically efficient while 70% of them were technically inefficient in the period observed. Forty percent (40%) of the companies in terms of variable return to scale (VRS) were technically efficient while 60% were not technically efficient in the context of variable return to scale. The study concluded that manufacturing firms in Nigeria are not optimally performing with input and output mix of variables. It is therefore recommended that there is need for them to scale down cost of production through appropriate strategic decisions. Keywords: Technical efficiency, data envelopment analysis, firm performanc

The rhizosphere as a bioprocess environment for the bioconversion of hard coal

Fundamental processes involved in the microbial degradation of coal and its derivatives have been well investigated and documented over the past two decades. However, limited progress in industrial application has been identified as bottleneck in further active development of the field. The sporadic and unanticipated growth of Cynodon dactylon (Bermuda grass) has been observed on the surface of some coal dumps in the Witbank coal mining area of South Africa. Preliminary investigations showed the formation of a humic soil-like material from the breakdown of hard coal in the root zone of these plants. The potential of this system to contribute to industrial scale bioprocessing of hard coal was investigated. This study involved an investigation of the C. dactylon/coal rhizosphere environment and demonstrated the presence of fungal species with known coal bioconversion capability. Amongst these Neosartorya fischeri was identified and its activity in coal bioconversion was described for the first time. Cynodon dactylon plant roots were also shown to be colonized by mycorrhizal fungi including Glomus, Paraglomus and Gigaspora species. The role of plant photosynthate translocation into the root zone, providing organic carbon supplementation of fungal coal bioconversion was investigated in deep liquid culture with the N. fischeri isolate used as the biocatalyst. Organic acids, sugars and complex organic carbon sources were investigated and it was shown that glutamate provided significant enhancement of bioconversion activity in this system. The performance of N. fischeri in coal bioconversion was compared with Phanaerochaete chrysosporium and Trametes versicolor, both previously described fungal species in the coal bioconversion application. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicated more pronounced oxidation and introduction of nitro groups in the matrix of the humic acid product of coal bioconversion in N. fischeri and P. chrysosporium than for T. versicolor. Macro-elemental analysis of biomass-bound humic acid obtained from the N. fischeri catalyzed reaction showed an increase in the oxygen and nitrogen components and coupled with a reduction in carbon and hydrogen. Pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectroscopy further supported the proposal that the mechanism of bioconversion involves oxygen and nitrogen insertion into the coal structure. The C. dactylon bituminous hard coal dump environment was simulated in a fixed-bed perfusion column bioreactor in which the contribution of organic supplement by the plant/mycorrhizal component of the system was investigated. The results enabled the proposal of a descriptive model accounting for the performance of the system in which the plant/mycorrhizal component introduces organic substances into the root zone. The non-mycorrhizal fungi utilize the organic carbon supplement in its attack on the coal substrate, breaking it down, and releasing plant nutrients and a soil-like substrate which in turn enables the growth of C. dactylon in this hostile environment. Based on these results, the Stacked Heap Coal Bioreactor concept was developed as a large-scale industrial bioprocess application based on heap-leach mineral processing technology. Field studies have confirmed that bituminous hard coal can be converted to a humic acid rich substrate in a stacked heap system inoculated with mycorrhizal and N. fischeri cultures and planted with C. dactylon

Preliminary Study on The Effect of Medicinal Mushroom Extract and Timolol Maleate on Dexamethasone Induced Ocular Hypertension in Feline's Eye Model

Mushrooms are like mannas and their water heal eye diseases. To determine if aqueous mushroom extract has an effect on ocular hypertension, 8 cats with baseline intra ocular pressure (IOP) of 14.94 \ub1 0.153mmHg were used in the first phase of this study. The second phase consisted of 2 groups, the experimental and the control groups. The control consisted of 2 cats (4 eyes) while the experimental consisted of 6 cats (12 eyes). Ocular hypertension was induced in the experimental group with 0.1% dexamethasone treatment (2 drops q.i.d x 1/12) and IOP measurement was done weekly using the Perkins hand held Tonometer. The third phase consisted of oculo hypertensive cat eyes (25.275 \ub1 0.363mmHg), which were further divided into control-1 and experimental group. The control-1 group (4 eyes) was left untreated, while the experimental group was divided into 2 groups, the mushroom treated (4 eyes) and timolol treated (4 eyes) for 15 days. Mushroom extract decreasel IOP below baseline level showing a significant (p < 0.001) IOP reduction of 5.24% better than the control group, while timolol was only 0.85% better

Floral Distribution of a Sub-Bituminous Coal Dumpsite in Enugu, Nigeria

The remnant floral diversity of a naturally reclaimed area proximal to an abandoned mine was assessed. The coal mine site, the Incident zone (IZ) and an unsullied site, the Control zone (CZ), were sampled. Using a 5 m2 quadrat, the floristic composition was determined by the occurrence, distribution analysis, and species diversity indices. The study revealed a degraded vegetation type and recorded a total of 60 species, 53 genera and 27 families. Both the IZ and CZ shared 26.67% species similarity, while 36.67% are were unique to each zone. Five species were dominant (Ageratum conyzoides, Panicum maximum, Calopogonium mucunoides, Chromolaena odorata). While the dominant genera vary between IZ (Borreria, Dioscorea, Ipomoea, and Phyllanthus) and CZ (Desmodium, Euphorbia, and Ipomoea), Asteraceae and Poaceae were the dominant families in both zones. Forbs were the most dominant life forms in both zones; Cyclosorus sp. and Adiantum sp. were only found on the IZ, whereas, Kyllinga erecta and Mariscus alternifolius were exclusive to the CZ. Our results reflect that species composition and vegetation paradigm in the study area could be influenced by coal mining, farming, infrastructural installations and climate. Hence, we suggest future studies to investigate how the species adapt to the environment. Although most of the species encountered belonged to lower-risk conservation, the conservation of the species to this area is imperative

DEVELOPMENT AND PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF HORIZONTAL WASTE PAPER BALING MACHINE

In an effort to mitigate the problem of increasing amount of generated waste papers going to dumpsites for burning directly causing global warning. Horizontal waste paper baling machine was designed, Manufactured and tested using high local content and readily available materials in such a way that, maintenance will not be expensive to ensure sustainability and reliability. The principal parameters of the design included the maximum force (10 KN) of the compression, the distance the piston rod has to move before compressing the waste paper (piston stroke, 609mm), cycled time of 9 minutes and the system pressure. The major components of the waste paper baling machine designed includes the frame, electric motor, coupling, hydraulic pump, pressure hose, directional control valve, filter, pressure gauge, thermometer, tank, and hydraulic cylinder. The machine was tested for performance with a waste paper such as white papers of A4 size used for Photostat and printing upon and found to be able to bale the waste paper into a bale size of 400mm × 400mm × 700mm in 6 seconds and weight of 15kg, the efficiency of the machine was 80%, using the hydraulic power system. The bales produced by this device will aids in simple management, storage and transportation and will enhance the recycle industry

Development and Testing of a 5G Multichannel Intelligent Seismograph Based on Raspberry Pi

A seismograph was designed based on Raspberry Pi. Although comprising 8 channels, the seismograph can be expanded to 16, 24, or 32 channels by using a USB interfacing with a microcontroller. In addition, by clustering more than one Raspberry Pi, the number of possible channels can be extended beyond 32. In this study, we also explored the computational intelligence of Raspberry Pi for running real-time systems and multithreaded algorithms to process raw seismic data. Also integrated into the seismograph is a Huawei MH5000-31 5G module, which provided high-speed internet real-time operations. Other hardware peripherals included a 24 bit ADS1251 analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and a STM32F407 microcontroller. Real-time data were acquired in the field for ambient noise tomography. An analysis tool called spatial autocorrelation (SPAC) was used to analyze the data, followed by inversion, which revealed the subsurface velocity of the site location. The proposed seismograph is prospective for small, medium, or commercial data acquisition. In accordance with the processing power and stability of Raspberry Pi, which were confirmed in this study, the proposed seismograph is also recommended as a template for developing high-performance computing applications, such as artificial intelligence (AI) in seismology and other related disciplines

Recovery of Hindlimb Bone Mass Following Prolonged Disuse

Bone is a dynamic tissue that responds to mechanical loads placed on it. For populations with extensive periods of disuse, like those in prolonged bed rest and astronauts during long-duration spaceflight, significant bone loss can occur. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of prolonged disuse on weight-bearing bones and the length of time needed to recover disuse-induced bone loss utilizing the hindlimb unloading (HU) method in young rodents. We hypothesized that hindlimb bone mass would partially recover to age-matched control levels by 14 days of recovery following prolonged disuse and fully recover by 90 days of recovery. METHODS: Male Sprague Dawley rats underwent 90 days of HU. Additional groups (n=5-7 rats/group) were allowed to recover (with weightbearing cage activity) for either 14 days or 90 days following 90 days of HU. Each time point had age-matched control rats with normal cage activity (CON). In HU, rats were suspended by their tails so their hindlimbs did not have any weight-bearing. Peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography (pQCT) of the right proximal tibiae was completed to determine the total (cancellous + metaphyseal cortical bone) volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD), cancellous vBMD, and metaphyseal cortical vBMD for each bone. RESULTS: Total (cancellous + metaphyseal cortical) vBMD was statistically lower in HU animals after 90d HU (p=0.001). Both cancellous vBMD and cortical shell vBMD were lower than CON following 90 days of HU (p=0.003, p=0.001, respectively). At 14 days of recovery after 90 days of HU, these vBMD mean values for all 3 bone compartments showed no sign of recovery with total (p\u3c 0.0001), cancellous (p =0.001) and cortical shell (p =0.001) vBMD still significantly lower than controls total. The HU rats were no different from CON at 90 days of recovery in all measures. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrate that young rats had significant loss of bone density following prolonged disuse. Additionally, this bone loss persisted into the early phases of recovery. The same duration of weightbearing activity as the 90 days of disuse was required to recover bone mass to age-matched control levels. This study helps to simulate similar scenarios encountered by astronauts in long-duration space missions who experience bone loss in weight-bearing sites. There is some evidence that, upon return to Earth’s gravity, bone density in humans declines further in the initial weeks of recovery before reversing. Future studies should address if the use of anti-resorptive medications during flight improves or worsens this recovery pattern for bone mass following prolonged disuse