Compressive strength and durability of fly ash stabilized dolomitic waste as a lightweight construction material

Due to the seriousness of environmental pollution and the production of huge energy consuming building and construction materials, the development of new eco-friendly and energy saving building materials to overcome these issues has been gaining increasing attention. South Africa has largest number of dolomite deposits in Southern Africa, if not in the entire Africa. Nonetheless most of the dolomite in South Africa has some impurities of which they are neglected in dumping site (millions of tons). This paper looked at finding alternative use for this dolomitic waste (DW) by stabilizing this waste with another waste called fly ash (FA), introduction of gypsum as an activator will trigger a pozzolanic reaction in presences of water. As a result of this, the product of this reaction will be a useful material in construction and as well solve the difficulties i.e. environmental, social and cost often associated with storing and handling of this waste. This work went as far as providing an alternative for low-cost construction materials that can help deal with South African housing problems. The waste material was analyzed from geomaterial and geochemistry view point, the chemical reaction between these materials: dolomitic waste and fly ash were illustrated. The XRF, SEM and EDS of the reacted product were looked at, the strength gained by the reaction after sample preparation for 28 days were also shown. However various geotechnical laboratory experiments were conducted ranging from proctor compaction test, compressive strength test and a mathematical model was generated to predict the compressive strength and these results were compared to compressive strength values obtained from the laboratory

Regulatory Activities of National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and Compliant Buying Decision Of Low and Medium Income Earners in South-East, Nigeria: The Packaged Water Context

The aim of this empirical investigation was to determine the extent to which low and medium income earners in South-East of Nigeria comply, in their food and drug buying decision, with regulation of National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for their health benefits. Though, NAFDAC, under Decree No. 20 of 1990, is empowered to regulate and control the manufacture and marketing of certain products in Nigeria, the impact of such regulatory and control practices on the compliant behavior of these consumers seems to be uncertain. Drawing on social marketing theories, in general, and perception theories in consumer behavior, in particular, we argue that consumer compliant buying decisions are linked to NAFDAC regulatory activities. However, from general observation, it seems that much uncertainty still beclouds consumers’ behavioral responses towards products with or without NAFDAC “Seal of Approval Numbers,” on them. Given that this area has suffered a dearth of research till date, this paper represents a latest attempt to explore this uncertainty. Using structured questionnaire, primary data generated from 337 randomly selected low and medium income earners located in major cities of South-East Nigeria, were analyzed using Pearson and simple regression statistics. Some interesting findings were made and discussed in line with the study implications.   Key words: Compliant buying-decision, consultative meetings, NAFDAC Regulatory Activities, Packaged water, product registration, and public enlightenmen

Private Sector Microcredit Programmes, Financial Inclusion and Sectoral Entrepreneurship: Evidence and Insights From Nigeria

Given the growing interest in microcredit operations, especially in the developing economies and the need to investigate the varied interrelationships between sectoral microcredit operations and economic growth of nations, this study examines the nature and direction of causal relationships that prevail between classified sectoral microcredit allocations and sectorally classified entrepreneurship contributions to Nigeria’s economic growth. Secondary data were sourced from Central Bank of Nigeria covering the period 1992 to 2011. Augmented Dickey-Fuller and Unit Root and the Standard Granger Causality techniques were employed in processing the data. The results of the study show that the time series variables are stationary. Out of the five classified sectors of economic activity – agriculture/forestry, other mining/quarrying, manufacturing/food processing, real estate/construction and transport/commerce, significant unidirectional causality only prevails in the other mining/quarrying sector with   causality running from contributions of other mining/quarrying in Nigeria’s GDP to microcredit allocations to that sector. The rest other sectors failed the causality test at 0.05 level, although transport/commerce sector records a near significance level of 0.055. The study concludes that: (i) In the sectors where microcredit operations have become significant and/or near significant, they only function to service rather than promote entrepreneurial activities, (ii) For majority of the sectors, entrepreneurship ventures are largely independent of microcredit institution’s operations. Consequently, the study recommends diversified product development and intensified marketing of microfinance service products on the part of the participating institutions. Further recommended is that the government should, through all legal and institutional means, strengthen the enforcement of credit contracts in general and microcredit operations in particular. This measure is justified in order to minimize the incidence of delinquent credit exposures, guarantee continued microcredit operations and long run survival of microcredit operating institutions in Nigeria. Key Words: Microcredits Allocation, Financial Inclusion, Sectoral Entrepreneurship

Integration of LaTeX formula in computer-based test application for academic purposes

LaTeX is a free document preparation system that handles the typesetting of mathematical expressions smoothly and elegantly. It has become the standard format for creating and publishing research articles in mathematics and many scientific fields. Computer-based testing (CBT) has become widespread in recent years. Most establishments now use it to deliver assessments as an alternative to using the pen-paper method. To deliver an assessment, the examiner would first add a new exam or edit an existing exam using a CBT editor. Thus, the implementation of CBT should comprise both support for setting and administering questions. Existing CBT applications used in the academic space lacks the capacity to handle advanced formulas, programming codes, and tables, thereby resorting to converting them into images which takes a lot of time and storage space. In this paper, we discuss how we solvde this problem by integrating latex technology into our CBT applications. This enables seamless manipulation and accurate rendering of tables, programming codes, and equations to increase readability and clarity on both the setting and administering of questions platforms. Furthermore, this implementation has reduced drastically the sizes of system resources allocated to converting tables, codes, and equations to images. Those in mathematics, statistics, computer science, engineering, chemistry, etc. will find this application useful.Comment: 4 figure

Utilization of conserved genic SSR markers for phylogenetic analysis of Nigerian Ipomoea species

Ipomoea, with enormous economic importance, is a large genus with species that are highly evolutionarily diverged. There is dearth of information regarding the phylogenetic relationships of the Nigerian species of the genus Ipomoea. It is therefore imperative to use contemporary taxonomic evidences to understand the diversity of its distribution in a region and provide enhanced delimitation of the taxa. In this study, 6 genic simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers whose cross transferability have been established among the plant species were selected to appraise their level of polymorphism and used to study the phylogenetic relationships among 11 indigenous Nigerian Ipomoea species. The 6 SSR loci showed varying levels of polymorphism among the genotypes of all 11 species assessed and demonstrated 100% polymorphism when examined across the 11 species. A total of 55 alleles were produced. The PIC of the primers ranged between 0.2223 and 0.874 with an average value of 0.71885. Phylogenetic analysis clustered species into 3 major and 6 sub clusters wherein the species were clearly separated. This study has shown the effectiveness of developed genic SSR markers for establishing phylogenetic relationship in Ipomoea species

Assessing the in vitro antibacterial activity of honey against wound and respiratory tract infecting bacteria

Background: Honey is a natural product rich in compounds with antimicrobial properties. The antimicrobial properties are being harnessed in the treatment of respiratory tractinfections and wound care. Honey is locally available in Nigeria and is used in thetreatment of wounds as well as respiratory tract infections. However, the antimicrobialpotentials differ across honey sources and locality.AIM: We sought to obtain laboratory based-evidence by assessing the antibacterialactivities of three honey samples collected from Nsukka in Enugu State.Methods: Neat and diluted honey was tested on six (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella specie, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus faecium, and Streptococcus pneumoniae) bacterial isolates from infected wound and sputum specimen using in vitro agar diffusion assay.Results: The result obtained showed that the different honey samples had antibacterial activity on all the strains of bacteria tested except for Pseudomonas aeruginosa with minimum inhibitory concentration ranging from 10mg/ml to 27 mg/ml.Conclusion: This suggests the usefulness of honey as an antibacterial for wound and respiratory tract infecting bacteria. However, the need for isolation and susceptibility testing of infecting bacterial organisms to honey in clinical practice is recommended

Sales Force Competence Management: Its Relevance and Framework

This paper recognizes the importance of sales force competence management in creating value for customers and achieving business goals. It argues that sales force can only be useful in this regard, if it possesses the dimensions and levels of sales job competence, that can enable it adapt to the turbulent global business environment. The paper maintains that a firm can enable its sales force acquire and improve its knowledge, skills and behavior, through the way its sales force competences are managed. It presents a sales force competence management framework that can enable a firm have, at all times, an effective and competent sales force required for successful domestic and global marketing.   Keywords: Competitive Advantage, Sales Force Competence Management, Competent Sale Force, Sales  Force Competence, Resource-Based Theory

Effect of religiosity on maternal and child health practices in Cross River State, Nigeria

Background: Maternal and child health care is very important and crucial in the monitoring and evaluation of various developmental agenda especially in developing nations.Aim/Objective: This study was carried out to ascertain the effects of religiosity on maternal and child health practices in rural and urban Cross River State, Nigeria.Method: The study design was a comparative analytical cross-sectional study amongst mothers with under-five children in rural and urban households in Cross River State and the study populations comprise mothers of under-five children, traditional and traditional birth attendants in Cross River State. Sampling technique used to select respondents in the rural and urban sites was multistage sampling method and the sample size was determined using standard method of comparing two independent groups. For Focus Group Discussions (FGD), purposive sampling method was employed in both study sites. Religiosity was assessed using the ORA dimension of the Duke University Religion Index (DUREL), which is usually measured as frequency of attendance of organized religious activities. The study instrument was a semistructured questionnaire and data obtained was analyzed using SPSS version 21.0.Results: Statistical analysis showed that the age of mother, husband and marriage of women from the rural communities was significantly higher (P< 0.05) than that of women from the urban communities. Religious practices to have safe pregnancy did not significantly predict women having complications in last pregnancy in both study settings while in the rural and urban communities (P<0.05), religious practices significantly influenced family planning methods (P<0.05). In child health practices, religious practices significantly influenced the rural communities practice of breastfeeding child (P= 0.001) and giving child colostrum (P= 0.048) while in the urban communities, it significantly influenced giving child colostrum (P= 0.002).Conclusions: This study therefore concludes that religiosity significantly affects maternal and child health care practices in rural and urban communities of Cross River State, Nigeria and also serve as useful baseline for better understanding of the dynamics of influence of religiosity on maternal and child health practices in Cross River State of Nigeria.Recommendation: Maternal health education as well as education and engagement of spiritual leaders are highly recommended

Production Optimization of Fortified Foam-Mat Dried Yoghurt

This experimental study examines the effect of different production parameters such as moringa seed flour, ginger extract, forming agent, mixing time and drying temperature on the selected proximate and microbiological qualities of foam-mat dried yoghurt. The design and analysis of the experiment were conducted with the central composite design technique of the Design Expert statistical software. The study aimed at fortifying and optimizing the production of foam-mat dried yoghurt, which involves powdered milk, water, starter culture and flavour which are kept constant and followed by the addition of moringa seed flour, ginger extract and forming agent (egg white). Twenty-five experimental runs with the control experiment inclusive were carried out based on the mixture-process design matrix and the nutritional properties evaluated include moisture content, crude protein, fat content, ash content, carbohydrate content, total lactic acid, bacteria and fungi. Numerical optimization, via the desirability approach, was utilized to determine the optimum production parameters for the fortified foam-mat dried yoghurt. Graphical optimization was also used to display the prediction of all responses in the mixture-process factors space. Results got revealed that foam-mat dried yoghurt with 10.79 % moisture content, 12.115% crude protein, 0.552% ash content, 2.196% fat and 16.409% carbohydrate could be produced from 80% of fresh yoghurt, 5.466% of moringa seed flour, 7.534% of ginger extract, 7% of foaming agent, mixing duration 2.53mins, drying temperature at 50oC and 0.721 desirability index gave the optimum quality. The results of this work are of great use to the food and beverage industries as they provide a basis for selecting process parameters for optimal foam-mat dried yoghurt production. Prospects for more studies were suggested