Phytochemical, Proximate and Mineral Analyses of the Leaves of Bambusa Vulgaris L. and Artocarpus Altilis L

The need to boost livestock production in Nigeria calls for a provision of feed that is adequate in both quality and quantity as well as accessible to animals all year round. The quest to assess and exploit plants for their potentials in feeding livestock animals all year round necessitated this study. The phytochemical and nutritional composition of the leaves of Bambusa vulgaris and Artocarpus altilis were assayed. Phytochemical screening of the two plant leaves revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids and tannins. Terpenoids and steroids were absent in the two plants. Further phytochemical quantifications revealed B. vulgaris and A. altilis leaves contained alkaloids (10.64% and 14.80%), saponins (2.33 and 3.90%), flavonoids (4.60 and 3.70%), tannins (0.67 and 1.89 mg/100 g) and phenol (0.23 and 1.89 mg/100 g) respectively. The proximate analyses revealed low moisture content (12.27% and 14.88%), crude protein (2.84 and 2.15%), moderate crude fat (6.00 and 6.91%) and high crude fiber (16.96 and 9.96%), ash (11.82 and 15.92%) and carbohydrate (50.12 and 50.19%) respectively. The leaves were equally rich in Ca, K, P, Mg with low Na. Similarly, the results show that leaves of the two plants investigated could provide dietary and medicinal needs of livestock

Effective Communication: A Tool for Improvement of Secondary School Management

Communication remains a unique instrument that integrates management functions in an organization. This explains why communication is inevitable and indispensable in the school system for effective management. This paper examined how communication aids managers of secondary schools in carrying out their duties effectively. Meaning and avenues of communication as well as communication flow were discussed. Road blocks to communication and active listening as a means of promoting a closer, more meaningful relationship between the staff and students towards school improvement were considered. It was concluded that communication is an important ingredient and vital instrument in any given organization and a good school principal should bear in mind that the success of the school is determined by his effective management of the school. It was also recommended, among others, that the channel of communication needs to be modern, effective and as personal as possible if management of large organizations such as the school is to maintain close ties with teachers and encourage maximum performance. Keywords: Effective Communication, Improvement of Secondary School, Managemen

INFLUENCE OF GRANITE-GRAVEL COMBINATION ON THE STRENGTH OF SELF-COMPACTING CONCRETE: TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL

This study focusses on the influence of granite-gravel (washed and unwashed) combination as coarse aggregate on hardened properties of Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC). Granite-gravel combination in varying percentages was used as coarse aggregates to produce SCC while other concrete constituents were kept constant. The experiments executed on hardened SCC were compressive and split tensile strength. Concrete were made using 150 mm cubes and 100 mm × 200 mm cylinders. Data obtained were analysed using graphical illustrations while Minitab was used to model values for the mix proportions. The compressive strength of SCC produced reliable results with a minimum strength of 30.96 N/mm² for 50% washed gravel at 28 days of which, the strength also increases as curing age increased. The split tensile strength of SCC increases as the curing day increased but decreased as gravel content increased with 50/50 threshold limit. The Surface plots analysis shows that the percentage increase of granite-washed gravel combination as coarse aggregate and curing ages in SCC has significant impact on compressive strength. It can be concluded that granite/gravel combination as coarse aggregates in SCC production is feasible and reliable provided the threshold limits of 50% washed gravel and 30% unwashed gravel are not exceeded

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON THE DURABILITY TO SALINE ENVIRONMENTS OF SELF-COMPACTING CONCRETE MADE WITH COARSE AGGREGATES COMBINATION

This study focus on durability to saline environments of self-compacting concrete (SCC) made of granite-gravel combination as coarse aggregates in concrete production. In this study fine aggregates, water, superplasticizer and cement were kept constant. The percentages replacement of gravel in place of granite aggregates were 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50, while 100% granite serves as control. A total of 162 cubes of 100 100 100 mm concrete specimens were immersed over the initial curing in a water container and further cured in 5% sodium chloride (NaCl) and sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) solutions for 28, 56 and 91 days in line with ASTM C39 (2003). The tests results indicate that concrete cured in five percent (5%) of NaCl solution have compressive strength accelerating properties at early age that could not be sustained for long. While those cured in 5% of Na2CO3 solution reduced significantly the compressive strength of concret

Insecticidal Evaluation of Bridelia Micrantha and Dalbergia Lactea Aqueous Extracts for the Control of Podagrica Uniforma (Jacoby) and Nisotra Dilecta (Jacoby) (Coleoptera: Chysomelidae) Infestation on Okra

Insect pest infestation is a major factor militating against okra production and farmers generally adopt synthetic insecticides for its management. A field trial was undertaken to evaluate the insecticidal potency of Bridelia micrantha and Dalbergia lactea for the management of Podagrica uniforma (Jacoby) and Nisotra dilecta (Jacoby) insect pest of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench). The treatments consisted of aqueous leaf extracts of Bridelia micrantha and Dalbergia lactea and Cypermethrin as check; laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design and repli-cated three times. Data was collected on insect population before treatment application and 3 days after spraying of insecticides at 28, 35, 42, 56 days after planting (DAP). Yield parameters data collected were number of fruits and fruit weight. Results obtained showed that the plant extracts exhibited effectiveness in reducing the insect population and improved okra fruit yield compared to Cypermethrin. The order of effectiveness in decreasing sequence was found to be Cypermethrin ˃ D. lacteal ˃ B. micrantha. D. lacteal and B. micrantha crude extracts could be explored as promising insecticidal agents to provide valuable alternatives to chemical control of insect infestation on okra. Further study is recommended to determine the chemical constituents responsible for the plant insecticidal activity

Sustainable utilization of crushed waste glass as sand replacement for production of eco-friendly interlocking paving stones

In an attempt to ensure sustainability of construction materials, efforts were being made to reuse some non-biodegradable waste materials as substitute materials in mortar production. Sand is a major constituents in the production of mortar, however, using waste materials such as glass as partial or complete substitute for sand in mortar production will ensure the reduction on the needs to dredge for it, thereby preserving the very valuable natural sand resources within the environment. Furthermore, the use of crushed waste glass as a replacement for sand in the production paving stones will ensure that the paving stones are ecofriendly thereby eliminating the challenges of discriminate dumping of glass wastes in landfill. This research investigates the utilization of crushed waste glass as partial and complete replacement for natural sand in cement mortar for the production of interlocking paving stones (IPS). The waste glass was varied at various percentage proportions by weight to replace the fine aggregate in the cement mortar mixes. Laboratory tests which includes chemical composition, particle size distribution, specific gravity, and compressive strength were carried out on the crushed glass materials, sand and paving stone samples respectively. The obtained results show that the both the load and non-load bearing interlocking paving stones containing 20% crushed waste glass exhibited better performance in strength development than the control and other paving stone mixes containing various content of waste glass materials. This study demonstrates clearly that waste glass can be adopted to produce eco-friendly interlocking paving stones, and this will help both in the sustainable management of glass wastes and greening of the environment