Reflective Teaching Practice among Student Teachers: The Case in a Tertiary Institution in Nigeria

The study examined the reform outcome of reflective teaching introduced by the Faculty of Education among the student teachers in a Nigerian University during the 2002\2003 teaching practice exercise. Three hundred and four students who were in the final and penultimate years of graduation comprised the sample for the study. Six research questions were raised to direct the thrust of the study. Four sets of instruments were used. They were all open ended, targeted at eliciting information on student teachers’ activities and support by teachers of partnership schools during the teaching practice, perception of student teachers’ performance by Faculty and mentor teachers, as well as the challenges encountered by trainees during the exercise. The findings from this study indicated that student teachers were elated and had opportunity for professional growth as they practiced reflective teaching. However, they stated that teachers of partnership schools could not provide specific professional support to them during the practice period. Faculty’s perception of trainees’ activities during the practice period was that student teachers had more problems with the application of pedagogy than knowledge of subject matter while mentor teachers rated students’ general performance as very high. Student teachers enumerated the constraints they had to perform effectively during the teaching practicum, as intense pressure for time, inability of school authorities to provide required basic materials and non performance of the role of mentoring by staff of partnership schools

Surface and Ground Water Pollution in Abata Ogun Agricultural Wetland

An assessment of the effect of organic and inorganic fertilizer application on Abata Ogun agricultural wetland was carried out in this study. Sampling were taken from stream and wells during the raining and dry seasons. Samples were subjected to analyses of major cations and anions, biochemical oxygen demand, dissolved oxygen, chemical oxygen demand and bacteriological parameters such as E-Coli. In addition pH, temperature, and electrical conductivity were also determined.Cation concentration was in the range of 0.40-19.20mg/l with calcium recording a high value of 19.20mg/l. This is an indication of hardness of water. Low dissolved oxygen exists in the range of 7.20 to 12.80mg/l. Higher values of C.O.D 112.60mg/l when compared with values of B.O.D 74.90mg/l is an indication that activities of microbial organisms are prominent. E-coli values for surface and ground water is high (1.2 x 104?sm-1), an indication that the water is not fit for domestic use. Electrical conductivity was high in the range of 37 to 92 cfuml-1. The stream flowing through the wetland has a discharge of 0.3m3/s and a flow velocity of 1.3 m/s and deposits sediment load along the stream. High values of PO4 in well water 4.37 mg/l is an indication that leaching occurs.The study highlight the much needed awareness on the part of local residents, farmers and environmental health authorities to curb dangers inherent in consumption of contaminated ground water and to encourage bio-fortified farming. Keywords: pollution, water quality, Abata Ogun Agricultural wetland.

Fuel-Mix and Energy Utilisation Analysis of Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company, Nigeria

Abstract This paper analyses the fuel-mix and energy utilisation patterns in Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Co mpany fro m the years 2000 to 2011. The average fuel-mix over the 12-year period is 9% Refinery Fuel Gas, 8% Liquefied Petroleu m Gas, 79% Low Pour Fuel Oil, 1% Coke and 3% Automotive Gas Oil. The refinery has been discovered to have specific fuel consumption ranging fro m 11.32% to 53.92%, aside fro m the year 2007 when there was no crude processed due to pipeline vandalisation, leading to an undefined value of specific fuel consumption. The t wo main factors responsible for high specific fuel consumption in the refinery have been low capacity utilisation and poor fuel mix. It is proposed that Low Pour Fuel Oil be substituted with natural gas in order to reduce the specific fuel consumption as well as combustion products CO 2 production. The capacity utilisation has also been recommended to be boosted

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY ANALYSIS OF NIGERIAN ROAD TRANSPORTATION SECTOR: EFFECTS OF INFLUENCED FUEL DEMAND PATTERNS

Petrol and diesel utilisations in the Nigerian road transportation sector have been assessed, using exergy efficiency and improvement potential as parameters. The mean petrol engine exergy efficiency was 13.05%, while that of diesel engines was 10.79%. The average improvement potential of petrol engines was 2.07×1011 MJ, which was 75.6% of average input exergy. Diesel engines had an average improvement potential of 5.15×1010 MJ, which was 69.2% of average input exergy. Practical constancy of the exergy efficiencies of the engines left input exergy values as the sole determining factors of improvement potentials of the systems. Petrol fuel was found to be utilised, away from sustainable path, more than diesel fuel. This observation was found attributable to subsidisation of petrol downstream sector and simultaneous deregulation of the diesel downstream sector as well as the preponderance of petrol engines in the road transportation sector. In conclusion, it was recommended that a mechanism be put in place to check the unsustainable petrol fuel utilisation in the transport sector

Effect of processing on the quality, composition and antioxidant properties of Terminalia catappa (Indian almond) seed oil

This study was aimed at extracting and purifying T. catappa seed oil with a view to investigating the effect of processing on the composition and antioxidant activity of the oil. Oil was extracted from the dried and roasted T. catappa seed and subjected to degumming and bleaching. The different processed oils were analysed for their fatty acid, phytosterols, and fat soluble vitamins composition. Antioxidant properties of the oils were also determined by measuring the Diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and inhibition of heat induced peroxidation. Roasting and processing caused a reduction in acid value, increased peroxide value, but had no effect on the iodine and saponification values of T. catappa oil. Palmitic acid was the most abundant saturated fatty acid (42.466%) while oleic acid was the most abundant unsaturated fatty acid (23.445%). Roasting significantly reduced fatty acid concentration of the oil, and bleaching of both unroasted and roasted oils increased the concentration of fatty acids except linoleic acid. Gamma-sitosterol and Betasitosterol were present in appreciable amounts only in the crude oils. Roasting increased Vitamins A and D concentrations but drastically reduced that of vitamin E. Degumming had no effect on the fat soluble vitamins of T. catappa oil, but bleaching significantly reduced the concentrations of all the vitamins. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of the seed oil was between 26.93 ± 15.42% and 65.47 ± 31.59%. Refining increased the free radical scavenging activity of the unroasted oil, but did not affect the antioxidant activity of roasted oil. The capacity of the oil in preventing heat induced peroxidation was comparable to that of Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Processing of the oil significantly increased its antioxidant activity. Loss of vitamin E did not affect the antioxidant activity of the oil. Thus, suggesting the presence of a heat stable antioxidant in the oil. This study indicated T. catappa seed oil to be potential pharmaceutical oil with good antioxidant characteristics.Key words: Terminalia catappa, composition, antioxidant, processing, oi

Geoelectric Survey of Foundation Beds of the Proposed Faculty of Engineering Building, OSUTECH Permanent Site, Okitipupa, Nigeria

Geoelectric resistivity method was employed to characterize the geo-materials at Ondo State University of Science and Technology (OSUSTECH) Okitipupa, Dahomey Basin, Nigeria, for suitability for foundation purposes. The methods involved Constant Separation Traversing (CST) using Wenner array and Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) using Schlumberger array. The data obtained were processed with Ipi2win and excel software. The results showed that the subsurface structures were made up of lateritic topsoil with resistivity varying from 85 Ohm-m to 612 Ohm-m and thickness varying from 0.5 to 2.14 m; clayed sand with resistivity varying from 295 to 2,587 ohm-m and thickness vary from 0.67 to 3.4; clay with resistivity varying from 10 to 350 ohm-m and thickness varying from 3.8 to 26 m; and sand with resistivity ranging from 383 ohm-m to 59,707ohm-m. The clayed sand would have been the best layer to host the foundation because of its depth to the surface but it is generally less than 1.5 m and underlay by thick column of clay. The only competent layer that can host the foundation of high-rise building is the sand layer, therefore, the building foundation should be piled to the sand layer or pilling should be suspended within the thick column of clay

Measurement of Radon Concentration and Radioactivity in Soil Samples of Aramoko, Ekiti State, Nigeria

The radon concentration and natural radioactivity i n soil of Aramoko, Ekiti State, Nigeria have been d etermined. The soil gas radon measurement was performed in-situ with Rad7 r adon monitor coupled with a soil gas probe. Natural radioactivity measurement in soil samples was carried out using N aI(Tl) gamma spectrometer. This study is aimed at d etermining the correlation between the radioactivity of the soil a nd its radon concentration. It was found that the r adon concentration of soil gas in the study area ranged from 0.63BqL -1 to 35.04BqL -1 with an average value of 9.82±0.56BqL -1 . The average activity concentrations of 238 U, 232 Th and 40 K were found to be 22.62Bq/Kg, 34.74Bq/Kg and 316.7 2Bq/Kg, respectively. The average radium equivalent and average absorbed dose rates a t a height of 1m above the ground are 95.99±62 BqKg -1 and 45.18±27.28 nGyh -1 respectively. The mean external and internal hazar d indices were also found to be 0.26 and 0.32 respe ctively. All the determined radiological indices values are within t he recommended limits

Corrosion Inhibition Behaviour for Mild Steel by Extracts of Musa sapientum Peels in HCl Solution: Kinetics and Thermodynamics Study

Staff PublicationThe inhibition of the corrosion of mild steel by acid extract of Musa sapientum peels in 1M HCl was investigated using weight loss method. The results showed that the corrosion rate of mild steel in 1M HCl decreases with increase in concentration of the extracts and the values were in the range 0.013021 - 0.002127 ghr-1 cm-2 . The inhibition efficiency increases progressively as the concentration of the extracts increases up to about 4% (v/v), above which, further increase in extract concentration did not cause any significant change in the inhibition efficiency. Effects of temperature on the inhibition efficiency of the extracts showed that inhibition efficiency decreases with increase in temperature. Activation energy (Ea) was found to be 61.60 Kjmol-1 for 1M HCl and increases to 66.72Kjmol-1 in the presence of Musa sapientum extract. The values for enthalpy of activation and entropy were all positive indicating the endothermic nature of the mild steel dissolution process. Calculated Gibbs free energy was in the range -9.43 to -8.99KJ. Kinetics of the reaction in the presence of the extracts revealed that it follows a first order reaction and the half-life increases as the concentration of the extracts increases suggesting that inhibition efficiency increases with increase in the concentration of the extracts. Preliminary investigation of the phytochemical constituents showed that Musa sapientumcontains tannin, flavonoid, terpenoid and some other compounds in trace constituents

Investigation of incessant road failure in parts of Abeokuta, Southwestern Nigeria using integrated geoelectric methods and soil analysis

A flexible pavement devoid of discontinuities allows for smooth movement of a vehicle load on the roadway. This study involved the use of integrated geoelectric methods comprised of 1D and 2D Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) as well as soil analysis to investigate causes of unceasing road failures along busy Camp—Alabata Road, Abeokuta, Southwestern Nigeria. Four road sections (two failed portions and one fair section and one good section) were identified along which four resistivity traverses were established along the investigated roadway. Four 1D Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) points were also carried out on the 2D ERT lines. Apparent resistivity data were measured along the four traverses using Schlumberger and Wenner arrays with the aid of a Campus Ohmega resistivity meter. The VES and 2D resistivity data were processed and inverted using WinResist an