Influence of Foliar and Soil Application of Humic Acid on Growth and Yield of Lettuce

The plastic-house experiment was carried out at University of Sulaimani, College of Agricultural Sciences during the growing season of 2016-2017 to determine the effect of soil and foliar application of humic acid on yield and yield components of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.var Romaine). Four humic acid doses (0) control, (2.5, 3.5 and 4.5) ml/L were sprayed, and soil application of humic acid in four levels, such as (0) control, (1.5, 2.5 and 3.5) ml/L added to the soil. Among the treatments level, highest total yield (47.863t/ha) was obtained with treatment T4 (1.5 ml/L soil application) followed by treatment T1 (2.5 ml/L foliar application). Foliar application of 4.5 ml/L humic acid (T3) recorded significantly highest plant height as compared with control treatment. In addition the highest values of (TSS) were obtained by soil application (T6) at rate 3.5 ml/L. The data showed that there were no significant differences in the amount of the N, P, K and nitrate in the lettuce product. Keywords: Lettuce, Humic acid, Foliar application, Soil application, Sustainability

Regional Imbalances and Inequalities in Nigeria: Causes, Consequences and Remedies

Regional inequality and polarization of activities have persisted in most developing countries despite their quest over many decades for socio-economic and political development and modernization. This condition contributes to serious distributional problems such as hyper-urbanization, spatial concentration of population and modern activities, unemployment and underemployment, income inequality and poverty, persistent food shortages, deteriorating material conditions of farm populations, and external dependency. This paper seeks to evaluate the causes and consequences of regional imbalances and inequalities in Nigeria, and attempt the strategies that can be employed in correcting the imbalances. It thereafter, recommends remedies such as special government policies, legislative measures, urban development planning, integrated rural development planning, and strict adherence to the principle of federal character as entrenched in the constitution of the country. It also recommends massive concentration of industrial development in rural areas across the nooks and crannies of the country as a way of reducing the imbalances. Keywords: Region, imbalance, poverty, planning, development, causes, consequences, remedie

Assessment of Post Fire Structural Strengths of Normal Strength Concrete Subjected to Cyclic Thermal Loadings

Concrete is a composite construction material consisting basically of a binder, aggregates, water and with or without admixture to modify either or both its physical and chemical properties. The rate at which concrete structures especially buildings are gutted by fire hazards is on the increase and this has adverse effect on the strength, hence, the need to assess the post fire structural strengths of Normal Strength Concrete(NSC). NSC of grade 50 was produced and cast into specimens of sizes 150mm cubes and 100mm x 100mm x 500mm reinforced concrete beams. The concrete cubes and beams were subjected to elevated cyclic thermal loadings after 7, 14 and 28 days of curing, while the rate of heating was maintained at 1oC/min until the target temperature of (100, 130, 160, 200 and 250)o C where attained and this was maintained for one hour and then allowed to cool at 1oC/min to room temperature of 32oC. Unstressed Residual Uniaxial Compressive Test (URUCT and Flexural Strength Test (FST) were conducted on the cubes and reinforced concrete beams, respectively. Direct Tensile Strength Test (DTST) was performed on the high yield (460N/mm2) steel reinforcement. The result showed that the residual compressive strengths of concrete cubes decreases with increase thermal loadings. The expected strengths of 0.69 and 0.97 of the 28 days strength for 7 and 14 days respectively were met. The flexural strengths decrease with increase in thermal loadings. The flexural strength of the concrete beams at 28 days of 15.25N/mm2 at thermal loading of 32oC was reduced to 8.16/mm2 at thermal loading of 160oC; while the strength at 14 days of 12.19 N/mm2 at thermal loading of 32oC was reduced to 7.62N/mm2 at thermal loading of 160oC and finally, the strength at 7 days of 10.13N/mm2 at thermal loading of 32oC was reduced to 5.82N/mm2 at thermal loading of 160oC. All the results met the specification for high yield steel of 12% elongation at fracture. It was concluded that within the thermal loading range adopted, the tensile strength of the reinforcement was not impaired beyond the limit specified by the code

Assessment of Post Fire Structural Strengths of Normal Strength Concrete Subjected to Cyclic Thermal Loadings

Concrete is a composite construction material consisting basically of a binder, aggregates, water and with or without admixture to modify either or both its physical and chemical properties. The rate at which concrete structures especially buildings are gutted by fire hazards is on the increase and this has adverse effect on the strength, hence, the need to  assess the post fire structural strengths of Normal Strength Concrete(NSC). NSC of grade 50 was produced and cast into specimens of sizes 150mm cubes and 100mm x 100mm x 500mm reinforced concrete beams. The concrete cubes and beams were subjected to elevated cyclic thermal loadings after 7, 14 and 28 days of curing, while the rate of heating was maintained at 1oC/min until the target temperature of (100, 130, 160, 200 and 250)o C where attained and this was maintained for one hour and then allowed to cool at 1oC/min to room temperature of 32oC.         Unstressed Residual Uniaxial Compressive Test (URUCT and Flexural Strength Test (FST) were conducted on the cubes and reinforced concrete beams, respectively. Direct Tensile Strength Test (DTST) was performed on the high yield (460N/mm2) steel reinforcement. The result showed that the residual compressive strengths of concrete cubes decreases with increase thermal loadings. The expected strengths of 0.69 and 0.97 of the 28 days strength for 7 and 14 days respectively were met. The flexural strengths decrease with increase in thermal loadings. The flexural strength of the concrete beams at 28 days of 15.25N/mm2 at thermal loading of 32oC was reduced to 8.16/mm2 at thermal loading of 160oC; while the strength at 14 days of 12.19 N/mm2 at thermal loading of 32oC was reduced to 7.62N/mm2 at thermal loading of 160oC and finally, the strength at 7 days of 10.13N/mm2 at thermal loading of 32oC was reduced to 5.82N/mm2 at thermal loading of 160oC. All the results met the specification for high yield steel of 12% elongation at fracture. It was concluded that within the thermal loading range adopted, the tensile strength of the reinforcement was not impaired beyond the limit specified by the code. Keyword: Normal Strength Concrete, Thermal loadings, Unstressed Residual  Strength Test, Fire hazard

Determination of Sulphur (IV) Oxide in Ilorin City, Nigeria, During Dry Season

Ambient concentrations of sulphur (IV) oxide (SO2) have been determined in the city of Ilorin, Nigeria between mid February and mid Novembers 2003. SO2 levels were found to vary significantly with the traffic density and human activities. There was a significant difference (P = 0.05) between the SO2 concentrations at two sites (high and low traffic volume areas); however, there was no significant difference (P= 0.05) between high traffic/medium population density and medium traffic/high population density areas. The regression analysis indicated a strong correlation (r= 0.94) between the concentration of SO2 pattern and the hourly average traffic volume in all the sites. Average level found for the city was 59.3 \ub1 1.9ppb, which falls within the limits of the United States Environmental Protection Agency guidelines for air quality standards. Atmospheric pollution being one of the most dominant problems associated with urbanization, urban areas are associated with high density of industries and transport networks, among other infrastructure, which generate a wide range of air pollutants .@JASE

RIBAVIRIN LOADED ERYTHROCYTES BY ENDOCYTOSIS AS TARGETED DRUG CARRIER SYSTEM

Objectives: Loaded erythrocytes, as drug carrier system, have tremendous potential to carry outside specificity and sustained release of drug. Thereby, enhancing therapeutic index and minimize the dose and adverse effects as well as improvement patient compliance. In the present paper, erythrocytes loaded Ribavirin with the aim to benefit the reticuloendothelial system targeting potential of the carrier cells. Methods: Endocytosis technique was used for Ribavirin loading in erythrocytes and the entire loading procedure was evaluated and validated. The in-vitro release of carrier erythrocytes was characterized, as well as the hematological indices, osmotic fragility and SEM analysis. Results: The maximum loaded amount and entrapment efficiency were found to be 9.58±0.045 mg and 38.3% at 25mg/ml of Ribavirin concentration after 60 minutes incubation time at 37oC with 88.42% cell recovery. The in-vitro Ribavirin release was found to obey Higuchi diffusion kinetics. Hematological parameters of Ribavirin loaded erythrocytes were significantly differ from native erythrocytes at (p≤ 0.01). Conclusion: The highly changed erythrocyte shape and morphology being one of the main determinants in erythrocytes disappearance kinetics in circulation, can be potentially beneficial in terms of successful cell targeting to the reticulo endothelial system which in turn leads to the improved Ribavirin effects on RES-mediated immune responses.           Peer Review History: Article received on- 3 October; Revised on- 22 October; Accepted on- 5 November, Available online 15 November 2016 Academic Editor: Dr. Asia Selman Abdullah, Al-Razi university, Department of Pharmacy, Yemen, [email protected] Received file:        Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 6.5/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 8.0/10 Reviewer(s) detail: Dr. A.K. Rai, PSIT, Kanpur, U.P, India, [email protected] Dr. Sally A. El-Zahaby, Pharos University in Alexandria, Egypt, [email protected]

Renal Trauma in the West of Ireland — A Regional Review

There is a paucity of data regarding renal trauma. The majority of cases of renal trauma are amenable to conservative management. We sought to streamline the management of renal trauma in the west of Ireland. Patients presenting with a computerised tomogram–confirmed renal injury were assessed over 5 years. Patient demographics, injury details, initial emergency department management, definitive management, and follow-up were assessed. Renal trauma was graded in a blind fashion (I-V). Twenty-five patients were identified; male:female (23:2). The mean age was 26 years. The majority of renal traumas were managed conservatively (92%); 8% patients underwent nephrectomy. The common mechanisms of renal injuries were road traffic accidents (44%). The majority of cases of renal injuries occur as a result of blunt trauma and can be conservatively treated. Two nephrectomies (8%) were performed. We believe this study potentially can be beneficial as part of an all-Ireland trauma database to improve patient outcome