Synthesis and characterization of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) for biodiesel production using waste frying oil (WFO)

In this research, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) were synthesized by simple solution-based approach using zinc nitrate  [Zn(NO3)2.6H2O] and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) as precursor. The Synthesized ZnO-NPs were characterized by XRF, XRD and TGA methods. XRD method confirmed the formation of nanosized zinc oxide particles in the size range of 13–47 nm. XRF and TGA were used to determine the elemental composition and thermal stability of ZnO-NPs, respectively. The ZnO-NPs were used as catalyst in the production of biodiesel from waste frying oil (WFO) via transesterification method. The transesterification process yielded 97.8 % (w/w) WFO biodiesel. The results of the fuel properties revealed that, all the parameters tested are within the ASTM limits, indicating that the biodiesel produced could be used as an alternative diesel fuel

Assessment of Food Insecurity among Almajiri in Sokoto Metropolis and Selected Environs (Gwadabawa and Kware), Sokoto State, Nigeria

This paper aimed to assess food insecurity among Almajiri in Sokoto metropolis and it’s environs using a structured questionnaire on 120 respondents. The respondents were Muslims, Hausa/ Fulani, males and Nigerians. The occupations of Almajiri fathers were ,farming (66.7%) , business ( 16.7%) , and 16.7% were doing nothing. 33.3% of their fathers were married to two wives, 25.0% married to three wives , 16.7% married to one wife each and , 16.7% married to four wives .33.3% of the Almajiri said their fathers have two children, 25.0% said their fathers have three children, and 8.3% have four kids ,and 8.3% have one child .None of the participants attended western school ,but only 25.0% admitted that they like " Boko " ( western education) ,while 75% said they don't like " Boko ".58.3% goes home only after one year stay at the school ,25.0% return after graduation , 16.7% return home after 3years stay at school. 50.0% said they always come with insufficient food from home, but 41.7% said they come with nothing.7.3% come with insufficient money from home, whereas, 41.7% come with nothing. 41.7% eat food thrice ,25.0% eat twice, and 16.7% eat once .58.3% earn through begging, 25.0% earn through domestic work ,and 16.7% earn through external work .75.0% eat tuwo ,and 16.7% eat Gari ,and others. All the respondents echoed that the system hurt them psychologically. The findings revealed that Almajiri children were unable to come with enough food or money to sustain them throughout their stay at school. Thus, this depicts food insecurity, which in turn can invariably lead to hunger.Parents should give sufficient provisions to their wards whenever sending them to Almajiri schools.The government, wealthy persons and relations should fully put hands on deck to help Almajiri child.Keywords: Food insecurity, Almajiri, child labour, domestic work

Composition and Physicochemical Properties of Starch from Christ Thorn Seeds

Starch was extracted from seeds of Christ Thorn by hot water extraction method. The composition and physicochemical properties of the extracted starch were determined using standard methods. The results obtained from the analyses revealed that the % yield of starch was 43.2%, while moisture content, ash content, starch protein and starch lipid were 7.8%, 0.01%, 0.12% and 0.32% respectively. The results also showed amylose content of 24.6%; swelling power of 37.5g/g, solubility of 2.1%, amylose leaching of 3.7% and gelatinization temperature of 68oC. From the results, the paper concludes that with minor modifications, the seeds can be used as alternative sources of starch for industrial products

Screening for Cervical Cancer: Experience from a University Hospital in North Western Nigeria (2007‑2009)

Background: Cervical cancer is the most common gynecological cancer among women in Nigeria. The incidence is on the increase and poses a public health problem. The etiological agent is the human papilloma virus that is sexual transmitted. The cervical cancer incidence is related to lifestyle, poverty and sexual practices. Fortunately, it is a preventable disease as it is preceded by a pre‑invasive phase that can be detected and treated. There is paucity of report in literature on cervical cancer screening in Sokoto North‑West Nigeria.Aim: To determine the uptake, indications and results of cervical cancer screening in Usmanu Dan‑fodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto.Materials and Methods: A 3‑year descriptive study of the results of cervical cytology among women who attended the gynaecological out‑patient clinic of UDUTH, Sokoto.Results: During the period of study, 126 cervical smears were taken and 96% (121/126) of them were considered adequate for cytological evaluation thus constituting the subjects of the study. The average annual uptake of cervical smear was 1.29%. The main indications for cytologic smears were abnormal uterine bleeding 33.9% (41/121) and suspected carcinoma of the cervix 28.1% (34/121). Cytologic study was positive for dysplastic cells in 7% (25/121) of cases. Ten percent (12/121) of them were high grade squamous intra‑epithelial lesions while invasive carcinoma was seen in 3.3% (4/121) of the smears. Conclusion: Presence of abnormal cervical smear in 20% of the study subjects underscores the need for routine screening for cervical cancer. While organized national screening policy is awaited, opportunistic screening should be maximized. Keywords: Cervical cancer, cervical cytology, north‑west Nigeri

The boundary states and correlation functions of the tricritical Ising model from the Coulomb-gas formalism

We consider the minimal conformal model describing the tricritical Ising model on the disk and on the upper half plane. Using the coulomb-gas formalism we determine its consistents boundary states as well as its 1-point and 2-point correlation functions.Comment: 20 pages, no figure. Version 2:A paragraph for the calculation of the 2-point correlators was added. Some typos and garammatical errors were corrected.Version 3: Equations 24 are modified. Version 4 : new introduction and minor correction

Proximate and mineral composition of Jatropha curcas leaves

The proximate and mineral composition of jatropha curcas leaves were evaluated in dry sample to determine the Ash, carbohydrate, crude lipid, crude fiber, crude protein and mineral contents using standard method and atomic absorption spectrophotometry method. The result showed that jatropha curcas leaves contained (12.0±1.00%) Ash, (61.94±5.56%) carbohydrate, (7.00±0.43%) Fat, (16.5±0.1%) fibre, (2.56±0.23%) protein, (4.33±0.28%) moisture in dry sample respectively. The result also revealed that the concentration of potassium is (18.60±1.19mg/100g) sodium (11.50±0.39mg/ 100g), magnesium (58.17 ± 2.04mg/100g), cupper (4.23±0.12mg/ 100g), iron (2.85±0.04mg/100g) and calcium (93.42±0.48mg/100g) respectively which are the major minerals present in the sample. This indicated that Jatropha curcas leaves could serve as an alternative source of food for animal and human after quality processing.Keywords: Carbohydrate, Crude Protein, Jatropha curcas leaves, Mineral, Moisture Analysi

Acute and Subchronic Toxicity Study of Methanol Seed Extract of Passion Fruit (Passiflora edulis var. flavicarpa) in Albino Rats

The present study investigates the toxicological properties of the methanol seed extract of Passiflora edulis var. flavicarpa. For the acute toxicity study, a limit test dose of 5000mg/kg was used while in the sub-chronic toxicity study, the treatment groups received a daily oral dose of the extract at 1000, 2000 and 3000 mg/kg for 28 days. The acute toxicity study revealed that the extract was safe up to 5000mg/kg. Results of sub-chronic toxicity study revealed significant (p<0.05) increase in body weight at the dose of 3000mg/kg. Neutrophils in all the treatment groups were significantly increased (p<0.05) while all the other haematological parameters tested showed no significant difference with the control group. The extract also showed mild to moderate deleterious effects on some biochemical parameters. ALT, ALP. AST and GGT levels were significantly increased (p<0.05) with mild distortion of hepatic architecture in the liver of the group that received the highest dose (3000mg/kg).  No pathological changes in the kidneys were observed at the various doses. This suggests that the extract should be used with caution with increasing dose. Keywords: Passiflora edulis var. flavicarpa, acute toxicity study, sub-chronic toxicity study, haematological parameters, biochemical parameters

Integrated stratigraphic reconstruction for the last 80 kyr in a deep sector of the Sardinia Channel (Western Mediterranean)

A quantitative analysis of planktonic foraminifera, coupled with petrophysical and paleomagnetic measurements and 14C AMS calibrations, was carried out on a deep core recovered in the Sardinia Channel (Western Mediterranean Sea), during the CIESM Sub2 survey, providing an integrated stratigraphic time-framework over the last 80 kyr. Significant changes in the quantitative distribution of planktonic foraminifera allowed the identification of several eco-bioevents useful to accurately mark the boundaries of the eco-biozones widely recognised in the Western Mediterranean records and used for large scale correlations. Namely, 10 eco-biozones were identified based on the relative abundance of selected climate sensitive planktonic foraminiferal species. Sixteen codified eco-bioevents were correlated with the Alboran Sea planktonic foraminiferal data and four climatic global events (Sapropel S1, Younger Dryas, Greenland Isotope Interstadial 1, Greenland Isotope Stadial 2, Heinrich event H1-H6) were recognized. The eco-bioevents together with the 14C AMS calibrations allowed us to define an accurate age model, spanning between 2 and 83 kyr. The reliability of the age model was confirmed by comparing the colour reflectance (550 nm%) data of the studied record with the astronomically tuned record from the Ionian sea (ODP-Site 964). A mean sedimentation rate of about 7 cm/kyr included three turbidite event beds that were chronologically constrained within the relative low stand and lowering sea level phases of the MIS 4 and 3. The deep-sea sedimentary record includes a distinct tephra occurring at the base of the core which dates 78 ka cal. BP. The paleomagnetic data provide a well-defined record of the characteristic remanent magnetization that may be used to reconstruct the geomagnetic paleosecular variation for the Mediterranean back to 83 kyr

Comparative analysis of gum Arabic and molasses (binders) in briquettes produced from millet husks

The study was carried out to investigate the effects of binders (molasses and gum Arabic) on millet husk in the production of briquettes. Fixed quantities of millet husk were used to produce briquettes with varying percentage of binders (10%, 20% and 30%). Low pressure fabricated briquetting machine was used for compression to produce the briquettes, after sun drying to reduce the moisture content to minimum value. The proximate analysis conducted, indicated the range of moisture content% (2.1-3.0) ash content% (7.8-11.4) volatile matter% (61.9-76.6) and fixed carbon% (13.0-26.5). The physical properties had the values ranging from (0.52-0.60), (0.18-0.24) (1.69-1.80), (2.31-3.14), (3.5-23.2), (4.7-30.2) for compressed density (g/cm3), relaxed density (g/cm3), compaction ratio, relaxation ratio, durability (%) and water resistant (sec) respectively. The fuel density included ignition time (sec), after glow(sec), boiling time (minutes) and calorific value (J/kg) with the value ranging from (2.3-8.3), (2.0-24.4), (16.10-19.13) and (29830.95-30119.84) respectively. The study shows that millet husk with gum Arabic serves as a better combination for the production of briquettes