Impacts of EDTA on uptake and accumulation of Cu2+ by spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) seedlings replanted in hydroponic solutions

The effects of EDTA on Cu2+ uptake by spinach (spinacia oleracea L) seedlings replanted in hydroponic solutions in a greenhouse were investigated. Four week old seedlings were exposed to various doses of Cu2+ (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20mg/L) and constant concentration of EDTA (10mM). During the exposure, the plant protected itself from the damage caused by Cu2+ uptake by using the antioxidant,(proline). The photosynthetic pigments (i.e. chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and Carotenoid) gradually declined. In this study, dry weights and lengths of roots, shoots and contents of the photosynthetic pigments of both chelated and unchelated hydroponic treatments were investigated. Changes in photosynthetic pigments, root and shoot weights and lengths were significant (p < 0.05) with respect to addition of EDTA to different concentrations Cu2+ compared to unchelated treatments of same Cu2+ concentrations. Hence, chelation enhanced Cu2+ uptake with adverse effects on the plant.Keywords: Photosynthetic, Chlorophyll, Chelation, Spinach, Hydroponic, Greenhous

Procedural Issues in Mergers and Acquisitions of Companies: A Comparison between Nigeria and India

Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A’s) are, nowadays, frequent events in the lifecycles of companies, on the basis that M&As are one of the most successful means of enabling companies and economic entities achieve profits, whether through entry to new markets, taking advantage of economies of scale or reducing the costs associated with producing a greater number of products or services. India is now one of the leading nations in the world in terms of mergers and acquisitions while, Nigeria has also enjoyed an unprecedented high volume of mergers and acquisitions since 1999.  In both jurisdictions, the laws have laid down procedures for mergers and acquisitions. In India, sanction of the High Court is an essential prerequisite for the effectiveness of mergers; whereas In Nigeria judicial involvement in sanctioning mergers has been significantly reduced. This paper examines the procedural issues involved in mergers in these two populous developing countries of the Commonwealth with a view to learning a lesson from the situation of each other and recommending reforms to the laws of both countries. This article begins with a highlight of the regulatory framework and meaning of merger and acquisition in Nigeria and India; gives an overview of the types of merger and examines the procedural issues in mergers in both Nigeria and India. The paper makes a comparative analysis between the two jurisdictions. The paper acknowledges the comprehensiveness of the laws in both jurisdictions however call for plugging some of the identified gaps in the law

A policy framework and industry roadmap model for sustainable oil palm biomass electricity generation in Malaysia

The current global trends demonstrate the significant role of renewable energy in meeting the growing energy demand across all sectors to support national economic growth. In Malaysia, palm oil is one of the major agricultural export commodities with a total production of 17.7 million tonnes or 41% of the total world palm oil production in 2008. This research evaluates the sustainability of the grid-connected oil palm biomass renewable energy industry in Malaysia and proposes a policy framework and industry roadmap. The factors investigated include resource supply, the efficiency of waste to energy conversion technology used in the existing plants, and the attractiveness of the electricity interconnection scheme in encouraging exports of excess power from the participating mills to the main grid. A literature review and field survey were conducted to understand the barriers and possible enhancements to the current FiT system. The study concluded that harmonisation between upstream and downstream palm oil agricultural activities is essential for achieving the goal of making the oil palm biomass waste to energy industry sustainable. The policy framework and industrial roadmap models provide a distinctive enhancement to the FiT system besides indicating the way towards a sustainable biomass to the energy industry

Levels of some trace metals and their potential health risks in water from Kwadon boreholes, Gombe State, Nigeria

No AbstractKeywords: Chronic Daily Intake, Hazard Quotient, Health risk, Total Hazard Inde

Determination of radionuclides in soil samples taken from Gura Topp (Jos) using sodium iodide thallium detector Nai(Ti)

The activity concentrations of natural radionuclides 40K, 226Ra and 232Th in soil samples taken from the tin mining area in Gura top, Jos were measured by gamma spectrometry using Sodium Iodide detector. The average specific activity concentrations of 40K, 226Ra and 232Th determined in the soil sample ranged from 11.26±3.16Bq/Kg to 543.35±0.64Bq/Kg with mean activity concentration of 161.96±7.56Bq/Kg for 40K, that of 226Ra ranged from 7.19±1.23Bq/Kg to 144.20±10.18Bq/Kg with the mean activity of 46.47±5.19Bq/Kg while 232Th ranged from 76.08±3.38Bq/Kg to 1267.91±15.37Bq/Kg, with mean activity concentration of 396.17±7.69Bq/Kg. The results indicates that the activity concentration of 40K was found to be below the world average while that of 232Th and 226Ra were detected to be above the world average value. This suggests that t the study area has excess thorium and radium activities which pose significant health hazard and is considered radio-logically unsafe for human to cultivate on the land.Keywords: Activity concentration, Gamma spectrometry, Natural radionuclides and Sodium, Iodide detecto

Status of occupational safety and health in GCC construction

The construction projects in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)-member countries are peaking as the region is in the stage of improving its infrastructures. This briefing presents the current status of occupational safety and health in the region by providing a brief comparison with some of the advanced countries where improved safety performance is guaranteed and maintained. The comparison of the available data shows that, in general, GCC countries display a poor occupational safety and health performance. The briefing suggests the key areas for research which could help the GCC construction industry to improve its performance. These areas include the awareness and importance of safety, cost of accidents, environmental and climatic factors which affect the workers, occupational safety and health regulations and their implementation, workers’ well-being, safety culture and safety climate

Descriptive features of Lassa fever in Bauchi, Northeastern Nigeria - a retrospective review

Objective: Nigeria records it largest outbreak of Lassa fever in 2018, with 416 confirmed cases by 22nd April 2018 affecting 22 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). This study determines the descriptive features of Lassa fever in Bauchi, Northeastern Nigeria.Methods: A retrospective study that encompasses all the suspected and confirmed cases of Lassa fever managed in Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Bauchi, between October 2016 and April 2018. Clinical notes of these patients were used to source information including sociodemographic features, clinical characteristics of the presenting illness, laboratory investigations results, working diagnosis, line of management, and treatment outcomes.Results: A total 127 suspected cases records were reviewed out of which 27(21%) were positive for Lassa fever Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test. Thirteen (48%) of the confirmed cases were males and fourteen (51.9%) females giving a male to female ratio of 1:1.08. their ages ranged from 1 to 60 years with a mean age of 27.5. Most cases were seen between October and April. Fever was the most common clinical presentation, occurring in 23 cases (85%) at presentation. Other clinical features were headache 20 cases (74%), bleeding 19 cases (70%), abdominal pain 14 cases (52%), Nausea/Vomiting 12 cases (44%), Diarrhoea 11 cases (41%), cough 11 cases (41%), encephalitis 9 cases (33%), Chest pain 8 cases (30%), Hypotension 7 cases (26%), Sore throat 5 cases (19%) and Facial and or Neck swelling 3 cases (11%). Mortality among the confirmed cases was (44.4%) with all deaths occurring within 72hours of presentation and had bleeding and or encephalitis as presenting symptoms.Conclusion: Lassa fever is relatively common in Bauchi state and affects people of all age groups and sexes. Late presentation, bleeding and encephalitis were common features among mortality cases.Keywords: Lassa Fever, clinical features, mortality, Nigeri

Wind speed on ultra high frequency (UHF) of radio signal

East coast of Peninsular Malaysia has received average wind speed up to 55km/h which equivalent to 15.4m per second and 30 knot, especially during monsoon. These circumstances had affected the radio signal by degrading its strength and quality. This study observe the relationship of wind speed and radio signal in Ultra High Frequency band. The statistical spearman correlation were applied and graph relationship of two variables were plotted in order to investigate these two variables. The measurement were done at 24 hour in February and July 2016 at Kusza Observatory. Analysis of result shown that high correlation strength (r = 0.555) was indicated in first of observation (1-O) at frequency of 382.5MHz. No high correlation were quantified in second of observation (2-O). These findings related to the observed high wind speed which is brought high of water vapor, hence attenuating the radio signal.Keywords: radio signal strength; wind speed; correlatio

Experimental and numerical investigation on blast wave propagation in soil structure

No Abstract

Isolation and characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Brevibacillus species and their potential to biodegrade polyethylene material

This study was conducted to screen for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Brevibacillus species from soil and investigate their ability to biodegrade low density polyethylene materials. The organisms were isolated using phenotypic characterization and molecular identification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR confirmed the presence of two different strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and absence of Brevibacillus specie from the soil sample. The bacteria were inoculated in a nutrient broth to which 2% polyethylene was amended for a period of three weeks in a shaker incubator at 180rpm. Effect of temperature, pH and concentration of polyethylene on the biodegradation process was also studied. The initial and final dry weights of the polyethylene were recorded and the % degraded was calculated. It was found that both strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were capable of degrading the polyethylene. Strain C3 produced a maximum degradation of 20% at 37°C and pH 6. Strain B3 achieved a maximum degradation of 15% at 37°C at pH 6 and 7. In addition, it was found that both strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were able to survive up to 6% of polyethylene producing a maximum degradation of 55%. Therefore strains B3 and C3 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa can be effective in biodegradation of polyethylene in dump sites if their potentials are well exploited