Comparative performance evaluation of a diesel engine run on diesel and biodiesel produced from coconut oil

Using renewable alternative fuel such as biodiesel in the diesel engines has long been advocated for. The aim of the study was to experimentally investigate and compare the performance in terms of fuel consumption rate, brake power, mechanical efficiency of a diesel engine individually fuelled by sole coconut oil biodiesel and diesel. All the tests were conducted using a test rig at different engine loads of 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%. Results of the test revealed that fuel consumption rate of the engine when it was fuelled by coconut oil biodiesel were 3.651, 4.058, 4.465, 3.113 and 1.76litres/h and were 2, 1.55, 1.10, 1.06 and 1.02litres/h when the engine was fuelled by sole diesel at the respective aforementioned engine loads. The brake powers of the engine when biodiesel was used were found to be lower than when diesel was used at each load The mechanical efficiencies of the engine when biodiesel was used were found to be slightly lower at each load than when diesel was used. The fuel consumption rates of the diesel engine when fuelled individually with sole biodiesel and sole diesel were found to vary with load, brake power and mechanical efficiency of the engine. Brake power was also found to vary with load when the engine was fuelled individually with sole biodiesel and sole diesel.Keywords: Diesel engine, diesel, biodiesel, fuel consumption, performanc

Evaluation of phytochemical and antibacterial properties of Terminalia avicennioides crude extract against selected bacteria from diarrhoeic patients

Phytochemical screening of aqueous and ethanol crude extracts of the different plant parts of Terminalia avicennioides was carried out using standard chemical evaluation methods. The antibacterial effects of aqueous and ethanol crude extracts of Terminalia avicennioides against E.coli and S.typhimurium clinical and reference isolates from diarrhoeic patients were also evaluated using agar-well diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of aqueous and ethanol crude extracts were evaluated by broth dilution techniques. The result revealed the presence of carbohydrates, alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids saponins, triterpens and glycosides. All bacteria were found to be susceptible to the extracts which were indicated by the various zones of inhibition. The activity of extracts was concentration dependent. The reference strains were less susceptible to all extracts at low concentrations of 12.5mg/ml, but highly susceptible to extracts at varied concentrations of 25, 50 and 100mg/ml. However, all test bacteria were more susceptible to the ethanol extracts compared to the aqueous extracts with mean zones of inhibition ranging between 0.68 + 2.54 mm to 22.08 + 1.75 mm on E. coli clinical isolates, 0.0 + 0.0 mm to 20.00+0.mm on E. coli reference isolate, 3.08 + 6.0 mm to 21.50 + 0.00 mm on S. typhimurium clinical isolates and 0.00 + 0.mm to 20.00 + 0.0 mm on S. typhimurium reference isolate. The ethanol crude extracts exhibited lower MICs (12.5 to 25mg/ml) and MBCs (25 to 50mg/ml) values indicating higher efficacy of ethanol extracts, with the leaf extract demonstrating the highest activity against all the bacterial isolates. The important bioactive compounds present in the plant may be responsible for the observed antibacterial activity of the plant and hence its potential use as an antibacterial agent.Keywords: Phytochemical, Antibacterial effect, Terminalia avicennioides, diarrhoeaic patients

COSTS AND RETURNS ANALYSIS IN POULTRY PRODUCTION IN BAUCHI AND GOMBE METROPOLIS AREAS

The main objective of the study was to analyse costs and returns in egg production in Bauchi and Gombe metropolises. A number of 29 commercial poultry egg entrepreneurs were purposively selected and interviewed using structured questionnaires. The analysis of the cost structure revealed that feed accounted for about 76% of the total cost of production, while the depreciation on layer stock represented about 90% of the total fixed cost

Predictors of vaccine management practices among primary healthcare workers (PHCWs) in Ilorin, North Central Nigeria

Objective: Worldwide, vaccines are becoming more expensive as new ones are being introduced to the immunization schedule. Inspite of this, researches have revealed poor vaccine management practices among health workers. This study aimed to determine the predictors of vaccine management practices among PHCWs providing routine immunization services in static health facilities in Ilorin, north central Nigeria.Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted among 216 intervention and 241 control groups of PHCWs using multi stage sampling technique; pretested questionnaire and an observational checklist. Data were analyzed using EPI-INFO software package. Level of significance was predetermined at a p-value of less than 0.05.Results: The mean age of study respondents was 38.5 ± 9.5 years. Factors having positive influence on vaccine management practices include prior training exposure (p = 0.001), years of experience in immunization (p = 0.012) and baseline knowledge of vaccine management (p = 0.015). In addition, regularity of supervisory visit (0.008), adequacy/regularity of vaccine supply (p = 0.001), vaccine 'bundling' (p = 0.013) and type of health facility (p = 0.005) positively influenced respondents' vaccine management practices. However, basic qualification of health workers (p = 0.096) and availability of data tools (p = 0.628) had no significant influence on respondents' vaccine management practices.Conclusion: Training exposure and years of experience in routine immunization have positive influence on vaccine management practices of PHCWs. On-the-job supervision of health workers should be conducted at least bi-annually.Keywords: Predictors, Vaccine management practices, PHCW

Economics of Physical Attributes Influencing Cattle Prices in Ngalzarma Livestock Markets, Yobe State

This study examined the physical attributes influence cattle prices in Ngalzarma livestock market in Yobe State, Ngalzarma cattle market in Fune Local Government was purposively selected based on high concentration of cattle and cattle marketers. A total of one hundred thirty (130) Buyers were selected using systematic sampling by truncation on weekly basis for period of 26 weeks. Descriptive statistics, ginni co-efficient and multiple regressions was employed to analyze the collected data. The result of the study revealed that 100% of the respondents were male, 39.7% of cattle buyers were within age group of 31-40years and 96.7% were found to be married. The respondents (52.3%) were small buyers category, 24.9% medium and 22.8% were large scale buyers. Greater percentage of the cattle marketers (63.3%) preferred Red Bororo, 29.2% White Fulani and 7.4% Sokoto Gudali. The Ginni co-efficient model shows that the markets structure was competitive with low Ginni co-efficient of 0.507. The regression results indicated that colour of the ear, shape of the cattle face and type of horn were the factors that influenced the buyer's preference. Hedonic regression generally showed that female cattle, big carcass size and height were found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05), (P < 0.001) and (P < 0.001) respectively with positive coefficient. 1t was therefore recommended that research efforts should target the characteristics of these cattle that buyers are sensitive to so as to enhance profitability production and marketing

Econometric Analysis of Characteristics Influencing Cattle Prices in Selected Livestock Markets in Yobe State, Nigeria

A survey was conducted to analyze buyers' preference between Sokoto Gudali, White Fulani and Red Bororo in some selected livestock market in Yobe State.Three major cattle markets were purposively selected, based on high concentration of cattle, cattle marketers and major distributing point of the cattle in the state. Potiskum cattle market, Ngalda cattle market in Fika local Government and Ngalzarma cattle market in Fune Local Government were purposively selected for the study. Some 390 Buyers were selected from three markets on weekly basis for period of 26 weeks. Descriptive statistics, Ginni Co-efficient and multiple regressions were employed to analyze the collected data. The result of the study revealed that, 39.7% of cattle, buyers were within age group of 31-40years, 100% of the respondents were male and 96.7% were found to be married. The respondents (52.3%) were small buyers category, 24.9% medium and 22.8% were large-scale buyers. Greater percentage of the respondents (63.3%) preferred Red Bororo. The Ginni co-efficient model shows that the markets structure was competitive with low Ginni co-efficient of 0.4863. Hedonic regression generally showed that In all the three cattle market, Red bororo breed of cattle were compared with White Fulani and Sokoto gudali, the results shows that white fulani were found to be statistically significant at probability level of(P<0.05), in model I, II and IV with negative coefficient, and sokoto gudali were also found to be significant though negative in model I to IV, which implies that price of Red bororo were higher than that of two other breed,female cattle were found to be statistically significant (P<0.001) with negative coefficient, this implies that the price of male cattle were higher in all the cattle markets compared with female cattle. Big size cattle were found to be statistically significant (P<0.001) with positive coefficient,short horn cattle were found to be significant ( P<0.01) with positive coefficient in all the models. The height of cattle is another important physical characteristic that determine the size of cattle and height was found to be highly statistically significant (P<0.001) in all the models and positive coefficient, implies that cattle with height attracted more price which means for any unit increases in these variables buyers would be willing to pay premium. 1t was recommended that, research efforts should target the characteristics of these cattle that buyers are sensitive to, which will enhance profitability, production and marketing

Hedonic Price Analysis of Characteristics Influencing Cattle Prices in Ngalda Livestock Markets in Yobe State

This research was carried out to analyze characteristics influencing cattle prices in Ngalda livestock markets in Yobe State. Fika Local Government was purposively selected based on high concentration of cattle and cattle marketers, Ngalda cattle market has being the major distributing point of the cattle in the state. A total of 130 Buyers were selected using systematic sampling by truncation on weekly basis for period of 26 weeks. Descriptive statistics, Ginni Co-efficient and multiple regressions was employed in analyzing the collected data. The result of the study revealed that 100% of the respondents were male, 47% of cattle buyers were within age group of 31-40years and 81.5% were found to be married. The respondents (66%) were small buyers category, 21.5% medium and 12.3% were large scale buyers. The Ginni co-efficient model shows that the markets structure was competitive with low Ginni co-efficient of 0.474. The regression results indicated colour of the ear, shape of the cattle face and type of horn were the factors that influenced the buyer's preference. Hedonic regression shows that female cattle, big carcass size, short horn cattle and height were found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05), (P < 0.001), (P < 0.05) and (P < 0.001) respectively with positive coefficient across all the models implies that for any unit increase in these variables, buyers would be willing to pay more premium. 1t was therefore recommended that research efforts should target the characteristics of these cattle that buyers are sensitive to so as to enhance profitability production and marketing

The effect of rutin on lipid profile and liver function enzymes on alloxan induced hyperglycaemic wistar rats

The aim of this research was to investigate the effects of rutin on lipid profile and liver function enzymes on alloxan induced hyperglycaemia in Wistar rats. Hyperglycaemic was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 150 mg/kg alloxan monohydrate. The rats were grouped into five groups of five rats each. Group 1 served as the diabetic negative control, Group 2 served as positive control and was treated with 2 mg/kg glibenclamide, while Groups 3, 4 and 5 were treated with 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight of rutin respectively. Rutin was administered to the animals orally for a period of four weeks. At the end of the experimental period, the rats from each experimental group were sacrificed using light chloroform and sera were collected for the determination of lipid profile and liver function enzymes. There was a significant (p<0.05) decreased in the total cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein as compared to control. However, there was a significant (p<0.05) increased in the level of high density lipoprotein when compared to diabetic control. Furthermore, there was a significant (p<0.05) decreased in the serum liver enzymes; Aspartate transaminase (AST) Alanine transaminase (ALT) and Alkaline phosphates (ALP) as compared to control. As regards to the reference drug 2mg/kg glibenclamide there was a significant (p<0.05) increased in the liver enzymes function as compared to control. Conclusion, rutin has hypolipidemic effect and also decreased liver function enzymes activity on alloxan induced hyperglycaemic rats.Keywords: Rutin, Hyperglycaemia, Alloxan, Lipid profile, Liver enzyme

Cognitive Profile of Patients with Thalamic Hemorrhage according to Lesion Localization

Background: The thalamus is known as the central sensory and motor relay station of the brain generally. However, cognitive decline due to thalamic lesions has been previously reported in different studies. Also, it has been observed that different cognitive subdomains are affected according to the localization of the lesion in the thalamus. Objectives and Methods: Detailed neurophysiological tests were performed on 28 patients with thalamic hemorrhage and the control group. Patients were grouped according to lesion localization. The results were compared with both the control group and the hemorrhage groups themselves. Results: The performance of patients in all neuropsychological tests was significantly worse than that of the control group. Of the 28 patients, 15 had anterolateral, 5 had posterolateral, 5 had dorsal, and 3 had an anteromedial thalamic hemorrhage. The anteromedial group had the worst scores of almost all tests. Also, 2 situations came to notice in these tests. First, the posterolateral group achieved a remarkably low mean in the recall subgroup of the MMSE tests and verbal memory process tests. Second, the anterolateral group was found to have a low mean in both the language subgroup of the MMSE tests and the phonemic subgroup of the verbal fluency tests. Conclusion: It was concluded in this study that thalamic hemorrhages affect cognition entirely regardless of the lesion localization. It was also observed that the lateral part of the thalamus was associated with language, the posterior part with memory, and the anteromedial part with the rest of the cognitive subdomains

Effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles on viscosity of transesterified neem oil

Efforts have been made worldwide to find alternative fluids for industrial applications. Vegetable oil appears to be a perfect alternative, but using most of the vegetable oil as a feedstock made its use for industrial purposes challenging. The recent trend is to develop coolants/lubricants from non-edible seed oil. This work investigates the effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles on viscosity of transesterified neem oil. The crude neem oil was purified, transesterified and nanoparticles were dispersed in the transesterified oil at concentrations ranging from 0.0% to 1.0% at 0.2% intervals. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectra were used to examine the structures of the samples and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analyses were used to examine the surface morphology of the samples. Viscosity were examined. Among other things, it was found that a small amount of ZnO (0.6%) nanoparticles in the oil could improve the viscosity of the fluid. The nanoliquid with a ZnO concentration of 0.6% appears to have optimal properties