Explorations of Respectability and Resistance in Constructions of Black Womanhood at HBCUs

Somewhere in her college experience she must have an opportunity to develop poise, to increase her self-esteem and to establish a sense of her worth and dignity as an individual. She must experience peace and beauty in her environment and she must be accorded the respect and courtesy, which is so lacking in her life on the outside. The education of the Negro woman should give her an opportunity to exhaust to the fullest her powers of expression and creativit

Agro-Ecological Assessment of Soil Quality of a River Watershed in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

The chemical properties of the degraded soil around River Ediene watershed in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria were analyzed to determine the soil quality level of the forested mosaic. This was assessed by taking 9 samples from different points around the watershed. Each sample was tested for percentage concentration of organic matter, nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, sodium, aluminum and soil pH. Reconnaissance survey preceded the 9 sites soil sample collection. The sampling points were made 50 metres apart from the bank of the river, designated as A, B, C. The result of the analysis shows that the soil around River Ediene watershed has an organic matter content of 0.9%, magnesium content of 0.085 Meq Mg/100g, and 0.52 Meq Ca/100g of calcium, percentage aluminum of 0.077% (770 ppm), Phosphorus content of 17.23ppm, nitrogen of 0.025%. It also contained 0.016 Meq Na/100g of sodium, 4.63ppm potassium and the soil pH was 6. 17. It was therefore concluded that the soil is not of good quality as the values were lower than the standard soil requirement and needs to be raised for arable farming . Keywords: watershed, soil quality, Niger Delta Region, soil fertility, agro-ecological, River Edien

Application of Geographical Information Systems Technology in Soil Fertility Variation Analysis in South-eastern Nigeria

The study investigated the fertility status of soil around the River Otamiri watershed in Imo State of South-eastern Nigeria. A Geographical Positioning System was used to geo-reference the area and locate the soil samples, which were collected from 9 sampling points at 2 m depths each. The sample points were 210m, 110m and 10m away from the river channel. The soil samples were air-dried and passed through 2-mm sieves before they were subjected to routine laboratory analyses. Results showed that the soil area was predominantly made of loamy sand particles, with high values ± 98.7% which decreased progressively away from the river. There was increase in available phosphorous upslope compared to downslope, steady decrease in aluminum and hydrogen downslope, while areas closer to the river have less acidic cations. The soil pH ranged from 4.67 ↔ 5.62. Surface soils comprised more of organic carbon content than subsurface soils which decreased from crest to footslope. The soil data also produced low values of total nitrogen and the total exchangeable bases. The results presented the soil as infertile and unfit for serious farming except with conscious enrichment efforts.Keywords: soil fertility, surface soils, soil samples, geographical information systems, watershe

Employee Attitudes Towards the Privatization of Kuwait Government Departments and State Owned Enterprises

There is little empirical evidence about how employees feel about privatizing state owned enterprises (SOEs) and such evidence provides insight on the impact privatization might have on employees. This study therefore aims at exploring the attitudes amongst Kuwait employees regarding the impact privatization might have on the employment system and recommends measures to minimise the impact so that the programme may readily be acceptable to civil servants. A mixed methodology was used to survey 500 and interview 15 people and in particular, descriptive and discriminant analysis demonstrated an effective categorization of Kuwait employees into those that were in support and those that were against the privatization programme. The research findings showed that although privatization of state owned enterprises was perceived to bring about improved service delivery, respondents’ attitudes towards privatization was overwhelmingly negative. Respondents’ attitudes were largely influenced by their concerns on the perceived changes in the employment system, in particular job security, and the impact of privatization on the localisation of the industry, commonly referred to as Kuwaitization (i.e. replacing foreign workers with Kuwaiti employees). Finally, we offer practitioners and researchers an analytical framework for assessing employees’ attitudes towards privatization of state owned enterprises and the study suggests strategies that might be suitable for dealing with employees’ concerns

Physicochemical properties of Mucuna pruriens seed oil (MPSO), and the toxicological effects of a MPSO-based diet

The toxicological effects of Mucuna pruriens oil based diet were evaluated and compared with that of palm oil diet for 28 days. The physico-chemical analysis of the Mucuna pruriens oil showed that it has a moisture content of 7.85%, oil yield of 6.00%, pH of 5.65, density of 0.39, iodine value of 24.40/100g fat, acid value of 51.40mg NaOH/g, peroxide value of 0.10mEq/Kg, saponification value of 86.05mg/KOH/g, free fatty acid value of 0.40mg/dl, viscosity of 37.54 and unsaponififiable matters of 46.10. The aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activities were significantly (p<0.05) increased in rats fed Mucuna pruriens oil meal compared to the palm oil group. The serum total and conjugated bilirubin, total proteins, albumin, creatinine and urea concentrations were also significantly (p<0.05) increased in the test group. Histological examination of the rat organs revealed the presence of lesions, tubular atrophy and mild oedema on organs from the test group.  This is an indication that Mucuna pruriens oil is not completely safe for consumption.Keywords: Mucuna pruriens, toxicological effect, histology, phytochemical

Comparative Analysis of Petroleum Ether and Aqueous Extracts of Neem Leaf and Neem Stem on Different Stages of Anopheles gambiae

Comparative analysis of petroleum ether and aqueous extracts of neem leaf and neem stem on different stages of Anopheles gambiae was carried out using Soxhlet apparatus. Each plant part extract from both solvents were separately used to test their effects on the developmental stages of Anopheles gambiae. The result showed that the mean mortality of extracts from petroleum ether extraction solvent was higher than that of aqueous extract. It was also observed that mean mortality decreases with increase in developmental stage. Furthermore, extracts from neem leaf was found to be more susceptible than extracts from neem stem using same extraction solvent. Keywords: Petroleum ether, aqueous, developmental, stages, extraction, Anopheles gambiae

Biodegradation of Crude Oil Polluted Soil by Co-Composting with Agricultural Wastes and Inorganic Fertilizer

Pollution of the environment by petroleum products is inevitable due to oil production,   transportation and distribution activities.   The present study is aimed at examining the extent of bioremediation that can be achieved in crude oil polluted soil after supplementing with organic manure (poultry droppings and goat dung); inorganic fertilizer (NPK 15:15:15) and saw dust respectively. A bioremediation study was carried out on soil experimentally polluted with Bonny Light crude oil by supplementation with organic and inorganic nutrients (poultry manure, goat dung, saw dust and NPK fertilizer). The efficacy of the treatments was monitored for 112days by the measurement of total hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria load and some physico-chemical parameters. The polluted soil (Control) sample had mean bacterial counts of 8.8x104, 9.0x104, 9.2´104, 9.9x104 and 7.6x104 cfu/g respectively. Sample treated with NPK fertilizer had mean bacterial counts of 4.4x104, 4.6x104, 4.7x104, 4.9x104 and 5.2x104 cfu/g on days 0,28,56,84 and 112 respectively; sample treated with poultry manure had mean bacterial counts of 1.6x104, 1.8x104, 2.0x104, 2.4x104 and 2.7x104 cfu/g on days 0, 28,56,84 and 112 respectively; the saw dust treated sample had mean bacterial counts of 2.0x104, 2.3x104, 2.7x104, 2.9x104 and 3.0x104 cfu/g on days 0,28,56,84 and 112 respectively while that treated with goat dung had mean bacterial counts of 9.3x104, 9.5x104, 9.6x104, 9.8x104and 9.9x104 cfu/g on days 0,28,56,84 and 112 respectively.  There were differences in the physico-chemical analyses from the diverse samples. After statistical analysis (P£0.05) there was a significant difference between the different treated samples from the control. The results suggest that nutrient supplementation would be effective in the remediation of crude oil polluted soils. The potentials of various treatment options for the bioremediation of crude oil polluted soils seems to hold the most immediate solution especially for use in areas that would be adversely affected by physical or other removal methods. In this study, the reduction of oil in the treated samples is evident, polluted samples supplemented with fertilizer and poultry manure respectively proved to be the best options during the 112 days study period. This study shows that those organic supplements containing nitrogen and phosphorus have great potentials for the remediation of soils contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbon within a reasonable time. Keywords: Bioremediation, Crude Oil Polluted Soil, Organic Manure (poultry droppings and goat dung); Inorganic fertilizer (NPK 15:15:15), Saw dust

Teachers’ Perceptions of Causes of Gender Differences in Mathematics Achievement Among Secondary School Students

The study investigated teachers’ perceptions of the causes of gender differences in mathematics achievement among secondary school students. The study was carried in Owerri Education Zone I of Imo State Nigeria using descriptive survey research design. A sample of 150 mathematics teachers was used for the study comprising of 90 males and 60 females. A 21-item likert 4 points type of questionnaire titled Causes of Gender Differences in Mathematics Achievement (CGDMA) drawn by the researchers was used for data collection. The instrument had reliability coefficient (r) of 0.81 determined using Crounbach’s alpha method. The data generated were analyzed using mean and standard deviation to answer research questions while the hypotheses were analyzed using chi-square (x2) and t-test statistical tools tested at 0.05 level of significance. The result of the study revealed series of factors causing gender differences in mathematics achievement which are teacher, students and parent related. Based on the result, it was recommended that teachers should use innovative strategies in teaching mathematics to get both male and female students involved in classroom activities

Anticipated Impacts of Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) Mission Measurements on Hydrologic Applications

No abstract availabl

Development of SMAP Mission Cal/Val Activities

The Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission is a NASA directed mission to map global land surface soil moisture and freeze-thaw state. Instrument and mission details are shown. The key SMAP soil moisture product is provided at 10 km resolution with 0.04cubic cm/cubic cm accuracy. The freeze/thaw product is provided at 3 km resolution and 80% frozen-thawed classification accuracy. The full list of SMAP data products is shown