Geophysical Characterization of Abandoned Dumpsite Soil Properties for Pre- Foundation Delineation at Bowen University Campus, Iwo, Nigeria

Geophysical investigation and microstudy of soil properties were carried out within Bowen University, for the characterization of the subsurface pattern in the area using vertical electrical sounding (VES) survey and evaluation of soil properties with a view to mapping subsurface geological features, such as weak and competent zones and to determine the overburden thickness of the area for pre-foundation studies for a proposed high-rise building. Four (4) VES was carried out in the study area employing schlumberger electrode configuration. The data collected were used to curve match and the results used for subsequent interpretation to reveal the depth,  thickness and resistivity of the study area. In addition, soil samples were collected from three (3) selected points located at the entrance, centre and the end of the study area at about a depth 0-60 cm. Consequently, the VES results were presented as resist graph, which revealed the range of values for the depth (1.3 – 24.5), thickness (1.3 – 15.4 m) and resistivity (357.4 - 6311.6 ohms), which was later used to generated the geoelectric maps of the study area. It was also observed that the result of the soil propertiesrevealed that all the samples taken from the study area have low bulk density (1.41 g/cm3, 1.26 g/cm3, 1.36 g/cm3), high particle density (2.81 g/cm3, 2.94 g/cm3, 3.16 g/cm3), and high porosity (49.64%, 57.22%, 57.03%). In conclusion, it was observed that erection of high-rise building is not advisable within the study area since the results showed that theoverburden (depth to basement) is generally thick mostly greater than 15 m. Also revealed from the microstudy of soil properties is that foundation stability should be properly managed, since a porous soil does not  accommodate engineering activities except when an artificial basement is put in place.Keywords: Geophysical Investigation, Soil Analysis, Foundation Studies, Subsurface Competenc

Potentials of cellulosic wastes in media formulation

Potential use of cellulosic wastes as carbon and energy sources in selective media formulations was investigated. Two agar media, Czapek-Dox and Sabouraud’s agar, were modified by substituting theircarbon sources with cellulose, sawdust and sugarcane pulps. Then, two fungi; Aspergillus niger ANL301 and Penicillium chrysogenum PCL501, newly isolated from wood-wastes, were transferred to the unmodified and modified media and their growth was monitored for 120 h. Growth of the organisms on modified media containing sawdust and sugarcane pulp compared favorably with that obtained for the unmodified equivalents. Modified Czapek-Dox agar containing 2% (w/v) sawdust (Wood agar) and sugarcane pulps (Cane agar) gave 78.9 – 93.3% of the maximum growth obtained on Sabouraud’s agar. The modified Sabouraud’s agar containing sawdust (Wood-Pep agar) and sugarcane pulps (Cane-Pep agar) yielded 84.4 – 100% of the maximum growth on Sabouraud’s agar. Cellulose-containing media gave a lower level of growth (60.0 – 66.7%) of that obtained for the unmodified media

Chemical Evaluation of Bovine Blood-Rumen Content Meal

No Abstract JARD Vol. 1 2001: pp. 75-7

Nutrient Contents and Sensory Quality Assessment of Home-Prepared Cheese and Yoghurt from Fresh Cow Milk

Objective: This study was designed to assess the nutrient contents and acceptability of local cheese (‘wara’) and yoghurt. Materials and Methods: Fresh cow milk was collected from Ijaye dairy farm, Oyo State, Nigeria. It was collected in three sterile containers of 2.5 litres each. Fresh cow milk and home-prepared cheese and yogurt were analyzed chemically using standard methods of AOAC, Atomic Absorption Spectrometry and Spectrophotometry. Data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis: means and standard deviation, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and means separated using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test. Results: Protein and fat contents of local cheese and yoghurt were higher than that of fresh milk. The values of the protein content of fresh milk were 4.25±0.01g/100g while that of local cheese and yoghurt were 4.70±0.06g/100g and 4.82±0.02g/100g, respectively. The values of phosphorous and magnesium of local cheese and yoghurt were also found to be higher than that of fresh milk. Phosphorous in fresh milk, local cheese and yoghurt were 0.37±0.01mg/100g, 1.04±0.03mg/100g and 1.06±0.04mg/100g while magnesium contents of fresh milk, cheese and yogurt were 0.23±0.01mg/100g, 1.04±0.02mg/100g and 1.06±0.03mg/100g respectively. The sensory analysis revealed that both cheese and yogurt were well accepted. Conclusion: Local cheese (‘wara’) and yoghurt produced locally should be introduced into Nigerian market to improve nutritional status of consumers and also could serve as complementary food. Local cheese and yoghurt have nutritional benefits beyond fresh cow milk.Key words: Cheese, Yoghurt, Home-prepared, Cow milk, Dairy product

Replacement value of cassava flour for maize in layers\' diet containing bovine blood-rumen content meal

No Abstract Available Ghana Jnl agric. Sci, Vol.36 2003: 41-4

Evaluation of Blood-Rumen content Mixture in the diets of starter chicks

A trial with 234 day-old Olympian Black pullet chicks was conducted for a duration of eight weeks to determine the optimum level of inclusion of Blood-Rumen content Mixture (BRC) in the diet of starter chicks. Chicks were fed ad-libitum starter diets containing 0, 5, 10, 15, 20% BRC and another 20% BRC diet containing no soya bean cake. Birds on all BRC-based diets had higher body weight gains and higher feed intakes than birds on the control diet. A progressive increase in feed: gain ratio was observed from 10% BRC to 20% BRC in the diets. The decline in the performance of chicks fed higher levels of BRC in the diet is suggested to be due to the high crude fiber content and possible amino acid imbalance of such diets. The results of this trial shows that starter pullets should not be fed more than 10% BRC.Keywords: Pullets chicks, Blood-Rumen content (BRC), performance

Influence of bovine blood-rumen content meal in the diets of growing pullets on their subsequent laying performance

No Abstract Available Ghana Jnl agric. Sci, Vol.36 2003: 47-5

Cytotoxicity evaluation of sixteen Nigerian medicinal plant extracts using the human rhabdomyosarcoma cell line

As part of our evaluation of plants from the Nigerian ethnobotany,sixteen extracts from fourteen medicinal plants were evaluated for toxicity and inhibition of tumour cell growth using human  rhabdomyosarcoma(RD) cell line. The plant samples were extracted by maceration in methanol at room temperature and were investigated for cytotoxicactivity. The ability of each extracts to induced cell death in tissue culture was evaluated by colorimetric method using MTT dye (3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol–2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) and cyclophosphamide was used as control. Cell death at 50% (CC50) was evaluated for all the extracts. Fourteen of the assessed extracts were cytotoxic (CC50< 20µg/mL) against RD cell, meanwhile extracts from four of the plants, namely; Parquetina nigresence (rb) Thoningia sanguinea (f) Khaya  senegalensis (l) Sida acuta (a) were not cytotoxic(CC50> 20µg/mL). Methanol extracts of Quassia africana and Quassia amara stembark possessed the most significant cytotoxic activity (CC50 = 0.09 and 0.08 µg/mL, respectively)against RD cancer cell andactivity significantly correlated with that of the control drug  cyclophosphamide which had a CC50 of 1.80 µg/mL. Conclusively, the results of the present study indicatethat selected plants demonstrated awide range of cytotoxic activities. This will be of tremendous assistance in assesssing the safety of the medicinal plants and also give direction for future anticancer drug development

Gender Difference in Emotional Labour among Nurses in Osun State, Nigeria

This study examined the differences in the performance of emotional labour (deep acting and surface acting) among male and female nurses in Osun State, Nigeria. A total of one hundred and sixty six respondents participated in the study. The participants were randomly selected from Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife and Osun State General Hospital, Osogbo both in Osun State, Nigeria. A standardized scale, Emotional Labour Scale (ELS), was used for data collection. Data collected were analysed using the independent sample t-test. Results showed a statistically significant difference in the performance of emotional labour among nurses in Osun state {t (164) = 2.020, p<0. 05}. Male nurses were found to display higher levels of emotional labour (N=72, x̄ =66.14, SD=7.40) than those of their female counterparts (N=94,  x̄ =63.51, SD=9.36). It further showed that there was a significant difference in the experience of surface acting among male and female {t (164) = 2.57, p<0. 05}. Male nurses reported higher mean (N=72, x̄ =34.47, SD=4.95) of surface acting than the female nurses (N=94, x̄ =32.32, SD=5.84). This result indicates that male nurses are more likely to regulate theiremotions through surface acting than  female nurses. However, there was no statistical significant difference in the experience of deep acting among male and female nurses. The study concluded that a significant gender difference in the performance of emotional labour among nurses in Osun state. Male nurses engage more in surface acting than the female nurses.Keywords: Gender, Emotional Labour, Nurses, Deep Acting and Surface Actin