The spectral energy distribution of NGC 1275

An analysis of absolute spectral energy distributions of interstellar gas for a galaxy (NGC 1275) is presented. Infrared spectra data shows heavy reddening. It is proposed that the interstellar gas may be ionized by shock waves or by nonthermal or stellar radiation. It is suggested, that high velocity, emission-line knots are H2 regions in a Perseus cluster galaxy or intergalactic gas cloud seen in projection against NGC 1275

Exploring the Link between Total Quality Management and Business Performance

The study examined the influence of total quality management on business performance in manufacturing industry in Nigeria with a particular reference to Nestle Nigeria Plc. The broad objective of this study was to examine how leadership, supply quality management, employee participation, recognition and reward and quality system management predicted business performance. The study employed survey research. Primary data was used for the study with questionnaire as research instrument. The subjects were two hundred employees from Nestle Nigeria Plc. The six hypotheses formulated for this study were tested using multiple Regression and Pearson correlation. The findings for this study revealed that leadership, supply quality management, employee participation, recognition and reward and quality system management jointly and independently predicted business performance. Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended that management should try to update themselves on the various TQM practices so as to face the competitive environment. Keywords: Total Quality Management, Business Performance, Employee Participation, Recognition and Rewar

A multi-criteria model for maintenance job scheduling

This paper presents a multi-criteria maintenance job scheduling model, which is formulated using a weighted multi-criteria integer linear programming maintenance scheduling framework. Three criteria, which have direct relationship with the primary objectives of a typical production setting, were used. These criteria are namely minimization of equipment idle time, manpower idle time and lateness of job with unit parity. The mathematical model constrained by available equipment, manpower and job available time within planning horizon was tested with a 10-job, 8-hour time horizon problem with declared equipment and manpower available as against the required. The results, analysis and illustrations justify multi-criteria consideration. Thus, maintenance managers are equipped with a tool for adequate decision making that guides against error in the accumulated data which may lead to wrong decision making. The idea presented is new since it provides an approach that has not been documented previously in the literature

Quantitative characterisation of an engineering write-up using random walk analysis

This contribution reports on the investigation of correlation properties in an English scientific text (engineering write-up) by means of a random walk. Though the idea to use a random walk to characterise correlations is not new (it was used e.g. in the genome analysis and in the analysis of texts), a random walk approach to the analysis of an English scientific text is still far from being exploited in its full strength as demonstrated in this paper. A method of high-dimensional embedding is proposed. Case examples were drawn arbitrarily from four engineering write-ups (Ph.D. synopsis) of three engineering departments in the Faculty of Technology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Thirteen additional analyses of non-engineering English texts were made and the results compared to the engineering English texts. Thus, a total of seventeen write-ups of eight Faculties and sixteen Departments of the University of Ibadan were considered. The characterising exponents which relate the average distance of random walkers away from a known starting position to the elapsed time steps were estimated for the seventeen cases according to the power law and in three different dimensional spaces. The average characteristic exponent obtained for the seventeen cases and over three different dimensional spaces studied was 1.42 to 2-decimal with a minimum and a maximum coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.9495 and 0.9994 respectively. This is found to be 284% of the average characterising exponent value (0.5), as supported by the literature for random walkers based on the pseudo-random number generator. The average characteristic exponent obtained for the four cases that were engineering-based and over the three different dimensional studied spaces was 1.41 to 2-decimal (closer by 99.3% to 1.42) with a minimum and a maximum coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.9507 and 0.9974 respectively. This is found to be 282% of the average characterising exponent value (0.5), as supported by the literature for random walkers based on the pseudo-random number generator. In view of the range of the average characterising exponent across Faculties and the closeness of the average characterising exponent in the engineering-based cases in particular, it can be concluded that the engineering writing is strongly correlated. This study recommends that a very high characterising exponent value (e.g 1.42) is a mark of a very good engineering write-up

AN OVERVIEW OF AQUIFER VULNERABILITY

Published Book ChapterAquifer vulnerability concerns assessment of risk associated with groundwater resources. Investigations are carried out based on concepts applied to assess groundwater bodies. Aquifer vulnerability concepts discussed are based on available input data (subjective, physical, and statistical); resource and source protection; intrinsic and specific approaches. The broad-based methods most vulnerability approaches follow are the hydrogeological and complex setting method, statistical method, mathematical method, parametric system method, and index method. Fifteen commonly used methods were reviewed, stating the concept, purposes, advantages, and limitations. The methods were selected based on applicability to karst topography, the basis for European vulnerability approaches, travel time concept based on physically based approaches and intrinsic vulnerability approaches. The review discusses the importance of vulnerability validation and suggests appropriate validation techniques that can be adopted. The review concludes with discussions on the challenges and directions for future contributions on aquifer vulnerability

THE TOXICITY OF HEXANOLIC EXTRACT OF Xylopia aethiopica TO LARVAE OF CULEX P. quiuefasciatus

The hexanolic extract of Xylopia aethiopica (Ethiopian pepper) was tested for acute toxicity on the larva of Culex p. quiquefasciatus reared in the laboratory of the Department of Biological Science University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Nigeria. Five concentrations: (50ppm, 100ppm, 200ppm, 300ppm and 400ppm) were evaluated for acute toxicity on the larvae and total percentage mortalities recorded at intervals of 1,12,24,48 and 96 hours in each test. Effects of sunlight and ultra violet radiation on stability of the extract’s potency at 2,4, and 8 hours respectively were equally examined. The mean lethal concentration LC50 was 257ppm. Toxicity of Xylopia aethiopica on Culex p. quiquefasciatus larvae was gradual and persisted throughout the test period. Sunlight exposure has no significant effect on the potency of Xylopia oil while ultra-violet radiation activated its larvicidal properties.Â

Efisiensi Ekonomis dan Teknis Usaha Tani Singkong pada Kelompok Tani di Desa Banteran, Sumbang, Kabupaten Banyumas dan di Desa Selakambang, Kaligondang, Kabupaten Purbalingga, 2010

The purposes of this study are to analyze the effect of labor, land, seed, fertilizer, and capital on the production of cassava; to analyze the economic efficiency and technical efficiency in cassava farming between farmer groups in Banyumas and Purbalingga; and to analyze the difference of economic and technical efficiencies of cassava farming in Banyumas and Purbalingga. This research is conducted with qualitative and quantitative analysis based on production function with a stochastic frontier approach (Stochastic Frontier Production Function): regression analysis, maximum likelihood (MLE), the analysis of technical efficiency(DEA), economic efficiency, price efficiency, and Return-Cost (R/C) ratio. The result shows there are only three significant independent variables namely labor, land, and capital. Based on analysis of technical efficiency (ET), there are only ten efficient farmers in Banyumas and four efficient farmers in Purbalingga. The results from the efficiency of the price and economic efficiency show that the farming of cassava has no efficient in both of farmer groups in Banyumas and Purbalingga. From the calculation of technical efficiency, price efficiency, and economic efficiency, it can be concluded that cassava farming has no efficient. The results from R/C ratio indicate that cassava farming in both of them are quite profitable

A SURVEY OF ECTOPARASITES’ INFESTATION ON DOGS (CANIS SPP.) AT FUNAAB’S COLLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE TEACHING HOSPITAL, ISALE-IGBEIN, ABEOKUTA, OGUN STATE

A survey work on ectoparasites’ infestation was carried out on dogs (Canis sp.) at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Isale-igbein, Abeokuta, Ogun State. This survey lasted for six weeks, during this period; thirty four (34) dogs were examined for ectoparasites’ infestation. The dogs brought to the Teaching Hospital for treatments were examined with the consent of their owners by the use of questionnaire. Questionnaires were administered to dog owners, where information about the age, sex, location, control method was asked and ticks were collected from the dogs. The results of the survey showed high prevalence of tick infestation on the exotic dogs (65.4%), on the female dogs (66.7%), on the dogs that are 2 years of age and above (88.9%), on the free range dogs (85.7%), on the wooden confined dogs (71.4%) and on the dogs that powder was used as a control method (68.2%) of the infested dogs brought to FUNAAB VTH with no traces of other ectoparasites on the dogs. Only two species of ticks were found Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Rhipicephalus boophilus during this survey. The high prevalence of tick infestation and no infestation by other ectoparasites in the study carried out shows that the dog owners control the ectoparasites but not as adequate as it ought to be and this inadequate hygienic attention given to the dogs brought about the high infestation of ticks on some of the dogs. Although in this survey mono-infestation was recorded on almost all the infested dogs and only one double-infestation was observed with ticks of cattle namely; R. boophilus, this should not be considered as less significant maintenance of the hosts of these ticks.   &nbsp

Effects of Compactive Effort on Laterite - Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Ash Mixture

The effect of three compactive efforts, i.e., British Standard light; BSL (or standard Proctor), West African Standard; WAS (or ‘Intermediate’) and British Standard heavy; BSH (or Modified Proctor) on laterite treated with up to 14 % oil palm empty fruit bunch ash (OPEFBA) by dry weight of the soil was investigated. Index and compaction (Optimum moisture content, OMC and Maximum dry density, MDD) tests were carried out. The Atterberg limits (Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit and Plasticity Index) generally decreased with increasing OPEFBA content. The OMC values increased from 18.5, 17.1 and 16.1% to 23.3, 20.1 and 21.4 %, respectively, while MDD values generally decreased from 1.60, 1.60 and 1.75 Mgm-3 to 1.51, 1.49 and 1.58 Mgm-3 respectively for BSL, WAS and BSH compactive effort, respectively. Based on the results obtained, laterite treated with 8 % OPEFBA and compacted with at least BSL energy is recommended for use in the construction of the sub-base layer of low-volume roads. The benefits of using OPEFBA as a sustainable indigenous construction material include reductions in the adverse environmental impact of oil palm empty fruit bunch waste as a result of its application in road construction

Histology and ultrastructure of the uterus of African giant rat (Cricetomys Gambianus, Waterhouse) during oestrous cycle

This study describes histology and ultrastructure of uterus in the African giant rat during oestrous cycle. Endometrial histology displayed glandular mucosa consisting of lamina epithelialis and lamina propria mucosae. Its epithelium varied between simple and pseudostratified columnar. The myometrium consisted of inner circular and outer longitudinal smooth muscles with medium sized arteries and veins in-between. The perimetrium contained simple squamous epithelium. Endometrial ultrastructures were variable during oestrous cycle. At mid oestrus, hemidesmosomes anchored undulating basement membrane of the mucosal epithelium. Preponderance spherical mitochondria, lipofuscin granules concentration, flocculent homogenous materials and indented nuclei were displayed. At mid metoestrus, late metoestrus/early dioestrus and mid dioestrus, the base of the mucosal columnar epithelium lain on relatively straight basement membrane and their cytoplasmic ultrastructure displayed variation to mid oestrus. Epithelial apex showed intermediate filament, microvilli and junctional complexes. The uterine glands occurred in variable numbers and sizes during oestrous cycle and shared similar ultrastructure. Mid dioestrus showed cell ultrastructure of uterine glands having apical accumulation of secretory vesicles. Some actively secreting uterine glands were lined by simple ciliated columnar epithelium mingled with pseudostratified epithelium. The findings of the study indicate that giant rat endometrial ultrastructure varies during oestrous cycle and glandular secretion is merocrine.