Variational quantum monte carlo calculation of the ground state energy of hydrogen molecule

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Construction and Testing of Belt Conveyor System for Auchi Polytechnic Demonstration Farm

Materials handling is a very important aspect of post-harvest operation, the socio-economic value and shelf life of crops especially perishables depends largely on how they are conveyed from one place to another, a conveyor is a mechanical handling equipment that moves materials from one location to another. Many kinds of conveying systems are available, and are used according to the various needs of different industries. The aim of this paper is to construct a belt conveyor machine for Auchi Polytechnic demonstration farm.  This paper contains the design calculations and considerations of belt conveyor system, in terms of size, length, capacity and speed, roller diameter, power and tension, idler spacing, type of drive unit, diameter, location and arrangement of pulley, angle and axis of rotation, control mode, intended application. The completed work will help to reduce human effort and at the same time increase the productivity and accuracy levels that cannot be achieved with manual operations. Keywords: Materials handling, Post-harvest operations, Belt Conveyor, Frame, Material handling equipment, DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/11-18-03 Publication date:September 30th 202

Exploration of solar radiation data from three geo-political zones in Nigeria

In this paper,readings of solar radiation received at three meteorological sites in Nigeria were analysed. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)statistical test was carried out on the data set to observe the significant differences on radiations for each quarter of the specified years.The data were obtained in raw form from Nigerian Meteorological Agency(NIMET),Oshodi,Lagos.In order to get a clear description and visualization of the fluctuations of the radiation data,each year were considered independently,where it wasdiscoveredthatforthe3rdquarterofeachyear,thereisa great fallintheintensityofthesolarradiationtoaslowas73.27 (W/m2), 101.66(W/m2), 158.51(W/m2) for Ibadan,Port-Harcourt and Sokoto respectively.A detailed data description is available for the averages across months fore a chquarter.The data can provide insights on the health implications of exposure to solar radiation and the effect of solar radiation on climate change,food produc- tion, rainfall and flood pattern

Design and Development of a Low Cost Solar Powered Drip Irrigation System for Auchi Polytechnic Demonstration Farm

Auchi Polytechnic and the Communities surrounding her, have being experiencing significant issues with water scarcity and quality for many decades. Again, with the moribund state of the Water Corporation Service here in Auchi, there is an unprecedented demand for water concerns about water use by agriculture. Hence, a lot of farming activities takes place only during the raining season. This study aimed to design a solar powered borehole for drip irrigation system. Drip lines were laid, 2 mm holes was made at distance of 30 cm on the 6 m PVC pipes. Components of drip irrigation system consist essentially of main line, submains, laterals and emitters. The main line delivers water to the submains and the submains to the laterals. The set up was tested to determine the uniformity of water emission from the drip emitters into the field, maize, pepper, tomatos was used as the test crops and there was uniform growth observed across the entire field. The low cost drip system developed in this study showed a high level of efficiency and uniformity of water emission across the entire study area. Keywords:  Low Cost Solar Powered, Irrigation System, Farm DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/11-18-05 Publication date:September 30th 2020

Prescribers’ Adherence to Treatment Guidelines for Uncomplicated Malaria in Primary Health Centres in Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Background: Malaria, though preventable and treatable, remains a disease with unacceptably high mortality in Nigeria. Effective and prompt treatment of uncomplicated cases reduces progression to severe disease, development of drug resistance, and cuts the costs of the disease.Objective: To assess adherence by prescribers to recommended treatment (based on National Treatment Guideline) for uncomplicated malaria in primary health centres (PHCs) in the eight Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Bayelsa State, Nigeria.Methods: A retrospective review of case notes and prescription sheets for suspected malaria cases treated at 28 PHCs within a year of data collection was done. Relevant data about the prescribers, the patients, and the antimalarial drugs prescribed were collected and analyzed as appropriate.Results: A total of 2,303 case notes of patients attending PHCs were examined over the study period. A high proportion of malaria (1422, 61.7%) was observed among the 2,303 cases. The median age (years) of adults was 28.0 (IQR = 14), and for children of 0-5, 2.0 (IQR = 2.17). Majority of those treated were females (792, 55.7%) and children (967, 68.0%). Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) were the most prescribed antimalarials (961, 67.6%), followed by artemisinin monotherapies in 23.8% of cases. Proportion of treated cases of malaria that could be considered rational across the LGAs was 67.6%.Conclusion: Adherence of prescribers to National Treatment Guidelines of uncomplicated malaria in PHCs in Bayelsa State was below the required standard, with continued usage of obsolete agents, such as artemisinin monotherapies. Training on case management for prescribers at this level of care is urgently needed. Keywords: Antimalarial drugs, Malaria, Primary Health Centres, Community Health Workers, Bayelsa State

Accelerating Post-Harvest Food Loss Reduction in Nigeria Through the Development of a Pilot-Scale Vacuum Cooling and Storage System

The problem of the loss of food after harvest has drawn worldwide attention in the latest decades. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and other national and international organizations had estimated that one-third of all foods produced and half of all fruit and vegetables are lost or wasted between harvest and use. In September 2015, the United Nations (UN) announced its objective of decreasing global food waste and significantly decreasing global food loss by 2030, as part of its Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The post-harvest loss of food is a major challenge in sub-Saharan African nations for farmers and growers, with spoilt foods leading to up to 50% of harvested food that does not reach the marketplace. This is not only a problem for farmers themselves, who are suffering from decreased incomes and loss of commercial opportunities, but it is also a problem for the environment and resources as far as unnecessary emissions of greenhouse gas are concerned. This paper examines the opportunities that a vacuum storage system presents in reducing food losses after harvest and highlights the challenges in Nigeria to adopt this technology. The equally encapsulated the design, fabrication and testing of vacuum cooling machine Keywords: Postharvest, Food Loss, Nigeria, Storage, Vacuum-Cooling DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/11-20-03 Publication date:October 31st 202

Outcome of intensive care management of acute chest syndrome in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital: A preliminary report

Objectives: Acute chest syndrome (ACS) is a common complication of vaso-occlusive crisis in sickle cell disease patients. It causes respiratory failure which may require mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit, but outcome of such intervention has been sparingly reported in our environment. This study highlights the intensive care management and outcomes of acute chest syndrome in our centre. Design: This was a retrospective descriptive study Setting: This study was carried out at the intensive care unit of a tertiary hospital in Nigeria Subjects or participants: These were 27 sickle cell disease patients with acute chest syndrome managed in our intensive care unit from January 2013 to December 2017. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of all the 27 sickle cell disease patients managed in our intensive care unit on account of acute chest syndrome in the last 5 years. Relevant information on supplemental oxygen administration, modes of ventilation, transfusion, length of stay in the ICU and mortality rate was also extracted.Main outcome measure: The main outcome measure was the number of patients who survived and discharged from the intensive care unit.Results: Nine (50%) out of the 18 patients with acute chest syndrome, complicated by severe respiratory insufficiency, ventilated mechanically survived. The median length of ICU stay was 6 (12) days.Conclusion: Mechanical ventilation of patients and adequate pain control can help reduce the mortality and enhance the quality of life of sickle cell disease patients with acute chest syndrome

Classes of Ordinary Differential Equations Obtained for the Probability Functions of Harris Extended Exponential Distribution

In this paper, the differential calculus was used to obtain some classes of ordinary differential equations (ODE) for the probability density function, quantile function, survival function, inverse survival function and hazard function of the Harris extended exponential distribution. The case of reversed hazard function was excluded because of its complexity. The stated necessary conditions required for the existence of the ODEs are consistent with the various parameters that defined the distribution. Solutions of these ODEs by using numerous available methods are new ways of understanding the nature of the probability functions that characterize the distribution. The method can be extended to other probability distributions, functions and can serve an alternative to estimation and approximation

Reconsidering Policy Implementation of Vocational Technical Education using 6-3-3-4 System of Education in Curbing Societal Problems

Vocational and Technical education as preserved in the Nigerian national policy on education, is connected with producing adequate and qualitative technological human resources directed towards a producing of trained, experienced and self-reliant craftsmen, technologists and technicians in the field of technical and vocational education for the general development of the country and its citizenry. However, the training of technical personnel has witnessed many hindrances and challenges originating from unrealistic policies, unclear curriculum that has little correlation with the needs of the society. In addition, misappropriation of fund meant for education development purposes, lack of qualified teachers, inadequate funding and cases of bribery and corruption are all connected to the poor implementation of the policy. This paper is aimed at providing a rethink in the implementation of 6334 system of education by examining the issues, challenges and the way forward in curbing out societal problems through Vocational and Technical Education

Maleficent effects of chronic tobacco Shisha smoke exposure on sperm DNA fragmentation, count, motility and morphology in adult male wistar rats

Background: Currently there are no putative empirical data on the effect of Shisha smoking on sperm DNA integrity and some of the available data on the adverse effects of Shisha smoking on conventional semen characteristics: sperm count, sperm motility and sperm morphology are contradictory. Despite the well-known deleterious reproductive effects of cigarette smoking, it is relatively unclear whether or not Shisha smoking has the same effect on male reproductive parameters. The present study was aimed at determining the effect of chronic Shisha smoke exposure on semen parameters and sperm DNA integrity in adult male Wistar rats. Methods: Twenty-one adult male Wistar rats between the ages of 8-12 weeks, weighing between 160 -180 g were divided randomly into three groups containing 7 rats per group. Group I rats were kept for 30 minutes daily in the nose-only exposure chamber for a period 13 weeks without exposure to Shisha smoke; group II (with water in the Shisha jar) was exposed to bonged shisha smoke (BSS) and group III (without water in the shisha jar) was exposed to unbonged Shisha smoke (UBSS), respectively for 7 seconds first and fresh air later for 53 seconds, alternatively for 30 minutes daily for a period of 13 weeks. The Shisha smoke was drawn from the Shisha apparatus outlet by a vacuum compressor at a pressure of 300 kPa into the nose-only exposure chamber where the rats were kept. At the end of the exposure, five animals from each group were randomly selected and anaesthetised with 0.4 mL/100g of combined ketamine and diazepam and blood samples were obtained through cardiac puncture. Results:The result obtained showed that chronic exposure to Shisha smoke revealed a significant increase in testicular malondialdehyde (MDA) level, high sperm DNA fragmentation and abnormal cell morphology, marked reduction in serum testosterone concentration, sperm count and progressive motility