Properties of Sandcrete Block Produced with Coconut Husk as Partial Replacement of Sand

Sandcrete block is the most popular building material in construction industry. However, with the high and increasing cost of building materials experienced nowadays, it has been difficult to achieve affordable housing especially in developing countries. Also, significant dredging of sand for block production and the large amount of coconut husk thrown away as waste have increased the level of concern due to their adverse effect on environment. This work, therefore, sought to produce solid core sandcrete blocks in which sand component is partially replaced with coconut husk and investigate the suitability of using such blocks for building designs. The block samples produced using untreated and also treated coconut husks at various levels of sand replacement were subjected to bulk density, water absorption and compressive strength tests at 7 days and 28 days of curing. It was found that sand replacement with 20% of untreated coconut husk or 30% of treated coconut husk could yield a solid core sandcrete block suitable for non-load bearing walls of satisfactory performance. Since coconut husk is cheaply available, sustainable, and recyclable, utilising such promising material in this case can enhance production of cost-effective and optimally performing sandcrete blocks for building purposes. This will in turn help to boost the development of housing, minimise loss of agricultural lands, and reduce environmental pollution level, and so on

Effect of Ethnochemistry Based Instructional Package on Students’ Achievement in Chemistry

The study investigated the effect of ethno-chemistry based instructional package on Student’s Achievement in Chemistry. The study adopted quasi experimental research design. The instrument used for data collection is Chemistry Achievement Test (CAT), with the reliability index of 0.70 using Kuder-Richardson (K-R20) approach. Four co-educational schools were drawn from all the co-educational schools in Enugu State through simple balloting. Out of the four schools drawn for the study two were assigned to the treatment group while the remaining two schools were assigned to the control group. The treatment group was taught chemistry using ethnochemistry-based approach in while control group was taught chemistry using conventional method. The same topics were taught to both the treatment and control groups. Four regular chemistry teachers from the four schools were used as research assistants.Before the onset of the experiment, subjects in both treatment and control groups were given the pre-test. After the pre-test the regular chemistry teachers started the experiment in their respective schools adhering strictly to the lesson procedure that was developed from the packages during the pre-experimental conference. The experiment was conducted during the normal school periods, following the normal timetable of the school. At the end of the experiment that lasted for 8 weeks the teachers administered the post-tests to the subjects in the two groups. Three research questions and three null hypotheses guided the study. The research questions were answered using mean and standard deviation while the hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). The study revealed that students taught chemistry using ethnochemistry based instructional package had significantly higher mean achievement scores than those taught using conventional package and that there is no significant difference in the mean achievement scores of male and female students taught chemistry using the ethnochemistry-based approach. The study further revealed that there is interaction between methods and gender on students mean achievement scores in chemistry. Keywords: Ethnochemistry, Ethnoscience, Achievement in chemistry, Chemistry students DOI: 10.7176/JEP/14-17-01 Publication date:June 30th 2023

Modified Water Displacement Method and its Use for Determination of Bulk Density of Porous Materials

In this research work, a modified water displacement method (MWDM) was designed and used in addition to geometry method (GM) to measure the bulk volume and then determine the bulk density values of asbestos ceiling board, cardboard paper, chalk, clay (compacted) and gypsum board that have been sun-dried to constant weight. The mean bulk densities determined by both methods were compared with the reference bulk density values of the same porous materials obtained in this work using standard test procedure in accordance with ASTM D6683-14. It was observed that, for all the tested porous materials, the percentage error in the mean bulk density values ranged from 2.3% to 49.6% when using GM and 0.9% to 5.7% by using the MWDM. Also, at 0.05 level of significance with a degree of freedom of 3, correlation coefficients of 0.7430 and 0.9955 were obtained in the cases of GM and the MWDM respectively. Again, all other analyses performed similarly revealed that the mean bulk densities obtained by the MWDM only were in close agreement with their corresponding reference values, thereby implying that apart from being cost-effective, the MWDM is better than GM in terms of accuracy, reliability, and validity. More importantly, it is noteworthy that even if the glass cylinder available for use is ungraduated, this MWDM can be employed to obtain accurate, reliable and valid bulk density values of porous materials in order to enhance thorough physical characterization, proper selection and suitable applications of such materials

Effects of Classroom Interaction Patterns on Secondary School Students’ Achievement in Ecology

This study investigated the effects of classroom interaction patterns on senior secondary school students' achievement in ecology. A quasi-experiment of the pre-test, post-test non-equivalent control group design was adopted. Three groups were involved in the study. The first group was subjected to competitive interaction; the second group was subjected to cooperative interaction while the third group was subjected to individualistic interaction method. A total of ninety-three students (50 males and 43 females) from three intact classes were used for the study. The Ecology Achievement Test (EAT) was utilized as the data collection tool, with a reliability coefficient of 0.96. Research questions were answered using mean and standard deviation while the hypotheses were tested using analysis of Co-variance (ANCOVA) at a 95% confidence level. Findings revealed that students taught ecology in a cooperative classroom had higher mean achievement scores than those taught in individualistic and competitive classrooms interaction patterns. Furthermore, it was discovered that cooperative classroom interaction patterns had a significant effect on students' mean achievement scores in ecology. It was recommends that biology teachers prioritize the use of cooperative classroom interaction to facilitate biology instruction because of its proven efficacy in advancing students' achievement in ecology. Keywords: Classroom Interaction Patterns, Biology, Ecology, Achievement in Ecology DOI: 10.7176/JEP/13-27-02 Publication date:September 30th 202

Junior Secondary School Students Achievement in Computer Studies: A Closer Look at Modelling Instructional Approach

This study explored the effect of modelling instructional approach on junior secondary school students’ achievement in computer studies. The study adopted a pretest, post-test, non-equivalent control group design, three research questions and three null hypotheses guided the study. Four secondary schools were drawn for this study from co-educational secondary schools in Abakaliki Education zone was used for the study. Out of the four schools two were assigned to the treatment group while the remaining two were assigned to the control group through simple balloting. The treatment group was taught computer studies using modelling approach, while the control group was taught the same topics using the conventional approach. The instrument used for data collection is Computer Studies Achievement Test (CSAT). The instrument was subjected to face and content validation. It was also subjected to tests of internal consistency. A reliability index of 0.88 using Kuder-Richardson’s (K-R20) approach was obtained after pilot test of the instruments. The CSAT was further subjected to a test of stability using the test retest procedure which yielded a stability coefficient of 0.86. Research questions were answered using adjusted mean and standard deviation while the hypotheses were tested at 95% confidence level using the Analysis of Co-variance (ANCOVA). Summary of result reveals that modelling approach is superior to the conventional approach in enhancing students’ achievement in computer studies. There is no significant interaction between methods and gender on students mean achievement scores in computer studies. There is no significant difference in the mean computer studies achievement scores of male and female students who were taught computer studies using modelling approach Keywords: Modelling Instructions, Academic Achievement, gender, computer Studies DOI: 10.7176/JEP/13-26-07 Publication date:September 30th 202

Hydrothermally-calcined waste paper ash nanomaterial as an alternative to cement for clay soil modification for building purposes

It has been observed that clay soil cannot be used for building design, unless it is modified by firing or with cement. Either method of stabilization can adversely affect the environment and public health just like indiscriminate dumping or open burning adopted in developing countries as the prevalent disposal technique for waste papers. This paper sought to examine the feasibility of using assorted waste papers to derive an alternative stabilizer to Portland Limestone Cement for modification of clay soil into composite materials suitable for building design. Specifically, clay-based composites were fabricated at 0 %, 5 %, 10 %, 15 %, and 20% replacement levels by weight with cement, and then hydrothermally-calcined waste paper ash nanomaterial (HCWPAN). Water absorption, sorptivity, bulk density, thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, thermal diffusivity, flaking concentration, flexural strength, and compressive strength were investigated for each of the fabricated samples. Irrespective of the stabilizing agent utilized, 10% loading level was found to be the optimum for possession of maximum mechanical strength by the samples. Only samples with the HCWPAN content were found to be capable of reducing building dead loads and improving thermal insulation efficiency over un-stabilized clay material, if applied as walling elements in buildings. Generally, it was revealed that the cement and HCWPAN have comparable influences on the properties of clay soil, thus indicating that HCWPAN could be utilized as an alternative stabilizer to cement. In addition, the preparation of HCWPAN was found to be more energy-saving than that of the cement

Burden of care amongst caregivers who are first degree relatives of patients with schizophrenia

Introduction: Caring for a mentally ill family member is a challenging task. Caregivers who are first-degree relatives (FDR) are at a higher risk of experiencing the negative consequences of caregiving. This study was aimed at determining burden of care and its correlates in caregivers who are first-degree relatives of patients with schizophrenia. Methods: A dyad of 255 patients and caregivers was recruited. A socio-demographic questionnaire was administered to both. The GHQ-12 was used to screen for psychiatric morbidity in the FDRs. Caregiver's burden was assessed with the Zarit Burden Interview. Patients' illness severity and level of functioning were assessed using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and the Global Assessment of Functioning scales respectively. Results: The mean ± SD age of caregivers and patients were 45.1 ±12.3 and 36.7 ±13.4 years respectively. About 49% of caregivers experienced high burden of care. Older caregiver's age (r = 0.179; p < 0.004) and greater illness severity (r = 0.332; p < 0.0001) in the patient had weak to moderate positive correlation with burden of care. Caregiver's burden also increased with poorer functioning of the patient (r = -0.467 p < 0.0001). Independent predictors of caregiver burden were low level of education of the caregiver (OR 2.45; 95% CI 1.27-4.73), psychiatric morbidity in the caregiver (OR 6.74; 95% CI 2.51-18.15) and poor patient functioning (OR 2.81; 95% CI 1.27-6.18). Conclusion: Caregivers who are first-degree relatives of patients with schizophrenia experience varying degrees of burden of care during caregiving. Routine screening and early psychological intervention would help to ameliorate these negative consequences of caregiving

Reproductive and fertility parameters of pigs reared in Enugu State, Nigeria

Pigs are highly prolific but mismanagement practices can hamper their reproducibility. Consequently, reproductive and fertility  parameters of pigs reared in 86 randomly selected piggeries in Enugu State, Nigeria were studied using structured questionnaire. Farmers’ responses were validated from their farm records, where available. Majority of the farms stocked < 100 pigs (59.3 %). Intensive husbandry system (91.9 %) predominated in the piggeries. Open mating, hand breeding and artificial insemination were the breeding methods practiced in 52, 40.4 and 7.7 % of the farms respectively. Inter-farrowing intervals were five months and ≥ seven months in 11.6 and 18.6 % of the piggeries. The numbers of piglets born alive per sow per year were: < 5 piglets (14 %), 5 – 10 piglets (36 %), 11 – 15 piglets (24 %) and ≥ 15 piglets (26 %). Correspondingly, the numbers of piglets weaned per sow per year were: < 5 piglets (26 %), 5 – 10 piglets (40 %), 11 – 15 piglets (24 %) and ≥ 15 piglets (10 %). Only 2 % of the piggeries attained production target of  weaning ≥ 20 piglets per sow per year. Major causes of pre-weaning piglet mortalities were scouring (52.3 %) and maternal overlay(16.3 %). The findings suggest that prolificacy and productivity of pigs farmed in Enugu State is suboptimum. This warrants provision of veterinary extension services, training on modern pig production methods and genetic improvement of breeding stocks to boost the reproductive and fertility parameters and hence productivity in pig farming enterprises in the State. Keywords: Fertility indices, Inter-farrowing interval, Piglet mortality, Pig production, Reproductive parameter

Cross plot Analysis of Rock Properties from Well Log Data for gas detection in Soku Field, Coastal Swamp Depobelt, Niger Delta Basin

The cross plotting of rock properties for fluid and lithology discrimination was carried out in a Niger Delta oil field using well data X-26 from a given oil field in the coastal swamp depobelt. The data used for the analysis consisted of suites of logs, including gamma ray, resistivity, sonic and density logs only. The reservoir of interest Horizon 1, was identified using the available suite of logs on the interval where we have low gamma ray, high resistivity and low acoustic impedance specifically at depths 10,424ft (3177.24m) to 10 724ft (3268m). We first obtained other rock attributes from the available logs before cross plotting. The inverse of the interval transit times of the sonic logs were used to generate the compressional velocities and the S-wave data was generated from Castagna´s relation. Employing rock physics algorithm on Hampson Russell software (HRS), rock attributes including Vp/Vs ratio, Lambda-Rho and Mu-Rho were also extracted from the well data. Cross plotting was carried out and Lambda Rho (λρ) versus MuRho (μρ) crossplots proved to be more robust for lithology identification than Vp versus Vs crossplots, while λρ Versus Poisson impedance was more robust than Vp/Vs versus Acoustic impedance for fluid discrimination, as well as identification of gas sands. The crossplots were consistent with Rock Physics Templates (RPTs). This implies the possibility of further using the technique on data points of inverted sections of various AVO attributes within the field in areas not penetrated by wells within the area covered by the seismic