Resource Use Efficiency of Groundnut Production in Ringim Local Government Area of Jigawa State,Nigeria

The study was conducted to measure the resource use efficiency in groundnut production in Ringim Local Government Area, Jigawa State. A stratified sampling technique was employed to select 58 respondents. The tool for collection of primary data was structured questionnaires. The data collected were analysed using production function and efficiency model. The linear production function analysis showed that the coefficient of multiple determinantion-R2 of the production was 76.5% while the F-value was 27.6. The analysis revealed that among the variables, seed, hired labour and pesticide use in the groundnut production were significant (p<0.1) while fertilizer, family labour and farm size were not significant. The returns to scale was 1.77. For resource use efficiency, seeds, family labour and hired labour were under-utilized, while fertilizers and pesticides were over-utilized. It is concluded that in-spite of their small farm size, there is still opportunity to increase their production to attain optimal economic efficiency. The study recommends that farmers should be encouraged to use more variable inputs to get more profit and youth should be encouraged to participate in groundnut production.Keywords: Groundnut Production, Production Function,- Regression Model and Resource Use Efficiency

Profit Efficiency among Rain-Fed Rice Farmers in Northern Taraba State , Nigeria

The study analyzed the profit efficiency of rain-fed rice farmers in Northern zone of Taraba state by collecting data from 156 respondents in 2013. A measure of profit efficiency was provided using stochastic profit frontier and inefficiency model. The results showed that there were high levels of inefficiency in rice production. The mean level of profit efficiency was 59% indicating that 41% of the profit was lost due to a combination of both technical and allocative inefficiencies. The profit inefficiency model showed that age, education, farming experience, household size and access to credit facilities increased the profit efficiency of the respondents. It is therefore, recommended that learning opportunities, farm inputs and credit facilities should be made available to farmers in appropriate time. Keywords: Efficiency, Profit-function, Rice, Taraba State

Analysis of Resource-Use Efficiency in Tomato Production in Jere, Borno State, Nigeria

The study investigated the resource use efficiency of dry season tomato production among small scale farmers in Lake Alau of Jere Local Government Area of Borno state. Primary data for the study was collected using structured questionnaires and oral interviews from 60 tomato farmers. Four villages notable for tomato production were purposively selected, and from each village, 15 farmers were randomly selected. The data collected were analyzed using production function analysis. The results of the double-log production function showed that seed, herbicides, fertilizer and farm size were positively related to the output and it is significant at 1% while labour was negatively related. And the farmers were inefficient in the use of all resources, with inputs being over-utilised. This may be due to the severe nature of land fragmentation occurring around Maiduguri and Jere, being among the few relatively secure areas in the state. The study suggests that introduction of modern methods like greenhouse cultivation of tomatoes coupled with drip irrigation systems, will enable year-round cultivation and allow farmers to optimize resource use. Keywords: Resource-use, efficiency, production function, agribusiness, Jere, tomat

Forms and Distribution of Potassium along a Toposequence on Basaltic Soils of Vom, Jos Plateau State of Nigeria

The study was conducted in Vom, Jos Plateau state in the Southern Guinea Savanna zone of Nigeria to accentuate the forms of potassium distribution associated with topographic positions. The study area lies between longitudes 080 45' 01” and 80 47' 56'' E, latitudes 90 43' 17'' and 90 45' 15'' N, with an elevation of about 1270m above sea level. A stratified purposive sampling procedure was adapted, where four landscape positions were identified using Global Positioning System (GPS). The crest, upper slope, middle, and lower slope positions were identified, each representing changes in geomorphology. Two pedons were georeferenced at each topographic position, where they were sunk and described. Result show that the forms of K varied with topographic positions. Potassium distribution varied from surface to subsurface in different topographic positions. Water soluble K was higher at crest surface (0.0569 cmolkg-1) and decreased with soil profile depth. Exchangeable K has highest value of 0.1317 and 0.1308 cmol/kg-1 at both lower slope positions in general. Non exchangeable K values where higher at all surfaces than the subsurfaces of topographic positions. HCl soluble K values were higher at lower and upper slopes surface, moderately at middle and least at crest slope positions. Total K values were higher at upper slope subsurface, middle, and lower slope surface with low variations at the crest positions. However, the distribution of the K forms did not shown a well – defined trend with respect to topographic positions

Extraction and characterization of chitin and chitosan from Nigerian shrimps

Chitin was synthesized from Nigerian brown shrimps by a chemical process involving demineralization and deproteinisation. Deacetylation of the chitin was conducted to obtain Chitosan. The chitin and chitosan were characterized using FTIR, XRD and SEM. Proximate and elemental analysis were also conducted. The percentage yield of chitin was 8.9%. The degree of deacetylation of chitin was found to be 50.64% which was a low value compared to previous works and can be attributed to the low alkali concentration and heating time. XRD patterns indicated that chitin was more crystalline than the corresponding chitosan. FTIR spectra indicated the presence of functional groups associated with different bands, the intensities and stretching established that the samples are chitin and chitosan. SEM analysis also indicated morphological differences between the chitin and chitosan.Keywords: Deacetylation, biodegradable, characterization, deproteinisation, demineralizatio

A review on reversible logic gates

In recent years, reversible logic circuits have applications in the emerging field of digital signal processing, optical information processing, quantum computing and nano technology. Reversibility plays an important role when computations with minimal energy dissipation are considered. The main purpose of designing reversible logic is to decrease the number of reversible gates, garbage outputs, constant inputs, quantum cost, area, power, delay and hardware complexity of the reversible circuits. This paper reveals a comparative review on various reversible logic gates. This paper provides some reversible logic gates, which can be used in designing more complex systems having reversible circuits and can execute more complicated operations using quantum computers. Future digital technology will use reversible logic gates in order to reduce the power consumption and propagation delay as it effectively provides negligible loss of information in the circuit.   Keywords: Garbage output, Power dissipation, quantum cost, Reversible Gate, Reversible logic

Aphrodisiac effect of aqueous stem bark extract ofFicus sycomorus on female wistar rats

In the present study, the effect of aqueous stem bark extract of Ficus sycomorus was evaluated on female sex hormones and sexual behavior in female Wistar rats. Adult female rats having regular estrous cycle confirmed by daily cytology of the vaginal smear analysis were used. Rats were  randomly divided into 3 groups (n=10): Group I served as a control; while group II, and III received 40 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg of the extracts  respectively. The results revealed significant increase (p<0.5) in serum concentration of the estradiol in group II and a significant decrease (p<0.5) in serum concentration of estradiol in group III in comparison with the control. There was also significant decrease (p<0.5) in serum level of progesterone in group II and no significant effect in group III in comparison with the control. The result also indicated no significant effect (p>0.5) of the extract on female sexual behavior, which may suggest no scientific basis for the use of the extract as an aphrodisiac in females.Keywords: Ficus sycomorus, Aphrodisiac, Estradiol, Progesterone, Lordosis quotien

A review on biogas production as the alternative source of fuel

Challenges related to energy shortages are increasingly frequent both at the local and global scale due to population growth and the desire for a greater standard of living. The growing demand for oil and natural gas caused by high consumption levels is one of the current major problems faced by the world population. Therefore, new forms of energy generation must be investigated that would eventually allow the diversification of the present energy matrix, which has an almost 90% dependence on fossil fuels the world over. This coupled with long-term economic and environmental concerns have resulted in a great amount of research in the past decades on renewable sources of liquid fuels to replace fossil fuels. Burning fossil fuels such as coal and oil releases carbon dioxide (CO2), which is a major cause of global warming. It is anticipated that not a single source of alternative energy but a mix of various energy sources and carriers will contribute to the energy system of the future. Among the various sources been explored, biogas offer one of the best alternative options as they present a viable option for improving sustainable development through energy security and reducing the emission of greenhouse gases. This paper elaborates on Biogas production as the alternative source of fuel. The paper also studies the importance of Biogas production as a means of reducing problem of power energy, environmental vandalism, loss of resources, climate change and also reduce environmental pollution caused by burning of woods, cars, motorcycle and industrial activities

Comparitive study of electrical properties of carbon nano tube (CNT) and silicon nanowire (SNW) MOSFET devices

Metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) is a semiconductor device used in many electronic devices for amplification and switching electrical signals. MOSFET downscaling has been the driving force towards the technological advancement, but continuous scaling down of MOSFET causes problem of high power dissipation, high leakage current, Short Channel Effects (SCEs), excessive process variation and reliability issues. In this work, comparative study of electrical properties of carbon nanotube (CNT) and silicon nanowire (SWN) were carried out using CNT and SNW as channel materials, silicon dioxide as the gate dielectric, silicon substrate as base material. The analysis is carried out using FETTOY simulating software for oxide thickness (0.3,0.5,0.7,0.9 and 1.2nm). The results show that carbon nanotube channel material have highest transconductance (gm) of 1.00 x 10-4S, highest conductance (g4) of 4.00 x 10-6S, highest carrier injection velocity (vinj)of 5.43 x 10 5m/s, highest on current (Ion) of 59.79uA, at oxide thickness of 0.3nm when used as MOSFET device and improved short channel effects with subthreshold swing (S) of 67.79 mV/dec and drain induced barrier lowering (DIBL) of 39.67. More results such as drain current (Id) versus gate voltage ( Vg) , quantum capacitance (QC) versus gate voltage (Vg) , and average velocity of mobile electron versus gate voltage (Vg) for all devices are also investigated. Various results obtained indicate that CNT has the higher performance of decreasing gate capacitance with decrease in oxide thickness ( TOx) in deep nanometer regime. This decrease in gate capacitance is observed at a gate voltage of 0.5V and above which leads to the reduction of propagation delay, lower leakage current, low power dissipation, short channel effects (SCEs) as compared to silicon nanowire MOSFET device.KEYWORDS: Ballistic nanoscale MOSFET, Channel materials, FETTOY simulating software, Short channel effects (SCEs), Drain Induces Barrier Lowering (DIBL

ANALGESIC EFFECT AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF BOSWELLIA DALZIELII (BURSERACEAE) STEM BARK

Objective: To evaluate the analgesic effect and anti-inflammatory properties of Boswellia dalzielii (Burseraceae), a medicinal plant commonly used in northern Nigeria as an anti-diarrhoeal, antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent.Methods: Three doses (25 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg) of the crude aqueous extract of Boswellia dalzielii were evaluated for analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities using the acetic acid-induced writhing test, formalin-induced nociception and formalin-induced hind paw oedema in rats. The acute oral toxicity was carried out using the up and down procedure as described by the OECD guidelines.Results: All doses (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) of the extract tested were effective against acetic acid induced abdominal constrictions producing a percentage inhibition of (55.43, 69.56 and 71.73%) respectively. A percentage inhibition of the formalin-induced nociception of (7.31, 31.70 and 48.78%-early phase) and (12.82, 21.79 and 48.71%-late phase) respectively was also produced. For the acetic acid writhing test, the percentage inhibition obtained at the dose of 50 and 100 mg/kg (69.56 and 71.73%) were higher than that of the standard drug (Piroxicam, 10 mg/kg) (59.78%). For formalin-induced nociception, the test extract at 100 mg/kg showed a higher percentage inhibition compared to Piroxicam, in early (48.78 and 43.90%) and late phase (48.71 and 39.74 %) respectively. The extract, however, did not show a significant activity against formalin-induced paw oedema at all the doses used.Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that Boswellia dalzielii has significant analgesic properties comparable to that of the standard drug (10% Piroxicam), thus validating the traditional claim of its antinociceptive property