Effect of Land Degradation on Maize Yield in Obudu Local Government Area, Cross River State, Nigeria

This study analysed the effects of land Degradation on maize yield in Obudu Local Government Area (LGA) of Cross River State. The study adopted the use of primary data and the instrument of data collection was a structured questionnaire administered on100 and 60 respondents for maize farmers in degraded and non-degraded lands respectively. The methods of data analysis used were both descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics results on socio-economic characteristics shows that majority (67.0%) of the maize farmers were males, married (86.0%) and had mean age of 43.6years. Result on land degradation types revealed erosion (2.27), flooding (2.11) and desertification (2.02) as most common types of land degradation experienced by maize farmers in the study area. Over-grazing (35.0%) and poor farming method (35.0%) were the major causes of land degradation. Independent sample t-test statistic result comparing maize yield of degraded and non-degraded lands indicated a t-calculated value of 13.100 at 0.05 level of significance, implying significant difference in maize output between degraded and non-degraded lands in the study area. The OLS multiple regression model result with linear functional form as best fit equation of factors affecting output of maize, revealed coefficient of multiple determination (R squared) value of 0.840 which is an indication that 84.0% of the variation in maize output cultivated on degraded lands is explained by explanatory variables included in the regression model viz: cost of fertilizer (-0.002) and cost of seed (-0.006), all significant at 5% confidence level. The value of F-statistic (27.535) was significant at 1% significance level which explains that the explanatory variables jointly had effect on maize yield, therefore the null hypothesis was rejected and the alternate hypothesis accepted. The study recommended subsidization of fertilizer and seed cost for sustainability/better yield in maize production

Elytra

‘Elytra’ is part of my thesis collection, ‘Insected’, which I began in January of 2014

Winged

‘Winged’ is part of my thesis collection, ‘Insected’, which I began in January of 2014

Morph

‘Morph’ is part of my thesis collection, ‘Insected’, which I began in January of 2014

Effect Of Food Supplementation On The White Blood Cells Count And Differential Leucocytes Count Of Trypanosome-Infected Pregnant Rats

Trypanosomiasis is an important livestock disease in sub-Saharan Africa. Improvement on host\'s nutrition is mportant in moderating the severity of pathophysiological efect of trypanosomiasis and it also influences the rate of recovery. Earlier researchers demonstrated that dietary supplement of selenium and vitamin E enhanced immune response in white rats. It has also been reported that during pregnancy, immune response is depressed. Leucocytes count has been recognized as a measure of immune response. This research was therefore conducted using chicks\' marsh fortified with 80 mg of vitamin E and 0.3 mg of selenum as control (Diet 1) to determine theefect of dietary suppementaton ofmoderate protein (combinaton of 250 g of corn meal, 240 g soyabean meal and 10 g of crayfish) inthe chicks\' mash (Diet 2), high dietary protein (combination of 400 g of caseinogen and 300 g o soyabean meal) (Diet 3), and high detary carbohydrate (combinaton of 400 g dextrose and 300 g cornmeal) (Diet 4) in the chicks\' mash on the white blood cells count and differential leucocytes count of trypanosome-infected pregnant rats. Dies 1 – 4 were given to rats in Cage A – D, respectively. The rats were nfected withtrypanosomes within 10th to 14th day of pregnancy. Each experimental set up was replicated three times. On comparing the total white blood cell counts of all the rats fed differen diets, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) between the rats in Cage A (fed Det 1) and rats in Cage B (fed Diet 2), and similarly between rats in Cage C (ed Diet 3) and rats in Cage D (fed Diet 4). There was,however, significant difference (P < 0.05) between rats in Cage A and rats in Cages C and D, and also between rats in Cage B and those in Cages C and D Det 2 with a moderate (20.01%) proein leveland a balance of other nutrients produced the highest leucocytes count. Diet 2 therefore produced the highest immune response in the pregnant trypanosome-infected rats. Keywords: Trypanosomiasis, Nutrition, Leucocytes count, Immune responseAnimal Research International Vol. 4 (2) 2007 pp. 643-64

Mechanical Properties of Heat-treated Medium Carbon Steel in Renewable and Biodegradable Oil

The heat treatment of steels under controlled conditions alters their physical and mechanical properties, enabling them to meet the desired engineering applications. In this study, the suitability of a Namibian local oil (marula oil) as an alternative quenchant to SAE40 engine oil (Standard quenchant – a synthetic oil derived from natural or crude oil) for industrial heat treatment of medium carbon steels was investigated. SAE40 engine oil served as the control. The mechanical properties (tensile strength, yield strength, percentage elongation and hardness) of the treated and untreated samples were investigated at the temperatures of 850oC, 900oC, 950oC and 1000oC. The untreated sample had the highest amount of elongation (40%), while the sample quenched in marula oil had the highest hardness (24.33HRD) and tensile strength (530.32 N/mm²) values compared with both the untreated and the SAE40 engine oil quenched samples. Hence, marula oil showed high potential as an alternative quenchant to petroleum based SAE40 engine oil for quenching medium carbon steels, without cracking or distortion

Toxicity, Growth And Survival Of Clarias Gariepinus Juveniles Exposed To Different Concentrations Of Crude Oil Fractions-Polluted Water

Studies were carried out on the toxicity, growth and survival of Clarias gariepinus juveniles exposed to different concentrations of oil-polluted water. Thirty-nine aerated aquaria (60 × 30 × 30 cm3), arranged in a 4 × 3 Complete Randomized Block Design were used for the study. Three oil types: the Bonny light crude oil (BLCO), the premium motor spirit (PMS) and kerosene (DPK) at oilconcentrations of 1.00, 1.50, 2.00 and2.50 ml L -1 were used in triplicates of 5 ml to contaminate 15L of dechlorinated tap water and 20 fingerlings o Clarias gariepinus (22 ± 0.24 g) exposed to it. A control treatment (0.00 ml L-1) of non-oil contamination was aso used in riplicates. A 96-hour toxicity phase in the oil-polluted water preceded a 42 days recovery phase. 38% crude proein dietwas fed to fish during exposure and recovery phases at 3% and 5% body weight per day respectively. Water temperature, pH, fish mortality and normalized biomass index (NBI) of each aquarium were monitored. The total organic nitrogen, soluble organic nitrogen and colloidal organic nitrogen in addition to soluble and adsorbed ammonia in the aquaria water and sediments were analyzed using standard methods. Results showed that the water temperature was 26 ± 2.04° C, pH was 6.50 ± 0.30 and fortnighty eed intake of fish increased between days 14 and 42. This increase, which corresponded wth the increase in the fortnightly weight gain, could be attributed to the reduction of stress caused during the 96-h toxicity phase. The increase in the soluble ammonium and the exchangeable ammonium concentrations o water correlated with the increase inthe concentrations (1.50 – 2.50 ml L-1) ofBLCO, PMS and DPK. Percent mortality of fsh reduced between days 14 and 42 irrespective o oil treatment while fish exposed to the control treatment had lower percent mortality than those exposed to the oil treatments. This trend was corroborated by the relatively higher NBI for the control during the exposure (-0.02) and recovery{0.08 (14 days), 0.08 (38 days) and 0.21 (42 days)} periods than those of oi treatments (-49.64 to-0.10). Keywords: Clarias gariepinus, Toxicity, Soluble ammonium, Feed intake, Weight gainAnimal Research International Vol. 3 (2) 2006 pp. 466-47

A Study of HIV/AIDS Media Campaigns and Knowledge of High Risk Factors among Sex Workers in South-South Nigeria

The study investigates HIV/AIDS media campaigns and knowledge of high risk factors among sex workers in South-South geo-political zone of Nigeria. The main purpose of the study is to ascertain whether the numerous media campaigns on HIV/AIDS have positive influence on sex workers’ attitude towards the high risk factors of the pandemic.  In pursuance of this objective, the following questions were formulated to provide the needed guide to the study: Do media campaign messages on HIV/AIDS have a positive influence on respondents’ attitude towards penetrative sexual intercourse? Do respondents maintain consistent condom use with paying and non-paying clients? Would respondents shun sex without condom, irrespective of the amount the client would be willing to pay for it? Would respondents be willing to quit sex work knowing that it constitutes high risk behaviour of HIV/AIDS? Anchored on the agenda-setting theory and the standpoint theory, the work adopted survey method and utilised questionnaire as instrument of data collection. The sample size was 300 sex workers drawn purposively from three cities in South-South Nigeria, namely: Asaba, Port-Harcourt and Uyo. Findings of the study revealed that sex workers still engage in high risk behaviour of the scourge. The study, therefore, concluded that media campaigns on HIV/AIDS have not been effective on sex workers in the South-South geo-political zone of Nigeria. The paper recommends re-structuring of campaign strategies in order to make them more effective. Keywords: Sex Workers, HIV/AIDS, Media Campaigns, Knowledge and High Risk Factors

Detection and phenotypic characterization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from clinical and community samples in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Objective: The objective of this study was to isolate and phenotypically characterize methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)from clinical and community samples in Abakaliki, Nigeria.Methods: A total of 709 clinical (303) and community samples (406) samples were obtained for this study. MRSA isolates were detected using Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method with the inclusion of 1 μg oxacillin and cefoxitin antibiotic disc. The isolates were screened for the β-lactamase production using nitrocefin sticks.Results: A total of 44 MRSA isolates were obtained from the samples with prevalence frequency of 22.6 % and 20.8 % from clinical and community samples respectively. The clinical isolates were completely resistant (100 %) to ceftazidime, tetracycline and penicillin. Gentamicin and ciprofloxacin were the most effective antibiotics against the clinical and community isolates respectively with a susceptibility frequency of 63.2 % and 80 %. Exactly 38.1 % and 24.2 % of the clinical and community S. aureus isolates were positive for beta-lactamase production respectively. The HA-MRSA and CA-MRSA isolates had MARI valueswithin the range of 0.3 to 1.0.Conclusion: This present findings of multi-drug resistance MRSA is very worrisome as it further highlights the pressing need to keep a strict watch on MRSA emerging from this study area.Keywords: MRSA, beta-lactamase, antibiotics, multidrug resistance, clinical samples, community samples

Potentiodynamic Polarization of Brass, Stainless and Coated Mild Steel in 1M Sodium Chloride Solution

Enormous funds are spent on the protection of engineering components and structures annually as a result of corrosion. Degradation sets in, dueto electrochemical reaction that takes place between materials and the environment leading to reduced performance. The associated downtime caused by replacement and maintenance of vessels, pipes, valves and other equipment necessitated seeking for techniques and method to efficiently combat corrosion. This study evaluated the potentiodynamic polarization of brass, Coated Mild Steel (CMS) and Stainless Steel (SS) in sodium chloride (NaCl). The samples (1 x 30 x 30 mm3) were used as working electrodes for Potentiodynamic Polarization Experiment (PPE). The samples were cleaned, and soaked in 1M NaCl solution. Open circuit potentials and current densities of the samples were obtained from PPE which were used to evaluate their corrosion rates. The pH of the media was recorded before and after each experiment. The results obtained using PPE in NaCl (in mm/y) were 0.209, 0.0053 and 0.0046; for brass, MSC and SS respectively. The pH of the medium was measured as 10.9.The results revealed that brass had highest corrosion rate in the medium. The least corrosion rate was obtained for Stainless Steel in 1M NaCl followed by Coated Mild Steel