Petrography and Geochemistry of Rocks of Northern Part of Wonaka Schist Belt, Northwestern Nigeria

Systematic mapping and sampling of rocks of northern part of Wonaka schist belt on a scale of 1:50,000 shows that the belt is composed of gneiss, granite gneiss, muscovite-biotite schist, banded iron formation, amphibolite, granite, granodiorite and diorite as major rock types, other rocks are aplite, and pegmatite. Petrographic and geochemical data shows that the there are two types of gneisses in the area: the orthogneiss and the paragneiss. Plots of TiO2 vs SiO2 shows that the granite gneiss is paragneiss while the gneiss is an orthogneiss. The granites and the granodiorite are I – Type and the amphibolite is volcaniclastic. The banded iron formation (BIF) is shown to be hematite facies type from a plot of MnO vs FeO(T). It can therefore be said that the orthogneiss represents the original basement rock possibly dating back to the early phase of the Eburnean orogeny. At later stages of the Eburnean, sedimentary deposition and subsequent metamorphism of the sediments might have led to the formation of the paragneiss and the metasediments with the associated BIF as indicated by the REE distribution pattern. The NNE – SSW and the N – S structural trends on the rocks might have been developed by the over printing effects of the Pan- African orogenyKeywords: orthogneiss, schist belt, paragneiss, banded iron formation, metasediment

Preparation and characterization of dialdehyde starch urea (DASU) and, it`s sorption potential for Co(ii), Pb(ii) and Zn(ii) ions from aqueous solution

Dialdehyde starch urea (DASU) was prepared by the reaction of dialdehyde starch (DAS) from periodate oxidized cassava starch with urea, which was then used to adsorb Co(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) ions from aqueous solution. Starch modified starches and starch complexes were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to determine the structure and morphology respectively. The percentages of aldehyde contents of the three kinds of DAS, designated as DAS1, DAS2 and DAS3 were 45.2%, 61.2% and 86.94% respectively. The results indicated that the higher the concentration of periodates, the higher the percentage of aldehyde content in DAS. DAS1 with the content of the aldehyde groups of 45.2% had an average molecular weight of 85,853, while the average molecular weight of DAS2 with the content of the  aldehyde groups of 61.2% was 15,466. When the content of aldehyde groups increased to 86.94%, the average molecular weight of DAS3 was fund to decrease to 13,182. The Degree of substitution (DS) of urea was 0.67and DS significantly increase with the increase in percentages of nitrogen content in the polymer adsorbent. Adsorption capacity for Co(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) ions were found to be 16.01mg/g, 21.73mg/g and 7.18mg/g respectively.Keywords: Starch Polymer, Dialdehyde starch, Dialdehyde Starch Urea, Chelating resi

Harmonic load modeling: a case study of 33 kV Abuja Steel Mill Feeder

An in-depth study of the harmonic orders inherent in a power system network is required before mitigation techniques are adopted. This paper studied the harmonic orders of the 33 kV Abuja Steel Feeder modeled as a harmonic source using measured data. Readings of kW, kVar, kV and Hz were obtained using power quality analyzer (PQube) to identify the trend and the harmonic unbalance on the feeder. Electrical Transient Analyzer Program (ETAP) software package was deployed to perform Discrete Fast Transform (DFT) while the input parameters were the resultant relative amplitudes and phase angles for both the current and voltage source models. The current source model spectrum of the feeder under study revealed that the 11th and 13th harmonic orders have the highest percentage of amplitude relative to the fundamental compared to the other harmonics. On the other hand, the voltage source model spectrum showed that the 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 32nd, 33rd and 34th harmonic orders have higher percentage of relative amplitude. However, only the 3rd and 5th harmonic orders were found to cause severe harmonic distortion of voltage and current after harmonic analysis and frequency scan were performed on the ETAP platform.Keywords: Harmonic order; Power quality; Transmission grid; ETAP; Tuned filter

Preparation and characterization of dialdehyde 2, 3-diaminopyridine starch chelating polymer and its sorption potential for Cd(II), Cu(II) and Ni(II) ions in aqueous media

Dialdehyde cassava starch (DAS) was prepared and characterized. Polymeric chelating ligands containing 2,3-diaminopyridine have been prepared from dialdehyde starch, the removal of copper(II), nickel(II) and cadmium(ii) ions from aqueous solutions by dialdehyde 2,3- diaminopyridine starch (DAS2,3-DNH2PYR) was investigated. The adsorbent degree of substitution (DS) 0.82 was characterized by solubility test, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), elemental analysis, and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Batch adsorption has been performed to identify the binding property of metal (ii) ions. The maximum adsorption capacity was found to be  31.1mg/g for cadmium and nickel, 30mg/g for copper, and removal efficiency was 78%, 77.77% and 75% for cadmium, nickel and copper respectively. Polymeric chelating ligand could therefore be used to remove the metals from aqueous solution.  Keywords: Starch Polymer, Dialdehyde starch, Starch 2, 3-Aminopyridine, Chelating resin

Incidence of staphylococcus spp and some members of enterobacteriaceae family and their susceptibilty to leaf extracts of Momordica balsamina (balsam apple)

Study was carried out on the incidence of Staphylococcus spp. and some members of the family Enterobacteriaceae family, in lettuce and cabbage. And their susceptibility to Momordica balsamina leaf extracts. Forty samples each of lettuce and cabbage were analyzed. Salmonella species were isolated from 32 (80%) lettuce and 30 (75%) cabbage samples. Staphylococcus species were isolated from all the lettuce and cabbage samples. Only three (7.5%) of the lettuce samples yielded Shigella species, and none from cabbage. Escherichia coli was isolated from 5 (12.5%) lettuce and 6 (15%) cabbage samples. E. coli 0157:H7 was not detected in any of the samples. All the isolates were tested for susceptibility to the methanol, ethanol and aqueous leaf extracts of M. balsamina using disc diffusion method Disc concentrations of 1.0, 10, 100, 1000, 2000, and 3000μg/disc were prepared from the leaf ectracts of M. balsamina Highest activity was recorded with ethanolic extracts on Shigella spp and E. coli with zone diameter of inhibition of 14mm and 13mm respectively. Other extracts were active against the test organisms with varying degree of inhibition, while some were not active. The susceptibility of Staphylocuccus species to the extracts was insignificant and seemed to be the most resistant bacteria among the text organisms. The study therefore stresses the need to sanitize vegetables adequately before consumption

Community pharmacists’ awareness and level of participation in Primary Health Care in Sokoto Metropolis

Background: Community pharmacy plays a role in primary health care (PHC) due to its proximity to and being accessible by the communities, making it a gateway to the health care system. However, the public under-utilize this facility leading to over-crowding of secondary and tertiary health care facilities.Objective: This study was conducted to assess the community pharmacists’ awareness and level of participation in promotive, preventive and curative primary health care services in Sokoto metropolis, Sokoto state, Nigeria.Materials and Methods: It was a cross-sectional survey of all the registered community pharmacies within Sokoto metropolis; Data was collected through the use of a self-administered questionnaire distributed to the community pharmacists in their premises. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 21.0.Results: Forty (40) registered community pharmacies were surveyed and percentage response was 90%. Majority of the community pharmacists (85.2%) are aware of PHC services. The level of community pharmacists’ participation in health promotion (75.9%), disease prevention (64.8%), and curative (80.6%) health services were found to be high in Sokoto metropolis. Thirty-five 35(97.2%) of the respondents agreed that ensuring access to patient diagnosis and laboratory data could further improve their level of participation in PHC.Conclusion: Majority of the community pharmacists in Sokoto metropolis are (85.2%) are aware of PHC. There was high level of participation of community pharmacists in primary health care services in Sokoto metropolis. However, more awareness of this participation needs to be created in the communities for maximum utilization of community pharmacies.Keywords: primary health care, community pharmacy, community pharmacist

Need for Achievement as a Predictor of Entrepreneurial Behavior: The Mediating Role of Entrepreneurial Passion for Founding and Entrepreneurial Interest

This study aims to explore the role of new predictors of Entrepreneurial behavior (EB). Build on entrepreneurial passion literature we propose that entrepreneurial passion for founding (EPF) predicts EB. We then apply McClelland's (1961) Need for achievement (NACH) theory to propose that NACH predicts EB. We also propose that EPF and entrepreneurial interest mediate this relationship. Furthermore, we hypothesize that prior experience moderates EPF and EB relationship as well as NACH and EB relationship and EI and EB relationship. Based on a sample of 223 collected by using a reliable questionnaire distributed to actual and potential entrepreneurs from different nationalities who are living in china; we found support for our hypotheses. Results indicated that EPF and NACH are significantly related to EB. Furthermore, we found that entrepreneurial interest and EPF mediate NACH and EB relationship. Moreover, the results revealed that prior experience affects the relationship between EPF and EB and NACH and EB as well as the relationship between entrepreneurial interest and EB such that prior experience strengthens those relationships. Study implications, limitations, and future directions are discussed. Keywords: Entrepreneurial Behavior, Entrepreneurial Interest, Entrepreneurial Passion, Need for Achievement, Prior Experience JEL Classifications: L26, J52 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32479/irmm.894

Factors associated with teenage pregnancy in southwest Nigeria

Background: Teenage pregnancy is a major contributor to maternal and child mortality, and to the vicious cycle of ill-health and poverty worldwide and thus, requires urgent intervention. This cross-sectional study therefore assessed the prevalence and contextual factors associated with teenage pregnancy in south-west Nigeria.Method: A total of 350 consenting teenagers between ages 13 and 19 were recruited using a multi-stage sampling technique. The validated semi-structured questionnaire was used to elicit information on socio-demographic characteristics of teenagers, risk factors and prevalence of teenage pregnancy.Results: The mean age ± SD of the respondents is 16.79 ± 1.52 years. Majority (341, 97.4%) of them were single. More than a quarter (28%) of the girls were sexually active with over half sexual debut occurring at age 16 and thereafter, while, pleasure was the most cited reason (59.2%) for engaging in sexual intercourse. The prevalence of teenage pregnancy and childbirth was 7.7% and 3.4% respectively, with over half (59.3%) of the pregnancy resulting into an abortion. Individual and socio-economic factors such as age, early marriage, ethnicity, lack of formal education, family disruptions, poverty, early sexual debut, sex for financial gains, having pregnant sibling, use of alcohol, social media naive and a positive attitude towards premarital sex significantly increase the vulnerability of girls to becoming pregnant.Conclusion: The findings of this study show that though numerous, these contextual factors are largely modifiable through effective policy and interventions on early marriage, comprehensive sexuality education, ensuring girls enrolment in schools, community poverty alleviation programmes targeted at vulnerable girls and families as well as addressing gender norms that expose girls unduly

Efficacy of some bio-control agent formulations on scab of cowpea and groundnut late leaf spot in the Nigerian savanna

Field experiment on fungicidal efficacy of Trichoderma harzianum, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Bacillus cereus formulations against cowpea scab and groundnut late leaf spot was conducted. The trials were conducted in 2016 and 2017 rainy seasons on two farms of the Institute for Agricultural Research located at Samaru, Zaria (110 12′ N, 070 37′ E) in the Northern Guinea savanna and Minijbir, Kano (08031' E., l20 03' N) in the Sudan savanna. The formulations were applied as seed treatment, foliar spray and also incorporated into the soil by broadcasting the powdered formulations on the ridges. The experiment was laid in Randomized Complete Block Design replicated three times with five treatments which consisted of the three formulations, Funguforce (Mancozeb + Carbendazim) and control. Data were taken on plant emergence, pod yield, disease incidence and severity. Irrespective of the treatments, incidence of scab at both Samaru and Minjibir were at par. However, Funguforce application gave lowest mean scab severities of 10% and 8.5% at Minjibir and Samaru respectively in 2017. In 2016 at Samaru, P. fluorescens had the lowest incidence (50.57 %) while B. cereus had the lowest severity (14.40 %) of groundnut late leaf spot. At Minjibir however, T. harzianum recorded the lowest incidence (48.75 %) and severity (18.22 %). The incidence and severity of groundnut late leaf spot at Samaru in 2017 did not significantly vary while at Minjibir lowest incidence (9.77 %) and severity (9.73 %) were recorded on Funguforce. The microbial formulations recorded an average pod yield increase of 10 – 58 % which was comparable with that of Funguforce. The use of formulations of T. harzianum, P. fluorescens and B. cereus in the management of fungal diseases of cowpea and groundnut in the Nigerian savanna is therefore recommended.Keywords: Genetic-crosses, RILs, Polymorphisms, Genetic-Markers, EP