Resource Use Efficiency In Poultry Egg Production In Maiduguri And Environs Of Borno State, Nigeria

Poultry enterprise is significant to Borno State and the Nigerian economy as whole because it provides a good source of animal protein in form of meat and eggs. The study estimated resources use efficiency in poultry egg production in Maiduguri and Environs of Borno State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to: examine the socio-economic characteristic of poultry farmers; examine the poultry egg production system practiced by farmers; and estimate the efficiency of resource used in poultry egg production. Purposive sampling technique was employed for the study. Ten (10) wards were purposively selected out of the existing fifteen (15) wards in the area. These are areas where poultry egg producers are predominantly found. From each of the ten (10) wards, five (5) poultry egg producers were randomly selected, giving a total sample size of fifty (50) respondents for the study. Data were obtained with the aid of structured questionnaire administered to fifty (50) poultry egg producers. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression model were used as analytical technique. The finding shows that majority (82%) of the respondents were male, 68% were married, 62% were within the age group of 31-35 years, while 42% had between 11-20 persons in their households in the study area. The result also indicates that 46% of the respondents had secondary education, 58% of the respondent had between N51, 000- N100, 000, while 52% of the respondents had flock sizes ranging from 101-200. The finding shows that 26% of the respondent practised free range system, about 40% practised battery cage system while, 34% practised deep litter system of poultry production in the study area. The total sum of the elasticties of poultry egg production of the resources was 1.748. The finding also reveals that the ratios of the MVP to the MFC were less than unity (1) for all the inputs. It was recommended among others that: poultry egg producers should reduce the quantities of farm inputs such as family labour, hired labour, flock size, feed, depreciating cost of equipment and operating expenses to ensure increase in poultry egg production; and extension agents in the state should be properly trained and provided with all necessary technological packages required to teach and guide farmers on improved poultry egg production. Keywords: Resource Use,  Efficiency, Poultry Egg, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeri

Effect of plant growth regulators on root nodulation of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp)

The Effects of Indole – 3 – acetic acid (IAA) and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) on the Root Nodulation of four varieties (IT95K – 499 – 35, T93K – 452 – 1, IAR 1696 and IAR 48) of Cowpea (Vigna Unguivulata L. Walp) were examined. Three concentration of IAA (0.0, 0.25 and 0.50) were applied. In the field experiment Cowpea treated at 0.1 IAA experienced a higher rate of root nodulation IRA 1696 had the highest mean of root nodulation when compared to the other three varieties of cowpea treated at 0.25 NAA experienced high mean root nodulation for IAR 48 and IT95K – 499 – 35 while IT93K – 452 – 1 and IAR1696 showed greater mean root nodulation at 0.50 of NAA treated. Result of Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed significant difference (P > 0.001) in most parameters. These results indicate that plant growth regulator treatments improved root nodulation in Cowpea which improved high yield

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

Synergistic Activity of Methanolic Extract of Adenium obesum (Apocynaceae) Stem-Bark and Oxytetracycline against Some Clinical Bacterial Isolates

Adenium obesum plant (stem-bark) was collected, identified, air-dried, ground and extracted using hot-continuous extraction method. Standard phytochemical tests and antimicrobial tests using Kirby and Bauer techniques were adopted for the phytochemical screening and antimicrobial tests of the plant stem-bark methanolic extract respectively. The MIC of methanolic extract in combination with oxytetracycline using 8 different clinical bacterial isolates, both Gram positive and Gram negative, was found to be around (62.5 μg/ml to 1250 μg/ml).In all, 87.5% showed synergistic activity against 8 different bacterial isolates, both gram positive and gram negative species. The highest synergistic activity was attained against Streptococcus pyogenes. Phytochemical examination of the extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, steroids, saponins, glycosides, anthraquinones, tannins and flavonoids. This result indicated strong antibacterial activity of the methanolic extract in combination with oxytetracycline against the pathogenic bacterial isolates. Keywords: synergism, methanol, Adenium obesum, oxytetracycline, extract, clinical isolate

Assessment of Trace Metals Concentration in Vegetables from Gombe Markets, Gombe State, Nigeria

This study determined the concentration of trace metals in vegetables (lettuce, tomato and cabbage) from Gombe markets, Gombe State, Nigeria. A total of 60 samples of vegetables were analyzed for trace metals (Cd, Pb, Mn, Cr, Zn, Ni and Cu) using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The mean concentration of Cd in lettuce, tomato and cabbage samples ranged from (0.05 - 0.06 mg/kg), (0.03 - 0.07 mg/kg) and (0.08 - 0.90 mg/kg),  Pb ranged from (BDL - 0.02 mg/kg), (BDL - 0.03 mg/kg) and (0.01 - 0.02 mg/kg), Mn ranged from (0.27 - 1.02 mg/kg), (0.09 - 0.12 mg/kg) and (0.25 - 0.31 mg/kg), Cr ranged from (0.05 - 0.65 mg/kg), (0.04 - 0.05 mg/kg) and (0.03 - 0.05 mg/kg), Zn ranged from (2.67 - 3.32 mg/kg), (1.93 - 2.87 mg/kg) and (2.45 - 3.26 mg/kg), Ni ranged from (0.68 - 0.77 mg/kg), (0.23 - 0.26 mg/kg) and (0.73 - 0.86 mg/kg), and Cu ranged from (0.95 - 0.97 mg/kg), (0.76 - 0.83 mg/kg) and (0.94 - 1.00 mg/kg) respectively.  The abundance of trace metals was found in decreasing order: Zn > Cu > Ni > Mn > Cr > Cd > Pb in lettuce, tomato and cabbage samples. The concentration of trace metals in the different vegetables were below the World Health Organization/Food and Agriculture Organization (WHO/ FAO) standard, except Cd in all studied samples. Therefore, monitoring and strict regulation is recommended to control the safety of vegetables sold in these markets

Umbilical cord infection prevention practices among rural women attending immunization clinic in kumbotso, Kano state, Nigeria

Umbilical cord infections are more prevalent in developing countries because of the high rates of unhygienic cord care practices. Objectives: This study was undertaken to explore the various practices related to umbilical cord care among rural community women attending an immunization clinic in Kumbotso, Kano State, Nigeria. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used for the study. This study was carried out in immunization clinic at Kumbotso CHC of Kumbotso Local Government Area (LGA), Kano state Nigeria. Sample size was 265. Data was collected with interviewer administered semi-structured questionnaire and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 20 software. The result obtained was presented in the form of tables. Results: Majority, 200 (75.5%) of respondents' hands were gloved. In 126 (47.5%) of respondents, new razor blades were used, in 117 (44.2%) of respondents' scissors was used and the remaining 22 (8.3%) of respondents used razor blade or knife to cut the umbilical cord. Up to 159 (60%) of respondents applied mentholated spirit. One hundred and sixty-nine (63.8%) of respondents were informed of safe umbilical cord practices by health workers. Cord infection rate occurred in 53 (20.1%) babies. Conclusion: Cord infection prevention and control practices were high in this community with a relatively low cord infection rate. Even though Chlorhexidine was not used, health workers should emphasize and as well recommend its use in cord care. Community-based study is recommended to generate data about cord infections and practices inside the community

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

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

Benign intermittent gastric outlet obstruction in an elderly: Endoscopic management and brief review

We describe the clinical scenario in an 80 year old female who presented with history of epigastric discomfort and postprandial fullness of three weeksduration without any alarming symptoms. On upper GI endoscopy she was found to have gastric polyp with a long stalk which was partially obstructing her pyloric ring giving rise to features of intermittent gastric outlet obstruction Polypectomy was done with complete relief of symptoms .She is following our clinic for last 6 months now. Although possibility of malignant etiology in gastric out let obstruction ranks high in the elderly some patients are lucky to have a benign cause as the index case. Report of the case and brief review ispresented.Key words:Inflammatory polyp, Gastric outlet obstruction