Assessment and biological treatment of effluent from textile industry

The assessment of effluent generated from international textile industry (Nig) Ltd. Odongunyan Industrial Estate Ikorodu Lagos was carried out. The effluent was analyzed for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total solid (TS), suspended solid (SS), dissolved solid (DS), odour and colour intensity prior to biological treatment with mixed culture of Aspergillus  niger and Aspergillus wentil. The product of biological treatment was analyzed after 5 days of treatment. The result revealed that the effluent was initially of high BOD, COD, TS, DS, SS and colour intensity. The method used in this work has significantly reduced COD to well below 250 mg/l and BOD < 30 mg/l, TSS < 30 mg/l which are the upper limit for disposal into surface water. The result indicates remarkable overall COD reduction from 800 mg/l to 200 mg/l (75%), BOD (97.3%) from 750 mg/l to 20 mg/l and bioremediation of TSS < 30 mg/l (99.5%), DS (99.6%) and SS (99.3%).Key words: Textile industrial effluent, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus wentil

Perceived Benefits of Improved Practices in Pre Harvest Tomato Production among Farmers in Afijio Local Government Area, Oyo State

This study was designed to investigate the perceived benefits of improved practices in pre-harvest tomato production among farmers in Afijio Local Government Area of Oyo State. Multistage sampling techniques were used to select respondents in the study area, with the aid of structured questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential (PPMC) statistics were used to analyze the data. Majority of the respondents (88.5%) perceived that it has lots of benefits. Also, 82.7% perceived that improved practices minimize post-harvest losses on a medium scale.  Furthermore, 85.6% perceived that improved practices minimize disease infestation on a medium scale, while 84.6% perceive it protects tomato from decaying. Also, 76.9% of the respondents perceive that improve practices helps to retain nutritional content of tomato on a medium scale.  Also, the category of the respondents that had high awareness considered the improved practices to be highly beneficial to them.  The study further concluded that the benefits derived by minority of the respondents influenced most of the respondents to have favorable perception to derivable benefits embedded in improved practices of tomato in the study area.  In addition, the result also revealed significant relationship between awareness and perceived benefits of improved practices in pre-harvest tomato production (r=0.280, p=0.004).  The study therefore recommended that the extension agents should properly train the farmers on the benefits and use of these improved practices. Adequate information should be made available to the tomato farmers on the most recent developments in tomato farming and production (pre harvest and post-harvest). The government should be able to provide adequate and glitch free loan to the farmers to enable them utilize the information and training

Audit of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgical Conditions Seen At Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Background: The worldwide pattern of oral and maxillofacial surgical conditions has been rarely reported despite its significance in head and neck medicine. The Niger Delta region comprises 9 of the 36 states in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. There are scanty reports on oral and maxillofacial surgical diseases from the region despite its 95% contribution to Nigeria\u2019s oil-revenue. Methods: This retrospective survey of oral/maxillofacial surgical cases seen at a referral center in Port Harcourt, a city in the Niger delta region of Nigeria. Results: Between 2000 and 2004, our center offered specialized maxillofacial surgical services to 86 patients coming from 5 states in the Niger delta region. These patients made up 20% of all patients seen at the department within the period. There were 110 indications for surgical interventions. Most were complaints of trauma (46.4%). The rest were tumors and allied lesions (39.0%) and cysts (12.7%). Ratio of male to female patients was 1.7:1 while patients were aged between 9 and 85years (mean 31.2years, standard deviation \ub115.4). Most (n\u2009=\u200963, 73%) had surgical treatment while a significant proportion (19%) defaulted. Seventy -nine surgical procedures were performed (69 primary and 10 secondary). Primary procedures included maxillo-mandibular fixation (31.9%) and enucleation of tumor/cyst (17.4%). While our series of 86 cases over 4years appears low, there is likelihood that oral and maxillofacial surgical conditions are as common in the Niger Delta region as in other parts of Nigeria. There is scarcity of skilled manpower and equipments for the management of oral maxillofacial surgical conditions in the region. Health promotion activities are needed to improve awareness for early diagnosis of these conditions. Also, poverty alleviation measures need to be effective as defaults were often due to inability to pay for treatment. Conclusion: In many parts of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, oral and maxillofacial surgical diseases are not uncommon causes of morbidity. However, many parts of the region lack requisite manpower for prevention and curative health activities. Defaults from hospital treatment were due to preference for traditional (unorthodox) measures and financial inability. Poverty alleviation measures need to be stepped up while the state of medical infrastructure should be enhanced in the region.Introduction: La tendance mondiale de la situation de la chirurgie buccale et maxillo a \ue9t\ue9 rarement signal\ue9e en d\ue9pit de son importance dans le domaine de m\ue9decine de la t\ueate et du cou. La r\ue9gion du Niger Delta comprend 9 des 36 Etats de la R\ue9publique F\ue9d\ue9rale du Nig\ue9ria. Il y peu de rapports sur la maladie de la chirurgie buccale et maxillo dans la r\ue9gion en d\ue9pit de sa 95% contribution au revenu p\ue9trolier du Nig\ue9ria. M\ue9thodes: Cette \ue9tude r\ue9trospective des cas d\u2019oral/chirurgie maxillo vus \ue0 un centre de referral \ue0 Port Harcourt, une ville dans la r\ue9gion du Niger Delta au Nig\ue9ria. R\ue9sultats: Entre 2000 et 2004, notre centre a offert des services sp\ue9cialis\ue9s de chirurgie maxillo au 86 patients venant de 5 Etats dans la r\ue9gion du Niger Delta. Ces patients repr\ue9sentaient 20% de tous les patients vus dans le D\ue9partement au cours de cette p\ue9riode. Il y avait des indications pour 110 interventions chirurgicales. La plupart des plaintes ont \ue9t\ue9 des traumatismes (46,4%). Les autres \ue9taient des tumeurs et des l\ue9sions connexes (39,0% et des kystes (12,7%, Proportion sexe masculine \u2013 sexe f\ue9minin \ue9tait 1. 7:1 des patients. Alors que les patients \ue9taient \ue2g\ue9s entre 9 et 85 ans (moyenne de 31,2 ans, l\u2019\ue9cart \u2013 type +- 15,4). La plupart (n = 63, 73%) ont eu une intervention chirurgicale tandis que une proportion importante (19%) \ue9tait en d\ue9faut. Soixante-dix neuf interventions chirurgicales ont \ue9t\ue9 r\ue9alis\ue9es (69 primaires et 10 secondaires). Des protocole primaires inclus de fixation maxillo-mandibulaires (31,9%) et l\u2019\ue9nucl\ue9ation de la tumeur / kyste (17,4%). Bien que notre s\ue9rie de 86 cas pendant une dur\ue9e de 4 ans appara\ueet faible, il est probable que la chirurgie buccale et maxillo conditions sont aussi fr\ue9quente dans la r\ue9gion du Niger Delta comme dans d\u2019autres r\ue9gions du Nig\ue9ria. Il y a p\ue9nurie de main-d\u2019\u153uvre qualifi\ue9 et des \ue9quipements pour la gestion de la chirurgie maxillo-orale dans la r\ue9gion. Les activit\ue9s de la promotion de la sant\ue9 sont n\ue9cessaires pour am\ue9liorer la sensibilisation pour le diagnostic pr\ue9coce de ces affections. Aussi, des mesures doivent \ueatre efficaces parce que le probl\ue8mes est souvent due \ue0 l\u2019impossibilit\ue9 de payer pour se faire soigner. Conclusion: Dans de nombreuses parties de la r\ue9gion du Niger Delta du Nig\ue9ria, les maladies de la chirurgie buccale et maxillo ne sont pas rare comme attribuable pour la cause de la morbidit\ue9. Toutefois, de nombreuses parties de la r\ue9gion, manquent de la main-d\u2019\u153uvre n\ue9cessaire pour effectuer la pr\ue9vention et de soins curatifs. Manquement de l\u2019h\uf4pital de traitement \ue9taient dues \ue0 la pr\ue9f\ue9rence des mesures traditionnelles (orthodoxe), ainsi que un probl\ue8me d\u2019incapacit\ue9 financi\ue8res. Des mesures d\u2019att\ue9nuation de la pauvret\ue9 doivent \ueatre intensifi\ue9s alors que l\u2019\ue9tat de l\u2019infrastructure m\ue9dicale devrait \ueatre renforc\ue9e dans la r\ue9gion

Analyses of Willingness to Practice Agriculture as Enterprise among Students of Tertiary Institutions in Ibadan, Oyo State

This study investigated willingness to practice agriculture as enterprise among students of tertiary institutions in Oyo State. A Multi-stage sampling technique was used to elicit data from 112 selected respondents in the study area. Data were collected using a well structured questionnaire and analyzed with the use of descriptive (frequency counts, percentages, and mean) and inferential statistic (Chi-square and Pearson Product Moment Correlation). The results showed that majority of the respondents were within the age range of 21-25 years, with majority males, whom were single in the study area. Furthermore, results revealed that majority of the respondents had low interest in agricultural enterprise preference and high constraint associated with respondents willingness to engage in agricultural enterprise in the study area. Majority of the respondents had positive willingness to practice agricultural enterprise in the study area. There was significant relationship between selected socio-economic characteristics of the respondents except Gender and Marital status. It is therefore recommended that government should motivate agricultural students by providing Youth Empowerment programmes and services directed to improve their willingness to engage in agricultural enterprises

DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF COMBINED ELECTROMAGNETIC AND MAGNETIC DRUM-BELT CONVEYOR SEPARATOR

Mineral processing operations are faced with many challenges which include effective separation of unwanted materials generated through the extraction process from the bulk material. Magnetic device is a machine used for separating magnetic materials from non-magnetic materials by inducing the magnetic flux. Magnetic and electromagnetic separators are widely used as primary separation equipment. This work was centred on the design and construction of a laboratory-sized dual purpose magnetic and electromagnetic separator for separating the magnetic particles from the rest of the bulk mineral or ferrous materials from foundry sand in a single system. The main components of the equipment include: the hopper, conveyor belt rotating drums, pulley and belt, electromagnet. The approaches to achieving the result reported include the design conceptualization, design calculation, design drawing using the AutoCAD and Inventor software, fabrication and assembly of components. The evaluation showed that electromagnetic separation is more efficient than magnetic separation. The equipment was fabricated at an average cost of 224,000:00 naira

EFFECTS OF ADMINISTERING A COMBINATION OF VITAMINS A AND E ON FERTILITY AND HATCHABILITY OF ANAK 2000 BREEDERS

The ameliorative effect of a combined regime of vitamins A and E on fertility and hatchability was investigated in Anak 2000 breeders. Vitamin A and E individually administered at a dose rate of 0.125 ml/kg body weight intramuscularly produced an improvement in hatchability, fertility, and sperm quality. The percentage fertility (46%) and hatchability (40.5%) before vitamin A&E  administration was compared to those of fertility (76.9%) and hatchability (76.8%) after vitamin administration and found to be statistically significant at p<0.05. From the findings of this study, we can therefore postulate that intramuscular administration of vitamin A and E during acute episode of nutritional hypovitaminosis provokes a quick and prompt response in birds &nbsp

Direct bioleaching of Zinc using manihot esculenta crantz (cassava) extract without additives

Abstract: The advent and development of new technologies that will provide better yields, cleaner and a safer environment is a global challenge for the researchers. Traditional solvents used in extraction of minerals are at many times hazardous thereby constituting threats to the ecology. The work reports the direct bioleaching of zinc sourced from Abakaliki-Ishiagwu complex zinc sulphide ore deposit. The sphalerite ore is predominant in Zn with other associated metals Pb, Cu, Fe, Ni, Sb, As, Cd, Au, V, Co, Ag, K, Al and Ca. It covers the pre extraction processes of mineral comminution (crushing and grinding); separation by froth flotation; and roasting. Agro-cyanide was extracted from cassava plant (Manihot esculenta Crantz) leaves and was used as leachant without any additive. The result of atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) analysis of the leached liquor (pregnant solution) shows that lead, copper and iron in addition to Zinc, were obtained from the leached ore roast at 149.25 ppm (Zn), 79.25 ppm (Pb), 0.25 ppm (Cu) and 4.25 ppm (Fe) extraction after 21 days. Elongated contact of ZnO ore is not encouraging for Zn extraction as there is a decline in the quantity of Zn, Fe and Cu as the leaching time (days) increases. The mechanism of the Leach next faction is yet to be fully ascertained, hence the need for further work in the area

Appraisal of Nuclear Energy as an Alternative Option in South Africa’s Energy Scenario: A Multicriteria Analysis

South Africa is being confronted with an irregular power supply, leading to persistent load shedding due to aged and unreliable coal-fired power plants. Connected with coal as a generating source for electricity from fossil fuels are environmental concerns such as emissions of greenhouse gases and climate change impacts. Nuclear energy can allay the country’s dependence on coal as a source of energy. This article, therefore, reviews the feasibility of nuclear energy using a multicriteria analysis technique. A combination of Strengths, weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to evaluate the external and internal factors that could either positively or negatively affect the country’s nuclear energy expansion drive. From the analysis, the country’s enabling laws and regulatory framework recorded the highest score of 39.2% under the strengths for the sector. In the case of the weaknesses, the high cost of construction and long construction framework recorded the highest weight, of 50.47%. Energy export and demand under the opportunities recorded a weight of 52.09%, ranking it as the highest opportunity for the sector. Seismic events were identified as the biggest threat for nuclear power expansion in the country, and the experts assigned a weight of 42.5% to this factor. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Acknowledgments: The authors acknowledge with thanks the Centre for Postgraduate Studies and the Postdoctoral Fellowship/Research Committee of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, and the Directorate of Research and Innovations of the University of Venda

IMPACT OF ELECTRONIC BANKING TECHNOLOGY ON CUSTOMERS’ SATISFACTION AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN NIGERIA

Various researchers have studied the impact of e-banking on banks’ performance, banks’ profit, and e-banking challenges, but this study is looking at its impact on both customers’ satisfaction and economic growth. The methodology employed for testing the hypotheses is a statistical parametric test called Pair Sample t-test through the use of SPSS statistical package. The study rejects both null hypotheses which mean that ebanking has improved both customers’ satisfaction and caused economic growth in Nigeria. The study recommends adequate legislation on all aspects of e-banking so that both the operators of the system and the public can be adequately protected. Also, banks should charge low or no fees for e-banking services in order to motivate their customers to take advantage of e-banking services