Indexing

Abstract:This study assessed the causes of low enrolment of female students in science subjects in Lafia local Government Area of Nasarawa state .the survey was conducted among science based Senior Secondary School two (SSS2) MALE/female students in five randomly selected senior secondary schools in the Local Government to ascertained the causes and improvements of low females’ students enrolment in science subjects. Twenty-five test item questionnaires based on six (6) factors of socio-cultural, parental, teachers, self, school environment and marital suspected to be capable of causing low enrolment in science subjects was formulated and used for the study. Two hundred (200) questionnaires were administered and one hundred and eighty (180) were returned. The data was analyzed with the aid of simple percentages as statistical method. Results showed that of all the factors investigated only parental, school environment and marital factors were implicated as the major factors for low female students’ enrolment in science subjects in the Local Government Area. Socio-economic status of parents, time allotment to household chores by married students, gender insensitivity, illustrations in science textbooks have also contributed to low enrolment of female students in science subjects. Contrary to expectations, socio-cultural, self and teacher factors were not major contributing factor to low female students’ enrolment in science subjects in schools in Lafia Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. In spite of the identified factors causing low enrolment of female students in science subjects in the study area, improvements in the enrolment can be achieved by payment of allowances to female science students to serve as motivation, enlightenment of both the parents and their female students on the importance of science to National Development and provision of good science Laboratories and facilities.

Abstract:The indiscriminate dumping and release of wastes containing hazardous substances into Rivers might lead to environmental disturbance which could be considered as a potential source of stress to biotic community. River Mkomon which is one of the tributaries of River Benue serve as an excellent disposal agent by some of the communities at the river bank and farmers. The objective of the study was to investigate the seasonal variation in physico-chemical and bacteriological characteristics of River Mkomon water at four different sampling stations of the River. Analyses of river water quality containing 16 parameters were done during dry and rainy seasons in the year 2015. Results revealed deterioration in water quality with seasonal changes between the sites. The data have been compared with the norms for River water of World Health Organization (WHO),National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and standard organization of Nigeria (SON). The results obtained revealed enhanced level of water temperature (28.8±0.08)^oC, turbidity (8.5±0.15) NTU, cadmium (0.087±0.00) mg/L, lead (0.299±0.00) mg/L, chromium (0.521±0.00) mg/L, total coliform (159.1±24.9) CFU and decrease or normal levels in phosphate (3.7±0.05) mg/L, chloride (55.2±1.35) mg/L, electrical conductivity (56.2±0.49) µS/cm, biological oxygen demand (3.3±0.08)mg/L, suspended solid(48.9±0.31) mg/L, pH(6.5±0.07), dissolved oxygen(4.0±0.09) mg/L, total dissolved solids(47.7±0.15) mg/L and total hardness (83.2±1.13) mg/L. Moreover, increase of pollution load during rainy season indicated the increase in organic matter in River water during the season due to increase in anthropogenic interferences of the surrounding areas.

Abstract:The comparative analysis of heat island production in poultry farmyard and vegetative farmyard was carried out at Orji in Owerri Municipality Imo State, located at the globe on longitude 7.04437E and latitude 5.51412N. The purposive sampling technique was used. The study recorded nine (9) temperature readings of both poultry farmyard and vegetative farmyard for a period of three (3) days. Based on comparative analysis, the paired t-test revealed that there was a significant effect at 95% level of confidence. The null hypothesis was rejected and it was concluded that there was a significant effect of animal metabolism on heat island production. Conversely, the chi-square test revealed that at 95% level of confidence, there was no significant relationship between the period of the day and the effect of animal metabolism on heat island production.

Abstract:Air pollution has continued to be a great concern all over the world due to the negative impact it imposes on human health and welfare. Unless controlled, regulations should be enforced by Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ensure compliance of scavengers dumping refuse in the region of our study to standard rules, else they would deteriorate the fine air quality and thus, threaten the ecosystem of the study area. This Paper characterizes air quality prediction (H2S, NO2, CH4) over the dumpsite at Enyimba, Aba, Abia State Nigeria and its environs by retrieving meteorological parameters (Temperature, Wind speed, Relative humidity) using Non Dispersive infra red (NDIR) analyzer AZ 77535 with the atmospheric pollutants and the results were compared. The study area covered Lat. 5o 6’ 50.5”N - 5o 6’ 59”N and Long. 7o 19’ 42.5”E - 7o 19’ 37.7”E. Our findings indicate that concentrations of air pollutant within the surroundings of the dumpsite are found to be above standards of ambient air quality. The retrieval first present the preliminary stage and maintains diurnal pattern.

Abstract:Information concerning fluid’s physico-chemical behaviors is of utmost importance in the design, running and optimization of industrial processes, in this regard, the idea of fluid viscosity quickly comes to mind. Models have been proposed in literatures to describe the viscosity of liquids and fluids in general.  The Arrhenius type equations have been proposed for pure solvents; correlating the pre-exponential factor A and activation energy Ea.  In this paper, we aim at extending these Arrhenius parameters to simple organic liquids such as water, ethanol and Diethyl ether. Hence, statistical method and analysis are applied using viscosity data set from the literature of some organic liquids. The Arrhenius type equation simplifies the estimation of viscous properties and the calculations thereafter.

Abstract:Heavy metals (Pb, Ni, and Cr) were assessed in thirteen different confectionaries which include seven brand of chocolates and six brands of chewing gums commonly found in retail stores and sells on major street in Kano metropolitan. The results indicated concentration of Ni, Cr and Pb in the range of 4.04 – 30.0 µg/g, 3.18 – 12.27 µg/g and 0.13 – 18.75 µg/g in chocolate samples respectively, while the mean concentration of Ni, Pb and Cr in chewing gum samples ranged from 4.04 – 13.8 µg/g, 0.00 – 6.25 µg/g and 0.13 – 16.82 µg/g respectively. Higher concentration of all the studied metals were found in chocolate compared to chewing gum samples. All the confectionaries studied indicated presence of the studied metals (Ni, Pb and Cr) at concentrations which exceeded the permissible limit of 1µg/g prescribed by FAO/WHO (2011) and Poland national standard limit of 0.3µg/g in both chocolate and chewing gum brands studied with exception of Pb in only one sample of chewing gum. Therefore, consumption of those products may likely results to some health implications.

Abstract: Physiochemical parameters shows that Nahuta water and sediment samples shows an increase in pH values of acidity with change in time, with small fluctuations at varying samples. Conductivity test revealed that water samples shows increase in conductivity with increase in absorption time. Mean concentrations of Nitrates, chloride and Bromates in Nahuta was found to be 1.08 mg/l, 77.18mg/l and 0.044mg/l.  Phosphate and Sulphates concentrations in water shows 1.77mg/l and 66mg/l respectively. Dissolve Oxygen (DO) and Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) contributed about 7.1mg/l and 4mg/l, while COD and TOC remain as 57.6mg/l and 0.864mg/l. Bioaccumulation factor of Nahuta water samples was found to be 11.57mg/l. These signified that Nahuta Galena mine area water was nontoxic to both plants, animals and human consumption.