Physicochemical evaluation of groundwater near Ikot Effanga dumpsite, Calabar, South eastern Nigeria

The Ikot Effanga area of Calabar, Southeastern Nigeria, is located close to a municipal waste dump. The area is defined by latitudes 050001N and 050251N and longitudes 0080201 E and 0080251 E. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of the waste dump on the groundwater resources of the area. Groundwater samples were obtained from 10 boreholes located around the dump site. The samples were collected during the peak dry season and peak rainy season for comparison. Physicochemical parameters were analyzed. Static water level and surface elevation of the boreholes were used to determine the groundwater flow direction. Results obtained were compared with the NSDWQ and WHO standards. From the result, it was observed that groundwater in the area is acidic as the mean pH values were 4.03 and 3.57 for dry and wet season respectively. Other physicochemical parameters analyzed showed that there were no significant variations between the dry and wet season. Also, groundwater from the area was classified as fresh and suitable for domestic and agricultural purposes. The general flow direction of groundwater in the study area is NW-SE. While the present study showed that the dumpsite does not have significant impact on the groundwater resources either due to geology or natural attenuatio

A longitudinal survey of African animal trypanosomiasis in domestic cattle on the Jos Plateau, Nigeria:prevalence, distribution and risk factors

BACKGROUND: Trypanosomiasis is a widespread disease of livestock in Nigeria and a major constraint to the rural economy. The Jos Plateau, Nigeria was free from tsetse flies and the trypanosomes they transmit due to its high altitude and the absence of animal trypanosomiasis attracted large numbers of cattle-keeping pastoralists to inhabit the plateau. The Jos Plateau now plays a significant role in the national cattle industry, accommodating approximately 7% of the national herd and supporting 300,000 pastoralists and over one million cattle. However, during the past two decades tsetse flies have invaded the Jos Plateau and animal trypanosomiasis has become a significant problem for livestock keepers. METHODS: In 2008 a longitudinal two-stage cluster survey on the Jos Plateau. Cattle were sampled in the dry, early wet and late wet seasons. Parasite identification was undertaken using species-specific polymerase chain reactions to determine the prevalence and distribution bovine trypanosomiasis. Logistic regression was performed to determine risk factors for disease. RESULTS: The prevalence of bovine trypanosomiasis (Trypanosoma brucei brucei, Trypanosoma congolense savannah, Trypanosoma vivax) across the Jos Plateau was found to be high at 46.8% (39.0 – 54.5%) and significant, seasonal variation was observed between the dry season and the end of the wet season. T. b. brucei was observed at a prevalence of 3.2% (1% – 5.5%); T. congolense at 27.7% (21.8% - 33.6%) and T. vivax at 26.7% (18.2% - 35.3%). High individual variation was observed in trypanosomiasis prevalence between individual villages on the Plateau, ranging from 8.8% to 95.6%. Altitude was found to be a significant risk factor for trypanosomiasis whilst migration also influenced risk for animal trypanosomiasis. CONCLUSIONS: Trypanosomiasis is now endemic on the Jos Plateau showing high prevalence in cattle and is influenced by seasonality, altitude and migration practices. Attempts to successfully control animal trypanosomiasis on the Plateau will need to take into account the large variability in trypanosomiasis infection rates between villages, the influence of land use, and husbandry and management practices of the pastoralists, all of which affect the epidemiology of the disease

Heavy Metals, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons and Total Hydrocarbon Contents in Drilling Mud Effluents From Eastern Obolo Oilfield In The Niger Delta Region Of Nigeria

The objective of this paper is to evaluate the concentrations of heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and total hydrocarbon content (THC) in drilling mud effluents from Eastern Obolo Oilfield in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria using appropriate standard methods. The TPH and THC of OBM and WBM analyses with UV-Vis spectrophotometer indicated 1.60 mg/kg for OBM and 1.30 mg/kg for WBM. A value of 5.35 mg/kg was obtained for OBM compared to 5.15mg/kg for the OBM in the THC. Generally, the result indicated that TPHZn>Cr>Pb>Cu>Ni>Cd. The concentrations range in the OBM were; Fe>Cr>Zn>Ni>Cu>Pb>Cd. The evaluation of the concentrations of these elements in drilling mud are of environmental significance from pollution viewpoint especially ferrochrome lignosulphate (Chromium pollution) and lead compounds (lead pollution). The results from this study which indicates the presence of varying concentrations of heavy metals and petroleum hydrocarbons in the drilling mud is valuable and significant when making the choice for subsequent disposal of drilling mud effluents and, particularly in the study area where extensive oil/gas operation is ongoing

Contribution of spatially explicit models to climate change adaptation and mitigation plans for a priority forest habitat

Climate change will impact forest ecosystems, their biodiversity and the livelihoods they sustain. Several adaptation and mitigation strategies to counteract climate change impacts have been proposed for these ecosystems. However, effective implementation of such strategies requires a clear understanding of how climate change will influence the future distribution of forest ecosystems. This study uses maximum entropy modelling (MaxEnt) to predict environmentally suitable areas for cork oak (Quercus suber) woodlands, a socio-economically important forest ecosystem protected by the European Union Habitats Directive. Specifically, we use two climate change scenarios to predict changes in environmental suitability across the entire geographical range of the cork oak and in areas where stands were recently established. Up to 40 % of current environmentally suitable areas for cork oak may be lost by 2070, mainly in northern Africa and southern Iberian Peninsula. Almost 90 % of new cork oak stands are predicted to lose suitability by the end of the century, but future plantations can take advantage of increasing suitability in northern Iberian Peninsula and France. The predicted impacts cross-country borders, showing that a multinational strategy, will be required for cork oak woodland adaptation to climate change. Such a strategy must be regionally adjusted, featuring the protection of refugia sites in southern areas and stimulating sustainable forest management in areas that will keep long-term suitability. Afforestation efforts should also be promoted but must consider environmental suitability and land competition issues

Self-Correction vs. Lecturer-Correction: Effects on Research Achievement and Alcohol Use in Intellectual Disabled Undergraduates in Federal Universities of Southern Nigeria

Aim: Within Nigerian universities, students with intellectual disabilities remain under-supported in terms of personalized instructional strategies that target both academic improvement and psychosocial well-being. The purpose of the study was to compare self-correction vs Lecturer-correction: Effects on research achievement and Alcohol use in Intellectual Disabled undergraduates in Federal Universities of Southern Nigeria. Method: This study adopted a quasi-experimental research design. The area of the study is Southern Nigeria. The population consists of all 3,092 students with intellectual disabilities enrolled in two selected federal universities in Southern Nigeria, specifically in Cross River and Akwa Ibom States. The sample size for this study was 120 final-year students with intellectual disabilities who depend on alcohol to cope with stress and improve self-esteem using a multi-stage sampling technique. Three instruments were used for data collection. They were the Research Achievement Test (RAT), the Interest Inventory Test (IIT), and the Alcohol Use Screening Tool (modified AUDIT). The screening criteria for alcohol dependence are that students must be 18 years and older, students must have a history of substance use, mental health conditions (depression, anxiety), and a history of use of medications contraindicated with alcohol. The study was validated by Psychology, Measurement, and Evaluation experts at the University of Calabar. The data collected were analyzed for internal consistency using the Cronbach Alpha method, which yielded a reliability index of 0.83. The test scores for the study were generated from pre-tests and post-tests using the Research Methods Achievement Test and Research Method Interest Inventory Test. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions. The pretest-posttest mean gains of each strategy of the two strategies were computed. Also, the null hypotheses formulated for the study were tested at a 0.05 level of significance using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). Results: The findings revealed that student correction strategies are more effective than lecturer correction strategies in enhancing the research method achievement of students with intellectual disabilities. The self-correction strategy significantly improves student interest in research methods more than the lecturer-led correction approach. There is a significant difference in achievement between male and female students, regardless of the correction strategy used. No statistically significant difference in interest scores between male and female students taught research methods using either lecturer-correction or self-correction strategies. Male and female students differed in their alcohol use outcomes following instruction using either the self-correction or lecturers’ correction strategies. Conclusion: Based on the result of the study, it was concluded that student correction strategies are more effective than lecturer correction strategies in enhancing the research method achievement of students with intellectual disabilities. The self-correction strategy significantly improves student interest in research methods more than the lecturer-led correction approach. There is a significant difference in achievement between male and female students, regardless of the correction strategy used. No statistically significant difference in interest scores between male and female students taught research methods using either lecturer-correction or self-correction strategies. Male and female students differed in their alcohol use outcomes following instruction using either the self-correction or lecturers’ correction strategies. Recommendation: Given the superior effectiveness of student correction strategies over lecturer-led corrections in enhancing students’ achievement in research methods, it is recommended that educators integrate structured self-correction approaches into their teaching. This can be achieved through guided reflection exercises, peer review tasks, and the use of checklists or correction templates that promote independent learning and metacognitive development

Patterns and Perceptions of Climate Change in a Biodiversity Conservation Hotspot

Quantifying local people's perceptions to climate change, and their assessments of which changes matter, is fundamental to addressing the dual challenge of land conservation and poverty alleviation in densely populated tropical regions To develop appropriate policies and responses, it will be important not only to anticipate the nature of expected changes, but also how they are perceived, interpreted and adapted to by local residents. The Albertine Rift region in East Africa is one of the world's most threatened biodiversity hotspots due to dense smallholder agriculture, high levels of land and resource pressures, and habitat loss and conversion. Results of three separate household surveys conducted in the vicinity of Kibale National Park during the late 2000s indicate that farmers are concerned with variable precipitation. Many survey respondents reported that conditions are drier and rainfall timing is becoming less predictable. Analysis of daily rainfall data for the climate normal period 1981 to 2010 indicates that total rainfall both within and across seasons has not changed significantly, although the timing and transitions of seasons has been highly variable. Results of rainfall data analysis also indicate significant changes in the intra-seasonal rainfall distribution, including longer dry periods within rainy seasons, which may contribute to the perceived decrease in rainfall and can compromise food security. Our results highlight the need for fine-scale climate information to assist agro-ecological communities in developing effective adaptive management

Inductance Calculation of Concentrated and Distributed Winding Synchronous Reluctance Motor Using Modified Winding Function Theory

This study evaluates the inductance characteristics of synchronous reluctance motors (SynRMs) with concentrated and distributed windings. Two methods based on Winding Function Theory (WFT) are used: the sinusoidal method and the actual winding function method. The actual winding function method, which considers spatial harmonics and actual geometry, is found to be more accurate. The study reveals that the distributed winding SynRM has a higher saliency ratio (2.10) compared to the concentrated winding SynRM (1.58), indicating better performance. These findings contribute to our understanding of SynRM inductance and can guide improvements in motor design and performance. The study also suggests avenues for developing more precise inductance calculation methods for SynRMs, enabling optimized motor performance. &nbsp

Photocatalytic Degradation and Kinetics of Dyes in Textile Effluent Using UV – ZnO-Al System

This study investigates the photodegradation of a mixture of 4 azo dyes (direct orange 39, chlorantine fast red 5B, viscose black B and direct sky blue K) present in textile effluents and the influence of catalyst dose, irradiation time, UV power intensity on the overall photodegradation kinetics of the process. The photocatalytic experiments were conducted in a batch stirred photoreactor equipped with a 10 W, 30W and 60 UV lamps, magnetic stirrer and thermometer. The photocatalysts used was zinc oxide nanoparticle doped with aluminium (AZO, 15nm, 99.99 to %). The results obtained showed that variation in the physical parameters influenced the efficiency of photodegradation. The kinetic study indicated that the photodegradation of the dyes present in the effluent from the textile industry followed the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model that is modified to accommodate reactions occurring at a solid-liquid interphase. At the catalyst dose of 0.5g/l, the apparent first order rate constant K1, was 0.00615 min-1 but at 2.5g/l it reduced to 0.00567 min-1. The best degradation was at the catalyst dose of 2.0g/L with the rate constant of 0.0134 min-1.</jats:p