Developing shellfish industry in Nigeria: technology and economics

The paper asserted that shellfish resources are poorly developed and utilized in West Africa. This was proved by the fact that in 2008 total marine shellfish capture production in West Africa was only 29,815 tonnes. The advantages of Nigeria in beefing up its production are highlighted. Some of these advantages are on extensive coast line which has not been affected by industrial pollution. The tropical climate is also an advantage for growing of cultured shellfish. The paper highlighted that to maximize the potential of shellfish Mari-culture development requires education, training, seed production technology, grow-out technology, processing and marketing. These requirements are discussed in details in the paper

A Sociolinguistic Approach to Security Challenges and Sustainable National Development in Nigeria

The study is a sociolinguistic approach to solving security challenges and enhancing sustainable national development in Nigeria. It argues that language and society influences each other and as such language could be used to solve societal problems. In doing so, the paper x-rays the functions of language in human society as propounded by Halliday and Stubbs. It discusses the multilingual nature of Nigeria, the concept of national development as well as security challenges facing the country. The paper notes that the dominant use English language against the indigenous languages in nearly all communicative domains in Nigeria has failed the nation in its bid to overcome numerous security threats. This may not be unconnected with the low literacy level in the country. As a result, the paper recommends a tripartite language policy vis-à-vis the use of English language, the indigenous languages as well as the Nigerian Pidgin depending on the contextual demand. The paper also advocates the adoption of more indigenous languages, apart from the three major ones- Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba, for use. This will imply a revision of Nigeria's language policy and the constitutional provisions on language

Insights into the Nature of Synergistic Effects in Proton-Conducting 4,4−1H,1H-Bitriazole-Poly(ethylene oxide) Composites

A nitrogen-containing heterocycle (NCH), 4,4-1H-1H-bi-1,2,3-triazole (bitriazole), capable of mimicking the hydrogen bonding of water in the solid state is synthesized and its ability to conduct protons in the presence of poly(ethylene oxides) under anhydrous conditions is investigated. Bitriazole is shown to have sufficient thermal and electrochemical stability for fuel cell applications. The composites formed between bitriazole and poly(ethylene oxides) give proton conductivities that can be described by the Vogel−Tamman−Fulcher (VTF) equation. These characteristics suggest coupling between polymer segmental motion and ion transport. The bitriazole N-H proton is shown to be the source of conductivity, and bitriazole and poly(ethylene oxides) function synergistically through specific intermolecular interactions and polymer-induced segmental motion to create a pathway for proton transport via structural diffusion

Development and Validation of Web-based Courseware for Junior Secondary School Basic Technology Students in Nigeria

This research aimed to develop and validate a web-based courseware for junior secondary school basic technology students in Nigeria. In this study, a mixed method quantitative pilot study design with qualitative components was used to test and ascertain the ease of development and validation of the web-based courseware. Dick and Carey instructional system design model was adopted for developing the courseware. Convenience sampling technique was used in selecting the three content, computer and educational technology experts to validate the web-based courseware. Non-randomized and non-equivalent Junior secondary school students from two schools were used for field trial validation. Four validating instruments were employed in conducting this study: (i) Content Validation Assessment Report (CVAR); (ii) Computer Expert Validation Assessment Report (CEAR); (iii) Educational Technology Experts Validation Assessment Report (ETEVAR); and (iv) Students Validation Questionnaire (SVQ). All the instruments were face and content validated. SVQ was pilot tested and reliability coefficient of 0.85 was obtained using Cronbach Alpha. CVAR, CEAR, ETEVAR were administered on content specialists, computer experts, and educational technology experts, while SVQ was administered on 83 JSS students from two selected secondary schools in Minna. The findings revealed that the process of developing web-based courseware using Dick and Carey Instructional System Design was successful. In addition, the report from the validating team revealed that the web-based courseware is valuable for learning basic technology. It is therefore recommended that web-based courseware should be produced to teach basic technology concepts on large scale

Impact of Contractors’ Prequalification Criteria on Civil Engineering Project Quality Performance

Considering the high premium placed on quality by clients, this study was set to reveal the importance as well as the impact of contractors\u27 prequalification criteria on quality performance of civil engineering project. Its purpose was to proffer solution to the quality problem associated with civil engineering project of the construction industry by enabling the client and consultants saddled with the responsibility of selecting contractors to identify the set of criteria that can produce project of expected quality standard. The data used was solicited from Quantity Surveyors and Civil/Structural Engineers expressing client\u27s opinion. The data were analysed by employing regression method. Results showed that contractors\u27 prequalification criteria reflect two different forms of relationship with quality performance of civil engineering project. Hence, contractor\u27s prequalification criteria affect quality performance of civil engineering project in different ways. Ability of contractors\u27 prequalification criteria to predict the quality performance of civil engineering project differs from one and another. Some of the contractors\u27 prequalification criteria emerged as weak predictors while some proved to be strong predictors of quality performance of civil engineering project. Consequently, it recommended that less attention be accorded the weak predictors as a result of having insignificant impact on quality performance of civil engineering project. Emphasis should be on the strong predictors of quality performance because they have significant impact on quality performance of civil engineering project

Proton-Conducting Solid Electrolyte via Ozonolysis of Cationic Ammonium Organoalkoxysilane Surfactant-Templated MCM-41

A functional polymerizable surfactant has been synthesized and used as a template to prepare MCM-41. Ozonolysis of the olefin functional group in the composite material generates a nonporous proton-conducting solid acid that has a conductivity of ca. 6 mS cm^(-1) at 95 °C and an activation energy of 14.2 kJ/mol

Survey of Education, Engineering, and Information Technology Students Knowledge of Green Computing in Nigerian University

The use of computer system is growing rapidly and there is growing concern on the environmental hazard associated with its use. Thus, the need for every user\u27s to possess the knowledge of using computer in an environmental friendly manner. This study therefore, investigated the knowledge of green computing possessed by university students in Nigeria. To achieve this, survey method was employed to carry out the study. The study involved students from three schools (Computer Science, Engineering, and Education). Purposive sampling method was used to draw three hundred (300) respondents that volunteer to answer the questionnaire administered for gathering the data of the study. The instrument used was adapted but modify and subjected to pilot testing to ascertain its validity and internal consistency. The reliability of the instrument showed a .75 Cronbach alpha level. The first research question was answer with descriptive statistic (perecentage). T-test and ANOVA was used to answer question two and three. The findings showed that the students do not possess adequate knowledge on conscious use of computing system. Also, the study showed that there is no significant difference in the green computing knowledge possesses among male and female as well as among student from the three schools. Based on these findings, the study suggested among other an aggressive campaign on green computing among university communities

Asphaltene detection using Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS)

Peer reviewedPostprin

Development of siRNA-probes for studying intracellular trafficking of siRNA nanoparticles

One important barrier facing the delivery of short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) via synthetic nanoparticles is the rate of nanoparticle disassembly. However, our ability to optimize the release kinetics of siRNAs from nanoparticles for maximum efficacy is limited by the lack of methods to track their intracellular disassembly. Towards this end, we describe the design of two different siRNA-based fluorescent probes whose fluorescence emission changes in response to the assembly state of the nanoparticle. The first probe design involves a redox-sensitive fluorescence-quenched probe that fluoresces only when the nanoparticle is disassembled in a reductive environment. The second probe design is based on a FRET-labeled siRNA pair that fluoresces due to the proximity of the siRNA pair when the nanoparticle is intact. In both approaches, the delivery vehicle need not be labeled. The utility of these probes was investigated with a lipidoid nanoparticle (LNP) as proof-of-concept in both extracellular and intracellular environments. Fluorescence kinetic data from both probes were fit to a two-phase release and decay curve and subsequently quantified to give intracellular disassembly rate constants. Quantitative analysis revealed that the rate constant of siRNA release measured via the fluorescence-quenched probe was almost identical to the rate constant for nanoparticle disassembly measured via the FRET-labeled probes. Furthermore, these probes were utilized to determine subcellular localization of LNPs with the use of automated high-resolution microscopy as they undergo dissociation. Interestingly, this work shows that large amounts of siRNA remain inside vesicular compartments. Altogether, we have developed new siRNA probes that can be utilized with multiple nanocarriers for quantitative and qualitative analysis of nanoparticle dissociation that may serve as a design tool for future delivery systems.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant R37-EB000244)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant R01-CA132091)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant R01-CA132091)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Postdoctoral Fellowship