Resource Use Efficiency and Profitability Analysis of Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Production in Kogi State, Nigeria

Understanding the resource use efficiency and profitability in catfish production is essential for maximizing productivity, minimizing environmental impact, and ensuring sustainable economic growth in the aquaculture industry. This study assessed the resource use efficiency and profitability analysis of catfish (Clarias gariepinus) production in Kogi State, Nigeria. Primary data obtained through questionnaire administration to one hundred and sixty (160) catfish farmers in the State were analysed using descriptive statistics, Cobb-Douglass production function, efficiency ratio, gross margin, and mean score from the Likert type of scale. The result showed that 68.12 percent of catfish farmers in the State were males in a productive age of 48 years. The major catfish farming practices/enterprise combination include; sole catfish farming (78.75 percent), fish cum vegetable (44.38 percent) and fish cum poultry (40.63 percent). Analysis of the resource use efficiency showed that fingerlings, labour and vaccines were underused while feed, pond and fuel were overused by catfish farmers in the State. The calculated gross margin among catfish farmers is N2, 110,136.01k with a profit of N1, 333,910.54k, indicating the net financial gain from the catfish production after deducting all costs. The benefit-cost ratio (BCR) is 1.32, suggesting that for every unit of cost invested in catfish production, there is a return of 1.32 units in revenue. The serious constraints faced by catfish farmers include; inadequate finance (mean score = 2.88), high cost of feed (mean score = 2.87), inadequate power supply (mean score = 2.66), cannibalism (2.42), inadequate processing experience (mean score = 2.32), and low market price (mean score = 2.21). Among others, the study recommended that, the State government should: implement policies that promote access to quality inputs, provide technical assistance and training to catfish farmers, facilitate market access, and create an enabling business environment

Determination of Adsorption Isotherm model best fit for methanol leaf extract of Securinega virosa as corrosion inhibitor for corrosion of mild steel in HCl

The adsorption isotherm model best fit of the methanol leaf extract of Securinega virosa as corrosion inhibitor for the corrosion of mild steel in 2 M HCl medium was determined with the assistance of the Adejo-Ekwenchi adsorption isotherm. The corrosion inhibition study was carried out using the weight loss method at the temperature range of 301 K to 313 K.  The inhibition efficiency, %IE, of the extract was found to increase with increase in both concentration and temperature. On the account of, R2 this adsorption process well fitted into Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin isotherm, Flory-Huggins and Adejo-Ekwenchi models. However, through the parameter b of the Adejo-Ekwenchi isotherm, which clearly shows the adsorption process to be chemisorption, the best isotherm fit for the extract has been resolved to be the Langmuir isotherm and Temkin isotherm models.Â

Job Satisfaction, and Psychological Distress Among Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) Personnel Deployed for Operation Hadin Kai in Yobe State

The study assessed the relationship between job satisfaction and depression, anxiety and stress among Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) personnel deployed for Operation Hadin Kai in Yobe state. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted to obtain information from three hundred and twenty-five (325) personnel using purposive sampling method. Job Description Index (Smith, Kendall & Hulin, 1969) and the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (Lovidond & Lovibond, 1995) were adopted in the study. Majority of the respondents had moderate level of depression, (n=103, 31.7%) and 31 (9.5%) had extremely severe depression. Also, majority of the respondents had high level of anxiety, 111 (34.2%). Furthermore, majority of the respondents had normal level of stress, 149 (45.8%). In respect to job satisfaction, majority of the respondents had low level of satisfaction with their job, 297 (91.4%). Also, there was a slight majority of the respondents who were satisfied with their pay 165 (50.8%) as compared to those that were not, 160 (49.2%). For promotion, majority were not satisfied, 308 (94.8%). Low satisfaction with supervisor also had a majority of 308 (94.8%) and also, majority were not satisfied with their co-workers, 316 (97.2%).  Gender (X=6.660, p<.05), Age (X =6.781, p<.05) and Rank (X =3.799, p<.05) were significant predictors of job satisfaction while psychological distress (X =3.265, p>.05), religion (X =2.635, p>.05) and marital status (X =.640, p>.05) were not found to be significant. Personnel of the NSCDC in Yobe were shown to have feelings of low satisfaction about their job with high psychological distress. Psychosocial interventions should be instituted by the military institution in collaboration with the NSCDC authorities to boost the morale of their personnel deployed to protect the integrity of the nation. Keywords:Job Satisfaction, Psychological Distress, Depression, Anxiety, Stress, DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/11-16-03 Publication date:August 31st 202

Examination of Reinforcement Steel Bars Exposed to the Atmosphere

Reinforcement steel bars are often exposed to the atmosphere before use in concrete structures. This exposure results in corrosion of these reinforcement bars. Corrosion of reinforcement bars is a common form of degradation of reinforced concrete structures. The electrochemical attack affects the mechanical properties of steel rebars. This study analysed the effect of exposing reinforcing steel bars to the atmosphere. The bars were divided into two; one part was exposed to the atmosphere for a period of four months during the rainy season while the other was unexposed. Afterwards; some mechanical, corrosion and metallographic tests were carried out on the steel samples. The results obtained showed that the hardness, impact strength and ductility increased with exposure while the yield and tensile strengths decreased with exposure. The exposed bar had high corrosion rates than the unexposed bar in 1M hydrochloric acid (HCl) while in 1M sodium chloride (NaCl), the corrosion rates for both the exposed and unexposed bars did not follow a particular trend.</jats:p

Microorganisms Associated with Post-Harvest Spoilage of Tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum) in Makurdi, Central Nigeria

Microorganisms associated with post-harvest spoilage of tomato fruits in Makurdi were evaluated. Random sampling techniques were used to pick 250 spoilt tomato fruits from North-bank, Wurukum, High level, Wadata and Modern markets. The bacteria isolated were Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtillis, Esherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus while isolated fungi included Aspergillusspp, Alternaria species, Rhizopusspp, Candida species and Fusarium species. The bacteria isolated, from the spoilt tomato fruits sampled from Wurukum market had the highest colony forming unit of 6.5 x 10 (CFU/ml) followed by the ones sampled from Wadata, High-level, North-bank and Modern markets having 5.8 x 10 6 (CFU/ml), 4.3 x 10 6 (CFU/ml), 4.3 x 10 6 (CFU/ml), and 2.8 x 10 6 (CFU/ml) respectively. The fungi isolated from the spoilt tomato fruits from Wadata market had the highest colony forming unit of 6.7 x 10 (CFU/ml) followed by the samples from Wurukum, North-bank, High-level and Modern markets with 5.2 x 10 (CFU/ml), 4.6 x 10 (CFU/ml), 4.4 x 10 (CFU/ml) and 4.2 x 10 (CFU/ml) respectively. Using the same sampling techniques pathogenicity test on fifty (50) healthy tomato fruits from the same markets confirmed that bacteria and fungi that were earlier identified on the spoilt tomato fruits were still responsible for the spoilage, showing that deterioration of tomato fruits in Makurdi markets is due to the activities of these bacteria and fungi pathogens. Proper sanitary measures should be taken to improve harvesting and handling of tomato fruits to reduce spoilage caused by these pathogens.</jats:p

Manganese (II) and Cobalt (II) Acetylacetonates as Antimicrobial Agents

Mn(II) and Co(II) complexes were prepared by reaction of the metal chlorides with acetylacetone in ammonical aqueous medium. The metal complexes were prepared in order to investigate their antimicrobial activity on some selected pathogens. The characterisation of the complexes was on the basis of various spectroscopic techniques like infrared and ultraviolet studies. The compounds were subjected to antimicrobial activity screening using serial broth dilution method. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal/Fungicidal Concentration (MBC/MFC) were determined. Mn(II) complex has shown significantly both antibacterial and antifungal activity with a MIC of 1.25 μg/mL while Co(II) complex was noticeable for antifungal activity at the same concentration. Whereas Mn(II) acetylacetonate is a more potent bactericide while Co(II) acetylacetonate is a more potent fungicide, both with MBC/MFC value of 2.5 μg/mL. Antimicrobial agent of the ligand has enhanced on complexation with Mn(II) and Co(II) ions. Though, the potency of the prepared antibiotics on the tested microbes is less compared to the standard drugs (Ciprofloxacin and Fulcin).</jats:p

Functional Properties of Emulsified Honey-Vegetable Oil Mixtures

While the physical and chemical properties of natural honey are well-known, the functional properties of its emulsified mixtures with colloidal particles and vegetable oils are unknown. Herein, we show that natural honey is immiscible with vegetable oils at ambient temperature, making them suitable candidates for emulsification. When emulsified with colloidal particles like precipitated CaCO3 (Socal R1E FG, Calofort U and Calofort SV), the mixtures gave stable vegetable oil-in-honey emulsions. Both Socal R1E FG and Calofort U are unmodified CaCO3 particles, while Calofort SV is modified (coated with 3% stearic acid). The functional properties (namely droplet size and stability to creaming and coalescence) of these emulsions were investigated. The oil droplets in the emulsions were several microns, and after an initial small degree of coalescence, the emulsions remained stable for up to one year without creaming and further coalescence. Emulsions from Socal R1E FG had superior stability in comparison with those from Calofort U and Calofort SV. The apparent contact angles of honey and vegetable oil drops on glass slides coated with the particles are ≥90 and &lt;1°, indicating that the particles are honephobic and oleophilic, respectively. When placed in vegetable oil, the apparent contact angles of a honey drop on the particle-coated glass slides were &gt;90° for all the particles, with the highest values on Calofort SV-coated glass slides. Irrespective of the magnitude of these angles, all the particles formed vegetable oil-in-honey emulsions. This work opens up new opportunities for both the food and pharmaceutical industries. For instance, because honey is naturally sweet, these emulsions can be used in the formulation of novel food products without adding sweeteners. Furthermore, the emulsions can be used as bread, biscuit, or cracker spread, that is, as a substitute for margarine that has an appreciable fat content. In addition, these emulsions can be used for microencapsulation of water-labile food and pharmaceutically active ingredients.</p

Sero-prevalence of IgM antibody to Rubella Virus in pregnant women in Zaria, Nigeria

Rubella is a contagious viral infection, which in pregnant women leads to infection of a developing fetus causing fetal death or Congenital Rubella Syndrome. A cross-sectional study involving 180 women was carried out between June and August 2012 to determine the seroprevalence of IgM antibody to rubella in their serum using ELISA. The women comprised 160 pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria and 20 no pregnant women of childbearing age studying at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Prior to sample collection, structured questionnaires were administered to gather relevant medical information, obstetrical and socio-demographic characteristics from the women. IgM antibody was detected in 62 (38.8%) of the pregnant women and 8 (40%) of the nonpregnant women. The majority (33: 53.2%) of the pregnant women who were positive were in their second trimester while 11 (17.7%) were in their first trimester. Infection with Rubella virus was not significantly associated with age, clinical symptoms and the possible risk factors studied (p&gt;0.05). The level of awareness and knowledge of rubella and its transmission was extremely low for both population and uneducated pregnant women had the highest prevalence (54.5%: 6/11). The study showed seroprevalence higher than any previous reports in Nigeria with almost equal rate amongst the two populations. The high prevalence suggests that an outbreak might have occurred during the time of the study and emphasizes the need for the initiation of a national rubella vaccination program in Nigeria.