International Journal of Science for Global Sustainability
International Journal of Science for Global SustainabilityNot a member yet
578 research outputs found
Sort by
Pharmacognostic and Physicochemical Analysis of Thesium viride Hill
Get PDFThesium viride Hill is a sub-shrub hemiparasite belongs to the family Santalaceae. Traditionally, the powdered whole plant is use for the treatment ulcer, jaundice and splenomegaly. This study is aimed at establishing some of the pharmacognostic features and physiochemical parameters of the powdered whole plant which can be utilize in the development of the plant monograph. The powdered whole plant material was examined by microscope and its physicochemical parameters such as; moisture content, extractive values and ash values were also determined. Microscopical examination of the powdered whole plant of T. viride identified the presence of straight walled polygonal epidermal cells, paracytic stomatal cells and unicellular covering trichomes, were found to be present. The powdered plant was found to have a moisture content (5.33%), total ash (10.33%), acid insoluble ash (3.17%), water soluble ash (4.93%), and ethanol extractive (4.87%) while water extractive (5.93%) values. Some of the pharmacognostic features and physicochemical parameters of powdered T. viride were identified and established.
 
Assessment of the Impact of Wastewater on Some Dynamic Soil Quality in Kano Metropolis, Nigeria
Get PDFQuantitative data on the physicochemical properties of soil in top soil (0 – 15cm) under wastewater irrigated land in Kano metropolis could provide information about soil quality and management options in order to achieve soil sustainability and enhance productivity. This study aimed at assessing the effect of wastewater use for irrigation on dynamic soil quality parameters whereby some dynamic soil quality parameters were evaluated and then compared among the study locations. The study area was delineated in to: an area where wastewater and ground water are used for irrigation. In each location delineated, one square kilometers (1 KM2) of irrigated land was selected purposively and then divided in to 10 small squares (grid). Soil samples were collected within each of the grids using composite sampling techniques at 0 – 15 cm depth and then subjected to physicochemical analysis of some dynamic soil quality parameter using standard laboratory procedures. The results shows that the mean values of pH (8.3Kcl ± 0.52), EC (155.7 µs/cm ± 31.29), OC (0.45% ±0.13), N (1.1% ± 0.64), P (2.6ppm ± 0.71), K (0.19cmol/kg ± 0.14) and CEC (7.2cmol/kg ± 1.02) in soil irrigated with wastewater were found to be higher than the mean values of pH (6.2Kcl ± 0.56), EC (46.5 µs/cm ± 19.6), OC (0.27% ±0.08), N (0.24% ± 0.12), P (1.3ppm ± 0.43), K (0.09cmol/kg ± 0.06) and CEC (3 cmol/kg ± 3.1) recorded in soil irrigated with ground water. This indicated that, wastewater has beneficial effects on the selected dynamic soil quality parameters in the area. From the findings it was recommended that, the forms and concentration of the contaminants present in wastewater used for irrigation should be examined and their destructive risk on soil ecosystem should be explored which will help in determine the need (if any) for subsequent remediation practices for the improvement of soil quality in the area
Geoaccumulation Index And Enrichment Factors of Some Heavy Metals from Soils at the Welding Workshops , at Old Panteka Market, Kaduna – Nigeria.
Get PDFThe concentration of five soil heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Cd, Pb, and Ni) was measured in eleven sampling sites along Old Panteka market Kaduna from two different depths. These samples were determined using atomic absorption spectrometer. The assessment of heavy metal pollution was derived using the Enrichment Factors (EF) and geoaccumulation index (Igeo). This study revealed that the soil is predominantly polluted by Pb>Cu>Cd>Ni>Cr and Cu>Pb>Cd>Ni>Cr at 0 – 5 cm and 5 – 10 cm depths respectively. As recorded the highest EF value of 29.63 and 20.54 for Pb and Cu at 0-5 cm and 5-10 cm depths respectively followed by Cu (17.13), Cd (10.07), Ni (0.99) and Cr (0.53) at 0 – 5 cm and Pb (19.68), Cd (12.47), Ni (1.19) and Cr (0.55) at 5 – 10 cm depths respectively, and the mean Igeo provided the same trend of pollution levels as in the case of the EF, which indicates that the highest level goes to Pb (1.61) and Cu (1.58) at 0 – 5 cm; Cu (1.71) and Pb (1.50) at 5 – 10 cm depths respectively, which exhibits unpolluted to moderately polluted. Meanwhile, Ni recorded (0.15) and (0.22) at 0 – 5 cm and 5 – 10 cm depths respectively, while Cr recorded (-0.07) and (0.08) also at 0 – 5 cm and 5 – 10 cm depths respectively, which illustrates that both of these metals vary from unpolluted to moderately polluted. The concentrations of Cr, Cu, and Ni levels are below 0 at the control sites, which demonstrates background concentrations
Molecular Diagnosis of Malaria Parasites Using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) As A Confirmatory Technique
Get PDFConfirmation studies of malaria parasites using PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test was carried out at DNA Labs. Fifteen samples were collected from patients attending Fomwan Hospital Badarawa, Kaduna with symptoms of malaria fever as confirmed using microscopy test. Only four samples were positive for Plasmodium falciparum. The other samples were positive for other Plasmodium species. The fever symptoms of some of the patients could be due to other diseases caused by viral or bacterial organisms such as West Nile Fever, the Flue etc. Contamination is also a possible cause for false or negative result, which could happen in three ways: blood sample collection, blood sample preservation, and DNA extraction process. Delay in DNA extraction after blood collection could lead to changes in parasite morphology, which could alter the results. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for detecting malaria parasite is an expensive but accurate method to detect low levels parastimia, and has a threshold of detecting 5 parasite/µl, and species specific diagnosis
Geoelectric Investigation of the Subsurface Structures in Part of Gidan Kwano Campus of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria
Get PDFGeoelectric investigations of the subsurface structures of parts of the Gidan Kwano campus Federal University of Technology (F.U.T) Minna, Nigeria were carried out using vertical electrical soundings technique. The area lies within the Pre-Cambian Basement Complex of Northern Nigeria. This study was carried out with the aim of determining subsurface structures of the area for groundwater potentials and to possibly locate those areas that could be useful for civil engineering work at a very low risk. Thirty-six vertical electrical soundings along six profiles (A-F) were carried out during the geophysical survey. The survey was carried out on grid 500m x500m. The data obtained were interpreted using computer based program named Zohdy. The result of the interpreted vertical electrical soundings (VES) curves reveals three distinct geo-electric curves types were delineated: K, H and HK-curves with H-type having the most prolific aquifer. The result also shows 3 geo-electric layers which were confirm by borehole lithology. The aquifers in the study area are likely to be found in the fractured basement layers of eastern and southeastern parts of the study area. The civil engineering work can be sited in the northern and southwestern parts of the study area which are the region of shallow basement
Investigation on the Corrosion Inhibition of Mild Steel by Expired Cenfuroxime Axetir in 1MHCl Solution.
Get PDFInvestigation of the potential of expired cenfuroxime axetiras an inhibitor of mild steel corrosion in 1 M HCl solution was carried out using gravimetric mass loss (weight loss) and electrochemical (linear polarization) methods. The investigations were carried out at temperatures of 30 and 50 OC and concentrations ranging from 100 to 500 ppm. Results obtained revealed an increase in inhibition efficiency with increase in concentration of the inhibitor (expired cenfuroxime axetir), and decrease in inhibition efficiency with increase in temperature. Linear polarization study showed that the inhibitor is a mixed type affecting both cathodic and anodic sites of the corrosion process, which is characteristics of mixed and adsorption type inhibitors. The adsorption process obeys Langmuir adsorption isotherm
Effect of Height Variation for the Determination of Accurate Focal Zone for a Thin Foil L-Shaped Parabolic Reflector
Get PDFThe use of concentrators in forms of solar energy collector in order to concentrate sun rays for better usage is on the increase worldwide. This paper presents the effect of height variations for the determination of accurate focal zone for three different parabolic reflectors. The system was constructed using locally available materials with design parameters. The thermal performance experiments were conducted (water boiling test) to evaluate the performance evaluation of the reflector at different height. The experimental test results showed that the systems when set at 65 cm height from cooking vessel performed better than at 45 cm and 55 cm heights respectively. Similarly the temperature profile of the systems showed highest result of 94.1 oC at a height of 65 cm
Evaluation of Infant Mortality Rate Using Binary Logistic Regression “A Case study of Specialist Hospital Gombe”
Get PDFThis research evaluates the significant causes of infant mortality rate which has become the main factor for the death of children below one year in our society today. Therefore it is very important to make a research in order to provide a source of information to the government, with the objective of finding lasting solutions to the problem and if possible, to eradicate it completely. The method used for this research is binary logistic regression; also we used accuracy, sensitivity and specificity to evaluate the model where binary response variable is related to a set of explanatory variables. The result shows that, there is significance difference in infant mortality rate from 2006 to 2015. Based on the outcome we conclude that infant mortality is still high in Gombe and need the government, non-governmental and societal attention
Gender and Age-specific Prevalence of Urinary Schistosomiasis among Three Communities of Kontagora Local Government Area, Niger State, Nigeria
Get PDFThis study was carried out to determine the prevalence and intensity of urinary schistosomiasis among three communities in Kontagora Local Government Area, Niger state, Nigeria. A total of 200 urine samples were collected and processed using filtration technique for the presences of Schistosoma haematobium eggs. Out of the samples collected, the overall prevalence of the infection was 65.5%. The gender prevalence showed that males had the highest prevalence of 72.34% compare to female with 49.08%. The age-specific prevalence revealed that subjects at age bracket 10-20 have the highest prevalence of 81.82% and the least prevalence of 34.48% was recorded in subjects at age bracket>40. The results of this study revealed that the study area is endemic with S. haematobium infection. Therefore, there is the need for government and non-governmental organizations and concern individuals to embark on control measures against the disease so as to effectively eradicate it from the study area
Stigmasterol as Antimicrobial Agent from Root Extracts of Cola millenii
Get PDFCola millenii is a plant found in the North central Nigeria used in the treatment of many diseases like dysenterie, gonorrhoea, skin infection, typhoid fever etc. Phytochemical and antimicrobial studies were carried out on the root part of the plant. The phytochemical screening was carried out using standard procedures and the antimicrobial activity was tested against some pathogens using the tube dilution and agar diffusion method outlined by the National Committee for clinical laboratory studies (NCCLS). The result of the phytochemical screening of n-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts revealed the presence of cardiac glycoside, saponins, steroids and triterpenes, flavonoids, Tannins and Alkaloids. The results of the antimicrobial activity as indicated by the zone of inhibition of growth of microorganisms ranged from 16mm to 20mm for n-hexane extract, 24mm to 31mm for ethyl acetate extract and 20mm to 27mm for methanol extract. The MIC result for the n-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts ranged from 7.5mg/ml to 15mg/ml while the MBC result for the extracts ranged from 15mg/ml to 60mg/ml. Extensive chromatographic separation of the ethyl acetate extract (being the most active of all the extracts) led to the isolation of a compound considered to be stigmasterol by spectroscopy. The structure of the compound was established by spectral analysis including 1D and 2D NMR. The antimicrobial activity of the isolated compound as indicated by the zone of inhibition ranged from 26mm to 35mm on staphylococcus aureus, streptococcus pyogenes, E.coli, shigelladysenterie and klebseliapnuemoniea. The antimicrobial results as indicated by the zone of inhibition of the extracts and the isolated substance showed Cola millenii had a fair broad spectrum of activity. The medicinal use of the plant was therefore justified