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Students’ Attitude and Gender as Determinants of Colleges of Education Students’ Academic Achievement in Chemistry
Get PDFThe study examined students’ attitude and gender as determinants of Colleges of Education students’ academic achievement in chemistry. Three research questions were answered and three hypotheses were also tested. A correlation survey research design was adopted for the study. The population for the study made up of all NCE III chemistry students (1,581) in the North East, Nigeria. A sample size of four hundred and twenty (420) NCE III chemistry students was obtained through multi-stage sampling procedure. An adapted structured questionnaire of Students Attitude Scale, SAS that made up of 2 clusters was used for data collection. A chemistry achievement tests (CAT) was also conducted. The instrument reliability test was done using Cronbach Alpha and index is 0.884 found to be valid and reliable. Data analysis was done using Pearson’s product moment correlation and ANOVA to test the hypotheses at 5% level of significance. The findings showed a significant relationship between students’ positive attitude to chemistry and their academic achievement in chemistry. It was on this note that, a recommendation is made among others factors that NCE chemistry lecturers should make their teaching approaches more stimulating and interesting as to produce a positive attitude from students to chemistry courses and towards their chemistry lecturers. Thereby, create a better learning ability in them for a high academic achievement in chemistry at Colleges of Education
The Morphology of anti-corrosive coatings on metal surfaces using exracts of Calotropis procera and Euphobia kamerunica pax
Get PDFThis study was carried out in order to assess the morphology of coatings on mild steel metal surfaces using Euphorbia kamarunica Pax and Calotropis procera plant extracts as corrosion-inhibitors. The determination of the morphology of the coated film on the metal surfaces was carried using the scanning electron microscope. The images obtained showed extracts of E. kamarunica are in the form of strands on the metal surface with mean particle size of 25 nm while those of C. procera were oval in shape with mean particle size of 180 nm. Generally, the particle sizes seen from both extracts ranged from 12500 to 25nm. Shapes of morphology plant coatings on metal, mean provides the distribution of particle sizes- allowing particle dimension for characterizing materials studying aggregates and assessing particle distribution, angles sizes of the orientation of features in a SEM image enables the analysis of crystallographic orientation surface roughness and the alignment of particles and length which helps to understand the scale and dimensions of the objects observed under microscope of the coated plant extracts have all been provided from the Scanning Electron Microscope analysis of the natural plants. These results are indicative of the degree of effectiveness of using these plant extracts as corrosion inhibitors
Factors Affecting Women’s Participation in Community Development in Kakwagom-Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State
Get PDFCommunity development is a vital aspect of sustainable growth and social progress, requiring the active involvement of all members, regardless of gender. In many regions of the world, including Kakwagom in the Boki Local Government of Cross River State, Nigeria, women\u27s participation in community development remains an issue of significant concern; women over the years contribute in the growth of their society in spite of the many limitations that are standing in their way. This study explores the complex web of factors influencing women\u27s participation in community development initiatives.In order to appropriately tackle and capture the variables involved in the study, the qualitative research method was adopted for the study four focus group discussions and in-depth interviews were carried out. Findings in this study reveals a wealth of knowledge on factors affecting women participation in community development in Kakwagom Boki Local Government of Cross River State; ranging from inability to access financial and property ownership, lack of awareness and training and prevention from taking decisions in the community. It was recommended among others that there should be an Improvement of women\u27s access to resources such as land, credit and healthcare facilities Mentorship programs, Collaboration and networking should be encouraged among women groups and other stakeholders so as to ease exchange of knowledge and resources
Anti-diabetic Effect of Ethanol Leaf Extract of Ziziphusspina-christi on Alloxan Induced Albino Rats
Get PDFThis study aimed to evaluate the impact of an ethanol extract obtained from the leaves of Ziziphus spina christi on alloxan-induced diabetic rats using standard analytical procedures. Fifteen Albino Wistar rats were divided into five groups, each consisting of three rats. The groups included a normal uninduced rats as control group, a diabetic untreated group as the diabetic control, a group treated with a dosage of 150mg/kg body weight, a diabetic group treated with metformin as the standard drug, and another treatment group. The levels of liver marker enzymes, such as alanine transaminase (60.7±3.25) and aspartate transaminase (69.5±1.84), as well as liver function parameters like total protein (7.47±0.02), were found to be higher in the diabetic control group compared to the normal control and other treatment groups. However, in all the treatment groups, there was a significant decrease observed in alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase. The level of kidney function markers such as blood creatinine (1.58±0.07) and blood urea (43.50±0.86) were significantly (p˃0.05) higher in the diabetic control group when compared to the normal control. However, significant (p˃0.05) reductions in blood creatinine and blood urea were observed in all the treatment groups. The presence of phytochemicals such as alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, phenols, and cardiac glycosides in the ethanolic extract of sidr leaves were probably responsible for the anti-diabetic activities of the plant extract. In conclusion, the antidiabetic effect of ethanolic extract of sidr as observed in this study may be attributed to its antioxidant properties.
Sign Language Communication Method an Identity in Deaf Community and Culture for Human Development
Get PDFThe paper looked at sign language as a manual system of communication commonly used by persons with hearing impairment. It is expressed through manual system using hand gestures and movement, body language and facial expressions instead of spoken words when the spoken words become impossible, not desirable or becomes difficult at stuttering. Sign Language is not universal as people who are deaf in different countries use different sign languages. It has it’s own distinct parts of hand shape, palm orientation, movement and location to create signs. Communications is the imparting or exchanging of information and knowledge by speaking, writing or the use of other medium like sign language and finger spelling. The paper went further to tease out deaf community as a group of people with similar medical problem which is hearing impairment or hearing loss or deafness, but also include their family members and sign language interpreters and view hearing impairment as a difference in human expression rather than a disability or disease. The paper again see deaf culture as a way of life, a set of social beliefs, behaviours, arts, traditions, history, value and shared institution of community that is influenced by deafness and which use sign language as their identity and main means of communication. The paper is concluded with the recommendations that the hearing world should encourage inclusivity with the deaf world. Treat them like fellow human beings in socio-economic development
Assessment of the Environmental Impact of Fly Ash on the Concentration of Heavy Metals around Cement Company of Northern Nigeria
Get PDFThis study assessed the impact of Coal Fly Ash on the concentration of Heavy metals in water, soil, and vegetables (moringa and spinach) in the environment of Cement Company of Northern Nigeria. The samples collected were digested, and analysed for heavy metals concentration using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. The concentrations of heavy metals obtained in water samples were higher than the WHO/SON permissible limit, except for Cu and Zn which are below the standard limits. The average concentration of Pb, Mn, Cd, and Ni in all plant samples was higher than the permissible limit, except Cd in spinach sample. The roots of the spinach accumulate higher concentrations of heavy metals than the leaves and stem, while leaves of moringa accumulate higher than the roots and stem. The concentration of heavy metals in soil sample was below the WHO limit. Comparatively the plants samples have the highest concentrations of heavy metals than the water and soil samples. The coal fly ash from the Cement Company must have contributed to the significant concentration of Heavy metals in the environment making the water and plants from the study area unfit for human and animal consumption.
Isolation and Characterization of Phosphorus Solubilizing Bacteria from Millet Rhizosphere in Lafia metropolis
Get PDFPhosphorus is an essential, but often unavailable nutrient for plant growth in the soil due to its low solubility. Phosphorus solubilizing bacteria (PSB) convert insoluble forms of phosphorus into soluble forms that can be taken up by plants. The study aimed to isolate and characterize PSB from the rhizosphere of millet plants in Lafia, and to evaluate their potential for improving soil fertility and crop productivity. Soil samples were collected from four different locations and plated on Pikovskaya\u27s agar medium. PSB colonies were identified based on their ability to produce clear zones around them. The PSB isolates were further characterized by morphological, biochemical, and molecular methods. The phosphate solubilizing activity and plant growth-promoting traits of the PSB isolates were also assessed. The PSB isolates were tested for their effect on the growth of millet seedlings in pots. The results showed that 16 PSB isolates belonging to four genera (Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Enterobacter, and Klebsiella) were obtained from the soil samples. The PSB isolates exhibited varying degrees of phosphate solubilizing activity, ranging from 11.2 to 81.6 mg/L. The PSB isolates also showed positive results for the production of indole acetic acid, ammonia, hydrogen-cyanide, and siderophore. The PSB inoculation significantly increased the shoot and root lengths, and fresh and dry weight of the millet seedlings. The study concluded that the PSB isolates from the millet rhizosphere in Lafia could enhance soil phosphorus availability and millet growth. The study recommended further research on the field application and optimization of the PSB inoculation
Antibiotic Susceptibility Pattern of Salmonella typhi Isolated from Hostel Tap Water of a Tertiary Institution in Makurdi
Get PDFTyphoid fever is caused by Salmonella enterica serovar typhi. This study was undertaken and the aim of the study is to ascertain the antibiotics susceptibility pattern of Salmonella typhi. Isolation of Salmonella typhi strains from a total of 20 tap water samples which was from 4 different hostels in University of Agriculture, Makurdi was done by standard microbiological and biochemical techniques. The strains isolated were examined for their susceptibility to ten antibiotics using the disc diffusion method. The highest susceptibility was to Tarivid and Streptomycin (65%), followed by Amoxicillin (50%), Gentamycin (40%), Septrin (30%), the drug with the highest resistance was Pefloxacin (100%), Sparfloxacin (65%), intermediate resistance in Ciprofloxacin and Chloramphenicol (40%). In the hostels Block A isolates recorded the highest susceptibility to antibiotics while Block C had the least, but there was no significant difference in their mean (P > 0.05). This study indicates that the hostel water supply is contaminated with Salmonella typhi strain and these strains are becoming increasingly resistant to Ciprofloxacin and other quinolones. Therefore, improvements in public sanitation facilities, vaccinations, availability of portable water for safe drinking, and rational use of antibiotics are some recommended ways of preventing antibiotics resistance in Salmonella typhi
Prevalence of Candida Species Among Unmarried Women Attending Lafia Primary Health Care Centers
Get PDFoai:lafiascijournals.org.ng:article/159One of the several normal-flora of an individual’s vaginal, oral cavity, gastrointestinal tract and mucosal membrane are Candida species. Candida have been associated with diverse diseases including life threatening invasive, superficial and hematogenic infections. This study determined the prevalence of Candida species amongst unmarried women attending Lafia Primary Health Care Centers. Forty high vagina swabs were collected from unmarried women. Isolation and identification of Candida species were performed according to standard procedures using Sabouraud Dextrose Agar, Gram staining and Germ tube test. 13 (32.5%) were positive for five different Candida species. C. albicans was the most prevalent (38.46%; 5/13) species while non-albicans Candida [C. glabrata (23.07%; 3/13), C. tropicalis (6.89%; 2/13), C. parapsilosis (3.44%; 1/13) and C. krusei (6.89%; 2/13)] accounted for 61.54% (8/13) of the total positive cases. Women aged 15-18 years and 23-26 years had the lowest and highest prevalence rates of 14.28% (1/7) and 42.10% (8/19) respectively. Candidiasis is a threat to global health and should be taken with all seriousness. The high candidiasis prevalence observed herein portrays a concern and calls for a continuous study of unmarried women attending Primary Healthcare Centers in Lafia. Furthermore, there should be an improvement in creating awareness of the opportunistic pathogenic characteristic of Candida species as normal flora and the effect they cause when there are hormonal imbalances caused by drug abuse, pregnancy, and poor dieting. The practice of good hygiene should be observed to prevent the spread of the infection