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MYCOBIOTA OF POST-HARVEST SAMPLES OF KOLANUTS (Cola acuminate) AND TIGER NUTS (Cyperusesculentus) IN NIGERIA
Get PDFA study was carried out to evaluate the mycobiota of fresh marketed seeds of Cola acuminata (Kolanut) and Cyperusesculentus (Tigernut) in Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. The serial dilution plate method was used and a total of 6 fungi belonging to 2 fungal classes and 3 genera were isolated from the washings of the plant materials.Deuteromycetes were the most frequently isolated fungi, having 100% and 75% percentage occurrences on Tiger and Kola nut seeds respectively; followed by Zygomycetes which were only isolated from Kola nuts (15%). Members of other fungal classes were not observed in the study. Aspergillus species were the most occurring on the plant materials (66.67%), followed by Mucor and Penicillium both with 16.67% relative abundances respectively. Kolanut had a higher fungal load (four fungi) compared to Tiger nut (two fungi). Fresh marketed Tiger and Kolanuts popularly consumed in the study area are frequently contaminated with fungi that could on the long run impact negatively on seed quality and pose serious health risks on the final consumers of the product
ETHNOMEDICINAL ASSETS OF PLANTS COLLECTED FROM NASARAWA STATE, NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA
Get PDFAn ethno-medicinal survey of plants used in treating various diseases and ailments was carried out in the study area of Nasarawa State, North Central Nigeria to obtain information on their uses and potentials. The ethnomedicinal survey was administered through structured questionnaires among local inhabitants from areas with high plant density and diversity within the various Local Government Areas of the State. A total of 82 (Eighty two) plant species belonging to 43 (Forty Three) families were found to be useful in treatment of various ailments such as diabetes, measles, fever, asthma, jaundice, pneumonia, sexually transmitted diseases(STDs),aches, diarrhea, cough, arthritis, yellow fever, typhoid, erectile dysfunction and excessive bleeding. Different parts of the plant such as the roots, leaves and stems are used in preparing herbal remedies which could be from dry or freshly collected plants. The main methods of preparation are decoction or infusion, while in some cases the plant parts used are consumed directly. Residents in the study areas find the herbal remedy cheaper and more accessible and claimed that there are no side effects compared to orthodox medicine. This study has confirmed the need towards the conscious conservation of plant genetic resources in order to ensure sustained access to these ethno-medicinal plant material
ANALYSIS OF NUCLEAR RADIATIONS FROM COMMONLY USED ELECTRONIC GADGETS IN LAFIA, NIGERIA
Get PDFThe Inspector Alert Device has been used to measure Radiations from Computer screen, Telephone handset, Petrol station and elevision screen. Findings revealed that the gadgets emit radiations with different intensities at different hours of the day. The Computer screen emitted radiations as high as, 0.13msv in the morning, 0.23msv in the afternoon and 0.15msv in the evening. Telephone handset emits radiation as high as 0.18 msv in the afternoon, 0.12msv in the evening, and 0.08msv in the morning hours. Petrol station recorded high radiation of 0.30msv in the afternoon, 0.25 msv in the evening and 0.19 msv in the morning. Television screen recorded high radiation of 0.30msv in the afternoon, 0.29msv in the evening, and 0.24msv in the morning hours. Howeverthe impact of radiation is very high in the afternoon, moderate in the evening and lowest in the morning hours. The values obtained were carefully analyzed, however the effects of radiation is insignificant when compared to the maximum recommended value by the International Standard Regulatory body. Although, radiation intensity decreases with increase in distance from its source but it is generally recommended that it is safer to use such gadgets in the morning hours when impacts of radiations are minimal. However, the cumulative effects of nuclear radiations on human body may have long term effects on health which may result to cancer,tumor and othe r related illness 
IN VITRO RESPONSE AND MORPHOLOGICAL VARIABILITY OF FOUR EXOTIC TOMATO VARIETIES (Solanum lycopersicum L.) TO TOXIN FILTRATES OF TOMATO WILT FUNGI
Get PDFA study was carried out to evaluate morphological variability and response of four exotic tomato varieties, namely; Copernic f1, Lindo f1, Cobra f1 and Kiara f1 to fungal wilt in Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Healthy leaves collected from 8 weeks old tomato seedlings were inoculated with 21-day old culture filtrates of Colletotrichum gloeosporiodes, Pythium spp. and Fusarium oxysporum, and observed for 3 days for the development of leaf necrosis and yellowing. All four varieties were susceptible to disease initiation by crudetoxin filtrates of the wilt fungi. Lindo f1 was the least susceptible with 33.33% leaf necrosis and 29.17% leaf yellowing. Leaves of Cobra f1 were the most susceptible to necrotic symptoms (72.92%), while the highest incidence of leaf yellowing (79.17%) was observed in filtrate-inoculated leaves of the Kiara f1 tomato variety. Differences in mean disease incidence among the evaluated tomato varieties were significant (P ≤ 0.05). Fusarium oxysporum was the least pathogenic, inducing 30.00% leaf necrosis and 36.25% leaf yellowing.Pythium spp. induced the highest incidence of leaf necrosis and leaf yellowing (56.00% respectively). Kiara f1 had the highest plant height (34.40cm), leaf area (40.70cm2) and stem girth (6.20mm) 
RELATIVE EFFICIENCY OF RIDGE REGRESSION AND ORDINARY LEAST SQUARE ESTIMATORS ON LINEAR REGRESSION MODELS AT DIFFERENT LEVELS OF MULTICOLLINEARITY
Get PDFIn Linear Regression models, multicollinearity has been observed to influence estimation of the model parameters. This study therefore examined the effect of multicollinearity on two different methods of parameter estimation, namely; Ridge Regression (RR) and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) Estimators. A simulation technique was conducted to examine the relative efficiency of the estimators when the assumption of no multicollinearity (no correlation) between the explanatory variables is violated. Finite properties of estimators’ criteria namely, absolute bias and mean squared error were used for comparing the methods. An estimator is best at a specified level of multicollinearity and sample size if it has minimum total criteria. The performance of both estimators for estimating the parameters of the regression models were the same when there is low level of multicollinearity in the model. However, the Ridge Regression estimator outperformed others as level of multicollinearity was increased and it is therefore recommended for the analysis of the linear regression models when there is high level of multicollinearit
COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE PHYTOCHEMICAL CONTENT OF THE SEEDS AND FRUITS OF THREE CUCURBITS
Get PDFA comparative study was carried out on the phytochemical cotent of the seeds and fruits of Cucumis melo (L.), Lagenaria reviflora(Benth) and Citrullus lanatus(Thunb). Phytochemical analysis of air-dried, powdered epicarp, mesocarp and seeds of the mature fruits were carried out using standard procedures. Data on phytochemical characteristics were collected and subjected to two - way analysis of variance (ANOVA) at p<0.05. Means were compared using LSD. Phytochemicals such as glycosides, tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, phlobatanin, anthraquinone and saponin were detected in the epicarp, mesocarp and seeds of the Cucurbits under investigation 
CONSUMER PERCEPTION OF PERSONALITY AND KNOWLEDGE IN THE ACQUISITION PRIORITY OF HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES IN ABUJA, NIGERIA
Get PDFThis study evaluated the personality and evaluation criteria, financial knowledge, decision making process and the perception of personality and knowledge of consumers in the acquisition of household appliances in Abuja. The survey research design was adopted and instrument was formulated which comprised forty nine (49) questions administered to 200 respondents and a Likert scale covering the independent and dependent variables. It was validated and the reliability of the instrument was determined at 0.801Chronbach’s alpha. The aggregate mean of the Likert scale was 4.01 and the mean decision was determined at ≥ 3.000. Findings revealed that for most consumers, personality factor of social [males 10%, females 4%], psychological [males 4%, females 0%], financial anxiety [males 42%, female 21%] and the functionality of the product [males 10%, females 18%] donot seem to add to the personality of consumers in the acquisition priority of household appliances. Similarly, most males and female consumers have similar evaluation criteria when acquiring household appliances. However, price [males 11%, females 15%] and quality [males 21% and females 20%] stand out as top priority criteria in the acquisition of household appliances. More males [30%] than females [42%] seemed to be more influenced by knowledge about household appliance before acquisition. They used experiential sources [males 33%, females 13%] more than personal sources [males 31%, females 23%] as sources of information before acquisition. Generally, consumer perception on the influence of personality and financial knowledge in the acquisition priority of household appliance was ranked in the order of highest influence: durability, satisfaction and financial status. The consumer’s acquisition of household appliances and implications in other socioeconomic factors are discusse
SPACIO-TEMPORAL VARIATION OF RADIO REFRACTIVITY IN LAFIA, NASARAWA STATE USING CM SAF ATOVS SATELLITE DATA
Get PDFCommunications using radio waves propagates through the atmosphere and plays a major role in civilization. Vertical variation of radio refractivity in Lafia( 8.492°N and 8.517°E ) Nigeria, was investigated with a five-year (2010 – 2014) monthly mean atmospheric layered data from the ATOVS (Advanced TIROS (Television InfraRed Observation Satellite) Operational Vertical Sounders) instruments flying onboard the NOAA and Metop-A satellites; this data is provided by the EUMETSAT’s Climate Monitoring Satellite Application Facilities (CM SAF). Using the CM SAF data, at six pressure levels (1000hPa, 850hPa, 700hPa, 500hPa, 300hPa and 200hPa), the monthly mean of radio refractivity were estimated and the results analyzed. Also, the diurnal variation of the surface radio refractivity was also investigated using the data from the automatic weather station (model no WS104) installed at the Department of Physics, Federal University Lafia. Results obtained showed that the vertical model of the radio refractivity N, in Lafia could be given as N=No exp(-h⁄ho ),where No, the surface radio refractivity, was found to be approximately equal to 288.1 N-units, while the scale height ho, was found to be approximately equal to 8.40km; it was found that sub-refraction predominates in Lafia at all seasons. The diurnal range of surface radio refractivity as measured by the in-situ weather station was found to be between 325.0 and 365.0 N-units, with a maximum in the morning and minimum in the afternoo
SOME ETHNOBOTANICAL USES OF PLANT RESOURCES IN NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA
Get PDFA study was carried out to evaluate the ethnobotanical uses of plant resources in Nassarawa State, Nigeria. A total of 80 plants belonging to 37 families were surveyed through oral interviews of local inhabitants from different locations in the State, who use various plant materials for their livelihood. Uses ranged from Ornamental, food, forage, timber and construction, pest control, and textile. Plants belonging to the families Poaceae and Caesalpinniaceae were mostly used for food (9.76% respectively), Poaceae(42.85%) for forage, Combretaceae, Poaceae and Moraceae (18.18% respectively) for timber, building constructions and fuelwood. Only members of the family Lamiaceae and Malvaceae were used for pest control and textile purposes respectively. Majority of plant use in the study area was for food (51.25%) followed by forage (17.15%). The genus Ficus had the highest number of ethnobotanical uses with four applications, followed by Terminalia and Ceibaboth having three applications each. The rich biodiversity of ethnobotanical significance in the study area needs to be adequately conserved in order to forestall over exploitation and extinction of economically important plant families which is the main source of economy to the inhabitant
DELINEATION OF MINERAL POTENTIAL ZONES OVER KEFFI – ABUJA AREA IN NORTH-CENTRAL, NIGERIA USING AEROMAGNETIC DATA
Get PDFAeromagnetic data over Keffi-Abuja,North-central Nigeria bounded by latitudes N08o50′, N10o00′ and longitudes E07o00′ and E08o00′ were obtained with the aim of delineating the mineral potentialzones and structural lineaments in the area. The data was subjected to series of processing to enhance the interpretation. First and second vertical derivatives filters were applied to the data to enhance shallow features. The result obtained revealed a NE-SW trend as the dominant trend of the structures of the shallow anomalies with a less dominant E-W and NW-SE trends and also the central to Western part around the Kagarko, Kafin and Abuja area are particularly promising for mineral prospectin