Lafia Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research
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Assessment of Physicochemical and Bacteriological Quality of Government Intervention Borehole Water in Ipetu-Ijesa, Osun State
Get PDFAccess to clean and safe drinking water remains a significant public health concern in Nigeria, where millions lack improved water sources. This study assessed the physicochemical and bacteriological quality of water from selected government intervention boreholes in Ipetu-Ijesa, Osun State. Water samples were collected from five boreholes and analysed for parameters including pH, electrical conductivity, turbidity, total dissolved solids (TDS), dissolved oxygen (DO), nitrate levels, salinity, and microbial contamination (total coliform and Escherichia coli counts). The results indicated that most physicochemical parameters fell within the permissible limits set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Nigerian Standards for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ). However, turbidity and total coliform counts exceeded safe limits in some locations. Total coliform counts ranged from 2.0 to 14.0 cfu/100 mL with a mean value of 7.0 cfu/100 mL. Borehole D (Oko Owo) exhibited the lowest contamination levels, while Borehole C (Bamikemo) recorded the highest total coliform count. No faecal coliforms were detected in the examined samples. Boreholes A, B, and C exhibited elevated conductivity, TDS, and temperature, suggesting potential contamination from environmental and anthropogenic sources. Borehole D had slightly acidic water, indicating possible metal leaching. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed strong correlations between conductivity, TDS, and temperature, highlighting potential underground contamination sources. Although the physicochemical characteristics and total coliform counts were mostly within permissible limits, deviations in some boreholes suggest the need for continuous monitoring and quality assessment to ensure safe drinking water
Constraining the Genesis of Barite Deposits of the Gombe Hill, Using Stable Isotopes and Fluid Inclusion Studies
Get PDFThe opening of the Benue Trough as well as the sinistral displacement of the strike slip fault that displaced the whole inlier has been well documented in recent times. Fractures formed are believed to have occurred at the time of the opening of Benue Trough in the Cretaceous. Large sedimentary basins were developed with carbonates and continental platforms that provided ideal conditions for the formation of suits of sandstone hosted, stratiform deposits such as barite, celestine and fluorite of Cretaceous age. Barite is the economic mineral and the shape of the ore bodies is considered massive, the gangue minerals are calcite, traces of celestine and silica. A fluid inclusion and stable isotope analysis (S and O) for barite was conducted. The result shows a melting ice temperature between −24 °C and −15 °C (salinities of 13.6 to 24 wt. % NaCl equiv.) and a homogenization temperature ranged between 60 °C to 155 °C. Isotopic analysis of barite showed δ34SVCDT ranges from +18.1‰ to +19.8‰. Sulfur and Oxygen isotope data for the barite from the study area is consistent with a sulfur source formed during the Cretaceous, which coincides with the age of the Bima Formation. The oxygen isotope analysis showed a range between δ18OVSMOW 9.9‰ and 12.2‰ for the mineral. Fluid inclusion microthermometry and isotopic measurements lead us to conclude that brines from the Upper Benue Basin led to the replacement of evaporite strata (gypsum) by barite and its subsequent deposition within veins and fractures of the Bima Formation.
Assessment of Heavy Metals Concentration in Soil, Plants and Grains in Nasarawa North
Get PDFIn this study, heavy metals concentration in soil, plants and grains were determined for Chromium, Lead, copper, Zinc and Nickel from some selected areas in Kokona and Nasarawa local government area of Nasarawa state, Nigeria. Twelve samples (soil, plants and grain) were collected were prepared. The x-ray fluorescence spectrometry analysis result revealed the mean concentration of Cr (0.075, 0.075 and 0.046 mg/kg), Pb (0.026, 0.026 and 0.052 mg/kg), Cu (0.199, 0.199 and 0.252 mg/kg), Zn (0.079, 0.079 and 0.252 mg/kg) and Ni (0.014, 0.014 and 0.032 mg/kg) in soil, plants and grain respectively. The values of heavy metal concentration in soil, plant and grain are found to be below the world average. Thus, the public are free from significant health risk due to consumption of heavy metals in plants and grains from Nasarawa West, Nigeria.
Fixed Point Theory in Semigroups and Applications in Optimization Problems
Get PDFIn this work, we introduce a new class of hybrid fixed points which arise from transformations within semigroups that exhibit both contractive and hybrid contraction properties. These fixed points have proven particularly useful in the context of optimization problems, providing a framework that guarantees convergence. The study highlights the application of hybrid fixed points in a variety of optimization schemes. By leveraging the hybrid contraction condition, it is shown that these methods offer improved stability, faster convergence, and more reliable solutions. These results are particularly significant for fields such as machine learning, where optimization algorithms often struggle with convergence issues in high dimensional spaces
Approximate Solution of the Nonlinear Buckmaster Partial Differential Equation using Exponential Fourth-order Differentiable Functions
Get PDFIn this paper, the nonlinear partial differential equation, Buckmaster equation is solved using the exponential cubic B-spline collocation method (ECBSM) and the approximate solutions from this method are compared with those of the hybrid cubic B-spline collocation method (HCBSM). In order to solve the equation, linearization technique is needed to linearize the nonlinear terms of the equation. This is done by the Taylor’s expansion approach. Further, the linearized equation is discretized into the fully implicit scheme and the Crank-Nicolson scheme. Three examples are used to test the proposed schemes by the fully implicit and Crank-Nicolson methods. The absolute errors of the methods are calculated and the comparison between the results of the ECBSM and the HCBSM is carried out. This is to analyze the accuracy of the methods of approximation. Both the ECBSM and HCBSM possess a free parameter which aids in determining accurate results. In general, the methods proved reliable with accuracy in approximating solutions of the equation
Electronic and Optical Properties of Rare Earth Atoms Doped Niobium Dichalcogenides NbX₂ (X=S, Se) Monolayers: A First Principle Study
Get PDFA First-principles calculation has been carried out to study the electronic, and optical properties of RE (La and Sm) atoms doped monolayer NbX2 (X=S, Se). The properties are studied through the use of density functional theory (DFT) with Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof-generalized gradient approximation (PBE-GGA) as exchange correlation functional and Time dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) as implementation in Quantum ESPRESSO code. The electronic band structures, as well as density of states (DOS) of these structures, show both are metallic in nature. The analysis of optical properties reveals that both La and Sm doped NbX2 (X= S, Se) Monolayer possess maximum absorptivity in the UV range of incident photon’s energy with minimum energy loss and decrease in reflectivity. Our complete study about the considered compounds describes them as potential candidates for technological applications in plasmonic and optoelectronic devices
Practices of Pig Farmers and Porcine Salmonella occurrence in Nasarawa State
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Farming practices such as the use of antibiotics, feed and feed additives, housing as well as biosecurity measures are important factors leading to spread and persistence of infectious agents and pathogens in farms, environment and transmission of infectious agents to humans. The aim of this study was to assess pig farmers practices and the occurrence of Porcine Salmonella in Nasarawa State of Nigeria. A total of 637 farmers were assessed across the tree agro-ecological zones of the State comprising of 13 local government areas using structured questionnaires alongside 637 fecal samples collected from pigs to determine the association between management practices, Biosecurity practices and general hygiene vis-a-vis Salmonella occurrence. The fecal samples were subjected to culture and isolation methods as described by ISO 6579: +A1:2007. Data from questionnaire responses were subjected to multivariate logistic regression analysis using Epi info version 7.2 to ascertain the risk factors. The study recorded Porcine Salmonella occurrence and observed gaps in knowledge and best farm practices such as farm sanitation practices, biosecurity measures, unhygienic containment methods, feed and water administration promoting the occurrence of Porcine Salmonella. A coordinated One-Health approached is recommended in order to curtail Salmonella transmission and safeguarding the environment from contamination and the health of pig farmers of Nasarawa State
Comparative Analysis of the Nutritional and Anti-nutritional Compositions of Mango (Mangifera indica), Pawpaw (Carica papaya) and Pineapple (Ananas comosus) Sold in Lafia Modern Market, Nigeria
Get PDFThe study examined the nutrition and anti–nutritional compositions of mango, pawpaw and pineapple using standard analytical techniques. The result of proximate composition showed that mango has higher fat, ash, crude fibre, moisture, carbohydrate, fatty acid and energy contents than pawpaw and pineapple, while pawpaw has higher crude protein value than mango and pineapple. The antinutrient composition of the samples revealed that pineapple has higher oxalate, alkaloids, tannins and phytate than mango and pawpaw. The results of amino acid composition revealed that Leucine was the most concentrated essential amino acid (EAA) in mango, pawpaw and pineapple, with the values of 4. 61, 5.02 and 5.60 g/100 g cp respectively. It was also found that Tryptophan was the least concentrated essential amino acid in the three samples with a value of 0.84, 0.92 and 0.63 g/l00 g in mango, pawpaw and pineapple, respectively. The calculated isoelectric points (pI) for mango, pawpaw and pineapple fruits were 6.09, 6.83 and 5.97, respectively. The P–PER values were 1.83, 1.67 and 1.80 for the mango, pawpaw and pineapple fruit samples, respectively. The study revealed that the three fruits were good sources of nutrients needed by the body and were low in anti-nutrients. Their consumption is highly recommended
Bird Composition, Abundance and Diversity across Habitat Types in Shere Hills Reserve, Plateau State, Nigeria
No full textThis study examined bird composition, abundance and diversity in Shere Hills Reserve, Jos Plateau, North Central Nigeria. The region, characterized by a savanna ecosystem interspersed with rocky outcrops and gallery forests, has a mean annual rainfall of 1,260 mm and a temperature range of 19.4°C to 34.5°C. Bird surveys were conducted across 65 points using the point count method, stratified by habitat type: gallery forest, savanna, and rocky outcrops. Observations were made daily between 6:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., and species were identified using ‘Birds of Western Africa’ field guide. A total of 6,427 birds representing 142 species and 53 families were recorded. Gallery forests exhibited the highest species composition (121 species), followed by savannas (111 species), and rocky outcrops (108 species). Notable species included Blue-breasted Kingfisher in gallery forests, Chestnut-backed Sparrow Lark in savannas, and Rock-loving Cisticola in rocky habitats. Despite these differences in species composition, bird abundance and diversity did not vary significantly across habitats (F2, 585 = 0.59, p = 0.56). The savanna (1.92 ± 0.03) and gallery forest (1.91 ± 0.03) had slightly higher diversity compared to rocky outcrops (1.87 ± 0.03). The findings underscore the importance of habitat heterogeneity in supporting avian biodiversity in Shere Hills Reserve, with gallery forests and savannas contributing significantly to species richness and diversity
Fatty Acid Profiles, Physicochemical Characteristics and Phytosterols of Three Underexploited Fruit Kernels and Pulps from North-East, Nigeria
Get PDFThis paper examines the fatty-acid profiles, physicochemical properties, functional lipid indices and phytosterol composition of oils in the kernels and pulps of three underexploited fruits namely; Hyphaene thebaica (Doum palm), Diospyros mespiliformis (Jackal-berry), and Detarium senegalense (Sweet detar) as found in North-East Nigeria. The standard analytical techniques were used for different analyses. Physicochemical measurements indicated obvious species- and tissue-specific differences, Doum palm kernel having the highest acid and viscosity, and peroxide levels were low in all samples, meaning there were minimal oxidative damages. The oils were anaesthetized by colour parameters (CIELAB) as being light, with mild rates of the green-yellow liquids and sample-specific brightness. The fatty-acid analysis showed the highest level of myristic acid (8.27 %) in jackal-berry kernel and the highest content of oleic acid (30.20 %) in sweet detar pulp. Linoleic and α-linolenic acids were present in physiologically relevant amounts, the highest values recorded in jackal–berry pulp (28.50 %) and jackal–berry kernel (16.83 %), respectively. The quality of lipid indices showed positive nutritional profiles with MUFA/SFA and PUFA/SFA ratios being over 1.00 with low atherogenicity and thrombogenicity indices and ω-6/ω-3 ratios in the anti-inflammatory range values. Phytostersol analysis revealed that sweet detar pulp has the highest sitosterol (0.823 mg/100 g) and ergosterol (0.653 mg/100 g); doum kernels showed high level of campesterol (0.747 mg/100 g) and avenasterol (0.83 mg/100 g). Generally, these results highlighted the nutritional value, biochemical composition, and functional prospects of these underexploited fruit oils, thereby recommending them as foods, nutraceutical and cosmetic ingredients