56 research outputs found
Synthesis and characterization of 7-hydroxycoumarin containing new type of phthalocyanine compounds and investigation of thermal and electrochemical properties / Yeni tip ftalosiyanin bileşikleri içeren 7-hidroksikumarinin sentezi ve karakterizasyonu ve termal ve elektrokimyasal özelliklerin incelenmesi
No full textAbubakar Dauda. — “They love us because we give them Zakāt.” The Distribution of Wealth and the Making of Social Relations in Northern Nigeria
No full textThis book is based on a dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Ph.D at the Graduate School “Muslim Cultures and Societies” of the Freie Universität of Berlin. It is published as the twenty-third volume of the “Islam in Africa” series inititated by E. J. Brill in 2003. It is a good addition to this series, which had already made a considerable contribution to the understanding of Islam and Muslim societies in Africa. Its author, Dauda Abubakar, analyzes the p..
Ab initio Calculation of CuSbSe2 in Bulk and Monolayer for Solar Cell and Infrared Optoelectronic Applications
No full textBala Idris, Abdullahi Lawal, Dauda Abubakar, Saddiq Abubakar Dalhatu and Buhari Aminu Balesa
The production of efficient, less toxic, and low-cost solar cell devices is still faced with numerous challenges. However, copper antimony selenide (CuSbSe2) appears to be the more promising material due to cost-effectiveness, ease of availability, and less toxicity. Therefore, the exploration of the potential of this composite requires, comprehensive analysis of its structural, electronic, and optical properties. To accomplish this purpose, first-principles calculations employing the development of correction terms for the van der Waals interaction has been implemented in this study. Results obtained from structural properties calculations indicated that the role of van der Waals (vdW) interactions on structural properties of layered materials can be predicted from theoretical bases because results obtained for the lattice parameters using vdW on top of PBE were in good correlation with experimental results. The electronic properties investigations gave values for the electronic band structures, partial and total densities of states. Indirect band gap was observed for bulk CuSbSe2 with band gap value of 0.83 eV, which was also in agreement with experiment result. By reducing the dimension from bulk to monolayer a direct band gap smaller than that of bulk form was obtained, indicating that CuSbSe2 is suitable for solar cell and near infrared optoelectronic applications. The optical gap of CuSbSe2 in bulk and monolayer structure was found to be 0.83 and 0.21 eV respectively. Therefore, CuSbSe2 can absorb photons, whose energy lies between that of the near infrared to visible light frequency. The study confirmed the importance of van der Waals interaction in predicting, structural, electronic and optical properties of layered materials. Analysis of optical parameters suggested that a device fabricated from these materials can be operated on a wide range of energy scale including solar cells, optical communications and biomedical imaging
Radiological equipment and accessories as sources of nosocomial infection
No full textBackground: Nosocomial infections have become a major challenge in health institutions, as they affect the quality of health care delivered. The radiology department is one of the mainstays of modern medicine. It is therefore, necessary to assess its contamination by nosocomial organisms.Aim: The study aims at identifying the nosocomial bacteria associated with imaging equipment and accessories in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria.Methods: The study design was prospective and cross-sectional in nature, and was conducted between Oct 2014 to Jan 2015 using disproportionate stratified random sampling method. Four different conventional x-ray units, fluoroscopy, computed tomography, angiography and ultrasound units were selected. Swabs were collected from the surfaces of the selected parts of the equipment and accessories after working hours in each unit. The swabs were taken to the microbiology laboratory for culturing and identification using standard laboratory procedure. A total of 200 cultured samples were used in the study. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS version 16.0 software.Results: Bacteria were isolated in 43.5 % (n = 87) of all the swab samples with ultrasound transducer as major culture. Specific bacteria isolated were: Staphylococcus aureus (n = 65; 74.7 %), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 14; 16.1 %), Bacillus spp (n = 6; 6.9 %), Klebsiella spp (n = 1; 1.1 %) and Proteus spp (n = 1; 1.1 %). Methylated spirit was the most effective chemical disinfectant. Conclusion: Radiology equipment and accessories in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital are not entirely free of bacteria. Meticulous attention to disinfection will safeguard staff and other patients from nosocomial infections
Some engineering properties of Palmyra palm tree (Borassus aethiopum) germinating shoot
No full textThis study was carried out to determine some engineering properties of germinating shoot of Palmyra Palm tree (Borassus aethiopum) relevant to the design of an agricultural harvesting machine. Seed volume, sphericity, weight, surface area, aspect ratio and compressive strength were determined at three different moisture contents of 41.72%, 26.11% and 18.39% (wb) respectively. Standard methods and instruments were used to conduct the experiments. The results of the physical properties revealed that the major, intermediate and minor diameters, surface area and weight increased with the increase in moisture content. The maximum mean values of the major, intermediate and minor diameters were 280.00 mm, 33.00 mm and 25.90 mm respectively while the minimum mean values were 209.67 mm, 16.67 mm and 15.21 mm at the three moisture contents respectively. The mean coefficient of variation for the major, intermediate and minor diameters were 10.57%, 32.84% and 10.59% respectively. The statistical analysis carried out on the physical properties shows that the F value (38.77) is greater than the F-critical value and also the P-value 1.74×1032is less than the significance level (α= 0.05) which means there is a significant difference between the physical properties of germinating shoot within the range of moisture contents. The mechanical properties of the Palmyra palm germinating shoot revealed a mean force at break as 1247.10 N, 650.00 N and 707.10 N for longitudinal, natural and transverse loading positions respectively. The stress at break has mean values of 1247.10 N/mm2, 650.00N/mm2 and 707.10 N/mm2 for longitudinal natural and transverse loading positions respectively. The energy at break has mean values of 2.16Nm, 2.42 Nm and 1.80Nm, for longitudinal natural and transverse loading positions respectively. The mean values of the energy at yield for longitudinal, natural and transverse loading positions were 1.56 Nm, 1.03 Nm and 1.44 Nm respectively. The stress at yield has mean values of 1158.50 N/mm2, 627.67 N/mm2 and 734.25 N/mm2 for longitudinal, natural and transverse loading positions respectively. While the mean values for the Young’s modulus at longitudinal, natural and transverse loading positions were 15326.00 N/mm2, 5768.80 N/mm2, and 5010.90 N/mm2 respectively
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of a cyclitol isolated from the leaves of Bauhinia rufescens
No full textBauhinia rufescens is a medicinal plant used in the treatment of mycosis, diarrhea and malaria. Leaves of B. rufescens were extracted with organic solvent in a gradient of petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and methanol. Silica gel column purification of methanol extract afforded the isolation of a cyclitol, identified as 3-O-methyl-D-inositol. The crude extracts and the isolated compound were evaluated for their anticholinesterase inhibitory activity using bioautographic and microplate techniques. The cyclitol demonstrated higher activity in the microplate assay relative to the crude extract with IC50 value of 463.77 pH The Inhibitory activity exhibited by the cyclitol against acetylcholinesterase enzyme indicates its potential as a drug agent for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.Keywords: Bauhinia rufescens, cyclitol, cholinesteras
Optimizing the Student Application Process with a Laravel-based System of Waziri Umaru Federal Polytechnic Birnin Kebbi: A Case Study
No full text<p>The student application process plays a crucial role in the efficient functioning of educational institutions. However, manual and outdated systems often result in delays, errors, and inefficiencies, leading to a poor experience for both applicants and administrators. This case study aims to explore the optimization of the student application process at Waziri Umaru Federal Polytechnic Birnin Kebbi using a Laravel-based system. Application data and users feedback were collected to evaluate the system's performance. Based on the findings, a Laravel-based system was developed and implemented to streamline the student application process. The system offers a user- friendly interface for applicants and also provides an automated workflows, real-time notifications, and centralized data management, enabling efficient application processing and decision-making. The results of the case study indicate significant improvements in the student application process at Waziri Umaru Federal Polytechnic Birnin Kebbi following the implementation of the Laravel-based system. The average increase in applicant satisfaction.</p><p>Keywords:- Laravel, Optimization, PHP Framework, Student Application Process.</p>
Synthesis and Characterization of Metal Phthalocyanine Complex Using Substituted 4-Nitrophthalonitrile Ligand
No full textIn this research work, four compounds: 4-nitrophthalamide, 4-nitrophthalonitrile and 4-(ciproxy) phthalonitrile and phthalocyanine complex were synthesized. The synthesis began with the nitration in the position 4 of phthalamide which led to the formation of 4-nitrophthalamide. Dehydration by the thionyl chloride in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) led to the formation of 4-nitrophthalonitrile and further reaction of ciprofloxacin with 4-nitrophthalonitrile in DMF forms the phthalonitrile derivative, cyclotetramerization of 4-(ciproxy) phthalonitrile in the presence of nickel salt gave substituted metal phthalocyanine complex. The structures of the synthesized compounds were characterized by NMR, FT-IR spectrophotometry and UV-VIS. Melting point of the compounds ware checked by Griffin MFB-590. The melting points of 4-nitrophthalamide and 4-nitrophthalonitrile were found to be 223 oC and 175 oC respectively. Solubility of the compounds was confirmed in some common laboratory solvent (acetone, methanol and DMF). The electronic spectra of nickel phthalocyanine compound in DMF showed intense Q absorption at 690 nm. The thermal stability of the phthalocyanine derivatives was checked by TGA; the phthalocyanine was heated up to 700 oC to determine the degradation temperature. The temperatures at which the phthalocyanine began to exhibit weight loss was 309 oC. It could, therefore, be concluded that the metal phthalocyanines prepared in this study showed suitably high thermal stability and can be used for further analysis. 
Availability of Instructional Materials on Students’ Academic Performance in Senior Secondary Schools in Maiduguri Metropolis, Borno State
No full textThis study examined the availability of instructional materials and students’ academic performance in senior secondary schools, Maiduguri Metropolis, Borno State, Nigeria. Two (2) objectives and a null hypothesis were used to determine the availability of instructional materials and students’ academic performance in senior secondary schools in Borno state. Survey and Correlational design were used. The total population of the study was 1,236 teachers and 10,349 students out of which 371 teachers and 3,105 students were sampled through simple random sampling. SSCE results for five consecutive years of the 2014-2018 academic sessions were obtained for the study. Checklist and Pro-forma were used for data collection. Data collected were analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation coefficient, frequency and percentage at 0.05 level of significance. The study revealed a significant relationship between availability of instructional materials and students’ academic performance in senior secondary schools in Maiduguri Metropolis. The study also found that the instructional materials for teaching and learning are available. Based on the findings, it was recommended that government and other stakeholders should continue to support schools in the state with the necessary instructional materials needed for teaching and learning and School administration should emphasize the use of instructional materials to make learning easier
Impact of Heavy Metals Toxicity on Children and Adults from Local Rice Varieties of Northern Nigeria
No full textThe current study aimed to investigate the levels of heavy metals [cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg)] in local rice varieties named Jamila (JM), Santana (STN), Kwandala (KW), and Sipi (SP) collected from Danbatta town of Kano State, Northwestern Nigeria. The samples of local rice varieties were digested using HNO3 and HCl as digestion acids in a ratio of 2:1 (v/v). The digested samples were later analyzed for heavy metals using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Moreover, the health risk assessment of heavy metals by the consumption of local rice varieties among local children and adults was also estimated based on estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ), hazard index (HI), and target cancer risk (TCR). The concentrations of Cd, Zn, and Pb dry weight basis observed in the range of 0.002-0.06, 0.02-20.0, and 1.16-14.2 mg/kg, respectively. Hg was detected only in the SP rice variety with a concentration of 0.022 mg/kg. Whereas, As was detected in STN (0.086 mg/kg), KW (0.006 mg/kg), and SP (0.028 mg/kg). The resulting data showed that Cd, Zn, Hg, and As were within the maximum permissible limits set by regulatory bodies. The EDI values ranged from 1.21E-5 -1.21E-1 and 5.0E-6 – 5.0E-2 for children (24 kg body weight) and adults (70 kg body weight), respectively. The data of the non-carcinogenic risk assessment indicated that the THQ values of Cd, Hg, and As were less than the maximum permissible limit of 1.0 for both children and adults. The HI data showed the potentially high possible health risk of the heavy metals by the consumption of the studied local rice varieties, with Pb being the major contributor. Similarly, resulting data of TCR for Cd and Pb showed high cancer risk upon the consumption of the studied local rice varieties over a long time
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