Jewel Journal of Scientific Research

Application of Water Quality Index (WQI) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) in Assessment of Water Quality Status of River Gongola at Yamaltu Deba, Gombe State, Nigeria

2026-02-25T11:11:31+00:00

Water quality is a term used to express the suitability of water to sustain various uses. There are still however activities that release large amounts of pollutants into the environment. The Majority of people however are unaware of the effects of residing in an environment where these chemicals are present. Therefore the objective of this study was to assess the surface water quality of River Gongola at Yamaltu-Deba, Gombe state, Nigeria using Water Quality Index (WQI) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) where water samples were collected from four study location for the period of 18 months and the physical and chemical parameters were checked using standard laboratory procedures. Of all the parameters analysed, turbidity and total dissolved solids (TSS) were the highest, above standard limit. Other parameters were within range. WQI results showed that stations 1. 3 and 4 were categorized as very poor water quality (76-100) and station 2 as unsuitable for drinking (above 100). The major parameters that contributed to such bad water quality were turbidity, TSS, and DO. DO rating became higher in the WQI calculation because of the high turbidity and TSS in the water body. PCA analysis showed that most parameters correlated positively with each other and parameters such as EC, TDS, TH, Turbidity, TSS and BOD contributed most to the contamination of the water and thus these parameters can be attributed to both anthropogenic (especially agricultural activities) and natural sources. This study indicated that the water at this location is not of good quality and therefore regular monitoring and public education on the dangers of human activities that renders water unfit for use by human and biota is recommended.

Melissopalynological Study of Honey in some selected areas of Offa, Kwara State, North Central, Nigeria

2026-02-25T11:26:55+00:00

Melissopalynology provides critical insights into the botanical and geographical origins of honey, supporting authentication, quality control, and ecological studies. This study examined thirty honey samples collected from twelve locations in Offa, Kwara State, Nigeria, between November 2012 and January 2013, using acetolysis, potassium hydroxide, and water-wash techniques. Microscopic analysis identified 108 plant species from 59 families, with a total of 32,539 pollen grains counted across all samples. All honeys were multifloral, with dominant contributions from Myrtaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Anacardiaceae, and Combretaceae. Notable species such as Psidium guajava, Elaeis guineensis, and Carica papaya were recurrently represented. Pollen counts varied markedly, ranging from 2,181 grains in Unilorin honey to 482 grains in Oja-Oba honey per five fields of view. Statistical analyses (ANOVA and Duncan’s Multiple Range Test) revealed significant spatial variation in pollen frequencies, reflecting both regional floristic diversity and honeybee foraging preferences. The presence of pollen from both cultivated and wild savannah species underscores the ecological role of honeybees in linking natural and agricultural landscapes. These findings not only authenticate the multifloral nature of Offa honeys but also provide a baseline for detecting adulteration and monitoring honey quality in Nigeria. Overall, this study demonstrates the value of melissopalynological analysis as a robust tool for apicultural research, conservation of floral resources, and the promotion of honey as a high-value product for both local and international markets.

Relationship between fingerprint patterns and blood types among science undergraduates in a Nigerian university

2026-02-23T00:47:16+00:00

This study investigates the relationship between blood types and fingerprint patterns among biology undergraduates. A total of 1,150 students from the College of Science and Information Technology, Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ogun State, Nigeria was selected using simple random sampling. Data collection involved ink-based fingerprinting and self-reported ABO and Rh blood group classification. Results showed that blood type O was the most common (489), followed by A (321), B (233), and AB (46). Rh-positive individuals accounted for 960, while Rh-negative individuals were 129. Among fingerprint patterns, loops were the most prevalent (7,918), followed by whorls (2,264), and arches (1,318). Loops were more common among females (5,623) than males (2,295), while whorls and arches also showed higher female representation. No participants had the AB-negative blood type. Furthermore, the data revealed a higher prevalence of O+ (449), followed by A+ (278) and B+ (187). The rarest patterns included A- (43), B- (46), and O- (40). A chi-square test showed a significant association between blood group and fingerprint pattern distribution (χ² = 0.000). However, no direct relationship was found between gender and fingerprint pattern beyond general distribution trends. These findings suggest a potential genetic influence in the co-distribution of fingerprint patterns and blood groups, with loops being most frequent across all blood types, particularly among those with blood types O and A. This study provides baseline data for future research and contributes to forensic and biometric science, particularly in contexts where combined fingerprint and blood group data may aid personal identification.

Evaluation of Naturally Occurring Radionuclides Concentration and Associated Radiological Health Risks in Agricultural Soils from Iwerele, Oyo State, Nigeria.

2026-01-05T18:15:52+00:00

Artisanal and small-scale mining activities often pose environmental and health risks to surrounding ecosystems. This study evaluates radiological hazards and potential exposure levels in soils from active and abandoned mining sites in Iwere-Ile, Oyo State, Nigeria. Twenty-two soil samples were analyzed using a Gamma-ray Spectrometer with a NaI(Tl) detector to determine the activity concentrations of naturally occurring radionuclides. The mean specific activities of ⁴⁰K and ²³²Th contributed about 15% and 9%, respectively, to the total radioactivity. The absorbed dose rate from terrestrial gamma radiation ranged from 5.86 to 217.48 nGy h⁻¹, averaging 58.06 nGy h⁻¹, slightly above the UNSCEAR global reference value of 55 nGy h⁻¹. The annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE) varied between 0.02 and 0.76 mSv yr⁻¹, remaining below the 1 mSv yr⁻¹ public dose limit. Although the annual gonadal dose equivalent (AGDE) exceeded international recommendations, the internal and external hazard indices were both less than unity, indicating minimal radiological threat. Overall, agricultural activities in the area can be considered radiologically safe despite ongoing mining operations.

Assessment of Sasakawa Africa Association Project in Northern Nigeria and Its Effects on Agricultural Productivity and Rural Livelihoods

2026-01-29T07:15:08+00:00

This study assessed the implementation, effectiveness, and impact of Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) agricultural interventions on smallholder farmers’ productivity, post-harvest management, technology adoption, and livelihoods in Northern Nigeria. The study aimed to document major SAA interventions, examine adoption levels of improved seeds, agronomic practices, and post-harvest innovations, evaluate effects on crop productivity and post-harvest losses, analyze socio-economic outcomes, and identify challenges affecting adoption and sustainability. A mixed-methods cross-sectional design was employed in Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Niger and Gombe States in 2025. Quantitative data were collected from 500 smallholder farmers using structured questionnaires, while qualitative insights were obtained through 12 Focus Group Discussion (FGDs) and 25 Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with extension agents, Community-Based Facilitators (CBFs), and Farmers. Findings revealed high adoption rates for improved seeds (82%) and good agronomic practices (76%), moderate adoption of post-harvest technologies (71%), and lower uptake of mechanization and water management innovations (<45%). Adopters demonstrated significantly higher crop yields for maize (3.4 vs. 2.1 t/ha), rice (4.1 vs. 2.8 t/ha), sorghum (2.5 vs. 1.7 t/ha), and soybean (2.8 vs. 1.9 t/ha) compared to non-adopters (p ≤ 0.05). Post-harvest losses were reduced substantially, particularly through metal silos (26%) and PICS bags (20%). Respondents reported improvements in household income (67%), food security (72%), and market access (59%), though challenges such as high technology costs, limited mechanization, and inadequate extension coverage persisted. The study demonstrates that integrated SAA interventions enhance smallholder productivity, post-harvest management, and livelihoods, highlighting the need for policy support, gender-inclusive programs, youth engagement, and expanded extension services to scale agricultural transformation in Northern Nigeria.

Investigation of the Fluoroperovskite LiBaF3, Examining the Optical, Elastic, Electronic and Structural Properties: DFT Study.

2026-01-31T03:03:57+00:00

The Structural, electronic, elastic and optical properties of the fluoroperovskite LiBAF₃ are obtained using the plane-wave pseudopotential implementation of the PWscf code method in the framework of density functional theory (DFT), with the local density approximation (LDA) and the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). The result shows LiBAF3 compound has a direct band gap with 6.7eV and 6.5eV using PBE-GGA and PBEsol-GGA respectively. It satisfies the Born’s stability condition and thus implies the compound is stable. Refractive index, coefficient of extinction and dielectric function have all been computed. From the estimations, the material has a brittle feature. The values gotten are in close agreement with related works and further investigation can be done using other exchange correlation functional.