Jewel Journal of Scientific Research

Pharmacognostic and Toxicity study of Securidaca longipedunculata root

M. M. Namadina — 2019-12-31

Despite the fact that roots of S. longipedunculata have several medicinal properties, no standardization parameter has been assessed. Due to lack of standard parameters, proper identification and ascertaining quality and purity in the events of adulteration has been thwarted. The objective of the study was to establish some important pharmacognostic profile and safety
margin of Securidaca longipedunculata root with the hope of assisting in its standardization for quality, purity and safety. Elemental analysis was carried out using acid digestion method and phytochemical composition of the plants was evaluated using standard method. Acute toxicity was achieved using Lorke method to determine the LD50. Chemomicroscopical evaluation
revealed the presence of cellulose, tannins, starch, lignin, calcium oxalate, suberin, aleurone grain and mucilage with the exception of calcium carbonate. The average moisture contents, total ash, acid insoluble, water soluble ash, alcohol extractive value and water extractive values in the powdered plant material were 6.30%, 9.76%, 4.0%, 8.47%, 16.0% and 10.0% respectively. In
addition, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, Cd and Cu were found to be within the safety limit. Phytochemicals which include alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, carbohydrates and triterpenes were detected in both aqueous and methanolic extracts. The LD50 of Securidaca longipedunculata was found to be greater than 5000 mg /kg and could be considered safe for consumption.

Interest in Hard and Soft Skills of Technical College Graduates in Fabrication and Welding Engineering Craft Trade in Industries in Northeast, Nigeria

L. K. Sini — 2019-12-31

This study was designed to establish an interest in the hard and soft skills of technical colleges’ graduates in fabrication and welding engineering craft trade in industries of the Northeast, Nigeria. The challenges that created the need to embark on this study were the concern amongst industrialists that graduates of technical college programmes lack the required skills needed for
employment in the industries. A descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. A total of 215 respondents comprised of 60 technical teachers, 112 technical colleges’ graduates and 43 industrial supervisors constituted the population for the study. There was no sampling in the study because the population was manageable. The study premised on two specific objectives based on
which two research questions and two null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The two null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The instrument used for data collection was validated on the basis of clarity and appropriateness by three experts’ lectures Fabrication and welding, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola and also fabrication and welding units in industries. Following suggestions made by experts, modifications were made to the questionnaire. The validated instrument yielded a reliability coefficient alpha of 0.82 obtained using Cronbach Alpha. Means and standard deviations were employed to answer the research questions, while one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test the hypotheses
and a post hoc test was used to test where difference exists using Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 23 computer software. The results of the study revealed that technical college graduates working in industries have a high interest in hard and soft skills. it was recommended among others that Employees especially technical college graduates in industries
should be highly motivated by giving them good remuneration and incentives to arouse their interest for high performance and productivity on the job. Good relations should encourage industrial supervisors and other workers (technical college graduates) in order to be more active on the job.

The Susceptibility of Two Bambara Groundnut Varieties to Blackeye Cowpea Mosaic Virus and Cowpea Yellow Mosaic Virus Infection

Taiye Hussein Aliyu — 2019-12-31

Bambara groundnut is a high-energy plant which is rich in carbohydrates, proteins and minerals. The crop attracts low patronage by farmers, consumers and researchers and is still commonly being grown by poor farmers at the subsistence level in Nigeria. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to determine the susceptibility of Nsuka Red and Ayaba Cream Bambara groundnut
varieties to Blackeye cowpea mosaic virus (BICMV) and Cowpea yellow mosaic virus (CPYMV) inoculation. The viruses were mechanically applied on the Bambara groundnut varieties at 14 days after planting. The results indicated that the highest virus disease incidence (11.83 - 18.51%) was in Nsuka Red Bambara groundnut variety inoculated with BICMV. The effects of the viruses on plant height showed that Ayaba Cream Bambara groundnut variety inoculated with CPYMV had taller plants (8.92 – 29.54cm) compared to the other virus inoculation treatments. The yield parameters showed that the significantly lowest yields such as; pod length (16.10mm), number of pods (7.94), number of seeds per pod (0.22) and weight of seeds per plant (2.36g) were gotten on Nsuka Red Bambara groundnut variety that was inoculated with BICMV. The results obtained from the study suggest that Nsuka Red and Ayaba Cream Bambara groundnut varieties were susceptible to BICMV and CPYMV with consequent reductions in growth and yield of plants. There is need therefore to control virus spread on Bambara groundnuts for higher productivity, increased income and food security. The Ayaba Cream Bambara groundnut variety which was more tolerant to the viruses could be recommended to farmers and crop breeders in virus disease managemen.

Blood Profile and Cost Benefits of Broiler Chickens Fed Fish Meal Alternatives

Olufemi O. Egbewande — 2019-12-31

The experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of fish meal alternatives (maggot, termite, grasshopper and lizard meals) on the haematology, serum biochemical profile and cost benefit analysis of producing broiler chickens. One hundred and fifty (150) broiler chicks (Marshall Breed) were used for the experiment. The chicks were assigned into five dietary treatments in triplicates (30 chicks per treatment and 10 chicks per replicate): control (T1) had conventional fish meal (65%), (T2) maggot meal, (T3) termite meal, (T4) grasshopper meal and (T5) lizard meal as fish meal alternatives with 5% inclusion level at starter phase and
2.5% at finisher phase. The experiment lasted eight weeks and data were obtained on blood indices and cost benefit. At the end of the research, six birds per treatment (two per replicate) were randomly selected, bled and blood samples were collected for analysis. The results obtained for haematological parameters showed no significant (P>0.05) differences in all except in neutrophils, mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC). The highest value (5.33) of neutrophils level was obtained in T1 while birds on lizard meal (T5) had the least value (2.00). Birds in T2 recorded the lowest values of 29.35pg and 62.34fl for both MCH and
MCV respectively, while birds in T3 recorded highest values in both parameters. Birds in T5 recorded the least MCHC value (33.00%), while those in T4 recorded the highest (34.66%). In serum biochemical profile, total protein, globulin, cholesterol and aspartate transaminase (AST) showed no significant (P>0.05) differences among the treatment means, while albumin
and alanine transaminase (ALT) of birds where there were significantly (P<0.05) differences among the dietary treatments. In cost benefit analysis, birds in T2 (maggot meal) had highest (N564.31) gross profit followed by T3 (N540.02). In conclusion, maggot meal posed no adverse effects on the evaluated blood profile of the birds and as such recommended for use in place of fish meal.

Growth Performance of Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus var. Tainung) in relation to sowing depths and soil types

B. U. Olayinka — 2019-12-31

Kenaf is a non-woody plant that has become one of the important alternative sources of soft fibre material used for packaging materials, paper making and textile. Higher fibre production depends largely on suitable agronomical conditions or practices the plant is subjected to during cultivation. Hence, the need to investigate how different seeding depths and soil types influence the growth performance of the plant. Three soil types (loam, sand and clay) and five sowing depths (0, 1, 2,
3, 4 and 5 cm) were studied. The parameters assessed were germination and growth attributes. The results showed that percentage germination, speed of germination and ability of seeds to germinate were significantly increased when the seeding depth was at 2 cm over other seeding depths. Seeding depth at soil surface and those of 1 cm limited all the germination attributes. All the germination attributes were significantly increased in kenaf seeds sown in loamy soil when
compared to the other soil types. The results of growth attributes such as plant height, number of leaves, stem girth, leaf area and above-ground dry weight and yield attributes such as number of capsules per plant, number of seed per capsule and number of seeds per plant followed similar trend as recorded for those of germination parameters. Kenaf seeds planted on sandy soil showed reduction in time of seedling emergence, better growth and yield compared to clay soil. The study
concluded that 2 cm seeding depth and well-drained soil such as sandy-loam soil are suitable agronomical practice and condition respectively needed for higher productivity that will hitherto translate to greater fibre production. Therefore, the reliance on fibre producing trees could be reduced if these optimum seeding depth and suitable soil type are used by the farmer in the cultivation of this non-woody plant which has the bulk of its stem filled with soft fibre tissue.

Assessment of Impact of Industrial Discharge on the Quality of Water around Lafarge Cement WAPCO, Ewekoro, Nigeria

N. Abdus-Salam — 2019-12-31

The negative impact of industrial discharges into freshwater on wellbeing of man and environment prompted the assessment of the quality of water around Lafarge Cement WAPCO, Ewekoro, Ogun State. The water samples were analysed for water quality parameters using standard methods for its pH, temperature (oC), electrical conductivity (μS/cm), turbidity,
alkalinity (Alk), total hardness (TH) and concentrations of sulphate (SO₄^2-), nitrate (NO₃^-), phosphate (PO₄^3-), chloride (Cl^-), total suspended solids(TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS), total solids (TS), heavy metals (Pb, Cr, Cd, Mn, Ni, Fe). Results showed that TSS, TDS, TS,SO₄^2-, Turbidity, Fe, Cr, Cd, Mn, Ni and Pb concentrations were above the maximum permissible limits of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) and World Health Organization (WHO, 2006) for drinking water during some months of the study period. However, the water temperature, pH, conductivity, NO₃^-, PO₄^3-, Cl^- and Alk levels were within the permissible limits of all the standards. In conclusion, the water is unfit for domestic uses, drinking and aqua cultural purposes since most of the parameters measured were above the maximum permissible limits of the national and international standards. Regular water quality monitoring to determine the status of the study area is recommended for human safety and environmental sustainability.

Morphological Properties of High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)/Leather Waste Composite

E. T. Musa — 2024-03-18

This study reports the conversion of waste cow leather into useful materials through composite design and fabrication. The fabricated composite was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectrophotometer to identify functional groups and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) to check dispersion and compatibility. In order to enhance the adhesion
between the reinforcement and the matrix, 0.5g trimethylquinoline (TMQ), 3.5g Mg (OH)2, 0.3g TiO2 were used as additives. Results obtained from FTIR, showed a C-H, C-C, C=C, cis disubstituted alkene, O-H, N-O, C-O, C=O, C-N and N-H as the major functional groups. SEM revealed a ductile fracture surface as the mode of tensile deformation indicating a good
dispersion, adhesion and compatible material with HDPE. This work had contributed to the reduction of tannery solid waste in the environment. Composite of HDPE/Leather waste are safe because tons of chrome is kept inside the polymer as Cr3+ without the risk of oxidizing to Cr6+ under the action of sun light and heat thereby reducing the risk of water and soil contaminations.

Effect of UV-Light on the Mechanical and Morphological Properties of Waste Cow Leather – HDPE Composite

E. T. Musa — 2019-12-31

The potential of solid tannery vegetable re-tanned (VT)) waste as filler in high-density polyethylene (HDPE) were studied by examination of the effect of ultraviolet (UV) light on tensile properties and morphology of tensile fractured surface of the composites produced before and after a hundred days of natural weathering. The composites were prepared by two roll melt mixing, and pressed into shapes using compression moulding technique. Fabricated samples of various VT waste contents from 10 to 60% were pressed. Mechanical tests were conducted on the composite samples in accordance with ASTM specifications. The tensile strength decreased from 39.456 to 6.977MPa within 31days of exposure. With additives the composites tensile strength decreased from 5.888 to 5.69 MPa after 3days and remain constant with further exposure. Additives in HDPE/waste leather composite help to stabilize the composite against photodegradations. Ductile fracture surface of composite was the mode of tensile deformation before exposure to UV-light but after exposure to UV-light, a brittle fracture surface, showing wearing a way of the matrix (HDPE) on the surface exposed to sun, alignment of fibre and how they are loosely fallen off, the manner of dispersion, area of agglomerate, places of high concentration of both additives or fibre as well as places that were well dispersed were seen on SEM micrographs. Result suggests that composite of HDPE/VT can be decomposed under the influence of UV-light.