FULafia Journal of Science and Technology
FULAFIA JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (FJST) is an International Journal published by the Federal University of Lafia. It is a peer-reviewed journal that publishes papers in two issues per volume, that is March and September. It contributes immensely to all areas of Agricultural, Biological, Earth, Engineering, Environmental, Natural, and Physical Sciences. ISSN-online: 2636-4972 ISSN-print: 2449-0954
Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria
INFLUENCE OF HEAVY METALS ON THE GROWTH OF TWO COMMON WEEDSHyptis suaveolens AND Sida acuta IN LAFIA, NASARAWA STATE
An assessment of the influence of heavy metals on the growth of two common weeds Hyptis suaveolens and Sida acuta in soils of polluted areas and an unpolluted soil (control) in Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria was carried out. Soil samples were collected in three replicates from an automobile workshop site (AWS), refuse dump site (RDS), and unpolluted soil (UPS) in Lafia. The growth of each plant was monitored in an interval of two weeks for a period of 8 weeks. The heavy metals investigated in the soil include Cu, Pb and Zn using digestion process and atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The heavy metal analysis revealed that AWS recorded highest concentration (0.71 mg/kg) while UPS recorded the least concentration of Pb (0.28 mg/kg) respectively. RDS had the highest concentration of Cu (0.61 mg/kg), while UPS had the highest concentration of Zn (0.19 mg/kg). It was observed that Hyptis suaveolens grew better on RDS and the growth parameters were seen to be significantly different from AWS and UPS. The AWS recorded least growth parameters which is likely due to the high level of metal concentration in the soil. Similarly, Sida acuta grew better on RDS and the least in AWS. The use of weeds which are not consumed by humans and animals should be encouraged in phytoremediation in order to prevent the effects of waste-related problems in the environment.
Copyright (c) 2025 FULafia Journal of Science and Technology
IMPACT OF ALPHA SPIN NANOPARTICLES ON GENETIC DIVERSITY OFNIGERIA SESAME (Sesamum indicum L.) GERMPLASM
An experiment was carried out during the cropping season of 2025 in the Botanical Garden, Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology of Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State-Nigeria to investigate the influence of Alpha spin nanoparticles on the Genetic diversity of sesame. The seeds were exposed to Alpha pin Nanoparticles at 20min, 40min and 60min alongside the untreated (control). The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Data were collected on the basis of plant height, Number of pods/plant, Number of seeds/pod, 1000seeds weight. Data collected were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The result revealed that most of the parameters were significant at 0≤ 0.05. Highest mean plant height was observed in variety FUTM9 (98.03), while OMA 40 (41.83) has the least plant height. The result also showed that FUTM7 (31.21) has the highest number of pods/plant while OMA 40, has the least number of pods/plant. FUTM9 (70.22) was observed to have the highest number of seeds/pod while Ex sudan (44.66) has the least number of seeds/pod. NAK033 has the highest dry seed weight (22.60) while FUTM9 has the least dry seed weight (3.89). Highest 1000seed weight was observed in the variety Jig 86 (8.80) while the least was observed in Ex sudan (6.79). Most of the varieties recorded their highest mean performance at T2 which is 40minutes of exposure to alpha nano spin particles. It is recommended that for most of the agronomic traits, T2 (40 minutes exposure time) be applied.
Alpha Spin, Nanoparticles, genetic diversity, Sesame
MODELLING TIMES SERIES VOLATILITY: A CASE STUDY OF NIGERIA ECONOMIC VARIABLES
The profound vulnerability of the Nigerian economy to global oil price shocks necessitates a robust analysis of its macroeconomic volatility transmission mechanisms. This study employed the Dynamic Conditional Correlation Multivariate GARCH (DCC-MGARCH) model to investigate the interconnected volatility and time-varying spillovers among crude oil prices, exchange rates, inflation, and stock market performance using monthly data from January 2003 to December 2023. The results reveal significant volatility persistence and strong interdependencies among these variables, identifying oil price shocks and exchange rate fluctuations as primary drivers of volatility in inflation and stock returns. The analysis further uncovers distinct volatility regimes, including near-integrated GARCH processes for inflation and stock returns, and non-normal, fat-tailed distributions across all return series. While the model confirms high correlation persistence, it also exposes specification challenges, indicating that standard DCC frameworks may be inadequate for fully capturing the complex volatility dynamics inherent in Nigeria's oil-dependent economy. The study concludes that Nigeria remains acutely susceptible to oil-driven macroeconomic instability, underscoring the critical need for diversification policies and enhanced risk management strategies. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers and investors while contributing to existing empirical literatures for analyzing multivariate financial-market interdependencies in resource-dependent emerging economies.
Oil Price Volatility, Volatility Spillovers, DCC-MGARCH Model, Macroeconomic Stability, Resource-Dependent Economies
Mathematical Modeling of the Spread of the Ebola Virus Disease
Ebola, a viral and fatal disease with occasional outbreaks on the continent of Africa affects mostly humans and non-human primates, and poses a great health challenge to this part of the globe. The transmission of Ebola Virus can be through direct contact with blood, bodily fluids, or skin of Ebola Virus Disease patients or those who have passed away from the illness. In this paper, we formulate a mathematical model of the transmission of the Ebola virus disease in a population capturing its dynamics to study the impact of healthcare policies on its spread. The model is a four compartment model consisting of Susceptible, Latent, Infectious and Recovery compartments. To gain a good understanding of the model, the formulated model is transformed into difference equations. The basic reproduction number R0 is derived using the next generation matrix method. Further, the disease-free equilibrium of the model is obtained and its stability analysis is carried out. The result shows that the disease-free equilibrium point is locally stable if R0 < 1 but may not be asymptotically stable, indicating that the disease will eventually die out. Conversely, if R0 > 1, an endemic equilibrium exists, and the disease will persist at a stable level. Numerical simulations obtained illustrate the efforts of the parameters on the compartment of the model.
Copyright (c) 2024 FULafia Journal of Science and Technology
Products of Nilpotents in Partial Transformation Semigroups using Digraphic Paths and Chains
In this paper, we investigate the factorization of singular partial self-maps on a finite set into products of the least number of nilpotent elements. This research demonstrates that the semigroup of such maps can be expressed within a union of nilpotent-generated sets, specifically up to the third power. Some of our key findings include the determination of the nilpotent rank and the nilpotent depth for these maps, which vary based on whether the set size is even or odd. Additionally, this study surveys the relationship between these results and Stirling numbers, leveraging the Vagner Theorem and digraphic representations. We also examine stable quasi-idempotents, which correspond to specific digraphic paths and chains, providing further insights into the structure of partial transformation semigroups.
Morphological Assessment of the Protective Effects of A. muricata Seed Extract Against Potassium Dichromate Stomach Poisoning in Wistar Rats
This study investigated the protective effects of Annona muricata seed extract against potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) stomach poisoning in Wister rats. Seeds were extracted with ethanol, and 20 rats were divided into five groups. Group I received distilled water, Group II received 200 mg/kg extract, Group III received 20 mg/kg K2Cr2O7, Group IV received 20 mg/kg pbw of K2Cr2O7 followed by 200 mg/kg pbw of extract, and Group V received 200 mg/kg pbw of extract followed by 20 mg/kg pbw of K2Cr2O7. Group I showed normal liver and stomach morphology. Group II showed normal stomach morphology. Group III showed stomach damage, disruption of surface epithelium, and leukocyte infiltration. Group IV showed normal stomach morphology, while Group V showed no pathological lesions. Annona muricata seed extract protects against K2Cr2O7 stomach poisoning in Wistar rats, suggesting its potential against stomach poisoning in humans. Further molecular investigation is needed to understand the mechanism of action
Morpho-Phytochemical Composition of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) Varieties Grown in Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria
The study, Morpho-phytochemical composition of sesame (Sesamum indicum) varieties grown in Lafia, Nasarawa state-Nigeria. The experiment was conducted at the Botanical Garden of the Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State. Sesame varieties were obtained from National Cereal Research Institute Baddegi, Niger State. The varieties obtained include: GUJ BLACK, CHI001, and NCRIBEN 04E, NCRIBEN 05E and E8. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Data were collected on the basis of Number of days for germination, Number of days to flowering, Plant height at flowering, Number of leaves per plant, Number of branches per plant, Number of branches at 50% flowering, Plant height at maturity, Number of pods per plant, Number of seeds per plant and 1000 seed weight. 30 g of sesame seeds from each varieties were grounded and analyzed for six proximate traits. Data were recorded for crude protein, crude fat/oil, fibre, mineral ash, moisture content and carbohydrate content. All proximate analyses were done according to Official methods of Associations of Analytical Chemist (AOAC). Data collected were subjected to ANOVA P ≤ 0.5. The varieties GUJBLACK and E8 performed very well in most of the morphological characterization such as days to germination, germination percentage, number of leaves, plant height, number of branches and 100 seed weight. Phytochemical composition of different varieties revealed that the variety GUJBLACK has the highest concentration of alkaloid, flavonoid, phenols, glycosides and saponin. The least varieties performance were observed in NCRIBEN 05E and NCRIBEN 04E.
On Signed Full Transformation Semigroup of a Finite Set
If we define [n] = {1,2,3,...,n} and [n*] = {±1,±2,±3...,±n}. A map α: [n] → [n*] is called a signed transformation on [n]. The collection of all these maps together with composition forms a semigroup called a signed transformation semigroup. Given that dom(α) = [n], the signed transformation semigroup will be called a signed full transformation semigroup on [n]. In this paper, we obtain formulas that count the number of elements in the semigroups of order decreasing, order preserving and order decreasing signed transformations on [n]. We equally do same for the sub-semigroup of the signed transformation semigroup consisting only of idempotents.
Habitat Characterization of Culicine Mosquitoes in Two Local Government Areas of Nasarawa State, Nigeria
Mosquitoes are major vectors of disease, with their abundance influenced by ecological and environmental factors. This study assessed the habitat characterization and abundance of mosquito species in Awe and Nasarawa Eggon LGAs, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Larvae were sampled monthly from July 2023 to June 2024 using standard dipping techniques, and physicochemical parameters of breeding sites were analyzed. A total of 2,158 mosquito larvae were collected, with culicines significantly (P < 0.001) accounting for 90.08% while anophelines accounted for 9.92% of the population. Among the emerged adult culicines, Culex quinquefasciatus (76.67%) was significantly (P < 0.001) more abundant followed by Anopheles gambiae (13.40%), while An. funestus had the lowest emergence rate at 1.97%. Puddle habitats (47.21%) supported the highest mosquito abundance, followed by rice fields (34.99%), while animal hoof prints (0.79%) had the least mosquito abundance. Therefore, habitat type significantly (P = 0.037) influenced mosquito abundance in both LGAs. The highest larval abundance was recorded at a 351–400 m (36.52%) gradient from human dwellings, but distance significantly (P = 0.625) influence larval abundance. Physicochemical parameters such as temperature, pH, total dissolved solids, and dissolved oxygen exhibited varied correlations with mosquito abundance, with significant effects in some habitats. These findings highlight the need for targeted vector control strategies, particularly habitat modification and public health interventions, to reduce mosquito proliferation and mitigate disease transmission risks in the study area.
POPULATION ESTIMATION AND EVALUATION OF CAUSES OF MALARIATRANSMISSION AMONG NOMADS IN TARABA STATE, NIGERIA
The spread of malaria and associated factors among the nomadic people in Taraba State, Nigeria, are investigated in this baseline study. Nomadic groups confront major health issues, especially with regard to malaria, because of their mobility, restricted access to healthcare, and distinct socioeconomic circumstances. The study included a mixed-methods approach to evaluate the prevalence of malaria, related risk factors, and healthcare-seeking behavior. These methods included focus groups, key informant interviews, and household surveys. The results show that high malaria prevalence, particularly during the rainy season, driven by environmental and behavioral factors. Poor health-seeking behaviors due to distance, financial barriers, and cultural perceptions. Low utilization of preventive measures like Treated Mosquito nets, cleaning of surrounding, poor/ lack of functional health facilities are the most contributed factors to the prevalence of Malaria transmission among nomadic population in Taraba state. Other environmental influences include seasonal movement patterns and closeness to water bodies, which enhance mosquito exposure, and socioeconomic restraints, such as cultural norms and financial hurdles that restrict access to treatment. The report emphasizes the critical need for focused interventions, such as community-based malaria surveillance, mobile health services, culturally appropriate health education, and easier access to insecticide-treated nets. In order to lower the prevalence of malaria and enhance general health outcomes in Taraba State, it were essential to improve healthcare delivery for these susceptible groups.
THERMAL RADIATION EFFECT ON A BOUYANCY-INDUCED COUETTE FLOW DUE TO NEWTONIAN HEATING IN AN UPSTANDING CHANNEL
This paper illustrates the impact of optically thick thermal radiation on buoyancy-induced flow with viscous dissipation and Navier slip condition over an up-facing channel. The modelled equations are nonlinear coupled ordinary differential equations, which are treated with the regular perturbation method. The actions of key parameters controlling the flow behaviour in terms of momentum and energy distributions are demonstrated graphically. The skin friction and Nusselt number on the both surfaces have also been computed. The present study is valid for the limiting case because it is based on comparison with earlier studies that back it up. The significant results from this study are: thermal radiation R act as extra aiding force, ie, growing values of R boosts the fluid temperature and velocity, greater Brickman number represent better convective heating at the channel surface, leading to a stronger temperature and velocity. Additionally, the heat transfer rate weakens as boundary thickness causes less heat transfer gradient. The outcome of this research will contribute significantly in widening the applications of thermal radiation effects for multiple heating devices and industrial uses for energy production in solar systems, wound treatment in medical science, space vehicles and aircraft propulsion in engineering and space technology, to mention a few.
WOODY PLANT DIVERSITY AND CARBON STORAGE ASSESSMENTS IN URBAN SECONDARY SCHOOLS, LAFIA, NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA
Despite the importance of urban greenery, research on trees in urban schools remains sparse. Hence, this study investigates woody plant diversity and carbon storage in three secondary schools in Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria: Government Science School (GSS) Lafia, GSS Shabu, and GSS Tundun Kauri. Using systematic and random sampling, five plots per school were analyzed for tree diversity, with biomass measurement obtained through allometric equations. Tree diversity was quantified using Shannon and Simpson indices, while carbon storage and CO2 equivalent were calculated from the biomass data. At GSS Lafia, Plot 2 (West) had the highest species diversity (Shannon index: 1.367, Fisher’s alpha: 3.538), while Plot 5 (Central) had the lowest (Shannon index: 0.3488, Fisher’s alpha: 0.7972). At GSS Shabu, Plot 2 (West) had the highest diversity (Shannon index: 1.082, Simpson’s 1-D: 0.6563), whereas Plots 1 (East), 4 (North), and 5 (Central) had no diversity. GSS Tundun Kauri’s Plot 2 (West) showed the highest diversity (Shannon index: 0.6931, evenness: 1), while Plots 2, 4, and 5 had none. Regarding carbon storage, GSS Shabu's Plot 2 (West) had the highest carbon storage of 15,3356.44 kg and CO2 equivalent of 562.31 tons. In contrast, Plot 5 (Central) at GSS Tundun Kauri had the lowest carbon storage with 16,535.68 kg and CO2 equivalent of 60.63 tons. GSS Lafia's Plot 2 (West) contributed significantly with CO2 equivalent of 164.29 tons and carbon storage of 44,808 kg. These findings emphasize the need to maintain tree diversity for optimal carbon sequestration and urban green space management.
IN VITRO ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIHYPERGLYCEMIA PROPERTIES OF VERBENONE ENHANCED WITH SELECTED SOLUBILIZING COMPOUNDS
The pharmacological activities of verbenone had been reported in several diseased states. This study evaluated the in vitro antioxidant and antihyperglycemia properties of verbenone through linkage with selected solubilizing compounds. Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) was conducted in non-diabetic mice overloaded with 2 g/kg bwt. glucose solution. In vitro α amylase and α glucosidase inhibitory activities were evaluated for verbenone and selected solubilizing compounds. 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and hydroxyl (OH) radical scavenging activity were evaluated for verbenone and selected solubilizing compounds using references procedures. In OGTT assay, verbenone, lysine, cyclodextrin and metformin significantly (p<0.05) lowered glucose concentration compared with the control from 30 - 120 minutes. Lysine and verb-lysine (12.5 μg/mL) steadily raised the percentage α amylase inhibitory activity, while at the same concentration significantly (p<0.05) increased amylase activity from 70 to 95%. Acarbose and all concentrations of compound examined (12.5 - 200 μg/mL) significantly (p<0.05) increased the percentage inhibitory activity of α glucosidase. All concentrations of verbenone significantly increased the percentage scavenging activities of DPPH, H2O2 and OH. Lysine, cyclodextrin verb-lysine showed a significantly (p<0.05) high hydroxyl scavenging while verb-cyclodextrin and acarbose displayed a lower hydroxyl scavenging. The results indicated that verbenone and its linked solubilizing compounds exhibited in vitro antihyperglycemic properties in glucose loaded mice, increased inhibitory activities of α amylase and α glucosidase as well as increased in vitro antioxidant scavenging activities.
Investigating Human Perception on Extent of Postharvest Spoilage of Potato in Two Local Government Areas in Ogun State, Nigeria.
Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a globally important crop that plays a vital role in providing food and income for many populations. Several factors have been identified as limiting the realization of food security in many countries around the world. Increasing food availability thus involves not only increasing agricultural productivity, but also reducing food losses. This study focused on evaluating the incidence of potato postharvest spoilage among local store owners in Ijebu North and Ijebu Ode local governments using a descriptive design methodology. Supermarkets and local store owners in Ijebu North and Ijebu Ode local governments were included as participants, and data was collected using structured questionnaires. A sample size of 150 respondents was used; the collected data were analysed using descriptive statistics in SPSS. The findings of the study indicated that potato postharvest spoilage predominantly occurs during the wet seasons. It was observed that proper handling of potatoes during storage and the use of suitable storage areas can help reduce the incidence of potato rot diseases. In conclusion, Potato rot disease is a significant problem for potato farmers in Nigeria, and it can have devastating effects on their livelihoods. The disease has the potential to reduce crop yields, deteriorate potato quality, and even lead to complete crop failure. Therefore, implementing appropriate measures such as proper handling and proper storage practices are crucial for mitigating the occurrence and impact of potato rot diseases thus promoting food security in Nigeria.
WEIGHT AND HEMATOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF WISTAR RATS ADMINISTERED WITHOCHRATOXIN A AND AFLATOXIN B1 CONTAMINATED HERBAL MEDICINES
This study was carried out to investigate the effect of mycotoxin contamination of herbal medicine preparations on the weight and hematological properties of Wistar rats. Five Wistar rats each weighing about 141 g were separately administered with two powdered herbal medicines, Agbo typhoid and Agbo rashes contaminated with Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and Ochratoxin A (OTA) respectively. Different amounts (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 g) of the herbal medicine powders were administered to the rats by mixing with commercial feeds, while the liquid extracts (0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, and 0.05 μg/mL) obtained from the contaminated herbal powders were administered orally using oral cannulas. A total of 105 Wistar rats were used. The rats were weighed for a period of two weeks and assessed for hematological effects of the administered toxicants. Results showed that significant weight decline occurred in animals administered with the different mycotoxins, with highest weight loss (23.21 g) obtained in Wistar rats administered with 0.01 μg/mL of AFB1. Both AFB1-contaminated herbal medicines and AFB1 extracts from contaminated herbal medicines caused significant decreases in PCV and Hb levels, while OTA-contaminated herbal medicines and OTA extracts from contaminated herbal medicines also caused significant decreases in PCV, RBC and Hb levels when compared to the normal rats (P≤0.05). The findings of this study suggest the need to improve processing, handling, and storage of herbal medicines in order to prevent contamination with mycotoxigenic fungi which produce OTA and AFB1 capable of causing significant health challenges to consumers
Aflatoxin, Ochratoxin, Herbal Medicines, Weight Loss, Hematology
Ethno-botanical Survey of Plant Species used for Mosquito Control in Gadau, Bauchi State.
This study assessed the ethno-botanical plant species used for mosquito control in Gadau, Bauchi State. The study was conducted between July and August, 2024. In this study, a cross-sectional design method was employed. A popular market in Gadau town, known for its large number of herbal vendors on market days, was purposively selected as the study area. The questionnaire, adapted from previous studies was administered in the local language, commonly Hausa, depending on the respondent's preference. Male respondents constituted the majority, 31 (72.09%), compared to females, 12 (27.91%), with a significant difference observed between genders (χ² = 36.1, p < 0.05). Among the age groups, the 25–34-year range had the highest percentage of respondents, 19 (44.19%), followed by 18–24 years (27.91%), 35–44 years (13.95%), 45–54 years (9.30%), and the least represented were the 55–64 years and 65+ years categories, each at 2.33%. A significant difference was also noted among respondents based on age ranges (p < 0.05). Nine plant species belonging to six families were identified: Tageteserecta, Azadirachtaindica, Cymbopogoncitratus, Salvia rosmarinus, Allium sativum, Menthapiperita, Lavandulalatifolia, Carica papaya and Vernoniaamygdalina. The Lamiaceae family recorded the highest number of species (33.33%), followed by Asteraceae (22.22%), with Meliaceae, Poaceae, Alliaceae, and Caricaceae contributing one species each (11.11%). Therefore, it is essential that the diverse plant species in the Gadau community, particularly those identified in this study be further investigated for their mosquitocidal and repellent properties. This research provides crucial evidence to support the consideration of these plants as viable alternatives to synthetic insecticides.
Ethno-botanical, Mosquito, Control, Plant Species.
RELIABILITY ANALYSIS OF A HYBRID PV/WIND/BATTERY SYSTEM USING EVENT TREE APPROACH
Renewable energy sources are very attractive energy sources due to their abundant available nature, highly clean energy source because of their environmental friendly nature and cheap continuous nature. However, because of their intermittent available property, hybrid renewable energy sources are used to counter this drawback. In this study, the reliability of a hybrid renewable energy complex system with five components subsystem is evaluated. The reliability of the components is assumed to follow the Weibull failure laws. The reliability of the system is determined using the Event Tree approach. The effect of operating time (t), failure parameter (λ) and repair parameters (β) are shown both graphically and numerically for arbitrarily value of different parameters. The sensitivity analysis was carried out to investigate the overall system reliability with the value of t ranges between 0 and 0.5, λ between 0.01 and 0.05 and β between 0.1 and 0.5. The practical realization of this study is envisioned in a hybrid renewable power system network
USING HERBARIUM RECORDS AND IUCN RED LIST TO UNRAVEL EXTINCTION RISK PATTERN IN GENUS GARCINIA IN NIGERIA
Trees of economic importance are many times vulnerable to extinction due to factors such as anthropogenic pressure, ethnobotanical uses, urbanization, climate change and spread of invasive species. Species in genus Garcinia are well known for their ecological and economic importance. In this study, herbarium records from the Forest Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN) national herbarium were searched to determine the distribution of species of Genus Cola in Nigeria. The herbarium spreadsheet also contain information regarding their habitat type records. This records were used in generating species distribution map and analyze the habitat type. The IUCN (International Union of Conservation of Nature) Red List web platform was used to determine the conservation status and threats to species of Garcinia found in Nigeria. This study revealed that Garcinia is highly distributed in Cross River state in Nigeria than other parts of the country. This study revealed that Garcinia is a threatened genus in Nigeria. Some species of Garcinia has not been evaluated for conservation purpose. This study conclude that Garcinia might be at the verge of complete extinction if there are no conservation interventions for the species. It is recommended that species of Garcinia in Nigeria be regenerated to prevent their extirpation and also a recent local population assessments of all the species in this genus should be encouraged.
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF GAUSS SEIDEL, CONJUGATE GRADIENT AND SUCCESSIVEOVER RELAXATION FOR THE SOLUTION OF NONSYMETRIC LINEAR EQUATIONS
This study undertakes a comparative analysis of three widely used computational methods namely; Gauss-Seidel, Conjugate Gradient, and Successive Over-Relaxation (SOR) for solving nonsymmetric linear equations. The main goal is to assess the effectiveness, efficiency and convergence rates of these methods when applied to nonsymmetric linear systems, which frequently occurs in scientific and engineering problems. The Gauss-Seidel method, known for its iterative simplicity and straightforward implementation, is compared with the Conjugate Gradient method, which is acclaimed for its robustness and efficiency in handling large and sparse systems. The SOR method, an optimized version of Gauss-Seidel, was also evaluated to determine its potentials for accelerating convergence. Through a series of numerical experiments and performance benchmarks, the study reveals that the Conjugate Gradient method consistently outperforms the other two methods in terms of convergence, speed and computational efficiency, particularly for large-scale nonsymmetric systems. The Gauss-Seidel and SOR methods, while showing competitive performance for smaller or less complex systems, do not match the efficiency of the Conjugate Gradient method in more demanding scenarios. Based on the results, the Conjugate Gradient method is recommended as the preferred choice for solving large nonsymmetric linear systems due to its superior performance.
Conjugate Gradient, Nonsymmetric linear systems, Successive Over-Relaxation, Gauss-Seidel, Computation
ATANGANA – BALEANU FRACTIONAL MODELLING OF OLDROYD–B FLUID FLOW AND HEAT TRANSFER IN A CAPILLARY TUBE
In this work, the fluid flow and heat performance of Oldroyd-B fluids, through a capillary tube, were analyzed by means of a fractional model based on the Atangana-Baleanu time-fractional derivative. The fluid motion is generated by an arbitrary pressure gradient of a continuous function of the time. Analytical solutions for the velocity and temperature fields were obtained using the Laplace transform and the finite Hankel transform. In order to obtain the physical behavior regarding the velocity and temperature at the variation of the fractional parameters, material time, pulsation frequency effect and Prandtl number we carried out numerical calculations using MathCAD software and results were graphically presented. Numerical results obtained illustrated distinct behaviors of fractional order solutions when compared with classical model solutions. The fluid velocity and heat transfer performance in capillary tube can be controlled by regulating the fractional derivative parameter, relaxation, retardation time and Prandtl number which are very important in capillary devices. This fact can be an important in Biochip technology, thus making it possible to use this analysis technique extremely effective to control bioliquid samples of nanovolumes in capillary fluidic devices used for biological analysis and medical diagnosis
REAL-TIME IDENTIFICATION OF MAIZE PLANT AND WEEDS USING MACHINE LEARNING MODEL IMPLEMENTED VIA YOLO v5
Agriculture is as old as the existence of humanity. Early humans engaged in fruit gathering and hunting for food. Agriculture has improved over the years and the need for effective agricultural practices has become a growing concern for farmers. Maize is a staple food in many countries and serves as a primary source of carbohydrates. It is versatile and used for human consumption, animal feed, and industrial applications. Weeds are one of the major obstacles faced in crop production. Weeds compete with plants for nutrients, space and sunlight, affecting the quality of crop yield. This paper aims to use machine learning to train a model to identify weeds and maize plants on the farmland. This research focuses on implementing a real-time detection system using the YOLOv5 (You Only Look Once version 5) deep learning model. The Machine learning model was developed using a training set of about 3000 images of maize plants obtained from the farmland. The obtained data were annotated via makesense.ai and the labelled dataset was divided into training and testing sets. An overall accuracy of over 90 per cent was achieved with the implemented model and a mAP value of 0.95, demonstrating the efficacy of our approach for identifying and differentiating a maize plant from the weeds.
PHENOTYPIC DETECTION OF PLASMID FROM CIPROFLOXACIN RESISTANT SALMONELLA TYPHI ISOLATED FROM STOOL OF NSUK STUDENTS
Salmonella typhi (S. typhi) is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Studies on phenotypic detection of plasmid from ciprofloxacin resistant S. typhi isolated from stool of new students Nasarawa State University, Keffi, was carried out. A total of 180 stool samples were collected from the new students. 30 stool samples were collected from each of the six respective Faculties. 29(16.1%) Salmonella isolates were recovered and identified by standard Microbiological methods. 21(72.4%) of the isolates were Salmonella typhi and 8(27.6%) were Salmonella enteritidis. The prevalence of Salmonella typhi isolation with respect to Faculties was highest in the Faculties of Art (ART) and Law (LAW) with 6(28.6%) isolates each. On the basis of gender, 15 samples each were collected from both male and female students respectively and the highest prevalence of isolation was 4(8.0%) amongst males in the Faculty of LAW and females in the Faculty of ART, while the least prevalence of isolation was zero (0) amongst males in the Faculty of NAT. On the bases of age, the prevalence of isolation was highest amongst the age group 21-30, 19(10.5%), while age group 51-60 showed zero (0) prevalence of isolation. Antimicrobial Susceptibility was carried out using CLSI method; and 21(72.4%) Salmonella typhi isolates were susceptible to Ciprofloxacin, while 8(27.6%) were resistant and the antimicrobial resistance phenotypic pattern of the isolates was also determined. The ciprofloxacin resistance isolates were subjected to “Curing Method” to determine if the resistance was plasmid-mediated or not.
EFFICACY OF SHRIMP SHELL SYNTHESIZED CHITOSAN AGAINSTPOST-HARVEST SPOILAGE FUNGI OF Sesamum indicum
Contamination of Agricultural commodities by moulds poses significant challenges due to conducive climatic conditions. Mycotoxins produced by moulds like Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Fusarium present health risks and economic losses. Traditional control measures such as the use of fungicides have drawbacks, necessitating the exploration of eco-friendly alternatives. One such alternatives is the use of Chitosan, a biopolymer derived from chitin found in crustacean exoskeletons. This study evaluated the efficacy of chitosan synthesized from shrimp shells in inhibiting the growth of Aspergillus niger, a common food borne mould of oil seeds such as Sesame. Synthesized Chitosan was characterized using FTIR spectroscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy, and the degree of deacetylation was determined. FTIR analysis showed characteristic absorption peaks ranging from 3911.77 cm-1 to 794.70 cm-1, with higher wave numbers corresponding to stretching vibrations of the C-H, O-H, and N-H bonds functional groups. UV-visible spectroscopy displayed an absorbance peak at 232 nm with an absorbance value of 2.15. The degree of deacetylation of synthesized chitosan was determined to be 98.99%. In vitro experiments showed a concentration-dependent inhibition of A. niger growth by shrimp shell synthesized chitosan. The highest level of inhibition was seen at day 3 with 0.75mg/ml (50%) and 1.0mg/ml (52.1%), meaning the higher the concentration of shrimp shell synthesized chitosan the higher the inhibition. Results suggest chitosan as a potential anti-fungal agent for food preservation and agricultural protection against mould contamination and mitigate post harvest losses and ensure food safety.
CHARACTERISTIC DISTRIBUTION AND SOURCE APPORTIONMENT OF SOME HEAVY METALS ON STREET DUST OF IKORODU AREA OF LAGOS STATE, SOUTHWESTERN, NIGERIA.
This research reports the characteristic distribution and source apportionment of some heavy metals in dust of Ikorodu area of Lagos State. The dust samples were collected randomly four times a month at ten different locations in Ikorodu area. Dust samples were obtained by sweeping surface dust into plastic waste packer using plastic brush and transferred into pre-labeled polythene bags. The samples were filtered through 75 μm stainless steel sieve, weighed, digested with appropriate amount of HNO3 and H2O for 2 h. The concentrations of heavy metals were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Results showed that the percentage contribution of each heavy metal at Ikorodu area were: Zn 79.4, Pb 14.8, Cu 0.9, Ni 4.9 and Cd 0.01. The most abundant heavy metal was Zn 2869.70 mg/kg while the least was Cd 0.69 mg/kg. The most polluted site was Residential Area 1 (993.674 mg/kg) while the least polluted was Industrial Area 3 (81.397 mg/kg). The major roads (38.1%) had the highest concentration of heavy metal pollution while the agricultural area (5.7%) had the least pollution. The sequence and distribution follow the pattern: Zn > Pb > Ni > Cu > Cd. The Principal Component Analysis PCA showed that the major sources of heavy metals in Ikorodu dust are anthropogenic. Pearson correlation analysis also showed that there was strong positive correlation (0.887) between the heavy metals. The concentrations of Heavy metals Zn, Pb, Ni, Cu exceeded the recommended limits of the Federal Ministry of Environment (FME), European communities (EC) and United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) permissible levels for dust suggesting that the study area is polluted
COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND SURVIVAL RATE OF Oreochromis niloticus FRY REARED IN DIFFERENT COLOURS OF CULTURE MEDIUM (PLASTIC BOWLS)
This study was performed to compare the growth and survival rate of Oreochromis niloticus fry in different colours of plastic bowl (50 liters) for 10 weeks. Fry of O. niloticus (mean weight 0.08 g and body length of 0.53 cm) were stocked at 20 fish per bowl (white, red, black, green and blue bowls) in triplicates. They were fed with 45% Crude Protein Coppen feed at 5% body weight. Feeding was done twice daily, between 8 to 9 am and 4 to 5 pm. At harvest, the growth was significantly highest in black bowl but lowest survival of 52.7% (p<0.05). White bowl shows the highest survival rate of 91.3% but the fish camouflaged to the colour of the bowl (albino). Green bowl showed the best condition factor with survival rate of 89.40%. There was significant difference (p<0.05) in mean weight gain (8.62, 8.06, 8.45, 9.37 and 8.44) in white, red, green, black and blue bowls, respectively. The study concluded that the use of plastic bowl in culturing of fry is promising and economical, thereby reducing the cost of pond and tank construction.
Tilapia, Color, Growth performance, Plastic bowl
PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS INFECTION AMONG HIV PATIENTS INBENUE SOUTH SENATORIAL DISTRICT, NIGERIA
Hepatitis B infection seriously threatens global public health, especially in developing nations. Despite several efforts on ascertaining the true prevalence of HBV, it tenaciously varies across different locations and subpopulations, particularly among those at risk of infection such as the HIV-infected population. This study aimed at determining the sero-prevalence of HIV-HBV co-infection in Benue South Senatorial District, Nigeria. This crosssectional study was conducted in four anti-retroviral therapy (ART) specialized clinics between May 1, and September 2023 using pretested questionnaires, after obtained ethical approval and informed consent.Blood samples of participants were screened using HBsAg testing kitsand the results were interpreted according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The screening for HIV-HBV co-infection showed a sero-prevalence of 25/457 (5.47%). The distribution based on clinic location was 12(48%) GH Otukpo, 8(32%) GH Oju, 2(8%) GH Ugbokpo and 3(12%) SMH Okpoga. The distribution also revealed that most cases were in the age group 40-49 and the female gender.The prevalence showed that only 3/25 (12.0%) reported a history of sexually transmitted diseases other than HIV while 2/25 (8.0%) had a history of multiple sex partners. Most co-infected cases 23/25(92.0%) had no history of same-sex relationships and 23/25(92.0%) had recent history of unprotected sex. In Nigeria, hepatitis B infection remains a significant public health problem. Notable preventive strategies include abstinence from sex, avoidance of multiple sex partners, strict adherence to safe sex, and avoiding contact with infected body fluids. Other strategies such as averting mother-to-infant hepatitis B transmission, scale-up of screening programs and extensive vaccination programs are eminently recommended in the course of HBV control.
Uniqueness and Convergence of Solution of Multi-Term Fractional Order Fredholm Integro-Differential Equation
This paper focuses on multi-term fractional order Fredholm integro-differential equation which was transformed to integral equation by using Riemann-Liouville fractional integral. The uniqueness of solution of the multi-term fractional order Fredholm integro-differential equation was proved using Banach contraction principle alongside the convergence of solution of the multi-term fractional order Fredholm integro-differential equation, where Cauchy convergence creteria was used. Examples were given to prove the solvability of the multi-term fractional order Fredholm integro-differential equation.
Cytological Studies of Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum L.) Cultivars grown in Lafia, Nasarawa State-Nigeria
Abstract The study was carried out to investigate the cytological relatedness of five different tomato cultivars. Ten (10) seeds from each tomato lines were grown at room temperature in Petri dishes. The germinated Root tips were collected and treated using 0.04 8-hydroxyl quinolone for 2 h. Then, the root tips were fixed using 3:1 (v/v) ratio of alcohol: glacial acetic acid for 24 h. The root tips were hydrolyzed in 1.0 N HCl for 20 min at room temperature. These root tips were placed on slides, stained using 2% aceto-orcein stain and then mounted on Olympus CX40 microscope at X100mg. Photomicrographs were taken. Karyotype analyses were carried out using Karyotype software, and the ideograms were drawn. Different karyotype parameters were measured and mentioned. The result revealed that the chromosomes number of all the genotypes were the same (2n=24) except for cirea with 2n=26 number of chromosomes. The highest total form index (TF %), symmetric index (Syi) and the lowest karyotype asymmetric index (ASK), Mona f1 is the most symmetric while boomerang f1 is the most asymmetric. Further studies can be carryout on cirea cultivar to ascertain the variability caused of 2n = 26. It’s also recommended that hybridization should be carryout between cirea cultivar and other cultivars having 2n =24 for future genetic improvement.
Cultivars, Cytological, Grown, Studies, Tomato
PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND HEAVY METAL CONTENT ASSESSMENT OF WATER QUALITY IN KEANA AND NASARAWA–EGGON LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS, NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA
This study conducted a thorough evaluation of the physicochemical parameters of various drinking water sources in Keana and Nasarawa Eggon, Nasarawa State. The assessment involved the use of standard methods to analyze the water samples. Additionally, the heavy metal contents were determined using the atomic absorption spectrophotometric method. The findings revealed that the pH levels ranged from 7.36 to 8.16 in Keana (KN) and 5.70 to 5.80 in Nasarawa Eggon (NE), with mean pH values of 7.74 and 5.74, respectively. The conductivity varied from 3.94 to 4.56 µS/cm in KN and 510 to 1760 µS/cm in NE. Alkalinity content ranged from 4.06 to 4.52 mgL-1 in KN and 45 to 50 mgL-1 in NE. Nitrate, acidity, chloride, phosphate, TDS, DO, and BOD levels were also assessed. The metal concentrations included Pb, Mn, Cr, Zn, Fe and Cu, and were within permissible limits, except for Pb and Ni, which exceeded WHO specifications. This study provides crucial insights into the water quality of these regions, essential for ensuring the safety of water for human consumption and other activities.
USE OF CATHODE RAY TUBE (CRT) COMPOSITE WASTE GLASS FOR NUCLEAR SHIELD TILES
This research is aimed at producing radiation shield tiles from cathode ray tube waste glass, borosilicate waste glass and soda lime silicate waste glass. The waste glasses were sourced for and crushed to powder. The powder was sieved through a 0.25 mm sieved with mesh number 60 and analysed using XRF spectrometer to ascertain their chemical constituents. Twenty-one samples were generated using a 21-point triaxial blend of the three waste glasses. The various samples were poured into moulds, fired in an electric furnace at 1000oC and soaked for an hour. Radiation shielding test using a radioactive source (cobalt 60) was carried out. The radiation shielding tests shows that sample 1 which comprises of 100% CRT had the highest radiation shielding ability with 0.178 cm-1 linear attenuation coefficient and sample 21 which is made up of 100% soda lime silicate glass had the least radiation shielding ability with 0.109 cm-1 linear attenuation coefficient.According to the 49th NCRP report, conventional tiles HVL for 60-Co gamma is 6.2 cm; whereas HVL for the RST in this work ranges between 3.8-6.3 cm which shows that the RST is within the range of offering a good radiation protection. The results obtained in this study showed that the radiation shielding tiles developed can be used as wall tiles in nuclear power facilities and medical X-ray systems.