Applied Research Journal

101-107

Authors: *Osita-Njoku, Agnes and Chikere, Princewill

This paper explores a very crucial aspect of Boko haram terrorism in Nigeria- the consequence of Boko Haram terrorism on women in Northern Nigeria. This paper goes to memory lane to trace the origin of the insurgency and also the causes of Boko Haram terrorism in Nigeria. Analysis and discussion of this paper predicated on secondary sources [mostly scholarly and empirical research findings] posits that Boko Haram terrorism has resulted in the abduction of women and girls, arbitrary arrest of women by government security agents, use of women as pawns by the terrorist group, infliction of collective terror on women, use of women as wartime labour force, demoralization of women education and livelihood crisis. For the policy recommendations, this paper recommends among other things that government should make education of youths a priority as this is one major tool to break the cycle of poverty in the region, government security agents should provide security in communities especially to vulnerable women and girls, the Nigeria government should collaborate with international communities especially with the Nigerian neighbours on a concerted fight against Boko Haram terrorism.

118-120

Authors: *Edem, I. Dennis, M.E.Nkereuwem and P.I. Udounang

Indiscriminate use of fertilizers has created a great menace because these products find their ways into the food chain therefore having direct implication on human health. The pollution of the lithosphere due to fertilizers is so widespread in rural areas that in an agricultural country like Nigeria, is almost impossible to control it. It has other ramification than other kinds of pollution. Therefore, attention needs to be paid considerable to mitigate this soil pollution, in the quest to increase the yield of crops and food production. Understanding the effect of modern agricultural technologies on the increase yield of crops and food production is important because it belies the primary justification of these technologies. Under natural conditions, low levels of nitrogen limit aquatic algae growth, especially in salty and blackish water, which inhibits N- fixation algae. Increase human input of nitrogen can remove this constraint. The resulting degradation of the aquatic ecosystem; particularly estuaries and coastal waters is undoubtedly the most widespread water quality problem induced by nitrogen pollution.

127-136

Authors: M. A. Rahman, M. M. Hossain, M. S. Islam, *M. A. R. Sarker

The oxides with spinel structure are interesting materials responsible for useful device applications due to their promising chemical and physical properties achievable in accommodation of foreign citations. Partial substitution of iron with transition metals like Zn, Zr, Cd in CoFe2O4 might change their structural, electronic, optical and thermal properties that influence various applications. The first principle ab initio study of on the doping effect of such transition metal elements in cobalt ferrite has been performed in this work. The bulk modulus and ductility of CoFe2O4 are 233 GPa and 0.21 where as that of CoFe1.8Cd0.2O4 are reported to be 251 GPa and 0.14 respectively. The Debye temperature of CoFe2O4 increase with pressure but that of CoFe1.8Zn0.2O4 is reported to be almost constant with pressure. The pressure dependence Cv and Cp of CoFe1.8Zn0.2O4 also shows anomalous behavior.

141-144

Authors: Harkanwal Singh

External male and female genitalia of Ctenoplusia fracta Walker have been studied in detail to update the diagnosis of this species. This species has been reported for the first time from North-east India.

153-159

Authors: *Okorafor, U. P, Obebe, O. O, Unigwe, C. R, Atoyebi, T. J and Ogunleye, O. K

This study investigated the prevalence of gut parasites of small ruminants in four farms (2 sheep farms; A and B and 2 goat farms; C and D) in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo state, Nigeria over a period of 4 months (March, 2014 - June, 2014). Faecal samples were obtained from 76 apparently healthy animals (33 sheep and 43 goats) using standard field and laboratory techniques. 64 animals representing a prevalence of 84.21% were infested with gut parasites. The prevalence rates according to the farms were 18.42%, 21.05%, 23.68% and 21.05% for farms A, B, C and D respectively. Five genera of gut parasites were encountered in the study area with Strongyle spp having the highest prevalence of 39.47%. Eimeria spp, Paramphistomum spp, Stongyloides spp and Trichuris spp had prevalence rates of 19.74%, 13.16%, 10.53% and 1.32% respectively. Sex prevalence in male and female sheep were 22.37% and 17.11% respectively, while in goats they were 25.0% and 19.74% for males and females respectively. These were statistically significant (P<0.05). Age prevalence was highest in sheep aged 2-3 years (23.68%) and least in sheep above 3 years old (2.63%). However, goats above 3 years had the highest prevalence (21.05%) while goats less than 2 years old had the least prevalence (3.95%). The breed prevalence of infestation in sheep showed 26.32%, 9.21% and 3.94% for OUDA, Yankasa and WAD respectively, while breed prevalence in goats showed 38.16%, 2.63% and 3.94% for Red Sokoto, WAD and OUDA respectively. There was no significant difference however (P>0.05) in age and breed prevalence of infestation in both sheep and goat in this study. Gut parasite infestations seem to be a problem in small ruminants since egg per gram (EPG) counts was found to range from 0 - 700. This study has shown that more and prompt attention is needed in the control of gut parasitic infestations in the study area. Small ruminant farmers are encouraged to control gut parasite infestations in their sheep and goats by anthelmintic treatment.

164-168

Authors: *Caleb Melenya, Mensah Bonsu, Vincent Logah, Charles Quansah, Thomas Adjei-Gyapong, I. Boateng Yeboah, Henry Oppong Tuffour and Awudu Abubakari

The study was carried out to assess soil organic carbon storage (SOC) under different land use systems within the same locality and interpret the results with reference to CO2 emissions and soil degradation processes. The soils were taken from a depth of 0-20 from a cocoa plantation (cocoa under deep litter, cocoa under shallow litter and cocoa under weed), oil palm plantation, uprooted oil palm plantation and an arable land under cultivation (cassava + plantain). The SOC stored (Mg ha-1) was determined by multiplying the fraction of the percent SOC (divided by hundred) to the bulk density and the volume of the soil. The CO2 equivalent was determined by multiplying SOC stored by a factor, 3.67 (Molar ratio of 44/12). The land use systems that sequestered more organic carbon and less CO2 emission was ranked as: uprooted oil palm plantation followed by maize> oil palm plantation> cocoa under deep litter> cocoa under shallow litter> arable land> cocoa under weed. The CO2 emission ranged between 17.4 to 65.9 % depending on the type of land use. The study showed that, the magnitude of carbon sequestration is more under oil palm plantation than cocoa plantation. The CO2 emission was significantly greater under cocoa plantation than oil palm plantation and even more where the cocoa plantation was not well managed (i.e. under shallow litter fall and weeds). It was observed that plantation agriculture increases the SOC storage than arable agriculture. The study indicated that, the conversion of land into different uses resulted in variable magnitudes of the carbon sequestered. Appropriate land management practices that reduce carbon emissions are therefore required to reduce global warming.

176-181

Authors: *A. Kaur Minakshi Vinod, S. Mishra, V. Pahal and D. Singh

Research and analysis of nanoparticles (NPs) synthesis with plant extracts and their biological activities has been expanded significantly in the recent years. Among the agents used for synthesis, silver (Ag) is the most preferred due to its reported use in medical field as best topical bactericides from ancient times. In the present study, crude bark extracts of Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. were used for nanoparticles synthesis and comparison of antimicrobial activity of crude extract with NPs and commercial antibiotics was also assessed against Bacillus subtilis (B1) and Escherchia coli (B2). Also the synthesized NPs and crude extracts were compared for their antioxidant potential.