IDOSR JOURNAL OF APPLIED SCIENCES

Number 1(1), 2016

1-6
EFFECT OF PLASTIC ON THE PHYSICO-CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF SOME BOTTLED WATER SOLD IN OBA, IDEMILI SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, ANAMBRA STATE AND IT’S ENVIRONMENTS.

Authors: Udeozo, I. P, Ikezu, U.M. and Anachunam, A.E.

Abstract

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Number of views: 518

Water is essential to sustain life. Many potential hazardous situations can arise from consumption or use of contaminated water. Two different bottled water samples commonly sold in Oba and its environments were analyzed both as fresh and after three months storage at room temperature for each of the samples. Their physicochemical and trace heavy metal constituents were analyzed with a view of determining their portability and effects of plastics (container) after three months of storage. The results indicated that the four water samples were within the Nigerian Industrial Standard permissible range except free chloride for sample B after three months of storage which might be very dangerous to human health. Storing of water in a plastic container for three months and above affects the quality of water either in the increasing or decreasing order. This was depicted in values of the following parameters; conductivity, total alkalinity, total suspended solids, total solids, total dissolve solids, methyl alkalinity, calcium, phosphate, nitrate, zinc and free chloride. The variation of these parameters against recommended standard poses health implications which ranges from cancer, neuro-degenarative disorder, cyanosis, asphyxia, fluorosis, skeletal tissue, kidney, gastrointestinal and central nervous system disorder. Therefore, the storage of drinking water should be checked because it is as important as checking the portability of water.

7-23
Organophosphorous Pesticides Residue Contamination Levels of some Selected Vegetables Cultivated in Mubi-north and Mubi-south LGA of Adamawa state, Nigeria.

Authors: Bawa A*,Buba M., Abubakar I. and Bala S.

Abstract

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The objective of the study was to determine the contamination levels of some selected vegetables cultivated in Mubi-North and Mubi-South LGA of Adamawa state with hazardous organophosphorous pesticide residues using QuEChERS method of extraction and GC-MS analyzer. A total of 72 samples (12 of each of the selected vegetables) were analyzed for 9 organophosphorous pesticide compounds. The result obtained showed that organophosphorous pesticide residue levels on the majority of the vegetable samples analyzed were in compliance with the maximum residue limits (MRL) stipulated by the Codex Alimentarius Commission 2004. However, levels higher than the MRLs were also detected. Levels of Organophosphorous pesticide residues higher than the MRLs were recorded most in spinach 16.7% followed by lettuce 13.9% and then tomato 11.1% Despite the fact that majority of the vegetables showed pesticide residue levels below the detectable limits, detection of contamination levels higher than the MRls are strongly indicative of potential health risk to consumers. It is therefore recommended that public awareness programs on pesticide residue should be organized by the authorities in agricultural production communities to protect the consumer from indiscriminate exposure to pesticides. Keywords: Organophosphorous, contamination levels, Maximum Residue Limits, Vegetables

24-35
Optimization of Biogas Production from Cow and Goat Manure

Authors: *Wante H.P, Ngaram S.M, Bala G. A and Buba M

Abstract

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Number of views: 803

This study was carried out to optimize and determine the biogas yield from cow and goat dung. Biogas yield assessment was carried out at room temperatures (26.0- 30.0 °C) for a period of 20 days from a solid dung mixture of 1000 g in each sample (fermentation slurry) left to ferment over 35 days. The objectives were to determine cow and goat dung ratio that give optimal output and to model the relationship between cows: goat dung ratio and the output which can be used to predict gas yield at various ratios. Three samples composed of a ratio of cow to goat dung were prepared to make sample D1 (0:100), D2 (75:25) and D3 (25:75). Fermentation occurred in a water dispenser container of 20 litre capacity used as the improvised digester and the temperature of the digesting chamber noted over the fermentation period of 20 days. A constructed metallic prototype digester was used for the collection of biogas produced. Preliminary studies showed that biogas release started to decline at the tenth day of the fermentation period for almost all samples. Sample D2 (75 % by weight cow dung and 25 % by weight goat dung) showed the highest biogas production (361.00 ml) at the end of fermentation. A portion of sample D2 was transferred into the constructed prototype digester and the gas produced was collected into the gas cylinder for determination of volume collected. A mathematical model derived using regression analysis on MATLAB software indicates that biogas production can be predicted based on a dung concentrate.

36-53
Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Productivity vis-à-vis Economic Growth in Nigeria (2000-2015).

Authors: Chioma, Dorothy Oleka1, Chukwuani, Victoria Nnenna2 and Harbor Florence, Ifenyinwa3

Abstract

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Number of views: 544

The study empirically studied the effect of investment in Information Communication Technology (ICT) national productivity vis-à-vis economic growth in Nigeria. The study adopted the ex post facto design which is a design that relies essentially on secondary data. The ordinary least square technique was used for data estimation covering the study period between 2000 and 2015. The result of the study showed that investment in ICT has positive and significant effect on productivity, hence improved economic growth. In other words, the results revealed that public expenditures in ICT has a significant and positive impact on ICT output production in Nigeria, hence increased productivity for improved economic growth. In the same note, investment in ICT has significant and positive effect on foreign capital flows in Nigeria for greater productivity. But in the contrary, investment in ICT has no significant and positive effect on labour inputs as measures of national productivity in Nigeria. The implication is that foreign private capital flows boost public expenditure which makes capital available for investment in science and technology which will increase the ICT output and overall economic growth. The paper therefore suggests that if the government of Nigeria wants to enhance productivity needed for improved economic growth, there should be need for the government implementation of policies that facilitate and encourage ICT development.

54-67
DETERMINANTS OF CAPITAL STRUCTURE ON CORPORATE PERFORMANCE OF SELECTED CEMENT FIRMS IN NIGERIA.

Authors: Ubesie Madubuko C., Maduka Fineness I. and Udaya Lovely K.

Abstract

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Number of views: 632

The study evaluated the effect of capital structure on financial performance of quoted cement companies in Nigeria for the period 2006- 2015. The main objective of the study was to investigate the effect of financial leverage on corporate performance of some cement firms in Nigeria which were Dangote cement, Lafarge Cement, Ashaka cement and Cement Company of Nigeria. The methodology adopted was the fixed effect econometric panel regression model. Overall, the findings of the study showed that debt Ratio has no significant effect on return on asset of quoted cement companies in Nigeria. Debt equity Ratio has negative significant effect on return of assets of quoted cement companies in Nigeria. Interest coverage ratio has positive and significant effect on return on assets of quoted cement companies in Nigeria. The study therefore recommended that the regulators and operators of the market for corporate finance, like the CBN, SEC, and NSE should collaborate to develop the capital market in Nigeria to enable quoted companies in Nigeria access long term debt.

68-84
RESPONSIVENESS OF ECONOMIC GROWTH TO OIL REVENUE IN NIGERIA (1986-2014).

Authors: Chioma Dorothy Oleka1., Simon Peter Nwankwo2 and Mbaeke Obinna Benjamin3

Abstract

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Number of views: 571

This study assessed the effect of oil revenue on the economic growth of Nigeria using time series data from 1986 to 2014. The main focus is on the relationship between revenues from oil and the performance of the Nigerian economy. The study used secondary data sourced from the Central Bank of Nigeria, 2014 Statistical Bulletin. The main instrument of the data analyses is the OLS econometrics models. The Augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF) Unit Root Test was employed in data analysis to help in addressing the reliability of the model. The result revealed that the total oil revenue has no positive effect on the growth of Nigerian economy though it has a significant expected relationship with economic growth. This implies that oil revenue is not favorably contributing to the growth of the Nigerian economy as all the variables used to proxy economic growth exhibited negative but significant impact for the period under study. For example, the total revenue from oil has a negative but significant effect on exchange rate in Nigeria. This is an indicative that total oil revenue is not enough to influence the exchange rate of naira positively. Again, total oil revenue does not have a positive and significant effect on the reduction of unemployment rate in Nigeria. Unemployment rate in Nigeria is not reduced by the total revenue from oil in Nigeria, showing that enough is not collected from our oil industry as to use same to establish industries to create employment opportunities for the mass unemployed. Therefore, the paper suggested that the Nigerian government should endeavor to diversify our economy so that there would not be over reliance on the revenue from oil industry, as such little available revenue from oil is not enough to impact positively on the growth of the overall economy. Finally, something should be done to put our four refineries back to functional state, so that we would not be exporting and importing oil at the same time in this country.