bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Numerical classification and digital mapping of coastal plain sands of Southeastern Nigeria
Authors: Obi J.C. , Udoh I.B. , Adefila F.R. , Brownson U.E. 
Published: June 2020

The study classified the coastal plain sands of south-eastern Nigeria at the series level and modeled the classification using digital terrain attributes. The study utilized 72 secondary and 12 primary profile pits data generated from 24 and 4 locations (at 3 per location) for classification/modelling and validation respectively. The three profile pits per location represents the three topographic positions of upper, middle and lower slopes. Digital elevation model was also utilized for the generation of terrain attributes. Soil morphological characteristics were coded for suitability in statistical analysis. Hierarchical clustering was utilized in the grouping of the soil into 17 homogeneous groups referred to as soil series. Regression kriging was used to model the predicted soil series within the area covered by coastal plain sands in Akwa Ibom State. The variables that could be used in the modelling of the different classified soil series include Sand Content, aspect, flow accumulation, compound topographic index (CTI), elevation, hill shade, slope, curvature, flow direction, stream power index (SPI), profile curvature, tangential curvature (R2 = 0.21).Out of the 17 soil series classified, 14 was successfully mapped using digital technique. It was observed that 66.7% of the classified soil series were accurately predicted using digital mapping technique. The classifications carried out numerically made use of morphological discrete variables whereas digital used empirically determined continuous variables which could be more accurate. Therefore it could be inferred that the digitally produced soil classification is more accurate and 14 soil series could be identified and mapped in the study area.
Key words: pedogenesis, digital soil mapping, soil series, hierarchical clusters, regression kriging
Adaptive strategies to deforestation among Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPS) collectors across gender line in Oluwa Forest Reserve Area of Ondo State, Nigeria
Authors: Aluko O.J. , Adejumo A.A. , Bobadoye A.O. 
Published: June 2020

Forest and the goods and services they provide are essential for human livelihood and wellbeing. An assessment on the likely impact of deforestation on NTFPs along gender line is therefore imperative for effective adaptations for NTFPs collectors. The study examined the adaptive strategies to deforestation stress employed among NTFPs collectors across gender line in Oluwa Forest Reserve area of Ondo State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was used to select respondents for the study. Data were collected with the aid of well-structured interview schedule on 181 NTFPs collectors (94 males and 87 females) and analysed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. The data targeted socio-economic characteristics, level of availability of (NTFPs) in the mist of deforestation currently and 30 years ago as well as adaptive strategiesemployed by the respondents in the study area. Findings revealed that average age of male and female respondents were 48 and 43 years, respectively. Bitter Kola, Kola Nut, Mango and Walnut were NTFPs available in abundant 30 years ago. In recent years, the study discovered that only Mango and Walnut were available in excess despite persistent deforestation in the study area. Deforestation impacted more on female collectors compared to their men counterpart. The finding also shows that female collectors employed more of domesticated NTFPs and indigenous protection methods as adaptive strategies against deforestation. The study recommended training on scientific domesticated system of planting (NTFPs) for both male and female NTFPs collectors as well as community policing to cope against deforestation in the study area.
Key words: adaptive strategies, deforestation, non-timber forest products (NTFPs), gender
Continuing Professional Development Assessment of Healthcare Professionals in Public Secondary Hospitals in Lagos State, Nigeria
Authors: Nwogbe Olayemi A. , Haliso Yacob 
Published: June 2020

This study investigates the engagement of healthcare professionals in continuing professional development in public secondary hospitals in Lagos State, Nigeria. A survey research design and a multistage sampling technique were adopted for the study. The sample consisted of 356 healthcare professionals (112 physicians, 32 pharmacists and 212 nurses). The data were collected using a self-developed structured questionnaire. The questions were built based on the literature review with modified questions adapted from widely used the questionnaires on hospital survey on patient safety, ambulatory and community pharmacy, nursing safety practices and CPD professional and skill competency and World Health Organization Regional Guidelines for Continuing Medical Education. Healthcare professionals in adult general outpatient departments were only included in the study. Findings revealed that physicians engagement in informal CPD (conferences, seminars, in-service training) is (M = 3.09), and formal CPD (conduct of research, publications or peer journal review) (M = 2.11). Pharmacists engagement in informal CPD is (M = 3.10) and formal CPD (M =1.89), Nurses’ engagement in informal CPD is (M =2.30) and CPD (M = 1.78). These evidence indicates that the respondents tend to lean more on less time-demanding and work-based capacity building approach, than they engaged mostly in informal CPD activities than they engaged in a methodical educational and professional advanced method of capacity building. The study recommends improved Government funding for training, policy improvement on organizational support and working conditions for study leave opportunities, and aligning the metrics of evaluating and scoring CPD engagement with the need assessment gaps in healthcare system in renewing practicing license of healthcare professionals.
Keywords: Capacity building, Healthcare professionals Public healthcare service, Health workers training
Knowledge Management Strategies and Profitability of Selected Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria
Authors: Opeke Rosaline O. , Adelowo Oluremi Titilope 
Published: June 2020

This study examines the knowledge management strategies on profitability of selected deposit money banks in Nigeria. The study employed the survey research design. The population was 2,405 management staff of the selected deposit money banks in Nigeria. The sample size of 481 was determined using Krejcie and Morgan table. Multi-stage sampling was used to select the respondents. A validated questionnaire was used for data collection. The result revealed that knowledge management strategies had significant influence on the profitability (Adj.R2 = 0.520, F(2, 429) = 234.452, p < 0.05) in the selected deposit money banks in Nigeria. The study concludes that knowledge management strategies contributed to profitability of deposit money banks in Nigeria. The study recommends that person-to-person transfer of knowledge should be improved on. Finally, the Central Bank of Nigeria should formulate a policy to establish knowledge management in the deposit money banks.
Keywords: Deposit money banks, Profitability, Knowledge management strategies, Knowledge management
Factors influencing adoption of sustainable soil and water conservation practices among smallholder farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria
Authors: Iyilade Abigail Oluwatunmise , Alalade Oluwasegun Ayodeji , Longe Morenike Peju , Alokan Agnes Olubunmi , Akinola-soji Blessing 
Published: June 2020

The study examined the factors influencing the adoption of soil and water conservation practices (SWCPs) among smallholder farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 210 farmers. Farmers were surveyed for their adoption of eleven (11) SWCPs, and risk factors and costs of production. Poisson regression model was employed to estimate soil and water conservation practices adoption. Sex, access to credit, land acquisition, technical support, ownership of livestock, distance to input/market, marital status and formal trainings had a significant relationship with the number of soil and water conservation practices adopted by smallholder farmers (P ≤0.01). Some personal and demographic factors, institutional factors, as well as socio-economic factors have a significant relationship with soils and water conservation practices adopted by farmers. Agricultural policies should be geared towards helping smallholder farmers have access to extension service for frequent dissemination of agricultural technology as this will increase the rate of adoption of soil and water conservation practices.
Keywords: Adoption, Soil and water conservation techniques; smallholder farmers, Kwara State
Effects of small scale irrigation on women farmers’ well-being status in Sikasso region of Mali
Authors: Tijani Sarafat A. , Kone Daouda M. 
Published: June 2020

This study examined effects of small scale irrigation on women farmers’ wellbeing status in Sikasso Region of Mali. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 160 respondents(user and non-users) while data were collected using interview schedules and analysed using percentages, mean, standard deviation and t-test. Major constraints facing users are crop damage ( x̄ =2.68), unavailability of input ( x̄ =2.41) and inadequate credit facility ( x̄ =2.15). Sixty percent, 98.8%, 85.0%, 85.0% of users have higher level of material, economic, mental and social well-being, respectively compared to 25%, 0.0%, 68.8% and 35.0% of non-users with similar status. The overall wellbeing of 73.8% of users were better-off compared to 11.3% of non-users. A significant difference (t= 11.110) existed in the wellbeing status of users and non-users. Utilisation of small-scale irrigation systems had positive effects on the mental, social, economic and material wellbeing of the users. There is need to extend small scale irrigation to non-users.
Keywords: Well-being, Small scale irrigation, farm size, non-users of irrigation, Mali
Determination of the pasting properties of horse-eye bean flour <I>(Mucuna sloanei)</I> varieties relevant to its processing
Authors: Ide P.E. , Oluka S.I. , Eze P.C. 
Published: June 2020

Horse-Eye Bean seeds are edible rich source of several essential nutrients which can be processed into flour for several purposes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pasting properties of flour processed from species of Horse-Eye Bean seed using Rapid Visco-analytical machine. The results obtained showed that peak viscosity, trough viscosity, breakdown viscosity, final viscosity, setback viscosity were 294.84 RVU, 219.50RVU, 75.34 RVU, 838.96 RVU, and 619.46 RVU for the Big-Sized sample flour and 271.30 RVU, 207.92 RVU,67.37 RVU, 723.46 RVU, and 576.83 RVU for the Small-Sized sample flour respectively. It showed that Horse-Eye Bean flours can be used to improve food quality and their suitability for various foodformulations. Hence they can find useful application for making of pastries like cakes and other snacks.
Keywords: Horse-Eye Bean flour, Pasting properties, Rapi Visco Analyzer, viscosity.
Agricultural Development Programme's (ADP's) effectiveness in the use of mass media for agricultural information dissemination to farmers in Imo State, Nigeria
Authors: Akwiwu Uzoamaka N. , Patrick Ruby E. 
Published: June 2020

This study sought to assess ADP’s effective use of mass media in agricultural information dissemination to farmers in Imo state, Nigeria. A total of 120 farmers were selected through multi-stage sampling technique. Interview schedule was used to elicit information on farmers’ accessibility of agricultural information through mass media, perceived level of use of mass media in receiving agricultural information among farmers and to determine the perceived effectiveness of ADP’s use of mass media in agricultural information dissemination. Data collected were analyzed using frequency distribution, percentages, mean, and PPMC to test the hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. The result shows that the majority (88.3%) of the respondents accessed agricultural information through radio. Perceived level of use of mass media in receiving agricultural information (58.3%) was low. Use of mass media in agricultural information dissemination by ADP (59.2%) was ineffective. There was significant relationshipbetween the perceived level of use of mass media in receiving agricultural information (r=0.64) and the perceived effectiveness of ADP’s use of mass media in agricultural information dissemination. The use of mass media in agricultural information dissemination in Imo State by ADP was ineffective. This work recommends that ADP in Imo State establish their own indigenous mass media tools to ensure its effective use by extension agents and control of content for agricultural information dissemination.
Keywords: ADP, Agricultural information dissemination, Mass media
Soil-to-maize Transfer Factor of Natural Radionuclides in a Tropical Ecosystem of Nigeria
Authors: Adesiji N.E. , Ademola J.A. 
Published: June 2020

Soil-to-plant transfer factor (TF) is a parameter utilized in predicting the accumulation of radionuclides in the plant system. Virgin soil from an uncultivated area and tailings from an abandoned tin mining site were used to formulate three soil groups. Group A (virgin soil only), group B (tailings only) and group C (equal mixture by mass of the virgin soil and tailings). Pot experiments were performed using the soil groups to determine the transfer factors of 40K, 238U and 232Th in maize (Zea mays L.) plants for the tropical ecosystem of Nigeria. The activity concentrations of 40K, 238U and 232Th in the soil groups and the maize plant compartments (seed, stem, leaf and root) were determined using NaI(Tl) gamma-detector. The geometric mean (GM) of the TF values for 40K, 238U and 232Th respectively ranged from 0.02 to 0.27, below detectable limit (BDL) to 0.008 and 0.01 to 0.09 in the in the seeds; 0.04 to 1.74, BDL to BDL and 0.01 to 0.29 in the stems; 0.03 to 0.93, BDL to 0.33 and 0.02 to 0.08 in the leaves and 0.03 to 1.29, 0.05 to 0.38 and 0.08 to 0.41 in the roots.. Potassium-40 had the highest TF values and exhibited the plant accumulation strategy for all the plant compartments. The stem samples had the highest TF for 40K and BDL values for 238U for all the soil groups. Significance differences were observed only in the accumulation of 40K and 232Th across the soil group.
Keywords: Radioactivity, potassium, mining, Gamma-ray detectors, calibration
Development and Performance Evaluation of Solar Photovoltaic Module’s Surface-to-Rear Temperature Controlled Valve for Cooling Application
Authors: Mawoli M. , Yayha H.N. , Danshehu B.G. , Muhammad M.L. , Bature A.S. 
Published: June 2020

This study investigated the effectiveness of the developed solar photovoltaic (PV) module's surface-to-rear temperature-controlled solenoid valves for PV module cooling application. The cooling fluid is regulated by energizing normally closed (NC) solenoid valve with control parameters as modules rear and surface temperatures. ATmega32 microcontroller was utilized as central processing unit with two (2) LM35 as input sensors and solenoid valve as an output device. Each of 2-LM35 temperature sensors were dedicated to measure module's rear and surface temperatures respectively. The measured temperature values were coded as controlled parameters for regulating cooling fluid discharge by energizing a NC solenoid valve. The system was observed to discharge cooling fluid by energizing the solenoid valve under module's surface and rear temperature difference of less than or equal to 1.50C (Ts-Tr≤1.50C). The module's mean surface temperatures of 49.310C and 54.920C were recorded for temperature-controlled PV cooling applications and a standard solar photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) system. The maximum recorded surface temperatures for temperature-controlled PV cooling and a standard PV/T systems were 54.00C and 57.60C respectively. The mean absorber temperatures of 45.510C and 40.870C were respectively recorded for temperature-controlled PV cooling and standard PV/T. The maximum absorber temperature recorded for temperature-controlled PV cooling and standard PV/T were 48.300C and 41.630C respectively. The solar cells temperature is reduced by 5.38% through solenoid valve temperature controlled solar module cooling application.
Keywords: Temperature-controlled, ATmega32, solenoid valve, solar module, cooling application.
Neural Network Prediction of P-wave Log for Reservoir Characterization in the Niger Delta Basin
Authors: Ogbamikhumi A. , Salami S.A. , Uwadiae W.N. 
Published: June 2020

This study present a new technique that integrates several logs for P-wave prediction to minimize some errors and uncertainties associated with most estimation methods. The adopted method involves application of an artificial neural network technique that integrates density, resistivity and gamma ray logs for data training and the prediction of P-wave log. The results obtained gave correlation coefficient of 0.77, 0.24 and 0.42 between the acquired P-wave log and the acquired density, resistivity and gamma ray logs respectively, to demonstrate the relationship between P-wave log and the selected logs for the prediction process. The correlation coefficient of the estimated P-wave from Gardner and Faust methods with the acquired P-wave log are 0.64 and 0.59 respectively, while that of the neural network derived P-wave gave a better correlation coefficient of 0.81. Cross plot validation of P-wave derive Acoustic Impedance against density for both lithology and fluid discrimination revealed clusters for neural network derived P-wave parameter similar to the acquired P-wave derived parameters. Results of the presented neural network technique have been demonstrated to be more effective than results of the two conventional techniques.
Keywords: Sonic log, Gardner’s method, Faust method, Neural network, Cross plot.
Effects of Temperature and Steeping Time on the Proximate Compositions and Selected Physical Properties of Soybean Flour
Authors: Ikrang E.G. , Okoko J.U. , Akwa M.M. 
Published: June 2020

A study to investigate the effect of temperature (80, 85, 90, 95, and 100oC) and steeping time (12, 15, 18, 21, and 24 hours) on the proximate composition (ash, crude fibre, fat , protein, and carbohydrate) values (%) and physical properties (bulk density, packed density (g/ml), angle of repose (degrees), and particle size (μm)) on soybean flour was conducted. Response surface Methodology (RSM) was used for the work. Central Composite Design in Design Expert (version 6.0, 2002, Minneapolis, United States) computer software package was used to design the experiment. Analysis was also done and all results were presented with a three dimensional plot. The results showed that the moisture content of the soybeans flour ranged from 3.26 – 7.35, 3.40 – 4.50 for ash, 3.15 – 4.82 for crude fibre, 31.32 – 35.21 for protein, 19.37 – 22.65 for fat, and 29.66 – 35.19% for carbohydrate. Angle of repose for soybeans flour samples ranged from 33.15 – 38.16o, bulk density varied between 0.30-0.36, packed density varied between 0.52 – 0.57g/ml and particle size distribution varied between 0.44 – .98μm for the different samples. It was observed that longer steeping time and drying temperature resulted to an increase in the protein content and decrease in crude fibre content. Conversely shorter steeping time and lower drying temperature resulted in an increase in the fat content. A nine-point hedonic scale on sensory and acceptability tests showed that sample soaked for 24 hours and dried at 90oC was most preferred in taste and overall acceptability.
Keywords: Soybean flour; packed density; angle of repose; steeping time, temperature.
Computational Schemes in the Design of Novel Materials for Energy Savings
Authors: Aliyu Ohunene Hafsa 
Published: June 2020

The current demand for lightweight energy efficient materials in industries to help in addressing the current challenges faced in reducing green house gas emissions is one of the motivations behind innovative material design. This paper has tried to review in particular the importance of the hierarchical multiscale modelling strategy in the design of novel lightweight materials. It also highlights on one of the hierarchical multiscale modelling methodologies from ab-initio level to macro level in predicting macroscopic material behaviour and the impact this simulation strategy will have on the development of innovative materials. It highlights on the limitations of this modelling strategy such as: the unreasonable computational time associated with the relaxation of polymeric chains or entanglements as well as scale bridging approaches between low level and high level models which are areas of current research interest.
Keywords: Multiscale modelling, lightweight materials, energy-efficiency, scale bridging, length scale.
Sulfate attack and embedded steel corrosion resistances of volcanic-aggregate concrete with fly ash and silica fume
Authors: Gershome Abaho G. , Mutabaruka Jean de Dieu , Mbereyaho Leopold 
Published: June 2020

Construction materials are increasingly on high demand in the developing world. The construction industry has a challenge of discovering, new alternative construction materials to conventional materials which are locally available materials in environmentally friendly manner. The experimental tests are conducted on volcanic concrete system to analyze its properties especially corrosion resistance potential for its applicability in construction. The major aim is to investigate its suitability and corrosion resistance potential especially when used in construction of structures with embedded steel. The test results of the material show that volcanic concrete system with 30% fly ash and 10% silica fume cementing materials is an alternative green construction material. Permeability properties are reduced by 8% and 24% with 30% fly ash and 10% silica fume respectively. Tests also indicate that Compressive strength, Corrosion potential and polarization resistance in volcanic concrete system with supplementing cement materials has more potential to resist sulfate attack when compared with conventional volcanic concrete systems. The supplementary cementing materials (SCM) reduce the pore system and hence decrease the ingress of corrosive ions an water in concrete. Corrosive ions, moisture and air would initiate corrosion to the embedded steel in concrete leading to reduced service life such structures.
Key word: Supplementary Cementing Materials, Sulfate attack, volcanic concrete system, Granite powder, river sand, Corrosion of embedded steel