BIMA JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (2536-6041)

Assessment of Heavy Metals from Soil and Plants of Maiganaga Mining Site Gombe, Nigeria

2025-05-21T00:37:24+00:00

Environmental contaminants such as heavy metals released by activities related to mining deserves attention. The purpose of this study was to assess the level of heavy metal concentration in soil and plants of Maiganga coal mining site Gombe, Nigeria. Six leaves samples of Trees (Mangifera indica, Azadirachta indica, Eucalyptus globulus, Anacardium occidentale, Cassia javanica and Jatropha curcas) were collected at the reclaimed site and twelve soil samples were collected at both Mining and the Reclaimed sites at three different spots and at two different depths (15 & 30cm). Each soil and plant samples were dried, crushed and then sieved. Using aqua regia (hydrochloric acid by nitric acid, in a 3:1 volume ratio). Chromium (Cr), Cadmium (Cd), Arsenic (As), Iron (Fe), and Lead (Pb) concentrations were measured from the samples using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. The results revealed that the concentrations of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Fe, As, and Pb) in the soil from mining and reclaimed site are generally low and thus found to be within the World Health Organization (WHO) standard. At both 15 and 30cm iron (Fe) indicates high concentration in mining site than the reclaimed site. M. indica, E. globulus, J. curcas indicate high concentration of cadmium (Cd) and is higher than the WHO standard. The value obtained for cadmium (Cd) in A. indica is within the WHO maximum permissible limit. A. occidentale and C. javanica indicate low concentration of the heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Fe, As, and Pb). Arsenic (As) is the lowest concentrated heavy metal in both plant and soil samples. The low levels of As obtained in this study could be attributed to the less release of the heavy metals from the mining activity.

Effect of Diospyrus mespiliformis Hochst (Ebenaceae) Stem Bark Extract on Some Biochemical and Hematological Parameters in CCl4 Induced Oxidative Stress in Albino Mice

2025-05-21T00:50:13+00:00

Diospyros mesopiliformis is a species of the family Ebenaceae. In Nigeria, the stem-bark mixture is utilized in ethno-medical practice to treat and manage a variety of illnesses. The objective of this work was to identify the bioactive compounds and assess the potential protective effectiveness of Diospyrus mespiliformis stem-bark extracts against CCl₄induced oxidative stress in albino mice. Fifty mice were split into five groups and given various treatments for 28 days. Olive oil and 1% tween 80 orally were administered intraperitoneally to the control group. After injecting CCl₄ into other four groups to cause oxidative stress, two of the groups were treated with Diospyrus mespiliformis stem-bark extract at 200 and 400 mg/kg bwt, one group received silymarin treatment at a dosage of 100 mg/kg bwt. and the last group was not given any treatment. Biochemical and hematological markers, such as urea, creatinine, cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, RBC, WBC, hemoglobin, PCV, and platelet levels, were assessed using blood samples. Using One-way ANOVA, the means of a these parameters were compared. Phytochemical screening led to the identification of alkaloid, flavonoid, saponins, steroids, tannins and cardiac glycosides. The findings of this investigation also indicate the administration of CCl₄ raises blood urea and creatinine levels. The administration of the extract, however, counteracts the effects of CCl₄ on creatinine and urea. Furthermore, the CCl₄ treatment resulted in a notable alteration in the levels of CHOL and HDL. When comparing the group treated with CCl₄ with the other treatment groups and the usual control, oral administration of Diospyros mespiliformis stem bark extract as well as revealed a significant difference in CHOL and HDL levels. Red blood cells (RBC), packed cell volume (PCV), white blood cells (WBC), and platelet counts (PLT) were found to be unchanged in response to CCl₄ administration, however, hemoglobin levels were significantly reduced. The levels of Red blood cell, white blood cell, packed cell volume, and platelet count were not significantly affected following the oral administration of Diospyros mespiliformis stem bark extract but hemoglobin levels were significantly raised in response to the extract and silymarin treatments. As evidenced by the reversal of CCl₄ impact on hemoglobin and renal parameters, the study showed that the plant extract had potential ameliorative efficacy.

ASSESSEMENT OF THE Preservative Effect of Zingiber Officinale and Syzygium aromaticum on the shelf life of Kunun aya

2025-05-21T01:03:44+00:00

Spices and herbs have been reported to be potent source of natural antioxidants. Spices are known to impact flavor and improve overall organoleptic quality of foods. The use of naturally occurring materials like spices as preservatives has been proved to be a promising alternative to the use of chemicals. The effect of ginger and clove extract on the storability of kunun aya were investigated in this study. Fresh ginger and clove were collected, identified, air dried and extracted using distilled water. Kunun aya was prepared in the laboratory with the addition of the spices extracts at different concentrations. The samples were stored at room temperature and the effects of spices extracts on their proximate, physiochemical parameters, microbial and sensory properties were evaluated. The result of proximate analyses revealed the moisture content of the kununaya to be between 83.98-80.54 in ginger spiced kunun aya and 81.67 to 78.15 in clove spiced kunun aya, the crude protein ranges from 3.96 to 4.52 in ginger spiced kunun aya and 3.07-3.93 in clove spiced kunun aya. The ash content ranges from 0.28-0.23 and 0.25to 0.23 in both the ginger and clove respectively. The fat content ranges from 3.78-2.44 in clove and 3.54-2.31 in ginger spiced kunun aya and finally the carbohydrate content ranges from8.24-12.35 in ginger and 11.24-14.87 in clove spiced kunun aya. Slight increase in temperature was recorded in all the samples but there was a marginal decrease in pH as storage time increases. The bacterial count of kunun aya treated with ginger extract ranged from 1.4 x 10⁵_ 3.1 x 10⁶CFU/ml, the total fungal count ranged from 1.0 x 10⁵ - 9.7 x10⁵CFU/ml. bacterial count of kunun aya treated with clove extract ranged from 1.8 x 10⁵_3.5 x 10⁶CFU/ml while the total fungal count ranged from 8.0 x 10⁴_8.6 x 10⁵CFU/ml. There was a significant difference between the sensory attributes of the treated kunun aya and the control samples with the control sample having the highest score rating.

Architecture and Visual Privacy in Islam: Comparative Analysis of Hausa and Malay Traditional Houses

2025-05-21T00:30:51+00:00

Housing is a multi-faceted issue and fundamental to the well-being, survival, and health of human beings, transcending their mere physicality as shelters to assume a profound role in safeguarding the privacy of their inhabitants. This research endeavour seeks to conduct a comparative analysis and exploration of the mechanisms governing visual privacy within two distinct cultural contexts: the traditional Hausa housing of Nigeria and the traditional Malay housing of Malaysia. To provide privacy, visual components of the idea of "seeing but not being seen" are essential. Using a research approach based on in-depth case studies that include careful observations, this investigation reveals a common feature that exists in both cultural situations. Irrespective of variations in dwelling size, these traditional houses emerge as adept providers of visual privacy. Notably, this is achieved without compromising the ethos of community intimacy, social interactions, and the intrinsic warmth of hospitality. It is envisaged that this research will serve as an enlightening exploration into the intricate paradigms of visual privacy, shedding light on the nuances of regulation within the traditional housing of both the Hausa and Malay communities.

Fire Safety Design of a Five Storey Office Building: Fire Design and Smoke Control

2025-05-21T00:43:07+00:00

Over 75 % of fatalities recorded from fire incidents are attributed to the effects of smoke rather than the direct burning from the fire. A fire safety design and smoke control were conducted in Asha Office Building. A restaurant is considered to be the worst-case scenario. Hence, appropriate fire protection measures such as smoke detectors, heat detectors and sprinklers are to be installed. Using a fire load density of 570 MJ/m² for an office building, an ignition will take place at 388 seconds. The heat release required at the growth stage of the fire is 1,460 kW and the time required for the smoke detector to respond is 353 seconds. A heat release rate of 10.7 MW at a temperature of 596^oC at 956 seconds would be reached before a flashover occurs. At a fully developed fire stage, the heat release rate is almost twice (20 MW) that of flashover stage which is 10.7 MW. The type of smoke control system to be adopted in Asha office building is smoke and heat exhaust ventilation system (SHEVS). For an effective operation of SHEVS at any time, both natural and mechanical ventilators should be installed but not to operate simultaneously in the same smoke reservoir. With a convective heat flux of 5,993 kW, the mass flow rate of smoke in the restaurant is 32 kg/s. A minimum number of three exhaust points will be required based on a volumetric flow rate of 43 m³/s.

Structural Implications of High-Resolution Aeromagnetic Surveys in the Riruwai Complex, North Central Nigeria

2025-05-21T00:59:00+00:00

Exploratory and mineral data collection is crucial for boosting investor confidence in the Nigerian mining sector and promoting the development of mineral resources in Nigeria. Geological structures play a vital role in mineral exploration, and high resolution aeromagnetic data analysis over the Riruwai Complex was utilized to identify these structures and their impact on mineralization. The enhancement techniques applied include Analytical Signal (AS) and Tilt Derivatives (TDR). The analytic signal of the reduced-to-the-equator anomaly highlighted the edges of highly altered rocks within the complex, corresponding to the biotite granite, Kaffo albite arfvedsonite granite, and Kaffo riebeckite porphyry-bearing granites. This was also accompanied by clusters of positive intensity values ranging from 0.68 to 1.39 nT/m, attributed to highly evolved, late-stage, low-density residual fluid-rich magmatic material, emplaced as granites in a separate magmatic phase following an initial eruption of less evolved volcanic material. Tilt Derivatives (TDR) accentuated the structural lineaments, which play a significant role in the enrichment of U, Th, Zr, Sn, Nb, and the exsolution of fluorine-bearing fluids during the late magmatic stage, concentrating in fissures and fractures. This study demonstrates that structural interpretation based on aeromagnetic data is an effective approach for mineral exploration.