Background: Tobacco smoking is one source of heavy metals exposure in the general population. Tobacco smoke has toxic, genotoxic, and carcinogenic properties and has been linked to fatal pregnancy outcomes. Aim: This research was carried out to investigate the concentration of Copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and Zinc (Zn) in different cigarette brands sold in Keffi main market of Nasarawa state and compare with recommended standard. Study Design: To determine the presence of heavy metals in different brands of cigarette sold in Keffi main Market, Nasarawa State, Nigeria and compare them with relevant authorities’ standard. Place and Duration: The study was carried out in the department of physics, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nasarawa State, Nigeria between March 2018 and November, 2018. Materials and Methods: Ten brands of cigarette were purchased from Keffi main central market using random sampling. The cigarettes were expose to sun light for 3 hours until they became dry. The filters and papers of the cigarettes were removed after drying and the tobacco content were pulverized using agate mortar and pestle. The processed samples were packaged in a well labelled polyethylene bag. A total of ten samples (one sample per brand) were analyzed using XRF spectrometry. Results: The range of Cu, Pd, and Zn concentration in ten brands of cigarette were (14.30 to 64.30 mg/kg), (5.43 to 10.55mg/kg), and (12.05 to 160.45 mg/kg) respectively. The brand with the highest concentration of Cu, Pb, and Zn are St. moriz (160.45 mg/kg), London (10.55 mg/kg) and Benson (64.30 mg/kg) respectively, while the lowest concentration found in Bohem (12.05 mg/kg), Excel (5.43 mg/kg), and Yes (14.30 mg/kg) respectively. Conclusion: The concentration of Cu, Pd, and Zn are high in most of the cigarette brands. Concentration of Pb are above the recommended limit reported in the United Kingdom (1.35mg/kg) and Korea (0.74 mg/kg). Concentration Cu and Zn are also high in the cigarette brands.

Aim: This study was undertaken to assess the heavy metals contamination level in rice grains (Oryza sativa) from Nasarawa West, Nigeria. Study Design: To estimate the contamination factor, degree of Contamination and Pollution load index of rice samples from Nasarawa west using the world health organization/food and agricultural organization acceptable limits of some toxic Heavy Metals in Food as reference heavy metals concentration. Place and Duration of Study: The research was carried out in the Department of physics, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, from September 2017 to April 2018. Methodology: Fifteen (15) samples each were taken from various locations from the rice fields in Keffi, Kokona, Karu, Nasarawa, and Toto respectively. Rice grain samples were dried in an open air at an ambient temperature to constant weight. Husks were removed. Then, the grain rice samples were pulverized and were passed through a 2.00 mm sieve and stored in closed polyethylene bags for irradiation using ECLIPSE Ш Energy Dispersive X – Ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) XR–100 CR spectrometer supplied by AMTEK INC. MA; USA. Results: The values of contamination factor of rice samples from the study area were in the order of Zn < Cu < Ni < Cr < Pb and are all less than 1, indicating a ‘low risk’ of contamination with the value of Cd >> 6 presenting a very high contamination risk of Cadmium. The Pollution Load Index value observed in Nasarawa West were in the order of Nasarawa (0.0683) < Keffi (0.0773) < Toto (0.0972) < Kokona (0.0988) < Karu (0.1389) and are all less than unity (1), indicating that the rice samples were not polluted by Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn. Conclusion: Findings from this study will help in making policies and preferring solution to public health related issues and further studies may be important.

Diaphragmatic hernias are defined as congenital or acquired defect in the diaphragm. It is said to be the most common intra-thoracic fetal anomaly with an incidence of 1 in 2200 to 3000 live births and male to female ratio of 2:1.The unusual and misleading presentation of this condition which would cause an unnecessary delay in diagnosis and all the attendant consequences (such as intestinal obstruction) is hereby presented. The role of plain chest Xray which is cheap and readily available in salvaging the confusing clinical scenario has been emphasized. Late presenting CDH should be factored in the differential diagnosis of any child with chronic cough. Delay in diagnosis increases chances of complication such as chronic lung diseases and gastro-esophageal reflux, later in adulthood.

One of the major environmental problem is the long-term changes in the Earth’s climate. In this study, the variation of solar radiation for Akwanga zone, Nasarawa State, Nigeria were determined. Twelve locations were carefully selected where there is no sunshine and wind obstruction. Three 12V, 5W Solar panels (poly) were used and a three-hour daily measurement interval (12.00 pm to 3.00 pm) was made using the Secondary Standard Pyranometer placed on the top of the panels. Angstrom-Prescott Regression Equation was used to estimate the output. The continuity in the assembled system was measured using an Avometer. The result revealed that the highest monthly average daily global solar radiation was observed in the month of April (25.2 MJ/m2) followed by June (22.94 MJ/m2), and march (22.42 MJ/m2), while the lowest was observed in the month of August (12.04 MJ/m2) followed by July (13.57 MJ/m2), and September (14.26 MJ/m2) in the locations selected. The solar radiation intensity was found to range from 156.44 W/m2 to 293.84 W/m2 with the mean value of 220.04 W/m2. The highest total global solar radiation value of 25.2MJ/m2 was observed in April while the lowest value of 12.04 MJ/m2 was observed in October. The extraterrestrial solar radiation were found to range from 16.72 MJ/m2 in March to 29.90 MJ/m2 in April with average value of 22.89MJ/m2. The atmospheric transmission coefficient over the year is found to range from 0.5 in July and October to 1.3 in June and October. The investigation reveal that there is bright sun shine in the study area which confirms high atmospheric transmission coefficient or clearness index throughout the year in this study.

In this study, photon attenuation parameters of (30-x) SiO2–15PbO–10CdO-xTiO2, with x = 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10% mol, were determined and their application as shielding material were discussed. The WinXCOM software was used to determine the mass attenuation coefficient of the studied glasses for the energy range (0.015-15MeV). The mass attenuation coefficient of the glass samples first decline up to 0.09 MeV and slightly increase abruptly and then declined uniformly for all the glasses to approximately zero after about 10 MeV.   The effective atomic number (Zeff) was also calculated for the glass samples and were observe to raise from 0.015 to 0.02 MeV and then decreased between 0.02-5 MeV. On account of the dominance of the photoelectric effect in the low energy region, there was a sudden increase in Zeff at about 0.08 MeV close to the absorption edge of the Pb (0.088 MeV). The rapid increment was observed at 0.1–1.5 MeV by transcending typical Compton scattering interaction at intermediate energies for Zeff'’s and began to decrease in the same form again. The lower Zeff   values were found in low and high energy region for all SPCT glasses. The calculated mean free path, half value layer and tenth value layer values were observe to decline as the TiO2 doping of the glasses increased which accounts for the  three photon interaction mechanisms effectiveness in the variation of MFP and HVL values with energy. It can be concluded that SPCT glasses may be considered an alternative material for radiation shielding practices.