Natural radioactivity exists in primordial formations such as rocks, soils, water and air where long lived radionuclides such as , , and their affiliates are found. This work was done to determine the specific activity of radionuclides, soil to cassava transfer factor and the effective dose due to consumption of radionuclide in cassava products in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State. The specific activity of 40K, 238U and 232Th in soils and cassava in the study area was measured using gamma spectrometry. Mean specific activity in soils ranged from BDL to 153.46 ± 10. 99 Bq/Kg for 40K; BDL to 31. 22 ± 7.49 Bq/Kg for 238U and 1.03 ± 0.10 to 12.71 ± 1.24 Bq/Kg for 232Th. Mean specific activity of the radionuclides in cassava in all locations ranged from 119.86 ± 8.61 to 601.28 ± 43.23 Bq//Kg for 40K; below detectable limit (BDL) to 15. 89 ± 1.55 Bg/Kg for 238U and BDL to 15. 89 ± 1.55 Bq/kg for 232Th. Transfer factors ranged between 3.64 to 4.18 for 40K; 1.30 to 1.82 for 238U and 0.51 to 0.72 for 232Th. Effective ingestion dose due to the consumption of cassava from the area ranged between 0.99 mSv/yr to 1.08 mSv/yr and 2.68 mSv/yr to 29.16 mSv/yr for children and adult respectively. Most of the TF and effective ingestion dose results for this study were above the recommended value of unity which suggests that consumption of cassava from the studied area may pose radiological health.
This study examined the effect of formative evaluation modes on secondary school agricultural science students' learning outcomes in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. It was a pre-test and posttest quasi-experimental/control group research that relied on multi-stage sampling technique in the selection of respondents. Five (5) instruments developed and validated by the researchers were used to generate data from 200 SS11 students exposed to Agricultural science and farming techniques in secondary schools. Collected data were analysed using mean scores and standard deviation as well as Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) at .01 level of significance. Formative evaluation modes with feedback and remediation, which enabled respondents, develop good study habit and positive interpersonal relationship with their instructors and peers have proved to be very Ekanem et al.; JESBS, 32(4): 1-11, 2019; Article no.JESBS.52521 2 effective in the assessment and improvement of students' learning outcomes. The improvements in respondents' performances were observed in both achievements in and attitude to learning Agricultural science. It could thus be concluded from this study that formative evaluation modes with feedback and remediation are effective in improving farmers' achievement in and their attitude to learning more about Agricultural science. Formative evaluation modes with feedback and remediation enabled young farmers to engage in consistent studying. It allowed the farmers to be exposed to different formative evaluation techniques such as peer assessment, projects, group assignment instead of the usually test and individual assignment that they were used to. Need for Agricultural science instructors to acquire necessary skills in the development of various formative evaluation modes/techniques needed for the assessment of the cognitive and affective domains of the young farmers was raised. Such techniques include written quiz, end-of-lesson assessment, peer assessment, individualized task, project, group assignment, attitudinal scales, and socio-metric scale among others. Original Research Article
Knowledge of activity concentration of radionuclides in soil of our farmlands and the consequent transfer factors of the radionuclide to plants are necessary to estimate the contamination level of the soil, plants and food. The activity concentration of 40K, 238U and 232Th in soils and cassava in Ini Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria were measured using gamma spectrometry. Activity concentrations of radionuclides in soils in the locations ranged from BDL (below detectable limit) to 298.76 ± 21.40 Bq/Kg for 40K; BDL to 7.95 ± 1.88 Bq/Kg for 238U and 2.59 ± 0.25 to 16.56 ± 1.61 Bq/Kg for 232Th. Activity concentration of the radionuclides in cassava in all locations ranged from 213.96 ± 15.38 Bq/kg to 520.58 ± 37.25 Bq//Kg for 40K; BDL to 33.02 ± 8.91 Bg/Kg for 238U and BDL to 16.34 ± 1.59 Bq/kg for 232Th. The activity concentrations of all the radionuclides were lower than the world standard. Transfer factors obtained ranged between 3.21 to 4.18 for 40K; 0.93 to 12.64 for 238U and 0.75 to 1.01 for 232Th. Effective ingestion dose due to the consumption of cassava from the studied area obtained ranged between 1.31 to 1.74 mSv/yr and 3.52 to 4.69 mSv/yr for children and adult respectively. These values are above the 1.0 mSv/yr recommended dose limit for general public, therefore the consumption of this food stuff could pose a radiological health effect on humans. However the risk could be minimized when the cassava is cooked.
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