Estimating solar radiation in Ikeja and Port Harcourt via correlation with relative humidity and temperature

This paper is part of the Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Energy and Sustainability (ESUS 2015). http://www.witconferences.comRelative humidity and temperature data are more readily available to obtain from observatories than sunshine hour data. In this work, 10 years (1986–1987, 1990–1997) monthly average measurement of relative solar radiation, daily temperature range, relative humidity and the ratio of minimum to maximum temperature were used to establish the coefficient of eight models for estimating solar radiation in Ikeja and Port Harcourt. Coefficient of correlation (R), Mean Bias Error (MBE), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Mean Percentage Error (MPE), t-statistic and the rank score were used as performance indicators. In Port Harcourt, the equation producing the best result with MBE, RMSE, MPE and t-statistic value of −0.1078, 0.9850, −0.4373% and 0.3653, respectively, is given by: Rs/Ro = 3.266 − 0.306(RH)0,5. In Ikeja, the equation producing the best estimation with MBE, RMSE, MPE and t-statistic value of 0.1590, 1.0110, 2.0559% and 0.5281, respectively, is given by: Rs/Ro = 2.042 − 2.136(θ)

Effects of Temperature on the Rheological Properties of Rice Husk Modified Bentonite Drilling Fluids

In this study, water base drilling fluids were developed using bentonite clay and rice husk. The pure and blends of bentonite clay and rice husk as specified by samples A with (pure bentonite), B (with pure rice husk), C (1:1 of rice husk to bentonite) and D (2:1 of rice husk to bentonite) were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR). The XRD result of the samples showed that samples C and D both contains montmorillonite as mineral with the most intense peak at 5.887o. Samples A and B contain Quartz, and Montmorillonite respectively with the most intense peak at 2Ө value of 26.642o, 31.578o, 5.887o, 26.624o and 26.627o respectively. The results show strong interaction between sample A and C. FTIR results of samples A, B, C and D showed number of bands/peaks of 13,9,13 and 14 respectively and showed high level of interaction between pure and blends of the samples were with 14 peaks/bands each. Five water base drilling fluid samples produced using standard laboratory barrel (350 ml) method from bentonite and water with addition of rice husk in different proportion were investigated. The rheological properties (plastic viscosity, yield value, gel strength) of the samples were measured at different temperatures, using FANN 35 viscometer while the pH and density values were measured using pH meter and mud balance respectively. The pH values of all the produced drilling mud samples were alkaline (>7.0), close to the neutral value. Increase in temperatures bentonite drilling mud modified with rice husk does not have negative effect on the rheological properties of the drilling mud. The rice husk could be used as a viscosifier in the drilling mud for being capable of improving the viscosity of the mud at higher temperature

Antimicrobial Activities of Secondary Metabolites from Warm Spring Fungi.

Water from warm spring was screened for the presence of some fungi using different nutrient media. Antimicrobial activity of secondary metabolites of the isolates were evaluated against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Agar well diffusion method was utilised in the evaluation of the antimicrobial activity and it was discovered that each of the secondary metabolites showed antibacterial activities against the test bacteria. The result showed good prospects in the search for new antibacterial drugs. Keywords: Warm spring fungi, metabolites, bioactive compound

OCCURRENCE AND SENSITIVITY TO ANTIBIOTICS OF BACTERIA FOUND IN GILLS, BUCCAL CAVITY AND SKIN OF Hemichromis fasciatus, Brycinus macrolepidotus AND Hydrocynus forskalii FROM OGUN RIVER, ABEOKUTA, OGUN STATE

The morphometrics of Hemichromis fasciatus, Brycinus macrolepidotus and Hydrocynus forskalii from Ogun River were determined. The culture, isolation, and characterization of  bacteria species, their sensitivity to antibiotics were carried out. There were significant differences (P>0.05) in the weight, standard length, head length, gill length and buccal depth. The highest mean body weight 113.85 ± 9.38 g was observed in B. macrolepidotus while the lowest mean weight of 47.20 ± 6.3 g was observed in H. forskalii. Ten (10) bacteria species were isolated from the gill, buccal cavity and skin. These include the Gram positive (Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus faecium, Micrococcus  letus) and the Gram negative bacteria (Enterobacter aerogenes, Pseudomonas aerogenes, Klebseilla aerogenes, Aerobacter  aerogenes, Proteus vulgaris, Bacillus licheniform and Salmonella sp). The number of colony forming units per milligram varied from 3.1×104 to 3.8×105. The highest mean percentage bacteria occurrence of 5.4 ± 4.4at (P> 0.05) was recorded from the gills of H. fasciatus while the lowest value of 4.6 ± 3.8was recorded in the gill of H. forskalii S. epidermidis had  the widest inhibition zones of 10.2 mm and 10.5 mm respectively of sensitivity to Sparfloxcin and Caflazidime while P. vulgaris had the thinnest inhibition zone 2.1 mm of resistance to Caflazidime. From the foregoing results, this study confirmed that the bacterial organisms isolated from the fish were pathogenic and of public health importance. Caflazidime and Oflaxacin were the best antibiotic substances with the highest inhibition zones of 10.5 mm and 10.0 mm for the Gram positive bacteria (S. epidermidis) and the Gram negative bacteria (E. aerogenes) respectively.Â

Energy Performance Modeling of a Sugar Manufacturing Industry

Effective energy monitoring, reporting, and management strategies for wise energy usage is one of the objectives of Energy Management. Numerous researches have highlighted the extremely good profits of imposing business and industrial energy management measures. Notably, a number of those research display that extra financial savings may be found out in growing international locations. Unfortunately, industries in developing countries like Nigeria are lagging behind in the adoption of energy management measures and as such missing the benefits of implementation. This research study sets out to evaluate the energy consumption performance in manufacturing industry in order to showcase the gains of energy management in manufacturing industry. Data on weekly energy consumption (in MW) and weekly production of sugar (in Bags, 50kg/bag) were obtained from a sugar manufacturing company in southwestern Nigeria. Energy management data analysis and modeling was done using linear regression plot of energy consumption against production; energy intensity plot and cumulative sum of difference (CUSUM) plot respectively. The energy performance model was obtained from the linear regression plot and two parameters namely incremental energy consumed per bag (per kg) of sugar produced and “no-production” energy consumption are the performance measures. The model showed that the incremental energy consumed per bag (or per kg) is 0.00008 MW/Bag or 80W/Bag or 1600W/kg while the no-production energy consumption is 211.73 MW. Results also reveals that the no-production activities consumed energy more when compared with the actual energy used for production. CUSUM identified five periods when energy consumption gave higher and increased production thereby showing that CUSUM charts are more effective in detecting changes in energy consumption. The research study has shown how energy management data analysis can be helpful in taking decision that will enhance increased production and reduction of no-production energy consumption activities. Keywords: Energy management, CUSUM, Performance model, Energy, No-production energy consumptio

Exposure to job-related violence among young female sex workers in urban slums of Southwest Nigeria

BACKGROUND: In Nigeria, many young girls are engaged in commercial sex work as a means of livelihood and support of dependent relatives. Although studies have documented some of the violence related issues among commercial sex workers, the plight of adolescent and young sex workers particularly in urban slums may be different in context and depth. OBJECTIVE: This study explored the lived experiences of violence and health related harm among vulnerable young female sex workers in urban slums in Ibadan and Lagos, Southwest Nigeria. It also analyzed their coping strategies and survival mechanisms. DESIGN: The study is cross-sectional and applied an interpretive phenomenological approach to this qualitative study through in-depth interviews. PARTICIPANTS: Young female sex workers ages (15-24 years) who reported having experienced violence were recruited for the study. Twelve participants completed the interviews out the 20 initially contacted. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Primary data were collected using in-depth interviews (IDIs). Data were transcribed using a phenomenological framework analysis. Participants' reports based on life experiences were identified: lived experience "daily brothel life experience"; sources of violence such as law enforcement agents' intermittent raids; violence experience with clients who often demanded sexual acts beyond the agreed scope; and coping strategies employed to mitigate the challenges. SETTINGS: The study was conducted in brothels of two selected slum areas in Ibadan and Lagos, Southwest Nigeria. RESULTS: The results showed that the major motivation for engaging in commercial sex work was for economic reasons. However, there are inherent risks involved particularly for the vulnerable young people. Stigmatization from the community, clients' uncontrolled-aggressive behavior and harassment from law enforcement agents are some of the frequent violence experiences reported. Self-help coping strategies are usually employed to prevent or mitigate the challenges. CONCLUSION: The plight of this young people required policy and program attention towards alternative economic empowerment to rehabilitate those willing to leave the profession. Also the need to develop arm reduction interventions towards protection of young sex workers against violence

CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPLEMENTARY FOODS PRODUCED FROM SORGHUM, SESAME, CARROT AND CRAYFISH

Low-cost, nutritive but bulk-reduced complementary foods using sorghum, sesame, carrot and crayfish        flour were evaluated for proximate compositions (energy, protein, fats, fibre, ash), minerals (Fe, Zn,        Ca, Cu, Se), total carotenoids, vitamin C, organoleptic attributes, and functional characteristics with        respect to bulk density, dispersibility, water absorption capacity, swelling power, solubility and pasting        properties. The composite flours contained higher moisture, protein, fat, fiber, ash, Fe, Zn, Cu, Se,        carotenoids, vitamin C than the control. There were significant differences (p<0.05) in the chemical,        functional and pasting properties of the different blends and the control. The Sensory panelists ratings        showed that porridge from the control was preferred over the others because it possessed good sen-        sory   qualities.   With   the   satisfactory   nutritive   value   and   functional   characteristics   of   the   composite        flours, they can be recommended to infants and young children.&nbsp

USE OF FISH WASTE MEAL AS A REPLACEMENT FOR FISH MEAL IN THE PRACTICAL DIETS OF AFRICAN MUD CATFISH Clarias gariepinus FINGERLINGS

A feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effect of fish waste meal (FWM) on growth performance, nutrient utilization, hepatosomatic index and blood parameters of Clarias gariepinus. 150 fingerlings of C. gariepinus of average weight of 5.2±0.13g were stocked. Five (5) iso-nitrogenous diets containing 40% crude protein in which fish meal protein (67.70%) was replaced by fish waste meal protein (45.94%) at 0% (FWM0), 25% (FWM25), 50% (FWM50), 75% (FWM75) and 100% (FWM100) levels were formulated. The fingerlings were fed at 5% body weight per day for 56 days. Values for growth response and nutrient utilization parameters decreased (p<0.05) with increasing levels of FWM in diets from 50% FWM inclusion level. Feed conversion ratio showed no significant difference (p>0.05) between fish fed diets FWM0 (1.25), FWM25 (1.26) and FWM50 (1.30). Net protein utilization was highest in fish fed diet FWM0 (43.62%) but not different (p>0.05) from fish fed diets FWM25 (42.82%) and FWM50 (41.11%). Hepatosomatic index was highest significantly (p>0.05) in fish fed diet FWM100 (1.13%) and lowest in fish fed diet FWM50 (0.65%). The haematological profile was higher (P<0.05) in all parameters in fish fed diets FWM0 and FWM50. Pack cell volume (PCV) was 36.2% in fish fed diet FWM0. This was statistically similar only to 35.9% of fish fed diet FWM50. From the study, it is concluded that fish waste meal can replace as much as 50% of fish meal in the diet of African catfish, C. gariepinus.    Â

An Investigation of Users’ Acceptance and Satisfaction of E-Banking System as a Panacea towards a Cashless Economy in Nigeria

The benefits of e-banking have been established as being numerous and its success has been argued by many researchers to depend partly on the quality of the banking services but more especially on customer preferences and satisfaction. Surprisingly, as numerous as these e-banking benefits are, very long queues could still be seen in many Nigerian banks for the consumption of the traditional banking services of fund transfer, cash deposits and cash withdrawals. However, to prove the success of e- banking in Nigeria, users’ acceptance and satisfaction of the system need to be validated. Many research works had been conducted using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), an information system theory that models how users come to accept and use a technology, to pzredict and explain users’ acceptance of e-banking. TAM poses two theoretical constructs; perceived usefulness (PU) and perceived ease of use (PEOU) as fundamental determinants of user’s acceptance of an information system. This research work examines the factors that may influence users’ acceptance and satisfaction of e- banking in Nigeria by adding the impact of perceived credibility (PC) and trust to the TAM constructs (PU and PEOU) with four other external variables (convenience, quality of technology, service quality and system accessibility) in extending its validity on examining user’s acceptance and satisfaction of e-banking system in Nigeria as a panacea towards operating a cashless economy. The result of the hypothesis testing using Pearson chi square is consistent with previous studies which showed that there is a significant relationship in the predicted direction on intention to use information system (IS)

MANAGEMENT EFFICIENCY OF PRIVATE UNIVERSITY FACILITIES: A STUDY OF COVENAT UNIVERSITY`S RESIDENTAL ESTATE

Facility efficiency is an integral part of the overall management of any organisation as the actualization of its goal and objectives require the provision, maximum utilization and appropriate management of facilities. To this end, the need to study and ascertain the efficiency in management of facilities in Nigerian private universities was undertaken. In achieving the aim of the study, one hundred and ninety six questionnaires were distributed to the residents of the university’s staff quarters made up of diverse housing for the various cadre of its faculty using the non-probability sampling technique. A total of 124 questionnaires were returned representing a response rate of 63.26% and collated data was analysed accordingly using the weighted arithmetic mean. Findings showed that inhabitants of the university staff quarters were satisfied with the management of the university’s facilities by the Physical Planning and Development unit (PPD) as eight of her major facilities were optimally functioning and maintained while three other systems were in need of attention