Analysis of high resolution satellite digital data for land use studies in the derived savanna ecosystem of Nigeria

High-resolution satellite data can give vital information about land cover, which can lead to better interpretation and classification of land resources. This study examined the relationship between Systeme Probatoire d'Observation de la Terre (SPOT) digital data and land use types in the derived savanna ecosystem of Nigeria. The digital data of arable land, tree crops, burnt surface, riparian and settlements were analysed to establish relationships and potential of SPOT for resource discrimination and mapping. The results show that SPOT digital data are significantly different for the different land use types identified, spectral behaviour bears strong relationships with land features, and digital data are not significantly different (P < 0.01) within the ecosystem. Hence, the spectral behaviour from one area can be used to characterize the other within this and similar ecosystems.Les données de satellite de haute résolution pourraient donner d'information vitale au sujet de la couverture de la terre, qui pourraient mener à une meilleure interprétation et classification des resources de la terre. Cette recherche était conduite pour étudier le rapport entre les données numériques du Système Probatoire d'Observation de la Terre (SPOT) et les types d'emploi de terre dans la savane dérivée de l'écosystème du Nigéria. Les données numériques de terre arable, de cultures d'arbres, de surface brûlée, de riveraine et de habitations étaient analysées pour établir les rapports et le potentiel de SPOT pour la distinction de resource et le mappage. Les résultats montrent que les données numériques de SPOT sont considérablement différentes pour les différents types d'emploi de terre identifiés, le comportement spectral a un rapport solide avec les caractéristiques de la terre et les données numériques ne sont pas considérablement différentes (

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF A METALLIC BIO-DIGESTER FOR THE PRODUCTION OF BIOGAS FROM COW DUNG

Biogas production has contributed greatly as an alternative source of fuel power to solving various developing nations’ problems including high dependency on petroleum products. This gives a clear objective why its production is seriously needed, as it plays a significant role in destroying and converting municipal and agricultural wastes into a useful fuel which can be used in homes and on farms for lighting, heating and moving equipment by supplying the fuel power needed This work focused on design and construction of a metallic bio digester for the production of biogas. Cow dung was mixed with water in ratio 1:2 of particulate mass. The experiment was carried out in a metallic digester under mesophilic temperature. The average retention time for the experiment was 30days. The average internal temperature of the biogas digester was 32.3oC. The total volume of biogas produced was 5.208 m3. The concentrations of methane and carbon dioxide in the biogas produced were found to be 59% and 40% respectively. The developed metallic bio-digester has been found to be appropriate for the production of biogas from cow dung at mesophilic temperature

PROCJENA DEGRADACIJE TLA RAZLIČITO KORIŠTENA: DJELOVANJE NA PROIZVODNOST TLA I SIGURNOST HRANE

Land use type is one of the critical factors affecting land degradation and soil productivity. The extent to which it influences land degradation and productivity has not been fully ascertained. This has been necessary for this study with the aim of assessing the extent to which land use influences crop productivity. Soil degradation levels were assessed using direct observation. The land use types studied were arable cropping (land use 1), oil palm (land use 2), and building sites (land use 3). Rank ordered correlation was used for the data analyses. Direct observation showed that physical and biological degradations were more severe than chemical degradation in all the land uses. Degradation processes were more prominent in land uses 1 and 3 than 2. Land use was found to be significantly (P< 0.01) correlated with land degradation (r = 0.47) at all sites. The degradation level ranked from moderate to high due to inappropriate land uses and soil types. However, since degradation processes were very high in all land uses, there must be careful choice of appropriate use of land in order to reduce degradation and enhance soil productivity.Način korištenja tla jedan je od kritičnih faktora što djeluje na degradaciju i proizvodnost tla. Razmjeri na koji oni utječu na degradaciju i proizvodnost tla nisu u potpunosti ustanovljeni. To nas je potaklo za procjenjivanje razmjera u kojem korištenje tla utječe na proizvodnost usjeva. Razine degradacije tla procijenjene su izravnim motrenjem. Promatrani načini korištenja tla bili su: obradivo tlo za usjeve (korištenje tla 1), uljana palma (korištenje tla 2) i gradilišta (korištenje tla 3). Za analizu podataka primijenjena je korelacija za određivanje namjene (rank order correlation). Izravno motrenje je pokazalo da su fizička i biološka degradacija bile jače od kemijske, kod svih korištenja tla. Procesi degradacije bili su jače izraženi kod korištenja tla 1 i 3 nego kod 2. Prema nalazu korištenje tla bilo je značajno (P<0.01) povezano s degradacijom tla (r=9.47) na svim položajima. Razina degradacije kretala se od umjerene do velike zbog neodgovarajućeg korištenja zemljišta i tipova tla. Međutim, budući da su procesi degradacije bili vrlo izraženi kod svih korištenja zemljišta potrebno je pažljivo izabrati odgovarajuće korištenje kako bi se smanjila degradacija i potakla produktivnost tla

Suitability Evaluation of Selected Wetland Soils in Nigeria for Rainfed Rice Cultivation

Thirty-eight wetland soils in four agro-ecological zones were evaluated for their suitability for rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivation. The results indicated that climatic characteristics are near optimum. Currently, by non-parametric method, most (≥ 97%) of the pedons were found to be marginally suitable (S3). With the parametric method about 3% were highly suitable (S1), 74% marginally suitable (S3) and 23% not suitable (NS). Potentially by non-parametric method, 18% were of high (S1) and moderate (S2) suitabilities respectively, 58% were marginally suitable (S3) and 6% not suitable (NS). With parametric method, 24% were highly suitable (S1), 45 and 31% were of moderate (S2) and marginal (S3) suitabilities. The major limitations to rice cultivation on these soils are low CEC, organic carbon, exchangeable cations and available P, which may predispose rice plants to excessive Fe2+ uptake visually expressed as «bronzing » or «yellowing» symptoms. In this and similar environments in the region, good soil management is required before substantial improvement in rice production can be achieved

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF BROWSE LEAVES (SPONDIAS MOMBIN AND (ALBIZIA SAMAN) AND TUBER PEELS (YAM AND CASSAVA) USED AS RUMINANT FEEDS

The proximate and mineral analyses of two browse leaves (Spondias mombin and Albizia saman) and two tuber peels (yam (Dioscorea rotundata) and cassava (Manihot esculentum)) were carried out in order to justify their use as feedstuff for ruminant animals and then compare the nutritional parameters of the browse leaves with that of the tuber peels. The proximate composition (moisture content, ash, crude fibre, crude protein, etc) of the samples were determined using standard procedure by AOAC, while the mineral contents were determined with the aid of Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The results of the proximate analyses showed that the browse leaves have 24.42% and 15.98% protein for Albizia saman and Spondias mombin respectively, while the tuber peels are 7.66% and 3.72% for yam and cassava peels respectively. However, the tuber peels are better dietary sources of energy as they have higher Nitrogen Free Extract (Carbohydrate) values (81.67% and 78.97% for yam and cassava peels respectively) as compared to the browse leaves (39.37% and 51.95% for Albizia saman and Spondias mombin respectively). The Fe content of the browse leaves was 23.95 and 12.80 mg/100g for Albizia saman and Spondias mombin respectively, while the tuber peels had 12.30 and 9.00 mg/100g Fe content for cassava and yam peels respectively. The browse leaves had higher Ca contents of 780 and 1798 mg/100g for Albizia saman and Spondias mombin respectively, while that of the tuber peels was significantly lower with 712 and 63 mg/100g for cassava and yam peels respectively. Also yam peels had the highest K concentration (1548 mg/100g). This analysis showed that the browse leaves (Albizia saman and Spondias mombin) and tuber peels when combined (by mixing the dried tuber peels and browse leaves at different ratios) in the diet of ruminant animals will meet their nutritional needs, but it is inadequate if any of them is used as a single diet

Investigating the potential of Calophylluminophyllum plant base oil for oil and gas drilling mud operations

The environmental and cost advantage of non-edible plant oil for potential base oil in oil and gas drilling mud formulation is a drive for its use. The seed of Calophylluminophyllumthe plant oil was processed, pulverized, and oil extracted using chemical method. The extracted plant oil and commercial synthetic oil was used to formulate drilling mud and comparative analysis were made using the physicochemical properties of the oil samples, mud rheological properties under sixteen hours and 240 °F aging and non-aging effect for a 7 and 9 g viscosifier, and rheological models in describing the mud. The commercial synthetic oil and Calophylluminophyllum oil shows a flash point of 101 ± 0.1 and 164 ± 0.1; density of 108 and 172 ��� �3� ; viscosity index of 192 and 163; acid value of NIL and 24.24; and oil yield of NIL and 71 % respectively. The rheological properties of Calophylluminophyllum oil-based mud were higher than the synthetic oil-based mud. It was also observed that the increase in temperature and viscosifer decreases and increases the rheological properties respectively of all mud samples. The synthetic and Calophylluminophyllum oil-based mud increased in the rheological properties after aging test. In the overall estimation of the root mean square error (RMSE) values, coefficient of determination (�2) values, and the fitted plots analysis. The Herschel Bulkley and the Sisko model had a much better description in predicting the experimental data for the synthetic oil-based mud. The hyperbolic, Herschel Bulkley and Sisko model had good description for the experimental data of the Calophylluminophyllum oil-based mud

PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF TETRABUTYLAMMONIUM BROMIDE-BASED DEEP EUTECTIC SOLVENTS IN ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY OF NIGERIAN HEAVY OIL

Deep eutectic solvent (DES) is used as a green solvent in science due to its benefits over ionic liquids, such as biocompatibility and biodegradability, chemical stability with water, ease of preparation, and non-toxicity.DES 1 was successfully synthesized in a 1:2 molar ratio of Tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) and polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG 400), while the novel DES 2 and DES 3 were synthesized in a 1:6 molar ratio of TBAB/ dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and TBAB/N,N-dimethyl formamide (DMF) respectively. The performance(s) of the three DESs in the enhancement of heavy Nigerian crude oil recovery at ambient temperature was investigated. DES 1 recovered additional 16.07 % oil from core flooding using Berea sandstone core sample, resulting in an overall recovery of 53.44 %. DES 1 also resulted in an incremental recovery of 35.94 % from Niger-Delta sandstone, with a high ultimate recovery of 85.94 %. The presence of DES 2 and DES 3 were also shown to result in additional oil recovery. A drastic IFT reduction from 5.19 to 2.46mN/m was observed between the oil and the DES2 phase. Thus the study confirms that the presence of TBAB-based DES promotes reduction in the viscosity of the heavy oil and results in more oil recovery

Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of artemether-lumefantrine in the treatment of acute uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Nigerian infants and children

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The six-dose regimen of artemether-lumefantrine (AL) is now considered the gold standard for the treatment of uncomplicated <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>malaria. There are few reports evaluating co-artemether in very young Nigerian infants and children. Results of the evaluation of the six-dose regimen in very young infants and children in Nigeria are presented in this report.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>As part of a larger African study, this open label, non-comparative trial, assessed the efficacy and safety of six-dose regimen of AL tablets in 103 Nigerian infants and children weighing between five and 25 kg suffering from acute uncomplicated malaria. Treatment was administered under supervision over three days with children as in-patients. 12-lead ECG tracings were taken pre-treatment and at day 3.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Ninety-three infants and children completed the study as stipulated by the protocol. Mean fever and parasite clearance times for the intent to treat population (ITT) were 24.9 h ± (1.28) and 26 h ± (4.14) and the corresponding figures for the per-protocol population (PP) were 19.24 h ± 13.9 and 25.62 h ± 11.25 respectively. Day 14 cure rates for the ITT and PP were 95.1% and 100% respectively while day 28 cure rates were 91.3% and 95.7% respectively. The overall PCR corrected day 28 cure rate was 95.1% for the ITT. The six-dose regimen of AL was well tolerated with no drug-related serious adverse events. Although six patients recorded a QTc prolongation of > 60 ms on D3 over D0 recording, no patient recorded a QTc interval > 500 ms.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The six-dose regimen of AL tablets is safe and effective for the treatment of acute uncomplicated malaria in Nigerian infants and children weighing between five and 25 kg.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>NCT00709969</p

Changes in preterm birth and stillbirth during COVID-19 lockdowns in 26 countries

Preterm birth (PTB) is the leading cause of infant mortality worldwide. Changes in PTB rates, ranging from −90% to +30%, were reported in many countries following early COVID-19 pandemic response measures (‘lockdowns’). It is unclear whether this variation reflects real differences in lockdown impacts, or perhaps differences in stillbirth rates and/or study designs. Here we present interrupted time series and meta-analyses using harmonized data from 52 million births in 26 countries, 18 of which had representative population-based data, with overall PTB rates ranging from 6% to 12% and stillbirth ranging from 2.5 to 10.5 per 1,000 births. We show small reductions in PTB in the first (odds ratio 0.96, 95% confidence interval 0.95–0.98, P value <0.0001), second (0.96, 0.92–0.99, 0.03) and third (0.97, 0.94–1.00, 0.09) months of lockdown, but not in the fourth month of lockdown (0.99, 0.96–1.01, 0.34), although there were some between-country differences after the first month. For high-income countries in this study, we did not observe an association between lockdown and stillbirths in the second (1.00, 0.88–1.14, 0.98), third (0.99, 0.88–1.12, 0.89) and fourth (1.01, 0.87–1.18, 0.86) months of lockdown, although we have imprecise estimates due to stillbirths being a relatively rare event. We did, however, find evidence of increased risk of stillbirth in the first month of lockdown in high-income countries (1.14, 1.02–1.29, 0.02) and, in Brazil, we found evidence for an association between lockdown and stillbirth in the second (1.09, 1.03–1.15, 0.002), third (1.10, 1.03–1.17, 0.003) and fourth (1.12, 1.05–1.19, <0.001) months of lockdown. With an estimated 14.8 million PTB annually worldwide, the modest reductions observed during early pandemic lockdowns translate into large numbers of PTB averted globally and warrant further research into causal pathways

Changes in preterm birth and stillbirth during COVID-19 lockdowns in 26 countries.

Preterm birth (PTB) is the leading cause of infant mortality worldwide. Changes in PTB rates, ranging from -90% to +30%, were reported in many countries following early COVID-19 pandemic response measures ('lockdowns'). It is unclear whether this variation reflects real differences in lockdown impacts, or perhaps differences in stillbirth rates and/or study designs. Here we present interrupted time series and meta-analyses using harmonized data from 52 million births in 26 countries, 18 of which had representative population-based data, with overall PTB rates ranging from 6% to 12% and stillbirth ranging from 2.5 to 10.5 per 1,000 births. We show small reductions in PTB in the first (odds ratio 0.96, 95% confidence interval 0.95-0.98, P value <0.0001), second (0.96, 0.92-0.99, 0.03) and third (0.97, 0.94-1.00, 0.09) months of lockdown, but not in the fourth month of lockdown (0.99, 0.96-1.01, 0.34), although there were some between-country differences after the first month. For high-income countries in this study, we did not observe an association between lockdown and stillbirths in the second (1.00, 0.88-1.14, 0.98), third (0.99, 0.88-1.12, 0.89) and fourth (1.01, 0.87-1.18, 0.86) months of lockdown, although we have imprecise estimates due to stillbirths being a relatively rare event. We did, however, find evidence of increased risk of stillbirth in the first month of lockdown in high-income countries (1.14, 1.02-1.29, 0.02) and, in Brazil, we found evidence for an association between lockdown and stillbirth in the second (1.09, 1.03-1.15, 0.002), third (1.10, 1.03-1.17, 0.003) and fourth (1.12, 1.05-1.19, <0.001) months of lockdown. With an estimated 14.8 million PTB annually worldwide, the modest reductions observed during early pandemic lockdowns translate into large numbers of PTB averted globally and warrant further research into causal pathways