Preparation and characterization of steam activated chicken eggshell for gaseous pollutant adsorption

Air pollution is a major issue because it can immediately cause health problems. The primary pollutants are oxides of nitrogen, Sulphur, carbon, and oxidants. The collection, preparation, and characterization of chicken eggshell for the production of activated carbon useful in air purification, was carried out. The preparation was done in succession from raw uncarbonized to carbonized and then to steam activated form for adsorption of air pollutants. Powdered Eggshell was Carbonized at different temperatures in the range of 150-600 ºC to achieve optimum and effective temperature for best carbon content from its char. The best carbon yield was gotten at 450 ºC/1 hour in a carbolite type muffle furnace which gives less room for air flow. Thermal / steam activation of the carbonized eggshell was done at 500 ºC for 1 hour. The ash content, bulk density, electrical conductivity, pH, and moisture contents were analyzed respectively. The samples were characterized for their surface area and pore volume. The ash contents for the three samples were in the order Uncarbonized (41.76 %) > Carbonized (32.62 %) > Stean Activated (29.47 %) while the bulk density followed Carbonized (1. 19 g/ml) > Steam Activated (1.11 g/ml) > Uncarbonized (0.79 g/ml). All the three samples had the same value of 0.31 mS/cm for the electrical conductivity while two of the samples (carbonized and activated) had the same pH (8.1) and uncarbonized had a lower pH (7.9). The moisture contents ranged from 2 to 9 % with steam activated sample having the least and uncarbonised, the highest. Tapping density, surface area, pore volume, iodine number, % iodine absorbed values followed the order Steam active > Carbonized > Uncarbonized samples. The steam activated sample having the highest values of all these parameters showed it possesses high adsorption capacity for gaseous pollutants

CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT, ITS ADAPTATION MEASURES ON FISHERMEN LIVELIHOOD STATUS IN COASTAL AREA OF SOUTHWEST NIGERIA

Climate change effect and adaptation measure on the livelihood deeds of artisanal Fishermen was carried out within the coastal areas of Southwest Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 263 fishermen from Lagos, Ogun and Ondo States. Information obtained was with the use of structured interviewed schedule and subjected to descriptive and inferential statistics at 0.05 level of significance. Findings shows that majority (65.4%) of the Fishermen were between 45-64 years of age, 77.9% married, 67.7% had above 11 years of fishing experience across the Coastal area of Southwest, Nigeria. Also, 22.4% of Fishermen in the coastal area have access to extension services while 22.4% of them only had access to extension services. Major livelihood activities were fishing gathering (95.1%), fish processing (91.6%) and fish marketing (81.7%) in the selected area. the main effect of climate change on the fishermen activities were flooding (x̄= 2.43), while increased waves were (x̄ = 2.24), ocean surge (x̄ =2.23), rainfall intensity (x̄ = 2.07) and high temperature (x̄ = 2.06) respectively across the selected states respectively. Majority of the artisanal Fisherfolk utilized different adaptation measures/practices towards climate change. There were significant relationship (p < 0.05) between the respondent sex (c2 = 19.342, df = 1), educational level (c2 = 11.242, df = 4), ethnicity (c2 = 10.523) and climate change effect on livelihood deeds of artisanal Fishermen across selected states. Correlation result also reveals significant relationship (p < 0.05) between age (r = 0.872), household size (r = 0.653), years of fishing experience (r = 0.815) and the climate change effect on livelihood activities of artisanal Fishermen across selected States, Results also showed that there is significant difference in the effect of climate change on livelihood of artisanal Fishermen (F = 16.325; P = 0.001) across the selected states. The study realized that Artisanal Fishermen sampled experienced high effect of climate change in term of flooding, increased waves, ocean surges, rainfall intensity and high temperature across the selected States sampled. The study recommended that Artisanal Fishermen should be participating in policy and strategy formulation in mitigate climate change impacts on their fishing and livelihood activities so as to reduce the vulnerability of the effects caused by climate change in the coastal areas. Keywords: Artisanal, Climate change, Coastal communities, Fishermen, Livelihood activities, Southwest. DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/14-12-07 Publication date:September 30th 2023

Farmers’ Behaviour towards Utilisation of Jatropha Curcas for Environmental Mitigation in Oyo State, Nigeria

The dysfunctional environment caused by soil erosion, wind erosion, deforestation, desertification, issues of flood was due to the effect of greenhouse gases emanating as a result of various activities of man and industries. Consequently, this has prompted the exploitation of Jatropha curcas for mitigating the environment. Therefore, this study was carried out to examine farmers’ behaviour towards utilisation of Jatropha curcas for mitigation of environment in the study area. A multistage sampling procedure was used in selecting 120 farmers from 217 trained Jatropha farmers across Ido and Akinyele Local Government Areas in Oyo State. The data was analysed using frequencies, percentages, mean scores, and pearson product moment correlation. The result for the study showed that majority of the respondents had mean age of 44.4± 10.8 with majority also being male (66.7%) and formal education (91.7%). The result revealed that there was significant relationship between socio-economic characteristics of the respondents and farmers’ behaviour towards utilization of Jatropha curcas for environmental mitigation. There was correlation between farmers’ awareness on cultivation of Jatropha curcas and their behavior towards utilisation of Jatropha curcas for environmental mitigation (r = 0.399**, p < 0.05). The respondents’ attitude was significantly related to their behavior towards utilization of Jatropha curcas for environmental mitigation (r = - 0.182*, p < 0.05). The study showed that awareness and attitude of farmers strongly influence their behaviour towards utilization of Jatropha curcas for environmental mitigation. The implication of this study is to ensure that the environment becomes free of hazards and degradation which affect survival of the ecosystem and biodiversity. Hence, government should join in the advocacy to open continuous channels of communication on the importance of Jatropha to motivate farmers to having right behaviour towards utilization of Jatropha curcas as a measure to mitigate the environment. Keywords: Behaviour, utilisation, Jatropha curcas, farmers, mitigation, environmen

Rainfall Variability and Trend Analysis over Lokoja, Nigeria

Studies on rainfall variability and trends are of great importance, particularly to the nations where rainfed agriculture is predominant. This study used CRU data (CRU_TS 4.01) to examine the temporal variability of rainfall data over Lokoja. Statistical tests were employed to examine variability and trend in monthly, seasonal and annual time series. Analysis of variability showed that the rainy seasons and annual rainfall had less variability (CV 30) in some months in the rainy season (April, July and August). Standardised precipitation index showed alternation of wet and dry period conditions had been witnessed in the study area. Trend analysis showed more positive trends had been experienced from 1970 through 2010. The variability in rainfall and the increasing trend may have a tremendous effect on water resources availabilities and vulnerabilities of Lokoja

Effect of waste aluminium shavings on the bond characteristics of laterized concrete

The utilization of fibre in concrete production not only solves the problem of disposing this solid waste but helps conserve natural resources. This study investigated the effect of waste aluminum shavings on bond strength of laterized concrete. Laterized concrete spliced beams of 150×250×2150mm150×250×2150mm and 175×275×2300mm175×275×2300mm were prepared. Fifteen specimens with 16 mm and 20 mm were cast with the addition of aluminium shavings at varying percentages of 1vol%, 1.5vol% and 2vol%; another ten specimens with 16 mm and 20 mm diameter bars at 0% of aluminium shavings were cast as control. Concrete cubes of number were prepared, three taken for each set of various percentages of aluminium shavings were used to determine the concrete strength. It was observed from the analysis that the compressive strength decreased as the percentage of aluminium shavings increased, while the aluminium shavings increased the bond between concrete and steel. However, for normal concrete there was an increase in bond resistance with increase in aluminium shavings. The bond resistance of 16 mm was found to be higher than that of 20 mm in all the specimens tested

Right ventricular systolic function in Nigerians with heart failure secondary to hypertensive heart disease

Background: Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction has been shown to be a major contributor to the adverse outcomes in subjects with heart failure. Few studies evaluating the right ventricle in heart failure subjectshave been carried out in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study was therefore designed to evaluate the right ventricular systolic function in subjects with heart failure secondary to hypertensive heart disease presenting to the University College Hospital, Ibadan Nigeria.Methodology: Seventy-six subjects with heart failure secondary to hypertension and 92 normal controls underwent clinical, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic evaluation. Indices of right ventricular systolic function that were measured include tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), tissue Doppler derived tricuspid peak systolic lateral annulus velocity(S') and right ventricular fractional areachange(RVFAC).Results: Sixty-two (81.6%) heart failure subjects had right ventricular systolic dysfunction, 31(40.8%) had abnormal TAPSE, 42(55.5%) had abnormal S' while 49(64.5%) had abnormal RVFAC. Elevated pulmonary artery systolic pressure was found in 25(32.9%) of the subjects. There was no relationship between the indices of right ventricular systolic function and the estimated systolic pulmonary artery pressures. The independent predictor of right ventricular systolic dysfunction was the right atrial size.Conclusion: Right ventricular systolic function is impaired in patients with heart failure secondary to hypertensive heart disease. There is no relationship between the indices of right ventricular systolic function and systolic pulmonary artery pressure. Furtherstudies are needed to assess right ventricular systolic function in Nigerians.Keywords: Hypertension, Heart Failure, Right ventricular dysfunction, Nigeria, Sub- Saharan Africa

Growth Pattern of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in different wastewater media

Restaurant wastewater are a major cause of environmental pollution with the indiscriminate release of the effluent to the environment resulting in blocking of drainages and eutrophication thereby causing serious threat to aquatic life. The growth pattern of a dietary rich oily wastewater degrading bacteria strain, Pseudomonas aeruginosa in different wastewater media composed to mimic the possible constituents of restaurant wastewater was investigated in this study. There was noticeable microbial growth in the synthetic and domestic wastewaters after 48h while the detergent wastewater and heated oil-detergent wastewater did not support the strain's growth. The decrease in the fat content with a corresponding increase in the ash content after 120h was due to the test strain's metabolic activity, which is slightly higher in domestic wastewater than the heated oil-detergent solution. Also, the potassium (K+), Mg2+, Fe2+ and Ca2+ contents increased within the same period in both media except in the domestic wastewater where the Ca2+ content reduced. Protease enzyme activity (46.440mM/min) was considerably higher in the domestic wastewater than lipase (3.322mM/min) and amylase activity (14.244mM/min) after 72 hours of incubation. The pristine genetic properties of Pseudomonas aeruginosa altered when cultured in various wastewaters probably due to variation in the composition of the substrates

Incorporation of Silica Fume and Metakaolin on Self Compacting Concrete

This study carried out an experimental design investigating the reaction of mineral admixtures on fresh and hardened properties of sustainable self compacting concrete (SCC). Silica fume (SF) and metakaolin (MK) were partially replaced by Portland cement at 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25% in varying proportions. The workability on the fresh concrete was examined and the strength performance. The water cement ratio of 0.38 was kept constant for all the samples tested. The compressive strength was measured at 7, 14, 21 and 28 curing days. The test results indicated that with the influence of 2% superplasticizer, the fresh concrete showed a satisfactory workability, decreased the segregation to resistance, ease of flowing ability with the addition of silica fume and metakaolin. It was concluded in this study that, the replacement with silica fume was found to have an early strength gain in the compressive strength of SCC samples and a decrease at varying dosages. However, 15% metakaolin was considered to be a suitable replacement with 49.08 MPa at 28days compared with the control mix.

The Use of Hybrid System of Classification for the retrieval and modification of Mechanical Products

ABSTRACT With people becoming more individualistic i

Screening for Atrial Fibrillation in Sub-Saharan Africa:A Health Economic Evaluation to Assess the Feasibility in Nigeria

Background: Cardiovascular disease reflects a major burden of non-communicable disease in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Early detection and treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF), as a preventive measure against stroke, is currently not in the scope of the World Health Organization recommendation to reduce cardiovascular disease. Objective: We hypothesized that screening for AF would be an important approach to determine the true AF prevalence in the general population in African countries and to identify asymptomatic AF patients at risk for stroke to optimize prevention. Methods: A decision analytic model was developed to study the health-economic impact of AF screening in Nigeria over a life-time horizon. The patient population explored in the model was a population of newly detected AF cases that would be diagnosed with a one-time systematic screening for AF with a single lead ECG device in community health centres across Nigeria. Conclusions: The health gain per newly detected AF patient (N = 31,687) was 0.41 QALY at a cost of $5,205 per patient with 100$12,587 per QALY gained. The intervention was cost-effective with a 99.9% warfarin use with an ICER of $1,363 per QALY gained. The total cost of a single screening session was$7.3 million for the total screened population in Nigeria or $1.60 per patient screened. Screening for AF to detect AF patients in need for stroke prevention can be a cost-effective intervention in the Sub-Saharan region, depending on type of anticoagulant used and drug costs