National strategies to promote renewable energy development: Whither Nigeria?

Renewable energy (RE) development enhances electrification, mitigates climate change and aids energy efficiency. Kenya, South Africa and Ghana, among other states within sub-Saharan Africa, have established legal regimes to integrate renewable energy into their energy mix. Through defined legal strategies for RE deployment, these states have committed to the promotion, development and utilization of RE. Despite the momentum towards renewable energy development across the region, Nigeria’s efforts fall short of establishing effective legal strategies. As Africa’s most populous nation it must do more to make RE part of its energy mix in order to impact electrification rates, mitigate climate change and aid socio-economic conditions. This article appraises the legal strategies for RE development in Kenya, South Africa and Ghana. Against this appraisal, it critically evaluates Nigeria’s legal strategies to promote and develop RE. It recommends legal reforms that are necessary to better integrate RE into Nigeria’s energy mix. The methodological approach of this article is doctrinal and library-based. It includes primary and secondary sources. Primary sources include laws, statutes, legal documents, conventions and statistics. Secondary sources include journal articles, internet sources and newspaper articles. All sources are subject to content analysis. It is expected that the article will be useful to policy and lawmakers across various tiers of government in Nigeria.Keywords: Renewable Energy Development, Electrification, Energy Efficiency, National Strategies

Integrating the natural healing process for post-traumatic stress disorder treatment in veterans through a healing garden.

In 2002, several ex-service personnel brought a court case against the Ministry of Defense for the inability to identify PTSD issues at an early stage and to provide support and effective treatment (Langston et al. 2007). Also in recent times, reports have suggested that US marine and army infantry units returning from duty in Iraq and Afghanistan have a higher level of expected proportions of mental disorders and that about 10% of personnel are returning home are with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (Smith et al., 2008). This discovery made it pertinent to look for natural ways to assist veterans while embarking on a recovery journey. This study focuses on establishing and integrating the use of therapeutic gardens during the veteran\u27s recovery. The project centers on establishing a healing garden as a natural platform of healing for veterans during the treatment of PTSD. In this context, a veteran is a military personnel who has been affected by his or her experiences, which led to post-traumatic stress disorder while in active service for their fatherland, hoping that this would also serve as a means for occupational therapy for diagnosed patients. To put the research into perspective, some existing healing gardens are researched to provide more understanding of the benefits of the healing garden concept in aiding the treatment of PTSD by putting veterans in context. This is because of the saying that healing gardens are designed to meet specific medical needs. For example, while a healing garden can be designed to enable seniors to access outdoor activities and the natural environment outside, it can also be designed for children hospitals to help children blow off some steam, calm them down, engage them in garden activities, and converse with natur

Adult large bowel obstruction: A review of clinical experience

Background: Adult large bowel obstruction is an infrequent cause of acute obstruction in Africa and India. The cause of obstruction varies between regions of the world. Current controversy concerns the surgical  management of the acutely obstructed left colon.Materials and Methods: This is a prospective study of adult patients with acute large bowel obstruction over a 6-year period. The diagnosis of adult obstruction was made from a history of constipation, abdominal distension,abdominal pain, nausea, and radiographic features of large bowel obstruction. Laparotomy was performed on all patients after resuscitation. If the obstruction involved the right colon resection and primary ileo-colic anastomosis was performed, while for a lesion in the left colon a resection and primary colocolic anastomosis was performed after intraoperative antegrade colonic irrigation. If the obstructing lesions were thought to be malignant and too advanced to merit any excisional or the patient’s general condition was too poor to withstand resection, a biopsywas taken and a decompressive bypass procedure given pending the confirmation of the diagnosis. The clinical course and postoperative outcome were carefully documented.Results: A total of 50 patients aged 20-80 years, with a median age of 49 years, presented with features consistent with large bowel obstruction. Of these, 32 had simple sigmoid volvulus and were offered sigmoid colectomy and primary colorectal anastomosis, while 3 further patients with compound sigmoid volvulus had double resection with primary ileo-ileal and colorectal anastomosis. A patient with sigmoid volvulus had a Hartmann’s procedure.Twelve patients had colon cancer, four had left hemicolectomy and primary colocolic anastomosis; three, sigmoid colectomy and primary colorectal anastomosis; three, low anterior resection and primary colorectal anastomosis; one decompressive colostomy and one, a right hemicolectomy and primary ileocolic anastomosis. The two patients withfunctional obstruction (Ogilvie syndrome) had tube caecostomy. All resections and primary anastomosis involving the right colon were preceded by antegrade on-table colonic lavage. One clinical anastomotic leak occurred in a low rectal anastomosis and minor wound infection in 10 patients. Operative mortality occurred in three patients with sigmoid volvulus.Conclusion: Adult large bowel obstruction is infrequent in our community and is caused commonly by sigmoid volvulus. Resection and primary anastomosis of the acute left-sided large bowel obstruction seems safe after antegrade on-table colonic lavage, provided bowel gangrene with peritonitis or any additional risk factor for anastomotic breakdown is not present

Socio-Cultural and Demographic Issues in E-Business Conflict Resolution: The Nigerian Case

Modern business presents different experiences for different people as well as for different classes in all socio-cultural environments. As e-business creates possible openings for business, it also raises some issues especially when evaluated in the light of current global happenings. While a few of these issues are technically determined, others affect economic, political, cultural and socio-demographic compositions of human society. This paper undertakes a systematic analysis and exploration of the socio-cultural and demographic issues in the environment within which e-business takes place in Nigeria. It considers the emergence of e-business and then raises socio-cultural issues such as mode of production, economic structure, norms/legal/security issues and beliefs as well as demographic issues including size of population, spatial distribution, age and sex composition and components of population dynamics (fertility, mortality, migration) as enhancing and inhibiting factors engendering conflict in e-business promotion. Finally, it proffers solutions to the inherent conflicts arising from these inhibitive tendencies. Keywords: Socio-cultural, demographic, e-business, conflict resolution, globalization, Nigeria

Socio-Cultural and Demographic Issues in E-Business Conflict Resolution: The Nigerian Case

Modern business presents different experiences for different people as well as for different classes in all socio-cultural environments. As e-business creates possible openings for business, it also raises some issues especially when evaluated in the light of current global happenings. While a few of these issues are technically determined, others affect economic, political, cultural and socio-demographic compositions of human society. This paper undertakes a systematic analysis and exploration of the socio-cultural and demographic issues in the environment within which e-business takes place in Nigeria. It considers the emergence of e-business and then raises socio-cultural issues such as mode of production, economic structure, norms/legal/security issues and beliefs as well as demographic issues including size of population, spatial distribution, age and sex composition and components of population dynamics (fertility, mortality, migration) as enhancing and inhibiting factors engendering conflict in e-business promotion. Finally, it proffers solutions to the inherent conflicts arising from these inhibitive tendencies. Keywords: Socio-cultural, demographic, e-business, conflict resolution, globalization, Nigeria

Metal Complexes of Diisopropylthiourea: Synthesis, Characterization and Antibacterial Studies

Co(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Fe(III) complexes of diisopropylthiourea have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, molar conductivity, magnetic susceptibility, FTIR and electronic spectroscopy. The compounds are non-electrolytes in solution and spectroscopic data of the complexes are consistent with 4-coordinate geometry for the metal(II) complexes and six coordinate octahedral for Fe(III) complex. The complexes were screened for their antibacterial activities against six bacteria: Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas auriginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus pumilus. The complexes showed varied antibacterial activities and their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined

Introduction: Climate Change and Planned Retreat

Chapter 1. This edited volume advances our understanding of climate relocation (or planned retreat), an emerging topic in the fields of climate adaptation and hazard risk, and provides a platform for alternative voices and views on the subject. As the effects of climate change become more severe and widespread, there is a growing conversation about when, where and how people will move. Climate relocation is a controversial adaptation strategy, yet the process can also offer opportunity and hope. This collection grapples with the environmental and social justice dimensions from multiple perspectives, with cases drawn from Africa, Asia, Australia, Oceania, South America, and North America. The contributions throughout present unique perspectives, including community organizations, adaptation practitioners, geographers, lawyers, and landscape architects, reflecting on the potential harms and opportunities of climate-induced relocation. Works of art, photos, and quotes from flood survivors are also included, placed between sections to remind the reader of the human element in the adaptation debate. Blending art – photography, poetry, sculpture – with practical reflections and scholarly analyses, this volume provides new insights on a debate that touches us all: how we will live in the future and where? Challenging readers’ pre-conceptions about planned retreat by juxtaposing different disciplines, lenses and media, this book will be of great interest to students and scholars of climate change, environmental migration and displacement, and environmental justice and equity

Prioritising Project Scope Definition Elements in Public Building Projects

A complete definition of the scope of a project upfront during early stages ensures smooth and successful implementation during the project execution. This research identifies and prioritises project scope definition elements for public buildings in Saudi Arabia. Elements that could significantly contribute to complete project scope definition package at pre-project planning stage are identified and their interrelationship determined and prioritised. Using the Project Definition Rating Index (PDRI) as a basis, the study uses analytical network process (ANP) technique based on data obtained from project managers who have been involved in public sector projects in Saudi Arabia. Data collection and analysis was conducted in three steps. The first step involved identification of scope definition elements while the second involved an investigation into interrelationships among the elements. In the third step, ANP was used to determine the weight of the elements’ importance in terms of contribution to project scope definition completeness. Finally, Pareto analysis was used to prioritise and assess the distribution pattern of the elements. The outcome from this research is the prioritisation of project scope definition elements for public building projects in Saudi Arabia. The prioritised list developed indicates the importance of project scope definition elements. It should help project management teams identify elements to consider when evaluating project scope definition for completeness at the pre-project planning stage. Keywords: Project scope definition, pre-project planning, prioritising, public building projects, Saudi Arabia, Analytical Network Process (ANP

Phycosynthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Chlorella vulgaris Metabolites: Its Antibacterial, Anti-Biofilm and In-Vitro Cytotoxicity Potential and Effect of Optimized Conditions on Biosynthesis.

The adverse effects of multidrug resistant and biofilm forming microbes on human health is of major concern; therefore a search for potential alternative in nanoparticles is required. Green phycosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (SNP) using The Clear Supernatant (TCS) of blue-green algae, Chlorella vulgaris (Cv) was investigated. The greenly synthesized Chlorella vulgaris TCS SNPs (CvTCSSNPs) were characterized using UV-Vis spectrophotometry, SEM, TGA, DLS, EDX and XRD. The antibacterial, antibiofilm and in vitro cytotoxicity against brine shrimp was evaluate. Colour change from light green to chocolate brown indicate CvTCSSNPs biosynthesis and surface Plasmon resonance peak was observed at 300 nm. CvTCSSNPs was 10 μm in size, spherical in shape, and can withstand high temperature without totally losing its weight. DLS shows the particle diameter average of 82.19 nm and 505.3 nm with a polydispersity index of 0.505. The EDX analysis confirmed a strong signal of silver element. The CvTCSSNPs had strong antibacterial activity and profoundly antibiofilm activity against Citrobacter sp., S. aureus ATCC 29213, E. coli ATCC 35218 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853. CvTCSSNPs toxicity to Artemia salina (brine shrimp) LC50 was 1256. 69 μg/mL, it was observed to be insignificant with the highest mortality rate at 2000 μg/mL and the lethality was dose dependent. pH 10, 37˚C, 40 mL extract, 5 mM AgNO3 supported optimum CvTCSSNPs production. In conclusion, the phycosynthesized CvTCSSNPs had strong antibacterial and antibiofilm activity against the test pathogens. CvTCSSNPs may be used as safe and alternative to antibiotics against MDR biofilm producing pathogens

Synthesis, characterization and antibacterial studies of metal complexes of sulfadiazine with N-alkyl-N-phenyldithiocarbamate

Co(II), Cu(II), Pd(II) and Pt(II) complexes of 4-amino-N-(2-pyrimidinyl)benzene sulfonamide (sulfadiazine) with some N-alkyl-N-phenyl dithiocarbamate have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, conductivity measurements, UV-Vis and FTIR spectroscopy. The complexes are formulated as four coordinate MN2S2 species in which the metal ions are coordinated to one molecule of sulfadiazine through the pyrimidinyl and sulfulnamido nitrogen atoms and one molecule of dithiocarbamate through two sulfur atoms with both molecules acting as bidentate chelating ligands. The in vitro antibacterial activities of the complexes and sulfadiazine were evaluated against eight bacteria strains using the agar well diffusion method. The metal complexes showed varied antibacterial properties and their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and maximum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined. KEY WORDS: Sulfadiane, Dithiocarbamate, Metal complexes, Antibacterial, Drug resistance Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2013, 27(1), 77-84.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v27i1.