Performance evaluation and characterization of wetted soil parameters of improvised medi-emitters installed in a drip irrigation tomato field

Field study was conducted to evaluate the emission uniformity (EU), global coefficient of variation (CGv), emitter flow variation (Qvar) and distribution uniformity (DU), and determine the wetted radius (rw) on soil surface of improvised medi-emitters installed in a tomato field. Soil water content (SWC) at four layers was determined after different periods of irrigation. Radius of wetted soil surface was determined and predicted. Irrigation frequency had no significant effect on the average discharge rate of the medi-emitters throughout the growing cycle. Average Qvar and CGv were significantly (P=0.05) influenced by the frequency of application while the EU and DU did not significantly (P=0.05) differ among the treatments. There were significant differences in the average values of SWC in different soil layers under the different periods of irrigation. Both the observed and calculated rw on the soil surface were fitted with fourth order polynomial. The model performance parameters of MAE and RMSE between the calculated and observed radii were low, indicating good prediction. Medical infusion set can successfully replace the more expensive conventional emitters for drip irrigation system

Assessment of Post Fire Structural Strengths of Normal Strength Concrete Subjected to Cyclic Thermal Loadings

Concrete is a composite construction material consisting basically of a binder, aggregates, water and with or without admixture to modify either or both its physical and chemical properties. The rate at which concrete structures especially buildings are gutted by fire hazards is on the increase and this has adverse effect on the strength, hence, the need to  assess the post fire structural strengths of Normal Strength Concrete(NSC). NSC of grade 50 was produced and cast into specimens of sizes 150mm cubes and 100mm x 100mm x 500mm reinforced concrete beams. The concrete cubes and beams were subjected to elevated cyclic thermal loadings after 7, 14 and 28 days of curing, while the rate of heating was maintained at 1oC/min until the target temperature of (100, 130, 160, 200 and 250)o C where attained and this was maintained for one hour and then allowed to cool at 1oC/min to room temperature of 32oC.         Unstressed Residual Uniaxial Compressive Test (URUCT and Flexural Strength Test (FST) were conducted on the cubes and reinforced concrete beams, respectively. Direct Tensile Strength Test (DTST) was performed on the high yield (460N/mm2) steel reinforcement. The result showed that the residual compressive strengths of concrete cubes decreases with increase thermal loadings. The expected strengths of 0.69 and 0.97 of the 28 days strength for 7 and 14 days respectively were met. The flexural strengths decrease with increase in thermal loadings. The flexural strength of the concrete beams at 28 days of 15.25N/mm2 at thermal loading of 32oC was reduced to 8.16/mm2 at thermal loading of 160oC; while the strength at 14 days of 12.19 N/mm2 at thermal loading of 32oC was reduced to 7.62N/mm2 at thermal loading of 160oC and finally, the strength at 7 days of 10.13N/mm2 at thermal loading of 32oC was reduced to 5.82N/mm2 at thermal loading of 160oC. All the results met the specification for high yield steel of 12% elongation at fracture. It was concluded that within the thermal loading range adopted, the tensile strength of the reinforcement was not impaired beyond the limit specified by the code. Keyword: Normal Strength Concrete, Thermal loadings, Unstressed Residual  Strength Test, Fire hazard

Occurrence of PAHs in water samples of the Diep River, South Africa

Occurrence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in freshwater may aggravate the water crisis currently being experienced in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. However, there is dearth of data on the levels of PAHs, which is necessary for effective assessment of water quality as well as remediation strategies. This study therefore assessed levels of PAHs in the Diep River freshwater system of Western Cape Province, South Africa. A liquid-liquid extraction solid-phase extraction gas chromatography flame ionisation detection (LLE-SPEGC-FID) method was developed to simultaneously determine the 16 United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) listed priority PAHs in water samples. The SPE-GC-FID method allowed an acceptable linearity (R2 > 0.999) within the calibration range of 1 to 50 μg/mL. Instrument detection limits ranged between 0.02 and 0.04 μg/mL and instrument quantification limits between 0.06 and 0.13 μg/mL. Recovery study results were also acceptable (83.69–96.44%) except for naphthalene, which had recovery of 60.05% in spiked water matrix. The seasonal averages of individual PAH detected at the studied sites ranged between not detected (nd) and 72.38 ± 9.58 μg/L in water samples.Keywords: PAHs, Diep River, GC-FID, freshwate

Assessment of Post Fire Structural Strengths of Normal Strength Concrete Subjected to Cyclic Thermal Loadings

Concrete is a composite construction material consisting basically of a binder, aggregates, water and with or without admixture to modify either or both its physical and chemical properties. The rate at which concrete structures especially buildings are gutted by fire hazards is on the increase and this has adverse effect on the strength, hence, the need to assess the post fire structural strengths of Normal Strength Concrete(NSC). NSC of grade 50 was produced and cast into specimens of sizes 150mm cubes and 100mm x 100mm x 500mm reinforced concrete beams. The concrete cubes and beams were subjected to elevated cyclic thermal loadings after 7, 14 and 28 days of curing, while the rate of heating was maintained at 1oC/min until the target temperature of (100, 130, 160, 200 and 250)o C where attained and this was maintained for one hour and then allowed to cool at 1oC/min to room temperature of 32oC. Unstressed Residual Uniaxial Compressive Test (URUCT and Flexural Strength Test (FST) were conducted on the cubes and reinforced concrete beams, respectively. Direct Tensile Strength Test (DTST) was performed on the high yield (460N/mm2) steel reinforcement. The result showed that the residual compressive strengths of concrete cubes decreases with increase thermal loadings. The expected strengths of 0.69 and 0.97 of the 28 days strength for 7 and 14 days respectively were met. The flexural strengths decrease with increase in thermal loadings. The flexural strength of the concrete beams at 28 days of 15.25N/mm2 at thermal loading of 32oC was reduced to 8.16/mm2 at thermal loading of 160oC; while the strength at 14 days of 12.19 N/mm2 at thermal loading of 32oC was reduced to 7.62N/mm2 at thermal loading of 160oC and finally, the strength at 7 days of 10.13N/mm2 at thermal loading of 32oC was reduced to 5.82N/mm2 at thermal loading of 160oC. All the results met the specification for high yield steel of 12% elongation at fracture. It was concluded that within the thermal loading range adopted, the tensile strength of the reinforcement was not impaired beyond the limit specified by the code

VARIETAL RELEASE: RELEASE OF TWO DUAL PURPOSE OFADA RICE VARIETIES (FUNAABOR- 1 AND FUNAABOR-2) BY FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE, ABEOKUTA (FUNAAB)

Two new dual purpose Ofada rice varieties (Oryza sativa) were developed and released by Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta in collaboration with National Cereals Research Institute, Badeggi, Nigeria, Africa Rice Centre, Ibadan, Nigeria and National Rice/Maize Centre, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Nigeria. A bottom-top approach was used for Ofada rice seed collection (accessions) from Farmer’s field based on Farmer’s preference. The collected Ofada rice seed (mixtures) were purified and field selection done using recurrent selection methods for desired morpho-agronomic, adaptive and nutritional characters. Repeated cycles of selection was done resulting in four distinct Ofada rice varieties, while two outstanding and dual purpose; upland and lowland agroecologies (first of its type in Nigeria) Ofada rice varieties were selected; FUNAABOR- 1 (aka Ofada gold) and FUNAABOR -2 (aka Ofada white) were finally selected, registered and released, after they were tested for acceptability, adaptability and stability across all south western states and in addition Edo and Delta states of Nigeria. The distinctive and specific descriptors of both released Ofada rice varieties are hereby presented:Â

Developing affordable and accessible pro‐angiogenic wound dressings; incorporation of 2 deoxy D‐ribose (2dDR) into cotton fibres and wax‐coated cotton fibres

The absorption capacity of cotton dressings is a critical factor in their widespread use where they help absorb wound exudate. Cotton wax dressings, in contrast, are used for wounds where care is taken to avoid adhesion of dressings to sensitive wounds such as burn injuries. Accordingly, we explored the loading of 2‐deoxy‐D‐ribose (2dDR), a small sugar, which stimulates angiogenesis and wound healing in normal and diabetic rats, into both types of dressings and measured the release of it over several days. The results showed that approximately 90% of 2dDR was released between 3 and 5 days when loaded into cotton dressings. For wax‐coated cotton dressings, several methods of loading of 2dDR were explored. A strategy similar to the commercial wax coating methodology was found the best protocol which provided a sustained release over 5 days. Cytotoxicity analysis of 2dDR loaded cotton dressing showed that the dressing stimulated metabolic activity of fibroblasts over 7 days confirming the non‐toxic nature of this sugar‐loaded dressings. The results of the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay demonstrated a strong angiogenic response to both 2dDR loaded cotton dressing and to 2dDR loaded cotton wax dressings. Both dressings were found to increase the number of newly formed blood vessels significantly when observed macroscopically and histologically. We conclude this study offers a simple approach to developing affordable wound dressings as both have the potential to be evaluated as pro‐active dressings to stimulate wound healing in wounds where management of exudate or prevention of adherence to the wounds are clinical requirements

Assessment of Consumers’ Preference for Local Rice in South West, Nigeria

The research work examine consumers preference for local rice in South west, Nigeria. It specifically described the socioeconomic characteristics of local rice consumers in the study area. Data of 150 household was collected through a wellstructured questionnaire. Tobit regression model and likert type of measurement were used to measures the collected parameters.The results of the analysis shows that consumption is consistent among 59.3% of the respondent.The choice of local rice consumption is evident by their positive perceptions that local rice is healthy, have good taste and superior in quality than polish rice. Although some claim less utility in local rice consumption because it’s less attractive, look dirty and less friendly in term of cooking, Ofadabrand of local rice is still the most preferred. The study also reveals thathousehold size, quality, ease of cooking and market price have significant influence on the consumer’s decisio

Insights from 20 years of temperature parallel measurements in Mauritius around the turn of the 20th century

There is considerable import in creating more complete, better understood holdings of early meteorological data. Such data permit an improved understanding of climate variability and long-term changes. Early records are particularly incomplete in the tropics, with implications for estimates of global and regional temperature. There is also a relatively low level of scientific understanding of how these early measurements were made and, as a result, of their homogeneity and comparability to more modern techniques and measurements. Herein we describe and analyse a newly rescued set of long-term, up to six-way parallel measurements undertaken over 1884–1903 in Mauritius, an island situated in the southern Indian Ocean. Data include (i) measurements from a well-ventilated room, (ii) a shaded thermograph, (iii) instruments housed in a manner broadly equivalent to a modern Stevenson screen, (iv) a set of measurements by a hygrometer mounted in a Stevenson screen, and for a much shorter period (v) two additional Stevenson screen configurations. All measurements were undertaken within an ∼ 80 m radius of each other. To our knowledge this is the first such multidecadal multi-instrument assessment of meteorological instrument transition impacts ever undertaken, providing potentially unique insights. The intercomparison also considers the impact of different ways of deriving daily and monthly averages. The long-term comparison is sufficient to robustly characterize systematic offsets between all the instruments and seasonally varying impacts. Differences between all techniques range from tenths of a degree Celsius to more than 1 ∘C and are considerably larger for maximum and minimum temperatures than for means or averages. Systematic differences of several tenths of a degree Celsius also exist for the different ways of deriving average and mean temperatures. All differences, except two average temperature series pairs, are significant at the 0.01 level using a paired t test. Given that all thermometers were regularly calibrated against a primary Kew standard thermometer maintained by the observatory, this analysis highlights significant impacts of instrument exposure, housing, siting, and measurement practices in early meteorological records. These results reaffirm the importance of thoroughly assessing the homogeneity of early meteorological records

Insights from 20 years of temperature parallel measurements in Mauritius around the turn of the 20th century

There is considerable import in creating more complete, better understood holdings of early meteorolog- ical data. Such data permit an improved understanding of climate variability and long-term changes. Early records are particularly incomplete in the tropics, with implications for estimates of global and regional temperature. There is also a relatively low level of scientific understanding of how these early measurements were made and, as a result, of their ho- mogeneity and comparability to more modern techniques and measurements. Herein we describe and analyse a newly rescued set of long-term, up to six-way parallel measure- ments undertaken over 1884–1903 in Mauritius, an island situated in the southern Indian Ocean. Data include (i) mea- surements from a well-ventilated room, (ii) a shaded thermo- graph, (iii) instruments housed in a manner broadly equiv- alent to a modern Stevenson screen, (iv) a set of measure- ments by a hygrometer mounted in a Stevenson screen, and for a much shorter period (v) two additional Stevenson screen configurations. All measurements were undertaken within an ∼ 80 m radius of each other. To our knowledge this is the first such multidecadal multi-instrument assessment of meteoro- logical instrument transition impacts ever undertaken, pro- viding potentially unique insights. The intercomparison also considers the impact of different ways of deriving daily and monthly averages. The long-term comparison is sufficient to robustly characterize systematic offsets between all the in- struments and seasonally varying impacts. Differences be- tween all techniques range from tenths of a degree Celsius to more than 1 ◦C and are considerably larger for maximum and minimum temperatures than for means or averages. System- atic differences of several tenths of a degree Celsius also exist for the different ways of deriving average and mean tempera- tures. All differences, except two average temperature series pairs, are significant at the 0.01 level using a paired t test. Given that all thermometers were regularly calibrated against a primary Kew standard thermometer maintained by the ob- servatory, this analysis highlights significant impacts of in- strument exposure, housing, siting, and measurement prac- tices in early meteorological records. These results reaffirm the importance of thoroughly assessing the homogeneity of early meteorological records