Development of CUiris: A Dark-Skinned African Iris Dataset for Enhancement of Image Analysis and Robust Personal Recognition

Iris recognition algorithms, especially with the emergence of large-scale iris-based identification systems, must be tested for speed and accuracy and evaluated with a wide range of templates – large size, long-range, visible and different origins. This paper presents the acquisition of eye-iris images of dark-skinned subjects in Africa, a predominant case of verydark- brown iris images, under near-infrared illumination. The peculiarity of these iris images is highlighted from the histogram and normal probability distribution of their grayscale image entropy (GiE) values, in comparison to Asian and Caucasian iris images. The acquisition of eye-images for the African iris dataset is ongoing and will be made publiclyavailable as soon as it is sufficiently populated

The Dynamics of Ports Reforms in Nigeria: Implications for Sustainable Ports Operations

Over the time Nigeria economy is largely public sector driven, in which the seaports were not left out: managed by Nigerian Port Authority (NP A). With the seaports under the autonomous of NPA were faced with strangulating problems ranging from inefficiency of it services rendered, insecurity of ships and cargo, lack of modern infrastructures, inefficiency of the NPA staff and excess bureaucracy and sharp practice (corporate) these factors make port tariff on import and export higher than they need to be, couple with the technology trend in maritime transport which required huge capital fund. The government call for ports reforms; a reform that will liberalized and deregulate the seaport by the use of concession contract, this mandate the NPA to transfer terminals operators while NPA concentrates to play the role of landlord oversight functions. The government went further to reform the import guidelines procedures and documentation requirement, changing it form Pre-shipment Inspection (PSI) to Destination Inspection (DI). The Seaport reforms which government introduced in 1996 eliminated the crippling delays in the clearance of import goods in the ports. This research study will examine the dynamics of port operations, the contribution of private operator in seaport operations, and services; technological development: considering the variable attached to seaport operations. Furthermore, this research analyze private sector capital investment in port and maintenance of infrastructures, superstructures and the contract of concession with other practicing nations, while from drawn questionnaire and secondary data the research will examine how and if Nigeria will benefit in the area of capacity building, physical development and if at all there is competition among the terminal operators considering there role in the concession regime. Finally, emphasis and comparison will be laid on cargo throughout, ship tum around, clearing procedures and port charges with the involvement of private participation. DOI: 10.7176/PPAR/11-7-01 Publication date:August 31st 202

Automatic Electrical Appliances Control Panel Based on Infrared and Wi-Fi: A Framework for Electrical Energy Conservation

-Today, proprietary home automation targets very specific applications which operate mostly on a cable based infrastructure. In contrast to that, our implementation builds on a wireless platform for the automatic control of house hold electrical appliances. The nodes gather sensor readings in a home and transmit them to a central automation server. There, the readings are matched against a list of script statements. When there is a match, a specific action is performed. An important property of the system is that the control of all home appliances is done by means of the ubiquitous Infrared and Wi-Fi wireless technologies. This way, the co-operation between manufacturers is not a necessity in order to connect devices to the home automation network

Pollution Studies on Ground Water Contamination: Water Quality of Abeokuta, Ogun State, South West Nigeria

Changes in water levels in wells reflect changes in recharge to, and discharge from an aquifer. Generally groundwater is rain water or water from surface water bodies, like rivers, lakes or streams that permeate into the soil and bedrock and is stored underground in the pores spaces between soil particles. Groundwater pollution occurs when hazardous substances come into contact and dissolve in the water in the soil or on the surface. Groundwater is generally less susceptible to contamination and pollution when compared to surface water, naturally impurities in rainwater or surface water which replenishes groundwater systems, get removed while infiltrating through soil strata. In Nigeria, groundwater is used intensively for irrigation and domestic purposes, a variety of land and water-based human activities are causing pollution of this precious resource. Its over-exploitation is causing aquifer contamination in certain instances, while in certain others its unscientific development with insufficient knowledge of groundwater flow dynamic and geo-hydro-chemical processes has led to its mineralization. Adequate supply of safe and portable fresh water is an inevitable factor for socio economic development.  Although the recent global attention focuses on how the current and foreseeable water crisis and associated consequences would be addressed, quite a lot of factors such as  low level of education, insufficient budgetary funding, inefficient government policies,  drought are increasingly contributing to the pollution of domestic water in Nigeria. Keywords: Nigeria, Groundwater, Pollution, soil strata, Qualit

Municipal wastewater management using Vetiveria zizanioides planted in vertical flow constructed wetland

This study investigated wastewater management using Vetiveria zizanioides planted in vertical flow constructed wetland (VFCW). Wastewater from the grit removal chamber and the primary sedimentation tank of Daspoort Wastewater Treatment Works was fed into six-pilot VFCW consisting of 1000-L plastic tanks having 500-mm-deep, 10–15-mm-diameter granite substrate planted with V. zizanioides. Irrigation of macrophytes using effluent from the grit removal chamber and primary sedimentation tanks was done after 3 months of planting and the VFCW monitored. Wastewater samples were collected and analysed using standard procedures. The pollution parameters of the initial sample were total alkalinity 297 ± 27.3 mg/L; COD 627 ± 149.0 mg/L; EC 82.53 ± 5.4 ms/m; free and saline ammonia 36.02 ± 4.1 mg/L, nitrate/nitrite 0.09 ± 0.1 mg/L; pH 7.66 ± 0.4; phosphate 3.07 ± 0.3 mg/L, sulphate 44.57 ± 3.1 mg/L; TDS 551 ± 37.8; TSS 319 ± 34.2 mg/L; and TKN 41 ± 6 mg/L. Percentage removal of 89.57, 98.34% TSS; 98.95, 98.62 free and saline ammonia; 89.87, 91.44% TKN; and 80.65, 58.02% COD for screen and settled wastewater, respectively, was obtained from the VFCW. VFCW using locally available V. zizanioides is a viable alternative for municipal wastewater treatment

SUBSURFACE FLOW CONSTRUCTED WETLAND SYSTEM VEGETATED WITH PHRAGMITES KARKA IN THE TREATMENT OF DYE-RICH WASTEWATER

Some major parts of tropical Africa, especially in West Africa are nowadays grappling with the problem of degradation of the quality of fresh water by the introduction of effluents containing dyes from textile industries. In this study a low cost and economical method of treating dye-rich effluent using locally available macrophyte was investigated. The pilot Constructed Wetland (CW) consists of 1200 × 1000 × 1000 mm plastic tanks, filled with 500 mm deep 10-15 mm size granite overlaid with 150 mm thick sand (Cu = 1.15 and Cc = 6.8) substrate. The substrates had an hydraulic conductivity of 0.002 m/s. The pilot CW was planted with Phragmites Karka Retz. at 200 mm c/c to provide a high density bed. Irrigation was done intermittently at 6 days retention period with 0.05 m3 indigo dye rich wastewater from the local tie and dye textile industries and plant growth monitored. Physico-chemical parameters, Cr, Pb, Cu, Zn and Fe removal were also evaluated. The study revealed a 24 % growth rate reduction in the plants irrigated with indigo dye-rich wastewater. Reduction of TDS (50 %), TSS (66 %), EC (46 %) were also observed and the heavy metals evaluated showed an uptake of 64 %, 68 %, 78 %, 58 %, and 68 % for Cr, Pb, Zn, Cu, and Fe respectively by the CW. Phragmites karka as a macrophyte in Constructed Wetland was found to be efficient in dye-rich wastewater treatment.     &nbsp

Municipal wastewater treatment using sequential activated sludge reactor and vegetated submerged bed constructed wetland planted with Vetiveria zizanioides

This study investigated a sequential system consisting of Biological Nutrient Removal Activated Sludge(BNRAS) and Vegetated Submerged Bed Constructed Wetlands (VSBCW). The BNRAS/VSBCW combination removing pollutants from municipal wastewater in a developing country was examined. Wastewater from the anaerobic, anoxic and aerobic zones of the BNRAS was fed into 12 pilot VSBCW consisting of 1000 L plastic tanks having 500 mm deep 10–15 mm diameter granite substrate planted with Vetiveria Zizanioides. Irrigation of macrophytes using effluent from the BNRAS was done after 3 months of planting and the VSBCW effluent analyzed. Wastewater samples were collected and analyzed using standard procedures. Percentage removal of 96.6, 96.93, and 97.21% of COD; 33.33, 85.71, and 92.48% of Nitrate/Nitrite;53.51, 46.45, and 88.78% of Sulphate; and 98.34, 99.72, and 99.6% of TSS were obtained from the anaerobic, anoxic and aerobic zones respectively. Removal efficiency from the anaerobic zone effluent was highest during the study period. VSBCW using locally available macrophytes V. Zizanioides in combination with BNRAS was found efficient in municipal wastewater treatment

Climate Change Dynamics and Imperatives for Food Security in Nigeria

Decadal variability in African rainfall is projected from General Circulation Models (GCMs) to continue under elevated greenhouse gas scenarios. Effects on rain intensity, spatio-temporal variability of growing seasons, flooding, drought, and land-use change impose feedbacks at regional-local scales. Yet, empirical knowledge of associated impacts on crop yield is limited; thus, we examined the imperatives for food security in Nigeria. Bivariate correlation and multiple regression suggests impending drought in the northern region where livestock farming is predominant. Relative contributions of climate independent variables in determining crop yield by backward selection procedures with stepwise approach indexed the impacts of annual climate variability by a parameter computed as annual yield minus mean annual yield divided by the standard deviation. Results show Z-distribution approximately 5 to + 5, when 3 indicate impacts significant at 95% confidence levels. In conclusion, we established the interwoven relationship between climatic change and food security

A Simplified Overview of Text-To-Speech Synthesis

Computer-based Text-To-Speech systems render text into an audible form, with the aim of sounding as natural as possible. This paper seeks to explain Text-To-Speech synthesis in a simplified manner. Emphasis is placed on the Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Digital Signal Processing (DSP) components of Text-To-Speech Systems. Applications and limitations of speech synthesis are also explore

An Assessment of Water Related Diseases in a Nigerian Community

Information on the general health problems in Ota was provided while the ailments that are directly related to water were highlighted and discussed. The information was gathered by questionnaire application, using non-quota sampling technique. The target respondents were health care workers such as doctors, nurses and pharmacists who work in hospitals and primary health care centers situated in the municipality. It was observed that out of the top seven diseases that are most frequently reported in Ota, five were water related. These diseases include malaria, typhoid, vital organ failure, cholera and skin disease. Reasons for the high level of water related ailments were explained by poor level of supply of potable water to the municipality, as well as poor sanitation practices by the residents