Harnessing Renewable Energy for Sustainable Agricultural Applications

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development suggests that all countries both developed and developing strive to attain the seventeen sustainable development goals (SDGs). Some items on the SDGs like implementation of renewable energy technologies to electrify regions disconnected from power grids are targeted to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger while ensuring environmental sustainability. Hence, the role of integrated renewable energy in improving the productivity and environmental sustainability of the agricultural sector cannot be overemphasized. This paper presents a brief survey of the application of renewable energy resources technologies in the agricultural sector

Environmental and Societal Impact of Nanotechnology

The ability to measure, understand, manipulate, organize, engineer and control matter on the nanoscale has been opening up the wealth of possibilities that were otherwise non - existent at higher scales. At this scale, basic research principles and tools in biology, physics, chemistry, and engineering converge and have led to all-inclusive applications of nanotechnology. Despite the innovative applications and promising potentials of nanotechnology, there are concerns about its short and long-lasting impacts on humans, nature and the environment. In an attempt to address these concerns, a number of researches have been conducted. Evaluations of studies addressing the issues of nanotechnologies and their impacts are necessary to give insights for further studies that will advance the technology for the true benefit of mankind and nature. This study, thus, provides a detailed review of studies on nanotechnology applications and the positions of stakeholders on the impact of nanotechnology. Among other things, the outcome of this survey shows that there are numerous successful applications of nanotechnology. Public perceptions are pivotal in determining the extent of revolution and transformation that nanotechnology will have on the environment. Religious beliefs and moral concerns; trust in governmental regulatory agencies and the industry; the level of inclusion of the society in the product design, development, and commercialization process is critical to the extent of acceptance of nanotechnology inventions. Expression of objective views concerning the benefits, limitations & risks, and adequate education of the public, risk regulators & all stakeholders are crucial in determining the fate of nanotechnolog

Harnessing Renewable Energy for Sustainable Agricultural Applications

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development suggests that all countries both developed and developing strive to attain the seventeen sustainable development goals (SDGs). Some items on the SDGs like implementation of renewable energy technologies to electrify regions disconnected from power grids are targeted to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger while ensuring environmental sustainability. Hence, the role of integrated renewable energy in improving the productivity and environmental sustainability of the agricultural sector cannot be overemphasized. This paper presents a brief survey of the application of renewable energy resources technologies in the agricultural sector.  Keywords: Sustainable agriculture; Water-food-energy nexus; Renewable energy; Techno-economic. JEL Classifications: Q2, Q4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32479/ijeep.777

Modifying cooking banana starch using octenyl succinic anhydride improves the amylose-amylopectin ratio of starch. A chemometrics approach

The disadvantage posed by native starch during food application had led to starch modification using physical or chemical techniques. This research therefore, aimed at modelling and optimizing the amylose-amylopectin ratio of modified cooking banana starch using chemometrics approach (response surface methodology). This was done by varying different concentration of octenyl succinate anhydride concentration (3-5%), reaction time (30-60 mins) and pH (8-10) using Box-Behnken design. The result obtained revealed the significance and accuracy of the model in predicting the amylose-amylopectin ratio of the modified starch owing to its low p-value (p 0.97). The adequate precision value greater than 4 was an indication that the model can navigate within the design space. Finally, an optimal value of 3.32% octenyl succinate anhydride concentration, reaction time of 32.04 mins and substrate pH of 8 was obtained which resulted in predicted amylose-amylopectin ratio of 0.806

Clients' reasons for prenatal ultrasonography in Ibadan, South West of Nigeria

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Prenatal ultrasonography has remained a universal tool but little is known especially from developing countries on clients' reasons for desiring it. Then aim was to determine the reasons why pregnant women will desire a prenatal ultrasound.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>It was a cross-sectional survey of consecutive 222 women at 2 different ultrasonography facilities in Ibadan, South-west Nigeria.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The mean age of the respondents was 30.1 ± 4.5 years. The commonest reason for requesting for prenatal ultrasound scans was to check for fetal viability in 144 women (64.7%) of the respondents, followed by fetal gender determination in 50 women (22.6%. Other reasons were to check for number of fetuses, fetal age and placental location. Factors such as younger age, artisans profession and low level of education significantly influenced the decision to check for fetal viability on bivariate analysis but all were not significant on multivariate analysis. Concerning fetal gender determination, older age, Christianity, occupation and gravidity were significant on bivariate analysis, however, only gravidity and occupation remained significant independent predictor on logistic regression model. Women with less than 3 previous pregnancies were about 4 times more likely to request for fetal sex determination than women with more than 3 previous pregnancies, (OR 3.8 95%CI 1.52 – 9.44). The professionals were 7 times more likely than the artisans to request to find out about their fetal sex, (OR 7.0 95%CI 1.47 – 333.20).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study shows that Nigerian pregnant women desired prenatal ultrasonography mostly for fetal viability, followed by fetal gender determination. These preferences were influenced by their biosocial variables.</p

Strengthening Bioinformatics and Genomics Analysis Skills in Africa for Attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals Report of the 2nd Conference of the Nigerian Bioinformatics and Genomics Network

The second conference of the Nigerian Bioinformatics and Genomics Network (NBGN21) was held from October 11 to October 13, 2021. The event was organized by the Nigerian Bioinformatics and Genomics Network. A 1-day genomic analysis workshop on genome-wide association study and polygenic risk score analysis was organized as part of the conference. It was organized primarily as a research capacity building initiative to empower Nigerian researchers to take a leading role in this cutting-edge field of genomic data science. The theme of the conference was “Leveraging Bioinformatics and Genomics for the attainments of the Sustainable Development Goals.” The conference used a hybrid approach—virtual and in-person. It served as a platform to bring together 235 registered participants mainly from Nigeria and virtually, from all over the world. NBGN21 had four keynote speakers and four leading Nigerian scientists received awards for their contributions to genomics and bioinformatics development in Nigeria. A total of 100 travel fellowships were awarded to delegates within Nigeria. A major topic of discussion was the application of bioinformatics and genomics in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG3—Good Health and Well-Being, SDG4—Quality Education, and SDG 15—Life on Land [Biodiversity]). In closing, most of the NBGN21 conference participants were interviewed and interestingly they agreed that bioinformatics and genomic analysis of African genomes are vital in identifying population-specific genetic variants that confer susceptibility to different diseases that are endemic in Africa. The knowledge of this can empower African healthcare systems and governments for timely intervention, thereby enhancing good health and well-bein

Modeling and Analysis of an SEIRS Epidemic Model with Saturated Incidence

In this paper, an SEIRS epidemic model with nonlinear incidence rate is investigated. The model exhibits two equilibria namely, the disease-free equilibrium and the endemic equilibrium. It is shown that if the basic reproduction number, R0<1 the disease free equilibrium is locally and globally asymptotically stable. Also, we show that R0>1, the disease equilibrium is locally asymptotically stable and the disease is uniformly persisted. Some numerical simulations are given to illustrate the analytical results. Keywords: Epidemic model, nonlinear incidence rate, basic reproduction number, local and global stabilit

Sensitivity Analysis of Dengue Model with Saturated Incidence Rate

Dengue is a flavivirus, transmitted to human through the bites of infected Aedes aegypti and A. albopictus mosquitoes. In this paper, we analyze a new system of ordinary differential equations which incorporates saturated incidence function, vector biting rate and control measures at both the aquatic and adult stages of the vector (mosquito). The stability of the system is analysed for the dengue-free equilibrium via the threshold parameter (reproduction number) which was obtained using the Next generation matrix techniques. Routh Hurwitz criterion along together with Descartes’ rule of signs change established the local asymptotically stability of the model whenever 0 R < 1 and unstable otherwise. Furthermore, the sensitivity analysis was carried out and the numerical simulation reveals that increasing the proportion of human antibody and putting into place a control strategy that minimize the vector biting rate are enough to reduce the infection of the disease in the population to its barest minimum

Changes in Total Phenolic and Protein Contents during Production of Protein Isolates from Carica papaya (Pawpaw) Seeds

The effect of different processing stages- defatting, solubilization, isoelectric precipitation, neutralisation and lyophilisation on the total phenolic content and protein content of Carica papaya (pawpaw) seeds (CPS) full-fat flour (CFF), defatted flour (CDF), protein concentrates (CPC) and protein isolates (CPI) was studied. The folin-ciocalteu procedure was used to assess the total phenolic concentrations of the Carica papaya products and results were expressed as gallic acid equivalent (GAE). Optimal protein content was estimated at pH 10 for all samples. Higher levels of polyphenols were extracted using water-methanol (20/80) mixture compared to 100% methanol. Total phenolic content (TPC) was demonstrated in a trend of CDF > CPC > CFF > CPI with CDF having the highest TPC. The finding suggested a more economical protein isolate production method. The study concludes that the processing of CPS into the various products (CFF, CDF, CPC & CPI) improves its protein and polyphenol content