Benefits and challenges of biodiesel production in West Africa

Global warming is a threat to the world and the use of fossil fuels is a major factor that contributes to climate change and the damage to the environment. Therefore, the world is looking for environmentally friendly fuels and West Africa is doing little in solving this global problem. After the review of relevant literatures, it is concluded that West Africa is blessed with vast lands that are available for cultivating Jatropha plant for biodiesel production. Farmers in the rural areas could use biodiesel in powering their farm machineries, while biodiesel blend could be used in diesel engines. Consequently, the economy of West African nations will be better for it. There is low level of awareness of the advantages of biodiesel. Therefore, academic Institutions should intensify research on the prospect of biodiesel and the gap between the institutions and the industries should be closed.Keywords: Africa; Biodiesel; Blends; Free Fatty Acid (FFA); Glycerin

Estimation of LH, FSH, Prolactin, Ferritin and Vitamin B12 of Hypothyroid Women in Kirkuk City/Iraq

Thyroid diseases are among the commonest endocrine disorders. It effects growth, embryonic development, reproduction, tissue differentiation, maturation and  metabolism, this research aimed  to study gonadal dysfunction in hypothyroid womens, included serum levels of  FSH, LH, prolactin, Ferritin and Vitamin B12 with thyroid hormones,   blood sample was collected from women age ranged between (15-49) years 65 of them had hypothyroidisim and they were under hormonal treatment, while 10 of the samples were healthy control, The results Showed a significant difference in Serum levels of T3, T4, TSH, LH, FSH and Prolactin, while there was a significant decrease in Vitamin B12 Levels (P ≤ 0.027) in hypothyroid patients under hormonal treatment compared to control group, we concluded that  circulation thyroid hormone showed a significant effect of serum levels of LH, FSH, Prolactin and Vitamin B12,While no effects shows on serum ferritin

Evaluation of the impact of Acacia nilotica and Annona senegalensis as potential sources of phytogenic compounds on performances of commercial broiler chickens

The study investigated the impact of Acacia nilotica and Annona senegalensis leaves, as potential sources of phytogenics in broiler diets through a completely randomized design experiment. For both plants, chickens in control were fed diets without phytogenic sources, while the chicken in the test groups T2, T3, and T4, were fed with diets containing 200 g leaves per kg of feed, 200 g seed (ANS) per kg of feed, and 100 g each of both leaves and seeds per kg of feed, respectively. Performance parameters including body weight, feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio was recorded while haematological parameters including white blood cells, haematocrit, platelets, haemoglobin, and red blood cells of the chickens were assessed at the end of the study. The results showed that broilers fed diet containing both Acacia nilotica leaves and seeds (T4) had the highest body weight at 8 weeks (5011.10g, p<0.05), total feed intake (4100.00g, p<0.05), weight gain (4298.70g, p<0.05), and the most efficient feed-to-gain ratio (0.95, p<0.05). The broiler chickens fed diets containing Annona senegalensis leaves and seeds showed no significant differences in final body weight or weight gain compared to the control group (p = 0.414), with T3 having the highest average final body weight (3480g). However, feed intake patterns varied significantly, with T2 having the lowest average feed intake (2993g, p<0.05), and the control group having the highest feed intake, while no significant differences were observed in feed conversion ratios (FCR) among all groups, indicating similar feed efficiency across diets. Supplementation with Acacia nilotica leaves and seeds significantly increased white blood cell counts (p<0.05) in broiler chickens, with T2, T3, and T4 showing higher values (98.78 x 106/μL, 101.08 x 106/μL, and 101.24 x 106/μL, respectively) compared to control (82.98 x 106/μL). Conversely, Annona senegalensis leaves and seeds did not significantly affect white blood cell counts or other haematological parameters (p>0.05). This study demonstrates the potential of Acacia nilotica and Annona senegalensis as promising phytogenic alternatives for enhancing broiler chicken performance. However further research is warranted to explore the specific bioactive compounds in the test ingredients for these effects and optimize their use in poultry diets for sustainable and productive poultry production

Effects of Mucilage on the Pasting, Thermal and Retrogradative Properties of Native and Modified Starches Obtained from Ipomoea Batatas

This study investigates the effect of mucilage on the pasting, thermal and retrogradative properties of native, pregelatinized and acid modified starches obtained from ipomoea batatas. Dispersions of mucilage with each starch was carried out in a ratio 1:20, 1:10, 1:5, 3:10 and 2:5 respectively. Native starch (SPS) had a higher peak viscosity, trough, breakdown, final viscosity and enthalpy (?H) as compared to pregelatinized starch (PPS) and acid modified starch (APS) in the order SPS > PPS > APS. Parameters such as pasting temperature, syneresis, onset, peak and conclusion temperature were in the order APS > PPS > SPS. Pregelatinized starch had a higher set back and peak time as compared to other starches in the order PPS > SPS > APS. Generally, dispersions of SPS, PPS and APS in mucilage followed similar trends as described above with increase in peak time, pasting temperature and ?H as the mucilage concentrations increased and a decrease in peak viscosity, trough, breakdown, final viscosity, set back, syneresis (except SPS), onset, peak and conclusion (except APS) temperature as the mucilage concentration increases. Keywords: Ipomoea batatas starch, pregelatinized, acid modified, dispersion, mucilag

Anti-Necrobiosis Effect of Maggot Infestation in Experimental Pig Skin: A Tool in Forensic Medicine

Forensic examination in crime scene investigation (CSI) may involve examination of corpses from outside and exposed environment or even exhumed bodies. Analysis of necrotic tissue is often a challenging work. Though forensic entomology is helpful in determining time of death by linear regression method, this work seek to employ and advance the use of knowledge of the effect of insect larvae in comparing the pattern and nature of necrobiosis in maggot infested tissue and non-infested tissue during forensic analysis and interpretation. Twenty samples of pig skin were obtained, a good choice as a model similar to human skin, ten of which were deliberately infested with cultured larvae of  Lucilia sericata as test and the other ten allowed to undergo natural Necrobiosis without the larvae as control group, all in moist environment. The weight of each sample pig skin is taken every other day (48 hourly). The result showed a significant loss of consistency by autolysis and sloughing in non-infested pig skin more than in the infested pig skin sample and a significant of loss of weight in the two groups of sample (P<0.05). Marked acantholysis was more prominent in the non-infested pig skin than infested Pig skin on qualitative histological comparison. The study suggests that Necrobiosis in Maggot infested Tissue is much less than in Non-infested Tissue

Case studies of six CBFM-2 water bodies

The case studies report on how CBFM-2 interventions have affected aquatic productivity, income, employment and livelihoods in six case study sites, Beelbhora beel cluster (Kishoreganj), Sholuar beel (Narail), Chapundaha beel (Rangpur), Hamil beel (Tangail), Kutir beel (Kishoreganj) and Dikshi beel (Pabna).

Optimization of reaction variables in situ transesterification of Jatropha curcas seed oil for biodiesel production

Biodiesel was produced from seed oil of Jatropha curcas by in situ acid-catalyzed transesterification with methanol. Optimization of the reaction parameters was carried out using response surface methodology based on Box-Behnken design. All the four variables investigated were found to be significant. The empirical model obtained adequately expresses the relationship between the biodiesel yield and the statistically significant reaction variables (R2 = 96.97%). The optimization result predicted an optimal biodiesel yield of 84.07% at a reaction temperature of 48°C; a reaction time of 240 min; with 5 cm3 methanol/g of the seed and catalyst concentration of 0.88M. The validation result was in agreement with the predicted biodiesel yield. The fatty acid methyl profile of the biodiesel shows that it predominantly contains methyl esters of octadecenoic acid, octadecadienoic acid and hexadecanoic acid which make up about 87% the biodiesel. The fuel properties of the biodiesel were in agreement with the requirements of Worldwide Fuel Charter Committee Biodiesel Guidelines.Keywords: Jatropha curcas, Biodiesel, In situ transesterification, Optimization, Box-Behnke

The Load-Bearing System from the Perspective of Sustainable Building

The building sector has a great potential to achieve goals for sustainable development by promoting environmental quality, economic effectiveness, and social improvement. One aspect that can possibly be considered in this context is the design of the building structure. The purpose of this case study is to investigate how the choice of a load-bearing system of building can affect the amount of concrete and steel reinforcement used in the foundation and its impact on the economy and environment. An alternative structural system of an existing building is proposed. The load-bearing frame walls and spread concrete foundations under walls are replaced by load-bearing timber columns that are placed on separate concrete footing pads. The results show that the amount of concrete and steel in the proposed system have considerably been decreased compared to the reference building. Consequently, this results in minimizing the construction costs as well as the resulting emissions of carbon dioxide into the environment.   This case study reviews practical engineering design aspects that can be used by structural and construction engineers to help achieve sustainability goals of the built environment.   Received: 10 September 2023 | Revised: 23 February 2024 | Accepted: 8 March 2024   Conflicts of Interest  The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to this work.   Data Availability Statement Data sharing not applicable – no new data generated

Pembangunan JIG robot pengimpal bagi mengoptimakan masa pengajaran dan pembelajaran dalam kelas pembuatan (Development of JIG robot welding to optimize teaching and learning time in manufacturing classes) / Norfauzi T. ... [et al.]

Makalah ini berdasarkan masalah yang dihadapi apabila menggunakan Mesin Robot Pengimpalmodel ABB IRB 1410 semasa sesi pengajaran dan pembelajaran (P&P). Mesin Robot Pengimpal adalah mesin yang diprogramkan untuk membawa Robot Pengimpal pada bahan kerja secara automatik, namun demikianterdapat pelbagai masalah yang dihadapi, antaranya adalah perubahan kedudukan bahan kerja apabila proses kimpalan dijalankan.Kaedah semasa, memerlukan proses kimpalan titik terlebih dahulu dan memerlukan waktu yang lama untuk menyiapkan kedudukan bahan kerja. Berdasarkan masalah yang dihadapi, masa yang ditetapkan untuk sesi makmal mengambil masa yang lama dan mengganggu proses P&P. Objektif projek ini adalah untuk mengoptimumkan jadual penggunaan mesin Robot Pengimpal pada masa yang telah ditetapkan dan menyediakan latihan yang mencukupi kepada para pelajar dalam rangka masa jadual. Jig dibangunkan melalui lukisan kejuruteraan serta analisis keberkesanan jig melalui perisian CATIA V5 R23. Melalui CAD (lukisan terbantu computer) ia akan diterjemahkan kepada CAM (Pemesinan dibantu komputer)dan seterusnya dipindahkan kepada mesin untuk melakukan proses pemesinan pada setiap komponen dan memasang keseluruhan komponen. Keputusan untuk pembangunan Jig pada penetapan masa bahan kerja dan masa penggunaanRobot Pengimpal dapat dikurangkan lebih dari 40% dan jig juga boleh digunakan untuk sambungan temu, sambungan tindih dan sambungan T, di mana ketiga-tiga sambungan digunakan dalam proses pembelajaran di Makmal Pencantuman Termaju. Kesimpulannya, Jig dibangunkan untuk memudahkan pelajarmengendalikan Robot pengimpal dan mengurangkan masa persediaan bahan kerja