Contemporary Safety Practices and Zero Fatalities Success Factors in the UK Construction Industry

Globally, adverse safety practices and persistent fatalities have created an impression that “there will always be accidents in the construction industry”. Recent evidence suggests that chronic fatalities are exacerbated by dysfunctional safety practices with less craving for zero fatality. Yet, research that unravels these subtle practices with compelling solutions is scarce. The study aims to identify subtle dysfunctional safety practices and propose solutions to persistent fatalities in the construction sector. Key research questions are: what dysfunctional safety practices influence reoccurring fatalities and what do zero fatalities success factors (ZFSFs) look like in the construction industry? The study adopted mixed research methods with a phenomenological paradigm, reviewing 10 years of HSE archived data and a semi-structured interview among construction professionals to provide deeper insights into the study variables. Quantitative data was analysed using SPSS 29 and PowerBI analytics for visualizing the archive data. Initial findings indicate that human factors such as bad personal habits, mindset linked to complacency, distraction, taking shortcuts, and overconfidence contribute significantly to dysfunctional safety practices. The study reveals significant and disproportionate safety practices among construction workers requiring harmonisation across different sites. Also, dysfunctional safety behaviours and practices are prevalent, particularly in isolated sites managed by small construction firms. It concludes that achieving zero fatalities success factors is unlikely in the construction industry and recommends the active involvement of workers in developing health and safety strategies

Monitoring drought and effects on vegetation in Sokoto state, Nigeria using statistical and geospatial techniques

This paper aimed at assessing drought occurrences and its effects on vegetation cover in Sokoto State, Nigeria using geospatial and statistical techniques. Monthly precipitation data which span through a period of 40 years (1980-2010) and 30 years (1982-2011) respectively were used for generating Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) graphs and maps. LandSat   imageries of bands 3 and 4 acquired by Thematic Mapper (TM) and Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM+) Sensor were used for generating Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). SPI and NDVI were generated for the study area based on inter-annual and decadal timescale. Findings showed that SPI values varied from extremely dry condition to extreme wet condition although near normal condition ranked highest while extremely wet condition ranked least.  It also revealed that most of the Local Government Areas experienced near normal conditions but  Isa, Sabon Birni and little part of the boundary between Goronyo and Wurno experienced moderately wet conditions between 1982 and 1991. It was further observed that the whole region was dominated with near normal condition except Sabon Birni and Isa LGAs that experienced extremely, severely and moderately wet condition between 1992 and 2001. In contrast, the SPI values for over 90% of the state  between 2002 and 2011 fall within the severely dry conditions. Findings further showed that change scenarios observed from the derived NDVI and SPI maps indicated that the climatic variability currently being experienced is likely to increase and intensify in future. It is obvious that urgent attention on drought management over this region is needed.Keywords: Drought, SPI, NDVI, Vegetation Cover, Landsat Imageries, Northern Nigeri

Genotypic Characterization of Aminoglycoside Resistance Genes from Bacteria Isolates in Selected Municipal Drinking Water Distribution Sources in Southwestern Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Multi-drug Resistant (MDR) bacteria could lead to treatment failure of infectious diseases and could be transferred by non-potable water. Few studies have investigated occurrence of Antibiotic Resistance Genes (ARGs) among bacteria including Aminoglycoside Modifying Genes (AMGs) from Drinking Water Distribution Systems (DWDS) in Nigeria. Here, we aimed at characterization of AMGs from DWDS from selected states insouthwestern Nigeria.METHODS: One hundred and eighty one (181) MDR bacteria that had been previously characterized using 16S rDNA and showed resistance to at least one aminoglycoside antibiotic were selected from treated and untreated six water distribution systems in southwestern Nigeria. MDR bacteria were PCR genotyped for three AMGs:aph (3´´)c, ant (3´´)b and aph(6)-1dd.RESULTS: Out of 181 MDR bacteria genotyped, 69(38.12%) tested positive for at least one of the genotyped AMGs. Highest (50, 27.62%) detected gene was ant (3”)c followed by aph (3")c(33,18.23%). Combination of aph(3")c and ant (3")b in a single bacteria was observed as the highest (14, 7.73%) among the detected gene combination. Alcaligenes sp showed the highest (10/20) occurrence of ant (3")b while aph(3")c was the highest detected among Proteussp (11/22). Other bacteria that showed the presence of AMGs include: Acinetobacter, Aeromonas, Bordetella, Brevundimonas, Chromobacterium, Klebsiella, Leucobacter, Morganella, Pantoae, Proteus, Providencia, Psychrobacter and Serratia.CONCLUSIONS: High occurrence of ant (3”)c and aph (3”)c among these bacteria call for urgent attention among public health workers, because these genes can be easily disseminated to consumers of these water samples if present on mobile genetic elements like plasmids, integrons and transposons

A Comparative Study of Energy Demand of Instant- Pounded Yam Flour Production Methods

Traditionally, method of producing pounded yam by pounding cooked yam using pestle and mortar is time and labour consuming, thus discouraging consumption of the food among urban elite. Conversion of yam tubers to instant-pounded yam flour requires quantifiable magnitudes. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine energy conservation potentials of the established three instant-pounded yam flour methods of production. Data were collected from nine instant-pounded yam flour producing factory using structured questionnaires, oral interview, and direct measurement of processing parameters. The data were fit into standard equations to estimate energy demand. Energy required for processing 1000 kg of yam to instant-pounded yam flour using cooking method, steaming method and wet-milling methods were 6720.15MJ, 6934.48MJ and 4296.56MJ respectively, equivalent to 6.7 MJ/kg, 6.9 MJ/kg and 4.3 MJ/kg respectively. Energy intensity for peeling, washing, slicing and packaging were 0.0055 MJ, 0.003 MJ, 0.0076 MJ and 0.2 MJ respectively, and are the same for all the methods studied.  Drying consumed more than half of the total energy requirements in each method; cooking (66.26%), steaming (79.04%) and wet-milling methods (76.57%). Using energy demand as criterion, wet- milling method is recommended. Keywords: Instant-pounded yam flour, production method, energy demand, energy pattern

Quality assessment of hydroquinone, mercury, and arsenic in skin-lightening cosmetics marketed in Ilorin, Nigeria

Hydroquinone, Mercury (Hg), and Arsenic (As) are hazardous to health upon long-term exposure. Hydroquinone, Hg, and As were analysed in skin-lightening cosmetics randomly purchased from different cosmetic outlets within the Ilorin metropolis, Nigeria. The amount of hydroquinone in the samples was determined using a UV-spectrophotometry method at 290 nm. Hg and As were quantified using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). UV-spectrophotometry method validation showed excellent linearity (r2 = 0.9993), with limits of detection (0.75 g/mL), limits of quantification (2.28 g/mL), relative standard deviation (0.01–0.35%), and recovery (95.85–103.56%) in the concentration range of 5–50 g/mL. Similarly, r2, LOD, and LOQ for Hg and As were 0.9983 and 0.9991, (0.5 and 1.0 g/L) and 1.65 and 3.3 g/L) respectively. All the samples contained hydroquinone, Hg and As in varying amounts. The amounts of hydroquinone, Hg and As present were in the ranges of 1.9–3.3%, 0.08–2.52 g/g and 0.07–5.30 g/g respectively. Only three of the analysed samples contained hydroquinone within the permissible limit of 2.0% w/w in cosmetic products. All the samples analysed contained mercury and arsenic in varying amounts. The need to periodically monitor the levels of hydroquinone, mercury, and arsenic in skin-lightening cosmetics marketed in Nigeria is recommended

Quantitative Analysis of Oxytetracycline Residue in Beef and Chicken Meat from Cities of Southwest Nigeria

This study evaluated the levels of oxytetracycline residue in chicken and beef from major abattoirs and chicken marketing outlets in two metropolitan cities of southwest Nigeria. Samples of cattle (kidney, liver and muscle) and chicken (liver and muscle) from each city were obtained between January 2010 and December 2011. Oxytetracycline residue was determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The mean residue concentrations of 1324.7±148.0, 856.6±118.0 and 651.7±101.3μg/kg were obtained in bovine kidney, liver and beef respectively with 8.7%, 8.6% and 11.2% above MRLs (kidney 1200μg/kg, liver 600μg/kg and muscle 400μg/kg). The levels in chicken liver and muscle were 1042.0±122.8 and 615.0±91.8μg/kg, respectively, of which 17.4% and 18.4% were above MRLs. The levels were significantly higher (P<0.05) in chicken than in beef and also in wet than dry season in beef. This study showed that a high proportion of beef and chicken consumed in the cities contained violative levels of oxytetracycline residue arising possibly from indiscriminate antibiotics usage in Nigeria livestock industry. These could predispose meat consumers to the associated health risks of antibiotic residue. Regulatory control of antibiotics usage, residue monitoring in Nigerian meat will ensure food safety and participation in international meat trade.Keywords: Oxytetracycline, Residue, Beef, Chicken, HPLC, Southwest Nigeri

Effect of African breadfruit(Treculia africana) seed supplementation on some chemical and sensory attributes of fried water yam (Dioscorea alata) ball

Fried water yam ball, traditionally known as Ojojo in western Nigeria, is a low protein snack, usually prepared as value added product from grated water yam paste. The influence of African breadfruit seed, a lesser known protein source on quality attributes of water yam ball (Ojojo) was evaluated. Wet-milled water yam (WY) was produced and supplemented with African breadfruit seed (AB) at 10-50%. A control sample was prepared from 100% WY. The blend was mixed with ingredients (salt, powder pepper, okra and onion) and the mixed dough was subsequently used for the production of Ojojo, through deep fat frying. Using standard methods, snack was evaluated for proximate composition, metabolisable energy and anti-nutrient contents (total phenolic, flavonoids, tannin, phytate, oxalate and alkaloids). Hedonic test was used to evaluate the sensory properties. Data were analysed using ANOVA (analysis of variance) at α0.05. WY supplementation with AB significantly decreased moisture content (9.50-9.28%), fibre (2.20-1.80%) ash (5.50-4.00%) and carbohydrate (74.83-65.34%), but increased protein (7.02-13.50%), fat (0.95-6.00%) and metabolisable energy contents (340.97-373.39 kcal). There was significant increase in anti-nutrients (mg/100g), except total phenol (3.79-1.83), but they all fell within tolerable limits. Sample with 60% WY and 40% was the most acceptable by the panellists (7.02±0.38)

Global climate change impacts and mitigation on animal health

Climate change is an additional factor affecting animal production that is naturally dynamicand facing many physical and biomedical challenges. Its impacts on several sectors havebeen given more emphasis with little attention on effects of climate change on animal healthand infectious processes. Hence, this review is a periscope to the relationship betweenclimate change and animal health, adaptation and mitigation approaches for sustainableglobal ecosystem. It shows that while the global livestock sector contributes a significantshare to anthropogenic Green House Gas (GHG) emissions, it can also partake significantlyin the mitigation efforts. Consequently, concerted and collective actions from animal carestakeholders are urgently required to ensure that existing and promising adaptation andmitigation approaches are encouraged

Effects of pituitary extract, ovaprim, and bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) on the histopathology of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

The development of aquaculture in Nigeria is constrained by the inadequate supply of high quality of fingerlings of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus). There are conflicting reports on the reproductive efficacy of Vernonia amygdalina when compared with the synthetic hormone Ovaprim (OV) and Pituitary Extract (PE) on C. gariepinus. The histopathology of select organs in catfish treated with generic Ovaprim (OV), Pituitary Extract (CPE), and aqueous extract of Vernonia amygdalina (VAE) were evaluated. Sixteen female C. gariepinus (average weight of 1 kg) wereevenly and randomly distributed to four groups. Fish in groups A, B, C, and D were injected intramuscularly with aqueous solutions of OV (0.5 mL/kg), PE (5 mg/kg), VAE (10 mg/kg), and distilled water (DW; 0.5 ml), respectively. Histological examinations of the ovary, liver, kidney, and spleen were carried out. Histopathology revealed that OV- and PE-treated groups showed synchronous and synchronous ovarian development, vacuolar change of hepatocytes, thinning of hepatic cords, reduced renal haemopoietic compartments, tubular degeneration and necrosis, and decrease in splenic periarteriolar lymphoid sheaths (PALS). VAE-treated groups had asynchronous ovarian development with atretic ovarian follicles, widespread vacuolar change of hepatocytes, intact renal tubular and hemopoietic compartments, and preponderance of large and coalescing splenic PALS. We conclude that VAE is an ineffective spawning agent, especially when compared with OV and PE, as VAE could not induce synchronous gonadal development. However, VAE may have immunopotentiating, nephroprotective, and haemopoietic properties. Keywords: Clarias gariepinus, Vernonia amygdalina extract, Pituitary extract, Ovaprim, Gonadal development, Histopathology, Reproductive performanc