An efficient framework to sustainable management of refuse collection and evacuation in a developing city

The study developed a framework for sustainable management of refuse collection and evacuation in Bauchi city through spatial modeling. Coordinates of dump sites and sample households from the study area were obtained by Global Positioning System (GPS) while road network was obtained by digitizing satellite image of the area and both were used in this research. Thus, digital map of dump sites, sampled households and roads about the area were produced. Using the “Network Analyst Tool (NAT)” of ArcGIS 10.2 functionalities for service areas, closest facilities and best routes, a model was then developed to encourage efficient and sustainable refuse collection and evacuation in the area. The model developed has 22 dump sites, 15 closest facilities and 3 trucks routes. The service areas around each dump site are in three buffer zones covering distances of 200m, 350m and 500m respectively while the longest and shortest distances of 1499.46m and 156m in the closest facilities for the households were confirmed. Also, three trucks with truck3 having the longest distance was discovered while truck1 has the least distance for refuse evacuation in the area. These were discovered based on service areas, closest facility and best routes and hence the model will improve the general situation of refuse disposal in the area. Moreover, it will specifically ensure efficiency and sustainability in the management of refuse collection and evacuation of the area. Therefore, spatial modeling through NAT looks more appropriate as panacea for inefficient and unsustainable management of refuse collection and evacuation of a developing Bauchi metropolis. Thus, the model is recommended to be used as an efficient framework for sustainable management of refuse collection and evacuation in similar developing cities.Keywords: Closest facilities, modeling, network analyst, route optimization, service area

Assessment of knowledge on functional values of edible insects in Peri urban communities of Ijebu Ode Local Government area, Ogun State Nigeria

This study examined the knowledge on functional value of edible insect in per urban communities of Ijebu Ode Local Government Area (LGA) in  Ogun State. Sixty residents were selected through purposive sampling from 11 communities in the LGA. Primary data collected through   administered questionnaire. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. Descriptive statistics such as simple percentage and frequency count were used. Hypothesis was tested using Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). The results revealed that about half (48.3%) of the respondents were between 31-40 years. A larger percentage was male (61.7%) and Christian (61.7%). Majority (68%) was married and 63.3% possess tertiary education. About one third of the respondents (33.3%) were civil servants and 28.3% earn between ₦41,000-₦60,000. Cricket, termite, palm weevil, yam beetle, caterpillar, silkworm, and locust respectively were the identified indigenous species of insects being consumed by the people. Also, more of the respondents eat crickets followed by locust and then termites. The results further revealed respondents’ knowledge of functional values of edible insects’ consumption and constraints to edible insects’ consumption. The results of the Pearson Product Moment  Correlation revealed that there is no significant relationship between respondent’s socio-economic characteristics’ and their edible insect  consumption at p < 0.05. This study concludes that residents of peri urban communities have good knowledge of functional values of edible insects. It is therefore recommended that there should be more awareness on consumption of edible insects since it is nutritious so that people can benefit from the numerous nutrients of these edible insects. Key words: functional value, edible insect, Ijebu Ode, pearson product moment correlatio

Fish sorting assessments of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings raised in fish tanks

Fish sorting assessments of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings stocked and raised in fish tanks were undertaken for a 6-month culture period: Sorting was undertaken from the first, second, and third months of stocking the fish fingerlings while the control was not sorted at all. The sorting assessments revealed that the twice sorting of fish fingerlings stocked with a Marginal Rate of Return (MRR) of 3.44 was significantly different (p>0.05) from those sorted once with MRR of 0.912, and three times with MRR of 2.65 respectively, thus making twice sorting most advisable for fish farmers utilizing Clarias gariepinus fingerlings for tank aquacultur

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Prediction of gravity anomalies for geophysical exploration

Interpretation of gravity anomalies (determined on the earth’s surface) reveals information on mineral resources beneath the earth. The density of gravity stations (where gravity anomalies are determined) is critical to the successful interpretation of these anomalies. Where the density of the available gravity anomalies is not enough, for a particular purpose of geophysical exploration, more gravity stations can be established within the surveyed area and the gravity anomalies observed for these stations. In some cases, where observations of gravity anomalies are not possible due, probably, to inaccessibility of the newly chosen gravity stations, the required gravity anomalies for such stations can be estimated (predicted). Currently, classical least squares technique is used to accomplish such task. However, the technique does not produce optimum results because its formulation assumes that the observed gravity anomalies, used for the prediction, are error free, whereas, all observed quantities are affected by random errors. Therefore, in this study, an attempt is made to carry out prediction of gravity anomalies for geophysical exploration using least squares collocation technique. This is considered to be a better alternative because its formulation takes the presence of random errors of observations in the observed quantities into consideration and makes provision for filtering out these errors while predicting the signals of interest at the required number of stations

A comparison of direct and indirect analytical methods of computing residual gravity anomalies for mineral exploration.

The first step in the analysis of gravity anomalies for mineral exploration is the extraction of residual gravity anomalies from the observed gravity anomalies. This can be achieved by graphical or analytical methods. Generally, direct and indirect analytical methods are considered better than graphical methods. Telford et al (1990) and Reynolds (1998) have shown that the two analytical methods are suitable for the determination of residual gravity anomalies. However, their studies did not include the comparison of the methods to determine which one of the two analytical methods is more suitable. In this study, direct and indirect analytical methods are utilized to compute residual gravity anomalies using rectangular coordinate system. The results confirm that both methods are suitable for the computation of residual gravity anomalies with indirect analytical method proving to be the better option for the computation of residual gravity anomalies

Prevalence of Preauricular Sinus in Lautech Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Southwest, Nigeria.

Introduction: This study aims to determine the prevalence of pre-auricular sinus and its associated symptoms and its management modality in a tertiary health facility in Oshogbo, south western NigeriaMethods: A prospective cross sectional descriptive study which was carried out between July 2012 and March 2013.Results: A total of 588 patients participated in the study consisting of 347 (59%) male with m: f ratio 1.4:1. The age of the participants ranged from 6 months to 80years with a mean age of 37.14 years. Sixty six participants had pre-auricular sinus with a prevalence of 11.2%. Majority (70%) of the pre-auricular sinus were found in males and the right ear was mostly affected 30 (49.2%). Twenty three (34.8%) had symptoms and only 3% had surgical intervention while others were managed conservatively with administration of appropriate antibiotics and analgesic. None of them had hearing loss or renal complication.Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of preauricular sinus in our environment with fewer patients manifesting symptoms. A very low proportion of patients with symptoms usually present for definitive management (surgery) in our environment; this may be related to strong cultural belief that militates against its prompt treatment. Association with renal impairment or hearing loss appear to be a rear occurrence in our environmen

Antimicrobial activity of eleagnine isolated from the seed cotyledons of Chrysophyllum albidum

This study evaluated the antimicrobial activity of eleagnine, a β-carboline alkaloid isolated from seed cotyledons of Chrysophyllum albidum G. Don Holl (Sapotaceae), and determined factors affecting it. Antimicrobial activities of eleagnine were determined using the agar diffusion and microdilution methods against selected typed organisms (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida spp.), clinical isolates (S. aureus, E. coli) and Trichophyton. The effects of inoculum size and pH on the bacteriostatic activity were studied using agar and broth dilution methods. Bactericidal/fungicidal activities were also evaluated using viable count technique. Cytotoxicity was determined using brine shrimp lethality test. Eleagnine showed higher bacteriostatic activity against Gram-positive organisms and Candida spp. than Gram-negative bacteria but showed no activity against Trichophyton. The MIC of eleagnine obtained by microdilution tests ranged from 9.77 μg/mL against S. aureus, 156.25 μg/mL for C. albicans to 312.5 μg/mL for E. coli and P. aeruginosa. Inoculum size (105-107 orgs/mL) did not appreciably affect activity but pH from 5.85 to 8.09 increased the activity against S. aureus and E. coli, suggesting the unionized form as the active compound. Eleagnine (100-400 μg/mL) produced a 4-5 log survivor reduction of S. aureus and E. coli in 30 min. LC50 of eleagnine was 18.8 mg/mL indicating minimal cytotoxicity. This study showed that eleagnine is bactericidal with low cytotoxicity. Factors affecting its activity (pH, solvent) could be optimized in developing effective antimicrobial products alone or in combination with other agents.Keywords: Eleagnine, Chrysophyllum albidum, antimicrobial, inoculum size, p