The Pollution Effects of Indiscriminate Disposal of Wastewater on Soil in Semi-Urban Area

The disposal of wastewater is a problem of great concern throughout the world specifically in developing countries. This study investigates the impact of indiscriminate wastewater disposal on soil in Akindeko and Abiola halls of residence at the Federal University of Technology, Akure Nigeria. Soil samples were taken from the wastewater disposal site at the surface and varying depths of 10 cm and 20 cm while the control samples were taken 10 m away from the polluted soil surface. Physico-chemical and  bacteriological properties determined include; colour, odour, soil weight, particle weight, bulk density, porosity, pH, Copper, Manganese, Zinc, Lead, Cadmium, Cobalt, Iron, Sodium, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, bacteria, fungi and coliforms. The results showed that all the  physicochemical and bacteriological properties of the soils have relatively high concentration indicating pollution compared to the control samples. The pH ranged  from 8.7 to 7.2 while Ca and K have a range of 1277 ppm to 773 ppm and 1273 ppm to 754 ppm respectively. The highest concentration of Zn and Mn are19.30 ppm  and 11.70 ppm respectively. It is recommended that a sustainable wastewater treatment plant should be provided to treat all wastewater generated from all hall of residence in the university and at the same time the soils in the area require various remediation technologies like bioremediation and phytoremediation by growing certain plants in the area to minimize the rate of contamination and extent of future pollution problems. This will go a long way in preventing environmental pollution in the study area.Keywords: Wastewater, Pollution, Heavy metals, Soil, Semi-urba

Evaluation of Flow Rate Correction in Water Pipeline Distribution Network by Two Numerical Methods of Solution

This study evaluates flow rate correction and approximate flow rates in  loops for three different case studies of closed looped pipe distribution network systems using Hardy Cross and Newton Raphson. Darcy Weisbach head loss equation was also used to account for major losses. Manual calculation was initially done for each case study followed by a C-Sharp programming software which was developed to affirm the manual  calculation. For one looped network, head loss around the loop converged from 25.60 m to 0.13 m at the third iteration. The two looped network head loss around each loop converged from 170.97 m and 8.92 m to 0.05 and 0.06 m for Hardy Cross at the sixth iteration while the head loss are 0.88 m and 0.24 m at the fourth iteration for both Hardy Cross and Newton Raphson method while for the three looped network, it has head losses around the three loops converged after the fourth iteration from 0.26, 1.36 and 18.32 m to 0.13, 0.11 and 0.10 m respectively for Hardy Cross at thirditeration while the head losses are 0.03, 0.00 and 0.05 m for Newton  Raphson method. Newton Raphson method was found to have a better convergence pattern because it convergences in a uniform manner unlike Hardy Cross method. Also, the program developed gave almost but more accurate results as compared to that of manual calculations with the agreement between them rated at 98%. Some slight differences encountered in the mathematical terms calculated were as a result of some accumulated approximation errors.Keywords: Pipe Distribution Network, Head loss, Convergence, Iteratio

Framework for assessing the viability of implementing dual water reticulation systems in South Africa

In many settlements across the world (e.g. Pimpama Coomera and Mawson Lakes – Australia, Hong Kong – China, Majuro – Marshall Islands, Tarawa – Kiribati, and Windhoek – Namibia), dual water reticulation systems have been implemented in response to increasing water demands and decreasing freshwater availability. A dual water reticulation system comprises separate pipes that supply different water qualities to the end consumer. A set of pipes supply potable water while another set of pipes supply non-potable water. The non-potable water is targeted at meeting water requirements traditionally met using potable water (e.g. toilet and urinal flushing, landscaping irrigation, and industrial cooling). This therefore frees potable water to be used for previously unmet or increasing potable water requirements. For several reasons including the dearth of relevant national regulatory and guideline documents, consumer and decision-maker perceptions, ignorance, and appropriate decision-making tools, the use of dual water reticulation systems in South Africa has been limited. The aim of this study was therefore to develop a decision-making framework, using robust criteria, for assessing the viability of implementing dual systems in South Africa. This aim was achieved through undertaking literature reviews on the subject, an investigation of non-potable water consumers’ and decision-makers’ perceptions using questionnaires, and the actual development of a framework using data obtained from the literature review and questionnaires. The questionnaires were developed using seven key issues i.e. public health and safety, economics, technical feasibility, legislation/regulations and guidelines, organisational capacity, social acceptance, and public education. The various aspects of the Triple Bottom Line of sustainability (i.e. economic, environmental and social) provided structure to the framework while the Triple Bottom Line approach was utilised in the assessment of the different criteria

Qualitative Assessment of Some Available Water Resources in Efon-Alaaye, Ekiti State Nigeria

As water is a major life sustainer, hence its portability is of great importance in performing that role well. In this study, various water samples were  collected within Efon-Alaaye for both physicochemical and bacteriological tests. A total of nine (9) water samples were taken for analysis with six (6) from various surface sources and three (3) from groundwater sources in the study area. The mean turbidity value, temperature, total dissolved solids(TDS) concentration, hardness and EC are 2.92 NTU, 23°C, 447.8 mg/l, 48.1 mg/l and 138.4 μS/cm respectively. Manganese has mean value of 0.27 mg/l. The concentration of both copper and zinc ranges from 0.07 – 0.13 mg/l and 0.16 – 0.55 mg/l with an average value of 0.04 mg/l and 0.28 mg/l respectively. Water samples collected were also analyzed for total coliform bacteria and ranged from 1 to 4.6/100 ml with an average value of 3.29 colony/100 ml. On the basis of findings, the physico-chemical analysis reveals that some of the water samples were above the WHO standards for parameters like turbidity and TDS while the bacteriological test reveals that seven (7) of the water samples considered met the WHO requirement of portability while the other two samples contain faecal contaminant as E.coliwas discovered, though at reasonable rate.Keywords: Physicochemical, Bacteriological, Groundwater, Surface water

Proteomic Analyses Reveal Common Promiscuous Patterns of Cell Surface Proteins on Human Embryonic Stem Cells and Sperms

BACKGROUND: It has long been proposed that early embryos and reproductive organs exhibit similar gene expression profiles. However, whether this similarity is propagated to the protein level remains largely unknown. We have previously characterised the promiscuous expression pattern of cell surface proteins on mouse embryonic stem (mES) cells. As cell surface proteins also play critical functions in human embryonic stem (hES) cells and germ cells, it is important to reveal whether a promiscuous pattern of cell surface proteins also exists for these cells. METHODS AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Surface proteins of hES cells and human mature sperms (hSperms) were purified by biotin labelling and subjected to proteomic analyses. More than 1000 transmembrane or secreted cell surface proteins were identified on the two cell types, respectively. Proteins from both cell types covered a large variety of functional categories including signal transduction, adhesion and transporting. Moreover, both cell types promiscuously expressed a wide variety of tissue specific surface proteins, and some surface proteins were heterogeneously expressed. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our findings indicate that the promiscuous expression of functional and tissue specific cell surface proteins may be a common pattern in embryonic stem cells and germ cells. The conservation of gene expression patterns between early embryonic cells and reproductive cells is propagated to the protein level. These results have deep implications for the cell surface signature characterisation of pluripotent stem cells and germ cells and may lead the way to a new area of study, i.e., the functional significance of promiscuous gene expression in pluripotent and germ cells

Derivation of Xeno-Free and GMP-Grade Human Embryonic Stem Cells – Platforms for Future Clinical Applications

Clinically compliant human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) should be developed in adherence to ethical standards, without risk of contamination by adventitious agents. Here we developed for the first time animal-component free and good manufacturing practice (GMP)-compliant hESCs. After vendor and raw material qualification, we derived xeno-free, GMP-grade feeders from umbilical cord tissue, and utilized them within a novel, xeno-free hESC culture system. We derived and characterized three hESC lines in adherence to regulations for embryo procurement, and good tissue, manufacturing and laboratory practices. To minimize freezing and thawing, we continuously expanded the lines from initial outgrowths and samples were cryopreserved as early stocks and banks. Batch release criteria included DNA-fingerprinting and HLA-typing for identity, characterization of pluripotency-associated marker expression, proliferation, karyotyping and differentiation in-vitro and in-vivo. These hESCs may be valuable for regenerative therapy. The ethical, scientific and regulatory methodology presented here may serve for development of additional clinical-grade hESCs

The LARGE Principle of Cellular Reprogramming: Lost, Acquired and Retained Gene Expression in Foreskin and Amniotic Fluid-Derived Human iPS Cells

Human amniotic fluid cells (AFCs) are routinely obtained for prenatal diagnostics procedures. Recently, it has been illustrated that these cells may also serve as a valuable model system to study developmental processes and for application in regenerative therapies. Cellular reprogramming is a means of assigning greater value to primary AFCs by inducing self-renewal and pluripotency and, thus, bypassing senescence. Here, we report the generation and characterization of human amniotic fluid-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (AFiPSCs) and demonstrate their ability to differentiate into the trophoblast lineage after stimulation with BMP2/BMP4. We further carried out comparative transcriptome analyses of primary human AFCs, AFiPSCs, fibroblast-derived iPSCs (FiPSCs) and embryonic stem cells (ESCs). This revealed that the expression of key senescence-associated genes are down-regulated upon the induction of pluripotency in primary AFCs (AFiPSCs). By defining distinct and overlapping gene expression patterns and deriving the LARGE (Lost, Acquired and Retained Gene Expression) Principle of Cellular Reprogramming, we could further highlight that AFiPSCs, FiPSCs and ESCs share a core self-renewal gene regulatory network driven by OCT4, SOX2 and NANOG. Nevertheless, these cell types are marked by distinct gene expression signatures. For example, expression of the transcription factors, SIX6, EGR2, PKNOX2, HOXD4, HOXD10, DLX5 and RAXL1, known to regulate developmental processes, are retained in AFiPSCs and FiPSCs. Surprisingly, expression of the self-renewal-associated gene PRDM14 or the developmental processes-regulating genes WNT3A and GSC are restricted to ESCs. Implications of this, with respect to the stability of the undifferentiated state and long-term differentiation potential of iPSCs, warrant further studies

Keratan sulphate in the tumour environment

Keratan sulphate (KS) is a bioactive glycosaminoglycan (GAG) of some complexity composed of the repeat disaccharide D-galactose β1→4 glycosidically linked to N-acetyl glucosamine. During the biosynthesis of KS, a family of glycosyltransferase and sulphotransferase enzymes act sequentially and in a coordinated fashion to add D-galactose (D-Gal) then N-acetyl glucosamine (GlcNAc) to a GlcNAc acceptor residue at the reducing terminus of a nascent KS chain to effect chain elongation. D-Gal and GlcNAc can both undergo sulphation at C6 but this occurs more frequently on GlcNAc than D-Gal. Sulphation along the developing KS chain is not uniform and contains regions of variable length where no sulphation occurs, regions which are monosulphated mainly on GlcNAc and further regions of high sulphation where both of the repeat disaccharides are sulphated. Each of these respective regions in the KS chain can be of variable length leading to KS complexity in terms of chain length and charge localization along the KS chain. Like other GAGs, it is these variably sulphated regions in KS which define its interactive properties with ligands such as growth factors, morphogens and cytokines and which determine the functional properties of tissues containing KS. Further adding to KS complexity is the identification of three different linkage structures in KS to asparagine (N-linked) or to threonine or serine residues (O-linked) in proteoglycan core proteins which has allowed the categorization of KS into three types, namely KS-I (corneal KS, N-linked), KS-II (skeletal KS, O-linked) or KS-III (brain KS, O-linked). KS-I to -III are also subject to variable addition of L-fucose and sialic acid groups. Furthermore, the GlcNAc residues of some members of the mucin-like glycoprotein family can also act as acceptor molecules for the addition of D-Gal and GlcNAc residues which can also be sulphated leading to small low sulphation glycoforms of KS. These differ from the more heavily sulphated KS chains found on proteoglycans. Like other GAGs, KS has evolved molecular recognition and information transfer properties over hundreds of millions of years of vertebrate and invertebrate evolution which equips them with cell mediatory properties in normal cellular processes and in aberrant pathological situations such as in tumourogenesis. Two KS-proteoglycans in particular, podocalyxin and lumican, are cell membrane, intracellular or stromal tissue–associated components with roles in the promotion or regulation of tumour development, mucin-like KS glycoproteins may also contribute to tumourogenesis. A greater understanding of the biology of KS may allow better methodology to be developed to more effectively combat tumourogenic processes

Sustainable Approach to Wastewater Management in the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria

Proper disposal of wastewater still remains a major concern in developing countries. As population grows and urbanization increases, more wastewater is generated and there is great awareness on the health and environmental implication of poorly disposed wastewater. This research work develops a sustainable approach to wastewater disposal in the Federal University of Technology, Akure. The existing wastewater disposal system in use in the study area is the septic tank - soakaway system for individual buildings. This approach presents serious problems due to the choice of inappropriate technology, improper siting of infrastructure, lack of adherence to correct design concepts and lack of proper maintenance.Wastewater samples were collected and their properties determined through laboratory tests to ascertain the concentrations of significant physical, chemical and bacteriological constituents for the selection of appropriate wastewater treatment processes. The total estimate of the wastewater generated from various locations was 2.075 million liters per day based on the population of approximately 26,131.Taking into consideration the available pipe sizes in the market a pipe size of 100 mm was found to be suitable for wastewater conveyance from the office and residential areas based on the contributory population. The proposed wastewater treatment plant (three anaerobic ponds of 57.42 m x19.14 m x5 m connected in series) is to be sited at the lowest topographical level which is of suitable distance from the office and residential areas. Implementing this wastewater management approach in the university will mitigate the negative effect of septic tank - soakaway system and present an environmentally sustainable wastewater management approach.Keywords: Wastewater, disposal methods, septic tank, soakaway and anaerobic pon