Physicochemical Quality and Genotoxic Potential of Wastewater Generated by Canteen Complex

Canteens generate high volumes of wastewater that should constantly be subjected to physicochemical and genotoxicity screening. In this study, the wastewater generated by a canteen complex was screened for physicochemical properties and genotoxic potential using standard procedures and Allium cepa chromosome assay. Results showed that the wastewater had total suspended solids, total dissolved solids, and total hardness concentrations of 120.70 mg/l, 554.50 mg/l, and 500.00 mg/l, respectively. The chloride concentration of the wastewater (7873.60 mg/l) was much higher than the recommended limit of 250 mg/l. The wastewater inhibited root growth in A. cepa at 0.1%, 1%, 10%, 25%, 50%, and 100% concentrations but promoted root growth at 2% and 5% concentrations. The wastewater was highly mitodepressive, with mitotic inhibition generally increasing with rising concentrations. The major chromosomal aberrations observed in A. cepa exposed to different concentrations of canteen wastewater were vagrant, sticky, and bridged chromosomes. No chromosomal aberration was observed in onion roots exposed to water (control). The differences in total chromosomal aberrations across wastewater concentrations were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). In view of these results, the practice of discharging untreated canteen wastewater into drainage canals may not be environmentally sustainable

Are adults just big kids? Can the newer paediatric weight estimation systems be used in adults?

Background. The weight of a patient is an important variable that impacts on their medical care. Although some drugs are prescribed on a so-called ‘adult dose’ basis, we know that adults come in all shapes and sizes – a ‘one-dose-fits-all’ approach is not necessarily appropriate. As a measured weight may not always be available, an alternative method of accurately estimating weight is required.Objectives. To assess and compare the accuracy of weight estimations in adults by patient self-estimation, the Mercy method, Buckley method, Broca index and PAWPER XL-MAC (paediatric advanced weight prediction in the emergency room eXtra length/eXtra large mid-arm circumference) method.Methods. This was a prospective, cross-sectional study conducted at a tertiary academic hospital in a metropolitan area of Johannesburg, South Africa. Anthropometric variables of height, abdominal circumference, thigh circumference, mid-arm circumference and humeral length were measured. These variables were then applied to the various weight estimation methods and compared with the patient’s actual weight.Results. There were 188 adult patients included in the study. None of the methodologies evaluated in this study achieved the recommended >70% of weight estimations within 10% of the patient’s actual weight (PW10). The Mercy method was the closest to achieving greater than the recommended 95% for weight estimation falling within 20% of the patient’s actual weight (PW20). The PW20 for the Mercy method was 91.5%. The PAWPER XL-MAC and patient self-estimate methods achieved a PW20 of 85.1% and 86.1%, respectively. The Broca and Buckley methods performed poorly overall.Conclusions. None of the evaluated weight estimation methodologies was accurate enough for use in adult weight estimation. The Mercy and PAWPER XL-MAC methodologies both showed significant promise for use in adult weight estimation, but need further refinement. Although patient self-estimates were similarly accurate to those found in previous studies, they were not an accurate option; self-estimations would remain the first choice if the patient was able to provide such an estimation. The Broca index and Buckley method cannot be recommended owing to their poor performance

Growth Performance, Haematological Indices and Cost Benefits of Growing Pigs Fed Cassava Peel Meal Diets Supplemented With Allzyme® SSF

Effect of replacing dietary maize with cassava peel meal (CPM) supplemented with Allzyme® SSF (SSF) on the growth performance, haematological indices and cost benefits of growing pigs was investigated. Chemical composition of CPM and diets used were determined using standard procedures. Twenty-four growing pigs with average weight of 14.0+0.25kg were allotted to 6 dietary treatments whereby CPM replaced maize at 0, 50 and 100% levels with SSF supplementation at 0g/100kg and 20g/100kg of diet. Each treatment was replicated 4 times while the experiment lasted 8 weeks. Data were collected on daily feed intake (DFI), daily weight gain (DWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR); feed cost/weight gain and feed cost/day were calculated. Blood samples collected through jugular vein puncture were analyzed for haematological indices such as white blood cells (WBC), red blood cell and platelet count. The CPM diets with or without SSF gave comparable (P>0.05) pigs’ growth performance to what was obtained for pigs on the maize based diets in terms of DFI (1.26 – 1.33kg), DWG (0.32 – 0.40kg) and FCR (3.13 – 4.03). Values for WBC were within normal range, though they had significant (p<0.05) variations. Other haematological parameters were not influenced (p>0.05) by CPM inclusion. Feed cost/kg diet (N54.11 – N74.39) and feed cost/weight gain (N195.33 – N244.65) reduced insignificantly (P>0.05) with CPM inclusion in the diets of pigs. It was concluded that cassava peel meal can totally replace maize with or without enzyme supplementation in the diets of growing pigs for optimal performance at reduced cost

Improving distributed video coding side information by intelligently combining macro-blocks from multiple algorithms

The performance of distributed video coding (DVC) greatly relies on the quality of Side information (SI). This paper investigates a novel way of producing SI by intelligently combining macroblocks (MB) produced by two SI generation algorithms, namely higher-order piecewise temporal trajectory interpolation (HOPTTI) and adaptive overlapped block motion compensation (AOBMC). The two algorithms address the problem differently. HOPTTI attempts to improve the motion estimation using higher order trajectory interpolation while AOMBC addresses the blocking and overlapping problem caused by inaccurate block matching. By judiciously selecting when to incorporate AOBMC with HOPTTI, it would give a peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) improvement in SI quality. Two switching mechanisms, which exploit the spatial-temporal correlation at the macro-block level, have been investigated and the RST-based intelligent mode switching (IMS) algorithm is found to produce enhanced SI quality. Experimental results show that the basic mode switching algorithm gives a PSNR improvement of up to 1.8dB in SI quality compared to using only HOPTTI. The more intelligent RST-based switching provides a further PSNR enhancement of up to 1.1dB for certain test sequences

AI powered social commerce technology and customer experience: A systematic literature review

Over the last 3 decades, the digital revolution has drastically transformed customer/user experience. Negroponte (1995) described this transformation as a shift from atoms to bits. Schmitt (2019) supported that, in the context of marketing atoms are fast moving consumer goods and their brands, made in factories, advertised through mass media, and sold in stores; bits are information, entertainment and interactive products, often produced instantaneously, promoted through social media and sold online. Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered technologies such as social commerce, Internet of things (IoT), Augmented reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), Smart technology, or digital payments technologies have the potential to revolutionize customer or user experience. Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping business, economy, and society by transforming consumers experiences and relationships amongst stakeholders and citizens (Loureiro, Guerreiro and Tussyadiah, 2020).info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Determination of the Levels of Some Heavy Metals in African Pear ( Dacryodes Edulis ) Marketed in Lagos Metropolis, Nigeria

This paper presents the assessment of Pb, Cd and Zn concentrations in the African pear ( Dacryodes Edulis ) sold in eight popular markets in Lagos metropolis, Nigeria. The concentrations of these metals ranged from 0.01\ub10.002\u3bcg/g to 3.00\ub11.00\u3bcg/g with Pb having the highest concentration of 3.00\ub11.00\u3bcg/g.There was significant difference in the level of Pb in the fruits sold at Ikeja and other markets in March (P<0.05). The washed samples revealed that metal pollutants can exist as superficial contaminants on the surface of the fruit wall which is the edible portion. And so if the fruit is thoroughly washed, it may increase its safety for dietary consumption. The presence of these heavy metals in the fruits confirms that (i) the sources of the fruits before they get to the markets are polluted and (ii) the exposure of the fruits to all types of gaseous emissions from vehicles, industries and domestic wastes at the markets. The concentrations of the heavy metals detected in the fruits were lower than their maximum permissible concentrations except for lead with a concentration of 3.00\ub11.00\u3bcg/g in fruits purchased at Ikeja in March. However, precautions need to be taken by both growers and sellers to ensure that the concentrations of these heavy metals in the fruits are not increased before they get to the consumers

Atmospheric ventilation corridors and coefficients for pollution plume released from an Industrial Facility in Ile-Ife Suburb, Nigeria

This study presents a comparative investigation of atmospheric ventilation corridors and coefficients for gaseous pollution plume released from an isolated industrial facility into the ambient air of the host community in Ile-Ife suburb, southwest Nigeria. For the months of September to December in the year 2012 and 2013, measurement of surface layer atmospheric parameters made from an instrumented mast located near the industrial facility were used to parameterize for mixing layer height (MLH). Estimates of ventilation coefficients were obtained as well as in-depth analysis of the ventilation corridors performed. With an estimated carbon monoxide (CO) emission rate of 3.37 gs-1 from the industrial facility, AERMOD regulatory dispersion model was executed within a domain covering 8 km × 6 km around the host community. Effect of monthly changes in local ventilation corridors on pollutants dispersal at the study location was analyzed. Observed speed wind at the study location was weak (monthly mean value is ~ 1.5 m-s-1). The wind direction was predominantly southwesterly, indicating ventilation corridors were towards the north-east of the region. Characteristic values of the atmospheric ventilation coefficients varied from month to month and from daytime (08:00 to 19:00, GMT+1) to nighttime (20:00 to 07:00, GMT+1) with daily maximum values occurring in the late afternoon between (13:00 to 17: 00, GMT+1). The maximum values obtained were 1216 m2s-1and 1156 m2s-1, 1760 m2s-1 and 1038 m2s-1, 1225 m2s-1 and 691m2s-1, and 1334 and 436 m2s-1 for September to December, 2012 and 2013 respectively. Nighttime values were generally low, mostly less than 200 m2s-1. The study reveals that locations SE and NE of the scrap-iron recycling factory are prevalently exposed to high concentration of gaseous pollutants and the populace in those corridors is potentially susceptible to long-term adverse effects.Key words: Air pollution, ventilation coefficient, ventilation corridors, dispersion, AERMOD

Regression Analysis of Biogas Production from the Co-Digestion of Water Hyacinth and Pig Dung

The aim of this study is to determine the best mix of water hyacinth (WH) to be co-digested with pig dung (PD) in order to maximize biogas production in terms of quantity. 11 mix ratios of WH to PD were evaluated and each experimental run was assessed over a period of 40 days. The data obtained were analyzed using regression analysis and non-linear parameter estimation model. From the results obtained, 3 WH: 7 PD co-digestion mix recorded the highest daily yield of 9.5 L of biogas on the 20th day, starting its gas production on the 3rd day and ending on the 34th day. The results also showed that WH single-substrate digestion produced a cumulative biogas volume of 32.18 L which corresponds to 5.14 L/kg of WH and PD single-substrate digestion produced a cumulative gas volume of 94.47 L corresponding to 15.1 L/kg of PD. 3 WH: 7 PD had the highest cumulative gas volume of 140 L which corresponds to 22.45 L/kg. Similarly, the highest maximum biogas production rate of 9.874057 L/day was observed for the 3 WH: 7 PD co-digestion mix and this was recorded on the 17th day of digestion. From the results obtained the best mix of the PD-aided WH digestion is 3 WH: 7 PD.Keywords— Biogas, Co-digestion, Cumulative, Pig Dung, Water Hyacint

AN AUTOMATED ENERGY BILL METERING SYSTEM BASED ON GSM TECHNOLOGY

The measurement of the energy consumed by residential and commercial buildings by utility provider is important in billing, control, and monitoring of the usage of energy. Traditional metering techniques used for the measurement of energy are not convenient and is prone to different forms of irregularities. These irregularities include meter failure, meter tampering, inaccuracies in billing due to human error, energy theft, and loss of revenue due to corruption, etc. This research study proposed the design and construction of a microcontroller-based electric energy metering system using the Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) network. This system provides a solution to the irregularities posed by the traditional metering technique by allowing the utility provider have access to remote monitoring capabilities, full control over consumer load, and remote power disconnection in the case of energy theft. Proteus simulation software was used to model the system hardware and the software was obtained by using embedded C programming and visual basic. It was observed that the system could remotely take accurate energy readings, provided full control over consumer loads and execute remote disconnection in case of energy theft. The system provides high performance and high accuracy in power monitoring and power management.   &nbsp