Renewable Energy Sources, Sustainability and Environmental Protection: A Review

Energy plays a vital role in any country`s economic development. As such proper and adequate supply of energy is fundamental for environmental, social, and economic development. Renewable energy has ticked all the boxes to be considered the best energy source because it is environmentally friendly. Renewable energy is considered a clean source of energy because it generates limited secondary pollutants from burning fossil fuels. Conventional fossil fuels, which are a limited resource, provide a significant share of the main energy demand, but renewable energy development represents a significant step towards social, economic, and environmental growth. Due to the ever-increase demand for energy as a result of over growing human population which cannot be modified by the current shape of the earth due to how fast the world is becoming a virtual community. The requirement for energy and related services to meet human growth can be seen in welfare, social, health, and economic development. The need for renewable energy sources to combat climate change and protect our environment is a great strategy that needs to be sustainable to satisfy future generations’ energy needs. This paper describes the development opportunities related to renewable energy sources and their sustainability, environmental safety, social, and energy security, economic strength, and expanding access to affordable, safe, and cheaper energy. This helps provide a foundation for addressing the demand for sustainable development.&nbsp

Surface Chemistry Elucidation on Effect of Fruit Garbage Effective Microorganisms Product in Enhancing Fresh and Hardened Properties of Concrete

This study assessed and elucidated the influence of fruit garbage effective microorganisms’ liquid product in improving the strength and other properties of concrete in terms of surface chemistry when added to concrete as partial replacement of mixing water. One control specimen was made along with four different mixes of 3, 5, 10 and 15% of the locally made liquid bio-product as replacement of the required mixing water during the concrete production. The experiments conducted on both control and liquid bio-product blended concretes were Proctor penetration test for setting time, workability and slump test for compressive strength. The results of the tests indicated that the locally made effective microorganisms’ liquid product exerted retarding effect on the setting time of the blended concretes, as well as enhanced their workability. The result further indicated that, amongst all the locally made liquid bio-product blended concretes, the concrete specimen with 3% content possessed the highest compressive strength of 29.8N/mm2 and 35.5N/mm2 at 28 and 56 curing days, respectively. All these enhanced concrete properties were influenced by changing the surface hydration behaviour of cement in the concrete mixture, which varied widely upon addition of liquid bio-product at different percentage contents. Therefore, the addition of effective microorganisms’ liquid product in the concrete mixture showed promising performance and thus, can be used as a low-cost and environmentally friendly admixture in the design of concrete. Keywords: Effective Microorganisms, concrete, Compressive strength, workability, setting time DOI: 10.7176/CER/11-6-04 Publication date:July 31st 201

OUTPUT BASED INPUT SHAPING FOR OPTIMAL CONTROL OF SINGLE LINK FLEXIBLE MANIPULATOR

Endpoint residual vibrations and oscillations due to flexible and rigid body motions are big challenges in control of single link flexible manipulators, it makes positioning of payload difficult especially when using various payloads. This paper present output based input shaping with two different control algorithms for optimal control of single link flexible manipulators. Output based filter (OBF) is designed using the signal output of the system and then incorporated with both linear quadratic regulator (LQR) and PID separately for position and residual vibration control. The Robustness of these control algorithms are tested by changing the payloads from 0g to30g, 50g and 70g in each case. Based on MATLAB simulation results and time response analysis, LQR-OBF outperformed the PID-OBF in both tracking and vibration reduction

HYBRID POSITION AND VIBRATION CONTROL OF NONLINEAR CRANE SYSTEM

This paper presents comparative assessments of input shaping techniques using two different approaches, for sway reduction of cranes system. First, the shaper was designed at maximum load hoisting length while the second was designed at average load hoisting length. These were accomplished using curve fitting toolbox in MATLAB. In both case; Zero Vibration (ZV), Zero Vibration Derivative (ZVD) and Zero Vibration Derivative Derivatives (ZVDD) were designed. Average hoisting length (AHL) shapers performed better than the Maximum hoisting length (MHL) shapers. Proportional integral derivative (PID) was incorporated for position control. After successful implementation, Simulation results show that a precise payload positioning was achieved. AHL-ZVDD has superior performances in sway reduction and robustness.

Evaluation of Pollution and Clean Index of Municipal Solid Waste Compost Used as Organic Fertilizers from Sokoto State Metropolis, Nigeria

The purpose of this study was to assess the quality of compost obtained from ten (10) municipal solid waste dumps in the Sokoto metropolitan area, Nigeria. The Compost was characterized to understand its fertilizing and polluting potential to soil. The fertilization index (FI) was determined empirically from the values of TOC, TN, TP, TK and C:N ratio and the cleaning index (CI) using heavy metal concentrations. The results were compared with quality control metrics. The FI values for the composts ranged from 4.00 to 4.70, while the CI values ranged from 2.60 to 4.00, respectively. Most of the MSW composts analyzed showed good fertilizing potential and were of good quality for use as soil fertilizers

Founder’s Syndrome and Firm Performance of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in Nigeria

Introduction: Founder’s syndromes have become a significant issue in SMEs performance. This study examined the impact of founder’s syndrome on firm performance of small and medium scale enterprises in Nigeria. Method: The study employed simple random sampling technique using Partial Least Square (PLS) to analyze the data obtained from structured questionnaires. The study used total population of 4663 SMEs and derived a sample of 357 questionnaires obtained from National Association of Small Scale Industrialist (NASSI), Kano chapter. The exogenous variable of the study was founder’s syndrome and endogenous variable was firm financial performance. Results: The finding revealed that founder’s syndrome is significantly related to performance of small and medium scale enterprises in Nigeria. Discussion: Findings can be of help to policy makers, management of SMEs and practitioners to consider the effect of Founder’s syndrome on their performance. Moreover, the results indicated the suitability of the PLS in statistical analysis and also contributed to better understanding of SMEs in Kano which hitherto has not been tested. Implications for research and practice and future recommendations are discussed

Geological effects on water quality: a review of issues and challenges in Malaysia

Malaysian source of water for household and industrial use is derived mainly from surface sources. The increasing demand for quality water for household consumption and industrial use has posed a great challenge to the otherwise abundant but scarce natural resources. This paper examines the important challenges associated with the deteriorating water quality in Peninsular Malaysia. Quality water enhances one’s good health. Therefore, evaluating health risk as a result of heavy metals introduction through drinking water from various geological activities like the ex-mining ponds in Klang Valley is worthy to note. Heavy metals which are one of the sources of contaminants, due to their solubility are transported from their source (mining, agricultural, and industrial) to groundwater. There is a linkage between land-use change (activities) such as logging, agriculture, urbanization, mining, and industrial activities as a potential source of contaminants, this is further conflated by the hydrogeology of the areas which show a shallow aquifer system predominantly associated with alluvial and carbonate. Also, microbial contamination had affected water sources. Given that more of the aquifer systems in Peninsular Malaysia are shallow, this makes it very easy for groundwater sources around Malaysia to be contaminated. The industrialisation and urbanisation in Malaysia, as well as the growing population, posed a great challenge to water quality. This paper highlights the key challenges and possible solutions to water quality management in Malaysia

High pyrethroid-resistance intensity in Culex quinquefasciatus (Say) (Diptera: Culicidae) populations from Jigawa, North-West, Nigeria.

This study examined pyrethroid resistance intensity and mechanisms in Culex quinquefasciatus (Say) (Diptera: Culicidae) populations from Jigawa, North-West Nigeria. Resistance statuses to permethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin and alphacypermethrin were determined with both WHO and CDC resistance bioassays. Synergist assay was conducted by pre-exposing the populations to Piperonyl butoxide (PBO) using the WHO method. Resistance intensities to 2x, 5x and 10x of diagnostic concentrations were determined with the CDC bottle method. Species analysis and presence of knockdown mutation (Leu-Phe) were done using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Results showed that Cx. quinquefasciatus was the only Culex spp. present and "Kdr-west" mutation was not detected in all analyzed samples. Using WHO method, Cx. quinquefasciatus resistance to permethrin was detected in Dutse (12.2%) and Kafin-Hausa (77.78%). Lambda-cyhalothrin resistance was recorded only in Kafin-Hausa (83.95%) with resistance suspected in Ringim (90%). Resistance to alphacypermethrin was recorded in all locations. Pre-exposure to PBO led to 100% mortality to alphacypermethrin and lambda-cyhalothrin in Ringim while mortality to permethrin and alphacypermethrin in Dutse increased from 12.2% to 97.5% and 64.37% to 79.52% respectively. Using CDC bottle bioassay, resistance was also recorded in all populations and the result shows a significant positive correlation (R2 = 0.728, p = 0.026) with the result from the WHO bioassay. Results of resistance intensity revealed a very high level of resistance in Kafin-Hausa with susceptibility to lambda-cyhalothrin and alphacypermethrin not achieved at 10x of diagnostic doses. Resistance intensity was also high in Dutse with susceptibility to all insecticides not achieved at 5x of diagnostic doses. Widespread and high intensity of resistance in Cx. quinquefasciatus from North-West Nigeria is a major threat to the control of diseases transmitted by Culex and other mosquito species. It is a challenge that needs to be adequately addressed so as to prevent the failure of pyrethroid-based vector control tools

Trends in pediatric tuberculosis diagnosis utilizing xpert Mycobacterium tuberculosis/Rifampicin in a poor-resource, high-burden region: A retrospective, multicenter study

Background: The burden of tuberculosis (TB) in Nigeria remains high, and diagnosis in children, a challenge. We aimed to document yield from Xpert Mycobacterium tuberculosis/rifampicin (MTB/RIF) as a mode of diagnosis for children and the variables associated with a positive result. Methods: This was a retrospective review of TB treatment cards of children aged 0–15 years managed from January 2017 to December 2021 across six public tertiary institutions in Nigeria. The data obtained were analyzed using the descriptive and inferential statistics. Statistical significance was set at P 10 years), the presence of pulmonary TB (PTB), and a negative human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status were associated with positive Xpert MTB/RIF tests (P = 0.002, 0.001, and 0.012, respectively). Conclusion: The utilization of Xpert MTB/RIF in children increased in the years before the COVID-19 pandemic. Factors associated with MTB detection by Xpert MTB/RIF include older age, the presence of PTB, and a negative HIV status. Clinical and radiological evaluation continues to play vital roles in the diagnosis of childhood TB in Nigeria