Comparative evaluation of the performance of a bi-fuel vehicle on biogas and natural gas

Abstract: This paper assesses the performance of a retrofitted bi-fuel passenger car running on enriched biogas and natural gas with a view to investigating the similarities between both fuels. A sweep test was conducted using a chassis dynamometer which simulated actual driving conditions showed that the vehicle recorded similar maximum power outputs at 55kW and 54kW for natural gas and biogas respectively while similar acceleration times from 0 to 100km/h were also recorded

EFFECTS OF PARTIAL REPLACEMENT OF SAND WITH LATERITIC SOIL IN SANDCRETE BLOCKS

Of recent, the attention of most researchers is shifting towards the optimization of building materials by using local contents; the use of indigenous materials; and local industrial by-products unique and abundant in certain localities. This study therefore explored ways in which lateritic soil could be utilised in hollow sandcrete block production in Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria. Sandcrete blocks were made with lateritic soil taken from different sources replacing the conventional fine aggregate (local river sand) in steps of 10% up to 60%. Their compressive strengths determined to check for conformity with standard sandcrete block as specified in the Nigerian National Building Code (2006) with a view to determine the acceptable percentage replacement. Soil tests were performed on the lateritic soil samples to characterise the soils. Classification of the lateritic soil samples within Ota, revealed that the lateritic soils are mostly sandy clay of high plasticity and may replace sand by up to 20%, though an approximate linear decrease in strength with increasing sand replacement with lateritic soil was observed. This percentage replacement can be recommended to the block making industries within Ota with a view to encouraging utilization, though it is encouraged to confirm the percentage before embarking on mass block production

Indices of Kidney Damage and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in a Semiurban Community of Iloye, South-West Nigeria

Health screening exercises are important, as they enable early detection of diseases in individual subjects and also enable data collection, useful in estimating disease burden in the community. This paper describes the findings of a health screening exercise conducted in a semiurban population of Iloye, by the Rotary Club of Ota, Ogun State, Western Nigeria, as a part of its community-oriented services and projects. Three hundred and twenty six community members were screened during the exercise. There were 189 (57.97%) females and 137 (42.03%) males, with a mean age of 43.5 ± 14.88 yrs. Urinary abnormality and/or creatinine clearance less than 90 mls/min was detected in 147 (45.09%) participants. 99 (30.37%) participants had proteinuria, 16 (4.91%) had haematuria, and 5 (1.53%) participants had both haematuria and proteinuria. Eight (2.45%) participants had GFR less than 60 mls/min. Elevated blood pressure was found in 152 (46.63%), while 3 (0.9%) participants had diabetes, 71 (21.8%) were obese, 16 (4.9%) had hypercholesterolaemia, and 3 (0.9%) had hypertriglyceridaemia. Prevalence of both smoking and alcohol consumption was 6 (1.84%). It was concluded that the prevalence of indices of kidney damage and cardiovascular risk factors is high in Iloye community

EVALUATION OF THE LEVEL OF COMPLIANCE WITH CONSTRUCTION DESIGN MANAGEMENT (CDM 2007) REGULATIONS BY CLIENTS IN NIGERIA

The study evaluated the level of compliance with Construction Design Management (CDM) regulation by Nigerian clients based on the main duties of the client as stipulated in CDM regulation specification. To achieve this goal, sixty (60) questionnaires were distributed among construction firms and clients involved in the execution of projects in Lagos State in Nigeria. The survey showed that the client`s level of compliance based on the CDM regulation on client duty’s requirement has not been encouraging. The regulation requires that enough information should be given by the client; the study found that clients did not give enough information especially on building and number of the floor to be constructed also on the units of accommodation, land survey and report on soil investigation. Most of the respondents believed that the problem associated with the level of client compliance to CDM, includes poor level of communication and inadequate time allowed by the client at every stage in the construction process. In addition, some of the amenities that exist on the construction site are toilets and changing rooms while the sickbay which is important is the least to be found in the construction sites. Also the necessary amenities and are not place in the construction sites. The level of awareness of CDM regulation among the construction workers is low but client is meant to make the information available adequately as contained in the CDM regulation. It should be noted that however, that the problems on the health and safety might have effect on performance of the construction industry in terms of cost, time and quality of the construction. It is therefore concluded that Construction Design Management (CDM) regulation is not fully known among the construction industry’s client, contractors and site workers. The study recommended that for improved services, efforts should be made by project managers to create the awareness 42 Covenant Journal of Research in the Built Environment (CJRBE) Vol. 1, No. 1 (Maiden Edition), June, 2014.while clients attend short course and seminars on CDM regulation.The consulting firms of the project manager are enjoyed to improve on the necessary amenities available on the construction site and at the same time, the construction design management regulation should be conspicuously placed so that construction workers can have access to and be fully aware of the regulations. Finally, the client should appoint a CDM co -coordinator for each project site and that there should be agencies to monitor the implementation of the CDM regulation

Impacts of landfill disposal of construction and demolition waste (CDW)

Abstract: Growing population, industrialization and infrastructure development have resulted in enormous waste generation over the past decades. The disposal of vast amounts of waste remains a major challenge. However, in the globalized world recycling has become a main option for managing wastes while in other parts of the globe, landfilling is resorted to because of waste handling difficulties. South Africa is one of many countries where landfilling activities is high, as roughly 75 % of daily generated solid waste is disposed in landfills. This includes massive amounts of construction and demolition wastes (CDW) from reconstruction and development activities. South Africa depends on landfilling as a system of waste management which in the foreseeable future would linger on till feasible recycling options are initiated. Consequentially, the generation and seepage of leachate into soil, ground and surface water reserves is probable in such dump sites due to exposure of the waste bodies to rain and run-off water. A bespoke device was used in the study to investigate the impacts of disposing CDW in open dumps with mind for an unlined site relying on the geology of the area as worst case scenario. To generate leachate, the device was coupled with CDW in a bottom chamber and de-ionized water seeped through from a reservoir. Arsenic, Copper and Chromium from the generated leachate were analyzed by full spectral method on the effluent and were compared to South African standard of drinking water. Although, concentration levels of the targeted ions decreased through the test, it was clear that if CDW is not properly disposed, could contribute to consequential impacts on human and environmental health over time. Keywords Leachate, Landfill, Construction and Demolition Waste, Bespoke device

The Socio-Economic Benefits of Trans Amusement Park to the Host Community, Bodija, Ibadan, Oyo State.

The socio economic benefits of Trans Amusement Park to the host community were investigated. Tourism activities as with any other type of economic development, brings about changes for economic, social, cultural and spatial structure of the settlement where it takes place. It is mostly regarded for generating income and employment, encouraging the entrepreneurial activity and eventually leading to improvements in the economic structure of the region. In the case of Trans Amusement Park, the positive and negative impacts on the environmental and social economic well being of the host community were investigated. Primary data were collected through the administration of questionnaires and key informant interview for the local people of Bodija community. Analysis of the data collected reveals that 75% of the respondents confirmed that the park is a contributor to the socio economic advancement of the host community. The analysis also reveals that the park has a minimal negative impact (p<0.05) on the environment, social and economic well being of the host community. The park has provided opportunities for trading in gift item between the local people and the park visitors, market structures, confectionaries and other ongoing project for the host community. Although, the positive impact far outweighs the negative impacts of the park to the host community but, the people seems to be disturbed with crowding and congestion and some  other social vice with 25.5% and 44.9% of the respondent respectively stating them as some of the negative impact of  locating the park in their community. 61.2% of the respondents also opined that the level of participation of the people of the host community in the development of the park is on the average. For the host community to benefit more from the park, it is recommended that the park should put into consideration the concept of carrying capacity in other to reduce crowding and congestion, beef up their security system in order to reduce social vices and the community should also improve in their level of participation in the development of the park.  Keywords: Social economic benefit, Amusement park, Host community

Effects of Partial Replacement of Sand with Lateritic Soil in Sandcrete Blocks

Of recent, the attention of most researchers is shifting towards the optimization of building materials by using local contents; the use of indigenous materials; and local industrial by-products unique and abundant in certain localities. This study therefore explored ways in which lateritic soil could be utilised in hollow sandcrete block production in Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria. Sandcrete blocks were made with lateritic soil taken from different sources replacing the conventional fine aggregate (local river sand) in steps of 10% up to 60%. Their compressive strengths determined to check for conformity with standard sandcrete block as specified in the Nigerian National Building Code (2006) with a view to determine the acceptable percentage replacement. Soil tests were performed on the lateritic soil samples to characterise the soils. Classification of the lateritic soil samples within Ota, revealed that the lateritic soils are mostly sandy clay of high plasticity and may replace sand by up to 20%, though an approximate linear decrease in strength with increasing sand replacement with lateritic soil was observed. This percentage replacement can be recommended to the block making industries within Ota with a view to encouraging utilization, though it is encouraged to confirm the percentage before embarking on mass block productio

Energy potential of food waste generated by a middle class neigbourhood in Nigeria through anaerobic digestion

Abstract: The paper assessed the energy potential of the food waste content of the municipal solid waste generated by an upper middle class neigbourhood in Abuja, Nigeria. The findings from this research should encourage the government and private institutions involved in energy generation to tow the path of developed nations and continental partners like South Africa and look towards biogas technologies as means towards ameliorating the challenges faced with fossil based fuels and effective solid waste management. From the quantification exercise the Estate has the capacity to generate about 90.23GJ of energy per year from the anaerobic digestion of the food waste generated by the occupants

A case for biogas as the viable substitute fuel in spark ignition engines

Abstract: Unstable prices, energy security, depleting reserves and their negative effect on the ecosystem have forced mankind to critically tackle it’s over dependence on fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are oil coal and natural gas which currently caters for over 80% of the world’s energy needs. Crude oil derivatives and coal have been extensively tapped and utilized to make living more comfortable and to drive different sectors that power the world’s economies. These have however come at an irreparable cost on human health and the environment. The transport sector, a major driver of development consumes the 2nd largest portion of our fossil energy reserves and has also been at the forefront of the creation of alternative fuels to mitigate various economic, political and environmental challenges associated with the refining and utilization of the conventional fuels in the sector which are petrol and diesel. The sector recently turned to natural gas as an efficient substitute particularly in the more popular passenger cars that utilize spark ignition engines. It performs excellently with lesser tail pipe emissions when compared with petrol which emits lesser harmful products than diesel. Though readily available, with well-developed infrastructure, its fossil nature makes it a finite resource hence the need for a viable renewable replacement fuel. Many alternative fuels have been developed to power the spark ignition engine as stricter emission standards are being created and the need for improved fuel economy with better system efficiency. This paper highlights the popular alternative fuels been utilized in spark ignition engines which are hydrogen, ethanol, liquefied petroleum gas and biogas looking at criteria such as performance, renewability, ease of integration into existing infrastructure and cost with the need to make a case for biogas as the right substitute for petrol in existing and future spark ignition engine applications

Induction of rat hepatic mitochondrial membrane permeability transition pore opening by leaf extract of Olax subscorpioidea

has been implicated in the cascade of events involved in apoptosis (programmed cell death). Olax subscorpioidea is traditionally used for the treatment of several diseases and infection. However, its role on MMPT is not yet established. This study was aimed at evaluating the effects of varying concentrations of the methanol leaf extract of O. subscorpioidea (MEOS) on MMPT pore opening, mitochondrial adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase), and mitochondrial lipid peroxidation. Materials and Methods: Opening of the pore was spectrophotometrically assayed under succinate‑energized conditions. Results: In the absence of triggering agent (calcium), MEOS induced MMPT pore opening by 350, 612, 827, 845% at 36, 60, 86 and 112 µg/ml, respectively. MEOS further induced MMPT pore opening in the presence of a triggering agent by 866, 905, 831, 840, 949% at 12, 36, 60, 86 and 112 µg/ml, respectively. The extract significantly induced mitochondrial membrane lipid peroxidation in all the concentration used. MEOS also significantly increased mitochondrial ATP hydrolysis by mitochondrial ATPase in all concentration of the extract used. Conclusion: It may be deduced from this results, that MEOS contains certain bioactive components that may find use in pathological conditions that require an enhanced rate of apoptosi