Assessing South African Construction Worker’s Knowledge of Modern Technologies for Effective Material Management

Material management is a matter of concern for construction stakeholders in South Africa.  ICT is the way forward for all sectors upon which the economy thrives both in the national and international level. Incorporating modern technologies will lead to effective material management. However, the level of awareness of modern technologies among South African construction stakeholders needs to be assessed. The study adopted a quantitative approach where questionnaires were administered to professionals in the South African construction industry. Descriptive statistics tools were used to analyse the gathered data. Findings showed that construction stakeholders in South Africa are aware of modern technologies for effective management. The tools according to the level of awareness are Microsoft programs, barcoding, RFID, construction materials planning systems and materials handling equipment selection advisor. Also, the level of importance of these tools according to Stakeholders in South African Construction industry are Microsoft programmes, Barcoding, RFID, materials handling equipment selection advisor, construction materials exchange and construction materials planning system. Therefore, it is evident that there is still unyielding to recent technological move in the construction industry, which may be preventing the progressive growth. It is imperative to indulge modern technologies to counter this problem which in turn help effective material management

A concise review of the evolution of information and communication technologies for engineering innovations

Abstract: The Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) sector like its counterpart utilize information and communication technologies. currently, there a variety of discussions on industry 4.0. This review presented the evolution of information and communication technologies as related to the industry. Technologies, as they evolved from different eras, are discussed in this study. The pre-mechanical era, the mechanical era, electromechanical age, electronic era, and the digital era of technological tools were discussed. The acceptance and diffusion of these engineering innovations were also discussed considering the construction industry. This study concludes by identifying the sustainability concerns of these engineering innovations

Acute Otitis Media in Aged 16 years and Above in Lagos

Acute otitis media though a childhood disease, when it occurs de-novo in adult is viewed with seriousness. This prospective study was undertaken in Lagos University Teaching Hospital and General Hospital Lagos between January 2000 and March 2001 with the aim of recording that acute otitis media can occur de-novo in adults without any antecedent or dangerous course. A total of 83 patients were seen with AOM, with peak age group of occurrence in 20-29yrs. 75% were in middle social class and 77% reported the disease as first attack and 86% presented three days after the attack. 52% had associated Rhinitis and tonsillopharyngitis and self medication was reported in 50% of the patients. Following medical and surgical intervention majority of the AOM resolved and none of the patients evaluated had features of nasopharyngeal tumour. NQJHM Vol. 14 (1) 2004: pp. 61-6

Using neural network model to estimate the rental price of residential properties

Purpose: Estimation of the rental price of a residential property is important to real estate investors, financial institutions, buyers and the government. These estimates provide information for assessing the economic viability and the tax accruable, respectively. The purpose of this study is to develop a neural network model for estimating the rental prices of residential properties in Cape Town, South Africa. Design/methodology/approach: Data were collected on 14 property attributes and the rental prices were collected from relevant sources. The neural network algorithm was used for model estimation and validation. The data relating to 286 residential properties were collected in 2018. Findings: The results show that the predictive accuracy of the developed neural network model is 78.95 per cent. Based on the sensitivity analysis of the model, it was revealed that balcony and floor area have the most significant impact on the rental price of residential properties. However, parking type and swimming pool had the least impact on rental price. Also, the availability of garden and proximity of police station had a low impact on rental price when compared to balcony. Practical implications: In the light of these results, the developed neural network model could be used to estimate rental price for taxation. Also, the significant variables identified need to be included in the designs of new residential homes and this would ensure optimal returns to the investors. Originality/value: A number of studies have shown that crime influences the value of residential properties. However, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, there is limited research investigating this relationship within the South African context

Biogenic VOCs Emission Profiles Associated with Plant-Pest Interaction for Phenotyping Applications

Pest attacks on plants can substantially change plants’ volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emission profiles. Comparison of VOC emission profiles between non-infected/non-infested and infected/infested plants, as well as resistant and susceptible plant cultivars, may provide cues for a deeper understanding of plant-pest interactions and associated resistance. Furthermore, the identification of biomarkers—specific biogenic VOCs—associated with the resistance can serve as a non-destructive and rapid tool for phenotyping applications. This research aims to compare the VOCs emission profiles under diverse conditions to identify constitutive (also referred to as green VOCs) and induced (resulting from biotic/abiotic stress) VOCs released in potatoes and wheat. In the first study, wild potato Solanum bulbocastanum (accession# 22; SB22) was inoculated with Meloidogyne chitwoodi race 1 (Mc1), and Mc1 pathotype Roza (SB22 is resistant to Mc1 and susceptible to pathotype Roza), and VOCs emission profiles were collected using gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID) at different time points. Similarly, in the second study, the VOCs emission profiles of resistant (‘Hollis’) and susceptible (‘Alturas’) wheat cultivars infested with Hessian fly insects were evaluated using the GC-FID system. In both studies, in addition to variable plant responses (susceptibility to pests), control treatments (non-inoculated or non-infested) were used to compare the VOCs emission profiles resulting from differences in stress conditions. The common VOC peaks (constitutive VOCs) between control and infected/infested samples, and unique VOC peaks (induced VOCs) presented only in infected/infested samples were analyzed. In the potato-nematode study, the highest unique peak was found two days after inoculation (DAI) for SB22 inoculated with Mc1 (resistance response). The most common VOC peaks in SB22 inoculated with both Mc1 and Roza were found at 5 and 10 DAI. In the wheat-insect study, only the Hollis showed unique VOC peaks. Interestingly, both cultivars released the same common VOCs between control and infected samples, with only a difference in VOC average peak intensity at 22.4 min retention time where the average intensity was 4.3 times higher in the infested samples of Hollis than infested samples of Alturas. These studies demonstrate the potential of plant VOCs to serve as a rapid phenotyping tool to assess resistance levels in different crops