Theoretical Design of Lightning Panel

The light trapping device (LTD) was theoretically designed to suggests the best way of harvesting the energy derived from natural lightning. The Maxwell's equation was expanded using a virtual experimentation via a MATLAB environment. Several parameters like lightning flash and temperature distribution were consider to investigate the ability of the theoretical lightning panel to convert electricity efficiently. The results of the lighting strike angle on the surface of the LTD shows the maximum power expected per time. The results of the microscopic thermal distribution shows that if the LTD casing controls the transmission of the heat energy, then the thermal energy storage (TES) can be introduced to the lightning far

Lightning a Fundamental of Atmospheric Electricity

This paper discussed briefly the basic connection between lightning phenomena and atmospheric electricity. Characteristics pertaining to lightning discharges were reviewed in order to elucidate some elementary mystics that are still associated with lightning events in some parts of the world and that lightning strike when and where it will. Various lightning protection principles were discussed. The essence of lightning protection device is to prevent lightning strikes from taking place over or around an installation or structure

POVERTY-EDUCATION NEXUS: IMPLICATIONS FOR PROMOTION OF WOMEN EMPOWERMENT IN NIGERIA

The achievement of women empowerment is measured by the extent to which women and girls are able to act freely, exercise their rights, and fulfill their potential as full and equal members of society (USAID, 2012). Out of all the indices of human capital development, education is crucial and seems capable of propelling other indices such as training, employment, health and services. However the impact of poverty in accessing and utilizing education cannot be overemphasized. Poverty-education nexus impacts promotion of women development both at the family and societal levels. Education is a process of imparting knowledge, skills and information and represents an integral of personal upbringing. It is force of acquiring understanding and redesigning human environment with the view of achieving and sustaining a better quality of life. It is therefore an infrastructure provided for citizenry in order to enable them to acquire, sharpens their skills and earn better living conditions. However, as important as this ingredient is, women are still backward in education in virtually all developing countries. In Nigeria, majority of women lack access to education and are often restricted in terms of other rights including resources control (CBN, 2012; NBS, 2010; Uzoma, 2013). The study therefore attempted to confirm (or otherwise) the roles of education in women empowerment in Nigeria and proffer plausible measures to spur women education as well as national development as a whole. The study examined impact of poverty-education nexus in the promotion of women development in Nigeria. It specifically highlighted the issues and challenges in women empowerment and brought into fore the benefits inherent in educating women. The study adopted qualitative research approach and made extensive use of empirical but secondary information and statistics to justify most of the claims in the work. Information obtained were analysed following thematic content analysis intermediated by author’s reasoning and experience. Plagiarism test conducted revealed up to 9.7% level of plagiarism confirming the work as original. Information obtained through secondary data search were analyzed by interpretations of social meaning of observation through mapping and aggregation into logical segments. In addition, other basic tools of descriptive statistics and pictorial information such as graph/charts and frequencies distribution where applicable. The study shows that the sub-Saharan Africa adult literacy rate for women is the lowest (45.7%) compared with higher rates (of 98.9%) for other regions of the world. The study revealed that women are disadvantageously placed in terms of access to education and that disparity in male-female literacy may continue beyond 2015. The study posits that it is exigent to continuing raising awareness that women education and women’s empowerment is not only important for social development but is indispensable for economic development. The authors therefore believed that the barriers that impede women development would require government’s commitments such that acquired education can be transformed to meaningful economic activities through job opportunities

Chemical analysis and nutritional assessment of fluted pumpkin (Telfairiaoccidentalis Hook F.) seed residue fed to African catfish (Clariasgariepinus) at graded inclusion levels

The chemical analysis and nutritional assessment of fluted pumpkin seed residue fed to African catfish (Clariasgariepinus) at graded inclusion levels was carried out in order to evaluate its effect on the growth performance and nutrient utilization of the catfish. Five diets containing 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60% inclusion levels of fluted pumpkin seed residue (FPSR) as partial replacement for groundnut cake were prepared and fed to the fishes for eight weeks. Each treatment had three replicates with 15 fish per replicate (mean initial weight 140.87 ± 8.77g) in 30-litre plastic tanks and fish fed at 3% of body weight twice daily. Fish on control diet showed the best growth and nutrient utilization while diets with defatted fluted pumpkin seeds cake produced weight reduction in the fish with the least reduction on diet 2 (15% inclusion) and greatest on diet 4 (45% inclusion). The specific growth rate, feed conversion ratios and protein intake of the control fish were significantly (p<0.05) higher than those on FPSR-containing diets. Histopathological reports showed some damage to the liver of fish in higher FPSR-containing rations, torn gill tissues and changes of intestinal structure. Haematological parameters like haemoglobin, erythrocyte, sedimentation rate and biochemical parameters were within the ranges for healthy fish though reduced from pre-treatment values

Highly Improved Thermionic Energy Converter

Thermionic energy converter (TEC) has recently received significant attention, for it holds potential for clean energy generation with a very high theoretical conversion efficiency (60%). For the latter to be achieved, some of the key hurdles are to be overcome. This paper discusses all these key hurdles along with modelling of solar energy conversion using a TEC with nano-materials and metals, using the modified Richardson-Dushman equation, which best describes the thermionic emission current density from these materials. Using two scenarios: allowing natural heat radiation from the back surface of the collector and using controlled heat collection from the collector to maintain it at a fixed temperature. We then discuss results of simulation of the conversion efficiency as a function of temperatures of emitter and collector, work functions and Fermi energy of emitter and collector at absolute zero temperature, solar insolation, the radius of parabolic concentrator and emissivity of radiating surfaces. We discuss the impact of neglecting the radiation losses on the efficiency evaluation as has been done by other workers recently. We suggest some innovative ways to reduce significantly the space charge effect to make a solar TEC a reality

Assessing the Effect of Four Types of Direct Mail Messages to Promote the Uptake of Residential Lead Remediation Funds

Objective To examine the efficacy of direct mailing using four types of messaging on promoting the uptake of residential lead remediation (RLR) funds in Lancaster, PA, USA. Study design We designed a quasi-experiment to assess the effect of 4 RLR messages sent to households in Lancaster, PA by direct mail between September and December 2020: a brief flyer (F); a detailed brochure + the flyer (BF); a health infographic + the flyer (IF); and an application form + the flyer (AFF). Methods Mailers were sent to addresses in four census tracts; each census tract received a different message. Both English and Spanish versions were sent. The outcomes were the event rate defined as the number of phone call inquiries received, and the number of applications received. The association between type of messaging and household type (owner-vs renter-occupied) was assessed using a chi square test. Results The event rates for the renter-occupied households were lower than for owner-occupied households, regardless of treatment. The event rates for renter-occupied households in the F, BF, IF and AFF groups were 0.00%, 0.35%, 0.12% and 0.18% respectively compared to 0.93%, 0.45%, 0.86% and 1.32% for homeowners. More applications were received from homeowners, and the event rate of the owner-occupied households was significantly different from that of renter-occupied homes (p-value = 0.001). Conclusions Event rates and applications received were higher for owner-occupied households than they were for renter-occupied households. Direct mailing of RLR information is feasible especially if households at high risk for lead poisoning are targeted

Sick Building Syndrome: Towards Safer and Healthier Living and Working Environments in Buildings( A Case Study of a Higher Institution in Nigeria)

Safety in buildings today can no longer be taken for granted nor considered purely from the point of view of prevention of building collapse and other structural failures but must now cover wider issues of prevention of home accident and protection from the hazards of microbial lives that are invading our home and working environments as these find environments more and more conducive for their growth and multiplication. Consequently, we are now sharing our living and working environments with some bacteria in spaces created by design, construction methods, wrong use of materials, poor usage by occupants, or a combination of all of these. This paper therefore examined some buildings for "sick building syndrome" to determine their state on our health conditions with respect to the level of dangers that might be imposed by them. Samples were taken of some stains on the walls of some of these buildings to establish their true nature and confirm whether or not they are merely harmless growth that might just be dusted off. These samples were taken to the microbiology laboratory for analysis and identification purposes. The results showed that the samples are not just mere harmless stains to ignore in that they contain evidence of active and harmful microbial lives that can constitute health hazard to the occupants. These microorganisms were identified, their concentrations determined and the condition that will support their growth was investigated. Microorganisms found/identified to be growing within the building elements of construction, such as insulation materials or wood construction parts and block-wall includes such bacteria as straphylococus aurens, Bacillus spp, and Pseudomonas spp. In addition four fungi genera were isolated from swab samples of visible growth on the walls and under vinyl wall coverings. These fungi genera were Aspergillus Flavus, Mucor, Penicillium spp, and Cladosporium spp. The study therefore concluded that the growths that we see on our walls and other building elements might be more than just stains of harmless nature but bacteria and/or fungal genera associated with sick building syndrome dangerous to healthy living and making our buildings unsafe for human habitation. In certain cases these conditions can be avoided during the development process or may need special attention for their eradication by use of special chemicals yet to be developed.Hasty painting over such growth might just be providing additional growth nutrients for further multiplication

Innovative methods of cooling solar panel: A concise review

This article surveys the various mechanisms of suppressing the killing heat in the electrical performance when a high solar irradiance strikes the surface of the solar panel. In addressing this killing heat, suitable technologies of cooling (active and passive) must be adopted to checkmate the abrupt temperature increase in the solar panel. The theoretical and experimental results of previous studies were critically reviewed. The study suggests that the efficiency of solar panel can be improved beyond 45 % provided a suitable cooling technology can be adopted during the design and installation