A model for efficient consumption of electricity in residential buildings

Abstract : This paper reviews various applications of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology and proposes electricity-saving power switch enhancements model to control the operation of electrical appliances in residential buildings using RFID system. Estimation was made on the consumption of electricity in a private apartment in Pretoria, Gauteng Province, South Africa and compared with when the RFID card-reader system is deployed. The percentage energy saving in a year was calculated to be approximately 29 %. The possible energy savings for a period of 30years is estimated and the return on investment (ROI) determined. The authors concluded by making a case for a state policy on RFID energy efficiency technology

Solar powered vaccine refrigerator for rural off-grid areas in Nigeria

More than a billion people around the world have no access to electricity and about 85% of them residing in rural areas in sub-Saharan Africa. The electricity supply in Nigeria right now is atrocious, and the dependence of hospitals on the on-grid supply is unadvisable, hence the need for a suitable alternative. Solar cell refrigerators for vaccine storage are offered as a viable solution to replace the noisy and eco-unfriendly gasoline and diesel generators that are currently used in many hospitals in Nigeria. The main objective of this work is to select affordable and portable components of the photovoltaic system with solar panels, charge controllers and deep cycle battery, inverter and refrigerator to store about 50 litres vaccine in rural hospitals and primary health centres. A 75W refrigerator with 100W solar panel, 20A charge controller, 100AH deep cycle battery and 1000W inverter was arrived upon at a total cost of N135,000 per health centre. This will invariably make the vaccine available, thereby reducing infant and maternal mortality rate in Nigeria

Wastage amidst shortage: Strategies for the mitigation of standby electricity in residential sector in Nigeria

Abstract : Due to rising population and the increasing rate of urbanization, residential electricity usage accounts for a large chunk of Nigeria’s electricity consumption. However, little attention is paid to electricity conservation in the country. In response to this, several studies are been tailored to ensure a rapid reduction in energy consumption through various alternatives including energy efficient technologies given the current state of inadequate electricity supply in the country. On this note, this article discusses the significance of standby electricity in Nigeria. The electricity generation and consumption patterns were briefly discussed while the current electricity saving behaviour and practices among the urban dwellers were detailed with a case study analysed. Based on the case study, it was discovered that the mean standby load across the 30 households were estimated at 60 W ranging from 34-144 W. Also, standby consumption accounts for 13-44% of the annual electricity consumption across the households. Finally, the strategies for electricity saving and sustainable consumption, most especially the mitigation of standby electricity were highlighted

Učinci izazivačke doze na naseljivanje serovara Salmonella Enteritidis u voljku pokusno zaraženih pilića

Salmonella enterica, subspecies enterica serovar Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis), is currently the main serovar causing frequent human illness associated with egg contamination. This study was conducted to determine the effects of a challenge dose of S. Enteritidis on crop colonization in experimentally infected chickens. Twentyfour specific-pathogen-free hens were divided into three groups of eight. The first and second groups were orally challenged with a dose of 1.3×10^8 and 1.3×10^4 colony forming units (cfu) of S. Enteritidis per hen respectively. The third group comprised uninfected controls. Crop lavage samples were collected weekly for 5 weeks and cultured for the presence of S. Enteritidis. Salmonella Enteritidis was isolated from the samples for 5 weeks and one week post-infection, from hens infected with 10^8 cfu/mL and 10^4 cfu/mL of S. Enteritidis respectively. Levels of S. Enteritidis recovered from the crops of hens infected with a dose of 10^8 cfu/mL were significantly higher (P<0.05) than from those infected with 10^4 cfu/mL. At week 1 post-infection, organisms recovered from the 10^8 cfu/mL group were greater than 4 logs and signifi cantly higher (P<0.05) than in the 10^4 cfu/mL group. The rate of crop colonization of hens infected with 10^8 cfu/mL S. Enteritidis dropped from 100.0% to 62.5% and 25.0% at weeks 1, 3 and 5 post-infection respectively. Since the amount of organism colonizing a tissue is proportional to the level of antibodies produced, to ensure the protection of vaccinated chickens, Salmonella vaccines should contain an adequate vaccine dose.Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis) zasada je glavni serovar što uzrokuje česte zaraze u ljudi povezane s uzimanjem zagađenih jaja. Ovo istraživanje poduzeto je radi određivanja učinaka izazivačke doze S. Enteritidis na sposobnost naseljivanja u voljku pokusno zaraženih pilića. Ukupno su 24 SPF kokoši bile podijeljene u tri skupine po osam. Svaka kokoš prve skupine bila je zaražena per os dozom od 1,3×10^8, a druge skupine dozom od 1,3×10^4 kolonijotvornih jedinica (cfu) S. Enteritidis. Treća skupina bila je nezaražena, kontrolna skupina. Uzorci ispirka voljke bili su uzimani tjedno u razdoblju od pet tjedana te pretraživani na prisutnost S. Enteritidis. Salmonella Enteritidis bila je izdvojena tijekom pet tjedana nakon infekcije iz svih uzoraka kokoši zaraženih dozom od 10^8 cfu/mL, a samo tjedan dana nakon infekcije u kokoši zaraženih dozom od 10^4 cfu/mL. Broj bakterija S. Enteritidis izdvojenih iz voljki kokoši zaraženih dozom od 10^8 cfu/mL bio je značajno veći (P<0,05) nego u onih zaraženih s 10^4 cfu/mL. Prvi tjedan nakon infekcije, broj bakterija izdvojenih iz skupine zaražene s 10^8 cfu/mL bio je veći od 4 logaritma i značajno veći (P<0,05) nego u skupini koja je bila zaražena s 10^4 cfu/mL. Postotak naseljenja voljke kokoši zaraženih s 10^8 cfu/mL S. Enteritidis smanjio se sa 100% koliko je iznosio u prvom tjednu, na 62,5% u trećem tjednu te na 25.0% u petom tjednu nakon infekcije. Budući da je količina bakterija koje naseljavaju određeno tkivo razmjerna razini proizvedenih specifičnih protutijela, radi sigurne zaštite cijepljenih pilića, cjepiva protiv salmoneloze treba da sadrže odgovarajuću dozu bakterija

Spatial pattern of foot-and-mouth disease virus serotypes in North Central Nigeria

Aim: This study aimed to determine the foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) serotypes circulating, the prevalence of FMDV serotypes, and the spatial distribution of FMDV among sedentary and pastoral cattle herds in the North-Central Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken, during which a total of 155 sera that tested positive for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) 3ABC non-structural protein antibodies were selected and screened for FMD structural protein serotypes, A, O, SAT 1, and SAT 2 using a solid-phase competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Epithelial tissue specimens were collected during outbreak investigations which were tested for FMD using an antigen capture ELISA for serotype A, O, SAT 1, and SAT 2. Results: An overall serotype-specific prevalence of 79.35 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 72.4-85.18) was recorded for serotype O, 65.2% (95% CI: 57.41-72.3) for serotype A, 52.9% (95% CI: 45.03-60.67) for SAT-2, and 33.55% (95% CI: 26.45-41.26) for SAT-1. Evidence of exposure to multiple FMDV serotypes showed that 12.26% of the sera samples had antibodies against four serotypes circulating, 30.97% had antibodies against three serotypes circulating, 22.58% had antibodies against two serotypes, and 17% showed exposure to only one serotype. Clinical specimens (epithelial tissue) collected during outbreak investigations showed that serotype O has the highest proportion of 50% with serotype A - 25%; SAT 2 - 20.8%; and SAT 1 - 4.1%. Conclusion: The study detected diffuse and co-circulation of serotypes A, O, SAT1, and SAT2 within the study area, and hence the need for the appropriately matched multivalent vaccine is strongly advocated for FMD control in Nigeria