Developing A Bim-Knowledge (Bim-K) Framework For Improved Decision-Making In Building Construction Projects

The construction industry is a knowledge-intensive industry, and knowledge has been identified as a vital resource for improving decision-making and a critical factor for increasing productivity and gaining organisational competitive advantage within the construction industry. Although, building information modelling BIM has been described as a 'shared knowledge resource for information' which forms the basis for 'reliable decisions during the lifecycle of a project', evidence from the literature indicate that current BIM implementation (BI) has not been able to effectively integrated knowledge into BIM. While BIM has significantly improved the quality of information available for use within the industry, capturing and integrating experiential knowledge (EK) into BIM implementation (BI) for improved decision-making in BIM projects is still very challenging. Knowledge management (KM) as a discipline can provide processes and tools/techniques for capturing and integrating EK into BI. Hence, leveraging KM processes and tools, this study develops a conceptual BIM-Knowledge framework for integrating EK into BI for improved decision-making in BIM projects. The study adopts convergent parallel mixed methods based on a pragmatic paradigm, which combines both qualitative and quantitative methods concurrently in a single study. Pragmatism philosophical stance provides the flexibility required to address the complex nature of the research question, which explores how the integration of EK into BI could improve decision-making in BIM projects. The study starts with the review of extant literature to explore the key concepts in the study, culminating in developing a preliminary framework. The preliminary framework provides the basic constructs that were further explored and investigated using semi-structured interviews and questionnaire surveys. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with thirty highly experienced stakeholders within the UK construction industry to explore their lived experiences about the constructs. Transcripts of the interviews were subjected to content analysis using NVivo 11 to identify prevalent codes from the quotations. In line with the adopted research philosophy, constructs from the literature review were also put together in a questionnaire survey and distributed to industry practitioners via Bristol Online Survey (BOS) to investigate their opinions about the constructs. The questionnaire's responses were subjected to rigorous statistical and factor analyses using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS-21). Findings from the analysis of both semi-structured interviews and questionnaires were triangulated for corroboration. The triangulation results led to the development of a conceptual BIM-Knowledge (BIM-K) framework for integrating EK into BI for improved decision-making in BIM projects. The proposed conceptual BIM-K framework consists of three main components: the BIM-K Core, which forms the framework's nucleus; the SKI, which consists an inventory of the skills and knowledge important to key decision-makers in BI; and the Output, which is the improved decision-making in BIM projects. The BIM-K Core component consists of three layers of concentric circles: (i) the integration layer where EK from best practice, past mistakes and creative ideas from different project phases are integrated into BI, (ii) the KM process layer, where the five KM processes and their appropriate tools and techniques help facilitate the effective integration process, and (iii) the layer of impacting factors, where four categories of factors that could impact on the effectiveness of the integration process are domiciled. The conceptual BIM-K framework was partially validated with industry experts virtually to test its suitability for practical implementation. The framework will benefit all key decision-makers in BIM projects, especially the client, designers, the engineer, contractors and suchlike, by improving the quality of decisions regarding BI tasks and activities right from the pre-design phase of the project

Reactions and yield performance of three potato cultivars naturally infected with bacterial blackleg disease under irrigation practice

Potato (Solanum tuberosum) has become an attractive winter crop in many arid irrigated areas where they are grown on relatively large commercial farms. Two field trials were conducted to assess Irish potato cultivars for their tolerance/reactions to natural infection of bacterial blackleg disease under irrigation practice. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications.  The incidence of blackleg disease in both first and second trials ranged from 1.70 to 100% with the highest (100%) recorded in Mirabel, which was highly significant (p≤0.05), 1.70% - 5.00% disease incidence recorded for Yellow and 15.00% and 16.70% in Christian Lady in both first trial and second trials respectively. Yellow cultivar had 89.60% and 94.50% emergence and these were significantly higher than 8.30% and 21.10% observed in Mirabel in both trials.  The highest yield (2.06t/ha) was observed in Yellow cultivar followed by 1.86t/ha recorded for Christian Lady in second trial.  Yellow cultivar was tolerant to bacterial blackleg, followed by Christian Lady, while Mirabel was susceptible.  Yellow and Christian Lady cultivars proved to be promising cultivars in drought condition or low rainfall areas. Notwithstanding, Yellow cultivar was the most preferable for disease tolerant in drought conditions

MEASUREMENT OF ACTIVITY CONCENTRATIONS OF NATURAL RADIONUCLIDES IN THE TOP SOIL OF UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE, ABEOKUTA, (UNAAB) FARMS

The natural radioactivity levels in the soils of University of Agriculture Abeokuta farms were measured.        20 soil samples were collected to a depth of about 10cm in twelve different farmlands within UNAAB        community.    The   average  activity  concentrations  obtained  for  the  three  radionuclides  were        520.13±32.06 Bq/kg for 40K, 33.66±23.27 Bq/kg for238U and 49.83±15.61 Bq/kg for232Th, respectively.        The distributions of these radionuclides were found to be uneven. The value of Uranium-238 was the        same at locations 4 and 16 but not detectable at locations 9 and 11, respectively. The average values        of the absorbed dose rates in air of each radionuclides were found to be 21.84 nGy/hr for 40K, 14.99        nGy/hr   for  238U   and   33.19   nGy/hr   for  232Th.   The   baseline   average   outdoor   annual   effective   dose        equivalent in UNAAB farms due to the radioactivity concentrations was found to be 86.92±28.37mSv/        yr. This value can be taken as representing the baseline values of natural radioactivity as no artificial        radionuclide was detected at any of the locations visited.&nbsp

Research, data collection and ethical issues: lessons from hindsight

Research involves a systematic process of investigating a problem or phenomenon with a view of solving the problem or providing a new insight in the problem. The essence could be to describe, explain, predict, analyse, control or prescribe solutions to the problem. Whatever the goal of the research, there are expected processes to be followed for it to qualify as scientific research whose findings will be accepted. Typically of most PhD researches, a research student is expected to collect and analyse primary data in addition to the findings form the literature. The process of data collection, especially in social-sciences where the built environment arguably belongs, often involve interaction with people. In order to protect the fundamental right of the participants in research and ensure their anonymity, certain ethical guidelines and issues must be carefully considered before setting out for the data collection. The paper is aimed at creating awareness about these simple but delicate issues regarding ethical considerations during research. The authors drew on their personal experience, as PhD researchers, to create awareness about salient ethical issues regarding research data collection. The paper highlighted the process for a ‘scientific research’ and different types of data collection involving qualitative research. The paper discussed ethical issues related to data collection and concluded by signposting the likely ethical pitfalls and how to avoid while carrying out a researc

Modelling the Kinetics of Biogas Production From Mesophilic Anaerobic Co-Digestion of Cow Dung with Plantain Peels

This work investigated the effect of plantain peels as co-substrate in the anaerobic digestion of cow dung for efficient and high biogas production. The biogas experiments were carried out in two different 5 L anaerobic digesters and incubated for 40 days at ambient mesophilic temperatures (28 oC to 34 °C). The results showed that co-digestion of cow dung with plantain peels as co-substrate reduced start-up time for biogas generation and increased biogas yield by 18% as compared to cow dung alone. Peak biogas production was obtained for both digesters at pH of 6.7 and 6.9 as well as temperature of 29 and 30oC, respectively. Modelling study revealed that exponential plot simulated better in both ascending and descending limb than the linear plot the biogas production rates in biogas production from cow dung co-digested with plantain peels and cow dung alone, respectively. Logistic growth model and modified Gompertz plot showed better correlation of cumulative biogas production than exponential rise to maximum plot. These results show that biogas production can be enhanced efficiently through co-digestion process

ANTIMICROBIAL EFFICACY OF THYMOL IN THE MANAGEMENT OF BACTERIAL WILT OF TOMATO

Bacterial wilt (BW), caused by Ralstonia solanacearum, is a devastating disease of tomato world-wide. The disease is responsible for more than 60% reduction of tomato yield in Nigeria. Volatile plant essential oil, thymol, was evaluated against BW in artificially-inoculated potted plants.  Twenty milliliter of 108 cfu/ml suspension of Ralstonia solanacearum was introduced into 5 kg pot of sterilized soil and 20 ml each of three concentrations of thymol (0.2, 0.4, 0.6 g/L) applied as pre-plant soil drench 2 hours after bacterial inoculation.  Eight tomato genotypes were transplanted into the pots five days after thymol application.    The experiment was laid in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replicates.  At 0.2 g/L thymol application, disease severity index was 1.50-4.00 at 5 Weeks After Transplanting (WAT).  Disease severity index was reduced significantly (p<0.05) by 77.78% in tomato variety Delila upon 0.4 g/L application of thymol. At 0.6 g/L thymol application, tomato varieties Delila, Perfect Pee and Kerewa each had 0 (zero) disease severity index, while tomato lines NG/AA/MAY/09/030, NG/TB/AUG/09/006 and NG/AA/SEP/09/037 had disease severity index of 1 (one) each.  These results indicated that application of thymol (0.6 g/L concentration, 1:250, thymol:soil, v:w) in potted experiment was effective in reducing the severity index of bacteria wilt of tomato caused by Ralstonia solanacearum, and is therefore recommended for management of the disease

Traditional Fermented Condiments Modulate Biochemical Indices in High Cholesterol Diet-Fed Rats

Hypercholesterolemia is implicated in cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and is identified as a common cause of mortality in this degenerative condition. Hence, CVD management strategy should include control of hypercholesterolemia. This study describes the effect of some legume condiments on biochemical indices in hypercholesterolemia rat model. Adult male Wistar rats were used for this study and hypercholesterolemia was induced by inclusion of 1% cholesterol in the rat feed. The animals were divided into five groups containing six animals each and were fed with diets supplemented with 16% fermented soybean, bambara groundnut and African locust bean. The study lasted for 30 days after which plasma was analyzed for the lipid profile and liver function marker enzymes and the liver tissue analyzed for malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Elevated plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and MDA content showed significant (p<0.05) reduction in the rats fed with fermented legume condiment-supplemented diets, with a concomitant increase in plasma HDL-cholesterol as compared with the hypercholesterolemia control rats. This study revealed that fermented legume condiment-supplemented diets attenuate hypercholesterolemia and protect the liver of the experimental rats from oxidative damage, with African locust bean condiment displaying the best biological potential

Effects of drying on cholinesterases and angiotensin‐I converting enzyme inhibitory potential and phenolic constituents of African mistletoe (Loranthus bengwensis L) leaves from kolanut host tree

This study investigated the most appropriate drying method (sun drying, oven drying, and shade drying) for mistletoe leaves obtained from kolanut tree. The phenolic constituents were characterized using high performance liquid chromatography–diode array detector, while the inhibitory effect of the aqueous extracts of the leaves on cholinesterases and angiotensin‐I converting enzyme (ACE) and antioxidant activities were determined in vitro. The extracts inhibited acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), and ACE in dose‐dependent manner. However, extract from sun‐dried sample exhibited the highest AChE, BChE, and ACE inhibitory effect while extract from shade‐dried sample had the least. Likewise, sun‐dried sample exhibited the highest antioxidant properties as exemplified by Fe2+‐chelating, 1,1‐diphenyl‐2 picrylhdrazyl, OH, and nitric oxide radical scavenging abilities. This study also revealed the presence of 20 phenolic compounds with caffeic acid being the most predominant. Conclusively, kolanut host tree mistletoe leaves can be used as therapeutic agent in the management of Alzheimer's disease and hypertension

Modulatory effect of protocatechuic acid on cadmium induced nephrotoxicity and hepatoxicity in rats in vivo

Introduction: This study sought to investigate the effect of protocatechuic acid (PCA); a phenolic compound readily available in most plant foods on cadmium-induced nephrotoxicity and hepatoxicity in rats. Case description: Thirty six adult male rats weighing about 150–160 g were acclimatized for 2 weeks and subsequently divided into six groups: Group 1 rats received normal saline (control group), group 2 rats were administered 5 mg Cd/kg body weight in form of solution orally (induced group), groups 3 and 4 received cadmium solution and different doses of PCA (10 and 20 mg/kg body weight) respectively, while groups 5 and 6 were the normal rats administered different doses of PCA (10 and 20 mg/kg) respectively in an experiment that lasted for twenty one days. The animals were sacrificed, the blood was collected and the serum was subsequently prepared. Furthermore, the liver was excised, homogenized and centrifuged to obtain the tissue homogenate used for the analyses. The serum was used for the determination of the total protein, urea, creatinine and uric acid levels while the liver homogenate was used for the estimation of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Discussion and evaluation: The result revealed that total protein level was reduced in cadmium induced toxicity rat group which was elevated upon treatment with PCA. Conversely, the elevated levels of urea, uric acid and creatinine in cadmium induced toxicity kidney rats were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in PCA treated groups. Similarly, marked elevation in the ALT, AST and ALP activity were observed in cadmium induced toxicity rat group when compared with the control group. However, significant (p < 0.05) decrease in ALT, AST and ALP activity were noticed in groups administered different doses of PCA. Conclusions: The results from this study suggest that PCA may protect against cadmium-induced toxicity in the kidney and liver