Damage index: Assessment of mould growth on building materials using digital image processing technique

There is a growing concern over the adverse health effects of exposure to high concentration of mould spores in the indoor environments. Copious epidemiological studies have shown a direct relationship between the exposure to indoor mould and several adverse health effects. The phenomenon of Sick building syndrome (SBS) and Building Related Illness (BRI) have also been attributed to moulds exposure in the indoor environment. In spite of this growing concern, little have been reported on the development of an objective mould assessment particularly criteria for visual inspection of mould growth on building materials. The main premise of this study is that visual inspection related with mould damaged material can lead to objective ranking of the severity of damaged material, and reduce the subjective nature of mould dam-aged estimation by the use digital image processing (DIP) techniques. A four stage technique procedure, involving image preprocessing, Image segmentation and mould analysis and classification stage for the detection of mould growth is examined in this paper. Results obtained when this proposed algorithm was applied to acquired digital images collected from different infested building materials indicates the appropriateness of this method in enhancing the visual assessment and grading associated with mould growth on building material

Microbiological Assay Of Ingredients, Contact Surfaces And Stages In Akara Processing At Three Locations In Maiduguri, Nigeria

Sample at various stages and contact surfaces were obtained during akara processing from three locations in Maiduguri metropolis. The locations were Hausari, Mairi and Wulari. Samples of the ingredients and swabs of contact surfaces were taken. Total aerobic plate count, coliform count, taphylococcal count and yeast/mould count, were determined. Microorganism were solated, identified and their percentage frequency of occurrence on plated samples of the ingredients and contact surfaces were also determined. The total aerobic mesophilic count of ingredients from the three locations range from 3.10 to 8.40 cfu/g, while coliform count ranged from 1.10 to 9.00 cfu/g, staphylococcal count ranged from 1.20 to 3.29 cfu/g and yeast/mould count ranged from 1.60 to 4.80 cfu/g. The total aerobic plate count of contact surfaces ranged from 4.20 to 7.90 cfu/cm2, coliform from 1.00 to 7.80 cfu/cm2, staphylococcal count from 2.10 to 5.90 cfu/cm2 and yeast/mould count from 1.20 to 4.80 cfu/cm2. The predominant microorganisms isolated from this study were Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bacillus subtilis, candida tropicalis and Aspergillus niger. They occurred at all the various stages and on contact surfaces during akara processing at percentage frequency of occurrence ranging from 5 to 50%. The presence of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus feacalis and klebsiella pneumoniae is not a healthy development. These microorganisms are pathogenic and therefore their presence during akara processing could cause a serious health problem. The need for advising akara producers and vendors of the necessity to adopt strict hygienic practice, at various stages of processing is essential. Agro-Science Vol.2(1) 2001: 42-4

Iman Restoration Therapy (IRT): a new counseling approach and its usefulness in developing personal growth of Malay adolescent clients

Over the years, it has become a trend that those in mental health professions, especially counselors and psychologists are less religious, even atheistic due to their secular belief system. This is coupled with their diminutive efforts to link spirituality and science in most of their research works and intellectual frameworks in relation to counseling and treating psychological illnesses. However, it has been found in recent past that three quarters of counselors, even with secular and Christian belief system, reported using spirituality as an intervention tool in their research. This significant finding reflects the growing realization on the significance of religion and spirituality as an effective psychotherapeutic intervention. Thus, the purpose of this study is to examine ÔmÉn Restoration Therapy, a new psychotherapeutic approach which is based on the study of the Qur’an, Sunnah and the works of early Muslim scholars, as a new counseling approach in developing personal growth of Malay adolescent clients. Through a single case study design, data was collected from interview and counseling sessions from an undergraduate student at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). With the emergence of seven themes, results revealed that maintaining ones faith in Allah SWT can bring about a positive functioning in one’s cognitive, emotive, behavior and motivational components and attain spiritual intuition that fosters religious faith and meaningful living. Implications and suggestions for further studies are duly illustrated