Development of a UAV-based system for the semi-automatic estimation of the volume of earthworks

One of the challenges faced by surveyors in acquisition of accurate spatial data for mining applications is the risk involved in acquiring data in rugged terrains and difficult or inaccessible areas. With the advent of modern technology, accurate geospatial data can now be safely obtained for proper mining documentation periodically. The use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for data acquisition in mine surveying has been a viable means of obtaining reliable geospatial data rapidly and efficiently. The main goal of this study is to develop a semi-automatic UAV-based system for the acquisition of spatial data required for the estimation of the volume of earthworks. A DJI Phantom 4 quadcopter was used for the acquisition of image data of the project site, while the images were processed into a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) using Pix4Dmapper v2.0.1, which was then imported into the MATLAB-based system developed for the automatic estimation of the volume of earthworks. The volume obtained from the automated system was thus compared with the volume obtained directly from the Pix4Dmapper software, having specified a contour interval of 1 and an allowable error rate of ±3% as the standard error. While ±1.02% error was observed in the volume estimated using the Pix4Dmapper, the developed automated system yielded an estimated precision of ±0.81% in its volume estimation, which proves to be more robust for automatic volume estimation in terms of accuracy and precision

Development of a UAV-based system for the semi-automatic estimation of the volume of earthworks

One of the challenges faced by surveyors in acquisition of accurate spatial data for mining applications is the risk involved in acquiring data in rugged terrains and difficult or inaccessible areas. With the advent of modern technology, accurate geospatial data can now be safely obtained for proper mining documentation periodically. The use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for data acquisition in mine surveying has been a viable means of obtaining reliable geospatial data rapidly and efficiently. The main goal of this study is to develop a semi-automatic UAV-based system for the acquisition of spatial data required for the estimation of the volume of earthworks. A DJI Phantom 4 quadcopter was used for the acquisition of image data of the project site, while the images were processed into a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) using Pix4Dmapper v2.0.1, which was then imported into the MATLAB-based system developed for the automatic estimation of the volume of earthworks. The volume obtained from the automated system was thus compared with the volume obtained directly from the Pix4Dmapper software, having specified a contour interval of 1 and an allowable error rate of ±3% as the standard error. While ±1.02% error was observed in the volume estimated using the Pix4Dmapper, the developed automated system yielded an estimated precision of ±0.81% in its volume estimation, which proves to be more robust for automatic volume estimation in terms of accuracy and precision

Geochemical evidence for a Cretaceous oil sand (Bima oil sand) in the Chad Basin, Nigeria

Timothy Bata is thankful to the Petroleum Technology Development Fund of Nigeria (PTDF) (PTDF/E/OSS/PHD/BTP/359/11) for sponsoring his PhD research at the University of Aberdeen, and the management of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria, for permitting him to proceed on study leave. We are grateful to Colin Taylor for his help during laboratory work and S. Bowden for advice on the interpretation of the gas chromatographic data.Peer reviewedPostprin

Intra-vesical explosion during transurethral resection of the prostate for benign prostatic hyperplasia

Intra-vesical explosion is a very rare complication of Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP). It could lead to different grades of bladder injury ranging from mucosal tears to bladder rupture. We report a case of Intra-vesical explosion with bladder injury that was managed non-operatively. A 67 year old man with 2 year history of severe Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) due to Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH) presented to our hospital. He was scheduled for TURP on account of failed medical treatment. During the operation, a loud explosion occurred. Cystoscopy revealed a partial thickness mucosal tear at the dome of the bladder. He was managed non-operatively by continuous bladder drainage. Although intra-vesical explosion is a rare complication of TURP, its recognition, determination of appropriate bladder injury and institution of appropriate treatment are essentials to forestall further complications to the patient.Keywords: BPE, Explosive gases, Cystoscopy, Exploration, Bladder injur

Development of a UAV-based system for the semi-automatic estimation of the volume of earthworks

One of the challenges faced by surveyors in acquisition of accurate spatial data for mining applications is the risk involved in acquiring data in rugged terrains and difficult or inaccessible areas. With the advent of modern technology, accurate geospatial data can now be safely obtained for proper mining documentation periodically. The use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for data acquisition in mine surveying has been a viable means of obtaining reliable geospatial data rapidly and efficiently. The main goal of this study is to develop a semi-automatic UAV-based system for the acquisition of spatial data required for the estimation of the volume of earthworks. A DJI Phantom 4 quadcopter was used for the acquisition of image data of the project site, while the images were processed into a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) using Pix4Dmapper v2.0.1, which was then imported into the MATLAB-based system developed for the automatic estimation of the volume of earthworks. The volume obtained from the automated system was thus compared with the volume obtained directly from the Pix4Dmapper software, having specified a contour interval of 1 and an allowable error rate of ±3% as the standard error. While ±1.02% error was observed in the volume estimated using the Pix4Dmapper, the developed automated system yielded an estimated precision of ±0.81% in its volume estimation, which proves to be more robust for automatic volume estimation in terms of accuracy and precision

Effect of aqueous extract of Azadirachta indica on rifampicin- induced jaundice in rabbits

High rate of dependence on medicinal plants for maintenance of health care needs over the decades in communities all over the world especially in Africa and Asia needs adequate scientific verification and authentication. Liver related diseases have however become a global problem. Jaundice was established on 9 of a total population of 12 rabbits of mixed sex, weighing 1.50kg - 2.34kg using an overdose pretreatment of Rifampicin (300mg/ kg bw) P.O. After 3 days, the Animals were administered with various doses of aqueous extract of Azadirachta indica (600, 750, 900mg/kg bw) P.O for each group of rats – A, B, C and D (control ), after which the animals were bled via marginal ear vein at zero hour, 7th and 14th days and the blood used for the following assays: Alkaline Phosphatase, Acid Phosphatase, Total Bilirubin, Conjugated Bilirubin and Alanine Transaminase. Experimental animals exhibited lack of appetite, reduced activity, scratching of the body, emesis, yellow coloration of the sclera, light-colored stool and a little dark urine over time. There was also increase in the levels of the biochemical parameters as the day increased. Aqueous extract of Azadirachta indica (Neem) exhibited increasing elevated levels of Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), Acid Phosphatase (AP), Total Bilirubin (T/Bil), Conjugated Bilirubin (Conj/Bil), and slightly in Alanine Transaminase (ALT), thus exerted elevated hepatotoxicity on Rifampicin-induced Rabbits. Therefore, the traditional use of Azadirachta indica in management of jaundice should be discontinued.</jats:p

Effect of aqueous extract of Azadirachta indica on rifampicin- induced jaundice in rabbits

High rate of dependence on medicinal plants for maintenance of health care needs over the decades in communities all over the world especially in Africa and Asia needs adequate scientific verification and authentication. Liver related diseases have however become a global problem. Jaundice was established on 9 of a total population of 12 rabbits of mixed sex, weighing 1.50kg - 2.34kg using an overdose pretreatment of Rifampicin (300mg/ kg bw) P.O. After 3 days, the Animals were administered with various doses of aqueous extract of Azadirachta indica (600, 750, 900mg/kg bw) P.O for each group of rats – A, B, C and D (control ), after which the animals were bled via marginal ear vein at zero hour, 7th and 14th days and the blood used for the following assays: Alkaline Phosphatase, Acid Phosphatase, Total Bilirubin, Conjugated Bilirubin and Alanine Transaminase. Experimental animals exhibited lack of appetite, reduced activity, scratching of the body, emesis, yellow coloration of the sclera, light-colored stool and a little dark urine over time. There was also increase in the levels of the biochemical parameters as the day increased. Aqueous extract of Azadirachta indica (Neem) exhibited increasing elevated levels of Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), Acid Phosphatase (AP), Total Bilirubin (T/Bil), Conjugated Bilirubin (Conj/Bil), and slightly in Alanine Transaminase (ALT), thus exerted elevated hepatotoxicity on Rifampicin-induced Rabbits. Therefore, the traditional use of Azadirachta indica in management of jaundice should be discontinued.</jats:p

Assessment of health-care research and its challenges among medical doctors in Nigeria

Introduction: Health‑care research in Nigeria has been growing over the years but is constrained by many difficulties. This study aimed to identify the challenges encountered in health‑care research and suggest policies to address these problems. Materials and Methods: It was a cross‑sectional study of medical doctors who have been involved in health‑related researches. All participants filled a self‑administered online questionnaire comprising 31 questions in five sections. The responses were analyzed using the Google forms and the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software version 23. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 41.0 ± 8.4 years. Three‑quarters of the respondents (75.5%) worked in teaching hospitals. Nearly all (96.6%) carried out their studies using personal funds and only one in 10 had been involved in high‑budget projects (≥₦1,000,000). The generation of quality researches was impeded by the restriction of literature review to free online journals (93.2%), incomplete health records (88.0%), limited access to research kits (65.7%), limited use of advanced statistical analysis (29.8%), and challenges with obtaining ethical approval (21.2%). Despite the average online visibility of these researches (52.2%), only 28.5% stated that it has been locally adopted to influence medical practice in their center. Conclusion: There is a wide disparity in research capacity among hospital tiers. It is important to leverage on and expand existing partnerships to provide institutional access to premium literature, offer robust, and assessable financial support for the conduct of high‑quality researches and provide a framework to bridge the gap in the use of these works to influence practice change in Nigeria