Assessing the Abuse of Professional Practices in the Nigerian Construction Processes

In order to contain and curtail the harmful and negative consequences posed by abuse of professional  practices in the Nigerian Construction Industry, it is important to envisage the construction phase that records the highest frequency of abuse in the Industry. It is presumed that, this can be a step forward in mitigating abuse of professional practices in the Nigerian Construction Industry. This research was carried out to envisage the construction stage that are prone to severe abuse of professional practices among the three phases; Planning & Design Phase (PDP), Pre-qualification & Tendering Phase (PQTP) and Execution & Completion Phase (ECP) in the Nigerian Construction Industry. A quantitative research approach was systematically employed were semi structured questionnaire was design and administered to the major stakeholders (consultants, clients and contractors) in the Nigerian Construction Industry. Ranking was used to determine the phase that are susceptible to abuse of professional practices than others and ANOVA was further deployed to investigate whether there is significant different in the respondents view point. From the findings made, it was concluded that Pre-qualification and Tendering Phase (PQTP) was the most susceptible to abuse of professional practices in the entire construction processes. The respondents were in the view that although dozens of abuse of professional practices are uncovered each year in different construction phases certainly more cases are occurred frequently at bidding/tendering stage than others. In addition, from ANOVA we concluded that there is significant difference in the opinions of the consultants to that of clients and contractors in the context they all view what abuse of professional practices is all about

ANALISIS KANDUNGAN TIMBAL (Pb) PADA MAKANAN JAJANAN GORENGAN DI PINGGIRAN JALAN RAYA KEC. GIRIAN KOTA BITUNG TAHUN 2021

Latar Belakang Penelitian: Pencemaran udara dapat memberikan dampak kepada lingkungan dan manusia, salah satunya polutan yangldikeluarkan dari proses pembakaranlbahan bakar kendaraanlbermotor ialah timbali(Pb). Timbal (Pb) merupakanisalah satu logamiberat yang sangat berbahayaibagi makhlukihidup karena bersifatlkarsinogenik dapat menyebabkanimutasi, teruraiidalam jangka waktuiyang lama dan toksisitasnya yang berubah. Tujuan Penelitian: Mengetahui kandungan timbal pada makanan jajanan gorengan di pinggiran jalan raya Kec. Girian Kota Bitung tahun 2020. MetodeiPenelitian: Penelitianiini merupakan jenisipenelitian surveyLdeskriptif dengan ujiLlaboratorium. Populasi dalam penelitian ini yaitu semua penjual makanan jajanan yang menjual gorengan di sepanjang jalan Kecamatan Girian Kota Bitung, dengan sampel yaitu sebanyak 20 sampel gorengan dengan jenis gorengan yaitu tahu goreng dan pisang goring, kemudian dilakukan pengujian laboratoium dengan menggunakan metode SSA (Spektrofotometer Serapan Atom). HasillPenelitian: Berdasarkan hasilipenelitian yang telah dilakukanlpada 20lsampel gorengan dilaboratorium BARISTAND menunjukan hasil 20 sampel gorengan terdapat kandungan timbal (Pb) tetapi masih dibawah standar baku mutu yang ditetapkan. Kesimpulan: Berdasarkan hasil pemeriksaan kandungan timbal (Pb) di laboratorium pada 20 sampel gorengan yang terdiri dari pisang dan tahu goreng di Girian Kota Bitung, dengan menggunakan metode SSA (Spektrofometri Serapan Atom) menunjukkan bahwa sampel yang diteliti dibawah ambang batas sesuai dengan Peraturan Kepala BPOM RI No 23 Tahun 2017. Kata Kunci: Timbal (Pb), Makanan Jajanan Gorengan ABSTRACTResearch Background: The existence of pollution in the air can have an impact on the environment and humans, one of which is the pollutant released from the combustion process of motor vehicle fuel is lead (Pb). Lead (Pb) is a heavy metal that is very dangerous for living things because it is carcinogenic and can cause mutations, decompose over a long period of time and change its toxicity. Research Objectives: To determine the lead content in fried snacks on the outskirts of the main road, Kec. Girian City of Bitung in 2020. Research Methods: This research is a descriptive survey research with laboratory tests. The population in this study were all hawker food sellers who sold fried foods along the streets of Girian District, Bitung City, with a sample of 20 samples of fried foods, namely fried tofu and fried bananas, then laboratory testing was carried out using the AAS method (Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer). Research Results: Based on the results of research conducted on 20 fried samples in the BARISTAND laboratory, the results of 20 fried samples contained lead (Pb) but were still below the established quality standards. Conclusion: Based on the results of examination of lead content (Pb) in the laboratory on 20 fried samples consisting of bananas and fried tofu in Girian, Bitung City, using the AAS method (Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry) showed that the samples studied were below the threshold in accordance with the Regulation of the Head of BPOM. RI No. 23 of 2017. Keywords: Lead (Pb), fried snacks

Microwave assisted biodiesel production from Lagenaria vulgaris seed oil using amberlyst 15 ion exchange resin and eggshell as catalysts

The study involves the extraction of oil from the seeds of lagenaria vulgaris (Calabash) using soxhlet apparatus. The physicochemical properties of the calabash seeds oil analyzed were; crude oil yield (37.8%), density of oil (0.925g/cm3), acid value of oil (5.6mgKOH/g) and saponification value (190.1mgKOH/g).Catalytic transesterification was carried out using the oil produced in a microwave to yield biodiesel. A comparative analysis of the biodiesel produced from the extracted oil using two different catalysts; Amberlyst 15 ion exchange resin and calcium oxide (waste eggshell) was carried out. The biodiesel production was conducted under different catalyst concentrations, different temperature range and different time (minutes). The best yield of 95.07% was achieved with treated waste eggshell at 600C, 5% catalyst to oil ratio and 40% methanol to oil volume ratio after 40 minutes. Biodiesel characterization showed; specific gravity (0.890g/cm3), acid value (0.7mgKOH/g), API gravity (27.5g/cm3), kinematic viscosity (5.6mm2/s), cloud point (3.50C), pour point (-30C), copper strip corrosion test (1b), flash point (1380C), cetane/diesel index (35.1). The result shows that the biodiesel quality parameters were within the acceptable limits set by ASTM, although blends and additives maybe needed to improve performance.Keywords: Biodiesel, Transesterification, Amberlyst 15, Eggshel

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata): Genetics, genomics and breeding

Article purchased; Published online: 9 May 2018Cowpea, Vigna unguiculata (L.), is an important grain legume grown in the tropics where it constitutes a valuable source of protein in the diets of millions of people. Some abiotic and biotic stresses adversely affect its productivity. A review of the genetics, genomics and breeding of cowpea is presented in this article. Cowpea breeding programmes have studied intensively qualitative and quantitative genetics of the crop to better enhance its improvement. A number of initiatives including Tropical Legumes projects have contributed to the development of cowpea genomic resources. Recent progress in the development of consensus genetic map containing 37,372 SNPs mapped to 3,280 bins will strengthen cowpea trait discovery pipeline. Several informative markers associated with quantitative trait loci (QTL) related to desirable attributes of cowpea were generated. Cowpea genetic improvement activities aim at the development of drought tolerant, phosphorus use efficient, bacterial blight and virus resistant lines through exploiting available genetic resources as well as deployment of modern breeding tools that will enhance genetic gain when grown by sub‐Saharan Africa farmers

Track D Social Science, Human Rights and Political Science

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138414/1/jia218442.pd

Genetic polymorphism in msp-2, ama-1 and csp genes in Plasmodium falciparum field isolates from north and north-western India

Background & objectives: Malaria is a major public health problem in tropical and sub-tropical countries. Malaria vaccine is highly desirable as an adjunct to existing malaria control measures. The polymorphism in vaccine candidate antigens might be a hurdle in developing an effective vaccine. Merozoite surface protein-2, apical membrane antigen-1 and circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium falciparum are vaccine candidate antigens. The aim of this study was to detect extent of genetic polymorphism in potential vaccine candidate antigen genes, i.e. msp-2, ama-1 and csp of P. falciparum isolates prevalent in northern and north-western parts of India. Methods Overall 88 parasite isolates of P. falciparum were collected during July 1998 March 2002 from different parts of northern and north-western India. DNA was extracted and analyzed for genetic polymorphism by PCR-RFLP method. For msp-2 gene, family-specific (FC-27 and 3D7) nested PCR was also performed. Results: PCR showed size polymorphism in all the target genes. Three alleles were observed in msp-2 and ama-1, while only two in csp. RFLP of ama-1 and csp with Dra-1 and Ssp-1 endonucleases respectively, failed to differentiate isolates in sub-allelic types, while Hinf-I digestion of msp-2 amplicons differentiated three alleles into two distinct allelic families, i.e. FC-27 and 3D7. The allelic family-specific PCR generally confirmed the results of PCR-RFLP except in a few isolates, which showed mixed (two) clones of msp-2 gene. Interpretation & conclusion: There was extensive polymorphism in msp-2 gene while ama-1 and csp genes showed low polymorphism which may be due to the functional constraints of these proteins. The low level transmission of malaria in the study area may also be a factor for low polymorphism

Marker-Assisted Selection (MAS): untapped potential for enhancing food and nutrition securities in sub-Saharan Africa

Global food security has raised concerns for the rapidly growing population and extreme weather due to climate change. Conventional plant breeding deployed the current greatly fecund crops, but there must be an increase in the genetic improvement to meet the anticipated future demand. Existing crop breeding techniques and recent technologies could resourcefully be reconnoitered to increase crop improvement in the façade of increasingly perplexing production condition, which is discussed in this chapter. Agriculture is vital in securing millions of people in sub-Saharan Africa, as it has prodigious potential to contribute to the economic development of the region, livelihood improvement through income generation, and enhancing the potential of smallholder farmers and related value chains. Moreover, scientific innovations like MAS offer great potential to drive this envisioned change; decades have passed since this technology was first used in the world, but Africa as a continent with more genetic diversity of crops remains underrepresented. Here, we reviewed a purview on screening methods and patterns of how genetic diversity of available crops in the continent are exploited, since marker-assisted selection and its potential in tackling food and nutritional insecurity as well as climate change cannot be overemphasized. In this chapter, we highlighted potential for applying MAS in the genomic resources available in Africa. We explored the most important methods of plant breeding used with their advantages and limitations. Additionally, the quiescent and consequences for assimilation of hi-tech innovations in genetics and breeding are also explored. Since smallholder farmers are the major beneficiaries, we scrutinized how to guarantee steady and sustainable production of crops in sub-Saharan Africa, thereby producing climate-smart crops in this region

Genomics, genetics and breeding of tropical legumes for better livelihoods of smallholder farmers

Legumes are important components of sustainable agricultural production, food, nutrition and income systems of developing countries. In spite of their importance, legume crop production is challenged by a number of biotic (diseases and pests) and abiotic stresses (heat, frost, drought and salinity), edaphic factors (associated with soil nutrient deficits) and policy issues (where less emphasis is put on legumes compared to priority starchy staples). Significant research and development work have been done in the past decade on important grain legumes through collaborative bilateral and multilateral projects as well as the CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes (CRP‐GL). Through these initiatives, genomic resources and genomic tools such as draft genome sequence, resequencing data, large‐scale genomewide markers, dense genetic maps, quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and diagnostic markers have been developed for further use in multiple genetic and breeding applications. Also, these mega‐initiatives facilitated release of a number of new varieties and also dissemination of on‐the‐shelf varieties to the farmers. More efforts are needed to enhance genetic gains by reducing the time required in cultivar development through integration of genomics‐assisted breeding approaches and rapid generation advancement