DEVELOPMENT AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF A RICE DE-STONING MACHINE USING VIBRATING SIEVES

A rice de-stoning machine using vibrating sieves was designed, fabricated with locally sourced materials and tested. The performance of the machine was evaluated and the results obtained showed that the feed regulator opening has significant effects on the de-stoning rate, de-stoning efficiency and rice losses. The best performance was obtained at feed regulator opening of 20 mm. Above 20 mm opening, the higher the feed regulator opening the higher the de-stoning rate and grain losses, and the lower the de-stoning efficiency. The average capacity of the machine was found to be 31.84 g/sec. and the average efficiency also was 98.3%.     &nbsp

PREVALENCE OF CTX-M-PRODUCING GRAM-NEGATIVE UROPATHOGENS IN SOKOTO, NORTH-WESTERN NIGERIA

Objective: Infections of the urinary tract remains one of the most common bacterial infections with many implicated organisms being Gram-negative, which are increasingly resistant to antimicrobial agents. The aim of the study was to evaluate the resistance of ESBL producing Gram-negative enterobacteriaceae to commonly prescribed antibiotics and the prevalence of CTX-M genes from these isolates using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Methods: The isolates were collected from urine over a period of 4 mo and studied, and were identified using Microgen Identification Kit (GN-ID). Susceptibility testing was performed by the modified Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method, and results were interpreted according to Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI). Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL) production was detected by the double-disc synergy test (DDST). Molecular characterization was based on the isolates that were positive for the phenotypic detection of ESBL. Results: Sixty one (61) isolates of Gram-negative uropathogens were identified. Of these, 19 (31.2%) were E. coli, 15 (24.6%) were Salmonella arizonae, Klebsiella pneumoniae were 7 (11.5%), Klebsiella oxytoca were 3 (4.9%), Enterobacter gergoviae were 6 (9.8%), 4 (6.6%) were Citrobacter freundii, 4 (6.6%) were Serratia marscence, and 1 (1.6%) were Enterobacter aerogenes, Proteus mirabilis, and Edwardsiella tarda each. Analysis of the bacterial susceptibility to antibiotics revealed most of them to be generally resistant to cotrimoxazole (73.3%), nalidixic acid (66.7%), norfloxacin (53.5%), ciprofloxacin (50.5%), gentamicin (48.6%), amoxicillin/clavulanate (45%), and the least resistant was displayed in nitrofurantoin (30%). Of the 15 ESBL producers, 11 (73.3%) were harbouring bla CTX-M genes. Conclusion: The study revealed a high susceptibility to nitrofurantoin, whereas susceptibility to cotrimoxazole was lowest. It further portrays a high prevalence of enterobacteriaceae isolates harbouring bla CTX-M genes in Sokoto metropolis

Experimental Analysis of the Performance of the Eco-Friendly R510A and R600a Refrigerants in a Retrofitted Vapour Compression Refrigerating System

Halocarbon refrigerants have been scheduled for total phase out because they contributed significantly to the two major global environmental problems - ozone layer depletion and global warming.In this study, the performances of the environmentally friendly R510A and R600a in a retrofitted domestic refrigerating system were investigated experimentally and compared with the performance of R134a. The results obtained showed that R510A has the lowest discharge pressure with an average value of 13.4 % lower than that of R134a. The average pressure ratios of R510A and R600a were 16.91 and 12.17 %, respectively, lower than that of R134a.The Volumetric Cooling Capacity obtained for R510A was 5.34 % higher than that of R134a. R510A and R600a exhibited higher refrigerating effect and Coefficient of Performance (COP) than R134a.The average COPs for R510A and R600a were 22.26 and 3.06 %, respectively, higher than that of R134a. Generally, R510A and R600a performed better than R134a and they can be used as retrofit substitute refrigerants for R134a in the existing domestic refrigerators. The best performance was obtained from the use of R510A in the retrofitted system

Paravertebral block with lignocaine-bupivacaine mixture in goats

Loco-regional anaesthesia and sedation protocols are becoming more popular in ruminant. This research compared some effects of xylazine or acepromazine in combination with lignocaine-bupivacaine mixture for paravertebral nerve block in goats. Twenty adult, apparently healthy West African Dwarf goats were randomly allocated to two groups (five males and five females each). Each group received either xylazine (0.05 mg/kg) + 2 % lignocaine (2mg/kg) – 0.5 % bupivacaine (0.95 mg/kg) mixture (XLB) or acepromazine (0.05 mg/kg) + lignocaine-bupivacaine mixture (ALB). Clinical parameters were recorded immediately (0 minutes) and at 10-minute intervals for an hour and 24 hours. Venipuncture was carried out via jugular vein for haematology before administration of drug (B0), 30 minutes (B30), 60 minutes (B60) and 24 hours (B24). Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and presented as mean and standard deviation at a significance level of 0.05. The onset of deep sedation following administration of acepromazine was 31.5 ± 0.97, while it was 2.90 ± 0.57 for xylazine. Acepromazine significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the rectal temperatures (RT) of the goats within the first 20 minutes and significantly reduced the respiratory rates of the goats when compared to xylazine. None of the drugs significantly altered the heart rate of the goats. None of the changes in haematological parameters was statistically significant across the sampling time frame. However, red cell parameters (Packed cell volume, red blood cell count, and haemoglobin concentration) and Lymphocyte count were significantly depressed after XLB administration. All the haematological changes were restored to pre-anaesthetic values after 24hours. This study demonstrates that xylazine can be a beneficial alternative and desirable for emergencies in minor ruminant sedation

DEVELOPMENT OF A SOLAR BOX FOR COOKING AND WATER HEATING

Solar cooking is the utilisation of direct insolation harnessed from the sun as energy source in cooking and water heating. In this study, a device for solar collection and direct utilisation for cooking and water heating was developed. The device consisted of two boxes a smaller box 600 mm × 600 mm × 460 mm insulated with coconut coir of thermal conductivity 0.295Wm-1) -1 placed within a larger box 700 mm × 700 mm ×500 mm. The direct solar insolation (Is), stagnation temperature of the device (Ts), ambient temperature (Ta) andthe wind velocity (V) were measured in accordance with ASHRAE standards. The regression procedure of Mini Tab (v.16) was used to relate the cooker temperature (Tc) with Is, Ts, Ta, and V. The presence of the heat storage unit made it possible to cook beyond 15:00 hours up until 18:00 hours local time while the hot water from the dispensing unit attained temperature of about 650c for most days of testing at about 13:00 ± 0:40 hours and gradually dropped to about 50℃ ± 5℃ by 19:00 hours local tim

Performance Evaluation of the Effect of Waste Paper on Groundnut Shell Briquette

Current energy shortage and environmental issues resulting from the use of fossil fuels have lead to exploitation of renewable energy resources that includes municipal waste and agricultural residues. These residues are available, indigenous and are environmental friendly but some can not be used directly in combustion process due high moisture content and low volumetric energy unless by briquetting. The study was undertaken to assess the combustion characteristic of binderless briquettes produced from waste paper and groundnut shell. Combustion characteristics investigated were ignition time, burning time, calorific values, burning rate, specific fuel consumption, fuel efficiency and water boiling time. The calorific values of the briquettes ranged from 19.51 - 19.92 MJ/kg, while the thermal efficiency ranges between 13.75 – 21.64%, other results shows that the average burning rate between 0.511 and 1.133 kg/hr and the specific fuel consumption ranges between 0.087 and 0.131 J/g. The recorded boiling time values were between 17.5 and 30.0 minutes for cold start and 15.0 and 20.0 minutes for hot start. The results shows that waste paper and groundnut shell up to 25% in composition composite briquettes were found to have good combustion characteristics which qualify them as alternative to firewood for domestic and industrial energy. However, production of briquettes from waste paper and groundnut shell at mixing ratio of 85:15 was found to comparatively better from all experiment conducted

Solar-eclipse-induced perturbations at mid-latitude during the 21 August 2017 event

A study of the response of some ionospheric parameters and their relationship in describing the behaviour of ionospheric mechanisms during the solar eclipse of 21 August 2017 is presented. Mid-latitude stations located along the eclipse path and with data available from the Global Ionospheric radio Observatory (GIRO) database were selected. The percentage of obscuration at these stations ranges between 63&thinsp;% and 100&thinsp;%. A decrease in electron density during the eclipse is attributed to a reduction in solar radiation and natural gas heating. The maximum magnitude of the eclipse consistently coincided with a hmF2 increase and with a lagged maximum decrease in NmF2 at the stations investigated. The results revealed that the horizontal neutral wind flow is as a consequence of the changes in the thermospheric and diffusion processes. The unusual increase and decrease in the shape and thickness parameters during the eclipse period relative to the control days points to the perturbation caused by the solar eclipse. The relationships of the bottomside ionosphere and the F2 layer parameters with respect to the scale height are shown in the present work as viable parameters for probing the topside ionosphere during the eclipse. Furthermore, this study shows that in addition to traditional ways of analysing the thermospheric composition and neutral wind flow, proper relation of standardized NmF2 and hmF2 can be conveniently used to describe the mechanisms.</p

COMPARATIVE TRIAL OF COMBINED METOCLOPRAMIDE AND DEXAMETHASONE VERSUS DEXAMETHASONE IN POSTOPERATIVE NAUSEA AND VOMITING IN GYNAECOLOGICAL SURGERY

Metoclopramide is a drug that has been used in the dose of 10 mg iv for postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) prophylaxis for many years and has been reported to be ineffective at this dose. That a higher dose of this drug, when used in combination with 8 mg dexamethasone, is more effective when compared with 8 mg dexamethasone only is worth validating and this study was designed to do. The aim is to compare the effectiveness of adding 50 mg metoclopramide (in two divided doses) to 8 mg intravenous dose of dexamethasone versus 8 mg dexamethasone only as a prophylactic anti-emetic in gynaecological surgery under spinal anaesthesia at University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin

Sedimentation, depositional environments, and hydrocarbon potential of the Maastrichtian-Paleocene Araromi Formation, eastern Dahomey (Benin) Basin, southwestern Nigeria

The Cretaceous sediments in southwestern Nigeria are host to one of the largest bitumen deposits in the world. In the current paper, an integrated study on sedimentology, palynology, and applied petroleum geochemistry of the Maastrichtian-Paleocene Araromi Formation was used to determine the depositional environments and hydrocarbon potentials of the formation on the eastern Dahomey Basin. Four sedimentary lithofacies were identified from core samples, namely, lower limestone (F$_{1}$); medium to coarse-grained sandstone (F$_{2}$); lower loosely consolidated sandstone (F$_{3}$); and shale and siltstone (F$_{4}$). Sedimentation in the eastern Dahomey Basin occurred mainly in fluvial and shallow-marine (shelf) environments. The palynological assemblages of the Araromi Formation reflect deposition in coastal through brackish water to shallow shelf environment with periods of localized wind-induced storms. The shale and siltstone samples of the Araromi Formation are characterized by total organic carbon (TOC) values of up to 2.50 wt % and S$_{2}$ (hydrocarbon-generating potential) values ranging from 0.26 to 0.70 mgHC/g rock, indicating poor source rocks. Shales show poor quality and thermally immature organic matter at shallow depth and could neither have generated liquid hydrocarbon nor contributed to the heavy oil occurrence on the bitumen and tar-sand belt of eastern Dahomey (Benin) Basin