An assessment of the microbiological quality of some bottle water sold in Kano metropolis, Nigeria

Bottled water like any drinking water used for human consumption should be safe and of standard quality to ensure adequate public health significance. The aim of the study is to assess the quality of some bottle water sold in Kano Metropolis and compare the result with some national and international standards. Studies on the microbiological parametric standards, was conducted. A total of 40 samples comprising of 4 different brands were randomly selected using stratified sampling techniques from different sites of Kano metropolis in northern Nigeria. Samples were analyzed for the presence of bacterial indicators of water quality using pour plate and MPN techniques. The result of Total aerobic Plate counts (APC) ranged from 2.06x102 -3.8x102 cful/ml of the entire brand. All the bottled water brands had a mean (APC) greater than 100cfu/ml of bottled water standard. Total coliform and Eschericia coli were detected in two brands and were above the zero cfu/ per 100milliter of bottled water standard. No pathogenic bacteria were isolated except forStaphylococcus. Effective implementation of WHO water safety plans from the catchment source to the consumer through campaign awareness can reduce level of exposure to stake holders to protect and store bottle water against sunlight exposure, chemicals and cleaning reagents.Key words: Quality, Bottled water, Kano Metropoli

Determining house price for mass appraisal using multiple regression analysis modeling in Kaduna North, Nigeria

The research applied Multiple Regression Analysis (MRA) in estimating house price for mass appraisal in Kaduna north, Nigeria. Two basic micro determinants of house price were considered, namely; structural attributes and location of property. Using a sample of 106 house sale transactions data which were recorded between 2011 to 2015, MRA was used to determine the structural variables and locational attributes that have statistically significant influence on the house price. It was found that among the variables included in the MRA, year of transaction, type of house, availability of swimming pool, availability of security post, type of door and location of the property were significant in determining house price in Kaduna. However, number of bedroom, number of living room, type of ceiling, condition of the house were not significant in influencing house price. Using the significant variables, a mass appraisal model was developed for the study area. The performance of the model was evaluated using the ratio study method and the model was found to be satisfactory. It was recommended that, this model be used in mass appraisal of residential properties in Kaduna north in the future, with a view to improve accuracy, objectivity, efficiency, and fairness of the property taxation system, which will lead to generating more revenue for the government and, encourage physical infrastructural development in Kaduna North.Keywords: Mass Appraisal, Multiple Regression Analysis (MRA), House Price, Valuatio

An assessment of the physicochemical quality of some bottle water sold in Kano metropolis, Nigeria

Bottled water like any drinking water used for human consumption should be safe and of standard quality to ensure adequate public health significance. This study is aimed at assessing the physicochemical quality of some bottle water sold in Kano Metropolis. Studies on physicochemical parametric analysis were conducted. A total of 40 samples comprising of 4 different brands were randomly selected from different location. Physicochemical parameters of water samples such as Temperature, pH, Electrical conductivity, Total dissolved solids, turbidity, Magnesium, Calcium, Lead, Copper, Zinc, Bicarbonate, Chloride, Nitrate and Phosphate were analyzed using standard methods of water analysis. The Results of physicochemical parameters were within the drinking water regulatory standard. However, zinc, lead and copper was found to exceed the bottle drinking water standard in the ranges of 3.91 – 6.17Mg/l, 0. 29 – 0. 47Mg/l and 1.54 – 2. 67Mg/l respectively; thereby rendering the water unfit to human consumption. There is the need to embark on routine monitoring and surveillances by the regulatory agencies involved to ensure effective implementation of WHO water safety plans from the catchment source to the consumer. This could be enhanced by replacing old pipes with new ones Bottled water industries should be designated away from heavy metal industries.Keywords: Physicochemical, Bottled water quality, Kano metropoli

Data envelopment analysis models and software packages for academic purposes

Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is a popular technique used in measuring the performance of an industry. DEA has wide applications in agriculture, manufacturing, health care, transportation, education, energy and environment, as well as banking and finance. However, many students and academicians are in dilemma in finding the appropriate software to execute a particular DEA model. In recent years, different DEA software packages have been developed by some universities and companies for both academic and commercial purposes. The software packages offered wide varieties of most recent DEA models that could be used in science and technology. Some of these software packages are free for academic users while others are commercialised. In this study, nine different DEA software packages were reviewed. Among them, only three are free for academic purposes while four have been commercialized. One of the former is still in the development stage, but expected to be available soon

Productivity growth, technical change and efficiency change of the Malaysian cage fish farming: an application of Malmquist Productivity Index approach

The demand for animal protein especially fish is expanding due to the population growth, increased incomes and changes in eating habits and life styles. The capture fisheries in Malaysia which supply over 70 % of the fish used for food are over-exploited, and the yield has become stagnant over the last decades and in some cases it has even declined. In addition, the balance of trade for the past decade has been negative signaling a threat to the economic growth. However, aquaculture has the potential to meet these challenges if it is well practiced. This can be done through improving productivity of fish farms. The study aims to compute the total factor productivity (TFP) growth and its components. In addition, it aims to identify the sources of TFP growth in aquaculture. Malmquist Productivity Index using data envelopment analysis and regression model has been employed to analyze the data. The TFP growth was estimated to be greater than one, indicating progress in the productivity. According to the results obtained in this study, technological change is the more important contributor to TFP growth. Nevertheless, efficiency changes also play a vital role in improving aquaculture production

Data Envelopment Analysis Models and Software Packages for Academic Purposes

Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is a popular technique used in measuring the performance of an industry. DEA has wide applications in agriculture, manufacturing, health care, transportation, education, energy and environment, as well as banking and finance. However, many students and academicians are in dilemma in finding the appropriate software to execute a particular DEA model. In recent years, different DEA software packages have been developed by some universities and companies for both academic and commercial purposes. The software packages offered wide varieties of most recent DEA models that could be used in science and technology. Some of these software packages are free for academic users while others are commercialised. In this study, nine different DEA software packages were reviewed. Among them, only three are free for academic purposes while four have been commercialized. One of the former is still in the development stage, but expected to be available soon

Evaluating contextual factors affecting the technical efficiency of freshwater pond culture systems in Peninsular Malaysia: a two-stage DEA approach

The demand for animal protein, especially fish, is growing fast, perhaps due to the rapid expansion of populations, increases in income and changes in eating habits and life styles. Capture fisheries, which supply over 70% of the fish for human consumption in Malaysia, are over-exploited or depleted. Their yields have become stagnant over the last few decades and in some cases have even declined. Nevertheless, aquaculture has the potential to meet these challenges if practised well. This study therefore aims to estimate the technical efficiency of pond culture systems using data envelopment analysis (DEA). In addition, it investigates the determinants of technical efficiency by employing an ordinary least squares (OLS) regression model. The estimated technical efficiency of pond culture was found to be 0.86, which means that the fish farmers in our sample could reach full technical efficiency through reducing their input usage by 14% with the current level of technology to produce the same output levels. The results of the OLS regression indicate that farmers’ age, experience, extension training and water management have positive and statistically significant impacts on technical efficiency. Information on water management practices could be passed on by extension agents to inefficient farms to assist them in catching up with the farms demonstrating best practice

End-Users Housing Requirements in Tumfure Housing Estate in Gombe Metropolis, Nigeria

One of the critical success indicators of projects is to meet the requirements of end-users on which their satisfaction depend upon. This study aimed to examine end-users housing requirements in a Tumfure housing estate in Gombe metropolis, Nigeria, to improve end-user satisfaction. The study objectives were: To identify end-users housing requirements in Tumfure housing estate in Gombe metropolis. The survey design was used to collect responses from occupants of the estate using a structured questionnaire that produced a 65 % response rate. The collected data was analysed using descriptive statistical tools of tables and means. The research found that end-users basic housing requirements in the Tumfure housing estate were the flow of natural ventilation and illumination, rooms suitable for a family unit, modern convenience, circulation spaces, and adequate security. The research recommended that end-users requirements and their peculiarities be the primary consideration in designing and developing public housing estate to ensure higher end-user residential satisfaction

Identifying and assessing complexity emergent behaviour during mega infrastructure construction in Sub-Saharan Africa

Acknowledgements and Financial Disclosure The private PhD scholarship awarded to Iliyasu Abdullahi is declared as funding not resulting in any conflict of interest. All authors would like to thank the editor and anonymous referees for their useful comments, which increase this article’s value, and helped to position this study in relevant literature.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Comparative analysis of technical efficiency for different production culture systems and species of freshwater aquaculture in Peninsular Malaysia

This study estimated the bias-corrected technical efficiency (BCTE) of different culture systems and species of freshwater aquaculture in Malaysia using bootstrapping data envelopment analysis (DEA). Data were collected from 307 respondents from three states in Peninsular Malaysia using a well-structured questionnaire as well as oral interviews. The findings indicate that all technical efficiency scores for all culture systems and species are below the optimal level (i.e. one). In addition, the results show that farmers’ experience, contact with extension workers and household size have a positive and statistically significant impact on technical efficiency. This implies that farmers who have long tenure in fish farming and also the opportunity to meet with extension workers are operating close to the production frontier (technically efficient). On the other hand, the age of the farmers has a negative and statistically significant impact on technical efficiency. Although educational level and farm status have a positive impact on technical efficiency, they are statistically insignificant. Furthermore, all the inputs used in the production process of different culture systems and species contained slacks and need to be reduced accordingly. Feed, the major input in fish production and constituting over half of the production costs, is equally over-utilized. Thus, the government, in collaboration with research institutes and universities, should design a feeding formula for fish depending on species, culture systems and stages of growth. This could help to reduce production costs, increasing the farmers' income, as well as providing much needed animal protein to consumers at an affordable rate