Post-harvest technology change in cassava processing: a choice paradigm

Open Access Article; Available online: 27 Jan 2020This study employed a choice model to examine the factors influencing the choice of post-harvest technologies in cassava starch processing, using a sample of five hundred and seventy (570) processors in the forest and guinea savanna zones of Nigeria. In addition, the profitability of various post-harvest technologies in the study area was assessed using the budgetary technique while the impact of improved post-harvest technology on processors’ revenue and output was analysed using the average treatment effect model. Sex of the processor, processing experience, income, and cost of post-harvest technology, the capacity of post-harvest technology and access to credit amongst others significantly influence the choice of post-harvest technologies. Although the use of improved post-harvest technology comes with a high cost, the net income from its use was higher than the other types of post-harvest technologies, suggesting that the use of improved techniques was more beneficial and profitable. In addition, using improved post-harvest technology had a positive and significant effect on output and income. These findings shows that investment in improved post-harvest technologies by cassava starch processors and other stakeholders would increase income, thus, improving welfare

Return period of cold air mass in Baghdad

The occurrence of cold air masses varies in Iraq from cold to very cold at different intervals, where these air masses are concentrated only in winter. In this study, the return period of cold air masses was calculated using a binary distribution (Binomial Distribution), It was found that most cold air masses were likely to return with the same intensity for a period of five years from the study period

Financial inclusion and safe sanitation in slum communities of Abuja, Nigeria

This paper is on the implementation experience of integrating Safe sanitation and hygiene into financial inclusion in slum communities of Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and Nigeria. Community needs assessment conducted in these slum communities revealed that majority of the beneficiaries of the Financial Inclusion and Empowerment (FINER) lack access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene at the inception of the programme. The project then introduced Non-Financial services such as safe sanitation, hygiene promotion and low- cost hand washing technology (Tippy Tap) to change behaviour for more than 500 women. Women small scale business shop owners and those involved in food business practicing safe sanitation and hygiene pays loan faster than others. 68% women changed their behaviour, incidence of diarrhoea reduced, improved lifestyles and growing social network acting as a vehicle for passing on behaviour change messages to friends and neighbours

Urban sprawl and land use/land-cover transition probabilities in peri-urban Kumasi, Ghana

This paper examines Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) transition probabilities and its implications for Kumasi Metropolis using remote sensing image analysis technique. Methods used for the study include sub-setting of satellite images for the metropolis using the metropolitan shapefile boundary and classification of the images using maximum likelihood image classification algorithm. A Markov Model was applied to predict probabilities of LULC changes in 15 years (2016 - 2031). Study results show the probability of urban lands changing to agricultural land as low and so is the probability of farmland transitioning to urban land use. Vegetation however shows a high probability of change to built-up area while the likelihood of change from water to other land cover types is not a possibility. The study recommends enforcement of relevant land use policies backed by vigorous public education to make sustainable urban land use in the Metropolis a reality. Also, vertical rather than horizontal construction of buildings could stem the sprawling city

Recovery of pure Hesperidin from Iraqi Sweet Oranges Peel and study the effect in some bacteria

Citrus fruit contain variety of flavonoids such as Hesperidin (the principal flavonoid in oranges and grapefruit). Hesperidin is found in high concentration in fruit peel of oranges and in substantially lower concentration in juice of these fruits. Hesperidin was extracted from oranges peel by treating the peels with calcium hydroxide. HPLC technique was used to determine hesperidin. Hesperidin was saperated and purified in a purity of about 90.1-95.7% and yield about 1.5 %w/w from oranges peel dry powder. Both hesperidin and oranges peel extract showed significan antibacterial activity. Sensitivity to hesperidin and oranges peel extracts were not similar for the chosen bacteriaCrude orange peel extract gave a various antimicrobial activity agents Gram-positive Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aurous, Streptococcus pyogenus sp. and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi) bacteria strains`. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values against these bacteria ranged from 45-175?g/disc.for crude orange peel extractand 175-450?g/disc for pure hesperidin In comparison to 30?g/disc reference standards ciproflaxacin and impinme.orange peel extract showed significant antimicrobial activity

Preparation and study of the Structural, Morphological and Optical properties of pure Tin Oxide Nanoparticle doped with Cu

             في هذه الدراسة، تم تصنيع جزيئاتSnO2  النانويه النقيه والمشوبة بالنحاس بواسطة طريقه الترسيب الكيميائي . تم استخدام SnCl2.2H2O , CuCl2.2H2O  كمواد خام . تم تلدين المواد عند°C 550 لمدة 3ساعات من اجل تحسين التبلور. اظهرت نتائج حيود الاشعه السينية ان العينات تبلورت في طورمن نوع  رباعي الروتيل , SnO2  نظرا ان متوسط الحجم البلوري لSnO2 النقي 9 نانومتر ويختلف مع تغير منشطات النحاس (0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2%, 2.5%, 3%) , ، ( 8.35 ,8.36 ,8.67 , 9,7 ,8.86) نانومتر على التوالي والتركيب البلوريSnO2  لا يتغير مع ادخال النحاس , أكدت نتائج SEM للنقاوة والمخدر أن حجم الجسيمات يقع في نطاق (25-56) نانومتر داخل الحجم النانوي .كانت دراسات UV-ViS  حيث كشف التحليل الطيفي للانعكاس ان طاقه فجوة النطاق تزداد مع زيادة نسب المنشطات (4.18,4.33 ,4.21 , 4.21 4.35,4.23 ) الكترون فولت للنقي والمشوب بالنحاس ( (0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2%, 2.5%, 3%) على توالي . واظهرت نتائج AFM معدل الخشونة، SPMوحجم الحبوب للعينات النقيه والمشوبة وان معدل الخشونة نانومتر و (3.04, 25,27,16,41.8,23.6,25.2) ومعدل القطر (98.9, 72.56,92.91, 88.38, 76.79, 70.94, 71.21) نانومتر للنقي والمشوب على التوالي.                   In this study, pure SnO2 Nanoparticles doped with Cu were synthesized by a chemical precipitation method. Using SnCl2.2H2O, CuCl2.2H2O as raw materials, the materials were annealed at 550°C for 3 hours in order to improve crystallization. The XRD results showed that the samples crystallized in the tetragonal rutile type SnO2 stage. As the average SnO2 crystal size is pure 9nm and varies with the change of Cu doping (0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2%, 2.5%, 3%),( 8.35, 8.36, 8.67, 9 ,7, 8.86)nm respectively an increase in crystal size to 2.5% decreases at this rate and that the crystal of SnO2 does not change with the introduction of Cu, and SEM results of the pure and doped confirmed that the particle size is within the range (25-56)nm within the nanosize. UV-Vis studies of reflection spectroscopy revealed that energy of band gap increased with increasing doping ratios (4.33,4.18 ,4.21, 4.21 4.23,4.35) ev For pure and doped with Cu (0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2%, 2.5%, 3%) respectively. Results of AFM show roughness rate, SPM and grain size of pure samples doped with Cu where the roughness rate of SnO2 is (3.04, 25,27,16,41.8,23.6,25.2) nm and average diameter is (98.9, 72.56 ,92.91, 88.38, 76.79, 70.94, 71.21) nm for pure and doped with Copper (0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2%, 2.5%, 3%) respectively

The Effect of Hidden Quality Cost on Supply Chain Management of Sales and Market Share

There have been difficulties in managing costs effectively which have led to reduction in both market and sales share. This study aimed to find remedies to the challenge of determining and measuring the hidden quality costs due to its negative effect on the customer satisfaction. This study engaged in the measurement and calculation of hidden quality costs in a sound and scientific manner in order to find solutions to the problem and achieve the research objectives. Increase in the sales and profits and market share of the economic unit and satisfaction of the customer are achieved through the effective the management of these costs. A deductive approach was employed in the study and a number of conclusions were made from the analysis of the results. First, the study conclude that lack of information as provided by the total quality costs is experienced due to failure to calculate the hidden quality costs. As the hidden quality costs provide indicators, they must be applied as required. Also, there is a task related to the risks surrounding the economic growth when it comes to the risk of losing market share. Similarly, the research found that these costs and disclosure, which affects the management of these costs effectively and objectively, are not measured and calculated by many of the industrial companies in Iraq