Adaptive and phenotypic responses of white birch provenances to climate variations

Trees have adapted to their local climate, but with changes in the climate may currently, or in the near future occupy climates that are sub-optimal for growth and survival. The goal of current reforestation is therefore to establish a new generation of trees with growth adapted to future climate(s). Seed from twenty-five white birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh.) provenances collected across Canada were grown in the greenhouse and observed for emergence time, germination and elongation

Applications of AHP, FAHP, BWM, Entropy, and CRITIC Methods in Electrohydraulic Forming Process Parametric Evaluation for Automotive Panels Using the 1100 Aluminum Alloy Sheets

Although multicriteria selection methods are flexible and extensively used in machining, less attention has been paid to their comprehensive test performance in the electrohydraulic forming process. In this study, five new applications of multicriteria selection methods are proposed to analyze available parameters in the electrohydraulic forming process and select parameters best suited for further analysis and improvement of the process. The analyzed parameters are the stand-off distance, electrode gap, voltage, and medium, while the multicriteria methods are the AHP, FAHP, BMW, entropy, and CRITIC. The proposed methods were demonstrated on experimental data from the literature utilizing an impulse magnetizer system (walker type). For each method, the prioritized parametric results were obtained. All the methods assign the first position to the medium as a parameter with consensus on the voltage parameter has the worst (lowest) value of weights in all the methods. The weights of the medium parameter for the best results are 0.5030 (AHP method), 0.5600 (FAHP method), 0.5230 (best-worst method), 0.4090 (entropy method), and 0.5000 (CRITIC method). The worst parameter for all the methods is the voltage of 0.0320 (FAHP method). The results obtained from the proposed applications were compared with one another and found to be effective for multicriteria selection decisions. This article offers new methods to establish the parametric values of the electrohydraulic forming process for machining composites made of AA1100 sheets

Psychiatric morbidity in hypertensives attending a cardiology outpatient clinic in West Africa

Objectives: To determine kinds of psychiatric morbidity among a sample of stable hypertensive outpatients in a teaching hospital. Materials and Methods: A cross‑sectional study of 260 enrolled outpatients. Psychiatric morbidity was assessed using a 2‑stage evaluation method with the General Health Questionnaire Version 12 (GHQ‑12) and Structured Clinical Interview for DSM‑IV (SCID) to assess for psychiatric diagnosis. Results: 28 (10.8%) of the 260 patients endorsed some psychological distress, with a mean GHQ‑12 score of ≥2. At the second stage, 16.1% (N=13 of 81) interviewed had one or more psychiatric disorder on the SCID. The commonest psychiatric diagnosis made were mood disorders, with current major depressive disorder occurring at a rate of 6.2%. Other disorders found were past major depressive episode (2.5%), organic mood syndrome (3.7%), and somatoform disorder (3.7%). Conclusion: The relationship between hypertension and mood disorders should inform a higher index of suspicion among physicians and general practitioners in order to give patients appropriate treatments or referrals where necessary. It is recommended that collaboration with mental health service providers be encouraged.Keywords: African, cardiology, hypertensive, psychiatric morbidityNigerian Journal of Clinical Practice •Jan-Mar 2012 • Vol 15 • Issue

Effect of Construction Project Performance on Economic Development of Nigeria

Construction projects located in Nigeria suffer from many problems and complex issues and this ultimately impact on the country’s economic development. Consequently, the aim of this paper is to assess the effect of construction performance on economic development of Nigeria with a view to providing better construction project performance and improving economic development in the process. Using a survey design, a total of 74 construction professionals were sampled and data were analyzed using related descriptive tools. The study revealed that the major factors affecting project performance include; project design cost, cost of reworks, unavailability of resources, average delay in regular payment, quality of equipment and raw materials and unavailability of competent staffs to handle construction process. Also findings revealed that the areas where construction project performance have more effect on economic development are; improvement in technology, extension of infrastructures, increase in employment opportunities and government expenditure. The study further recommends that human resources in the construction industry should be developed through proper and continuous training programs about construction projects performance. Also elements required for better performance in construction have to be fully integrated into every construction projects in Nigeria. Keywords: Construction, Economic development, Performance, Nigeria

VERIFICATION AND VALIDATION OF CONSEQUENCE MODELS FOR ACCIDENTAL RELEASES OF TOXIC OR FLAMMABLE CHEMICALS TO THE ATMOSPHERE

PresentationConsequence modelling software for accidental releases of flammable or toxic chemicals to the atmosphere includes discharge modelling, atmospheric dispersion modelling and evaluation of flammable and toxic effects: - First discharge calculations are carried out to set release characteristics for the hazardous chemical (including depressurisation to ambient). Scenarios which may be modelled includes releases from vessels (leaks or catastrophic ruptures), short pipes or long pipes. Releases considered include releases of sub-cooled liquid, superheated liquid or vapour; un-pressurised or pressurised releases; and continuous, time-varying or instantaneous releases. - Secondly dispersion calculations are carried out to determine the concentrations of the hazardous chemical when the cloud travels in the downwind direction. This includes modelling jet, heavy-gas and passive dispersion regimes, and transitions between them. In the case of a two-phase release, liquid droplet modelling is required to calculate liquid rainout, subsequent pool formation/spreading and re-evaporation from the pool back to the cloud. For heavy-gas releases, effects of crosswind and downwind gravity spreading are present, while for short duration and time-varying releases effects of along-wind diffusion are relevant.. For pressurised instantaneous releases an initial phase of energetic expansion of the cloud occurs. Also, effects of indoor mixing (for indoor releases) and building wakes can be accounted for. - Finally, toxic or flammable calculations are carried out. For flammables, ignition may lead to rising fireballs (instantaneous releases), jet fires possibly impinging on the ground (pressurised flammable releases), pool fires (after rainout) and vapour cloud fires or explosions. Radiation calculations are carried out for fires, while overpressure calculations are carried out for explosions. For each event, the probability of death is determined using toxic or flammable probit functions. Testing of the software should ideally include for each consequence model “verification” that the code correctly solves the mathematical model (i.e. that the calculated variables are a correct solution of the equations), “validation” against experimental data to show how closely the mathematical model agrees with the experimental results, and a “sensitivity analysis” including a large number of input parameter variations to ensure overall robustness of the code, and to understand the effect of parameter variations on the model predictions. The current paper includes an overview on how the above verification and validation could be carried out for these consequence models. Reference is made to the literature for the availability of experimental data. Thus, an extensive experimental database has been developed including experimental data for validation for the above models and scenarios, where many different chemicals are considered (including water, LNG, propane, butane, ethylene, ammonia, CO2, hydrogen, chlorine, HF etc.). The above verification and validation is illustrated by means of application to the latest consequence models in the hazard assessment package Phast and the risk analysis package Safeti

Determination of Heavy Metal levels in Soil and Vegetable Samples around Automobile Workshops in Iworoko-Ekiti, Nigeria

This study identified and determined levels of eighteen heavy metals in six soil and twelve vegetable samples (Talinum triangulare and Amaranthus hybridus) from selected automobile workshops at Iworoko Ekiti using Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (EDXRF). Identical samples were also collected outside this neighborhood as control and analyzed using the same analytical technique. The results indicated that the observed heavy metals in the samples from the sites and control were within the range (1.044-3180.224) mg/kg and (1.002-1845.744) mg/kg. The soil samples were slightly enriched in vanadium, manganese, nickel, copper ,zinc, arsenic, selenium  and rubidium (Enrichment Factor (EF) = 1.033 – 2.179). Significant differences also exist between the levels of calcium, titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, nickel, copper, arsenic, and yttrium (at p < 0.05, t = 0.00002 – 0.03950). The accumulation factors of the vegetable samples in Amaranthus hybridus were in the range 0.0006 – 824.1057 and those of Talinum triangulare were in the range 0.00019 – 338.76885. The relatively higher levels of chromium, manganese, iron, nickel, copper, zinc and arsenic in the vegetable samples from the sites compared with WHO/FEPA permissible limits was an indication of contamination: The consumption of vegetables in such an environment could be detrimental to health

Experience of people living with leprosy at leprosy settlements in Nigeria

Background Although Nigeria achieved the national leprosy elimination target of less than 1/10,000 population in 1998, factors such as culture, behavioural patterns and social determinants, among others, continue to contribute to an increase in leprosy cases and a poor state of living for individuals with leprosy in Nigeria. This study delves into the experiences of individuals residing in leprosy settlements in Nigeria. Methods This study employed a community‐based cross‐sectional design, utilizing a concurrent mixed‐methods approach for comprehensive data collection. Questionnaires, focus groups and interviews are conducted simultaneously. The research involves participants from seven leprosy communities across Nigeria's six geopolitical zones and Federal Capital Territory. Qualitative methods, including 14 focus group discussions and 6 key informant interviews, are complemented by quantitative questionnaires, engaging residents, leaders and nongovernmental organization (NGO) representatives. Respondents comprised 35 leprosy patients, 21 family members, 7 community leaders, 7 settlement officers and 2 organizational heads involved in leprosy control. Results The results indicate significant access to healthcare (93.7%) and interest in self‐care practices (95.2%), with a considerable proportion (74.6%) receiving free healthcare. Interview data underscore the limited government support, with NGOs and partners assuming a more substantial role. Qualitative insights from persons living with leprosy highlight financial struggles, stigmatization and substandard living conditions in settlements, exacerbated by limited government funding. This reliance on private and NGOs is further compounded by declining funding, hindering individuals’ ability to start businesses and provide self‐care. Conclusion This study underscores the pressing need for increased government support, funding and better living conditions for individuals affected by leprosy in Nigeria. It highlights the significance of education, awareness campaigns and human rights promotion to combat stigma and enhance the quality of life for those living with leprosy. Moreover, the study advocates for the reintegration of affected individuals into their communities to foster societal inclusion and well‐being

An efficient numerical simulation for modelling outflow following rupture or puncture of pressurised networks

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Protein Quality Of Autoclaved Cowpea Varieties As Influenced By Anti-Nutritional Factors

One hundred and ten (110) weanling male winstar strain rats were used to determine the protein efficiency ration (PER) and net protein ration (NPR) of five cowpea samples. PER ranged from 1.06 in IT 8JD-1137 to 1.91 in IT84E-1-108 while values in autoclaved samples ranged from 1.55 in IT8ID-1137 to 2.78 in IT84E-1-108. for NPR, raw samples gave values that ranged between 2.44 and 3.57 in IT81D-1137 and IT84E-1-108 respectively. Autoclaved samples gave NPR values that ranged from 2.72 to 4.47 in IT 81D-1137 and IT84E-1-108 respectively. In the raw and autoclaved cowpea diets, trypsin inhibitor, lectin and tannic acid were negatively correlated with PER and NPR while HCN and phytic acid had positive relationship with these indicators of protein quality. In autoclaved samples cowpea variety IT84E-1 1-108 had the highest PER and NPR values showing that it would support growth to a reasonable extent.Keywords: Protein efficiency ratio, net protein ratio, autoclaving, antinutritional factors, cowpea varietie

Investigation of Approximate Mode Shape and Transition Velocity of Pipe Conveying Fluid in Failure Analysis

© The Author(s) 2022. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Structures dynamic characteristics and their responses can change due to variations in system parameters. With modal characteristics of the structures, their dynamic responses can be identified. Mode shape remains vital in dynamic analysis of the structures. It can be utilized in failure analysis, and the dynamic interaction between structures and their supports to circumvent abrupt failure. Conversely, unlike empty pipes, the mode shapes for pipes conveying fluid are tough to obtain due to the intricacy of the eigenvectors. Unfortunately, fluid pipes can be found in practice in various engineering applications. Thus, due to their global functions, their dynamic and failure analyses are necessary for monitoring their reliability to avert catastrophic failures. In this work, three techniques for obtaining approximate mode shapes (AMSs) of composite pipes conveying fluid, their transition velocity and relevance in failure analysis were investigated. Hamilton’s principle was employed to model the pipe and discretized using the wavelet-based finite element method. The complex modal characteristics of the composite pipe conveying fluid were obtained by solving the generalized eigenvalue problem and the mode shapes needed for failure analysis were computed. The proposed methods were validated, applied to failure analysis, and some vital results were presented to highlight their effectiveness.Peer reviewe