Nigerian Oil Palm Industry as a Sustainable Renewable Energy Resource

Nigeria had been standing aloof at exploring her bioresources as a means of combatting her energy cum economic challenges. After some critical examination, the authors showcased Nigerian Palm Industry as a viable biofuel source yet unexplored. Using a combination of some economic and vegetation facts and figures to comparatively analyse, Nigerian oil palm industry to validate the prospect of a sustainable commercial-scale biofuel production that can serve as both affordable alternative cleaner energy fuel for her populace and immense export revenue. The Nigerian government is encouraged to latch onto this bioresource prospec

Variations in the effects caused by magnetic field on chlorophyll, nitrogen, calcium, and iron contents in species of vegetable plants

The rates of reduction in chlorophyll and nutrients such as nitrogen, calcium and iron with the distance or range of source of Magnetic Field (MF) had not been considered. In this work, patterns of damage or reduction caused by a magnetic field on two different species of vegetables were studied. The first group was planted in an environment without the influence of MF, while the second group was subjected to high MF under the 330 kV electric lines. The magnetometer was used to measure the MF intensities. The chlorophyll content of each vegetable sample was determined on the field with a portable chlorophyll meter. The dried harvested samples of two different vegetable species were analyzed using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) to assess the concentrations of nitrogen (N), calcium (Ca), and iron (Fe) in the samples. Results of elemental concentrations were subjected to statistical analysis to appraise the relationships between the measured variables as responses to high MF. It was observed that the effects of high MF are stronger on spinach vegetable than Lagos spinach. This suggested that the effects of MF on plants are not only MF intensity dependent, but also species-dependent. Keywords: Magnetic field; Exposure; Regression analysis; Power transmission; Chlorophyll; Iro

Campus sustainability research: indicators and dimensions to consider for the design and assessment of a sustainable campus

Assessment Tools have become the de facto method to address sustainability issues within the built environment. They provide a measurable third-party approach to ensuring sustainability design and directives are met through the use of indictors, criteria’s and credit system. A key challenge is that the existing tools such as BREEAM Communities and LEED Neighbourhood Development address a wider community but cannot efficiently address the more nuanced and context specific sustainability requirements of campuses. However, the approach of utilizing credits, indicator and criteria systems is a tactic that campus planners have slowly began to imbibe. This is even more critical to sustainable development cities due to the huge amounts of land and human resources consumed on campuses; However, gaps exist within the currently existing Campus Sustainability Assessment Tools (CSAT) that have been developed. Generally. Though studies have identified trends and gaps in neighbourhood and building assessment tools, no comprehensive study has investigated the potential gaps from the newly emerging CSATs. Using bibliometric analysis, this study reviews over 1000 articles on campus sustainability and assessment tools with the aim of determining the gaps, trends and focus area of campus sustainability via CSAT. The result draw out 15 dimensions that govern the design of sustainable campuses, and the most predominant dimensions were environmental, educational and governance dimension. The results also highlight the importance of context in implementing and developing CSATs and showed numerous overlooked campus sustainability issues, which have considerable impact on the determining the claims that makes campuses sustainable. Finally, results demonstrated a need to enhance inclusivity in decision making on campus via different survey techniques in both education and implementation of campus sustainability initiatives. In sum this study enhances the development of new CSAT and campus sustainability initiative and the modification existing initiatives to effectively meet the required sustainability standards within the built environment

Research Advances on 2D Mxenes for Photovoltaic Applications

MXene, a two-dimensional nanomaterial, has an impressive range of properties that make it a perfect choice for a variety of applications, including energy systems, high-tech sensors, optics, medical devices, and electromagnetic interference shielding. Its high carrier mobility, metallic electrical conductivity, superior transparency, excellent mechanical characteristics, and tunable work function have drawn much attention. This review examines the utilization of MXene in solar technology, highlighting its potential as an electrode, charge carrier, and additive in quantum dot-sensitized, perovskite, silicon wafer-based, and organic solar cells. Additionally, a summary table is provided that briefly outlines the different methods of synthesizing MXene and their respective etching chemicals and precursors. This review’s latter part looks at the challenges associated with MXene and offers potential solutions and prospects

Concentrations and probable health risks of potentially toxic metals (Pb, Cd and Cr) in some Nigerian lipstick products

Background: Lipstick is one of the widely used cosmetic items that are produced from both natural and processed materials and they are one of the sources of metals and metalloids released among the users. This study measured concentrations of Pb, Cd and Cr in some brands of Nigerian lipstick products and assessed their probable health risks to the users. Methods: A total of twenty (L1 - L20) brands of lipstick products were purchased from the central cosmetic stores and the samples were prepared, digested and concentrations of Pb, Cd and Cr were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS). The probable health risk was assessed via average daily dose (ADD) by ingestion route, hazard quotient (HQ), hazard index (HI), cancer risks (CR), and relative intake index (RII). Results: The ranges of concentrations of Pb, Cd and Cr were 5.6 - 25.1, 2.5 - 21.5 and 5.0 - 61.7 μg g−1, respectively. The ranges of ADD values of Pb, Cr and Cd were 1.2 × 10−3 - 5.7 × 10−3; 1.3 × 10−3 - 5.7 × 10−3 and 5.1 × 10−3 - 1.4 × 10−3 µg day−1, respectively. Among the samples Cr had HQ values 1.3 to 9.6. The HQ values of Cd for L2, L6, L12 and L14 ranges between 1.1 and 1.5. Then HQ values of Pb for L1 -L20 were 1.0 - 4.1. The HI values of Pb, Cr and Cd in each lipstick brands range from 2.8 to 12.5, indicating a non-carcinogenic health risk. The CR values for Cr and Cd are from 6.6 × 10−4 to 6.9 × 10−4 and from 2.0 × 10−2 to 2.5 × 10−2, respectively and they were within the acceptable limit value of 1.0 × 10−4. The RII of Pb, Cd and Cr were 4.50 - 20.1, 2.0 – 19.2 and 1.9 – 23.0 %, respectively. Conclusion: All the health indices indicated non-carcinogenic health risks. The continuous exposure and unintentional ingestion of such lipstick products can pose high risks to the users due to bioaccumulation of Pb, Cd and Cr which may lead to negative health conditions

Concentrations, source identification and human health risk of heavy metals in the road dust collected from busy junctions in Osogbo Southwest, Nigeria

The study determined the concentrations of heavy metals in the road dust samples collected in some selected busy traffic junction in Osogbo, southwest, Nigeria. This was to identifying the sources of heavy as well as the evaluating the associated human health risks. The concentrations of Pb, Cu, Cd, Ni, Co, Cr, Zn, Mn, and Fe were determined by employing Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The sources were identified using non-negative constraint Positive Matrix Factorization receptor model and the health implication were assessed using risk indices consist of average daily doses via: dermal, inhalation and ingestion; Hazard Quotient (HQ); hazard index (HI); and lifetime average daily dose (LADD). The total average concentrations of Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Cr, Cd, Pb, Ni, and Co were 5030.0, 80.52, 15.14, 49.0, 6.81, 2.80, 1.77, 1.31, 1.98 µg/g, respectively and they were few order higher than their values in the local background site. The inhalation appeared to be the major exposure pathway of heavy metals in the road dust to the adults and children followed by dermal contact and ingestion. The sequences of HQ values are Cd < Ni < Zn < C u < Pb < Cr and Cu < Cd < Pb < Cr < Ni < Zn for adults and children. The HI values for the adults and children are 0.2 and 0.5, showing that any of Cu, Zn, Cr, Cd, Pb and Ni will unlikely cause negative human health effect through multiple exposure routes. The cumulative value of LADD for Cu, Zn, Cr, Cd, Pb and Ni is 1.70 x 10−5 which falls within the acceptable limit value of 10−4 to 10−6. The four main sources resolved by PMF and their relative contributions were vehicular components wear (36 %), fuel and lubricating oil (30 %), tyre particles wear (23 %), and battery corrosion and leakage (11 %)

Nigerian Oil Palm Industry as a Sustainable Renewable Energy Resource

Nigeria had been standing aloof at exploring her bioresources as a means of combatting her energy cum economic challenges. After some critical examination, the authors showcased Nigerian Palm Industry as a viable biofuel source yet unexplored. Using a combination of some economic and vegetation facts and figures to comparatively analyse, Nigerian oil palm industry to validate the prospect of a sustainable commercial-scale biofuel production that can serve as both affordable alternative cleaner energy fuel for her populace and immense export revenue. The Nigerian government is encouraged to latch onto this bioresource prospect

Assessment of effects of a Cemetery leachate on Groundwater Quality using an Integrated Approach

The dependency of residents in the vicinity of cemeteries on groundwater from hand-dug wells as an alternative source of water supply for their domestic use without cognisance of the quality of such water has been a concern. So, this research assesses the effects of a cemetery on groundwater quality using an integrated approach in Edunabon, South-western Nigeria. Thirty groundwater samples from available hand-dug wells were collected and analysed for various physicochemical parameters. GIS cloud data collection server and Mobile Data Collector (MDC) were used to obtain these hand-dug wells' locations and spatial distributions. The determination in variation in physicochemical concentration parameters was obtained using the curve fitting technique of ARCVIEW GIS software and digital map. Physicochemical results were used to calculate Water Quality Index (WQI) of each sample. Two Schlumberger Vertical Electrical Soundings (VES) of 130.0m long were conducted at 10.0m intervals to the wall and the next VES, on each side of the cemetery. Current spacing (AB/2) and apparent resistivity (ρa) data were plotted on a double logarithm paper, curved matched and iterated using IPI2Win software for qualitative and quantitative interpretation. WQI results ranged from (107.37–173.64), (76.60–93.37), (54.94–71.53), (31.29–48.01), and (10.84–25.31) for fourteen, seven, three, four and two hand-dug wells respectively, an indication that the water from these wells was unfit for drinking, very poor, poor, good, and excellent respectively. VES results revealed that first, second and third layers were mainly clayey topsoil (46.7–96.8Ωm), lateritic soil (169.0–551.3Ωm), and weathered layer (3.21–27.4Ωm), which favourably enhances the migration of leachate from the cemetery to the surrounding soils and groundwater. The lowest resistivity values recorded in the second and third layers indicated leachate presence at these hand-dug wells. The integration of GIS and electrical resistivity methods would be useful tools to assess groundwater quality around cemeteries. Keywords: Groundwater quality, Mobile Data Collection, unfit for drinking, Vertical Electrical Sounding, Water Quality inde

Effects of hospital facilities on patient outcomes after cancer surgery: an international, prospective, observational study

© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 licenseBackground: Early death after cancer surgery is higher in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with in high-income countries, yet the impact of facility characteristics on early postoperative outcomes is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the association between hospital infrastructure, resource availability, and processes on early outcomes after cancer surgery worldwide. Methods: A multimethods analysis was performed as part of the GlobalSurg 3 study—a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study of patients who had surgery for breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer. The primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and 30-day major complication rates. Potentially beneficial hospital facilities were identified by variable selection to select those associated with 30-day mortality. Adjusted outcomes were determined using generalised estimating equations to account for patient characteristics and country-income group, with population stratification by hospital. Findings: Between April 1, 2018, and April 23, 2019, facility-level data were collected for 9685 patients across 238 hospitals in 66 countries (91 hospitals in 20 high-income countries; 57 hospitals in 19 upper-middle-income countries; and 90 hospitals in 27 low-income to lower-middle-income countries). The availability of five hospital facilities was inversely associated with mortality: ultrasound, CT scanner, critical care unit, opioid analgesia, and oncologist. After adjustment for case-mix and country income group, hospitals with three or fewer of these facilities (62 hospitals, 1294 patients) had higher mortality compared with those with four or five (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3·85 [95% CI 2·58–5·75]; p<0·0001), with excess mortality predominantly explained by a limited capacity to rescue following the development of major complications (63·0% vs 82·7%; OR 0·35 [0·23–0·53]; p<0·0001). Across LMICs, improvements in hospital facilities would prevent one to three deaths for every 100 patients undergoing surgery for cancer. Interpretation: Hospitals with higher levels of infrastructure and resources have better outcomes after cancer surgery, independent of country income. Without urgent strengthening of hospital infrastructure and resources, the reductions in cancer-associated mortality associated with improved access will not be realised. Funding: National Institute for Health and Care Research