Assessment of On-Farm Travel Characteristics of Small Scale Farmers In Ibadan, Southwestern Nigeria

Transport needs of the farmers have not been properly quantified, most importantly on the farm which is the main hub of his activities. A study was conducted to assess on-farm travel characteristics of small scale farmers in Nigeria during farming activities. On-farm movement parameters such as working speed, workrate, field efficiency, power consumption and distance travelled were evaluated for some farm operations. The working speed during planting of maize and fertilizer application (manual) were both 0.088 m/sec; bed construction had a working speed of 0.013 m/sec. The workrate of planting operation was 0.044 ha/hr while bed making operation had a workrate of 0.0062 ha/hr. The results showed that operations like bed construction, ridging and weeding which were more tedious operations had lower workrate, working speed and travel distance compared to the less tedious operations like planting and fertilizer application. Also more power was consumed for ridging and bed construction than planting or fertilizer application. &nbsp

Relationship between rickets and incomplete distal renal tubular acidosis in children

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In the Sub Saharan Africa Rickets has now been established to be due primarily to calcium deficiency and sometimes in combination with vitamin D deficiency. The main thrust of management is calcium supplementation with or without vitamin D. An observation was made that some children with nutritional rickets do not respond to this management modality. The recently reported high prevalence of Incomplete Distal Renal Tubular Acidosis (idRTA) in adults with osteoporosis as brought to fore the possibility of this being a possible cause of calcium wastage and therefore the poor response in these group of children with rickets.</p> <p>Aim</p> <p>To determine the prevalence of idRTA amongst a cohort of subjects with rickets</p> <p>To show a relationship between rickets and incomplete distal renal acidosis</p> <p>To determine the response of children with rickets and idRTA to addition of Shohl's solution to therapy</p> <p>Methodology</p> <p>Two separate cohorts of children with rickets performed the ammonium chloride loading test to detect those with incomplete renal tubular acidosis. Following identification for idRTA, Shohl's solution was added to therapy of calcium and vitamin D supplementation and their response compared to those without idRTA on calcium and vitamin D supplementation solely.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>50 children with rickets aged from two to six years of age and composed of 29 females and 21males were investigated. Incomplete renal tubular acidosis was found in 38% of them. Prevalence of idRTA was highest amongst those aged 3-6 years of age. Those with idRTA had worse limb deformities, biochemical and radiological parameters than those who hadn't. Rate of response on those with idRTA treated with Shohl's solution was at par with those without idRTA.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Incomplete idRTA exist amongst children with rickets and should be looked out for in severe rickets and older children. Treatment of idRTA will lead to optimal response and healing of rickets.</p

Quantifying the Impacts of Anthropogenic Emissions and Specific Infrastructures on Urban Air Quality

The interconnectivity between city infrastructure, energy and air quality is explored by evaluating the impact of environmental regulations, urban layout, and the transportation sector on air quality and energy use. Particular aspects of the research include assessing how controls have impacted aerosol acidity (which impacts health), linkages between energy, demographics, and how both airports and the use of autonomous and electric vehicles may impact on air quality. This research finds that while environmental regulations are effective in curbing pollution, as measured through decreases in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions in the U.S., PM2.5 particles (aerosol) remain acidic. An implication of this is that it could be decades before changes in aerosol acidity, which is related to the toxicity and adverse health impacts of PM2.5, are seen. The research also found a strong statistical relationship between residential energy (electric and natural gas) consumption and socio-economic demographic (SED) factors for Zip Code Tabulated Areas (ZCTAs) in metropolitan Atlanta. However the electricity model exhibited high bias. Additional analyses found that electricity use is affected by the urban morphology of the roadways, with ZCTAs in high road density areas using more electricity The impacts of airports, mainly the Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson (ATL) on air quality, was examined using fine scale chemical transport modeling (CMAQ).CMAQ results are evaluated using ground-based and high resolution satellite-based observations from the TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI). TROPOMI's ability to provide consistent NO2 vertical column densities (VCDs) is assessed using the CMAQ results around two power plants. A 3D airport emission inventory from full flight operations is developed and compared against a base inventory with only surface airport operation emissions allocated to ATL. Results show that the magnitude and spatial extent of airport effects on air quality would be understated if only the base inventory is used for regulatory purposes. Lastly, we assess the efficacy of an electrified automated fleet of passenger cars on 2050 air quality in the US with a 2050 scenario where gasoline powered passenger cars emit lower levels of pollution than present day automobiles with CMAQ. We find that electric cars have advantages over future gasoline vehicles in terms of improving air quality, though the magnitude varies by species (O3, PM2.5). The overall implications of our findings is that policy, technology and urban infrastructure have a compounded effect on the efficacy of environmental regulations, air quality and energy use. Multiple factors should be considered when designing policies promoting equitable, sustainable cities.Ph.D

COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF SODOM APPLE EXTRACT AND LEMON JUICE AS VEGETABLE COAGULANTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HOME MADE CHEESE

An experiment was carried out to compare the quality characteristics of cheese produced using Sodom apple and Lemon juice as plant coagulants. The weight of cheese produced from 1000ml of milk with 100ml of Sodom apple extract was 215.5g while 134.4g of cheese was obtained when Lemon juice was used. The volume of whey obtained using Sodom apple extract was 864.6ml while Lemon juice produced 939.3ml of whey. The average pH of Sodom apple cheese was 6.36 while that of lemon juice cheese produced using Lemon juice was 5.16. Proximate analysis revealed that Sodom apple cheese had crude protein content of 22.00% significantly (p&lt;0.05) lower than Lemon juice cheese of 29.33%. Ether extract content for Sodom apple cheese was 19.00% while that of Lemon juice was 28.67%. The ash content of the cheese was 9.67% while 7.67% for Sodom apple and Lemon juice cheese respectively. The moisture content for Sodom apple cheese was 60.00% while that of Lemon juice was 46.67%. The mineral analysis revealed that cheese produced from Lemon juice was higher in sodium, potassium, phosphorus and selenium compared to cheese produced from Sodom apple. Cheese produced from Sodom apple extract had higher refrigeration weight loss of 2.80%. It can be concluded that cheese produced from Lemon juice was superior in nutrient content: sodium, potassium, phosphorus and selenium and storage stability compared to the cheese obtained from Sodom apple extract. &nbsp

COMPARISON OF ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENT PREDICTION MODELS FOR TWO-LANE HIGHWAY INTEGRATING TRAFFIC AND PAVEMENT CONDITION PARAMETERS

In Nigeria, literature on the integration of traffic of pavement condition and traffic characteristics in predicting road traffic accident frequency on 2-lane highways are scanty, hence this article to fill the gap. A comparison of road traffic accident frequency prediction models on IIesha-Akure-Owo road based on the data observed between 2012 and 2014 is presented. Negative Binomial (NB), Ordered Logistic (OL) and Zero Inflated Negative Binomial (ZINB) models were used to model the frequency of road traffic accident occurrence using road traffic accident data from the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and pavement conditions parameters from pavement evaluation unit of the Federal Ministry of Works, Kaduna. The explanatory variables were: annual average daily traffic (aadt), shoulder factor (sf), rut depth (rd), pavement condition index (pci), and international roughness index (iri). The explanatory variables that were statistically significant for the three models are aadt, sf and iri with the estimated coefficients having the expected signs. The number of road traffic accident on the road increases with the traffic volume and the international roughness index while it decreases with shoulder factor. The systematic variation explained by the models amounts to 87.7, 78.1 and 74.4% for NB, ZINB and OL respectively. The research findings suggest the accident prediction models that should be integrated into pavement rehabilitation. &nbsp; Keywords: &nbsp

Amélioration des ovins dans l'Ouémé et le Plateau en République du Bénin. Enjeux de croisement des ovins Djallonké avec les moutons du Sahel

Sheep Management in Oueme and Plateau Departments of Republic of Benin. Stakes of Djallonke Crossbreeding with Sahelian Sheep. The present study is a reflection through bibliographical review and on the current situation of sheep breeding in Oueme and Plateau of Benin. This study situates the crossbreeding of Djallonke with Sahelian sheep and prospects some strategies that could be adopted in the context of sheep breeding in Oueme and Plateau of Benin

Assessment of Calcium Carbide Waste and Calcined Clay as Stabilizer in Flexible Pavement Construction

Stabilization techniques have often been used globally to enhance properties of weak subgrade materials for flexible pavement construction. This study assessed the blend of calcium carbide waste (CCW) and calcined clay (CC) to serve as an effective stabilizer of Subgrade material (S) sourced from a section along Ota-Idiroko road. Subgrade material was initially modified with CCW in different percentage replacements by weight (0, 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20%) and the resulting blends were subjected to Atterberg’s limits test to determine the blend with optimum plasticity index reduction which would be tagged optimum subgrade lime blend (OSLB). The blend of S + 8% CCW was tagged OSLB because it exhibited optimum plasticity index reduction. The OSLB was thereafter blended by weight with CC in the following percentage replacements 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18% in order to activate the pozzolanic potentials of CC for strength enhancement. The resulting blends were subjected to Atterberg’s limits, Compaction, California bearing ratio (CBR) and Unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests with the strength specimens cured for 0, 3, 7, 28, 56 and 90 days. The results showed that OSLB-CC blends reduced the Plasticity index from14.8 to 8.4 %, Maximum dry density from 1.82 to 1.54 Mg/m3, Optimum moisture content, 23.7 to 17.9 % and increased soaked CBR, 0 to 418.2% and UCS, 201.59 to 5660.84 kPa of natural subgrade respectively. Furthermore, the blends showed great improvement with reduction in PI less than standard value of 10% and increment in standard CBR and UCS values of 180% and 1700 kPa respectively for base course material. Therefore, stabilized blends at 7 days curing period could improve the natural subgrade to subbase and base for pavement construction

EMPLOYEE MOTIVATION AND PUBLIC SECTOR FRAUD: EVIDENCE FROM KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

This study examines the relationship between fraud and employee motivation in the Kwara State public sector with a view to ascertain what will happen to fraud occurrence if good salary, allowances and perquisites, effective working hours, conducive environment, timely promotion are put in place. Multistage sampling technique was used in obtaining the primary data used from 870 respondents selected from 7 local governments in the state and were analysed using Ordinary Least Square Regression and Friedman ANOVA test but interpreted using R2, adjusted R2, Durbin Watson Statistics, F statistics and t statistics. The results show that employee motivational factors (salary, perquisites and regular promotion) can reduce fraud activities among the state employees; this is in consonance with theoretical expectations (Douglas McGregor’s theory Y, Abraham Maslow’s needs theory and Fredric Herzberg’s two-factor theory). Contrarily, allowances, conducive environment and training show a positive relationship with fraud and this is at variance with a-priori expectations. The study recommends that government should improve the working conditions of its employee including the provision of improved salary structure, prompt payment of entitlements and regular promotions as well as provided adequate training to motivate employees towards efficiency, commitment and inhibit fraud inclinations. If all these are in place and erring officials are made to face the full wrath of the law without bias, the state economy in particular and Nigeria economy in general will be better for it.Â

Detection of antibiotics residues in meat of reformed and marketed laying hens in southern Benin

The presence in meat products of antibiotic residues is of toxicological risks for the consumer. In order to protect consumers through the safety of meat from reformed and marketed laying hens, a qualitative study was conducted in southern Benin. The study was conducted in twenty laying hen farms in Abomey-Calavi, Ouidah and Porto Novo towns. The survey identified antibiotics used by farmers. In each farm, five reformed chickens ready to be marketed were randomly selected. On each bird, the sternum and right thigh were collected and analyzed by the microbiological method of four plates at the Laboratory. Results showed that farmers use eight families of antibiotics: aminoglycosides, diaminopyridines, macrolides, polypeptides, quinolones second and third generation, sulfonamides and tetracyclines. Residues of tetracyclines and aminoglycosides were found only in Abomey-Calavi town with respective proportions of 25.71 &#177; 10.14% and 21.41&#177; 9.93% while residues of macrolides were observed in three localities which are Abomey-Calavi, Ouidah and Porto Novo, with respective rates of 65.71 &#177; 9.92%, 46 &#177; 15.5% and 20 &#177; 8.36%. From the above results, we recommend to veterinarians the efficient use of antibiotics and to poultry farmers the respect of withdrawal period.Keywords: Antibiotics residues, laying hens, sternum, thigh, Beni