Scientia Africana最新文献

{"title":"Bacillus circulans as biosurfactant-producer during crude oil degradation","authors":"E. Michael, I. Idemudia","doi":"10.4314/sa.v21i3.13","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/sa.v21i3.13","url":null,"abstract":"Petroleum and its byproducts are one group of universal environmental pollutants. Microorganisms have over time played significant roles in the clean-up exercise of unwanted substances in the environment. This research was aimed at studying the degradative potentials of biosurfactantproducing bacterial isolates (Bacillus sp.) from palm oil mill effluent (POME) in crude oil degradation. Standard microbiological and analytical methods were applied to ascertain biosurfactant production and degradation of crude oil by Bacillus sp. isolated from palm oil mill effluent discharged points and logging area of effluent bunk at Nigerian Institute for Oil-Palm Research (NIFOR) in Edo State. The bacteria were isolated and subjected to screening for hydrocarbon degradation and biosurfactant production. Biosurfactants characterization by Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) technique. total viable heterotrophic bacterial count of POME and Bonny light crude oil ranged from 6.6 x106 – 8.2 x106 cfu/ml and 4.2 x106 – 5.8 x106 cfu/ml respectively. Bacillus sp. that had the highest biodegradative potential and biosurfactant production was identified molecularly as Bacillus circulans. It could be used as bio-stimulants to ameliorate crude oil polluted areas as an efficient and cost- effective technology.","PeriodicalId":166410,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Africana","volume":"64 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114487946","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Application of 2-D imaging survey for ascertaining the cause(s) of road failures along Sapele/Agbor road in Delta State, Nigeria","authors":"O. Akpoyibo, O. Anomohanran, C. Ossai","doi":"10.4314/sa.v21i3.17","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/sa.v21i3.17","url":null,"abstract":"Surveying involving 2-D imaging dipole–dipole geophysical technique was carried out along Sapele-Agbor Highway situated in Southern, Nigeria to determine the primary causes for Highway pavement failure. Twelve profiles spreading over 100 meters were in each cases conducted on road surface sections along the stable (control) and unstable portions of the road. Data were gathered together along the various profile employing ABEM Terra meter SAS 1000. The field data were processed and inverted utilizing Dipro software. This was done by specifying and locating the geoelectric arrangement within the surface, sub-base and sub grade soil to obtain the confirming cause(s) of the road associated with pavement failure. Geoelectric sections identified four geologic layers embracing the topsoil, clayey, laterite and sand. The sections failure is due to disparity of the material used for road model (construction) as some comprises of clay materials. The results show the presence of low resistivity values at several subdivisions of the 12 profiles. Resistivity values varying from 21.60 Ωm – 1026.0 Ωm to a depth of 14.92 m from the surface was observed along Okpara Water side, Aghalokpe and Otumara. In Igun, Eku and Obiaruku resistivity values ranges from 10.5 Ωm – 500.0 Ωm to a depth of 5.5 m from the topsoil, 22 m from sub grade and 9.8 m - 50 m were observed along the four profiles. Urhomehe, Urhonigbe, Abavo and Agbor indicate resistivity ranging from 59.25 Ωm – 1467.50 Ωm for stable and unstable sections of the road with depth up to 15.0 m for some profiles. Low resistivity values, not greater than 199 Ωm observed in some distinctive regions of 12 profiles comprises of expansive, compressible, collapsible and sandy clay materials which have the capacity of absorbing water. These make the roads swell and collapse leading to road failure under stress and strain. Many stable portions of the road are characterized with high resistivity value greater than 199 Ωm, mostly laterite materials. Competent fill soil should replace low resistivity soil to a depth of 5 m – 7m from the surface of the road. Good drainage system is also recommended within the unstable road sections.","PeriodicalId":166410,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Africana","volume":"50 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124584547","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of viscous dissipation and joule heating of magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) convective nano fluid heat transfer over a flat porous plate","authors":"A. Musa, F. E. Bazuaye","doi":"10.4314/sa.v21i3.14","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/sa.v21i3.14","url":null,"abstract":"In the present investigation, we studied the effects of Viscous Dissipation and Joule Heating of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) convective heat transfer over a flat porous plate. The governing partial differential equations is expressed into a nonlinear partial differential equation, using a suitable similarity transformation. A semi analytical method of Homotopy Parturbation was applied to solve the equation and the obtained numerical solution for the velocity, temperature and other parameters of the nano fluid are discussed and represented graphically. Also, the effect of other parameters on the velocity and temperature profiles are also presented.","PeriodicalId":166410,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Africana","volume":"24 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126151072","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impacts of functional groups on the intermolecular forces of attraction in animal glue obtained from the femur bones of cow (Bos taurus)","authors":"T. Chikwe, R. Duru","doi":"10.4314/sa.v21i2.3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/sa.v21i2.3","url":null,"abstract":"Functional groups in samples obtained from the femur bone of Cow (Bos taurus) were determined using Shidmazu Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) – 8300 spectroscopy. The bones were crushed, washed properly with warm water and immersed in lime solution for three days. Samples were then treated with dilute 20% hydrochloric acid (to release the collagen in the bone) dried and crushed to a particle size of 0.02 mm. Results obtained from FT-IR analyses shows the presence of alcohol, alkyne, carboxylic acid, phosphate, 1,3 disubstituted aromatics and haloalkanes at wavelength ranges of 3550 – 3200 cm-1, 2360 – 2014 cm-1, 1420 – 1320 cm-1, 1099 – 1039 cm-1, 970 – 890 cm-1 and 705 – 550 cm-1 respectively. The presence of functional groups with highly electronegative atoms such as two, three and four oxygen atoms in carboxylic acid, anhydrides and phosphates respectively in addition to the presence of halogens in haloalkanes and multiple bonds in alkyne, nitrile and alkenes increases the polarizability of the compounds thereby strengthening the weak intermolecular forces of attraction such as hydrogen bond and Van der Waal forces of the adhesive molecules which ultimately increases the adhesive strength and the force of cohesion of the animal glue produced.","PeriodicalId":166410,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Africana","volume":"10 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116900210","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Identification, antimicrobial susceptibility screening and ESBL-status of Gram-negative bacteria from healthy humans and livestock waste by VITEK-2 Automated System","authors":"E. Nmema, C. Osuagwu, E. A. Tobin","doi":"10.4314/sa.v21i2.8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/sa.v21i2.8","url":null,"abstract":"Bacteria in healthy body sites of humans and livestock waste may harbour antibiotic resistance and cause community-based opportunistic and resistant infections. The study profiled the antibiotic susceptibilities of resident bacteria in healthy humans and livestock waste. Gram-negative bacteria were isolated from 23 specimens including skin swabs (6), nasal swabs (4), urine (6), stool (3), chicken droppings (2) and cattle droppings (2). VITEK® 2 Automated System was used for identification, antimicrobial susceptibility and extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) production test of the isolates. Nineteen (19) Gram-negative bacteria belonging to five genera and six species were identified, including Escherichia coli (n=9) 47.4%, Klebsiella pneumoniae ssp pneumoniae (n=1) 11.1%, Enterobacter cloacae ssp dissolvens (n=1) 11.1%, Acinetobacter baumannii (n=3) 15.8%, Acinetobacter haemolyticus (n=1) 11.1%, and Providentia stuartii (n=4) 21.1%. The isolates showed highest resistances to Ampicillin (78.6%) and Piperacillin (63.2%) and high susceptibilities to Ertapenem, Amikacin, Ciprofloxacin and Levofloxacin (100%); Ceftazidime, Cefepime, Meropenem (94.7%); Cefoxitin (93.3%); Gentamicin and Tobramycin (73.7%). Multiple Antibiotic Resistance (MAR) index values above the critical limit of 0.2 were shown by 100% (4/4) of Providentia stuartii isolates, 75% (3/4) of Acinetobacter isolates and 33.3% (3/9) of E. coli isolates. All the isolates tested negative for ESBL production. The public health implication is that resident bacteria from healthy individuals harbouring antibiotic resistance may transmit these to other bacteria or cause resistant opportunistic infections difficult to treat. Resistant bacteria from livestock can be transmitted to humans through the food chain. Proper disposal or decontamination of human body secretions and livestock waste is necessary.","PeriodicalId":166410,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Africana","volume":"7 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"121454857","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Intelligent rule-based system for diagnosing eye diseases","authors":"E.S. Kobani, U. Okengwu","doi":"10.4314/sa.v21i2.13","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/sa.v21i2.13","url":null,"abstract":"This topic presents the development of an intelligent rule-based system for diagnosing multiple Eye diseases. The motivation behind this work was due to the inflexibility of the existing systems that are only able to diagnose a single type of eye disease. An expert system like the CASNET/GLAUCOMA or PADI-HAA was used to diagnose glaucoma. The stages used to develop our system includes modelling, Knowledge representation, Knowledge acquisition, Inference and System evaluation. This system was developed using HTML, CSS and JavaScript for the frontend and Node.JS for the backend. This system can diagnose eleven different eye diseases thereby solving the issue of the inflexibility of other expert systems.","PeriodicalId":166410,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Africana","volume":"60 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126863207","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Lithofacies control on depositional environments in shallow offshore Niger Delta: implication on reservoir quality","authors":"O. Ndukwe, G. Udom, C. Ugwueze","doi":"10.4314/sa.v21i2.7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/sa.v21i2.7","url":null,"abstract":"The KEN field lies within latitude 4⁰52ꞌ44ꞌꞌ N to 4⁰53'04'' N and 6⁰22'50'' E to 6⁰22'26'' E. The geological and geophysical data sets were used to describe reservoir depositional facies and their environment of deposition. A detailed and accurate environment of sediment delineation is a solid basis to enhance characterization and providing measures for improving hydrocarbon reservoirs. This study aims to presents an effective method for accurately defining depositional environment with different data sets. The data used comprises of biostratigraphy, well logs from three wells and 3D full angle stack seismic data. The biostratigraphic data help to ascertain the age of the formation delineated to be middle Miocene to late Miocene based on the marker shale. It also helps in picking the stratigraphic surfaces. Three depositional sequences were delineated and dated with maximum flooding surfaces of 15.0, 12.6 and 11.5 Ma, respectively. Log sequence analysis reveals the internal geometry and stacking pattern of the mapped sequences. The gamma ray signature varies from serrated cylindrical, funnel to the bell-shaped log motif. The seismic stratigraphy involved facies analysis and reflection termination patterns, which aided the mapping of depositional sequence. The internal geometry is composed of Highstand, transgressive, and lowstand systems tracts. The stacking patterns vary from progradational, aggradational and retrogradational. Based on the seismic facies analysis, the integrated results show that the field of study is of pelagic and debris flow origin deposited in shallow marine settings, which also conform with the other data sets used for this study. The depositional environment of the three delineated reservoirs (Reservoir A, B and C) vary from deltaic upper to lower shoreface channels sand. Reservoir C, which is laterally continuous across the three studied wells shows that the connectivity of reservoir C is loosely amalgamated. The integrated data used for this study indicate that the environment of deposition varies from inner neritic to outer neritic environment. The results of this research are essential for reservoir quality, exploration, appraisal and development phases.","PeriodicalId":166410,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Africana","volume":"13 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128992208","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative study of the proximate compositions of some scaled and unscaled fish","authors":"K. U. Ogbe, O. Omada, E. Dasuma","doi":"10.4314/sa.v21i2.6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/sa.v21i2.6","url":null,"abstract":"A study on the proximate composition of 4 scaled and unscaled fish samples were carried out in September, 2019 using standard procedures. The protein content between 7.02±2.05% in the scaled fish samples, while that of unscaled fish ranged from 18.29±2.26%. Concentrations of fats were 2.21±0.70% in scaled while unsealed were 2.58±21.10%. Fibre values ranged from 0.130±0.0.037% in the scaled and unscaled were observed to be 0.26±0.11%. Carbohydrate recorded in scaled fish samples ranged from 12.03±5.65 in unscaled fish samples ranged from 9.71±2.30% . Ash content observed was (0.61±0.36% in scaled fish samples while unscaled fish samples shows 1.93±0.69% Moisture contents recorded in scaled was 67.74±5.17% while unscaled shows 67.18±3.73%. They was no significance difference at P > 0.05 except for ash content. Bargus bayad had the highest crude protein content and could be recommended as a possible effective way to solve protein malnutrition","PeriodicalId":166410,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Africana","volume":"26 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131160098","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Health hazards and risk assessment of the use of fossil fuel electricity generators in suburb of Port Harcourt, Nigeria","authors":"C. I. Osu, B. Ordinioha, Port Harcourt. P.M.B. 5323","doi":"10.4314/sa.v21i2.2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/sa.v21i2.2","url":null,"abstract":"Study on the health hazards and risk assessment of the use of fossil fuel electricity generators in suburb of Port Harcourt, Nigeria was carried out. The results showed that the concentrations of the metals varied greatly among the vegetable species and locations. It was observed that the vegetables (Telfairia occidentalis and Talinum triangulare) cultivated less than 15m away from fossil fuel generator after analysis showed some level of trace metals concentration. The variation in metal concentrations in the vegetables can be attributed to the metal concentrations in soils. The concentration of the metals in the edible vegetables studied ranged from 0.90 ± 0.01 to 3.20 ± 0.001, Pb; 0.08 ± 0.001 to 0.11 ± 0.01, Cd; 53.10 ± 0.002 to 106.30 ± 0.02, Fe; and 0.40 ± 0.002 to 1.60 ± 0.02, Zn. The difference in the concentration of the metals in the various vegetable can be attributed to the different concentration of the metals in the soils and also the direction at which the vegetation was located. The CDI values of iron for adult and children were all above oral reference dose (RfD) (0.007mg/kg/day). The hazard quotient (HQ) values of the metals in all the stations were greater than 1 except Zn and Cu for children. Lead, Iron, Cadmium and Chromium exceeded 1 for both adult and children while in In all the stations, HQ values were generally high for children, thereby making people living around the area more vulnerable. The high HQ values recorded in this study were as result of high CDI values of the metals involved. These metals pose long term health risk to the land users. All the hazard index (HI) values recorded in this study were well above 1. The long-term health risk is high and the non-carcinogenic adverse effect is not negligible. Health risk assessment for all the sites considered showed that cumulative effect of some of the heavy metal studied, as indicated by the hazard index (HI), calls for concern.","PeriodicalId":166410,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Africana","volume":"60 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128879111","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Monitoring hydrocarbon levels during bioremediation by enhanced bio-stimulants using GC-FID","authors":"E. Ezeani, N. Ngobiri, I. Agbagwa","doi":"10.4314/sa.v21i2.14","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/sa.v21i2.14","url":null,"abstract":"The efficacy of bio-stimulants on the remediation of hydrocarbon polluted soil was assessed using Gas Chromatography with Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID). The enhanced bio-stimulants were discarded melon pulps, discarded breadfruit pulps and poultry droppings. These were applied to the polluted soil in the ratio of 1:5; the blend was observed for sixty days. Inferring from the chromatographs, the carbon compounds present in the polluted and remediated soils ranged from C12 – C40 with varying concentrations; C12 to C19 were dominant, C9 to C11 were residual with negligible concentrations. The total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) of polluted soil was 42,229.73 mg/kg, and the remediated soils were: biodegraded melon pulp - 23,786.3 mg/kg, biodegraded breadfruit pulp - 15,322.82 mg/kg, and chicken droppings, - 7,314.29 mg/kg. The results indicated that TPH of the polluted soil was reduced by 43.67% in sample remediated with biodegraded melon pulp, 63.71% in sample remediated with biodegraded breadfruit pulp, and 82.67% in sample remediated with chicken droppings. Therefore, a decreasing order of the effectiveness of the bio-stimulants is thus: chicken droppings > biodegraded breadfruit pulp > biodegraded melon pulp. The higher remediation potential of poultry droppings is attributable to high nitrogenous content. The study showed that the aforementioned bio-stimulants are effective in remediation of petroleum polluted soil. GC-FID detected the hydrocarbon present and their concentrations in the polluted and remediated soils. GC-FID is preferred to other analytical techniques due to its precision in identification and quantification of hydrocarbon fractions.","PeriodicalId":166410,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Africana","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128890139","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}