A GIS based flood vulnerability modelling of Anambra State using an integrated IVFRN-DEMATEL-ANP model.

Flooding is a major environmental problem facing Anambra State of Nigeria, which also threatens food security in the state. To address this issue, continual flood vulnerability mapping exploring more efficient methods is needed to facilitate flood risk management in the state. The advantages of employing spatial information technologies such as Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) in flood vulnerability mapping has been widely documented; the limitations of employing GIS alone in effective vulnerability analysis have also been documented by researchers. To overcome these limitations, this study adopted the use of GIS and the integration of Interval Value Fuzzy Rough Number (IVFRN), Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL), and Analytical Network Process (ANP) method in vulnerability assessment of flood hazard. The result of the study shows that the state is very vulnerable to flood with 73% of the total area of the state lying between Very High and Medium vulnerable zones. The most vulnerable Local Government Area (LGA) in the State is Anambra West with 95% of the total area of the LGA lying between Very High and Medium vulnerable zones. Furthermore, the obtained values of R ˜ - D ˜ show that Rainfall Intensity factor is the major cause of flood in the study area with the highest positive value of 1.55 and Soil factor is the major effect with the highest negative value of -0.93. The IVFRN-DEMATEL-ANP assessment model was validated using AUC-ROC method; an AUC value of 0.946 was obtained, this indicates that the model has excellent prediction accuracy. This study was able to establish the feasibility of integrating the IVFRN, DEMATEL and ANP methods in flood vulnerability assessment. It is recommended that the provision of adequate drainage systems should be prioritized to areas of high flood vulnerability index; to help mitigate flood hazards in the State. Also, strategic planning of infrastructures and emergency routes for moving people and key assets from vulnerable areas especially during the rainy season should be geospatial-based and systematic.

Enhancing ethanol production from cellulosic sugars using Scheffersomyces (Pichia) stipitis.

Studies were performed on the effect of CaCO3 and CaCl2 supplementation to fermentation medium for ethanol production from xylose, glucose, or their mixtures using Scheffersomyces (Pichia) stipitis. Both of these chemicals were found to improve maximum ethanol concentration and ethanol productivity. Use of xylose alone resulted in the production of 20.68 ± 0.44 g L(-1) ethanol with a productivity of 0.17 ± 0.00 g L(-1) h(-1), while xylose plus 3 g L(-1) CaCO3 resulted in the production of 24.68 ± 0.75 g L(-1) ethanol with a productivity of 0.21 ± 0.01 g L(-1) h(-1). Use of xylose plus glucose in combination with 3 g L(-1) CaCO3 resulted in the production of 47.37 ± 0.55 g L(-1) ethanol (aerobic culture), thus resulting in an ethanol productivity of 0.39 ± 0.00 g L(-1) h(-1). These values are 229 % of that achieved in xylose medium. Supplementation of xylose and glucose medium with 0.40 g L(-1) CaCl2 resulted in the production of 44.84 ± 0.28 g L(-1) ethanol with a productivity of 0.37 ± 0.02 g L(-1) h(-1). Use of glucose plus 3 g L(-1) CaCO3 resulted in the production of 57.39 ± 1.41 g L(-1) ethanol under micro-aerophilic conditions. These results indicate that supplementation of cellulosic sugars in the fermentation medium with CaCO3 and CaCl2 would improve economics of ethanol production from agricultural residues.

Prevalence of hypospadias abdominal and peno-scrotal abnormalities among primary school boys in a Nigeria community

Objectives To determine the prevalence of hypospadias; patent processus vaginalis; umbilical hernia; splenomegaly and cryptorchidism in primary school boys of a Nigerian community. Patients and Methods A community-based observational study using the cluster-sampling method was done. One thousand and ninety-six primary school boys aged between 5 and 13 years from five randomly selected schools in the administrative district of the Ogbaru Local Government Area (LGA) of Eastern Nigeria participated in this study; while in only 1080 boys some specific information on umbilical hernia was available. Each participant underwent a general; abdominal; groin and peno-scrotal physical examination. Results The prevalence of hypospadias was 1.1and this was equivalent to the incidence. The prevalence of a patent processus vaginalis was 1.0with an estimated incidence of 1.3. Cryptorchidism was present in 0.8and retractile testis in 3.2. The prevalence of umbilical hernia was 26and the splenomegaly rate was 7. Conclusion The incidence and prevalence of simple hypospadias was higher than previously suggested by a tertiary hospital-based report from Western Nigeria. Umbilical hernia was very common but apparently only few patients needed treatment. The incidence of a patent processus vaginalis was similar to that reported in other parts of the world; although surgical correction was delayed. Splenomegaly was common; not only due to endemic malaria; but also due to sickle-cell disease; with implications for the management of childhood trauma in this part of the world