International Journal of Engineering, Science and Technology

Economic loss to chickens’ farmers caused by invasive Indian house crow (Corvus splendens) predation in Dodoma, Tanzania

2024-09-30T12:26:20+00:00

Corvus splendens, also known as the Indian house crow (IHC), is an invasive bird species introduced to Zanzibar from India. It has become widespread throughout the Tanzania regions, particularly in Dodoma Urban. However, there has been limited research on the broader effects of predation on chickens.In Dodoma, Tanzania, Indian house crows (Corvus splendens) are known to prey on chicks, causing significant financial hardship for poultry owners. This study aimed to investigate the monetary losses incurred due to crow predation across various chicken age groups and seasonal variations. A semi-structured qualitative questionnaire survey was conducted to gather information from 403 farmers in the wards of Makulu, Makole, and Ndachi, with Makulu and Makole identified as the urban and peri-urban areas of the wards, respectively. The collected data were then analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis statistical tests and a Generalized Linear Model.Farmers reported higher predation rates by Indian house crows on chicks and eggs compared to other age groups of chickens. Chicks and eggs were found to be more vulnerable and less capable of defending themselves against predation, resulting in a substantial economic loss of 27,739.64 Tsh (1.21 USD) per farmer per year. Economic losses were further analyzed across different seasons, revealing the months of April to August experienced the highest predation rates per year per farmer compared to other seasons (P<0.005). In conclusion, highlighting potential ramifications for poultry management and conservation efforts in Dodoma and analogous regions would offer readers crucial insights. This study emphasizes the adverse effects of Indian house crow predation on chicken populations, resulting in substantial economic losses for poultry farmers in Dodoma. An in-depth understanding of crow predation dynamics can inform the formulation of strategies to safeguard poultry and mitigate economic losses in the region.

Use of X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy for the determination of rare-earths contained in the concentrates and in landfills from the beneficiation plant of Gakara rare-earth deposit in Burundi

2024-09-30T12:33:29+00:00

The Gakara rare-earth ore deposit in Burundi is the only operating rare-earth mine in Africa and one of the richest rare-earth deposits in the world with an in-situ content of 47 to 67% rare-earth oxides (REO). However, although the country has significant mineral resources, Burundi has not yet developed a mining industry and even the Kabezi rare-earth concentration plant only produces concentrates, exported as such to the raw state, without any added value. Prior to the results of the present study, no quantitative data from researchers was available on the content of the said concentrate, much less on the nature of the substances that contain it. Therefore, the present research work focused on quantitative analysis by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy on rareearth concentrates and on landfills scattered around the said beneficiation plant. The findings of the present research work reveal that the rare-earth concentrate from Gakara rare-earth ore deposit in Burundi contains seven metals of this strategic ore including lanthanum (20.5% in elements; 18.0% in oxides), yttrium (0.16%; 0.15%), cerium (37.75%; 33.75%), praseodymium (2.80%; 2.63%), neodymium (12.14%; 10.00%), samarium (1.00%; 0.90%) and gadolinium (0.47%; 0.35%). With a total rare-earth elements (TREE) content of 74.84 ± 0.33%, the Gakara rare-earth concentrate can be refined into seven rare-earth metals. The corresponding total rare-earth oxide (TREO) content is of 65.78 ± 0.29%. Such findings are highly revealing and constitute a critical step which must lead to an in-depth research on the optimization of a technological separation and purification process which could be used specifically for this deposit considered as one of the most strategic globally. Regarding the waste dumps, the present research found that they contain quantities of thorium (0.127%) and lead (0.237%) at levels that should not be ignored. No uranium was detected.

Proximate composition, minerals analysis and antibacterial potential of Syzygium cumini L. leaves, flower and bark extracts against foodborne pathogens

2024-09-30T12:38:21+00:00

The current study was carried out to evaluate the proximate compositions, minerals assessment and antimicrobial activities of leaves, bark and flower of Syzygium cumini L. Proximate compositions were carried out using standard methods. The mineral analyses were assessed by Flame Photometer and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Antibacterial potential were assayed using Well-diffusion assay for three extracts (decoction, infusion and tincture). The proximate composition of Syzygium cumini L. leaves, flower and bark were found in the range i.e. moisture 3.5-05%, ash 05-07%, crude fat 0.4-2.5%, crude fiber 08-23%, protein 02-04%, carbohydrate 64.1-78.9% and energy 268-335Kcal/100 g dw. Similarly the minerals quantification (mg/Kg) range were calculated as Sodium 1300-1600, Potassium 3250-5000, Calcium 12500-24000, Magnesium 5000-9600, Zinc 30- 60, Iron 140-500 and Manganese 30-100. The tincture observed the most efficient extract followed by infusion and decoction. While bark showed the least antibacterial potential against the pathogenic bacteria as compared to leaves and flower. The results commonly observed that generally the high opposing were observed by Gram-ve microbes to the Syzygium cumini L. extracts as compared to Gram-positive bacteria. These findings observed that Syzygium cumini leaves, flower and bark are a connection of health promoting major mineral elements and nutrition ingredients. Therefore, it can be a latent resource of natural minerals, fiber, protein and antibacterial agents in food, feed and medicine. This study exemplifies the latent of this plant as a substitute feed and food supplement to make stronger food security.

Sum of defects (SOD) chart for joint monitoring of the two parameters of a zero-inflated Poisson process

2024-09-30T12:45:33+00:00

Rapid technological advancements and automation in today's world have led to many high quality manufacturing processes, where most of the products are free from defects. The defects data from high quality processes are commonly modeled by twoparameter zero- inflated Poisson (ZIP) distribution. Most of the existing control charting procedures for ZIP processes are developed assuming that all the manufactured units are inspected one by one, and most often separate control charts are proposed for monitoring the two parameters of a ZIP process. However, joint monitoring of the two parameters in a single chart can offer significant operational advantages because one needs to focus on a sole chart and a single charting statistic. Again, in many manufacturing set ups 100% inspection may not always be feasible. Recently, a few one-chart schemes with group inspection of small samples are reported in literature, and all these schemes require estimation of the two parameters based on accumulated samples till the current sampling stage for computation of the monitoring statistics. This accumulation of samples introduces several limitations in these schemes. In this paper, probability mass function and the cumulative distribution function (cdf) of the sum of defects (SOD) in a sample of size are defined, and a control chart for SOD is proposed. Both the parameters of a ZIP process can be jointly monitored using the SOD chart. Again, since no accumulation of the samples is required for application of the SOD chart, it is free from all limitations of the existing one-chart schemes with group inspection. Two case studies based on past data are presented. The performance of the SOD chart is found to be very encouraging.

Performance of an ideal reheat–regenerative Rankine cycle power plant utilizing solid waste incineration

2024-09-30T12:51:45+00:00

The performance of a100-MW reheat regenerative Rankine cycle steam power plant utilizing incinerator flue gas is reported in this paper.A computer model was created using mass and energy balances. The plant was simulated at three boiler pressures (15, 10 and 5 MPa). High- and low-pressure turbine stages were studied. Before reheating, steam was bled after high-pressure turbine and along the low-pressure stage for regeneration. Superheating the steam up to 1200^oC increased thermal efficiency (based on heat input and turbine work, E_th and n_th) from 35 to 67% and 55 to 77%, respectively, and the total workdone from 1000 to 3,500 kJ/kg. Superheating reduced steam and fuel requirements from. Reheating the steam increased the boiler heat load and the total work done by the turbine, while the contribution of low-pressure turbine was increased from 50 to 83%, and increased E_th and n_th from 35 to 55%. Increasing the regeneration intensity (y and z from 8 to 28% and 12 to 15%, respectively) increased the boiler heat duty, lowered and increased the condenser duty, was but increased and lowered total work done, respectively. Similarly, regeneration increased E_th and n_th from 25 to 57% and 35 to 52.5%, respectively. Lower boiler pressure led to lower steam mass flow rate for the same power generation capacity, high heat requirements from the boiler, high total work done on the turbine, but lower contribution of low-pressure turbine to the total work done (50 to 72% compared to 65 to 83% at 15 MPa).

Effect of vapor-bleeding and its configurations on multiple-effect sugarcane juice evaporator performance

2024-09-30T13:00:54+00:00

Improving process performance is always important in any processing industry with the aim of reducing operation costs and improving the profit.Vapor bleeding may be used in processing industries using multiple-effect evaporatorsto reduces steam consumption and increases steam economyThe effect of vapor bleeding on separation performance using multiple-effect sugarcane juice evaporator was analyzed. The effect of increasing percent of vapor bled and determination of the most effective bleeding configuration in terms of energy efficiency and operating costs. The performance factors assessed were: steam requirement, total heat transfer area (At), steam economy, total utilized heat (Qt), mass flow rate of bottoms (Bi), percent solids in the bottoms (XBi), and mass flow rate of vapors. To carry out this work, a five-effect evaporator, forward feed computer model was developed based on mass and energy balance equations, calibrated by data from steam tables. Simulations incorporating different configurations of vapor bleeding were carried out. Bleeding from each of the first four effects, E_i , and from a combination of effects (E₁&E₃, E₂&E₄) were carried out. The E₁&E₃ configuration showed a highest decrease in steam consumption by 23.73% and improved steam economy by 31.28%. Also, vapor bleeding reduced At and X_Bi while increasingBi. This work suggests that to improve energy efficiency during separation of mixtures using evaporators, vapor bleeding should be practiced while maintaining a balance between vapors used to preheat the feed and that used for heating the subsequent effects.