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Activated Bentonite For Physical, Mechanical, And Durability Properties Of Concrete—A Review, Tsion Amsalu Fode, Yusufu Abeid Chande Chande Jande, Thomas Kivevele

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Bentonite mostly exists in many counties and studies reported employment of activated bentonite in the concrete improves concrete performance more than using raw bentonite. However, it is not well-known which range of bentonite activation temperature and employment dose gives the best concrete performance for the sustainability of activated bentonite in construction materials. Therefore, the present study detail reviewed the effect of activated bentonite at different heating temperatures and replacement doses of bentonite on the durability, physical, mechanical, and microstructural properties of concrete. Also, environmental and economic beneficiary of employing activated bentonite in concrete is evaluated. As the review of various …

Cross-Regional Transferability Of Ai Crop-Type Mapping: Insights And Challenges, Valinho Antonio, Geoffrey Kimani, Eric Umohoza, Moise Busogi

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Accurate crop discrimination is vital for effective agricultural planning and sustainability management, especially in regions like Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where small-scale farming predominates and ground data is scarce. Conducting field surveys in SSA is challenging due to labor and cost constraints, as well as logistical and political barriers. This paper explores the feasibility of transferring crop-type classification models between regions with similar crops. Utilizing data from Baraouéli and Karamoja, collected from Source Cooperative, we trained multi-layer perceptron (MLP), random forest (RF), and support vector machine (SVM) classifiers using Sentinel-2 imagery. These models were then evaluated and applied to cross-crop type …

Isolation, Identification And Characterization Of Phyllosticta Citricarpa Causing Citrus Black Spot Disease In Benin., Goudjo Habib Toessi, Rachidatou Sikirou, Elisée Georges Dadé Ler-N’Ogn Amari, Oumarou Zoéyandé Dianda, Issa Wonni, Mustapha El Bouhssini

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Citrus black spot is a major constraint to citrus production in Benin. Identification of the pathogen causing citrus black spot disease was carried out in the laboratory on symptomatic fruits. Fruit samples were collected from orchards in 4 citrus-growing agro-ecological zones. A total of 66 representative isolates of Phyllosticta sp. were obtained from isolation. Molecular analysis using PCR of the nucleotide sequences of the ITS regions with universal primers ITS1/ITS4 and specific primers GcF1/GcR and the phylogenetic tree showed that the sequences of all isolates obtained in the different agroecological zones were identical to those of Phyllosticta citricarpa. The …

Farmers’ Perceptions And Management Of Citrus Fungal Diseases In Benin, Goudjo Habib Toessi, Rachidatou Sikirou, Elisée Georges Dadé Ler-N'Ogn Amari, Esaïe Gandonou, Afio Zannou, Daouda Koné

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Abstract

Background and aim

Methods

Results

Two Decades Of Land Cover Change And Anthropogenic Pressure Around Bontioli Nature Reserve In Burkina Faso, Issaka Abdou Razakou Kiribou, Kangbéni Dimobe, Lassane Yameogo, Huiyi Yang, Truly Santika, Sintayehu W. Dejene

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Protected areas (PAs) are critical for ecosystem maintenance and providing services that benefit both wildlife and people. Nevertheless, climate change and anthropogenic pressures are posing an increasing challenge. Surrounded by high human population densities, there is still a paucity of information on how the land cover in Burkina Faso's PAs is changing, and what kinds of human activities are the main drivers. In this study, we examined the change in land use and land cover (LULC) in the Bontioli Nature Reserve (NR), one of Burkina Faso's most important protected areas, and assessed anthropogenic pressure within and around. Landsat imagery (ETM+ …

Three Decades Of Research Efforts On The Uses, Conservation, And Management Of Cola Nitida (Vent.): State Of Knowledge And Prospects In Africa, Isabelle Erhudice Tachégnon Tokannou, Souleymane Sanogo, Juliano S.H Houndonougbo, Kolawolé Valère Salako, Adandé Belarmain Fandohan

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Cola nitida is a key multipurpose fruit tree species widely distributed across African countries. Several studies have investigated different aspects of the species, but there is a lack of synthesis on the current state of available literature and prospects for sustainable conservation and management of the species. Using the PRISMA approach for systematic review over the last three decades (1990–2022) in Africa, this study gathered key existing research findings on C. nitida. A total of 280 scientific publications were finally retained for this review. Several studies were focused on the socio-economic importance of the species (n = 139 …

Experimental And Simulated Evaluation Of Inverse Model For Shallow Underground Thermal Storage, Fabian Chidubem Eze, Wang-Je Lee, Young Sub An, Hongjin Joo, Kyoung-Ho Lee, Julius Ogola, Julius Mwabora

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This study employs an inverse grey-box (IGB) modeling approach, which combines measured data and the physics of systems to predict the performance of shallow underground thermal en- ergy storage (UTES) with top and side insulation. A simplified IGB model of the shallow UTES was developed using thermal network analysis. Experimental studies were conducted for shallow vertical and horizontal UTES configurations. Detailed models representing the field experiments were developed using the TRNSYS simulation tool and calibrated with the measured data from the experimental setup. The 4 Resistance 2 Capacitance (4R2C) IGB model was trained and tested in MATLAB using field experimental …

Determinants Of An Extended Metric Of Agricultural Commercialization In Ghana, Benjamin Musah Abu, Daniel Bruce Sarpong, Yaw Bonsu Osei-Asare, Charles Yaw Okyere, Taeyoon Kim

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For smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa, increasing productivity and agricultural commercialization are mooted as one of the pillars for agricultural development. However, the measurement of agricultural commercialization has been restricted to the household crop commercialization index (HCCI) that focuses on crops neglecting livestock. This study develops an extended metric of agricultural commercialization named household crop-livestock commercialization index (HCLCI), which combines crop and livestock commercialization with the argument that it is superior to the overly used HCCI. Fractional regression is used to estimate the determinants of the extended metric using secondary and primary data from Ghana. Results indicate that agricultural commercialization …

Phylogenetic Analysis Of Virulent Strains Of The Newcastle Disease Virus Isolated From Deceased Chickens In Tanzania’S Morogoro And Iringa Regions, Charlie Frank Arthur N'Guessan Amoia, Jean N. Hakizimana, Augustino A. Chengula, Mariam R. Makange, James Weger-Lucarelli, Gerald Misinzo

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Background

Newcastle disease (ND) is a viral disease affecting a wide range of bird species and has a considerable financial impact on the world's poultry market. The ND virus (NDV) strains currently circulating in poultry throughout Africa, and especially in East Africa, exhibit significant genetic variation.

Objectives

The primary objective of the present investigation was to investigate the NDV genotypes in chickens raised in backyards in Tanzania's Morogoro and Iringa districts, which were associated with ND outbreaks.

Methods

Two tissue samples from chickens taken during a suspected ND outbreak in Tanzania's Morogoro (Eastern zone) and Iringa (Southern highlands zone) were …

Development Of Nanobodies Against The Coat Protein Of Maize Chlorotic Mottle Virus, Faith Njeri Njeru, Olivier Zwaenepoel, Geert Haesaert, Kris De Jonghe, Jan Gettemans

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Maize lethal necrosis (MLN) is a maize disease caused by the maize chlorotic mottle virus (MCMV), a potyvirus which causes yield losses of 30–100%. The present study aimed to isolate nanobodies against the MCMV coat protein (CP) for the diagnosis of MLN. MCMV CP expressed in Escherichia coli was used for llama immunization. VHH (i.e. variable heavy domain of heavy chain) gene fragments were prepared from blood drawn from the immunized llama and used to generate a library in E. coli TG1 cells. MCMV specific nanobodies were selected by three rounds of phage display and panning against MCMV CP. The …

In Vitro Studies Of The Antimicrobial Properties And Qualitative Phytochemical Analysis Of Selected Chadian Medicinal Plants, Hissein Hassan Abdel-Razakh, Gaymary George Bakari, Cheol-Ho Pan, Abubakar Shaaban Hoza

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The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial potential and perform the phytochemical screening of ethanolic (70%) leaf extracts of Bauhinia rufescens and Ocimum basilicum and root extracts of Salvadora persica, three plants used for the treatment of numerous diseases in Chad. The extraction of the plants was made in a ratio of 70% volume of ethanol against 30% volume of distilled water. The yields obtained in the extraction of the leaves of Bauhinia rufescens, Ocimum basilicum, and Salvadora persica roots were respectively 20, 17, and 8.8%. With the disc diffusion method, the results of the antimicrobial assessment …

Genomic Epidemiology Of Rift Valley Fever Virus Involved In The 2018 And 2022 Outbreaks In Livestock In Rwanda, Isidore Nsengimana, John Juma, Kristina Roesel, Methode N. Gasana, Fabrice Ndayisenga, Claude M. Muvunyi, Emmanuel Hakizimana, Jean N. Hakizimana, Gillian Eastwood, Augustino A. Chengula, Bernard Bett, Christopher J. Kasanga, Samuel O. Oyola

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Rift Valley fever (RVF), a mosquito-borne transboundary zoonosis, was first confirmed in Rwanda’s livestock in 2012 and since then sporadic cases have been reported almost every year. In 2018, the country experienced its first large outbreak, which was followed by a second one in 2022. To determine the circulating virus lineages and their ancestral origin, two genome sequences from the 2018 outbreak, and thirty-six, forty-one, and thirty-eight sequences of small (S), medium (M), and large (L) genome segments, respectively, from the 2022 outbreak were generated. All of the samples from the 2022 outbreak were collected from slaughterhouses. Both maximum likelihood …

An Android-Based Internet Of Medical Things Adaptive User Authentication And Authorization Model For The Elderly, Prudence Munyaradzi Mavhemwa, Marco Zennaro, Philibert Nsengiyumva, Frederic Nzanywayingoma

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Globally, 77% of the elderly aged 65 and above suffer from multiple chronic ailments, according to recent research. However, several barriers within the healthcare system in the developing world hinder the adoption of home-based patient management, hence the need for the IoMT, whose application raises security concerns, particularly in authentication. Several authentication techniques have been proposed; however, they lack a balance of security and usability. This paper proposes a Naive Bayes based adaptive user authentication app that calculates the risk associated with a login attempt on an Android device for elderly users, using their health conditions, risk score, and available …

Sustainable Cooling Solutions For Electronics: A Comprehensive Review: Investigating The Latest Techniques And Materials, Their Effectiveness In Mechanical Applications, And Associated Environmental Benefits, Peter Efosa Ohenhen, Onyinyechukwu Chidolue, Aniekan Akpan Umoh, Bright Ngozichukwu, Adetomilola Victoria Fafure, Valentine Ikenna Ilojianya, Kenneth Ifeanyi Ibekwe

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This study presents a comprehensive review of the latest techniques and materials in sustainable cooling solutions for electronic systems, focusing on their effectiveness in mechanical applications and associated environmental benefits. The primary aim is to assess the current state and future prospects of sustainable cooling technologies, highlighting their role in addressing thermal management challenges while minimizing environmental impacts. The methodology adopted is a systematic literature review, drawing data from peer-reviewed academic journals, conference proceedings, and industry reports. The search strategy involved keyword searches, database filtering, and reference tracking, with a focus on recent advancements in cooling technologies and their environmental …

Physical, Mechanical, And Durability Properties Of Concrete Containing Different Waste Synthetic Fibers For Green Environment – A Critical Review, Tsion Amsalu Fode, Yusufu Abeid Chande Jande, Thomas Kivevele

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The world is facing a major challenge on ways to manage the waste synthetic materials that are potentially polluting the environment. So, by 2040 it is estimated from the total synthetic textile products that will be produced, the accumulated synthetic textile waste will be more than 73.77 %, if recycling of waste may not be managed by novel technology in different sectors. Hence, this is a great challenge coming to the world if it is not effectively recycled mainly to be used in the construction sector which covers a broad area. However, detailed critical review is needed to gather different …

Effects Of Raw And Different Calcined Bentonite On Durability And Mechanical Properties Of Cement Composite Material, Tsion Amsalu Fode, Yusufu Abeid Chande Jande, Thomas Thomas Kivevele

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Bentonite is a natural pozzolanic material mostly composed of SiO2 and employed in cementing materials for the reduction of cement consumption and CO2 emission besides improving performance of cement composite material by consuming portlandite to form extra C-S-H gel. So, many researchers studied on partial replacement of bentonite to improve concrete performance. However, bentonite mostly exists as a consolidated form that needs treatment for activation of pozzolanic reactivity to improve performance of cement composite materials. However, it is not well known how different replacement of raw and calcined bentonite affects performance of cementing materials in different hazardous environment. Hence, the …

A Review On Solar Water Heating Technology: Impacts Of Parameters And Techno-Economic Studies, Fabian Chidubem Eze, Munonyedi Egbo, Udochukwu John Anuta, Ossei-Bremang Rejoice Ntiriwaa, Julius Ogola

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Background

Solar water heating is a highly sustainable method of extracting thermal energy from the sun for domestic and industrial use. In residential buildings, thermal energy from a Solar Water Heater (SWH) can be used to heat spaces, shower, clean, or cook, either alone or in combination with conventional heating systems such as electricity- and fossil-fuel-based heaters. In the industrial sector, SWHs can be used in various high-temperature fluid processes, including chemical processing, manufacturing, power generation, and construction. Despite the technological advancements in water heating systems, there are still some significant technical and economic challenges that limit their widespread adoption …

Genetic Diversity Of Trypanosomes Infesting Cattle From Savannah District In North Of Côte D’Ivoire Using Conserved Genomic Signatures: Rrna, Its1 And Ggapdh, Jean-Yves Ekra, Eliakunda Michael Mafie, Edouard K. N’Goran, Dramane Kaba, Biégo Guillaume Gragnon, Jagan Srinivasan

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The potential danger to livestock from African animal trypanosomiasis is well known. However, the trypanosome species circulating in cattle and their genetics are poorly understood. After different alignments according to three regions (ITS1, gGAPDH and rRNA gene) of the trypanosome genome, phylogenetic analyses were used to show the genetic diversity of the different species that were circulating in the cattle in three regions (Bagoue, Poro and Tchologo) of Côte d’Ivoire. These analyses were performed by alignment of ITS1; by alignment of partial 18S, ITS1, 5.8S, ITS2 and partial 28S rRNA genes; and by alignment of gGAPDH gene with sequences of …

Effect Of Soybean And Seaweed-Based Diets On Growth Performance, Feed Utilization, And Gut Microbiota Of Tilapia: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Leonildo Dos Anjo Viagem, Jean Nepomuscene Hakizimana, Cyrus Rumisha, Brunno Da Silva Cerozi, Gerald Misinzo

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Tilapia, a significant aquaculture species globally, relies heavily on feed for its production. While numerous studies have investigated the impact of soybean and seaweed-based diets on tilapia, a comprehensive understanding remains elusive. This review aimed at evaluating and synthesizing the existing literature on these diets’ effects, focusing on growth performance, feed utilization, and gut microbiota. A systematic search of databases was conducted using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and a total of 57 studies were included in the qualitative analysis and 24 in the meta-analysis. The results indicated that soybean-based diets, at a 59.4% inclusion …

Microbiological Quality And Safety Of Poultry Processed In Africa: A Review, Noémia André Mugabe, Abdulsudi Issa-Zacharia, Jamal B Kussaga

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Poultry is the second most consumed meat in the world. In Africa, chicken production and processing are practiced both formally and informally, with smallholders constituting the majority in this sector. Informal practices are vulnerable to the production and processing of chicken, which is easily contaminated by pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella, and Campylobacter . The growth of the poultry industry in Africa, coupled with intensive production, has led to the indiscriminate use of antibiotics and the development of antimicrobial resistance, posing a risk to the health of consumers. However, there are limited studies evaluating the quality and …

Using Wavelet Transform And Hybrid Cnn – Lstm Models On Voc & Ultrasound Iot Sensor Data For Non-Visual Maize Disease Detection, Theofrida Maginga, Emmanuel Masabo, Pierre Bakunzibake, Kwang-Soo Kim, Jimmy Nsenga

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Early detection of plant diseases is crucial for safeguarding crop yield, especially in regions vulnerable to food insecurity, such as Sub-Saharan Africa. One of the significant contributors to maize crop yield loss is the Northern Leaf Blight (NLB), which traditionally takes 14–21 days to visually manifest on maize. This study introduces a novel approach for detecting NLB as early as 4–5 days using Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, which can identify the disease before any visual symptoms appear. Utilizing Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) and Long Short Term Memory (LSTM) models, nonvisual measurements of Total Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and ultrasound …

Thermal Performance And Technoeconomic Analysis Of Solar-Assisted Heat Pump Dryer Integrated With Energy Storage Materials For Drying Cavendish Banana (Musa Acuminata), Alde Belgard Loemba Tchicaya, Baraka Kichonge, Thomas Kivevele Kivevele

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This study examines a novel solar-assisted heat pump dryer integrated with a thermal energy storage system using soapstone as storage material. The dryer is investigated through experimental analysis across three operating modes: mode 1 with thermal energy storage during daytime, mode 2 without thermal energy storage during nighttime, and mode 3 without thermal energy storage during daytime. Experiments were carried out to investigate the drying of 500 g of Cavendish banana. Thermal performance, as well as economic, and nutritional content were examined. Three replicates of the experiment yielded consistent results, showing a significant reduction in the moisture content of the …

Desalination Performance In Versatile Capacitive/Battery Deionization Configurations Using A Cation Intercalating Electrode, Bethwel Kipchirchir Tarus, Zahid Ullah, Yusufu Abeid Chande Jande, Karoli Nicholas Njau, Jeehye Byun, Moon Son

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Capacitive deionization (CDI) is an alternative desalination technique for low-to-moderate salinity feeds. Despite significant advances in electrode material design, CDI's thermodynamic energy efficiency (TEE) remains low and has become important in assessing feasibility for real-world applications. Innovative cell configurations are key to improving TEE; however, their performance trends need to be contextualized, given the scattered information that can be challenging to compare. This study evaluates various desalination cells, including conventional CDI, single- and multi-channel asymmetric CDI, and multi-channel battery deionization (BDI). Using MoS₂ as a representative intercalating material, the position of active sites on composite electrodes …

Modeling And Optimization Of Calcined Bentonite Replacement In The Mechanical And Durability Properties Of Mortar, Tsion Amsalu Fode, Yusufu Abeid Chande Chande Jande, Thomas Kivevele, Nima Rahbar

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Currently, pozzolanic materials are mostly recommended to improve the properties of cement composite materials and reduce environmental pollution, challenging the world owing to ordinary Portland cement (OPC) production. Bentonite is mostly available natural pozzolana, however, extensive studies conducted on other clays like kaolin and some studies reported that bentonite exists in a consolidated form which requires heating activation methods. Therefore, it is essential to investigate the properties of bentonite in detail for its sustainable use, and it is novel to model and optimize the optimum bentonite calcination temperature and time for the best performance replacement in mortar. Hence, the present …

Response Of Plant Species To Impact Of Climate Change In Hugumbrda Grat-Kahsu Forest, Tigray, Ethiopia: Implications For Domestication And Climate Change Mitigation, Haftu Abrha Mengesha, Soro Dodiomon, Victor Ongoma, Haftom Hagos, Emiru Birhane, Girmay Gebresamuel, Ashenafi Manaye

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This study aimed to predict distribution and Total Carbon Stock (TCS) dynamics of Acacia abyssinica, Carissa edulis, and Juniperus procera in the Hugumbrda Grat-Kahsu National Forest in current (1970–2000) and future climate scenarios (2021–2100). Bioclimatic, soil, and elevation data were used for modeling using Maxent, with model accuracy evaluated using Area Under the Curve (AUC), Kappa test and True Skill Statistic (TSS). Significant differences were observed in distribution of species between current and future periods under Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) of SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios. The main contributing predictors of the species distribution were temperature seasonality, altitude, and precipitation …

Municipal Abortion Bans: When Local Control Clashes With State Power, Laura D. Hermer

American University Journal of Gender, Social Policy & the Law

Anti-abortion activists are using different strategies in different states. Some focus on restricting zoning for abortion clinics. Others address the licensure of abortion providers. Some purport to create a cause of action for private individuals to sue neighbors and others in their municipality who get an abortion. Still, others seek to enforce the federal Comstock Act, alleging that it prohibits the mailing of abortifacients and preempts state abortion law to the contrary.

This Article evaluates the likely success of each of these strategies in two states in which they are currently being tried: Nebraska and New Mexico. Part I will …

The Very Interstate Nature Of The Internet? Establishing Uniform Requirements For Internet Transmissions Within Interstate And Foreign Commerce, Catherine Beal

American University Journal of Gender, Social Policy & the Law

This Comment argues that federal statutes, including the jurisdictional nexus of “transmission in interstate or foreign commerce,” should require evidence that a transmission actually traveled through interstate commerce to establish the required federal nexus. Part II of this article describes what threatening internet speech is, the development of the circuit split, and the statutory criteria at issue. Part III analyzes each side of the split and examines when statutory language permits an assumption of interstate or foreign transmission. Part III also proposes adopting a strict definition of “transmission in interstate and foreign commerce” for Internet-based speech and requiring evidence that …