Lead, Zinc and Iron Pollutants Load Assessment in Selected Rivers in Southern Nigeria: Implications for Domestic Uses

The aim of the study is to comparatively assess the concentrations of lead, zinc and iron in Rivers Ase, Warri and Ethiope, in Nigeria. Monthly water samples were collected from six randomly selected sites along the rivers course. 72 water samples were collected from each river at 0 - 15 cm depths. Samples were analysed based on the standard methods recommended by the WHO for testing lead, zinc and iron. The assessment of the water quality was done using the Water Quality Index (WQI) of the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME-WQI). While hypotheses were tested using ANOVA. Findings indicated that CCME-WQI values were 47.3, 66.52 and 78.7. This meant that the water quality of River Ase is impaired and departed from desirable levels, while that of Warri and Ethiope were considered to occasionally be impaired and depart from desirable levels. The ANOVA model showed that there is a significant variation in heavy metal load in the selected rivers at P < 0.05. River water was put to domestic uses such as drinking (20.5%) preparing food (17.8%), bathing (19.8%), washing clothes and dishes (21.3%), brushing teeth (13.3%), and catering for domestic animals (7.5%). Poverty (49.5%) was the major reason for the use of river water for domestic purposes. The locals highlighted that they usually suffer from cholera (26.8%), diarrhoea (25.8%), dysentery (24%) and typhoid (23.5%) as a result of using the river water. The study recommended routine monitoring of anthropogenic and geologic activities, testing of the water regularly amongst others.

Analysis of the Effect and Influencing Factors of Rural Domestic Sewage Treatment Based on A^(2)O-MBBR Integrated Process

[Objectives] This study was conducted to solve the prominent problems in the treatment of domestic sewage in southern rural areas of China. [Methods] An integrated process treatment mode of anaerobic/anoxic/aerobic moving bed biofilm reactor (A 2O-MBBR) was proposed to analyze and study its operating effect and influencing factors. [Results] The A^(2)O-MBBR mode had good COD removal efficiency and nitrogen and phosphorus removal performance, and the water quality index of the effluent met the Class A standard of GB181918-2002. This mode is suitable for treating rural domestic sewage, and has high treatment effects in different operating periods. In spring, the average removal rates of COD, NH_(4)^(+)-N, TN, TP and SS reached (83.53 ± 2.15)%, (89.44 ± 4.97)%, (67.36±18.53)%, (88.22±11.21)% and (91.73±2.25)%, respectively;In the autumn period, the average removal rates of COD, NH_(4)^(+)-N, TN, TP and SS were (83.49±2.64)%, (89.26±9.19)%, (66.05±17.00)%, (87.48±9.68)%, and (91.13±2.35)%. [Conclusions] This study provides theoretical reference and technical support for the popularization and application of A^(2)O-MBBR integrated process.

Domestication of Marama Bean in Arid Namibia: Challenges and Opportunities in a Climate Changing Agroecology

Tylosema esculentum (Burch.) A. Schreib. (Marama bean), referred to as marama in sections of this article, is an obligate outcrossing native plant with a yield potential of 2 ton/hectare which grows naturally in the deep sandy soils of the Kalahari Desert. It has adapted to the low precipitation levels in that agro-ecosystem. Marama serves as a staple food for the San and Bantus in that area. In Namibia, in the past you could find wild stands of marama in the Khomas region, Omaheke region, and the Otjozondjupa region without must struggle. It is renowned for its brown seeds, which are rich in high-quality oils and proteins. The tuberous root contains a significant amount of starch. The objective of domesticating orphaned marama is to provide farmers in this climate change-prone region with a viable alternative for food and nutrition security. This program, initiated in 2008 with an open-minded mindset, required swift implementation using harsh and occasionally unconventional methods. To introduce indigenous tools for resource-poor farmers, the domestication program prioritized the utilization of farmer-participatory methodologies. It was crucial to integrate old and new approaches to ensure learning from past and present experiences, leading to innovative solutions. There is little research and development of native crops in Africa because most of the currently cultivates crops were brought for use from abroad. Only a few numbers of indeginous African crops can be named. The arid Kalahari region, susceptible to climate change, necessitates the revival of indigenous crops like marama, which are resilient and well-adapted to the region’s conditions and have thrived for centuries. In many discussions regarding the health and nutrition of Africa, the recommendation to consume traditional foods to avoid exposure to modern foods, which may not be genetically compatible, is frequently emphasized. Regardless of their validity, these opinions must be acknowledged, and steps need to be taken to ensure a positive legacy for future generations. However, this chapter will address the limitations and challenges that exist in this regard. This article will summarize the progress made in the domestication program of the marama bean in Namibia thus far. Furthermore, this article will highlight the challenges that have been faced during the domestication journey for marama bean and other orphaned crops. The domestication program commenced with a broad germplasm collection, characterization, and preselection for breeding. Crop selection in this program was influenced by climate change-related concerns of shorter and uncertain rain seasons, and recurrent droughts. Selection included but was not limited to identifying marama genotypes with superior characteristics, early germination and many seeds per pod were among some of the identified and selected characteristics. The Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) has compiled a list of potential marama bean varieties and is currently testing marama seeds in anticipation of their introduction as a new crop alternative with good adaptation to the effects of climate change, since conventional crops like maize underperform due to persistent droughts. Marama bean, if properly developed, holds significant potential to address issues of hunger and malnutrition in arid regions of Southern Africa and other similar territories. The findings presented here are the result of ongoing field research and experiments conducted at multiple sites using superior marama bean varieties.

Attributes of Domestic Spaces for Contemporary Habitation-A Secondary Publication

The domestic space can be defined as the sphere that articulates the needs for subjective containment and contextual stimuli.In this sense,questions arise about the indispensable attributes that spaces must possess for this articulation to take place adequately.Architecture,as the discipline in charge of satisfying the specific spatial needs of those who inhabit these spaces and,in a broader sense,as a concrete contribution to society,must address this relationship in all its complexity and generate concrete responses that incorporate the appropriate spatial attributes during the design processes.The design processes that shape living spaces confront this dialectic,and the manner in which they do so brings identity and character to them.It is believed that the higher the level of variables that are contemplated and weighted,the greater the adequacy of spaces to the changing dynamics of the people who inhabit them.This article focuses on a thorough analysis of these spatial attributes,in parallel to the definition of each one as a particular condition for design,based on their conceptualization,breakdown,and articulation.Conceptually,the following attributes are addressed:flexibility,adaptability,variability,versatility,multiplicity,plurality,integrality,gradualness,incrementality,progressiveness,independence,connectivity,intimacy,and privacy.Each of these attributes is valued as a contribution to creating adequate habitability in contextual terms,with consideration to possible integrations and combinations.

A review of the pangenome:how it affects our understanding of genomic variation,selection and breeding in domestic animals?

As large-scale genomic studies have progressed,it has been revealed that a single reference genome pattern cannot represent genetic diversity at the species level.While domestic animals tend to have complex routes of origin and migration,suggesting a possible omission of some population-specific sequences in the current reference genome.Conversely,the pangenome is a collection of all DNA sequences of a species that contains sequences shared by all individuals(core genome)and is also able to display sequence information unique to each individual(variable genome).The progress of pangenome research in humans,plants and domestic animals has proved that the missing genetic components and the identification of large structural variants(SVs)can be explored through pangenomic studies.Many individual specific sequences have been shown to be related to biological adaptability,phenotype and important economic traits.The maturity of technologies and methods such as third-generation sequencing,Tel-omere-to-telomere genomes,graphic genomes,and reference-free assembly will further promote the development of pangenome.In the future,pangenome combined with long-read data and multi-omics will help to resolve large SVs and their relationship with the main economic traits of interest in domesticated animals,providing better insights into animal domestication,evolution and breeding.In this review,we mainly discuss how pangenome analysis reveals genetic variations in domestic animals(sheep,cattle,pigs,chickens)and their impacts on phenotypes and how this can contribute to the understanding of species diversity.Additionally,we also go through potential issues and the future perspectives of pangenome research in livestock and poultry.

Origins,timing and introgression of domestic geese revealed by whole genome data

Background Geese are among the most important poultry species in the world.The current generally accepted hypothesis is that the European domestic geese originated from greylag geese(Anser anser),and Chinese domestic geese have two origins,most of which originated from swan geese(Anser cygnoides),and the Yili goose originated from greylag geese.To explain the origin and demographic history of geese,we selected 14 goose breeds from Europe and China and wild populations of swan and greylag geese,and whole genome sequencing data were obtained for 74 samples.Results Population structure analysis and phylogenetic trees showed that the wild ancestor of Chinese domestic geese,except for Yili,is the swan geese,and the wild ancestor of Chinese Yili and European domestic geese is greylag geese.Analysis of the demographic history suggests that the domestication of Chinese geese occurred~3499 years ago and that of the European geese occurred~7552 years ago.Furthermore,gene flow was observed between domestic geese and their wild ancestors.Analysis of introgression showed that Yili geese had been introgressed by Chinese domestic geese,and the body size of Yili geese may be influenced by introgression events of some growthrelated genes,including IGF-1.Conclusions Our study provides evidence for the origin of geese at the genome-wide level and advances the understanding of the history of goose domestication and the traits affected by introgression events.

International visibility of Armenian domestic journals:the role of scientific diaspora

Purpose:Nearly 122 scientific journals are currently being published in Armenia-of which only six are indexed by WoS and/or Scopus databases.The majority of the national journals are published in the Armenian language,solely possessing abstracts written in English,although there are also English-language and multi-language journals with articles not only in Armenian but also in other foreign languages.The aim of this article is to study the visibility of the(non-indexed)national Armenian journals in the WoS database through citation analysis.In consideration of the existence of a relevant Armenian“diaspora”in the world,this article also attempts to estimate its impact in terms of citation statistics.Design/methodology/approach:For this end,we have identified citations to the national/domestic Armenian journals in the WoS database in comparison with the share of citations received from“diaspora”researchers(researchers of Armenian origin born in foreign countries and those originally from Armenia who have emigrated to foreign countries).Findings:Among the 116 Armenian domestic journals analyzed(not indexed by WoS),only 47 were found to be cited in WoS.Of these journals,almost 12%are citations by“diaspora”researchers,most of which concern Social Science and Humanities journals.Research limitations:Although the surnames of Armenians end with-i(y)an,sometimes,the Diaspora Armenians,surnames are changed or modified or they are not ending with-i(y)an,in this case we may fail to identify them.Practical implications:This study can help to build new,more deep and comprehensive relations with scientific diasporas.Originality/value:This study offers a new understanding of multifaced research collaboration with scientific diasporas and their role in internationalization of domestic journals.

Asymmetric relationship between global and national factors and domestic food prices:evidence from Turkey with novel nonlinear approaches

This study investigates the asymmetric relationship between global and national fac-tors and domestic food prices in Turkey,considering the recent rapid and continuous increase in domestic food prices.In this context,six global and three national explana-tory variables were included,and monthly data for the period from January 2004 to June 2021 were used.In addition,novel nonlinear time-series econometric approaches,such as wavelet coherence,Granger causality in quantiles,and quantile-on-quantile regression,were applied for examination at different times,frequencies,and quan-tiles.Moreover,the Toda-Yamamoto(TY)causality test and quantile regression(QR)approach were used for robustness checks.The empirical results revealed that(i)there is a significant relationship between domestic food prices and explanatory variables at different times and frequencies;(ii)a causal relationship exists in most quantiles,excluding the lowest quantile,some middle quantiles,and the highest quantile for some variables;(iii)the power of the effect of the explanatory variables on domestic food prices varies according to the quantiles;and(iv)the results were validated by the TY causality test and QR,which show that the results were robust.Overall,the empiri-cal results reveal that global and national factors have an asymmetric relationship with domestic food prices,highlighting the effects of fluctuations in global and national variables on domestic food prices.Thus,the results imply that Turkish policymakers should consider the asymmetric effects of global and national factors on domestic food prices at different times,frequencies,and quantiles.

The Ability of Some Aquatic and Terrestrial Plants to Purify Domestic Wastewater

The study aimed to evaluate the ability of some terrestrial and aquatic plants for wastewater purification.Aquatic plants can remove pollutants from wastewater by consuming and accumulating various contaminants in different parts of plants.Different aquatic and terrestrial plants(Rosa sinensis,Typha latifolia,Ocimm bacilicum,Azolla pinnata,and Salvinia molesta)which have the ability to decrease water pollution were utilized in this study.The capability offive different species of plants was investigated by measuring chemical oxygen demand(COD),biological oxygen demand(BOD),electrical conductivity(EC),total dissolved solids(TDS),and pH of the medium.In this research,some aquatic and terrestrial plants were transplanted in wastewater plastic pots containing domestic wastewater with different ratios of 50%and 100%.Then,after 30 days,the physiological and biochemical parameters of plants were calculated to observe the effect of wastewater on plants.Results revealed higher chlorophyll and carotenoids in typha plants treated with 100%wastewater.The highest percentage of elimination in BOD(65%),COD(27%),TDS(72%),EC(83%),and pH(6.8%)was noted with the use of typha and azolla.Intriguingly,total soluble sugars,total free amino acids,and total proteins were found maximum in the hibiscus plant as compared to the other plants under 100%and 50%domestic wastewater treatment,while typha and ocimum showed lower values of these parameters irrespective of wastewater treatments.Moreover,the COD,BOD,TDS,EC,and pH trend was higher in 100%wastewater as compared to 50%wastewater.Taking into account the accumulation capacity of the tested plants especially typha can be efficiently used for the treatment of domestic wastewater.

The prevalence of deleterious mutations during the domestication and improvement of soybean

Soybean(Glycine max L.)is a protein and oil crop grown worldwide.Its fitness may be reduced by deleterious mutations,whose identification and purging is desirable for crop breeding.In the published whole-genome re-sequenced data of 2214 soybean accessions,including 221 wild soybean,1132 landrace cultivars and 861 improved soybean lines,we identified 115,275 deleterious single-nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs).Numbers of deleterious alleles increased from wild soybeans to landraces and decreased from landraces to modern improved lines.Genes in selective-sweep regions showed fewer deleterious mutations than the remaining genes.Deleterious mutations explained 4.3%-48%more phenotypic variation than randomly selected SNPs for resistance to soybean cyst nematode race 2(SCN2),soybean cyst nematode race 3(SCN3)and soybean mosaic virus race 3(SMV3).These findings illustrate how mutation load has shifted during soybean domestication,expansion and improvement and provide candidate sites for breeding out deleterious mutations in soybean by genome editing and/or conventional breeding focused on the selection of progeny with fewer deleterious alleles.

Epidemioclinical Aspects of Childhood Domestic Accidents in the Emergency Department of Boffa Hospital

Introduction: Domestic accidents are defined as accidents that occur in the home or its immediate surroundings. Objective: To describe the epidemioclinical and therapeutic aspects. Patients and Methods: Prospective, descriptive study from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020 in the emergency department of Boffa prefectural hospital included all children aged 0 to 15 years admitted for domestic accidents. Results: Of 120 cases of accidental trauma, 56 were domestic accidents. The mean age was 7.08 years. The 0 - 5 and 11 - 15 age groups were the most represented (35.71%). The sex ratio was 1.55 in favor of boys. Domestic accidents were represented by falls (26.78%), thermal burns (21.43%), snakebite wounds (17.86%) and dog bites (10.71%), drowning (5.36%), and electrification by lightning (3.60%), one case or 1.78% of each of the following: esophageal foreign body by palm nut, firearm, wall collapse, stretching of upper limb. Paracetamol was the molecule most frequently used (89.28%). The outcome was favorable in 92.86% of cases. However, four (4) deaths were recorded. Conclusion: Domestic accidents remain a significant pathology at Boffa prefectural hospital.

Rural Domestic Sewage Treatment Model: Case Study Based on Dongying Section of the Yellow River Basin

The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China proposed to promote the improvement of urban and rural living environment and build livable and workable villages and beautiful villages. The development and challenges of rural domestic sewage treatment coexist. Based on the field investigation of 15 administrative villages in 3 districts and counties of Dongying City, there is a big gap between the development status of rural domestic sewage treatment and expectations. Investigate rural domestic sewage treatment cases in-depth, and condense four modes of primitive, developmental, mature and advanced in a variety of different rural domestic sewage treatment models for discussion, among which, the village sewage treatment work under the mature mode has achieved remarkable results, and is at the forefront of the current rural domestic sewage treatment. Through the multi-case analysis method, the practical dilemma of sewage treatment in different models of villages is summarized, and the feasible improvement path is explored, which contributes to the ecological protection and high-quality development of Dongying and the Yellow River Basin.

Interrupted Time Series Analysis of Military and Civilian Regimes in Nigeria: A Statistical Evidence from Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

Governments influence the economy by changing the level and types of taxes, the extent and composition of spending, and the degree and form of borrowing. Governments directly and indirectly influence the way resources are used in the economy. Higher taxes, fees, and greater regulations can stymie businesses or entire industries and the resulting impact is reflected on the country’s economy status (strong or weak). The growth rate of GDP is often used as an indicator of the general health of the economy. In broad terms, an increase in real GDP is interpreted as a sign that the economy is doing well. So it is important to study and pay more attention to country’s GDP growth rate. In this paper, an intervention analysis approach was applied to Nigeria GDP data in order to evaluate the performances of military and civilian rules in the country. Data on Nigeria GDP were collected and subjected to interrupted (intervention) time series model. Based on the Alkaike Information Criterion (AIC), Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) and sigma2 values, the interrupted time series model ARIMA (1, 1, 0) with exogenous variables (per capita per capita GDP, intervention, year and yearAfter) was identified as the best model amongst other competing models. It was observed that the intervention (civilian rule) was significant at the 10% level of significance in increasing the Nigeria GDP by 10B US$ on the average since 2005 till 2021 while controlling for the effects of other determinants. Also, the ARIMA (1, 1, 0) forecasts indicate that the Nigeria GDP will continue increasing during the civilian rule. As a result, changing from military rule to civilian rule in Nigeria significantly increased the GDP of the country.

Interrupted Time Series Analysis of Military and Civilian Regimes in Nigeria: A Statistical Evidence from Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

Governments influence the economy by changing the level and types of taxes, the extent and composition of spending, and the degree and form of borrowing. Governments directly and indirectly influence the way resources are used in the economy. Higher taxes, fees, and greater regulations can stymie businesses or entire industries and the resulting impact is reflected on the country’s economy status (strong or weak). The growth rate of GDP is often used as an indicator of the general health of the economy. In broad terms, an increase in real GDP is interpreted as a sign that the economy is doing well. So it is important to study and pay more attention to country’s GDP growth rate. In this paper, an intervention analysis approach was applied to Nigeria GDP data in order to evaluate the performances of military and civilian rules in the country. Data on Nigeria GDP were collected and subjected to interrupted (intervention) time series model. Based on the Alkaike Information Criterion (AIC), Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) and sigma2 values, the interrupted time series model ARIMA (1, 1, 0) with exogenous variables (per capita per capita GDP, intervention, year and yearAfter) was identified as the best model amongst other competing models. It was observed that the intervention (civilian rule) was significant at the 10% level of significance in increasing the Nigeria GDP by 10B US$ on the average since 2005 till 2021 while controlling for the effects of other determinants. Also, the ARIMA (1, 1, 0) forecasts indicate that the Nigeria GDP will continue increasing during the civilian rule. As a result, changing from military rule to civilian rule in Nigeria significantly increased the GDP of the country.

Mechanical and environmental properties of geopolymer-stabilized domestic waste incineration slag in an asphalt pavement base

Domestic waste incineration slag(WIS)includes fly ash and slag.Fly ash is classified as hazardous waste because it contains heavy metals.Most of slag are directly stacked or landfilled due to problems such as large output and low utilization rate.Harmless treatment is imminent.If WIS is used effectively in the road engineering,which can realize the high-quality and high-efficiency recycling of WIS,and it is of great significance to save resources and protect the environment.This study applies a geopolymer prepared from WIS fly ash as a stabilizing agent in WIS blending macadam for use as a pavement base mixture,and reports the mechanical properties(unconfined compressive strength,splitting strength,and resilience modulus)of the geopolymer-stabilized WIS blending macadam(GeoWIS).The leaching concentrations of harmful heavy metals of GeoWIS soaked in water were also investigated.Finally,the strength formation and heavy metal stability mechanisms were explored.The unconfined compressive strength,splitting strength,and compressive resilient modulus of GeoWIS all increased with increasing geopolymer content and decreasing WIS content.The strength of GeoWIS was derived from its geopolymerization and hydration products(C-S-H gel,N-A-S-H gel,and AFt).When the geopolymer content reached 12%–14%,the GeoWIS without natural macadam met the strength criterion of the asphalt pavement base.Through physical adsorption and chemical bonding,the geopolymer significantly reduced the leaching of harmful heavy metals.In GeoWIS with 50%WIS and stabilized with 10%geopolymer,the Cr,Ni,Cd,and Pb concentrations met the grade III groundwater standard.Concentrations of heavy metals leached from GeoWIS are low and exert little impact on environment.

Analysis of Domestication and Foreignization in Chinese-English Subtitle Translation——A Case Study of Hi,Mom

In recent years,with the booming development of the film industry,film subtitles play an increasingly important role in modern society.As one of the key links in cross-cultural communication,the quality of film subtitle translation affects the box office and viewing experience.Hi,Mom,a Chinese comedy based on the theme of mother’s love,which topped China’s box office during the Chinese New Year in 2021 and ascended to the third place in the global box office,high-quality subtitle translation is indispensable to its success.This paper discusses the subtitle translation of the film Hi,Mom based on the domestication and foreignization perspectives,so as to provide a reference for the Chinese-English translation of Chinese film.

Effects of Scarification and Substrates on Seed Germination Quality for Domestication of Stereospermum kunthianum(Bignoniaceae)

The demand for medicinal plants at the origin of phyto-drugs,like all ethnobotanical plants,threatens their existence today.The aim of this work was to determine suitable methods for optimizing the possibilities of regenerating Stereospermum kunthianum.To achieve this objective,3 levels of mechanical scarification(light scarification,medium scarification and deep scarification)were applied to the seeds of this species using a rough instrument,and 5 days after germination,the seedlings were transplanted into 5 types of substrate to study their effects on seedling growth.The length of the seedlings was measured using a graduated ruler.The results obtained showed that the best latency time was 2 days for average seed scarifications.The highest germination half-time was 4.00±0.06 days observed for average seed scarification,the highest germination speed was 22.50±1.00 and the highest germination rate was 100.00%±0.00%for average scarification.The homogeneous substrate mixes black earth/woodsilk and Fine sand/woodsilk were more effective for seedling growth(1.9 cm/day in the juvenile state)and development.Medium seed scarification is the most effective method for regenerating Stereospermum kunthianum,and the black earth/wood shavings substrate mix is the best for its cultivation.

Research Progress Related to Rural Domestic Sewage Treatment

Rural domestic sewage treatment is an important part of the rural revitalization strategy and a key action to build a livable, livable and beautiful countryside. This paper composes and summarizes the relevant studies on rural domestic sewage treatment from the governance techniques and modes of governance subjects and research perspectives, in order to provide reference for the implementation of rural revitalization strategy and rural domestic sewage treatment research and action implementation.

Cybersecurity and Domestic Terrorism: Purpose and Future

The increasing utilization of digital technologies presents risks to critical systems due to exploitation by terrorists. Cybersecurity entails proactive and reactive measures designed to protect software and electronic devices from any threats. However, the rising cases of cyber threats are carried out by domestic terrorists who share particular ideologies or grievances. This paper analyzes the increasing cyber-attack instances and mechanisms to counter these threats. Additionally, it addresses the growing concern of domestic terrorism and its impact on national security. Finally, it provides an overview of gaps and possible areas of future research to promote cybersecurity.

Domestic noir in Anglo-American Literature

In order to highlight the contribution of Literature to the study of Domestic Violence,this essay will reflect on the relevance of some Anglo-American literary works,integrated in the Domestic Gothic or Domestic Noir,a subgenre of the psychological thriller,distinguished by the peculiarity of representing a woman in danger as its main character.The family can be the most commonly considered luminous space of harmony,affection and quiet domesticity,but everything can turn upside down whenever this stereotype is reversed drastically.The so-called domestic noir,a new genre popularized in 2013,deals with these dualities,demonstrating that gothic fiction has always been interested in family conflicts and domestic violence in its most varied forms,turning them into sources of terror so relevant to our time.