Turbine Dimensionless Coefficients and the Net Head/Flow Rate Characteristic for a Simplified Pico Hydro Power System

The basic operational parameters of a simplified pico-hydropower system with provision for water recycling were investigated. Five simplified turbine of runner diameters 0.45, 0.40, 0.35, 0.30 and 0.25 m were designed, locally fabricated, and tested in conjunction with five PVC pipes of diameters 0.0762, 0.0635, 0.0508, 0.0445 and 0.0381 m as penstocks. Five simple nozzles of area ratios 1.0, 0.8, 0.6, 0.4 and 0.2 were fabricated for each penstock diameter. The turbines were successively mounted at the foot of an overhead reservoir such that the effective vertical height from the outlet of the reservoir to the plane of the turbine shaft was 6.95 m. A 1.11 kW electric pump was used to recycle the water downstream of the turbine back to the overhead reservoir. The mean maximum and minimum rotational speeds of the shaft of each turbine were measured for each penstock diameter and nozzle area ratio, and the volumes of water displaced in the reservoirs were also monitored. These measured data were used to compute shaft power and system volumetric flow rate for each operation. Dimensionless flow, head and power coefficients, and specific speed were Original Research Article Edeoja et al.; JERR, 1(1): 1-17, 2018; Article no.JERR.41393 2 computed and functional characteristics relating them developed. This standard procedure generally used for the analysis of geometrically similar hydraulic machines have been applied to this system and the results obtained will be invaluable in development of the system into a simple, environmentally friendly and decentralized small power generation system that could potentially contribute positively to the energy mix in Nigeria. The possibility of scaling the system to accommodate larger turbine and penstock diameters, and as a result higher capacity alternators exist and is a target for future developments.

Microcontroller Based Electronic Digital Lock with Security Notification

Due to the advancement in science and technology all over the world, there is a significant increase in the rate of crime and sophistication in crimes; as a result, it is necessary to ensure the security of one’s self and one’s valuable belongings. The main goal of this paper is aimed at creating an electronic security system capable of detecting an intruder and reporting to security personnel. The design of the microcontroller based electronic digital lock with security notification uses a four-digit pass key for its operation. The operation involves opening the door, closing the door, changing of password and alarm upon wrong password entry. It is important for use in Bank Vaults, Hotels, Offices and can also be used in our homes. The research objectives were achieved with the use of microcontroller which programs the ATMEGA328P microprocessor and interfaces it with all the other components in the circuit. In the end, the circuit was able to activate the relay switches for opening and closing the door in about three seconds, and the alarm sounds when it detects a wrong password. Comparison was made between the conventional traditional lock system and the proposed one. The distinctive feature added is the sliding door, the security notification feature and the password modification in case of a breach in security. The design fulfills the requirements of supporting conventional lock systems eliminating the use of ordinary keys Original Research Article Lawan et al.; JERR, 2(3): 1-13, 2018; Article no.JERR.43969 2 shared among occupants. To demonstrate and evaluate the design, a prototype was developed. As compared to other microcontroller based digital lock, it is easy and it required less hardware. It doesn’t need additional A/D and D/A converter. We can set the password and reset it without using external device and can be easily implemented. The evaluation shows that the design works well, consumes minimal power and is able to unlock a door.Atmega328p Microcontroller was used as the main component of the project.

Holistic Treatment of Functional Irritable Bowel Syndrome with a Spotlight on Medical Acupuncture: A Narrative Clinical Update!

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common recurrent functional disorder without organic pathology. IBS mostly afflicts females often presents in different forms with abdominal and extra-abdominal symptoms, and impacts quality of life of patients around the world. Objective: This update aims to critically describe the salient clinical features of IBS along with brief snapshots of complementary, conventional and integrative therapeutic approaches with a special focus on medical acupuncture. Methods: A selective e-searches of relevant literature were carried out using keywords and Boolean operators, and finally 65 articles were retained for this critical clinical update. Results: The main clinical manifestations of IBS include diarrhoea, constipation, abdominal pain, bloating and flatulence in the absence of “red flag” signs. Its several types (IBSdiarrhoea/constipation/mixed) affect approximately 15% to 40% of the general population. A variety Original Research Article Qureshi et al.; JOCAMR, 6(3): 1-12, 2018; Article no.JOCAMR.45475 2 of risk factors including gut-brain and biopsychosocial interactions contribute to the pathogenesis of this multifaceted gastrointestinal disorder that is reported to comorbid with other psychiatric disorders and physical diseases. A typical patient with IBS may require holistic customised intervention that will include complementary and integrative medicine modalities and conventional drug interventions with variable therapeutic results. Acupuncture is increasingly used globally and frequently combined with other Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCM) such as moxibustion, cupping therapy (Hijamah), medicinal herbs, mind-body-spirit therapies, and dietary modifications such as prebiotics and probiotics and life style changes for the successful management of patients with IBS. Conclusion: IBS is a multidimensional disorder and needs comprehensive clinical and diagnostic workup for making a precise diagnosis and personalised-treatment intervention. Medical acupuncture alone or combined with other holistic therapies produces good cost-effective results and improves quality of life of patients with IBS. This update calls for rigorous basic research to further explore the underlying pathophysiology of IBS along with mechanism of actions and effects of acupuncture in future.

Carbon Stock Assessment in Majiya Fuelwood Reserve, Sokoto State- Nigeria

Electricity Demand and Supply Scenario Analysis for Nigeria Using Long Range Energy Alternatives Planning (LEAP)

Study of the Gut Enterotypes in Egyptian Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Frequency and Antibiotic Susceptibility Pattern of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolated from Patients Attending University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital

Prevalence and Antibiotic Sensitivity Pattern of Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Wound and Otitis Media among Patients Attending Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria

Multiple-drug Resistance among Biofilm-producing Phenotypes of Nosocomial Escherichia coli

New Delhi Metallo-β-lactamase (NDM)-mediated Carbapenem-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Clinical Isolates in Sudan

Carbapenem resistance mediated by NDM is particularly gruesome as this carbapenemase can hydrolyze a wide range of β-lactam antibiotics. Aim: This study aims to detect NDM mediated carbapenem resistance in clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Materials and Methods: 50 multi-drug resistant clinical urinary isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from three major hospitals in Khartoum state Sudan; Khartoum Teaching Hospital, Medical Army Hospital and Omdurman teaching hospital, in period from July 2016 to September 2017, were investigated for carbapenem resistance using standard disc diffusion method and underwent real-time PCR to detect carbapenem resistance gene blaNDM. Data were analyzed using Short Research Article Mohamed et al.; SAJRM, 1(3): 1-5, 2018; Article no.SAJRM.41708 2 IBM SPSS. Results: 60% were positive for the blaNDM, 82% were resistant to Imipenem and 75% of the samples were resistant to Meropenem. Conclusion: The emergence of carbapenem resistance is a global problem that requires earnest attention. To make the suitable preventive measures, the emergence of these genes must be monitored closely. Our findings revealed that carbapenem-resistant due to the gene blaNDM is accounted for 60% of the cases, and due to lack of proper data documentation about the emergence of this gene in Sudan, these cases to the best of our knowledge are the first to be reported in Sudan.