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This study evaluated the effects of lactic acid fermentation on the functional, nutritional, and microbial characteristics of a complementary food blend formulated from maize, soybean, and orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP). The blend was fermented for 24 h using Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus fermentum, and Lactococcus lactis, alongside a spontaneously fermented control. Samples were analysed for pH, viscosity, microbial load, proximate composition, and selected fermentation metabolites (organic acids, sugars, and ethanol) using validated chromatographic techniques. Fermentation significantly reduced pH (from 6.2 to < 4.0) and viscosity (from 2700 cPs to <1500 cPs), creating conditions unfavorable for spoilage organisms and improving product consistency for infant feeding. Although nutritional composition showed no major differences among fermentation treatments, the accumulation of lactic, acetic, and propionic acids and the concurrent reduction of fermentable sugars confirmed active microbial metabolism. Both starter culture and spontaneous fermentation produced microbiologically safe products, with comparable improvements in functional and safety attributes. These findings demonstrate that lactic acid fermentation can enhance the safety and suitability of maize-soybean-OFSP complementary foods. The comparable performance of spontaneous fermentation highlights its potential as a low-cost, culturally adaptable approach for improving infant nutrition in resource-limited settings.
This research aims to explore a novel preparation and characterization of modified BFIS slag, with magnesium oxide, ammonium chloride as a hydrating agent, and the MgO/BFIS sorbent, all of which were synthesized utilizing an atmospheric hydration procedure. The sorbents were made by altering the hydration conditions, which included the MgO/BFIS slag weight ratio (1:1 to 1:4), hydration temperature (40–90 °C), ammonium chloride (1–4 g), and hydration length (4–12 h). The carbonation process was carried out using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) at 800 °C. At all preparation conditions, the specific surface area of MgO/BFIS composite ranged between (50.2–53.6 m2/g) and was more than that of MgO (5.34 m2/g). The produced MgO/BFIS sorbent had a more porous structure than virgin MgO or BFIS slag, according to SEM micrographs. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis revealed the existence of complex compounds comprising magnesium silicate hydrate in the produced sorbents. This helped to explain the large BET-specific surface area. The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) specific surface area decreased as the amount of BFIS slag increased and increased with the hydration temperature, time, and amount of hydrating agent increased. The shrinking core model was used to fit the kinetics of the carbonation reaction, and the results show that diffusion over the product layer was the rate-limiting step.
Recent WSN and IoT studies have illustrated the application of LoRa and LoRaWAN as a viable Low-Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) technology for in-situ monitoring scenarios. An evaluation of the use of LoRa and LoRaWAN as a means of communication for in-situ water assessment over a distance of about 2 km was conducted and the results are presented. The experimental tests focus on the use of different LoRa spread factor (SF) between 7 to 12 across four locations to examine its impact on the packet delivery ratio (PDR) within the same transmission ranges. The results are discussed, and the objectives set in this study were met.
Electronic waste (e-waste) is one of the challenges facing humanity in the twenty-first century. The problem with e-waste is unprecedented rate of growth and toxicity. The driver behind its exponential growth is not limited to expanding global economy in information and communications technologies (ICTs)—expected to reach US Dollars (USD) 13,092.49 billion by the year 2026, population growth, ever-increasing demand for electrical and electronic products, planned obsolescence by the manufacturers, and short life spans of the equipment. This review's purpose is threefold: First, explore existing e-waste recycling processes. Secondly, identify potential health and environmental issues in recycling of e-waste. Lastly, motivate formalization of informal recycling. The findings show informal recycling exposes workers and surrounding communities to health and environmental hazards compared to formal recycling. The informal recycling should be recognized and collaborate with formal recycling for better valuable metals recovery yields, health, and the environment. Currently informal recycling accounts more than formal in terms of e-waste volumes collected yet lower recovery yields due to recovery processes involved. The study recommended regulation of informal recycling and cooperation between the two streams of e-waste recycling for a sustainable environment and the well-being of workers and surrounding communities.
