Principal Components as a Tool in Statistical Quality Control: A Case Study of Sokoto Portland Cement

The principal components analysis and Hotelling’s T2 statistic are used in studying the clinker minerals of Portland Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (CCNN). The cement produced is considered to be a mixture of eight minerals, each being sensitive to the presence of fly ash. Effort was made in this paper to show that the dependence on only one mineral in detecting fault or diagnosing noise was not effective but rather using the entire components such that each component’s contribution to variation is measured thereby making a valid interpretation about fault.Keywords: Hotelling’s T2 approximated model, Fault detection, PCA, Components treatment

Catalytic cracking of residual palm oil and regeneration of spent bleaching earth

Bleaching earth is used to remove colour, phospholipids, oxidized products, metals and residual gums in the palm oil process refinery. Once adsorption process ends, the spent bleaching earth (SBE) which contains approximately 20-40 wt. % of the adsorbed oil is usually disposed to landfills. This study was carried out to recover the residual palm oil and regenerate the SBE. The oil content in SBE was recovered by catalytic cracking method using transition metal (Cuprum, Zinc, Chromium and Nickel) doped HZSM-5. Transition metal was introduced in HZSM-5 zeolite using incipient wetness impregnation method. The physicochemical properties of the catalysts were characterized using X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared, nitrogen adsorption and temperature programmed desorption of ammonia. Liquid products obtained from cracking were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The Ni/HZSM-5 zeolite exhibited the highest yields of alkenes. The performance of Ni loaded (5 wt. %, 10 wt. %, 15wt. %) on HZSM-5 zeolite for cracking of residual oil in SBE then was investigated for further study. The 15 wt. % of Ni doped on HZSM-5 zeolite exhibited the highest yields of alkenes and alkanes. Response surface methodology was employed to study the relationships of catalytic cracking of residual palm oil in SBE such as temperature, heating time and nitrogen flow rate on liquid products yield over 15%Ni/HZSM-5 catalyst and the optimization of the process have been carried out. The optimum liquid products yield of catalytic cracking of residual palm oil in SBE was 12.91 wt. % and achieved at 452 oC, 160 min of heating time and 86 mL/min of nitrogen flow rate. The regeneration of SBE by pyrolysis at high temperature (500 oC) followed with sulphuric acid (H2SO4) solution treatment at different concentration (0.5-3.0 M) for the crude palm oil and methylene blue decolourisation was also investigated. The results showed that the regenerated SBE using 1.5 M H2SO4 was identified as an optimal concentration of H2SO4 treatment

Faecal Contamination of Feeding Bottles Contents, Among Artificially Fed Children

This study was carried out to investigate the bacterial contamination of feeding bottles contents in artificially fed children presenting with diarrhoea at the Paediatric outpatient clinic in Khartoum Hospital.Methods: Hundred bottle fed infants presenting with diarrhoea were included in the study. Specimens were collected from the contents of the feeding bottles and the faeces of children.Results: Hundred and ten bacterial species were isolated from the contents. E. coli was the commonest isolate [33 (30%)]. Different other bacterial species were also isolated with very high count (1X106 - > 15X105/ml). Twenty one enteric pathogens were isolated from the stool specimens [Enteropathogenic E. coli (7) and Shigella species (14)]. The antibiotic sensitivity of the E. coli and Shigella species showed high resistance to co-trimoxazole (57.5%, 53.3% respectively) and to coamoxiclav (85% - 53.3% respectively).Conclusion: Awareness to the hazards of the feeding bottles among the community should be raised and breast feeding should be encouraged.Key words: diarrhea, enteric pathogens, E. coli

Anticonvulsant potentials of methanol leaf extract of Cissus cornifolia Planch (Vitaceae) in mice and chicks

Cissus cornifolia Baker-Planch is an annual herb used in traditional medicine for the treatment of epilepsy. The anticonvulsant effects of the methanol extract of Cissus cornifolia leaf was evaluated in chicks using maximal electroshock test, and in mice using 4-aminopyridine, pentylenetetrazole, strychnine and picrotoxin induced seizure models at doses of 75, 150, 300 and 600 mg/kg. The extract of Cissus cornifolia leaf significantly (p<0.05) prolonged the latency to convulsions in 4-aminopyridine, pentylenetetrazole and strychnine-induced seizure models. Cissus cornifolia extract at doses of 300 and 600 mg/kg provided 66.67% protection against picrotoxin induced convulsions. It also significantly (p<0.05) prolonged the latency to picrotoxin-induced convulsions at the same doses. On the other hand, the extract did not protect the chicks against hind limb tonic extension in maximal electro-shock test. The results obtained indicated potential anticonvulsant activity of the methanol leaf extract of Cissus cornifolia, thus giving credence to the traditional use of this plant in the treatment of epilepsy.Keywords: Cissus cornifolia, Epilepsy, Chemoconvulsant, Anticonvulsan

The effect of intermittent preventive therapy for malaria on pregnancy outcome at the umth maiduguri.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends the use of intermittent preventive therapy with sulphadoxine-pyramethamine (IPT-SP) for prevention of malaria in pregnancy and this is the priority of the Roll Back Malaria partnership. Objectives: To determine the effect of IPT-SP on pregnancy outcome in our environment. Methods: Four hundred pregnant women among a cohort recruited for a larger study evaluating the prevalence of malaria parasitaemia in pregnancy in UMTH Maiduguri from 24 July 2007 to 12 January 2008 were used for this study. All pregnancies and deliveries were supervised at the UMTH. They were followed from booking to delivery to observe the effect of IPT-SP on pregnancy outcome. Blood samples were collected at booking and delivery for malaria parasite and packed cell volume. Malaria parasite was also looked for in the cord blood and placenta. Socio-demographic characteristics and pregnancy outcome were also obtained. Results: The mean age and parity of the patients were 27.2+5.5 years and 2.3+2.1 respectively. Majority of the patients (80.0%) have had at least a dose of the IPT-SP. The prevalence of malaria parasitaemia at booking was 60.3% with a mean parasite density of 701.04 + 382.22parasites/µl. However, the prevalence at delivery fell to 28.8% (p<0.001) and the mean parasite density reduced to 405.187 + 310.43 parasites/µl (p<0.001). In spite of the similar mean parasite density at booking in the 3 groups, the mean parasite density at delivery was lowest in the patients that had 2 doses of IPT-SP and highest among those that did not take IPT-SP (P<0.001). The use of IPT-SP also significantly protects from maternal anemia at delivery, preterm delivery, low birth weight, placental malaria, and cord parasitaemia. Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of malaria parasitaemia with a high parasite density among pregnant women at booking, both of which decline remarkably at delivery most likely due to ITP-SP during antenatal care. It is recommended that the use of intermittent preventive treatment should be intensified.&nbsp

Antibiotic Susceptibility and Plasmid Profiles of Shigella species in Sudan.

This study was carried out to determine the antibiotic susceptibility, plasmid profile and conjugative abilities of Shigella species isolated from different towns in Sudan during 2005-2007.Methods: Stool specimens were collected in Carry Blair transport medium from patients presenting with diarrhea from different sites in Sudan between the years 2005-2007. All specimens were inoculated on Mac Conkey’s agar and Xylose Lysine Dioxycholate (XLD) (Mast group Ltd.Merseyside U.K.). Bacteria was isolated and subjected to different antibiotics to detect sensitivity and transference of resistance.Results: One hundred and fourteen Shigella isolates were included in the study. Eighty (70.1%) were Shigella flexeneri representing the dominant isolate, followed by 20 (17.5%) isolates of Shigella dysenteriae, 9 (7.9%) Shigella sonnei and 5 (4.5%) Shigella boydii. Most of the isolates showed resistance to streptomycin (70%), tetracycline (52%) and co-trimoxazole (43%). They were highly sensitive to norfloxacin (97%), nalidixic acid (95%), gentamicin (89%) and chloramphenicol (77%). Multi-drug resistance to two or more antibiotics was apparent in most of the isolates (64, 56.1%). Fifty nine of the resistant Shigella isolates were studied for their ability to transfer resistance to the donor E. coli K12 by conjugation. Of these, six were able to transfer resistance to streptomycin, tetracycline and co-trimoxazole. Extraction of the plasmid DNA from both donorsand trans-conjugants showed a single type of plasmid with a molecular weight of 4.6 Kb. Conclusion: The transfer of multi-drug resistant plasmids and the emergence of antibiotic Shigella and other bacterial species should raise the awareness and the seriousness of the uncontrolled (unsupervised)use of antibiotics in the medical practice.Key words: Shigella E. coli, Plasmid, conjugant, resistance transfer

SECURING DIGITIZED LIBRARY CIRCULATORY SYSTEM

Despite the potential benefits of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in library automation, library operations in most developing countries are yet to migrate from traditional method of routine operations to automated systems. Current model of operation carries along with it challenges of insecurity of library books, errors in task execution, laborious routines with over dependency of human involvement in Library operations. In this paper, circulatory operations of the library were digitized and secured using a 125- KHz Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology with a blend of 192-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) private key encryption technique. This ensured the confidentiality of patron’s information and provided an auto-notification service. The results of testing and evaluation of the developed system showed that the surface area and position of the tag from RFID reader affects the response of the RFID system for improved library circulatory service delivery. The widespread application of the developed system on smart library circulation unit would improve the management of the library circulatory operations, give patrons better library circulatory experiences and enhance the productivity of library administrators. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njt.v35i3.1

The Importance of ICT Adoption in Manufacturing Sector: An Empirical Evidence on SME Business Performance

Information and communication technologies (ICT) adoption is considered as one of the intangible resources of the organization and needs to be carefully managed to maintain the firm's growth in business performance. Specifically, the objective of this study is to determine the relationship between the ICT adoption and SMEs business performance. According to Resource-based View Theory, technology resources are fundamental drivers to performance. A sample of 155 SMEs data successfully collected through survey. Data collected was analysed using Regression Analysis. The findings revealed that ICT adoption had significant correlation and relationship with business performance of SMEs. The study also suggested that the adoption of ICT is a major factor affecting the SMEs business performance as reported by SME Corporation Malaysia

Role of coping mechanisms to psychosocial stress in early development of hypertension in young adults: a pilot study

Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Prehypertension is a precursor of hypertension, with high prevalence in young adults. Psychosocial stress can be one of the modifiable risk factors for hypertension. The objective of the study is to assess the relationship between coping mechanism to psychosocial stress and early hypertension in young prehypertensive, mild essential hypertensive and normotensive subjects. A comparative cross-sectional pilot study was conducted in 36 young adults aged less than 45 years. The pulse rate, the blood pressure, and the body mass index of the respondents were recorded. Psychosocial stress was measured by plasma cortisolfollowing an acute mental stress test; and the level of stress and the coping strategies were assessed by using validated stress questionnaires. Approximately fourty four percent of subjects had normotension and 55.56% had prehypertension and mild hypertension.Prehypertension and mild hypertension were associated with high plasma cortisol level (p=0.032), and a high body mass index (p=0.004). Maladaptive coping strategy was found to be associated with high stress scores (p=0.019). The relationship between stress and cortisol was not significant, though a higher cortisol level was noted in the high blood pressure group. Higher cortisol levels and greater BMIs were associated with prehypertension and mild hypertension in young adults. These findings are useful for future research in this area, and the continuation of the study is important in the hope to yield a more significant picture