Characterization and Modification of Activated Carbon Generated from Annogeissus Leiocarpus

Activated carbon (AC) is a versatile adsorbent that is used in the treatment of waste water, colour, odour removal and CO2 capture. Annogeissus leiocarpus is one of abundant agricultural precursor that can be used for the production of activated carbon. Characterization was done to investigate some proximate parameters. The modifications were made by soaking AC in 40% H2SO4 and 40% NaHCO3 for 24hours in the ration of 1:3 w/v. The FT-IR and SEM was conducted for surface functional group and morphology respectively. The result of this study revealed that the activated carbon produced possessed high yield, low Ash content, low Burnt off, low moisture content Average bulk density and large pore volume. The results from FT-IR analysis identified appearance and disappearance of carbonyl and hydroxyl groups which contributed in the creation of more adsorptive site for adsorption process. The results for SEM indicated the development of pores all over the surface of adsorbent with Acid modified activated carbon (AMAC/ H2SO4) having the highest pore distribution followed by Base Modified Activated Carbon (BMAC/NaHCO3) and finally ordinary (AC). The results suggest that the modification of AC using Acid and Base can significantly enhance the surface properties which improves adsorptive properties of the activated carbon produced and enhances it adsorption potentials for wastewater treatment

Radiological Hazard Indices in Federal University of Lafia (FULafia), Nasarawa State.

An assessment of radiological hazard indices from background radiation exposure was carried out in FULafia using a Mobile GPS for locational coordinates and a Ludlum radiation meter. Holding the survey meter 1 m above the ground level in the exposure mode, a total of 71 sample points comprising of indoor and outdoor locations in Takeoff site (TS) and permanent site (PS) of the University was used for exposure measurement. Result showed that the indoor and outdoor mean absorbed dose is (136.51±7.46) nGyh-1 and (131.26 ± 2.09) nGyh-1 respectively. The total indoor and outdoor average values for annual effective absorbed dose equivalent (AEDE), Excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) and AEDE to organ was found to be (0.81 ± 0.02) mSvy-1, (2.84 ± 0.07) x 10-3, and (0.35 ± 0.01) mSvy-1. These values when compared with UNSCEAR limit of radiological indices for the general public where higher but lower when compared with ICRP limit of 1 mSvy-1 thus; there is no health concern due to the exposure from background ionizing radiation in FULafia, Nasarawa state. Key words: Ionizing radiation, Occupancy factor, Cancer risk factor, Conversion coefficient. DOI: 10.7176/APTA/83-10 Publication date: November 30th 202

Customized Design of a Proposed Alignment at MAU Yola Campus in Civil 3D Using Nigerian Federal Ministry of Works Highway (FMWH) Manual

This study is aimed at testing the ability of Civil3D to design a carriageway using FMWH Manual, customizing it to suit that purpose. For this purpose, input commands in Civil3D were modified to reflect and accommodate the guidelines outlined in the manual. The route under consideration is a proposed dual carriageway alignment at Modibbo Adama University (MAU) Yola, Adamawa State in the North Eastern part of Nigeria. Scope of work carried out includes both field work (focusing on route survey) and roadway alignment design, subdivided into route location, data acquisition method and geometric design. Data for this project was obtained directly from the field using conventional ground survey method. Google Earth was used to select preliminary control points, GARMIN GPSMAP64 Hand Held GPS Phone was use to record the easting and northing of the control points onsite which serves as a baseline. Theodolite traversing by an analogue theodolite (Kern-Swiss K1-M 292272) was used to tie the control points and to range intermediate points at 25m interval longitudinally along the centerline and perpendicular offset points that were 6m & 12m on both Left and Right of the Centre. Natural Ground Level (NGL) was established from first principle by taking Field Short Data (FSD) of elevation of established point along the baseline using a dumpy level (SUN DSC232) to obtain the true level of the alignment. Plate vial test was carried out on the instruments to ensure accuracy of data recorded. Reduce level was computed using Microsoft excel and the output was imported into the design software (Autodesk Civil 3D V.2023) as a dot csv (.csv) data file known as PENZD.csv. The design of the alignment was carried out using criteria-based design by applying Federal Republic of Nigeria Federal Ministry of Works Highway Manual Part 1 Design Volume 1 Geometric Design (2013). A simple horizontal circular curve with a radius of 200m was designed at chainage 0+268.55 to 0+290.41 between two tangents. Two Sag curves; a crested-sag curve towards the beginning of the alignment at chainage 0+160.95 and a sag curve towards the ends of the alignment at chainage 0+655.33 were designed for the vertical alignment. A trapezoidal channel with a base-width of 0.5m, top-width of 1.1m & a depth of 0.8m was provided alongside the proposed road alignment to discharge storm water. Volume of earthworks was computed as 5548.18m3, and that of fill was found to be 1688.43m3 with a net cut-volume of 3859.75m3. A single cell box culvert was proposed to be sited at chainage 0+524 to 0+532.5. Equally, a pipe culvert was proposed to be sited at 0+722 to 0+723. The results indicate that the designed alignment was adequate and economical based on the proposed data

Reconstruction of the chest wall after excision of a giant malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor

Primary chest wall tumors are uncommon and constitute 0.2-2% of all tumors. Metastatic tumors and tumors of local extension are more common. Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) of the chest wall is even rarer and its incidence on the chest wall not stated in the literature. The incidence in the general population is 0.0001% while therisk is approximately 4600 times higher in patients with type I  neurofibromatosis and 3-13% of them will finally develop into MPNST, usually after latent periods of 10-20 years. Clinically, these tumors are aggressive, locally invasive, and highly metastatic. Excision of giant chest wall tumor leaves a defect that is reconstructed using musculocutaneous flaps with or without a mesh. We report the case of a 24-year-old man who presented at the surgical outpatient clinic with 7 months history of persistent left sided chest pain minimally relieved by analgesics, 5 months of cough and worsening dyspnoea, and 3 months history of anterior chest swelling on the left side of the manubrium. Following evaluation and investigations, the tumor was excised and the residual defect closed with methylmetacrylate sandwiched between two prolene meshes and overlaid with both pectoralis major muscles. The histology of the excised mass revealed MPNST He made an uneventful postoperative recovery, but died barely 3 months later from widespread pulmonary metastases.A review of the literature revealed that such tumors hardly ever reach such large-size as in our case

Fatty Acid Methyl Esters Composition of Trichilia Emetica Shell Oil

The formation of fatty acid methyl esters from Trichilia emetica shell oil by trans-esterification with methanol was monitored by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The percentage triacylglycerol conversion to its corresponding methyl esters was calculated to be 98 %. A total of five fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) were identified in the oil sample by the retention time and the fragmentation pattern data of GC/MS analysis. The identified FAMEs were hexadecanoic (palmitic), octadecanoic (stearic), eicosanoic (arachidic), 9,12-octadecadienoic (linoleic) and 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic (linolenic) acid  methyl ester. 

Impact of opioid-free analgesia on pain severity and patient satisfaction after discharge from surgery: multispecialty, prospective cohort study in 25 countries

Background: Balancing opioid stewardship and the need for adequate analgesia following discharge after surgery is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients discharged with opioid versus opioid-free analgesia after common surgical procedures.Methods: This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study collected data from patients undergoing common acute and elective general surgical, urological, gynaecological, and orthopaedic procedures. The primary outcomes were patient-reported time in severe pain measured on a numerical analogue scale from 0 to 100% and patient-reported satisfaction with pain relief during the first week following discharge. Data were collected by in-hospital chart review and patient telephone interview 1 week after discharge.Results: The study recruited 4273 patients from 144 centres in 25 countries; 1311 patients (30.7%) were prescribed opioid analgesia at discharge. Patients reported being in severe pain for 10 (i.q.r. 1-30)% of the first week after discharge and rated satisfaction with analgesia as 90 (i.q.r. 80-100) of 100. After adjustment for confounders, opioid analgesia on discharge was independently associated with increased pain severity (risk ratio 1.52, 95% c.i. 1.31 to 1.76; P < 0.001) and re-presentation to healthcare providers owing to side-effects of medication (OR 2.38, 95% c.i. 1.36 to 4.17; P = 0.004), but not with satisfaction with analgesia (beta coefficient 0.92, 95% c.i. -1.52 to 3.36; P = 0.468) compared with opioid-free analgesia. Although opioid prescribing varied greatly between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, patient-reported outcomes did not.Conclusion: Opioid analgesia prescription on surgical discharge is associated with a higher risk of re-presentation owing to side-effects of medication and increased patient-reported pain, but not with changes in patient-reported satisfaction. Opioid-free discharge analgesia should be adopted routinely

Corporate Tax Avoidance and the Cost of Debt Capital of Listed Manufacturing Companies in Nigeria

Purpose: The study “Tax Avoidance and Cost of Debt Capital in Nigerian Manufacturing Companies” is empirical research that investigates the relationship between tax avoidance and cost of debt capital in Nigerian manufacturing companies.Design/Methodology: The study uses a quantitative research design, which involves the collection of numerical data to test hypotheses. Specifically, the study uses a correlational design to establish the relationship between tax avoidance and cost of debt capital in Nigerian manufacturing companies. The study uses a purposive sampling technique to select 42 Nigerian manufacturing companies listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. The study collected secondary data from the annual reports and financial statements of the selected companies for the period 2011–2020.Findings: The results of the empirical analysis include the fact that the cost of debt capital was found to have a strong and positive link with tax avoidance. As a result, tax avoidance is regarded as a symptom of rising information risk in Nigerian manufacturing firms, prompting investors to demand a high rate of return. Total accruals also showed a positive and significant relationship between tax avoidance and cost of debt.Practical Implications: The findings of the study indicate that policymakers may need to implement measures to improve tax enforcement and increase transparency in financial reporting. This could involve increasing resources for tax authorities, strengthening legal frameworks for tax compliance, and promoting better corporate governance practices among companies

Militancy And State-Dialogue On Insecurity In Africa: The Case Of Nigeria's Boko Haram

Abstract: The unprecedented emergence of violence and insecurity in Nigeria is a replication of the occurrences in the Middle East and what is glaringly obtainable in Pakistan, Afghanistan and other places in the world. The paper captures the concept of militancy and how it relates to the government of a state in maintaining security and protection of the civilians and their properties. The paper analyzes some of the fundamental ways through which militancy may emanate and how the state can halt or foil the militant activities. It tries to choose among all possible approaches of arresting violence using the best alternative method in the state. The paper is a result of criticaldescriptive research which adopts content instrument of analysis for scientific submissions. The paper discovers that militancy is not the creation of the militants per se, but the creation of conglomerated forces that result in the militancy. The paper however, concludes that the Boko Haram uprising has not been properly addressed by the Nigerian government and only the wrong way has been taken, which is the refusal to hold discussions with members of the sect, due to some intervening variables. The paper also recommends proper dialogue with the Boko Haram members, amnesty and rehabilitation be considered

Assessment of exposure to ionizing radiation at selected mining sites in Nasarawa state, Nigeria

This paper investigated the levels of ionizing radiation at selected mining sites in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Inspector alert nuclear radiation meter (S.E. International, USA SN: 35440) was used for these assessments. The meter was held at the abdominal level (about 1 m above ground level) and readings were taken in mSv/hr and CPM at all the mining sites. The mining sites were selected based on accessibility and raw materials explored at the sites. The results obtained showed that Alizaga stone quarry in Nasarawa Eggon had the highest background radiation equivalent dose rate at the excavation point, while at the processing sites the radiation levels in Keana salt mine was higher. Oleshi barite mine had a quite low radiation level, with little or no significant contribution to the background level measured at some other locations. Though the presence of ionising radiation was established, the levels of the radiation, is quite within the healthy range of the Nigerian Basic Ionizing Radiation Regulation (NBIRR, 2003) standard and did not pose any significant health risk to the workers and neighbouring inhabitants.Keywords: Mining sites, ionizing radiation, barite, stone quarry, salt, health risks International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences, 6(4): 478 - 481, 201

Case Report: Angiosarcoma of the small intestine

Primary gastrointestinal angiosarcomas are very rare and those of the small bowel even more rare. We report a case which is the fi rst in the literature from this part of the world. It presented in a 25-year-old woman with multiple dissemination and rapid fatality. Diagnosis was based on histological morphology using Hematoxylin and Eosin (H and E) stains, plus reticulin special stain to outline the vascular nature.Keywords: Angiosarcoma, small intestine, rareAngiosarcomes gastro-intestinaux primaires sont très rares et ceux de l’intestin grêle même plus rares. Nous présentons un qui est le premier dans la littérature de cette partie du monde. Il a présenté dans une femme de 25 ans avec de multiples de diffusion et de létalité rapide. Diagnostic était basée sur la morphologie histologique à l’aide de l’hématoxyline et l’éosine des taches (H et E), plus les antiréticuline spécial teinté de décrire la nature vasculaire.Mots clés: Angiosarcome, l’intestin grêl