Experimental Analysis of the Effect of Tri-Nano Additives on Wear Rate of Mild Steel during Machining

Wear is an indispensable and recurring problem in engineering materials and it depicts its function on the long run. However, alternative method of retooling the materials at reduce cost was the main focus in this research work. Nano additives of 50 kg each palm kernel, coconut and egg shells were used as carburizer and energizer. Sixty (60) pieces of 100 x 20 mm AISI 5130 mild steel and four (4) boxes of 200 x 150 x 100 mm were charged into furnance of about 2,500oC max capacity. The tri-nano additives of palm kernel, coconut and egg shells were mixed at percentage ratio of 40:40:20. The elemental compositional analyses of the samples were checked before and after the case-hardening using spectrometric analysis machine. Each of the samples was soaked at a temperature of 950, 1000, 1050, and 1100oC for 60, 90, 120, and 180 minutes holding time. The obtained treated samples were subjected to elemental analysis, hardness and wear test using the spectrometer, vicker hardness tester and Rotopol-V wear testing machine. The best core and the surface hardness obtained were 117.9 and 140.9 HR compare to the control with 103.6 and 110.9 HR. The minimum wear rate of the sample was 1.22× while that of the control was 2.03× . The results gave a clear distinction decrease in wear rate and increase in hardness. This showed best economical and environmental friendly way to optimize the property of AISI 5130 steel which can be applied to any other grade of steels

Self-reported perceptions of factors influencing error reporting in one Nigerian hospital: a descriptive cross-sectional study

Background: Over the past decade the concern about patient safety due to the occurrence of medical errors has become a priority in healthcare. Medical errors occur from virtually all processes in the delivery of healthcare and while most have little risk for patient harm, some do result in injury, increased health care cost, lost income, decreased productivity, disability, morbidity and mortality. Under-reporting of medical errors is a global issue endangering patient safety and compromising health outcomes. Awareness and use of a hospital's error reporting system is an initial step towards improved reporting rates. Aim: The aim of the study was to describe doctors' and nurses' self-reported perceptions of factors influencing error reporting in a Nigerian hospital by survey questionnaire. Methods: This study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design to survey a random sample of 230 health professionals (n=90 doctors, n=130 nurses) working in all the units and departments of a Nigerian tertiary health institution. A theoretical model of a health information technology framework with implications for patient safety served as a guide for the literature review and interpretation of study findings. A 47-item self-administered survey questionnaire served as the data collection instrument. The questionnaire was developed following the review of available published literature and validated by four experts (n=2 doctors, 2 nurses), who determined the index of content validity. Inter-rater reliability of the instrument was subsequently measured by test-retest reliability of data from a pilot study of 30 raters (n=13 doctors, n=17 nurses). The validated questionnaire was used to determine doctors' and nurses' awareness and use of an error reporting system, frequency of reporting various types of errors, perceived barriers to error reporting and factors that facilitate an error reporting culture. Data collection took place for four weeks in February 2017. Data were analyzed in SPSS using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The median age of the respondents was 36 years (range of 25-59). The typical nurse respondent was female having a diploma in nursing and no Master's degree or PhD, in contrast to the doctors, most of whom were male and a few had a postgraduate qualification. The gender difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.001). The majority of the respondents had 6-10 years of work experience and were in full-time employment and the difference in current work status (P=0.001) and years of work experience (P<0.001) between the two groups was statistically significant. Awareness of error reporting system: most respondents disagreed that the hospital had a system in place for reporting errors but more nurses (56/140, 40.0%) than doctors (16/90, 17.8%) were aware of such a system and the difference in responses between the two groups achieved statistical significance (X²(4, n=230) = 13.302, P<0.010); knew where and when to report errors (nurses 48.6%, n=68/140; doctors 20.0%, n=18/90) (X²(n=230) = 23.843, P<0.001); how to locate an incident form (nurses n=60/139, 43.2%; doctors n=28/89, 31.5%) (X²(4, n=228) = 9.842, P=0.043); and who to report an incident or error to (nurses n=72/140, 51.4%; doctors n=33/90, 36.7%) (X²(4, n=230) = 11.845, P=0.019). Results for type and frequency of errors reported and factors facilitating an error reporting culture did not achieve statistical significance. Perceptions of barriers to error reporting: lack of confidentiality (nurses n=62/140, 44.3%; doctors n=27/87, 31.0%) (X²(n=227) = 11.697, P=0.019). Most respondents were unsure if error reporting forms were easy to complete (nurses n=49/137, 35.8%; doctors n=26/88, 29.5%), (X²(4, n=225) = 9.926, P=0.042). Factors not perceived as barriers: positive feedback when reporting errors (nurses n=61/140, 43.6%; doctors n=24/90, 26.7%), (X²(n=230) = 10.939, P=0.026); reporting an error that did not cause harm (doctors n=40/90, 44.4%; nurses n=50/139, 36.0%), (X²(4, n=229) = 9.618, P=0.047); time involved in reporting (nurses n=76/138, 55.1%; doctors n=26/89, 29.2%), (X²(4, n=227) = 17.327); and learning from the error (doctors n=42/90, 46.7%; nurses n=40/138, 29.0%), (X²(4, n=228) = 20.777, P<0.001) Conclusion: Doctors and nurses were mostly unaware of the hospital's error reporting system which can be concluded to be an organizational factor. Respondents would be willing to report incidents if perceived barriers are removed. There is an urgent need for an effective error reporting system to be implemented in the local setting and for appropriate awareness training and educational interventions to improve doctors' and nurses' knowledge and use of medical error reporting. Relevance to clinical practice. Effective error reporting systems in the Nigerian healthcare sector that improve awareness and use of these systems should enhance a reporting culture and thereby improve patient safety

Sleep disturbances and the experience of pain : a multi-methodological approach

Poor sleep and pain conditions present a major public health challenge due to their pervasive impact on well-being. Using a mix of experimental and observational methodologies, this thesis assesses sleep disruptions and its potential associations with the experience of pain. Chapter 4 comprises two experimental studies in healthy young adults (n = 57; n = 118) revealing that impairment in central pain inhibitory processes (conditioned pain modulation response) may be associated with self- reported sleep disruptions. The studies also support the validity of the conditioned pain modulation response as a physiological marker of pain inhibition. Chapter 5 presented a quasi-experimental study comparing chronic pain groups (Fibromyalgia n = 9; Chronic Back Pain n = 8) with healthy controls (n = 9) across range of self-reported and objective sleep and pain-related parameters. Findings revealed differences in patterns of self-reported sleep but not objective sleep between the two chronic pain conditions compared with healthy controls. The study also provided some extension of the findings from Chapter 4 by exploring the associations of objective sleep disturbance with less efficient pain inhibitory processes. To expand on these findings, the thesis adopted an epidemiological approach to explore the long-term interrelationship between sleep and pain-related outcomes in the general population. A systematic literature review (Chapter 6) of 16 longitudinal studies involving 61,000 participants consolidated evidence that changes in sleep are associated with several dimensions of the pain experience (risk of developing a pain condition, elevations in levels of inflammatory markers, and a decline in self-reported physical health status). Finally, Chapter 7 presents an analysis of a sample of the UK population and revealed the association between four-year changes in different insomnia symptom (sleep onset latency, awakenings, and daytime sleepiness) and perceived physical and psychological well-being in the general population (n = 30,594) and a subgroup with arthritis (n = 4,300). Overall, the findings from this thesis provide support for the associations of sleep disturbances with the processes underlying and shaping the experience of pain. The thesis highlights future research and beneficial interventions aimed at improving sleep and addressing associated pain-related health outcomes

EXPLORING GENDER JOURNEYS: A REVIEW OF ACHEBE’S ANTHILLS OF THE SAVANNAH, AIDOO’S CHANGES: A LOVE STORY, AND ADICHIE’S PURPLE HIBISCUS

This work examines the view of gender inequality in African society in the novels of three African fictional works. These are Achebe’s Anthills of the Savannah; Aidoo’s Changes: A Love Story; and Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus; thereby cutting across three generations of post-colonial experience. It is an attempt to document the progress made in the search for equality as seen from the lenses of fictional literature of the author’s societies. The post-colonial and feminist theories are applied to examine gender as an inheritance of colonized societies. Findings reveal the complexity of finding gender balance*** problems and the status of their efforts as portrayed in the selected literature. The primary texts, library search and relevant commentaries are the sources for present research. The work is expected to contribute to the growing body of literature that seeks to draw attention to the need for gender balance

Do people with chronic pain judge their sleep differently? A qualitative study

People with chronic pain often report sleep of “poor quality”. However, it is unclear what defines sleep quality and whether their sleep quality judgment is influenced by factors other than sleep. We purposively interviewed 17 participants with and without chronic pain and thematically analyzed their interview transcripts. Four salient criteria for judging sleep quality were: (i) Memories of night-time sleep disruptions, (ii) Feelings on waking and cognitive functioning during the day, (iii) Ability to engage in daytime physical and social activity, and (iv) Changes in physical symptoms (and pain intensity among participants with chronic pain). Sleep quality judgment is complex and involves retrospective decision-making influenced by not only memories of the night but also how we feel and what we do during the day

EXPERIMENTAL AND THEORETICAL INVESTIGATION OF TENSILE STRESS DISTRIBUTION DURING ALUMINIUM WIRE DRAWING

Wire drawing, has received a wide range of applications in the production. A wide number of cable applications demand that the cable survive high tensile loading. This works entails experimental and theoretical investigation of tensile stress distribution during aluminium wire drawing. The initial Aluminium rod used in this work was, 9.50mm with density of 2700kg/m3 , young’s modulus of (7x1010 Pa), Poisson’s ratio (0.33), Yield stress in simple tension (21.7 × 106Pa), which was later drawn to different diameter as required and tensile testing was carried out on each required diameter. In this work, tensile stress distribution in the drawing process is determined via experimental and analytical method. A free body equilibrium method is used to obtain the equations that dictate the drawing phenomenon. The result obtained by experiment is compared with improved model and also with other solutions found in the literature about these themes, particularly, with Rogas solutions in slab method case. There is high degree of similarity between the result obtained experimentally and the simulation of improved model but there is a wide gap when compared experimental result with simulation of classical slab method. Thus, the result of the study will be of great benefit to industries that make use of aluminium wire as electrical wiring, cables, spokes for wheels, stringed musical instruments, paper clips and tension-loaded structural components and also automotive sector. This will help them determining the extent of tensile loading that the aluminium wires their working on can withstand before failure can occur

Improvement of ASTM A53 Steel Durability Using Agrowastes as Carburizing Agent

&nbsp;The importance of steel in manufacturing and construction over the past century cannot be over-emphasized and easy accessibility couple with excellent mechanical properties make it preferable over others. However, the problem of durability has posed a serious concern as majority of steel application are meant for long term use. Several attempts have been made to improve the durability of steel in the past and increase of carbon content in low carbon steel was found to be a suitable agent. Although getting carbon is not the challenge rather obtaining it from a sustainable source that has zero environment impact. This research identified two separate agro-waste that has high carbon content the issue of sustainability brought about the development of carburizing agent from agro-waste that are easily accessible namely palm kernel and eggshell which is employed in this research. The use of agro-waste was found to be effective as there was notable increase in grain structure of the carburized steel when compared to the control sample without carburized agent in it

Effects of sleep changes on pain-related health outcomes in the general population : a systematic review of longitudinal studies with exploratory meta-analysis

Emerging longitudinal research has highlighted poor sleep as a risk factor of a range of adverse health outcomes, including disabling pain conditions. In establishing the causal role of sleep in pain, it remains to be clarified whether sleep deterioration over time is a driver of pain and whether sleep improvement can mitigate pain-related outcomes. A systematic literature search was performed using PubMed MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE, and Proquest PsycINFO, to identify 16 longitudinal studies involving 61,000 participants. The studies evaluated the effect of sleep changes (simulating sleep deterioration, sleep stability, and sleep improvement) on subsequent pain-related outcomes in the general population. A decline in sleep quality and sleep quantity was associated with a two- to three-fold increase in risk of developing a pain condition, small elevations in levels of inflammatory markers, and a decline in self-reported physical health status. An exploratory meta-analysis further revealed that deterioration in sleep was associated with worse self-reported physical functioning (medium effect size), whilst improvement in sleep was associated with better physical functioning (small effect size). The review consolidates evidence that changes in sleep are prospectively associated with pain-related outcomes and highlights the need for further longitudinal investigations on the long-term impact of sleep improvements

Temperature Distribution on the Rate of Heat Transfer around a Spur Gear Tooth

temperature distributions on a spur gear tooth. The gear tooth was subjected to temperature variations both at the top and root as well as variations in the respective coordinate of the material particles. The developed model was further used to evaluate the rate of heat transfer through the gear material. The result showed that the heat flux decreases with increasing values of Z which represent the particle coordinate. However, change in Z coordinate also constitute increased random motion of the particles in the gear causing steady degradation even at decreasing heat flux. Therefore, the study has revealed that temperature variation has negative effect on the wear mode of the gear material and at higher temperature, failure of the gear tooth would set in

Changes in sleep duration, quality, and medication use are prospectively associated with health and well-being : analysis of the UK Household Longitudinal Study

Introduction: Sleep is a plausible target for public health promotion. We examined the association of changes in sleep with subsequent health and well-being in the general population. Aims and Methods: We analyzed data from the UK Household Longitudinal Survey, involving 30594 people (aged > 16) who provided data on sleep and health and well-being at both Wave 1 (2009–2011) and Wave 4 (2012–2014) assessments. Predicting variables were changes in sleep quantity, sleep quality, and sleep medication use over the 4-year period. Outcome variables were the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and the 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) mental (MCS) and physical (PCS) component scores at Wave 4. Linear regression on each outcome was fully adjusted for potential confounders and baseline values of the relevant predicting and outcome variables. Results: Better outcomes were associated with an increase in sleep duration (GHQ: β = 1.031 [95% confidence interval {CI}: −1.328, −0.734]; MCS: 1.531 [1.006, 2.055]; PCS: −0.071 [−0.419, 0.56]), sleep quality (GHQ: β = −2.031 [95% CI: −2.218, −1.844]; MCS: 3.027 [2.692, 3.361]; PCS: 0.924 [0.604, 1.245]), and a reduction in sleep medication use (GHQ: β = −1.929 [95% CI: −2.400, −1.459]; MCS: 3.106 [2.279, 3.933]; PCS: 2.633 [1.860, 3.406]). Poorer outcomes were on the other hand associated with a reduction in sleep duration, a decrease in sleep quality, and an increase in sleep medication use. Changes in sleep quality yielded the largest effects on the health and well-being outcomes. Conclusions: Changes in sleep were temporally associated with subsequent health and well-being. Initiatives that aim to protect a critical amount of sleep, promote sleep quality, and reduce sleep medication use may have public health values