Formulation of Emulsion Paint from a Copolymer Composite of Dimethylol Urea/Polystyrene

Dimethylol urea (DMU) with reduced formaldehyde emission was synthesized in this work and copolymerized by blending with polystyrene (PS) obtained by constituting waste expanded polystyrene into liquid form. The determined physical properties of the copolymer composite (i.e. DMU/PS) compared to the pure DMU revealed improvements in its disadvantageous properties such as hardness and moisture uptake. Paint samples were formulated using the pure DMU, DMU/PS and commercially obtained acrylic PVA binder resin, and analyzed. While the DMU/PS and APVA paints passed, the pure DMU failed such critical coating tests as flexibility, adhesion and blistering. Again, the DMU/PS and PVA paints show good chemical resistance while the DMU paint blisters in the alkaline medium. However, all paint samples passed tackiness, opacity and stability, and exhibit acceptable pH, viscosity, and drying time. Keywords: Dimethylol urea, Polystyrenes, Copolymer composite, Emulsion pain

Potential application of resin extracts of Anogeissus leiocarpus plant

This work reports the application of tannin obtained from Anogeissus leiocarpus plant and its use in formulation of a thermosetting material for domestic and industrial use. The ploy condensation of tannin with formaldehyde produced a thermosetting resin with useful properties; formaldehyde (10.5 ml), tannin (2.5 g), glycerol (0.6 ml), hexamine (5.5 g), pH 7.5 and temperature 60 °C. Gel viscosity and effect of temperature on gel time were determined. Absorption behaviour of the films from the thermosetting material formulated under aqueous, acid and basic conditions were investigated. Water absorption up to 90% was obtained between 1 to 3 hrs. Perhaps due to differences in chain topology of the material formulated related to the molecular size holes in the polymer structure which depends on the morphology and crosslink density of the material. No acid absorption was observed after 12 hrs indicating that cross-linking reaction was still taking place in the solution.Keywords: Thermosetting, Resin, Polycondensation, Tannin, polymerization, viscosit

Nigeria’s Relations with Her Neighbors and the Fight against Terrorism: An Analysis of the Multinational Joint Task Force

This chapter examines Nigeria’s relationship with her immediate neighboring countries in the fight against terrorism. It probed the challenges of national security following the internationalization of Boko Haram terrorist threats, particularly around the Lake Chad basin, and the responses of countries such as Cameroon, Chad, and Niger. These countries, like Nigeria, share borders around the Lake Chad and are the core contributors to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF). Nigeria is an English-speaking country (former British colony), while these other neighbors are historically French colonial territories. Hence, their political, cultural, military, and economic affinities are with France. The varying backgrounds have accounted for the challenges in the subregion including the Boko Haram insurgency and the efforts at military cooperation in tackling it. Consequently, these questions are examined: what factors led to the formation of MNJTF and what role has it played in the counterterrorism strategies of the country? In what ways has the nature of Nigeria’s relations with these countries impacted on the operation of the body? What are the roles of external powers such as France with her domineering influence on these countries in the war against terrorism and how has it promoted Nigeria’s national security interest? The chapter relies on documented materials to interrogate the questions and proffer necessary policy recommendations premised on the findings

Studies on elemental composition and physico-chemical properties of coal deposits in Lamza and Guyuk Local Government, Adamawa State, Nigeria

This work examined some elemental composition and physico-chemical properties of coal deposits found in Lamza Village in Guyuk Local Government Area of Adamawa State. The major elements determined were carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulphur, while some of the physico- chemical properties examined include; moisture content, ash content, volatile matter, fixed carbon, pH and calorific value. Also the elemental composition of the coal ash was determined using XRF. The proximate analysis showed that the moisture content, ash, volatile matter, fixed carbon and Calorific values of the coal are 2.38 %, 14.18%, 38.25%, 44.17% and 5126.74Kcal/Kg respectively. The ultimate analysis shows that the coal has 69.2621% Carbon, 4.7550% Hydrogen, 7.0679% Oxygen, 1.3350% Nitrogen and 0.7200% Sulphur. Based on the result of the proximate and ultimate analysis, the coal is of good quality if power and heat generation is to be considered. Coal-ash elemental analysis of Guyuk (Lamza) coal shows that due to the low heavy metals and ash content of the coal, utilization of the coal within a safe environment is feasible with just a little or no negative environmental impactKeywords: Analysis, Coal, Proximate, Oxides and Ultimat

Preliminary Evaluation of Composite Panels Produced from Rice Husk and Recycled Polystyrene Material

Rice husk particles categorised as fine (size ≤ 0.6 mm), and coarse (0.6 mm ≤ size ≤ 1.8 mm) were mixed with a binder obtained by recycling expanded polystyrene waste, to formulate composites. Formulation was carried out using different particles to binder ratios as follows: 1:1, 1:1.5, 1:2). Fine particle composites were designated F1:1, F1:1.5 and F1:2, while the coarse particle composites were designated C1:1, C1:1.5 and C1:2. The composites were casted, and some physical properties such as: dry/cure time in air (72±4 h - 168±6 h), density (0.48±0.04 g/dm3 – 2.75±0.08 g/dm3), water absorption (2.24±0.46 % - 58.91±1.11 %) and thickness swelling (1.43±0.06 % – 22.65±1.23 %), flammability tests and SEM images of the composite panels obtained were evaluated. Results showed that: dry time and density increased, water absorption and thickness swelling decreased while flammability increased (ignition time decreased and propagation rate increased), as the amount of the recycled polystyrene binder was increased in the composites. Relative to particle size aggregate, coarse particle composites exhibits shorter drying time, lower density, higher water absorption and weaker flame retardation compared to the fine composites with corresponding ratios

Renal Denervation Helps Preserve the Ejection Fraction by Preserving Endocardial-Endothelial Function during Heart Failure

Renal denervation (RDN) protects against hypertension, hypertrophy, and heart failure (HF); however, it is not clear whether RDN preserves ejection fraction (EF) during heart failure (HFpEF). To test this hypothesis, we simulated a chronic congestive cardiopulmonary heart failure (CHF) phenotype by creating an aorta-vena cava fistula (AVF) in the C57BL/6J wild type (WT) mice. Briefly, there are four ways to create an experimental CHF: (1) myocardial infarction (MI), which is basically ligating the coronary artery by instrumenting and injuring the heart; (2) trans-aortic constriction (TAC) method, which mimics the systematic hypertension, but again constricts the aorta on top of the heart and, in fact, exposes the heart; (3) acquired CHF condition, promoted by dietary factors, diabetes, salt, diet, etc., but is multifactorial in nature; and finally, (4) the AVF, which remains the only one wherein AVF is created ~1 cm below the kidneys in which the aorta and vena cava share the common middle-wall. By creating the AVF fistula, the red blood contents enter the vena cava without an injury to the cardiac tissue. This model mimics or simulates the CHF phenotype, for example, during aging wherein with advancing age, the preload volume keeps increasing beyond the level that the aging heart can pump out due to the weakened cardiac myocytes. Furthermore, this procedure also involves the right ventricle to lung to left ventricle flow, thus creating an ideal condition for congestion. The heart in AVF transitions from preserved to reduced EF (i.e., HFpEF to HFrEF). In fact, there are more models of volume overload, such as the pacing-induced and mitral valve regurgitation, but these are also injurious models in nature. Our laboratory is one of the first laboratories to create and study the AVF phenotype in the animals. The RDN was created by treating the cleaned bilateral renal artery. After 6 weeks, blood, heart, and renal samples were analyzed for exosome, cardiac regeneration markers, and the renal cortex proteinases. Cardiac function was analyzed by echocardiogram (ECHO) procedure. The fibrosis was analyzed with a trichrome staining method. The results suggested that there was a robust increase in the exosomes’ level in AVF blood, suggesting a compensatory systemic response during AVF-CHF. During AVF, there was no change in the cardiac eNOS, Wnt1, or β-catenin; however, during RDN, there were robust increases in the levels of eNOS, Wnt1, and β-catenin compared to the sham group. As expected in HFpEF, there was perivascular fibrosis, hypertrophy, and pEF. Interestingly, increased levels of eNOS suggested that despite fibrosis, the NO generation was higher and that it most likely contributed to pEF during HF. The RDN intervention revealed an increase in renal cortical caspase 8 and a decrease in caspase 9. Since caspase 8 is protective and caspase 9 is apoptotic, we suggest that RDN protects against the renal stress and apoptosis. It should be noted that others have demonstrated a role of vascular endothelium in preserving the ejection by cell therapy intervention. In the light of foregoing evidence, our findings also suggest that RDN is cardioprotective during HFpEF via preservation of the eNOS and accompanied endocardial-endothelial function