Synthesis and anticonvulsant studies of N-Benzyl-3-[(Chlorophenyl) Amino] propanamides

Isomeric N-Benzyl-3-[(chlorophenyl)amino]propanamides were prepared through an uncatalysed amine exchange reaction with benzylamine. The structures of these compounds were established through various spectroscopic techniques. The compounds were screened in mice against maximal electroshock (MES) and subcutaneous pentylene tetrazole (scPTZ) seizure test models as well as the righting reflex test for neurological deficit in mice. The isomers of N-Benzyl-3-[(chlorophenyl)amino] propanamide were found to be active both in the MES and scPTZ tests. The ortho and para isomers were found to be more potent than the standard drug (phenytoin) in the MES test, while all the 3 isomeric benzylated products were found to be far more potent than valproate in both the MES and the scPTZ tests with favourable therapeutic indices signifying their great potential for use against generalized seizures. Acute toxicity studies revealed that N-Benzyl-3-[(chlorophenyl)amino]propanamides are relatively safe.Keywords: Epilepsy, anticonvulsants, N-Benzyl-3-[(chlorophenyl)amino]propanamid

Thermogravimetric and kinetic study of methylolmelamine phosphate treated – cotton fabric

Some salient properties of cotton cellulose which requires it to be treated with additives to improve its versatility were examined taken into consideration, the molecular structure. Thermogravimetric analysis of the cotton fabric and the treated cotton fabric were carried out in an improvised muffled furnace. The result was in accordance with the previous study carried out on cellulose showing two stages of thermal degradation with first degradation between 2500C – 3000C and estimated 75% weight loss. The treated fabrics show degradation at 2000C – 2500C with an estimated 10% - 25% weight loss and more stages of thermal degradation. This may be attributed to the structuralmodification of the cotton cellulose upon resination with methylolmelamine phosphate.Keywords: Cotton Fabric, Degradation, Resination, Thermogravimetri

Evaluation of Methods for the Analysis of Untreated and Processed Lignocellulosic Biomasses

The overall efficiency of the transformation of lignocellulosic materials to usable products as chemicals and fuels must be governed by adequate analysis of products before and after treatments. Using some promising technologies, lignocelluloses which are biomasses from marine plant and trees, grains, food and non-food crops, and woodbased can give products as fuel alcohol and other chemicals. Various methods of transformation from feedstock to valuable end products are discussed in the scientific literature. Therefore, yields must justify methods used for biomass transformations. As a result, adequate compositional analysis of these processing stages is needed. In this chapter, standard common methods such as gravimetric, chromatography, spectroscopic and their variations for analysis on both untreated and treated lignocelluloses are highlighted. The ease of the use and challenges with recommendations to their applicability to quantifying lignocelluloses fractionations for reproducibility and to be representative are discussed. With biomass technology, virtually all and even more products that can be produced from fossil energy can also be produced from biomass energy. Adequate analysis is therefore necessary

Culture in sustainable infrastructure: the polycentric cultural framework model

The state of infrastructure and services is widely perceived as a measure of development and a major catalyst for growth in both developed and developing economies. However, financing, maintaining and replicating existing infrastructures in areas of need have been mostly ineffective. In view of the widespread failures and poor state of infrastructure and services, there is a need to review current delivery and procurement frameworks. Given that sustainable infrastructure is also an essential prerequisite for sustainable development, this paper presents a polycentric cultural framework for infrastructure and service delivery; a framework which emphasises the integration of infrastructure users, communities, public and private sectors throughout the process of conceptualisation to actual delivery of infrastructure, by taking the recipients’ culture, beliefs and values into account. The framework also emphasises the use of systemic referendum among stakeholders by way of the traditional consultative processes and the collaborative consensus paradigm to achieve an effective and sustainable delivery of infrastructure and services