Effect of Vegetable Based Lubricants on Equal Channel Angular Extrusion Pressure

This research aimed at investigating vegetable based lubricant as a replacement for chemical based lubricants on extrusion pressure of equal channel angular extrusion of Aluminum. In the process, aluminum alloy (Al 6063) was heated at 350°C for one hour, machined and cut to billets size of 11.95 m x 11.95 m x 40 m (l × b × h). The billets were extruded through die of 12 mm x 12 mm channel cross-section area, the channel angle was 60°. Four vegetable based lubricants namely jatropha, neem, castor and cotton seed oils were used. The die was centrally located on the bed of vertical hydraulic testing machine and the billet was inserted into the entrance channel. Lubrication was applied to the billet to decrease its friction and with the channel inner wall. The ram displacement per plunger speed was 1 mm per 1 second respectively. For each lubricant, four samples were extruded through ECAE die to confirm the repeatability of the results and the average values of the extrusion pressure were computed. The results were compared to the sample extruded via conventional lubricants. It was discovered of all the extruded samples, jatropha oil gave the least extrusion pressure of 83 kN, cottonseed oil extruded at 104 kN and castor oil at 151.4 kN while neem oil require the highest pressure at 220.9 kN. The chemical based lubricants that serve as the control from the literature gave the extrusion pressure of 81 kN. It can be concluded that the oil from jatropha seed is the best in terms of extrusion pressure and can effectively replace the chemical based lubricants

Measuring the Economic Benefits of Forests in Relation to Households’ Welfare and Forest Dependence in South-western Nigeria

The study assesses the contributions of forest resources income on poverty among rural households in South-western Nigeria. A multi-stage random sampling approach was adopted while descriptive analysis and [Foster-Greer-Thorbecke (FGT 1984) poverty index] were used. Poverty index results showed that 68 percent of the rural households were living below the poverty line in the region. Disaggregated to state level, the highest proportion was found in Osun state (77 percent ), followed by Ogun state (70 percent ) and Oyo state with about 50 percent. The minimum cost required to bring those poor households to the poverty line (that is, to eliminate poverty) across states include: N4, 553, N9, 664 and N8918 in Oyo, Osun and Ogun states respectively. This indicates that poverty is more severe in Osun state followed by Oyo state but less severe in Ogun state. Also, forest income has tendency to stem the tide of poverty in the region. Therefore, Government and authority concerned should increase opportunities for entrepreneurship and employment in forestry while avoiding deforestation and forest degradation

The effect of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius on multi-drug resistant micro-organisms

This study was carried out to investigate possible bacteriostatic and bactericidal activities of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius leaf extract on multi-drug resistant micro-organisms. The antimicrobial property of C. aconitifolius leaf extract was carried out on the following multi-drug resistant microorganisms; Escherichia coli, Klebsiella species, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enterica Gallinarum and Candida albicans. The results from this study show that none of the multi-drug resistant micro-organisms was sensitive to the leaf extract of C. aconitifolius

Evaluation of Vegetable Based Lubricants on Hardness Property of ECAE Aluminum

Equal Channel Angular Extrusion (ECAE) is the extrusion method that involve s the use of angular die to introduce plastic deformation on any metal espec ially aluminum which in turn improves its hardness. Lubricant’s role cannot be under estimated in the process as it requires reducing the high heat of deformation and extrusion pressure in- volved. The commonly used lubrican ts for this process were from orga nic sources, very scarce and non - environmentally friendly. Hence , it is a great advantage to in vestigate alternative extrusion lubricant from vegetable source. Four vegetable based lubricants such as jatropha oil, castor oil, neem oil and cottonseed oil were selected for this research . The properties of these selected oils were characterized to its physical and chemical properties. Aluminum rod was machined to 17 billets of size 11.95m x 11.95m x 40m (l × b × h) each and was annealed. The billet size was selected based on the configurations of the fabricated ECAE die. Four billets were extruded with each lubricant which makes the tot al of 16billets extruded for the four lubricants and the last billet was used as the con- trol. The hardness of the extruded sa mples was evaluated after the extrusion and compared to the control. The hardness result was compared to the sample extrude d with organic based lubricants from the literature It was di s- covered that all the lubricants tested greatly enhanced hardne ss of the extruded sample but at different magnitude. Jatropha oil exhibit s the greatest hardness on extrusion of Aluminu

Available online www.ejaet.com European Journal of Advances in Engineering and Technology, 201 7 , 4 ( 8 ): 592 - 596 Research Article ISSN: 2394 - 658X 592 Evaluation of Vegetable Based Lubricants on Hardness Property o f ECAE Aluminum

Equal Channel Angular Extrusion (ECAE) is the extrusion method that involve s the use of angular die to introduce plastic deformation on any metal espec ially aluminum which in turn improves its hardness. Lubricant’s role cannot be under estimated in the process as it requires reducing the high heat of deformation and extrusion pressure in- volved. The commonly used lubrican ts for this process were from orga nic sources, very scarce and non - environmentally friendly. Hence , it is a great advantage to in vestigate alternative extrusion lubricant from vegetable source. Four vegetable based lubricants such as jatropha oil, castor oil, neem oil and cottonseed oil were selected for this research . The properties of these selected oils were characterized to its physical and chemical properties. Aluminum rod was machined to 17 billets of size 11.95m x 11.95m x 40m (l × b × h) each and was annealed. The billet size was selected based on the configurations of the fabricated ECAE die. Four billets were extruded with each lubricant which makes the tot al of 16billets extruded for the four lubricants and the last billet was used as the con- trol. The hardness of the extruded sa mples was evaluated after the extrusion and compared to the control. The hardness result was compared to the sample extrude d with organic based lubricants from the literature It was di s- covered that all the lubricants tested greatly enhanced hardne ss of the extruded sample but at different magnitude. Jatropha oil exhibit s the greatest hardness on extrusion of Aluminu

Physiological and Agronomic Responses of Four Rice Varieties to Drought in the Rainforest

The present investigation tested the hypothesis that there would be variation in physiological responses to water deficit among rice varieties from different production ecologies, with contrasting tolerance to water deficit under repeated cycle of soil moisture deficit, at reproductive growth stage. A screen house and a field trial were conducted at International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan and Ikenne (Latitude 6° 52' N, Longitude 3° 43' E) respectively. Both experiments had rice varieties (‘IR 64’, ‘WAB 56-104’, ‘IR 77298-1-2-B-10’ and ‘NERICA 4’) and stress status (stress and control) as treatment factor’s, arranged in a randomised complete block design with three replicates. In both trials, the physiological mechanism that underpins varietal differences with repeated cycles of water deficit at the reproductive growth stage was more balanced water status, improved foliar characters, efficient photosynthetic capacity and higher grain yield in comparatively drought tolerant upland rice varieties (‘NERICA 4’ and ‘WAB 56-104’), as opposed with the results for the drought susceptible cultivar ‘IR 64’. A converse pattern was observed on water stressed rice, despite fewer cycles of water deficit on the field. The results could have suggested that the initiation of water deficit is the rate limiting step rather than its intensity at the reproductive growth stage

Comparative Study of Local Mining Methods and Assay of Cassiterite with other Alluvial Mineral Deposits in Kuru-Jantar, Plateau State, Nigeria

This research attempt to investigate and compare the local mining methods of cassiterite in Kuru-Jantar with the view to determine the mean recovery per day using statistical approach, separating the valuable minerals through the gravity and magnetic techniques, determine the grade of cassiterite (tin oxide) with the aid of volumetric and energy dispersive x-ray florescence (XRF) analyses; and determine the percentage composition of metals in cassiterite as well as its associate ores with the aid of (XRF). Sub-surface (lotto) and surface (Hand paddock) mining methods were carried out and the respective recovery from each of the method was subjected to processing, sampling and assaying to determine the quantity, quality (grade) and expected smelter-yield. The mean recoveries per day are 14.48 and 11.28 kg/day for lotto and paddock mining methods respectively. The burretting differential obtained for the lotto and paddock methods are 18.80 – 19.80 and 18.80 – 19.30 respectively while their respective percentage tin metal burretted are 90.40 – 97.83 and 92.51 – 97.80 %. The recoveries from the magnetic and gravity separations are 10.91 kg and 9.06 kg for lotto and paddock methods respectively. The XRF analysis gave 68.69 and 66.462 % Sn respectively for the lotto and paddock while the assaying of other associate minerals are 40.4 % Nb; 26.5 % Fe; 22.3 % Ti; 2.5 % Ta; 2.3 % Sn; and 5.1 % W for the paddock and 37.6 % Nb; 24.8 % Fe; 21.5 % Ti; 2.3% Ta; 5.8 % Sn; and 4.9 % W for lotto. It can be observed that the lotto mining method has the highest recovery per day and hence, gives better recovery than paddock mining method. Lotto mining was found to yield higher grade tin-ore concentrate than the hand paddock mining method in both volumetric and XRF analyses but hand paddock gives higher quantity and more associate minerals. It was also found out that the lotto method is more risky and life threatening than paddock mining while the paddock mining practices render more danger to environment than the lotto mining

An AKAP-Lbc-RhoA interaction inhibitor promotes the translocation of aquaporin-2 to the plasma membrane of renal collecting duct principal cells

Stimulation of renal collecting duct principal cells with antidiuretic hormone (arginine-vasopressin, AVP) results in inhibition of the small GTPase RhoA and the enrichment of the water channel aquaporin-2 (AQP2) in the plasma membrane. The membrane insertion facilitates water reabsorption from primary urine and fine-tuning of body water homeostasis. Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) interact with RhoA, catalyze the exchange of GDP for GTP and thereby activate the GTPase. However, GEFs involved in the control of AQP2 in renal principal cells are unknown. The A-kinase anchoring protein, AKAP-Lbc, possesses GEF activity, specifically activates RhoA, and is expressed in primary renal inner medullary collecting duct principal (IMCD) cells. Through screening of 18,431 small molecules and synthesis of a focused library around one of the hits, we identified an inhibitor of the interaction of AKAP-Lbc and RhoA. This molecule, Scaff10-8, bound to RhoA, inhibited the AKAP-Lbc-mediated RhoA activation but did not interfere with RhoA activation through other GEFs or activities of other members of the Rho family of small GTPases, Rac1 and Cdc42. Scaff10-8 promoted the redistribution of AQP2 from intracellular vesicles to the periphery of IMCD cells. Thus, our data demonstrate an involvement of AKAP-Lbc-mediated RhoA activation in the control of AQP2 trafficking

Exposure to anti-malarial drugs and monitoring of adverse drug reactions using toll-free mobile phone calls in private retail sector in Sagamu, Nigeria: implications for pharmacovigilance

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) contribute to ill-health or life-threatening outcomes of therapy during management of infectious diseases. The exposure to anti-malarial and use of mobile phone technology to report ADRs following drug exposures were investigated in Sagamu - a peri-urban community in Southwest Nigeria.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Purchase of medicines was actively monitored for 28 days in three Community Pharmacies (CP) and four Patent and Proprietary Medicine Stores (PPMS) in the community. Information on experience of ADRs was obtained by telephone from 100 volunteers who purchased anti-malarials during the 28-day period.</p> <p>Results and Discussion</p> <p>A total of 12,093 purchases were recorded during the period. Antibiotics, analgesics, vitamins and anti-malarials were the most frequently purchased medicines. A total of 1,500 complete courses of anti-malarials were purchased (12.4% of total purchases); of this number, purchases of sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) and chloroquine (CQ) were highest (39.3 and 25.2% respectiuvely). Other anti-malarials purchased were artesunate monotherapy (AS) - 16.1%, artemether-lumefantrine (AL) 10.0%, amodiaquine (AQ) - 6.6%, quinine (QNN) - 1.9%, halofantrine (HF) - 0.2% and proguanil (PR) - 0.2%. CQ was the cheapest (USD 0.3) and halofantrine the most expensive (USD 7.7). AL was 15.6 times ($4.68) more expensive than CQ. The response to mobile phone monitoring of ADRs was 57% in the first 24 hours (day 1) after purchase and decreased to 33% by day 4. Participants in this monitoring exercise were mostly with low level of education (54%).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The findings from this study indicate that ineffective anti-malaria medicines including monotherapies remain widely available and are frequently purchased in the study area. Cost may be a factor in the continued use of ineffective monotherapies. Availability of a toll-free telephone line may facilitate pharmacovigilance and follow up of response to medicines in a resource-poor setting.</p

Community engagement and compliance monitoring of COVID-19 safety protocols: innovative approach combining indigenous practice and GIS technology in Oyo State, Nigeria

Background: One of the major challenges that has driven the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) worldwide is the burden of enforcing the preventive measures required to contain the pandemic. Enforcement of COVID-19 precautionary behaviour should not be homogenous; every country needs to be creative to ensure that humane considerations guide all decisions during the extraordinary experience that COVID-19 pandemic portends. The model of self-policing is acceptable and maintained principally because the citizens of any communities operate, recognize, and accept them as preferred alternatives to the official models of policing for enforcement. Hence the approach presented in this paper, which deployed existing indigenous alternative systems in ensuring compliance with COVID-19 precautionary behaviour. This article therefore documents the unique approach deployed for the containment of COVID-19 in Oyo State, Nigeria. Objective: This intervention was designed to explore established indigenous alternative systems and models of control, justice, law, security, and enforcement in Nigeria. Additionally, geographic information system (GIS) technology and investigative journalism was used to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention. Method: The method employed was community conversation; a method of increasing inclusive, community-based engagement harnessing the expertise and motivation of key stakeholders. The community conversations were convened after the pattern of a traditional Town-hall meeting. Community conversations were organized as a qualitative framework focusing on deploying the indigenous practice of self-policing associated with Nigerias trade unions and aims to inform COVID-19 preventive behaviour at the community level. Geographical information system technology was used to develop COVID-19 Containment Compliance Citizens Reporter App. The App was developed using ESRI ArcGIS online platform to crowd source public feedback on compliance or contravention of COVID-19 protocols. Social media platforms were also deployed for monitoring and evaluation of the intervention post townhall meeting. Results: The establishment of a State-wide Containment response network provided the required inroad for advocacy and deployment of state-wide community conversation framework in the different communities comprising diverse ethnic groups, religious leaders, market leaders, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), and so on. Testimonials from the various communities showed that the people have embraced the self-policing strategy and the network system was effective with good outcomes in terms of response to decontamination, containment, and advocacy. The COVID-19 Containment Compliance Citizens Reporter App, investigative reporting by mass media were highly effective tools for monitoring and evaluation of the outcome of the intervention as well as possible evidence for melting out incentive and disincentive measures as necessary. This approach is a template, which could be adapted and replicated in other parts of Nigeria and other African societies with similar structures, demographics, and indigenous practices