Synthesis of Novel Valine-based Dipeptide Carboxamide Bearing Benzene Sulfonamide Moiety as Antimalarial Agent

Communication in Physical Sciences 2020, 5(2): 176-197 Authors: James A. Ezugwu, *Ucheckukwu. C. Okoro, Mercy A. Ezeokonkwo, and China R. Bhimapaka Received 15 April 2020/Accepted 14 May 2020   Syntheses of eleven novel Valine-based dipeptide carboxamide derivatives bearing benzensulphonamide are reported. These were achieved by facile amidation reaction of p- substituted benzenesulphonamoyl alkanamides with 2-amino-4-methyl-N-substituted phenyl butanamide using classical peptide coupling reagents. The chemical structures of the synthesized compounds were established by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, ESI- HRMS, and FT-IR spectroscopic techniques. The synthesized compounds were evaluated for in vivo antimalarial against P. berghei. Haematological analysis was also evaluated on the synthesized compounds. At 50mg/kg body weight, the compounds 8e, 8g, 8i, 8k, 8d and 8h inhibited the multiplication of the parasite by 46-71% on day seven of post-treatment exposure comparable to the 67% reduction with artemisinin

Stability Analysis of Model Regenerative Chatter of Milling Process Using First Order Least Square Full Discretization Method

Regenerative chatter is an instability phenomenon in machining operation that must be avoided if high accuracy and greater surface finish is to be achieved. It comes with its own consequences such as poor surface finish, low accuracy, excessive noise, tool wear and low material removal rate (MRR). In this paper, an analytical method base on first order least square approximation full-discretization method is use for the stability analysis on the plane of axial depth and radial depths of cut. A detail computational algorithm has been developed for the purpose of delineating stability lobe diagram into stable and unstable regions using mathematical models. These algorithms enabled the performance of sensitivity analysis. From the results axial depth of cut enhances the unstable region and suppresses the stable region. This means that inverse relationship exists between the axial and limiting radial depths of cut thus highlighting the need to determine the maximum value of their product for achieving maximized MRR thereby reducing the chatter in the milling process. It is also seen that the peak radial depths of cut occasioned by the lobbing effects occur at fixed spindle speeds irrespective of the axial depth of cut. Similarly, the rise in spindle speed enhances the stable region and suppresses the unstable region. This means that for us to have chatter-free milling process, parameters like axial and radial depths of cut should be carefully selected together at high machining speed. With these behaviour, one can locate the productive spindle speed at which the lobbing effects occur and depths of cut combination for the operator

Antioxidant and antimicrobial evaluation of the methanol leaf extract and fractions of dacryodes klaineana pierre (burseraceae)

ABSTRACT. Dacryodes klaineana is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of painful menstruation; tachycardia and cough. The study aims to evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of the plant. The extract and fractions of D. klaineana were screened for their antioxidant effects using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and the total phenolic contents (TPC) assay methods. The antimicrobial activity of the plant was evaluated using the agar diffusion method against four different bacterialstrains (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and two fungi strains (Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans). The crude methanol extract (MLE), hexane fraction (MLHF), ethyl acetate fraction (MLEF) and butanol fraction (MLBF) produced dose-dependent antioxidant activity using DPPH and FRAP assays. The antioxidant activity of MLEF was comparable to the standard drug, ascorbic acid. MLEF also gave the highest content of total phenol content with a percent gallic acid equivalent of 100.68 ± 1.17 mg GAE/g. The extract and fractions were active against the bacteria species, but inactive against the fungi species. The study demonstrated that the antioxidant and antimicrobial potentials of D. klaineana may offer a promising source of new antioxidants and antimicrobials in the ethnomedicinal management of diseases.                 KEY WORDS: Medicinal plant, FRAP, TPC, DPPH, Antioxidant, Dacryodes klaineana   Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2022, 36(1), 85-94.                                                                   DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v36i1.8                                                       &nbsp

How well Nigerian radiographers adhere to pediatrics-specific protocols during computed tomography procedures

INTRODUCTION: Enormously high-dose procedures such as computed tomography requires pediatrics-specific protocols due to high tissue radio-sensitivity and higher lifetime attributable cancer risks. It’s not known if radiographers in Nigeria consider this fact at all times.This work aimed to survey head computed tomography dose in Nigeria for evidence of pediatric- specific practice. METHODS: The census of CT scanners was undertaken prospectively across the country from June 2019 to September 2021, while the dose survey was undertaken retrospectively in 14 facilities distributed evenly across the geopolitical zones between February to September 2021. Data on computed tomography installations were supplied by radiographers spread across the country. A dose survey involving 490 and 700 pediatrics and adult patients emanated from fourteen of those facilities. Doses were extracted from on-screen volumetric CT dose index (CTDIvol) and dose- length product (DLP) in non-contrast investigations. RESULTS: There were 209 CT scanners installed in Nigeria as of September 2021, with a triennial growth rate of 12.4% (n = 26). Monthly patient throughput for all CT requests was ≤ 41,412 with pediatric cases accounting for 10.4 % (n = 4,311). Mean head dose for pediatrics and adults with CTDIvol (41/58 mGy) and DLP (922/1198 mGy-cm) appeared different prima facie. However, a paired - sample t-test gave statistically significant difference in the CTDIvol (p = 0.001), but not with DLP (p = 0.055). CONCLUSION: The installation of CT scanners is on the increase in Nigeria. Pediatric and adult CT dose had minimal differences. Given the higher lifetime attributable cancer risks for pediatrics, this should be worrisome. This calls for pediatric- specific protocol design and enforcement by relevant regulatory agencies, as well as meticulous optimization of protection from radiation by radiation practitioners

Epidemiology of Injuries in the Radiology Department of a Teaching Hospital

Background: Injury has become a public health problem all over the world, and it is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Objective: This paper focuses on determining the epidemiology of injuries in the Radiology Department of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi. Method: A retrospective research design was adopted for this study. Request forms of patients were collected from the register in the department. Five hundred and twenty (520) request forms were collected but twenty one (21) were excluded because they did not contain sufficient information needed for the study. The picture and archives communication system (PACS) was also utilized to ensure that information obtained from the register corresponds with the patients who took part within the period of the study. Data was analyzed descriptively using SPSS version 20. Results were presented in frequency tables and percentages. Results: The injuries involved 376 (75.2%) males and 123 (24.8%) females. Road traffic accident accounted for 67.5%, and it was the most occurring injury. Injuries due to fighting accounted for 2 (0.4%), which was the least occurring. Most injuries (18.8%) occurred within the age range of 21-30years, which was closely followed by the age range of 31-40 years (18.2%). Majority of the injuries involved the whole spine (18.5%), which is also followed by chest injuries (18.2%). Conclusion: The injuries recorded involved many body parts and more males than females were affected. Road traffic accident was the major cause of the injuries

Preservation of Traditional Bone setting (TBS) skills among Nkpologu and Uvuru in Uzo-Uwani LGA of Enugu State Nigeria

Abstract Traditional bone setting has existed from time immemorial in most African communities and had formed part of African culture. The preservation of traditional bone setting (TBS) skills among Nkpologu and Uvuru communities in Uzo Uwani LGA of Enugu state formed the focus of the study. A qualitative research approach was adopted in the study using an in-depth interview as a means of data gathering. The population of the study comprises of the three famous bone setters in Nkpologu and Uvuru respectively and few clients available in their clinics at the time of the study. The researchers visited the practitioners one on one to elicit information on the origin of bone setting in Nkpologu and Uvuru people; the skills required in bone setting; The health implication of bone setting in the area; the challenges encountered in traditional bone setting; and the preservation strategies for traditional bone setting in Nkpologu and Uvuru. The study revealed that the practice of bone setting is usually from ancestral heritage while others tagged the knowledge to revelation through dreams or trance and apprenticeship. The practice had affected many lives positively in the places and beyond. The challenges facing the TBS in the areas of study includes derogation from the orthodox practitioners, and mal practice among some practitioner, the researchers recommend among other things that a regulatory body be set up by the government to oversee the affairs of these practitioners

Preservation of Traditional Bone setting (TBS) skills among Nkpologu and Uvuru in Uzo-Uwani LGA of Enugu State Nigeria

Abstract Traditional bone setting has existed from time immemorial in most African communities and had formed part of African culture. The preservation of traditional bone setting (TBS) skills among Nkpologu and Uvuru communities in Uzo Uwani LGA of Enugu state formed the focus of the study. A qualitative research approach was adopted in the study using an in-depth interview as a means of data gathering. The population of the study comprises of the three famous bone setters in Nkpologu and Uvuru respectively and few clients available in their clinics at the time of the study. The researchers visited the practitioners one on one to elicit information on the origin of bone setting in Nkpologu and Uvuru people; the skills required in bone setting; The health implication of bone setting in the area; the challenges encountered in traditional bone setting; and the preservation strategies for traditional bone setting in Nkpologu and Uvuru. The study revealed that the practice of bone setting is usually from ancestral heritage while others tagged the knowledge to revelation through dreams or trance and apprenticeship. The practice had affected many lives positively in the places and beyond. The challenges facing the TBS in the areas of study includes derogation from the orthodox practitioners, and mal practice among some practitioner, the researchers recommend among other things that a regulatory body be set up by the government to oversee the affairs of these practitioners

DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF A MOTORIZED/ POWER OPERATED PLANTAIN SLICER FOR OPTIMUM CHIPS PRODUCTION

In Nigeria, plantain chips are in high demand and this demand is not being met by most small scale food industries and shops due to some critical factors. Shops are only able to fulfill approximately two-thirds of the demand. The biggest obstacle towards attaining self-sufficiency in the production of plantain chips is the intensity of labor involved and the tediousness of the process which often culminate into prolonged production time. Plantain has a large amount of sap and this causes the skin to adhere to the fruit inside. After peeling, they must be sliced into discs to fry into chips. Worker will hold up to eight plantains in one hand and rapidly slice them using a wooden mandolin. Because of the rapid pace at which they slice plantain and the absence ofhand gloves on the workers, accidents are very often unavoidable. These presents health hazards to both the worker, who may develop infections from their injuries, and customers who may consume an unsanitary product. This development is very uncomfortable and tasking on the workers. They must hold the mandolin over the fryer so the plantains will fall in, which causes splashing of the boiling hot oil that occasionally hits and injures the worker. This research focused on design and fabrication of motorized / power operated plantain slicer to meet the raising demands for plantain chips in Nigeria. The objectives of this research was met as the machine has the capacity to produce plantain chips of uniform size in shorter time and a greater slicing efficiency of up to 96.84% while keeping the cost of themachine at an affordable price

Comparative study between wear of uncoated and TiAlN-coated carbide tools in milling of Ti6Al4V

As is recognized widely, tool wear is a major problem in the machining of difficult-to-cut titanium alloys. Therefore, it is of significant interest and importance to understand and determine quantitatively and qualitatively tool wear evolution and the underlying wear mechanisms. The main aim of this paper is to investigate and analyse wear, wear mechanisms and surface and chip generation of uncoated and TiAlN-coated carbide tools in a dry milling of Ti6Al4V alloys. The quantitative flank wear and roughness were measured and recorded. Optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations of the tool cutting edge, machined surface and chips were conducted. The results show that the TiAlN-coated tool exhibits an approximately 44% longer tool life than the uncoated tool at a cutting distance of 16 m. A more regular progressive abrasion between the flank face of the tool and the workpiece is found to be the underlying wear mechanism. The TiAlN-coated tool generates a smooth machined surface with 31% lower roughness than the uncoated tool. As is expected, both tools generate serrated chips. However, the burnt chips with blue color are noticed for the uncoated tool as the cutting continues further. The results are shown to be consistent with observation of other researchers, and further imply that coated tools with appropriate combinations of cutting parameters would be able to increase the tool life in cutting of titanium alloys