Engineering Behaviour of Cement-Treated Expansive Subgrade Soils from Awgu, Southeastern Nigeria

Engineering behaviour of cement-treated expansive soils refers to changes in the engineering properties of the soil in terms of reduction in values of swelling indicators and increase in values of strength characteristics of the soil when it is treated with various percentages of cement. In this study, engineering properties including liquid limit, plasticity index, linear shrinkage, maximum dry density/optimum moisture content, and California Bearing Ration (CBR) of expansive subgrade soils from Awgu, Southeastern Nigeria, were determined in the laboratory and their behaviour in terms of changes in the engineering properties on treatment with various percentages of cement (2,4,6,8 and 10) investigated. Results of the study show that liquid limit, plasticity index and linear shrinkage values of the treated soil were reduced while the maximum dry density and CBR values were increased. The maximum reduction percentages of 34.61% (56.60 to 37.01%), 72.89% (33.60 to 9.11%) and 46.51% (12.90 to 6.90%) in liquid limit, plasticity index and linear shrinkage, respectively; and maximum percent increase of 7.59% (1.58 to 1.70mg/m3, on maximum dry density), 236.36% (11 to 37%, on unsoaked CBR) and 800.00% (3 to 27%, on soaked CBR), were obtained on treatment of the soil with 8% cement by weight. The swelling indicators/parameters of the studied soil are liquid limit; plasticity index and linear shrinkage while the strength characteristics/parameters of the studied soil are maximum dry density and California Bearing Ratio (CBR). Treatment of the soil with cement has thus reduced its swelling potential from high to low and increased the strength significantly Keywords: Subgrade, expansive soils, cement treatment, plasticity characteristics, reduction percentage, strength characteristics, percent increase

Efficacy of tank mixture glufosinate ammonium and indaziflam for weed control in oil palm

The apprehension among oil palm farmers on the toxicity of glyphosate necessitated the need for an alternative herbicide for weed control in oil palm. Thus, a study was conducted at the Ni­gerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) to determine the efficacy of tank mixture of glu­fosinate ammonium (Basta) + indaziflam (Alion) for weed control in oil palm. The treatments consisted of glyphosate at 1.5 kg a.i ha-1, glyphosate + diuron at 1.5+2.0 kg a.i. ha-1, glufosinate ammonium at 0.4 kg a.i. ha-1, glufosinate ammonium at 0.5 kg a.i. ha-1, tank mixture of glufos­inate ammonium + indaziflam at 0.4 + 0.04 kg a.i. ha-1, tank mixture of glufosinate ammonium + indaziflam at 0.5 + 0.04 kg a.i. ha-1and weedy control. The results showed that tank mixture of glyphosate + diuron at 1.5 + 2 kg a.i ha-1, glufosinate ammonium + indaziflam at 0.4 + 0.04 kg a.i. ha-1 and glufosinate ammonium + indaziflam at 0.5 + 0.04 had the best weed control efficiency of 78.5%, 78.6% and 78.3% respectively up to 20 weeks. The study concluded that tank mixtures of glufosinate ammonium + indaziflam were as good as glyphosate + diuron for weed control in oil palm

COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF LIPID PROFILE IN PRE-MENOPAUSAL AND MENOPAUSAL WOMEN IN NNEWI NIGERIA

The study was aimed at determining the effect of menopause on lipid profile. A total of 100 apparently healthy subjects who comprised 50 menopausal women aged 45 – 77 years and 50 pre-menopausal women between the aged between 20-52 years were recruited. Ethical approval was obtained from the Faculty of Health Science and Technology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University ethics committee and informed consent of each participant was obtained prior to recruitment. We estimated serum levels of total cholesterol using the enzymatic end point method as described by Roeschlau et al., (1974), HDL was performed using the combination of phosphotungstate precipitation and enzymatic method as described by Burstein et al., (1980), LDL by the combination of polyvinyl sulphate precipitation and enzymatic method of Assman et al., (1984), VLDL was estimated using the method as described by Friedwald et al., (1972) and triglycerides by the enzymatic method as described by Tietz (1990). The results shows that the mean levels of serum triglycerides (TG) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL cholesterol) showed a statistically significant increase in menopausal women compared with the premenopausal subjects (P<0.05) while there was no significant difference in the mean values of serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL cholesterol), very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL cholesterol) and total cholesterol (P>0.05). There was a progressive increase in the mean levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol and VLDLcholesterol with duration of menopause while the levels of HDL-cholesterol decreased with duration of menopause. There were no significant variations among the various age categories of the menopausal subjects and the levels of the lipid parameters studied (p>0.05). The findings suggest that premenopausal women have less proatherogenic lipid profile than their menopausal counterparts

COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF LIPID PROFILE IN PRE-MENOPAUSAL AND MENOPAUSAL WOMEN IN NNEWI NIGERIA

The study was aimed at determining the effect of menopause on lipid profile. A total of 100 apparently healthy subjects who comprised 50 menopausal women aged 45 – 77 years and 50 pre-menopausal women between the aged between 20-52 years were recruited. Ethical approval was obtained from the Faculty of Health Science and Technology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University ethics committee and informed consent of each participant was obtained prior to recruitment. We estimated serum levels of total cholesterol using the enzymatic end point method as described by Roeschlau et al., (1974), HDL was performed using the combination of phosphotungstate precipitation and enzymatic method as described by Burstein et al., (1980), LDL by the combination of polyvinyl sulphate precipitation and enzymatic method of Assman et al., (1984), VLDL was estimated using the method as described by Friedwald et al., (1972) and triglycerides by the enzymatic method as described by Tietz (1990). The results shows that the mean levels of serum triglycerides (TG) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL cholesterol) showed a statistically significant increase in menopausal women compared with the premenopausal subjects (P<0.05) while there was no significant difference in the mean values of serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL cholesterol), very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL cholesterol) and total cholesterol (P>0.05). There was a progressive increase in the mean levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol and VLDLcholesterol with duration of menopause while the levels of HDL-cholesterol decreased with duration of menopause. There were no significant variations among the various age categories of the menopausal subjects and the levels of the lipid parameters studied (p>0.05). The findings suggest that premenopausal women have less proatherogenic lipid profile than their menopausal counterparts

Effects of nutrition education of mothers on anthropometric indices of preschoolers and mothers’ nutrition knowledge in Umuguma, Imo State, Nigeria

Background: Many rural women have little or no knowledge of nutritive value of foods, and what constitute an adequate diet, as a result, most Nigerian families often depend on processed complementary foods low in nutrient density which contributes to growth faltering among infants. Objective: The study determined the anthropometric indices of the children and the nutritional knowledge of their mothers as well as evaluated the effect of nutrition education on the anthropometric indices of preschoolers. Methods: A community-based longitudinal study using stratified sampling technique was conducted among 284 mothers and children within the age of six months to five years in Umuguma Owerri-West Local Government Area, Imo State. Data on nutritional knowledge of the mothers and anthropometric measurements were collected before nutrition education and evaluation was carried out on the same group after six months of applied nutrition education programme. Mothers were taught on formulation and preparation of complementary and family food both for their families and their preschoolers using demonstration method. The anthropometric measurements were processed using the WHO Anthro-plus software. Descriptive statistics was used in analyzing the data. Chi- square was used to determine the significance of difference. The decision criterion was placed at P<0.05. Results: The study observed improvement in the women’s nutritional knowledge after nutrition education. The mean Z-Score of the children on anthropometric parameters was improved in both sexes but higher in female than male children after nutrition education. Prevalence of malnutrition present among the preschoolers (under nutrition and wasting) disappeared after nutrition education. Significant (P<0.05) associations was observed between mothers’ nutrition knowledge and preschoolers’ prevalence of wasting, stunting and underweight before nutrition education. But after nutrition education, there was no statistically significant (P>0.05) association between wasting, underweight and nutrition knowledge, though stunting had a significant (P<0.05) association with nutrition knowledge of the mothers. Conclusion: Nutrition education improved the nutritional knowledge of the mothers which improved the nutritional status of their children

Assessment Of Tumour Necrosis Factor-Alpha (Tnf- Α) And Creatinine Levels In Echis Ocellatus Bite Victims In Jos Metropolis, Nigeria

This study was designed to assess tumour necrosis factor-alpha and creatinine levels in Echis ocellatus bite victims. A total of 50 subjects were recruited. Out of this number, 40 were victims of E. ocellatus bite and the remaining 10 were non-victims of snake bite who served as the control group. Blood samples were collected from the victims within 24 hours of the snake bite and EchiTAb-G antivenom administered within the same period. Another batch of blood sample was collected 48 hours post-administration of the anti-venom. Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels were estimated by the Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay technique while creatinine levels were determined using kinetic-spectrophotometric procedure. The mean serum levels of tumour necrosis factor-alpha and creatinine were significantly increased in E. ocellatus bite victims compared with the control group (P<0.05). Furthermore, the mean serum level of TNFalpha was significantly lower in E. ocellatus bite victims, post-administration of anti-venom, compared with the pre-administration of anti-venom (P<0.05). In contrast, no significant difference was observed in the mean serum level of creatinine in E. ocellatus bite victims, post-administration of anti-venom, compared with the pre-administration of anti-venom (P>0.05). Moreover, the mean serum level of creatinine was found to be significantly increased in E. ocellatus bite victims, post-administration of anti-venom, compared with the control group (P<0.05), while no significant difference was observed in the mean serum level of tumour necrosis factor-alpha in E. ocellatus bite victims, post-administration of anti-venom, compared with the control group(P>0.05). A positive correlation existed between tumour necrosis factor-alpha and creatinine levels in E. ocellatus bite subjects (r= 0.782). Echis ocellatus bite is a risk factor for renal damage indicated by an elevated serum creatinine, thus health authorities should make EchiTAb-G anti-venom freely available in health facilities and administered as quickly as possible to reduce the risk of renal damage in Echis ocellatus bite-prone areas

Morbidities, concordance, and predictors of preterm premature rupture of membranes among pregnant women at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, Nigeria

Background: Preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) is a challenging complication of pregnancies and an important cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Management of morbidities associated with PPROM is fraught with controversy. However, women should be informed of these complications.Objective: This article aimed to review the morbidities, concordance, and predictors of PPROM over a 10‑year period.Methods: This was a retrospective review of morbidities, concordance, and predictors of PPROM among pregnant women at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2008. The morbidities, concordance, and predictors of PPROM were expressed by regression analysis output for PPROM.Results: Primigravidae had the highest occurrence of PPROM. Increasing parity does not significantly influence the incidence of PPROM. The concordance and predictors of PPROM are maternal age (P < 0.000), gestational age at PROM (P < 0.000), latency period (P < 0.000), and birth weight (P < 0.001).Conclusion: PPROM is a major complication of pregnancies and an important cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Management of these morbidities associated with PPROM poses a great challenge. However, women should be informed of these complications.Keywords: Concordance, Enugu, morbidities, Nigeria, predictors, preterm premature rupture of membran

Missing intrauterine device in the descending mesocolon: Retrieval under fluoroscopy guidance in a reference hospital in southern Nigeria

INTRODUCTION: Displaced/missing intrauterinedevice (IUD) is one of the known complicationsassociated with the uses of IUD. Missing IUD, evenwhen asymptomatic, is always of concern to patientsand relatives, and could result in serious morbidity.Retrieval of missing IUD depends on location,facility/equipment, surgeon’s skill and experience,and patient’s factor. Case report: A 36 year old multipara with missing IUD(LydiaTMCU 375 sleek) following treatment forintrauterine adhesions. With imaging studies, the IUDwas localized at different anatomical positions withtime giving an impressing of “mobile” missing IUD. Itwas subsequently retrieved in a purulent mass in thedescending mesocolon via a laparotomy aided with aC-arm fluoroscopy imaging peri/intraoperatively. Conclusion: Missing IUD could be lodged in unusualanatomical locations presenting diagnostic andtreatment challenges. Imaging aids with requisiteskills and experience may be required for goodmanagement. We believe this case is one of such,and sharing our experience will add to the body ofknowledg

INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON THE RATE OF DRYING MOISTURE AND CYANIDE CONTENTS OF CASSAVA CHIPS USING OVEN DRYING PROCESS

This research was aimed at investigating the effect of temperature on the rate of drying moisture and cyanide contents of cassava chips using oven drying process. Five varieties of raw cassava (Manihot Esculenta, Crantz) namely TMS 98/0510, TME 419, TMS 97/2205, NR 87184 and TMS 96/1632 were harvested at twelve (12) months after planting (MAP) from the experimental plots of the Enugu State College of Agriculture and Agro-Entrepreneurship Iwollo-Ezeagu Enugu, Nigeria. For each of the varieties 2kg of tubers were processed. The results from the research showed that processing of the cassava tubers into dried cassava chips using oven process resulted in an acceptable level of moisture and cyanide contents which were in conformity with the compositional requirements for dried cassava chips. The graph showed that higher the temperature, the faster the rate of drying of the chips. Moreover, the drying rates, moisture and cyanide contents were affected by the drying temperatures