Use of Mist Chambers in Collection of Atmospheric Gases

Air sampling is a process used to characterize the airborne contaminants that are present in the atmosphere. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are gases emitted into the atmosphere from both anthropogenic and natural sources. Once emitted into the atmosphere, VOCs undergo oxidation reactions to form highly-oxygenated products that may partition into the particle phase. These particles can ultimately contribute to secondary organic aerosol (SOA) which has several detrimental effects on humans as well as the environment. Thus, it is necessary to quantify these oxygenated organic gases. Mist chambers (MC) have been used to sample atmospheric water-soluble organic gases (WSOC­g) for decades. The general principle of the MC is to dissolve organic gases within a high volume of air into a substantially lower volume of water inside the chamber. The resulting sample is an aqueous solution containing WSOCg. The aqueous sample is then sent for analysis to a total organic carbon (TOC) analyzer, where the total amount of organic carbon is measured within the sample. The aim of this study is to utilize the MC, as a vital component to a much larger experimental set-up, for the collection of WSOCg. Previous studies have investigated the MC efficiency in collecting atmospherically relevant WSOCg, suggesting that the MC collects the majority of VOC oxidation products in the atmosphere and can achieve collection efficiencies of more than 90% for compounds with effective Henry’s law constant more than 103 M. Our study takes place at ERAU campus in Daytona Beach, Fl, where the MC is placed in a temperature-controlled environmental enclosure. Sampling is conducted seasonally to identify the impact of emission sources in the Daytona Beach area in order to devise mitigation strategies

A conceptual procedural framework for effective scheduling to enhance efficient use of construction resources on the jobsite

Selection of construction methods, scheduling, site layout and component procurement arrangement affect efficiency of operations on the jobsite. Efficiency has been previously measured by such parameters as; budget, on time completion and meeting specification standards. Little attention has been given to the interim processes which create these. Efficiency in man- and machine-hour management may translate to cost and time gains and enhanced quality. The study reported recognises that there are numerous aspects to the question of efficiency of operations. To focus the study and narrow the scope to a manageable size, the issues of efficiency that can be addressed in the scheduling process are those considered. Extensive and thorough literature search identified guidelines for effective construction scheduling. Empirical data were collected following these guidelines to develop a scheduling procedure aimed at making the process more effective and which may enhance efficient use of construction resources on the jobsite. The developed framework show that activity criticality based on time analysis alone is a necessary condition but not usually sufficient to declare an activity critical. Other tasks not on the critical path which have very high delay potential should be considered. Therefore though the study does not out rightly refute the idea of criticality based on time analysis alone, it adds to it that if criticality means those things that should be done so as to progress the works to a scheduled finish, criticality should be re-assessed to include several other tasks not hitherto identified on the critical path

Detailed Characterization of Aqueous Aerosols in the Atmosphere

According the World Health Organization, air pollution is responsible for the deaths of 7 million people annually. Hence, this research aims at characterizing concentrations, sources, and impacts of atmospheric pollutants to devise proper mitigation strategies. With a better understanding of atmospheric interactions, the consequences of the resulting air pollutants can then be characterized and furthermore, human activities can be modified by applying cleaner production and sustainability principles. Aerosols are liquid or solid particles in the atmosphere that have detrimental effects on humans as well as the environment. This project will focus on studying the formation of these particles especially the organic ones that are formed in the atmosphere due to reactions of their gaseous precursors, also known as secondary organic aerosols (SOA). In further understanding the precursors, sources and pathways that govern SOA formation, the effect that these specific reactions have on atmospheric aerosol loadings can be identified. This understanding will help in bridging the current gap between models and measurements and will further aid in formulating solutions to address the associated harmful impacts of air pollution on climate change

Evaluation of toxicological implications of inhalation exposure to kerosene fumes and petrol fumes in rats

Toxicological implications of exposure to ungraded concentrations of kerosene and petrol fumes in albino Wistar rats were investigated after two weeks of 4 hours daily inhalation. Serum aminotransferases (AST and ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total cholesterol (Chol), triglyceride (TG) levels and histological analysis of the liver tissues were used as diagnostic markers to assess liver dysfunction. The mean levels of these markers determined for the group of rats exposed to kerosene and petrol fumes (test groups), as compared with the levels for the control group were significantly (p < 0.05) higher. ALT, AST and ALP levels of the kerosene exposed group were raised by 191%, 161% and 204% while serum total cholesterol and TG levels increased by 129% and 118%, respectively. The increases in the serum levels of AST, ALT, ALP, Chol, TG in the petrol exposed group were 177%, 140%, 191%, 100% and 97%, respectively, when compared with the controls. Histological analysis of the liver tissues of the experimental test groups indicated degenerative changes in the ultrastructural integrity of the hepatic cells. These results showed that frequent exposure to kerosene and petrol fumes may be highly deleterious to the liver cells

Analgesic and Hepatoprotective Activity of Methanolic Leaf Extract of Ocimum gratissimum (L.).

The methanolic extract of Ocimum gratissimum (L.) leaves was screened for analgesic and hepatoprotective activity in albino rats, respectively. The use of the hot-plate method to study central analgesic activity of the leaves extract in albino rats indicated that the extract possesses the ability to significantly reduce pain threshold and also increase the response latency period to thermal stimuli in albino rats, similar to the reference drug acetylsalicylic acid. After treatment reaction time of albino rats was significantly increased to 10.92 sec with 40 mg kg-1 of leaves extract, whereas acetylsalicylic acid also increased reaction time to 12.53 sec with 25 mL kg-1. A decline in the reaction time beyond 1.61 sec was observed by the reference drug and leaves extract. Albino rats whose livers were damaged with a hepatotoxin-Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) 0.5 mL kg-1 i.p. were used to test for hepatoprotective properties of the plant leaves extract. It reduced significantly (p&lt;0.05) liver enzyme levels for animals treated with CCL4 (0.5 mL kg-1) and the methanolic plant leaf extract (40 mg kg-1) concurrently compared to animals treated with CCL4 only. Many histopathological changes in the liver such as marked dilation of the central vein, blood vessel congestion and inflammatory leucocytic infiltrations which were observed in the CCl4 treated animals were not observed in the CCl4 + plant extract treated animals. No apparent disruptions of the normal liver structure by histological and enzyme activities assessment were observed. The results show that the methanolic leaf extract is a potent analgesic and antihepatotoxic agent

Determinants of customer satisfaction in a high-contact service environment: a study of selected hotels in Abakaliki metropolis, Nigeria

This article explores the factors that lead to customer satisfaction, with a particular interest in the hospitality industry of Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.&nbsp; In a high-contact service industry such as hospitality, service providers and customers usually have an intimate and direct interaction for a considerable&nbsp; time duration and, as such, sales to and retention of customers is based on the richness or otherwise of such interactions. With this in mind, this study&nbsp; specifically seeks to find out if customer satisfaction in the hospitality industry (especially hotels) is determined by staff service quality, room quality, value&nbsp; and security. Hypotheses were formulated vis-à-vis a theoretical background and conceptual models. Survey data generated from 317 consumers&nbsp; of hotel services in Abakaliki were used as the research database. In analysing the data used for the study, the researchers made use of factor analysis&nbsp; and multiple regression analysis techniques. It was discovered that all the determinants of customer satisfaction under study have an effect on customer&nbsp; satisfaction.&nbsp

African Journal of Reproductive Health: 26 years and soaring

No Abstrac

Prevention of morbidity and mortality from induced and unsafe abortion in Nigeria

These proceedings are from a seminar organized by the Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology, and Perinatology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (Nigeria) in collaboration with the Population Council. The primary purpose of the multidisciplinary seminar was to identify the determinants of the high rate of mortality and morbidity from unsafe abortion in Nigeria. The specific objectives were: 1) to identify measures that could be undertaken on a short- and long-term basis to reduce the rate of abortion-related mortality, and 2) to set an agenda for research into abortion in Nigeria. The seminar consisted of oral presentations on related topics by researchers and women\u27s health advocates, in-depth formal and informal discussions of the issues by the participants, and a workshop session. Based on the discussions, the participants agreed that it was necessary to liberalize the abortion law in the country, improve postabortion care, and focus on primary prevention of unwanted pregnancies

N-Nitrosamines and Nigerian habitual drinks, and cancer

Commercially available samples of Nigerian lager beers and bottled palm wine, and of root cuttings of medicinal plants, assayed for volatile N-nitroso compounds and nitrosatable entities, respectively, by chromatographic, chemiluminescence, colorimetric, derivatisation and nitrosation methods, contained nitrosodimethylamine (0.2–2.3 μg/kg; mean, 0.9 μg/kg