STUDIES ON SOLVENT EXTRACTION OF FREE HYDROGEN CYANIDE FROM RIVER WATER

A method for free and strongly complexed cyanide measurement in river water was developed. Recovery tests from solution with and without river water, using various solvent combinations and background control were investigated to obtain an accurate and precise extraction method for the measurement of hydrogen cyanide in Kaduna River, Nigeria. The method enhanced the determination of undissociated hydrogen cyanide and the equilibria between hydrogen cyanide, cyanide ion and complex cyanides. A small portion of the hydrogen cyanide was extracted by equilibrating the sample with methylchloroform (1,1,1-trichloroethane), methanol, hexane and 2-octanol inclusions, respectively, in the solvent matrix with 2.5 M NaOH. The extracted hydrogen cyanide is transferred into tetrasodium pyrophosphate solution and determined colorimetrically. A total cyanide concentration of 0.03 mg/L in the river water and 0.40 mg/L in an effluent water sample, respectively, were obtained by the proposed method compared to 0.020 and 0.45 mg/L from the established diffusion method. The proposed method was sensitive and reproducible in the range of 0 to 5 mgL-1 of hydrogen cyanide with detectable limit of about 0.01 mgL-1. KEY WORDS: Solvent extraction; Free hydrogen cyanide; River water Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2007, 21(3), 305-313

Analysis of the Problems and Prospects in the Use of Local Building Materials: Review of Literature

One of the strong considerations for the use of Local Building Material (LBMs) in housing delivery is that it could reduce cost and enhance foreign exchange earnings.  This paper examines the type of LBMs, problems envisaged in the use of LBMs, its prospects among other issues. This paper is essentially a review of literature from which inferences are drawn. Recommendations towards the use and acceptability of the LBMs include; (i) that various government agencies should engage in the use of LBMs rather than mere campaigning to developers (ii) that every state should establish cottage building industries to improve the supply, and that more researches should be engaged on for more discovery of LBMs

Criteria for the Extraction of Fish Oil

The effect of pre-treatment of mackery (Scomber scombrus) on oil recovery and quality was investigated. Fish oil was extracted using the screw expeller press after heat pre-treatment of the fish sample. The effect of cooking temperatures and cooking times was evaluated. It was observed that the oil yield has a positive relationship with cooking temperature. The oil yield increased with increasing cooking temperature at all the cooking times investigated and also increased with increasing cooking time from 5-15 minutes and then decreased for 20 minutes cooking time at all the cooking temperatures investigated. The results revealed that a highest yield of 22.8 % was obtained when the fish was treated at 90 0C cooking temperature for 15 minutes. The lowest oil yield of 16.5 % was obtained for the conditions of 60 0C cooking temperature and 5 minutes cooking time. Analysis of oil quality indices (e.g. colour, specific gravity, refractive index, free fatty acid value, saponification value. iodine value, peroxide value, unsaponifiable matter and microbiological analysis) of oil extracted by non pre-treatment and heat pre-treatment indicated that mackery oil from both processes has comparatively similar fatty acids composition. In addition, mackery fish oil was extracted by heat pre-treatment and mechanical press had lower lipid oxidation compared to several standards

Les Goitres Plongeants : Aspects Épidémiologiques, Cliniques, Radiologiques Et Thérapeutiques

Purpose: To describe the epidemiological and diagnostic aspects and surgical treatment procedures of plunging goiter in the Oto-Rhino- Laryngology and Neck Surgery Office of the National Hospital of Niamey in Niger. Materials and Methods: We analyzed the clinical and paraclinical symptoms as well as the technique and postoperative evolution of plunging goiters through a retrospective and descriptive study conducted from January 2010 to December 2015. Results: During the five years period, 15 cases of plunging goiter were registered representing 6.35% of thyroidectomy. Among the patients, there were 4 men (26.66%) and 11 women (73.34%). The mean age was 37.84 years. The character “plunging goiter” was noticed on clinical examination and confirmed by imaging. Two cases of hyperthyroidism were recorded. Eso-trachea compression that is characterized by dysphagia and dyspnea was recorded in 7 cases (46.66%), dysphonia in 2 cases (13.33%). The scanner performed in 8 cases showed a goiter with anterior superior mediastinal shift in 84.61%, driving the eso-tracheal axis in 62.5% of cases. The goiters plunged right in 5 cases (33.33%), left in 2 cases (13.33%) and were bilateral in 1 case. Complete thyroidectomy was performed on all patients by exclusive cervical way with as immediate complications, one intraoperative hemorrhage case (n = 1) and one transient hypoparathyroidism case (n = 1). Histological examination of surgical specimens shows no evidence of malignancy. Conclusion: The plunging goiters are rare and their treatment was complete thyroidectomy by exclusive cervical way. Postoperative evolution was uneventful

Surgical management of mesh-related complications after prior pelvic floor reconstructive surgery with mesh

Contains fulltext : 96379.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access)INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The objective of this study is to evaluate the complications and anatomical and functional outcomes of the surgical treatment of mesh-related complications. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent complete or partial mesh excision to treat complications after prior mesh-augmented pelvic floor reconstructive surgery was conducted. RESULTS: Seventy-three patients underwent 30 complete and 51 partial mesh excisions. Intraoperative complications occurred in 4 cases, postoperative complications in 13. Symptom relief was achieved in 92% of patients. Recurrence of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) occurred in 29% of complete and 5% of partial excisions of mesh used in POP surgery. De novo stress urinary incontinence (SUI) occurred in 36% of patients who underwent excision of a suburethral sling. CONCLUSIONS: Mesh excision relieves mesh-related complications effectively, although with a substantial risk of serious complications and recurrence of POP or SUI. More complex excisions should be performed in skilled centers

Short Day–Mediated Cessation of Growth Requires the Downregulation of AINTEGUMENTALIKE1 Transcription Factor in Hybrid Aspen

Day length is a key environmental cue regulating the timing of major developmental transitions in plants. For example, in perennial plants such as the long-lived trees of the boreal forest, exposure to short days (SD) leads to the termination of meristem activity and bud set (referred to as growth cessation). The mechanism underlying SD–mediated induction of growth cessation is poorly understood. Here we show that the AIL1-AIL4 (AINTEGUMENTALIKE) transcription factors of the AP2 family are the downstream targets of the SD signal in the regulation of growth cessation response in hybrid aspen trees. AIL1 is expressed in the shoot apical meristem and leaf primordia, and exposure to SD signal downregulates AIL1 expression. Downregulation of AIL gene expression by SDs is altered in transgenic hybrid aspen plants that are defective in SD perception and/or response, e.g. PHYA or FT overexpressors. Importantly, SD–mediated regulation of growth cessation response is also affected by overexpression or downregulation of AIL gene expression. AIL1 protein can interact with the promoter of the key cell cycle genes, e.g. CYCD3.2, and downregulation of the expression of D-type cyclins after SD treatment is prevented by AIL1 overexpression. These data reveal that execution of SD–mediated growth cessation response requires the downregulation of AIL gene expression. Thus, while early acting components like PHYA and the CO/FT regulon are conserved in day-length regulation of flowering time and growth cessation between annual and perennial plants, signaling pathways downstream of SD perception diverge, with AIL transcription factors being novel targets of the CO/FT regulon connecting the perception of SD signal to the regulation of meristem activity

Diabetes mellitus, maternal adiposity, and insulin-dependent gestational diabetes are associated with COVID-19 in pregnancy: the INTERCOVID study

BACKGROUND: Among nonpregnant individuals, diabetes mellitus and high body mass index increase the risk of COVID-19 and its severity.OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine whether diabetes mellitus and high body mass index are risk factors for COVID-19 in pregnancy and whether gestational diabetes mellitus is associated with COVID-19 diagnosis.STUDY DESIGN: INTERCOVID was a multinational study conducted between March 2020 and February 2021 in 43 institutions from 18 countries, enrolling 2184 pregnant women aged >= 18 years; a total of 2071 women were included in the analyses. For each woman diagnosed with COVID-19, 2 nondiagnosed women delivering or initiating antenatal care at the same institution were also enrolled. The main exposures were preexisting diabetes mellitus, high body mass index (overweight or obesity was defined as a body mass index >= 25 kg/m(2)), and gestational diabetes mellitus in pregnancy. The main outcome was a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 based on a real-time polymerase chain reaction test, antigen test, antibody test, radiological pulmonary findings, or >= 2 predefined COVID-19 symptoms at any time during pregnancy or delivery. Relationships of exposures and COVID-19 diagnosis were assessed using generalized linear models with a Poisson distribution and log link function, with robust standard errors to account for model misspecification. Furthermore, we conducted sensitivity analyses: (1) restricted to those with a real-time polymerase chain reaction test or an antigen test in the last week of pregnancy, (2) restricted to those with a real-time polymerase chain reaction test or an antigen test during the entire pregnancy, (3) generating values for missing data using multiple imputation, and (4) analyses controlling for month of enrollment. In addition, among women who were diagnosed with COVID-19, we examined whether having gestational diabetes mellitus, diabetes mellitus, or high body mass index increased the risk of having symptomatic vs asymptomatic COVID-19.RESULTS: COVID-19 was associated with preexisting diabetes mellitus (risk ratio, 1.94; 95% confidence interval, 1.55-2.42), overweight or obesity (risk ratio, 1.20; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-1.37), and gestational diabetes mellitus (risk ratio, 1.21; 95% confidence interval, 0.99-1.46). The gestational diabetes mellitus association was specifically among women requiring insulin, whether they were of normal weight (risk ratio, 1.79; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-3.01) or overweight or obese (risk ratio, 1.77; 95% confidence interval, 1.28-2.45). A somewhat stronger association with COVID-19 diagnosis was observed among women with preexisting diabetes mellitus, whether they were of normal weight (risk ratio, 1.93; 95% confidence interval, 1.18-3.17) or overweight or obese (risk ratio, 2.32; 95% confidence interval, 1.82-2.97). When the sample was restricted to those with a real-time polymerase chain reaction test or an antigen test in the week before delivery or during the entire pregnancy, including missing variables using imputation or controlling for month of enrollment, the observed associations were comparable.CONCLUSION: Diabetes mellitus and overweight or obesity were risk factors for COVID-19 diagnosis in pregnancy, and insulin-dependent gestational diabetes mellitus was associated with the disease. Therefore, it is essential that women with these comorbidities are vaccinated

Online cognitive-behavioral intervention for stress among English as a second language teachers: implications for school health policy

IntroductionStress is one of the highest-ranked work-related injuries worldwide and has become almost universal among the Nigerian workforce. English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers face enormous work-related threats that lead to occupational stress. When ESL teachers are stressed, students' language development and entire educational progress are at risk. This is mostly underscored as English, though a second language, serves as the language of instruction in Nigerian schools. As a result, managing occupational stress is particularly important for ESL teachers, as it is among the definitive ways of improving ESL learning and overall educational outcomes. This study examined the effectiveness of online cognitive behavioral intervention (o-CBI) in lowering occupational stress among ESL teachers.MethodESL teachers with at least 1 year of experience were among the participants (N = 89). Participants were divided into two groups: the intervention group (N = 44) and the control group (N = 45). For 9 weeks, the experimental group engaged in nine sessions of 2 h of the o-CBI program. The Single Item Stress Questionnaire (SISQ), the Satisfaction with Therapy and Therapist Scale-Revised (STTS–R), and the Teachers' Stress Inventory (TSI) were the measures used to collect primary and secondary data. Four sets of data were collected at baseline, post-test, and follow-up 1 and 2 evaluations. The data were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, t-test statistics, repeated measures ANOVA, and bar charts.Results and discussionCompared to the control group, the o-CBT group had significantly lower TSI scores at the post-test (Time 2) and follow-up evaluations (Times 3 and 4). Between pre-, post-, and follow-up 1 and 2 measurements, there were no significant differences in occupational stress index scores in the control group. It was concluded that o-CBI is effective in job-stress treatment among ESL teachers. In addition, implications for school health policy are discussed. The o-CBI for occupational stress was well received by the participants, showing high acceptability among ESL teachers