Investigating the Suitability of Coconut Husk Ash as a Road Soil Stabilizer

There is a pressing need to locate cheaper alternatives to traditional stabilizers such as Portland cement and lime which will reduce the cost of stabilized roads and make the practice of treating local soil materials very attractive to road development agencies in poor countries of the underdeveloped world, where deficient soils are often used without treatment, the consequence of which is premature deterioration of roads. This paper presents a study that was conducted to investigate the suitability of coconut husk ash (CHA), a waste product from crop plants, as a road soil stabilizer. The oxide composition of CHA was determined to establish its suitability as a pozzolanic material. It was then mixed with a lateritic soil (classified as A-2-6(1) using the AASHTO system of soil classification) in varying proportions, ranging from 0–20% by dry weight of soil at increments of 2%. The physical and strength properties of each of the soil-CHA blends was then determined in the laboratory. The results show that oxides of K2O, SiO2, Cl, CaO, P2O5, MgO and Al2O3 constitute 92% of CHA, indicating that it is a pozzolanic material. The optimum moisture content (OMC) of the soil increased, while its maximum dry density (MDD) decreased, with increasing CHA content. The CBR and UCS of the mixes increased with CHA content up to 8%, but decreased with a further increase in CHA content. However, the increase in the strength of the soil obtained at the optimum CHA content was not significant enough to warrant its usage as a lone stabilizer for sub-base and base materials, but it can be used for subgrade stabilization. For sub-base and base stabilization, CHA should be admixed with conventional stabilizers for improved performance

Exploring the potential of N-benzylidenebenzohydrazide derivatives as antidiabetic and antioxidant agents : design, synthesis, spectroscopic, crystal structure, DFT and molecular docking study

SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS SUMMARY : Supplementary crystallographic data for the compounds mentioned in the article can be obtained from the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre (CCDC) free of charge. The CCDC numbers for the supplementary crystallographic data are as follows: CCDC no: 2325385 (BB2), CCDC no: 232586 (BB4), and CCDC no: 232587 (BB6). To access the supplementary crystallographic data, please visit the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre's website at http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/data request/cif.Please read abstract in the article.URC; South African National Research Foundation (NRF); Department of Chemical Science, University of Johannesburg; Center for High Performance Computing (CHPC).https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/23656549hj2024ChemistrySDG-03:Good heatlh and well-bein

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: a prospective, international, multicentre cohort study

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common infections associated with health care, but its importance as a global health priority is not fully understood. We quantified the burden of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery in countries in all parts of the world. Methods: This international, prospective, multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection within 2-week time periods at any health-care facility in any country. Countries with participating centres were stratified into high-income, middle-income, and low-income groups according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI). Data variables from the GlobalSurg 1 study and other studies that have been found to affect the likelihood of SSI were entered into risk adjustment models. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day SSI incidence (defined by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for superficial and deep incisional SSI). Relationships with explanatory variables were examined using Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02662231. Findings: Between Jan 4, 2016, and July 31, 2016, 13 265 records were submitted for analysis. 12 539 patients from 343 hospitals in 66 countries were included. 7339 (58·5%) patient were from high-HDI countries (193 hospitals in 30 countries), 3918 (31·2%) patients were from middle-HDI countries (82 hospitals in 18 countries), and 1282 (10·2%) patients were from low-HDI countries (68 hospitals in 18 countries). In total, 1538 (12·3%) patients had SSI within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of SSI varied between countries with high (691 [9·4%] of 7339 patients), middle (549 [14·0%] of 3918 patients), and low (298 [23·2%] of 1282) HDI (p < 0·001). The highest SSI incidence in each HDI group was after dirty surgery (102 [17·8%] of 574 patients in high-HDI countries; 74 [31·4%] of 236 patients in middle-HDI countries; 72 [39·8%] of 181 patients in low-HDI countries). Following risk factor adjustment, patients in low-HDI countries were at greatest risk of SSI (adjusted odds ratio 1·60, 95% credible interval 1·05–2·37; p=0·030). 132 (21·6%) of 610 patients with an SSI and a microbiology culture result had an infection that was resistant to the prophylactic antibiotic used. Resistant infections were detected in 49 (16·6%) of 295 patients in high-HDI countries, in 37 (19·8%) of 187 patients in middle-HDI countries, and in 46 (35·9%) of 128 patients in low-HDI countries (p < 0·001). Interpretation: Countries with a low HDI carry a disproportionately greater burden of SSI than countries with a middle or high HDI and might have higher rates of antibiotic resistance. In view of WHO recommendations on SSI prevention that highlight the absence of high-quality interventional research, urgent, pragmatic, randomised trials based in LMICs are needed to assess measures aiming to reduce this preventable complication

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Empirical Assessment of Mixed Traffic Congestion on Selected Arterials in an Urban Metropolis, Nigeria

The study was aimed at investigating the appropriateness and development of congestion indices and predictive model with operational parameters for congestion on the roads of a developing city. A manual 12-hour (6.00 am- 6.00 pm) traffic count was conducted for seven consecutive days of the week and converted to passenger car units (pcu) on Gboko, Iorchia Ayu, Otukpo, Joe Akaahan, Atom Kpera and Lafia roads of Markurdi to determine congestion spots. Five parameters of volume, headway, speed, density and delay were derived from the generated database in accordance with Highway Capacity Manual of 2010. Traffic congestion indices, with corresponding predictive models, were quantified, and a 15-year congestion forecast made to obtain the future operating scenarios on Makurdi roads. Makurdi roads were dominated by cars of 38.09-61.87%, motorcycles of 15.58-22.85%, minibuses of 10.63-31.33%, and tricycles, luxurious buses, lorries/trucks, trailers/tankers of 0.03-7.75%; with operating significant parameters at peak period of 2322-3134 pcu/h., 305-990 pcu/km., 1.7-2.2 s and 17-40 km/h for the volume, density, headway and speed, respectively; the degree of congestion on the selected routes were moderate to severe (volume capacity ratio of 0.51-1.32) and substantially dependent on the operating parameters, predictive model for the roadway traffic congestion index, CI&nbsp; = 107.071+0.028v+10.054Sl +0.013c with R2 = 0.97, was generated with volume (v), segment length (Sl) and capacity (c); and a 15-year projection indicated that Joe Akaahan Road would be heavily congested. All other segments would be severely congested. The present and 15-year projected CI values were 1.83 and 3.77 respectively, indicating extra vehicle kilometer travel due to congestion of 377%. It is recommended that congestion indices and predictive model are useful tools for management of congestion on urban roads of a developing city

An appropriate relationship between flexural strength and compressive strength of palm kernel shell concrete

AbstractThis paper presents the determination of an appropriate compressive–flexural strength model of palm kernel shell concrete (PKSC). The direct and indirect Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV) measurements, with respective to mechanical properties of compression (cube) and flexural (slab) elements, of concrete at various mixes and water/cement (w/c) ratios were made. A total of 225 cubes and 15 slabs of the PKSC were casted for nominal mixes of 1:1:1, 1:1:2 and 1:11/2:3, and varying (w/c) ratios of 0.3–0.7 at interval of 0.1. The test elements were cured for 3, 7, 14, 28, 56 and 91days in water at laboratory temperature. The elements were then subjected to nondestructive testing using the Pundit apparatus for determination of direct ultrasonic wave velocity and the elastic modulus at the various ages. The cubes were subsequently subjected to destructive compressive test. The 28-day compressive strength–UPV and strength–age statistical relationships at w/c ratio of 0.5 determined from the velocity–strength data set in linear, power, logarithm, exponential and polynomial trend forms. The polynomial trend line in the form y=aln(x) at R2 value of 0.989, found appropriate, among others, was proposed for the formulation of the compressive strength–flexural strength model of PKSC at w/c ratio of 0.5

Computational chemistry: applications and new technologies/ edted by Ponnadurai Ramasami.

Includes bibliographical references and index.Computational Chemistry serves as a complement to experimental chemistry where the tools are limited. Using computational programs to solve advanced problems is widely used in the design and analysis of for example new molecules, surfaces, drugs and materials. This book will present novel innovations in the field, with real-life examples of where computational technologies serves as an indispensible tool.Corresponding authors -- 1. Structural and spectroscopic properties of 3-halogenobenzaldehydes: DFT and TDDFT simulations -- 2. Atomistic insight into the significantly enhanced photovoltaic cells of monolayer GaTe2 via two-dimensional van der Waals heterostructures engineering -- 3. Fluorescent styryl chromophores with rigid (pyrazole) donor and rigid (benzothiophenedioxide) acceptor - complete density functional theory (DFT), TDDFT and nonlinear optical study -- 4. Comparative studies of excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) and azohydrazone tautomerism in naphthalene-based fluorescent acid azo dyes by computational study -- 5. Theoretical examination of efficiency of anthocyanidins as sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells -- 6. Selection of oxypeucedanin as a potential antagonist from molecular docking analysis of HSP90 -- 7. Mechanistic insight into the interactions between thiazolidinedione derivatives and PTP-1B combining 3D QSAR andmolecular docking in the treatment of type 2 diabetes -- 8. Review of research of nanocomposites based on graphene quantum dots -- 9. A computational study of the SNAr reaction of 2-ethoxy-3,5-dinitropyridine and 2-methoxy-3, 5-dinitropyridine with piperidine -- 10. Synthesis, characterization and computational studies of 1,3-bis[(E)-furan-2-yl)methylene]urea and 1,3-bis[(E)-furan-2-yl)methylene]thiourea -- 11. Computational studies of biologically active alkaloids of plant origin: an overview -- 12. Investigating the biological actions of some Schiff bases using density functional theory study -- 13. Molecular mechanics approaches for rational drug design: forcefields and solvation models -- Index.1 online resource (xiv, 260 pages)

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in children : an international, multicentre, prospective cohort study

Introduction Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). However, there is a lack of data available about SSI in children worldwide, especially from low-income and middle-income countries. This study aimed to estimate the incidence of SSI in children and associations between SSI and morbidity across human development settings. Methods A multicentre, international, prospective, validated cohort study of children aged under 16 years undergoing clean-contaminated, contaminated or dirty gastrointestinal surgery. Any hospital in the world providing paediatric surgery was eligible to contribute data between January and July 2016. The primary outcome was the incidence of SSI by 30 days. Relationships between explanatory variables and SSI were examined using multilevel logistic regression. Countries were stratified into high development, middle development and low development groups using the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI). Results Of 1159 children across 181 hospitals in 51 countries, 523 (45 center dot 1%) children were from high HDI, 397 (34 center dot 2%) from middle HDI and 239 (20 center dot 6%) from low HDI countries. The 30-day SSI rate was 6.3% (33/523) in high HDI, 12 center dot 8% (51/397) in middle HDI and 24 center dot 7% (59/239) in low HDI countries. SSI was associated with higher incidence of 30-day mortality, intervention, organ-space infection and other HAIs, with the highest rates seen in low HDI countries. Median length of stay in patients who had an SSI was longer (7.0 days), compared with 3.0 days in patients who did not have an SSI. Use of laparoscopy was associated with significantly lower SSI rates, even after accounting for HDI. Conclusion The odds of SSI in children is nearly four times greater in low HDI compared with high HDI countries. Policies to reduce SSI should be prioritised as part of the wider global agenda.Peer reviewe

Global economic burden of unmet surgical need for appendicitis

Background There is a substantial gap in provision of adequate surgical care in many low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to identify the economic burden of unmet surgical need for the common condition of appendicitis. Methods Data on the incidence of appendicitis from 170 countries and two different approaches were used to estimate numbers of patients who do not receive surgery: as a fixed proportion of the total unmet surgical need per country (approach 1); and based on country income status (approach 2). Indirect costs with current levels of access and local quality, and those if quality were at the standards of high-income countries, were estimated. A human capital approach was applied, focusing on the economic burden resulting from premature death and absenteeism. Results Excess mortality was 4185 per 100 000 cases of appendicitis using approach 1 and 3448 per 100 000 using approach 2. The economic burden of continuing current levels of access and local quality was US $92 492 million using approach 1 and$73 141 million using approach 2. The economic burden of not providing surgical care to the standards of high-income countries was $95 004 million using approach 1 and$75 666 million using approach 2. The largest share of these costs resulted from premature death (97.7 per cent) and lack of access (97.0 per cent) in contrast to lack of quality. Conclusion For a comparatively non-complex emergency condition such as appendicitis, increasing access to care should be prioritized. Although improving quality of care should not be neglected, increasing provision of care at current standards could reduce societal costs substantially

Global economic burden of unmet surgical need for appendicitis

Background There is a substantial gap in provision of adequate surgical care in many low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to identify the economic burden of unmet surgical need for the common condition of appendicitis. Methods Data on the incidence of appendicitis from 170 countries and two different approaches were used to estimate numbers of patients who do not receive surgery: as a fixed proportion of the total unmet surgical need per country (approach 1); and based on country income status (approach 2). Indirect costs with current levels of access and local quality, and those if quality were at the standards of high-income countries, were estimated. A human capital approach was applied, focusing on the economic burden resulting from premature death and absenteeism. Results Excess mortality was 4185 per 100 000 cases of appendicitis using approach 1 and 3448 per 100 000 using approach 2. The economic burden of continuing current levels of access and local quality was US $92 492 million using approach 1 and$73 141 million using approach 2. The economic burden of not providing surgical care to the standards of high-income countries was $95 004 million using approach 1 and$75 666 million using approach 2. The largest share of these costs resulted from premature death (97.7 per cent) and lack of access (97.0 per cent) in contrast to lack of quality. Conclusion For a comparatively non-complex emergency condition such as appendicitis, increasing access to care should be prioritized. Although improving quality of care should not be neglected, increasing provision of care at current standards could reduce societal costs substantially