Kinetics of Base Catalysed Trans-Esterification of Jatropha Oil using Potassium Hydroxide Extract from Ripe Plantain Peels.

Obtaining kinetic data such as the rate constant, reaction order and hence the rate law is key to a good design of reactors in which chemical reactions take place, predicting the mechanisms, rates and extent of these reactions. Temperature and concentration are the most critical of the reaction conditions for homogeneous reactions. Hence the kinetic study of the trans-esterification of jatropha oil in a batch reactor using ethanol in the presence of potassium hydroxide extracted from ripe plantain peels as the base catalyst was carried out. And from the study, it was discovered that as the temperature was raised from 75 to 83 oC, conversion of jatropha oil increased progressively within the time of 1 to 4 hrs. In 1 hr, the conversion value (0.352 mole) at 75 oC, doubled with just 8 oC rise in temperature (at 83 oC) to 0.752 mole. Conversion at 83 oC in 4 hrs Obtaining kinetic data such as the rate constant, reaction order and hence the rate law is key to a good design of reactors in which chemical reactions take place, predicting the mechanisms, rates and extent of these reactions. Temperature and concentration are the most critical of the reaction conditions for homogeneous reactions. Hence the kinetic study of the trans-esterification of jatropha oil in a batch reactor using ethanol in the presence of potassium hydroxide extracted from ripe plantain peels as the base catalyst was carried out. And from the study, it was discovered that as the temperature was raised from 75 to 83 oC, conversion of jatropha oil increased progressively within the time of 1 to 4 hrs. In 1 hr, the conversion value (0.352 mole) at 75 oC, doubled with just 8 oC rise in temperature (at 83 oC) to 0.752 mole. Conversion at 83 oC in 4 hrs recorded the highest value of 0.972 moles. The rate laws (−rA=1.083CA and−rA=CA) at 75 and 83 oC respectively agree with the pseudo first order assumption made that the trans-esterification of crude jatropha oil to its biodiesel was a first order reaction with respect to crude jatropha oil wObtaining kinetic data such as the rate constant, reaction order and hence the rate law is key to a good design of reactors in which chemical reactions take place, predicting the mechanisms, rates and extent of these reactions. Temperature and concentration are the most critical of the reaction conditions for homogeneous reactions. Hence the kinetic study of the trans-esterification of jatropha oil in a batch reactor using ethanol in the presence of potassium hydroxide extracted from ripe plantain peels as the base catalyst was carried out. And from the study, it was discovered that as the temperature was raised from 75 to 83 oC, conversion of jatropha oil increased progressively within the time of 1 to 4 hrs. In 1 hr, the conversion value (0.352 mole) at 75 oC, doubled with just 8 oC rise in temperature (at 83 oC) to 0.752 mole. Conversion at 83 oC in 4 hrs recorded the highest value of 0.972 moles. The rate laws (−rA=1.083CA and−rA=CA) at 75 and 83 oC respectively agree with the pseudo first order assumption made that the trans-esterification of crude jatropha oil to its biodiesel was a first order reaction with respect to crude jatropha oil while keeping the ethyl alcohol in large excesshile keeping the ethyl alcohol in large excessrecorded the highest value of 0.972 moles. The rate laws (−rA=1.083CA and−rA=CA) at 75 and 83 oC respectively agree with the pseudo first order assumption made that the trans-esterification of crude jatropha oil to its biodiesel was a first order reaction with respect to crude jatropha oil while keeping the ethyl alcohol in large exces

Final report on LDRD project : biodiesel production from vegetable oils using slit-channel reactors.

This report documents work done for a late-start LDRD project, which was carried out during the last quarter of FY07. The objective of this project was to experimentally explore the feasibility of converting vegetable (e.g., soybean) oils to biodiesel by employing slit-channel reactors and solid catalysts. We first designed and fabricated several slit-channel reactors with varying channel depths, and employed them to investigate the improved performance of slit-channel reactors over traditional batch reactors using a NaOH liquid catalyst. We then evaluated the effectiveness of several solid catalysts, including CaO, ZnO, MgO, ZrO{sub 2}, calcium gluconate, and heteropolyacid or HPA (Cs{sub 2.5}H{sub 0.5}PW{sub 12}O{sub 40}), for catalyzing the soybean oil-to-biodiesel transesterification reaction. We found that the slit-channel reactor performance improves as channel depth decreases, as expected; and the conversion efficiency of a slit-channel reactor is significantly higher when its channel is very shallow. We further confirmed CaO as having the highest catalytic activity among the solid catalysts tested, and we demonstrated for the first time calcium gluconate as a promising solid catalyst for converting soybean oil to biodiesel, based on our preliminary batch-mode conversion experiments

Happiness around the world: A combined etic-emic approach across 63 countries.

What does it mean to be happy? The vast majority of cross-cultural studies on happiness have employed a Western-origin, or "WEIRD" measure of happiness that conceptualizes it as a self-centered (or "independent"), high-arousal emotion. However, research from Eastern cultures, particularly Japan, conceptualizes happiness as including an interpersonal aspect emphasizing harmony and connectedness to others. Following a combined emic-etic approach (Cheung, van de Vijver & Leong, 2011), we assessed the cross-cultural applicability of a measure of independent happiness developed in the US (Subjective Happiness Scale; Lyubomirsky & Lepper, 1999) and a measure of interdependent happiness developed in Japan (Interdependent Happiness Scale; Hitokoto & Uchida, 2015), with data from 63 countries representing 7 sociocultural regions. Results indicate that the schema of independent happiness was more coherent in more WEIRD countries. In contrast, the coherence of interdependent happiness was unrelated to a country's "WEIRD-ness." Reliabilities of both happiness measures were lowest in African and Middle Eastern countries, suggesting these two conceptualizations of happiness may not be globally comprehensive. Overall, while the two measures had many similar correlates and properties, the self-focused concept of independent happiness is "WEIRD-er" than interdependent happiness, suggesting cross-cultural researchers should attend to both conceptualizations

Anti-Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Immunoglobulin G Antibody Seroprevalence Among Truck Drivers and Assistants in Kenya.

In October 2020, anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) immunoglobulin G seroprevalence among truck drivers and their assistants (TDA) in Kenya was 42.3%, higher than among healthcare workers and blood donors. Truck drivers and their assistants transport essential supplies during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, placing them at increased risk of being infected and of transmitting SARS-CoV-2 over a wide geographical area

Seroprevalence of Antibodies to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Among Healthcare Workers in Kenya.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have assessed the seroprevalence of antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Africa. We report findings from a survey among HCWs in 3 counties in Kenya. METHODS: We recruited 684 HCWs from Kilifi (rural), Busia (rural), and Nairobi (urban) counties. The serosurvey was conducted between 30 July and 4 December 2020. We tested for immunoglobulin G antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Assay sensitivity and specificity were 92.7 (95% CI, 87.9-96.1) and 99.0% (95% CI, 98.1-99.5), respectively. We adjusted prevalence estimates, using bayesian modeling to account for assay performance. RESULTS: The crude overall seroprevalence was 19.7% (135 of 684). After adjustment for assay performance, seroprevalence was 20.8% (95% credible interval, 17.5%-24.4%). Seroprevalence varied significantly (P < .001) by site: 43.8% (95% credible interval, 35.8%-52.2%) in Nairobi, 12.6% (8.8%-17.1%) in Busia and 11.5% (7.2%-17.6%) in Kilifi. In a multivariable model controlling for age, sex, and site, professional cadre was not associated with differences in seroprevalence. CONCLUSION: These initial data demonstrate a high seroprevalence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 among HCWs in Kenya. There was significant variation in seroprevalence by region, but not by cadre

Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS coinfection in patients attending Directly Observed Treatment Short‐course (DOTS) centers in Anambra State, Nigeria: A retrospective study

Background and Aim(S)This study retrospectively assessed the prevalence of TB and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS coinfection among patients that attended the Directly Observed Treatment Short-course (DOTS) centers in Anambra State, Southeast, Nigeria, between 2013 and 2017.MethodsThe study adopted a descriptive and retrospective epidemiological survey design. A total of 1443 case files of patients aged 15−60 who were treated in DOTS centers selected from Anambra State's 21 Local Government Areas between 2013 and 2017 were investigated. The uniform data form, a standardized instrument used in Anambra State's health facilities for data collection, was used to collect data from case files of all those identified as coinfected with TB and HIV/AIDS.ResultsThe mean prevalence rate of TB and HIV/AIDS coinfection in the state during the 5-year period (2013–2017) was 20.00%. The highest annual prevalence of TB and HIV/AIDS coinfection was recorded in 2014 (23.84%). The state's prevalence of TB and HIV/AIDS coinfection increased dramatically from 13.17% in 2013 to 23.84% in 2014, followed by a slight downward trend to 22.80% in 2015, 20.17% in 2016, and 20.03% in 2017. In terms of gender, age, marital status, and occupation, females (59.5%), those aged 15 to 25 years (30.7%), married people (43.90%), and traders/business owners (50.7%), respectively, had the highest rates of tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS coinfection during the study period.ConclusionThe findings of this study show that young people, females, married people, and traders/business owners appear to be the most vulnerable groups affected by TB and HIV/AIDS coinfection, accounting for the majority of the disease burden in the state. To address the high prevalence of TB and HIV/AIDS coinfection in the Anambra State, novel intervention and control programs should be developed and implemented, and existing intervention frameworks should be strengthened

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with paediatric cancer in low-income, middle-income and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, observational cohort study

OBJECTIVES: Paediatric cancer is a leading cause of death for children. Children in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) were four times more likely to die than children in high-income countries (HICs). This study aimed to test the hypothesis that the COVID-19 pandemic had affected the delivery of healthcare services worldwide, and exacerbated the disparity in paediatric cancer outcomes between LMICs and HICs. DESIGN: A multicentre, international, collaborative cohort study. SETTING: 91 hospitals and cancer centres in 39 countries providing cancer treatment to paediatric patients between March and December 2020. PARTICIPANTS: Patients were included if they were under the age of 18 years, and newly diagnosed with or undergoing active cancer treatment for Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, Wilms' tumour, sarcoma, retinoblastoma, gliomas, medulloblastomas or neuroblastomas, in keeping with the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: All-cause mortality at 30 days and 90 days. RESULTS: 1660 patients were recruited. 219 children had changes to their treatment due to the pandemic. Patients in LMICs were primarily affected (n=182/219, 83.1%). Relative to patients with paediatric cancer in HICs, patients with paediatric cancer in LMICs had 12.1 (95% CI 2.93 to 50.3) and 7.9 (95% CI 3.2 to 19.7) times the odds of death at 30 days and 90 days, respectively, after presentation during the COVID-19 pandemic (p<0.001). After adjusting for confounders, patients with paediatric cancer in LMICs had 15.6 (95% CI 3.7 to 65.8) times the odds of death at 30 days (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected paediatric oncology service provision. It has disproportionately affected patients in LMICs, highlighting and compounding existing disparities in healthcare systems globally that need addressing urgently. However, many patients with paediatric cancer continued to receive their normal standard of care. This speaks to the adaptability and resilience of healthcare systems and healthcare workers globally