Mechanical Properties of Self-Compacting Concrete Subjected to Elevated Temperature

Self-compacting concrete flows and fills reinforcement gaps and corners of formworks without the need for vibration during the pouring process. The problem associated with the production of self-compacting concreteis the use of a high dosage of cement which necessitates the addition of supplementary cementitious materials to curtail this effect. As a result, the impact of a ternary blended pozzolanic materials on the mechanical properties of SCC exposed to extreme temperatures was investigated. A quantitative research approach was employed and an experimental design method was adopted. The materials used were cement, rice husk ash, metakaolin, and pulverized burnt bricks. Laboratory tests conducted at the hardened stage were compressive strength, weight loss, and ultrasonic pulse velocity of self-compacting concretesubjected to 200°C, 400°C, 600°C, and 800°C elevated temperatures. At 800°C elevated temperature, the result of residual compressive strength shows that SCC produced withaddition of the ternary blend at 10% had a higher value of residual compressive strength of 27.3% over the control specimens. Control specimens were found to have the least values of weight loss in comparisonto the self-compacting concreteproduced with the addition of the ternary blend. The result of residual UPV shows that self-compacting concrete produced withaddition of the ternary blend at 10% had a higher value of 8.6%over the control specimens. When self-compacting concreteis to be produced with a ternary blend of rice husk ash, metakaolin, and pulverized burnt bricksand subjected to an elevated temperature of up to 800°C, 10wt.% is the optimum cement replacementleve

Assessing the performance of global solar radiation empirical equations in Sokoto, Nigeria using meteorological parameters

In this study, the meteorological parameters measured in Sokoto (12.55o N, 5.15o E) for a period of 10 years (2005- 2014) were obtained from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency Sultan Abubakar III International Airport, Sokoto state. The data used include Gunn-Bellani solar radiation, sunshine hour duration, maximum and minimum temperatures, which were analyzed using modified Angstrom models to estimate the monthly mean global solar radiation in Sokoto. Four statistical methods have been used in order to evaluate the results namely; Mean Bias Error (MBE), Mean Percentage Error (MPE), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and T-statistic. The standard error (SE) and coefficient of determination (R2) were also obtained for each model. Based on the result obtained models 4 & 5 gave a lower RMSE, and R2 approaches unity, which indicates that there is a good agreement between measured and estimated global solar radiation.Keywords: coefficient of determination, solar radiation, sunshine hours, meteorological parameters, temperatur

Free radical scavenging potential of methanol extract of Ficus thonningii leave and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer (LCMS) profiling

This study evaluated the in vitro and in vivo free radical scavenging potentials of methanol extract of Ficus thonningii leaf and its liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer (LCMS) profiling. The qualitative phytochemical screening was carried out and the results show the presence of tannins, flavonoids, saponins glycoside and triterpenes. Antioxidant activities were carried out in vitro and in vivo and the reducing power shows a value of 0.53 ± 0.007 with a significant (p < 0.05) difference compared to the control and Diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) value of 59.0 ± 0.007 with a significantly different (p < 0.05) compared to the control. However, the two assays are concentration-dependent. The in vivo analysis shows that lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities have values of 24.03± 8.04, 1.60± 0.03 and 0.003± 0.001 respectively. All the values are significantly different when compared to the control and are concentration-dependent. The LCMS results revealed the presence of some important metabolites; phenolic glycosides and quassin, which are potential molecules against free radicals. Therefore, Ficus thonningii leaf contains vital antioxidants and could be used in health management to boost the immune system or in drug development

Groundwater Resource Appraisals of Bodinga and Environs, Sokoto Basin North Western Nigeria

The groundwater resources of semi-arid region of Bodinga town and its environs within the Sokoto basin of Northwestern Nigeria have been evaluated. Data obtained at site during pumping test sessions which lasted for a period of between 8-12 hours for a total of 67 boreholes in the area of study were used alongside Information gathered from the careful analysis of lithological logs of the drilled Boreholes. The Hydraulic conductivity for the Kalambaina, Wurno, and Taloka formations are 22.00x10 m/s , 8.00x10-1 m/s, and 1.02x10 m/s and respectively with an average of 3.00x10 m/s for the area. The Transmissivity calculated for these formations are 167.54x10 m2/s, 3.02x10 m2/s and 3.00x10 m2/s respectively while the average total for the area is. 20.30x10 m2/s. Specific capacity for the Kalambaina is 140.00x10 m2/s/m, for Wurno the value is 2.10x10 m2/s/m while Taloka formation have a value of 2.35x10 m2/s/m and the mean computed for this part of the basin is 16.30x10 m2/s /m. Yield is between 0.23 l/s and 6.7 l/s. The calculated properties show the area to be rich in groundwater resources mainly tapped from the coarse sandy and cavernous/jointed limestone layers. However the high drawdown values recorded in some of the boreholes is attributed to the presence of silt- clay materials which act as aquiclude. The high yielding boreholes are those with thicker and sandy aquifer material and less drawdown, however the area have high groundwater resource that is partly affected by the presence of silt and clay intercalations within the sandy Aquiferous units.Keywords: Groundwater, Transmissivity, Coarse-sandy layer, Aquiclude, Semi-confined, Sokoto basin

Comparative analysis of gum Arabic and molasses (binders) in briquettes produced from millet husks

The study was carried out to investigate the effects of binders (molasses and gum Arabic) on millet husk in the production of briquettes. Fixed quantities of millet husk were used to produce briquettes with varying percentage of binders (10%, 20% and 30%). Low pressure fabricated briquetting machine was used for compression to produce the briquettes, after sun drying to reduce the moisture content to minimum value. The proximate analysis conducted, indicated the range of moisture content% (2.1-3.0) ash content% (7.8-11.4) volatile matter% (61.9-76.6) and fixed carbon% (13.0-26.5). The physical properties had the values ranging from (0.52-0.60), (0.18-0.24) (1.69-1.80), (2.31-3.14), (3.5-23.2), (4.7-30.2) for compressed density (g/cm3), relaxed density (g/cm3), compaction ratio, relaxation ratio, durability (%) and water resistant (sec) respectively. The fuel density included ignition time (sec), after glow(sec), boiling time (minutes) and calorific value (J/kg) with the value ranging from (2.3-8.3), (2.0-24.4), (16.10-19.13) and (29830.95-30119.84) respectively. The study shows that millet husk with gum Arabic serves as a better combination for the production of briquettes

Pressure ulcer stages among bed-ridden patients in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria- Nigeria

This study was carried out to assesspressure ulcer stages among bed-ridden patients in Medical, Neurosurgical and Orthopaedic wards inAhmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) Shika-Zaria. The main aim of this study is to determine the prevalence as well as the stages of pressure ulcers among bed-ridden patients and to assess the Nurses’ awareness and application of the awareness in the stage-based treatment of pressure ulcer in ABUTH. The descriptive survey design was adopted and data was collected with the help of questionnaire and observation checklist. A convenient sampling method was used among the bed-ridden patients and a single-stage cluster method was used among the nurses in the three wards. The study sample consisted of 51 Nurses whom answered a pre-established Questionnaire and 129 bed-ridden patients whom were observed using Observational Checklist. The Major Findings were as follows: the cumulative point prevalence of Pressure ulcer was noted to be 18.6% which is significantly high; Pressure ulcer stages were observed to be highest for Stages III (37.5%), and Stage IV (33.3%) which are the advanced stages, and then low in Stage II (20.8%) and Stage I (8.3%). Furthermore, 96% of Nurses were observed to be aware of pressure ulcer stages and 82% apply their awareness in the stage-based treatment of pressure ulcer. In conclusion, there was a high prevalence of pressure ulcer among bed-ridden patients majority of which were the advanced stage of the condition. Therefore it is recommended that, use of a risk assessment tool such as theBraden Scale on admission will identify if the client has pressure ulcer or not, and if they do, at which stage, health care professionals should be more informed about secondary conditions that may occur in the course of patient’s stay in the hospital rather than emphasis only on primary condition that warranted admission, and patient’s relatives should be informed about the risk factors for the development of pressure ulcers since they are also fully involved in the care

Gynaecological malignancies in Azare, North-East Nigeria: an assessment of types, stage at presentation and treatment affordability

Background: In many parts of the world, presentations for most gynecological cancers are late; this makes treatment difficult due to the cost of chemotherapy or radiotherapy which form the bedrock for cure or palliation. Objective of this study was to determine the types, stage at diagnosis, affordability of care and outcome of treatment of gynaecological cancers in Federal Medical Centre Azare, Bauchi State, Nigeria.Methods: All cases of gynaecological cancers seen over a ten-year period, from 1st January, 2003 to 31st December, 2012 were reviewed retrospectively. The number of all gynaecological cases seen during the period was also extracted.Results: Gynaecological cancer cases accounted for 11.84 % of 8,642 gynaecological cases seen during the period of study.  The mean age and parity of the women were 42±5 SD years and 5±1 SD respectively. Cervical cancer accounted for 55 %, ovarian cancer 30%, endometrial cancer 6%, choriocarcinoma 5%, secondaries/ cancers of undetermined origin were 4%.  Ninety-two percent presented with advanced stage of diseases. Only 25.3% could afford the cost of full treatment, and 8.4% attained cure of their disease. The modalities of treatment available were surgery and chemotherapy.Conclusions: Cervical and Ovarian Cancers remain the leading types of gynaecological cancers in our environment and late presentations are frequent occurrence. Late presentation and unaffordability of treatments are major challenges associated with the management of these patients. Early presentation and funding mechanisms for gynaecological cancers are keys to improved cure rate and reduced mortality

Poliovirus seroprevalence before and after interruption of poliovirus transmission in Kano State, Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION: In September 2015, Nigeria was removed from the list of polio-endemic countries after more than 12months had passed since the detection of last wild poliovirus case in the country on 24 July 2014. We are presenting here a report of two polio seroprevalence surveys conducted in September 2013 and October 2014, respectively, in the Kano state of northern Nigeria. METHODS: Health facility based seroprevalence surveys were undertaken at Murtala Mohammad Specialist Hospital, Kano. Parents or guardians of children aged 6-9months, 36-47months, 5-9years and 10-14years in 2013 and 6-9months and 19-22months (corresponding to 6-9months range at the time of 2013 survey) in 2014 presenting to the outpatient department, were approached for participation, screened for eligibility and asked to provide informed consent. A questionnaire was administered and a blood sample collected for polio neutralization assay. RESULTS: Among subjects aged 6-9months in the 2013 survey, seroprevalence was 58% (95% confidence interval [CI] 51-66%) to poliovirus type 1, 42% (95% CI 34-50%) to poliovirus type 2, and 52% (95% CI 44-60%) to poliovirus type 3. Among children 36-47months and older, seroprevalence was 85% or higher for all three serotypes. In 2014, seroprevalence in 6-9month infants was 72% (95% CI 65-79%) for type 1, 59% (95% CI 52-66%) for type 2, and 65% (95% CI 57-72%) for type 3 and in 19-22months, 80% (95% CI 74-85%), 57% (49-63%) and 78% (71-83%) respectively. Seroprevalence was positively associated with history of increasing oral poliovirus vaccine doses. CONCLUSIONS: There was significant improvement in seroprevalence in 2014 over the 2013 levels indicating a positive impact of recent programmatic interventions. However the continued low seroprevalence in 6-9month age is a concern and calls for improved immunization efforts to sustain the polio-free Nigeria

Genetic variation in strigolactone production and tillering in rice and its effect on Striga hermonthica infection

Tillering in cereals is a complex process in the regulation of which also signals from the roots in the form of strigolactones play an important role. The strigolactones are signalling molecules that are secreted into the rhizosphere where they act as germination stimulants for root parasitic plants and hyphal branching factors for arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. On the other hand, they are also transported from the roots to the shoot where they inhibit tillering or branching. In the present study, the genetic variation in strigolactone production and tillering phenotype was studied in twenty rice varieties collected from all over the world and correlated with S. hermonthica infection. Rice cultivars like IAC 165, IAC 1246, Gangweondo and Kinko produced high amounts of the strigolactones orobanchol, 2′-epi-5-deoxystrigol and three methoxy-5-deoxystrigol isomers and displayed low amounts of tillers. These varieties induced high S. hermonthica germination, attachment, emergence as well as dry biomass. In contrast, rice cultivars such as Super Basmati, TN 1, Anakila and Agee displayed high tillering in combination with low production of the aforementioned strigolactones. These varieties induced only low S. hermonthica germination, attachment, emergence and dry biomass. Statistical analysis across all the varieties confirmed a positive correlation between strigolactone production and S. hermonthica infection and a negative relationship with tillering. These results show that genetic variation in tillering capacity is the result of genetic variation in strigolactone production and hence could be a helpful tool in selecting rice cultivars that are less susceptible to S. hermonthica infection

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London