Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Fungi (Candida Tropicalis and Aspergillus Clavatus) in Bioremediation of used Engine Oil Contaminated Soil using Bioaugmentation Technique

Used engine oil is a petroleum or synthetic oil that has been used and as a result of such use, is contaminated by physical and chemical pollutants. These pollutants are harmful to humans, animals and plants following exposure. Evaluation of the effectiveness of fungi in bioremediation of used engine oil (UEO) contaminated soil was investigated. Fungi were isolated from soil samples obtained from automobile workshops in Mgbuka-Nkpor, Nigeria. The isolates were screened for UEO biodegradation potentials in mineral salt broth. They were identified using the cultural and microscopic characteristics and confirmed using the 18SrRNA gene sequence. The effectiveness of the isolates in bioremediation of UEO contaminated soil was also investigated using bioaugmentation technique. A total of 8 fungal isolates were obtained from this study. Two that showed the highest extent of biodegradation of UEO in the screen flasks were identified and confirmed as Candida tropicalis and Aspergillus clavatus. At the end of the experimental period, oil contaminated soil inoculated with the mixed culture of the isolates (C. tropicalis and A. clavatus) showed the highest reduction in concentration of UEO (95.42%). Higher biodegradation rate and shorter half-life of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) was observed in soil microcosm containing the isolates, when compared to the uninoculated control. Therefore fungi such as C. tropicalis and A. clavatus isolated from automobile workshops can facilitate the bioremediation of UEO contaminated soil

New Zealand Building Project Cost and Its Influential Factors: A Structural Equation Modelling Approach

Construction industry significantly contributes to New Zealand's economic development. However, the delivery of construction projects is usually plagued by cost overruns, which turn potentially successful projects into money-losing ventures, resulting in various other unexpected negative impacts. The objectives of the study were to identify, classify, and assess the impacts of the factors affecting project cost in New Zealand. The proposed research model was examined with structural equation modelling. Recognising the lack of a systematic approach for assessing the influencing factors associated with project cost, this study identified 30 influencing factors from various sources and quantified their relative impacts. The research data were gathered through a questionnaire survey circulated across New Zealand construction industry. A total of 283 responses were received, with a 37% response rate. A model was developed for testing the relationship between project cost and the influential factors. The proposed research model was examined with structural equation modelling (SEM). According to the results of the analysis, market and industry conditions factor has the most significant effect on project cost, while regulatory regime is the second-most significant influencing factor, followed by key stakeholders' perspectives. The findings can improve project cost performance through the identification and evaluation of the cost-influencing factors. The results of such analysis enable industry professionals to better understand cost-related risks in the complex environment

Emerg Infect Dis

Abstract Background An effective continuum of maternal care ensures that mothers receive essential health packages from pre-pregnancy to delivery, and postnatally, reducing the risk of maternal death. However, across Africa, coverage of skilled birth attendance is lower than coverage for antenatal care, indicating mothers are not retained in the continuum between antenatal care and delivery. This paper explores predictors of retention of antenatal care clients in skilled birth attendance across Africa, including sociodemographic factors and quality of antenatal care received. Methods We pooled nationally representative data from Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in 28 African countries between 2006 and 2015. For the 115,374 births in our sample, we estimated logistic multilevel models of retention in skilled birth attendance (SBA) among clients that received skilled antenatal care (ANC). Results Among ANC clients in the study sample, 66% received SBA. Adjusting for all demographic covariates and country indicators, the odds of retention in SBA were higher among ANC clients that had their blood pressure checked, received information about pregnancy complications, had blood tests conducted, received at least one tetanus injection, and had urine tests conducted. Conclusions Higher quality of ANC predicts retention in SBA in Africa. Improving quality of skilled care received prenatally may increase client retention during delivery, reducing maternal mortality

The Pattern and Obstetric Outcome of Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy in Nnewi, Nigeria

BACKGROUND:Hypertension is a common medical complication of pregnancy. It is one of the leading causes of maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity worldwide. Early detection, close surveillance and timely delivery are necessary to reduce complications associated with the condition.OBJECTIVES: To determine the pattern, risk factors, maternal and fetal outcomes in women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.METHODOLOGY:This was a descriptive retrospective study of the pattern and obstetrics outcome of hypertensive disorders in Nnewi.. The Obstetric variables from 148 women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi, from the 1st January 2004 to 31st December 2008 were analyzed. Stastical analysis was done using Epi Info version 3.3.2. The level of statistical significance was set at P<0.05.RESULTS: of the 4021 deliveries in the hospital during the period under review, 148(3.7%) were managed for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Only 138 folders were used for analysis. The mean age of the women was 31.3±5.7years. Majority of the women were unbooked (57.2%). Pre-eclampsia was the commonest type of hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (46.4%) with the majority presenting with severe disease. The level of proteinuria was significant in 74.6% of cases of preeclampsia. The mean gestational age at delivery was 35.3±1.5weeks. The mean birth weight was 1.6±0.3kg. Twenty-four intra uterine deaths were recorded giving a stillbirth rate of 17.4%. The perinatal mortality rate was 20.9%.  Diagnosis was made in the ante-partum period in 92.0% of the cases while 55.2% of the women delivered through Caesarean section. Eight maternal deaths were recorded, giving a case fatality rate of 5.8%. CONCLUSION: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are associated with high maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality in Nnewi, Nigeria. Antenatal care will help in early diagnosis and timely intervention of the cases. There is need for strengthening of communication and referral systems in the healthcare.KEY WORDS: Hypertensive disorders, pattern, obstetrics outcome.Erratum Note: Mbachu 1, Udigwe GO, Okafor CI, Umeonunihu OS, Ezeama C, Eleje GU on the article “The Pattern and Obstetric Outcome of Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy in Nnewi, Nigeria” on Page Nig. J. Med 2013. 117-122. Should read: Mbachu II, Udigwe GO, Okafor CI, Umeonunihu OS, Ezeama C, Eleje GU

Installation Quality Inspection for High Formwork Using Terrestrial Laser Scanning Technology

Current inspection for installation quality of high formwork is conducted by site managers based on personal experience and intuition. This non-systematic inspection is laborious and it is difficult to provide accurate dimension measurements for high formwork. The study proposed a method that uses terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) technology to collect the full range measurements of a high formwork and develop a genetic algorithm (GA) optimized artificial neutral network (ANN) model to improve measurement accuracy. First, a small-scale high formwork model set was established in the lab for scanning. Then, the collected multi-scan data were registered in a common reference system, and RGB value and symmetry of the structure were used to extract poles and tubes of the model set, removing all irrelevant data. Third, all the cross points of poles and tubes were generated. Next, the model set positioned on the moving equipment was scanned at different specified locations in order to collect sufficient data to develop an GA-ANN model that can generate accurate estimates of the point coordinates so that the accuracy of the dimension measurements can be achieved at the millimetre level. Validation experiments were conducted both on another model set and a real high formwork. The successful applications suggest that the proposed method is superior to other common techniques for obtaining the required data necessary for accurately measuring the overall structure dimensions, regarding data accuracy, cost and time. The study proposed an effective method for installation quality inspection for high formwork, especially when the inspection cannot be properly operated due to cost factors associated with common inspection methods

Knowledge and Attitude towards Ebola Virus Disease among Secondary School Students in Abakaliki, South-east, Nigeria

Introduction: Ebola virus disease (EVD) is an acute haemorrhagic fever. It is also a zoonotic disease which has posed a serious public health problem in the West African Sub-Region. The study was conducted to determine the level of knowledge and attitude towards EVD among Secondary School Students in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out among 318 secondary school students in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, selected through multistage sampling method. Information and permission were obtained from the State Ministry of Education, Informed consent from the principals of the schools and their class teachers. Assent was obtained from selected students prior to the study. Data was collected with pre-tested semi-structured questionnaires and analyzed using statistical package for the social science (SPSS) version 20. Results were treated with strict confidentiality. Results: Majority of the respondents (85.5%) were between 15 to 19 years. Students in SSS 2 constituted the greatest proportion of respondents, 57.0% and 48.8% for public and private schools respectively. One hundred percent of the respondents had heard about EVD. Knowledge of EVD was generally poor for majority of the students in both schools, the proportion being higher in the public (65.8%), compared to the private schools (40.6%). Greater proportion (70.6%) of those in private schools had positive attitude to EVD compared to 53.8% in public schools. Conclusion: Respondents from private schools were more knowledgeable and exhibited more positive attitude than respondents from public schools. Recommendation: Sensitisation and health education of secondary school students on EVD

BIM Adoption in the Cambodian Construction Industry: Key Drivers and Barriers

Critical issues surrounding the promotion and adoption of building information modeling (BIM) for construction projects are largely country-specific due to contextual socio-cultural, economic, and regulatory environments impacting construction operations and outcomes. There is little information on BIM adoption issues specific to the Cambodian construction industry (‘the industry’). This paper aims to narrow existing knowledge by investigating key drivers for, and barriers to the adoption of BIM in the industry. Using descriptive survey method, feedback was received from contractors and architects that were registered with their respective trade and professional associations in the industry. The multi-attribute method and the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS)-based Kendall’s coefficient of concordance (W) test were used to analyze the empirical datasets. Results showed that out of the 13 significant drivers identified in the study, the most influential comprised the technology’s ability to remarkably enhance project visualization and schedule performance; this is followed by awareness that the technology is redefining how project information is created and shared among stakeholders and therefore the future of the industry that cannot be ignored. On the other hand, the most constraining barrier to the adoption of the technology, out of 19 significant barriers, related to strong industry resistance to change, especially reluctance to change from 2D drafting to 3D modeling; other highly rated barriers included the high initial cost of the software and the shortage of professionals with BIM skills. Implementation of the study findings could support greater uptake of the technology and the leveraging of its key benefits to improving project success and the growth of the Cambodian construction industry, as well as those of other developing economies that share similar socio-cultural, economic, and regulatory environments