Influence of Opening and Boundary Conditions on the Behavior of Concrete Hollow Block Walls: Experimental Results

The assembled pattern of concrete hollow building blocks contributes to the wall structure’s durability. This paper presents experimental research on the behavior of concrete hollow block walls. The experimental work included testing four concrete hollow block wall panels with different opening sizes. Constant vertical axial load was applied on top of the wall panels until failure, characterized by boundary conditions. The results showed that the presence of openings reduced the strength of the wall panels; it was possible to observe these differences since the opening area was between 20 and 40% of the gross wall panel area. It was also observed that while the opening percentage had a significant impact on the strength of the wall, the boundary conditions had a less substantial impact on the overall wall response. A high localized concentration of stress was observed at the top corners of the wall panels and a high stress concentration was also observed along the vertical sides of the openings. Variation in the number and the shape of the openings often changed the failure mechanism in the wall panels, even when the percentage area of the opening remained constant. The wall panels A1-B2 reached peak stress levels at 0.019 MPa, 0.036 MPa, 0.056 MPa, and 0.030 MPa. The equivalent peak strains were 0.018, 0.011, 0.012, and 0.010 respectively. This research established significant data and is expected to help in the design and analysis of axially loaded unreinforced masonry walls with openings

Histopathological and Biochemical effects of aqueous leaf extract of Cadaba farinosa on the liver of adult Wistar Rats

Background: Plants are important source of chemical substances with therapeutic effects. Although, the promising potentials for good number of medicinal plants are being established, there exists in developing countries where people resort to herbal plants without proper awareness of the associated risks particularly in event of excessive or chronic use. Hence, the need to evaluate the histological and biochemical effects of aqueous leaf extract of Cadaba farinosa used traditionally for treatments of gastrointestinal parasites, cancer and diabetes in North-Eastern Nigeria. To evaluate the histological and biochemical effects of aqueous leaf extract of Cadaba farinosa on liver of adult Wistar rats.Methods: Twelve adult Wistar rats of both sexes were used and divided into four groups of three rats each. Group 1 served as control. Aqueous leaf extract were orally administered for 28 days at doses of 100, 200 and 300mg/kg respectively. Biochemical and histological analysis were performed.Results: This study showed significantly elevated levels of aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and alanine transaminase in animals treated with Cadaba farinosa (especially the highest dose 300mg/kg) compared to negative control. Elevated liver enzymes were corroborated by histopathological changes of liver exhibiting ballooning degenerations and steatohepatitis.Conclusions: Cadaba farinosa causes hepatic injury. Hence, further work needs to be done to ascertain whether reducing the dose of Cadaba farinosa would ameliorate this effect. Authors speculate that injury to multiple organelles including fat droplets and endoplasmic reticulum contribute to this characteristic finding

Mathematical Modeling and Optimal Control of Intervention Strategies for Covid-19 Disease

This research work used mathematical modeling in understanding the dynamics of covid-19 disease. We modified the work of Chen et al. (2020) by incorporating vaccination and pets (spread agents) compartments, making the model a ten (10) compartmental model, and also augmenting four controls to it namely: vaccination, use of face mask and physical distancing, sanitation, and treatment. We developed from the model, a system of non-linear Ordinary Differential Equations from which the positivity of solution was proven. We established the equilibrium states, determined the reproduction number which was utilized to predict the disease's transmission dynamics, hence establishing the conditions for local and global stability of the disease free- equilibrium using Routh- Hurwitz criterion and the Castillo-Chavez technique, respectively. The outcome of the investigation of the stability of the disease-free equilibrium state that covid-19 disease transmission can be significantly degraded and eliminated if the secondary infection’s rate is maintained at a value less than unity. We also used Pontryagin's Maximum Principle to establish the optimality system. The optimality system was numerically solved in Matlab to establish the best strategy in controlling the transmission of covid-19 disease in the population. The graphical solutions revealed that the most effective strategy is the combination of vaccination, use of face mask and physical distancing, sanitation, and treatment of infected individuals in the population

Phytochemical Constituents and Antifungal Studies of Methanol Leaf Extract and It’s Fractions of Isoberlinia Doka

Isoberlinia doka is a plant species belonging to the family Fabaceae. It is used in traditional medicine for treatment of muscular skeletal system disorders, Jaundice scorpion bites, Convulsion, diabetes, ulcer, wounds and cough. The aim of the study was to conduct phytochemical and antifungal studies of methanol leaf extract and its fractions of Isoberlinia doka. The plant material was collected identified and air dried. Powdered plant material was subjected to maceration using methanol to obtained crude methanol leaf extract which was partitioned using n-hexane, chloroform ethyl acetate and n-butanol. The extract and fractions obtained were subjected to phytochemical screening using standard procedure, the antifungal studies of the methanol extract and its fractions against Candida albican, Candida crusie, Trychophytom rubrum and Trychophyton mentagrophyte were investigated using agar well diffusion method at different concentration (100 – 12.5 mg/mL). The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of various secondary metabolites which varies in the extract and fractions. The methanol extract and its fractions showed significant (p< 0.05) antifungal activity against all the fungal isolates with the ethylacetate fraction having the highest mean zone of inhibition ranging from 8-23 mm followed by the n-butanol fraction with the mean zone of inhibitions from 6-21 mm the methanol extract and the n-hexane fraction had the mean zone from 5-17 mm and 6-19 mm respectively while chloroform recorded lower mean zone of inhibition from 6-14. The standard drug fluconazole had the mean zone of inhibition from 6-20 mm. The most sensitive organism was Candida albican, while the least sensitive organisms were T. mentagraphyte and T. rubrum for the ethyl acetate fraction. The study has validated the ethnomedicinal claim for the use of this plant in treatment of the fungal infections

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Diabetes Mellitus in Nigeria: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

<p><b>Article full text</b></p><p><br></p><p>The full text of this article can be found here<b>. </b><a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13300-018-0441-1">https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13300-018-0441-1</a></p><p></p><p><br></p><p><b>Provide enhanced content for this article</b></p><p><br></p><p>If you are an author of this publication and would like to provide additional enhanced content for your article then please contact <a href="http://www.medengine.com/Redeem/”mailto:[email protected]”"><b>[email protected]</b></a>.</p><p><br></p><p>The journal offers a range of additional features designed to increase visibility and readership. All features will be thoroughly peer reviewed to ensure the content is of the highest scientific standard and all features are marked as ‘peer reviewed’ to ensure readers are aware that the content has been reviewed to the same level as the articles they are being presented alongside. Moreover, all sponsorship and disclosure information is included to provide complete transparency and adherence to good publication practices. This ensures that however the content is reached the reader has a full understanding of its origin. No fees are charged for hosting additional open access content.</p><p><br></p><p>Other enhanced features include, but are not limited to:</p><p><br></p><p>• Slide decks</p><p>• Videos and animations</p><p>• Audio abstracts</p><p> </p><p>• Audio slides</p> <p> </p

Prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis in Nigeria, 1994–2015: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction: The Global significance of schistosomiasis started waning over the years owing to its eradication in most developed societies, until the reawaking of global attention and it now occupies a prominent place amongst the neglected tropical diseases (NTD). The aim of our study was to accurately estimate the prevalence of schistosomiasis in Nigeria, and its six geo-political zones. Subjects and methods: We utilized electronic databases to search and select studies on prevalence across the geographical zones between 1994 and 2015. STATA 10 Random effects meta-analysis of observational studies was used to generate our estimates. Result: Sixty-seven studies met the inclusion criteria. The unified pooled population studied was 47,440 (n = 14,888 persons). The pooled prevalence]) of Schistosoma haematobium infestation was, for all regions = 34.7% (31.0–38.5) (95% confidence interval [CI)). Conclusion: Schistosomal infestations remain hyperendemic in Nigeria. Nigeria must, therefore, expedite the execution of resolution WHA66.12 adopted by the World Health Assembly on NTD