Occurrence and sources of aliphatic hydrocarbons in soils within the vicinity of hot mix asphalt plants in Obigbo and Igwuruta Areas of Rivers State, Nigeria

This study investigated the occurrence and sources of aliphatic hydrocarbons (AHCs) in soils within the vicinity of hot mix asphalt (HMA) plants. Soil samples were collected from two HMA plants and analysed with gas chromatography - flame ionisation detector (GC-FID). Sample collection was from both surface (0-15 cm) and subsurface (15-30 cm) soils at an increasing distance of 10 m from the HMA plants while the control samples at both depths were collected at 1 km away from the plants. The AHCs concentration (nC9-nC38) in soils from both HMA Plants ranged from 8.16 - 433.04 mg/kg and 5.91-177.83 mg/kg for surface and  subsurface soils respectively while the concentration in the control samples ranged from 5.97 - 23.95 mg/kg and 2.52 - 13.31 for surface and subsurface soil respectively. The sources of the AHCs were determined using isoprenoid ratios, carbon preference index (CPI) and maximum carbon chain (Cmax). The isoprenoid ratios and CPI values of the samples closer (< 20 m) to the HMA plants were < 1 and < 2 respectively indicating anthropogenic inputs. Samples > 20 m from the HMA plants showed mixture of both anthropogenic and biogenic sources.Keywords: Asphalt Plants; Soil; Aliphatic hydrocarbons; Pristane; Phytane

Phytochemical Screening and Antimicrobial Analysis of Fadogia andersonii Robyn Plant Extrac

Medicinal plants extracts are now generally considered as effective medicines that play a major role in modern pharmacy. The plant Fadogia andersonii belonging to the Family Rubiaceae, which is used in ethno-medicine was studied. Preliminary phytochemical analyses of the whole plant revealed the presence of the following metabolites: Saponins, terpenes, steroids, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, cardiac glycosides and carbohydrates. Anthraquinones was found to be absent. Antimicrobial screening of the methanol plant’s extract carried out (in vitro) on Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus cereus, Klebsiella pneumonia, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Candida albican and Aspergillus flavus showed that the extract has activity on the tested microorganisms. However, it showed no inhibitory effect against Escherichia coli. The extract was found to inhibit the growth of S. aureus, B. cereus, S. pyogenes and C. albican at 25mg/ml with a corresponding MBC at 50mg/ml. S.typhi and S. pneumonia were inhibited at 50mg/ml with a corresponding MBC at 100mg/ml. It also inhibited the growth of P. aeruginosa, K. pneumonia and A. flavus at 100mg/ml with a corresponding MBC at 200mg/ml. The observed antimicrobial effects were believed to be due to the presence of active principles which were detected in the phytochemical screening. Keywords: Phytochemicals, Antimicrobials, Fadogia andersonii Roby

Hybrid clear cell odontogenic carcinoma and ameloblastic carcinoma-report of a case

Ameloblastic carcinoma (AC) produces extensive local destruction, perforation of the cortical plate, extension into surrounding soft tissues, numerous recurrent lesions, and metastasis, usually to cervical lymph nodes. Clear cell odontogenic carcinoma (CCOC) which was previously designated clear cell odontogenic tumor also exhibits an aggressive biologic behavior and a tendency to metastasize to distant locations. Both lesions are rare. We report an odontogenic carcinoma with a dual histomorphologic feature of CCOC and AC coexisting in a single lesion. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of its kind in the literature

Pharmacological activity of 2,3,8-tri-O-methyl ellagic acid isolated from the stem bark of Irvingia gabonensis

2,3,8-Tri-O-methyl ellagic acid was isolated from the stem bark of Irvingia gabonensis. The acid showed significant antimicrobial activity on some pathogens

Microplastics in silver catfish (Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus) from new Calabar River in Niger Delta, Nigeria

This study investigated the ingestion of microplastics by silver catfish (Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus) from New Calabar River in Niger Delta, Nigeria. Microplastics from the guts of 45 fish were examined with microscope after dissolution with potassium hydroxide. Microplastics, mostly fragments were found in about 56% of the samples at an average of 3.87±5.97 particles per fish. This study highlights the consequences of plastic pollution in freshwater environment and the potential risk to aquatic and human life. This also shows a potential threat to public health and therefore needs attention from health and environmental policy makers

Studies on the Mechanical and Sorption Properties of Anacardium Occidentale L. Exudate and Polypropylene Blends

This research work employed the use of purified cashew gum (PCG) as a blender for polypropylene (PP). The blended samples were subjected to tensile, hardness, impact and sorption tests. There was a general decrease in tensile strength and percentage elongation with increasing PCG composition. An improvement in Young's Modulus was recorded at PCG concentration of 10%. Also, the hardness properties of the samples increased to a maximum value of 61 HRF corresponding to PCG concentration of 40%. A general decrease in impact strength with increasing PCG concentration was observed. Sorption test results indicate that blended samples with PCG compositions in the range of 50% and above gave very high values of degree of swelling (DS). Thus blended samples in this composition range are more prone to hydrolytic degradation as a result of swelling behaviour in aqueous media.  The blending of PP with PCG has resulted in lowering the production cost of the blended samples. It also induced biodegradation in these plastics thus serving as a means of controlling environmental pollution. Keywords: Purified Cashew Gum, Polypropylene, Blended sample

KVANTITATIVNA PROCJENA RIZIKA UTJECAJA PIJESKA NA VIŠEFAZNI PROTOK U CJEVOVODU

The presence of sand particles flowing along with reservoir fluids in a pipeline increases the probability of pipeline failure. The risk of pipeline failure is either accentuated or abated by the flow conditions of the fluids in the pipeline. In this study, a quantitative risk analysis of the effect of sand on pipelines during multiphase flow, under the pipeline failure modes; sanding up, erosion, and encountering abnormal pressure gradient was conducted. Three piping components were considered: line pipe (nominal size 1.5 in [3.8 cm]), swing check valve (nominal size 12.007 in [30.5cm]) and 90 deg LR Elbow (nominal size 2.25 in [5.7cm]). Correlations that indicate the critical velocities and the critical sand concentrations above/below which these failures occur were employed and implemented in a Visual Basic program. The analysis was conducted at a temperature of 204 °C and pressure of 604 psi [4.2×106 Pa]. A probability distribution, simulating real-life scenario was developed using Monte Carlo simulation. This determines the probability of deriving critical sand concentration values that fall beyond the set statistical limits which indicates the probability of occurrence of the failure being investigated. For all three failures, the severity of occurrence (represented by CAPEX incurred in solving the failures) was multiplied with the probability of failure which gave rise to the risk indexes. Based on the histogram plot of average risk index and analysis, the study reveals that larger diameter components are prone to turbulence which lead to greater risk of erosion. The risk of abnormal pressure drop and sanding up were considerably lower than that for erosion (abrasion).Prisutnost čestica pijeska, koje zajedno s proizvodnim fluidom protječu cjevovodom, povećava vjerojatnost nastanaka kvara na cjevovodu. Rizik od kvara na cjevovodu uvelike ovisi (ili je dodatno potenciran ili je smanjen) o uvjetima protjecanja fluida u cjevovodu. U ovome su radu prikazani rezultati kvantitativne analize rizika utjecaja pijeska na cjevovode tijekom višefaznoga protjecanja u uvjetima nastanka kvara na cjevovodu: nakupljanja pijeska, erozije i pojave povećanoga gradijenta tlaka. U analizi su razmatrane tri komponente cjevovoda: cijev (nominalna veličina 1,5 in [3,8 cm]), ventil s povratnom zaklopkom (engl. swing check valve) (nominalna veličina 12,007 in [30,5 cm]) i LR koljeno od 90 stupnjeva (nominalna veličina 2,25 in [5,7 cm]). Korelacije, koje upućuju na kritične brzine i kritične koncentracije pijeska vrijednosti iznad ili ispod kojih se navedeni kvarovi cjevovoda javljaju, prikazane su u programu Visual Basic. Analiza je provedena na temperaturi od 204 ˚C i tlaku od 604 psi [4,2 × 106 Pa]. Distribucija vjerojatnosti, simulirajući realan scenarij, dobivena je korištenjem Monte Carlo simulacije. Utvrđena je vjerojatnost pojave kritičnih vrijednosti koncentracije pijeska, koje se nalaze izvan postavljenih statističkih granica, što upućuje na vjerojatnost pojave uzroka kvara koji se istražuje. Za sva tri uzroka kvara posljedice pojave (prikazane kapitalnim troškovima (CAPEX) sanacije nastalih kvarova) pomnožene su s vjerojatnošću kvara, čime je dobiven indeks rizika. Na temelju histogramskoga dijagrama prosječnoga indeksa rizika i analize, provedenim istraživanjem utvrđeno je da su komponente većega promjera sklone turbulenciji, što dovodi do većega rizika od erozije. Rizik od velikoga pada tlaka i nakupljanja pijeska bio je znatno manji od rizika od erozije (abrazije)

Biosafety, Antioxidant and Antidiarrhoeal Potentials of Afzelia africana Seed n-Hexane Extract

This study evaluated the biosafety, phytochemicals, antioxidant activity, acute toxicological profile and antidiarrhoeal property of n-hexane extract of Afzelia africana seeds. Results from the phytochemical profiling (using gas chromatography - mass spectrometry technique) elicited the presence of hexadecanoic acid (34.97 %), 9, 12, 15-octadecatrien-1-ol (16.27%) and oleic acid (6.71%) as major compounds associated with antioxidant and antidiarrhoeal effects. The study revealed that A. africana seed possesses antioxidant potentials across four models at 100 g/ml (39.6%, 59.6%, 48.11% and 0.765 for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging, ferrous ion chelating, hydrogen peroxide scavenging, and reducing power assays respectively). No adverse effect or lethality was recorded at ≤5000 mg of extract per kg body weight of tested animals after 14 days observation. In castor oil induced diarrhoea, a significant (p<0.05) increase in delayed onset of stooling and percentage inhibition (up to 92.4%) with decrease in defecation frequency were observed across the treated groups when compared with the control. Similarly, the extract showed a significant (p<0.05) dose dependent decrease in gastrointestinal motility with increase in percentage inhibition (up to 91.9%) in charcoal meal test. In conclusion, Afzelia africana seed antidiarrhoeal property has been validated and its folklore benefit affirmed by this study

Determination of complex small molecule structures using molecular alignment simulation.

Correct structural assignment of small molecules and natural products is critical for drug discovery and organic chemistry. Anisotropy-based NMR spectroscopy is a powerful tool for structural assignment of organic molecules, but relies on utilization of a medium that disrupts the isotropic motion of molecules in organic solvents. Here, we establish a quantitative correlation between the atomic structure of the alignment medium, the molecular structure of the small molecule and molecule-specific anisotropic NMR parameters. The quantitative correlation uses an accurate three-dimensional molecular alignment model that predicts residual dipolar couplings of small molecules aligned by poly( γ -benzyl-ʟ-glutamate). The technique facilitates reliable determination of the correct stereoisomer and enables unequivocal, rapid determination of complex molecular structures from extremely sparse NMR data