A quatitative approach for establishing safe weight of lift

The objective of this work was to formulate a mathematical model for predicting a safe weight of lift. Considering the intratruncal pressure, post-work height shrinkage of the worker and strain energy of the intervertebral disc, the SWL function was derived in terms of the Young Modulus of elasticity (E) of the articular cartilage (endplate of the disc); velocity of lift (u); acceleration due to gravity (g); vertical location of the load (V); horizontal length of the load from the ankles (H); vertical displacement of the load (D); the angle of lift ("theta") and the lifter’s anthropometric dimensions. To evaluate the function for a particular individual, the value of the length of the spine from the first thoracic to the last lumbar vertebrae, the heights just before the start and after the close of work were measured to determine the height shrinkage. Additionally, the breadth and depth of the trunk were measured. A range of values of the function parameters: V, H and D were adopted from National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), while E and U were also taken from the literature. SWL values were computed and compared to those of the Recommended Weight Limit (RWL) of NIOSH and Maximum Acceptable Weight of Lift (MAWL) from the literature. At an average height shrinkage of 0.014 m and a maximum permissible shrinkage of 0.21 m, the SWL and SWLMax values were significantly different (at 95% level confidence) from the corresponding RWL and the MAWL values

Management dilemma of a recurrent huge fibrosarcoma in a 25-year-old African: a case report

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licens

Work capacity assessment of Nigerian bricklayers

The main aim of this study is to assess the physical work capacity of bricklayers with focus on the energy expenditure during work. Eighty Nine bricklayers’ working on various sites in Ibadan and Eruwa towns of Oyo State, Nigeria are used for the study. Correlation and regression analysis using SPSS 16.0 Statistical Package was used to determine the relationship between VO2 given the age and weight of the subjects; % RHR(Relative Heart Rate) and working heart rate (HRW) given weight; VO2 and %RHR given Body Mass Index (BMI). The results showed that the mean energy expenditure of bricklaying was 1.5l/min of oxygen (7.23Kcal/min, using a conversion factor of 4.82) which classified bricklaying as “heavy work”. A rest allowance of 64.45% (38.67 minutes rest for 60 minutes work duration) was calculated. It was concluded that there is a need to redesign the work content of the aforementioned occupation in order to reduce excessive strain on the workers, which in turn will increase productivity

Numerical Simulation of Temperature Distribution in A Tri-Cycle Engine Piston

This present study will focus on temperature distribution and heat transfer rate which are of much importance especially in spark ignition (SI) engines. This was achieved by formulating a model for analyzing the temperature distribution in an internal combustion engines piston as well as simulates the obtained results using COMSOL- Multiphysics.Pistons as one of the most complex components among all automotives and other industry field components are designed to withstand damage caused due to extreme heat and pressure of combustion process. Many of experimental studies regarding the internal combustion engines process have been carried out, but few had only focused on the numerical studies like stress distribution, thermal and heat transfer analysis. This present study focuses on a 3-D transient state temperature distribution analysis on a gasoline piston model of a tri-cycle. Mathematical model was formulated, solved and simulated using a Finite Element Method (FEM) in-built in the COMSOL Multiphysics software 4.3a to determine the temperature distribution and gradient of the piston model ranging from 523K – 673K. The parameters used for the simulation were liquid (Gasoline), Gases (Air) and Aluminium alloy UNSA96061 (Piston). The Completed mesh tetrahedral consists of 86225 elements and the number of degrees of freedom solved for were 18553 in 367 s (6 minutes, 7 seconds) in the mesh optimization. It was discovered from the results obtained that the temperature in the combustion chamber of the tricycle engine varies with respect to time, along the piston.The transient analysis from the time dependent solver revealed that the temperature of the piston at the TDC (Top Dead Centre) in the first power stroke is higher compared to the subsequent power strokes, which is an indication that more heat was transfer at subsequent power strokes. Probable recommendations were later made.Self-sponsore

COMPARISON OF ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENT PREDICTION MODELS FOR TWO-LANE HIGHWAY INTEGRATING TRAFFIC AND PAVEMENT CONDITION PARAMETERS

In Nigeria, literature on the integration of traffic of pavement condition and traffic characteristics in predicting road traffic accident frequency on 2-lane highways are scanty, hence this article to fill the gap. A comparison of road traffic accident frequency prediction models on IIesha-Akure-Owo road based on the data observed between 2012 and 2014 is presented. Negative Binomial (NB), Ordered Logistic (OL) and Zero Inflated Negative Binomial (ZINB) models were used to model the frequency of road traffic accident occurrence using road traffic accident data from the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and pavement conditions parameters from pavement evaluation unit of the Federal Ministry of Works, Kaduna. The explanatory variables were: annual average daily traffic (aadt), shoulder factor (sf), rut depth (rd), pavement condition index (pci), and international roughness index (iri). The explanatory variables that were statistically significant for the three models are aadt, sf and iri with the estimated coefficients having the expected signs. The number of road traffic accident on the road increases with the traffic volume and the international roughness index while it decreases with shoulder factor. The systematic variation explained by the models amounts to 87.7, 78.1 and 74.4% for NB, ZINB and OL respectively. The research findings suggest the accident prediction models that should be integrated into pavement rehabilitation.   Keywords: &nbsp

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES (ICTs) USAGE AND HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY STATUS OF MAIZE CROP FARMERS IN ONDO STATE, NIGERIA: IMPLICATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.

The poor performance of agricultural sector as a result of insufficient information has lead to food availability, access and utilization problems at the household and national levels. However, farming households have not maximally explored the full potential of ICT for accessing information related to food security. This study therefore, assessed ICT usage and household food security status of Maize crop farmers in Ondo State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was employed in selecting 212 maize farmers who were household heads. Structured interview schedule was used as data collection instrument. Descriptive statistics (frequency counts, percentages, Mean) and inferential statistics (binary logit regression) were used for data analysis. The finding revealed that cell phone (92.5%), radio (86.3%) and television (67.9%) were the most available ICT tools for accessing information on food security dimensions. More than half (52.4%) of the respondents were food insecure in the study area. Mean while, the estimates of Binary logit regression analysis showed that household size, membership of social organization, farm size, cell phone usage and perception towards contribution of ICT usage were found to have significant effect on household food security status. The study therefore recommended that extension institutions should concentrate on the identified ICT tools especially cell phones in disseminating relevant and timely information to farming households for sustainable food security. The poor performance of agricultural sector as a result of insufficient information has lead to food availability, access and utilization problems at the household and national levels. However, farming households have not maximally explored the full potential of ICT for accessing information related to food security. This study therefore, assessed ICT usage and household food security status of Maize crop farmers in Ondo State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was employed in selecting 212 maize farmers who were household heads. Structured interview schedule was used as data collection instrument. Descriptive statistics (frequency counts, percentages, Mean) and inferential statistics (binary logit regression) were used for data analysis. The finding revealed that cell phone (92.5%), radio (86.3%) and television (67.9%) were the most available ICT tools for accessing information on food security dimensions. More than half (52.4%) of the respondents were food insecure in the study area. Mean while, the estimates of Binary logit regression analysis showed that household size, membership of social organization, farm size, cell phone usage and perception towards contribution of ICT usage were found to have significant effect on household food security status. The study therefore recommended that extension institutions should concentrate on the identified ICT tools especially cell phones in disseminating relevant and timely information to farming households for sustainable food security

A quatitative approach for establishing safe weight of lift

The objective of this work was to formulate a mathematical model for predicting a safe weight of lift. Considering the intratruncal pressure, post-work height shrinkage of the worker and strain energy of the intervertebral disc, the SWL function was derived in terms of the Young Modulus of elasticity (E) of the articular cartilage (endplate of the disc); velocity of lift (u); acceleration due to gravity (g); vertical location of the load (V); horizontal length of the load from the ankles (H); vertical displacement of the load (D); the angle of lift ("theta") and the lifter’s anthropometric dimensions. To evaluate the function for a particular individual, the value of the length of the spine from the first thoracic to the last lumbar vertebrae, the heights just before the start and after the close of work were measured to determine the height shrinkage. Additionally, the breadth and depth of the trunk were measured. A range of values of the function parameters: V, H and D were adopted from National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), while E and U were also taken from the literature. SWL values were computed and compared to those of the Recommended Weight Limit (RWL) of NIOSH and Maximum Acceptable Weight of Lift (MAWL) from the literature. At an average height shrinkage of 0.014 m and a maximum permissible shrinkage of 0.21 m, the SWL and SWLMax values were significantly different (at 95% level confidence) from the corresponding RWL and the MAWL values

RESPONSE INTERACTION OF ARTERY UNDER MECHANICAL VIBRATION

Hypertension or high blood pressure, sometimes called arterial hypertension, is a chronic medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is elevated.  The aim of this work was to analyse mathematically the vibration of the artery and show its relationship to hypertension related cases.  Principles of conservation of mass and momentum inline with Euler-Bernoulis method were used.  By idealising the artery resting on the tissue as an elastic beam that is resting partially on an elastic continuum and simply supported, a boundary value partial differential equation governing the blood- artery- interaction mechanics was formulated. The governing partial differential  equation for the problem was obtained and after linearization was solved using integral methods of Fourier-Laplace Transform.  Simulations for some cases were carried out varying some choice parameters.  Findings show that natural frequency of the artery decreases with increase in the mean arterial pressure (MAP).  It was equally found out that vibration of the artery generally increases with increase in MAP and increase in mode.  It was thus concluded that mechanical vibration of the artery increases with increase in blood pressure, and continuous vibration can lead to fatigue and failure which can cause obstruction in the supply of blood to other parts of the body and may lead to stroke.     &nbsp

Assessment of Physicochemical Characteristics of Selected Borehole Waters in Oke-Oyi Community, Ilorin East Local Government Area, Kwara State

The physicochemical parameters of seven different borehole waters in Oke-Oyi, Ilorin East Local Government Area, Kwara State, Nigeria were assessed to determine it suitability for human consumption. The parameters examined include temperature (28 - 29⁰C), conductivity (414 - 1603 μs/cm), pH (5.71 - 6.57), total hardness (20.2 - 67.3 mg/L). The concentrations of heavy metals determined are Zn (0.010 – 0.022 mg/L), Fe (0.002 - 0.120 mg/L), Cr (0.075 - 0.12 mg/L), Cu (3x10-4 – 2x10-3 mg/L), Co (0.01 - 0.26 mg/L) and Mn (0.082 - 0.94 mg/L). There was no lead detected in two of the borehole water samples while those detected have low concentration range 1 x 10-5 – 6 x 10-5. The results of physicochemical parameters obtained are within World Health Organisation (WHO) limits except for the pH that is slightly lower and the conductivity of OKY 1 that is slightly higher. Keywords: Borehole water, physicochemical parameters, Heavy metals, Community, Qualit

Heat Transfer Analysis in Internal Combustion Engine Piston Using Comsol Multiphysics: A Case Study of Tri-Cycle

This present study is aimed at analyzing the heat transfer rate of an internal combustion engines piston using finite element methods (FEM).The transient nature of heat flowing involving more than single variable, complicated method of measuring temperature across the length of the liner and ambiguous boundary conditions pose serious problems for the analysis of heat transfer rate on the piston of an internal combustion engine using FEM (Finite Element Method). This present study analyzed the heat transfer rate on the piston of a Tri-cycle engine. The studied piston was selected based on its applications in automobile and other engineering applications. The analysis was basically on the transient state forced-convection and conduction heat transfer. As initial condition, the temperature distributions were considered along the piston at a range of 523K – 673K. The parameter used for the simulation were liquid (Gasoline), Gases (Air) and Aluminium silicon UNSA96061 (Piston). The modeling and simulation were performed by using COMSOL-Multiphysics 4.3a software. The mesh optimization was undertaken by using FEM techniques to predict the maximum and mimimum temperature on the piston at every stages of simulation with time dependent. It was discovered that the temperature along the piston of the try-cycle varies with respect to time. The transient analysis revealed that the temperature of the piston at the TDC (Top Dead Center) in the first power stroke is higher compare to the subsequent power strokes, which is an indication that more heat is transfer at subsequent power strokes. Probable recommendations were later made.Self-sponsore