THE POTENTIAL USE OF FONIO HUSK ASH AS A POZZOLANA IN CONCRETE

Fonio husk, an agro-waste was incinerated up to a temperature of 6000C and converted into ash. The Fonio Husk Ash (FHA) was used as a partial replacement for Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) in concrete. The use was expected to reduce environmental pollution and cost on cement.  The replacement levels of 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% ash were used. The chemical constituents of the FHA as determined from an X-Ray diffraction analyzer included SiO2 (59.45%), Al2O3 (8.19%), K2O (5.20), Fe2O3 (3.51%), CaO (2.70%) and MgO (1.92%). The combined percent of SiO2, Al2O3 and Fe2O3 of 71.14% is above the 70% benchmark for a pozzolana material. The Initial and Final Setting Times of the FHA-Cement paste increased with the increase of FHA up to an optimum of 15% replacement before decreasing. The values were 190 minutes and 205minutes respectively at 5% replacements, and higher than those for plain cement which were 145 and 195 minutes respectively.  For 1:2:4 mixes, the FHA Concrete (FHAC) gave compressive strength values in the range of 26.89 N/mm2 for 5% ash and 10.00 N/mm2 for 25% ash at 28 days curing period. The plain concrete had a value of 24.98N/mm2. The trend showed that 10% FHA should not be exceeded for an optimum strength value. The flexural strength values decreased with increase in FHA replacement. The density also followed the trend though marginally. The FHAC will be suitable for mass concreting and use in hot weather.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njt.v35i1.

Global patient outcomes after elective surgery: prospective cohort study in 27 low-, middle- and high-income countries.

BACKGROUND: As global initiatives increase patient access to surgical treatments, there remains a need to understand the adverse effects of surgery and define appropriate levels of perioperative care. METHODS: We designed a prospective international 7-day cohort study of outcomes following elective adult inpatient surgery in 27 countries. The primary outcome was in-hospital complications. Secondary outcomes were death following a complication (failure to rescue) and death in hospital. Process measures were admission to critical care immediately after surgery or to treat a complication and duration of hospital stay. A single definition of critical care was used for all countries. RESULTS: A total of 474 hospitals in 19 high-, 7 middle- and 1 low-income country were included in the primary analysis. Data included 44 814 patients with a median hospital stay of 4 (range 2-7) days. A total of 7508 patients (16.8%) developed one or more postoperative complication and 207 died (0.5%). The overall mortality among patients who developed complications was 2.8%. Mortality following complications ranged from 2.4% for pulmonary embolism to 43.9% for cardiac arrest. A total of 4360 (9.7%) patients were admitted to a critical care unit as routine immediately after surgery, of whom 2198 (50.4%) developed a complication, with 105 (2.4%) deaths. A total of 1233 patients (16.4%) were admitted to a critical care unit to treat complications, with 119 (9.7%) deaths. Despite lower baseline risk, outcomes were similar in low- and middle-income compared with high-income countries. CONCLUSIONS: Poor patient outcomes are common after inpatient surgery. Global initiatives to increase access to surgical treatments should also address the need for safe perioperative care. STUDY REGISTRATION: ISRCTN5181700

Kuluttajabarometri maakunnittain 2000, 2. neljännes

Suomen virallinen tilasto (SVT

Use of failure-to-rescue to identify international variation in postoperative care in low-, middle- and high-income countries: a 7-day cohort study of elective surgery

This was an investigator-initiated study funded by Nestle Health Sciences through an unrestricted research grant and by a National Institute for Health Research (UK) Professorship held by R.P. The study was sponsored by Queen Mary University of London