Biosorption of Phosphate Ion on Albizia Lebbeck Seed Pod with and Without Organic Acid Modification

This study uses batch experiment to compare the binding efficiency of phosphate onto Albizia lebbeck (ALB) pod with and without citric acid (CALB) or tartaric acid (TALB) modification. The residual phosphate concentration was analyzed using ascorbic acid method and the generated data were fitted into equilibrium isotherms and kinetics models. Intra-particle diffusion model was used to describe the biosorption mechanism. Characterization by FTIR spectroscopy and SEM shows that modification was successful. The maximum biosorption capacity occurred at biosorbent dosage of 0.5 g for ALB and 1.0 g for CALB and TALB. At optimum pH for each biosorbents, phosphate biosorption capacity is in the order ALB>CALB>TALB. Equilibrium time of 90, 150 and 60 minutes were recorded for phosphate on ALB, CALB and TALB respectively. The biosorption capacity increases as the initial anion concentration increases with highest biosorption capacity of 5.296 mg/g for ALB. Langmuir isotherm describes CALB data while TALB data fits Freundlich. Results from this study suggest that unmodified Albizia lebbeck can be used as a low-cost, highly-efficient biosorbent for phosphate removal in effluents

Equilibrium, Kinetic and Thermodynamic Studies of Biosorption of Methylene Blue on Goethite Modified Baobab Fruit Pod ( Adansonia Digitata L.)

Methylene Blue (MB) was adsorbed from aqueous solution using Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) fruit pod and its goethite modified form. Adsorbents were characterized using Fourier Transform-Infra Red (FT-IR) spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Batch experiments were conducted at room temperature (26.8 \ub0C) and the adsorption data were fitted using Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherms. Also, kinetic data was fitted using Pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order, Elovich and intra-particle diffusion models. Goethite modified baobab (GMB) appeared to have a coarse microporous surface with smoother surface and larger pore volumes compared to unmodified baobab (UB). The \u2013C=O band was observed at 1631 and 1636 cm-1 for UB and GMB. The \u2013OH band was observed at 3447.00 cm-1 and 3442 cm-1 for UB and GMB respectively. Langmuir model was suitable for describing the adsorption data of UB with R2 of 0.9293 while Temkin model was best for fitting adsorption data of MB on GMB with R2 of 0.9691. However, maximum adsorption capacity was obtained with Freundlich adsorption isotherm (15.4253 and 43.1301 mg/g for UB and GMB respectively). The maximum biosorption were 8.98 mg/g and 9.86 mg/g for UB and GMB respectively at pH 10. Pseudo-second-order kinetic model best fitted the kinetic data with R2 values of 0.9968 and 0.9993 for UB and GMB, \uf044Ho values were 83.123 KJ/mol and 361.094 KJ/mol for UB and GMB, while \uf044So values were 3.084 J/mol/K and 1.765 J/mol/K for UB and GMB respectively. GMB adsorbed more of MB than UB and the process was endothermic

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Background: Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. // Methods: We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung's disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. // Findings: We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung's disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middle-income countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in low-income countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. // Interpretation: Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

A systematic review of faculty development activities in family medicine

Background: Faculty development (FD) has been defined as a planned programme to prepare institutions and faculty members for their roles in the areas of teaching, research, administration and career management. However, there are few generalisable evaluations of FD activities available to help family medicine FD planners to choose the most effective training strategies. Aim: To assess the evidence for the effectiveness of family medicine FD activities. Method: Six electronic databases were searched from 1980 to 2010 and included all articles on FD interventions in family medicine. Hand searching was also undertaken. Results: A total of 4520 articles were identified, 46 fulfilled the search criteria and were reviewed across three domains: (a) Context, i.e. setting, participation and funding. (b)Content/Process, i.e. theoretical framework, focus of intervention/learning outcomes, types of FD intervention and instructional methods. (c) Evaluation using Freeth et al's adaptation of Kirkpatrick's outcome levels. Conclusion: FD activities appear highly valued by the participants, leading to changes in learning and behaviour. Changes in organisational practice and student learning were not frequently reported. The continued success of family medicine FD will depend on the contextual approach/collegial support, adaptability of the programmes, robust evaluation and adequate funding in terms of resources and time