Investigation of eco-friendly cellulosic nanoparticles potential as reinforcement agent in the production of natural rubber composites

This research focuses on the use of cellulosic nanoparticles obtained from coconut husk, bamboo and cotton linter as reinforcing phase in natural rubber composites with the objective to study the effect of these cellulosic particles and loading ratio on the mechanical, thermal and morphological properties of the resultant composites. Vulcanized natural rubber composites were prepared using cellulosic nanoparticles obtained from bamboo (BNC), coconut husk (CHNC), cotton linter (CLNC) and carbon black (CB) as reinforcing material/fillers. These reinforcing material/fillers were compounded alongside with vulcanizing agents using two roll mixing mill and subsequently cured in order to introduce crosslinks into rubber chains. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) revealed that the free volume holes in the neat rubber were drastically reduced by incorporation of these nanoparticles into the rubber matrix. The differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) study showed a slight shift in the melting temperature of bamboo based composite from 360 to 350 oC while thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that the incorporation of bamboo and cotton linter based nanoparticles shifted the thermal stability of neat rubber matrix from 266 to 299 and 300 oC respectively. Coconut husk based composites showed a trend of increase in tensile strength from 1.8 to 3.82 MPa with filler loading of 0 to 25 weight %, while bamboo, cotton linter and carbon black based nanocomposites gave their highest values of 3.16, 3.92 and 4.50 MPa respectively at filler content of 30 weight %.Cellulosic nanoparticles obtained from biomass studied in this experiment can replace or serve as alternative materials to carbon black especially in moderate load bearing rubber articlesKeywords: Mechanical Properties; Cellulosic Nanoparticles; Rubber-Matrix Composites; Carbon Blac

EFFECT OF NUTRITION EDUCATION ON NUTRITIONAL KNOWLEDGE OF RURAL PREGNANT WOMEN IN ENUGU STATE

The study investigated the effect of nutrition education on nutrition knowledge of rural pregnant women in Enugu State. Ten research questions guided the study and ten null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. Quasi-experimental research design was adopted for this study. The population of the study comprised all the 17,164 registered pregnant women in the eight public antenatal clinic centres in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State. The sample for the study comprised 851 registered pregnant women drawn using multistage sampling procedure. The instrument for data collection was ‘‘Nutritional Knowledge Test (NKT). The instruments were subjected to face and content validity by three experts, two from the Department of Human Promotion and Public Health Education and one from the Department of Educational Foundations, NnamdiAzikiwe University. The reliability of the instrument was established using Kudder-Richard 20 statistics which yielded coefficient of 0.94. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions and the hypotheses were tested using the Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). The findings of the study revealed among others that the nutritional knowledge mean scores of rural pregnant women of different levels of education and occupation in the experimental were greater than that of the control groups after nutrition education intervention. It was also found that there was significant difference in the nutritional knowledge mean scores of rural pregnant women of both experimental and control groups after nutrition education intervention. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that health personnel should organize regular interactive sessions for nutrition education intervention to pregnant women during antenatal period in clinic or any health-care facility

Effects of Concept Mapping Instruction Approach on Students’ Achievement in Basic Science

The study investigated the effects of concept mapping on students’ achievement in basic science. The study was carried out in Ebonyi State of Nigeria. The study employed a quasi experimental design. Specifically the pretest posttest non-equivalent control group research design was used. The sample was 122 students selected from two secondary schools drawn from the population through a simple random sampling. One school was used for treatment and the other for control. The treatment group was taught basic science with concept mapping approach while the other was taught with conventional method. Three research questions and three null hypotheses guided the study. Mean, standard deviation and the Analysis of Co-Variance (ANCOVA) were used to analyze data. Results showed that concept mapping fosters students’ achievement in basic science than conventional method. It boosts the achievement of both male female students in the subject. In addition there is no interaction between gender and teaching methods on students’ achievement in basic science. Keywords: Concept Mapping, Achievement, Basic Science, Conventional Metho

Treatment of spent engine oil (spent SAE W50) via solvent extraction- adsorption process for the production of transfer oil: Physico-chemical properties of the adsorbents

Regeneration of base oil from spent engine oil (spent SAE W50) for transfer oil production has been investigated using the solvent extraction-adsorption method. Solvent treated base oil regenerated from spent SAE W50 was treated with activated carbon (AC) from Penthaclatra macophylla pod (PMP) and activated clay (ACL) from Ukpor clay. The oil was characterized before and after treatment for heavy metals content, kinematic viscosity, viscosity index, specific gravity, and pour point. The carbon and clay were characterized using FTIR, BET, SEM-EDX, XRF, and XRD. Characterization results revealed the required properties of the adsorbents that make them capable of adhering impurities to their active sites. Results obtained showed that the optimum conditions for the regeneration of base oil from spent SAE W50 was a temperature of 110 °C, an adsorbent dosage of 5% w/v and a contact time 60 min, with 98% removal of impurities using the mixture of AC and ACL (AC-ACL). The transfer oil was obtained using a blend of the recovered base oil and virgin oil (150 N) at the ratio of 1:1.2. The blend gave the required properties for a transfer oil of similar quality to ISO VG 46

Treatment of spent engine oil (spent SAE W50) via solvent extraction- adsorption process for the production of transfer oil: Physico-chemical properties of the adsorbents

Regeneration of base oil from spent engine oil (spent SAE W50) for transfer oil production has been investigated using the solvent extraction-adsorption method. Solvent treated base oil regenerated from spent SAE W50 was treated with activated carbon (AC) from Penthaclatra macophylla pod (PMP) and activated clay (ACL) from Ukpor clay. The oil was characterized before and after treatment for heavy metals content, kinematic viscosity, viscosity index, specific gravity, and pour point. The carbon and clay were characterized using FTIR, BET, SEM-EDX, XRF, and XRD. Characterization results revealed the required properties of the adsorbents that make them capable of adhering impurities to their active sites. Results obtained showed that the optimum conditions for the regeneration of base oil from spent SAE W50 was a temperature of 110 °C, an adsorbent dosage of 5% w/v and a contact time 60 min, with 98% removal of impurities using the mixture of AC and ACL (AC-ACL). The transfer oil was obtained using a blend of the recovered base oil and virgin oil (150 N) at the ratio of 1:1.2. The blend gave the required properties for a transfer oil of similar quality to ISO VG 46

Vaccine-related knowledge and utilization of childhood immunization among mothers in urban Lagos

Background: Immunization is the single most costeffective preventive health intervention which saves the lives of 2 -3 million children annually. Theunsatisfactory immunization coverage numbers have unsurprisingly resulted in abysmal child mortality figures across the country.  This study aims to assess mother’s knowledge and immunization utilization among underfives in an urban community. Methods: A descriptive crosssectional study was carried out among 232 mothers of under- five children in an urban community in Lagos State. A multistage sampling technique was used to select the respondents. A semistructured interviewer administered questionnaire was used as the survey tool for data collection and a checklist for sighted immunization cards. The entry and analysis of the data was done using EPI – Info Version 7.2.1.0 software computer program. Chi square was used to test association. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: All respondents were aware of immunization. Just over half (53.9%) of the respondents had good knowledge about immunization. Less than half (42.5%) of the under-five children were fully immunized. The vaccines most missed were oral polio and pentavalent vaccines. There was a statistically significant association between knowledge of mothers and the immunization status of their children (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results indicate that mothers with good knowledge of different aspects of immunization were more likely to have fully vaccinated children. It is recommended that health workers enlighten mothers on the benefit of each vaccine. Key words: Immunization, Underfive, Utilization, Vaccination, Knowledge &nbsp

Noise pollution and control: Implication for safety Education

Noise pollution or noise disturbance is the disturbing or excessive noise that may harm the activity or balance of Human or animal . The fact is that we can't see , taste or smell it may help explain why it has not received as much attention as other type of pollution. Some causes of Noise pollution include industrization, poor urban planning, social events ,transportation, construction activities and household choirs . The health effects of Noise pollution includes anxiety and stress reactions also fright, headache, irritability and nervousness. Noise pollution can be prevented

Theories and Models as Vehicles for Health Communication and promotion in contemporary Nigeria

Human communication is about producing and exchanging information and meaning using signs and symbols. Health Communication is the study and practice of communicating promotional health information such as in public Health campaigns ,health education between Doctor and patient. The purpose of spreading the health information is to influence personal health choices by improving health literacy. Three theories were used to illustrate the importance of the use of theories in communication for health promotion it includes; Bandura social learning theory, the trans-theoretical model and health belief model. It was recommended that theories and models should be frequently used in the area of Health Education and promotion

Environmental impacts of crude oil spillages on water in Ibeno local government area of Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria

Crude oil spillage has been identified to be a regular occurrence in Upenekang village in Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. This study has been carried out to find out the effect of crude oil spill on stream water and the environmental impact it has on the area. Using water samples obtained at varying distances from the spill site, the effects of the crude oil spill on the surface and underground stream water at the spill site were investigated by testing for the presence as well as the concentrations of toxic heavy metal pollutants. Analyses were also carried out for water conductivity, pH, temperature, hardness, total solids, total dissolved solids, turbidity, suspended solids, dissolved oxygen, carbon dioxide, COD, BOD, THC, sodium, magnesium, calcium, sulphate, nitrate, iron, copper, lead, chromium and cadmium concentrations using standard methods. The pH of all the samples of both the surface and underground stream water obtained at the spill site were observed to be acidic with very low dissolved oxygen, low COD, low BOD, high hydrocarbon content, high total dissolved solids, high water hardness and high toxic heavy metal concentrations (iron, copper, lead, chromium and cadmium) investigated for, all above admissible concentrations by World Health Organization’s standards. A one-way ANOVA showed that there is no significant influence of distance away from spill on the level of heavy metals in the water samples collected in the study area.Keywords: Crude oil spill, Upenekang, Water, WHO, ANOVA