New Automated Free Weight Device for Weightlifting and Resistance Training

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Knowledge and practice of cervical cancer screening using pap smear among women attending antenatal clinic at Aba, south-eastern Nigeria

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Biologically Active Solid Deposits in Biocide treated Oil and Gas pipelines from a Nigerian Onshore Oil Production Facility

Pipelines transporting crude oil, produced water and gas from an onshore oil producing facility in Nigeria are subject to frequent corrosion failures despite treatment programs with chlorine (0.5mg L-1) and sodium azide (0.2 mg L-1). Solid deposit samples from 6 corroded pipelines were analyzed chemically and biologically to determine whether the corrosion episodes were as a result of microbial activity. Microbiological analysis showed relatively high concentrations of microorganisms associated with corrosion such as SRBs (103-105 cell g-1) and APBs (103-107 cells g-1) while chemical analysis showed evidence of corrosion products such as iron II, calcium, sulfide, carbonate and bicarbonate. Chemical analysis also revealed that environmental conditions such as availability of nutrients, pH, moisture and redox potential were favorable for the growth and proliferation of these microorganisms. All the pipeline samples that were investigated recorded remarkable corrosion rates that ranged from 0.065-0.30 mm yr-1 but the rates were higher in chloride treated pipelines. Our investigation revealed that the solid deposit samples were biologically active and pipeline corrosion was as a result of microbial activity. Thus the prevalence of bio-corrosion is likely to be higher in cases where routine pipeline cleaning and checks are not strictly adhered to despite regular biocide treatment program

The bio-corrosive nature of injection water sources used in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.

The bio-corrosive nature of injection water used in the Nigerian oil and gas industry from different sources such as seawater, produced water, brackish water, fresh and underground water were investigated with special emphasis on some of their components which enhance corrosion such as microbial activity, dissolved oxygen and presence of dissolved substances such as chlorides, sulfates and ammonia. Our investigation reveals that seawater, produced water and brackish water had higher salinity, conductivity, concentrations of dissolved oxygen, TDS, sulfate, organic nutrients, sulphate reducing bacteria (SRB), acid producing bacteria (APB) and higher corrosion rates (0.24-0.56 mm yr-1) than fresh and underground water whose corrosion rates ranged between 0.06-0.08 mm yr-1. Our study also established high correlation between corrosion rates and the concentrations of Fe2+, SRB, APB, TDS, DO and conductivity in all injection water samples examined in the study. The role of microorganisms in enhancing corrosion was also clearly established in some samples

COMPARING NETWORK DESIGN APPROACHES IN AREAL RAINFALL ESTIMATE OF NIGERIA RIVER BASINS

This work shows the importance of rain gauge network analysis in the determination of the number of rain gauges that will accurately estimate the mean rainfall of an area. This research therefore looked at the two design approaches viz weighted and non-weighted approaches that will best estimate the number of rain gauges required in a catchment area. From this, it was established that the 87 existing and operating rain gauges in Nigeria is grossly inadequate and hence the need to improve the density to meet World Meteorological Organization (WMO) minimum requirement for the country’s geographical location. To do this, the reallocated existing and operating rain gauges is added to the optimum results obtained through the weighted and non-weighted design approaches and hence improve on the existing network density. It is expected that financial considerations may play a role in determining the total number of gauges chosen for the country hence should be determine

Children as agents of sanitation and hygiene behaviour change

This paper focuses on promotion of sanitation and hygiene education among school children with a goal of enhancing positive knowledge, attitudes and skills that help encourage them to become agents of hygiene behaviour change in their schools, homes and communities. It addresses why schools; and children and how children are becoming agents of change

Determination of The Hydraulic Conductivity, Transmissivity And The Environment of Deposition of Owelli Sandstone, in Anambra Basin, Southeastern Nigeria, Using Grain Size Distribution Analysis

This study estimated hydraulic conductivity, transmissivity, and interpreted the environment of deposition of the Owelli Sandstone in Mbanabor area of Anambra Basin, Southeastern Nigeria. These were achieved using grain size distribution analysis, and borehole lithological logs. The results indicated that values of hydraulic conductivity (m/s) and transmissivity (m2/s) range between 2.89 x 10-2 – 1.52 x 10-1, and 4.8 x 10-1 - 5.3 x10-1, respectively, indicating prevalence of aquifer of good performance. The aquifer units are predominantly unconfined, with variable thicknesses and depth of occurrence. The values of the mean, sorting, skewness and kurtosis, from sieve data range between 0.2 - 0.9Φ, 0.49 - 1.97Φ, -0.05 - 0.21Φ and 0.96 - 1.52Φ respectively. Multivariate discriminate functions revealed that Owelli Sandstone may have been deposited dominantly by beach process, in shallow agitated marine, and shallow marine environment. Key words: Hydraulic Conductivity, Transmissivity, Owelli Sandstone, Anambra Basin, Depositional Environment

Pregnancy outcome in booked and unbooked mothers in Southeastern Nigeria

Background: In order for individual health institutions in Nigeria to contribute towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) with regards to maternal health, there is need for research on the local causes of and factors influencing adverse maternal outcomes. This would enable care providers and policy makers appreciate the burden of the problem and know where to focus as they distribute resources.Objectives: To compare the socio-demographical characteristics, obstetrical complications and foetal outcome in booked verses unbooked mothers who delivered at this hospital.Design: A hospital based retrospective study.Setting: The Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), Aba in South Eastern Nigeria.Subjects: Three thousand, seven hundred and thirty four mothers who delivered in the hospital between 1st January 2005 and 31st December 2007.Results: Unbooked mothers constituted 17.0% of the 3734 deliveries in the studied period. Compared to booked mothers, unbooked mothers were younger in age (28.2 ± 5.80 vs. 29.3 ± 6.04; p < 0.001) and had a lower educational status (