Structural, Mineralogical and Quantitative Characterizations of Compositions of Products Linked to Explosive Volcanic Eruption at Haleakala, USA

This research focused the analysis vis-à-vis structural, mineralogical and quantitative characterizations of the samples which appeared to be formed from leftover of volcanic eruption sourced from basaltic magma obtained from Haleakala Hill, USA. The results show the presence of natural minerals like pyrolusite, zincite, magnetite, quartz, and diopside with their compositional concentrations in the samples. The geophysical analysis done corroborates the results obtained from the Scanning Electron Micrograph, which confirms the porosity of one of the samples. The X-Ray Diffraction results reveal the average grain sizes of the samples to range between 16 nm and 25 nm. Sample 'A' showed 4.693% weight increase, while sample 'B' showed 7.724% when soaked for some days. This research project prospects in harnessing natural minerals from products of volcanic eruption, though an occurrence regarded as a natural disaster. The work suggests an alternative route to mining of minerals, by exploring the contents of the products of this so-called disaster. Keywords: Volcanoes; Minerals; Magma; Characterization; Mining; Explosio

Coal Exploration using Electrical Resistivity Method in Some Parts of Benue Trough, Nigeria

Geoelectrical resistivity sounding technique was used to delineate the occurrence and extents of coal seam. Fifteen points were sounded with Schlumberger configuration in the suspected coal deposit site bounded by longitudes 7.344° E and 7.366° E, and latitudes 7.318° N and 7.33° N. The vertical electrical sounding (VES) data were analyzed and the corresponding geo-electric parameters at various depths were modeled. The earth model within the study area was correlated with available lithology of a nearby mine site. The sounding signatures are KQHK and KHK curve types which revealed five to six distinct geo-electrical equivalent layers. The wet to dry sandy topsoil has resistivity range of 300–1000 Ωm and average thickness of 1.5 m. Next is a layer with higher resistivity range (1000–20000 Ωm). This layer, which extends to 14 m depth, is considered probably to be laterite, patched with sand in some places. Underlain this is a shale formation that laterally sandwiched the coal seam. The thickness and resistivity range of the coal seam is 1.5–3.4 m and 778–103000 Ωm, respectively, while the shale domain has resistivity range of 99–898 Ωm. Therefore, it could be concluded that the coal seam occurrence take shale as host rock in the area and the largest deposit appeared at the Eastern part of the area. Keywords: Benue trough; Resistivity; Electrical sounding; Coal seam; Overburde

Archaeo-Geophysical Investigation of Simulated Settlement: Case Study in a Part of Basement Complex of Nigeria

We have used the 2D Vertical Electrical Sounding method and Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) method to map buried artifacts in a simulated settlement, and have shown how the geographical information system could aid future research. Stones, bones, metals, cement bricks, and cement-and-sand mixtures were locally constructed to fit into an African-archaeological setting. Parameters such as the materials’ composition, width, electrical resistivity, height, age, and depth of burial were taken into account before this investigation. The integrated methods employed collected data over the study area along with a pre-calculated dense network of parallel profiles. A total of eight (8) VES points and six (6) ERT profiles were obtained. The analysis and interpretation revealed that the VES yielded poor resolution for small-scale archaeological anomalies and could only be used fractionally for prospection whilst the ERT results were more suitable for delineation due to the high spatial resolution they provided. The field values correlated with other literature values. This research suggests that rapid significant prospection information, of any area under investigation, can easily be obtained from Google Earth time-lapse images and that its results will serve as a thorough reconnaissance in the search of prehistoric activities

Determination of Aquifer Parameters from Resistivity Data: A Case of University of Ilorin Campus, Northcentral Nigeria

A total of twenty-one (21) vertical electrical sounding (VES) data were acquired using Pz-02 resistivity meter within the Precambrian basement area of part of Ilorin Metropolis north central Nigeria to evaluate the hydraulic characteristics of aquifers. The Schlumberger configuration with half-current electrode separation (AB/2) varying from 1 m to 60 m was used. The aquifer hydraulic characteristics such as hydraulic conductivity K and transmissivity T (Ωm2) were calculated from the interpreted VES data using the concept of Dar-Zarrouk parameters. The data, processed with computer software IPI2WIN, indicated three to four geo-electric layers, namely; topsoil, clayey (wet to dry), weathered or fractured basement and fresh basement with resistivity values ranging from 130 to 1469 Ωm, 52.6 to 8552 Ωm, 46.2 to 249 Ωm and 454 to 5022 Ωm, respectively. The depth to aquifer ranges between 6.17 m and 24.9 m and the overburden thickness ranges between 4.1 m and 22.7 m. The assessment of the materials above the aquifers showed that longitudinal conductance lies between 0.02 and 0.468 Ω–1, transmissivity values vary from 246 to 2419.8 Ωm2. The results obtained have offered worthwhile hydrologic information that will aid both exploration and exploitation of the groundwater system of the study area. Keywords: Dar-Zarrouk parameters; aquifer; groundwater; VES; geoelectric laye

Cooling effect of some materials in clay composite bricks for tropical region

Thermal resistive effect of embedded materials in composite bricks resulting in cooling have been investigated. Different particulate materials and continuous aligned polyethylene fibers were used as supposed thermal resistors in preparing the bricks for houses in tropical region. The face change in temperature {Outside temperature(T1) – Inner Temperature (T2)} across the brick insulated with particulate wood dust, paper, PVC, palm kernel, glass and no-material are 27.9, 27.5, 19.0, 24.0, 25.5 and 26.6 °C respectively after 90 minutes and 26.2, 26.3, 17.9, 22.9 , 22.8 and 24 °C respectively after 120 minutes. It is observed that ΔT°C after 90 and 120 minutes are higher for wood dust and paper than brick with no-material but lower for PVC, palm kernel and glass. A high face change in temperature indicates a drop in temperature T2, resulting in cooling effect if used in building bricks. The same cooling effect was observed when continuous and aligned polyethylene fibers were used to make fiber – clay composite bricks. A side of each sample was subjected to heat of about 70°C and heat transferred measured at the other side as done for particulate embedded bricks. Change in temperature ΔT°C was found to increase with increasing quantity of polyethylene fibers embedded in the samples 34.2°C (0%), 35.4°C (0.5%), 35.5°C (1%), 35.7°C (1.5%), 36.6°C (2%) and 37.4°C (2.5%), these show that heat transfer decreases due to decrease in T2 with quantity of fiber. The result shows that the effect is continuous and tends to equilibrium and the change in temperature becomes steady with time

Adaptation of the Wound Healing Questionnaire universal-reporter outcome measure for use in global surgery trials (TALON-1 study): mixed-methods study and Rasch analysis

BackgroundThe Bluebelle Wound Healing Questionnaire (WHQ) is a universal-reporter outcome measure developed in the UK for remote detection of surgical-site infection after abdominal surgery. This study aimed to explore cross-cultural equivalence, acceptability, and content validity of the WHQ for use across low- and middle-income countries, and to make recommendations for its adaptation.MethodsThis was a mixed-methods study within a trial (SWAT) embedded in an international randomized trial, conducted according to best practice guidelines, and co-produced with community and patient partners (TALON-1). Structured interviews and focus groups were used to gather data regarding cross-cultural, cross-contextual equivalence of the individual items and scale, and conduct a translatability assessment. Translation was completed into five languages in accordance with Mapi recommendations. Next, data from a prospective cohort (SWAT) were interpreted using Rasch analysis to explore scaling and measurement properties of the WHQ. Finally, qualitative and quantitative data were triangulated using a modified, exploratory, instrumental design model.ResultsIn the qualitative phase, 10 structured interviews and six focus groups took place with a total of 47 investigators across six countries. Themes related to comprehension, response mapping, retrieval, and judgement were identified with rich cross-cultural insights. In the quantitative phase, an exploratory Rasch model was fitted to data from 537 patients (369 excluding extremes). Owing to the number of extreme (floor) values, the overall level of power was low. The single WHQ scale satisfied tests of unidimensionality, indicating validity of the ordinal total WHQ score. There was significant overall model misfit of five items (5, 9, 14, 15, 16) and local dependency in 11 item pairs. The person separation index was estimated as 0.48 suggesting weak discrimination between classes, whereas Cronbach's α was high at 0.86. Triangulation of qualitative data with the Rasch analysis supported recommendations for cross-cultural adaptation of the WHQ items 1 (redness), 3 (clear fluid), 7 (deep wound opening), 10 (pain), 11 (fever), 15 (antibiotics), 16 (debridement), 18 (drainage), and 19 (reoperation). Changes to three item response categories (1, not at all; 2, a little; 3, a lot) were adopted for symptom items 1 to 10, and two categories (0, no; 1, yes) for item 11 (fever).ConclusionThis study made recommendations for cross-cultural adaptation of the WHQ for use in global surgical research and practice, using co-produced mixed-methods data from three continents. Translations are now available for implementation into remote wound assessment pathways