Study on Intestinal Helminthoses and the Efficacy of Anthelminthoses Drugs among School Children in Girei Local Government Area, Adamawa State

Intestinal helminthoses have adverse effects on the physical and mental development in poorly nourished community populations. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of helminthoses and to evaluate the efficacy of two antihelminthoses drugs (albendazole and levamisole) among school aged pupils in Girei local government area of Adamawa State, Nigeria. A total of 384 primary school pupils were randomly selected from six public primary schools in Girei local government area of Adamawa state. Statistical tools used for data collection was a structured questionnaire, while simple percentages and chi-square test of association were used for data analysis with the help of statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 26. Clean plastic containers were distributed to the participants at enrollment with detailed instructions about the procedure for stool specimen collection. All stool samples were collected early in the morning and conserved in ice boxes before transportation to the laboratory. Each specimen was examined for the presence of intestinal parasitic organisms by the concentration techniques and kato-katz was used for egg count. The age specific prevalence were 21.1% among pupils with age 6-9 years, 17.1% among pupils with age ≥10 years and 10.4% among the youngest children ≤ 5years of age. Keywords:  Intestinal Helmnthosis, Efficacy; Anthelminthic; Drug

Development of amino resin for emulsion paint formulation: reactive blending of methylol urea with soybean oil

In this work, methylol urea resin (MUR) was reactively blended with various concentrations (0 - 35%) of soybean oil (SBO) in order to formulate a new two-component polymer system for application as acoating agent for emulsion paint formulation. Formaldehyde emission and some physical properties of the blended resin were evaluated. Moisture uptake and density decreased with increase in the SBOcontent in the blend. Elongation at break and viscosity also decreased initially before a gradual increase was observed as the SBO content increases. Refractive index, melting point and dry time initially increased but gradually decreased with increase in SBO content. The interactions between the two different polymers show that 25% of SBO was the optimal loading inclusion. The values of moistureuptake, formaldehyde emission, melting point and elongation at break which were 1.3%, 0.05 ppm, 120oC, and 140%, respectively, are within acceptable levels required in the coating industry. Theadvantages of this new system are low formaldehyde emission and water reduction characteristics. The polymer blend may therefore be recommended as binder for the coating industry

Study of a composite from reactive blending of methylol urea resin with natural rubber

This study was designed to study some physical properties of a composite derivable from reactive blending of methylol urea resin (MUR) with natural rubber (NR). Formaldehyde emission, decreased with increase in NR concentration in the blend. Elongation at break and viscosity recorded an initial increase but gradually decreased with increase in NR concentration. The melting point however showed an opposite behavior. The incorporation of NR significantly lowered both the refractive index and the density of this composite. The highest viscosity was recorded at 50:50% blend ratio. Formaldehyde emission level, moisture uptake and elongation at break recorded for this composite are within acceptable levels required in the coating industry. Also water resistant and flexibility compared favorably with those of conventional paint binders. The low refractive index may be favorable for low gloss coating at low pigmentation levels of coating systems

Development of amino resin for paint formulation: Copolymerization of methylol urea with polyester

In our continuous efforts to develop a paint binder from amino resin, a low formaldehyde emission methyol urea-triethanolamine (MUT) composite was synthesized through in situ esterification of formaldehyde with triethanolamine (TEA) and subsequent copolymerization of the synthesized polyester with methylol urea. The effects of addition of TEA on the polymerization process on some physical properties of the synthesized copolymer were evaluated. The copolymer was characterized by IR spectroscopy and macro phase separation techniques. At a given TEA concentration, the composite exhibited macro phase separation behavior between that of pure methylol urea and pure polyester. The IR spectra show the presence of the polyester moiety in the composite. The values of moisture uptake, formaldehyde emission, melting point and elongation at break of the copolymer were within the acceptable levels required in the coating industry. Therefore, the methylol urea/polyester copolymer resin could be a potential candidate as a binder for the coating industry

Intestinal parasitic infection associated with risk factors among school aged children in Girei, Adamawa state, Nigeria

Infections with Intestinal helminths have long been recognized as a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa. School-aged children are known to be particularly susceptible to illness caused by these pathogens. The goal of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of Intestinal helminthes among school-aged children in Girei Local Government Area. From January to February 2021, 384 randomly selected primary school children within the ages of 5 to 14 years from six primary schools participated in a cross-sectional survey primary school children within the ages of 5 to 14 years from six primary schools participated in a cross-sectional survey, A systematic questionnaire was designed and used to collect data on risk factors related to Intestinal parasitic infections from the children's caregivers. The Smear Method was used to analyse the stool samples. SPSS was used to analyze the data. Of the total 384 samples examined, helminths were found in 47.7% (183/384) of the cases. Others include: Ascaris lumbricoides 39.3%, hookworm in 30.6 %, Trichuris trichiura in 20.2% and coinfection 9.8 %. The severity of the infection ranged from mild to moderate. Failing to wash hands before eating (0.035, P<0.05), failure to wash fruits and vegetables before eating (0.04329; P<0.005), type of toilets used (0.00328; P<0.005), and the presence of faeces around home environment (0.00419; P<0.005) and not wearing of footwear (0.01529; P>0.005) were all significant risk factors for the infections. To eliminate Intestinal helminths in the area, preventive chemotherapy and adequate sanitation measures should be promoted

Application of methylol urea/natural rubber copolymer composite for emulsion paint formulation

This work is a follow up to our quest to develop emulsion paint from amino resin. Both pure urea methylol (MU) and methylol urea/Nature rubber (MU/NR) blend were prepared. Some physico-chemical properties such as viscosity, melting point, moisture uptake, refractive index, density, elongation at break and formaldehyde emission of both MU and MU/NR were evaluated. The result revealed that MU/NR blend possesses better water resistant, hardness, flexibility and low formaldehyde mission while the pure MU gave better refractive index. Emulsion paints were also formulated from both resins and some physico-chemical properties namely pH, viscosity, flexibility, hardness, tackiness, resistance to blistering, dry time, gloss and storage stability were investigated. Emulsion paint derived from MU/NR binder except for gloss passed the entire test conducted while the one from pure MU binder failed flexibility, adhesion, hardness, tackiness and dry time. This work presents MU/NR paint as a high quality one and hence, may introduce a novel emulsion paint derived from MU/NR binder into the coating industry. Key words: Amino resin, methylol urea, natural rubber, binder, emulsion paint

The application of tannin extract from Anogeissus leiocarpus plant as wood adhesives

This work reports the extraction and application of tannins as wood- adhesives from Anogeissus leiocarpus plant using water, acetone or a mixture of these as solvent. In terms of the quantity of extracts from polyphenolic extract of Anogeissus leiocarpus bark, water was the most effective solvent, followed sequentially by acetone and solvent mixture (90% acetone and 10% water). The use of solvent mixture in tannin extraction yielded high tannin content. The poly condensation reaction of Anogeissus leiocarpus bark extract is influenced significantly by amount of formaldehyde (9.0 ml), tannin (2.5 g), glycerol (0.6 ml), cure temperature 80OC, types and pH 7.5 of the adhesive medium. Adhesive joint of significant bond strength were obtained from Anogeissus leiocarpus tannin adhesive. Prolonged cure periods particularly at elevated temperature have adverse effect on the strength properties of these joints, especially with wood- panels as substrates. Joint prepared with adhesive derived from these extracts were tested for strength properties.Keywords: Anogeissus leiocarpus, tannin, polycondensation, Formaldehyde, cure temperature

Studies on the chemical composition and physicochemical properties of the seeds of baobab ( Adasonia digitata)

The seeds of baobab used in preparation of local condiments was analysed to establish the proximate composition and the physico-chemical characteristics of the oil and effect of storage on the oil. Results obtained showed that the saponification value (SV), iodine value (IV), peroxide value (PV), acid value (AV), percentage free fatty acid (%FFA) and refractive index of the oil are 196 ± 0.05 mg/KOH, 87 ± 0.02 g/100 g, 4.5 ± 0.06 mEq/kg, 0.33 ± 0.03 mgKOH/g, 0.45 ± 0.08 and 1.459 ± 0.13, respectively. Proximate analysis showed that protein (21.75 ± 0.12 g/100 g), ash (5.01 ± 0.07 g/100 g) and fiber (6.71 ± 0.003 g/100 g) were comparable to Prosopsis africana seeds (20.54 ± 0.18, 6.67 ± 0.08 and 5.51 g/100g), which is used for the same purpose. The crude lipid content (12.72 ± 0.01 g/100 g) was almost equal to that of P. africana seeds (12.74 g/100 g). The major mineral elements present in the seeds included phosphorus,calcium and potassium (6.00 ± 0.02, 58.90 ± 2.34 and 280.00 ± 1.34 mg/100 g, respectively), thereby suggesting that the baobab seeds could contribute partially to the overall daily intake of theseelements. The vitamins (A and C) found present in baobab seeds are higher than that of P. africana seeds. The antinutritional factors including oxalate, phytate, saponin and tannin (10.31 ± 1.00, 2.00 ±0.31, 7.16 ± 0.01, 2.84 ± 0.30%, respectively) are also comparable to that of P. Africana. The storage property of the oil from baobab seeds studied over a period of four weeks under conditions of light(ambient), darkness (ambient), and refrigeration showed that the iodine value of the oil decreased in all cases but much more so on exposure to light. In contrast, the peroxide value of the oil showed verylittle change under conditions of darkness and refrigeration over the same period, thus indicating that the oil can withstand storage

Development of amino resins for emulsion paint formulation: effect of aldelhydic group and degree of substitution

In our continuous effort to develop a paint binder from amino resins, amino resins from different aldehydic groups were synthesized to produce urea, formaldehyde (UF), urea acetaldehyde (UA), ureaproparaldehyde (UP) and urea butaldehyde (UB) at different degree of substitution (Mono – tetra). Some physical properties of these resins were evaluated. The viscosity, gel time, density and refractive indexof the resins (except UB) were found to increase with increase in alkyl length of the aldehydic group while turbidity (except UF) increased with increase in alkyl length of the aldehydic group. On the otherhand, melting point and moisture uptake decreases with increase in alkyl length of the aldehydic group. In the case of the degree of substitution the viscosity, turbidity, melting point and moisture uptakeincreases with increase in the degree of substitution while the gel time and refractive index were found to decrease with increase in the degree of substitution. However, an initial rise followed by a gradualfall was recorded for density for the different degree of substitution for all the resins. Samples for UF and UA with the exception of monoethylol urea were too hard brittle and has low water resistance whilethose of UP and UB resins were too soft and remained as semi solid in the cured state at room temperature (30oC). This result indicates that these resins cannot be used alone as paint binder.However, monoethylol urea seems to have sieved itself out as a compromise candidate who is neither brittle nor too soft. A comparison of monoethylol urea with some physical properties of someconvectional paint binders present it as a potential binder which may be used in the coating industry

Formulation of Emulsion Paint from a Copolymer Composite of Dimethylol Urea/Polystyrene

Dimethylol urea (DMU) with reduced formaldehyde emission was synthesized in this work and copolymerized by blending with polystyrene (PS) obtained by constituting waste expanded polystyrene into liquid form. The determined physical properties of the copolymer composite (i.e. DMU/PS) compared to the pure DMU revealed improvements in its disadvantageous properties such as hardness and moisture uptake. Paint samples were formulated using the pure DMU, DMU/PS and commercially obtained acrylic PVA binder resin, and analyzed. While the DMU/PS and APVA paints passed, the pure DMU failed such critical coating tests as flexibility, adhesion and blistering. Again, the DMU/PS and PVA paints show good chemical resistance while the DMU paint blisters in the alkaline medium. However, all paint samples passed tackiness, opacity and stability, and exhibit acceptable pH, viscosity, and drying time. Keywords: Dimethylol urea, Polystyrenes, Copolymer composite, Emulsion pain