Optimization of Sampling Conditions to Minimize the Adverse Effect of Sulfur Dioxide on the Ability of the Ontario-Hydro Method to Accurately Distinguish the Chemical Forms of Mercury in Coal Flue Gas

The goal of the work presented in this paper was the identification and quantification of various chemical forms of mercury in coal flue gas. To this end, bench-scale evaluations were carried out on the Ontario-Hydro Method to determine its capability to selectively isolate and retain various mercury species captured from flue gas streams containing moderate to high levels of sulfur dioxide (SO{sub 2}). Loss of mercury from the oxidized mercury capture solutions through chemical reduction by sulfur dioxide has been documented previously from both bench- and pilot- scale studies. Results from recent studies, giving further verification of this phenomenon with emphasis on optimization of sampling conditions to minimize this impediment to effective mercury speciation, are presented. All speciation methods utilizing impinger trains were configured in a similar manner. The impingers immediately down-stream of the heated sampling probe and filter box contained solutions intended to capture oxidized (ionic) mercury while impingers further down-stream of these contained acidic potassium pennanganate (KMnO{sub 4}). These latter solutions, having been shown by the EPA in their Method 101A validation studies to capture all forms of mercury, were utilized here to capture the remaining elemental mercury. The challenge was to develop, test and validate an oxidized mercury capture solution that would effectively capture and retain all of the oxidized mercury species while allowing 100% of the elemental mercury to pass through it and be captured down- stream in the KMnO{sub 4} impinger solutions. A schematic of the impinger train utilized in the Ontario-Hydro Method is shown in Figure 1. For oxidized mercury capture, this method utilizes a 1.0 molar potassium chloride (KCI) impinger solution, which we have shown to be effective in its ability to retain mercuric chloride solution spikes given the appropriate sampling conditions

Anti-Trypanosomal Effects of Aqueous Extract of Ocimum Gratissimum (Lamiaceae) Leaf in Rats Infected with Trypanosoma Brucei Brucei

The anti-trypanosomal effects of aqueous extract of the leaf of Ocimum gratissimum were evaluated in both in-vitro and in-vivo studies. The anti-trypanosomal activity of the extract against Trypanosoma brucei was investigated in-vitro. The survival and motility of the trypanosomes were completely inhibited within two hours of incubation in various concentrations of the extract. Parasite survival time was concentration dependent being longer in lower (25 and 12.5 mg/ml) than higher (100, 75 and 50 mg/ml) concentrations of the extract. The in-vivo anti-trypanosomal effect of the leaf extract of the leaf extract was investigated in rats infected with Trypanosoma brucei and treated with the extract. The infected rats treated with the extract had less dramatic clinical manifestations and mortality, survived longer and higher PCV values than their untreated counterparts, however, parasitaemia was not significantly reduced. The results suggest that the folkloric medicinal application of the aqueous extract of Ocimum gratissimum has no possible pharmacological basis

Epidemiological patterns of human immunodeficiency virus and herpes simplex virus co-infection in ibadan, nigeria

There is no doubt that the greatest health problem threatening the human race these times is the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The greatest burden of this scourge is in sub-saharan African. This has undoubtedly increased the incidence of opportunistic infection like herpes simplex virus infection. This study investigated the epidemiological pattern of HIV and HSV co-infection in patients attending the sexually Transmitted Diseases Clinic of University College Hospital, Ibadan. The findings revealed that a total of 63 patients presented classical genital ulceration during the period of study. There was statistical significance between the age group of the patients and their seropositivity status (x2= 3.86, P< 0.05). The epidemiological studies also revealed that there was statistical significant difference in development of genital herpetic ulceration and their HIV seropositivity status (x2= 39.35, P< 0.05). There was also a significant difference between herpes simplex virus CPE formation from genital lesion and the HIV seropositivity status of the patients (x2= 10.96, P< 0.05). Also, there was statistical significant difference in HSV CPE formation from genital lesions of HIV seropositive patients already on antiretroviral therapy (x2= 4.06, P< 0.05). Ballooning degeneration of cells indicative of CPE of HSV in vero cell lines were detected within 2-3 days post inoculation. The HIV and HSV Co-infection pattern among patients attending Sexually Transmitted Diseases Clinic in University College Hospital, Ibadan is therefore discussed

Epidemiological Patterns of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Herpes Simplex Virus Co-Infection in Ibadan, Nigeria

There is no doubt that the greatest health problem threatening the human race these times is the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The greatest burden of this scourge is in sub-saharan African. This has undoubtedly increased the incidence of opportunistic infection like herpes simplex virus infection. This study investigated the epidemiological pattern of HIV and HSV co-infection in patients attending the sexually Transmitted Diseases Clinic of University College Hospital, Ibadan. The findings revealed that a total of 63 patients presented classical genital ulceration during the period of study. There was statistical significance between the age group of the patients and their seropositivity status (x2= 3.86, P< 0.05). The epidemiological studies also revealed that there was statistical significant difference in development of genital herpetic ulceration and their HIV seropositivity status (x2= 39.35, P< 0.05). There was also a significant difference between herpes simplex virus CPE formation from genital lesion and the HIV seropositivity status of the patients (x2= 10.96, P< 0.05). Also, there was statistical significant difference in HSV CPE formation from genital lesions of HIV seropositive patients already on antiretroviral therapy (x2= 4.06, P< 0.05). Ballooning degeneration of cells indicative of CPE of HSV in vero cell lines were detected within 2-3 days post inoculation. The HIV and HSV Co-infection pattern among patients attending Sexually Transmitted Diseases Clinic in University College Hospital, Ibadan is therefore discussed

Title: Optimization of Sampling Conditions to Minimize the Adverse Effect of Sulfur Dioxide on the Ability of the Ontario-Hydro Method to Accurately Distinguish the Chemical Forms of Mercury in Coal Flue Gas Optimization of Sampling Conditions to Minimize

Background As a consequence of findings from the Phase I Emissions Studies, the U. S. Department of Energy&apos;s Federal Energy Technology Center (DOE-FETC) has focused its efforts on identifying a sampling and analytical method to differentiate and quantify the chemical forms of mercury emitted from coal-fired electric utility boilers. DOE-FETC requested ATS to develop new methodologies for determining the chemical species of mercury in coal flue gas, either by the modification of existing ones or by the introduction of novel methods with the final validation of acceptable methods. Candidate methods must be robust enough to perform effectively in the presence of flue gas components such as SO , NO , HCl and fly ash. Under contract to DOE-2 X FETC, ATS has performed both laboratory evaluations and pilot-scale studies of these methods

Haemoparasites of goats reared on free range in Zaria, Nigeria

A survey was conducted at the Ahmadu Bello University Veterinary Teaching Hospital (ABUVTH), Zaria, Nigeria, between January, 1993 and December, 2003 to identify the haemoparasites of goats reared on free range in Zaria, in an attempt to determine the incidence of anaemia in goats in this area. During the period, a total of 357 goats were presented to the ABUVTH with various clinical signs. One hundred and seventy two (48.0%) of the goats presented were Kano brown breed, while 111 (31.0%), 7 (2%), 31 (9%) and 36 (10%) of them were Sokoto red, mixed (crosses), West African dwarf (WAD) and unidentified breeds respectively. Of these, 168 (47%) were male, while 189 (53%) were female. Ninety-nine (27%) of the goats had haemoparasitic infections and the haemoparasites identified include: Anaplasma ovis (n=85 or 86%), Theileria ovis (n=6 or 7%), Trypanosoma vivax (n=2 or 2%), Trypanosoma congolense (n=2 or 2%), Babesia motasi (n=1 or 1%), and Theileria mutans (n=2 or 2%). Eighty-nine (90%) of the goats with haemoparasites were anaemic with packed cell volume (PCV) between 7–23%, while 10 (10%) of them had haemoparasites, but there was no anaemia as their PCVs ranged between 24-39%. The implication of the haemoparasites detected and anaemia on goat production in Zaria is discussed. It was concluded that since most of the haemoparasites are transmitted by ectoparasites such as ticks, there is the need to constantly advise clients who rear goats on free range to always control the level of ectoparasites on their goats in order to maximize production. Keywords: haemoparasites, free range, goats, Zaria, Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Parasitology Vol. 27 2006: pp. 54-5