Demulsification capabilities of a Microbacterium species for breaking water-in-crude oil emulsions

A bacterium strain belonging to Microbacterium sp., isolated from oily sludge samples of Siri Island in the south of Iran, produced a strong, thermo stable microbial demulsifier (Yx/s=0.663, Yp/s=0.204, productivity=0.185 g L-1 h-1) on glucose as a sole carbon source supplemented with yeast extract. The optimum values of temperature, inoculum concentration, pH and culture age for microbial demulsifier production were 25°C, 108 CFU mL-1, 7 and 24 h, respectively. The maximum demulsification activity and the half-life value (t1/2) of culture broth measured for a water-in-crude oil (W/CO) emulsion were 96.4% and 36 h at 80°C in flask. The demulsifier was purified to homogeneity using cold ethanol. For 4.33 mg mL-1 of partially purified microbial demulsifier, the half-life value for the W/CO model emulsion was 3 h.Keywords: Biopolymer, demulsification, Microbacterium, demulsifier, petroleum emulsion, water-in-crude oilAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(16), pp. 2019-202

Effects of simulation-based education on Ghanaian parents’ knowledge, attitude and management of fever control

Background: Childhood fever is very discomforting and most parents are usually anxious when children exhibit fever, leading to unnecessary visits and admissions into pediatric emergency centers.Objectives: This study aimed to determine the effects of simulation-based education on parents’ knowledge, attitude, and management of fever in children.Methods: A non-randomized quasi-experimental study using convenient sampling was conducted to recruit parents of children aged 3 months to 8 years admitted to the Tamale Teaching Hospital in Tamale, Ghana. The study was conducted from July to September 2019. Eighty parents were equally assigned into an intervention group and a control group and respectively educated using simulation-based and routine education approaches on childhood fever. Data were collected using a four-part questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square, independent samples t, and paired t tests as well as analysis of covariance.Results: Except for the mean baseline knowledge (P< 0.0001), there were no significant differences between the two groups in mean pretest scores. The mean scores of fever knowledge, attitude, and management of parents in the simulation-based education group were 21.63 ± 2.40, 28.48 ± 6.03, and 25.15 ± 4.23 at baseline and increased to 26.38 ± 4.36, 28.48 ± 6.03, and 32.33 ± 5.18, respectively (P< 0.0001). All mean scores on the posttest were better than on the pretest in both groups.  However, at the posttest, mean scores for knowledge, attitude, and management were significantly higher in the simulation-based education than in the routine education group (P < 0.05).Conclusion: Compared with routine education, simulation-based education was more effective in improving parents’ knowledge, attitude, and management of fever. We therefore, recommend the use of similar simulation-based methods in educating parents regarding caring for acute fever in their children

Effect of mechanical load cycling on the microleakage of three different glass ionomer restorations in class V cavities

Background and Aims: Microleakage is an important problem with direct restorations and familiarity with contributing factors is of utmost importance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the microleakage of three glass ionomer restorations in class V cavities.   Materials and Methods: In this in vitro study, class V cavity preparations were made on the buccal and lingual/ palatal surfaces of 30 human premolars (60 cavities). The specimens were divided into three group (n=10, 20 cavities). Restored as follows: group1: with Fuji IX (HVGI) ionomer/G coat plus, group 2: Ionofil molar (HVGI)/ G coat plus, and group 3: Fuji II LC (RMGI) / G coat plus. All specimens were finished and polished immediately and were thermocycled (2000 cycles, 5-50°C) . In each group; half of the teeth were load cycled (50000 cycles). Finally, the teeth were immersed in 0.15% basic fushine dye for 24 hours at room temperature and then sectioned and observed under stereomicroscope. Data were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis, Man- Whitney test and a comparison between incisal and gingival microleakage was made using Wilcoxon analysis.   Results: It was shown that the mechanical load cycling and filling material did not cause a statistically significant increase in the incisal and gingival microleakage in any of groups (P>0.05).   Conclusion: It was concluded that the extent microleakage of Fuji II LC was similar to that of the highly viscous glass ionomers (Ionofil molar, Fuji IX) and load cycling did not increase the microleakage