Radiological Effects of Iron-Ore Mining and Processing at Itakpe, Kogi State.

Gamma spectroscopy was employed in the analysis of soil samples collected from the mine site, industrial plant site, and mill tailing dumps site of National Iron-Ore mining Project (NIOMP), Itakpe, Kogi State. The mean measured activity concentrations of 40K, 226Ra, and 232Th  were 207.6±39.4(ND-515.0), 17.6±2.4(ND-31.5), and 31.7±8.6(ND-118.0)Bqkg-1, respectively, which are all less than the world mean of 370.0, 25.0, and 25 Bqkg-1 for 40K, 226Ra, and 232Th, respectively. The calculated outdoor mean effective doses for the sites were respectively74.8±20.0µSv, 47.0±7.0µSv and 17.0±1.0µSv for industrial plant, mining waste and mill tailing deposit sites. These values are comparable to the control mean value of 74.3±46.2µSv (obtained from unmodified environment soil samples) which in turn is comparable to the world mean of 60µSv, thus suggesting that the mining company does not constitute radiological problem to its workers and the public. The calculated activity index, I, for the company mill tailings is 0.122, the value which is equivalent to an excess gamma dose of 0.122mSv/year over that received outdoors if used as a building material

Measurement of Radon Concentration in Water Sources around Ririwai Artisanal Tin Mine Kano State, Nigeria

In this work liquid scintillation analysis was used to measure the concentration of 222Rn in three sources of water around Ririwai Artisanal Tin mine. The annual effective dose due to 222Rn concentration in surface water source and Domestic water were also determined. The result shows that the tailing bearing water has the highest 222Rn concentration of 3.04±0.14 Bq/L followed by surface water source with 222Rn concentration of 2.51±0.13 Bq/L while the Domestic water has the lowest 222Rn concentration of 2.23±0.11 Bq/L. The results also indicated that the annual effective dose due to the 222Rn concentration is higher in surface water with 13.05±0.55 mSv/year than in Domestic water with 11.11 ± 0.44mSv/year. The mean 222Rn concentration obtained in this work is lower than 10.00Bq/L recommended by WHO and UNSCEAR. Also in this study the annual effective dose obtained is lower than the maximum permissible of 0.1mSv/year recommended by UNSCEAR. Keywords: Radionuclide, activity concentration and annual effective dos

Investigation on the Effects of Addition of Binder and Particle Size on the High Calorific Value of Solid Biofuel Briquettes

The effects of biomass particle size and addition of binder on the high calorific values (HCVs) of five (5) selected biomass briquettes is studied. Analyses of the experimental results show that finely grinded particles (about 1.75mm and 2.00mm) had low calorific values as the grinding resulted in a loss of some heat and made the sample vulnerable to air oxidation.Addition of gum Arabic binder greatly inceases the high calorific value of all samples followed by starch and top-glue binder tend to decerease the HCVs for the range of biomass tested in the order 25.3201> 23.2985>20.0023 respectively.Thus indicating gum Arabic and starch improves the caloric value while top glue and polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) decreases the calorific value of the samples. An extensive investigation on the PVC dissolved in Toluene compound(organic) as chemical binder was observed to decrease the calorific values of all the briquette samples except those made of coconut shell and rice husk. Keywords: Biomass, Biofuel, Binder, Briquette, High heating valu

Radiographic Room Design and Layout for Radiation Protection in Some Radio-Diagnostic Facilities in Katsina State, Nigeria.

Background: The radiographic room design and layout of the radio-diagnostic facilities involved in this study were converted from existing structures without the input the various professionals who use these facilities.   Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the measures for radiation protection installed in the building design and the layout of some radio-diagnostic facilities in Katsina state.   Methodology: The room dimensions, distances between the operator booth and the radiation source and between the operator booth and the cheststand were measured. Lead lining on doors and room walls, warning signs, warning lights and the use of personnel monitoring devices were also carefully checked.   Result: X-ray room dimensions were 20m2, 38.5m2 and 12.8m2 for x-ray unit A, B and C, respectively. The distance from the operator to tube was 3.4m, 3.8m and 3.1m while that of operator to chest stand was 3.2m, 4.5m and 3.1m for x-ray unit A,B and C respectively. There were warning signs and lights in all the units.   Conclusion: The use of radiation accessories and warning lights were satisfactory. Meanwhile, in order to ensure optimization of radiation protection, the various professionals such as radiographers, radiologists and medical physicists should, alongside the architect and engineers, play their role in the building design and the room layout of radio-diagnostic facilities.   &nbsp

DETERMINATION OF NEUTRON-INDUCED ACTIVATION CROSS SECTIONS USING NIRR-1

ABSTRACT Thermal Activation cross-sections for the (n, γ) reaction were experimentally measured using NIRR-1 facilities

Investigation of Lead Concentrations in the Blood of Kohl Users from Dangora Community of Kano State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT The blood of 15 regular Kohl users and that of 10 non-Kohl users from Dangora community were analyzed for lead (Pb) concentrations. The work is to ascertain the possibility of absorption of Kohl through the eyes when used as cosmetic, to elevate the blood lead level. The lead concentrations in water used by the Dangora community were also analyzed. 15 registered and unexpired eye/ear products were also analyzed for the minimum body requirement of lead concentration to the eye. The blood lead concentration results indicate a mean Pb level for the Kohl users as 10.9±4.4μg/dl and for non Kohl users as 5.2±3.9μg/dl. The Pb concentration in the well waters analyzed, were found to be highest at CGWW =3342.6ppb and lowest at GTWW = 37.2ppb. The tap and bore-hole waters were observed to have an average of 57.4ppb lead concentration. The detected Pb concentrations in 14 of the eye/ear products range between 0.0266 ppm and 0.1751ppm with a mean value of 0.0932±0.0142 ppm which is found to be significantly lower than the safety limit in cosmetics (10ppm

Examining Healthcare Professionals\u27 Telehealth Usability before and during COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

COVID-19 has placed substantial stress on healthcare providers in Saudi Arabia as they struggle to avoid contracting the virus, provide continued care for their patients, and protect their own families at home from possible exposure. The demand for care has increased due to the need to treat COVID-19. This pandemic has created a surge in the need for care in select healthcare delivery specialties, forcing other nonurgent or elective care to halt or transition to telehealth. This study provides a timely description of how COVID-19 affected employment, telehealth usage, and interprofessional collaboration. The STROBE checklist was used. We developed a cross-sectional online survey design that is rooted and grounded in the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The TAM model allows us to identify characteristics that affect the use of telehealth technologies. The survey was deployed in November 2021 to local healthcare providers in Saudi Arabia. There were 66 individuals in the final sample. Both interprofessional satisfaction on frequency and quality were positively correlated with the frequency of interactions. The odds for satisfaction of frequency and quality were about 12 times (OR = 12.27) and 8 times 110 (OR = 8.24) more, respectively, for the participants with more than three times of interaction than the participants with no interaction at all. We also found that change in telehealth usage during the pandemic was positively associated with the Telehealth Usability Questionnaire (TUQ) scores. The estimated score for the participants who reported an increase in telehealth usage was 5.37, while the scores were lower for the participants reporting \u27no change\u27 and \u27decreased usage\u27. Additional training on telehealth use and integration to improve interprofessionalism is needed

Review of anticancer and antioxidant activities of radioresistant extremophiles at molecular level: an itinerary to the discovery of cancer drugs in Nigerian extreme radiation environments

Radiation extremophiles exhibits extraordinary resistance to ionizing radiation (electromagnetic or corpuscular). Chroococcidiopsis sp., Deinococcus radiodurans, Rubrobacter radiotolerans, and Thermococcus gammatolerans are examples of radioresistant microorganisms with the ability to survive and grow under high doses of radiation. Most radioresistant organisms use a combination of repair and protection based mechanisms to achieve high radioresistance. This article emphasizes the molecular mechanism underlying the tolerance of these organisms to ionizing radiation. The procedure applied in molecular cancer therapy such as anticancer drug, antioxidation, and sunscreen ability was discussed. These processes may provide some insight into response of the microorganism’s internal processes under different conditions. The developmental process counts on the economic base of the biotechnological industries and their curiosity for molecular level innovative concept from extremophiles. The stimulating test of abilities and future visions of this concept are also mentioned.Keywords: ionizing radiation; extremophiles; radioresistant; extremozymes; extremolytes

Sickle cell disease and pulmonary hypertension in Africa: A global perspective and review of epidemiology, pathophysiology, and management

Secondary pulmonary hypertension (PAH) has been shown to have a prevalence of 30% in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) with mortality rates of 40% at 40 months after diagnosis in the United States. The burden of SCD is highest in sub-Saharan Africa, especially in Nigeria (West Africa), where approximately 6 million people are afflicted. The true global incidence, prevalence, and burden of SCD and Its associated end organ complications however remain unknown. Chronic hemolysis represents a prominent mechanistic pathway in the pathogenesis of SCD-associated pulmonary hypertension via a nitric oxide (NO) scavenging and abrogation of NO salutatory effects on vascular function, including smooth muscle relaxation, downregulation of endothelial adhesion molecules and inhibition of platelet activation. Many known infectious risk factors for PAH are also hyperendemic in Africa, including Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS), chronic hepatitis B and C, and possibly malaria. Interactions between these infectious complications and SCD-related hemolysis could yield an even higher prevalence of pulmonary hypertension and compound the existing global health systems challenges in managing SCD. Indeed, our preliminary analysis of African immigrants currently in the United States suggests that pulmonary hypertension represents a significant complication of SCD in the African subcontinent. There is clearly a need to include Africa and other parts of the world with high SCD prevalence in future comprehensive studies on the epidemiology and treatment of end organ complications of an aging SCD population world-wide