Proactive technique for workplace chemical exposure

The rapid increase in the number and quantities of chemicals released into the environment has been accompanied by a lack of adequate pre-released testing for advance health outcomes. Chemicals which serve as feed stock to millions of industries all around the world to produce and process food, cosmetics, equipment, and energy to propel industries, automobiles, home heating and electricity have serious adverse health consequences. They are hazardous. These substances can explode, ignite, react and corrode. Adapting the definition of the international program on chemical safety, a hazard is a source of danger. This thesis proposes some proactive prevention techniques useful to reduce the risk or potential for harm by chemicals at work place and environment. The methods described in the following paragraphs are traditional, advanced methods and innovative techniques found effective against chemical exposure. Known points of entry into the body through ingestion, inhalation and dermal pathways are discussed, including the mechanism of action of cells under the influence of hazardous chemicals. It begins with cellular interaction of ligands or chemicals in the body after ingestion, inhalation or dermal exposure. The binding of the ligands and the receptor cells produces reactions that inhibit or activate cells, resulting in abnormal physiological response. To prevent this from occurring, some proactive measures are proposed. Foremost on the list is personal hygiene and good housekeeping, followed by avoidance technique, containment, legislation and guidelines. They form the core of traditional technique. Complementary to that is the advanced methods and innovative techniques which explore new ways of industrial production and hazardous waste disposal that are safe and environmentally friendly. The use and advantages of microwave energy as a safe and most effective method for industrial heating, material processing and organic synthesis over the conventional methods are discussed. The thesis also discusses phytoremediation, the use of species of plants to clean up contaminant as a revolutionary method for safe, efficient and environmentally friendly method for hazardous waste treatment and remediation

Prevalence and Pattern of Adverse Drug Reactions among HIV Infected Patients on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) in Imo State, Nigeria: A Hospital Based Survey

Introduction:  It is a proven fact that almost all drugs carry the potential to produce undesirable effects in addition to the desired ones. Aim:  The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence, pattern and socio-demographic determinants of adverse drug reactions among patients on HAART attending clinics in hospitals in Imo State Nigeria. Methodology:  This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study carried out among HIV patients attending clinics in hospitals in Imo State.  The 400 participants were selected using a multistage sampling technique.  Data was collected using an interviewer administered, semi-structured questionnaire and analyzed using EPI Info version 3:2:1. Chi-square and regression analysis was used to test association between variables. P-value was set at ≤ 0.05. Results: The mean age of the participants was 41.7±3.0 years with a male to female ration of 1:2. The adherence level to HIV treatment was 85.0%. The prevalence of ADRs in the last 1 year preceding the study was 13.7% and the common forms of ADR experienced by patients was Hematological symptoms (34%), GIT symptoms (21.8%) and skin manifestation (20.0%). Socio-demographic determinants of the occurrence of ADR among the participants were: age 50 years and above (OR: 9.28), female gender (OR: 2.55) and living in a rural area (OR: 4.47). Conclusion:  Though the prevalence of ADR reported in this study was low, there is need to increase the depth of knowledge among HIV patients in the State, monitor patients closely by care givers and find possible ways to increase adherence to HIV drugs which was not optimal among participants. Keywords: Prevalence, Pattern, Adverse Drug reactions, HAART, HIV, Patients, Imo State

Casimir Energy for a Wedge with Three Surfaces and for a Pyramidal Cavity

Casimir energy calculations for the conformally coupled massless scalar field for a wedge defined by three intersecting planes and for a pyramid with four triangular surfaces are presented. The group generated by reflections are employed in the formulation of the required Green functions and the wave functions.Comment: Latex, 9 page

slq(2)sl_q(2) Realizations for Kepler and Oscillator Potentials and q-Canonical Transformations

The realizations of the Lie algebra corresponding to the dynamical symmetry group SO(2,1) of the Kepler and oscillator potentials are q-deformed. The q-canonical transformation connecting two realizations is given and a general definition for q-canonical transformation is deduced. q-Schr\"{o}dinger equation for a Kepler like potential is obtained from the q-oscillator Schr\"{o}dinger equation. Energy spectrum and the ground state wave function are calculated.Comment: 12 pages, Latex twice, (Comparison with the other approaches and some refs. added. The version which will appear in J. Phys. A

Path integral for a relativistic Aharonov-Bohm-Coulomb system

The path integral for the relativistic spinless Aharonov-Bohm-Coulomb system is solved, and the energy spectra are extracted from the resulting amplitude.Comment: 6 pages, Revte

Quantum particle displacement by a moving localized potential trap

We describe the dynamics of a bound state of an attractive $\delta$-well under displacement of the potential. Exact analytical results are presented for the suddenly moved potential. Since this is a quantum system, only a fraction of the initially confined wavefunction remains confined to the moving potential. However, it is shown that besides the probability to remain confined to the moving barrier and the probability to remain in the initial position, there is also a certain probability for the particle to move at double speed. A quasi-classical interpretation for this effect is suggested. The temporal and spectral dynamics of each one of the scenarios is investigated.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figure

Influence of socio-cultural factors on child's upbringing in Oshodi/Isolo Local Government Area of Lagos State, Nigeria

This paper investigated the influence of socio-cultural factors on child's upbringing in Oshodi/Isolo Local Government Area of Lagos State, Nigeria. Precisely, 250 parents having children that are 0-12 years were interviewed with the aid of questionnaire schedule. The study tested only two hypotheses. Frequency table, Chi-square and binary logistic regression analysis were employed to analyze the data obtained from the survey. The major findings are: firstly, that the socio-cultural factors identified in this study include; the influence of residential environment, family, culture and social institutions. Secondly, that the socio-cultural factors such as; the influence of family, social institutions and residential environment are significantly related to child's upbringing through authoritarian parenting style.Thus, the paper recommends the following: firstly, that the native culture of every parent should reflect in their choice of authoritarian parenting style. Lastly, the family involvement, social institution and residential environment should form the bedrock in child's upbringing in every Nigerian society