EFFECTS OF COVERINGS ON RADIATION EXPOSURE RATE IN SOME INDOOR ENVIRONMENTS

The effects of covering materials used for the interior building surfaces; the walls, ceilings and floors of some buildings in Ogbomoso on the radiation exposure rates have been investigated in this work using an accurately calibrated scintilometer. The combinations of covering materials assessed in this work are of three categories: A – tex-coat paint, asbestos and carpet; B – emulsion paint, asbestos and bare floor and C – ceramic tiles, asbestos and carpet. The dose rate values obtained varied between 4.04±0.05 x 10-5 µЅv h-1 to 5.12±0.05 x 10-5 µЅv h-1 for A, 4.04±0.04 x 10-5 µЅv h-1 to 5.60±0.04 x 10-5 µЅv h-1 for B and 4.61±0.04 x 10-5 µЅv h-1 to 6.66±0.05 x 10-5 µЅv h-1 for C. The data obtained showed that the dose rate values are highest in the C – type buildings while the lowest values are obtained in the B – type buildings. The mean effective dose for A, B and C buildings are 0.3400±0.0018 µSv y-1, 0.3520±0.0019 µSv y-1 and 0.3735±0.0019 µSv y-1 respectively

Micron-sized Spinel Crystals In High Level Waste Glass Compositions: Determination Of Crystal Size And Crystal Fraction

The compositions utilized for immobilization of high-level nuclear wastes (HLW) are controlled using glass property models to avoid the deleterious effects of crystallization in the high-level waste (HLW) vitrification melters. The type and size of the crystals that precipitate during melter operations (typically at 1150 °C) and idling (∼1000 °C) are significantly impacted by glass composition and thermal history. This study was conducted to measure the impact of melt composition and heat treatment temperature on crystal size and fraction. A matrix of 31 multi-component glasses canvasing the expected Hanford HLW compositional space was developed and the glasses fabricated, and heat treated at 850, 900, and 950 °C. The crystal amounts, as determined by X-ray diffraction, varied from 0.2 to 41.0 wt.%. Spinel concentrations ranged from 0.0 to 13.8 wt.%. One glass of the matrix did not precipitate spinel and contained 0.2 wt.% RuO2, which was assumed to be undissolved from the melting process. All compositions contained crystals in the as-quenched glass. All of the spinel-based crystals present in the glasses were less than 10 μm in diameter, as determined by scanning electron microscopy with image analysis. Composition and temperature dependent models were generated using the resulting data and the best model fit was obtained by only considering spinel concentrations (R2 = 0.87). Two glasses were unable to be characterized because of an inability to process the glass under the conditions of this study. Those glasses were utilized to give insight into a potential multi-component constraint to aid in future statistical composition designs

DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND PERFORMANCE STUDY OF AN ELECTRONIC BODY MASS INDEX INSTRUMENT

The design and construction of an electronic Body Mass Index (BMI) has been carried out in this study. The design calculates the BMI automatically by overcoming marginal errors. The design incorporates the functions of PING))) sensor, digital weight sensor into the system. C programming code was writing in programming a microcontroller that controls the whole design. The measured height and weight are processed by the programmed microcontroller which then generates BMI being display on a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). The designed system was used to estimate the BMI of eight individuals of different gender. The performance evaluation of the system was compared with the four groups category cited by World Health Organization in the BMI chart

Impact of seminal trace element and glutathione levels on semen quality of Tunisian infertile men

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Growing evidence indicates that oxidative stress can be a primary cause of male infertility. Non-enzymatic antioxidants play an important protective role against oxidative damages and lipid peroxidation. Human seminal plasma is a natural reservoir of antioxidants. The aim of this study was to determine glutathione (GSH) concentrations, trace element levels (zinc and selenium) and the lipid peroxidation end product, malondialdehyde (MDA), in the seminal plasma of men with different fertility potentials.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Semen samples from 60 fertile men (normozoospermics) and 190 infertile patients (74 asthenozoospermics, 56 oligozoospermics, and 60 teratozoospermics) were analyzed for physical and biochemical parameters. Zinc (Zn) and selenium (Se) levels were estimated by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Total GSH (GSHt), oxidized GSH (GSSG), reduced GSH (GSHr) and MDA concentrations were measured spectrophotometrically.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Zn and Se concentrations in seminal plasma of normozoospermics were more elevated than the three abnormal groups. Nevertheless, only the Zn showed significant differences. On the other hand, Zn showed positive and significant correlations with sperm motility (P = 0.03, r = 0.29) and count (P < 0.01, r = 0.49); however Se was significantly correlated only with sperm motility (P < 0.01, r = 0.36). GSHt, GSSG and GSHr were significantly higher in normozoospermics than in abnormal groups. We noted a significant association between seminal GSHt and sperm motility (P = 0.03). GSSG was highly correlated to sperm motility (P < 0.001) and negatively associated to abnormal morphology (P < 0.001). GSHr was significantly associated to total sperm motility (P < 0.001) and sperm count (P = 0.01). MDA levels were significantly higher in the three abnormal groups than in normozoospermics. Rates of seminal MDA were negatively associated to sperm motility (P < 0.01; r = -0.24) and sperm concentration (P = 0.003; r = -0.35) Meanwhile, there is a positive correlation between seminal lipid peroxidation and the percentage of abnormal morphology (P = 0.008).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This report revealed that decreased seminal GSH and trace element deficiencies are implicated in low sperm quality and may be an important indirect biomarker of idiopathic male infertility. Our results sustain that the evaluation of seminal antioxidant status in infertile men is necessary and can be helpful in fertility assessment from early stages.</p

ASSESSMENT OF NATURAL RADIONUCLIDE CONTENTS AND IMPACTS IN THE MUD SOIL OF IDO-IJESA, SOUTH- WESTERN NIGERIA

There has been great concern about the health risks associated with exposure to natural radioactivity present in soil and building materials, which could be traceable to either natural or artificial sources. Thus in this work, the natural radionuclide contents of the mud soil of Ido-Ijesa in South West Nigeria; which is commonly used as building material were analyzed . The analysis was carried out by means gamma ray spectrometry using NaI (TI) as the detector. The radioisotopes identified in the samples of the material include those of the series headed by 238U and 232Th as well as the singly occurring radioisotope 40K. The mean activity concentrations of the radionuclides were found to be 23.39±3.20, 19.37±2.60 and 165.14±7.10 Bq/kg for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K respectively. The activity index of this material was found to be 0.24±0.03. This is less than the requirement of 1 for material used in bulk amounts. Assessment of the radiological impact was made by calculating the radium equivalent activity, external and internal hazard indices and the annual effective dose equivalent and all were found to be within acceptable limit

The effects of bilateral orchidectomy on some serum enzymes and proteins in the West African Dwarf Buck

The effects of bilateral orchidectomy on serum protein and enzyme levels were investigated in 12 healthy West African Dwarf bucks over a 7-week period. Although the activity of alkaline phosphatase increased over the period, the increases were not statistically significant. There was a significant drop (p<0.05) in the activity of Aspartate amino transferase in the last 2 weeks of the study while alanine transaminase (ALAT) and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) showed variation, which were in some cases significant. There was a slight hypoproteinaemia, which was traceable mainly to the globulin fraction. In fact in the 2nd -4th post-treatment week the albumin/globulin ratio (AGR) was inverted. The implication of these finding for the functional status of the castrates are discussed

Haematological changes accompanying prolonged ocular chloramphenicol administration in laboratory rabbits

The toxic effect of ocular chloramphenicol on haematological parameters was studied in laboratory rabbits; Oryctolagus cuniculus while the haemotoxic effect of oral chloramphenicol provided the basis for comparison. 20 adult male rabbits were randomly but equally divided into two main groups based on the route of administration of the drug (i.e ocular or oral). In each group of ten rabbits equal number of rabbits were randomly divided into test (n=5) and control (n=5) subgroups. Oral chloramphenicol was administered at a dosage of 500mg twice daily for 21 days. Drops of ocular chloramphenicol were administered on the conjunctiva of the animals thrice daily over the same period of time. The control animals were administered with 0.9% physiological saline orally and distilled water administered ocularly. Ocular chloramphenicol produced no significant changes in the haematological parameters evaluated on the 11th and 22nd days. Conversely oral chloramphenicol was observed to significantly (P<0.05) reduced the mean total erythrocyte count, PCV, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, and neutrophils progressively by the 11th and 22nd days. Ocular chloramphenicol was confirmed to have no dose-dependent haemotoxic effect however the possibility of idiosyncratic aplastic anaemia is highlighted in this study

Spinal Cord Studies in the African Giant Rat (Cricetomys gambianus, Waterhouse)

Summary: The African giant rat, AGR, is known for advantageous behavioural patterns among which are cognition and dexterous locomotion. This study investigated the morphological, morphometric and possible functional aspects of the AGR spinal cord (SC) anatomy. Ten adult (5 males and 5 females) AGR were used to determine the gross and histological features of the SC which were typically of rodent features. The mean SC weight and length given as 2.50±0.24g and 15.87±0.24cm respectively for the male and 2.32±0.16g and 15.40±0.61cm for the female showed no sexual dimorphism (p&lt;.05). A positive linear relationship between the tail length and SC weight were found in both sexes (r =0.81 males; r =0.95 females) suggesting significant contribution of the filum terminale to SC weight. Forty-three internal structures including nuclear aggregations and tracts were traced. Eight nuclear aggregations of neurons involved in nociception and limb coordination were observed to be prominent and larger than in laboratory rats. Same was noted for the dorsal, ventral and lateral funicular tracts which control the limbic system. This study provides morphometric baseline research information and delineates the functional aspects of the AGR SC anatomy. The information provided further strengthens the drive proposing the AGR as an indigenous research model for regional anaesthesia and locomotor disease.Keywords: African giant rat; spinal cord; spinal tract; nuclei; spinal segment; morphometry

Ameliorative effect of edible Halopteris scoparia against cadmium-induced reproductive toxicity in male mice: A biochemical and histopathologic study

WOS: 000527925600001PubMed: 32320493Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic metal affecting the reproductive system. Halopteris scoparia (brown algae) is generally consumed as a salad in the Far East countries. This study was conducted to compare and determine the possible protective effects of H. scoparia and vitamin E and C combination (VEC) against cadmium chloride (CdCl2)-induced reproductive toxicity. A total of 36 male mice were equally divided into as control, CdCl2 (2 mg/kg), CdCl2 + H. scoparia (900 mg/kg), CdCl2 + VEC (200 mg/kg), H. scoparia alone and VEC alone groups. Blood and testis samples were taken for biochemical, histochemical and immunohistochemical analyses. H. scoparia was also examined for antioxidant activity (by DPPH assay) and mineral/trace element content (by ICP-MS method). CdCl2 exposure caused a significant deterioration in body weight, sperm parameters (count, motility, viability and morphology) (p < .001), histopathology, immunoreactivity and testosterone levels. However, H. scoparia improved CdCl2-induced deterioration effects more successfully than VEC-treated group. The present study suggests that edible H. scoparia can be used as a natural protective agent against Cd-induced testicular damage by possibly enhancing essential element levels or increasing antioxidant defence system