Surgical technique: Tscherne-Johnson extensile approach for tibial plateau fractures.

BackgroundThe standard approach to lateral tibial plateau fractures involves elevation of the iliotibial band (IT) and anterior tibialis origin in continuity from Gerdy's tubercle and metaphyseal flare. We describe an alternative approach to increase lateral plateau joint exposure and maintain iliotibial band insertion to Gerdy's tubercle.Description of techniqueThe approach entails a partial tenotomy of the anterior half of the IT band leaving the posterior IT band insertion attached to Gerdy's tubercle. Fracture lines around Gerdy's tubercle are completed or the tubercle was osteotomized and externally rotated and the joint overdistracted, allowing direct visualization of the joint depression. Joint elevation, grafting, and internal fixation are performed through this window.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed 76 patients (two groups), Schatzker Types I to II and IV to VI fractures (66 patients), between 1989 and 2005, and 10 patients, with 10 bicondylar posterior plateau fractures, from 2002 to 2010. All patients were followed a minimum of 12 months (average, 3.9 years; range, 12 months to 10 years). Ten patients, with posterior plateau fractures, received anterolateral plateau intraarticular osteotomy for exposure of centroposterior and posterolateral articular depression.ResultsAverage knee ROM was 2° of flexion (range, -3° to 5°) to greater than 120° of flexion (range, 100°-145°). In 66 patients, average articular depression improved from 7.4 mm to 1 mm (range, 0-5 mm) and, in 10 posterior fractures, from 18 mm to 1 mm (range, 0-4.5 mm). Infection occurred in one of the 76 patients; acute débridement and intravenous antibiotics resulted in control of the infection.ConclusionsThis approach reliably increases direct visualization of the lateral plateau articular fractures and maintains IT band insertion. Articular osteotomy of the anterolateral plateau provides access to extensive posterior plateau fractures

Marine Water Effect on Compressive Strength of Concrete: A Case Study of Escravos Area of Nigerian Delta

This paper examines the effect of seawater found the Excravos area of the Nigerian delta in concrete production. It is well-known that the use of seawater for mixing concrete does not appreciably reduce the strength and other properties of concrete but may lead to corrosion of reinforcement in some certain cases. Seawater obtained from Excravos area of the Niger Delta was analysed and the compressive strength of concrete produced and cured with it was obtained from the laboratory. Concrete cubes cast and cured with seawater were observed to have a higher strength at 28 days i.e. about 115% when compared with concrete cast with fresh water. Increase in concentration of seawater used in preparation of cement paste lowers the setting time: initial and final setting time. It is subsequently recommended that the use of seawater for concrete casting and curing should not be rejected or turned down. However, in the case of reinforced concrete, it is recommended that reinforcement be prevented from corrosion by using stainless steels where available and corrosion inhibitors. However, long-term effect of seawater concentration on properties of concrete such as creep and durability were not investigated in this work.http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njt.v34i2.

Effect of Crude Oil Contamination on the Compressive Strength of Concrete

This paper investigates the influence of crude oil contamination on the compressive strength of concrete. Concrete produced in regions where crude oil is exploited can have significant changes in its properties as a result of crude oil contamination of its constituents. Various cubes of concrete with varying degrees of crude oil contamination were processed in the laboratory to determine the effect of contamination on the mechanical properties of concrete. Contamination in concrete was achieved by adding crude oil to the aggregate constituent of the test concrete. It was observed that the presence of crude oil in concrete hinders the bond formation between constituent materials and brings about segregation. Consequently, the presence of crude oil in concrete resulted to variations in workability of the concrete-the higher the percentages of crude oil in the fine aggregate, the higher the workability. Also, lower compressive strengths were observed in contaminated concrete cubes when compared with the controlled cubes. This revealed clearly that crude oil is a compressive strength inhibitor in the production of concrete. The higher the percentages of crude oil in the fine aggregate, the lower the compressive strength obtained. It can be inferred that the optimum crude oil contamination for the achievement of normal compressive strength is as low as 0.3%.http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njt.v34i2.

Analysis Of The Influence Of The Skills Acquisition Programms Of The National Directorate Of Employment On Job Creation In Abia State

Abstract: The study assessed the the skill acquisition programs of the Nationa

EVALUATING MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES IN THE MOTIVATION OF EMPLOYEE-CONSULTANTS IN THE NIGERIAN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

ABSTRACT:Management is faced with the task of motivating employee-consultants and creating high job satisfaction among them. Creating programs and policies that develop job satisfaction and serve to motivate employee-consultants takes time and money to create. When the management understands the benefits of job satisfaction and motivation in the workplace, then the investment in employee-related policies can be justified. The purpose of any motivation programme is to motivate the organization's employees to enable them work effectively. However, motivating employees is not an easy thing as what motivates employees differs among people. This paper is intended to establish management challenges in the motivation of Employee-Consultant in the Nigerian construction industry with a view to improving the motivation of employee-consultants. A calculated sample size of 108 construction and consultancy firms were randomly selected within Kaduna and Abuja metropolis. The research used the relative importance index (RII) to rank the challenges in order of importance. Amount of Fee paid (workers' wages) was identified to be the most significant factor that challenges the motivation of employee-consultants. Low availability of income generated was also identified as a major challenge. The research therefore suggest that management should seek other forms of motivating employee consultants such as New incentive schemes, such as flexible working hours, subsidies, loans and others, should be developed and implemented. Further research should be conducted to harness these important factors identified for the growth and development in the construction and consultancy firms.Keywords: Employee-Consultant, Motivation, Nigerian, Construction Industry, challenge

Characterization of Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Post-Burn Crude Oil-Spilled Soils, Gokana, Rivers State, Nigeria

In the Niger delta, crude oil spilled soils are burned as a means of decontaminating the impacted soils. Gas chromatography - flame ionization detector (GCFID) analyses were performed on oil residues extracted from burnt spilled oil soil samples to facilitate detailed chemical composition and characterization of petroleum hydrocarbons. The concentrations of aliphatic hydrocarbons (AHCs) from C13 to C36 were low and range from 363.4 to 439.6 mg/kg, with hydrocarbons burning ≤ C12 and the monocyclic aromatics – BTEX not detected in all the samples. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations, which ranged from 3236.6 to 4190.0 mg/kg, were significantly high and constituted from 88.26 to 91.25% of total petroleum hydrocarbon compositions in the burnt spilled oil soil samples. Petroleum hydrocarbon distribution profiles for the AHCs and PAHs were similar for all the samples and indicated similar alteration source. The compositions of AHCs were generally low, between 1.13 and 11.18%, while compositions of PAHs varied considerably from 0.17 to 30.50%. The composition of the 5-6 ring PAHs were between 3.94 - 4.65 times more than the 2-4 ring PAHs. From these results, the burning of spilled oil soils extensively degraded the AHCs and volatile low molecular weight aromatic hydrocarbons and generated significant amounts of 5-6 ring PAHs, some of which are carcinogenic

Impact of HIV Testing and Counseling (HTC) Knowledge on HIV Prevention Practices Among Traditional Birth Attendants in Nigeria

Nigeria is second in the world for the number of people with HIV and has a high rate of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT). Over 60% of births in Nigeria occur outside of health care facilities, and because of this, Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) play a significant role in maternal and child health. It is important that TBAs be knowledgeable about HIV prevention. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of HIV testing and counseling (HTC) knowledge on the HIV prevention practices among TBAs in Nigeria. Five hundred TBAs were surveyed. Chi-square and logistic regression were used to assess differences in HIV prevention practices between TBAs with and without HTC knowledge. TBAs with HTC knowledge are significantly more likely to engage in HIV prevention practices than TBAs without HTC. Prevention practices included: wearing gloves during delivery (p \u3c 0.01), sterilization of delivery equipment (p \u3c 0.01), participation in blood safety training (p \u3c 0.01), and disposal of sharps (p \u3c 0.01). As long as a high percent of births occur outside health care facilities in Nigeria, there will be a need for TBAs. Providing TBAs with HTC training increases HIV prevention practices and can be a key to improve maternal and child health

Reskilling Librarians: A Panacea for Bringing Students Back to the Academic Library

ABSTRACT The academic library that failed to reskill members of its workforce might face consequences of automatic loss of patrons. Based on this, the study examined reskilling librarians as a panacea for bringing students back to the library. 191 academic and research librarians (ARL) on the telegram group platform as of February 14, 2023, formed the population. An Online questionnaire was prepared and sent to the ARLs’ on their group chat. 122 ARLs filled the questionnaire out of the 191 thus having a response rate of 63.9%. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data. The study revealed the need for librarians to go for reskilling. The findings showed that bringing students back to the library entails retraining librarians on 21st-century skills. The findings also revealed that the desertion of students from the library is caused by the attitudes of librarians, disorganization of the library, unawareness of the services and resources of the library, etc. This study recommends that academic library management and even the parent institution should not downplay on reskilling/retraining of librarians on different aspects of the library work

Corporate social responsibility as obligated internalisation of social costs

We propose that corporations should be subject to a legal obligation to identify and internalise their social costs or negative externalities. Our proposal reframes corporate social responsibility (CSR) as obligated internalisation of social costs, and relies on reflexive governance through mandated hybrid fora. We argue that our approach advances theory, as well as practice and policy, by building on and going beyond prior attempts to address social costs, such as prescriptive government regulation, Coasian bargaining and political CSR

A decade study of the incidence and clinical analysis of ectopic pregnancy at a tertiary hospital in Eastern Nigeria

Background: Ectopic pregnancy (EP), a condition where a fertilized egg grows outside a woman’s uterus, is a fertility- and life-threatening gynecological condition. This study aimed at determining the incidence of EP, clinical presentation, gestational age at presentation, risk factors and treatment modalities.Methods: This study was conducted at St. Charles Borromeo specialist hospital, Onitsha, Nigeria (January 2009 to December 2018). Information were obtained from the hospital’s medical records as retrieved from various wards. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS, version 23, then presented as percentage in tables and figure.Results: Out of 13,402 pregnancies recorded in this study, 119 were EPs giving an incidence of 0.89%. 105 case notes were included in this study since they met the inclusion criteria. Majority of the women belonged to the age group of 26-30 years. Patients with EP presented more between 7-8 weeks of gestational age (40%), though 7.6% were unsure of their last menstrual period. 80 EP cases (76.2%) were ruptured while 25 (23.8%) were unruptured. The ectopic gestation occurred most at the ampulla (51.4%) and more at the right side (66.6%) than the left (33.4%). Pelvic inflammatory disease (30.4%) followed by prior abortion (20.0%) were major predisposing risk factors. The most common clinical presentations were abdominal pain (92.38%), amenorrhea (57.14%) and vaginal bleeding (51.42%). 85.7% had salpingectomy, 9.5% were medically managed.Conclusions: EP remains a major gynecological emergency. Diagnosis before rupture could offer an opportunity for a successful medical management, thereby; minimizing morbidity and mortality