Abandoned projects-implication on the strength of exposed steel and concrete in the Southern region of Nigeria

This research is centered on the investigation of the implication of abandonment on the strength of exposed steel and concrete in an abandoned project; as most abandoned project are continued without due consideration to the current strength of the structural members, which may lead to eventual collapse, if the structural members have failed in strength. Six abandoned project sites were investigated: three in Port Harcourt, Rivers state and the other three in Lagos, Lagos state, Nigeria. Thus limiting the investigation to Southern region of Nigeria where the temperature ranges between 23°C and 32°C and precipitation/rainfall ranged between 36mm and 410mm.The Periods of the abandonment ranges from three to thirty-five years. All structural members were cast in-situ. Visual inspections were carried out on site, rebound hammer test was done, concrete samples were cored and steel reinforcement bars were cut from site. Laboratory test and analysis were carried on te cored samples as well as tensile test carried out on the steel samples. Data obtained from both field and laboratory analysis, were analyzed using Excel regression analysis and a model was obtained to help determine the estimated steel strength of exposed steel reinforcement bars after a period of abandonment in the region considered.Keywords: abandonment, concrete, steel, compressive strength, tensile strengt

Pericardial effusion in a patient with hyperthyroidism: A case report

Pericarditis and pericardial effusion are commonly associated with hypothyroidism. It is an uncommon association with hyperthyroidism. We present a case of pericarditis/pericardial effusion in a 28-year-old Nigerian lady with hyperthyroidism. There was resolution of the pericardial effusion with antithyroid  medications and steroid therapy. We recommend a high index of suspicion of this association in patients  with hyperthyroidism and/or Graves’ disease

Treatment of spent engine oil (spent SAE W50) via solvent extraction- adsorption process for the production of transfer oil: Physico-chemical properties of the adsorbents

Regeneration of base oil from spent engine oil (spent SAE W50) for transfer oil production has been investigated using the solvent extraction-adsorption method. Solvent treated base oil regenerated from spent SAE W50 was treated with activated carbon (AC) from Penthaclatra macophylla pod (PMP) and activated clay (ACL) from Ukpor clay. The oil was characterized before and after treatment for heavy metals content, kinematic viscosity, viscosity index, specific gravity, and pour point. The carbon and clay were characterized using FTIR, BET, SEM-EDX, XRF, and XRD. Characterization results revealed the required properties of the adsorbents that make them capable of adhering impurities to their active sites. Results obtained showed that the optimum conditions for the regeneration of base oil from spent SAE W50 was a temperature of 110 °C, an adsorbent dosage of 5% w/v and a contact time 60 min, with 98% removal of impurities using the mixture of AC and ACL (AC-ACL). The transfer oil was obtained using a blend of the recovered base oil and virgin oil (150 N) at the ratio of 1:1.2. The blend gave the required properties for a transfer oil of similar quality to ISO VG 46

Treatment of spent engine oil (spent SAE W50) via solvent extraction- adsorption process for the production of transfer oil: Physico-chemical properties of the adsorbents

Regeneration of base oil from spent engine oil (spent SAE W50) for transfer oil production has been investigated using the solvent extraction-adsorption method. Solvent treated base oil regenerated from spent SAE W50 was treated with activated carbon (AC) from Penthaclatra macophylla pod (PMP) and activated clay (ACL) from Ukpor clay. The oil was characterized before and after treatment for heavy metals content, kinematic viscosity, viscosity index, specific gravity, and pour point. The carbon and clay were characterized using FTIR, BET, SEM-EDX, XRF, and XRD. Characterization results revealed the required properties of the adsorbents that make them capable of adhering impurities to their active sites. Results obtained showed that the optimum conditions for the regeneration of base oil from spent SAE W50 was a temperature of 110 °C, an adsorbent dosage of 5% w/v and a contact time 60 min, with 98% removal of impurities using the mixture of AC and ACL (AC-ACL). The transfer oil was obtained using a blend of the recovered base oil and virgin oil (150 N) at the ratio of 1:1.2. The blend gave the required properties for a transfer oil of similar quality to ISO VG 46

Comparative assessment of urine-based RDT in malaria diagnosis during febrile and non-febrile conditions

Malaria due to Plasmodium falciparum is a life-threatening disease that requires prompt diagnosis for its management. As a result, Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) was provided because it is simple to use and provides quick result without the need for good microscopy equipment and operators. Although blood is the specimen most frequently used for RDT, urine has been suggested as an alternative specimen. The study compares the performance of Urine-based RDT (uRDT) with Microscopy and Blood-based RDT (bRDT) in malaria diagnosis. This study was conducted using blood and urine specimens collected from 350 humans that attended Primary Health Centres at Amansea and Igbariam in Awka North and Anambra East LGAs of Anambra State respectively. Care-start® and Fyodor® test kits were used for malaria rapid diagnosis while Giemsa stained thick and thin blood films were used as standard. Malaria parasite prevalence in the study was 57.1% by microscopy, 22.0% by bRDT and 11.1% by uRDT (p<0.05). Under febrile condition, prevalence records were 83.2% by microscopy, 34.9% by bRDT and 16.8% by uRDT (p<0.05). Compared to the non-febrile group, the Odd Ratio of malaria in febrile group is 8.16, 3.77 and 2.69 for microscopy, bRDT and uRDT respectively. In both (febrile; non-febrile) conditions, the sensitivity of blood based RDT (39.5%; 28.9%) is higher than that of uRDT (18.5%; 17.1%). However, the specificity of the uRDT (92.0%; 99.2%) is higher than that of the bRDT (88.0%; 97.6%). At malaria parasite count of ≤ 120 parasites/μl of blood, (>120 to < 430) parasites/μl and ≥ 430 parasites/μl of blood, bRDT recorded increasing higher prevalence values than the uRDT that followed the same pattern. There was significant weak positive correlation between malaria parasite density of microscopy and the RDTs. Among the febrile and non-febrile subjects who tested positive for malaria using uRDT, 92.0% and 71.4% respectively had thick line shown (p>0.05). Using the Receiver-Operator Characteristic (ROC) curves, the uRDT can be used to diagnose malaria infection even when the parasitaemia level is as low as 260 parasites/μl of blood at 76.9% sensitivity and 82.5% specificity. bRDT can detect malaria parasites at the same level but with sensitivity level of 85.9% and specificity level of 77.5% for febrile and non-febrile conditions. In conclusion, the uRDT followed similar pattern of malaria parasite diagnosis with microscopy and bRDT though with lower performance.Keywords: Malaria diagnosis; urine-based RDT; blood based RDT; microscopy; febrile; non-febril