Infrastructure development and abandonment.

The Nigerian Government is developing infrastructure guided by the United Nations (UN) call for sustainable development. However, uncompleted government infrastructure (roads, bridges, buildings, dams and others) projects litter the entire landscape of the country. This research investigates the causes of infrastructure abandonment in Nigeria through literature review and distribution of questionnaire. It also posits possible solutions to the menace of abandoned infrastructure. Findings from the literature review revealed inefficient procurement processes, defective design, cost overrun, and changes in government (election). From 129 questionnaire distributed to Architects, Engineers, Project Managers, Surveyors, Builders and Construction Procurement Personnel in the built environment both in the public and private sectors in Nigeria, 80 responses were received and analysed with SPSS Pearson Correlation Analysis. The findings from the survey showed that inadequate planning, change in government, faulty procurement, corruption and politics are some of the causes of abandonment. “Changing procurement method” ranked highest in the recommendation for addressing the abandoned infrastructure projects followed by designing with deconstructability in mind. Amongst other recommendations are using innovative management tools and refurbishment of abandoned projects. This research is imperative for the revitalisation of abandoned infrastructure environmentally, economically, and socially and the integration of innovative management tools for the future sustainable procurement of infrastructure

Potential to use sorghum brewers spent grains as a boiler fuel

Abstract: Please refer to full text to view abstrac

Influence of Nimbia forest biomass on soil properties in Southern Kaduna

Changes in Forest biomass frequently influence the physicochemical composition of soil. In the Nimbia Forest Reserve, Southern Kaduna, certain physical and chemical soil parameters were investigated across changes in the forest biomass sequence. The objective was to ascertain how changes in forest biomass will impact on soil properties. In order to represent changes in forest biomass stages. Soil samples (0–20 cm depth) were taken from three different forest plots: (Plot A, Plot B, and Plot C). Between 2021 and 2022, soil samples were examined for the following soil properties: soil organic matter (SOM), soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC), pH, NH4 +-N, available potassium (K), available phosphorus (P), and microelements (available copper (Cu), available zinc (Zn), available iron (Fe), and available boron (B)). The findings demonstrated that the changes in forest biomass had higher amounts of SOM, SMBC, Cu, Zn, Fe, and B. (Plot B). In contrast, P and pH were higher in the Plot A but lower in the Plot B. While SOM, Zn, Cu, Fe, and B increased with increasing forest biomass, pH, NH4 +-N, P, and K decreased. In the three different forest plots, the soil pH was less than 4.5, which showed that Nimbia's surface soil was acidic, a consistent tendency

Primary school teacher perceptions on the challenges of implementing the inclusive education programme: A case of Gweru Urban

Abstract: This study sought to explore the perceptions of primary school teachers on challenges that hinder the implementation of inclusive education programme in Gweru Urban schools. A qualitative research approach was employed in this study. Data were collected through document analysis, face to face in-depth interviews with head teachers, focus group discussions and observations. The documents that were interrogated include school registers and educational policies. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Qualitative data analysis revealed that the inclusive education pilot programme faced an array of challenges. These included lack of sponsorship, lack of both material and financial resources, poor perceptions by teachers, lack of competences by teachers and donor dependency syndrome. It also emanated from the study that teachers had high teacher /pupil ratios which made it difficult for them to attend to pupils with different disabilities. The paper recommends that the issues raised be addressed using research based solutions in order to successfully implement the programme

Phase control during the synthesis of nickel sulfide nanoparticles from dithiocarbamate precursors

Square-planar nickel bis(dithiocarbamate) complexes, [Ni(S2CNR2)2], have been prepared and utilised as single source precursors to nanoparticulate nickel sulfides. While they are stable in the solid-state to around 300 °C, heating in oleylamine at 230 °C, 5 mM solutions afford pure α-NiS, where the outcome is independent of the substituents. DFT calculations show an electronic effect rather than steric hindrance influences the resulting particle size. Decomposition of the iso-butyl derivative, [Ni(S2CNiBu2)2], has been studied in detail. There is a temperature-dependence of the phase of the nickel sulfide formed. At low temperatures (150 °C), pure α-NiS is formed. Upon raising the temperature, increasing amounts of β-NiS are produced and at 280 °C this is formed in pure form. A range of concentrations (from 5–50 mM) was also investigated at 180 °C and while in all cases pure α-NiS was formed, particle sizes varied significantly. Thus at low concentrations average particle sizes were ca. 100 nm, but at higher concentrations they increased to ca. 150 nm. The addition of two equivalents of tetra-iso-butyl thiuram disulfide, (iBu2NCS2)2, to the decomposition mixture was found to influence the material formed. At 230 °C and above, α-NiS was generated, in contrast to the results found without added thiuram disulfide, suggesting that addition of (iBu2NCS2)2 stabilises the metastable α-NiS phase. At low temperatures (150–180 °C) and concentrations (5 mM), mixtures of α-NiS and Ni3S4, result. A growing proportion of Ni3S4 is noted upon increasing precursor concentration to 10 mM. At 20 mM a metastable phase of nickel sulfide, NiS2 is formed and as the concentration is increased, α-NiS appears alongside NiS2. Reasons for these variations are discussed

Determination of kanamycin plasma levels using LC-MS and its pharmacokinetics in patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis with and without HIV-infection

The objectives of the study were: (1) to determine kanamycin plasma concentrations using liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS), (2) to investigate kanamycin pharmacokinetics (PK) in patients with multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), (3) to find out whether HIV infection, kidney dysfunction and antiretroviral drugs influence kanamycin PK. The study was designed as a non-randomized study involving male and female HIV- positive and HIVnegative patients admitted for MDR-TB treatment. Blood samples were collected before (baseline) and ½, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 24 hours after intramuscular injection of kanamycin. LC-MS was used to quantify kanamycin plasma concentrations. Thirty one patients including 13 HIV (+) participated in the study. The lower limit of detection and lower limit of quantification of kanamycin were 0.06 μg/ml and 0.15 μg/ml respectively. Kanamycin PK parameters were described and there was no significant difference between HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients. A statistical significant difference (p=0.0126) was found in the renal function in HIV - positive and HIV - negative patients. However, this difference did not affect kanamycin elimination. No interactions have been identified between antiretroviral drugs and kanamycin. Conclusion: LC-MS analysis method is highly specific and highly sensitive in the detection and quantification of kanamycin plasma concentrations. Kanamycin PK in patients with MDR-TB was described. Due to a limited number of patients, we cannot rule out any influence of HIV - infection, renal impairment and antiretroviral drugs on kanamycin pharmacokinetics. The relationship between the area under the curve of kanamycin free plasma concentrations (fAUC) and its minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) on M.tuberculosis isolated from the sputum of each patient should be assessed. Therefore, kanamycin free plasma concentrations and MIC should be determined.Web of Scienc

Access to Cancer Care: navigating the maze

This chapter analyses narratives from over 450 patients in Kenya and Tanzania, describing their cancer “pathways”, drawing also on views from carers and health workers. We characterise patients’ experiences as, too often, finding themselves in a “maze” after they first visit a health facility. Rather than a smooth clinical pathway from symptoms to diagnosis, patients had found themselves struggling to find money to move through a confusing health system maze, largely without maps or guides to aid their search for information, diagnosis and treatment. The chapter describes patterns of experience within the maze, and implications for access to care

Body composition and physical activity as mediators in the relationship between socioeconomic status and blood pressure in young South African women: a structural equation model analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Varying hypertension prevalence across different socioeconomic strata within a population has been well reported. However, the causal factors and pathways across different settings are less clear, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, this study aimed to compare blood pressure (BP) levels and investigate the extent to which socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with BP, in rural and urban South Africa women. SETTING: Rural and urban South Africa. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. PARTICIPANTS: Cross-sectional data on SES, total moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA), anthropometric and BP were collected on rural (n=509) and urban (n=510) young black women (18-23 years age). Pregnant and mentally or physically disabled women were excluded from the study. RESULTS: The prevalence of combined overweight and obesity (46.5% vs 38.8%) and elevated BP (27.0% vs 9.3%) was higher in urban than rural women, respectively. Results from the structural equation modelling showed significant direct positive effects of body mass index (BMI) on systolic BP (SBP) in rural, urban and pooled datasets. Negative direct effects of SES on SBP and positive total effects of SES on SBP were observed in the rural and pooled datasets, respectively. In rural young women, SES had direct positive effects on BMI and was negatively associated with MVPA in urban and pooled analyses. BMI mediated the positive total effects association between SES and SBP in pooled analyses (ß 0.46; 95% CI 0.15 to 0.76). CONCLUSIONS: Though South Africa is undergoing nutritional and epidemiological transitions, the prevalence of elevated BP still varies between rural and urban young women. The association between SES and SBP varies considerably in economically diverse populations with BMI being the most significant mediator. There is a need to tailor prevention strategies to take into account optimising BMI when designing strategies to reduce future risk of hypertension in young women.SAN is supported by the UK MRC DfID African Research Leader Scheme and by the DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Human Development at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. Birth to Twenty data collection was supported by the Wellcome Trust under grant (092097/Z/10/Z). The MRC/Wits- Agincourt Unit is supported by the South African Medical Research Council, and the Wellcome Trust under grants (058893/Z/99/A, 069683/Z/02/Z, 085477/Z/08/Z, 085477/B/08/Z)

Mineralogical and leaching characteristics of altered ilmenite beach placer sands

Abstract: In order to have a good understanding of the treatment process and improvement on the market value of ilmenite beach placer sands, knowledge of its mineral composition and phase distribution is fundamental. In this study, a combination of characterization techniques including high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HR-SEM), high-resolution transmission electron (HR-TEM) microscope, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques was used to understand the mineralogical characteristics of ilmenite beach placer sands obtained from Richards Bay, South Africa. The mineral phase constituents of the ilmenite beach placer sands were studied before pre-oxidation and additive leaching in a chloride environment. During observations using XRD and HR-SEM, the ilmenite beach placer sands exhibited signature rhombohedral crystal form and crescentic pits with evidence of alteration phases. The characterized pre-oxidized ilmenite showed the presence of a ferric oxide film deposit of the particles. The leaching characteristics of both raw and pre-oxidized ilmenite was studied in the presence of additives. The leaching efficiency of the pre-oxidized ilmenite in the presence of additives increased by 20% at atmospheric conditions. The characterized residues show the improved amenability of pre-oxidized leach in chloride media. The formation of new phases containing pseudo-rutile indicated crystallographic disintegration by the movement of atoms during dissolution. Some particles retained the crescentic pit and the subangular grain structure; however, the phase changes were observed at the grain boundaries and grain edges. The leached residue’s EDS results still indicated the presence of pseudo-rutile and some minor unreacted oxides such as SiO2, Al2O3, and other trace metals. The trace metals impurities present in the as-received ilmenite were reduced by 80% in the final residue after the leaching

Khat use and psychotic symptoms in a rural Khat growing population in Kenya: a household survey

Background:Khat is an amphetamine like psychostimulant chewed by over 10 million people globally. Khat use is thought to increase the risk of psychosis among its chewers. The evidence around this however remains inconclusive stemming from the scanty number of studies in this area and small study sample sizes. We undertook a large household survey to determine the association between psychotic symptoms and khat chewing in a rural khat growing and chewing population in Kenya. Methods:For this cross-sectional household survey, we randomly selected 831 participants aged 10 years and above residing in the Eastern region of Kenya. We used the psychosis screening questionnaire (PSQ) to collect information on psychotic symptoms and a researcher designed sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire to collect information on its risk factors. We used descriptive analysis to describe the burden of khat chewing and other substance use as well as rates and types of psychotic symptoms. Using a univariate and multivariate analyses with 95% confidence interval, we estimated the association between khat chewing and specific psychotic symptoms. Results:The prevalence of current khat chewing in the region was at 36.8% (n = 306) with a male gender predominance (54.8%). At least one psychotic symptom was reported by 16.8% (n = 168) of the study population. Interestingly, psychotic symptoms in general were significantly prevalent in women (19.5%) compared to men (13.6%) (p = 0.023). Khat chewing was significantly associated with reported strange experiences (p = 0.024) and hallucinations (p = 0.0017), the two predominantly reported psychotic symptoms. In multivariate analysis controlling for age, gender, alcohol use and cigarette smoking, there was a positive association of strange experiences (OR, 2.45; 95%CI, 1.13–5.34) and hallucination (OR, 2.08; 95% C.I, 1.06–4.08) with khat chewing. Of note was the high concurrent polysubstance use among khat chewers specifically alcohol use (78.4%) and cigarette smoking (64.5%). Conclusions:Psychotic symptoms were significantly elevated in khat users in this population. Future prospective studies examining dose effect and age of first use may establish causality