Bunch Ash biomass source for the synthesis of Al2(SiO4)2 magnetic nanocatalyst and as alkali catalyst for the synthesis of biodiesel production.

This work employed the Admixture of oil from winter squash seed oil and duck waste fat for the synthesis of biodiesel using a derived heterogeneous catalyst from burnt Arecaceae kernel empty bunch (BAKEB). The admixture oil was obtained using the gravity ratio method and the properties of the oils were determined. The developed BAKEB was characterized using SEM, FTIR, XRF-FT, BET-adsorption, and qualitative analysis. Transesterification of the admixture oil to biodiesel was carried out in a single transesterification batch reactor, while Process optimization was carried out via RSM-CCD with four constraint variables namely: reaction period, catalyst conc., reaction temperature, and E-OH/OMR, respectively. The spent catalyst was recycled and reused and the quality of the produced biodiesel was compared with the recommended standard. Results showed the admixture oil ratio of 48:52 was sufficient to produce a validated optimum biodiesel yield of 99.42% (wt./wt.) at the reaction time of 55 min, catalyst conc. of 3.00 (%wt.), reaction temperature of 60 °C, and E-OH/OMR of 5.5:1 (vol./vol.), respectively. ANOVA analysis indicated that all variables were mutually significant at p-value<0.0001.The developed BAKEB was found to contain high percentages of Al-K-Na-Ca. The catalyst recyclability test indicated that BAKEB can be refined and reused. The produced biodiesel qualities have fuel properties similar to conventional diesel when compared with ASTM D6751 and EN 14,214. The study concluded that the blending of winter squash seed oil with duck waste fat in the ratio of 48:52 as feedstock for biodiesel synthesis is viable.

Awareness and utilization of personal protective equipment among small-scale welders in Cross River State, Nigeria: a descriptive cross-sectional study

Objective:Rapid urbanization and industrialization in the many low-and middle-income countries means that there is a growing demand for the welding industry. Previous studies in Nigeria, and other low-and middle-income countries have reported a significant discrepancy between awareness and consistent and appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE). This study assessed the awareness and utilization of PPE among small-scale welders in Calabar South, Cross River State, Nigeria. Methods:This study was conducted in Calabar South Local Government Area using a descriptive cross-sectional design. Data collection was with an interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaire, and an observation checklist was used to monitor the use of PPE among small-scale welders. Results:One hundred and sixteen small-scale welders were surveyed with a mean age of 34.9 ±9.1 years. Almost 90% of respondents had completed at least primary education. Eighty-one respondents (69.8%) were aware of PPE. Three-quarters of respondents (61/81) knewPPE protected the user from injury. The most frequently identified type of welding PPE among the respondents aware of PPE, were safety goggles (38.3%), hand gloves (25.9%), safety boots (19.8%), and coveralls (9.9%). 83.6% had access to PPE at work. However, only 14.4% reported using PPE consistently. Observation revealed that the PPE most frequently used, sunglasses, were not the recommended welding goggles.Conclusion:The low utilization of PPE calls for stricter enforcement of occupational health and safety regulations among welders in the informal sector, including implementing PPE awareness programs.

Data on the derived mesoporous based catalyst for the synthesized of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) from ternary oil blend: An optimization approach.

This work presents datasets on fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) synthesized from the ternary blend of Cucurbita pepo-chrysophyllum albidum -papaya mix oils via methanolysis of mesoporous CaO heterogeneous catalyst derived from the mixture of Citrullus lanatus and Musa acuminate peels. The oils were extracted from the milled powdered using the solvent extraction method. Ternary oil mixed ratio of 33:33:34 with low acid value and density was achieved using simplex lattice design software. Characterization of the mixed calcined catalyst powder (MCCP) at 700 °C for 4 h was carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscope (EDS), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and BET analysis. The thermal decomposition of mixed calcined catalyst powder (MCCP) produced 78.74% CaO with a strong basic site of 143 (µmole.g-1). Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) was synthesized through the based catalyst transesterification of a derived catalyst by considering four variables data (reaction time, reaction temperature, catalyst amount and methanol/oil molar ratio) using response surface methodology (RSM). The maximum experimental FAME data of 94.29 (wt. %) was achieved at run 16, but the central composite design (CCD) software predicted value of 98.00 (wt. %) at a reaction time of 70 min, reaction temperature of 80 °C, catalyst amount of 5.0 (wt.) and methanol to oil molar ratio (MeOH/OMR) of 6.97, at the desirability of 97.90%. This was validated in triplicate, and the average FAME data obtained was 93.45 (wt. %). The produced FAME properties dataset meets the standard recommended value of ASTM and EN14214.

Seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibody and risk factors among abattoir workers in Uyo, Southern Nigeria.

CONTEXT: The asymptomatic nature of toxoplasmosis with its severe consequences, especially in populations with high HIV infection rate, makes it a disease of public health importance. Being a zoonosis, Toxoplasma gondii infection may be high among people who work with animals. Thus, there is the need to determine the prevalence of the infection among abattoir workers in Uyo, where HIV prevalence rate is in double digits, which could lead to reactivation of toxoplasmosis in those with immunosuppression. AIM: To determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of T. gondii infection in abattoir workers in Uyo. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A descriptive cross-sectional study that was conducted among persons who work with livestock and birds, in Uyo and its environs. METHODOLOGY: The study was conducted among 339 workers in abattoirs in Uyo and its environs. Data were collected using interviewer-administered questionnaire and detection of IgG antibodies to T. gondii using ELISA technique and HIV testing using the national algorithm. Data were analyzed using STATA statistical software version 20, and statistically significant level was set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: The seroprevalence of T. gondii IgG antibodies among the study participants was 55.8%. At a univariate level, many factors were associated with T. gondii seropositivity; they were age, sex, level of education, ethnicity, occupation in the abattoir, type of animal exposure, always washing hands before eating in the workplace, and taking of raw/unpasteurized milk. However, after multivariate analysis, participants exposed to poultry, butchers/raw meat sellers, and those who had worked for more than 5 years in abattoirs were at a greater risk of being T. gondii IgG seropositive; odds ratio (OR) 5.46 [confidence interval (CI) 1.88, 15.86]; OR 1.89 (CI 1.14, 3.14), and OR 1.25 (CI 1.25, 6.42), respectively. CONCLUSION: T. gondii IgG seroprevalence is high among abattoir workers in Uyo, and there is a need for Akwa Ibom State government to establish enlightenment and prevention programs for these occupationally exposed and other populations at risk of infection.

High blood pressure in a semi-urban community in south-south Nigeria: a community-based study.

BACKGROUND: Non communicable diseases (NCDs) are taking their toll in most low and middle income countries; incidentally, in the same populations that are struggling to deal with communicable diseases, hence presenting a picture of "double tragedy". Most of the researches conducted on NCDs are facility-based; often in urban locations. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of high BP in a semi-urban community in Nigeria. METHODS: It was a cross-sectional study, where all the adult residents of the community were enrolled. Data was collected using a multi-section questionnaire, including anthropometric measurements. Data entry and analysis was done using SPSS 17.0 for windows and STATA 10. RESULTS: The results showed that 47.0% of the study population had a raised BP ≥140/90mmHg. At a univariate level, age, sex, higher income, more people in the household, daily cigarette smoking, daily alcohol intake and BMI, showed increased risk for high BP. However, sleeping for at least 8 hours a day showed protective influence against raised BP among the participants. In the adjusted model, only age, sex and BMI remained statistically significant with Odds Ratio (OR) of 1.04 (95%CI; 1.00, 1.08), 0.45 (95%CI; 0.22, 0.90) and 1.08(95%CI; 1.03, 1.13) respectively. The model had an area under curve of 71.9%. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that there is a high prevalence of raised BP in this semi-urban community, thus the need for intervention and preventive services to curb the looming epidemic of hypertension in this community in particular, and Nigeria as a whole, cannot be overemphasized.

Motorcycle Road Traffic Injuries in Southern Nigeria: The Small Motorcycle as a Prevention Strategy

Background: The commonest mode of public transportation in Uyo is by motorcycle. There are two sizes of motorcycle in common use - the big one (Qlink or Skygo model; made in China) and the small one (C90; made in China). The study was carried out to determine if there is a lower risk of RTI severe enough to be brought to the hospital; attributable to using a small motorcycle. Methods: Motorcycle RTI victims admitted at the Accident and Emergency department of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH); were reviewed prospectively over a 15 month period. Three community visual surveys of the proportion of small to large motorcycles were also conducted. Results: A total of 131 RTI victims were reviewed over 15 months. The visual surveys of motorcycles in Uyo revealed that the mean proportion of small to large is 38 to 62; a ratio of 1:1.6. Eighty-three (63.3) of the 131 RTI's involved motorcycles. 74 of these occurred in large motorcycles. There was a statistically significant relationship between motorcycle size and occurrence of an RTI severe enough to be brought to hospital. Conclusion: There is a lower risk of RTI severe enough to be brought to hospital; from using a small motorcycle