Influence of Adhesive Incise Drape Use on Surgical Site Infection Rates in Contaminated and Dirty Abdominal Operations.

BACKGROUND: Surgical Site Infection (SSI) remains the most common cause of Healthcare-Associated Infections (HCAIs). In particular, contaminated and dirty abdominal wounds are attended by a high rate of SSI which in turn is associated with a huge burden on patients, caregivers and the entire health care system. OBJECTIVE: To compare SSI rates following the use of iodine-impregnated adhesive incise drapes (Ioban) with routine conventional drapes in contaminated and dirty abdominal surgical wounds in a Nigerian tertiary hospital. METHODOLOGY: Consecutive, consenting adult patients who underwent laparotomy for cases classified as contaminated and dirty were prospectively enrolled in the study. Patients in the investigation arm had in addition to conventional drapes, iodine-impregnated adhesive incise drapes (Ioban) applied on the skin of the abdomen through which incisions were made, while patients in the control arm only had routine conventional drapes applied. All patients were followed up to 30 days after the operation. Surgical site infection rates were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Sixty-two consecutive patients were enrolled into this study, of which 55 completed the 30-day follow-up. The mean ages of patients in the two groups were 37.96 ± 19.59 years and 36.74 ± 16.93 years (p=0.81). Males were 36 (65.5%) and females were 19 (34.5%). Overall, 30 (54.5%) patients had surgical site infection (SSI) in this study. Thirteen (46.4%) patients had SSI in iodine iodine-impregnated adhesive incise drape group while 17 (63%) patients had SSI in the conventional drape group, a difference that was not statistically significant (p=0.22). The most commonly isolated organism from infected wounds was Klebsiella species. CONCLUSION: The use of iodine-impregnated surgical incise drapes was associated with a lower, though non-statistically significant SSI rates compared to the use of conventional drapes. This marginal benefit will require a larger population study to examine its potential cost-effectiveness in our setting.

CONTEXTE: L'infection du site chirurgical (ISC) reste la cause la plus courante des infections associées aux soins de santé (IASC). En particulier, les plaies abdominales contaminées et sales sont associées à un taux élevé d'ISC, ce qui entraîne une charge importante pour les patients, les soignants et l'ensemble du système de santé. OBJECTIF: Comparer les taux d'ISC après l'utilisation de draps incisifs adhésifs imprégnés d'iode (Ioban) avec des draps conventionnels habituels dans les plaies chirurgicales abdominales contaminées et sales dans un hôpital tertiaire nigérian. MÉTHODOLOGIE: Des patients adultes consécutifs et consentants qui ont subi une laparotomie pour des cas classés comme contaminés et sales ont été inscrits de manière prospective dans l'étude. Les patients dans le groupe d'investigation avaient, en plus des draps conventionnels, des draps incisifs adhésifs imprégnés d'iode (Ioban) appliqués sur la peau de l'abdomen à travers laquelle les incisions ont été faites, tandis que les patients dans le groupe témoin n'avaient que des draps conventionnels habituels appliqués. Tous les patients ont été suivis pendant 30 jours après l'opération. Les taux d'infection du site chirurgical ont été comparés entre les deux groupes. RÉSULTATS: Soixante-deux patients consécutifs ont été inscrits dans cette étude, dont 55 ont terminé le suivi de 30 jours. L'âge moyen des patients dans les deux groupes était de 37,96 ± 19,59 ans et 36,74 ± 16,93 ans (p=0,81). Les hommes étaient au nombre de 36 (65,5%) et les femmes de 19 (34,5%). Globalement, 30 (54,5%) patients ont présenté une infection du site chirurgical (ISC) dans cette étude. Treize (46,4%) patients ont présenté une ISC dans le groupe avec draps incisifs adhésifs imprégnés d'iode, tandis que 17 (63%) patients ont présenté une ISC dans le groupe avec draps conventionnels, une différence qui n'était pas statistiquement significative (p=0,22). L'organisme le plus fréquemment isolé dans les plaies infectées était l'espèce Klebsiella. CONCLUSION: L'utilisation de draps incisifs chirurgicaux imprégnés d'iode était associée à des taux d'ISC plus bas, bien que non statistiquement significatifs, par rapport à l'utilisation de draps conventionnels. Cet avantage marginal nécessitera une étude avec une population plus importante pour examiner son potentiel de rentabilité dans notre contexte. MOTS-CLÉS: Plaies contaminées et sales, Drap incisif adhésif, Infection du site chirurgical (ISC).

Attitude and compliance of nurses to standard precautions to infection control in Ekiti State, Southwest Nigeria.

The attitude and compliance to standard precautions (SP) by nurses have been recognized as efficient and effective means to prevent and control infections among patients and healthcare workers. This study investigated nurses' attitude and compliance to standard precautions in tertiary hospitals in Ekiti State, Southwest Nigeria. A cross-sectional, descriptive research designs using purposive sampling techniques were used. Adapted and standardized instruments were used to elicit information from 137 nurses. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Participants' age was between 21 and 62 years, with a mean age of 33.54± 9.41 years; 85.4% were females; while the majority had five to ten years working experience. Participants had poor attitude toward SP, but with good compliance (96.6%). All participants (100%) had good compliance with the use of personnel protective equipment, while most had good compliance with hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene, safety injection practice, clean environment, and sterilization of instruments. The ward/unit allocation of the nurses had a significant positive effect (R= 0.225, p= 0.008) on compliance with respiratory hygiene. Hence, sensitization programs should be intensified to ensure that health workers understand and comply with infection control through the use of SP.

Briquetting of subbituminous coal and torrefied biomass using bentonite as inorganic binder.

The use of inorganic binder for briquetting of subbituminous coal and torrefied biomass for energy generation is scarce. The present study focuses on the physicomechanical durability and energy content of briquettes produced from subbituminous coal (SubC) and torrefied biomass (TM) using bentonite as binder. Briquettes were produced using 95% SubC and 5% TM. Bentonite was varied at 2-10% of the total SubC and TM weight. The briquettes were produced with a constant pressure (28 MPa) in a hydraulic press. The briquettes were primarily cured at room temperature and then at 300 [Formula: see text] in a tubular furnace under an inert condition for 60 min. The density and water resistance (WRI) of the briquettes were evaluated. Drop to fracture (DF), impact resistance index (IRI), cold crushing strength (CCS) and tumbling strength index (TSI+3 mm) of the briquette were obtained. The reactivity index (RI), proximate, ultimate and calorific values analyses were assessed based on different ASTM standards. Microstructural studies and elemental mapping were carried out using scanning electron microscope equipped with EDS and electron probe microanalyzer. The density increased with increment in bentonite content. The WRI decreased with increase in bentonite while the least (95.21%) was obtained at 10% binder content. The DF and IRI ranges from 100 to 150 and 2000-3000, respectively. The CCS were in the range of 19.71 to 40.23 MPa. The RI varies from 34 to 50%. Fixed carbon, carbon and calorific values were impaired as the bentonite content in the briquette increases. Oxygen and silica bridges with mechanical interlocking were observed on the micrographs of the briquettes. The briquettes produced with 2% bentonite content have better physicomechanical durability with equivalent energy content. It is recommended as feedstock for thermal and metallurgical applications.

Investigation of physicochemical characteristics of selected lignocellulose biomass.

The beneficial effects of biofuels as components of the worldwide energy supply are unquantifiable because they have versatile applications. However, an adequate understanding of the chemical properties of typical biomass is an integral aspect of maximizing the energy potentials because it is susceptible to biomass behavior during the conversion process, especially anaerobic digestion. Therefore, this study investigated the physicochemical characteristics of selected lignocellulose biomass, namely; cow dung, mango pulp, and Chromolaena odorata of Nigerian origin. The raw biomasses were characterized by proximate, calorific, ultimate, compositional, and microbial (for cow dung only) analyses using ASTM standards and equipment. Raw biomass characterization showed that cow dung, mango pulp, and Chromolaena odorata leaves recorded percentages; fixed carbon, volatile matter, and ash contents in addition to calorific values in the ranges of 6.22-7.25%, 5.02-7.79%, 1.14-1.91,% and 13.77-16.16 MJ/kg, respectively. The ultimate analysis of cow dung, mango pulp and Chromolaena odorata recorded carbon (43.08, 39.98, 41.69%); hydrogen (7.87, 6.74, 9.86%); nitrogen (1.53, 1.34, 1.51%); sulphur (0.46, 0.12, 0.25%) and oxygen (47.06, 51.82, 46.69%), respectively. Compositional analysis of the biomass gave percentages in the range of 7.47-11.37 for hemicellulose, 0.22-6.33 for lignin, and 3.71-12.03 for cellulose, while the microbial analysis of cow dung gave total bacteria counts of 5.78 × 108 and 3.93 × 105 cfu/g on wet and dry bases, respectively, which implied that it was rich in microbial colonies, evidently from the various species found, such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aureginosa, Proteus morganii, and Micrococcus spp. In this regard, the physicochemical properties of selected biomass of Nigerian origin were established to conform with those of the literature and thus can be regarded as suitable feedstock for anaerobic digestion resulting in methane-rich biogas products.

Sustainability of multifaceted usage of biomass: A review.

The paper focuses on collection of information on recent multifaceted usage of biomass materials with critical examination on its sustainability. The use of biomass is becoming popular, with wide global acceptance as it is considered as green technology. The use of biomass products across industrial parallels, the material combination and production processes were elucidated in this paper. Biomass materials are seen as affordable alternative to conventional materials for domestic and industrial applications. The multifaceted use of biomass, which includes, energy generation, metallurgical applications, construction purposes, reinforcement in metal matrix composite, microelectromechanical system, biochemical and traditional medicine were discussed. This underscores the need to develop a sustainable plan to meet with its diverse usage to be beyond laboratory efforts. This paper examined whether the availability of biomass can sustain its multifaceted usage or not. It also examined the modalities to ensure sustainable use of biomass. Different policies were highlighted and discussed in line with continuous multifaceted use of biomass.

Synthesis, physico-mechanical and microstructural characterization of Al6063/SiC/PKSA hybrid reinforced composites.

The utilization of agro-residues ash as complementary reinforcing materials continues to gain prominence for metal matrix composite (MMCs) development. A rarely investigated but largely available ash among these agro-residues is the palm kernel shell ash (PKSA). Thus, the present study investigates the influence of PKSA particulates hybridized with SiC on the physico-mechanical properties and microstructure of Al6063 metal composites. The composites are synthesized using the double stir-casting technique with SiC held constant at 2 wt.%, while the PKSA contents are varied from 0 to 8 wt.%. The phases present and morphology of the composites are investigated using X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The density, porosity, hardness, tensile and fracture toughness tests are carried out on the hybrid composites. X-ray diffractometer revealed that for Al 6063, only Al cubic crystal system was identifiable within the matrix. However, for the reinforced composites, major phases identified are Al, Fe3Si, SiC, MgO, and SiO2. The SEM images show that the particulates reinforcements (SiC and PKSA) were uniformly dispersed in the matrix. The percentage porosity for the composites ranged from 2.06 to 2.39%. In addition, hardness, yield strength and ultimate tensile strength of the composites are about 10.3%, 18.5% and 10.4%, respectively better than for Al 6063. However, the percent elongation and fracture toughness are lower for the hybrid composites than for Al 6063 and SiC reinforced composite with values decreasing with increase in ash content. Hence, the MMCs produced will be applicable for light-weight engineering applications.

Coercive pressure as a moderator of organizational structure and risk management: Empirical evidence from Malaysian construction industry.

INTRODUCTION: The construction industry in Malaysia has been bedevilled by myriads of risk issues that have hampered its smooth operations in recent times. This paper is an empirical assessment that aims to examine the effect of coercive pressure on the relationship between organizational structure and construction risk management among construction industry in Malaysia. METHOD: Based on the proposed model, a quantitative method was employed to obtain data from G7 construction industry operating within the peninsular Malaysia. Out of the 180 copies of questionnaire, 165 copies were properly filled, returned, and used for the analysis. PLS-SEM was used to analyze the obtained data. RESULTS: The findings of the study affirmed that specialization, centralization, and management of risk by the construction industry had positive correlation. CONCLUSIONS: As anticipated, coercive pressure had positive moderating correlation with both formalization and the management of risk by the construction industry. Similarly, it was also found that in the course of carrying out construction activities, coercive pressure made significant interactive influence on formalization, specialization, and centralization. Practical Applications: Coercive pressure reduced the frequency of accidents among workers in the process of carrying out construction works.

Improved Hydrophobicity of Macroalgae Biopolymer Film Incorporated with Kenaf Derived CNF Using Silane Coupling Agent.

Hydrophilic behaviour of carrageenan macroalgae biopolymer, due to hydroxyl groups, has limited its applications, especially for packaging. In this study, macroalgae were reinforced with cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) isolated from kenaf bast fibres. The macroalgae CNF film was after that treated with silane for hydrophobicity enhancement. The wettability and functional properties of unmodified macroalgae CNF films were compared with silane-modified macroalgae CNF films. Characterisation of the unmodified and modified biopolymers films was investigated. The atomic force microscope (AFM), SEM morphology, tensile properties, water contact angle, and thermal behaviour of the biofilms showed that the incorporation of Kenaf bast CNF remarkably increased the strength, moisture resistance, and thermal stability of the macroalgae biopolymer films. Moreover, the films' modification using a silane coupling agent further enhanced the strength and thermal stability of the films apart from improved water-resistance of the biopolymer films compared to unmodified films. The morphology and AFM showed good interfacial interaction of the components of the biopolymer films. The modified biopolymer films exhibited significantly improved hydrophobic properties compared to the unmodified films due to the enhanced dispersion resulting from the silane treatment. The improved biopolymer films can potentially be utilised as packaging materials.

Cotton Wastes Functionalized Biomaterials from Micro to Nano: A Cleaner Approach for a Sustainable Environmental Application.

The exponential increase in textile cotton wastes generation and the ineffective processing mechanism to mitigate its environmental impact by developing functional materials with unique properties for geotechnical applications, wastewater, packaging, and biomedical engineering have become emerging global concerns among researchers. A comprehensive study of a processed cotton fibres isolation technique and their applications are highlighted in this review. Surface modification of cotton wastes fibre increases the adsorption of dyes and heavy metals removal from wastewater. Cotton wastes fibres have demonstrated high adsorption capacity for the removal of recalcitrant pollutants in wastewater. Cotton wastes fibres have found remarkable application in slope amendments, reinforcement of expansive soils and building materials, and a proven source for isolation of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). Several research work on the use of cotton waste for functional application rather than disposal has been done. However, no review study has discussed the potentials of cotton wastes from source (Micro-Nano) to application. This review critically analyses novel isolation techniques of CNC from cotton wastes with an in-depth study of a parameter variation effect on their yield. Different pretreatment techniques and efficiency were discussed. From the analysis, chemical pretreatment is considered the most efficient extraction of CNCs from cotton wastes. The pretreatment strategies can suffer variation in process conditions, resulting in distortion in the extracted cellulose's crystallinity. Acid hydrolysis using sulfuric acid is the most used extraction process for cotton wastes-based CNC. A combined pretreatment process, such as sonication and hydrolysis, increases the crystallinity of cotton-based CNCs. The improvement of the reinforced matrix interface of textile fibres is required for improved packaging and biomedical applications for the sustainability of cotton-based CNCs.

Ash analyses of bio-coal briquettes produced using blended binder.

The behaviour of ash of fuel affects its thermal efficiency when in use. The ash analyses of bio-coal briquettes developed from lean grade coal and torrefied woody biomass have received limited intensive study. Therefore, the present study aims at analysing the ashes of briquette made from lean grade coal and torrefied woody biomass using blended coal tar pitch and molasses as the binder. Bio-coal briquettes were produced from coal and torrefied biomass in various hybrid ratios. Ashing of various briquettes was done in a muffle furnace at 850 °C for 3 h. Mineral phases of the ash were identified using an X-ray Diffractometer (XRD), while the mineral oxides were obtained using an X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer. The AFT700 Furnace was used with its AFT700 software to evaluate the ash fusion temperatures of the ashes. The XRD patterns look similar, and quartz was found to be the dominant mineral phase present in the raw coal and bio-coal briquettes. The SiO2 (57-58%), Al2O3 (19-21%), and Fe2O3 (8-9%) were the major oxides observed in the ashes. The final fusion temperatures of the ashes range from 1300-1350 °C. The compositions of the ashes of the bio-coal briquettes are classified as detrital minerals. It was concluded that the addition of torrefied biomass (≤ [Formula: see text]and blended binder ([Formula: see text] 15%) to coal gave a negligible impact on the ashes of the resultant bio-coal briquettes.

Comparative Analysis of Rapid Test and Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Screening of Blood Donors for Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Seropositivity.

BACKGROUND: The Hepatitis B surface Antigen (HBsAg) is the most utilized indicator marker of hepatitis B infection. This study assesses the accuracy of the two most common screening assays used to detect HBsAg among blood donors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 350 eligible blood donors were screened for HBsAg using both Bio-Check HBsAg Rapid screening kit (BioCheck Inc, South San Francisco, USA) and a fourth-generation Enzyme-Linked Immunoassays (ELISA) kit, MonolisaTM HBs Ag Ultra (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Marnes-la-Coquette-France). Questionnaires were used to inquire about risk factors for HBV infection among blood donors. The calculation of sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive and positive predictive values were carried out by comparing the performance of the rapid kit with ELISA test as the reference standard. RESULTS: The prevalence of HBV infection using Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) was 5.7% but was 14.6% by ELISA. Using ELISA as a reference, the sensitivity and specificity of RDT were 31.4% and 98.7% respectively. The positive predictive value and negative predictive value for RDT were 80.0% and 89.4% respectively. Overall non-compliance with transfusion-transmitted infection (TTI) risk-related deferral criteria was 38%. CONCLUSION: The low sensitivity of RDT kits precludes its continuous use in high HBV endemic regions where many donors fail to disclose full and truthful information about their risk for TTI. It is suggested that blood banks should complement the use of RDT with a more sensitive assay such as ELISA.

Highly Effective Cow Bone Based Biocomposite for the Sequestration of Organic Pollutant Parameter from Palm Oil Mill Effluent in a Fixed Bed Column Adsorption System.

The reduction of chemical oxygen demand (COD) from palm oil mill effluent (POME) is very significant to ensure aquatic protection and the environment. Continuous adsorption of COD in a fixed bed column can be an effective treatment process for its reduction prior to discharge. Adsorption capacity of bone derived biocomposite synthesized from fresh cow bones, zeolite, and coconut shells for the reduction in the organic pollutant parameter was investigated in this study in a fixed bed column. The effect of influent flow rate (1.4, 2.0, and 2.6 mL/min) was determined at an influent pH 7. The optimum bed capacity on the fabricated composite of surface area of 251.9669 m2/g was obtained at 1.4 mL/min at breakthrough time of 5.15 h influent POME concentration. The experimental data were fitted to Thomas, Adams-Bohart, and Yoon-Nelson models fixed bed adsorption models. It was revealed that the results fitted well to the Adams Bohart model with a correlation coefficient of R2 > 0.96 at different influent concentration. Adsorption rate constant was observed to increase at lower flow rate influent concentration, resulting in longer empty bed contact time (EBCT) for the mass transfer zone of the column to reach the outlet of the effluent concentration. In general, the overall kinetics of adsorption indicated that the reduction in COD from POME using a bone-biocomposite was effective at the initial stage of adsorption. The pore diffusion model better described the breakthrough characteristics for COD reduction with high correlation coefficient. Shorter breakthrough time compared to EBCT before regeneration indicated that the bone composite was suitable and effective for the reduction in COD from POME using fixed bed column adsorption.

Optimization of heat treatment parameters of medium carbon steel quenched in different media using Taguchi method and grey relational analysis.

Quenching is one of the major processes of heat treatment of medium carbon steel that aims at improving its mechanical properties. However, the effectiveness of this process is dependent on several control factors that must be maximized to obtain optimum results in terms of hardness, yield strength, ultimate tensile strength among others. This study aims at optimizing the process of improving the mechanical properties of medium carbon steel by varying some key factors like the quenchant used (A), heat treatment temperature (B), and soaking time (C). The measured responses in this study were the hardness, yield strength (YS), and ultimate tensile strength (UTS). Optimization was conducted in two stages. The first stage dealt with the mono-optimization of process parameters using Taguchi's Signal-to-Noise (S/N) ratio. A total of nine (9) experiments were performed based on standard L9 orthogonal array because each of the three control factors has three (3) levels. The second stage was multi-objective optimization using Taguchi-based grey relational analysis (GRA). The optimal conditions for hardness, YS, and UTS were obtained at A2B3C3, A3B2C3, and A3B3C3, respectively. Using ANOVA as statistical analysis, it was observed that the soaking time was the main control factor for all three measured responses (31.95% contribution ratio for hardness, 62.46%, and 66.76% for YS and UTS, respectively), while the quenchant had the least contribution. Analysis of the Taguchi-based GRA revealed that the results obtained are in total conformance to that of the Taguchi method, with soaking time having the highest contribution ratio of 69.41%.

The ignitability, fuel ratio and ash fusion temperatures of torrefied woody biomass.

The impact of torrefaction temperature on the ignitability, fuel ratio and ash fusion temperatures of two tropical deciduous woods (Teak and Melina) were investigated in a setup of tubular furnace. The properties considered are calorific value, fuel ratio, ignitability index, ash compositions and ash fusion temperatures of the biomass. Six different temperatures (220, 240, 260, 280, 300 and 320 °C) at 60 min reaction time were considered. The results indicated that as torrefaction temperature increased, the calorific value, fuel ratio and ignitability index of the biomass also increased. The ignitability index of biomass (40-63) was better than the value (35) recommended for fuel applicable in thermal plants for power generation. The ash compositional analysis revealed that there was no variation in the quantity of SiO2, Al2O3, CaO along with other minerals for the raw and torrefied biomass. This implied that the temperature up to 320 °C has no significant impact on the compositions of biomass ash during torrefaction. The ash fusion temperature test showed that the biomass ash softens at ≈ 1200 °C and finally fused at ≈ 1300 °C. The study concluded that an increase in torrefaction temperature increases the thermal properties of the torrefied biomass without affecting the compositions of biomass ash or lowering the ash fusion temperatures.

Densification of coal fines and mildly torrefied biomass into composite fuel using different organic binders.

Coal processing industries generate millions of tons of fines (<3 mm) during mining operation and are often considered as wastes. These wastes have enormous potential in serving as energy and metallurgical operation feedstock. One avenue for its use is densification into briquettes or pelletizes. Various briquetting techniques have been adopted in the past few decades; however, the main issues upfront in commercializing these techniques are significant binder cost and poor mechanical integrity. Therefore, the present study concentrates on utilizing commonly available organic binder along with pretreated biomass in developing coal fine briquettes. Briquettes were produced after initial pretreatment of the raw materials under a load of 2 tons. Briquettes were cured in an inert environment and eventually characterized for its main litmus requirements (physical properties). It was observed that pitch-molasses bonded briquettes have better physical properties leading to good mechanical integrity than briquettes produced from individual binder. The proximate, ultimate and calorific value analyses of the briquettes do not deteriorate but mildly improved compared to the raw coal fines. With a density of 1.18-1.32 g/cm3, drop to fracture that is greater than 100 (times/2 m), impact resistance index well above 6000, water resistance index of 99% and cold crushing strength of 9 MPa, pitch-molasses bonded briquettes clearly surpassed recommended physical properties benchmarked for briquettes of industrial and domestic end use. The physical properties of the briquettes favorably meet requirements as feedstock for rotary kiln direct reduced iron and COREX iron-making processes as well as fuel for thermal operations.

Epidemiology of Plasmodium falciparum infection and drug resistance markers in Ota Area, Southwestern Nigeria.

Purpose: Effective routine monitoring and surveillance of parasite genes is a necessary strategy in the control of parasites' resistance to antimalarial drugs, according to the WHO's recommendation. This cross-sectional study therefore aimed at carrying out an epidemiological analysis on malaria incidence in Ado-Odo/Ota, Ogun State. Patients and methods: Blood and corresponding saliva samples were collected from 1,243 subjects of all ages and sex presenting with fever and a parasitemia level ≥2,000 between September 2016 and March 2018. Samples were collected from selected health facilities in the study area of Ogun state to establish the prevalence of falciparum malaria and determine resistance genes harbored by the parasites. The overall prevalence of falciparum malaria in the study site by microscopic examination was 45.86%. The highest incidence of 57.42% was recorded among male subjects. Point mutations of K76T and N86Y in the Pfcrt and pfmdr-1 genes, as well as non-synonymous mutations in Pfk13 genes, were screened for and sequenced for further analysis. Results: Pfcrt was detectable in 57.42% of blood and 51.02% of saliva samples, respectively. About 34.78% of the subjects that were confirmed microscopically harbored the Pfmdr-1 mutated gene while 26.67% of the saliva samples revealed Pfmdr-1. Epidemiological studies identified the presence of wild-type Pfk13 genes in 21.84% of blood and 44.44% of saliva samples correspondingly. For each of the genes evaluated, saliva portrayed great diagnostic performance when compared with blood. Conclusion: Findings from this study have established the prevalence of malaria and the resistance pattern of P. falciparum in the study area. The findings may help in formulating drug policies and suggest the use of saliva as a noninvasive point-of-care method of diagnosing malaria potentially deployable to rural endemic areas.

Dataset on the evaluation of chemical and mechanical properties of steel rods from local steel plants and collapsed building sites.

The quality of steel rods used in structural applications has been subjected to continuous scrutiny by researchers in Nigeria. In this data article, the experimental data on the chemical and mechanical properties of steel rods from collapsed building sites and local steel plants have been reported. The chemical composition consisting of carbon, manganese, silicon, sulphur, phosphorus among other elements were recorded using an optical emission spectrometer. Some of the main elements were used to evaluate the carbon equivalent value and the results are reported in this article. The yield strength, ultimate tensile strength and percentage elongation were also presented as obtained from the universal testing machine. The hardness values of the steel rod samples were also presented.

The Influence of Organizational External Factors on Construction Risk Management among Nigerian Construction Companies.

BACKGROUND: Substantial empirical research has shown conflicting results regarding the influence of organizational external factors on construction risk management, suggesting the necessity to introduce a moderator into the study. The present research confirmed whether rules and regulations matter on the relationships between organizational external factors and construction risk management. METHODS: Based on discouragement and organizational control theory, this research examined the effects of organizational external factors and rules and regulations on construction risk management among 238 employees operating in construction companies in Abuja and Lagos, Nigeria. A personally administered questionnaire was used to acquire the data. The data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling. RESULTS: A significant positive relationship between organizational external factors and construction risk management was asserted. This study also found a significant positive relationship between rules and regulations and construction risk management. As anticipated, rules and regulations were found to moderate the relationship between organizational external factors and construction risk management, with a significant positive result. Similarly, a significant interaction effect was also found between rules and regulations and organizational external factors. Implications of the research from a Nigerian point of view have also been discussed. CONCLUSION: Political, economy, and technology factors helped the construction companies to reduce the chance of risk occurrence during the construction activities. Rules and regulations also helped to lessen the rate of accidents involving construction workers as well as the duration of the projects. Similarly, the influence of the organizational external factors with rules and regulations on construction risk management has proven that most of the construction companies that implement the aforementioned factors have the chance to deliver their projects within the stipulated time, cost, and qualities, which can be used as a yardstick to measure a good project.

Experimental data on mechanical properties evaluation of medium carbon steel quenched in different waste media.

Several wastes can be instrumental in the improvement of the mechanical properties of medium carbon steel when quenched. The quenching media employed such as coconut water (CW), pap water (PW) and spent engine oil (SPE) have been largely considered as wastes. The data in this article are related to the research article titled "Mechanical Properties Improvement Evaluation of Medium Carbon Steels Quenched in Different Media" (Ikubanni et al., 2017) [1]. The article provides information on the mechanical properties evaluation of medium carbon steel quenched in different media. Twenty-seven (27) samples of medium carbon steel samples were heated to temperatures of 730 °C, 760 °C and 790 °C and soaked for 30, 45 and 60 min respectively. The test results recorded include hardness value, yield strength (YS) and the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) for each of the samples at different heating temperatures and soaking time for the different quenching media.

Assessment of community knowledge and participation in onchocerciasis programme, challenges in ivermectin drug delivery, distribution and non-compliance in Ogun State, southwest Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: This study reports knowledge of onchocerciasis and surrounding factors from the perspective of community members, Community drug distributors and health workers in eight endemic LGAs of Ogun State, Nigeria. METHODS: Using structured questionnaires and Focus Group Discussion, a total of 417 community members, 37 health workers and 42 CDDs across 16 communities participated in the study. RESULTS: Majority (70.7%) of participants knew the disease by its local name, "Inarun". Community members (62%) identified severe itching as a symptom of the disease while (35.9%) (17.6%) and (9.8%) of participants associated bites of black-flies, physical-exertion on farm and allergies to peanuts as the cause of the disease. Majority (62.2%) of health workers reported the insufficiency of drug-storage facilities at community-health centres. Drug distributors also decried the paucity of funds to facilitate wide therapeutic-coverage. Compliance with drug use was affected by adverse reaction by (4%) Community members, pregnancy (9%) and inability to swallow pills (11.6%). CONCLUSION: To improve onchocerciasis control in Ogun State, public-health-education regarding the disease aetiology needs to be improved. Also, treatment rounds need to be increased to accommodate members who unwillingly missed treatment. Finally, government provision of transport logistics to CDDs for ease of logistics is very important.