Wednesday, October 12, 2022

Bioremediation of Used Engine Oil Polluted Soil Using Goat Manure

 Abstract

 Hydrocarbon contamination of land, water, air, vegetation and human is a widespread global environmental concern. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of goat manure for the bioremediation of used engine oil polluted soil. 10kg soil sample was collected from a site free of used engine oil contamination (from an agricultural land in The Department of Petroleum Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Benin, Ugbowo Campus, Benin City, Edo State in Nigeria) using a 22-cm hand-dug soil auger and stored in labeled black polythene bag. The sample was air dried, grinded and sieved through 2mm mesh before use. Before contamination, the soil sample was subjected to chemical digestion using 1:1 ratio of 0.25M hydrochloric acid and Nitric acid. Thereafter it was characterized to determine the physio-chemical properties. The physio-chemical properties determined include Total Heterotrophic bacterial, Moisture content Soil, pH, Electrical conductivity, Total hydrocarbon content (THC), Total organic carbon, Total nitrogen content in addition to the soil composition including percent sand, Total Phosphorus, Lead (Pb) and Iron (Fe). The used engine oil was added gradually into the bowl containing the unpolluted sieved soil sample and was properly mixed.

 The used engine oil was to serve as the pollutant. The soil samples were left for 4days for stabilization before the commencement of treatment process. The experiment was monitored for a period of eight (8) weeks under which appreciable level of remediation had been obtained. Result obtained shows that there was a gradual increase in pH, Electrical conductivity (EC) and Total Heterotrophic bacterial (THB), and also a gradual decrease in total nitrogen content (TNC), total organic carbon (TOC), total phosphorus (TP), lead (Pb), Iron (Fe) and total hydrocarbon content (THC). The result explicitly showed that goat manure is a good substrate for bioremediation of used engine oil polluted site with calculated engine oil removal efficiency of 62.67%. The kinetic modelling shows that the experimental data fitted well with pseudo-second order kinetic model. On predicting the rate of hydrocarbon loss with time the non-linear regression model gave higher coefficient of determination of 0.9874 compared to the linear regression model that gave 0.9665.

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Thursday, October 6, 2022

It’s Time for Humanity to Understand what Fires in the Forests are about

Opinion

The main reason for the increased fire and danger of forests in the world is that humanity immensely applies mineral fertilizers in agriculture around the globe. These fertilizers (primarily nitrates) are raised by the wind with dust into the air and get inside the leaves of trees. This is worse than increased nitrates at the roots in the soil. The forests themselves occur as a result of a decrease in the root security of trees (Figure). Nitrates acidify the extracellular solution inside the leaves and activate the enzyme invertase. Increased by the action of invertase, the hydrolysis of sucrose prevents its export from the leaves to the roots to enhance their growth. In this case, theorni cannot provide water to the entire section of the wood of the tree trunk. The root security of the plant decreases, and the amount of water absorbed becomes insufficient to fill the vessels of dead wood. And it dries up [1]. In the photo from the Internet of a burning tree in Australia, this is clearly visible photo. Gorys dry wood inside the tree, and the bark does not burn. To eliminate this phenomenon, IT IS necessary.

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Monday, September 26, 2022

Chronic Granulomatous Disease: All Known Causative Mutations Collected

Abstract

Chronic granulomatous disease is an immunodeficiency mainly affecting children, usually at an early age, and presents as a susceptibility for severe infections with bacteria, fungi and yeasts. Patients with chronic granulomatous disease have mutations in the genes that encode the components of the leukocyte NADPH oxidase. This system generates reactive oxygen species that are essential for intracellular killing of microorganisms. In a world-wide cooperative action, all published and unpublished mutations in these genes have recently been collected. In addition, known polymorphisms in these genes have also been retrieved, thus aiding in correct interpretation of genetic analysis of the patients.

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Tuesday, September 20, 2022

Microbial Remediation of Dichloro-Diphenyl- Trichloroethane (DDT)

Abstract

The insecticide had been intensively applied for agricultural pest control since 1940. It was disqualified because it persists in the environment, accumulates in fatty tissues, and can cause bad health effects on wildlife and human being. The organochlorine (DDT) has been programmed under the Stockholm Convention to protect human health and the environment from Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). Biodegradation is carried out by microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) that naturally live in the environment. Bacteria and fungi have very diverse metabolisms, and they use a wide variety of food and energy sources and perform many important functions by decomposition. Complete biodegradation of DDT involves the oxidation of parent compound to form carbon dioxide and water and provides both carbon and energy for the growth and reproduction of microbes. Each degradation step is catalyzed by specific enzyme produced by a degrading cell or enzyme found external to the cell. Degradation of insecticide by enzyme will stop at any step if an appropriate enzyme is not present. Effects of DDT on human health and the environment depend on the dose of DDT and the timespan and frequency of exposure. It effects also depend on the health of a person and certain environmental factors. DDE and DDT can pass to the fetus in pregnant women. Both chemicals are found in breast milk, resulting in exposure to nursing infants. Microbes can be screened out from soil and wastewater as an effective tool for biodegradation of toxic organic chemicals. Phanerochaete and related fungi that have the ability to attack wood possess a powerful extracellular enzyme that, acts on a broad array of organic compounds

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Monday, September 12, 2022

Assessment and Mapping of Intestinal Parasitic Infections and Associated Risk Factors from Different Northern Health Centers in Rwanda

Abstract

Aim: The general objective of this study involved the assessment and mapping of intestinal parasitic infections in Rwanda.

Methods: In this study, Rwandan health centers and hospitals from different region were targeted. For each suspected patient was given a labeled stool container to collect stool sample. The stool samples were carried to parasitological laboratory for parasitological examination. Macroscopic examination was performed, and direct smears prepared with normal saline and/ or iodine for parasites analysis under microscope (objectives 10×and 40×). Risk factors associated to intestinal parasites were assessed using structured questionnaires given to patients. Obtained cross sectional results of intestinal parasites prevalence and associated risk factors from different Rwandan Northern health centers were used, analyzed by SSPSS version 16, Microsoft Excel and Arc Map and records are incorporated into a geographical system for mapping.

Results: The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in Rwanda according to 3139 patients who answered well the questionnaire was 57% among the age group below 5 years old, 54.96% among the age group of 5-15 years old, 57.41% among the age group of 15-25 years old, 55.37% among the age group of 25-35 years old, 59.59% among the age group of 35-45 years old and 49.40% among the age group of ≤45 years old. In the present study, the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections was significantly 65.39% among the age group of ≥45 years and was higher compare to other age groups.

Conclusion: This current study has tried to point out relatively assessment and mapping of intestinal parasitic infections and associated risk factors in Rwanda. The relatively high prevalence rate of intestinal parasites infections in Rwanda are the reflection of poor sanitation of the environment, poor personal hygiene, relatively unhygienic water supply and lack of clean drinking water supply. Those were the main risk factors for intestinal parasites infection in Rwanda.

Recommendation: There is a need for community mobilization towards provision and use of safe and adequate water supply, latrine construction to reduce open field defecation. The high overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in this present study need the mass deworming in the community and establishment of good personal hygiene and environmental sanitation; public health education is also necessary on the transmission of intestinal parasitic infections in communities, participatory approaches and combined efforts from the community and health sectors are needed to control the study areas.

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Friday, August 26, 2022

Camel Milk: Nutritional Composition, Functionality and Health Benefits-A Mini Review

Abstract

A comprehensive mini-review on camel milk nutritional composition in comparison with bovine milk and an overview of functional properties as antioxidant, antimicrobial and Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory activities is provided. Camel milk and its protein fractions as lactoferrin and α-lactalbumin were found to provide various potential health benefits including anti-carcinogenic effect, hypocholesterolaemic effect, anti-diabetic, anti-autism and hypoallergenicity effects. Detailed investigations on beneficial impact of camel milk as well its nutrition value was investigated for the improvement of camel milk production and consumption worldwide not only in the arid countries and the hot regions.

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Tuesday, August 23, 2022

Antibacterial Efficacy of Vernonia Amygdalina Against Bacteria Strains Recovered from Hospital Fomites, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was carried out to evaluate the occurrence of bacteria from hospital fomites and the antibacterial activity extract from Vernonia amygdalina against bacteria isolates. The colonies obtained were subjected to colonial characteristics and conventional biochemical test with reference to Bergey’s Manual of Determinative Bacteriology. The antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates was performed using the Kirby-Bauer’s disc diffusion methods while the antimicrobial activity of the extract was performed by using well diffusion method. Proteus species (18%) were the most prevalent bacteria followed by Staphylococcus spp (16%) while Actinobacter spp and Photobacterium spp have the least of 1%. All the isolates showed high resistant (100%) to various antibiotics tested while they are sensitive to ofloxacin. The bioactive extract of Vernonia amygdalina revealed the presence of some active medicinal constituent. The antibacterial activity of the extract against the organisms produced a zone of inhibition which ranged between 4.5-15mm at 100mg/ml concentration while it ranged between 2.0-12.1mm at 50mg/ml. In conclusion, this study showed that hospital fomites harbour highly pathogenic bacteria which have the potentials of causing epidemics in the nearest future. Therefore, the efficacy of Vernonia amygdalina against clinical resistant isolates could be explored for further pharmaceutical use and should be encouraged in the formulation and production of new antibiotics.

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FGFR Gene Mutation and Pfeiffer Syndrome

Abstract Pfeiffer syndrome is a genetic disease caused by a defect in the FGFR-1 or FGFR-2 genes. This syndrome affects the skeleton, whet...