September 2019

Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. It was found that there was a corresponding relationship between cancer as a disease and the general condition of the affected patient ashe may suffer from symptoms such as cachexia, abnormal bleeding, prolonged cough, unexplained weight loss and a change in bowel movements. Colorectal cancer (CRC) also called bowel cancer especially was related to bowel dysfunction leading to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) which may compromise the patient’s quality of life. It was found that including a physical activity such as an exercise on regular daily bases in the program of treatment for the cancer patient has a profound effect on the general condition of the patient. The current study aimed to evaluate the effect of pelvic floor exercise training program on the bowel dysfunction for colorectal patients. Furthermore the need of this study was developed from the lack in the quantitative knowledge and information in the published studies about the effect of pelvic floor exercise (Kegel exercise) on the bowel dysfunction in colorectal cancer patients. This study was designed to provide a guideline about the effect of pelvic floor exercise on improving the bowel dysfunction for colorectal patients. Thirty patients (males and females) were diagnosed with colorectal cancer were participated in the study, their ages ranged from (40 – 55) years had been selected randomly from department of oncology Alexandria university hospital, Alexandria, Egypt and were distributed randomly into 2 groups. Group A(study group) conducted pelvic floor exercise for 6 weeks for 3 times per week 3 session per day for 20 minutes beside traditional cancer treatment. Group B only received traditional cancer treatment. Results were assisted by the irritable bowel symptoms severity questionnaire. Results: The results of the study showed that there was a statistically significant decrease in bowel dysfunction symptoms after 6 weeks of treatment application of pelvic floor exercise (post-treatment) of group A when compared with the corresponding mean value of the group B which were only treated with traditional treatment of colorectal cancer. It was concluded that the pelvic floor exercise helps in decreasing the bowel dysfunction symptoms in colorectal cancer patients.

Ethyl acetate extract of the Stem bark of Piliostigma reticulatum was tested against clinical bacterial strains including; Escherichia coli, Klebsiella aerogenes, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Serratia marscences, Shigella dysenterie and Yersinia enterocolitica using the agar well diffusion method of Perez, (1990). Purified extract were subjected to spectra analysis using NMR and GCMS.Result obtained revealed that the plant extract has antibacterial properties against E. coli, Str. Pyogenes, K. aerogenes, S.aureus, and Sh. dysenteriae with zones of inhibition ranging from 10mm – 20mm at 100mg/ml of extracts. Lower zones were observed for lower concentrations. Essential oils discovered in purified extract include sesquiterpenes, esters, fatty acids, alcohols and palmitic acids. However, sesquiterpenes were found to be most abundant. Piliostigma reticulatum justifies its use in traditional medicine and some of the mode of action include destroying the microorganism’ ability to produce catalase and the ability to stimulate non-opsonic phagocytosis.

Jatropha seed oil was employed in the preparation of different alkyd resin samples using alcoholysis and polycondensation process. The alkyds formation was monitored by determining the acid number of the reaction mixture at time intervals and the extents of the polyesterification reactions were evaluated. Both the Jatropha seed oil and its alkyd resins were characterized by Fourier Transform Infra red (FTIR) spectroscopy. Performance evaluation shows that properties of alkyd resin derived from Malic anhydride are comparable with pthalic anhydride alkyd resins. However the Maleic alkyd resin shows better color, and lower poly condensation time. Better results were observed from the blending of pthalic and small portions of maleic anhydride.

The mining sector has been identified as a priority sector to the nation’s diversification drive. The sector, no doubt, holds great potentials for substantial increase in national income and export. The mining sector has critical backward and forward linkages with other sectors: modern industrial activities revolve around minerals and metals. In recognition of the potentials of the mineral sector, the Nigerian government officially declared the year 2007 as Minerals and Mines Year (MAMY). It further enacted the Nigerian Mineral and Mining Act 2007 and operationalized the Act in 2009 through the National Minerals and Metals Policy. However, the performance of the Nigerian mining sector has been far below the performance projections: in 2016, it was reported that the mining sector contributed only 0.13% of GDP and 0.16% of non-oil export. Since the operation and performance of the mining sector is largely contingent on the legal, institutional and regulatory framework, this study examined the NMMA with a view to evaluating its provisions. This study critically assesses the fiscal incentives provided in the Mineral and Mining Act 2007 with the aim of determining how well the incentives have stimulated the growth and development of the sector and the economy at large. The findings indicate that the greatest problem facing the Nigerian mining sector is poor enforcement of the Mining Act. The study also reveals that the Act inadvertently reinforces the operation of illegal miners through its stringent licensing conditions. The implication of this is gross revenue loss to the government and non-compliance with EIA requirement. The study therefore recommends that the Act be reviewed to accommodate the NEITI principles which would enhance transparency in the mining sector. It is also recommended that the Act be reviewed to allow for grant of license to cooperative societies as a mitigant to illegal mining operation. Given that foreign direct investment to the mining sector is relatively low despite the attractive fiscal incentives provided in the Act, it is also recommended that the nation takes pragmatic step to minimize rising economic, political and security risks, boost infrastructural development and stop illegal mining.

The study examined the possibilityof using extract ofAcalypha wilkesiana (AW)leafas green inhibitor for ferritic stainless steel (FSS).This was obtained in 0.5 M hydrochloric acid using gravimetric and potentiodynamic polarization (Tafel plots). The inhibitor, temperature and time concentration ranged from 0–10 percent v / v at 2 percent v / v interval to 30–60 ° C at 10 ° C interval at 3-18 days within a space of three days.Qualitative and quantitative analysis and Fourier Transforms Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy technique were used to characterize the sample. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to analyze the sample surface morphology before, during and after testing. The findings showed that the corrosion rate increased with an rise in temperature and decreased with an rise in inhibitor concentration and time and acquired a peak inhibition effectiveness of 91.16 percent at an optimum 8 percent v / v concentration. The coupon's SEM without extract on the surface was rough, serious pits, cracks, and intermetallic dissolution occurred. There was an enhancement with a soft green inhibitor on the surface morphology of ferritic stainless steel. The adsorption and physisorption in nature of the extract obeysLangmuir adsorption isotherm. The inhibition effectiveness values acquired are well above a good inhibitor's minimum acceptable threshold of 70 percent. Therefore, the Acalypha wilkesiana (AW) extract was very efficient in inhibiting FSS corrosion in acidic medium.