Optimization of Mechanical Properties of Bonded Particle Boards Produced From Agricultural Waste Wood Chips

The aim of this research work was to optimize the production of particle boards from agricultural waste (wood chips). The mechanical properties investigated were the modulus of elasticity (MOE) and modulus of rupture (MOR). The production of particle boards was investigated under the following conditions: stacking time (14-21days), resin loading (386-463 g) and amount of agro residue (154-185 g) using Box-Behnken design. Statistically significant models (p<0.05) were developed to represent the relationship between the responses (MOE and MOR) and the independent variables. Both models showed significant fit with experimental data with R2 values of 0.99 and 0.97 respectively. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) results showed that MOE and MOR were influenced by the stacking time, amount of resin and agro residue used. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the MOE and MOR and the optimization results showed that the maximum MOE and MOR values of 1114.09N/mm2 and 9.34 N/mm2 were respectively obtained at the optimum production conditions of stacking time, resin loading and amount of agro residue (i.e. 21days, 462.82g and 185.00 g respectively). The particle board produced at the optimized conditions satisfied the American National Standard Institute ANSI/A208.1-1999 specification for general purpose particle boards

Assessing the job satisfaction of health workers in primary health centers in Anaocha, Anambra State in Nigeria

Background: Determining the effectiveness of a health system is the presence of an adequate and well-distributed workforce of skilled health professionals, particularly within the Primary Health Care sector. These healthcare personnel constitute a significant portion of public health expenditure and with their jobs form the cornerstone of numerous policies and management approaches aimed at augmenting productivity and efficacy. Objective: This study sought to assess the level of job satisfaction among healthcare workers in Primary Health Centres in Anaocha LGA, Anambra State, Nigeria. Methods: After obtaining approval from the ethics and research committees in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, a cross-sectional study of 70 consenting Primary healthcare workers who met the eligibility criteria was conducted. They were selected by simple random sampling from 1st February to 1st March 2021 at the Primary Healthcare Centres in Anaocha Local Government Area (L.G.A) of Anambra State. Data collection was by the use of a self-administered, semi-structured questionnaire and analyzed using the statistical package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0. The level of significance for this study was set at&nbsp;P&nbsp;&lt; 0.05 for all analyses. Results: The study showed a high level of overall job satisfaction, as 81.43% of the respondents were satisfied with their jobs. The workers\u27 salary (p = 0.021), their physical working environment (p = 0.043), the distance of the workplace from their place of residence (p = 0.041), and payment of allowances (p = 0.012) were significantly associated with job satisfaction. Conclusion: This study demonstrated a notably elevated level of job satisfaction. Special allowance schemes should be instituted for primary healthcare workers to encourage their stay in rural areas

Surface Corrosion Inhibition of Mild Steel in an Acidic Environment by an Anthelmintic Drug: Experimental, RSM, DFT and MD Simulation Studies

Gravimetric, electrochemical, surface investigation, RSM and theoretical computational studies, using DFT and MD, were employed to investigate Ecorr inhibition of MS surfaces in 0.5 M H2SO4, by a worm expelling drug (Wormin® MBZ). The results from computational and RSM optimization and experimental methodologies were all in good accord. After 24 h, IE(%) of 1.5 g/L MBZ on MS corrosion, calculated from WL data, was 96.610%. Maximum IE(%) of 1.0 g MBZ was 96.903% (303 K) and 99.998% (333 K). PDP confirmed MBZ mixed nature of adsorption. The impact of the inhibitor C and IT of MS on IE(%) of MBZ was revealed by statistical evaluation and optimization, using Design Expert software package (Stat-Ease). The optimized IE(%) of 96.6103% was obtained with the inhibitor C of 1.061 g/L, at MS 48.58 h IT. On the MS surface, MBZ behaved according to Langmuir’s adsorption isotherm. MD showed that MBZ had an Einteraction of -536.33 and -694.53 kcal/mol, at 303 and 333 K, respectively. Negative Einteraction forecasts confirmed MBZ-MS surface interaction capability, which reinforced the experimental investigations IE(%) findings