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Kingsley Amaihunwa,1 Emmanuel Etim,2 Everista Osime,3 Zacchaeus Jeremiah4 1Department of Medical Laboratory Services, General Hospital Oghara, Oghara City, Delta State, Nigeria; 2Department of Hematology and Blood Transfusion Science, Federal Medical Center, Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria; 3Department of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria; 4Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Niger Delta University, Yenogoa, Bayelsa State, NigeriaCorrespondence: Emmanuel EtimLaboratory Department, Federal Medical Centre, Yola, Adamawa State, NigeriaTel +234-806-392-4735Email emmasuti@yahoo.comBackground/Objective: In obese people, adipose tissue accumulates to the extent of having an adverse effect on certain procoagulant factors, such as: soluble vascular cell–adhesion molecules (sVCAMs), fibrinogen (Fg), and von Willebrand factor antigen (vWFAg). This study thus aimed to evaluate the impacts of obesity on sVCAMs, Fg, and vWFAg in obese adults in Sapele, southern Nigeria.Methods: A total of 312 obese adults and 103 controls aged 18– 65 years were enrolled for this study. Venous blood (4.5 mL) was collected into EDTA containers for measurement of Fg, vWFAg, and sVCAMs using ELISA method. Data were analyzed using Student’s t-test, correlations, and one-way ANOVA followed by least significant difference post hoc tests on Microsoft Excel 2010 and SPSS 21.0, and results were expressed as means ± SD.Results: Mean body-mass index of obese and control (non-obese) subjects was 36.82± 0.55 kg/m2 and 20.43± 0.29 kg/m,2 respectively (P< 0.001). Mean Fg in obese subjects was 78.45± 13.79 ng/ml and in the control group 40.00± 2.55 ng/ml. Mean vWFAg in obese subjects was 85.63± 7.00u/l and in control subjects 59.02± 2.48u/l . Mean sVCAM counts in obese and control subjects were 7.53± 0.96Iu/l and 4.16± 0.19u/l, respectively (P< 0.01).Conclusion: Fg, vWFAg, and sVCAM levels were higher in obese people than the non-obese.Keywords: obesity, sVCAM, vWFAg, fibrinogen, Sapele

This paper presents a numerical investigation of an indirect solar dryer for wood, using an absorber placed directly behind the transparent cover on the top of the dryer with a layer of air separating it from the cover. The floor and north wall are insulated and painted in black. The dryer is very simple to build and electrical energy is only used for the fan. Applications are done on three tropical woods with 50 mm thick most utilized in Central Africa: obeche (Triplochilon scleroxylon), iroko (Chlorophora excelsa) and sapele (Entandrophragma cylindricum). Comparisons between the numerical results and those experimentally obtained are given and the performances of this solar dryer are discussed under the weather conditions of seven towns in Central Africa region located in six different countries. Satisfactory agreement between experimental and numerical results is then obtained. With an average initial moisture content ranging between 0.4 and 0.48 kg/kg, the average final water contents are ranged from 0.15 to 0.18 kg/kg after 21 days in Yaounde during the months of November and December 2004. Modeling was applied from November 1st to the November 30th, to Sapele wood with 50 mm thick and 0.4 kg/kg initial moisture content dried in Bangui, Brazzaville, Douala, Kinshasa, Libreville and Yaounde until the final moisture content, which can vary from 0.13 to 0.1 kg/kg. Solar energy per cubic meter of wood was ranging from 2 to 4.3 GJ/m3 with a maximal thermal efficiency between 12 and 47%. Ndjamena’s climate is not good to use solar drying because of its low air absolute humidity that gives a fast drop in the moisture content and consequently destroys the wood board quality. Bangui, Brazzaville, Douala, Kinshasa, Libreville and Yaounde give satisfactory alternative drying conditions using the studied solar dryer. However, it is important to use a solar collector in those six towns in order to reduce the effect of the air absolute humidity and improve the drying kinetic.

The thirty six years (1979-2014) meteorological data needed to calculate refractivity gradient is obtained from Era interim build on IFS CY31r2 model. Diurnal cycle of ducting occurrence for four seasons in Nigeria were analysed from refractivity gradient. Percentage occurrence of anomalous propagation in thirty locations across Nigeria were estimated. It is discovered that ducting is more frequent at mid night and early morning which also vary seasonally and regionally across the country. Highest percentage of 94 % of ducting and zero occurrence of sub refractive is obtained in Lagos. Highest percentage of 34.24 % and 45.62 % of super refractive and sub refractive are obtained in Sapele and Oban hill, respectively. Minimum percentage of 21.9 % and 4.33 % of ducting and super refractive were obtained for Calabar and Gashua, respectively. The minimum frequency for a radio wave to be trapped within Nigeria troposphere varies between 0.045 GHz and 0.11 GHz. The occurrence of anomalous propagation condition, such as ducts, super refractive and sub refractive provide valuable information about the propagation of radio waves over Nigeria, which will assist the radio engineer in their planning and designing of radio circuitry.

As wood resources deplete, branchwood is being promoted to supplement stemwood in Ghana, but its natural durability, which indicates its service life and can influence its acceptance and use is scarcely studied. This study compares the natural durability and some anatomical properties of branchwood and stemwood of Entandrophragma cylindricum (sapele) and Khaya ivorensis (mahogany) using Ceiba pentandra stemwood as control. Natural durability test followed field test method according to European Standard EN 252 1989 in combination with percentage weight losses while the anatomical investigations followed IAWA Committee 1989 recommendations. For each species, two branch logs were cut from each of two sampled trees from two natural forests in Ghana. Stemwood was also obtained from the same forest reserves as the branches. All sample groups were tested at air-dried moisture content of 14 ± 2 % as specified in the standard. Branchwood of both species were denser than their stemwood, but in addition to mahogany stemwood they were rated “non-durable”, while sapele stemwood was rated moderately durable. Thus at 5 % significance level, natural durability of mahogany branchwood appeared comparable to that of its stemwood whereas sapele branchwood was significantly less durable than its stemwood but more durable than Ceiba stemwood. Branchwood and stemwood vessels diameter and proportion also were significantly different (p

Branch wood is being promoted as supplement to stem wood but its natural durability is scarcely studied. This study compared the biological durability of branch wood of Entrandophragma cylindricum (sapele) to its stem wood for ground or other outdoor applications like garden furniture at two moisture levels (i.e., 9 ± 3 and 14 ± 2 % using kiln-drying and air-drying methods, respectively). The study followed a field test method according to EN 252-1989 in combination with percentage weight loss. Branch and stem wood samples were extracted from two natural forests in Ghana. Results indicated that branch wood of sapele was marginally denser than its stem wood. Percentage weight loss of branch wood compared to its stem wood was significantly higher by approximately 108 % at 14 ± 2 % moisture content (MC) but significantly lower by 53 % at 9 ± 3 % MC. The stem and branch woods at 14 ± 2 % MC were classified respectively as moderately durable and non-durable, but at 9 ± 3 % MC both were classified as moderately durable. Visual rating indicated that at 9 ± 3 % MC branch wood could have a better service life than stem wood. Density and MC correlated positively and negatively respectively with weight loss but the association was marginally stronger for stem wood (R2 = 0.86 %) than branch wood (R2 = 0.82 %). In conclusion, sapele branch wood material dried to 9 ± 3 % MC appeared more durable than branch wood at 14 ± 2 % MC or stem wood at either 9 ± 3 or 14 ± 2 % MC. Wood products manufacturers and users should consider using well dried branch wood of sapele to supplement stem wood for ground applications. Further research is encouraged to assess other properties of the branch wood in comparison with its stem wood for a firmer conclusion to be drawn on their utilization.

Pelusios spp. procured from four locations in southern Nigeria were investigated for polystomatid infection. None of the P. niger examined haboured monogeneans. Pelusios castaneus from Sapele, Ossisa and Abeokuta were infected with P. bourgati in the urinary bladder. The morphometrics of the parasites from the infected Nigerian terrapins were in the same range as those previously described from Togo and Senegal, except that the Senegalese specimens were slightly smaller with respect to the body size. While the testes of the specimens recovered from Ossisa and Abeokuta were ovoid to round in shape, those in parasites recovered from turtles purchased from Sapele were lobed and laterally elongated. Two of the parasite specimens recovered from turtles purchased in Ossisa had seven haptoral suckers. This is the first report of such an occurrence among polystomes.

Korkut, Suleyman/0000-0002-4871-354X WOS: 000300921100052 Thermally modified wood is being increasingly offered in Europe as an alternative to preservative-treated timber. The aim of this study is to determine the change of various physical properties (oven-dry density, air-dry density, weight loss, swelling and anti-swelling efficiency (ASE)), compression strength parallel to grain, colour difference (Delta E), glossiness and surface roughness of sapele (Entandrophragma cylindricum), limba (Terminalia superba) and iroko (Chlorophora excelsa) woods after heat treatment under different temperatures and durations. For this study wood specimens were subjected to heat treatment under atmospheric pressure and air at two different temperatures (160 degrees C and 180 degrees C) and two different times (2 h and 4 h). Multiple physical properties (oven-dry density, air-dry density, and swelling), compression strength parallel to the grain and surface roughness of the heat-treated wood and control samples were tested. A stylus method was employed to evaluate the surface characteristics of the samples. Roughness measurements using the stylus method were made in the direction perpendicular to the fiber. Four main roughness parameters which are mean arithmetic deviation of profile (Ra), mean peak-tovalley height (Rz), root mean square roughness (Rq), and maximum roughness (Ry) obtained from the surface of wood were used to evaluate the effect of heat treatment on the surface characteristics of the specimens. Significant difference was found (P=0.05) between physical and technological properties, and surface roughness parameters (Ra, Rz, Ry, Rq) at two temperatures and two durations of heat treatment. Based on the findings of this study, the results showed that oven-dry density, air-dry density, swelling, compression strength parallel to grain and surface roughness values decreased with increasing treatment temperature and treatment time. Thus, sapele, iroko, and limba wood can be utilized with proper heat treatment techniques for outdoor and indoor applications. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

This study evaluated some geophysical and physicochemical characteristics of soil and groundwater resources in Sapele, Delta Sate of Nigeria using various standard techniques. The results of the resistivity data shows that a high resistive plume with resistivity > 12,000 Ohm-m has penetrated the soils beyond 21m beneath the surface in most parts of the surveyed area. The water samples shows high acidity with pH values in the range 4.6-5.1. Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) is low 46.40- 47.98mg/l and conductivity ranges from 72.80-78.8 μS/cm, There is no incidence of heavy metal pollution, only Iron is high (0.772-0.915mg/l). Total petroleum hydrocarbons-(TPH) as oil and gas revealed by gas chromatography result is below detection level (

In this study, it was investigated how steaming of beech (Fagus orientalis L.) and sapele (Entan- drophragma cylindricum) woods effect the adhesion strength of some varnish types. With this objective, first of all, the surface roughnesses of the steamed and unsteamed speci- mens having tangential and radial surfaces and prepared from beech and sapele were measured (Kilicet al., J Mat Proc Tech 2008, 199, 448). Subsequently, cellulosic, polyur- ethane and water-based bright varnishes were applied on these surfaces according to the principles stated in ASTM D 4541 and TS EN 24624 and the adhesion strength of the varnished layers were determined. According to the results of the study, the effects of the type of wood, steam- ing, surface and varnish types were found to be significant in the adhesion strength to the surfaces of the different varnish layers applied to the surfaces of different wooden materials. It was found that beech wood had a higher ad- hesion strength than sapele wood. The adhesion strength of steamed wooden materials had a lower strength com- pared with those that were unsteamed. The adhesion strength of specimens with a radial surface were found to be higher than the specimens with tangential surfaces. Whereas, in the varnish types, the highest adhesion strength was obtained with the polyurethane varnish, which completed the chemical reaction on the surfaces of the wooden material. In conclusion, it could be proposed to use beech wood materials having a radial surface in the jobs requiring a high adhesion strength, to sand once again the material due to the increase in roughness of steaming and to use polyurethane varnish. V C 2009 Wiley

Cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) and resorcinol modified peanut skin extract adhesive resins were prepared. These resins were subsequently used to produce glues for sapele veneer panels. The bond properties of the plywood were evaluated and results show that the glues formulated using resorcinol modified extracts performed better than those modified with cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL). This was attributed to the high reactivity of resorcinol as compared to the cashew nut shell liquid as shown by the gel times of the various resins.

Peanut skin tannin extract‐formaldehyde condensates were modified with resorcinol and cashew nut shell liquid. The copolymer resins formed were used as thermosetting and cold‐setting exterior grade wood adhesives for Sapele veneer panels. Results obtained showed that, on addition of paraformaldehyde, the resins modified with resorcinol cured at ambient temperatures while those modified with cashew nut shell liquid cured at higher temperatures. The bonded panels developed strength and durability satisfying the requirements of International Standard Specification for phenolic resin adhesives.

The longitudinal apparent air permeability of sapele heartwood was determined by flow measurements with pressure gradients ranging from 5.3 to 8.9 kPa for the lowest mean pressure used (100kPa) and from 12.0 to 14.4kPa for the highest (250kPa). These data were used to calculate the capillary radius limiting permeability and the specific permeability. The value of the limiting capillary radius was confirmed by mercury-porosimetric determination of the modal capillary radii, which are tentatively interpreted in terms of the possible structure of sapele xylem vessels.

International audience; A novel acyclic triterpenoid, sapelenin D (1) was isolated from the stem bark of Entandrophragma cylindricum. Its full structure including absolute configuration was determined from spectroscopic data and by chemical transformation.

Metropolitanization of either ‘traditional’ or ‘port’ cities have been found in previous studies in Nigeria to be multidimensional in scope. This study examines the impact of socioeconomic attributes of seaports on the growth and decline of Warri and Sapele townships in the western Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Changes in the relative status of Warri and Sapele ports in the maritime trade of the subregion have been found to be the major factor affecting the settlements attracted to these port cities. The relative ascendancy of Warri port in the maritime trade of the subregion has in turn been found in this study to be a direct product of the changing productivity of the metropolitan and primary hinterlands of both Warri and Sapele ports. Using break-point theory (a quantitative technique which utilizes a concept borrowed from the gravity model) the resultant indices show that the socioeconomic effects of the port city of Warri on the four geographically contiguous local government areas—Okpe (Sapele), Ughelli, Ethiope and Warri—are strongest. Consequently, there is a territorial fusion of these four geographically contiguous but administratively independent local government areas. The net result of this territorial fusion is a decline in the status of Sapele township and the emergence of the metropolitan region of Warri. It is suggested that the number of administrative divisions over which the port cty of Warri now sprawls should not be a major problem to policy-makers and should ensure the existence of a single planning authority to oversee the development of the whole metropolitan region.