Tree structural and species diversities in Okwangwo Forest, Cross River State, Nigeria

For sound forest management decisions, appraisal of flora species and forest structure is crucial for any meaningful conservation work. We assessed tree species distribution in Okwangwo Forest, Nigeria. Systematic sampling technique was adopted for plot selection. 24 transects, measuring 1000m long at 500 m intervals were laid. Four sample plots of 0.25 ha were located alternately at 250m intervals along each transect, making 96 plots (24 ha) in all. The diameters of all the trees with dbh .10 cm were measured. All measured trees were identified to species level. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as means, frequencies, percentages and charts. Also, species relative densities and  richness were computed. Tree species were grouped into abundance classes. A total of 125 tree  species belonging to 36 families and 96 genera were recorded in the area with Margaleffs index of species richness of 2.2754. Most (99) of the tree species  encountered were threatened/endangered, 23 species were rare with only 3 tree species (Brachystegia eurycoma, Bailonella toxisperma and Ceiba pentandra)  being  abundant in the area. Frequent and occasional species were not encountered in the area. Leguminoseae  was the most represented family  with 14.84% (19  species) with Styraceae, Polygonaceae,  Papilionioideae, Sapindaceae, Connaraceae, Flacourtiaceae, Tiliaceae, Asparagaceae, Ochnaceae,  Bignoniaceae,  Mimosoideae, Piperaceae, Anisophyllaceae and Violaceae being the least with one species each. The mean basal area of 111.32 m2/ha recorded in the area was higher than the value suggested for a well-stocked and managed forest in Nigeria. There were more trees in the lower diameter classes than in the larger classes. The result of soil physical and chemical properties was also impressive with potential for site quality improvement going by the good stand structure

Socio-Demographic Factors in Under Five Children with Acute Diarrhoea in a Tertiary Health Institution in Nigeria

Objective: To determine the socio-demographic factors in under five children with acute diarrhoea.Design: A prospective cross-sectional study.Setting: Children’s Emergency Room and Children’s Outpatient Clinic of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria.Subjects: One hundred and seventy-four children below five years of age.Results: Between June 2005 and May 2006, one hundred and seventy-four children aged below five years with diarrhoea were recruited for the study. They were examined. Their socio-demographic factors such as age, sex, breastfeeding status, parents’ occupation/education, were obtained. The following variables did not significantly affect the prevalence of diarrhoea: age (p>0.05), sex (p=0.233), breastfeeding (p=0.590), nutritional status (p=0.060), and socio-economic status (p=0.955).Conclusion: Socio-demographic factors did not appear to influence the prevalence of acute diarrhoea among under five children in Enugu, Nigeria

Point-of-admission hypothermia among high-risk Nigerian newborns

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Facilities which manage high-risk babies should frequently assess the burden of hypothermia and strive to reduce the incidence.</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>To determine the incidence and outcome of point-of-admission hypothermia among hospitalized babies.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The axillary temperatures of consecutive admissions into a Nigerian Newborn Unit were recorded. Temperature <36.5°C defined hypothermia. The biodata and outcome of these babies were studied.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of 150 babies aged 0 to 648 hours, 93 had hypothermia with an incidence of 62%. Mild and moderate hypothermia accounted for 47.3% and 52.7% respectively. The incidence of hypothermia was highest (72.4%) among babies aged less than 24 hours. It was also higher among out-born babies compared to in-born babies (64.4% <it>vs </it>58.3%). Preterm babies had significantly higher incidence of hypothermia (82.5%) compared with 54.5% of term babies (RR = 1.51; CI = 1.21 – 1.89). The incidence of hypothermia was also highest (93.3%) among very-low-birth-weight babies.</p> <p>The Case-Fatality-Rate was significantly higher among hypothermic babies (37.6% vs 16.7%; RR = 2.26, CI = 1.14 – 4.48) and among out-born hypothermic babies (50% vs 17.1%; RR = 0.34, CI = 0.16 – 0.74). CFR was highest among hypothermic babies with severe respiratory distress, sepsis, preterm birth and asphyxia.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The high incidence and poor outcome of hypothermia among high-risk babies is important. The use of the 'warm chain' and skin-to-skin contact between mother and her infant into routine delivery services in health facilities and at home may be useful.</p

Cosmic Ray Anomalies from the MSSM?

The recent positron excess in cosmic rays (CR) observed by the PAMELA satellite may be a signal for dark matter (DM) annihilation. When these measurements are combined with those from FERMI on the total ($e^++e^-$) flux and from PAMELA itself on the $\bar p/p$ ratio, these and other results are difficult to reconcile with traditional models of DM, including the conventional mSUGRA version of Supersymmetry even if boosts as large as $10^{3-4}$ are allowed. In this paper, we combine the results of a previously obtained scan over a more general 19-parameter subspace of the MSSM with a corresponding scan over astrophysical parameters that describe the propagation of CR. We then ascertain whether or not a good fit to this CR data can be obtained with relatively small boost factors while simultaneously satisfying the additional constraints arising from gamma ray data. We find that a specific subclass of MSSM models where the LSP is mostly pure bino and annihilates almost exclusively into $\tau$ pairs comes very close to satisfying these requirements. The lightest $\tilde \tau$ in this set of models is found to be relatively close in mass to the LSP and is in some cases the nLSP. These models lead to a significant improvement in the overall fit to the data by an amount $\Delta \chi^2 \sim 1/$dof in comparison to the best fit without Supersymmetry while employing boosts $\sim 100$. The implications of these models for future experiments are discussed.Comment: 57 pages, 31 figures, references adde

Neural Circuits Underlying Rodent Sociality: A Comparative Approach

All mammals begin life in social groups, but for some species, social relationships persist and develop throughout the course of an individual’s life. Research in multiple rodent species provides evidence of relatively conserved circuitry underlying social behaviors and processes such as social recognition and memory, social reward, and social approach/avoidance. Species exhibiting different complex social behaviors and social systems (such as social monogamy or familiarity preferences) can be characterized in part by when and how they display specific social behaviors. Prairie and meadow voles are closely related species that exhibit similarly selective peer preferences but different mating systems, aiding direct comparison of the mechanisms underlying affiliative behavior. This chapter draws on research in voles as well as other rodents to explore the mechanisms involved in individual social behavior processes, as well as specific complex social patterns. Contrasts between vole species exemplify how the laboratory study of diverse species improves our understanding of the mechanisms underlying social behavior. We identify several additional rodent species whose interesting social structures and available ecological and behavioral field data make them good candidates for study. New techniques and integration across laboratory and field settings will provide exciting opportunities for future mechanistic work in non-model species