A Simulator for Testing Planar Upper Extremity Rehabilitation Robot Control Algorithms

In this study, we took advantage of the emergence of accurate biomechanical human hand models to develop a system in which the interaction between a human arm and a rehabilitation robot while performing a planar trajectory tracking task can be simulated. Seven biomechanical arm models were based on the 11-degree-of-freedom Dynamic Arm Simulation model and implemented in OpenSim. The model of the robot was developed in MatlabSimulink and interaction between the arm and robot models was achieved using the OpenSim API. The models were tested by simulating the performance of each model while moving the end effector of a simulated planar robot model through an elliptical trajectory with an eccentricity of 0.94. Without assistance from the robot, the average root-mean-square error (RMSE) for all subjects was 3.98 mm. With the simulated robot providing assistive torque, the average RMSE error reduced to 2.88 mm. The test was repeated after modifying the length of the robot links, and an average RMSE of 2.91 mm recorded. A single-factor ANOVA test revealed that there was no significant difference in the RMSE for the two different robot geometries (p-value = 0.479), revealing that the simulator was not sensitive to robot geometry

Morphological and biochemical characterization of strains of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. vignicola isolated from cowpea grown in three agroecological zones in Nigeria

Cowpea bacterial blight (Xanthomonas axonopodis pv vignicola) is a devastating disease of cowpea in Nigeria. Accurate identification is the first step for an effective management option. Thus, X. axonopodis pv. vignicola isolated from cowpea (Vigna unguinculata (L.) Walp) grown in different Agro-ecological zones in Nigeria were characterized using morphological characteristics, biochemical and antibiotic sensitivity tests. Pot experiments were conducted on two susceptible lines of cowpea (IT90k – 76) and (IT84s – 2246 – 4) in the screen house. In vivo infectivity studies were carried out to determine the effect of each of theX. axonopodis pv. vignicola isolate groups on the cowpea. All isolates from each of the agroecological zones were classified into Group 1 (light yellow) and Group 2 (brownish yellow) based on their morphological presentation on nutrient agar medium. Results from four of the biochemical test showed differences between the two morphologically different groups. Group 2 isolates showed a large zone of inhibition to a Lincomycin hydrochloride while isolates from Group 1 were not affected by the action of the same antibiotic. Blight symptom was only observed when the two types of isolates were combined and inoculated simultaneously. This study showed that there are two morpho-types of X. axonopodis pv. vignicola and their synergetic infectivity results in blight symptoms expression in cowpea

Dietary habits, lifestyles and anthropometric characteristics of police officers in Owo Local Government Area Ondo State, Nigeria

Background: Poor nutritional status couples with sedentary lifestyles are some of the risk factors that hindered optimum health not only among individual but also the Nigeria police officers. Objectives: This study aimed at assessing the dietary habits, lifestyles practices and anthropometric status of police officers in Owo local government area of Ondo state. Method: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study, which involved 200 (140 male and 60 female) police officers who were randomly selected from seven (7) police divisional stations in Owo local government area of Ondo state. Information on socio-demographic characteristics, medical and lifestyle was obtained using a self-administered questionnaire. Food consumption data was obtained using the World Food Programme (WFP)'s standard food consumption score questionnaire. Obesity was assessed using Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist –Hip Ratio (WHR) and Waist Circumference (WC). Statistical Product Service Solution (SPSS) version 20.0 was used in data analysis. Coded data were analyzed using descriptive and statistics results presented in frequencies and percentage Result: Finding shows that nearly half (46%) of them were of 30-49yrs. More (70%) male police officers participated than female police officers (30%). One third (33%) had parents that were suffering from chronic diseases while 38% were hypertensive. About (60%) drink alcohol, 67% smoke cigarette, 23% did not engage in physical exercise. Large number (66%) always adds vegetables to their diet, 30% took orange fruit been the most widely consumed and 16% skipped meal. On food consumption score, 50% met the acceptable consumption score for calorie level Prevalence of underweight and Overweight/Obesity as determined by abnormal values for BMI, WC, and WHR, 17%, 30%, 35% and 16% respectively. Conclusion: This study observed high prevalence of obesity, poor dietary practices and higher consumption of alcohol and cigarette among the police officers in Owo

Growth and substrate utilization patterns of a rhizopus stolonifer strain isolated from depolymerising rice husk

A study was carried out on a new strain of Rhizopus stolonifer RCH7 isolated from a spontaneously-fermentingrice husk sample. Growth characteristics on and utilization profile of various substrates by thisisolate were investigated. The isolate was found to display the most extensive mycelia proliferation at atemperature of 37°C and a pH of 4.0. Divalent ionic additions did not cause an increase in the growth rate, but0.1M potassium ions increased the growth recorded by 34.3% compared to the control by 72 hours. This isolatewas able to effectively utilize Carboxymethylcellulose and Polygalacturonic acid as alternate nutritive substratesdemonstrating a growth of 90mm and 86mm respectively by 72 hours. The dry mycelia mass of R. stoloniferobtained from the cultivation in broth containing lactose was 26mm while that in glucose broth was 24mm. Thegrowth and substrate utilization profile exhibited by this R. stolonifer RCH7 isolate is suggestive of its strongcapacity to employ residues of agricultural wastes as growth substrates. It is also an indication of the isolate’spotential to degrade ‘agricultural waste residues, especially those from rice plant parts’

The Effect of Allium Sativum and Xylopia Aethiopica Extracts on the Growth of Fungi in Sweet Potato (Ipomoea Batatas) Juice

A laboratory study was conducted to determine the effect of Allium sativum and Xylopia aethiopica on the growth of Mucor species, Rhizopus stolonifer and Aspergillus niger isolated from deteriorating sweet potato. While 3% (v/v) aqueous extract of Allium sativum and Xylopia aethiopica reduced the growth of the fungi; a combination of 2% each of both plant extracts retarded the growth better. Partial purification of aqueous extract of Allium sativum and Xylopia aethiopica showed that ethyl acetate fraction of the extracts exhibited the highest level of inhibition of growth of the test fungi compared with n-hexane and diethyl ether fractions. Extracts of Allium sativum and Xylopia aethiopica may be substitutes for conventional chemical preservatives in the processing of juices.Key words: Preservative, conducted, isolated, deteriorating, extract, substitute, conventiona

Blood Pressure Patterns, Stress Assessment and Anthropometric Characteristics of Health Workers in Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria

Background: Globally, the burden of cardio-metabolic diseases especially obesity, hypertension, diabetes is rapidly increasing, and the African continent is most affected region in the world.Objective: The study assessed the blood pressure patterns, stress assessment and anthropometric characteristics of health workers in Jos university teaching hospital, Jos, NigeriaMethods: Apparently healthy 283 staff was randomly selected. Structured questionnaire, anthropometric instruments and digital sphygmomanometer were used to source information from the respondents. Obesity, blood pressurepatterns and stress assessment of the respondents were assessed in according to WHO standard and International Stress Management Association (ISMA) respectively. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square. In all cases, a probability of (<0.05) were taken to indicates level of significanceResults: The mean age of the respondents was 36.72 ± 9.47years. More females (68%) participated in the study than males (32%). Only (21.6%) of the respondents drink alcohol, 2.5% smoke cigarette, 65% did not engage in physical exercise while 18.1% eat late at night. Prevalence of Overweight/Obesity as determined by abnormal values for BMI, WC, WHR, BIA and WHtR were 48.9%, 31.1%, 43.1%, 65% and 71.4% respectively while 30.1% had a raised blood pressure,more than half (69.9%) of the respondents were either moderately or highly stressed. Significant difference was found in age, nature of work and parents with chronic Diseasesacross the gender (p<0.05).Conclusion: Overweight, obesity, moderate stress level and high blood pressure were prevalent among the health workers. Obesity was the risk factor of high blood pressure among them. Keywords: Hypertension, obesity, stress, health workers, alcoho

Nutrient and phytochemical composition of two traditional soups used by malaria patients and post partum mothers in Owo, Ondo State

Background: Indigenous tribes in Nigeria have been using herbal mixture such as soups for therapeutic purpose with limited knowledge on their nutrients and phytochemical components.Objective: The nutrients and phytochemicals composition of two soups consumed by postpartum mothers and malaria patients in Owo were investigated.Methods: Ingredients such as cotton seed, beef, fish, black pepper, calabash nutmeg, turmeric, scent leaf, garlic, palm oil, back of mahogany tree and octomeles sumatrana 'erima' seed were procured, processed and prepared according to local methods into two samples of soups. The ingredients for the cotton seed soup and scent leaf soup samples were similar except for sample cotton seed soup that contain, back of mahogany tree and cotton seeds. One hundred grammes of each soup samples were subjected to proximate, phytochemical and instrumental analyses (AAS for minerals and Vitamins with Gc-HP 6890 powered with HP chemstation Rev. A09.01 (1206) software. Descriptive statistics such as mean and standard deviation were used to analyze data generated and t-test was used in Separation of meansResults: Findings showed that the protein content was significantly (P>0.05) higher in Scent leaf soup (21.85%) than in cotton seed soup (20.63%). No significant difference was observed in the minerals composition of the soups except for iron content of cotton seed soup (23.75mg/100g) that was significantly higher (P>0.05) than that of sent leaf soup (20.85mg/100g). There were significant differences (P>0.05) in the values of vitamin C (14.85 vs 3.04mg/100g), vitamin E (5.72 vs 8.72mg/100g), and vitamin B1 (8.61 vs 9.72mg/100g) of cotton seed and sent leaf soups. Phytate (8.24%) and alkaloid (1.61%) were significantly higher in scent leaf and cotton seed soup respectively.Conclusion: The high nutrients diversity and phytochemicals in the two soups might be responsible for their therapeutic effect on postpartum mothers and malaria treatment.Keywords: Traditional soups, Nutrients Composition, Postpartum, Malari