Pain coping strategies with functional disability and quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthritis in Lagos, Nigeria

The significant impact of coping strategies on the experience of pain and disease outcome has been associated with cultural and environmental factors. There is a dearth of studies in this environment on the association of coping strategies with clinical symptoms in patients with OA knee. This study investigated the relationship among pain coping strategy, functional disability, pain and quality of life among patients with knee osteoarthritis in Lagos, Nigeria. Involved were 102 participants diagnosed with either bilateral or unilateral Knee OA. Numerical pain rating scale (NPRS), The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC osteoarthritis index), Pain coping inventory (PCI) and SF-36 Health survey were used to evaluate participants’ pain, functional disability, pain coping strategy and quality of life (QoL) respectively. Results showed a passive pain coping index (PPCI) score of 45.89±6.49 as against 26.5±43.61 for the active pain coping index (APCI). PPC strategies were significantly related positively with pain and functional disability (p<0.001; r = 0.380 and p= 0.001; r=0.334 respectively) but correlated negatively (p<0.001) with all domains of QoL except for mental health. On the other hand, APC strategies correlated negatively with pain and functional disability (p=0.092; r = -0.168 and p= 0.334; r= -0.131). Our findings thus suggest a significant association between PPCS and severe pain, functional disability and poor QoL while APCS was associated with a better quality of life in patients with knee OA. It is thus suggested that active pain coping strategies be  incorporated into the management of patients with OA knee.Keywords: Pain coping strategy, Knee osteoarthritis, Pain coping index, Numerical pain rating scal

Development of a Motorized Hydraulic Press for Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) Oil Expression

Sesame oil is edible and of high economic and medicinal potentials. However, its expression from the seeds is still largely done manually which is tedious and inefficient. The few imported mechanical oil presses are prone to incessant breakdown and costly. A motorized hydraulic press for sesame oil expression was designed, fabricated and tested. The major components of the machine include a hydraulic cylinder, hydraulic pump, two-way control valves, heater band with temperature controller, stopper plate, electric motor and the frame. Paste of ground sesame seeds wrapped in a cheese cloth was forced against a stopper end plate on the expression barrel whose temperature is controlled in order to get the oil expressed out. The machine performance was evaluated using two levels of seed conditions (roasted (RS) and unroasted (URS)) at three levels of moisture contents (6, 9 and 12% wet basis) and four levels of temperature (70, 80, 90 and 100ºC). The performance indicators investigated included: throughput capacity, percentage oil yield, percentage expression efficiency and cake recovery efficiency. Results of tests showed that the highest percentage oil yield of 33.3% was recorded when sesame seed was roasted, milled and pressed at a moisture content of 6% and expression temperature of 90ºC.  Also the highest expression efficiency was recorded as 69.4% when the seed was roasted, milled and pressed at a moisture content of 6% and temperature of 90ºC. The highest cake recovery was recorded as 74% when the sesame seed was milled without roasting at a moisture content of 12% and temperature of 70ºC. The oil press would assist in the growth of indigenous edible oil production industry

Impact of Climate Change on the Design Parameters of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Systems for Manned Spacecraft

Climatic design information has been published for several locations in the world by American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) but there has not been data for Nigerian cities in these publications. Therefore, this study was embarked upon to bridge the gap in knowledge. The study of impact of climate change on the design parameters of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems for spacecraft cabin environment is presented with particular focus on Ikeja-Lagos, Nigeria. Firstly, the characteristics climate parameters such as outdoor dry-bulb temperature, coincident wet-bulb temperature, relative humidity, pressures, air composition, among others as it affects manned spacecraft were discussed. The data for climatic parameters for Ikeja-Lagos, Nigeria, for a period of fifteen years (1995-2009) were obtained from Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Oshodi-Lagos. Statistical data and Microsoft excel were used for evaluation of variation trends of the climate parameters for departure city. This is very important in determining thermal human comfort in spacecrafts on ascent. Results obtained from this study are hereby presented. The Ikeja-Lagos dry-bulb temperature average results obtained were 33.81°C, 32.98°C, 32.3°C, 22.1°C, 21.19°C, 20.43°C, 23.84°C and 31.65oC.at 0.4%, 1.0%, 2.0%, 97.5%, 99.0%, 99.6%, median of extreme lows and median of extreme highs, respectively. The Ikeja-Lagos relative humidity average results were 116.3, 112.65, 109.14, 99.83 and 49.42 at 0.4%, 1% and 2.0% occurrence as well as at median of extreme highs and median of extreme lows, respectively. Ikeja-Lagos had mean coincident dry bulb temperature of 33.81°C and 32.98°C at 0.4% and 1% percentile respectively. The dry bulb temperature for Ikeja-Lagos was determined to be an average range from 20.43°C to 22.1°C between January to December, in the period of 1995-2009, at 97.5% 99% and 99.6% percentile respectively. These results provide values of design parameters which are useful in the design of HVAC for space crafts with climate change adequately taken into consideration as it applies to Ikeja-Lagos, Nigeri

COVID-19 Experience: Taking the right steps at the right time to prevent avoidable morbidity and mortality in Nigeria and other nations of the world

The 2020 Coronavirus pandemic has caused countless governmental and societal challenges around the world. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, has been exposed in recent years to a series of epidemics including Ebola and Lassa Fever. In this paper we document our perception of the national response to COVID-19 in Nigeria. The response to the pandemic is with a healthcare system that has changed as a result of previous infectious disease outbreaks but in the context of scarce resources typical of many low-middle income countries. We make recommendations regarding what measures should be in place for future epidemics

MODELING THE PERFORMANCE OF A BAOBAB SEED DECORTICATOR USING RESPONSE SURFACE METHODOLOGY

Decortication of baobab seed manually after soaking or roasting is time consuming, labour-intensive and uneconomical. The demand for baobab kernel as a source of protein is increasing for use as supplement for animal protein ration, for edible oil consumption and for other industrial uses. To ameliorate this problem, a baobab seed decorticator has been developed. This study therefore focused on the effects of process parameters; moisture content of seed, speed of decorticator and concave-shaft clearance on percentage clean kernel (Pck), percentage broken kernel (Pbk), percentage whole seed (Pws) and decorticating efficiency (DE), using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). In designing the experiments, Box-Behnken Design (BBD) was selected. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was carried out to evaluate and select the appropriate dependent (Pck Pbk, Pws and DE) and independent variables using both the F and P-values calculated at 95% confidence level (a=0.05). Mathematical models relating the process parameters to the responses were developed. The developed models were validated by comparing the predicted and actual experimental values. The selected quadratic models were adequate for predicting the performance of the developed decorticator. It was observed that a decrease in percentage clean kernel recovery would result if concave-shaft clearance and moisture content were increased. Likewise, the concave-shaft clearance had the highest positive effect while moisture content had the highest negative effect on percentage of broken kernel. All the three factors (process parameters) had positive effects on decorticating efficiency

NUMERICAL SOLUTION OF VOLTERRA INTEGRO-DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS BY AKBARI-GANJI’S METHOD

In this study, Akbari-Ganji’s Method (AGM) was applied to solve Volterra Integro-Differential Difference Equations (VIDDE) using Legendre polynomials as basis functions. Here, a trial solution function of unknown constants that conform with the differential equations together with the initial conditions were assumed and substituted into the equations under consideration. The unknown coefficients are solved for using the new proposed approach, AGM which principally involves the application of the boundary conditions on successive derivatives and integrals of the problem to obtain a system of equations. The system of equation is solved using any appropriate computer software, Maple 18. Some examples were solved and the results compared to the exact solutions

An Experimental Evaluation of LTA on the performance of a drone

aerodynamically created via the air by the motion of an air foil, hot air stays upward using a light lifting gas. This distinctive feature can provide them with a high payload to weight ratio having long endurance, which this research investigates. The experiment set up for comparison is simply a test designed to determine the battery performance of a drone. The test takes into account the time the drone can last while performing a simply hover at 3 meters with no accessories attached to it (i.e. no mount or camera). It also takes into account the time taken to recharge the battery and the battery consumption while the battery is idle. The aim of the experiment is to evaluate if the LTA concept increases battery performance by comparing its flight time while performing a hover at 3 meters with the results of the DJI inspired drone using MATLAB and SIMULINK. The result shows a total number of 565.7928 seconds (9.43 minutes) battery time for the first model and 581.1097 seconds (9.69 minutes) battery time for the second model. This result looks promising for the LTA concept considering that the battery supplies current for a total of 10 minutes for a 30-minute flight as opposed to a DJI Inspired 2 drone that requires current discharge through the entire 30-minute fligh

EVALUATION OF SHEAR STRENGTH OF COMPACTED IRON ORE TAILINGS TREATED LATERITIC SOIL

This paper presents the results of a laboratory study on the evaluation of the shear strength of compacted iron ore tailings (IOT) treated lateritic soil. Lateritic soil used was treated with 0 up to 16% IOT by weight of dry soil. Test performed include index test, compaction (using British Standard Light, BSL and West Africa Standard, WAS energies) and shear strength test. One-way analysis of variance was carried out using Microsoft Excel to determine the level of significance of IOT on the treated soil. The results of the triaxial test show that there is an improvement in the shear strength of soil with the improvement of its shear strength parameters (cohesion and angle of internal friction). Cohesion values decreased from 0 up to 8% IOT content and then increased while the angle of internal friction risen from 0 up to 8% IOT content and then decreased. Also, from the triaxial test carried out with varying cell pressures from 100 to 300 kN/m2, an increase in shear strength parameters and shear strength were recorded. The shear strength increased in value by 49.79% and 18.15% for BSL and WAS compaction at 8% IOT content, respectively. Statistical analysis carried out on the results using analysis of variance (ANOVA) shows that IOT has a significant effect on the lateritic soil. An optimal blend of 8% IOT improved the shear strength of the soil and can be used for geotechnical engineering applications such as roads and embankments