Thermal Properties of Soil Samples from Coastal Sand Landform in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, Nigeria

This study examines the thermal conductivity of some selected soil samples from coastal sandlandform inIlaje local government area of Ondo State, Nigeria. The soil samples were sieved into different particle sizes; 300 , 425 , 600 , 850 , and 1180 with appropriate mesh and moulded in form of a Lees disc. The thermal conductivity of the samples was determined using parallel plate method. The value of the thermal conductivity increase as the moisture content increaseand decrease with increase in particle sizes for the soil samples. The values of the thermal conductivity obtained rangedbetween 0.3444 and1.8894 . It was noted that the conductivity of the landforms conforms to the range of conductivities of soil required for some specific crops such as maize, cowpea, pineapple, okro and root crops. The results in the research would be useful to soil/building and soil scientists as well as modern mechanized farmers in determined appropriate land forms for agricultural and structural purposes

Review of adult head injury admissions into the intensive care unit of a tertiary hospital in Nigeria

Background: Head injury is frequently associated with death and disability and imposes considerable demands on health services. Outcome after head injury is closely related to prompt management, including prevention of secondary brain injury and intensive care unit (ICU) management. This study aimed at determining the aetiological spectrum, injury characteristics, ICU admission patterns, and treatment outcomes of adult head-injured patients at a sub-Saharan tertiary hospital.Methods: A retrospective study on adult head-injured patients admitted to the ICU of a sub-Saharan tertiary hospital between July 2000 and June 2010.Results: A total of 198 head-injured adult patients were managed in the ICU during the study period. This included 128 males and 70 females with a male-to-female ratio of 1.8:1. The most common mode of injury was road traffic accident. All the patients admitted to ICU had either moderate or severe head injury, with 73.7% having severe head injury. About 26.3% of the patients had associated cervical spine injuries and 50% had various musculoskeletal and soft tissue injuries. Cranial computed tomography findings included brain contusions and intracranial haematomas. Mean duration of ICU stay was 18 days (range 24 hours-42 days), with 89.9% discharged out of ICU care. The overall mortality was 10.1%, although only 36.9% had satisfactory outcomes, as determined by the Glasgow Outcome Scale. Outcome had statistically significant (P < 0.05) relationship with severity of head injury and surgical intervention.Conclusions: Head injury management in the ICU requires an approach to ensure prevention of secondary brain injury; appropriate and early neuroimaging to diagnose lesions that would benefit from timely surgical intervention; as well as management of fluid, electrolyte and haematological derangements.Keywords: head injury; admissions; IC