Joint microwave and infrared studies for soil moisture determination

The feasibility of using a combined microwave-thermal infrared system to determine soil moisture content is addressed. Of particular concern are bare soils. The theoretical basis for microwave emission from soils and the transport of heat and moisture in soils is presented. Also, a description is given of the results of two field experiments held during vernal months in the San Joaquin Valley of California

Is Acupuncture Effective for Treating Sciatica Pain in Adults?

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not acupuncture is effective for treating sciatica pain in adults. STUDY DESIGN: A systematic review of one randomized controlled trial, randomized single-blinded controlled trial and one nonrandomized controlled trial. DATA SOURCES: All articles were published in English between 2017 and 2019 and obtained from peer-reviewed journals using PubMed. OUTCOMES MEASURED: Change from baseline in average leg pain at week 4 measured using the visual analog scale (VAS) in Huang et al. and the NRS score Zhang et al. Postpartum sciatica pain measured by patient reported recovery in He et al. RESULTS: In the single-blind RCT conducted by Huang et al. there was a decrease in average leg pain with a VAS score of 31.15 mm in the acupuncture group and 19.91 mm in the sham acupuncture group (p=0.026). In the RCT by Zhang et al. the EA group showed a significant decrease in average leg pain with a NRS score 2.30 compared to the MFE control group with an NRS score of 1.06 (p\u3c0.001). In the nonrandomized controlled trial by He et al. patient reported recovery was 100% in the acupuncture group and only 20% in the control group being treated with bed rest (p\u3c0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Articles by Zhang et al. and Huang et al. displayed a greater change in baseline average leg pain compared to the control groups and the article by He et al. showed resolution of postpartum sciatica pain after 4 weeks of treatment with acupuncture therapy proving it is an efficacious way of treating sciatica pain. Further studies with larger, more diverse sample sizes, control groups similar to acupuncture so blinding can be achieved, longer treatment periods and longer term follow up must be conducted to confirm the validity of these results

Uterovaginal prolapse: the sociodemographic profile and reproductive health service uptake in a low resource setting, Calabar, Nigeria

Background: Uterovaginal prolapse is a common gynaecological condition in low resource countries because of high prevalence of grand multiparity, low skilled attendant at delivery and low contraceptive usage. Objective of this study was to determine the prevalence, sociodemographic profiles, utilization of reproductive health services and delay in seeking medical care of patient with uterovaginal prolapse in Calabar, Nigeria.Methods: This was a retrospective study of women who presented with uterovaginal prolapse at University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria between 1st May 2009 and 1st June 2019. Patients case records were retrieved and analyzed. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 22.Results: The prevalence of genital prolapse was 0.3%. The mean age and parity were 60.19±8.71 years and 6.31±2.80, respectively. The mean duration of symptoms before presentation was 3.19±2.16 years. Genital prolapse was commonest among age group 60-79 years (52.8%), parity 5-9 (66.7%), post-menopausal (97.2%), primary education (55.6%) and farmers (47.2%). Grade 3 uterovaginal prolapse was the commonest grade (58.3%). Most patients (86.1%) had symptoms of genital prolapse for less than 5 years before seeking medical treatment. The majority of patients had no antenatal care during their pregnancies (80.6%), no skilled attendant at deliveries (86.1%) and no contraceptive use during their reproductive years (77.8%). Participants with lower parity (1-4) (p=0.03), higher educational level (p˂0.001) and teachers/civil servants (p=0.043) presented earlier (less than 1 year) to the hospital.Conclusions: There is poor utilization of reproductive health services among women who develop uterovaginal prolapse in study environment. Women with higher social status sought for help earlier. Increasing awareness of this condition and providing antenatal care, skilled birth attendants and contraceptive services will reduce the burden of this condition.

Long-term mental health of war-refugees: a systematic literature review

BACKGROUND: There are several million war-refugees worldwide, majority of whom stay in the recipient countries for years. However, little is known about their long-term mental health. This review aimed to assess prevalence of mental disorders and to identify their correlates among long-settled war-refugees. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of studies that assessed current prevalence and/or factors associated with depression and anxiety disorders in adult war-refugees 5 years or longer after displacement. We searched Medline, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and PILOTS from their inception to October 2014, searched reference lists, and contacted experts. Because of a high heterogeneity between studies, overall estimates of mental disorders were not discussed. Instead, prevalence rates were reviewed narratively and possible sources of heterogeneity between studies were investigated both by subgroup analysis and narratively. A descriptive analysis examined pre-migration and post-migration factors associated with mental disorders in this population. RESULTS: The review identified 29 studies on long-term mental health with a total of 16,010 war-affected refugees. There was significant between-study heterogeneity in prevalence rates of depression (range 2.3–80 %), PTSD (4.4–86 %), and unspecified anxiety disorder (20.3–88 %), although prevalence estimates were typically in the range of 20 % and above. Both clinical and methodological factors contributed substantially to the observed heterogeneity. Studies of higher methodological quality generally reported lower prevalence rates. Prevalence rates were also related to both which country the refugees came from and in which country they resettled. Refugees from former Yugoslavia and Cambodia tended to report the highest rates of mental disorders, as well as refugees residing in the USA. Descriptive synthesis suggested that greater exposure to pre-migration traumatic experiences and post-migration stress were the most consistent factors associated with all three disorders, whilst a poor post-migration socio-economic status was particularly associated with depression. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need for more methodologically consistent and rigorous research on the mental health of long-settled war refugees. Existing evidence suggests that mental disorders tend to be highly prevalent in war refugees many years after resettlement. This increased risk may not only be a consequence of exposure to wartime trauma but may also be influenced by post-migration socio-economic factors

Self-reported adherence to treatment: A study of socioeconomic factors and psychiatric morbidity among male and female patients with HIV infection in Sokoto, Nigeria

Objective: Adherence to treatment is important and relevant in HIV  treatment. Previous studies in sub Sahara Africa and south western Nigeria reported that psychiatric morbidity influence treatment adherence.The present study was to examine treatment adherence among the male and the female patients with HIV infection and the effect of socioeconomic factors and psychiatric morbidity on treatment adherence .Methods: A total of 159 patients which comprised of 48 male and 111  female who were eligible for this cross sectional prospective study were  included having given their consent to participate. Questionnaire relating to socioeconomic factors and treatment adherence were administered. Psychiatric morbidity was assessed using HADS. Data was analyzed with SPSS for windows version 16.0.Results: Treatment adherence was poor in 5.3% of the patients. The male patients had slightly better adherence than the female patients. Factors associated with poor treatment adherence include poor clinic attendance, presence of anxiety symptoms in males and poor education attainment in females.Conclusion: Treatment adherence is related to socioeconomic factors and psychiatric morbidity. Treatment protocol in which mental health and  detailed socioeconomic circumstance of patient is an integral part should be encouraged.Keywords: Adherence, HIV, infection, Patient, Treatmen

Basic Evaluation of Bioclimatic Conditions over Southwest Nigeria

This study examined the magnitude and spatio-temporal variation of outdoor bioclimatic conditions using observed mean monthly values of air temperature (°C), relative humidity (%), wind speed (m/s), vapor pressure (hpa) and cloud cover (octas) for the period of 1983  to 2012. The data were obtained from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) for five southwest-Nigerian stations. The bioclimatic indices adopted to evaluate the outdoor thermal comfort based on the thermal physiological balance of the human body in this study, are the Temperature-Humidity Index (THI) and Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET). Radiation and Human Bioclimate (RayMan) model was used to simulate PET and Mean Radiant Temperature (MRT) in just one run based on the human energy balance model such as the Munich Energy Balance Model for Individual (MEMI). The estimated THI and PET were classified into different categories of thermal perceptions based on the established classes for Nigeria. The monthly, seasonal, and spatial variations of meteorological variables and thermal indices were also analysed. Results indicated air temperature to be the highest contributing meteorological parameter to thermal conditions. The discomfort level deteriorated over the years, most noticeable is the last decade between 2003 to 2012 of the study period. The years 1987 and 1998 were marked as period of peak discomfort in the entire region. The result also showed  three different grades of thermal discomfort conditions namely; slightly warm, warm and hot over the tropical wet, and tropical wet and dry zones. In conclusion, thermal discomfort was observed to decrease from the northern part of the region towards the southern part of the region in the examined period. This work could be of great interest for the stakeholders involved in public health and tourism industry sectors in decision making process. Keywords: Bioclimatic condition, PET, THI, Thermal discomfort

Food and vices in south-eastern Nigeria: implications for poverty

This study focused on food and vices in South-Eastern Nigeria: implication for poverty. One hundred and sixty (160) respondents, adult male and female, were selected from 8 local government areas in Imo and Abia States. A purposive sampling technique was employed. The objectives include among others an examination of the nature of poverty in South-Eastern Nigeria; an investigation to ascertain whether or not, poverty results in hunger, etc. The following were the findings: Hunger seems to have ravaged our society. This is because majority of our people are poor and are unable to solve the hunger problem. As a result of inability to provide food, which is a basic necessity of life, the poor have employed all sorts of measures to put food on the table for their families. Unfortunately, most of these measures have been negative; as people are engaged in vices like armedrobbery, prostitution, pick pocketing, over-profiteering, etc. Others, because of poverty, have engaged in begging, constituting nuisance in the society. This paper sought solutions that would improve the lot of the poor and have them properly engaged in activities other than these vices, which can help them provide food for their families. The following were recommended: There should be the provision of gainful employment through the setting up of industries, factories and other establishments. This employment should be made to incorporate both educated and uneducated people based on merit and according to their area of competence; Skill’s Acquisition Centers should be widely set up so that those who cannot cope can learn trades that would help them to face life’s challenges, etc. Keywords: Hunger, Food, Vices, Armed-Robbery, Prostitution, Pick-Pocketing, Over- Profiteering, Poverty, Begging, Nuisanc

Orange-fleshed Sweetpotato on the home grownschool feeding menu in Nigeria

Sweetpotato for health and wealth in Nigeria and Jumpstarting OFSP in West Africa for diversified markets are two projects that focus on development of the value chain for health and wealth of the rural households in Nigeria, working in Osun and Kwara states. Out of search for OFSP demand at the formal sector, inclusion in the school feeding menu was conceived. The flyer presents the stages of inception, advocacy and sensitization that resulted in the inclusion of OFSP in the School Feeding Program in Osun State, as well as the achievements made between June 2014 and July 2015, and plans for scaling up

Mother-Tongue Based (MTB) Schooling: A Key for Transforming Early Childhood Education for Future Generation in Nigeria

The study sought to determine the extent of usage of Igbo Language as a medium of instruction and interaction in the lower basic classes in Enugu North Education Zone, Enugu State, Nigeria. Four research questions guided the study. The design was a descriptive survey. The population consisted of 2069 teachers (198 Head teachers and 1,871 Classroom teachers) in Enugu North Education zone of Enugu state, public and private schools inclusive. The sample was 200 teachers (50 Head teachers and 150 Class teachers) drawn from the population using stratified random sampling technique. The instrument used for data collection was researchers developed questionnaire titled “Mother-Tongue Based Schooling Questionnaire” (MTBSQ) which was face validated by experts in Igbo Language and Measurement and Evaluation from Federal College of Education, Kotangora, Niger State. The reliability estimate of MTBSQ established using Pearson’s co-efficient formula was 0.86.  Findings indicated very low extent of the use of mother tongue (Igbo Language) as a medium of instruction and interaction; schools and parents preferred the use of English Language (L2) as a medium of instruction and interaction; and indigenous materials and textbooks in mother tongue were not available or used for instruction. By educational implication, this is a negation of the National policy stipulation on the usage of mother-tongue for instruction in Nigerian schools.  The researchers therefore recommended that Government should lay emphasis on total implementation of the National Policy on Education with particular reference to usage of mother-tongue as a medium of instruction in pre-primary and primary schools in Nigeria. Also, parents and care-givers should be educated on the need for them to interact with children in their mother-tongue. Keywords: early childhood education, future generation, mother tongue. DOI: 10.7176/JEP/10-23-11 Publication date: August 31st 201