Compaction of a granular material under cyclic shear

In this paper we present experimental results concerning the compaction of a granular assembly of spheres under periodic shear deformation. The dynamic of the system is slow and continuous when the amplitude of the shear is constant, but exhibits rapid evolution of the volume fraction when a sudden change in shear amplitude is imposed. This rapid response is shown to be to be uncorrelated with the slow compaction process.Comment: 7 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in European Physical Journal

Paediatric discharges against medical advice at a tertiary health centre in Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Introduction: Paediatric discharges against medical advice (DAMA) are common hospital experiences which limit appropriate and comprehensive treatment as a result of abrupt termination of physician care. The fact remains that the children who are the major culprits of this practice are not legally able to participate in this decision making process which may negatively affect their health.Objectives: This present study was carried out with the aim of identifying the DAMA prevalence, the socio-cultural characteristics and reason(s) for DAMA among the paediatric patients admitted into the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Bayelsa.Methods: Case notes of all children who had been discharged against medical advice over a 2 year period(1st of June 2011 to 31st of May 2013) were retrospectively reviewed and analysed.Results: One hundred and fortyone children out of a total of 1872 children admitted into the paediatric wards had been discharged against medical advice, giving a DAMA prevalence rate of 7.5%. Out of 120 children whose case notes were retrieved and analysed, there were69(57.5%) males and 51 (42.5%) females with a male: female ratio of 1.4:1. Neonatal septicaemia (32.6%), birth asphyxia (27.9%) and prematurity (14.0%) were the major diagnosis in neonates while respiratory tract infections (18.2%), severe malaria (15.6%) and septicaemia (14.3%) were the commonest diagnosis in older children who were DAMA. Discharges against medical advice occurred commonly in the first week of admission (69.0%) and among infants (58.0%). Majority of the patients were from low and middle social classes (85.8%) with 30% of the children belonging to families with 4 or more children. The commonest reasons for DAMA were financial constraints (36.7%), lack of clinical improvement (7.5%) and inconvenience of child’s admission (7.5%). Only 27% of the children’s clinical condition had been noted to have improved before DAMA and fathers were the signatories to the discharge documents in 68% of cases.Conclusions: Discharges against medical advice remain a serious public health problem with infants being the most vulnerable. Government provision of free child health services, improving access to health facilities through creation of better road network, better patient- physician relationship, child advocacy and female empowerment would help to ameliorate this problem.Keywords: Discharges against medical advice, child care, advocacy, Nigeria

Pattern and outcome of admissions as seen in the paediatric emergency ward of the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Objective: To describe the pattern and outcome of childhood illnesses seen in a paediatric emergency ward of a tertiary centre in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.Methods: Admission records of all children seen in the Children’s Emergency Ward (CHEW) between the 1st of January 2008 and 31st ofDecember 2011 were retrospectively reviewed and analysed.Results: A total of 1756 children were admitted into the emergency ward over a four year period (1st January 2008 to 31st December 2011). The age range was one month to 18 years with a mean of 36.6 months. There was a male preponderance with a male to female ratio of 1.4:1. Majority, 1386 (78.9%) of the patients were below the age of five years. The meanduration of stay was 2.2 days. The major causes of admission were malaria, 562 (32.0%), diarrhoeal disease 389 (22.2%), respiratory tract infections 162 (9.2%) and anaemic heart failure 112(6.4%). Peak admissions period and mortality were in the months of January, May and December. There were 799 transfers, 710 discharges, 94 discharges against medical advice and 20 referrals. Over the period, 133 children diedgiving a mortality rate of 7.6%. Major causes of mortality wereanaemic heart failure 32(24.1%), malaria 26 (19.6%), septicaemia 17(12.8%) and diarrhoeal disease 15 (11.3%).Conclusions: Infections are the major cause of morbidity and mortalityin the study environment with the under-fives being the most vulnerable.Key words: children, under-fives, emergency room, admissions, morbidity, mortalit

Harmful traditional practices in a newborn: A case report

Ninetynine percent of the nearly four million newborn deaths occur in developing countries with newborn deaths remaining relatively invisible and neglected1. In these countries, traditional attitudes and practices dominate newborn care and are often harzadous2. As most births and newborn deaths in developing countries occur outside health care facilities, a reduction in neonatal mortality may depend significantly on interventions involving adaptation of traditional care behaviours practiced at home3. However, despite the importance of traditional practices in the newborn period, little is known about the impact of these practices on newborn health2. We herein present a case of an eighteen day old female who was rushed to the hospital with severe wasting, recto-vaginal prolapse and septic umbilical cord resulting from repeated traditional homecare practices by her mother and grandmother. This case highlights the impact of harmful traditional home care practices on newborn health and emphasizes the urgent need for public enlightenment campaigns and other policy decisions and interventions aimed at reducing this societal menace.Keywords: Harmful traditional practices, newborn, neonatal morbidity, neonatal mortalit

A Community-Based Randomized Controlled Trial of an Educational Intervention to Promote Retirement Saving Among Hispanics

We developed and conducted a community based randomized controlled trial to evaluate the impact of an intervention to promote retirement saving among low and moderate income, predominantly Spanish speaking Hispanics, who do not have access to an employer sponsored retirement account. Our educational intervention provided participants with key information related to financial planning for retirement in Spanish and made use of “behavioral nudges” to encourage participants to open a federal sponsored retirement saving account, my Retirement Account (myRA). Among 142 participants (70 and 72 in control and treatment groups, respectively), we found a significant difference-in-difference (DD) on the proportion of those who opened a myRA. In the treatment group we had 14 percent of participants opened myRA, while in the control group we had no one. Results from a DD regression show that after controlling for observable and unobservable characteristics through our design as a randomized controlled trial, the effect of our intervention is 12 percent. When we restrict our sample to those participants who had a bank account at some point of the study, we find that the effect of our intervention is higher (17 percent). We also found that our intervention is effective increasing self-reported knowledge related to retirement saving and preparedness

Self-regulated learning skill as a predictor of mathematics achievement: a focus on ability levels

This paper investigated self-regulated learning skills as a predictor of students’ achievement in mathematics based on ability level. The study is prediction-design research of correlational type. The subjects were 882 SSII students from the secondary schools in Owerri Education Zone of Imo State. The researchers adopted the multi-stage but simple random sampling technique to draw the sample. Two instruments were used to collect data for this study. They are the Self-regulated Learning Questionnaire (SRLQ) and Mathematics Achievement Proforma. The validity of the instruments was ensured through experts’ suggestions and guidance. Single-administration reliability and Cronbach Alpha ensured the reliability of SRLQ (0.89). The data collected were analyzed using regression analysis and coefficient of determination at 0.05 alpha level with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. The results of the study revealed that self-regulated learning skill predicts 6.0% and 4.3% respectively to the variance observed in high and low achieving students in mathematics. This prediction is significant as attested to by the regression analysis carried out (p < 0.05). Therefore, secondary school students should regulate their learning to increase their mathematics achievement

Use of Remote Sensing Data to Detect Environmental Degradation in the Oil Rich Region of Southern Nigeria between 2003 and 2015

The oil spill management system aims to achieve a knowledge- based system which can choose the most suitable method of response in shorter time by analyzing the various sensitivity factors of coastal environment, affecting parameters on oil spill movement, environmental concerns in oil spill response, and consequent monitoring and clean-up measurements. The major advantage of this integration is the ability to extract oil spill parameters such as location, linear size and spill areas. Spatial and temporal information, i.e. oil spill distribution at the sea, its frequency and evolution in time allow the scientists to establish the major cause and source of oil spills, and then outline the risk areas. This study has demonstrated the application of GIS and remote sensing as a decision support tool for oil spill management. Its objectives are to perform image classification and accuracy assessment, to perform post classification change detection for oil spill detection and to perform trend of change analysis for oil spill growth trend. Methodology involves planning stage, data requirements, data acquisition, data processing and results presentation. The results indicated that the annual growth rate of water bodies is decreasing at -0.16% from 2003 to 2015, settlements decreased at a rate of -1.16% from 2003 to 2015 while Mangrove and vegetation decreased significantly at the rate of -2.82% and -1.92% respectively from 2003 to 2015, this is by far the most significant decrease in the study area, as oil spill degrades farmland and plantations there by rendering it useless for economical purposes, the results also indicated that degraded environment increased at a rate of 3.39% from 2003 to 2015. It was further recommended amongst others that further studies should be on oil spill management in Gokana L.G.A as this will provide additional information on how to manage the effects of oil spill in Gokana L.G.A

Knowledge and practice of menstrual hygiene among adolescent school girls in Umunna, Imo State, Southeast Nigeria: implications for parents, healthcare providers and policy makers

Background: Menstrual hygiene management is critical in the life of the woman. For optimal attendance and participation in school activities, future reproductive and sexual health; quality menstrual hygiene practice is crucial. The objective of this study was designed to assess the knowledge, practice and challenges of menstrual hygiene management among the adolescentsMethods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a community secondary school girls from 1st May to 30th June 2016.  Data was collected with a semi-structured pre-tested questionnaire and analyzed with statistical software as appropriate.Results: A total of 416 (97.4%) of the respondents were analyzed. Their mean chronological age and age at menarche were 15±2.1 years and 12.9±0.7 years respectively. Most (77.9%) of the respondents had premenarchal menstrual hygiene knowledge and mothers (68.8%) were the main source of information. Sanitary pad (56.3%) and cloth (31.2%) were the most commonly used absorbents.  Sanitary pad use was higher in respondents whose mothers had higher level education (RR=6.3, p<0.001). Most of the respondents changed absorbent twice or less daily (77.4%), bathed at least twice (77.4%), washed vulvoperineal region with soap and water (50.2%) and wiped perineum front to back (72.8%).  Burning (51.9%) and refuse dump (26.0%) were the main disposal methods and 48.1% washed hands before and after changing menstrual absorbent materials. Main menstrual disturbances were abdominal pain (37.7%) and malaise (18.5%) and main intervention was medication from patent medicine store (47.2%). Menstruation-related school absenteeism was 30.8%.Conclusions: There was poor premenarchal menstrual awareness and inappropriate menstrual hygiene practices among adolescent schoolgirls

Growth performance and hematological parameters of broiler chicken fed raw and boiled senna obtusifolia seed meal

This study was conducted to determine the growth performance and hematological parameters of broiler chicken fed raw and boiled Senna obtusifolia seed meal. Three hundred (300) Ross day old chicks were used for this study. Chicks were randomly allotted to five treatment groups in a complete randomized design having three replicate with twenty birds each. Birds were housed in a deep litter system where water and feed was provided ad-libitum for eight weeks. Five experimental diets were formulated with inclusion of raw and boiled S. obtusifolia seed meal at two different levels 5% and 10% each for raw and boiled respectively. Diets were coded as T1(Control), T2(5% Raw S. obtusifolia seed meal), T3 (10% Raw S. obtusifolia seed meal), T4 (5% Boiled S. obtusifolia seed meal; (BSOSM first user define) and T5(10% Boiled Senna obtusifolia seed meal), respectively. Data collected from this study on growth performance and hematological parameters were analyzed using general linear model of SAS, 2009. Differences among means were separated using Duncan multiple range test. Result obtained from this study shows that there were significant (P&lt;0.05) differences in final weight, weight gain, feed conversion ratio and feed cost/kg gain across treatment groups at the starter and finisher phases. On the other hand, there was no significant (P &gt; 0.05) difference recorded on feed intake, mortality record and all the hematological parameters measured. Birds fed 5% BSOSM had increased weight gain at the starter phase and improved feed conversion ratio in the finisher phase than other treatment groups. Also, birds fed control diet had increased weight gain at the finisher phase and improved feed conversion ratio in the starter phase than other treatment groups. Hematological parameters obtained in this study revealed that there were no significant (p &gt; 0.05) differences across treatment groups. This implies that S. obtusifolia seed meal is safe for feeding broiler birds either raw or boiled with inclusion levels of up to 10% without any adverse effect on the performance. Key words: Growth performance, hematology, broiler chicken, Senna obtusifolia, Ross breed