Therapeutic Efficacy of Cervical Traction in the Management of Cervical Radiculopathy: A Control Trial

Background: Severe pain and disability from cervical disorder is second to that of low back pain in musculoskeletal practice. Methods: Forty eight patients who met the inclusion criteria were placed into experimental (n=24) and control (n=24) group randomly. Participants in both groups received massage, cryotherapy and active exercises. Cervical traction was administered to experimental group for 15 minutes, thrice per week for four weeks while the other group served as control. Verbal rating scale (VRS) and Neck Disability Pain Index (NDI) were used as outcome measures. Data were analyzed using descriptive, dependent –t-test and independent-t-test. Results: There was a significant improvement in the pretreatment and post treatment pain intensity (t=10.75, p< 0.001) and neck functional disability (t=2.42, p=0.03) of participants in experimental group. There was a significant difference (t=-3.98, p=0.006) in the post treatment pain intensity between the cervical traction and control group. Conclusion: It could be concluded that application of continuous cervical traction can significantly reduce pain intensity of patients with cervical  radiculopathy.Key words: Cervical traction, cryotherapy, neck disability index, and verbal rating scale

PILOT STUDY ON LOW COST DOMESTIC SLOW SAND FILTER FOR GROUNDWATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT

Most waterborne diseases can be prevented using simple, low cost water filtration techniques. The aim of this study is to design a low cost domestic slow sand filter, which can be operated and maintained effectiveness at household level by a member of the family, and determine its effectiveness in removing selected contaminants from the raw groundwater. Fine sand, activated charcoal, coarse sand, and gravel were used as media column for the developed slow sand filtration media. Common selected physico-chemical and microbial water parameters were examined before and after filtration with the slow sand filtration system. The filter was able to remove turbidity of the raw groundwater in the range of 86 - 92% without hampering the pH value or the temperature below the acceptable standards set by the Nigerian standards for drinking water quality. The filter media was able to reduce an average of 44 - 82%, 29 - 53% and 60 – 66% of total hardness, calcium hardness and chloride content, respectively from the chemical composition of the groundwater samples.  The media also showed high effectiveness in reducing biological impurities from the groundwater.  It was able to remove effectively the concentration of E-Coli and coliform counts. The average percent removal of E-coli and coliforms was found to be 100%. These were achieved with the aid of the bio-film layer that developed on the topmost part (fine sand layer) of the filter which was able to predate on the microbes in the groundwater samples. Slow sand filters are a sustainable means of water treatment when applied to appropriate source waters and when designed and operated properly.&nbsp

Genetic conservation through effective utilization of the improved indigenous chicken breeds by rural households in Nigeria

SUMMARY. Our collection and genetic characterization of various indigenous chicken genotypes in Nigeria started in 1984 at the National Animal Production Research Institute, Shika, Zaria, (Shika Brown) in 1994 at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria (FUNAAB) and in 2014 in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (FULANI). Collections were screened and characterized for genetic improvement and effective utilization by rural households in Nigeria With the financial and technical support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the International Livestock Research Institute, Ethiopia, respectively, improved chicken genotypes were developed and evaluated alongside some other tropically adapted chicken breeds. A total of six improved tropically adapted chicken breeds (three Nigerian – Shika Brown, FUNAAB alpha and Fulani; three imported – Kuroiler, Sasso and Noiler) were tested for 52 weeks on-farm, across five agro-ecological zones of Nigeria and on-station in a public University farm and a private farm in Ogun and Oyo States, respectively. Results showed the Nigeria’s improved Indigenous chicken breed, the FUNAAB-Alpha, to be of comparable performance with the three imported breeds. It has met with high acceptance and demand after exhibition of the six breeds during the 2017 Science and Technology Expo in Abuja, Nigeria

GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATION OF CLAYEY-SOIL: A CASE STUDY OF SELECTED SPOTS IN ITESIWAJU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, NIGERIA.

Itesiwaju, the study area, is a prominent Local Government Council in Oyo State of Nigeria. A detailed geotechnical investigation was carried out on deposition of clayey-soil in the selected study area through physical observation, field survey and laboratory analysis in line with existing Standards. Seven (7) popular towns (Out-the Council’s Headquarter, Ipapa, Igbojaye, Okaka, Komu, Oke-Anu and Baba-Ode) were considered in the sampling exercise. A representative sampling point was taken from each of the major towns in the study area, all of which revealed well graded soil particles (Gravel-between 7 and 25% Sand-11 to 18% while fines ranged from 64 to 78%). Grading the samples with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)’s standard, it was discovered that the particles all belonged to A-4, A-5, A-6 and A-7 group. Also, the plasticity Indices of samples from Ipapo and Komu fell into A-7-6 group, while the rest belonged to A-7-5 group. Samples from Oke-Amu, Komu and Baba-Ode have low swelling potentials while those from Ipapo, Okaka, Out, and Igbojaye have medium swelling potentials when compared with standards. All samples were of high plasticity values when measured with Casagrande’s plasticity chart. In addition, all analyzed samples have relatively high moisture contents, low dry densities and considerably moderate California Bearing Ratio (CBR) values. These are all pointers to the fact that the clay material contents in the study area are high, pure, and plastic which are useful for industrial applications

ASSESSMENT OF GROUNDWATER QUALITY IN OSUN STATE SECRETARIAT, OSOGBO, SOUTH WESTERN NIGERIA

Some physico-chemical analyses of water samples from nine boreholes in Osun State Secretariat, Osogbo, South Western Nigeria were carried out. The aim of the study was to evaluate the stability of the ground water for drinking’ and other purposes. In all, nine (9) representative boreholes (BHs) were studied. Each of these has been designated by corresponding subscripts as BH1, BH2, BH3, BH4, BH5, BH6, BH7, BH8, and BH9 respectively. The range of values of the respective parameters obtained from the analysis were: temperature: 29.9-350c; pH: 4.7-7.1; PO3-4: 0.13-0.19mgl-1; mg: 5.0-26.0mgl1; NO-3: 0.02-17.omgl1; Cl: 0.4-56mgl1 ; fe2+: 0.01-5.0mgl-1and hardness: 8.0-146mgl-1. These analysis showed that the level of potability of the tested ground water is not generally acceptable when viewed against the National Agency For Food And Drug Administration And Control (NAFDAC), World Health Organisation (WHO), and National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (WPDWR) standards. The concentration level of fe2+ in BH1, BH2, and BH5 are above the recommended maximum permissible limit of 0.3mgl-1. The sources of Fe2+ in these boreholes may be due to the geology of the location because some of them are located on Ferruginized formations. It   may also be due to quality of steel pipes used in the distribution of the water. The pH of the studied samples in the area falls within the range4.7-7.1 with a mean value of 5.5. This is generally below the ranges of 6.5-8.5, 7.0-8.5 and 6.5-8.5 for NAFDAC, WHO and united state NPDWR respectively. The pH value of almost all the water samples (88.9%) except bh3 fall within the acidic range (less than pH 7.0), suggesting that the geological formation of the area is acidic. The total hardness of the samples tested in the study varied from 8.0-146mgl-1. Only samples from BH1 and BH2 are moderately hard (75-150mgl-1) while others are purely soft waters(less than 75mgl-1)