Primary postpartum haemorrhage in Lagos, Nigeria

No Abstract

Estimation of contaminant transport parameters for a tropical sand in a sand tank model

This research describes the goals, design and implementation of a quasi natural gradient, laboratory scale, sand tank (aquifer) model experiment. The model was used to study the transport of an inorganic tracer (Chloride) in groundwater, within a tropical aquifer (porous medium) material. Three-dimensional sand tank (1.8 m × 0.3 m × 0.8 m) experiments were conducted to investigate contaminant transport and natural attenuation within the sand tank. In all, 360 samples were collected during 24 sampling sessions, for the three days of the tracer experiments in the Sand Tank. The Owena sand is a poorly graded sand with 88.1 % sand and 11.9 % gravel. Geotechnical properties including; coefficient of uniformity Cu = 2.53, coefficient of gradation Cz = 0.181, hydraulic conductivity K = 5.76 x 10-4 m/s, bulk density ρ = 1.9 Mg/m3, effective porosity ne = 0.215 and median grain diameter D50 = 0.55 mm, were determined. Other relevant hydraulic and solute transport parameters, such as dispersion coefficients and dispersivities were also established for the tropical soil

HISTOLOGICAL AND HISTOCHEMICAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS OF Archachatina marginata ovum (GASTROPODA: ACHATINIDAE) AT DIFFERENT REPRODUCTIVE STATES

The histological and histochemical variation in association with morphological variation in the repro-ductive system of Archachatina marginata ovum was the target of this investigation. Forty- five snails were dissected and categorized into 5 different reproductive stages (low mating, high mating, high egg, gravid and post reproductive). The reproductive tracts which include: hermaphroditic duct, albu-men gland, spermoviduct and spermatheca and the ovotestis were processed for histological and histochemical staining. There were some variations in the architecture of the reproductive organs be-tween the active (high mating, high egg and gravid) and non active stages (low mating and post repro-ductive) states. The active states were generally associated with colloidal or granular secretions. Gly-cogen and alkaline phosphatase activities were associated together throughout the epithelium of the reproductive system of A. marginata ovum and they were more strongly indicated in tissues that are intimately connected to the growth and development of gametes. It was concluded that morphological variation in the secreting glands of the reproductive system of A. marginata ovum is closely associated with changes in the functional secretory activities of the glands

MORPHOMETRIC STUDY OF THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM OF GIANT AFRICAN LAND SNAIL Archachatina marginata ovum (Pfeiffer) (Pulmonata: Achatinidae) FOUND IN ILE-IFE, SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA.

The morphometry of the reproductive organs of the giant African land snail, Archachatina marginata ovum from wild collection at Ile-Ife, southwest Nigeria, was assessed during March - May (early rainy season) and August – October (late rainy season) of 2010. A total 134 snails were dissected and clas-sified into one of five different reproductive states (low mating readiness; high mating readiness; egg production; gravid and post reproductive). The five states were observed in snails collected during the early rainy season, whereas the gravid state was not observed in the collections during late rainy sea-son. Albumen gland was considerably enlarged at egg production state forming about 60 % of the total weight of the reproductive system, while vas deferens was significantly longer in snails at high mating readiness state. The sizes of the reproductive organs were not substantially related to the size of the snail as the coefficient of determination (r2) of the relationship were in most cases below 0.5. The over-all results indicated that variations in the morphology of the reproductive organs of A. marginata ovum are mostly state dependent and less related to the size of the snail and thus could be used reliably to categorise the snails into reproductive states

Assessment of frequency, density and abundance of weed species in different Cropping Systems

This study was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria to determine effect of cropping systems on weed diversity  and weed seeds bank at various soil depths. Weed flora composition in different cropping systems were also correlated with land use history. Two broad  cropping systems were considered namely; plantation cropping (cocoa, oil palm and cashew) and arable fields (maize, cassava/maize and a natural fallow which served as control. Twenty six weed families were recorded in all. Out of these 26 families, only two are grasses while the remaining were broadleaves. Oil palm and cashew plantations had the highest weed diversity. Using Shannon index (H>1.0), Panicum maximum (Poaceae) and Vigna gracilis (Papilionaceae) weeds were more frequently encountered across the cropping systems with diversity index H>0.5. Asteraceae, Papilionaceae, Rubiaceae were the broadleaves families widely distributed in the cropping systems. Results on the weed seed bank indicated that the number of weed seeds decreased as soil depth increased, the highest number of seeds was found in the soil layer of 0-8 cm. Keywords: Cropping System, Seed bank, abundance, densit

Three-dimensional carbon foam nanocomposites for thermal energy storage

This is the final version. Available from Elsevier via the DOI in this record.Nanocomposites consisting of paraffin/graphene nanoplatelets mix embedded in carbon foams via vacuum infiltration were fabricated with the aim of developing new phase change material (PCM) formulation with excellent shape stabilization, improved thermal conductivity and outstanding thermal reliability and structural stability. Physicochemical and thermal properties of the nanocomposites were evaluated using a suite of techniques such as scanning and transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, attenuated total reflection - Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption analyzer, differential scanning calorimetry, mechanical tester, Raman spectroscopy, thermal conductivity analyzer and thermogravimetric analyzer. The carbon foams exhibited good cyclic compressive behavior at a strain of up to 95% and kept part of their elastic properties after cyclic testing. Due to the robust mechanical integrity and layered meso-/macroporous morphology of these carbon foams, the nanocomposites are well equipped to cope with volume changes without leaking during thermal cycling. A 141% thermal conductivity enhancement observed for the carbon foam nanocomposite demonstrates the contributing role of the carbon foam in creating effective heat transfer through its conductive 3D network. The results have shown that proper chemical modification and subsequent carbonization of the low cost porous foams can lead to ultralight multifunctional materials with high mechanical and physical properties suitable for thermal energy storage applications.Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC

Production of all male fingerlings through feeding of androgenic steroid (Mesterolone) in the diet fed as first food to tilapia Oreochromis niloticus

Non-conventional hormone, Androgenic Steroid (mesterolone) was prepared and incorporated (using ethanol) at various concentration of 0mg, 30mg, 40mg, 50mg, 60mg each in 0.2kg of fish meal. The six levels were replicated 3 times in plastic tanks. The fish meal incorporated with hormone (mesterolone) were fed as first food to 7 -day old fry of Oreochromis niloticus for 28 days after which the tilapia fry were fed on ordinary fishmeal for another 8 weeks. At the 9th and 12th weeks and after feeding with the hormone, the number of survivals and the weights gained were recorded! After the 12week, the males and females were separated using hand-magnifying lens. The economic viability of all male production using non-conventional hormone (mesterolone) was calculated. Hormone fed to O. niloticus was found to have no significant effect (P>0. 05) on the survival and the mean weight gain of the O. niloticus. But the hormone fed had great influence on the female: male ratio i.e. treatment difference was highly significant (P<0.01). Tilapia fry fed with 40mg/0.2kg feed was found to have the largest percentage of males 97% while those fed with 30mg/0.2kg, 50mg/0.2kg, 60mg/0.2kg and 70mg/0.2kg had 51%,91%,86%,89%, and 80% males respectively

Pattern of liver cancer admissions at the University College Hospital, Ibadan - A 4-year review

Background: Liver Cancer (LC) is a common malignancy globally, and it exacts an enormous toll on the health care system. Therefore, it is imperative to have an epidemiological profile for effective planning.Methods: This study examined the basic demographic, admission profile and outcome of this category of patients through a retrospective cross-sectional study. The study was carried out using data of clinical diagnoses of LC admitted into the Gastro-intestinal Unit (GLU), Department of Medicine, University College Hospital, Ibadan between 1st January 2011 and 31st December 2014.Results: Two hundred and six patients (16.8%) had diagnoses of LC out of the 1228 total cases admitted by the GLU. The total male&nbsp; patients were 147(71.4%) and female 59 (28.6%) while the most prominent age group for both genders and males were 41-50 years in the male group and 51-60 years among females. The mean + SD and median hospital stay was 10.6±11.6 days and eight days for LC patients, respectively. The intrahospital fatality rate was 37.9% and occurred mainly within five days of admission.Conclusion: Liver Cancer is an important disorder in gastrointestinal practice and had high fatality within a few days of admission; hence, efforts should be made to improve the care of the patients

Brain Fag Syndrome – a myth or a reality

The Brain Fag Syndrome (BFS) is defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) as a culture bound syndrome. BFS is a tetrad of somatic complaints; cognitive impairments; sleep related complaints; and other somatic impairments. Prince first described this psychiatric illness associated with study among African students in 1960. There have been questions relating to the nosological status of the syndrome as to whether: BFS is an objective or subjective phenomenon; it is one phenomenon or a variant of other known disorders; it is a mental illness ? These three questions pose challenges to the culture bound/depressive or anxiety equivalent approach to the condition. The scope of this paper is the scope of BFS history from its first reference in the psychological medicine to the most contemporary descriptions in transcultural psychiatry. The conceptual history of BFS is divided into four major perspectives: Traditional medicine, Psychoanalysis, Biopsychological and Transcultural psychiatry. This helps to outline some of the key issues, helps to clarify its nosological status, its present status and helps to set the stage for the future progress. From its conceptual history, BFS as a phenomenon, with its distinct presentations, is subjectively real and isbest classified with the framework of psychiatry, psychology and or sociology. The existence of BFS is evidenced by case as well as epidemiological reports of the condition in different locations. However, its course, response to treatment and outcome deserve more attention than has been given