Knowledge of and Attitude Towards Epilepsy Among Women in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Background: Epilepsy is a non-contagious chronic disease with sufferers experiencing embarrassments amidst other challenges. Family caregivers are mainly women with some of them suffering from the disease. This study assessed the knowledge and attitude of women residents in an urban community towards epilepsy. Materials and methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study recruited 400 randomly selected women in Ile-Ife. The data was collected with the use of a pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire on knowledge of and attitude to epilepsy. Data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Most respondents (99.3%) were aware of the disease with their main sources of information from their parents, friends, and neighbours. Only 15.3% of respondents had good knowledge of epilepsy, while 35% had positive attitude to epilepsy. Factors associated with good knowledge of epilepsy among respondents include having higher education (OR = 3.154, 95%CI = 1.574–6.323, p = 0.001) and higher income (OR = 3.055, 95%CI = 1.404–6.651, p = 0.005), while factors associated with positive attitude towards epilepsy include older age group (OR = 1.943, 95%CI = 1.281–2.945,p = 0.002) and higher income (OR = 2.932, 95%CI = 1.345–6.386, p = 0.007). Conclusions: Although the level of awareness is high, respondents’ knowledgeand attitude were inadequate. There is a need for a community education about epilepsy, targeting women who are major stakeholders with the aim of improving their knowledge and attitude towards the disease

Experimental analytical design of CNC machine tool SCFC based on electro-pneumatic system simulation

AbstractA Smart Clamping Force Control (SCFC) is adapted to hold sensitive workpiece using magnetic proximity switch during a machining operation on the CNC machine tool. It has been ascertained that work-holding of different workpiece materials and shapes during machining operation is one of the problems encountered during CNC milling machining operations. This work proposes a novel clamping strategy for workpieces with the aid of SCFC. The purpose of the study is to adjust the forward movement of the clamp and reduce the damage caused by the clamp on the workpiece, this depends on the material of the work-piece. The speed of the clamp is reduced using the inlet flow control throttle valve and a magnetic proximity switch (MPS). It provides careful handling of workpiece and prevent it from damage and as well optimizes the forward movement of the cylinder. The proposed strategy is based on dynamic machine loading in which the impact of applied forces were monitored to optimize the clamping control system of the machine tool. The mode of operation and performance of the SCFC were simulated in the FluidSIM® software, and the validated results was presented on Festo workstation. This work therefore further elucidate the fundamental design criterion for machine tool clamping forces and the sustainable manufacture of its components

Associations and Disease-Disease Interactions of COVID-19 with Congenital and Genetic Disorders: A Comprehensive Review

Since December 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic, which originated in Wuhan, China, has resulted in over six million deaths worldwide. Millions of people who survived this SARS-CoV-2 infection show a number of post-COVID complications. Although, the comorbid conditions and post-COVID complexities are to some extent well reviewed and known, the impact of COVID-19 on pre-existing congenital anomalies and genetic diseases are only documented in isolated case reports and case series, so far. In the present review, we analyzed the PubMed indexed literature published between December 2019 and January 2022 to understand this relationship from various points of view, such as susceptibility, severity and heritability. Based on our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive review on COVID-19 and its associations with various congenital anomalies and genetic diseases. According to reported studies, some congenital disorders present high-risk for developing severe COVID-19 since these disorders already include some comorbidities related to the structure and function of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, leading to severe pneumonia. Other congenital disorders rather cause psychological burdens to patients and are not considered high-risk for the development of severe COVID-19 infection

Evidence for perinatal and child health care guidelines in crisis settings: can Cochrane help?

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>It is important that healthcare provided in crisis settings is based on the best available research evidence. We reviewed guidelines for child and perinatal health care in crisis situations to determine whether they were based on research evidence, whether Cochrane systematic reviews were available in the clinical areas addressed by these guidelines and whether summaries of these reviews were provided in Evidence Aid.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Broad internet searches were undertaken to identify relevant guidelines. Guidelines were appraised using AGREE and the clinical areas that were relevant to perinatal or child health were extracted. We searched The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews to identify potentially relevant reviews. For each review we determined how many trials were included, and how many were conducted in resource-limited settings.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Six guidelines met selection criteria. None of the included guidelines were clearly based on research evidence. 198 Cochrane reviews were potentially relevant to the guidelines. These reviews predominantly addressed nutrient supplementation, breastfeeding, malaria, maternal hypertension, premature labour and prevention of HIV transmission. Most reviews included studies from developing settings. However for large portions of the guidelines, particularly health services delivery, there were no relevant reviews. Only 18 (9.1%) reviews have summaries in Evidence Aid.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We did not identify any evidence-based guidelines for perinatal and child health care in disaster settings. We found many Cochrane reviews that could contribute to the evidence-base supporting future guidelines. However there are important issues to be addressed in terms of the relevance of the available reviews and increasing the number of reviews addressing health care delivery.</p

A LAPLACE VARIATIONAL ITERATION METHOD FOR INTEGRO-DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS OF FRACTIONAL ORDER

Fractional Integro-Differential Equations (FIDEs) arise in the mathematical modelling of physical phenomena and play an important role in various branches of science and engineering. With He&apos;s variational iteration method, it is possible to obtain exact or better approximate solutions of differential equations. This paper is concerned with the solution of FIDEs by the variational iteration method via the Laplace transform. In this approach, a correction functional is constructed by a general Lagrange multiplier, which is determined by using the Laplace transform with the variational theory. The results of applying this method to the studied FIDEs show the high accuracy, simplicity and efficiency of the approach

Hysteresis analysis of Thornton (IP6, IP12E and TH5V) magnetic materials through the use of Arduino microcontroller

Electromagnetic devices have become increasingly important within the manufacturing industries and their applications ranges from memory devices, semiconductors to medical and bio-mechatronics (i.e. in the testing of medicines and observation of human internal organs). However, due to high cost and availability, the equipment capable of measuring the magnetic field of humane treatment and observations are difficult to acquire. This work is carried out to develop resources that can be widely adopted for the purpose of presenting science based medical results involved in bio-mechatronics analysis and present science based instrumentation strategy. Effect sensors were incorporated with an Arduino UNO microcontroller to serve as the interface between the sensors and the material. The basic parameters of an electric, magnetic and electromagnetic field were established for Histeresimetro development. This would reduce the problem of measuring magnetic fields and sort different materials according to their behavior when subjected to electromagnetic fields. The proposed strategy could also be adopted to measure the degree of hysteresis of materials at a lower cost. Keywords: Magnetometer, Arduino UNO, Magnetic field, Electromagnetic fields hysteresis senso

Experimental analysis of electro-pneumatic optimization of hot stamping machine control systems with on-delay timer

The sustainability criterion in the manufacturing industries is imperative, especially in the automobile industries. Currently, efforts are being made by the industries to mitigate CO2 emission by the total vehicle weight optimization, machine utilization and resource efficiency. In lieu of this, it is important to understudy the manufacturing machines adopted in the automobile industries. One of such machine is the hot stamping machine that is used for about 35% of the manufacturing operations within the automobile industries. Therefore, the standardization and optimization of the hot stamping process could reduce the carbon footprint within the automobile industries. This work understudied the on-delay timer functional valve of the hot stamping machine in order to determine various process parameters affecting it. The detailed physical model of the pneumatic and electro-pneumatic cylinder systems for the control is simulated and optimized for both the pneumatic and electro-pneumatic cylinder systems. Experimental and simulation model were established at the FESTO work station and FESTO FluidSIM® 5.1 respectively to evaluate the effective velocity, accelerations, displacement, and flow rate for the pneumatic and electro-pneumatic actuator on both systems. Comparisons were made between pneumatic and electro-pneumatic cylinder systems on their characteristic curve in order to optimize the process variables. The result favours the electro-pneumatic cylinder systems in stability and in designing hot stamping machines. The result obtained could elucidate the understanding of the pressing arm of a hot stamping machine

The benefits of a guideline on safe termination of pregnancy for legal indications: an illustrative case report of a hydranencephaly

After years of the worsening burden of unsafe abortion and attendant morbidities and mortalities in Nigeria, a National Guideline on the Safe termination of pregnancy for legal indications was enunciated. This report presents and discusses an illustrative case of a hydranencephaly that benefited from it. A 43-year old multipara was informed during routine ultrasonography at booking for antenatal care, at 16 weeks of gestation, of a major defect in her baby and advised to meet her physician. Following a repeat highresolution ultrasonography and discussions between the Obstetricians, Neurosurgeon, and Ultrasonologist, the woman was counseled on the diagnosis. At her insistence and provision of written consent, medical abortion with Mifepristone and Misoprostol was successfully instituted.Keywords: Pregnancy termination, Hydranencephaly, misoprostol, abortio