Most frequently selected shade for advance restoration delivered in a tertiary hospital facility in south western Nigeria

Background: Bulk purchase of Porcelain materials with some in less use and expiring before being exhausted has resulted in colossal economic loss in the past and present in our environment. Having knowledge of prevalent shade in this environment will minimize this loss. Objectives: The study aimed at auditing the shade selection and identifying the most frequently selected shade for advanced restoration in the Conservative Dentistry Clinic as well as assessing the influence of gender and age on choice of shade selected. Methods: This is a retrospective study of shade selection for advanced restorations fabricated over a period of seven years in the University CollegeHospital Dental Clinic spanning January 2009 to December 2016. Data collected which was analyzed using the SPSS Version 22, includes: Socio demographic data, oral hygiene status and social habits, designation of the doctors that took the shade, types of advanced restorations, tooth/teeth restored, shades selected and types of shade guides used if indicated. Results: The outcome of the study showed that ‘A’ group shades were more chosen for advance restorations (50.6%). However, Vita shade A3 was  the most selected of all the shades, while shade C4 was the least selected. Lighter shades of ‘A’ were more frequently selected in female patients  (57%) while shade ‘D’ were chosen in the greater percentage of male patients (60%). Younger age groups less than 45years old tend to have lighter shade selected for their restorations. (Fig. 2). Conclusion: Vita shade A3 (3M3) was the most frequently selected shade for aesthetic advanced restoration. Lighter shades are generally selected more in the female patients and younger age group. Keywords: Shade selection, Shade guide, Advance restoratio

Influence of different compost on the early growth of Detarium microcarpum guill & perr seedlings

Detarium microcarpum commonly known as sweet detar is an African food crop tree belonging to Fabaceae family. Experiment was carried out to investigate the Influence of different compost (Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit, Moringa olifera and Gliricidium sepium leaves) on the early growth of Detarium microcarpum Guill & perr seedlings. The seeds of D. microcarpum were collected, air dried and sowed into a germination box. After germination, fifty - two (52) healthy seedlings were carefully selected and were transplanted into polythene pots filled with 2kg of top soil and applied different quantities of compost The treatments used were( 40g, 50g, 60g and 70g) and control without compost application. The experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The parameters assessed were; plant fresh height (cm), stem diameter (mm), leaf dry weight, stem dry weight, root dry weight, leaf area and number of leaves. Data collected were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and the means were separated using Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT). The results showed that ( T1) 40g of L. leucocephala compost with 2kg of top soil had the best performance in terms of height with mean value of 14.89cm, stem diameter with mean value of 5.23mm and number of leaves with a mean value of 8.97 and leaf area was 214.89 while the least performance was observed in T1 (2kg of top soil) having a mean value of 2.22cm2 in number of leaves , stem diameter with mean value of 1.12mm and height with a mean value of 8.21cm and leaf area is 79.36 , Consequently mean value of biomass accumulation ,seedlings grown with ( T1) 40 g of L. leucocephala compost produced the highest mean of 1.98g of while T13 gave the least value with mean of 0.40g in (LWD), seedlings with T1 had the highest mean value of 0.95g while T13 gave the least mean value of 0.15g in (SWD). Result from the Analysis indicated that there was significant difference in height, leaf number, stem girth and biomass accumulation of Root dry weight at 5% level of probability. It is therefore recommended that ( T1) 40g of L. leucocephala compost should be adopted for raising of D. microcarpum in the nursery to have quality, healthy, good vigour and high production of the species. Keywords: Detarium microcarpum seedlings, Leucaena leucocephala , Moringa olifera , Giliricidium sepium and Compos

Prediction of Density and Viscosity of Biodiesel Fuel from Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) Composition

Viscosity and density are important properties that qualify biodiesel fuel to serve as an alternative fuel because all other properties directly or indirectly depend on them. The processes involved in determining the viscosity and density of biodiesel are relatively simple and costly and there are discrepancies in the results obtained due to the differences in the oil composition of the feed-stocks used as against the reported cause of experimental errors. This work aimed at theoretically determining and developing relationship between the density and viscosity of different feed-stocks and the fatty acid methyl ester composition at different temperatures.In the study, density and viscosity data of biodiesel fuels and the composition of FAME were collected from literatures.  A linear regression analysis was carried out for density and viscosity on the average values of viscosity and density data obtained at different temperatures range (10°C-40°C) of FAME composition. Equations relating density and viscosity with the percentage composition by weight of FAME of biodiesel fuel were developed. Predicted mean values for kinematic viscosity and density were respectively between 4.31 - 5.64 mm2/s and 861.67 – 885.66 kg/m3. The developed equations were able to predict with up to 97.1% accuracy for viscosity and 98.5% accuracy for density. The developed equations could effectively predict the quality of biodiesel (viscosity and density) from various feedstocks based on FAME compositions

Internet Use among Undergraduates in Nigeria: The Role of Policy

This study investigates appropriate and inappropriate use of Internet among undergraduates in Nigeria. There is a growing concern that the amount of time spent on Internet by undergraduates does not translate to effective use. The instrumentality of policy could be used to ensure that undergraduates make the best use of internet. Two universities, Lagos State University and Babcock University were chosen as case study. A total of one hundred and twenty (120) questionnaires were administered to final year students in four faculties common to both universities. Ninety-seven (97) questionnaires were completed and returned. Simple percentages were used to analyse data and answers were provided to five research questions. T-test was used to test the only research hypothesis raised.   The Study showed that there are many advantages brought by the advent of Internet into learning and research by undergraduate students in Nigeria. There is need for a comprehensive national information policy to address the abuse of Internet by undergraduates.   Keywords- Internet, Addiction, Undergraduates, User studies, Libraries, Information policy

Impact of Hypoproteic Diet on Liver Function and Thrombopoiesis in New Zealand White Rabbits

f liver disease. The relationship between hypoproteic diet, liver function and subsequently thrombopoiesis has not been fully documented; hence, this study sets out to determine it in normal rabbits. The broad objective of this work is to determine the relationship between a hypoproteic diet, liver function and thrombocyte indices in normal rabbits. Twenty New Zealand White Rabbits weighing 950-1050g were used. They were assigned into two groups (A and B) of ten rabbits each and fed with rabbit chow containing 30% protein for a period of four weeks. Group A animals were changed to a 4% protein feed while group B animals were maintained on 30% protein feed. Blood samples were obtained from the marginal ear vein of the Rabbits after the period of acclimatization (4 weeks) and analyzed for baseline data and twice at eight weeks intervals post- acclimatization. The samples were taken into 2ml EDTA tubes and 5ml plain tubes for the determination of platelet counts, AST, alanine transferase (ALT), alkaline phosphate (ALP), plateletcrit (PCT), platelet distribution width (PDW), mean platelet volume (MPV), Total Protein estimation, Albumin estimation and thrombopoietin assay using standard protocols. It was observed that Platelet counts, MPV, Total protein and Albumin levels were significantly lower (P ≤ 0.05) in the rabbits fed hypoproteic diet compared to the rabbits of the control group while AST, ALT, ALP and thrombopoietin levels were significantly increased (P ≤ 0.05) in the rabbits fed hypoproteic diet compared to the rabbits of the control group. The PCT values were decreased in the experimental group compared to the control group but were not statistically significant (P ≥ 0.05). These findings suggest that hypoproteic diet impaires liver function and induce platelet destruction leading to low platelet count and alteration of platelets indices

Thermodynamic anomaly of the free damped quantum particle: the bath perspective

A possible definition of the specific heat of open quantum systems is based on the reduced partition function of the system. For a free damped quantum particle, it has been found that under certain conditions, this specific heat can become negative at low temperatures. In contrast to the conventional approaches focusing on the system degree of freedom, here we concentrate on the changes induced in the environment when the system is coupled to it. Our analysis is carried out for an Ohmic environment consisting of harmonic oscillators and allows to identify the mechanism by which the specific heat becomes negative. Furthermore, the formal condition for the occurrence of a negative specific heat is given a physical interpretation in terms of the total mass of bath oscillators and the system mass.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure, final version after one round of refereein

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Total anti-oxidant status and C-reactive protein values in Nigerians with symptomatic primary osteoarthritis of the knee joint – an initial report

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative as well as an inflammatory disorder of joints. The joint inflammation in this disease (as with inflammation in other organs of the body) leads to the production of acute phase proteins like C-reactive protein (CRP) along with the release of cytokines and neutrophils. The lysosomes released from the activated neutrophils result in the production of large amounts of free radicals which are harmful to the human body. Antioxidants on the other hand are substances that when present even in low concentrations avidly react with and annihilate free radicals before oxidative damage is inflicted on vital components of the cells. This case-control study was aimed at investigating the influence of age; body mass index, total antioxidant status (an indirect measure of total free radicals) and c-reactive protein (an acute phase reactant) on symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee. Thirty five subjects with clinical and radiological features of osteoarthritis of the knee were recruited from the Orthopaedic clinic of the University College Hospital, Ibadan. Twenty healthy age-matched controls were recruited from the Surgical Outpatient Clinic of the same hospital. Informed consent, biodata and body mass indices were obtained after which venous blood samples were obtained from each subject. Total plasma antioxidant status (TAS) was estimated spectrophotometrically by the Koracevic method while the CRP concentration was measured using Humatex CRP kit® (Human GmbH, Germany). The mean ages of the test and control groups were 58.8±12.0 and 52.3±7.9 years respectively. Osteoarthritic patients demonstrated significantly higher (p <0.05) BMI (32.2±6.9 kg/m2) compared to controls (26.1±3.4 kg/m2). The mean TAS was significantly lower (p <0.05) in the test (1.09±0.38 mmol/l) compared to the controls (1.61±0.09 mmol/l). CRP was positive in 19 (54.3%) of the test subjects but negative in all the control. There was an inverse correlation between the BMI and TAS (p <0.05) as well as between age and TAS (p <0.05). This study shows that Nigerian patients with symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee tend to be obese and have a lower total antioxidant status. Antioxidant supplementation of the diet as a means of minimizing the severity of osteoarthritis and other free radical-mediated diseases in older Nigerian adults is advocated

Comparative studies of genotoxicity and anti-plasmodial activities of stem and leaf extracts of Alstonia boonei (De Wild) in malaria-infected mice

Drug resistance in malaria infection is a serious public health challenge. Thus, scientific search for alternative treatment measures among the local medicinal plants is exigent. We therefore investigated the anti-plasmodial efficacy and genotoxicity of the methanolic leaf and stem extracts of Alstonia plant at varying concentration (200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg and 600 mg/kg) in mice infected with chloroquine sensitive Plasmodium berghei. The phytochemical screening of the extract revealed that leaf sample contained significantly higher secondary metabolites, except saponins (p&lt;0.05). Anti-plasmodial activities of the two extracts were duration and dose- dependent. Stem bark extract showed higher curative potential with inhibition rate of 56.71% at 400 mg/kg whereas, leaf extract was efficient at 600mg/kg with 52.15% inhibition rate. Stem bark extract at 400 mg/kg improved the enzymatic activities of the mice; it lowered serum ALT (6.88±4.42) and increased liver ALT (41.07±5.56). Similarly, 400 mg/kg leaf extract showed highest AST (70.65±4.00) and ALT (44.65±7.83) activities in the kidney and liver respectively. Analysis of genotoxicity revealed that micronucleus and abnormal (binucleated, notched and blebbed) were prevalent among the experimental mice which increased significantly (p&lt;0.05) at all concentrations except at 600mg/kg leaf extract. Therefore, this present study indicates that both leaf and stem bark extracts of A. boonei possess anti-plasmodial activity and are less genotoxic when compared with standard drug.Keywords: Genotoxicity; Plasmodium berghei; metabolites; micronucleus; blebbed; standard dru