Home births in the Mosvold health ward of KwaZulu

A community survey was carried out to determine the frequency and the methods of home deliveries in the Mosvold health ward in northern KwaZulu. Of a sample of 210 mothers interviewed 46% had given birth at home, and of these 48% were delivered by traditional birth attendants; 84% gave birth in a kneeling or sitting position. In 32% of cases handling of the umbilical stump was unhygienic and potentially tetanogenic. Asked their reason for giving birth at home, most mothers gave transport problems and' sudden or unexpected onset of labour as their main reason, although a majority of grand multiparas expressed a preference for home delivery. Various recommendations are made on the basis of these findings

Some aspects of physical and mechanical properties of hollow blocks procuced from hot water treated sawdust.

The study investigated sawdust as a partial replacement for sand in production of hollow blocks with a view to reducing cost and converting waste to resource use. Sawdust of Daniella oliveri was collected from Timber Shed along New Bridge Wurukum, Makurdi. It was boiled and spread to dry. Standard ratio of 1:8 (cement and sand) was used in the study. Replacement levels of 0%, 2%, 4%, 6% and 8% of sawdust were used for sand, while cement was kept constant throughout the mixture. Density, percentage water absorption (PWA), and compressive strength (CS) of the blocks were tested after 28 days of curing. PWA results showed that blocks produced from 0% sawdust replacement level had least mean of 10.06%, while 8% sawdust replacement had the highest mean of 11.40%. Mean density values showed that 8% sawdust replacement had the least value of 1090.40Kg/m3 and while the highest value (1346.60Kg) was observed for 0%. The mean CS for 0% sawdust replacement was highest (3.20N/mm2)and falls within the Nigeria Building Codes of 2.5N/mm2 - 3.45N/mm2 and Ghana Building Code of 2.75 N/mm2. Mean CS value of 2.0N/mm2 was obtained for 2% and 4% sawdust replacement levels respectively. The value meets the minimum standard of 2.0N/mm2 according to National Building Code for non-load bearing walls and 1.7 N/mm2 according to Ghana Building Code. However, 6% and 8% sawdust replacement levels showed the least CS of 1.00N/mm2 which is below standards. In conclusion, blocks produced with 2% and 4% sawdust replacement levels as obtained in this study are recommended for building and construction purposes

Examen de producción de carbon vegetal en gobiernos locales de Makurdi y Guma áreas del Estado de Benue, Nigeria

Economic adversity, scarcity, joblessness and upsurge in the price of oil have dictated the need for people to find alternative means of making a living in respect of domestic cooking energy in Nigeria. Therefore, this work examined charcoal production in both Makurdi and Guma Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Benue state to ascertain its impacts, contributions to rural livelihood and efforts in replanting trees felled for charcoal production. Villages involved in charcoal production were identified using snowball sampling techniques. A Multi-stage Sampling Technique was employed to select respondents for data collection as personal interview and semi-structured questionnaire were used. Twelve villages were selected purposively from four Council Wards out of eleven in Makurdi LGA, while six villages were selected from two Council Wards out of ten in Guma LGA. Three charcoal producers and marketers were selected in each village for administration of questionnaire. Results revealed that males (85.4%, 83.7%) were higher than females (14.6%, 16.3%) in charcoal production in both Makurdi and Guma LGAs, respectively. Youths between ages of 21-30 years (27.1% and 32.6%) in Makudri and Guma with highest level of secondary education were foremost in the business. Prosopis africana was the most preferred tree species for charcoal production in the area. Despite fewer number of Council Wards chosen in Guma LGA, respondents felled as much as 132 trees per week for charcoal production against 109 trees felled in Makurdi LGA. The results also revealed that on weekly bases, 22 charcoal producers in Makurdi earned N25,000, while 18 in Guma LGA earned between N11, 000 - N15, 000 from charcoal business. The result further revealed that, respondents met family needs as feeding family members, paying school fees and purchase of motorcycles. The major health hazard encountered by respondents in Makurdi and Guma LGAs was fire burn (50% and 25%), respectively. Efforts in replanting felled trees in the study area was minimal through plantation forestry and agroforestry. In conclusion, charcoal production was observed to improve socio-economic benefits to people. However, it was recommended that alternative sources of livelihood should be provided for the people to mitigate the adverse effects of deforestation in the StateLa adversidad económica, la escasez, el desempleo y el aumento en el precio del petróleo han dictado la necesidad de que las personas encuentren medios alternativos para ganarse la vida con respecto a la energía doméstica para cocinar en Nigeria. Por lo tanto, este trabajo examinó la producción de carbón vegetal tanto en Makurdi como en el estado de Guma LGAs de Benue para determinar su impacto, sus contribuciones al sustento rural y los esfuerzos para replantar árboles talados para la producción de carbón vegetal. Las aldeas involucradas en la producción de carbón vegetal fueron identificadas utilizando técnicas de muestreo de bolas de nieve. Se empleó una técnica de muestreo en varias etapas para seleccionar a los encuestados para la recolección de datos, ya que se utilizaron entrevistas personales y cuestionarios semiestructurados. Doce aldeas fueron seleccionadas a propósito de cuatro salas del Consejo de cada once en Makurdi LGA, mientras que seis aldeas fueron seleccionadas de dos salas del Consejo de cada diez fueron diez en Guma LGA. Se seleccionaron tres productores y comercializadores de carbón vegetal en cada aldea para la administración del cuestionario. Los resultados revelaron que los hombres (85.4%, 83.7%) fueron más altos que las mujeres (14.6%, 16.3%) en LGAs de Makurdi y Guma, respectivamente. Los jóvenes entre las edades de 21-30 años (27.1% y 32.6%) en Makudri y Guma con el nivel más alto de educación secundaria fueron los principales en el negocio. Prosopis africana fue la especie de árbol más preferida para la producción de carbón vegetal en el área. Sin embargo, a pesar de la menor cantidad de salas del Consejo elegidas en Guma LGA, los encuestados talaron 132 árboles por semana para la producción de carbón vegetal contra 109 árboles derribados en Makurdi LGA, que suman 241 árboles por semana. Los resultados también revelan que en las bases semanales, 22 productores de carbón en Makurdi ganaron N25,000, mientras que 18 en Guma LGA ganaron entre N11, 000 - N15, 000 del negocio del carbón. El resultado reveló además que, los encuestados satisfacían las necesidades de la familia como alimentación, pago de cuotas escolares y compra de motocicletas. El principal peligro para la salud encontrado por los encuestados en LGAs de Makurdi y Guma fue la quema por incendio (50% y 25%), respectivamente. Los esfuerzos para replantar árboles en el área de estudio fueron mínimos a través de la plantación forestal y la agrosilvicultura. En conclusión, se observó que la producción de carbón vegetal mejora los beneficios socioeconómicos para las personas. Sin embargo, se debe proporcionar una fuente alternativa de sustento para que las personas mitiguen el efecto adverso de la deforestació

Armodafinil versus Modafinil in Patients of Excessive Sleepiness Associated with Shift Work Sleep Disorder: A Randomized Double Blind Multicentric Clinical Trial

Aim. To compare the efficacy and safety of armodafinil, the R-enantiomer of modafinil, with modafinil in patients of shift work sleep disorder (SWSD). Material and Methods. This was a 12-week, randomized, comparative, double-blind, multicentric, parallel-group study in 211 patients of SWSD, receiving armodafinil (150 mg) or modafinil (200 mg) one hour prior to the night shift. Outcome Measures. Efficacy was assessed by change in stanford sleepiness score (SSS) by at least 2 grades (responder) and global assessment for efficacy. Safety was assessed by incidence of adverse events, change in laboratory parameters, ECG, and global assessment of tolerability. Results. Both modafinil and armodafinil significantly improved sleepiness mean grades as compared to baseline (P < .0001). Responder rates with armodafinil (72.12%) and modafinil (74.29%) were comparable (P = .76). Adverse event incidences were comparable. Conclusion. Armodafinil was found to be safe and effective in the treatment of SWSD in Indian patients. The study did not demonstrate any difference in efficacy and safety of armodafinil 150 mg and modafinil 200 mg

The Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) Spectrographs

We describe the design and performance of the near-infrared (1.51--1.70 micron), fiber-fed, multi-object (300 fibers), high resolution (R = lambda/delta lambda ~ 22,500) spectrograph built for the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE). APOGEE is a survey of ~ 10^5 red giant stars that systematically sampled all Milky Way populations (bulge, disk, and halo) to study the Galaxy's chemical and kinematical history. It was part of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey III (SDSS-III) from 2011 -- 2014 using the 2.5 m Sloan Foundation Telescope at Apache Point Observatory, New Mexico. The APOGEE-2 survey is now using the spectrograph as part of SDSS-IV, as well as a second spectrograph, a close copy of the first, operating at the 2.5 m du Pont Telescope at Las Campanas Observatory in Chile. Although several fiber-fed, multi-object, high resolution spectrographs have been built for visual wavelength spectroscopy, the APOGEE spectrograph is one of the first such instruments built for observations in the near-infrared. The instrument's successful development was enabled by several key innovations, including a "gang connector" to allow simultaneous connections of 300 fibers; hermetically sealed feedthroughs to allow fibers to pass through the cryostat wall continuously; the first cryogenically deployed mosaic volume phase holographic grating; and a large refractive camera that includes mono-crystalline silicon and fused silica elements with diameters as large as ~ 400 mm. This paper contains a comprehensive description of all aspects of the instrument including the fiber system, optics and opto-mechanics, detector arrays, mechanics and cryogenics, instrument control, calibration system, optical performance and stability, lessons learned, and design changes for the second instrument.Comment: 81 pages, 67 figures, PASP, accepte