Compaction of a granular material under cyclic shear

In this paper we present experimental results concerning the compaction of a granular assembly of spheres under periodic shear deformation. The dynamic of the system is slow and continuous when the amplitude of the shear is constant, but exhibits rapid evolution of the volume fraction when a sudden change in shear amplitude is imposed. This rapid response is shown to be to be uncorrelated with the slow compaction process.Comment: 7 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in European Physical Journal

Casimir Energy for a Wedge with Three Surfaces and for a Pyramidal Cavity

Casimir energy calculations for the conformally coupled massless scalar field for a wedge defined by three intersecting planes and for a pyramid with four triangular surfaces are presented. The group generated by reflections are employed in the formulation of the required Green functions and the wave functions.Comment: Latex, 9 page

Management of Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: Specific Considerations for the Old Age

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the commonest of all sustained arrhythmias, and most of the patients seeking medical therapy are in the elderly age group. The management of these patients is particularly difficult due to associated comorbidities. Hypertension, congestive heart failure, left ventricular hypertrophy, and coronary artery disease are often present in the elderly patient population, and therefore, antiarrhythmic drugs often fail due to side effects, proarrhythmia, or poor rhythm control. Recently, radiofrequency catheter ablation has been widely performed as an efficient therapy for recurrent, drug-refractory AF. Nevertheless, patients at old age were underrepresented in prior AF ablation trials, and the current guidelines for catheter ablation of AF recommend a noninvasive approach in the elderly patient group due to the lack of clinical data supporting ablation therapy. However, study results of our group and others are suggesting that catheter ablation is a safe and effective treatment for patients over the age of 65 years with symptomatic, drug-refractory AF, and therefore, patients should not be precluded from catheter ablation only on the basis of age. This paper discusses the pharmacological (rhythm control, rate control, and anticoagulation) and catheter management of AF in the elderly population

EFFICACY OF XYLOPIA AETHIOPICA (DUNAL) A. AND AFRAMOMUM MELEGUETA (ROSC) K. SCHUM. FRUIT ON SITOPHULIUS ZEA

The power of combined powder of dried fruits of Xylopia aethiopica(Dunal) A. and Aframomum melegueta on the control of maize weevil Sitophulus zea were evaluated. The aim was to determine, their antifeedant potentials against the insect pests of stored maize. Oven dried fruits of X. aethiopica and A. melegueta was pulverized and mixed in equal proportion. Concentrations of 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,and10g were mixed with 100g of healthy grain, and incubated for 14 days with 20 weevils in each. Each treatment plus the control (0.0g) were replicated five times and laid out randomly. Results showed that mortality and % mortality of weevils increased progressively with the powder concentrations and the exposure period. Within the 14 days of exposure, mortality and % mortality were 4, 20% in the control and all, 100% in the test treatments. Reduction in seed damage increased significantly with the powder concentration (P<0.05). Weevil perforation index (WPI) showed that the combined powder had high protectant activity and therefore could serve as an alternative to the conventional chemical insect pesticides. Key Words: Xylopia aethiopica,  Aframomum  melegueta,  Sitophulus  zea,  combined powder

Path integral for a relativistic Aharonov-Bohm-Coulomb system

The path integral for the relativistic spinless Aharonov-Bohm-Coulomb system is solved, and the energy spectra are extracted from the resulting amplitude.Comment: 6 pages, Revte

slq(2)sl_q(2) Realizations for Kepler and Oscillator Potentials and q-Canonical Transformations

The realizations of the Lie algebra corresponding to the dynamical symmetry group SO(2,1) of the Kepler and oscillator potentials are q-deformed. The q-canonical transformation connecting two realizations is given and a general definition for q-canonical transformation is deduced. q-Schr\"{o}dinger equation for a Kepler like potential is obtained from the q-oscillator Schr\"{o}dinger equation. Energy spectrum and the ground state wave function are calculated.Comment: 12 pages, Latex twice, (Comparison with the other approaches and some refs. added. The version which will appear in J. Phys. A

Quantum particle displacement by a moving localized potential trap

We describe the dynamics of a bound state of an attractive $\delta$-well under displacement of the potential. Exact analytical results are presented for the suddenly moved potential. Since this is a quantum system, only a fraction of the initially confined wavefunction remains confined to the moving potential. However, it is shown that besides the probability to remain confined to the moving barrier and the probability to remain in the initial position, there is also a certain probability for the particle to move at double speed. A quasi-classical interpretation for this effect is suggested. The temporal and spectral dynamics of each one of the scenarios is investigated.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figure

Microbial quality of meat floss ‘dambun nama’ processed from broiler chickens fed graded levels of ‘sabara’(Guiera senegalensis) leaf meal

This study evaluated the microbial quality of meat floss processed from broiler chickens fed graded levels of Guiera senegalensis leaf meal (GSL) at 0.0% (GSL1), 7.0% (GSL2), 14.0% (GSL3) and 21.0% (GSL4). These were packaged and stored into four (4) different packaging media; Foil Paper Pack (FPP), Wrapped Newspaper Pack (WNP), Plastic Container Pack (PCP) and Disposable Container Pack (DCP). These products were stored and monitored for contaminations at 0, 4, 8 and 12 week intervals. Means were analysed and compared with passable and safe limits of 107cfu/g. The results showed that at 1st day of storage, there were no fungal counts in GSL3 and GSL4 was having the least count of 2.0 x 105. The control (GSL1) had the highest total bacterial count of 24.0 x 105cfu/g. At 12th week of storage, the results showed that the total fungal counts were 0.00, 0.00, 0.00, and 2.0 x 105cfu/g for GSL2, GSL3, GSL4 and GSL1, respectively. The overall effects showed that the total microbial load of meat floss decreased as the concentrations were increased. The results showed that GSL2 (2.0 x 105cfu/g) and GSL3 (3.0 x 105cfu/g) had lower total bacterial counts than GSL1 (24.0 x 105cfu/g) and GSL4 (8.0 x 105cfu/g) across the packaging media at first week (0 week) of storage. WNP had the least bacterial counts (1.0 x 105cfu/g). Conversely, DCP had the highest counts (21.0 x 105cfu/g) across the treatment groups and packaging media. At higher week of storage (12th week), GSL2 (15.0 x 105cfu/g) and GSL3 (18.0 x 105cfu/g) were lower than GSL1 (20.0 x 105cfu/g) and GSL4 (26.0 x 105cfu/g) for bacterial counts. WNP (10.0 x 105cfu/g) had the least counts across the treatments. Storage at higher weeks (8th and 12th) reduced fungal growth in most of the packaging media. This study concludes that the packaging method had suppressive effects against microbial growth. It is suggested that meat floss processed from broiler chickens fed graded levels of GSL should be evaluated for storage above the 12-week period

Knowledge and practice of menstrual hygiene among adolescent school girls in Umunna, Imo State, Southeast Nigeria: implications for parents, healthcare providers and policy makers

Background: Menstrual hygiene management is critical in the life of the woman. For optimal attendance and participation in school activities, future reproductive and sexual health; quality menstrual hygiene practice is crucial. The objective of this study was designed to assess the knowledge, practice and challenges of menstrual hygiene management among the adolescentsMethods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a community secondary school girls from 1st May to 30th June 2016.  Data was collected with a semi-structured pre-tested questionnaire and analyzed with statistical software as appropriate.Results: A total of 416 (97.4%) of the respondents were analyzed. Their mean chronological age and age at menarche were 15±2.1 years and 12.9±0.7 years respectively. Most (77.9%) of the respondents had premenarchal menstrual hygiene knowledge and mothers (68.8%) were the main source of information. Sanitary pad (56.3%) and cloth (31.2%) were the most commonly used absorbents.  Sanitary pad use was higher in respondents whose mothers had higher level education (RR=6.3, p<0.001). Most of the respondents changed absorbent twice or less daily (77.4%), bathed at least twice (77.4%), washed vulvoperineal region with soap and water (50.2%) and wiped perineum front to back (72.8%).  Burning (51.9%) and refuse dump (26.0%) were the main disposal methods and 48.1% washed hands before and after changing menstrual absorbent materials. Main menstrual disturbances were abdominal pain (37.7%) and malaise (18.5%) and main intervention was medication from patent medicine store (47.2%). Menstruation-related school absenteeism was 30.8%.Conclusions: There was poor premenarchal menstrual awareness and inappropriate menstrual hygiene practices among adolescent schoolgirls