Showing papers by "University of Nigeria, Nsukka published in 1989"
TL;DR: In this article, a new statistical grain-size method of evaluating the hydraulic conductivity and transmissivity of sandy aquifers is presented, which is of the form K = Cd 2 10 and is similar to the existing equations, but in this case the coefficient C, which is normally taken as a constant is actually shown to be a variable that depends on the nature of the geologic environment.
88 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the potential use of the organic wastes, poultry manure (PM), compost (CM), sawdust (SD), brewers' spent grains (BG), rice ( Oryza sativa ) shavings (RS), gmelina ( Gmelina arborea ) leaves (ML), and cashew ( Anarcadium occidentale) leaves (CL), to improve the structure and water retention properties of an ultisol was evaluated.
73 citations
TL;DR: Effect of an aqueous extract of Spondias mombin leaves on whole animals, and isolated gravid and non-gravid uteri of mice, rats and guinea-pigs is studied.
64 citations
TL;DR: The toe web was invariably involved in all cases of H. toruloidea and S. hyalinum infection and was the commonest site of infection by dermatophytes, Occasionally the sole, toe and finger nails were also involved.
Abstract: A total of 250 coal miners were screened for mycotic skin infections. Sixty-six (34·8%) miners had clinical lesions on their feet which proved to be of mycotic etiology by direct microscopy and culture. Hendersonula toruloidea, the commonest etiological agent, was the sole agent recovered from 23 (34·8%) of the positive cases and was also isolated from three (4·5%) cases of mixed infection with dermatophytes (two cases with Trichophyton rubrum and one with Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes). Scytalidium hyalinum was recovered as the sole causal agent in four (6·1%) patients and from one case of mixed infection with T. mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes. The dermatophytes isolated as sole etiological agents included T. mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes (13 isolates) T. rubrum (10), Trichophyton tonsurans (5), Epidermophyton floccosum (4) and Microsporum gypseum (3). The toe web was invariably involved in all cases of H. toruloidea and S. hyalinum infection and was also the commonest site of ...
61 citations
TL;DR: A review of 965 children with neurological disorders seen at the Paediatric Neurology Clinic of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, over a 3-year period (1985-1987), revealed that epilepsy was the most common neurological problem affecting 60% of the children, followed by cerebral palsy and speech disorders.
Abstract: A review of 965 children with neurological disorders, seen at the Paediatric Neurology Clinic of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, over a 3-year period (1985-1987), revealed that epilepsy was the most common neurological problem affecting 60% of the children, followed by cerebral palsy (16%), speech disorders (8.3%), mental retardation (7.2%), behaviour disorders (2.2%), paralytic poliomyelitis (1.55%), premature craniosynostosis (1.0%), visual and auditory impairment (1.0%) and muscle disorders (0.72%). Perinatal problems such as birth asphyxia, severe neonatal jaundice and infections were the most common aetiological factors identified. Facilities for rehabilitation of the children were inadequate and this, together with the people's ignorance of the natural history of some of the neurological disorders, may account for the high rate of default from follow-up observed in this study. The need for improved maternal and perinatal health services and vigorous health education strategies is emphasized by this review. The positive effect of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) is reflected in the sharp decline in the proportion of children with neurological disorders owing to paralytic poliomyelitis, from 9.2% in the period 1978-1980, to 1.55% in the present study.
55 citations
TL;DR: The results indicate that it is unlikely that gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep and goats can develop or survive on open pasture during the dry season in the Nigerian derived savanna zone.
Abstract: Four grass plots were sequentially contaminated with goat faeces containing known numbers of unembryonated eggs of predominantly Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus spp. between October 1982 and April 1983. Four other plots were similarly contaminated with sheep faeces between February and May 1987. An additional plot was repeatedly contaminated with sheep faeces from February to April 1987. Populations of free-living stages in faeces and of infective larvae (L3) in the herbage were subsequently monitored until the end of April and June of 1983 and 1987 respectively. During February and May 1987 two control cultures of sheep faeces were incubated in the laboratory at 25°C–30°C and at a constant temperature of 50°C and the free-living development was also monitored. L3 developed very readily in the faeces cultured at 25°C–30°C and in those spread on a grass plot in October, at the end of the wet season, but developed less on the plot contaminated in May at the start of the wet season. Worm eggs in faeces deposited on plots during the hot dry season (December to April) or incubated at 50°C died and disintegrated after 24–48 h exposure to the high environmental temperatures. The results indicate that it is unlikely that gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep and goats can develop or survive on open pasture during the dry season in the Nigerian derived savanna zone.
53 citations
TL;DR: It is suggested that rhodococci should be sought in chronic pulmonary infections, particularly in those who are immuno-compromised or debilitated, and their aetiologic role determined.
Abstract: Three hundred expectorated sputa from patients suffering from chest disorders were examined microscopically and cultured on various media. Among other micro-organisms isolated there were four strains of Rhodococcus aurantiacus (Gordona aurantiaca), one each of Rh. erythropolis, Rh. pellegrino, Rh. rubropertinctus and Rh. rhodnii. Suspensions in 5% hog gastric mucin were virulent for immuno-suppressed white mice and the pathology of their lungs was compatible with those produced in experimental nocardial and rhodococcus infections. The in-vitro antibiogram was similar to that of Nocardia asteroides. Two of the patients from whom Rh. aurantiacus and Rh. pellegrino were isolated responded bacteriologically and clinically to treatment with co-trimoxazole. The frequency with which these rhodococci were isolated and the clinical conditions of the patients strongly indicated a pathogenic role for some Rhodococcus species. It is suggested that rhodococci should be sought in chronic pulmonary infections, particularly in those who are immuno-compromised or debilitated, and their aetiologic role determined.
43 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors reviewed the government's housing provision for the masses in Owerri, the state capital of Imo State of Nigeria, and provided a better understanding of presently existing housing patterns adopted by the government.
42 citations
TL;DR: The effect of a boiling water extract of Picralima nitida bark against trypanosomes in rats showed that the extract had a definite trypanocidal effect which was statistically comparable to that of diminazene aceturate.
39 citations
TL;DR: The authors examines the trends towards this new ruralism and reviews the efforts of the past and the present governments of Nigeria in supporting and encouraging the new ruralities by way of several programmes and policies, especially the new programme of the Directorate of Foods, Roads and Rural Infrastructure (DFRRI).
37 citations
TL;DR: In this article, four rates of humic acids (0, 0.1, 1, 1 and 10 g·kg−1) were applied to seven soils that differed in many physical properties, and changes in the water-stability of their aggregates were assessed by the wet-sieving and raindrop impact techniques.
TL;DR: The applicability of Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption isotherms to guide bleaching of vegetable oils was examined using rubber [Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. ex Adr. Arg.] and melon [Colocynthis vulgaris (Schrad)] seed oils at temperatures of 30, 55 and 80 C as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: The applicability of Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption isotherms to guide bleaching of vegetable oils was examined using rubber [Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. ex Adr. Juss) Muell. Arg.] and melon [Colocynthis vulgaris (Schrad)] seed oils at temperatures of 30, 55 and 80 C. Fuller’s earth, activated charcoal and a mixture thereof (1:1 ratio) were used as the decolorizing agents (adsorbents). The degree of bleaching was monitored spectrophotometrically.
TL;DR: The geotechnical and environmental problems arising from the peculiar characteristics (topography, geology, soil types including their properties and their areal distribution) of the Niger Delta area are examined in this article.
Abstract: This paper examines the geotechnical and environmental problems arising from the peculiar characteristics (topography, geology, soil types including their properties and their areal distribution) of the Niger Delta area. The area is characterised by the widespread and irregular distribution of weak soils whose strength is further reduced by the presence of expansive clays. This causes foundation problems in roads, houses and embankments. Excavations are unstable because they are either made in very permeable sands which are subject to enormous seepage pressures or in weak, fat clays of low shear strength. Environmental problems include flooding, poor water quality and excessive river bank erosion and recession. While the surface waters are very turbid due to high clay and silt content the ground waters are very acidic (pH 4.5–5.5) and contain high proportions of nitrates, ammonia and chlorides which contaminate aquifers especially in the coastal and central portions of the delta area. River bank failure and recession of up to 2 to 3 m occur annually and continue to pose an enormous threat to the villages along the river banks.
TL;DR: In this paper, changes in aggregate stability, density, and porosity as well as the water retention and nutrient contents of different aggregate size fractions due to intensive tillage were investigated.
Abstract: . Changes in aggregate stability, density, and porosity as well as the water retention and nutrient contents of different aggregate size fractions due to intensive tillage were investigated. Three soils from Vicarello, Fagna and Gambassi in North Central Italy which had been under permanent vegetation, minimum or conventional tillage for more than seven years were studied. The aggregates on conventionally tilled plots were slightly denser and less porous than those on the untilled or minimum-tilled plots. The aggregates were less stable under conventional tillage on all soils. Conventional tillage reduced the proportion or macro-aggregates by 22% at Vicarello and 35% at Gambassi. There were no differences in macro-aggregate proportions between minimum- and conventionally tilled plots at Fagna. The potential of the dry aggregates to distintegrate upon contact with water was greatest in the conventionally tilled and least in the untilled treatments. The proportions of dry macro-aggregates (> 0.25 mm) in the untilled and tilled plots were 90 and 71%, respectively. The soil of the tilled plots contained less carbon and nitrogen than that of the untilled plots in all aggregate size fractions. The silt-plus-clay contents of the aggregates accounted for between 65 and 93% of variability in the water they retained at small potentials while organic carbon contents accounted for between 71 and 90% of variability in the stability of the aggregates irrespective of the tillage treatments.
TL;DR: A discussion of possible future research in the area and a recommendation of the need for psychological rehabilitation as part of the management programme for albinos is recommended.
TL;DR: In this paper, the erodibility of some soils in Southeastern Nigeria was assessed using four different methods namely, wet sieving, the WISCHMEIER et al. (1971) nomograph, rainfall simulator and actual soil loss data.
Abstract: The erodibility of some soils in Southeastern Nigeria was assessed using four different methods namely, wet sieving, the WISCHMEIER et al. (1971) nomograph, rainfall simulator and actual soil loss data. Soil aggregate stability values were generally high ranging from 70–92 percent for five most stable soils. The estimated values of soil erodibility expressed in units of Mg.h. MJ −1 mm −1 (FOSTER et al. 1981) ranged from 0.002 to 0.058 using the nomograph and from 0.006 to 0.09 and 0.002 to 0.07 for the dry and wet runs respectively using the rainfall simulator. The order of erodibility as evaluated for the different soils varied with the index used and the prevailing soil conditions. Actual measurements of soil loss in a sandy loam soil of one of the locations typifying the dominant soils of the region gave erodibility value of 0.007 compared to values of 0.012 and 0.03 Mg.h. MJ −1 mm −1 using the nomograph and the rainfall simulator techniques. Thus, the nomograph does not appear to be efficient for this and similar soils in Southeastern Nigeria. Also the use of the rainfall simulator on a microplot (0.036 m 2 ) would appear to have serious limitations even for comparative studies in this and similar soils of the area because of high degree of variability in microenvironments. The soil aggregate stability technique was the least satisfactory index for determining erodibility of these soils.
TL;DR: In this paper, a simple hillslope representative of soils in the Udi-Nsukka plateau was studied in order to establish relationships between landscape positions and soils and also to determine the pedological processes which have acted jointly with geological processes to produce the landscape.
Abstract: A simple hillslope representative of soils in the Udi-Nsukka plateau was studied in order to establish relationships between landscape positions and soils and also to determine the pedological processes which have acted jointly with geological processes to produce the landscape. Pedons were located in the summit, footslope and toeslope positions to correspond with the mapped soil series which are Uvuru, Nsukka, and Nkpologu series respectively. Data on the morphological, physical and chemical properties indicate that there was lateral movement of materials from the summit to the toeslope. This initial movement helped in the evolution of the cuesta landscape. However, presently not much erosion is going on in the summit due to the gravelly nature of the soil and the presence of laterite. This has resulted in the dome shaped and flat topped residual hills. Pedogenic processes are active in the footslope and toeslope positions because of the stability of that portion of the landscape. The pedological processes of clay and iron translocation, colluviation and leaching and the geological processes of water erosion and lateral movement of particles have interacted leading to the evolution of the landscape.
TL;DR: In this paper, the isotopic ratios of the lead content were determined, as well as of some ore samples from the lead-zinc-copper field of the Benue Rift these sources are within 100 kilometers and show signs of ancient exploitation.
Abstract: The composition of the bronzes excavated at Igbo-Ukwu in south-eastern Nigeria, radiocarbon dated around the 10th century AD, was shown to be exceptional for the time, and to be unusual in the high silver content. In some samples the isotopic ratios of the lead content were determined, as well as of some ore samples from the lead-zinc-copper field of the Benue Rift these sources are within 100 kilometers and show signs of ancient exploitation. The result of the analyses increases the probability that the copper of the Igbo-Ukwu bronzes was derived from within Nigeria and not from further afield, as was formerly supposed.
TL;DR: In this article, a study of 10 medium-sized basins in Southeastern Nigeria was conducted to study the influence of basin parameters on runoff in West Africa. But the study focused on very small basins.
Abstract: Up till now studies of basin parameters influencing runoff in West Africa have largely been confined to very small basins. For this study of 10 medium sized basins in Southeastern Nigeria, principa...
TL;DR: In this article, the optimal form of a container of PCM is analyzed for thermal storage at low temperatures, ranging from −15 to −20 degrees C. The results show the possibility of using NaCl/H2O eutectic mixture for low temperatures.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: The relatively low incidence of pelvic sepsis in this series may partly be responsible for the finding of menorrhagia, rather than abdominal pain, as the commonest complaint of the women with leiomyoma.
Abstract: Fertility and pregnancy outcome among 141 Nigerian women with uterine leiomyomas and 270 married gynaecological subjects matched for age and parity were studied. The preoperative spontaneous abortion incidence and fetal salvage among the 68 women in the study group who had previously been pregnant were 61.8% and 78.8%, respectively. Corresponding figures among women in the comparison group were 5.3% and 95.6%. Macroscopic evidence of pelvic sepsis was found at operation in 36.2% of all the women in the study group, and in 57.7% of those who complained additionally of infertility. The overall pregnancy rate following myomectomy was 37.9%, and 9.6% in those women whose presenting complaints included infertility. The mean operation-to-conception interval in the study group was 15.7 months. The fetal salvage increased to 93.5% in the women who conceived after myomectomy, and their incidence of abortion fell markedly, to 11%. Most of the deliveries (79%) in the women after myomectomy were by cesarean section. A reappearance of uterine leiomyomas occurred in 13.7% of the women. The relatively low incidence of pelvic sepsis in this series may partly be responsible for the finding of menorrhagia, rather than abdominal pain, as the commonest complaint of the women with leiomyoma.
TL;DR: Obstetric hysterectomies were performed on 163 patients over a period of 13 years out of 56,823 deliveries, withRuptured uterus was the commonest indication.
TL;DR: Molar pregnancy and postmolar malignant trophoblastic disease occurred much less frequently among the Igbo women of Enugbu than the Yorubas of western Nigeria, and earlier and better recognition and treatment of hydatidiform mole will probably result in a decrease in the high rate of complications.
TL;DR: There is need for increased efforts aimed at the elimination of factors found to increase the chances of an epileptic child having mental retardation, including episodes of status epilepticus, early age at onset of seizures, and long delay before presentation to hospital for treatment.
Abstract: Of 580 epileptic children, 353 males and 227 females, seen at the Paediatric Neurology Clinic of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu, from 1985 to 1987, 18 per cent were mentally retarded, a much higher prevalence rate than in the general population. Nine different seizure types were seen, with generalized tonic-clonic seizures (grand mal) leading in frequency. The highest incidence of mental retardation occurred among the children with infantile spasms (51 per cent). For all the seizure types, there was a long delay in seeking medical attention (mean interval, 1.7 years). The mean interval for epileptics with mental retardation was even higher (2.77 years). Factors found to increase the chances of an epileptic child having mental retardation include episodes of status epilepticus, early age at onset of seizures, and long delay before presentation to hospital for treatment. There is need for increased efforts aimed at the elimination of these factors and also for a well organized programme to educate the population about the nature of epilepsy, and the importance of compliance with the treatment schedule.
TL;DR: Results indicate that infection with T. congolense increases the rate at which diminazene is distributed in the body but that the infection has no marked influence on the urinary excretion of the drug.
Abstract: Diminazene aceturate was administered intravenously at 3.5 mg/kg body weight to mongrel dogs before and after infection with Trypanosoma congolense. Plasma and urine were collected at varying intervals thereafter and analysed for the compound. The mean are under the concentration-time curve (AUC) of diminazene in healthy dogs was 25.8 h.μg/ml but was significantly increased (p<0.05) to 35.7 h.μg/ml after infection with T. congolense. The distribution half-life was significantly reduced (p<0.05) in dogs after infection, being 0.12 h compared to 0.17 h in the same dogs before infection. The mean proportion of the diminazene recovered in the urine of infected dogs (25.1%) was not significantly different from that recovered in the urine of healthy dogs (26.8%). These results indicate that infection with T. congolense increases the rate at which diminazene is distributed in the body but that the infection has no marked influence on the urinary excretion of the drug.
TL;DR: A retrospective study of the demographic and clinical characteristics of 73 consecutive patients aged 60 years and over admitted for the first time into a psychiatric hospital in Nigeria shows that they constituted about 5% of all admissions over a 2‐year period.
Abstract: – A retrospective study of the demographic and clinical characteristics of 73 consecutive patients aged 60 years and over admitted for the first time into a psychiatric hospital in Nigeria shows that they constituted about 5% of all admissions over a 2-year period. While the majority (58%) were aged below 70 years, 8% were aged over 80 years, with more females than males living to the older age groups. Single status, separation and divorce were more common among males; widowhood was more common among the females. A high illiteracy rate of 86% was recorded, with more males than females being literate. More than 84% belonged to the 2 lowest socioeconomic classes. There was a significant difference in the distribution of diagnostic categories, with senile dementia, affective psychosis, neurotic disorders and paranoid states more common among the females, while arteriosclerotic dementia and schizophrenia were diagnosed more often among the males. Functional psychosis (49%) was the largest diagnostic category, followed by organic psychosis (30%), while neurotic disorders (10%) ranked third. Within the functional psychoses, paranoid states (30%) predominated, followed by affective disorders (14%) consisting mainly of depressive symptoms; 6% presented with schizophrenic illness; and 11% presented with physical illness with associated psychiatric manifestations. There was a long delay before referral to hospital, associated with use of alternative medical facilities (traditional and spiritual healers). The probable sociocultural antecedents and medical and social implications of these findings are discussed.
TL;DR: The therapeutic activity of diminazene aceturate, difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) and a combination of the two agents was investigated in experimental Trypanosoma brucei Brucei infections in mongrel dogs.
Abstract: The therapeutic activity of diminazene aceturate, difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) and a combination of the two agents was investigated in experimental Trypanosoma brucei brucei infections in mongrel dogs. The criteria used in the assessment of the trypanocidal effect of these compounds included the examination of the blood for the parasite, as well as clinical and haematological changes at intervals following treatment. Diminazene aceturate (7 mg/kg intramuscularly), DFMO (300 mg/kg/day orally in three divided doses for six days) and the combination of diminazene aceturate (7 mg/kg intramuscularly) and DFMO (300 mg/kg/day orally for six days) produced an intermittent aparasitemia in the dogs. Relapse infection occurred in all the three groups, but the period of aparasitemia produced by the combination of the agents was longest. The packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration and red cell count values decreased after the dogs were inoculated with the parasite. The values improved slightly following the treatments with the agents or their combination. The total white blood cell counts in the infected dogs indicated leucocytosis, but this improved with drug treatment.
TL;DR: In this paper, three levels of soil compaction were evaluated with respect to their effects on soil properties and maize yield in a loamy sandy soil, at Nsukka, Nigeria for two cropping seasons, 1984 and 1985.
Abstract: Three levels of soil compaction were evaluated with respect to their effects on soil properties and maize yield in a loamy sandy soil, at Nsukka, Nigeria for two cropping seasons, 1984 and 1985. The compaction levels: heavy, medium and no compaction, were provided by different numbers of tractor passes using two factors of different weights. Four tillage methods, namely conventional, shallow, deep and no tillage, were subsequently evaluated with respect to their effectiveness in alleviating the soil compaction. Results show that soil moisture content and porosity decreased with increase in soil compaction while bulk density and soil resistant to penetrometer pressure increased. Maize emergence increased with increase in soil compaction but the highest yield was obtained under medium compaction. An optimum bulk density of 1.2 Mg m −3 was obtained. In terms of reducing soil strength and improving yield when the soil was compacted, conventional tillage performed best. This was followed by shallow, deep and no tillage. Thus deep tillage may not be of any special benefits when a loamy sandy soil is compacted.
TL;DR: In this paper, several mechanical indices of soil structure were tested on 13 Italian soils and the single-sieve indices S and WSI were good correlated with Ipta and Ima, showing the possibility of substituting the timeconsuming aggregate-size distribution determinations.