Mechanistic Insights into the Synthesis of Nickel-Graphene Nanostructures for Gas Sensors.

Toxic gases are used in different types of industries and thus, present a potential health hazard. Therefore, highly sensitive gas sensing materials are essential for the safety of those operating in their environments. A process involving electrospinning polymer solutions impregnated with transition metal ions are developed to yield nanofibers that are annealed to form graphitic carbon / nickel nanoparticle-based fibers for gas sensing applications.

Variations in abdominal muscle activities of obese females during abdominal bracing exercise in different body positions.

Aims: This study evaluated the activities of the Rectus Abdominis (RA) and Transversus Abdominis (TrA) muscles during abdominal bracing exercises (ABE) in different body positions.

Methodology: Electrical activities of both components of the RA and TrA muscles were assessed respectively in 25 obese females via surface electromyography during ABE in four (4) different body positions (crook lying, side lying, standing, and sitting). Each trial lasted for five (5) seconds with an hour rest period between trials.

"Life has always been physical physical, now visual": an explorative study on the use of digital health technologies to promote physiotherapy home treatment programs among older people.

Background: There has been a recent rise in the use of technology for health promotional practices, which have begun to gain popularity among physiotherapists but not much research has been conducted to explore its many opportunities and challenges among older adults in developing countries.

Objectives: To explore Nigerian-based Physiotherapists' perspectives on how digital health technologies (DHT) can be utilized to promote physiotherapy home treatment programs among Nigerian older people.

Methods: This is a one-on-one semi-structured interview of 12 geriatric physiotherapists (7 Male, 5 female) virtually in the Teams Meeting platform.

Impact of squatting on selected cardiovascular parameters among college students.

Squatting is an active posture test used in assessing baroreflex sensitivity, and the array of patients a physiotherapist handles may benefit from this test to avoid the adverse effects of exercise. Therefore, this study is designed to evaluate the effect of squatting on heart rate and blood pressure among undergraduate students. 35 males (mean age = 22.

Bio-Inspired Functional Materials for Environmental Applications.

With the global population expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, there is an urgent need for advanced materials that can address existing and developing environmental issues. Many current synthesis processes are environmentally unfriendly and often lack control over size, shape, and phase of resulting materials.

Involvement of functional senescence in efavirenz-induced toxicity in fruit fly.

Background: We aimed in this article to assess the likeliness of efavirenz to induce functional senescence in (fruit fly).

Methods: Ten different concentrations of EFV were mixed with fly food and fed to 3-day-old flies orally for a 7 day LC calculation. Drug concentrations from LC were selected for a 28 day survival to determine the duration of treatment for behavioral and biochemical assays.

Changes and Forms of Sexual Behaviour in old age: A Qualitative Study of Older People in Southeastern Nigeria.

The misconceptions that old age is an asexual phase of human life has been challenged by increasing empirical evidence which shows that sexual activity persists in old age albeit in different forms and frequency. This study examined how a group of older people in southeastern Nigeria express their sexual behaviour. The semi-structured individual interviews with 14 older people (9 male, 5 female) aged 60?89 years were conducted using an exploratory qualitative approach.

Knowledge and Attitudes towards COVID-19 Infection and Anxiety Levels of Nigerian Youths Regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objectives: Youths can function as agents of change by disseminating essential information, but they are also considered a vulnerable group in the COVID-19 pandemic. Literature on COVID-related knowledge, attitude, and anxiety has not focused comprehensively on youths. This study assesses the knowledge, attitudes, and anxiety level of youths in eastern Nigeria during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Comparison of self-reported ability to perform Kegel's exercise pre- and post-coital penetration in postpartum women.

We compared the self-reported ability to perform Kegel's exercises pre- and post-coital penetration in postpartum women. A cross-sectional design. Twenty-seven postpartum women with mild urinary incontinence were recruited.

Relationship between the development of musculoskeletal disorders, physical activity level, and academic stress among undergraduates students of University of Nigeria.

Background: Academic stress is a common experience among university students. It can affect the body composition of the students through behavioral changes, which further affect their physical activity level (PAL). Musculoskeletal disorders could arise from the interaction of these factors.

Hepatoprotective effects of parsley (Petroselinum Crispum) extract in rats with bile duct ligation.

Background And Study Aims: This study aimed to investigate the possible protective effects of parsley extract (Petroselinum Crispum; PC) against oxidative liver damage caused by bile obstruction in rats.

Material And Methods: Bile duct ligation (BDL) method was used to induce liver injury in rats. The rats were divided into the three groups each consisting of 8 rats; Sham-operated control (C), bile duct ligated + saline treated (BDL), and BDL + PC treated groups.

A post-lockdown online cross-sectional survey on knowledge, attitude and anxiety levels of Nigerian youths towards COVID-19 disease.

Introduction: COVID-19, also known as Coronavirus disease, was detected in Wuhan, Hubei, China in December 2019. Since then, the virus has been designated a global pandemic, affecting all nations. Nigeria as a whole has recorded 255,937 cases of COVID-19.

Breastfeeding-related neck pain: prevalence and correlates among Nigerian lactating mothers.

Background: Breastfeeding (BF) is a physically demanding task and is predominantly performed in a head-down position as the mother attempts to maintain eye contact with the infant. There are possibilities of BF-related neck pain (BFRNP) that have not been widely studied. This study investigated the prevalence and correlates of BFRNP in Nigerian lactating mothers.

Attitudes and perceptions of Nigerians regarding receiving COVID-19 vaccines: an online cross-sectional study.

Introduction: the success of controlling pandemics like COVID-19 can be achieved through its vaccination program. Besides masks, social distance, and good hand hygiene, a rapid vaccine program is crucial in controlling this COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, this study aimed to assess the attitudes and perceptions of Nigerians regarding accepting the COVID-19 vaccine.

Neck Muscles' Responses to Cradle, Cross-cradle and Football Breastfeeding Hold Positions in Nursing Mothers: A Preliminary Study.

Background: Breastfeeding-related Neck Pain (BFNP) is prevalent in nursing mothers and cuts across the utilization of different breastfeeding (BF) hold positions. Biomechanical considerations to highlight ergonomically safe BF positions for the prevention of BFNP have not been previously studied.

Aim: This study was designed to compare the electrical activities of selected neck muscles across three breastfeeding hold positions [cradle (C1), cross-cradle (C2), and football (FB)].

Comparative effects of selected abdominal and lower limb exercises in the recruitment of the pelvic floor muscles: Determining adjuncts to Kegel's exercises.

Purpose: This study evaluated the electrical activities of the pelvic floor muscles in response to selected abdominal and hip adductor exercises, using the Kegel's maneuver as a gold standard, to compare the efficacies of these maneuvers in pelvic floor muscles recruitment to guide their informed utilization as adjuncts for Kegel's exercises.

Method: Twenty-one postpartum mothers with recent vaginal deliveries performed six trials, including the typical Kegel's exercise; two abdominal exercises (curl-up and abdominal hollowing); two hip adductor exercises (adductor ball squeeze and auto-resisted hip adduction); and a combination of abdominal, hip adductor and pelvic floor muscle contractions (combo). Pelvic floor muscles activities were monitored via surface electromyography during each 5-s trial.

A multi-parameter evaluation of the neuroprotective and cognitive-enhancing effects of Origanum onites L. (Turkish Oregano) essential oil on scopolamine-induced amnestic rats.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive deterioration of cognitive functions (dementia) and represents a growing public health concern since the population in the age groups at risk is increasing. The latter raises an urgent need to translate research findings in the basic brain and behavioral sciences into anti-AD drugs and disease-modifying therapies. Origanum onites (L.

Influence of surface oxidation on the quantification of polypropylene microplastics by pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry.

The influence of photo-oxidation on the quantification of isotactic polypropylene by Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (Pyr-GC/MS) was assessed. Beads (oval shape, ~5 mm) and fragments (irregular shaped, 250-50 μm and 500-1000 μm) were subjected to relatively harsh simulated accelerated weathering conditions (using a filtered xenon-arc reproducing sunlight's full spectrum) for up to 37 and 80 days, respectively. Samples collected (n = 10 replicates for each treatment) at increasing number of weathering days were analysed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy with Attenuated Total Reflection (FTIR-ATR), scanning electron microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry in order to assess the extent and the rate of degradation.

Knowledge, practices and perceived barriers of physiotherapists involved in disaster management: a cross-sectional survey of Nigeria-based and trained physiotherapists.

Background: Disasters represent substantial health risks to the human population. Proper interventions at all stages of disaster management (DM) are essential for human-related outcomes. The role of physiotherapy in DM should not be underestimated, but unfortunately information on the involvement of physiotherapists in DM is limited in sub-Saharan Africa.

Improved Diazo-Transfer Reaction for DNA-Encoded Chemistry and Its Potential Application for Macrocyclic DEL-Libraries.

DNA-encoded libraries (DEL) are increasingly being used to identify new starting points for medicinal chemistry in drug discovery. Herein, we discuss the development of methods that allow the conversion of both primary amines and anilines, attached to DNA, to their corresponding azides in excellent yields. The scope of these diazo-transfer reactions was investigated, and a proof-of-concept has been devised to allow for the synthesis of macrocycles on DNA.

Microplastic pollution alters forest soil microbiome.

The impact of microplastic pollution on terrestrial biota is an emerging research area, and this is particularly so for soil biota. In this study, we addressed this knowledge gap by examining the impact of aged low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and polyester fibres (i.e.

Pulmonary functions and associated risk factors among school teachers in a selected Nigerian population.

This study aimed to determine pulmonary functions and associated risk factors among school teachers. This cross-sectional ex-post facto study included 121 participants (20 males and 101 females). The setting for this study included 11 private schools and eight government schools.

Developments in DNA metallization strategies for water splitting electrocatalysis: A review.

The biomolecule DNA with the presence of different functionalities found to interact with different kinds of metal ions and show relatively higher stability over a long period of time when optimized appropriately. With the presence of A-T and G-C pairs, sugar moieties, phosphate functional groups and the double-helical structure, it can assemble both cationic and anionic species and forms a perfect metal-DNA self-assembly. Depending upon the aspect ratio of metal-DNA self-assemblies, metal content and their morphological outcomes, they could deliver variance in the catalytic activities.