Ambient Air Quality Monitoring in Metropolitan City of Lagos, Nigeria

Twenty one sampling locations were assessed for carbon monoxide (CO), carbondioxide (CO2), oxygen (O2), sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), nitrogen oxide (NO), suspended particulate matter (SPM) and noise level using air pollutants measurement methods approved by ASTM for each specific parameter. All equipments and meters were all properly pre-calibrated before each usage for quality assurance. Findings of the study showed that measured levels of noise (61.4 - 101.4 dBA), NO (0.0 - 3.0 ppm), NO2 (0.0 - 3.0 ppm), CO (1.0 ��� 42.0 ppm) and SPM (0.14 ��� 4.82 ppm) in all sampling areas were quite high and above regulatory limits however there was no significant difference except in SPM (at all the sampling points), and noise, NO2 and NO (only in major traffic intersection). Air quality index (AQI) indicates that the ambient air can be described as poor for SPM, varied from good to very poor for CO, while NO and NO2 are very good except at major traffic intersection where they were both poor and very poor (D-E). The results suggest that strict and appropriate vehicle emission management, industrial air pollution control coupled with close burning management of wastes should be considered in the study area to reduce the risks associated with these pollutants.

DESENVOLVIMENTO INICIAL E QUALIDADE DE MUDAS DE Copaifera langsdorffii Desf. SOB DIFERENTES N��VEIS DE SOMBREAMENTO

As florestas de galeria v��m sendo fragmentadas, levando �� perda de sua elevada diversidade, tornando-se imprescind��veis estudos que avaliem o comportamento ecol��gico de suas esp��cies arb��reas. O presente estudo teve como objetivo testar a hip��tese de que a produ����o de mudas de Copaifera langsdorffii �� influenciada pela luminosidade do ambiente, apresentando maior qualidade e desenvolvimento inicial em n��veis intermedi��rios de luz. As plantas foram testadas em pleno sol, 30%, 50%, 70% e 90% de sombreamento, avaliando-se n��mero de folhas, altura e di��metro aos 60, 90, 120 e 191 dias ap��s a emerg��ncia (DAE) e massa seca a��rea e radicular e, ��ndice de qualidade de Dickson ao final do experimento (191 DAE). O efeito dos n��veis de sombreamento foi analisado por meio de an��lise de regress��o. As plantas apresentaram boa plasticidade de crescimento nos diferentes n��veis de luminosidade, mas com melhor desenvolvimento e qualidade (IQD) em 50% de sombreamento, corroborando a hip��tese testada. A luminosidade ou sombreamento excessivo devem ser evitados para garantir a produ����o de mudas mais vigorosas de Copaifera langsdorffii. Assim, recomenda-se a produ����o de mudas desta esp��cie sob 50% de sombreamento para favorecer a sua qualidade e possivelmente garantir melhor sobreviv��ncia em campo.

Quality of life after first-ever stroke: An interviewbased study from Blantyre, Malawi

Background In post-stroke patients, impairment of quality of life (QOL) has been associated with functional impairment, age, anxiety, depression, and fatigue. Good social support, higher education, and better socioeconomic status are associated with better QOL among stroke survivors. In Africa, studies from Nigeria and Tanzania have reported on post-stroke QOL. Aim The aim of this study was to describe QOL more than six months after first-ever stroke in Malawi. Methods This was an interview-based study about a stroke-surviving cohort. Adult patients were interviewed six or twelve months after their first ever stroke. HIV status, modified stroke severity scale (mNIHSS) score, and brain scan results were recorded during the acute phase of stroke. At the time of the interviews, the modified Rankin scale (mRS) was used to assess functional outcome. The interviews applied the Newcastle Stroke-specific Quality of Life Measure (NEWSQOL). All the data were analysed using Statview���: the X2 test compared proportions, Student���s t-test compared means for normally distributed data, and the Kruskal-Wallis test was used for nonparametric data. Results Eighty-one patients were followed up at least six months after the acute stroke. Twenty-five stroke patients (ten women) were interviewed with the NEWSQOL questionnaire. Good functional outcome (lower mRS score) was positively associated with better QOL in the domains of activities of daily living (ADL)/self-care (p = 0.0024) and communication (p = 0.031). Women scored worse in the fatigue (p = 0.0081) and cognition (p = 0.048) domains. Older age was associated with worse QOL in the ADL (p = 0.0122) domain. Seven patients were HIV-seroreactive. HIV infection did not affect post-stroke QOL. Conclusion In Malawi, within specific domains, QOL after stroke appeared to be related to patients��� age, sex, and functional recovery in this small sample of patients.

Impact of dental caries on quality of life of adolescents according to access to oral health services: a cross sectional study

Aim: This study presents the prevalence of dental caries and its relation to the quality of life of adolescents according to the access to dental health services. Methods: Two hundred and fifty-six adolescents between 15 and 19 years of age participated in the study; they were all enrolled in public schools in a countryside municipality of the S��o Paulo State. Data related to dental caries were evaluated by the DMFT Index, and OHIP-14 was used for evaluating the quality of life. Mann Whitney and Spearmann correlation tests were also used (p<0.05). Results: A DMFT of 3.09 (��3.30) was found with a higher prevalence among the adolescents who used public dental services (3.43��3.34) compared with those who used private services (2.94��3.28). A statistically significant relationship between the decay component of DMFT with physical pain (0.020), physical disability (0.002) and quality of life (0.017) was verified. Conclusions: A low prevalence of dental caries was observed, and it was higher in adolescents who used public oral health services rather than private ones, evidencing the low influence of oral health on the quality of life of the participants.