Anthropometry as ergonomic consideration for hospital bed design in Nigeria

The aim of this research is to study selected health care workstations to establish the current practices with reference to the use of anthropometry. Also to re-design the work station, if necessary, in order to improve productivity, health safety and comfort of the patients and staffs using the work stations. Anthropometric dimensions of the patients in the examined health care system were used to design intensive care unit bed (ICU) and medical/surgical bed which can accommodate 5% - 95% of patients male and female. The work stations were examined and analyzed under the combination of different anthropometric parameters. The analysis of the results indicates some deficiencies in the design of the workstations based on the design parameters and standard values from the literatures. Based on the analysis of these results the patients and their care givers may likely be exposed to back pain, fatigue, poor blood circulation and other related diseases. For demonstration of the application of the extreme design approach, a hospital bed work station (health care system) has been re-designed as a real case. It is hope that the new design will contribute to improvement in productivity, health safety and comfort of the patients and staffs using the workstations. In the proposed extreme design approach, I suggest to every health care organization operating, before any decision on making or buying equipment, industrial engineers are to be consulted depending on the design factor, for proper guidance. Anthropometric dimensions of the workers should also be considered for any category of hospital bed design

Effect of Exchange Rate on Stock Price Movement in Nigeria

Теорії обмінного курсу в країнах, що розвиваються, припускають, що між обмінним курсом і рухом цін на акції існує позитивний зв’язок. У Нігерії знецінення місцевої валюти, на думку багатьох, не призвело до очікуваного збільшення експорту чи виробництва в промисловому секторі, не кажучи вже про ціни акцій компаній. Тому це дослідження було спрямоване на дослідження впливу обмінного курсу на рух цін на акції в Нігерії та напрямок причинно-наслідкового зв’язку між ними. Для аналізу були використані дані про обмінний курс, процентну ставку, рівень інфляції, валовий внутрішній продукт та індекс фондового ринку в Нігерії. Тест Auto Regressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) використовувався для оцінки можливості існування довгострокового зв’язку між обмінним курсом і курсом акцій. Результати встановили довгостроковий і значний зв’язок між обмінним курсом і рухом цін на акції в Нігерії (F:12,89 >Io & I1Bound, P-value Io & I1Bound, P-value < 0.05 for LEXR, LGDP LINF). However, the negative coefficients of the regressors; especially exchange rate, run contrary to existing theories on the benefits of depreciating exchange rates. This means that Nigeria has not fully reaped the expected benefits from devaluation of her local currency over the years. A unidirectional causality between exchange rate and stock price movement was also discovered. Causation flows from exchange to stock price (P-value < 0.05 for LEXR). This further suggests that most firms in Nigeria lack the absorption capacity to transform the accruing gains of currency depreciation to increased productivity and exports

Correlation of Vapour-Liquid Equilibrium Data Using Neural Network for Hydrocarbon Ternary System (Ethane-n-Pentane-n-Hexane)

Abstract Correlation of vapour-liquid equilibrium data for hydrocarbon ternary system (ethane-n-pentane-n-heptane) is very useful in the design decision of separation process equipment such as separation columns, extractors etc. The tool used for the correlation is MATLAB: a very reliable software with adequate neural network conditions such as multi-layer feed forward, back propagation etc. A comprehensive Artificial Neural Network (A N N) training and simulation model and list of pre-existing vapour-liquid equilibrium data for ethane-n-pentane-nheptane system was employed for this work. Neural network was trained in MATLAB 7.10.0 environment.Several iterations were carried out on the ternary system until the performance goal was met. From the analysis of the output result, regression and iteration graphs when compared with experimental data, artificial neural network offered very small deviation from the target. This confirms conclusively that artificial neural network is a consistent and reliable tool for predicting the vapour-liquid phase equilibrium for binary, ternary and quaternary system. The knowledge of correlation also establishes the basic background required for the understanding of the vapour-liquid phase behaviour of ternary systems which forms the basis of calculations of distillation, extraction and absorption processes etc. __________________________________________________________________________________________ Keywords: artificial neural network, back propagation, correlation, matlab, simulation model ternary system. INTRODUCTION The composition of vapour and liquid equilibrium phases is very important for calculations involving distillation, extraction and absorption processes which find useful application in the chemical process industry, petroleum and refining industries. Complete vapour-liquid equilibrium data for ternary systems are rare in the literature and quaternary data are practically non-existent. When designers need such information, they frequently attempt to predict the ternary or quaternary system from binary data by means of thermodynamics equation. Artificial Neural Network: a machine learning algorithm offers a more reliable and consistent means of correlating vapourliquid equilibrium data for both ternary and quaternary systems. This is however done by training neural network using pre-existing vapourliquid equilibrium, correlating and predicting the vapour-liquid equilibrium, comparing correlated and predicted values with pre-existing data and carrying out validity test to check for network efficiency

Nutritional Composition, Microbiological Quality and Sensory Properties of Kunu-zaki Produced from Millet and Tigernut Blend

Aims: To investigate the effect of supplementation of kunu-zaki with milk on its nutritional and microbiological qualities and overall acceptability. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, between April, 2019 and July, 2019. Methodology: The two (2) Kunu-zaki blends were produced by traditional fermentation method, thereafter, they were screened for the presence of microorganisms using pour plate method while colonial characteristics and biochemical tests (Sugar utilization, catalase, coagulase, oxidase) were done to confirm the identity of the organisms. The proximate composition (moisture, protein, lipid, ash, fibre and carbohydrate) of the samples were assayed using standard procedures. The sensory properties of the Kunu-zaki were assessed using a trained panel. Data were analyzed statistically using SPSS version 17.0 and the means separated using Duncan Multiple Range Test. Results: Coliforms and Enterobacteriacea were not found in the enriched and control Kunu-zaki samples. However, the highest total heterophilic bacterial count (107x103 cfu/ml) and lactic acid bacterial count (131 x103 cfu/ml) were found in sample B while the least counts were found in the control sample with 92 x103 cfu/ml and 122 x103 cfu/ml total bacterial and lactic acid bacterial counts respectively. Further, the highest fungal count was found in control sample (67 x103 sfu/ml) while the least count were observed on sample B (52 x103 sfu/ml). The control sample had the lowest pH 4.65 while sample C had the highest pH of 5.95. Also, the TTA ranged between 0.57% I sample C and 0.83% in control sample. A total of six (6) bacteria and six (6) fungi were isolated from the freshly prepared kunu-zaki-tigernut milk blends, they were Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, Micrococcus luteus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Streptococcus species, Geotrichum candidum, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus stolonifer, Fusarium and Penicillium species. The crude protein, moisture content and fat of the enriched Kunu-zaki were significantly (p≤0.05) higher than the control sample. Also, there was a reduction in fibre, ash and carbohydrate content of the enriched Kunu-zaki product compared with the control sample. The enriched Kunu-zaki samples had higher level of potassium, magnesium and phosphorus than the control Kunu-zaki while they had lower calcium and sodium concentrations. Kunu-zaki-tigernut milk blends had comparable rating to the control in appearance and aroma but had a higher rating for taste and overall acceptability. Conclusion: The enrichment of Kunu-zaki with tigernut milk had significant elevating effect on the nutrition and sensory properties of the Kunu-zaki and its overall acceptability

Improving solar photovoltaic installation energy yield using bifacial modules and tracking systems: An analytical approach

In this paper, we present the results of a simulation of a 3 MW p photovoltaic plant in Nigeria using four case study scenarios: ground-mounted fixed inclined monofacial, and bifacial photovoltaic installation, as well as monofacial and bifacial photovoltaic installations with trackers. The bifacial gains, tracker gains, and bifacial-tracker gains were calculated for each configuration. The fixed ground-mounted inclined bifacial PV system gained 12% annual average bifacial gain over a fixed ground-mounted monofacial system, while the bifacial system with a solar tracker gained 8.9% over a monofacial system with a solar tracker. A monofacial PV system with a tracker over a fixed inclined monofacial system has a tracker gain of 16%, while a bifacial PV system with a tracker over a fixed inclined bifacial system has a tracker gain of 13.2%. The monofacial system with a solar tracker outperforms a fixed inclined bifacial system by about 4%. The sensitivity analysis performed to determine the effect of system parameters such as albedo and ground clearance height on bifacial PV systems reveals that the increase in specific energy production per kilowatt-hour per year is directly proportional to the albedo of the surface area on which the bifacial PV systems are installed, and adequate ground clearance height is required between the ground and the installed bifacial PV plants

An evaluation of basic life support training among medical students in Southwest Nigeria: A web-based study

Background: Basic Life Support (BLS) is considered a lifesaving measure and sound knowledge is expected among health professionals. Studies conducted among medical doctors and students in many developing countries show deficiencies in knowledge and practice of essential BLS skills. This study assessed the awareness, knowledge, perception, practice, accessibility and barriers to BLS training amongst medical students in South-Western Nigeria, exposing skill gaps and training challenges to inform appropriate solutions. Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive e-survey involving 2nd – 6th year medical students enrolled in 12 regional medical schools. Overall, 553 responses were received over a 3-month period from November 2020 to January 2021 and analyzed using IBM-SPSS 26. Results: Of the 553 respondents, 79.2% were aware of BLS however only 160 (29%) respondents had good knowledge of BLS principles. Increasing age, higher level of study, prior BLS training and being enrolled in College of Medicine, University of Lagos (CMUL) were significantly associated with a higher knowledge score (p<0.05). Majority (99.5%) considered BLS training necessary however, only 51.3% had prior training. Increased level of study correlated with prior BLS training (p<0.05) alongside higher BLS uptake by respondents from CMUL (26.7%) and College of Medicine, University of Ibadan (20.9%) compared to respondents from other schools (p<0.05). Only 35.4% had ever done Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. Most respondents reported no confidence in performing BLS (67.1%) or in using an Automated External Defibrillator (85.7%). Unavailability of training opportunities in state (35%), town (42%) and cost (27%) were major barriers to BLS training identified. Conclusion: Despite a high level of awareness of BLS training, knowledge of BLS principles and its practice is poor among Nigerian medical students, reflecting a need to integrate stand-alone/structured BLS trainings into the medical curriculum to increase participation and accessibility by medical students