An Appraisal of Ozone Layer Depletion and Its Implication on the Human Environment

Ozone layer depletion is a reality which poses threat to human survival if not curtail. However, it has received international attention and cooperation in which nation states have come up with series of conventions and protocols. It is no more gainsaying that the protection of the environment is a duty of all as no one can be left behind.This paper examines the ozone depletion substance, the impacts and implications of ozone layer depletion on human health and environment, and possible suggestion out of the challenges. The methodology adopted is basically doctrinal with primary sources from various international instruments relating to ozone layer depletions. The secondary sources are mainly from articles in journals, commentaries and online publications.It is our humble conclusion that ozone layer protection is a global and continuous assignment in which all hands must be on deck in order to meet the desirable target. The international communities’ cooperation in this regard is commendable. DOI: 10.7176/JLPG/83-02 Publication date:March 31st 201

LABOUR MIGRATION DETERMINANTS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR FIRM PERFORMANCE: A CONCEPTUAL APPROACH

Despite the wide range of labour migration geographically and occupationally in different organizations, little attention has been paid to the influence it has on organizational performance; especially in the food producing industry. In the midst of other resources (land, labour, capital and industrialist) human capital is considered the most valuable in organization. This is because when human capital is applied to business, the effect on the organizational performance is significant. While organization ensures maximum cost reduction to attain high level of profitability they also attend to labour issues all the same; knowing well that competitors gain easy access to valuable success secret of an organization through key employees who are custodians of such knowledge . This paper provides a conceptual framework and highlights the different determinants of labour migration and how it impacts on the firm`s overall performance

Abundance, density and natural regeneration potential of trees at Shasha Forest Reserve, Osun State, Southwestern, Nigeria

Three abundance, density and natural regeneration potential of Shasha Forest Reserve were studied to ascertain their individual status within the  ecosystems. Cluster Sampling Technique was adopted for plot location in the temporary sampling areas. An area of 200 × 500 m referred to as clusters was partitioned into 200 m ×200 m tracts. The tracts were 100 m apart. Each tract was further divided into plots of 50 m × 50 m. Four of such tracts were selected for tree enumeration Sixty-six (66) tree species above >10cm dbh distributed among 28 Families were encountered. Five most abundant tree species of Strombosia postulata (38 stands), Musanga Cleistopoides (17 stands), Macaranga batteri (16 stands), Myrianthus  arboreous (13 stands) and Trichilia monadepha (10 stands) were the most dominant tree species in Shasha Forest Reserve. Rare species with only one stand were 21 in number and accounted for 31.8% of the total composition of the reserve. Five species with highest density were Strombosia postulata (13.44%) followed by Musanga Cleistopoides 5.91%, Macaranga batteri 5.56%, Myrianthus arboreous 4.66% and Trichilia monadepha 3.41% in descending order. Thirty tree species were having had density less than 1 in the ecosystem. The most common families were  Apostonaceae, Ebenaceae, Moraceae and Sterculiaceae having 6 species each and this was the most abundant followed by Euphobiaceae and Meliaceae which had 5 tree species each. Rare families within the Reserve comprised of 16 families with one stand each with 57.1% of the total tree families encountered within the Reserve. Out of 66 tree species encountered in the cluster sample, 28 species had the regeneration potential which ranged between 0.07 % and 0.01 % which is regarded as low regeneration potential. There is need to regenerate Shasha Forest Reserve through silvicultural techniques commonly referred to as enrichment planting by which desirable tree species are introduced into the ecosystem to  complement the natural  regeneration potential for sustainabilit. Keywords: Checklist, floristic composition, Tree diversity and Regeneration potentials

Prevention of prosthetic joint infection in total hip and knee arthroplasties: evidence based recommendations

Prosthetic joint infection is a dreaded complication of Total Joint Arthroplasty. Prevention, which is far more cost effective, should be of paramount importance to the arthroplasty surgeon. Proper patient selection and preparation as well as strict asepsis and antisepsis are the basic principles of prevention

Mapping local patterns of childhood overweight and wasting in low- and middle-income countries between 2000 and 2017

A double burden of malnutrition occurs when individuals, household members or communities experience both undernutrition and overweight. Here, we show geospatial estimates of overweight and wasting prevalence among children under 5 years of age in 105 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) from 2000 to 2017 and aggregate these to policy-relevant administrative units. Wasting decreased overall across LMICs between 2000 and 2017, from 8.4 (62.3 (55.1�70.8) million) to 6.4 (58.3 (47.6�70.7) million), but is predicted to remain above the World Health Organization�s Global Nutrition Target of <5 in over half of LMICs by 2025. Prevalence of overweight increased from 5.2 (30 (22.8�38.5) million) in 2000 to 6.0 (55.5 (44.8�67.9) million) children aged under 5 years in 2017. Areas most affected by double burden of malnutrition were located in Indonesia, Thailand, southeastern China, Botswana, Cameroon and central Nigeria. Our estimates provide a new perspective to researchers, policy makers and public health agencies in their efforts to address this global childhood syndemic. © 2020, The Author(s)

Global age-sex-specific fertility, mortality, healthy life expectancy (HALE), and population estimates in 204 countries and territories, 1950–2019: a comprehensive demographic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background: Accurate and up-to-date assessment of demographic metrics is crucial for understanding a wide range of social, economic, and public health issues that affect populations worldwide. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 produced updated and comprehensive demographic assessments of the key indicators of fertility, mortality, migration, and population for 204 countries and territories and selected subnational locations from 1950 to 2019. Methods: 8078 country-years of vital registration and sample registration data, 938 surveys, 349 censuses, and 238 other sources were identified and used to estimate age-specific fertility. Spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression (ST-GPR) was used to generate age-specific fertility rates for 5-year age groups between ages 15 and 49 years. With extensions to age groups 10–14 and 50–54 years, the total fertility rate (TFR) was then aggregated using the estimated age-specific fertility between ages 10 and 54 years. 7417 sources were used for under-5 mortality estimation and 7355 for adult mortality. ST-GPR was used to synthesise data sources after correction for known biases. Adult mortality was measured as the probability of death between ages 15 and 60 years based on vital registration, sample registration, and sibling histories, and was also estimated using ST-GPR. HIV-free life tables were then estimated using estimates of under-5 and adult mortality rates using a relational model life table system created for GBD, which closely tracks observed age-specific mortality rates from complete vital registration when available. Independent estimates of HIV-specific mortality generated by an epidemiological analysis of HIV prevalence surveys and antenatal clinic serosurveillance and other sources were incorporated into the estimates in countries with large epidemics. Annual and single-year age estimates of net migration and population for each country and territory were generated using a Bayesian hierarchical cohort component model that analysed estimated age-specific fertility and mortality rates along with 1250 censuses and 747 population registry years. We classified location-years into seven categories on the basis of the natural rate of increase in population (calculated by subtracting the crude death rate from the crude birth rate) and the net migration rate. We computed healthy life expectancy (HALE) using years lived with disability (YLDs) per capita, life tables, and standard demographic methods. Uncertainty was propagated throughout the demographic estimation process, including fertility, mortality, and population, with 1000 draw-level estimates produced for each metric. Findings: The global TFR decreased from 2•72 (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 2•66–2•79) in 2000 to 2•31 (2•17–2•46) in 2019. Global annual livebirths increased from 134•5 million (131•5–137•8) in 2000 to a peak of 139•6 million (133•0–146•9) in 2016. Global livebirths then declined to 135•3 million (127•2–144•1) in 2019. Of the 204 countries and territories included in this study, in 2019, 102 had a TFR lower than 2•1, which is considered a good approximation of replacement-level fertility. All countries in sub-Saharan Africa had TFRs above replacement level in 2019 and accounted for 27•1% (95% UI 26•4–27•8) of global livebirths. Global life expectancy at birth increased from 67•2 years (95% UI 66•8–67•6) in 2000 to 73•5 years (72•8–74•3) in 2019. The total number of deaths increased from 50•7 million (49•5–51•9) in 2000 to 56•5 million (53•7–59•2) in 2019. Under-5 deaths declined from 9•6 million (9•1–10•3) in 2000 to 5•0 million (4•3–6•0) in 2019. Global population increased by 25•7%, from 6•2 billion (6•0–6•3) in 2000 to 7•7 billion (7•5–8•0) in 2019. In 2019, 34 countries had negative natural rates of increase; in 17 of these, the population declined because immigration was not sufficient to counteract the negative rate of decline. Globally, HALE increased from 58•6 years (56•1–60•8) in 2000 to 63•5 years (60•8–66•1) in 2019. HALE increased in 202 of 204 countries and territories between 2000 and 2019. Interpretation: Over the past 20 years, fertility rates have been dropping steadily and life expectancy has been increasing, with few exceptions. Much of this change follows historical patterns linking social and economic determinants, such as those captured by the GBD Socio-demographic Index, with demographic outcomes. More recently, several countries have experienced a combination of low fertility and stagnating improvement in mortality rates, pushing more populations into the late stages of the demographic transition. Tracking demographic change and the emergence of new patterns will be essential for global health monitoring. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 licens

Global burden of 87 risk factors in 204 countries and territories, 1990�2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background: Rigorous analysis of levels and trends in exposure to leading risk factors and quantification of their effect on human health are important to identify where public health is making progress and in which cases current efforts are inadequate. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 provides a standardised and comprehensive assessment of the magnitude of risk factor exposure, relative risk, and attributable burden of disease. Methods: GBD 2019 estimated attributable mortality, years of life lost (YLLs), years of life lived with disability (YLDs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) for 87 risk factors and combinations of risk factors, at the global level, regionally, and for 204 countries and territories. GBD uses a hierarchical list of risk factors so that specific risk factors (eg, sodium intake), and related aggregates (eg, diet quality), are both evaluated. This method has six analytical steps. (1) We included 560 risk�outcome pairs that met criteria for convincing or probable evidence on the basis of research studies. 12 risk�outcome pairs included in GBD 2017 no longer met inclusion criteria and 47 risk�outcome pairs for risks already included in GBD 2017 were added based on new evidence. (2) Relative risks were estimated as a function of exposure based on published systematic reviews, 81 systematic reviews done for GBD 2019, and meta-regression. (3) Levels of exposure in each age-sex-location-year included in the study were estimated based on all available data sources using spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression, DisMod-MR 2.1, a Bayesian meta-regression method, or alternative methods. (4) We determined, from published trials or cohort studies, the level of exposure associated with minimum risk, called the theoretical minimum risk exposure level. (5) Attributable deaths, YLLs, YLDs, and DALYs were computed by multiplying population attributable fractions (PAFs) by the relevant outcome quantity for each age-sex-location-year. (6) PAFs and attributable burden for combinations of risk factors were estimated taking into account mediation of different risk factors through other risk factors. Across all six analytical steps, 30 652 distinct data sources were used in the analysis. Uncertainty in each step of the analysis was propagated into the final estimates of attributable burden. Exposure levels for dichotomous, polytomous, and continuous risk factors were summarised with use of the summary exposure value to facilitate comparisons over time, across location, and across risks. Because the entire time series from 1990 to 2019 has been re-estimated with use of consistent data and methods, these results supersede previously published GBD estimates of attributable burden. Findings: The largest declines in risk exposure from 2010 to 2019 were among a set of risks that are strongly linked to social and economic development, including household air pollution; unsafe water, sanitation, and handwashing; and child growth failure. Global declines also occurred for tobacco smoking and lead exposure. The largest increases in risk exposure were for ambient particulate matter pollution, drug use, high fasting plasma glucose, and high body-mass index. In 2019, the leading Level 2 risk factor globally for attributable deaths was high systolic blood pressure, which accounted for 10·8 million (95 uncertainty interval UI 9·51�12·1) deaths (19·2% 16·9�21·3 of all deaths in 2019), followed by tobacco (smoked, second-hand, and chewing), which accounted for 8·71 million (8·12�9·31) deaths (15·4% 14·6�16·2 of all deaths in 2019). The leading Level 2 risk factor for attributable DALYs globally in 2019 was child and maternal malnutrition, which largely affects health in the youngest age groups and accounted for 295 million (253�350) DALYs (11·6% 10·3�13·1 of all global DALYs that year). The risk factor burden varied considerably in 2019 between age groups and locations. Among children aged 0�9 years, the three leading detailed risk factors for attributable DALYs were all related to malnutrition. Iron deficiency was the leading risk factor for those aged 10�24 years, alcohol use for those aged 25�49 years, and high systolic blood pressure for those aged 50�74 years and 75 years and older. Interpretation: Overall, the record for reducing exposure to harmful risks over the past three decades is poor. Success with reducing smoking and lead exposure through regulatory policy might point the way for a stronger role for public policy on other risks in addition to continued efforts to provide information on risk factor harm to the general public. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 licens

Author Correction: Mapping local patterns of childhood overweight and wasting in low- and middle-income countries between 2000 and 2017 (Nature Medicine, (2020), 26, 5, (750-759), 10.1038/s41591-020-0807-6)

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper. © 2020, The Author(s)

Author Correction: Mapping local patterns of childhood overweight and wasting in low- and middle-income countries between 2000 and 2017 (Nature Medicine, (2020), 26, 5, (750-759), 10.1038/s41591-020-0807-6)

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper. © 2020, The Author(s)

Epidemiological mapping of schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis for intervention strategies in Nigeria

Helminth infections caused by schistosomes and soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) are among the most prevalent afflictions of humans who live in areas of poverty in the developing world. The level of morbidity and mortality caused by these helminthes requires urgent intervention. This study reports on the epidemiological mapping and intervention strategies for the control of schistosomiasis and STH in Nigeria. Epidemiological survey on the prevalence of schistosomiasis and STH was conducted in Nigeria between November 2013 and May 2015 in 19 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), covering 2,160 schools /communities in 433 LGAs. Urine and faecal samples were collected from 108,472 pupils comprising 57,670 (53.2%) males and 50,802 (46.8%) females of age range 5 to 16 years. The samples were analysed using urine filtration and KatoKatz techniques. The target population for intervention was determined using the World Health Organization Guidelines for intervention strategies. Prevalence of 9.5% and 27% were recorded for schistosomiasis and soil transmitted helminthiasis respectively from the pupils sampled. Highest prevalence of 26.1% was recorded in Niger State for schistosomiasis while the lowest was in Rivers State (0.1%). STH had highest prevalence in Akwa Ibom State (58.4%) and lowest in Yobe State (1.4%). Niger State also had the highest prevalence for co-infection (8.96%). Based on the prevalence of schistosomiasis observed, a total of 202 LGAs fall within the low risk category, 153 moderate and four LGAs were high risk category. The high risk LGAs were located in Niger and Kebbi States. Case-based management is required for STH in 191 LGAs while 177 LGAs fall within the low-risk and 60 LGAs were in the high risk categories. The findings of this study highlighted the treatment interventions required to facilitate scale up of appropriate mass administration of medicine, water, sanitation and hygiene intervention in the 19 States of the Federation and the FCT. Keywords: Schistosomiasis; soil-transmitted helminthiasis; prevalence; intervention strategy; risk; control; treatment