Determination of Optimal Number of Servers at Network Queuing Nodes to Reduce Waiting Time in a Tertiary Institution Clinic in Bida, Nigeria

In this paper, a network queuing model that determines optimal numbers of servers at the nodes of the school clinic network queuing system to  reduce waiting time of the patients has been presented. The relevant data was collected for a period four weeks, through direct observations and interviews. The number of arrivals and departures were also obtained. The total expected waiting time of the patient in the current system before modification was 50minutes with total number of 10 servers in all the nodes, while the total new expected waiting time of patient in the system after modification was reduced to 19 minutes with total number of 17 servers in all the nodes. The study has determined optimal number of servers at the nodes of the school clinic network system. Results from this study is an important information to the management of the school clinic for proper planning and better service delivery. Keywords: Network Queuing System, Nodes, Servers, School Clinic

Techno-Economic and Life Cycle Analysis of Energy Generation Using Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Technology in Sokoto State. Nigeria

: In this work a predictive performance simulation of Solar Tower, Linear Fresnel and Parabolic Trough Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) plants was undertaken for Sokoto State in Northwestern Nigeria. The State was selected based on its high Direct Normal Irradiation (DNI) values and long hours of sunshine per day relative to other places in Nigeria. The simulation was done using System Advisor Model (SAM) Software. In the study, 50 MW, 75 MW and 100 MW for each of the three CSP technologies were considered and their Techno-economic and Life Cycle analyses were carried out. The results showed that Solar Tower plant is more favored to be adopted for use in the studied site because it has the highest annual electrical energy generation, higher capacity factor and lowest Levelised cost of Electricity. The Net Present Values of the CSP plants at the site are (with the exception of the 50 MW Linear Fresnel CSP using hybrid cooling) positive implying that the project is economically viable. The study also showed that at solar multiple of 2, the Levelised costs of Electricity for both Solar Towers and Parabolic Troughs were the lowest, irrespective of the cooling system (wet or dry cooling). Solar multiple has no effect on the water usage irrespective of the CSP plant. Dry cooling system reduces the water usage by 86% and 95% for Solar Tower and Parabolic Trough plants, respectively. Dry cooling system reduces the annual electrical energy generation in the range of 7.3 to 7.5 percent for Solar Tower plant and 8 to 9 percent for Parabolic Trough plant. The largest environmental impact was human toxicity at 25,400 g 1,4-DB eq. and the least is marine ecotoxicity at 1.33 × 10-4 g 1,4-DB eq.Keywords: Annual Generation; Debt Fraction; Human toxicity; Freshwater Eutrophicatio

Trade and market in conflict development and conflict resolution in Nigeria: scoping study report to the UK department for International Development.

This study of trade related conflict and its resolution in Nigeria’s was prompted by the needs of policy makers concerned with improving market access for the poor. There is a lack of published material analysing links between trade/markets and conflict development/conflict resolution. The study is based on a literature review, a small number of interviews in Nigeria and UK and a one-day workshop:it was conceived as a pilot to identify areas for future research. The informality of Nigeria’s agricultural produce trade has the potential to promote both cooperation and conflict. The food marketing chains are complex networks extending across the country, and often involve diverse ethnic, religious and social groups. For the most part these linkages work extremely effectively, drawing on substantial inter-gender, inter-ethnic and inter-religious cooperation,often built up over generations.Nonetheless, there is potential for

East African HIV care: depression and HIV outcomes.

Importance:Depression is a common co-morbidity for people living with HIV (PLWH) and is associated with elevated plasma HIV RNA levels. While depression correlates with deficits in antiretroviral (ARV) adherence, little data exist to inform the relationship between depression and HIV vial load more broadly. Objective:To examine the relationship between depression and viral load in the African Cohort Study (AFRICOS) independently of ARV adherence. Design:PLWH in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania underwent screening for depression using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD) upon enrollment at AFRICOS HIV care sites. Setting:AFRICOS is an ongoing prospective longitudinal cohort study enrolling HIV-infected adults at HIV care centers including sites in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. These sites are administered by President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief programs. Participants:HIV+ individuals were eligible if they were at least 18 years old, receiving HIV care at the enrolling clinic and consented to data and specimen collection. Main outcome measure:CESD. Results:Among 2307 participants, 18-25% met the CESD threshold for depression. Depression was associated with decreased ARV adherence (OR 0.59, p =  0.01). Higher scores on three CESD items were significantly associated with 209-282% higher viral load, independently of ARV adherence among participants on ARVs ⩾6 months. Conclusions:PLWH had high prevalence of depression on the CESD. Diverse depression symptoms were independently associated with increases in viral load, underscoring the need for comprehensive treatment of depression

Comparative effectiveness of daptomycin versus vancomycin among patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infections: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis

Background In the treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infections (BSIs), vancomycin stands as the prevalent therapeutic agent. Daptomycin remains an alternative antibiotic to treat MRSA BSIs in cases where vancomycin proves ineffective. However, studies have conflicted on whether daptomycin is more effective than vancomycin among patients with MRSA BSI. Objective To compare the effectiveness of daptomycin and vancomycin for the prevention of mortality among adult patients with MRSA BSI. Methods Systematic searches of databases were performed, including Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. The Newcastle Ottawa Scale (NOS) and Revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2) were used to assess the quality of individual observational and randomized control studies, respectively. Pooled odd ratios were calculated using random effects models. Results Twenty studies were included based on a priori set inclusion and exclusion criteria. Daptomycin treatment was associated with non-significant lower mortality odds, compared to vancomycin treatment (OR = 0.81; 95% CI, 0.62, 1.06). Sub-analyses based on the time patients were switched from another anti-MRSA treatment to daptomycin demonstrated that switching to daptomycin within 3 or 5 days was significantly associated with 55% and 45% decreased odds of all-cause mortality, respectively. However, switching to daptomycin any time after five days of treatment was not significantly associated with lower odds of mortality. Stratified analysis based on vancomycin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) revealed that daptomycin treatment among patients infected with MRSA strains with MIC >= 1 mg/L was significantly associated with 40% lower odds of mortality compared to vancomycin treatment. Conclusion Compared with vancomycin, an early switch from vancomycin to daptomycin was significantly associated with lower odds of mortality. In contrast, switching to daptomycin at any time only showed a trend towards reduced mortality, with a non-significant association. Therefore, the efficacy of early daptomycin use over vancomycin against mortality among MRSA BSIs patients may add evidence to the existing literature in support of switching to daptomycin early over remaining on vancomycin. More randomized and prospective studies are needed to assess this association

Assessing the impact of a 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV10) in the absence of pneumococcal disease surveillance data in Nigeria

Nigeria rolled out the 10-valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV10) into the routine childhood immunisation schedule through support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. PCV10 was introduced in the context of the lack of pneumococcal disease data. Because PCV protects against nasopharyngeal carriage and pneumococcal diseases caused by included serotypes (vaccine serotypes - VT), monitoring the serotype distribution in carriage and disease is essential to evaluate vaccine impact fully. Based on the Gavi timelines, the country will transition to fully self-financing the PCV10 programme in a few years, translating to nearly half the total cost of fully immunising a child. Contextual evidence of PCV10 impact will benefit policymakers when deciding on financing and sustaining the PCV10 programme.Relying on the necessity of pneumococcal carriage for invasion, this PhD addresses the three aspects of evaluating PCV impact: Firstly, I conducted annual carriage (2017-2020) and vaccine coverage (2018-2020) surveys to assess the population-level impact of PCV10 introduction on pneumococcal carriage and its relationship to PCV10 coverage in children. I found a slow rise in PCV10 coverage accompanied by a significant reduction in carriage prevalence of VT in children aged <5 years and persons aged ≥5 years and a variable increase in carriage prevalence of non-VT. I also found evidence of direct and indirect protection against carriage demonstrated by an inverse relationship between coverage with two doses of PCV10 among children aged <5 years and VT carriage among children aged <5 years and persons ≥5 years. I found substantial residual VT carriage of 22% in the rural and 12% in the urban sites among children aged <5 years. Secondly, I assessed the applicability of three carriage-based models, where IPD surveillance is non-existent, to predict the impact of PCV10 introduction on IPD in children aged <5 years. These models predicted varying levels of decline in the overall IPD incidence. Analyses of underlying model assumptions and input data sources indicate the model predictions cannot be accurate because they discount the potential of residual VT carriage to cause IPD, thereby overestimating vaccine impact. Or they ignore the potential capacity of direct protection against VT invasion, thereby underestimating vaccine impact. Finally, I conducted a cost-of-illness study to assess the economic burden of pneumonia and IPD. I found that costs were substantial to the healthcare provider and households with significant variation by clinical syndrome and level of care. In addition, a third of households encountered catastrophic costs, ranging from 4% of the least poor to 53% of the poorest households. In conclusion, sustaining the PCV10 programme has reduced the burden of carriage and has also at a minimum reduced a proportionate fraction of invasive disease. Improved PCV10 coverage can improve herd immunity and further drive reductions in VT carriage and subsequent disease. Additionally, the programme will potentially save resources from treatment costs at both provider and household levels. Two adaptations will be required to reliably apply carriage-based models in settings that lack IPD surveillance. Firstly, model input data sources should be more representative to give a more accurate picture serotype distribution. Secondly, models should be adjusted to capture direct vaccine effects against IPD from persistent VT carriage

Determination of Optimal Number of Servers at Network Queuing Nodes to Reduce Waiting Time in a Tertiary Institution Clinic in Bida, Nigeria

In this paper, a network queuing model that determines optimal numbers of servers at the nodes of the school clinic network queuing system to reduce waiting time of the patients has been presented. The relevant data was collected for a period four weeks, through direct observations and interviews. The number of arrivals and departures were also obtained. The total expected waiting time of the patient in the current system before modification was 50minutes with total number of 10 servers in all the nodes, while the total new expected waiting time of patient in the system after modification was reduced to 19 minutes with total number of 17 servers in all the nodes. The study has determined optimal number of servers at the nodes of the school clinic network system. Results from this study is an important information to the management of the school clinic for proper planning and better service delivery

Technical-Economic Prefeasibility Assessment of an off-grid Mini-Hydro Power Plant for an Agribusiness Resort in Kaduna Nigeria

Clean energy technologies are beginning to receive attention in Nigeria to offset the increasing greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions are associated to the wide use of small-scale fossil-fuel-powered generators by about 55% of its 180-million people yet to be connected to the grid. While a large hydropower potential exists in Nigeria, even above the total electricity demand of the country, by 2013 this technology only accounted for about 32% of the total installed generation capacity connected to the grid. Previous studies have limited results in terms of technical, economic and environmental evidences that can drive choices towards small hydro and other clean energy projects for users and technology providers in Nigeria. This study uses the RETScreen Software to analyse the technical, economic and environmental aspects of a proposed mini-hydro power plant on the Tuwan River, to supply part of the energy needs of Tuwan Agribusiness Resort (TAR) located in Madakiya district, a rural community in Kaduna State, Nigeria. The volumetric flow and gross head of the chosen river were measured and the power generation system design yielded a 21kW power output, capable to partially offset the present use of diesel generators and achieve a 307.4 tCO2 equivalent GHG emission reduction. The financial analysis showed an attractive Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 68.1% and NPV of 568,178 USD (11% discount rate), owing to the high potential of the project to attract grants and tax rebates, which were put into consideration in the financial analysis. This study is important for Tuwan Agribusiness Resort, an agribusiness service provision outfit with a potential to create over 1000 jobs when fully operationa

Technical-Economic Prefeasibility Assessment of an off-grid Mini-Hydro Power Plant for an Agribusiness Resort in Kaduna Nigeria

Clean energy technologies are beginning to receive attention in Nigeria to offset the increasing greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions are associated to the wide use of small-scale fossil-fuel-powered generators by about 55% of its 180-million people yet to be connected to the grid. While a large hydropower potential exists in Nigeria, even above the total electricity demand of the country, by 2013 this technology only accounted for about 32% of the total installed generation capacity connected to the grid. Previous studies have limited results in terms of technical, economic and environmental evidences that can drive choices towards small hydro and other clean energy projects for users and technology providers in Nigeria. This study uses the RETScreen Software to analyse the technical, economic and environmental aspects of a proposed mini-hydro power plant on the Tuwan River, to supply part of the energy needs of Tuwan Agribusiness Resort (TAR) located in Madakiya district, a rural community in Kaduna State, Nigeria. The volumetric flow and gross head of the chosen river were measured and the power generation system design yielded a 21kW power output, capable to partially offset the present use of diesel generators and achieve a 307.4 tCO2 equivalent GHG emission reduction. The financial analysis showed an attractive Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 68.1% and NPV of 568,178 USD (11% discount rate), owing to the high potential of the project to attract grants and tax rebates, which were put into consideration in the financial analysis. This study is important for Tuwan Agribusiness Resort, an agribusiness service provision outfit with a potential to create over 1000 jobs when fully operationa

Epidemiological and pathological screening of suspected cases of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia in Yola Modern Abattoir, Adamawa State Nigeria

Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia is an important infectious disease of cattle caused by Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides and a major constraint to cattle production in sub-Saharan Africa. This study was aimed to identify pathological and histopathological lesions identified in cattle tentatively diagnosed with CBPP at Yola Modern Abattoir, Adamawa State. A total of 9,750 cattle were examined at post-mortem for a period of six months, 110 (1.13%) had lesions suggestive of CBPP out of which seventeen (17) were randomly selected and processed for histopathology based on standard laboratory protocols. Based on sex, CBPP lesion was observed more in female 63 (1.06%) than in the male 47 (1.24%). Whereas, CBPP lesions was observed highest in White Fulani breed 68 (1.14%) followed by Cross breeds 23 (91.16%) and Sokoto Gudali 19 (1.74%) and lowest in Red Bororo 10 (1.36%). There was insignificant statistical association (P&gt;0.05) between CBPP lesions and sex and breed of cattle sampled. Age distribution of CBPP lesion was observed higher in cattle between ages of 4-7 years 79 (1.16%), followed by cattle of 1-3 years 28 (1.15%) and least in cattle less than 1 year 3 (0.60%) with significant statistical difference (P&lt;0.05) between the age groups. Histopathology lesions observed include severe congestion of pulmonary blood vessel in all the lung tissues and fibrin exudation into inter-alveolar spaces with almost all the alveoli collapsed. The bronchiolar epithelium was observed to be thickened, hyperplastic and folded, with a considerable quantity of edematous fluid and numerous inflammatory cells seen in the lumen. In conclusion, this study had demonstrated the presence of CBPP lesions in cattle in the study area. Therefore, serological screening of all cattle, stamping out policies and aggressive annual vaccination campaigns are thus recommended in the study area