Waste collection management in developing countries: a case study of the Lagos PSP waste collection programme

This thesis was an exploration into the implementation process in developing country cities. Western debates on implementation are usually not applicable in developing country cities and the question asked was why. The main reason has been found is that the characteristics of governments and people in developing country cities are different and therefore different approaches are required to make implementation successful. Of particular interest is waste management. Different approaches are employed in the management of waste in some developing country cities and the results have been mediocre with no real impact on the urban environment. To this end, this thesis set out to understand implementation within these cities. In the course of this research, some very interesting factors were discovered about policy implementation in developing country cites. It is hoped that this thesis has been able to add to the body of knowledge in understanding implementation in developing country cities

An Investigation of the Effects of Manufacturing Parameters On Properties of Binderless Boards Produced from Abura (Mitragyna Ciliata) Sawdust

The production of particle boards without the use of synthetic binders is desirable to prevent environmental problems. This study has produced experimental binderless boards from untreated sawdust from Abura wood using a laboratory press. Box-Behnken experimental design was utilized to investigate the effects of the pressing variables including pressure, temperature and pressing time. The density of the boards produced ranged between 523.69 and 738 kg/m3 which was within the range specified for medium density fibreboards . The maximum values for Modulus of Elasticity (MOE), Modulus of Rupture (MOR) and Internal Bonding Strength (IB) were 100.4 MPa, 1.1 MPa and 0.049 MPa, respectively. It was shown that, for the range of factors studied, pressure and the pressing temperature were the more significant factors in determining the density, MOE and IB. This study showed that the sawdust can potentially be used for the production of binderless boards

An Investigation of the Effects of Manufacturing Parameters On Properties of Binderless Boards Produced from Abura (Mitragyna Ciliata) Sawdust

The production of particle boards without the use of synthetic binders is desirable to prevent environmental problems. This study has produced experimental binderless boards from untreated sawdust from Abura wood using a laboratory press. Box-Behnken experimental design was utilized to investigate the effects of the pressing variables including pressure, temperature and pressing time. The density of the boards produced ranged between 523.69 and 738 kg/m3 which was within the range specified for medium density fibreboards . The maximum values for Modulus of Elasticity (MOE), Modulus of Rupture (MOR) and Internal Bonding Strength (IB) were 100.4 MPa, 1.1 MPa and 0.049 MPa, respectively. It was shown that, for the range of factors studied, pressure and the pressing temperature were the more significant factors in determining the density, MOE and IB. This study showed that the sawdust can potentially be used for the production of binderless boards

MITIGATING THE TRAFFIC CONGESTION USING MPLS ROUTING TOWARDS GREATER EFFICIENCY IN AN IP BASED NETWORK

This paper focuses on application of Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) as a viable scheme of controlling internet traffic for greater efficiency and reliability. Graphical Network Simulator (GNS3) is utilized in the design and simulation of three different IP network routing scenarios: a network utilizing Open Shortest Path First (OSPF), one implementing both OSPF and Multi-Protocol Layer Switching (MPLS) and a network employing OSPF, MPLS and MPLS-Engineering (MPLS-TE). Performance comparison of different cases of IP routing in these networks are determined via throughput time of packets that traverse the network. Time taken for packets to traverse MPLS implemented network is shorter than that of OSPF based network. For example, the throughput times of OSPF only network for three, four and five routers network are, respectively, 64 68and 44 ms, while the corresponding throughput times  in MPLS network are 56, 52 and 40 ms, respectively. In addition to that, the traffic in MPLS-TE network is easily routed through a pre-determined path without conflict, thus ensuring other internet traffics are shipped across the network un-hindered. It is shown that MPLS network addresses the challenges of internet service traffic by reducing the throughput time and allowing prioritizing of packets as they traverse the network routers

Foetal Transcerebellar Diameter (TCD) measurement between 18 and 23 weeks of pregnancy

Background: The measurement of the Transcerebellar Diameter (TCD) is an emerging ultrasound parameter useful for the estimation of gestational age (GA). Objectives: The objectives of the present study included the establishment of baseline TCD values between 18 and 23 weeks of pregnancy, as a basis for predicting gestational age. Other targets included the determination of the correlation between TCD and the actual/predicted gestational ages and the concordance between the actual and predicted gestational ages in the population. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 488 singleton fetuses during the second-trimester anomaly scan sessions. Transabdominal ultrasound scan measurement of the Transcerebellar Diameter (TCD) was carried out using standard criteria and both TCD, and GA measurements were used to construct nomograms. Chi-square (Goodness-of-fit) was used to evaluate the statistical significance of differences between the observed and expected (predicted) TCD and GA values. The actual gestational age subtracted from predicted gestational age was subjected to Pearson correlation to determine concordance (r). Results: Transcerebellar Diameter ranged between 16.7mm at 18 weeks and 26.7mm at 23 weeks, with a mean value of 18.5+ 0.96mm and 23.1 +1.65mm respectively. There was a positive correlation between TCD and GA (r = 0.85; p<0.0001). Concordance between the actual and predicted gestational age was high (Pearson correlation r = 0.81; p < 0.0001). Conclusion: The TCD is a reliable marker for gestational age estimation between 18 and 23 weeks of gestation

Phytodentistry in Africa: prospects for head and neck cancers

Background Orthodox dentistry has undergone significant changes in recent times with the introduction of various omics and molecular targeted therapies both at the experimental/trial and clinical implementation level. Although, significant milestones have been achieved in the molecular dentistry field in the past decade, there remains a dearth of application of phytopharmacological innovation in personalized and targeted therapies for dental diseases. Main body From time immemorial, plant products have long been an integral aspect of dental practice ranging from chewing sticks/herbal kinds of toothpaste to dental/impression materials. The current era of precision medicine seeks to apply a multipronged molecular and bio-computational approaches to solve fundamental medical problems that have hitherto remained difficult. Remarkable changes in the molecular/omics era, have transformed empirical therapies into personalized/individualized ones. Furthermore, the combinatorial application and the widespread introduction of high-throughput molecular tools such as pharmacogenomics, phytopharmacology, metabolomics, mathematical modelling, and genetic engineering inter alia, has tremendously improved the diagnostic and therapeutic landscape of medicine. Additionally, the variable molecular epidemiology of diseases among different population and emerging molecular evidence warrants the use of customized novel theranostic techniques. Unfortunately, the footprint of such emerging application is sparse in dental diseases such as maxillofacial cancers. Conclusion Hence, this review seeks to evaluate the potential application of phytopharmacological approaches to head and neck cancers in a resource-limited environment, such as Africa

Surgical skills deficiencies and needs of rural general practitioners in South Africa

Background. At present, much of the global surgical workforce consists of non-specialist physicians (general practitioners (GPs)) whose only formal surgical training was in medical school as an undergraduate. However, there is widespread concern that GPs do not have the skills necessary to deliver essential surgical care in a rural setting. This requires that a specific training programme be developed to train rural GPs in essential surgical skills for rural settings.Objectives. To perform a critical analysis to determine essential surgical skills required by GPs in rural South Africa, with the intention of developing the content of an accredited continuing professional development (CPD) learning programme to address needs identified.Methods. This was a descriptive study in which a desk-top review analysis and a questionnaire survey were used to obtain both qualitative and quantitative data on essential skills required for rural surgical practice.Results. Of 300 GPs, 102 (34.0%) completed the questionnaire. Some of the skills listed as essential for rural surgical practice were removal of foreign objects not in the visual axis (90.0%), packing of epistaxis (93.0%), haematoma drainage (78.3%) and wound debridement and suturing (96.0%). The study also identified the outcomes and essential content of a proposed CPD programme to provide GPs in the rural setting with the required surgical skills.Conclusions. Enhancing skills of GPs in essential surgical techniques and procedures through an accredited CPD short learning programme will ensure that adequate and comprehensive essential surgical care is provided to people living in rural communities.

Epidemiological pattern of rape cases managed at a regional hospital in South Africa

Background: South Africa has one of the highest incidences of rape globally. Understanding the epidemiological pattern of rape is needed to inform the design of effective intervention programmes for rape prevention and management of alleged rape cases. Aims: To investigate important epidemiological patterns associated with rape in Kimberly, Northern Cape Province, South Africa. Setting: The Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital (RMSH) forensic unit. Methods: A descriptive, retrospective cross-sectional clinical audit of rape cases. Results: The majority (93.3%) of the alleged rape victims were women, with a mean age (SD) of 21.6 years (11.3); the male population made up 6.7% of the cases, with a mean age (SD) of 10.5 years (6.9). The highest incidence of alleged rape in the male population was seen in the age group ≤ 16 years (81.8%) and for women 17–30 years (50.3%). Most of the incidents occurred at the perpetrators’ homes (42.7%); on the days Fridays (14.6%), Saturdays (29.9%) and Sundays (23.2%); at night up to midnight 20:00–23:59 (32.9%) (p = 0.01) and involved threats of violence (55.5%). The majority (56.0%) of the perpetrators were known to the victims. Conclusion: Important information about the victims and circumstances in which rape occurs as reported herein can be used to inform the design of effective intervention programmes for sexual crime prevention and management in Kimberly, South Africa. Contribution: This study helped to advance knowledge and understanding of the epidemiological pattern associated with rape in Kimberley, Northern Cape Province of South Africa

Comparative analysis between condom use clusters and risk behaviours among portuguese university students

The research on condom use has been focused on high-risk individuals, paying less attention to those who have moderate risk or safe sexual conducts. In order to design accurate interventions, potential differences among the condom use behavior groups must be considered. The goal was to assess possible differences in individuals presenting different types of risk behavior. 140 heterosexual university students answered a self-reported questionnaire about their sexual history, condom use habits, sexual self-esteem, sexual satisfaction, sexual control, attitudes towards condoms, self-efficacy to condom use, and emotions and feelings during sexual intercourse. A cluster analysis was conducted using the results about condom use and risk behaviors. Three groups with different risk levels emerged, presenting differences over sexual self-efficacy, attitudes towards condoms, socio-demographic variables, and sexual history. The results suggest the condom use inconsistency is highly associated with other risk behaviors but the contrary does not necessarily happens. Condom use consistent users also presented risk behaviors as smoking and drinking. The group differences suggest the risks were more affected by the combination of lack of skills with a negative attitude toward condoms than by contextual or personal variables. These differences sustain the need of an intervention adjusted to the individual's risk levels, since they differ on skills and beliefs that may hinder or promote the adoption of health behaviors.Foundation for Science and Technology/Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (Portugal)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio