Comparison of Transportation Algorithms Using Data from Katsina State Transport Authority, Katsina State, Nigeria

Transportation problem has been one of the most important applications of Linear programming. Transportation problems have become vastly applied in industrial organizations with multiple manufacturing units, warehouses and distribution centers. In this stugy, the methods of finding initial basic feasible solution of balanced transportation problem are studied and compared to find among them the best in terms of efficiency. The initial basic feasible solution tableaus of all the methods are constructed using data collected from Katsina State Transport Authority. The costing of the allocated cells associated with the initial basic feasible solutions of the five methods are computed and compared with that of optimal solution which was found to be N1,098,000:00. It was observed that Vogel’s approximation method, Least-Cost method and Column minimum method yielded better starting solutions. The North-West Corner method and Row minimum methods though simple to compute yielded starting solutions far from the optimal solution. In addition, Vogel’s approximation method is more difficult and requires more iteration. The best transportation network for Katsina State Transport Authority was obtained.Keywords: Comparison, Transportation algorithms, Initial Basic Feasible Solution, Optimal solution, Linear programming solve

Structural Dependence Replacement Model for Parallel System of Two Units

In this paper, two units’ Parallel system was considered in which both units operate simultaneously. The system is subjected to two types of failures. Type I failure is minor and occur with the failure of a single component and is checked by minimal repairs, while type II failure is catastrophic in which both components failed and the system is replaced. It is assumed that when one component is receiving minimal repair treatment other non failed component will receive some preventive maintenance action like oiling, greasing, etc. The system is also replaced preventively at the age P t . The aim is to modify an existing model that addressed the problem of replacing the system preventively before failure or at failure .The paper discusses and subsequently obtained the optimum replacement times P t that minimize the expected cost numerically.Keywords: Structural dependence, replacement, minimal repair, preventive maintenanc

The practice of exclusive breastfeeding among mothers attending a postnatal clinic in Tswaing subdistrict, North West province

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine reported infant  feeding practice with reference to exclusive breastfeeding, exclusive formula feeding and mixed feeding at six weeks postpartum among women attending a postnatal clinic in the Tswaing subdistrict of North West province, and the strength of the association between maternal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status and exclusive breastfeeding.Design: Three hundred and eighty-six randomly selected women from seven primary healthcare clinics in Tswaing subdistrict, who were in their sixth postnatal week between November 2009 and February 2010, were enrolled in this study. Data were collected using a researcher-formulated questionnaire to ascertain demographics, including HIV status, as well as reported infant feeding practice. Secondary analysis was carried out to determine the strength of the association between the HIV status of the subjects and exclusive breastfeedingSetting and subjects: This study was conducted among women over the age of 18 years attending their first six weeks postnatal visit in seven primary healthcare clinics that provide postnatal care in the rural Tswaing subdistrict of the North West Province.Outcome measures: The self-reported infant feeding practice at six weeks postpartum, demographic determinants of reported infant feeding practice, and the strength of the association between maternal HIV status and reported infant feeding practice, particularly exclusive breastfeeding, constituted the main outcome measures. Results: Comparatively, more HIV-negative (n = 157), than HIV-positive women (n = 43), reported that they were breastfeeding exclusively and had received infant feeding counselling (n = 258 vs. n = 65, p-value < 0.05). Exposure to infant feeding counselling and a negative HIV status were associated with higher exclusive breastfeeding rates.Conclusion: HIV-positive women are still at risk of transmitting HIV to their nursing infants on account of suboptimal infant feeding methods in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) context. This calls for further research in this area, and in the interim, more support to pregnant and nursing HIV-positive mothers, with a view to achieving the aims ofthe PMTCT programm

Reliability Analysis of a Two Dissimilar Unit Cold Standby System with Three Modes Using Kolmogorov Forward Equation Method

Reliability is an important area that is receiving attention globally. This paper studies reliability analysis of a two-dissimilar-unit cold standby system with three modes using Kolmogorov forward equation’s method, in which its reliability and availability analysis are evaluated. This proposed system has been investigated under three modes: normal, partial failure, total failure. The failure and the repair time are assumed to have exponential distribution. The effect of failure rate on meantime to system failure (MTSF ), steady state availability ( AT (∞) ) and the profit function PF(∞) of the system are compared. It was found thatMTSF , AT (∞) , and PF(∞) are decreasing with the increase of the failure rate.Keywords: Cost analysis, Meantime to System Failure, Steady State Availability and Kolmogorov forward equation

How Well Prepared Are Dental Students and New Graduates in Pakistan-A Cross-Sectional National Study.

The transition of an undergraduate dental student to an actual practicing dentist is a crucial phase and ensuring the preparedness of graduates for the complexity and demands of contemporary dental practice is a challenging task. This study aimed to evaluate the self-perceived preparedness of undergraduate dental students and house officers in the dental colleges of Pakistan. A cross-sectional national study was planned to collect information from dental students and new graduates in Pakistan. The pre-validated Dental Undergraduates Preparedness Assessment Scale (DU-PAS) was used. A purposive sampling technique was utilized to recruit house officers and undergraduate dental students from 27 dental schools in Pakistan. The data analysis was carried out using the R statistical environment for Windows (R Core Team, 2015). A total of 862 responses with 642 females and 219 males were analyzed in the study. Overall, the clinical skills score was 30.56 ± 9.08 and the score for soft skills was 30.54 ± 10.6. The mean age of the participants was 23.42 ± 1.28. Deficiencies were reported in various soft skills and clinical skills attributes. The results highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of dental students and new graduates in Pakistani dental institutions. The findings may be used to further develop and strengthen the teaching and training of dental students in Pakistan

Mesoporous RF-Xerogels by Facile Hydrothermal Synthesis

Mesoporous resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF) xerogels were difficult to obtain by conventional sol-gel polymerization at atmospheric pressure because the resulting tenuous RF-gel structures tended to shrink or collapse during subsequent hot-air drying. To avoid this problem, costly and energy-intensive supercritical drying and freeze-drying are often used. In this work the main goal was to produce high-quality RF xerogels with good mesoporosity and high surface area by employing a hydrothermal process. The hydrogel synthesis was carried out in an autoclave at elevated temperature and pressure in order to sufficiently strengthen its network structure. The initial reactant ratio was held constant to search for most suitable hydrothermal temperature and initial pH. The experimental results showed that the reaction in the autoclave at 140ºC and initial pH of 6 could successfully produce RF xerogels with good mesoporosity (peaking pore radius rpeak = 2.38 nm), high specific surface area and large pore volume. The hydrothermal process was on the overall relatively simple, low-cost, and less time-consuming compared to the conventional atmospheric method

The role of pneumolysin in mediating lung damage in a lethal pneumococcal pneumonia murine model

BACKGROUND: Intranasal inoculation of Streptococcus pneumoniae D39 serotype 2 causes fatal pneumonia in mice. The cytotoxic and inflammatory properties of pneumolysin (PLY) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of pneumococcal pneumonia. METHODS: To examine the role of PLY in this experimental model we performed ELISA assays for PLY quantification. The distribution patterns of PLY and apoptosis were established by immunohistochemical detection of PLY, caspase-9 activity and TUNEL assay on tissue sections from mice lungs at various times, and the results were quantified with image analysis. Inflammatory and apoptotic cells were also quantified on lung tissue sections from antibody treated mice. RESULTS: In bronchoalveolar lavages (BAL), total PLY was found at sublytic concentrations which were located in alveolar macrophages and leukocytes. The bronchoalveolar epithelium was PLY-positive, while the vascular endothelium was not PLY reactive. The pattern and extension of cellular apoptosis was similar. Anti-PLY antibody treatment decreased the lung damage and the number of apoptotic and inflammatory cells in lung tissues. CONCLUSION: The data strongly suggest that in vivo lung injury could be due to the pro-apoptotic and pro-inflammatory activity of PLY, rather than its cytotoxic activity. PLY at sublytic concentrations induces lethal inflammation in lung tissues and is involved in host cell apoptosis, whose effects are important to pathogen survival

Update of complications and functional outcome of the ileo-pouch anal anastomosis: overview of evidence and meta-analysis of 96 observational studies

Item does not contain fulltextOBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to provide a comprehensive update of the outcome of the ileo-pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA). DATA SOURCES: An extensive search in PubMed, EMBASE, and The Cochrane Library was conducted. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: All studies published after 2000 reporting on complications or functional outcome after a primary open IPAA procedure for UC or FAP were selected. Study characteristics, functional outcome, and complications were extracted. DATA SYNTHESIS: A review with similar methodology conducted 10 years earlier was used to evaluate developments in outcome over time. Pooled estimates were compared using a random-effects logistic meta-analyzing technique. Analyses focusing on the effect of time of study conductance, centralization, and variation in surgical techniques were performed. RESULTS: Fifty-three studies including 14,966 patients were included. Pooled rates of pouch failure and pelvic sepsis were 4.3% (95% CI, 3.5-6.3) and 7.5% (95% CI 6.1-9.1), respectively. Compared to studies published before 2000, a reduction of 2.5% was observed in the pouch failure rate (p = 0.0038). Analysis on the effect of the time of study conductance confirmed a decline in pouch failure. Functional outcome remained stable over time, with a 24-h defecation frequency of 5.9 (95% CI, 5.0-6.9). Technical surgery aspects did not have an important effect on outcome. CONCLUSION: This review provides up to date outcome estimates of the IPAA procedure that can be useful as reference values for practice and research. It is also shows a reduction in pouch failure over time.1 juli 201