Modeling and simulation of transient flow characteristics in a producing gas well

Modeling transient flow characteristics in a producing gas well has been a problem long over in natural gas industry due to parameter changing during operation. In the past, authors concentrate on application of correlations and steady state approach, but most of their works does not give satisfactory results because the used applications neglect the transient aspect leading to premature closure of most wells. Many existing models are proposed to correct these anomalies using simplified governing equation ignoring the transient aspect of the flow characteristics. A one-dimensional transient compressible model comparing the conservation of mass, momentum and energy has been presented to investigate the transient behavior of flow characteristics in a producing gas well staged at different inclination due to environment change. The model is solved numerically using the implicit Steger-Warming flux vector splitting method (FSM). The work investigates flow characteristics along depth of the well using different wellbore diameter of 0.073m, 0.0883m, at different time and different thermal conductivities. It shows that transient occurs due to the temperature difference between the produced gas and the flow environment while gas pressure increases due to difference between wellbore pressure and reservoir pressure. The result of this work reflect gas flow law and the characteristics of heat transfer in formation

Prevalence of Hepatitis B surface antigen in children with sickle cell anemia

Background: Hepatitis B virus is known to be endemic in Africa. The seroepidemiological studies of HBV have shown that infection commonly occurs in childhood in Africa resulting in an increased tendency to chronicity. This cross-sectional study was undertaken to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen among pediatric patients with homozygous hemoglobin S. Materials and Methods: Three hundred sickle cell anemia children aged 6 months-15 years (both in steady state and in crises) attending the SCA clinic and on admission in emergency pediatrics unit and pediatrics medical ward, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria, were screened for hepatitis B infection using HBsAg as marker of infection. The sensitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay method was used for detection of the marker. Three hundred children with minor illness attending pediatrics outpatient department and on admission in EPU/PMW for various treatment in the same hospital served as gender- and age-marched controls cohorts. Results: The sero-prevalence of HBsAg seropositivity for hepatitis B virus infection among SCA children was 17.3% (52/300) compared to 10.7% (32/300) of the control (P = 0.0875). The peak prevalence age group for HBV infection among SCA children was in the age group 1.1-5.0 years (6%) compared to 10.1-15.0 years (4.7%) in the control. Risk factors for HBV infection such as blood transfusion, traditional scarification/circumcision/uvulectomy, and tattooing did not significantly affect the prevalence of HBV infection in both SCA children and controls. Conclusion: Hepatitis B infection is common in Sokoto. The need for strict adherence to HBV immunization and further community-based studies on the risk factors are recommended

Prevalence, clinical profile and outcome of children with cardiomyopathy

Background: Cardiomyopathies are myocardial disorders in which the heart muscle is structurally and functionally abnormal, thereby affecting the ventricular systolic function and/or diastolic function. Comprehensive approach to management warrants recognizing the clinical profile in order to strategize to improve outcomes. Aim: To evaluate the types of cardiomyopathies, presentation and outcome among children admitted into a tertiary hospital in Sokoto. Methods. A hospital based prospective study of children aged below 15 years who were seen over an 8.5-year period. A proforma was used to collect the information on their socio-demographics, type of cardiomyopathy, associated presentations and outcome. Data was analysed using IBM SPSS version 25. Results: 71 out of 78,321 children seen that period (0.1%) were diagnosed with CM giving a hospital prevalence of 90.7/100,000. They comprised 40 (56.3%) males and 31 (43.7%) females. Age ranged from 1 month to 15 years (6.2 ± 3.8 years). Dilated CM (DCM) was the commonest in 63 (88.7%), restrictive CM (endomyocardial fibrosis-EMF) in 5 (7.0%) and hypertrophic (HCM) in 3 (4.2%). Forty-six (73%) of DCM had severe systolic dysfunction. DCM also occurred in 2 siblings of 2 patients on follow up. Two of the patients with EMF had recurrent pericardial effusions and all the patients with HCM died in infancy. Thirty (42.2%) of the total patients were lost to follow-up while 27 (38.0%) died. Conclusion: Dilated cardiomyopathy followed by restrictive type are the commonest types seen among children in Sokoto. It is associated with high morbidity and mortality

Personality traits as key determinants of COVID-19 vaccine uptake among healthcare workers in Nigeria

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has posed a significant global challenge, necessitating the development and administration of vaccines to halt its spread. Nevertheless, there is limited information on the predictors, patterns, and personality variables influencing COVID-19 vaccine uptake among Nigerian health-care workers (HCWs). Aim: The study set to assess level of factors including personality factors that influence acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccines among.HCWs in Nigeria. Materials and Methods: From August 9 to October 11, 2021, a web-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted on 300 HCWs in Nigeria, aged 19 and above, with social media access and English language proficiency. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square, and binary logistic regression were used to analyse the data on the SPSS version 20. Results: The findings revealed that while 64% of those who participated in the study received the first dosage of the COVID-19 vaccine, only 48.3% returned for the second dose. The impression of heightened susceptibility to contracting COVID-19 was the primary reason for vaccination uptake. Although education level was associated with vaccination uptake, it did not predict it independently. The age distribution, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and high vulnerability as a rationale for receiving a vaccine were all the independent predictors of vaccine uptake. Conclusion: This study reveals that despite their role as vaccination advocates, HCWs can exhibit hesitancy toward novel vaccines. To increase vaccine uptake among HCWs and the general population, it is crucial to recognise the factors that influence vaccine acceptance among them, including individual personality variables, and incorporate this understanding into vaccination promotion programs

A 5-year review of measles cases admitted into the emergency paediatric unit of a tertiary hospital in Sokoto, North-Western Nigeria

Background: Measles is a vaccine preventable viral infection which is still responsible for significantly high morbidity and mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa. Failure of routine immunization programs heralds a dismal outlook for this potentially eradicable viral infection. The objective of this study was to determine the hospital prevalence, vaccination status, pattern of complications, and outcome of children admitted with measles into the Department of Pediatrics of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This was a 5-year retrospective study from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2015. Case folders of children below 15 years who were admitted with measles were retrieved, relevant information extracted, and entered into a pro forma. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 22. Results: Total admissions were 6104, out of which 204 were due to measles (prevalence, 3.3%). The mean age was 27.4 ± 18.9 months (range 6–96 months). Those aged 1–5 years were 144 (70.6%). The male-to-female ratio was 1.3:1. Only 28 patients (13.7%) had measles vaccination. Observed complications included bronchopneumonia in 168 (82.4%), acute laryngotracheobronchitis in 24 (11.8%), febrile convulsion in 20 (9.8%), encephalitis in 17 (8.3%), ocular complications in 12 (5.9%), and suppurative otitis media in 6 (2.9%) patients. The presence of complications was related to age <5 years (P = 0.0001) but not to vaccination status (P = 0.41). Forty-four patients died (21.6%), whereas 33 patients (16.2%) had residual problems at discharge. Outcome was related to vaccination status (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Measles is still a significant problem in the study area and it is associated with high morbidity and mortality. More efforts at prevention is necessary

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with paediatric cancer in low-income, middle-income and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, observational cohort study

OBJECTIVES: Paediatric cancer is a leading cause of death for children. Children in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) were four times more likely to die than children in high-income countries (HICs). This study aimed to test the hypothesis that the COVID-19 pandemic had affected the delivery of healthcare services worldwide, and exacerbated the disparity in paediatric cancer outcomes between LMICs and HICs. DESIGN: A multicentre, international, collaborative cohort study. SETTING: 91 hospitals and cancer centres in 39 countries providing cancer treatment to paediatric patients between March and December 2020. PARTICIPANTS: Patients were included if they were under the age of 18 years, and newly diagnosed with or undergoing active cancer treatment for Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, Wilms' tumour, sarcoma, retinoblastoma, gliomas, medulloblastomas or neuroblastomas, in keeping with the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: All-cause mortality at 30 days and 90 days. RESULTS: 1660 patients were recruited. 219 children had changes to their treatment due to the pandemic. Patients in LMICs were primarily affected (n=182/219, 83.1%). Relative to patients with paediatric cancer in HICs, patients with paediatric cancer in LMICs had 12.1 (95% CI 2.93 to 50.3) and 7.9 (95% CI 3.2 to 19.7) times the odds of death at 30 days and 90 days, respectively, after presentation during the COVID-19 pandemic (p<0.001). After adjusting for confounders, patients with paediatric cancer in LMICs had 15.6 (95% CI 3.7 to 65.8) times the odds of death at 30 days (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected paediatric oncology service provision. It has disproportionately affected patients in LMICs, highlighting and compounding existing disparities in healthcare systems globally that need addressing urgently. However, many patients with paediatric cancer continued to receive their normal standard of care. This speaks to the adaptability and resilience of healthcare systems and healthcare workers globally

Twelve-month observational study of children with cancer in 41 countries during the COVID-19 pandemic

Childhood cancer is a leading cause of death. It is unclear whether the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted childhood cancer mortality. In this study, we aimed to establish all-cause mortality rates for childhood cancers during the COVID-19 pandemic and determine the factors associated with mortality