Gaussian beam divergence using paraxial approximation

Gaussian beam intensity follows a normal distribution curve in free space. As it propagates, the divergence and the width increase with distance. Using paraxial approximation, the effect of the distance on the intensity, width, radius of curvature and divergence was investigated. Matlab software was used for characteristics parameters calculation. The divergence angle range (26.67o≤ θ ≤35.85o) was obtained at a distance between 3mm and 4mm, and compared with the divergence angle range (43o≤ θ ≤53o) obtained experimentally for the distance between 3mm and 4.5mm. The result obtained in this work indicates smaller angles of divergence that can produce a better beam quality and intensity. Finally, this will serve as a great importance for application such as pointing, free space optical communication etc.Keyword: Gaussian beam, Paraxial approximation, Beam divergence, Normal distribution curve

Potential impact of industrial solid waste management in Ilorin Metropolis

Solid waste is an inevitable consequence of human activities on earth; hence an investigation was carried out to assess the impact of methods of solid waste management of selected industries on the environment in Ilorin metropolis. Two main tools used for the study were: a structured questionnaire and physical collection of solid wastes generated from the industries located within Ilorin metropolis. Percentages and charts were used in analysing the data. Sawmill waste recorded 98.69% out of the total weight of waste collected for the experiment. 1.04%, 0.22% and 0.04% were recorded for plastic, printing (papers) and films (publishing) industries, respectively. The results showed that 58% of the industries monitored their solid waste with 15% and 20% of PVC and sawmill industry, respectively. It was also observed that 20% of the respondents employ contractors for waste disposal, 6% deposit their waste at the dump site while 44% sell their industrial waste and 30% respondents burn their waste.Keywords: Waste, management, solid, earth, questionnaire, environmen

Simulation of the effect of bit assignment to multi-hypothesis pictures per group for motion compensated video compression (MCVC)

This paper describes the Lagrange based formulation of bit-assignment for multi-hypothesis frames over number of pictures in a group for motion compensated video compression. Theoretical insight on bit assignment is accomplished by applying Lagrange multiplier and its cost function for a real-time computational analysis. Video signals are compressed at optimal bit allocation for qualitative reconstruction at the decoder (receiver) depending upon the number of hypothesis used in coding the signal. This has made multi-hypothesis motion compensation (MHMC) a great process in the prediction of the actual signal through the combination of more than one motion compensated prediction (MCP). Optimal Bits were allocated to multi-hypothesis frames using MATLAB to optimize the number of hypothesis frames per group of pictures (GOP) decoded for an improved signal compression. Simulation results show that an optimal bit assignment of the range 0.089 bpp to 0.159 bpp was realized with eight numbers of hypotheses frames per (GOP). This implies that varying number of hypotheses actualizes optimal bit assignment for motion compensation. This shows a qualitative signal compression performance analysis for high technology motion pictures in communication services and storage processes. It also addresses a better prediction due to greater time correlation between hypotheses and helps in the improvement of coding and reconstruction quality of video signals.Key words: Bit-rate, frame, Group of Pictures (GOP), Motion Compensation,multi-hypothesis, Video Compression

Reducing self--medication with anti-infective agents in Lagos, nigeria: a community-based intervention study

Background: Self-medication with anti-infective agents is a global public health concern particularly in the developing countries. In this study, the rate and pattern of self-medication with anti-infective agents and effectiveness of an educational intervention programme in reducing the practice were investigated. Method: This was designed as a community-based pre and post-intervention survey of 328 participants. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the respondents. Educational intervention was conducted on the subjects after the interview. Another community in Lagos state served as the control population without educational intervention. Prevalence of self-medication of the anti-infective agents was assessed pre- and postintervention. The main outcome measure was reduction in the rate of self-medication of anti-infective agents after the intervention. Result: Three hundred and twenty eight (328) respondents in the study group were comprised of 165 (50.8%) males and 163 (49.2%) females. The rate of self-medication of anti-infective agents was 44.5% pre intervention while post intervention was 14.8% among the respondents. The most prevalent factors influencing selfmedications of this class of drugs were: previous experience of treating similar illness (25.3%), to save time and cost (23.6%), for emergency use (17.3%) and to avoid visiting a doctor (14.2%). Ampicillin/cloxacillin (20.2%) and co- trimoxazole (10.9%) were the most commonly self-medicated anti-infective agents. After the educational intervention, there was a significant reduction in the rate of self-medication of the anti-infective agents in the postintervention group compared to the pre-intervention [(44, 4.8%) versus (145,44.5%), p< 0.001]. Conclusion: There is a high rate of anti-infective agents' self-medication in among healthy adults population in Lagos, Nigeria. Educational intervention significantly reduced the practice in this survey. Keywords: Anti-infective agents, Antibiotics, Antimicrobial stewardship, Antibiotic resistance, Self-Medication, interventionResume Contexte: L'automédication avec des agents anti-infectieux est un problème mondial en matière de santé publique, en particulier dans les pays en développement. Dans cette étude, le taux et les caractéristiques de l'automédication de ces agents anti-infectieux ainsi que l'efficacité d'un programme d'intervention éducative visant à réduire cette pratique ont été examinés. Méthode: cette étude a été conçue comme une enquête communautaire avant et après-intervention auprès de 328 participants. Un questionnaire structuré a été utilisé pour collecter les données auprès des répondants. Une intervention éducative a été menée sur les sujets après l'entrevue. Une autre communauté de l'État de Lagos a servi de population témoin sans intervention éducative. La prévalence de l'automédication des agents antiinfectieux a été évaluée avant et après l'intervention. La principale mesure de résultat a été la réduction du taux d'automédication des agents anti-infectieux après l'intervention. Résultat: Trois cent vingt huit (328) répondants du groupe d'étude étaient composés de 165 (50,8%) hommes et de 163 (49,2%) femmes. Le taux d'automédication des agents anti-infectieux était de 44,5% parmi les répondants. Les principaux facteurs ayant influencé l'automédication des agents anti-infectieux étaient les suivants: expérience antérieure de traitement d'une maladie similaire (25,3%), gagner du temps et de l'argent (23,6%), utilisation en urgence (17,3%) et éviter de visiter à un médecin ( 14,2%). L'Ampicillin/cloxacillin (20,2%) et le cotrimoxazole (10,9%) étaient les agents anti-infectieux les plus couramment utilisés pour l'automédication dans cette étude. Après intervention, il y a eu une réduction significative du taux d'automédication des agents antiinfectieux après intervention par rapport ceux avant l'intervention: 44 (14,8%) contre 145 (44,5%), p = 0,00001. Conclusion: le taux d'automédication de la part d'agents anti-infectieux est élevé à Lagos, dans le sud-ouest du Nigeria. L'intervention éducative a réduit la pratique dans cette enquête. Mots clés: antibiotiques, intendance antimicrobienne, résistance aux antibiotiques, automédication, interventionWest Afr. J. Pharmacol. Drug Res. Vol. 32 January – December 2017; 37 - 4

Utilization of pap smear in the prevention of cervical cancer among female health workers at a Nigerian Tertiary Health Facility

Context: Cervical carcinoma is a preventable disease, yet it remains the leading genital tract malignancy among women in sub-Saharan Africa.Objective: To assess awareness, knowledge and utilization of Pap smear as a screening modality for cancer of the cervix among female health workers at Federal Teaching Hospital Ido-Ekiti.Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive cross sectional study, conducted using quantitative methods. A pretested, selfadministered questionnaire was used to collect data; all consenting female health workers in the institution were recruited. Ethical approval was obtained from IRB; data analysis was done using SPSS 18,Results: A total of 378 questionnaires were sufficiently filled for analysis, 305 (80.7%) respondents were aware of cancer of the cervix, majority knew it could be prevented and 95.8% demonstrated knowledge on methods of screening for its precursor lesions though only 30.7% were aware of availability of service in their center. Knowledge about Pap smear and type of family was significantly associated, so also were the level of education, professional designation and duration of work experience; utilization of Pap smear screening services was significantly associated with age, marital status and type of marriage; others were educational status, cadre of work and professional experience. It is of note that only 75 (19.8%) of those that were aware of pap smear as a strategy had ever done it; and a number of respondents were not willing to do test even at no cost.Conclusion: The respondents demonstrated good knowledge about available cervical cancer screening services but had poor attitude to utilization of Pap smear screening services. Only a few were willing to perform the test even at no cost to them, reasons for this need to be further evaluated and addressed.Keywords: willingness, utilization, cervical cancer, Pap smear, female health worker