Road user safety on the National Highway 1 (N1-Highway) in Accra, Ghana

Road Traffic Crashes (RTCs) are one of the leading causes of premature deaths in Ghana. Recently, after the rehabilitation of a very critical link on the N1-Highway in Accra, RTCs have soared. The prevalence of traffic injuries and fatalities has attracted the attention of both, road safety professionals and policy makers. Road user behavior has been established to contribute significantly to RTCs. The object of this study was therefore to assess the attitude of both pedestrians and motorists in relation to compliance with traffic safety regulation on the N1-Highway. Covert but unobstructed spot speeds studies were undertaken at accident-prone location on the highway with posted speed limit of 70 km/h. Besides, driver compliance with traffic signal regulations and pedestrian road crossing behavior were also assessed. The 85th percentile speeds realized was 78.2 km/h, which was in excess of the posted speed limit. In all, 42,298 motorists were registered, of which 0.3% was observed run the red traffic lights during the day on the highway. More than 1 in 5 of the 105,151 pedestrian observed jaywalked. Road user behavior undoubtedly, presents a significant road safety challenge on the N1-Highway.  Road user education and training must be pursued and sustained, alongside strict enforcement of traffic safety regulations to modify road user, while considering legislation to regulate pedestrian behavior in traffic behavior for safer travels. Key words: Road user behavior, Excessive speed, Pedestrians, RTCs, N1-Highway, Accra, Ghan

Cost-effectiveness of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and opioids in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis in older patients with multiple comorbidities

To evaluate long-term clinical and economic outcomes of naproxen, ibuprofen, celecoxib or tramadol for OA patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes

Corporate social responsibility, marketing capabilities and consumer behavioral responses

Purpose – The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of corporate social responsibility (CSR) andmarketing capability on consumer behavioral responses in the mobile telecommunication industry in Ghana.Particularly, the study estimated the moderating effect of marketing capability on the relationship betweenCSR and consumer behavioral responses.Design/methodology/approach – Both customers and employees of three major mobile telecommunicationcompanies were sampled for this work. A mixed linear regression technique was used to examine therelationship between corporate responsibility, marketing capability and customer behavioral responses.Findings – The empirical results revealed that marketing capabilities moderate the relationship between CSRand consumer responses in the telecommunication industry.Research limitations/implications – The study proposes practical dimensions to the mobiletelecommunication companies that the extensive development of strong marketing capabilities serves aconduit for CSR to achieve favorable consumer responses.Originality/value – The results have opened up rather a limitation studies on the moderation role marketingcapabilities in relationship between CSR and consumer behavioral responses in the telecommunicationindustry

The Value of Modeling and Simulation Standards

In the current economic climate, there is a requirement to justify all government spending by demonstrating the added-value that the expenditure gives. Modeling and Simulation (M&S) community is not exempted from this rule. This paper focuses on attempts to value standards and demonstrates that even though a myriad of different standards exist in the United States today, no one has cracked the nut on determining their value. This does not mean that standards are without value. The paper highlights their importance to our society and human development as a whole. Thus if we cannot give a value to M&S standards, we can at least minimize their cost. The paper concludes with some discussions on cost-savings in the development of standards though a study of organizational misbehavior

The Burden of Bancroftian Filariasis in Nigeria: A Review

BACKGROUND: Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) vectored by mosquito; and people in rural areas are mostly at risk of infection. Pooling prevalence data across the six geo-political zones of Nigeria is expected to provide a clearer insight into the burden of the disease as this information could guide towards planning eradication programmes.METHODS: Search for pertinent literature was done on Google Scholar, African Journal Online (AJOL) and PubMed databases using relevant keywords. Studies on the prevalence of LF due to Wuchereria bancrofti in Nigeria were selected and reviewed. Prevalence data from the different states were further organized into the six geopolitical zones and analyzed.RESULTS: Of the 36 states in Nigeria, prevalence data were available only for 19 states. Furthermore, in the six geopoliticalzones, North-West had the highest disease burden (44 per 10 000) of Years Lived with Disability (YLD), while North-Central (4 per 10 000) had the lowest disease burden.CONCLUSION: Result are largely attributed to the prevailing conditions in the different zones. In view of ensuring a successful control plan and eventual eradication of the disease, a comprehensive national survey in every state should be carried out using more sensitive tools

Investigation of Bio-Waste As Alternative Fuel For Cooking

Nigeria has a vast natural resources especially forestland with the majority of its households relying on solid biomass such as charcoal and firewood as their cooking fuels. Combustion of solid biomass is a significant source of particulate and carbon monoxide emissions. However, the increasing demand and use of charcoal and firewood has led to an escalation of deforestation and the emission from the combustion of these fuels have been highly correlated to harmful health effect among other related problems. Bio-waste as an alternative fuel for cooking in Nigeria is still in its infancy and hence the need for this research. The research was carried out using binders (starch and spent oil) and biomass (rice husk and sawdust) to produce Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) often referred to as pellets. Properties such as moisture content (%), ash content (%), tensile strength (N/mm) and higher heating value (kJ/kg) were determined for the RDF. Prior to the production of the RDF, the moisture and ash contents of rice husk and sawdust were 5.72% and 17.14%, and 15% and 10.23%, respectively. After the production of the RDF from rice husk, moisture content, ash content, higher heating value, and tensile strength of 0.908%, 11.5%, 6160.7 kJ/kg and 508.7 N/mm2 of tensile strength, respectively, were obtained. Also, for the RDF produced from sawdust, moisture content of 0.93%, ash content of 16.5%, higher heating of 7808.1 kJ/kg and tensile strength of 576.8 N/mm2 were measured. These results were found to be in agreement with previous studies on RDFs sourced from bio-wastes. Conclusively, the RDF seems to be a good substitute to wood as cooking fuel and would also reduce greenhouse gas emissions and thus save our environment from effects of climate change

Natural Gas as Transportation Fuel: Solution to National Carbon Dioxide Reduction and Fuel Related Issues in Nigeria

This In this study, strategic substitution of natural gas (NG) as transportation fuel in place of gasoline and diesel has been proposed due to the volume of NG flared on daily basis and its negative impacts on the micro-environment. Data on the volumes of gas flared and quantities of gasoline and diesel distributed from 2000 to 2014 used in this work were sourced from bulletins published by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. Empirical formulae and standard conversions were employed to estimate variables (carbon dioxide and cost benefits) based on current price regimes and energy contents of the fuels. The strategic utilization of NG - scenario 1 - (33% to 1% of flared volume) and the baseline (actual situation in 2014) were the two scenarios considered. Findings from this study revealed that at 33% and 1% utilization of flared gas (11.30 x 109 m3), CO2 released were 2.5 x 107 tons and 3.43 x 107 tons, as against 3.46 x 107 (scenario 1) and 3.42 x 107 tons emitted for the baseline scenario, respectively. These values correspond to CO2 reduction of 9.63 x 106 tons (27.79%) and 2.92 x 105 tons (0.84%), for 33% and 1% NG utilization, respectively. Based on energy contents of the fuels, NG as transport fuel is 60.7% and 62.5% cheaper than gasoline and diesel, respectively. The implementation of strategic NG substitution as transportation fuel proposed seems a lasting solution to gas flaring, and petroleum products and their associated problems in Nigeria

Stakeholders' perceptions of agronomic iodine biofortification : a SWOT-AHP analysis in Northern Uganda

Agronomic biofortification (i.e., the application of fertilizer to elevate micronutrient concentrations in staple crops) is a recent strategy recommended for controlling Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDDs). However, its success inevitably depends on stakeholders' appreciation and acceptance of it. By taking Northern Uganda as a case, this study aimed to capture and compare the perceptions of seven key stakeholder groups with respect to agronomic iodine biofortification. Therefore, we employed a SWOT (Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities & Threats) analysis in combination with an Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). Findings show that stakeholders (n = 56) are generally positive about agronomic iodine biofortification in Uganda, as its strengths and opportunities outweighed weaknesses and threats. Cultural acceptance and effectiveness are considered the most important strengths while the high IDD prevalence rate and the availability of iodine deficient soils are key opportunities for further developing agronomic iodine biofortification. Environmental concerns about synthetic fertilizers as well as the time needed to supply iodine were considered crucial weaknesses. The limited use of fertilizer in Uganda was the main threat. While this study provides insight into important issues and priorities for iodine biofortification technology in Uganda, including differences in stakeholder views, the application of the SWOT-AHP method will guide future researchers and health planners conducting stakeholder analysis in similar domains

The sequence of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs: pathways to and predictors of tocilizumab monotherapy

Background: There are numerous non-biologic and biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Typical sequences of bDMARDs are not clear. Future treatment policies and trials should be informed by quantitative estimates of current treatment practice. Methods: We used data from Corrona, a large real-world RA registry, to develop a method for quantifying sequential patterns in treatment with bDMARDs. As a proof of concept, we study patients who eventually use tocilizumab monotherapy (TCZm), an IL-6 antagonist with similar benefits used as monotherapy or in combination. Patients starting a bDMARD were included and were followed using a discrete-state Markov model, observing changes in treatments every 6\ua0months and determining whether they used TCZm. A supervised machine learning algorithm was then employed to determine longitudinal patient factors associated with TCZm use. Results: 7300 patients starting a bDMARD were followed for up to 5 years. Their median age was 58 years, 78% were female, median disease duration was 5 years, and 57% were seropositive. During follow-up, 287 (3.9%) reported use of TCZm with median time until use of 25.6 (11.5, 56.0) months. Eighty-two percent of TCZm use began within 3\ua0years of starting any bDMARD. Ninety-three percent of TCZm users switched from TCZ combination, a TNF inhibitor, or another bDMARD. Very few patients are given TCZm as their first DMARD (0.6%). Variables associated with the use of TCZm included prior use of TCZ combination therapy, older age, longer disease duration, seronegative, higher disease activity, and no prior use of a TNF inhibitor. Conclusions: Improved understanding of treatment sequences in RA may help personalize care. These methods may help optimize treatment decisions using large-scale real-world data

Hydrogen Production from Alternative Aqueous Sources: a Feasibility Study

ABSTRACTThis paper presents the production of hydrogen from various aqueous sources (de-ionized water, fufu effluent, sea water, run-off water, tap water, and urine). Two sets of hydrolysis experiments (with and without the dissolution of NaCl (35 g/l) into the aqueous media) were conducted using 12 V (DC supply) with graphite electrodes. The current utilized and volume of hydrogen produced was measured, while hydrogen flow rate, power, and effectiveness were estimated. The significance of the addition of NaCl to the aqueous media was analyzed using a t-test. It was observed that the dissolution of NaCl into the aqueous media had an appreciable effect on the values of pH, volume and flow rate of hydrogen produced, current utilized, power consumed, and effectiveness compared to the values obtained without NaCl dissolution. This was corroborated by the result of the t-test (tcritcal (2.0452) < tobserved (4.1139) with a p-value of 0.0032 at 95% confidence interval), indicating the significance of the dissolution of NaCl into the media. The results showed that urine, followed by sea water, fufu effluent, run-off water, tap water, and de-ionized water, had the highest volume and flow rate of hydrogen, whereas the value of effectiveness was highest for de-ionized water, followed by tap water, sea water, urine, fufu effluent, and run-off water. Run-off water and fufu effluent were also demonstrated to be potential sources of hydrogen production outside urine and sea water