Sensitivity Analysis of Road Freight Transportation of a Mega Non-Alcoholic Beverage Industry

Re-optimization can be very costly for gathering and obtaining more data for a particular problem, to curb this very expensive investment.  Sensitivity analysis has been used in this work to determine the behaviour of input parameters of the formulated problem. The main goal of the study is to respectively provide, derive, observe, compare and discuss the sensitivity analysis of data that has been optimized using different methods of the optimal solution. The best method, saving the highest percentage of transportation cost, for the formulated problem is determined to be the North-West Corner method. This was carried out by arbitrarily assigning values to the available warehouses to determine the best possible demand and supply cases rather than the initial cases. Thus, more cases are advised to be supplied to FID from the Asejire plant for the optimum reduced value of transportation cost. Keywords: Sensitivity, Parameters, Transportation Problem

On the Stochastic Optimal Control Model of the Investments of Defined Contribution (DC) Pension Funds

One of the major problems faced in the management of pension funds and plan is how to allocate and control the future flow of contribution likewise the proportion of portfolio value and investments in risky assets. In this work, optimal investment for a stochastic model of a Defined contribution (DC) is investigated such that the model design is analysed yielding an optimized expected utility of the members’ terminal wealth. An optimized solution is derived using the Hamilton Jacobi equation in solving the problem of investment strategy formulated by Constant absolute risk aversion (CARA). However, to consider the changes that occur in the dimension of optimal solutions in optimization problems, mostly, the optimal behaviour of parameters, the sensitivity analysis is considered. Thus, the analysis of the model is carried out herein by utilising the approach of the sensitivity analysis of parameters. This is carried out by using Maple software and varying the values of some model parameters such that the behaviour of each parameter relating to the pension funds invested in the risky assets is determined. The results are presented graphically and using tables thus discussed such that pension investors and stakeholders are advised. Keywords: Stochastic; DC Pension funds; Sensitivity analysis; Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equation; Optimal investmen

Neuroprotective effects of Buchholzia coriacea seed extract on sodium azide-induced neurotoxicity of the prefrontal cortex of Wistar rats

This study was designed to evaluate the therapeutic potentials and neuroprotective effects of methanol extract of Buchholzia coriacea (BC) seeds on sodium azide (NaN3) induced neurotoxicity of the prefrontal cortex in male Wistar rats. Neurotoxicity occurs as a result of exposure to neurotoxins in the environment, of which NaN3 is a potent neurotoxin. Thirty male Wistar rats were were randomly divided into 5 groups. Group A were administered with distilled water. Group B was administered with NaN3 for 28 days. Group C was administered with NaN3 for 28 days and thereafter B. coriacea for 21 days. Group D was administered with B. coriacea for 21 days and then NaN3 for 28 days. Group E was administered with only B. coriacea for 21 days. After treatment, neurobehavioral assessment was carried out after which the rats were sacrificed, and the prefrontal cortex excised. The prefrontal cortex was then processed for histological and biochemical analysis (SOD, MDA, GSH, and CAT). Pre-treatment and post-treatment with Buchholzia coriacea revitalized the cells of the Prefrontal cortex which were damaged by NaN3 exposure. Oxidative stress levels also decreased as a result of B. coriacea treatment, suggesting neuroprotective effects of Buchholzia Coriacea.Keywords: Buchholzia coriacea, Sodium Azide, Neurodegeration, Prefrontal corte

Alcohol-pentazocine combination: implication on the cytoarchitectural profile of the medial prefrontal cortex and cerebellum of juvenile male rats

Recently, Pentazocine and alcohol have become one of the drugs abused in the developing countries. However, there is the dearth of information on the effects of these substances on the cytological profile of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and cerebellar cortex; hence this study was aimed at evaluating the effect of these substances on the cytoarchitectural profile of the mPFC and cerebellar cortex of juvenile male rats. Twenty-four juvenile male rats were used for this study. They were randomly assigned to control (A), Alcohol-treated (B), Pentazocine-treated (C), and Pentazocine-Alcohol-treated group (D). Exposure to the various treatment paradigm was done s.c. twice daily (6hrs interval) for 14 days. It was observed that the cytological profile of the mPFC of the rats in the control groups was visible and well defined. In the B, C and D groups, there were numerous forms of neurodegeneration. There was also an increase in the density of astrocytes with the presence of glial scars. Furthermore, features of degenerative changes were also seen in the cerebellar cortex of the rats in the B, C, and D groups. It was observed from this study that exposure to Pentazocine-Alcohol combination triggers inflammatory and neurodegenerative processes in the cytoarchitectural profile of the mPFC and cerebellar cortex in juvenile male rats. These features could impair the functional integrity associated with these brain regions.Keywords: addiction, substance abuse, opioid, male, youn

Assessing the Adequacy of Public Housing Infrastructures in Lagos, Nigeria

The provision of infrastructural amenities is an important ingredient in housing development and formal housing supply, thus adequate provision of housing facilities are regarded as critical facilitator for economic development and key to improving the quality of life in any community irrespective of size. While there is a plurality of housing issues, the problem of infrastructure in housing remains prominent especially when mass housing schemes are considered. The failure of some of these housing schemes has revealed that housing provision goes beyond the ordinary provision of shelter for needs of man. Hence, the need to approach the situation in a pragmatic way, with a focus on the infrastructural provision – an important aspect of housing that is often left to fate – in most common housing schemes in developing countries – like Nigeria. The aim of this study is to assess the adequacy of infrastructure provision in housing projects. This study adopts mixed method approach. A structured questionnaire was developed to harvest data from residents, developers and interested owners. Interviews were conducted with (e.g. 5) staff of development companies, professionals of the built environment and executives of community development association. The study underscores the need to consider relevant infrastructures for housing improvement and development in Nigeria with a view to ascertaining the sustainability of the housing environment and from this a conclusion would be drawn and recommendations in generating sustainable housing provision

Development of an objective, standardized tool for surgical assessment of deceased donor kidneys: the Cambridge Kidney Assessment Tool

Quality assessment in kidney transplantation involves inspection to identify negative markers of organ quality. However, there is a paucity of evidence guiding surgical appraisal, and currently there is no evidence to differentiate important features from those that can be safely ignored. We propose a method to standardize surgical assessment and derived a simple rule to rapidly identify kidneys suitable for transplantation. Donor and recipient data were recorded alongside clinical outcomes in a prospectively maintained database. We developed a proforma (Cambridge Kidney Assessment Tool, CKAT) and used it to assess deceased donor kidney transplants. Factors predictive of utilization were identified by multivariate and univariate logistic regression analysis of CKAT-assessment scores, and test performance was evaluated using standard 2 × 2 contingency tables. Ninety-seven kidneys were included at a single center (2013-2014), and 184 CKAT assessments were performed. A CKAT threshold of “Carrell + Perfusion >3” was highly specific (99%) and performed favorably to consultant opinion (specificity 95%). 96% of the kidneys implanted in accordance with the rule survived to 1 year (mean eGFR 45.3 mL/min/1.73 m2). To our knowledge, this is the first attempt to objectively define macroscopic features that are relevant to kidney utilization. Common language could support training in organ assessment and ultimately help address unnecessary discard of donor kidneys

Attitudes About Sex and Marital Sexual Behavior in Hai Duong Province, Vietnam

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/74926/1/j.1728-4465.2005.00047.x.pd

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

International recruitment of nurses : Nigerian case study

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