DEVELOPMENT OF PREDICTIVE MODELS FOR SOME ANTHROPOMETRIC DIMENSIONS OF NIGERIAN OCCUPATIONAL BUS OPERATORS

Movement of commodities, material and men from one place to another using various automated means remains a major activity of mankind. The operation of the transportation systems placed much demand on operators’ capabilities and limitations in relation to human body dimensions. A stratified sample size of 160 drivers were randomly selected among the operators of commercial buses in six (6) selected motor parks within the study area were considered and anthropometric variables relating to seated drivers’ workplace were collected using developed and calibrated anthropometric seat, stadiometer, vernier-calipers, tape rule and bathroom weighing scale. The collected data were analysed using STATA 11.0 and Microsoft excel 2010. Descriptive statistics which included; mean, standard deviation, range and percentiles (5th, 50th and 95th percentiles) were determined. The database developed were used to describe the drivers’anthropometry. Design-Expert 6.0.8 version was used in modelling the anthropometric equations. Models were developed for buttock popliteal length, anterior arm reach and thigh clearance height from data collected for statures, weight and popliteal height sitting. The resulting models exhibited quadratic property with coefficient of determination (R2) ranging between 0.88 and 0.94. These model provide significantly efficient and effective tool for predicting the studied anthropometric dimensions Automotive industries whose market is in Nigeria and other similar manufacturing companies would find this models useful in both design and manufacture of goods

Anthropometry Survey of Nigerian Occupational Bus Drivers to Facilitate Sustainable Design of Driver’s Workplace

Driving is a highly demanding and responsible job in which both the driver and passengers are exposed to several occupational risks.However, poor design of driver’s workplace is a major risk factor responsible for the uncomfortable conditions which operators of this highly technological system are exposed to especially when engaged in long distance driving. This study aimed at developing anthropometric model for business bus drivers in Nigerian which will facilitate sustainable design of driver’s workplace. A sample size of 161 drivers were randomly selected among strata of operators of buses in selected motor parks in the study area for the ergonomic study. Twelve anthropometric data were collected and analysed to obtain their 5th,50th and 95th percentiles with which the anthropometric model were developed. Anthropometric model developed from 1932 data points was presented in forms of table showing measurement of sitting driver’s body parts in his workspace indicating design for average as well as extremities of 5th and 95th percentiles. The model represents a database from which designers, manufacturers of equipment, machine, automobiles and household goods can obtain relevant body measurement of the population under study in relation relevant to specific product feature and for development of sustainable workspace design

Determinants of Willingness to Pay for COVID-19 Vaccines among Residents of Osun State, South-West Nigeria

Background: COVID-19 pandemic has affected virtually all spheres of society. As countries await the COVID-19 vaccine, it is imperative to plan for its financing to ensure high vaccine coverage. This study aimed to determine the willingness to pay for COVID-19 vaccine among adult residents of Osun State.Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study design was employed. Seven hundred and forty-four respondents were enrolled from three selected Local Government Areas using multistage sampling method. An interviewer-administered questionnaire in electronic format (Kobo Collect) was used for data collection while the data was analysed using SPSS version 25. Determinants of willingness to pay for COVID-19 vaccine were assessed using binary logistic regression. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: About one-quarter, 181 (24.3%) were willing to pay for COVID-19 vaccine. The median amount respondents were willing to pay was ₦650 (IQR= ₦1563) [$1.71 (IQR =$3.96)]. Being a healthcare worker (Odds ratio = 2.0, 95% CI =1.085–3.712, p=0.026), perception of susceptibility (Odds ratio = 1.9, 95%CI = 1.232-2.973, p=0.029) and self-efficacy (Odds ratio = 2.5, 95% CI = 1.571 – 4.071, p<0.001) were significant positive determinants of willingness to pay for COVID-19 vaccine. Misconceptions or perceived barriers were not significant determinants of willingness to pay for the vaccine.Conclusion: These findings indicate that there is a need for health promotion interventions to correct misconceptions about COVID-19. Government and private donor interventions may be required to subsidize the vaccine to ensure high vaccine coverage

Effect of Thermal Stresses on Self Supporting Telecommunication Mast

This work has studied the effect of thermal stresses on four-legged Self Supporting telecommunication mast. ANSYS software was used in studying the displacement patterns due to daily fluctuating temperatures over a period of 5 years using Ibadan, Nigeria metropolis environment as a case study. The telecommunication mast was geometrically modelled using AUTOCAD and imported into ANSYS for the finite element analysis. The mast was loaded with antenna loads of 2,755N and thermal load. The temperature data was collated in Microsoft excel and converted into .dat file format using MATLAB, before loading into ANSYS workspace for use. The loaded telecommunication mast was displaced from its original position at the top due to thermal load with maximum displacement of 0.022851 mm and minimum displacement of 0mm at the bottom of the mast. The model results showed cyclicdisplacement pattern of the telecommunication mast for the period under study but will not result into collapse of the mast in the period studied

Development of Automatic Switch using PIR and SSR for Day and Night Detection

None conservative attitude is observed among the African people in non-conservative utilization of public power supply. Individuals are often observed power on the lightings, cooling systems when not needed at homes, offices and commercial centers. This increases power bills and may hinders a nation from diverting power to industrial areas, limiting the process of industrialization and waste of energy. To avert these, this paper presents development of automatic switch using passive infrared sensor (PIR) and solid state relay (SSR) for day and night detection. The objective of this project is to replace the electromagnetic relays which may fail as a result of carbon forming resulting from arching in existing designs with solid state relay. Also, the system is to conserve energy more by ensuring that bulbs are not powered on during the day time except in cases of darkness. The circuit was designed using components such as; power supply, PIR sensor, Light Dependent resistor (LDR) sensor, Microcontroller and SSR, as showed in the circuit figures 1 and 8. The system is achieved using PIC16f628 which is programmed using Micro-C, SSR for switching, PIR for human detection and LDR to detect night and day. The system was tested and worked perfectly. It helped to conserve energy

Development of Automatic Switch using PIR and SSR for Day and Night Detection

None conservative attitude is observed among the African people in non-conservative utilization of public power supply. Individuals are often observed power on the lightings, cooling systems when not needed at homes, offices and commercial centers. This increases power bills and may hinders a nation from diverting power to industrial areas, limiting the process of industrialization and waste of energy. To avert these, this paper presents development of automatic switch using passive infrared sensor (PIR) and solid state relay (SSR) for day and night detection. The objective of this project is to replace the electromagnetic relays which may fail as a result of carbon forming resulting from arching in existing designs with solid state relay. Also, the system is to conserve energy more by ensuring that bulbs are not powered on during the day time except in cases of darkness. The circuit was designed using components such as; power supply, PIR sensor, Light Dependent resistor (LDR) sensor, Microcontroller and SSR, as showed in the circuit figures 1 and 8. The system is achieved using PIC16f628 which is programmed using Micro-C, SSR for switching, PIR for human detection and LDR to detect night and day. The system was tested and worked perfectly. It helped to conserve energy

Mismatch between Anthropometry Characteristics of Nigerian Occupational Bus Drivers and the In-Vehicle Measurement

The characterization of interfacing elements of in-vehicle and driver’s anthropometric variables of a randomly selected operators with sample size of 161 subjects of commercial buses in the study area were considered in this work. Participatory ergonomic intervention approach was employed in data mining, opinion gathering and subsequent analysis. Related variables between the two systems were compared to establish fitness as well as the level to which human operator were accommodated in the vehicle dimension. A few cases of misfit were recorded based on drivers’ opinion and the measurements taken. Work related musculoskeletal disorder experienced by the users under study were traceable to inappropriate design variable of the in-vehicle elements.    

Skill Transfer in Sino-Nigerian Rail Transportation Partnership: A Quest for Sustainability of the Rail Sub-Sector in Nigeria

The moribund nature of railway system in Nigeria due to lack of indigenous engineering and funding facilitated the renewed interest in Sino-Nigerian partnership largely framed by the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation(FOCAC) process, and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to develop Nigeria infrastructure. Consequently, despite the cooperation from China, through Sino-Nigerian partnership, there is uncertainty surrounding the Chinese skills transfer to Nigerian rail workers towards sustainable maintenance of Nigerian railway system. The paper explores the nature and level of skills transfer in Sino-Nigerian rail transportation partnership, and ascertained the employment considerations vis-à-vis skills transfer in the rail transportation partnership. It also examined the challenges and hindrance of skill transfer in Sino-Nigerian rail transportation partnership in Nigeria. Descriptive research design was engaged through qualitative approach. The approach relied on interviews as a form of primary data in sourcing for relevant information from participants. Quota and purposive (with snowball) sampling technique were engaged to select participants for the study. Content analysis was engaged for data analysis. The findings showed that non-technical workers were the major beneficiaries of Sino-Nigerian skill transfer through on-the-job training. Thus, the knowledge transfer was slower than expected and the Nigerian engineers who were supposed to acquire the most important skills in SGR project were not given the opportunity by the Chinese. The study concluded that there is an apt need for Nigeria to develop her own indigenous technology that will be viable for long-term usage of railway sub-sector without relying on external technology

Global Economic Recession: The Place of Biotechnology

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a leading cause of congenital infections worldwide Women infected for the first time during pregnancy are especially likely to transmit CMV to their fetuses and has been proposed as a risk factor for preterm birth. The seroprevalence of CMV in adults and the incidence of congenital CMV infection are highest in developing countries (1 to 5% of births) 90% of infected infants are asymptomatic at birth and are not recognized as at risk for CMV-associated infection. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence rate of CMV infection among pregnant women attending an antenatal clinic. In this study, Two-hundred and eighty eight (288) pregnant women were enrolled. Questionnaires were issued to volunteer subjects after due consent was sought, to determine demographic and other relevant data. 5mls of blood was collected by venous puncture from the antecubital fossa and dispensed into plain containers; sera were collected after centrifugation of the blood. Sera obtained were screened for the presence of CMV (IgM) antibodies using ELISA technique (Clinotec Laboratories Canada).Result showed that out of the 288 women tested, 54 (18.8%) were positive for CMV antibodies while 234 (81.2%) tested negative. With regards to age group distribution, women within 15 – 20 years had a prevalence rate of 4.5%, 21 – 30 years both had 3.5%, 31 – 35 had 3.1%, 36 – 40 years had 1.3% while 41 – 45 years had a prevalence rate of 2.8%, all the age groups had no statistical significant (P>0.05) result. With regards to trimester of the volunteer subjects screened, 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimester subjects recorded a prevalence rate of 3.1%, 9.4% and 6.2% respectively which was statistically significant (P0.05).Occupational status of subjects studied recorded no statistical significant (P0.05) result obtained showed that unemployed subjects recorded a prevalence of 5.6% compared to the self-employed with 4.9%, farmers recorded 3.8%, while students had a prevalence of 1.7% however subjects who are civil servants recorded a prevalence of 2.8%. Location of volunteer subjects studied showed that pregnant in rural areas had a prevalence rate of 12.2% while those living in urban areas recorded 6.6% prevalence without any statistical significant (P0.05).Records from this study indicates the of presence of CMV (Igm) antibodies amongst the subjects screened. Hence the need for early detection of the virus in pregnant women