Relationship between Aortic pulse wave velocity and left ventricular mass in a group of African ancestry is not accounted for by Aortic pressures

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, for the degree of Master of Science in Medicine. Johannesburg, 2017.Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) and backward waves, as determined from wave separation analysis, predict cardiovascular events beyond brachial blood pressure (BP). However, the extent to which these aortic hemodynamic variables contribute independent of each other is uncertain. In 749 randomly selected participants of African ancestry we therefore assessed the extent to which relationships between aortic PWV or backward wave pressures (Pb)(and hence central aortic pulse pressure [PPc]) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) occur independent of each other. Aortic PWV, PPc, forward wave pressure (Pf) and Pb were determined using radial applanation tonometry and SphygmoCor software and LVMI using echocardiography. 44.5% of participants had an increased LVMI-ht1.7. With adjustments for age, brachial systolic BP or PP and additional confounders, PPc and Pb, but not Pf was independently related to LVMI and LV hypertrophy (LVH) in both men and women. However, PWV was independently associated with LVMI in women (partial r=0.16, p<0.001), but not in men (partial r=0.03) and PWV was independently associated with LVH in women (p<0.05), but not in men (p=0.07). With PWV and Pb included in the same multivariate regression models, PWV (partial r=0.14, p<0.005) and Pb (partial r=0.10, p<0.05) contributed to a similar extent to variations in LVMI in women. In addition, with PWV and Pb included in the same multivariate regression models, PWV (p<0.05) and Pb (p<0.02) contributed to LVH in women. In conclusion, aortic PWV and backward wave pressure (and hence pulse pressure) although both associated with LVMI and LVH, produce effects which are independent of each other.LG201

Exploring double skin façade as strategy for achieving thermal comfort in proposed mixed use office complex Kano, Nigeria

Thermal comfort can be defined as a state of mind which a human feels neither too hot nor too cold. Thermal discomfort in the case of hot humid climates, becomes a great threat to our livelihood and thermal comfort in offices in general. The ability of designers to harness and use the building envelope make life much better and livable is of great importance. This research seeks to use Double skin façade as a strategy for improving indoor thermal comfort by testing the air gap between the double skins. Climate and Weather readings were obtained and used to simulate and check the effect of Double skin façade in improving indoor thermal comfort in office complex. Double skin facade has been suggested by many researchers as a possible alternative technique for improving indoor thermal comfort. The double skin facade study in this research involved computer simulation using Emissions Control Optimization TEChnology (ECOTEC). The result of the final base case model shows that double skin façade can increase the indoor thermal comfort in a building and the wider the air gap, the higher the thermal comfort by showing the hours of comfort and discomfort to the simulated office building. The other important factor is that it can continuously induce the flow of natural ventilation, regardless of the available wind outside of the office complex building. This effect is significant toward improving the thermal comfort performance in the office complex through passive natural ventilation

Anaemia and its associated factors among pregnant women in Koko, Kebbi State, Nigeria

Background: Anaemia in pregnancy remains a common problem affecting women in northern Nigeria. It is associated with several adverse consequences.Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of anaemia and its associated factors among pregnant women in Koko/Besse local government area of Kebbi state,Northwest Nigeria.Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among women using a standardized questionnaire for data collection. Haematocrit level was determined using the centrifuge technique. Data was analysed descriptively in Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS).Results: The prevalence of anaemia among our respondents was 23.5%.There were higher prevalence rates among those married in monogamous families, who did not attend antenatal care, unemployed, and those who were non-compliant with their prescribed antenatal care haematinics.Conclusion: The prevalence of anaemia in pregnancy even though high, was relatively lower than findings from other studies in the sub-region.A well developed and implemented public health intervention is likely to further reduce this prevalence.Keywords: Anaemia, pregnancy, prevalence, associated factors, Koko, Kebb

The Stochastic SIR Household Epidemics With TI ≡ 4:1 and TI Having GAMMA(a, b) Infectious Period Distribution

Model estimates, their functions are in no doubt affected by wrong choice of the infectious period distribution, TI when the actual one is unknown. This is a misspecification problem which is often accompanied with biased and imprecise estimates. This work does not com- pletely examined this problem but explored the choice of constant infectious period, TI ≡ 4.1 and TI distributed as Γ(2, 2.05) for the household epidemic and then examined their effects on the behaviours of the model functions and quality of its maximum likelihood estimates in order to see if there are considerable disparities in the maximum likelihood estimates and behaviours of the functions giving these scenarios and whether constant infectious period is a reasonable assumption for the stochastic SIR household epidemic. &nbsp

Effect of Micro Economic Factors on Residential Property Value in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, Nigeria

The research aims to assess the microeconomic factors affecting residential property values in Birnin Kebbi. Property serves as an asset for any individual, as real estate is one of life\u27s primary goals. Besides the need to eat and drink, property also plays a crucial role in daily life. Property values are influenced by various factors, which can be either microeconomic or macroeconomic in nature, or both. Many microeconomic variables are related to property attributes and buyer demographic profiles. To achieve this aim, two objectives were formulated: (i) to examine the types of property and microeconomic factors affecting property values in the study area, and (ii) to assess the effect of microeconomic factors on residential property values. Both primary and secondary sources of data were used for data collection. Out of 377 questionnaires administered, 321 were retrieved. Simple random sampling and stratified random sampling methods were employed. Quantitative methods were used for data analysis, and all data gathered were analysed using descriptive statistics and the Likert scale. The study found that physical characteristics of residential properties, such as types of materials used, building design, room sizes, parking spaces, building age, and landscape, significantly influence property values. Additionally, the types of finishes (roofs, walls, ceilings, and floors), infrastructural facilities, and social amenities (number of toilets, electricity fittings, waste disposal and sewage, potable water supply, and various sanitation facilities) also play a role. The effects of microeconomic variables on property values in the study area include insecurity, increased traffic, property price changes, nuisances, environmental quality, property demand, and time consumption. The study recommends that prospective property developers ensure the use of standard building finishes to maximize returns on their investment in property value. Additionally, the government should introduce policies to ease difficulties in importing housing materials and promote the manufacture of local ones

An empirical analysis on customers’ acceptance of Islamic micro finance in Kano State, North Western-Nigeria : the moderating effect of awareness

Purpose: The objective of this research paper is to conceptualize the model in examining the moderating effect of awareness on attitude, knowledge, and customers’ acceptance of Islamic micro finance in Kano State, North Western-Nigeria. As, Islamic micro financial institutions deliver loans to small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Since, it serves as a means of curving of some social vices such as poverty, ethno-religious crises, farmers and herdsmen crises, cattle rustling, arm rubbers and kidnappers among others. Despite it great contributions to the growth of the economy there is deprived awareness on Islamic micro finance which leads to inadequate investment and patronage by the people in Kano State. Investors and the general public can use this research for guidance towards investments of their capital into Islamic micro finance for maximum profits. Also, stake holders, SMEs, traders and farmers can utilize the outcome of this study. Similarly, stock exchange commission, Central Bank of Nigeria and other financial institutions can use the results of this study towards making policies and strategies. -- Design/methodology/approach: Questionnaire was used and data was collected by random sample of 400 selected Islamic micro finance customers in Kano state, Nigeria. PLSSEM was used in analysing and testing the formulated hypotheses. -- Findings: Result indicated that knowledge and attitude have positive and significant relationship on acceptance of Islamic micro finance, while, awareness did not moderate relationship between attitudes but moderates knowledge and acceptance of Islamic micro finance.peer-reviewe

Interventional programs for community reintegration after spinal cord injury: a scoping review

Advances in healthcare and technology have led to increased survival rates after spinal cord injury (SCI). To facilitate recovery, regain function, and promote quality of life after SCI, rehabilitation in the acute care setting is of paramount importance. After discharge from acute care, there is difficulty in accessing appropriate intervention to facilitate community rein-tegration. This review examined the content, strengths, limitations, and effectiveness of existing community reintegration intervention programs after SCI to promote the adoption of the existing programs or the development of new interventions for individuals with SCI in a low-resource setting. We conducted a review of the literature using Arksey and O’Malley’s methodological framework. Six electronic databases were searched from the database inception to September 2022, including Medline, CINAHL, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Sabinet, and Global Health. A manual search of the selected references was also conducted. Seven articles met our inclusion criteria. Overall, 290 individuals participated in the included studies, 80% of the participants were males, and the majority of the participants had an injury at the thoracic level. The studies presented different interventional programs with varying contents addressing different aspects of community reintegration such as household duties, mobility, health maintenance, and recre-ation. All the identified programs have evidence of preliminary effectiveness in some domains of community reintegration (e.g., household duties, mobility, and health). However, most available programs are geared toward addressing a specific aspect of community reintegration and may not be suitable for individuals with complex needs. A robust program that encompasses all critical aspects of community reintegration (housing and household duties, mobility, recreation, health maintenance, pain management, sexuality, social support, and employment) may be required. Therefore, further development and validation of existing programs are warranted

Challenges of Immunization Coverage among a Semi-Nomadic Population in Kano State, North West Nigeria

Nigeria has been reported to be off track in achieving the 4th Millennium Development Goal (Reducing Child Mortality) due to poor health indicators such a

New records of rare species in the Mediterranean Sea (May 2020)

This Collective Article presents information about 17 taxa belonging to four Phyla (one Cnidaria, two Arthropoda, four Mollusca, and ten Chordata) and extending from the Western Mediterranean to the Levantine Sea. The new records were reported from nine countries as follows: Algeria: first published records of the clingfishes Apletodon dentatus and Lepadogaster lepadogaster after 1955; France: first record of the tripletail Lobotes surinamensis in French Mediterranean waters; Italy: new records of the rare bonito Orcynopsis unicolor and the recently described nudibranch Elysia rubeni from Sicily; first records of the parasitic cirriped Sacculina eriphiae and the nudibranch Dondice trainitoi in the Ionian Sea; first record of the nudibranch Taringa tritorquis in the Mediterranean Sea; first record of the tripletail Lobotes surinamensis in the North Ionian Sea; first documented record of the cephalopod Macrotritopus defilippi in the Adriatic Sea; Slovenia: first record of the Mediterranean endemic cryptobenthic goby Odondebuenia balearica; Montenegro: several recent occurrences of the critically endangered bull ray Aetomylaeus bovinus in the South-eastern Adriatic Sea; Greece: records of the nudibranch Dondice trainitoi in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea; new record of the occurrence of the Mediterranean spearfish Tetrapturus belone from Greece (Rhodes Island); Turkey: recent captures of the vulnerable ocean sunfish Mola mola, caught by purse-seine, in the Aegean Sea and the Dardanelles; new record of the luvar Luvarus imperialis along the Aegean coast of Turkey; Cyprus: first record of the habitat-forming hydroid Lytocarpia myriophyllum, often in considerable densities; first confirmed record of the agujon needlefish Tylosurus imperialis; Syria: first record of the decapod Ethusa mascarone

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London