Analysis of A Uniform Bernoulli – Euler Beam on Winkler Foundation Subjected to Harmonic moving load

This paper established Galerkin Finite element method coupled with Newmark Beta time integration method to analyze Winkler foundation subjected to a harmonic moving load on a uniform Bernoulli – Euler Beam. MATLAB software was used to implement the Newmark time integration method to obtain the Analysis. The deflection of the Beam increase when the acceleration of the load was change from am = 2m/s2 to am = 15m/s2. Also when the position of the load was change from n = 5 to n = 10. It was observed from the results that the position of the load and the acceleration of the moving load affect the deflection of the Beam

Dynamic response analysis of a uniform conveying fluid pipe on two – parameter elastic foundation

In this study, the Dynamic Response of a Fluid Conveying Pipe on a Pasternak Foundation is investigated using a Galerkin finite element method. Several factors affecting the vibration of the conveying pipe such as foundation stiffness, length of pipe, fluid density have been studied extensively. From results obtained, it shows that foundation and length of the pipe affects the mechanical behaviour of fluid conveying pipe.Keywords: Vibration; Deflection; Elastic; Pipe; Mass Matri

A Mathematical Model for the Dynamics of Zika Virus via Homotopy Perturbation Method

Zika virus is a member of the Flavivirus genus of the Flaviviridae family, which includes other globally relevant human’s pathogens such as dengue virus, yellow fever virus, West Nile virus and tick-borne encephalitis virus. In this paper, a deterministic mathematical model of Zika virus was formulated using ordinary differential equations with two control strategies: treatment for humans and insecticide spray for mosquitoes. Homotopy Perturbation Method was used to obtain the approximate solution of the model. From the result obtained, 59% effective administration of insecticide spray proved effective which showed a great reduction in the infected humans as well as infected vector population. Numerical results were offered in the form of Graphs. This research work contributes to new field of knowledge included to the dynamics of Zika virus in population’s dynamics with the application of Homotopy Perturbation Method and can be further extended to study the pattern of Zika associated diseases that pose a significant public health risk. Keywords: Homotopy Perturbation method, Zika virus, Modelling, Numerical Simulation

Optimal Control of Beer Fermentation Process Using Differential Transform Method

In this paper, the mathematical model of batch fermentation process of ethanol was formulated. The method of differential transform was used to obtain the solution governing the fermentation process; the system of equation was transformed using the differential transform method. The result obtained from the model was observed to show that temperature plays an important role in the fermentation of ethanol, with an increase in temperature the production of ethanol tends to decreases while with a low temperature the production of ethanol increases. Keyword: Optimal Ethanol, Fermentation, Substrate, Diacetyl, Inoculu

Semi-analytical study of a one-dimensional contaminant flow in a finite medium

The Bubnov-Galerkin weighted residual method was used to solve a one-dimensional contaminant flow problem in this paper. The governing equation of the contaminant flow, which is characterized by advection, dispersion and adsorption was discretized and solved to obtain the semi-analytical solution. The adsorption isotherm was assumed to be of Freudlich type. The results obtained were expressed in graphical form to show the effect of change in the parameters on the concentration of the contaminants. From the analysis of the results, it was discovered that the contaminant concentration decreases with increase in the distance from the origin as the dispersion and velocity coefficient decrease.Keywords: Adsorption, advection, Bubnov-Galerkin weighted residuals, contaminant, dispersio

Estimation of zinc levels among children with malnutrition at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Northwestern Nigeria

Objective: Zinc plays a critical role in many body functions and its deficiency is associated with impaired cognitive function, behavioral problems, memory impairment, growth retardation, increased incidence of diarrhoea and recurrent infections. Although severe zinc deficiency is not common, mild to moderate deficiency is quite common globally. It is estimated that some form of zinc deficiency affects about one third of the world population, with estimates ranging from 4% to 73% across sub Saharan Africa. To determine the prevalence of zinc deficiency among malnourished children at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto.Methods: Study was descriptive cross-sectional, carried out at the Paediatric department of UDUTH, Sokoto from April 2013 to June 2014. It was conducted among children aged between 6 and 60 months who presented to the OPD and those that were admitted into paediatric wards of UDUTH with malnutrition. Children with similar characteristics that were well nourished served as controls. Cohorts were recruited consecutively until the required sample size was obtained. 5mls of venous blood was taken for serum zinc analysis from each child.Results: A total of 550 children were studied with 275 apiece for cohorts. The mean age of the malnourished children was 26.2±14.6 months compared to 28.2±17.0 months recorded for the controls (p=0.157).The mean serum zinc levels for the study subjects 13.5±3.3μmol/Lwas significantly lower than that of the controls (15.8±1.9μmol/L) (t=9.42, df=548, p=0.0001).Conclusion: The prevalence of zinc deficiency among both malnourished children and the controls was 0% using WHO reference value for children below the age of 5 years. Prophylactic doses of zinc should be given in all malnourish children in situation where mineral mix is not added to feed or f75 and f100 are not available. There is need to adhere to and use recommended cut off values recommended by WHO for defining zinc deficiency by researchers.Keywords: zinc, malnutrition, Sokot

Evaluation of Antibiotic Prescription and Utilization amongst Hospitalized Children in a Tertiary Facility in Sokoto, North-Western Nigeria

Background: Antibiotics are the most widely utilized therapeutic agents. Inappropriate use causes increase cost and antibiotic resistance. The World Health Organization recommends assessment of antibiotics use to guide prescribing practices. Objective: To describe the pattern of antibiotic usage among paediatric inpatients aged > 1 month to 15 years in a tertiary hospital in Sokoto, Nigeria. Methods: Febrile children were recruited prospectively by systematic random sampling from January to October 2018. Socio-demographics, diagnosis, antibiotics administered were obtained from case notes. The WHO indicators of use of antibiotics were employed for evaluation. Data was analysed with SPSS version 23. Results: Out of 352 children, 318 (90.3%) received antibiotics; commonest being Ceftriaxone in 155/318 (48.7%), Cefuroxime in 74 (23.2%), and Metronidazole in 29 (9.1%). Average number of antibiotics per patient was 2.3±1.1 with treatment duration of 4.3±1.4days. Antibiotic consumption was 937.2 days of antibiotic therapy/1000 patient days (DOT/PD). Generic name was used in 92.3% while 100% of the drugs were on the essential medicine list. Frequent diagnoses were severe malaria 98/352 (27.8%), respiratory infections 39 (11.1%) and severe malnutrition in 38 (10.8%). Only 6 (1.7%) patients had microbiologic evidence of infection. Conclusion: Utilization of antibiotics is higher than recommended. There is need for improved diagnostic facilities to avoid antibiotic overuse and its consequences. Keywords: antibiotics, prescription, utilization, children, inpatients, DO

Prevalence and clinical forms of malaria among febrile HIV-infected children seen at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria

Background: Malaria and HIV infections are major health problems facing the world today. Sub-Saharan Africa with 10 percent of world’s population harbors more than half the burden of the scourge. The present study determined the prevalence and clinical forms of malaria among febrile HIV-infected children aged 3months to 15years, seen in Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto, Nigeria.Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional study among febrile HIV-infected children and their control cohort were carried out between May and October 2016. The participants had the following investigations: malarial parasite, packed cell volume, random blood sugar, retroviral test.Results: A total of 140 febrile HIV-infected children aged 3 months to 15 years and 140 febrile HIV-negative age- and gender-matched children were recruited; 100 of the HIV-infected children were on ART and cotrimoxazole. The prevalence of malaria among the febrile HIV-infected children was 71.4% (100/140) which was significantly lower than the prevalence of 94.3% (132/140) among the control group (χ2 27.72, p=0.001). Among the febrile HIV-infected children that had malaria, 54(54.0%) had uncomplicated malaria while 46(46.0%) had severe malaria. Of the 132 controls that had malaria, 48(36.4%) had uncomplicated malaria and 84(63.6%) had severe malaria (χ2 =7.184, p=0.007).Conclusion: Malaria is a problem in HIV-infected children. Since nearly half of the febrile HIV-infected children had severe form of malaria, it is recommended that health promotion, intermittent malaria prophylaxis, early diagnosis and prompt effective treatment should be instituted for HIV-infected children. This may prevent severe form of malaria and its attendant mortality. Key words: Malaria; Prevalence and clinical forms of malaria; Febrile, HIV-infected, Sokoto state

Risk factors for diagnosed noma in northwest Nigeria: A case-control study, 2017

Background Noma (cancrum oris), a neglected tropical disease, rapidly disintegrates the hard and soft tissue of the face and leads to severe disfiguration and high mortality. The disease is poorly understood. We aimed to estimate risk factors for diagnosed noma to better guide existing prevention and treatment strategies using a case-control study design. Methods Cases were patients admitted between May 2015 and June 2016, who were under 15 years of age at reported onset of the disease. Controls were individuals matched to cases by village, age and sex. Caretakers answered the questionnaires. Risk factors for diagnosed noma were estimated by calculating unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and respective 95% confidence intervals (CI) using conditional logistic regression. Findings We included 74 cases and 222 controls (both median age 5 (IQR 3, 15)). Five cases (6.5%) and 36 (16.2%) controls had a vaccination card (p = 0.03). Vaccination coverage for polio and measles was below 7% in both groups. The two main reported water sources were a bore hole in the village (cases n = 27, 35.1%; controls n = 63, 28.4%; p = 0.08), and a well in the compound (cases n = 24, 31.2%; controls n = 102, 45.9%; p = 0.08). The adjusted analysis identified potential risk and protective factors for diagnosed noma which need further exploration. These include the potential risk factor of the child being fed pap every day (OR 9.8; CI 1.5, 62.7); and potential protective factors including the mother being the primary caretaker (OR 0.08; CI 0.01, 0.5); the caretaker being married (OR 0.006; CI 0.0006, 0.5) and colostrum being given to the baby (OR 0.4; CI 0.09, 2.09). Interpretation This study suggests that social conditions and infant feeding practices are potentially associated with being a diagnosed noma case in northwest Nigeria; these findings warrant further investigation into these factors