Impact of girl-child early marriage on the level of divorce among some northerners in Kano State, Nigeria

The study examined the impact of girl-child early marriage on the level of divorce among some Northerners in Kano State, Nigeria. Two research hypotheses guided the study. The study was limited to underaged married women from four local government areas of Kano State namely Nasarawa, Dawakin Tofa, Sumaila and Takai. Descriptive survey research design was used in the study. Two hundred (200) underaged married women were sampled using simple random sampling technique. A 20 item Researcher constructed questionnaire titled Impact of Early Marriage on Level of Divorce Questionnaire (IEMLDQ) was used for data collection. The questionnaire has a reliability coefficient of 0.76. The data collected were analysed using t-test statistical tool at 0.05 level of significance. The results of the analysis showed that there is a significant impact of girl-child early marriage on the level of divorce and there is a significant impact of maturity on the level of divorce among some northerners. Counselling implications based on the findings were discussed among them is that counsellors should campaign against girl-child early marriage by creating awareness about negative impact of girl-child early marriage. Based on these findings, the study recommends among others that people from northern states should be counselled on the dangers of girl-child early marriage and their impact on level of divorce. Again, parents should be encouraged to send their girl-child to school because education is the key.Keywords: Girl-child, marriage, early marriage, Divorc

Geophysical Investigation of the Subsurface Fractures Zones Using Vertical Electrical Sounding in Kassa Volcanic Field (KVF) on the Jos Plateau, North central, Nigeria

A geophysical investigation using geo-electrical resistivity method was carried out in the Kassa Volcanic Field (KVF) on the Jos Plateau to reveal the subsurface structural lineaments as indicated in the satellite images covering the area. The electrical resistivity method utilized the Schlumberger technique along 3 profiles. A total of 36 Vertical Electrical Soundings (VES) stations with AB/2 (current electrode spacing) from 1.5 to 215m with intervals of 50m and depth penetration capability of 70m was carried out. The results obtained revealed 3-5 lithologies sequence with thicknesses ranges between 0.1 and 70m and resistivity values of between 34 ?m and 2222 ?m.   Nineteen major fractures at various depths were intercepted at various VES stations and these are probably the zones through which the basaltic lava out poured apart from the central volcanic vent.  The VES results revealed heterogeneous nature of the subsurface geological sequence. The geologic sequence beneath the study area is composed of hard pan top soil (clayey and laterite), weathered basaltic rock layers, partly weathered or fractured and fresh basement rocks. Keywords: Geo-electric section, Subsurface, Vertical Electrical Sounding, Kassa Volcanic Field, Schlumberger Array, Jos Platea

Strength of short concrete-filled steel tubes considering a physic-geometrical factor of concrete core under axial compression

Test data have shown that the increase in strength of concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) columns due to confinement are in variable bigger range than the strength without confinement. Different approaches and design philosophies were adopted in different design codes to account for this increase in strength. The theoretical research herein consider the effect of important physic-geometrical concrete core factors, such as the effect of confining lateral pressure on the concrete core expressed through the coefficient value of lateral confinement, the variable expected direction of failure planes and the enhanced compressive strength of concrete core with different concrete grades. Analytical expression has been proposed to determine the compressive strength of short (CFST) columns taking into account these factors for normal weight concrete core. The results of the analysis and comparison with some design codes indicate that the proposed approach yields satisfactory prediction. Keywords: concrete-filled steel tubular columns; physic-geometrical factor; coefficient lateral confinement; and direction of failure plane

Effects of shisha smoke inhalation on some long-term memory forms in adult male mice

Background: Shisha is a flavoured tobacco designed to be smoked in a water-pipe, but it effects on long-term memory has not been fully explored. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of Shisha smoke inhalation on some long-term memory models in adult male BALB/c mice. Methods: Twenty male mice were divided into 4 groups of five mice each. Group I (control): fresh air; group II: exposed to bonged Shisha; group III: exposed to unbonged Shisha; group IV: exposed to activated charcoal smoke only. Each group was exposed for thirty minutes daily for seven weeks. Long-term memory was assessed using elevated plus maze (EPM), novel object recognition test (NORT) and Barnes maze (BM). Results: There was statistically significant decrease (P<0.05) in novel object recognition in bonged Shisha group when compared with the control. There was statistically significant increase (P<0.05) in spatial learning and memory in bonged Shisha group when compared with control. There was statistically significant decrease (P<0.05) in acetylcholinesterase activity in bonged Shisha group when compared with control, but there was no statistically significant difference in anxiety related spatial memory in elevated plus maze when compared with the control. There was also increased in necrosis of hippocampal cells in bonged Shisha group and slight necrosis in unbonged and activated charcoal smoke when compared to control mice. Conclusion: The outcomes of this study suggest that bonged Shisha smoke is neurotoxic to the brain because of combined effect of various toxicants emanating from different Shisha smoke constituents used in the set-up Keywords: Shisha, Memory, Hippocampus, Acetylcholinesteras

Analysis of the Extent of Red Light Running in Minna, North-Central Nigeria

This research pursued the objectives of assessing the awareness, perception, and levels of adherence of road users to traffic rules and regulations. The study was carried out in Minna and the major signalized roads were the target of the research. The research applied the survey research methodology, which involves carrying volumetric count of vehicles running the red lights on the signalized routes. The research, therefore, found out that, majority of the violators of the traffic signals were the motorcycle riders, closely followed by the tricycle operators; the commercial vehicle owners also form a major percentage of violators of the red light rules in the city. The research, therefore, recommended that strict measures aimed at ensuring immediate compliance with the traffic signals should be implemented, through fines and sanctions on violators to impoundment of offending vehicles. The research concluded that, if instant measures are not put in place to check the menace of the red light running, it will have a serious adverse effect on the social and economic strata of the city

Elderly persons in humanitarian emergencies in Bangladesh: qualitative experiment on dreams and reality

The recent influx of Myanmar Rohingya people has created huge strains for the host community in Ukhiya and Teknaf Upazilas under the Cox’s Bazar District in the southern part of Bangladesh. The strains involve socio-economic, cultural, political and environmental burdens for the Government of Bangladesh. Although it has allowed the Rohingya people solely for humanitarian reasons, as yet the country has received little support from the international community in order to help return them to their country of origin. In this forced Rohingya migration crisis, the elderly, children and women and also young girls are the most vulnerable. Bangladesh has successfully managed the crisis so far by providing food, shelter and medical support in an integrated way. As an NGO, YPSA is providing support to elderly Rohingya people in the camps since the crisis began through age friendly support centres in selected camps in order to provide basic medical treatment, counselling, education, health and wellbeing, indoor games and recreation space for example. Yet there have not been any study involving the Rohingya elderly in the camps to help understand their expectations. The purpose of the paper is to examine the current support for the Rohingya elderly in the Ukhiya camps and to evaluate their expectations for returning to Myanmar. A pilot survey was conducted on 26th April 2019 in two campsites and in-depth interviews conducted with 4 participants (2 males and 2 females) followed by a focus group discussion. It emerged that the elderly receive necessary services from the YPSA centres and are generally happy with those services. They also reported that they remain grateful to Bangladesh for sheltering them but are not happy compared to their lives back in Myanmar. Almost all the elderly that took part reported that their expectation is to go back to Myanmar as soon as possible. They also seek justice from the international community so that the Rohingya crisis can soon come to an end

Humanitarian emergencies of Rohingya older people in Bangladesh: A qualitative study on hopes and reality

The recent influx of Myanmar Rohingya people are allowed in Bangladesh simply due to humanitarian reason, of which older people are amongst the most vulnerable groups. Utilizing integrated methods, the refugee crisis is being managed jointly by various stakeholders. Young Power in Social Action (YPSA) is an NGO that has been providing support to older Rohingya people in the camps since the crisis began through their Age Friendly Support (AFS) centres. These centres provide basic medical treatment, counselling, education, health and wellbeing services, indoor games, and recreational services/activities. Yet, there have not been any studies to understand the expectations of older Rohingya people living in the camps. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to examine the current YPSA support for older Rohingya people living in the Ukhiya camps and to evaluate their expectations for returning to Myanmar. A pilot survey was conducted on 26th April 2019 in two camp sites and in-depth interviews were also conducted with 4 participants (2 males and 2 females), followed by a focus group discussion. It emerged that older Rohingya people received necessary support services from these YPSA centres and are generally happy with those services. Although they remain grateful to Bangladesh for sheltering them, they are not as happy compared to their lives back in Myanmar. Most of the older people reported that their expectations involved a return to Myanmar as soon as possible as well as seeking justice from the international community so that the Rohingya crisis could soon come to an end

Auf dem Weg zur individualisierten Medizin - Grid-basierte Services für die EPA der Zukunft.

Personalized Medicine is of paramount interest for many areas in Medical Informatics. Therefore genotype data as well a phenotype data about patients have to be available. This data will be stored in Electronic Health Records or – patient controlled - in Personal Health Records. As the amount of (raw) data is rising continuously, methods for a secure data administration have to be found. Grid Services offer data storage, can support data retrieval and the presentation of the data. The basic security services could be provided by the German health professional infrastructure, but there are many security challenges to be faced

High pTp_{T} non-photonic electron production in pp+pp collisions at s\sqrt{s} = 200 GeV

We present the measurement of non-photonic electron production at high transverse momentum ($p_T >$ 2.5 GeV/$c$) in $p$ + $p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 200 GeV using data recorded during 2005 and 2008 by the STAR experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). The measured cross-sections from the two runs are consistent with each other despite a large difference in photonic background levels due to different detector configurations. We compare the measured non-photonic electron cross-sections with previously published RHIC data and pQCD calculations. Using the relative contributions of B and D mesons to non-photonic electrons, we determine the integrated cross sections of electrons ($\frac{e^++e^-}{2}$) at 3 GeV/$c < p_T <~$10 GeV/$c$ from bottom and charm meson decays to be ${d\sigma_{(B\to e)+(B\to D \to e)} \over dy_e}|_{y_e=0}$ = 4.0$\pm0.5$({\rm stat.})$\pm1.1$({\rm syst.}) nb and ${d\sigma_{D\to e} \over dy_e}|_{y_e=0}$ = 6.2$\pm0.7$({\rm stat.})$\pm1.5$({\rm syst.}) nb, respectively.Comment: 17 pages, 17 figure

Mapping geographical inequalities in childhood diarrhoeal morbidity and mortality in low-income and middle-income countries, 2000–17 : analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

Background Across low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), one in ten deaths in children younger than 5 years is attributable to diarrhoea. The substantial between-country variation in both diarrhoea incidence and mortality is attributable to interventions that protect children, prevent infection, and treat disease. Identifying subnational regions with the highest burden and mapping associated risk factors can aid in reducing preventable childhood diarrhoea. Methods We used Bayesian model-based geostatistics and a geolocated dataset comprising 15 072 746 children younger than 5 years from 466 surveys in 94 LMICs, in combination with findings of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2017, to estimate posterior distributions of diarrhoea prevalence, incidence, and mortality from 2000 to 2017. From these data, we estimated the burden of diarrhoea at varying subnational levels (termed units) by spatially aggregating draws, and we investigated the drivers of subnational patterns by creating aggregated risk factor estimates. Findings The greatest declines in diarrhoeal mortality were seen in south and southeast Asia and South America, where 54·0% (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 38·1–65·8), 17·4% (7·7–28·4), and 59·5% (34·2–86·9) of units, respectively, recorded decreases in deaths from diarrhoea greater than 10%. Although children in much of Africa remain at high risk of death due to diarrhoea, regions with the most deaths were outside Africa, with the highest mortality units located in Pakistan. Indonesia showed the greatest within-country geographical inequality; some regions had mortality rates nearly four times the average country rate. Reductions in mortality were correlated to improvements in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) or reductions in child growth failure (CGF). Similarly, most high-risk areas had poor WASH, high CGF, or low oral rehydration therapy coverage. Interpretation By co-analysing geospatial trends in diarrhoeal burden and its key risk factors, we could assess candidate drivers of subnational death reduction. Further, by doing a counterfactual analysis of the remaining disease burden using key risk factors, we identified potential intervention strategies for vulnerable populations. In view of the demands for limited resources in LMICs, accurately quantifying the burden of diarrhoea and its drivers is important for precision public health