Use of Scleral Lenses in the Visual Rehabilitation of Keratoconus: A Case Series

Introduction: Scleral lenses also known as scleral contact lenses are rigid gas permeable contact lenses that rest entirely on the sclera without touching the cornea. This unique feature of scleral lenses makes it ideal in the management of complex corneal and ocular surface irregularity. Purpose: To report the indications, use and fiting of Europa scleral lenses for the visual rehabilitation of two patients with Keratoconus in a specialty contact lens practice in Abuja, Nigeria. Case reports: We report the cases of two female patients of Nigerian descent diagnosed with Keratoconus who were managed previously with other modalities of contact lenses but presented with unsatisfactory vision and discomfort with their habitual correction. The patients experienced vision fluctuation and discomfort with their lenses. They were diagnosed with contact lens induced papillary conjunctivitis (Case1) and contact lens induced ocular surface disease (Case2) and uncorrected irregular astigmtism secondary to keratoconus (both cases). Following the management of the ocular surface disease both patients were fit into Europa scleral contact lenses which provided excellent vision and comfort to the patients. Conclusion: Scleral lenses are indicated in the management of complex corneal and ocular surface irregularities. These lenses vault the cornea and provide crisp vision expected of a rigid contact lens as well as comfort comparable to a soti lens.Keywords: Scleral contact lenses, Keratoconus, rigid gas permeable contact lenses, Ocular Surface disease

Customer Satisfaction of Air Travelers at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos

The study focuses on customer satisfaction of air travelers at Murtala Mohammed Airport, Ikeja. It aimed at ascertaining the level of quality service rendered to air passengers and to design ways to improve the level of customer satisfaction by meeting up to customer expectation. This study adopted a survey research design using questionnaire as the only instrument to gather information from the respondents. The population of passengers was not known and so the sample size (n) was 384 which was determined using infinite population formula:  n = (z/e)2 (p)(1-p) with  1.96 confidence level (z), where p is 0.5.A total of 384 copies of questionnaire were administered personally by the researcher with help of a research assistant using convenience sampling technique. The study was carried out twice within two months interval and multiple samples were taken in each of these studies. The study revealed that passengers had adequate knowledge on the current state of the airport and prefer Air Peace, Arik and Azman Airlines to others due to adequate safety and security, effective communication of flight information, accurate time keeping for flight departures/arrivals and good quality of service. There were no cases of missing luggage, fluctuating penalty charges for extra luggage and delay in retrieving of luggage upon arrival. Among the challenges confronting Murtala Mohammed International Airport were high total cost of aviation fuel, safety and security, lack of adequate funding, inadequate airport infrastructure, lack of enabling regulatory framework, inadequate manpower development, and domination by foreign airlines. Problems encountered by passengers with service providers are hoarding and overcharging of tickets and overbooking of flights.  The ways to satisfy air travelers and meeting their expectations are stable operating environment, skills acquisition and capacity building of service providers, preventive maintenance of airport infrastructure, provision of adequate safety and security standards, quick response to air traveler’s complaints. Keywords: customer satisfaction, aviation, air travelers, airline, airports

BOUNDS OF SOLUTIONS OF DUFFING’S EQUATION

In this paper,  a sufficient criteria is given to determine the bounds of solutions for a Duffing’s type equation using fixed point theorem of Schauder and augmented by Schaefer’s Lemma.Our results include and improve some well-known results in literatur

Minimization of Co-Channel Interference in a Heterogeneous Network Environment

This paper presented the minimization of interference in a co-channel network environment. Co-channel interference is one of the leading forms of interference in communication systems. This form of interference is very alarming because it doesn’t just generate noise in the receiver but also causes heavy jamming by giving you other signals that weren’t desired. This research aims to reduce noise and separate identical channels from the primary or desired signals. Communication systems face too many problems, but co-channel interference is one of the major problems. The co-channel interference sends several pieces of information to the receiver because the channels share the same characteristics of signals, at that point noise will be generated and information jamming will occur. The method used in reducing the co-channeling noise is the digital low pass filter, the digital low pass filter in the desired receiver blocks the other frequencies coming to interfere with the desired signal and allows only the desired signal to make it through without any interference. The low pass filter is designed such as to see other interfering signals at a high frequency. The results of this research work show that the bit error rate is low due to the intervention of the filter, interference was reduced, and the noise was reduced from 130dB to 10 dB. The research work evaluated the behaviour of the co-channel interference and the bit error rate and determined the low pass filter response for noise reduction. The research also recommends further improvements in the improvement of bit error rate, improving noise reductions in the channels, and prevention

On the Liquidity Management in Businesses: A Key to Survival and Growth

The management of cash no doubts impacts positively on the survival and growth of firms.  What is in doubt is the amount of cash to be held by a firm as enough cash to enable the firm stay “afloat”.  The objective of this paper is to examine the liquidity management in firms as a key to the survival and growth of businesses.  Data from existing literature were collated and used for narrative purposes on liquidity planning and management problems.  This paper recommends that good knowledge of cash flow forecasting and budgeting, two key components to financial stability and solvency are essential to growth in business. Key words: liquidity Management, Cash flow, Survival and Growth, Forecasts, Behavioural Motivations

ON THE TECHNOLOGICAL PROMISES AND CHALLENGES FACING E-BUSINESSES IN NIGERIA

This paper attempts to address the technological promises and challenges facing e-business in Nigeria. E-business representsa major opportunity for developing nations that can access it effectively and a threat to those that cannot. E-business holdsgreat promise and challenges for Nigeria in ten areas: what is really e-business, potential benefits of the internet in Nigeria,the development context in Nigeria, e-business: towards a conceptual understanding, strategies to encourage the ICTinfrastructure in Nigeria, technology requirements and components for e-business in Nigeria, technology services, thechallenges faced by Nigerians in the use of e-business, the policy challenge for Nigeria and finally, the impact of informationtechnology upon productivity in Nigeria.Keywords: E-business, Developing Countries, Internet, B2B, ICT, E-commerce

ASSESSMENT OF SERUM AND URINE URIC ACID LEVEL IN RELATION WITH ANTHROPOMETRIC INDICES IN OVERWEIGHT AND OBESE UNIVERSITY UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

Objectives: Elevated uric acid level is related to a variety of adverse metabolic conditions including gout, obesity, and risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. This prospective study designed to assess the serum and urine uric acid level in relation with anthropometric indices in overweight and obese undergraduate students at NAU, Nnewi, Nigeria.Methods: A total of 302 undergraduate students aged between 18 and 40 years were randomly recruited for the present study. They were grouped based on their body mass index (BMI) as overweight, obese, and control participants. 132 participants were males, of which 21 were obese, 34 were overweight while 77 were normal (control) males. 170 participants were females, of which 56 were obese, 62 were overweight while the remaining 52 were normal (control) females. Fasting blood and 24 h urine sample were aseptically collected from all the participants for determination of serum and urine uric acid.Results: The study observed significantly higher serum uric acid level in obese and overweight males than female and control counterparts (p=0.000, respectively). Urine uric acid level was significantly higher in obese males and females than in their overweight and control counterparts (p=0.000). This shows increase production and accumulation of monosodium urate with decreased uric acid excretion which may result in hyperuricemia and hyperuricosuria which may result in gout. Serum and urine uric acid levels were significantly higher among age range (26–32) and (33–40) years compared with those among age range (18–25) (p<0.05) signifying that uric acid level increases with age. Serum and urine uric acid were significantly positively correlated with BMI, waist circumference, and waist hip ratio (p<0.05).Conclusions: High serum uric acid is a prerequisite for gout and also associated with the metabolic syndrome and risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Proper awareness of the implication of hyperuricemia among undergraduate students is necessary

Relationship between biometry, fovea, and choroidal thickness in Nigerian children with myopia

Background: Understanding the relationship between biometric and structural changes in childhood myopia is necessary to effectively manage myopia progression. Aim: To determine the relationship between ocular biometry, fovea and sub-fovea choroidal thickness in school-aged children with myopia of Nigerian descent. Setting: Abuja, Nigeria. Methods: This study involved 189 children (117 girls and 72 boys), and myopia was defined as cycloplegic spherical equivalent refraction (SER) of ≤ −0.50 D. Keratometry values, biometry data, fovea and sub-foveal choroidal thickness (SFChT) values were obtained from medical records retrospectively and analysed. Results: The median age was 13 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 5). The median SER, fovea and SFChTs were −2.63 D (IQR: 3.38), 249 μm (IQR: 118) and 225 μm (IQR: 341), respectively. Male children had flatter corneas, thicker fovea and thinner SFChT compared to female children. The vitreous chamber and axial length were longer and sub-fovea choroid was thinner in children with high myopia. There was a weak but significant positive correlation between myopia and sub-fovea choroidal thickness (r = 0.270 respectively, P  0.01). A moderate negative correlation was found between myopia and vitreous chamber depth (r = −0.536, P  0.001), and a strong negative correlation was found between myopia and axial length (r = −0.706, P  0.001). Conclusion: Myopia in school-aged Nigerian children is associated with sub-fovea choroidal thinning, increased vitreous chamber depth and axial elongation. Contribution: This study provides data on the relationship between ocular biometry, fovea and sub-foveal choroidal thickness in school-aged Nigerian children with myopia

Assessment of knowledge, practice and guidelines towards the novel COVID-19 among eye care practitioners in Nigeria : a survey-based study

The aim of this study was to explore knowledge, practice of risk and guidelines of the novel corona virus disease (COVID-19) infection among the eye care practitioners and the potential associated factors. A cross-sectional self-administered online survey was distributed via emails and social media networks between 2nd and 18th May 2020 corresponding to the week of the lockdown in Nigeria to eye care practitioners (ECPs). Data for 823 respondents were analyzed. Knowledge and risk practice were categorized as binary outcome and univariate and multivariate linear regression were used to examine the associated factors. The mean score for COVID-19-related knowledge of public health guidelines was high and varied across the ECPs. Ophthalmic Nurses, Ophthalmologists and Optometrists showed higher COVID-19-related knowledge than other ECPs (p < 0.001), particularly those working in the private sector. More than 50% of ECPs stated they provided essential services during the COVID-19 lockdown via physical consultation, particularly the Ophthalmologists. Most respondents reported that the guidelines provided by their Association were useful but expressed their lack of confidence in attending to patients during and after the COVID-19 lockdown. Compared to other ECPs in Nigeria, more Ophthalmic Nurses received training in the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). This survey is the first to assess knowledge, attitudes and practice in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria. ECPs in Nigeria displayed good knowledge about COVID-19 and provided eye care services during the COVID-19 lockdown in Nigeria, despite the majority not receiving any training on the use of PPEs with concerns over attending to patients. There is need for the government to strengthen health systems by improving and extending training on standard infection prevention and control measures to ECPs for effective control of the pandemic and in the future as essential health workers