Socioeconomic inequalities in access to health care: Examining the case of Burkina Faso

Copyright @ 2011 Johns Hopkins University PressThe past decade has recorded remarkable interest in socioeconomic inequalities in health care. A multivariate analysis of the World Health Survey data for Burkina Faso was conducted using STATA. This included questions on household economic factors, perceived need, and access to health care. Poverty was defined using Principal Components Analysis. There was no significant difference in perceived need on the basis of poverty or gender. The less poor accessed health care more than the poor, but this difference was significant only among males. Respondents who lived in urban areas accessed health care more than those in rural areas, but this difference was significant only among females. We argue that health care financing arrangements affect self-reported need and access to health care. Even when they perceive need, the poor do not access care, probably because of cost, exacerbated by non-availability of readily accessible health care facilities

Enhancing awareness on green consumption of electronic devices: the application of Augmented Reality

During the past few decades, the adoption of electronic devices (e.g. television sets, computers, etc.) in both households and businesses has brought immense benefits to human beings. However, their increasing utilization adversely contribute to a rise in energy consumption, electronic waste and is even detrimental to human health and to the environment. As such, it is essential that human beings undertake actions to reduce the risks and damages caused by these devices to the environment. Concurrently, studies have revealed that a lack of knowledge is considered amongst the important barriers to the adoption of environmentally sustainable actions. One emerging technology that has shown to foster engagement, improve understanding and provide a unique learning experience is Augmented Reality (AR). However, this technology has not been exploited to improve awareness on environmentally sustainable use of electronic devices. As such, this paper investigates the application of AR to improve awareness on green consumption of electronic devices by delving into key research questions pertaining to technology acceptance, knowledge gains and associated barriers to adoption. In this endeavor, an AR-based mobile application was implemented to enable individuals learn energy consumption of electronic devices being used at home and offices. The research questions were answered following application of the Technology Acceptance Model and by conducting multiple-choice based tests. Results principally indicated a positive correlation between AR and learning enhancement on green consumption of electronic devices

Numerical Simulation for the Transmission Dynamics of Avian Influenza

This paper presents numerical simulations for the transmission dynamics of avian influenza using the model formulated and analysed by Kimbir etal (2014). It is proved that the disease free equilibrium state is locally asymptotically stable whenever the reproduction number is less than unity. The implication is that if the reproduction number is less than unity, the infection is controlled or eradicated and the disease persists otherwise. The numerical simulations are consistent with the local stability of the disease-free states. The simulations further reveals that the infection transmission rate constitutes an essential parameter for an epidemic to occur, thus efforts should be geared at bringing the infection transmission to the lowest level in order to ensure eradication. It was also shown from the study that increasing culling of infected birds, will reduce the disease progression within the birds’ population thereby, reducing the transmission of avian influenza. Effective isolation of infected individuals without culling is vital to eradicating the disease transmission, but a combined effective use of culling of infected birds and isolation of infected humans is a strong control measure against pandemics. Key words: Avian influenza, Mathematical model, Basic reproduction number, Numerical simulation

A Model Analysis for the Transmission Dynamics of Avian Influenza

This paper examines the transmission dynamics of avian influenza. A nonlinear mathematical model for the problem is formulated and analysed. For the prevalence of the disease and the ease of analysis, we considered the model in proportions of susceptible, infectious, isolated and recovered compartments. The basic reproduction number was computed and used to prove the stability of the disease free equilibrium states. It is proved that the basic reproduction number is a decreasing function of the culling rate of infected birds. It is further proved that the disease free equilibrium state is locally asymptotically stable whenever the basic reproduction number is less than unity. Key words: Avian influenza, Mathematical model, Basic reproduction number. Disease free equilibriu

Nigeria Local Government: A Discourse on the Theoretical Imperatives in a Governmental System

The need for the creation and existence of local governments in a  governmental system has, over the years, been one of the most frequently discussed issues in public administration studies. Accompanying this  discussion usually is the consideration of the challenges confronting the local governments in the performance of the functions that underscore the imperative for their creation. In this work, we articulated and analyzed in detail, the theoretical imperatives for the creation of local governments in governmental system. This we did under three major schools of thought on the functional relevance of the local governments. These schools of  thought are the democratic participatory school, the efficient-service school and the development school. We further explored and analyzed some of the factors that constitute fundamental challenges to the performance of the expected development roles by the local governments using the  Nigerian Federal system of government as a reference point. In conclusion, we noted that local governments constitute key institutions for enhancing democracy and advancing development particularly at the local or  grassroots level but constrained in the performance of these roles, by inadequate finance, poor political leadership and insufficient autonomy as exemplified in the Nigerian federal system of government.Key words: Local Government, governmental system, developmen

Evaluation of Organic Wastes on Some Selected Soil Physical Properties and Yield of Maize (Zea Mays L.) in an Ultisol of South Eastern Nigeria Previously Contaminated with Spent Lubricant Oil

This study conducted in Abakaliki during 2007 and 2008 cropping years to evaluate the effect of organic wastes on soil physical properties and  yield of maize (Zea Mays L.) in an ultisol previously contaminated with spent lubricant oil. The soils were contaminated with twenty (20) litres of spent lubricant oil sourced from the mechanic village Abakaliki and uniformly sprayed on each plot and amended with saw dust, unburnt rice husk dust and burnt rice husk dust. The control plot had no spent lubricant oil contamination. The experiment was laid out in Randomized  Complete Block Design (RCBD). An improved variety of maize (Oba super II) was used as a test crop. The result indicated that there were (P<0.05) significant differences among the treatments and on grain yield, bulk density, hydraulic conductivity, macro porosity, aggregate stability and  mean weight diameter. Similarly, the result showed that unburnt rice husk dust treatment recorded 5.08%, 25.49%, 46.43% and 25.35% increments for hydraulic conductivity, total porosity, macro porosity, respectively over control treatment. The result therefore, proved that remained organic wastes in the soil contaminated with spent lubricant oil could improve soil physical properties and agronomic yield of maize. Keywords: Ultisol, Soil physical properties, spent lubricant oil, yield of maize, Abakalik

Assessment of Selected Physico Chemical Properties of Soil for Site Suitability for Waste Disposal in Abakaliki, Southeast, Nigeria

An assessment of the physicochemical properties of soil for site waste disposal was carried out in Abakaliki urban, southeastern Nigeria. Three sites namely: Waterworks road (WR), Hill top (HT) and Azuiyiokwu (AZ) were randomly selected. Soil samples were collected from 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm depths from the sites. The soil samples were analyzed for physicochemical properties. The results showed variations in soil properties of the three sites which indicate suitability of the different sites or otherwise for waste disposal. The relationship between  percent sand  moisture content on dry mass basis and total porosity was generally highly significant (P>0.01). Similarly, the relationship between percent sand and saturated hydraulic conductivity was also highly significant. Available P highly correlated with total porosity and saturated hydraulic conductivity. The sites with high sand percentage are good for refuse disposal while the ones with high clay percentage have problems of water logging and  build up of pollution for ground water. Dumpsites Water works road (WR) and Hilltop (HT) are better for waste disposal than dumpsite Azuiyiokwu (AZ). Keywords: Dumpsites, physicochemical, refuse, soil

Analysis of Electrical Porcelain Insulators from Local Clays

This paper focused on the chemical analysis of electrical porcelain insulators based on local clays. Test samples were made by conducting some chemical composition test using the Atomic Assumption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The clay samples were also tested for linear shrinkage and apparent porosity. Based on the results obtained, the linear shrinkage values recorded range from 7.29% to 14.29% for Iva Valley formulations, 5.14% to 14.71% for Nawfija and 7.74% to 10.29% for Ekwulobia. It was observed that linear shrinkage decreases as the content of non-plastic materials increases and increases as clay content increases. Iva Valley formulation recorded porosity values ranging from 8.84% to 20.80%. For Nawfija formulation, porosity values range from 10.81% to 17.30% while Ekwulobia formulations gave porosity values ranging from 9.52% to 16.82. Porcelain insulators that constitute the above results were found to have requisite properties that make them suitable for domestic production of porcelains insulators from the clay samples studied

MEAT QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF IMPROVED INDIGENOUS CHICKENS (FUNAAB-ALPHA) FED TURMERIC (Curcuma longa) OR CLOVE (Syzygium aromaticum) AS FEED ADDITIVES

The experiment was conducted to investigate meat quality of improved indigenous chickens (FUNAAB alpha) fed diet containing turmeric (Curcuma longa) and clove (Syzigium aromaticum) powders. One hundred and thirty-five (135) mixed sexed day-old improved indigenous FUNAAB alpha chicks were brooded collectively for two weeks, and assigned into three (3) treatment groups. Each treatment was replicated three times, consisting of fifteen (15) birds. Feed and water were provided ad-libitum through the duration of experiment. The control group was fed the basal diet at starter and  finisher phases (T1), while the other groups were fed clove (Syzygium aromaticum) powder at 3 g/kg (T2) and turmeric (Curcuma longa) (T3) powder at 4 g/kg respectively as additives.   Data obtained were subjected to a One – Way Analysis of Variance in a Completely Randomised Design. Muscle obtained after evisceration was subjected to quality analysis. Proximate composition of meat obtained from chickens fed the basal diet had the highest (p<0.05) moisture content value of 75.45% compared to other treatments. Water absorptive capacity and cook loss of meat obtained from chickens fed 4 g/kg dietary turmeric showed (p<0.05) values of 3% and 16.4% respectively. Meat sensory properties analysed revealed (p<0.05) score in groups fed 3g/kg and 4 g/kg clove and turmeric powders respectively, for tenderness (6.14) and overall acceptability (7.19). Meanwhile (p<0.05) lipoprotein profile was observed in group fed 4 g/kg turmeric powder. Inclusion, turmeric and clove had beneficial effects on FUNAAB Alpha. &nbsp

Conference summary report of the 10th Annual General and Scientific Meeting of the Nigerian Society of Neonatal medicine (NISONM) held in Ibadan, Nigeria on 4th -7th July, 2017

The 10th Annual General and Scientific Meeting (AGSM) of the Nigerian Society of Neonatal Medicine (NISONM) took place in Ibadan, South -West Nigeria. The theme of the conference was: Imperatives in neonatal survival initiatives in Nigeria: The current state. The conference addressed a variety of topics relevant to newborn health from eminent speakers from across the globe. The four-day conference included preconference workshops and community mobilization/ health outreach in Lagelu local government area