An Internet-Based Telemedicine System in Nigeria

Telecommunication technologies are being used to change the healthcare industry in unprecedented and irreversible ways. These technologies are enabling delivery of healthcare to remotely placed patients and facilitating information exchange between generalists and specialists. For many decades now, the use of advanced telecommunications and information technologies has been investigated in an effort to improve healthcare. In particular, the focus has been centered on telemedicine. Telemedicine has been defined as the delivery of healthcare and the exchange of health information across distances, including all medical activities: making diagnosis, treatment, prevention, education and research (Craig, 1999). Telemedicine is also defined as the use of telecommunication technologies to provide medical information and services (Perednia & Allen, 1995). It may be as simple as two health professionals discussing a patient\u27s case over the telephone, or as sophisticated as using satellite technology to broadcast a consultation between healthcare centres in two countries using videoconferencing equipment. The American Telemedicine Association defines telemedicine as the use of medical information exchanged from one site to another via electronic communication for health and education of the patient or healthcare providers and for the purpose of improving patient care (ATA, 2001). Wootton (1996) considered telemedicine as a process, rather than a technology: telemedicine connects patients and healthcare professional in a chain of care

On the Back of Culture and Religion: The Oppression of Arab Women in Nawal El Saadawi’s Women at Point Zero

Nawal El Saadawi’s Women At Point Zero points eerily at the reality that in the Arab world which Egypt represents in the text, a trifecta of sex, religion and death forms the core of women oppression as espoused through the tragically unfortunate life of Firdaus, the novel’s major protagonist. This paper is thereforeunequivocal in stating that the Arab world -through the canvas of Egypt- in the Saadawian text is a space for the pervasive oppression of women. The condition and oppression of women in the Arab world can be located within a toxic mix of culture and religion which has engendered virulent misogynistic attitudes towards women in general. In thislight, the paper embraces Feminism especially its radical strand as the most potent option available to any woman living in a fundamentally hostile space as the Arab world, where misogynistic attitudes are constructed deliberately by men’s contempt for women on the back of culture and religion

Human Capital and Capital Goods Import in the Sub Sahara Africa

The study investigated the impacts of human capital and  capital goods import on the economic growth of the SSA. 30 countries were used in the Panel- ARDL analysis where economic growth is the dependent variable and capital goods import, human capital, primary export, investment exchange rate, among others were used as the independent variables. The result from the panel analysis indicates that capital goods import significantly and positively influence economic growth but human capital fails to have significant positive impact on economic growth of the SSA. Earlier, the trend analysis and the correlation results have shown that there is a weak association between capital goods import and human capital in the SSA. The results offer an expository analysis that reveals that the quality of the human capital is very germane to the effective utilization of capital goods import for purpose of growth in a primary goods export dominated region like the SSA

Causes, effects and remedies of errors in Nigerian construction documents

Errors entail different meanings and usages depending on how it is conceptualized. The purpose of this paper is to determine the causes, effects and remedies of the errors in Nigerian construction documents. A structured questionnaire was administered on ninety consultants (Builders, architects, engineers and quantity surveyors) obtained from regulatory bodies of each profession. Forty four questionnaires were returned and this gives a response rate of 49%. The findings of the research show that clients are the major stakeholders responsible for the generation of errors in Nigerian construction documents. The causes of the errors are lack of adequate documentation, poor communication, negligence and changes to specifications among others and the effects on construction projects include project abandonment, delays, rework, dissatisfaction by project owners and lack of confidence in project consultants. The suggested solutions include provision of comprehensive information, good communication among project teams, effective and efficient project management, constructability, design review management and adequate financial provision. The study recommends that clients should allow adequate time for the preparation of construction documents and adopt appropriate procurement method. The designers were advised to engage in partnering while preparing construction documents

Insight into wastewater decontamination using polymeric adsorbents

The use of polymeric adsorbent for decontamination of various sources of water was critically reviewed. This arises from the alarming increase in water scarcity in many parts of the world due to increase in population,which exerts immense pressure on the available water resources. Treatment of wastewater, stormwater and seawater via series of technological pathways like adsorption, desalination, advanced oxidation and solid-phase microextraction constitute new strategies for removal of toxins, antibiotics, complex matrix samples, and heavy metals for sustainable production of potable drinking water. This study reviewed the use of polymeric adsorbents such as nano-magnetic polymers (NMPs), polysaccharides, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), and covalent organic polymers (COPs) for effective decontamination of water. These materials were critically analyzed with emphasis on their characteristics, strengths, drawbacks, as well as the enhancement techniques. Furthermore, the mechanisms of adsorption involved were also discussed. This review shows that polymeric adsorbents have demonstrated remarkable removal efficiency for several contaminants

On the Back of Culture and Religion: The Oppression of Arab Women in Nawal El Saadawi’s Women at Point Zero

Nawal El Saadawi’s Women At Point Zero points eerily at the reality that in the Arab world which Egypt represents in the text, a trifecta of sex, religion and death forms the core of women oppression as espoused through the tragically unfortunate life of Firdaus, the novel’s major protagonist. This paper is therefore unequivocal in stating that the Arab world -through the canvas of Egypt- in the Saadawian text is a space for the pervasive oppression of women. The condition and oppression of women in the Arab world can be located within a toxic mix of culture and religion which has engendered virulent misogynistic attitudes towards women in general. In thislight, the paper embraces Feminism especially its radical strand as the most potent option available to any woman living in a fundamentally hostile space as the Arab world, where misogynistic attitudes are constructed deliberately by men’s contempt for women on the back of culture and religion

An Exploratory Study of Techniques for Monitoring Oil Pipeline Vandalism

Wireless Sensor Networks are crucial substructure made up of microcontroller, sensing units and communication interfaces designed to enable the users possess the capability to measure, collect and responds to phenomenon within the surrounding been monitored. WSN are viewed as an edge between the physical and the virtual world. More so, the demand of fluid transportation from the production point to the region of end users has led to an increase in the number of pipelines that are fabricated globally. Pipeline infrastructure is generally regarded by many countries as a key element for national development, therefore shielding and observing the pipeline is essential for a successful economy. The current techniques in pipeline monitoring and surveillance include visual inspection, the use of Unmanned Aircraft, Ground Penetrating Radar, Fibre Cabling Technology, and Wireless Sensor Networks. This paper presents the various techniques, strengths and weaknesses when deployed for continuous monitoring of oil pipeline infrastructure

Effect of Heat Treatment on the Mechanical Properties of Aluminium 6063 Reinforced with Alumina, Titania, and Hybrid Powders

The research examines the mechanical behaviour changes of alumina and titania-reinforced Aluminium 6063 composites after T6 heat treatment. The stir casting method combined with 3 wt% or 6 wt% reinforcement followed by a heat treatment solution at 520°C for 2 hours, then water quenching and artificial aging at 180°C for 8  hours. Tensile properties and hardness were enhanced through heat treatment such that peak hardness reached 116 HRB in 6 wt% TiO₂ composites. Tensile strength increased by 44.8% in 3 wt% TiO₂ composites (192.8 MPa), and peak hardness reached 116 HRB in 6 wt% TiO₂ samples. The impact strength of materials decreased with reinforcement addition, but heat treatments introduced marginal improvements when working with low reinforcement amounts. The research findings present essential knowledge to improve Aluminium 6063 composites for automotive and aerospace sector applications

Energy drinks consumption among football players in Lagos, Nigeria

Objectives: This study assessed the prevalence, frequency and reasons for the consumption of energy drinks among members/ of registered football clubs in Lagos, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed and the study setting was Onikan Stadium Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria. A simple random sampling technique was employed to select 350 members of the football clubs. Method: A pretested self-administered questionnaire was used to assess the prevalence, frequency and reasons for consumption of energy drinks. Epi Info® software (version 6.04) was used for data analysis. Results: Most of the respondents (76.3%) were energy-drink consumers but none of them was a daily user. Most of those who took it (71.9%) drank at least two cans a week. Power Horse™ was the most preferred choice (58.4%) and more than one-third (37.1%) mixed it with alcohol. The commonest reasons for using energy drinks were leisure (42%), performance enhancement (25.1%) and drinking with friends (25.1%). Single students between ages 21 and 30 years consumed energy drinks more than married, younger or older workers (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The majority of the football players were weekly energy-drink users and the commonest reason for consumption was leisure. Although it can be expected that football players consume energy drinks to enhance their sporting performance, it was of concern to find that one-third of the football players mixed energy drinks with alcohol. Education regarding the effects of energy-drink consumption and alcohol is needed among the football players in Lagos

Commercialisation of eHealth Innovations in the Market of UK Healthcare Sector: A Framework for Sustainable Business Model.

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Festus Oluseyi Oderanti, and Feng Li, ‘Commercialization of eHealth innovations in the market of the UK healthcare sector: A framework for a sustainable business model’, Psychology & Marketing, Vol. 35 (2): 120-137, February 2018, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1002/mar.21074. Under embargo until 10 January 2020. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.Demographic trends with extended life expectancy are placing increasing pressures on the UK state-funded healthcare budgets. eHealth innovations are expected to facilitate new avenues for cost-effective and safe methods of care, for enabling elderly people to live independently at their own homes and for assisting governments to cope with the demographic challenges. However, despite heavy investment in these innovations, large-scale deployment of eHealth continues to face significant obstacles, and lack of sustainable business models (BMs) is widely regarded as part of the greatest barriers. Through various empirical methods that include facilitated workshops, case studies of relevant organizations, and user groups, this paper investigates the reasons the private market of eHealth innovations has proved difficult to establish, and therefore it develops a framework for sustainable BMs that could elimiesnate barriers of eHealth innovation commercialization. Results of the study suggest that to achieve sustainable commercialization, BM frameworks and innovation diffusion characteristics should be considered complements but not substitutes.Peer reviewe