Aesthetic outcome and the need for revision of unilateral cleft lip repair at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital

Background: The Millard method of unilateral cleft lip repair has been  associated with a short lip and a flattened nose on the cleft side. The aim of this study was to determine the need for revision surgery followingrepair of unilateral cleft lip repair at the Komfo Anokye Teaching HospitalMethod: Satisfaction with facial appearance (upper lip, nose and general facial appearance) was assessed quantitatively by means of a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), where 0cm indicates totally unsatisfied or “highly unattractive” and 10cm indicates totally satisfied or “highly attractive”. Three assessors - parents, surgeon and layperson - were purposively selected to score their level of satisfaction with repair of complete and incomplete unilateral cleft lip. The assessors also indicated the need for any revision.Results: The total sample size was 120, of which 40.0% were male and 60.0% were female. There were 79 cases of repaired complete unilateral cleft lip and 41 incomplete unilateral cleft lip. Average scores of satisfactionof parents were 6.6, 6.8 and 7.2 for nose, lip and general facial  appearance (GFA) respectively. Satisfaction scores for surgeon were  6.1(nose), 6.0(lip) and 6.5(GFA), while those of the lay-assessor were5.2(nose), 5.4 (lip) and 6.0(GFA). Concerning the need for revision, parents indicated 30.2% as needing revision, surgeon 33%; and  lay-assessor 40%. Of the cases that needed revision, 33.3% were complete cleft lip and 0.1% were incomplete cleft lip.Conclusion: Parents were more satisfied with unilateral cleft lip repair using the Millard procedure than either the surgeon or lay assessor. Those who needed revision were mostly children who presented with complete unilateral cleft lip

Steady State Analysis Of Single Phase IPM Motors By D-Q Harmonic Balance Method

A concise steady-state analysis of a single-phase line-start permanent magnet (SPLSPM) machine is conducted from a developed d-q model using the d-q harmonic balance technique. The d-q model was developed in rotor reference frame from a phase variable model of the machine. SPLSPM whose performance indices were characterized by high torque ripples has detailed analysis docile mostly in computer simulations quite unlike the three-phase types. The main cause is not far-fetched, it was due to nonexistence of precise mathematical model in d-q rotor frame of the motor due to the unbalanced field winding, the rotor saliency and the presence of the capacitor in the auxiliary windings. Even after model has been developed, the simple traditional procedure of setting all time varying component to zero for steady-state analysis fails because the rotor position dependence on the inductance expressions could not be eliminated. The d-q harmonic-balance technique was then applied. An important feature of the harmonic balance technique was that it decoupled all equations to simple sine waveforms in a style that resembled Fourier series. Results yield torque pulsation, current and load characteristics in the steady state

Assessment of yield losses due to early and late leaf spots of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Early leaf spot (Cercospora arachidicola) and late leaf spot (sporidium personatum) are major limiting factors to groundnut productivity in northern Ghana. Fourteen groundnut entries were evaluated for two seasons (2003 and 2004) at Nyankpala with and without tebuconazole fungicide application. The objective of this study was to determine the yield losses due to combined attack of both diseases, with and without using tebuconazole (Folicur 3.6F) at 0.22 kg a.i. ha-1. The experiments were established in a split-plot design with three replications. Disease rating and pod yield were recorded at harvest maturity. Yield losses varied considerably, depending on entry and its yield potential. Pod yield losses due to both diseases ranged from 9.7 to 81.2 per cent in 2003, and from 19.5 to 65.9 per cent in 2004 when yield of protected entries was compared with yield of unprotected entries. The application of fungicide was effective in controlling leaf spots and improved pod yields across the two seasons. Some entries treated with fungicide produced pod yield of 1,860 to 2,081 kg ha-1, which is more than 2 to 2½-fold increase over present average yields in Ghana. Based on the high yield losses, chemical control and host-plant resistance options for managing both diseases in the north are recommended to enhance groundnut production. La tache à feuilles précoce (Cercospora arachidicola) et la tache à feille tardice (Cercosporidium personatum) sont des facteurs contraignants majeurs à la productivité d\'arachide dans le nord du Ghana. Quartorze variétés d\'arachide étaient évaluées pour deux saisons (2003 et 2004) à Nyankpala avec ou sans application de fongicide. Le but de ce travail de recherche était de déterminer les pertes de rendement en raison d\'attaque combinée des deux maladies en utilsant tébuconazole (Folicur 3.6F) à 0.22 kg a. i./ha. Les expériences étaient étabiles dans un dessin de lot-divisé avec trois répétitions. L\'indice de maladie et le rendement de cosse dues aux deux maladies variant entre 9.7 et 81.2% en l\'année 2003 et entre 19.5 et 65.9% en l\'année 2004 lorsque le rendment des varétés protégées avec fongicide était comparé avec le rendement des variétés non protégées. Application de fongicide était efficace dans la lutte contre les taches à feuille et améliorait également les rendements de cosse au cours de deux saisons. Quelques variétés traitées de fongicide donnaient un rendement de cosse de 1,860 à 2,081 kg/ha qui est plus 2 ou 2½ fois d\'augmentation par rapport aux randements moyens actuels au Ghana. Fondé sur les pertes de tendement élevées, l\'enrayement chimique et les options de plante-hôte résistante sont recommandés pour la lutte contre les deux maladies dans le nord afin d\'améliorer la production d\'arachide. Ghana Journal of Agricultural Science Vol. 40 (1) 2007: pp. 21-2

HIV mortality in urban slums of Nairobi, Kenya 2003-2010: a period effect analysis.

RIGHTS : This article is licensed under the BioMed Central licence at http://www.biomedcentral.com/about/license which is similar to the 'Creative Commons Attribution Licence'. In brief you may : copy, distribute, and display the work; make derivative works; or make commercial use of the work - under the following conditions: the original author must be given credit; for any reuse or distribution, it must be made clear to others what the license terms of this work are.BACKGROUND: It has been almost a decade since HIV was declared a national disaster in Kenya. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) provision has been a mainstay of HIV treatment efforts globally. In Kenya, the government started ART provision in 2003 with significantly scale-up after 2006. This study aims to demonstrate changes in population-level HIV mortality in two high HIV prevalence slums in Nairobi with respect to the initiation and subsequent scale-up of the national ART program. METHODS: We used data from 2070 deaths of people aged 15-54 years that occurred between 2003 and 2010 in a population of about 72,000 individuals living in two slums covered by the Nairobi Urban Health and Demographic Surveillance System. Only deaths for which verbal autopsy was conducted were included in the study. We divided the analysis into two time periods: the "early" period (2003-2006) which coincides with the initiation of ART program in Kenya, and the "late" period (2007-2010) which coincides with the scale up of the program nationally. We calculated the mortality rate per 1000 person years by gender and age for both periods. Poisson regression was used to predict the risk of HIV mortality in the two periods while controlling for age and gender. RESULTS: Overall, HIV mortality declined significantly from 2.5 per 1,000 person years in the early period to 1.7 per 1,000 person years in the late period. The risk of dying from HIV was 53 percent less in the late period compared to the period before, controlling for age and gender. Women experienced a decline in HIV mortality between the two periods that was more than double that of men. At the same time, the risk of non-HIV mortality did not change significantly between the two time periods. CONCLUSIONS: Population-level HIV mortality in Nairobi's slums was significantly lower in the approximate period coinciding with the scale-up of ART provision in Kenya. However, further studies that incorporate ART coverage data in mortality estimates are needed. Such information will enhance our understanding of the full impact of ART scale-up in reducing adult mortality among marginalized slum populations in Kenya

Status report on hypertension in Africa - Consultative review for the 6th Session of the African Union Conference of Ministers of Health on NCD’s

Hypertension has always been regarded as a disease of affluence but this has changed drastically in the last two decades with average blood pressures now higher in Africa than in Europe and USA and the prevalence increasing among poor sections of society. We have conducted a literature search on PubMed on a broad range of topics regarding hypertension in Africa, including data collection from related documents from World Health Organization and other relevant organizations that are available in this field. We have shared the initial results and drafts with international specialists in the context of hypertension in Africa and incorporated their feedback. Hypertension is the number one risk factor for CVD in Africa. Consequently, cardiovascular disease (CVD) has taken over as number one cause of death in Africa and the total numbers will further increase in the next decades reflecting on the growing urbanization and related lifestyle changes. The new epidemic of hypertension and CVD is not only an important public health problem, but it will also have a big economic impact as a significant proportion of the productive population becomes chronically ill or die, leaving their families in poverty. It is essential to develop and share best practices for affordable and effective  community-based programs in screening and treatment of hypertension. In order to prevent and control hypertension in the population, Africa  needs policies developed and implemented through a multi-sectoral  approach involving the Ministries of Health and other sectors including education, agriculture, transport, finance among others

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B and C Viruses among Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infected Patients Accessing Healthcare in Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, Nigeria

Infections of Hepatitis B and C viruses among seropositive Human immunodeficiency virus patients are a growing public health problem in Sub Saharan Africa characterized by unaffordable treatment, severe morbidity and associated mortality. This study was aimed at evaluating the seroprevalence of Hepatitis B and C viruses among HIV infected patients accessing health care at Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, Nigeria. The cross-sectional study took place between May-July 2016. A total of 200 blood samples were collected from HIV patients after informed consent and self-administered questionnaires were completed. The samples were centrifuged and the serum screened for HBV and HCV using the immunochromatographic technique. A general prevalence of infection with hepatitis B and C viruses in the study population was 17.5%. The prevalence of HBV infection was 12.5% while HCV was 5.0%. Females have higher infection rates for both viruses (p > 0.05). HBV infection was highest among those aged 20-29 years (14.3%) and lowest among those aged 30-39 years (6.5%). HCV infection was highest among those aged > 40 years (8.7%) and least among those aged 30-39 years (0.0%). Infection rates with blood transfusion, smoking habit, scarification marks and alcohol intake as risk factors were more for HBV than HCV (p > 0.05). The HIV/HBV and HIV/HCV coinfection prevalence of 12.5% and 5.0% respectively is a cause for concern. This finding underscores the urgent need for more proactive HBV immunization programs and screening of HIV patients for HBV and HCV before and even during antiretroviral therapy. Health education against these silent killers should also be advocated

An investigation on the suitability of hydrated building lime from travertine limestone outcrop of Bogongo, South West of Cameroon

peer reviewedIn the present study, physico-chemical investigations were carried out on hydrated lime produced from the limestone of the travertine outcrop of Bogongo in the South West Region of Cameroon. The aim was to evaluate the suitability of that hydrated lime as building lime. The raw material was characterized and then fired at 900 °C. The fired product was hydrated, dried and also characterized. Chemical and mineralogical analyses, density, BET specific surface measurements and thermal analyses were performed. Results were compared to those for an EN 459-1 CL 90-S industrial commercial hydrated lime. It has been shown that, hydrated lime production using the raw material from the Bogongo travertine could yield products with almost similar physico-chemical properties compared to imported CL 90 S hydrated lime, thus could have positive consequence in the commercial exploitation of the Bogongo travertine limestone outcrop.11. Sustainable cities and communitie

Foreign direct investment and technological advancement in the construction sector of developing countries: A critical perspective

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows are commonly used in developing countries (DCs) to ‘measure’ technology transfer, and consequently as an indicator for the technological advancement of economic sectors. An implied assertion being that increased FDI in a sector means an increase in foreign technology and knowledge (T&K) in that sector and in effect, technological advancement in the recipient country. An effect of this assumption is an increase in attempts by DCs to attract more FDI through incentive-laden policy reforms. While these efforts have contributed to increase in FDI, particularly in the construction sectors of DCs in Africa; there is, however, scant evidence suggesting that the rising inflows resulted in technological advancements. Thus, construction industries in many DCs continue to lag behind those of advanced countries. This paper takes as a point of departure the relationship between FDI and technological advancement. It argues that reliance on FDI to estimate ‘how much’ technology has been transferred and as an indicator of attendant advancement has limitations. From a critical perspective, such an assessment is inaccurate and neglects specific nuances of T&K transfer and technological advancement in the construction sector. Examining the Ghanaian construction sector as a case with coeval data, the paper unpacks the blind-spots inherent in the assessment of technological advancements that are heavily reliant on the use of FDI inflows. Insights from the paper contribute to the literature and policy regarding interrelations involving FDIs, the transfer of T&K and technological advancement in the construction sector in DCs

Wind Energy Dynamics of the Separately Excited Induction Generator

This paper covers the analysis, dynamic modelling and control of an isolated self-excited induction generator (SEIG) driven by a wind turbine. The proposed dynamic model consists of induction generator, self-excitation capacitance and load model which are expressed in stationary d-q reference frame. The dynamic performance of SEIG is investigated under no load and on load. To predict the performance of the system, a MATLAB based simulation study using matlab embedded function block was carried out. Simulations from the variations of the speed and load display the dynamic behavior of the generator. A constant capacitor value of 100 micro-farads was used in this work. The simulation results obtained illustrate the changes in the voltage, currents, torque and magnetizing inductance of the generator. The wind velocity increase led to the increase in mechanical input from the wind turbine. This results in the increased rotor speed leading also to increased stator phase voltage. The obtained simulations also show that the output voltage of the induction generator depends greatly on its shaft speed and load; this poses a potential threat as it is capable of causing a significant variation in the power consumption in the load of the machine

DADA: Degree-Aware Algorithms for Network-Based Disease Gene Prioritization

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>High-throughput molecular interaction data have been used effectively to prioritize candidate genes that are linked to a disease, based on the observation that the products of genes associated with similar diseases are likely to interact with each other heavily in a network of protein-protein interactions (PPIs). An important challenge for these applications, however, is the incomplete and noisy nature of PPI data. Information flow based methods alleviate these problems to a certain extent, by considering indirect interactions and multiplicity of paths.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We demonstrate that existing methods are likely to favor highly connected genes, making prioritization sensitive to the skewed degree distribution of PPI networks, as well as ascertainment bias in available interaction and disease association data. Motivated by this observation, we propose several statistical adjustment methods to account for the degree distribution of known disease and candidate genes, using a PPI network with associated confidence scores for interactions. We show that the proposed methods can detect loosely connected disease genes that are missed by existing approaches, however, this improvement might come at the price of more false negatives for highly connected genes. Consequently, we develop a suite called D<smcaps>A</smcaps>D<smcaps>A</smcaps>, which includes different uniform prioritization methods that effectively integrate existing approaches with the proposed statistical adjustment strategies. Comprehensive experimental results on the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) database show that D<smcaps>A</smcaps>D<smcaps>A</smcaps> outperforms existing methods in prioritizing candidate disease genes.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results demonstrate the importance of employing accurate statistical models and associated adjustment methods in network-based disease gene prioritization, as well as other network-based functional inference applications. D<smcaps>A</smcaps>D<smcaps>A</smcaps> is implemented in Matlab and is freely available at <url>http://compbio.case.edu/dada/</url>.</p