Development of a Power-harnessing Smart Shoe System with Outdoor Navigation

The Internet of Things (IoT) and the world of Smart Systems are ushering in an era where people, machines, devices (e.g. sensors) and processes are all interconnected and able to interact seamlessly with one another. Business and IT leaders predict they will see an increase of more than one-third (33%) in revenues from the use of smart technologies over the next five years. Smart system is the future of technology with so many different applications to it. We present in this project a system developed for a more convenient outdoor navigation. It involves the development of a power harnessing smart shoe to aid navigation and reduce the dependency of individuals on maps i.e. the need to constantly look at the maps for direction rather than focusing on the road. The project uses the Arduino UNO microcontroller as the brain box of the designed system. The microcontroller was programed to achieve the various tasks needed in this project. The smart shoe is fitted with piezo-electric crystals which are pressure sensors generating the power required for the system, a Bluetooth module to interface with the mobile application which was programmed specifically for the shoe, and also vibrator motors which act as the output signal that is felt by the user to help inform them which way to turn. This project proffers solutions to the setbacks in navigation of the user with accuracy and focus

The profile of tuberculosis infection at the Babcock University Teaching Hospital

Background: Tuberculosis is the leading cause of death from any single pathogen and it has consistently continued to be a major public health challenge globally. Data show that Nigeria ranks tenth among the 22 high tuberculosis burden countries.Aim: This study intends to describe the profile of tuberculosis infections in Babcock University Teaching Hospital.Methods: This was a retrospective cross sectional study of patients presenting to the Tuberculosis Laboratory of Babcock University Teaching Hospital.Results: Patients presenting to BUTH were 2.29 times more likely to have a positive AFB sputum smear result when compared to samples from Primary Health Care Centers – P = 0.05, χ2 = 3.83, O.R = 2.29, R.R = 1.17, CI = 1.0 – 5.34. Patients presenting to BUTH were more likely to be HIV positive when compared to those from PHC’s p = 0.00, χ2 = 24.74, df = 2.Conclusion: The burden of tuberculosis is still high in our environment and challenges in its rapid and accurate diagnosis still remain. In order to strengthen tuberculosis control, attention needs to be placed on rapid diagnosis and prompt treatment.Keywords: Tuberculosis, HIV, Primary Healthcare Centre, Ziehl Neelson stain, Directly Observed Treatment Short Course, pathoge

Lessons on small towns water and sanitation reforms in Jigawa state, Nigeria

The paper attempts to discuss the Jigawa state’s attempt at implementing its WASH (Water Supply Sanitation and Hygiene) policy on small towns which had led to not only improvement in access to water and sanitation but had empowered communities to take strategic decisions on options and tariff which ordinarily would have been impossible due to political pressure. The challenges of implementation include dealing with a large number of small towns (about 400 WCAs (Water Consumers Associations)) and strengthening the WCAs to move from the nurturing state to self reliance. Donor agencies have played proactive roles in supporting the small town reforms. One lesson is that for access in water and sanitation to be improved, policies need to focus more on small towns but these communities will need to be nurtured to address cost recovery and supported through structures at state level like STOWA (Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Agency) in Jigawa state and at Local Government levels like the proposed Local Government WASH departments.. The next step of whether the WCAs can delegate responsibility of water supply operation to local private operators, remains to be seen

Investigation of thermal and hydraulic properties of sandy-loam soils under diverse land-use systems

Information about soil thermal properties (STPs) based on different land-use patterns will support optimum utilization of ground-based thermal energy. This study quantified in-situ soil thermal properties (STPs) and some associated hydraulic parameters under different land practices in parts of Abeokuta, Southwest Nigeria. Five sampling points for thermal and hydraulic properties were established within 80 m by 40 m on each of grassland (GL), oil palm plantation site (OPS), football pitch (FP), dumpsite (DS), automobile mechanic workshop (AMW), and block making site (BMS). Thermal properties were measured in situ using KD2 Pro Thermal Properties Analyzer while topsoil hydraulic parameters were determined using standard laboratory procedures. Pearson's correlation and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were employed to determine the interrelationships and variations of measured STPs among the diverse land use patterns. Results of assessed STPs indicated that the average values of thermal conductivity (λs) were higher in AMW and DS (1.77 and 1.53 s W/mK, respectively) relative to that of other land uses (0.37- 0.79 W/mK). In the investigated land uses, highest and lowest mean values of thermal diffusivity (TD) (0.850 and 0.209) were recorded in AMW and GL, respectively. The OPS had lowest mean specific heat capacity (CS ) (1.381 MJ/m3 K) and bulk density (BD) of ≈1.5 sMg/m3 while DS topsoil had maximum value of average C (3.930 MJ/m3 K) but least BD of 1.17 Mg/m3 . The highest values of average thermal admittance (µs), saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat ) and soil moisture content (MC) were observed in FP while least values of µs, Ksat and MC were recorded in AMW. The mean thermal resistivity (TR) values in DS and AMW were within the 90 °C-cm/W recommended for safe cable engineering practices. Correlation analysis revealed strong direct relation between λs  and TD while ANOVA results showed that most of the measured STPs were significantly different (p<0.05) among the six land-use systems. Most of the measured STPs can be regarded as dynamic characteristics that are intensely swayed by land uses

Efecto de las características socioeconómicas de los agricultores de invernaderos en la producción de verduras en el estado de Ogun, Nigeria

In Nigeria, vegetable production is adversely affected by climate change, pest and diseases attack and unfavourably environmental condition which have made resourceful farmers and government to embark on vegetable production under greenhouse technology. Hence, this study was conducted to assess socio-economic importance of greenhouse technology for sustainable vegetable production in Ogun State, Nigeria. The specific objective is to identify major limitations to the practice of greenhouse vegetable in the study area. One hundred and twenty (120) vegetable farmers were purposively selected for this study. Data were collected using well-structured interview guide and analyzed with descriptive statistics and chi-square analysis. The results showed that the respondents were 32 – 40 years of age; predominantly male (90.8%), and had formal education (28.3%). Socio-economic importance of greenhouse technology includes increased yield (94.3%), available supplies all the year round (85.7%), and higher income generation (75.7%). Paradoxically, greenhouse vegetable production has not been widely spread due to difficult to establish it by individuals and high cost of construction (98.3%). So also, chi-square results showed that significant relationship existed between the major limitations and socio-economic importance of greenhouse technology at p < 0.05 level of significance. This study recommends that cost of raw materials for constructing greenhouse should be subsidized by the Federal Government of Nigeria while wealthy individuals, farmers’ groups and cooperative societies should invest in greenhouse technology for large scale vegetable farmingEn Nigeria, la producción de hortalizas se ve afectada negativamente por el cambio climático, el ataque de plagas y enfermedades y las condiciones ambientales desfavorables que han hecho que los agricultores y el gobierno ingeniosos se embarquen en la producción de hortalizas con tecnología de invernadero. Por lo tanto, este estudio se realizó para evaluar la importancia socioeconómica de la tecnología de efecto invernadero para la producción sostenible de hortalizas en el estado de Ogun, Nigeria. El objetivo específico es identificar las principales limitaciones a la práctica de hortalizas de invernadero en el área de estudio. Ciento veinte (120) productores de hortalizas fueron seleccionados deliberadamente para este estudio. Los datos se recopilaron mediante una guía de entrevista bien estructurada y se analizaron con estadísticas descriptivas y análisis de chi-cuadrado. Los resultados mostraron que los encuestados tenían entre 32 y 40 años de edad; predominantemente masculino (90.8%), y tenía educación formal (28.3%). La importancia socioeconómica de la tecnología de efecto invernadero incluye un mayor rendimiento (94.3%), suministros disponibles durante todo el año (85.7%), y mayor generación de ingresos (75.7%). Paradójicamente, la producción de hortalizas de invernadero no se ha extendido ampliamente debido a la dificultad de establecerla por parte de los individuos y el alto costo de construcción (98.3%). Así también, los resultados de chi-cuadrado mostraron que existía una relación significativa entre las principales limitaciones y la importancia socioeconómica de la tecnología de invernadero con un nivel de significancia p<0.05. Este estudio recomienda que el gobierno federal de Nigeria subsidie el costo de las materias primas para la construcción del invernadero, mientras que las personas adineradas, los grupos de agricultores y las sociedades cooperativas deberían invertir en tecnología de invernadero para el cultivo de hortalizas a gran escal