Level of health care and services in a tertiary health setting in Nigeria

Background: There is a growing awareness and demand for quality health care across the world; hence the need to describe the level of health care and services provided to meet the patient centered care by the frontline stakeholders.Aim of study: To determine the current level of care provided in a tertiary hospital in a developing country setting. Study design: prospective, descriptive and questionnaire based survey.Methods: The study was conducted at the National Hospital Abuja, atertiary care setting in Nigeria. 157 health workers were enrolled, whoresponded to questions on the clinical, support and corporate servicesof the hospital. Response were either yes, no or do not know. The result were analyzed and presented in tables and charts.Results: Of 157 respondents, 66 males (42.0%) 91 females (58.0%). Doctors and nurses formed 64.3% of the study population. 114 (72.6%) of the health staff agreed that patients received appropriate medical needs and treatments, 118 (75.2%) that care was planned with patient involvement, 107(68.2%) that patients were informed of results and final care processes, 127 (80.9%) that patient were aware of consent processes and 112 (71.3%) that patients at discharge were aware of their ongoing and subsequent care. 90 (57.3%) of the respondents agreed that the patients records were accurate with patients’ participation and medicationswell managed to prevent errors and adverse reactions (75.2%). Infection control and routine surveillance were low. Safe blood sample collectionmeasures (74.5%), measures to reduce break in skin integrity (77.7%), and bed sores rare and effectively managed (38.9%). Some agreed that patient received appropriate nutrition (58.0%). Information on patients’ rights and responsibilities, and continuous quality control measures rateswere low. Others were adverse incidences reported and treated (50.3%), feedbacks mechanism (66.9%) and complaints management rates (54.8%). Hand washing practice rates were low among doctors and nurses and patient relatives. Staff rated that both workforces planning that supported needs and recruitment  and appointment systems low.Records were not updated to meet with international standards (ICD-10); (22.9%) and had low rates for use in future purposes. Also low were the level of medical and environmental research, informal relationship and security, but the management had a high level of social responsibility in form of emergency and disaster management to the immediate  community; (83.4%).Conclusion: Health workers agreed that some of the patients’ needs were met.Key word: Health care, health workers, service

Integration of agent-based modelling of social-spatial processes in architectural parametric design

A representation framework for modelling the social-spatial processes of inhabitation is proposed to extend the scope of parametric architectural design process. We introduce an agent-based modelling framework with a computational model of social-spatial dynamics at its core. Architectural parametric design is performed as a process of modelling the temporal characteristics of spatial changes required for members of a social group to reach social spatial comfort. We have developed a prototype agent-based modelling system using the Rhino-Grasshopper platform. The system employs a human behaviour model adapted from the PECS (Physical, Emotional, Cognitive, Social) reference model first proposed by Schmidt and Urban. The agent-based model and its application was evaluated by comparative modelling of two real Vietnamese dwellings: a traditional vernacular house in Hue and a contemporary house in Ho Chi Minh City. The evaluation shows that the system returns differentiated temporal characteristics of spatial modifications of the two dwellings as expected

Fungal polygalacturonase with improved maceration properties

The present invention relates to an endo-polygalacturonase from the phytopathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea and related enzymes, as well as nucleic acids encoding these enzymes, vectors comprising the nucleic acids and host cells for the production of the enzymes. The invention further relates to methods for producing these polygalacturonases and to methods in which the enzymes are used for hydrolysing internal glycosidic linkages in a polygalacturonic acid chain in a plant material. Such methods are useful in the production of food or feed products, in the extraction of sustances from plant material and in breeding plants having increased resistance towards Botrytis fungi

Fungal polygalacturonase with improved maceration properties

The present invention relates to an endo-polygalacturonase from the phytopathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea and related enzymes, as well as nucleic acids encoding these enzymes, vectors comprising the nucleic acids and host cells for the production of the enzymes. The invention further relates to methods for producing these polygalacturonases and to methods in which the enzymes are used for hydrolysing internal glycosidic linkages in a polygalacturonic acid chain in a plant material. Such methods are useful in the production of food or feed products, in the extraction of sustances from plant material and in breeding plants having increased resistance towards Botrytis fungi

Osteopetrorickets due to Snx10 Deficiency in Mice Results from Both Failed Osteoclast Activity and Loss of Gastric Acid-Dependent Calcium Absorption

Mutations in sorting nexin 10 (Snx10) have recently been found to account for roughly 4% of all human malignant osteopetrosis, some of them fatal. To study the disease pathogenesis, we investigated the expression of Snx10 and created mouse models in which Snx10 was knocked down globally or knocked out in osteoclasts. Endocytosis is severely defective in Snx10-deficent osteoclasts, as is extracellular acidification, ruffled border formation, and bone resorption. We also discovered that Snx10 is highly expressed in stomach epithelium, with mutations leading to high stomach pH and low calcium solubilization. Global Snx10-deficiency in mice results in a combined phenotype: osteopetrosis (due to osteoclast defect) and rickets (due to high stomach pH and low calcium availability, resulting in impaired bone mineralization). Osteopetrorickets, the paradoxical association of insufficient mineralization in the context of a positive total body calcium balance, is thought to occur due to the inability of the osteoclasts to maintain normal calcium–phosphorus homeostasis. However, osteoclast-specific Snx10 knockout had no effect on calcium balance, and therefore led to severe osteopetrosis without rickets. Moreover, supplementation with calcium gluconate rescued mice from the rachitic phenotype and dramatically extended life span in global Snx10-deficient mice, suggesting that this may be a life-saving component of the clinical approach to Snx10-dependent human osteopetrosis that has previously gone unrecognized. We conclude that tissue-specific effects of Snx10 mutation need to be considered in clinical approaches to this disease entity. Reliance solely on hematopoietic stem cell transplantation can leave hypocalcemia uncorrected with sometimes fatal consequences. These studies established an essential role for Snx10 in bone homeostasis and underscore the importance of gastric acidification in calcium uptake