Households’ awareness and practices on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in an Arid Region of Northwestern Nigeria-Sokoto State

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) accessibility is more critical in arid regions where rainfall is low and other water resources are scanty. This study assesses Households’ awareness and practices regarding WASH in Sokoto State, an arid region in Northwestern Nigeria. A total of 854 questionnaires were administered to respondents in addition to physical observations conducted. From the study, water scarcity was a major problem confronting the State, particularly in the dry season. The major water sources utilized were the unprotected hand dug wells (79.3%). The common water treatment methods used were filtration through cloth (72.1%). Water storage and collection attitudes and practices were rated as good as 69.0% of the respondents stored water in covered clay pots and 82.1% use cups with handle to draw water. Lack of funds led to poor excreta disposal systems and high open field defecation practices (78.9%). On the aspects of hygiene, children’s faeces were mostly disposed into bush (82.5%) and 55.6% did not use soap to wash hands after defecation. The major diseases reported in the communities included malaria, diarrhea and dysentery, therefore, there is a need for the provision of WASH facilities to combat these diseases. WASH education and financial empowerment are necessary towards protecting public health in the study area.&nbsp

Correlations due to localization in quantum eigenfunctions of disordered microwave cavities

Non-universal correlations due to localization are observed in statistical properties of experimental eigenfunctions of quantum chaotic and disordered microwave cavities. Varying energy {E} and mean free path {l} enable us to experimentally tune from localized to delocalized states. Large level-to-level Inverse Participation Ratio (IPR I_{2}) fluctuations are observed for the disordered billiards, whose distribution is strongly asymmetric about . The density auto-correlations of eigenfunctions are shown to decay exponentially and the decay lengths are experimentally determined. All the results are quantitatively consistent with calculations based upon nonlinear sigma-models.Comment: 4 pages, LaTex, 5 .jpg figures. This paper with 5 embedded postscript figures available (PS,PDF) at http://sagar.physics.neu.edu/preprints

Z boson decay to photon plus Kaluza-Klein graviton in large extra dimensions

In the large extra dimensional ADD scenario, Z bosons undergo a one-loop decay into a photon and Kaluza-Klein towers of gravitons/gravi-scalars. We calculate such a decay width, extending previous arguments about the general form of the four-dimensional on-shell amplitude. The amplitudes calculated are relevant to processes in other extra dimensional models where the Standard Model fields are confined to a 4-brane.Comment: 47 pages, uses feynmp for diagrams. v2: typographical corrections for letter-sized paper and to correct feynmf parsing error. v3: minor error in polarisation averaging and reference corrected. v4: reflects changes for published version; arithmetic error corrected and reference updated; section on transversality conditions not present in published version retaine

Solid Waste Management in a Leprosarium in Southwestern Nigeria

Waste from healthcare institutions generally ought to be treated and disposed hygienically. However, the type of institution normally determines the material component and the nature of the waste generated whether it is hazardous or non-hazardous, infectious or non-infectious waste. Also health status of an individual or community is a function of standard of living, medical services available, social amenities and hygienic environment normally determined through impact assessment. These have been examined in relation to the leprosarium in Ogbomosho, Southwestern Nigeria. The leprosarium under study consists of a clinic and three camps located at about 1000m from the clinic. The leprosarium housed 30 patients, while the camps served as home for about 140 people under rehabilitation together including their children. As one of the health institutions, it is apparent that the waste generated is heterogeneous mixture of both general municipal waste and bio-medical waste. The percentage of biomedical waste which is hazardous in nature is low about 1.0% with average generation rate of 0.13kg/day while that of non-hazardous, non-infectious general waste is 0.288kg/person/day. The average waste generation rate in term of mass is determined to be between 0.084 – 0.095kg/person/day which reveals the poor status and rural nature of these leper settlements. The waste components consist of bandages and swabs, paper, nylon and plastic, domestic waste, animal waste (mostly goat manure), wood ash and yard trimmings which are being disposed on open dump sites and sometimes by open burning which are unhygienic causing health hazards. Accumulation of these waste components without proper disposal initiates its putrefaction which produces offensive odour. In addition, absence of adequate sanitary facilities has promoted open defecation which is a source of infectious, diseases. As an economical, appropriate and useful method of waste disposal, composting was proposed since it is found relevant and acceptable  for the leprosarium and the settlements around as the waste generated is predominantly biodegradable and decomposable materials. Key words: Solid waste, bio-medical waste, characterization, waste disposal, compostin

Energy fluxes in helical magnetohydrodynamics and dynamo action

Renormalized viscosity, renormalized resistivity, and various energy fluxes are calculated for helical magnetohydrodynamics using perturbative field theory. The calculation is to first-order in perturbation. Kinetic and magnetic helicities do not affect the renormalized parameters, but they induce an inverse cascade of magnetic energy. The sources for the the large-scale magnetic field have been shown to be (1) energy flux from large-scale velocity field to large-scale magnetic field arising due to nonhelical interactions, and (2) inverse energy flux of magnetic energy caused by helical interactions. Based on our flux results, a premitive model for galactic dynamo has been constructed. Our calculations yields dynamo time-scale for a typical galaxy to be of the order of $10^8$ years. Our field-theoretic calculations also reveal that the flux of magnetic helicity is backward, consistent with the earlier observations based on absolute equilibrium theory.Comment: REVTEX4; A factor of 2 corrected in helicit

Assessment of Noise and Associated Health Impacts at Selected Secondary Schools in Ibadan, Nigeria

Background. Most schools in Ibadan, Nigeria, are located near major roads (mobile line sources). We conducted an initial assessment of noise levels and adverse noise-related health and learning effects. Methods. For this descriptive, cross-sectional study, four schools were selected randomly from eight participating in overall project. We administered 200 questionnaires, 50 per school, assessing health and learning-related outcomes. Noise levels (A-weighted decibels, dBA) were measured with calibrated sound level meters. Traffic density was assessed for school with the highest measured dBA. Observational checklists assessed noise control parameters and building physical attributes. Results. Short-term, cross-sectional school-day noise levels ranged 68.3–84.7 dBA. Over 60% of respondents reported that vehicular traffic was major source of noise, and over 70% complained being disturbed by noise. Three schools reported tiredness, and one school lack of concentration, as the most prevalent noise-related health problems. Conclusion. Secondary school occupants in Ibadan, Nigeria were potentially affected by exposure to noise from mobile line sources

The Dynamic Characteristics of a non-linear main landing gear system of an aircraft during landing

The landing gear plays a very important role during landing by absorbing the high impact energy of the aircraft. The main landing gear absorbs the bulk of the load to reduce the load experienced by both the aircraft fuselage and the nose landing gear. In this paper, a mathematical approach is used to extract the dynamic characteristics of the system. A two-degree of freedom mathematical model of the main landing gear is developed. This model is used to derive the dynamic equations of the landing gear system and to study the behaviour of main landing gear during main gear and nose gear touchdown conditions. The non-linear stiffness and damping co-efficient in an Oleo-Pneumatic shock absorber are integrated into the system to achieve a more accurate response of the system. The response of this system is established by adopting a complex modal analysis approach to account for the non-classical damping exhibited by the system. The obtained spring force, damping force and responses are reported. This work provides an alternative approach using complex modal analysis to obtain results for complex systems exhibiting non-linear characteristics

Magneto-electrodynamics at high frequencies in the antiferromagnetic and superconducting states of DyNi_2B_2C

We report the observation of novel behaviour in the radio frequency (rf) and microwave response of DyNi_2B_2C over a wide range of temperature (T) and magnetic field (H) in the antiferromagnetic (AFM) and superconducting (SC) states. At microwave frequencies of 10 GHz, the T dependence of the surface impedance Z_s=R_s+iX_s was measured which yields the T dependence of the complex conductivity \sigma_1-i\sigma_2 in the SC and AFM states. At radio frequencies (4 MHz), the H and T dependence of the penetration depth \lambda(T,H) were measured. The establishment of antiferromagnetic order at T_N=10.3 K results in a marked decrease in the scattering of charge carriers, leading to sharp decreases in R_s and X_s. However, R_s and X_s differ from each other in the AFM state. We show that the results are consistent with conductivity relaxation whence the scattering rate becomes comparable to the microwave frequency. The rf measurements yield a rich dependence of the scattering on the magnetic field near and below T_N. Anomalous decrease of scattering at moderate applied fields is observed at temperatures near and above T_N, and arises due to a crossover from a negative magnetoresistance state, possibly associated with a loss of spin disorder scattering at low fields, to a positive magnetoresistance state associated with the metallic nature. The normal state magnetoresistance is positive at all temperatures for \mu_0H>2T and at all fields for T>15K. Several characteristic field and temperature scales associated with metamagnetic transitions (H_M1(T), H_M2(T)) and onset of spin disorder H_D(T), in addition to T_c, T_N and H_c2(T) are observed in the rf measurements.Comment: 9 pages, Latex, Uses REVTeX, This and related publications also available at http://sagar.physics.neu.edu/ Submitted to Phys. Rev.

Geospatial Artificial Intelligence (GeoAI): Applications in Health Care

GeoAI is a new emerging research area that refers to set of technologies that integrate AI technology with a diversity of GIS (Geographic Information System) techniques. The present study observed that GeoAI goes beyond current GIS expectations and into the domain of possibility in the not-too-distant future. This emerging interdisciplinary science will lead us to sustainable decisions and explore the most suitable solutions to the existing problems. GeoAI has the potential to transform current geography and geomatics programs by incorporating a GeoAI dimension into modern GIS curricula. In this review, we have studied the application GeoAI in various healthcare fields. GeoAI has the potential to revolutionize healthcare, public health, infectious disease control, disaster aid, and the achievements of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). in healthcare, GeoAI can help with disease diagnosis, treatment planning, and resource allocation. In public health, it can aid in disease surveillance, emergency response planning, and identifying health disparities. In infectious disease control, GeoAI can help predict and track disease outbreaks and support vaccination campaigns. In disaster aid, GeoAI can provide real time data on environmental hazards and their impact on public health. In achieving Sustainable Development Goals, it can support in land use planning, urban development, and resource allocation to promote health and environmental sustainability. Overall GeoAI has the potential to transform multiple sectors and improve the well-being of populations worldwide