Radiation and viscous dissipation effects for the Blasius and Sakiadis flows with a convective surface boundary condition

This study is devoted to investigate the radiation and viscous dissipation effects on the laminar boundary layer about a flat-plate in a uniform stream of fluid (Blasius flow), and about a moving plate in a quiescent ambient fluid (Sakiadis flow) both under a convective surface boundary condition. Using a similarity variable, the governing nonlinear partial differential equations have been transformed into a set of coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations, which are solved numerically by using shooting technique along side with the sixth order of Runge-Kutta integration scheme and the variations of dimensionless surface temperature and fluid-solid interface characteristics for different values of Prandtl number Pr, radiation parameter NR, parameter a and the Eckert number Ec, which characterizes our convection processes are graphed and tabulated. Quite different and interesting behaviours were encountered for Blasius flow compared with a Sakiadis flow. A comparison with previously published results on special cases of the problem shows excellent agreement

Toothpaste utilization profiles of 6 to 8-year-old Nigerian children

Background: In children, toothbrushing with fluoride toothpaste is the  method of choice for preventing dental caries and it is influenced mainly by their mothers.Objective: To provide descriptive information about toothpaste utilization profiles of 6 to 8-year-old Nigerian children.Materials and methods: A cross-section of 130 mothers of 6-8 year-old Nigerians provided information on sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge of toothpaste use, tooth brushing habits and criteria for  selecting toothpaste for their child. Their 6-8 year-old children who attended the Dental Centre of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital North-Eastern Nigeria were examined for presence of dental caries and fluorosis. Data analysis included both descriptive and inferential statistics at p<0.05. 6-8-year-old school children who attendedResults: Forty-one (31.5%) mothers had good knowledge score of  toothpaste use. Fifty-six (43.1%) and 23 (177.7%) of children had fluorosis and dental caries respectively. There was no statistical significant  relationship between sociodemographic characteristics and occurrence of dental caries (p>0.05). Females (54.2%) and children of mothers who had no formal education (65.6%) had more fluorosis than their counterparts (p<0.05).Conclusions: Many mothers had poor knowledge score of toothpaste use. Children who had fluorosis were more than those who had dental caries. Females and children of mothers who had no formal education had more dental fluorosis than their counterparts.Keywords: Toothpaste, Utilization, Nigerian, Children, Dental caries, Dental fluorosisRunning title: Toothpaste utilization Nigerian childre

Differential Transform Technique for Higher Order Boundary Value Problems

This paper presents the approximate solution of higher order boundary value problems by differential transform method. Two examples are considered to illustrate the efficiency of this method. The results converge rapidly to the exact solution and are shown in tables and graphs

Assessment ofcommercial importance and determinant factors influencing collection of non timber forest products in adjoining communities of lanlate Forest Reserve of Oyo State, Nigeria

The study focused on the assessment of commercial importance and determinant factors influencing collection of non timber forest products in  adjoining communities of Lanlate. Purposive sampling was used to select four villages Alapa, Opo Ogede, Afayasoro, and Panlati which are closed to  the forest reserve with protected population of 640,290,540 and250 respectively. Furthermore Diaw et,al (2002)was used to select respondent for the study,113 questionnaire were administered out of which 106 were retrieved..Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as percentage and frequency distribution and inferential statistics. Majority of the respondents were within the age brackets of 42-60 years (30.2%) and mostly male (81.1%); 62.3% of the respondents had secondary education. Results further showed that81.2% of the respondents were married, 57.5% were engaged in farming as occupations and 53.8% had spent 10-20 years in the area. Non Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) collected in the area were34.9% of bush-meats, (45.3%) collected NTFPs between 3 - 5 days in a week and some of challenges faced were unattractive price, poor road network and inadequate credit accessibility. The study recommended that government should encourage development of participative programme involving local people for the evaluation of NTFPs resources for sustainable production, harvesting and use of NTFPs. Keywords: Assessment, Communities, Factors, Forest Reserve, NTFPs, Respondents

Elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (eMTCT) in Western Nigeria: how far have we gone?

Background: HIV pandemic has continued to be a huge challenge in Nigeria, with the problem of stigmatization reducing the chances of early determination of the HIV status of pregnant women, which may increase the chances of transmission to the child from the mother. Hypotheses tested were the influence of maternal antiretroviral therapy (ART) use and infant’s feeding option on baby’s final early infant diagnosis (EID) outcome. The study was aimed at determining the trend as well as diagnosis of HIV infection in exposed infants. It will also determine among infants the factors associated with the transmission of the infection from their mothers.Methods: This study was a prospective cohort study of HIV-exposed infants conducted in Ekiti State, South Western Nigeria, between June 2015 and June 2017. Dried Blood Spots (DBS) were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction technique. All data were statistically analyzed, using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) and statistical test of significance was performed with Chi-Square test.Results: A total of 200 infants were included in the study, 91 (45.5%) female and 109 (54.5%) male. Three (1.5%) babies were confirmed positive after cessation of all exposures. Maternal antiretroviral therapy (ART) use has significant effect on baby early infant diagnosis (EID) outcome (χ² = 65.40, df = 2, P = 0.001). Infant feeding option has significant effect on baby early infant diagnosis (EID) outcome (χ² = 132.67, df = 2, P = 0.001). Baby’s mode of delivery have higher association with the final EID outcome of the baby (OR: 1.018, 95% CI: 0.998 – 1.038).Conclusion: ART administration to both HIV-infected mothers and their babies has demonstrated an effective mechanism in the elimination of mother-to-child transmission (eMTCT), as this is evident in the very low positivity outcome. However, the degree to which Cuba, Armenia, Belarus, and Thailand have eliminated HIV transmission from mother-to-baby is achievable in Nigeria through provision of universal access to health care.Key words: infant, mother, dried blood spot, polymerase chain reactio

Daytime atmospheric sulphur dioxide concentrations in Ibadan city, Nigeria

Atmospheric sulphur dioxide concentrations were determined at 27 locations in the city of Ibadan, Nigeria, during May-June 1997. The locations were chosen from zones of high and low traffic densities, residential areas, industrial areas, and remote (control) areas. Sulphur dioxide levels did not significantly vary with the time of day of sampling, which was between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Average levels were: high and medium traffic density zones, 34.8 mg/m3; low traffic density and residential zones, 20.0 mg/m3; industrial zones, 68.9 mg/m3; and control zones, 14.5 mg/m3. The average level for all the zones, 34.1 mg/m3, is within the limits of worldwide guidelines for air quality, but slightly higher than prevailing levels in some cities of the developed countries. (Received January 5, 2001; revised July 10, 2001)(Bulletin of The Chemical Society of Ethiopia: 2003 15 (1): 71-78

On the Solvability of a Resonant p-Laplacian Third-order Integral m-Point Boundary Value Problem

In this work, we establish conditions for the existence of at least one solution for a p- Laplacian third order integral and m-point boundary value problem at resonance. The Ge and Ren extension of Mawhin’s coincidence theory will be used to obtain existence results for the p-Laplacian problem at resonance

Communal prevalence of malaria parasite and evaluation of Long Lasting Insecticidal Treated Nets (LLINs) for malaria control in Ikenne, Ogun State, Nigeria

This study investigates the prevalence of malaria and evaluates Long Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLINs) utilization for malaria control in Ikenne LGA, Ogun State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in five major communities in Ikenne Local Government Area (LGA) namely: Ilisan, Ikenne, Iperu, Ogere and Irolu. Fifty (50) households were systematically selected for assessment in each of the communities. Household heads were interviewed on possession and all members of a household were interviewed on individual usage of LLINs. Each household was geo-referenced using hand-held Global Positioning System (GPS). Finger prick blood samples were collected from consenting members of each household and examined for malaria parasite using standard methods. Chi-square and regression analysis was used to identify association between LLINs usage and Plasmodium spp infection. A total of 301 household members were screened for malaria parasites, 150 (49.8%) were positive with infection significantly higher in males 92 (63.0%) when compared to females 58 (37.4%) (p<0.05). Of the 250 (100%) households visited during the study, 198 (79.2%) were in possession of at least one LLIN, while only 112 (56.6%) currently sleeping under nets. LLINs coverage by communities was not statistically different (p>0.05) across the communities surveyed. Only 107 (39.1%) of respondents that have LLIN slept under the net the night preceding the survey. Respondents who do not sleep under LLINs the night preceding the survey are more than ten times at risk of Plasmodium infections compared to those who slept under LLIN (OR=11, 95% CI = 5.53-22.3, p=0.000).This study shows the need for an effective strategy to increase adoption and effective usage of LLINs given to households. This is essential to ensure the targeted control of malaria using this intervention tool is achieved.Keywords: LLINs; malaria control; GPS

Studies on asymptomatic malaria, prevention and treatment seeking behaviours in Abeokuta, south-west Nigeria

Recurrent cycles of fevers and chills are obvious symptoms for malaria disease usually necessitating treatment. However, some Plasmodium infections could be without symptoms, leading to late diagnosis and delayed treatment- seeking behaviours. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria infections, and document associated prevention and treatment-seeking behaviours among literates in Abeokuta. A cross-sectional study design involving 309 attendees at the 2016 World Malaria Day Celebration event held at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta was conducted. Finger-prick blood samples were collected for Plasmodium parasite detection by malaria rapid diagnostic test (mRDT) and anthropometric indices such as weight, height and age were also collected to estimate Body-Mass-Index. An already pre-tested questionnaire was also used to collect information on malaria prevention and treatment-seeking behaviours. Data were analysed in SPSS 20.0 software. Results revealed that the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria was 7.4% (23/309), with no significant association between sex, febrile illness and Body Mass Index (p>0.05). Participants aged 15-25 years were more infected with malaria than other age groups. Only 58.3% of the participants have heard of Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) and about 78% do not have mosquito bed-net. Self-diagnosis for the disease was more common (60.8%) among the participants, compared to other measures; seeking laboratory test (26.5%) and clinical diagnosis (9.1%). A good proportion of the participants (73.1%) rely on Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT) drugs for treating malaria, although few others still rely on non-ACT drugs (17.8%), chloroquine (1.9%) and herbs (1.6%). Findings show existence of asymptomatic malaria. Also, access to and utilization of malaria prevention and control commodities is poor among the literates. There is thus a need to intensify efforts in addressing these concerns as we move towards eliminating the disease.Keywords: Asymptomatic malaria; World Malaria Day; prevalence; Abeokuta; Nigeri