Wireless Health Monitoring using Passive WiFi Sensing

This paper presents a two-dimensional phase extraction system using passive WiFi sensing to monitor three basic elderly care activities including breathing rate, essential tremor and falls. Specifically, a WiFi signal is acquired through two channels where the first channel is the reference one, whereas the other signal is acquired by a passive receiver after reflection from the human target. Using signal processing of cross-ambiguity function, various features in the signal are extracted. The entire implementations are performed using software defined radios having directional antennas. We report the accuracy of our system in different conditions and environments and show that breathing rate can be measured with an accuracy of 87% when there are no obstacles. We also show a 98% accuracy in detecting falls and 93% accuracy in classifying tremor. The results indicate that passive WiFi systems show great promise in replacing typical invasive health devices as standard tools for health care.Comment: 6 pages, 8 figures, conference pape

Anti - theft vehicle security system with preventive action

Nowadays rate of vehicle theft is very high all through the world and the situation are even worse in developing country. Therefore, protection of vehicles with an intelligent, reliable, effective and economical system is very important. The existing technologies for vehicle security have a number of limitations including high false alarm rate, easy deactivation and high cost. In this research an Anti-Theft Vehicle Security System (ATV2S) has been design and implemented utilizing sensor-network system which employ Global Positioning System (GPS) and Global System for mobile communication (GSM) technology to track the vehicle. The cutting edge technology of ATV2S is capable to protect, monitor and track the vehicle even within a minute

Comparing primary prevention with secondary prevention to explain decreasing Coronary Heart Disease death rates in Ireland, 1985-2000.

BACKGROUND: To investigate whether primary prevention might be more favourable than secondary prevention (risk factor reduction in patients with coronary heart disease(CHD)). METHODS: The cell-based IMPACT CHD mortality model was used to integrate data for Ireland describing CHD patient numbers, uptake of specific treatments, trends in major cardiovascular risk factors, and the mortality benefits of these specific risk factor changes in CHD patients and in healthy people without recognised CHD. RESULTS: Between 1985 and 2000, approximately 2,530 fewer deaths were attributable to reductions in the three major risk factors in Ireland. Overall smoking prevalence declined by 14% between 1985 and 2000, resulting in about 685 fewer deaths (minimum estimate 330, maximum estimate 1,285) attributable to smoking cessation: about 275 in healthy people and 410 in known CHD patients. Population total cholesterol concentrations fell by 4.6%, resulting in approximately 1,300 (minimum estimate 1,115, maximum estimate 1,660) fewer deaths attributable to dietary changes(1,185 in healthy people and 115 in CHD patients) plus 305 fewer deaths attributable to statin treatment (45 in people without CHD and 260 in CHD patients). Mean population diastolic blood pressure fell by 7.2%, resulting in approximately 170 (minimum estimate 105, maximum estimate 300) fewer deaths attributable to secular falls in blood pressure (140 in healthy people and 30 in CHD patients), plus approximately 70 fewer deaths attributable to antihypertensive treatments in people without CHD. Of all the deaths attributable to risk factor falls, some 1,715 (68%) occurred in people without recognized CHD and 815(32%) in CHD patients. CONCLUSION: Compared with secondary prevention, primary prevention achieved a two-fold larger reduction in CHD deaths. Future national CHD policies should therefore prioritize nationwide interventions to promote healthy diets and reduce smoking

Effect of Mother Tongue on Performance in Concept Erosion among Primary School Students in Faskari Educational Zone, Katsina-State

This study x-rays the effect of Mother tongue on performance in concept erosion among primary school students in Faskari Educational Zone, Katsina-State. The study adopted quasi experimental research design (pre-test, treatment, post-test). The population of the study consists of all primary five students in Faskari local government education authority. Intact classes in two primary schools were randomly selected as samples. The objective of the study aimed to examine the mean performance score of students exposed to concept erosion using Mother tongue medium of instruction and those taught using English languages in Faskari Educational Zone, Katsina state. The research question and hypothesis are in line with the objective of the study. Mother Tongue Performance Test (MTPT) containing thirty multiple choice items was used as the research instrument. The instrument yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.83. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research question while, t-test was used in testing the hypothesis. The finding of the study revealed that, students taught concept erosion using Mother tongue medium of instruction performed academically better than those taught using English language. Based on the finding, the study recommended that, Mother tongue should be made the language of instruction at the primary school level and eventually at all levels of education in Katsina state

Compliance to medication among hypertensive patients in Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, Kano, Nigeria

Background: Non-compliance to blood pressure-lowering medication is a major reason for poor control of hypertension worldwide. We assessed the level of compliance to anti-hypertensive therapy and identified factors contributing to poor compliance among hypertensives in Kano. Methodology: Three hundred and sixty outpatients were interviewed using a pre-tested, structured, mostly closed ended questionnaire in Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital in Kano, Nigeria. Results: Good compliance with drug treatment was observed in 54.2% of the respondents and poor compliance among the remainder. Poor compliance was found to be mainly due to ignorance on need for regular treatment (32.7%), lack of funds to purchase drugs (32.7%) and side effects of drugs (12.1%). Patients with formal education, and higher monthly income were more compliant to treatment. In addition, those on single drugs were more compliant compared to those on two or more drugs. Poor compliance was found to be mainly due to ignorance and lack of funds to purchase drugs. Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, there is a need for launching a comprehensive approach involving health care providers, patients and the general public to educating patients on the need to take their drugs regularly and in the manner prescribed. Doctors should consider the financial status of their patients in prescribing antihypertensive drugs to enable affordability. Prices of anti-hypertensive drugs should be subsidized where possible. Prescribing an effective, inexpensive, single dose daily medication with minimal side effects will improve patient compliance considerably. Key Words: Hypertension; Medication; Compliance; Kano Journal of Community Medicine & Primary Health Care Vol.16(1) 2004: 16-2

Occurrence of mycotoxigenic fungi in poultry feeds at live-bird markets, Zaria, Nigeria

Contamination of poultry feeds with mycotoxin-producing fungi such as Aspergillus spp is a major threat to animal and human food. This study was conducted to determine the occurrence of aflatoxigenic strain of fungi in feeds, fed to birds in live-bird markets. Feed samples were collected from feeding troughs and feeder in cages of birds and were inoculated on Sabouraud dextrose agar and Czypeck dox agar. Of 300 feed samples, 283 yielded various fungal growth belonging to seven genera, four of them known to be mycotoxigenic. Aspergillus, Rhizopus, Mucor, Dermatophyte, Yeast, Fusarium and Penicillium, whose isolation frequencies were 78%, 6%, 5.67%, 2%, 2%, 0.33% and 0.33% respectively. The aflatoxin producing Aspergillus spp isolated were A. flavus, A. parasiticus and A. nomius 126 (42%), 27 (9%) and 3(1%) respectively. In conclusion A. flavus was the most frequently isolated, and it is a known aflatoxin producer. It is recommended that mycotoxin binders should be added to poultry feed to mitigate the effect of aflatoxin contamination of feed in live-bird market.Keywords: Aflatoxin, Aspergillus species, Feed, Live bird markets, Mycotoxi

Solar selective performance of metal nitride/oxynitride based magnetron sputtered thin film coatings: A comprehensive review

Since solar thermal collectors are considered to be the most direct way of converting the solar energy into the usable form, in the last few years growing attention has been paid to the development of transition metal nitride and metal oxynitride based thin film selective surfaces for solar-thermal collectors in order to harvest more solar energy. A solar-thermal energy system, generally, shows very high solar absorption of incident solar radiation from the solar-thermal collectors in the visible range (0.3 to 2.5 μm) and extremely low thermal losses through emission (or high reflection) in the infrared region (≥ 2.5 μm). The efficiency of a solar–thermal energy conversion system can be improved by the use of solar selective surfaces consisting of novel metallic nanoparticles surrounded in metal nitride/oxynitrides systems. In order to enhance the effectiveness of solar thermal devices, solar selective surfaces with high thermal stability are a prerequisite. Over the years, substantial efforts have been made in the field of solar selective surfaces to attain higher solar absorptance and lower thermal emittance at high temperature (above 400°C) applications. In this article, we review the present state-of-the-art transition metal nitride and/or oxynitrides based vacuum sputtered nanostructured thin film coatings with respect to their optical and solar selective surface applications. We have also summarized the solar selectivity data from recent published literature investigations, including discussion on some potential applications for these materials

The effect of dandelion or a cover crop on mycorrhiza inoculum potential, soil aggregation and yield of maize

Abstract A field experiment was conducted to observe the influence of a cover crop (winter wheat, Triticum aestivum L.), and a perennial weed (dandelion, Taraxacum officinale Weber ex Wigg.), on vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza (VAM) inoculum potential, soil aggregation, and maize yield after one season. Mycorrhizal colonization of maize roots was higher following the autumn planting of either winter wheat or dandelion compared with fallow. In the dandelion plots maize had significantly higher P content, shoot dry weight and yield relative to the winter wheat plots. Winter wheat and dandelion both improved soil aggregation

Prevalence of malaria infection in children attending emergency paediatrics unit of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching hospital, Sokoto - Nigeria

Background: Malaria infection in children has been of concern in this part of the world - the sub-Saharan Africa. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of this deadly infection in children attending Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) Sokoto.Materials and Methods: One hundred and twenty four (124) capillary blood samples were collected from patients attending the Emergency Pediatrics Unit side laboratory. The 'gold standard' method was applied using Giemsa stain to carry out the investigation. Both thick and thin blood films were investigated for malaria parasite concentration and specie identification respectively.Results: Out of the 124 samples collected, 82 (66.13%) tested positive and 42 (33.87%) were negative for malaria infection. A total of 49 (39.52%) males and 33 (26.61%) females were positive for the infection. Of all the positive samples children within the age range of 0 – 5 years had the highest prevalence of 72 (58.06%) while the other age group of 6 – 10 years had a relatively lower prevalence of 10 (8.07%). However, using Chi-square test of independence, statistical analyses suggest that there is no statistically significant association between the distribution of malaria infection and age or gender.Conclusion P. falciparum accounted for about (84.15%) of the cases of malaria infection in the study area.Keywords: Malaria, children, prevalence, UDUTH, Chi-Square