An Improved Location Model for the Collection of Sorted Solid Waste in Densely Populated Urban Centres

This paper presents a facility location model for improving the collection of solid waste materials. The model is especially suitable for densely populated regions with several housing units as well as encourages initial sorting of wastes. Each individual house in the collection area is designated a customer, with randomly selected customers comprising the set of candidate hubs. The fundamental feature of the model is to group the customers into clusters by assigning each customer (house) to the nearest hub. Each cluster is then assigned to exactly one waste collection site drawn from the set of potential collection locations. The objective is to minimize the total number of activated waste collection sites such that all the customers’ requests are satisfied without violating the capacity limit of each site. A simple Lagrangian relaxation heuristic is developed for the problem and solved with the CPLEX solver on the AMPL platform to find a feasible solution. Results from the numerical implementation of model show the model is efficient and competitive with existing solid waste collection facility location model

Maternal factors influencing birth weight of term babies among women who received antenatal care at a Nigerian voluntary agency health care facility

Background: Birthweight is an important indicator of babies’ health status and a reliable predictor of their postnatal survival. Maternal factors are regarded as major contributors to birthweight outcome due to their direct effects on foetal growth. Proper knowledge of these factors is essential for implementing preventive measures against suboptimal birthweight. Objective of the study sought to determine the proportion of term babies with normal birthweight and identify the maternal factors that influence birthweight.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 257 booked pregnant women and their newborns delivered at the Sacred Heart Hospital (SHH), Abeokuta, Nigeria between August and November 2017. Selection was by systematic random sampling method. Data were collected with a pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS version 21 program.Results: The mean age of the women was 30.73±5.17 years. Among the women, 95.7% had at least senior secondary education, 95% of them were married and employed. The mean birthweight was 3.25±0.47 kg and male babies had higher mean weight (male: 3.30±0.54 kg; female: 3.21±0.39 kg). NBW was recorded among 92.6% of the babies with 3.5 and 3.9% as LBW and HBW, respectively. Only maternal booking BMI (p=0.005) and chronic hypertension (p=0.007) were significantly associated with birthweight.Conclusion: Most babies in this study had normal birthweights reflecting the influence of optimal maternal biological and socio-demographic characteristics. Chronic hypertension and subnormal booking BMI undermined achievement of optimal birthweight, underscoring the need for pre-conception care for intending mothers.

OPTIMISATION OF LYE-PEELING OF CASSAVA (Manihot esculenta Crantz) USING RESPONSE SURFACE METHODOLOGY

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is an important root crop in many tropical developing countries. Conventional peeling, done manually using knives is wasteful and unsuitable for industrial scale operation. Optimum condition for the peeling of cassava by immersion in hot lye (NaOH) solution was determined using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) for pre-determined three levels of Peeling Efficiency Index (PEI). Some cassava was peeled manually and some with hot lye solution. The effects of lye–concentration (4-12%), immersion temperature (75-100°C) and immersion time (2.5-10min.) on PEI (removal of 11-15% of root) obtained from 23 experimental points and three replication were analyzed with design expert and statistical analysis system software. Complete lye–peeling (removal of 11% of the root) was achieved at 9.7%, 86°C and 5min respectively which were within the critical optimization range (R2=43%, CV=44% and root mean square error 0.3935) generated by the RSM

Community-based infant hearing screening in a developing country: parental uptake of follow-up services

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Universal newborn hearing screening is now considered an essential public health care for the early detection of disabling life-long childhood hearing impairment globally. However, like any health interventions in early childhood, parental support and participation is essential for achieving satisfactory uptake of services. This study set out to determine maternal/infant socio-demographic factors associated with follow-up compliance in community-based infant hearing screening programmes in a developing country.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>After health educational/counselling sessions, infants attending routine childhood immunisation clinics at four primary care centres were enrolled into a two-stage infant hearing screening programme consisting of a first-stage screening with transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions and second-stage screening with automated auditory brainstem response. Infants referred after the second-stage screening were scheduled for diagnostic evaluation within three months. Maternal and infant factors associated with completion of the hearing screening protocol were determined with multivariable logistic regression analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>No mother declined participation during the study period. A total of 285 out of 2,003 eligible infants were referred after the first-stage screening out of which 148 (51.9%) did not return for the second-stage, while 32 (39.0%) of the 82 infants scheduled for diagnostic evaluation defaulted. Mothers who delivered outside hospitals were significantly more likely to return for follow-up screening than those who delivered in hospitals (Odds ratio: 1.62; 95% confidence intervals: 0.98 – 2.70; p = 0.062). No other factors correlated with follow-up compliance for screening and diagnostic services.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Place of delivery was the only factor that correlated albeit marginally with infant hearing screening compliance in this population. The likely influence of issues such as the number of return visits for follow-up services, ineffective tracking system and the prevailing unfavourable cultural perception towards childhood deafness on non-compliance independently or through these factors warrant further investigation.</p

OPTIMIZATION OF LYE PEELING OF BREADFRUIT (Artocarpus comminis Frost) USING RESPONSE SURFACE METHODOLOGY

Breadfruit (Artocarpus communis &nbsp;Frost) is an important food crop in many tropical developing coun-&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;tries. Conventional peeling, done manually using knives is wasteful and unsuitable for industrial scale&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;operation. Optimum condition for the peeling of breadfruit by immersion in hot lye (NaOH) solution was&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;determined using Response Surface methodology (RSM) for pre-determined three levels of Peeling&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Efficiency Index &nbsp; (PEI). Some &nbsp; breadfruit &nbsp; was &nbsp; peeled &nbsp; manually &nbsp; and &nbsp; some &nbsp; with &nbsp; hot lye &nbsp; solution. &nbsp; The&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;effects of lye&ndash;concentration (0.5-2.0%), immersion temperature (70-90&deg;C) and immersion time (2.5-&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;10min.) on PEI (removal of 6-11% of peel) with subsequent soft and abrasive washing of the peeled&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;crop obtained from 14 experimental points and three replication were analyzed with design expert and&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;statistical analysis system software. Complete lye&ndash;peeling (removal of 6% of the fruit ) was achieved&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;at &nbsp; 1.6%, &nbsp; 80&deg;C &nbsp; and &nbsp; 5min &nbsp; respectively &nbsp; which &nbsp; were &nbsp; within &nbsp; the &nbsp; critical &nbsp; optimization &nbsp; range &nbsp; (R =52%,&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;CV=75.9%) generated by the RSM.&nbsp

Artificial Sweeteners Disrupt Tight Junctions and Barrier Function in the Intestinal Epithelium through Activation of the Sweet Taste Receptor, T1R3

The breakdown of the intestinal epithelial barrier and subsequent increase in intestinal permeability can lead to systemic inflammatory diseases and multiple-organ failure. Nutrition impacts the intestinal barrier, with dietary components such as gluten increasing permeability. Artificial sweeteners are increasingly consumed by the general public in a range of foods and drinks. The sweet taste receptor (T1R3) is activated by artificial sweeteners and has been identified in the intestine to play a role in incretin release and glucose transport; however, T1R3 has not been previously linked to intestinal permeability. Here, the intestinal epithelial cell line, Caco-2, was used to study the effect of commonly-consumed artificial sweeteners, sucralose, aspartame and saccharin, on permeability. At high concentrations, aspartame and saccharin were found to induce apoptosis and cell death in intestinal epithelial cells, while at low concentrations, sucralose and aspartame increased epithelial barrier permeability and down-regulated claudin 3 at the cell surface. T1R3 knockdown was found to attenuate these effects of artificial sweeteners. Aspartame induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production to cause permeability and claudin 3 internalization, while sweetener-induced permeability and oxidative stress was rescued by the overexpression of claudin 3. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that the artificial sweeteners sucralose, aspartame, and saccharin exert a range of negative effects on the intestinal epithelium through the sweet taste receptor T1R3

Transforming Evidence to Action: The Case of Election Participation in Nigeria

We describe a case study from the LISA 2020 Network of how statisticians produced and analyzed data to create policy recommendations for enhancing election participation in Nigeria. This is an example of how statisticians can collaborate with data producers and data decision makers to transform evidence into action for development. &nbsp;</p