Using Delay Tolerant Networks as a Backbone for Low-cost Smart Cities

Rapid urbanization burdens city infrastructure and creates the need for local governments to maximize the usage of resources to serve its citizens. Smart city projects aim to alleviate the urbanization problem by deploying a vast amount of Internet-of-things (IoT) devices to monitor and manage environmental conditions and infrastructure. However, smart city projects can be extremely expensive to deploy and manage. A significant portion of the expense is a result of providing Internet connectivity via 5G or WiFi to IoT devices. This paper proposes the use of delay tolerant networks (DTNs) as a backbone for smart city communication; enabling developing communities to become smart cities at a fraction of the cost. A model is introduced to aid policy makers in designing and evaluating the expected performance of such networks. Preliminary results are presented based on a public transit network data-set from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Finally, innovative ways of improving network performance in a low-cost smart city is discussed.Comment: 3 pages, accepted to IEEE SmartComp 201

The impact of psychological illness on outcome of corrosive esophageal injury

Purpose of Study: Esophageal stricture is a debilitating condition with significant morbidity and mortality, occurring often as a complication of the ingestion of corrosives. In the adult, majority of cases are intentional whilst being accidental in the pediatric population. We therefore sought to describe the circumstances of intentional corrosive ingestion and determine the presence and impact of psychiatric illness on the outcome of management.Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of case folders of patients managed with this condition over a ten.year period (2000.2009) was done by comparing sociodemographics and outcome of management in patients with and without psychiatric disorders.Results: Twenty seven cases were reviewed. Mean age was 30.7 (SD =16.01), with a M:F ratio of 1.25:1.86.2% had a diagnosable psychiatric condition, the most common being depression in 55.6% of the patients. Caustic soda (55.6%) was the most common corrosive ingested. There was a significant difference in mean duration before presentation in patients with (1.7 days) and without (6.6 days) previous psychiatric illness (P = 0.01). A significant positive association was also found between surgical outcome and previous history of psychiatric disorder (P = 0.02).Conclusion: Early recognition of psychosocial distress is important to prevent deliberate self.harm. Counter.intuitively, a previous history of psychopathology limits esophageal injury by early presentation and therefore improve chances of a good surgical outcome.Key words: Corrosive, deliberate self harm, outcom

Childhood Eye Diseases in Southwestern Nigeria: A Tertiary Hospital Study

BACKGROUND: Eye diseases are important cause of medical consultation in children, with the spectrum varying in different localities. This study aimed to determine the spectrum of childhood eye diseases in a tertiary hospital serving rural and semi-rural communities. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of all patients less than 15 years old who presented to the eye clinic of Wesley Guild Hospital Ilesa, Nigeria between January 2001 and December 2006. Data on age at presentation, age at onset of disease, sex and diagnosis were collected and analyzed using SPSS. A p value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: We evaluated the reports of 286 children, with a male:female ratio of 1:1.1. Children aged 11-15 years made up the largest group (p=0.013). Ocular trauma (21.7%), allergic conjunctivitis (17.8%), infections of the eye and its adnexa (15.4%) and refractive errors (14.3%) were the most common conditions. Ocular injury was more common in males (p=0.002) and children aged 6-10 years, and 87.1% of these cases were a closed globe injury. Infections were seen more commonly among females and children aged 0-5 years, with keratitis representing 40.9% of these cases. Congenital eye disease represented 13.3% of childhood eye diseases. CONCLUSION: The prevalent childhood eye diseases recorded here can lead to absenteeism from school and are potentially blinding. Health education aimed at the prevention of ocular trauma and prompt presentation for the management of other eye diseases should be encouraged

Informed Consent In Surgery: An Audit Of Practice In Ile-ife, Nigeria

Objectives: This study was conducted to assess patients\' knowledge of their diagnoses and proposed surgical procedures before giving consent for such procedures in the various surgical units of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife. Materials and Methods: A structured questionnaire was administered to 80 consecutive patients who had just undergone an elective major surgery in general surgery, gyneacology, orthopaedics and surgical subspecialty units of the hospital. Results: Sixty patients (75%) gave consent themselves, while other consents were obtained from close relations. Thirty-seven (46.25%) respondents were informed of the diagnoses and procedure by the unit consultants but no consultant was involved in the completion of the consent form. Seventy-five (93.75%) respondents had a knowledge of the diagnoses, 68(85%) understood the procedure but only 21(26.25%) knew any alternative to the procedure, 29(36.25%) knew at least one complication of the procedure and 12(15%) knew an option or complication of anaesthesia. Forty-five (56.25%) of the consent forms were properly filled while other forms had one error or another. Conclusion: Well structured and standardized method of obtaining informed consent from surgical patients should be adopted. While educating patients, the various alternatives to the procedure and possible complications should be carefully explained to the patients who should be carried along in decision making. Keywords: Informed consent, Surgical practice. Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice Vol. 11 (3) 2008: pp. 206-21

Banger-related ocular injuries during New Year festivities in Osogbo, SW Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Different types of ocular injuries could be sustained following banger explosives. This case report could be the first of such reports in West Africa.CASE DETAILS: We report cases of ocular injuries caused by bangers. This was a hospital-based study of 3 consecutive cases that presented during the New Year festival. Injuries were classified according to Birmingham eye trauma terminology system (BETTS). Two of the patients ended up with irreversible loss of vision. Another two of the three were bystanders.CONCLUSION: As banger-related ocular injuries result in significant morbidity, public education regarding the proper use of bangers would help in preventing the incidence of ocular injuries and blindness. Advocacy for a strict legislation to regulate its use is strongly recommended.KEYWORDS: Bangers, eye injuries, holidays, Nigeri

The prospect of anatomy as a career choice among clinical year medical students in Nigeria

Background : Medical doctors are potential important source of anatomy teachers. The aim of this study was to determine the choice of anatomy as a career option among medical students in a Nigerian medical school Method : Descriptive survey of second- and third-year medical students using a self-administered questionnaire to asses age, sex, perception of anatomy as a subject, anatomy training experience and choice of anatomy as a career among respondents. Analysis was conducted using the SPSS and statistical significance inferred at P< 0.05. Results : Three hundred and fifty three (85.3% response rate) who completely filled questionnaire were returned and analyzed of which 195 (55.2%) were males and 158(44.8%) were females. Their ages ranged between 18 and 37 years with a mean of 22.4 \ub1 9.9 years. Although most students agreed that anatomy was an important subject in medical sciences 346 (98%), they had benefited from anatomy training in their clinical classes 320 (90.7%), and the knowledge of anatomy is useful in investigating patients with certain diseases 251 (71.1%), only 22 (6.2%) would choose anatomy as a career. Male students were more likely to choose anatomy as a career (P=0.026). Textbooks were the most common 334 (94.5%), while radiological means were the least 23 (6.5%) method employed in learning anatomy. Conclusion : Anatomy as a subject is perceived positively by clinical medical students, but the choice as a career option is low; attempt at increasing career interest is needful

Surgical eye removal in Ile‑Ife, Nigeria

Objective: To determine the indications and pattern of surgical removal of the eyeball at a Tertiary Hospital in South Western Nigeria.Materials and Methods: Retrospective review of case files and theatre records of all patients who had evisceration, enucleation, or exenteration at the ophthalmic theatres of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife between July 2005 and June 2013 was done. Information on age, sex, indication for surgery, and the type of surgery was analyzed using SPSS 16 software.Results: Eighty eyes of 79 patients, age, ranged from 3 months to 88 years with a male: female ratio of 3.4:1 were surgically removed. The major indications for surgery were ocular trauma (43.8%), orbito‑ocular neoplasm (22.5%), fulminant ocular infection (15%), and staphyloma (12.5%). Children accounted for 33.8% of all cases reviewed.Conclusion: Indications for eye removal in our geographical area of practice are largely preventable and similar to those reported in major Nigerian cities and other developing countries, but dissimilar to what obtains in many developed countries.Keywords: Enucleation, evisceration, exenteration, eye remova

Prevalence of blindness and visual impairement in Atakunmosa west local government area of southwestern Nigeria

No Abstract.Tanzania Health Research Bulletin Vol. 9(2) 2007: pp.126-13