bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nurses' Compliance to Patients' Bill of Rights in a Secondary Healthcare Facility: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Gimba Joseph Jonathan , Alheri Kwasau Naomi , Dele-Alonge Olajumoke Ileola , Oyebola Adamu Adedipe Foyekemi , Awonuga Omowunmi Modupe
Published: October 2023

The Patient Bill of Rights (PBoR) which is a "list of guarantees for those receiving health care" has lent a voice through which consumers  of healthcare drive accountability and excellence in the health sector. Nurses, as advocates for the patients, have higher responsibilities  to respond to the empowerment of patients in PBoR by providing care that places patients first hence the present study. A descriptive  cross-sectional study was conducted on Nurses' compliance to PBoR in Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa Memorial Hospital (SPIYMH),  Kafanchan, The entire study population of 102 based on census responded to a two-sector, 20-item adapted questionnaire. Data entry  was done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS V. 23) while hypotheses testing was done using chi-square at a statistical  significance level of 0.05. The age of the respondents ranged from 20 - 50 years with a mean ± SD of 28 ± 0.4 years. Respondents had  mostly 6-10 years of working experience. Concerning compliance with PBoR, 65.2% of the respondents demonstrated adequate  compliance with PBoR. The chi-square test revealed that compliance to PBoR was associated with the ward/unit of practice of  respondents (χ2 =11.72; df = 5, p = 0.034) and the respondents' work experience in years (χ2 =13.09; df = 2, p = 0.001) respectively. The  study concluded that Nurses in SPIYMH, Kafanchan, Kaduna state, adequately complied with PBoR in their discharge of nursing services  which is dependent on the ward/unit of the practice of the Nurses as well their work experience in years.
Attitude and Satisfaction of in-Patients Toward Hospital Meals at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano
Authors: Raimi Tijjan , Haddad Mohammed Mahfuz , Elelu F Adama , Okuzu Rita , Abubakar Salisu , Isah Gambo , Dalhatu Adamu , Abdulmaleek Musa , Kabiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Published: October 2023

Nutrients are essential to support the growth and healing of sick individuals. Most hospital provides meals for admitted patients.  Sometimes these meals are not taken by these patients due to one reason or the other. Patients' satisfaction with hospital meals could  play a role in the quality of care rendered.

Aim: This study aimed to assess patients' attitudes and satisfaction with meals served to  inpatients at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive design was used to collect data from one hundred and thirty-one respondents utilizing a self-structured questionnaire. Data analysis was analyzed using simple descriptive statistics and  results were presented in frequency and percentages.

Results: The mean age of respondents was 41.5±5years, the majority are female  53.4%, married 66.4%, Hausa/Fulani 78.6% and have no formal education 33.4%. The preferred meal was home 68.7% and 62.6% were  never asked about their choice of meal. The majority of the respondents 72.5% were satisfied with the hospital meal. There was no  significant relationship between the level of income and satisfaction with hospital meals (X2 = 5.934; p = 0.115).

Conclusion: Most patients are satisfied with the hospital meal. There was no relationship between income and satisfaction with hospital meals. It is recommended  that patients be involved with the choice of meal served as this will enhance the taking of hospital meals and also help in quick healing  and quality of care.
The Knowledge, Pattern and Practice of Menstrual Hygiene among Female Secondary School Students in Ogbomoso, South-west Nigeria
Authors: Ogunlaja I.P. , Ogunlaja A.O. , Adeniran A.S. , Bakare T.Y. , Bobo T. , Oyaromode A. , Olasinde A.
Published: October 2023

Background: Adolescent girls in developing countries may lack appropriate information, meansor materials, and access to the right sanitary facilities to manage menstruation. Hence, they haveadopted unsafe hygienic practices during menstruation that in turn have a negative impact ontheir health and education. Aim: Thus, this study aimed to assess the pattern and practices ofmenstrual hygiene and its associated factors among secondary school girls in Ogbomoso.Methodology: A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted in February 2022 amongsecondary school girls. A total of 460 girls were selected randomly and interviewed using astructured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was employed toidentify predictors of good menstrual hygiene management practices. Results: Overall, 76.3% ofthe girls had satisfactory menstrual hygiene management practices. (88%) of them usedcommercial sanitary pads as absorbent, 56.4% changed sanitary materials more than three timesa day, 22% of them experienced restrictions and 68.3% cleaned their external genitalia dailyduring their menstruation. 37.1% of the respondents reused the absorbent material and 86.8 usedsoap and water to wash the absorbent material being reused, while 58.9% dried the absorbentmaterials indoors. 51% of the respondents change the absorbent material thrice a day and above70% change in the bathroom. The majority of the respondents disposed of the absorbentmaterial by burning (64.8%) while 27.9% disposed of the materials in the toilet. Conclusion: Inthis study, the practice of proper menstrual hygiene management of secondary schoolgirls wasquite satisfactory when compared with findings in previous studies in the same geographicalarea. The majority of the respondents had mothers with tertiary education and these motherswere mainly responsible for the provision of information about menstruation and its hygienemanagement. Hence, it is important to state that the role of mothers, their level of education andthe information about menstrual hygiene cannot be overemphasized as it pertains to knowledgeof menstruation and the practice of menstrual hygiene.
Assessment of Cost and Time of Errors in Construction Documents on Selected Building Projects in Nigeria
Authors: Dosumu O.S. , Dosumu O.G. , Uwanyirigira J.
Published: October 2023

The construction industry has generally been tagged with poor project performance. Cost and time overruns are the leading causes of  poor performance. Design and construction errors are equally leading causes of cost and time overruns. The objectives of this study are  to investigate the prevalent types of errors in construction documents, the cost implication of the errors, the time implication of the  errors, and strategies adopted to mitigate the errors. The study involves an interview of construction professionals on 51 selected  building projects across the southwestern States of Nigeria through the non-probabilistic convenience sampling technique. The findings  of the study indicated that the Nigerian construction industry is largely dominated by the use of traditional procurement method and  many construction projects lack complete construction documents. Also, errors in construction documents added about 9% to the  contract sum and 31% to cost overrun. It also added about 21% to the agreed duration and 40% to the total time overrun. The study  concluded that errors in construction documents affect project duration more than the project cost and can triple the agreed duration of  building projects in some cases. The study recommended that based on the projects investigated, an additional 10% should be added to  the agreed cost and 20% to the scheduled duration of building projects.
Assessment of Bacterial Contaminants in Some Sliced Fruits Sold in Kaduna, Nigeria
Authors: Musa F.M. , Umar F.J. , Ibrahim T. , Sanusi S.B. , Wartu J.R.
Published: October 2023

Food borne illnesses have been attributed to the increase in consumption of contaminated sliced fruit. This study was aimed at  evaluating the bacteriological quality of sliced fruits sold in Kaduna, Nigeria. Sixty samples were purchased from ten different markets  and analysed using standard microbiological methods. Mesophilic bacteria were enumerated as markers of food- borne microbial  contamination. Using proximate analysis based on the manufacturer’s instruction, result in this study shows that Orange had the highest  protein content of (16.51 %), fat content (2.78%) and carbohydrate content (10.30%) while Pineapple had highest moisture contents  (83.03%). From the mesophilic count, Pawpaw was found to be the most heavily contaminated followed by watermelon, pineapple and  then orange. Percentage occurrence of bacterial isolates of the fruits analysed indicates that, Pawpaw had the highest Escherichia coli  contaminants (20.45%), indicating faecal contamination likely be from contaminated water used in washing and processing. Also,  Pseudomonas species (11.36%), Staphylococcus species (18.8%), and Shigella species (22.73%) all had highest isolation from Pawpaw  samples. Pineapple had the highest Lactobacillus species (13.88%). This could be because it thrives well in an acid medium. Watermelon  had the highest Salmonella species (25.64%). In conclusion, all the fruits analysed contained protein, fat, ash, carbohydrate and moisture  and as such can be taken as supplements. As a result of heavy contamination observed in the samples analysed, sliced fruits sold by  vendors in Kaduna metropolis are said to be unsafe for human consumption, hence the need for proper microbiological safety analysis of  fruits for human consumption.
Assessment of Glass Ceiling Barriers to the Career Advancement of Professional Women in Construction Industry
Authors: Bello F.M. , Adogbo K.J. , Maina J.J.
Published: October 2023

Women in organisations experience a ‘glass ceiling’ that prevents them from reaching top management levels or executive status in the  construction industry thus raising the question of gender equality in the workplace. This study investigates the glass ceiling barrier in the  Nigerian construction industry organisations and how this is perceived by the professional women. A cross-sectional questionnaire  survey of professional women (Architecture, Building, Quantity Surveying and Engineering) who have practiced in the construction  industry was adopted. Mean, percentages, independent T-test and ANOVA statistics were utilised for data analysis. The study found that  women face high prejudice where they are perceived to be less than men and also there is an unconscious bias due to cultural, tribal and  ethnic differences in decision making by top Management. The women who have attained the Fellows cadre in their professional  organisations are also treated with respect and are more likely to break through the glass ceiling barrier at an average level. The study  concludes that professional women face glass ceiling barriers in their workplaces within the construction industry at an average level.  Thus, it is recommended that professionals within construction should have lesser prejudices against women and see them as  professionals with same abilities in carrying out task just like their male counterparts.
Assessment of Post-Harvest Needs of Small and Medium Scale Gari Processors in Rivers State
Authors: Elemasho M.K. , Abdulbaki M.K. , Aneke C.C. , Chugali A.J.C. , Nwahia O. , Daramola D.S. , Nwaehujor I.U.
Published: October 2023

Feeding over 7 million Rivers State dwellers requires a radical transformation in postharvest management of agricultural products. Garri,  which is a product from cassava is one of the processed food widely consume in the state. However, primitive methods which result to a  reasonable loss of the product are widely used in Rivers State. Therefore, in order to minimize or eliminate these losses within the  system, the study was conducted to assess the needs of small and medium scale garri processors in Rivers State, Nigeria. Purposive and  snow-ball sampling procedures were used to select 120 small and medium scale garri processors in the study area. A well-structured questionnaire was used to obtain information from the respondents and analysed using both frequencies, percentages, mean and PPMC  statistical tools. The result revealed that r - distribution which represents the Pearson correlation coefficient significant level of the  variables is statistically significant at 1% (0.01) between time constraint and perception of garri processors that, improved garri  processing equipment is better than primitive tools with r = 0.258**most of the respondents (Above 90%) confirmed that all the listed  improved garri processing and storage equipment are highly needed in the study area. The local tools used in the study area for gari  processing includes knives (100%) stick presser (81.7%) and Aluminium frying pan (88.3%). All (100%) of the respondents showed  favourable attitude towards the needs for improved processing equipment. The constraints to garri processors include lack of fund,  health challenges, and lack of improved garri processing equipment, time consumption, small processing capacity and spoilage of  cassava with each mean above grand mean (2.6). Therefore, improved post-harvest equipment are highly needed for processing garri in  the study area to improve production efficiency and high-income generation for the processors. Government intervention is needed to  erect mini garri processing centre in each community.
Geospatial Approach to Route Optimisation for Security Architecture Improvement
Authors: Ibrahim A. , Michael B. , Suleyman Z.A.T. , Akintuyi O.B.
Published: October 2023

Understanding the complexity of road networks is tiring, especially in finding the optimum routes for emergency response. Dynamic  route optimisation is a decision-making process powered by mathematical models to formulate a strong basis for predicting the best  path between any two points in a road network. Exploring the numerous interconnected routes in and out of a road network provides a  strong foothold for securing lives and properties. This study presents the findings of route optimisation at the Federal University of  Technology Minna, Gidan Kwano Campus. High Target Differential Global Positioning System receiver (DGPS), Handheld GPS (Garmin GPSmap 60Cx), Quick Bird Satellite Imagery, and Google Earth Images were used for data acquisition purposes. An ArcGIS network  analyst for optimum route identification based on Dijktra’s algorithm was utilised for analysis. Five different optimisation tests were done  and the optimised routes were compared with alternative routes from the network. The total travel distances for alternative and  optimum routes are 11852.414 m and 16614.156 m respectively while the total travel times for alternative and optimum routes are  2135.35 s and 2993.25 s respectively. The study revealed all optimum routes are faster cumulatively by (11.7%) and are best for security  and emergency responses. Ten unauthorised access roads to the campus were identified. The number of routes paving access to the  campus shows that efforts towards ensuring security must be increased.
A Systematic Literature Review on Cost Forecasting Techniques for Improving Estimates Accuracy in Construction Projects
Authors: Emmanuel J.A.
Published: October 2023

In construction, one measure of accuracy is the deviation obtained between estimate at completion and the most responsive tender  figure. While different forms of forecasting techniques have been used, the era of artificial intelligence has also availed the industry the  tools to improve construction cost estimation. However only a few studies address accuracy within the defined context of accuracy. The  goal of this systematic literature review is to map out knowledge territory, highlight means of improving accuracy within the cost  forecasting domain. From a total of 133 articles retrieved from EBSCOhost, Google Scholar, Scopus databases and ASCE library, 93 articles  published between 1976 and 2022 were considered for the study. The review reports the contributions of extant literature which have so far focused on construction forecasting tools and techniques deployed to improve accuracy. A key highlight of the findings is that  the reference to accuracy is given to models’ ability to manipulate data (independent variables) and not in any sense comparing a  final figure to one forecasted. This gap highlighted is the goal of an ongoing study aimed at examining current efforts at improving  accuracy and thus developing an effective cost forecasting model using improved techniques. Through the analysis extant literature on  cost forecasting, this review concludes that a robust big data analytics approach is needed to manage the shortcoming of existing  techniques while taking into cognizance the series of events that are correlated and influence cost across the project life cycle. The review  ends with a recommendation to consider a shift away from over-reliance on model development to training and operationalising  models to adequately capture factors that influence cost overrun.
Birth Tourism to the United States of America and its Perceived Implications for Ghana
Authors: Allotey Ada Adoley , Anarfi John Kwasi , Kandilige Leander
Published: October 2023

The global appeal to give birth to US-born citizens by foreign parents is increasingly highlighted by a growingbody of scholarship on its implications for US society. Based on mixed methods research conducted in threeGhanaian cities – Accra, Cape Coast, and Kumasi - this paper examines the awareness of birth tourism to theUnited States of America and its perceived implications for Ghana. Thus, 260 residents who are yet to give birthin the United States were surveyed, and 15 interviews with the parents of 25 US-born citizens were conducted.Mabogunje’s (1970) migration system theory served as an interpretive guide in the analysis. The paper arguesthat the travel to have a US-born citizen is an open secret; positive feedback from co-nationals pushes somepregnant Ghanaian women to give birth in the US. The city residents also agree that the travel to have US-borncitizens will act as a precursor to migration from Ghana to the United States of America, with the most significantimplication being brain drain. The paper recommends that origin countries should create an enablingenvironment that dissuades potential birth tourists from using US-born citizenship as a conduit to secure theirlong-term economic futures.
Voters’ disposition and the outcome of 2023 general elections in Nigeria
Authors: Dii Christian Tsaro
Published: October 2023

The paper sought to discuss the disposition of the voters as it affected the outcome of the 2023 presidential election in Nigeria. The objective was to interrogate the disposition of the voters and its impact on the presidential election. It adopted the qualitative secondary research approach as its research methodology and also relied on grounded theory strategy of inquiry. The paper utilized the rational choice theory (RCT) as its theoretical framework. It found out that the voters were highly mobilized to participate in the electoral process through effective voter education, promise to deploy technology which included INEC voter enrolment device (IVED); Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for both voter accreditation and e-transmission of results for collation; and the INEC results viewing (IReV) portal that will offer the public access to view polling units results real-time. Although, the voters’ disposition significantly influenced the outcome of the presidential election, INEC failed to deliver on their promises and changed the rules in the middle of the exercise. It was recommended that the 2022 Amended Electoral Act be reviewed to ensure absolute use of technology to conduct and declare election results as well as embrace the use of e-voting technology utilizing e-ballot papers to allow voting from any location if duly registered, and permit diaspora voting in the democratic system in Nigeria.
Apple flower-visiting insects’ diversity and abundance in selected central Kenya orchards
Authors: Anyieni Ruth Moraa , Karanja Josephine Muthoni , Gikungu Mary Wanjiku , Vereecken Nicolas J.
Published: October 2023

Flower-visiting insects are essential in maintaining a healthy and productive agricultural landscape through ecosystem services such as  pollination. Fruits are important sources of vitamins and micronutrients, and several fruit crops depend on animal pollination, which enhances their nutritional content. Besides honey bees, apple orchards can sustain a large number of arthropod species that also aid in  pollination. In this present study, we assessed the diversity and abundance of insect flower visitors in six apple orchards in Nyeri and  Laikipia East. Six plots, each with more than 20 apple trees, were purposefully selected. Data were collected through timed visual  searches and sweep netting. Sampling was done from 0900 hours to 1700 hours, six days a week, for five months consecutively in 2019.  Diversity indices were computed using the Shannon-Wiener diversity index, while abundance patterns were displayed using species  abundance curves. Differences in species diversity and abundance between sites were compared using a one-way analysis of variance. A  total of 1,221 insects belonging to 23 families, 82 species, and 4 orders (Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, and Diptera) were  recorded. The order Hymenoptera (bees, wasps, and ants) was the most abundant, with 1,176 individuals, and had the most species-rich  taxa, with 56 species in 9 families. The order Coleoptera (beetles) was second, with 26 individuals and 12 species in 6 families. Lepidoptera  were the least abundant with 10 individuals and the least species-rich taxa with 7 species in 5 families, followed closely by  Diptera with 7 individuals and 7 species in 3 families. There were significant differences in flower visitors’ composition among the six  sites. The study provides important information on the status of key apple flower visitors, which can guide orchard management practises to increase apple yield through pollinator conservation. Conserving apple pollinators will enhance fruit production, promote the  livelihoods of farmers, and contribute to the national economy.
Evaluation of crushed slates as a suitable capping material for rapid gravity sand filters
Authors: Njung’e Maina Oscar , Kakoi Beatrice Katheu , Mburu Njenga
Published: October 2023

In the potable water treatment process, Rapid Gravity Sand Filters (RGSF) are commonly adopted as the last solid-liquid separation stage.  Cleaning of the RGSF is done through backwashing. RGSF is widely adopted all over the World due to its ease of operation and  high filtration rates. However, these filters suffer from stratification of the sand media, which causes floc removal to occur only at the  topmost layer of the filter bed, leaving the remaining depth unutilized. Capping is a technique whereby a thin layer of sand filter media is  replaced with a suitable coarse material to overcome the problem of stratification and transform a singlemedia RGSF into a dual-media  filter. The objective of this study is to determine the suitability of crushed slates as a capping material. The study evaluated the  performance of a crushed expanded slate-capped filter against a conventional single-media RGSF, the effects of its physical and chemical  characteristics, and varying the depth of the capping material. Laboratory tests were conducted to assess the physical and chemical  characteristics of slates from Maji ya Chumvi (Coast, Kenya). This included specific gravity, acid solubility, water extractable substances,  silica content, and friability. A performance comparison was carried out by means of a fabricated model filtration unit set up within an  existing community water treatment plant. The model filtration unit was fed with pretreated raw water of varying influent turbidities.  Crushed expanded slates met the minimum physical and chemical requirements for use as a capping material for RGSF. The crushed  expanded slate-capped RGSF model demonstrated high robustness under high shock turbidity loads (above 150 NTU), which is illustrated  by an increased length of filter run of 27% (50–150 NTU) and 45% (150–300 NTU). Increasing the depth of capping material  from 25mm to 50mm did not yield any significant improvement or deterioration in the filter run length. At influent turbidities below 150  NTU, the effluent water quality for all three scenarios (uncapped, 25 mm, and 50mm crushed expanded slates capped) is below 5 NTU  and therefore meets the Kenyan drinking water standards. Above 150 NTU influent turbidity, the effluent water quality for the uncapped  RGSF deteriorates, whereas for the 25mm and 50mm capped RGSF, it remains consistently below 5 NTU. This demonstrates the  usefulness of the crushed expanded slates in improving the turbidity removal of RGSF for high (above 150 NTU) turbidity loads. This study  recommends a full-scale trial of crushed expanded slates to facilitate a more precise estimation of the overall benefit of full-scale  community water filtration systems.
Legal and Policy Gaps Affecting Digital Rights in Malawi
Authors: Kainja Jimmy
Published: October 2023

Digital rights are human rights in the digital era, specifically on the internet. Digital rights are becoming critical as people increasingly  spend a lot of time online, accessing different services and information that are key to human survival and well-being. Resolution 362 (on the Right to Freedom of Information and Expression on the Internet in Africa) of The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights,  and resolution on the Promotion, Protection, and Enjoyment of Human Rights on the Internet of the United Nations Human Rights  Council affirmed that same rights that people enjoy offline must also be protected online. This paper assesses legal and policy gaps  affecting digital rights in Malawi, thereby making a critical contribution to scholarship in this area. In addition to the literature and policy  review of digital rights in Malawi, the study used a questionnaire as a data collection tool, targeting purposefully selected key informants  from Malawi’s telecommunication sector, media associations, NGOs, and telecommunication regulators to assess challenges affecting  digital rights in Malawi. The study found that achieving digital rights in the country remains a distant dream for most people due to the  expensive cost of the internet, insufficient telecommunication and electricity infrastructure, restrictive legal framework, and low digital  literacy. These factors make access to the ICTs and the internet inaccessible for most people, denying them access to and participation in  political, social, and economic activities enabled by digital platforms.
Implications of Corruption on Public Administration in Malawi
Authors: Mtuwa Susan , Chiweza Asiyati Lorraine
Published: October 2023

The paper interrogates the functionality of the public administration machinery and the bureaucrat in an environment where institutional  corruption exists. The National Anti-Corruption Strategy II (NACS II), a policy document launched by Malawi Government in 2019, recognises corruption as one of the significant impediments to national development targets. NACS II indicates corruption derails  social and economic development efforts resulting in poor service delivery. There is a general belief among the citizenry in Malawi that  corruption has become institutionalised Chunga and Ned, 2022). The internal systems of institutions that are responsible for the  provision of public service have been riddled with corruption manifested through weaknesses in critical areas such as human resource  management systems, public procurement systems, and public finance management systems; weak controls in the execution of budgets  leading to the misuse of public resources and maladaptive practices such as embezzlement. Based on secondary data, the paper explores  the implication of such institutionalisation of corruption in the internal systems of public institutions based on Weberian theory on public administration and the bureaucrats. The Weberian theory argues that a bureaucrat is regarded as an agent of the state who is  characterised as functioning not on an inherent sense of motivation but on an externally imposed set of criteria of neutrality, impartiality, ethics and professionalism .
A Chinyanja, Ciyao and Chitumbuka Conception of Malaria
Authors: Nkolokosa Mzati
Published: October 2023

This paper explores an African conception and understanding of malungo, the Chinyanja name for malaria. Regarding the cause,  symptoms, treatment and prevention of malaria, the dominant Western paradigm is at variance with the Malawian experience of  malungo. Malawian indigenous ways of knowing and doing, including treatment and prevention of malungo, derive from centuries of  experience that produced an independent epistemology that Western science rejects as myths and misconceptions. For the past four decades, researchers have reported low knowledge of malaria in Malawi while using the term malungo during data collection. Anchored  in anti-colonial theory and  hermeneutics, this paper reviews the 2017 Malawi Malaria Indicator Survey and discusses malungo from the  African epistemology perspective. The paper further suggests that malaria and malungo be studied through Western and African lenses  to understand whether or not the two are one or different conditions. A clear understanding of malungo and malaria as one or two  conditions would lead to developing competent interventions.
Comparative Study of Ionised Serum Calcium Levels in Pregnant Normotensive and Pre-Eclamptic Women in Gombe, North-Eastern Nigeria
Authors: Oyeniyi C.F. , El-Nafaty A.U. , Bako B. , Yahaya U.R. , Adamu S.
Published: October 2023

Pre-eclampsia is a common cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Studies have linked the condition to hypocalcaemia. The objective of this study was to determine the ionised calcium levels in pre-eclamptic women and compare with that of their normotensive counterparts. Two hundred and eighty-four (284) women who completed the study were analyzed. Half of the participants were pre-eclamptic and the other half were normotensive. The participants in the two groups were matched for age, gravidity, and gestational age. Venous blood was obtained from the antecubital vein and analyzed for ionised serum calcium. The mean ionised calcium concentrations between the two groups were compared using the student t-test. Results show the mean ages of the participants in the pre-eclamptic and normotensive groups were 24.47 ± 6.63 and 25.19 ± 5.71 years, respectively (p = 0.33). Pre-eclamptic subjects had significantly lower ionised serum calcium than the normotensive pregnant women (1.03 ± 0.11 mmol/L vs. 1.14 ±0.09 mmol/L, p < 0.001). There was also a significantly increased risk of hypocalcaemia amongst the pre-eclamptic pregnant women than the normotensive counterpart (OR=14.11, 95% CI: 6.16-32.35).Findings from this study suggest lower ionised calcium levels in serum and hypocalcaemia are associated indicators of preeclampsia among pregnant subjects diagnosed with the condition. Routine calcium supplementation is therefore recommended in pregnancy to reduce the risk of PE.
Studies on the Physicochemical Properties of Coprocessed Starch obtained from Ipomoea batatas
Authors: Yusuf F. , Kubo A.I. , Abdulrashid F.U. , Madu S.J. , Muazu J.
Published: October 2023

Co-processing has been identified as a tool for enhancing the functionality of excipients. The aim of this research was to extract starch from sweet potato, modify the starch by coprocessing with colloidal silicon dioxide and characterize. Sweet potato starch was extracted from the fresh tubers of Ipomoea batatas collected from Custom market, Maiduguri. Coprocessing with colloidal silicon dioxide at varying ratios of 95:5 and 90:10 using the co-fusion method was carried out. The co-processed mixture was dehydrated with ethanol (99 %), spread on a tray to air dry, passed through a 50 mm sieve and the drying was completed in an oven at 40 °C for 2 hours. Pharmacopoeial and physicochemical characteristics of the starches were assessed. The results obtained showed a significant improvement in the physicochemical properties (swelling and moisture sorption capacities) of the co-processed starches when compared with the native sweet potato starch. The modification of sweet potato starch by coprocessing with colloidal silicon dioxide yielded a starch-based excipient that had better physicochemical properties than the native starch. Thus, it has potential for use as a direct compression excipient.
Sustainability assessment of textile and apparel sector: a review of current approaches and tools
Authors: Fadara T.G. , Wong K. Y. , Maulana M. I.
Published: October 2023

The purpose of this study is to provide an overview of sustainability evaluation techniques in textile and apparel sector. The review studies are divided into two namely product relate assessment methods and integrated assessment methods which summarizes the different dimension covered, weightage, number of indicators involved, and highlight the weakness and strength of the previous developed sustainability assessment methods in the textile industry. The analysis revealed that majority of the product-related assessment methods focused on environmental factors only, while all the studies reviewed in this category neglected triple bottom line (TBL) in their assessment approach. Nevertheless, there is still a need to focus more on integrated assessment tools to fulfil the TBL goals. This current study offers comprehensive details of product related assessment and integrated assessment methods that was published from 2010 to 2022. Furthermore, examined current sustainability evaluation methods and offered insights into how sustainability assessment techniques have evolved in the textile and apparel industry. The review showed the product related assessment tools are impact assessment techniques are frequently used as an independent tool for evaluating the specific impact of one sustainability measurement, also have no weights attached to them because most indicators assessed were more generic. While integrated assessment method revealed that results would be less reliable if weighting and data collection were non-standardized and inconsistent. However, from the uncertainty’s perspectives, only integrated assessment tools considered fuzziness, grey and stochastic ambiguities in some of their methods, whereas product related assessment tools studied, ignored fuzziness and grey uncertainties completely.
Endoscopic removal of a tablespoon retained in the stomach - A case report
Authors: Rutaganda E , Umugwaneza N. , Shikama F. , Ndayiragije V. , Nyampinga D. , Ingabire Z. , Mukanumviye S. , Ngabitsinze P. , Kibuka S. , Nyayisenga J. M. , Ndahayo J. , Ngabonziza F. , Seminega B. , Dusabejambo V.
Published: October 2023

Even if the ingestion of foreign bodies is common, it is not a common practice to remove endoscopically a big foreign body retained in the stomach. We describe a 27 years old schizophrenic woman transferred to the Kigali University Teaching Hospital (CHUK) after four days of ingesting a tablespoon. An erect abdominal X-ray revealed the teaspoon in the abdomen and was confirmed by an endoscopy. The spoon was successfully removed endoscopically using a polypectomy snare. There were no post-procedure complications, and the patient was discharged after two days of observation.

The upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is a feasible and safe procedure for removing big retained foreign bodies in carefully selected patients.
Tuberculosis burden and its predictors among people living with HIV/AIDS at a Nigerian treatment centre: a prospective study
Authors: Olowookere S. A. , Awopeju O. F. , Fehintola F. O. , Arije O. , Ojo T. O. , Obe-Adeoye O. I. , Aina O. A. , Gbadamosi M. O. , Adepoju E. G.
Published: October 2023

INTRODUCTION: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major cause of death in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). This study assessed TB burden and its predictors among PLWHA receiving care at the State Specialist Hospital, Osogbo, Nigeria.METHODS: A prospective study was conducted among PLWHA screened clinically for TB from February 2009 till December 2019. Information collected included their socio-demographic characteristics, other variables, TB signs and symptoms, and CD4 count. PLWHA with at least one TB symptom or sign underwent laboratory diagnosis. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

RESULTS: A total of 4057 PLWHA were screened clinically for TB during the study period. They were 982 (24.2%) males and 3075 (75.8%) females. Six hundred and ninety-eight (33.4%) were diagnosed with TB. On logistic regression analysis, predictors of TB included being female (AOR=3.53, 95%CI=2.72-4.59, p<0.001), having lower education (AOR=2.53, 95%CI=2.07-3.10, p<0.001), having low socio-economic status (AOR=34.54, 95%CI=21.10-56.52, p=0.0001), being underweight (AOR=3.28, 95%CI=2.69-4.10, p<0.001) and having CD4 count <200/ml (AOR=3.69, 95%CI=3.04-4.47, p<0.001).

CONCLUSION: PLWHA had a high TB burden with predictors including low socio-economic status, being female, having had lower education, low CD4 count, and being underweight. Addressing these factors may reduce the TB burden among PLWHA.
South Sudan Doctors’ Union calls for increased health sector budget
Authors: Garang Anthony
Published: October 2023

No Abstract.
Heart failure prediction framework using random forest and J48 with Adaboost algorithms
Authors: Gold Ochim , Iorshase Agaji
Published: October 2023

Heart failure is a very serious condition in health sector globally. It has proven difficult and expensive to manage over the years even with some pre-existing prediction models that signal its occurrence. The predictive accuracies of the existing models are below impressive hence the need for better heart failure predictive models. This work developed two heart failure predictive models to contribute to the decrease in the mortality rate due to heart failure as well as assist patients and physicians in managing the condition. The models were Random Forest(RF) and J48 model with AdaBoost. The dataset for the work was collected from the Cleveland Hospital database. It has 13 attributes and 303 instances. The dataset was preprocessed before use and was converted to the CSV format usable in the Waikato Environment for Knowledge Analysis (WEKA) software. The Agile Unified Process (AUP) methodology was adopted in this work the simulator for the work. The Simulator (web-based) was implemented using Python programming language and the Streamlit for python. The result of the models showed a 92.3% accuracy in prediction for the AdaBoosted J48 model and 89.2% for the Random Forest model. The results indicated that J48 with AdaBoost outperformed RF.
Effect of processing methods on the proximate and phytochemical constituents of Moringa Oleifera (Lamarck, 1785) leaves
Authors: Saidu A. , Abdulrahman A. , Imam Z.I.
Published: October 2023

Due to the presence of active phytochemical metabolites, Moringa oleifera a fast-growing deciduous plant provides protein, vitamins, and amino acids that enhance growth and treat illnesses. The aim of the study was to compare the proximate and phytochemical composition of Moringa oleifera leaves after air and sun drying. The leaves were sourced from Millennium City, Kaduna, Nigeria and sent to Kaduna State University's Biological Sciences Department for identification and authentication. A specimen number; KASU/BSH/754, was assigned and recorded. The leaves were divided into two groups and treated to air drying and sun drying after being cleaned in water to remove dust. The leaves were kept in a well-ventilated room at a temperature of 25±2oC for six days. Leaves were also exposed to direct sunshine for 3days. With a mortar and pestle, the treated leaves were pulverized before being analyzed for proximate and phytochemical components using standard techniques. The proximate analysis was evaluated using a method developed by the Association of Analytical Chemist. The proximate analysis of air dried leaves recorded 6.58±0.32 moisture content, 12.09±0.44 ash content, 24.5±0.62 crude protein, 8.70±0.35 crude lipid, 12.5±0.60 crude fibre and 35.7±2.45 carbohydrate. While sundried leaves produced 7.59±0.33 moisture content, 13.76±0.86 ash content, 24.4±0.13 crude protein, 8.98±0.18 crude lipid, 10.7±0.49 crude fibre and 34.6±0.65 carbohydrate. The qualitative analysis of the phytochemical constituents shows that there is high concentration of phytosterol, alkaloid and saponin, moderate concentration of flavonoid and low concentration of tannin for air dried leaves. While sundried leaves produced high concentration of only alkaloid and flavonoid. And low concentration of phytosterol, saponin and tannin. Statistical analysis shows that air drying is the most suitable method of processing Moringa oleifera leaves.
Malware detection and classification using embedded convolutional neural network and long short-term memory technique
Authors: Enem Theophilus Aniemeka , Awujoola Olalekan J.
Published: October 2023

The significant growth in the use of the Internet and the rapid development of network technologies are associated with an increased risk of network attacks. As the use of encryption protocols increases, so does the challenge of identifying malware encrypted traffic also increases. Malware is a threat to people in the cyber world, as it steals personal information and harms computer systems. Network attacks refer to all types of unauthorized access to a network, including any attempts to damage and disrupt the network. This often leads to serious consequences. However, various researchers, developers and information security specialists around the globe continuously work on strategies for detecting malware. Recently, deep learning has been successfully applied to network security assessments and intrusion detection systems (IDSs) with various breakthroughs, such as using Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) to classify malicious traffic. But, with the diverse nature of malware, it is difficult to extract features from it. Therefore, existing solutions require more computing resources since available resources are not efficient for datasets with large numbers of samples. Also, adopting existing feature extractors for extracting features of images consumes more resources. This paper therefore solved these problems by combining a 1D convolutional neural network (CNN) and long short-term memory (LSTM) to adequately detect and classify malicious encrypted traffic. This work was conducted on the malware Analysis benchmark Datasets with API Call Sequences, which contains 42,797 malwares and 1,079 goodware API call sequences. The experimental results show that our proposed system has achieved 99.2% accuracy and outperformed all other state-of-the-art models.
Assessment of the Offline Setup Correction Protocol and Thermoplastic Mask Use for Head and Neck Cancer Radiotherapy: A Single Institution Experience
Authors: Yoram Furahini , Dharsee Nazima , Maunda Khamza , Kisukari Jumaa D. , Soko Geofrey F.
Published: October 2023

This study assessed the efficiency of offline setup correction protocol and the use of a thermoplastic mask for head and neck cancer (HNC) patients treated with three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy at Ocean Road Cancer Institute. A prospective study was conducted from April to August 2021 to verify 62 patients’ treatment setup using an offline setup correction protocol while immobilized with a thermoplastic mask. Megavoltage images were matched with digitally reconstructed radiographs obtained during CT simulation to determine the gross set-up deviations. Box plots were used to show the deviations on three consecutive days of the first week and a successive weekly set-up verification in lateral, longitudinal, and vertical directions. The associations between thermoplastic mask types and weekly deviations were analyzed using repeated test ANOVA. A p-value ˂ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The observed deviations after the use of correction protocol were lower in all three translational directions. There was no statistical significance between types of thermoplastic mask and setup deviations in lateral (p < 0.65), longitudinal (p = 0.19), and vertical (p = 0.12) directions. The offline correction protocol can be used in settings with limited resources and high workloads of patients. Both types of thermoplastic masks are effective in immobilizing HNC patients.
Design of a Cooling System Integrated with Ultraviolet Light for Preservation of Fruits and Vegetables at Variable Tropical Weather Conditions: A Case Study of Arusha, Tanzania
Authors: Gunda John Pyuza , Pogrebnoi Alexander , Kichonge Baraka
Published: October 2023

Post-harvest losses of fruits and vegetables pose significant challenges, especially in tropical climates. This study introduces the development and performance evaluation of a solar-powered evaporative cooling storage system integrated with ultraviolet light (UV) designed for preservation of perishable fruits and vegetables. The cooling chamber supplied with ultraviolet lamp was developed using locally available materials such as sisal, sponge, and bricks. The performance of the system was evaluated in terms of air temperature decrease, relative humidity increase, and evaporative cooling power capacity both for sunny and cloudy tropical weather conditions. The study reveals that activating the UV light considerably extends the shelf life of fruits and vegetables. The system was able to extend the shelf life of perishable products by up to 21 days when exposed to ultraviolet light and by 9 days when not exposed to ultraviolet light. On sunny days, active system operation leads to an average temperature reduction of 5.0 °C, along with a relative humidity increase of 23%. On the contrary, on cloudy days, the cooling impact diminishes slightly, resulting in temperature decrease of approximately 3.5 °C and relative humidity increase of 18%. These findings emphasize the potential of the solar-powered evaporative cooling system, combined with UV light treatment, as a viable approach to combat post-harvest losses in tropical environments.
Microplastics in Marine Sediments from Dar es Salaam Coast: Spatial Distribution and Characterization
Authors: Mtega Macarius P. , Mihale Matobola J. , Kilulya Kessy F.
Published: October 2023

The purpose of the research was to determine the spatial distribution and characterization of microplastics in marine sediments of beaches along the Indian Ocean of Dar es Salaam coast. The sediment samples were extracted in triplicate using floatation method followed by digestion of organic debris, then analyzed using At-FTIR spectrophotometer and stereomicroscope. The mean concentrations of microplastics for Kijichi Beach were 700 ± 907 particles/m2 at 1 cm, 859 ± 839 particles/m2 at 5 cm and 590 ± 782 particles/m2 at 10 cm; from Palm Beach were 157 ± 15 particles/m2 at 1 cm, 130 ± 182 particles/m2 at 5 cm and 16 ± 0 particles/m2 at 10 cm; from Coco Beach were 167 ± 155 particles/m2 at 1cm, 104 ± 100 particles/m2 at 5 cm, 70 ± 86 particles/m2 at 10 cm; from Mbezi Beach were 115 ± 108 particles/m2 at 1cm, 74 ± 82 particles/m2 at 5 cm and 16 ± 0 particles/m2 at 10 cm. The microplastics were polypropylene, polyethylene, polyurethane, polyamide, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, and polytetrafluoroethylene, in the form of fibres, fragments, sponges and pellets. The sediments were confirmed to be contaminated with microplastics with high amount at 1 cm compared to other profile location.