Determinants of full child immunization among 12-23 months old in Nigeria.

Although childhood immunization is considered important for improving child survival, most morbidity and mortality in children are due to vaccine preventable diseases such as measles, poliomyelitis, whooping cough, tuberculosis, diphtheria, and tetanus. Globally, immunization coverage has increased during the past decade, but in developing countries including Nigeria, the coverage is still unacceptably low. It is therefore important to recognize the factors that are associated with full child immunization in Nigeria with a view to reduce child mortality in Nigeria and also to make the life of these children better. The study used the 2008 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey children’s data. A total of 4,520 children aged between 12- 23 months delivered by 4,520 women aged 15-49 years formed the analysis sample. The dependent variable was full child immunization constructed from a number of variables on uptake of the various WHO recommended immunizations (coded 0 – No and 1 – Yes). Binary logistic regression model was used to identify the critical determinants of full child immunization status. Results show that only about 22% of the children received full immunization. The significant determinants of full child immunization were religion, residence, place of delivery, antenatal visit, mother’s occupation, mother’s education, as well as mother’s age, household wealth and region of residence. In conclusion, Full child immunization coverage is low but had increased in Nigeria. The children in households with low income, where the mothers were single, where the mothers were Muslims, where the mothers were without formal education were less likely to be fully immunized. These groups need to be further targeted for a more complete immunization for children

Analysis of PAPR in optical OFDM systems with grouped LEDs

The need for multiple transmit chains poses a major challenge in optical orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system utilising grouped light emitting diodes (LEDs) for the purpose of peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) reduction. Thus, recent study propose the use of pilot-assisted (PA) electrical PAPR reduction technique to further reduce PAPR and limit the number of transmit chains in the system. This paper presents the application of order statistics to derive the analytical solutions of PAPR distributions in the PA optical OFDM system utilising grouped LEDs. It is shown that the results obtained via analysis are in good agreement with that of computer simulations

Indoor localization based on multiple LEDs position estimation

This paper describes the simulation results and hardware implementation of an inexpensive, low-complexity LED based indoor positioning system. Localization by multiple LEDs estimation model (MLEM) approximates position of a mobile receiver by the acquisition of positional information from LED transmitters. Multiple LED orientation can either be with or without overlap. Receivers in a no-overlap LED orientation experience only single access while multiple access receivers are designed for orientations with overlaps. Single and multiple access systems were developed and implemented by the use of low cost ATMEG 328 microcontroller. Since multiple LEDs transmit data at the same wavelength and are asynchronous, overlap in multiple access system causes interference. The possibility of this interference is reduced by packet based pulse duration multiplexing (PDM) and a low duty cycle transmission protocol. By the use of MLEM, root mean square error in position estimation is reduced to about 1 percent of the length an indoor location. Experimental results show that overlap increases positional accuracy over a wider coverage region and that the multiple access system allows for a more reliable positioning

Defining Niger Delta Soils – Are They Laterites?

This is the final published version. It was first published by IISTE at http://www.iiste.org/Journals/index.php/CER/article/view/22179.The ambiguity of the use of the term ‘laterite’ to generally classify tropical soils especially for engineering purposes needed to be addressed. An attempt was made to analyze the silica-sesquioxide ratio of some Niger Delta soils to establish whether these soils which are formed in the tropic are indeed laterites. This ratio is used because it is generally accepted as a parameter in the classification and specification of laterites and can be measured with some degree of accuracy in the laboratory. This study revealed that these soils (except the ferralsols) which were soft when wet and significantly hard when air-dried could not be called laterite soils because of the high silica-sesquioxide ratios. It is envisaged that this study would help the engineers in the region to have a better understanding of the soils which are erroneously acclaimed and handled as laterite soils

The relationship between ventricular dilatation, neuropathological and neurobehavioural changes in hydrocephalic rats

BACKGROUND: The motor and cognitive deficits observed in hydrocephalus are thought to be due to axonal damage within the periventricular white matter. This study was carried out to investigate the relationship between ventricular size, cellular changes in brain, and neurobehavioural deficits in rats with experimental hydrocephalus. METHODS: Hydrocephalus was induced in three-week old rats by intracisternal injection of kaolin. Behavioural and motor function were tested four weeks after hydrocephalus induction and correlated to ventricular enlargement which was classified into mild, moderate or severe. Gross brain morphology, routine histology and immunohistochemistry for oligodendrocytes (CNPase), microglia (Iba-1) and astrocytes (GFAP) were performed to assess the cellular changes. RESULTS: Decreases in open field activity and forelimb grip strength in hydrocephalus correlated with the degree of ventriculomegaly. Learning in Morris water maze was significantly impaired in hydrocephalic rats. Gradual stretching of the ependymal layer, thinning of the corpus callosum, extracellular oedema and reduced cortical thickness were observed as the degree of ventriculomegaly increased. A gradual loss of oligodendrocytes in the corpus callosum and cerebral cortex was most marked in the severely-hydrocephalic brains, whereas the widespread astrogliosis especially in the subependymal layer was most marked in the brains with mild hydrocephalus. Retraction of microglial processes and increase in Iba-1 immunoreactivity in the white matter was associated ventriculomegaly. CONCLUSIONS: In hydrocephalic rats, oligodendrocyte loss, microglia activation, astrogliosis in cortical areas and thinning of the corpus callosum were associated with ventriculomegaly. The degree of ventriculomegaly correlated with motor and cognitive deficits