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Abstract Background Hepatitis D virus (HDV) is highly pathogenic, and clinical studies revealed that HDV infection aggravates the natural history of the underlying hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection by progression to cirrhosis that leads to early decompensation of liver function compared with HBV mono-infection. To determine the seroprevalence of HDV among HBsAg-seropositive patients and associated biochemical profiles at Maiduguri, Nigeria, a hospital-based cross-sectional study on 180 sera of patients positive for HBsAg by ELISA were evaluated for anti-HDV, hepatitis B envelop antigen, anti-HBs antibodies and liver enzyme profiles. Results HDV seroprevalence of 3.3% among 180 HBsAg-positive patients. Relatively higher seroprevalence of HDV was observed in males (4.3%) than in females (2.3%). The highest infection rate (20%) was obtained in patients ≥ 56 years. However, no significant association between positive anti-HDV seroprevalence and gender (p > 0.05). Of the 6 (3.3%) anti-HDV-positive patients, only 1 (16.7%) was positive for HBeAg while all were negative for anti-HBs antibodies. The mean level of liver enzyme level of AST and ALT of the anti-HDV-positive patients significantly differ from that of HBsAg mono-infected patients (p ˂ 0.05). However, no significant difference (p

Background Good subjective wellbeing (SWB) is a key societal aspiration. The study of SWB determinants is of increasing interest. The present study aimed to examine national inequalities in SWB, and trends in these inequalities, for England across five demographic (sex and age) and socio-economic (educational level, household income and living alone) characteristics. Method The relative index of inequalities (RII) and slope index of inequalities (SII) were calculated from repeated cross-sectional data from the Health Survey for England from 2010 to 2019 (excluding 2017 and 2018 as our outcome variable was not collected in these years), in a total of 90 236 participants aged 16+. SWB was assessed using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS), treated as a dichotomous variable with high and low levels of SWB > 40 and ≤ 40, respectively. Results There were significant inequalities in SWB by income (RII from 1.086 to 1.116), educational level (RII from 0.893 to 0.941) and between people living alone or not (RII from 0.908 to 0.937). The RII and SII trends were not statistically significant. Conclusions Higher socio-economic status could play a protective role for SWB, and people in the most deprived socio-economic positions may be at higher risk for low SWB. These associations have remained stable over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Ghana, more than four in ten deaths in 2016 resulted from non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Physical inactivity and sedentary behaviours are important risk factors for NCDs. No previous systematic reviews examining physical activity and sedentary behaviour among Ghanaians were identified. Therefore, this rapid scoping review was conducted to find and synthesise what is known about the epidemiology of physical activity and sedentary behaviour of children and adults in Ghana. MEDLINE was searched for eligible studies and a narrative synthesis was conducted based on 17 identified papers as well as the 2008 Demographic and Health Survey report. Little recent high-quality data on prevalence of physical activity or sedentary behaviour in Ghana was found. Existing nationally representative data is now more than ten years old. The data identified suggest that the majority of Ghanaian adults, aged 18+ years, are physically active, achieving or exceeding World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations (84.3% according to data collected in 2007-2008). Studies reporting sedentary behaviour in adults further suggest that the majority of Ghanaians are minimally sedentary. The most consistent associations with physical activity were by gender (men achieved more than women), employment (the employed, particularly in skilled manual jobs, achieved more than the unemployed), urban or rural residence (rural inhabitants achieved more than urban inhabitants) and socio-economic status (lower physical activity with increasing socio-economic status). Meanwhile, the few existing studies of physical activity in children (all of which investigated children aged 12+ years) suggest that the proportion of children achieving WHO recommendations on physical activity may be lower than for adults. A similar gender trend exists for children as in the adult data, with boys achieving more physical activity than girls. Physical activity is accrued most frequently through active travel, and active occupations, while leisure time physical activity is low. This means that the Ghanaian population may be vulnerable to becoming increasingly inactive as work and travel become more frequently mechanised and sedentary. Key words: Ghana, review, non-communicable disease, Epidemiology, Physical activity, behaviour, INTRODUCTION Globally non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like cancers and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death [1]. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs) are disproportionately [...]

A strategic shift towards sustainable, appropriate supply chain networks and data-driven decision-making in solid waste management in rural and urban areas can drastically reduce environmental pollution. This study utilizes a hybrid strategy of genetic algorithms and fuzzy logic to improve the supply chain network in solid waste management in Lagos State. In this research, four local governments in Lagos State are taken as a case study to help Identify solid waste in those selected areas, acquire data to better understand the supply chain network in solid waste management, and use the data acquired to model for the algorithm. A series of 30 iterations were carried out using a fitness parameter of frequency, price range, and means of disposal to determine who should be given utmost importance in the chain. Supply chains often exhibit inadequacies that may be enriched using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools. The optimization model is flexible and useful, so everyone involved in the chain can coexist harmoniously. One of the reasons causing these inadequacies in proper waste management is a poorly planned supply chain network. It was concluded that the scavengers must be recognized as major participants in the movement of waste from houses to these provided refuse bins, with their frequency increased to 6 times daily with dustbins ranging from 9-20 be provided on each street which the private service participants (PSP). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollution abatement and flood control activities require effective water resource planning, engineering assessment, sophisticated technology, and appropriate hydraulic structure designs. This paper x-rays flood mitigation and pollution abatement strategies that can be adopted in the Kaduna metropolis in Nigeria. Analytical hierarchy process of design, questionnaires, engineering assessment approach, and standard method for estimation of the runoff discharge was adopted for this research. Estimating water balance components and QSWAT Hydrological Model can be used with the QGIS interface for a greener environment. Suitable hydraulic systems were designed for long-term flood control in the River Kaduna catchment area through an analytic hierarchy Process. Statistical analysis, manning equations, and rational methods were utilized for adequate assessment and planning. The hydraulic discharge capacity of culverts, open channels, and other hydraulic structures was carefully checked. Flooding greatly impacts infrastructural development, and inadequate drainage systems contribute to it. Mitigation strategies, adequate water resource planning, and management will greatly benefit from addressing flood-related issues in the study area. This research provides information on the flood vulnerability of infrastructures and mitigation strategies that can be adopted in the study area. Viable policies and management strategies can be utilized to avert losses traceable to floods in developing and developed countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medical facilities, such as hospitals, clinics, and locations where diagnosis and treatment are administered, create dangerous waste that predisposes individuals to deadly infections. Medical waste management aims to improve health and prevent public health and environmental threats. Questionnaires, interviews, site visitations, and observations were utilized to determine the management strategies implemented in the three hospitals and evaluate the efficacy of waste management. The hospitals under review are Afe Babalola University Multi-system Hospital (AMSH), Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), and Federal Teaching Hospital Ido-Ekiti (FETHI). Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was utilized for the statistical analysis of the questionnaires, and the mean assessment was utilized to compute the waste per bed each day. The results revealed that the three hospitals' sharp, infectious, and pharmaceutical waste is the most sorted. All hospitals burn their medical waste in incinerators but dispose of the ashes in dumpsites. The mean evaluation of all hospitals' medical waste was weighed to establish the overall amount generated. The total amount of medical waste created at AMSH, EKSUTH, and FETHI is 31.5 kg, 53.6 kg, and 135.1 kg, respectively. The medical waste generated per bed per day in AMSH, EKSUTH, and FETHI is 0.61 kg, 0.74 kg, and 0.73 kg, respectively. It was determined that the proper management and disposal of waste is a critical obligation of healthcare facilities. There should be a provision for educating personnel about the consequences of inappropriately disposing of medical waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As urbanization and population increase in the megacity, there is a need for engineering intervention and strategic monitoring of groundwater around landfills for environmental sustainability, pollution reduction and public health. This study evaluated water's physical and chemical parameters in wells and boreholes near the Olusosun landfill in Lagos State to determine how they impact groundwater quality. An Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) was used to evaluate groundwater samples obtained from five locations within the dump site. Some water parameters, such as dissolved oxygen (DO), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), and magnesium (Mg), had concentrations that were higher than the WHO, NESREA, and Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ) standard limits in some sampling sites, with mean concentrations of 0.33 mg.L-1, 0.04 mg.L-1, 0.74 mg.L-1, and 0.74 mg.L-1, respectively. A small amount of lead was identified in the groundwater of the study area. A major source of air and groundwater pollution, the Olusosun landfill has a detrimental impact on the health of those who live there. Solid waste, groundwater interactions, and contaminated migration into the nearby neighbourhood were studied. It was observed that the degradation of waste products in dump sites releases harmful leachate into the groundwater. Even though some heavy metal concentrations in the study area are still within WHO, NESREA, and NSDWQ standard limits, investigations and further monitoring should be conducted regularly to assess the concentrations of heavy metals in groundwater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the deployment of multimodal elements as appraisal resources in #Endsars civil unrest-related memes in Nigerian social media space (WhatsApp and Twitter) to express affective meanings and intersubjective positioning. The study investigates how both verbal and non-verbal elements are deployed as appraisal resources to evaluate the trajectory of the protest. The data, which comprise thirty purposively selected Internet memes, collected between October and December, 2020, were analysed qualitatively. The study shows that the meme producers, through the use of multimodal concepts such as symbolic, analytical, action, reactional processes, offer and salience, among others, project various expressions of affect, judgement and appreciation of things to create important narratives in the memes. Thus, the verbal elements are graded/upscaled through the non-verbal elements in the memes to evoke specific reactions, positive/negative, which signal intersubjective positioning about the protest and relevant social actors. The study concludes that meme producers effectively utilize multimodal elements to interrogate various expressions of attitude and intersubjective opinions that Nigerians made about the protest and its management by the Nigerian government.

Olajumoke Arinola Oyebode, Nicolette Nadene Houreld Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein, Gauteng, South AfricaCorrespondence: Olajumoke Arinola Oyebode, Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein, Gauteng, South Africa, Tel + 27781519058, Email daramzjay09@gmail.comPurpose: Photobiomodulation (PBM) promotes diabetic wound healing by favoring cell survival and proliferation. This study aimed to investigate the potential of PBM in stimulating cellular migration, viability, and proliferation using the transforming growth factor-β 1 (TGF-β 1)/Smad signaling pathway.Methods: The study explored the in vitro effects of near infrared (NIR) light on cell viability (survival) and proliferation as well as the presence of TGF-β 1, phosphorylated TGF‐β receptor type I (pTGF-βR1) and phosphorylated mothers against decapentaplegic‐homolog (Smad)‐2/3 (p-Smad2/3) in different fibroblast cell models.Results: Results show a significant increase in cellular migration in wounded models, and increased viability and proliferation in irradiated cells compared to their respective controls. An increase in the presence of TGF-β 1 in the culture media, a reduction in pTGF-βR1 and a slight presence of p-Smad2/3 was observed in the cells.Conclusion: These findings show that PBM at 830 nm using a fluence of 5 J/cm2 could induce cell viability, migration and proliferation to favor successful healing of diabetic wounds. This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on the molecular and cellular effect of PBM and showcases the suitability of PBM at 830 nm in managing diabetic wounds.Keywords: diabetic wound, photobiomodulation, wound healing, hyperglycemia, NIR light