23 research outputs found
Preventing vertical transmission of hepatitis B in low and middle income countries: what could HBcrAg rapid tests add?
No full textWhen Empathy Is Not Enough: a Reflection On the Self-Experience of Black Boys in Public Spaces
No full textThis project explores the self-experiences of Black boys in public spaces, primarily in Chicago. Given the plethora of negative media attention placed on violence in the city and on violent encounters with law enforcement, this project asks how Black boys can experience themselves in a life-giving way when so many negative images and stereotypes denigrate their humanity. The author introduces the concepts of group-level racial delusion and demonic transference. The former term suggests a psychological split occurring at the societal level that historically has allowed emotional and physical violence to be disproportionately and callously inflicted on Black boys in public spaces, which society has internalized as normative while simultaneously extolling democratic and Christian values central to Western identity formation. The latter term suggests the interpersonal or group transference that occurs just prior to the infliction of emotional or physical harm on Black boys—a transference that is propped up by abject images and stereotypes of Black males. The article concludes first with reflections on a qualitative interview conducted with two groups of Black boys in Chicago pertaining to their self-experiences in public spaces and then with thoughts on future work
Media ethics and the case of ethnicity : a contextual analysis in Plateau state, Nigeria
No full textEthnic-based conflicts have continued to dot the global landscape. African countries and Nigeria, in particular, have been embroiled in these tidal waves of violent conflicts with cataclysmic consequences. Media Ethics and the Case of Ethnicity: A Contextual Analysis in Plateau State, Nigeria is a critical investigation into the participation of the newspaper journalists in reporting this intractable violent episode in Plateau State, Nigeria. Through deliberate use of lexical, phrases, stereotypes, frames, propaganda and litotes, journalists intensified the conflict. In this easy-to-read book, the author provides guidelines for conflict journalists which includes human rights consciousness journalism as pre-emptive approach to preventing conflicts before they turn violent
The Potential of Soil Properties in the Stability of Buildings a Case Study of Collapsed Building in Kwang Jos, Nigeria
No full textAbstract: The investigation of soil properties is vital in determining causes of building collapse in Nigeria today, but most times the geotechnical tests and analysis are neglected and site engineers are held responsible for the collapse. This paper seeks to investigate the soil properties of a collapse building site in order to emphasize the need for a geo-technical investigation as a vital tool in the built environment. Investigation of soil properties which includes sieve analysis, moisture content, specific gravity, Atterberg limits and shear strength were conducted on samples collected from the site. Two foundation bases were exposed (Base and Trial pits). Disturbed and undisturbed samples labeled Sample 1/1, Sample 2/1 and Sample 2/2 and recorded as Base 1, Trial pit 3 and Trial pit respectively were collected at the foundation depths of the exposed foundations by driving the sampler at various depths of 0.8m, 0.8m and 0.5m and tested. The soil’s silty nature and low bearing capacity of 36.37KN/m2 as the investigation revealed was a major cause of the collapse and that the building collapse site was a made-up ground. There was no geo-technical investigation prior to the building construction. Other causes such as the used of sub-standard materials, poor construction quality, quackery and supervision boils down to the lack of soil investigation which has caused the building foundation to fail and has resulted to the collapse of the building.
Keywords: Building Collapse, Foundation, Atterberg Limit, Bearing Capacity.
Title: The Potential of Soil Properties in the Stability of Buildings a Case Study of Collapsed Building in Kwang Jos, Nigeria
Author: Ephraim Haruna Maude, Aliyuda Yohanna Adamu, Mbimda Ali Mbishida, Timothy Danjuma
International Journal of Novel Research in Civil Structural and Earth Sciences
ISSN 2394-7357
Vol. 9, Issue 2, May 2022 - August 2022
Page No: 1-7
Novelty Journals
Website: www.noveltyjournals.com
Published Date: 13-May-2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6545486
Paper Download Link (source):
https://www.noveltyjournals.com/upload/paper/The%20Potential%20of%20Soil%20Properties-13052022-1.pdfInternational Journal of Novel Research in Civil Structural and Earth Sciences, ISSN 2394-7357, Novelty Journals, Website: www.noveltyjournals.co
Serological screening of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus among patients attending a tertiary hospital in Jalingo, Taraba state, Nigeria
No full textBackground: The rising prevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C viral infection as single or co-infection among the Nigerian populace and their association with hepatocellular carcinoma is a serious health issue. Aims and Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B and C among patients seen in a tertiary health facility in Jalingo. Settings and Design: This is a cross-sectional and prospective study carried out among patients at a tertiary health-care facility in Jalingo, Taraba state of Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A total of 513 patients were screened for both hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) using rapid chromatographic immunoassays for their qualitative detection in plasma. Result: Of the 513 patients screened, 70 (13.60%), 85 (16.6%), and 5 (1.0%) were positive of HBsAg, anti-HCV, and co-infection, respectively. About 14.7% and 20.1% were the highest gender-based prevalence recorded for HBsAg and anti-HCV, respectively, and they were recorded for the male gender. Age group 21–40 years had the highest prevalence rate of 19.2% for HBsAg, whereas age-group 61 years and above had a high prevalence of 31.3%. Conclusion: The high prevalence rates obtained from this study for both viral hepatitis calls for augmentation of existing interventions toward the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of these diseases. Further studies aimed at evaluating the efficacy of the interventions are highly recommended
Serological screening of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus among patients attending a tertiary hospital in Jalingo, Taraba state, Nigeria
No full textNovel biomarkers for potential risk stratification of drug induced liver injury (DILI): A narrative perspective on current trends
No full textBackground:Drug induced liver injury (DILI) is an increasing cause of acute liver injury especially with increasing need for pharmacotherapy of widening comorbidities amongst our ever-aging population. Uncertainty however remains regarding both acceptable and widely agreeable diagnostic algorithms as well a clear understanding of mechanistic insights that most accurately underpins it. In this review, we have explored the potential role of emerging novel markers of DILI and how they could possibly be integrated into clinical care of patients.Methods:We explored PUBMED and all other relevant databases for scientific studies that explored potential utility of novel biomarkers of DILI, and subsequently carried out a narrative synthesis of this data. As this is a narrative review with no recourse to patient identifiable information, no ethics committee's approval was sought or required.Results:Novel biomarkers such as microRNA-122 (miR-122) profiles, high mobility group box-1 (HMGB1), glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH), and cytokeratin-18 (K-18), amongst others do have the potential for reducing diagnostic uncertainties associated with DILI.Conclusion:With the increasing validation of some of the novel liver biomarkers such as K-18, mir-122, HMGB-1, and GLDH, there is the potential for improvement in the diagnostic uncertainty commonly associated with cases of DILI. Copyright - 2019 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.Scopu
Community engagement and chronic viral hepatitis public health interventions: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and complementary crowdsourcing open call.
No full textBACKGROUND: Chronic viral hepatitis causes a high burden of morbidity and mortality, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). While community engagement, which involves stakeholders in addressing health-related issues, has shown promise to enhance hepatitis outcomes, evidence on its impact remains limited. To summarize the current state of knowledge on this topic we performed a systematic review and a crowdsourcing open call. METHODS: A parallel mixed-methods approach was used in this study. The systematic review included publications that evaluated a community-engaged intervention, reported chronic viral hepatitis outcomes, included a comparator group, and were published in English up to 12 March 2025. A random-effects model was used to pool the overall effect of the community-engaged interventions on hepatitis outcomes. To ensure innovative ideas from LMICs were included, we organized a complementary crowdsourcing open call using the WHO/TDR practical guide. Thematic analysis identified key themes in the crowdsourced submissions. FINDINGS: 35 studies were included in the systematic review, and 28 crowdsourced submissions were analyzed. In both the systematic review and open call, community-engaged interventions included peer-based interventions, community health workers, interactive educational programs, and patient advocacy. The meta-analysis, predominantly of studies from high-income countries, found community-engaged interventions significantly improved HBV vaccine completion (RR 1.59, 95% CI 1.15-2.19; I 2 = 88.10%), HBV/HCV test uptake (RR 2.33, 95% CI 1.78-3.06; I 2 = 99.10%), HBV and HCV linkage to chronic viral hepatitis care (RR 1.96, 95% CI 1.46-2.64; I 2 = 96.20%), HBV/HCV treatment adherence (RR 1.14, 95% CI 1.03-1.27; I 2 = 0%), and HCV sustained virologic response (RR 1.50, 95% CI 1.23-1.83; I 2 = 93.90%). Open call submissions, largely from LMICs, highlighted community-led interventions where patients led community-based organizations to advocate for improved access to hepatitis care. INTERPRETATION: Findings underscored the importance of community engagement in chronic viral hepatitis service delivery across the care continuum. Implementing community-engaged interventions can enhance chronic viral hepatitis elimination efforts. FUNDING: National Natural Science Foundation of China
A New Form of Authoritarianism? Rethinking Military Politics in Post-1999 Nigeria
No full textDespite the vast research that has been done on the Nigerian military, virtually all of these studies have failed to critically examine the accepted role of the military in the democratising phase. This is important because the relationship between the political elite and the military in post-military authoritarian states guarantees either democratic consolidation, or its reversal. In Nigeria, despite an appearance of significant progress in subordinating the military institution to democratic civilian authority, the military remains a crucial political actor in the polity. It appears that the military has yet to accept the core democratic principles of civilian oversight of the institution. This thesis, therefore, explores whether a new form of military authoritarianism is emerging in Nigeria, with the aim of understanding Nigeria’s military behaviour in a transitional phase, from prolonged military authoritarianism to democratisation. To examine this military behaviour, Alfred Stepan’s concept of military prerogatives that was used to understand the military’s behaviour in a transitional phase in Latin America is applied to Nigeria.
A crucial understanding of authoritarianism in Nigeria is initially discussed in this study using mainly document analysis strategy to examine whether multi-ethnic states, such as Nigeria, tend to have authoritarian systems. Six hypotheses form the core analysis of this thesis: first, that the military has retained significant military prerogatives; second, that retired military officers are gaining influential political and economic positions; third, autonomous military involvement in human rights abuses since 1999; and fourth, that civilian government oversight remains weak, and facilitates military authoritarianism. These hypotheses are primarily analysed using the elite interview technique. During the first half of 2011, the author conducted field research where serving and retired military officers were interviewed. The fifth hypothesis is that the military has intervened in politics post-1999. The examination of this hypothesis relies primarily on key security-related media reports (mostly newspaper editorials) on the military after 1999. The examination of the final hypothesis, that increases in military expenditures might facilitate a new form of military authoritarianism, relies primarily on descriptive statistical analysis. In addition, this study collated relevant historical materials that relate to the military, utilising national archival collections.
The empirical findings of this research did not identify a new form of military authoritarianism in Nigeria. The study, however, argues that the unrestricted institutional framework accorded the military has contributed significantly to authoritarian practices in the post-military era in Nigeria. This study discovered that there were similarities between the Brazilian and Nigerian militaries in regard to their military spending during their period in power. Both countries had lower defence budgets. Just as in Brazil, it appears that part of the reason the Nigerian military decided to relinquish power in 1999 had to do with its desire to gain a higher budget, something that was precluded in a military government struggling to retain a sense of legitimacy. The military needed a higher budget to modernise and re-professionalise its institution after more than a decade in power. This feature, which the Nigerian military shares with the Brazilian military, appears to justify the application to Nigeria of Alfred Stepan’s concept of military prerogatives.
Hepatitis B discrimination: global responses requiring global data
No full textAbstract Over 250 million individuals live with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection worldwide. A significant proportion of these people often face discrimination defined as the unjust, unfair, or prejudicial treatment of a person on the grounds of their hepatitis B status. Hepatitis B related discrimination has not been widely documented in the literature. This study aims to describe the lived experience of discrimination, document its impact, and shed light on its consequences. A hepatitis B discrimination registry was launched to record self-reported discrimination associated with hepatitis B. The registry included brief demographic questions (age, gender, country of origin), discrimination-specific questions (where, when, and how discrimination occurred), and open-ended questions to detail specific experiences. The registry was distributed to hepatitis B patient/people-focused listservs, social media networks, and community-based organizations around the globe. Descriptive data were analyzed including comparative analysis by country and type of discrimination occurring along with qualitative data (open-ended responses) which were analyzed using thematic analysis techniques A total of 569 individuals responded to the survey between May 2021 and December 2023. Individuals identified as residing in the Philippines (34%; N = 194), Nigeria (11%; N = 60), Pakistan (8%; N = 45), India (6%, N = 34), Uganda (5%; N = 31), the United States of America (4%, N = 26), Ghana (3%; N = 15), Ethiopia (2%; N = 14), and other countries in smaller number with a total of 65 countries reported discrimination at least by one individual. Of these, 461 individuals shared details about their experiences of discrimination with most relating to restrictions on access to work visas, followed by in-country hepatitis B-related employment restrictions, educational-based discrimination, discrimination within the community and health facilities, and the emotional impact of hepatitis B discrimination. This is the largest primary collection of hepatitis B-associated discrimination events and highlights how hepatitis B discrimination clearly has a significant impact on individuals’ lives and limits economic opportunities regardless of physical symptoms. Such impacts likely act as barriers to diagnosis and engagement in care, so need to be addressed to achieve the global hepatitis B elimination goals. The data highlight a need for global, national responses and more systematic responses to discrimination experienced by people with hepatitis B
