40 research outputs found
The political economy of international trade in hazardous and toxic wastes in West Africa: theoretical and case analysis, 1997
No full textThis dissertation examines international dumping trade in hazardous and toxic wastes and its impact on the trading countries in West Africa, relying on available and fairly limited information on transboundary movement of unwanted wastes shipped more often illegally for dumping from industrialized to poor West African countries between 1980- 1988. The drive for this trade in unwanted wastes from West African countries has been the seeming attraction for easy cash, while the drive from the industrialized countries has been the huge profit margin for the unsavory waste brokers, and the desperate need for cheap source of disposal. Given these motivations and the attendant health and environmental problems with inexplicable outcomes associated with this type of trade, the study takes off from the premise that proper economic development in this poor region of West Africa is not properly served by international trade in "unwanted wastes. This postulation, the paper explains, adopts two methods of analysis a theoretical approach and an empirical approach. The theoretical approach analyzes the realists, radical/marxists and dependency theorists arguments which favor protectionism, in contrast with the liberal theorists arguments which favor laissez-faire capitalism. In the empirical approach, analysis is made by developing and testing a hypothesis in five West African countries involved in the international wastes dumping trade. One major finding is that at least two of the five tested cases confirm the hypothesis--that the hazardous and toxic wastes dumping trade in West Africa follows the path of the poor, the corrupt or uninformed and it is exploitative. Conclusion derived from the analyses is that the international trade in "unwanted wastes does not serve proper economic development in West Africa and should be banned. The study recommends the elimination or minimization of more toxic wastes production through prevention and adoption of Al Gores new initiative of phasing out dirty production practices with sophisticated technology
A study of the protozoan fauna of the piedmont park lake Atlanta, Georgia, 1980
No full textThe purposes of this study were: (1) To examine the effects of temperature, hydrogen-ion concentration and food supply on the fluctuation of the protozoan population in the Piedmont Park Lake;(2) To collect the organisms, study their forms and movement and identify them. In Mastigophora, the optimal range of temperature species is more varied than that of Sarcodina. Euglena viridis was found at all seasons of the year. Few species in this group were identified during the cold period. Infusoria are capable of withstanding extremes in temperature. The species in this group were more abundant. Species of Amoeba were found few in numbers. This was probably due to their inability to thrive during the cold temperature. They tend to thrive better in warmer water. Sarcodina represent groups which mainly inhabit the bottom of the lake and their scarcity may be due to their inability to come to the surface of the water. Temperature of water was tested and hydrogen-ion concentration of water was noted to be another influencing factor. Euglena viridis occurred within the widest limit of relative pH. Ciliates were observed to occur within the average hydrogen-ion concentration of 7.
Primary versus delayed primary closure of laparotomy wounds in children following typhoid ileal perforation in Ile-Ife, Nigeria
No full textBackground: The optimal management strategy for dirty abdominal wounds has yet to be determined, but studies indicate that delayed primary closure (DPC) may be a reliable method of reducing surgical site infection (SSI) rate in these wounds. In this study, of dirty laparotomy wounds following typhoid ileal perforation (TIP), the SSI rate, incidence of wound dehiscence, and length of hospital stay (LOS) are compared in wounds primarily closed to those closed in the delayed primary fashion. Patients and Methods: The study was conducted over a 12-month period. Consecutive patients aged between 0 and 15 years with typhoid ileal perforation (TIP) were enrolled and prospectively randomized to test (DPC) group and control (PC) group. Data including age, sex, diagnosis, type of wound closure, SSI, wound dehiscence, time to wound healing, and LOS were obtained and analyzed using SPSS version 16. Results: Fifteen patients were recruited into DPC group while 19 patients were allocated to the PC group. The SSI rate was 80% in the DPC group compared to 63.2% in the PC group (P = 0.451). 17.6% of patients in the DPC group and 8.8% in the PC group had wound dehiscence, respectively (P = 0.139). The difference in LOS although longer in the DPC group was not statistically significant (DPC 23.47 ± 9.2, PC 17.68 ± 18.9, P = 0.123). Conclusion: DPC did not reduce the incidence of SSI and wound dehiscence, nor shorten LOS compared to PC. Therefore, PC of dirty wounds appears safe for the pediatric population and should be advocated
Blunt abdominal trauma in Calabar
No full textThis study was undertaken to evaluate the pattern and management outcome of blunt abdominal trauma in order to proffers solutions for its prevention and improved outcome. There were 55 cases of blunt abdominal trauma. The male: female ratio was 2.9:1 except in the first decade of the life with equal ratio. The age range was 3-52yrs with a mean of 16.9yrs. Road traffic accident involving mainly commercial buses and motorcycles 46(83.7%) was the leading cause of blunt trauma and the spleen 49 (89.2%) the commonly injured organ. Multiple organ injuries occurred in 3(5.4%) patients and associated extra abdominal injuries occurred in 7(12.7%). There was no hospital mortality. Health education and public awareness campaign targeting risk factors, such as poor road construction and maintenance, failure to separate automobile from pedestrian traffic, reckless driving and less use of motorcycles would minimize the incidence. Nigerian Journal of Surgical Sciences Vol.16(1) 2006: 12-1
Penetrating abdominal trauma
No full textCalabar a fast developing urban town renowned for its low crime rate and cleanliness, is witnessing an upsurge in violence which could be counter productive to its development especially in tourism. We undertook this study to evaluate the patern of injury and proffer solutions. Patients operated for peneratrating abdominal trauma from January 2000 – December 2004 were retrospectively studied and compared with the period June 1994. It is concluded that there is an increasing wave of violence with gun being the commonest offending agent. Curbing illegal possession of firearms and use of other offensive weapons, prevention of armed robbery, cult activities, communal/religious crisis and political thuggery by education is advocated. Nigerian Journal of Surgical Sciences Vol. 15(2) 2005: 47-5
An analysis of administrative problems in implementing federal and state guideline for day care centers in the state of Georgia, 1978
No full textThe Georgia Department of Human Resources has been designated by the Governor as a Single State Agency to administer the State Title XX program. In order to administer the program, Contract Services Section provides staff for a whole range of services. The problems connected with the implementation of both federal and state guidelines are analyzed and solutions are given. One of the problems is the adult-child ratio. The following solutions are put forward: (a) The program should not be funded entirely by welfare monies. (b) Giving matured high school students adequate training to be used as part of the teaching staff
Urbanization, ethnicity and politics in tropical Africa problems of national integration and political stability (a case study of the federal republic of Nigeria), 1977
No full textThe problems of nation-building are anything but new in Africa. The new cities of Africa have the same influence in nation-building as cities have nad in other parts of the world, but some of these nations which have ceen born under less fortunate conditions will find the achievement of nationalism and ethnic integration a very difficult task as is the case in Nigeria. Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, and achieved her independence in I960 from British colonial rule. Geographically, socially and culturally it is a multi-national society. Its colonial history, its present problems and its future prospects and potentialities are in many respects typical of those of other African countries. However, Nigeria has in many other respects been distinguished by certain characteristic features which set it apart from other countries and make it of special interest and appeal. Among these was the peculiar set-up by Britain of the three regional governments with total control of these regions by each of the three main ethnic groups. Unfortunately, Britain did little to reconcile these varied political cultures in order to create an integrated Nigerian nation. The Richards Constitution of 1946 attempted to promote Nigerian unity, but it did not provide adequate political representation for the whole country. Furthermore, the impact of westernization was not felt equally by all tribal groups. Nigerian leaders inherited this state of affairs from the British, and their inability to cope effectively with the seemingly overwhelming problems permitted the continued expression of regional and ethnic host 11ities. In a short generation, 1900-1960, the quality of social and the style of political life in Nigeria assumed many different characteristics. Those years spanned the country's first surge of urban growth, the centralization and expansion of bureaucratic activities under colonial rule and a concurrent attempt at widening the bases of administration and political recruitment. This new transformation came in the wake of the British presence and the contact of the natives with European merchants and missionaries. But the important thing is that this transformation did not proceed everywhere at the same speed and its intensity varied from sector to sector, region to region, within the society. This unevenness in the developmental process led to an ardent struggle for power over the distribution or redistribution of scarce resources among the emergent contenders who were laying exclusive claims on the operation of the government. Thus, the period was not only a time of great political and social development, but also a time of profound political conflict, regional ism and tribalism. The main task of this case study then centers on the analysis of a set of structural changes and how these changes in turn generated the social climate that was conducive to political protests and developments in Nigeria during the period 1900-1970. In discussing this topic, anthropology, history, political science and sociology have equal relevance. Thus, in this study the writer has attempted to place the great struggles for power in the context of the whole range of historical facts with greater attention to the unevenness of change in the society and the divisions, and cleavages among and within the regions and ethnic groups. In the treatment of the subject, the following points are discussed: 1. Traditional urbanization in Africa. 2. Urbanization of ethnic groups in Nigeria. 3. Treatment of various ethnic groups by colonial administrators. 4. Early protests and political organization. 5. Intensification of the politics of tribalism in order to control the center. 6. Failure of the first Republic to integrate and possible suggestions for the future
The politics and dilemma of waste disposal and dumping in the U.S. and the incidence of trans-boundary shipment or export of hazardous and toxic wastes to Africa, 1993
No full textIn this study, an attempt has been made to adopt a Political Science approach to the study of Environmental Science. The study provides an investigative and a descriptive analysis of the dilemma and politics of waste management in the U.S. and the growing incidence of exporting hazardous, toxic wastes and banned chemicals to Africa. The first chapter highlights the purpose and the guiding method adopted for this research. Chapter two gives a graphic illustration of waste production and generation in the U.S. Chapter three focusses on the politics of waste management in the United States - the pattern of dumping concentration and the health effects. Chapter four is on U.S. environmental policy legislation specifically on hazardous and toxic wastes. The policies of regulation and enforcement during the Reagan and the Bush years are examined. Chapter five deals with a case of dumping in Koko, Nigeria, the double standard practice of pesticide export and health effects and a case of banned toxic chemical export deal to Zimbabwe. While chapter six is on the growing 'cash for waste' deals in Africa. Chapter seven examines U.S. laws and International resolutions by the United Nations on the export of hazardous substances and wastes. Actions taken by GATT and African countries are also discussed. Finally, chapter eight gives the summary and conclusion. Four major objectives have been achieved in this study. First, some estimates of wastes generated and produced in the U.S. have been determined. Secondly, the study has attempted to deduce some patterns underlying the concentration of dumping in Black communities in the U.S. and dumping in Africa. Thirdly, the study provides some insight into U.S. domestic policies on the management of toxic and hazardous wastes and U.S. and International laws on export of hazardous waste and banned chemical products. Fourthly, this study will serve as a basis for continuous studies on International waste trade and the mindless business of exporting banned chemicals for profit
Malignant large bowel obstruction
No full textMalignant large bowel obstruction caused by colonic adnocarniconma represent a surgical emergency with increased operative morbidity and mortality. Five (41.7%) of 12 cases of colorectal cancer in this study presented as large bower obstruction. Patients presented with advanced tumours in Duke's stages C and D. Colostomy on account of unresectable tumour for left sided tumours and right hemocelectomy for right sided lesions were operative procedures done respectively with poor outcome. Maglignant lesions of the large bowel are not common in this environment and colonic obstruction is a common mode of presentation with sigmoid and caecum commly affected. Review of current literature provides evidence of the safety of single stage procedure while endoluminal stenting would convert emergencies to elective cases with better outcome. Nigerian Journal of Surgical Sciences Vol. 15(2) 2005: 67-7
