University of Nigeria, Nsukka

About: University of Nigeria, Nsukka is a education organization based out in Nsukka, Nigeria. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Health care. The organization has 10211 authors who have published 13685 publications receiving 138922 citations.

Payment for Health Care and Perception of the National Health Insurance Scheme in a Rural Area in Southwest Nigeria

Abstract: Health insurance coverage of the informal sector is a challenge in Nigeria. This study assessed the methods of payment for health care and awareness about the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) among members of selected households in a rural area in the southwest of Nigeria. Using a multistage sampling technique, a semi-structured, pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 345 households. The majority of the people still pay for health care by out-of-pocket (OOP) method. Awareness about the NHIS in Nigeria was poor, but attitude to it was encouraging; and from the responses obtained, the people implied that they were willing to enroll in the scheme if the opportunity is offered. However, lack of trust in government social policies, religious belief, and poverty were some of the factors that might impede the implementation and expansion of the NHIS in the informal sector. Stakeholders should promote socioculturally appropriate awareness program about the NHIS and its benefits. Factors that might present challenges to the scheme should be adequately addressed by the government and other stakeholders associated with prepayment schemes in Nigeria.

New Direct Compression Excipient from Tigernut Starch: Physicochemical and Functional Properties

Abstract: Tigernut starch has been isolated and modified by forced retrogradation of the acidic gel by freezing and thawing processes. Relevant physicochemical and functional properties of the new excipient (tigernut starch modified by acid gelation and accelerated (forced) retrogradation (STAM)) were evaluated as a direct compression excipient in relation to the native tigernut starch (STNA), intermediate product (tigernut starch modified by acid gelation (STA)), and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). The particle morphology, swelling capacity, moisture sorption, differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) thermographs and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) patterns, flow, dilution capacity, and tablet disintegration efficiency were evaluated. The particles of STNA were either round or oval in shape, STA were smooth with thick round edges and hollowed center while STAM were long, smooth, and irregularly shaped typically resembling MCC. The DSC thermographs of STNA and MCC showed two endothermic transitions as compared with STA and STAM which showed an endothermic and an exothermic. The moisture uptake, swelling, flow, and dilution capacity of STAM were higher than those of MCC, STA, and STNA. The XRD pattern and moisture sorption profile of STAM showed similarities and differences with STNA, STA, and MCC that relate the modification. Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) tablets containing STAM disintegrated at 3 ± 0.5 min as compared with the tablets containing STNA, STA, and MCC which disintegrated at 8.5 ± 0.5, 10 ± 0.5, and 58 ± 0.8 min, respectively. The study shows the physicochemical properties of tigernut starch modified by forced retrogradation as well as its potential as an efficient direct compression excipient with enhanced flow and disintegration abilities for tablets production.

Treatment and Valorization of Palm Oil Mill Effluent through Production of Food Grade Yeast Biomass

Abstract: Palm oil mill effluent (POME) is high strength wastewater derived from processing of palm fruit. It is generated in large quantities in all oil palm producing nations where it is a strong pollutant amenable to microbial degradation being rich in organic carbon, nitrogen, and minerals. Valorization and treatment of POME with seven yeast isolates was studied under scalable conditions by using POME to produce value-added yeast biomass. POME was used as sole source of carbon and nitrogen and the fermentation was carried out at 150 rpm, 28 ± 2°C using an inoculum size of 1 mL of 106 cells. Yeasts were isolated from POME, dump site, and palm wine. The POME had chemical oxygen demand (COD) 114.8 gL−1, total solid 76 gL−1, total suspended solid (TSS) 44 gL−1 and total lipid 35.80 gL−1. Raw POME supported accumulation of 4.42 gL−1 dry yeast with amino acid content comparable or superior to the FAO/WHO standard for feed use SCP. Peak COD reduction (83%) was achieved with highest biomass accumulation in 96 h using Saccharomyces sp . POME can be used as carbon source with little or no supplementation to achieve waste-to-value by producing feed grade yeast with reduction in pollution potential.

Three-phase, Five-level Multi-level Inverter Topology

Abstract: This article reports a three-phase multilevel inverter topology. The multilevel inverter configuration generates voltage levels similar to the corresponding well-known conventional diode-clamped, flying capacitors and cascaded H-bridge inverters but with fewer power circuit components and simplicity. By optimizing the proposed switching patterns through analysis, the total harmonic distortion of the inverter output line voltage waveforms have been reduced. The validity of the proposed cascaded multilevel inverter is verified through simulation and experiments.