The global crisis arising from the current COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a surge in the magnitude of global waste from used Personal Protective Equipment with special emphasis on waste N95 facemask. Creative approaches are therefore required to resolve the surging facemask waste disposal issue in an economical and environmentally friendly manner. In an attempt to resolve the evolving global waste challenge, the present study has assessed the economic and environmental performances of converting N95 facemasks to steam and electricity via a combined heat and power plant, to ethanol via a syngas fermentation process, and to an energy-dense gasoline-like oil product via a hydrothermal liquefaction process. These processes were assessed using “conceptual” process models developed using ASPEN plus as the process simulation tool. Economic and environment assessments were undertaken using net present values (NPVs) and the rate of potential environmental impacts (PEIs) respectively, as sufficient performance measures. Therefore, the present study was able to establish that the conversion of waste N95 facemask to syngas prior to a fermentation process for ethanol production constituted the least economical and least environmental friendly process with a negative NPV and the highest rate of PEI (1.59 PEI/h) value calculated. The NPV values calculated for N95 facemask waste conversion to steam and electricity and energy-dense oil processes were US$ 36.6 × 106 and US$ 53 × 106 respectively, suggesting the preference for the production of a valuable energy-dense oil product. Furthermore, it was observed that when the environmental performance of both processes was considered, rates of PEIs of 1.20 and 0.28 PEI/h were estimated for the energy-dense oil production process and the steam and electricity generation process, respectively. Therefore, the study was able to establish that the utilisation of waste N95 facemask for steam and electricity generation and for generating an energy-dense oil product are both promising approaches that could aid in the resolution of the waste issue if both environmental and economic performances constitute crucial considerations.
Introduction Brachial plexus birth injury is one of the challenges associated with maternal delivery, with varying prevalence between countries. Brachial plexus birth injury poses negative health implications to children and also has socio-economic implications on families and the community as a whole. To treat brachial plexus birth injury, a multi-disciplinary treatment approach is recommended. Brachial plexus birth palsy (BPBP) is categorised into two-upper plexus injury (Erb's palsy) and lower plexus injury (Klumpke's palsy). These categories present with various degrees of injuries, with less severe injuries responding well to treatment and in most instances may resolve on their own, but serious and complicated injuries will require a multi-disciplinary treatment approach to treat and/or manage. Effective treatment and management depends on adequate knowledge of the disease condition. These include the risk factors and prevalence of brachial plexus birth palsy within a particular population at a specific period in time. The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors and the prevalence of a hospital based brachial plexus birth palsy within a five-year period (2013-2017). Methods A five-year retrospective study design was used. The study involved selection of all clients' diagnosed with brachial plexus birth palsy, where their gender, birth weight, complications at birth, type of brachial plexus suffered, mothers' diabetes status, mother's age, birth attendant, side of affectation, presentation at birth and mode of delivery were recorded. Results The prevalence rate of brachial plexus birth palsy was 14.7% out of a total of three hundred and twenty (320) cases reviewed over the study period in the Volta Regional Hospital. Erb's palsy was found to be the modal type of BPBP in this population (93.6%). Conclusion There is the need to provide a nationwide education on the risk factors that predispose babies to brachial plexus birth palsy. There is also the need for frequent antenatal visit by pregnant women; this will help in the provision of best antenatal history, diagnostic investigation in determining the birth weight and safe mode of delivery.
Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and phenotypic characteristics of clubfoot in the Northern Region, one of the most deprived regions of Ghana.Method: Parameters of interest included sex distribution, laterality, types of clubfoot, annual trends and prevalence rate. Data was collected in the sole clubfoot clinic for the region from January 2015 to December 2016. A descriptive statistical analysis of the data was conducted using SPSS version 16. Result: A total of 112 cases were recorded, resulting in a prevalence rate of 0.9 per 1000 live births. The highest number of cases for both years was recorded in January. Twice the number of males were affected as females and bilateral clubfoot formed 65.5% of case presentations while idiopathic clubfoot made up 67.9% of total clubfoot types. Almost same numbers of left (n=19) feet were affected as right (n=20) in unilateral clubfoot.Conclusions: The phenotypic characteristics were similar to findings in other parts of Ghana, Africa and the world although the prevalence rate was lower than expected. Future investigations into associated risk factors and the influencers of the phenotypic and annual trends are therefore warranted.
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