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The study evaluated the impacts of financial capital use on the livelihood outcomes of cassava processors in Oyo and Ogun States, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used to select a sample of 540 small scale cassava processors in Oyo and Ogun States. Data on socioeconomic characteristics, quantity and value of raw cassava roots, labour (man-day) and access to financial capital were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire. Double Hurdle (DH) model was used to analyse the use and use incidence of financial capital. The results showed that that age, education, processing experience and trainings attended were statistically significant in determining the use incidence of financial capital. It is therefore concluded that education coupled with further trainings and extension visit should be encouraged by processing stakeholders since they were discovered to be important determining factors in the use and use incidence of formal financial capital.
Page(s): 01-08 Date of Publication: 17 November 2019
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In this paper a simulation based study has been made to analyze the effect of voltage sags on the performance of the induction motor. Voltage sag can be characterized on the basis of magnitude, duration and point of sag initiation on the wave. In this paper the effect of voltage sag has been studied on the basis of various sag magnitude and different initial point on wave. The effect on the induction motor has been observed in terms of current & torque peaks and speed loss. Initially the effect of intensity of symmetrical voltage sag with different starting point has been observed on the induction motor and then effect of unsymmetrical voltage sag has been studied. The simulation work has been done in MATLAB-SIMULINK.
Page(s): 09-12 Date of Publication: 17 November 2019
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Statistically speaking, Nigerian students perform much better in English language than they do in Mathematics (WAEC 2014-2016). While many studies (Anderson 2001, Savery 2006, Puri 2014) have identified various reasons for this disparity in performance, and have suggested ways and strategies to address each problem, Problem-Based Learning (PBL) has not been explored within the Nigerian context as an instructional strategy to help students overcome this challenge. This paper is designed to look at how PBL as an instructional strategy can be used to transfer students’ problem-solving skills in reading comprehension to mathematical word problem-solving. Summative outcome of the analyses indicates that well designed and facilitated PBL instruction enhances students’ academic skills transfer across the content areas including solving mathematical word problems. Problem-Based Learning is a curriculum development and instructional approach that simultaneously develops problem-solving strategies, disciplinary knowledge bases and skills. It places students in the active role of problem-solvers confronting sometimes ill-structured problems that mirror real-world situations.
Page(s): 13-18 Date of Publication: 19 November 2019
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The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence academic locus of control, study habits and secondary school students’ academic achievement in mathematics. To achieve the aim of the study two research questions were asked and two null hypotheses formulated to guide the study. Survey research design was adopted for the study. Five hundred and seventy-five SS11 students were randomly selected from public secondary schools in Calabar Municipality, Cross River State. The selection was done through simple random and stratified sampling techniques. Academic Locus of Control and Study Habit Questionnaires (ALOCSH) and achievement test were used for data collection. The internal consistency of the instrument and achievement test with Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient was 0.81 and 0.75 respectively. Data collected were analyzed using independent t-test and analysis of variance statistical techniques. And hypotheses were tested at .05 level of significance. The result of the analysis revealed that internal academic locus of control and study habit had influence on academic achievement. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that in order to boost study habits and enhance academic achievement, the students should be regularly counselled by the school counsellor on how to develop study skill strategies.
Page(s): 19-23 Date of Publication: 19 November 2019
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Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) based Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) are semiconductor devices with large logic resources, programmable interconnects, and other resources making the device re-programmable thus, having broad applicability. SRAM-based FPGAs are sensitive to radiation induced Single Event Upset (SEU) within the configuration memory, whereby a fault as a result of radiation strike from high energetic particles causes the logic state of the SRAM cell to flip. The configuration memory defines the operation of the Configurable Logic Blocks (CLBs), routing resources, Input-Output Blocks (IOBs), and other FPGA resources and upset in the configuration memory can change the operation of the circuit. Therefore configuration memory scrubbing is a solution to mitigate against SEU. In this paper we present a review of existing scrubbing techniques, the parameters considered, results obtained and possible modifications are suggested as well.
Page(s): 24-29 Date of Publication: 19 November 2019
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All countries across the world crave for sustainable development goals that will free them from confronting challenges that have past a threat to their people and global environment. This led to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that were adopted in 2015. Education was recognized globally as the key to overall development. This paper focus on the relevance of early childhood care education toward achieving sustainable development goals word agenda. All children have the right, as well as a responsibility, to be educated for sustainable development and it is the early years that children have the greatest capacity to learn. It is also in early childhood that foundations of many of our fundamental attitudes, behaviour and values are put into experience in early life and the environment in which young children live shape their brain architecture thereby their ability to understand stereotype and biases hence becoming to healthy and productive member of the society. Nigeria with difference diversity, ethnicities, live side by side, learn to respect and appreciate diversity, ethnicity, cultures and believes should begin early through parent, community members and early education should help children to acquire an identity grounded in culture close to them. To achieve this early childhood education is necessary to incorporate in early childhood education programme. Therefore, government should increase fund allocated for education, especially increase investment in early childhood education in order to expand access to quality early childhood education. So that can build a sustainable society and give the opportunity to develop as strong foundation for developing wellbeing and life-long learning in order achieve global agent.
Page(s): 30-33 Date of Publication: 27 November 2019
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Forestry education at tertiary level is struc¬tured to produce professional foresters, in view of managing biodiver¬sity of natural environment, sustainable forest management creating and managing wood resource and potential to interact and work with the forest-based communities. The study was conducted to ascertain the perception of secondary school students in Ibadan metropolis, Oyo State about Forestry as a career in the university. A total of 100 pre-tested questionnaires were randomly administered to respondents to collect data in selected secondary schools in the state. The data collected was subjected to descriptive statistics of frequency and percentages and was further tested using chi–square statistics. Only 13 out of the 100 students expressed willingness to study forestry in the university. The males accounted for 48% of the population willing to study the course with or without scholarship. Despite Students’ awareness level of 65%, the students’ preference for medicine, law, engineering; under-representation of Forestry in secondary school curricula; and inadequate knowledge of its career prospects, were the major reasons for the low preference in studying the course. The study posit the need for the revision of secondary school Curricula in favour of forestry as a course of study along with massive public enlightenment on the prospects of the profession and globalization of the course were amongst others suggested as ways to enhancing students’ perception and preference for forestry as a field of study.
Page(s): 34-39 Date of Publication: 27 November 2019
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This study examined anaerobic digestion (AD) by mono and co-digestion of Laminaria digitata (LD) with a simulated food waste (SFW) in batch experiments. Different mix ratios of LD and SFW, namely, LD100:0%, LD90:10%, LD75:25%, LD50:50% were assessed. Results from the batch reactors indicated the mono-digested feedstock LD100:0% produced the highest cumulative methane yield at 207 ± 0.07 mL CH4.gVS-1 after 34 days. This was followed by LD90:10 % with a CH4 yield of 167 ± 1.43 mL CH4 g VS-1 while the 100% SFW (LD0:100 %) produces the lowest BMP yield of 30 mL CH4 g VS-1. The LD100:0% had the highest BI of 0.67. The co-digested mix ratios in the batch test exhibited both antagonistic (LD90:10%) and synergistic (LD75:25%) effects. The half-life (T50 days) for all the mix ratios was a maximum of 3 days with a T90 (90 % of methane production) of between 14 – 19 days.
Page(s): 40-47 Date of Publication: 27 November 2019
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Kola is an important economic cash crop to a significant proportion of Nigerian population who are involved in kola farming, trading and industrial utilization. This study analyse the economics of bitter kola marketing in Osun state. Specifically, it described the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers, examined profitability of bitter kola marketing and factors affecting bitter kola marketing in the study area. Multistage sampling procedure was used to sample 270 bitter kola marketers and data were collected through the use a well-structured questionnaire. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, farm budget analysis and inferential statistics (Liner Regression Model; OLS). The findings of the analysis revealed that majority of the respondents (86.3% ) were female, 33.8% of them were between the age range of 61 years and above respectively with the mean age of 57 years. Majority of the respondents (86%) were married, 65.2% of the respondents had secondary education, 59.3% of the respondents had between 5-8 household members with the mean of 7 household members. Again, 48.1% of the respondents had between 15-30 years of marketing experience 65.6% and 77.4% of the respondents do not have access to credit and extension service respectively. The gross margin (GM) was N2,694,800 while the net profit was N2,102,200 with the benefit cost ratio of N 1.53K. The regression analysis showed that variables such as age, household size, years spent in school, extension service, transportation cost and access to credit contributed significantly to the profitability of bitter kola marketing. It was recommended that marketers should be given better access to credit at low interest rate to boast bitter kola marketing business while agricultural extension model is adopted, the government’s direct promotion and practice of extension delivery in Nigeria should be reviewed.
Page(s): 48-53 Date of Publication: 29 November 2019
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This research project focused on “The problem of vehicular traffic and its implications on the economy a case study of Calabar Metropolis.” This study focuses on three flash points that were randomly mapped out – UNICAL Roundabout and its environs, Watt Market Roundabout and its environs and Atimbo Roundabout. 150 structured questionnaires were administered totaling 450 respondents around these flash points. Rush hours in the morning between 7am-7:30am and afternoon peak periods of 6pm-7:30pm were considered appropriate times for the study. It was observed that congestion causes health related hazard, low productivity and other economic related problems. A comparative analysis was checked and it was discovered that developed counties traffic congestion was not a challenge despite their increased passenger car units (PCU). The descriptive statistics, simple percentages and the one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine the significant difference in the spatial distribution of traffic congestion within the traffic points. The critical F- value was rejected because it was lower than 3.478 hence there is no significant difference in the distribution of traffic and health hazards in the metropolis. All recommendations presented were the one’s given by these respondents.
Page(s): 54-61 Date of Publication: 29 November 2019
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This study analyzes mango marketing in Ogbomoso Agricultural Zone area Oyo State, Nigeria. It specifically describe the socio-demographic properties of the respondents, examine the factors affecting mango marketing and its profitability in the study area. Multistage random sampling technique was used to select 250 mango marketers. The primary data used were collected with the use of well structured questionnaire and descriptive statistical tools, budgetary and regression analyses were carried out. The result of the analysis showed that majority of the respondents (100.0% ) were female, 37.6% of the respondents were between the age ranges of 41-50 years with the mean age of 46 years, while 87.2% of the respondents were married. It also revealed that 56.4% of the respondents had secondary education, 49.2% of the respondents had between less or equal to 10 years of mango marketing experience. Also, majority of the respondents (70.8% and 75.6% ) do not have access to credit and the extension service respectively during the last production year. The benefit cost ratio BCR was 1.74 which implies that for every N1 invested in mango marketing N0.74k is gained. Inadequate access to credit, seasonality in production, perishability, theft, long distance to the market and high cost of transportation (78.4%, 100%, 71.4%, 95.6%, 89.6% and 74.8% ) were the problems encountered by the respondents respectively. The result of the regression analysis showed that, transportation cost, age of the marketers and credit access were negatively significant at 1% level. While, years spent in school and household size were positively significant at 1% level but, total cost of mango was negatively significant at 1% significance level. Therefore, the study thus recommend that better education, should be implemented so that farmers can be better trained in agricultural knowledge as well as technology application through extension visits. Providing all mango marketers with equal opportunity to access credit is essential because it can stimulate marketing output and or revenue generated among the marketers thereby encourage participation in the business and reduce level of unemployment in the area.
Page(s): 62-66 Date of Publication: 29 November 2019
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The main aim of this study was to examine the influence of teaching methods and learning resources on the acquisition of adaptive skills among learners with moderate intellectual disability in special units, Murang’a County. The research adopted a descriptive survey. The study applied a mixed methods design. The target population was 51 teachers from 17 special units in Mathioya Sub-county in Muranga County. The sample size was 15 primary school head teachers and 30 teachers in the special units. A total of 45 respondents were purposively selected to participate in the study. The instruments of the research were questionnaires for both primary school head teachers and teachers in special units for intellectual challenged learners, interview schedules, observation checklist. A pilot study was conducted in a special unit at Njumbi primary school in Mathioya Sub-county which was not included in the final study. Test-retest was used to estimate reliability of questionnaires. Validity of the instruments was determined by a team of three experts in the Department of Special Needs of Kenyatta University. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected. Quantitative data was edited, labeled, categorized based on research objectives, entered into a computer and analyzed using SPSS version 21.0. The data was presented using descriptive statistics in form of percentages and frequency tables. The findings revealed that majority of teachers in the special units majorly used question and answer method to impart adaptive skills among children with moderate intellectual disabilities. The study findings further showed that head teachers were not able to appropriately identify and select materials for acquisition of adaptive skills among the children with intellectual disability. Lack of the suitable materials made learners with ID remain dependent to their guardians. The study concluded that most teachers did not apply the correct methods for teaching adaptive skills to learners with ID. The study recommended that schools with special units should be headed by teachers who are trained in mental retardation and have knowledge and skills. The government, through the Ministry Education, should purchase enough materials suitable for teaching/learning of learners with special needs.
Page(s): 67-73 Date of Publication: 29 November 2019
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Genetic programming is a recent field in the family of Evolutionary Computing which is gaining wide recognition both theoretically and practically as it well suitably useable in domains that do not have clear solutions to the problems. This article reviews the use of genetic programming (GP) as an efficient tool to explore data modeling. The researchers implemented data modelling using Eureqa – a genetic programming application.
Page(s): 74-77 Date of Publication: 29 November 2019
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Background: Flexible flat foot deformity is a condition in which the medial longitudinal arch becomes flat during weight bearing and is restored in non-weight bearing position. It is a quite disabling condition which may lower the properties of foot such as weight transmission, forward propulsion and shock absorption as a result of low medial longitudinal arch. Flat foot may also cause disturbance in both static and dynamic balance of an individual. Aim: To find whether there is an influence of flat foot on ankle range of motion and dynamic balance in college students. Methodology: It was an observational type of study of non-experimental design in which both male and female subjects with a bilateral flexible flat foot between the age of 18 and 21 years who had a significant navicular drop and with a normal BMI were selected as participants for the study. The ankle range of motion and dynamic balance of the subjects were obtained. The Universal goniometer was used to measure the ankle range of motion and the Star Excursion Balance Test was used to assess the dynamic balance of the subjects. Results: The ankle range of motion of the individuals with flat foot was normal. There is a notable difference in the medial, the poster medial and the posterior reach distances of the individuals with flat foot which are considerably less when compared with the normative values of the Star Excursion Balance Test. Conclusion: The conclusion of this study is that flat foot has no effect on the ankle range of motion but it has an influence over the dynamic balance of the individuals to some extent.
Page(s): 78-81 Date of Publication: 30 November 2019
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Crude oil distillates (gasoline, kerosene, and diesel) and biofuels are vital energy sources that drive the manufacturing and automobile industry. Unfortunately, price disparity among these fuels induces marketers to adulterate for profit making. Fuel adulteration is a common practice in developing nations due to poor infrastructure and absent of strict laws. Fuel adulteration reduces engine performance, causes harmful greenhouse gases to be emitted through exhaust tailpipe of automobiles and contributes to global warming. These makes fuel adulteration an environmental threat hence the need to find innovative methods and techniques that will help in detection for easy prosecution of offenders. The use of sensors in modern chemistry has generated great interest due to their enhanced precision and accuracy. New policies on the use of markers for distinguishing different organic solvents has also aided in their identification when used as adulterants in fuels. Some organic compounds are also employed as markers to aid in the detection of impurities in fuels. There view will focus on recent research works that have utilized the use of sensors and makers for fuel adulteration detection.
Page(s): 82-89 Date of Publication: 02 December 2019
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This study was aim at assessing the level of pollutants in agricultural environment along Gamboru Ngala in Borno state of Nigeria. Soil samples of varying depth, were collected in five LGA along Gamboru Ngala Road, Borno state. At each of the sample sites, roadside soil were collected for a period of three months, at different distance from the edge of the main road 30, 60 and 90metre as well as varying depth of 0-5cm, 5-10cm and 10-15cm respectively, 200 metres serves as control points. heavy metals were determine using Perkin-Elmer Analyst 300 Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). The concentration of all the metals in the five sampling sites decreased exponentially with distance from the road and drooped to the level at about 90metres. Similarly, mean concentration of Fe, Cu, Mn and Zn were significantly higher around Jere, Mafa and Dikwa L.G.A than in Marte and Ngala L.G.A. The mean concentration of heavy metals in soil sample for different location was showed significantly in manganese (1.6011mg/kg), chromium (4.1106mg/kg), zinc (1.9127mg/kg) and copper (1.3069mg/kg).
Page(s): 90-99 Date of Publication: 02 December 2019
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In recent years, surveys of earthquake and earthquake effects have an important place in civil engineering field. Earth on structures have been severely damaged by the earthquake. Thus, there has been loss of life and property. This has particularly affected countries located on active fault lines. For all these reasons, pre- and post-earthquake measures have been developed. Attention has been paid to taking earthquake effect into consideration in rebuilding structures. However, there are no measures other than demolition or retrofit options for existing buildings.System identification methods have emerged in order to determine the earthquake performance of the buildings.In this paper, a new structural identification tool is proposed to identify the modal properties of structures.At last, after collecting modal responses from the available sensors, the mode shape vector for each of the decomposed modes in the system is identified from all obtained modal response data. System identification of RC building was performed. Matrices A, B, C, D, K were omitted. All these works have been done by using N4SID. N4SID stands for numerical algorithms for system identification. With the numerical algorithms found, the mathematical model of the system is extracted. The mathematical model of the system determines the performance of the system. Results demonstrated that N4SID system identification method is efficient in identifying modal data of the structures.
Page(s): 100-106 Date of Publication: 02 December 2019
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Studies on poverty analysis have extended beyond just income and nutritional poverty status determination in recent decades. The understanding of multi-dimensional poverty analysis has widened the scope of research works by considering other forms of poverty that are triggering the living conditions of people in the Nations. As a result, this study seeks to analyse and compare the energy poverty status of rural and urban households in Oyo and Ogun States. Primary data through multistage random sampling technique was used to obtain 378 households and interviewed through structured questionnaires. Descriptive Statistics, energy inconvenience index, energy expenditure approach and a multinomial logit regression model were the tools employed. The study revealed that, socio-economic characteristics had significant effect on energy poverty of the urban more than the rural households. The inclination of the urban (17.7percent) to choose kerosene and gas as their energy mix was stronger than rural (1.06 percent) households. The most prominent energy mix available are kerosene, gas and charcoal (53.44%) and (53.16) for both rural and urban households. Age, household size (p<0.01), households’ education (p<0.05), distance travelled (p<0.01), number of trips made (p<0.01), transport cost (p<0.05), price of kerosene, price of charcoal, total income (p<0.01), and marital status are probable and significant factors responsible for the choice of energy used. The Pseudo R2 was 0.6591 implying that the model explained 65.91% of the deviation of energy choice made in the study area. The most inconvenient indicators of energy poverty are the number of trips, distance travelled and transport cost. The total energy inconvenience index of 0.025, total energy threshold or line of 0.020, energy inconvenience excess -125, energy shortfall of -11.667 and poverty index of -68.33 are indicators that, the rural households experienced energy poverty more than the urban. The pooled data of energy expenditure approach revealed that, the households are energy core-poor because about 53.97% spent a mean amount of N4971.18 and N5, 000.18 (> 10%) of their average total income on energy sources. Distance travelled, transport cost (p<0.05), household education (p<0.01), household size (p<0.01), amount spent on gas (p<0.01), amount spent on kerosene and total expenditure are significant variables subjecting the rural and urban households to energy poverty in the study area. In conclusion, households should have an economical budgetary allocation and be cautious not to spend more than 10 percent of their average monthly income on energy sources.
Page(s): 107-115 Date of Publication: 02 December 2019
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The Invention relates to a sand blasting method using abrasives like sand on a bamboo to remove outer layer. Bamboo is a natural composite material; it has reinforced longitudinal strong fibres which are densely arranged at the outer surface area and freely pin the inner surface area, and at radius volume fraction changes.
Page(s): 116-122 Date of Publication: 04 December 2019
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Garcinia Kola is commonly used in traditional medicine for the treatment of diverse ailments including coronary artery diseases. Thus, this study aims to determine the effect of hydromethanol (1:4) extracts of the pulp and seed coat of Garcinia kola on serum lipid profile and its antioxidant properties. The two forms were separately dried and blended to powder. Forty male wistar rats (8 per group) were assigned into Five (5) groups. Groups were treated thus: Group one; control. Group two; 100mg/kg pulp extract. Group three; 200mg/kg pulp extract. Group four; 100mg/kg seed coat extract. Group five; 200mg/kg seed coat extract; for 30 and 60 days duration. On treatment conclusion, blood was collected for the determination of lipid profile and antioxidant properties. The higher dose of the pulp and seed coat extracts significantly (P˂0.05) increased the catalase level and superoxide dismutase enzyme activity, whereas, both the higher and lower doses of the seed coat extract caused a reduction in malondialdehyde level. The serum total cholesterol was significantly elevated by the higher dose of the pulp extract while the seed coat extract caused significantly increased high density lipoprotein cholesterol level and a reduction in the low density lipoprotein level. The two extracts demonstrated marked antioxidant effects. The seed coat of Garcinia kola may possess the potential to prevent cell death due to lipid peroxidation by inhibiting the lipid peroxidation process. The seed coat extract may also be useful in preventing coronary artery disease and other atherosclerotic problems.
Page(s): 123-128 Date of Publication: 04 December 2019
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Geohazards are geological and environmental conditions that involve long-term or short-term geological processes. It occur when artificial structures, such as buildings and natural structures, such as slopes are deformed in various ways. To achieve the aim of this study which is to is to facilitate comprehensive technical understanding and knowledge of the processes of monitoring geological hazards and to better appraise their impacts on engineering structures and the environment with a view to providing mitigation strategy, in order to achieve the stated objective, secondary data sourced from dailies, reports internet and other relevant research works were used. Having studied the state of geohazard and deformation monitoring control Nigeria as well as mitigation approaches to geohazards. The study concluded that the monitoring or control surveys serve not only the purpose of providing information on geometrical deviations at the surface of the investigated object but also become a tool for physical interpretation of the deformation.
Page(s): 129-136 Date of Publication: 04 December 2019
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Geologic map is an important planning tool for the economic growth of a nation, it displays the arrangement of geologic features of a particular area. It has been observed that the available geologic map of Nigeria omits some local geology of interest which is the reason local geological mapping must be encouraged. Mapping of the Study area was carried out by traversing along dip direction i.e west east direction from one location to another with the aid of a base map, compass clinometer and a geographic positioning system. Samples were taken across various locations where there was an outcrop, these samples were taken to the laboratory for further analysis. The result shows that the study area consist of gneiss, granite gneiss and amphibolite. Gneiss which shows metamorphic grade up to the amphibolite facies. Compositionally, they are predominantly granodiorite but vary from diorite through tonalite to granite. Metamorphosed basaltic dykes also occur in the area as sheet of amphibolite. Two phases of deformation was recognized; the first phase attained granulite facies while the second phase was associated with cataclastic and probably retrogression to the amphibolite facies. Systematic structural mapping and study of the area also confirmed different types of structures such as fractures, quartzo-feldspathic veins, joints and quartz-veins. The overall results showed the study area is a manifestation of Precambrian deformation which was revealed by the several structural features found in the area.
Page(s): 137-148 Date of Publication: 04 December 2019
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Information Communication Technology (ICT) has influenced present construction industry in the way of familiarising and implementing newly developed ICT tools with the latest technology. If we see the current scenario of India, it is observed that, there is reasonable level of awareness about the potential benefits of ICT in the construction industry. However, present ICT implementation in most firms is still quite slow, ingenuous and the advanced ICT applications are lacking in most of these firms. This paper aims to study the factors that affect ICT implementation through three different perspectives, viz., Participant, Organisation and Industry. This paper discusses the elements of the barriers in ICT by studying literature review in respect to Indian construction industry. A questionnaire survey was conducted online and through this quantitative data analysis of different barriers affecting the implementation of ICT were studied. The result of this analysis includes identification of the main issues that require to be addressed at the three levels of perspectives.
Page(s): 149-152 Date of Publication: 04 December 2019
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The key objective of this study was to assess the perceptions of commercial motorcycle operators (CMOs) on the use of work performance enhancing substance (PES) and its perceived socio-economic and health consequences among the motorcyclists in Sokoto metropolis. This study utilized cross-sectional survey and cluster sampling technique to draw 400 samples; however, only 364 questionnaires were properly filled and therefore used for further analysis using SPSS software. Concerning why the operators used PES, the result of the study shows a mean ranged between 3.2 and 3.7 and standard deviation (SD) ranged between 0.3 and 0.8; indicating agreement by majority of the respondents concerning the questions. Specifically, most respondents agree that PES make them work for longer hours (3.7 & 0.3), protect them from cold (3.2 & 0.3), keep them awake (3.4 & 0.6), increase their energy at work (3.3 & 0.8), and protect them from hunger (3.5 & 0.3). Additionally, concerning the commonly used PES among CMOs, the result of this study indicates a mean range between 3.2 and 3.8, indicating agreement by the majority of the respondents concerning the questions. Specifically, most respondents agree that the commonly used PES are Tramol (3.8 & 0.6), Cigarette and Arab tea (3.5 & 4.0), Kolanut and Marijuana (3.4 & 0.5), and Cough syrup (3.2 & 0.3) respectively. Moreover, concerning the perceived consequences of PES, the result of this study indicates a mean range between 3.5 and 3.1, indicating agreement by the majority of respondents regarding the questions. Precisely, most respondents agreed the socio-economic and health consequences of PES include persistent headache (3.5 and 0.3), road traffic accident and difficulty in sleep (3.4 and 0.3), problems with law enforcement agents, stress and depression (3.2 and 0.2), and inability to cater for the family adequately (3.1 and 0.2). Consequently, the study recommends that youth should be actively involved in the enlightenment campaign on the dangers of PES use. Additionally, government should enforce laws so that drugs that are psychoactive are not sold to people without expert’s prescriptions. Finally, PES such as Tramol, Arab tea, Marijuana, Cigarette and certain Cough syrups should be levied heavily so that the pricing will make it difficult for operators to afford.
Page(s): 153-158 Date of Publication: 04 December 2019
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The purpose of this study was to establish the extent to which pre-primary children view television in Kangema sub-county. The study used survey research design and was guided by Gadberry’s, displacement theory. The study was conducted in Kangema Constituency of Murang’a County. The target population was made up of the 320 preprimary school children in the 10 selected primary schools in the region. Random sampling was used to obtain the sample of 60 children and 60 parents. One teacher from each of the schools participated in the research. All sampled respondents who participated in the research were 60 children, 60 parents and 10 teachers making a response rate of 100 percent. Data was collected by use of questionnaires for the teachers, interview schedules for the parents and observation checklist for pre-primary school children. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected on variables related to the influence of TV programmes on performance of pre-school children’s. Qualitative data were analyzed according to study themes while descriptive statistics namely frequencies, means, percentages were used to analyze quantitative data. Frequency tables as well as bar graphs were used to present information obtained. The analysis established that majority of children watch television. The study recommended a national policy be put in place to guide television program transmitters regarding how they can make programs bearing in mind the needs of pre-primary school children. Parents have to be sensitized regarding amount of time their children are left to watch television and how to take appropriate action to prevent children from being addicted to television.
Page(s): 159-163 Date of Publication: 04 December 2019
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The main objective of this paper was to propose a conceptual model that when validated will serve as a guiding principle to evaluating the relationship between psychosocial obstacles and employment opportunities among obstetric fistula patients in five (5) selected states (Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Kano, and Zamfara) in north-west, Nigeria. Based on the literature reviewed, this study utilized five main constructs (poor education, stigma, cultural factors, sexual harassment & employment opportunities) in the proposed conceptual model to assess the reasons why most obstetrics fistula patients are not getting paid jobs in both public and private sector of the economy in Nigeria.
Page(s): 164-168 Date of Publication: 04 December 2019
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Mobile Ad-hoc Networks (MANETs) allow mobile hosts to initiate communications with each other over a network without an established infrastructure or a central network authority. Because of this, MANETs have dynamic topologies because nodes can easily join or leave the network at any time. From a security design perspective, MANETs are vulnerable to various types of malicious attacks. As are result, Ad-hoc Ondemand Distance Vector (AODV), which is one of the standard MANET protocols, can be attacked by malicious nodes. A black hole attack is one type of malicious attack that can be easily employed against data routing in MANETs. A black hole node replies to route requests rapidly with the shortest path and the highest destination sequence number. The black hole node does not have an active route to a specified destination associated with it and it drops all of the data packets that it receives. This project describes simulation of identification and prevention of Black hole attack on AODV protocol based on MANET. The simulation is carried out with NS-2.35. Three network scenarios are simulated and the performance parameters like average delay, average throughput, packet drop rate and packet delivery rate are analyzed and compared By the simulation it has been evaluated that in flooding attack the routing overhead is more as compared to the black hole attack. This show that the flooding attack can also make system more vulnerable as this causes more consumption of bandwidth, unnecessary battery utilization of devices, clogs the network. The packet delivery ratio in scenario when black node attacked is less and in flooded situation it is greater than black hole attack which shows that more packets are correctly received by the destination in flooding attack as compared to black hole attack Throughput is maximum with detected and prevented black hole attack scenario.
Page(s): 169-172 Date of Publication: 05 December 2019
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The objective of this paper is the analysis of various applications of Fuzzy Logic in Cloud Computing. This paper reviews the already available application areas of Fuzzy Logic in Cloud Computing. Methods/ Statistical analysis: Various studies on application areas of Fuzzy Logic in cloud computing systems have been considered. Relative analysis has been made to categorize these application areas. Findings: Cloud computing is web-based technology that has brought a lot of improvement in the field of Information Technology. It is a pay-as-you-go service model that delivers services on the basis of demand of users. Because of its capability to deal with uncertainties, Fuzzy Logic has given a good response in cloud computing. Various Fuzzy Logic based application areas in cloud computing are prevalent in the existing literature like Load balancing, Job Scheduling, QOS optimization etc. Results have shown that Fuzzy Logic helps in improvement in various areas in Cloud Computing. Application/Improvements: This research work is very useful for researchers working in the field of cloud computing with Fuzzy Logic.
Page(s): 173-176 Date of Publication: 08 December 2019
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This study investigated the quality of composite flour from cassava, bambara groundnut and cashew seeds. Cassava was processed using high quality method, bambara groundnut was toasted while cashew nuts was roasted. Composite flours were formulated using design expert software for mixtures. The design matrix revealed fourteen formulations. The proximate composition, pasting properties and functional properties were evaluated as a function of the flour blends. Standard method of analysis was used. Statistical analysis using an analysis of variance (ANOVA) technique (P ≤ 0.05) showed that there were significant differences in most of the parameters analyzed for the process variables. The range of the proximate compositions determined were: moisture (7.44-9.43%), protein (1.69-24.25 %), crude fat (0.71-32.33 %), crude fibre (0.81-3.48%), total ash (0.42-4.00%), and carbohydrate (30.10-89.04%) and energy (368.82 – 509.23 %). The protein, fat, ash and crude fibre content of the flour blends increased relatively with inclusion of cashew kernel flour whilst the moisture and carbohydrate contents decreased. Bulk densities of composite flour samples ranged from 0.55 – 0.81 g/ml, water absorption capacity (WAC) and Oil absorption capacity (OAC) of composite flours ranged from 99.07 – 150 %, 118.23 – 184.35% respectively. The WAC increased with increasing cassava flour substitution. Peak viscosity (249.01 RVU), trough viscosity (218.17 RVU) and final viscosity (368.33 RVU) were highest at cassava flour substitution. Fortification of tuber flours with leguminous and nut flours will enhance food availability and security.
Page(s): 177-183 Date of Publication: 10 December 2019
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Interest in developing most economical weed control method continues to increase because of the economic implications of repeated. Costs, including those of man power and yield due to weed infestation lower the profitability of crop production in the tropics especially those of highly cherished but slow growing crops like water yam. Tithonia diversifolia, an aggressive weed has become a major economic problem to arable crop production in Nigeria in general but water yam in particular. Thus, this study assessed the economics of weed control methods with a view to identifying the most profitable for water yam production.
The experiment was conducted at Ogunba village near Baaya-Oje in Surulere Local Government Area, Ogbomoso, Oyo State. The treatments; Weed control with Black plastic mulch, Grass mulch, 2 hoe weeding, 3 hoe weeding, Atrazine, Diuron, IWM (Atrazine + Diuron + Plastic mulch) and unweeded plot, were evaluated in a Randomized Complete Block experiment with three replicates. Yam setts were planted at a spacing of 1m x 1m. Black plastic mulch was applied at the rate of 10,000m2/ha, Grass mulch was applied at the rate of 5 tons/ha. Two (2) hoe weeding were done at 3 and 6 weeks after planting (WAP), while 3 hoe weeding was done at 3, 6 and 9 WAP. Atrazine and Diuron were applied at the rate of 2.5kg a.i/ha while they were applied each at half recommended rate (1.25kg/ha) before applying plastic mulch. The weedy plot was the control. Partial budgeting was used to evaluate the economics of each method. Results showed that weed control methods significantly (P = 0.05) affected water yam yield and net profit. The mean costs of water yam production under the weed control methods were: N786,000.00 (plastic mulch), N362,000.00 (Grass mulch), N312,800.00 (2 hoe weeding), N324,800.00 (3 hoe weeding), N256,800.00 (Atrazine), N286,800.00 (Diuron), N617,600.00 (IWM) and N283,500.00 (unweeded). The profitability of the weed control methods measured by the change in profit were: 3 hoe weeding (N625200.00) > 2 hoe weeding (N53000.00) >Diuron (– N161,200.00) > grass mulch (– N187,200.00) > Atrazine (– N211,200.00)> IWM (– N277,700.00) > Plastic mulch (– N361,200.00) >Unweeded (– N761200.00). From the result it is concluded that 3 hoe weeding is the most economical for water yam production in the study area.
Page(s): 184-190 Date of Publication: 11 December 2019
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Today, civil engineering structures have dynamic effects. The land in the buildings has been severely damaged by the earthquake. Thus, loss of life and property was experienced. These countries are particularly affected in active fault lines. The pre- and post-earthquake measures were developed in the world. For these reasons, it is necessary to determine the dynamic performance of structures in the world. There are several ways to determine dynamic performance. System definition is one of these methods. The mathematical model of the structural system was obtained by the system identification method. Artificial neural networks (ANN) are a method of identifying the system. Artificial neural networks (ANN) can adapt to their environment, adapt and work with incomplete information and make decisions under uncertainty and tolerate errors. In this study, a steel model lighting pole was used. The system identification of the model lighting pole using the 0.999 ANN method was successfully performed. As a result of this study, the ANN approach can provide a very useful and accurate tool for problem solving in media identification studies.
Page(s): 191-195 Date of Publication: 11 December 2019
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Nowadays, with the rapid development of science and technology, new media is widely used in various industries and it promotes the exhibition and display into a new stage. Moreover, the application of digital technology in museum exhibition is not only has a great influence on the development of exhibition but also brings much attention on digital exhibition technology. Towards this most of designers for museum exhibition is overlook about the important of exhibition performance and further affected visitors’ experiences. Within this point of view, a research was conducted in Malaysia by looking on the interface design within museum exhibition by focusing on the elements, types, techniques and characteristics.
Page(s): 196-199 Date of Publication: 11 December 2019
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A Linear Multistep Method of order six with two off-grid points is presented for direct numerical integration of second order initial value problems of ordinary differential equations. Several methods are developed using interpolation and collocation approach with special cognizance of two hybrid points which are selected to enhance the accuracy of the block methods. The properties and convergence of the proposed method are discussed. Superiority of the method over existing methods is established by implementing the method on different test problems.
Page(s): 200-208 Date of Publication: 12 December 2019
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The purpose of this paper is to highlight the non-cognitive skills (Motivation, confidence, tenacity, trustworthiness, perseverance, social and communication skills), and demonstrate how non-cognitive skills can be promoted in the classroom.
Page(s): 209-210 Date of Publication: 12 December 2019
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This study evaluated the inventory management and control system in International Breweries Plc using a survey research design. The study highlighted the adequacy and effectiveness of the company’s inventory management and control system. Primary data were sourced through administered questionnaire. The result generated from the study showed that the company operates an effective, efficient, adequate and properly implemented inventory management and control system as responses were in 100% affirmative of that. The study thus concluded that efficient inventory management and adequate accounting practice employed for recording inventories by International Breweries Plc, contribute significantly towards ensuring reduction in ordering and carrying cost of inventory. The appropriateness of inventory valuation employed by the company was evaluated.
Page(s): 211-215 Date of Publication: 12 December 2019
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The purpose of this paper is to differentiate between Equity and Equality with clear examples of the classroom setting.
Page(s): 216-219 Date of Publication: 12 December 2019
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Most of the disc brake failures concerning the rotor are mainly due to the overheating. Therefore, it is paramount to enhance the heat dissipation of the ventilated disc brake rotor so that it lasts longer and also functions efficiently. Over the past few years many researchers have come up with innovative designs to address this concern by the analysis of both flow and heat transfer characteristics inside a ventilated brake disc rotor. There are other factors such as weight, thickness of the rotor and sometimes even the number of blades in a rotor that keep changing with the requirement of the car manufacturer. So, there is a huge need within the disc brake manufacturing community for sensitivity analysis data so that heat dissipation and temperature uniformity can be maximized in spite of having some parameters fixed. The main aim of this CFD analysis is to study and predict the effect of various design parameters on the aero-thermal performance of a disc brake rotor.A commercial vehicle of 9.6T is considered for calculation.
Page(s): 220-224 Date of Publication: 14 December 2019
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Bangladesh is one of the most disasters prone areas of the world. Huge number of natural as well as manmade environmental disaster hit the country in the previous years. This paper deals with the definition of a methodological framework consistent with the need and scope of environmental disaster, the adoption of contemporary mitigation plans and risk management policies. The research paper also illustrates temporal and spatial distribution of past disasters, elaboration of some events and categorization of affected targets at several places. Finally the research paper establishes an aspect of disasters caused by dangerous earthquake phenomenon and those endangered by interrelated human-nature induced factors, such as deforestation, global climate change and hill cutting etc in the context of Bangladesh. The paper also makes an attempt to depict how ‘nature’ and the natural processes are inextricably bound together in hazardous situations.
Page(s): 225-228 Date of Publication: 15 December 2019
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Among the most important minor forest products, bamboo has continued to gain recognition as a multipurpose plant and as a valuable timber substitute worldwide. As such, the exploration of its potential from the present state of underutilization in Nigeria will contribute meaningfully to the realization of agricultural sector as a way of diversifying the economy that could engender national development in sustainable engineering solution, energy, industrialization, employment prospects and food security. The paper explores specifically the potential of bamboo, provides information on its cultivation and made appropriate recommendations. The understanding of the potential of bamboo would not only help a large section of stakeholders but will also prove beneficial to policy makers, funding agencies, and Non-Governmental Organizations embarking on its cultivation and utilization.
Page(s): 229-237 Date of Publication: 15 December 2019
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Solid waste management is considered as one of the most immediate and serious environmental problems confronting municipal authorities in developing Asian Countries. Bangladesh is a third world developing country, its industries are flourishing over time and due to this rapid industrialization, urban areas are facing great pressure of huge population who has migrated for better civic amenities, job opportunities and improved quality of life. In order to manage these urban cities, concerned authorities are exploring new ideas and trying firmly to minimize human hazards and ensure a better, safer and cleaner and healthier city for living and enjoying their stay over multifarious business. Although Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) acknowledges the importance of adequate solid waste collection and disposal as well as resource recovery and recycling, it is mostly beyond their resource to deal effectively with the growing amount of solid waste generated by the expanding cities. Consequently solid waste is indiscriminate by dumped on roads and into open drains thus leading to serious health risk and degradation of living environment for millions of urban people. In the last decade, however, importance of community involvement in solid waste management and use of adapted technologies were recognized for improving the solid waste management system. However, waste management has turned to be one of the major concerns for the authorities. It is also an important facet of environmental hygiene and it needs to be integrated with total environmental planning and management. A solid waste management system is the framework by which the entire activities concerning solid waste come to pass. The ever increasing global concern on environmental health demands that wastes should be properly managed and disposed of in the most friendly and acceptable way. This is to minimize, and where possible, eliminate its potential harm to humans, plants, animals and natural resources.
Page(s): 238-243 Date of Publication: 15 December 2019
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