Consensus in Distributed Systems: RAFT vs CRDTs

Distributed systems normally come with a set of challenges: consistency of data, coordination/synchronization for tasks, failures due to network partitions and so on. Consensus algorithms are a solution to some of these problems especially for coordination and synchronization challenges. These algorithms are normally tied to a consistency model which can fall between two extremes: very strong guarantees on consistency and very weak guarantees on consistency. Two consensus algorithms, RAFT and CRDT are compared using a message queueing system that can form the backbone of a distributed application

Maternal side effects of efavirenz‑containing highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART): A comparative study of HIV‑positive pregnant and nonpregnant women in a tertiary hospital

Background: Efavirenz is now a first‑line non‑nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor used as highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) though its use is fraught with maternal side effects, usually of the central nervous system (CNS) and fetal complications.Objective: The study aims to comparatively document the maternal side‑effect profile of an efavirenz‑containing fixed‑dosage HAART and compliance with its use in HIV‑positive pregnant and nonpregnant women at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi‑Araba.Methodology: A prospective study among HIV‑positive pregnant (40) and nonpregnant women (40) on efavirenz‑containing fixed‑dose HAART (Atripla®) who were recruited purposively at the antenatal clinic and AIDS Prevention Initiative Nigeria (APIN) clinics of LUTH. Data analysis was done with EPI Info 2014, and the results are presented in frequencies.Results: The mean age of respondents was 31 ± 5.7 years. Atripla® was the only fixed‑dose combination used. Fifty‑three percent and 62.5% of pregnant and nonpregnant HIV‑positive women, respectively, reported CNS side effects of Atripla® [odds ratio: 0.66, 95% confidence interval 0.27–1.62]. Adherence to the use of Atripla® was 100% among HIV‑positive pregnant women. Women with baseline viral load values greater than 400 copies/mL reported more side effects to Atripla®.Conclusion: There are similar side‑effect profiles of Atripla® in HIV‑positive women irrespective of pregnancy. Education and counselling can help foster adherence, resulting in improved immunological and virological outcome.Keywords: Efavirenz; HAART; maternal; side-effect

Storm-time variation of the horizontal and vertical components of the geomagnetic fields and rate of induction at different latitudes

The paper presents the hourly mean variation of horizontal (H) and vertical (Z) components of the geomagnetic field and the rate of induction DH/DZ at different latitudes during magnetic storm of 20 March 2001 and 1 October 2001. The results of the analysis revealed that at high latitude stations greater than 60�, the reduction in DH component was noticed after the noon time while other stations less than 60� experienced reduction of H in the morning time during the geomagnetic storm. Large amplitude of DH and DZ were exhibited during the daytime over the equatorial zone, the amplitude decreases from mid latitudes to the dip equator during the nighttime. The daytime enhancement of DH at AAE, BAN and MBO suggest the presence of a strong eastward directed current which comes under the influence of electrojet. There were strong positive and negative correlations between ring current (DR) and horizontal component of the magnetic field DH. The effect of rate of induction is more significant at high latitudes than lower latitudes, during the geomagnetic storm. More enhancement in rate of induction occurred at nighttime than daytime. This result may be from other sources other than the ionosphere that is magnetospheric process significantly contributes toward the variation of induction. Keywords: Geomagnetic field; Geomagnetic storm; Electromagnetic induction; Ring current; Coronal mass ejectio

Menstrual pain and associated factors amongst undergraduates of Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria

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Leadership Styles and Organisational Performance in Nigeria: Qualitative Perspective

Organizations in different sectors of the Nigerian economy continue to record high cases of misappropriation, embezzlement, immoral and unethical practices, gratifications, high labour turnover, inability to meet basic required obligations, and employees’ dissatisfaction, which have further resulted in poor performance. The theoretical paper dwelled on the concepts of leadership styles as opined by several scholars in the literature and used these as springboards to arrive at elaborate ones that encapsulated all and introduced a range of common and contemporary models and approaches, including an addition of a cutting-edge competitive list to help managers discover, devise and adjust their individual management practice and style for navigation towards a sustainable organizational performance

Entrepreneurial Orientation, Economic Factors and Performance of Selected Quoted Consumer Goods Manufacturing Companies in Nigeria: A Combined Effect

Performance does take central position in terms of business considering its role in assisting organisations to accomplishing goals and achieving successes. Consumer goods manufacturing industry in Nigeria are experiencing decline in performance these days due to poor entrepreneurial orientation and poor management of economic policies. This study examined entrepreneurial orientation, economic factors and performance of selected quoted consumer goods companies in Nigeria. Cross sectional survey design was employed and the population of the study was 1,551 of twelve (12) quoted consumer goods manufacturing companies in Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The Cronbach’s alpha ranges between 0.721 and 0.892. The response rate was 90.5%. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results revealed that entrepreneurial orientation (β = 0.420, t = 7.288, p = 0.000) and economic factors (β = 0.671, t = 11.098, p = 0.000) have positive and significant effects on performance of the selected quoted consumer goods companies in Nigeria. This implies that entrepreneurial orientation and economic factor are significant predictors of performance of selected quoted consumer goods companies in the study area. The study concluded that entrepreneurial orientation and economic factors had significant effects on performance of selected consumer goods companies in Nigeria and recommended that managers of selected consumer goods companies should be strategic and proactive enough to improve on performance of consumer goods manufacturing companies in Nigeria. Keywords: Entrepreneurial orientation, Economic factors, Consumer goods companies, Nigeria. DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/13-22-03 Publication date: November 30th 202

THE POSTULATION OFLEADERSHIP SKILLS AMONG HEADS OF BUSINESS EDUCATION IN OGUN STATEOWNEDUNIVERSITIES

The paper looks at how leadership skills can be improved among the heads of Business Education in the Ogun-state owned Universities.It was noted that Business Education in the study area is a sub-component unit ofdepartments therebydiscouraging intimate and direct relationship between the leader andsubordinates in the Institutions. The paper identifies fivepossible leadership styles of Business Education heads and discusses how leaders can improveon their skills in the universities. It is recommended that the leader should make the subordinates feel important and gain their willingness to work.The paper concludes that a quality leader makes both the task and the experience better. Not only does everyone start somewhere, but no one ever stops learning and expanding in experience and knowledge. The paper also concludes that a good leader must be proactive

Comparative study of intradermal smear microscopy in the diagnosis of malaria in symptomatic pregnant women

A comparative study of intradermal smear in the diagnosis of malaria in symptomatic pregnant women.Venous blood served as the control.Fifty consecutive symptomatic pregnant women were recruited. Thick films of both venous and intradermal blood were examined. Questionnaires were used to determine patients' preference for the two techniques. Tests of statistical significance were done with Fisher exact and Yates correlationcoefficient at 95% confidence interval. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy rates were used to assess the validity of intradermal smear.Intradermal smear more frequently diagnosed malaria parasitaemia than peripheral venous blood (66% vs 56%). This was statistically significant (P value: 0.0065). The sensitivity of intradermal smear was 85.7% while the positive predictive value was 77.4%. The accuracy rate was 76.7%. The technique of intradermal blood collection was preferred by28%of women.Intradermal smear is useful in malaria diagnosis in pregnancy and may be an additional evaluation tool for persistent fever in pregnancy