Web based fingerprint roll call attendance management system

Managing people and keeping adequate record of the attendance for most of the tertiary institutions are difficult task. Moreover, the manual taking of attendance adds to the difficulty of this task because it is strenuous, time intensive and can easily be falsified. Meanwhile, With the advent of new technology, a new world of authentication and security has been created via biometrics. This work aims at improving Covenant Universities paper-based attendance by using biometrics, specifically fingerprint technology. It is a web application that works with a fingerprint reader from which the features of the student’s fingerprint are extracted during enrolment. This is also needed during the authentication phase which occurs during the roll call attendance in the halls of residence. It is implemented using PHP and MySQL

Elucidations of energy, duration and cost of domestic cooking of African yam bean seed

Long duration of cooking limits domestic consumption of African Yam bean (AYB) seed, an edible legume.  Reduction in energy demand during domestic cooking of AYB seed was the focus of the work.  The seed was soaked in ambient temperature, and also cooked to determine hydration curve.  AYB seeds (153 g) were cooked using kerosene, electric, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), and charcoal stoves.  Normal, control, open and pressure cooking were done.  Cooking duration, energy consumed, water evaporation and cost were determined using standard procedures.  Moisture content of the seed increased with soaking time while rate of water absorption decreased.  Temperature significantly influenced both moisture content and water absorption rate.  Energy consumption varied with methods of cooking regardless of energy source.  Pre-soaked control pressure cooked method consumed least energy using kerosene (4,849.7 kJ), electric (3,085 kJ), and LPG (2,673 kJ) stoves.  Pre-soaked pressure control electric cooking method was the cheapest energy source (US $0.071), although not significantly different from pre-soaked pressure control LPG (US$0.075).  While un-soaked open normal kerosene method was most expensive (US $0.342).  Shortest cooking time of 55 minutes was recorded in pre-soaked pressure normal electric stove while un-soaked open control LPG method duration of 170 minutes was the longest.  Opening and closing of pot majorly determined the energy loss due to evaporation.  Generally, controlled energy input, cooking at high pressure, and soaking of AYB seeds before cooking independently reduced the energy required for cooking.Keywords: African yam bean, seed, hydration behaviour, cooking method, energy source 

Critical Review of Different Methods for Siting and Sizing Distributed-generators

Due to several benefits attached to distributed generators such as reduction in line losses, improved voltage profile, reliable system etc., the study on how to optimally site and size distributed generators has been on the increase for more than two decades. This has propelled several researchers to explore various scientific and engineering powerful simulation tools, valid and reliable scientific methods like analytical, meta-heuristic and hybrid methods to optimally place and size distributed generator(s) for optimal benefits. This study gives a critical review of different methods used in siting and sizing distributed generators alongside their results, test systems and gaps in literature

Periodicity, Stability, and Boundedness of Solutions to Certain Second Order Delay Differential Equations

The behaviour of solutions to certain second order nonlinear delay differential equations with variable deviating arguments is discussed. The main procedure lies in the properties of a complete Lyapunov functional which is used to obtain suitable criteria to guarantee existence of unique solutions that are periodic, uniformly asymptotically stable, and uniformly ultimately bounded. Obtained results are new and also complement related ones that have appeared in the literature. Moreover, examples are given to illustrate the feasibility and correctness of the main results

Wind Energy Potential in Nigeria

Wind energy is one of the fastest growing technologies in energy generation industry nowadays. The erratic and epileptic state of power in this country and the concern about global warming should be a great concern for all and should drive us into strong demand for wind generation. The main advantages of electricity generation from wind are the absence of harmful emissions, very clean and the almost infinite availability of the wind that is converted into electricity. In Nigeria, where the wind power prospect is estimated to be high or moderate has not connected this renewable resources to the grid. It is not just enough to say that the wind turbines should be connected to the grid because there are sufficient wind speeds to drive the wind turbine. Mostly, the stability and reliability studies must be carried out whenever wind power is to be connected to power system to predict severe consequences on the power system to which the wind generators will be connected. This paper therefore describes the wind energy potential in Nigeria and specifies the conditions to be met before the wind generator can be connected to the existing grid and how it can be connected. The paper also shows that short-circuit power at Point of Common Coupling (PCC) is the crucial value for the permissible installed power ratings of the turbine

Microalbuminuria, Other Markers of Nephropathy and Biochemical Derangements in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Relationships and Determinants

Background: Microalbuminuria is an early indicator of Diabetic nephropathy and cerebrovascular disease.Objective: To evaluate relationships between microalbuminuria and other predictors of morbidity and mortality in type 2 DM.Methods: Fifty type 2 diabetic subjects were recruited each for three groups separated by disease durations. Thirty non-diabetic subjects were recruited to control each group. Urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) was estimated. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), serum creatinine, urea, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high- and low density lipoprotein (HDL, LDL) were measured.Results: The diabetics with longest disease duration of >10 years were the oldest (65.86±1.71), had highest systolic BP (147.12±3.39mmHg) and least BMI (27.20±0.71Kg/m2); they had poorest lipid control (TC:5.54±0.26mmol/L),though with the least TG (0.97±0.09mmol/L); they also had the most severe microalbuminuria (33.63±8.03g/L) and ACR (65.85±10.38mg/gm). Patients with diabetes of 5-10 years had the poorest glycaemic control:FPG- 7.82±0.47mmol/L; HbA1c-13.09±0.74%). Significant negative correlations exist between microalbuminuria,HBA1c(r=-2.28, p=0.028) and serum creatinine(r=-2.11,p=0.042) in patients with 5-10 years disease; a positive correlation between the ACR and TC(r=1.00,p<0.01) in those with >10 years disease. In multivariate analysis, independent predictors of microalbuminuria were disease duration (OR 2.2, p< 0.001); HBA1c (OR 7.3, p=0.02); LDL/HDL ratio (OR 13.4, p< 0.001).Conclusion: The severity and progression of albuminuria are associated with longer duration of diabetes and poor glycaemic control. Significant relationships exist between ACR and HBA1c, TC, HDL-C, TG, creatinine. Disease duration, ethnicity, HBA1c, TC, TG, HDL-C and LDL/HDL ratio are independent predictors of albuminuria.Keywords: diabetes, microalbuminuria, albumin-to-creatinine ratio, dyslipidaemia, nephropathy, cardiovascular diseaseFunding: None declare

CaMKII inhibition in the prefrontal cortex specifically increases the positive reinforcing effects of sweetened alcohol in C57BL/6J mice

Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is a multifunctional enzyme that is required for synaptic plasticity and has been proposed to be a primary molecular component of the etiology of alcohol addiction. Chronic alcohol intake upregulates CaMKIIα protein expression in reward-related brain regions including the amygdala and nucleus accumbens, and CaMKIIα activity in the amygdala is required for the positive reinforcing effects of alcohol, suggesting this system promotes consumption in the early stages of alcohol addiction. Alternatively, the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is known to inhibit limbic activity via CaMKII-dependent excitatory projections and may, therefore, enable top-down regulation of motivation. Here we sought to remove that regulatory control by site-specifically inhibiting CaMKII activity in the mPFC, and measured effects on the positive reinforcing effects of sweetened alcohol in C57BL/6J mice. Infusion of the CAMKII inhibitor KN-93 (0–10.0 μg) in the mPFC primarily increased alcohol+sucrose reinforced response rate in a dose- and time-dependent manner. KN-93 infusion reduced response rate in behavior-matched sucrose-only controls. Importantly, potentiation of operant responding for sweetened alcohol occurred immediately after infusion, at a time during which effects on sucrose responding were not observed, and persisted through the session. These results suggest that endogenous CaMKII activity in the mPFC exerts inhibitory control over the positive reinforcing effects of alcohol. Downregulation of CaMKII signaling in the mPFC might contribute to escalated alcohol use

Recycled Aggregate in Pavement Construction: Review of Literatures

The built environment consumes a lot of energy and material. A huge demand of about 40 billion tonnes of aggregates is demanded for construction purpose. The cost of material accounts for more than 60% of the total project cost. However, 10% of construction material end up as demolition wastes yearly. Aggregate is a beneficial building component in construction. There is much need to develop ways to ensure it is utilized properly as construction and demolition waste contribute a large percent to landfills. This review of literature examined the generation of construction and demolition waste generated in developed countries, waste characterization, and utilization in pavement construction. Additionally, environmental, economic and social benefits of the reuse of this waste was espoused. The result of the review revealed that The initial construction material quality, scale of the project, contract and construction mode used affect the amount and quality of CDW. CDW are bulky and not suitable for composting and incineration. Ultimately, the utilization of this waste would reduce the amount of raw material used in construction leading to conservation. Also, there would be reduction in the energy cost associated with mining (quarrying), extraction and transportation of natural aggregates in track with the conservation of natural resources and the construction of cost-effective pavements

Haematology and Erythrocyte Osmotic Fragility Indices in Domestic Chicken Following Exposure to a Polyvalent Iodophorous Disinfectant

The effect of prolonged use of Iodosteryl, a polyvalent iodophorous compound, as water disinfectant, on the hematology and erythrocyte osmotic fragility of the domestic chicken was investigated. Twenty eight adult male domestic chickens of the Nera black strain were divided into four groups of seven birds per group. Birds in groups B-D were given potable water containing 1 ml, 2 ml and 4 ml/l Iodosteryl respectively for six weeks. Group A served as the control. Blood samples were collected from each bird after six weeks and analyzed immediately. No significant changes were observed in the packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), platelet total and differential leucocytes values. However, red blood cells (RBC) were slightly lower while erythrocyte osmotic fragility and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was higher in those birds exposed to Iodosteryl compared with control. This study confirms that prolonged use of Iodosteryl is stressful and may lead to intravascular haemaolysis as indicated by the higher erythrocyte fragility and ESR values, respectively. The damage observed may be due to peroxidation of erythrocyte membrane lipids, proteins or a generation of free radicals induced by iodine

Stability, Boundedness, and Existence of Periodic Solutions to Certain Third-Order Delay Differential Equations with Multiple Deviating Arguments

The behaviour of solutions for certain third-order nonlinear differential equations with multiple deviating arguments is considered. By employing Lyapunov’s second method, a complete Lyapunov functional is constructed and used to establish sufficient conditions that guarantee existence of unique solutions that are periodic, uniformly asymptotically stable, and uniformly ultimately bounded. Obtained results not only are new but also include many outstanding results in the literature. Finally, the correctness and effectiveness of the results are justified with examples