On Mobile Cloud Computing in a Mobile Learning System

In the recent years, the nature of the Internet was constantly changing from a place used to read web pages to an environment that allows end-users to run software applications. Interactivity and collaboration have become the keywords of the new web content. This new environment supports the creation of a new generation of applications that are able to run on a wide range of hardware devices, like Mobile Phones or Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and this development gives rise to Mobile Cloud Computing. Mobile Cloud Computing at its simplest refers to an infrastructure where both the data storage and the data processing take place outside of the mobile device. Mobile cloud applications move the computing power and data storage away from mobile phones and into the cloud, bringing applications and mobile computing to not just smartphone users but a much broader range of mobile subscribers. In this work, Mobile learning system is designed based on electronic learning (e-learning) and mobility, within the context of mobile cloud computing. However, traditional m-learning applications have limitations in terms of high cost of devices and network, low network transmission rate, and limited educational resources; this cloud-based -learning application is introduced to solve these limitations. A mobile website is developed as well as a mobile application, this services which will be offered free, which will then gather relevant information in relation to the individuals’ topic of interest from a database located on a remote server and also web-links gotten from the cloud (internet) to expand the knowledge and understanding of the individual in the area of interest. Keyword: Cloud Computing, Mobile Learning System, Mobile Device

Evaluation Of Factors Affecting Housing And Urban Development Projects In Lagos State

In Nigeria, several housing schemes have evolved over the years; embarked upon by government and private corporations at various levels, in an attempt to provide shelter for its citizens, yet housing problems still persist. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the factors affecting housing and urban development projects in Lagos State. Data was obtained using 157 questionnaires addressed majorly to professionals working in the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development (MPPUD) Lagos State, Lagos State Physical Planning and Development Authority (LSPPDA) and Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC). The result of the analysis reveals that housing and urban development projects provides and improves the infrastructural facilities to meet the needs of the Lagos Mega City. The major factor affecting housing and urban development projects is growing urbanization within the state, which is affecting the housing sector, making it extremely deficient in meeting the infrastructural needs of the state. Increasing the housing output is necessary to prevent the creation of slums and slum dwellers. The government and private sector should intensify efforts towards sourcing building materials locally through encouragement and funding of research into those materials and its production thereby reducing the cost of housing and urban development projects and increasing the stock

THE PERCEPTION OF FUTURE DECISION MAKERS ON THE BUILDING PROFESSION

Out of all the professionals involved in the built environment, the most misunderstood is the Professional Builder. To avoid the dearth of the profession and ensure a sustainable profession, the study as a social judgment aims to assess the building profession in the eyes of future decision makers in Nigeria. Through a purposive sampling method, a structured questionnaire was distributed to two hundred and thirty-six (236) final year students of selected private and public universities in Lagos and Ogun state, Nigeria, termed as future decision makers. Using SPSS 17.0, descriptive and inferential statistics test such as Mean Score, Analysis of Variance and Factor analysis were used for the study. The results of this study indicated that future decision makers in the selected institutions in Nigeria had very little awareness of major and evolving roles of the professional builder. In conclusion, two (2) major areas can influence the popularity of the profession which are the Student/Professional builders’ participation and the Professional Associations. The study developed a framework to ensure the sustainability of the profession by influencing the awareness level of future decision makers

Computer Based Test using Speech Recognition System

Speech recognition system is a system that can converts audio signals into machine-readable format to provide interaction with the system. In this paper the speech recognition system is applied within the E –Learning system.  A headset microphone is interfaced to the computer system for speech production, a speech engine to help analyze each spoken text as programmed in the source code using XML format as the back end for stored text. This technique process data capturing more promptly than the existing process by keyboards or mouse, and can be used in working environment where these devices cannot be used and also for the disable learners that cannot use their hands or communicate through textual medium. Speech Recognition System is a developing technology and its application in this context is done within the Computer-Based Test as a pilot study.  The speech SDK (Software Development Kits) used has an inbuilt speech recognition engine and inbuilt simulator, the engine provides the speech recognizer that is able to recognize the user’s speech and integrate it with the inbuilt simulator. Keywords: Speech Recognition System, Computer Based Test, E-Learning Syste

Sodium bicarbonate supplementation prevents cardiac hypertrophy in male rats exposed to high intensity swim exercise via inhibition of lactate dehydrogenase activity

Background: Cardiac hypertrophy is linked with ventricular arrhythmia and can be fatal among athletes  engaged in high intensity exercise. This study investigates the effect of sodium bicarbonate on cardiac hypertrophy induced by swim exercise in male Wistar rats. Methods: Forty male Wistar (100-150 g) randomly divided into 5 groups 1-5 (n =8) were used. Group 1 was the control sedentary animals while groups 2-3 and 4-5 were exercised at low or high intensity, respectively. Groups 1,2 and 4 received distilled water while groups 3 and 5 received sodium bicarbonate (250 mg/kg, p.o) daily. Exercise was carried out by swimming in a temperature regulated water tank 5 days/ week for 8 weeks. The intensity was varied by attaching 5% body weight load to the tail of the high intensity exercise groups while the low intensity groups were unloaded. Body weight was monitored weekly. Blood samples were obtained for plasma lipid profile, C-Reactive Protein (CRP) and Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) concentration. Cardiac hypertrophy was determined from the heart weight to tail length (HW:TL) ratio. Data were presented as Mean ± SEM. Results: Final body weights of all exercised groups were not different when compared with their initial weight. Cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein were decreased in the high intensity exercise group treated with sodium bicarbonate. Triglyceride level was not different across all groups while High-density lipoprotein increased in the low intensity untreated and low intensity treated groups. CRP level was not different across all groups while LDH activity was significantly decreased in the high intensity exercised group treated with sodium bicarbonate. Sodium bicarbonate treatment also caused significant decrease in HW:TL ratio in the treated high intensity exercise group compared with their corresponding untreated group. Conclusion: Sodium bicarbonate supplementation ameliorated swim exercise-induced cardiac hypertrophy in male Wistar rats through a mechanism that probably involves lactate dehydrogenase activity

Blood transfusion practice in patients undergoing thyroidectomy in Ibadan, Nigeria

Background: The demand on the blood bank in sub-Saharan Africa for blood is huge. There is, therefore, a need for more efficient use of this precious material. This study, therefore, was carried out to assess blood transfusion practice for thyroidectomy in a sub-Saharan African country.Methods: A descriptive study of patients who had thyroidectomy over a 12 year-period was carried out. Information on clinical characteristics, blood loss and utilization were obtained prospectively. The blood utilization practice was assessed using Cross-match:Transfusion ratio (C:T), Transfusion probability (%T), and Transfusion index (TI). Maximum Surgical Blood Ordering Schedule (MSBOS) for thyroidectomy was derived.Results: The data of 265 patients aged 11 – 71 years with a mean age of 40.8 ± 12.6 years were analyzed. The surgeons requested for cross-matched blood for 255 patients. Blood cross-match was carried out for 216 (84.7%) patients. The patients had an average pre-operative haematocrit of 37% and median blood loss of 200mls. Cross-match:Transfusion ratio (C:T) was 5.53 with a %T of 17.6% and TI of 0.22. The MSBOS was 0.33.Conclusion: The routine cross-matching of blood is unnecessary for thyroidectomy in our clinical practice. The blood ordering practice for thyroidectomy should, therefore, be streamlined to reduce the cost and burden of the reservation of the units of blood to the transfusion services. The type and screen policy should be considered by the blood bank, surgeons, anaesthetists and the hospital transfusion committee

Improving career development through a Women mentoring program in the construction industry

Due to the high underrepresentation of women in the construction industry, researchers are proposing innovative solutions to attract and retain female workers in the profession. The study examined the prospects of improving career development through women mentoring programs in the construction industry. Using an in-depth content analysis of literature, the study extracted barriers and impact of women mentoring programs. The study showed that in order to access the positive potential outcome for female students and workers there are barriers that must be surpassed. The barriers to an effective woman mentoring program identified in this study are both internal and external in nature. Once the barriers to women mentoring programs are not effectively suppressed it would lead to negative mentoring experiences. The study highlighted that in order for women mentoring programs to be effective both mentors and mentees should have gone through a mentoring training/workshop. This would help harness their individual characteristics, ability to set goals, ensure professionalism and the ability to give/receive feedback. The study identified potential outcomes of an effective women mentoring program in the construction industry

Factors Influencing the Pattern of Self-Medication in an Adult Nigerian Population

Background: Despite the growing research interest in self-medication, little information has been available about its major determinants especially in developing countries. This informed the conduct of this study to determine the major factors that influence the pattern of self medication in a population of market women in Ifako-Ijaiye area of Lagos, Nigeria. Methods: Interviewer administered pretested semistructured questionnaire was used to collect data from 205 market women selected by multistage sampling technique. Results: The patent medicine dealers were the commonest source of information on medications (31.4%) and where they were obtained (52.2%). The exceptions were the educated (62.5%) respondents who obtained theirs from hospitals and pharmacies. Trade and generic names (61.1%) were common means of drug recognition especially among the educated respondents (P<.05). Education of the respondents was the major factor influencing the practice of self-medication though the pattern was descriptively associated with the marital status and educational level of the respondents (P<.05). Benefits of the practice includes in the order: curing of ailments (58.0%), saving time and money (32.0%) and independence of care (7.0%). Conclusion: Literacy and public health education were the major factors influencing the pattern of self-medication among market women. Recommendations on the role of education of market women, patent medicine dealers and the importance of community pharmacy were suggested.Contexte: Malgr\ue9 l'int\ue9r\ueat croissant de la recherche sur l'autom\ue9dication, peu de connaissances sont disponibles sur les d\ue9terminants majeurs notamment dans les pays en voie de d\ue9veloppement. Cela est \ue0 l'origine de cette \ue9tude ayant pour but de d\ue9terminer les facteurs majeurs influen\ue7ant le motif de l'autom\ue9dication dans une population de femmes au marche dans la zone de Ifako-Ijaiye a Lagos au Nigeria. M\ue9thode: Un questionnaire semi structur\ue9 a \ue9t\ue9 utilise par des enqu\ueateurs pour collecter les donn\ue9es de 205 femmes au marche s\ue9lectionn\ue9es par une m\ue9thode d'\ue9chantillonnage stratifi\ue9. R\ue9sultats: Les vendeurs de m\ue9dicaments agr\ue9\ue9s \ue9taient la source usuelle d'informations sur les m\ue9dicaments (31,4%) et le lieu ont-elles \ue9taient obtenues (52,2%). Les exceptions concernaient les participantes instruites (62,5%) qui s'informaient aupr\ue8s des h\uf4pitaux et pharmacies. Les noms de marque et les g\ue9n\ue9riques (61,1%) \ue9taient des moyens habituels d'identification des produits en particulier pour les participantes instruites (p<0,05). L'instruction des participantes \ue9tait le facteur majeur influen\ue7ant la pratique de l'autom\ue9dication bien que le motif soit descriptive associe avec le statut marital et le niveau d'instruction des participantes (p<0,05). Les b\ue9n\ue9fices de la pratique comportent par ordre d\ue9croissant les soins pour maladies (58,0%), le gain de temps et d'argent (32,0%) et le non d\ue9pendance de soins (7,0%). Conclusion: La litt\ue9rature et l'\ue9ducation a la sante publique \ue9taient les principaux facteurs influen\ue7ant le motif d'autom\ue9dication parmi des femmes au marche. Les recommandations sur le r\uf4le de l'instruction des femmes au marche, les vendeurs de m\ue9dicaments agr\ue9\ue9s et l'importance des pharmacies communautaire a \ue9t\ue9 souligne

Characteristics of Concrete Produced with Lagoon and Atlantic Ocean Water

Dwellers along the coastline area of Lagos state, Nigeria are exposed to abrmdant supply of the natural resources of Atlantic ocean and Lagoon water and may not have the privilege of having potable drinking water at their disposal for producing concrete. This study evaluates the characteristics of concrete produced with Atlantic ocean and Lagoon water. Concrete produced with tap water (regarded as potable drinking water) serves as the control experiment. Compressive strength, workability and density were used to evaluate the characteristics of concrete specimens. All the concrete samples have true shnnp with Lagoon water concrete having low workability and both tap and Atlantic ocean water concrete having medilllll workability. The concrete specimens produced with the three types of water fall into the category of normal weight concrete as their densities lie within the range of 2200-2600 kg m-3 specified. The 28th day compressive strength of concrete specimens produced with Atlantic ocean, tap and Lagoon water are 25.0 and 33.5 N mm-2 , 17.9 and 28.6 N mm-2 as well as 15.1 and 19.4 N mm-2 for mix ratios 1:3:6 and 1:2:4, respectively. It was concluded that tap water should be used in mixing concrete where strength is of major concern, Atlantic ocean water could be used where early strength is required and Lagoon water should only be used for general concrete works where strength is of less importance such as in mass concrete, floor screed and mortar

Acute diarrhoea in hospitalized under-five children in Ilorin, Nigeria: Relationship between isolated enteropathogens and clinical outcome

Background: Acute diarrhoea due to different enteropathogens contributes significantly to childhood morbidity and mortality globally, despite the advances made in diarrhoea management via use of fluid therapy and zinc supplementation. Aim: To determine the prevalence of bacterial and viral etiology among children hospitalized with acute diarrhoea and the relationship with clinical outcome. Methods: A total of 135 children aged one to 59 months with acute diarrhoea were recruited in Ilorin, Nigeria. Stool specimens were investigated for three viruses (rotavirus, adenovirus and norovirus) and bacterial pathogens using immunochromatographic and conventional culture techniques respectively. Results: One hundred and twenty-two (90.4%) study participants had stools that yielded enteropathogens, while 13 (9.6%) had no isolates. Sixty-one (45.2%) children had a single pathogen isolated, while 61 (45.2%) had co-infections. The prevalence of viruses was 17.0% with rotavirus, adenovirus and norovirus detected in 10.3%, 3.7% and 3.0% respectively. Bacterial pathogens were isolated in 28.2% with Escherichia coli (14.1%), Klebsiella spp. (8.2%), Proteus spp. (3.7%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (2.2%) detected as isolates. The duration of hospital stay, likewise the duration of diarrhoea were prolonged by the presence of an infectious aetiology and co-infections (p <0.001 and p =0.04 respectively). However, these clinical outcomes were not influenced by the type of bacteria/virus isolated nor the enteropathogens constituting co-infection (p >0.05). Conclusions: There was a high burden of infectious aetiology of childhood diarrhoea, with bacteria being the predominant enteropathogens isolated. The clinical outcomes of the children studied were influenced by the isolation of enteropathogens and the presence of multiple infections