Macrolides in Chronic Inflammatory Skin Disorders

Long-term therapy with the macrolide antibiotic erythromycin was shown to alter the clinical course of diffuse panbronchiolitis in the late 1980s. Since that time, macrolides have been found to have a large number of anti-inflammatory properties in addition to being antimicrobials. These observations provided the rationale for many studies performed to assess the usefulness of macrolides in other inflammatory diseases including skin and hair disorders, such as rosacea, psoriasis, pityriasis rosea, alopecia areata, bullous pemphigoid, and pityriasis lichenoides. This paper summarizes a collection of clinical studies and case reports dealing with the potential benefits of macrolides antibiotics in the treatment of selected dermatoses which have primarily been classified as noninfectious and demonstrating their potential for being disease-modifying agents

Organizational Support for Workers’ Recuperation in Nigerian Banks

This paper investigates organizational support for workers’ recuperation in Nigerian Banks. The study was conducted in Ilorin, the capital city of Kwara State, Nigeria. Eight commercial banks namely, United Bank for Africa, First Bank of Nigeria, Diamond Bank, Fidelity Bank, Wema Bank, First City Monument Bank and Union Bank were included in the study out of the seventeen commercial banks located in the city. Information was gathered through questionnaire administration that consisted of 128 respondents. The Chi square statistical tool was employed to test relationship between variables. Results showed that Nigerian Banks support their staff in recuperating during illness and help to maintain their as test of relationships were statistically significant. The P value of the hypotheses tested in the study are as follows; on the basis of medical facilities provided= 0.001; on adequacy of medical facilities =0.017 and other programmes provided = 0.002. The study suggested that government should enact a law that protects bank workers by ensuring that workers are excused from work as long as their illness lasted having been certified ill by recommended medical doctor.Keywords: Organization, Support, Sickness, Wellness, Workers, Recuperation, Banks, Chi-squar

Modeling and Simulation of a PV-Induction Motor Water Pumping System for Off-Grid Irrigation

Solar-powered (PV) water pumping systems provide a sustainable and efficient solution for irrigation, especially in areas with high solar radiation and limited access to electrical grids. The performance of these systems depends on their ability to operate at the maximum power point (MPP) to ensure optimal energy extraction from solar panels. In this study, the Perturb and Observe (P&O) algorithm was used to track the maximum power point (MPPT), in addition, the scalar V/F technique to control the speed of a three-phase induction motor is implemented. The proposed system consists of a solar panel array, a DC-DC converter, a voltage inverter, an LC filter, and a water pump.            Meteorological data for the Kirkuk area (e.g., solar radiation & temperature) were incorporated into the system analysis to ensure that it is adapted to the local environmental conditions. The system was simulated using MATLAB/Simulink to evaluate the performance under variable environmental conditions. The results showed that the P&O algorithm provides effective MPP tracking, while the V/F control maintains the stability of the motor speed while minimizing energy loss. This system is recommended as an effective and low-cost solution for irrigation and water supply applications in remote areas with high solar radiation, such as Kirkuk, which has an average solar radiation of up to 5.5 kWh/m²/day and temperatures ranging from 10°C to 45°C, making it an ideal environment for solar energy systems

Design of a Simple Model of S. P. P. to Study the Effect of Increasing the Boiler Pressure on the Efficiency of the Model

The Rankine cycle is one example of vapor power cycles. One important application of it is in steam power plants. In this paper, a simple model of the steam power plant is designed to study the effect of increasing boiler's pressures (3, 4, 5, and 6 bar respectively) on the efficiency and the dryness friction of the Model. Properties of the important points in the cycle were calculated consequently the losses in the pump, the losses in the condenser, expansion of the working fluid through the turbine, and the heat transfer to the working fluid through the boiler were determined. From the results, it was found that with the increasing of the boiler's operating pressure the thermal efficiency of the model cycle increases due to a substantial increase in network. Thus net-effect is marked increases in the thermal efficiency of the cycle on account of these measures

Some Cultural and Language Issues in Sexually Transmitted Diseases Campaign in Nigeria

Nigeria is one of the most linguistically diverse countries on the continent of Africa. However, while the continent has approximately 1000 distinct languages, Nigeria has approximately 25-50% of these languages. This situation portrays Nigeria as a culturally diverse and complex society. While some groups may be considered as one ethnic group because they speak the same language and engage in same economic activities, in the real sense of the matter, they may not be united because of differences in religions, political, settlement pattern and educational preferences. The influence of ethno cultural and language differences on sexually transmitted disease campaign cannot be underestimated. It is on the basis of this that attempt is made to examine some implications of cultural and language issues on the campaign against STD in Nigeria. This paper was able to establish the place of some cultural practices and linguistic differences in shaping STDs campaign in Nigeria. It is therefore recommended that the best way to address effectively the issue of STDs is for some Nigerians to do away with some cultural practices inhibiting effective STDs campaign and communicate STDs messages in local languages. Keywords: Issues, Languages, Ethno Cultural, Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs

Quality Educational Planning and Senior Secondary Education Goal Attainment in Ilorin Metropolis, Kwara State

This study determined the relationship between quality educational planning and senior secondary education goal attainment in Ilorin metropolis, Kwara State. The study adopted a descriptive design of correlation type while its population comprised all the 3594 teachers across the public secondary schools in Ilorin metropolis. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 346 teachers in the metropolis. An adapted questionnaire titled “Quality Educational Planning Questionnaire” (QEPQ) and “Secondary Education Goal Attainment Proforma” (SEGAP) were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics of frequency count and percentage was used to answer the research questions while inferential statistics of Pearson product-moment correlation statistics was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significant. The findings of the study revealed that quality educational planning has a significant relationship with secondary education goal attainment in Ilorin metropolis, Kwara State. It was recommended that adequate classrooms and instructional facilities should continue to be adequately planned in order to keep the tempo of academic performance and enhance the level of senior secondary education goal attainment in Kwara State

Knowledge of Sexually Transmitted Diseases among Secondary School Adolescents in Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State Nigeria

The adolescent age is the period of sexual identity when adolescents make sense of their feeling and turn them into actions. This stage requires adequate knowledge of sexual behaviours so that adolescents will not rely on peer group for information. This is because of the far reaching effects it may have on them and the society at large due to misinformation and the consequences of the high risk sexual behaviours they may engage in like sexually transmitted diseases. This study therefore aims at accessing the knowledge and sources of information of STDs among adolescents in the Asa local government area of Kwara State, north central region of Nigeria. The study was carried out in three public secondary schools in  Ogbondoroko and Laduba towns, suburbs of the capital city, Ilorin. Information was gathered through questionnaire administration. A total of 240 questionnaires were administered to (SS1), (SS2) and (SS3) students in the study area and in all 210 were retrieved representing 88% return rate. The study made use of tables and simple percentages to present the data retrieved from the field, while the F-test  and T-test statistical tools were used to show the relationship between the variables. Findings revealed that adolescents in the study area have a fair knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases. The study also shows a significant relationship between class and knowledge of STDs as test shows a statistical  significant  relationship P<0.05. While age and sex show no significant relationship with knowledge of STDs as P>0.05.The study suggests that mass enlightenment  programmes in schools by government and other relevant agencies in the study area is key to adequate knowledge of STDs in the area.KeyWords: Sexually transmitted diseases, Adolescent, Knowledge, Information, Kwara State, Nigeria

Consumer Load Prediction and Theft Detection on Distribution Network Using Autoregressive Model

Load prediction is essential for the planning and management of electric power system and this has been an area of research interest recently. Various load forecasting techniques have been proposed to predict consumer load which represents the activities of the consumer on the distribution network. Commonly, these techniques use cumulative energy consumption data of various consumers connected to the power system to predict consumer load. However, this data fails to reveal the activities of individual consumers as related to energy consumption and stealing of electricity. A new approach of predicting consumer load and detecting electricity theft based on autoregressive model technique is proposed in this paper. The objective is to evaluate the relationship between the consumer load consumption vis-a-vis the model coefficients and model order selection. Such evaluation will facilitate effective monitoring of the individual consumer behaviour, which will be indicated in the changes in model parameters and invariably lead to detection of electricity theft on the part of the consumer. The study used the data acquired from consumer load prototype which represents a typical individual consumer connected to the distribution network. Average energy consumption obtained over 24 hours was used for the modelling and 5-minute step ahead load prediction based on model order 20 of minimum description length criterion technique was achieved. Electricity theft activities were detected whenever there are disparities in the model coefficients and consumer load data

Hybrid algorithm for NARX network parameters' determination using differential evolution and genetic algorithm

A hybrid optimization algorithm using Differential Evolution (DE) and Genetic Algorithm (GA) is proposed in this study to address the problem of network parameters determination associated with the Nonlinear Autoregressive with eXogenous inputs Network (NARX-network). The proposed algorithm involves a two level optimization scheme to search for both optimal network architecture and weights. The DE at the upper level is formulated as combinatorial optimization to search for the network architecture while the associated network weights that minimize the prediction error is provided by the GA at the lower level. The performance of the algorithm is evaluated on identification of a laboratory rotary motion system. The system identification results show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm for nonparametric model development