templates to transition: making solar-generated electricity accessible for lagos residents

According to the EPA, direct energy production results in at least 25% of the world’s emissions. This refers to emissions produced by burning coal, natural gas, and oil for electricity and heat. With the increasing effects of climate change, sustainable energy is becoming increasingly important as the world shifts away from fossil fuels. However, implementation of renewable energy sources is not as fast or as widespread as necessary. This paper aims to identify feasible solutions to the problem of renewable energy affordability in Nigeria especially in growing megacities like Lagos to ensure long lasting and climatefriendly energy sources. Two major angles to address would be the argument of renewable vs nonrenewable energy with respect to affordability and then the best types of renewable energy to implement in Nigeria. A process of gathering data (through survey) was used to gauge community perspectives. The major options were between personal solar and community solar systems. At the conclusion of the survey, participants leaned towards personal home solar systems. In the end, participants behavior were most influenced by the cost of the system, the amount of government rebates and the security of the system. The income of participants also influence their willingness to adopt solar home systems and their maximum budget for purchasing solar systems

Nativity and Environmental Risk Perception: An Empirical Study of Native-Born and Foreign-Born Residents of the USA

This study examines the major differences between native-born and foreign-born residents of the United States on measures of environmental risk perception and risk attitudes. Hypotheses derived from the cultural theory of risk were tested. Discriminant analysis of the General Social Survey (GSS) and International Social Survey Program (ISSP) data was conducted using environmental and technological risk perception and attitudes modules. The results indicate that foreign-born respondents are more risk averse and skeptical about sources of information about environmental risks than their native-born counterparts. While there are some points of agreement, these groups exhibit dissimilar environmental risk perception on several measures. Native-born respondents scored significantly lower on risk perception and attitudes toward technological and environmental risks relative to their foreign-born counterparts. Methodological and theoretical implications of these findings are discussed

The influence of fillers on theophylline release from clay matrices

Abstract: The objectives of this study were to investigate the suitability of magnesium aluminium silicate (MAS) (Veegum®) to control drug release of a model drug, theophylline, from tablet matrices. To this end, the performance of three commonly used fillers namely: lactose, microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel PH102; MCC), and pre-gelatinized starch, Starch 1500 PGS), were evaluated against Veegum®. The physico-mechanical properties of the tablet matrices were studied along with dissolution studies to determine the effect of single or binary mixtures of the excipients on the drug release pattern. A DSC hydration methodology was also employed to characterize the states of water present in the tablet matrices and to determine any impact on drug release. Formulations containing MAS alone produced compacts with the lowest hardness (4.5 kp) whereas formulations containing MCC alone produced the hardest tablets (17.2 kp). Dissolution studies suggested that matrices containing MAS alone released the theophylline quickest as compared to lactose, MCC or PGS. It was difficult to establish a trend of the bound and free water states in the tablet matrices; however the formulation containing only MAS had the highest bound water at 29 %. The results therefore show that theophylline does not interact with MAS. As such the dominant factor in controlling drug release using MAS requires interaction or intercalation with a cationic drug. In the absence of this however, other excipients can play a role in controlling drug release. Keywords: Veegum, clay matrices, DSC hydration, Magnesium aluminium silicate, filler

Influence of Parental Mediation, Adolescents’ Characteristics and Behaviours on Internet Risk Exposure

Increase in the use of the Internet by adolescents, though beneficial, has become an ample means to their risk exposure. There is a dearth of information on how parental mediation and children’s risky Internet behaviours jointly influence adolescent Internet risk exposure, particularly in Africa. The present study, therefore, investigates the influence of parental mediation and adolescents’ Internet behaviors on Internet risk exposure of students in selected private, state and federal secondary schools in Oyo State, Nigeria. Using the survey research method, a structured questionnaire adapted from three previous studies was constructed and used for data collection. Three hundred copies of the questionnaire were administered among students, out of which two hundred and thirty nine (239) were retrieved. Using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences Version 23, descriptive and inferential analyses were performed. It was found that none of the parental mediation strategies had a significant negative effect on children’s Internet risk exposure while some students’ behaviours and characteristics had significant positive effects on risk exposure. The study recommends, among others, that stakeholders in education and technology sectors should attend to Internet safety needs of these secondary school students

Mental Health and Psychosocial Distress Sequelae of Katrina: An Empirical Study of Survivors

This study focuses on mental health and psychosocial distress sequelae of Hurricane Katrina cataclysm among survivors. The purpose of this article is to: (1) assess the variation in psychosocial distress among the survivors of Katrina by socio-demographic, structural and situational factors; (2) determine if there are significant racial and gender differences in the extent of psychological stress, especially between Black and White, male and female survivors; and (3) to evaluate the influence of resource loss or financial burden imposed, social support, and perceived victimization on psychosocial distress among survivors. The Gallup/CNN/USA Today survey data collected in 2005 and 2006 from a representative (random) sample of Katrina survivors are used. Among the results, significant racial differences were found in psychological impacts including reported symptoms of sleeplessness, anxiety, depression, and worries about the future. In a series of multivariate analyses including factor analysis and OLS regression models, residency in Orleans parish prior to the storm, older age, female gender, having dependent children, unemployment, extent of property damage, and financial impacts sustained consistently predict psychological distress among the survivors. The theoretical, methodological, and applied policy implications of these findings are discussed

A Framework for Assessing E-Commerce Customers’ Satisfaction based on Electronic Words of Mouth

Electronic commerce, though highly beneficial, is usually perceived by people to be riskier than its brick and mortal counterpart. The confirmation or disconfirmation of customers’ perceived risk ultimately results in their dissatisfaction or satisfaction with the service. A lot of studies have been carried out on e-commerce customer satisfaction; investigation of this subject based on customers’ electronic words of mouth (eWOM), is however, sparse. There is also a dearth of models or frameworks that can be used for assessing customer satisfaction, based on their eWOM. Building on the foundation of relevant empirical findings and the DeLone and McLean’s IS Model for e-commerce, the present study proposed and developed a framework for assessing e-commerce customers’ satisfaction based on their eWOM.  The study also demonstrated the use of the model with the eWOM of customers of one of the most popular e-commerce sites in Nigeria, Jumia. These customers’ e-commerce service-related communications (eWOM) were retrieved from Twitter. Tweets were analysed based on the proposed framework. It was found that customers of the examined e-commerce site expressed more dissatisfaction than satisfaction through their eWOM. The overall satisfaction index was -0.84 and all indicators, except only one, had negative satisfaction indices. It is recommended that the framework can be further tested and used to assess the performance of more e-commerce sites. It is also recommended that e-commerce service providers should be intentional about examining their customers’ eWOM and improving their services by addressing the loop holes identified from the examination of the eWOM

INMATES INCARCERATION AND FAMILY SUPPORT AS PRECURSORS OF PRISON RECIDIVISM IN NIGERIA

The study identified the common criminal offences that lead people to prison in Nigeria, it identified the people that give supports to the inmates and examined the kind of support inmates receive in prison and it also determined the extent the supporting roles received from family can prevent the inmates from returning to prison. These were with a view to assisting prisoners from returning back to prisons and thereby reducing the rate of criminal activities in the society. A counselling rehabilitation group of 13 male and 22 female inmate volunteers from one of the prisons in Nigeria were used in the study. A questionnaire was designed to elicit information on the objectives stated. The results of the study showed that stealing out of other reasons was the most common reason for being in prison (28.6%). Also, it was revealed that 80% of the inmates claimed they received supports from siblings while in prison, and 85.7% of them received sympathy support from relatives. Finally, it was revealed that 23 inmates representing 65.7% had low tendency of wanting to return to prison, as against 34.3% who displayed high tendency of wanting to return to prison as a result of the supports received from relations. It was concluded that family support if well applied with support of the government and significant others in the society will assist the prisoners to cope with life after prison and reduce the rate at which people commit crime in the society

An Assessment of Internet Use and Cyber-risk Prevalence among Students in Selected Nigerian Secondary Schools

The use of the Internet has become highly pervasive among adolescents. While these people derive numerous benefits from their use of this technology, they are also faced with a challenge of being exposed to many cyber risks. Nigeria is a developing country with a teeming population of adolescents who are regular users of the Internet, but with inadequate research on adolescent Internet safety. There is therefore, a need to conduct studies on child online risks in Nigeria, to help evaluate the enormity of child online abuses. The present study investigated Internet use and cyber-risk prevalence among four hundred secondary school students from a Nigerian state capital. This study employed a survey research method. The findings reveal that students in selected secondary schools in Ibadan metropolis are regular users of the Internet with considerable exposure to different cyber-risk behaviours. Male students are significantly more susceptible to cyberbullying than female students while public school students are more susceptible to cyberbullying and sexual solicitation risks than private school students. The study amongst others, recommends that Information Technology professionals and educators should intentionally get involved in enlightening students on the importance and means of ensuring safety while they use the Internet

Innovative Strategies to Grow Sales of Women-Owned SMEs in Emerging Countries

This paper is a discussion of a 2020 multiple case study research involving five female owners of retail small and medium enterprise (SME) companies in Lagos State, Nigeria. Multiple data collection methods employed included semistructured interviews, direct observations, review of company documents, and keeping a reflective journal. We established reliability, validity, and data saturation through triangulation. One major finding was that by deploying innovative ideas, business owners were able to overcome challenges and grow sales. The implications for positive social change include the potential to provide both existing and emerging women owned SMEs with the strategies to increase patronage to grow their businesses, thereby contributing to the economic growth of their business, employees, local communities, and the Nigerian national economy