NIGERIA’S ENERGY CHALLENGE AND POWER DEVELOPMENT: THE WAY FORWARD

The ever increasing demand and meager supply of energy in Nigeria has been a great challenge to her development. This situation is becoming critical, with increasing population not balanced by an adequate energy development programme. The incessant power generation failure has grossly affected the economy, seriously slowing down development in rural and sub-rural settlements, with present energy policy mainly benefiting urban dwellers. Globally, energy projections stipulate that between 2002 and 2025, global energy needs may rise by over 34%, with that of developing nations doubling this percentage. A robust solution must be found to end the nation’s energy crises. This Viewpoint compares the energy potential of Nigeria with the challenges faced. Nigeria receives a huge amount of solar radiation, has abundant wind energy resources, and large deposits of fossil fuel, as well as enormous hydro-power resources from Niger and Benue Rivers. However, of these about 80% of hydro-power remains untapped, the total 5.5KW-hr/m2/day of solar radiation is not utilized and wind energy resources remain unexploited. The solution lies in creating a mixed supply of energy in which as yet untapped renewable resources are combined with abundant nonrenewable fossil fuel, including the massive quantities of gas wasted from crude oil exploitation

Labor requirements and profitability of alternative soil fertility replenishment technologies in Zambia

Low soil fertility is a major concern in agricultural productivity and development policy discourse in sub-saharan Africa. The problem is exacerbated by government withdrawal from fertilizer input markets and the inability of private sector operators to fill the gap. This warranted a search for other nutrient sources to supplement chemical fertilizers. Based on field data collected in Zambia, this study assessed the labor inputs implications of “improved tree fallows”, continuous maize cropping with and without mineral fertilizer and, evaluated the financial profitability of the different land use systems. Results show that agroforestry-based land use systems are more profitable (NPV between $233 and$309 per ha) than farmers’ practice of continuous maize production without external fertilization ($130/ha) but, they are less profitable than mineral fertilizer ($499). When the effects of the 50% government subsidy on fertilizers are taken into account, the differences in the profitability of fertilizers over improved tree fallows falls from 61% to 13%. The returns per person labor-day is $3.20 for fertilizer and$2.50, $2.40, and$1.90 respectively, for the three agroforestry options evaluated and only $1.10 for unfertilized maize. These returns compare with a daily agricultural wage of$0.50 in the study area. Key determinants of financial attractiveness and by extension, potential adoptability of the land use systems were identified. Given the low rate (20%) of farmers in Zambia who have access to fertilizers, there is a large niche to integrate other soil nutrient replenishing options with fertilizer to improve food security and reduce poverty among resource-poor smallholder farmers in Africa.Agroforestry, improved tree fallows, financial analysis, Production economics, Southern Africa, Sustainable agriculture, Agricultural and Food Policy, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Consumer/Household Economics, Environmental Economics and Policy, Farm Management, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Food Security and Poverty, Land Economics/Use, Production Economics, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Comparison of Logical Choice Weight and Confidence Scoring Methods on Multiple Choice Agricultural Science Test Scores

The  study  investigates  the  comparison  of  logical  choice  weight  and confidence scoring methods on multiple choice agricultural science  test  scores. The purpose is to find the most advantageous method to be used out of the two methods of scoring multiple choice agricultural science tests.  The study also focused on the interaction effect of logical choice weight and confidence scoring in the schools. The researcher used survey type and one short experimental design. The population is consisted of 600 (six hundred) Senior Secondary School (SSS3) agricultural science students as sample in Ekiti  Central  of  Ekiti  State, Nigeria.  The hypotheses were generated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. Using correlational  and descriptive analysis.  The study revealed that there was a significant relationship between logical choice weight and confidence scoring methods. The study revealed that logical choice weight scoring method was the best  method  that  favoured  the  scoring  of  the  students scripts  in multiple choice agricultural science test. The logical choice weight method could   be   used   in tertiary institutions for Post- JAMB test. Consultancy firms and public service could also adopt the use of logical choice weight scoring method. Keywords: Multiple choice, confidence, logical choice weights, scoring, standardized

A Comparative Analysis of Reliability Methods

The study is concerned with the inappropriate usage of the reliability methods. It also identified the most commonly used of the reliability methods and the most appropriate methods for agricultural science objective test items. Reliability of a test is the extent that repeated measurements give consistent results for individual. A test is said to be reliable if it measures what it is supposed to measure consistently. There are many methods of measuring reliability which are: Test-retest, parallel form, Split-half, other methods of measuring internal consistency include Kuder Richardson KR20 and Kuder Richardson KR21.The study made a comparative analysis of reliability in four selected secondary schools in Ado-Ekiti Local Government Area of Ekiti state. Forty (40) items in agricultural science objectives test were constructed by the researcher.  The objectives test was administered to the students in the four selected schools. The scores were compared across the sample schools. The descriptive analysis such as mean, standard deviation and comparative analysis of reliability methods were used. The hypothesis was held significant at 0.05 probability level. The result of the analysis shows that there was no significant differences between test-retest, parallel form, split half and Kuder-Richardson methods in agricultural science objectives test. The findings revealed that significant different exist in reliability methods employed in the sampled schools as a result of the findings, the instrument is recommended to be used in analyzing reliability method. Keywords: Comparative, Reliability, Split-half, Test-retest, parallel form and Kuder -Richardso

Association between knowledge of Human Immunodeficiency Virus transmission and consistent condom use among sexually active men in Nigeria: An analysis of 2018 Nigeria Demographic Health Survey.

An estimated 1.7 million people were living with HIV in Nigeria in 2020, with over 86,000 people newly infected. Although the global rates of HIV have remained consistent over time, Nigeria has the second-highest number of people living with HIV and contributes to 9% of the global burden of HIV/AIDS. This is due to several structural and individual-level factors that limit knowledge of HIV and condom utilization. In this context, this study examines the association between knowledge about HIV transmission and consistent condom use among sexually active men in Nigeria. The data utilised in this study was sourced from the latest Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey conducted in 2018. The sample included a total of 9,346 men between the ages of 15-59 years who were sexually active at the time of data collection. Frequency distribution, univariate and multivariable analyses were performed at 95% confidence interval and p-value less than 0.05 to determine the association between the key independent variables and covariates. The results showed that 85.03% of sexually active men who had no knowledge of HIV engaged in inconsistent condom use. The key independent variable showed that sexually active men who had knowledge of HIV had higher odds [AOR = 1.37; 95%(CI = 1.10-1.72)] of consistent condom use compared to those without knowledge of HIV. However, sexually active men who were previously married [AOR = 0.38; 95%(CI = 0.24-0.61)], and those residing in the South Eastern region of Nigeria [AOR = 0.62; 95%(CI = 0.44-0.96)] had lower odds of consistent condom use. This study established the association between HIV knowledge and consistent condom use among sexually active males in Nigeria even after controlling for confounders. Educational level, wealth index, and ethnicity are also associated with condom use. This calls for the consideration of social determinants of health, localised and cultural health promotion and targeted public health strategies at all governmental levels to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Nigeria. [Abstract copyright: Copyright: © 2022 Bolarinwa et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Understanding the role of estrogen in the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia

Introduction: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a non-malignant enlargement of the prostate that affects ageing men. As the number of men affected by this condition will only continue to grow with the aging population, finding new strategies and new therapeutic options for its treatment is crucial. Androgenic hormones have been known to play an important role in the development of BPH and they have been a target in its medical treatment. Estrogens have also been implicated in BPH but in contrast to androgens, the functions of estrogens in the prostate are still obscure.Objective: This review aims to highlight the roles of estrogen in the development of BPH.Methods: Authors reviewed the literature covering the past forty years to highlight the roles of estrogen in the prostate and BPH. Data from authors’ experimental work in this field was also referenced.Results: The effects of estrogen in the prostate are mediated by estrogen receptors alpha and beta (ERα and ERβ). These two receptors have different expression and functions in the prostate, thereby presenting a window of opportunity to selectively target them for therapeutic purposes in BPH. The actions of estrogens, as mediated by estrogen receptors, appear to contribute to the development of BPH in men through an intricate molecular process that is yet to be fully elucidated. Although surgery remains the gold standard in the treatment of BPH, understanding the elusive role of estrogen in BPH, in addition to the established role of androgens, would enhance the current therapeutic options and perhaps lead to the development of new therapies. There are indications that phytoestrogens might be beneficial in the management of BPH.Conclusion: This review highlights the roles of estrogen as well as the therapeutic use of phytoestrogens in the prevention and management of BPH.Keywords: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH); Estrogen; Estrogen receptors; Phytoestrogen; Androgen

Environment Induced Failure of Mild Steel in 2 M Sulphuric Acid Using Chromolaena odorata

Failure investigation of mild steel sample in 2 M sulphuric acid solution in the presence of Chromolaena odorata extract was conducted using the gasometric method. Mild steel coupons, each measuring 4 cm by 1.5 cm were completely immersed in test solutions of free acid and also those containing extract quantities of 60, 100 and 140 cm3 at a temperature of 333K for 60 minutes. The volumes of hydrogen gas evolved from the experiment were recorded and analyzed. The result showed that maximum inhibitor efficiency which has a relationship with lowest corrosion rate was obtained at the highest inhibitor concentration of 140 cm3, with reduction in the corrosion rate observed to follow in order of increasing extract volume. Temkin isotherm best described the metal surface interaction adsorption mechanism. Once concentration of the acid is known, an expression for estimating corrosion rate values in the presence of the extract was obtained. Also, the photomicrograph study showed a direct relationship between the extract quantity and the extent of corrosion. Sample immersed in the 140 cm3 extract quantity showed no trace of the third phase but rather the presence of a finely distributed pearlite phase indicating that increased inhibitor concentration led to a reduction in the deterioration of the metal

Endocrine Admissions in a Tertiary Hospital In Nigeria: A 5-Year Review of Pattern and Trend

Hospital admission is a reflection of prevailing disease pattern in an environment, impact of services rendered in the outpatient department and preventative healthcare services in the community. The aim of this study was to determine the pattern and trend of endocrine related admissions at Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti. This was a retrospective analysis of health records of patients with endocrine related disorders admitted into the medical wards of the hospital between 2008-2012. The diagnoses, based on WHO ICD-10 were documented. Endocrine related admissions were subdivided into diabetes related, thyroid related and non-diabetes hypoglycaemia. Data of interest were compared with Pearson’s Chi-Square and Student’s t test. There were 3818 admissions out of which 457 (12.0%) were endocrine related. Majority of the endocrine admission were DM related (93.9%), representing 11.8% of the total admissions. There was increase in endocrine-related admissions from 9.1%-18.0% and a 10.6% increase in the DM related admissions from 2008 to 2012, but a decline in absolute number of endocrine admissions notably among females (X2 = 39.88, p<0.001). Poor glucose control (42.8%) was the commonest reason for diabetic admission, followed by hyperglycaemic emergencies (31.1%), diabetic foot disease (15.9%), sepsis (2.6%), stroke (2.3%), nephropathy/renal failure (1.6%), diabetic hand (0.9%), hypoglycaemia (0.9%), heart failure (0.7%). Between 2010-2012, hyperglycaemic crisis emerged as the commonest reason for diabetic admission, but overall, there was significant reduction in the number of hospitalizations for all diabetic complications (X2 = 128.69, df= 36, p=0.000). More resources need to be allocated for the management of diabetes mellitus while efforts to prevent its complications through educational activities and public awareness should be sustained

Simulation Model for a Frequency-Selective Land Mobile Satellite Communication Channel

This paper investigates a three-state simulation model for a frequency-selective land mobile satellite communication (LMSC) channel. Aside from ionospheric effects, the propagation channels for LMSC systems are also characterized by wideband effects due to multipath fading which makes the channels time-variant and exhibit frequency-selective distortion. Hence, an adequate knowledge and modelling of the propagation channel is necessary for the design and performance evaluation of the LMSC systems. A three-state simulation model for a frequency-selective LMSC channel, which is a combination of Rayleigh, Rician and Loo fading processes, is developed. The propagation characteristics of the proposed LMSC channel model are presented, and comparisons are made with the Rayleigh, Rician and Loo fading channels using bit error rate (BER) as the figure of merit. The simulation results show that the degree of fading experienced by the LMSC link depends on the length of time the mobile terminal is in a particular state or location, depending on the assumed probability of occurrence of each fading process; and it is observed from the BER results that the propagation impairment of the LMSC fading channel is relatively lower than that of Rayleigh and Loo fading channels but higher than the Rician fading channel. Keywords: mobile, multipath fading, propagation channel, satellite communication, wideband.

Incentive Regulation, Productivity Growth and Environmental Effects: The Case of Electricity Networks in Great Britain

We analyse the productivity growth of electricity transmission and distribution networks in Great Britain and how changes in incentive mechanism have influenced the measured total factor productivity (TFP). In doing so we are also concerned to examine the effects of quality of service and environmental targets on measured productivity growth. It is increasingly important that productivity measures adjust for the increasing regulatory pressure to reduce the wider societal impacts of the electricity sector and improve quality of service. Failure to do so, may mean that productivity growth may look slower than it actually is. We employ a DEA technique which considers the underlying data without a stochastic element. Our findings show that productivity growth is consistently low for the period we examine, in the region of 1% p.a. over the 29 years from 1990/1991-2018/2019. For both electricity transmission and electricity distribution we try to monetise a wider range of quality and emissions variables in order to show the difference their inclusion makes to measured productivity growth. We show that it can make a difference both positively and negatively, though often this difference is small (e.g. 0.1% p.a.). However, the impact can be much larger (c. 1% p.a.), especially with respect to improvements in quality of service in the distribution network. In the context of generally slow productivity growth, we therefore show the importance of appropriate measurement