A Theoretical Approach Towards Designing InfoVis for Decision Support Effectiveness

t—Information Visualization (InfoVis) as information systems used in gaining insights of large and multidimensional dataset has gained interest of human computer interaction researchers.The researchers have also craved for more theorybased design models to support designing InfoVis and to enhance its decision support effectiveness.This is a result of the observed insufficiency in the theoretical explanation and model of InfoVis design generally, and its decision support effectiveness, specifically.Extant literature reviewed showed that there is lack of studies that explicitly state the linkage between InfoVis design techniques and respective supporting theories, and how this translate to decision support design of InfoVis.This study therefore employs an unobtrusive research method that involves thematic analysis of InfoVis design and related theoretical literatures, to characterize, categorize and link the InfoVis theories with their respective design techniques.The result is a proposed theoretical design model.The model is therefore used, as a validation process, in the design of StudentViz – an InfoVis to support the multidimensionality of students’ dataset

A Theoretical Approach Towards Designing InfoVis for Decision Support Effectiveness

Information Visualization (InfoVis) as information systems used in gaining insights of large and multidimensional dataset has gained interest of human computer interaction researchers. The researchers have also craved for more theorybased design models to support designing InfoVis and to enhance its decision support effectiveness. This is a result of the observed insufficiency in the theoretical explanation and model of InfoVis design generally, and its decision support effectiveness, specifically. Extant literature reviewed showed that there is lack of studies that explicitly state the linkage between InfoVis design techniques and respective supporting theories, and how this translate to decision support design of InfoVis. This study therefore employs an unobtrusive research method that involves thematic analysis of InfoVis design and related theoretical literatures, to characterize, categorize and link the InfoVis theories with their respective design techniques. The result is a proposed theoretical design model. The model is therefore used, as a validation process, in the design of StudentViz – an InfoVis to support the multidimensionality of students’ dataset

Investigation of Temperature and Flow Distribution in a Serially Connected Thermosyphon Solar Water Heating Collector System in Minna, Niger State,Nigeria

Natural circulation solar water heating systems are designed and fabricated with varying collector geometries, materials, storage tank capacities and specifications of individual components. Despite the availability of theoretical and experimental studies including the test procedures, to estimate the performances of these systems, there are few experimental studies showing the temperature profiles of a particular collector geometries and materials with water temperature and flow rates in the units. This paper presents detailed experimental observations of temperature and flow distribution with solar radiations in a thermosyphon solar water heating system with four flat plate collectors, connected in series and using locally available materials, under a wide range of weather conditions of Minna for a whole year, to determine its suitability in meeting the hot water requirement for bathing in residential apartments. Results showed that the system is capable of meeting 70 – 100% hot water requirements and an average of 65.50C water temperatures is obtained daily with high temperatures reaching 90oC on excessive hot days of March to May annually. Water temperatures in the hot water tank are of the range 45oC to 78oC and a mass flow rate averaging 55kg/hr was achieved for the system. Detailed temperature distributions, solar radiations variations and mass flow rate of the system were determined and presented. The experimental results were compared to the results found in the literatures and they showed good agreement. Keywords: Flow measurement; Mean absorber plate temperature; Mean fluid temperature; Radiation measurement; Solar thermal collector system; Solar water heating system; Temperature measurement; Thermosyphon

Numerical Solutions for Linear Fredholm Integro-Differential Difference Equations with Variable Coefficients by Collocation Methods

We employed an efficient numerical collocation approximation methods to obtain an approximate solution of linear Fredholm integro-differential difference equation with variable coefficients. An assumed approximate solutions for both collocation approximation methods are substituted into the problem considered. After simplifications and collocations, resulted into system of linear algebraic equations which are then solved using MAPLE 18 modules to obtain the unknown constants involved in the assumed solution. The known constants are then substituted back into the assumed approximate solution. Numerical examples were solved to illustrate the reliability, accuracy and efficiency of these methods on problems considered by comparing the numerical solutions obtained with the exact solution and also with some other existing methods. We observed from the results obtained that the methods are reliable, accurate, fast, simple to apply and less computational which makes the valid for the classes of problems considered.   Keywords: Approximate solution, Collocation, Fredholm, Integro-differential difference and linear algebraic equation

Effect of Petroleum Price Increase on Cost of Selected Building Finishing Materials in the Nigerian Construction Industry (2006 - 2012)

It has been noted that a panacea to the problem of housing in Nigeria is the persistent increase in the prices of building materials. This in turn increases cost of construction due to increase in prices of petroleum products which results in variation and fluctuation of market prices of materials for construction projects. Finishings materials are exceptionally affected because they carry significant cost proportion of building projects. In view of this, the paper was aimed at examining the influence of petroleum price increase on the prices of some selected building finishing materials in Niger State from 2006 - 2012 in the light of high construction cost in the Nigerian Construction Industry. The data collected were based on three basic finishing materials, which are floor tiles, gloss/emulsion paints and ceiling boards, with different alternatives for each finishing material. Correlation and Regression Analyses used to analyze the collected data showed some level of high significance between the independent variable (regulated petroleum prices) and the dependent variables (finishing materials) i.e. Coefficient of Determination of values ranging from 61% to 90%. It was concluded that increase in the regulated price of petroleum products accounts for high cost of finishing materials in building projects. One of the recommendations from the study included the need for a better regulating price system to adequately monitor price with regard to building materials. Keywords: building, civilian era, finishing materials, petroleum price

PRODUCTION OF BIODIESEL FROM SOME VEGETABLE OILS

Biodiesel is becoming prominent among the alternatives to conventional petro-diesel due to economic,environmental and social factors. The quality of biodiesel is influenced by the nature of feedstock and theproduction processes employed. High amounts of free fatty acids (FFA) in the feedstock are known to bedetrimental to the quality of biodiesel. In addition, oils with compounds containing hydroxyl groups possesshigh viscosity due to hydrogen bonding. American Standards and Testing Materials, (ASTM D 6751)recommends FFA content of not more than 0.5% in biodiesel and a viscosity of less than 6 mm2/s. Thephysico-chemical properties of palm kernel oil and coconut oil were assessed for their potentials in biodiesel.The properties of palm kernel oil and coconut oil were compared with those of palm from literature whilethat of biodiesel were compared with petro-diesel, ASTM and European Standards (EN14214). Resultsshowed that high amounts of FFA in oils produced low quality biodiesel while neutralized oils with lowamounts of FFA produced high quality biodiesel. The quality of biodiesel from palm kernel oil and coconutoils was improved greatly by neutralising the crude oil

Effect of Leucaena leucocephala, as a protein source in a total mixed ration, on milk yield and composition of Saanen milk goats

This study examined the effects of diets with two protein sources (oilseed cake meal (OSCM) and Leucaena leucocephala hay) on the performance of lactating goats that were fed a total mixed ration (TMR). Thirty Saanen milk goats were divided into two groups, which were fed one of the two TMRS, with or without Leucaena hay at 25% of the DM. The TMRs were formulated to be iso-nitrogenous, iso-energetic and iso-neutral detergent fibre, while using two sources of crude protein, namely i) Leucaena hay; and ii) oilseed cake meal OSCM from soybean, sunflower, and cottonseed. No significant differences were revealed in body condition score, bodyweight change, milk yield and milk composition, such as milk fat (%), milk lactose (%), somatic cell count (x 103 cells/mL) and milk protein (%) during the entire lactation period. In contrast, goats fed the TMR with Leucaena hay had a lower milk urea nitrogen (mg nitrogen/dL) level than those fed the control diet (with OSCM). It was concluded that replacing a proportion of oilseed cake meal with Leucaena in Saanen milk goats fed TMR does not negatively influence milk production and composition.Keywords: fodder tree, oilseed cake, protein concentrate, somatic cell coun

Prevalence of activated protein C resistance (Factor V Leiden) in Lagos, Nigeria

Objectives: Hereditary resistance to activated Protein C (Factor V Leiden) is the commonest genetic defect known to confer a predisposition to thrombosis. This study aims to determine the prevalence of activated protein C resistance (APCr) in Lagos, and to determine if any association exists between APCr and ABO, Rhesus blood types, and hemoglobin phenotypes.Materials and Methods: A functional APCr test was conducted on healthy adult volunteers to get a Factor-V-related activated protein C ratio (APC-V ratio). APCr due to Factor V mutation was indicated when the APC-V ratio is below a cut-off value that was determined by calibration. Subjects’ hemoglobin, red cell ABO, and Rhesus phenotypes were determined by standard methods.Results: Six (2%) of 297 participants with normal baseline coagulation screening tests had functional resistance to activated protein C (APC-V ratio < 2). None of the six subjects with APCr had history of venous thromboembolism. One of the six subjects was a female but the male sex did not demonstrate a risk of inheritance of APCr (P = 0.39). Four (67%) of the six subjects with APCr were non-O blood group. Whereas only two (0.9%) of 226 non-A subjects (blood groups 0 and B) had APCr, 4 (6%) of 71 subjects with A gene (blood groups A and AB) had APCr. The inheritance of A gene appears to constitute a risk to inheritance of APCr (P = 0.03). No association was demonstrable between APCr and hemoglobin phenotypes.Conclusion: Only 2% of the studied population had resistance to APC. The inheritance of blood group A may be a predisposition to APCr

Homocysteine Levels in Nigerian Women with Pre-eclampsis/Eclampsia

Hyperhomocysteinaemia has been linked in various studies worldwide to the occurrence of cardiovascular disorders and endothelial cell injury. In Nigeria with one of the highest maternal/neonatal mortality and morbidity, it is significant to explore means of predicting pregnancy-induced hypertension. This study was carried out at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital which is a major referral center in the South-western part of Nigeria. It was set to determine the mean plasma homocysteine levels and corpuscular haemoglobin in pre-eclamptic/eclamptic Nigerian women. A total of 150 subjects consisting of 100 primigravidae and 25 diagnosed cases of pre-eclampsia/eclampsia and 25 non-pregnant females were enrolled in the study. 60 primigravidae were lost to follow up or had incomplete data. The mean value of homocysteine in the control group, and eclamptic group was 7.5±3.4 μmol/L and 16.1±6.5 μmol/L respectively. There is positive and significant correlation between plasma homocysteine in the eclamptic group and the mean MCV (r=0.97, p=0.01), and between plasma homocysteine, systolic and diastolic blood pressure of the eclamptic group (r=0.944, p=0.0001; r=0.98, p=0.0001). The study further supports earlier findings of increased homocysteine levels in the occurrence of pre-eclampsia/eclampsia. Keywords: Hyperhomocysteinaemia, Pre-eclampsia/eclampsia, Primigravidae, Cardiovascular disorde

Simulating an Integrated Smart Lighting Control of Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna Nigeria, with a View of Optimizing Energy Consumption

The reductions of unnecessary energy used in buildings have continuously been a global concern. The amounts of energy consumed in lighting a stadium main bowl have posed great challenge on as to how this waste could be drastically reduced. Also, there is a dart of information or data in Nigeria as regards aspects of minimizing lighting energy consumption in a stadium using simulation. This study has employed the use of energy meter and light lux portable device to gather field data on lighting energy consumption as well as the illuminances levels around the stadium. The study also uses a state-of-art lighting simulation software known as DialuxEvo software in modelling the stadium main bowl lighting to optimize energy use. The study discovered that an average of about 400 litres of diesel is consumed on each match when the generator is fully loaded with an average of about 4339.2Kw consumed by the 240 numbers of 2000Kw lamps each within 3 ½ hours match play. The existing lamps provides an average illuminance of 1703lux with a uniformity ratio of U1 (Emin/Emav) as 0.56 while U2 (Emin/Emav) as 0.82 using a 100 watts lamp with a SON gear luminaire. The result therefore showed that the existing lighting design for the stadium main bowl was inadequate and inefficient with lots of opportunity for energy savings. Hence, the lighting fittings should be retrofitted. The revamped lighting fittings should be installed at optimum angle in other to properly illuminate the stadium. Therefore, a proper consideration of the provided guide by The Society for Light and Lighting in the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineering should be parameter and adhered to