Joint Source-channel Coding Using Machine Learning Techniques

Most modern communication systems rely on separate source encoding and channel encoding schemes to transmit data. Despite the long-lasting success of separate schemes, joint source channel coding schemes have been proven to outperform separate schemes in applications such as video communications. The task of this research is to develop a joint source-channel coding scheme that mitigates some of the limitations of current separate coding schemes. My research will attempt to leverage recent advances in machine/deep learning techniques to develop resilient schemes that do not depend on explicit codes for compression and error correction but automatically learn end-to-end mapping schemes for source signals. The success of the developed scheme will depend on its ability to correctly approximate an input vector under inconsistent channel conditions

Clinical Nursing Research: A Tool for Professional Development

This paper aimed at highlighting the importance of Clinical Nursing Research (CNR) in the professional development of Nursing. CNR often involve patient-oriented research, epidemiologic and behavioural studies, outcomes and health services research. These are all essential in today’s political and societal health care environment with growing shifts and disconnects in patients’ care, and the need for availability of human, material and financial resources required in meeting the health care needs. These and many more require the best available evidence, which could be acquired through CNR. However to achieve the benefits of CNR for professional development, Challenges including low quality research by new and inexperienced researchers; non-availability of research findings to nurses in the practice sectors; inability to identify and work on priority areas needed to improve practice; poor collaboration among researchers and inability to integrate research into practice should be addressed. The key to building and sustaining successful programmes in CNR and evidence-based practice could involve the ground work of establishing forums and structures such as research units in health institutions where discussions and activities about the processes for research and evidence-based practice could be promoted

External Funding Possibilities for SMEs in Nigeria

Small and Medium Enterprises play a pivotal role in the economic growth of any nation, thereby increasing productivity, GDP, and employment opportunities. One major challenge to the growth and development of this sector of the economy is poor funding. It is on this premise that this re-search is based upon, finding the external funding possibilities for SMEs in Nigeria. This study briefly talks about the importance of the SME sector to the Nigerian economy and also extensively explains the major external funding possibilities available to SMEs in Nigeria. Funding initiative by governments (Federal and States) as well as those of Non-Governmental Organizations, and International Development Agencies were also adequately considered. The qualitative method was used in this research, thereby data was collected from both primary and secondary data. The primary data was obtained by interviewing two key officers of a SME business in Nigeria. Two senior officers at two lending institutions were also interviewed. Most of the secondary data used in this research were obtained by consulting articles, journals and other publications. During the course of this research study, the researcher found that there are numerous sources of external funding possibilities with relatively cheap, available and accessible medium to long term funds for SMEs in Nigeria but are not aware of them because their existence and services were not adequately given enough publicity by the media. The findings identified new initiatives springing up to support the sector. In the light of the above, the SMEs need to get acquainted with the knowledge of external funding initiatives available to them. It should also be noted that the entrepreneur’s attitude towards external funding should be taken into consideration

Overview of the Global Prevalence and Diagnostic Criteria of Takotsubo Syndrome

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is an acute and reversible abnormal condition of the heart also known as stress cardiomyopathy, apical ballooning syndrome, or broken heart syndrome. It is an uncommon disease that mostly occurs among Asians though studies have shown its occurrence in other parts of the world. The typical takotsubo syndrome patient has a unique circumferential left ventricular contraction abnormality that extends beyond a coronary artery supply territory and appears to follow the anatomical cardiac sympathetic innervation

Improving utilization of conceptual and theoretical framework in nursing research

The Nursing and Midwifery Councils of many nations including Nigeria and nursing departments of various Universities and institutions have made it mandatory that conceptual and theoretical framework are used to guide Nursing research presented as part of the requirements for the award of certificates and degrees. However, it is often observed that many researchers are not skilled in the use of conceptual and theoretical framework and many do not also utilize conceptual or theoretical framework to guide studies conducted after graduation from their various educational institutions. Others do so for some parts of the research and do not also explain how the framework can be used to guide implementation of the study findings. Additionally, many publishers of research reports do not also demand for inclusion of framework in papers accepted for publication. This paper is aimed at highlighting the importance of using a conceptual framework to guide a study, the criteria that should guide the appraisal and selection of a framework; challenges that can hinder utilization of framework to guide research work and measures of improving utilization of conceptual framework in nursing research.KEYWORDS: Conceptual, Framework, Nursing, Research, Theoretical

A Comparative Analysis of Nursing Education and Other Forms of Education in Nigeria: Implications for Global Standards to Promote International Collaboration and Advanced Entry Level Competency of Nurses

The purpose of this paper was to highlight points that are necessary to bridge the gaps, where they exist, in relation to the structures, process and outcome of nursing education when compared with those of other professions. As a profession, nursing is broad in scope, and nurse practitioners are expected to possess a body of knowledge and skills for dependent, independent and inter-dependent practice. In many professions, preparation usually takes place in Colleges or University settings and educational preparation is usually prolonged to include instructions in the specialized body of knowledge and techniques of the profession. However, nursing education globally is highly variable, taking place in a myriad of programmes at the hospitals, technical institutes and institutions of higher learning with no uniformity. Furthermore, regarding educational outcome, many nurses in recent years are unable to meet the entry level competencies for registered nurses/midwives prior to employment into full practice. In other Medical Professions, including Medical Doctors, Medical Laboratory Scientists and Radiologists, a period of internship is provided for mastering of skills to enhance efficient and effective practice. This should also assist newly qualified nurses to improve on their entry level competencies to promote efficiency in their practical performance. It is therefore recommended that the regulating bodies should set standards of nursing education that are globally uniform and enforce compliance with such standards including admission criteria, contents/components; teachers’ qualification/certification and teaching facilities including materials and equipments. Furthermore, the recent plans to integrate Internship Programme into the training plan of graduate nurses is a step in the right direction and should be implemented without further delay to take nursing education and practice to greater heights

The Role of Mother Tongue in Early Childhood Education

The importance of education to humanity can never be over emphasized; it is against this backdrop that emphasis is being laid on the education of   a child who is the future leader. Government at all levels and organizations all over the world have reiterated their commitment in education, especially that  of children and youths ,but in doing so effectively ,attention must also be given to the medium of instruction, determining what language will be used to teach the students  is one of the important factors to be considered in childhood education. Many researchers, educationists and other stakeholders have spent enormous time, energy and resources enumerating and emphasizing the importance of education to the child with little emphasis on the medium of instruction. This paper seeks to raise the level of consciousness with regards to the important  role mother tongue plays in early education of a child. Keywords: the notion of language, medium of instruction, mother tongue, the role mother tongue in childhood education

Sales Promotion in Hotels:A British Perspective

In their article - Sales Promotion In Hotels: A British Perspective - by Francis Buttle, Lecturer, Department of Hotel, Restaurant, and Travel Administration, University of Massachusetts and Ini Akpabio, Property Manager, Trusthouse Forte, Britain, Buttle and Akpabio initially state: “Sales promotion in hotels is in its infancy. Other industries, particularly consumer goods manufacturing, have long recognized the contribution that sales promotion can make to the cost-effective achievement of marketing objectives. Sales promotion activities in hotels have remained largely uncharted. The authors define, identify and classify these hotel sales promotion activities to understand their function and form, and to highlight any scope for improvement.” The authors begin their discussion by attempting to define what the phrase sales promotion [SP] actually means. “The Institute of Sales Promotion regards sales promotions as “adding value, usually of a temporary nature, to a product or service in order to persuade the end user to purchase that particular brand as opposed to a competitive brand,” the authors offer. Williams, however, describes sales promotions more broadly as “short term tactical marketing tools which are used to achieve specific marketing objectives during a defined time period,” Buttle and Akpabio present with attribution. “The most significant difference between these two viewpoints is that Williams does not limit his definition to activities which are targeted at the consumer,” is their educated view. A lot of the discussion is centered on the differences in the collective marketing-promotional mix. “…it is not always easy to definitively categorize promotional activity,” Buttle and Akpabio say. “For example, in personal selling, a sales promotion such as a special bonus offer may be used to close the sale; an advertisement may be sales promotional in character in that it offers discounts.” Are promotion and marketing distinguishable as two separate entities? “…not only may there be conceptual confusion between components of the promotional mix, but there is sometimes a blurring of the boundaries between the elements of the marketing mix,” the authors suggest. “There are several reasons why SP is particularly suitable for use in hotels: seasonality, increasing competitiveness, asset characteristics, cost characteristics, increased use of channel intermediaries, new product launches, and deal proneness.” Buttle and Akpabio offer their insight on each of these segments. The authors also want you to know that SP customer applications are not the only game in town, SP trade applications are just as essential. Bonuses, enhanced commission rates, and vouchers are but a few examples of trade SP. The research for the article was compiled from several sources including, mail surveys, telephone surveys, personal interviews, trade magazines and newspapers; essentially in the U.K

The Effect of Frustration on an Employee’s Earned Salary: National Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission v. Johnson in Perspective

This paper adopts analytical methodology in interrogating the effect of frustration of contract on an employee’s earned salary under Nigeria’s labour jurisprudence analysing the Supreme Court of Nigeria (SCN) decision in National Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission & Ors. v. Ajibola Johnson & Ors. The paper examines the rationale, effect and extent of applicability of frustration of contract on a vested right under an employment contract. It also discusses the nature of the employer’s duty to provide work as well as the legal effect of failure to do so especially when an employee reports to work and is willing to and able to work. The paper examines the impact of this decision on employment relationship in Nigeria especially the manner in which courts should reconcile split interests. The paper observed that the SCN in the judgment, has laid down a rule to guide courts in balancing accrued rights of individuals and directives of government to engender a mutually beneficial outcome. Keywords: Employee, Contract of employment, Frustration of contract, Right to work, Remuneration DOI: 10.7176/JLPG/133-08 Publication date:June 30th 202

ETHICAL ISSUE AND NURSING STRATEGIES FOR ACHIEVING PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS IN NURSING EDUCATION

Background: This paper aimed at presenting in-depth information on strategies of implementing ethical decision making in nursing practice and education in the contemporary society. The complex issues in nursing education and practice have ethical implications for the attainment of professional standard. The ability of nurses to engage in ethical practice in everyday work and to deal with ethical situations, problems and concerns could be the result of decisions made at a variety of levels. Sometimes, nurses find themselves trapped in an ethical dilemma and caught between conflicting duties and responsibilities. Ethical-dilemmas require ethical-reasoning and decision -making, which is a skill that could be learned. However, many nurses are ill prepared both in knowledge and in skill to live up to expectations in such circumstances. Conclusion: To achieve professional standard, nurses should ensure acquisition of adequate and relevant knowledge in ethics and ethical decision-making models and promote dialogue on ethical issues in health and educational institutions. Furthermore, advocacy is needed for the elimination of quackery in nursing practice to promote safe, competent and ethical care and practicing nurses should increasingly acquire new knowledge and skills in their areas of practice. Additionally, clients care should continually receive impetus from relevant research findings