World Press Freedom Day and Safety of Journalists: Implication for People’s Freedom of Expression

Every 3rd of May in the year, the world celebrates the freedom of the press. The celebration often serves as a reminder on the need for the protection of the Fundamental Human Rights and Freedom of Expression as embedded in the universal declaration of Human Rights as well as the constitution of countries that are liberal democracies. In the past decade however, the World Press Freedom Day has remained a constant reminder of the escalation of violence and conflicts all over the world. The consequences of which journalists and other media workers have had to bear in their quest/bid to fulfill a sacred mission: the people deserve the right to know. Statistically, more than 1000 media professionals were said to have been killed in the line of duty. Some of these killings were state ogranised, while very few cases were investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice. In Nigeria, in spite of the nation’s democratic experience, a sizeable number of journalists and media professionals had been harassed, intimidated and murdered, in the discharge of their duties especially with the Boko Haram insurgence. This study examines the impact of the World Press Freedom Day to the safety of journalists and other media professionals with the specific focus on Nigeria. It also wishes to draw attention to the vital role of the media in promoting sustainable peace, democracy and development. The paper adopts a historical observation method and hopes to underscore the connection between the safety of journalists and peoples freedom of expression. Keywords: World Press Freedom Day, Journalists, Journalism, Violence and Conflict, Sustainable Peace, Democracy and Development

Detection Of False Data Injection In Smart Water Metering Infrastructure

Smart water metering (SWM) infrastructure collects real-Time water usage data that is useful for automated billing, leak detection, and forecasting of peak periods. Cyber/physical attacks can lead to data falsification on water usage data. This paper proposes a learning approach that converts smart water meter data into a Pythagorean mean-based invariant that is highly stable under normal conditions but deviates under attacks. We show how adversaries can launch deductive or camouflage attacks in the SWM infrastructure to gain benefits and impact the water distribution utility. Then, we apply a two-Tier approach of stateless and stateful detection, reducing false alarms without significantly sacrificing the attack detection rate. We validate our approach using real-world water usage data of 92 households in Alicante, Spain for varying attack scales and strengths and prove that our method limits the impact of undetected attacks and expected time between consecutive false alarms. Our results show that even for low-strength, low-scale deductive attacks, the model limits the impact of an undetected attack to only C0.2199375 and for high-strength, low-scale camouflage attack, the impact of an undetected attack was limited to C1.43437

Tug of war : a critical discourse analysis of Punch and Daily Trust newspapers' coverage of polio eradication in Nigeria

The resurgence of the polio virus in Nigeria following vaccine rejections poses a severe threat to the total worldwide eradication of polio. Vaccine refusals are a huge problem in Nigeria, especially in the North, which accounts for about 60 percent of polio cases in 2013. These refusals were informed by claims that polio vaccines contained anti-fertility properties that were designed by the ‘West’ to reduce the Muslim population. These claims and subsequent vaccine rejections culminated in the killing of health workers during an immunisation exercise in February 2013. This study is an analysis of the coverage of the polio eradication controversy by two newspapers- Punch and Daily Trust, following the killings of the health workers. Daily Trust is situated in Northern Nigeria, while Punch is situated in the South. The choice of these newspapers is based on the argument by Ayodele (1988) and Omenugha (2004) that the Nigerian press has been accused of escalating tension in the country because they view many aspects of the Nigerian reality from the lenses of religious, political and cultural prejudices. Because it is a text-based study, the chosen research method is Fairclough’s (1995) model of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), following a preliminary thematic content analysis. In addition to Fairclough’s model, the study employs textual analytic tools such as narrative analysis and rhetoric/argumentative analysis. The selected texts, which comprise editorials and news stories are analysed based on the themes identified during the thematic content analysis. The study concludes that while the two newspapers differ in their locations and stylistic approach to news, they are similar in their coverage of the polio eradication crisis. They both side with the Federal Government and help perpetuate the South versus North animosity thereby ignoring the intricacies involved in the polio eradication controversy

Survey of traditional knowledge that are compliant to organic standard

The adoption of organic agriculture has been limited in Africa by inadequate organic alternatives in addressing some agricultural problems. This survey therefore sought to identify some of the ecological traditional methods that could conform to organic standards. Farmers with vast experience in both crop and livestock production, from various parts of Nigeria were gathered using a focused group discussion (FGD), in the year 2017. Various traditional knowledge were captured from the FGD and the ones that were organic standard compliant documented. The information captured covered crop protection, livestock health management, preservation methods, bio-security, fruit set induction, etc. However, the efforts of scientist shall be required to validate and or calibrate some of the methods, which could serve as efficient alternatives (to conventional methods) in organic system

Identity Politics in Nigerian Newspapers' Coverage of Boko Haram

PhD (Communications), North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2018Since the inception of the Boko Haram insurgency, the Nigerian media have been pivotal in reporting on the activities of the group as well as attempts by the government to curtail them. Previous studies have focused on the relationship between the group and the Nigerian media. However, this study investigated how identity politics characterized by the North-South polarization of the Nigerian society is reflected in how selected Northern and Southern-based national newspapers report on Boko Haram activities with a view to establishing how these contributed to the framing by the selected newspapers' various reports of the activities of the sect. The study employed the theories of critical political economy, representation and framing. The study was further premised on the circuit of culture within the broad field of cultural studies, as well as Johnson's (1986) hypothesis that existing general theories within the field of cultural studies express different sides of the same complex process. Four newspapers were selected using the purposive sampling technique. The selected newspapers include: Daily Trust, Leadership, ThisDay, and Vanguard newspapers. Daily Trust and Leadership newspapers are based in the North while ThisDay and Vanguard newspapers are based in the South. The study drawing on textual analytic tools, adopted Fairclough's (1995) model of Critical Discourse Analysis and Framing analysis. A total of forty-three lead stories and four editorials were selected for analysis. The lead stories with the variable "Boko Haram" were selected from the four newspapers published on week days. It also employed in-depth interviews. Four editors of these newspapers were selected using the purposive sampling technique. The study is basically qualitative in nature, consequently, data were analysed using explanation building technique. The following dominant frames were identified in the selected newspapers using the inductive approach to framing analysis: war frame, fear and threats frame, blame and responsibility frame, and punishment frame. Also, the North-South divide was not visible as it was in prior conflict situations because the Boko Haram insurgency threatens the existence of the Nigerian society including the media (Both Northern-based and Southern-based). Furthermore, after the April attacks on the media, the frequency of the lead stories in the newspapers dwindled. In addition, the newspapers were careful about their choice of words and were particular about attributing the information presented to sources. Two main themes were identified from the findings of the indepth interviews- Social responsibility and Professionalism. The study concluded that identity politics ( evidenced by the North-South divide of the Nigerian society) was not a factor in how the selected newspapers cover/report on Boko Haram activities. Boko Haram is a national issue not a North versus South issue. As a result, the newspapers were guided by nationalism and their respective perceptions of professionalism.Doctora

Nutrient release dynamics of an accelerated compost: A case study in an Alfisol and Ultisol

Acceleration of composting process could influence fertilizer-efficiency of the accelerated composts. This study therefore evaluated the nutrient release dynamics of different rates of a commercial accelerated compost (OBD-plus ) in two soils described as Alfisol and Ultisol, under laboratory incubation study, in order to generate information for simulation under field conditions. Accelerated compost (AC) at the rates of 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 kg N ha-1, mineral fertilizer (NPK 15-15-15) and conventional compost (CC) at 60 kg N ha-1, were each mixed with 2 mm sieved soil (Alfisol and Ultisol) in cups, and arranged in a completely randomised design with three replications. Soils without amendment served as control. The treated soils were retrieved at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks of incubation (WOI), air dried and analysed for pH, organic C, N, P and K, and data analysed using regression test. The results revealed that the 60 kg N ha-1 AC improved the pH, OC, N. P, K by -2%, 11%, 3%, 141% and 4% respectively, across the WOI, on the average of performance in the two soils, comparable with mineral fertilizer (-5%, 8%, -1%, 76%, 4% respectively) and CC (11%, 40%, 3%, 773%, 10% respectively). The 60 kg N ha-1 AC significantly correlated (p<0.05) with time of incubation only with respect to P (0.934) and gave a similar nutrient release pattern compared with mineral fertilizer and CC, in terms of C, N, P and K in both soils. It therefore showed that the accelerated compost evaluated could mineralize in a way similar to conventional compost and mineral fertilizers, despite its shorter composting duration to maturity

Nutrient release dynamics of an accelerated compost: A case study in an Alfisol and Ultisol

Acceleration of composting process could influence fertilizer-efficiency of the accelerated composts. This study therefore evaluated the nutrient release dynamics of different rates of a commercial accelerated compost (OBD-plus ) in two soils described as Alfisol and Ultisol, under laboratory incubation study, in order to generate information for simulation under field conditions. Accelerated compost (AC) at the rates of 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 kg N ha-1, mineral fertilizer (NPK 15-15-15) and conventional compost (CC) at 60 kg N ha-1, were each mixed with 2 mm sieved soil (Alfisol and Ultisol) in cups, and arranged in a completely randomised design with three replications. Soils without amendment served as control. The treated soils were retrieved at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks of incubation (WOI), air dried and analysed for pH, organic C, N, P and K, and data analysed using regression test. The results revealed that the 60 kg N ha-1 AC improved the pH, OC, N. P, K by -2%, 11%, 3%, 141% and 4% respectively, across the WOI, on the average of performance in the two soils, comparable with mineral fertilizer (-5%, 8%, -1%, 76%, 4% respectively) and CC (11%, 40%, 3%, 773%, 10% respectively). The 60 kg N ha-1 AC significantly correlated (p<0.05) with time of incubation only with respect to P (0.934) and gave a similar nutrient release pattern compared with mineral fertilizer and CC, in terms of C, N, P and K in both soils. It therefore showed that the accelerated compost evaluated could mineralize in a way similar to conventional compost and mineral fertilizers, despite its shorter composting duration to maturity

Effect of Accelerated Compost on Soil Physical and Chemical Properties of an Alfisol

Accelerated compost (AC) is a newly developed commercial compost from market organic wastes and animal manure with composting accelerated within twenty one (21) days using a specific microorganism. However, information on effect of AC on soil properties is scarce. Therefore the field experiment was conducted in Ibadan to assess the effect of an AC on the properties of an Alfisol using maize (Zea mays L.) as a test crop. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The AC treatments rates were 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 kg N/ha; while NPK 15-15-15 mineral fertilizer and conventional compost (CC) at 60 kg N/ha and an absolute control (no soil additive) were used as checks. Data collected on post cropping soil physical and chemical properties were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) with the means separated using Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT). The study revealed that the AC improved the physical (bulk density and volumetric moisture content) and chemical (pH, organic carbon, N and P) properties of the soil with the 60 kg N/ha as the optimum rate

Prediction of the Effects of Missense Mutations on Human Myeloperoxidase Protein Stability Using In Silico Saturation Mutagenesis

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is a heme peroxidase with microbicidal properties. MPO plays a role in the host’s innate immunity by producing reactive oxygen species inside the cell against foreign organisms. However, there is little functional evidence linking missense mutations to human diseases. We utilized in silico saturation mutagenesis to generate and analyze the effects of 10,811 potential missense mutations on MPO stability. Our results showed that ~71% of the potential missense mutations destabilize MPO, and ~8% stabilize the MPO protein. We showed that G402W, G402Y, G361W, G402F, and G655Y would have the highest destabilizing effect on MPO. Meanwhile, D264L, G501M, D264H, D264M, and G501L have the highest stabilization effect on the MPO protein. Our computational tool prediction showed the destabilizing effects in 13 out of 14 MPO missense mutations that cause diseases in humans. We also analyzed putative post-translational modification (PTM) sites on the MPO protein and mapped the PTM sites to disease-associated missense mutations for further analysis. Our analysis showed that R327H associated with frontotemporal dementia and R548W causing generalized pustular psoriasis are near these PTM sites. Our results will aid further research into MPO as a biomarker for human complex diseases and a candidate for drug target discovery