Comparative Analysis of Scheduling Algorithms Performance in a Long Term Evolution Network

The advancement in cellular communications has enhanced the special attention given to the study of resource allocation schemes. This study is to enhance communications to attain efficiency and thereby offers fairness to all users in the face of congestion experienced anytime a new product is rolled out. The comparative analysis was done on the performance of Enhanced Proportional Fair, Qos-Aware Proportional Fair and Logarithmic rule scheduling algorithms in Long Term Evolution in this work. These algorithms were simulated using LTE system toolbox in MATLAB and their performances were compared using Throughput, Packet delay and Packet Loss Ratio. The results showed Qos-Aware Proportional Fair has a better performance in all the metrics used for the evaluation

DOWNSTREAM OIL DEREGULATION AND NIGERIAN ECONOMY

The Nigerian oil and gas industry has been experiencing a showdown since the announcement of the downstream oil deregulation policy. This paper, therefore, seeks to analyse the relationship between deregulation of the downstream sector and Nigerian economic performance using annual data from 1980 to 2009. The Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression method was employed to analyze the data. Chow Test was used to determine parameter stability of the regression model, while Granger Causality Test was used to predict the direction of influence. The findings reveal that increase in price of petroleum products and inflation rate were not as a result of deregulation, and deregulating price of petroleum products significantly influence economic growth with marginal inflation. The paper recommends that government should encourage private sector participation in the oil and gas industry

Gender-based violence during COVID-19 lockdown: case study of a community in Lagos, Nigeria

Background: Gender-based violence (GBV) has been identified to be one of the ripple effects of the global pandemic. In countries like Nigeria, the situation is hypothesized to be worse because of widespread poverty and gender inequalities.  Objective: To examine the exposure of females to GBV during the first 3 months of the COVID-19 lockdown. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a low-income community in Lagos. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered to 130 respondents selected via systematic random sampling. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 26.89 ± 8.67 years. Majority worked informal jobs, while only 50% had attained beyond primary education. Within the period, the respondents had been subjected to sexual (54.6%), physical (52.3%), verbal assault (41.5%), and online sexual harassment (45.4%); of which only 30% reported to the police. Furthermore, respondents subjected to sexual (p=0.004) and physical assault (p=0.032) during the period earned significantly less money than other respondents. Conclusion: The fact that over 1 out of every 2 females was subjected to at least one form of GBV within the short timeframe shows how unsafe girls and women in low-income communities are. This calls for proactive community-level interventions to curb the GBV menace. Keywords: Gender-based violence; COVID-19; women; girls; assault

Record Keeping Management for Effective Administration of Secondary Schools in Nigeria

The aim of the study was to find out the extent to which management practices in record keeping will affect the effectiveness of secondary schools administration in Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was used and a sample of 255 staff members randomly selected from all 15 schools of the Baptist Mission Schools of the Nigerian Baptist Convention was used for the study. Two hypotheses guided the study. Data were collected using a questionnaire entitled “School Record Keeping Management Practices Questionnaire (SRKMPQ)”. Data were analysed using multiple regressions and t-test statistics. The result of the study revealed management practices in record management had a significant relationship in the effectiveness of secondary schools administration. The management practices variables made significant contribution in the determining effective secondary school administration in Nigeria through record keeping.  Premised on the findings of the study, it was recommended that each school administrator should set out guidance that will encourage appropriate standards for record keeping. Other suggestion included sufficient training and retraining on the importance of the records keeping, the technicalities of managing them and finally adoption of information and commutation technology for school record keeping management. Keywords: Record Keeping, Management, Managerial Practices, Administration, Secondary Schools DOI: 10.7176/JEP/12-1-10 Publication date: January 31st 202

Optimization of Friction Stir Welding Parameters of AA5052-H32 Aluminium Alloy using Taguchi and Taguchi-Pareto Methods

It is difficult to improve the quality of friction stir welded joints of AA5052-H32 material because of scarce metrics on its concurrent optimization and prioritization. However, the objective of this article is to obtain optimal parametric values and identify important parameters using the Taguchi-Pareto method during the friction stir welding process of AA5052-H32 material. Then the ranks, delta values and optimal parameters are determined. The critical parameters identified for the friction stir welding process are the tool pin, rotational speed, welding speed and tool angle. When comparing the results of these parameters using the Taguchi method and Taguchi-Pareto method, the rotational speed retained its first position in both methods; the tool tilt angle gained the second position in the Taguchi-Pareto method from its third position when only the Taguchi method was considered. The welding speed became the third position in the Taguchi-Pareto method against the second position that it had in the Taguchi method. However, the tool pin profile retained its last position in both methods. Consequently, the rotational speed is the best parameter while the tool pin profile is the worst parameter. For the Taguchi-Pareto method, the optimal parametric setting is TPP2/TPP4RS1WS4TTA3. This is interpreted as cylindrical tapered or square tapered for the tool profile, 40 rpm of rotational speed, 75 mm/min of welding speed and 1.5° of tool tilt angle. The novelty of this study is the scope of analysis of the AA5052-H32 material that extends beyond the Taguchi method to the Taguchi-Pareto method where the concurrent optimization and prioritization of friction welding parameters are achieved

Diclofenac predisposes benign prostate hyperplasia in fat feed albino rats

Background: An attempt to establish the possible cause(s) of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) in fat feed albino rats treated with diclofenac (DCF)-potassium (K) was performed to ascertain its likely translational relationship in humans.Methods: Thirty-five male wistar albino rats of 24 weeks old were divided into five groups of 7 animals each were used. Group 1; the normal control (NC) was injected subcutaneously with the vehicle (olive oil) only and served normal diet. Group 2; standard group treated with testosterone propionate in olive oil (3 mg/kg b. wt.). Groups 3, 4, and 5 were fed with the standard feed mixed with animal fat (sourced from roasted meat/condiments in aluminium foils) in 20, 40 and 80% portions, then treated with DCF-K in solution as low (2 mg/kg b. wt.), mid (4 mg/kg b. wt.), and high (6 mg/kg b. wt.) doses, respectively. The blood samples collected were analysed for prostate specific antigen (PSA), hematological parameters, kidney and liver function.Results: Group 3 showed the highest PSA elevation (p<0.05) when compared to the control and the untreated group. There was a significant elevation (p<0.05) in WBC levels compared to all other groups. PCV, MCV, NEUT, MONO and EOSIN levels increased significantly (p<0.05) across all groups. Significant (p<0.05) increase was observed in liver and kidney parameters compared to the untreated groups. Significant (p<0.05) elevation in total cholesterol and LDL-C levels across the groups was observed. The DCF-K treated groups showed increase in several parameters compared to the untreated groups.Conclusions: It was obvious that fatty diet and use of DCF-K contributed to the observed hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, hence predisposed tissue damage and inflammation which conjunctly elevated PSA

Posttraumatic stress disorder among internally displaced victims of Boko Haram terrorism in north-eastern Nigeria

Background: A large number of youth are often directly involved in armed-conflict, and therefore are at greater risk of developing a wide range of mental disorders including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However little is known about the prevalence of PTSD among youth who constitute a large work force.Objective: This study was carried out to assess the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder among Internally Displaced youth exposed to Boko Haram terrorism in North-Eastern Nigeria. It also assessed the socio-demographic factors associated with PTSD in this population.Method: A cross-sectional study that employed a consecutive sampling technique to select eligible subjects undergoing a Citizenship and leadership training at Citizenship and Leadership training institute Jos, Plateau State. The posttraumatic stress disorder module of Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview was used to assess for current symptoms of PTSD.Results: The results show that more than two-third of the respondents were unemployed youth with secondary level of education and had low or no stable income. More than 63% of the respondents were diagnosed with PTSD. Educational status (p=0.002), marital status (p=0.001) and income before displacement (p=0.010) were the significant factors associated with PTSD.Conclusions: The results point to the importance of screening and treatment for traumatic armed conflict victims, with particular attention to youth who had low education and low income levels as well as being never married or widowed.Keywords: PTSD, sociodemographic factors, Bokoharam terrorism, North Eastern Nigeri

Molecular Characterization of the Circulating Strains of Vibrio cholerae during 2010 Cholera Outbreak in Nigeria

This study aimed at characterizing the phenotypic and toxigenic status of circulating strains of cholera during outbreaks in Nigeria, employing molecular typing techniques. Two hundred and one samples of rectal swabs, stool, vomitus, water (from the well, borehole, sachet, stream, and tap) and disinfectants (sodium hypochlorite) were collected from three states in the country. The samples were inoculated on thiosulphate-citrate bile salt-sucrose (TCBS), Cary-Blair transport medium and smeared on glass slides for direct examination. The Vibrio cholerae isolates were serotyped, biotyped, and characterized using PCR of the cytotoxin gene A (ctxA), wbeO1, and wbfO139 gene primer. Of the 201 samples screened, 96 were positive for V. cholerae O1 (48%), with 69 (72%) positive for ctxA gene. The results from this study showed that the circulating strains of cholera in Nigeria were of Ogawa serotype, also observed in other outbreaks in Nigeria (1991, 1992, and 1996). However, the strains were of the Classical biotype and were mainly (72%) ctxA gene-positive. This current investigation has confirmed the production of cholera toxin by the circulating strains, and this could be harnessed for possible cholera vaccine production in Nigeria

Application and Acceptability of Microbiomes in the Production Process of Nigerian Indigenous Foods: Drive towards Responsible Production and Consumption

In Nigeria, the use of microorganisms for food product modulation, development, and commercialization through biotechnological innovations remains unexplored and unaccepted. The microbiome-based sustainable innovation in the production process of Nigerian indigenous food requires a vigorous drive toward responsible consumption and pro�duction. The production process of locally fermented beverages and foods culturally varies in terms of fermentation tech�niques and is characterized by the distinctiveness of the microbiomes used for food and beverage production. This review was conducted to present the use of microbiome, its benefits, and utility as well as the perspectives toward and media�tory roles of biotechnology on the processing of locally fermented foods and their production in Nigeria. With the current concerns on global food insecurity, the utilization of modern molecular and genetic sciences to improve various rural food processing technologies to acceptable foreign exchange and socioeconomic scales has been gaining attention. Thus, further research on the various types of processing techniques for locally fermented foods using microbiomes in Nigeria is needed, with a focus on yield optimization using advanced techniques. This study demonstrates the adaptability of processed foods locally produced in Nigeria for the beneficial control of microbial dynamics, optimal nutrition, therapeutic, and organoleptic characteristics