Propensity of adoption of Information and Communication Technology (ICTs) in agriculture among female farmers in Abia State, Nigeria

The research was conducted with the aim of identifying significant predictors of the propensity to adopt ICTs by Nigerian Women in Agriculture. Abia state was used as case study. A total of 300 respondents were sampled from the three agricultural zones in Abia state. The instrument for data collection was a 20 item structured questionnaire. A total of 200 questionnaires were finally used for analysis. SPSS 21 was the software employed in conducting the analysis and the data were analysed by running a linear regression. The dependent variable was the propensity to adopt ICTs while the independent variables were Age, Level of education, Occupation, years of experience, income, and desire to use ICTs; frequency of use, ease of use, efficiency and effectiveness of ICTs. The study identified Age, level of education ad income of respondents as significant socio-economic predictors of the propensity to adopt ICTs by Nigerian WIA. Frequency of use, ease of use, efficiency and effectiveness of ICTs were equally identified as significant predictors of the propensity to adopt ICTs by Nigerian women in Agriculture.Keywords: Propensity, Adoption, Women, Agriculture and ICT

Radiation Shielding Analysis and Optimisation for the MinPET Kimberlite Sorting Facility using the Monte Carlo Calculation Code, MCNPX

Abstract: Radiation shielding calculations, analysis and optimization process carried out in order to design shielding for a Mineral-Positron Emission Tomography (MinPET) facility are presented. PET is a nuclear imaging technique commonly used in diagnostic medicine. The technique is based on the detection of 511 keV coincident and co-linear photons produced from the annihilation of a positron (produced by a positron emitter) and a nearby electron. This technique is currently being developed for mineral detection and quantification, particularly diamonds in kimberlite rocks through the MinPET facility. The facility is aimed at improving diamond mining through the early detection of the diamond bearing rocks. High energy photons are produced via bremsstrahlung when a high energy, 40 MeV 5mA, electron beam impinges on a high density target - tungsten..

Constraints on South American Crustal Evolution and Composition from Crustal Poisson\u27s Ratio and Thickness Measurements

Using a receiver function stacking procedure and data from 37 broad-band seismic stations installed along a 3000-km EW profile across central South America, we have determined crustal Poisson\u27s ratio (σ) and thickness across the entire continent along 20-degree South. Similar to previous studies using various techniques/datasets, we have found a thick crust beneath the central Andes. In addition, we have found that the crustal Poisson\u27s ratio in this area is higher-than-normal (0.27), suggesting a mafic average crustal composition. In contrast, the two sites located on the immediate east of the surface expression of the Andes are found to have low σ (about 0.23) and normal crustal thickness (36 km), suggesting a felsic composition. Under the assumption that the pre-shortening crust beneath the present-day Andes was similar to that beneath those two sites, the dramatic contrast in σ suggests underplating of mantle-derived mafic materials. Such an underplating could be achieved by thermal thinning of a weak basal lithospheric layer. Obviously, simple tectonic shortening of the felsic crust would not be able to form the inferred mafic Andean crust. This conclusion is consistent with geothermal and geochemical observations, which suggested the existence of mantle-derived rocks in the crust. Crust beneath the Parana basin and the Sao Francisco craton are found to have a normal thickness (38-44 km) with a medium-to-high σ (0.26). Possible correspondence between the observed spatial variation of crustal thickness andσ with the occurrence of the extensive flood basalt and other major tectonic events will be presented