Contending Issues in Political Parties in Nigeria: The Candidate Selection Process

This article focuses on the issue of candidate selection process within Nigeria's political parties. Hence the article argues that in Nigeria, primary elections are the most common method of selecting party flag-bearers, and more often than not, this process is undermined by party elite who deploy money to influence choices thereby, leading to the outright collapse of the party structures, which are expected to breed internal democracy. This, in turn, hinders the emergence of credible candidates and also gives rise to internal party squabbles, litigation, and the exclusion of certain segment of society, notably, women, youth and the people with disability. Therefore, the authors conducted a series of interviews with party leaders from three political parties and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and prominent members of civil society organisations

Fall Detection System with Accelerometer and Threshold-based Algorithm

Most presently available fall detection systems that are marketed for commercial use predominantly consist of wearable technologies. These technologies often involve a device positioned on the wrist, which may lead to the occurrence of false positive alerts due to the movements of the wrist. This paper proposed a fall detection system that aims to improve both reliability and cost-effectiveness. The system is designed to promptly inform surrounding individuals of their need for assistance in emergency situations. The fall detection system we propose consists of an accelerometer and a gyroscope, which collectively calculate acceleration, orientation, and various other motion characteristics. The resulting system demonstrated a sensitivity of 90%, a specificity of 85%, and an accuracy of 87.5%

Optimization of the Bugs Classification of the Ticketing System in Software Development: a Study Case

Computer bug elimination is an important phase in the software development process. A ticketing system is usually used to classify the identified bug type and to assign a suitable developer. This system is handled manually and error prone. This paper proposes a new bug classification method using the fast string search algorithm. The method searches the error string and compares it to the full text. The approach is deployed to the software development process at PT. Selaras Anugerah Lestari and it results in a significant reduction in the average value of the time required to handle the bugs

Antibacterial activity of some powdered herbal preparations marketed in Kaduna metropolis

The aim of the study was to investigate the phytochemical components and the antibacterial activities of some powdered herbal medicinal preparations sourced from identified herbal shops and retail outlets in different parts of Kaduna metropolis. Extracts obtained from the herbal preparations were screened for the presence of secondary metabolites using established procedures. Also, antibacterial activities of the extracts were evaluated. Carbohydrates and tannins were identified in 105 (70%) and 101 (67.3%) of the samples respectively. Alkaloids were found in 97 (64.7%); saponins were detected in 91 (60.7%), while anthraquinones, flavonoids and cardiac glycosides were identified in 82 (54.7%), 80 (53.3%) and 60 (40%) of the herbal preparations respectively. All the methanolic extracts had inhibitory activities on the test bacterial isolates at various minimum inhibitory concentrations: 81 (54%) had inhibitory effects on Staphylococcus aureus, 74 (49.3%) on Escherichia coli, 74 (49.3%) on Salmonella typhi and 63 (42%) on Shigella spp. The uses of these products in herbal medicine are justified. However, further works are needed to identify the chemical nature of the active substances as well as their modes of actions on the bacterial cells and their roles in disease curing. Keywords: Herbal, medicinal, phytochemical, antibacteria

Contamination of herbal medicinal products marketed in Kaduna Metropolis with selected pathogenic bacteria.

The study aimed to evaluate the bacterial contamination of powdered herbal medicinal preparations sourced from identified herbal retail outlets in different parts of Kaduna metropolis. The assessments of the contamination of the herbal products were carried out using standard procedures: total aerobic bacterial plate count, measurement of some physical parameters, isolation and characterization of selected bacterial pathogens etc. The results showed that out of a total of 150, 70 (46.67%) herbal remedies were contaminated with Salmonella typhi, twenty nine (19.33%) with Shigella spp. Eighty eight (58.67%) and 98 (65.33%) were contaminated with Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. The total aerobic plate count results showed that the highest average count of > 5×107cfu/g was found in 89 (59.33%) of the preparations, while average plate count of ≤5×107cfu/g was found in 42 (28%) and no bacterial count was obtained in 19 (12.67%) of the preparations. Correlation was positive (P = 0.01; r = +0.109) between the physical parameters tested and the bacterial load. Antibacterial activities result of some common antibiotics showed that all the antibiotics had activities on the test bacterial isolates at various minimum inhibitory concentrations. Most traditionally prepared herbal medications in Kaduna state are likely to be contaminated with a wide variety of potentially pathogenic bacteria. The quality assurance of these products should be thoroughly enforced and monitored in the production and distribution of herbal preparations.Key words: Herbal preparations, Kaduna metropolis, bacterial contamination, antibacterial assessment

Application de la méthode des points quadrats au suivi de la dynamique des pâturages soudano-sahéliens du Cameroun

L\'étude de la structure du couvert herbacé de quelques formations pastorales des secteurs phytogéographiques soudano-sahéliens et sahélo-soudaniens du Cameroun a été faite par la méthode des points quadrats alignés dans le but de déterminer le nombre de lignes permanentes statistiquement nécessaires pour le suivi de la dynamique de cette végétation. Les résultats obtenus montrent qu\'au seuil de probabilité de 5 %, une seule ligne permanente est nécessaire pour suivre la dynamique des groupements à Aristida kerstingii , Heteropogon contortus , Andropogon pinguipes, et que deux lignes sont requises pour les groupements à Andropogon gayanus , Loudetia simplex , et Loudetia togoensis. Trois lignes sont nécessaires pour les groupements à Hyparrhenia rufa et Echinochloa pyramidalis. Pour avoir une marge de sécurité et tenir compte de l\'évolution possible des divers groupements, nous proposons d\'effectuer pour le suivi de l\'ensemble des parcours étudiés des observations sur cinq lignes permanentes. Keywords: Cameroun, Formation pastorale, points contacts, dynamique de la végétation. International Journal of Biological and Chemical Sciences Vol. 2 (2) 2008: pp. 224-22

Evaluation des traits de vie d'une espèce endémique du Maroc (Salmo trutta macrostigma, Dumeril, 1858) dans une rivière du Moyen Atlas du Maroc: Oued Sidi Rachid

Cette étude a pour objectif la contribution à la détermination de la qualité physicochimique des eaux de l'Oued Sidi Rachid au Moyen Atlas où vit une espèce endémique du Maroc : la truite de rivière (Salmo trutta macrostigma, Duméril, 1858). L'étude des paramètres essentiels pour la vie de ce salmonidé au cours de la période comprise entre le mois de mai 2007 et le mois d'avril 2008 montre que la température, le potentiel Hydrogène (pH) et les concentrations des nitrites témoignent de la bonne qualité des eaux de l'Oued Sidi Rachid et permettent de classer ce site parmi les sites à vocation salmonicole. Les concentrations des orthophosphates sont très faibles et ne témoignent d'aucune source de pollution organique. Les concentrations des indicateurs de la dureté reflètent la nature géologique (carbonatée) de la région. Les résultats obtenus montrent bien que les eaux de l'Oued Sidi Rachid assurent à la truite de rivière un bon habitat écologique favorable à son développement et à sa reproduction.Mots clés: Qualité physicochimique, Truite de rivière, Oued Sidi Rachid, Maro

Habitat use by armadillos in agroecosystems of central Argentina: does plot identity matter?

In agroecosystems, the use of cultivated plots by mammals depends on habitat structure as well as on the degree of species specialization. In the Pampas of Argentina, during the last 2-3 decades, there has been a continuing expansion of cropland. The aim of this study was to analyze how the identity and characteristics of agricultural plots may have affected the activity of 2 species of armadillos (Chaetophractus villosus and Dasypus hybridus) in a rural landscape. We carried out 4 sampling sessions between December 2011 and June 2013, surveying 175 plots during spring-summer and 194 during fall at 25 different sites in the Pampas of Buenos Aires province, Argentina. In each plot, we surveyed for signs (burrows and holes) along a 600×6 m transect in order to assess armadillo activity and measured 4 habitat structural variables. As expected, there were structural differences between types of agricultural plots. Across all plots, a total of 6,654 armadillo signs were found (C. villosus = 5,009, D. hybridus = 1,645). Generalized linear mixed models revealed that during both seasons, the type of plot explained much of the variation in armadillo activity, except during spring-summer for D. hybridus. C. villosus had higher use of plots with a longer history of non-tillage (e.g., soybean), while there was more evidence of D. hybridus activity in plots with less human intervention (e.g., grasslands), especially during fall. Overall, D. hybridus and C. villosus were more sensitive to the particular structural features of plots rather than to the kind of land use practiced (crop field or rangeland). These results have important implications for future management decisions in the Pampas region because during the last decades, farming of soybeans has expanded at the expense of grasslands, and this change appears to have differentially affected these 2 species of armadillos.Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de VectoresFacultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

The Benefit and Importance of Mobile Satellite Signal in Northern Nigeria: GPS Approach

A Handheld GPS receiver as tool for training college students on mobile satellite signal propagation was designed using Global Positioning System (GPS) approach. These refer to the experimental setup of the equipment that is the connection done between the GPS receiver with a computer. The satellite propagation data received from the GPS satellite can be recorded continuously with an updates rate of 2 seconds. The experiment was carried out in an open space environment at predetermine locations using simple setup, where a cheap, readily and available portable GPS receiver were connected to the computer to acquire propagation data. The computer was equipped with a self-developed package graphical user interface (GUI) monitoring the propagation information from the GPS satellites and saving the data. The developed system can be set up anywhere at any location.  The sate-up will serve as a database for view and analysis of mobile satellite orbiting the sky of Northern part of Nigeria. Cost effective referring to a low-cost and readily available GPS receiver that can be easily set-up as compared to equipment designed specifically for an experimental purpose that is normally very expensive

Measurements and determinants of children's exposure to background gamma radiation in Switzerland.

Epidemiological studies of children's cancer risks associated with background gamma radiation exposure have used geographic exposure models to estimate exposure at their locations of residence. We measured personal exposure to background gamma radiation, and we investigated the extent to which it was associated with children's whereabouts. We collected data on whereabouts and exposure to background gamma radiation over a 5-day period among children aged 4-15 years in Switzerland. We used D-Shuttle dosimeters to measure children's exposure, and we asked parents to write their children's activities in diaries. We used Poisson mixed-effects and linear regression models to investigate the association of hourly and overall doses, respectively, with children's reported whereabouts. During the observed time, 149 participating children spent 66% indoors at home; 19% indoors away from home; and 15% outdoors. The mean personal exposure was 85.7 nSv/h (range 52.3 nSv/h-145 nSv/h). Exposure was 1.077 (95% CI 1.067, 1.087) times higher indoors than outdoors and varied by building material and (predicted) outdoor dose rates. Our study provides detailed information about children's patterns of exposure to background gamma radiation in Switzerland. Dwelling building materials and outdoor dose rates are important determinants of children's exposure. Future epidemiological studies may benefit from including information about building materials