Cultural Representation and Intercultural Interaction: Nigerian Women in Films

Nigeria is a multi-cultural society, but the visual image of women can be said to be the same among these various cultures. In Africa, women are not seen as they are in the Western world. Globalisation has however brought the modern Nigerian woman closer to Western ideologies and exposed her to a new perception of gender and gender role and image. While Nollywood films still battle to find a balance between representing the Nigerian woman in the cultural image and the Westernized Nigerian, people's mentality has yet accepted the full impact of these intercultural interactions. Using some Nollywood films as primary data, I intend to examine the image representation of the traditional and Western Nigerian in Nollywood. This paper intends to find out to what extent intercultural interactions can “transform” the Nigerian woman and still leave her “acceptable” in the light of the cultures and traditions. Is rewarding the cultural minded Nigerian, as highlighted in Nollywood films, a way of advising the women to stick to the traditional values? If so, what is the essence of intercultural interactions, which cannot be prevented, and which the modern Nigerian man loves to see in a modern Nigerian woman? Data would be polled from respondents over the Internet. This paper intends to address these and also proffer a solution to the dilemma, cultural representations and intercultural interaction, as seen in Nollywood films, is creating for the Nigerian woman and among the members of the society in general

Cable Sizing and Its Effect on Thermal and Ampacity Values in Underground Power Distribution

Over the past decade, underground power distribution has become increasingly popular due to its reliability, safety, aesthetic characteristics, as well as the ever increasing focus on the environmental impacts of the various stages of power generation and distribution. With the technological advances in this area, the process of running these cables have become more economical and efficient. This thesis explores the practice of grouping multiple three phase cables in a common conduit, using the duct bank process, and analyzes the thermal and ampacity consequences on the individual lines. This analysis is done in an effort to better define and understand the various limitations of the practice and explore future possibilities in its expansion

The UK offshore wind job creation capacity, O&M costs and content analysis

This paper focuses on exploring the operation and maintenance costs and job creation capacity of the UK offshore wind sector. The UK Government long-term target is to use the offshore wind farm (OWF) renewable energy to meet 15% of its renewable energy target by 2020. OWF operation and maintenance market opportunities have been encouraging firm to make major investment in the sector. This emerging market presents opportunities to turbine manufacturers, wind farm developers and small & medium enterprises (SMEs), thereby leading to significant job creation capacity. About 1,183 offshore wind turbines have been installed in the UK with capacity of 4,042 megawatt (MW) and this sector currently provides skilled jobs to about 6,830 full-time employees. Cost reduction in the operation and maintenance and a strong supply chain are necessary if the UK Government targets for the sector is to be achieved

Transit, walking and cycling infrastructure and sustainable development in Enugu city, Nigeria.

In a predominantly urban world, people's ability to move within cities is a critical driver of sustainability. The transportation system which constitutes a large percentage of the physical urban environment provides mobility and aid economic sector. However, it contributes to several major environmental pressures including pollution, congestion, accidents, waste accumulation, resources depletion and disruption of nature. While urban population growth and increase in economic activities combine to generate higher demand for transportation services and heighten the problem. How to effectively deal with these imposing threats and simultaneously provide optimal mobility for city dwellers is the backbone of this research. Drawing experiences from developed cities, the study used Achara layout in Enugu as a case study. From observation, surveys and published literature data were collected and analysed qualitatively. The primary data include, physical traffic count, existing road character, traffic infrastructure and demographic statistics. Findings show the extensive sterility of Enugu’s urban infrastructure to motorized traffic and lack of provision for walking and cycling. It recommends strategies for planning and managing the urban environment which recognizes and acknowledged the social, environmental and economic realities. The conclusion demonstrates that cities designed for pedestrians and cyclist are cities designed for people and sustainable development

Geoelectrical Subsurface Characterization for Foundation Purposes in the College of Agricultural Sciences (CAS) Campus, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Southeastern Nigeria

The study area is underlain by shales and volcanoclastics with subordinate lenses of sandstones and sandy limestone (Abakaliki Formation) of the Albian Asu River Group, southeastern Nigeria. Geophysical investigation was carried out at the College of Agricultural Sciences (CAS) Campus, Ebonyi State University (EBSU) to determine the structural competence of the subsurface geological strata for building construction and other foundation purposes, using vertical electrical sounding (VES) survey technique of the electrical resistivity method. From the result of the survey, two major zones have been established within the study area for building construction purposes. Zone A comprises of areas around the catholic church building, EBSU primary school up to the school of post graduate studies, while zone B  is made up of areas around the EBSU secondary school, proposed student centre up to the main entrance gate which led to the Ogoja road. Zone A has been recommended for bungalows and other forms of low rising buildings, while zone B has been recommended for storey buildings and other heavy engineering structures. Overburden thickness for the two zones ranges from 1.3 m to 2.7 m, and 0.6 m to 2.7 m for zones A and B respectively. The cracks on walls of the buildings within the campus have been attributed to either the inability of the engineers to dig the foundation to the required depth or the construction of heavier structures on very weak subsurface layers which triggered off movement. Keywords: Geoelectrical, Characterization, Foundation, Ebonyi State University, Nigeria

Ni(II) Complex of a Novel Schiff Base Derived from Benzaldehyde and Sulphathiazole: Synthesis, Characterization and Antibacterial Studies

Communication in Physical Sciences 2020, 5(2): 145-155 Authors: Ifeanyi. E. Otuokere, J.C. Anyanwu and K.K. IgweReceived 09April 2020/Accepted 01May 2020 New Schiff base and its Ni(II) complex, were synthesized using benzaldehyde and sulphathiazole. They were characterized usingelemental analyser, UV-visible spectrophotometer, FTIR, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectroscopy. IR spectral data suggested that the ligand coordinated to nickel ions through two azomethine nitrogen, and one amine nitrogen. Electronic spectral measurement indicated the occurrence of ligand to metal charge transfer. Based on the continuous variation method, metal: ligand ratio of 1:1 was proposed. Elemental analysis and spectroscopic studies suggested that the Schiff base behaved as a tridentate ligand towards nickel ion. Antibacterial sensitivity of the ligand and its Ni (II) complex were assayed in vitro against Staphylococcusaureus, Echerichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhi. It was observed that the Ni(II) complex was more potent than the Schiff base against the bacterial strains used. Therefore, the Schiff base and its Ni(II) complex may inhibit bacterial infections caused by E.coli, P.aeruginosa,S. typhi and S.aureus. The Ni(II) complex showed enhanced antibacterial activity when compared with the pure the Schiff base.&nbsp

Distribution Behaviour of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydroarbons in Roadside Soil at Traffic Intercepts within Onitsha Metropolis, South-East Nigeria

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) pollution in roadside soil was conducted in a developing city environment of South-Eastern Nigeria during raining season to ascertain the contamination levels and their distribution behavior in soil. The concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons was determined at nine locations of Onitsha city, 3m distances from roadside in soil covering all the major traffic intercepts within the city. The samples were extracted in acetone and dichloromethane (1:1) using soxhlet extraction. The total concentrations of 16 PAHs ranged from 14,260 to 14,289 µg/kg, with a mean of 14,276 µg/kg which were than the limit <10000 µg/kg set for PAHs in the soil and the seven possible carcinogenic PAHs accounted for 17.2 % of 16PAHs detected. Chrysene was the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons found in highest concentration at all the intercepts ranging between 4050 to 4053 µg/kg with the mean of 4052 µg/kg. Among different functional areas, the higher level of PAHs was found in Obosi junction (right) followed by Main market road junction (right). The composition of PAHs was characterized by the high molecular weight PAHs, among which fluoranthene, Indeno(1,2,3,-cd)Pyrene, Acenaphthene chrysene were most dominant components. A principal component analysis and PAHs isomeric ratios indicate that PAHs in Onitsha road soil mainly originated from combustion. The toxic assessment suggested that soil PAHs exposure is medium carcinogenic at present level. Keywords: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, Gas chromatography, season, traffic density, pollutants, principal component analysis, samples, concentration, carcinogenic

A systematic literature review of the effect of anthocyanins on gut microbiota populations

Background: Evidence has shown that anthocyanins, a subclass of polyphenol, are metabolised in the gut, modulate bacterial species and exert bioactive effects through this interaction. Methods: A systematic literature review was undertaken to determine the level of current evidence for the association between anthocyanin intake and changes in gut microbiota populations. The studies included were also assessed for the different techniques used in microbiota determination. Following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, scientific databases, including Scopus, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science and MEDLINE, were searched up to June 2017. Details on population/sample, study design, intervention/control, dosage and method of microbiota determination were extracted. Results: Six studies (three in vitro, two animal and one human trials) were included in the review, which showed that anthocyanins induced a significant proliferative effect on Bifidobacterium spp., known for their wide use in probiotics and for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. There was also an observed inhibition of Clostridium histolyticum, which was shown to be pathogenic in humans. The depth of analysis is an important consideration for the choice of microbiota determination technique with respect to a comprehensive, high-resolution microbiota analysis or analysis of the main microbiota taxa. Conclusions: Very limited research has been carried out in the area of anthocyanins and gut microbiota; beneficial effects have generally been observed, and further clinical trials in humans are needed to confirm changes to gut microbes in relation to dietary anthocyanin intake and potential health benefits. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetic