1,393 research outputs found
French Studies In Nigerian Private Universities: A Case Study Of Covenant University
In Nigeria there is this restricted view that âFrenchâ as a discipline has to do with just the study of
French language as a means of communication. Consequently, there is usually low subscription with
regard to the study of French in Nigerian Private Universities, where the school fee is relatively high. In
the Federal and State Universities where the fee is low and subscription higher, most of the candidates
that take up French as a programme of study, do so out of desperation. They resort to French just to be
in the university. The choice of this topic is therefore largely out of a desire to contextualize âFrench
studiesâ as a discipline, highlight its status and challenges at Covenant University, sensitize the Nigerian
public on the necessity of French studies in Nigeria by highlighting its relevance to the nation for a
global impact. Furthermore, as Covenant University is poised to raise a new generation of leaders and
with its present continuous drive for Innovation, Impact and Internationalization, this paper intends to
disabuse the minds of Nigerians of the notion that French is merely the study of the language as a means
of communication. We conclude by proffering solutions to the challenges, proposing the way forward and
showing the benefits that accrue to students that study French as a discipline
Dance of Attrition and Resistance: Semiotics of Gender Stratification in Three Suitors, One Husband, and Until Further Notice
This study is an assessment of African social structures through the
lens of structuralist ideology by examining the opposing binaries of
gender conflict which are eyjdcnt in the literature of colonised societies
because the intersection of gender and power structm·e in societies is
· often reflected in fictional literature of the region. The mythic
establishment of patriarchal systems dominated the writings that
predated the evolution of feminism and portrayed female subjugation
as the status quo; a position wruch in retrospect reveals the rift
underlying the conb:oversy of gender relations in contemporary African
societies; especially in trado-western marriage systems. This article
draws attention to the iilltializmg symbols of dominance which are
celebrated during marriage c~remonics and how these act as
endorsement for the gender subjugation of the woman wjthin the
marriage itself. The tripartite semiotic system of the sign; the index;
and the symbol of Peircian philosophy are employed for the purpose of
analysis in this regard. The work focuses on the importance of gestural
signifiers of inequality and reveals the potential danger of female
attrition that lies in downplaying the unspoken and intrinsic power
which subjugation practices in marriage ceremonies symbolize. The
choice of the play is informed by the playwright's unique fusion of
satiric irony and gestural d)rnmnics to portray gender stratification The work should bridge the gap in the
dearth of literature that aims to
deconstruct gender characterization m
African dramaturgy
Factors affecting thrips resistance in cabbage
In two field experiments in the Netherlands the development of thrips populations and thrips damage in ten cabbage varieties was monitored. Also a number of morphological, physiological en biochemical plant traits were measured. The most important factors leading to a low level of thrips dam-age were a late development of a compact head, a low dry matter content and a high amount of leaf wax
Discovering a junction tree behind a Markov network by a greedy algorithm
In an earlier paper we introduced a special kind of k-width junction tree,
called k-th order t-cherry junction tree in order to approximate a joint
probability distribution. The approximation is the best if the Kullback-Leibler
divergence between the true joint probability distribution and the
approximating one is minimal. Finding the best approximating k-width junction
tree is NP-complete if k>2. In our earlier paper we also proved that the best
approximating k-width junction tree can be embedded into a k-th order t-cherry
junction tree. We introduce a greedy algorithm resulting very good
approximations in reasonable computing time.
In this paper we prove that if the Markov network underlying fullfills some
requirements then our greedy algorithm is able to find the true probability
distribution or its best approximation in the family of the k-th order t-cherry
tree probability distributions. Our algorithm uses just the k-th order marginal
probability distributions as input.
We compare the results of the greedy algorithm proposed in this paper with
the greedy algorithm proposed by Malvestuto in 1991.Comment: The paper was presented at VOCAL 2010 in Veszprem, Hungar
Mean-field analysis of a dynamical phase transition in a cellular automaton model for collective motion
A cellular automaton model is presented for random walkers with biologically
motivated interactions favoring local alignment and leading to collective
motion or swarming behavior. The degree of alignment is controlled by a
sensitivity parameter, and a dynamical phase transition exhibiting spontaneous
breaking of rotational symmetry occurs at a critical parameter value. The model
is analyzed using nonequilibrium mean field theory: Dispersion relations for
the critical modes are derived, and a phase diagram is constructed. Mean field
predictions for the two critical exponents describing the phase transition as a
function of sensitivity and density are obtained analytically.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, final version as publishe
Developing an Algorithm for Securing the Biometric Data Template in the Database
This research article published by the International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications, Vol. 10, No. 10, 2019In the current technology advancement, biometric
template provides a dependable solution to the problem of user
verification in an identity control system. The template is saved
in the database during the enrollment and compared with query
information in the verification stage. Serious security and
privacy concerns can arise, if raw, unprotected data template is
saved in the database. An attacker can hack the template
information in the database to gain illicit access. A novel
approach of encryption-decryption algorithm utilizing a design
pattern of Model View Template (MVT) is developed to secure
the biometric data template. The model manages information
logically, the view shows the visualization of the data, and the
template addresses the data migration into pattern object. The
established algorithm is based on the cryptographic module of
the Fernet key instance. The Fernet keys are combined to
generate a multiFernet key to produce two encrypted files (byte
and text file). These files are incorporated with Twilio message
and securely preserved in the database. In the event where an
attacker tries to access the biometric data template in the
database, the system alerts the user and stops the attacker from
unauthorized access, and cross-verify the impersonator based on
the validation of the ownership. Thus, helps inform the users and
the authority of, how secure the individual biometric data
template is, and provided a high level of the security pertaining
the individual data privac
A study of usersâ compliance and satisfied utilization of biometric application system
This research article published by Taylor & Francis Online, 2020Currently, the adoption rate of biometric technology has speedily grown in all applications. The technology is considered as an effective measure for the protection against crime. However, there is a concern that it violates the privacy and rights of the individuals. For instance, the possibility of fraud, identity theft, civil liberty violations, and inaccuracy of data. As a result, create the conflicts between service provider and public as they may be accused of a crime or become a victim of discrimination. This study constitutes exploratory research and is restricted to the usage of the biometric application system within the passport. It aims at discovering the substantial acceptance of users in implementing the biometric application for the East African passport (Uganda). Factor influencing usersâ opinions regarding the acceptance of the biometric application, User willingness, trust and techniques for securing the biometric information are presented. Strategies aimed at regulating the protection of biometric data on the usage of the application are explained. The findings suggested encryption techniques as the most favorable tactic of protecting the biometric data application. Therefore, best practices such as individual desirability, practical accurateness, and eagerness are required
A world of cobenefits : solving the global nitrogen challenge
Houlton, Benjamin Z. University of California. John Muir Institute of the Environment. Davis, CA, USA.Houlton, Benjamin Z. University of California. Department of Land, Air and Water Resources. Davis, CA, USA.Almaraz, Maya. University of California. Department of Land, Air and Water Resources. Davis, CA, USA.Aneja, Viney. North Carolina State University at Raleigh. Department of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences. Raleigh, NC, USA.Austin, Amy T. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de AgronomĂa. Instituto de Investigaciones FisiolĂłgicas y EcolĂłgicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura (IFEVA). Buenos Aires, Argentina.Austin, Amy T. CONICET â Universidad de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Investigaciones FisiolĂłgicas y EcolĂłgicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura (IFEVA). Buenos Aires, Argentina.Bai, Edith. Chinese Academy of Sciences. Institute of Applied Ecology. CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management. Shenyang, China.Bai, Edith. Northeast Normal University. School of Geographical Sciences. Changchun, China.Cassman, Kenneth. University of Nebraska â Lincoln. Department of Agronomy and Horticulture. Lincoln. NE, USA.Compton, Jana E. Environmental Protection Agency. Western Ecology Division. Washington, DC, USA.Davidson, Eric A. University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. Appalachian Laboratory. Cambridge, MD, USA.865-872Nitrogen is a critical component of the economy, food security, and planetary health. Many of the world's sustainability targets hinge on global nitrogen solutions, which, in turn, contribute lasting benefits for (i) world hunger; (ii) soil, air, and water quality; (iii) climate change mitigation; and (iv) biodiversity conservation. Balancing the projected rise in agricultural nitrogen demands while achieving these 21st century ideals will require policies to coordinate solutions among technologies, consumer choice, and socioeconomic transformation
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