Traffic Congestion Problems in Central Business District (CBD) Ikeja, Lagos Metropolis, Nigeria

Central Business Districts (CBD) are indisputable areas of traffic attraction occasioned by the growing population concentration, rapid urbanization, and increasing commercial and economic activities. High population generates heavy vehicular traffic, leading to vehicular conflict and congestion as well as other mobility related challenges, which adversely affect the ultimate goal of people’s mobility. The CBD is expected to offer high accessibility and mobility advantages, coupled with the provision of transportation infrastructures which paradoxically, are being threatened by mobility challenges resulting in low productivity and loss of man-hours within Ikeja CBD, thus adversely affecting the overall wellbeing of Lagos residents. This research examines the challenges of traffic congestion and management problems within Ikeja CBD. Data were collected through questionnaire administration, based on 100 per cent physical characteristics survey, while another 200 socio-economic characteristics survey were administered using quota sampling method to gather relevant information on traffic and transportation issues. Also, desk study of relevant documents, and interviews were equally conducted. Inferential and non-inferential statistics were employed for data analysis. Findings revealed a haphazard land use pattern, resulting into traffic and transportation bottleneck, vehicular conflict and avoidable traffic congestion, longer travel time and low productivity among others. The paper considers the need for a review of Ikeja CBD development guide as well as effective traffic management through enforcement and compliance with planning and parking rules and regulations among other suggestions. Keywords: Central Business District, Commercial activities, Mobility, Parking, and Traffic Congestio

Evaluation of the effects of the hydro-ethanolic root extract of Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides on hematological parameters and oxidative stress in cyclophosphamide treated rats

Background: The use of cyclophosphamide in cancer therapy is usually associated with challenging immunosuppression which exposes patients to increased risk of anemia and necessitating preventive measures during therapy. This study was carried out to investigate the efficacy of the hydro-ethanolic extract of the root of Z. zanthoxyloides in preventing and/or improving cyclophosphamide induced myelosuppression and oxidative stress in rats.Materials and Methods: Animals were divided into 6 groups of 6 rats each and were pretreated oral doses of 75, 150 and 225 mg/kg of the extract for 7 days and then co-administered with 2.5 mg/kg cyclophosphamide for 28 days.Results: The LD50 of the extract was found to be 1682.3 mg/kg. Phytochemical analysis of the plant extract showed the presence of tannins, saponins, alkaloids and flavonoids, glycosides, terpenoids and phenols. In the anti-oxidant enzyme assay, CAT was significantly (p < 0.05) increased for animals treated with 150 mg/kg+CP compared to 75 mg/kg+CP and 225 mg/kg+CP. GPx was significantly (p < 0.01) increased in rats treated with 75 mg/kg+CP compared to 150 mg/kg+CP and control. SOD was significantly (p < 0.01) increased in rats treated with 75 mg/kg+CP compared to the control. WBC was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced for 225 mg/kg, 225 mg/kg+CP (p < 0.001), 150 mg/kg+CP (p < 0.001), 75 mg/kg+CP (p < 0.001) and CP administered rats (p < 0.001) respectively compared to the control. LDL and CHOL were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) for rats treated with 75 mg/kg+CP, 225 mg/kg+CP and 225 mg/kg.Conclusion: Findings from this study demonstrates that the hydro-ethanolic root extract of Z. zanthoxyloides could be beneficial in hyperlipidemia and in cases of malignancies with abnormal cholesterol metabolism an effect which may be mediated via combating oxidative stress.Keywords: cyclophosphamide, phytochemical, antioxidant, hematological, hyperlipidemi

COST EFFECTIVENESS OF QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN A REINFORCED CONCRETE FRAME CONSTRUCTION COMPANY

The main purpose of this research is to determine cost effectiveness of implementing and maintaining quality management system using existing data from information filled in nonconformity report over a period of 4 years (2011 to 2014). The research uses a single case study research design to fulfill the objectives of the study. The data extracted from the annual account of the reinforced concrete frame construction company were analysed. The findings suggest that the company under study has implemented a quality management system within their organisation. The findings show that the cost of quality conformance increases from 2011 to 2014 except for 2013 which is lower than that of 2011 due reduced working months of the quality manager in that year. For the cost of quality non-conformance, the findings show that about 77% of the total value are not recovered by the company in 2012, while this is reduced to about 18% in 2014 due quality management system put in place by the company. It was also shown that the ratio of profit before tax (PBT) to turnover declined by 2.86% in 2012 and by 17.14% by 2013 while it declined by 10% in 2014 when compared to 2011.  The study concluded that commitment of the company to quality management system has rubbed off the company of some revenues in the form of profit that would have accrued into the cover of the company. However, the implementation of the quality management system is paying off on its own right. The study recommended that one of the areas that researchers need to give proper attention is to conduct more studies on a number construction companies in order to create an industry norm

Foreign aid, human capital and economic growth nexus: Evidence from Nigeria

This study investigates the link between aid and human capital in promoting economic growth of Nigeria. The study used two models; the first model was used to test the validity of the medicine model in Nigeria; while the extended model was used to investigate the effect of aid and human capital shocks on growth using Engle-Granger and Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) estimation techniques respectively. The findings from the first model suggest that persistent increase in foreign aid flows beyond a particular point (the optimal point) may adversely affect growth thus confirming the proposition of the Medicine Model. Evidence from the study’s extended model indicates that growth in Nigeria is sensitive to human capital shock via education while the response from aid shock is trivial in the long run. The mechanism through which aid impacts economies is influenced by many heterogeneous factors, notably; the role played by the recipient governments is often not considered. Our implication from the obtained results is that government expenditures on education with additional inflows of aid can promote economic growth in Nigeria. However, there is also an indication that attainment of economic growth might be challenging for this aid-dependent country

Geographic Information System Based Approach to Pre-Election Monitoring In Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria

GIS based electoral system provides efficient database and also be useful to enhance officials to conduct and manage elections. This research is aimed at using Geographic Information System based approach to monitoring election in Awka South L.G.A of Anambra State. The methodology employed in this research involves conversion of analogue map into digital map (through the process of scanning), georeferencing and digitizing, updating the study road map using Google Earth image. Other processes includes: Plotting of coordinate points, Geo-database creation and queries generations. GIS based mapping is one of the best techniques of depicting spatial data, the location the polling unit was depicted and it was noticed that there are no polling units located at around/within Ngozika and Udoka Housing units

Comparative study of proximate composition of some wild tilapiine fishes in Epe Lagoon, Lagos, Nigeria

The proximate composition of some wild tilapiine fishes in Epe lagoon, Lagos, Nigeria was analyzed. The species were Sarotherodon melanotheron, Tilapia guineensis, Tilapia mariaei, Sarotherodon galileaus and an ecotype cichlid popularly called ‘wesafu’. Major nutrient compositions of raw muscles like protein, fat, moisture and ash were determined. Proximate compositions were found to be varied among the species. Protein was determined in Sarotherodon melanotheron (19.13%), T. guineensis (18.71%), T. mariae (18.08%), S. galileaus (18.34%) and ‘wesafu’ (21.80%) respectively. Lipid content was recorded as 0.82%, 0.40%, 0.60%, 0.65%, and 0.90% for the tilapia species. The highest level of moisture content was found in T. guineensis (81.70%) and the lowest was in ‘wesafu’ (78.50%). The percentage of ash content was highest in S. galileaus and S.melanotheron (1.75%) and lowest in T. guineensis (1.00%). The present study revealed highest protein content in the ecotype cichlid, wesafu (19.22%) and lowest value in T.mariae (18.08%) while fat was highest in ‘wesafu’ (0.90%). The results of this study reveal the nutritional significance of the ecotype cichlid, ‘wesafu’ above other cichlids of the lagoon

EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTS OF THE HYDRO-ETHANOLIC ROOT EXTRACT OF ZANTHOXYLUM ZANTHOXYLOIDES ON HEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS AND OXIDATIVE STRESS IN CYCLOPHOSPAMIDE TREATED RATS

Background: The use of cyclophosphamide in cancer therapy is usually associated with challenging immunosuppression which exposes patients to increased risk of anemia and necessitating preventive measures during therapy. This study was carried out to investigate the efficacy of the hydro-ethanolic extract of the root of Z. zanthoxyloides in preventing and/or improving cyclophosphamide induced myelosuppression and oxidative stress in rats. Materials and Methods: Animals were divided into 6 groups of 6 rats each and were pretreated oral doses of 75, 150 and 225 mg/kg of the extract for 7 days and then co-administered with 2.5 mg/kg cyclophosphamide for 28 days. Results: The LD50 of the extract was found to be 1682.3 mg/kg. Phytochemical analysis of the plant extract showed the presence of tannins, saponins, alkaloids and flavonoids, glycosides, terpenoids and phenols. In the anti-oxidant enzyme assay, CAT was significantly (p < 0.05) increased for animals treated with 150 mg/kg+CP compared to 75 mg/kg+CP and 225 mg/kg+CP. GPx was significantly (p < 0.01) increased in rats treated with 75 mg/kg+CP compared to 150 mg/kg+CP and control. SOD was significantly (p < 0.01) increased in rats treated with 75 mg/kg+CP compared to the control. WBC was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced for 225 mg/kg, 225 mg/kg+CP (p < 0.001), 150 mg/kg+CP (p < 0.001), 75 mg/kg+CP (p < 0.001) and CP administered rats (p < 0.001) respectively compared to the control. LDL and CHOL were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) for rats treated with 75 mg/kg+CP, 225 mg/kg+CP and 225 mg/kg. Conclusion: Findings from this study demonstrates that the hydro-ethanolic root extract of Z. zanthoxyloides could be beneficial in hyperlipidemia and in cases of malignancies with abnormal cholesterol metabolism an effect which may be mediated via combating oxidative stress

DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF MODELING DEFORMATION OF AL-CU ALLOY

This research is aimed at determining the effect of thermo-mechanical ageing experimentally and numerically on the Mechanical Properties of Al-Cu Alloy by formulating a model (constitutive) to determine the nodal value of certain parameters and to simulate the obtain results using Matlab (fematiso).The development and morphology of Al-9.37Cu alloy was characterized through metallographic examination and failure rate. The alloy was obtained by employing Die -Casting Technique before being subjected to series of mechanical and materials tests. The result showed that the strength of Al9.37Cu was greatly enhanced when the alloy was under different percent of deformations between 5-15%. Constitutive model was adopted to determine the isotropic material property in which the plane stress and plain strain conditions were considered as boundary conditions. Consequently, the effect of temperature was able to influence the strain rate in which the fracture strain determined the failure rate of the Al-Cu alloy.Self-sponsore

Modelling Crop Evapotranspiration and Water Use Efficiency of Maize Using Artificial Neural Network and Linear Regression Models in Biochar and Inorganic Fertilizer-Amended Soil under Varying Water Applications

The deficit irrigation strategy is a well-known approach to optimize crop water use through the estimation of crop water use efficiency (CWUE). However, studies that comprehensively reported the prediction of crop evapotranspiration (ETc) and CWUE under deficit irrigation for improved water resources planning are scarce. The objective of the study is to predict seasonal ETc and CWUE of maize using multiple linear regression (MLR) and artificial neural network (ANN) models under two scenarios, i.e., (1) when only climatic parameters are considered and (2) when combining crop parameter(s) with climatic data in amended soil. Three consecutive field experimentations were carried out with biochar applied at rates of 0, 3, 6, 10 and 20 t/ha, while inorganic fertilizer was applied at rates of 0 and 300 Kg/ha, under three water regimes: 100% Full Irrigation Treatment (FIT), 80% and 60% FIT. Seasonal ETc was determined using the soil water balance method, while growth data were monitored weekly. The CWUE under each treatment was also estimated and modelled. The MLR and ANN models were developed, and their evaluations showed that the ANN model was satisfactory for the predictions of both ETc and CWUE under all soil water conditions and scenarios. However, the MLR model without crop data was poor in predicting CWUE under extreme soil water conditions (60% FIT). The coefficient of determination (R2) increased from 0.03 to 0.67, while root mean-square error (RMSE) decreased from 4.07 to 1.98 mm after the inclusion of crop data. The model evaluation suggests that using a simple model such as MLR, crop water productivity could be accurately predicted under different soil and water management conditions

Demographic attributes of COVID-19 patients in an Infectious Disease Center of Nigeria

Background: As part of our contribution to the growing pool of knowledge on the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic, this study describes the demographic features of patients with COVID-19 hospitalized at Infectious Disease Center (IDC), Olodo, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.Methodology: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study of COVID-19 patients whose data were collected during admission between April 27, 2020 and June 20, 2020. SARS-CoV-2 infection was diagnosed on nasopharyngeal specimen using a real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) assay. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS Inc., USA) version 20.0Results: Among 131 patients, 58% were between age 18 and 35 years, 48.1% were employees of private establishments, and 64.1% were males. High proportion (84.3%) of the patients spent less than 14 days on admission. As at June 20, 2020, the overall COVID-19 mortality in the IDC was 0.0%.Conclusion: This study concluded that COVID-19 was common among male Nigerians, those working in private establishments, and those aged 18-35 years. Future researches on COVID-19 in Nigeria must put gender and age into consideration. Keywords: SARS-COV2; COVID-19; age; gender; occupation French Title: Attributs démographiques des patients atteints de COVID-19dans un centre de maladies infectieuses du Nigéria Contexte: Dans le cadre de notre contribution au pool croissant de connaissances sur la prévention et le contrôle de la pandémie COVID-19, cette étude décrit les caractéristiques démographiques des patients atteints de COVID19 hospitalisés au Centre des maladies infectieuses (IDC), Olodo, Ibadan, État d'Oyo, Nigéria. Méthodologie: Il s'agissait d'une étude transversale descriptive de patients atteints de COVID-19 dont lesdonnées ont été collectées lors de l'admission entre le 27 avril 2020 et le 20 juin 2020. L'infection par le&nbsp; SRASCoV-2 a été diagnostiquée sur un échantillon nasopharyngé à l'aide d'une transcription inverse en temps réel–Test de réaction en chaîne par polymérase (rRT-PCR). Les données ont été analysées à l'aide du StatisticalPackage for Social Sciences (SPSS Inc., USA) version 20.0 Résultats: Parmi 131 patients, 58% avaient entre 18 et 35 ans, 48,1% étaient des employés d'établissementsprivés et 64,1% étaient des hommes. Une forte proportion (84,3%) des patients ont passé moins de 14 jours àl'admission. Au 20 juin 2020, la mortalité globale par COVID-19 dans l'IDC était de 0,0%. Conclusion: Cette étude a conclu que le COVID-19 était courant chez les hommes Nigérians, ceux travaillantdans des établissements privés et ceux âgés de 18 à 35 ans. Les futures recherches sur le COVID-19 au Nigériadoivent prendre en compte le sexe et l'âge. Mots clés: SRAS-COV2; COVID-19; âge; le sexe; occupatio