Bridging the Digital Divide in Local Government: The Study of Internet Access and Digital Literacy in Nigeria Rural Area

Internet access and digital literacy is still lagging in the rural communities of Garun-Malam local government and there are needs to investigate the reasons behind this unfortunate situation in order to overcome this digital handicap. Of course, good access to information technology (IT) is the fundamental element of any rural development activities. Therefore, this study focuses in depth the Internet access and digital literacy (in terms of Internet technology applications skills) in the rural areas of Garun-Malam local government in Kano State, Nigeria. The purpose of the study is to investigate accessibility level of the Internet (the technological infrastructures being used), and the level of Internet technology applications skills among the rural communities. Therefore, the study employs quantitative data analysis method, 150 questionnaires were distributed, collected and analyzed for the selected rural areas. From the results, it shows that many respondents have access to Internet, despite the fact that there are poor IT infrastructures used in all the rural communities. The study also reveals that majority of the respondents does not have basic skills of Internet technology applications. Furthermore, this study will usher a new era for its internal values and the results can be used by both State and local government. However, the outcome from this study may empower policy makers to makes decision/ suggestions in bridging the digital divide that exist in the rural area of Garun-Malam local government. Bridging the digital divide is such a need that requires immediate attention for any concerned government

PEO-hBN-NaClO4 Polymer Composite Electrolyte for Sodium Ion Batteries

A new polymer electrolyte (conducting sodium-ion) based on Polyethylene oxide (PEO) matrix comprising NaClO4 and nano sized hexagonal boron nitride was fabricated via the technique of solution casting for use in sodium ion batteries. Interaction of PEO with Na-ion was investigated with fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) which reveals the extend of Na-ion solvation by PEO (EO:Na). The crystallinity of the polymer electrolyte was investigated with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermal properties of the composites were studied with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The DSC results show that the melting temperature (Tm) of PEO decreases addition of both NaClO4 and hBN. TGA results showed that all the composites membranes were thermally stable till 300 oC. Surface morphology of the composite was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) which also reveals the homogeneous dispersion of nano hBN in the polymer matrix. Ionic conductivity of the polymer composite was studied with impedance spectroscopy and PEO5hBN10Na sample showed maximum ion conductivity of approximately 1.4 × 10-3 S/cm at 100 oC

Biosynthesis, characterization and antimicrobial study of silver nanoparticles (agNPs)

In this paper, biological synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Syzygium guineenses stem extract with 1mM, 2mM and 3mM AgNO3 concentrations has been presented. The plant extract was prepared with distilled water. The characterization and morphological composition of the synthesized AgNPs were determined by UV-visible spectroscopy and SEM respectively, while FTIR analysis was performed to identify the presence of the possible functional groups in the synthesized nano particles. It was observed from the UV and SEM analyses that the particles formed have diameters in the range of 23.5nm - 89.3nm, which is the range of nanoparticle size. Antibacterial test was carried out on the sample with six pathogenic microbes (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococus aureas, Vancomycin Resistant Entrococci, Staphylococcus aureas, Bacillus sublitis, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) to ascertain the antimicrobial activity of the synthesized AgNPs. Both the characterization and antimicrobial activity test were very successful and could lead to significant economic viability, as well as being environmentally friendly for treatment of some infectious diseases.Keywords: Syzygium guineenses, Green Chemistry, Spectroscopy, Optoelectronics, Biomedical Sensor

Sonographic features of radiologically non-functioning kidneys on intravenous urography (IVU) in Kano Metropolis, Nigeria

Background: Despite technological advancement in uro-radiology, renal ultrasonography remains the imaging modality of choice for evaluating various pathological conditions affecting urinary tract (GIT) system.Aim: This study was aimed at evaluating sonographic features of radiologically nonfunctional kidneys in Kano metropolis, Nigeria.Methods: A prospective study involving 94 each of disease and control group were conducted in Kano metropolis from January 2019 to January 2021. Renal scans were performed using a digital ultrasound imaging system; model DP-8800Plus fitted with a 3.5MHz curvilinear transducer. The maximum length, width, and thickness were measured. The renal echogenicity was assessed and graded. Data was analyzed using SPSS Version 22.0Results: The mean values of the right and left renal volumes among adult patients was 400.5 ± 527.3 cm3 and 177.6 ± 174.3 cm3 respectively. For pediatric patients it was 272.3 ± 308.6 cm3 and 241.6 ± 228.7 cm3 for the right and left kidney respectively. The renal parenchymal echogenicity of the right kidney among adult patients were sored as grade II 2 (5.3%), grade III 27 (71%), and grade IV 9 (23.7%), while that pediatric patients were Grade 0 (11.1%), and 8 (88.9%) as grade III. The adults left kidney were scored grade II 2 (6%), and 16 (47%) each as grades III and IV, while the pediatric group scored 3 (25%) as grade II, and 9 (75%) as grade III.Conclusion: Increased renal volume, shrunken kidney, increased renal parenchymal echogenicity, and severe hydronephrosis were strong sonographic indicators of nonfunctional kidneys

A methodology for verification of a new model for evaluating the usability of an M-banking application

Many models for evaluating the usability of mobile application exists, but they are static, crumbled and have not undergone a verification process by usability experts to examine their capability of collecting data for the intended applications. Therefore, the proposed model is established and verified in response to the need identified in the literature because it is important for m-banking applications to provide customers with the anticipated and likely sense of interaction, to be easy to use and encourage the customers to accept the technology.This paper describes the verification procedure for a newly proposed model for evaluating the usability of m-banking applications.The purpose of this verification procedure is to identify the main practices for model verification methods for evaluating the usability of an m-banking application.The verification was conducted through the use of usability experts in mobile application development and academia to examine the model and its components.The verification form and questionnaire that measured the model in terms of consistency, understandable, easy to use, tailor able, verifiable and overall impressions have been completed by the usability experts, and the proposed model has been improved based on the feedback received from the experts.The finding from the experts’ questionnaire shows that the proposed model is complete, original and acceptable for the intended application.Therefore, this paper will provide additional knowledge in both theory and practice on model verification methods, especially for usability evaluations of commercial applications

Usability Evaluation Model for Mobile Banking Applications Interface: Model Evaluation Process using Experts' Panel

Many of the existing usability evaluation models for mobile applications have not been evaluated to determine its usefulness, accuracy and applicability in to the real world environment. This may not provide confidence on the side of the evaluator and the results may not be comprehensive and valid. A model for evaluating the usability of mobile banking applications interface is developed in response to usability practitioners and mbanking applications developers’ needs. The experts implemented the model using various m-banking application platforms through heuristic evaluation method. A list of predefined validation measures were used by the experts’ in order to determine the accuracy and applicability of the proposed model. The results show that the model is useful, accurate and can be used for evaluating the usability of m-banking applications interface. Therefore, this paper will benefit both the research community and the usability practitioners towards better understanding of model validation process

Usability evaluation model for mobile banking applications interface: model evaluation process using experts’ panel

Many of the existing usability evaluation models for mobile applications have not been evaluated to determine its usefulness, accuracy and applicability in to the real world environment. This may not provide confidence on the side of the evaluator and the results may not be comprehensive and valid.A model for evaluating the usability of mobile banking applications interface is developed in response to usability practitioners and mbanking applications developers’ needs. The experts implemented the model using various m-banking application platforms through heuristic evaluation method. A list of predefined validation measures were used by the experts’ in order to determine the accuracy and applicability of the proposed model.The results show that the model is useful, accurate and can be used for evaluating the usability of m-banking applications interface. Therefore, this paper will benefit both the research community and the usability practitioners towards better understanding of model validation process

Modified Token Based Congestion Control Scheme for Opportunistic Networks

To address congestion issues in Opportunistic Networks (OppNets) a modified token-based congestion control with adaptive forwarding mechanism is proposed. The mechanism allows the network nodes holding a valid token to inject message into the network or other neighboring node. At the point of congestion, the algorithm has the potential to redirect the traffic from more congested node to congestion free node for the purpose of effective resource utilization and fairness in the network. Tokens are evenly distributed throughout the network. Using opportunistic network environment (ONE) simulator we illustrate the performance of modified token-based congestion control algorithm, which results in reduction for messages, and network transit time due to congestion across all the scenarios considered. At different queue sizes of (QS-10, QS-20, QS-30 and QS-40), modified token based congestion control algorithm has 13.91%, 10.71%, 5.46%, and 4.22% respectively reduction in dropped messages. In addition, at greatest connected component values of 50%, 60%, 70% and 80%, modified token-based congestion control has 8.34%, 2.19%, 4.61%, and 7.63% respectively decrease in network transit time. These results are substantial because they indicate a reduction in both network storage as well as time

Antioxidants from Nigerian Medicinal Plants: What Are the Evidence?

The search for natural antioxidants from plants would continue to be a dominant research interest for many years. This is because of the increasing understanding on the role of oxidative stress in damaging cell structures such as DNA, due to over production of free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in human systems, which are linked to inflammation, cancer and diabetes. However, phenolic compounds especially from phytochemicals or vegetable foods play important roles in reducing the risk of these diseases and reinforces the importance of natural antioxidants in human health. These antioxidant molecules neutralize or quench the ROS by either hydrogen atom transfer or single electron transfer mechanisms. Thus, the capacity to scavenge ROS and free radicals or inhibits lipid peroxidation is measured quantitatively as the strength of antioxidant activity. Several chemical and biochemical protocols have been used in the evaluation of plant extracts as antioxidants. Overwhelming literature reports have indicated varying degrees of antioxidant efficacies of extracts from Nigerian medicinal plants in comparison to synthetic antioxidants. These efficacies were analyzed to provide insight into the strength of antioxidant activity. This chapter reviewed 250 Nigerian medicinal plants in search of evidence for effective antioxidants