Optimal Allocation and Sizing of Distributed Generation for Power Loss Reduction using Modified PSO for Radial Distribution Systems

For the purpose of improving the voltage profile and power losses reduction, this paper proposes allocation and sizing of Distributed Generation (DG) in radial distribution system (69 IEEE bus test system.). A simple and effective approach for power loss reduction (PLR) value is employed for the allocation while the sizing was by using the results from the allocation as local optimum in a modified PSO called Ranked Evolutionary particle swarm optimization (REPSO) in order to obtain the global optimum. Load simulations in power flow yielded improvement not only in power loss reduction but also in voltage profile. The proposed algorithm was found to be faster and gives more accurate results than the EP and PSO algorithms. Keywords: Distributed Generation, Evolutionary programming,, Particle Swarm Optimization, Allocation and sizing, Power loss reduction

IMPACT ANALYSIS OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY ON FINANCE AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN NIGERIA (2001 – 2011)

The study analyses an impact relationship of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on Bank Performance and Economic Growth in Nigeria. The study obtained an annual data of selected commercial banks in Nigeria for an 11 years period i.e. 2001 – 2011. The data comprises of net profit, total assets, total equity, ATM machines including e-banking services of the stated banks. The ordinary least squares (OLS), among the commonly used models in analysing panel data were used. Results of the study reveals that the use of ICT, from random effects model, does not improve bank performance in the Nigerian commercial banks. However, increased profitability, total equity showed significant relationships between bank performance and hence economic growth in the country. Similarly, a positive influence on bank performance is also revealed but is not statistically significant. The conclusion draws is that improved investment in ICT equipment does not improve bank performance. Rather relevant policies which could boost bank performance in term of profitability, capitalisation and consolidation should be pursued which are also the main determinants of economic growth

Phytochemical Screening and Preliminary Evaluation of Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of the Methanol Root Extract of Cissus Polyantha

Cissus polyantha is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of conjunctivitis and inflammation. In this study, the methanolic root extract of Cissus polyantha was subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening, analgesic and anti-inflammatory studies. Phytochemical studies was carried out using standard phytochemical protocol while the analgesic studies was carried out using acetic acid-induced writhing tests in mice. Carrageenan-induced hind paw oedema in rats was used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory potential of the extract. Phytochemical studies of the methanolic crude root extract of the plant revealed the presence of carbohydrates, flavonoids, saponins, tannins steroids and triterpenes. The extract at doses of 20, 40 and 80 mg/kg, i.p significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the acetic-acid induced writhing. The extract also produced significant (P < 0.05) and dose-independent anti-inflammatory activity comparable to that of reference drug, ketoprofen. The intraperitoneal lethal dose (LD 50) toxicity studies on the methanol crude root extract of the plant was found to be 288.53 mg/kg body weight. These findings are suggestive of the analgesic and anti-inflammatory potentials of the methanol root bark extract of the plant and provide a scientific rationale for the use of the root of Cissus polyantha in traditional medicine.Keywords: Cissus polyantha, Phytochemical screening Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory, traditiona

Design and Construction Technique for Low Embodied Energy Building: An Analytical Network Process Approach

Energy performance in the construction industry is one of the significant features to be assessed in order to achieve sustainability in the built environment. There is a limited amount of literature on the analytical network process (ANP) in achieving sustainability towards reducing embodied energy. The aim of this study was to achieve buildings with less embodied energy through design, construction techniques and automation using ANP in order to promote sustainable construction. Data collection was primarily done by way of a well-structured questionnaire and an expert opinion survey. The responses retrieved from the questionnaire were analyzed using descriptive statistics and ranked accordingly. An ANP model was developed using multi-criteria decision-making based on the expert survey and used to prioritize and assign an important weighting for the identified criteria. The findings showed that multi-criteria decision-making with ANP when effectively employed will help in achieving sustainable buildings with low embodied energy. Reducing the amount of cement through design and building information modeling is the most significant factor towards achieving buildings with less embodied energy

Laboratory Assessment of Metakaolin Effect on the Volumetric Shrinkage of Black Cotton Soil for Flexible Pavement Construction

A dark grey Black Cotton soil treated with up to 24% Metakaolin content was compacted using British standard light (BSL),West African standard (WAS) or “intermediate”and British standard heavy (BSH) compactive efforts at moulding water contents -2,  0, 2, 4 and 6% of optimum moisture content. Specimens where extruded from compaction moulds and allowed to air dry on the table in the Laboratory in order to assess the effect of Volumetric Shrinkage on the material for use in Flexible Pavement construction. Results recorded showed that Volumetric Shrinkage strain (VSS) values were large within the first 5 days of drying; VSS values increased with higher moulding water content,water content relative to optimum. Generally, the Metakaolin improves the Shrinkage properties of the expansive soil irrespective of the compactive effort. Volumetric Shrinkage potential reduced by about 76%, 61% and 42% at 24% Metakaolin for the WAS, BSL and BSH compactive efforts respectively, as compared to the Virgin soil. It can be concluded that the Metakaolin had shown promising influence on the Shrinkage properties of expansive soil, thereby giving an advantage in improvement of problematic expansive soils. Keywords: Expansive soil, Volumetric Shrinkage Strain, Metakaolin, Compactive effort,Moulding Water content, Flexible Pavement

Plant gum exudates (Karau) and mucilages, their biological sources, properties, uses and potential applications: A review

This paper or review discusses the natural plant exudates and mucilages, their sources, properties and uses and the potential applications. Research in natural polymeric materials has witness growing interest and attention. This is attributable to a number of factors which include their relative abundance, low cost,  biodegradable nontoxic, and ecofriendly profile.They are polymers that are mostly plant in origin with a vast applications.Polysaccharides hydrocolloids including gum and mucilage are abundant in nature and commonly found in many higher plants. These polysaccharides constitute a structurally diverse class of biological  macromolecules with a broad range of physicochemical properties which are widely used for various applications in pharmacy, medicine, food and other non- food applications. In recent years those polymers derived from plants have evoke tremendous interest because of their industrial applications as diluent binders, thickening agents, smoothening, emulsifiers, gelling agents and stabilizers. This increasing research in this group of these plant materials are clear indications of their increasing importance.The fact for increase in importance of natural plant based materials is that plant resources are renewable and if cultivated or harvested in a sustainable manner, they can provide a constant supply of raw materials. To that effect, more understanding of their nature, physicochemical properties, sources, uses be gained so that can be used for wider applications.Key words:, Polymer,GumExudate, Mucilage, Biological sources, Potential applicatio

Audit Tenure, Audit Independence, Audit Committee Independence, Board Independence, and Audit Quality in the Listed Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria: The Moderating Effect of Institutional Ownership

The study examined the moderating effect of institutional ownership on relationship between audit tenure, audit independence, board independence and audit quality of listed deposit money banks (LDMBs) in Nigeria. The study population comprises 14 LDMBs on the Nigerian Stock Exchange as at 31st December, 2020. 13 LDMBs were used as sample of the study. Logit regression technique was used as a tool of data analysis. Findings of the study revealed that, in the direct relationship, audit independence, board independence and institutional ownership have significant effect on the audit quality of LDMBs in Nigeria. The finding of the moderated model of the study reveals that institutional ownership has a significant negative moderating role on the relationship between audit tenure, audit independence, board independence and audit quality of LDMBs. It is therefore recommended among others that listed deposit money banks in Nigeria should ensure that they consider long-term institutional shareholding since those with a long-term stake have the motivation to monitor management and thereby, requesting a better audit quality through BIG4 auditors

REGIME SWITCHING MODEL AMONG SELECTED AFRICAN STOCK MARKET

Over the past few decades, the world stock markets have surged, and emerging markets have accounted for a large amount of this boom. This has resulted into emergence of new market stock in Africa; hence the study examines the stock market’s volatility in Nigeria, South Africa and Egypt using the Markov regime switching Model. The study utilizes monthly observations over the period from January 1997 to September 2019. The study utilizes two state Markov Switching Autoregressive (MS-AR) models in order to capture regime shifts behaviour in both the mean and the variance of the three countries All Share Index (ASI). The MS-AR results of the three countries ASI suggested evidence of a regime-switching behaviour. It shows that only extreme events can switch the series from regime 1 (appreciation) to regime 2 (depreciation), or vice versa. The results also identify that during all major global economic crises in the US sub-prime (2008) there was negative impact in all the three countries under study and European debt crisis (2010) did not really have any impact on the three countries under studies. The results further revealed that Nigeria ASI recorded the lowest appreciation regime of 10 months and the highest depreciation regime of 82 months against South-Africa ASI and Egypt ASI. Egypt recorded the highest appreciation regime of 69 months and the lowest depreciation regime of 18 months. Hence, the  results shows that the Nigeria stock market is more sensitive to external shocks implying that there is ample scope of policy intervention. Keywords: Africa Stock Markets, Markov Switching Autoregressive, All Share Index, Appreciating regime, Depreciation regim

Effect of GGBS Slag on Setting Time and Compressive Strength of One-Part Geopolymer Binders

This paper investigated the influence of ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) on the setting time and compressive strength of one-part geopolymer binders (OPGB). Powdered sodium metasilicate activator was utilized in the range of 8 – 16% by weight of the total binder. Central composite design method was used in designing the mixtures. Experimental investigation revealed that both the initial and final setting time of the OPGB decreased drastically with the increase in the GGBS and the activator content. The inclusion of GGBS in the binder influences the setting time of the binders thereby resulting in quick setting time. The variance analysis of the established models demonstrated that the setting and compressive strength models could be predicted using quadratic models with high R2 coefficient. Optimizations results revealed that the optimum mixture can be obtained by substituting 95.8 % fly ash with GGBS and 13.4 % solid activator