Grief Reactions of Bereaved Spouses in Ilorin Metropolis, Kwara State, Nigeria

Spousal death is one of the most traumatic events that can occur in marital experience and most times, engenders different reactions. The paper investigated the grief reactions of bereaved spouses in Ilorin metropolis, Kwara State. A total of 395 bereaved spouses were selected using a purposive sampling technique. Data were collected from the respondents using an instrument titled "Grief Reaction of Bereaved Spouses Questionnaire" (GRBSQ). The research questions raised were answered with percentages while the hypotheses generated were analysed using t-test statistics and three-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at 0.05 alpha level. The findings of the study indicated that (90.6%) of bereaved spouses in Kwara state have positive grief reactions, while 37 (9.4%) have negative grief reactions. The study further revealed significant differences in the grief reactions of bereaved spouses in Ilorin metropolis based on age at bereavement, nature of death and length of years of loss. Based on these findings, recommendations were made on the desirability of establishing counselling centres in governmental and non-governmental organisations aside from the conventional ones in schools and hospitals. The study also stresses the need for bereaved spouses to be exposed to grief counselling to help them adjust better to their bereavement and educated on the adverse effect of complicated grief as a result of poor adjustment

Capital Gains Tax on Investment, Infrastructural Facilities Provision and Gross Domestic Products in Nigeria

This paper examined the influence of Capital Gains Tax (CGT) on Investment (INV), Infrastructural Facilities Provision (IFP) and Gross Domestic Products (GDP) in Nigeria. Ex-post facto research design was adopted with data obtained from Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Statistical Bulletin and Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) tax reports, 2017. The data collected were presented in descriptive statistics and correlation analysis performed. Augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF) Unit Root test was used to ascertain the stationarity of variables, and the Johenson Co-integration trace and Eigenvalue test was used to show the long-run relationship of variables. The test of hypotheses using OLS regression models revealed that Capital Gains Tax is positively and significantly related to investment and infrastructural facilities in Nigeria. It is recommended that government should ensure that capital gains tax is properly administered, efficiently managed and accounted for, to enable the citizenry reap the benefits it confers on investments, Infrastructural facilities provision and gross domestic products in Nigeria. Keywords: Capital Gains Tax, Gross Domestic Products, Infrastructural Facilities    Provision, Investment DOI: 10.7176/JRDM/57-06 Publication date:July 31st 201

Spatial analysis of soil hydraulic properties of an alfisol in Akure, Southwestern Nigeria

The knowledge of soil hydraulic properties and processes leads to better predictions of both agricultural and environment impact. The objectives of this research are to determine, predict and compare the relationship between measured and estimated soil hydraulic properties and also spatially characterize these properties using geostatistics. Mini disc infiltrometer at a suction rate of 2 cm per second was used for the determination of soil hydraulic properties at different points of an alfisol in Nigeria. Soil samples (100, 200 and 300 mm depths) were also analyzed to determine soil bulk density (BD), total porosity (PT) and water holding capacity (WHC). The coefficients of variation (CV) of the textural classes indicate a non-considerable variability of the sand (CV=6%), silt (CV=20%) and clay (CV=3%) contents. From the statistical and spatial analysis for the different parameters, the variability of hydraulic conductivity (48%>33%>31%), cumulative infiltration (40%>26%>23%), soil water sorptivity (19%>11%>8%), followed the trend upper soil layer (0–100 mm) > middle (100–200 mm) > lower (200–300 mm) soil layers. Hydraulic conductivity and infiltration were more pronounced in soils with higher organic matter content (OMC) and PT. Pedotransfer models (PTF) for prediction of hydraulic conductivity (K), soil water sorptivity (Sw) and cumulative infiltration (I) from basic soil properties such as OMC, PT were developed and validated using multiple-linear regression method. K, Sw and I predicted by the PTF models were significant for the upper and middle soil layers respectively (r = 0.812 and 0.670; 0.825 and 0.670, and 0.820 and 0.670). Contour and wireframe representation were used to spatially analyze the soil hydraulic properties across the field. These contour and 3D surface plots are useful for establishing farm operating conditions, especially in water, fertilizers or pesticides management

TRENDS AND PROSPECTS OF DIGITAL TWIN TECHNOLOGIES: A REVIEW

© Quantum Journal of Engineering, Science and Technology (QJOEST). This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND licence, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/The plethora of technologically developed software and digital types of machinery are widely applied for industrial production and the digitalization of building technologies. The fourth industrial revolution and the underlying digital transformation, known as Industry 4.0 is reshaping the way individuals live and work fundamentally. However, the advent of Industry 5.0 remodels the representation of industrial data for digitalization. As a result, massive data of different types are being produced. However, these data are hysteretic and isolated from each other, leading to low efficiency and low utilization of these valuable data. Simulation based on the theoretical and static model has been a conventional and powerful tool for the verification, validation, and optimization of a system in its early planning stage, but no attention is paid to the simulation application during system run-time. Dynamic simulation of various systems and the digitalization of the same is made possible using the framework available with Digital Twin. After a complete search of several databases and careful selection according to the proposed criteria, 63 academic publications about digital twin are identified and classified. This paper conducts a comprehensive and in-depth review of this literature to analyze the digital twin from the perspective of concepts, technologies, and industrial applicationsPeer reviewe

Growth Performance, Haematological Indices and Cost Benefits of Growing Pigs Fed Cassava Peel Meal Diets Supplemented With Allzyme® SSF

Effect of replacing dietary maize with cassava peel meal (CPM) supplemented with Allzyme® SSF (SSF) on the growth performance, haematological indices and cost benefits of growing pigs was investigated. Chemical composition of CPM and diets used were determined using standard procedures. Twenty-four growing pigs with average weight of 14.0+0.25kg were allotted to 6 dietary treatments whereby CPM replaced maize at 0, 50 and 100% levels with SSF supplementation at 0g/100kg and 20g/100kg of diet. Each treatment was replicated 4 times while the experiment lasted 8 weeks. Data were collected on daily feed intake (DFI), daily weight gain (DWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR); feed cost/weight gain and feed cost/day were calculated. Blood samples collected through jugular vein puncture were analyzed for haematological indices such as white blood cells (WBC), red blood cell and platelet count. The CPM diets with or without SSF gave comparable (P>0.05) pigs’ growth performance to what was obtained for pigs on the maize based diets in terms of DFI (1.26 – 1.33kg), DWG (0.32 – 0.40kg) and FCR (3.13 – 4.03). Values for WBC were within normal range, though they had significant (p<0.05) variations. Other haematological parameters were not influenced (p>0.05) by CPM inclusion. Feed cost/kg diet (N54.11 – N74.39) and feed cost/weight gain (N195.33 – N244.65) reduced insignificantly (P>0.05) with CPM inclusion in the diets of pigs. It was concluded that cassava peel meal can totally replace maize with or without enzyme supplementation in the diets of growing pigs for optimal performance at reduced cost

Techno-economic analysis of the co-gasification of sewage sludge and petroleum coke

In this study, the co-gasification of sewage sludge and petroleum coke is assessed with equilibrium and numerical modeling. The gasification process of these binary wastes provides a potential pathway for waste management and environmental sustainability. First, the thermodynamic equilibrium approach is used to calculate the maximum cold gasification efficiency (CGE) at different mixture ratios in an attempt to narrow down and focus on the appropriate composition of the two kinds of feedstock within the entrained flow gasifier. Furthermore, a parametric study is conducted to show the gasification metrics, i.e., CGE and feedstock conversion, and the syngas composition at different gasification conditions. The equilibrium model is based on eight unknowns in the gasification product, namely, H2, CO, CO2, H2O, CH4, O2, Csolid, and the temperature, under variable O2 and H2O molar ratios. Using three elemental mass balances, four equilibrium (Csolid) constant relations, and energy balance, the mathematical model is developed. The model incorporates the solid unburnt carbon in the product species. The temperature of gasification is determined through an iterative process. Using the result of the equilibrium model, a high-fidelity reactive flow model that accounts for the reactor geometry and the devolatilization kinetics is developed. This model accounts for an extended set of reactions covering the char combustion, water and gas shifts, Boudouard and devolatilization. Finally, economic analysis is carried out to assess the conditions when such a process can be deemed to be profitable. The result of the model shows that the maximum CGE is achieved when all the solid carbon is converted into carbon monoxide with nearly all hydrogen present in the feedstock converted into hydrogen gas. The maximum conversion was attained with sewage sludge and petroleum coke ratio of 1 at 1,200°C. The mole fraction of the syngas species obtained is XH2 = 0.4227 and XCO = 0.5774 and a small fraction of XCH4 = 0.0123. Moreover, the cold gasification efficiency (CGE) measures 87.02% for the H2 and CO syngas species and reached 91.11% for the three species, including CH4. The gasification of the sewage sludge and petroleum coke at 50:50 is economically viable at temperatures higher than 950°C. A peak net gain of 0.16 $/kg of fuel blend was achieved at 1,250°C. At temperatures lower than 950°C, net losses were realized. This could be associated with less product gas yield, which is not significant enough to counteract the input costs. For instance, the net losses were −0.03 and −0.17$/kg of feedstock at 950 and 800°C, respectively

Shortened versus standard post-partum maintenance therapy of magnesium sulphate in severe pre-eclampsia: a randomised control trial

Background: Pre-eclampsia is a pregnancy-associated multi-organ disorder caused by altered trophoblastic invasion and endothelial cell dysfunction. It is associated with significant maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality, especially in developing countries. Magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) is effective in the management of severe pre-eclampsia/eclampsia. Objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of a shortened course of MgSO4 to the Pritchard regimen in patients with severe pre-eclampsiaMethods: This study was carried out at the obstetrics and gynecology department of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife. It was a randomised control study of 116 patients, 58 in each group. Group A received the standard Pritchard regimen: a loading dose of MgSO4 4g slow IV bolus plus 10 g IM (5 g in each buttock), followed by maintenance dose of 5g MgSO4 IM 4-hourly into alternate buttocks until 24 hours after delivery. Group B received same loading dose, but the maintenance dose was limited to three doses of 5g MgSO4 IM four hours apart after delivery. In both regimens, 2g MgSO4 was given IV for breakthrough fit. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.Results: This study revealed that twelve-hour postpartum MgSO4 was as effective as the Pritchard regime with no statistically difference in occurrence of seizures (X2 = 0.341, df = 1, p = 0.514). The average total dose of magnesium sulphate used was lower in the study Group B.Conclusions: Twelve-hour postpartum MgSO4 is as effective as the standard 24-hour Pritchard regime

Carryover effect on carcass characteristics of growing rabbits from does subjected to feed restriction during pregnancy with or without vitamin E inclusion

Several studies have been carried out on quantitative feed restriction and its impact on carcass characteristics of growing rabbits and findings concluded that feed restriction helps in reducing carcass fat deposition in growing rabbits. Feed restriction during breeding periods have been carried out extensively in pregnant rabbit does, however, the carryover effect on the carcass characteristics of growing rabbits from does subjected to such feeding regimen have not been examined. A total of one hundred and eighty (180) weaned rabbits harvested from rabbit does subjected to maternal feed restriction (0% and 15% feed restriction) at three pregnancy periods (15-19 days, 20-24 days and 25-29 days) with or without (+/-) vitamin E were profiled for this study. Kits were randomly assigned to 12 treatments of 5 replicates, each consisting of 3 rabbits per replicate. Data obtained for carcass weight, dressed weight, chest, back, hindlimb, forelimbs, loin, back, kidney, liver, spleen, lungs and heart; these were arranged in a 2×3×2 factorial arrangement. Significantly (p<0.05) higher carcass weight and dressing percentage were obtained for growing rabbit from does fed ad libitum during pregnancy. However, significant influence recorded for carcass and dressing percentage cannot be attributed solely to the treatment during gestation since all results obtained were within acceptable or recommended ranges for healthy rabbits. Therefore, it can be concluded that maternal feed restriction during pregnancy positively influence carcass yield and dressing percentage of growing rabbits from does subjected to feed restriction between 20 – 24 days with or without Vitamin E was influenced (p<0.05)

CD10 inhibits cell motility but expression is associated with advanced stage disease in colorectal cancer

Introduction CD10 is a cell membrane-bound endopeptidase which is expressed in normal small bowel but not in normal colon. It is aberrantly expressed in a small proportion of colorectal cancers (CRC) and this has been associated with liver metastasis and poor prognosis. We sought to investigate the mechanism of CD10 activity and its association with clinicopathological features. Material and methods CD10 was stably knocked down by lentiviral shRNA transduction in the CRC cell lines SW480 and SW620 which are derived from a primary tumour and its corresponding metastasis respectively. Expression of epithelial – mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers was tested as well as the effect of knockdown on cell viability, migration and invasion assays. In addition, immunohistochemical expression of CD10 in primary colorectal tumours (N = 84) in a tissue microarray was digitally quantified and analysed for associations with clinicopathological variables. Results Knockdown of CD10 did not alter cell viability in SW480, but migration and invasion levels increased (P < 0.001 for each) and this was associated with a cadherin switch. In SW620, CD10 knockdown caused a reduction in cell viability after 72 h (P = 0.0018) but it had no effect on cell migration and invasion. Expression of epithelial CD10 in primary tumours was associated with presence of lymph node invasion (P = 0.001) and advanced Duke's stage (P = 0.001). Conclusions Our results suggest that the function of CD10 may change during tumour evolution. It may inhibit cell motility in early-stage disease whilst promoting cell viability in late-stage disease. It has a complex role and further studies are needed to elucidate the suitability of CD10 as a prognostic marker or therapeutic target