Bridging the Gap Between Theatre Practice and Islamic Studies: An Interdisciplinary Engagement

Theatre is seen as all-encompassing because it delves into every aspect of life as the case may be. On the other hand, Islamic studies deals also, with every aspect of life because it is religious based. To an extent, most Islamic scholars agreed that it a total way of life. But as agreeing as it seems with both disciplines, there exist disparities and misconceptions about theatre and drama by those with religious bigotry. They have misconstrued the discipline of theatre as misleading and misguiding. There is no denying the fact that some persons in any area of study may try to misbehave sometimes, but that may not be concluded as everybody in the particular field of study is wayward. This menace has contributed in painting the theatre discipline black, thus affecting the practice. It is against this backdrop that the study aims at constructing the bridge of understanding between both disciplines, engaging interdisciplinary paradigm. Hence, in order to achieve this, the study adopts the survey approach of quantitative research methodology to investigate how some Muslims have misconstrued theatre and the possible mediation into the challenge. The findings of the study reveal that people, especially Muslims misunderstood theatre because the character and behaviour most people in the discipline portray. The paper thus, concludes that there is need for theatre artists to re-mould the mode of dressing and general behaviour for societal acceptance. Hence, the study recommends that, Islam and Muslims have a very important role in this reconstruction bid between theatre and Islamic studies

Perception of Undergraduates on Use of Turnitin Plagiarism Checker in Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria

Projects, theses and dissertations submitted to the library form the highest number of collections in most academic library holdings in Nigeria. Ensuring that such works are free from plagiarism becomes imperative for future use and reuse. In an attempt to help stem this ugly trend of plagiarism, the Nigerian Universities Commission directed that all Universities in Nigeria should adopt the use of Turnitin plagiarism checker. This study seeks to determine the perception, challenges, and support systems available for students regarding the use of Turnitin in Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUTMin). There are 3,033 final year undergraduate students in the 2017/2018 academic session. Using Krejcie & Morgan sample size table, 341 undergraduates and eleven (11) Turnitin Officers were randomly sampled across Departments and Schools (Faculties) in FUTMin. Structured questionnaire was used as instrument for data collection. A total of 338 (99%) copies of questionnaire from undergraduates and 11 (100%) from Turnitin Officers were filled, returned and found valid for this study. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data from which the results were presented in tables. Findings revealed that students were relatively unaware of what constitutes plagiarism. Recommendations included the need for awareness and orientation on what constitutes plagiarism, citation and referencing education

Development of Generalised Integrator with a Feedback Loop Based Dynamic Voltage Restorer for Fast Mitigation of Voltage Sag/Swell

Power-electronic converter-based device called the Dynamic Voltage Restorer (DVR) is intended to shield delicate loads from supply-side voltage perturbations. It is connected in series to the distribution feeder and has the ability to generate or absorb real and reactive power at its AC terminals. This work presents the use of a control scheme based on Generalized Integrator with a Feedback Loop (GIFL) gain choosing technique for the purpose of fast voltage sag/swell detection to enable the DVR to carry out a fast and effective voltage compensation in power distribution system. This helps in significantly reducing the impact of voltage sag/ swell and in turn improve the power quality of the system. Two scenarios were used to analyze the effectiveness of the developed technique: incorporation of voltage sag and swell independently on the distribution system. The results obtained showed that the distortions introduced to the system as a result of the sag and swell was significantly reduced. The results obtained from the developed scheme was further compared with that obtained when the conventional DVR was used in mitigating the voltage sag and swell using total harmonic distortion (THD) as performance metrics. All modelling and analyses were carried out using MATLAB 2019 software

Stochastic characteristics and modeling of relative humidity of Ogun Basin, Nigeria

Extreme events of atmospheric phenomena are often non deterministic in nature, and this has been a major constraint in achieving agricultural sustainability in most developing countries.To facilitate this study, 29 years information of the observed relative humidity of Ogun basin was obtained from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Abeokuta, Nigeria. The data collected covers the periods between 1982 and 2009 and were pre-whitened and aggregated into monthly and annual time series. The stationarity of the time series data was achieved through Mann-Kendal non parametric test and spectral analysis. The Mann-Kendal Z-value obtained is -1.37, which gives no reason to expect the presence of trend in the time series. The spectral density plot showed high variance to lower frequency, and this signifies a positive correlation. No evidence of seasonal effect in the series as clearly depicted by the monthly Periodogram. The autoregressive AR-model, moving average MA-model and autoregressive moving average ARMA-models were fitted for the parameter, with the aid of Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), and error terms of FE, MAE, MSE and MAPE. ARMA model of order (2, 2) was found to be the most parsimonious for predicting relative humidity. Results are highly accurate and promising for all models based on Lewis’ criteria. Prediction scheme applied in this research could be considered in situations where database is a problem during model development.Keywords: ARMA model, Autocorrelation, Forecasting,Prediction andRelative humidit

Glance into solid-state transformer technology: a mirror for possible research areas

Solid-State Transformer (SST), a power electronics based transformer is an emerging technology in electric power system. The transformer is being investigated to completely replace existing Line/Low Frequency Transformer (LFT). SST is composed of either of the two topologies: AC-DC-AC, two steps approach; or AC-AC, single-step approach. The two steps approach consists of three stages: AC-DC; DC-DC; and DC-AC stages. The DC-DC stage is made up of a boost DC-DC converter, a DC-AC inverter and a High Frequency Transformer, HFT. Therefore, SST performs the tasks of LFT by means of power electronic converters and HFT.  The main essence of SST is to provide solution to the problem of bulkiness and heaviness of the LFT in the power distribution network. This is with the view to providing reduction in construction cost, cost of maintenance and transportation. The power electronics transformer provides numerous advantages which are grouped into: The transformer has high power density; it functions in blackouts and brownouts; and it provides easy means of distributed renewable energy integration into associated grid. Therefore, this paper provides a glance into the technology of the SST for its better understating and promotion of research activities in the area

Load modeling techniques in distribution networks: a review

Power system operation and control required models of generators, lines and loads to be accurately estimated, this is to enable operators make a reliable decision on the system.  Generators and lines models are so far considered accurate, while load models are considered perplexing due to invention of new types of loads, distribution system are transforming from passive to active. Future distribution systems are desired to be smart and for a network to be smart the system as to be fully and accurately represented. Penetration of renewable energy and application of power electronic devices as well as participation of active customers in distribution systems make traditional methods of load modeling absolute. Accurate load modeling is required to address the new challenges evolving in the task of power system operation, control and stability studies. It is also an interest of power system researchers globally to realize Smart Networks (SNs), in which accurate load models are required. This work described a review of techniques and approaches for load modeling from traditional methods to the state of art in the area. In addition, gaps in the literature as well as research directions are also pointed out

Relationship between serum level of ionized calcium, magnesium, phosphate, vitamin d and parathyroid hormone with stages of CKD.

Chronic kidney disease is defined as either damage or a decreased Glomerular Filtration Rate of less than 60ml/min/1.73m for 3 or more months. There is destruction of renal mass with irreversible sclerosis and loss of nephron leading to a progressive decline in GFR.Secondary hyperparathyroidism hyperphosphataemia, hypocalcaemia and vitamin-D deficiency are common complications of CKD. Objective: To determine relationship between serum level of ionised calcium, magnesium, phosphate, vitamin-D and parathyroid hormone with stages of CKD. Method: This study was conducted at ABUTH Zaria. 125 consecutive adult patients in various stages of CKD who presented were enrolled and 125 apparently healthy matched for sex and age controls were also recruited. Results: 9% of patients were in stage-1, 16% in stage-2, 22% in stage-3, 12% in stage-4 and 41% in stage-5. Serum ionised calcium, vitamin-D and eCrCl showed a progressive decline as the stage of CKD advances, while serum phosphate, creatinine and iPTH showed a progressive increase as the stage of CKD advances. Changes in serum magnesium showed a slight change with advancing stages of CKD. The difference in mean serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, vitamin-D, parathyroid hormone, creatinine and eCrCl with different stages of CKD were statistically significant. eCrCl correlated negatively with phosphate and iPTH while serum creatinine correlated negatively with calcium and positively with phosphate and iPTH. Conclusion: Majority of CKD patients were in late stage. Correlation of analytes with stages was more in late stages and biochemical derangements occurred in late, rather than early stages of CKD

Nonprofit Fundraising Study: Covering Charitable Receipts At Nonprofit Organizations in the United States and Canada in 2013

Findings from a survey of more than 500 nonprofit organizations examining changes in charitable receipt amounts and types of fundraising methods used

A structured approach to integrating mental health services into primary care: development of the Mental Health Scale Up Nigeria intervention (mhSUN).

BACKGROUND: The treatment gap for mental illness in Nigeria, as in other sub-Saharan countries, is estimated to be around 85%. There is need to prioritise mental health care in low and middle income countries by providing a strong body of evidence for effective services, particularly with a view to increasing international and government confidence in investment in scaling up appropriate services. This paper lays out the processes by which a programme to integrate evidence-based mental health care into primary care services in Nigeria was designed, including a research framework to provide evidence from a robust evaluation. METHODS: This paper forms the first step in the overall process evaluation of the mhSUN intervention, where standard research practice indicates that the intervention, and its development, is clearly documented prior to subsequent evaluation. The report covers the period of programme development and evaluation design, and study site and design was chosen to allow generalisability and practical conclusions to be drawn for service development in Nigeria. In order to design an intervention that was informed by evidence and took into account local context and input of stakeholders, a structured process was followed, including: (1) Engagement of relevant stakeholders for information gathering and buy-in; (2) Literature review and gathering of pertinent evidence; (3) Situation analysis at a national and local level; (4) Model development (using Theory of Change); (5) Ongoing consultation, recognising the iterative nature of Theory of Change, and need for ongoing refinement of complex interventions. RESULTS: The different sections of the structured approach resulted in outputs that built the necessary components (literature review, situation analysis) for informing the Theory of Change. A Theory of Change map is presented, which includes transparent documentation of the assumptions and logic behind the activities to drive the desired change. In addition, it documents the indicators necessary to measure fidelity and draw conclusions as to hypothesised effects of different mechanisms of action in subsequent evaluation. CONCLUSION: In addition to the details of ensuring robust evaluation design, there are a number of considerations that are particular to the context that must be taken into account in programme development, including the relationships between ultimate beneficiaries, implementers, host government and institutions, donors, and programme evaluators. Structured methods from existing frameworks can be drawn upon to use and collate relevant information to maximise the local applicability of a generic evidence base. Theory of Change, with its documented assumptions can form the basis of subsequent evaluation and iterative programme refinement, contributing to a more scientifically valid means of developing mental health programmes for scale up

Myocarditis and coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination: A systematic review and meta-summary of cases

Vaccination is significant to control, mitigate, and recover from the destructive effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The incidence of myocarditis following COVID-19 vaccination has been increasing and growing public concern; however, little is known about it. This study aimed to systematically review myocarditis following COVID-19 vaccination. We included studies containing individual patient data of myocarditis following COVID-19 vaccination published between January 1, 2020 and September 7, 2022 and excluded review articles. Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisals were used for risk of bias assessment. Descriptive and analytic statistics were performed. A total of 121 reports and 43 case series from five databases were included. We identified 396 published cases of myocarditis and observed that the majority of cases was male patients, happened following the second dose of mRNA vaccine administration, and experienced chest pain as a symptom. Previous COVID-19 infection was significantly associated (p < 0.01; OR, 5.74; 95% CI, 2.42–13.64) with the risk of myocarditis following the administration of the first dose, indicating that its primary mechanism is immune-mediated. Moreover, 63 histopathology examinations were dominated by non-infective subtypes. Electrocardiography and cardiac marker combination is a sensitive screening modality. However, cardiac magnetic resonance is a significant noninvasive examination to confirm myocarditis. Endomyocardial biopsy may be considered in confusing and severe cases. Myocarditis following COVID-19 vaccination is relatively benign, with a median length of hospitalization of 5 days, intensive care unit admission of <12%, and mortality of <2%. The majority was treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, colchicine, and steroids. Surprisingly, deceased cases had characteristics of being female, older age, non-chest pain symptoms, first-dose vaccination, left ventricular ejection fraction of <30%, fulminant myocarditis, and eosinophil infiltrate histopathology