AN OVERVIEW OF DEEP LEARNING TECHNIQUES FOR SHORT-TERM ELECTRICITY LOAD FORECASTING

This paper presents an overview of some Deep Learning (DL) techniques applicable to forecasting electricity consumptions, especially in the short-term horizon. The paper introduced key parts of four DL architectures including the RNN, LSTM, CNN and SAE, which are recently adopted in implementing Short-term (electricity) Load Forecasting problems. It further presented a model approach for solving such problems. The eventual implication of the study is to present an insightful direction about concepts of the DL methods for forecasting electricity loads in the short-term period, especially to a potential researcher in quest of solving similar problems

IMPACT OF GLOBALIZATION, ECONOMIC GROWTH AND INCOME INEQUALITY IN NIGERIA

The goal of the study was to see if there was a link between globalization, economic growth, and income disparity in Nigeria, utilizing annual secondary data from the Statistical Bulletin of the Central Bank of Nigeria from 1986 to 2019. The ARDL (Auto-Regressive Distributed Lag) Technique was specifically employed in order to arrive at statistical and logical conclusions on how Nigeria has fared in the face of globalization. In addition, the Lorenz curve was used to measure Nigeria's level of inequality (disparity) (pre SAP, post SAP and Democratic Rule). Globalization has a statistically significant but non-increasing impact/effect on Nigerian economic growth, according to the ARDL assessment. Furthermore, the Lorenz curve revealed that the amount of inequality in Nigeria has been steadily rising over time. The study concludes that, because globalization is inescapable and hence creates economic disparity, the study advises that, governments should develop and implement policies and programs aimed at improving or enhancing the welfare and well-being of the less privileged masses, as well as creating job possibilities, in order to close the income gap between the affluent and the poor, and therefore accomplish Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 10 - income redistribution

Mother's education and nutritional status as correlates of child stunting, wasting, underweight, and overweight in Nigeria: Evidence from 2018 Demographic and Health Survey

Aim: This study examined the nexus between mother's education and nutritional status and their relationships with child stunting, wasting, underweight, and overweight. Methods: The data of 34,193 under-five (U-5) children from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and binary and complementary log-logistic regression models. Results: The prevalence of child stunting, wasting, underweight, and overweight were 36.51%, 6.92%, 21.73%, and 2.05%, respectively. Compared to children born to mothers with at least secondary education, uneducated women's children (odds ratio (OR) = 1.55; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.32–1.82) and those of women with primary education (OR = 1.49; 95% CI = 1.28–1.72) were more likely to be stunted. Similarly, children born to uneducated women (OR = 1.51; 95% CI = 1.24–1.83) were more likely to be underweight than women with at least secondary education. The likelihood of child underweight (OR = 1.71; 95% CI = 1.45–2.01) and wasting (rate ratio (RR) = 1.82; 95% CI = 1.47–2.26) were higher among underweight mothers, respectively, than those with normal body mass index (BMI). The likelihood of child stunting (OR = 0.75; 95% CI = 0.67–0.84) and underweight (OR = 0.66; 95% CI = 0.57–0.77) were lower among obese/overweight mothers compared to those with normal BMI, but their children were more likely to be overweight (RR = 1.77; 95% CI = 1.27–2.48). Conclusion: Attainment of higher education by mothers should be promoted to prevent childhood nutritional imbalances, and sensitization on healthy dietary habits and lifestyles should be promoted among women, especially the overweight/obese, to reduce their risk of having overweight children

An Assessment of Students’ Enrolment Rate In University Of Ilorin, Nigeria from 2019-2021: Implications for Management

Enrolment at all levels of education is regarded as one of the indices of measuring the growth and development of education system. It is against this backdrop that the study assesses the enrolments of students in the University of Ilorin and its implications for the management. In order to get data for the study, annual report of the university from 2019-2021 were used to provide answers to the two research questions that were formulated to guide the study. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive method of analysis. The findings of the study revealed that females were more enrolled than males at undergraduate level, while males were more enrolled than females at postgraduate level. Findings also indicate that there was low enrolment of international students in the university. Also, it was found that from the state enrolment statistics, Kwara state had high enrolment while Yobe state had low enrolment. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that more facilities should be made available for the population explosion of students and also, the admission for international students should be made seamless, this will ensure the internationalization of the university

Design and Preliminary Evaluation of a Dry Cowpea Dehuller

Cowpea dehulling is an important operation in the processing of cowpea. Traditional cowpea dehulling methods recognize the soaking of cowpea in water for a significant amount of time before manual abrasion is carried out either through the use of mortar and pestle, hands, or legs. Existing mechanical alternatives also require prolonged soaking of cowpea before dehulling occurs in addition to being expensive and beyond the reach of many rural populations. This study designed and fabricated a dry cowpea dehulling machine using engineering principles and with locally available materials. Components of the machine include the hopper, power transmission drive, dehulling chamber, polishing chamber, sieves, discharge chute, and agitator. Dry cowpea varieties of Brown Drum (15%Mc dB) and Oloyin (17.5%Mc dB) cowpea weighing 500 g each were fed into the machine at a constant speed of 358 rpm. Preliminary tests showed the “Brown Drum” cowpea variety recorded a maximum dehulling efficiency of 97.44% in 7 minutes while the Oloyin variety was completely dehulled in 7 minutes at 98.75% efficiency. The throughput capacity recorded was 450kg/hr and this machine raises the possibility of producing dry dehulled cowpea for domestic and industrial end-users

Malaysian student’s attitude towards organic food buying behaviour

In many developing countries export earnings account for a large percentage of the country Gross Domestic Product (GDP), government revenues and expenditures and public investment. High dependency on a limited number of commodities for export increases the economy vulnerability to price fluctuations in the global markets. Not only instability in export earnings reduces the ability of the economy to finance development, but also increases uncertainty about future growth. Economic diversification underscores the importance of productivity growth to balance development and reduce dependency on international markets. The new economy, driven by digital technologies could help developing countries diversify output and foster economic growth. Building capacity for digital development enhances the country capabilities to promote innovation, create knowledge and disseminate information. Digital networks increase communication as well as allow people, regions and nations to collaborate and share information aiming at fostering growth and sustaining development. For developing countries, external knowledge enhances the economy readiness to diversify output, create employment opportunities and improve global competitiveness

Women's Education, Maternal Health, Entrepreneurship and Development in Nigeria

In modern society, several studies have focused on women affairs in both developed and developing countries. Through some of such studies, some significant improvements have been recorded in the status of women in developed nations while the reverse has been the case in most developing countries such as Nigeria, mostly in the areas of education, maternal health, entrepreneurship and national development. This means women in developing countries are negatively affected in terms of education, maternal health, entrepreneurship and contributions national development in Nigeria. The present paper intends to discuss how women are negatively affected in these areas using data retrieved from a secondary source and content analysis as its methodology. The article used radical feminism theory to gain insight into the plight of women in Nigeria and advocated equal opportunity for men and women to develop their potentials in its concluding remarks. This could go a long way to ensure the transformation of women lives from poverty to affluence and enhance their immense contributions to societal development. Since contributions to national development depend on potentials which do not have any gender connotation, equal opportunity should be granted to male and female for capacity building. Such an effort could greatly enhance national development than when only one gender (male) is solely empowered

IMPACT OF DIESEL FUEL GENERATORS ON SOIL HEAVY METALS

Heavy metals are ubiquitous and are released into the atmosphere/ environment by a variety of natural processes, but their quantities have been greatly augmented by anthropogenic activities. This study investigated the concentration of heavy metals Iron (Fe), Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Zinc (Zn), Manganese (Mn) and Lead (Pb) in the soil around the power plant obtained at the old power plant, new power plant and a far-away point from the plants which served as the control. In each location, two samples were obtained top layer and bottom layer of soil. Standard laboratory methods were employed for all the analyses. High concentration was obtained for the selected heavy metals in the soil at both the old and the new power plants with Arsenic having an average of 0.67 mg/kg and 0.40 mg/kg, Lead having an average of 2.63 mg/kg and 1.67 mg/kg, Iron having 1.25 mg/kg and 0.95 mg/kg, Chromium having 1.08 mg/kg and 0.67 mg/kg, Cadmium having 1.46 mg/kg and 0.54 mg/kg, Manganese having 1.97 mg/kg and 1.86 mg/kg and Zinc having 2.43 mg/kg and 0.86 mg/kg at the old and new site respectively. All the obtained concentration levels are above the permissible limit of the United States, United Kingdom, Europe and WHO. It is expedient that necessary measures be put in place to control the emissions from the plants to reduce the contaminating impact of the soil around the power plant as well as moving some human intakes far from the locations

IMPACT OF DIESEL FUEL GENERATORS ON SOIL HEAVY METALS

Heavy metals are ubiquitous and are released into the atmosphere/ environment by a variety of natural processes, but their quantities have been greatly augmented by anthropogenic activities. This study investigated the concentration of heavy metals Iron (Fe), Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Zinc (Zn), Manganese (Mn) and Lead (Pb) in the soil around the power plant obtained at the old power plant, new power plant and a far-away point from the plants which served as the control. In each location, two samples were obtained top layer and bottom layer of soil. Standard laboratory methods were employed for all the analyses. High concentration was obtained for the selected heavy metals in the soil at both the old and the new power plants with Arsenic having an average of 0.67 mg/kg and 0.40 mg/kg, Lead having an average of 2.63 mg/kg and 1.67 mg/kg, Iron having 1.25 mg/kg and 0.95 mg/kg, Chromium having 1.08 mg/kg and 0.67 mg/kg, Cadmium having 1.46 mg/kg and 0.54 mg/kg, Manganese having 1.97 mg/kg and 1.86 mg/kg and Zinc having 2.43 mg/kg and 0.86 mg/kg at the old and new site respectively. All the obtained concentration levels are above the permissible limit of the United States, United Kingdom, Europe and WHO. It is expedient that necessary measures be put in place to control the emissions from the plants to reduce the contaminating impact of the soil around the power plant as well as moving some human intakes far from the locations

Dimensions of Vaccination Attitudes in Nigeria: A Study of the Impacts of COVID-19 Vaccine Risk Perception and Acceptance

Nigeria has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and vaccination is a key strategy. However, the country faces vaccination hesitancy, poor risk perception, and low acceptance. This study aimed to assess the direct and interactive impacts of COVID-19 vaccine risk perception and acceptability on COVID-19 vaccination attitudes in the general Nigerian population. In a cross-sectional approach, participants completed a structured questionnaire including demographics, COVID-19 vaccine risk perception, acceptance, and vaccination attitude from April 2-30, 2021. The sample included 1,026 participants from different ethnicities across four regions (Southwest, South, Southeast, and North Central) in Nigeria, which were selected using the convenience sampling method. Multivariate analysis of variance results showed that the COVID-19 vaccine’s risk perception and acceptability have separate and interactive effects on overall vaccination attitudes. Interactively, individuals with high-risk perceptions and low acceptance expressed more skepticism about its benefits, were concerned about its long-term body effects, believed more in its commercialization, and preferred natural immunity. Nigerians’ apprehension about COVID-19 vaccination is impacted by their high-risk perception and low vaccine uptake