Characteristics of Early Ecclesiastical Architecture in Lagos State in Nigeria

Considering the fact that the period between 1854 and 1929AD has been identified as the first phase of emergence and development of ecclesiastical architecture in Nigeria, this, therefore, became the earliest period and this study examined the characteristics of the church buildings during this period. Among the churches that were built during this period, five were significantly prominent and still exist. This study examined two because those buildings shared similar characteristics. As the study was an explorative one and historical in nature it adopted qualitative method of non-participant observation, historical and unstructured interview methods of gathering data using descriptive method of analysis. This study found that Churches were dominated by foreign established missions as indigenous ones were yet to evolve. Gothic style dominated the period characterised by its usual strong focus on verticality, pointed arches, rib vaults, flying buttresses, large stained glass windows, ornaments and pinnacles. Construction works and financing relied heavily on foreign input. It also noted that construction materials were imported and the church buildings were more of foreign monuments rather than industrial or make-shift. Nigerian cultural, geographical, geological, climatic, existing religious and social factors were not major considerations. The study concluded that the characteristics of the early church buildings were significantly at variance with the current trends

Grass Species Density and Biomass of South African Communal Property Association Farms Differing in Soil Properties

Attempts to monitor and mitigate rangeland deterioration in Communal Property Associations projects require some understanding of the knowledge of species composition and distribution. The study was conducted to compare the herbaceous in three selected CPAs projects (Mashung Matlala - Sandy loam, Mawela - clay loam, and Bela-Bela - clay) in South Africa. Mawela and Mashung Matlala CPAs were overgrazed. For species density, basal strike, and biomass, three transects (500m), which served as replicates, were established at two camps of each of the selected CPAs. Variation in herbaceous vegetation parameters was explored through SAS software. Clay soil type had better (P \u3c 0.05) mineral concentration levels when compared to other two soil types. Pooled data from all sites revealed that, in terms of grazing value, all CPAs share the same amount (33 %) of species. Eragrostis curvula was dominant in clay-loam and common in clay and sandy loam. Eragrostis rigidior was common in clay and clay loam and rare in sandy loam. Clay soil type had the highest (P\u3c 0.05) DM yield (711.8 kg/ha ±54.82) and Basal strike (38% ± 3.28) and less forbs (0.46 % ± 0.98). The results suggest that there should be an improvement in the utilisation of rangelands in CPA through administering proper stocking rate in line with carrying capacity of the rangelands

The resilience of indigenous knowledge in small-scale African agriculture: key drivers

The successful use of indigenous knowledge (IK) in development practice in rural Africa over the last couple of decades has proved to be elusive and disappointing. Using empirical field data from northern Malawi, this study suggests that the two key drivers for farmers in this area are household food security and the maintenance of soil fertility. Indigenous ways of knowing underpin the agricultural system which has been developed, rather than the adoption of more modern, ‘scientific’ ways, to deliver against these drivers. Such IKs, however, are deeply embedded in the economic, social and cultural environments in which they operate

Modelling of digesta passage rates in grazing and browsing domestic and wild ruminant herbivores

Ruminant utilization of poor-quality feeds is governed by rates of digestion and of passage through the rumen. The passage rate of feed material determines the quantity of bypass nutrients and the efficiency of synthesis of microbial protein in the rumen, making modelling of passage rate important. Artificial neural networks were used to develop models of liquid and solid passage rates. Studies that reported fractional passage rates, along with class and body mass of ruminants, were included in the dataset. Factors that affect rates of passage in all the studies were identified, which included animal and feed factors. The dataset was composed of observations of domestic and wild ruminants of variable body mass (1.5 to 1238 kg) from 74 studies and 17 ruminant species from various climatic regions. Observations were randomly divided into two data subsets: 75% for training and 25% for validation. Developed models accounted for 66 and 82% of the variation in prediction of passage rates for solid and liquid, respectively. On validation with an independent dataset, these models attained 42 and 64% of precision in predicting passage rates for solid and liquid, respectively. Liquid and solid prediction passage rate models had no linear and mean bias in prediction. This study developed better prediction models for solid and liquid passage rates for ruminants fed on a variety of diets and/or feeds from different climatic regions.Keywords: Artificial neural networks, intake, mean retention time, prediction equation, rume

Physiological parameters of seed vigour in ex situ stored sorghum germplasm

Viability and vigour are seed quality parameters that affect the seed chain. Seed vigour is a measure of accumulated damage in seed as viability declines from physiological maturity. This study aimed at determining the seed vigour of various sorghum genotypes stored ex situ for 10 years using the Heat Shock Stress Test (HSST), Cold Test (CT), Standard Germination Test (SGT) and field germination. The samples from the regeneration trial were kept in ex situ storage at 0-4°C and 40% relative humidity from 2003 to 2014. The experiments were arranged in a completely randomised design with four replication and differences in radicle length, shoot length for the 65 genotypes evaluated at 5% level of significance. An unpaired T- test was used to compare the accuracy of the quality methods in predicting field emergence. All the evaluated genotypes responded differentially to all the vigour test methods. There were significant differences (P<0.01) in the performance of genotypes with respect to radical and shoot length in response to the CT, HSST and the SGT. The results of CT and HSST predicted field emergence better than the standard germination test. None of the quality test methods and a strong and significant correlation with field emergence. Genotypes IS 30260 and IS 34637 were vigourous as they had the highest shoot length of 43.75 and 42.38 mm and IS 30063 had 45.52 mm in root length after 48 h of incubation. Overall, this study showed that field emergence of sorghum cannot be accurately predicted from a standard germination, HSST and CT

Modelling of natural fire occurrences : a case of South Africa

Abstract: In contemporary literature there have been growing concerns regarding preservations of natural ecosystems. Given the global growth in awareness of global warming, the need for natural fire prediction models has grown rapidly. Using South Africa as a case study, we evaluate the potential of integrating several natural fire prediction models and geographical information system (GIS) platforms. Initially, natural fire prone regions in South Africa were spatially demarcated basing on municipal historical data records. Thereafter, the natural fire prediction models were applied/tested in parallel to identify the best prediction models that give optimum results in predicting natural fires. The models were assessed for accuracy using historical data. Preliminary results reveal locations in the North West, Mpumalanga and Limpopo province had the highest recorded potential for natural fires. In conclusion, the work demonstrates huge potential of prediction models in informing the likelihood of natural fire outbreaks. Lastly, the work recommends the adoption of natural fire prediction models and the subsequent formulation and use of relevant future natural fire mitigation policies and techniques to avert disasters in time

Group classification of the two-dimensional magnetogasdynamics equations in Lagrangian coordinates

The present paper is devoted to the group classification of magnetogasdynamics equations in which dependent variables in Euler coordinates depend on time and two spatial coordinates. It is assumed that the continuum is inviscid and nonthermal polytropic gas with infinite electrical conductivity. The equations are considered in mass Lagrangian coordinates. Use of Lagrangian coordinates allows reducing number of dependent variables. The analysis presented in this article gives complete group classification of the studied equations. This analysis is necessary for constructing invariant solutions and conservation laws on the base of Noether's theorem

Harvesting Site Influenced the Concentration Level of Nitrogen and Mineral Status of Woody Species in Semi-Arid Areas of South Africa

Feed shortages in semi-arid areas cause a major set-back for livestock production. An understanding of the nutritive value of woody species in most parts of savanna regions can be vital to predicting what these species can offer for livestock productivity. The study assessed the variation in nitrogen and mineral concentration of leaves of woody species as influenced by harvesting site in South Africa. The study sites were communal areas in Limpopo and North West provinces. A total of 52 browse species were selected and used for this study. All statistical tests showed that there was a significant effect of species and site on both nitrogen and mineral concentrations of species. In Limpopo Province, the concentration of phosphorus and calcium was high in Adansonia Digitata species, while Androstachys Johnsonii had the lowest concentration of P and Ca. The highest (P \u3c 0.05) nitrogen level was obtained in Berchemia discolour, while the lowest (P \u3c 0.05) value was obtained in Euclea divinorum in Limpopo province. Bridelia mollis H. had the highest (P \u3c 0.05) zinc (Zn) concentration, whereas Berchemia zyheri had the lowest (P \u3c 0.05) Zn value in Limpopo province. Searsia lancea and Searsia pyroides in North-West sites had higher P when compared to all other species in the same sites. Diospyros lycioides also exhibited the highest (P \u3c 0.05) magnesium concentration level of all other species in the same sites. Prosopis velutina had the highest (P \u3c 0.05) copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) compared to all other species in the same NW sites. Senegalia caffra, Grewia flava, Vachellia karroo, Vachellia nilotica subsp. kraussiana, Searsia leptodictya, and Melia azedarach found in the Limpopo province had the highest (P \u3c 0.05) phosphorus level when compared to the same species found in the North-West province. Senegalia caffra, Peltophorum africanum, Grewia. flava, Vachellia hebeclada, and Terminalia sericea found in the North-West province sites had the highest (P \u3c 0.05) iron levels when compared to the same species found in Limpopo province. Nitrogen concentration was regulated by the harvesting location and woody species. With the exception of Terminalia sericea, P Peltophorum africanum from Limpopo province, all browse species from all sites exhibited N concentrations more than 1.28%. There is a need to provide supplementation to those animals exposed to species that have a lower concentration of certain elements

National South African HIV prevalence estimates robust despite substantial test non-participation

Background. South African (SA) national HIV seroprevalence estimates are of crucial policy relevance in the country, and for the worldwide HIV response. However, the most recent nationally representative HIV test survey in 2012 had 22% test non-participation, leaving the potential for substantial bias in current seroprevalence estimates, even after controlling for selection on observed factors. Objective. To re-estimate national HIV prevalence in SA, controlling for bias due to selection on both observed and unobserved factors in the 2012 SA National HIV Prevalence, Incidence and Behaviour Survey. Methods. We jointly estimated regression models for consent to test and HIV status in a Heckman-type bivariate probit framework. As selection variable, we used assigned interviewer identity, a variable known to predict consent but highly unlikely to be associated with interviewees’ HIV status. From these models, we estimated the HIV status of interviewed participants who did not test. Results. Of 26 710 interviewed participants who were invited to test for HIV, 21.3% of females and 24.3% of males declined. Interviewer identity was strongly correlated with consent to test for HIV; declining a test was weakly associated with HIV serostatus. Our HIV prevalence estimates were not significantly different from those using standard methods to control for bias due to selection on observed factors: 15.1% (95% confidence interval (CI) 12.1 - 18.6) v. 14.5% (95% CI 12.8 - 16.3) for 15 - 49-year-old males; 23.3% (95% CI 21.7 - 25.8) v. 23.2% (95% CI 21.3 - 25.1) for 15 - 49-year-old females. Conclusion. The most recent SA HIV prevalence estimates are robust under the strongest available test for selection bias due to missing data. Our findings support the reliability of inferences drawn from such data

Two dimensional dynamical systems which admit Lie and Noether symmetries

We prove two theorems which relate the Lie point symmetries and the Noether symmetries of a dynamical system moving in a Riemannian space with the special projective group and the homothetic group of the space respectively. The theorems are applied to classify the two dimensional Newtonian dynamical systems, which admit a Lie point/Noether symmetry. Two cases are considered, the non-conservative and the conservative forces. The use of the results is demonstrated for the Kepler - Ermakov system, which in general is non-conservative and for potentials similar to the H\`enon Heiles potential. Finally it is shown that in a FRW background with no matter present, the only scalar cosmological model which is integrable is the one for which 3-space is flat and the potential function of the scalar field is exponential. It is important to note that in all applications the generators of the symmetry vectors are found by reading the appropriate entry in the relevant tables.Comment: 25 pages, 17 table