A Three Area Interconnected Power System Network Load Frequency Controller Simulator

This paper presents a MATLAB simulator of a three area interconnected power system of Thermal-Gas-Hydro. Nonlinearities intrinsic in the interconnected power system of communication delay, Generation Rate Constraint and Generation Dead Band were measured. Bat Inspired Algorithm was exploited to select the favourable parameters of the Model Predictive Controller and the Super Conducting Magnetic Energy Storage. Model Predictive Controller was the subordinate controller employed to minimalize the Area Control Error, Super Conducting Magnetic Energy Storage was the energy buffer to balance the load demand and the power generated. Integral Time Absolute Error was the performance metrics employed to minimize the Area Control Error. Parametric dissimilarity was tested on the inter-connected power system to observe the efficacy of the controller. Step load perturbation of  was concurrently applied to the three-area inter-connected network,  was introduced to the thermal generating unit,  was introduced to the gas and hydro generating unit.  Value of the tie-line was introduced to examine its effect on the frequency deviation. The results performed better when compared with Model Predictive Controller joined with Super Conducting Magnetic Energy Storage against the Model Predictive Controller without Super Conducting Magnetic Energy Storage in relations to settling time, overshoot and undershoot

Detecting the existence of gene flow between Spanish and North African goats through a coalescent approach

Human-driven migrations are one of the main processes shaping the genetic diversity and population structure of domestic species. However, their magnitude and direction have been rarely analysed in a statistical framework. We aimed to estimate the impact of migration on the population structure of Spanish and African goats. To achieve this goal, we analysed a dataset of 1,472 individuals typed with 23 microsatellites. Population structure of African and Spanish goats was moderate (mean FST=0.07), with the exception of the Canarian and South African breeds that displayed a significant differentiation when compared to goats from North Africa and Nigeria. Measurement of gene flow with Migrate-n and IMa coalescent genealogy samplers supported the existence of a bidirectional gene flow between African and Spanish goats. Moreover, IMa estimates of the effective number of migrants were remarkably lower than those calculated with Migrate-n and classical approaches. Such discrepancies suggest that recent divergence, rather than extensive gene flow, is the main cause of the weak population structure observed in caprine breeds.

Multinational Oil Corporations and Governance in Nigeria’s Niger Delta in the era of the Resource Control Agitations, 1994-2004

This paper is a critique of the activities of multinational oil corporations and their cronies on matters concerning Nigeria’s oil producing areas between 1994 and 2004. Their activities which have come under the radar include the supply of arms to Nigeria’s Armed Forces and the Polic;, the detention, trial and execution of a popular Niger Delta activist, Ken Saro Wiwa and the distribution of money to chiefs and the youth. This paper offers historical explanations to debunk the popular view that agitations across the region (Niger Delta) were ethnic-based or efforts by minority people to get more representation in government and request for more revenue; rather it argues that it is a response to the failure of the government to regulate and control the activities of the multinational oil corporations thereby encouraging massive exploitation of Niger Delta people’s land and resources. The paper concludes that the past military regimes and the succeeding Obasanjo’s democratic administration did not manage the Niger Delta problem properly

Influence of Delay after Mixing on Compaction Characteristics of Cement- Locust Bean Waste Ash Modified Lateritic Soil

A lateritic soil modified with up to 4% of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and up to 8% of locust bean waste ash (LBWA) by dry  weight of soil was evaluated for use in road construction. Lateritic soil – OPC - LBWA mixtures were delayed for up to 3 hours aftermixing before compaction at British Standard light (BSL) energy, thus simulating the likely delay in the placement of the mixtures that might occur in the field. Results obtained show that maximum dry density (MDD) values of the natural soil increased from 1.62 to 1.79Mg/m3 at 3 hours delay after mixing when treated with 4% OPC/6% LBWA, while the optimum moisture content (OMC) values decreased from 16.2 to a minimum of 11.33% after 3 hours when the soil was treated with 2% OPC/4% LBWA blend. Statistical analysis was carried out on results obtained using analysis of variance (ANOVA) with the Microsoft Excel Analysis Tool Pak Software Package to determine the levels of significance of effect of cement/ and LBWA on the properties of the soil. The effects of cement and LBWA from the results obtained were not statistically significant on the compaction characteristics. Based on the results obtained from the study, it is recommended that an optimal mix of 2% OPC/6% LBWA be used for the modification of lateritic soil and should not be placed more than 2 hours after mixing for the construction of sub-base and base of lightly trafficked roads. ©University of Ibadan Keywords: Compaction, Delay, Lateritic soils, Locust bean waste as

Electroencephalographic Correlates of Cognition among Nigerian Women with Epilepsy on Anti-epileptic Monotherapy

Background: The prospect of EEG as a potential biomarker for detecting a cognitive decline in those living with epilepsy has not been extensively studied. Objective: To determine the relationship between electroencephalographic (EEG) changes and cognitive functions in Women with Epilepsy (WWE). Methods: The study involved 100 adult WWE aged between 16 and 40 years on Levetiracetam (LEV) or Carbamazepine (CAB) monotherapy. Zung Self-Reporting Depression Scale (ZSRDS) was used to assess the mood of participants while the Community Screening Interview for Dementia (CSID) was used to assess various cognition domains. Results:  The frequency of Periodic Epileptiform Discharges (PED) (p = 0.008), delta waves and theta waves (p = 0.004) were higher in WWE with Cognitive Impairment (CI) compared to those without CI. Lower cognitive scores were seen among those with delta wave across the domains of cognition with statistical significance for language fluency (p = 0.039), language comprehension (p = 0.000), and total CSID (p = 0.000). WWE with PED had a lower mean total CSID score compared to those without PED (p = 0.019). The absence of alpha wave (p = 0.027), presence of delta wave (p = 0.013), slow frequency (p = 0.015) and PED (p = 0.031) were EEG predictors of cognitive impairment. Medication type (p = 0.016) and depression (p = 0.001) were the clinical predictors of cognitive impairment in WWE. Conclusion: The frequencies of PED and slow waves were higher in WWE with CI while the absence of alpha wave, presence of delta wave and PED were EEG predictors of CI

The role of electrocardiogram in sex verification in a young adult with primary amenorrhea: a case report

Abstract Background The use of electrocardiogram for sex verification in adults is an emerging concept in medicine. It is feasible through the utilization of Ogunlade Sex Determination Electrocardiographic Score. The aim of this study was to use an electrocardiogram to verify the sex of a woman with primary amenorrhea. Case presentation We report a case of a 36-year-old woman of Yoruba ethnicity who presented with primary amenorrhea. A physical examination revealed a woman with a feminine appearance characterized by long plaited hair and well-developed breasts. As part of the investigations to unravel the sex status, she had a resting standard 12-lead electrocardiogram which revealed a masculine electrocardiogram pattern with Ogunlade Sex Determination Electrocardiographic Score of 9 (T-wave pattern in lead V1, 3; ST segment in lead V2 or V3, 3; QRS rotation, 2; heart rate of 79, 1). An abdominopelvic ultrasonography done by a radiologist showed absence of uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. When our patient was considered for transvaginal scan, she declined but embraced translabial ultrasound as she claimed to be a virgin. Translabial ultrasonography revealed the presence of undescended hypoplastic testes with associated testicular microlithiasis at the external inguinal rings bilaterally. Karyotyping using a blood sample revealed 46,XY and a sex-determining region Y report showed that the blood sample was positive for the SRY gene confirming the status as male. This synchronized with the initial electrocardiogram evaluation. The testes were later removed. Conclusion This report concluded that an electrocardiogram as a cheap, readily available and non-invasive test has a role in sex verification in young adults with primary amenorrhea

Hepatoprotective potential of Phyllanthus muellarianus leaf extract: studies on hepatic, oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers

Context: Leaves of Phyllanthus muellarianus (Kuntze) Exell. (Euphorbiacea) are widely used in the management of liver disorders in Nigeria. However, no there is no scientific validation to support this use. Objective: Hepatoprotective effect of Phyllanthus muellarianus aqueous leaf extract was investigated in acetaminophen-induced liver injury mice. Materials and methods: Hepatoprotective effect of Phyllanthus muellarianus aqueous leaf extract was evaluated in acetaminophen-induced hepatic damage in Swiss albino mice using biomarkers of hepatocellular indices, oxidative stress, proinflammatory factors and lipid peroxidation. Mice received distilled water, 100, 200, or 400 mg/kg b.w of Phyllanthus muellarianus aqueous leaf extract, respectively, for seven days. Treatment groups were challenged with 300 mg/kg b.w of acetaminophen on the sixth day. Results: Oral administration of Phyllanthus muellarianus aqueous leaf extract significantly (p < 0.05) attenuates acetaminophen-mediated alterations in serum alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, albumin and total bilirubin by 76.56, 85.41, 89.39, 82.77 and 78.38%. Similarly, acetaminophen-mediated decrease in activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase were significantly attenuated in the liver of mice by 85.10, 80.81, 80.45, 76.23 and 95.22%, respectively. Increased levels of conjugated dienes, lipid hydroperoxides, malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl, fragmented DNA, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6 and -8 were significantly lowered by Phyllanthus muellarianus aqueous leaf extract. Conclusion: Overall, results of this study show that Phyllanthus muellarianus halted acetaminophen-mediated hepatotoxicity due to its capability to enhance antioxidant enzymes