Public water supply quality management in Nigeria

This paper examines the management of public water supply quality in Nigeria, reviews the major outcomes of a nation-wide study on this, outlines the main challenges and makes recommendations on the water forward

Perception and attitude of postgraduate students of Library and Information Science towards scholarly publications in Nigeria

The paper investigated the perception and attitude of postgraduate (PG) students of Library and Information Science (LIS) towards scholarly publications in Nigeria. The study is a survey research anchored on the post-positivism research paradigm. The research employed the use of questionnaire and interview in order to allow for effective triangulation of the research findings. Purposive sampling was used to select five universities accredited to run both Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in Library and Information Science by National University Commissions. The population of the study is fifty which comprises of ten postgraduate students from each of the five purposively selected universities. The findings of the study revealed that LIS postgraduate students are aware of scholarly publications and their attitude toward publishing from their research works is regarded as very good policy. In addition, journal is the most used channel in which they make their research findings known to the academic communities. Inadequate mentoring opportunity is a challenge facing the LIS graduate students in developing interest in scholarly publications. Based on the findings of the study, there is a need for the university managements through the postgraduate schools to create enabling environments that will promote research and innovation in Nigerian universities. Qualified lecturers should be employed to handle research aspects of LIS PG curriculum. Keywords: perception, attitude. postgraduate students, Library and Information Science, scholarly publications, Nigeria

Awareness, benefits and drawbacks of net zero energy building practices: construction industry professional’s perceptions

In a bid to overcome climate change and global warming, the adoption of net zero energy building (nZEB) practices in construction projects has become a viable measure of reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions in buildings. nZEB is a facility with a significantly lowered energy needs such that the rest of the energy requirements can be supplied by on-site or off-site renewable technologies. The present study therefore investigated the awareness, benefits and challenges confronting the actualization of nZEB in Nigeria construction industry. A cross sectional survey design was adopted wherein a close ended questionnaire was purposively administered online to construction industry professionals who have understanding of nZEB initiatives. Descriptive statistical tests were conducted, with the results showing about 9% and 25% of the selected professionals been not aware of nZEB concepts and have not been involved in the concept in their professional career. Further details revealed that reduction in the land use effect, reduction in vulnerability of power infrastructures to vandalism and economic competitiveness were dominant benefits of nZEB practices. However, low return on investment, conflict with public policy regulation and policy clarity, lack of evaluation and valuation processes were perceived as the top hindering factors to nZEB practices. The implication for practice is for construction stakeholders to participate and develop effective implementation strategies towards nZEB for could be ecological and economical friendly

A Dependable Model for Attaining Maximum Authentication Security Procedure in a Grid Based Environment

Grid computing is an emergent computing innovation which offers endless access to computing infrastructure across various organizations (academia and industry). Since this technology allows aggregation of various computer systems for usage by different users to run applications, the information stored on it which may be sensitive and private, remains vulnerable. According to related research on the attribute based access control for grid computing there is no adequate and appropriate security mechanism to authorize and authenticate users before accessing information on a grid system. The issue of security in grid technology has not been fully addressed even though it is a precondition for optimizing grid usability. Having realized the paucity of security guarantees, this research work focuses on developing a model for securing data and applications deployed on a grid on the basis of double identity authentication and public key. The implementation of the model has undoubtedly guaranteed the security of sensitive information on a grid vis-a-vis strict adherence to security policies and protocols

UDCA: Energy Optimization III Wireless Sensor Networks Using Uniform Distributed Clustering Algorithms

Transceivers are the major energy consumption in a Wireless Sensor Network which is made of low-power, small in size, low cost and multi-functional nodes. These sensor nodes are operated by batteries which put significant constraint to the energy available to them. Each sensor node collects sensed data and forwards it to a single processing centre called the base station which uses all reported data to detect an event or determine the changes in an environment. In present study, we propose energy optimization in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) using uniform distributed clustering algorithms. One ofthe algorithms distributes cluster heads uniformly in each cluster and each non -cluster head transmit its data to the cluster heads with short distance which reduces the communication distance of each node. Thus, minimizes the energy consumption of sensor nodes. The second algorithm generates cluster heads in hierarchical form in order to transmit the aggregate data to the base station. It was observed that there is increase in energy savings as we move from bottom up in the hierarchy. Both UDCA protocol and Low Energy Adaptive Cluster Hierarchy protocol (LEACH) were simulated. The simulation results show significant reduction in energy consumption of sensor nodes and cluster heads are more uniformly distributed among all nodes in UDCA compare with LEACH and extend the wireless sensor networks lifetime

Activity of varying compositions of CoeNieP catalysts for the methanolysis of ammonia borane

Various compositions of CoeNieP catalysts supported on a palladium-activated Al2O3 (Pd eAl2O3) substrate were synthesized, characterized and investigated for catalytic methanolysis of ammonia-borane (AB, H3NBH3). The CoeNieP/PdeAl2O3 catalysts were synthesized by polymer-stabilized Pd nanoparticle-catalyzation and activation of the Al2O3 substrate support and the electroless deposition of cobalt-nickel (CoeNi) metal particles on the surface of the Al2O3 support for a plating time of 30 min. The CoeNieP/PdeAl2O3 catalysts are stable enough to be isolated as solid materials and characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). At 40 ± 0.5 �C, the isolable, re-dispersible and reusable catalysts were found active in the methanolytic dehydrogenation of ammonia-borane retaining up to 65% of its initial activity after five cycles. Rates of hydrogen evolution were used to determine the kinetics of methanolysis reaction. The ranges of examined catalyst particle amounts, AB concentrations and temperatures were 15.75e63 mg, 50e200 mM, and 30e55 �C, respectively. Hydrogen desorption was identified as the rate controlling step in the methanolysis reaction and using the data, the kinetic rate constant (€kH2 ), the hydrogen desorption equilibrium constant (KH2 ), and the overall equilibrium constant (K1) parameters in a LangmuireHinshelwood rate expression were determined to be 1.4 mol/g-cat. s, 1.5918 L/ mol and 1.5986 L/mol, respectively. Activation parameters such as enthalpy of activation (DH), entropy of activation (DS), and activation energy (Ea) that were obtained by Eyring and Arrhenius equations are reported for the various catalyst ratio

ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES OF CRUDE METHANOLIC EXTRACT AND FRACTIONS OF THE BULB OF CRINUM JAGUS (LINN)

Crinum jagus is a medicinal plant used traditionally in Nigeria to treat infectious diseases such astuberculosis andmalaria. In the present study, the antimicrobial properties of the crude extract and chromatographic fractions from the bulb of Crinum jaguswere investigated against clinical and laboratoryisolates of bacteria and fungi using both agar well diffusion and agar dilution methods.Ampicillin (antibacterial) and tiaconazole(antifungal) were used as positive reference standard drugs.The crude plant extract and its fractionsdemonstrated broad spectrum activityagainst all the bacteriaand fungi isolatestested. Fraction 1 (24.00 mm zone of inhibition, MIC: 0.20 μg/mL, MBC:0.39μg/mL, MFC: 0.78μg/mL)demonstrated the highest activity, followed by Fraction 2 (24.00mm zone of inhibition, MIC: 0.39μg/mL, MBC: 0.78μg/mL, MFC: 1.56μg/mL. Fraction 3 (20:00mm zone of inhibition, MIC: 0.78μg/mL, MBC: 0.78μg/mL, MFC: 1.56μg/mL,). The crude extract howeverdemonstratedthe least activity against the test bacteria and fungi (18.00 mm zone of inhibition,MIC: 6.25mg/mL, MB: 25.00mg/mL, MFC: 50mg/mL.Preliminary phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids,saponinsand steroids which may account for the antimicrobialactivity of theplant. The result of the study demonstrated that the extractand fractions of the bulb of Crinum jagus has appreciable antimicrobial properties and suggest that it may be useful in the treatment of microbial infections

Human Campylobacteriosis in Developing Countries1

Campylobacteriosis is a collective description for infectious diseases caused by members of the bacterial genus Campylobacter. The only form of campylobacteriosis of major public health importance is Campylobacter enteritis due to C. jejuni and C. coli. Research and control efforts on the disease have been conducted more often in developed countries than developing countries. However, because of the increasing incidence, expanding spectrum of infections, potential of HIV-related deaths due to Campylobacter, and the availability of the complete genome sequence of C. jejuni NCTC 11168, interest in campylobacteriosis research and control in developing countries is growing. We present the distinguishing epidemiologic and clinical features of Campylobacter enteritis in developing countries relative to developed countries. National surveillance programs and international collaborations are needed to address the substantial gaps in the knowledge about the epidemiology of campylobacteriosis in developing countries

Threats to E-Government Implementation in the Civil Service: Nigeria as a Case Study

The rapid advancement in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has undoubtedly influenced positive changes in carrying out administrative functions in government institutions. The ICT adoption rate in Africa is not impressive when compared to the more developed countries of the world. Nigeria, as a case study in this scenario, has also not implemented E-Government impressively, according to the required standards set up by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). A comprehensive study conducted on the application and implementation of E-Government in Nigeria has provided some metrics that examine the stumbling blocks for realization of adequate and efficient E-Government implementation in the civil service. The research was carried out in the federal civil service in Nigeria in two phases namely, pre-IT implementation phase and post-IT implementation phase. Our findings reveal that ICT implementation will remain elusive in the civil service as long as the as threats explained below remain unaddressed. It has therefore been asserted that the need to overcome these threats is a precondition for realization of E-Government implementation in the federal civil servic