Marketing of bambara nut (okpa): Unlocking its potential for food and income security in Udenu Local Government Area, of Enugu State, Nigeria

The work was carried out to analyze marketing of Bambara nut : unlocking its potential for food and income security in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria. Considering its perceived high consumption in the study area and following some challenges in the supply of the produce. The specific objectives of the study described the various marketing functions performed by the marketers; estimated the cost and returns associated in bambara nut marketing in the study area; ascertained the factors that influence the net return from bambara nut marketers and identified the constraints faced by bambara nut marketers in the study area. Two (2) major markets in the study area were purposively selected; random sampling technique was used in selecting the respondents for the study. Data were collected from 80 respondents using a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools such as; percentage, mean and frequencies, budgetary techniques and Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression. The most common marketing functions performed by the marketers were identified to include exchange and physical functions. Result showed that mean net return from bambara marketing was ₦205251.12; cost benefit ratio was 1.26 and profitability index of the marketers was 0.21. The significant variables that affect net returns include household size (1%), marketing experience (1%), sex (1%), access to credit (10%), cooperative membership (1%), purchase cost (1%). However, high cost of transportation was the major constraint to marketing in the area. Marketers were recommended to undertake facilitating function which is used to describe those activities which make the exchange and physical distribution processes possible such as product standardization and grading, market promotion, financing, risk bearing and market intelligence

Strategies for mitigating wind-induced motion in tall buildings through aerodynamic and damping modifications

Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2012.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (p. 50-55).The advent of modern structural systems, spurred by advances in construction methodology and high strength materials, has driven the height of modern skyscrapers beyond what was once deemed possible. Although science and technology has been able to increase the strength of building materials such as steel and concrete, their material stiffness has remained virtually unchanged. The end result is a wave of taller, slender and more flexible skyscrapers that are very susceptible to wind-induced excitations. Ever mindful of the fact that human comfort levels are affected by perceived structural responses, engineers must employ various strategies to satisfy serviceability constraints. This thesis presents an overview, in addition to successful applications, of the various aerodynamic and damping modifications that are used to control wind-induced motion in tall buildings. Finally, a modified gyrostabilizer, akin to those used in luxury yachts, is proposed as a possible active control mechanism. The feasibility of this device was studied using simple statics and rigid body dynamics.by Nnabuihe Nnamani.M.Eng

Institutional Mechanisms for Human Rights Protection in Nigeria: An Appraisal

Human rights are guaranteed in the constitutions of various countries of the world. There are legal and institutional mechanisms for protecting the human rights guaranteed in these constitutions. This paper has focused on the institutional mechanisms for human rights protection in Nigeria. The meaning, features and importance of human rights are dealt with in the introduction. This paper discussed three major institutions that are involved in the protection of human rights within Nigeria. These are: the National Human Rights Commission, the Public Complaints Commission and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. It discussed the mandate statutorily given National Human Rights Commission, its activities and the complaint mechanism. The Public Complaints Commission is discussed in line with its powers and duties under the law that established it. The writer noted that while the first two institutions discussed are permanent in nature, the last is ad hoc. This paper concludes by making some recommendations that will strengthen these institutions in the discharge of their duties under enabling laws. It must be pointed out that the court is a major institution involved in the protection of the first generation rights. However, the role of the court will not be discussed in this article

Causes of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding in Nigeria

Aim This study was carried out to determine the aetiology and management outcome of patients with UGIB presenting at our facility located in Southwest Nigeria and compare them to the few studies done in the Northern part of the country and other parts of the world

Resolving ethical dilemmas : 50 cases from Africa for teaching and training

This is an honest, tough and practical book in which real people recount their real predicaments concerning poverty, sex, bribes, school fees, forced marriage, healers and traditional rites. Ethics is about what is good and bad. An ethical dilemma, however, is not a decision between good and bad but between bad solutions. The question then is which solution is the “least unethical”. This book presents 50 real-life cases in the contexts of scholarly, private, professional and public life. The cases in this book have been shared for teachers, students and professional practitioners, to be used in teaching and training or individual study, to test personal intuitions and encourage reflection on ethical decisions

Works created by artificial intelligence: Intellectual property or not?

The continued advancement in innovation and technology continues to radically change what is believed to be possible. The progress of technology particularly in the field of entertainment has been most profound. In 1995, British musician, David Bowie and a colleague, Ty Roberts, created the Verbalizer – a program which could take up to 25 sentences and groups of words, rearrange them aleatorically into different combination and by so doing, create new lyrics. In 2016 researchers at Sony took the concept of Artificial Intelligence music a step further. Using a software called Flow Machines they created a melody in the style of The Beatles. In this article we consider the place of works created by Artificial Intelligence, the status of such works as intellectual property and who the owners of such intellectual property should be where Artificial Intelligence is involved in the creative process. This article argues that works created by artificial intelligence software and robots ought to qualify as intellectual property provided other requirements (such as originality) are met. The article however queries whether such intellectual property rights should lie with human inventors or the artificial intelligence. This work also recommends that the extant laws on the recognition and protection of intellectual property rights be amended to reflect the growing involvement of artificial intelligence in the field of intellectual property

Combating Corruption in Nigeria: A Critical Appraisal of the Laws, Institutions, and the Political Will

This paper seeks to critically examine the legal and institutional framework for combating corruption that existed before Nigeria\u27s nascent democracy, and the anti-corruption mechanisms and measures put in place by the Obasanjo regime. The effectiveness of the laws and the institutions and their limitations will be considered. Lastly, the political will to fight corruption will also be examined

Interference and noise cancellation for joint communication radar (JCR) system based on contextual information

This paper examines the separation of wireless communication and radar signals, thereby guaranteeing cohabitation and acting as a panacea to spectrum sensing. First, considering that the channel impulse response was known by the receivers (communication and radar), we showed that the optimizing beamforming weights mitigate the interference caused by signals and improve the physical layer security (PLS) of the system. Furthermore, when the channel responses were unknown, we designed an interference filter as a low-complex noise and interference cancellation autoencoder. By mitigating the interference on the legitimate users, the PLS was guaranteed. Results showed that even for a low signal-to-noise ratio, the autoencoder produces low root-mean-square error (RMSE) values.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figure

Aerodynamic Drag Reduction of Class 8 Tractor-Trailers using External Attachments

Short Abstract: Aerodynamic drag of tractor-trailers using add-on devices were studied using CFD simulations and wind tunnel testing on scale-model. Five external attachments were tested for effectiveness: (i) front fairing, (ii) trailer top, (iii) side skirt, (iv) gap cover and (v) trailing end oval. The resulting aerodynamic drag coefficients were significantly lower. Full Abstract: Aerodynamic drag has significant influence on fuel consumption in large tractor-trailers. The primary objective of the current study is to reduce aerodynamic drag using add-on devices. Two approaches have been employed to measure the effectiveness of these devices: CFD simulation and scale model testing in wind tunnel. A 3D full-scale model was developed in SOLIDWORKS package. In addition, a scale model prototype was constructed to perform wind tunnel tests. Five external attachments were tested for effectiveness: (i) front fairing, (ii) trailer top, (iii) side skirt, (iv) gap cover and (v) rear end oval. The drag reducing effects of the attachments were measured at various air speeds using both CFD and wind-tunnel simulations. The drag reducing effects of the various add-on devices and agreements between the results from CFD and wind tunnel testing were recorded. The resulting drag coefficients (C¬d) were significantly lower than those without add-ons. The wind tunnel model was limited to 15 inches in length, compared to over 70 feet for a real tractor-trailer. Tests were also conducted for various yaw angles for their effects on drag. This study demonstrated the importance of optimizing a tractor-trailer shape by streamlining the airflow around and over the tractor-trailer assembly

An Assessment of the Causes of Low Performance in Music in Junior Secondary Schools in Enugu State: A Focus on Nsukka Local Government Area

Music is the centre piece of life which gives human life a meaning and makes his existence worth its value. It determines man's interactional achievements and all that becomes of it and characterize the pattern of life and the extent of development in any society. This articles titled “An assessment of the causes of low performance in Music in J.S.S in Enugu State: A focus on Nsukka Local Government Area” discovered from the data presented that the students' are not interested in studying music, there is acute shortage of music teachers and musical instruments. Others include low level of government's financial support and non-availability of qualified music teachers in the area. The study adopted the empirical and historical methodologies before arriving at these results. Five (5) secondary schools within the local government were studied, two (200) hundred questionnaires were distributed and a total of one (150) hundred fifty returned and analyzed using frequency distribution tables and percentages. Results were presented and the qualities of a good and effective music teacher presented