Integrated solutions for urban sustainability in Lagos, Nigeria: enhancing housing accessibility and transportation efficiency

In this paper, we focus on the sustainability of housing and transport in Lagos, Nigeria. The study's goal is to give a complete assessment of Lagos' existing housing condition and to identify urban priority areas that need immediate intervention. The paper also suggests building large public housing developments that do not become exclusive estates for the wealthy, as well as implementing flexible layout plans that prioritise locations above automotive traffic and movement. According to the research, the Lagos metropolis government should address transport concerns immediately and then address other sustainability challenges affecting the city. The paper suggests that geographic information systems and remote sensing technology be used to track rapidly increasing areas and aid in better policy decisions, spatial planning, land management, and infrastructure development. The paper also recommends the development of integrated, pedestrian-friendly mass transit networks, as well as a shift in social and cultural values to emphasise the benefits of non-motorized modes of transportation. Finally, the report emphasises the importance of policies that promote multi-story residential construction, participatory slum upgrading initiatives, mortgage-based homeownership plans, site and service programmes, private sector estate development, and phased urban neighbourhood regeneration. Future work will include analysing the implications of other SDGs relating to sustainable cities

FANET optimization: a destination path flow model

Closed-loop routing in flying ad hoc networks (FANET) arises as a result of the quick changes of communication links and topology. As such, causing link breakage during information dissemination. This paper proposed a destination path flow model to improve the communication link in FANET. The models utilized Smell Agent Optimization and Particle Swarm Optimization algorithms in managing link establishment between communicating nodes. The modeled scenario depicts the practical application of FANET in media and sports coverage where only one vendor is given the license for live coverage and must relay to other vendors. Three different scenarios using both optimization Algorithms were presented. From the result obtained, the SAO optimizes the bandwidth costs much better than PSO with a percentage improvement of 10.46%, 4.04% and 3.66% with respect to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd scenarios respectively. In the case of communication delay between the FANET nodes, the PSO has a much better communication delay over SAO with percentage improvement of 40.89%, 50.26% and 68.85% in the first, second and third scenarios respectively

EMPLOYEE MOTIVATION AND PUBLIC SECTOR FRAUD: EVIDENCE FROM KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

This study examines the relationship between fraud and employee motivation in the Kwara State public sector with a view to ascertain what will happen to fraud occurrence if good salary, allowances and perquisites, effective working hours, conducive environment, timely promotion are put in place. Multistage sampling technique was used in obtaining the primary data used from 870 respondents selected from 7 local governments in the state and were analysed using Ordinary Least Square Regression and Friedman ANOVA test but interpreted using R2, adjusted R2, Durbin Watson Statistics, F statistics and t statistics. The results show that employee motivational factors (salary, perquisites and regular promotion) can reduce fraud activities among the state employees; this is in consonance with theoretical expectations (Douglas McGregor’s theory Y, Abraham Maslow’s needs theory and Fredric Herzberg’s two-factor theory). Contrarily, allowances, conducive environment and training show a positive relationship with fraud and this is at variance with a-priori expectations. The study recommends that government should improve the working conditions of its employee including the provision of improved salary structure, prompt payment of entitlements and regular promotions as well as provided adequate training to motivate employees towards efficiency, commitment and inhibit fraud inclinations. If all these are in place and erring officials are made to face the full wrath of the law without bias, the state economy in particular and Nigeria economy in general will be better for it.Â

Chloroquine reduces urinary excretion of cloxacillin when it is administered concurrently with ampicillin-cloxacillin combination

Purpose: To investigate a possible effect of chloroquine on urinary excretion of cloxacillin when chloroquine is administered concurrently with ampicillin-cloxacillin combination. Methods: Eight healthy adult volunteers received single oral doses of Ampiclox® (ampicillin-cloxacillin combination) alone and in combination with chloroquine in a cross-over study design with one week washout period between the drug administrations. Total urine voided was collected from each volunteer at predetermined time intervals for a period of 9 hr. The urine was analyzed for cloxacillin by a reversed-phase HPLC method. Results: A significant reduction in the amount of cloxacillin excreted in urine was observed following the co-administration of chloroquine and the ampicillin-cloxacillin combination products. The mean total amount of cloxacillin (Du¥), maximum peak of excretion (Dumax) and % dose excreted after Ampliclox® was administered alone were 84.6 ± 57.0 mg, 49.5 ±41.6 mg and 33.9 ± 22.7% respectively. The corresponding values after co-administration with chloroquine were 30.2 ± 27.2 mg, 13.5 ± 10.4 mg and 12.1 ±10.9%. The respective times of maximum absorption (Tmax) and elimination half-life (t1/2) of cloxacillin were 2.7 ± 0.4 hr and 0.7 ± 0.4 hr after Ampiclox® alone and 1.5 ± 0.8 hr and 0.6 ± 0.5 hr after co-administration of the two drugs. The results showed a significant decrease (p < 0.0001) in the mean total amount as well as % dose of cloxacillin excreted in urine by 64% and a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the Tmax of excretion by 45%. Conclusion: There is appreciable reduction in the urinary excretion of cloxacillin when given concurrently with chloroquine. The mode of this interaction and possible therapeutic implication is unknown. However, caution should be exercised when prescribing or administering these two drugs together. Key words: Drug-drug interaction, bioavailability, chloroquine, cloxacillin Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research 2003; 2(1): 169-17

COMPARISON OF AGRICULTURE WITH OIL ENHANCEMENT: SURVIVING STRATEGY FOR ECONOMIC MELTDOWN IN NIGERIA

This paper compares the place of Agriculture and Oil in repositioning Nigerian economy towards a path of steady economic growth with a view to establishing which strategy (agriculture or oil enhancement) that  is appropriate to checkmate the associated pains of ongoing global economic, financial and food crisis in the country. The secondary data used in this study are those relating to the contributions of Agriculture and Oil to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (Principal variables) while Manufacturing and Service Sectors serve as control variables. These were obtained from Central Bank of Nigeria Annual Reports and Accounts and were analysed using Ordinary Least Square after conducting Augmented Dickey Fuller Unit Roots (ADF), Granger Causality Test as well as Johanson Co-integration Test while Actual Fitted and Residual plot was generated to test the presence of auto or serial correlation in the data. The study reveals that although Oil contributes more to export earnings in Nigeria, it has little contribution to GDP due to its associated vices of communal classes, uneven development, its limited life and crowd out of other sectors of the economy. This is in comparison with Agriculture that has more impact on GDP, generates more employment opportunities, reduces world food crisis and has no identifiable vices. It is recommended that Nigerian economic base should be diversified from oil dependence to agricultural advancement with a view to generating employment opportunities, raising the standard of living and improving economic growth.Â

Spatial distribution patterns of the populations of two subterranean termites (Blattodea: Termitidae) in eucalyptus (Myrtales: Myrtaceae) plantations

The study was conducted in Afaka, Northern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria to determine the spatial distribution patterns of the populations of Ancistrotermes sp. and Microtermes sp. in Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh, Eucalyptus citriodora Hook, Eucalyptus cloeziana F. and Eucalyptus tereticornis Muell plantations. Spatial distributions patterns of the two termite species populations were determined using indices such as ratios of population variance to mean, Lloyd’s index, Green coefficient, Taylor power and Iwao’s regression models. The values of variance to mean ratios, Lloyd’s index and Green coefficient showed that the populations of both termite species had aggregated distribution pattern in all the Eucalyptus species plantations. The distribution patterns of Ancistrotermes and Microtermes differed using Taylor’s and Iwao regression models. The values of R2 in Taylor’s model ranged from 0.02 to 0.99 for Ancistrotermes sp. and 0.29 to 0.99 for Microtermes sp., while in Iwao’s model, R2 ranged from 0.10 to 0.96 for Ancistrotermes sp. and 0.08 to 0.98 for Microtermes sp. The information provided is vital to develop a sound pest management protocol for these termite species. Keywords: Spatial distribution, Ancistrotermes sp., Microtermes sp., Aggregated, Taylor’s model, Iwao’s mode

Neonatal Hypoglycemia in Diabetic Mothers: a Systematic Review

Hypoglycemia occurs in approximately 8-30% of neonates born to mothers with diabetes. The full extent of the individual and contextual risk factors of hypoglycemia remains unclear and no systematic review of the available studies exists to date. We identified published studies using PubMed and EBSCO host search engines. A modified STROBE statement was used to assess studies\u27 strengths, weaknesses, and generalizability. A total of 16 articles were eligible for full text review. The clinical risk factors in these studies were broadly classified into two: infant-related and mother-related risk factors. The identified infant-related risk factors were SGA, macrosomia, prematurity, lower cord blood glucose, ponderal index and male sex. On the other hand, mother-related risk factors includes maternal hyperglycemia, ethnic origin, diabetes diagnosed prior to 28 weeks of gestation, pre-pregnancy BMI of ≥ 25 kg/m², blood glucose, maternal diabetes type and maternal HbA1c. Irrespective of diabetes type, infants born to diabetic mothers appear to have a higher risk of developing hypoglycemia compare to those born to normal mothers. The overall evidence suggested that these studies mainly focus on the clinical characteristics of infants and mothers. Future research should focus on the identification of risk factors at the individual and contextual levels that can independently predict neonatal hypoglycemia. Appropriate emphasis should also be given to better define neonatal hypoglycemia

PHYSICO-CHEMICAL AND GEOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF SOILS UNDER SAWAH SYSTEM OF INLAND VALLEYS IN NIGERIA

This study investigated the physico-chemical and geochemical properties of soils under sawah in Nigeria. It was found that soils under sawah were majorly sandy loam to sandy clay loam having acidic reactions, low exchangeable Ca, Mg, K and Na. These soils were deficient in available P, SiO2, S, Total Nitrogen and Total Carbon while SiO2, Al2O3 and Fe2O3 dominated total elemental composition, accounting for a cumulative average of 96.16%. Except total elemental TiO2 and K2O which showed average values &gt;1%, MnO, MgO, CaO, Na2O and P2O5 showed average values &lt;1%. Soils under sawah exhibited intermediated to extreme weathering degree with majority of the soil sampled falling into the category of extreme weathering. With extreme degree of weathering, rapid loss of mobile species such as basic cations from soil is imminent which may account for the results observed in this study. Thus, combination of conservative agricultural practices is recommended. &nbsp; &nbsp

Sperm abnormalities and libido assessment of West African dwarf rams fed diets containing Tetrapleura tetraptera (African Porridge) fruit meal

The effect of Tetrapleura tetraptera fruit meal (TTFM) on the sperm abnormalities and libido test of West African Dwarf rams was assessed in a 20 week study. Thirty five (35) West African dwarf rams weighing between 12.80 and 13.20kg were randomly allotted to five dietary treatments in a completely randomized design. The diets formulated: 0% TTFM, 0.5% TTFM, 1.0% TTFM, 1.5% TTFM and 2.0% TTFM as treatments 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively. Libido assessment was carried out at 0, 4, 8, 12 and 16th weeks of the experiment. Semen was collected twice at the beginning and at the end of the experiment from five replicates in each treatment using electro- ejaculator. The results showed that the libido increased progressively with the inclusion of TTFM which was only significantly different (p&lt;0.05) at 16th week. The best libido was observed with rams fed diets containing 1.5 and 2.0% TTFM. The sperm abnormalities were minimal in all parameters except in abnormal head which ranged from 0.4-1.20% with diet 4 exhibited the most abnormal head. It was therefore concluded that the TTFM can be incorporated between 1.5% and 2.0% into diet of rams to improve the sex drive and reduced sperm abnormalities