UR-215 - Cryptanalysis of Caesar Cipher with Answer Set Programming

Answer Set Programming is an emerging paradigm in logical and declarative programming that finds all possible solutions to a particular logic problem given certain constraints and is widely used in AI for knowledge representation and reasoning. Answer Set Programming has been applied for the cryptanalysis of the Caesar cipher. Using Answer Set Programming, words have been both encrypted and decrypted with the Caesar cipher through AI knowledge representation and reasoning. It is shown that Answer Set Programming is viable for the field of cryptography

A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS BETWEEN RECYCLED CARBON FIBRE AND RANDOMLY ORIENTED GLASS FIBRE SANDWICH PANELS UNDER THREE-POINT AND IMPACT LOADING

The increased industrial use of fibre reinforced composites structures such as sandwich panels is a result of their lightweight, flexible, and high strength capabilities. Sandwich panels are generally assembled by placing a lightweight core in between two facesheets. The core provides the required thickness without increase in weight while the facesheets provide the required strength at less than half the cores thickness. Whilst the material choice for both vary, carbon and glass fibre reinforced polymers are predominantly the two main composite materials commonly utilised in the fabrication of sandwich panel facesheets. New developments in the application of fibre reinforced structures have raised an environmental and economic awareness for the necessity to recycle and repurpose fibre cut-off waste. The UK is the first major economy to pioneer a “green industrial revolution” by passing legislative laws, backed with funding, to bring industries such as the composite industry up to speed to achieve product sustainability and recyclability. With focus in the composite industry shifting towards zero waste production cycles, it becomes a necessity to investigate the mechanical behaviour of fibre cut-off waste in structures such as sandwich panels. This thesis aims to contribute towards the issue by presenting an experimental comparison of sandwich panels fabricated using recycled carbon fibre (RCF) and chopped strand matt glass (CSMG). The experimental work undertaken are three-point bending and low-velocity impact. Across all industry that utilise sandwich panels, the two phenomena mentioned are observed to contribute significantly to panel degradation during its working life. For fair comparison, the sandwich panels for both fibres consist of the same areal density and same manufacturing methods. Novelty in the thesis is granted through the comparative study between the mechanical behaviour of RCF and CSMG sandwich panels as this has not been investigated for industrial application. Obtained experimental data show that the RCF panels are stronger than the CSMG panels which could be an alternative to sandwich panels made with CSMG

Corporate Entrepreneurship, Strategy Formulation, and the Performance of the Nigerian Manufacturing Sector

Corporate entrepreneurship is a process that encourages formulating and implementing new ideas, taking risks, and creating new ideas to start new businesses. It is associated with innovation, which results in entrepreneur wealth and adds value for an organisation and the customers that buy the products. The Nigerian manufacturing sector has been underperforming in the past decade with numerous firms in the sector operating at less than 30% of initially installed capacity. Despite various industrial transformation programmes initiated by the successive governments to boost manufacturing outputs, most firms in this sector do not seem to have made any significant progress in response. Reasons for this underperformance is arguably due to the misalignment between ‘externally-driven’ policies and the ‘internal processes’ within the individual firms of various sizes. To explore and unravel the undercurrents impelling the seeming strategyenvironment misalignment, this study takes a recourse to the strategic management literature. It draws from the intersectionality of strategy-environment congruence and the attendant moderating effect on performance. In order to drill down to conceptual specifics, it builds on the 3Cs framework (competence, commitment and co-ordination) initially propounded by Jha and Iyer (2007). Based on a sample of 32 manufacturing firms and leaning on the qualitative methodological approach (using interpretative phenomenological analysis), the study sought to gain situated, contextual, insights into the perceptions of the phenomenon as demonstrable in the strategic configuration. It interrogated respective processes of strategy formulation and implementation in the degree to which they are moderated by the contending environmental variables and the cumulative impact on corporate performance. This is the level of analysis at which corporate entrepreneurship behaviour, in terms of both antecedents and consequences, profoundly manifests itself; mirroring management behaviour, sensitivity and predilections towards environmental scanning capabilities. The sample of firms was drawn from firms of varying sizes in four geopolitical zones of Nigeria – South West, South East, South, and North Central. Results indicate profound ambivalences in the nature of the operating environment and the signals emitted there from which, in turn, truncates entrepreneurial behaviours of firms. Essentially, negative perceptions of the environment militated against strategic coherence, thus adversely impacting corporate performances. Essentially, the eclectic 3Cs paradigm holds strong explanatory as well as diagnostic force in explicating the setbacks of the Nigerian manufacturing sector. The analytical prism is a novelty and offers tremendous latitude for sketching out appropriate turnaround intervention strategies

Accessibility Constraints of Patronage of Tourist Sites in Ondo and Ekiti States, Nigeria

The problem of inadequate accessibility to social facilities in developing countries is a serious concern, because of its negative impact on the economic potential derivable from these facilities. Of particularly interest is the accessibility constraint to tourist sites in Nigeria which has been identified to limit the economic potentials of these sites as catalyst of economic development. Hence, this paper examined the extent to which tourist sites in the study area are accessible. 32 tourist sites were identified in the study area out of which 12 were selected as sample size due to their prominence and recognition by the state governments. Purposive incidental sampling was employed in which a total of 358 respondents were interviewed in all the selected 12 tourist sites. The collected data were analyzed using frequency distribution and Likert scale.Findings from the study showed that accessibility plays a very crucial role in the patronage of tourist sites in the study area (61.9%). While accessibility constraint factors identified by respondents include physical distance(80.2%) and costs (69.6%). The study concluded that for the tourist sites to attract patronage and to realize the economic benefit from them, such sites should be made more accessible through the provision of good roads and other infrastructural facilities on the sites.Keywords: Accessibility, Patronage, Tourist Sites, Infrastructural facilitie

Spatial Analysis of Residents' Fear and Feeling of Insecurity in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

This study examined spatial pattern of crime and residents’ fear and feeling of insecurity in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. To obtain the primary data, Ile-Ife was stratified into four residential zones namely traditional town centre, middle income, high income and post-crisis residential areas. Sample was selected using systematic sampling from each zone. Level of insecurity perceived by residents in the night and day time showed that post crisis residential areas of the town recorded relative insecurity index (RII) of 4.71 in the night. The RII of traditional town centre in the night was put at 3.74. RII of 2.43 and 2.14 were computed for middle income and low income residential areas of the town in the day time. Using stepwise regression analysis, it was discovered that 86.5% of the total variance in residents’ fear and feeling of insecurity could be explained by independent variable observed. The study concluded that significant variation exist in the residents’ level of insecurity feeling in different residential zones of the study area as rate of occurrence of criminal activities in different residential areas varied significantly.Key words: Crime, Fear, Insecurity, Spatial, Risk, Victimisation

Antimicrobial and antiplasmodial activities of a quaternary compound from Ritchiea capparoides var. Longipedicellata

leaves of Ritchiea capparoides var. longipedicellata (Capparidaceae) is used in ethnomedicine in South-Western Nigeria to treat infectious and parasitic diseases. This study was aimed at identifying the compound(s) that are responsible for the antimicrobial and antiplasmodial activities of the leaves and also to contribute to the chemistry of the plant species. A 70 % aqueous ethanolic extract of the leaves of R. longipedicellata was subjected to repeated liquid chromatographic methods on silica gel, Lobar RP-18 column and Sephadex LH -20 to isolate a Draggendorf positive compound. The compound was identified by 1H and 13C NMR, ultra-violet spectroscopy and polarimetry. The antimicrobial activity of the compound was evaluated using the microbroth dilution method while the antiplasmodial activity was carried out according to Trager and Jenson (1976). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was expressed in mg/ml. The isolated compound, leavoisomer of stachydrine, inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli NCTC 8196 and Staphylococcus aureus NCTC 6571 at the MIC of 5 mg/ml. In the anti-malaria assay, the compound had inhibitory activity with the  concentration required to cause 100% lethality being 0.667 mg/ml.Conclusion: The antibacterial and antiparasitic effects of quaternary  ammonium compounds are well documented. However, this study is the first report of the presence and biological activities of this compound in this plant species which may justify the ethnomedicinal uses of the leaves.Key words: Quaternary ammonium compounds, antimicrobial, antiplasmodial, Ritche

A Multivariate Analysis of Factors Influencing Green Space Provision in Residential Neighbourhood of Sub-Saharan African Cities

This research examines factors that influence the level of conformity to green space provision. Primary data was collected for three (3) types of residential neighbourhoods: Federal, State and Private. Reconnaissance survey revealed there are 8, 19 and 12 residential neighbourhoods respectively for Federal, State and Private. Ten (10%) of each were selected and thus, 1, 2, and 1 was selected for the Federal, State and Privately owned residential neighbourhoods. The total number of questionnaire that was administered on the household heads in the four (4) selected residential neighbourhoods was three hundred and thirty-two (332) but only three hundred and seven (307) was retrieved. Explanatory factor analysis was conducted on the perceived variables that could affect provision of green space. Within the first component there exist similarities between all the three (3) variables that were highly loaded {residential density (0.832), nature of surrounding neighbourhood (0.825) and inadequate land (0.745)}. Each of them were related to the environment and thus the first factor affecting the provision of green space within residential neighbourhood could be regarded as physical and natural factors. On the other hand, the column for the second component had three (3) variables that were related to activities within the planning authorities (agency in charge of green space provision and compliance). These were, lack of working tools in planning authorities (0.856), lack of qualified staff in planning authorities (0.821) as well as inadequate number of staff in planning authorities (0.757). The third column represents factors relating to the government and it governmental, while the fourth and final component (factor) could be termed political factors. A near perfect structure of the variables emerged from the factor analysis and thus the reduction of the thirteen variables to four major factors. The study concluded that, better provision and care for green spaces within residential neighbourhood will require an effective policy framework, in which all decision-makers, can operate and work in collaboration. Key Words: Cities, Green-space, Residential Neighbourhood and Sub-Saharan

Gender Differences in Students-Staff Violence in Urban and Rural Secondary Schools of Osun State, South Western Nigeria

Background: School violence is of public health importance. One important but often overlooked dimension is student-staff violence. The aim of the study was to assess the gender differences in the pattern of students-staff violence in urban and rural areas of Osun state with the hypothesis that male students and staff perpetrate violence more than female students and staff respectively. Methodology: A cross sectional study conducted among 800 secondary school students from JSS 2 to SSS 3 (400 in urban and 400 in rural areas) selected by multi-stage sampling technique. Results: The mean age for all the respondents was 14.3 years ±2.0, with the mean age for males as 14.2±2.0 and females as 14.3±2.0. Male respondents were 51.5% in urban schools and 51% in rural schools. Males were the main perpetrators in both urban and rural areas but more females in the rural areas perpetrated violence than their urban counterparts. Out of those who verbally abused school staff in urban areas, males constituted 61.5% compared to 38.5% of females. Respondents also experienced violence in the hands of academic staff (male and female). Conclusion: All forms of violence were perpetrated against school staff with prevalence higher in rural than urban areas. Males perpetrated most forms of violence than females in both urban and rural schools, though this was marked in urban schools. Female respondents in rural areas experienced significantly higher perpetration of most forms of school-related violence than urban females.Journal of Community Medicine & Primary Health vol 23 (1-2) 2011

Risk factors associated with acquiring superficial fungal infections in school children in South Western Nigeria: a comparative study

Introduction: Superficial fungal infections (SFI) are caused mainly by dermatophytes and yeasts. SFI is of major public health concern and is a common cause of skin disease among school children.Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors associated with acquiring superficial fungal infections in school children in Ile-Ife, South West Nigeria as this will assist in instituting appropriate interventions.Methods: A total of 560 children; 280 with superficial fungal infections as subjects and 280 age and sex matched school children as controls were recruited through multistage sampling method from 10 primary schools (private and public owned) in Ile-Ife, Nigeria.Discussion: Pupils were aged 5-16 years with a mean age of 9.42±2.00. Risk factors documented in this study included poor living conditions, use of barbers’ clippers, low socio-economic status, poor hygiene, attendance of public schools and not living with both parents. The last four factors remained significant on binary logistic regression.Conclusion: The study shows that the risk for acquiring superficial fungal infections remains high in school children and in communities with low socio-economic positions.Keywords: Risk factors, school children, skin, superficial fungal infection

Victim Travel–To-Crime Areas: The Experience from Nigerian International Tourist Attraction Site

The study examined the socio-economic characteristics and types of criminal activities experienced by tourists during festive and non-festive period at Ikogusi Warm and Cold Spring, Nigeria. Data for the study were collected through administration of questionnaire. Systematic sampling method was adopted in selecting respondents for this study. It was revealed that 24% of the tourists were female and 59.3% were between 19-36 years. Furthermore, approximately 89% of the tourists were from places within Nigeria while the remaining 12% came from places outside Nigeria. Rate of criminal activities was measured through an index of 5 and tagged “Crime Occurrence Index” reveled pick pocketing as crime type with highest magnitude of threat (COI= 4.86 and 4.35) during festive and non-festive period respectively. Origin of tourist (β=0.781) was found to have highest correlation value with prevailing crime. Next to this was gender of the tourists (β=0.781). This further revealed that the odd of a woman being a victim of prevalent crime was approximately 4(3.61) times higher than that of a man while the odds of non-Nigerian being a victim of the prevalent crime was approximately 5(5.41) times higher than those who were Nigerians. Similarly, that of Nigerian who came from outside the locality was approximately 2(2.35) times that of those who resides within this locality. The study concluded therefore that rate of victimization differ significantly as reflected by the socio-economic characteristics of the tourists and that the approach to make tourists feel more secured should be guided by those variation