Hazard Perception and Demand for Insurance Among Selected Motorcyclists in Lagos, Nigeria

This study examines hazard perception effects on the demand for insurance withspecial focus on motorcycle riders in Lagos state. For this purpose, the researchershave been able to examine selected hazard perception determinants and theireffects on the insuring attitude and desire of motorcycle riders. An explanatoryresearch design was employed and a convenience sampling type of the nonprobabilitysampling technique was adopted.  Data was gathered by interviewsconducted at motorcycle parks along the Lagos-Badagry expressway.  The sampleconsisted of 126 respondents made up of commercial motorcycle riders within thesample areas. Data collected was analysed using multiple regression technique.The study was able to establish some level of contributory linkage between hazardperception and demand for motorcycle insurance. The findings show that whiledread and trust both appeared to have significant effect, publicity and controllabilityboth have positive contributory effect; furthermore, choice expressed an inverserelationship with demand for insurance among the motorcycle riders. The studytherefore recommends pre-loss and post-loss measures among the motorcycleriders so that unforeseen motorcycle risks can be managed. Also, insurancecompanies should endeavour to invest more on enlightening the motorcycle riders in order to lessen their dread of loss outcome, and thus, design policy that can instil trust in motorcycle riders in insurance as a loss control measure

Analysis of wind speed data and wind energy potential in three selected locations in south-east Nigeria

In this study, the wind speed characteristics and energy potential in three selected locations in the southeastern part of Nigeria were investigated using wind speed data that span between 24 and 37 years and measured at a height of 10 m. It was shown that the annual mean wind speed at a height of 10 m for Enugu, Owerri and Onitsha are 5.42, 3.36 and 3.59 m/s, respectively, while the annual mean power densities are 96.98, 23.23 and 28.34 W/m2, respectively. It was further shown that the mean annual value of the most probable wind speed are 5.47, 3.72 and 3.50 m/s for Enugu, Owerri and Onitsha, respectively, while the respective annual value of the wind speed carrying maximum energy are 6.48, 4.33 and 3.90 m/s. The performance of selected commercial wind turbine models (with rated power between 50 and 1,000 kW) designed for electricity generation and a windmill (rated power, 0.36 kW) for water pumping located in these sites was examined. The annual energy output and capacity factor for these turbines, as well as the water produced by the windmill, were determined. The minimum required design parameters for a wind turbine to be a viable option for electricity generation in each location are also suggested

Assessment of electricity generation and energy cost of wind energy conversion systems in north-central Nigeria

In this study, the wind energy potential and economic analysis in selected six locations in north central part of Nigeria were investigated using wind speed data that span between 19 and 37 years measured at 10 m height. The performance of small to medium size commercial wind turbine models were examined and economic evaluation of the wind energy in the selected sites was made by using the levelised cost method. The results showed that the cost of energy production per kWh for the selected sites vary between ¢4.02 and ¢166.79. It was shown that Minna is most viable site while Bida is found to be least among the sites considered. Using three selected wind turbine models (in Minna) as case study, an increase in the escalation rate of operating and maintenance cost from 0% to 10%, lead to an increase in the unit energy cost by about 7%. It was further shown that by increasing the escalation rate of inflation from 0% to 5%, the cost of energy decreases by about 29% while the discount rate (return on investment) decreases from 11.54% to 6.23%

Saudi students to study here

Malaysia's effort to attract students from the middle East has borne fruit as 200 of them from Saudi Arabia will pursue undergraduate programmes at several local universities this year

Impaired tumor growth and angiogenesis in mice heterozygous for Vegfr2 (Flk1)

Abstract VEGF signaling through its tyrosine kinase receptor, VEGFR2 (FLK1), is critical for tumor angiogenesis. Previous studies have identified a critical gene dosage effect of VegfA in embryonic development and vessel homeostasis, neovascularization, and tumor growth, and potent inhibitors of VEGFR2 have been used to treat a variety of cancers. Inhibition of FGFR signaling has also been considered as an antiangiogenic approach to treat a variety of cancers. Inhibition of VEGFR2 with neutralizing antibodies or with pharmacological inhibitors of the VEGFR tyrosine kinase domain has at least short-term efficacy with some cancers; however, also affects vessel homeostasis, leading to adverse complications. We investigate gene dosage effects of Vegfr2, Fgfr1, and Fgfr2 in three independent mouse models of tumorigenesis: two-stage skin chemical carcinogenesis, and sub-cutaneous transplantation of B16F0 melanoma and Lewis Lung Carcinoma (LLC). Mice heterozygous for Vegfr2 display profound defects in supporting tumor growth and angiogenesis. Unexpectedly, additional deletion of endothelial Fgfr1 and Fgfr2 in Vegfr2 heterozygous mice shows similar tumor growth and angiogenesis as the Vegfr2 heterozygous mice. Notably, hematopoietic deletion of two alleles of Vegfr2 had minimal impact on tumor growth, with little effect on angiogenesis, reinforcing the importance of endothelial Vegfr2 heterozygosity. These studies reveal previously unrecognized Vegfr2 gene dosage effects in tumor angiogenesis and a lack of synergy between VEGFR2 and endothelial FGFR1/2 signaling during tumor growth

Effect of Temperature on the Shelf life of Nono (Locally Fermented Milk) and Yoghurt

Effect of temperature on the shelf life ofnono(locally fermented milk) and yoghurt was carried out for 7 days and 3 months respectively. Freshly made nonowas kept under room and refrigerated temperature for 7 days. Chemical parameters such as protein, fats, carbohydrate, moisture and ash were analyzed within one hour of collection and on the 7th day. Some physical parameters such as texture and flavour were measured using visual appraisal just before the preservation and then on daily basis. Freshly made yoghurt was treated alike and kept for the period of 3 months (which is the claimed shelf life of yoghurt by most manufacturers). The physical, chemical parameters and microbial load were also measured at weekly intervals. The result of the physical and chemical parameters explains deterioration before the end of the experiment in both samples. It was also concluded that freshly made yoghurt kept at room temperature be consumed only on the first day of production and fermented milk is advised to be pasteurized before consumption due to the high microbial load

Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and Infrastructural Development in Akwa Ibom State

Revenue generation is the nucleus and the path to modern development. This study assessed the effects of internally generated revenue on infrastructural development in Akwa Ibom State. This is because the State as the second tier of government needs revenue to provide basic social amenities to the people. Thus, the study specifically sought to ascertain the extent to which IGR has contributed to the provision of such infrastructures as water, electricity, and road. An ex-post facto research design was adopted and the data used were obtained from secondary sources. The data were analyzed with simple percentage statistics while simple regression statistics was used in testing the hypotheses. It was found that IGR contributed significantly and positively to the provision of water, electricity and roads. However, these contributions were skewed more to roads than electricity and water. It was concluded that IGR has made positive, but uneven contribution to the development of infrastructures in the State as some aspect of infrastructure like road was found to receive more boost from IGR than other infrastructures. Consequently, a balanced approach to IGR appropriation for infrastructural renaissance in the state was recommended. By this, IGR allocation would be redirected to such infrastructures as water that is directly and away from such infrastructures like roads that are not directly linked with the life of the common people who incidentally are the majority. It is by this that the people will fully benefits from their contributed revenue that form the bulk of internally generated revenue for the government. Key words: IGR, infrastructural development, fiscal federalism, state development, governmen

Forecasting Oil Formation Volume Factor for API Gravity Ranges Using Artificial Neural Network

The Oil Formation Volume Factor (FVF) parameter is a very important fluid property in reservoir engineering computations. Ideally, this property should be obtained from actual measurements. Quite often, this measurement is either not available, or very costly to obtain. In such cases, empirically derived correlations are used in the prediction of this property. This work centers on building an artificial neural network (ANN) model to predict oil formation volume factor for the different API gravity ranges. The new models were developed using combination of 448 published data from the Middle East, Malaysia, Africa, North Sea, Mediterranean basin, Gulf of Persian fields and 1389 data set collected from the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. The data have been divided into the following four different API gravity classes: heavy oils for API≤21, medium oils for 2135. The data set was randomly divided into three parts of which, 60% was used for training, 20% for validation, and 20% for testing for each particular API grade. Both quantitative and qualitative assessments were employed to evaluate the accuracy of the models to the existing empirical correlations. The ANN models outperformed the existing empirical correlations by the statistical parameters used with the best rank and better performance plots.Key words: Oil formation volume factor; Artificial neural network; Back propagation; Statistical analysis; API gravity range

Managing Risk of Petrol Scarcity in Nigeria: A Test of the Efficacy of Strategic Management Approaches

Petrol scarcity is a malady and a serious economic problem in Nigeria Successive governments have often times used it as a case for political advances yet petrol scarcity remained an undefeatable macroeconomic monster in Nigeria The need for petrol its availability and affordability is obviously important especially as the risks and its attendant effects are undesirable hence this investigation with focus on strategic management approaches for minimizing its occurrence From the analysis excessive corruption mismanagement of government treasury etc were found as causes of petrol scarcity while socioeconomic unrest hike in transport fare retardation of economic growth etc were found as its associated risks Also government strategies of task force formation downstream sector reforms etc were found to have no significant mitigating effect on petrol scarcity Consequently the use of balanced score card SWOT analyses etc were recommended as potent strategic approaches for managing and forestalling petrol scarcity in Nigeri