Willingness to Pay for Environmental Service Functions of Mangrove Forest in Uzere, Delta State, Nigeria

This study was carried out to determine the estimate value of the environmental service functions of Uzere mangrove forest using the Willingness to pay method. We used questionnaires to elicit information on the willingness to pay (WTP) for environmental service functions of Uzere mangrove forest. Contingent valuation approach was used to elicit information on WTP and the socio-economic variables that influence the WTP. Data were obtained from a systematic randomly sampled 300 residents within the three communities in Uzere. The data were subjected to descriptive statistics, F and student’s t-tests, analysis of variance (ANOVA), correlation and multiple regression analyses using statistical package of social sciences (SPSS). The results show that 21.7% of the respondents were willing to pay (WTP) various amounts ranging from N50- N5000 monthly, N50 being the modal value. The mean monthly WTP value is N36.8. This gave an aggregate estimated value of between N147,798.09 and N681,097.19 (US$1= N150) for the environmental service functions of the 2,004.2hectares of Uzere mangrove forest. The semi-log regression equation revealed that the years of residence and occupation are the only socio-economic variables that significantly influenced WTP. The results of this study indicate that the forest is of high value and therefore, there is a need for concerted effort for sustainable management of the mangrove forest. Keywords: Willingness to pay (WTP), ecological services, socio-economic factors,   mangrove forest, Uzere                                                                                              

Contribution à la résolution du problème direct en scatterométrie par réseaux de neurones

Le travail consiste à résoudre le problème direct par réseaux de neurones (PMC). Au départ ce problème se résolvait par la méthode modale par développement de Fourier. Pour notre étude, La résolution de ce problème consiste à la détermination de la signature Scatterométrique théorique d’un réseau périodique (intensités lumineuses) connaissant certains paramètres (dimensions géométriques, indices des matériaux, période et la longueur d’onde etc.). L’étude est de créer un RN et de lui fournir les dimensions du profil et de déterminer les intensités lumineuses (Is et Ic), puis comparer les signatures calculées par la MMMFE et le RN en calculant l’erreur quadratique et tracer les courbes de comparaison de ces signatures.Mots-clés: scatterométrie, MMMFE, réseau de neurones, Matlab. Contribution to the solution of the direct problem in scatterometry with neural networksThe work is to solve the direct problem by neural networks (PMC). Initially this problem solved by the modal method by Fourier expansion. For our study, the resolution of this problem consists in determining the theoretical scatterometric signing of a periodic array (light intensity) knowing certain parameters (geometrical dimensions, materials indices, period and wave Length etc.). The study is to create a RN and provide the profile dimensions and determine the light intensity (Is and Ic), and then compare the signatures calculated by MMMFE RN and by calculating the mean square error and trace curves comparison of these signatures.Keywords: scatterometry, MMMFE, neural Network, Matlab

Synthetic biology routes to bio-artificial intelligence

The design of synthetic gene networks (SGNs) has advanced to the extent that novel genetic circuits are now being tested for their ability to recapitulate archetypal learning behaviours first defined in the fields of machine and animal learning. Here, we discuss the biological implementation of a perceptron algorithm for linear classification of input data. An expansion of this biological design that encompasses cellular 'teachers' and 'students' is also examined. We also discuss implementation of Pavlovian associative learning using SGNs and present an example of such a scheme and in silico simulation of its performance. In addition to designed SGNs, we also consider the option to establish conditions in which a population of SGNs can evolve diversity in order to better contend with complex input data. Finally, we compare recent ethical concerns in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and the future challenges raised by bio-artificial intelligence (BI)

Effect of Methanol extract of Musca domestica larva on some Enzymes and Haematological parameters in Trypanosoma brucei brucei - infected rats

This study investigated the effect of methanol extract of Musca domestica (400mg/kg body weight) on some biomarker enzymes and haematological parameters in Trypanosoma brucei  brucei - infected rats. Twenty albino rats were intraperitoneally infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei and were grouped into five (5) groups of four (4) rats each. Group1 was set up as infected not treated (0.2ml normal saline/kg body weight), group 2 was treated with diaminazene aceturate (standard drug), group 3 as prophylactic treated (treatment for 72 hours before inoculation of parasite), group 4 as early treatment with the extract (treatment commenced after the sight of parasite) and group 5 as the control (uninfected untreated) group. Results shows significant (p<0.05) decrease in liver AST and ALT activities with concomitant increase in serum activities of the infected untreated rats when compared with the early treated, prophylactic treated, standard treated and normal control. Serum ALP activity of the infected not treated group was significantly (p<0.05) higher when compared to the control group and other experimental groups. No significant (p>0.05) difference in the liver ALP activities of the extract treated infected groups with standard drug treated group However, serum and liver GGT activities of the uninfected untreated (control) was significantly lower (p<0.05) than all the other experimental groups. Haematological studies shows significant decrease (p<0.05) in packed cell volume (PCV) , haemoglobin concentration (Hb) and red blood cell count (RBC) of infected not treated when compared to infected prophylactic treated and infected early treated. There was likewise significant increase in white blood cell count (WBC) of infected not treated compared to infected prophylactic treated and infected early treated. Findings from this study showed that methanol extract of Musca domestica larva has trypanocidal properties thereby ameliorating the T. brucei induced biochemical changes in rats.Key words: Musca domestica larva, Haematology, Trypanosomiasis, Enzymes, Methanol, Extract

Solar photovoltaic system: a case study of Akure, Nigeria

Erratic supply of electricity to residential buildings has led many occupants/owners to source for alternative sources to complement the epileptic supply from the National Grid. The sun produces energy expense-free, which is being untapped in this part of the country and thus the energy of the sun is being wasted. This energy can easily be converted to electric power for use in both in residential areas and industrial sectors through solar photovoltaic (PV) system. This paper assessed the level of awareness, adoption and barriers as related to solar PV system in Akure by assessing one hundred and fifty (150) residential buildings randomly with a structured questionnaire administered to the occupants/owners. The findings revealed that; a large percentage of the residential buildings make use of diesel/petrol generating set as an alternative to the National grid, that the level of awareness of solar PV is significantly low, the willingness to adopt is high but it’s hindered by cost implication of the system. The study’s findings contribute to the growing literature in the adoption of renewable energy for electricity generation, highlighted the major barriers hindering this for effective solutions to be proffer. It also provides a prospective market for those interested in the solar energy market

N=1/2 Supersymmetric gauge theory in noncommutative space

A formulation of (non-anticommutative) N=1/2 supersymmetric U(N) gauge theory in noncommutative space is studied. We show that at one loop UV/IR mixing occurs. A generalization of Seiberg-Witten map to noncommutative and non-anticommutative superspace is employed to obtain an action in terms of commuting fields at first order in the noncommutativity parameter tetha. This leads to abelian and non-abelian gauge theories whose supersymmetry transformations are local and non-local, respectively.Comment: One reference added, published versio

Finite size melting of spherical solid-liquid aluminium interfaces

We have investigated the melting of nano-sized cone shaped aluminium needles coated with amorphous carbon using transmission electron microscopy. The interface between solid and liquid aluminium was found to have spherical topology. For needles with fixed apex angle, the depressed melting temperature of this spherical interface, with radius $R$, was found to scale linearly with the inverse radius $1/R$. However, by varying the apex angle of the needles we show that the proportionality constant between the depressed melting temperature and the inverse radius changes significantly. This lead us to the conclusion that the depressed melting temperature is not controlled solely by the inverse radius $1/R$. Instead we found a direct relation between the depressed melting temperature and the ratio between the solid-liquid interface area and the molten volume.Comment: to appear in Philosophical Magazine (2009

Massive subgaleal haematoma in a 5 year old child – A case report

Subgaleal haematoma (SH) is a collection of blood between the bony skull and the loose connective tissue. It is almost a diagnosis confined to the neonatal age group with very few occurring beyond the age. Presentation could be sudden or chronic as deterioration in the cardio pulmonary status,shock, skin changes, airway obstruction and neurological sequealae.While assisted delivery with birth trauma are recognized causal factorsin the neonate, trauma to the head and blood related disorders have been reported to be major causes in older children and adults. Usually, the Small SH resolves spontaneously while the massive ones require active management; often with neuro surgical intervention. It also needs identifying the cause so as to treat and prevent a recurrence. We present a case of massive SH in a 5 year old mentally subnormal child with seizure disorder with a favourable outcome