BILINGUAL JOURNALISM EDUCATION IN CHINA AND NIGERIA: A CASE OF TWO OPPOSITES

While bilingual journalism education in China aims at training students to be professionals with the ability of communicating in a foreign language, English, a similar kind of training in Nigeria purposes to train students to be professionals in the media with the ability of using an indigenous language, Yoruba. Acquiring a foreign language to reach a wider audience is not a problem in Nigeria; English is already dominant in the media of the country. The struggle is to ensure the survival of the indigenous language, and to make attractive its learning, especially at the University level. In China, the indigenous languages are dominant; the purpose of the BJE therefore is to reach an international audience. While BJE in China has been in existence for decades, it is just about ten years old in Nigeria. This paper examines the two BJE models in China and Nigeria, and draws out their similarities and differences as well as implications for journalism education.Keywords: Bilingual Journalism Education, Indigenous Language, Journalism Education, China, Nigeri

Implications of Signage on Wayfinding Behaviour of Users: Towards Inclusive Design of Hospital Environment in Nigeria

Inadequate signage systems and architectural design create physical barriers that cause uneven access to users of hospital buildings during wayfinding, which causes stress, uncertainty, and an unpleasant experience for both staff and patients. The study examines the effects of signs on wayfinding behaviour to achieve inclusive wayfinding in the design of hospitals in Nigeria. The study was conducted at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Ilorin Kwara State, Nigeria. A mixed-methods approach was employed for data collection through a survey administered to 140 participants (70 male and 70 female). Thirty respondents were interviewed, and the hospital buildings were observed. According to the findings, direction signage has the most impact on wayfinding since users rely on it the most to make wayfinding decisions, followed by identification signage (text/support icons) that aids in the recognition of target locations. Also, the result illustrates that signage was supported with pictographs while text was interpreted in the main local language (Yoruba), which enhanced understanding of signs across cultures in the state. As a result, the conceptual design and placement of signage and other inclusive navigation components in the hospital should be purposefully and suitably employed, simplified, useful, and appealing for inclusive access, meaning, and interpretation. The main limitation of this study is the non-utilisation of digital signs and various assistive technologies for impaired (sensory and mobility) people of varied ages and abilities

Effect of Escherichia coli endotoxin on Archachatina marginata haemolymph coagulation system

The effect of _E. coli_ endotoxin on the heamolymph coagulation response of _Archachatina marginata_ was studied. Heamocyte Lysate(HL), Haemocyte Lysate Supernatant(HLS) and Haemocyte Lysate Debris (HLD) were exposed to _Escherichia coli_ endotoxin. Controls were prepared with endotoxin-free water(<0.025 EU/ml). The differential protein coagulation was estimated in each mixture. Fractions of the haemolymph exposed to endotoxin produced higher protein coagulates than endotoxin-free fractions when incubated at 37 °C for 1 h (p<0.05). The results showed significantly higher (p<0.05) concentrations of protein coagulated when HL/plasma mixture were used than when either fraction was used. At a ratio 1:1 of HL:Plasma, highest protein coagulation was recorded. This study revealed that maximum protein coagulation in response to endotoxin was elicited by a synergy between plasma and haemocyte lysate(HL). From this research haemolymph fractions of Archachatina marginata may provide an alternative test material for endotoxin in medical preparations in the future

BOTSWANA: A ROLE MODEL FOR OTHER AFRICAN COUNTRIES

Many African countries have been heaping their economic and political woes on colonialism, several decades after independence. Instead of recognizing post-colonial leadership as the key determinant of a country’s economic and political development, defeatist conclusions are being emphasized to exon- erate the ineptitude of African leaders. A cursory look at many of the current and post independence African governments offers us a good knowledge of predatory, instead of proprietary states. Botswana is an exception. She enjoys a leadership that has economic interests quite consistent with the citizen’s wishes which realizes that policy choice at a critical point in time represents the key factor that deter- mines the wealth and poverty of any nation. In a continent where the outcry from the developed economies is “economic prudence and good governanceâ€, Transparency International has ranked Botswana as having the lowest perceived corruption index in Africa. She is also ranked second best among all developing nations and less corrupt than a number of privileged countries, including Japan, Spain, Belgium, Greece and Italy. At the wake of her independence, Botswana adopted four national principles: Democracy, Development, Unity and Self-reliance which she pursued through well thought- out-policies and in accordance with the consent of the governed. Choice, and not historical determin- ism, is responsible for Botswana’s development as well as Sub-Saharan Africa’s stagnation in general. On this premise, this paper will address the evolution, challenges and enduring lessons of Botswana including those ideals of sustainable development that could serve as a useful guide for other African Nations

Determinants of bakers’ acceptability of wheat-cassava flour for bread production in Nigeria

Bread is a major staple food in Nigeria with rising costs occasioned by the increasing cost of importation of wheat. The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) initiated partial substitution of wheat flour with cassava flour, to reduce wheat importation and promote economic development. This study examined the determinants of the acceptability of wheat-cassava flour for bread production in Oyo state. Data collected on the acceptability of wheat-cassava flour from bakers in Ibadan, Ogbomosho and Oyo were analysed with descriptive statistics and a logit regression model. Some 80 percent of the bakers used 10 percent cassava flour for bread production. Results of Logit Regression showed that level of experience, provision of training, access to wheat-cassava flour, and revenue as determinant factors of Bakers’ acceptability of wheat-cassava flour for bread production. The study recommends regular training for the Master bakers to increase the use of wheat-cassava flour throughout the country. The wheat-cassava flour should be made available for the bakers by ensuring adequate production through necessary policies

Corporate Governance and Tax Planning Among Non-Financial Quoted Companies in Nigeria

The study examined the impact of corporate governance on tax planning of non-financial quoted companies in Nigeria between 2004 and 2014.A sample of fifty (50) companies out of 151 non-financial quoted companies that covers 10 sectors were purposively selected on stratified random sampling basis. The data used in the analysis were collected from the audited financial statement of the selected non-financial quoted companies in Nigeria and Nigeria Stock Exchange Fact books and analysed using generalizes method of moments (GMM). The result showed that there is positive and significantly relationship between Effective Tax Rates (ETR) and firm value (TobinQ). The positive relationship as shown in the result implies that tax planning activities has not be benefiting the increase in firm value.All the variables such as leverage (LEV), Liquidity (LIQ), Net Working Capital (NWC), Growth opportunities (MTB) and capital intensity (CIN) were found to have a positive and significant relationship with the firm value.The recommendation thus is that firms need to institute more healthy tax planning practices and engage the services of professional tax consultants for higher firm value.Key Words: Tax Planning, Effective Tax Rate, Firm Value, Nigeri

STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY ASSESSMENT USING VIBRATION DATA

Engineering structures need to be assessed as part of activities to ensure their continued serviceability. Global methods of assessment which also give an indication of local conditions are most attractive since they are cost effective and flexible. A suitable method with these attributes is vibration monitoring which involves relating dynamic properties, or changes in them, to the integrity of the assessed structure. The present study investigates the application of vibration testing to structural integrity assessment of civil engineering structures. A survey of existing methods of damage detection, location and quantification in structures using vibration testing was conducted. Evaluation of the performance of some of the more promising methods was conducted using both simulated and experimental data. The results revealed that the damage identification process could be enhanced if appropriate modes are used. To this end, a new function, called Modal Sensitivity Values, has been proposed for identifying damage sensitive modes to be included in damage detection and location methods. It was also found that some success could be achieved if system identification and model updating procedures are applied to the problem of damage detection in structures. The literature survey revealed that most of the available methods are not applicable to general structural systems and are often limited by the damage model assumed. A new method, called Integrity Index Damage Location method, of assessing structural integrity using vibration data has also been proposed. The method is applicable to any structure and any damage type that affects the integrity/stiffness of the structure. Performance evaluation of the method using both numerical and experimental data is presented. Full-scale forced vibration tests were conducted before and after repairs on two reinforced concrete highway bridges. The vibrator used during the tests was developed during the research project and details of its development and operation are given in the thesis. As a background to the tests, a review of full-scale dynamic testing of bridge structures was conducted. Results from the tests were used to investigate the effectiveness of forced vibration testing as an integrity monitoring tool. It was found that the repair works caused slight (less than 5%) changes in the natural frequencies while there was no definite trend in the changes to the modal damping ratios. Comparison of frequency response functions and mode shapes, using modal analysis procedures, was found to give an indication of the presence and location of the repairs. The integrity assessment method proposed was also able to identify some of the affected parts of the structures. Results from the full-scale tests were also compared with predictions from finite element analysis. Good correlation was obtained between the measured and calculated natural frequencies and mode shapes, thus enabling validation of the analytical models within limits of the model assumptions and experimental errors. The results demonstrate the importance of accurate representation of boundary conditions. They (results) also showed that the vertical stiffness of new bearings installed on one of the bridges is not as high as was assumed in the design

Assessment of the Institutional Regulatory Framework of Auditor Independence in Nigeria

The study assessed the effectiveness of the institutional regulatory framework of Auditor Independence in Nigeria. The study is purely a library research aided by content analysis. The results identified weakness inherent in the regulatory framework assessed such as ineffectiveness of whistle blowing in Nigeria; violation of Auditor’s reporting independence; negligence on the Part of Audit Regulators and External Auditors in Nigeria; absence of unified Code of Corporate Governance in Nigeria and proliferation of Accounting Professional Bodies and decline in Ethics. The study, recommended that, harmonisation of the multiplicity of corporate governance codes and accounting professional bodies in Nigeria by Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria is a pre-requisite for promoting auditor independence among external auditors. Also, regulators in Nigeria should create more stringent regulatory procedures to detect fraud, mete out appropriate disciplinary measure and well as penalise companies and audit firms for erring. Furthermore, the accountancy professional body (ICAN) should promote the dignity of its members by making the appointment of external auditors less dependent on the executive directors and more dependent on the non-executive directors, audit committees and shareholders.Key words: Auditor, Regulation, Independence, Framewor

Applying machine learning methods for characterization of hexagonal prisms from their 2D scattering patterns – an investigation using modelled scattering data

This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of the following article: Emmanuel Oluwatobi Salawu, Evelyn Hesse, Chris Stopford, Neil Davey, and Yi Sun, 'Applying machine learning methods for characterization of hexagonal prisms from their 2D scattering patterns – an investigation using modelled scattering data', Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer, Vol. 201, pp. 115-127, first published online 5 July 2017. Under embargo. Embargo end date: 5 July 2019. The Version of Record is available online at doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jqsrt.2017.07.001. © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Better understanding and characterization of cloud particles, whose properties and distributions affect climate and weather, are essential for the understanding of present climate and climate change. Since imaging cloud probes have limitations of optical resolution, especially for small particles (with diameter < 25 μm), instruments like the Small Ice Detector (SID) probes, which capture high-resolution spatial light scattering patterns from individual particles down to 1 μm in size, have been developed. In this work, we have proposed a method using Machine Learning techniques to estimate simulated particles’ orientation-averaged projected sizes (PAD) and aspect ratio from their 2D scattering patterns. The two-dimensional light scattering patterns (2DLSP) of hexagonal prisms are computed using the Ray Tracing with Diffraction on Facets (RTDF) model. The 2DLSP cover the same angular range as the SID probes. We generated 2DLSP for 162 hexagonal prisms at 133 orientations for each. In a first step, the 2DLSP were transformed into rotation-invariant Zernike moments (ZMs), which are particularly suitable for analyses of pattern symmetry. Then we used ZMs, summed intensities, and root mean square contrast as inputs to the advanced Machine Learning methods. We created one random forests classifier for predicting prism orientation, 133 orientation-specific (OS) support vector classification models for predicting the prism aspect-ratios, 133 OS support vector regression models for estimating prism sizes, and another 133 OS Support Vector Regression (SVR) models for estimating the size PADs. We have achieved a high accuracy of 0.99 in predicting prism aspect ratios, and a low value of normalized mean square error of 0.004 for estimating the particle’s size and size PADs.Peer reviewe