Rationalisation and Intertextuality: An Analysis of the Language of Men’s Reactions to Gender Equality in Zulu Sofola’s The Sweet Trap

It has been observed in Zulu Sofola’s The Sweet Trap that male characters view and speak about the female characters in very discriminating manner with the aim of subjugating women and maintaining their supremacy over them. This paper explores the discursive strategies in terms the linguistic and non – linguistic strategies which men use to maintain their dominance over women in Zulu Sofola’s play. The paper also shows that men explicitly (through verbal and non- verbal actions) and implicitly (through the demands of culture) discriminate against women or suppress gender equality or recognition and even discredit the women through language. The two discursive strategies of maintaining male power and female marginality are rationalization and intertextuality. While rationalisation is a strategy in which men use pure reason instead of experience to dominate women, intertextuality is the use of legitimate events or mechanisms operating in the society to work against women. In rationalisation, men try to vindicate themselves and blame their actions on their forefathers’ age-long practices (tradition). This paper explores the language use in these practices in the above-mentioned text.Keywords: Rationalisation, Inhibition, Aggression, Justification and Intertextualit

Spatiotemporal Modeling Encounters 3D Medical Image Analysis: Slice-Shift UNet with Multi-View Fusion

As a fundamental part of computational healthcare, Computer Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) provide volumetric data, making the development of algorithms for 3D image analysis a necessity. Despite being computationally cheap, 2D Convolutional Neural Networks can only extract spatial information. In contrast, 3D CNNs can extract three-dimensional features, but they have higher computational costs and latency, which is a limitation for clinical practice that requires fast and efficient models. Inspired by the field of video action recognition we propose a new 2D-based model dubbed Slice SHift UNet (SSH-UNet) which encodes three-dimensional features at 2D CNN's complexity. More precisely multi-view features are collaboratively learned by performing 2D convolutions along the three orthogonal planes of a volume and imposing a weights-sharing mechanism. The third dimension, which is neglected by the 2D convolution, is reincorporated by shifting a portion of the feature maps along the slices' axis. The effectiveness of our approach is validated in Multi-Modality Abdominal Multi-Organ Segmentation (AMOS) and Multi-Atlas Labeling Beyond the Cranial Vault (BTCV) datasets, showing that SSH-UNet is more efficient while on par in performance with state-of-the-art architectures

Collaborative Shift-Scheduling and Perceived Procedural Justice as Predictors of Clinical Decision-Making in Managed Care Practice among Selected Samples of Health Workers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Nigeria

This study examined the roles of collaborative shiftwork schedule and procedural justice as predictors of clinical decision-making in managed care practice among a selected sample of health workers in Abuja, Nigeria. The study was survey design conducted among 197 healthcare workers were selected using convenient sample from public and private healthcare institutions in Abuja. The Bergen Shift Work Sleep Questionnaire (BSWSQ) developed by Flo et al. (2012) was used to assess shiftwork collaborative scheduling. Procedural justice was measured using the Procedural Justice Scale (OJS) developed by Niehoff and Moorman (1993). While The Clinical Decision-Making Survey (CDMS) developed by Ferrell et al. (1991) was used to measure clinical decision-making. The result revealed that shiftwork did show significant relationship with clinical decision-making among psychiatric nurses [r (197) = .451, p <. 01]. Results from the multiple regression showed that procedural justice significantly predicted clinical decision-making among healthcare workers [? = .331, p <0.01]. The result of this study suggest that healthcare workers who engage in shift-schedule with a high perception of procedural justice have higher propensity to provide enhanced clinical decision-making at the workplace. The Nigerian healthcare reforms and policies should be reviewed, specifying issues relating to collaborative shiftwork for healthcare workers

Evaluating coefficient of performance and rate of moisture loss of some biomass humidifiers materials with a developed simple direct stand-alone evaporative cooling system for farmers

© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of deploying direct evaporative cooler with Jute fiber, palm fruit mesocarp fiber and wooden charcoal as humidifier in Nigeria. High cost of imported evaporative coolers and humidifiers can discourage farmers and limited adoption of evaporative cooling technology. For this purpose an experimental direct evaporative cooling test rig was developed and assembled in south western Nigeria with biomass humidifier. The evaluation parameters were the humidifying efficiency, the rate of moisture loss, coefficient of performance and sensible heat ratio. The humidifier presented average cooling efficiency of 55.9 to 78.62 %, average rate of moisture loss of 1.37 × 10 -3 to 2.61 × 10 -3 kg/s, average COP of 8.48 to 23.42 (EER of 11 to 78) and average sensible heat ratio of 1.28 × 10 -4 to 4.06 × 10 -4 for the air velocity of 3.0 to 4.5 m/s. The obtain performance can be better in a dryer month or nearly impossible in a very wet month as the humidifying efficiency of direct evaporative coolers are found to diminish at high humidity. To avoid casting doubt on the effectiveness of direct evaporative cooler by farmers, it should only serve as stop gap preservation equipment and deployed during the favorable weather condition especially during the winter when the air is dry. These can be identified from the metrological charts of the chosen location.Peer reviewe

Seismic Edge Detection by Application of Cepstral Decomposition to Data Driven Modeled Geologic Channel Feature in Niger Delta

Seismic edge detection algorithm unmasks blurred discontinuity in animage and its efficiency is dependent on the precession of the processingscheme adopted. Data-driven modeling is a fast machine learning schemeand a formal automatic version of the empirical approach in existence fora long time and which can be used in many different contexts. Here, a desired algorithm that can identify masked connection and correlation froma set of observations is built and used. Geologic models of hydrocarbonreservoirs facilitate enhanced visualization, volumetric calculation, wellplanning and prediction of migration path for fluid. In order to obtain newinsights and test the mappability of a geologic feature, spectral decomposition techniques i.e. Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT), etc and Cepstral decomposition techniques, i.e Complex Cepstral Transform (CCT), etc can be employed. Cepstral decomposition is a new approach that extends the widely used process of spectral decomposition which is rigorous when analyzing very subtle stratigraphic plays and fractured reservoirs. This paper presents the results of the application of DFT and CCT to a two dimensional, 50Hz low impedance Channel sand model, representing typical geologic environment around a prospective hydrocarbon zone largely trapped in various types of channel structures. While the DFT represents the frequency and phase spectra of a signal, assumes stationarity and highlights the average properties of its dominant portion, assuming analytical, the CCTrepresents the quefrency and saphe cepstra of a signal in quefrency domain.The transform filters the field data recorded in time domain, and recoverslost sub-seismic geologic information in quefrency domain by separatingsource and transmission path effects. Our algorithm is based on fast Fourier transform (FFT) techniques and the programming code was written within Matlab software. It was developed from first principles and outside oil industry’s interpretational platform using standard processing routines.The results of the algorithm, when implemented on both commercial andgeneral platforms, were comparable. The cepstral properties of the channelmodel indicate that cepstral attributes can be utilized as powerful tool inexploration problems to enhance visualization of small scale anomaliesand obtain reliable estimates of wavelet and stratigraphic parameters. Thepractical relevance of this investigation is illustrated by means of sampleresults of spectral and cepstral attribute plots and pseudo-sections of phaseand saphe constructed from the model data. The cepstral attributes revealmore details in terms of quefrency required for clearer imaging and betterinterpretation of subtle edges/discontinuities, sand-shale interbedding, differences in lithology. These positively impact on production as they serveas basis for the interpretation of similar geologic situations in field data

Bilateral gluteal abscesses and myofibrosis complicating intramuscular pentazocine abuse: a case report

BACKGROUND: There is paucity of reports on the musculoskeletal complications of pentazocine abuse in Nigeria.The aim was to report a case of bilateral gluteal abscesses and myofibrosis as a consequence of parenteral pentazocine abuse.CASE SUMMARY: We report a case of a 39 year old housewife who presented with bilateral gluteal pyomyositis and myofibrosis following intramuscular pentazocine abuse.The patient had received parental pentazocine for pain relief for about 3 weeks seven years ago.She gradually developed dependence on this drug and received increasing doses of this drug by self injection on both buttocks. She subsequently developed bilateral gluteal abscesses and myofibrosis that was treated by surgical drainage,debridement,wound dressing and antibiotics.CONCLUSION: Pentazocine abuse should be considered a differential diagnosis in cases of multiple gluteal abscesses.Clinicians should be cautious in the use of pentazocine as routine painkillers.KEYWORDS: Pentazocine abuse,gluteal abscesses,Nigeria

Geoelectrical and Geotechnical Characterization of Different Types of Soil in Ede, Osun State, Nigeria

Geoelectrical and geotechnical investigations were carried out to characterize soils from different locations in Ede, Osun State, Nigeria for engineering purposes. Wenner electrode configuration technique was deployed in carrying out the geoelectrical survey of about 40m for each profile. The data analysis was approached by plotting the apparent conductivity against electrode spacing (s) and the result was interpreted. The geoelectrical resistivity survey revealed locations 1 and 2 with resistivity values of 25.01-419.22ohm-m (conductivity 0.002 - 0.194 (ohm-m)-1and 5.5-1246.57 ohm-m (conductivity = 0.0002 - 0.001 (ohm-m)-1) respectively could be classified as clay. Sample 3 recorded a resistivity value of 1.00- 22,787.39 ohm-m (conductivity= 0.00004- 1.00 (ohm-m)-1) thus, was classified as silt/sand respectively. Soil from the said different locations in Ede, Nigeria, were tested in the Laboratory for certain properties like Atterberg limits, specific gravities, sieve analysis, compaction test, etc. and the results showed that samples 1, 2 and 3 have specific gravity values of 2.50, 2.13 and 2.40 respectively and could therefore be referred to as organic soil. Samples 1, 2 and 3 have maximum dry density (MDD) of 1.45g/cm3, 1.92g/cm3, 1.95g/cm3 and optimum moisture content (OMC) of 15.40%, 13.36% and 9.61% respectively. The analysis conducted in this study revealed that the soil type found in Ede, Nigeria could be classified as silt-clay, sandy clay, clay and sand

Mapping Bedrock Topography using Electromagnetic Profiling

Electromagnetic profiling method was used in Echara Unuhu, within the Abakaliki Urban, to map the bedrock topography which also aids us to determine the position of the deepest fractured shale where a productive borehole will be constructed The area under study is within the Abakaliki Shales Geologic Formation. The rocks are packages of thinly layered olive green to dark gray blush black shale, which are frequently calcareous, subordinate fine-grained micaceous sandstone; micaceous siltstone, sandy shales and shelly limestone. Two-man portable Geonics EM 34-3 electromagnetic equipment was used in the profiling normal to the strike. The results show that typical conductivity value of the shallow bedrock (1.51-2.0m) lies between 22.1-53.7 mmho/m while conductivity values from 269-786mmohm/m indicate thicker/deeper (25-30m) fractures with higher moisture contents. Mapping of bedrock topography at Echara Unuhu enabled us to locate a point which on drilling produces good water yield; this technique is recommended for use in formations with similar characteristics @ JASE

Assessment and Modeling of Drawbar Power Necessities of Disc Plough in Sandy-clay Soil in South-East Nigeria

The incongruities between agro-ecological soil states demand statistical records of the performance of tillage equipment under various soil classifications for proper choice of implements to minimize charge, curtail energy wastage, and upsurge agricultural output. This research was carried out to assess and model the drawbar power requirements of disc plough on sandy-clay soil in South – East Nigeria that will help farmers predict the power requirements and detect the optimum value of power demand of the plough in orderto select apposite plough subject to the soil type for proficient and bravura productions. Results showed that the highest drawbar power of 5.42kW was achieved when the plough was engaged at full working width of 180 cm, at tillage depth of 15 cm and least operational speed of 6km/hr. The statistical analyses revealed that tillage depth and operational speed have a significant effect (p˂ 0.05) on the drawbar power of the disc plough compared to the effective working width of the plough.The quadratic model was statistically significant for the response (P ˂ 0.05). Results also pointed out that the coefficient of determination; R2 was 0.9759 for drawbar power, which indicated high correlations amid the factors. The adequacy Precision of 19.912 obtained indicated decorous indicator and that the models could navigate the design space. The optimum drawbar power of 4.95kW was achieved with the desirability of 1.000 at optimal effective working width of 119.06 cm, ploughing depth of 13.71 cm and operational speed of 7.74kmh-1. Farmers can henceforth, appraise and select the disc plough implements with the developed model equation

Body Temperature and Haematological Indices of Boars Exposed to Direct Solar Radiation

The effects of exposure to direct sun light on body temperature (BT) and blood profile (BP) of boars was studied using Large White and Large White x local F1 crossbred boars. The experiment involved three treatments: zero exposure (T1); 45 minutes (T2) and 60 minutes exposure (T3). Pigs were exposed between 13:30 and 14:45 hr daily for 4 weeks. Body temperature of control and exposed pigs was measured daily at the end of exposure. Blood samples were collected and analysed for LC, EC, HbC and PCV while MCV, MCH and MCHC were calculated from EC, HbC and PCV values. Ambient temperature (AT) averaged 27.84 oC indoors and 40.54 oC outdoors over the experimental period. There were significant genotype, treatment and interaction effects on most of the parameters studied. The LW boars were more severely affected by exposure to direct sunlight than the crossbred boars. It was concluded that wallow pits and shades should be provided for extensively managed pigs to enable them cope with the high thermal radiation and heat stress inherent in the tropics. Again, crossbreeding and selection for heat tolerance would ensure improved productivity in future. Key word: blood profile, body temperature, erythrocyte indices, Large White, local boar, thermoregulation