Multidimensional Poverty Analysis and Informal Sector in Nigeria

The ability of the formal sector (public and organized private sectors) in Nigeria to generate employment and provide means of livelihood has been truncated by the economic crisis that dates back to the 1980s. The informal sector therefore, serves as the safety net that provides jobs and means of survival to the teeming unemployed population in the country. This paper therefore, examines: job creation in the informal sector; income earning capacity of informal sector operators; and the level of poverty reduction recorded by the operators of the informal sector. Apart from the specific objectives, other issues examined include, the background; operational; and the economic characteristics of the operators. A total of 100 structured questionnaires were distributed to informal sector operators to collect data in Ilorin metropolis. Out of this, 81 were returned valid and analyzed using descriptive statistics and multi-dimensional poverty index. The results from the study show that informal sector activities provide employment and income for the urban poor. About 83 percent of operators were employed on full-time basis while 16.1 percent of the respondents are employed on part-time basis. The mean previous employees  were computed at 2; current employees per operator stand at 4 on the average and that, an operator employs between 1 to 14 people maximum. Some other operators train apprentices who become self employed upon completion of the training. The mean apprentice per operator was estimated at 3.  Most of the informal sector operators earn an average income of N8, 468.42 per day. The study finds further, that reduction or increase in multi-dimensional poverty is strongly determined by number of hours worked per day; number of days worked per week; earnings; educational attainment and savings per day. The paper however, identifies a weak institutional support and thus recommends more support from the government in order to combat unemployment and poverty in the country

Parameter estimation of a six-lump kinetic model of an industrial fluid catalytic cracking unit

YesIn this work a simulation of detailed steady state model of an industrial fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit with a newly proposed six-lumped kinetic model which cracks gas oil into diesel, gasoline, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), dry gas and coke. Frequency factors, activation energies and heats of reaction for the catalytic cracking kinetics and a number of model parameters were estimated using a model based parameter estimation technique along with data from an industrial FCC unit in Sudan. The estimated parameters were used to predict the major riser fractions; diesel as 0.1842 kg-lump/kg-feed with a 0.81% error while gasoline as 0.4863 kg-lump/kg-feed with a 2.71% error compared with the plant data. Thus, with good confidence, the developed kinetic model is able to simulate any type of FCC riser with six-lump model as catalyst-to-oil (C/O) ratios were varied and the results predicted the typical riser profiles

Principal component and stepwise discriminant analysis of the morphometric traits of three dual-purpose breeds of chicken

Using the principal component procedure of SAS, 10 variables; body weight (BW), body length (BL), breast girth (BG), shank length (SL), thigh length (TL), comb length (CL), comb height (CH), wing length (WL), wattle length (WAL) and wattle thickness (WT) obtained from three dual-purpose chicken breeds (Shika, Kuroiler, and Sasso), variables were separated. Similarly, stepwise discriminant analsis procedure of the SAS software was employed to evaluate variables that contribute to the overall differences in breeds. Results showed three principal components (PC1, PC2 and PC3) were extracted for all the breeds and pooled data. 45.60% of total variance was accounted for by PC1, 28.17% by PC2 and 16.22% by PC3. The principal components partitioning of total variance were 50.80, 15.10 and 9.70%, 50.82, 19.90 and 14.90%, and 48.63, 14.00 and 12.67% for Shika, Kuroiler, and Sasso breeds respectively, with different factor loadings. Communalities ranged from 0.43-0.97, 0.45-0.83, 0.45-0.88 and 0.45-0.90, indicating that a good amount of variance was accounted for. Stepwise discriminant analysis indicated that seven morphometric traits, TL, SL, WAL, WL, CL, CH and BL, contributed significantly (P<0.001) to the separation of the birds into breeds. TL and SL, however, indicated higher discriminating power compared to others. The principal component analysis allowed for better understanding of the complex correlations among traits and reduced the number of traits along with high communalities, using only PC1, PC2 and PC3the first three PCs, without loss of information. Summary of stepwise discriminant analysis shows that lengthwise measures of long bones of the body of chickens, such as thigh and shank, are viable metrics for phenotypic differentiation of birds in the studied population.Keywords: Principal Component, Stepwise discriminant Analysis, Morphometric traits, chicken

INFLUENCE OF SCION LENGTH AND POINT OF ATTACHMENT ON ROOTSTOCK ON SURVIVAL AND GROWTH OF GRAFTED SOURSOP

Soursop ( Annona muricata ) is a multipurpose fruit tree species, which is mostly propagated by seeds, thus producing plants that exhibit various degree of variability. The objective of this study was to assess the influence of scion length and point of attachment on rootstock on survival and growth on grafted Annona muricata. Varying points were marked out on the rootstock from the base of the plant and varying scion lengths (5, 10 and 15 cm) were collected. The modified cleft method of grafting was adopted and this was monitored daily for freshness and appearance of new shoot. At the end of two months, survived grafted plants were removed and arranged under a weaning shed, where they were further monitored for number of leaves, height of graft, diameter of scion and rootstock. Results showed that scion length varied significantly (P<0.05) for all the parameters assessed. The effect of point of attachment on rootstock was also significant on the number of leaves, as well as scion collar diameter. The effect rootstock on graft height and rootstock collar diameter was not significant. The interactive effect of scion and rootstock was significant (P<0.05) for all parameters, except height of graft. For successful graft, survival and growth of grafted A. muricata, 10 - 15 cm long scion should be used and this should be inserted at the upper part (15 cm) of the rootstock.Le corossol (Annona muricata) est une esp\ue8ce d\u2019arbre fruitier \ue0 usages multiples, qui se propage principalement par graines, produisant ainsi des plantes qui pr\ue9sentent divers degr\ue9s de variabilit\ue9. L\u2019objectif de cette \ue9tude \ue9tait d\u2019\ue9valuer l\u2019influence de la longueur du greffon et du point d\u2019attache sur le porte-greffe sur la survie et la croissance d\u2019Annona muricata greff\ue9e. Des points variables ont \ue9t\ue9 marqu\ue9s sur le porte-greffe \ue0 partir de la base de la plante et des scions de diff\ue9rentes longueurs (5, 10 et 15 cm) ont \ue9t\ue9 collect\ue9s. Une m\ue9thode de greffe modifi\ue9e par fente a \ue9t\ue9 adopt\ue9e et celle-ci a \ue9t\ue9 surveill\ue9e quotidiennement pour la fra\ueecheur et l\u2019apparence de la nouvelle pousse. Au bout de deux mois, les plantes greff\ue9es survivantes ont \ue9t\ue9 retir\ue9es et dispos\ue9es sous un hangar de sevrage, o\uf9 elles ont \ue9t\ue9 davantage surveill\ue9es pour le nombre de feuilles, la hauteur de la greffe, le diam\ue8tre du greffon et le porte-greffe. Les r\ue9sultats ont montr\ue9 que la longueur du greffon \ue9tait significative (P<0,05) pour tous les param\ue8tres \ue9valu\ue9s. L\u2019effet du point d\u2019attache sur le porte-greffe \ue9tait \ue9galement significatif sur le nombre de feuilles, ainsi que sur le diam\ue8tre du collet du greffon ; tandis que l\u2019effet du porte-greffe sur la hauteur du greffon et le diam\ue8tre du collet du porte-greffe n\u2019\ue9tait pas significatif. L\u2019effet interactif du greffon et du porte-greffe \ue9tait significatif (P<0,05) pour tous les param\ue8tres, sauf la hauteur du greffon. Pour une greffe r\ue9ussie, la survie et la croissance d\u2019Annona. muricata greff\ue9, un scion de 10 \ue0 15 cm de long doit \ueatre utilis\ue9 et celui-ci doit \ueatre ins\ue9r\ue9 dans la partie sup\ue9rieure (15 cm) du porte-greffe

Scope and limitations of the mathematical models developed for the forward feed multi-effect distillation process-a review

YesDesalination has become one of the obvious solutions for the global water crisis due to affording high-quality water from seawater and brackish water resources. As a result, there are continuing efforts being made to improve desalination technologies, especially the one producing high-quantity freshwater, i.e., thermal desalination. This improvement must be accomplished via enhancement of process design through optimization which is implicitly dependent on providing a generic process model. Due to the scarcity of a comprehensive review paper for modeling multi-effect distillation (MED) process, this topic is becoming more important. Therefore, this paper intends to capture the evolution of modeling the forward feed MED (most common type) and shed a light on its branches of steady-state and dynamic modeling. The maturity of the models developed for MED will be thoroughly reviewed to clarify the general efforts made highlighting the advantages and disadvantages. Depending on the outputs of this review, the requirements of process development and emerging challengeable matters of modeling will be specified. This, in turn, would afford a possible improvement strategy to gain a reliable and sustainable thermal desalination process

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Ontogeny and nutritional programming of mitochondrial proteins in the ovine kidney, liver and lung

This study investigated the developmental and nutritional programming of two important mitochondrial proteins, namely voltage dependent anion channel (VDAC) and cytochrome c in the sheep kidney, liver and lung. The effect of maternal nutrient restriction between early to mid gestation (i.e. 28 to 80 days gestation, the period of maximal placental growth) on the abundance of these proteins was also examined in fetal and juvenile offspring. Fetuses were sampled at 80 and 140 days gestation (term ~147 days), and postnatal animals at 1 and 30 days and 6 months of age. The abundance of VDAC peaked at 140 days gestation in the lung, compared with 1 day after birth in the kidney and liver, whereas cytochrome c abundance was greatest at 140 days gestation in the liver, 1 day after birth in the kidney and 6 months of age in lungs. This differential ontogeny in mitochondrial protein abundance between tissues was accompanied with very different tissue specific responses to changes in maternal food intake. In the liver, maternal nutrient restriction only increased mitochondrial protein abundance at 80 days gestation, compared with no effect in the kidney. In contrast, in the lung mitochondrial protein abundance was raised near to term, whereas VDAC abundance was decreased by 6 months of age. These findings demonstrate the tissue specific nature of mitochondrial protein development that reflects differences in functional adaptation after birth. The divergence in mitochondrial response between tissues to maternal nutrient restriction early in pregnancy further reflects these differential ontogeny’s

Serum total protein and albumin levels among malnourished children aged 6- 59 months in Zaria

Background: Children with PEM have greater deficiency of total protein and albumin and in severe cases the total protein may be reduced to about 50 percent.Objective: To determine the serum protein and albumin levels among children with Protein Energy Malnutrition and the controls at Institute of Child Health, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) Zaria.Method: This study was a case control health- based descriptive study to estimate the prevalence of serum protein and serum albumin in undernourished children in Zaria.Using systematic sampling method, a total of 132 children (cases and controls) between 6 and 59 months of age were selected for assessment of their serum protein and serum albumin. Both the total serum protein and albumin levels were analysed on the Boerhringer Mannheim Automated Hitachi system 704 using the Biuret and colour change methods respectively.Results: The prevalence of low serum protein levels (<60g/l) in this study among the cases was 46.9% with highest prevalence of 33.3% seen in severe wasting. While the prevalence of low serum proteins for the control was 1.5%. The prevalence of low serum albumin levels (< 25 g/l ) among the cases was found to be 24.2% with severe stunting accounting for 15.2%, while for the controls, a low serum albumin levels of 3.0% occurred in this study.Conclusion: This study has been able to establish low serum levels of protein and albumin among under-nourished children in Zaria.Keywords: Serum protein; Albumin; under-nutrition; childre

Socio-economic variables of children with undernutrition and their controls in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria

Background: Low socio-economic and educational levels of parents are important risk factors for under-nutrition in children. The distribution ofhealth and diseases in childhood had been shown to be strongly influenced by the social characteristics like occupation and educational attainment. The aim of this study was to determine the socioeconomic status among children with Protein Energy Malnutrition and the Controls in Zaria usingthe modification of the method earlier used by Oyedeji. Method: This study was a case control health- based descriptive study to determine the socioeconomic and demographic variables in  undernourished children in Zaria. Using systematic sampling method, a total of 132 children (cases and controls) between 6 and 59 months of age were selected for assessment of socioeconomic and demographic variables. Results: Nineteen (28.8%) of the study group belong to social class III as compared to 12 (18.2%) for the controls. As for the educational levels of the parents, among the cases, 28 (42.4%) had Islamic education, 25 (37.9%) had secondary education, 10 (15.1%), 2 (3.0%) and 1 (1.5%) had primary,  tertiary and no formal education respectively. For the controls, 7 (10.6%) had Islamic education, 34 (51.5%) had secondary education, 13 (19.7%) and 12 (18.1%) had primary and tertiary education respectively. There was none with no formal education, The statistical analysis showed significant  difference (P= 0.0009) between cases and controls for maternal educational levels only among the demographic data. Conclusion: This study has been able to establish low socio- economic factors among undernourished children studied. Keywords: Under-nutrition, socioeconomic factors, educational levels, childre