Assessing Affordances of Selected Cloud Computing Tools for Language Teacher Education in Nigeria

This paper reports part of a study that hoped to understand Teacher Educators’ (TE) assessment of the affordances of selected cloud computing tools ranked among the top 100 for the year 2010. Research has shown that ICT and by extension cloud computing has positive impacts on daily life and this informed the Nigerian government’s policy to integrate ICT into education with teachers playing critical roles in this enterprise. For teachers to effectively integrate cloud computing into education they must first be able to identify the uses of these tools. It becomes necessary to understand TE’s perceptions of the affordances of the newest ICT frontier for language teacher education. Participants in the study were randomly selected Nigerian TEs studying in the United Kingdom. They used the tools for various activities and their assessments measured against a checklist. They were also asked to think aloud while using the tools while the researcher took notes of what they said. Their assessments were classified according to thematic paradigms. The results indicate that TEs were able to correctly identify intended, perceived, unintended and false affordances. The implications for language teacher education include recognizing that enlightenment and training are critical for the integration of cloud computing tools into the classroom. Stakeholders should Consider Strategic development of basic ICT infrastructure.  It may be more effective to use a comprehensive approach to adoption. Moreover there is the need for further studies with a focus on other levels of education and cloud computing tools. Keywords: Affordances, Cloud Computing, Language Teacher Educatio

Progress of Regional Economic Integration in East Africa

East African countries are deeply committed to adopting and implementing regional integration initiatives, which are viewed as a common approach for the region's growth. At the regional level, the main goal is to create the Economic Community as the sixth and final stage of integration, which includes increasing inter-sectoral coordination and establishing regional free trade zones, common market, economic union, and monetary union spanning the entire continent. In this article, we will look at their priorities, major accomplishments, and problems, as well as the progress achieved in the integration process and the threats it faces. The theoretical section of this research was carried out in Africa, specifically East Africa. The research data came from articles and document analysis. There were also secondary sources used. The research is one of the first to evaluate integration areas in East Africa that could lead to faster integration. It assists organizations such as IGAD, COMESA, and EAC in revising or reassessing their strategies, as well as their institutional weaknesses and strengths, in order to achieve their integration objective successfully

Progress of Regional Economic Integration in East Africa

East African countries are deeply committed to adopting and implementing regional integration initiatives, which are viewed as a common approach for the region's growth. At the regional level, the main goal is to create the Economic Community as the sixth and final stage of integration, which includes increasing inter-sectoral coordination and establishing regional free trade zones, common market, economic union, and monetary union spanning the entire continent. In this article, we will look at their priorities, major accomplishments, and problems, as well as the progress achieved in the integration process and the threats it faces. The theoretical section of this research was carried out in Africa, specifically East Africa. The research data came from articles and document analysis. There were also secondary sources used. The research is one of the first to evaluate integration areas in East Africa that could lead to faster integration. It assists organizations such as IGAD, COMESA, and EAC in revising or reassessing their strategies, as well as their institutional weaknesses and strengths, in order to achieve their integration objective successfully

Content of Pb and Zn in Soils Collected in the Vicinity of Selected Automobile Workshops in Kaduna, Nigeria

To assess the availability of metals in soil for absorption, the chemical forms must be determined. In this regard, a modified  sequential extraction technique was used to determine the geochemical partitioning of Pb and Zn concentration of the soil sample obtained from these workshops were determined using flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FAAS). The soil samples were digested and extracted using different digestion and extraction media. The results revealed that the concentrations of Pb and Zn in the samples varied from one automobile workshop to another and similarly the Pb concentration bound to the residual phase (HNO₃: H₂O₂ (2:1)) was highest in all locations followed by that bound to magnesium chloride, EDTA and Oxalic acid. Thus HNO₃/H₂O₂ >MgCl₂>EDTA>Oxalic acid. While the Zn concentration bound to the oxide phase (Oxalic acid) was highest in all the sampling locations followed by that bound to magnesium chloride, EDTA and nitric acid/ hydrogen perioxide. Hence, oxalic acid>MgCl₂>EDTA>HNO₃/H₂O₂. Keywords: Bioavailability, metal content, soil, Automobile workshop

Relationship between Greenhouse gas emission, energy consumption, and economic growth : evidence from some selected oil-producing African countries

Open access via Springer CompactPeer reviewedPublisher PD

FACTS Devices as a Solution to Power Industries Problems: A Review

With an ever-increasing demand for power and establishment of new industries with high load demand, the need to for constant upgrade of powers system network is high. Such transmission networks are prone to external disturbances from loads, environment and other sources which leads to low power quality. Sudden application or removal of large loads. Large loads are known to draw more reactive power than the generated reactive power which lead to reactive power imbalance which can lead to total system collapse. In this paper, a critical review of how Flexible Alternating Current Transmission Systems (FACTS) devices are used to mitigate such issues to ensure power quality is done. Previous work on the integration of different FACTS devices were review to establish the advantage of FACTS devices over conventional solutions to power transmission problems.&nbsp

Development and Implementation of an ESP32 IOT-Based Smart Grid for Enhanced Energy Efficiency and Management

The advent of the Internet of Things (IoT) has ushered in transformative changes across diverse sectors, notably the energy domain, spawning the innovative concept of smart grids. This research delves into the development and deployment of an IoT-based prototype smart grid system, aiming to augment energy efficiency, reliability, and management. The system integrates current and voltage sensors, coupled with an ESP32 microcontroller, enabling real-time monitoring, control, and optimization of the prototype electrical grid. Leveraging Google Firebase as a cloud service for storing real-time data (current, voltage, and power), the prototype includes an architectural model simulating industrial, commercial, and residential areas within a city. The model features illumination controlled by three output relays linked to the ESP32 via a 2N222 transistor. A grid control interface, developed with JavaScript and React, interfaces with the Firebase real-time server to manage relay states. This interface empowers a distribution company to remotely designate powered sections, mimicking scenarios like sectional maintenance or compulsory load shedding. The collaborative effort in mini-grid design underscores the efficiency gains achieved through IoT implementation in conventional electrical grid systems, emphasizing time and labor savings in energy management.&nbsp

Recent Advances in Flame Retardant and Mechanical Properties of Polylactic Acid: A Review.

The large-scale application of ecofriendly polymeric materials has become a key focus of scientific research with the trend toward sustainable development. Mechanical properties and fire safety are two critical considerations of biopolymers for large-scale applications. Polylactic acid (PLA) is a flammable, melt-drop carrying, and strong but brittle polymer. Hence, it is essential to achieve both flame retardancy and mechanical enhancement to improve safety and broaden its application. This study reviews the recent research on the flame retardant functionalization and mechanical reinforcement of PLA. It classifies PLA according to the type of the flame retardant strategy employed, such as surface-modified fibers, modified nano/micro fillers, small-molecule and macromolecular flame retardants, flame retardants with fibers or polymers, and chain extension or crosslinking with other flame retardants. The functionalization strategies and main parameters of the modified PLA systems are summarized and analyzed. This study summarizes the latest advances in the fields of flame retardancy and mechanical reinforcement of PLA.pre-print3656 K