Enhancing counterfeit tag detection for RFID system using slotted aloha

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a technology that is used for wireless monitoring, tracking and identification of an object. RFID is also used in inventory processes for RFID counterfeit detection and identification to reduce financial loss caused by shrinkage. Counterfeiting is a serious challenge in the current supply chain, resulting in millions of dollars in lost income for the parties involved each year. The recent works on counterfeit detection are based on cardinality contradiction and cloned detection which assumed that both counterfeit and genuine tags most be in the system before it can detect counterfeit. However, this assumption will not work if one of the tags is not in the system. As a result of this research, RMD was proposed, which entails the usage of the SLOTTED ALOHA in order to improve the detection time and accuracy through collision verification and counterfeit detection. The collision verification was introduced at the first stage to increase the status of single slots which gives the system the ability to uniquely detect each tag without arbitration. The track sequence number (TSN) was integrated with the time of arrival (TOA) at the detection stage to check the sequence process for the entire system from one stage to another, thus giving the system the capability to uniquely differentiate between counterfeit tag and the genuine tag. In comparison with FSA- CSS, MAP, and DFSA, experimental results show that the RMD algorithm outperforms other algorithms with high throughput performance of 45 unit/s, an average detection accuracy of 98% and low detection time of 0.10s. This indicates that highest detection accuracy, high throughput performance and lowest detection time (i.e., fast detection) can effectively be achieved by RMD algorithm. The optimization of the counterfeit tags detection algorithm with TSN and TOA is therefore competent and sufficient for addressing the shrinkage of inventory

Electoral Violence in Nigeria: Disentangling the Causes

The role and essence of elections in a democracy are highly circumscribed in terms of expressing the popular will, engendering political changes and the legitimating of political regimes. This role is fundamental to the thriving of most democracies. But when the precepts, structures and processes of elections are mostly characterized by reckless manipulations, the politics of brinkmanship and subversion, the tendency is to regard election not as a catalyst, but as a devalued element and a fading shadow of the democratic process. In Nigeria, for instance, electoral violence has become a worrisome phenomenon that has continued to rear its ugly head since Nigeria returned to civil rule in 1999. The violence becomes more pronounced before, during and after the announcement of election results. This has pushed the government to continue to seek for policy alternatives on how best to tackle electoral violence which most often degenerate into wide spread political violence. However unearthing the root causes of electoral violence is critical in achieving this goal. In this respect, causal drivers’ framework will be adopted in analyzing electoral violence in this paper. While methodologically, field interviews conducted in sokoto as well as some secondary data from journals and media were analysed to empirically arrive at our findings. Thus, the study finds that while different but interrelated factors could breed violence; the tendency for elites’ manipulation for personal gains by affecting the electoral process cannot be over emphasized in any our attempt to disentangling the causes of electoral violence in Nigeria. Each time Nigerian elites are excluded or disfavoured in the power configuration, the next line of action is to foment trouble by appealing to sentiments (ethnic, religion, party) and resorting to violent inducements. Keywords: violence, election, electoral violence, democracy, politics DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/9-10-06 Publication date:May 31st 201

Cynipidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera) fauna of Istanbul

Pamukkale University Scientific Research Project Unit, 2012FBE04

HATE SPEECH AND HUMAN SOCIETY: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This paper critically analyses the concept of ‘hate speech’ and interrogates the possibilities of its impact on human society. The task before the paper is to identify the nuances and underpinning issues that surround the concept and whether it has any socio-political impact. Though the concept of hate speech is regarded as a potential social problem that can cause violence, which poses a threat to mutual co-existence in human society. Nonetheless, in the twenty-first century, the concept has become a topic of discussion globally, as such so many people try to give it a definitional vacuum which is unscientific, it is due to this that this paper uses Raphael’s three models of concept clarification as a theoretical framework to elaborate on the concept and give it a philosophical definitional vacuum. Therefore, using Raphael’s model of analysis, the paper discovers that the concept of hate speech means any form of expression online or offline, spoken or written, which includes images, posters, symbols, memes, emoji, drawings, photographs, and films, etc. which include denying or justifying mass murder, genocide, ethnic cleansing, etc. As such the paper distinguishes hate speech which only targets groups and does not necessarily trigger violent conflict, with an offensive speech that targets individuals and dangerous speech which has all the potentiality of triggering violent conflict. Therefore, from an ethical standpoint, hate speech is an improper use of human communicative prowess because it threatens human relationships, which are the essential ingredient of human society. This paper prescribes that it should be discouraged in human society

PERFORMANCE OF DIFFERENT ACIDS FOR ACIDIZING TREATMENT IN SANDSTONE FORMATION (PANGKOR SAND)

As more technologies to enhance oil production recovery are being developed, well stimulation has been introduced and it acts as one of the important roles to fulfill the demand of world for energy. Well stimulation is a well intervention performed on an oil or gas well to increase production by improving the flow of hydrocarbons from the drainage area into the wellbore. Well stimulation generally uses fluids which create or enlarge the flow channels of formation so that it can overcome low permeability of formation. A most common and one of the most successful well stimulation is matrix acidizing. In matrix acidizing, acids are injected at matrix pressure below formation fracturing pressure. These acids will react to remove mineral phases that restrict the flow in the formation. The permeability of formation will be increased either by removing the pore-plugging materials in the formation or by creating new or enlarged flow paths in the rock depending on the formation and acid types. In the formation, acid-removable damage may be present. The right type of acid or combination of acids must be used to remove the damage. Thus, careful acid choice and treatment design are critical for a successful matrix acidizing. In this project, determination on which combination of acids used are the best in acidizing treatment in term of increasing porosity and permeability to dissolve minerals in sandstone formation is being clarified. Different combinations of acids are used as the first combinations are between formic acid and hydrochloric acid and the second combinations are between hydrochloric acid and fluoboric acid. Apart from that, in each combination of different acids, the most suitable acid formulations are being obtained. The samples that will be used for experimental works in this project are the sands that came from Pangkor Island

Assessment of Indoor Cancer Linked Radionuclides in Sokoto Urban Dwelling

Radiation can be ambiguous to the layman. Typically, one only has an understanding of radiation from news, movies, or books. Largely these sources tend to sensationalize radiation, relating to solar and thermal radiations with little emphasis to ionizing radiations from primordial and anthropogenic radionuclides. Gamma-ray spectroscopy was used for determination of K-40 and Ra-226 in this study that was carried out by collecting air sample with Activated Charcoal Detectors (ACDs) mounted in thirty living apartment sample points in Sokoto. This provided information about the level of radionuclides present in the dwellings which have been implicated as a carcinogen to the lungs through ionizing radiations. Due to the sampling procedure in all the points, the results obtained now represent the entire dwelling. Thereby, allowing us to ascertain the environmental induced health impacts of K-40 and Ra-226. Keywords: carcinogen, gamma-ray spectroscopy, ionization, radionuclides, Sokoto

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ACADEMIC SELFCONCEPT AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN GHANA

The study investigated the relationship between academic selfconcept and academic performance of Junior High School (JHS) students in Ghana. Differences between the academic self-concept of male and female students as well as students from urban and rural schools were also investigated. Participants were 756 male and 714 female JHS2 students randomly selected from 24 Junior High Schools through stratified sampling. Two research instruments namely, achievement tests in mathematics, English language, social studies and integrated science, and academic self-concept scale with a Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient (internal consistency) of 0.84 were used to collect data. Pearson product moment correlation coefficient and t-test were used in analyzing the data. The results showed a positive relationship between academic self-concept and academic performance of students. A significant difference was also found between the academic self-concept of students in urban and rural Junior High Schools with students in urban schools recording higher scores. The educational implications are discussed. This includes the suggestion that the actions and reactions of teachers, parents and significant others toward students should encourage, suggest, assure and reinforce the students that they are academically capable and competent

The practice and challenges of e-Government in Nigeria in the 21st century

This paper investigates the state of the present condition of e-government commitment in Nigeria. It also, examines the difficulties encountered in the implementation process.Layne and Lee (2001) “Stages of growth theory” was adopted to explain the position of Nigeria in the implementation and the challenges it faced on e-government.To do this,this paper used secondary data as a source to collect different articles and report.This paper finds that while e-government is present in Nigeria, it is still in its initial stage.Not only have that, the environment lacked many prerequisites for the survival and continued maintenance of e-governance due to many factors such as inadequate electricity, technical expertise etcetera.It is therefore suggested that both the government and the stakeholders should take it up as a challenge to find quick and lasting solutions to them. There must also be political will and government should have its administrative staff retrained in IT to properly manage the facilities and infrastructure necessary for e-government