MACHINE LEARNING APPLICATIONS IN COMPUTER INTEGRATED MATERIAL DESIGN AND MODELING

This research seeks to develop and test a framework for considering Inductive Hierarchical Analysis (IHA) using Machine Learning (ML) technique in a multistage material design of a gear manufacturing process. A ML model was developed, which implements Random Forest (RF) regression algorithm together with analysis of variance (ANOVA) approach for mapping sets of material and product design variables, thus classifying the design space into feasible and non-feasible solution space. This approach is applied to the design of steel gear within specified performance requirements by exploring the design space for the Process-Structure-Property-Performance (PSPP) relation in the hot rolling process. With an objective of how machine learning models can be incorporated into the material design and modeling for predicting the material properties of steel used for gear manufacturing, a working hypothesis was outlined, and tasks for accomplishing this objective was developed. Feasible solution space was derived by the RF approach across the PSPP chain for the gear design by considering forward and inverse mapping. For the forward process, feasible range set of 84.68 - 84.9 and 32.54 - 32.84 was mapped at the structural stage to give feasibility range of 193.169 - 193.1818 at the property stage and eventually a feasibility range of 1.578 - 1.676 for the performance stage. The feasibility range was used as an input for the inductive process to generate feasible region of 193.171 - 193.174 at the property stage, 32.61 - 32.69 and 84.41 - 84.70 at the structural stage, while a feasible range of 1340 - 1360K evolved at the processing stage. The inverse process shows propagated reduction in variable size across the PSPP linkage with a Root Mean Square Error value of . This indicates a negligible error propagation across the modeling analysis and shows the robustness of RF as an ensemble of multiple decision trees. To further test the developed model, a predictive analysis of the Time-Temperature Transformation (TTT) curve was carried out by implementing Monte Carlo simulations together with the RF algorithm. This method accurately predicts the TTT curve with an accuracy matrix of 92.7%. The application of Monte Carlo helps to increase the robustness of the RF model by generating more input data points. This research work was extended to model the constitutive behavior of a flexinol wire to incorporate Artificial Intelligence (AI) with Finite Element Methods (FEM) as a way validating the approaching methods in this research. Being able to implement machine learning applications to computer integrated material design and modeling presents a novel approach to material design by using RF method. This broadens the knowledge base in material design processing and opens up opportunities for further research with the application of RF to material design. In addition, this research will help in bridging the gap and timeline in meeting customer’s performance requirements by serving as a tool for designing materials that are feasible with optimum performance capability for any engineering need

IBADAN TELEVISION STATIONS’ READINESS FOR DIGITAL TRANSITION

The National Broadcasting Commission’s (NBC) deadline for broadcast stations in Nigeria to switch from analogue to digital broadcasting has spurred the Ministries of Information and Communications, other regulating agencies and the broadcasting industry to be working round the clock to actualize the objective. This development has come after many failed deadlines for achieving the global mandate set by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the June 17, 2017 deadline of the regional Economic Commission of West African States (ECOWAS). This study assessed the readiness of selected television stations for this digital transmission. 108 staff of the African Independent Television (AIT), Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Ibadan Network Centre, MITV, Broadcasting Television of Oyo State (BCOS), Galaxy Television and New Frontiers Television, in Ibadan filled questionnaire copies on staff training, content production, and provision of equipment for digital broadcasting. Findings show that though the stations face some challenges on these critical areas, they are already taking some bold steps in delivering the promised digital broadcasting experience. All regulators and staff and management of television stations need to set achievable timelines capable of bringing this dream to reality in many of the remaining stations lagging behind.Key words: broadcast, Ibadan, digitization, televisio

Gender, Media, and Contraceptive Use in Nigeria: Men Need Help, Not Women

Nigeria’s annual population growth and fertility rates are fueling the popular postulation that by 2050, the nation will rank after India and China in population size. Increasing population growth amid poor economic and health statistics in Nigeria point to family planning as one of the long-term effective solutions to this issue. After years of raising awareness and knowledge building, there still exists a huge gap between knowledge of contraceptives and the application of the knowledge in Nigerian society. This gap has initiated a myriad of behavior change communication campaigns on the use of contraceptives. This study goes beyond considering the influences of both spousal communication and mass media on family planning awareness and usage of contraceptives; it examines the response of each gender to family planning campaigns and contraceptive use in Osun and Ogun states, Nigeria. In spite of awareness raising, knowledge building, and persuasion for adoption, how does each gender respond to social marketing of contraceptives usage? A comparative descriptive survey was conducted among ninety men in Iwo, Osun State, and ninety-five women in General Hospital, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State. The purposive sampling method was adopted in selecting men and women with previous exposure to social marketing campaigns on family planning. The findings revealed that television and radio, social media, and interactions with doctors/nurses are prominent means through which family planning communication takes place. Through mass and social media, barriers and myths relating to family planning are being eradicated, and access to family planning knowledge and resources is increasing. The media has been able to successfully persuade and change negative attitudes toward contraceptive usage. Findings also showed that while men respondents were not using contraceptives, almost all the women respondents were. Some of the factors that could contribute to the varying responses to behavior change communication on the use of contraceptives between genders have been identified to be individual differences, as well as socio-cultural and religious barriers. The study calls for a new wave of social marketing on contraceptives usage, specifically targeted at transforming the positive attitudes of a proportionate number of men, to actual usage of contraceptives

Practicum of Systems Integration in Engineering Education

This project asked engineering students to develop a multi-subsystem design that would produce electricity. Students over the duration of this project learned how to simulate and design systems theoretically using computer tools. Furthermore, students were expected to produce a prototype of their model, thereby self-analyzing the practicality levels and enhancing learning. With the technology available to students advancing, systems integration techniques become more efficient learning experiences to the students. The benefits of systems integration can also be expanded to the professional world these students will soon step into. Therefore, teaching these techniques now will give students a better further insight on real world experience in a classroom setting. When students make the expected leap into the job market, it is important for them to have a solid understanding of system integration and multi-system design. It is this understanding that will make students more desirable to top end employers and set them apart form their peers.Cockrell School of Engineerin

Effects of Public Debt on Economic Growth in Nigeria (1970-2011)

This study attempted in examine the effect of public debt on economic growth in Nigeria between 1970 and 2011. Nigeria had her external demand to the major creditors amounted  to 36.2 billion US dollars in the year 2011 at the exchange rate N135 to  a US dollar and the total domestic was estimated  as 23.9billion US dollars in 2011. The effect of this on the economy called for investigation. Time series data were sought on CBN Statistical Bulletin, 2011 Edition, and World Development  Indicators  (WDI). The statistical  properties  of the time series data  were properly investigated using appropriate  econometric techniques. The results of the cointegration analysis from both Eagle-Granger and Johansen methods of cointegration test, reveal that there exist no long-run relationship between public debt and economic growth in Nigeria. The results from disaggregated public debt showed that there exist a positive  but non-significant relationship between per capital domestic public  debt and  economic growth ((=0.414001; P<0.05) while a negative and not significant relationship was found to exist between per capita external public debt and economic growth (((=0.57431; P<0.050. Also the overall public debt-growth model was not significant  ((F=0.182265; P<0.05). The result of the aggregated public  debt showed that, there exist a negative and non-significant relationship between per capital debt  and economic growth (=0.048849; P<0.05). Also the overall public debt growth model was not significant (F=0.002386; P<0.05). The study further employs the ECM to find out if there is evidence of any dynamic relationship between public debt and economic growth during the period under investigation, the result of the ECM estimated provides no evidence in support of the existence  of dynamic relationship between  public debt (aggregated and disaggregated) and economic growth. Also, from the disaggregated approach, only 11.1 percent of the variation in economic growth is explained by the model while the percentage of the variation in economic growth explained  by the new model increases to 44.4 percent when aggregated approach was used. This results show that debt finance is not employed as  a feasible fiscal option to foster economic growth in Nigeria during the period under investigation. It is apparent with this result  that debt finance does not produce the desired growth-effect in Nigeria. Government needs to be more transparent and committed to the course of the masses by putting borrowed money into highly productive sectors that will improve the productive capacity of the economy

Evaluation of the cytotoxic potential of Securidaca longepedunculata on human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cells

The prevalence of cancer has increased interest in the role of complementary and alternative medicine, employing the use of plant products. Securidaca longepedunculata (SL) is an example of plant product which serves as a major component of anticancer decoctions in Nigeria. In other to scientifically ascertain this claim, this study was carried out to evaluates the cytotoxic potential of the crude extract and fractions of SL root bark against human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cell line. The root back of SL was pulverized and extracted with 80% methanol to yield a crude extract which was then submitted to liquid–liquid fractionation with dichloromethane (DCM) and butanol (BUT). The extract and fractions were subjected to Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). MCF-7 cell line was treated with graded concentrations (9.77 – 5000 μg ml-1) of the aqueous methanol crude extract as well as the DCM and BUT fractions for 24 or 48 hours. Cell viability was thereafter measured by XTT proliferation assay. The inhibitory activities of the aqueous methanolic crude extract was found to be both dose-dependent and time independent with IC50 values of 2241 μg ml-1 and 1808 μg ml-1 after 24 and 48 hours respectively. The DCM and BUT fractions were significantly (p < 0.05) cytotoxic with IC50 values of 86.27 μg ml-1 and 12.08 μg ml-1 respectively after 48 hours of treatment. The study provide evidence that BUT fractions of SL has the highest potential to significantly show anticancer properties