Novel optimization schemes for service composition in the cloud using learning automata-based matrix factorization

A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of PhilosophyService Oriented Computing (SOC) provides a framework for the realization of loosely couple service oriented applications (SOA). Web services are central to the concept of SOC. They possess several benefits which are useful to SOA e.g. encapsulation, loose coupling and reusability. Using web services, an application can embed its functionalities within the business process of other applications. This is made possible through web service composition. Web services are composed to provide more complex functions for a service consumer in the form of a value added composite service. Currently, research into how web services can be composed to yield QoS (Quality of Service) optimal composite service has gathered significant attention. However, the number and services has risen thereby increasing the number of possible service combinations and also amplifying the impact of network on composite service performance. QoS-based service composition in the cloud addresses two important sub-problems; Prediction of network performance between web service nodes in the cloud, and QoS-based web service composition. We model the former problem as a prediction problem while the later problem is modelled as an NP-Hard optimization problem due to its complex, constrained and multi-objective nature. This thesis contributed to the prediction problem by presenting a novel learning automata-based non-negative matrix factorization algorithm (LANMF) for estimating end-to-end network latency of a composition in the cloud. LANMF encodes each web service node as an automaton which allows v it to estimate its network coordinate in such a way that prediction error is minimized. Experiments indicate that LANMF is more accurate than current approaches. The thesis also contributed to the QoS-based service composition problem by proposing four evolutionary algorithms; a network-aware genetic algorithm (INSGA), a K-mean based genetic algorithm (KNSGA), a multi-population particle swarm optimization algorithm (NMPSO), and a non-dominated sort fruit fly algorithm (NFOA). The algorithms adopt different evolutionary strategies coupled with LANMF method to search for low latency and QoSoptimal solutions. They also employ a unique constraint handling method used to penalize solutions that violate user specified QoS constraints. Experiments demonstrate the efficiency and scalability of the algorithms in a large scale environment. Also the algorithms outperform other evolutionary algorithms in terms of optimality and calability. In addition, the thesis contributed to QoS-based web service composition in a dynamic environment. This is motivated by the ineffectiveness of the four proposed algorithms in a dynamically hanging QoS environment such as a real world scenario. Hence, we propose a new cellular automata-based genetic algorithm (CellGA) to address the issue. Experimental results show the effectiveness of CellGA in solving QoS-based service composition in dynamic QoS environment

Women and Poverty in Nigeria: Agenda for Poverty Eradication

Women constitute a vital social group in all known human societies. Apart from playing a very significant role in the continuity of society through reproduction and socialization, their economic, social and political roles cannot be overemphasized. Yet, this vital group has been mitigated with very harrowing challenges in their various respective societies. In Nigeria where the level and rate of poverty have skyrocketed over the years, women continue to face daunting and debilitating challenges. In fact, despite every efforts made by the Nigerian authorities and other none-formal organizations towards poverty reduction in the country, this problem has continued to mitigate women from living happily and contributing their own quota to national growth and development. This negative trend calls for urgent concern. This paper utilized secondary data to study women and poverty in Nigeria. The objective of the paper is to analyze the condition of women under persistent poverty with the view of suggesting how the problem can be effectively dealt with in Nigeria. The paper argued that, although women contribute greatly in societal growth and development, they have continued to suffer unjustly in precarious condition of poverty due to their underprivileged class position in the society. It was suggested in conclusion that until the structural imbalances in the existing social system was corrected by means of poverty eradication agenda; women will not only continue to suffer from poverty but the future effects may be catastrophic to social order in the country

A survey of QoS-aware web service composition techniques

Web service composition can be briefly described as the process of aggregating services with disparate functionalities into a new composite service in order to meet increasingly complex needs of users. Service composition process has been accurate on dealing with services having disparate functionalities, however, over the years the number of web services in particular that exhibit similar functionalities and varying Quality of Service (QoS) has significantly increased. As such, the problem becomes how to select appropriate web services such that the QoS of the resulting composite service is maximized or, in some cases, minimized. This constitutes an NP-hard problem as it is complicated and difficult to solve. In this paper, a discussion of concepts of web service composition and a holistic review of current service composition techniques proposed in literature is presented. Our review spans several publications in the field that can serve as a road map for future research

The Role of Ulama in Countering Boko Haram Insurgency: A Pattern of the Al-Azhar ‘Ulama

The eruption of Boko Haram and its insurgency in 2009 caused the loss of life and property that is unprecedented in northern Nigeria's history since independence. Various tools and approaches have been used in analyzing a phenomenon with a view to offering solutions to it. People from various walks of life including professionals and experts have expressed their views and opinions about groups, their activities and ways to limit them. Since the group is rightly or wrongly associated and identified with Islam in its activities, experts especially the ulama analyze the group from an Islamic perspective using the Qur'an and Sunnah and the actions of the salaf as their basis for offering solutions. to group problems. With this background, this paper examines the role of Ulama in dealing with the imbroglio of Boko Haram by using the Ulama model of Al Azhar University in particular. The historical method was adopted with data mostly collected from printed materials and the internet. This paper recommends among other things that our scholars should follow some of the approaches used by Al'azhar scholars in eliminating the influence of extremist and rebel groups.

The Role of Ulama in Countering Boko Haram Insurgency: A Pattern of the Al-Azhar ‘Ulama

The eruption of Boko Haram and its insurgency in 2009 caused the loss of life and property that is unprecedented in northern Nigeria's history since independence. Various tools and approaches have been used in analyzing a phenomenon with a view to offering solutions to it. People from various walks of life including professionals and experts have expressed their views and opinions about groups, their activities and ways to limit them. Since the group is rightly or wrongly associated and identified with Islam in its activities, experts especially the ulama analyze the group from an Islamic perspective using the Qur'an and Sunnah and the actions of the salaf as their basis for offering solutions. to group problems. With this background, this paper examines the role of Ulama in dealing with the imbroglio of Boko Haram by using the Ulama model of Al Azhar University in particular. The historical method was adopted with data mostly collected from printed materials and the internet. This paper recommends among other things that our scholars should follow some of the approaches used by Al'azhar scholars in eliminating the influence of extremist and rebel groups.

A Purview into the Historical Development of Terriorism in Nigeria

This study of Nigeria history of terrorism is a retrospective study and much more a re-occurrent issue in the contemporary time. The act of terrorism, being existed or has happened in most countries of the world, by various unidentified groups with the use of powerful weapons has now graduated to making use of individual as instrument, differently; still targeting civilians deliberately, government representatives, government buildings, aeroplanes or ships belonging to a particular country etc., politically religiously motivated .The act of terrorism in Nigeria is a borrow idea of what’s going on in international arena. The effect of the clamour for the America independence was the successive result of the French revolution .Most of the terrorist attack in various parts of the world produces result, except few that fails

Logistics and Distribution Problems of Agricultural Commodities from Greater Zaria Area, Nigeria

The location of Greater Zaria area in the guinea savannah provides a good physical environment for both subsistent and commercial agriculture. In Greater Zaria, both rain-fed and dry season farming are practiced by a large number of people and a significant per cent of the produce are marketed and distributed to other parts of the country. This study attempts to analyse the problems of logistics in the distribution of agricultural commodities from Greater Zaria to different parts of Nigeria. Questionnaires were designed and the purposive sampling method was used to select and interview marketers, intermediaries, vehicle drivers, channel loaders and consumers. Percentages, tables and flow line map were used to analyse the data. The results revealed that instability in the price of gasoline, harassment by law enforcement agents, extortions/multiple taxations at checkpoints, numerous stopping points/places of drivers and very poor condition of roads are seriously affecting the efficiency of freight distribution. What more, existence of numerous middlemen, channel loaders and lack of storage facilities in the source markets or collection points affects the ordering process and inventory management in Greater Zaria. All these activities not only cause delays, but also lead to loss of weight in animals as well as perishing of commodities in the logistics distribution and add to the cost price of agricultural commodities to consumers. It was therefore, recommended, among others, that government should try to ensure stability in the pricing and supply of gasoline to all nooks and crannies of the country. State governments should come up with an agreed pattern of taxation on our high ways to check extortions and multiple taxation; while our law enforcement agents should be well-trained, adequately remunerated and re-oriented to carry out their duties effectively. Only by so doing could we enhance efficiency in the logistics distribution of agricultural commodities not only from Greater Zaria, but also to and from all other parts of Nigeria. Keywords:  Problems, Logistics Distribution, Agricultural, Commodities and Zaria

Exchange Rate Pass-through in Nigeria: Evidence from a Vector Error Correction Model

The paper investigates the degree of exchange rate pass-through to import and consumer prices in Nigeria between 1986Q1 and 2007Q4 on the basis of vector error correction methodology. Results reveal that exchange rate pass-through in Nigeria is low, slightly higher in the import than in the consumer prices, significant and persistent. A one percent shock to exchange rate, for instance, results in 14.3 and -10.5 percent pass-through effect to import and consumer prices four quarters ahead, respectively. This, among other things, suggests that exchange rate pass-through in Nigeria declines along the price chain, and partly overturns the conventional wisdom in the literature that ERPT is always considerably higher in developing and emerging economies than in developed economies. Although pass-through effect is envisaged to increase with greater integration of the economy into the global world in future, but, the fact that it was found to be incomplete implies that prices react less proportionately to exchange shock in Nigeria and this is very useful to policymakers, especially in the design and implementation of monetary policy.Exchange rate pass-through, cointegration, vector error correction, impulse responses, variance compositions

Profitability Analysis of Fresh Tomato Retail Marketing In Some Major Markets Of Kano State, Nigeria

Small scale farmers in Nigeria can’t do without tomato production because of its special attributes and quick cash generation as tomato is being viewed as cash crop, despites it perishable and none storable nature. The study examined the profitability of fresh tomato retail marketing in major markets of Kano State. A total of 149 respondents were randomly selected from the four market sites selected purposively due to the high concentration of continuous retail marketing throughout the year, the market sites are; Tarauni, ‘Yan Kaba, Garin Dau and Wudil Market. Information was collected using structured questionnaire. Deconstructed marketing margin was used for the analysis, the results revealed the marketing margin to be N452.6 and –N374.5 per basket at the peak and the off season respectively. Transportation cost accounts for about 35% and 40% of the total marketing cost for on and off season respectively.  The study concluded that the retail marketing of fresh tomato is generally profitable and recommends that fresh tomato retail marketers should imbibe the idea of collective purchase in order to minimize transportation cost for maximum profit, it further recommends agricultural scientists to find ways of reducing postharvest losses at all levels of marketing so as to make the price of the commodity relatively stable throughout the year to ensure sustainability in the business

Graphical User Interface (GUI) for Position and Trajectory Tracking Control of the Ball and Plate System Using H-Infinity Controller

In this paper, a graphical user interface (GUI) for position and trajectory tracking of the ball and plate system (BPS) control scheme using the double feedback loop structure i.e. a loop within a loop is proposed. The inner and the outer loop was designed using linear algebraic method by solving a set of Diophantine equations and  sensitivity function. The results were simulated in MATLAB 2018a, and the trajectory tracking was displayed on a GUI, which showed that the plate was able to be stabilized at a time of 0.3546 seconds, and also the ball settled at 1.7087 seconds, when a sinusoidal circular reference trajectory of radius 0.4m with an angular frequency of 1.57rad/sec was applied to the BPS, the trajectory tracking error was 0.0095m.  This shows that the controllers possess the following properties for the BPS, which are; good adaptability, strong robustness and a high control performance.