A multileveled computational driven design method for engineering bacterial synthetic biology systems

This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University Londo

Perinatal Mortality in a Northwestern Nigerian City: A Wake up Call

Background: In Nigeria, of the over 900,000 children under the age of 5 years that die every year, perinatal mortality is responsible for a little over 20%. Previous reports are largely from the southern part of the country. This is the first report of perinatal data from the northwest of Nigeria. Methods: A case control study of perinatal deaths in the three major public hospitals in Katsina metropolis was carried out to determine the pattern of perinatal deaths in the metropolis. Data were collected over a 6 week period on maternal socio-demographic, antenatal, and delivery variables. Data were similarly obtained on neonatal profile and morbidities. Results: There were 143 perinatal deaths (94 stillbirths and 49 early neonatal deaths) out of 1104 live and stillbirths during the study period. The perinatal mortality rate was thus 130 per 1000 births with a stillbirth rate of 85 per 1000 births and an early neonatal mortality rate of 49 per 1000 live births. Stillbirths during the intrapartum period were twice as frequent as macerated stillbirths (2:1). Maternal factors significantly associated with perinatal deaths included chorioamnionitis, ruptured uterus, multiple gestation, medically induced delivery, prolonged labor, unbooked pregnancies, antepartum hemorrhage, and prolonged rupture of membranes. Antepartum hemorrhage was the strongest determinant of perinatal death. Significant neonatal determinants were multiple gestation, severe birth asphyxia, apnea, and necrotizing enterocolitis. Apnea was the strongest neonatal determinant. The majority (83.2%) of perinatal deaths were due to severe perinatal asphyxia (SPA) (54.5%), normally formed macerated stillbirths (20.3%), and immaturity (8.4%). Conclusion: In conclusion, Perinatal Mortality in Katsina metropolis in northwest Nigeria is unacceptably high as we approach the timeline for the millennium development goals. Antepartum hemorrhage and SPA are major determinants

Contrastive Analysis Of Tense Formation Processes In Hausa And English With Teaching And Learning Implications For Teachers Of English As A Second Language

This paper investigates the linguistic devises carrying tenses in Hausa and English and provides Teaching and Learning Implications. The tense formation processes in the two languages were studied by a way of contrast. In the study, Transformational Generative Grammar (TGG) was used as analytical model. The Gradman’s Description, Detection and Explanation (DDE) model was used as a descriptive model for the contrast. Two texts were selected for the analysis: “Points of Disorder” and “Da na Sani Keya ce”. Out of the population of ten sentences: four sentences from the Hausa text and another set of four sentences from the English text were used as sample. The sentences carrying different tenses in each language were analyzed to demonstrate both tense markers and linguistic items carrying tense and tense formation processes the languages. It was discovered that the two languages have some similarities in terms of directions occupied by linguistic items marking the presence of tense as well as tense formation processes. However, from the data collected and analyzed, differences become apparent in terms of linguistic items marking the occurrence of tense, those carrying tense and tense formation processes in Hausa and English. The study recommends the use of context-related activities such as making students to write to vividly report and describe adventures and experiences in the teaching of English tenses to Hausa-speaking students. Equally recommended are drilling students in story writing and comparisons of the English tenses identified in stories, speeches etc. with those of the Hausa language. It is expected that using the contrastive model of DDE will help Hausaspeaking students identify if there are cases of confusion in the use of English and Hausa tenses as well as cases of transfer in the use of tenses in either language. This includes problems of overgeneralization of tense formation rules and processes among Hausa-speaking students learning the delicate English language tenses

Towards a preferred housing environment: examining satisfaction elements outside a dwelling unit among Ahmadu Bello University (Kongo Campus) staff, Nigeria

In this paper, we built upon findings from a housing satisfaction study (considering largely those elements which are external to the dwelling unit) among two categories of university staff (academic and non-academic). Responses are gathered from university owned housing developments at four (4) different locations as well as private accommodations. 224 households (that is 20% of the entire staff population as at July 2011) were studied by selecting one out of five houses in each of the identified clusters. The study found that, the macro environmental effects of safety and security positively affects occupants’ overall satisfaction. However, although soft exterior landscaping is found to be generally poor in all the studied housing developments, it has no effect on the overall satisfaction. The scenario reflects the contextual level of socio-economic development; hence the study highlights the need to emphasize basic elements, particularly in response to the growing interest in fostering sustainable development through reduced material consumption

Internal audit quality and organizational performance in Nigerian federal universities : the moderating effects of top management support

Internal audit quality is one of the key factors in achieving superior organizational performance. However, upon all the existence of internal audit (IA) departments in Nigerian federal universities, poor internal control and ineffectiveness in the financial operations were identified. Therefore, this study examined the relationship between internal audit quality dimensions consisting of IA competence, IA independence, IA size, IA reporting line and timeliness of IA report and organizational performance with moderating effect of top management support in Nigerian federal universities. A total of 600 samples of internal auditors were drawn from 40 Nigerian federal universities. Data was collected using questionnaires, of which 313 responses were analysed through descriptive and inferential statistics for testing the hypotheses. The result of direct relationship of the constructs of the study reveals that there are positive relationships between IA competence, timeliness of IA report, IA reporting line and top management support with organizational performance. However, negative relationships between IA independence and IA size were identified. The result of moderating effect of top management support reveals that IA independence, IA size and IA competence produced positive and significant relationship with organizational performance. While, negative relationships between IA reporting line and timeliness of IA report were identified. The practical and the theoretical contributions of this study indicates that stewardship theory and resource dependency theory are important in explaining the effect of top management support to organizational performance. The result further implies that Nigerian federal universities are capable of achieving high level of performance with new policy initiatives by the regulatory Agencies and support from top management for IA independence, IA competent and good sizeable number of IA staff. The study also contributed to the literature of internal audit quality and organizational performance relationships with moderating effect of top management support and the IA practice in Nigerian

Role of Computer in Instruction, Assessment and Administrative Delivery of Education Goals in the University of Maiduguri, Nigeria

Information and Communication Technologies have come to transform and reshape the school structures, curriculum, pedagogies, assessment and evaluation. Despite these advantages, very few institution of learning in Nigeria have been able to explore the inherent benefits of ICT to the fullest. The quest to attain Educational ends in response to the fast changing Society has indeed become a great challenge to the Nigerian Curriculum. Instructional delivery is the bridge between understanding and assimilation of knowledge. It is no longer news that developed Nations have moved from Desktop Computing Technology to what is now known as Cloud and Automated Computing and recently Computer Based Test (CBT). Improving the instructional delivery method requires whole lot of work. To this effect, this paper focuses on the ways to transform the Traditional driven methods of instructional and administrative delivery which in all ramification inactive. There are barriers hindering wholesome ICT integration in the University of Maiduguri such as inadequate power supply, lack of fund to equip schools, leadership focus and direction. Perhaps when the Universities, Government and stakeholders surmount these barriers, then we can propel to that paperless classroom. The paper further demonstrates how instructional delivery via computer transforms the thinking and impact on learners and general administration of Schools. It reflects on some of the impact and challenges of using CBI, CAI, CBT and recommends an optimum solution to the adaptation and use of the new Technologies to improve learning, evaluation and administrative delivery in the University of Maiduguri, Nigeria. Keywords: Instructional Delivery, Administrative delivery, Computer Based Instruction,Computer Based Tes

Principals’ Administrative Styles and Students’ Academic Performance in Taraba State Secondary Schools, Nigeria

The study determined the relationship between principals’ administrative styles and students’ academic performance in Taraba State secondary schools, Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to determine the relationships between initiative structure of leadership styles, consideration structure of leadership styles, participatory structure of leadership styles as they affect students academic performance. A null hypotheses was raised and tested at 0.05 level of significance. Correlation research was adopted as a design for the study., the population of the study comprised all the 4,300 teachers’ and 10,750 students registered with Taraba State Teaching Service Board. Using stratified random sampling, 430 teachers representing 10% of the population were randomly selected from the 8 education zones spread across the state. Proforma was using in collecting academic performance record of the 10,750 secondary school students who graduated from 2009 – 2011. 30 Items Questionnaire was also used as the second instrument for data collection in this study. Using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient, and Regression analysis, data were analysed, The results of the study revealed that there were no significant relationships between principals initiative administrative styles and students’ academic performance in English language. The findings also revealed no significant relationships between consideration structure of principals’ administrative styles and students’ academic performance in English language. The findings further revealed no significant relationships between participatory administrative styles of principals’ and student academic performance in senior secondary schools in English language for the year 2010, and in Mathematics 2010 and 2011respectively. It further revealed that among the three leadership styles, none is the best predictor of students’ academic performance in Taraba State secondary schools. Based on these findings, it was recommended among others that School administrators should explore ways and means of using varying administrative styles that could yields the much needed results of enhancing students’ academic performance in Taraba State secondary schools. Keywords: Principals, administrative style, initiative structure, consideration structure, participatory structur

Perspectives on Consumerism and Consumer Protection Act in Nigeria

This study focuses on the issues and challenges relating to consumerism and consumer protection in Nigeria, with particular attention to the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) Act 2004. Evidences from available literature indicate that consumerism in Nigeria, like in most Less Developed Countries has remained at the lowest ebb in spite of the prevalence of unwholesome business practices. The Nigerian consumer is thus continuously saddled with substandard goods and services, coupled with the lack of information and limited choice in the market, thus necessitating political/government efforts. In This study, it was observed that although the CPC Act recognized the rights of consumers, it does not specifically provide for these rights as they are merely implied and subsumed into the functions of the council and the state committees established by the Act. We therefore conclude that mere existence of the law is not enough. Specific protective and compensatory measures should be clearly stated for any infringement on any of the consumers’ rights. Doing so would strengthen the CPC Act in Nigeria. Further the Consumer Protection Council need to embark on sustained sensitization of consumers on their rights and also push for the amendment of specific sections of the CPC Act to give aggrieved consumers unfettered access to courts to pursue their rights. Keywords: Keywords: consumerism, consumer protection, marketing, consumer rights, Nigeri

Methanolysis of Balanite aegyptiaca (Desert Date) Oil using CaO as Catalyst

Biodiesel is a trans-esterified vegetable oil which is renewable energy source that can be considered as a pivotal solution to combating global warming, climate stabilization through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on mineral diesel. In this work Methanolysis of Balanite aegyptiaca (Desert date) seeds oil was done using a heterogeneous catalyst (CaO). The transesterification was carried out at 55 oC for a period of 1 h. and catalyst loading of 0.4%. FTIR as well as the physico-chemical parameter analysis of the biodiesel obtained were carried out; the FTIR spectrum shows major peaks at 3007 cm-1, 2921 cm-1, 1745 cm-1, 1163 - 1210 cm-1, 1439 cm-1, 1033 cm-1correspond to C-H stretching of alkene, C-H stretching of alkane, C=O of esters, O-C stretching of ester, CH3 asymmetric bending, O-CH3 of ester respectively. The results show a high yield of biodiesel was obtained (96.3%). Physico-chemical results show the density of 0.9 g/cm3, iodine value 96.95, and acid value 0.9. Thus, it can be concluded that Desert date (Balanite aegyptiaca) seed oil can be used as a good feedstock for the biodiesel production with high percentage yield. Keywords: Biodiesel, Desert date, Heterogeneous catalyst, Methanolysis, Physico-chemical propertie