Solutions of Relativistic Klein-Gordon Equation with Equal Scalar and Vector Shifted Hulthen plus Angle Dependent Potential

We have solved approximately the relativistic Klein-Gordon equation under the special case of equal scalar and vector shifted Hulthen plus angle dependent potential using the  parametric form of NIkiforov-Uvarov method.  The energy eigenvalues and the corresponding  wave functions expressed in terms of a Jacobi polynomial are obtained. The effect of  the angle dependent part on the radial solution is also discussed. We have also discussed few special cases of this potential. Keywords: relativistic Klein-Gordon equation, shifted Hulthen, angle dependent potential, parametric Nikiforov-Uvarov method, centrifugal term. PACS: 03.65Ge; 03.65.Pm; 03.65.Fd; 03.65.-w

Analysis of Market Participation by Rice Farmers in Southern Nigeria.

The study analyzed the factors affecting market participation by smallholder rice farmers in the study area. A random sampling procedure was employed in selecting the respondents. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics and the probit regression model. The results showed the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the small holder rice farmers varied greatly. The probit regression result showed that the level of crop produced, total land size, use of improved seeds, group participation, market information and contractual agreement has positive and significant impact on the ability of household to participate in output market. Lack of timely market information, transport and restricted access to extension agents are some of the problems associated with smallholder farmers in the study area. Based on the findings of the study some policy implications are discussed. KEYWORDS:Market participation, Small holder rice farmers, Market information, Output marke

Evaluation of auto regressive integrated moving average (arima) and artificial neural networks (ann) in the prediction of effluent quality of a wastewater treatment system

The main objective of wastewater treatment is to purify the water by degradation of organic matter in the water to anenvironmentally friendly status. To achieve this objective, some effluent (waste water) quality parameters such asChemical oxygen demand (COD) and Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) should be measured continuously in orderto meet up with the said objective and regulatory demands. However, through the prediction on water qualityparameters, effective guidance can be provided to comply with such demand without necessarily engaging in rigorouslaboratory analysis. Box-Jenkin’s Auto Regressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) technique is one of the mostrefined extrapolation techniques for prediction while Artificial Neural Network (ANN) is a modern non-linear methodalso used for prediction. The Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE), Root MeanSquare Error (RMSE) and Correlation coefficient (r) are used to evaluate the accuracy of the above-mentionedmodels. This paper examined the efficiency of ARIMA and ANN models in prediction of two major water qualityparameters (COD and BOD5) in a wastewater treatment plant. With the aid of R software, it was concluded that in allthe error estimates, ANNs models performed better than the ARIMA model, hence it can be used in the operation ofthe treatment system

MARKETING STRATEGIES AND PASSENGERS' ADOPTION OF RIDE-HAILING SERVICES

This study examined marketing strategies and passengers’ adoption of ride-hailing services. Its specific aim was to assess the influences of marketing communication, service quality, relationship marketing, and E-marketing strategies on passengers’ adoption of ride-hailing services. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey research design. A structured questionnaire was adapted to obtain primary data from 277 passengers of Bolt ride-hailing service, while multiple linear regression was adopted to test the hypotheses developed for the study. Consequently, the study found that relationship marketing strategy had the highest significant positive effect on passengers’ adoption of ride-hailing services, followed chronologically by E-marketing, service quality, and marketing communications. Therefore, the study concluded that marketing strategies have a significant and positive influence on passengers’ adoption of ride-hailing services. The study further made practical implications and provided an agenda for future research. Keywords: Marketing Strategies, Passengers’ Adoption, Ride-Hailing, Ride-Sharing

Libraries contributions to sports development in tertiary institutions: A case study of Akwa Ibom State Nigeria

Libraries provide information which is a vital tool for the pursuit of academic excellence at all levels of education and development of sports in tertiary institutions. Athletes in four tertiary institutions in Akwa Ibom State were used for the study. The study had four objectives, four research questions and three hypotheses. This study sought to determine the contributions of libraries to the development of sports skills in Nigeria. Survey research method was used for the study and the instrument was questionnaire. Data were analyzed using simple percentages and chi square to test the relationship between libraries and sports development. The findings from the study revealed that there is a relationship between libraries and sports development and those libraries have greatly contributed to the development of sports in Nigeria

Effect of Dietary Pumpkin Stem Waste on Haematological Indices, Meat and Serum Lipid Profiles of Rabbits

This study evaluated the effect of different supplementary dietary levels of pumpkin stem waste (PSW) on the haematological indices, meat and serum lipid profile of rabbits. Three experimental feed regime:D1 (control), basal feed+ 0% PSW; D2,basal feed + 5% PSW and D3, basal feed + 10% PSW were randomly assigned to the three treatment groups in a 3x2 factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design experiment. The PSW percentage were offered on rabbit weight basis. Thirty six (18 males and 18 females) crossbred (California x New Zealand white) weaned rabbits aged 6 and 7 weeks were divided into three treatment groups of 12 rabbits each with 4 rabbits per replicate (2 females and 2 males) and randomly allotted to the three dietary treatments. At the end of 12 weeks feeding trial( prior to slaughtering), blood samples were collected from 6 rabbits (3 males and 3 females) per treatment totalling 18 rabbits and used to determine the serum lipid profile and haematological blood indices. Similarly, breast meat sample was used to determined lipid profile. Results obtained showed that while red blood cell (RBC),haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV),Mean cell haemoglobin (MCH) and mean cell haemoglobin concentration MCHC increased (P<0.05) with increasing dietary PSW. White blood cell (WBC) and MCHC however showed no significant difference (P>0.05) among the treatments groups. Lipid profile of both serum and meat indicated that HDL increased significantly (P<0.05) with increase in PSW while total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL), triglyceride (TG) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) decreased significantly (P<0.05). Diet by sex interaction showed that male rabbits recorded significantly different (P<0.05) values from their female counterparts in all the blood and meat lipid parameters assessed. These results suggest that pumpkin stem waste is hypolipidaemic therefore could lower rabbits’ meat cholesterol and improve blood constituents

Study of The Contribution of Carbon Iv And Carbon II Oxides in Methanol Synthesis With Modified Kinetic Model

The objective of this work was the simulation of methanol production process using a modified kinetic model to study the effect of reaction conditions on the relative contribution of Carbon II and Carbon IV oxides in methanol synthesis. The results showed that Carbon II oxide hydrogenation decreased as percentage of Carbon IV oxide increased and vice-versa. However it was observed that no generalizations could be made regarding the main carbon source in methanol but that the pathway of contribution from CO/CO2 hydrogenation depends on process/reaction conditions. It is recommended that for improved process design, there is the need to carefully interpret experimental data and extrapolate results from low pressure/low conversion to high pressure/high conversion laboratory conditions

Structural Evolution, Magmatism, and Effects of Hydrocarbon Maturation in Lower Benue Trough, Nigeria: A Case Study of Lokpaukwu, Uturu, and Ishiagu.

The Benue Trough of Nigeria has been affected by at least two episodes of deformation in the Cenomanian and Santonian times. The deformations generated NE-SW trending structural features, which accommodated massive igneous activities in the Trough. The Lokpaukwu–Uturu–Ishiagu magmatic belt of the Lower Benue Trough is an example of these structurally controlled igneous intrusions. The igneous rocks are predominantly intermediate to basic in character, rich in plagioclase and ferromagnesian minerals and have impacted high maturity on the source sediments due to thermal effect. Total organic carbon contents of the mudrock inclusions in the pyroclastics range from 0.60%wt – 0.86%wt. It is apparent that prior to the eruption, an initial shaly source rock with higher organic carbon content was cooked during the eruption, thereby reducing the source quality of the rocks. Thus, heat from the igneous intrusions raised the temperature of the source rocks above the liquid oil window limit, and thus inhibited the preservation of the essential constituents of petroleum in the shales within the Lower Benue Trough

Prescription Pattern of Antimalarial Drugs in Children Below 5 years in a Tertiary Health Institution in Nigeria

Background: This study examines the diagnosis of malaria and pattern of prescription of antimalarial drugs in the most vulnerable age group (the under 5 children) in the study environment in order to identify the possible shortcomings and suggest solutions so as to improve the treatment outcome in future. Methods: The hospital records of 430 children with malaria infection admitted for treatment in a chosen tertiary health facility between January to December 2005 were selected for study. Forty-eight case records were excluded due to incomplete information. Data on demographic, clinical features of disease, diagnostic procedures, drug administration and the treatment out come were collected from the patients\u2019 records. Results: Analysis of the data revealed that more male (213) than female (169) children were admitted for malaria treatment: Fever with convulsion (55.8%) was the commonest presenting symptoms, and anemia was the most frequent complications of malaria recorded. Chloroquine was found to be the most prescribed antimalarial agent and overall antemisinin-based drug was prescribed either as a first or second line treatment in only 18.2% of the cases. The death rate recorded was 16%. Conclusion: The pattern of antimalarial drugs prescription in the study center in most cases did not meet the recommended guidelines. The prescriptions were predominantly chloroquine, instead of artemisinin based. The death rate was comparatively high. Measures to raise the level of awareness among the practitioners on the current National policy on malaria treatment through seminars and workshops were suggested.Introduction: Cette \ue9tude examine le diagnostic du paludisme et le mod\ue8le de l\u2019ordonnance des m\ue9dicaments antipalud\ue9ens pour le groupe d\u2019\ue2ge le plus vuln\ue9rable (les enfants de moins de cinq ans), dans le but d\u2019 identifier les d\ue9faillances possibles et alors sugg\ue9rer des solutions pour ainsi am\ue9liorer les soins dans l\u2019avenir. M\ue9thodes: L\u2019\ue9tude a \ue9t\ue9 bas\ue9e sur les donn\ue9es de l\u2019h\uf4pital portant sur 430 enfants atteints du paludisme et hospitalis\ue9s dans des centres m\ue9dicaux s\ue9lectionn\ue9s de troisi\ue8me cat\ue9gorie, entre Janvier et D\ue9cembre, 2005. Quarante huit cas ont \ue9t\ue9 exclus pour l\u2019insuffisance d\u2019information. Les donn\ue9es d\ue9mographiques, les sympt\uf4mes des maladies, les proc\ue9dures du diagnostic, l\u2019administration de m\ue9dicaments et le r\ue9sultat des traitements ont \ue9t\ue9 collect\ue9s du registre des malades. R\ue9sultats: L\u2019analyse des donn\ue9es a r\ue9v\ue9l\ue9 que plus des gar\ue7ons (213) que des filles (169) ont \ue9t\ue9 hospitalis\ue9s pour les traitements du paludisme. La fi\ue8vre avec convulsions (55,8 pour cent) \ue9tait plus fr\ue9quente tandis que l\u2019an\ue9mie \ue9tait la complication palud\ue9enne la plus not\ue9e. Il a \ue9t\ue9 aussi not\ue9 que la chloroquine a \ue9t\ue9 le m\ue9dicament antipalud\ue9en le plus prescrit et que les m\ue9dicaments sp\ue9cialis\ue9s \ue0 base de l\u2019Art\ue9misinine ont \ue9t\ue9, en tout et pour tout, prescrits en premi\ue8re et en deuxi\ue8me positions de traitement couvrant ainsi 18,2 pour cent seulement des cas. Le taux de mortalit\ue9 \ue9tait \ue0 16 pour cent. Conclusion: Le mod\ue8le de la prescription des m\ue9dicaments antipalud\ue9ens, dans le centre de cette \ue9tude, n\u2019a pas atteint le niveau des recommandations dans beaucoup de cas. Les prescriptions \ue9taient en majorit\ue9 la chloroquine au lieu des m\ue9dicaments sp\ue9cialis\ue9s a base Art\ue9misinine. Le taux de mortalit\ue9 est relativement \ue9lev\ue9. Des mesures d\u2019intensifier la sensibilisation pour les praticiens a travers s\ue9minaire et ateliers sur la Nouvelle Politique Nationale sur le traitement du paludisme ont \ue9t\ue9 sugg\ue9r\ue9es

Kinetic Models for Drying Techniques—Food Materials

Drying operations can help in reducing the moisture content of food materials for avoidance of microbial growth and deterioration, for shelf life elongation, to minimize packaging and improving storage for easy transportation. Thin-layer drying of materials is necessary to understand the fundamental transport mechanism and a prerequisite to successfully simulate or scale up the whole process for optimization or control of the operating conditions. Re- searchers have shown that to rely solely on experimental drying practices without mathematical considerations for the drying kinetics, can significantly affect the efficiency of dryers, increase the cost of production, and reduce the quality of the dried product. An effective model is necessary for the process design, optimization, energy integration and control; hence, the use of mathematical models in finding the drying kinetics of agricultural products is very important. The statistical criteria in use for the evaluation of the best model(s) has it that coefficient of determination (R2) has to be close to unity while the rest statistical measures will have values tending to zero. In this work, the essence of drying using thin-layer, general approaches to modeling for food drying mechanisms thin layer drying models and optimization of the drying processes have been discussed