Determinants of Output of Artisanal Fishers in Oguta, Imo State, Nigeria

The objective of the survey is to determine the variables that affect the output of artisanal fishers in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. Data used for the study were obtained from primary and secondary sources using a multi-stage random sampling technique. In the first stage, 10 villages out of the 27 villages in Oguta were selected at random. In the first second state, 4 fishers were selected from each of the villages making a total of 40 respondents in Oguta Ameshi. Similarly, 60 respondents were selected from Ubi, which is made up of 27 farm settlements (Egwes). This brought the total to 100 respondents. Instrument of data collection was via well-structured and pre-tested questionnaires. The lead equation (linear form) shows that values of fixed cost invested (X1), depreciation value of fixed assets (X4) and area of the lake fished (X5) were significantly and positively correlated with the value of outputs. The linear equation explained 51.5% of the variation in the output of artisan fishers Imo State, Nigeria. Keywords: keyword;Socio-economic, Determinants, Artisanal fishersJournal of Agriculture and Food Sciences Vol. 5 (1) 2007: pp. 29-3

Simulation and Prediction of Urbanization in Makurdi City, Nigeria using CA-Markov Technique

The intensification of anthropogenic activities covering agriculture, deforestation, expanding farmland, and urban centers are greatly changing the landscape across the globe. This study uses Land Use and Land Cover Change (LULCC) computed from Landsat TM, ETM+ and OLI datasets of 1986, 2006 and 2016 respectively. These were analyzed using ArcGIS and IDRISI to make clear land use structures. These software enabled us to classify LULC into five classes to examine and monitor the changes that have taken place in the area. IDRISI’s Land Change Modeler was ran to model land use and land cover dynamic in the study area. CA-Markov model was used to simulate and predict its spatio-temporal change rules and driving factors using DEM, distance to road and distance to water. The results showed that built-up areas have been on the increase from 24.10% in 2016 to 41.71% in the year 2036, with the spatial trend of built up areas showing that there is a growing trend in the city centre, spreading towards the fringes of north west, north east, sharing boundary with Nassarawa State relative to other directions. Urbanized land maintained the growth momentum while farmland area decreased and other land use types kept a relative stable level. Spatial raster contrast proved that CA-Markov model was in high consistency for the LUCC prediction. Makurdi city has changed dramatically, characterized with the shrinkage of farmland area, vegetation, primarily due to the urbanization and the trend is projected to intensify. Finally, the use of IDRISI in modeling LULC is a suitable approach to understand the future LULC pattern. Keywords: LULCC, CA-Markov, Urbanization, Simulation, Landsa

An Evaluation of the Applications of Quantitative Techniques (QTs) to Production Planning and Control in Manufacturing Industries

This study examined the factors that affect applications of Quantitative Techniques (QTs) to production planning and control in selected Nigerian manufacturing industries. Data were collected using questionnaire administered on 160 staff of 20 companies randomly chosen from each of the 8 purposively selected Nigerian Small-Scale Industries. Analysis of data was done descriptively and quantitatively using cross tabulations, percentages and inferential statistical tools respectively. Specifically, student t test was used to test the significance of the number of companies that apply QTs, The results showed that the types of QTs commonly in use include: Graphical and Charting Techniques, Control Charts, Forecasting Techniques (Simple Regression and Time Series Analyses), Inventory Model, Range, Variance and Standard Deviation, Capacity Utilization Model, and Acceptance Sampling. Control Charts topped the list with 14 (35 %). Also, 40 companies (25 %) of the 160 surveyed actually apply QTs. This number was significant at 0.05 level with t= 8.819. Metal Works industry led others in the applications of QTs with 8 (40 %) of the 20 companies surveyed in each selected industry; it also recorded 8 (20 %) of the 40 companies from all the selected industries. The study concluded that certain QTs are being applied to production planning and control by a significant number of companies from the selected Nigerian small-scale industries. Lack of adequate financial resources was the most important of all the assessed factors. Keywords: Product planning and control, Operations research models, resources utilization decision makin

Awareness, Acceptance and Usage of Mobile Banking Services by Academic Librarians in Nigeria.

The purpose of this paper is to determine the extent to which academic librarians are aware and use mobile banking services in Nigeria. The study used the quantitative research design. Data was collected using online questionnaire designed using SurveyMonkey. The population of the study consisted of academic librarians in tertiary institutions in Nigeria who are customers to various banks in Nigeria. In total 210 academic librarians across Nigeria responded to the survey. The study found that the majority of the academic librarians are aware and mostly used mobile banking services such as buying airtime (self), transfer money, check account balance, get account statement, buy airtime for others, make transaction enquiry, and SMS alerts. Almost all the academic librarians agree and strongly agree that adoption of mobile banking services hasten funds transfer, makes enquiries on account faster, saves time of the customers, enhance prompt response, more convenient to customers, and saves cost. Network failure during transactions, chances of fraud, lack of information privacy, concerns related to non-delivery of transactions, system security is not guaranteed in case of loss of phone where identified as the challenges associated with use of mobile banking services in Nigeria. Adoption and use of mobile banking services will save the time of the customer by conducting their transactions quickly without having to queue up and to use paper documents. The study reported the present level of awareness, acceptance and use of mobile banking services by academic librarians who are customers to various banks in Nigeria

Busy hour traffic congestion analysis in mobile macrocells

Traffic congestion during busy hour (BH) deteriorates the overall performance of cellular network and may become unmanageable unless effective and efficient methods of congestion control are developed through real live traffic data measurement and analysis. In this work, real live traffic data from integrated GSM/GPRS network was used for traffic congestion analysis. The analysis was carried out on 10 congesting cells using network management system (NMS) statistics data span for three years period. Correlation test showed that traffic channel (TCH) congestion depend only on call setup success rate (CSSR) and BH traffic at cell level. An average correlation coefficient value of 0.9 was observed between TCH congestion and CSSR while 0.6 was observed between TCH congestion and BH traffic. The correlation test is important when selecting input for congestion prediction modeling.Keywords: traffic congestion; correlation coefficient; macrocells and key performance indicato

Microplastics and chemical additives from disposable face masks: Environmental, human health and behavioural impacts

Microplastic (MP) pollution has emerged as a major environmental issue with significant health implications. Synthetic face masks (FMs) have been identified as a substantial source of MPs and chemical additives, posing risks to ecosystems and human health. This systematic literature review examines the environmental and human health risks associated with MPs and chemical additives released from synthetic FMs and explores the behavioural factors influencing these risks. This interdisciplinary perspective is not well-explored in existing literature and offers new insights into the field. Key findings indicate that MPs are present in newly manufactured FMs, likely generated during the non-woven FM production process, with various environmental factors accelerating the release of MPs and additives. While existing studies highlight MP toxicity in aquatic and terrestrial organisms, there is a lack of research addressing the direct MP impact on human health. Workplaces where FMs are used as personal protective equipment may create conditions that promote pollutant release; however, but the literature has predominantly focused on secondary exposure via the food chain, rather than on direct exposure during FM use. Most research centres on the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving a gap in understanding risks for individuals relying on FMs for occupational safety or living in areas with poor air quality. The wide range and concentration of additives reported suggest inadequate regulation in FM production. Future research should focus on evaluating the long-term health impacts of MPs and additives, understanding FM-wearing behaviours to assess exposure levels, conducting cause-and-effect studies to inform policy, and developing sustainable alternatives.</p

Platelet microparticle delivered microRNA-Let-7a promotes the angiogenic switch

Platelet microparticle (PMP)-induced angiogenesis plays a key role in tumour metastasis and has been proposed to contribute towards cardiovascular disease by enhancing atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability. However, the mechanisms underlying PMP induced angiogenesis are ill defined. Recent reports demonstrate that PMPs deliver micro-RNAs (miRNAs) to recipient cells, controlling gene expression. We therefore evaluated whether miRNA transfer was a key regulator of PMP-induced angiogenesis. Co-culturing PMPs with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) on extracellular matrix gel induced robust capillary like structure formation. PMP treatment altered the release of angiogenesis modulators from HUVEC, including significantly reducing production of anti-angiogenic thrombospondin-1 (THBS-1). Both functional responses were abrogated by treating PMPs with RNase, suggesting the transfer of PMP-derived RNA was a critical event. PMPs were an abundant source of miRNA Let-7a, which was transferred to HUVEC following co-incubation. Using luciferase reporter assays we have shown that Let-7a directly targets the 3’UTR of the THBS-1 mRNA. HUVEC transfection with a Let-7a anti-sense oligonucleotide reduced the ability of PMPs to inhibit THBS-1 release, and significantly decreased PMP induced in vitro angiogenesis. Antibody neutralisation of THBS-1 reversed the anti-angiogenic effect of let-7a inhibition in PMP treated HUVEC, highlighting Let-7a dependent translational repression of THBS-1 drives angiogenesis. Importantly, plasmid overexpression of Let-7a in HUVEC alone induced robust tubule formation on extracellular matrix gel. These data reveal a new role for Let-7a in promoting angiogenesis and show for the first time PMPs induced angiogenic responses occur through miRNA regulation of HUVEC