An Assessment Of The Performance Of Discriminant Analysis And The Logistic Regression Methods In Classification Of Mode Of Delivery Of An Expectant Mother

The study compares two statistical methods: Discriminant analysis and the Logistic regression model in predicting Mode of Delivery of an expectant mother, Natural birth and Caesarian section. Of the 184 cases examined for Mode of Delivery of an expectant mother, Discriminant Analysis classified the Natural birth correctly (64.6%) while it recorded (64.7%) success rate in classifying the Caesarian section. In the case of the Logistic regression, it recorded (76.8%) and (52.9%) success rate in classifying the Natural birth and Caesarian section respectively. The overall predictive performance of the two models was high with the Logistic regression having the highest value (64.7%) and (65.8%) for Discriminant Analysis. Among the five characteristics examined, Mothers height, Baby’s weight and gender were not significant variables for identifying Mode of delivery by both methods while Mothers weight is important identifying variable for both except Mothers age which was significant in the Discriminant analysis. The study shows that both techniques estimated almost the same statistical significant coefficient and that the overall classification rate for both was good while either can be helpful in selection of Mode of delivery for an expectant mother. However, given the failure rate to meet the underlying assumptions of Discriminant Analysis, Logistic Regression is preferabl

Access to water in the countries of the former Soviet Union.

BACKGROUND: During the Soviet period, authorities in the USSR invested heavily in collective farming and modernization of living conditions in rural areas. However, many problems remained, including poor access to many basic amenities such as water. Since then, the situation is likely to have changed; economic decline has coincided with migration and widening social inequalities, potentially increasing disparities within and between countries. AIM: To examine access to water and sanitation and its determinants in urban and rural areas of eight former Soviet countries. METHODS: A series of nationally representative surveys in Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Ukraine was undertaken in 2001, covering 18,428 individuals (aged 18+ years). RESULTS: The percentage of respondents living in rural areas varied between 27 and 59% among countries. There are wide urban-rural differences in access to amenities. Even in urban areas, only about 90% of respondents had access to cold running water in their home (60% in Kyrgyzstan). In rural areas, less than one-third had cold running water in their homes (44% in Russia, under 10% in Kyrgyzstan and Moldova). Between one-third and one-half of rural respondents in some countries (such as Belarus, Kazakhstan and Moldova) obtained their water from wells and similar sources. Access to hot running water inside the homes was an exception in rural households, reflecting the lack of modern heating methods in villages. Similarly, indoor access to toilets is common in urban areas but rare in rural areas. Access to all amenities was better in Russia compared with elsewhere in the region. Indoor access to cold water was significantly more common among rural residents living in apartments, and in settlements served by asphalt roads rather than dirt roads. People with more assets or income and living with other people were significantly more likely to have water on tap. In addition, people who had moved in more recently were more likely to have an indoor water supply. CONCLUSIONS: This was the largest single study of its kind undertaken in this region, and demonstrates that a significant number of people living in rural parts of the former Soviet Union do not have indoor access to running water and sanitation. There are significant variations among countries, with the worse situation in central Asia and the Caucasus, and the best situation in Russia. Access to water strongly correlates with socio-economic characteristics. These findings suggest a need for sustained investment in rebuilding basic infrastructure in the region, and monitoring the impact of living conditions on health

TESTING THE VALIDITY OF THE FISCAL THEORY OF THE PRICE LEVEL (FTPL): A REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL LITERATURE

The main objective of this paper is to review literature on the Fiscal Theory of the Price Level (FTPL) and its validity in price level determination for both developed and developing economies. FTPL may be understood on the categorisation of the fiscal regime into two types, namely, the Ricardian and non-Ricardian regimes. Empirical evidence for the validity of FTPL on price level determination depends on dominant characteristics of the policy regime. The Ricardian regime does not hold for FTPL, while the non-Ricardian regime holds for FTPL. Based on surveyed empirical studies, time series and panel analysis were used through various estimation methods in the validation of FTPL. Most of the findings from the studies reviewed in this paper validated the FTPL. This means that inflationary episodes tend to be influenced by fiscal dominant regimes. The study concludes that the conduct of fiscal policy influences price dynamics. Hence, fiscal variables should be taken into account by the central bank in its monetary policy rule

A Grant Proposal to Evaluate the Effect Antibiotic TB Treatment has on the Gut Microbiota and on Metabolic Functions of Pediatric TB Patients in Dekalb County

INTRODUCTION: This capstone project is modeled after a National Institutes of Health R21 grant application to evaluate the relationship between tuberculosis (TB) antibiotic treatment and 1) gut microbiota and 2) long-term metabolic functions among pediatric patients less than five years old or greater than five years old, residing in Dekalb county. AIM: The proposed study specific aims are to 1) determine the relationship between standard drug-sensitive antibiotic TB regimens on the gut microbiota (total density and taxa) at the time of TB treatment completion and one-year after treatment completion; 2) determine the relationship between standard drug-sensitive antibiotic TB regimens and metabolic biomarkers (Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs), amino acids (Branched Chain and Aromatic), cholesterol, and glucose) at the time of treatment and one-year follow-up. SIGNIFICANCE: In the last ten years, antibiotic use has increased substantially, correlating with the increase incidence of childhood obesity and diabetes. This trend may partially be explained by an association between broad-spectrum antibiotic usage during childhood and the dysbiosis of the gut microbiome. The disruption of the gut microbiota induces the dysregulation of metabolic pathways, which may lead to the increased risk of developing obesity and diabetes. In 2015, TB accounted for 1 million incident cases in children. Given antibiotic treatment for TB requires exposure to multiple antibiotics for more than six consecutive months, this proposal intends to understand the extent to which exposure to TB treatment may impact the gut microbiome and whether antibiotic induced dysbiosis in the gut microbiome has long-term impact on pediatric metabolic function. APPROACH: Eligibility criteria includes all TB pediatric patients (\u3c 15 years of age) residing in DeKalb county, receiving care for drug-susceptible pulmonary TB by the DeKalb Refugee Clinic within the Dekalb County Board of Health. Patients with previous history of diabetes, obesity, or HIV will be excluded. STUDY DESIGN: We will perform a prospective cohort study of N=50 pulmonary drug-susceptible pediatric TB patients from 2018-2020. At the time of baseline, TB treatment completion, and one-year follow-up the primary measures collected will be total density and taxa distribution of the gut microbiome. We will also collect SCFA, branched chain and aromatic amino acids, fasting glucose, A1c, and fasting cholesterol. Baseline measures will act as an internal comparison group for each patient

Lecturers’ Awareness, Perception and Utilization of Institutional Repositories in Two Universities in Nigeria

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine the lecturers awareness, perception and utilisation of institutional repositories in two universities in Nigeria. The universities include the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and University of Jos. The research design adopted for the study was correlational research design, while the questionnaire was the instrument used for data collection. The questionnaire was grouped into five sections and most of the questions were close ended. Also validity and reliability of the questionnaire was done in order to obtain the desired results. Out of 642 number of questionnaire distributed, 473 were completed, returned and found suitable for use. Descriptive and inferential statistics were then used to analyze the data. The findings revealed that lecturers\u27 level of awareness of IRs was moderate, this was indicated with a weighted average of 2.58 (65%). The findings also revealed that lecturer\u27s major sources of awareness of IRs were through University\u27s website 417 (88.2%), library sensitizations 286 (60.5%) and through colleagues 288 (60.9%). Majority of the lecturers slightly utilized the IRs 243 (51.4%) for depositing scholarly materials. However, majority of the lecturers indicated that they did not encountered much constraint when utilizing the repositories. In the course of the study, three hypotheses were tested and the findings from the hypotheses revealed that there was a positive significant relationship between awareness and utilization of IRs, perception and utilization of IRs, awareness and perception of the importance of IRs. It was concluded that increase in the awareness and perception of IRs by lecturers increases their utilization of the IRs. Hence, recommendations were made to the library management of the two universities to intensify their advocacies, awareness campaign and sensitization excises in order to increase awareness and perception of lecturers which would in turn increase the utilization of the repositories

COVID-19 PANDEMIC CHALLENGES TO MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN NIGERIA: STRATEGIC OPTIONS FOR SURVIVAL

COVID-19 Pandemic posed a great threat and challenges to the business world, especially the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Many of these enterprises suffered a great downturn in business activities and reduction in profit volume. Many of them were forced to close down while others survived on the margin. The government and other stakeholders in the MSMEs have provided solutions to their problems but most of them have not really yielded the desired result. This paper investigates the challenges that MSMEs in Lagos State encountered as well as the strategic options for their survival during the Covid-19 Pandemic era. A survey research design was adopted and primary data were collected with the help of questionnaire. The population of study was 3,224,324 registered MSMEs in Lagos State, while the sample size of 400 was determined with Yamane (1967) formulae. A simple random sampling technique has been employed to administer 400 copies of questionnaire out of which 297 were properly filled and returned. The findings from the regression analysis and the descriptive statistics revealed that there is no significant effect of MSMEs Covid-19 challenges (such as: decline in productivity, business closure, supply chain breakdown, low customer demand, reduction in profit volume, self-isolation, reduced opportunities to meet new clients) on business survival. Also, it was revealed that most of the respondents adopted cutting expenses as a strategic option for the survival of their businesses. However, the study concluded that Covid-19 Pandemic is a major threat to MSMEs survival and growth. It was recommended that MSMEs should embark on cutting expenses in order to survive Covid-19 and further, they should embrace crisis management response, finance and liquidity, operation and supply chain, determine and activate the business continuity plan, monitor the implementation to enhance their survival and readjust their response approach towards environmental changes

EVALUATION OF GLUCOSE SYRUP PRODUCED FROM CASSAVA HYDROLYZED WITH MALTED GRAINS (RICE, SORGHUM & MAIZE)

The crude malt obtained from the grains were hydrolyzed with cassava starch to obtain glucose syrup. 94.33% malt was produced from maize, rice had 84.46% malt, while sorghum had 84.97% malt. Glucose syrup yield was greatest using sorghum malt with percentage yield of 75.55%, 52.37% using rice malt, and while maize malt had 48.33 % syrup. Maize sample had highest malt yield but lowest glucose syrup yield showing that glucose syrup yield is in dependent on malt yield but on the quality of amylase produced during malting. Analysis on the glucose syrup obtained gave the following results: moisture content of 13.8%, 14.5%, 15.4%; ash content of 0.02%, 0.04%, 0.01%; carbohydrate 86.47%, 84.76%, 83.01%; total reducing sugar (invert sugar) 85.79%, 83.86%, 82.58%; total soluble (sugar brix) 100°Brix, 110°Brix, 105°Brix for rice, sorghum and maize samples respectively. Dextrose equivalent, viscosity, colour and taste of the end products were also analyzed. Microbial analysis was 2×101, 5×101, 3×101 cfu/mL for glucose syrup from rice, sorghum and maize samples respectively with no trace of yeast or mold growth making the glucose syrup fit for consumptio

Information Retrieval Skills as Correlate of Scholarly Research Among Postgraduate Students in Selected Universities in Oyo and Lagos States, Nigeria

Abstract The main objective of the study is to investigate information retrieval skills as correlate of scholarly research among postgraduate students in selected Universities in Oyo and Lagos States, Nigeria. Survey research methodology was used with a total sample size of 379 using single random sampling techniques to select postgraduate students. Data was collected mainly through questionnaire and analyzed using frequency distribution and regression analysis run on SPSS (2.0). The result revealed the types of information retrieval skills, the study revealed that information retrieval skills highly influence the postgraduate students’ scholarly research as it allowed them to easily recognition their needed information. The study showed that majority 532(95.4%) of postgraduate students claimed that information retrieval skills was important. The finding revealed significant difference (t = 3.472,

Residential Neighbourhoods, Perceived Social Support and Subjective Wellbeing

Research on subjective wellbeing has mainly focused on personality and demographic variables. The influence of residential neighbourhoods are usually not considered. This study, investigates the influence of types of neighbourhoods and perceived social support on life satisfaction among residents in Ibadan metropolis. Using a 2-way factorial design and multistage sampling technique, five of the eleven Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the metropolis were purposively selected for the study. Ten enumeration areas were selected from each LGA using simple random technique. The number of participants in the selected enumeration areas were determined using enumeration area maps. Two hundred and twenty house-owners and renters each were then selected from the low, medium and high density areas of the LGAs using systematic technique, making a total of 1,100 participants. The selected household heads were sampled. A structured questionnaire focusing on socio-demographic profile, life satisfaction scale (r=0.74) and a multi-dimensional scale of perceived social support (r=0.87) was administered to the participants. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and analysis of variance at 0.05 level of significance. Three hypotheses were tested. The results reveal that social support did not have significant main influence on life satisfaction (F (1,237) =.04; p>.05) while neighbourhood types significantly influenced life satisfaction (F (1,237) = 10.79; p<.05). There were significant interaction effects of neighbourhood and social support on life satisfaction (F(1,237) = 4.15). The findings suggest that the places we live are important for improvement of our life satisfaction