Multi Source Handphone Charging System For Communication During Emergencies

Emergency situations may arise due to natural disaster occurrences or when chance takes one to a remote location. In settings like this, communication requires that mobile devices are powered on in the expectation of access to relief and rescue services. However, in many cases the electricity supply will be broke down. Usually, alternative energy sources provide the needed power to mobile phones in such circumstances. These alternative energy sources exhibit peculiar limitations that affect availability. This work was aimed at merging various alternative sources into a unit that will provide potential to a mobile phone with an emphasis on enhancing the efficiency of a hand-cranked electric dynamo source. Three power sources are employed which are active human power in the electric dynamo, solar panels and a pair of rechargeable batteries. Preliminary tests and analysis were conducted for hardware selection and assembly. The completed system contains a manual switch for the energy sources, a dc-dc regulation, battery charging electronic layout and a torchlight for illumination. An improved efficiency of 87.5% was achieved for the dynamo with the system able to deliver an average 0.4 W during operation. An average of 21 minutes elapsed before a minimum charge was delivered to a basic phone. The charging times for a smartphone to a determined level was found to be 108 minutes, 86 minutes and 72 minutes for the solar source, dynamo source and battery source, respectively. The developed unit is useful to people to keep it as a tool that they can rely on to power up their mobile phone in order to send emergency rescue message

Studies on the biology and ecology of Ceratopogonid midges in Southern England

Imperial Users onl

Politics and Census in Nigeria: Challenges and the Way Forward

Population is very vital to the government for nation building of a country especially, Nigeria. Nigeria’s population has been contentious and politicized since colonial times. Census statistics embodies an essential database prerequisite for measuring the physical and social well-being of a nation’s population. Hence, for any country to realize its development potentials, it requires a comprehensive population database support to guide its socio-economic programs, planning and implementation. The fusses in Nigeria census steered the cancellation of the 1962 general population census which was repeated in 1963.The Population of an area is considered a political weapon, a condition desiderata for provision of amenities, infrastructure and in fact, guides wealth allocations and fiscal planning. Regrettably, Nigeria is yet to produce an acceptable and satisfactory demographic data for infrastructural development and nation building. Scholars of Nigerian history appear not to have paid adequate attention to nation building in Nigeria as a result of inaccurate population database. Hence, it is a perception of issues of politics and population census this paper tend to address. Qualitative research methodology was adopted for effective analyses. The paper concluded that inherent contemporary issues have continued to defeat the main aim of population census as an instrument for strategic planning and sustainable development. Lack of accurate census figures has contributed to Nigeria’s policy summersault and under development. It is unfortunate that in this 21st century Nigeria still does not have effective and reliable census data due to the fact that politicization, Falsification of population census result, religion rivalry, ethnicity stimulation and fluctuation of period of conducting census serves as a controlling force against accuracy of population census figures

Uncovering novel pathogenicity-associated loci among Yersinia enterocolitica species by subtractive hybridization

In dieser Arbeit wurde die Methode der subtraktiven Hybridisierung angewandt, um neue Virulenzfaktoren zu finden, die spezifisch für hochpathogene Yersinia enterocolitica Stämme sind. Hierfür wurde die DNA eines nicht pathogenen „Treiber”-Stammes (Y. enterocolitica NF-O, Biotyp 1A) gegen die DNA eines hochpathogenen „Tester”-Stammes (Y. enterocolitica WA-314, Biotyp 1B) subtrahiert. Mit Hilfe der subtraktiven Hybridisierung konnten verschiedene Tester-spezifische Sequenzen ermittelt werden, die sowohl für bereits bekannte als auch neue potentielle Virulenzmarker kodieren. In dieser Arbeit konnte ein neues TypII-Sekretionscluster, genannt yts1 (Yersinia TypII Sekretion 1), ermittelt werden. Das yts1-Gencluster umfasst ein 13 kb großes Operon-ähnliches Modul, welches die Gene yts1C-S enthält. Mittels reverser Transkription/PCR konnte eine bevorzugte Transkription bei 37 °C gezeigt werden. Southern Blot-Analysen sowie PCR haben gezeigt, dass das yts1-Gencluster nur in den hochpathogenen Y. enterocolitica Stämmen vorkommt. Dagegen sind yts1-Gene weder in schwachpathogenen sowie apathogenen Y. enterocolitica Stämmen noch in Y. pseudotuberculosis- und Y. pestis-Isolaten zu finden. Durch Inaktivierung des yts1E-Gens in Y. enterocolitica wurde eine Mutante hergestellt und hinsichtlich Mauspathogenität mit dem Mutterstamm verglichen. Bei oraler Infektion der Mäuse erwies sich die yts1E-Mutante als attenuiert (geringere Keimzahlen) in Leber und Milz im Vergleich zum Mutterstamm. Im Gegensatz dazu konnte bei intravenöser Infektion der Mäuse kein Unterschied zwischen Mutante und Mutterstamm festgestellt werden. Dies könnte ein Hinweis darauf sein, dass das TypII-Sekretionssystem die Erregerdissemination von den Peyer-Plaques in Milz and Leber fördert. Das yts1-Sekretionscluster grenzt stromabwärts an ein Gen, welches für ein potentielles Chitin-Bindungsprotein (ChiY) kodiert. ChiY ist ein mögliches Substrat des Yts1-Sekretons. Sequenzanalysen sagen voraus, dass ChiY ein 55-kDa Protein mit zwei definierten Chitin-Bindungsdomänen ist, von denen sich die eine Domäne am N- und die andere am C-Terminus des Proteins befindet. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass rekombinantes ChiY Chitin bindet. Sequenzanalysen des zugänglichen fast kompletten Genoms von Y. enterocolitica 8081 (Biotyp 1B) führten zum Nachweis eines möglichen zweiten TypII-Sekretionscluster, das in dieser Arbeit als yts2 bezeichnet wird. Wie mittels PCR gezeigt werden konnte, kommt yts2 - im Gegensatz zu Y. pseudotuberculosis und Y. pestis - in allen getesteten pathogenen und apathogenen Y. enterocolitica-Stämmen vor. Reverse Transkriptionsanalysen/PCR zeigten, dass die yts2 - Gene bevorzugt bei 27 °C abgelesen werden. Mittels subtraktiver Technik konnte auch ein neues Insertionselement (IS1330) charakterisiert werden. Durch Southern Blot-Analysen konnte gezeigt werden, dass IS1330 nur in pathogenen Y. enterocolitica Serotypen vorkommt und somit für die epidemiologische Typisierung dieser Spezies eingesetzt werden kann. Diese Arbeit repräsentiert einen neuen Ansatz zur Aufklärung von unterschiedlichen intraspezifischen Genomsequenzen von Y. enterocolitica mit Hilfe der subtraktiven Hybridisierung, um unser Verständnis der genetischen Vielfalt und Heterogenität dieser bakteriellen Spezies zu erweitern. Das zum ersten Mal hier beschriebene yts1-Cluster repräsentiert einen neuen Lokus, der eine wichtige Rolle für die Pathogenese der hochpathogenen Y. enterocolitica Stämme spielt

The Use of Corn-Water-Salt Solution as an Oral Rehydration Therapy in the Management of Diarrhea

Diarrhea with associated malnutrition is the most common cause of life-threatening morbidity in infants reared in developing countries. Rehydration and the maintenance of adequate fluid and electrolyte balance is the key to the management of the child with acute diarrheal disease. The purpose of this project was to design a study for determining the effectiveness of a \u27locally\u27 produced oral rehydration therapy (ORT) that could be easily administered in the home. Thirty grams of whole ground corn in one liter of potable water was boiled for 20 minutes to produce a colloidal suspension which was cooled to 30°C. Three and half grams of Sodium chloride was then added. A stock suspension based on the above formula would have been prepared for the entire project. A minimum of 48 piglets divided into six treatment groups would have been used. Groups one through four will be the treatment groups while groups five and six will serve as controls. The efficacy of the ORT would be evaluated based on the abilities of the Transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGE) inoculated piglets to recover from diarrhea. Consequently, the hydration status, acidosis state, electrolyte contents of the stools and plasma of these piglets and the prevalence of certain microorganisms would be monitored

Activity -Based Learning Strategies in the Mathematics Classrooms

The teaching and learning of mathematics in Nigerian schools have been in a dismal State as both the students and the teachers experience difficulties in the processes.  The result of this is poor performances of students in school and public examinations.  One major factor affecting students’ performances in mathematics is the pedagogy of the teachers.  Most teachers in Nigerian school system have been using the traditional or convectional method of teaching.  This method has been revealed by research as being ineffective.  Hence, there is now a need for a paradigm shift from the traditional method of teaching to effective learning method including active-based learning. But many teachers have the problem on how to identify and use the effective strategies for activity-based learning in the mathematics classroom.  This paper is focused on the strategies of achieving activity-based learning in the mathematics classroom.  The strategies include discovery approach of teaching, appropriate practical work, use of teaching aids, cooperative learning or small group learning, and discussion in class.  The paper concludes that teachers of mathematics should move away from traditional method to activity - based learning strategies.

Oral Traditions and the Promotion of Unity, Security, Law and Order in Nigeria

This paper seeks to present the view that oral traditions, because of its importance as source of African history, can be an important intellectual tool for the promotion of national security, maintenance of law and order in the nation state. This is to achieve a thorough empirical research on the oral traditions of different Nigerian peoples. The expectation is to re-establish and re-order our perception of others and ourselves through the new histories in a more objective manner; thereby enshrining a renewed sense of genuine self-identification and collective group awareness, unity and solidarity between peoples and social groups in Nigeria. The contention is that oral traditions have both the essential qualities and potentialities of providing the real identities of different groups, their relationship and interaction in historical context. By extension, this could also be the important datum to use as the base for identifying areas of connections, similarities and dissimilarities as a significant parameter in preventing tensions and disorder, enhancing social unity and cohesion amongst the different peoples of Nigeria. This is a position that is tenable given the resources and commitment to maintaining objective and purposeful researches. The work derives its conclusions from narration, description and analysis of historical sources. Keywords: Oral, Traditions, History, Security, Law and Orde

RE-MARKETING STRATEGIES FOR BREEZER BRAND DRINK NIGERIAN

This research is aimed at stimulating interest and market demand for Breezer Brand by critically reviewing and analyzing the marketing efforts and strategies adopted by Nigeria breweries plc to salvage Breezer Brand on its stable. This study examined introductory stage of the product into the market, various strategies in formulating and repacking of brand product, its positioning and repositioning. It went further to evaluate promotional tools and strategies, company policies on the purchase, sales, acceptability, product perception and consumption. Different structured and unstructured questionnaires were administered to consumers, retailers, wholesalers and salesman. Oral interviews were held to clarify some issue which was not adequately addressed by the questionnaires. Simple percentile and chi-square statistics were used to test various hypothesis sets. The scope of the study was limited to certain areas of Onitsha and its environs. After analyzing the questionnaires with the set of table and percentages, the hypotheses were tested using chi-square test statistics from which the following findings were made. The Breezer brand has the right attributes/qualities desired by Breezer customers. Advertising, sales promotion influence product perception, patronage and consumption they have the clout to cheaper brand. The current standing strategy for Brezeer models of almost appearing made in advert and point of the sale materials rubs off negatively on the brand. The ultimate remarking efforts/strategy would utilized appropriate promotional tools in increasing product demand and consumption as well as change consumer’s negative product perception, arrest and sustain consumers interest in the brand as a key to the brand surviva

Masquerades in Africa: The Ebu Wonder

This paper studies the socio-cultural organizations in the African milieu with emphasis on the masquerade institution using the Ebu Wonder Masquerade Cult in Ebu community of Delta State, Nigeria, as a veritable example. In the African context, masquerades are believed to be ancestors who had returned from the world of the dead to the land of the living in order to watch over their loved ones. However, some believe that not all masquerades are spirits; they are only stage-managed by fun seeking individuals just for entertainment during festivities especially in the 21st century. It is on this premise that this study embarks on examining the origin, development and the nature of the Ebu Wonder Masquerade in the midst of the fact that distortion has crept into the institution due to supposed modernization. This it will do by employing the narrative and descriptive historical methods to analyse the data gathered from both primary (oral interview) within the subject area and secondary sources available on the subject. Thus, it was discovered that the Ebu Wonder Masquerade originated from the Igalaland, Middle belt of Nigeria, and has spiritual dynamics. This is such that before it performs, spiritual activities have to be carried out by its chief priest. More significantly, the masquerade appears to be a piece of cloth or mat on the floor before performance, but becomes as high as 50 feet during performance, and returns to its former state after performance. Keywords: Ebu, Masquerade, Wonder, Origin, Cult

The Relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Academic Achievement of Senior Secondary School Students in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja

The purpose of this research was to determine whether there is a significant relationship between emotional intelligence and academic achievement of students in mathematics. To guide the study some research questions and hypotheses were generated. The research design for the study was correlation survey design. The instruments used for the study were the Emotional Intelligence Inventory and Mathematics Achievement Test. The Emotional Intelligence Inventory has reliability coefficient of 0.79 while the Mathematics Achievement Test has reliability coefficient of 0.94. The population for the study was the senior secondary school two students in public schools in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria. Proportionate stratified sampling was used to select the sample (N=1160) for the study. The responses of the students to the instruments were scored and analyzed using mean and Pearson Product Moment Correlation. To test the level of significance of the correlation coefficient the t-test was used. The result   showed that there was a significant low positive relationship between the emotional intelligence of SS2 students and their academic achievement in mathematics. The result also indicated that there was a significant low positive relationship between the emotional intelligence of SS2 male students, SS2 female students, urban school students, and rural school students, and their academic achievement in mathematics. It was therefore concluded that apart from cognitive factors, emotional intelligence of students also affects their academic achievement in mathematics. It is recommended that there is need to include emotional intelligence curriculum in schools. Keywords: Emotional Intelligence, Academic Achievement, Relationshi