Client-side energy costs of video streaming

Through measurements on our testbed, we show how users of Netflix could make energy savings of up to 34% by adjusting video quality settings. We estimate the impacts of these quality settings on the energy consumption of client systems and the network. If users exercise choice in their video streaming habits, over 100 GWh of energy a year could be saved on a global scale. We discuss how providing energy usage information to users of digital video could enable them to make choices of video settings to reduce energy usage, and we estimate savings on associated electricity costs and carbon emissions.Postprin

Developing banking system stability index for Nigeria

This study constructed a banking system stability index (BSSI) for Nigeria, using a combination of financial soundness indicators and macro-fundamentals. It applied statistical and Conference Board Methodology normalisation processes on Nigeria's banking and macroeconomic data from 2007Q1 to 2012Q2. The resultant index traced fairly well the episodes of crisis in the system over the study period. Hence, the BSSI is capable of acting as an early warning mechanism of signaling fragility. It could, therefore, be used as a complimentary regulatory policy tool to detect potential threat to enable monetary authorities take timely pre-emptive policy measures to avert crisis

An audit of pelvi-ureteric junction obstruction at Red Cross Children's Hospital : a six year review

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 49-57).Pelvi-ureteric junction obstruction is an important cause of congenital renal and urinary tract abnormality. It is the commonest cause of antenatally detected hydronephrosis. The increasing use of antenatal ultrasound as a screening tool for congenital abnormalities in the developing foetus has resulted in a more frequent rate of detection of foetal hydronephrosis with the likely consequence of significant anxiety among parents. This is because most of these infants with antenatally detected hydronephrosis will be subjected to frequent radiological and other investigations and there will also be concern about outcome. Knowing what postnatal investigations are necessary for any child with this condition and when to do it becomes a priority. This is because it is known that a significant percentage of children with antero-posterior (AP) diameter of 12mm or less experienced complete and spontaneous resolution of the hydronephrosis in early life. This study is a retrospective folder review of one hundred children with PUJ obstruction managed at Red Cross Children’s Hospital over a six-year period from Jan 2002 to Dec 2007

Decrypting the approaches of eastern and western geo-political blocs in Africa’s quest for development under international law

This article critically analyses the roles of the East and West towards the realization of the right of African States to development. It is axiomatic that most African states have been characteristically pillaged, plundered, and stripped by colonialism, and ravaged by poverty. This main objective of this article is to ascertain the framework for the promotion of the right to development under international law human rights law and to evaluate the dynamics of the East, as exemplified by China, and the Western approach to aid in Africa. The research employs the doctrinal research methodology for information. This article shows that the apparent glitch in the provision of aid is predicated on the fact that economic growth is not the donor’s priority. The article also indicates that African countries are relegated to the margins of society as lethargic spectators rather than an actor as far as development is concerned. The article recommends that it is expedient for African countries to enact relevant laws aimed at creating a robust environment for the promotion of the right to development. The threshold of Africa’s quest for sustainable development transcends the polemics of looking East or West for aid. It requires a strategic praxis which essentially focuses on looking inwards towards optimally harnessing the continent’s latent potential for unprecedented growth and development.Keywords: Right to development, International Human Rights Law, Africa, East, Wes

Perceptions of agriculture in Nigeria by students of the Division of Agricultural Colleges, Ahmadu Bello University

The purpose of the study was to determine perceptions of agriculture in Nigeria by students of the Division of Agricultural Colleges, Ahmadu Bello University. The study determined characteristics of the students, their motivational factors in studying technical agriculture, perceptions of agriculture and agricultural workers, and implications of findings to technical agricultural education planning in Nigeria;The study population consisted of 1434 sutdents at the four colleges of agriculture administered by the Division of Agricultural Colleges. Both proportional and simple random sampling were used to select participants for the study. A total of 234 students participated in the study;A five-part instrument was developed and used to collect data pertinent to the study. Descriptive and inferential statistical procedures were used to analyze the data;The following is a summary of the major findings of the study. Respondents were aged between 18 and 43 years, of which the mean was 25 years. More than 47 percent were ordinary diploma students, whereas over 52 percent were higher diploma students. Over 75 percent of the respondents were males and just under 25 percent were females. Occupational prestige ranking by students indicates that: (1) being a medical doctor was the most prestigious occupation and storekeeping was rated least prestigious; (2) farming was slightly above average in prestige; (3) no significant difference existed between males and females in their perceptions of occupational prestige, except for accountant and storekeeper;A desire to help develop Nigerian agriculture was the most important factor in the students\u27 decision to study agriculture; family factors influenced students the least. First-year ordinary diploma students were influenced more by economic, family, and personal factors than first-year higher diploma students. The perception of agriculture as the basis for national development had the highest degree of agreement, but that agriculture is fit for illiterates had the lowest degree of agreement. First-year ordinary diploma students had a more negative perception of economic factors of agriculture but a more positive perception of economic factors of agricultural workers than did first-year higher diploma students. Implication of the study for technical agricultural education planning in Nigeria were identified

Clustering of cardiovascular disease risk‑factors in semi‑urban population in Northern Nigeria

Introduction: Non‑communicable diseases (NCDs) are major causes of morbidity and mortality particularly for developing countries. Large proportion of all NCDs deaths are occurring in low‑ and ‑middle‑income countries are estimated to occur in people under 70‑years‑old. These low‑ and middle‑income are undergoing epidemiological transition which allows the concomitant occurrence of both communicable and NCDs due to adoption of western life‑style that predisposes them to development of these diseases. It is also known that there are risk‑factors that tend to cluster in individuals and make them more susceptible to NCDs especially cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Among NCDs, CVDs constitute the largest share responsible for 48% of all deaths due to NCDs. To determine extend of clustering of these risk‑factors in a semi‑urban community in northern Nigeria, a population‑based study was carried out.Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in Dakace, a semi‑urban settlement near Zaria. A simple random sampling of 199 eligible respondents out of 424 was adopted to select study participants. An interviewer‑administered questionnaire was used to collect socio‑demographic information, smoking habits, alcohol consumption as well as level of physical activity. The following measurements were carried out on these respondents: Blood pressure (BP), fasting blood glucose, serum lipids, weight, and height to calculate body mass index (BMI).Results: There were of 199 participants: 94 males (47.2%) and 105 females (52.8%) with an overall mean age of 39.9 ± 15.6 years. About 20% had no risk factor; more females than males had risk‑factors. Proportion of subjects with risk‑factors increase with increasing BMI, particularly high BP; physical activity does not protect subjects from developing risk‑factors.Conclusion: This study clearly shows that CVD risk‑factors are prevalent even in segment of the population that hitherto may be considered free and the prevalence of these risk‑factors are high compared to some obtained from other part of Nigeria.Keywords: Cardiovascular, clustering, Dakace, Northern Nigeria, risk‑factorsNigerian Journal of Clinical Practice • Oct-Dec 2013 • Vol 16 • Issue

Effectiveness of public – private mix of tuberculosis programme in Kaduna State, Nigeria.

Background: In an effort to increase tuberculosis (TB) case detection, the Kaduna State TB program in Nigeria started Public-Private Mix (PPM DOTS) in 2002. This study assessed and compared the TB case management practices and treatment outcomes of the public and private health facilities involved in the TB program.Methods: A comparative cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out in 5 private and 10 public health facilities providing TB services for at least two years in the four Local Governments Areas in Kaduna State where both public and private health facilities are involved in the TB program. The heads of the health facilities were interviewed and case notes of all the 492 TB patients registered in these facilities between January 2003 and December 2004 reviewed.Results: Except for the lower use of sputum microscopy for diagnosis, adherence to national TB treatment guidelines was high in both private and public health facilities. The private health facilities significantly saw more TB patients, an average of 51 patients per health facility compared to 23 patients in the public health facilities. There was better completion of records in the public health facilities while patient contact screening was very low in both public and private health facilities, 13.1% and 12.2%respectively. The treatment success rate was higher among patients managed in the private health facilities (83.7%) compared to 78.6% in the public health facilities.Conclusion: Private health facilities adhere to national guidelines had higher TB patient case load and better treatment outcome than public health facilities in Kaduna State. PPM-DOTS should be scaled-up and consolidated

Reviving Agricultural Extension for Effective Transition from Subsistence to Commercial Agriculture in Nigeria

The article is a historical review of agricultural extension and the agricultural research system in Nigeria covering the period of the colonial period through the post-colonial period to the present. The impact of the oil boom on agricultural extension is also discussed. The aim is to identify factors that led to the erosion of the extension system and point the path to an effective revitalization of the system as part of the new Agricultural Transformation Agenda policy. The article discusses the theoretical roots of the Agricultural Development Programme that drives the Nigerian extension system, and the contribution that extension can make to the success of the agenda. Weaknesses of past extension efforts are highlighted and suggestions offered to redress them in the new policy

Prospects of the Contribution of Home Gardens to Food Security in our Households

The paper reviews the prospects of the contribution of home gardens to food security in our households. It highlights the features of food security in our households to include – accessibility to food, stability of supplies over time, availability of enough food and utilization of food viz-a-viz ingestion of enough and qualitative food. These features can be achieved by the following prospects of home gardens: economic development of household, diversity of food in home gardens, stability of food supply over time, and ecological role of home garden. If there is food security in our household through the establishment of home garden in both urban and rural settlements, inferentially there will be food security in our nation.Keywords: Home gardens, food security, households, economic development, food supply

The Role of Schools and Public Libraries in Promoting Reading Habit among Children and Adolescents in Nigeria

Reading is very vital to progress and development human life and its in the development of children and adolescents cannot be over emphasized. The paper, therefore examines the role of school and public libraries in promoting reading habits among children and adolescents. In an age of modern information and communication technologies (ICTS), with proliferation of televisions and video players, it was uncommon to see children and adolescents carrying books to read. Technology is slowing but very steadying taking over the control of children and adolescents lives and cultivation of a good reading habit has gone with the wind. They have gradually abandoned book reading to pursue interests in movie watching and recently, surfing and chatting on the net. Empty school and public libraries are a silent witness of this dread picture. There are diverse ways of promoting reading habits among groups of young people which include programmes such as clubs, mobile reading tents, book talk, and story hours, among others. School and public libraries play a leading role in the reading habit of children and adolescents. The challenges and implication of poor reading habits were discussed. The paper concludes by admonishing parents to encourage the provision of reading materials and utilization to avoid information famine. Key words: Children and Adolescents, Reading Habit, School and Public Libraries, Nigeria