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Smartphone-based measurement platforms can collect data on human sensory function in an accessible manner. We developed a smartphone app that measures vibration perception thresholds by commanding vibrations with varying amplitudes and recording user responses via (1) a staircase method that adjusts a variable stimulus, and (2) a decay method that measures the time a user feels a decaying stimulus. We conducted two studies with healthy adults to assess the reliability and usability of the app when the smartphone was applied to the hand and foot. The staircase mode had good reliability for repeated measurements, both with and without the support of an in-person experimenter. The app has the potential to be used at home in unguided scenarios., Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures, To be published in IEEE Haptics Symposium 2024

The concept of circular economy has gained significant traction in recent years as a holistic approach to sustainable development and resource management. This review explores the principles of circular economy and their integration into global supply chain strategies. The transition from a linear 'take-make-dispose' model to a circular model focused on resource recovery, reuse, and regeneration is driving a paradigm shift in how businesses operate and manage their supply chains. Key principles of circular economy, including designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems, are examined in the context of supply chain management. Strategies for implementing circular economy principles across various stages of the supply chain, from product design and manufacturing to distribution, consumption, and end-of-life management, are discussed. The review highlights the benefits of adopting circular economy principles in supply chain strategies, including reduced resource consumption, waste reduction, cost savings, and enhanced resilience to external shocks. Case studies and examples from diverse industries illustrate successful implementation of circular economy principles in supply chain management, demonstrating tangible environmental, social, and economic benefits. Challenges and barriers to the adoption of circular economy principles in global supply chains are also addressed, including regulatory hurdles, technological limitations, and cultural barriers. Strategies for overcoming these challenges and promoting a circular mindset among stakeholders are explored, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, innovation, and cross-sector partnerships. The integration of circular economy principles into global supply chain strategies offers significant opportunities for sustainable growth, resilience, and value creation. By embracing the principles of circularity, businesses can unlock new sources of competitive advan

This review paper explores the evolution of smart cities, focusing on the integration of technology, governance, and sustainable development. It examines the historical origins of smart cities, the role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), and the importance of effective governance structures in urban planning. Case studies illustrate successful initiatives while highlighting challenges like rapid urbanization and technological innovation. The review emphasizes the need for holistic approaches that integrate environmental, social, and economic sustainability principles. Implications for future research and practice include innovative financing mechanisms and strengthened stakeholder collaboration. Recommendations for policymakers, urban planners, and other stakeholders stress prioritizing sustainability, inclusive decision-making processes, and investment in resilient infrastructure. By embracing these principles, cities can advance towards a more prosperous, equitable, and sustainable future. Keywords: Smart Cities, Technology, Governance, Sustainable Development, Urbanization, Innovation.

This paper provides an overview of the current practices and future directions in environmental stewardship within the oil and gas industry, focusing on key areas of concern and strategies for improvement. The oil and gas industry has made significant strides in environmental stewardship in recent years, driven by a combination of regulatory requirements, corporate initiatives, and stakeholder pressure. One of the primary areas of focus has been the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions associated with extraction, refining, and transportation processes. Companies have implemented technologies such as carbon capture and storage to minimize their carbon footprint, alongside investments in renewable energy sources and energy efficiency measures to transition towards cleaner energy alternatives. Furthermore, the industry has placed increasing emphasis on the responsible management of water resources, recognizing the potential environmental impacts of water extraction and usage in oil and gas operations. Strategies for water recycling, reuse, and wastewater treatment have been adopted to mitigate pollution and minimize strain on local ecosystems. Biodiversity conservation has also emerged as a critical aspect of environmental stewardship in the oil and gas sector, with companies undertaking environmental impact assessments and collaborating with conservation organizations to minimize habitat disruption and restore ecosystems affected by their operations. Community engagement and social responsibility are integral components of environmental stewardship, with companies seeking to address the social impacts of their operations through employment opportunities, infrastructure development, and social programs benefiting local communities. However, the industry continues to face challenges and limitations in its efforts to minimize environmental impact. Accidental spills, leaks, and other incidents pose significant ecological risks, highlighting the importance of stringent sa

The review explores the pivotal role of sustainable nanomaterials in promoting green supply chains and advancing environmental sustainability. Nanotechnology has emerged as a promising field for developing innovative materials with enhanced properties and reduced environmental impacts. Sustainable nanomaterials, characterized by their eco-friendly synthesis methods, biodegradability, and low toxicity, offer transformative opportunities for enhancing the sustainability of supply chains across diverse industries. This review examines the potential applications of sustainable nanomaterials in green supply chains, encompassing areas such as renewable energy, water purification, waste management, and sustainable packaging. By leveraging the unique properties of nanomaterials, such as high surface area-to-volume ratio, catalytic activity, and tunable properties, businesses can develop sustainable solutions to address pressing environmental challenges. Case studies and examples highlight successful integration of sustainable nanomaterials into supply chain practices, showcasing their ability to reduce resource consumption, minimize waste generation, and mitigate environmental impacts. The review also discusses challenges and considerations associated with the adoption of sustainable nanomaterials, including regulatory compliance, risk assessment, and ethical considerations. Strategies for promoting responsible nanotechnology practices and fostering collaboration among stakeholders are proposed, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary approaches and stakeholder engagement in achieving sustainable supply chain goals. In conclusion, the integration of sustainable nanomaterials into green supply chains holds immense potential for driving environmental sustainability, innovation, and long-term prosperity. Keywords: Sustainable Nanomaterials, Green Supply Chains, Environmental Sustainability, Circular Economy, Nanotechnology, Supply Chain Optimization

As the liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry continues to expand globally, the imperative to address environmental concerns and enhance sustainability within LNG operations becomes paramount. This paper conducts a comprehensive and detailed review of innovative waste management approaches within the LNG sector. Traditional waste management practices in LNG operations, including disposal and recycling, are examined, highlighting the associated challenges. The focus then shifts to innovative approaches, encompassing recycling and circular economy initiatives, advanced waste-to-energy technologies, and the adoption of sustainable packaging solutions. Case studies and examples illustrate successful implementations of innovative waste management strategies in various LNG facilities, providing insights into the environmental and operational benefits achieved. The paper explores the implications of these approaches, emphasizing reduced carbon footprints, enhanced resource efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. Additionally, the review delves into the barriers and challenges hindering widespread adoption, including technological, economic, and regulatory considerations. This detailed examination aims to contribute valuable insights for industry stakeholders, policymakers, and researchers, fostering the integration of sustainable and innovative waste management practices in the ever-evolving landscape of LNG operations. Keywords: Innovative, Waste, Management, LNG operations, Review.

Nanotechnology has emerged as a promising frontier in the quest for sustainable energy solutions, offering transformative opportunities to address pressing challenges in renewable energy generation, storage, and conversion. This review explores the potential of nanotechnology in advancing renewable energy solutions, encompassing a wide range of applications spanning solar energy, wind energy, energy storage, and fuel cells. By leveraging the unique properties of nanomaterials, such as high surface area-to-volume ratio, tunable optical and electronic properties, and enhanced catalytic activity, researchers and engineers can develop innovative materials and devices with unprecedented performance and efficiency. Nanotechnology-enabled advancements in solar photovoltaics include the development of next-generation solar cells incorporating nanostructured materials, such as quantum dots, nanowires, and perovskite-based solar cells, to enhance light absorption, charge transport, and overall power conversion efficiency. In the realm of energy storage, nanomaterials hold promise for improving the performance and longevity of batteries, supercapacitors, and other energy storage devices through enhanced electrode materials, electrolytes, and nanostructured architectures. Furthermore, nanotechnology-driven innovations in wind energy, such as lightweight and durable nanocomposite materials for turbine blades, and advancements in fuel cell technologies, including catalyst nanoparticles for efficient hydrogen production and conversion, exemplify the diverse applications and transformative potential of nanotechnology in renewable energy. Through a comprehensive analysis of recent research and development efforts, this abstract underscores the critical role of nanotechnology in accelerating the transition to a sustainable and renewable energy future. Keywords: Nanotechnology, Renewable Energy, Solar Energy, Wind Energy, Energy Storage, Nanomaterials.

This study investigates the pivotal role of cybersecurity in bolstering environmental protection and sustainable development, a critical yet underexplored nexus in contemporary research. Employing a systematic literature review and content analysis, the research scrutinizes peer-reviewed articles, conference proceedings, and industry reports from 2015 to 2023, sourced from databases such as IEEE Xplore, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. The methodology is anchored in a rigorous search strategy, leveraging keywords related to cybersecurity, sustainability, and communication technologies, and adheres to defined inclusion and exclusion criteria to ensure the relevance and quality of the literature reviewed. Key findings highlight cybersecurity as an indispensable enabler of sustainable development initiatives, safeguarding the technological infrastructure essential for environmental conservation efforts. The study identifies evolving cyber threats as a significant challenge, necessitating adaptive security measures that anticipate and mitigate potential vulnerabilities. Furthermore, it underscores the opportunities presented by advanced cybersecurity technologies, such as artificial intelligence and blockchain, in enhancing the security and efficiency of sustainable practices. Strategic recommendations emphasize the need for comprehensive cybersecurity frameworks, stakeholder collaboration, cybersecurity education, and alignment with regulatory standards to fortify the resilience of sustainability initiatives against cyber threats. The study concludes that integrating robust cybersecurity measures is paramount in the pursuit of sustainable development goals, calling for ongoing vigilance, innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration to navigate the complex landscape of digital threats and opportunities. This research contributes valuable insights into the critical intersection of cybersecurity and sustainability, offering a foundation for future studies and strateg

This study critically evaluates the strategic implications of carbon pricing mechanisms on global environmental sustainability and economic development. Employing a systematic literature review and content analysis, the research synthesizes recent findings from peer-reviewed articles, reports, and policy documents published between 2010 and 2024. The study's objectives include analyzing the effectiveness of carbon pricing in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, assessing its economic impacts, exploring environmental benefits, and understanding the role of international cooperation in enhancing the efficacy of carbon pricing policies. The methodology hinges on a structured search strategy, applying rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria to ensure the relevance and quality of the literature reviewed. The analysis reveals that carbon pricing, encompassing both carbon taxes and cap-and-trade systems, serves as a pivotal tool for mitigating climate change while fostering economic growth and structural transformation. Key findings highlight the potential of carbon pricing to drive innovation in green technologies, the importance of addressing social equity concerns, and the critical role of international policy coordination in mitigating cross-border carbon leakage and competitiveness issues. The study concludes that carbon pricing mechanisms, when effectively designed and equitably implemented, can align environmental sustainability with economic development goals. Recommendations for policymakers emphasize the need for comprehensive strategies that integrate carbon pricing with broader economic and environmental policies, underscore the importance of international cooperation, and advocate for continued research to refine carbon pricing models and strategies. This research contributes to the ongoing discourse on carbon pricing, offering insights into its potential as a cornerstone of global climate governance and sustainable economic policy. Keywords: Carbon Pricing Me

Tactile perception plays an important role in activities of daily living, and it can be impaired in individuals with certain medical conditions. The most common tools used to assess tactile sensation, the Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments and the 128 Hz tuning fork, have poor repeatability and resolution. Long term, we aim to provide a repeatable, high-resolution testing platform that can be used to assess vibrotactile perception through smartphones without the need for an experimenter to be present to conduct the test. We present a smartphone-based vibration perception measurement platform and compare its performance to measurements from standard monofilament and tuning fork tests. We conducted a user study with 36 healthy adults in which we tested each tool on the hand, wrist, and foot, to assess how well our smartphone-based vibration perception thresholds (VPTs) detect known trends obtained from standard tests. The smartphone platform detected statistically significant changes in VPT between the index finger and foot and also between the feet of younger adults and older adults. Our smartphone-based VPT had a moderate correlation to tuning fork-based VPT. Our overarching objective is to develop an accessible smartphone-based platform that can eventually be used to measure disease progression and regression., Comment: Accepted for publication in IEEE Transactions on Haptics 2024

Driving innovation in energy and telecommunications involves leveraging next-generation energy storage and 5G technology to enhance connectivity and energy solutions. This review explores the intersection of these two domains, highlighting the importance of advancements in energy storage and 5G technology for a sustainable and connected future. Energy storage is crucial for balancing the supply and demand of electricity in modern power systems. Traditional energy storage methods, such as batteries and pumped hydro, have limitations in terms of scalability, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. Next-generation energy storage technologies, including advanced batteries, hydrogen storage, and thermal storage, offer promising solutions to overcome these limitations. These technologies enable efficient energy storage at scale, facilitating the integration of renewable energy sources like solar and wind into the grid. By storing excess energy generated during periods of low demand, next-generation energy storage systems ensure a reliable and stable power supply, reducing the reliance on fossil fuels and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. In parallel, the evolution of telecommunications technology, particularly the advent of 5G networks, is revolutionizing connectivity and communication. 5G technology offers significantly higher data transfer speeds, lower latency, and increased network capacity compared to its predecessors. These capabilities are essential for supporting emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), autonomous vehicles, and smart grids. With 5G-enabled IoT devices, utilities can monitor energy consumption in real-time, optimize grid operations, and detect and respond to faults more efficiently. Moreover, 5G connectivity enhances the efficiency and reliability of energy storage systems by enabling seamless communication between distributed energy resources and grid operators. The convergence of next-generation energy storage and 5G technology pr

This review paper explores the multifaceted realm of cybersecurity within IT supply chains, addressing the intricate challenges posed by digital vulnerabilities, high-profile cyber incidents, and emerging threats. It highlights the criticality of continuous risk assessment, the implementation of international security standards, and the necessity for enhanced management of third-party vendors. The paper also delves into advanced technological solutions like blockchain, AI, and machine learning for bolstering security, advocating for best practices including the zero-trust model, regular employee training, and secure software development. Emphasizing a proactive over a reactive approach, the paper underscores the evolving nature of cyber threats and the imperative for adaptive strategies. It calls for concerted efforts from businesses, policymakers, and IT professionals to prioritize and continuously refine cybersecurity measures in safeguarding IT supply chains against future threats. Keywords:  IT Supply Chain, Cybersecurity, Risk Management, Blockchain, Zero-Trust Model, Artificial Intelligence.

This abstract delves into the realm of manufacturing productivity enhancement through the review of AI-driven supply chain management (SCM) optimization and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems integration. As industries strive for operational excellence, the convergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and supply chain management emerges as a transformative force in driving efficiency, agility, and competitiveness. Through a comprehensive analysis, this abstract examines the synergistic relationship between AI-driven SCM optimization and the integration of ERP systems, elucidating their collective impact on manufacturing productivity. AI-driven SCM optimization encompasses a spectrum of technologies and methodologies, including predictive analytics, machine learning, and autonomous decision-making systems, aimed at optimizing various facets of the supply chain, from demand forecasting and inventory management to production planning and logistics optimization. By harnessing the power of AI, manufacturers can enhance forecasting accuracy, reduce lead times, optimize inventory levels, and mitigate supply chain disruptions, thereby improving overall productivity and customer satisfaction. Integration of ERP systems plays a complementary role in manufacturing productivity enhancement by providing a centralized platform for data management, process automation, and cross-functional collaboration. Through seamless integration with AI-driven SCM optimization tools, ERP systems enable real-time data exchange, actionable insights, and end-to-end visibility across the supply chain, facilitating informed decision-making and agile response to dynamic market conditions. Drawing insights from case studies and industry examples, this abstract highlights best practices, challenges, and emerging trends in AI-driven SCM optimization and ERP systems integration. Strategies for successful implementation, including organizational readiness assessment, change management, and stakehol

Vibration feedback is common in everyday devices, from virtual reality systems to smartphones. However, cognitive and physical activities may impede our ability to sense vibrations from devices. In this study, we develop and characterize a smartphone platform to investigate how a shape-memory task (cognitive activity) and walking (physical activity) impair human perception of smartphone vibrations. We measured how Apple's Core Haptics Framework parameters can be used for haptics research, namely how hapticIntensity modulates amplitudes of 230 Hz vibrations. A 23-person user study found that physical (p<0.001) and cognitive (p=0.004) activity increase vibration perception thresholds. Cognitive activity also increases vibration response time (p<0.001). This work also introduces a smartphone platform that can be used for out-of-lab vibration perception testing. Researchers can use our smartphone platform and results to design better haptic devices for diverse, unique populations., Comment: To be published in IEEE Transactions on Haptics

Spanning two decades, the Encyclopaedia of DNA Elements (ENCODE) is a collaborative research project that aims to identify all the functional elements in the human and mouse genomes. To best serve the scientific community, all data generated by the consortium is shared through a web-portal (https://www.encodeproject.org/) with no access restrictions. The fourth and final phase of the project added a diverse set of new samples (including those associated with human disease), and a wide range of new assays aimed at detection, characterization and validation of functional genomic elements. The ENCODE data portal hosts results from over 23,000 functional genomics experiments, over 800 functional elements characterization experiments (including in vivo transgenic enhancer assays, reporter assays and CRISPR screens) along with over 60,000 results of computational and integrative analyses (including imputations, predictions and genome annotations). The ENCODE Data Coordination Center (DCC) is responsible for development and maintenance of the data portal, along with the implementation and utilisation of the ENCODE uniform processing pipelines to generate uniformly processed data. Here we report recent updates to the data portal. Specifically, we have completely redesigned the home page, improved search interface, added several new pages to highlight collections of biologically related data (deeply profiled cell lines, immune cells, Alzheimer's Disease, RNA-Protein interactions, degron matrix and a matrix of experiments organised by human donors), added single-cell experiments, and enhanced the cart interface for visualisation and download of user-selected datasets.

The study examined the impact of work environment on employee productivity in Polytechnics in Edo State. Descriptive survey research design was adopted in the study and the two owned public polytechnics were used in the study. Academic and non-academic staff were the study population. Random sampling procedure was employed in selecting the sample of the study, with a sample size of 204. Questionnaire was the instrument used in the collection of data and data were analysed using simple percentage, correlation and regression. Results revealed that Findings showed that the level of employee productivity was moderate 2.9). The nature of work environment of employees in polytechnics in Edo State was moderately conducive 2.6). There was a significant positive relationship between work environment and employee productivity (r = 0.417**;p <0.05). it was also found work environment significantly influenced employee productivity (t(200) = 0.518, R = 0.299 p< 0.05). employers of labour should provide an enabling environment that is void of noise, well-equipped office, mutual cooperation between the employees and the employers as well as other coworkers as this could enhnace the level of their productivity. Keywords: Work environment, Employee productivity, Polytechnics, Edo State DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/14-8-06 Publication date: April 30th 2022

This study examined the influence of Social Media Use on the Perceived Academic Performance of Federal College of Forestry Students, Ibadan Oyo state. Three objectives were formulated for the study. The survey research design was adopted with a Self- developed questionnaire use as the instrument for data collection. The population of the study consist of 599 full time Student of the federal college of forestry, Ibadan, out of which 150 students were randomly selected as the study sample. Analysis of data revealed that the most highly used social media Include, Whatsapp (mean = 3.65), followed by Instagram (mean=3.51). Facebook comes third (mean = 3.35) followed by Youtube (mean =3.04). furthermore, the student uses social media for purposes such as leisure and entertainment (97%) to gather information (82%), ‘for personal research work’ (51%) and academic research (34%). On the perceived influence of social media use on academic performance, the findings show that students believed that their grades have improved due to social media use (mean =3.18); it has improved their academic performance (mean=3.04) and help them understand various topics better (mean = 2.67). however, they rejected the notion that without social media use, their academic performance will drop (mean =1.92). the study concluded that social media use has become an integral part of students’ lives and they do not view it as an impediment rather as a tool in their education. Key word: Academic performance, Information retrieval, Information services. Social media, User education, Word count: 246

The attraction of social media tools in higher education has been attributed to the affordances and participatory nature that the tools offer. For undergraduates in this generation, social networking has become an “addiction”. Ordinarily, a student who has a Facebook account opens the account daily to check new updates and spends hours studying new updates until he/she realizes that there are more important things to do like school work that has been missed because of logging in to a social platform. The research design adopted for the study is a descriptive survey. A multistage random sampling technique was used for the study. Based on a sampling fraction of 36% and with the use of the balloting method, six faculties were randomly selected at the first stage. At the last stage, a sampling fraction of 10% was used to get the sample size of 213. Results on the ethical behavior revealed that they reference the websites used for academic work which ranked highest with a mean score of 2.98. This was followed by “sharing of broadcast and messages when I don’t know the source” which had the second-highest score in terms of mean with a score of 2.91. Undergraduates use social media with WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram among the most used social media networks. The challenges facing the undergraduates' use of social media are majorly erratic power supply and poor internet connectivity. Lecturers can adopt new strategies by channeling assignments on social media platforms to inculcate the habit of using these sites for academic work.

Traditionally, clinicians use tuning forks as a binary measure to assess vibrotactile sensory perception. This approach has low measurement resolution, and the vibrations are highly variable. Therefore, we propose using vibrations from a smartphone to deliver a consistent and precise sensory test. First, we demonstrate that a smartphone has more consistent vibrations compared to a tuning fork. Then we develop an app and conduct a validation study to show that the smartphone can precisely measure a user's absolute threshold. This finding motivates future work to use smartphones to assess vibrotactile perception, allowing for increased monitoring and widespread accessibility., Comment: 3 pages, 1 figure, work-in-progress paper published in EuroHaptics Conference, 2022

Background: Acinetobacter baumannii are of major human health importance because they cause life-threatening nosocomial infections and often are highly resistant to antimicrobials. Specific multidrug-resistant A. baumannii lineages are implicated in hospital outbreaks globally. We retrospectively investigated a suspected outbreak of carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii (CRAB) colonizing patients in an intensive care unit (ICU) of a tertiary hospital in Southwest Nigeria where genomic surveillance of Acinetobacter has hitherto not been conducted. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted among all patients admitted to the ICU between August 2017 and June 2018. Acinetobacter species were isolated from rectal swabs and verified phenotypically with the Biomerieux Vitek 2 system. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) was performed on the Illumina platform to characterize isolates from a suspected outbreak during the study period. Phylogenetic analysis, multilocus sequence typing, and antimicrobial resistance gene prediction were carried out in silico. Results: Acinetobacter isolates belonging to the A. baumannii complex were recovered from 20 (18.5%) ICU patients. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis and epidemiological information revealed a putative outbreak clone comprising seven CRAB strains belonging to the globally disseminated international clone (IC) 2. These isolates had ≤2 SNP differences, identical antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes, and were all ST1114/1841. Conclusion: We report a carbapenem-resistant IC2 A. baumannii clone causing an outbreak in an ICU in Nigeria. The study findings underscore the need to strengthen the capacity to detect A. baumannii in human clinical samples in Nigeria and assess which interventions can effectively mitigate CRAB transmission in Nigerian hospital settings.

The pursuit for a weather monitoring system is critical for the measurement and observation of environmental parameters that are connected with human activities and habitation. In this study, a revolutionary weather monitoring system that uses a flexible graphical user interface (GUI) platform through a JAVA script software code is designed. The device is embedded with a ATMEGA 328P-PU microcontroller for the analysis of the signals from temperature, humidity, wind speed and rainfall rate sensor respectively. An analogue to digital converter initiates a signal conversion that enable GUI, to capture a reliable weather parameter at an interval of 10 minutes on a real time; through an ESP8266 Wi-Fi shield that creates a remote and host link between the sensors and the GUI. The developed system’s performance was evaluated by comparing results with available weather monitoring instruments. The developed system compared favourably with an available weather monitoring instrument with mean average accuracy of 99.96%, 99.41%, 99.96% and 99.26% in temperature, humidity, wind speed and rainfall rate respectively.

A thorough assessment of energy sources and long-term energy demand predictions are crucial to the development of sustainable energy planning and policy for any country. However, these are uncommon practices in Nigeria, thereby resulting in shortage of energy supplies required by the economy and its growing population. In this study, energy demand in the commercial and public services, industrial, and residential sectors of the Nigerian economy is examined using Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity, Markov Switching, and Unobserved Component models. The results of the comparative study show that Markov Switching model performs better than Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity and Unobserved Component Model for energy demand forecasting. The outcomes further suggest that the energy demand in Nigeria will grow at an average annual rate of less than 2% from 2018 to 2050 in all the three sectors investigated. In view of these findings, the Nigerian Government should have made effort to collaborate with relevant stakeholders, aiming at harnessing the abundant energy resources needed to meet the future energy consumption with a guarantee of energy security and sustainability in the country.

Purpose: This study was centered on understanding the linkages between internal organizational competencies and performance of new products and the role of organizational structure focusing on Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCGs) manufacturers in the South-Western States in Nigeria. Methodology: A survey approach was adopted, and 529 employees of fifteen FMCGs took part in data gathering. A moderated regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses formulated Findings: The results of the moderated regression analysis established that firm-specific capability significantly enhanced new product performance, and the introduction of a definitive organizational structure increased the established effect firm-specific capability had on new product performance to suggest a significant moderator. Implications: Management of the FMCGs investigated need to strengthen their commitment to developing critical and dynamic firm-specific capability and understand the relevance of organizational structure appropriateness. The firms should possess the knowledge to deploy ambidextrous firm-specific capability; it would enable the firms to expand and explore market opportunities that facilitate achieving significant new product performance. &nbsp

The advent and application of information technology (ICT) to academic libraries functions and services have brought about a revolution in library patrons’ attitudes and needs, revolutions in library services and changes in librarian job functions. One of the tools of ICT that have influenced academic libraries is social media tools. This study investigated the awareness and use of social media among academic librarians of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) and Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU). A descriptive survey method was employed for the study. The sample size for this study comprised of 40 academic librarians and questionnaire was used for data collection. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data collected. The findings of the study revealed that most of the social media are commonly used by librarians in promoting library and information resources and services. However, major constraints to social media usage include poor internet access, epileptic power supply and lack of enough bandwidth. Hence, recommendations were made; these include the provision of internet facilities in all offices in the library and an uninterrupted power supply for library staff amongst others.

This study examined undergraduates’ perception on ICT availability, accessibility and use at the Federal University of Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti state, Nigeria. The descriptive survey research type was used in this study. The population of the study comprised all students in the Federal university Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. The simple random sampling will be used to select undergraduate students in the Oye-Ekiti main campus; from the faculties of Education, Science, management sciences. Self-structured questionnaires (ICT Accessibility Questionnaire, Utilization of the ICT Resources by Students’ Questionnaire and Challenges Encountered by Students in Assessing the ICT Resources Questionnaire) was used for data collection. These were divided into 5 sections. Section A consist of the biodata of the respondents, such as gender, course of study, level, age. Section B is termed the Availability of ICT Resources in FUOYE Library Questionnaire and was measured on a five point scale (r = 0.832), Accessibility of ICT Resources in FUOYE Library Questionnaire (r = 0.761), Level of Utilization of the ICT Resources by Students Questionnaire (r = 0.782) and Challenges encountered by students in assessing the ICT resources Questionnaire (r = 0.852). Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) at 0.05 % significance level. Results showed that the availability level of ICT facilities for students’ academic purpose in FUOYE is moderately high; ICT facilities for students’ academic purpose in FUOYE is accessible; ICT facilities utilization among FUOYE students is high; and the challenges students face in using ICT in FUOYE, inadequate assistance from library staff, irregular internet connectivity, inconvenient time of opening hours, lack of training on ICT utilization, and inappropriate search terms. The study therefore recommends that governments and the university managements ensure that ICT facilities be made available, accessible and well utilized by

Academic achievement is important for the successful development of students as well as young people in the society. However, postgraduate students’ academic achievement is on the decline and it is perceived to be through lack of ability to identify information needs by many postgraduate students. This study aimed at investigating how information need can influence academic Achievement of first year postgraduate students of Adeleke University, Ede. The study adopted a survey design. The population for the study comprised of 88 postgraduate students. The sample size for this study is 88 students. The study utilised total enumeration method to get a sample for the study. Data was collected with the use of questionnaires adapted from the study of Gavsiddappa Anandhalli (2018). The questionnaire was administered to the postgraduate students directly by the researcher. Data obtained was analysed using descriptive statistics using frequency and count method. Analysis of variance test was used to test hypothesis. The study found out that Large majority (N=80, (76.19) of the students required academic information followed by 62(59.04%) of the respondents who appear to achieve high grades in school. This means that they appear to have high level of academic achievement in their studies. The study also found, that various types of information needs makes a significant contribution (t-value = 13.838; (p<.001) to level of academic achievement. The study concluded that, types of information needs are considered important elements in academic achievements while academic information are high impact information needs that influences academic achievements. The study recommended that the students should develop strong need for information and the ability to retrieve them from different sources so as to enhance their academic achievements. Hence the extra efforts should be made to raise the postgraduate students’ awareness of the different types of information available in their envir

The pursuit of effective information systems and services use in the public sector will necessitate enormous investments by public and private sectors in physical infrastructure, equipment, and training as well as a substantial planning and implementation effort (UN, 1985). It is important that these investments and efforts be guided by a well- structured and understood strategy which establishes priorities and an action plan for the short, medium and long term. Information system is a potentially powerful tool within a dynamic organizational structure. Information services refer to the act of providing processed or published information on specific topics to an organization's internal users, its customers, or the general public. This paper creates awareness of the role of government in the provision of the information systems and services needed for individuals in the society to embrace the great potential of social and economic development attached to an information society. The paper found out that the government has a major role in ensuring that information is available and accessible to every citizen of the country and that the use and sharing of this information and technology should be regulated for fairness. This paper provides the government with information on roles expected from them in the provision of information system and services to make available, broaden access to and utilize ICTs in various public sectors. It also provides some workable information policies and proactive approaches that could help the government undertake this role efficiently. It concludes by making recommendations on roles the government need to play in providing the information systems and services needed to encourage citizen’s participation in the information society.

The demand for plantain flour has increased in recent years due to its health benefits and industrial applications, however, there is dearth of information on the effect of drying methods on the sorption isotherm of plantain flour. In the present study, moisture sorption properties for unripe plantain flour using four drying methods at temperatures 27 °C, 37 °C and 42 °C were determined for water activity 0.10 to 0.80. The data generated were modelled using Peleg, GAB, Oswin, BET and Langmuir. The results revealed that the Equilibrium Moisture Contents decreased with an increase in temperature at all the water activities considered. Also, moisture isotherms of the plantain flour were not significantly (p>0.05) affected by temperature. The coefficient of determination (R2) for the used models ranged from 0.640 and 0.986 and Peleg was the most appropriate for the adsorption isotherm of plantain flour out of all the models. The monolayer moisture content of the flour also showed that all the unripe plantain flours could be stored for longer periods at all the temperatures studied, as their Mo falls within acceptable range for storage.

The demand for plantain flour has increased in recent years due to its health benefits and industrial applications and information on the effect of drying methods on the physicochemical and functional characteristics of plantain flour in literature is limited. This present study was conducted to determine the effect of drying methods on the chemical, colour, functional and pasting properties of plantain flour were investigated. The results revealed that drying methods significantly (p<0.05) affected all the parameters studied. The moisture content of the flours ranged between 8.18 – 11.50%, fibre 2.56 – 3.21%, ash 3.00 – 3.30% and carbohydrate 76.18 – 80.49%. The L* of the samples ranged between 95.90 – 96.98, while the peak viscosity ranged between 432.04 - 461.37 RVU, final viscosity 320.40 – 484.58 RVU and pasting temperature 81.25 – 83.20°C across the drying methods used. Bulk density values varied between 0.68 – 0.70g/ml, WAC between 115.5 – 149.8%, OAC between 110.55 – 115.55% and swelling power 31.85 – 3.54%. Determination of suitable drying method is necessary for production of good quality plantain flour and the result suggest that any drying method could be used to produce good quality plantain flour.

Considering the pace of change in realm of science and technology in the business environment viz-a-viz the performance of academia in Nigeria there appears to be a large variance. This variance could account to the decline in the quality of academic outputs recorded in Nigerian institution. On this premise, this study investigated innovation, training and demographic factors as determinants of academic staff job performance among private universities.The study adopted a correlational design using a sample of three hundred (300 i.e. male=159 and female =141) academic staff were randomly selected from five private Universities in Southwest Nigeria. Reliable measuring scale with each having Cronbach alpha value of above 0.7 was used for data collection. Three research questions were raised and tested using Pearson’s’ product moment correlation and linear regression at 0.05 level of significance.The result revealed that staff innovation, training, gender are significant predictors of job performance. At prediction stage, the four factors combined accounted for 93.6% (Adj.R2= .936) variance in the prediction of academic staff job performance. While innovation was found to be the strongest factor predicting job performance, followed by training. Age and gender were not found significant. By implication innovation and training are essential determinant of academic staff job performance.It was recommended among others that, Academic staff with outstanding innovative skills should be recognized to which might go a long way in making other academic staff to engage their innovation skills in their daily activities. Annual and bi-annual training should be held and various aspect of academics to make academic staff get abreast with the crest of change in the global scene. Staff age and gender should be considered when distributing tasks among academia. Keywords: Innovation, Training, Age, Gender, Academic staff, Job performance, Private Universities

Tunji S Oluleye,1 Adekunle O Rotimi-Samuel,2 Adetunji Adenekan,2 Olubanke T Ilo,2 Folashade B Akinsola,2 Adeola O Onakoya,2 Olufisayo T Aribaba,2 Adebukunola Adefule-Ositelu,2 Kareem O Musa,2 Yele Oyefeso2 1Retina and Vitreous Unit, Department of Ophthalmology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, 2Department of Ophthalmology, Guinness Eye Center, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria Abstract: Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada’s (VKH) disease has been reported to be rare in sub-Saharan Africa. Two Nigerians with the disease are presented in this report. The first patient, a 32-year-old pregnant Nigerian woman presented with a 1-month history of bilateral blurring of vision, persistent headache, and alopecia. Presenting visual acuity was 1 m counting fingers in both eyes. Examination revealed vitiligo and poliosis with bilateral panuveitis as well as bilateral exudative retinal detachment. A clinical assessment of complete VKH disease was made. The patient commenced systemic and topical steroids that resulted in remarkable recovery of vision and control of inflammation. The second patient, a 56-year-old Nigerian woman presented with severe headache, tinnitus, and visual loss in both eyes of 2 weeks duration. There was associated redness of both eyes and photophobia. Examination showed visual acuity of Hand motion (HM) and counting fingers at 1 meter (CF). in the right and left eye, respectively, with bilateral panuveitis and bilateral exudative retinal detachment. Subsequent follow-up showed poliosis, vitiligo, and sunsetting fundus appearance. The patient improved with systemic and topical corticosteroids. Developing a high index of suspicion is necessary in diagnosing VKH disease, even in sub-Saharan Africa. Prompt institution of appropriate treatment prevents blindness. Keywords: Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada’s disease, exudative retinal detachment, vitiligo, ­sub-Saharan Africa

Olufisayo Temitayo Aribaba,1 Olusesan Adetunji Adenekan,1 Adeola Olukorede Onakoya,1 Adekunle Rotimi-Samuel,1 John Olutola Olatosi,2 Kareem Olatunbosun Musa,1 Akinyele Oyedele Oyefeso,1 Folashade Bolanle Akinsola11Guinness Eye Centre, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, 2Department of Anaesthesia, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, NigeriaAim: To determine changes in post-cataract surgery central corneal thickness (CCT) at Lagos University Teaching Hospital by assessing the time it takes for the cornea to return to its preoperative thickness value.Methods: This study is a prospective, hospital-based open within-patient controlled study with the unoperated eye controlling for the operated one.Results: Two hundred patients with 400 eyes were analyzed, with bilateral mature cataract in 47.0%. All the patients had manual small incision cataract surgery with posterior chamber intraocular lens implant. There is an increase in mean baseline CCT from 520.6±20.3 µm by 76.9 µm (597.9±30.4 µm) 24 hours after cataract surgery followed by relative reduction in the mean CCT to 555.2±24.7 µm and 525.1±19.7 µm at 2 weeks and 12 weeks, respectively. Increase in mean CCT in the unoperated and contralateral eyes were recorded in this study.Conclusion: There was a transient increase in corneal thickness following cataract surgery with subsequent decrease to preoperative thickness by 12th and fourth week in the operated and unoperated eyes, respectively. Corneal manipulations during cataract surgery must be minimal to reduce visual rehabilitation time to barest minimum. Postoperative refraction will be better at eighth week to 12th week considering the time it takes for the CCT to return to its stable preoperative values.Keywords: post-cataract surgery visual rehabilitation, pachymetry, recovery time, unoperat

Sleep duration in America has gradually declined over the last four decades and appears to have reached a plateau for the last six years, with recent studies reporting that the population's current average sleep duration is approximately 6 h. In this paper, we examine epidemiologic and community-based data on sleep complaints reported by American adults, specifically addressing the role of race/ethnicity in the subjective report of sleep problems. Subjective and objective findings indicate that black (throughout the text, we use the term black in lieu of African American for there are instances where we refer to individuals with self-ascribed race/ethnicity as black, African American, African, or Caribbean American; the term white is used to denote individuals of European descent). Americans have higher rates of long (≥9 h) and short (≤5 h) sleep than their white counterparts, and this may mediate a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity and diabetes among blacks. In addition, studies show mixed results on sleep complaints among blacks compared to those among other ethnicities. This paper explores factors that may contribute to racial/ethnic differences in sleep including intra-ethnic variation, cultural biases, genetics and psychosocial factors., Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H. Extramural, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

The use of medicinal plants as natural antioxidants in the treatment of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases is on the increase. However, toxicity of the plants is also a major concern. Hence, this present study investigated the toxic and in vitro antioxidant activities of aqueous extracts of Morinda lucida and Saccharum officinarum leaves. Brine shrimp lethality assay for larvae nauplii was used to evaluate the toxicity of the two plant extracts. The antioxidant potential of the plant extracts was examined by determining tannin content, total flavonoid content, total antioxidant capacity, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity, in vitro lipid peroxidation, and nitric oxide (NO) scavenging assay. Both Morinda lucida and Saccharum officinarum showed the presence of tannin and flavonoids; additional presence of saponin, alkaloid and phenol were confirmed in Morinda lucida while the presence of steroids was shown in Saccharum officinarum. Brine shrimp toxicity test revealed LC50 of 112.2 µg/ml, 44,668.3 µg/ml, and 14.12 µg/ml for Morinda lucida, Saccharum officinarum, and the standard (Potassium dichromate) respectively. The amount of total flavonoid content was 23.08 mg per 100 g and 5.28 mg per 100 g for M. lucida and S. officinarum respectively. Total antioxidant capacity assay showed 83.15 mg per 100 g for M. lucida and 27.56 mg per 100 g for S. officinarum. Morinda lucida and Saccharum officinarum showed IC50 values of 31.25 µg/ml and 68.75 µg/ml for DPPH free radical respectively. In Nitric oxide scavenging activities, IC50 values of Morinda lucida and Saccharum officinarum were 22.50 µg/ml and 21.88 µg/ml. It can be concluded that M. lucida and S. officinarum are not toxic and possess antioxidant activities.

Aims: To examine the feasibility and acceptability of alcohol screening and delivery of brief interventions within criminal justice settings. Methods: A quantitative survey of those aged 18 or over in English criminal justice settings (three custody suites within police stations, three prisons and three probation offices). Measurements: The Fast Alcohol Screening Test (FAST) and a modified version of the Single Alcohol Screening Question (M-SASQ) were compared with the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) as the ‘gold standard’. Participants completed a health status questionnaire (EQ5D), questions on service utilization and the Readiness to Change Questionnaire. Questions relating to the acceptability and feasibility of delivering brief interventions and about perception of coercion were included. Findings: Five hundred and ninety-two individuals were approached and 251 were eligible. Of these, 205 (82%) consented to take part in the study. The mean AUDIT score was 19.9 (SD 13.5) and 73% scored 8 or more on AUDIT. A higher percentage of those approached in the probation setting consented to take part (81%: prison 36%, police setting 10%). Those scoring AUDIT positive were more likely to be involved in violent offences (36.5 vs 9.4%; P < 0.001) and less likely to be involved in offences involving property (27.7 vs 45.3%; P = 0.03). Three quarters of the sample (74%) reported that they would not feel coerced to engage in an intervention about their alcohol use. FAST and M-SASQ had acceptable screening properties when compared with AUDIT with area under the curves of 0.97 and 0.92, respectively. Conclusions: The results confirm that there is a major problem with alcohol use in the criminal justice system and this impacts on health and criminal behaviour. Of the three criminal justice settings, probation was found to be the most suitable for screening. Participants were positive about receiving interventions for their alcohol use in probation settings.

Background: Trauma remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in resource challenged economies. In Nigeria, the number of deaths due to trauma-induced injuries is on the rise. Major trauma victims are usually admitted into the intensive care unit in our hospital. The aim of this study is to assess the outcome of the trauma cases admitted to the ICU. Methods: We performed an eight-year retrospective review of all trauma admissions into our multidisciplinary six bed intensive care unit (ICU) to assess the impact of trauma on the ICU. Data collected was processed using the Statistical Packages for the Social Scientists 16.0. Results: Three hundred and seventy two cases (372) cases of major trauma were admitted during the study period, representing 41.6% of the total ICU admissions. The male to female ratio was 2.3:1, while the mean age of the trauma patients was 32.8 yrs compared to 37.0 yrs for non-trauma cases. Trauma admissions were almost exclusively emergencies (93.8%) with a mean ICU length of stay of 7.7 ± 8.1 days. Survivors had a statistically significant longer length of stay (LOS) than non-survivors (11.6 ± 9.8 vs. 4.2 ± 3.9 days [p = 0.0001]). Mortality rate of trauma patients was significantly higher than that of all ICU admissions (53.2% vs. 37.9%, p = 0.0001). Road traffic crashes were responsible for most deaths (68.6%) followed by burn injuries (29.9%). Conclusion: Trauma is a leading cause of intensive care utilization in our hospital,. Management strategy should include increased public enlightenment campaign, enforcement of safety rules and improved pre- and in-hospital care of trauma victims. Keywords: Trauma; Intensive care

This paper is the first output from her PhD study – lead researcher, lead on analysis, lead on writing first draft.

Clancy was the lead researcher for this study and co-ordinator for the European sites. She also assisted in analysis of data, and writing sections of paper.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to compare the characteristics of patients who completed (completers) inpatient treatment of drug dependence with those who failed to complete this programme (noncompleters). Method: Participants were assessed at admission using the Substance Abuse Assessment Questionnaire (SAAQ) to obtain information about the sociodemographic background, history of drug and alcohol use, physical health, mental health, offending behaviour, and interpersonal relationships. Follow-up interviews were carried out 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after discharge using the SAAQ-Follow-up. To form the three comparison groups, participants were divided on the basis of completion of detoxification and receipt of aftercare. Results and conclusions: Significantly better treatment outcome was observed amongst those who completed detoxification and went on to spend at least 6 weeks in a recovery and/or residential rehabilitation unit. In contrast, there were no significant differences between noncompleters and completers who had no aftercare on the majority of measures of drug use during follow-up. D 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Primary researcher involved in collection of data, and assistance with analysis, and drafting of paper.

This thesis explores the dynamics of inflation in Sub-Sahara African countries of Nigeria, Ghana, and Sierra-Leone. The study specifically investigates the dynamic interrelationships among prices, money, exchange rates, and terms of trade, as well as the roles of each variable in the determination of inflation in these countries. The period of investigation covers 1960 through 1995, using annual series. The study departs by reviewing the theories of inflation and based on the propositions inherent in the theories, classifies them as monetarists or structuralists' schools of thought. Subsequently, the study explores the previous empirical studies on inflation in developing countries, followed by a descriptive profile of each country under study. The major innovations of this thesis include the ability to derive a simple reduced-form equation within the frameworks of both monetarists and structural models. Second, the application of error correction model provides an extension and improvement of earlier studies in understanding the dynamics of inflation in Africa. So far, very few studies have employed this recent, yet superior econometrics tool in these countries. The error correction estimates suggest that when disequilibrium arises in these economies, exchange rates adjustments restore the economies to a long run equilibrium level more than other variables. The process is common and unique to all countries under study. Monetary factors also explain to some large extent the inflationary process in these countries. The monetary shock especially matters most when it explains itself and the price levels. Investigation rules out any direct causal link between the terms of trade and other variables. Addressing the inflationary problems in these countries requires an effective monetary policy that will focus on effective management of exchange rates and the curbing of excessive money supply growth. The exchange rate regimes' policy objective should be to set up a variable