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The impact of financial depth and efficiency on savings mobilization in Nigeria
Get PDFThis paper anchored on examining the effect of financial sector development on savings mobilization in Nigeria from 1981 to 2023. Precisely, the study explored the relative impact of financial depth and financial efficiency on the savings mobilization in Nigeria. The study made use of the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model, the standardized regression model, and Granger causality test in the analysis. The ARDL estimates indicated that both financial depth and financial efficiency initiated a desirable and significant effect on the savings level in Nigeria. Other key discoveries from the result were that both income and interest rate exerted positive and significant effect on the savings level in Nigeria. The standardized regression model result indicated that financial depth had a significantly larger impact on savings levels than financial efficiency. The Granger causality test supported the existence of a unidirectional causality from financial sector development to savings mobilization during the study period. The paper recommended for sustaining macro-stability in the financial system, boosting public policy for institutional reform and infrastructure, and proactive public policy for risk oversight and management
Four-Point Hybrid Block Method for direct Solution of Third-Order Ordinary Differential Equations
Get PDF This article presents a four-point hybrid block method for directly solving third-order ordinary differential equations. The method was derived by adopting interpolation and collocation techniques using the Chebyshev polynomial of the first kind as a basis function. The developed method was implemented in block mode. The fundamental properties of the method were investigated to confirm its usability. To evaluate its performance, the method was tested by solving linear and nonlinear initial value problems of third-order ordinary differential equations. The numerical results are compared with existing methods to determine their accuracy. The results show a better accuracy over the existing methods
Utilization of shrimp waste powder as a functional ingredient in fortifying ready-to-eat foods
Get PDFShrimp waste, a byproduct of seafood processing, is rich in nutrients and bioactive compounds, making it a promising ingredient for sustainable food fortification. This study evaluated the potential of shrimp waste powder (SWP) as a functional ingredient in ready-to-eat shrimp soup and fish fingers. SWP was processed by drying at 60°C for 24 h, grinding, and storing at 4°C ± 1°C. Its chemical composition was analyzed, revealing 42.48% protein, 11.50% fat, 23.6% ash, and a pH of 7.1. SWP was incorporated into food products at levels of 5%, 10%, and 15%. Chemical, physical, microbiological, and sensory analyses were conducted on all samples. Results showed that the 15% SWP fortification in shrimp soup provided the best overall nutritional and sensory properties. Similarly, for fish fingers, 15% SWP fortification level yielded optimal flavor, texture, and microbiological safety. The study confirms that shrimp waste powder can effectively enhance the nutritional value of food products without compromising sensory or safety qualities, offering a sustainable method for utilizing shrimp waste in food production
Physicochemical Properties Of Sugar Substituted Apple Jam
Get PDFApple jam, a sweet product, rich in fiber and antioxidants, a source of fruit-derived components and energy. This study aimed to substitute sucrose using date syrup and white grape juice concentrate, and to investigate the effects of sugar substitution on physicochemical, microbial, and sensory properties of apple jam during a 6-month of storage at room temperature (25ºC±5ºC). The findings revealed that apple jam with date syrup showed the highest content of antioxidants, phenols, and flavonoids. Substituting sugar with date syrup and white grape juice concentrate slightly decreased sensory properties compared to the control apple jam. Moreover, replacement of sugar using date syrup had the most significant effect in reducing the total bacterial count of the apple jam samples during the storage period. In conclusion, the substitution of sugar with date syrup and white grape juice concentrate improved the nutritional and health-related values of apple jam, as well as extended its shelf life
Asynchronous Deep Reinforcement Learning: A Shared Experience Replay Framework
Get PDFOff-policy reinforcement learning (RL) algorithms with experience replay have achieved strong performance across a range of decision-making tasks. However, traditional implementations typically rely on a single agent interacting with one environment instance, which can limit exploration diversity and slow convergence. In this paper, we propose an asynchronous multi-agent RL framework that leverages a shared experience replay buffer. Each agent interacts independently with its own environment instance, contributing to a centralized buffer that aggregates diverse trajectories. This setup enhances sample diversity, accelerates learning, and scales efficiently with modern hardware. Our framework is compatible with standard off-policy algorithms such as Double DQN (DDQN) and DDPG, and we demonstrate its effectiveness across discrete and continuous control benchmarks. Experimental results show that our approach significantly improves convergence speed and learning stability compared to single-agent baselines. We discuss the theoretical implications of sharng experiences across agents and highlight real-world applications and future extensions, including hierarchical coordination, prioritized sampling, and deployment in real-time control systems
Generalized Mittag-Leffler Function: Properties in Fractional Calculus and Integral Transforms
Get PDFIn this work, we introduce a new generalized Mittag-Leffler function defined via the extended Beta function and establish its integral and differential representations. Several fundamental properties are derived, including differentiation formulas and the Beta, Laplace, and Mellin transforms, together with relationships to the Wright function and generalized hypergeometric functions. Furthermore, the behavior of the associated Riemann-Liouville fractional integrals and derivatives of the proposed function is investigated. A number of interesting special cases are also presented to illustrate the generality and unifying nature of the main results. In the final section, we discuss potential applications of the newly defined Mittag-Leffler function, demonstrate its use in solving a fractional kinetic equation, and outline possible directions for future research
Gender Variation in Cameroon French Apologies
Get PDF This study examines the influence of gender on apology realization by Cameroon French speakers. It is based on data provided by 40 University students (20 males and 20 females) in an apology-provoking situation involving friends. The examples were analyzed according to the types of direct and indirect apology strategies as well as types of external modifiers found. The results reveal differences across both groups regarding choices and realizations of direct and indirect apologies as well as types of external modifiers used. The paper is a call for more studies on gender pragmatic variation in Cameroon French
Saying 'No' Politely: The Use of Refusal Strategies by Moroccan EFL University Learners
Get PDFThis study investigates the refusal strategies employed by Moroccan EFL university learners across a variety of social situations. Adopting a mixed-methods approach, the research draws on data from Discourse Completion Tests (DCTs) and Focus Group Interviews (FGIs) to explore how learners refuse requests, offers, invitations, and suggestions. The analysis reveals that indirect strategies are the most frequently used, significantly outnumbering direct and adjunctive strategies across the collected responses. Statistical tests confirm that this preference is consistent across all scenarios. Interview data further reinforce these results, showing that students tend to issue refusals when a situation is beyond their capacity or conflicts with personal or cultural values. Learners often opt for polite, indirect expressions to reduce the risk of face-threatening acts (FTAs) and maintain social harmony. These findings underscore the influence of sociocultural norms on pragmatic behaviour and provide valuable insights into interlanguage pragmatics. The study highlights the importance of integrating pragmatic instruction into EFL curricula to better equip learners with the communicative skills needed for effective interaction in real-life situations
Density of Dengue Vector in Hodeidah, Yemen 2017
Get PDFBackground: Dengue fever is a significant vector-borne disease in tropical and subtropical regions, with Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus being the primary vectors. Hodeidah, Yemen, has witnessed increasing dengue cases, necessitated an in-depth analysis of vector density. Objective: This report aimed to investigate the density of dengue vector (Aedes aegypti) in Hodeidah in 2017. Methods: The entomological survey was conducted in Hodeidah Governorate, Yemen in 2017. Data were collected across four seasons—winter, spring, summer, and autumn—through field inspections of mosquito breeding sites. Standard indices, including the House Index (HI), Container Index (CI), and Breteau Index (BI), were calculated based on larval and pupal presence. Environmental parameters such as temperature, humidity, and rainfall were also recorded to assess their correlation with vector density. Results: The entomological survey revealed notable differences in the density of Aedes aegypti between urban and rural districts in Hodeidah Governorate. In urban districts, including Al Hali, Al Hawak, and Al Mina, the mean House Index (HI) was 33.3%, the Container Index (CI) was 17.2%, and the Breteau Index (BI) was 57.23. These levels, while concerning, were significantly lower than those observed in rural districts. In contrast, rural areas showed a higher risk of dengue transmission, with a mean HI of 52.3%, CI of 23.4%, and an alarming BI of 139.9. Several districts such as As Salif, Az Zaydiyah, and Al Qanawis reported BI values exceeding the World Health Organization (WHO) epidemic threshold of 50, reaching up to 330.0 in As Salif. Conclusion : The study revealed a seasonally dynamic trend, with peak infestation observed particularly in autumn and spring. These high values suggest intense but uneven breeding activity across rural settings. The variation in vector indices across districts indicates that while urban areas face persistent risk due to population density and poor sanitation, rural districts may act as hotspots for outbreak initiation due to weak surveillance and inadequate vector control. Coordinated public health action, tailored to local epidemiological and environmental conditions, remains essential to curbing dengue transmission
On the efficiency of optimal vaccination, environmental sanitation and treatment controls for typhoid fever: a mathematical study approach
Get PDFTyphoid fever (TF) is a widespread infectious disease caused primarily by contaminated food, inadequatesanitation, and poor hygiene. Our research study has not only developed an optimal control model for the dynamics of TF transmission in the population, but has also provided practical recommendations for its man-agement. The proposed model incorporates four control variables that account for vaccination, sanitation, proper hygiene, treatment, and disinfection and sterilization of the environment. The analytical solution to the optimal control problem is derived using Pontryagin’s maximum principle. At the same time, numerical simulations and efficiency analyses have identified a strategy that effectively stops the spread of TF in en-demic countries. Combining optimal sanitation and proper hygiene, treatment, disinfection, and sterilization of the environment has proven to be the most effective among the seven strategies examined, offering tangi- ble solutions for policymakers, public health officials, and researchers. However, the combination of all four controls must be taken into account in order to reduce the risk of TF in a population