17 research outputs found
Entrepreneurship Facts for Sustainable Economic Development in Developing Countries
No full textThe pursuit of economic development and dominance by countries of the world is common to both advanced and third world countries. Economic theories and facts propounded by Adams Smith in the 18th century and Ricardo in the 19th century among other scholars, have laid the cornerstone around which various economic strategies and approaches have been fashioned to reach this common goal. The result has been a wide gap that made some economies of the world to be known as “advanced, industrialized” and some others, “developing, third world” economies. While some past researches have attempted to pinpoint factors such as poor infrastructure, poor capital formation, weak institutional framework and so on as some factors responsible for back lagging of these “developing”, economies, recent emphases through empirical and academic researchers have shown that the much needed economic “miracle” for the third world countries is embedded in the factor of entrepreneurship. In fact, the unravelling of this factor has produced what is termed “emerging” economies such as Brazil, India, Indonesia, Mexico, etc. This paper therefore explores a mix of entrepreneurship theories and facts believed to underlie the rapid and sustainable economic growth and development of countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Thailand and Mexico with a view of framing a unique and an adaptable entrepreneurship fact for other developing economies like Nigeria. The resulting fact, being founded on the works of Schumpeter, is necessity driven; opportunity based; resources enabled; and result focused. Characteristically, the facts have five pillars: “window”, “network”, “corridor”, “product” and “outcome”. Though novel, the five pillar entrepreneurship facts is hoped to be proven useful in the academia and policy making parlance
Uniqueness of continuous solution to -Hilfer fractional hybrid integro-difference equation of variable order
No full textIn this paper, the authors introduced a novel definition based on Hilfer fractional derivative, which name -Hilfer fractional derivative of variable order. And the uniqueness of solution to -Hilfer fractional hybrid integro-difference equation of variable order of the form \eqref{eq:varorderfrac} with 0 < \alpha(t) < 1, , and 0 < q < 1 is studied. Moreover, an example is provided to demonstrate the result
Ameliorative Effect of Faidherbia albida Against 2.4-Dinitrophenylhydrazine Induced Hyperbilirubinemia in Wistar Albino Rats
No full textMaryam Ibrahim Tukur,1 Ibrahim Babangida Abubakar,2 Isah Musa Fakai,1 Jamilu Bala Danjuma,1 Ibrahim Malami,3 Aliyu Muhammad4 1Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aliero, Kebbi State, Nigeria; 2Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Kampala International University, Kampala, Uganda; 3Department of Pharmacognosy and Ethnopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto, Nigeria; 4Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Zaria, 810271, NigeriaCorrespondence: Ibrahim Babangida Abubakar, Email [email protected]: Faidherbia albida, popularly known as gawo in Hausa, is traditionally used to treat jaundice in Zuru emirate of Kebbi State. Herein, the ameliorative effect of F. albida against 2.4-dinitrophenylhydrazine-induced hyperbilirubinemia in Wistar albino rats was investigated.Methods: Thirty healthy rats were administered 75 mg of 2.4-dinitrophenylhydrazine to induce hyperbilirubinemia. Thereafter, groups 1– 3 received 500, 750, and 1000 mg/kg body weight of the methanol stem-bark extract, and 15 mg/kg of phenobarbitone (standard drug) was administered to group 4. Groups 5 and 6 served as the untreated and normal controls, respectively. The phytochemical composition was evaluated using standard methods, and acute oral toxicity was evaluated using standard OECD 2008 guidelines.Results: Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, phenols, and a substantial amount of tannins. A significant (P< 0.05) reduction of direct bilirubin, total bilirubin, and total protein levels for all the doses of the extract and standard drug compared to untreated groups was observed. Similarly, there were significant reductions in serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels of the group treated with the standard drug and all extract-treated groups compared to elevated levels observed in untreated controls. However, a significant (P< 0.05) increase in serum albumin (ALB) levels, red blood cells, hemoglobin, and pack cell volume was observed in all extract-treated compared to the untreated control in contrast to a significant decrease in MCH levels in treated groups compared to the untreated group.Conclusion: F. albida ameliorated the hyperbilirubinemia induced by 2.4-dinitrophenylhydrazine in Wistar albino rats, thus providing some support for its use in traditional medicine to treat jaundice.Keywords: Faidherbia albida, jaundice, liver enzymes, hyperbilirubinemia, 2, 4-dinitrophenylhydrazine, red blood cell
A mathematical model of the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic: A case study in Turkey
No full textTurkey reported the first case of COVID-19 on 11 March 2020 since the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus pandemic. COVID-19 spread rapidly in Turkey, where about a total of 3,208,173 cases of infected persons were registered by 29 March 2021 with 2,957,093 cases of recovered persons and 31,076 reported deaths. A new mathematical COVID-19 model containing six classes is presented. Also, the positive invariant region of the solutions, basic reproductive number, disease-free equilibrium, and its stability are highlighted. Afterward, the disease-free equilibrium is locally asymptotically stable when R0 < 1. Moreover, the proposed model was further generalized to the fractional-order derivative in the AtanganaBaleanu (ABC) context for a more successful realization. Besides, the existence and uniqueness of solutions via techniques of Schaefer’s and Banach fixed point theorems were established. Based on the publicly recorded number of infected people from 1-31 July 2020 in Turkey and least-squares curve fitting techniques with fminsearch function the fractionalorders model has been validated and can better fit the data compared with the integer-order model. Also, using the Atangana-Toufik scheme, numerical solutions, as well as simulations, are presented for different values of fractional order
Least-Square-Based Three-Term Conjugate Gradient Projection Method for ℓ1-Norm Problems with Application to Compressed Sensing
No full textIn this paper, we propose, analyze, and test an alternative method for solving the ℓ 1 -norm regularization problem for recovering sparse signals and blurred images in compressive sensing. The method is motivated by the recent proposed nonlinear conjugate gradient method of Tang, Li and Cui [Journal of Inequalities and Applications, 2020(1), 27] designed based on the least-squares technique. The proposed method aims to minimize a non-smooth minimization problem consisting of a least-squares data fitting term and an ℓ 1 -norm regularization term. The search directions generated by the proposed method are descent directions. In addition, under the monotonicity and Lipschitz continuity assumption, we establish the global convergence of the method. Preliminary numerical results are reported to show the efficiency of the proposed method in practical computation
Weight and structural considerations of potential green roof growth: Media compositions for the Nigerian building industry
No full textThe principal objective of this paper was to assess the physical properties and weight or structural implications of some potential green roof growth media compositions practicable for use in the Nigerian built environment. The study carried out an essential selection of material constituents of growth media blends mixed in a 3:1:1 ratio of natural stone-based gravels, soil and compost respectively. Six substrate blends based on laterite stones, ory and empirical field evaluation methods. The results revealed that the granite-based blend is the heaviest sample with 1,713.30 kg/m3 in its saturated state, while the lightest in weight is the pumice blend with 869.30 kg/m3 which is 50.7% less than the granite blend. The heaviest and the lightest outlined models were subsequently subjected to a weight analysis on a proposed reinforced concrete flat-roofed structure. The results showed that all the extensive green roof samples fall within the IBC stipulated range. The heaviest granite substrate obtained a design load of 0.951 kN/m2, while the lightest pumice blend recorded a design load of 0.576 kN/m2. Hence, it stands to offer an optimum alternative in green roof retrofitting projects for existing flat-roofed buildings. The study, therefore, submits that all samples evaluated involve readily available materials in the studied area and can be used with respect to their characteristic properties as presented in this study. It also serves as a reference point for all stakeholders in the research and building construction industry in Nigeria and beyond
Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of One Health among multisectoral stakeholders in Kano state, Northwest Nigeria
No full textAbstract Background A substantial proportion of human infectious diseases originate from animals (zoonoses), with environmental factors significantly contributing to their transmission. This underscores the need for the One Health (OH) approach as a comprehensive, integrated framework to address these challenges. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding the OH concept among multisectoral stakeholders in Kano, Northwest Nigeria. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional survey that utilized a two stage sampling technique was conducted among 359 stakeholders from the Ministries of Agriculture, Environment, and Health at both state and Local Government Area (LGA) levels. Data were collected through interviewer-administered questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS version 22. A p-value set at ≤ 0.05. Results Most stakeholders demonstrated above-average knowledge (87.7%), attitudes (80.2%), and practices (77.4%) concerning OH. Stakeholders from LGAs where a multisectoral Epidemic Preparedness and Response Committee (EPRC) was known to be present had significantly higher odds of possessing above-average knowledge of OH (adjusted odds ratio = 137; 95% confidence interval = 9.3–2045). Stakeholders who had received prior training on OH were more likely to exhibit above-average attitudes toward the OH approach (adjusted odds ratio = 3.6; 95% confidence interval = 1.0–12.9). Furthermore, those who indicated the existence of a functional disease reporting system to higher authorities were 17 times more likely to practice OH, compared to those uncertain about the availability of such a system (adjusted odds ratio = 17.1; 95% confidence interval = 1.5–198.6). Conclusion The study showed that stakeholders demonstrated relatively high levels of knowledge, favorable attitudes, and appropriate practices regarding the OH approach. Knowledge of OH was found to have a positive correlation with both attitudes and practices. Key factors contributing to these outcomes included prior training in OH and active participation in multisectoral collaboration. To strengthen and sustain the implementation of the OH approach in the region, we recommend reinforcing government-led coordination and cross-sectoral collaboration
Hematological profile of newborns exposed to maternal human immunodeficiency virus and antiretroviral therapy
No full textBACKGROUND: Thousands of pregnant women are infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and some of them take antiretroviral therapy (ART) either for their own health or as a means of preventing mother-to-child transmission. This entails fetal exposure to drugs with attendant effect on hematological parameters.
AIMS: The aim of this study is to determine the effect of maternal HIV and ART on hematological profile of newborns.
SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Comparative cross-sectional study involving 70 each of HIV- and ART-exposed and HIV- and ART-unexposed newborns at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Cord blood was collected for hemogram, reticulocyte count, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate.
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
RESULTS: The mean hematocrit, platelet, and reticulocyte counts of the HIV-exposed newborns were significantly lower than those of HIV-unexposed (P < 0.05). Among HIV-exposed newborns, newborns of mothers with CD4+ T-cell <350/μl had significantly lower hematological parameters than those of mothers with CD4+ T-cell ≥350/μl (P < 0.05). Furthermore, HIV-exposed newborns of mothers on second-line ART had significantly lower hematological parameters than HIV-exposed newborns of mothers on the first-line ART (P < 0.05). There was positive correlation between maternal CD4+ T-cell count and newborns' hematocrit (r = 0.71), platelet count (r = 0.54), and reticulocyte count (r = 0.63).
CONCLUSIONS: Newborns exposed to maternal HIV and ART had lower hematological parameters than HIV-unexposed newborns and maternal CD4+ T-cell count <350/μl and second-line ART were significantly associated with lower hematological parameters
