73 research outputs found
The Role of Micro-financing in Rural Poverty Reduction in Developing Countries
No full textThroughout the developing world, there is a desperate quest for a way out of the financial predicament confronting the rural poor. In most countries of the developing regions, especially South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, the rural population forms the larger proportion of the entire population and poverty is prevalent among them. According to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD 2001), in an assessment of poverty in West and Central Africa, poverty in West and Central Africa is essentially a rural phenomenon with three quarters of the population being located in rural areas. Following the theoretical methodology, this study has examined the role of microfinance in developing countries and has described some measures which can enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of microfinance as an instrument for reducing rural poverty in developing countries. The thesis of this study is that with a well planned and coordinated institutionalized microfinance system operating within the appropriate legal and policy framework, the rural poor may be able to get out of the chronic poverty trap that plagues their lives. By means of a review of relevant literature and a conceptual framework on poverty in general, rural poverty in particular and microfinance services and institutions in the developing countries (using the cases of selected countries), the increase in popularity of microfinance as an instrument for addressing the problem of rural poverty in most developing countries was discovered. Although there is empirical evidence that microfinance can contribute immensely to improving the lives of the rural poor, much evidence points to the fact that the impact of microfinance on the lives of the poorest of the poor is yet to be up to the expectations of developers. Existing evidence also indicate that microfinance services, such as savings, insurance, money transfers, entrepreneurial training and so on, which are more attractive to this class of clients, are yet to be provided. Regulation and supervision is deemed to inhibit the operation of the market but in the case of rural microfinance provision a reasonable amount of regulation and supervision is discovered to be necessary, particularly to protect the mostly illiterate rural poor, from usury interest rates, for example. In all the selected countries and most other developing countries, government regulation and supervision of microfinance operations are present, either directly or indirectly. This paper is sub-divided into five chapters. In Chapter one, the problem, objectives, study area and the research questions of the study are presented. In Chapter two, the research is operationalized through the formulation of a framework of the research methodology. The case study approach which is the major analysis approach for this study is discussed in-depth in this section. Existing literature and studies on rural poverty and microfinance are reviewed in Chapter three. Also in this chapter, microfinance practices in four countries in the developing regions, Bolivia, Ethiopia, Ghana and the Philippines, selected at random are discussed. Chapter Four examines the contribution of microfinance to rural poverty reduction under the various categories of services which include credit, savings, insurance and money transfers. In Chapter five, recommendations are advanced for improving on the provision of microfinance in order for its full impact on rural poverty to be realized. --
Open Defecation and Eutrophication in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria
No full textAbstract: This article discusses how poor sanitary practice (open defecation) influences the eutrophication of water bodies in the Niger Delta Region. Open defecation is a common practice amongst dweller in the region and this has a far-reaching implication on the natural quality of water of bodies in the area which serves as a primary source of water for domestic use and a mean of livelihood. Human excreta are potential sources of plant nutrients including nitrate and phosphate. Nitrate and phosphate are essential nutrients required for the growth and productivity of plants. Eutrophication is the enrichment of water bodies with nutrients induces excessive growth of macrophytes, algae, and other aquatic plants. Eutrophic nutrients are formed from urea through two chemical processes: hydrolysis and oxidation. While organic materials rich in protein or other nitrogen-rich substrate go through the processes of hydrolysis, acidogenesis, acetogenesis, and oxidation. The increased population of seaweeds creates a hypoxic and anoxic condition in water bodies which consequently causes the death of oxygen sustained organisms. Monitoring and managing water bodies to prevent or limit eutrophication is therefore critical. A variety of management strategies have been proposed by scholars including treatment of effluents to specified limits before discharging into the water bodies and physical harvesting, application of chemicals such as algaecides and flocculants, a biological method using phytoplankton eating organisms and watershed management.
Keywords: Open Defecation, Eutrophication, Water Pollution, Niger Delta, urea, Algae Bloom.
Title: Open Defecation and Eutrophication in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria
Author: Uruh Ugada, Dr Yusuf Momoh
International Journal of Novel Research in Engineering and Science
ISSN 2394-7349
Vol. 9, Issue 1, March 2022 - August 2022
Page No: 31-45
Novelty Journals
Website: www.noveltyjournals.com
Published Date: 04-August-2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6962658
Paper Download Link (Source)
https://www.noveltyjournals.com/upload/paper/Open%20Defecation%20and%20Eutrophication-04082022-4.pdfInternational Journal of Novel Research in Engineering and Science, ISSN 2394-7349, Novelty Journals, Website: www.noveltyjournals.co
SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE CONCENTRATION OF GASEOUS AIR POLLUTANTS: A CASE STUDY OF TRANS-AMADI INDUSTRIAL LAYOUT PORT-HARCOURT
No full textAbstract: In this study, spatial and temporal distribution of the concentration of gaseous air pollutants (CO, NO2, and SO2 O3) was carried out using ArcGIS in the wet season of 2016. The study was aimed at assessing the pattern of pollutants distribution in the atmosphere using GIS in the study area. Twelve sampling stations were identified, and calibrated air quality meters were used to measure air quality data during the morning, afternoon, and evening hours respectively for five days. The average concentration of the air pollutants in the morning hours ranged from 25.73 to 4.97 ppm for CO, 0.430 to 0.063 ppm for SO2, 0.275 to 0.021 ppm for NO2 and 0.011 to 0.019 ppm for O3, in the afternoon hours from: 0.257 to 0.040 ppm, 0.492 to 0.027 ppm, 27.60 to 9.57 ppm and 0.069 to 0.012 ppm for SO2, NO2, CO and O3 respectively and in the evening hours. The average evening concentrations of the pollutants ranged from 0.497 to 0.087ppm, 0.305 to 0.064 ppm, 32.27 to 4.60ppm and 0.021 to 0.011ppm for SO2, NO2, CO and O3 respectively. However, higher concentrations of the pollutants were mostly observed in the evening period followed by the morning period then the afternoon period. Mapping of different concentration of air pollutants was carried out using kriging and inverse distance weighting type of interpolation method in GIS environment. This study has established that the quality of air in the study area is very poor and polluted with CO, NO2, O3. The deterioration in air quality could be attributed to the heavy presence of industries within the area, high volume of traffic and slow traffic flow experienced in the area and other anthropogenic activities like meat processing using tire in the slaughter area etc. going on within the Trans-Amadi area. Many residents in this area are exposed to dangerous level of air pollution by pollutants such as NO2, SO2, O3 and CO which has a tremendous effect on health.
Keywords: Trans-Amadi, spatial and temporal distribution of the concentration of gaseous air pollutants, air pollution, Port-Harcourt.
Title: SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE CONCENTRATION OF GASEOUS AIR POLLUTANTS: A CASE STUDY OF TRANS-AMADI INDUSTRIAL LAYOUT PORT-HARCOURT
Author: Uruh Ugada, Dr Yusuf Momoh
International Journal of Novel Research in Engineering and Science
ISSN 2394-7349
Vol. 9, Issue 1, March 2022 - August 2022
Page No: 46-53
Novelty Journals
Website: www.noveltyjournals.com
Published Date: 05-August-2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6967019
Paper Download Link (Source)
https://www.noveltyjournals.com/upload/paper/SPATIAL%20AND%20TEMPORAL%20DISTRIBUTION-05082022-4.pdfInternational Journal of Novel Research in Engineering and Science, ISSN 2394-7349, Novelty Journals, Website: www.noveltyjournals.co
Emerg Infect Dis
No full textLassa fever (LF) causes multisystem disease and has a fatality rate <70%. Severe cases exhibit abnormal coagulation, endothelial barrier disruption, and dysfunctional platelet aggregation but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. In Sierra Leone during 2015-2018, we assessed LF patients' day-of-admission plasma samples for levels of proteins necessary for coagulation, fibrinolysis, and platelet function. P-selectin, soluble endothelial protein C receptor, soluble thrombomodulin, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1, ADAMTS-13, von Willebrand factor, tissue factor, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1, and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 were more elevated in LF patients than in controls. Endothelial protein C receptor, thrombomodulin, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1, D-dimer, and hepatocyte growth factor were higher in fatal than nonfatal LF cases. Platelet disaggregation occurred only in samples from fatal LF cases. The impaired homeostasis and platelet dysfunction implicate alterations in the protein C pathway, which might contribute to the loss of endothelial barrier function in fatal infections.K12 HD043451/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United StatesUL1 TR001114/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United StatesUL1 TR002550/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United State
Increasing Distributed Generation Penetration using Soft Normally-Open Points
No full textThis paper considers the effects of various voltage control solutions on facilitating an increase in allowable levels of distributed generation installation before voltage violations occur. In particular, the voltage control solution that is focused on is the implementation of `soft' normally-open points (SNOPs), a term which refers to power electronic devices installed in place of a normally-open point in a medium-voltage distribution network which allows for control of real and reactive power flows between each end point of its installation sites. While other benefits of SNOP installation are discussed, the intent of this paper is to determine whether SNOPs are a viable alternative to other voltage control strategies for this particular application. As such, the SNOPs ability to affect the voltage profile along feeders within a distribution system is focused on with other voltage control options used for comparative purposes. Results from studies on multiple network models with varying topologies are presented and a case study which considers economic benefits of increasing feasible DG penetration is also given
Physicomechanical Properties of Treated Oil Palm-Broom Fibers for Cementitious Composites
No full textData availability statement Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. These include xlsx files from which manuscript figures were derived. Acknowledgements The authors would like to thank the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) of Nigeria for sponsoring this research.Peer reviewe
The combined fixed-dose antituberculous drugs alter some reproductive functions with oxidative stress involvement in wistar rats
No full textAbstractThe reproductive toxicity of combined fixed-dose first-line antituberculosis (CFDAT) regimen was assessed in rats. Thirty-two (32) Wistar rats weighing 168.1±8.0g were divided into four groups of eight rats per group. Two groups of male and female rats were administered oral distilled water (1.6ml) and CFDAT drugs containing rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide and ethambutol (RIPE, 92.5mg/m2 per body surface area) respectively for forty-five days. Serum follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing and testosterone were reduced significantly (p<0.05) in the treated male rats. Similarly, sperm count levels were decreased by 27.3% when compared with control. RIPE elevated serum oestrogen (p<0.05), progesterone (p<0.05) as well as prolactin (p>0.05) levels in the treated females. In addition, RIPE reduced (p<0.05) total proteins levels and increased (p<0.05, 53%) catalase levels in male but not female animals. Superoxide dismutase, glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, reduced glutathione levels as well as lipid peroxidation were unaltered in all rats respectively. Histopathological studies revealed congested peritesticular vessels and no changes in the ovary when compared with control. Overall, our results demonstrate reproductive toxicity potentials of RIPE in the rat, thus, suggesting that these reproductive parameters be monitored during antituberculous chemotherapy
Offsite manufacturing for housing in emerging economies: An evaluation of current implementation levels
No full text© 2024 The Author. Published by University of New Brunswick. This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence. The published version can be accessed at the following link on the publisher’s website: https://conferences.lib.unb.ca/index.php/tcrc/article/view/2023Housing supply is at critical limits globally despite being enshrined as a fundamental human right. The implication of this remains nearly oblivious to fostering adequate supply. Compounding that is the added quality requirement for housing to be climate resilient. Offsite manufacturing has been identified as a viable solution to increase the supply of climate-resilient housing; however, there is a contextual gap as implementation in Emerging Economies (EE) where population growth and urbanization are rapidly occurring is less represented in literature. Additionally, while offsite manufacturing is rooted in prefabrication, an evolution of its use in EE is less documented. This study employs a quantitative methodology through a survey questionnaire of 68 construction professionals operating as Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the housing sector in a typified EE. Participants were selected using stratified random sampling across demographic variables. The study provides insights into technology adoption and design for manufacturing, which show limited adoption of contextual offsite-enhancing technologies. However, other vital aspects crucial to the increased adoption of offsite processes, such as supply chain relations between stakeholders, are established, albeit with room for improvement to attain strategic partnerships. This study's findings suggest a pragmatic approach - leveraging current practices as a starting point and formulating a roadmap for gradually integrating more sophisticated OMPs over time. Further, it contributes to a deeper understanding of how offsite manufacturing can be harnessed to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of housing construction in EE, thereby advancing climate-responsive housing development in these regions
FORECASTING SPOT ELECTRICITY PRICES WITH TIME SERIES MODELS
No full textIn this paper we study simple time series models and assess their forecasting performance. In particular we calibrate ARMA and ARMAX (where the exogenous variable is the system load) processes. Models are tested on a time series of California power market system prices and loads from the period proceeding and including the market crash.Electricity, price forecasting, ARMA model, seasonal component
Emerging trends in Lassa fever: redefining the role of immunoglobulin M and inflammation in diagnosing acute infection
No full textAbstract
Background
Lassa fever (LF) is a devastating hemorrhagic viral disease that is endemic to West Africa and responsible for thousands of human deaths each year. Analysis of humoral immune responses (IgM and IgG) by antibody-capture ELISA (Ab-capture ELISA) and Lassa virus (LASV) viremia by antigen-capture ELISA (Ag-capture ELISA) in suspected patients admitted to the Kenema Government Hospital (KGH) Lassa Fever Ward (LFW) in Sierra Leone over the past five years is reshaping our understanding of acute LF.
Results
Analyses in LF survivors indicated that LASV-specific IgM persists for months to years after initial infection. Furthermore, exposure to LASV appeared to be more prevalent in historically non-endemic areas of West Africa with significant percentages of reportedly healthy donors IgM and IgG positive in LASV-specific Ab-capture ELISA. We found that LF patients who were Ag positive were more likely to die than suspected cases who were only IgM positive. Analysis of metabolic and immunological parameters in Ag positive LF patients revealed a strong correlation between survival and low levels of IL-6, -8, -10, CD40L, BUN, ALP, ALT, and AST. Despite presenting to the hospital with fever and in some instances other symptoms consistent with LF, the profiles of Ag negative IgM positive individuals were similar to those of normal donors and nonfatal (NF) LF cases, suggesting that IgM status cannot necessarily be considered a diagnostic marker of acute LF in suspected cases living in endemic areas of West Africa.
Conclusion
Only LASV viremia assessed by Ag-capture immunoassay, nucleic acid detection or virus isolation should be used to diagnose acute LASV infection in West Africans. LASV-specific IgM serostatus cannot be considered a diagnostic marker of acute LF in suspected cases living in endemic areas of West Africa. By applying these criteria, we identified a dysregulated metabolic and pro-inflammatory response profile conferring a poor prognosis in acute LF. In addition to suggesting that the current diagnostic paradigm for acute LF should be reconsidered, these studies present new opportunities for therapeutic interventions based on potential prognostic markers in LF.
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