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Abstract

A novel Channel Estimation (CE) approach in multi-carrier wireless communication systems, such as Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) system and Code Division Multiple access (CDMA) via a combination of Local Search (LS) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm is proposed in this study. The CE is vital towards overcoming the effect of channel fading, which causes the degradation of the Bit Error Rate (BER) and the jamming of pilot symbols. The CE expressions were derived as an objective function to study the effect of improving BER in MC-CDMA/OFDM for a frequency selective Rayleigh fading environment. The number of particles for each single swarm was used to determine the best fitness solution, and is being computed from an average BER value. The proposed channel estimator was tested under the fast fading channel in a multi carrier communication system with and without interpolation methods. The simulation showed that the proposed CE of the MIMO-OFDM system can significantly result in better BER performance compared with other techniques at different modulation types, mean square error (MSE), Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) values, and channel lengths.
Contribution/ Originality
This study originates new formula for modify local search and particle swarm optimization algorithm LS-PSO.

Computer Sciences » Review of Information Engineering and Applications » Month: 12-2016 Issue: 2

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This study analyzed the determinants of farmer’s use of land reclamation practices in oil producing areas of Imo State, Nigeria. Data for the study were obtained with structured questionnaire from 172 food crop farmers selected through multistage sampling procedure. Descriptive statistics was used to determine the level of use of land reclamation practices, while inferential statistical technique (logit model) was used to estimate the determinants of farmers ‘use of land reclamation practice. Results showed   low level of use of land reclamation practices (x =1.5) among the farmers, and land filling was better practiced than other land reclamation practices. Determinants of farmers ‘use  of land reclamation practices were level of education, farm size, extension  contact, annual  farm income, social organization membership, availability of land reclamation technology, and access  to information. In order for land reclamation practices to mitigate the land degradation and soil fertility loss experienced in the  oil producing areas of Imo State, government should adequately motivate the extension personnel to  follow-up the use of the introduced land reclamation practices by the farmers.
Contribution/ Originality
This study contributes in the existing literature on determinants of farmers’ use of land reclamation practices using multivariate logistics analysis. The paper’s primary contribution is finding that education, farm size, extension, farm income, social organization membership, availability of technology and access to information significantly determined farmers’ use of land reclamation practices.

Agricultural Sciences » Review of Plant Studies » Month: 02-2016 Issue: 2

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Abstract

Software Defined Radio (SDR) has the flexibility to modify the characteristics of the receiving and transmitting radio device, without physically adjusting the hardware, due to development in the system. Because of the increasing need for wireless communication applications so as to enable consumers to communicate anywhere through information led to the emergence of many communication devices to include the large amount of applications that  every one of the devices needs power and thereby increase the total power. This study confirms that the wireless communication system for secured transmit data, fast and inexpensive; can be done by implementing using Partial Reconfiguration (PR) modern technology in FPGA developing based on SDR. The Speed and performance can be improved. The area also can be decreased. The new Xilinx, Vertex Series FPGA, provides the provision of PR. The power consumption can be reduced by applying power reduction techniques in the blocks. The combination of MATLAB (Simulink and M-file) and Simulink HDL Coder offers flexible capabilities for analysis, design; simulation, implementation, and verification. With all these capabilities, in a single system to reduce the time spent tuning for reducing the algorithms and models during rapid prototyping and experimentation and less time on HDL coding.
Contribution/ Originality
This study contributes in the existing literature review for implementing MC-CDMA wireless communication system using Partial Reconfiguration (PR) that is a new technology in FPGA.

Computer Sciences » Review of Information Engineering and Applications » Month: 06-2017 Issue: 1

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In this work, the nonlinear dynamical model of a lactic fermentation process is widely analysed and control experiments are achieved. More precisely, a production of yogurt by Streptococcus termophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus in batch operation is taken into consideration. The process model is expressed by a set of nonlinear differential equations that describes the evolution of concentrations in the fermentation process. To validate the model, several simulations are performed in the Matlab programming and development environment. Furthermore, two experimental setups are used for batch fermentation experiments. From control point of view, the temperature and the pH are the basic dynamical factors that need monitoring and control in order to regulate the microbial growth and the lactic acid production. Different control architectures and tuning procedures are implemented. Specialized data acquisition and control software tools are used to perform the experiments. By using the features of these software tools, the time evolution of various process variables can be plotted and analysed. Several comparisons between the results obtained via simulation and with the two bioreactor setups are achieved.
Contribution/ Originality
This paper’s main contribution is to validate the dynamical model of a lactic fermentation process by using simulators and laboratory bioreactors. A production of yogurt by Streptococcus termophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus in batch operation is considered. Different control architectures and tuning procedures are implemented, and several comparisons are achieved.

Agricultural Sciences » Journal of Food Technology Research » Month: 03-2017 Issue: 1

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Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), Multi-Carrier (MC) system, is a popular standard in wireless communication for its enabling high throughput data transfer.  However, the MC signal usually has a high peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR), which involves a wide-dynamic-range, power consuming amplifier.  Whenever the signal height is greater than the amplified linear region, the signal is distorted. In this paper, propose a novel scheme that rotating phase shift (RPS) technique based signal scrambling is proposed to reduce PAPR in OFDM systems.  In addition, the pilot phase signal is picked out by RPS technique applied new algorithm the local research to alleviate scrambling information corruption and show discernible advancements. So, our technique improves over the existing ones in the same category.  The transmitted signal of OFDM is tested with Mobile WiMAX IEEE 802.16e standard, that compared the various phase shift with a slight computational complexity is studied.  The simulation result shows that original signal at pilot-assisted QAM is capable of bringing down the electrical PAPR by about 3.5 times as a modest complementary cumulative distribution function (CCDF) point of 10-3 for M=8 low complexity.  In addition, the best phase-shift factor was selected to reduce the monetary value of computational complexity.
Contribution/ Originality
The paper contributes the first logical analysis eight factors rotating phase shift (RPS). The proposed method is applied local research algorithms to reduce peak-to-average power ratio based on OFDM.

Computer Sciences » Review of Computer Engineering Research » Month: 06-2017 Issue: 2

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In this paper, we generate the Adomian polynomial for major nonlinear terms which are mostly common in differential equations. And we applied it to Lane-Emden type of equations whose nonlinear terms are exponential functions. The result we obtained by modified Adomian decomposition method (ADM) gave a series solution which is the same as the Taylors series of the exact solution.
Contribution/ Originality
This study contributes in the existing literature on the use of Adomian decomposition method. It explicitly provide the Adomian polynomials of frequently occurring nonlinear terms in a linear functional. And, for the first time, applied to obtain an exact solution to the Lane-Emden type of equation.

Arts and Education » International Journal of Mathematical Research » Month: 01-2017 Issue: 1

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Background: Primary health care facilities are the closest to the community and are easily accessible to pregnant women and their children. Ensuring quality Antenatal care by skilled attendants at this level is pre-requisite to reducing pregnancy complications and over all maternal mortality Objective: This study was aimed at assessing the adequacy of antenatal care rendered at this level of care. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted at Babban-dodo primary health center, Zaria.  An exit Questionnaires was administered to 400 pregnant women. Information on their demographic status and information about the Antenatal care just received was obtained focusing standard protocol for antenatal care. Result: showed that the women were not rendered all the full component of ANC. History of feeling unwell was not asked in 88%, examination including blood pressure check was done in only 37%, Obstetrics examination was done in more 80% of the women however symphsio-fundal height was not measured with tape. The women were sent to do most of the routine investigations, as they pay for these investigations and the revenue collected is used to partially run the hospital. There was only one nurse midwife at the center; community health workers were the sole providers and no medical doctor visit the hospital. Ninety six percent of the respondents were satisfied with the services while 3.6% were dissatisfied. Conclusion: There is total disregard for standard of care for antenatal services expected at this level. There is the need for re-assessment of all primary health care centers that are the first point of contact with our pregnant women, if reducing maternal mortality rate is great concern to all of us.
Contribution/ Originality
This study further demonstrated that the quality of antenatal care in primary care facilities in Nigeria particularly in the Northern part of the country is poor and indirectly explains why maternal mortality and morbidity is very high.

Medical Sciences » International Journal of Medical and Health Sciences Research » Month: 03-2017 Issue: 3

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The use of PowerPoint is widespread in classroom teaching, yet no studies exist that investigate how its use affects teacher sense of efficacy. Teacher sense of efficacy, understood as the teachers’ judgment of their capability to make differences in students’ learning, affects the effort teachers invest in teaching, the goals they set, and their level of aspiration. It has been found that highly efficacious teachers use a variety of teaching strategies and are more willing to integrate new technologies in their teaching practices. As the number of teachers who use presentation tools in their classroom increases, it would be valuable to know whether and how their use affects teacher sense of efficacy. This study expands the current literature on teacher sense of efficacy by investigating how the use of PowerPoint in the classroom relates to the construct. In order to measure whether PowerPoint use affects teacher sense of efficacy, we developed a self-administered questionnaire based on the Ohio State Teacher Efficacy Scale (OSTES) and adapted it to measure the effect of PowerPoint use in teacher efficacy. Twenty five in-service teachers who use PowerPoint quite often in their practices participated in this study. The results show that PowerPoint use has a general positive impact on teacher sense of efficacy.
Contribution/ Originality
This study contributes in the existing literature by investigating the relationship between use of PowerPoint in the classroom and teacher sense of efficacy. The results indicate that PowerPoint use has a general positive impact on teacher sense of efficacy.

Arts and Education » International Journal of Education and Practice » Month: 05-2017 Issue: 5

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Critical assessment on the correlation between public investment on road infrastructure and poverty was carried out, and therefore this research paper provides an in depth analyses of the linkage between road infrastructure and poverty, as well as, other relevant macro-economic variables used in the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS) as target indicators. Using primary and secondary data from 1994-2013, dynamic time series models were applied in elaborating the various factors with thrust on road infrastructure that may influence poverty in Malawi. Noting poverty reduction as priority of Malawi Government’s development agenda since the early 1990s, MGDS provides the country’s socioeconomic growth and development platforms. According to the latest 2010 Integrated Household Survey (IHS3), the majority of Malawians (50.7 percent) are languishing in abysmal poverty; this level is remotely far from the MDGS target of 27 percent by end 2015.  The country has a high inequality index (Gini 0.38) reflecting profound inequalities in access to assets, services and opportunities across the population. The distribution of the benefits of economic growth is also important for the alleviation of poverty. However, the distribution of income and wealth are highly skewed, with a majority of the population living in a state of absolute poverty. Based on NSO surveys (1998-2010), the poorest 20 percent of the population control only around 10 percent of national consumption implying inequality is not decreasing at all for long time. Hosts of factors explaining why poverty level continues to be rampant are: share of agricultural as a percent of GDP (proxy to agricultural production) and export as percent of GDP (proxy to exports). However, this paper findings show that there is significant (p=0.000<0.05) relationship between road network and poverty levels. Estimates from Granger Causality analysis indicate that for one percent increase in road network, a reduction of 7.2 percent in poverty level is perhaps achievable. Average inflation rate over the last 20 years stands at 22.41 percent, and this has an immense impact on poverty level since it dramatically reduces the purchasing power of the majority of the population. For a one percent increase in the inflation rate, there is a consequence of about 3.7 percent increase in the average poverty level. Average Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate is 4.7 percent annually with a minimum of -4.9 percent and a maximum of 10.2 percent in the last 20 years. Poverty level appears to significantly respond to (GDP). There is a 4.27 percent reduction in poverty level if a one percent GDP increment takes place as shown in the dynamic time series analysis. In fact, the declining of agricultural production for export and the growing gap in balance of payment (average Malawi Kwacha -498.92 billion or approximately US$-1.1 billion) would immensely influence GDP negatively and therefore poverty becomes abysmal as GDP growth plummets. In a nutshell, the findings confirm that in the long run economic growth is the key to alleviation of extreme poverty since it creates the resources to raise incomes. Given the importance of agriculture in contributing towards GDP in Malawi, the positive impact that this sector has on poverty is evident. For agriculture to meaningfully impact economic growth, road infrastructure plays a great role. Other pro-poor variables such as development roads and other investment on infrastructure are vital for economic growth and hence poverty alleviation.
Contribution/ Originality
This study is one of the few studies which have analyzed the influences of road infrastructure on poverty in Malawi. It also demonstrates how road infrastructure development enhances economic growth, which is the engine of combating poverty in Malawi. It, in fact, investigated the links between various economic growth variables, road infrastructure development and alleviation of poverty in Malawi, as a whole.

Economics » Journal of Social Economics Research » Month: 03-2017 Issue: 1

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Objective: This study was aimed at determining the external validity of the psychometric properties of a two-factor Collegiate Learning Assessment Performance Task Diagnostic Instrument (CLAPTDI) for use in assessing learning skills among predominantly black college students. The construct validity of the two factors CLAPTDI had been established in a previous study exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses.  Establishing the external validity involved conducting a multi-group test of the measurement instrument’s factorial scores equivalence across panels of lower class and upper class students from a predominantly black college.  Method: The study relied on a strict test of equivalence categorization by focusing on tests for invariance across the two groups with respect to factor loadings, intercepts, and error factor loadings by estimating the difference in chi-square goodness-of-fit statistic and comparative fit index (CFI). Sets of measurement and structural parameters were put to the test in a logically ordered and increasingly restrictive manner.  Results: The analyses found that the CLAPTDI scale’s factorial measurement structure was invariant across lower class and upper class PBC students. Conclusion: The collegiate learning assessment performance task diagnostic instrument with two latent factors and five observed variables is a valid measurement scale for assessing the level of analytic reasoning and problem solving learning among predominantly black college students.
Contribution/ Originality
The study is one of very few studies which have investigated the external validity of the psychometric properties of a two-factor Collegiate Learning Assessment Performance Task Diagnostic Instrument (CLAPTDI) for use in assessing learning skills among predominantly black college students.

Arts and Education » International Journal of Education and Practice » Month: 06-2017 Issue: 6