Health Implications of Feeding Habits as Perceived by Upper Basic Education Students in Ona-Ara Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria

Eating a healthy diet is the cornerstone of all round growth and development for infants, children and adolescents therefore; too much intake of foods that contain large amounts of saturated fats, sugars and salt, combined with a low intake of fruits, vegetables and cereal foods lead can result to health problems. This study examined health implications of feeding habits as perceived by upper basic education students in Ona-Ara Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria. The descriptive research design of the survey method was used for this study. The population used for the study comprised all upper basic education students (public mixed schools) in Ona-Ara Local Government, Oyo State. Multi-stage sampling technique, consisting of simple, proportionate and systematic sampling technique was used to select 439 respondents in upper basic education schools (public mixed schools) in Ona-Ara Local Government, Oyo State. Researcher-designed questionnaire validated by 3 experts drawn from the Department of Health Promotion and Environmental Health Education, University of Ilorin, Nigeria, was used for data collection. A reliability co-efficient of .84r was obtained through Split-half method using Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). Data collection was conducted by the researcher and three trained research assistants. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics of frequency counts and percentage for demographic information as well as inferential statistics of Chi-square (X2) to test the hypotheses at 0.05 alpha level. The findings of the study showed that: i.            Eating habits have significant influence on diseases as perceived by upper basic education students because calculated X2 value (70.05)  > critical value (12.59); ii.            Eating habits have significant influence on body weight as perceived by upper basic education students because calculated X2 value (68.05)  > critical value (12.59); and iii.            Eating habits have significant influence on body posture as perceived by upper basic education students because calculated X2 value (496.63) > critical value (12.59). The study concluded that eating habits have significant influence on diseases, body weight and body posture among upper basic education students in Ona-Ara Local Government, Oyo State. The findings implied that food intake can determine the overall wellbeing of the students, excessive intake and preference of some classes of food can lead to weight gain and intake of poor diet can result to bad posture. It was recommended that upper basic education students in Ona-Ara Local Government area of Oyo State should be given more enlightenment by health educators on diseases associated with poor feeding habits and proper orientation on exercises and food rich in calcium to avoid bad posture should be given to them. Keywords: eating habits, diseases, body weight and body posture

Conversion of lignocellulose from palm (Elaeis guineensis) fruit fibre and physic (Jatropha curcas) nut shell into bio-oil

Harmful gases are released into the atmosphere through burning of residues which is commonly practiced in Nigeria and can be attributed to climate change issues. Agricultural residues have the potentials to be used as energy and chemical source and meet its deficit in the country. This paper focuses on utilization of lignocellulosic materials obtained from two agricultural residues through renewable technology to produce bio-energy and chemical feedstock. The lignocellulosic materials were extracted from palm fruit (Elaeis guineensis) fibre and physic nut (Jatropha curcas) shell, and pyrolyzed under low temperature and pressure at various particle sizes. The main properties of solid (lignocellulosic) materials were tested and the bio-oil produced was analyzed using GC-MS. Results show proximate analyses (volatile, ash and fixed carbon contents) and ultimate analysis (carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, magnesium, phosphorus and zinc). The pH value of the bio-oil from both residues increased with increase in temperatures. The density, viscosity and calorific value of the palm and physic residue oil are 831.99 and 947.5 kg/m3, 0.695 and 1.58 cPa at room temperature, 22.33 and 14.169 kJ/g, respectively. Aromatics and other compounds are major dominant compounds in the palm fruit fibre oil which is characterized for bio-fuel production. Physic nut shell oil contains aromatic ethers, cyclic ethers, secondary amides and organic halogen compound which are important chemical feedstock. Conversion of these residues to useful products will alleviate the energy supply deficit, improve social and economic development, promote clean and healthy atmosphere of the nation and significantly contribute to global climate change mitigation

The seasonality of tuberculosis, sunlight, vitamin D, and household crowding.

BACKGROUND: Unlike other respiratory infections, tuberculosis diagnoses increase in summer. We performed an ecological analysis of this paradoxical seasonality in a Peruvian shantytown over 4 years. METHODS: Tuberculosis symptom-onset and diagnosis dates were recorded for 852 patients. Their tuberculosis-exposed cohabitants were tested for tuberculosis infection with the tuberculin skin test (n = 1389) and QuantiFERON assay (n = 576) and vitamin D concentrations (n = 195) quantified from randomly selected cohabitants. Crowding was calculated for all tuberculosis-affected households and daily sunlight records obtained. RESULTS: Fifty-seven percent of vitamin D measurements revealed deficiency (<50 nmol/L). Risk of deficiency was increased 2.0-fold by female sex (P < .001) and 1.4-fold by winter (P < .05). During the weeks following peak crowding and trough sunlight, there was a midwinter peak in vitamin D deficiency (P < .02). Peak vitamin D deficiency was followed 6 weeks later by a late-winter peak in tuberculin skin test positivity and 12 weeks after that by an early-summer peak in QuantiFERON positivity (both P < .04). Twelve weeks after peak QuantiFERON positivity, there was a midsummer peak in tuberculosis symptom onset (P < .05) followed after 3 weeks by a late-summer peak in tuberculosis diagnoses (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The intervals from midwinter peak crowding and trough sunlight to sequential peaks in vitamin D deficiency, tuberculosis infection, symptom onset, and diagnosis may explain the enigmatic late-summer peak in tuberculosis

Social Studies Education: An Imperative for the Promotion of Cultural Values for National Integration in Nigeria.

Nigeria is a nation of many ethnic groups with diverse cultures. Such cultures could be seen in the aspects of religion, languages, dressing, types of food consumed, marriages, housing, occupation and so on. The cultural values of the country have become a matter of concern since the development of any society is rooted in what the members of such a society cherished or frown at. For instance, the cultural values   which are cherished in the country are basically focused on enhancing human dignity. Such values include discipline, integrity, dignity of labour, social justice, religious tolerance, self-reliance and patriotism. These cultural values are clearly spelt out in the National Philosophy as a measure to ensure rapid integration of the nation. It is believed that any group of people that could not promote their values will surely have a problem of development. In Nigeria, Social Studies Education was conceived as a subject to help heal the wounds of the civil war, ethnicity, ethnocentrism, social and political problems, and to promote culture and national integration, co-operation, good citizenship, among others using the instrument of school(Ezegbe,1988). This paper therefore examines the concept of culture and cultural values, national integration, concept of Social Studies Education. It also highlighted the place of Social Studies Education in the promotion of cultural values and national integration. The paper concluded by stating that, Nigerian’s respect for each other’s cultural characteristics will foster national integration in the country. Recommendations were made with a view to making Nigerian cultural values to be properly imparted to the learners through Social Studies Education

Correlation Effects of Gender and Entry Qualifications on the Performance of Undergraduate Engineering Students in Universities

Enrollment into engineering disciplines in tertiary institutions has always been identified for gender bias, higher population favoring the masculine. However, reports on the standard ratio of this bias nor the issue of whether it has any significant impact on academic performance of engineering students (POES) scarcely exist. Meanwhile, Nigerian Universities still enjoy autonomy and their admission policies on entry requirements vary. Hence, this study examined the possible influence of gender and entry qualification (EQ) on POES. Data collected from 491 undergraduate engineering students from two universities were statistically analyzed. The study revealed female to male population ratio of 1:9. The result of statistical analysis showed that EQ has a significant effect on POES (p0.05). Therefore, a more critical priority must be given to entry qualification and not the gender of the students intending to study engineering during admission and screening. However, female students need to be more encourage since they can competitively perform as their male counterpart in engineering lest the profession becomes a male affair

Evaluation of some Heavy Metals in Soils along a Major Road in Ogbomoso, South West Nigeria

Evaluation of the concentration of soils metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, Zn, Mn, Cu, Fe, and Ni) from selected sites (Odo Oba, Sabo and General Areas) along a major road in Ogbomoso was made in comparison with control site, LAUTECH Campus (LC) based on contamination factor and pollution indices. The metal levels in the sites revealed that: General &gt; Sabo &gt; Odo Oba &gt; LC for the analyzed metals except Fe of which highest value was obtained in the control site. Contamination indices showed that Sabo and general were considerably polluted while Odo Oba was moderately polluted relative to control. The values of pollution level index obtained for these three sites (PLI &gt;1) indicates deterioration of site quality. Significant correlation between some of the metals (Pb, Cr and Ni) studied and average daily traffic volume showed that the contamination could be from automobile emissions. The accumulation of these metals in soil especially in the residential areas may add to the body burden of the residents. Further investigation is highly necessary to study the concentrations and health implications of these metals in residents of the linear settlements along this major road in Ogbomoso. Key words: Heavy metal, Traffic volume, Pollution, Soil, Ogbomos

Modification of A Locally Made Electric Crop Dryer

Physic nut is a biomaterial that litters villages during the seasonal period which requires effective drying for oil and bio-fuel production. However, the natural method of drying and the existing dryer are found ineffective due to prolonged drying time leading to poor quality control. Processing of dried physic nut is required to ensure preservation, availability throughout the year, easy shelling and extraction. The main objectives of this study were to improve on the design of an existing electric crop dryer with a view to optimize its efficiency, reduce the drying time and produce hygienic and quality dried physic nuts. The improvements on the design of the existing dryer were achieved by increasing the throughput on the capacity by improving the material selection for the various key component parts. An adequate size of electrical heating element with thermo-sensor which regulates the drying temperature and a centrifugal fan to blow hot air from the heat supply unit to the drying chamber were installed in the dryer. The results of the improvements carried out on the design of this dryer show that maintenance cost is reduced, since the fan is the only moving part which may rarely be faulty, drying time of physic nut was reduced, operation of the dryer does not require any specialization, the dryer is safer to operate, the energy required for loading and unloading have reduced since the trays provided are removable. Higher production rate and quality of dried physic nuts are achieved because drying temperature and air velocity can be regulated. The throughput capacity, efficiency and drying capacity of the modified crop dryer are 20 kg/batch, 79.84 % and 0.73 kg/h, respectively. This dryer is recommended for medium and large scale processors and dried products can be used for further application. Keywords: physic nut, electric crop dryer, improvement on the existing design, temperature, drying  time