Art of Lithography: A New Pathway of the Challenges Facing the Printing Industry in Nigeria

The art of Lithography has remained the most versatile process of printing today in view the various setback been faced from other modes of printing processes within the printing industry in Nigeria over the years. Printing being a strategic means of mass communication which has made possible for mass reproduction of designs through the lithographic process, certain specific challenges has remained unresolved by the operators in the sector. In the light of major challenges such as inadequate printing facilities, poor infrastructures, depressed economy, high production cost, short printing runs, illiteracy ,poverty and  poor reading culture. Others include poor approach to printing and printing problems caused by bad plates, improper handling of plates and adulteration of development chemicals. This paper, however, sets out to investigate these challenges that has brought colossal setback to printing in Nigeria. A number of printed materials were content analyzed to prove the extent of degradation that printing production have suffered over time. Keywords: Lithography, Printing and Printing Industr

Assessment of Internet Service Quality and Customers’ Satisfaction in University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria

This study examined internet service quality and its effects on customers’ satisfaction in University of Ilorin, Nigeria. The objective of this study was to find out the awareness, technical difficulty and perception of internet users in the university. Questionnaire was the major instrument used to gather relevant data. Data were collected from respondents from ten faculties, including 60 academic staff, 40 non-academic staff and 100 students making a total of 200. Four research questions were formulated for the study and percentage was used to analyze the data. The results from the research indicated that: 91.6% of the academic staff, 95% of non- academic staff and 75.5% of students testified to the fact that internet services were available in the university.53.3% of the academic staff, 60% on non-academic staff and 85.7% of students also stated that inadequate or insufficient bandwidth and poor electricity were part of the challenges that hinders the effective usage of internet. Based on the problems encountered, 58.3% of academic staff, 52.5% of non- academic staff and 65% of students were not satisfied with the internet service quality they enjoyed.65% of academic staff, 60% of non- academic staff and 50% of students reacted positively to the fact that the quality of its service delivery would be granted if improved.Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended amongst others, that the university should improve on the quality of their interaction with the customers to alleviate their apprehensions about more bandwidth, internet training and constant electricity. These will allow for satisfaction and retention of customers and optimize their limited resources. Keywords: Assessment, Internet service quality, Customers’ satisfactio

Causes of Mass Failure in Senior School Certificate Mathematics Examinations As Viewed By Secondary School Teachers and Students in Ondo, Nigeria.

The study examined the causes of Mass failure in Senior School Certificate Mathematics examinations as viewed by Secondary School Teachers and Students in Ondo, Nigeria. The Senior Secondary School teachers and students were involved as population for the study. 100 teachers and 400 Senior Secondary two students were purposively selected. The descriptive survey research was adopted for the study. The sampled teachers and students responded to researchers-prepared questionnaire titled “causes of students’ mass failure in SSCE mathematics examinations”. The causes considered were those by: Teachers, Students, Parents, Society, Government, School and Examination bodies. A sample of the items in the questionnaire include: lack of frequent practice by students, Poor mathematical background, laziness on the part of students and teachers, among others. The response scales are Strongly Agree, Agree, Disagree and Strongly Disagree. Frequency counts and percentages were employed to answer the seven research questions generated. Findings indicated that 98% of teachers and 76% of students viewed laziness on the part of students as a major factor responsible for students’ mass failure in SSC Mathematics examinations while 97% of teachers and 79% of students viewed lack of frequent practice by students as another responsible factor for mass failure in Mathematics among others. The identified causes could be ameliorated through enhancing the teachers’ quality in terms of subject contents, providing them opportunities for further studies, attending seminars and workshops for update because their quality has significant role to play in teaching and learning of the subject. Keywords: Mass failure, Mathematics, Performance, examinations

ANTHROPOMETRIC AND PHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF INSTITUTION-BASED SECURITY PERSONNEL IN NIGERIA

This study investigated the anthropometric and physiological characteristics of institution-based security personnel in Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The population for the study were the male security personnel of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife and Wesley-Guild Hospital (WGH), Ilesa, Osun State. Sample comprised sixty middle-aged volunteers drawn from the Security Departments of the three institutions. Inclusion criteria for the study was passing a preliminary health screening for cardiovascular disease risk factors. Anthropometric parameters were measured in line with the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK)’s protocol. Participants’ weight and height were measured with an Electronic BMI scale and blood pressure was recorded using Aneroid sphygmomanometer. Participants’ VO2 max was estimated from the Cooper 12-minutes run/walk test. Data was recorded in a structured data sheet. Descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviations was used to analyse data. The results showed that the mean age of security personnel in the study was 41.7 ± 5.749, while their mean height and weight were 171.0 ± 7.353 and 69.2 ± 7.322 respectively. The mean of personnel’s waist and hip circumferences were 40.68 ± 3.968 and 46.68 ± 2.813 respectively. The mean of skinfolds (Ʃ4 Skf), percent body fat, waist-to-hip ratio, and BMI of security personnel were 50.03 ± 15.797, 22.37 ± 5.175, 0.87 ± 0.062 and 23.66 ± 2.386 respectively. Their mean resting heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and VO2 max were 63.77 ± 8.77, 119.42 ± 9.30, 80.17 ± 8.54 and 43.95 ± 43.95 respectively. The study concluded that institution-based security personnel are similar to the civilian population in terms of anthropometric and physiological characteristics.  Article visualizations

CHEMICAL COMPOSITIONS, ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY OF TIGERNUT (Cyperus esculentus) AND POTENTIAL HEALTH BENEFITS

Tiger nut (Cyperus esculentus L.) considered as an intrusive weed in most countries but taken as snack in Nigeria was analyzed for proximate and mineral compositions using standard analytical techniques. Antioxidant activity of the methanolic extract was measured using 2, 2-diphenyl-1- picryhydrazyl (DPPH), while the total phenolic content was determined according to Folin-Ciocalteu method. The results revealed that the three forms of the tuber (dry, raw and roasted) as consumed had % moisture ranging from (12.57-43.84); protein (1.32-2.24); fat (1.44-1.54); ash (3.34- 6.69); crude fibre (16.14-17.14); and carbohydrate (30.58-62.79). The samples were significantly high in Na, K and Ca. Na-K ratio was also found to be less than 1 suggesting its suitability in formulating diets for hypertensive patients. Antioxidant activity of the samples ranged from 3.72- 5.90; 5.22-9.72; 11.63-16.10; and 15.95-23.00 % inhibitions at different levels of concentrations while total phenolic content ranged from (806.7- 1150.7) micromole GAE/g. The results indicate that the edible tubers which are used for non-alcoholic local beverage formulation, in medicine and cosmetic industry can be utilized to ‘mop up’ and scavenge free-radicals generated by essential metabolic body reactions and environmental pollutants. It is hoped that addition of tiger nut as side dish and adjunct in traditional diets will probably alleviate the symptoms associated with neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases

EFFECTS OF AN 8-WEEK INTERMITTENT AEROBIC EXERCISE ON THE ELECTROCARDIOGRAM AND PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF INSTITUTIONAL SECURITY PERSONNEL IN NIGERIA

This study determined the effects of an 8-week intermittent aerobic exercise training on the resting electrocardiogram and physiological parameters of institutional security personnel in Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC). The study adopted a pretest-posttest-control group experimental design. The population for the study were male security personnel of OAUTHC, Ile-Ife. Forty middle-aged volunteers who met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to either of Intermittent Training Group, ITG (n = 20) or control (n = 20). A structured exercise training programme, Intermittent Exercise Training Programme was used to train the ITG for 8 weeks. Resting ECG was recorded pre and post-intervention with a 12-lead Electrocardiograph, weight and height were measured with an electronic BMI scale. Blood pressure was recorded before and after exercise sessions. Participants in ITG performed the 12-minutes run/walk test before and after the 8 weeks intervention. Borg’s rating of perceived exertion scale was used to gauge exercise intensity and a structured data sheet was used for recording data. Paired- sample t- Test statistics was used to analyse data. The results showed that intermittent aerobic exercise training neither produced significant effect on the resting ECG parameters in terms of intervals; RR- interval (t = -0.79; p > 0.05), P- wave duration (t = -0.64; p > 0.05), PR- interval (t = -0.08; p > 0.05), QRS- Complex (t = -0.99; p > 0.05) and QTC (t = -1.20; p > 0.05) nor axes P- Axis (t = -0.06; p > 0.05), QRS- Axis (t = 0.78; p > 0.05) and T- Axis (t = 0.60; p > 0.05). It however affected participants’ heart rate (t = 4.41; p < 0.05) and VO2 max (t = -11.25; p < 0.05). The study concluded that intermittent aerobic exercise training produced no significant effect on the resting ECG parameters but significantly reduced heart rate and increased VO2 max.  Article visualizations

Influence Of Social Studies Education On Students’ Response To Corrupt Practices

This study investigated the responses of Social Studies and non Social Studies students to corrupt practices in Nigeria. The sample consisted of 439 final year B.Ed. students of six selected tertiary institutions covering the four geo-political zones in Nigeria. The major instruments employed were an unstructured interview and a set of questionnaire whose items covered the following areas: giving and taking of bribes, fraudulent practices, election and examination mal-practices, and reporting of lost and found properties to the appropriate authorities. Frequency counts, percentages and T- test were used to analyze the data. The result revealed that there was no significant difference between the two groups in their tendency toward corrupt practices. One of the recommendations was the need to integrate citizenship education into the Social Studies curriculum at all levels of education. Anti – corruption clubs should be established in all schools to help in curbing corrupt tendencies of students.     &nbsp

Perceptions on the Utilization of Mobile Technologies for Learning among Postgraduate Students

This study determined the perceptions of the utilization of mobile technologies for learning among Postgraduate Students in Kwara State. The study adopted survey approach. The population for this study was made up of all the postgraduate students in Kwara State. Proportional sampling techniques were used to allocate a number of respondents in each school based on their estimated population using Israel Model. The instrument for data collection was an adapted questionnaire. Descriptive and Inferential statistics were used to answer the research question and test the stated hypotheses with the aid of stastistical product and service solution (SPSS) version 20.0 at 0.05 level of significant. The findings indicated that postgraduate students had positive perception of the utilization and ease of use of mobile technologies for learning. No significant difference exists in the postgraduate students’ perception of the utilization of mobile technologies for learning based on gender and the field of study. The study concluded that learning can be enhanced among postgraduates’ students if appropriate mobile technologies are deployed for learning. Therefore, postgraduate students are encouraged to deploy mobile technology for learning irrespective of their gender