1,125 research outputs found
THE USE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AMONG DISTANCE LEARNING STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN, NIGERIA
The last decade has witnessed rapid growth in the introduction of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in distance learning. The Distance Learning Centre (DLC) of University of Ibadan, Nigeria has also improved its mode of service delivery in line with the global trend by including e-learning and e-materials. The Centre has embraced the use of various ICTs platforms in the form of Internet and other electronic materials in the delivery of most of its services to the students. This study therefore evaluates the preference, level of adoption and usage of these ICTs by the students. Simple random sampling technique was employed for administration of 100 copies of structured questionnaire to the students. The use of Internet ranked topmost among the ICTs platforms used by the students, although majority of the students are still faced with the challenge of inaccessibility and visit commercial cyber cafés to access Internet for their studies. About 47.9 percent of the students preferred hard copies of DLC course materials and 58.5 percent strongly disagree with the use of CD as DLC reading materials. Majority of the students also preferred to visit DLC office rather than obtaining information on its website. DLC therefore needs to embark on more awareness creation on the need for ICTs usage and strategy to increase adoption by its students.Keywords: Distance Learning, ICT, Electronic materials, Internet, Technology adoptio
THE USE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AMONG DISTANCE LEARNING STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN, NIGERIA
The last decade has witnessed rapid growth in the introduction of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in distance learning. The Distance Learning Centre (DLC) of University of Ibadan, Nigeria has also improved its mode of service delivery in line with the global trend by including e-learning and e-materials. The Centre has embraced the use of various ICTs platforms in the form of Internet and other electronic materials in the delivery of most of its services to the students. This study therefore evaluates the preference, level of adoption and usage of these ICTs by the students. Simple random sampling technique was employed for administration of 100 copies of structured questionnaire to the students. The use of Internet ranked topmost among the ICTs platforms used by the students, although majority of the students are still faced with the challenge of inaccessibility and visit commercial cyber cafés to access Internet for their studies. About 47.9 percent of the students preferred hard copies of DLC course materials and 58.5 percent strongly disagree with the use of CD as DLC reading materials. Majority of the students also preferred to visit DLC office rather than obtaining information on its website. DLC therefore needs to embark on more awareness creation on the need for ICTs usage and strategy to increase adoption by its students.Keywords: Distance Learning, ICT, Electronic materials, Internet, Technology adoptio
Tertiary conformational transition in sheep hemoglobins induced by reaction with 5,5´-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate) and by binding of inositol hexakisphosphate
We have determined the second-order reverse rate constant, kR, for the reaction of 5,5´-dithiobis(2-
nitrobenzoate) – DTNB – with sheep hemoglobins as a function of pH from values of the second-order forward
rate constant, kF, and the equilibrium constant, Kequ, at 25 °C: kR¼ kF Kequ. We demonstrate that (i) inositol
hexakisphosphate (inositol-P6) decreases kF and kR by increasing Krt, the r⇌t tertiary conformation transition
constant; (ii) the conformation favored for both the forward and reverse reactions is the r conformation. For
stripped hemoglobin we obtain from the kF data a t isomer population of 34.6% (±14) prior to reaction with
DTNB; from the kR data we calculate a t isomer population of 44.8% (±4) following reaction with DTNB. In the
presence of inositol-P6 the latter value is increased to 79.5% (±2). These results demonstrate that an allosteric
transition occurs on reaction with DTNB and on inositol-P6 binding
Transition of haemoglobin between two tertiary conformations: Inositol hexakisphosphate increases the transition constant and the affinity of sheep haemoglobin for 5,5′-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate)
The equilibrium constant (Kequ) for the reaction of 5,5′-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate) — DTNB — with the CysF9
[93]β sulphydryl group of the haemoglobins of the sheep decreases by about two orders of magnitude
between pH≈5.6 and 9.2: from a mean of 7.2±1 to a mean of 0.044±0.01. Calculations from the pH
dependence of Kequ show that in the r⇌t tertiary conformational transition of haemoglobin the t isomer
population is 50.7 and 61.8% for the major and minor haemoglobins, respectively. In the presence of inositol
hexakisphosphate (inositol-P6), Kequ increases for both haemoglobins by about an order of magnitude
through most of the pH range. The t isomer population also increases to 82.1 and 79.6% for the major and
minor haemoglobins, respectively. These results indicate that inositol-P6 increases the affinity of the
sulphydryl for DTNB by increasing the population of the t isomer. It is highly probable that a minimum fourstate
model that includes the r⇌t transition is required for a full understanding of haemoglobin function
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Effect of cold temperature storage on the quality attributes of pawpaw and guava leathers
The effect of cold temperature storage on the quality attributes of pawpaw and guava leathers was evaluated. Pawpaw leather was significantly higher than guava leather in calorific content, water activity, pH and total mould count throughout the duration of storage. However Guava leather was higher in texture. Sensory scores in relation to period of storage showed that Guava leather gave better result in overall acceptability at zero, one and two months of storage at 8 ± 10C. Guava leather also gave better sensory qualities in fruitiness, smell, chewiness, toughness, colour, and overall acceptability when varietal influence is considered. Guava leather is better accepted.
(African Journal of Biotechnology: 2002 1(2): 61-63
Periodontal Disease and Pregnancy Outcomes
An increasing number of studies are confirming an association between periodontal disease (PD) and adverse outcomes in pregnancy. PD places pregnant women at greater risk for preterm birth than alcohol consumption or smoking. This underscores the importance of offering dental screening to women who are pregnant or contemplating pregnancy and the need for physicians who provide obstetric care to be aware of the possible connection between poor dental health and poor pregnancy outcomes
Vocational Education and Security Challenges in Nigeria: The Way Forward.
Vocational education in Nigeria has gone through the trials and thrills of a developing concept in a developing society, from its glorious heights when it simply followed the traditional system in training the very few persons enrolled in the early stage, to the present, when lecture auditoriums are bursting with pressure from an ever-increasing enrolment. While it may be difficult to pass an absolute lecture, given facilities, class size and the environment of the modern vocational faculties and school, one indubitable fact is that standards have fallen and are continuing to fall. This paper explores the remote and immediate causes of this crash in standard of vocational training in Nigeria, identifies key factors leading to this condition, and recommends a wide range of measures through which vocational education in Nigeria can be revamped, restructured and restored to achieve its glory. Keywords: Vocational Education, Security Challenges, Way Forwards, Nigeri
Intercultural Communication in English Communication Courses
The drive for globalization of universities in Japan has affected the focus of many programs and courses at these universities. English courses in particular have seen their focus be moved more towards a communicative approach, often to the point where the title of the course itself is changed to reflect this. However, this shift in approach does not always align with what it means to communicate in an international or intercultural setting. This paper will share data collected from an English communication course utilizing participant developed mind maps to analyze student knowledge of intercultural communication. This analysis will show the effectiveness and alignment of one such course in enhancing student knowledge of communication. This data will be shared and suggestions for future research and course development are given
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