271 research outputs found
Ophthalmic disorders among students of School for the Deaf
Aim: This study aimed at determining the prevalence and pattern of ophthalmic disorders amongstudents of School for the Deaf, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.Methodology: This is a cross sectional descriptive study was conducted in October, 2011 aspart of activities marking the Annual Physicians’ week of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA),Ondo State. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Ethical Review Committee of FederalMedical Centre, Owo prior to commencement of this study. The permission of the SchoolAuthority was also obtained before the commencement of this study. The respondents wereselected by simple random sampling technique. All enrolled participants were interviewed withthe aid of the study instrument (questionnaire) by the authors and interpreters (school teachers).Results: The respondents comprised of 91(56.9%) Males and 69 Females (43.1%). Nearly all therespondents;158(98.8%) were deaf and dumb. Most respondents; 116(72.5%) had ocularexamination in the past. Few respondents; 118(73.75%) had ophthalmic disorder. The commonest ophthalmic disorder was refractive error which was found in 16 respondents(38.1%). Myopia was diagnosed in 9 respondents.CONCLUSION: Most of the respondents were deaf and dumb. Few respondents hadophthalmic disorder. The commonest ophthalmic disorder was refractive error. Myopia was themost predominant refractive error. There is need for periodic ocular screening and treatment atthe School for the Deaf.
Optimization of enzymatic digestibility of sodium hydroxide- hydrogen peroxide oxidative pretreated siam weed for reducing sugar production
This study evaluated the enzymatic conversion of alkaline peroxide oxidative pretreatment of an invasive lignocellulosic biomass (siam weed) to reducing sugar, amenable to further microbial effects at the downstream processing. Using a statistical design of experiments approach (response surface methodology), optimum pretreatment conditions of 43.7 oC, 9.3 h, and 0.4% H2O2 , and enzymatic hydrolysis conditions of 25 FPU cellulase/g treated biomass, 50 oC hydrolysis temperature, 2% biomass loading, and 72 h hydrolysis period, 391.3 mg/g reducing sugar yield was achieved and validated. At the optimized pretreatment and enzymatic conditions, the conversion of treated biomass to untreated biomass was about a 6-fold increase
A MODELLING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WORK SATISFACTION AND FACULTY PERFORMANCE IN THE NIGERIAN PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES
Given the pivotal role that academics play in determining the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of educational sector of the economy, coupled with the constant mobility of these highly skilled persons from one University to another, it is important to understand what motivates them, and the extent to which the University environment and other contextual variables affect their performances. Thus, the paper utilizes survey data collected from 558 faculties of selected private Universities in the Southwest Nigeria to find out the factors that will determine the work satisfaction of faculties and their impact on academic excellence, whether faculties leave based on their dissatisfaction with these factors. Structural Equation Model (SEM) was used to analyze the relationships between the dependent and the independent variables. The results showed close association between the tested variables. The study stood as an eye opener to the management to ensure that existing benefits for academic staff are fairly, justly and competitively allocated to them as this affect their level of commitment and overall performance. Thus, we concluded that salary, package, organizational policies, work condition, social context of the job, as it relates to academic autonomy, relationship with academic colleagues, participation in decision making, promotional opportunities, etc will have positive effects on faculty’s commitment to their academic activities and subsequently impact on their performances
Impact of Core Values on Motivating Future Employees: An Empirical Investigation of University Undergraduate
This paper examines the roles that core values can play in helping to moderate extrinsic and intrinsic motivating factors in future employees. Using a sample of students of the Departments of Accounting, Business and Economics from a private University in Nigeria, the results show a significant difference in the level of extrinsic motivation among the students but no significant difference was observed in the intrinsic motivating factors. Furthermore, accounting students were found to be more motivated extrinsically and intrinsically. These results are not consistent with prior research evidence but are ascribed to the paradigm shift in the curriculum of the private University with special emphasis on the teaching of a set of core values. Finally, this study identifies the implications of the new evidence on recruitment and retention policies of organization
CONSTRUCTION AND PERFORMANCE TESTS OF A pH METER FOR PHYSICO-CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION
This paper reportedly demonstrated the successful construction of a pH-meter which uses microcontroller based in measuring solutions of water and different samples. It is a versatile system, and by simply replacing the sensors and making some changes within the computer code, the system can be used to measure the acidity and alkalinity of different solution samples. The standard deviation and the correlation coefficient of these results show high linearity of the constructed device. Buffers 4, 7, 9 and 10 were used to calibrate both pH meters. The results were reproducible being displayed on a LCD. Paired sample correlation reveals that the relationship between the fabricated and imported pH meters was significantly relevant (P=0.000<0.05), has a very strong relationship and a positive correlation of 0.992. This implies that the fabricated and imported pH meters have very close performance
A Modelling Relationship between Firm Strategic Advantages and Organizational Edge
The paper show the relationship between firm-specific-advantages (FSA) and how these can aid gaining an organization’s competitive edge in the present turbulent business environment. These firm specific advantages FSAs include Human Capital, Organization Culture, and Organization Structure (Verbeke 2009) and how these can lead towards organizational edge, and to provide a conceptual framework for the analysis of human capital management in learning organizations. Discourse on competitive advantage is of wide prevalence, clear definitions are rare and it is often used interchangeably with concepts like distinctive competence (Day and Wensley, 1988). Advantage is a relative concept (Hu, 1995; Kay, 1993), only meaningful when compared to another entity or set of entities. A competitive advantage, then, is an advantage one firm has over a competitor or group of competitors in a given market, strategic group or industry (Kay, 1993) and this Firm-Specific Advantages is discussed in this paper. Keywords: Human Capital, Competitive Edge, Organization culture, Organization structur
Quality assessment of Sandcrete blocks in Ibadan – A review
Sandcrete blocks have been widely used for modern building construction in Nigeria; however cases of incessant building collapse are rampant. The usage of substandard sandcrete blocks is a contributing factor. This research was carried out to assess the engineering properties of sandcrete blocks produced in Ibadan and its environs. Two blocks each of size 450 x 225 x 225mm were purchased from selected block industries at eight sampled locations within the study area. Few units of blocks (450 x 225 x 225mm) conforming to the Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS 87: 2007) were also produced to serve as control samples. The 28th day dry compressive strength test result obtained for the sampled blocks ranges between 0.39-2.34 N/mm2. For the control block samples, the average 28th day dry compressive strength of the three tested blocks was 3.02 N/mm2. Conclusively, it was observed that the sandcrete blocks produced in major parts of Ibadan were of low quality and substandard; while the control samples were of adequate strength
A Modelling Relationship between Firm Strategic Advantages and Organizational Edge
The paper show the relationship between firm-specific-advantages (FSA) and how these can aid gaining an
organization’s competitive edge in the present turbulent business environment. These firm specific advantages
FSAs include Human Capital, Organization Culture, and Organization Structure (Verbeke 2009) and how these
can lead towards organizational edge, and to provide a conceptual framework for the analysis of human capital
management in learning organizations. Discourse on competitive advantage is of wide prevalence, clear definitions
are rare and it is often used interchangeably with concepts like distinctive competence (Day and Wensley, 1988).
Advantage is a relative concept (Hu, 1995; Kay, 1993), only meaningful when compared to another entity or set
of entities. A competitive advantage, then, is an advantage one firm has over a competitor or group of competitors
in a given market, strategic group or industry (Kay, 1993) and this Firm-Specific Advantages is discussed in this
paper
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