Quality assurances practices, training needs and international students mobility: analysing the nexuses

The role of education’s quality in determining international students’ choice of study destination was discussed by several studies. However, it only seems to have gained a huge prominence recently by constituting a theme in the quality management field involving empirical studies.In spite of such prominence the theme does not seems to provide sufficient empirical evidence forging a nexus between quality assurance practices, training needs and international student’s mobility.This research work therefore attempts to fill this gap by examining how the search for quality education and training needs satisfaction play role in international student’s mobility. Six dimensions of quality assurance in education were identified through extensive literature reviewed, three dimensions of training needs were equally revealed by the literature. Nine hypotheses were thus developed using these dimensions with the view to explain the relationship among the variables involved. The primary data for this study was obtained through a cross-sectional survey of International students in University Utara Malaysia with the aid of questionnaires, where a total of 150 respondents were selected randomly.Partial Least Squares (PLS) method was adopted in analysing the collected data with smartPLS 2.0 to determine the relationship involved.The result supported the relationship between organizational needs, Tangibility of facilities, Nature of service delivery and international student’s mobility, while the other six relationships were not supported

Factors associated with seizure severity among children with epilepsy in Northern Nigeria

Objective: To describe how seizure severity in children with epilepsy may be affected by certain socio-demographic and clinical variablesDesign: A cross-sectional studySetting: At the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, NigeriaParticipants: Sixty children and adolescents who were being followed up for seizure disorder at the child neurology clinicIntervention: Information on socio-demographic characteristics was obtained with a questionnaire, details of neuro-logical co-morbidities were extracted from the participants’ records, and seizure severity was assessed with the Na-tional Hospital Seizure Severity Score 3 tool.Main Outcome Measure: Chi-square test was used to establish the relationship between categorical variables, while the Independent t-test was used in describing the differences between means. Simple linear regression was calculated to assess the predictability of seizure severity.Result: The median age was ten years (IQR = 6-13 years), with a male dominance (1.5:1). The Seizure Severity Score (SSS) ranged between 3 and 24 units, with a mean of 12.22 ± 4.29 units. The only characteristic that had a significant association with SSS on bivariate analysis was the “presence of co-morbidities” (p=0.019). A simple linear regression revealed that the presence of a neurological co-morbidity predicted an increase in the SSS by 2.67 units. [R2 = 0.091, F (1, 58)= 5.837, p = 0.019. ꞵ = 2.67, t= 2.42, p= 0.019.]Conclusion: This study shows that neurological co-morbidities predict worsening seizure severity. This knowledge may influence prognostication and the charting of a treatment trajectory

Influence of Entry Grades in Mathematics and Principles of Accounting on Students Performance in Financial Accounting in Nasarawa State Colleges of Education Akwanga, Nigeria

This study examines the influence of entry grades in mathematics and principles of accounting on students’ performance in financial accounting in Nasarawa state Colleges of Education Akwanga.  The study had eight objectives and eight null hypotheses.  Developmental research design was adopted for the study. In the test of null hypotheses, documentary records (students’ performance in financial accounting and O’L grades in accounting and mathematics) of all the 115 NCE II Business Education students in the 2011/2012 academic session were used.  Logistic regression was employed to test null hypotheses one to three, while t-test was used to test null hypotheses four to eight. All the hypotheses were tested at significance level of 0.05.  The results of the test revealed among others that entry grades in mathematics and principles of accounting have significant impact on students’ performance in financial accounting. Hence the researcher recommended that credit grades in mathematics and accounting should be emphasized as one of the entry requirements for students opting for business education in tertiary institutions in Nigeria.  This will assist to enhance students’ performance in financial accounting at tertiary institutions. Keywords: Entry grades, Mathematics, Principles of Accounting, Financial Accounting, Performanc

Experiential Analysis of Awareness and Adoption of E-Extension Among Poultry Farmers in Gombe State, Nigeria

The study assessed the e-extension awareness and adoption among poultry farmers in Gombe state, Nigeria. The study had two objectives, two research questions and two null hypotheses. Survey design was adopted for the study. The population of the study was 798 registered poultry farmers under Poultry Farmers Association of Nigeria Gombe state. Proportional sampling technique was used to select 240 poultry farmers for the study. The instrument for data collection was a questionnaire. The instrument was administered by researcher assisted by 3 research assisted using direct contact. The data collected were analyzed using mean scores to answer the research questions. ANOVA was used to test the null hypotheses at the significance level of 0.05. The study revealed that poultry farmers are aware and also adopt poultry farming technologies through e-extension programme in Gombe State. It was concluded that e-extension facilities significantly contributed on awareness, adoption and effectiveness among poultry farmers in Gombe state. It was recommended among others that facilities for e-extension programme should be use effectively in disseminating new techniques, skills and innovations in poultry farming. Keywords: Awareness, Adoption, E-Extension, Poultry, Farmers DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/10-2-01 Publication date: January 31st 202

Re-Examination of the Impact of Unemployment on Economic Growth of Nigeria: An Econometric Approach

The study has examined the impact of unemployment on economic growth of Nigeria using time series data between 1982 and 2014. Secondary data were sourced from Central Bank Statistical Bulletin. An exploratory research design was conducted using OLS, Phillips-Perron unit root test and Pair-wise Granger causality test. The major objective of this paper is to analyse the impact as well as direction of causality between unemployment and economic growth in Nigeria. The result of the OLS shows a negative relationship between unemployment and real GDP proxy for economic growth which is in line with Okun’s law. Also, granger causality test shows absence of causality between the unemployment and Nigerian economic growth. Government expenditure and capacity utilization that are incorporated in the model portrays positive relationship with economic growth. The existence of a negative relationship between unemployment and economic growth necessitates the need for government to introduce programs and policies that will create job opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths in Nigeria. The study also recommends provision of skills acquisition centres and transformation of the educational system so that youths will be job creators rather than job seekers. Keywords: Unemployment, Economic growth, Granger causality, Okun’s law and OLS

AN EXPLORATION STUDY ON AVAILABILITY, ACCESSIBILITY AND UTILIZATION OF INTERNET RESOURCE OF POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS IN BUSINESS EDUCATION IN AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY ZARIA

ABSTRAC

Parochial political culture and the squabbles for national agenda setting in Nigeria: A theoretical overview

The setting of agenda is the first and critical step in the policy cycle, outlining key issues that attract government attention. Which has a vital impact on their policy process 's entire trajectory. Activities in this initial phase will decide if the government can fix a problem or abandon it at a later point. However, in Nigeria the type of political culture practiced has invariably accounted for lack of interest and commitment on the part of the people to setting national agenda. This is because Nigeria is one of the world's most divided nations, with a very sharp dichotomy primarily along religious and ethnic lines that overlap. These lines of demarcations continue to form and influence political action in the country where most Nigerians think of themselves as Nigerians in some way, but their ethnic identity matters more as a source of pride and more importantly as a source of government policy likes and dislikes. This paper argued that Nigerians' lack of emotional attachment to the national agenda has denied the country a sustainable national development. The leaders capitalize on the parochial attitudes of the citizen toward national agenda to deny the country a systemic and sustainable development where instead of pursuing development policy goals they are busy amassing wealth for their personal benefit, and this accounts for the high level of corruption, ineptitude and lack of political direction that has hindered the growth and development of the country. With over reliance on secondary data obtained through content analysis the paper argues that in order to achieve Nigeria’s developmental objectives there is a strong need for a deep mental change among the citizens so as to do away with vices such as ethnicity and regionalism that are currently taken a toll on the country’s drive toward maturity

Effects of speed, heart rate, lactate and uric acid on the performance of Arabian horses during a 120-Km endurance race

Speed, heart rate, lactate and uric acid alterations led to reduced performance and hamper the health status of endurance horses. The aim of this study was to investigate on the effects of speed, heart rate, lactate and uric acid on the performance of Arabian horses during a 120 km endurance race. One hundred and eighty four Arabian endurance horses were physically examined and blood samples were collected post-race. After physical examination, the metabolic disordered (MD; n=130) and successfully completed (SC; n = 54) endurance horses were recognized. T-test was used for the analysis. The mean values of speed, heart rate, lactate and uric acid were significantly different (P<0.0001) between the MD and SC endurance horses. In conclusion, alterations in speed, heart rate, blood lactate and uric acid led to poor performance and encumbered the health status of endurance horses. Speed, heart rate, blood lactate and uric acid could be used to appraise performance and health status in endurance horses during training and endurance events

Comparative effectiveness of daptomycin versus vancomycin among patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infections: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis

Background In the treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infections (BSIs), vancomycin stands as the prevalent therapeutic agent. Daptomycin remains an alternative antibiotic to treat MRSA BSIs in cases where vancomycin proves ineffective. However, studies have conflicted on whether daptomycin is more effective than vancomycin among patients with MRSA BSI. Objective To compare the effectiveness of daptomycin and vancomycin for the prevention of mortality among adult patients with MRSA BSI. Methods Systematic searches of databases were performed, including Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. The Newcastle Ottawa Scale (NOS) and Revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2) were used to assess the quality of individual observational and randomized control studies, respectively. Pooled odd ratios were calculated using random effects models. Results Twenty studies were included based on a priori set inclusion and exclusion criteria. Daptomycin treatment was associated with non-significant lower mortality odds, compared to vancomycin treatment (OR = 0.81; 95% CI, 0.62, 1.06). Sub-analyses based on the time patients were switched from another anti-MRSA treatment to daptomycin demonstrated that switching to daptomycin within 3 or 5 days was significantly associated with 55% and 45% decreased odds of all-cause mortality, respectively. However, switching to daptomycin any time after five days of treatment was not significantly associated with lower odds of mortality. Stratified analysis based on vancomycin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) revealed that daptomycin treatment among patients infected with MRSA strains with MIC >= 1 mg/L was significantly associated with 40% lower odds of mortality compared to vancomycin treatment. Conclusion Compared with vancomycin, an early switch from vancomycin to daptomycin was significantly associated with lower odds of mortality. In contrast, switching to daptomycin at any time only showed a trend towards reduced mortality, with a non-significant association. Therefore, the efficacy of early daptomycin use over vancomycin against mortality among MRSA BSIs patients may add evidence to the existing literature in support of switching to daptomycin early over remaining on vancomycin. More randomized and prospective studies are needed to assess this association