Effects of Instructional Strategies on the Trainee Teachers’ Learning Outcome in Practical Teaching Skills

This study investigated the effects of three types of microteaching modes as strategies for enhancing trainee teachers’ learning outcomes in questioning, communication and stimulus variation skills. The study adopted pretest-posttest, control group, quasi-experimental design with 4x3 factorial matrix.  One hundred and thirty-five trainee teachers from three Colleges of Education participated in the study. Instruments used were Practical Teaching Skills Rating Scale and Learning Styles Self-Assessment Inventory.  Data were analyzed using Analysis of Covariance, while Sidak post hoc analysis was used to explain the significant difference.  There was significant main effect of instructional strategies on trainee teachers’ practical teaching skills achievement in microteaching.  However, there was no significant main effect of learning style on trainee teachers’ and no significant interaction effect of instructional strategy and learning style on students’ practical skills achievement in microteaching.  The perceptual mode instructional strategy was effective in enhancing trainee teachers’ practical teaching skills achievements in microteaching.  Keywords: Learning outcome, perceptual mode, audio mode, symbolic mode, conventional mode, instructional strategy, learning styl

Drug prescription/blood pressure control in patients on monotherapy attending a tertiary hospital in Nigeria

Background: Current treatment guidelines for treatment of hypertension stipulate the use of diuretics or calcium channel blockers (CCBs) as first-line treatment. Although, many studies have been carried out to study prescription pattern and blood pressure (BP) control in this region none has independently compared the effect of different antihypertensive drug classes given as monotherapy on BP control. This study compares the BP lowering efficacy of different classes of antihypertensive drugs given as monotherapy in black hypertensive patients with or without complications.Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study evaluated the influence of antihypertensive prescription on BP controls among consecutive patients present on clinic days from November 2011 to April 2012. Patients were treated with either angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, angiotensin receptor blocker, beta-blocker, CCB, centrally acting adrenergic drug or diuretic. The primary outcome was BP reading <140/90 mmHg in patients without complication or <130/80 mmHg in patients with complication.Results: Of 264 patients, 228 patients received one drug whereas 36 received no drug. More than half of those on non-pharmacological intervention had good BP control (n=21), patients on diuretic (28.8%) had a significantly higher BP control (p=0.014) than those on other classes of drugs. Only 58% of the patients had good BP control. Diastolic BP reduced with an increase in age.Conclusions: Inthis study, diuretics significantly reduced BP compared with other antihypertensive class. Although clinical trials also suggest the use of CCB as first‑line treatment, cost considerations are necessary

An Assessment of Wetland Loss in Lagos Metropolis, Nigeria

Wetlands are a very important subsystem of the general ecosystem as they play vital roles in the sustenance of both the surface and groundwater resources of the earth. However, much of the world’s wetlands have been lost due to series of human activities which gradually cause the degradation of this distinct element of ecosystem. The foundation of this problem is based on public perception of wetlands as unproductive, unhealthy lands, full of disease carrying insects and reptiles such as snakes and crocodiles. Therefore, this study assessed the loss of wetlands in Lagos metropolis. Questionnaires were administered on 75 Estate Surveyors and Valuers located within the study area and 76% were successfully retrieved. Also, 20 questionnaires were administered on conservation officials while 50% were retrieved. Data collected was collated and anlysed using descriptive statistics and relative importance index (RII). The study revealed that wetlands in Lagos Metropolis are habitats for fishes, source of water supply, help in sustaining the food chain of various wetland animals and are inevitably useful in maintaining the integrity of the Lagos coastline. The study further revealed urbanisation as a major factor responsible for the loss and degradation of wetlands in Lagos. Construction activities such as sand-filling, converting and reclaiming wetlands for the purpose of housing construction and infrastructural development contribute to wetland loss in Lagos metropolis. The study therefore concluded that efforts should be geared towards giving this natural ecosystem its due consideration when taking economic decision that will impact on it. Keywords: Environment, Lagos Metropolis, Wetland Loss, Wetland Valuation, Nigeri

TOTAL DISSOLVED INORGANIC CARBON AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SURFACE MICROLAYER AND UPPER MIXED LAYER WATER FROM LAGOS LAGOON, NIGERIA

The carbonate and physicochemical characteristics of the surface microlayer and upper mixed layer of a tropical coastal lagoon were investigated. Data on the physicochemical parameters generally indicated a moderately polluted ecosystem. The influence of the ocean environment over the Lagoon system was evident by elevated salinity levels. The mean total dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) for the surface microlayer (SML) and subsurface water (SSW) samples were 2626.6 and 2550.9 μmol kg-1 SW respectively. The dominant inorganic form of DIC in the lagoon water samples was HCO3- with a calculated average abundance >95.4% in the SML and >94% in the SSW. The bicarbonate species derived abundance varied between 1.6% (SML) and 8.4% (SSW), while the aqueous carbon dioxide were generally low in percentages ranging from 0.4 in SSW to 1.5 in SML water samples. In general, the occurrence of the carbonate species was in the order HCO3- > CO32- > CO2. Results showed that total alkalinity (AT) was relatively greater than the DIC. Long term monitoring studies in the coastal lagoon systems is needed to understand the coastal water chemistry and pollution status

Development and Evaluation of New Indices for Sediment-associated Contaminants.

New indices (modified hazard quotient, mHQ and ecological contamination index, ECI) are developed for evaluating sediment-associated heavy metals contamination. In evaluating the proposed indices, the concentration and chemical fractionation of five heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni and Pb) determined in benthic sediments from five tropical ecosystems off the Bight of Bonny were used to assess the degree of contamination and estimate the extent of anthropogenic inputs from industrial activities into these ecosystems. The analysis shows that the mean concentrations (mg/kg, dw) of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni and Pb vary from 4.33 – 5.67, 11.12 – 28.52, 30.26 – 43.72, 2.02 – 2.60 and 162.0 – 190.37, respectively. An important observation is that the mean metal levels during the wet and dry seasons did not show significant variability at all sites. The spatial distribution and severity of sediment-associated contamination by heavy metals based on the developed indices (mHQ and ECI) are in the descending sequence: Cd>Pb>Cu>Cr>Ni. Hence, the observed trend is in good agreement with existing pollution indices. Contamination severity index, mean hazard quotients and modified risk assessment code are also used to identify the pollution hotspots, which reflect medium risk contamination ecological systems. Aquatic pollution indicators (potential contamination index, ECI, hazard quotients, and mHQ) reveal significant anthropogenic contamination of Cd and Pb in the sediments, while Cr, Cu and Ni show relatively low degree of contamination. PCI generally follows the sequence Cd>Pb>Cu>Cr>Ni. Principal component analysis (PCA) and factor analysis indicate that heavy metals in the benthic sediments originate mostly from anthropogenic sources

Yoruba Contemporary Gele: A Stylistic Appraisal

Gele, pronounced gay-lay, is simply head covering, typified and rooted in feminine fashion of the Yoruba, home and abroad. It is the ultimate apparel adorned by the female folks of all age, class and status; giving acclaimed quintessential top notch appeal, deserving of a true Yoruba dress. In other words, clothing accessories conglomerating costume, footwear, makeup and hairstyle is incongruous without gele particularly in the Yoruba milieu. Gele congruity in female dressing is unequivocably material to recent proclivity and self expressions as observed in generation and regenerations of well over thirty stylish gele ideas and innovations. In view of the latter, this paper examines gele stylistic inclination; using Ibadan as its case in point, being the largest city state in modern Yoruba history. The methodology adopted was triangular approaches of participatory field investigation, online survey and artistic visualisation. Gele adherents and stylists of Ibadan metropolis were physically interviewed, figures sourced virtually and appraised artistically. Eight gele styles were shortlisted and stylistically visualised. Findings revealed dynamism in prevailing gele styles, with apparent classic and comely finesse on beholders. Consequently, this paper hopes it finding will help promotes gele styling among teeming youths locally and globally; provoking studies on the subject matter

Erosion-corrosion behaviour of dual phase medium carbon steel using a designed slurry pot

Abstract: A slurry pot has been designed, fabricated and evaluated for erosion-corrosion investigations. A variable voltage controller was used to vary the input voltage into the one-horse-power motor that controls the slurry pot. The actual speed of the slurry pot shaft was also calibrated using a non-contact digital tachometer. Voltages of 100 and 200 V resulted in rotational speeds of 1100 and 2100 rpm, respectively employed for the subsequent erosion-corrosion tests. Erosion-corrosion of a dual-phase carbon steel was investigated with the aid of the slurry pot in aerated 3.5 wt.% NaCl environments. The sample was normalised at 850 oC and then cooled in air to room temperature. Prior to the test, the normalised samples were heated to 700, 725, 750, 775, 800 and 825 oC, respectively and quenched in oil. Erosion-corrosion rates of between 0.027 to 1.26 g/cm2.hr at 1100 rpm and 0.57 to 1.9 g/cm2.hr at 2100 rpm were recorded. It was also observed that as hardness increased there was reduction in weight loss of the heat treated alloy