Determinants of Knowledge and Use of Information Communication Technology at Eco-destinations in Old Oyo National Park, Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort and Lacampagne Tropicana in Nigeria

Information Communication Technology has become significant to the development and growth of modern tourism. This study aimed to examine the knowledge and use of information and communication at Old Oyo National Park, Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort and Lacampagne Tropicana by using structured questionnaire directed at fifty percent of the total members of staff at the sites. Data indicated that majority of the staff at Old Oyo National Park (82.9%), Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort (95%) and Lacampagne Tropicana (88.9%) were knowledgeable about the use of information and communication technology especially the use of internet and social media. The staff were also a little competent with the use of Information and Communication Technology at Old Oyo National Park (45.7%), Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort (50%) and Lacampagne Tropicana staff (44.4%). Furthermore, the socio-demographic characteristics of the staff has a significant relationship with their knowledge on the existence of Information Communication Technology at the sites. The management need to organize proper trainings for the staff on the use of Information and Communication Technology so as to improve satisfaction of tourists

System Dynamics Simulation of Selected Composite Landfill Liners for Leachate Containment

The disposal of wastes through landfiling is becoming increasingly acceptable worldwide. Its attendant leachate pollution is however a source of concern to the 21st century environmental engineering researchers. This paper therefore focuses on the application of system dynamics modeling technique in simulating the breakthrough times of selected composite liners in order to determine their effectiveness in leachate containment. Four (4) composite liners were studied viz: High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE); Geotextile and Geonet; Geosynthetic Clay Liner (GCL) and Compacted Clay Liner (CCL); and Silt and Sand. Governing equations coded in Visual Basic computer programming language based on the principles of system dynamics modeling was applied in the determination of retention abilities of the selected liners. Notable properties of the liners like Hydraulic Conductivity, Permeability, Porosity and Hydraulic Head were employed in model validation. Other inputs include the Thickness, Placement Slope and Insertion Depth of the liners. The interrelationship of the properties and breakthrough times was determined through simulation processes using STELLA 9.1.4 software.of the composite liners studied, HDPE-LDPE combination was found to be the most effective with the longest breakthrough time. The Geotextile-Geonet combination however has the highest leakage rate. The study therefore recommends the use HDPE-LDPE liner combination for use in landfill leachate retention. Keywords: system dynamics, leachate, landfill, composite liner, breakthrough tim

MANDATORY ADOPTION OF INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL REPORTING STANDARDS (IFRS) BY NIGERIAN LISTED BANKS: ANY IMPLICATION FOR VALUE RELEVANCE?

In January 2012 Nigeria adopted IFRS. Sequel to that adoption, the pressing question agitating the minds of researchers as well as other stakeholders in financial reporting is whether the mandatory adoption of IFRS has given rise to an enhanced value relevance (or quality) of financial information in Nigerian banks. To address this, we relied on the fundamental Ohlson (1995) model which has also been severally employed in prior researches. By means of criterion based sampling technique, we selected 13 out of the 21 listed commercial banks in Nigeria for our study. Our findings revealed that Book Value of Equity (BVE) and Earnings per Share (EPS) are positively associated with share price. We also observed that BVE is less associated with share price than EPS. We recommended inter alia that sustainable development of Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) can be boosted through credible financial information. When the integrity of the Financial Report is being threatened, investors (both local and international) are likely to shun or shrink from investing adequately in Nigerian Capital Marke

The Fear of COVID-19 Infection and Its Correlates with Clinical Practice among Nigerian Dentists

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic was not without its consequences like fear and effect on the economy and health care systems, with dentists being at a high risk of contracting the infection. Objectives: The study aimed to assess the fear and risk of contracting the disease among Nigerian dentists. It also assessed a self-reported economic impact of the outbreak of COVID-19 disease on dental practices in Nigeria. Methods: An online cross-sectional survey was conducted among Nigerian dentists. The survey link was forwarded on social media platforms of Nigerian dentists. The questionnaire inquired about fear/anxiety, self-reported effect on clinic income, adequacy of knowledge on COVID-19, and use of N95 facemask, among others. The statistical level was set at 5%.  Results: A total of 314 dentists (184 males and 130 females) within the age range of 22 to 63 years responded. The majority (214; 68.2%), were confident about their knowledge of the COVID-19 disease. Almost all the participants (298; 94.9%) entertained fears of contracting the disease through practice and transmission to family members, while 54.1% strongly agreed that theN95 mask should be worn routinely. However, all (100.0%) reported an economic impact of the pandemic on dental practice. Conclusion: The fear of contracting COVID-19 infection was high among dentists. Therefore, adequate and regular use of protective and preventive measures such as N95 face mask should be a priority among dentists. Attention should be paid to constant medical evaluation to those at risk. &nbsp

Long-term stability and optoelectronic performance enhancement of InAsP nanowires with an ultrathin InP passivation layer

The influence of nanowire (NW) surface states increases rapidly with the reduction of diameter and hence severely degrades the optoelectronic performance of narrow-diameter NWs. Surface passivation is therefore critical, but it is challenging to achieve long-term effective passivation without significantly affecting other qualities. Here, we demonstrate that an ultrathin InP passivation layer of 2–3 nm can effectively solve these challenges. For InAsP nanowires with small diameters of 30–40 nm, the ultrathin passivation layer reduces the surface recombination velocity by at least 70% and increases the charge carrier lifetime by a factor of 3. These improvements are maintained even after storing the samples in ambient atmosphere for over 3 years. This passivation also greatly improves the performance thermal tolerance of these thin NWs and extends their operating temperature from <150 K to room temperature. This study provides a new route toward high-performance room-temperature narrow-diameter NW devices with long-term stability

Factors Influencing Uptake of Prostate Cancer Screening among Adult Males in Iseyin LGA, Oyo State

Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the world. This study assessed factors influencing uptake of PCa screening at a popular town in Iseyin, Oyo State.Methods: Relevant information was obtained from 376 participants using pre-tested semi-structured questionnaires. Respondents were selected through multistage sampling technique Statistical tests such as Chisquare, Fisher's exact test and Student's T-test were performed to duly analyse data obtained.Results: Participants' mean age was 50.2 + 8.0 years with a larger (58. 5 %) proportion of men aged 50 and below. Overall summarized scores on poor knowledge and negative attitude were 42.8 % and 44.7 % respectively. Specific knowledge regarding location of prostate, risk factors and symptoms was as low as 21.0%, 26.3% and 37.2%, respectively. Barely 27.9 %, 19.9 % and 16.2 % knew prostate specific antigen test, digital rectal examination and ultrasound as PC screening techniques respectively. Previous uptake of screening was very low being 16.0 %. Individuals with poor knowledge and those who are non-professionals are 3 times (Odds Ratio – 0.295) and 2 times (Odds Ratio – 0.524) respectively less likely to do PCa screening compared with their other counterpartsConclusion: The study showed considerable awareness of prostate cancer. However, comprehensive knowledge of its symptoms and the screening methods was greatly lacking. The need is therefore indicated for an aggressive health promotion intervention designed to increase awareness on PCa screening at the community level. Keywords: prostate cancer, uptake, screening method