From Welfare to What?: The Limitations of Low-Income Work

The premise of the welfare law enacted by Congress is that people living in poverty could vastly improve their economic status if only they were employed. The author argues that economic security for welfare recipients will not be realized simply by increasing the labor-force attachment. Home health aides comprise an occupation that could absorb many of the large pool of workers expected to join the labor market because demand for their services is high and barriers to entry are low. However, as this survey shows, the home health field offers limited promise to welfare recipients because, significantly for women rolling off welfare, it is among the increasing number ofjobs in the economy that offer low wages and few benefits

Negotiating societal crises through eschatological narratives in Yoruba gospel music: Notes from evangelist J. A. Adelakun’s “Amona Tete Maa Bo”

Scholars have discussed how gospel music offers a framework for responding to the religious, social, and economic experiences of people in the society. Beyond performing religious and evangelistic purposes, how gospel music illuminates societal crises–politics and ecology–is yet to be known. This study examines the role of gospel music as a tool to facilitate religious experience while articulating social concerns. Specifically, it discusses the approaches employed by Yoruba gospel musicians in evoking spirituality in their discourse on societal problems. Reference is made to the musical performance of a popular Yoruba gospel music album titled “Amona Tete Maa bo” by Evangelist J.A. Adelakun which was accessed on YouTube. Further information is gathered from other internet sites including blogs, social media as well as periodicals which provided the secondary sources of data for the study. Through textual and musical analyses of the first and longest track in the album, and relying on critical discourses from musicology, religion and cultural studies, this paper demonstrates how gospel musicians deploy musical and theological approaches to reference and negotiate their social, political and environmental ‘salvation’ through eschatological narrative. The article explains the extent to which these approaches in gospel music and by extension Yoruba gospel musicians are evocative of the general spiritual dimension to almost every social, political and ecological crisis in Africa

Comparative Study of Variola and Varicella in Nigeria

1. Variola and varicella have been known for centuries in Nigeria, though not differentiated as separate entities. 2. Variolisation was practised by some of the tribes. 3. Isolation in the bush far from human dwellings is the general rule observed by most of the tribes. Cases are treated only by the smallpox priest or by someone who has had a previous attack. The same applies to handling of corpses, which are invariably denied burial rites. 4. Difficulties in diagnosis may be met with not only in relation to diseases like typhoid, influenza, pneumonia, measles, but also in relation to diseases like malaria, yellow fever and papular syphilides, which are common. 5. Stress is laid on the careful examination of all skin rashes in the Negro, and the isolation of any doubtful case. 6. The presence of a dark pigmented centre in variola papules is of valuable diagnostic importance when seen. 7. Variola and varicella are diseases of the hot months when people are least likely to crowd together. Fly prevalence, increased facilities for communication between neighbouring villages, aerial convection, and the effect of heat and sunlight on vaccine lymph and vaccination during the hot season are responsible factors for this seasonal incidence. 8. The incidence of variola is higher in African males than females. An even higher incidence of varicella in males is observed. This is due to a greater measure of natural immunity to both diseases in African women than is enjoyed by the men. 9. Variola is not selective as to age. All ages are almost equally affected, though, on account of vaccination, the incidence is now shifted to adult life. Varicella, in contrast, is selective as to age. In cold and temperate climates it is a disease of childhood, but in Nigeria,and probably in other tropical countries, it is a disease of adult life. The immunity enjoyed in childhood is closely related to the high natural immunity in African women. This immunity gradually passes off till it is at a minimum in adult life, when the incidence of varicella is highest. 10. The evolution of the eruption in the Negro is slow, and this is probably related to the texture and pigmentation of the skin

Stochastic evaluation of benthic biocoenosis as pollution assessment tool in a perturbed aquatic ecosystem

To analyse the extent of disturbances and determine the state of health of aquatic systems, the integration of several biological effects at different levels of biological organization has been used. One of the most valuable methods of biological effect measurements is the use of ecological surveys at community and population levels. In this study, the distributional evaluation of benthic biocoenosis was undertaken to determine site-specific differences in community assemblage in relation to environmental status of the study sites. Three study locations (Okobaba, Iddo and Tin Can Island) in the western side of the Lagos Lagoon with highest concentrations of human activities were selected. These sites represent areas directly affected by major anthropogenic discharge into the Lagos Lagoon. Samples were collected for six consecutive months (March and August 2014). There was great variation in parameters investigated among the study sites. The concentrations of dissolved oxygen in surface water varied from 3.0- 4.5 mg/L. Chlorophyll a in surface water fluctuated from 0.12- 2.01 mg/L whereas, in sediment values varied from 0.14-1.32 mg/g. Biomass of microphytobenthos (MPB) varied from 1.4-13.2 g. Of the total 841 MPB cells collected the highest population was recorded in Okobaba. Twelve MPB taxa were recorded in the study area. The most important species in terms of numerical abundance was Oscillatoria sp. This organism occurred in all the study stations and recorded a total of 113 cells in the study stretch. A major feature of the population distribution of the MPB taxa in this study is the occurrence of higher number of cells at Okobaba. The number of individuals and the distribution of BMF taxa varied greatly from one study location to another. Of the total 801 individuals collected, 398 were recorded at Okobaba, 316 occurred at Tin Can Island and 18 at Iddo. Unlike the case of MPB organisms, a fewer number of BMF taxa were recorded in the study area. The most important MBF taxon in terms of numerical abundance was Pachymelania aurita. This organism occurred in all the study sites and recorded a total of 162 individuals thereby constituting 20% of the total MBF population collected. The benthic community observed in this study was characterized by low number of individuals and the species of MPB and MBF recorded are known opportunistic species common in stressed environments

Evidence Based Practices to Guide Practitioners on Providing Racially Informed Care (RIC): A Scoping Review

All forms of racism impact the health, well-being, safety, and occupations of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). There is a gap in Occupational Therapy (OT) curricula and literature on how practitioners should address the issue of racism. This presentation presents the background, problem, purpose, methods, results, and implications for occupational therapy practice for a scoping review that sought to review sought to identify and synthesize interventions that align with Racially Informed Care (RIC).https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonessummer2023/1044/thumbnail.jp

Bit error rate analysis of different digital modulation schemes in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing systems

This study presents the design of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system and analyses the performance of the different digital modulation techniques employed in the system. The OFDM system was modelled and different modulation schemes: M-ary phase shift keying (M-PSK) and M-ary quadrature amplitude modulation (M-QAM) were employed over two different channels: additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN), and Rayleigh multipath fading channels. Bit error rate (BER) analysis was carried out for the different digital modulation schemes over the two channels, and the number of fast Fourier transform (FFT) points used during the transmission was examined. Generally, results showed that over both AWGN and Rayleigh fading channels, lower order modulation schemes perform better than the higher order schemes. This comes at the detriment of the data rate, as lower order schemes have lower data rates compared with their higher order counterparts. In addition, it was observed that the system performed better over AWGN channel than Rayleigh fading channel for all modulation schemes used. On the number of FFT points used during the transmission, findings revealed that the performance of the system is more or less not really affected by the number of FFT points employed during transmission.Key words: Digital modulation, bit error rate, orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, additive white Gaussian noise, modulation schemes, fast Fourier transform

An exploratory qualitative study on perceptions about mosquito bed nets in the Niger Delta: what are the barriers to sustained use?

Background: The effectiveness of malaria control programs is determined by an array of complex factors, including the acceptability and sustained use of preventative measures such as the bed net. A small-scale exploratory study was conducted in several locations in the Niger Delta region, Nigeria, to discover barriers against the use of bed nets, in the context of a current drive to scale up net use in Nigeria. Methods: A qualitative approach with a convenience sample was used. One to one interviews with mostly male adult volunteers were undertaken which explored typical living and sleeping arrangements, and perceptions about and barriers against the use of the mosquito prevention bed net. Results: Several key issues emerged from the qualitative data. Bed nets were not reported as widely used in this small sample. The reasons reported for lack of use included issues of convenience, especially net set up and dismantling; potential hazard and safety concerns; issues related to typical family composition and nature of accommodation; humid weather conditions; and perceptions of cost and effectiveness. Most barriers to net use concerned issues about everyday practical living and sleeping arrangements and perceptions about comfort. Interviewees identified were aware of malaria infection risks, but several also indicated certain beliefs that were barriers to net use. Conclusions: Successful control of malaria and scale up of insecticide-treated net coverage relies on community perceptions and practice. This small study has illuminated a number of important everyday life issues, which remain barriers to sustained net use, and has clarified further questions to be considered in net design and in future research studies. The study highlights the need for further research on the human concerns that contribute to sustained use of nets or, conversely, present significant barriers to their use

No ties that bind : low skill workers, social networks and job search in the Silicon Valley's new economy

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 2002.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 237-244).This dissertation is concerned with the relationship between economic growth and social and economic equity. Equity is defined as the economic growth that enables lesser skilled workers to access employment opportunities that provide them some measure of upward mobility. The thesis considers whether personal networks - a key means of searching for work - are likely to provide any upward mobility for low-skill workers. This thesis examines the role social networks play in providing access to employment opportunities and upward mobility in light of the new economy. In the old economy, lesser skilled workers used friends and family to gain access to entry-level jobs. Because these jobs were largely unskilled, employers looked primarily to these contacts as references for employment. Once hired, the social contract between the worker and the firm meant workers could depend on those jobs for lifelong employment. In the new economy, flexible work systems and new forms of work have created a more fluid labor market with significantly more job changing. As lesser skilled workers negotiate this new terrain, they must determine how to use their networks to identify employment opportunities that offer wage mobility. This study measures the personal contacts of a small sample of 44 lesser skilled workers against the fastest growing occupations and industries in the regional economy of the Silicon Valley.(cont.) Methods include survey research, quantitative analysis and in-depth interviews. The data reveal that while the majority of personal contacts were to people in low status jobs, respondents also possessed contacts that were higher status workers with better labor market information about employment opportunities. However, most low-skill workers were hesitant to activate these well-placed networks. This thesis explores the reticence to activate networks and discusses the public policy implications of network use for upward mobility. It finds that networks are necessary for job search, but not sufficient for upward mobility absent a significant increase in skill. The policy recommendations argue for regional institutions as the point of intervention for policy implementation and labor market reform.by Lande U. Ajose.Ph.D

Preliminary experience in the management of tracheobronchial foreign bodies in Lagos, Nigeria

Aspiration of tracheobronchial foreign bodies commonly affects young children, is potentially life threatening and requires early intervention for extraction. Access to facilities and skill manpower for bronchoscopic extraction is however limited in Nigeria. The aim of this study is to describe the experience in our institution with bronchoscopic removal of tracheobronchial foreign bodies and highlight the challenges encountered. This is a retrospective study of all patients referred to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital with a diagnosis of tracheobronchial foreign body within the period of February 2008 and February 2013. Data extracted from the medical records were age, sex, time interval between aspiration and presentation, location of tracheobronchial foreign body, bronchoscopic technique, complications and outcome. A total of 24 patients were referred and confirmed at bronchoscopy to have tracheobronchial foreign bodies. Mean age was 6.6 + 5 years. Male to female ratio was 1:1. Delayed presentation was common with 22 patients (91.7%) presenting more than 24 hours after aspiration. Aspirated material was inorganic in 17 patients (70.8%) and organic in 7 patients (29.2%). Location of tracheobronchial foreign bodies was right main bronchus in 16 patients (66.7%), left main bronchus in 6 patients (25%) and the trachea in 2 patients (8.3%). Challenges to speedy and safe removal of the foreign bodies were delayed presentation and a limited range of bronchoscopic equipment early in the series which caused prolonged procedures and increased complications. Two mortalities occurred early in the series; one from airway obstruction and the other from respiratory failure caused by tracheobronchial oedema. Extraction of tracheobronchial foreign bodies was faster, more complete and safer later in the series due to a wider range of bronchoscopy equipment which included both flexible and rigid videobronchoscopy with the use of optical forceps. This preliminary experience suggests that an adequate armamentarium of bronchoscopy equipment is required to increase the chances of complete extraction, speed up the procedure and reduce the risk of complications of Tracheobronchial Foreign Bodies in our environment. Delayed presentation increases the difficulty of the procedure so earlier referral of these patients would help reduce the risk involved in  their management.Key words: Bronchoscopy, Tracheobronchial Foreign Bodies, Lagos, Nigeri