Health Communication via Social Media: How Pharmaceutical Companies are using Instagram for Corporate Social Responsibility

This study examines the depth of audience engagement with six dimensions of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) via the Instagram platforms of pharmaceutical companies. Recent research on the relationship between CSR and health communication has established a robust link between both variables but created a gap on the level of audience engagement. Drawing on Voluntary Disclosure, Agenda Setting and Media System Dependency theories, this study finds that voluntary communication of CSR strategies has the maximum potential to set the agenda for audience engagement on social media. The remodeled digitization of the media has increased the level of media dependency making social media a tool to be leveraged for effective health communication. The results revealed that Community Volunteering had the strongest impact on total audience engagement and revealed that engagement is higher with image posts than video posts. This study is important for the burgeoning field of CSR in the healthcare industry

Process Simulation and Optimization of Biodiesel Production from Algae Biomass

There is need to further examine optimization of biodiesel production from renewable sources. In this study, we report the optimization of biodiesel produced from microalgae biomass using the CHEMCAD process simulator. Results show that the overall molar flow and energy was calculated to be 7.010kmoles/h and -4936.5MJ/h respectively. And also the liquid viscosity of the microalgae oil is greater than that of the biodiesel produced

A pilot survey of impression materials and techniques used by dentists in the fabrication of fixed indirect restorations

Objective: To assess the choice of impression material and impression technique used by Nigerian dentists for the fabrication of cast restoration. Method: A self administered questionnaire was distributed to dentists present at two national dental meeting held at Abuja and Lagos in 2011. The questionnaire assessed their choice of impression materials and technique. Result: Fifty one out of 70 questionnaires were returned filled giving a response rate of 73%. There were 54.9% of the respondents who reported addition curing silicone impression as their first choice material for cast restorations, while 27.4% use alginate as first choice impression. The use of stock plastic trays by the respondents was significantly higher than metal and custom trays. Two-third of the respondents poured their impressions within one hour. All the respondents poured alginate impression after 15 minutes. A significantly high percentage (76%) of the respondents did not retract the free gingival before taking impression. Conclusion: The use of alginate impressions to produce cast restorations was common among the respondents. Since no previous study has documented the use of alginate to produce accurate fitting cast restorations, there is need to investigate the accuracy of alginate impressions in a clinical setting.Keywords: Impression material, impression technique, impression trayNig Dent J Vol 20 No. 1 Jan - June 201

Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Mental State, Personal Finance and the Economy: Evidence from the United States

This paper investigated the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the mental state of the US residents, as well as the impact of mental state on personal finance and the US economy. The objectives of the current study were to: (i) determine the factors affecting the psychological state of US residents following COVID-19 outbreak; (ii) evaluate the impact of mental state and personal life on economy and finance. By deploying quantitative research design, secondary survey data relating to the US were analysed using descriptive statistics and structural equation modelling. Result shows that a sizable proportion of people are worried about their mental health because of the COVID-19. Furthermore, the level of satisfaction with the national government's response to the COVID-19 / coronavirus pandemic in the United States is low, while people are generally not satisfied with fellow citizens' response to the COVID-19 / coronavirus pandemic in the United States. However, the level of Satisfaction with hospitals' response to the COVID-19 / coronavirus pandemic in the United States is generally high. The two factors affecting the psychological state of US residents are the impact of the COVID-19 / coronavirus pandemic on personal finances and the level of hospitals' response to the COVID-19 (research objective one). Worry and mental state both affect people's everyday life, however, the impact of worry is more pronounced on everyday life, as this may affect people’s productivity (research objective two). Considering that US residents/ citizens are generally satisfied with the measures taken by hospitals to tackle the spread of COVID-19 and treat COVID-19 pandemic, the study recommends that more public funds should be pledged to upscaling the quality and capacity of health infrastructure in the US. This becomes important considering that hospitals have a great impact on the psychological state of residents. Keywords: COVID-19, mental health, personal finance, US economy, social distancing DOI: 10.7176/JESD/12-6-09 Publication date:March 31st 202

A pilot survey of impression materials and techniques used by dentists in the fabrication of fixed indirect restorations

Objective: To assess the choice of impression material and impression technique used by Nigerian dentists for the fabrication of cast restoration. Method: A self administered questionnaire was distributed to dentists present at two national dental meeting held at Abuja and Lagos in 2011. The questionnaire assessed their choice of impression materials and technique. Result: Fifty one out of 70 questionnaires were returned filled giving a response rate of 73%. There were 54.9% of the respondents who reported addition curing silicone impression as their first choice material for cast restorations, while 27.4% use alginate as first choice impression. The use of stock plastic trays by the respondents was significantly higher than metal and custom trays. Two-third of the respondents poured their impressions within one hour. All the respondents poured alginate impression after 15 minutes. A significantly high percentage (76%) of the respondents did not retract the free gingival before taking impression. Conclusion: The use of alginate impressions to produce cast restorations was common among the respondents. Since no previous study has documented the use of alginate to produce accurate fitting cast restorations, there is need to investigate the accuracy of alginate impressions in a clinical setting

The Miseducation of the Nigerian Architect

The last century has seen design through technology alter the lives of people, from being utilized as a tool for political propaganda, to power statements, as well as improving the lives of people. Design disciplines people, and the architect who by training automatically possesses this ability becomes one of the most important people in society due to his ability to directly impact the environment. For this reason it is important to examine how his training matches up to such responsibility. However, it has been noticed that the training of the Nigerian architect hasn’t developed at the rate it should, lagging behind in its use of technology, as well as the role which the architect should be playing in society. This can be traced back to his education; how he is taught, what he is taught and how he practices his profession. Education here is defined as the intentional equipping of an individual with relevant skills and knowledge which is guided towards a measurable objective. How does the training of the architect align to this? Are there really objectives and how clear are they to the lecturers and students? Are the objectives reviewed and measured for shortcomings? These fundamental questions are important in properly educating the architect. Similarly, common inhumane acts amongst some lecturers such as destruction of students’ projects are some unethical acts which are questioned; are such individuals worthy of being educators, are they not unaware of their roles and what education is really about? The architect’s training should be dynamic, one which must keep matching up to the new innovations and changes of our time or become a victim of it. Keywords: Architectural Education, Miseducation, School of architecture, Architecture in Nigeria. DOI: 10.7176/ADS/76-08 Publication date:September 30th 201

Oral health status and service utilization among a group of rural older Nigerians

Objectives: To determine oral health status and explore factors associated with use professional oral health care among a Nigerian rural older population.Methods: Recruitments of 400 participants aged 60 and above done by multi - stage-sampling method. Pretested structured questionnaire administered with oral examination done.Results: Mean ages of participants were 67.06+/- 8.37 years. Proportion of participants with poor oral hygiene was 49.5%, caries (17.4%), periodontal disease (16.5%), tooth loss (71.3%) and tooth replacement was done by 5.5% of this population. Majority (64.8%) had never used professional oral health care. Main reason for seeking professional care was pain (73.05%). The proportion that went for routine checkup (8.5%) was the least. Proximity to dental service (p = 0.01), presence of oral pain (<0.001), attitude to professional oral care (p = <0.001) and ability to afford professional dental care (p = 0.001) had significant association, with utilization of professional oral care.Discussion: The poor oral health and elevated tooth loss is at variance with universal access to health and the rural older population is deprived of oral health interventions. There are various factors attributed to these, such as financial constraint and negative attitude. All of these may translates to social exclusion of the rural older population.Conclusion: Oral health in the older population studied is poor with an increased tendency to tooth loss and poor utilization of professional oral care. Factors influencing professional oral care were proximity to service centre, attitude to oral health, and perception of cost.Keywords: older, care, oral healt

INVESTIGATING UNIDIMENSIONALITY OF MATHEMATICS MULTIPLE-CHOICE TEST ITEMS USED FOR JOINT MOCK EXAMINATION IN KWARA STATE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Mathematics is an essential subject for human existence on day-to-day activities. This is an indication that it if properly handed it could enhance national development. Therefore, in test items construction to examine students performance in the subject careful considerations must be given. The purpose of the study is to investigate unidimensionality of mathematics multiple-choice test items used for a joint mock examination in Kwara State public schools. The study adopted a descriptive research survey type. The population comprised students in Senior Secondary Schools while the target population consisted of Senior Secondary School II students. The multistage sampling technique that involved stratified, proportionate and simple random sampling was used at different stages of selections. The measuring device was the 2018/2019 Kwara State Joint Mock Mathematics Test. The test is a standardized test and thus the validity and reliability coefficients were not disclosed to the public. The statistical technique employed was factor analysis using SPSS 25.0 version. Tetrachoric correlation statistic was used to obtain 0.96 reliability coefficient. This study, therefore, concluded that only 41 (82%) of 50 multiple-choice items revealed evidence of unidimensionality. One of the recommendations was that those items that violated unidimensionality assumption should be revisited so that instrument could be 100% compliance to unidimensionality

Evaluation Of Omotosho Gas Power Station Based on Best Industrial Practice

This study is solemnly concerned with the performance evaluation of the Omotosho gas Power plant over a period of four years. The station is made up of 8 units of 42MW Gas Turbine (GT) each. Data of necessary parameters such as average actual load, the install capacity of the station, hours of operation, energy generated, peak load, amount of gas consumed, the Net calorific value of gas, generator efficiency and available turbine unit was obtained and computed to measure the performance of the station between year 2014 to 2017. The results indicated that the average availability of the station varies from 45.02% to 89.18% which is against the recommended industrial practice of 95%. Also, the reliability of the station varies from 57.95% to 86.62% which is against the recommended 99.9% for best industrial practice. Likewise, the capacitor factor of the station varies from 16.29% to 49.98%, only the CF of 2016 which is 49.98% conform to the best industrial practice of 40-80% for the TP plant. Furthermore, the thermal efficiency of the station varies from 26.66% to 30.03% and the total efficiency varies from 26.66% to 29.43% which is against the recommended standard of 49% for thermal efficiency and 80% for overall efficiency. The findings revealed that the station performance is below the recommended standard, also this study gives an indices to evaluate gas power station in accordance with industrial practice. The findings of this research can be used to evaluate the performance of any gas station. This study, therefore, suggests that maintenance crew should maintain Omotosho power plant unit in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications in order to increase the reliability of the station

Magnetic mineral exploration using ground magnetic survey data of Tajimi Area, Lokoja

Ground magnetic survey is an essential geophysical method employed in locating subsurface magnetic materials for possible exploration. In geophysics, the  anomalous magnetization might be associated with local mineralization that is potentially of commercial interest. Hence a ground magnetic survey was carried out at a site in Tajimi area of Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria. The study is aimed at locating the position of iron deposited minerals within the study area. The study area lies within Latitude 800292ˈN to 800625ˈN and Longitude 605833ˈE to 606167ˈE in the basement complex of Southern Nigeria. A total of fifteen magnetic transverse lines were established in an E-W direction in the study area covering 140m by 75m. Data were taken and recorded using Proton Precession magnetometer; the data were presented in magnetic profiles, 2D contour map and 3D surface map which aided the qualitatively interpretation. The study area was characterized by  completely varying magnetic anomaly amplitudes across the field. The field data were quantitatively interpreted and the results gave values for the total component  measurements of the ground magnetic anomaly that varied between a minimum  negative peak value of about -23428.7nT and a maximum positive peak value of  about 5840.9nT. The residual anomalies obtained were plotted against distance  using Microsoft Excel and Analytic signal method was used to estimates the depth to the magnetic source body. The estimated depths of the magnetic source  body/rocks from the Earth surface fall in the interval of 1.28m to 13.57m, which  indicates the magnetic source body suspected to be magnetic mineral, are near surface features. Hence a careful analysis of the magnetic anomaly maps can give vital information about the magnetic distribution and mineral potential of the studyarea at Tajimi