An Experimental Study of Fertility Behaviour in South West of Nigeria

The study evaluated the impact of an educational film on the fe rtility and health behaviour of selected Yoruba speaking communities in South West Nigeria. A field controlled experiment was utilized with 5 treatment groups and 5 controlled groups. Intact population units was adopted in the experimental sites and the mean age of participants was 38 years. Results indicated difference between the experimental and control groups in fertility behaviour. Clinic attendanceforfamily planning also increased as a result of projection of the film

Synthesis and Biological Activity of Novel Tu100 Derivatives

In an attempt to create more effective chemotherapeutic compounds, the naphthoquinone adduct, 12,13-dihydro-N-methyl-6,11,13-trioxo-5H-benzo[4,5]cyclohepta [1,2 b]naphthalen-5,12-imine (hereafter called TU100) was synthesized. Inspired by its unique and novel mechanism of action, a series of structural derivatives were synthesized to explore structure-activity relationships. The analogues exhibited different cytotoxicity profiles, revealing the indicated regions are involved in cell death induction. Furthermore, the analogues had dramatically different effects on cellular ATP production, suggesting different molecular targets. Synthesis, biological activity, and SAR study of these analogues will be revealed

Determinants of Working Capital Management: Case of Nigerian Manufacturing Firms

This study explored the factors determining the working capitalwith the view to providing information on empirical tests that constitutes the determinants of working capital management in the listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria. The study used secondary data sources which were collected from the Annual Report and Accounts of sixty purposively selected non-financial quoted companies in the Nigerian Stock Exchange Fact book. Data on financial variables such as sales, purchases, inventory, creditors, debtors and total assets were extracted from the Annual Reports of these non-financial quoted companies between the periods 2000-2009. This was when the country started to experience financial policies for the banking sector under the democratic dispensation. Macroeconomic data on the annual growth rate of the Gross Domestic Product was obtained from the Statistical Bulletin of the Central Bank of Nigeria. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed that the significant factors determining working capital included sales growth, size of the firm, gross domestic product, leverage. The proportion of fixed assets to total assets and the net trading cycle, also determined working capital but were not significant at the five percent level. Keywords: working capital management, purposive, non-financial quoted companies, financial policies, democratic dispensation

Crosstalk between the mTOR and DNA Damage Response Pathways in Fission Yeast

Cells have developed response systems to constantly monitor environmental changes and accordingly adjust growth, differentiation, and cellular stress programs. The evolutionarily conserved, nutrient-responsive, mechanistic target of rapamycin signaling (mTOR) pathway coordinates basic anabolic and catabolic cellular processes such as gene transcription, protein translation, autophagy, and metabolism, and is directly implicated in cellular and organismal aging as well as age-related diseases. mTOR mediates these processes in response to a broad range of inputs such as oxygen, amino acids, hormones, and energy levels, as well as stresses, including DNA damage. Here, we briefly summarize data relating to the interplays of the mTOR pathway with DNA damage response pathways in fission yeast, a favorite model in cell biology, and how these interactions shape cell decisions, growth, and cell-cycle progression. We, especially, comment on the roles of caffeine-mediated DNA-damage override. Understanding the biology of nutrient response, DNA damage and related pharmacological treatments can lead to the design of interventions towards improved cellular and organismal fitness, health, and survival

The synergism of hepatitis B and aflatoxicosis in hepatocellular carcinoma development: A mini-review

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the twelfth most common cancer and the fifth leading cause of worldwide cancer-related death. Chronic hepatitis B infection, caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and exposure to aflatoxins is fundamental in the formation of HCC in developing countries. This review of scientific publications aims to establish the detrimental effects of aflatoxin-contaminated foods and highlights the correlation between aflatoxin and hepatitis B viral-associated hepatocellular carcinoma. Research has shown a significant increase in the occurrence of HCC in HBV-infected individuals exposed to fungal toxins. HBV demonstrates the ability to integrate and bind to p53 protein in the host DNA and propagate hepatocyte vulnerability through carcinogenic aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) damage. Although there has been clear evidence about the synergistic interaction of exposure to AFB1 and HBV infection in the induction of HCC, other literature has shown otherwise, mainly because incomplete and vague findings and hypotheses were made in regions where AFB1 and HBV pose a public health risk. Vaccination against hepatitis B and measures such as robust food safety systems to avoid hepatotoxicity and hepatocellular carcinogenesis induced by AFB1 is the most effective methods in the prevention of HCC induced by HBV and AFB

Effect of Multicolinearity and Autocorrelation on Predictive Ability of Some Estimators of Linear Regression Model

Violation of the assumptions of independent regressors and error terms in linear regression model has respectively resulted into the problems of multicollinearity and autocorrelation. Each of these problems separately has significant effect on parameters estimation of the model parameters and hence prediction.  This paper therefore attempts to investigate the joint effect of the existence of multicollinerity and autocorrlation on Ordinary Least Square (OLS) estimator, Cochrane-Orcutt (COR) estimator, Maximum Likelihood (ML) estimator and the estimators based on Principal Component (PC) analysis on prediction of linear regression model through Monte Carlo studies using the adjusted coefficient of determination goodness of fit statistic of each estimator. With correlated normal variables as regressors, it further identifies the best estimator for prediction at various levels of sample sizes (n), multicollinearity  and autocorrlation . Results reveal the pattern of performances of COR and ML at each level of multicollinearity over the levels of autocorrelation to be generally and evidently convex especially when  and while that of OLS and PC is generally concave. Moreover, the COR and ML estimators perform equivalently and better; and their performances become much better as multicollinearity increases. The COR estimator is generally the best estimator for prediction except at high level of multicollinearity and low levels of autocorrelation. At these instances, the PC estimator is either best or competes with the COR estimator. Moreover, when the sample size is small (n=10) and multicollinearity level is not high, the OLS estimator is best at low level of autocorrelation whereas the ML is best at moderate levels of autocorrelation. .Keywords: Prediction, Estimators, Linear Regression Model, Multicollinearity, Autocorrelation

Assessment of Internet Service Provided using UMTS operators at the University of Ilorin main campus

Over the years the need for mobile broadband had seen a great increment due to the demand of internet mobile users. In this research work, data size for Internet operation on UMTS mobile network operators on the University of Ilorin Campus was assessed. The study assessed three UMTS network operators using an Infinix T627 android smart phone and RantCell App. to measure the download and upload at the selected points on the University of Ilorin Campus. It was observed that the number of active subscribers with their relative position in a cell have a great effect on the performance of the networks and therefore, the authors recommend the need for the operators to improve their data sizes so as to enhance users’ satisfaction. Keywords: GSM, CDMA, ISP, PS, UMTS

OVERCOMING BARRIERS TO NEW LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES IN A UNIVERSITY SETTING: THE CASE OF COVENANT UNIVERSITY

Covenant University aspires to be one of the ten leading university in the world by 2022. To achieve this noble goal, the university has set in motion various strategies, some of which are to improve the learning process of students, empowerment of faculty and staff in gaining skills in teaching methodologies and the use of e-learning/new technologies. The university has currently invested a lot of funds in the acquisition of relevant and contemporary e-learning technologies, such as teleconferencing centres (five in all), e-learning lecture and delivery and assessment platforms (e.g. Moodle, TurnitinTM, et cetera), Smart interactive digital boards, fully digitized podiums etc. In a bid to maximize these investments, the need for identifying and addressing teachers’ phobia and demonstrated barriers to the new technologies and aids becomes imperative. The barriers to the use of appropriate teaching methodologies and the use of new technologies relevant to teaching were identified. The paper focused mainly on barriers related to lack of awareness of effective teaching methodologies, non-availability of appropriate e-learning/new technologies and psychological barriers to effective use of new technologies currently in use. The paper also highlights efforts made by the institution in acquiring new technologies applied to education, sensitisation of faculty and staff to the effects of teaching pedagogies in the educative process and the personality factors in the utilisation of new technologies

Psychotic symptoms in post traumatic stress disorder: a case illustration and literature review

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition being increasingly recognized. The diagnosis is based on the re-experiencing of a traumatic event. There have been reports of the presence of psychotic symptoms in some cases of PTSD. This may represent increased severity or a different diagnostic clinical entity. It has also been suggested that psychotic symptoms may be over-represented in the Hispanic population. In this manuscript, we describe a case to illustrate this relationship and we review the current literature on the relationship of psychotic symptoms among PTSD patients. The implications regarding diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis are discussed. Keywords: Psychosis; PTSD; Trauma; Hallucinations; Delusions; Posttraumatic stress disorderSA Psych Rev 2003;6: 21-2