The Roles of Library and Librarian in Information Resource Sharing in the Emerging Information Society

This study is an attempt to look at the roles which library and librarian stand to play in the emerging information society where information resource sharing is requires to ensure there is wider access to information resources on the platform of ICT. The study was conducted in three selected academic libraries in Kogi State to ascertain their readiness to engage in effective information resources sharing. The study observed selected three libraries have state of the art ICT facilities required for information resource. The study made some recommendations that can improve upon the success achieved in the deployment of ICT for information resources sharing. Key words: ICT, ICT Information Resources, Information Resource Sharin

The implications of agro-chemical compounds (fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides) on farming/aquaculture activities in the lake-Chad and its possible current/future social effects

Field survey and Laboratory analysis were carried out to determine the implications of agro-chemicals effluent on Lake Chad water. Historically societies used traditional farming methods involving rainfed agriculture and limited ground water withdrawal with irrigation though an ancient practice, it affected only small parts of the world. Water in Lake Chad is facing serious environmental problems from prolong drought to desertification, pollution and biodiversity reduction. The use of water for extensive agriculture by the lakes riparian states is reducing the water and stressing the ecological balance affecting the organisms depending on it and also its availability to its inhabitants. Water quality is also an important issue in the Lake Chad especially where the rainfall being the natural input into the system is small, greater risk of fertilizer, pesticides, and other agro-chemicals/inputs, runoff from the soil to the lake water and also salt accumulation threat are imminent. The assessment of the Lake Chad water resource quality was therefore carried out carefully while understanding the linkage and interaction with Agro-chemicals using stratified random sampling method for data acquisition and assessment on the site. The results of the experiment indicated that five parameters, namely, PH, Cadmium, Iron, Magnesium and chlorine have contaminant levels above the threshold limit as major sources of pollution in the lake with possible existing and future problem. As a result of the adverse effect of the agrochemicals runoff in the Chad water at Kirinowa. It can be concluded from the results of this study that the lake is under pollution of metals from sources of agricultural operations, due to indiscriminate application of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers.Key words: Lake Chad, Agro-chemicals, Accumulation, Contamination, Pollution

The Moderating Role of Innovativeness on the Relationship between Entrepreneurship Educations And Student Entrepreneurial Intention

This study examined the moderating role of innovativeness on the relationship between entrepreneurship education and students' entrepreneurial intention among FUD final year students as at 2017/2018 academic session. The study used a cross-sectional research design with a quantitative questionnaire approach to collect the data. To validate the model, data from 282 final year students were analyzed using the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). Overall, the survey discovered that both entrepreneurship education and innovativeness are significantly and positively connected to entrepreneurial intention. This report also discovered that innovativeness play a part in moderating the entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial intention relationship. The study used Human Capital Theory HCT as a theoretical basis of the subject. This survey served as one of the pioneering study with regard to HCT in a testing relationship of this nature. This study recommended that other researchers should employ this hypothesis with other antecedent of entrepreneurial intention for further proof. As a repercussion to policy, the government ought to guarantee not only inspiring students with entrepreneurship education, but also the robust spirit of innovativeness among students as it delivers a direct effect as well as strong interaction with entrepreneurship education in influencing students' entrepreneurial intention

Comparative Study of Job Stress among Teaching Staff of Library and Information Science in Higher Institutions in Nigeria.

The research is on comparative study of job stress among teaching staff of library and information science in higher institutions in Nigeria. Concept of job stress has been of great debate among employers in different organizations and higher institutions since the last decades. Causal-comparative research design was adopted in the study and population comprised of lecturers in library and information science department in four higher institutions in Nigeria. From the research hypotheses and questionnaires used as research instrument showed that there is significant difference between level of job stress in Federal, State and Private Higher Institutions in Nigeria. Percentage count table and Chi- square statistics was used to analyzed the questionnaire and hypotheses. The findings showed that there is a very high job stress in the four institutions under stud. It was also found out that job stress has lots of negative effects on health and family of academic staff. It also found out that the  cause  of job stress among teachers in higher institutions include: too much courses allocation , fear of being laid off , overtime working hours , too much administrative duties(100%), too many number of students to supervise for  projects or thesis works and  frequent meetings(66.67%) as well as lack of information to work with. Therefore, the researchers made recommendations to the aforementioned negative effects and causes of excessive job stress among academic staff in higher institutions in Nigeria. Keywords: Job stress, workplace, education, higher institutions and library school staf

Awareness and Implications of Aircraft Noise on the Airport Staff of Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport Kano, Nigeria

Noise pollution, operationally defined as 'unwanted sound', has become an environmental contaminant of massive proportions. Noise causes annoyance, frustration, impediment to learning, and general stress. Of all present-day sources of noise, the noise from surface transportation, above all that from road vehicles, is the most diffused and difficult to control. Aircraft, industrial noise, noisy neighbours, and their pets are other familiar sources of noise aggravation. Noise pollution is a harmful environmental impact of sound, which, by its nature, volume, or duration, is likely to have health effects.This research aims to measure the noise level within the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, examine the effects of aircraft noise on employees, assess the awareness level of workers on the impact of aircraft noise, and determine the level of compliance with safety standards.This study examined the implications and awareness of aircraft noise at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA). The noise level within the five selected locations was measured. A noise meter was used to measure the noise at the new fire station, old fire station, international terminal building, domestic terminal building, and main apron. Primary and secondary data were used; fifty questionnaires were randomly distributed to staff from the fire department, aviation security, ground handlers of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) and Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc (SAHCO), airfield staff of the operations department, and airliners. The data obtained from the noise meter were analyzed using the mean noise level, whereas descriptive statistics and simple percentages were used to analyze the data obtained from the questionnaire.The level of staff awareness of aircraft noise implications due to prolonged exposure and safety regulations was determined. The noise produced within the study area is between 65 and 98 decibels. Seventy-four percent of the responders think that aircraft noise is a nuisance, with more than 50% aware of the implications of noise exposure. In contrast, only 24% have experienced some of the effects of aircraft noise, such as headache, cardiovascular loss, and hearing loss. It was discovered that employers are not providing enough safety kits for their employees, and most staff do not undergo safety training and are not aware of any laws regulating noise. In conclusion, staff need training on noise pollution, its effects, and ways to reduce health implications

Position and Trajectory Tracking Control for the Ball and Plate System using Mixed Sensitivity Problem

This paper presents the position and trajectory tracking control scheme for the ball and plate system (BPS) using the double feedback loop structure (a loop within a loop) for effective control of the system. The inner loop was designed using linear algebraic method by solving a set of Diophantine equations. The outer inner loop was designed using   sensitivity approach. Simulation results showed that the plate was stabilized at 0.3546 seconds, and the ball was able to settle at 1.7087 seconds, when given a circular trajectory of radius 0.4 m with an angular frequency of 1.57 rad/sec, with a trajectory tracking error of 0.0095 m, which shows that the controllers have adaptability, strong robustness and control performance for the ball and plate system.           

Perception and acceptability of bilateral tubal ligation among women attending antenatal clinic at Usmanu Danfodiyo university teaching hospital Sokoto

Background: Contraception can be defined as all temporary or permanent measures designed to prevent pregnancy. Bilateral tubal ligation is a surgical and permanent form of contraception offered to women who completed their family size or for limitation of family size due to medical condition. The practices of bilateral tubal ligation is limited in Sub-Saharan African countries, Nigeria inclusive because of great desire for a large family size, cultural and religious factors, misunderstanding and fear of the procedure. The aim of the study was to determine the perception and acceptability of bilateral tubal ligation as a form of contraception among women attending Antenatal clinic at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto.Methods: This was a cross sectional study conducted among women attending antenatal clinic between 1st of May to 31st of July, 2018. The information was obtained using a structured questionnaire to obtain the respondent’s socio-demographic characteristics, questions on perception and acceptability of bilateral tubal ligation. Data analysis was done with statistical package for social sciences version 22 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA).Results: The study revealed that 73% of the respondents were aware of bilateral tubal ligation, but only 44% of them have good perception towards it. Majority of the respondents (63.8%) reject BTL for contraception. Most of their reasons were cultural believe (33.3%), regret (31.6%), religious believe (26.6%) and fear of surgery (8.5%).Conclusions: There was poor perception and low acceptability toward bilateral tubal ligation among the study population, mostly due to cultural and religious believes, as well as fear of regret, despite awareness of BTL among majority of the respondents

A furostan saponin isolated from the rhizome of C. spectabilis (Costaceae) exerts cataract ameliorative effect in-vitro

Background & Aim: Extracts from plants, such as C. spectabilis (rhizome) traditionally used for the treatment of cataract may potentially contain anticataract lead compound(s). The current study aimed to isolate the constituent(s) of the extract of C. spectabilis and evaluate its anticataract effect. Experimental: The isolation of the constituent was achieved using silica gel, sephadex column chromatography and preparative thin layer chromatography of the n-butanol fraction of aqueous ethanol extract of the rhizome, followed by analysis using NMR spectroscopy. The anticataract effect was investigated using H2O2-induced cataract model. Lenses freshly obtained from rats were cultured in the presence or absence of hydrogen peroxide (0.5 mM), and or in the presence of H2O2 (0.5 mM) with any of the three concentrations of compound SL1 (0.5 mgmL-1, 0.25 mgmL-1, or 0.125 mgmL-1 ) over a period of 24 hrs. Lens opacity (index of cataract) was quantified by scoring and image analysis. The lens total protein, antioxidant bio-molecules (GSH, SOD) and lipid peroxidation (MDA level) were determined according to standard methods. Results: Chromatographic fractionation of the extract led to the isolation of a compound characterised as 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1→2)-α-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (25R)-furost-5-ene-3β, 22α, 26-triol-26-O- β-D-glucopyranoside based on its NMR data. The lenses treated with hydrogen peroxide (only) demonstrated significantly higher indices of opacity compared to the normal or compound treated. The groups treated with the compound (at 0.5 and 0.25 mgmL-1 concentrations) significantly (P≤ 0.001) exhibited lower score of opacity and grey image pixel intensity compared to the untreated group. Although the compound significantly (P≤0.05) prevented the depletion of lens total protein at all concentrations used, the loss of GSH, SOD and increase in MDA levels induced by H2O2 were not prevented significantly. Recommended applications/industries: The compound isolated can serve as a promising lead for the development of anticataract drug

Obstructed labour at Usmanu Danfodiyo university teaching hospital Sokoto: a five-year review

Background: Obstructed labour is an obstetric emergency and one of the major causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality in the developing countries, Nigeria inclusive. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, causes and feto-maternal outcome of cases of obstructed labour managed at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto from 1st January, 2014 to 31st December, 2018.Methods: This was a retrospective review of all cases of obstructed labour managed at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto over 5 years. List of cases managed during the study period was obtained and case notes were retrieved. Relevant information such as age, booking status, parity, educational status, address, causes, mode of delivery and both maternal and foetal outcomes were obtained from the case notes. Data analysis was done using statistical package for social sciences version 22 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA).Results: A total two hundred and seventy-six cases of obstructed labour were managed out of the 15,452 total deliveries during the study period. This gives an obstructed labour prevalence of 1.79%. The major cause of obstructed labour identified in this study was Cephalopelvic disproportion (74.6%) and majority of the patients were delivered by emergency lower segment caesarean section (70.6%). Up to 32.3% of the patients had no maternal complications and also 42.3% of them had live birth with no fetal complication. However, 20.2% of these patients had ruptured uterus and 37.9% of them had still birth, while 19.8% had live birth complicated by birth asphyxia.Conclusions: This study has found that obstructed labour resulted in adverse maternal and perinatal outcome. Hence, there is need to prevent obstructed labour in order to avert this consequence