The Role of Health Education on Breast Cancer awareness among University of Calabar Female Undergraduates

The study sought to determine the role of health education on breast cancer awareness among University of Calabar female undergraduates. To achieve the purpose of the study, three hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. Related literature was reviewed, while a survey research design was adopted for the study. Appropriately develop and validated instrument: Awareness and Breast Cancer Disease reduction Questionnaire was validated with acceptable reliability indices. The research instrument was administered to 152 University of Calabar female undergraduates. The resulting data was analyzed using chi-squared (X²) statistical technique. The results showed that breast cancer awareness significantly affect individual’s knowledge of the symptoms and risk factors of breast cancer, as well as their practice of breast self-examination. Most importantly the result showed that Health Education has a positive significant role in the reduction of breast cancer. In conclusion, it was recommended among others that more of this kind of study should be carried out regularly to educate student about their health, and health education as a subject be adopted as a core subject in our schools curriculum. Also Government and Non-governmental organizations should organize seminars, health awareness talk shows and campaign on other health related issues. Keywords: Health Education, Breast cancer awareness, Breast-self examination, Symptoms and risk factors

LE ROLE DE LA FRANCOPHONIE DANS LE DEVENIR DU FRAN(AIS AUX PAYS ANGLOPHONES DE L' AFRIQUE

Le terme "francophonie" renvoie a 1' ensemble des pays, des gouvemements et des peuples francophones du monde ayant en commun la langue fran9aise comme langue officielle. Cela ressemble au "Commonwealth" qui represente tous les pays, gouvemements et peuples anglophones du monde mis a part les Etats-Unis d' Amerique, l'Irlande, le Pakistan et 1' Afrique du Sud. Bien que la francophonie soit une organisation internationale regroupant les pays, les gouvernements et les peuples ayant en partage la langue fran9aise comme langue officielle, elle ne se limite pas aux pays fran cop hones. Elle s' etend egalement aux pays anglophones. Cet article tente de relever les apports de la francophonie a l'essor du fran9ais dans les pays anglophones de 1' Afrique. Nous tentons d'abord d'identifier les avantages dont jouissent les pays membres de la francophonie. Puis, nous examinons les objectifs de la francophonie ainsi que le r6le de certaines de ses agences dans la realisation des dits objectifs et particulierement dans le devenir du fran9ais dans les pays anglophones de 1' Afrique. Pour conclure, nous proposons des recommandations a .!'intention des pays anglophones de 1' Afrique

A Genetic Algorithm-based Framework for Soft Handoff Optimization in Wireless Networks

In this paper, a genetic algorithm (GA)-based approach is used to evaluate the probability of successful handoff in heterogeneous wireless networks (HWNs) so as to increase capacity and network performance. The traditional handoff schemes are prone to ping pong and corner effects and developing an optimized handoff scheme for seamless, faster, and less power consuming handoff decision is challenging. The GA scheme can effectively optimize soft handoff decision by selecting the best fit network for the mobile terminal (MT) considering quality of service (QoS) requirements, network parameters and user’s preference in terms of cost of different attachment points for the MT. The robustness and ability to determine global optima for any function using crossover and mutation operations makes GA a promising solution. The developed optimization framework was simulated in Matrix Laboratory (MATLAB) software using MATLAB’s optima tool and results show that an optimal MT attachment point is the one with the highest handoff success probability value which determines direction for successful handoff in HWN environment. The system maintained a 90%  with 4 channels and more while a 75% was obtained even at high traffic intensity

Heterosis of Body Weights and Egg Weights of F1 Snails (Archachatina marginata var. saturalis) in Obubra, Nigeria

A study was conducted to provide baseline information on the trends of heterosis in snail traits, so that reproductive and production performance of snails will be enhanced as is the case with other farm animal species. Three hundred (300) grower snails, one hundred and fifty each of the black-skinned (BS) and white-skinned (WS) ectotypes of Archachatina marginata snail were generated from an earlier study in the same location. The snails had weight ranging from 43.31 to 45.43 g for both ectotypes at the time of selection and were allotted into three mating groups. The mating groups are; black skinned x black skinned (BS X BS), white skinned x white skinned (WS X WS) and black skinned x white skinned (BS X WS). The mating groups were used to generate snails whose body and egg weights were compared with that of their parents. Results from the study showed that all the mating groups (BS X BS, WS X WS and BS X WS) expressed positive body weight at hatch and at the juvenile stages of growth (1 wk to 4 wk). The heterotic values for body weight were 38.89 %, 37.01 % and 53.59 % for BS X BS, WS X WS and BS X WS mating groups respectively at hatch. The heterotic value for the crossbred (BS X WS) mating group was significantly (P<0.05) different from the values of the purebred mating groups (BS X BS and WS X WS). Similarly, all the mating groups recorded positive heterotic values for egg weight at lay. The crossbred (BS X WS) mating group expressed the highest value of 60.77 % and was significantly (P<0.05) different from the values expressed by the purebred mating groups, 59.39 % for BS X BS and 54.26 % for WS X WS. The results of this study suggest that hetrosis (hybrid vigour) can be exploited to improve snails’ reproductive and growth traits if appropriate selection programme is applied. We therefore recommend the continued crossing of the black- and white- skinned snails for the production of better offspring and preservation of their genetic potentials. Keywords: Heterosis, body, egg, weight, snai

Agricultural Co-Operatives and Training of Male and Female Farmers on Improved Rice (Oryza sativa) Production Techniques in Ini Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

This study assessed the extent to which agricultural cooperatives carryout the training of male and female farmers on improved rice (Oryza sativa) production techniques in Ini Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria using research questions for 2,500 (male and female) rice farmer cooperative members in the study Area. Data analysis for 1600 completed questionnaire collected revealed that male and female farmers were not efficiently trained by agricultural cooperatives on improved rice production techniques. Moreso, there were no significant difference on the extent of carrying out the training of male and female farmers by agricultural cooperatives on improved rice production techniques in Ini Local Government Area. It is recommended among others that Agricultural cooperatives should organize periodic training sessions for rice farmers through the use of facilities and demonstration in the farm. The Government, through The Ministry of Agriculture should encourage and support agricultural cooperatives by providing materials and adequate funding to enable them perform their primary assignment creditably

CHARTERING FUNDING AND RETURN ON ASSETS OF GUARANTEE CURRENCY STORES

The study set out to examine the chartering funding and return on assets of Guarantee Currency Stores. The study adopted the ex-post facto research design. The main purpose of the study was to generally evaluate the extent to which chartering funding could be considered as a better option amongst the various options of funding and extent which chartering funding affect the return on assets of guarantee currency stores. Data were collected from the annual reports of the selected Guarantee Currency Stores and the data were analyzed using regression method. The findings revealed that there is positive and significant relationship between funding charter, debt funding and return on asset respectively. Based on the findings, it was concluded that funding charter is one of the major sources of funding any asset as this option of funding ensures ample return on asset. The policy and economic implications are that; Guarantee Currency Stores should think through and judiciously appraise funding charter alternative in the construction of their capital structure as this increases return on asset more than others sources of capital while Machinery Charter Union of Nigeria should create more awareness on the significance of funding charter to encourage those Guarantee Currency Stores seeking for funds to use either funding charter or debt capital taking into reflection the benefits of the two options in terms of improved corporate return on asset.  Article visualizations

Dose-effect relationship on annoyance and sleep disturbance due to industrial and aircraft noise in Calabar, Cross River State, South-South Nigeria.

Dose-effect relationship on annoyance and sleep disturbances due to industrial and aircraft noise in Calabar, Cross River State, South-South Nigeria has been investigated.  The objectives of the work was to find a quantitative dose-response relationship on annoyance and sleep disturbance for persons exposed to industrial and aircraft noise in the study area Calabar, Cross river State, South-South Nigeria, these effects of the noise  from these two sources on people have also been compared. Noise levels from industrial machines ranged between 101-131 dB(A) while that of aircraft was 95 -127 dB(A) as it affected the workers and residents around the neighborhood. It has also been established from the findings that with increase in day-night sound levels from these noise sources, the level of annoyance of the people also increased.  On comparison, aircraft noise increased annoyance on the people than industrial noise.  This trend was not different when comparing the effects of noise from these two noise sources on sleep of the people.  It is believed that the high level of aircraft noise from aircraft when landing and taking off and the sudden and intermittent nature of the noise as compared to the steady noise levels of industrial machines are contributory factors. Speech intelligibility of the pupils in Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) nursery primary/secondary school and that of the students of the Federal Government Girls College, Calabar is likely to be greatly affected by this high level of noise as rated by the respondents. Workers in the industries and airport are also bound to surfer other effect such as hearing loss, conversation disturbance, headache and fatigue. Respondents in the noise exposed group were more sharply annoyed by aircraft and industrial noise than the non exposed group.  Sleep disturbance is deemed undesirable and may be considered an impact caused by noise exposure.  Subjective reactions to noise vary greatly from person to person and from time to time and sleep disturbance and annoyance is no exception. Keywords:  Dose-Effect, Annoyance, Sleep disturbance, Industrial noise, Aircraft noise, Day-night sound levels

Modelling and Prediction of Road Transportation Noise Pollution in Some Capital Cities in Eastern Nigeria by Use of Artificial Neural Network

The study attempts to model and predict road transportation noise pollution in five capital cities in Eastern Nigeria. The capital cities are Calabar, Uyo, Umuahia, Owerri and Port Harcourt. Feed-forward neural network (FNN) with negative back-propagation algorithm was used to do this. The software used was NeuroXL. The ability of this software to handle multiple non-linear relationships makes it ideall y suited for this work. The input data used were total road traffic volume, road traffic mix, road traffic noise pollution response data, and distances from road centre-line to measurement points. The output data used was A-weighted energy mean sound level (LAeq). Models based on this negative back- propagation neural network were trained, validated and tested using data collected. The performance of the model was tested by an error measure, root mean square error (RMSE). RMSE is low as expected, ranges from 1.007 - 1.814, showing that the model is good for the prediction of road traffic noise data. The correlation between observed and predicted noise levels (LAeq) was also obtained, and ranges between +0.757 to +0.974, showing that there is no significant difference between observed and predicted noise levels, thereby, proving the model accurate and reliable. Keywords: Artificial neural network, back-propagation, road traffic noise modeling, road traffic noise prediction, NeuroXL software DOI: 10.7176/JEES/11-10-06 Publication date:October 31st 202

Adaptive Response Strategy of Farmers to Changing Rainfall Averages in Parts of South-Eastern Nigeria

The variable and changing nature of the annual rainfall regime in the study area poses the main problem for which planet responses are needed. The study is conducted with an estimated population of six thousand (6000) food croppers from Abia, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States. Three thousand (3000) respondent farmers are then drawn from six (6) agro-ecological zones, two from each of the sample states at five hundred (500) respondents per zone. Two hundred and fifty (250) farming households and finally sampled from the zones resulting in the one thousand five hundred (1500) sample that the study is based. Statistical evidence indicates that the awareness level of the peasants to the issue is significant at the 95% level of confidence. The main response strategies from analysis include the application of chemical fertilizers, the use of crop verities and changing the time of farming. The main change stimuli, however are higher annual intensities and declines in the duration. Response strategies however vary significantly across the study space at 95% probability. Cross River State, the more vulnerable to the threat is suggested to be the source of the significant variation following the Scheffe Post HOC analysis. Keywords: climate change response stimuli, response strategy, reactive response