WORK-LIFE INTEGRATION AND FEMALE LECTURERS’ TASK PERFORMANCE IN HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN IMO STATE, NIGERIA

This study examined work-life integration and female lecturers’ tasks performance in government-owned higher educational institutions in Imo state. The correlational research design was adopted for the study. Two research questions were answered while two hypotheses were tested. The population of the study comprised 1292 female lecturers in government-owned higher educational institutions in Imo State. The sample size of the study was determined using Taro Yamane formula. A two-stage sampling of proportionate and stratified random sampling technique was used to draw 406 respondents from the strata. Two sets of instruments titled; Female Lecturers’ Work-Life Integration Questionnaire (FLWLIQ) and Female Lecturers’ Task Performance Questionnaire (FLTPQ) were used for data collection. Face and content validities were ensured by experts including the researcher’s supervisor. The reliability coefficient of the FLWLIQ and FLTPQ was calculated to be 0.97 and 0.95 with the help of Cronbach Alpha. Multiple and simple regressions were used to answer the research questions. ANOVA associated with multiple regression and t-test associated with simple regression were used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 alpha level. It was found that self-management skills predicts female lecturers’ tasks performance by 54% in government-owned higher educational institutions in Imo state. Based on the findings, it was concluded that work-life integration is positively and moderately significant to female lecturers’ tasks performance in higher educational institutions in Imo state. It was therefore recommended among others that female lecturers should adopt SMART goal setting so as to manage their energy properly.  Article visualizations

Shopping Mall Patronage: A Review of Predictive Factors

Given the increasing popularity of shopping malls globally, it is vital for would-be investors and their consultants (bankers, estate surveyors and valuers, among others) to examine the critical variables for the feasibility and viability of such an investment. Taking this into consideration, a systematic review of prior studies on shopping malls was conducted with the aim of highlighting the factors predicting patronage. To accomplish this aim, the researchers reviewed papers published within a ten-year period. According to the summary, research on shopping malls has gotten a lot of attention, especially in developing countries. The study also discovered that, in both developed and developing countries, income, location, accessibility, and price are the most important factors influencing mall patronage. In conclusion, shopping mall stakeholders should consider using the fifteen variables highlighted in this study as an investment guide

Farmers Adoption Scenarios for the Control of Cassava Mosaic Disease under the Cassava Enterprise Development Project in Enugu State, Nigeria

This study determined farmers’ adoption levels of the cassava varieties and value adding technologies introduced under the project. Data for the study were collected from 260 randomly selected respondents using interview schedule. Farmers’ adoption indices were used to summarize information on adoption levels, while exploratory factor analysis procedure using principal factor model with varimax rotation was used in grouping the major constraint factors to adoption. Results showed that farmers were still at the interest stage of the adoption of the cassava mosaic disease (CMD) resistant varieties ( ̅=2.44), cassava processing innovations ( ̅=2.32), and improved marketing methods ( ̅=2.25). Farmers were at the evaluation stage in the adoption of agronomic practices ( ̅= 3.27) while, processors were at the evaluation stage in both processing and improved marketing innovations ( ̅= 3.43 and 3.12 respectively). However, they were at interest stage ( ̅= 2.84) in the adoption of the value adding technologies. Public and private extension agencies should therefore be encouraged to continue the extension service delivery of the CEDP innovations for greater proportion of cassava farmers to adopt the new varieties for sustainable production of cassava in the country.Keywords: Improved cassava variety, Cassava mosaic disease, Cassava enterprise development projec

Efficacy of the Best Possible Self protocol in diabetes self-management: A mixed-methods approach.

Recent research has demonstrated that positive affect may facilitate illness self-management. This study used a sequential exploratory mixed-methods typology to assess whether a brief writing task designed to boost positive affect (the Best Possible Self protocol) could improve aspects of diabetes self-management, specifically. A qualitative investigation explored people with diabetes' ( n = 20) views regarding Best Possible Self feasibility and acceptability, while a subsequent quantitative investigation assigned people with diabetes ( n = 50) to a Best Possible Self or non-Best Possible Self condition and assessed affect and self-management behaviours over a 4-week period. Findings indicated that individuals were receptive to the Best Possible Self and that it provided benefits for diabetes self-management

Positive Affect as a Buffer Against Psychopathology in Diabetes Patients: A Randomised Controlled Trial

The aim of this study was to assess a brief ‘positive’ psychological intervention’s effectiveness in facilitating positive affect amongst people with diabetes

The best possible self‐intervention as a viable public health tool for the prevention of type 2 diabetes: A reflexive thematic analysis of public experience and engagement

Background: Public health initiatives seek to modify lifestyle behaviours associated with risk (e.g., diet, exercise, and smoking), but underpinning psychological and affective processes must also be considered to maximize success. Objective: This study aimed to qualitatively assess how participants engaged with and utilized the best possible self (BPS)-intervention specifically as a type 2 diabetes (T2D) prevention tool. Design and Methods: Fourteen participants engaged with a tailored BPS intervention. Reflexive thematic analysis analysed accounts of participant's experiences and feasibility of use. Results: All participants submitted evidence of engagement with the intervention. The analysis considered two main themes: Holistic Health and Control. The analysis highlighted several nuanced ways in which individuals conceptualized their health, set goals, and received affective benefits, offering insights into how people personalized a simple intervention to meet their health needs. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study to tailor the BPS intervention as a public health application for the prevention of T2D. The intervention enabled users to identify their best possible selves in a way that encouraged T2D preventive behaviours. We propose that our tailored BPS intervention could be a flexible and brief tool to assist public health efforts in encouraging change to aid T2D prevention. Public Contribution: The format, language and application of the BPS intervention were adapted in response to a public consultation group that developed a version specifically for application in this study

Anaesthetic management of post-burn contractures, a recurrent challenge from oil pipeline vandalization in Nigeria: a case report

A 13 year- old girl presented to the department with sternomental contractures as a result of facial burns from kerosene explosion. Difficult airway was envisaged. Over the period of time she developed sub-mental contracture with keloids; and was scheduled for release of contractures and flap closure

No Sex Differences in Use of Dopaminergic Medication in Early Parkinson Disease in the US and Canada - Baseline Findings of a Multicenter Trial

Background: Sex differences in Parkinson disease clinical features have been reported, but few studies have examined sex influences on use of dopaminergic medication in early Parkinson disease. The objective of this study was to test if there are differences in the type of dopaminergic medication used and levodopa equivalent daily dose between men and women with early Parkinson disease enrolled in a large multicenter study of Creatine as a potential disease modifying therapy – the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Exploratory Trials in Parkinson Disease Long-Term Study-1. Methods: Baseline data of 1,741 participants from 45 participating sites were analyzed. Participants from the United States and Canada were enrolled within five years of Parkinson Disease diagnosis. Two outcome variables were studied: type of dopaminergic medication used and levodopa equivalent daily dose at baseline in the Long-Term Study-1. Chi-square statistic and linear regression models were used for statistical analysis. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in the frequency of use of different types of dopaminergic medications at baseline between men and women with Parkinson Disease. A small but statistically significant difference was observed in the median unadjusted levodopa equivalent daily dose at baseline between women (300 mg) and men (325 mg), but this was not observed after controlling for disease duration (years since Parkinson disease diagnosis), disease severity (Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Motor and Activities of Daily Living Scores), and body weight. Conclusions: In this large multicenter study, we did not observe sex differences in the type and dose of dopaminergic medications used in early Parkinson Disease. Further research is needed to evaluate the influence of male or female sex on use of dopaminergic medication in mid- and late-stage Parkinson Disease

The holographic superconductors in higher-dimensional AdS soliton

We explore the behaviors of the holographic superconductors at zero temperature for a charged scalar field coupled to a Maxwell field in higher-dimensional AdS soliton spacetime via analytical way. In the probe limit, we obtain the critical chemical potentials increase linearly as a total dimension $d$ grows up. We find that the critical exponent for condensation operator is obtained as 1/2 independently of $d$, and the charge density is linearly related to the chemical potential near the critical point. Furthermore, we consider a slightly generalized setup the Einstein-Power-Maxwell field theory, and find that the critical exponent for condensation operator is given as $1/(4-2n)$ in terms of a power parameter $n$ of the Power-Maxwell field, and the charge density is proportional to the chemical potential to the power of $1/(2-n)$.Comment: LaTeX, 16 pages, 5 figures, typos corrected, one reference added, version to appear in European Physical Journal

Prevalence and distribution of aflatoxin contamination in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in Mali, West Africa

Groundnut is a major source of livelihood for the rural poor in Mali. However, the crop is prone to preand post-harvest aflatoxin contamination caused by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. Therefore, to minimize health related hazards from exposure to aflatoxin contaminated food, information on the prevalence and distribution of aflatoxins (AFB1) in the groundnut value chain in Mali is needed for timely interventions. To this end, a study was undertaken in three districts (Kayes, Kita and Kolokani) to assess aflatoxin contamination in the field and storage. Ninety pod samples in each district were collected from fields (30 villages/district and 3 samples/village) during 2009 and 2010. Pre-harvest contamination was estimated at harvest, whereas samples for post-harvest contamination were collected from granaries of the same farmers at a monthly interval for 3 months. The villages in each district were categorized into safe, acceptable, moderate risk and high risk areas based on pre-harvest AFB1 levels. Kayes recorded more pod samples (77%) within 20 mg/kg of pre-harvest aflatoxins followed by Kolokani (55.6%) and Kita (45.6%) based on 2009 and 2010 mean values. Toxin concentrations at harvest were comparatively less in Kayes during both years. Further, Kayes had more villages under safe and acceptable limits when compared to Kolokani and Kita. Overall, 46 out of 90 villages in the three districts had acceptable pre-harvest toxin limits. Further, 12 villages in Kolokani were in the high risk category. An increase in toxin levels was noticed with period of storage during both years. Comparatively, toxin levels after storage were least in Kayes during 2009. Kayes also recorded less AFB1 levels in 2010 after Kita. Our results indicate that Kayes is relatively safe over Kita and Kolokani in pre-harvest aflatoxin contamination. The reasons for district-wide variations in pre-harvest contamination; and the reasons for post-harvest flare up of the problem are discussed. Further, proper storage of pods at farmers' granaries in Mali is suggested to overcome the problem from reaching alarming levels