THE USE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AMONG DISTANCE LEARNING STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN, NIGERIA

The last decade has witnessed rapid growth in the introduction of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in distance learning. The Distance Learning Centre (DLC) of University of Ibadan, Nigeria has also improved its mode of service delivery in line with the global trend by including e-learning and e-materials. The Centre has embraced the use of various ICTs platforms in the form of Internet and other electronic materials in the delivery of most of its services to the students. This study therefore evaluates the preference, level of adoption and usage of these ICTs by the students. Simple random sampling technique was employed for administration of 100 copies of structured questionnaire to the students. The use of Internet ranked topmost among the ICTs platforms used by the students, although majority of the students are still faced with the challenge of inaccessibility and visit commercial cyber cafés to access Internet for their studies. About 47.9 percent of the students preferred hard copies of DLC course materials and 58.5 percent strongly disagree with the use of CD as DLC reading materials. Majority of the students also preferred to visit DLC office rather than obtaining information on its website. DLC therefore needs to embark on more awareness creation on the need for ICTs usage and strategy to increase adoption by its students.Keywords: Distance Learning, ICT, Electronic materials, Internet, Technology adoptio

THE USE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AMONG DISTANCE LEARNING STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN, NIGERIA

The last decade has witnessed rapid growth in the introduction of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in distance learning. The Distance Learning Centre (DLC) of University of Ibadan, Nigeria has also improved its mode of service delivery in line with the global trend by including e-learning and e-materials. The Centre has embraced the use of various ICTs platforms in the form of Internet and other electronic materials in the delivery of most of its services to the students. This study therefore evaluates the preference, level of adoption and usage of these ICTs by the students. Simple random sampling technique was employed for administration of 100 copies of structured questionnaire to the students. The use of Internet ranked topmost among the ICTs platforms used by the students, although majority of the students are still faced with the challenge of inaccessibility and visit commercial cyber cafés to access Internet for their studies. About 47.9 percent of the students preferred hard copies of DLC course materials and 58.5 percent strongly disagree with the use of CD as DLC reading materials. Majority of the students also preferred to visit DLC office rather than obtaining information on its website. DLC therefore needs to embark on more awareness creation on the need for ICTs usage and strategy to increase adoption by its students.Keywords: Distance Learning, ICT, Electronic materials, Internet, Technology adoptio

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Tertiary conformational transition in sheep hemoglobins induced by reaction with 5,5´-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate) and by binding of inositol hexakisphosphate

We have determined the second-order reverse rate constant, kR, for the reaction of 5,5´-dithiobis(2- nitrobenzoate) – DTNB – with sheep hemoglobins as a function of pH from values of the second-order forward rate constant, kF, and the equilibrium constant, Kequ, at 25 °C: kR¼ kF Kequ. We demonstrate that (i) inositol hexakisphosphate (inositol-P6) decreases kF and kR by increasing Krt, the r⇌t tertiary conformation transition constant; (ii) the conformation favored for both the forward and reverse reactions is the r conformation. For stripped hemoglobin we obtain from the kF data a t isomer population of 34.6% (±14) prior to reaction with DTNB; from the kR data we calculate a t isomer population of 44.8% (±4) following reaction with DTNB. In the presence of inositol-P6 the latter value is increased to 79.5% (±2). These results demonstrate that an allosteric transition occurs on reaction with DTNB and on inositol-P6 binding

Transition of haemoglobin between two tertiary conformations: Inositol hexakisphosphate increases the transition constant and the affinity of sheep haemoglobin for 5,5′-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate)

The equilibrium constant (Kequ) for the reaction of 5,5′-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate) — DTNB — with the CysF9 [93]β sulphydryl group of the haemoglobins of the sheep decreases by about two orders of magnitude between pH≈5.6 and 9.2: from a mean of 7.2±1 to a mean of 0.044±0.01. Calculations from the pH dependence of Kequ show that in the r⇌t tertiary conformational transition of haemoglobin the t isomer population is 50.7 and 61.8% for the major and minor haemoglobins, respectively. In the presence of inositol hexakisphosphate (inositol-P6), Kequ increases for both haemoglobins by about an order of magnitude through most of the pH range. The t isomer population also increases to 82.1 and 79.6% for the major and minor haemoglobins, respectively. These results indicate that inositol-P6 increases the affinity of the sulphydryl for DTNB by increasing the population of the t isomer. It is highly probable that a minimum fourstate model that includes the r⇌t transition is required for a full understanding of haemoglobin function

Effect of cold temperature storage on the quality attributes of pawpaw and guava leathers

The effect of cold temperature storage on the quality attributes of pawpaw and guava leathers was evaluated. Pawpaw leather was significantly higher than guava leather in calorific content, water activity, pH and total mould count throughout the duration of storage. However Guava leather was higher in texture. Sensory scores in relation to period of storage showed that Guava leather gave better result in overall acceptability at zero, one and two months of storage at 8 ± 10C. Guava leather also gave better sensory qualities in fruitiness, smell, chewiness, toughness, colour, and overall acceptability when varietal influence is considered. Guava leather is better accepted. (African Journal of Biotechnology: 2002 1(2): 61-63

Estimating True Movement In Time Series As Linear Combination Of Two Indicators

This paper describes an iterative procedure for estimating true change in a time series as a linear combination of two imperfect indicators with weight chosen to minimize errors particularly when the time series (dependent variables) is not or cannot be observed, this research work was compiled to estimate the coefficients of the ?’s responsiveness of indicators to change in true series, in order to determine the equation that connect variables. It also describes how an appropriate weight could be chosen for the two indicators as to error. We found that; the best estimation for changing the number of caesarean section is; T1 = 0.1720x + 0.967y1- 0.0287 The length of stay in hospital series received a substantial weight compared to the weight of parity series. The final estimate of ax to be positive and reduction of error expected from using the proposed procedure was estimated at about 6% and 27%  per month compared to both parity and length of stay in hospital indicators respectively. Key Words: Imperfect Indicators, True Series, Weighted Time serie

Periodontal Disease and Pregnancy Outcomes

An increasing number of studies are confirming an association between periodontal disease (PD) and adverse outcomes in pregnancy. PD places pregnant women at greater risk for preterm birth than alcohol consumption or smoking. This underscores the importance of offering dental screening to women who are pregnant or contemplating pregnancy and the need for physicians who provide obstetric care to be aware of the possible connection between poor dental health and poor pregnancy outcomes

Vocational Education and Security Challenges in Nigeria: The Way Forward.

Vocational education in Nigeria has gone through the trials and thrills of a developing concept in a developing society, from its glorious heights when it simply followed the traditional system in training the very few persons enrolled in the early stage, to the present, when lecture auditoriums are bursting with pressure from an ever-increasing enrolment. While it may be difficult to pass an absolute lecture, given facilities, class size and the environment of the modern vocational faculties and school, one indubitable fact is that standards have fallen and are continuing to fall. This paper explores the remote and immediate causes of this crash in standard of vocational training in Nigeria, identifies key factors leading to this condition, and recommends a wide range of measures through which vocational education in Nigeria can be revamped, restructured and restored to achieve its glory. Keywords: Vocational Education, Security Challenges, Way Forwards, Nigeri