Oral health knowledge, perceptions and behaviour among nursing students in a Nigerian tertiary hospital

Aim: The purpose of the study was to investigate oral health knowledge, perceptions and behaviour amongst nursing students in a Nigerian tertiary hospital. Materials and methods: The study was conducted at University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital on 244 respondents aged 17 to 40 years, using self administered structured questionnaire. Result: Respondents showed high level of oral health knowledge. Most of them (68.3%), had never visited a dentist with females accounting for 144 (67.7%) (P > 0.05). About 58.0% of the respondents brushed once a day. Majority, 155 (70.5%), of females perceived their oral health as good as against 14 (58.3%) males. Conclusion: The respondents had good oral health knowledge, but poor oral health behaviour. Importance of regular dental visit, frequent tooth brushing, should be stressed. Keywords: Oral health, knowledge, behaviour, Nursing students, tertiary hospital. Tanzania Dental Journal Vol. 14 (1) 2007: pp. 26-2

Design and determination of the efficiency of a slanting-type solar water distillation kit

The solar water distillation system is a non-toxic and promising device for water purification. A slanting-type solar water distillation kit was fabricated and tested outdoor under the meteorological conditions of Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria. The system consists of four major components; a wooden basin of surface area 0.16 m2, an absorber surface, a slanting glass roof and a condensate channel. Locally available materials were used to fabricate the solar still. The solar still produced an average of 0.09 m3 of distilled water per day, and this study was performed in the month of November, 2015. Daily efficiencies of the distillation kit were estimated and the average efficiency of the kit was found to be 7.7%. Though the efficiency is small as is peculiar to many solar systems, the output can be increased by increasing some parameters like the surface area, slanting angle of the roof, and the evaporation rate. Also, since the materials are readily available, one can fabricate as many solar distillation kits as possible to tackle the daily demand of potable water. Solar distillation kits can also serve as sources of distilled water for our hospitals and industries.Keywords: Imo State, potable water, solar still efficiency, water distillation, water purificatio

Fabrication and characterization of a slanting-type solar water distillation kit

Supply of portable water is a major problem in underdeveloped as well as in some developing countries. Distillation is one of many processes that can be used for water purification and solar energy can be a source of energy for solar stills. We fabricated a slanting-type solar water distillation kit which was tested outdoor under the meteorological conditions of Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria. The system includes four major components; a wooden basin of surface area 0.16 m2, an absorber surface, a slanting glass roof and a condensate channel. Very cheap locally available materials were used to fabricate the solar still. The solar still produced an average of 0.09 m3 of distilled water per day, and this study was performed in the month of November, 2015. Though the condensate was small compared to average human need as is peculiar to many solar stills, the output can be increased by fabricating solar still of larger surface area. Also, since the materials are cheap and readily available, one can fabricate as many solar distillation kits as possible to tackle the daily demand of potable water.Keywords: Imo State, potable water, solar energy, water distillatio

Training Needs of Pineapple Farmers in Enugu State, Nigeria

The study identified training needs of pineapple farmers in Enugu State, Nigeria. Purposive sampling technique was used to select two zones (Awgu and Nsukka zones), four blocks, eight circles and eighty pineapple farmers that were used for the study. Some of the data were analysed with percentage and mean score while some were presented in charts.. Majority (77.5%) of the respondents did not have contact with extension agents in 2011 and they sourced information on pineapple from neighbours (86.3%).The mean annual expenditure and income from pineapple were N27, 568 and N235, 530 respectively. Majority (96.2%) of the respondents had no training on processing and preservation of pineapple and off season production of pineapple (85%). Majority of the respondents indicated that training on pineapple should be organized by researchers (65%) through interpersonal communication (83.8%) using local language (Igbo) (78.8%). Provision of effective micro-credit facilities (M=2.84) and stability of government policy (stability of price of pineapple) (M=2.68) were perceived by the respondents as major strategies that will improve pineapple production in the area. The study encouraged building capacities of pineapple farmers through informal training especially in the areas of processing, preservation and off-season production of pineapple so that they can face challenges of the enterprise, boost their farm size and income

Training Needs of Pineapple Farmers in Enugu State, Nigeria

The study identified training needs of pineapple farmers in Enugu State, Nigeria. Purposive sampling technique was used to select two zones (Awgu and Nsukka zones), four blocks, eight circles and eighty pineapple farmers that were used for the study. Some of the data were analysed with percentage and mean score while some were presented in charts.. Majority (77.5%) of the respondents did not have contact with extension agents in 2011 and they sourced information on pineapple from neighbours (86.3%).The mean annual expenditure and income from pineapple were N27, 568 and N235, 530 respectively. Majority (96.2%) of the respondents had no training on processing and preservation of pineapple and off season production of pineapple (85%). Majority of the respondents indicated that training on pineapple should be organized by researchers (65%) through interpersonal communication (83.8%) using local language (Igbo) (78.8%). Provision of effective micro-credit facilities (M=2.84) and stability of government policy (stability of price of pineapple) (M=2.68) were perceived by the respondents as major strategies that will improve pineapple production in the area. The study encouraged building capacities of pineapple farmers through informal training especially in the areas of processing, preservation and off-season production of pineapple so that they can face challenges of the enterprise, boost their farm size and income

Preparation of Carbon Brushes from Agro-Waste Materials Palm Kernels Shells for Automobile Industry

The carbon brush is mainly applied in a rotating shaft as an electrical contact in conducting current between static wires and moving parts. It is applied majorly in electric motors, alternators, and electric. The automobile industry has recently developed rapidly in the world with numerous novel kinds of motors with low power and high speed. The materials that are utilized in the manufacture of carbon brush are copper metal, amorphous carbon, graphite, retort cokes, petroleum coke, binders, lubricants, and some other metal powders serving various purposes. The major part of the carbon brushes is carbon which can be derived from carbonaceous materials such as agro-waste. The agro-waste of palm kernel shell was prepared through pyrolysis using an anaerobic furnace at 500 °C – 800 °C for five hours to obtain carbonaceous material. The carbon which is the main component was activated at this temperature using the physical activation method. The samplers produced contained copper, zinc, and molybdenum disulphide as a lubricant with a resin binder in a different ratio. The samples were characterized by several testing. The results showed that the hardness, bending strength 1125 N/mm2, resistivity 14 μΩcm, and bulk density 1026 g/cm3. These were compared with control samples from the industry which have Brinell hardness 398.22 BHN, bending strength 1305 N/mm2, resistivity 22 μΩcm, and bulk density 1104 g/cm3. From the comparison result, the properties measured of the sample fell within a reasonable range with the industry carbon brush. In conclusion, the result demonstrates that agro-waste such as palm kernel shell is a viable means in the production of carbon brushes for the automobile industry

Insight on the Electrodeposition Technology and Parameter for Corrosion Control of Structural Steel

Corrosion has been and still the world’s worst nightmare which costs hundreds and thousands of dollars for companies to maintain their equipment and repairs. Studies are being done all around the world to create the solution toward preventing the corrosion by surface engineering technology. One of the simplest and most cost effective methods to provide thin film coating for advance application is through electrolytic deposition route. However, bath framework has been a major concern for stable coating. Thus this studies look into the insight on the Corrosion, electrodeposition and visible additive for zinc plating technology

The influence of aluminium metal matrix composite reinforcement - A mini review

The joined influence of fortifying metal matrix composites with separate and numerous particle reinforcing agents like hybrid metal matrix composites are utilized greatly in the manufacturing industry. This is attributed to the enriched mechanical and wears characteristics such as strength, impact and wear resistance. In the present study, a series of research undertakings were carried out. This paper directs the technologists and scientists towards the appropriate collection of materials by their constituents in the field of study and diverse methods used in the fabrication of metal matrix composites, especially on the metallurgical stir casting process