How Careers Advice and Guidance can Facilitate Career Development in TVET Graduates: The case in Nigeria

This study examined the current state of careers advice, guidance, and counselling (CAGC) services and programs in the technical, vocational education, and training (TVET) system of Nigerian higher education institutions (HEIs). This was to determine how well current CAGC services and programs foster students’ career development, aspirations, and choices. Forty-eight participants, who were members of the Nigerian National Board for Technical Education (8 participants), guidance counsellors (6), university TVET teachers (18), career experts from the National Directorate of Employment (7), and newly employed TVET graduates (9), volunteered for the study. A purposeful sampling procedure was adopted to recruit participants. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview approach, and we employed a thematic design for the coding and analysis of the transcribed data. The study found no CAGC services and programs in the TVET system. It is recommended, therefore, that TVET systems should focus on providing career development enhanced learning rather than schooling only by revising the curriculum to include programs and activities that promote CAGC activities and programs

Study of the Effects of Thermal Annealing on the Optical Band Gap of Nanocrystalline CoO Thin Films Prepared by Chemical Bath Deposition.

Nanocrystalline films of cobalt oxide have been prepared on glass slides by chemical bath deposition process. For deposition of CoO thin films, cobaltous chloride [CoCl2.6H2O] was used as cationic and ammonia [NH3] as anionic precursor in aqueous medium. In this process NaOH was used as complexing agent. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopic [SEM] analysis have been used to study the films’ crystal structures, optical and solid state properties. We hereby present the effects of thermal annealing on the optical band gap of CoO thin films. The optical transition in the films is direct one. For the as- deposited film, the band gap is 2.1eV. This later decreased to 2.08eV, so that increased thermal annealing reduces the optical band gap of CoO. However,the energy gap cannot be said to be dependent on the annealing temperatures. These films could be used as  photovoltaic cells, sensors light emitting diodes and also in biomedical imaging. Key Words: Nanocrystalline CoO, Chemical Bath Deposition, Band Gap and                               Thermal Annealing

Sustainability of Climate Change Adaptation Measures in South-South, Nigeria

The rampaging effects of climate change on Nigeria agriculture cannot be totally undermined, hence, the sustainability of climate change adaptation measures in South-South, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 142 farmers who were interviewed to elicit information bordering on climate change in the area. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, ordinary least square multiple regression technique and the scaling model. Results showed that the socio-economic factors investigated influenced the decisiveness of the farmers in embracing adaptive strategies to checkmate the overindulgence of climatic variations in the area. Age of the farmers, educational level, household size, farming experience, farm size, extension contacts were all positive and significant factors. Result also shows that there is increasing rate of temperature, rainfall volume, sunshine hours and number of rainy days and decreasing rate of light intensity and wind. The adaptation techniques of the farmers were classified into highly sustainable adaptation strategies which include; use of pest and disease resistant varieties, use of organic fertilizers, tree planting, early information seeking on climate change etc and slightly sustainable; planting of different crop varieties, mulching, mixed cropping, etc. All the farmers in the area perceived inadequate capital as a major constraint in coping with climate change effects. Hence, this study recommends government all levels to sensitize the crop farmers on the devastating effects of climate change on agriculture as well as provide supports where necessary to cushion its negative impacts

Oscillatory Shear Flow-Induced Alignment of Lamellar Melts of Hydrogen-Bonded Comb Copolymer Supramolecules

In this work we present the orientational behavior of comb copolymer-like supramolecules P4VP(PDP)1.0, obtained by hydrogen bonding between poly(4-vinylpyridine) and pentadecylphenol, during large-amplitude oscillatory shear flow experiments over a broad range of frequencies (0.001-10 Hz). The alignment diagram, presenting the macroscopic alignment in T/TODT vs ω/ωc, contains three regions of parallel alignment separated by a region of perpendicular alignment. For our material, the order-disorder temperature TODT = 67 °C and ωc, the frequency above which the distortion of the chain conformation dominates the materials’ viscoelasticity, is around 0.1 Hz at 61 °C. For the first time flipping from a pure transverse alignment via biaxial transverse/perpendicular alignment to a perpendicular alignment as a function of the strain amplitude was found.

Gene content evolution in the arthropods

Arthropods comprise the largest and most diverse phylum on Earth and play vital roles in nearly every ecosystem. Their diversity stems in part from variations on a conserved body plan, resulting from and recorded in adaptive changes in the genome. Dissection of the genomic record of sequence change enables broad questions regarding genome evolution to be addressed, even across hyper-diverse taxa within arthropods. Using 76 whole genome sequences representing 21 orders spanning more than 500 million years of arthropod evolution, we document changes in gene and protein domain content and provide temporal and phylogenetic context for interpreting these innovations. We identify many novel gene families that arose early in the evolution of arthropods and during the diversification of insects into modern orders. We reveal unexpected variation in patterns of DNA methylation across arthropods and examples of gene family and protein domain evolution coincident with the appearance of notable phenotypic and physiological adaptations such as flight, metamorphosis, sociality, and chemoperception. These analyses demonstrate how large-scale comparative genomics can provide broad new insights into the genotype to phenotype map and generate testable hypotheses about the evolution of animal diversity

A prospective study of chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia in the South West London Cancer Network. Interpretation of study results in light of NCAG/NCEPOD findings

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia is a medical emergency complicating the treatment of many cancer patients. It is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality, as well as impacting on healthcare resources. METHODS: A prospective study of all cases of chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia in the South West London Cancer Network was conducted over a 4-month period. Factors including demographics, treatment history, management of febrile neutropenia and outcome were recorded. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Our results reflect those of the recent National Chemotherapy Advisory Group (NCEPOD, 2008)/National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcomes and Death reports (NCAG, 2009) and highlight the need for network-wide c inical care pathways to improve outcomes in this area, British Journal of Cancer (2011) 104, 407-412. doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6606059 www.bjcancer.com Published online 21 December 2010 (C) 2011 Cancer Research U

Renal Function in Patients with Hypertension Associated Congestive Cardiac Failure Seen in a Tertiary Hospital

Background. Chronic kidney disease is frequently seen in patients with congestive cardiac failure and is an independent risk factor for morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of chronic kidney disease in patients with hypertension associated congestive cardiac failure. Method. One hundred and fifty patients with hypertension associated congestive cardiac failure were recruited consecutively from the medical outpatient department and the medical wards of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi over a one year period, January to December 2010. Patients’ biodata and medical history were obtained, detailed physical examination done and each patient had a chest X-ray, 12 lead ECG, urinalysis, serum urea and creatinine assay done. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Ethical Review Board of our institution and data analysed using SPSS-version 16. Results. There were 86 males and 64 females with mean age 62.7±12.5 years. The mean blood pressures were systolic 152.8±28.5 mmHg and diastolic 94.3±18 mmHg. 84.7% had blood pressure ≥140/90 mmHg on presentation. The mean GFR was 70.1±31.3 mls/min. 76% of subjects had GFR <90 mls/min and no statistical significant difference between males and females, P=0.344. The mean serum urea was 7.2±51 mmol/L while the mean serum creatinine was 194±416.2 mmol/L. Conclusions. This study has demonstrated that majority of patients presenting with hypertension associated congestive cardiac failure have some degree of chronic kidney disease