Problems and prospects of exploring Draw and Paint technique for digital illustration on Adobe Photoshop Cs4 application

Photoshop, a program powered by Adobe incorporated, made its debut in 1990, is used for Photo editing, digital drawing and painting, the newer versions of the software were released into the market subsequently as years went by. Awareness and use Photoshop among many Nigerian artists, photographers and advertising designers came in view in the early 21st century. In art schools and corporate graphic and advertising firm, few professional artists explore all the creative possibilities of Photoshop. In local printing and publishing firm, designers with no formal art training make use of it to edit photographs only. However, Photoshop, not only for photo editing, is also a paint program which can be used to create bitmap or raster illustrations for printing, publishing and wall art. This area has not been properly harnessed by aforementioned users of the software. The production processes for applying digital colours and rendering of line drawings scanned onto Adobe Photoshop Cs4 Layout will be explored in this study. Problems and limitations revolving round traditional to digital illustration will be discussed in this study. The research will provide basic information towards traditional to digital bitmap illustration with Photoshop CS4.Keywords: Digital Illustration, Photoshop, Vector, Bitmap, Draw-and-pain

Evaluation of Pb and Cu contents of selected component parts of waste personal computers

Electronic waste (e-waste) is one of the fastest growing waste streams in the world. The increasing market penetration in developing countries such as Nigeria, replacement market in developed countries and high obsolescence rate, make e-waste one of the fastest growing waste streams. Thirty five (35) units of waste computer central processing unit (CPU) and 24 units of waste computer monitors of different brands, manufacturers, year of manufacture, and model were collected from different electronic repairers’ shops in Ibadan, South-western Nigeria and investigated for the lead and copper contents. The devices were  disassembled and the printed wiring boards (PWB) of the CPUs and monitors; and the cathode ray tube (CRT) of the monitor were milled and representative samples digested with a mixture of HNO3-H2O2-HCl and analysed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS). The results showed very high levels of Cu and Pb in the samples with Cu concentrations ranging from 83100-705300 mg/kg for PWB of CPUs, 39150-630300 mg/kg for PWB of monitors and 73.2-468 mg/kg for CRT. The Pb contents varied from 18060-400650 mg/kg for PWB of CPU, 8460-80850 mg/kg for PWB of monitor and 429-9900 mg/kg for CRT. The results exceeded the Toxicity Threshold Limit Concentration (TTLC) used in  characterizing wastes as toxic. The adoption of inappropriate methods in the management of these  wastes could result in environmental pollution and human exposure to toxins. Consequently, appropriate measures should be adopted to manage these wastes as hazardous wastes.Keywords: personal computers, printed wiring board, computer monitor, lead, copper

Managing Human Capital Development In Small And Medium-Sized Enterprises For Sustainable National Development In Nigeria

This study investigated the challenges confronting human capital development in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria. The authors adopted the survey research design. An instrument was designed using the 5-point Likert scale ranging from strongly agree (5) to strongly disagree (1). The instrument has two sections. Section A has nine items which sought the views and opinions of respondents on the challenges of human capital development in SMEs and Section B has eight items which elicited the demographic profiles of respondents. A total of 165 questionnaires were distributed to the target population using the purposeful (judgmental) sampling technique. Out of the 165 questionnaires administered, 140 were returned upon which the analysis was based. This represents an 85% response rate. Data analysis was carried out with the aid of SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences). It was found that human capital development in Nigerian SMEs leaves much to be desired. Based on the analysis of data, it was found that 79% of respondents agreed and strongly agreed that many SMEs have negative training philosophy and pay lip service to human resource development. Seventy percent of the respondents agreed and strongly agreed that many SMEs do not have laid-down policies governing training and development programmes, while 52% of the respondents agreed and strongly agreed that SMEs engage in human capital development haphazardly, without embarking on need analysis. The authors recommended the need to address the issues of human capital development in SMEs and for SMEs to embrace the investor in people criteria if the desired corporate and national goals are to be realized

Influence Of Host Community On Industrial Relations Practices And Policies: A Survey Of Agbara Community And Power Holding Company Of Nigeria (PHCN)

This study investigated the influence of host community on industrial relations practices and policies using Agbara community and Power Holding Company of Nigeria PLC as a case. The study adopted both the qualitative and quantitative methods. A total of 120 samples were drawn from the population using the simple random sampling technique in which case every member of the population was given an equal and independent chance of being chosen. However, 75 questionnaires were returned upon which the data analysis was based. This was supplemented with the interwiew method. The response rate is 62.5%. With respect to the reliability of the instrument, the coefficient alpha or Cronbachs alpha is 0.73, which implies that the instrument is 73% reliable. The data analysis was carried out with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The Chi-square statistical technique was used to test the hypotheses at 5% level of significance. In testing the first hypothesis that PHCN industrial relations policies and practices are independent of its host community, the following variables were subjected to Chi-square test: 1) PHCN industrial relations policies are influenced by public opinion through the use of suggestion schemes (?2= 33.07 with 4 df; p < .05) and 2) customs/traditions of host community influence PHCN industrial relations policies (?2 = 60.93 with 4 df; p < .05). In testing the second hypothesis, the result of the chi-square test shows that an inclusive stakeholders approach is often used in resolving matters of mutual interest involving host community and PHCN (?2 = 54.23 with 3 df; p < .05). These results are statistically significant. Therefore, there is evidence to reject the null hypotheses and to conclude that PHCN industrial relations policies and practices are dependent or contingent on its host community. PHCN industrial relations policies and practices are influenced by its host community. The authors therefore recommend the inclusion of the host community as one of the actors in industrial relations. This was relegated to the background by Dunlop (1958) in his categorization of actors in industrial relations

Modelling and Analysis of a Supply Chain with Supply, Production and Distribution Reliability Considerations

This paper explores the effects of Supply, Production and Distribution reliabilities in a three-tier supply chain. The central thrust of the work is to examine and analyse on conceptual and analytical bases the effects of reliabilities of the systemic components of the Supply Chain on the overall cost of the Supply Chain. A linear cost-minimization Mathematical Programming Model of a three-stage supply chain is built in which the supply, production and distribution reliabilities determine supplier, production facility and distributor selections and contributing quantities to supplies, productions and distributions of goods respectively. Test experiments are designed as trade-offs of costs and reliabilities incorporated into the variants of the Mathematical Programming Model to study combinations of effects reliabilities on the cost structure of the Supply Chain

Vitamin D supplementation attenuated carageenan-induced paw edema and formalin-induced nociception in indomethacin-treated rats

Background: This work evaluated the effect of vitamin D supplementation on carrageenan-induced paw edema and formalin-induced nociception in indomethacin treated rats.Methods: Rats were grouped into six (A – F) of 5 each. Groups (C – F) were pretreated for 14 days with vitamin D; 250, 500, 1000 and 1000 iu/day respectively. On day 15, they were treated as follows: group A (10 ml/kg distilled water), B; (10 mg/kg indomethacin), C – E; (10 mg/kg indomethacin) F (1000 iu/day vitamin D alone). One hour later 50 1% carrageenan or 25 5% formalin was injected into the sub-plantal surface of left hind paw. For carageenan-induced paw edema, paw sizes were measured 1 h later, then every hour for 5h. For formalin-induced nociception, number of paw licking/lifting was counted for each rat from 0 – 5 min (first phase) and 25 – 30 min (second phase) post-formalin injection.Results: Paw sizes were significantly (P<0.05) lower from 2 – 5 h post-carageenan injection in the 250 iu/day vitamin D + 10 mg/kg indomethacin group when compared with both controls. In the formalin-induced nociception, the 250 iu/day vitamin D + 10 mg/kg indomethacin, 500 iu/day vitamin D + 10 mg/kg indomethacin and the 1000 iu/day vitamin D alone groups produced significantly (p<0.05) lower number of paw lifting when compared with both controls in both phases.Conclusion: These findings suggest that vitamin D exerts antiinflammatory and antinociceptive responses that could be relevant for clinical application

Evaluation of the Ph, Iron and Lead Levels of the Functional Boreholes in Federal Government College, Warri, Delta, Nigeria

The pH, Iron and Lead levels in borehole water collected randomly from some selected borehole drinking water in Federal Government College (F.G.C ) Warri, Delta State, Nigeria was analysed.  It was compared with NAFDAC, WHO and NSDWQ standards for safe drinking water.  Experimental research design was used to collect and analyze five samples of untreated borehole drinking water all in Federal Government College, Warri.  pH was determined by Winlab Model 290A pH meter, iron and lead by Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) and addition of 5.0ml of concentrated HNO3. The result of the findings were compared with that of NAFDAC, WHO and NSDWQ recommended standard for safe drinking water which showed that all the samples of borehole waters are safe for consumption Keywords: pH, Iron, Lead, borehole, drinking water

Proximate and mineral composition of Pelusios castaneus (West African mud turtle) flesh sold in Edo State, Nigeria

This study was undertaken to determine the proximate and mineral composition of Pelusios castaneus (West African-mud turtle) so as to contribute to the availability of data in Nigeria. A total of thirteen (13) male and female each of African mud turtle (Pelusios casteneus) were purchased in Benin City, Nigeria. Specimen were identified to species level, stunned and slaughtered; then each of the turtle were dissected into flanges and Microwave digestion system (Closed Vessels Acid Digestion – MARS System - CEM) procedure was used for the digestion of all the samples based on organic extraction technique before the proximate composition and the mineral contents of the flesh were determined using AOAC methods and standard technique. Data were analyzed using SPSS (version 21) and statistically using ANOVA and DMRT. Result shows that there were significant variations in the different parameters studied; the highest and lowest moisture content values of 67.00% and 52.56% were observed in the male and female respectively. Highest crude protein and lipid values of 26.78% and 15.00%, were observed in the female respectively; while the highest ash content value of 11.33% was observed in the male. While the mean mineral concentrations in the flesh varied among the different elements studied, the overall potassium had the highest value of 4030.82mg while the least value was observed in magnesium (871.04mg). Though Pelusios castaneus has been culturally important to Nigerians, the finding shows that the flesh is a valuable source of mineral elements and proximate components required in diet. Domestication in Nigeria is therefore encouraged to make them commercially available to reduce the pressure on their harvest from the wild thus preventing their going into extinction. &nbsp

Petroleum Products Scarcity in Abakaliki and the Challenges of Enforcing Administrative Law by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC Ebonyi State Command)

This study was carried out to appraise the role played by the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC Ebonyi state command) in controlling crime and civil disobedience especially during the petroleum products scarcity in Abakaliki from 12th to 14th November, 2014. Public sentiment paradigm and the interest group theoretical perspective were combined to appraise the role played by the corps during the impasse. The interest group theory was adopted for the study, based on its relevance to the working of the NSCDC in Nigeria. The area and population of study were the entire Ebonyi state and its residents that use petroleum products on almost on a daily basis. The sad story is that liberty and freedom to exercise administrative power have often led to administrative vices like impunity, oppression, victimization and so on. This was evident in the hardship suffered by residents of Abakaliki during the misunderstanding between the Ebonyi state command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps and the Ebonyi State Petroleum Marketers Association. It is therefore needful to put in place strategies such as strategic public opinion boxes for masses to lodge their grievances on the excessive use of administrative laws to provide checks and balances in the administrative setting and to stimulate remedies for those who become victims of executive or administrative high handedness and misrule. Keywords: Petroleum products, challenges, administrative law, NSCDC

Performance Evaluation of Some Potential Bionematicides on Leaf and Fruit Production of Capsicum annuum

Plant-derived pesticides has become a mainstay in the control of pest, due to the fact that synthetic pesticides induce environmental degradation. The effective control of plant nematode has been found to improve the yield and economic value of farm produce. Certain growth parameters are visible in diseased plant, these in turn affects the final output of the produce. The performance evaluation of some bionematicides were investigated with five plants (Azadirachta indica, Vernonia amygdalina, Manihot esculenta, Carica papaya. and Citrus sinensis) using Capsicum plant in a two trial sessions, within exposure periods of 30, 60 and 90-days, at different concentrations (20, 30 and 40g). The growth parameters monitored were numbers of leave and fruit produced. Results showed that, compared to the control, all treatments similarly demonstrated significant improvement in leaf and fruit production, with much more improvement in the second trial (p &lt; 0.05). Thus the applied treatment significantly (p &lt; 0.05), induced varying degrees of nematotoxicity resulting to improved leaf and fruit production of Capsicum annum (Pepper plant. Based on the findings of this research, we therefore conclude that all treatments (i.e. tested plant), demonstrated significant improvements in the development of Capsicum plant and as such can be recommended as Bionematicide