The Impact of Male-Exposure in the Neuronal Response of the L3 Auditory Intemeuron to Model Calls

The L3 auditory neuron in female cricket Acheta domesticus responds to phonotactically attractive calls with decrement: a reduction in the number of action potentials in response to consecutive sound pulses within a chirp. Such unique response has been reported only in virgin females. This study evaluates the response of the L3 in male-exposed females to determine whether they respond to auditory stimuli differently from those exhibited by virgin female crickets. Preliminary data indicate that L3 in young exposed female crickets responds with different decrement patterns as those reported for virgin females. The implications of these findings are discussed

The Perceptions of College Faculty Toward Gamification: Opportunities and Challenges

Gamification is the use of game elements (storytelling, leaderboard, badges, points, and progress bars), mechanics (rules, objectives and challenges), and game designs in non-game contexts (Deterding, 2012; Kapp, 2012; Wiggins, 2016). The use of gamification in learning environments has been on a steady increase since 2010 (Deterding, 2017). This may be due to the limitations of game-based learning, and the need for specialized instructors (Simoes, Redondo, & Vilas, 2013). However, researchers such as Boer (2014) believe the effects of gamification on students’ engagement and motivation appear lower than expected. This is because studies such as Dichev and Dicheva (2017) indicated that its effect on motivation was lower than anticipated and argued that the design of a successful gamified learning experience that could motivate learning and change behaviors remained a guessing practice. This study used the collective case study method for data analysis and the syntheses of studies from gamification researchers to investigate and understand faculty members’ perceptions of the opportunities and challenges inherent in the use of gamification in adult students’ learning. The study then developed a robust framework for scientifically designing successful gamification learning experiences using Keller’s (1979, 1987) attention, relevance, confidence and satisfaction (ARCS) model of motivation, and Freire’s (2013) critical thinking concept as guiding lenses. Among other findings, the study found that a well-designed gamified learning experience engenders the following opportunities: (a) reduces the barriers to learning through the use of meaningful storytelling, which enables the opportunity to inject humor and experiential learning; (b) stimulates intrinsic motivation through the use of the game element of teamwork or group work, which induces good student-to-student and students-to-faculty relationships; and (c) creates the feelings of autonomy in students with the use of the game design principle of repetition

A Missiological Study Of The Phenomenon Of Dual Allegiance In The Seventh-day Adventist Church Among The Yoruba People Of Nigeria

Problem Many Africans and members of other traditional societies of the world who still hold to a supernaturalistic and spiritualistic worldview visit diviners, shamans, spiritualistic herbalists, and the traditional medicine men and women who use enchantments, divination, charms, invocation of the spirit world, etc. They engage in such practices for various reasons which include, to diagnose and treat various ailments, both physical and psychological which plague their clients, a quest to know the future through divination, and also for the preparation of different kinds of charms and medicines. Christians, including some Yoruba Adventists, also engage in such consultations, a practice which is categorically condemned in the Scriptures, the normative source for the Christian faith and life. Purpose of the Study he purpose of this research was, first, to study the causes, forms, meanings, and ramifications of dual allegiance among Yoruba Seventh-day Adventists, and, second, to propose an Adventist response to dual allegiance among Yoruba Seventh-day Adventists. Method I used a basic or generic qualitative research approach to gather data for subsequent analysis and study. Data collection was done among Yoruba Seventh-day Adventists in Nigeria. Participants were interviewed regarding worldview, culture, causes for the calamities of life, solutions for the problem of life, their ethno-history, encounters with Christianity, and other experiences that generated a rich data supply for the study. Results The research showed that dual allegiance exists among the Yoruba SeventhAdventists and it appears in different forms; it was caused by the discrepancies in the cultural and worldview specificities between the Christian missionaries and those of the Yoruba recipients; the lack of contextualization of the gospel to the Yoruba milieu; slavery in the history of the Yoruba, especially due to the participation in it by some Christian missionaries and bishops; failures in the three essential Christian encounters of allegiance, truth, and power; people movement; and the role of Ifa, the Yoruba deity of wisdom and divination in the missionary expeditions among the Egba, a sub-tribe in the nineteenth century. Conclusion and Recommendations Dual allegiance is a significant issue in the Seventh-day Adventist Church that needs a concerted effort to both detect and eliminate from within the believers. Critical contextualization is the process that will address the problem. A major emphasis is needed on the power of the gospel. Pastors and lay leaders of the church need to be trained in critical contextualization. The creation of a study center for African Traditional Religions and worldviews will help the denomination to better understand how to contextualize mission to Africans and other people groups with similar worldviews

Access to higher education and career advancement for women in the South African work environment

Women are underrepresented in terms of access to higher education in sub-Saharan Africa. In contrast, six out of every ten first degree and 44% of PhD graduates in all disciplines were South African women. Yet, despite the number of South African women accessing higher education this has not really translated into career advancement in the workplace. Specifically, the paper seeks to understand how a higher education degree may facilitate the career advancement of women in the workplace. Two keys concepts underpin the study, namely, lifelong learning and human capital development (HCD). The conceptual framework is thus premised on an understanding that access to higher education for women is critical to HCD, which is a key factor if organisations are to improve their performance. Methodologically, the study used a mixed methods design. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with selected senior women managers and 234 questionnaires were administered to junior workers at a telecommunications organisation in South Africa in 2015. The findings point to the importance of lifelong learning in higher education for women as it assists in reducing gaps in income, accessing senior management positions and, thus, achieving their goals as women. Perhaps the most abiding idea that emerges is that the women in this study displayed a strong sense of ambition

Experimental Analysis of Shale for Evaluating Shale Drilling Fluid Interaction in Agbada Formation

Aims: To characterize the shale samples from Agbada formation and to develop an inhibitive water-based mud for the shale types. Study Design: Experimental. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Petroleum, University of Port Harcourt Rivers State, Agbada Formation Niger-Delta Region, between March 2011 and August 2012. Methodology: This study includes the determination of shale properties such as mineralogy, cation exchange capacity, native moisture content and total organic carbon content of the shale samples collected from two wells in Agbada Field. It also involves the establishment of an adsorption isotherm for the shale and the modeling of these isotherms using the Guggenheim, Anderson and Deboer model. Results: Based on the results of the dispersion and swelling tests, 3% Bentonite + 1% Potassium Chloride (KCl) were selected as the promising fluid. Well A exhibited the Type II isotherm which is common to most shale while Well B showed the Type V isotherm. Adsorption isotherm model predictions were in agreement with experimental observations. The samples from the wells exhibited dispersion after testing with deionized water. For Well A and B, 3% Bentonite + 1% Potassium Chloride (KCl) inhibits and yielded higher shale percent recovery values from dispersion tests. Conclusion: It was observed from adsorption isotherm models that the total organic carbon content is not a significant factor in the adsorptive and dispersive behaviors exhibited by the shale samples

Effect of Reversible Invert Emulsion Fluid Additives on The Environment – An Environmental Concern During Drilling Operation

The effect of reversible invert emulsion drilling fluid additives on the soil has been examined in order to evaluate their toxicity and possible environmental impacts that may result from their indiscriminate disposal. Development of effective policies for discharges depends on consideration of the specific local environmental conditions that govern the fate of discharge materials, the scientific basis for assessing the potential for effects in that environment, and balanced consideration of the environmental effects and relative costs of discharge versus other disposal options. This paper reviews the framework that will help achieve general regulatory acceptance of the discharge of reversible invert emulsion mud. In this study, the contaminated soil samples were collected and analysed for metals (iron, copper, zinc, lead, nickel, chromium, manganese, calcium and magnesium) using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS) method. The results showed that Calcium (Ca) has the highest concentration followed by Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu) with varying level of toxic metals like lead (Pb), Nickel (Ni), Manganese (Mn) and Chromium (Cr) in the soil sample. Metals like Fe, Mn and Cu generally have values higher than that of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and World Health Organization Standards thereby implying possible negative impacts on the immediate environments. It is therefore recommended that wastes resulting from oil cuttings and drilling muds should be properly treated before it is disposed into the environment by oil exploration companies

Family Background and Entrepreneurial Intention of Fresh Graduates in Nigeria

This study seeks to assess, empirically, the impact of family background on the entrepreneurial intention among fresh graduates in Nigeria. The family as a social institution remains resilient in its psychological functions in Nigeria. It is a source of finance and human resources, social and cultural values, and role modeling.  While studies have shown that family background is one of the numerous determinants of entrepreneurial intention, we know little about the role which family background plays in the promotion of entrepreneurial intentions in Nigeria, especially among the fresh graduates.  This study, therefore, seeks to test the hypothesis that family background has significant influence on the entrepreneurial intention among fresh graduates in Nigeria. We draw a sample of 250 corps’ members, currently serving with the Nigerian Youth Service Corp (NYSC) in Bayelsa state, using a simple random sampling technique. With the aid of the primary data collected, our findings are quite revealing. Following the preliminary conclusions drawn from this study, we offer suggestions for further studies. Keywords; Entrepreneurial intention, perception of feasibility, perception of desirability, family background, and Problem-Based Learning

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND AND IMPACT OF WOMEN’S INVOLVEMENT IN FORMAL EDUCATION IN NIGERIA

Girl‘s educational opportunities tend to be circumscribed by patriarchal attitude. Lack of education has been a strong visible barrier to female participation in the formal sector. The social pressures on females such as early marriage and other extraneous factors as well as consideration of female education as secondary to that of boys and certain inhibitive religious practices are the major causes of the high illiteracy rate amongst women. As the impact of teenage pregnancy and early marriage make abundantly clear, girls are at a double disadvantage in educational access especially in the Northern part of the country where these practice are mostly widespread. Parents attach greater importance to the education of boys than girls. This is always the likelihood when the parents lack resources to enrol all children in school. In some families, investing in girl‘s education is regarded as investing for the benefit of the family she will eventually marry into. This argument holds in particular for higher education, which involves greater expenditure and is seen to be less necessary for female. This paper through the use of secondary sources attempt the historical background of women‘s education in Nigeria, which later led to their involvement in formal education sector bringing to an end female inferiority complex established from childhood through social interactions in the home

Evaluation of Leadership and Employee Commitment to Work in Nigeria Bottling Company

The issue of leadership role in industrial sector nowadays in Nigeria has generated various scholarly arguments among researchers leadeship and employee relationship within the manufacturing and industrial sector of Nigeria are more of servant and master relationship which invariably determines the worker commitment to their various work within the organization. Some of this argument on leadership styles within the Beverage’s company gave impetus for studying and evaluate the different leadership styles adopted in Nigerian Bottling Company. However, employees attitudes towards job utility and satisfaction were investigated in the research work.69 workers were investigated and their responses were tabulated and interpreted through simple percentage.Hence, results were generated from the research work and recommendations were made for future research.Key words:Leadership; Employee; Work; Managemen