Parenting styles and peer-pressure as predictors of substance abuse among university students

The study investigated the prevalence of substance abuse and its prediction by parenting styles and peer pressure among university students. Participants in this cross-sectional survey consisted of four hundred and fifty two randomly selected undergraduates of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye. The sample consisted of 221 (48.9%) males and 231 (51.1) females. Participants' age ranges were as follow: 126 (27.9%) were aged between 18 and than 20 years, 312 (69.0%) were aged between 20 and 25 years while 14 (3.1 %) were aged between 25 and above. Students who were younger than 18 years were excluded from participating in the study. Results indicated that about 4 7% of all respondents reported current use while 58% reported lifetime use of one or more psychoactive substances. Prevalence rates of use of all categories of drugs by respondents are presented in Table I. Life time prevalence rate was highest for alcohol (43.14%), followed by tobacco (37.61 %), stimulants (22.57%), cannabis ( 18.14%), sedatives (17.92%) and heroin (12.17%). parenting styles (permissive parenting, authoritarian parenting and authoritative parenting), peer pressure and sex jointly predicted substance abuse among students (R = .48; F = 9.16; p<.01) by accounting for 23% of the variances in substance abuse. The study highlighted the important roles of parenting styles (especially authoritative parenting), peer pressure, age and gender in understanding students' substance abuse problem. The study concluded that these variables should be factored into intervention programmes aimed at stemming the tides of substance abuse among university students. ifi~salso important for relevant interventions to commence before students enter the university since many young people come 'to the university or college with pre-existing perceptions and expectations concerning substance use, and often start uruversity with already established habits and orientation

Evaluation of two MiniSTR loci mutation events in five Father-Mother-Child trios of Yoruba origin

The robustness of short tandem repeats for use in forensic and paternity depends on their high polymorphism and mutation rate. This study tried to determine the event of mutation of two miniSTR loci in the Yoruba population. Blood samples were collected from five father-motherchild trios of Yoruba origin. Two DNA extraction methods, an homemade method and Zymogen gDNA kit were tested for yield and purity for use in the STR assay. The DNA were amplified and resolved on 4% Agarose gel. The first DNA extraction method yielded an average DNA concentration of 1399 ng/μl and while the Kit yielded 984.1 ng/μl; absorbence quotient at 260/280 of 1.78 and 1.55 respectively. Locus D1GATA113 was detected in the father and mother of two families; A and C. D5S2500 was detected only in the male parent (father) in family D. DNA extracted using any of the two methods in this study is appriopriate for use in STR mutation assay but the PCR condition for mutation miniSTR loci among the yoruba still requires extensive optimization.Keywords: DNA extraction Methods, miniSTRs, mutation, Yorub

Magnetic Spin Susceptibility of quasi-particles in metals using the Landau Fermi Liquid Theory

     38  In this work, the magnetic spin susceptibility of quasi-particles in metals were computed for some metals based on the modified Landau Fermi Liquids Theory using the electron density parameter. The results showed that for each metal, the Landau magnetic spin susceptibility of quasi-particles is higher than the computed magnetic spin susceptibility of quasi-particles and experimental values.  This may be due to the fact that the Landau parameter must have been over estimated in its application. The computed magnetic spin susceptibility of quasi-particles is in good agreement with the experimental values of metals available with a remarkable agreement at. The better estimation of the magnetic spin susceptibility of quasi-particles using the modified Landau Fermi Liquid theory were compared with available experimental values. This show that the introduction of the electron density parameter in the Landau Fermi Liquid theory is promising in predicting the contribution of quasi-particles to the bulk properties of metals. The magnetic spin susceptibility of quasi-particles for transition metals is higher than most of the magnetic spin susceptibility of quasi-particles for alkali metals. This suggests that the magnetic spin susceptibility is considerably higher for most transition metals due to the incomplete inner electronic shells as more quasi-particles can be excited which enhances their susceptibility than the alkali metals

Private Sponsorship of Rural Development Broadcasts on Radio in Southwest Nigeria

The study explored the private sponsorship prospects of rural development broadcasts (RDBs) on radio in Southwest Nigeria. Forty private sponsors of programmes were randomly selected for the study. Questionnaire was used to collect data on private sponsorship status of RDBs, reasons for broadcasts’ sponsorship, factors hindering RDBs sponsorship and willingness to sponsor RDBs. Frequency counts and binomial logit were used to analyse the resulting data. There was a low sponsorship status (26.7%) of RDBs among the sponsors. Inadequate knowledge of benefits derivable from sponsorship of RDBs (30%) hindered sponsorship of RDBs while increased sensitisation on these benefits (40%) would enhance their sponsorship status. Increased brand awareness was the most important reason (46.7%) that propelled sponsors to support broadcasts. Most sponsors (66.7%) would be willing to support RDBs on radio. Sponsors’ characteristics were not significantly related to their willingness to sponsor RDBs. Stakeholders in rural development broadcasting should therefore step up their sensitisation campaigns among prospective sponsors to intimate them of the listenership strength of RDBs in the area in order to improve the sponsorship situation

Influence of Information Sources on Awareness of Forestry-related Technology in Southwest Nigeria

Forestry-related technologies (FRTs) are practices to mitigate and ameliorate effects of environmental degradation resulting from agricultural production practices. However, inadequate sources of information on FRTs among farmers limit and hinder farmers’ awareness of such technologies. This study investigated the interrelatedness of information sources and awareness of FRTs in Southwest Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to randomly select respondents from Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN) catchments areas in the study area. A total of 444 respondents were selected for the study. Data on information sources and awareness were collected using a structured interview schedule. Analysis involved use of descriptive statistics and Pearson product-moment correlation. Predominant sources of FRT information were forestry staff (95.5%) and relatives (66.2%). Most farmers (91.7%) were aware of windbreaks, 89.9% each were aware of taungya and fuelwood production while 83.0% was aware of alley farming. Farmers’ information sources is significantly related to their awareness of FRT (r= 0.40, p< 0.01). It was concluded that farmers’ information sources affect their awareness of FRTs. It was therefore recommended that information sources on FRTs should be improved upon in order to enhance farmers’ awareness of them

Antibacterial and Morphological Studies of Electrospun Silver-Impregnated Polyacrylonitrile Nanofibre

Silver-impregnated polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibre was prepared through electrospinning process. Infra-red spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Thermo gravimetric analyses (TGA/DTA) were used to characterize PAN and PAN/Ag composites. The XRD results reflects decrease in the crystallinity of PAN as it is been modified with Ag. Antibacterial activity of PAN/Ag was also investigated

Influence of Information Sources on Awareness of Forestry-related Technology in Southwest Nigeria

Forestry-related technologies (FRTs) are practices to mitigate and ameliorate effects of environmental degradation resulting from agricultural production practices. However, inadequate sources of information on FRTs among farmers limit and hinder farmers’ awareness of such technologies. This study investigated the interrelatedness of information sources and awareness of FRTs in Southwest Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to randomly select respondents from Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN) catchments areas in the study area. A total of 444 respondents were selected for the study. Data on information sources and awareness were collected using a structured interview schedule. Analysis involved use of descriptive statistics and Pearson product-moment correlation. Predominant sources of FRT information were forestry staff (95.5%) and relatives (66.2%). Most farmers (91.7%) were aware of windbreaks, 89.9% each were aware of taungya and fuelwood production while 83.0% was aware of alley farming. Farmers’ information sources is significantly related to their awareness of FRT (r= 0.40, p< 0.01). It was concluded that farmers’ information sources affect their awareness of FRTs. It was therefore recommended that information sources on FRTs should be improved upon in order to enhance farmers’ awareness of them

Private Sponsorship of Rural Development Broadcasts on Radio in Southwest Nigeria

The study explored the private sponsorship prospects of rural development broadcasts (RDBs) on radio in Southwest Nigeria. Forty private sponsors of programmes were randomly selected for the study. Questionnaire was used to collect data on private sponsorship status of RDBs, reasons for broadcasts’ sponsorship, factors hindering RDBs sponsorship and willingness to sponsor RDBs. Frequency counts and binomial logit were used to analyse the resulting data. There was a low sponsorship status (26.7%) of RDBs among the sponsors. Inadequate knowledge of benefits derivable from sponsorship of RDBs (30%) hindered sponsorship of RDBs while increased sensitisation on these benefits (40%) would enhance their sponsorship status. Increased brand awareness was the most important reason (46.7%) that propelled sponsors to support broadcasts. Most sponsors (66.7%) would be willing to support RDBs on radio. Sponsors’ characteristics were not significantly related to their willingness to sponsor RDBs. Stakeholders in rural development broadcasting should therefore step up their sensitisation campaigns among prospective sponsors to intimate them of the listenership strength of RDBs in the area in order to improve the sponsorship situation