Novel macroporous polymers synthesised via new Pickering medium and high internal phase emulsion templates

Imperial Users onl

Do Enforcement Actions by US Federal Banking Regulators Against Banks for Unsound And Unsafe Banking Practices Deter Further and Future Wrongdoing? A Way Forward.

“Wells Fargo fined $1 billion for ‘reckless unsafe or unsound practices.”1 The story behind this headline in the Washington Post on April 20, 2018, set out the problem. Wells Fargo engaged in “unsafe or unsound practices”2 by charging customers for services that Wells Fargo should have absorbed and administering a compulsory insurance scheme that unnecessarily increased borrowers auto loans financial obligation without approval. 3 According to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), “Since at least 2011, the Bank4 (Wells Fargo) has failed to implement and maintain a compliance risk management program commensurate with the Bank’s size, complexity and risk profile.”5 The OCC also found that “a comprehensive plan to address compliance risk management deficiencies, fill critical staffing positions,” 6 enforce “a reliable risk assessment and testing program and report compliance concerns adequately to the board was” 7 not implemented.”

Amputation in emergency situations: indications, techniques and Médecins Sans Frontières France's experience in Haiti

PURPOSE: The decision to amputate is always difficult but becomes even harder in emergency situations, which usually present extra complicating factors. MSF EXPERIENCE: These include human factors (related to both the surgeon and the patient); poor or nonexistent medical facilities, especially in war conditions or resource-poor countries; and cultural and religious considerations. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has developed a quick medical and logistical response that relies on surgical protocols adapted to emergency situations, together with complete "kits" of medical equipment, supplies and inflatable facilities. CONCLUSION: Our response to Haiti's 2010 earthquake relied on these tools but also highlighted the need to develop more detailed protocols that will help our teams on the ground

Environmental Consequences of Solar Energy Development and Other Sources of Energy

In recent years, scientists are increasingly raising the question of the huge impact of solar energy on the ecology of our world. This study attempts to unveil the relationship between the development of solar energy and the threat of growth of environmental problems. Thus, the stream of solar energy simply has to be taken under the control of people and used as much as possible, but with the preservation of the unique earth's climate. At the moment, it is no secret that carbon resources are being depleted very rapidly, and if the search for alternative sources of energy in the near future will not succeed, then the prospects for our civilization are absolutely small. So, among the possible successors that are able to pick up the baton of traditional energy, the most attractive among alternative energy sources is solar energy, which is considered environmentally friendly. Keywords: Solar energy, energy, ecology, ecological problems, climate, environment

Performance of the Androgen Deficiency in Aging Male questionnaire for the clinical detection of androgen deficiency in black sub-Saharan African men with Type-2 diabetes mellitus

Background: The Androgen Deficiency in Aging Male (ADAM) questionnaire is increasingly popular for evaluation of androgen deficiency (AD) in sub-Saharan African men with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). However, its reliability in this population is unknown.Methods: Total testosterone < 8 nmol/L was used as the gold standard for diagnosis of AD in this cross-sectional survey of 200 type 2 DM males aged 30–69 years. Participants also completed the Saint Louis University ADAM questionnaire whereby AD was diagnosed by a ‘yes’ answer to question 1 (reduced libido) or 7 (erectile dysfunction) or any other three questions. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and overall accuracy of the ADAM tool were computed.Results: The mean age of the participants was 58.0 ± 8.8 years. A total of 142 subjects (71.0%) had AD based on the ADAM questionnaire. However, AD was biochemically confirmed in 59 subjects (29.5%). The ADAM questionnaire rendered a sensitivity of 88.1%, specificity of 44.7%, PPV of 50.0%, NPV of 85.7% and accuracy of 61.4%.Conclusion: Despite an impressive sensitivity, the low specificity and overall accuracy of the ADAM questionnaire makes it unreliable for the detection of AD in sub-Saharan African men with type 2 DM.Keywords: ADAM, Africa, androgen, Nigeria, testosterone, type 2 diabete

Varietal response of four cowpea cultivars (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) to different densities of guinea grass (Panicum maximum)

Two field experiments were conducted in 2007 and 2008 to evaluate the performance of four cowpea varieties to different densities (0, 5, 20 and 35 m-2) of guinea grass at the Experimental Garden of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma. The experimental design was a 4 x 4 factorial scheme. Weed densities did not significantly (P>0.05) affect plant height at 3, 6 and 9 weeks after planting (WAP) but the varieties did. However, the interaction between weed densities and varieties was not significant throughout the study. Dry matter yield by the different cowpea varieties significantly (

Outcome of the Treatment of Gunshot Open Fractures of the Lower Extremities with ‘SIGN’ Interlocking Nails

Background: Gunshot injuries are gradually on the increase in civilian populations in developing countries due to increasing violence in our society. The treatment of fractures from these injuries is changing with the use of locked intramedullary nailing becoming an acceptable and effective method of fixation. Surgical Implant Generation Network interlocking nails are gaining universal acceptability in these countries due to ease of use without the need for image intensifier. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome of the use ‘SIGN’ interlocking nailing in gunshot open fractures of the lower limbs. Methods: This is a prospective study of all patients in three tertiary centres in developing countries who had gunshot fractures of lower limbs fixed with SIGN nails from 1st January to 31st December 2009 and followed up for a period of 2 years. Results: Twenty eight patients with 31 fractures with average age of 32.5years±12.6SD. All the patients were males except one female. Fractures occurred in femur in 20(71.4%) and tibia in 11(29.6%) SIGN nail was used to fix all fractures and union was achieved in all the patients. The most common complication was wound in infection in 5 (15.2%). Conclusion: SIGN intramedullary locked nail provided an effective method of fixation for gunshot fractures of the lower extremity with minimal complication

Between Prophets and Political Scientists: Reversing the Marginalized Role of Political Scientists in Election Forecasting in Nigeria

In Nigeria, there have emerged a trend of unscientific predictions of electoral outcomes, mostly, attributed or rooted in divine, transcendental, sacred or mysterious exposition whereby at every round of elections, certain prophets reel out prophetic declarations of prospective winner or/and loser of the elections without any form of data collection and analysis. Unfortunately, this spiritualization of electoral outcome has seemingly stampeded the evolution of a vibrant public opinion polls culture that should naturally be spearheaded by Political Scientists, in order to advocate for the entrenchment of the science of forecasting in the electoral process to engender objectivity and reliability of predictions. However, this is not the case in Nigeria. Far more dangerous is that these prophetic declarations are made amid tensed political atmosphere sufficient to threaten the democratic process and consolidation in the country. It is in this regard therefore, that this paper critically examines this phenomenon and put forth ways Political Scientists can reassert their voice in the electoral process in Nigeria by making use of opinion polls to forecast electoral outcomes. Also, the paper is a wake-up call for the professional body of Political Scientists in the country to assume its rightful place in the electoral process and to nip in the bud these personalist-prophetic declarations-which most times clash with each other and are capable of threatening Nigeria’s democratic process

Assistive technology, self-esteem and home factors as predictors of social adjustment of students with visual impairment in Lagos State, Nigeria

It has been observed that students with visual impairment often have wrong adjustment which has been affecting their wholesome personality and in particular, social adjustment. Previous studies have not adequately addressed their social adjustment. This study, therefore examined assistive technology, self-esteem and home factors as predictors of social adjustment among students with visual impairment in Lagos state, Nigeria.The study adopted survey research design of ex-post facto type. Purposive sampling technique was used to select one hundred (100) students with visual impairment. The selected students were drawn from two mainstream secondary schools and two rehabilitation centers in Lagos state. Nigeria. A structured questionnaire consisting of standardized scale such as Assistive Technology Usage scale, self-esteem scale, home factors and social adjustment scale were used to gather data in this study. Data collected were analysed using frequency, percentage and multiple regression statistical tools, and tested at 0.05 level of significance. The result revealed that assistive technology usage, self-esteem and home factors (family background, parent's socio-economic status and parent educational background) had significant joint influence on social adjustment of students with visual impairment in Lagos state, Nigeria (F(5.94)= 10.992; p<0.05). Also, the result indicated that assistive technology usage and self-esteem had significant independent contribution to social adjustment of students with visual impairment (β=0.580; t=5.895; p<0.05. p=-0.556; t = 6.193; p<0.05) while family background, parent's socio-economic status and parent educational backgroundhad no significant independent contribution to social adjustmentamong students with visual impairment in Lagos state, Nigeria. Assistive technology usage, self-esteem and home factors positively and jointly predicted social adjustment of students with visual impairment. Therefore parents, social workers, rehabilitation officers and government workers working with students with visual impairment should take cognisance of the impact of assistive technology usage, self-esteem and home factors in order to enhance the social adjustment of students with visual impairment.Keywords: Assistive Technology, self-esteem, home, social adjustment, visual impairmen

Determinants of Labour Efficiency in Nigeria: A Cross Company Study of Manufacturing Firms

One great challenge facing the millennium manager in the present competitive business atmosphere is to determine how to make the workforce more efficient. Sequel to this, this study tries to identify factors that determine the efficiency of labour in Nigeria. It applied Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) on a log-linear multiple regression models specified for the purpose of this investigation. The paneled cross-company data is sort from the annual reports and accounts, as well as, from interviews with personnel managers of selected manufacturing firms. The analyses revealed that wage and educational attainment are more than any other factors, the determinants of labour efficiency in Nigeria. The study suggests that manufacturing companies should pay their workers efficient-wages and encourage them to acquire more knowledge through study leaves, seminars and both domestic and oversea trainings. Keywords: labour efficiency, labour productivity, efficiency- wage