Pharmacists as Entrepreneurs or Employees: The Role of Locus of Control

Purpose: To investigate whether locus of control distinguished between pharmacists who chose to become entrepreneurs and those who took up employee roles in pharmaceutical establishments. Methods: The enlarged version of Rotter's I-E scale designed to measure an individual's locus of control was used to survey a sample of pharmacists in two major cities in Southern Nigeria. The sample consisted of 34 pharmacists who were owners/proprietors of retail pharmacies and 35 pharmacists employed in retail pharmacies or hospitals. The difference between entrepreneur pharmacists and employee pharmacists in terms of locus of control was analysed using student's t-test. Results: The mean locus of control score for entrepreneur pharmacists was significantly different from that of employee pharmacists (p < 0.01). Entrepreneur pharmacists had higher scores on the variable than employee pharmacists indicating greater locus of control internality. Conclusion: Pharmacists characterized by locus of control internality are more likely to assume entrepreneurial rather than employee roles in pharmaceutical undertakings. Such pharmacists are more disposed to adopt innovative pharmaceutical care philosophy. Hence there is need to incorporate entrepreneurial education in the curriculum of pharmacy programmes to encourage positive attitude toward entrepreneurship. Keywords: Locus of Control; Entrepreneur Pharmacist; Entrepreneur Education; Employee Pharmacist, Nigeria > Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research Vol. 6 (3) 2007: pp. 747-75

Effect of aqueous extract of alligator pepper (Aframomum malegueta) on serum electrolytes

This study was carried out to determine the effect of intraperitoneally injected aqueous extract of alligator pepper (AP) on the serum levels of Sodium (Na), Potassium (K) and chloride (Cl). Twenty adult female Sprague dawley rats aged five months and weighing between 150 - 200g were randomly allocated into 5 groups: A, B, C, D and E (n=4 each). Group A served as control, while B, C, D, and E served as the experimental groups. Baseline values of the specified serum electrolytes were obtained from group A rats which were not treated with aqueous extract of (AP), while the rats in groups B, C, D and E, received 13.3 mg/kg body weight of the extract of AP. Blood samples from the experimental animals in group B, C, D and E were then collected and analyzed 24 hours, 7 days, 14 days, and 21 days post intervention respectively. The results showed that there was a reversible increase in K+ concentration 24 hours post intervention; a significant decrease in Na+ concentration 7days post intervention; and a significant decrease in Cl− concentration 14 days post-intervention. Our findings suggest that intraperitoneally injected aqueous extract of alligator pepper induces reversible changes in serum electrolytes.Key words: Alligator pepper, Electrolytes, Homeostasis, Renal functio

Utilization pattern of material health services in the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria

Though prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV/AIDS was introduced in Nigeria in 2002, it is pertinent to determine its availability in the primary health centers, which provide the most available, accessible and affordable maternal health services to 70% of Nigerian women. This retrospective study was carried out to determine the utilization pattern of maternal health services in Nigeria, noting the availability of PMTCT. Records of antenatal bookings, deliveries, postnatal visits, voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) and PMTCT were obtained from 30  randomly selected primary health centers in Edo Central Senatorial District of Nigeria and analyzed. The results  showed that though a yearly average of 2719 women booked in the antenatal clinics of the selected primary health centers, and 50.57% of these women delivered in these centers between 2007 and 2010, neither VCT nor PMTCT was available. It is therefore suggested that all tiers of government in Nigeria and donors, should include Primary health centers in their distribution channels in order to reduce the scourge of HIV/AIDS on innocent children.Keywords: Maternal Health, Utilization, VCT, PMTCT, Nigeri

Effects of Heat Treatment Techniques on the Fatigue Behaviour of Steel Gears: A Review

Heat treatment of gears are fundamental to efficient and reliable gear production because of its contribution to the overall cost of manufacturing. Different heat treatment techniques are targeted to improving hardness, ductility and strength to minimize material degradation or wear. However, several heat treatment methods had led to gear tooth distortion such as shrinkage of tooth thickness which eventually affects the contact angle. The study therefore focused on some selected heat treatment on gears and their effects on gear applications. from the reviewed heat treatment techniques, distortion is a common occurrence that result to gear fatigue. Also, it was noted that most times, the medium for quenching and most importantly, variation in the concentration affects the gear accuracy. Thus, local fracture and material loss ensue. Nevertheless, the study further suggested the use of empirical model and simulation approach for stress prediction

Corrosion Behavior of Mild Steel in Different Concentrations of Ethanol Beverages

Corrosion behavior of mild steel was investigated in different blends of ethanol solution. Potentiodynamic polarization tests and weight loss analysis were carried out to study the corrosion polarization tendency of the various blends of the solution on mild steel using water as a control medium. Scanning electron microscope with energy-dispersive spectroscopy was employed to characterize the surface morphologies as well as the elemental composition of each material subjected to corrosion tests. The result of the potentiodynamic polarization curves showed that water contributed to the corrosion rate of the material. Further to this, ethanol samples behaved passive against corrosion degradation. The result of the weight loss indicated that corrosion of the mild steel actually took place. More so, the SEM/EDS revealed the microstructural behavior of the surface oxides, spots, cracks and corrosive pits at the interface with the ethanol environment. This study will help in improving the mechanical properties of mild steel material employed to produce spur gear that will reliably function in an ethanol environment

Electrochemical study and gravimetric behaviour of gray cast iron in varying concentrations of blends as alternative material for gears in ethanol environment

The phenomenon of chemical degradation of mild steel materials under ethanol environment is becoming alarming. In order to study the electrochemical, thermal and mechanical behaviour of gray cast iron in this environment, this paper deals with the investigation of gray cast iron sample in varying concentrations of different ethanol blend solution. The electrochemical behaviour of gray cast iron sample was studied in ethanol concentrations of A – 42%, B – 40%, C – 28%, D – 43% and E – 45% using distilled water as control medium. Observations of the microstructures after the test showed that mainly oxides and corrosion products dominate the surfaces. However, some areas showed some cracks which are less severe. Also, the thermal gravimetric analyses of samples after the electrochemical test showed that, there was reduced thermal decomposition which suggests its good performance for gear application. Further to this, the micro-hardness results showed that the material maintained its mechanical properties despite the interactions with the solvents

Effect of aqueous extract of alligator pepper (zingiberaceae Aframomum melegueta) on gestational weight gain

Increased gestational weight gain is associated with higher rates of complications of pregnancy and delivery. Gestational weight gain of 9-12 Kg has been associated with the best outcome for both mothers and infants. However, weight gain in most pregnant women is not within this range, perhaps due to the difficulty of calculating the exact quantity, timing and duration of dietary restriction in individual patients that would bring their weight gain within the normal range. There is therefore a need to develop a drug or food supplement that would reduce weight gain without causing adverse effects on the fetus. Aframomum melegueta is widely used in Nigeria by most people including pregnant women for various purposes. It is against this background that the present investigation examines the possibility of its beneficial effects on pregnancy, using Sprague Dawley rat as the animal model. Twenty female and ten male Sprague-Dawley rats of proven fertility from a pilot study were randomly mated in groups of two females and one male. Three days later, female rats in the experimental groups were given intra-peritoneal injections of 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.5 mg and 2 mg of aqueous extract of alligator pepper respectively while the control had 2 ml of distilled water.. All rats were observed for 18-25 days. There was a significant (P<0.05) reduction in gestational weight gain of the experimental rats. The litters were not adversely affected. It is suggested that the active component of aqueous extract of alligator pepper be determined because of its beneficial effect of gestational weight gain reduction

Effect of alligator pepper (zingiberaceae aframomum melegueta) on first trimester pregnancy in Sprague dawley rats

Alligator pepper (Aframomum melegueta) is a spice that is widely used in many cultures for entertainment, religious rites, food flavor and as a part of many traditional doctors medications. Pregnant women are among those who ingest Alligator pepper in these activities. This experiment was carried out to determine the health risk or benefit of Alligator pepper to pregnant women if any. Fifteen male rats and fifteen female rats of proven fertility from a pilot study were randomly paired in fifteen cages in a well ventillated room. After three days of mating, the males were withdrawn from the females, which were allowed to stay in their separate maternity cages for 18-25 days. The females in the control group were fed with normal rat chow and clean drinking water ad libitum for the duration of the experiment. Each of the rats in the experimental group was served 20 g of rat chow mixed with 50mg of Alligator pepper for one day only and thereafter fed with normal rat chow and clean drinking water ad libitum for 18-25 days. The rats in the control group had a mean of 7 litters each, while the rats in the experimental group did not litter at all. It was concluded that ingestion of large quantities of Alligator pepper poses a health risk to women in their first trimester of pregnancy