Faith-Based Leaders Caring for Older Adults in a Natural Disaster: A Study of Hurricane Sandy

The purpose of this study was to explore how faith-based leaders cared for community-dwelling older adults in a natural disaster. This research focused on Hurricane Sandy, which affected Long Island, New York, in October 2012. The research question was: How do faith-based leaders care for community-dwelling older adults affected by a natural disaster, such as Hurricane Sandy? Natural disasters are often unexpected and can cause disruption, trauma, loss, and devastation of communities. A review of the literature identified that local faith-based leaders have a major role in the recovery process before, during, and after a natural disaster. Community-dwelling older adults have special needs after a natural disaster (due to comorbidities, special medications, lifesaving equipment that needs power to operate) and may rely on their own communities for support. Faith-based leaders may also play a crucial role in the recovery and healing process. There is a lack of research on the process of faith-based leaders caring for community-dwelling older adults in a natural disaster. This qualitative study utilized the grounded theoretical approach of Strauss and Corbin (1998). Data were collected through in-depth interviews of a diverse sample of faith-based leaders who cared for community-dwelling older adults during Hurricane Sandy. The interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, coded, and analyzed to determine categories and concepts. This study led to the development of a substantive theory about the process of how faith-based leaders cared for older adults in a natural disaster. This study identified disempowerment as the basic psychosocial problem in the older adults in a natural disaster. The substantive theory that originated from this study is “Faith-Blind Care.” The four major categories that led to faith-blind care were: providing presence to the community by the faith leaders (contacting the community), need-based care, rebuilding the community, and universal brotherhood and sisterhood. All of the categories had multiple concepts that are interrelated. All of these categories are intermingled in such a way that one cannot be separated from another, and faith-blind care is the basic essence of the whole

Classroom management variables and primary school system effectiveness in Calabar-South Local Government Area, Cross River State, Nigeria.

This study assessed classroom management variables and primary school system effectiveness in Calabar-South Local Government Area of Cross River State. Three null hypotheses were formulated to direct the study. The ex-post facto research design was adopted for the study. Census technique was employed in selecting the entire population of 525 academic staff (21 head teachers, 21 deputy head teachers, and 483 teachers) distributed across 21 public primary schools in the area of study. “Classroom Management Variables and School Effectiveness Questionnaire (CMVSEQ) was the instrument used for data collection, with reliability estimates which ranged from .86 and .91 that were obtained through Cronbach Alpha technique. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while the null hypotheses were all tested at .05 level of significance using Pearson Product Moment Correlation and One-Way ANOVA where applicable. Findings from the study revealed that public primary school system effectiveness in the area of study, was generally low; there is a significant relationship between classroom coordination and primary school system effectiveness; there is a significant influence of class size and classroom learning environment respectively, on primary school system effectiveness. Based on the findings, it was recommended amongst others that teachers be retrained in terms of classroom coordination and management, to enable them to acquire new techniques of classroom management, as well as the modification or elimination of obsolete ones

Adoption of E-Learning as Instructional Media in Secondary Schools: Challenges and Prospects

That the standard of Education has fallen; that the teachers no longer posses sufficient requisite knowledge, moral integrity nor required teaching ethics and attitude; that the government do not adequately fund the educational system in which the major stake holders do not allow their children to participate in but prefers to send them abroad to study where there is better standard; that the children of the present age no longer study the way and manner their parents did; and many more, are the criticisms or rather condemnations against the Nigerian Educational system. The extent to which these criticism hold water may not be clear but that not with standing they suggest one thing; there is an immense need for a hard look and a radical review of the Nigerian educational system. The review will naturally analyze the prevalent practice and Identity the short falls as well as sources of improvement. Currently, there is craze for ICT and its facilities-the computer systems; tablets, laptops, palm tops, and others. This is with particular reference to the children and youth of the student age. One of the sources of improving the standard of our educational systems, thus could be the adoption of E-Learning as a major instructional media at all levels of the educational system. Thus this paper considers the impacts, challenges and prospects of adopting E-Learning as a major instructional media as a contribution towards the improvement of secondary school education in Enugu State. Keywords: E-learning, Information and communication technology, Instructional media, Secondary schools

Disciplinary management in public primary schools and teachers’ job effectiveness in Yakurr Local Government Area, Cross River State, Nigeria

The study examined disciplinary management in public primary schools and teachers' job effectiveness in Yakurr Local Government Area, Cross River State. Three null hypotheses were formulated accordingly to guide the study. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. Census technique was adopted in selecting the entire population of 98 primary school managers which comprised of 49 head teachers and 49 deputy head teachers across 49 public primary schools available in the area. A questionnaire tagged: "Disciplinary Control in Public Primary Schools and Teachers' Job Effectiveness Questionnaire (DCPPSTJEQ)" designed and administered by the researcher was used as an instrument for data collection. The null hypotheses were all tested at .05 level of significance using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Analysis. Findings from the study revealed that warning, suspension, and dismissal have significant relationships respectively, to primary school teachers' job effectiveness. Based on the findings of this study, it was recommended among others that; there should be fairness in the administration of suspension to all teachers through well- documented procedures

The Effect of Fabrics and Designs on the Physical Comfort of Children Clothes in the Accra Metropolis

Safety and comfort are considered as top priority when selecting fabrics for manufacturing children’s apparels. Delicate skin of children reacts to certain fabrics which make them less comfortable to wear. The study aimed at examining the effects of fabrics and designs on the physical comfort of children clothes. The study adopted a descriptive study design. A total of 100 respondents, 30 fashion designers and 70 parents and guardians, were sampled for the study. Simple random sampling was used for the fashion designers, whereas accidental sampling was used for the parents and guardians. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages were used to analyse the data. Crosstabulations were also used to examine the relationship between variables. The study found that more parents considered the appearance of their children before other factors such as safety and comfortability. However, majority preferred cotton fabrics to be used for their children’s apparels. A majority of the fashion designers did not know that children’s skin reacts to certain fabrics. The main factors considered by the fashion designers in the selection of fabrics for constructing children’s apparels were colour, design, and purpose of apparels. The majority of the fashion designers adopted a number of safety measures, such as linen of apparel, light-weighted zippers and use of few buttons, to enhance the comfortability of children’s apparel. The study recommends that the NVTI, and the Ghana Fashion Designers Association should educate fashion designers on the reaction of children’s skin to fabrics from certain sources. The NVTI in collaboration with the Fashion Designers Association of Ghana should sensitise or train fashion designers on safety measures in apparel making through improved finishes. Keywords: fabrics, designs, safety, comfort, children, clothes, apparel

Employee Job Satisfaction and Organizational Commitment in Nigeria Manufacturing Organizations

This study investigated the relationship between employee job satisfaction and organizational commitment in selected manufacturing firms in Edo state of Nigeria. The sample for this study consisted of 106 employee from the selected manufacturing firms. The data for this research was collected using triangulation of methodologies of both quantitative and qualitative analysis. The Spearman Rank-order correlation coefficient statistical tool was adopted to test the relationships between the variables under review while the multiple regression analysis was adopted to evaluate the moderating effects of corporate culture on the relationship between employee job satisfaction and organizational commitment. Findings from the study revealed that there is a positive and significant relationship between all the dimensions of job satisfaction tested (i.e. pay, promotion, working conditions) and organizational commitment. Based on the findings, it was concluded that employee job satisfaction enhances organizational commitment. Keywords:Employee, Job Satisfaction, Organizational Commitment, Pay, Promotion, Working Conditions, Affective Commitment, Continuance Commitment, Normative Commitment

Transactional Leadership Style and Employee Satisfaction in Nigerian Banking Sector

This study investigated the effect of transactional leadership style on employee satisfaction in selected banks in Rivers state of Nigeria. The sample for this study consisted of 160 employee from the 20 selected banks. The data for this research was collected using the questionnaire and interview methods. The Spearman Rank-order correlation coefficient was used to test the relationships between the variables under review while the multiple regression analysis was adopted to evaluate the moderating effects of corporate culture on the relationship between transactional leadership and employee satisfaction. Findings from the study revealed that there is a positive and significant relationship between all the dimensions of transactional leadership style and employee satisfaction except passive management by exemption. Based on the findings above it was concluded that transactional leadership enhances employee job satisfaction. More specifically, it was concluded that contingent reward and active management by exemption enhances employee satisfaction while passive management by exemption does not. Key Words: Employee, transactional leadership, Job Satisfaction, contingent reward, active management by exemption and passive management by exemption, corporate cultur

Impact of Integrated Home-Based Care Programme on Antiretroviral Medication Adherence among Plwha: A Quasi-Experimental Study.

Background: Suboptimal Anti-Retroviral adherence is an advancing global issue.  Methodology: One-Group Pre- and Post-Test Integrated Home-Based Care intervention program with control was adopted. The validated questionnaire was used to gather information from 60 PLWHA following ethical approval and informed consent. Descriptive statistics and frequency distributions are employed in data analysis. One-tailed independent sample T-test was used to determine the impact of the intervention using percentage-change and Cohen’s Effect Size with a 5% level of significance. Validity and reliability of Instrument tested with Cronbach Alpha, 0.795. Results:  Respondents mean age was 35.38 ± 9.061, married (37.61%), females (66%) and self –employed (41.1%). Mumuye ethnic group (28.3%), Christians, 71.7% with lower educational attainments (56.6%). Control group reported predisposing factors in HIV treatment (137-point scale),  = 82.17(2.18) ±11.92 and  = 86.50(1.69) ±9.23; Reinforcing factors on 15-points scale, scored  = 9.00(0.65) ±3.65 and  = 8.87(0.69) ±3.78; Enabling factors on 15-points scale,  = 8.23(0.46) ±2.50 and  = 8.00 (0.51) ±2.77 and Self-Reported Adherence on 24-points scale,  = 16.23(0.82) ±4.49 and  = 17.87(0.91) ±4.99 at baseline and post intervention respectively for each group and adherence prevalence rate of 60.  Experimental group at baseline reported predisposing factors on 137-points scale,  = 80.90(2.77) ±15.15 and  = 97.13(8.12) ±1.48; Reinforcing factors on 15-points scale,  = 8.87(0.47) ±2.50 and  = 9.33(0.48) ±2.60; Enabling factors on 15-points scale,  = 7.23(0.41) ±2.24and  = 7.40(0.41) ±2.25 and Self-reported Adherence on 24-points scale,  = 15.98(0.57) ±4.39 and  = 23.13(0.43) ±2.37 at baseline and post intervention respectively for each group and adherence prevalence rate of 96%.  Conclusion: An integrated Home-Based Care intervention program will be more effective than the usual clinic-based program for HIV/ AIDS management. Recommendation:  An integrated Home-Based Care intervention program should be adopted for all HIV interventions

In vitro evaluation of efficacy of different rotary instrument systems for gutta percha removal during root canal retreatment

Background: Complete removal of old filling material during root canal retreatment is fundamental for predictable cleaning and shaping of canal anatomy. Most of the retreatment methods tested in earlier studies have shown inability to achieve complete removal of root canal filling. Therefore the aim of this investigation was to assess the efficacy of three different rotary nickel titanium retreatment systems and Hedstrom files in removing filling material from root canals. Material and Methods: Sixty extracted mandibular premolars were decoronated to leave 15 mm root. Specimen were hand instrumented and obturated using gutta percha and AH plus root canal sealer. After storage period of two weeks, roots were retreated with three (Protaper retreatment files, Mtwo retreatment files, NRT GPR) rotary retreatment instrument systems and Hedstroem files. Subsequently, samples were sectioned longitudinally and examined under stereomicroscope. Digital images were recorded and evaluated using Digital Image Analysing Software. The retreatment time was recorded for each tooth using a stopwatch. The area of canal and the residual filling material was recorded in mm 2 and the percentage of remaining filling material on canal walls was calculated. Data was analysed using ANOVA test. Results: Significantly less amount of residual filling material was present in protaper and Mtwo instrumented teeth ( p < 0.05) compared to NRT GPR and Hedstrom files group. Protaper instruments also required lesser time during removal of filling material followed by Mtwo instruments, NRT GPR files and Hedstrom files. Conclusions: None of the instruments were able to remove the filling material completely from root canal. Protaper universal retreatment system and Mtwo retreatment files were more efficient and faster compared to NRT GPR fles and Hedstrom files

School characteristics and secondary school teachers’ work effectiveness in Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State.

This study examined school characteristics and secondary school teachers’ work effectiveness in Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State. Specifically, the study examined the influence of school location, school population, and school ownership on secondary school teachers’ work effectiveness respectively. Three research questions were posed and three null hypotheses were formulated accordingly to guide the study. The design adopted for the study was a descriptive survey research design. A purposive sampling technique was used to select a sample of 156 respondents out of a population of 549 teachers. A questionnaire titled “Teachers’ work effectiveness questionnaire” (TWEQ) was used as an instrument for data collection. Collected data were analysed using descriptive statistics, while the null hypotheses were all tested at .05 level of significance using the independent t-test statistical technique. The results of the analysis revealed that school characteristics such as location, population, and ownership, influenced secondary school teachers’ work effectiveness respectively. Based on these findings, it was recommended among others that; teachers should be motivated using intrinsic and extrinsic channels such as praises, rewards for outstanding performance, regular payment of salaries, promotion and other incentives such as improved working conditions, good classroom, and office environment, and so on, for improved work performance