Understanding the Intersections of Paradigm, Meta-Theory, and Theory in Library and Information Science Research: A Social Constructionist perspective

Researchers rely on theories to guide the research process. Theories provide directions in formulating research questions and in the interpretation of findings. The choice of theory to guide inquiry must relate to research paradigm and corresponding meta-theory. However, many beginning scholars experience difficulty in articulating philosophical paradigmatic assumptions and in identifying meta-theory and theory to guide investigation. The aim of this article is to discuss the relationships between research paradigm,  meta-theory, and theory in LIS research and to demystify the differences between paradigm, meta-theory, and theory. The author presents a  hierarchical philosophical framework to guide in the choice of theory in research

Pendopan Filem Sol-gel dengan Fenolftalein: Potensi Penggunaan sebagai Penderia CO2

Transparent film prepared by using sol-gel process was used in this study for entrapment of phenolphthalein. Two coating methods were used for film preparation, Le. dip-coating and spin-coating. The types of solid supports used in this study included filter paper, acetate sheet and slide glass. Qualitatively, phenolphthalein in the immobilised form still maintains its chemical characteristic towards CO2 as in solution. Entrapped reagent in sol-gel film with filter paper as a supporting material was found to give the longest response time although the colour change of the reagent in the presence of CO2 gas was still positive. A morphology study using a scanning electron microscope also indicated that sol-gel film prepared on filter paper as a support experienced more severe cracking problems than the other supports. Results obtained from this study indicate that phenolphthalein immobilised in thin film prepared via sol-gel process is non-leachable and gives reversible response towards CO2 gas

ASSESSMENT OF WORK-SPACE AND WORK-METHOD DESIGNS IN NIGERIA AUTOMOBILE SERVICE AND REPAIR INDUSTRY

Nigeria automobile service industry is labour intensive with high level of work-related injuries among its workforce. This research assessed work-space (WsD) and work-method designs (WmD), level of compliance with recommended standards (RSs) and effects on workers’ wellbeing. Clearances for services in 55 supine positions and 45 stand-up workbenches’ (SUWb) heights were measured and compared with RSs. Questionnaires were completed among 252 workers to measure prevalence of work-related injuries. Descriptive statistical procedure and Chi-Square tests were conducted using SPSS. 94.4% of workers suffered from low back, 43.5% neck and 40% knees pains among others. Averagely, 43.33±7.3cm and 67±0.15cm were measured for supine position clearance and  SUWb heights with 15.03±14.3 and 26.55±16.23 percentage deviations respectively from the minimum RSs. Automotive mechanics may be prone to back, hand and/or wrist related problems and Cumulative Trauma Disorders. Ergonomics trainings, use of mechanical devices and protective equipment will reduce injuries connected with the job. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njt.v35i2.1

Promoting Exclusive Breastfeeding in Sokoto: The Role of Counseling, Parental Support, and Health Education

Purpose – This study aims to investigate exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) in Sokoto. Design/methods/approach – A survey type of 300 respondents was used; data were analyzed with frequency counts/percentages and an X2 test. Findings – All respondents were female (100.0%), aged 26-35 (100.0%). The majority of the participants were single (66.7%) and unemployed (66.7%), with a secondary school education (66.7%). However, 33.3% of the participants were married, were civil servants, and had tertiary education. The study revealed that the majority (66.7%) had received breastfeeding counseling during antenatal care. All respondents (100.0%) received proper guidance/counseling at home on exclusive breastfeeding. Fathers (66.7%) and mothers (33.3%) supported exclusive breastfeeding. The respondents reported exclusively breastfeeding their child for the first six months after delivery (100.0%), and weaning occurred between 19-24 months. The reasons for avoiding exclusive breastfeeding were the sickness of the mother (66.7%) and insufficient milk (33.3%). All respondents (100.0%) agreed that exclusive breastfeeding improved the baby’s health, and health awareness encourages breastfeeding (100.0%). Research implications/limitations – This study provides a limit in the form of maximum exclusive breastfeeding for children aged 24 months. Practical implications – The study suggests that counseling, support from parents, and health awareness can improve exclusive breastfeeding, and healthcare providers should provide such services during antenatal care while promoting the practice through health education campaigns. Originality/value – This study highlights the importance of counseling, parental support, and health education in promoting exclusive breastfeeding and improving the health of infants in Sokoto. Paper type Research pape

Improvement of 2-O-α-D-Glucopyranosyl-L-Ascorbic Acid Biosynthesis Using Ultrasonic Radiation

Purpose: To improve 2-O-α-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid (AA-2G) production using ultrasonic radiation (UR) treatment.Methods: The production of AA-2G using UR or ultrasonic radiation with shaking (URS) at 150 rpm, at varying power (100 − 500 W), temperature (30 – 65 °C), pH 4.0 −9.0, and time (2−24 h) was compared with that produced in a shaker water bath (SWB) in a reaction catalyzed by cyclodextrin glucanotransferase (CGTase) from Bacillus sp. SK13.002. The effect of URS on CGTase activity was also measured.Results: Maximum AA-2G production using UR at a power of 400 W, temperature of 37 oC, and pH 8.0 for 18 h was 5.69 ± 0.2 g/L, while URS at 500 W/150 rpm and 37 °C for 14 h yielded 7.05 ± 0.21 g/L of AA-2G. URS at 500 W/150 rpm, 55 °C, and pH 8.0 for 6 h yielded 6.6 ± 0.25 g/L of AA-2G. URS at 37 and 55 °C significantly increased CGTase activity. AA-2G yield using UR (400 W) was decreased by 9.7 % compared to that produced by SWB. However, the AA-2G yield using USS (500 W/150 rpm) at 37 and 55 °C increased by 11.9 and 4.8 %, respectively, with a reduction in process time of 41.7 and 75 %, respectively, compared to that previously produced by SWB.Conclusion: These results indicate that UR combined with shaking improves AA-2G production.Keywords: 2-O-α-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid, Ultrasonic radiation, Transglycosylation, Bacillus sp. SK13.00

Puerperal Superior Sagittal Sinus Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Superior sagittal sinus thrombosis is a rare and often misdiagnosed disorder. Its occurrence with pulmonary embolism (PE) is much rarer, more so when it occurs in the setting of puerperium. Although cerebral sagittal sinus thrombosis can occur at any time during life, women are particularly vulnerable before delivery and during the puerperal period due to the hypercoagulable state of pregnancy. We report a case which describes the challenging clinical course of a young woman who developed superior sagittal sinus thrombosis and PE during puerperium.Keywords: Embolism, puerperium, pulmonary, sagittal sinus, thrombosi

Effects of Supplementing Fish Meal with Sesame indicum on Functional Properties, Phytotoxins and Hematological Compositions of Clarias gariepinus

This study analyzed the effects of supplementing fish meal with Sesame indicum on functional properties, phytotoxins and hematological compositions of Clarias gariepinus. A total of 150 of C. gariepinus fingerlings were grouped into 6 tanks with 20 C. gariepinus per tank. Each tank of fish was served with prepared fish meals supplemented with various levels of beniseed (S. indicum), namely, DT1 (commercial diet), stands as the control group, DT2 (0% beniseed with 100% soya bean meal, DT3 (25% beniseed with 75% soya bean meal, DT4 (50% beniseed with 50% soya bean, DT5 (75% beniseed with 25% soya bean and DT6 (100% beniseed with 0% soya bean, individually. The functional properties of each diet and hematological indices of the treated fish were determined. All prepared diets have improved the functional properties and their phytotoxins level remains within the permissible limit as compared to control diets (DT1). The formulated diets have potentially influenced the hematological indices analyzed compared to the control diet (DT1). At any level of S. indicum inclusion in the fish meal of C. gariepinus there was a potential improvement of the functional properties, hematological parameters and maintaining the levels of phytotoxins not to rise above the permissible limit. Thus, experimental diets (DT5 and DT6) with 75 and 100% S. indicum would be promising candidates which may be used for the development of the product in various food industries

Antisecretory and antiulcerative effects of ethyl acetate fraction of Nigella sativa (L.) Seed extract in rats

The present work was carried out to investigate the possible effects of ethyl acetate seed fraction of Nigella sativa on gastric ulcers and basal gastric secretions using the Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug-induced (NSAID) model. Phytochemical screening according to Trease and Evans, 2002 and acute toxicity tests using the Lorke’s Method, 1983 were conducted. For the mucosal integrity study, ulcer and preventive indices were analysed, while volume of gastric juice, titratable acidity, acid output and pepsin concentration were assessed for basal gastric secretion parameters. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, glucocinolates amongst others, while the acute toxicity studies revealed a median lethal dose above 5000mg/kg. The rats were grouped into 9 (n = 5), with the extract fraction administered at 50, 100 and 200mg/kg subcutaneously, followed by pyloric ligation with cimetidine used as the standard drug. Five rats received normal saline 1ml/kg/rat subcutaneously (S.C) as Negative Control, Five rats received indomethacin (20 mg/kg S.C), Ten rats for the study of the effect of two different doses of cimetidine 50 and 100 mg/kg S.C (5 rats for each dose). Ten rats for the study of effect of two different doses of cimetidine (50 mg and 100 mg/kg) S.C, given 30 minutes prior to indomethacin administration (5 rats for each dose). The three experimental doses of the extract at 50,100 and 200mg/kg showed a dosedependent decrease in both ulcer and preventive indices with the 200mg/kg dose at 0.6mm and 94% respectively. It also showed a significant (p<0.05) decrease in volume of gastric juice, titratable acidity, acid output and pepsin concentration in dose-dependent manner with the three experimental doses administered with the highest reduction at the 200mg/kg dose. The results obtained suggest that this fraction down-regulated all those parameters which might be attributed to the presence of the phytoconstituents present in this fraction, particularly the flavonoids. Therefore, the extract fraction of this plant possesses gastroprotective activity further explaining the folkloric use of this plant in the therapy of peptic ulcer disease.Keywords: Antiulcerative, Antisecretory, Nigella sativa, Phytochemicals, Rats, Seed Extracts

Android malware detection technique via feature analysis

The rapidly increasing popularity of the Android platform has resulted in a significant increase in the number of malware compared to previous years. Since Android offers an open market model, it is an ideal target to launch malware attacks. Due to this problem, a lot of research work has been proposed to protect users from attacks. However, such protection cannot last long as attackers will usually find ways to defeat protection mechanism. As a result, this paper aims to develop an effective malware detection technique. The proposed method focuses on static analysis approach, which utilizes features from permissions, intents and API calls of an Android application. In order to create a sensitive and representative feature set, the proposed method also uses the correlation-based feature selection method. The final feature set will be fed into the support vector machine to perform the classification. Experimental results have shown that the proposed method achieved reliable detection accuracy at 95% and outperformed the benchmark metho