The Need For Introducing Decision Support System (DSS) In Nigerian Universities Management And Administration.

Decision support system (DSS) is a computer-based information system that supports business or organizational decision-making activities. Management and Administration deals with the organization and mobilization of human and material resources in a particular system for the achievement of identified aims and objectives in the system. Decision making is an essential leadership, management or administrative skill. DSS serve the management, operations, planning levels of an organization and help to make decisions, which may be rapidly changing and not easily specified in advance. Decision support systems can be either fully computerized, human or a combination of both. Decision support systems are gaining an increased popularity in various domains such as business, engineering, military, medicine as while as administration and human resource management. They are especially valuable in situations in which the amount of available information is prohibitive for the intuition of an unaided human decision maker and in which precision and optimality are of importance. We explained administration and management as it patterns to education, briefly discuss types of decision support systems, components of DSS, qualities to be considered when building a Decision support system for Nigerian university administration. Finally, its roles in decision making as it patterns to administration of Universities in Nigeria if introduced. The paper concluded with strong opinion that DSS should be introduced in Nigerian universities administration and the administrators trained to make use of it because of its significant roles to educational administration. Keywords: Administration, Decision, Management, Support system, Universitie

The Toxicity Effect of N. P. K. Agro -Fertilizer on Oreochromis Niloticus Fingerlings, the Pysiological Impact.

The study on the acute toxicity level of inorganic fertilizer (N. P. K., 20: 10: 10) to the fingerlings of Oreochromis niloticus (mean weight 0.9 ± 0.6g) was investigated using static bioassays over a period of 96hrs intervals. The 96 hours LC50 of the exposed fishes was also determined to be 0.82sg/L with lower and upper confidence limits of 0.6 and 1.15g/L respectively. However certain stressful behavioural changes like erratic swimming with inconsistent jumping, incessant gulping of air, loss of balance, were commonly observed before death, which occurs with increase in the time of exposure. Water quality determined during the investigation showed fluctuation in oxygen content and increase in Ph, Conductivity and total dissolved solute as the concentration of the fertilizer was increased. The increased stress behavioral pattern among this fish is as a result of the increased effect of the fertilizer. Keywards: Effects, fertilizer, Oreochromis Niloticus, fingerlings, water

Helminth Parasites of Fruits and Vegetables Planted in Crop and Landscape Managent Garden College of Agricultural Sciences, Ebonyi State Universityabakaliki, Implication for Public Health.

The parasitological examination of soil samples extracted from the roots of pre-nursery crops of fruits and vegetables for the prevalence of soil transmitted helminths was conducted using Zinc-Sulphate floatation, centrifugation methods and microscopy respectively. Out of 1,400 soil samples and 1000 fruits examined 58% and 42% respectively were positive. The study revealed that soil transmitted parasites where implicated in their full developmental stage of adultworms, larvea and eggs respectively. These include Capillaria, Strongyloides stercoralis, Trichuris trichuria, Hookworms, and Ascaris lumbricoides. Their presence could be as a result of using animal dungs/feaces as organic fertilizer, direct urination and open defeacation on the farmland by students, staff, and other student farmers in the nursery. Thus contaminating the nursery and posing health problems to students, farm workers in the campus and consumers of the contaminated fruits and vegetables. However, infected students could be treated with antihelminthics while avoidance of the use of animal dungs/feaces, open defeacation and urination on the farmland will reduce the parasite presence. Students treatment on infection, can be achieved through public health awareness scheme and provision of toilet facilities and finally teach them how to wash their fruits and vegetables with salt or potassium iodide which are predisposing factors for infection. Keywards: Helminths, Parasites, Soil, Fruits, Vegetables, EBSU

Fatherhood and a child\u27s education: Exploring the effects of a father\u27s absence on the social, moral, and religious lives of children

This is a humanistic and interdisciplinary study of father-child interactive relationships and what happens to a child\u27s life when a loving and involved father is absent. Specifically, the study explores how father absence affects children\u27s psychosocial development, their economic well being, their religious life and their education. The study explores the causes and effects of father absence, and how father absence affects understandings of fatherhood. This researcher shows how father absence shapes children\u27s religious perspectives, including their understanding of the father image of God. This researcher maintains that father absence endangers the affected children\u27s education and religious formation and that proper prenuptial education and continued education on masculinity, fatherhood and parenthood on every level of learning can effectively reduce father absence in the United States The study offers practical suggestion about how religious educators and contemporary social institutions can reduce and in some case prevent father absence through lifelong education concerning family life, parenthood, masculinity and fatherhood

Use of insecticide treated net (ITNS) among households and its impact on malaria prevalence in the communities in Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Nigeria

This study assess the effectiveness of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) in reducing the prevalence of malaria among households following the Roll Back Malaria  campaign on malaria prevention awareness and free distribution of ITNs in Ezza North L G A, Ebonyi State. Blood film examination was conducted on 715 persons and structured questionnaire administered to 304 household members. Data were analyzed using statistical package (SPSS) and presented as tables and significance of associations in parasitaemia prevalence. Results revealed that malaria parasite were observed in 175 (24.5%) out of 715 individuals examined. The highest  prevalence of 8.3% was recorded among individuals aged 5-10 years. Females were more infected (12.9%) than their male counterpart (11.6%) with p=0.251. On ownership of ITNs, it was observed that 196 (64.5%) of the 304 households owned at least one ITNs and 152 (77.6%) households used their ITNs properly.  Households who do not use bed net, stands 6.120 chance of been infected (ODD Ratio calculation). Malaria parasitaemia reported in this study is still high and sleeping under ITNs consistently has been found to significantly reduce the prevalence of malaria among the study-subjects. It is therefore recommended that ITNs campaign be intensified for increase in ITN ownership and usage among all individuals in the community.Keywords: ITN ownership; malaria prevalence; Ezza North; Ebonyi State

Human water contact activities and associated urogenital schistosomiasis in Nkalagu Community, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

There is much evidence that peoples’ behaviour affects agents, host, and the environment and that behaviour can also either increase or decrease the risk of a disease. This study was conducted in a schistosomiasis-endemic area of Nkalagu in order to observe the different water-contact activities capable of promoting urogenital schistosomiasis transmission in the area. The study was conducted between August 2014 to January 2015. Two different sites were mapped out for study (Abashi and Edenvu Rivers) in Imoha and Ishiagu villages respectively. Observations were made on daily basis between 7 am and 5 pm in two shifts, 7-12 noon and 1-5 pm. A recording booklet was used to record the different type of water contact made by each individual at the time of entry and exit out of the water. Other variables such as sex and age were also recorded.Keywords: Water contact; activities; behaviour; schistosomiasis; Rivers; Nkalag

Evaluation of the anti-hyperlipidemic effect of the aqueous stem bark extract of Parkia filicoidea (Fabaceae) in albino rats

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Tick infestations and gastrointestinal helminthosis among goats and cattle at abattoirs in Abakaliki Metropolis, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Parasitism and parasitosis constitute serious animal health problems that predispose them to other more serious health conditions. Such conditions can reduce their productivity and marketability, thereby reducing their economic values. A total of 126 livestock comprising 63 goats and 63 cattle from abattoirs in Abakaliki Metropolis were subjected to ectoparasitic and gastrointestinal parasitic examinations, using approved standard diagnostic parasitological techniques. The recovered parasites were identified with standard identification guides. Rhipicephalus sanguineus and R. microplus were the two recovered ectoparasites from both groups of animal. There was no significant difference (p = 0.0859) in the prevalence of the tick species between the animals. Dictyocaulus species was the most abundant gastrointestinal helminth infecting both goats and cattle. There was no complete dominance of parasite species infecting the two groups of animal but the Shannon-Weiner diversity index indicated high parasite diversity for both goats and cattle. Periodic application of efficacious acaricides mixed (sequential) grazing and regular deworming with the use of strategic broad spectrum chemotherapeutic anthelmintics are strongly recommended.Keywords: Cattle; goats; helminthes; infestations; tick

Transmission Dynamics of Urogenital Schistosomiasis in the Rural Community of Ebonyi State, South Eastern Nigeria

This study accessed the dynamics of urogenital schistosomiasis transmission in Nkalagu Community. A total of 500 mid-day urine samples were collected and transported to Microbiology Laboratory, Ebonyi State University, for analysis. 10ml each of the urine samples was centrifuged at 2500 rpm for 5 minutes. Transmission potential of snail intermediate host of Schistosomes collected from different sampling station at the transmission sites within the study community was equally accessed. The snail species collected were placed individually into a clean beaker with little quantity of water and then subjected to shedding light for 2 hours. Data obtained were entered in excel spread sheet and analyzed using chi square test. The result obtained shows that 205 (41%) out of 500 individuals examined were excreting S. haematobium ova in their urine. The highest prevalence of infection (23%) was found among 11-20-year age groups. Males were more infected (25.4%) than their female counterparts (15.6%), although this was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). A total of 283 snails belonging to two Bulinus species (B. globosus and B. truncatus) were collected from the four sites sampled. Bulinus globosus recorded the highest species abundance (177) with the highest occurrence in site A. 52 (18.4%) out of 283 snails collected were infected with cercariae, and the highest cercariae infection (12.0%) was recorded among B. globosus. With prevalence of 41% among the human population and the prevalence of 18.4% patent infection among the snail intermediate hosts, urogenital schistosomiasis is still a public health problem in the study area and falls within the WHO classification of endemic area. Public health campaign is recommended in order to educate the people on the mode of transmission and control of the disease