AWARENESS AND USAGE OF ELECTRONIC INFORMATION RESOURCES AMONG POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE IN SOUTHERN NIGERIA

The study aims at investigating the awareness and usage of electronic information resources among postgraduate students of library and information science in Southern Nigeria. The descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. The census sampling technique was adopted for this study. Thus, the entire population of three hundred and seventy-five (375) postgraduate students of library and information science in Southern Nigeria were used as the sample for this study. The questionnaire tagged: Awareness and Usage of Electronic Information Resources by Postgraduate Students of Library and Information Science Questionnaire (AUEIRPSLISQ) was used as instrument for data collection. Four research questions were answered and two null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The simple percent statistical tool was used to answer the research questions and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMCC) for testing the hypotheses. The results obtained revealed that postgraduate students of library and information science are quite aware and highly use electronic information resources. The study also reported that postgraduate LIS students are skilled in the use of electronic information resources. Based on the findings the study concluded that electronic information resources are essential tools for empowering postgraduate students of library and information science in Southern Nigeria

Computer Self-Efficacy, Computer Anxiety and Information Retrieval Skills as Correlate of Electronic Library Use among LIS Undergraduates in Southern Nigeria Universities.

The study examined computer self-efficacy, computer anxiety and information retrieval skills as correlate of electronic library use among library and information science undergraduates in universities in Southern Nigeria. One research question guided the study while one hypothesis was tested at 0.05 level of significance. The correlational research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study was 10,345 library and information science (LIS) undergraduates from ten federal, seventeen state and eight private universities in Southern Nigeria. The study explores purposive and quota sampling technique to determine the sample size which arrived at 1, 006 used for the study. Four instruments: Undergraduates’ Computer Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (UCSQ), Undergraduates’ Computer Anxiety Questionnaire (UCAQ), Undergraduate Information Retrieval Skill Questionnaire (UIRSQ), and Undergraduates’ Electronic Library Use Questionnaire (UELUQ) were used for data collection. In other to establish the reliability of the instruments, Cronbach alpha was used to analyze data collected from twenty (20) LIS undergraduate students in one federal university (Federal University of Technology, Mina) in North-central geopolitical zone of Nigeria. The alpha coefficients of UCSQ is .88, UCAQ .90, UIRSQ .94 and UELUQ .89 respectively. The Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMC) was deplored to answer the research question while multiple regression was used to test the hypothesis. Findings revealed that computer self-efficacy, computer anxiety and information retrieval skills jointly had a significant relationship with LIS undergraduates’ electronic library use. The study recommends amongst others that all stakeholders in university education in Nigeria namely; Nigeria University Commission (NUC), Librarian Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN) and Nigeria Library Association (NLA) should collaborate to redesign or tailor LIS curriculum to reflect information and communication technological courses with innovations prevalent in this 21st century like what is obtainable in developed world. Also, the new LIS curriculum advocated should ensure that the teaching of computer skills to LIS undergraduate in universities is promoted. This is to enable the moderate level of usage of electronic library information resources by LIS undergraduate changed to high and is sustained for adequate academic prowess

AWARENESS AND USAGE OF ELECTRONIC INFORMATION RESOURCES AMONG POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE IN SOUTHERN NIGERIA

The study aims at investigating the awareness and usage of electronic information resources among postgraduate students of library and information science in Southern Nigeria. The descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. The census sampling technique was adopted for this study. Thus, the entire population of three hundred and seventy-five (375) postgraduate students of library and information science in Southern Nigeria were used as the sample for this study. The questionnaire tagged: Awareness and Usage of Electronic Information Resources by Postgraduate Students of Library and Information Science Questionnaire (AUEIRPSLISQ) was used as instrument for data collection. Four research questions were answered and two null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The simple percent statistical tool was used to answer the research questions and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMCC) for testing the hypotheses. The results obtained revealed that postgraduate students of library and information science are quite aware and highly use electronic information resources. The study also reported that postgraduate LIS students are skilled in the use of electronic information resources. Based on the findings the study concluded that electronic information resources are essential tools for empowering postgraduate students of library and information science in Southern Nigeria

Reaction of phthalimido alkyl acids with isopropylamine: synthesis, anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive properties

Phthalimido alkyl acids 3-phthalimidopropionic acid (2a) and 4-phthalimidobutyric acid (2b) were treated with isopropylamine at room temperature using different solvents (dimethylformamide, dichloromethane and methanol) as the reaction medium and afforded 3-benzamido-propionic acid –2-(2- methylethyl)-carboxamide (3), 2-benzamido-2-methylethane-2-(2-methylethyl)-carboxamide (4), and 4- benzamido-butyric acid –2-(2-methylethyl)- carboxamide (5). Compound 4 was a dimmer that was least expected. Compounds 3, 4 and 5 were evaluated for antinociceptive property using acetic acid-induced writhing test. 4 exhibited the highest analgesic effect at 80 mg/kg it caused 88 % inhibition and was more pronounced than the reference drugs (indomethacin, acetylsalicylic acid and paracetamol), 3 and 5. The anti-inflammatory activity of the compounds was also screened using carrageenan- induced rat paw oedema assay and 4 showed higher activity than others except the reference drug. The effects were dose-dependent.Key words: Phthalimido alkyl acids, mice, antinociception, mouse writhing test, isopropylamine, antiinflammatory activity

Composition of Cyanobacteria in Relation to Physico-Chemical Characteristics of Four Rivers in the Niger Delta

The composition of Cyanobacteria and physico-chemical charactaristics of Sombreiro, Orashi, New Calabar, and Bonny Rivers in the Niger Delta was studied for one year (September, 2012 - August 2013). Cyanobacteria were enumerated using the Lugol’s solution method. The samples were centrifuged at 360 rpm for 15 minutes, the supernatant was carefully removed and the pellets re-suspended in 0.5 ml distilled water. The concentrated sample was placed in a haemocytometer and examined under the microscope at a magnification of 400×. The Cyanobacteria were identified and total number of species recorded using keys and checklists. Twelve species of cyanobacteria recorded in the study include Anabaena sp (42.34%), Microcystis sp (25.26%), Cylindrospermopsis sp (22.60%), Nostoc sp (2.08%), Synechococcus sp (1.44%), Aphanizomenon sp (1.44%), Lyngbya sp (1.17%), Oscillatoria sp (1.08%), Nodularia sp (1.08%), Chroococcus sp (0.81%), Trichodesmium sp (0.36%) and Schizothrix sp (0.36%).  The most predominant species in this study was Anabaena sp (42.34%) in both the fresh and brackish water systems. The Shannon – Wiener diversity index in the four rivers ranged from 0.67 – 1.26. The population of cyanobacteria enumerated ranged from 2.0 × 103 to 1.1 × 105. The maximum value for cyanobacteria population falls within caution level and Alert 2 level of WHO (2003) which is a safe level. New Calabar River had the highest relative abundance of Microcystis sp, Anabaena sp, Cylindrspermopsis sp, Lyngbya sp, Chroococcus sp and Synechococcus sp. Correlation coefficients of cyanobacterial population and physico-chemical parameters were positive with Biochemical Oxygen demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) in Sombreiro River. Cyanobacterial counts also correlated positively with alkalinity in Orashi River and New Calabar River. The results indicate that higher organic load and more alkaline pH encourage cyanobacterial diversity. Keywords: Cyanobacteria, Composition, Rivers, Nigeri

AP-ASD1 : an Indonesian Desktop-based Educational Tool for Basic Data Structure Course

Although there are so many avalaible data structure educational tools, it is quite difficult to find a suitable tool to aid students for learning certain course [1]. Several major impediments in determining the tool are teaching preferences, language barrier, confusing terminologies, internet dependency, various degree of material difficulty, and other environment aspects. In this research, a data structure educational tool called AP-ASD1 is developed based on basic algorithm and data structure course (ASD 1). Since AP-ASD1 is developed following course materials and not vice versa, this educational tool is guaranteed to fit in our needs. The feasibility of AP-ASD1 is evaluated based on two factors which are functionality correctness and survey. All features are correctly functioned and yield expected output whereas survey yields fairly good result (84,305% achievement rate). Based on our survey, AP-ASD1 meets eligibility standard and its features are also successfully integrated. Survey also concludes that this application is also quite effective as a supportive tool for learning basic data structure

Adsorptive property of kaolin in some drug formulations

Purpose: Kaolin is a known adsorbent, has lubricant property in powders and is therefore proposed as a lubricant in tablet formulations. This study was carried out to evaluate whether kaolin can adsorb some active drugs when mixed with them in tablet formulations even at very low concentrations. Method: Chloroquine and chlorpheniramine tablets were formulated with powder mixtures containing various concentrations of kaolin. The effect of kaolin on the physical properties of the tablets were examined and compared with those of standard lubricants like magnesium stearate and talc. Chloroquine and chlorpheniramine tablets and powders of amoxicillin/clavulanic acid oral powder and ampicillin/cloxacillin injection were also mixed with and without various concentrations of kaolin in water. Chemical assay of the drugs in the solutions were determined over time. Results: Kaolin significantly reduced the amount of each of the drugs in the solutions containing kaolin. Conclusion: Kaolin reduces the amount of some drugs when incorporated in drug formulations. Therefore, its inclusion in such drug formulations should not be encouraged. Keywords: Adsorption, ampicillin/cloxacillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, chloroquine, chlorpheniramine, drug formulation, kaolin. Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research 2003; 2(1): 155-15

Attenuating severe slug flow at large valve opening for increased oil production without feedback control signal

In the co-current flow of gas-liquid mixtures through pipeline-riser system, severe slugging is frequently encountered and manifests insignificant fluctuation of flow and pressure. This can pose serious threat to production facilities. The most common method for its mitigation is by choking which unfortunately could negatively affect production. The objective of this study therefore is to develop a technique that can help stabilise the system and maximise production simultaneously. In this paper, a new general method for multiphase flow system stability analysis was proposed based on a new passive attenuation method – the intermittent absorber. A series of experiments were carried out in a 4″ pipeline-riser system which is 55m long with horizontal pipe inclined at 2° connected to 10.5m high catenary riser followed by 3m horizontal topside section. Air and water were used as experimental fluids. Numerical studies were also conducted on a 4″ pipeline-riser system to proof the concept. The results showed that the intermittent absorber possess potential for flow at larger valve opening and lower pressure. For the case studied, up to 9% reduction in the riser base pressure was reported which practically implies increased oil production