Effect of Motor Vehicle Importation on Indigenous Automobile Manufacturer in Nigeria Using Statistical Process Control Method

The study examined the annual production unit of motor vehicles of selected foreign countries manufacturers on how it affects the indigenous automobile manufacturer in Nigeria. The study employed data from Organization Internationale des Constructeurs d’Automobiles (OICA) using time series period of seven (7) years between 2008 and 2014 which is analyzed using statistical process control method with the aid of a statistical software known as MINITAB 16. The findings in the study which is investigated through the mean chart ( ̿) and standard deviation chart (̅) shows that production unit in the selected countries is under control through the quality of their motor vehicles been produce which is affecting indigenous manufacturers in the country as a result of their obsolete technology in place in most of the manufacturing industry. It is therefore recommended that the government should re-shape the indigenous automobile industry for better so that they can compete with their foreign counterparts in the automobile manufacturing industry

Knowledge and practice of self home monitoring of blood glucose

Objectives: Both glycosylated haemoglobin and self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) are necessary for optimal monitoring of glycaemic control in patients with diabetes mellitus. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among patients attending the endocrine clinic of Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti. With the aid of interviewer administered questionnaire, demographic and other information on awareness of SMBG, ownership of glucometer, and practice of SMBG were obtained. The data was analysed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16. Results: One hundred and four patients comprising 29 males (27.9%) and 75 females (72.1%) were studied with a mean age of 59.6±13.7 years. Twenty two (21.2%) subjects had no formal education, while 38 (36.5%), 16 (15.4%), 28(26.9%) subjects had primary, secondary and tertiary education respectively. Sixty seven patients (64.4%) were aware of SMBG. Out of these, only 19 subjects (18.3%) had glucometers. Age and level of education were significantly related to ownership of glucometer (

Spatio-Temporal Audit of Nigeria's Industrial Policies and Entrepreneurship Development Interventions from 1946 to 2013

Spatio-Temporal Auditing (STA) entails a critical examination of performance of economic policies and development programmes within a defined context, space and time. This paper employs the STA to critique Nigeria’s industrial policies (IPs) and entrepreneurship development interventions (EDIs) from 1946 to 2013 with a view to answering the salient question: Has Nigeria’s industrial policies and entrepreneurship interventions impacted on technological progress (TP), wealth creation (WC) and employment generation (EG) in the economy? The authors sourced the required qualitative data from Nigeria’s industrial policy documents, development working papers, journal articles and relevant online resources on the subject. The data were subjected to content analysis (CA) and thematic analysis (TA) from which objective conclusions were made. The key conclusion from the paper is that Nigeria’s development policies targeted at industrial and entrepreneurship development have not produced the desirable and measurable performance results; rather they put Nigeria into huge economic deficits. The paper supports the argument for the adoption of a Sustainable Development Triangle (SWT) with a collaborative synergy from Government agencies, Corporations and Small Entrepreneurs in the nation’s developmental process. The proposed SDT, unlike previous development policies is sustainable and unlikely to generate a dependency culture, a critical factor for policy failure in Nigeria

Awareness of Ocular Complications of Diabetes Among Diabetic Patients In A Tertiary Hospital In Western, Nigeria

Background:- Diabetes is no longer a disease of affluent and industrialized countries. It affects virtually all ocular structures and can lead to blindness. Routine eye examination is necessary for early detection of ocular involvement and prevention of blindness. Only few diabetics have regular eye examination. Aim:- To study the awareness of ocular complications of diabetes among diabetic patients Methodology:- A cross-sectional prospective study of 148 randomly selected diabetic patients was done. A semi structured questionnaire was administered to these patients by an interviewer who is medical personnel, not below the level of a house-officer. Informed consent was obtained from the patients before filling the questionnaires. The information obtained include the biodata, educational level, duration of diabetes, whether they were aware that diabetes can affect other parts of the body, if yes which parts, which parts of the eye can it affect, how can it affect the eye, whether or not routine eye examination is necessary in diabetics, if yes how often, how did they learn about diabetes and how they think awareness of diabetic complications can be improved. The results were collated and analyzed using SPSS version 13, with chi square done where necessary. Results:- A total of 148 patients were studied. Their ages range between 21years and 82years, with a mean of 58.53 +10.4years. Majority were between 36-60yearrs of age. Eighty-three (56.1%) had educational level within secondary level 40(27 %) tertiary education while 25(16.9 %)) do not have formal education. Most common co morbid factor was hypertension, found in 44.6%. One hundred and twenty three (83.1%) were aware that diabetes could affect other parts of the body, 41% were aware of brain affectation, 54% were aware that it can affect the kidneys, 77.7% were aware that it can affect the eyes, 39.2% blood vessels, 66.2% the legs, 40.5% the skin and 41.9% were aware that it can affect the genitals. Of the 77.7% who were aware that it can affect the eyes, more than half (58.8%) did not know the part of the eye that can be affected. 20.3% knew that it can affect the crystalline lens,4.1% external eye, 13.5% the retina and 3.4% thought it can affect the combination of external eye, lens and the retina. Forty nine respondents (33.1%) did not know that routine eye examination is necessary in diabetics, 16.2% says eye examination should be once, 18.2% twice, 18.9% thrice and 26.4% none. Only 18 (12.2%) respondents got their information of eye complication from eye specialists. Sixty- one respondents (41.2%) do not know how diabetes can affect the eye, 29.7% knew that poor control is the problem, 8.8% think it is due to long duration, 7.4% believe it was a combination of poor control and long duration, 2% claim it is due to infection, 8.8% combination of infection, poor control and long duration and 0.7% erroneously believe thinking too much of DM can result in eye complication. Patients who have been diabetic for more than 10years are more aware that diabetes can affect the eye than those below 5years (92.3% vs. 7.2%, p=0.001). Awareness of diabetic complication is better in those with tertiary education than others (p=0.001). Conclusion:- We conclude that though awareness of ocular complication of diabetes mellitus is high, the level of knowledge is low. Health Practitioners especially eye care specialist need to intensify health education through media, regular health talks in clinics to increase knowledge and increase health seeking behaviours of diabetics in the

Effect of Al and Mg Doping on Optical Properties of ZnO Thin Films Prepared by Spin Coating

This paper investigated the influence of aluminum and magnesium doping on the optical and electrical properties of zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films for solar cell application. zinc acetate dehydrates was used as starting material. Aluminum chloride and tin chloride were added to each solution to serve as dopants. X-ray diffractions were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) which revealed crystalline and hexagonal wurtzite structure. All the films showed more than 80% transparency in the visible region. The optical band gap of undoped znO thin film was found to be 3.12ev while that of Al-doped and Mg-doped znO film was estimated to be 3.16eV and 3.26eV respectively. The resistivity of the films measured were 2.51×10–4Ω cm for Al-doped, 2.53×10–4Ω cm for mg-doped and 2.61×10-4Ω cm for undoped znO respectively. The quality of the films deposited in this work is a promising window layer component of a solar cell. The variation in the band gap observed in this work could be explained by Burstein–Moss effect which was fully explained in the discussion section of this work

Endocrine Admissions in a Tertiary Hospital In Nigeria: A 5-Year Review of Pattern and Trend

Hospital admission is a reflection of prevailing disease pattern in an environment, impact of services rendered in the outpatient department and preventative healthcare services in the community. The aim of this study was to determine the pattern and trend of endocrine related admissions at Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti. This was a retrospective analysis of health records of patients with endocrine related disorders admitted into the medical wards of the hospital between 2008-2012. The diagnoses, based on WHO ICD-10 were documented. Endocrine related admissions were subdivided into diabetes related, thyroid related and non-diabetes hypoglycaemia. Data of interest were compared with Pearson’s Chi-Square and Student’s t test. There were 3818 admissions out of which 457 (12.0%) were endocrine related. Majority of the endocrine admission were DM related (93.9%), representing 11.8% of the total admissions. There was increase in endocrine-related admissions from 9.1%-18.0% and a 10.6% increase in the DM related admissions from 2008 to 2012, but a decline in absolute number of endocrine admissions notably among females (X2 = 39.88, p<0.001). Poor glucose control (42.8%) was the commonest reason for diabetic admission, followed by hyperglycaemic emergencies (31.1%), diabetic foot disease (15.9%), sepsis (2.6%), stroke (2.3%), nephropathy/renal failure (1.6%), diabetic hand (0.9%), hypoglycaemia (0.9%), heart failure (0.7%). Between 2010-2012, hyperglycaemic crisis emerged as the commonest reason for diabetic admission, but overall, there was significant reduction in the number of hospitalizations for all diabetic complications (X2 = 128.69, df= 36, p=0.000). More resources need to be allocated for the management of diabetes mellitus while efforts to prevent its complications through educational activities and public awareness should be sustained

Entrepreneurship Education and Employment Stimulation in Nigeria

Nigeria is a nation of paradox, blessed with enormous wealth, but larger proportion of the citizens live in abject poverty and face worsening unemployment. In a bid to mitigate the scourge of poverty and unemployment, previous regimes initiated diverse poverty reductions polices (PRPs) with the objectives of boasting industrial production and level of employment thereby checkmating joblessness, hopelessness and crime. Despite the various PRPs, the hydra-monster poverty and unemployment have remained endemic judging by official statistics published by reliable bodies. The failures of previous PRPs precipitated the passionate romance with Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and compulsory inclusion of entrepreneurship education in the curricula of the three levels of higher education in Nigeria. This paper examines entrepreneurship education and employment stimulation in Nigeria. The authors employed systematic collection of quantitative data and subjected them to econometric analysis on the basis of which informed conclusions were drawn. On the strength of the data sourced, analysed and interpreted, it was discovered that entrepreneurship development could be effective tools for poverty reduction, stimulating employment as well as fast-tracking realisation of universal primary education and promoting gender equality. The paper recommended that institutions must imbibe a creativity training. This creativity can help the individual view problems from different perspectives. Institutions must intensify the integration of entrepreneurship in education systems

Sesamum indicum diet prevents hyperlipidemia in experimental rats

Cardiovascular diseases and metabolic complications caused by hyperlipidemia are the leading cause of death globally. In this study, the hypolipidemic potency of Sesamum indicum (SI) seeds was investigated. Of the thirty-five (35) male rats used in the study, five (5) were randomly selected for baseline measurements and thirty (30) were fed high fat diet (HFD) for four (4) weeks before random assignment into three (3) groups. The experimental group was treated with 50% SI seed, the positive control group was given a hypolipidemic drug, atorvastatin (5 mg/kg/day) while the untreated group served as the negative control. With SI administration, the dyslipidemia induced by the HFD consumption in the plasma and the investigated body organs was reversed to a comparable degree with that of atorvastatin treatment. Taken together, this study demonstrates the hypolipidemic potency of SI in ameliorating hyperlipidemia and its associated complications, facilitated by the inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase activity