JOB SATISFACTION AND WORK-INDUCED STRESS AMONG WORKFORCE OF TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN DELTA STATE, NIGERIA

This study examined the relationship between job satisfaction and work-induced stress among the workforce of tertiary institutions in Delta State, Nigeria. The study adopted a correlational survey research design. The study was carried out in Delta State. The population comprised 7,744 workforces in tertiary institutions in Delta State. A sample size of 670 workforce of tertiary institutions was drawn from the various tertiary institutions in the state through stratified and proportionate sampling techniques. The instrument used for data collection was a questionnaire. The findings of the study revealed that there is a significant relationship between job satisfaction and work-induced stress among the workforce of tertiary institutions in Delta State. The study, however, found that there is no significant influence of level of experience and staff category on the relationship between job satisfaction and work-induced stress among the workforce of tertiary institutions in Delta State. Based on these findings, it was recommended amongst others, that the management of tertiary institutions in the state should be more responsive to the needs of the workforce in the area of motivation so that they will be satisfied with their jobs.  Article visualizations

Socio-economic Determinants of Domestic Violence Suffered by Rural Women Crop Farmers in Imo State

ABSTRACT This study identified the socio-economic determinants of domestic violence suffered by rural women crop farmers in Orlu agricultural zone of Imo state, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 80 rural women crop farmers for the study. Data was collected using structured interview schedule and analyzed with both descriptive (mean, frequency counts, percentages) and inferential statistical tools (ordinary least square multiple regression analysis). Findings show that 68.5% of the women were 40 years and below and 81.4% were legally married with 88.7% of the women being in marriage for at least 8years. Most of the women (71%) had at most secondary school education and 23.3% earned above N20, 000 per month. Out of the four nature of domestic violence examined in the study, only emotional/psychological violence reached statistical significance with a mean of 2.5. The major causes of domestic violence identified by the study were disagreement over money (mean =3.0), failure to perform domestic chores (mean = 2.7), disobedience to husband (mean=2.7) and sharing marital problems with friends (mean = 2.7). Respondent’s age, duration of marriage, educational status, religion, household size and number of wives were the major determinants of domestic violence. It was recommended that a re-orientation be given to the men in the area to enlighten them more on the negative effects of domestic violence.Â

Socio-economic Determinants of Domestic Violence Suffered by Rural Women Crop Farmers in Imo State

ABSTRACT This study identified the socio-economic determinants of domestic violence suffered by rural women crop farmers in Orlu agricultural zone of Imo state, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 80 rural women crop farmers for the study. Data was collected using structured interview schedule and analyzed with both descriptive (mean, frequency counts, percentages) and inferential statistical tools (ordinary least square multiple regression analysis). Findings show that 68.5% of the women were 40 years and below and 81.4% were legally married with 88.7% of the women being in marriage for at least 8years. Most of the women (71%) had at most secondary school education and 23.3% earned above N20, 000 per month. Out of the four nature of domestic violence examined in the study, only emotional/psychological violence reached statistical significance with a mean of 2.5. The major causes of domestic violence identified by the study were disagreement over money (mean =3.0), failure to perform domestic chores (mean = 2.7), disobedience to husband (mean=2.7) and sharing marital problems with friends (mean = 2.7). Respondent’s age, duration of marriage, educational status, religion, household size and number of wives were the major determinants of domestic violence. It was recommended that a re-orientation be given to the men in the area to enlighten them more on the negative effects of domestic violence.Â

Body Mass Index, Blood Pressure and Serum Cortisol Level as Stress Index in Symptomatic HIV/AIDS Male Subjects on Antiretroviral Therapy Negative to Malaria Parasite in Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria

Background: HIV infection is a risk factor for a variety of endocrine problems. Objectives: This study investigated the body mass index (BMI), Systolic blood pressure (SBP), Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and serum cortisol level as stress factor/index symptomatic HIV/AIDS male subjects on ART who are negative to malaria parasite in Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria. Methods: A total of 274 adult male participants aged between 18 and 60 (42 ±13) years were randomly recruited at the Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) Centre in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital and grouped based on WHO criteria for staging HIV into symptomatic HIV (stage 11) infected male participants on ART (A: n=69), Symptomatic HIV subjects not on ART (B: n= 69), Asymptomatic HIV positive subjects (C: n= 68) and HIV seronegative subjects (D: n= 68). Blood samples were collected from the participants for the determination of HIV status by immunochromatography and HIV confirmation by Western Blot. Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) was used to assay for cortisol level. Results: The results showed a significantly increased BMI and decreased mean serum cortisol level in HIV/AIDS seropositive participants on ART than in those, not on ART (p<0.05). Also, the BMI and mean serum cortisol level were significantly decreased and increased respectively in  HIV/AIDS seropositive participants not on ART than in Asymptomatic HIV positive subjects and control respectively (p<0.05). However, the mean SBP and DBP did not differ significantly between the groups studied (p>0.05). Conclusion: This study revealed a decreased stress index in HIV/AIDS subjects on ART with hypercortisolism and lower BMI in symptomatic HIV participants, not on ART. Keywords: HIV; AIDS; Malaria uninfected male subjects; Cortisol; Blood pressure; Antiretroviral therapy

Body Mass Index, Blood Pressure and Serum Cortisol Level as Stress Index in Symptomatic HIV/AIDS Male Subjects on Antiretroviral Therapy Negative to Malaria Parasite in Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria

Background: HIV infection is a risk factor for a variety of endocrine problems. Objectives: This study investigated the body mass index (BMI), Systolic blood pressure (SBP), Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and serum cortisol level as stress factor/index symptomatic HIV/AIDS male subjects on ART who are negative to malaria parasite in Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria. Methods: A total of 274 adult male participants aged between 18 and 60 (42 ±13) years were randomly recruited at the Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) Centre in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital and grouped based on WHO criteria for staging HIV into symptomatic HIV (stage 11) infected male participants on ART (A: n=69), Symptomatic HIV subjects not on ART (B: n= 69), Asymptomatic HIV positive subjects (C: n= 68) and HIV seronegative subjects (D: n= 68). Blood samples were collected from the participants for the determination of HIV status by immunochromatography and HIV confirmation by Western Blot. Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) was used to assay for cortisol level. Results: The results showed a significantly increased BMI and decreased mean serum cortisol level in HIV/AIDS seropositive participants on ART than in those, not on ART (p<0.05). Also, the BMI and mean serum cortisol level were significantly decreased and increased respectively in  HIV/AIDS seropositive participants not on ART than in Asymptomatic HIV positive subjects and control respectively (p<0.05). However, the mean SBP and DBP did not differ significantly between the groups studied (p>0.05). Conclusion: This study revealed a decreased stress index in HIV/AIDS subjects on ART with hypercortisolism and lower BMI in symptomatic HIV participants, not on ART. Keywords: HIV; AIDS; Malaria uninfected male subjects; Cortisol; Blood pressure; Antiretroviral therapy

Theory of proximity effect in superconductor/ferromagnet heterostructures

We present a microscopic theory of proximity effect in the ferromagnet/superconductor/ferromagnet (F/S/F) nanostructures where S is s-wave low-T_c superconductor and F's are layers of 3d transition ferromagnetic metal. Our approach is based on the solution of Gor'kov equations for the normal and anomalous Green's functions together with a self-consistent evaluation of the superconducting order parameter. We take into account the elastic spin-conserving scattering of the electrons assuming s-wave scattering in the S layer and s-d scattering in the F layers. In accordance with the previous quasiclassical theories, we found that due to exchange field in the ferromagnet the anomalous Green's function F(z) exhibits the damping oscillations in the F-layer as a function of distance z from the S/F interface. In the given model a half of period of oscillations is determined by the length \xi_m^0 = \pi v_F/E_ex, where v_F is the Fermi velocity and E_ex is the exchange field, while damping is governed by the length l_0 = (1/l_{\uparrow} + 1/l_{\downarrow})^{-1} with l_{\uparrow} and l_{\downarrow} being spin-dependent mean free paths in the ferromagnet. The superconducting transition temperature T_c(d_F) of the F/S/F trilayer shows the damping oscillations as a function of the F-layer thickness d_F with period \xi_F = \pi/\sqrt{m E_ex}, where m is the effective electron mass. We show that strong spin-conserving scattering either in the superconductor or in the ferromagnet significantly suppresses these oscillations. The calculated T_c(d_F) dependences are compared with existing experimental data for Fe/Nb/Fe trilayers and Nb/Co multilayers.Comment: 13 pages, REVTeX4, 8 PS-figures; improved version, submitted to PR

Structure and Magnetism of well-defined cobalt nanoparticles embedded in a niobium matrix

Our recent studies on Co-clusters embedded in various matrices reveal that the co-deposition technique (simultaneous deposition of two beams : one for the pre-formed clusters and one for the matrix atoms) is a powerful tool to prepare magnetic nanostructures with any couple of materials even though they are miscible. We study, both sharply related, structure and magnetism of the Co/Nb system. Because such a heterogeneous system needs to be described at different scales, we used microscopic and macroscopic techniques but also local selective absorption ones. We conclude that our clusters are 3 nm diameter f.c.c truncated octahedrons with a pure cobalt core and a solid solution between Co and Nb located at the interface which could be responsible for the magnetically inactive monolayers we found. The use of a very diluted Co/Nb film, further lithographed, would allow us to achieve a pattern of microsquid devices in view to study the magnetic dynamics of a single-Co cluster.Comment: 7 TeX pages, 9 Postscript figures, detailed heading adde

Why honey is effective as a medicine. 1. Its use in modern medicine

Honey has been used as a medicine for thousands of years and its curative properties are well documented. However, modern medicine turned its back on honey and it is only now, with the advent of multi-resistant bacteria, that the antibiotic properties of honey are being rediscovered

Inhomogeneous magnetism induced in a superconductor at superconductor-ferromagnet interface

We study a magnetic proximity effect at superconductor (S) - ferromagnet (F) interface. It is shown that due to an exchange of electrons between the F and S metals ferromagnetic correlations extend into the superconductor, being dependent on interface parameters. We show that ferromagnetic exchange field pair breaking effect leads to a formation of subgap bands in the S layer local density of states, that accommodate only one spin-polarized quasiparticles. Equilibrium magnetization leakage into the S layer as function of SF interface quality and a value of ferromagnetic interaction have also been calculated. We show that a damped-oscillatory behavior versus distance from SF interface is a distinguished feature of the exchange-induced magnetization of the S layer.Comment: 10 pages, 7 Postscript figure