TAXATION AS A MEANS OF REDUCING NITROGEN FERTILIZER USE IN MINNESOTA CORN PRODUCTION

Crop Production/Industries, Environmental Economics and Policy,

Patients’ Knowledge of Diabetes Mellitus in a Nigerian City

Purpose: To assess the knowledge of diabetes mellitus among diabetes patients and to identify knowledge deficits and patient specific characteristics that are associated with this knowledge.                              Methods: This was a descriptive cross sectional observational clinic study conducted among previously diagnosed patients with diabetes attending the Consultant Outpatient Departments (COPD) of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH). The study employed the use of a 14-item Diabetes Knowledge Test (DKT), developed by the University of Michigan Diabetes Research and Training Centre (MDRTC) and a demographic questionnaire to assess patient’s knowledge and its association with some patient specific variables.Results: The overall mean knowledge score of the subjects was 5.54 ± 2.3 (39.5 % ± 16.7 %) range 7 - 79 %. There was no statistically significant difference in knowledge scores with respect to family history of the disease, recent training in DM, age and sex p > 0.05. Respondents without any formal education scored significantly higher in the DKT (7.0 ± 2.27) followed by those with post graduate and University education 6.67 ± 2.41 and 6.65 ± 2.41 respectively. Higher score on the DKT was significantly correlated with duration of disease awareness (r = 0.217; 95 %CI = 0.02 – 0.39, p < 0.05) but not associated with improved glucose control as measured by FBG levels. (r = -0.073; 95 %CI = -0.277 - 0.137, p > 0.05). Only 12 (13.5 %) of the respondents had FBG levels with the normal range of 5.6 – 6.9 mmole/L.Conclusion: Respondents’ knowledge of diabetes mellitus based on the DKT was very poor. There were knowledge deficits which relate to misconceptions in the diabetics diet and knowledge of blood glucose monitoring with glycosylated haemoglobin test. Longer duration of diabetes, irrespective of educational status, was associated with higher knowledge score.Keywords: Diabetes, knowledge, Patient’s characteristics

INFLUENCE OF DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DELTA STATE SKILLS TRAINING AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAMME (STEP)

This study evaluated the influence of Demographic factors on the implementation of the Delta State Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP). The population of the study comprised 4,559 beneficiaries. A sample size of 1,000 beneficiaries was selected through proportionate stratified and convenience sampling techniques. The questionnaire was used to collect data. Experts’ judgement was used to validate the instrument. The test-retest method of reliability was used to determine the reliability of the instrument, with a coefficient of 0.82. Frequency and percentage were used to analyse the data. The findings of the study revealed that there is a significant difference between male and female beneficiaries of the STEP on the establishment of their own enterprises after graduating from the programme; that there is a significant difference between male and female beneficiaries of the STEP on their employment of other youths after graduating from the programme; and that there is no significant difference among beneficiaries of the STEP on the establishment of their own enterprises on the basis of their marital status after graduating from the programme. The study further showed that there is no significant difference among beneficiaries of the STEP on the employment of other youths on the basis of their marital status after graduating from the programme; that there is a significant difference among beneficiaries of the STEP on the establishment of their own enterprises on the basis of their educational qualification after graduating from the programme; and that there is no significant difference among beneficiaries of the STEP on their employment of other youths on the basis of their educational qualification after graduating from the programme. The study recommended amongst others that the program be expanded to accommodate more economically viable skills and vocations, including commerce/trade apprenticeship.  Article visualizations

ASSESSMENT OF THE PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES OF ATTITUDE TOWARDS ASSESSMENT TEST (ATAT)

This study is on the assessment of the psychometric properties of Attitude Towards Assessment Test (ATAT). Four research questions guided the study. An instrumentation research design was adopted. The population consisted of secondary school students in Delta State, Nigeria. The sample size comprised 1,000 students, selected through simple random and non-probability cluster sampling techniques. The test under assessment was developed by Megbele, et al. (2023). The Rasch Rating Scale Model was used to answer research 1, which assessed person and item reliability, item statistics, and ordering of response categories. Two fit indices including the infit and outfit mean square (MNSQ) statistics were used to answer research question 2. The data that were used to answer research questions 1 and 2 were analysed with the aid of the Jmetrik IRT software. The Categorical Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CCFA) was used to answer research question 3 while Chi-Square Goodness of Fit Statistics was used to answer research question 4 on construct validity, evidence of unidimensionality, and local independence respectively. The findings of this study revealed that the three components of the scale had high values of item separation index and reliability as well as an acceptable range of Person separation index and reliability; the difficulty index of items in the test was within an acceptable range; Each of the components of the Attitude Towards Assessment Test (ATAT) (Cognitive, affective and behavioural) had one construct each, which is evidence of unidimensionality for the different components of the Attitude Towards Assessment Test. Based on the findings of the study, it was concluded that all items in the different components that made up the test are reliable, have adequate item difficulty infit, and outfit MNSQ estimates, with evidence of unidimensionality and local independence assumptions. The study recommended that the test can be used by examination bodies for the assessment of students in the affective domain.  Article visualizations

EVALUATION OF THE DELTA STATE SKILLS TRAINING AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAMME (STEP)

This study evaluated the extent to which the goals of the Delta State Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP) have been achieved. Three research questions guided the study. The population of the study comprised 4,559 beneficiaries. A sample size of 1,000 beneficiaries was selected through proportionate stratified and convenience sampling techniques. A questionnaire was used to collect data. Experts’ judgement was used to validate the instrument. The test-retest method of reliability was used to determine the reliability of the instrument, with a coefficient of 0.82. Frequency and percentage were used to analyse the data. The findings of the study revealed that STEP has trained beneficiaries in the following skill options: Fashion design, Catering, Hairdressing, Make-up, Fishery, Decoration and event management, Electrical installation and repairs, Welding and fabrication, ICT and Farming; all the 1000 participants evaluated have established their own enterprises, indicating a 100% goal achievement; and that majority of the beneficiaries have employed other youths after graduating from the programme. The study recommended amongst others that the program be expanded to accommodate more economically viable skills and vocations, including commerce/trade apprenticeship.  Article visualizations

Identification of Counterfeit Drugs by Community Pharmacists in Lagos State

Purpose: The problem of fake and counterfeit drugs is real and constitutes a major threat to the health and safety of the Nigerian population. A descriptive study was carried out to assess the methods of identification of counterfeit drugs by community pharmacists in Lagos State. Methods: The research instrument was a 23-item questionnaire, which was administered to consenting community pharmacists in 17 out of the 20 Local Government Areas in Lagos State. A convenient sample of practicing community pharmacists both in retail and wholesale distribution of pharmaceutical products were recruited into the study using a list of registered pharmacists from the Association of Community Pharmacists in Lagos State. Effort was made to ensure adequate representation of Pharmacies in every local government area in Lagos State. Results: All the respondents agreed that there is a fake and counterfeit drug problem in Nigeria, and (74%) considered this a major problem. The respondents commonly used visual security techniques before drug purchasing. These were: Seals/embossments (83%), character of print (77%), and Holograms (68%).The respondents' most likely action after a counterfeit drug encounter was to return the drug back to the supplier. Conclusion: The study showed that pharmacists sampled were aware of the prevalence of fake and counterfeit drugs and quite a number of them have had encounters with them. There is an indication that the respondents try to assure themselves of the quality of the drugs they purchase by use of several methods. However, no rigorous effort was taken to confirm as well as report suspected fake and counterfeit drugs to regulatory authorities. Keywords: Community pharmacists, drug identification, fake and counterfeit drugs. > Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research Vol. 5 (1) 2006: pp. 545-55

Conductance of graphene nanoribbon junctions and the tight binding model

Planar carbon-based electronic devices, including metal/semiconductor junctions, transistors and interconnects, can now be formed from patterned sheets of graphene. Most simulations of charge transport within graphene-based electronic devices assume an energy band structure based on a nearest-neighbour tight binding analysis. In this paper, the energy band structure and conductance of graphene nanoribbons and metal/semiconductor junctions are obtained using a third nearest-neighbour tight binding analysis in conjunction with an efficient nonequilibrium Green’s function formalism. We find significant differences in both the energy band structure and conductance obtained with the two approximations

Microwave characterisation of carbon nanotube powders

We have used a 3 GHz microwave host cavity to study the remarkable electronic properties of metallic, single-walled carbon nanotubes. Powder samples are placed in its magnetic field antinode, which induces microwave currents without the need for electrical contacts. Samples are shown to screen effectively the microwave magnetic field, implying an extremely low value of sheet resistance (< 10 micrometers) within the graphene sheets making up the curved nanotube walls. Associated microwave losses are large due to the large surface area, but also point to a similar, very small value of sheet resistance due to the inherent ballistic electron transport

Swarm Intelligence Optimization Algorithms: A Review

Swarm Intelligence, of late, has gradually become an exciting area of research interest to many researchers in science and engineering. The primary reason for this interest is because swarm intelligence exploits the miraculous cum harmonious working of nature in ensuring order, preservation, conservation, longevity and sustenance of plants and animals in the ecosystem. As a result, researchers that believe that mimicking nature is key to solving diverse problems in engineering, technology and science has developed a number of swarm intelligence techniques. This paper presents a review of some recently developed swarm intelligence algorithms that have been successfully applied to solve a number of optimization problems with special emphasis on their application areas, strengths and observable weaknesses. This study aims to assist researchers in their choice of algorithm to solve optimization problems