Assessment of Internet Service Quality and Customers’ Satisfaction in University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria

This study examined internet service quality and its effects on customers’ satisfaction in University of Ilorin, Nigeria. The objective of this study was to find out the awareness, technical difficulty and perception of internet users in the university. Questionnaire was the major instrument used to gather relevant data. Data were collected from respondents from ten faculties, including 60 academic staff, 40 non-academic staff and 100 students making a total of 200. Four research questions were formulated for the study and percentage was used to analyze the data. The results from the research indicated that: 91.6% of the academic staff, 95% of non- academic staff and 75.5% of students testified to the fact that internet services were available in the university.53.3% of the academic staff, 60% on non-academic staff and 85.7% of students also stated that inadequate or insufficient bandwidth and poor electricity were part of the challenges that hinders the effective usage of internet. Based on the problems encountered, 58.3% of academic staff, 52.5% of non- academic staff and 65% of students were not satisfied with the internet service quality they enjoyed.65% of academic staff, 60% of non- academic staff and 50% of students reacted positively to the fact that the quality of its service delivery would be granted if improved.Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended amongst others, that the university should improve on the quality of their interaction with the customers to alleviate their apprehensions about more bandwidth, internet training and constant electricity. These will allow for satisfaction and retention of customers and optimize their limited resources. Keywords: Assessment, Internet service quality, Customers’ satisfactio

ANTHROPOMETRIC AND PHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF INSTITUTION-BASED SECURITY PERSONNEL IN NIGERIA

This study investigated the anthropometric and physiological characteristics of institution-based security personnel in Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The population for the study were the male security personnel of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife and Wesley-Guild Hospital (WGH), Ilesa, Osun State. Sample comprised sixty middle-aged volunteers drawn from the Security Departments of the three institutions. Inclusion criteria for the study was passing a preliminary health screening for cardiovascular disease risk factors. Anthropometric parameters were measured in line with the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK)’s protocol. Participants’ weight and height were measured with an Electronic BMI scale and blood pressure was recorded using Aneroid sphygmomanometer. Participants’ VO2 max was estimated from the Cooper 12-minutes run/walk test. Data was recorded in a structured data sheet. Descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviations was used to analyse data. The results showed that the mean age of security personnel in the study was 41.7 ± 5.749, while their mean height and weight were 171.0 ± 7.353 and 69.2 ± 7.322 respectively. The mean of personnel’s waist and hip circumferences were 40.68 ± 3.968 and 46.68 ± 2.813 respectively. The mean of skinfolds (Ʃ4 Skf), percent body fat, waist-to-hip ratio, and BMI of security personnel were 50.03 ± 15.797, 22.37 ± 5.175, 0.87 ± 0.062 and 23.66 ± 2.386 respectively. Their mean resting heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and VO2 max were 63.77 ± 8.77, 119.42 ± 9.30, 80.17 ± 8.54 and 43.95 ± 43.95 respectively. The study concluded that institution-based security personnel are similar to the civilian population in terms of anthropometric and physiological characteristics.  Article visualizations

EFFECTS OF AN 8-WEEK INTERMITTENT AEROBIC EXERCISE ON THE ELECTROCARDIOGRAM AND PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF INSTITUTIONAL SECURITY PERSONNEL IN NIGERIA

This study determined the effects of an 8-week intermittent aerobic exercise training on the resting electrocardiogram and physiological parameters of institutional security personnel in Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC). The study adopted a pretest-posttest-control group experimental design. The population for the study were male security personnel of OAUTHC, Ile-Ife. Forty middle-aged volunteers who met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to either of Intermittent Training Group, ITG (n = 20) or control (n = 20). A structured exercise training programme, Intermittent Exercise Training Programme was used to train the ITG for 8 weeks. Resting ECG was recorded pre and post-intervention with a 12-lead Electrocardiograph, weight and height were measured with an electronic BMI scale. Blood pressure was recorded before and after exercise sessions. Participants in ITG performed the 12-minutes run/walk test before and after the 8 weeks intervention. Borg’s rating of perceived exertion scale was used to gauge exercise intensity and a structured data sheet was used for recording data. Paired- sample t- Test statistics was used to analyse data. The results showed that intermittent aerobic exercise training neither produced significant effect on the resting ECG parameters in terms of intervals; RR- interval (t = -0.79; p > 0.05), P- wave duration (t = -0.64; p > 0.05), PR- interval (t = -0.08; p > 0.05), QRS- Complex (t = -0.99; p > 0.05) and QTC (t = -1.20; p > 0.05) nor axes P- Axis (t = -0.06; p > 0.05), QRS- Axis (t = 0.78; p > 0.05) and T- Axis (t = 0.60; p > 0.05). It however affected participants’ heart rate (t = 4.41; p < 0.05) and VO2 max (t = -11.25; p < 0.05). The study concluded that intermittent aerobic exercise training produced no significant effect on the resting ECG parameters but significantly reduced heart rate and increased VO2 max.  Article visualizations

Influence Of Social Studies Education On Students’ Response To Corrupt Practices

This study investigated the responses of Social Studies and non Social Studies students to corrupt practices in Nigeria. The sample consisted of 439 final year B.Ed. students of six selected tertiary institutions covering the four geo-political zones in Nigeria. The major instruments employed were an unstructured interview and a set of questionnaire whose items covered the following areas: giving and taking of bribes, fraudulent practices, election and examination mal-practices, and reporting of lost and found properties to the appropriate authorities. Frequency counts, percentages and T- test were used to analyze the data. The result revealed that there was no significant difference between the two groups in their tendency toward corrupt practices. One of the recommendations was the need to integrate citizenship education into the Social Studies curriculum at all levels of education. Anti – corruption clubs should be established in all schools to help in curbing corrupt tendencies of students.     &nbsp

Effect of Blanching Period and Drying Temperature on Selected Physicochemical Properties of Cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) Flour

This study investigated the influence of Blanching Time (BT) and Drying Temperature (DT) on some selected physico-chemical properties of cocoyam flour including water absorption capacity, bulk density, swelling index, wettability and gelatinization point. The quality parameters of the flour were analysed using AOAC standard methods and procedures. Twofactors, 3-levels Historical Data Design of Response Surface Methodology was adopted for the analysis to determine the effects of BT and DT on the investigated parameters. Second order polynomial model was obtained at 5% level of significance. The flour samples had 1.60 to 4.00% water absorption capacity, 0.71 to 0.81 g/cm3 bulk density, 5.2 to 6.8 g/g swelling index, 7 to 16s wettability and 68 to 90oC gelatinization point. Samples dried at 60oC and blanched for 9.05 mins had better quality with optimum response values of 3.37% water absorption capacity, 0.76 g/cm3 bulk density, 6.22 g/g swelling index, 12.71 s wettability, and 85.73oC gelatinization temperature. BT and DT had significant effects on water absorption and wettability while no significant influence was observed on the bulk density, swelling index and gelatinization temperature of the flour at p ≤ 0.05. These findings will serve as a guide in ensuring proper choice of blanching time and drying temperature based on end-use and desired physico-chemical properties of cocoyam flour

Effect of domestic processing on the amino acid profile of Dioscorea rotundata (White yam)

Yam (Dioscorea species) is one of the most important food crops in West Africa. It is a major source of carbohydrates and nutrient energy for many people in tropical countries. Like many other foods, roots and tubers are rarely eaten raw. They normally undergo some forms of processing which makes them more palatable, digestible and safe for human consumption. Freshly harvested tubers of Dioscorea rotundata were peeled, washed and diced and subjected to different domestic processing techniques namely: Drying, roasting, boiling and frying. The flour was evaluated for proximate and amino acid composition. Glutamic acid was the most concentrated amino acid, with the drying process recording the highest value. Histidine, an essential amino acid showed a higher value than the FAO standard for the four techniques. The lysine contents were comparable with the reference egg protein. Total aromatic amino acid and total sulphur-containing amino acids gave values comparable with FAO/WHO/UNU standards. In general, the amino acid content was significantly higher (p<0.05) when the yam was subjected to drying process, suggesting that D. rotundata flour has potential as a high quality protein source, hence can be exploited to enhance protein quality of diet for adults and weaning/complimentary feeding for children

Outcome of clubfoot treatment in the pre-ponseti period in a Nigerian teaching hospital: a 14 year review

Background: Congenital Talipes Equinovarus (CTEV) is a common musculoskeletal congenital disorder. Historically, surgical treatment of various types was popular; however, currently the gold standard of treatment is non-operative care using the Ponseti method. This work evaluates the outcome of this former method of managing CTEV before author adopted the Ponseti Method and compares it with the reported outcomes of the Ponseti method in published literature.Methods: A retrospective review of this data from January 1990 to December 2003 was done, the patients demographics, treatment given, duration and outcome of care were analysed using descriptive statistics. This finding was then compared with outcomes of Ponseti method in literature.Results: Here, 145 patients had initial non operative care; eighteen of those patients (12.4%), eventually require either a posteromedial release, a combined posteromedial and posterolateral releases or a triple arthrodesis.Conclusions: The study shows that the success rate of this method of manipulation preceding the adoption of the Ponseti method is 87.6%. This outcome is inferior when compared to the outcome of Ponseti method in published literature. Also, the extensive nature of eventual surgical intervention required to achieve correction is in contrast to the minimal surgeries needed achieve correction of residual deformities following the use of the Ponseti method

Development and Evaluation of a Combined Castor Seed Roaster-Oil Expeller

This study evaluated optimal process parameters for mechanical oil expression from castor seeds after designing a castor seed roaster-expeller. The effect of input variables (Moisture Content at 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10% db; Roasting Temperature at 80, 90, 100,110 and 120oC and Applied Pressure at 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 MPa) on the oil yield, expression efficiency, expression loss and energy used were determined using Central Composite Design in Response Surface Methodology for the optimization and modelling. Analysis of Variance was employed to determine the level of significance (P≤ 0.05). The optimum expression efficiency, expression loss and minimum energy used were 72.86%, 0.63% and 584.19 Watts obtained at experimental conditions of 15.00 MPa applied pressure, 6% moisture content and 85.52°C heating temperature respectively. The R2 values of the developed models ranged from 0.813 to 0.982 at 95% confidence level. The developed combined castor seed roaster-oil expeller was found to be efficient and developed models showed adequate prediction with good relationships between dependent and independent variables. Keywords: castor seed, oil extraction, modeling, optimization DOI: 10.7176/ISDE/11-1-07 Publication date: January 31st 2020

Influence of counselling on career preference among secondary school students in Ekiti State,

ABSTRAC

The incidence and pattern of geriatric limb fractures in Ibadan, Nigeria

Background: Individuals within the geriatric age group sustained different types of fractures as such the need to determine the incidence and pattern of limb fractures among patients 65 years and above admitted through the accident and emergency department of the University College Hospital Ibadan.Methods: A retrospective hospital-based study in which patients 65 years and above admitted through the accident and emergency department of the University College Hospital Ibadan over a 42-month period were involved in the study. Using a proformal completed from the electronically stored data that captures the patient’s history, examination findings, X-ray film and treatment offered which was collected on a weekly basis.Results: 12.58% of the patients reviewed within the study period were geriatric patients. A total of 98 geriatric patients were reviewed. There were 59 female and 39 male with a ratio 1.5:1. The fractures were mostly secondary to a trivial fall within their homes (68.37%) while traumatic injury from motor vehicle and motor bike crashes accounted for 11.22% and 16.33% respectively. The most commonly fractured bone is the femur and the proximal third is the most affected part. Comminuted fracture is the most common pattern observed.Conclusions: More than 10% of the reviewed population was in the geriatric age group and the proximal femur was the most commonly fractured bone in this age group. They usually follow trivial falls