Atomic population distribution in the output ports of cold-atom interferometers with optical splitting and recombination

Cold-atom interferometers with optical splitting and recombination use off-resonant laser beams to split a cloud of Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) into two clouds that travel along different paths and are then recombined again using optical beams. After the recombination, the BEC in general populates both the cloud at rest and the moving clouds. Measuring relative number of atoms in each of these clouds yields information about the relative phase shift accumulated by the atoms in the two moving clouds during the interferometric cycle. We derive the expression for the probability of finding any given number of atoms in each of the clouds, discuss features of the probability density distribution, analyze its dependence on the relative accumulated phase shift as a function of the strength of the interatomic interactions, and compare our results with experiment.Comment: 25 pages, 7 figure

Transculturalism: a path to the integration of the multilingual/multi-ethnic learners of English as a second language in Nigeria

Culture is language and with language communication is possible. Transculturalism is the tool to understand other cultures and languages, but also to switch between cultures and languages as part of being in a society and living peacefully and happily in that society. This paper is a descriptive study that suggested ways of promoting intercultural communication and how culture boundaries can be broken in an English as a Second language classroom more especially in Nigeria bedevilled with ethnic, cultural, language and religious diversities. This paper vied off the support for the promotion of Nigeria’s three major languages –Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba at the expense of the over 450 others. As many number of cultures brought in by students to class can be blended in the class. The end product is transculturalism is creation of individuals with new identities that accommodate others. This paper believed that transculturalism can bring about integration in Nigeria. This topic was explored using the framework of Byram’s Intercultural communicative competence.Keywords: transculturalism, Intercultural communicative competence, hybridization, multiculturalism, cosmopolitanis

Extrapolating nutritional potentials of ensiled wild sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia) leaf meal: proximate composition and functional properties

Tithonia diversifolia leaf was harvested, processed and ensiled for the purpose of determining the proximate and some functional properties. On proximate analyses, ensiled Tithonia diversifolia leaf meal (eTDLM) had crude protein value of 20.0%±3.61; crude fiber 19.0%±0.01; ether extract (lipid content) 4.0%±0.05 and ash content was an average of 16.7%±0.01. Nitrogen free extract (carbohydrate) was relatively high at 26.0%±0.01, while moisture content averaged 11.8%+0.01. Water absorption capacity (WAC) averaged 310.0%±1.0, while the fat absorption capacity (FAC) was 354.5%±0.1. Mean fat emulsion capacity and emulsion stability of the leaf meal were 42.5%±0.07 and 57.5%±0.1, respectively. Bulk density averaged 0.8 g/ml while foaming capacity (FC), foaming stability (FS) and least gelation concentration (LGC) averaged 11.0%±0.07, 3.0cm±0.7 and 8.0%±0.1, respectively. Comparison of the proximate composition and functional properties of eTDLM against known food agents established the potential usefulness of eTDLM in food systems and as a probable alternative feed ingredient in monogastric protein feed supplementation.Keywords: Anaerobic biodegradation, preliminary nutritional study, ensiled Tithonia diversifolia leaf mea

Nutritional Profile of Three Different Mushroom Varieties Consumed in Amaifeke, Orlu Local Government Area, Imo State, Nigeria

The proximate and mineral composition of three varieties of mushroom consumed in Amaifeke, Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State were evaluated. The mushroom species include white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus), oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus), Crimini mushroom (Agaricus bisporus). The mushroom varieties were harvested and dried, then taken to the laboratory for proximate, mineral and vitamin analysis. Standard assay methods were used to analyze for proximate and mineral composition. Proximate composition of the mushroom was found to be in the range of 3.29 – 5.24% for moisture content, 8.60 – 22.60% for protein, 6.85 – 7.54% for fat, 7.94 – 18.63% for fibre, 2.99 – 4.74% for ash and 59.67 – 60.60% for carbohydrate. Six mineral elements were analysed: selenium, iron, zinc, iodine, potassium and copper, having values of 3.04 -6.56mg/100g, 1.532 – 2.378mg/100g, 2.70 – 3.90mg/100g, 0.348 – 0.425mg/100g, 0.8079 – 2.4615% and 0.586 – 0.784mg/100g respectively. Based on the result the mushroom have high nutrient potentials hence it will serve as a good means of reducing the incidence and high prevalence of malnutrition in Nigeria since it is a cheap food source that is within the reach of the poor

Nutritional Status, Care Giving And Feeding Practices Of Infant And Pre-School Children (0 - 5 Years) In Motherless Babies Homes In Owerri Metropolis

The study was conducted to determine the nutritional status, care-giving and feeding practices of infants and preschool children (0-5 years) in the motherless babies home (Red Cross and Holy family sisters of the Needy motherless Babies Home) in Imo State. A cross sectional survey was carried out to elicit information from 100 respondents who were randomly selected. Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 16 was used to analyze the data. The World Health Organization Classification was used to define the anthropometric analysis such as wasting, stunting and underweight among the children. Result revealed that anthropometric measurement using WHO standards used in defining the following: Weight- for - height which showed that 18% were wasted, height-for-age assessment revealed that 34% were stunted and weight-far-age showed that 19% were underweight while 19% of the children were overweight. The result of the study indicate that 19% of children were breastfed by wet nursing, 7%  ate > 2 times daily, 11% take fits 3 times per week the health status of the children showed that 19% of them were sick all the time, 2% each of the children had Oedema and Beriberi, 26 % had scurvy, 11% had rickets while 37% of the children had anaemic look on them. In conclusion, the study revealed that the nutritional status of the infants and preschool children in the motherless babies home is generally low due to the children's poor feeding habit and poor nutrition knowledge of the care givers as indicated by the study. Keywords: Nutritional Status, Care Giving, Feeding Practices,  Infant, Pre-School Children, Motherless Babies Hom

Antinutrient Profile of Three Mushroom Varieties Consumed in Amaifeke, Orlu, Imo State

Background: The importance of eliminating or minimizing antinutrients from foods human consume cannot be overemphasized. This study evaluated the antinutrient profile of three varieties of mushroom consumed in Amaifeke, Orlu, Imo State were determined. The mushroom species include white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus), oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus), Crimini mushroom (Agaricus bisporus). Methods: The mushroom varieties were harvested and dried, after which, they were taken to the laboratory for chemical analysis. Standard assay methods were used to analyze for antinutrient composition. Result: Six anti-nutrients: hydrogen cyanide, saponin, phytate, oxalate, trypsin inhibitor and haemogglutinin were analysed and their values ranged from 0.198 – 0.236mg/g, 0.6656 – 1.001mg/g, 0.7794 -1.558mg/100g, 0.236 – 0.510%, 1.857 – 3.476TIµ/mg, 1.350 – 2.899Hµ/mg respectively. Conclusion: Based on the result of the study, it is important that these mushrooms be properly processed so that the nutrients in them will not be rendered inaccessible by the body due to the presence of these antinutrients. Keywords: Antinutrient, Mushroom, Consumed, Amaifek

Competency Based Education and Training in Technical Vocational Education: Implication for Sustainable National Security and Development

Despite the contemporary importance attached to technical and vocational education (TVE) as a panacea for tackling growing unemployment in developing countries, the development and application of TVE in many countries is still largely bedeviled by numerous problems. One of the major challenges of TVE in Nigeria is the lack of employable skills among graduates of TVE institutions. Though several approaches have been adopted as solution to this problem, there seems to be no head off. This calls for new strategies hence the need for the integration of Competency Based Education and Training (CBET) in Technical and Vocational Education (TVE) in the nations TVE. This paper focused on CBET in TVE and its implication for sustainable national security and development in Nigeria. The paper discussed the characteristics, elements and objectives of CBET. It highlighted the benefits of CBET as a training approach that is learner focused, thus allowing participants to acquire competencies required in the performance of their jobs. The authors argued that the  introduction of CBET in TVE programmes will  help to tackle the problem of lack of employable skills among TVE graduates from Nigeria institutions thereby reduce youth unemployment and by extension it will help to address various security and development challenges confronting Nigeria. The paper concluded with some recommendations that include the immediate introduction of CBET in TVE and increase funding of the sector, amongst others. Keywords: Competence Based Education, Training, Technical Education, Vocational Education, Development, National Securit

Financial literacy and access: revisiting the bridges and barriers to women entrepreneurship in Nigeria

This study analysed financial literacy and access for women entrepreneurs in Nigeria. The study is qualitative in nature and adopted an interpretive research design which employed an in-depth interviews with mainly well-informed women entrepreneurs to evaluate their interpretations and perceptions of the influence of financial access and literacy on woman entrepreneurship in Enugu Metropolis, South-Eastern Nigeria. A purposeful sampling approach comprising twenty women entrepreneurs was employed for this research. The results indicates that financial literacy was a critical factor in the growth of women-owned business, this is found especially in the business start-up phase Furthermore, our analysis revealed that revealed that financial skill is critical to the growth and smooth operation of female-owned business

Experimenting with Cigarettes and Physical Activity Among Mexican Origin Youth: A Cross Sectional Analysis of the Interdependent Associations Among Sensation Seeking, Acculturation, and Gender

Sensation seeking tendencies tend to manifest during adolescence and are associated with both health-compromising behaviors and health-enhancing behaviors. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between sensation seeking and physical activity, a health-enhancing behavior, and between sensation seeking and experimenting with cigarettes, a health compromising-behavior, among a cohort of Mexican origin adolescents residing in the United States with different levels of acculturation. Methods: In 2009, 1,154 Mexican origin youth (50.5% girls, mean age 14.3 years (SD = 1.04)) provided data on smoking behavior, physical activity, linguistic acculturation, and sensation seeking. We conducted Pearson's chi(2) tests to examine the associations between categorical demographic characteristics (i.e. gender, age, country of birth and parental educational attainment) and both cigarette experimentation and physical activity and Student's t-tests to examine mean differences on the continuous variables (i.e. sensation seeking subscale) by the behaviors. We examined mean differences in the demographic characteristics, acculturation, and both behaviors for each of the sensation seeking subscales using analysis of variance (ANOVA). To examine relationships between the sensation seeking subscales, gender, and both behaviors, at different levels of acculturation we completed unconditional logistic regression analyses stratified by level of acculturation. Results: Overall, 23.3% had experimented with cigarettes and 29.0% reported being physically active for at least 60 minutes/day on at least 5 days/week. Experimenting with cigarettes and being physically active were more prevalent among boys than girls. Among girls, higher levels of sensation seeking tendencies were associated with higher levels of acculturation and experimentation with cigarettes, but not with physical activity. Among boys, higher levels of sensation seeking tendencies were associated with higher levels of acculturation, experimenting with cigarettes and being physically active. Conclusions: Our results suggest that interventions designed to prevent smoking among Mexican origin youth may need to address social aspects associated with acculturation, paying close attention to gendered manifestations of sensation seeking.National Cancer Institute CA105203, CA126988Caroline W. Law Fund for Cancer PreventionDan Duncan Family Institute for Cancer Prevention and Risk AssessmentCenter for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research in Underserved Population