Effects of Cooperative and Individualistic Instructional Strategies On Students Problem Solving Abilities In Secondary School Chemistry In Ilesa, Nigeria.

This study investigated the relative effectiveness of cooperative and individualistic instructional strategies on students' problem solving abilities in secondary school chemistry. It made use of a 3 x 3 x 2 quasi-experimental, non-randomized factorial design. Two hundred and fifty (250) Senior Secondary two (SS II) chemistry students were purposively sampled from three public secondary schools in Ilesa Local Government Area of Osun State, Nigeria. Two research instruments: Researcher's Instructional Packages for solving Chemistry Problems (RIP) and Chemistry Performance Test (CPT) were developed, validated and used for the study. The reliability of the Chemistry Performance Test (CPT) was determined and found to be 0.62 using the Pearson Product Moment Correlation formula. Five hypotheses were raised and tested using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). Two experimental groups (Cooperative Instructional group, Individualistic Instructional group) and a control group were used. The results of the analysis showed that there was a significant difference in the performance of chemistry students exposed to cooperative instructional Strategy, individualistic instructional strategy and conventional teaching method. Both the cooperative instructional strategy and individualistic instructional strategy improved the performance of the learners. The cooperative instructional strategy was found to be most effective in enhancing better performance of the learners. African Research Review Vol. 1 (1) 2007: pp. 121-13

Effectiveness of ICT on Teachers’ Science teaching to Secondary Schools in Irepodun Local Government Area, Kwara State, Nigeria

This study examined the effectiveness of ICT on teachers’ science teaching to secondary schools in Irepodun Local Government Area, Kwara State. A questionnaire was used to elicit information from respondents. Frequency counts and t-test statistics were used to analyse the data. Findingds of this study revealed that the effect of ICT to science teaching by science teachers was significant. It also revealed that there were no significant differences on the effect of using ICT to science teaching by science teachers towards teaching based on the gender and experience but significant on the school type. Based on the findings, the following recommendations were made; that; ICT Education should be compulsory in all secondary schools in Irepodun LGA Kwara State in order to improve more in their science teaching, the Teacher Registration Council of Nigeria should provide ICT for both the male and female teachers, there should be opportunity to be ICT literate through in-service education for both the experience and less experience science teachers, Government should ensure provision of ICT facilities in the public secondary schools  and encourage science teachers to go to seminars and workshops so that they can improve in their science teaching

Plasma and cellular fibronectin: distinct and independent functions during tissue repair

Fibronectin (FN) is a ubiquitous extracellular matrix (ECM) glycoprotein that plays vital roles during tissue repair. The plasma form of FN circulates in the blood, and upon tissue injury, is incorporated into fibrin clots to exert effects on platelet function and to mediate hemostasis. Cellular FN is then synthesized and assembled by cells as they migrate into the clot to reconstitute damaged tissue. The assembly of FN into a complex three-dimensional matrix during physiological repair plays a key role not only as a structural scaffold, but also as a regulator of cell function during this stage of tissue repair. FN fibrillogenesis is a complex, stepwise process that is strictly regulated by a multitude of factors. During fibrosis, there is excessive deposition of ECM, of which FN is one of the major components. Aberrant FN-matrix assembly is a major contributing factor to the switch from normal tissue repair to misregulated fibrosis. Understanding the mechanisms involved in FN assembly and how these interplay with cellular, fibrotic and immune responses may reveal targets for the future development of therapies to regulate aberrant tissue-repair processes

Polyurethane composite adsorbent using solid phase extraction method for preconcentration of metal ion from aqueous solution

Polyurethane composite adsorbent polymeric material was prepared and investigated for selected solid-phase extraction for metal ions, prior to its determination by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. The surface characterisation was done using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The separation and preconcentration conditions of the analytes investigated includes influence of pH, sample loading flow rate, elution flow rate, type and concentration of eluents. The optimum pH for the highest efficient recoveries for all metal ions, which ranged from 70 to 85 %, is pH 7. The metal ions were quantitatively eluted with 5 mL of 2 mol/L HNO3. Common coexisting ions did not interfere with the separation. The percentage recovery of the metal ions ranged between 70 and 89 %, while the results for the limit of detection and limit of quantification ranged from 0.249 to 0.256 and 0.831 to 0.855, respectively. The experimental tests showed good preconcentration results of trace levels of metal ions using synthesised polyurethane polymer adsorbent composite

Preparation and use of maize tassels’ activated carbon for the adsorption of phenolic compounds in environmental waste water samples

The determination and remediation of three phenolic compounds bisphenol A (BPA), ortho-nitrophenol (o-NTP), parachlorophenol (PCP) in wastewater is reported. The analysis of these molecules in wastewater was done using gas chromatography (GC) × GC time-of-flight mass spectrometry while activated carbon derived from maize tassel was used as an adsorbent. During the experimental procedures, the effect of various parameters such as initial concentration, pH of sample solution, eluent volume, and sample volume on the removal efficiency with respect to the three phenolic compounds was studied. The results showed that maize tassel produced activated carbon (MTAC) cartridge packed solid-phase extraction (SPE) system was able to remove the phenolic compounds effectively (90.84–98.49 %, 80.75–97.11 %, and 78.27–97.08 % for BPA, o-NTP, and PCP, respectively) . The MTAC cartridge packed SPE sorbent performance was compared to commercially produced C18 SPE cartridges and found to be comparable. All the parameters investigated were found to have a notable influence on the adsorption efficiency of the phenolic compounds from wastewaters at different magnitudes

EFL TEACHERS' PERCEPTIONS AND PERSPECTIVES ON THE USE OF THE INTERNET IN THE TEACHING PROCESS AT YARMOUK UNIVERSITY IN JORDAN

Although today the Internet use in EFL learning has brought great advantages to students, resistance to employ such technology in classrooms by many EFL teachers remain high. This study examined EFL teachers' perspectives and perceptions towards Internet-based EFL instruction at the language center at Yarmouk university. Data was collected using a questionnaire which includes : participants' background information; a four-point Likert scale to measure the participants' perspectives and perceptions towards using the Internet in the classroom; and open-ended questions to gather richer data on the participants' beliefs, attitudes, willingness, and concerns towards the use of the Internet into EFL instruction. The findings of the present study indicated that most of the participants showed positive attitudes and willingness to integrate the Internet into the classroom. However, factors such as large classes, limited time to finish the textbooks, lack of training on the use of the Internet, and lack of facilities could be possible impediments to the use of the Internet in the classroom. Based on the findings, some suggestions and recommendations were provided

Acute and subacute toxicities of defatted ethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera seed in albino rats

Moringa oleifera seeds are widely accepted as a nutritional supplement. The seeds are consumed and are sold on the shelf of nature, herbal shops, pharmacy and supermarkets. They are consumed as herbal remedy for various diseases. This study was designed to evaluate the acute and sub-acute toxicity of defatted ethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera seed (DESMOL) in albino rats using standard methods. The extract at 400, 800, 1600mg/kg caused no significant changes (P>0.05) in haematological parameters such as PCV, RBC, Hb, MCV, MCH, WBC, lymphocyte and platelet counts. In contrast, the extract, at 800 and 1600mg/kg caused significant changes in the levels of total protein (P<0.05), total and conjugated bilirubin, ALT, AST, ALP and GGT (P<0.05). The results of the histopathology showed that the extract at doses above 400mg/kg caused kidney damage by inducing widespread necrosis of tubular epithelial cells. Findings from this study revealed that grave consequences attend the chronic consumption of Moringa seeds as this could lead to kidney damage.Keywords: Moringa oleifera, Sub-chronic toxicity, Safety limit

An electrochemical immunosensor on a carbon nanofiber/gold nanoparticles platform for the detection of alpha-feto protein cancer biomarker

We report an alpha – fetoprotein (AFP) cancer biomarker electrochemical immunosensor detected on a carbon nanofiber (CNF) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) platform. Functionalised carbon nanofiber and gold nanoparticles were immobilised through drop drying and electrodeposition techniques respectively on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). AFP antibody was immobilised on the platform overnight followed by blocking of nonspecific binding sites with bovine serum albumin (BSA) for 4 h. The AFP antigen was incubated on the platform for 40 min at 35 °C for the antigen – antibody interaction. CNF and AuNPs were characterised by electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The modified electrodes and the immunosensor were characterised by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. The electrochemical response of the GCE/CNF/AuNPs electrode and the resulting immunosensor was significantly enhanced by the nanocomposite of CNF and AuNPs. The electrochemical immunosensing measurement for AFP was carried out under optimal conditions at a concentration range from 0.005 to 500 ng mL−1 in 5 mM ferri/ferrocyanide solution. A low limit of detection of 0.50 pg mL−1 from square wave voltammetry (SWV) and 0.48 pg mL−1 from EIS measurements were obtained. The immunosensor exhibited good sensitivity, good selectivity, good repeatability, and was stable at 4 °C over a period of three weeks

Preâ Kidney Transplant Lower Extremity Impairment and Postâ Kidney Transplant Mortality

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/142242/1/ajt14430_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/142242/2/ajt14430.pd