Functionality of Pictures in Selected Nigerian Newspapers

Pictures are a major part of our lives because we are surrounded by them wherever we turn. They have uses rangingfimn social to official. Almost eve1y printed material has pictures displayed on it in one form or the othe1; and newspapers are no exceptions. In fact, the newspaper indust1y is one of the largest users of still pictures. Nevertheless, considering that the newspaper has been plagued Ji'mn inception with inability to effectively sustain readers' attention, it becomes necessmy to examine the increasing trend in the use of pictures. While some are ofthe opinion that pictures aid readership, others consider them irrelevant. This study, therefore, set out to newspapers' use of pictures and people's perception oft he fimctions ofthese pictures. The theoretica I foundation of this work was laid on agenda-setting and uses and gratification theories. Both content analysis and survey were used to generate data for this study. For the content analysis, the Punch, the Guardian, Vanguard and This Day newspapers were used and a total of 208 respondents participated in the survey. Ourfindings revealed that most of the pictures analysed focused on economic issues, personalities and politics. We also discovered that majority ofthe respondents were ofthe opinion that pictures alone are not adequate as news content

Recycling fine sandcrete block waste (FSBW)as fine Aggregate in the production of sandcrete Block

The study investigated the use of Fine Sandcrete Block Waste (FSBW) as fine aggregate in the production of sandcrete blocks with a view of controlling waste and decongesting block molding production sites. Standard sandcrete blocks of size 450mmX225mmX225mm were prepared from a mix ratio 1:6 (cement: fine aggregate) containing sand and FSBW as fine aggregates. The sand was partially replaced by FSBW in the mix within the range 0% - 90% in steps of 10%. The blocks were cured for 28 days and then tested for compressive strength. The physical properties of both the sand and FSBW were also determined. The results of the study revealed that the physical properties of FSBW compares favorably with those of conventional sand with the exception of water absorption. It further showed that the density and the compressive strength of the tested blocks decrease as the percentage replacement of sand with FSBW increases. The density of the blocks varied linearly with the compressive strength. Blocks prepared for mixes having 50% FSBW content or less were found to satisfy the minimum recommended compressive strength of 3.45N/mm2 (NIS 87:2000)

Comparative study on the effects of aqueous extracts of viscum album (mistletoe) from three host plants on hematological parameters in albino rats.

Background: The extract of the leaves of Viscum album (mistletoe) has been used for centuries in traditional medicine in many parts of the world. However, like many medicinal plants, the belief that things of natural origin are safe may not be entirely true. The blood is a good indicator of health and pathological mirror of the entire body.Objective: Therefore, in this study, the acute effects of extracts of mistletoe, harvested from three hosts, on haematology indices of wistar albino rats was investigated.Methods: Graded doses (400, 800, 1600 and 3200mg/kg body weight) of aqueous extracts of mistletoe from three different host plants, coffee (Coffee arabica), kola (Kola nitida), cocoa (Theobromae cacao), were administered orally to wistar albino rats for 14 days. Full haematological parameters were evaluated on whole blood collected from rats twenty four hours after the administration of the last dose.Results: Mistletoe from kola caused a concentration dependent and statistically significant (p<0.05) reduction in platelets count in rats. Administration of mistletoe extract from cocoa and coffee led to reduction in hemoglobin concentration. Reductions in packed cell volume (PCV) and red blood cell (RBC) and increase in white blood cells (WBC) were also observed in rats administered all the extracts.Conclusion: Increase in the WBC count observed in rats administered mistletoe suggests that mistletoe extract contains agents that could stimulate the production of leucocytes and could serve as immune booster. However, there is need to be cautious in administration at high doses to prevent the risk of anaemia.Key words: Viscum album, coffee arabica, kola nitida, theobromae cacao, haematology

The media as both friend and enemy of the state

The mass media – radio, television newspaper, magazine and the internet – are very relevant in every society. They are the channels through information and messages are propagated simultaneously to large number of people in different areas. They are agents of socialisation and education as well as development. The mass media surveys the environment for news, analyse issues of people‟s interest, provide entertainment and also help the propagation of the societal cultural norms and values. However, in spite of the important roles of the media in the society, they as well have their disadvantageous roles in the society. The study evaluated the mass media as both friend and also as enemy of the state. According to this paper, the media act as friend of the state by serving as watchdogs, agents of cultural transmission and agents of political orientation to the people in the society. However, the media act as enemy of the state as they are used as channels for people, especially politicians to throw abusive words at one another, huge contributors to decadence in our society and they aid the spread of violence and hatred through propagation of hate speeches and words that can incite people into violence. The researcher concluded that the media have been both constructive (friend) and destructive (enemy) to the society. The study recommended that the media should keep to their social responsibility functions and adhere to the ethics of the profession in all their operations

IS THE MEDIA A FRIEND OR ENEMY OF THE STATE?

The mass media have always been huge blessings to any society they are found. They are agents of socialisation and education as well as development. The important roles of the media earned them the title of the ‘Fourth Estate of the realm’ which implies that after the three arms of government; executive, legislature and the judiciary, the media are the next. The media socialise the people, get them informed of happenings around them, analyse issues of national importance to them and help them to take right decisions and at the same time, help to transmit the norms of values of the society from one generation to another. Mass media is the vehicle through which government developmental messages and ideas get to the people and on the other hand, the people use it to express their feelings, motives, dissatisfactions and needs to the governments or representing bodies. It is used by the government or people to set agenda on important issues relating to the public for either the government to be aware and take actions or for the people to know and be informed. The mass media surveys the environment for news, interprets issues to the people, provide entertainment and also help the propagation of the societal cultural norms and values. The media not only transmit cultural values and norms from one generation to another, they help to enforce such values and norms through the mental pictures they establish in our minds. This study however seeks to find out how the media can be use to propagate developmental course, be more effective in playing the watchdog role as well as serving as agents of cultural transmission. This study also will reveal ways on how the media can keep to it social responsibility functions by putting honesty, truthfulness, fairness and balance up above any personal interest and also adhere to the ethics of the profession in their performance. The media should establish high trust level with the people for smooth interactions and collaborations for effective outputs

Studying and Constructing Concept Maps: A Meta-Analysis

A concept map is a node-link diagram in which each node represents a concept and each link identifies the relationship between the two concepts it connects. We investigated how using concept maps influences learning by synthesizing the results of 142 independent effect sizes (n = 11,814). A random-effects model meta-analysis revealed that learning with concept and knowledge maps produced a moderate, statistically significant effect (g =.58, p < .001). A moderator analysis revealed that creating concept maps (g =.72, p < .001) was associated with greater benefit relative to respective comparison conditions than studying concept maps (g = .43, p <.001). Additional moderator analyses indicated learning with concept maps was superior to other instructional comparison conditions, and was effective across science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and non-STEM knowledge domains. Further moderator analyses, as well as implications for theory and practice, are provided

ASSESSMENT OF THE UTILIZATION OF DIFFERENT STRENGTH CLASSES OF CEMENT IN BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS IN LAGOS, NIGERIA

Building collapse in Nigeria is so rampant now to the extent that it’s gradually not becoming a news when one occurs. Several factors being attributed as the cause of building collapses are based on opinions and in some cases based on investigative reports of selected buildings collapse. These factors are speculative since some intrinsic properties of debris materials tested during the investigation of selected collapse might be lost due to the impact of the collapse as a result of falling from great height and other debris falling on the tested material that these properties were intact before the collapse. Also, since the major causes of collapse in Nigeria is mostly attributed to poor construction process and the use of substandard material, this study assesses the quality of cements used in some selected sites and freshly produced cement from factory to compare with relevant standards, it also assesses the level of knowledge of the Nigerian construction professional using these cements to measure its applications. It was found out that the cements used in these selected sites were not all to standard even though all the freshly purchased cements met the required standard, this indicates that other factors might be responsible for the drop in standard properties. It was also observed that many of the professionals still need more training on the application of the different cement classes in structural concrete work

HEALTH COMMUNICATION AND AWARENESS OF ALUMINIUM-WASTE DISPOSAL EFFECTS AMONG OGUN STATE HOUSING CORPORATION RESIDENTS

This paper surveyed residents of the Ogun State Housing Corporation who have resorted to collecting aluminium waste as a cheap alternative to assuage the deplorable state of road networks in the estate. 200 copies of the questionnaire were randomly distributed to residents of the Housing Estate. The resolve of the survey was to determine the level of awareness (about the health and environmental implications) of aluminium waste, as well as decipher their level of involvement in the collection, use and contact with these waste materials. In cases of awareness about these health implications; the medium through which they gained such awareness was further queried. It was recommended upon findings that harnessing the participation of all stakeholders (the Residents association, the Industrial wing and the Ogun State government) would bring stability to the growing demand for these materials within the Estate. Similarly, coordinating educative and informative campaigns through the existing meeting platforms in the Estate would expedite enhanced consciousness and eventual cessation of the possibilities of contact and inhalation of aluminium waste in the Housing Estate

Limfangiektazija jajovoda kao posljedica leiomioma mezosalpinksa u kokoši (Gallus gallus domesticus)

A rare case of oviductal lymphangiectasia was described in a 73-week old Nera-black layer, brought from a farm in the western part of Nigeria with a capacity of 41,000 birds. The layer was found dead inside the cage, without premonitory signs. Necropsy examination revealed marked oedema of the oviduct, with prominent mucosal folds. The dorsal ligament showed prominent and markedly dilated lymphatic vessels, having a discrete, soft but fi rm, pouch-like appearance and a centrally located oval-shaped, solid encapsulated tumorous mass. Histologically, there was severe oedema of the lamina propria, submucosa and muscularis of the oviduct, with ballooning dilatation of their lymphatic vessels and those of the dorsal ligament, which contained deeply eosinophilic proteinaceous fl uid and moderate mononuclear cells, mostly lymphocytes and macrophages. The tumorous mass revealed interlacing bundles of elongated cells that showed eosinophilic cytoplasm and oval to cigar-shaped nuclei. The tumorous mass was positive with Van Gieson stain. This is the fi rst reported case of oviductal lymphangiectasia secondary to mesosalphinx leiomyoma in a domestic chicken.Rijedak slučaj limfangiektazije jajovoda opisan je u 73 tjedna stare nesilice podrijetlom s farme od 41000 ptica u zapadnom dijelu Nigerije. Nesilica je nađena uginula bez prethodnih znakova bolesti. Pri razudbi je ustanovljen edem jajovoda s izraženim sluzničnim naborima. Na dorzalnom ligamentu isticale su se znatno proširene limfne žile s mekanom, ali čvrstom vrećastom tvorevinom u čijem se središtu nalazila jajasta, solidna, učahurena tumorska masa. Histološki je ustanovljen jak edem lamine proprije te submukoze i mišićnice jajovoda s balonskim proširenjem njegovih limfnih žila i onih na dorzalnom ligamentu koje su sadržavale bjelančevinsku tekućinu i eozinofile te nešto mononuklearnih stanica, pretežito limfocita i makrofaga. Tumorska masa sastojala se od isprepletenih snopića izduženih stanica koje su imale eozinofilnu citoplazmu s jezgrama jajastoga do cigarastoga oblika. Tumorska masa bila je pozitivna bojenjem po Van Giesonu. To je prvi opisani slučaj limfangiektazije jajovoda kao posljedice leiomioma mezosalpinksa u domaće kokoši