The adoption of some counselling techniques in teaching practice supervision

The trend in primary and secondary education, as specified by the national educational objectives of the federal government of Nigeria, is to have a balanced education; education embracing the cognitive, affective and the psychomotor. For too long, teachers have been trained well to handle the cognitive domain of education and to some degree the psychomotor is given to them in the affective area. In this regard counsellors can make some contributions. One such contribution is where counselling techniques can be adopted in teaching practice supervision. Thus, this paper describes three techniques such as acceptance, feedback modelling and how they can be used profitably in teaching practice supervision. Key words; counselling techniques, teaching practice, supervision

Risk Management In Developing Countries: Evidence From Multinational And Country Financial Risk Analysis

Much better access to international financial markets has granted many benefits to developing countries, but at the same time this approach has also exposed them to the unpredictable changes of these markets.  However, the amount that can be hedged is limited because the other parties are usually given a ceiling to the total debt that they can get into with another country.  Unlike borrowers, developing countries have limited possibilities of exploiting market niches to develop their investor base. The objective of this research paper is to look at different countries such as Russia and Mexico, and also realize how economic, political, and social risks account for these developing countries foreign and public debts; and how the management of these risks are necessary to combat the overall exposures these countries come across. With a fiscal view the primary cause of monetary growth in developing economies is usually found in large financial imbalances.  The effect of inflation itself on the actual value of these countries financial deficits indicates the link between fiscal deficits, money growth, and inflation

Enterocutaneous fistula and internal hernia: unusual complications of peritoneal catheter migration into the ileum in a patient with ventriculoperitoneal shunt

The aim of the present study was to report the treatment of an unusual association of ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS). Although a commonly performed paediatric neurosurgical procedure, a VPS is associated with several complications. There are reports on gut perforation by the peritoneal catheter, but an enterocutaneous fistula is very rare. Only two have been previously reported in literature. We report, here, the first case seen in Nigeria involving a 3-year old boy, at our teaching hospital setting, with a history of a fall 18 months after VPS; this was followed by purulent, and, later, faeculent discharge from the right subcoastal region and abdominal wound. He underwent detailed neurological examination. Preoperative evaluation with a fistulogram (as a barium meal and follow-through because the superficial opening was not clearly visible to allow direct injection of contrast) showed a connection between the intestine and the skin over the shunt tunnel. He underwent a laparotomy with thorough antiseptic irrigation and repositioning of the VPS in peritoneal cavity. Postoperatively, the faeculent discharge from the upper anterior abdominal wall ceased.  He was discharged home in 2 weeks. There was complete resolution after 6 months. We conclude that there should be a high index of suspicion of an enterocutaneous fistula, although very rare, when faecal discharge is noticed following a VPS and should necessitate a fistulogram. Effective surgical treatment of the intraluminal migration and other possible complications, should involve a multidisciplinary team.Keywords: complications, enterocutaneous fistula, internal hernia, intraluminal migration, multispecialty treatment, ventriculoperitoneal shun

Optimization of multiple performance responses of a fish feed pelletizer machine

This study details the assembling of a prefabricated fish feed pelletizing machine and optimization of some operational parameters such as die thickness, number of die holes, shaft speed and feed rate to produce high-grade fish pellets. The Taguchi methodology and Grey relational analysis (GRA) have been utilized to evaluate the multi-objective functions of interest such as pelletizing efficiency, throughput, energy requirements and pellets bulk density (g/cm3). The pelletizer machine performance evaluation test was carried at 3 levels of die thickness (8, 6 and 12 mm), number of die holes (30, 25, and 35), and feed rates (145, 130 and 160 g/h). The test for the performance indicators was conducted using L9 orthogonal array experimental design. The test data were analyzed using the Taguchi scheme employing the signal-to-noise ratio response with effects deduced. The GRA was utilized to assess multiple responses by fusing the Taguchi technique with the GRA. Thus the multi-objective optimization was transformed to a single equivalent objective function. The results of Taguchi optimization revealed that die thickness was the most influential parameter for the various control factors. In addition, optimum parameter combination was obtainable at medium die thickness (8mm), medium number of die holes (30), low shaft speed (200rpm) and medium feed rate of 145g/h. Analysis of variance for grey relational grade (GRG) reveals that die thickness and feed rate are the dominant parameters. The confirmation test performed shows that the GRG is enhanced by 2.19%

The influence of family factors on delinquent adolescents in secondary schools in Edo South Senatorial District of Edo State

This study was carried out with the aim of finding out the influence of family factors on delinquent adolescents in secondary schools in Edo South Senatorial District of Edo State. This study ascertained the extents to which family factors such as parent child rearing style, family type and parent socio economic background could encourage and influence delinquent activities. A total of two hundred (200) adolescents were used as sample for the study. This sample size was drawn from ten (10) secondary schools through stratified random sampling. Three research questions were raised and three hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.5 level of significant. A questionnaire was designed by the researcher and was validated by three experts in the field of measurement and evaluation. The point bi serial statistic was used to analysis data gathered from the field. The major findings revealed that family factors such as parent child rearing style, family type and socio-economic status (the variable of the study) do not significantly account for delinquent behaviour among secondary school students in Edo South Senatorial District. Other factors such as assault from mass media, cultural and ethnic beliefs could be responsible for delinquent acts. It was recommended that federal, state and local government should embark on intensive and massive campaign against unwholesome programmes in our media. Parents should be assisted by guidance counsellors to stress the need for adequate value orientation in their children.Keywords: Family, Adolescent, Delinquenc

An Analysis of the Perceived Challenges Faced by Student-Teachers during Teaching Practice Exercise

The study investigated the challenges faced by student teachers during teaching practice exercise. The survey design was adopted for the study. Simple random technique was used to select two hundred students from  300 and 400 level students who have participated in the teaching practice exercise in 2010/2011 session, Faculty of Education, University of Benin. A twenty one (21) item four point likert scale questionnaire titled “Questionnaire on Challenges during Teaching Practice Exercise (QCTP)” was used for data collection. Two research questions and one hypothesis were raised to guide the study. The data collected were analyzed using the mean statistics and the t-test of independent samples. The study revealed that fifteen out of the twenty one items were perceived by majority of student teachers as major challenges faced during teaching practice exercise. Also it was found that school location had no influence on the challenges faced by student teachers. The paper recommended among others that allowances should be given to student teachers for teaching practice exercise just like their counterparts who participate in industrial training in other faculties. Keywords: Challenges, Teaching Practice, Student Teacher

Performance enhancement using appropriate mass charge of R600a in a developed domestic refrigerator

This paper presents performance analysis of a domestic refrigeration system using R600a as refrigerant. Investigation was conducted experimentally to select an appropriate refrigerant mass charge for the system and to compute the cooling system performance characteristics under ambient temperature of 29 oC. The choice of the hydrocarbon refrigerant (R600a) became so imperative due to notable influence of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) on global warming and ozone depletion. UNFCCC and Montreal Protocol regulation have banned the use of halogenated refrigerants in cooling and heating systems. The paper reveals that the power consumed by the system using mass charge of 15 g refrigerant was reduced by 9.3 and 10.9% compared with the 10 and 25 g refrigerant mass charges respectively. In addition, the results show that the coefficient of performance (COP) of the refrigeration system while working with 15 g is 24.7 and 20.2% higher than when the system worked with 10 and 25 g refrigerants mass charge respectively. More so, the system attained an evaporator air temperature of -12 oC in 2 hours, which makes 15 g charge refrigerant appropriate for the running of the developed system that has a volume capacity of 68 liters