Exercise performance in relation to glucose drink and their effect on some biochemical parameters

This study was designed to determine the effect of glucose drink on marathon running and on some biochemical parameters. Seven untrained athletes (male students) participated in this study and were engaged in marathon running with and without intake of glucose drink (1g/kg body weight) in a double blind procedure. Blood samples were collected at 0, 30, 60 and 150 minutes for serum glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol and PCV estimation. There were significant increases in serum glucose (F=13.01;

How Careers Advice and Guidance can Facilitate Career Development in TVET Graduates: The case in Nigeria

This study examined the current state of careers advice, guidance, and counselling (CAGC) services and programs in the technical, vocational education, and training (TVET) system of Nigerian higher education institutions (HEIs). This was to determine how well current CAGC services and programs foster students’ career development, aspirations, and choices. Forty-eight participants, who were members of the Nigerian National Board for Technical Education (8 participants), guidance counsellors (6), university TVET teachers (18), career experts from the National Directorate of Employment (7), and newly employed TVET graduates (9), volunteered for the study. A purposeful sampling procedure was adopted to recruit participants. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview approach, and we employed a thematic design for the coding and analysis of the transcribed data. The study found no CAGC services and programs in the TVET system. It is recommended, therefore, that TVET systems should focus on providing career development enhanced learning rather than schooling only by revising the curriculum to include programs and activities that promote CAGC activities and programs

Effect of Akaike Information Criterion on Model Selection in Analyzing Auto-crash Variables

Count data has become widely available in many disciplines. The mostly used distribution for modeling count data is the Poisson distribution (Horim and Levy; 1981) which assume equidispersion (Variance is equal to the mean). Since observed count data often exhibit over or under dispersion, the Poisson model becomes less ideal for modeling. To deal with a wide range of dispersion levels, Generalized Poisson regression, Poisson regression, and lately Conway-Maxwell-Poisson (COM-Poisson) regression can be used as alternative regression models. We compared the Generalized Poisson regression, Poisson Regression Model and Conway- Maxwell- Poisson. Data on road traffic crashes from the Anambra State Command of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Nigeria were analyzed using these three methods, the results from the three methods are compared using the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) with Poisson showing an AIC value of 2325.8 and GPR having an AIC value of 896.0278 and COM-Poisson showing an AIC value of 951.01. The GPR was considered a better model when analyzing road traffic crashes in Anambra State, Nigeria

Distribution of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Soils within Vicinity of an Electronic Waste Open Burning Workshop in Aba, South East Nigeria

Electronic waste (e-waste) workshops distributed in the commercial city of Aba, South East Nigeria, employ open burning to extract valuable sub-assemblies from the e-waste. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were studied in soils (0-5 cm) collected from three sampling points within an e-waste workshop vicinity: the e-waste open burning site (OBS-X), 30 m from the open burning site (OBS-30m) and 70 m from the open burning site (OBS-70m). Concentrations of 16 USEPA PAHs in the soils were characterized by dominance of high molecular weight (HMW) over low molecular weight (LMW). The most abundant PAHs were DA 26.45%, IP 13.82% and BbF 13.07% in OBS-X, BaA 19.78%, BbF 17.15% and BaP 16.80% in OBS-30m and Chr 23.73%, BP 14.26% and Nap 8.871% in OBS-70m. Source diagnostic PAH isomer ratios determined are Phe/Ant from 0.73 - 1.36, Fth/Pyr 1.52 - 3.79, BaA/Chr 0.29 - 28.27 and BkF/BaP 0.11 - 1.31. These results from PAH distributions and compositions indicated incomplete combustion source for pyrogenic PAHs in OBS-X and OBS-30m and mix combustion-petroleum source for PAHs in OBS-70m. In conclusion, the open burning of e-waste in Aba metropolis largely contaminated soils from the workshop vicinity, particularly with carcinogenic HMW PAHs

Circular economy use of biomass residues to alleviate poverty, environment, and health constraints

Inadequate energy and water resources supply are major constraints contributing to poverty and poor health outcomes in developing economies. Low-income countries lack ready access to modern necessities such as electricity and potable water. On one hand, the scarcity of electricity and other clean energies compel reliance on traditional biomass for domestic fuels. On the other hand, harvesting firewood to meet energy needs leads to deforestation and environmental degradation. Furthermore, burning the wood for heat creates ecosystem perturbators such as toxicants, greenhouse gasses, and particulate matter. These pollutants portend adverse health concerns, including premature mortality. Globally, fine particulate matter air pollution alone causes about 3.3 million deaths annually. The contribution of this paper is to offer how circular economy targeted technologies could come to the rescue. In particular, utilizing biomass residues and wastes for briquette and pellet creation is highlighted. These densified fuel products could serve as green energies in domestic and industrial applications; and thus, help to attenuate poverty, and the adverse environmental and health consequences of traditional biomass

Sustainability of Climate Change Adaptation Measures in South-South, Nigeria

The rampaging effects of climate change on Nigeria agriculture cannot be totally undermined, hence, the sustainability of climate change adaptation measures in South-South, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 142 farmers who were interviewed to elicit information bordering on climate change in the area. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, ordinary least square multiple regression technique and the scaling model. Results showed that the socio-economic factors investigated influenced the decisiveness of the farmers in embracing adaptive strategies to checkmate the overindulgence of climatic variations in the area. Age of the farmers, educational level, household size, farming experience, farm size, extension contacts were all positive and significant factors. Result also shows that there is increasing rate of temperature, rainfall volume, sunshine hours and number of rainy days and decreasing rate of light intensity and wind. The adaptation techniques of the farmers were classified into highly sustainable adaptation strategies which include; use of pest and disease resistant varieties, use of organic fertilizers, tree planting, early information seeking on climate change etc and slightly sustainable; planting of different crop varieties, mulching, mixed cropping, etc. All the farmers in the area perceived inadequate capital as a major constraint in coping with climate change effects. Hence, this study recommends government all levels to sensitize the crop farmers on the devastating effects of climate change on agriculture as well as provide supports where necessary to cushion its negative impacts