Implications of Signage on Wayfinding Behaviour of Users: Towards Inclusive Design of Hospital Environment in Nigeria

Inadequate signage systems and architectural design create physical barriers that cause uneven access to users of hospital buildings during wayfinding, which causes stress, uncertainty, and an unpleasant experience for both staff and patients. The study examines the effects of signs on wayfinding behaviour to achieve inclusive wayfinding in the design of hospitals in Nigeria. The study was conducted at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Ilorin Kwara State, Nigeria. A mixed-methods approach was employed for data collection through a survey administered to 140 participants (70 male and 70 female). Thirty respondents were interviewed, and the hospital buildings were observed. According to the findings, direction signage has the most impact on wayfinding since users rely on it the most to make wayfinding decisions, followed by identification signage (text/support icons) that aids in the recognition of target locations. Also, the result illustrates that signage was supported with pictographs while text was interpreted in the main local language (Yoruba), which enhanced understanding of signs across cultures in the state. As a result, the conceptual design and placement of signage and other inclusive navigation components in the hospital should be purposefully and suitably employed, simplified, useful, and appealing for inclusive access, meaning, and interpretation. The main limitation of this study is the non-utilisation of digital signs and various assistive technologies for impaired (sensory and mobility) people of varied ages and abilities

Improving the frequency of visual infusion phlebitis (VIP) scoring on an oncology ward.

Phlebitis from peripheral intravenous infusions is an important potential source of oncology patient morbidity. Important factors found to determine phlebitis incidence include the kind of infusion and dwell time of intravenous cannula. Early studies showed incidence rates of between 25-70% worldwide, and association with up to 10% of S. aureus bacteraemia. The introduction of the visual infusion phlebitis (VIP) score tool for assessment of the early signs of phlebitis, along with prompt removal of peripheral intravenous cannulas, has been very successful in reducing the incidence below the acceptable rate of 5%. However, achieving this goal depends on strict compliance with guidelines for cannula insertion, documentation, and assessment using the VIP tool. This study aimed to increase the use of VIP scoring tool to 100% on an oncology ward during a four to six month period in order to maximise its utility in phlebitis prevention. Three plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycles were carried out, during which two major interventions were introduced. The first cycle aimed to improve junior doctors' awareness of VIP scoring using presentations in induction meetings and posters. The second cycle ensured that ready access to the VIP tool was provided in the form of bedside intentional rounding charts. Proportions of intravenous cannulas with proper documentation and VIP assessment were measured before intervention and at nine subsequent bi-weekly time points. Pre-intervention, under 30% of cannulas were properly documented and assessed. This proportion rose to around 80% by the end of the second PDSA cycle and achieved 100% by the end of the third cycle

Food and Feeding Habits of Mona Monkey Cercopithecus Mona in Ayede/Isan Forest Reserve, Ekiti State

The feeding habits of mona monkey Cercopithecus mona in Ayede/Isan forest reserve, Ayede, Ekiti State, Nigeria were studied for six months. Direct observation was used in the data collection. The study area was visited two days per week between 0600-1100hours and 1600-1800hours for the six months in the forest reserve stretching from dry season to wet season. Data collected on the plant species and the parts of the plant species the animal feed upon revealed that mona monkey feeds on wide varieties of plant species and the parts of the plant consumed most is the fruits. It was noted that mona monkey is a social animal that moves and feeds in group. The mona monkey feeds mainly on fresh leaves, fruits and seeds of different plant species. Some of the plant species preferred by the mona monkey include: oil palm tree Elaeis guineesis, bitter mango Irvingia grandiforiola, kola Cola nitida. Most of the plant food materials the monkey feed upon are seasonal while some such as palm tree Elaeis guineesis are available for the animal to feed on throughout the year

Hyponatraemia during Low-Dose Carbamazepine Therapy

We report the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis as a much earlier side-effect of carbamazepine administration in a 29-year Nigerian female patient with generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Although asymptomatic, the biochemical abnormality improved after discontinuation of carbamazepine.Hyponatraemia developed after rechallenge with controlled release carbamazepine. The authors suggest that serum sodium levels be carried out before commencement of carbamazepine and caution be used inprescribing carbamazepine to patients with low or borderline low sodium value

Effect of frozen period on the chemical, microbiological and sensory quality of frozen tilapia fish (Sarotherodun galiaenus)

The study was designed to investigate the effect of duration of frozen storage on the chemical, microbiological and sensory profile of Tilapia fish (Sarotherodun galiaenus) collected from a research pond of the Agricultural Development Project, Akure, Nigeria and were subjected to sixty days of frozen storage and analyzed at intervals of ten days. Protein content (%) ranges from 43.70 &#177 1.17-60.65 &#177 2.40. Protein decreases with increasing duration of frozen storage with the fresh samples (not frozen) having the highest protein content (60.65 ± 2.40) while the least (43.70 &#1771.17) was recorded for fish samples that were frozen for sixty days. Similar results were obtained for the fat content (%) where the highest fat content (9.72 &#177 0.25) was recorded for the fresh samples and the least value was recorded for those stored for sixty days. Ash content (%) and moisture content (%) do not show any significant change during storage. Mineral composition (Fe, Ca, Mg, P and Zn in mg/100g) and iodine content (µg/100g) of the samples showed a slight change with respect to duration of storage. pH values ranges between 5.20-6.90 while the total coliform count range was between 3.0 x103-7.5 x 106 with increasing values, as the duration of torage increases. Sensory evaluation of the fish samples on storage revealed that quality of the fish samples with respect to taste decreases with increasing duration of storage with the best quality (texture, odor and color) when freshly prepared; and that better quality during storage is obtainable during the first ten days of storage. These, by implication simply mean that fish should be stored for a short period of time to retain the taste, and provide both the protein and fat at optimal level. Key words: Frozen period, chemical, microbiological, sensory quality, tilapia fish.African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (8), pp. 852-85

Determinants of Working Capital Management: Case of Nigerian Manufacturing Firms

This study explored the factors determining the working capitalwith the view to providing information on empirical tests that constitutes the determinants of working capital management in the listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria. The study used secondary data sources which were collected from the Annual Report and Accounts of sixty purposively selected non-financial quoted companies in the Nigerian Stock Exchange Fact book. Data on financial variables such as sales, purchases, inventory, creditors, debtors and total assets were extracted from the Annual Reports of these non-financial quoted companies between the periods 2000-2009. This was when the country started to experience financial policies for the banking sector under the democratic dispensation. Macroeconomic data on the annual growth rate of the Gross Domestic Product was obtained from the Statistical Bulletin of the Central Bank of Nigeria. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed that the significant factors determining working capital included sales growth, size of the firm, gross domestic product, leverage. The proportion of fixed assets to total assets and the net trading cycle, also determined working capital but were not significant at the five percent level. Keywords: working capital management, purposive, non-financial quoted companies, financial policies, democratic dispensation

Approaches, Challenges and Prospects of Antimalarial Drug Discovery from Plant Sources

Nearly 3.3 billion people globally are at risk of malaria, with 1.2 billion being at high risk. Children under 5 years of age and pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa still account for a higher percentage of malaria-related mortalities, despite recent reports of decline in malaria mortalities in Africa. Majority of these deaths are caused by Plasmodium falciparum, a lethal malaria parasite which has developed resistance to different classes of antimalarial drugs and is responsible for complicated, severe disease. To forestall the debilitating impact of the disease and provide safe and effective alternative therapies, medicinal plants have been explored as a source of new antimalarials. The isolation of quinine and artemisinin from plants present medicinal plants as a robust source of effective antimalarials. In this chapter, we review the different approaches employed in antimalarial discovery from plants, different classes of plant antimalarial compounds and their proposed mechanisms of action. Compounds that show potential for further development based on their high efficacy and selectivity are also highlighted. Common obstacles encountered in the process of antimalarial drug discovery from plant sources are identified and prospects for the identification of new, effective antimalarial components from plant sources are also discussed

Relative Contributions of Talent, Interest and Exposure to Artistry

This research sets out to find the relative contributions of Talent, Interest and Exposure, three important artistic factors, to artistry.  The experiment was applied to students of Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo, Nigeria who did not have prior knowledge of Fine and Applied Arts but were offered admission to study the course as a beginners-course in the college. 20 students were randomly selected from the 2007/2008 set. Five drawings and five paintings of each student were chronologically selected from their first semester. Another set of five drawing and painting was selected at the end of their course in 2009/2010. Standard coefficient was used to, first, weigh the composite contributions of the independent variables (talent, interest and exposure) to the dependent variable (artistry).  A sociometric marking of the works were done by 3 teachers of art. The result showed that the joint contribution of the independent variables to the dependent variable was significant and that other variables not included in this model may have accounted for the remaining variance. The result of the sociometric marking showed that the students have developed almost professional artistic skills compared to when they were admitted. The standard regression coefficients was used to determine the relative contributions of the independent variables for the explanation of the dependent variable, Interest, (B=0.446, t=4.064, P<0.05) is the most potent contribution to the prediction, followed by Talent (B=0.373, t=2.718, P<0.05) and Exposure (B=0.0397, t=0.436, P>0.05) in that order. Keywords: Fine and Applied Arts, Talent, Interest, Exposure, Artistr

Analysis of heat absorption viscoelastic exothermic chemical reactive fluid with temperature dependent viscosity under bimolecular kinetic

This study examines the boundary layer flow of variable viscosity, incompressible exothermic chemical reactive fluid with thermal radiation and asymmetric convective cooling under Bimolecular kinetic. The viscoelastic fluid flow along a vertical channel in the presence of a thermal buoyancy force and pressure gradient. Rosseland approximation is defined for the thick radiation heat flux in the energy equation with gray radiating liquid, non-scattering but with heat absorbing depending on wavelength. The convective heat exchange with the sorrounding temperature at the channel surface satisfied Newton’s law of cooling. The computational analysis of the dimensionless nonlinear governing equations is obtained using Weighted residual method (WRM). The solutions are employed to obtain the velocity field, energy profile, skin friction and Nusselt number of the flow. These are graphically presented and discussed to show the effect of some pertinent fluid parameters on the non-Newtonian liquid flow. It is observed that the heat source reaction terms need to be cautiously monitored and controlled to avoid reaction solution blow up

Working Capital Management and the Performance of Selected Quoted Manufacturing Companies in Nigeria (2000-2009)

This study examined the working capital management and the performance of selected quoted manufacturing companies in Nigeria. The study specifically analyzed the effects of working capital management on the performance of manufacturing firms between the periods 2000 – 2009. The study used secondary data sources which were collected from the Annual Report and Accounts of sixty purposively selected non-financial quoted companies in the Nigerian Stock Exchange Fact book. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as mean, median, mode, standard deviation and inferential statistics such as correlation and regression analysis.. The results showed that the average collection period, the average payment period, were positively and significantly related to profitability; inventory turnover in days, cash conversion cycle were also significant but negatively related to profitability; the net trading cycle was negatively related to profitability but not significant. These implied that a reduction in the cash conversion cycle, inventory turnover in days and net trading cycle will generate more profits, while increase in average collection period, average payment period, will generate more profits and additional value for shareholders. The study concluded that efficient management of working capital affects the performance of manufacturing firms in Nigeria. Keywords: Working capital management, descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, free cash flow, Manufacturing Sector