Serials use at Babcock University Library, Ilisan-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria (2008 – 2012)

This study highlights the intensity of print serials utilized at Babcock University library from 2008 to 2012. The study only takes account of print serials subscribed to and made available at the serials department of the library. The result of the study revealed that serials recorded the highest level of use in 2008, the lowest utilization occurred in 2012. Serials in social sciences, medical science and religion as well as magazines/newsletters, were the most utilized. There were also indications from the findings that print serials have continued to support learning, teaching and research. Therefore, the researchers concluded that subscription to print serials should be on-going. Librarians should also endeavor to create more awareness and encourage patrons’ use of print serials

Creep-life usage analysis and tracking for industrial gas turbines

Creep-life usage analysis and tracking of first-stage turbine rotor blades of an aeroderivative industrial gas-turbine engine are investigated in this study. An engine performance model is created, and blade thermal and stress models are developed for the calculation of the blade material temperatures and stresses at different sections of the blade. A creep-life model is developed based on the Larson–Miller parameter method by taking inputs from the thermal and stress models. An integrated creep-life estimation system is developed by bringing together the engine performance model, the blade thermal and stress models, the creep-life model, and a data acquisition and preprocessing model. Relative creep-life consumption analysis using new concepts developed in this research is introduced for the analysis of creep-life consumption of the gas-turbine engine operating for a period of time; these concepts include equivalent creep life and equivalent creep factor. The developed algorithms have been applied to the creep-life tracking of an aeroderivative gas-turbine engine using its field test data. The results show that it is able to provide a quick evaluation and tracking of engine creep-life consumption and provide very useful information for gas-turbine operators to support their operation optimization and creep-life consumption monitoring

Get Off the Courts: Using ADR Principles to Resolve High School Sport Disputes

Non

Coordination polymers from main group ring compounds

Sherpa Romeo green journal. Permission to archive accepted author manuscript4,7-dicyano-2,1,3-benzothiadiazole, L1, and diethyl-4,7-dicarboxylato-2,1,3 benzothiadiazole, L2, form coordination polymers with silver(I) salts of weakly-coordinating anions. Synthesis was achieved by the slow diffusion of benzene solutions of the silver salts into dichloromethane solutions of L1 or L2. Slow growth of crystals occurred with partial evaporation of the solvent, leading to a number of different crystalline coordination polymers. For L1, both the nitrile and ring N atoms can coordinate with great variability of structural motifs, whereas for L2 a chelating geometry is always found in which each Ag+ is coordinated by two N and two carbonyl O from different ligands. The resulting coordination polymers form layer structures that tend to fill with solvent benzene molecules in a stoichiometric fashion; the benzenes are found to π-coordinate to silver.Ye

Faculty Members’ Awareness and Use of Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) Services at Babcock University, Nigeria: A Study

The study investigated the awareness and use of Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) by Faculty Members of Babcock University, Nigeria. The study adopted descriptive survey research design.  Questionnaire was distributed to 240 (60%) faculty members at various schools in August 2013 during the annual colloquium workshop. One hundred and nine-six (196) copies of the questionnaire was retrieved and used for the study. Data collected were analysed using percentage and frequency. It will be recall that prior to the introduction and use of OPAC at Babcock University Library, traditional methods of information retrieval hold sway. Also, despite its acclaimed usefulness, most faculty members tend to prefer traditional methods to OPAC. Findings revealed that majority of the respondents (71.4%) were not aware that OPAC can be used to retrieve materials before coming to the library. Also, 65.8% of the respondents were not aware that they can access/browse Babcock University library web-based OPAC with their mobile phones before coming to the library to borrow materials; while, 59.2% of the respondents were not aware that the materials available in Babcock University library can be accessed outside the library building. Only 26% of the respondents used OPAC independently to retrieve library information resources. Majority of the respondents retrieved library information resources by perusing through the shelves and seeking the assistance of library staff. It was obvious from the findings that majority of the respondents were not aware hence the need for the study. Lack of orientation from library staff/librarians also constitutes major factor that militate against awareness and use of Babcock University library OPAC. This study therefore recommends that Librarians should organize orientation and sensitization programmes in order to create awareness, and encourage the university community and especially faculty members at various schools to effectively use OPAC to ensure maximum utilization of library information resources

Validation of the Cepheid GeneXpert for Detecting Ebola Virus in Semen

Background: Ebola virus (EBOV) RNA persistence in semen, reported sexual transmission, and sporadic clusters at the end of the 2013-2016 epidemic have prompted recommendations that male survivors refrain from unprotected sex unless their semen is confirmed to be EBOV free. However, there is no fully validated assay for EBOV detection in fluids other than blood. Methods: The Cepheid Xpert Ebola assay for EBOV RNA detection was validated for whole semen and blood using samples obtained from uninfected donors and spiked with inactivated EBOV. The validation procedure incorporated standards from Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute and Good Clinical Laboratory Practices guidelines for evaluating molecular devices for use in infectious disease testing. Results: The assay produced limits of detection of 1000 copies/mL in semen and 275 copies/mL in blood. Limits of detection for both semen and blood increased with longer intervals between collection and testing, with acceptable results obtained up to 72 hours after specimen collection. Conclusions: The Cepheid Xpert Ebola assay is accurate and precise for detecting EBOV in whole semen. A validated assay for EBOV RNA detection in semen informs the care of male survivors of Ebola, as well as recommendations for public health

A Comparative Study of Faculty Members’ Expectations of Academic Library Services in Three Universities in Ogun State, Nigeria

This study assessed the library services provided in federal, state and private universities in Ogun State, Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. Questionnaire was the tool used for data collection. The study population consisted of 110 respondents from University of Agriculture (UNAAB), Abeokuta, 287 respondents from Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijebu-Ode and 215 respondents from Redeemer’s University (RUN), Mowe, given a total of 612 respondents from the three selected universities in Ogun State, Nigeria. Purposive sampling was used to select the universities and the respondents. A total of 612 questionnaires were administered on all the respondents and 403 questionnaires were retrieved and analyzed given a response rate of 70%. A descriptive statistical method was used to analyze the data displayed in tables and percentage while hypotheses formulated was tested using the Kruskal-Wallis analysis and Chi-Square. A pre-test of 65 questionnaires were first administered and analyzed to estimate reliability co-efficient. The instrument yielded reliability co-efficient of 0.866%. We therefore concluded that the instrument was reliable. Finding from the study shows that electronic information resources services, internet services and circulation services were the services fully provided and utilized by the respondents, as displayed on Table 3; while CD ROM services, online public access catalogue (OPAC), user education, selective dissemination of information (SDI) and current awareness were the services moderately provided. It was also evident from this research that reprographic services, abstracting and indexing and literature search services were the least provided as shown on Table 3. The result of the formulated hypotheses shows there was significant difference in the library services provision and services expectation by Academic staff of federal, state and private universities. The findings affirmed that service provision in any library is an essential activity. University libraries should ensure to provide effective and adequate services to match with the expectations of library users especially the academic staff.Key words: Service provision; Library services; University library; Faculty expectations; Academic library service

Ebola Virus Ribonucleic Acid Detection in Semen More Than Two Years After Resolution of Acute Ebola Virus Infection

Among 149 men who survived Ebola virus disease (EVD) and donated semen 260-1016 days after EVD onset, Ebola virus (EBOV) ribonucleic acid (RNA) was detected in 13 (9%). Of 137 men who donated semen 2 years after EVD onset, 11 (8%) had an EBOV RNA-positive specimen. The mechanism underlying the persistence of EBOV RNA in semen is unclear, and it is unclear whether the detection of viral RNA represents the presence of infectious virus

Prevalence and pattern of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among Nigerian bricklayers

BACKGROUND: Typically, bricklayers in developing countries’ contexts manually lay bricks, concrete blocks and other similar materials to construct walls and buildings which make them susceptible to work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs). The burden of WRMSDs among this high-risk group seems has not been well documented. OBJECTIVES: This study examined the prevalence of WRMSDs among bricklayers in Nigeria. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 118 consenting bricklayers from a Nigerian setting was carried out. The standardized Nordic musculoskeletal disorder questionnaire and a proforma were used to profile the prevalence of WRMSDs and socio-demographic information of the respondents. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Alpha level was set at p <  0.05. RESULTS: The 12-months and 7-days prevalence of WRMSDs were 87.3% and 67.4% . Shoulder (61.0%) and the low-back (59.3%) were the two most affected anatomical sites based on 12-month prevalence. WRMSDs affecting the knees (6.8%) was the most disabling in carrying normal work routines. Working for less than 10 years was significantly associated with high prevalence of WRMSDs in the shoulder (odd ratio (OR) = 0.27, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.09 to 0.87) and wrist region (OR = 0.24, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.73). Having neck pain led to higher odds (OR = 0.29, 95% CI 0.13 to 0.68) of taking a break from work among the bricklayers. CONCLUSIONS: WRMSDs were high among Nigerian bricklayers. Years of work experience was associated with high prevalence of WRMSDs in the shoulder and wrist. In addition, taking work breaks was associated with neck pain