The Impact of Population Growth on Residential Landuse in Calabar, Cross River State

This study examined the impact of population growth on residential landuse in Calabar, Cross River State. The major research problems which elicited interest on this study include the increasing densification of houses in the study area, increase in the cost of a plot of land, astronomical increase in house rents and increase in overcrowding index. The main objectives of the study include to examine the consequences of population growth on urban residential landuse in Calabar, and to examine the rate of increase in the value of land in the study area. One hypothesis, namely, there is no significant relationship between population growth and the cost of urban residential land. Data for the study were collected from the National Population Commission, the Cross River State Ministry of Lands and Housing, and the Town Planning Department. The results confirm a strong correlation between population growth and cost of land at the city centre and at the periphery. Furthermore, the study has shown that between 1999 and 2009, the proportion of land used for residential purposes increased by about 61.3 percent. The work concludes by recommending that Government, through the Town Planning Department, should be meticulous in land allocation, registration of building plans, and be involved in strict supervision when houses are being built. Keywords:Population Growth, Land rent, urban residential landuse, Overcrowdin

SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF NIGERIA AND YOUTH EMPLOYMENT IN 21 ST CENTURY: IMPLICATION FOR AKWA IBOM STATE

ABSTRAC

An Assessment of the Lead rubber aprons in Radiodiagnostic centres in South-South Nigeria

Background of Study: Radiation protection is of core importance inradiodiagnostic centres, to keep both patients care givers and staff of thecentres from stochastic and non- stochastic effects of radiation. Theeffectiveness and protectiveness of aprons are of valuable importance, it istherefore necessary to assess these aprons to ensure efficacy. Such qualitychecks have not been reported in the South – South region of Nigeria.Aim: To assess in terms of their quality and therefore protective features, thelead aprons in used radiology clinics in the South-South region of Nigeria.Method: Twenty two protective lead aprons from 18 radiological clinics inSouth-South Nigeria were directly exposed to X-rays with average factors of70 ± 5kVp, 16 mAs and 100 cm Source to apron distance, with 43 x 35 cmcassettes places underneath to cover the upper (thoracic half) and the lower(abdominal half) respectively. Exposed films were processed in each centrefollowing regular processing protocols to obtain radiographs with images ofthe state of the aprons. The images were analyzed on the basis of each apron’slead equivalence (content), age, brand and the type of defects observed.Defects were characterized into cracks, tears, splits and rips. Physicalexamination for cleanliness, wear and tear was also carried out.Results: Results showed that 68% of all the aprons under study weredefective, having cracks (44%), tears (33%), splits (15%) and/or rips (8%).About 73 % of the defective aprons had more than one (1) type of defect. Upto 87% of the defective aprons had no inherent lead equivalence andmanufacturer identification indicated on them. It was observed that about73% of these defects occurred in aprons of aged between 1-10 years with thearea affected in the range of 1.00 – 1000.00 mm2.Conclusion: Over two-thirds (⅔) of lead aprons found in diagnosticradiology centres in South – South Nigeria, have shown sufficient evidence ofdefects to suggest that they may not be useful for radiation protection of theusers

An Assessment of the Lead rubber aprons in Radiodiagnostic centres in South-South Nigeria

Background of Study: Radiation protection is of core importance in radiodiagnostic centres, to keep both patients care givers and staff of the centres from stochastic and non- stochastic effects of radiation. The effectiveness and protectiveness of aprons are of valuable importance, it is therefore necessary to assess these aprons to ensure efficacy. Such quality checks have not been reported in the South – South region of Nigeria. Aim: To assess in terms of their quality and therefore protective features, the lead aprons in used radiology clinics in the South-South region of Nigeria. Method: Twenty two protective lead aprons from 18 radiological clinics in South-South Nigeria were directly exposed to X-rays with average factors of 70 ± 5kVp, 16 mAs and 100 cm Source to apron distance, with 43 x 35 cm cassettes places underneath to cover the upper (thoracic half) and the lower (abdominal half) respectively. Exposed films were processed in each centre following regular processing protocols to obtain radiographs with images of the state of the aprons. The images were analyzed on the basis of each apron’s lead equivalence (content), age, brand and the type of defects observed. Defects were characterized into cracks, tears, splits and rips. Physical examination for cleanliness, wear and tear was also carried out. Results: Results showed that 68% of all the aprons under study were defective, having cracks (44%), tears (33%), splits (15%) and/or rips (8%). About 73 % of the defective aprons had more than one (1) type of defect. Up to 87% of the defective aprons had no inherent lead equivalence and manufacturer identification indicated on them. It was observed that about 73% of these defects occurred in aprons of aged between 1-10 years with the area affected in the range of 1.00 – 1000.00 mm2 . Conclusion: Over two-thirds (⅔) of lead aprons found in diagnostic radiology centres in South – South Nigeria, have shown sufficient evidence of defects to suggest that they may not be useful for radiation protection of the users

Financing Education in Nigeria for National Development

The expansion and funding of education have attracted much interest both in the past and in recent times. Increased concern about rising costs is leading to the search and ways of reducing costs and expenditure. Economists have become interested in the sources of funding education, and are currently suggesting alternative avenues for financing the industry. The problem facing the education sector has led to many agitations for increased funding of education by labour unions and other concerned bodies in Nigeria higher education system. These unions have been consistent with their demands, citing decay of infrastructural facilities in our educational institutions, from primary to tertiary levels, vis-à-vis poor library facilities, empty laboratories, congestion in lecture halls and student hostels. They have in different forms and releases, charged the various governments of disobeying the UNESCO directive that member countries of the United Nations should allocate a minimum of 26 percent of their annual budgets to the educational sector. The challenge here is to fashion out appropriate funding initiatives that will generate benefit to the household, firm, the government and the rest of the world. Consequently, the study examines the Nigeria education financing including investment and accountability. Keywords: Funding Education; National Development; Annual Budget; Education Development DOI: 10.7176/JPID/51-06 Publication date: November 30th 2019

The roles of nicotine dependence and demographic variables on internet gambling addiction among youths in a Nigerian City

This study investigated the relationship among nicotine dependence, demographic variables and Internet gambling addiction. It was a  survey, utilizing ex-post facto design. A total of 291 youths (156 males and 135 females) were purposively selected from major joints and sit-outs in the Metropolis of the ancient city of Ikot Ekpene. Simple Screening Instrument for Internet Gambling Test Adopted from South Oaks Gambling Screen (Gainsbury & Blaszczynski, 2014) and The Nicotine Dependence Syndrome Scale (Shiffman, Waters & Hickcox, 2004) were used to collect data. Pearson r results [r= .71; df = 289; p<.05] showed that the higher the nicotine dependence the higher the Internet gambling addiction among youths selected. The results further showed that demographic factors jointly predicted Internet  gambling addiction among youths [R=0.356; R2=.031; F(5, 189)=.34, p<.05] accounting for 31% of the variance observed. It was concluded that a good understanding of the relationship between nicotine intake and Internet gambling is important for developing regulatory  initiatives, awareness, and prevention programmes for responsible Internet use

Microglia Are Indispensable for Synaptic Plasticity in the Spinal Dorsal Horn and Chronic Pain

Spinal long-term potentiation (LTP) at C-fiber synapses is hypothesized to underlie chronic pain. However, a causal link between spinal LTP and chronic pain is still lacking. Here, we report that high-frequency stimulation (HFS; 100 Hz, 10 V) of the mouse sciatic nerve reliably induces spinal LTP without causing nerve injury. LTP-inducible stimulation triggers chronic pain lasting for more than 35 days and increases the number of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) terminals in the spinal dorsal horn. The behavioral and morphological changes can be prevented by blocking NMDA receptors, ablating spinal microglia, or conditionally deleting microglial brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). HFS-induced spinal LTP, microglial activation, and upregulation of BDNF are inhibited by antibodies against colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1). Together, our results show that microglial CSF1 and BDNF signaling are indispensable for spinal LTP and chronic pain. The microglia-dependent transition of synaptic potentiation to structural alterations in pain pathways may underlie pain chronicity