Effect of Gender on Academic Performance of Maritime Trainees in Nigeria Taught with Web-Based Resources

A research project was undertaken into the effects of utilization of Web-based resources and the academic performance of maritime trainees in Nigeria. This paper reports on the results of the aspect of the research which investigated the effect of gender on the academic performance of maritime trainees in Nigeria when Web-based resources are used for instruction. Pretest posttest non-equivalent control group design was employed using a total of forty maritime trainees, twenty participants each in the experimental and control groups, from the maritime industry in Nigeria. Findings showed that no significant difference exists between the academic performance of male and female maritime security trainees

Dialoguing through E-Mail: An Ict Tool for Science Lesson Delivery in National Teachers’ Institute in Akwa Ibom State

The study investigated the impact of integrating dialoguing through e-mail as an ICT tool in science lesson delivery in National Teachers’ Institute (NTI) in Akwa Ibom State. Descriptive and quasi-experimental designs were used for the study. Three research questions guided the study. A population of 102 final year science students spread across the six (6) study centres of NTI in the State was used for the study. A Questionnaire and an Achievement Test of 0.72 and 0.78 reliability indexes, structured by the researchers, were instruments used for data collection. Data collated were computed and compared using weighted means and standard deviations according to the research questions posed for the study. Findings from the study revealed that performance of NTI science students who integrated dialoguing through e-mail in their learning process performed better than those who only relied on the programmed printed materials given to them at their study centres. It also indicated a difference in performance between male and female students who integrated dialoguing through e-mail in their learning process, in favour of the males. Lastly the study revealed that high Internet access charges; fluctuation in Network access; inconsistent power supply; inadequate skill on how to operate the computer system; and selectivity of some modems to some environments for Internet accessibility were major factors militating against effective dialoguing through e-mail as an ICT instructional tool. Major recommendations made based on these findings are that lecturers and students of NTI should integrate e-mail dialoguing in their instructional process in order to achieve better performance; female NTI students should encourage themselves to meet up with the current ICT challenges, by enrolling in ICT trainings; improved modems that will be generally friendly to all environments should be produced by highly-skilled technicians for easy accessibility of Internet; and Nigerian government should work in collaboration with non-governmental bodies and philanthropists to solve the problem of power supply

A review of regression models employed for predicting diffuse solar radiation in North-Western Africa

The knowledge of diffuse solar radiation (Hd) is of almost importance for determining the gross primary productivity, net ecosystem, exchange of carbon dioxide, light use efficiency and changing colour of the sky. However, routine measurement of Hd is not available in most locations in North-Western Africa. During the past 36 years in order to predict Hd in the horizontal surface on hourly, daily and monthly mean basis, several regression models have been developed for numerous locations in North-Western Africa. As a result, several input parameters have been utilized and different functional forms applied. The regression models so far utilized were classified into six main categories and presented based on the input parameters applied. The models were further reclassified into numerous main groups and finally represented according to their developing year. In general, 188 regression models, 33 functional forms and 20 groups were reported in literature for predicting Hd in North-Western Africa. The regression and soft computing models developed within North-Western Africa and across the globe were examined in order to determine the best technique of prediction. The result revealed that soft computing models are more suitable for predicting Hd in North-Western Africa and across the globe. Citation: Ogbulezie, J., Ushie, O., and Nwokolo, S. (2017). A review of regression models employed for predicting diffuse solar radiation in North-Western Africa. Trends in Renewable Energy, 3(2), 160-206. DOI: 10.17737/tre.2017.3.2.004

Concept mapping teaching strategy, achievement and retention of SS II English language students in Rivers state

This study was on Concept Mapping Teaching Strategy, Achievement and Retention of SS II Students in English Language in River State. The poor academic performance of students in this subject area has been attributed in part to obsolete teaching strategies by researchers and educational critics. Two objectives were set for the study. The population for the study was all the students in senior secondary II in Obio/Akpor and Ikwerre Local Government Areas of Rivers State. An experimental research design, specifically the non-randomized control group pretest-posttest design with an intact class was used for the study. The sample consisted of a total of 202 students, made up of 124 males and 78 females. Two types of instruments: English Achievement Test (EAT) and English Retention Test (ERT) were used. The test items in the instrument were validated by the researchers’ colleague in the Department of Educational Technology/Library Science. A reliability coefficient of 0.87 for both instruments by Kuder Richardson formular 21. The subjects were pre-tested before exposure to the two different teaching strategies, and posttest administered to the groups. The data collected from the pretest and posttest were statistically analyzed using t-test. The results obtained showed that significant difference exist in the achievement and retention of subjects in English language taught with concept mapping strategy and those taught with lecture method. The application of Multiple Classification Analysis (MCA) showed that students in English language taught with concept mapping strategy achieved and retained significantly better than those taught with lecture method. Based on the finding, the paper submitted that concept mapping teaching strategy is the more effective in the enhancement of students’ academic achievement and retention in English language. The study recommended that, the teaching strategies of English language teachers should be very flexible to incorporate new strategies. Concept mapping teaching strategy should be adopted and integrated into the secondary school curriculu

Survey of Masakwa Sorghum Growing Areas in Northeastern Nigeria

Masakwa sorghum is a post-rainy season sorghum grown mainly in the Chad Basin area of Borno State, NE Nigeria. Production practices, and the major constraints to production, were assessed in a survey of 24 villages

Teaching and learning methodologies in engineering education in Nigerian universities

The students’ outcome in terms of quality of graduates as regard teaching and learning determines whether the existing methods should be reviewed or not. In the recent world ranking of Universities, only University of Ibadan came among the first hundred despite the number of Universities in Nigeria. This calls for general repositioning of the education sector in Nigeria. This paper examines the teaching and learning of engineering in Nigerian Universities and suggests ways of improving engineering education in Nigerian Universities.Keywords: Engineering Education, students’ outcome, Tertiary Education and Learning and Teaching methodolog

Reduction of the Adverse Impacts of Fungal Mycotoxin on Proximate Composition of Feed and Growth Performance in Broilers by Combined Adsorbents

Synergistic interaction of adsorbents in reducing the adverse impacts of mycotoxin on performance and proximate composition of broiler feeds was investigated. Fungal growth was induced by sprinkling water on the feed. S. cerevisiae + bentonite, kaolin + bentonite or S. cerevisiea + kaolin adsorbent combinations (1.5 g/kg feed) were added and the feeds were stored in black polythene bags. An untreated group was kept as a positive control while fresh uncontaminated feed was used as a negative control. Mycotoxins were extracted from the feeds and quantified using reverse phase HPLC. Proximate composition, nutrient digestibility of the feeds, feed intake and weight gain of the broilers were measured. Deoxynivalenol (DON) concentration in the contaminated/untreated feed was 347 mu g/kg while aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was 34 mu g/kg. Addition of bentonite and kaolin in the contaminated feed reduced AFB1 and DON to significantly lower levels. Feed intake and weight gain were low in the broilers fed the contaminated feed. The carbohydrate level was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced from 62.31 to 40.10%, crude protein digestibility dropped from 80.67 to 49.03% in the fresh feed and contaminated feed respectively. Addition of the adsorbents (S. cerevisiae and bentonite) significantly (p < 0.05) improved these parameters

Background Terrestrial Radiation Exposure Level Of Cross River University Of Technology (Crutech), Calabar Nigeria

Background terrestrial radiation survey of Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH), Calabar was carried out. The study area was divided into twelve (12) locations and investigated. An in situ measurement approach was adopted using a SOEKS ecotester Geiger counter + food nitrate tester. Three (3) reading were taken in each of the location in survey and then an average computed. The outdoor annual exposure dose rate (OAEDR) of each location was also calculated. The measured average background radiation for all the location was (0.07plusmn0.02)microSv/hr while the average OAEDR was found to be (0.13plusmn0.02)mSv/yr. These values fall within the safe radiation limit of 0.13microSv/hr and 1.0 mSv/yr recommended by UNSCEAR (1998). However, results obtained do not indicate any immediate health side effects on the staff and students and the host communities.nbs

Variation in The Antimicrobial Potency of Honey Samples from Different Sources

Background: Honey has been used for different purposes including management of wounds for centuries. Reports of considerable variations in the antimicrobial potency of honey samples from different sources exists but we found none from our sub-region. This comparative study tested the antibacterial activities of honey from five different sources in South-East Nigeria.Methodology: The study involved 23 isolates from surgical wounds. Honey samples from five different sources were procured from the farmers. In-vitro antibacterial activity using dilution technique was done with the five honey samples and standard antibiotic susceptibility tests as control. The results were analysed by simple statistical methods and compared.Results: All the honey samples inhibited the growth of isolates at neat concentration (without dilution) but their antimicrobial activities diminished as the samples were diluted. Honey samples from Chorophora excels (Iroko tree) and Pentachlethra macrophyla (oil bean tree) inhibited Proteus species at neat concentration only. Honey from rock inhibited methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) at neat concentration only but honey&nbsp; from Anarechadium occidentale (Cashew tree) did same from a dilution of 1:2 and below. Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas species, Klebsiella species and Proteus were susceptible to Ciprofloxacin (used as quality control).Conclusion: This work shows that antibacterial activity of honey differs according to sources. Honeys from Anarchadium occidentale (cashew) and Vitex doniana (“uchakiri or eli-eli”) have higher efficacy in wound&nbsp; management than honeys from other sources in South-East Nigeri