Capacity Building For Library and Information Centre Personnel In ICT Environment

The paper examined the concepts “ICT environment’ and ‘digitized/virtual library and information centre’ and discussed the features of digitized/virtual library and information centre and the need for capacity building especially in ICT-based libraries and information centres. It highlights the skills, competencies and training needs expected of personnel in typical digitized libraries and information centres, the avenues for their education and training and the basic questions to address in capacity building plans and strategies. The paper concluded by putting forward strategies to adopt to ensure the available of requisite relevant manpower in virtual libraries and information centres to cope with the changing needs of the time

Hydatidiform mole in Aminu Kano teaching hospital, northwestern Nigeria: a five year review.

Background: Hydatidiform mole is a benign tumour of the trophoblast tissue and a relatively common gynaecological emergency. It could resolve spontaneously following evacuation, however 9-20% of patients with complete hydatidiform mole go on to have gestational trophoblast neoplasia. It is potentially curable once the correct diagnosis is made and the treatment is commenced early.Objective: This study is aimed at determining the incidence of hydatidiform mole in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), its age distribution, complication and outcomeStudy Design: A retrospective review of case of hydatidiform mole managed in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano between 1st January, 2009 and 31st December, 2012. Patients' information were obtained from gynaecology ward admission record book, and patient files were retrieved from the record department and data analysed using SPSS version 11.Result: 87 cases of hydatidiform mole were managed during the study period. 57 cases were retrieved and analysed with a retrieval rate of 66%. The mean age of the was 30.42(SD7.8). The incidence of hydatidiform mole in this study is 1 in 260 deliveries. The mean parity was 3.68 (SD 2.69). The commonest presentation was vaginal bleeding (47.4%). Half of the patients (52.6%) had preevacuation serum beta HCG and only 21.1% had beta HCG estimation at six weeks post evacuation. The only complication was severe vaginal bleeding requiring blood transfusion (10.5%). 10.5% of the cases progressed to choriocarcinoma.Conclusion: Hydatidiform mole remains a common premalignant lesion of the female genital tract. Early diagnosis and strict follow ups with relevant investigation is necessary for early detection of progression to choriocarcinoma.Keywords: hydatidiform mole, incidence, complications, Kan

Application of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to Library Operations and Routines in Selected Nigerian Federal University Libraries

Digital media have revolutionized information sources and advances in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and have dramatically enhanced information provision. The process of library operations and routines has become very challenging and complex. Libraries as centres for learning, teaching and research can no longer cope with the use of traditional methods. To this end, the study examines the Application of Information and Communication technologies (ICTs) to Library Operations and Routines in Selected Nigerian Federal University Libraries. Survey research method was adopted for the study; six (6) academic libraries in Federal Universities in the six geo-political zones of Nigeria were selected for this study. Area or cluster probability sampling was used for this study. Questionnaire was instrument used for data collection. A total of 336 (92.3 %) copies of the questionnaire were returned duly completed and found usable for this study, Data were analysed descriptively, to further clarified the researchers interviewed one staff each from the selected academic libraries. The study found among others that ICT facilities are frequently applied in cataloguing and classification of information resources with a score of 250 (74%) and selection of information resources with a score of 244 (73%) while statistical records with the least score of 44%, computers was the most often used IC facilities in the library studied. The study concluded that digital media have revolutionized information resources and the advances in ICT have dramatically enhanced information provision not only in the selection, ordering, acquisition, processing, storage and retrieval of library information resources but also improved staff productivity. It is expected that the NFUL can fully utilize the benefit of ICT facilities, especially, the digitization of local contents, institutional repository and functioning websites. The challenges of ICT utilization in the libraries if not properly handled will reduce their potentials to achieve the goals and objectives of their parent institutions. The study recommended among others that, the NFUL should use Open-source library information management software and DSpace content management system and document management to manage the library

An exploratory factor analysis of safe acts of workers towards health and safety compliance

Abstract: Workers inability to act according to laid down rules and regulations within the industry have invariably contributed to their unsafe actions leading to accident. The purpose of the study was to determine safe acts of workers towards health and safety (H&S) compliance. Delphi survey method of data collection was adopted for the study. Experts were asked to complete the Delphi questionnaire survey based on the impact of given factors in predicting safe act of workers towards Health and Safety compliance. The ratings were based on either the impact was considered to be very high or high. Data obtained was analysed and results were presented in a table and a chart. Findings from the study show that only three measurement variables (ensure equipment or tools are in good condition before usage, ensure the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and ensure proper positioning of tasks) were considered by the experts to have reached consensus with IQD cut- re. Further findings showed strong consensus with very high impact (VHI: 9.00-10.00).Results from the Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) showed that only five indicator variables (SAW10,SAW 16,SAW7, SAW8 and SAW9) were considered as determinant of Health and Safety compliance. Further findings showed that one indicator variable (PPE) was found to be common in the Delphi survey and EFA results.The factor loadings for all items were greater than 0.5593.This findings indicate that high priority was given to SAW 10 in determining Health and Safety compliance in the construction industry

Evaluation of lead concentration levels of children's paly ground in Kaduna State Schools

Leaded paint and lead from exhaust of vehicle have been observed to be the major contributors of lead contamination, resulting to soil contamination. African infants by way of culture have direct contact with contaminated soil. The study investigated, lead contamination of soil in children’s playgrounds of some selected schools in Kaduna State with emphasis on the premises of nursery/primary schools in the State An Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) was the technique used in the investigation. The results obtained from exterior showed some variations from the background lead levels. Schools such as LK-II, HCPS, SPS, showed high variation from background study. HCPS recorded interior mean lead concentration of 137.5±24.6 (127.0-174.0)ppm and exterior mean lead concentration of 145.8±25.0(26.0-348.7)ppm while the established background lead concentration level is within the range of 23.5-38.9ppm. Keywords: Lead concentration, Contamination, background, EDXRF, Children playground, leaded paint, flakes, debris, building foundation, Kaduna State

Analysis of Supporting Communication as a Correlate of Online Consumer Decision Process in Municipal Local government of Kano State, Nigeria

Consumer decision making process is an important aspect of business management, both managers and academicians strive to study and understand the conscious processes that underline the decision to purchase a product or service by consumers. This paper is an attempt to study the correlation between supporting communications and how they affect the on-line consumer decision making process in Kano Municipal local government of Kano State. The paper made use of both primary sources of data through the use of researcher designed questionnaires and secondary sources in form of books, journals and articles from the internet. Findings show that such technological advancements are timely, but effort be made to entice users into adoption and use of them; hence recommending further awareness and consideration of Porter’s five forces. Keywords: Consumer behavior, supporting communication, drives, motives

A 5 year review of the prevalence and feto-maternal outcome of eclampsia at Aminu Kano teaching hospital.

Background: Eclampsia remains a serious obstetric disorder in tropical obstetric practice. Provision of quality antenatal care is essential in reducing its incidence.Objective: To determine the prevalence and socio demographic characteristics of patients with eclampsia and also the feto-maternal outcome.Study Design: A 5-year retrospective study on eclampsia in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano.Results: There were a total of 13,750 deliveries and 240 eclamptic patients during the study period, giving a prevalence of 1.75%. About 49.28% of the eclamptic patients were adolescents compared with 7.25% in the control group and 59.42% of them were primigravidas compared with 12.56% in the control group. About 91.30% of the cases were Hausas and 77.77% were from Kano metropolis. Also 82.9% of the cases were unbooked and 51.29% of them were delivered via caesarean section compared with 10.63% in the control group. Maternal mortality occurred in 12.08% of the cases compared with 0.97% in the control group. Perinatal mortality occurred in 22.71% of the cases compared with 3.86% in the control group.Conclusion: Eclampsia is one of the serious emergencies seen in Sub-Saharan Africa and is associated with increased perinatal morbidities and mortalities. Providing good quality antenatal care coupled with improving emergency capability of hospitals and establishg an intensive care unit for the care of eclamptic patients are essential in reducing maternal and perinatal morbidities and mortalities from the disease.Keywords: Eclampsia, Feto-maternal outcome, AKTH Kano

Quantum density matrix theory for a laser without adiabatic elimination of the population inversion: transition to lasing in the class-B limit

Despite the enormous technological interest in micro and nanolasers, surprisingly, no class-B quantum density-matrix model is available to date, capable of accurately describing coherence and photon correlations within a unified theory. In class-B lasers $-$applicable for most solid-state lasers at room temperature$-$, the macroscopic polarization decay rate is larger than the cavity damping rate which, in turn, exceeds the upper level population decay rate. Here we carry out a density-matrix theoretical approach for generic class-B lasers, and provide closed equations for the photonic and atomic reduced density matrix in the Fock basis of photons. Such a relatively simple model can be numerically integrated in a straightforward way, and exhibits all the expected phenomena, from one-atom photon antibunching, to the well-known S-shaped input-output laser emission and super-Poissonian autocorrelation for many atoms ($1\leq g^{(2)}(0)\leq 2$), and from few photons (large spontaneous emission factors, $\beta\sim1$) to the thermodynamic limit ($N\gg1$ and $\beta\sim 0$). Based on the analysis of $g^{(2)}(\tau)$, we conclude that super-Poissonian fluctuations are clearly related to relaxation oscillations in the photon number. We predict a strong damping of relaxation oscillations with an atom number as small as $N\sim 10$. This model enables the study of few-photon bifurcations and non-classical photon correlations in class-B laser devices, also leveraging quantum descriptions of coherently coupled nanolaser arrays.Comment: 23 pages, 6 figure

E-Procurement and Performance of Service Organizations in Uganda

Aiming at establishing the relationship between E-procurement on the performance of selected service organizations in Uganda; researchers used survey design on 202 employees and found that there is a significant relationship between E-procurement and performance of the organizations. This proposition comes as a result of penetration of IT in all aspects of life to the effect that today everything tends to rotate around use of technology. Also to note is that competition compels one to devise means to beat others and technology is the way to go. The researchers thus recommend: i) Government to support service organizations in regards to regulating cyber related vices; ii) Other organizations, other than service organization, should invest wisely in IT to reap its potential profitability; and iii) The whole procurement process should involve as many people as possible as a potential means to human resource planning in an effort to overcome future embarrassments of retrench and labor turn over