Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer using Soft Computing Paradigms

The process of diagnosing of prostate cancer using traditional methods is cumbersome because of the similarity of symptoms that are present in other diseases. Soft Computing (SC) paradigms which mimic human imprecise data manipulation and learning capabilities have been reviewed and harnessed for diagnosis and classification of prostate cancer. SC technique based on Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) facilitated symptoms analysis, diagnosis and prostate cancer classification. Age of Patient (AP), Pains in Urination (PU), Frequent Urination (FU), Blood in Semen (BS) and Pains in Pelvic (PP) served as input attributes while Prostate Risk (PR) served as output. Matrix laboratory provided the programming tools for system implementation. The practical function of the system was assessed using prostate cancer data collected from the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital. A 95% harmony observed between the computed and the expected output in the ANFIS model, showed the superiority of the ANFIS model over the fuzzy model. The system is poised to assist medical professionals in the domain of diagnosis and classification of prostate cancer for the promotion of management and treatment decisions

Detoxification of cassava leaves by simple traditional methods

Cassava leaves, which usually contain large quantities of cyanogenic glycosides, were processed into a Zairian traditional vegetable sauce ‘Mpondu’ by simple methods which included blanching (10 min), mashing and then boiling for 20–80 min. These methods enhanced the detoxification of the leaves, with blanching alone resulting in the loss of 57% of the free (non-glycosidic) cyanide content and of 60% of the bound (glycosidic) cyanide. It is presumed that losses of cyanide during these processes would be accounted for in volatile HCN, its derivatives and in the boiling water

Occurrence and Environmental Implications of Calcareous Nannofossils in Surface Sediments of the Western Gulf of Guinea: off Lagos Coast, South-western Nigeria

The application of calcareous nannofossils in oil exploration, and environmental studies is playing an increasingly important role all over the world. Most recent researches on this subject area in Nigeria are confined/restricted to the oil producing Niger Delta leaving most other areas untouched. This however limits nannofossils’ application in biostratigraphic and paleoenvironmental interpretation of non oil producing areas within the country. Before now, nannofossils occurrence and application have not been documented in the surface sediments of Nigeria. Consequently, calcareous nannofossils have been investigated in thirteen (13) surface sediments samples of the littoral area from the continental shelf of western Gulf of Guinea, off Lagos coast. Primarily, this research was aimed at determining the occurrence (and or non occurrence), and relative abundance of nannofossils in surface sediments of the area with which the age of the sediments, paleoenvironment and paleoecological condition(s) could be determined.The samples were collected with the aid of grab sampler, allowed to dry and subjected to detailed lithologic description. Furthermore, the samples were subjected to nannofossils analysis by standard method of preparation. Both qualitative and quantitative analysis was done using the high power Olympus Transmitted Light Microscope (TLM). The occurrence of nannofossils has been established in the study area (littoral area of the western Gulf of Guinea). Most of the sediments are poorly consolidated, fine to coarse grained sand with little amount of clay ant silt fractions that yielded Pliocene to Recent nannofossils (mainly Pleistocene). A total population of 1132 belonging to five different genera (Calcidiscus, Ceratolithus, Gephyrocapsa, Helicosphera and Reticulofenestra) and seven species were found in the studied samples with Gephyrocapsa caribbeanica being the most abundant (followed by Gephyrocapsa oceanica of a little lower abundance). The species indicate a truly shallow marine environment within recent sediment accumulation. Keywords: Surface sediments, littoral, calcareous nannofossils, Gulf of Guinea, Lagos, Nigeria, biostratigraphy, paleoenvironment, paleoecology, lithologic

Integrating Information and Computer Technology in Teaching Mathematics in Junior Secondary School in Akwa Ibom State

The study was concerned with integrating information and computer technology in teaching mathematics in Junior Secondary School in Akwa Ibom State. A total of 8 mathematics teachers were drawn from 4 schools in Uyo Local Government Area that met the criteria like having computer facilities in school and presenting candidate for junior certificate examination for the past 22 years. A total of 100 junior secondary three students in 2012/2013 session took part in the study. The instruments used in gathering data were secondary school teachers’ questionnaire (SSTQ) and junior secondary three examination results in mathematics. The questionnaire was face and content validated by a team of experts in internets services. The statistical tools used in analyzing the data were t-test difference of two means and Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Co-Efficient. The result showed that students who were taught mathematics using ICT facilities performed significantly better than those taught without it. Moreover, there was a significant relationship between the availability of ICT facility in schools and students’ effective usage. It was recommended amongst others that computer and internet facilities should be provided in schools by government so as to enhance effective teaching and learning of science and mathematics in schools. Keywords: Information, Computer, Technology and Mathematic

Marketing of Information and Library Services in Nigerian University Libraries: The Way Forward

University libraries in Nigeria exist to support teaching, learning and research needs of their parent institutions. This is done through the provision of up –to-date information resources to their clientele –students, teaching and   non-teaching staff. This mission can be best accomplished through effective marketing of information and library services to their respective users. This paper examines   marketing of information and library services in Nigerian university libraries; the current situation and the way forward.  Marketing of information and library services is a social and managerial process by which individuals and groups obtain what they need and want through creating and exchanging products and value with others.  The use of Marketing mix (the 7p’s) and other marketing strategies such as exhibition, segmentation and use of Internet were seen as means which could be used to market information and library services to various users in Nigerian University Libraries. Keywords: Marketing, users’ satisfaction, library services, information, university libraries, Nigeria

Antiulcerogenic activity of ethanolic leaf extract of Lasianthera africana

The effect of ethanolic leaf extract of Lasianthera africana on experimentally induced ulcer was studied in rats. The extract (1000 – 3000mg/kg) inhibited ethanol-induced, indomethacin – induced and reserpine –induced ulcer models in a dose dependent fashion. The various degrees of inhibitions were statistically significant (

A Gamma Spectrometeric Analysis and Radium Equivalent Activity Index of Water in Abak, Nigeria: A Baseline Survey

This study evaluated the concentration of radionuclides and radiation hazard indices for water with the use of gamma spectrometer in 10 different communities of Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria to serve as baseline data on the radiological status of the area. The results show that the commonly occurring radionuclides are not uniformly distributed in the water. The mean activity concentration of 40K, 238U and 232Th in the samples were estimated to be 105.46±8.16 Bq/l, 13.02±3.13 Bq/l and 2.44±0.21; Bq/l respectively. These values are well below internationally determined permissible exposure limits. The hazard indices radium equivalent activity, absorbed dose rate, effective dose rate, external and internal hazard indices had mean values of 24.6±4.06 Bq/l, 11.9±1.92 nGy/h, 0.02±0.002mSv/yr, 0.07±0.01 and 0.1±0.02 respectively.The computed hazard indices are all below the recommended standards. Therefore the water at the present time poses no radiological health threat to the populace. Keywords: Radionuclide concentration, radium equivalent, absorbed dose rate, internal hazard inde

Perceived Organizational Support and Organizational Identification in Construction Firms in Port Harcourt

This study examines the relationship between fair treatment and organizational identification in some selected construction firms in Port Harcourt. Two null hypotheses were drawn from the measures of organizational identification. A sample size of 186 was drawn using the Krejcie and Morgan 1970 table, while the population allocation was done using the Bowley’s population allocation formula. Spearman’s rank correction coefficient was used for analyzing the null hypotheses, while the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) was used as the statistical tool at 5% level of significance. All the null hypotheses were rejected; hence there is a significant relationship between fair treatment and organizational identification. It was therefore recommended that management of the construction firm should formulate and implement policies that will encourage fair treatment for all workers and ensure that benefits are distributed fairly so as to enhance employees’ sense of belongingness and commitment, and employees’ option should be heard and their well being should be considered by the firm in decision making. Keywords: Fair treatment, Organizational identification, Cognitive identification, Affective identificatio

Baseline Radionuclide Distribution Patterns in Soil and Radiation Hazard Indices for Abak, Nigeria

A gamma spectroscopy analysis for the naturally occurring radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th and 40K has been carried out for soil samples collected from communities in Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State to determine the concentration and distribution patterns of these radionuclides in the study area and to assess the possible radiological risks from the soil. The activity concentration of the samples range from 14.80±1.16Bq/kg to 150.20±11.47Bq/kg with a mean value of 98.709±7.693Bq/kg for 40K; from 14.52±3.49Bq/kg to 42.04±8.59Bq/kg for 238U with a mean of 24.826±5.425Bq/kg and from 3.05±0.27Bq/kg to 7.00±0.58Bq/kg with a mean of 5.172±0.31Bq/kg for 232Th. These values are within international regulatory standards. Assessment of the radiation hazard levels for the area gave values of 18.789±3.102nGy/h for absorbed dose, 0.3±0.05Bq/kg for representative level index, 39.82±6.65Bq/kg for radium equivalent, 0.11±0.02 for external hazard index, 0.18±0.032 for internal hazard index and 0.023±0.004mS/yr for effective dose rate. These indices are much lower than the ICRP permissible limits for soil showing that the soil of the study area poses no radiological threats to the public. Keywords: Radionuclide concentration, radiation hazard index, radium equivalent, internal hazard inde

ASSESSMENT OF ENVIRONMENT OF DEPOSITION AND RESERVOIR QUALITY OF WELL TMG C-2 IN THE WESTERN NIGER DELTA

This research revealed the reservoir quality and the nature of the depositional Environment of the study location in order to have an accurate field development and reservoir update. The objectives are to interpret logs of gamma ray, porosity and permeability, to determine depositional environments from the log motifs, identify reservoir sands, reservoir depth and thickness. Based on the log responses (signatures) of the well that shows the funnel and bell shapes, the major two sand bodies B and C studied in the well TMG-C2 were deposited in shallow marine environments. Sand B was deposited in Fluvial, shoreface and tidal environments. Fluvial environments occurred towards the western portion of the field capping a shoreface environment at the bottom of the well. Sand C was deposited in shoreface and tidal environment (shallow marine environment). Predominantly shoreface environment was capped with minor tidal channel. Tidal environment occurred at the bottom edge of the well capping shoreface. The average effective porosity ranges between 18.64% to 20.8% and permeability between 226.5 to 300.5 millidarcy, which shows that the sands have moderate to good reservoir quality. The facies and the reservoir quality model, show a good sand development with better porosity and permeability while area with poor sand development have lower reservoir quality. The effective porosity and permeability variation suggest possible changes in depositional processes such as change from laminar to turbulent flow and change in sediment source leading to variation in sorting and porosity