Ambiente e pluralità di interessi coinvolti.

From the environmental conservation as a primary objective perspective, this paper deals with some possible conflicts that can arise from all the various involved interests, in order to propose a preventive solution

Development and Validation of a Psychological Scale for Work-Related Drivers

Work-related drivers are in high demand in Nigeria because their services are needed in virtually all the private and public business sectors of the economy. Due to exposure to long hours of driving, work-related drivers are prone to vehicle crashes resulting in injuries, loss of man hours, or death. Psychological dimensions of driving have been implicated in literature as positive indicators to successful driving performance. However, there is a dearth of an indigenous psychological scale for assessing automobile drivers in Nigeria. This study was therefore designed to develop and validate a psychological scale for the selection of work-related drivers in Nigeria. This study utilized a cross sectional survey research design, and was carried out in metropolitan Lagos through pilot, main and validation studies utilising 715 participants in all. Using the inclusion criterion of ? 0.40, a 26-item composite scale (? = .80) was identified. Further analysis revealed four psychological dimensions of driving. The psychometric properties of the four dimensions revealed coefficient alphas of 0.75 to 0.96. These dimensions correlated positively and significantly with other similar measures. The scale is useful for identifying behavioural dispositions of drivers in the work setting. The scale also has implications for selection, training, transfer and promotion of drivers. Keywords – development, validation, work-related drivers, psychological dimensions, Nigeri

An empirical study on the nature of corruption amongst Nigerian firms: causes, channels and detection

This dissertation discusses the economic issues surrounding corruption at the firm-level in Nigeria with a specific focus on bribery. This involves an analysis of the paying and reporting of bribes by firm managers in Nigeria. The first chapter uses data from two business surveys to explain the determinants of the incidence of bribery and the magnitude of bribes, respectively. A two-stage analysis is conducted to test for the independence of the processes determining the incidence and the magnitude of bribery. The results show that the propensity to bribe is determined by required meetings with public officials while the size of bribe is driven by firm profitability indicators. The second chapter tests the reliability of methods used to ask individuals sensitive questions on different forms of business malpractice. Indirect methods are tested against the randomised response method. The indirect method protects the managers from stigmatisation by asking them about the behaviour of an agent representative of themselves; the randomised response method asks the interviewee to base their response on the result of a private coin-toss. The results show that the indirect method produces higher and more plausible estimates of wrongdoing than the andomised response method. The third chapter investigates why the randomised response method sometimes fails in eliciting honest responses from sensitive questions despite assuring the managers of anonymity. The roles of trust in the interviewer and the probability of detection are considered along with other potential explanations. Results indicate that lack of trust and the fear of detection are associated with underreporting of sensitive acts. The final chapter examines the relationship between bribery and ethnic networks. The ethnicities of the managers and their local political representatives are used to measure ethnic networks. Results show that co-ethnic firm managers are less likely to pay a bribe than non co-ethnics. Also, there is a positive association between ethno-linguistic fractionalisation and bribery which, in fractionalised areas, eradicates the negative effect of co-ethnicity on bribery

Generalized Trackball and 3D Touch Interaction

This thesis faces the problem of 3D interaction by means of touch and mouse input. We propose a multitouch enabled adaptation of the classical mouse based trackball interaction scheme. In addition we introduce a new interaction metaphor based on visiting the space around a virtual object remaining at a given distance. This approach allows an intuitive navigation of topologically complex shapes enabling unexperienced users to visit hard to be reached parts

Albendazole potentiates the neurotoxic effect of ivermectin in rat

The study was carried out to investigate whether an interaction between albendazole and ivermectin could lead to enhanced central nervous system (CNS) toxicity. Ivermectin (0.4mg/kg body weight (b.w)) and/or albendazole (15mg/kg b.w) were daily and orally administered to albino rats for 14 days. Activities of acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), catalase (CAT), Na+-K+ ATPase, Ca2+-Mg2+ ATPase and malondialdehyde (MDA) level which are considered essential to correct functioning of the brain were determined. The co-administration of the two drugs significantly caused reduction (p<0.05) in the activities of brain ACP, ALP, Na+-K+ ATPase and Ca2+-Mg2+ ATPase with corresponding increase in the serum. Separate administration of ivermectin or albendazole did not show any significant changes (p>0.05) in the activity of these enzymes. These suggest that in the presence of albendazole, ivermectin is able to reach the CNS and impair its function through neurochemical changes. Also, co-administration of ivermectin and albendazole led to a significant increase (p<0.05) in brain CAT activity as well as serum and brain MDA concentrations. This may be an indication that the drugs have other mechanisms of action, such as increasing oxidative damage in the CNS. Overall, these findings suggest that both drugs exert additive effect when co-administered.Keywords: Combination therapy, enhanced CNS toxicity, ATPase

Breaking down attitudinal barriers in the fortress of academia: learning from a UDL project to engage students with academic reading

This session builds on ongoing research conducted between academic and library colleagues at the University of Worcester (Malomo & Pittaway, 2020). Our ongoing aim is to provide additional strategies to assist students engage with reading using a UDL methodology. We recognise that some student cohorts do not realise that they need to read for their degree (Malomo, 2017). Further, a variety of barriers, such as time-poverty and/or learning disabilities, may impact on students’ ability to engage with reading materials. The first stage of our research took a technological, solution-oriented approach where we embedded accessibility tools, such as speed-readers and text-to-speech tools, into our online reading list system. Inspired by UDL we sought to remove what we saw as environmental barriers and to create options for multi-modal reading that would open out reading opportunities. In practice, we found that although the environmental barrier was removed, a more challenging attitudinal barrier was thrown up in its place, namely teaching staff’s lack of confidence in their digital capabilities. In particular, our research revealed a feeling that staff needed to be ‘super-users’ of these technologies, and colleagues were uncomfortable about displaying vulnerability or sharing perceived lack of knowledge. This session will unpack both staff and student responses to this intervention and reflect on our response as practitioners. Stage 2 of our research focuses on the need to address these attitudinal barriers. The move to a more online world necessitated by COVID-19 is proving instrumental in moving forward with this stage of research. We draw on Jisc’s digital capabilities framework and other reflective tools (Jisc, 2019; Beetham and Sharpe, 2010) to inform this stage of the research, which is designed to impact and develop pedagogic practice. We will demonstrate that UDL is not always centred exclusively on the student, but on the community of practice around the learner

The effect of the substitution of acha (Digitaria exilis) and soybean on the chemical composition and sensory properties of maize masa

Masa is a traditional food mainly produced from maize, rice, and millet. Different concentrations of acha, an underutilized cereal rich essential acid and soybean, was used to enrich masa. This study investigated the effect of the substitution of acha and soybean on the nutritional and organoleptic properties of masa produced from maize. The proximate composition, mineral composition, and antinutrients were determined using standard methods. Sensory evaluation was also carried out to determine the acceptability of the masa products. The result of the proximate composition showed an increase in crude protein, crude fat, and total ash, and a decrease in crude fibre and carbohydrate content, during the period of fermentation. Moisture, crude protein, crude fat, total ash, crude fibre, and carbohydrate contents of masa ranged between 17.10 – 23.80 %, 6.86- 10.67%, 12.78- 18.78 %, 0.58-1.24 %, 0.79 - 1.07 %, and 42.95 - 61.89 %, respectively. Crude protein, total ash, and crude fat content increased with the increase in substitution with soybean. Calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, and zinc contents were within the range of 5.79 - 13.70 mg/kg, 2.54 - 7.20 mg/kg, 1.14 - 2.65 mg/kg, 2.96 - 6.03 mg/kg, and 0.76 - 1.05 mg/kg, respectively. Masa produced from 100% acha had the highest calcium, magnesium, and iron contents. Tannin, phytic acid, and trypsin inhibitor activity decreased during fermentation and were lowest in masa produced from 100% acha. Substitution of masa with soybean improved the colour, taste, and aroma of fried masa samples. Substitution of maize with 20% acha and 20% soybean increased the nutritional quality and overall acceptability of masa. This study therefore suggested the use of acha and soybean in the production of masa with a high nutritional and sensory profile

Cervical spinal cord injury from a vehicular accidental near hanging injury and neck manipulations

Spinal cord injury is a global problem. It is a devastating life altering condition that is associated with permanent disability and reduced life expectancy. Road traffic accident has been described in global literature as the commonest aetiology and second to it is falls. Identifying these factors have led to development of policies and advocacy to reduce these causes of spinal cord injuries.We present three cases of spinal cord injuries from unusual aetiologies viz-aviz an accidental hanging which resulted in a C4 traumatic myelopathy Frankel A in a 30-year old artisan, playful neck manipulation in a 23-year old male student, resulting in Brown-Sequard syndrome, which resolved with nonoperative spinal cord injury management protocol over six weeks and a C4 traumatic myelopathy Frankel D with a 50% anterior listhesis of C4 on C5 in a 50-year old man who sustained injuries from a choke hold 10 weeks prior to presentation. He recovered fully on non-operative management and discharged home Frankel E.Keywords: Spinal cord injury, Browne-Sequard, Franke

Some Aspects of Animal Feed Sampling and Analysis

Animal feed plays an important part in the food chain and the composition and quality of the livestock products (milk, meat and eggs) that people consume. Animal feeds are either classified as fodder, forage, or mixed feeds. Fodders could be classified as roughages (fresh cut forage, hay or dry forage, straw, root crops, stover and silage) and concentrates such as grains, legumes and by-products of processing. Safety is perhaps one of the most important reasons for feed analysis by the manufacturers and consumers. Storage duration and conditions for feed samples, as well as of stable and unstable parameters are important in sample preparation. A number of sub-samples for preparing final sample for various categories of feed products are recommended. Some analysis conducted on feed include; dry matter, crude ash, ash insoluble in acid (sand), crude protein, crude fat, fibre analysis, starch, gross energy, minerals. More are amino acids (excluding tryptophan), amino acids (tryptophan), fatty acids, vitamins, reducing sugar, mycotoxins, and pesticides. Various types of samples depending on their purposes and uses are available from check, standard, working and referee samples to composite types. Sampling errors in procedures exists and can be minimized by standards or purposes of the analysis, appropriate sampling equipment and using the right quantity of materials

GC-MS analysis of the Phytocomponents in the plant extracts of Bitter Apple (Citrullus Colocynthis) and their Antibacterial activities against selected pathogenic and food spoilage microorganisms

The antibacterial potency of the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of the seeds and fruit epicarp of Citrullus colocynthis was evaluated against Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus using agar-well diffusion method. GC-MS analysis and phytochemical screening of the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of the seeds and fruit epicarp were carried out. The ethanolic and aqueous extracts of the fruits of the bitter apple showed inhibitory activities against the test organisms with zones of inhibition ranging between 2 mm and 16 mm, However, the range of inhibition with the seed extract was 5 mm and 18 mm. The GC-MS analysis revealed a total of forty-four and forty-nine phyto-compounds in the extracts of fruits and seeds of C. colocynthis respectively. This study showed that ethanolic extracts of the seeds of bitter apple could be employed in the pharmaceutical industry as a potent antimicrobial agent in the formulation of drug