Assessment of Internet Service Quality and Customers’ Satisfaction in University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria

This study examined internet service quality and its effects on customers’ satisfaction in University of Ilorin, Nigeria. The objective of this study was to find out the awareness, technical difficulty and perception of internet users in the university. Questionnaire was the major instrument used to gather relevant data. Data were collected from respondents from ten faculties, including 60 academic staff, 40 non-academic staff and 100 students making a total of 200. Four research questions were formulated for the study and percentage was used to analyze the data. The results from the research indicated that: 91.6% of the academic staff, 95% of non- academic staff and 75.5% of students testified to the fact that internet services were available in the university.53.3% of the academic staff, 60% on non-academic staff and 85.7% of students also stated that inadequate or insufficient bandwidth and poor electricity were part of the challenges that hinders the effective usage of internet. Based on the problems encountered, 58.3% of academic staff, 52.5% of non- academic staff and 65% of students were not satisfied with the internet service quality they enjoyed.65% of academic staff, 60% of non- academic staff and 50% of students reacted positively to the fact that the quality of its service delivery would be granted if improved.Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended amongst others, that the university should improve on the quality of their interaction with the customers to alleviate their apprehensions about more bandwidth, internet training and constant electricity. These will allow for satisfaction and retention of customers and optimize their limited resources. Keywords: Assessment, Internet service quality, Customers’ satisfactio

Exogenous contrast agents for thermoacoustic imaging: an investigation into the underlying sources of contrast.

Thermoacoustic imaging at microwave excitation frequencies is limited by the low differential contrast exhibited by high water content tissues. To overcome this, exogenous thermoacoustic contrast agents based on gadolinium compounds, iron oxide, and single wall carbon nanotubes have previously been suggested and investigated. However, these previous studies did not fully characterize the electric, magnetic, and thermodynamic properties of these agents thus precluding identification of the underlying sources of contrast. To address this, measurements of the complex permittivity, complex permeability, DC conductivity, and Grüneisen parameter have been made. These measurements allowed the origins of the contrast provided by each substance to be identified

Attitude of Teachers toward Utilizing Community Resources in Physics in Abuja, Nigeria

The study was carried out in Abuja, Nigeria. The research sample consisted of 250 physics teachers that were drawn from 150 selected schools in the 6 area councils in Abuja. One research hypothesis was formulated and tested. Answers were provided for two research questions in the study. The result showed that there was a significant difference between the attitude of qualified physic teachers and unqualified physics teachers toward the use of community resources in teaching. The calculated chi-square was 7.71 and the critical chi-square obtained from the statistical table was 3.84.Based on the result , one of the  recommendations  made was: Teachers training institutions (colleges, Polytechnics, National teachers institute and Nigerian Universities) should give training teachers appropriate training in the use of community resources in teaching so as to cater for inadequacies observed in the area of attitude as  qualified physics teachers

Development of a Social Networking Site with a Network Library and Conference Chat

Social networking is an act of interacting/ sharing fun and some information popularly called profiles with known or unknown people (called friends) freely online. A social network service is an online interface, service, that enables users exchange information and relate socially. This consists of a representation of each user (often through a profile), his/her social links, photos, fun and a variety of additional services. Most social network services a and provide means for users to interact over the internet, such as e Our project (talk2me) is social networking site that can connect people with their friends and allow every user have a networked-library which can be customized by the user. It would serve the purpose of not just a social networking site, but also a resource center where members can get instant data/information on any assignment, project, and research from Textbooks, Journals, Editorials, Magazines, Past Project and so on. This application would enable researchers get optimal solution to problems. Since multiple users can edit an article and save the edited work to their own library efficient answers to problems. The idea behind this research is that, projects already done by someone else does not have to be developed again, instead it is improved upon. The goal is the development of a resource center where people can network knowledge is thus accomplishe

ANTHROPOMETRIC AND PHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF INSTITUTION-BASED SECURITY PERSONNEL IN NIGERIA

This study investigated the anthropometric and physiological characteristics of institution-based security personnel in Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The population for the study were the male security personnel of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife and Wesley-Guild Hospital (WGH), Ilesa, Osun State. Sample comprised sixty middle-aged volunteers drawn from the Security Departments of the three institutions. Inclusion criteria for the study was passing a preliminary health screening for cardiovascular disease risk factors. Anthropometric parameters were measured in line with the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK)’s protocol. Participants’ weight and height were measured with an Electronic BMI scale and blood pressure was recorded using Aneroid sphygmomanometer. Participants’ VO2 max was estimated from the Cooper 12-minutes run/walk test. Data was recorded in a structured data sheet. Descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviations was used to analyse data. The results showed that the mean age of security personnel in the study was 41.7 ± 5.749, while their mean height and weight were 171.0 ± 7.353 and 69.2 ± 7.322 respectively. The mean of personnel’s waist and hip circumferences were 40.68 ± 3.968 and 46.68 ± 2.813 respectively. The mean of skinfolds (Ʃ4 Skf), percent body fat, waist-to-hip ratio, and BMI of security personnel were 50.03 ± 15.797, 22.37 ± 5.175, 0.87 ± 0.062 and 23.66 ± 2.386 respectively. Their mean resting heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and VO2 max were 63.77 ± 8.77, 119.42 ± 9.30, 80.17 ± 8.54 and 43.95 ± 43.95 respectively. The study concluded that institution-based security personnel are similar to the civilian population in terms of anthropometric and physiological characteristics.  Article visualizations

EFFECTS OF AN 8-WEEK INTERMITTENT AEROBIC EXERCISE ON THE ELECTROCARDIOGRAM AND PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF INSTITUTIONAL SECURITY PERSONNEL IN NIGERIA

This study determined the effects of an 8-week intermittent aerobic exercise training on the resting electrocardiogram and physiological parameters of institutional security personnel in Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC). The study adopted a pretest-posttest-control group experimental design. The population for the study were male security personnel of OAUTHC, Ile-Ife. Forty middle-aged volunteers who met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to either of Intermittent Training Group, ITG (n = 20) or control (n = 20). A structured exercise training programme, Intermittent Exercise Training Programme was used to train the ITG for 8 weeks. Resting ECG was recorded pre and post-intervention with a 12-lead Electrocardiograph, weight and height were measured with an electronic BMI scale. Blood pressure was recorded before and after exercise sessions. Participants in ITG performed the 12-minutes run/walk test before and after the 8 weeks intervention. Borg’s rating of perceived exertion scale was used to gauge exercise intensity and a structured data sheet was used for recording data. Paired- sample t- Test statistics was used to analyse data. The results showed that intermittent aerobic exercise training neither produced significant effect on the resting ECG parameters in terms of intervals; RR- interval (t = -0.79; p > 0.05), P- wave duration (t = -0.64; p > 0.05), PR- interval (t = -0.08; p > 0.05), QRS- Complex (t = -0.99; p > 0.05) and QTC (t = -1.20; p > 0.05) nor axes P- Axis (t = -0.06; p > 0.05), QRS- Axis (t = 0.78; p > 0.05) and T- Axis (t = 0.60; p > 0.05). It however affected participants’ heart rate (t = 4.41; p < 0.05) and VO2 max (t = -11.25; p < 0.05). The study concluded that intermittent aerobic exercise training produced no significant effect on the resting ECG parameters but significantly reduced heart rate and increased VO2 max.  Article visualizations

Influence Of Social Studies Education On Students’ Response To Corrupt Practices

This study investigated the responses of Social Studies and non Social Studies students to corrupt practices in Nigeria. The sample consisted of 439 final year B.Ed. students of six selected tertiary institutions covering the four geo-political zones in Nigeria. The major instruments employed were an unstructured interview and a set of questionnaire whose items covered the following areas: giving and taking of bribes, fraudulent practices, election and examination mal-practices, and reporting of lost and found properties to the appropriate authorities. Frequency counts, percentages and T- test were used to analyze the data. The result revealed that there was no significant difference between the two groups in their tendency toward corrupt practices. One of the recommendations was the need to integrate citizenship education into the Social Studies curriculum at all levels of education. Anti – corruption clubs should be established in all schools to help in curbing corrupt tendencies of students.     &nbsp

Large area laser scanning optical resolution photoacoustic microscopy using a fibre optic sensor

A laser scanning optical resolution photoacoustic microscopy (LS OR-PAM) system based on a stationary fibre optic sensor is described. The sensor comprises an optically resonant interferometric polymer cavity formed on the tip of a rounded single mode optical fibre. It provides low noise equivalent pressure (NEP = 68.7 Pa over a 20 MHz measurement bandwidth), a broad bandwidth that extends to 80 MHz and a near omnidirectional response. The latter is a significant advantage, as it allows large areas ( > 1cm 2 ) to be imaged without the need for translational mechanical scanning offering the potential for fast image acquisition. The system provides a lateral resolution of 8 µm, an axial resolution of 21 µm, and a field of view up to 10 mm × 10 mm. To demonstrate the system, in vivo 3D structural images of the microvasculature of a mouse ear were obtained, showing single capillaries overlaying larger vessels as well as functional images revealing blood oxygen saturation

Ergonomic analysis of classroom furniture in a Nigerian university

In most underdeveloped and developing countries, the anthropometric dimensions of users are not deployed in classroom furniture design. This has severe health as well as learning implications. The aim of this study was to determine the ergonomic suitability of classroom furniture at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria. 261 (133 males and 128 females) randomly selected students participated in the study. Their anthropometric measures were taken after fully explaining the purpose and procedure of the measurements and obtaining an informed consent from each student. The dimensions of the furniture in all the selected lecture venues were also taken. The level of match/mismatch between the anthropometric measures of the students and classroom furniture was afterwards determined using some criterion equations. The result of the study showed a substantial level of mismatch between the anthropometric measures of students and the dimensions of the furniture available to them for use in lecture venues. In all, 31.8% and 37.2% of the participants in the study used seats that are too high and too low respectively for their anthropometric measures while 18.4% and 50.6% of the participants used seats that are too deep and too shallow respectively for their anthropometric measures. The study revealed that 90% of all the participants used desks that were too high, 2% used desks that were too low and only 7% used desks with heights that fit their anthropometric measures. Only at one lecture venue was a non-zero score (5.5%) returned for a combined seat height – seat depth analysis. The study evidently suggests that many students use unfit classroom furniture which are not conducive for learning.Keywords: anthropometric measures; ergonomics; furniture mismatch; Nigeri

Effects of Petroleum Products on the Chlorophyll Accumulation in Barbula lambarenensis

The effects of petroleum products: Petroleum Motor Spirit (petrol, PMS), Automobile Gas Oil (diesel. AGO), Dual Purpose Kero (kerosene, DPK), were investigated on the chlorophyll accumulation in Barbula lambarenensis. This plant with its substrates were collected from its natural populations, taken to the screen house and divided into ten regimes widely separated. Each of these regimes was irrigated with borehole water for two weeks, thrice a week to bring about hydration. The three petroleum products were separately diluted with borehole water in 1:1 ratio to give 50% concentrations. Moreover, 100% of these products were also used .The 50% concentrations were separately used to irrigate the first three regimes, A, B and C for 20 weeks .The D, E and F regimes were irrigated with 100% kerosene, petrol and diesel respectively for the 2 weeks and later with borehole water for twenty weeks while the G regime was irrigated with borehole water (Control). Irrigations were done thrice a week. Samples of B. lambarenensis were collected fortnightly for chlorophyll extraction and the chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll content determined with the aid of spectrophotometer .It was observed that the 50% treated moss plants had greater chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll than the control but their concentrations were statistically the same. The 100% treatment gave greater chlorophyll a content than the control, PMS treatment had greater chlorophyll b than the control but the reverse were for DPK and AGO treated moss plant. However, all these values were the same statistically. The same results were found for the total chlorophyll except that the DPK, AGO and Control treatments had the same value statistically while DPK, Control and PMS treatments were the same statistically. The 50% treatments had worse effects than the 100% followed by borehole water treatments. Furthermore, the two concentrations had the same effects on the chlorophyll contents but DPK and AGO had significantly greater chlorophyll b concentrations in 50% treated regimes than 100% treatments at 5% level of significance. Petroleum products damaged the chlorophyll apparatus of the plant making the treated to produce greater chlorophyll contents than the Control