PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF A PILOT PARAPLEGIC CENTRICITY MOBILITY AID

This paper was aimed at evaluating the functional characteristics of a developed mobility aid for paraplegics in Benin City, Nigeria using their anthropometric data. These functional characteristics were compared with the conventional motorised wheel chair found in most city centres in Nigeria under the same condition. The method adopted in establishing the differences in the developed mobility aid and the conventional types include the use of variables such as, the time required to board, time to complete a 100 meters distance, fuel consumption rate and the subjects’ operational postural angles. The values obtained from these findings were computed and compared with the values obtained from the conventional wheel chair under the same operational conditions. Consequently, the values obtained were subjected to statistical analysis using the Van der Waerden normal score test and the Wilcoxin’s signed rank test. The result of the test showed a remarkable improvement in fuel consumption rate, ease of use and other functional characteristics of the developed mobility aid over the conventional wheelchair available to paraplegics in Nigeria. From the result, it is evidential that the developed mobility aid meets the requirements of adult paraplegics in Nigeria. The use of this mobility aid will make them lead a normal way of life and contribute meaningfully to national growth and development. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njt.v35i1.

Levels of some heavy Metals in Cocoyam (Colocasia esculentum) grown on Soil receiving Effluent from a Paint Industry

The levels of some heavy metals in soil samples and tubers of cocoyam (Colocasia esculentum) grown on  soil receiving paint wastes (PWS) has been investigated using Atomic Absorption spectrophotometer  (Unicam 939/959 model). Similar analyses were carried out for the same plant from a control area. The  studies revealed that although the P.W.S contained abnormally high levels of Pb (474.14mgkg-1) and Cu  (137.85mgkg-1). The paint waste tuber (PWT) recorded low levels of these metals: Pb (2.13mgkg-1) and  Cu (13.85mgkg-1) respectively. Correlation analysis tested at 0.05 level of significance show that no significant correlation existed between the metals levels in the soil and the level in the tuber. In all cases the levels of the metals in the tubers were well below the upper limit documented for unpolluted plant. The results however suggest the ineffectiveness of the use of Colocasia esculentum as a bioindicator for heavy metal pollution in soil. © JASE

Evaluating Managerial Skills for Business Education in a Technological Age

Having witnessed the extraordinary development of information technology in recent time, one needs to critically examine some systematic changes it triggered in Business Education. This will go a long way in determining whether Business Education is still relevant in accomplishing its goals such as provision of managerial skills for economic sustainability. Based on the above, the researchers thought it reasonable to evaluate the managerial skills acquired through Business Education in present day technology. The researchers‟ findings revealed that Business Education still has the unique and significant potentials in providing managerial skills needed in handling personal affairs, as well as management of business and skills for gainful employment, but calls for improved provision of needed personnel and equipment such as computer for training the would be managers

Malaria Treatment Using Oral Medkafin: Changes In Biochemical And Haematological Parameters In Nigerian Adults With Uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum Malaria

Objective: To observe the changes in the biochemical and haematological parameters of patients with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria after treatment with oral medkafin. Method: The activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) E.C.2.6.1.1, alanine amino transferase (ALT) E.C.2.6.1.2, the levels of total and conjugated bilirubin, haemoglobin (Hb) and packed cell volume (PCV) in the serum of patients with uncomplicated malaria prior to (PT) and after treatment (AT) with oral medkafin, a new antimalarial drug, were assayed in consenting patients with plasmodium falciparum malaria treated at the University of Calabar Medical Centre in June 1997. Result: The activity of ALT and the level of Hb decreased significantly (p< 0.05) after treatment in the serum of male and female patients compared with their pre-treatment values. The activity of AST, total and conjugated bilirubin increased significantly (p < 0.05) in the serum of male and female patients (except that of female total bilirubin) compared with the PT levels. The PCV of males decreased significantly AT (p < 0.05) compared to the PT levels. Conclusion: This study showed that the levels of ALT, Hb and PCV decreased while those of AST, total and conjugated bilirubin increased in males after treatment with oral medkafin. Key Words: Medkafin, Malaria, Falciparum malaria, Treatment of Malaria Orient Journal of Medicine Vol.15(3&4) 2003: 23-2

Home Background Variables and Technical Vocational Training of Secondary School Students in Akwa Ibom State During Global Economic Meltdown

This study assessed the relationship between home background and students’ technical vocational training in secondary schools in Akwa Ibom State during global economic meltdown. The population for the study consisted of 2014 students from ten public secondary schools in Uyo metropolis. Five hundred students were randomly selected for the study. A reliability index of 0.86 was obtained using Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). Data were obtained using students vocational training questionnaire (SVCQ) and analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation. We found that parents’ educational status and income correlated positively with students’ technical vocational training. Also, parental occupations had facilitatory influence on students’ technical vocational training. We suggest that school guidance/counselors be well vested with technical vocational guidance information through training and retraining in order to assist students make good career choices and escape poverty in the prevailing economic meltdown. Also, parents should refrain from imposing courses on their children and wards to ensure their diversification and stimulate the economy of the nation.Keywords: Home background, vocational training, parents’ education, occupation, income, global economic crisis

Training Needs of Cooperative Members and Marketing of Agricultural Products in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

During the harvest period of, most farm products get spoilt or sold at give away prices due to local glut. Thus, the relationship between the training needs of multi-purpose cooperative society members and the marketing of agricultural products in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria was studied. Using random sampling technique, we selected 500 respondents from a population of 902 registered members of cooperative societies in Uyo Local Government Area. Agricultural Marketing Training Needs Questionnaire (AMTNQ) was developed and used for data collection and the data were analysed using Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). There was a significant relationship between distribution or storage training needs and effective marketing of agricultural products. Public relations training needs also correlated significantly with the marketing of agricultural products by the cooperative members. We suggest that graduates and school leavers in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria be motivated by the government, International agencies, the communities and parents to take up on- and off-farm businesses through incentives such as loans and trainings, using multi-purpose cooperative societies as platform.Key words: Training needs, cooperative societies, marketing, agricultural products

Measurements, analysis and impact of industrial noise on workers and community residents in parts of Cross River state-Nigeria

No Abstract.Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences Vol. 13 (2) 2007: pp. 257-26

Measurement and analysis of aircraft noise and its impact on people around some Nigerian airports

No abstractKeywords: aircraft noise; acoustical measurements; social measurements; noise levelsGlobal Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences Vol 11(3) 2005: 433-43

Corporate social responsibility in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria: the case for a legalised framework

This chapter focuses on the extant corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria. The oil and gas industry has been beset by a lot of problems not limited to violence, kidnappings, eco-terrorism, and maladministration amongst others. One of the strategies of curing or mitigating these inherent problems in the oil and gas sector is the use of CSR initiatives by many oil multinational corporations (MNCs) operating in Nigeria. Notwithstanding that the majority of CSR initiatives in the oil and gas sector in Nigeria are voluntary, this chapter avers that CSR initiatives should be made mandatory by the Nigerian government. Furthermore, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) should play an integral role in the implementation of any legalised framework on CSR that will be developed in the country. This chapter suggests that a CSR law should be developed specifically for the oil and gas industry to mitigate the negative externalities arising from the activities of oil MNCs in the Niger Delta region of the countryN/