PREDICTIVE VALIDITY OF THE GEOGRAPHY FIELD PROJECT SCORE ON STUDENTS’ PERFORMANCE IN THE GEOGRAPHY THEORY IN CHOMA, ZAMBIA

The study investigated the predictive validity of students’ scores in Geography Field Project on their final scores in Geography Theory examination. The predictors were Geography Field Project in terms of Observation, Recording and Interpretation while the criterion was the score in the final Theory examination in Geography. This study was an ex-post facto type of the descriptive research design because all the variables used had already occurred and therefore were not manipulated. The population consisted of all the grade twelve students from all the thirteen High Schools in Choma District, Zambia, who sat for the Geography examinations in the years 2009, 2010 and 2011. The population for the study consisted of all the 1950 students who sat for Geography examination in all the schools in the years under study. Seven hundred and eighty (780) students were selected and used for the study. The only research instrument used was a format designed for recording all necessary information in respect of students used for the study. The data collected were analysed using the descriptive statistics, regression analysis, Analysis of Variance and multiple comparison. The study revealed that students’ performance in Geography Field Project and Geography Theory final Examinations were on the average. Geography Field Project in terms of Interpretation and Observation accounted for 79.7% variance in students’ performance in Geography Theory Examination. Interpretation accounted for 79.6% while Observation accounted for 0.1%. The positive beta value shows that the more students were able to interpret and carry out observations; the better was their performance in Geography Theory Examinations. The overall mean score in Geography Field Project accounted for 79.7% variance in performance in Geography Theory Examination. The positive beta value of .560 indicated that the more students performed in Geography Field Project, the better their performance in Geography Theory Examination. There is no significant difference in the performance of students in Geography Final Examination Scores according to year of examination. It was however observed that there was a continuous decline in performance of students from 2009 through 2011

INFLUENCE OF HIGHER EDUCATION ON EMPLOYABILITY AS PERCEIVED BY LECTURERS OF UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN, NIGERIA

This study investigated the perception of university lecturers on influence of higher education on employability across the variables of gender, length of service and faculty. Sixty lecturers from five out of the eleven faculties in the University of Ilorin, Nigeria responded to three hypothetical scenario formulated to measure their perception. Findings of the study revealed that respondents perceived that science-oriented faculties have higher levels of influence on employability. Specifically, the faculties of science and technology and agriculture were ranked highest in this direction. However, the responses from the sample revealed no significant difference in their perception based on gender and length of service. These findings underscored the need for higher education to take an overtly focus on its academic provision in such that the demands of global labour market is taken into account. Thus, there is the need to rejuvenate university lecturers through induction programmes that would update and equip them on the global expectations on employability of youths

Homeostatic Regulation of Salmonella-Induced Mucosal Inflammation and Injury by IL-23

IL-12 and IL-23 regulate innate and adaptive immunity to microbial pathogens through influencing the expression of IFN-γ, IL-17, and IL-22. Herein we define the roles of IL-12 and IL-23 in regulating host resistance and intestinal inflammation during acute Salmonella infection. We find that IL-23 alone is dispensable for protection against systemic spread of bacteria, but synergizes with IL-12 for optimal protection. IL-12 promotes the production of IFN-γ by NK cells, which is required for resistance against Salmonella and also for induction of intestinal inflammation and epithelial injury. In contrast, IL-23 controls the severity of inflammation by inhibiting IL-12A expression, reducing IFN-γ and preventing excessive mucosal injury. Our studies demonstrate that IL-23 is a homeostatic regulator of IL-12-dependent, IFN-γ-mediated intestinal inflammation