An Empirical Study of the Effects of Work Environment (Electric Power Supply) on Job Performance of Academic Staff in Nigerian Public and Private Universities

Boosting the job performance of academic staff in Nigerian tertiary institutions has remained a challenging managerial problem in the country. This study is an attempt to empirically examine the effects of work environment (with specific emphasis on electric power supply) on job performance of academic staff in public and private universities in Nigeria. Nigerian university system allows for government (public) and private ownership of universities under the regulatory guide of the National University Commission (NUC). One of the challenges facing Nigerian universities is infrastructure inadequacies (particularly electric power supply) fundamental to drive forward the system. This therefore, calls for a study of this nature to establish the effect(s) of this on the job performance of lecturers in the university system. In conducting the study, five research questions were designed to assess the regularity of electric power supply to offices of academic staff; establish whether the supply of electric power to the offices of academic staff is adequate and regular to create a conducive work environment; unravel the duties of academic staff which are dependent on the supply of electric power and establish the effects of electric power supply on the discharge of the duties of academic staff. Two hypotheses were also formulated to guide the study. The study adopted a survey design supplemented by other methods. A sample size of 300 respondents purposively selected from public and private universities was used as s basis for making inferences and generalisations. Data were generated through primary (questionnaire and observation) and secondary sources like textbooks, internet materials, journals articles, government publications, conference papers, newspapers and magazines. A questionnaire consisting of important questions was designed and administered. The responses from the questionnaires were coded and analyzed using descriptive method and the two hypotheses of the study were tested via Independent T-test statistical technique computed with the aid of the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). Results revealed the existence of a significant positive relationship between regular and adequate electric power supply to offices and the job performance of lecturers in terms of teaching, research and administration. The study also revealed that work related factors like internet facilities, good library, conducive work environment, regular and good remuneration, training opportunities, regular promotion, access to affordable medical care, recognition/awards are significant determinants of the job performance of academic staff in Nigerian Public and Private Universities. It is therefore recommended among others that concerted efforts should be made by government and managers of Nigerian universities to ensure regular and adequate electric power supply in the system; and provide functional internet facilities, good library, regular and good remuneration, conducive work environment, training opportunities, access to well equipped and affordable medical care, regular promotion, recognition/awards since they are known to have positive effects on the effective performance of the duties of academic staff

Comparison of absolute neutrophil to CD4 lymphocyte values as a marker of immunosuppression in cancer patients on cytotoxic chemotherapy

Background: The absolute neutrophil count (ANC) is currently used to assess immune status of patients on cytotoxic therapy. The CD4 lymphocytes have also been shown to be of importance in protection against opportunistic infections. In people of African descent a low baseline ANC has been recorded and the currently accepted neutropaenic threshold may not be appropriate. Objective: This study was aimed at comparing the change in ANC to CD4 lymphocyte count in adult cancer patients following chemotherapy. Patients and Methods: Eighty chemotherapy-naive patients with various malignancies had their ANC and CD4 lymphocyte counts done at days 0 and 12 of the first cycle of various chemotherapeutic regimens. The paired sample t-test was done to assess the significance between these values. Socio-demographic data was obtained using questionnaires. Results: ANC and CD4 pre-chemotherapy differed significantly from their post-chemotherapy values (p=0.001) for both parameters). The CD4 count showed significant reduction in patients with Non-Hodgkin\u2019s lymphoma (p=0.043), colorectal carcinoma (p=0.037) and other malignancies (p=0.030), while the ANC did not. Patients who had received COPP for Hodgkin\u2019s lymphoma also had significant CD4 depletion (p=0.037). Conclusion: The CD4 lymphocyte count may be a more suitable parameter than ANC, for monitoring immuno-depletion in cancer patients on cytotoxic chemotherapy. Further studies are required to validate these findings, especially in the Negroi

Abnormal Behavior of ZrO[2]-MgO Porous Ceramic Composite under Compression

In this work ZrO[2]-MgO porous ceramic composite fine crystalline structure was studied, its microstructure and mechanical properties after sintering at 1600°С. Pores had a bimodal size distribution with the mean sizes of about 30 and 100 [mu]m. It was shown that the introduction of organic pore-forming particles into the initial powder composition of ZrO[2]-MgO allows producing ceramics with a bimodal pore structure, the material strength is mainly determined by microstresses, and in general, such porous ceramics show uncharacteristic behavior under compression, which is confirmed by plot of the Hall-Petch dependence of microstresses on the average crystallite size with the coefficient K=0.38 MPa m{1/2}, corresponding to plastic materials

Sonographic evaluation of the spleen among sickle cell disease patients in a teaching hospital in Nigeria.

Background: Regional variations in size and parenchyma echo-texture of the spleen among sickle cell disease (SCD) patients have been documented in various publications. The objectives of this study were to assess the size and parenchyma echo-texture of the spleen of SCD patients and ascertain the relationship of age, height and weight with the spleen sizes. Methods: This was a cross sectional study involving 103 each of SCD and age matched control subjects. Aloka ST- 550 - 3500 ultrasound machine with 3.5 and 5 MHz convex transducers was used to scan the subjects over a 15 months period (September, 2012 to November, 2013). The age, height and weight of each subject were recorded. Results: The spleen sizes of SCD patients were generally larger than those of the controls (p < 0.05). Abnormal spleen parenchyma of varied appearances was found among the SCD subjects. There were negative correlations between mean spleen sizes and height, weight and age in SCD patients but positive correlations were found between them in the controls. Conclusion: Routine sonographic assessment of spleen size and echo-texture is useful in the management of SCD patients

Is renal medullary carcinoma the seventh nephropathy in sickle cell disease? A multi-center Nigerian survey

Introduction: Previous studies had enlisted renal medullary carcinoma (RMC) as the seventh nephropathy in sickle cell disease (SCD). Clinical experience has contradicted this claim and this study is targeted at refuting or supporting this assumption.Objective: To estimate the prevalence of RMC and describe other renal complications in SCD.Materials and methods: 14 physicians (haematologists and urologists) in 11 tertiary institutions across the country were collated from patients’ case notes and hospital SCD registers.Results: Of the 3,596 registered sickle patients, 2 (0.056%) had been diagnosed with RMC over a ten year period, thereby giving an estimated prevalence rate of 5.6 per 100,000. The most common renal complication reported by the attending physicians was chronic kidney disease (CKD). The frequency of routine renal screening for SCD patients varied widely between centres – most were done at diagnosis, annually or bi-annually.Conclusion: The ten year prevalence of RMC in Nigerian SCD patients was determined to be 5.6 (estimated incidence of 0.56). RMC is not more common in SCD patients and therefore cannot be regarded as a “Seventh Sickle nephropathy”. Most of the managing physicians reported that the commonest nephropathy observed in their SCD patients was chronic kidney disease.Keywords: Renal medullary carcinoma, seventh nephropathy, sickle cell disease, Nigerian surve

Is renal medullary carcinoma the seventh nephropathy in sickle cell disease? A multi-center Nigerian survey.

Introduction: Previous studies had enlisted renal medullary carcinoma (RMC) as the seventh nephropathy in sickle cell disease (SCD). Clinical experience has contradicted this claim and this study is targeted at refuting or supporting this assumption. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of RMC and describe other renal complications in SCD. Materials and methods: 14 physicians (haematologists and urologists) in 11 tertiary institutions across the country were collated from patients\u2019 case notes and hospital SCD registers. Results: Of the 3,596 registered sickle patients, 2 (0.056%) had been diagnosed with RMC over a ten year period, thereby giving an estimated prevalence rate of 5.6 per 100,000. The most common renal complication reported by the attending physicians was chronic kidney disease (CKD). The frequency of routine renal screening for SCD patients varied widely between centres \u2013 most were done at diagnosis, annually or bi-annually. Conclusion: The ten year prevalence of RMC in Nigerian SCD patients was determined to be 5.6 (estimated incidence of 0.56). RMC is not more common in SCD patients and therefore cannot be regarded as a \u201cSeventh Sickle nephropathy\u201d. Most of the managing physicians reported that the commonest nephropathy observed in their SCD patients was chronic kidney disease

Acute kidney injury in children: A study of etiology, clinical profile, and short-term outcomes at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, Abuja, Nigeria

A major hindrance in programs designed to reduce deaths from acute kidney injury (AKI) is that the extent and nature of AKI are often unknown. This article reports the etiology, clinical profile, and short-term outcomes of children managed for AKI at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, Abuja, Nigeria. Children aged one month to 15 years managed for AKI (identified by pediatric RIFLE criteria) from January 2017 to December 2017 were followed up for a short period of four weeks following the AKI. Multivariate Cox regression model was used to analyze the predictors of mortality. An annual prevalence of 26 AKI cases per 1000 children was recorded with 43 AKI cases from 1634 children seen during the 12-month period. The median age was 48 months. Twenty-two were males (51.2%). Sepsis (20, 46.6%), acute glomerulonephritis (5, 11.6%), diarrheal dehydration (5, 11.6%), severe falciparum malaria (4, 9.3%), and hemolyticuremic syndrome (4, 9.3%) were the major causes of the AKI. Fourteen children were managed conservatively, while 29 children that required dialysis had access to it. Thirteen children died (percentage mortality of 30.2%). The hazard of dying was eight times more in male gender [95% confidence interval (CI); 1.03–72.9, P = 0.017] and was lower in children without pulmonary edema by 0.14 (95% CI; 0.03–0.63, P = 0.01). In our setting, mortality from AKI is still high, and male children and those with pulmonary edema should be closely managed for AKI to reduce this high mortality

Do Women in Rural South-West Nigeria Become Pregnant with Sub-optimal Haemoglobin Concentrations?

Background: Anaemia is a major public health concern worldwide, particularly in developing countries like Nigeria. In a previous study on determinants of prenatal anaemia, we found out that the majority of our respondents had dietary iron intake below the recommended value of 27mg∕day and all of them belonged to low socio-economic class. We opined that many of our respondents could have become pregnant with sub-optimal haemoglobin concentrations. Aim: This study was carried out to evaluate the prevalence of anaemia and the socio-economic determinants of anaemia in non-pregnant women of reproductive age in our community. Materials and Methods: The study which was descriptive and cross-sectional, involved two hundred consenting non-pregnant women of reproductive age in Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to collect socio-demographic information and 24-hr dietary recall data which was used to determine the dietary diversity score (DDS) and daily dietary iron intake (DDI). Using a finger prick, the haemoglobin (Hb) concentration of each respondent was determined with a Haemoglobinometer DG-300HB. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. Results: The mean age of respondents was 32.04±8.99 years while the age range was 18-43years. The mean and range of Hb concentrations were 11.77±1.02 g∕dL and 8-16.67 g∕dL respectively. The prevalence of anaemia obtained from this study was 54% (mean 11.77 SD1.02). The prevalence of anaemia was highest amongst respondents who were farmers. There was a statistically significant association between Hb concentration and body mass index (BMI) p=0.009. Of the 200 respondents, 193 (96.5%) had inadequate dietary iron intake (<18mg/day). There was statistically significant association between Hb groupings and daily dietary iron (DDI) intake. P=0.003. With a mean of 2.96±0.95 food groups and range of 1.0-5.0 food groups, 95 % of respondents had low DDS (< 5 food groups). Hb concentration was also significantly associated with DDS as only 1(20%) of 5 respondents that had adequate DDS had Hb concentration below cut-off value. Conclusion: The prevalence of anaemia in non-pregnant women of reproductive age was high in the community studied making it possible for majority of them to enter pregnancy with sub-optimal Hb concentration. The prevalence was highest amongst respondents who were farmers. The majority of the respondents had inadequate DDS and daily DDI