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The Influence of Family and Parent Types on the Child Rearing Practices of Parents: Nigerian Experience
Get PDFThis study investigated the influence of family and parent types on the child rearing practices of parents of children in day care centres in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Two research questions were answered and two hypotheses were tested. The population studied consisted of 12080 parents of children (age from birth to 3 years) in the 604 government approved crèche/nursery schools in the State. A sample of 1200 parents (respondents) was drawn from this population using multistage random sampling technique. The instrument used for data collection was a 51-item Child Rearing Practice Scale (CRPS) with Pearson’s average reliability coefficient of 0.84 adapted to evaluate child rearing practices under the five domains of child rearing related to infancy, namely: feeding, cleaning, protection, stimulation and monitoring of growth and development. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions while one-way analysis of variance and independent t-test were used where appropriate to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 significant level. The findings revealed that family-type and parent-type of parents of children in day care centres in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria significantly influence the child rearing practices of such parents. Parents of children from extended family do significantly better in child rearing practices than their nuclear family counterparts, while those of two-parent families do significantly better than their single parent and step-parent counterparts. The findings are of practical essence to day care centres, social welfare centres, government and some non-governmental organizations.
Key words: family type, parent type, child rearing, mother
Development of Prediction Models Using Linear Adaptive Filters for some Properties of a Newly Developed Thermo-Regulated Brick
Get PDFThe development of prediction models using linear adaptive filters for some properties of a newly developed thermo-regulated brick has been carried out. The research started with the development of the bricks using anthill clay a material known for its thermoregulation property. The bricks were subjected to various tests to ensure that they conform to specifications and standard for thermo-regulated bricks and also to ensure that the thermal conductivity does not differ so much from that of bricks from virgin anthill clay. The tests data upon which the developed prediction models in this work were based were those of water absorption test, compression test and by extension abrasive index. Two models were developed for the prediction of water absorption and abrasive index properties of the developed thermo-regulated bricks. Plots of the predicted values of water absorption and the actual values of water absorption on the same graph showed a tight fitting curve indicating a high degree of accuracy for the prediction model. The plots of the predicted values of abrasive index and the actual values of abrasive index on the same graph showed a tight fit at some points and variations at other points. The performance evaluation of the prediction models showed that the model for the prediction of water absorption had a mean square error of 8.3521E- 4 and the model for the prediction of abrasive index had a mean square error of 0.0225. The performance evaluation has indicated that the two models have not done badly, though the accuracy of the water absorption model is higher than that of the abrasive index.
Keywords: Models; Bricks; Thermoregulation; Prediction; Properties; Linear adaptive filters
Management of Digitization of Theses and Dissertations in Federal University Libraries in Nigeria
Get PDFFederal university libraries in Nigeria are into digitization of theses and dissertations for accessibility and visibility of these unique information resources. This calls for management of the project to enhance sustainability. The purpose of the study was to determine the extent in which the management functions of planning, organizing, staffing and budgeting enhance digitization of theses and dissertations in federal university libraries in Nigeria. Ex post facto research design was used in the study. Four federal university libraries from four geo-political zones in Nigeria that are engaged in digitization of theses and dissertations were surveyed. All 139 professional librarians in these four federal university libraries were studied. Mean and standard deviation was used to analyze the research questions while one way ANOVA was used to test the hypotheses. The result showed that these management functions highly enhance the digitization of theses and dissertations in federal university libraries in Nigeria. Recommendations were made on the management of digitization of theses and dissertations in federal university libraries in Nigeria.
Keywords: Digitization, Federal University Libraries, Association of African Universities, Management Functions
Study of The Contribution of Carbon Iv And Carbon II Oxides in Methanol Synthesis With Modified Kinetic Model
Get PDFThe objective of this work was the simulation of methanol production process using a modified kinetic model to study the effect of reaction conditions on the relative contribution of Carbon II and Carbon IV oxides in methanol synthesis. The results showed that Carbon II oxide hydrogenation decreased as percentage of Carbon IV oxide increased and vice-versa. However it was observed that no generalizations could be made regarding the main carbon source in methanol but that the pathway of contribution from CO/CO2 hydrogenation depends on process/reaction conditions. It is recommended that for improved process design, there is the need to carefully interpret experimental data and extrapolate results from low pressure/low conversion to high pressure/high conversion laboratory conditions
Yield, Yield Components and Economic Returns of Upland Rice as Influenced by Population Densities and Cultivars in Uyo, Nigeria
Get PDFBackground: One reason for the low yield of rice in Nigeria is the use of inappropriate plant density. It has been found that as seeding rate increased; panicles m2 significantly increased suggesting that adjustments in plant densities could enhance upland rice yield which constitutes
32% of the Nigerian rice growing area. Therefore, this study was undertaken to assess the yield, yield components and economic returns of upland rice as influenced by population densities and cultivars in Uyo, Nigeria
Study Design: A 6 5 factorial experiments laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications were conducted in 2009 and 2010 at the University of Uyo Teaching and Research Farm, Use Offot, Uyo, Nigeria.
Methodology: Treatment combinations were six population densities: 1,600,000 plants ha1 (i.e. 25 cm 10 cm spacing 4 plants), 1,066,666 plants ha1 (i.e. 25 cm 15 cm spacing 4 plants), 800,000 plants ha1 (i.e. 25 cm 20 cm spacing 4 plants), 640,000 plants ha1 (i.e. 25 cm 25 cm spacing 4 plants), 533,333 plants ha1 (i.e.25 cm 30 cm spacing 4 plants) and 2,054,435
plants ha1 (i.e. 25 cm drilling) and five upland rice cultivars: FARO 43, FARO 46, FARO5
Water Management in the Private Domain: A Comparative Analysis of Urban Water Management Practice in Nigeria’s Niger Delta
Get PDFThe paper compares three contextually different urban areas in Nigeria’s Niger Delta to understand how private involvement in the management of water has affected the spatial and socio-economic circumstances of the population. A wide range of methods including semi-structured interviews, observations and analysis of secondary records were used to collect data. The paper observed different forms of private water services including commercial/private borehole, sachet/bottled water services, mobile supplies etc. Their mode of operations and services were not significantly different between the three urban areas despite differences in institutional histories. Findings show there is pervasive impact of private engagement in the supplies and management of water services in Nigeria’s Niger Delta. However such engagement is haphazard, uncoordinated, unclear and highly unregulated. We observed that while public supplies target high income residential areas, the low income areas have been taken over by commercial water vendors to further capital accumulation. Consequently the low income earners employ all forms of daily rationing practice of allocating water to minimize expenditure while indirectly maximizing potential for health and other socio-economic problems. The paper argues that the involvement of the private sector in the management of water resources in Nigeria is a neoliberal agenda translated to reflect the demands and pressures of some major international financial organizations including the World Bank and IMF, rather than practical concerns for the citizens’ interest and needs
Analysis of upland farm households’ vulnerability to climate variability in the Niger Delta, Nigeria
Get PDFAnalysis of upland farm households’ vulnerability - Gabriel, Edet, *Valerie, Glory, Godwin, Clement, Nkoyo, E. Bassey and Obot
Analysis of upland farm households’ vulnerability to climate variability in the Niger Delta, Nigeria The study analysed the vulnerability of upland farm households to climate variability in the Niger Delta. Three states - Akwa Ibom, Ondo and Rivers were selected from the nine states that make up the Niger Delta region. A total of 120 respondents from upland communities of the Niger delta were used for analysis. Household questionnaire and vulnerability questionnaire using Cost Route method were the instruments used for data collection and analysed using Vulnerability Profile and Vulner-ability / Risk Framework. The results of the analysis show that both male and female headed house-holds in all the upland communities were vulnerable to flooding, windstorm, erosion and drying up of streams. Important factors that made households vulnerable to climate hazards were low agricultural output and income, non-availability of irrigation facilities, insufficient farm labour and lack of storage facilities. Technical capacities of household members were assessed using both science-based knowledge as well as indigenous knowledge of climate change as indicators to adaptation to climate variability. It was assumed that the adaptive capacity of households could be enhanced by the number of persons with either science-based knowledge or indigenous knowledge across the re-gion. Expenditure on carbohydrate was higher across the region during disaster time, followed by expenditure in protein, vitamin/minerals and fat and oil and other classes of food, implying that more carbohydrate food is consumed during disaster period than any other class of food. Certain geo-graphical factors such as distance to coastline and population have direct impact on climate variability in the Niger Delta Region. Recommendations include establishment of emergency evacuation systems, income opportunities and support programmes as well as capacity building on climate change knowledge, enterprise development and management.
Key words: Farm households, Nigeria, poverty, rural areas, smallholder farmer
Effect of Organo-Mineral Fertilizer on Soil Nutrient Flux and Maize (Zea Mays L.) Productivity on an Ultisol in Southern Nigeria
Get PDFf Crop Science Experimental Farm of the
University of Calabar in 2011 and 2012 main cropping
seasons to evaluate the influence of Pacesetter Organo -
mineral fertilizer (OMF) rates on some soil physico-chemical
properties and productivity of a local maize variety (Ikom
White) grown on an Ultisol. Treatments evaluated consisted
of five rates (0, 2, 3, 4 and 5 t ha-1
) of the OMF, laid out in a
randomized complete block design with three replications.
Results obtained showed reduced soil acidity, depletion in
total N, exchangeable Ca, Mg and ECEC, while organic
Carbon and soluble Al contents increased in the post-harvest
soil samples. All the OMF rates enhanced maize performance
but the fertilizer was more effective in 2012 than in 2011 in
the corresponding rates. However, maize plants fertilized
with OMF at 5 t ha-1 were significantly taller, grew faster and
attained the 50% tasseling 11 – 16 days earlier than all other
rates. Plants under this treatment also produced cobs that
were longer than those of the control plants by 3.5 – 12.6 cm
in 2011 and 7.42 – 15.87 cm in 2012, had the highest shelling
percentage (48.31 – 58.50 %), and produced the highest
number of grains per cob (208.3 – 320.7). A grain yield of
2.58 t ha-1 was also recorded in 2011 and 3.20 t ha-1
in 2012
representing an increase of 0.71t ha-1
or 38 % and 2.04 t ha-1
or 176 % above the control with the application of OMF at
the rate of 5 tha-1
. Application of Pacesetter OMF at 5.0 t ha1
could be optimum for sustainable soil fertility maintenance
and enhanced maize productivity in the Cross River
Rainforest zone of Nigeria
The Study of Green Compression Strength of a Green Sand Mould Using Statistical Approach
Get PDFThe study of green compression strength of a green sand mould using statistical approach has been undertaken. Empirically generated data in National Metallurgical Development Centre, Jos Sand Testing Laboratory were used for the study. Coefficient of correlation, coefficients of determination and coefficient of multiple determinations were used to explain the relationship existing between the two independent variables of clay and moisture content and green compression strength, the dependent variable. The study showed that the coefficient of determination for Ys: X1 was 0.88 while the coefficient of correlation was 0.94, coefficient of determination for Ys: X2 was 0.90 while the coefficient of correlation was 0.95 and the coefficient of multiple determination was 0.72; these coefficients assisted tremendously in the study of green compression strength.A mathematical model was developed for the prediction of green compression strength; it was tested and proved to be a good estimation tool for estimating green compression strength values on the
foundry shop floor. The study has clearly shown that statistical approach is a good tool for studying green compression strength of green sand moulds
Comparative effect of Citrus sinensis and carbimazole on serum T4, T3 and TSH levels
Get PDFBackground: There are previous independent reports on the anti-thyroid property of Citrus sinensis. This isoflavones and phenolic acid-rich natural agent is widely consumed as dietary supplement, thus the need to investigate its comparative effect with a standard anti-thyroid drug on T4, T3 and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels. Objective: To compare the effect of Citrus sinensis and carbimazole (CARB) on blood levels of thyroid hormones (T4 and T3) and TSH. Materials and Methods: Male wistar albino rats weighing 100–150 g were employed in this research. The rats were randomly assigned to four groups of seven rats per group. Group I served as control and were administered distilled water while groups II-IV were administered with 1500 mg/kg of Citrus sinensis (fresh orange juice; FOJ), 0.1 μg/g of levothyroxine (LVT) and 0.01 mg/g of CARB, respectively, per oral once daily for 28 days. The animals were sacrificed under chloroform anaesthesia and blood sample collected by cardiac puncture and processed by standard method to obtain serum. TSH, T4 and T3 were assayed with the serum using ARIA II automated radioimmunoassay instrument. Results: The results showed that TSH level was significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in LVT treated group compared with the FOJ group. T4 was significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in the FOJ and CARB groups compared with the control and LVT groups. LVT significantly increased T4 when compared with FOJ group. T3 was significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in the CARB group compared with the control. Conclusion: These findings suggest that FOJ alters thyroid hormones metabolism to reduce their serum levels with a compensatory elevations of TSH level in a direction similar to CARB.
Key words: Citrus sinensis, carbimazole, thyroid hormones, thyroid stimulating hormon