86 research outputs found
The conventional versus a constructionist Scratch programming and first-year students' achievements in higher education classes: experimental data.
No full textGlobally, learning or teaching the first programming (popularly called CS1) remains a significant educational challenge. Indicators such as CS1 students' engagement, failure and attrition rates, and lack of diversity, continue to show the need for innovating the learning or teaching of novice computer science students. To ease initiating novices to programming, Scratch, a visual programming language, has become a staple of K-12 CS1 classes.
As outcomes of a research project aiming to explore a constructionist Scratch pedagogy with novice CS students in higher education, we present these datasets. In the research lasting two successive academic sessions, we conducted two quasi-experimental studies involving four intact CS1 classes in selected public polytechnic in the north central Nigeria. In each study, we randomly assigned the classes to the experimental and control groups, constituting the constructionist Scratch and the conventional CS1 classes, respectively.
Instruments for collecting data include a student profile questionnaire, a pretest, and posttest. Sequel to ethical clearance and permission from the selected schools, we conducted each study during the first semester of each academic session, in the first seven to eight weeks. During the first to second week, we administered students who consented to take part with the questionnaire and the pretest. Learning or teaching in the two classes lasted six weeks. Then both classes took the posttest. An independent CS educator who is not part of this research marked all the achievement tests, following a rubric prepared by the first author. To strengthen the research design and the possibility of arriving at valid causal evidence, we employed a Coarsened Exact Matching (CEM) algorithm to generate matched samples of experimental and control data, which we used in the analysis.
Data presented here includes the raw, unmatched and matched experimental datasets from both studies. A researcher can make use of the data:
To explore if some background variables not addressed in the original research may moderate CS1 students' achievements. For instance, their prior achievements in mathematics, physics, or English.
To uncover some interesting patterns using machine learning algorithms.
To validate the outcome of the original experiment by using the unmatched, matched or newly generated matched samples.
The authors welcome further research collaborations in using the data or the accompanying research instruments.
Enable GingerCannot connect to Ginger Check your internet connection
or reload the browserDisable in this text fieldRephraseRephrase current sentence4Edit in Ginger
Book Review: African Philosophy: Reflections on Yoruba Metaphysics and Jurisprudence
No full textBook Title: African Philosophy: Reflections on Yoruba Metaphysics and JurisprudenceBook Author: Oladele Abiodun BalogunPublisher: Xcel Publishers. Pages: 387. Year of Publication: 201
THE INTERFACE BETWEEN GOVERNMENT POLICIES, HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT AND POVERTY REDUCTION IN NIGERIA
No full textThe Effects of Human Resources Development on Financial Performance of Organisations
Get PDFContemporary organisation invests huge resources on a regular basis on Human Resources Development (HRD) initiatives because of the age long belief that this will enhance efficiency and effectiveness. But sadly, these expectations often go unfulfilled. This study empirically tests the effect of HRD on financial performance with employee competence and organisational commitment acting as mediating mechanisms. A total of 84 copies of a questionnaire that was distributed to and received from bank workers of two of Nigeria’s leading banks: First Bank of Nigeria Plc and Zenith Bank Plc to elicit relevant data on employee participation in and perceived benefits of HRD, commitment & competence and financial performance were analysed using Cronbach’s Coefficient Alpha and multiple regression analysis. Results show a significant relationship between employee participation in HRD including perceived benefits of HRD and organisational commitment and employee competence. The study also shows a significant relationship between competence & commitment and financial performance. Thus organisation should focus attention on delivering consistent HRD initiatives relevant to the need of employees and focused on addressing identified Skills, Knowledge and Abilities (KSA) gaps for a continuous financial performance improvement.
JEL Classification Code: M12
Optimization of Process Variables in the production of Biodiesel from Jatropha-Neem Hybrid Feed stock Mixture
Get PDFIn the search for suitable clean and renewable fuels to replace conventional diesel, alternatives such as biodiesels are being researched upon daily. Challenges of low biodiesel yield per hectare of vegetable oils have prompted the need for optimization. This research is aimed at optimizing process variables in the production of biodiesel from the mixture of Jatropha and Neem seed oils. A 31-run Central Composite Design was employed in a response surface optimization process; four independent process variables, namely temperature, time, catalyst concentration and mixing speed were optimized in an alkali based transesterification process of biodiesel synthesis. The result was a 97.05% biodiesel yield from Jatropha –Neem hybrid mixture
Sexual functions of female patients with chronic liver disease from two centers in Nigeria
No full textBackground: Chronic liver disease (CLD) is a disease with significant morbidity and mortality in Nigeria. This study assessed the sexual functions of women with chronic hepatitis B infection (CHB), liver cirrhosis (LC), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) designated as cases and normal women as controls. Methods: A prospective, comparative, case–control study of CHB, LC, HCC, and controls. Consenting cases and controls completed a self-administered Female Sexual Function Questionnaire (FSFI). Bio-data was obtained for all participants and cases were graded using the Child–Turcotte–Pugh scores (CTP). Data obtained were entered into SPSS version 20 and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: A total of 176 women completed the study, comprising 88 cases and 88 controls. Mean age (standard deviation) was 39.5 + 8.5 years and 40.5 + 8.2 years for cases and controls, respectively. Cases comprised CHB – 46, LC – 25, and HCC – 17, and their CTP classes were CTP A, 54; CTP B, 22; and CTP C, 12. The FSFI scores for CHB compared with controls were not statistically significant in all domains of the FSFI. The FSFI scores for LC and HCC in all domains were statistically significant compared with controls. Total mean FSFI scores for cases in CTP Class C showed sexual dysfunction, where 13.6% of CLD and 6.8% of all participants had sexual dysfunction and none among the controls. Conclusions: Females with advanced CLD had sexual dysfunction. Sexual concerns of females with CLD should be inquired for and treated
Uterovesical migration of copper-containing intrauterine device complicated by bladder stone formation
No full textCopper-containing intrauterine device (IUD) is a common method of contraception with a low failure rate and high acceptability. However, complications could follow its use including expulsion and migration of the device out of the uterus. When migration occurs, the device could pierce other structures in the pelvis such as the rectum, sigmoid colon, small bowel, or urinary bladder. The pattern of the patient's complaints will guide the clinician on the possible organ involved and the manner of care. This case report presents a 44-year-old woman with IUD migration into the urinary bladder with resulting stone formation. She presented with pelvic pain and hematuria. Following ancillary investigations, she had laparotomy and removal of the IUD along with bladder stones. She had a satisfactory recovery after the surgery and had a complete resolution of all her preoperative symptoms
Predictors of Sexual Attitudes of Senior Secondary School Students in Abeokuta Metropolis, Ogun State, Nigeria
Get PDFThis study was to identify factors that predict students' sexual attitude. Participants were senior secondary school students (n=144) in Abeokuta metropolis, Ogun State, Nigeria. Using the percentage, t-test, analysis or variance and multiple regression analytical techniques, we found that no significant difference exists between male and female students in their sexual attitude. However, a significant difference was found between students from married parents and students of single parents in their sexual attitude. Results of ANOVA conducted indicated that no significant difference was found in students’ sexual attitude across, class, religion, age and residency. Significant positive relationship was observed among permissiveness, birth control, communication, instrumentality and sexual attitude. With, the regression analysis we found that who do you reside with, sex, age, religion, class, and parents’ marital status all affect sexual attitude of students. Implications of these findings were discussed.
Keywords: Sexual attitude, Adolescent, Abeokuta, secondary schoo
L-Arginine abrogates maternal and pre-pubertal codeine exposure-induced impaired spermatogenesis and sperm quality by modulating the levels of mRNA encoding spermatogenic genes
Get PDFIntroductionAlthough, codeine has been demonstrated to lower sperm quality; the effects of maternal and prepubertal codeine exposure on male offspring is yet to be reported. In addition, the effect of arginine on codeine-induced decline in sperm quality has not been explored. This study investigated the impact of maternal and prepubertal codeine exposure on spermatogenesis and sperm quality in F1 male Wistar rats to study the effect that codeine may have during recreational use in humans. Also, the effect of arginine supplementation on codeine-induced alteration in spermatogenesis and sperm quality was evaluated.MethodsFemale rats were treated with either 0.5 ml distilled water or codeine orally for eight weeks, and then mated with male rats (female:male, 2:1). The F1 male offsprings of both cohorts were weaned at 3 weeks old and administered distilled water, codeine, arginine, or codeine with arginine orally for eight weeks.ResultsPrepubertal codeine exposure in rats whose dams (female parents) were exposed to codeine delayed puberty and reduced the weight at puberty. Prepubertal codeine exposure exacerbated maternal codeine exposure-induced reduced total and daily spermatid production, sperm count, sperm motility, and normal sperm form, as well as impaired sperm plasma membrane integrity and increased not intact acrosome and damaged sperm DNA integrity. These perturbations were accompanied by a decrease in mRNA levels encoding spermatogenic genes, testicular testosterone and androgen receptor (AR) concentrations, and upregulation of sperm 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8OHdG). Prepubertal arginine supplementation mitigated codeine-induced alterations.DiscussionThis study provides novel experimental evidence that maternal and prepubertal codeine exposure reprogramed spermatogenesis and sperm quality of male FI generation by decreasing mRNA levels encoding spermatogenic genes and AR via oxidative stress-mediated signaling, which was abrogated by prepubertal arginine supplementation
Pharmacological mechanisms involved in the analgesia induced by ethanol extract of Hybanthus enneaspermus leaves
No full textAyobami Oladele Afolabi,1 Isiaka Abdullateef Alagbonsi,2 Jubril Ayodeji Aliyu1 1Department of Physiology, College of Health Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria; 2Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gitwe, Gitwe, Republic of Rwanda Background: Hybanthus enneaspermus (HE) leaves are being used traditionally to relieve pain, and scientific studies have demonstrated their analgesic potential. This study attempted to elucidate the pharmacological mechanism(s) involved in the analgesic action of ethanol extract of H. enneaspermus leaves (EEHE). Materials and methods: Forty-two male Wistar rats were separately randomized into seven groups (n=6 rats in each group) for tail immersion and formalin tests. Group I (control) received distilled water (10 mL/kg) while groups II and III received acetaminophen (the reference drug, 100 mg/kg ip) and EEHE (1000 mg/kg po), respectively. Groups IV–VII were pretreated with cimetidine (50 mg/kg ip), naloxone (5 mg/kg ip), propranolol (0.15 mg/kg ip), and prazosin (0.15 mg/kg ip), respectively, 1 hour before EEHE (1000 mg/kg po) treatment. Results: The EEHE-induced increase in tail-flick latency was reduced by blockade of histamine and adrenergic receptors but prevented by blockade of opiate receptor in the tail-flick test. However, the EEHE-induced decrease in paw licking time was prevented only by blockade of opiate receptor but unaffected by histamine and adrenergic receptors blockers. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the analgesic effect of EEHE in different pain types may involve different neural mechanisms and that the opioidergic pathway contributes more to EEHE-induced analgesia than the other pathways. Keywords: analgesia, formalin test, Hybanthus enneaspermus, pain, tail immersion tes
- …
